Cathedral Heart (short story)

Cathedral Heart was a Brief Encounter short story published in Doctor Who Magazine 186.

Summary
Reverend Ernest Trelaw wonders if she'll stay, but Saul doesn't think she will. Outside the church, Emily Hutchings and Ace walk around it anti-clockwise, talking about various events and the Doctor's treatment of Ace. Emily asks why he's so horrible to her. Ace explains they were in the TARDIS lab. She had a new batch of Nitro-9 and the Doctor was working on a cube, and when she asked him about it he got angry and she left. She wonders if the TARDIS will still be there when she goes back and wonders if she cares. They sit down and wonder if other buildings are inhabited like Saul inhabits the church, joking that offices would be dull and pubs would be drunk. The Doctor appears and says in an even tone, "I'm sorry. Forgive me." Ace seems to shake her head and leaves with him, telling Emily she'll be back, but Emily wonders if she will.

Characters

 * Seventh Doctor
 * Ace
 * Emily Hutchings
 * Ernest Trelaw
 * Saul

Worldbuilding

 * Ace mentions mixing up another batch of nitro-9 in the TARDIS.
 * Emily thinks of Ishtar in her cot at home.
 * Emily tells Ace a superstition that walking around a church three times makes girls pregnant with tailed-babies.

Continuity

 * Emily and Peter Hutchings are still raising Ishtar. (PROSE: Timewyrm: Revelation)