A Life of Surprises and New Friends
Part One
by
Sabrina Lonewalker
Ok, this is the Sequel to "When You have Only one Lifetime". This follows Rose and the Meta Doctor, now known as Darick Kenelm McInnes as they continue their life in the Beta Universe. They learn that familiar faces are not what they always seem to be, sometimes, they can be nice surprises and sometimes, not so nice surprises.
It had been almost a year since Rose and Darick had started the process of growing their own TARDIS from the small, slender piece of coral that the original TARDIS had given him before they were left in Bad Wolf Bay. Everyday they went in to check on her, Rose was amazed. Not only was she growing fast, what looked like blue planks of wood were growing around her as well.
Rose vivedly remembered the day Darick had turned to her. "It's time she had a name, my Rose, would you like to do the honors?" Rose looked at him in surprise, "Me? You want Me to name her?" Darick had smiled, "Yes, I do. In a way, you are her mother." Rose's eyes lit up. "I'd like to call her 'Hope'." Darick's grin grew even wider, "Then Hope it is." He laid a hand on the growing TARDIS and motioned for Rose to do the same. She did and felt a happy 'humming' vibration. Rose laughed on hearing it and looked at her husband.
About then, Charley Jones, one of the technicians, stuck his silvered head in the door. "Sorry to bather the two of you but, Pete wanted you to know that the new Chief Physician has arrived. He's scheduling everyone for their annual physicals and seems you two are on the top of his list. He's had a long talk with Pete and I think he understands what he's gotten into here. He wants to see the two of you, together, in one hour." He then left. But then, he came back, "Oh, by the way, I think he'll fit right in. His name is Doctor David Barrowman and he's slightly eccentric. You'll see what I mean when you meet him." He then left for good.
Rose looked at her husband, "Eccentric? Charley's right, he will fit right in." Darick laughed and gerabbed Rose, swinging her around, kissing her soundly. "At least I won't have to hide what I am from him." Rose smiled, "That's true. Well, maybe we should arrive early?" Darick smiled, "Don't want to arrive too early my love, could set a bad precedent, you know." Rose giggled, "You're right there. Ok, we'll arrive maybe ten minutes early, how's that sound?" Darick nodded, "Sounds perfect. Now, back to our TARDIS."
The two of them went back into the lab and checked the setting s for about the umpteenth time that day. Finally, they headed to the Medical section and walked into the reception room. The woman behind the glass partition was Agnes, she had worked at Torchwood for a long time and now, she smiled when she saw them. She opened the glass window and smiled, "Hello you two. Listen, can you come back in an hour? An emergency case was brought in and Dr Barrowman going to be busy till then. he asked me to tell you so that you wouldn't have to wait for him."
Rose and Darick looked at each other and nodded, "Sure, Agnes," Darick said, "We can come back. Not too serious a case, I hope?" Agnes smiled, "No, one of the technicans burned his arm in one of the labs and it's going to take awhile. I'll tell Dr Barrowman you were here and they you'll be back in an hour." She closed the glass door and Rose and Darick went to the cafeteria to get coffee and talk quietly for the next hour. Rose was thoughtful, "That's unusual for a Doctor to tell his patients he'll be late. Charley was right, this guy is eccentric. I think I'm going to like him."
Darick chuckled at that comment, "I tend to agree, Rose, in this place, it's usually the more eccentric the better." Rose laughed, "It does seem that way, doesn't it?" They both chuckled and looked arounf the cafeteria. Not everyone here was human and they knew that but all of them fit together as a unit, as a cohesive whole all working towards the same goal, the safety of planet Earth. They finished their meal and headed back to the Physician's wing. Time they met their new Doctor.
TBC