Rule Number One
The TARDIS shook violently in the Vortex - which was unusual since the Doctor fixed the blue stabilizers just days before.
"Who, in the name of history, experiences turbulence in a time vortex?!" the Doctor shouted above the ear piercing noises Sexy was producing, with a muffled mutter that sounded like, 'First the swimming pool, now this.'
Ginger was sure he vomited five times in the past hour, in different rooms, just for variation. He very much hoped that this annoyed Sexy for he was very cross with her indeed. No, there was no dancing or warm feelings this time. This was raw and plain inconsiderate. Ginger didn't appreciate her show one bit, and apparently so didn't the Doctor.
"Please! What is it,old girl?!" he shouted exasperatedly after numerous failed attempts of tweaking, twisting, pushing and pulling buttons on the console.
Console. Console. Console. And then, Eureka!
An imaginary light bulb flickered to life above the Doctor's head. A different approach would calm sensitive old Sexy.
Ginger watched as the Doctor patted the lever and stroked the overworked pumping device. He was like an asthmatic cure for a hyperventilating child.
Sometimes Ginger couldn't tell the difference between the two. How simply they switched their roles with one another, balancing out each other. He was the father now, he was the friend, and she was the rebellious daughter whose secrets were sometimes even beyond the Doctor.
Compromise, however, was slightly difficult when only one party could speak the known language. "I'm sorry. Is that why you're mad?" the Doctor said gently - his eyes fixed on his fingers. The TARDIS bellowed a deep woodwind sound - soft and then staggering. The Doctor smirked and Ginger watched intently as he said, "I'm trying."
The dog noticed the downcast of his eyes, the lines on his brow and knew that 'trying' was harder than he thought. The dog also noticed by the unhappy response of the TARDIS that the Doctor's 'trying' was just not enough.
Sexy huffed and Ginger felt her warm extensions clench his heart in a tight fist. By George was she a feisty blue cupboard!
"Shhhh... There, there," the Doctor hushed her, drawing soothing circles against her console. "Maybe it is time to revise your data core," he suggested quietly.
The TARDIS shook adamantly. And Ginger almost suffocated with the weight of her emotions against him. Please don't, Ginger pleaded in his mind, for the sake of himself more than the TARDIS.
Her new look was entirely her idea. It happened when the Doctor decided to walk Ginger in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Sexy disappeared immediately after that, vanishing into thin air and only returning hours later. Unfortunately, the Mesopotamians weren't entirely pleased with the helpless condition of Ginger's bowel movements, especially since he left most of his evidence on the sacred Dico-crista tree ( imported from the Elongato planet). The Doctor almost lost his arms in the prosecution and Ginger was almost sacrificed as a substitute for roasted boar, had it not been for the TARDIS that finally materialized around them.
"Green," was the first thing the Doctor said as he inspected his surroundings. Nobody said anything after that even though there was a lingering air of the words, "Still not ginger" waiting to be uttered.
Ginger was pleased, grateful that he didn't die on an empty stomach and happy that the Doctor's lips seemed to twitch in delight at the sight of the new interior.
Hence, revising her data core would be a terrible idea. She would blow up in fits of rage. She would even turn red if she wanted to. Ginger did not want to live to see that happen. He didn't expect to anyway, by the way she was clawing at his heart. He gave a short yelp and suddenly it seemed to loosen the tightness within him.
"Sorry," said the Doctor again. You're forgiven, accepted Ginger quickly on behalf of the TARDIS, who just wanted the madness to end. This time, Sexy seemed to comply - her golden arms retreating back in defeat. She was only trying to help him. He just didn't listen. She was trying to help him. Hopeless. Selfish. Old. Time lord.
Ginger felt every pang of her snide words. It was bitter and angry and Ginger just wanted to hide under the console floor and think of the times he used to sneak a lick of Brian's morning coffee on winter's morning.
The Doctor scowled. This is what you get when you travel alone.
Alone. He gave a sidelong glance at Ginger who sat in his corner of the TARDIS, only his round dark eyes gleaming in the darkness of the room. Was sorry enough? The Doctor wasn't sure for he was indebted with enough apologies to keep him running forever. Instead, he said "We'll go somewhere. I promise."
Ginger's eyes lifted hopefully and the Doctor returned it with a wry expression.
Were there enough promises?
Oh, he could count them all, and tell you how they turned into lies.
A/N: The silent author has finally spoken! I merely wanted to note that this is a filler chapter - in hopes for the story to flow with more continuity. Reviews are encouraging so please drop one on your way out :) Thank you for reading! - tmotm