Rec: Perfect Timing by Mertiya

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Story: Perfect Timing
Author: Mertiya
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1892
Author's Summary: During the aftermath of Sarah Jane's abortive wedding, she finds herself wondering how the Doctor managed to show up at exactly the right time. He's never done that before... Spoilers for The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith.
Characters/Pairings: Clyde Langer, Luke Smith, Rani Chandra, Sarah Jane Smith, Sarah Jane Smith, The Doctor (10th)
Warnings: None

Recced because: For me Sarah Jane Smith will always be the quintessential companion. This story takes a canon intervention by The Doctor and runs with it, the result it a warm if slightly AU character study.

Excerpt: “You had rather…perfect timing today,” she said.

“I always have perfect timing!” the Doctor retorted, and Sarah Jane started to laugh. She couldn’t help it. It had been a terrible day, a truly awful day; the loss of Peter was still a fresh, open wound, but the thought of the Doctor having perfect timing was just too much. She sank backward against the door, her laughter perhaps a little hysterical, but it was good. The laughter was good. When she looked up, she wasn’t sure if the tears in her eyes were from the laughter or not. The Doctor was looking quite miffed, an expression that reminded her forcibly of her curly-haired, long-scarfed Doctor.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped. “It’s just…the thought of you having perfect timing. When did we ever end up somewhere you intended us to? And you dropped me off months and miles out of sync with where I was supposed to be.”

He had been looking more than ever like a sulky child, but the (frankly rather cute) expression dropped off his face at the mention of Aberdeen. He turned to the TARDIS controls. “But, no, honestly, you should go,” he said roughly.

“Perfect timing,” she said again. “I appreciate it, Doctor, I really do–but why this time? The children and I have been in danger before–often–twice now with the Trickster. Why didn’t you come then? Why didn’t you come when I nearly bollixed up the entire spacetime continuum trying to save my parents?”

Comments

[jellybaby11.livejournal.com]

Think you could mention the pairing under characters/pairings? I know I'm being nitpicky, but people like to know whether they're reading a friendship fic or a shippy fic.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I always go with whatever the author gives, unless there's a good reason to say more - Calufrax rules specifically forbid adding warnings about some pairings e.g. slash, I think it's a good general rule not to get too specific if the author hasn't already done so.

[nonelvis]

To be perfectly clear, we don't want you to warn for slash, but it's fine to list a slash pairing (or any other one) in the list of characters/pairings.

[alenida.livejournal.com]

Author here! I didn't tag the pairing in the original fic because I wasn't sure how to tag pairings on Teaspoon. Is there a way? And thanks for the rec! Kthxbai *fades into the background again*

[nonelvis]

Unfortunately, you can't tag pairings on Teaspoon. However, if you want to mention the pairing in your author's notes or summary, that's fine.