Author's note: Well, here we go. My first story. I know it's kinda short and not very good but, hey, I'm trying! For now this is rated K but, let's face it, it's Rose and Ten on holidays, things aren't gonna stay K for long. Anyway, my whole fanfiction career depends on how you guys like this, so please review :) Also, as I said, it's my first fanfiction, so be gentle. And English is not my first language and I'm really sorry for all the mistakes (I'm sure there's lots of them).
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the characters (I wish!)
They weren't far behind her. Their faces were angry grimaces and their skin was yellowishly orange - the kind of colour you couldn't associate with any good thing. But Rose didn't really care. She's seen weirder. She's seen so many aliens and monsters, she could hardly recall their faces and in good time, she'll forget the faces of Levonians chasing after her.
She admired the Doctor and his determination to understand every being and save those who deserved it. Not for a minute has she ever doubted Doctor's good intentions. But for Rose it was too much. Caring about what's right and what's not, who lives and who doesn't. She cared about humans, for sure, and the Doctor, and she used to care, at the beginning, while he... He's been looking after the universe for centuries, throughout all of time and space. Then again, he didn't have anyone of his own to care about.
Sadness overwhelmed her for a short second, but she didn't stop. Because he's told her to run, not just once. She knew the plan. Attract Levonians' attention, then run towards the left wing of the hospital, through the IC room labelled "Intensive 12" and onto the balcony, then close the doors behind you. The Doctor will hide around the corner, run after the Levonians and close the doors behind them. After you see the doors closed, jump from one balcony to the next one and come back inside. Easy enough plan.
"Intensive 12" was right around the corner. And - inside! Rose's heart was pumping. She felt the adrenalin kicking in. Right in time. She was gonna need it if she wanted to make that jump. Onto the balcony and close those doors. Levonians were all in the room and the doors behind them closed too. Rose could see the Doctor through the glass door of the balcony and a small window in Doctor's doors. She waved at him, but he was too busy deadlocking the door with his sonic to notice. She looked around. The next balcony was about half a meter away, but underneath was a three-story fall. Gulping, she climbed onto the rail of the balcony she was on. She thought about closing her eyes, but decided against it. Looking directly in front of her, she jumped. Her hands grabbed the rail, but her feet missed their landing and fell numbly downwards. She felt nine years of gymnastics take over her. Ungracefully she crumbled up onto the balcony, only to be greeted by Doctor's amused face.
Angrily she asked him: "How long have you been standing there?"
The Doctor smiled: "Oh, long enough." His voice was taunting.
He knew what she was going to ask, but she asked anyway. "And you didn't think I might need some help?"
The corners of his mouth turned up even more. It was close to a grin. "Nah, you had it under control."
Rose sighed. As much as the Doctor annoyed her, she's grown fond of his teasing. "So, what about the Levonians?" she asked.
The Doctor's face suddenly fell. He wasn't sad, he was still cheerful even, but he had what Rose called "a doctory face". He always wore this face when the matters were about his "job".
"I contacted the Shadow Proclamation. They're coming to get them home."
Rose looked at him with wide eyes. "But aren't they dangerous?"
He looked back at her like a teacher, proud of his students for asking the right question. "Oh no, the Levonians are actually really nice and non-violent creatures. They're only acting like that because they're rabid. They've been infected by common cold. Well, it's common for you, but deadly for them. They need to be vaccinated. Unfortunately, you don't have common cold vaccines. I mean, why would you? Well, there's a thousand reasons why, but anyway..."
There it was. His speech, a speech he made every time he explained something timelordy. His voice was smooth, full of "oh's" and "well's", serious enough to make her listen and relaxed enough to reassure her. With his explanations, she filled her mind encyclopaedia of the universe.
Name: Levinians
Status: alien
Home planet: ask the Doctor
Relations: friendly (except if they're infected by common cold)
Precaution: don't sneeze in their proximity
And there was a picture of enraged orange creatures. On the last "well" the Doctor walked out of the room, naturally assuming she'd follow. She did.
DW###DW###
Back in the TARDIS Rose sat down on one of the sits while the Doctor fiddled with the controls. She never knew what he was doing exactly, though he's explained it to her several times. After an ungracefully graceful turn, he was facing her.
"So, having fun yet?" he asked, this time grinning wide. It was obvious he was. Rose couldn't understand the kick he got every time he saved someone. She felt it too, the first few times. The rush of energy, the thankful looks of those they saved, the general feel-good mood of doing the right thing and the relieve when it was all over. Except it wasn't. Rose never thought she'd grow tired of travelling with the Doctor. And she hasn't really. But she was tired, she had to admit that. She needed a vacation.
"What's wrong?" asked the Doctor then. He's been with Rose long enough to know, when something was wrong and when she was just moody. Which was often. He crouched to look her in the eyes.
"The Levonians are gonna be fine. The Shadow Proclamation was made for this exact reason. To bring law to the Universe and help those who need help. Well, mostly. They have their flaws, but then who doesn't." Rose saw that about half way through the Doctor's figured that this wasn't the problem but continued anyway, because that's what he was like. More knowledge couldn't hurt.
"What's wrong?" the Doctor quarried again, real concern in his voice.
"It's nothing, just..." She didn't know how to tell him she wants to stop. They've always been running and it was all he's ever known. She wanted to stop but not without him.
"It's not nothing, it's not just, there's something on your mind and I need you to tell me." His voice was compelling, too compelling for Rose to handle. She wondered if that came with being a timelord or was it just the Doctor.
"I was just thinking that... maybe... maybe it's time for a break." she mumbled. It wasn't like her to mumble.
The Doctor stood up now, visibly happy that the problem is solved: "Well, you should've just said so. Well, sooner." He started pressing buttons and pulling levers again. Without even realizing it, Rose stood up and put her hand on his arm.
"No," she said quietly. "I meant we should take a break. Together. Away from the monsters and chases and dangers. Like a vacation."
She was thinking about taking a step back. She was afraid of the Doctor's reaction. He was an alien after all and she's just asked him to deny himself. He was a healer and doctors never took days off. His face, however, remained motionless. He was dwelling on the idea. After what seemed like minutes he made an uncertain gesture.
"You mean like a honeymoon?" Rose's face blushed bright red, her heartbeat jumped, when the thought of a honeymoon with the Doctor involuntarily flashed through her mind. The Doctor, on the other hand, seemed completely undisturbed. He was focusing all his attention on controlling the TARDIS, probably to stop her.
Isn't that how you call holydays for two?" he continued, when Rose didn't answer.
"No, I mean yes, but no, not like a honeymoon," she answered smiling. The Doctor seemed to have put this behind them.
"So, where and when do you have in mind?" he asked abruptly. Rose just stared at him. She hadn't expected him to jump on the idea so quickly. And she'd just realised she didn't really know what she wanted. The Doctor looked content; it wasn't easy to take Rose by surprise.
After a minute of thinking she shook her head: "Anywhere, any when, just three days, no psychic paper, no sonic screwdriver, no daleks, no cybermen, no paradoxes, no saving the universe, just you and me. Deal?"
She was afraid it all sounded to bossy and intimate, but the Doctor just grinned wildly and nodded: "Deal!" There was this spark in his eyes, almost as if spending three days without danger and monsters were the biggest adventure of his life.
"Setting the coordinates for anywhere anytime!" he exclaimed turning back to the controls.
"Allons-y!"
DW##DW##
Anywhere turned out to be a distant planet of Galloris and the time - early morning at the dawn of the high civilisation of Gallor.
Rose stepped out of the TARDIS first, the Doctor right behind her. She was too stunned to speak, but she heard the Doctor: "Galloris! Back before emperor Pishche, before the glory days! Rose, this is historic!"
All around her some kind of clay towers rose with big treelike branches and circular openings that could be windows. Indeed, faces appeared in the openings, reddish faces that resembled the colour of clay perfectly. Some of the creatures started climbing out of their windows, making Rose yelp. They were fast, like monkeys or squirrels, but they didn't approach her and the Doctor. They stopped a few feet away, looking at the couple curiously and a little scared.
"Doctor, where are we?" asked Rose. She was confused. She's expected a city with hotels, shops and civilized humanoids. Now she's found herself in an artificial forest full of squirrel-like monkeys.
"This is Galloris, home of the Great civilization of Gallor." Rose kept looking at the aliens and they kept staring back.
"What civilization?" she asked then, fearing she knew the answer.
"You're looking at it," answered the Doctor. "Of course this is only the beginning. Think of it as their Ancient Rome. Well, Egypt more likely. But by the 21th century they are one of the most advanced civilizations in the whole universe. Certainly more advanced than humans, no offence. But don't worry they're extremely peaceful, had only three galactic wars in fifteen thousand years they have contact with other species." explained the Doctor.
"But there's one more thing you should know." He looked up at the sky and the huge brightly yellow sun. "One Gallorian day lasts three Earthly months. «