Ace was tired and dispirited. For months they had been trying to find the mysterious Gerald, but there seemed to be no record of him. Ace yawned as she turned the pages of the newspaper. This had been the Brig's idea: A last resort - search the old papers for anything unusual. She threw the paper down in disgust: Nothing.

.

A voice: "If I may make a suggestion?"

She looked up. "You?"

"Yes me. Look, I would do the whole spiel, but I don't have time to be evil or menacing right now. I am late for an appointment."

"Who with?"

"Andre, my hairdresser, if you must know. And then Tannis and I are going for a boy's night out. However that is not important right now. What is, is the Doctor - 32 Midlands Drive."

"What do you mean?" asked Ace.

He looked exasperated. "I am trying to help."

"Why?"

"Because, quite simply, my life is no fun without knowing that that little pansy isn't out there somewhere trying to foil my plans."

"What?"

He reached for the tissue compressor. so tempting! "Oh for Lord's sake, didn't you pay any attention to his sanctimonious speeches about good versus evil? Never mind girl, just remember the bloody address." With that he was gone.

.

32 Midlands Drive:

They knocked on the front door.

Rather bizarrely she was the spitting image of him. Ace, Sarah and the Brigadier turned and smiled at each other.

.

"Dora, we need you to do something a little out of the ordinary for us."

"What dear?"

"We need you to travel in time and space and help rescue your nephew."

"Well if you put it that way dear. How can I refuse?"

.

Dora took a deep breath. "So you say these people are the masters of time? Well, I suppose there is no time like the present?" Then she marched into the room with Ace, the Brigadier and Sarah behind her.

"My name is Dora Elizabeth Evans from 32 Midlands Drive, Romford and I have come to claim my nephew", she stated to the fifteen astonished Time Lords who had turned to look at her.

.

He had hurried to the summons, but when he saw them all starring at him he started to back out of the room, only to bump into someone.

He curled up in fear and started to stammer out apologies while trying to back away, but a hand grabbed his collar and held him fast.

He expected pain, but was surprised when a soft voice whispered in his ear. "Hey, Professor. It 's ok."

Ace?

"I'd like you to meet someone", she said as she lead him through the cousins.

"This is Dora."

He looked around in confusion before addressing the floor in front of her. "Hello Honoured Mistress."

Dora looked at him sadly. "Oh boy. What have they done to you?" She asked.

.

The House Mother looked out the window to the meadow.

"I always thought you were a savage of spirit Mistress Ace."

"Yeah, well I am, and I am taking him. And there is not a thing you can do to stop it, cos its kosher according to your rules."

The House Mother turned. "But how did you accomplish it?" she asked.

Ace smiled. "I had a bit of help from some old friends, some enemies".

.

They had taken much from him, but he knew that he liked a nice cup of tea.

"So tell me about him?" he said looking out of the window at number 33 Midlands Drive and its remarkably similar neighbours.

Dora put down her teacup. "Well. Your father, my brother. He was something of a homebody you know. He liked nothing better than a nice cup of tea and he was very partial to those little biscuits with the pink icing."

The Doctor sat back, sipped his tea and listened to Dora talk. And, he realised, he didn't mind those little biscuits with the pink icing either.