This is brilliant, I was chuckling so much my family were giving me very weird looks! Thanks for posting!

Ha ha, well my mother learned Latin in school and she claimed that it made it easier for her to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words by having an idea about their roots. I'm not sure if that's always true, but hey... I imagine her teenage self felt the same exact way as the Brigadier. :)
But I love that line about not knowing what you'll need in the future. It is so very, very true.

Interesting thoughts about why the Doctor did not form as much of a bond with Liz as he did with others like Sarah Jane or Jo. I guess I always thought it was because Liz was pretty much set in her ways of thinking and learning and didn't seem interested in going in new places mentally. That inability to be mentally flexible and creative is something that would have put her at a disadvantage if she had ever traveled with the Doctor.

And yes, it's wonderfully warm how the Brig is watching after the Doctor here. Although, it's worrying that the Doctor continues to be so brain addled. I imagine this is going to become a more problematic issue as time goes on.

Also love the "horrified" reactions of the other Time Lords to the Brig's presence. It's pretty much how I imagined they would have acted if they had to be around Jamie. :)

Hmmm, I wonder where this murder is going to go. The funny thing is, it's important to the plot and you definitely keep it firmly in the middle of the action while giving so much room to all the lovely character stuff. Still it keeps creeping up in the corners and it's getting more intriguing all the time.

Ha ha, poor Brig, eating the wrong cube. You know, at some point, I'd love to write the bit about a time when Jamie accidentally eats one of those things.

Great chapter, I'm so glad that you decided to continue this. Looking forward to more.

great insights into the CIA

You have no idea how glad I am this was updated. I love this story! The second Doctor and the Brig are my favorites. :)

DELIGHTFUL ROMP WITH OUR BRIGADIER AND HIS EVER FAITHFUL COMPANION THE DOCTOR AS OUR LOVE POT BRIGADIER TAKES THE DOCTOR HOME AND HELPS HIM WITH A DIPLOMATIC NIGHTMARE AND I LOVE OUR SEXIE STRONG HANDSOMELY MOUSTACHED HERO AND HIS BESTIE. MORE BRIG PLEASE

Ah, you know as much as I love the dynamic Three has with the Brigadier, there really was not enough time for him with Two. So I love that you have a world where they travel for a time together. Especially after the Brigadier has mellowed a bit and has more comfortably settled into the idea of what being a long-time friend of the Doctor really means...

And it gets off to such a great start with their "difficult" ride in the TARDIS. You know, even as I imagined the Doctor and the Brigadier dangling from one part of the console room or another, I could totally see them having this wonderful mix of conversation and bickering while doing it. I'm sure it's not the only time the Doctor has had to carry on a discussion with a companion while hanging around (literally) in the TARDIS. :)

Also that bit at the end of the trip where the Brig figures out just how hard the Doctor hit his head...well it manages to be all sorts of wonderful and hilarious at the same time. Great stuff.

Although interestingly enough, perhaps my favorite bit of dialogue happens a little later when the Doctor and the Brig are having their conversation before joining the party:
"How long have you been traveling alone?"
"You make it sound like a crime."
"For you, it is."
I think that beautifully sums up an integral part of the Doctor's character in every single incarnation: he needs his companions for so much more than just some fun company or as assistants. A large part of how he defines himself is through them. Yes, there is his own resolve, his own great heart(s) and brilliant mind, but the soul of who he is feeds off his relationship with his companions. Without them, he loses a vital part of who he is.

That later bit when he muses on both the Brigadier and on Jamie was also wonderfully poignant. You can feel just how much he misses Jamie and how grateful he is for the solace he can gain from having the Brig around. Plus, the undercurrent of fear that the Brig could be snatched away at any moment, heartbreaking.

The scene where they are eating with the Time Lords is another reason why I love the idea of an older Brig traveling with the Doctor. He was always a well-layered character before, but now he also is more than ready to stand toe-to-toe with the complications and irritations of Time Lord society and it's endlessly amusing to see how well he handles them.

On a side note, I laughed more than once at the idea of Jamie hallucinating after eating some Gallifreyan cuisine. I think I'm sensing the inspiration for another ficlet...

Also, I can just picture that scene toward the end with Two sitting on a high shelf, kicking his legs back and forth like a kid. It's a scene we really should have had on the show.

All and all, great story, as usual for you. I hope you will do more with this one.

I was laughing SO hard! This is amazing!

This is great.

Oh this is an excellent story

Thank you so much for this!

I love the Brigadier's genuine concern for the Doctor; he knows that the Doctor isn't in a good place right now, and though he knows he'll never be able to replace Jamie, he can at least make sure that the Doctor doesn't have to go at it alone.

The banter between the two is written simply perfectly; their voices are as clear as day, as is their mutual concern for (and utter vexation with) each other!

The Doctor unconsciously imitating Jamie's exasperated sound was heartwrenching, though...

And, of course, they make it through another one. Glad to see the Brig has his priorities in order, heh...

Love love loveee this! The brig is fair cool