Author's Note: Because I can :)

Takes place at the conclusion of "New Earth". This is as yet un-beta'd. You have been warned.

Disclaimer: Surprise, surprise, I don't own Doctor Who. Nor do I get anything from writing these stories-except wonderful, constructive reviews! Wink, wink; nudge, nudge ;)

The Doctor led the way out of the TARDIS, Cassandra/Chip and Rose following behind. They had landed at exactly the right coordinates. The young Cassandra was visible through the crowd, laughing, talking, and generally being the life of the party.

"Thank you," Cassandra/Chip told him.

"Just go," he said, "and don't look back."

"Good luck," Rose said.

Cassandra/Chip moved through the partygoers, making her way to Cassandra. "Excuse me," she said, "Lady Cassandra."

"I'm sorry, I don't need anything right now," Cassandra dismissed her. "I'm fine, thank you."

"No - I just wanted to say," Cassandra/Chip persisted, "you look beautiful."

Cassandra turned back to her, surprised. "Well. That's very kind, you strange little thing. Thank you very much."

"I mean it," Cassandra/Chip insisted, looking her in the eyes, completely sincere, and more than a little jealous. "You look... so beautiful."

"Thank you," Cassandra whispered, actually paying attention at last.

Cassandra/Chip's eyelids fluttered closed as Cassandra leapt into her own body. Chip collapsed, and Cassandra/Cassandra bent to cradle his fallen form, the TARDIS still visible in the far corner of the room.

"Oh, my Lord. Are you alright?" asked Cassandra/Cassandra, acting the part. "What is it? What's wrong?" she asked Chip, although she could tell that his heart had already stopped. "Someone get some help!" she called out to the surrounding crowd, gathering Chip into her arms. "Call a medic or something, quickly!" she yelled.

"Who is he?" a woman asked.

"I don't know," she replied frantically. "He just came up to me. I don't even know his name. He just collapsed." The TARDIS was still sitting there. "I think he's dying," she said. "Someone do something!" She rocked Chip's dead body affectionately. "I've got you, sweetheart," she cooed. "It's alright. There you are, there you are, I've got you. It'll be all right. There, there, you poor little thing."

At long last the sound of the TARDIS' engines reached her ears, and Cassandra/Cassandra handed Chip off to the medic who'd just approached.

"Yes, take him, thank you," she dismissed, standing. She watched as the TARDIS completely vanished. "And thank you, Doctor," she said to herself with a smile.

The end?

A convoluted little timeline for this story has been forming itself in my mind, but I'm listing it as "complete" for now. I don't know if I'll ever have all of the kinks worked out satisfactorily enough to post anything more.