A/N: **After watching Journey's End again recently, I realized that tentoo was not wearing a tie. So I made a slight edit to reflect that.**
This takes place during the ride from Norway and the stage is being set for some conflict that is going to start the ball rolling in Rose and the Doctor's relationship (don't worry! It's nothing negative!). Enjoy!
As always, I own nothing from Doctor Who. Just a replica sonic screwdriver.
"Good to see you again Mrs. Tyler!" The pilot tipped his hat to the group as they walked across the tarmac towards the waiting Zeppelin. "Ms. Tyler, welcome home! Welcome aboard Sir."
The Doctor was looking around the small airport before he turned to the man who was speaking to him. "Oh Hello!" He smiled as he held his hand out to shake the pilot's hand. Above them, the Zeppelin's engines were beginning to rumble to life. He then followed Jackie and Rose up the small stairway and ducked his head as he entered the vehicle.
He tightened his lips as he looked around the interior, he was starting to feel slightly claustrophobic. It really wasn't his fault, most of his life was spent on a 'bigger on the inside' ship. He always had room to move about as he pleased. Now it was small cars, Zeppelins, houses with doors and windows and..and carpets. The Doctor shuddered to himself as this was his worse nightmare come to life. Sure he had Rose, but what was the cost?
The TARDIS coral HAS to grow, and it has to grow quickly. He concluded as his hand wrapped around the piece that was still secure in his pocket. It was the only thing that he knew would keep him sane while he was grounded on earth. Then it would be The Doctor and Rose Tyler in the TARDIS amongst the stars, just as it should be.
"Hey you alright? Doctor?" Jackie laid a hand on the Doctor's shoulder when she caught him staring at the wall. When he didn't respond she gave the shoulder a light shake.
"Yeah Jackie, I'm fine." The Doctor put on his best face while turning around and gave Jackie a smile. Deep down he wasn't completely alright, but in time he knew he would be.
"You know you don't have to stand the entire ride you plum." Jackie teased him as she heard footsteps coming closer to them.
Pete's personal assistant George was hurrying forward with a smile, and ushered the three weary travelers into the plush seats of the Vitex personal aircraft. "I'm so relieved to see you both have returned safely! And I see you brought along a guest as well," George said as he addressed the group. His gaze lingering on Rose for seconds more than the Doctor felt comfortable with.
The Doctor frowned and wrapped his arm around Rose's shoulders possessively. He glared at George in a manner that challenged him to continue any pursuit of Rose's affections. Rose curled into the Doctor's side and the Doctor smirked in satisfaction as he planted a kiss in her hair.
George looked the man in the blue suit and red trainers up and down in a analytical manner. He knew exactly who this man was, Pete had filled him in before dispatching him to accompany them to London. "Seems I have what looks to be healthy competition." George had thought to himself after he got a good look at the man and how Rose behaved around him. The narcissist in him firmly believed however, that he would be seen as the better choice in Rose's eyes. Furthermore, even if Rose could care less about him, he knew Pete would see that Rose was better off with him rather than this strange man.
George was used to getting his way when it came to the ladies, and once he had his eye set on a woman, he would not stop until he achieved his goal.
"George, where are Pete and Tony?" Jackie spoke up and disrupted George's thoughts.
George motioned for the flight attendant to see to the passengers comfort as he turned to address Jackie. "Mr. Tyler regrets that he is unable to join us, as apparently the Nanny that was hired needed to see to a family situation. However he asked me to assure you that he and your son will be anxiously waiting for you in London."
The Doctor smiled to the flight attendant and mentioned that anything banana flavored would be fine. His stomach growled at the mention of food. He grimaced for a moment as he remembered that he was part human and would now require regular amounts of food and sleep in order to function. "Just wizard... Plain flippin wizard this is." The Doctor thought as he gently roused Rose to ask her what she wanted.
Rose was starting to slip into a rather pleasant dream that involved her and the Doctor continuing what they had started on the beach. She opened her eyes and groggily batted at the hand that was trying to wake her. "I'm up, what do you want?" She looked at the group before setting her eyes on the man that she was currently using as a pillow.
"What do you want to eat Rose?" The Doctor asked her, his instinct to see to her needs and care beginning to grow stronger just like they were when they traveled together.
Rose buried her head back into the Doctor's shoulder as she mumbled something about a grilled cheese sandwich and juice. The Doctor's arm wrapped back around her intuitively as he looked out the window as the aircraft was finally lifting off the ground.
"So tell me Doctor, what was it that the other Doctor tossed to you?" Jackie asked as they dined on their lunch.
"TARDIS coral," the Doctor said as he polished off the remainder of his banana nut muffins.
"What the hell is a TARDIS coral? Some sort of souvenir or sick idea of a joke?" Jackie huffed as she sat back, it was bad enough that the Doctor just dumped his clone on Rose and took right back off quick as he pleased. She tapped her nails against the arm rest as she continued to stew on the thought.
"No No Jackie." The Doctor sighed as he continued. "The simplest way I can explain it's like a seedling of a TARDIS. With this I can grow my own TARDIS." The Doctor pulled it out of his pocket and showed it to her. "I don't know how long it will take to grow, however from what Donna told me, it shouldn't take as long as it normally would. Then it's back to the stars!"
Jackie raised an eyebrow at this knowledge as she watched the Doctor put the coral back into his pocket. While it shouldn't really surprise her that as soon as he could, he would want to see what lies beyond Earth in this universe. She knew that everything that he saw on his travels would be new to those eyes. Her mind was brought back to the Christmas before Canary Wharf. He had just changed his face and body in what Rose could only describe as regeneration. "I haven't seen them yet, not with these eyes," he had said as he stood next to her for a moment.
Jackie also knew that Rose would most definitely follow him to the stars. While she wished that Rose was around more, however the important thing was that Rose was happy. And that is what any mother desires for her children. Jackie had resigned herself years ago that she would never have a normal life with her daughter. She figured that out when the Doctor swept her right back up into the TARDIS and took off again after that incident with those giant green things.
All children leave home one day, her best friend Bev had told her once, however Jackie didn't think it would be to much to request regular visits. When the time came, she would make that absolutely clear to Rose and the Doctor.
"Mrs. Tyler..." Jackie's head snapped upwards as she was jerked out of her thoughts.
"Yes George, what is it?"
"The pilot has informed me that there are bad storms threatening to roll over London around the time we are expecting to land." George leaned his arm on the back of the seat as he was checking things on what could only be described as a device similar to a tablet.
"So? We'll just be slightly wet as we disembark!" Jackie snapped as she glared at George. She didn't know what Pete saw in this tosser. He was an over-ambitious, sniveling snake that just didn't sit right with her.
George was slightly taken aback at her response. He respected his boss's wife, however he didn't like her lack of deference. He was brought up that a woman respected the man around her and listened to their word without question.
"I have been informed that the storms are heavy and it would be inadvisable to attempt navigation to the landing point. I have already spoke with Mr. Tyler to update him." George swallowed back the snarl that was rising in his mouth.
"Thank you George. Arrange for lodging for us, preferably near some shops so we can get a change of clothing if desired." Jackie rolled her eyes, an action that the Doctor caught and bit back a laugh from his seat.
"You may go George, and oh! Next time, tell me when you have my husband on the line. I may wish to speak with him." Jackie waved a hand, she was to weary to go back and forth with him right now. The last few days had taken a physical and emotional toll on her.
"Of course Mam. However he made no request to speak with you when I spoke to him." George smirked at the back of her head as he treated to the area that he had set up for himself.
Jackie narrowed her eyes and shot daggers at his retreating form. The Doctor looked between them and knew that if looks could kill, George would be dead on arrival when they got to London. Not that he would probably be missed by many...
"I really dislike him," Jackie declared as she sat back. The Doctor nodded sympathetically and added sarcastically, "I don't see why though Jackie. He has such a lovely personality!"
Jackie giggled as the Doctor rolled his eyes to match his statement. Her eyes then traveled to the sleeping form of Rose, who was still curled up against the Doctor.
"They'll be married before the end of the year I bet." Jackie thought to herself. Smiling as she watched the Doctor keep his one arm around Rose, her smile turned serious as she had to say what was on her mind.
"Promise me you will always take care of her Doctor. Promise me that no matter what, no matter how rough things may get, that you will never leave her behind. I don't think I could bear to see her heart broken again." Jackie had pleaded with the Doctor for this one promise, this one thing that would enable her to sleep at night once they left in his TARDIS.
The Doctor looked at Jackie in surprise if not slight hurt at the notion that he would ever walk away from his Rose. He had promised Jackie before that he would always find a way to keep her safe and bring her home. Either if it was at Rose's request or if a situation was potentially fatal. "Jackie... Do you even need to ask that?"
"Look! Can you promise me that or not? Rose has been through too much in her life, even before you came into it. She's been hurt and made to think she wasn't worth anything in her life. You showed her just how wrong she was on that and while I can't thank you enough for it. I want to know if you will stay at her side when the going gets tough." Jackie had moved to the edge of her seat and gave him her best stare. She noted that Rose had stirred slightly before falling back asleep.
The Doctor sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You of all people should know that I would do everything in my power to keep Rose safe. Come on Jackie! After all I have done for her, I died to keep her safe once and I'd do it again. And from now on, she only needs to mention that she does not feel safe or that someone has threatened her. Then I will do what I feel necessary to assure her safety. So yes... you have my solemn vow that I will continue to keep her safe and content."
Jackie looked at him with surprise, Rose never exactly told her what caused him to regenerate from the tough guy that she first met into this man. "That was the Christmas that your TARDIS came skidding into the courtyard of the estate wasn't it?"
The Doctor nodded as he raised his hand and ran it through his hair. "Rose had the entire vortex in her head, she was burning up here." The Doctor tapped at his temple as he continued. "She was dying and in pain, so I kissed her and took the vortex into myself."
Jackie blinked as she listened to him. She wasn't surprised at what Rose did as she was willing to do anything to get back to him. "So what happened next?"
"Well no one is meant to have the vortex in their body, not even Time Lords Jackie. I still to this day don't know how Rose survived as long as she did with the vortex in her. It killed me in like 5 minutes, but Rose had it in her long enough to pilot the TARDIS, bring Jack back to life and destroy a shite ton of Daleks and their Emperor. Plus tell me that her head hurt. So then I regenerated into the person you see before you." The Doctor gave a cheeky grin as he straightened the right lapel of his jacket. He had noticed that it became askew and unkempt when Rose had shifted.
Jackie let out a breath and had to admit to herself that after hearing this story, that the Doctor had certainly gained more points in her book. "Okay you plum... I get it. You'll do what you can to keep her safe." Jackie chuckled as she conceded she need not fear, the Doctor just grinned with a tilt of his head before going to look back out the window.
Two hours later, the Doctor was quietly staring out of the window while Jackie was reading some novel.
Out of the corner of his eye he spotted George approach them. He really hoped the man wasn't returning for round two with Jackie, since he was sure that this time, it would result in Jackie would probably slug him straight across the jaw.
"We'll be landing shortly. Pete has informed me that he has arranged for us to stay at this quaint little bed and breakfast located in this town called Ardara in county Donegal. It's a coastal county in Ireland." George said shortly before leaving as quick as he came. "I thought I told you-" Jackie started to shout as the Doctor reached out and took her arm gently. His head shaking in a manner that asked her to not get into another bout with the man.
"Ooohhhhh that man is getting on my last nerves!" Jackie huffed as she picked up her book, torn momentarily between reading it or lobbing it at the back of George's head. She decided on the former, as the latter would require her to go near him to retrieve her book. She sighed and opened her book again.
Rose by this point was starting to shift rapidly and mumbling. The Doctor looked down as he felt her move, his face grew full of concern as he suspected that Rose was having a not so pleasant dream. "Rose... Rose!" The Doctor tried to shake her awake quietly as to not disturb Jackie.
Rose stilled for a moment before her eyes shot open and her body automatically moved into a sitting position. Rubbing her eyes she looked around in a frantic manner until she realized where she was. "Zeppelin...Mum...Doctor..." she thought to herself as she looked up to find a concerned Doctor staring at her.
"Hi." Rose smiled to the Doctor as she started to relax. Her brain trying to clear the sleep fog.
"Hello." The Doctor's face turned to a grin as she awakened, he began to relax as he heard her heart start to slow down, returning to a steady pulse. His fingers brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen over her eyes.
"How long was I out? Are we almost to London?"
The Doctor drew in a deep breath as he put his arm back around her waist as she leaned against him. "Three hours, seventeen minutes and forty two seconds. And no, we're apparently taking a detour."
Rose giggled as her tongue slid out of the corner of her teeth. She always loved when the Doctor did his thing where he told her the exact hours, minutes and seconds in regards to time. "Wait... what do you mean detour? Is something wrong in London?" Rose started to panic as she feared that there was some issue that was keeping them away or that there was an aftermath from the stars going out.
"Calm down Rose." The Doctor moved his hand to her shoulder and began to rub his hand down her arm in a comforting manner. "Apparently there are some nasty storms rolling in and the pilot won't be able to navigate it. So we are stopping in Ireland."
Rose continued to grin as her hand found his and their fingers interlaced perfectly. "Never been there. So I guess we could count this as adventure number one eh?"
The Doctor leaned his head close to hers, he had not kissed her in six hours, twelve minutes and two seconds. Way too long in his opinion, and it was something that he intended to remedy immediately.
The Doctor brushed his lips against Rose's in a manner that sent chills down both their spines. It spoke of the intensity between them, yet it was rather intimate. "Welll... I was going to say this Zeppelin ride was adventure number one but..."
Rose shook her head and kissed him fully before replying, "I fully concur. Ireland will be adventure number two." She then pulled his head close again, her lips demanding more contact with his. A demand that he would never deny her.
They broke apart after a moment when they heard Jackie sigh and mutter about not being able to keep their hands off each other. Secretly she was thrilled for Rose. She had a good man who would always love her, cherish her and protect her with his life. "Yep... definitely before the end of the year..." Jackie reaffirmed in her mind as she went back to her book.
With Jackie ensconced in her novel, and Rose and the Doctor in their own little world, none of them could see the cold and calculating eyes trained on them by one George Edward Connolly.
He continued to glare at them, specifically at Rose and the Doctor as he started to devise plans in his head. He had set sights on Rose Marion Tyler, he had plans for them both, and no one was going to deter them. Especially not some clone of a man that calls himself Doctor. He couldn't see what Rose saw in him, nor what would make her lower her standards. She could have any man she wanted, but for some reason she preferred the man in the blue suit who talks like he's fresh off the council estates.
He would make her see reason. She would see he was the better choice over this Doctor. Even if he had to take extreme measures. He would win out. He always got his way.
The Doctor was staring out of the window of the Zeppelin again, Rose and Jackie had gone off to talk with Pete on George's tablet. Beneath the aircraft he could see nothing but ocean for miles. He had already concluded hours ago that while Zeppelins provided a leisurely manner of travel, they were exceedingly slow. He was getting restless, he itched to walk around in fresh air. Anywhere outside of this blooming aircraft would do.
He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a glass being placed on the armrest besides him. Looking up he had expected either Jackie or Rose, however was rather surprised when he saw George sit across from him. In his hand was a glass filled with the same amber colored liquid that was being offered to him. He raised an eyebrow as he took up the glass and the smell of brandy wafted into his nostrils.
"Figured I'd take a moment to offer you your first drink on your first day as a human. The women are still off chatting to Pete, so I decided to have a sit down and enjoy a nice drink." George explained as he took a sip of his drink with a casual shrug.
The Doctor now raised his other eyebrow as he took a sip. Yep, definitely Brandy, he thought as he carefully sipped it. He didn't know what his tolerance level for alcohol was in this new body, and he certainly did not fully trust Pete's assistant. So he would err on the side of caution yet relax all the same. He was already trying to figure out George, so if he had to, he would play relaxed and keep a poker face.
"The women being Jackie and Rose I take it." The Doctor frowned as he definitely did not like George's attitude towards women. Especially when it came to his Rose and her mother. They were his family as far as he was concerned, even before he would ever get the bottle to ask Rose to be his wife.
George gave a casual shrug that said he could really care less as he pressed on. "So tell me, how does it feel to be in a human body?"
The Doctor's eyebrows relaxed as it was obvious that women were just objects to George. Objects meant to make him look good or to satisfy needs. This man reminded him of someone he and Rose met once, but he couldn't place it yet. So he let it drop as he replied to the question. "Well this isn't the first time I've been human so to speak. This body is only part human, I still have the Time Lord brain." The Doctor tapped at the side of his head while he took another sip of the drink.
"Really? You're taking the mickey on me aren't you? Are you saying that you could go between human and alien at whim?" George sat forward slightly as he wasn't expecting that answer. His brain began to quickly begin to catalog this information in case it became of use to him.
The Doctor shook his head as he continued. "Nah, only did it once and that was to hide from a group of rather unsavory characters. They basically wanted me so that they could live forever then breed and conquer everything they came across. Rather painful as well if my memories serve me correctly. Plus, I don't think I would ever do it again."
"Why not?"
"Because there was to much risk and the whole thing was a last resort. Once I had changed back and the memories from that time were clear, I really really felt bad for Martha." The Doctor trailed off as he looked into his drink and puffed his cheeks as he exhaled.
George raised an eyebrow, this was going to get good. He could feel it. "Who is Martha and why did you feel bad for her? She didn't die or anything did she?"
The Doctor shook his head, not really wanting to talk about this with anyone other than Rose. Which he had intended to do later when they were in private. He wanted no secrets between him and his Rose, and he wanted to fill her in on his life between Canary Wharf and when he was shot by that Dalek.
"She was the woman I traveled with after... after I lost Rose." The Doctor said softly and briefly told him how he met her and the Judoon at the hospital. He couldn't believe that his gob was without fail as he kept talking. Though he suspected that the unusually strong drink he was consuming was not helping him.
"When I became human, my ship put us in 1913 in this small village. My story was that I was a professor at the school and that apparently Martha was my maid from home. She didn't have it easy as a woman of color in 1913. Plus..." He continued as he was not proud of the next part, he knew deep down it wasn't his fault, he was only human then. "I fell in love with the school nurse. Well, John Smith fell in love with her, but in that moment I was John Smith."
George's eyes bugged open before relaxing. He played it off as surprise saying how he had thought Rose was his one and only. He continued to play it cool as his brain further cataloged this information, as he was very sure this would help his plan.
"Rose still is my one and only George. Don't you ever forget that. However John Smith the human didn't know who Rose was to him. She was only part of the stories in his dream. Furthermore, once the Family of Blood had found him in the village, he was scared. Everyone was telling him his life was a lie, that he was some alien who was in hiding. And for a brief moment, he considered staying human. To stay and live a life with who he thought was the love of his life." The Doctor threw back the rest of his drink as this was a rather painful memory. He gave George a look that said that was the end of it, he wasn't talking about it anymore.
"However before you ask George, I'm so very happy to be this person here. Rose promised me forever once and I had once told her that she could spend her life with me, but I couldn't spend mine with her. But now," The Doctor smiled to himself. "We can spend our lives together. Give each other our forever and be completely content. And we will George... We will be together for the rest of our lives. I promise you that." The Doctor gave George a serious look that was warning George to keep his hands off Rose.
George gave a neutral smile, of course the Doctor would believe that. But when he had his way, the Doctor would be out of the picture. He stood and took their empty glasses and walked away after saying something about work to be done. He was glad he took time out of his schedule to talk to the man. He gleaned more information out of him than he expected, and he certainly had a gob on him which also helped him immensely.
The Doctor turned around at George started retreating as a thought his head. "I'm sorry, but what is your last name exactly George?"
George stopped and turned around. "What's it to you?" He asked confused.
"Just curious mate, I have a curiosity thing sometimes," The Doctor asked nonchalantly, he was curious as his suspicions were still present about meeting a man like this once.
George shrugged and replied, "My full name is George Edward Connolly."
The Doctor's eyebrows started to rise. "That's a mouthful I suppose!"
George stood proudly, puffing out his chest. "My father Thomas made my middle name after my grandfather Edward Connolly. He said that my grandfather taught him how to be a right proper man and how a household is supposed to be run. Keep the women and children in line and your house will run smooth. Something to keep in mind for yourself one day Doctor, for when you meet that special lady." George shook a lecturing finger at the Doctor as if he was chiding a child. He knew the Doctor would catch the part about finding someone. As he caught the Doctor's warning tone earlier about him and Rose, he was returning the favor by warning the Doctor that he would not win. He then turned away and headed back towards his area.
"What?!" The Doctor shouted in his head as he rubbed the back of his head. It was just a name, right? He now knew that he had to keep a closer eye on this George until his suspicions were proved or disproved. This man sounded like he was stuck back in the 1950's and it annoyed the Doctor to no end. This could turn pear shaped and anything involving pears was rubbish to the Doctor.
