Chapter Two
"So…get it a bit wrong, did ya?" Rory said to the Doctor.
They had stepped outside in full winter gear only to find themselves in the middle of a lush green field on a warm sunny day. The Doctor was perplexed while River and Amy tried to hold their laughter in. The Doctor spun around in a circle taking in the green grass, wildflowers, butterflies flitting over the wildflowers and the bright sun in the sky above them.
"See, this is what happens when you don't do a proper check of your surroundings, Mister Know-it-all," Rory added when the Doctor didn't say anything.
"On the other hand," River said, "if he had done a proper check, we would have been denied the sight of his confused face. That alone was worth coming out here."
"Okay," the Doctor finally said, "why is this place called Icecap Five when there's nary an icecap in sight?"
"It's a joke?" Amy said. "Someone named this place Icecap Five as a joke?"
"Perhaps. But more likely the planet used to be an ice planet and warmed up with time," the Doctor said. "But that's beside the point. Come. Let's shed our unnecessary winter clothes and find out why the TARDIS led us here."
After going back inside and taking off their winter gear, they emerged and began to search for anything unusual. They split up into two groups, the Doctor and River and the Ponds going different ways. Amy and Rory went to the left while the Doctor and River went to the right.
"What are we supposed to be looking for," Rory said to Amy as they walked through the tall grass. "Are we even on another planet? Seems like Earth to me."
"You were the one who wanted to get out and explore. I voted for staying in bed, remember?"
"Well, even if we had stayed in bed, the Doctor would have gotten us up the moment the TARDIS went wonky," Rory said. "I just wish he would do a more thorough check before taking us outside. He got the temperature wrong, what else could he have gotten…"
He didn't finish his sentence because he tripped over something at his feet that was hidden in the tall grass. Amy tried to catch him as he stumbled but Rory cursed when he fell to his knees. They looked back and Amy slowly walked back to the obstacle that was still hidden in the tall grass.
"Amy, be careful," Rory said as he got to his feet and followed her.
Amy parted the grass and was shocked when she saw a young woman. Half her face was obscured by her long, blonde hair but Amy could tell she was unconscious. She could also see a couple of bruises on her face and arms and she noticed she was wearing a one piece white jumpsuit that was torn in a couple of spots. She glanced at Rory when he came up beside her. He stared at her for a moment before calling for the Doctor and River to come to them. River jogged up to them while the Doctor followed behind her. She got to Amy first and bent over to look at the woman.
"I think we found what we're looking for," River said to the Doctor before turning towards him.
She froze when she turned around and noticed the Doctor was staring at the woman with a shocked look on his face. He had gone pale and his body had frozen.
"Doctor?" Amy said when he didn't move or say anything.
"It can't be," the Doctor murmured as he pushed past River and knelt by the woman.
"Doctor?" Amy said. "Are you alright? You've gone pale."
"I know this woman," the Doctor said, smoothing back her hair.
"Oh? Who is she?" River said.
"A…friend," the Doctor said, aware that River was now looking over his right shoulder at the woman while she scrutinized her. "Her name is Rose."
"I see. So…your friend lives here?" River said.
The Doctor kept a neutral expression on his face when River looked at him. He knew she was studying his face, trying to find out if Rose was more than a friend to him and the last thing he wanted was a jealous River ranting and raving at him about his former lover.
"No," the Doctor said, keeping a calm demeanor. "She doesn't belong here. She…traveled with me and was lost when she was sucked into another universe. "
"Then how did she get back?" River said with a frown. "I thought it was next to impossible to cross into other universes."
"It is but there are ways," the Doctor said. "She did make it back over one time but the walls of the universes were breaking down and she could use a dimension cannon to cross the void."
"She crossed the void into this dimension?" River said in shock.
The Doctor nodded.
"So she's been here awhile?" River said, trying to figure out what the Doctor wasn't telling her.
"No, I sent her back," the Doctor said.
"What? Why?" River said.
"It's…a long story, okay? I'll explain later but right now, Rose is injured and I want to make sure she's alright."
River nodded but she still sensed that there was more to this woman than the Doctor was telling them. She held her tongue and she and the Ponds stepped back while the Doctor gathered Rose in his arms and picked her up. They walked back to the TARDIS and the Doctor ignored everyone while he climbed the steps and headed back to the med bay. When he was gone, River turned to the Ponds.
"Any idea what's going on here?" she asked them. "Do you know that woman?"
"Never seen her before in my life," Amy said with a shrug.
"Did he ever mention her?" River said.
Amy and Rory shook their heads.
"Why? Do you think something's wrong?" Rory said.
"Dunno. I just have a feeling that there's more to Rose's story than he's telling us," River said, glancing up at the doorway. "I know most of the time you have to pull the boy's teeth before he gives out personal, intimate details but suddenly, I'm curious about this woman and what her relationship to the Doctor is. Because I have a feeling it's a bit more than platonic."
"You think he's just gonna tell ya if it isn't," Amy said.
"No," River said. "Like I said, I could be holding a drill to his crotch and he still wouldn't tell us what he wants kept private. We'll just have to keep our eyes and ears open. Perhaps Rose will tell us after she recovers from her ordeal. Until then, I'll be in my room. See you later."
She headed up the steps to the back door and Amy followed her. Amy stopped her just inside the back door.
"Look," Amy said. "I know you fancy the Doctor but what will you do if this Rose really is a former lover of his? I mean, you've never met her before, have ya?"
"No, I haven't," River said. "And I realize that the Doctor had a life before he met me. I just want to know if this relationship is dead or if there's still some life in it."
"And what will you do if it isn't dead?" Amy challenged.
She noticed the pain in River's eyes and realized she said that a bit too harshly.
"Look. I'm only saying that the Doctor is his own man and he loves who he loves. I found that out all too well when I tried to start a relationship with him. Don't vilify Rose, alright? Especially since you don't know her and know her story."
River nodded and put her hand on Amy's shoulder. She gave it a loving squeeze and gave her promise that she wouldn't vilify Rose or badger the Doctor about any relationship with her. She told Amy she would see her later before she headed down the corridor to her room. Amy watched her go and then decided to go and speak to the Doctor herself and let him know what was going on. She told Rory where she was going before heading off towards the med bay.
