Chapter 4- Surprise Feelings
The Doctor suspended the TARDIS in space after getting the crystal from Jaime in hopes of letting her time to mourn her mother's death before setting her off on crazy adventures with him. When she didn't leave her room for some time since her first night with absolutely no sounds from the room but loud dark obnoxious music blaring, he brought a tray of pancakes and fruit; and knocking on her door before entering.
He found her reading a book surprisingly, finding that she had already changed her room around to her liking. It reminded him of an English study with the dark hardwood paneling, with a massive curtained bed dominating the room; reminiscent of the kind you'd find at those fancy private schools parents love to send their kids to.
"Brought you something to eat." He yelled brightly over the music, trying to add some cheer into the rather somber room.
"Whatever." She replied coldly, rolling her eyes at her book; never taking her eyes away from the page. He sensed that he wasn't really welcome, and decided to leave her to book and her food.
"I'll come back in an hour for the tray."
When the Doctor did come back, he saw the food completely untouched and her still reading that same book. "Come on, you have to eat something!" He said responsibly, sitting on the edge of her bed as he tried to read her face. She shrank away from him frostily, ignoring him completely. The Doctor sighed helplessly, "You can talk to me you know that: I'm your friend."
"No you're not." He thought he heard her mutter, "Just leave me alone."
He got up with a look of pity at her, grabbing his tray on the way out. "I can get my own food thanks." He heard her call out to him. Those words hit him hard; feeling the bite hidden in the meaning.
The only time the Doctor saw her was when she had to eat or go to the bathroom; rejecting his company when possible. It hurt him to be receiving the cold shoulder from a person he cared very much about. How she found new books was beyond him, as he saw her plow through twenty books in three days. Now it was time to change tactic.
The Doctor called Jaime into the main control room, smiling at her in a very friendly fashion; leaning leisurely on the control system. He was dressed in his usual blue suit and trench coat.
"So, where do you want to go?" He asked with an easy smile, hoping that maybe over an adventure they could bond. She rolled her eyes at him and turned and started walking away settling instead into Martha's chair as an afterthought.
"Go where you want. I have to finish this book." She replied, swinging her legs over the arms of the chair indifferently before delving back into the world of the book.
The Doctor stared at her blinking, "Right…" he drawled
Well if she doesn't want to go with me, I'll just go where I want…where do I want to go?
Looking around the room for inspiration with a hope that something might pop out at him so he didn't look like a git in front of her; but nothing stuck out besides Jaime as she totally ignored his existence. Then it hit him: well if the present Jaime wasn't willing, maybe a past one would. With a secretive smile he set the TARDIS to go back in time about ten years.
The TARDIS landed smoothly in some greasy back alleyway behind a huge rubbish bin with a mountain of reeking filth reaching toward the heavens, covered by a thick cap of snow. Lovely Christmas carols were wafting through the air from the streets signaling the coming of Santa Claus and the baby Jesus. He could tell it was New York City just by the smell.
The Doctor followed the alleyway out, passing beggars and homeless people crowded together in cardboard boxes, clutching newspapers in hopes of keeping some warmth in the bitter cold. The Doctors heart ached for these forgotten people, wishing there was something he could do for them- but he had no money. Maybe he could give out some food and blankets…yah, that sounds good.
Plans of kindness danced in his head as he planned out the most efficient cause of action to take when he reached the mouth of the alleyway facing the main road. He saw a newspaper tumbling along the sidewalk; chasing it down, catching it barely before an angry strong gust of icy wind whipped around in a furious flurry for having its plaything stolen. The screeches of young children's laughter filled his ears as the wind bit at his ears spitefully.
The date said December 24, 1995. "Off by two years- not bad!" The Doctor mused aloud, "That'd make her about…ten? Ten years?"
BAM! A young girl ran into him hard from behind, knocking him headlong into a deep snowdrift. Her male friend, a small wide-eyed boy dressed in jeans, a huge blue winter jacket and a warm red knit cap that covered his ears, disentangled them; pulling the Doctor to his feet, soaking wet.
"Oops! I'm so sorry mister! I wasn't lookin'. We were playin' tag and all and he was IT--" she squeaked in explanation; her speech flavored by a slight accent he couldn't place.
She was a dizzying beauty with a sweet round-cheeked face framed by dark snowflake-flecked lustrous curls tumbling softly to her shoulders. Her eyes were dark and liquid in the fading light as they sparkled innocently. She was dressed in a worn brown leather jacket a few sizes too big for her, jeans, a serious black cowboy hat with matching black cowboy boots. The Doctor looked at her flabbergasted as she threw him the most charming innocent smile as she hopped back and forth from foot to foot to fend off the cold, crossing her arms around herself tightly.
"Don't lay the blame on me! Playing tag was your idea!" the boy retorted back, shoving her roughly.
"Shut up!" she hissed, shoving him back. A chuckle escaped the Doctor's lips at their playful bickering as he brushed off his jacket.
"J.C., what did I tell you about runnin' off girl!" a loud booming voice yelled, thick with the Southern patient drawl. His new friend flinched, turning back to the direction they ran from.
Standing there was a tall handsome man dressed in identical attire to the girl; brown leather jacket, black hat & boots, with an addition of cool aviator glasses. In his hand, clutched with ease, was a black guitar case. Even from a distance, the Doctor could see he was pissed.
"Sorry Dad! We was just jokin' around an' all!" She called back as he strode up to them. On closer inspection the Doctor saw the man had pitch-black hair clipped short, curling around his ears just right. Something about him was familiar, like a forgotten memory or something as he gave the girl a tender scowl.
"I am so sorry sir. My daughter doesn't usually act like this." The man said with an apologetic sigh; cuffing the girl tenderly on the back of the head.
"No problem really." the Doctor replied crinkling his eyes at the kids in a friendly way; now placing the accent as the same as her father's with a hint of something else, "Kids will be kids right? Rambunctious lot, aren't they?" he said with raised eyebrows. The man nodded back wearily.
"Please—let me make it up to you. Let me be buy you a drink." He gave his hand in greeting; taking off his sunglasses, "James McBane." The Doctor's eyes widened in surprise.
"James McBane you say?" he asked, his eyebrows rising high on his brow, "and who might you lot be?" He asked the young boy and girl— already guessing her answer.
"Adrian Coates." The boy murmured with a shy smile. Her answer couldn't have been more opposite.
"Jamie Carmen McBane, at your service, sir." She declared with a dramatic flourish of a bow, "But my friends call me J.C." With a flash of a bright grin lighting her face, she took his hand. "You simply must come hear Dad play— he's the best there is!"
"J.C., you don't even know if he likes country." James sighed tiredly, already exhausted by their endless amount of energy and it wasn't even dark yet. The Doctor gave him a brilliant grin.
"I love country, well, I love music really—but country is a type of music after all, is it not?" He said ponderingly at breakneck speed, getting giggles of amusement from the kids.
James' eyebrow snaked up in question but thought better of it "Ok then…just follow us. J.C., take this; you begged me to let you carry it in the first place" he said handing her a guitar case before slipping on his sunglasses coolly. Little Jaime took it obediently, putting on her own pair of sunglasses with a free hand. The Doctor smiled at her adorable adoration for her father—evident in her imitation of him.
The Doctor followed them down the block to a little honky-tonk called "Cowhide" with Jaime bouncing as she walked happily alongside her father. It was a warm bar with tall tables, tall stools, and a friendly crowd. It was a good size, enough to fit maybe 200 people at the most if you crammed them in the rustic rough-hewn rafters.
The kids lead the Doctor to a table near the small stage after peeling off their jackets and winter hats; sitting on the high bar stools as James and his band set up. A number of people called out to her by name with familiar waves, some people simply just patting her back as they passed by. She bounced happily up and down on her stool, smiling brightly at everyone; a blithe spirit about her.
"Dad plays here a lot." She explained when she noticed his look, straightening out her oversized black t-shirt.
"OOOH… I see. You must really like music then."
"Like it? No I love it!" She squealed, spinning on her stool gleefully, "My whole world revolves around it! One day I wanna be just like Dad; playin' and singin' for the masses. A crusader of the arts; a warrior for the soul, 'cause that's what music is" she said wistfully, leaning close to him confidentially; her words simple yet curiously passionate, "It's an expression of the soul—the inner parts on your very being. You can move millions with a single song." The radiance of this child dazzled him as she spoke well beyond her years.
One of the performers, the drummer and a good-humored man in his early thirties with a bright purple spiky Mohawk, laughed heartily at her idealistic speech.
"You been listenin' to your dad for too long lassie." He joked, his voice dancing with his true Irish lilt as he rolled his eyes playfully. She stuck her tongue out at him showing him two fingers on her right hand in a backwards peace sign with a smirk.
"Cheeky little--" he growled, going back to his drums in a huff.
The Doctor's face was plastered with shock at her revealing the very rude display of her middle and pointer finger. He never thought an American would know what its intention was. She smiled at him mischievously, pressing her finger against her lips for him to keep her secret. With her other hand, she signaled to the bartender.
"Yo Pork chop! Three beers please; two for us and one for our guest!" The man chuckled, bringing out three dark bottles; setting them in front of the right person accordingly. Jaime winked at the Doctor as she waved it at him, showing him that theirs were actually root beers.
"So what do you two plan on being when you grow up?" murmured the Doctor curiously as they slugged back their respective drinks with big cheesy grins like they were pretending the really were drinking beer.
"I already said: I'm gonna be an international rock star—preachin' my message of peace and love to the thousands, the millions, THE BILLIONS!" declared the young girl—punching the air with a bright grin; her words simple The Doctor grinned back as he leaned his bony elbows on the table.
"You know, that's actually rather hard to do—become a famous rock star I mean. Lots of hard work in that; lost of hardships." He murmured with a faint smirk. Even though his words were those of a realistic reprimand, his eyes with dancing with delight.
The girl's eyes shone brightly as she made a tough fist in front of her, "You'll never meet anyone half as determined as myself."
"Or half as talented." Adrian interjected meekly; blushing when the two of them turned to him with interest, "I only want to hang out with Jay...to stay with her. I'd act as her roadie if I had to as long as I could stay by her side."
A big grin plastered itself on the Doctor's face, adoring the sweet albeit indirect declaration of love from the young boy.
"How do you to know each other?" He asked when he saw her lean on Adrian's shoulder with a tired smile; looking unspeakably endearing, "You're not going out are yah?" the Doctor teased as he flashed them a playful look. They coughed and sputtered, spiting out their pop from their mouth.
"Hell no! Are you insane?" Adrian declared defensibly.
"Eww! He's like…my best friend! Yuck, yuck, yuck." She repeated childishly, pulling a disgusted face.
"I bet you two will get married when you grow up." The Doctor pipped, continuing the tease.
"Ugh! Everyone says that!" They chorused, rolling their eyes in disgust in unison.
A man signaled for quiet as the music started. The Doctor recognized the song as Tim McGraw's "Don't Take the Girl", a lovely ditty about a love starting when they were kids, all the way up to when their own son falls in love. The Doctor took this to be a sign from above that the kids were meant to be together, especially when Adrian sang along; not missing a word. He was about to say that when he looked over at the young Jaime and saw a breathtaking sight—he just couldn't take his eyes from her; totally enthralled.
Her eyes were shut in concentration as her head bobbed and weaved with the rhythm, making a harmonious beat with her hands on the table. A smile crossed her lips as she lost herself to the music; completely engrossed in the moment of just enjoying the song. How she could stay perched while moving about like that on the stool without falling off was beyond him. It brought a smile to his lips—it didn't matter anymore what songs were playing: she had his full concentration.
The night went on with song after song, progressing well into the night. The crowd, slightly buzzed, was laughing loudly at the antics the children pulled from pulling off ingeniously simple pranks or just belting out lyrics at the top of their lungs often purposely off-key just to be obnoxious. The bartender disappeared for a moment, coming back out dressed as Father Christmas with a cheesy beard and all. The mob laughed hysterically at his appearance with two big Christmas gifts in bright wrapping. He ho-ho-ho-ed cheerfully, catching two pairs of rolling eyes from the kids.
"I just came in from the North Pole realizing I forgot to give two kids their gifts!" he chuckled, faking a deep voice. Adrian and Jaime brightened; eyes widening greedily. "But!" He said, before they could launch themselves at him to tear their gifts from his hands impatiently, "I have been riding all night with nothing but reindeer for company. This old man would like to hear some singing, so if you want your gifts: you have to sing us a Christmas carol." The patrons shouted their approval at his suggestion. Jamie looked at Adrian with a shrug.
"Ok!" they chorused. They put their heads together for a moment and then went onstage. They both beamed brightly as the lights went down till just a single spotlight was on them as they stood side by side in front of one microphone; warmth glowing around them like a halo. They started, voices pure and indescribably moving, with a perfectly harmonized vocalization of the music to "Oh, Holy Night". Adrian took the lead singing so well with Jaime harmonizing with him with simple vocalizations or harmony notes that completed their song as they sang without music in gospel style; both of them vocalizing between verses
Oh, Holy Night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear saviors birth
Ah, oooh,
Long lay the world (long lay the world) in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth
Ah
The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new a glorious morn
Oh fall on your knees oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born.
Oh Holy Night, oh Night divine, oh Holy Night, oh Night divine
The trill of hope, the weary world rejoices
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Oh fall
Jaime took over, enrapturing her audience with the wonder and joy that was her voice. Her version was different than the well known; her tone was sweet and gentle in her high voice, sounding like a cherub from heaven; obviously surprising the crowd with how she put her own father to shame.
Fall on your knees oh hear the angel voices Oh Night divine, oh night when Christ was born Oh Night divine, oh holy night, oh night divine when Christ was born
Holy Night when Christ was born
If the Doctor thought the children looked good together before, he knew it when he saw them together singing. There was a gentle tenderness between them, as they seemed to be singing to each other. The moment passed too quickly as they ripped open their gifts with gleeful expectation: Adrian's a really nice keyboard and Jaime's a little red electric guitar with bright flames- a perfect miniature of her father's guitar.
A fast-pace song came over the loud speakers between the band's sets- James McBane nowhere to be found. Jaime leaped up energetically, grabbing Adrian's hand in eagerness.
"I love this song!" she declared with her eyes shining as she dragged him onto the dance floor.
Once again the air around them sparkled with the outpouring of their energy, their exuberance, their matchless enthusiasm for life as they danced the dance of children with legs and arms flailing and kicking wildly to the foot-stomping rhythm to the shouts of approval from their watching audience.
James clutched his guitar after getting back onstage as he declared loudly, "Now I'd like to invite my baby girl up here to play with me for our last song of the night. How's that sound kiddo?" He said with a dazzling smile to the crowd. Begrudgingly, the Doctor admitted he was kind of charming…and sort of good-looking if you looked really hard… he at least had a really nice smile—Jaime had his smile.
Jaime trembled in excitement; rocketing up onto the stage like a wild squirrel or something with her insurmountable energy she seemed to constantly have. Grabbing the little red electric guitar, she seemed to strip away all the goofy childish qualities—replacing them with a cool confident come-and-get-me-grin and a strong rebellious stance that would make David Bowie proud. She was a true rocker, a petite performer of the highest caliber—you can't teach a kid to be like that; they just are or they're not. There was this presence about her that drew your eyes to her without really knowing why.
"Ready to rock J.C.?"
"Ready Dad!" She said with a cocky smirk as she looked out at the crowd as if she had been doing this her entire life and was amused to suddenly find them watching her.
The music started brightly, the first musical note filling the room, with Dad playing the chord before Jaime joined in with a duel sound. James started singing the verse with his smooth, powerful voice, smiling smugly. Jaime joined in on the chorus, looking out at the crowd with a fierce grin. James turned to his daughter as he sang, obviously singing to her with a look of love and she sang right back at him matching him look for look.
My old man's backhand used to land hard on the side of my head;
I just learned to stay out of his way.
There been street fights, blue lights, long nights with the world sitting on my chest;
It just showed me how much I could take.
Hard times, back luck; sometimes life sucks.
That's alright- I'm ok, it ain't nothin' but another day
But only God knows where I'd be if you ever stop lovin' me.
The bank-man, boss-man, the law-man all tryin' to get their hands on me;
And I ain't even done a damned thing wrong.
I been way laid, freight-trained, short-chained by bigger and badder men;
And all I got to say is "bring it on".
Hard rain, rough roads; so my life goes.
That's alright- I'm ok, it ain't nothin' but another day
But only God knows where I'd be if you ever stop lovin' me.
I need you- gotta have you in my life, by my side every day I'm alive
Every night that I'm breathing, I'm needing you.
Now came on an instrumental break; Jaime took the lead and played the chords with agile, unerringly fingers with the masterful talent the Doctor heard about from Tegan. She smiled joyfully as she played, enjoying every moment of it.
That's alright-I'm ok, it ain't nothin' but another day
But only God knows where I'd be if you ever stop lovin' me.
It ain't nothin' but another day.
But only God knows where I'd be if you ever stop lovin' me.
Baby never stop lovin me
Oh can't you see what your lovin' does to me
Don't ever stop lovin' me yeah!
The crowd went wild when they finished. James clutched his daughter's shoulder proudly as he grinned broadly out at his friends before they passed through the crowd, still glowing with the after affects of being onstage.
James grabbed a stool and sat himself between the Doctor and his daughter. He had sweat pouring down his brow from the lights, yet he still somehow looked attractive and it drove the Doctor mad. James signaled to Pork Chop to send over a bottle of brandy and two glasses; once it was there, he turned to the Doctor with that gorgeous smile of his in an easy grin.
"I never did catch your name, stranger." He murmured with a faint smile playing at his lips, pouring himself and the Doctor a glass of brandy.
"Well, I'm John Smith." The Doctor replied, thinking it might be best to use his alias for these types of situations.
"Well, John Smith, it is a pleasure to meet you." He said, handing him the glass of brandy for him; tossing back his glass in one easy gulp.
"Is that really your name?" Adrian asked, suspiciously.
"No, it's not. I'm spy here to spy on things for my country." The Doctor said with a playful grin.
"Ok, Mr. Spy, show us your skills. Spy something for us." Adrian replied, sarcastically; turning to Jaime to roll his eyes. She watched the Doctor with amusement playing in her eyes, waiting for his reply. The Doctor looked about the bar with a mock critical look; focusing on a painting of some river in the mountains.
"Look there's a river, I spied. Oop, there; I spied it again. And again." He said, his eyes glancing back and forth from the children's faces and the painting.
Jaime fixed him with a serious frown "You're weird." She had no malice in her at all when she said it. James threw back his head, roaring with laughter.
"Mr. Smith I likes me a man with a good sense of humor!" James chuckled, his eyes twinkling in amusement as he poured himself another brandy and tossed it off; the Doctor's still untouched.
"Sorry mate, you're not my type." The Doctor replied with a shrug. Snickers erupted from the kids at the jab. Even James laughed at it good-humoredly.
"No, no, you're not exactly my type either." James said smiling, his eyes roamed over the bar before fixing on a pretty blonde woman making eyes at him in her short mini-skirt and halter-top, "Now that," He said pointing with the hand holding his glass, "That, is my type." His eyes fixed her with lustful approval. "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Smith." James said with a wink before heading over to the girl and curling his arm around her waist.
The Doctor was shocked that he would openly pursue a woman in front of his own daughter. The Doctor turned to say something to Jaime to see her laughing with Adrian about something he missed happening on the other side of the bar. He sighed with a sad smile to see that she didn't even notice that her dad left; maybe that's why Adrian was with her— to amuse her enough so she doesn't bother him while he's on the prowl. The mere thought sent the Doctor into a near frenzy.
James didn't reappear for the rest of the night. It was nearing midnight with a thinning crowd and those who were left were getting rather punch drunk. Adrian's head fell onto Jaime's shoulder sleepily as she had an in-depth conversation with the Doctor about her favorite bands. The Doctor smiled warmly at the sight of her tenderly placing his head on the table with her own jacket as his pillow.
The Doctor looked over the rest of the bar with a half-smile until he saw James at the bar with a crowd of young girls around him flirting with him shamelessly. He had a new bottle of brandy, almost finished with him drinking the hard liquor like it was water. The Doctor knew he had to leave soon or he was going to go over and punch James right in his smug face.
"I should be going." He said as he stood up from the table, pouring his untouched brandy back into the bottle on the table.
"Oh really?" Jaime asked, sounding rather disappointed that her new friend had to go.
"Yah I should, I have some work I have to do before getting home to my house." He said giving her a rueful smile. She really was so cute with her best friend.
"Is there someone important you have to get home to?" She asked with a curious look.
"Yah, there's this girl…" The Doctor replied, scratching the back of his head uncomfortably; feeling unease about taking to past-Jaime about present-Jaime. There must be a rule about it somewhere.
"Then you must go!" She declared earnestly, jumping off her stool, "You have to get back to her! No one should be alone on Christmas." She grabbed his hands gravely as her eyes shined adamantly.
The Doctor didn't know really what to do at that. He thought it better to leave without any goodbyes, like he usually did. He was putting on his jacket when he felt her hand on his arm. He turned to her, seeing her looking up at him with those dark, liquid eyes staring up at him hopefully.
"You will come back to see me sometime right?" He forgot about how sweet children were when they carried their dreams in their eyes, like she did now.
"Maybe." He said with a smile. She grabbed him in a tight hug, not caring that she just met him; the notion of childhood innocence of just accepting him without question that brought tears to his eyes. He hugged her back, hard, before turning to the night. Once again he wondered what happened to that little girl that turned her into such a jaded young woman. Before he forgot, he popped his head back in with a mad grin "By the way, Carmen means 'song' in Italian— very appropriate I think" he said with a conspirital wink before disappearing into the night.
The Doctor walked slowly along the sidewalk, following the way he came back to his TARDIS. He saw hardly anyone out on the street at so late an hour. He did see though some shady looking people hanging out in front of closed stores talking quietly to each other. Finally, he found his alleyway. The homeless beggars from before must have been chased out because not a single soul was left in that dark side street. The Doctor made his way over, saddened by not having done anything for those people and the thought of returning to the dark, brooding Jaime.
The Doctor entered the TARDIS to see it exactly as he left it with Jaime sitting deeply engrossed by the book she was reading. Looking at her, she looked very much like her younger self. She had the same sweet-looking face when she concentrated on something; the same dark, liquid eyes; and the same aura of wild energy pent up and ready to burst out. She must have noticed him staring because she looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.
"What?"
"Oh…nothing." He said, looking away leisurely with a sigh. He glanced back at her when he was sure she wasn't looking and decided to try once more to communicate with her. "You're very much like your mother, you know that?"
"Don't compare me to that freak." She said darkly. The Doctor became indignant at that comment. Tegan was a wonderful and passionate woman, bright and daring; how dare she call the woman who gave her life a 'freak'.
"Your mother was a good woman. Why would you want to be like that self-centered drunkard who doesn't give a damn about you?" She bristled at that, jumping up from her seat, as she stood fiercely toe-to-toe with the Doctor; showing the most emotion he had seen since she first entered the TARDIS with him.
"Don't you dare say that about my father! He loved me." She screamed at him in fury, "You know what? I wish I was with the Master, at least he got things done and wasn't afraid to do what it takes to get what he wanted. And we have a common enemy." She sneered with a secretive smirk, gazing back at him in disgust.
The Doctor sputtered, fixing her with a look of utter disbelief as his mouth hung open, "Are you crazy? He killed your mother!"
"I'm glad she's dead! I hated her anyway!" She shouted about adamantly throwing her arms in the air.
"Don't say that." The Doctor said threateningly, his face dark and unreadable.
"You heard me," Jaime said mockingly with a cold smile, "I'm GLAD she's dead! She was a bitch anyway--".
Before the Doctor could stop himself; his hand when flying to her face. He instantly regretted it when she looked at him wide-eyed with shock as she touched the imprint of his hand that blazed on the side of her face— looking so much like her ten-year-old self in that moment. Before the Doctor could apologize, she turned and started walking away.
"Jaime, I'm sorry!" he declared sincerely, trying to catch up with her fast walk.
"Leave me alone!" She answered back, walking faster in hopes of escaping from him. The silent treatment was really aggravating him as he stepped up the pace to keep up with her. She turned into her room and slammed the door right in his face. That was the last straw and momentary fury overcame him.
The Doctor slammed the door open and stormed it, meeting her hostile glare unwaveringly as he got up in her face as she stood beside her bed; hands on hips.
"What is your problem? You are rude, obnoxious, and completely aggravating! I have been nothing but kind to you and you just go and slam that kindness back in my face." He declared; his face contorted in fury. She pointed at her cheek still blazing with the red outline of his hand; her face saying clearly "Is this kindness?"
"My problem?" she sneered as she laced her voice with sarcasm; her eyes glinting as she crossed her arms haughtily, "My problem is that I'm stuck with the man who ruined my life."
"What?" He scoffed in disbelief, "How in the bloody hell did I do that?"
"BECAUSE OF YOU, ALL THE PEOPLE I LOVE ARE DEAD! " She screamed at him, turning away from him so she wouldn't have to look at him any longer.
That explained it. That explained the silence, the cold looks, and the total aversion from his company. He felt a twinge in his heart at her feelings of hatred, but he knew he had to ignore it if he wanted a straight answer.
"How is that even possible? I've only known you for maybe a week or so- and last time I checked I didn't kill anyone."
Her smile was filled with contempt, reminding him so much of the night he first met her. "You ruined my family!" she ranted, "My mother's aunt died because you let the Master go; my mother is dead because of you, because my mom met you, my parents spilt." she declared, flustered and losing control of her anger, "You know what? I don't even want to have this conversation with you. Get out!" She said, shoving him angrily towards the door.
The Doctor stood his ground, capturing her hand with his, pulling her closer in the action; refusing to let go as she glared at him with unabashed hatred.
"Answer this one question." He murmured quietly, giving her his intense unblinking stare as he looked at her with a set face, "Why are you traveling with me if you hate me so much?" She took a deep breathe in, letting it out before answering him with amazing honesty and therefore total sincerity
"It was my dying mother's last wish; it's the least I can do for her." She struggled against him, "You can let me go now." She said with another sneer.
The Doctor released her, feeling his heart grow cold. He walked out of her room in dark, brooding mode and headed to his own room to go mourn the loss of his newfound friend.
...
(First song is based on Nsync's version of Oh Holy Night. I do not own this, I just use it and abuse it.)
(Second Song is Montgomery Gentry's If You Ever Stop Loving Me. Once again I'm just using it, I do not own it.)