Farewells (short story)

Not to be confused with Short Trips: Farewells, a collection of short stories.

 was a Brief Encounter short story published in the Doctor Who Yearbook 1993. It was notable for being written by Terrance Dicks and for plugging a "gap" in continuity that fans of the time believed to exist. Specifically, it allowed the Fourth Doctor the opportunity to formally bid Sarah adieu after the emergency trip to Gallifrey which separated them.

However, it is a story which is now difficult, if not impossible, to place within continuity. School Reunion has since directly stated that he never returned to see her after the events of The Hand of Fear, which also invalidates certain events in COMIC: Train-Flight.

Summary
Sarah Jane Smith is burying her dead cat Mog when the Fourth Doctor arrives to bid her the proper farewell he should have given her in TV: The Hand of Fear.

Characters

 * Fourth Doctor
 * Sarah Jane Smith
 * K9

Continuity

 * As Sarah says that the Fourth Doctor is "the you you!", and the Doctor replies, "That's right. All teeth and curls as usual", this would appear to set the story after the events of TV: The Five Doctors. However, following what is mentioned in School Reunion about the Doctor never coming back to see Sarah after The Hand of Fear, whether or not Farewells should be now classed as "imaginary" is perhaps best left to personal preference.