Disclaimer: I do not own the TARDIS, The Doctor, or Rose... Unfortunately ;)
Fandom: Doctor Who: 10th Doctor and Rose
Teaser: Rose has a question, and The Doctor has a theory for her.
A/N: It was just a spark in my head that happened recently when I was watching a recent episode of Doctor Who on Scifi... And this came from it.
"Sentience?"
Nowhere, Nowhen.
The TARDIS was drifting through the time vortex peacefully. It hadn't gotten a direction in time or space just yet, although it knew the Doctor had something in mind, but it preferred to let the Doctor choose. As long as the Doctor was still alive, the TARDIS was willing to let him do anything he wished.
The Doctor looked up at the central column and patted the counter, with a small smile tugging at his mouth. "That's a good girl."
Rose stepped up by him and sat down on the chairs behind him, and studied the Doctor's back with speculation written all over her features.
"...Doctor?"
He absent-mindedly looked back at Rose, "Yeah?"
She tried to phrase the question without making the Doctor annoyed, but knew that he would probably forgive her most anything she asked. "Um, Why are we getting into trouble nearly everytime we land the TARDIS somewhere?"
The Doctor blinked at her question, and threw out a flippant response, "Do we? I hadn't noticed." He flashed his pearly whites in a bright smile.
Rose was getting used to his humored responses, and grinned good-naturedly. "Now, don't you be that way. You did notice."
The Doctor stared at her for a moment, intuitively knowing she was asking for a serious answer, then quickly glanced at the TARDIS core, and frowned as a glimmer of an idea occurred. It was one of those small ephipanies that he had started to get lately.
The TARDIS' humming changed subtly. Rose hadn't noticed but it was low enough for the Doctor's ears to pick up. He turned around, leaning against the counter's edge, and took a moment before talking.
"...If I remember right, my predecessor mentioned something about the TARDIS being alive, correct?"
Rose nodded once uncertainly. The whole business of his regeneration was something she hadn't gotten used to yet. Perhaps given more time, she would. This fellow was still her Doctor, but she still liked the differences in him now.
He continued after a moment's pause. "I think that... sometimes I think the TARDIS does it herself. She takes us to places that need help."
Rose blinked in surprise. "What? ... the TARDIS took us there on its own will? The messed up times and places?"
He gave a lopsided grin, and crossed his arms. "Seems so. I think the TARDIS wants us to fix things that go wrong. Or perhaps, She hopes I can fix things."
Rose sat there in silence, looking up at the TARDIS column, oddly contemplative. Then she fired off a witty response. "Kinda like Quantum Leap?"
The Doctor choked at the comparison, and coughed out a laugh. "Ha! I doubt it. The TARDIS isn't a God or a Goddess."
Rose couldn't help herself, and started laughing. "I guess not."
He grinned toothily. "And I do have control...over where we go." Mentally, he added. -- Sometimes.
The TARDIS hummed happily, at least to the Doctor's ears.
It liked Rose. Rose made her Doctor happy. There was less loneliness in the universe with her here. When she dies, as mortals die, I will make her part of the TARDIS. Perhaps I will help her become like my Doctor. She has potential.