Chapter Text
The first day was always the hardest, but if you got through that, you could get through anything, so Tegan always told herself.
Tegan found a park bench nearby where she could sit and think. It was cool and grey in London, and her clothes combined with the blood loss made her shiver uncontrollably. She had her wallet on her (she always did), but not much else.
“Are you all right, love?” a grey-haired man in a suit and trench coat asked. He had a briefcase in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. He had stopped mid-gait to look at her, his brows furrowed and his mouth slightly agape. “Everything right at home?”
Tegan smiled at the man. “I’m quite fine, thank you, sir.”
“You sure? That’s a nasty cut on your forehead.” He took a few steps closer, tilting his head.
“It’s mostly healed-up. I took a bad fall and it was bloodier than it was painful,” she said. Her teeth started chattering at the end of her sentence.
“Well, at least take my coat. Don’t worry about returning it.” He swept the coat off his arms and onto her shoulders. It smelled like tobacco and shaving cream. Tegan was swimming in it, but felt instantly warmer, like getting embraced by a friend.
“Thank you, sir,” she smiled back at him.
“Don’t thank me; do something nice for someone else tomorrow.” He waved and left, walking briskly out of view. Tegan slipped her arms through the arm holes and stuffed her hands into the pockets. At least she was warm now. She could think a bit better now that she wasn’t clenching her entire body from cold.
She had been living in London the last time she had been on Earth for an extended period of time. She had been sharing a flat with a friend and sleeping on their sofa, trying to figure out what to do next and if that involved the Doctor or not. Most of her things were still with her family in Australia.
Stay in London, or go back to Australia?
At this point, Tegan would be happy with anywhere, as long as it was on Earth.
She pulled out her wallet and counted out the money on her. One hundred pounds; enough for a stay for a week. She wasn’t totally out of sorts, but definitely not well off, either. She wondered how Nyssa did it, how she was able to survive and make a life from nothing after leaving the TARDIS.
Like you, I’m indestructible.
She straightened up. She’d be indestructible, like Nyssa, like herself.
Tegan picked out enough money for a phone call and pressed herself into a booth. The glass was fogged over, and wet pamphlets littered the concrete floor. She turned her head up and closed her eyes, searching her mind for her grandfather Verney’s phone number.
His phone rang three, four, five times. Come on, Grandfather…
“Hello?” his voice crackled on the other end.
“Grandfather, it’s me, Tegan.”
“Tegan? My girl, it’s wonderful to hear from you! Where are you?”
“London, Grandfather. I need some help, could you come pick me up?” She scratched at the wet pamphlets with her heel, watching them crumple and disintegrate.
“Pick you up? Tegan, what happened to those two young men you were traveling with, hmm? They seemed quite nice.” Tegan swallowed, knowing he would ask. She wanted to skip over this part, go on to life without Doctor and without questions about the Doctor.
“I’m done traveling, Grandfather. We’ve parted ways and I want to move on. I need some help right now, though.”
“Okay, Tegan. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Where are you currently?”
Tegan swiveled her head around, trying to find a street name or a landmark. “I’m at Shad Thames. I’ll be waiting there.”
“I’ll see you then, Tegan. Stay safe.” His voice was warm, even through the crackle of the phone.
“I will, Grandfather.” She hung up the phone and closed her eyes, sighing deeply. The tension in her body eased away. A few more hours. She could wait a few more hours, then she’d be safe with her Grandfather, safe enough to think of next steps.
She walked out of the telephone box and looked around, trying to find a café, for a cup of coffee and a few hours to kill. She could sit and think about next steps, and try to pack up what was left of the last few years in her mind.