Story title: Revelation of the Grove

Sequel to: Donna Noble, Supertemp

Summary: There is a secluded and mysterious Grove, right in the heart of California. Influential people and leaders from all over the world come here for a few weeks every summer to discuss policy, war, and everything in between (including sports and recreational activities). On the surface, it appears to be like any other gathering; but what happens when the Doctor discovers one fact that completely changes everything?

Rating: T

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Chapter 1: Point Reyes

oOo

"When will these steps end?!" Clyde complained.

"Not for a while," said Donna. "They're just as long as the Doctor is old."

"Oi!"

There was a round of laughter, for it was quite true, at least with regards to the stairs. The previous day, the Doctor and Donna had taken Luke, Clyde, and Rani on a trip in the TARDIS. They had ended up on the west coast of the United States, where neither of the three kids had been before. They were in California, at a place called Point Reyes National Seashore, in Sonoma county, where there was a lighthouse at the very end of a half-mile long stone staircase. Donna, the Doctor, and the kids were among the very few people at the lighthouse currently, due to it being evening, about sunset; usually, the lighthouse at Point Reyes was somewhat crowded. The group was currently making their way down the very staircase in question, and had only come about halfway down.

"I'll race you down, Clyde," said Luke.

"You're on!"

And off the two boys went, dashing down the stone steps as fast as their legs would carry them, despite the Doctor's shouts to slow down and be careful. In this manner, Luke and Clyde reached the lighthouse a full ten minutes before Donna, the Doctor, and Rani.

"You two!" Exclaimed the Doctor, breathless, as he and the others reached the lighthouse. "I say stop, but you do just the opposite! Blimey; are you youngsters always like that?"

"Do you even have to ask?" said Donna.

"Obviously; otherwise I wouldn't be asking," said the Doctor.

"Eh, true," said Donna.

"We can't help it if we're young and able-bodied," Clyde said.

"Are you implying that I'm not young and able-bodied?" The Doctor asked. Silence greeted him, so he continued, "I'll have you know that, while I may not be young by your standards, I am quite able-bodied."

"Prove it, old man," said Clyde.

"Oi! Don't be rude!"

Clyde laughed, and ran when the Doctor began chasing him. The chase ended when Clyde made it into the lighthouse; echoes could be heard of his footfalls up the staircase inside.

"Shall we go in?" The Doctor said.

One by one, in single file, the Doctor, Luke, Rani, and Donna climbed the staircase. Once they reached the landing at the very top of the lighthouse, they looked out of the windows at the Pacific Ocean. The sun was just beginning to set, casting everything in the golden-pink glow of evening. Waves could be heard, crashing into the cliff-face far below as seagulls flew into the air and battled each other for scraps of bread on the ground left by tourists.

"It's beautiful!" Rani declared.

"I agree," said Donna. "Come on, let's take a picture. Doctor?"

Without waiting for an answer, Donna handed Rani's camera over to the Doctor. Together, the two women posed for the camera, faces smiling. Once the picture was taken, the Doctor asked for a picture with Donna. Rani obliged, then a picture of the three kids was taken.

"Come on, Luke, let's climb on the outside of the lighthouse!"

"Um…"

"Better not," interrupted the Doctor. "I don't want to bring you two home with criminal records for souvenirs."

"But you're so good at sweet-talking your way out of things," said Donna. "You could get them out of being arrested."

The Doctor stared at her. "No."

"Old stiff."

"Oi!"

Donna and the kids laughed.

"Oh, you know I'm only kidding, space man," Donna said, placing an arm around the Doctor's shoulders.

"Hm?"

The kids laughed at the Doctor's absentmindedness.

"Although, I am old, aren't I?" the Doctor said eventually.

"Just a bit more than the rest of us," said Donna.

"Anyway," said the Doctor, changing the subject. "I was once in a lighthouse very much like this one, you know."

"Really."

"You don't believe me, Rani?" said the Doctor with a pout. "As a journalist, I thought you'd want to ask all kinds of questions, pestering me with inquiries about my previous lighthouse foray."

Donna stared at the Doctor while Rani rolled her eyes. Finally, Rani said, "Oh all right, tell me about the last time you were in a lighthouse."

"Well," the Doctor began. He leaned against a railing and crossed his arms. "It was quite a few years ago, back in my fourth life. I and my companion at the time, Leela, had arrived there. There was this monster that basically killed everyone in the lighthouse except Leela and I before I was able to kill it."

"Sounds like a heartwarming story, all right," Donna commented.

"It wasn't heartwarming, it was frightening! I only hope that the same monster doesn't come back and kill us all right here, right now."

"And why would it kill us now?" Rani asked.

"Very good, Rani, you're asking questions. Well on your way to becoming a good journalist!" The Doctor paused. "It would kill us for revenge. I guess."

"Why?"

"For being up here past closing time," said the Doctor. Everyone looked at their watches and started.

"We haven't even kept track of the time!" Donna exclaimed. "It's ten minutes past closing!"

"Indeed, Miss Noble," said the Doctor.

"Oh, come on then, Doctor," said Donna. "Let's get back to the hotel. Or I'll leave you here to battle imaginary monsters."

"Oi! That monster wasn't imaginary!"

After another round of laughter, everyone began to descend the spiral staircase of the lighthouse, with the Doctor following. Down they went, and out into the now darkening evening outdoors. It took a while to climb back up the stone staircase, this due to the fact that it was easier to go down than go up, but in the end they accomplished it. Once they reached the top, the Doctor led the group to a nearby hotel to reserve rooms for the night.

"Greetings, sir," said the bell attendant. "May I take your bags?"

"We haven't brought anything," the Doctor said. "We decided to rough it and wear only the clothes on our backs." Donna gave him a look. "Oh all right, I was kidding. We're going to buy stuff here. This was a last minute trip, you might say."

"Yes, I can see that," the bell attendant replied. "Well, if you and your wife want to check in, go ahead. Your kids can relax on the sofas."

"Oh, thank you," said the Doctor. "And she's not my wife. And they're not my kids."

"Of course, sir," said the bell attendant. He walked away, leaving the Doctor, Donna, and the kids to themselves.

"Blimey, first that obnoxious waiter, now the bell attendant!"

"I know, I know," said Donna soothingly. "Do you want me to reserve a couple rooms while you get yourself calmed? One for us, one for the kids?" Clyde let out a wolf whistle. "I figure one of them could sleep in the hall if they make suggestive comments. What say you, Doctor?" Clyde immediately shut up.

"Excellent idea," said the Doctor. "You and I can reserve the rooms. Children-"

"We're not children," said Clyde.

"Over nine hundred," said the Doctor pointing at himself. He then pointed at Clyde. "Sixteen."

"Yeah, whatever," Clyde muttered.

The Doctor grinned cheekily at him, then left with Donna to go to the front desk, not more than ten feet away.

It was during this walk to the front desk that the Doctor got a good look at the hotel they were in. It was a rather rustic setting, as if it had been built as a log cabin in the Sierra Nevada mountains, then plucked from its foundation and brought to its current location. There was a fire burning in a nearby fireplace, which was odd considering it was already somewhat warm outside, and there were three sofas place around the fireplace in a kind of half-circle. It was these sofas that Rani, Clyde, and Luke were currently relaxing. There were also windows with laced curtains and below them shelves with books and games for the hotel guests to amuse themselves with. All in all, it was very cozy and comfortable.

"Would you and your wife like to reserve a room for the night?" said the girl behind the counter.

"I'm not his wife," said Donna.

"But yes, we would like to reserve a room," said the Doctor. "Two rooms, actually. One for us and one for our friends on the sofas."

"Of course, sir," said the girl. She clicked a few keys on the computer keyboard. "I have two rooms with a connecting door available. Would that be all right?"

"Splendid," said the Doctor. "Hook us up."

The girl smiled and clicked on a few more keys. "Just the one night?"

"Two nights."

"Ok. That will be $300."

The Doctor handed over the money (which he procured earlier in the day from an ATM with his psychic paper) and thanked the girl once she gave them the keys. Once all was finished, Donna and the Doctor went back over to Luke, Rani, and Clyde, who had got out a pack of cards and were playing Solitaire.

"Get up, maggots! Time to sleep!"

"Doctor, they're not maggots!"

"I know, but… oh, never mind," the Doctor trailed off. "Come on, you guys, time's a-waisting and sleep's a-calling!"

The rooms were found to be just as cozy as the hotel lobby had been, and the beds even moreso. Soon, the entire group was fast asleep, looking forward to the day ahead.

o

When everyone awoke the next morning, they all gathered together in one room to decide what to do. Since it was time for breakfast, they elected to go downstairs and ask the receptionist.

"Hi, us again," said the Doctor. For the receptionist was the same girl from the night before.

"How can I help you?"

"Where's a good place where my friends and I can get breakfast?"

The girl told them about a rather pleasant sounding place, just a mile or so from the hotel. Thanking her, the Doctor, Donna, Luke, Clyde, and Rani exited the lobby. Since it was morning, the sun itself was shining bright, bathing everything its rays touched in a warm glow. Birds twittered from branch to branch and bathed in a nearby fountain.

"I love it here," said Rani, gazing around at everything with a smile.

"Mm, so do I," said Donna.

"Do we really have to walk a whole mile to the café?" Luke complained. "Can't we just use your TARDIS?"

The Doctor had parked the TARDIS a few dozen yards from the hotel the day before. From there, they had all walked to the lighthouse.

"No," said the Doctor. "Besides, walking gives us good exercise. You do want to exercise, don't you?"

Luke thought a moment. "No," he replied. "I'd much rather have you carry me."

"Carry you?" said the Doctor. "If you say so." He made a show of attempting to pick Luke up, but Luke ran away before he could.

"Can you carry me, Doctor?" Donna asked innocently.

"Um, no."

"What about me?" said Clyde.

"I am NOT going to carry anyone."

"Party pooper," Donna muttered with a grin.

"Say that again, and I won't give you any jelly babies," said the Doctor. He produced a small bag from his jacket pocket. "Jelly Baby? Anyone?"

Clyde was on the point of reaching out for one when Donna said, "No, Doctor. It's too early. Wait until after they've had breakfast, hm?"

"If you say so," the Doctor replied.

Donna, the Doctor, and the kids all chatted in much the same fashion all the way to the café. Occasionally the Doctor would pop a jelly baby into his mouth, just because he could, with the result that, by the time they reached the café, he was nearly full.