Author's Notes: A bit of fun, featuring the Doctor's newest and smallest companion. Set in the same canon as 'Reality and Other Games', between 'Reality' and 'Captivation'.
"Doctor?"
"Yeah?"
"What's that?"
"What's what?" he said nonchalantly, not really listening.
"That thing in your hair!" Martha replied, grimacing.
"Oh, did I not tell you about Alonso?"
"'Alonso'?"
"Yeah, I rescued him."
There was a small, almost fluffy, green lizard-like creature with yellow eyes, barely the size of her hand, sitting in his hair, looking around casually.
The creature made a questioning, squeaking sound.
"Where from?"
"There was a market in the Toraji system, nasty little place. I rescued him. They've been up to their old tricks, fuel scooping permits, et al. And there he was. He was starving, he'd been forgotten."
"You stole him?"
"He won't be missed. Poor thing."
"Yeah, who do people think they are? Mistreating defenceless creatures..."
She reached up to stroke its head and it purred appreciatively.
"What is it?"
"Not sure, he's just Alonso. Some form of omnivorous lizard- very friendly, so far."
"Where'd I hear that before? Toraji system?"
The Doctor looked uncomfortable.
"Oh! Must be important if you're going back there. Getting possessed isn't something I'd say you'd ever forget. Huh, says me!"
"Yeah, it's not my favourite place in the universe, but people have to do proper scans, or, well, you've seen the results..."
"He's adorable!" she said brightly, scratching its chin. "Is it definitely a he?"
"No idea, but he hasn't objected."
"How long is he staying up there for?"
"As long as I can stand him, then I've got a cushion for him to sleep on."
"It's like a reptilian cat, almost..."
The Doctor pulled a face.
"Alright, intergalactic animal classification isn't exactly my strong point. Where's Donna, by the way?"
"As far away from this as possible. She saw it, screamed, set him off, I spent almost three hours chasing him- he's quite nippy when he wants to be. I think she's in the bath or something..."
A hour earlier.
The Doctor jumped for the small, green creature, narrowly missing it, for the what seemed like the hundredth time.
"Oh, cheers, Donna!" he shouted towards the console room. "Thanks a lot!"
But she was nowhere to be seen.
"It's only a harmless lizard! Oh, don't help!"
"Oh! C'mere! I won't hurt you, you know me, you silly thing!"
It climbed up the walls of one of the TARDIS corridors and he made a grab for it, sending it scurrying into the pipes that covered the ceiling.
"Awww, come down!" the Doctor whined. "I have food!" He waved a cereal bar he'd fished from the many pockets of his coat at the ceiling. "Come down, please!" he said softly. "Great, now I have to get a ladder, I can't leave you up there, goodness knows where you'll..."
The lizard scurried past, making the Doctor jump and almost trip over his own feet.
"ALONSO! Come back here! You're really trying Mummy's patience!"