Chapter 2 - No words.
The Nose was unusually quiet. From what had transpired over the past twelve hours, he concluded that in his mind he would always and forever remain Ginger. He didn't mind the fact that he was now christened the Nose. However, it puzzled him to no end as to what it meant. It wasn't even a proper name. Furthermore, was the confusing fact as to why the Doctor did not return him back to Rory.
There was a temporal state of inner struggle within Ginger. A part of him argued that he shouldn't have explored the blue box that smelled extraordinary and glowed a heavenly light, whereas another part of him defended that he had expected to be returned back to Rory once he was found because that was what the good citizens of Leadworth would have done.
Although, it suddenly occurred to Ginger in a curiously frightening manner, that this man who smelled like a mixture of dust and shooting stars couldn't have been from Leadworth because everyone from Leadworth smelt faintly of ducks and mossy ponds.
And this scared Ginger, for he had a feeling that he would never ever come back.
For a short amount of time, Ginger didn't know what to do. And once his mind regained its bearings, he attempted a series of simple barks just to convey considerably straight forward messages.
Who are you? Where are you from? Take me home. Keep me safe. Feed me food.
"Really the Nose? Really?" the Doctor would respond in an exasperated sigh. And suddenly as if by a stroke of genius, he would say sternly, "SIT."
And quite honestly, Ginger truly didn't understand what the man was requesting. If it wasn't obvious enough, Ginger was already seated. If the man wanted him to be quiet, why didn't he say so or perhaps even consider Ginger's reasonable proposals?
Was the Doctor purposefully ignoring what Ginger was telepathically forcing on him?
If that was the case, then Ginger decided that the Doctor must be a terribly rude and ignorant man indeed. Ginger knew very little of the Doctor having spent a large amount of time getting acquainted with the bright blue box who was, in Ginger's opinion, far more considerate.
Ginger respected the TARDIS as a compatible companion, at least on a first name basis. The Doctor didn't even properly introduce himself. There were no customary 'hello's and 'Would you like a seat or perhaps some tea?' from the Doctor. There were however, occasional pats for politeness and then the Doctor was lost in a world that was lightyears beyond Ginger.
"Where shall we go now old girl? Hmmm?" the raggedy man would say sitting quietly on his revolving chair. The TARDIS usually wouldn't respond to these sort of rhetorical questions. Then in a sign of defeat, he would turn to Ginger, a small twitch in his lips. Ginger secretly wondered why he did that. "What about you, the Nose? Any suggestions?"
It was Ginger's queue to look away - avoiding his gaze - wondering once again why he kept asking that question when he knew no one was going to answer.
Ginger couldn't understand the Doctor and his purpose and how Ginger got tangled up within his messy web. The Doctor barely understood it either. After all, it was the TARDIS that led Ginger here.
Ginger was always fascinated by TARDIS. He was constantly amazed at how everything in that strange environment never stopped scaring him and making his nostrils tingle and his eyes water.
And amidst all this chaos of smells and colours, the Doctor appeared as a protruding distraction that was hard to miss. He was always there, sitting, doing something to keep himself occupied. Ginger wondered that if he paid more attention to this man, then maybe the man would pay more attention to him.
Ginger slumped against the console floor - pressing his nose against the cool glass. The TARDIS swayed and Ginger felt as if there were invisible glass arms stroking his abundant fur. The TARDIS didn't speak but Ginger could relate to her. Perhaps it was because she was the pet. Although the Doctor treated her like an equal, it was clear that she belonged to him. Ginger had belonged to Rory but now he wasn't sure anymore. He supposed he belonged to the Doctor now. He didn't think the Doctor could ever replace what he'd lost.
Ginger was tired. Exhausted, in fact. His head was bowing and his eyes were drooping. And his mouth – well, the product of that exhaustion was evident in an oozing string of drool hanging dangerously alongside his mouth. He was drained from every aspect of his being.
He watched tiredly as the Doctor hung suspended beneath the console floor – whizzing and tinkering about. His eyes shielded by a pair of darkened goggles and his mouth forever twisting into a confused frown. He looked like he was desperately trying to swallow his lips. It amused Ginger to an extent but troubled him to know why he was so upset.
Ginger watched as his hands never stopped tweaking and twisting like they never got tired. A sudden spark of light would shake Ginger out of his stupor and then Ginger would sit up straighter – his brown eyes reflecting the colours that sprang to life before him.
'You are beautiful.' Ginger would tell the TARDIS and in response, she would hum in a way the Doctor recognized as laughing.
He would take off his goggles and glance curiously at Ginger as if unraveling layers of puzzle just with his eyes. And Ginger would stare back - just for awhile because he knew that if he stared too long he would drown in the memories those eyes had seen. Ginger could only remember so much.
What he could never forget was the way the Doctor's mouth would turn. It would spring to an upward curve. Free from its previous cage - so alive and infectious that even Ginger wished he could smile too. It almost hurt him to know that his lips could only flap haplessly on his protruding snout.
He was fascinated by this miraculous man and how his eyes sparkled like the stars Ginger spoke to every lonely night. Maybe this was an answer - a set of twinkling teeth.
Ginger decided that he would watch over the Doctor more often. In fact, if he could manage it, every second of every day.
Just enough so he could see him smile. And so that he didn't have to remember it.