Disclaimer: I would love to own the Tenth Doctor, and all of Doctor Who. Sadly, as it is, I don't.
Chapter 3.
"What?", she exclaimed. Somehow she got some courage. "What are you playing at? Is this what you do at night, dress up as The Doctor? You really miss the show that much?"
He looked almost sad at that answer. Remembering briefly the most pained moments for The Doctor in the series made her heart ache. She almost couldn't bear it. He turned his head again slightly towards the street. This time she turned hers with him. She couldn't see what he was looking at, but she had her suspicions.
"You can't really expect me to believe that a tv-show that's been on air since the 60s actually is sort of a documentary?", she continued with a kinder voice.
"Well..." He turned his head back, with warmth in his face again.
"Oh, please! What about all the other doctors? Is Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee two previous incarnations of you?"
"Blimey, do you really believe that, Rose?" He said, with fained seriousness. She rolled her eyes. Much as this was really weird (David Tennant obviously had problems, and not just with getting over playing the Doctor), she sort of was acting out her biggest fantasy. She was totally enjoying it.
"Oh, you think you are so clever!" She shot back, with as much fained seriousness.
"But I am, Rose Tyler!" That sounded so very much like The Doctor that Rose had to swallow. Hard.
"You are mad."
"A madman with a box, yes."
He was messing with her head, she was sure now, when citing his successor's phrase.
"Mr. Tennant, I think this day has gone to my head... Because this is nonsense and you are not making any sense."
It stopped raining. And once more she couldn't really figure out a good reason to stay any longer. Sure, she loved him. But that was in that fangirl-kind-of-way and actually finding out he was a bit loopy was distressing.
"But I am making perfect sense. You just have to pay attention.", he stated with a condescending smile.
She raised an eyebrow. "No, not one bit. I'm sure I head you say that you actually are The Doctor. The Doctor you played in a tv-show. That is just... bonkers! And why do you keep quoting Matt Smith, the new Doctor?"
That got his eyes burning. "Oii! He is not the new Doctor! Not even the new new new new new new new new new...", he trailed off and silently counted the 'new' on his fingers, "new Doctor. He is just an actor."
Rose couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Oh, I suppose that makes you an artist then." She applauded herself for acting so much bolder with him. Even if they were talking complete nonsense. And funny enough that made him grin like a kid at Christmas.
"Oh... oh yes it does." He took his hands from his pockets and waved at her to get her moving. "So are you coming or not?", he asked eagerly.
It was very tempting, but now knowing that David Tennant was delusional she had to ask.
"Why?"
His arms dropped.
"Well, because..." So many disappointments. He wanted her to understand with him saying as little as possible. Although, that strategy hadn't exactly worked for him earlier. "Because... well... you know..."
"Why me?" Acting this bold made her blush again.
He paused. Not noticing her red cheeks, but instead remembering a time long gone with someone not unlike her.
"Because you believe. You really do believe, even though you think you don't, you do. You believe, Rose Tyler."
She swallowed. Oh, yes she wanted to believe. So badly. And him. It was really him, however nuts he really was, asking her to follow him. Oh, how she had dreamt about this moment. Daily she thought about it. Longed for it. And sometimes, in the lonely nights at home in her bed, she even begged for it. But she was rational. She knew it was all in her head. She would wake up from this dream and onto her cold bed, with only her little laptop to keep her company. Then waking up, she would crave for those magical moments and then write them in fanfictions till her hands bled. Living her life in her dreamworld, that was how she coped with everything else. Coping with him never asking her to follow him. And here he was, just doing that. Realising what that meant, she smiled at him. If it was a dream, why shouldn't she follow?
"Yeah. I want to at least."
"Brilliant!", he exclaimed with another huge grin. She matched his smile. "It's just a few streets down. But better not run with those shaky legs. Don't want you to break anything before we even got started."
Another odd reply, but now she decided just to go with it. They started walking together, keeping a bit of space between them, back the same way that Rose had come from.
Still smiling, he put his hands in his pockets again. She met his eyes briefly, and then chanced a look of him striding. Blimey, he really looked the same as in the show. The worn out Converse trainers, the stylish sideburns, the gorgeous ruffled hair. The only thing missing was the pinstriped suit. The suit he was wearing looked like the same black one he had in the play.
When she turned her looked forward again he also stole a glance at her. Wearing dark jeans, a blouse and trainers, he thought her fairly dressed down to have attended a play on the West End. Not that he cared, but it made him curious. The blonde hair did bearly reach her shoulders and he fancied she had been wearing dark eyeliner. The rain and her crying earlier had sort of messed it up. Still, she was pretty without it. And she had her name. That did mean something.
Soon Rose froze on the spot, and without turning her head said with a strained voice, "Tell me why are you really dressed up as The Doctor. Please."
One block down the Police Public Call Box stood, silently and darkly. Like it was waiting.
He stopped as well and understood why she had.
"Because I am The Doctor, Rose.", he answered with a soft voice. Rose was biting the inside of her mouth, even though she knew this was as awake as she had ever been.
"Come. We are almost there." He took her hand and she immediately followed. And not even a minute later they were standing in front of the blue box.
"You must be kidding me.", she disbelievingly. Was this really happening? She did have a wild imagination.
He raised his hand to the box's doors and with a "No.", snapped his fingers. The doors opened. A bright yellow-turquoise light met Rose dumb-founded face.
