Comforts of Home (short story)

Comforts of Home was the fifteenth short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: The History of Christmas. It was written by Pete Kempshall. It featured the Fifth Doctor and Turlough.

Summary
Samuel Elkins, fighting for the South in the American Civil War, has been fatally wounded by fellow soldier Lucius Casler, who has taken a photo of Elkins' wife Charlotte and, along with several other deserters, has headed for the Elkins home. As Elkins lies dying on the battlefield, the Doctor comforts him, and promises to keep Charlotte safe.

At the Elkins home, Casler approaches Charlotte's father, William Watkins, pretending to be friendly, but when he slips up, Watkins is suspicious, and is immediately killed by one of the deserters, Earl Baker. Charlotte, who saw this happen, shoots Baker, killing him. She shoots at the men, temporarily keeping them at bay at the front of the house.

When she checks the back of the house, two men are approaching. She shoots one in the leg, wounding him, while the other implores her to leave the house, telling her that Samuel would have wanted her to listen. He introduces himself as the Doctor, and his wounded friend is Turlough.

Charlotte doesn't believe him, so the Doctor and Turlough return to the TARDIS. Meanwhile, Casler has taken a cart from the barn and set it on fire, hoping to burn Charlotte out of the house. The Doctor, however, appears in the house with Turlough and Samuel, having retrieved him from the battlefield before he was killed. Samuel defeats Casler, who is shocked to find Samuel alive. Casler accidentally sets himself on fire and runs off, but dies before he can put out the fire.

The Doctor allows Samuel and Charlotte to spend Christmas together before he has to return Samuel to the battlefield.

Characters

 * Fifth Doctor
 * Vislor Turlough
 * William Watkins
 * Lucius Casler
 * Samuel Elkins
 * Charlotte Elkins
 * Pullman
 * Earl Baker

Continuity
to be added