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noblealiceworksTitle: Beginning of a Beautiful Relationship
Author: lily_268
Fandom/Pairing: Ten/Rose, Doctor Who
Summary: Set post-School Reunion, Mickey, Rose and Ten are following a large trace of time flux particles to 1970’s England. They meet an old friend of the Doctor’s.
Spoilers: If you have not listened to the audio play Shada, never fear (although there will be slight spoilers). All you need to know is that Chris Parsons traveled with the Eighth Doctor, Romana, K9 and another Time Lord, called Professor Chronotis.
Rating: PG (this is pure, plotless fluff. I am NOT a fluff writer. So this probably....sucks.)
Word Count: 3000
Sitting with his long legs sprawled out in front of him, Chris held the program in his right hand, dangling inches above the ground, and wrapped his left around his body, as if to nap. He heard a strange noise like a telephone without enough power to ring properly but blinked it away with a sigh.
To make matters worse, he was probably now hallucinating since no-one else seemed to give the strange noise the same attention.
He had been suffering through another agonisingly long lecture about matter dynamics and it had taken all of his willpower to keep his eyelids from closing.
Especially since he’d seen it all proven wrong anyways.
Not that he could tell anyone tough. It was a rather tough spot he’d been put in when he’d returned, his brain buzzing with activity, barely able to contain it all. He’d wanted to revolutionalise the world of physics but was laughed out of every lecture hall before his second sentence. In the end, it was easier to chalk it all up to a bet he had lost.
Soon enough the earnest energy from discovery faded from his eyes as he settled in for a lifetime of normalcy.
Some days he looked out the window at the perfectly blue, cloudless sky and cursed the Doctor for ever leading him on that wild goose chase to the alien prison.
It was when his head had jerked up from falling onto his shoulder, that he heard the familiar sound again. Discreetly standing up, he rubbed the crick in his neck as he hurried as fast towards the sound as his cramped legs would allow him.
* * * * *
“Where are we, Doctor?” Rose’s voice floated above the controls.
“When are we?” Followed Mickey’s voice, clearly pleased that he’d remembered the TARDIS’s vast capabilities.
“Not quite sure.” The Doctor popped his head out and looked around. Twisting back over his shoulder he called out to them, “I was aiming for Da Vinci, but it looks like we're at Cambridge instead.”
Rose paled and looked down at her tank top and jean cutt offs.
Before running back down a corridor of the TARDIS, she popped a quick kiss to Mickey’s cheek and whispered, “Stall ‘im.”
She arrived back in a tan blazer with a matching short skirt and a lavender t-shirt. It said “The Fratellis” on it and it had a stain by the hem but luckily this was mostly covered by the jacket, which she fidgeted with. She pulled on the skirt, fruitlessly trying to cover her knees as she entered; giggling at Mickey’s pained expression and the Doctor’s blissful ignorance. He was threatening some horrendously painful consequence for the next person to wander off while simultaneously insulting Mickey. Like a kid who was able to have his cake and eat it too, the Doctor was grinning madly.
“Can we get started?” She asked, faking the annoyance in her voice. “‘Onestly, you two take forever to get ready. I’ve been waiting for ages.” She sashayed towards the doors, ignoring their agitated gapes.
“But! You were the one who was—” The Doctor started, his finger pointing rudely.
“Forget it mate. No chance in ‘ell you’ll win this.” Mickey clapped him on the back before following Rose out the wooden doors.
Rose was about to take a deep breath and plunge into the unknown when she felt the familiar warmth of the Doctor’s hand entwined with hers. Looking over, she grinned, ready to take on the world. The three of them went walking down the shaded lane, smelling the fresh lilacs and newly sculpted lawns.
People were walking by with scarves, peace t-shirts and flared cords, their hair down to at least their shoulders.
“So...recent past then?” Mickey asked, finding a protest flyer blowing on the ground, the wind taking it from his fingertips.
“Seems like...late 1970’s.” Remarked the Doctor, not really absorbed in the details. His eyes were roaming the ancient architecture, looking for a particular room.
Mickey scoffed. "Nice driving, we're only three hundred years off of when we want to be."
“Hold on, I had an old friend live ‘round here.”
Rose paused, looking back at Mickey. He avoided her worried gaze as she subconsciously pulled at her skirt again.
“He’s dead now, quite the shame, but he was always marvellous fun. Made the best tea this side of London.”
“He?” Rose questioned, smiling. “What was he like?”
The Doctor scratched his ear. “Ancient really. Not your type. Boring old man with white hair.” She smacked his arm.
“How do you know what my type is? Maybe I’m looking for someone a bit more mature.”
Wounded, the Doctor turned to her. “Are you?”
“Naw, not today.”
“Good.”
They continued with their walk through the park, admiring the squirrels and academic displays.
Or rather, they would have, if a brown blur hadn’t bumped into them at an alarmingly fast speed.
Lifting her head from Mickey’s stomach, Rose was expecting a rugby player, not this thin, handsome academic. He apologised and helped her up; asking if she’d heard the same sound. As she turned round to assist Mickey get to his feet, he continued to explain the sound he was looking for by babbling for minutes on end.
Rose looked at his crazed eyes with alarm. She thought Cambridge would have had better security than this.
Mickey brushed off his pants, asking if the young man meant the noise that the TARDIS made.
“YES!” The man flung his scarf around his neck again and looked ready to embrace Mickey in a hug, who was suddenly uncomfortable, as he was not accustomed to so much attention.
The Doctor, left alone to get up, was sternly frowning at Mickey. “Not much of a secret-keeper, are you? What if he was trying to lock us up in a glass case, like butterflies with pins through their wings?”
Rose sighed, hand covering her eyes as they playfully argued.
* * * * *
Chris was surprised that so many people knew about the TARDIS. After six months of doubting himself, he’d become half convinced that it was all a strange and elaborate dream.
He was overjoyed to meet people who already knew what he was talking about. For the first time, he wasn’t alone in a crowd.
The pale man was still dusting off his trousers when he stopped mid-wipe as he caught a look at Chris’ face. He said his name, which in itself wasn’t odd, as he was still wearing a name tag from the conference brunch, but it was said as if this man, one he’d never met before, knew him.
The dark haired man walked up, hands in pockets. “Been about what? Eight months since you’ve last seen the Doctor?”
The girl tugged on his coat jacket, whispering. “But, you’re...”
“Different body, Rose.” He winked and Chris was left feeling utterly confused.
“Umm...six months, actually, since the Doctor left with Romana and K9 in the TARDIS.”
“How long did you have that tin dog?” Inquired the bloke from behind who looked antsy to leave.
“You keep around the reliable travelers.” The men eyed each other.
Chris interrupted, “right, this is fascinating, horribly confusing, but fascinating nonetheless, but there are bigger problems. Does this have to do with Shada again? Is Skagra back?”
“Calm down,” the tall man breezed past him. “We’re only here for a stroll. What in the world is Skag---oh, right.” The man’s arm was halfway around his head, looking as if he was about to scratch his own back. It flew straight into the air with his eyebrows as he remembered.
“What an adventure that was! Rose, you would have loved it! A crazy lunatic was trying to steal a Time Lord’s mind to unleash his consciousness onto the galaxy and create one universal mind.”
“Spooky.” The girl called Rose said.
“So, everything’s okay with the Doctor?” Chris asked again, getting impatient.
“Sure, sure, fine and dandy. We’re just visiting.”
Turning to the young woman again he said, “I had wondered why there was so much flux in the air, and it’s just residue from the last time I’d been here.” His grin was only matched by hers as if they shared a secret the rest of the world couldn’t know.
Rose quietly asked him something about what that meant for the readings they'd gotten. Then Chris had to shake his head because he was pretty sure she just said something about the Mona Lisa, didn't she know that was in France?
Then, just as suddenly as the man's memory had cleared, he turned to Chris, who was shocked to find a nose in his face that was asking him if he knew of a nice chip shop nearby.
A little startled, he shuffled a bit as he answered. “Ahhh, yeah. One around this corner.”
“S’there a pub nearby it? I’d love to see a classic match.”
The blonde just shook her head and started walking in the direction Chris had originally pointed.
“Manifiqué! Lead on!” Called the other man enthusiastically as he hooked arms with Rose.
* * * * *
Rose leaned in to whisper to the Doctor as they walked down the street, “He doesn’t seem very shocked.”
“Yes, never was, was he? Always calm…methodical. Scientific man who accepts the evidence of his eyes.”
“Rather an impressive bloke then? I mean, if you only travel with, what did you say? Ah yes, the best. Maybe I ought a meet him properly.” She smiled, speeding up to talk to Chris, Mickey joining them on her other side.
She turned back to laugh at the Doctor who was walked behind them, looking as though he was desperately trying to telepathically trip one of the two men that were flanking her.
She grabbed Chris’ hand, holding it up. “He’s got an ‘gagement ring.” She teased back at him, inwardly pleased at his visible distress.
“Ahhh, yes! I knew that. Of course I knew that. Hard to miss when it’s flashing in your eyes all the time. So that umm...that’d be Clare, right?”
“Yes. We’ll be married next year but she’s currently in Moscow giving a series of lectures.”
“Pity, she was handy in a tight spot.”
“Hmm, I suppose proper introductions are in order.” Rose steeled herself for another bit of the ‘different body, different cells but same ol’ Doctor’ bit.
She knew how much he loved explaining things, especially if there was hardly a chance of the person he was explaining to would understand it. So she was pleasantly surprised when he gave his name as John Chronotis.
Once she saw the dawning realisation on Chris’ face, she knew that the choice of name was not accidental. It had gained them access to whatever knowledge he had.
* * * * *
It was amazing really! Absolutely amazing that he had actually found people who not only believed him, but asked him to believe in their stories. Some were even wilder than his own. It had been a long while since he’d felt like the sanest person in a room.
They were all sitting down at the small chip shop, chatting about the weather. It was surreal. He thought of pinching himself before realising that this dream was way more exciting than waking up in a lecture hall, so he had better fully enjoy it.
Of course, if there was to be pinching, it would have to wait for later as he was deeply involved in telling the story of how he and Professor Chronotis met. This later evolved into the story of how Professor Chronotis and his whole apartment went missing which then dwindled off into the story of how he had proposed to Clare.
Rose was staring adoringly off in space at the conclusion of his story, her head resting in her hand. Mickey was trying to get his rolled up napkin in the nearby wastebasket and was shocked when Rose’s elbow connected with his stomach. He straightened his body and then, as if finally noticing something, dropped his jaw with surprise.
Chris wasn’t really interested, but thought it polite to ask what had shocked the young man. Instead of an answer, he had to follow his gaze outside to see Professor Chronotis’ son outside playing with the pigeons.
“When did he run off?” Rose asked.
“Shoulda known.” Mickey wiped the remaining grease off his hands. “No way he can stay quiet long enough for someone else to tell a story.”
“Too bad he missed it. It was a lovely story.” Rose tilted her head, staring at John in such a way that he felt he was imposing on a private meeting between lovers. It was palatable, the connection they had. He wondered if he and Clare would ever reach the same comfortable passion.
Rose got up from her chair and gently pushed the door open a crack to speak with him. “You alright?”
“The pigeons are diseased, Rose!” He said, as he followed a pair down the patio and turned around with them.
“Aren’t all pigeons always diseased?” She asked, hesitating between wanting to feel his forehead and wanting to get some pigeon soup.
Stopping abruptly he gasped. “Of course!”
“Of course, what?”
John walked back inside and slumped down on his chair. “Of course they are diseased. Ordinary bird carriers for ordinary influenza. I’d forgotten that you lot don’t get that global pandemic until at least a century from now.”
“So, it’s all alright?” Chris leaned over to John, anxious about the manic glint that had just vanished from his eye.
“Yes,” he said, slouching lower, slightly disappointed.
“Don’t worry,” Rose tried to sooth him, her hand rubbing circles on his back. “We can go back to the bubonic plague if it’ll make you feel better.”
“Really Rose?”
“Really and truly.”
In response, John looked up at Rose’s face and gave a wane smile. Chris was watching and he had the same sensation as before; that he was witnessing something both deeply private and the cause for universal celebration.
“Have I got a choice in this?” Mickey asked, as he sank another balled up napkin.
“No.” They said in union.
* * * * *
“So, no planet to save, no monster to banish to do, and no disaster to avert?”
“Pretty boring day.” Rose quipped, smelling the flowers by her knees and rolling her eyes so Chris could see.
“Tell me about it.”
“Then let’s get going. I want to save at least a species before tea.” Mickey announced with purpose.
“Always finkin’ he’s an action hero because he once saved the world with a big yellow truck.” Rose shrugged and rolled her eyes.
“Guess we’re off then.”
“Well, umm, if you see the Doctor, will you thank him for me?” Chris asked and Rose didn’t dare look over at his face, instead solemnly promising Chris that his message would be delivered.
“You know Chris, the Professor, ermm...my Dad told me about you. It wasn’t the Doctor that made you special. He said you were very brave.”
“The only thing I’m scared of now is marriage.”
The Doctor screwed up his forehead, searching for advice before finally settling on a Latin phrase that sounded very impressive.
“What’s that mean?” Rose enquired.
“One potato, two potato, three potato, four. Five potato, six potato, seven potato or more.”
Rose was joined with Mickey and Chris in giving the Doctor a blank stare. “Riiiiiight. And how exactly does that relate?” Rose asked, incredulous.
“No idea. But it would have given him something to ponder on and take his mind off of the stress of the wedding.”
“Ignore ‘im, Chris. Just remember that no matter what, she’s always right.”
* * * * *
“Bye, mate. Remember, you’ll want to put about 200 pounds down on Italy winning the world cup in a few years. It’ll be a stellar game. Wish I had been alive to see it.”
“Mickey, didn’t you learn anything from the movies?” John sighed,
“Wot?! S’not my personal gain. S’only his. And whose ‘e gonna ‘arm?” He turned to Rose. “That’s alright, aint it?”
“You’re a prince, Mickey.” Rose said softly, as she walked past to say goodbye to Chris. Leaning over, she whispered in his ear, “and we can try to convince him to take us to that match later on.”
Mickey looked overjoyed as he ran off into the TARDIS, whooping.
“Is he going to be okay?” Chris asked.
“Never mind him. Now you be safe and look after your fiancé.” Rose gave him a quick hug and he noticed that she looked happier than Chris had seen her all afternoon.
“So, are all the Time Lords really leaving this time?”
For a flash of a second, Chris thought he’d seen a flicker of remorse and loneliness. But John’s expressive eyes soon shoved that thought to the back of his mind.
“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry about it all. Science will catch up with what you’ve seen. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but someday and for the rest of your life...no wait, hang on, that’s Casablanca.”
John rubbed his left eye rigorously with his fingers, as if it was the cause of his random tangent of thought. “Point is, try and forget us and live the good life. The ‘80’s are just around the corner. You’re in for a ride.”
Once Chris’ back was turned, he was unaware of the shared frightened grimace that John and Rose shared.
* * * * *
They stood outside the TARDIS, watching Chris fade down the path, listening to the gentle hum of the engines charging up.
“So...not just women then?” Rose quietly asked, hesitating before entering the TARDIS.
“No, ‘course not.” He blew out a puff of indignant air as she searched for something intently in her jacket pocket. All she pulled out was a loose string and a button popped off.
She bent down to pick it up and when she’d stood up again, the Doctor had his sonic screwdriver out and set to reattach the errant button.
He focused on his task, telling himself not to get distracted by the admiring way the blue light highlighted her features. “I travel with people based on merit. Or y’know...because I blew up their home world and they had no where else to go. Other than that though, it’s all based on a five star system.”
Rose’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”
“Sort of, yeah. Different stars mean different things. You, for example are a yellow giant star. Mickey’s a red dwarf.” And she laughed as she tested the newly reattached button.
“Only a few stayed a long time with me though.” He said, smiling down at her.
“So, why’d you pick me?”
“It rather feels like you picked me.”
Thinking this over, she smiled back. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Good decision?”
“I don’t regret it, yet.”
“Good.” He said as he watched her enter the TARDIS. Taking one last look around at Cambridge, he sighed happily before following her. Before he could close the door he paused, confused.
“Wait...”He called. “What do you mean by yet?” Hurrying towards her footsteps, he continued yelling. “Rose?”
The only answer was a high pitched giggle as she ran from room to room.
Author: lily_268
Fandom/Pairing: Ten/Rose, Doctor Who
Summary: Set post-School Reunion, Mickey, Rose and Ten are following a large trace of time flux particles to 1970’s England. They meet an old friend of the Doctor’s.
Spoilers: If you have not listened to the audio play Shada, never fear (although there will be slight spoilers). All you need to know is that Chris Parsons traveled with the Eighth Doctor, Romana, K9 and another Time Lord, called Professor Chronotis.
Rating: PG (this is pure, plotless fluff. I am NOT a fluff writer. So this probably....sucks.)
Word Count: 3000
Sitting with his long legs sprawled out in front of him, Chris held the program in his right hand, dangling inches above the ground, and wrapped his left around his body, as if to nap. He heard a strange noise like a telephone without enough power to ring properly but blinked it away with a sigh.
To make matters worse, he was probably now hallucinating since no-one else seemed to give the strange noise the same attention.
He had been suffering through another agonisingly long lecture about matter dynamics and it had taken all of his willpower to keep his eyelids from closing.
Especially since he’d seen it all proven wrong anyways.
Not that he could tell anyone tough. It was a rather tough spot he’d been put in when he’d returned, his brain buzzing with activity, barely able to contain it all. He’d wanted to revolutionalise the world of physics but was laughed out of every lecture hall before his second sentence. In the end, it was easier to chalk it all up to a bet he had lost.
Soon enough the earnest energy from discovery faded from his eyes as he settled in for a lifetime of normalcy.
Some days he looked out the window at the perfectly blue, cloudless sky and cursed the Doctor for ever leading him on that wild goose chase to the alien prison.
It was when his head had jerked up from falling onto his shoulder, that he heard the familiar sound again. Discreetly standing up, he rubbed the crick in his neck as he hurried as fast towards the sound as his cramped legs would allow him.
“Where are we, Doctor?” Rose’s voice floated above the controls.
“When are we?” Followed Mickey’s voice, clearly pleased that he’d remembered the TARDIS’s vast capabilities.
“Not quite sure.” The Doctor popped his head out and looked around. Twisting back over his shoulder he called out to them, “I was aiming for Da Vinci, but it looks like we're at Cambridge instead.”
Rose paled and looked down at her tank top and jean cutt offs.
Before running back down a corridor of the TARDIS, she popped a quick kiss to Mickey’s cheek and whispered, “Stall ‘im.”
She arrived back in a tan blazer with a matching short skirt and a lavender t-shirt. It said “The Fratellis” on it and it had a stain by the hem but luckily this was mostly covered by the jacket, which she fidgeted with. She pulled on the skirt, fruitlessly trying to cover her knees as she entered; giggling at Mickey’s pained expression and the Doctor’s blissful ignorance. He was threatening some horrendously painful consequence for the next person to wander off while simultaneously insulting Mickey. Like a kid who was able to have his cake and eat it too, the Doctor was grinning madly.
“Can we get started?” She asked, faking the annoyance in her voice. “‘Onestly, you two take forever to get ready. I’ve been waiting for ages.” She sashayed towards the doors, ignoring their agitated gapes.
“But! You were the one who was—” The Doctor started, his finger pointing rudely.
“Forget it mate. No chance in ‘ell you’ll win this.” Mickey clapped him on the back before following Rose out the wooden doors.
Rose was about to take a deep breath and plunge into the unknown when she felt the familiar warmth of the Doctor’s hand entwined with hers. Looking over, she grinned, ready to take on the world. The three of them went walking down the shaded lane, smelling the fresh lilacs and newly sculpted lawns.
People were walking by with scarves, peace t-shirts and flared cords, their hair down to at least their shoulders.
“So...recent past then?” Mickey asked, finding a protest flyer blowing on the ground, the wind taking it from his fingertips.
“Seems like...late 1970’s.” Remarked the Doctor, not really absorbed in the details. His eyes were roaming the ancient architecture, looking for a particular room.
Mickey scoffed. "Nice driving, we're only three hundred years off of when we want to be."
“Hold on, I had an old friend live ‘round here.”
Rose paused, looking back at Mickey. He avoided her worried gaze as she subconsciously pulled at her skirt again.
“He’s dead now, quite the shame, but he was always marvellous fun. Made the best tea this side of London.”
“He?” Rose questioned, smiling. “What was he like?”
The Doctor scratched his ear. “Ancient really. Not your type. Boring old man with white hair.” She smacked his arm.
“How do you know what my type is? Maybe I’m looking for someone a bit more mature.”
Wounded, the Doctor turned to her. “Are you?”
“Naw, not today.”
“Good.”
They continued with their walk through the park, admiring the squirrels and academic displays.
Or rather, they would have, if a brown blur hadn’t bumped into them at an alarmingly fast speed.
Lifting her head from Mickey’s stomach, Rose was expecting a rugby player, not this thin, handsome academic. He apologised and helped her up; asking if she’d heard the same sound. As she turned round to assist Mickey get to his feet, he continued to explain the sound he was looking for by babbling for minutes on end.
Rose looked at his crazed eyes with alarm. She thought Cambridge would have had better security than this.
Mickey brushed off his pants, asking if the young man meant the noise that the TARDIS made.
“YES!” The man flung his scarf around his neck again and looked ready to embrace Mickey in a hug, who was suddenly uncomfortable, as he was not accustomed to so much attention.
The Doctor, left alone to get up, was sternly frowning at Mickey. “Not much of a secret-keeper, are you? What if he was trying to lock us up in a glass case, like butterflies with pins through their wings?”
Rose sighed, hand covering her eyes as they playfully argued.
Chris was surprised that so many people knew about the TARDIS. After six months of doubting himself, he’d become half convinced that it was all a strange and elaborate dream.
He was overjoyed to meet people who already knew what he was talking about. For the first time, he wasn’t alone in a crowd.
The pale man was still dusting off his trousers when he stopped mid-wipe as he caught a look at Chris’ face. He said his name, which in itself wasn’t odd, as he was still wearing a name tag from the conference brunch, but it was said as if this man, one he’d never met before, knew him.
The dark haired man walked up, hands in pockets. “Been about what? Eight months since you’ve last seen the Doctor?”
The girl tugged on his coat jacket, whispering. “But, you’re...”
“Different body, Rose.” He winked and Chris was left feeling utterly confused.
“Umm...six months, actually, since the Doctor left with Romana and K9 in the TARDIS.”
“How long did you have that tin dog?” Inquired the bloke from behind who looked antsy to leave.
“You keep around the reliable travelers.” The men eyed each other.
Chris interrupted, “right, this is fascinating, horribly confusing, but fascinating nonetheless, but there are bigger problems. Does this have to do with Shada again? Is Skagra back?”
“Calm down,” the tall man breezed past him. “We’re only here for a stroll. What in the world is Skag---oh, right.” The man’s arm was halfway around his head, looking as if he was about to scratch his own back. It flew straight into the air with his eyebrows as he remembered.
“What an adventure that was! Rose, you would have loved it! A crazy lunatic was trying to steal a Time Lord’s mind to unleash his consciousness onto the galaxy and create one universal mind.”
“Spooky.” The girl called Rose said.
“So, everything’s okay with the Doctor?” Chris asked again, getting impatient.
“Sure, sure, fine and dandy. We’re just visiting.”
Turning to the young woman again he said, “I had wondered why there was so much flux in the air, and it’s just residue from the last time I’d been here.” His grin was only matched by hers as if they shared a secret the rest of the world couldn’t know.
Rose quietly asked him something about what that meant for the readings they'd gotten. Then Chris had to shake his head because he was pretty sure she just said something about the Mona Lisa, didn't she know that was in France?
Then, just as suddenly as the man's memory had cleared, he turned to Chris, who was shocked to find a nose in his face that was asking him if he knew of a nice chip shop nearby.
A little startled, he shuffled a bit as he answered. “Ahhh, yeah. One around this corner.”
“S’there a pub nearby it? I’d love to see a classic match.”
The blonde just shook her head and started walking in the direction Chris had originally pointed.
“Manifiqué! Lead on!” Called the other man enthusiastically as he hooked arms with Rose.
Rose leaned in to whisper to the Doctor as they walked down the street, “He doesn’t seem very shocked.”
“Yes, never was, was he? Always calm…methodical. Scientific man who accepts the evidence of his eyes.”
“Rather an impressive bloke then? I mean, if you only travel with, what did you say? Ah yes, the best. Maybe I ought a meet him properly.” She smiled, speeding up to talk to Chris, Mickey joining them on her other side.
She turned back to laugh at the Doctor who was walked behind them, looking as though he was desperately trying to telepathically trip one of the two men that were flanking her.
She grabbed Chris’ hand, holding it up. “He’s got an ‘gagement ring.” She teased back at him, inwardly pleased at his visible distress.
“Ahhh, yes! I knew that. Of course I knew that. Hard to miss when it’s flashing in your eyes all the time. So that umm...that’d be Clare, right?”
“Yes. We’ll be married next year but she’s currently in Moscow giving a series of lectures.”
“Pity, she was handy in a tight spot.”
“Hmm, I suppose proper introductions are in order.” Rose steeled herself for another bit of the ‘different body, different cells but same ol’ Doctor’ bit.
She knew how much he loved explaining things, especially if there was hardly a chance of the person he was explaining to would understand it. So she was pleasantly surprised when he gave his name as John Chronotis.
Once she saw the dawning realisation on Chris’ face, she knew that the choice of name was not accidental. It had gained them access to whatever knowledge he had.
It was amazing really! Absolutely amazing that he had actually found people who not only believed him, but asked him to believe in their stories. Some were even wilder than his own. It had been a long while since he’d felt like the sanest person in a room.
They were all sitting down at the small chip shop, chatting about the weather. It was surreal. He thought of pinching himself before realising that this dream was way more exciting than waking up in a lecture hall, so he had better fully enjoy it.
Of course, if there was to be pinching, it would have to wait for later as he was deeply involved in telling the story of how he and Professor Chronotis met. This later evolved into the story of how Professor Chronotis and his whole apartment went missing which then dwindled off into the story of how he had proposed to Clare.
Rose was staring adoringly off in space at the conclusion of his story, her head resting in her hand. Mickey was trying to get his rolled up napkin in the nearby wastebasket and was shocked when Rose’s elbow connected with his stomach. He straightened his body and then, as if finally noticing something, dropped his jaw with surprise.
Chris wasn’t really interested, but thought it polite to ask what had shocked the young man. Instead of an answer, he had to follow his gaze outside to see Professor Chronotis’ son outside playing with the pigeons.
“When did he run off?” Rose asked.
“Shoulda known.” Mickey wiped the remaining grease off his hands. “No way he can stay quiet long enough for someone else to tell a story.”
“Too bad he missed it. It was a lovely story.” Rose tilted her head, staring at John in such a way that he felt he was imposing on a private meeting between lovers. It was palatable, the connection they had. He wondered if he and Clare would ever reach the same comfortable passion.
Rose got up from her chair and gently pushed the door open a crack to speak with him. “You alright?”
“The pigeons are diseased, Rose!” He said, as he followed a pair down the patio and turned around with them.
“Aren’t all pigeons always diseased?” She asked, hesitating between wanting to feel his forehead and wanting to get some pigeon soup.
Stopping abruptly he gasped. “Of course!”
“Of course, what?”
John walked back inside and slumped down on his chair. “Of course they are diseased. Ordinary bird carriers for ordinary influenza. I’d forgotten that you lot don’t get that global pandemic until at least a century from now.”
“So, it’s all alright?” Chris leaned over to John, anxious about the manic glint that had just vanished from his eye.
“Yes,” he said, slouching lower, slightly disappointed.
“Don’t worry,” Rose tried to sooth him, her hand rubbing circles on his back. “We can go back to the bubonic plague if it’ll make you feel better.”
“Really Rose?”
“Really and truly.”
In response, John looked up at Rose’s face and gave a wane smile. Chris was watching and he had the same sensation as before; that he was witnessing something both deeply private and the cause for universal celebration.
“Have I got a choice in this?” Mickey asked, as he sank another balled up napkin.
“No.” They said in union.
“So, no planet to save, no monster to banish to do, and no disaster to avert?”
“Pretty boring day.” Rose quipped, smelling the flowers by her knees and rolling her eyes so Chris could see.
“Tell me about it.”
“Then let’s get going. I want to save at least a species before tea.” Mickey announced with purpose.
“Always finkin’ he’s an action hero because he once saved the world with a big yellow truck.” Rose shrugged and rolled her eyes.
“Guess we’re off then.”
“Well, umm, if you see the Doctor, will you thank him for me?” Chris asked and Rose didn’t dare look over at his face, instead solemnly promising Chris that his message would be delivered.
“You know Chris, the Professor, ermm...my Dad told me about you. It wasn’t the Doctor that made you special. He said you were very brave.”
“The only thing I’m scared of now is marriage.”
The Doctor screwed up his forehead, searching for advice before finally settling on a Latin phrase that sounded very impressive.
“What’s that mean?” Rose enquired.
“One potato, two potato, three potato, four. Five potato, six potato, seven potato or more.”
Rose was joined with Mickey and Chris in giving the Doctor a blank stare. “Riiiiiight. And how exactly does that relate?” Rose asked, incredulous.
“No idea. But it would have given him something to ponder on and take his mind off of the stress of the wedding.”
“Ignore ‘im, Chris. Just remember that no matter what, she’s always right.”
“Bye, mate. Remember, you’ll want to put about 200 pounds down on Italy winning the world cup in a few years. It’ll be a stellar game. Wish I had been alive to see it.”
“Mickey, didn’t you learn anything from the movies?” John sighed,
“Wot?! S’not my personal gain. S’only his. And whose ‘e gonna ‘arm?” He turned to Rose. “That’s alright, aint it?”
“You’re a prince, Mickey.” Rose said softly, as she walked past to say goodbye to Chris. Leaning over, she whispered in his ear, “and we can try to convince him to take us to that match later on.”
Mickey looked overjoyed as he ran off into the TARDIS, whooping.
“Is he going to be okay?” Chris asked.
“Never mind him. Now you be safe and look after your fiancé.” Rose gave him a quick hug and he noticed that she looked happier than Chris had seen her all afternoon.
“So, are all the Time Lords really leaving this time?”
For a flash of a second, Chris thought he’d seen a flicker of remorse and loneliness. But John’s expressive eyes soon shoved that thought to the back of his mind.
“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry about it all. Science will catch up with what you’ve seen. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but someday and for the rest of your life...no wait, hang on, that’s Casablanca.”
John rubbed his left eye rigorously with his fingers, as if it was the cause of his random tangent of thought. “Point is, try and forget us and live the good life. The ‘80’s are just around the corner. You’re in for a ride.”
Once Chris’ back was turned, he was unaware of the shared frightened grimace that John and Rose shared.
They stood outside the TARDIS, watching Chris fade down the path, listening to the gentle hum of the engines charging up.
“So...not just women then?” Rose quietly asked, hesitating before entering the TARDIS.
“No, ‘course not.” He blew out a puff of indignant air as she searched for something intently in her jacket pocket. All she pulled out was a loose string and a button popped off.
She bent down to pick it up and when she’d stood up again, the Doctor had his sonic screwdriver out and set to reattach the errant button.
He focused on his task, telling himself not to get distracted by the admiring way the blue light highlighted her features. “I travel with people based on merit. Or y’know...because I blew up their home world and they had no where else to go. Other than that though, it’s all based on a five star system.”
Rose’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”
“Sort of, yeah. Different stars mean different things. You, for example are a yellow giant star. Mickey’s a red dwarf.” And she laughed as she tested the newly reattached button.
“Only a few stayed a long time with me though.” He said, smiling down at her.
“So, why’d you pick me?”
“It rather feels like you picked me.”
Thinking this over, she smiled back. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Good decision?”
“I don’t regret it, yet.”
“Good.” He said as he watched her enter the TARDIS. Taking one last look around at Cambridge, he sighed happily before following her. Before he could close the door he paused, confused.
“Wait...”He called. “What do you mean by yet?” Hurrying towards her footsteps, he continued yelling. “Rose?”
The only answer was a high pitched giggle as she ran from room to room.
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Date: 2007-06-26 06:41 pm (UTC)But maybe that's just me...
I really really liked it! Cute little fluffy at the end of it! I can so imagine her just dashing off to hide and giggling!
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Date: 2007-06-27 02:21 am (UTC)Glad you liked the end even if the rest was muddled. Perhaps another edit would help, I can never do enough! Thanks for the comment!
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Date: 2007-06-28 02:15 am (UTC)