Serendipity

Title: As You Walk On By...
Summary: After arriving at Heathrow International, the Doctor is in a rush to wrap up their adventure. Ace isn't sure why.
Characters/Pairings: Doctor(7), Ace McShane, Tegan Jovanka
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who or the song Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds from the soundtrack of the movie The Breakfast Club
Rating: G
Warnings: Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Author's Note: There has been many fics written that has it that Tegan was:
(1) Emotionally crippled by her experiences with the Doctor
(2) Never went back to being a Flight Attendant
(3) Always could recognize the Doctor in any incarnation by sight.
There has been many fics written that the Doctor:
(1) Forgot about Tegan completely.
(2) Didn't really care what had happened to Tegan.
(3) Wasn't in love with her.

I disagree with these premises.

Won’t you come see about me…

Ace and the Doctor found that a series of clues had led them to Heathrow International Airport.  He had silently begrudged the fact that a growing alien menace had sequestered itself within the confines of the busy Earth airport. This one in particular. As soon as he stepped out of the TARDIS he could feel a growing ache inside his hearts. 

Two hundred years and she still haunted him.

The way she laughed. The way she looked when she was determined to be right. The way she looked when she came to his rescue.  It all coalesced into the very existence of this singular place on planet Earth.
 
 “Let’s go, Ace,” he called out to his new friend. He was even more determined to find the Turtoid and bring him to justice, just so he could leave this place that echoed Tegan Jovanka.

Don’t you forget about me…

Running had never been so difficult.  The Doctor put it off on the throngs of people who were unaware of the danger they were in if they wouldn’t get out his and Ace’s way.  He had to stop the Turtoid from activating the machine that would attract many of the nearby asteroids; remaking Earth into its home planet Turt.  Ace leapt in front of him using her youthful exuberance as a way to clearly tackle their runaway Turtoid that was cheaply disguised as a human.

Soon, several UNIT personnel arrived and discretely escorted the Turtoid to a prison cell where he would diminish rather quickly following the fate of the rest of his people and world. “You’ll need to make a full statement about what occurred here,” the lead officer said to him.

“We ran, Ace here prevented him from operating the planetary tractor beam. Your men came and arrested him,” he said to the earthman.  He looked at Ace then.  “Let’s get out of here, Ace.”

“Why the hurry, Professor,” she asked him.  “Are you going let me catch my breath?”

“No, now let’s go,” he said as he pulled Ace to a full out walk; heading towards where he knew he parked the TARDIS.

Slow change may pull us apart…

Ace ran into the Doctor as any movement from him stalled. Ahead of them was a flight crew of five. They were all dressed in British Airways uniforms.  She didn’t know if they were coming from or going to a flight.  They were all enthralled in the conversation together; their carryons being wheeled behind all them.

When the light gets into your heart, baby…

Reality melted away, showcasing an older and happier Tegan Jovanka.  She was dressed in the uniform of a stewardess but she carried herself as she normally did. Pride and professionalism emanated from her.  Gone was the hair-triggered temper young woman who turned his world upside down and inside out.  He wanted to slow down time just to watch her. Just to burn this image of her into his brain. She wasn’t upset or downtrodden or miserable. And he had left her. There was no getting around the fact that he wasn’t there in her hour of need. That this beautiful person had to put her life back together. Alone.

Will you recognize me?

Tegan got the feeling that she was being watched. She turned around and her eyes locked on a man who stood where they had turned the corner on their way to their flight to Hong Kong.

As you walk on by will you call my name?

The man was in a jumper and a short tan coat. His dark hair was mused as though he had been wearing a hat or running.  It was as if his eyes were begging her for recognition.

Or will you walk away?

His throat went dry as Tegan’s eyes locked with his. His chest grew taunt as he hoped that she would know him.  That she would run to him and declare that she had missed him.  That she would come away with him. 

Come on and call my name…

Try as she might, Tegan couldn’t put a name to the man’s face and after a few moments she gave trying to remember where she knew him from.  Perhaps, she thought to herself, he had been the one mistaken.  She turned her eyes away and concentrated on where she was going.

Don’t you forget about me…

Ace was tugging on his coat sleeve as Tegan disappeared into the surrounding sea of people. “Who was that, Professor,” she asked him as if she had asked him before.

The Doctor tried to compose himself while trying to compose a suitable answer for Ace. How could he describe Tegan to Ace. 

He swallowed hard and looked Ace in the eye and said honestly. “Her name is Tegan.”

Turning back to the sea of people ahead of him wherein someplace was his friend, rescuer, confidant, conscience. But she could have been so much more. He could have given her so very much more. But the universe twisted and broke them apart. Now they were no more than strangers who once knew one another. No that wasn't right. Tegan was more. 

“ She was my unrequited love.”