"Because this is how capitalism works, Rose... and our shipment of mint flavoring came early. Now help me get this tree inside."
They were unloading Christmas decorations from the Doctor's truck. The Doctor was holding out a box about 5 feet long that held a faux Christmas tree. Rose took one end and together they carried it through the front door into the shop. It was about 4 am, because the shop opened at 5.
"To the left," said the Doctor once they were inside the door.
Rose stopped walking backwards. "Mine or yours?"
"Yours."
They turned and then set the box down. The Doctor brushed off his hands. "Right then." He grinned. "I'll go grab the rest of the decorations, and you can put up the tree."
Rose crouched down and opened the box. Just as the Doctor turned to go out the door, in walked 4 men wearing brown suits.
"Are you the Doctor?" asked one of them.
"Well I should very much like to think I am," he replied.
"We are associates sent by Mr. Dalek."
"What are you here for then? I paid the rent! And I didn't tell anyone"
"Doctor what's going on? Who are these people?" asked Rose, stepping to his side.
"They're Dalek's. They're part of the corporation that owns the building." He turned back to them. "I'm not leaving."
"Then you will be removed by force." One of the men pulled out a small device that resembled a thin whisk and from it shot an electric light. It hit the Doctor square in the chest. Rose tried to catch him as he slumped to the floor.
"What did you do?" she yelled at them. "He didn't do anything wrong!"
"Ms. Tyler, I'm going to have to ask you to step back."
That just encouraged her to step forward. She stood toe to toe with the head man and spoke calmly, but with a clear rage behind it. "I won't let you lay a finger on him."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Tyler." He and his comrades pushed past her and picked up the Doctor.
"No!" She beat on them with her fists and kicked them in the shins but nothing seemed to stop them from dragging the Doctor out the door and into a van. They drove off.
The police had been no help. She'd even called Jack and Boe to see if either of them knew anything. Nada. Zero. A big ol' goose egg.
She didn't know why she found herself walking by the shop three days later, but she did know that the sign should be flipped to "Closed" not "Open".
Rose sighed and took out her store key. She went to unlock the door to go in and flip the sign, but she found that the door was already unlocked. Cautiously, she stepped into the shop. The lights were on, and a single patron sat at the table.
Out of the kitchen walked a man tying an apron around his waist. "Oh hello, Rose!" he exclaimed.
She stared at this man who was clearly not him. He had dark brown eyes and spiked up lighter brown hair and lacked big ears. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm the Doctor," replied the man, smiling.
