A matter of time...

The Brigadier

"Hey... What were those explosions about, anyway?" the man in Inquirer's arms asks weakly as I and Ace manage to disembark from the TARDIS.

"Would like to know more about that myself," I overhear E'eysha mutter to herself. A sentiment I share, frankly.

"Merlin" had been very tight-fisted on certain details before we had come here, alas....

"In the short," I say quickly as I go over to take over for Inquirer, "More problems than what I and the others would rather care to handle at this present moment in time."

"Shouldn't you be younger if you're running around with him?" he asks me frankly, gesturing back towards the Doctor, "I mean, you didn't look like this until....er....that one PBS show I saw where there was that weird battle between a knights with blasters and UNIT soldiers. That one episode where you end up saving the day at the end when you shot that demon with silver bullets!"

.....

Even after having been briefed about how other realities hold details of the Doctor's (and associate's) adventures-documented in fictional stories-I still rather have a bad start from that one!

He's talking about the very thing we had just....! Even if it hadn't turned out just the way he had mentioned, it was too close to the mark to readily ignore....

.....

Sometimes there still is an air of unreality to it....

And it was Elrondir who shot the demon, I almost say aloud, Things had moved along too quickly for me to requisition such ammo, even if I had known to have needed it. Quiet lucky that Elrondir had that old fashioned revolver and ammunition in his belt, a gift from a friend, else.....

Any disappointments at to not having been the one to "save the day" are put aside when I needlessly remind myself that the day always seems to be saving, especially whenever the Doctor seems to get involved in things.

Oh, but that sounds very big of you, Brigadier! I scold myself, practically hearing the sour grapes within that last statement. Oh, while the Timelord does seem to attract a lot of trouble, he has proven again and again to be a steadfast friend and associate, hasn't he?

Instead of saying any of that, I just take a steadying breath and try another approach.

"Quiet," I finally manage, "Will tell you all about it later, but right now you've got to rest a bit. Frankly you are in a rather bad way and thus shan't be haring off to help your mates because of that."

He looks ready to argue (or say something else more unsettling than the last) but that is when he then sighs as his eyes roll back up into his head and faints dead away.

Just as well, I think to myself, Doubted he would have conceded the point quietly, If the situation was reversed I doubt I would have conceded myself....

I do admit, however, that I yet again get a glimpse into why sometimes the Doctor puts questions off by saying: "I'll explain later" (which sometimes he never does). It's all a matter of time, you see. It would take a large amount of time to explain (especially when you take into account time wasted on the listener's outburst of disbelief). Time is a luxury that we do not have right at this point, despite a time machine! We also needed to know that answer before we went off to get that tissue sample and round up those chaps that Betty and Ragan said would be in a spot of trouble if we left off here, mission incomplete!

Point in fact, that is why between the "ticks of the clock" the Doctor had halted the TARDIS for a moment before landing here. Then, between the ticks, was a perfect time for a bit of explanation!

1. B'elanna, being her turn this time, was the one to tell the tale....

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