Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. Just Sophie my oc.
A/N: Thank you everyone who followed/favourited and reviewed last chapter. And thank you to Maethoriel Artemis for helping me again this chapter.
CHAPTER 4
The Aliens of London
As the Doctor had promised his companions the Tardis materialized outside the Powell Estate. No sooner had the Tardis finished making its signature wheezing sound that the door opened and Rose stepped out, followed shortly by Sophie then the Doctor.
The Doctor leaned against the door frame of his ship his arms crossed as he watched the two young women take in 21st century London.
"How long have we been gone?" Rose inquired as she turned her gaze briefly from her home, wanting to make up an appropriate story.
"About 12 hours," the Doctor responded and Rose laughed at just how absurd that was after what had happened, "Oooh! Right, I won't be long, I'm just going to go say hi to my mum… maybe see if Mickey's home,"
The Doctor cocked his head, "What will you tell them?"
Rose shrugged, "I don't know! Been to the year five billion… and only been gone, what 12 hours?" the Doctor snorted out something that may have been an aborted laugh, "No, I'll just tell her, I've spent the night at Shareens…" she trailed, "Or maybe Soph's would be better… just in case mums called her," she stared at the brunette pointedly.
Sophie realizing it was actually a question, flushed slightly once again and nodded, "Yeah. That's fine,"
Rose nodded, "Good. See you later!" she called and started off only to turn back and point a finger at the Doctor, "Oh, don't you disappear!" the Doctor gave her an innocent look that had the blond narrowing her eyes, "Soph, make sure he doesn't go anywhere!"
Sophie frowned slightly, "Since, when has it been my job to play at baby sister?" she asked, the words slipping out before she'd really thought about it.
"Oi!" the Doctor cried indignantly only to be ignored by his companions.
Rose shrugged, "Since I need someone to make sure he doesn't make off without me. Shan't be long," she promised again, before she walked off.
Sophie blinked after the blond a moment before she started wandering the street she hadn't seen in what felt like… well she didn't know how long. It felt both like a long time and like no time had passed at all.
"Are you sure you don't want to do a quick hop to yours?" the Doctor asked, breaking the silence.
"What happened to, not going anywhere without Rose?" Sophie shot back giving him a short-pointed look, before she returned to examining the street.
"Nothing!" the Doctor denied hastily, "It'd just be a quick hop, there and back. She'd never know," he tried to entice as he watched her lazy gait.
"We agreed we'd go to mine after," Sophie responded, in no particular hurry. Her home was empty… nothing waited for her, "I can wait," she glanced over at him again, "You bored already?"
"No, course not," the Doctor muttered a little petulantly.
Sophie rolled her eyes, 'Right sure,'
'Oi! Do I detect sarcasm!' the Doctor shot back, the thought having been projected. He was beginning to think she was getting the hang of doing that on purpose!
Sophie stiffened a little in surprise, but easily recovered, getting a little used to the sensation of hearing the Doctor in her head when she wasn't expecting it.
She was about to make a reply when her gaze was caught by a poster that had her freezing… she'd seen that poster briefly before… but it'd only been 12 hours, "Doctor!" she cried urgently, "I thought you said 12 hours!"
The Doctor hurried over, "I did! We are!" he assured as he came up to her only to pause at the sight of the poster Sophie was looking at, "Oh!" he gaped at the poster a moment, before he gathered himself and snatched Sophie's hand and hurried after Rose hoping to catch her.
The Doctor barrelled into the Tyler flat. Sophie panting just behind him from their quick run up the stairs, her hand still clutched firmly in his. To the surprise of the two Tyler's that were embracing, Rose rather bewildered by what was happening and Jackie tearful, "It's not 12 hours, it's er… 12 months," he admitted, shocking not just the blond but the brunette that was still standing slightly behind him, "You've been gone a whole year…" he glanced back at Sophie and then back to Rose taking in their expressions rather sheepishly, "Sorry,"
*O*O*O*
Sophie stood alone on the rooftop of the Powell estate. Her expression pained and solemn as she lowered the mobile she'd borrowed off Rose when being in the room with her, the Doctor, Jackie and the police officer that had been called in by the irate Jackie upon realizing that her daughter hadn't been missing but off with a strange man and a woman that she barely knew, but had once worked with her daughter.
She clutched the small device between her hands as she fought for her self-control. She'd thought as much from the moment she'd heard it'd been 12 months and not 12 hours… but still it'd hurt to hear… to have proof.
She heard the door behind her open and felt the Doctors presence join her on the roof, and she blew out a shaky breath as she heard him approach. His steps deliberately loud against the concrete.
"Sophie?" he asked concerned as he reached her side.
"So, I'm dead… this is what death feels like… funny it feels a lot like living," she murmured with an attempt at a smile that didn't quiet reach beyond the quirking of the corners of her lips.
The Doctor frowned slightly. He'd expected more anger… hell his cheek was still stinging from Jackie's wrath, and the looks he'd been getting from Rose went without saying, "You are allowed to be angry, you know. Twelve months late, anger is an acceptable response,"
Sophie shook her head, "I'm not angry," he shot her a disbelieving look, "I was angry," she admitted in response to it, "Two minutes ago. I was angry, very angry… now, I'm… hurting. Yeah. Hurting is a good word for it," she played with the ends of her hair with idle fingers, "I didn't have anyone, like Rose did. I was living on my own. So, they sold everything that was mine to cover the rent I owed before they put my house back up… there's someone else living in my house,"
Sophie took another breath and let it out in a low suffering sigh, "But that's fine. It was only things… but the uni unenrolled me after I was declared dead. Five years of working my butt off on my course work. I only had two years left… maybe a few more if I'd been offered a 'masters', but I was so close to finishing and it's gone now," she frowned, "No ID, no bank accounts… no home," she sighed again, "I don't even really exist in the world right now. I had to fight to get them to tell me anything at all… had to try and prove who I was… never realized how hard that could be,"
The Doctor winced… he could empathize with some of that… and once again it was his fault, "Sophie, I'm sorry," the words didn't carry enough meaning as far as he was concerned.
Sophie met his gaze and a small smile touched her lips, the action easier this time, "No fault in an accident. I didn't have much to lose anyway. Things are replaceable,"
"Your schooling was important to you though," the Doctor murmured.
Sophie shrugged, "The credits I've earned won't go away. Once I'm done being 'dead' I'll just reapply. Go through another university if I have to," she decided and then blinked at the look the Doctor was giving her, "What?"
The Doctor shook his head at her, finding himself surprised and amazed yet again by the human beside him, "You're…" he began and trailed off, "You're a very unlikely girl, Annie,"
Sophie rolled her eyes at the nickname, "I've been hearing that lately," her gaze zeroed in on a red mark on his left cheek and she had to bite her lower lip for a moment to keep from laughing, "She got you good didn't she," she said with a gesture to the injury.
The Doctor groaned and rolled his eyes, "Oh, of course you saw that happening," he grumbled, "It hurt!" he muttered and rubbed at his cheek gingerly.
Sophie nodded, "It looked like it," she agreed.
"What looked like what?" Rose said from the doorway as she stepped out on to the roof.
Sophie gestured to the Doctors cheek, "The shiny red mark your mum gave him,"
Rose smirked, "Yeah. She really walloped him one. The face he made!" she chuckled.
The Doctor mock frowned at the two of them, "It hurt, you know!"
"Twelve months! And I still can't tell her anything. She meant it to hurt," Rose replied without sympathy. He was lucky to only get one! Her attention was drawn to Sophie as the curly haired brunette held her mobile out to her with a murmur of thanks, "How'd it go?" she enquired as she tucked it away.
Sophie shrugged, "Residence currently unknown. You?"
Rose winced for her friend, "I can't even begin… she's never gonna forgive me!" she murmured sadly, "We missed a year," she focused her gaze on the Doctor, "Was it good?"
The Doctor made a vague 'so-so' gesture with a hand, "Middling,"
Rose rolled her eyes, "You're so useless,"
The Doctor schooled his expression into a careful mask, "Well, if it's this much trouble are you gonna stay here now?"
Rose shook her head slightly, "I dunno," she muttered, her mind still on her mother.
"Annie-Girl?" the Doctor prodded.
Sophie gave a half-hearted huff, "Not even that nickname could keep me away," she grumbled lightly, her lips twitching upwards despite her displeasure.
The Doctor grinned at her response, pleased that he hadn't lost at least one companion to his mistake despite how much it had cost her. No matter what she said on the matter. His smile fell slightly as he turned his gaze back to Rose.
Rose stared at the two feeling a little hopeless as she tried to decide what she should do… in that moment she wished that she had the ability to decide as easily as Sophie, but their circumstances where so different.
"I-I can't do that to her again, though," she murmured. She wanted to stay with them she really did!
The Doctor grimaced his cheek throbbing painfully again, "Well, she's not coming with us!" he informed her sternly and was relieved when Rose laughed at even the idea of such a notion. So much so that he couldn't stop a chuckle himself.
"No chance," Rose agreed.
"Oh, I don't know. Jackie could help us keep him in line," Sophie teased softly. The words slipping from her with an ease that surprised her. She was normally so careful before she spoke… but neither seemed to mind her slip.
Rose shot a brief amused smirk at Sophie, before she arranged her features into a mock contemplative look.
One that had the Doctor shooting both of them mildly concerned looks, "I don't do families!" he warned them. Relief filling him when a moment later he realized that the two women had been merely teasing him.
"She slapped you!" Rose chortled reminiscing over the moment again.
"Nine hundred years of time and space, and I've never been slapped by someone's mother," he exclaimed unhappily.
"His face was priceless Soph," Rose chuckled.
Sophie nodded, "Oh, I know," she agreed and missed the surprised look the blond shot her, before she filed it away for later. The brunette to busy staring in surprise at the Doctor at his revelation… that she really hadn't been expecting.
The Doctor frowned at the two of them, his hand coming up to rub at his cheek again, now in remembered pain, "It hurt," he reminded them again.
Rose rolled her eyes, "You're so gay!" she sobered as she stared at him, "When you say nine hundred years…" she trailed off.
The Doctor shrugged, "That's my age,"
"You don't look nine hundred," Sophie broke her silence.
The Doctor grinned smugly, "Don't look a day over five hundred if I do say so myself…" he trailed as he shot her a slightly suspicious look, "Why what do you think nine hundred looks like?"
Sophie shrugged, "Something more Gandalf," she admitted after a slight hesitance.
The Doctor stared, his lips twitching in amusement was that disappointment he was seeing in her eyes? "I don't do beards," he said as seriously as he could manage and got another carefully nonchalant shrug.
Rose stared at Sophie, wishing that she could feel as calm about it as the brunette at least appeared to be… it was just nine hundred years… she'd never even thought he'd be anything near that old. It was shocking.
Rose shook her head at herself, "Every conversation with you just goes mental," she declared. "I just wish I could tell my mum something," she murmured after a beat of silence, glancing back towards the door that'd eventually lead back to her home and her mother, "We've seen all that stuff up there, the size of it, and I can't tell her a thing, not one word. Aliens and spaceships and things, and I can't share it with anyone else but the two of you. We're the only ones that know they exist,"
Right above their heads a spacecraft soared precariously through the air as it fell down towards the Earth. It crashed into the side of Big Ben, before it landed with a large splash into the Thames shocking the three on the roof.
"Oh, that's just not fair!" Rose gaped astounded.
"No bleedin' way!" Sophie muttered with awed disbelief.
The Doctor laughed gleefully and grasped his companion's hands and literally pulled the two out of their shock as he jerked them into a run to hurry to the sight of the crash, excitement thrumming through him.
*O*O*O*
Sophie grimaced slightly as they got closer to the crash site. It was mayhem ahead of them and more people where adding to the chaos… all of them excited… having so many minds pressing against her barriers was always uncomfortable.
She didn't slow however, she wanted to see as much as the Doctor and Rose did! So, as they continued at a quick clip towards the crash site, she concentrated harder to keep the excited press from becoming any more than annoying background buzz against her own…
"Can't see a thing from here," Sophie observed with disappointment when they couldn't get any closer.
The mayhem surrounding the site keeping them from getting anywhere close to the crash as throngs of people converged all trying to do the same.
"It's blocked off," the Doctor muttered equally disappointed.
"We're miles from the centre," Rose as she too looked around with disappointment. The streets were a mess, "The scene must be grid locked. The whole of London must be closing down,"
"Yeah, and everyone is going crazy," Sophie muttered dryly as she moved closer to her companions to avoid a small group passing them in a rush to join the chaos that was the throng of people trying to get closer.
Her brow furrowing with the effort she was putting into keeping the excited chattering thoughts of the strangers out of her own head… it was manageable though… she'd end up with a headache before long, but she was used to those and excitement was easier to deal with compared to anger and fear.
"I know, I can't believe I'm here to see this! This is fantastic!" the Doctor exclaimed giddily almost vibrating with his excitement.
"Did you know this was going to happen?" Rose asked him.
"Nope!"
"Do you recognize the ship?" the blond tried again.
"Nope!"
"Do you know why it crashed?" Rose attempted a third time to pry some answers out of the man, a small kernel of frustration stirring in her.
"Nope!"
"What do you know?" Sophie asked bemused and curious.
"A lot of things," the Doctor responded immediately with an unrepentant grin that had Rose shooting him looks of irritation.
"About the crash," Sophie reiterated.
"Nothing. Isn't it great!" Doctor declared exuberantly earning an amused smile and an almost completely silent chuckle from the brunette.
"Oh, we're so glad we've got you," Rose muttered with sarcasm.
"I bet you both are!" he responded enthusiastically, blatantly ignoring the sarcasm, "This is what I travel for! To see history happening right in front of us,"
"Well, let's go and see it!" Rose exclaimed linking an arm through Sophie's, sharing a grin with the brunette, "Never mind the traffic, we've got the Tardis!"
"Could we?" Sophie asked as she turned hopeful eyes up to the Doctor.
"Better not," he replied dashing their hopes reluctantly, rather put out himself at not being able to get a good look, "They've already got one spaceship in the middle of London, don't want to shove another one on top,"
"Yeah, but yours looks like a big blue box. No one's going to notice," Rose wheedled a little.
"You'll be surprised, an emergency like this, there'll be all kinds of people watching. Trust me, the Tardis stays where it is," the Doctor said firmly.
"I suppose your right," Sophie murmured quietly on a disappointed sigh.
"So, history's happening and we're stuck here," Rose muttered disgruntled.
"Yes, we are," the Doctor agreed, not too happy with it himself… he was never stuck on the outside! Never!
"We could always do what everybody else does," Rose suggested after a moment earning a questioning look from the Doctor.
Sophie glanced over at her, "So… the telly?"
Rose nodded in confirmation, "Yep. The telly,"
The Doctor stared at the two, a cross between being horrified at having to do something so ordinary and boring and thrilled that they could still watch it happening… even if it was just on the telly.
*O*O*O*
The Doctor, Sophie and Rose sat in the Tyler's living room all three occupying the couch in front of the tv, watching the screen intently as a reporter broadcasted what little he'd been told to the public.
The Tyler's home was crowded, almost packed with people that Jackie had invited over… Jackie who was nattering in the background to one of her friends adding to the din of noise that was making it difficult to hear the tv.
Sophie was distracted from the news reporter as the Doctor flicked the channel back to News 24 as Jackie came back into the living room another mug in hand similar to the one she'd already pressed upon Rose and the Doctor; the latter rather reluctantly.
She accepted the mug with a murmur of thanks, only to stare for a moment as the older woman held out her other hand to her. She lifted her own and found a couple of tablets dropped into her hand.
"You look like you've got a bit of a headache," Jackie said in explanation before she wandered back towards the kitchen to continue complaining to her friend about being forced to make the Doctor welcome for fear of losing her daughter again.
Sophie moved to set the small harmless looking pills onto the coffee table when she spotted a young boy who couldn't be more than a toddler wander into the living room. She pulled back, hesitated a moment as she decided what she should do with the pills before she settled on slipping them into her jeans pocket. An action that didn't go unnoticed by Rose and the Doctor.
The blond frowned in concern, "You do look like you've got a bit of a headache, Soph,"
"A bit of one yeah," Sophie admitted with a grimace.
"So, why not take the painkillers?" Rose asked with confusion.
Sophie shrugged a little, "Aspirin makes me a little nauseous," she explained receiving a look of understanding from the blond.
The Doctor looked at her a moment longer, making a mental note of the information before he turned his attention back to the tv only to find a toddler tottering back and forth in front of him… with a small sigh, he snatched the small child up and set him down on his lap, before turning his attention back to the tv satisfied that that distraction was safely contained.
Sophie blinked in confusion when News 24 disappeared from the tv screen and the tv flickered between a few channels before coming to rest on Blue Peter. Movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention and despite her frustration at missing what was being said she couldn't help but be amused at the sight of the Doctor, who was trying to gently wrest control of the remote from the toddler he'd settled on his lap earlier.
The Doctor finally regained the remote and flicked the channel back, and allowed the young boy to hop down off his lap.
He scowled at him in frustration when the toddler instead of toddling off like he'd expected stood in front of the tv, blocking his view of the small screen. He pointed vehemently to the side, "Go on!" he said sternly, his face and tone broking no argument from the boy.
The boy looked balefully at him for a moment before he obediently walked in the direction indicated no longer interested in the man and wanting the more comforting embrace and attention of his mummy.
The ordinary way bloody horrifying! The Doctor decided as he tried to ignore the many humans that were jammed into the Tyler flat, none but his companions at all interested in what the news was reporting on what was possibly the first alien contact the Earth was officially aware of.
*O*O*O*
Sophie stood in the shadows of the Tyler's flat, leaning a shoulder against the exterior wall as she stared up at the night sky. She had been heading to the Tardis when she'd left the Tyler's flat… but what she could see of the stars had distracted her and she was far enough away from the gathering in the Tyler's and all the varying parties going on throughout the homes the made up the estate that she was able to relax slightly.
Which had been her intention when she'd decided to visit the Tardis for a bit. There hadn't been any new information released on the alien crashlanding either so she didn't believe that she was missing anything by catching her breath.
Still, she should probably head back inside soon, before Rose and the Doctor started to wonder where she'd gotten too. She didn't think either of them had noticed her slip out both had been a bit caught up. Rose with her mother and the Doctor enduring a talking too by one of Jackie's friends…
"Ah, so this is where you disappeared to," the Doctors voice came from behind her.
Sophie glanced back at him, "I'm not used to being in such a small space with so many people. It was getting a bit overwhelming," she murmured as he came up beside her.
"How's your headache?" he asked.
"Receding," Sophie replied with a small shrug, her gaze returning to the stars. Her expression thoughtful as she found herself wondering, not for the first time, what it would be like to be around that many people and not have to worry about accidentally hearing what they were thinking.
"Good,"
The Doctor studied what he could see of her face for a moment before he lightly bumped her shoulder with his drawing her attention back from her thoughts, "Come for a wander?" he offered with a smile that urged her to come with.
Sophie returned the smile, "Sure," she agreed, before glancing about the night, confusion crossing her face, "What about Rose,"
"She's fine where she is," the Doctor waved off.
"She won't like us going somewhere without her," Sophie muttered as they began heading towards the exit to the Estate.
"She's catching up with her mother. Won't even notice we've been gone," the Doctor assured with a small grimace at the thought of Jackie.
Sophie blinked at him, a thought occurring to her, "You're scared you'll get slapped again, huh?" she half stated half questioned.
"No, of course not," the Doctor denied, speaking a little too quickly, "…Well, maybe a smidge," he admitted in the next beat, a hand touching his previously abused cheek again. He mock pouted as Sophie chuckled a little at him, before he smiled slightly.
"And just where do you two think you're going?" Rose asked from behind them, a distinctly unimpressed look on her face as the two spun around to face her.
"Nowhere!" the Doctor denied immediately and internally winced at just how unbelievable he'd sounded, "It's just a little bit human in there for me. History just happened and they're talking about where you can buy dodgy top up cards for half price,"
Sophie stared at him surprised by that, "They are?"
The Doctor gave her a pained nod, before he returned his gaze to Rose who staring at him completely unimpressed, "Just thought I'd give Annie a bit of break. Take her for a bit of a wander, that's all,"
Rose's gaze softened only slightly as she glanced at the petite brunette that had disappeared earlier, before returning her gaze to him and frowned, "Right," she drawled, her tone still disbelieving, "There's a spaceship on the Thames and you're just going to take Soph 'wandering',"
The Doctor shrugged, "Nothing to do with me!" he claimed, "It's not an invasion! That was a genuine crash landing. Angle of descent, colour of the smoke, everything! It's perfect!"
Rose started at him flatly, "So…"
"So, maybe this is it! First contact! The day mankind officially comes into contact with an alien race. I'm not interfering because you've got to handle this on your own. That's when the human race finally grows up. Just this morning you were all tiny and small and made of clay! Now you expand!" he exclaimed and laughed with delighted exuberance.
Rose couldn't help but smile, her suspicions easing slightly… and Sophie had looked rather pained whilst they'd been watching the telly… so maybe he was just taking her for a walk away from the crowds… still, she couldn't completely shake her suspicions.
The Doctor returned it, "You don't need me. Go and celebrate history. Spend time with your mum," he urged before he turned and gently prodded Sophie into a walk.
Rose watched them walk for a brief moment, the small fear she harboured of being left behind rearing its head again and she was calling out before she realized that she was going to, "Promise that the two of you won't disappear?"
The two stopped and turned back to her, "Tell you what," the Doctor stated, trailing only slightly as he patted his jacket pockets, "Tardis key," he announced as he produced the gold key and handed it to her, "About time you had one," he said with a grin.
"Do you want me to stay?" Sophie offered quietly, her expression sincere as she stared at Rose, trying to judge what she should do in this situation.
Rose looked up from the key that was resting in her hand. She smiled at the brunette, "No, you go. Anyone could see that you were struggling in there,"
Sophie glanced away embarrassed by the truth of it.
Rose surprised her by drawing the petite woman into a hug, "Have you thought more about his offer?" she whispered just loud enough for Sophie to hear... and the Doctor pretended to oblige the notion that he couldn't as he began fiddling with the lapels of his jacket.
Sophie nodded against Rose's shoulder a little awkwardly, her arms coming up to return the hug a little belatedly.
"And?" the blond insisted.
"Still thinking," Sophie responded.
"Well, hurry up and decide," Rose urged, giving her a slight squeeze of reassurance, "You're not doing yourself any favours by struggling, ya know," she prodded as gently as she could whilst expressing her concern.
Sophie pulled back, fidgeting uncomfortably, before giving a small noncommittal nod of her head.
Rose puffed out her cheeks briefly before she shook her head slightly at the stubborn brunette, "Right, go on then… and make sure he does come back!"
"I don't think I'll need to," Sophie responded earning a beaming tongue in teeth smile from her blond friend.
"Right. See you later!" the Doctor bid, eager now to get going. He took Sophie's hand and the two started off again.
Rose watched them until they left her line of sight, before she looked down at the key in her hand. A delighted smile curving up her lips at the physical promise she had that the Doctor and Sophie where coming back.
She curled her hand around it, before she turned and moved back towards the flat. The Doctor was right in that she needed to spend more time with her mother after the year the woman had had… and, she still hadn't managed to see Mickey to clear the air between them.
*O*O*O*
Sophie stepped into the Tardis and smiled at the welcoming hum that greeted her and the Doctor. She patted the wall as she sent a silent greeting back before she turned to the Doctor. Her expression hopeful and curious, "So… do I get a key?" she asked.
The Doctor paused in his trek to the console and turned to her, "Of course!" he exclaimed with a grin and immediately began patting his pockets again. A short moment later he paused and shot a look at his ship, a frown furrowing his brow, "What?"
Sophie shifted uncomfortably, thinking that perhaps she shouldn't have asked and just waited instead.
The Doctor stared at the Tardis a moment longer, a little put out, "Check your jacket pocket," he told her.
It was Sophie's turn to frown in confusion, "This jacket doesn't have poc…" she trailed off as she became aware of a warm weight on the right side of the woollen jacket. She pulled it away to see a pocket that hadn't been there before. She reached into it and pulled out a gold key that was identical in appearance to the one the Doctor had given Rose. A soft warm pulsation coming from the metal.
The Doctor tore his gaze away from the key in Sophie's hand and shot another look at his Tardis… this one unimpressed and more than a little pouty. He was the one that gave out the key!
The Tardis merely hummed completely unconcerned and unrepentant in response to his mild annoyance with her.
To which the Doctor rolled his eyes at his cheeky ship… really, they had a system. A system that worked really well.
The Doctor turned his attention back to Sophie as she examined the key that was resting in her palm. His gaze turning curious. The Tardis had never specifically given a key to one of his companions before, "She must really like you," he observed.
Sophie glanced up, a grin curling up her lips, "I really like her too," and the Tardis gave a happy hum in response. Sophie placed a hand against the console, careful not to bump any buttons, "Thanks Sexy," she murmured gratefully.
The Doctor choked on his own saliva, his eyes widening as he stared at the brunette, "Did you just call her Sexy?"
Sophie looked back at him with a small frown of concern, "Yeah. She told me I could… but, is that not ok?" she asked, her teeth sinking into her lower lip worriedly at his reaction.
The Doctor's cheeks were tinged a light pink in mild embarrassment, "No… it's fine," he assured her, before turning a glare on the Tardis.
'I thought I told you not to be cheeky?' he whinged at her. His only response was an amused hum from his Old Girl and he sighed to himself. Really, he should have known that the Tardis would just do as she wanted.
"Good," Sophie sighed in relief, before she smiled, "It really suits her,"
The Doctor smiled too, embarrassment forgotten, "Yeah, it does," he agreed, "Right," he clapped his hands together as he moved around the console, "Let's wander,"
"Wait, we're taking the Tardis?" Sophie asked, suddenly a little unsure. Weren't they just wandering?
"Of course," the Doctor replied giving her a look that said he thought that should be obvious, "Why'd you think we came in here?"
Sophie gave a small shrug, "Dunno… change your jumper?"
The Doctor glanced down at his jumper, "Why? This is a brilliant jumper,"
"No reason, just thought we'd be walking," she murmured, her fingers coming up to play with her hair again.
"Nah. Quicker in the Tardis," the Doctor replied.
Sophie nodded, her uneasy feeling about their sudden 'wander' quieting. Of course, the Doctor would prefer just to make a hop with the Tardis. She smiled curiosity rising, "Where are we wandering too?"
The Doctor shot her an exhilarated look, "You'll see!" he told her, before he pressed a few buttons and the engines whirled to life and in the next moment they were moving.
Sophie looked at the Tardis console concerned as it began to smoke, seemingly out of nowhere to her mind. Her concern turned to alarm however as the Doctor reached under the console and pulled out a mallet and began hitting the console, "Oi! Hitting her won't actu…" she trailed off as the smoking stopped, leaving her blinking owlishly as the flight continued.
The Doctor shot her a smug look, before he kissed the mallet, beaming at the console, before he placed the tool back where he'd got it.
Sophie shook her head in bewilderment. She had no idea how smacking the console with a mallet solved the problem… but it worked and the Tardis seemed only mildly exasperated over the treatment.
The Tardis wheezed as she materialized and Sophie turned her curious gaze to the door, "So, where are we?"
"The Albion Hospital," the Doctor replied with a grin.
"Hang on," Sophie said with a small frown, recognizing the name of the hospital from News 24, "I thought we were just going for a wander?"
"We are!" the Doctor insisted, only to receive a look from Sophie that had him tugging on his ear, "Ok. I may have misrepresented just what I meant by wandering," he admitted little sheepishly, "But they found a body Annie-Girl!"
"Oh, Rosie is going to be so mad at you," Sophie muttered.
The Doctor tugged at his ear again, "A bit yeah… but at least her mum won't slap me again,"
Sophie huffed out a short breath, "Yeah, but Rose just might,"
The Doctor grimaced, before he waved her off, "Nah. I'll make it up to her. Take you both somewhere nice," he promised.
Sophie shook her head at him, her lips twitching upwards as she found herself relenting in the face of his enthusiasm.
The Doctor beamed in return, sensing what little resistance she'd had disintegrating in the face of her own curiosity.
A moment later the two were quietly slipping out of the Tardis. Sophie blinked at the small storage space they were in, rather surprised and impressed that the Tardis had managed to land herself so precisely inside the small space… really the beautiful blue box barely fit!
The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver as they moved the short distance to the door, finding it locked he pressed a button on his sonic and aimed it at the handle. Only to shut it off a moment later at the loud buzzing sound it emitted, "Shh!" he hushed it.
Sophie couldn't help the soft sound of laughter that escaped her at that. A hand coming up to stifle the sound.
The Doctor pressed a finger to his lips in a 'sh' gesture, a grin curling up his lips as Sophie mouthed an 'oops' at him. He turned his attention back to the door, before he aimed his sonic at the locked door again. The buzzing actually softer this time.
The lock clicked and he slipped his sonic back in his pocket. The Doctor shared an excited grin with Sophie before he opened the door and ushered her out before him.
Sophie stopped dead, her eyes wide as she took stock of the room she'd stepped out into… and all she could think as she stared at the twentyish armed soldiers that had stopped stone cold at the sight of her and the Doctor was, 'Oh bugger.' As her heart gave an uncomfortable beat as the surprise faded and the soldiers all jumped to their feet in a flurry of motion.
She blinked a little surprised as her vision of the gun totting soldiers was obscured by the board back of the Doctor as he stepped between her and the guns that were being pointed at them. Before she could really think about it, she was moving her arm forward and slipping her hand into his, giving it a grateful, but concerned squeeze. She really hadn't been expecting guns. Nurses, doctors maybe… but soldiers hadn't even crossed her mind!
The Doctor returned the squeeze, hoping to reassure her as he blandly grinned at the soldiers, reminded once again why he hated guns whilst he thought of what he could say to get them both out of trouble. Really it was just his luck that it was this room they'd stepped out into.
A terrified scream broke the tension and the smile dropped from the Doctor's lips as he ran towards the sound, tugging Sophie into motion with him and he shouted back at the soldiers that still hadn't moved, now torn over what to do, "Defence part delta! Come on, move, move!"
Upon hearing the familiar order, the soldiers broke into a quick run following the Doctor and Sophie as the two raced out of the door and down a hallway in the direction the scream had come from.
The Doctor almost skidded to a stop as he spotted a woman in a doctor's coat cowering on the floor.
"It's alive!" she cried, her voice shaking with her fear and shock.
The Doctor turned to the soldiers that were behind him, "Spread out. Tell the perimeter it's a lockdown!" he ordered them, before he turned to Sophie, "Annie-Girl. I don't know what we're dealing with so, I need you to stay close ok? No wandering off," he said firmly, his eyes locking with hers to get across just how serious he was.
Sophie flicked her gaze back to the traumatized Doctor that was still trembling on the floor a bleeding cut on her forehead, before meeting the Doctor's intense gaze again, "Ok," she agreed easily.
"Do it!" the Doctor snapped at the soldiers that still hadn't moved as he moved quickly towards the bleeding woman. The sound of their retreating steps assuring him that they'd gone to follow his directives.
Sophie followed, her hand still clasped in his for the moment, her brow furrowing in concentration as her barriers wavered as the woman's frightened thoughts beat against them in a frenzy of terror… the frantic beating making her temples pound anew, her receding headache flaring back to life with a vengeance.
The Doctor took the frightened woman's hands with his own, drawing her attention.
"I swear it was dead," she told him, her eyes wide.
"Coma, shock, hibernation, anything," he suggested in explanation, "What does it look like?" he asked, only for his attention to be drawn away as a small scuffling sound came from behind them. He released the woman and spun quickly, "It's still here," he muttered as he stood, beckoning a soldier into the room as he moved towards the alien as it made another scuffling sound.
Sophie moved to follow the Doctor only to be brought up short as the cowering Doctor snagged her wrist.
"I swear it was dead," she murmured again, her expression pained, "I never would have locked it away if I'd known it was alive. I swear it was dead,"
Sophie blinked as she frantically tried to understand what the woman wanted from her… her eyes beseeching her for something…all the while her head throbbed angrily as she kept up her barriers… keeping the woman out, "Uh… I'm sure you'd have done everything differently if you had," she said tentatively and was relieved when the woman released her wrist evidently satisfied.
Sophie turned her attention back to the Doctor confused by the interaction, but glad that she seemed to have said something right as the woman's thoughts stopped battering at her quite so heavily.
"Hello!" she heard the Doctor greet something from where he was kneeling on the floor. A squeal of terror was the response, before the alien was darting out and across the room, "Don't shoot!" the Doctor ordered the soldier as he moved to hurry after the fleeing creature.
Sophie followed her eyes wide. She'd only gotten a brief glimpse of the alien, but it had looked small and terrified… and rather like a pig, but that couldn't be right?
The sound of a gunshot made her jump and she stared wide eyed at the fallen form of the alien… that actually did look like a pig in a black spacesuit.
"What did you do that for? It was scared!" the Doctor demanded of the soldier who stared at him alarmed and unsure of what he could say… he'd merely reacted…
The Doctor crouched down by the dying pig, "It was scared," he murmured again as he reached down and stroked the scared animal as it took its last breathes.
Sophie swallowed thickly, her eyes sad as she stared helplessly as the life left the pigs eyes. Her gloved hands clenched at her sides.
Her control threatening to slip as her emotions played havoc with her ability to concentrate. Sorrow filling her making her heartache for the creature.
*O*O*O*
Sophie fell into step with the Doctor as the two quietly left the mortuary, leaving Doctor Sato to talk to thin air as they walked back along the hallway as they headed back to the storage room where they'd left the Tardis. She glanced over at him as he bumped his arm against hers gently.
"You doing ok?" he asked quietly, his gaze cataloguing the strain on her face and the tell-tale scrunch of her brow.
"Yeah…" she assured, grimacing only slightly as her head continued to pound rather viciously, "Or I will be," she added and attempted a small smile for him, but it fell a little flat.
The Doctor nodded in understanding and gave her a small reassuring smile of his own.
"It was just horrible, what was done to that pig… why would they do that?" she asked with a small confused frown.
The Doctor nodded again. He had the same question… in fact, he had a few now, "I'm not sure… but I'm going to find out," he swore.
Sophie nodded her agreement, and grimaced slightly as the action made the pounding in her head pound harder momentarily and her barriers wavered ever so slightly as her concentration threatened to slip with it and the minds of those closest in the hospital pressed closer, their thoughts becoming a bit brighter.
The Doctor caught the action and grimaced a little himself in guilt and he twitched with the desire to do something to help… to try and see if his leading idea would work, "Annie…"
She met his gaze, one of her hands coming up to tangle the ends of her hair around her fingers, "I'm fine," she muttered.
The Doctor stared at her flatly for a brief moment taking in the nervous motion of her fingers, before he blew out a soft, but resigned breath, telling himself not to push, as he pulled the storage room door open, "How's the 'thinking' going?" he asked anyway as he ushered her in before him.
Sophie shot him a look out of the corner of her eye as she passed him, "Still going," she muttered and the Doctor gave a short nod at the answer.
Sophie worried her lower lip as she trailed the Doctor to the Tardis door as she wondered if she could or should say more, because she knew Rose was right… she wasn't helping herself by battling on, on her own… but she couldn't bring herself to say the words she needed to actually accept his help.
She opened her mouth, closed it. Scowled at herself in frustration and tried again only to repeat the process.
From inside the Tardis the Doctor glanced around confused as to why he was still inside alone. He moved back towards the door to see her standing outside the doorway… opening and closing her mouth as if she was trying to force words that just weren't ready to be spoken yet.
He inwardly flinched at himself as he hurried back towards her… "Hey, Annie-Girl… look at me," he urged as he closed the distance between them.
Sophie let out a small 'oof' as no sooner had she lifted her gaze to meet the Doctor's that she found herself infolded into a warm hug that took her by surprise.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I shouldn't have pushed like that,"
Sophie blinked rapidly still processing the fact that she was indeed being hugged… her own arms slowly coming up to wrap around his sides in return. Her forehead coming to rest against his chest, "Its ok," she mumbled against the leather of his jacket, "My thoughts are kind of circular…" she admitted before trailing uncertain how to put it into words that made any kind of sense outside of her head.
"You'll work it out, when you're ready," the Doctor replied, "Just ignore me. Nine hundred years, and I still haven't learnt much patience," he joked lightly.
Sophie smiled slightly at the attempt, "Teaches good hugs though," she murmured, the words slipping out without her permission, leaving her cheeks tinged pink.
"Thanks!" the Doctor exclaimed with a bright grin and hugged her little tighter for a moment.
Sophie bit her lower lip as her heart did a funny little beat in her chest, leaving her with an odd feeling that had her frowning in confusion, before she was distracted by the strange rhythmic beating coming from the Doctor's chest and pressed her ear to it again before she'd really thought about it.
She pulled back again and stared up at the Doctor owlishly to see him grinning down at her with amusement, causing her to flush again, "Two? Really?" she asked as she stepped out of his embrace.
"Yep!" he replied popping the 'p', "Now, let's go, before Rose misses," he urged, taking her hand as he spoke, pulling her into motion with him.
The Tardis door closed behind Sophie and a moment later the Tardis was wheezing as she dematerialized.
*O*O*O*
The Tardis had barely finished materializing when the door practically flew open as Rose marched in looking a mixture of relieved and displeased as she stared at the Doctor who was busy looking at a monitor and Sophie who was standing beside him.
"I told you she wouldn't be happy!" Sophie told him as she nudged him with her elbow as she fixed Rose with an apologetic, 'I tried look'.
"Alright! So, I lied. It was more than just a wander!" the Doctor exclaimed, "We went and had a look, but the whole crash landing's a fake, I thought so, it's just too perfect. I mean, 'hitting Big Ben' come on, I just thought, let's go take a look…" he explained quickly
Rose stared at him for a moment, "…my mum's here," she finally said, unable to truly be unhappy when despite the lie, they'd both come back for her.
The Doctor looked past Rose and his eyes landed on Jackie and just behind her Mickey. He rolled his eyes and shot the younger blond an annoyed look, "Oh, that's just what I need. Don't you dare make this place domestic!"
Sophie grimaced and let out a slow breath… her brow scrunching up as she concentrated on keeping the upset and angry Mickey out of her head. The effort renewing the throb that had only just started to die down again.
"You ruined my life!" Mickey accused hotly, "They thought I was a murder suspect because of you!"
The Doctor gave Rose a look, "See what I mean? Domestic," he muttered sourly, before he spun back to the monitor determined to ignore all the domestics now until they inevitably went away. He flicked his gaze to Sophie… well, perhaps he should just get straight to the booting out?
Mickey marched a few steps towards him, "I bet you don't even remember my name!" he accused again.
"Ricky," the Doctor replied without missing a beat.
Mickey scowled at him, "It's Mickey!"
"No, it's Ricky." The Doctor couldn't help, but needle him.
"I think I know my own name," Mickey shot back annoyed.
The Doctor paused, before turning to look at him incredulous, "You think you know your own name? How stupid are you?" he glanced over at Sophie again and tugged at his ear sheepishly as he took in the look she was giving him, "Eh, sorry. Couldn't seem to help myself," he murmured just loud enough for her to hear.
"Patience," Sophie muttered after a moment, "You need classes," she grumbled through gritted teeth as she raised a hand to her temples. She was trying she really was, but if Mickey was angry before it was worse now… and gosh… the boy had a mouth… she winced as she realized he'd slipped through and concentrated harder, shutting him out again.
"Mum don't!" Rose called after her mother as the older woman fled from the Tardis, "Don't go anywhere! Soph, tackle him if you have too!" she ordered the Doctor and Sophie, before turning to Mickey who was scowling heavily, "Don't start a fight!" she demanded of him, before she ran after her mother.
Sophie stared after Rose for a moment, wondering how the blond thought she'd be able to tackle the Doctor at all, let alone away from the controls… but it was only for a moment as she was forced slam her barriers tighter as Mickey's thoughts flared against her barriers in fresh irritation, this time glaring after his girlfriend.
"You alright?" the Doctor asked Sophie.
"Yeah, but the aspirins starting to look real good," she muttered.
"Just how allergic are you?" the Doctor questioned curious.
Sophie grimaced, "Oh, I'd be hanging my head over a bucket for at least an hour… two if I've taken more than one,"
"Best avoid that then," the Doctor said with a grimace of his own, his gaze focused on the monitor in front of him.
"Yeah," Sophie agreed just as Rose ran back into the Tardis coming up to the Doctor's other side.
"That was a real spaceship?" she asked.
"Yep!"
"So, it's all a pack of lies? What is it then, are they invading?" Rose questioned, practically willing the Doctor to talk faster, so that should go up to her mum and smooth over whatever ruffled feathers she had. She probably should be there now, but she wanted to know! Her gaze slid to Sophie who feeling eyes on her looked up, "Well?" the blond urged.
Sophie blinked, focusing past her headache to realize that Rose was expecting an answer from her whilst the Doctor remained silent, "He doesn't know yet," she murmured, earning a slight pout from the Doctor who hadn't been willing to say as much out loud.
Mickey who'd grudgingly wandered over to them and was standing on the balls of his feet to watch over their shoulders spoke, "Funny way to invade, putting the world on red alert,"
The Doctor glanced at him surprised and grudgingly mildly impressed, "Good point! So, what're they up to?" he wondered.
Sophie shook her head slightly, "Nothing good," she posited quietly.
The Doctor nodded in agreement, "Let's find out," he muttered, before he moved away from the monitor to get started on just what he needed to do.
*O*O*O*
Inside her room Jackie sat down her home phone and puffed out a breath, already unsure as to whether she'd done the right thing…
*O*O*O*
The Doctor fiddled with wires, a frown of concentration on his face as he worked on them carefully, not wanting to fry them by accident. The Tardis would be rather annoyed if that happened... probably give him a shock.
He glanced up briefly and smiled around his mouthful of sonic screwdriver at seeing his two companions sitting together, talking softly… Sophie was probably still catching Rose up on what she'd missed like the blond had demanded. He was pleased to observe that the brunette was looking more relaxed.
He blinked as he realized he was staring longer than he'd intended and immediately focused his attention back to the wires he was reworking so that they'd do what he needed them to.
Mickey who'd felt rather brushed off by Rose when she'd practically dragged Sophie over to sit on the stairs with barely a glance at him, wandered over to the Doctor, his eyes curious as he watched the man fiddle, "So, what're you doing down there?"
The Doctor supressed a groan at the sound of his voice, "Rickey," he said, his voice muffled around the sonic that was still in his mouth.
"Mickey," he corrected with irritation.
The Doctor took the sonic out of his mouth and looked up at him, "Ricky," he repeated making Mickey roll his eyes, "If I was to tell you what I was doing to the controls of my frankly magnificent time ship, would you even begin to understand?" he asked.
"I suppose not…" Mickey admitted slightly abashed by the Doctor's tone, but no less irritated by the man.
"Shut it then," the Doctor ordered before sticking the sonic back between his teeth and focusing on the wires once again, breathing out a breath of relief as he heard Mickey walk away from him.
Rose who'd been watching the interaction out of the corner of her eye shot the Doctor a look of irritation herself, before she rolled her eyes as she noticed him glance in their direction again… before he lowered his gaze back to what he was doing.
She nudged Sophie and nodded towards the Doctor, "Go on, I think he wants to be all impressive," she muttered grudgingly bringing it the brunette's attention. A vindictive part of her not wanting to oblige the Doctor after what he'd just done, but that was only a small part of her.
Sophie blinked in surprise, "But didn't he just send Mickey off?"
Rose huffed and shot the man another glare, "Yeah, but he doesn't like Mickey," she stated, before giving her friend a smile, "Go, let him be impressive," she looked over at her boyfriend, "I need to talk to Mickey… can't put it off any longer,"
Sophie stared after Rose for a moment as the blond got up and strolled to where Mickey had stormed off to, before she turned her blue gaze to the Doctor who seemed rather focused to her. Still she got up and wandered over, settling herself on the floor a slight distance away not wanting to encroach on the Doctor's space whilst he worked.
The Doctor glanced up, and pulled the sonic from between his lips as his gaze landed on Sophie's changed position, "Rose all caught up?"
"Yep," she confirmed with a small nod, "Is it ok that I watch?"
"From there?" the Doctor asked as he took in how much space she'd left between them.
Sophie shrugged, "Didn't wanna be in the way," she muttered.
"Can't really see from there, though can you?" the Doctor replied and beckoned her closer, "Sit here," he gestured to a panel beside him that'd let her peer down on what he was doing without getting in his light.
Sophie shuffled forward. Settling onto the panel the Doctor had indicated, watching what he was doing with the wires intently.
The Doctor glanced up at her again a moment later unable to help himself, "Curious?" he questioned with a grin.
Sophie lifted her gaze to his again, "Yes," she replied honestly and that was all it took for the Doctor to launch into an explanation with a thrilled grin, pointing out the wires as he spoke of them.
Sophie for her part watched and listened attentively doing her best to understand what she could and mentally filing away words that she wanted to go and look up later when she got some time.
Sparks flew from underneath the console making Sophie flinch back, but the Doctor let out a triumphant cry, "Got it!" he beamed, "Haha!" he got out from where he'd wedged himself and helped pull Sophie to her feet before moving to the monitor, Rose and Mickey coming around the console to join them.
"Patched in the radar, looped it back 12 hours so we can follow the flight of the spaceship, here we go…"
Sophie frowned slightly at the Doctor, "Why didn't you just say that earlier then?" she asked as the Doctor gave the monitor a smack.
"I was explaining the process," he defended himself.
"Oh," Sophie murmured softly accepting that, but still mildly confused as to why he'd tried to explain something that she'd only just managed to follow maybe half of.
Rose rolled her eyes good naturedly and smiled at Sophie as the two made eye contact from their spots on either side of the Doctor, "Not as impressive," she mouthed at the brunette.
Sophie returned the smile, and the two shared a small laugh.
The Doctor glanced away from the uncooperative monitor to eye the two suspiciously at the sound, before he shook his head at them and returned his attention to the monitor, giving it another small smack, "Come on!" he grumbled at it.
The screen flickered to the right image and the Doctor shifted it so that Sophie and Rose could see, forcing Mickey to budge up closer to Rose to get a look, "That's the spaceship on its way to Earth… see?" he pointed out the travel path, "Except… hold on… see, the spaceship did a sling shot round the Earth before it landed,"
"What does that mean?" Rose asked.
"It means it came from Earth in the first place," the Doctor replied, "It went up and came back down. Whoever those aliens are, they haven't just arrived. They've been here for a while. The question is, what have they been doing?"
Sophie chewed her lower lip as she stared at the monitor that displayed what the Doctor had just explained to them, 'One things for sure… they wanted the world watching,' she thought as she pondered why they'd want so much attention.
'True,' the Doctor replied and merely gave her a slightly cheeky smile when she shot him an irritated look.
'Will you stop that?'
'Stop projecting then,' was his quick unrepentant response.
Sophie grimaced, he knew damn well that she didn't know how! 'Jerk-mc-Jerk face!' she shot at him with a glower only to receive nothing from him… he didn't even twitch. So, she looked away believing that she hadn't succeeded, just missing the bemused look he shot her whilst he internally chuckled at her behind the safety of his mental shields.
A short while later Sophie, Rose and Mickey watched as the Doctor flicked through channels as they searched for any new news on the 'crash landing'.
"How many channels do you get?" Mickey couldn't help but ask. His curiosity getting the better of him.
"All the basic packages," the Doctor responded neutrally, unwittingly encouraging Mickey to continue.
"You get sports channels?"
The Doctor rolled his eyes annoyed already, "Yes, I get the football," he grumbled before he turned his attention back to the screen in front of them and he stopped flicking the channel, "Hold on, I know that bloke!" he exclaimed his attention snagged.
"It is looking likely that the government is bringing in alien specialists, those people who have devoted their lives to outer space," the reporter on the tv informed them.
"UNIT!" the Doctor exclaimed happily, "United Nations Intelligence Task force, good people," earning curious looks from his companions.
Sophie shrugged at Rose when their eyes met briefly, she didn't have a clue either, "How do you know them?" the blond asked.
"Cos he's worked for them," Mickey answered to their surprise sounding smug, "Yeah, don't think I sat on my backside for 12 months, Doctor. I read up on you. You look deep enough on the internet… and the history books, and there's his name. Followed by a list of the dead,"
"That's nice," the Doctor responded blandly outwardly unaffected by those words that had him internally flinching, "Good boy, Ricky,"
"If you know them why don't you go and help?" Rose asked quizzically.
"They wouldn't recognize me," he replied with a small shrug, "I've changed a lot since the old days. Besides, the worlds on a knife-edge. There's aliens out there and fake aliens. We want to keep this alien out of the mix," he decided brightly, "I'm going undercover… and eh, better keep the Tardis out of sight," he turned to Mickey, "Ricky! You've got a car – you can do some driving," he stated, ignoring the look the boy gave him as he straightened up and headed for the door.
"Where to?!" Mickey called after him, before scrambling to his feet realizing that he was being left behind by the three.
"The roads are clearing. Let's go and have a look at that spaceship," the Doctor responded with a grin before he opened the door and stepped out into the night.
The Four were immediately blinded by a helicopters searchlight, "Do not move!" a voice amplified by a loudspeaker ordered them.
At the sight of the police cars and soldiers surrounding them with guns pointed at them, Mickey ran managing to find sanctuary behind some dustbins.
Jackie who'd been drawn out of her flat by the noise moved to run to her daughter only to get stopped by a couple of soldiers, "No!" she shouted desperately as they held her back.
"Raise your hands above your head! You are under arrest!" the same amplified voice ordered.
"Take me to your leader!" the Doctor called to them over the sound of the hovering helicopter.
"You didn't!" Sophie half whispered half whimpered as she resisted the urge to facepalm rather hard. She didn't fancy getting shot.
Rose exchanged a pained look with Sophie as the soldiers closed in on them.
*O*O*O*
Rose stared at the interior of the car that the three of them had been ushered into by the soldiers, "This is a bit posh," she commented appreciatively, "If I knew it was gonna be like this, being arrested, I'd have done it years ago,"
Sophie shook her head, "I don't think this is arrested. From what I've seen arrested is a lot less comfy… and tends to involve handcuffs,"
Rose and the Doctor stared at her, "You've been arrested?" they asked almost in sync.
"No," Sophie denied, "I grew up in an orphanage. I saw a couple of the more uh, troubled kids get arrested," she explained.
"Oh," Rose mumbled, before she froze sending Sophie a look, "Wait orphanage?!"
Sophie grimaced, she'd forgotten that Rose didn't know. "Later," she offered and Rose nodded in acceptance.
"Well she's right," the Doctor chimed in, "We're not being arrested, we're being escorted!" he exclaimed with a grin.
"Where to?" Rose asked with a smile of her own.
"Where'd you think? Downing Street!" he exclaimed jovially, before laughing with excitement.
"You're kidding," Rose exclaimed.
"I'm not!" he assured her.
"10 Downing Street?" Rose clarified.
"That's the one!" the Doctor enthused.
Rose let out a gleeful laugh, "Oh, my God! Soph, we're going to 10 Downing Street!"
Sophie returned the grin rather excited herself at the prospect of actually entering the building, "Yep!"
"How come?" Rose asked a little confused.
"I hate to say it, but Mickey was right. Over the years I've visited this planet a lot of time, and I've been uh, noticed," the Doctor admitted.
"Now they need you?" Rose queried.
"Like it said on the news, they're gathering experts in alien knowledge. And who's the biggest expert of the lot?" he asked with an expectant grin.
"Patrick Moore," Rose shrugged.
The Doctor's face fell dramatically, "Apart from him!" he turned to Sophie expectant look back in place.
"You?" Sophie responded after a moment realizing that he was waiting on her to say something.
"Exactly!" the Doctor exclaimed exuberantly glad that one of them got it... studiously ignoring the eye roll from Rose.
*O*O*O*
The car pulled up outside 10 Downing Street and the Doctor, Sophie and Rose stepped out of the car and into the flashing lights of the paparazzi.
The Doctor smiled and gave them all an exuberant wave before he grasped Sophie's gloved hand in his and began briskly walking towards the building at a quick clip, wanting to get the telepathic brunette through what he truly hoped was the worst of it as quickly as possible. Taking in the concentration and strain on her face out of the corner of his eye.
Rose followed them quickly feeling a little overwhelmed as she stared up at the building, never in a million years had she thought she'd step foot in 10 Downing Street!
Sophie gave his hand a relieved squeeze as they cleared the door and moved further and further away from the large frantic mob of paparazzi and the many police that had been keeping them from sneaking inside.
The pressure of their minds against hers already easing… although the headache that had dulled to an ignorable ache, had flared up again into a merciless throb that was beating a tango against her temples once again… honestly today had not been a good one for her head…
"You ok?" Rose asked gently, nudging Sophie with her arm to ensure she got the woman's attention.
"Yeah… it's not so bad in here," Sophie assured just as quietly… well it was a bit calmer at least.
"Good," the Doctor responded with relief.
The trio were stopped outside the room they'd been led towards by a man, who handed the Doctor a card, "Here's your ID card. I'm sorry, your companions don't have clearance," he apologized as he swept his gaze over the two women, hoping that neither of the three would raise a fuss. He was busy enough without dealing with anymore fuss.
The Doctor stared at the man flatly, "I don't go anywhere without either of them," he stated firmly whilst he looped the ID card around his neck.
The man shook his head biting back his sigh of exasperation, "You're the code 9, not her," he replied just as firmly as the Doctor, "I'm sorry, Doctor… it is the Doctor, isn't it? They'll have to stay outside,"
The Doctor frowned at the man, before glancing with concern at Sophie briefly. He doubted she could handle being outside with that mob. He refocused his gaze and set his jaw stubbornly, "They're both staying with me,"
"Look," the man began already frayed patience wanning, "Even I don't have clearance to go in there. I can't let them in and that's a fact,"
"It's alright," Rose spoke up drawing the Doctor's attention, "You go,"
Sophie nodded her agreement, "Yeah, I'm sure we'll be fine," she murmured, before the Doctor could answer either of them another voice spoke drawing his attention.
"Excuse me? Are you the Doctor?" the woman asked.
The man stopping them couldn't hide his exasperation any longer, "Not now, we're busy! Can't you go home?" he asked annoyed.
The Doctor swung his attention back to his companions, his gaze flicking from Rose to Sophie, "Are you sure?" he asked them both, receiving a quiet, but strained nod from the brunette.
"Yeah, they're the experts, you should hear what they've got to say," Rose responded, a little disappointed, but the man was right, what business did they have in there?
The Doctor stared at her and Sophie for a moment longer, before he stepped closer to them. His gaze on Rose, "Get her somewhere quiet," he murmured quietly at her and Rose nodded as she shot another concerned glance at Sophie. He spoke louder, "Don't get into any trouble," he told them both, levelling them both with a look, before he followed the other experts into the room.
Rose looked around a little nervously, before focusing her gaze on Sophie, "Don't suppose they'd let us just hang around until they've finished, do you?"
Sophie grimaced, "Only if we're lucky," she muttered, she really didn't fancy having to brave the paparazzi again, at least not so soon.
They were grabbed by their arms drawing their attention back to the man from earlier, "I'm going to have to leave you both with security," he said informed them both.
"It's alright," the same woman from before spoke up as she came over to them, "I'll look after them," she offered, "Let me be of some use,"
The man stared at her for a moment, before he nodded and stepped away. He did have a million other things to do that were much more pressing then the two women that had been brought in for whatever reason with the Doctor.
"Walk with me," the woman urged and Sophie and Rose obliged as they fell into step with her, "Just keep walking…" she muttered to them as they passed the guards at the door, "That's right…. don't look around! Harriet Jones, MP Flydale North," she introduced herself, showing the two younger women her ID card as proof.
The three women came to a stop in a downstairs corridor, "This friend of yours… he's an expert, is that right? He knows about aliens?"
Rose shared a look with Sophie at the question, "Why do you wanna know?" she asked warily only for Harriet to suddenly burst into tears.
Sophie stood awkwardly as Rose swiftly moved to comfort the woman. Her own hand coming up to pat at the woman's shoulder uncertainly. The blond giving her an encouraging nod assuring her that she was doing something right.
"Let's try again," Rose said once Harriet had calmed enough.
The woman shook her head miserably, "You'd never believe me,"
Sophie met Rose's gaze briefly before she focused it back on Harriet, "Try us,"
Harriet stared at the two of them for a moment before she nodded, "Come with me," she demanded and they were walking once again, following after a distraught but determined Harriet.
*O*O*O*
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to have your attention please," General Asquith began calling the room to order, "As you can see from the summaries in front of you, the ship had one porcine occupant…"
"Now, the really interesting bit happened three days ago," the Doctor cut in not caring at all how rude he was being as impatience and worried gnawed at him.
He had two companions out there, one that struggled to keep other people's thoughts out of her own and the other with a propensity to find trouble… curiosity was all well and good, but he wasn't going to sit here and just let this meeting drag on!
"See, filed away under every other business. The North Sea, the satellite detected a signal, a little blip of radiation at one hundred fathoms like there was something down there… you were just about to investigate and the next thing you know, this happens, spaceship, pigs, massive diversion, from what?"
*O*O*O*
"They turned the body into a suit!" Harriet explained as she showed the two what was left of Oliver, "A disguise for the thing inside!" she burst into tears again.
"It's alright!" Rose attempted to assure the woman, "We believe you,"
Sophie nodded, "Yeah," she agreed, "It's got to be alien…" she muttered as she struggled to think clearly around her headache and maintaining her barriers as her own mind raced.
"Yeah, has to be alien," Rose agreed, "They must have some serious technology behind this…" she started looking around gesturing for Sophie to do the same, "If we could find it… we could use it,"
Sophie obliged as she began helping Rose rummage through the desk. The blond finished with her side and glanced around before moving towards a cupboard. She pulled it open only to jump back as a body fell out with a thump.
"Oh, my God! Is that?" Rose asked wide eyed as she stared at the body shocked.
Sophie who'd come over at the sound nodded, "Yeah, I think…"
"Harriet!" the man from earlier snapped interrupting Sophie as he entered the room, "For God's sake! This has gone beyond a joke, you cannot just wander…" he trailed off his face paling as he spotted the body on the floor, "Oh, my God! That's the Prime Minister!" he said aghast, confirming Sophie and Rose's suspicions.
*O*O*O*
"If aliens fake an alien crash and an alien pilot," the Doctor continued to lecture the room, having barely stopped for a breath since he'd began, "What do they get?" he paused as realization slowly dawned on him, "Us. They get us. It's not a diversion, it's a trap,"
*O*O*O*
"Ooh!" a smug feminine voice said from the doorway of the Cabinet room and the four that were standing staring down at the body of the Prime Minister turned to face the heavily set woman, "Has someone been naughty?" she practically crooned as she shut the door behind her.
"That's impossible!" the man stated as he stared at the woman, "He left this afternoon. The Prime Minister left Downing Street, he was driven away!"
The woman smiled mockingly, "And who told you that? Hmm?" she walked towards him stroking some of her short hair back off her forehead, "Me," she purred at them slowly reaching for her hairline… enjoying the horrified and aghast looks she was receiving.
*O*O*O*
"This is all about us," the Doctor continued to put it together, "Alien experts, the only people with knowledge how to fight them gathered together in one room," one of them farted loudly and the Doctor raised his eyebrows at the man and levelled a pointed look at him, "Excuse me, do you mind not farting while I'm saving the world?"
"Would you rather silent but deadly?" the man whose tag labelled him as Joseph replied smug before he and the General began sniggering.
The Doctor stared at them a sinking feeling settling in his stomach watching as the General removed his hat, before finding a zip on his forehead while Joseph laugh manically.
The Doctor continued to stare transfixed with aw and curiosity despite himself as he stared at the green alien wiggled out of the skin suit he'd been wearing.
"We are the Slitheen," the revealed alien declared to the room of astounded alien experts.
*O*O*O*
Inside the Cabinet room the alien that had been wearing the body of Margaret did much the same to the horror of the four humans in the room. She roared in delight as she easily grabbed Indra by the throat lifting him off the ground and pinning him up against a wall as she strangled him, enjoying the scent of terror coming from the humans as they stared frozen stiff…
*O*O*O*
"Thank you all for wearing your ID cards," the alien wearing the skin of Joseph told them as he slipped a control button from his pocket, "They'll help to identify the bodies," he pressed the button and cackled as they all lit up with electric blue light sending them convulsing.
The Doctor fell to his knees with a gasp of pain. His body beginning to shake with convulsions… the sound of the Slitheen's laughter in his ears…