The New Adventures of the Doctor and Rose
Episode 7
Special thanks to my beta, cytherea999
The Doctor had come to the conclusion that December 25th should be Christmas in every Universe, not just the two he was familiar with. He quite liked the idea of that.
What he didn't like was the idea that he was expected to present himself at the Torchwood office party two nights before the fateful day, as per the embossed invitation that had arrived in his hands via inter-office mail.
At least he wouldn't have to go far to attend this party. It was, in fact, taking place in the Tyler mansion. Perhaps he could sneak up to his room part way through.
"Black tie," a voice spoke at the door to his office. He looked up to see Rose balancing on her crutches, a smile on her face. "I get to see you in a tux again."
"You shouldn't be here," he pointed out as he put the invitation down. "You're still on disability leave."
"I'm a visitor today," she pointed to the visitor's pass hanging from her belt. "Came to see my dad and my boyfriend. Nothin' wrong with that."
The Doctor stared at her. "Boyfriend?"
Rose shrugged. "Better than calling you 'cute bloke I kiss now and then', yeah?"
"Cute?" The Doctor leaned back in his seat, contemplating her. "In over a thousand years, I've never been called cute. It's all very… human. And quaint. Quaintly human?" he considered.
Rose studied the floor. "Sorry. I forget sometimes."
"Forget what?" The Doctor asked.
She met his eyes with some difficulty. "That you've been around so long. Seen so much." She shook her head, "Even with the human bits, I forget you can be so alien at times… and here I am, calling you cute."
"Well, you could say rakishly handsome," he grinned, then noticed the expression on her face. Oh!" The Doctor quickly got to his feet and went over to her, tugging her further into the office and closing the door for privacy. "Cute is fine, Rose. Really, it's fine." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and saw she was still uneasy.
"What?" She asked when she noticed his intent stare.
He took a deep breath, "Before I met you, I was old. Well… I'm still old, but… it was different. I FELT old. Going through the motions old. You changed that. Gave me back hope. Showed me that whatever sacrifices I made were worth it. I'll be forever grateful for that." He stopped, "Well," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I say grateful. It's a bit beyond that now…"
"Just a bit, yeah," Rose smiled. "Would it be unprofessional to hug you here?" She glanced out the window overlooking the lab, and the small group of prying scientists currently peering into the Doctor's office.
He quickly stepped away from her and closed the blinds, then rejoined her, gladly taking the offered hug and a drawn out kiss.
After a few moments, he stepped away. "Now tell me, Ms. Tyler – what, exactly is to be expected at this party?"
Supper, dancing, and schmoozing…
These were the main things expected at the Tyler Christmas party. The Doctor had had a fair amount of experience with the first two, but the third one was his specialty.
In THIS incarnation, anyway.
He was considering how to charm the media folk with his rapier wit when the call for help came in from the basement - a weevil had broken free from its cell.
The Doctor wondered if this was a good time to recommend his weevil relocation plan to Pete.
When the Doctor finally reached the basement, the weevil in question was cornering an attempt at supper in the form of one Lieutenant Trevor Jordan.
The Doctor momentarily admired Trev's fortitude as the man expertly reloaded a tranquilizer gun and ignored the salivating creature lumbering towards him.
As entertaining as it would have been to see if Trev's skills were faster then a hungry weevil's survival instincts, the Doctor knew he could not leave such a thing up to chance.
Sneaking up behind the weevil, the Doctor swung his leg around, sending it to it's knees before aiming a well-placed chop to the side of its neck, hitting a nerve point and rendering it unconscious.
Having readied the tranquilizer gun, Trev then shot a round into the unconscious creature.
"You didn't need to do that, you know," the Doctor pointed out. He held a hand out to Trev, who was currently splayed on the floor, weapon still at the ready.
"Better safe than sorry," Trev sniffed arrogantly, ignoring the Doctor's attempt at assistance. "What did you do?"
The Doctor grinned. "Venusian Aikido. Haven't used it in a while, but you never forget something like that."
"What the hell is Venusian Aikido?"
"A form of Aikido created by the Venusians," he replied simply. "A bit difficult for two-armed humanoids to master, being that the Venusians had five arms." He shrugged, "But I manage it."
"You know martial arts," Trev stated, a hint of approval in his voice.
"Well, of course!" The Doctor was about to expound on the virtues of self-defence when something distracted him.
There it was again. That … thing… that kept calling out to him.
The Doctor grabbed Trev's wrist and pulled him to his feet. "Lock Janet up, will you? That's a good man."
Before Trev could reply, the Doctor rushed out.
The Doctor turned down a corridor to his right and walked through a tall set of doors, only to come upon a room full of storage. Or rather, broken bits of probes and satellites that had fallen from the sky after losing orbit.
What he was looking for wasn't in here.
Slowly, the Doctor knelt on the floor, putting his ear to the ground. There it was. Beneath him.
"Is there a reason you're down there?"
The Doctor looked to see Trev crouching at his side, staring accusingly at him. He let out a sigh, "Is there a reason you followed me?"
Trev scoffed, "Always a reason to follow you, Spaceman. You seemed distracted after the weevil fight. Wanted to know if it was something I should keep an eye on."
"Well, that's it. I confess," the Doctor threw his hands up. "I'm secretly plotting world domination. From the storage room." He glanced around, "The very dusty storage room. Filled with useless space junk."
"Is that what this is?" Trev asked as he glanced around at the oddly shaped bits and pieces scattered along the walls and floor. "Always wondered."
The Doctor studied the man before him, "Do you know what's below us?"
Trev seemed surprised at the question, then shrugged, "Section 8. Top-secret government business. Lift doesn't go down there unless you have the proper security codes." He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the Doctor suspiciously, "I wouldn't go poking around if I were you."
The Doctor nodded, "Recommendation noted. And I wouldn't bring your gun to the Torchwood Christmas party if I were you," the Doctor offered. "Wouldn't go very well with a tuxedo anyway."
"Recommendation noted," Trev parroted, then pointed down the hall.
"Back to work. Right. Slave driver, you are…" the Doctor muttered. He reluctantly headed back to the lift, Trev following close behind him.
The Doctor warily studied the Christmas tree now sitting in the Tyler foyer, his fingers tight around his sonic screwdriver.
"It's not going to attack," Rose assured him, nudging him with her crutches.
"You sure about that?" he asked.
"No pilot fish," she pointed out.
The Doctor glanced out the nearby window for robo-santas, but saw none.
"Torchwood would have noticed," Rose assured him.
"Right..." he replied, still hesitant to pocket the sonic. His eyes then fell to the colourful boxes beneath the colourful tree. He stepped a few feet closer, glanced carefully at the tree once more, then finally crouched down and studied the cards on each gift. He suddenly found himself smiling when he saw three with his name on it. One from Pete, one from Jackie, and one from Rose.
He then quickly stopped smiling when he realized that he had not done the same for them.
He should have known better, really. He was living here now. Had the closest thing to a family he could ever expect. And while they had thought of him during their various shopping sprees over the last few weeks, he had completely forgotten them.
To top it all off, tonight was the Torchwood Christmas party, and tomorrow would be the twenty-fourth of December. He really didn't have time to waste.
"I… I have to go," he said quickly as he bolted towards the door.
"Where?" Rose called out, but he was long gone before he could answer.
"Bloody domestic traditions," the Doctor muttered as he studied the window displays in Piccadilly Circus. "I'm an alien from another planet! How could they have expected me to think of something as mundane as Christmas presents?"
Of course, not once had anyone ever indicated that he SHOULD have thought of it. He was simply angry at himself for forgetting such a well-known human tradition.
After walking aimlessly for some time, the Doctor decided to take action. He ducked into the nearest store and went up to the first salesperson he saw on the floor. "What do I get for a twenty-five year old woman?"
The salesperson considered her answer as she looked at the racks. "Can you describe her?"
He thought a moment. "She's all pink and yellow."
She smiled indulgently, "I'm speaking more of her tastes. Lace? Silk? Leather? Does she prefer whips or chains?"
It was only then that the Doctor truly took in the store he had entered. "Um…" he backed away from the salesperson, "Just… give me a moment…"
He stepped outside and read the name of the store, making note of the triple X on the sign.
Oh. No. No, that wouldn't do at all. He was already wincing from the imagined slap Jackie would give him for buying Rose something from a store like this.
Not that the Doctor would mind seeing Rose in something from a store like this…
He quickly shook that thought away and headed down the street, his eyes spying the HMV Megastore a few doors down.
Now that was more like it. A CD or DVD was relatively safe. In fact, a gift card would be that much safer. Three of them. And a special Ian Dury and the Blockheads concert DVD for Rose. Specifically from 1979.
He really had intended to take her to that…
With his Christmas shopping out of the way, the Doctor headed back to the Tyler mansion.
The Doctor sat beside Rose as the two watched the party before them. Jackie and Pete had rented her a motorized chair to prevent her crutches from getting underfoot. It was not something she cared for, though, as her current squirming indicated.
Still, it did save her from being forced to mingle. Something she had yet to get used to.
"I feel like an old woman," she muttered.
"Well, I AM an old man," the Doctor replied before leaning forward to place a light kiss against her temple.
A bright flash of light caused them to jump apart, leaving them blinking until their vision returned.
Rose sighed, "That picture will make the society pages. Wonder what the headline will be this time."
"Vitex heiress kissed by attractive time travelling alien..." he grinned.
Rose rolled her eyes, "That'll be beside Vitex Heiress injured in assassination attempt."
"Did they really say that?" The Doctor asked.
"The Star did. The more legit papers actually asked what happened. PR told them I tripped on some ice outside the house."
"… while fighting Hoix," the Doctor added with a wink.
Rose laughed.
"OH!" The Doctor gasped, eyes lighting up as What a Wonderful World started to play, "You have this song here too!" He entwined his fingers with Rose's and listened intently.
He grinned down at her, "This song is my reason for doing what I do - DID do - for the last millennia." He paused, "Well…. not the song itself, but the message behind it. It's my modus operandai."
He then sat silent, his thumb brushing over Rose's knuckles as the song continued.
"I didn't picture you as the sentimental type," Rose replied as he watched him enjoy the song.
He shrugged. "It happens to everyone over time. Seeing worlds burned, people dying…" he stopped and shook his head. "No matter. New universe, new life."
After the song was finished, he stood up and indicated they leave the ballroom. She nodded gladly.
He pushed her chair into the darkened living room; currently empty and quiet save for the muted music that could still be heard through the walls.
Before Rose could ask him why he had brought her here, the Doctor knelt in front of her and slid off her shoes.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Dancing." He stopped, suddenly reminded of a conversation they had had many years ago, "Dancing dancing, I mean. Not the… other type of dancing."
Rose laughed at the reminder.
The Doctor held his arms open for her, "Come on now."
Rose reached out to him and he lifted her out of the chair, slipping his trainer-clad feet underneath hers.
Even in a tuxedo, she thought as she looked down at the black and white chucks beneath her stocking toes.
They had only danced for a few moments before Rose slowly reached up to press her mouth against his. Little by little, lips parted, teeth clicked, and tongues met. It was a far more intimate kiss than they had ever shared before.
Clinging to him for support, Rose gradually pulled away, panting for breath. "That was…" she tried to find words, but nothing could quite describe what had just passed between them. "… amazing," Rose finally managed to blurt out.
"Brilliant…" he added.
Rose then noticed the Doctor slowly rolling his tongue around in his mouth. "Are you… tasting me?"
"NO!" The Doctor sputtered, but his protests quickly died on his lips. "Maybe." He nervously shifted his weight, or rather, both their weights, "Just a little."
He hung his head. The last thing he wanted was for Rose to see he was making note of the orange pekoe tea she had had earlier mixed with the lingering taste of mint from a candy cane and a delectable sweetness that could only belong to her.
"You like to taste things," Rose recalled, pulse racing as she realized his penchant for licking would, of course, extend far beyond Type A-positive blood and mistletoe covered doors.
"Rose?" The Doctor's nostrils suddenly flared as he picked up a rather heady scent: Not only had he apparently left Rose Tyler breathless, but he had somehow managed to arouse her in the process.
He was quite sure that hadn't been his intention, but being that he was feeling a bit lightheaded from the pheromones assailing his senses, he could have been mistaken.
He swallowed hard and quickly helped her back into her chair, as keeping her pressed up against him would have been tempting fate.
His voice suddenly grew louder and lighter as he tried to ignore his unfortunate human hormones. "Back to the party then?"
"Sure," Rose answered, though in reality, she would have been content to remain where she was – alone with him.
"Good good," he pushed her back towards the ballroom. "Can't leave the guests waiting. I'm sure there are more photo opportunities to be had, more rich people to schmooze with, more… something to be done. OH! And food. I love food. Hope supper doesn't include nut-loaf. Well… being that this whole shindig was planned by your mum, who knows."
Rose knew he was babbling now, and found herself chuckling in response.
Eventually, she would have to teach the Doctor that kissing her – or anything else he may have wanted to do – was not something to be ashamed of.
It was, in fact, very human.
Christmas night arrived without incident, and this was followed by Christmas morning, which also arrived without incident (he didn't count the reports of a large Titanic-sized ship hovering temporarily outside Earth's orbit as incident, being that it didn't almost crash into Buckingham Palace. This time.).
All in all, it had been a nice holiday. And domestic. He couldn't forget domestic.
Too domestic.
But this was his life now, and really – there were worse things than being snogged under the mistletoe by one Rose Tyler. On three different occasions. Two which included tongues when Jackie and Pete weren't looking.
With all the joy of … well, Tony… on Christmas, the Doctor ripped into his presents. The first one was from Jackie. It was a blue pinstripe suit jacket. Almost an exact match to the one he insisted on wearing every day.
"Your other one was starting to get a bit worn," Jackie offered. The Doctor grinned and thanked her, not having the heart to tell her that the reason he constantly wore the other one was because of the infinite pocket space.
The next gift was from Pete. The Doctor's eyes went wide when he saw what lay in the large box – a long brown coat.
"We had a Janis Joplin here too. Never quite caught on like she did in the other world, from what I understand." Pete explained. "When I took Rose to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years ago, she saw this. Couldn't quite figure out why she suddenly grew very quiet."
The Doctor glanced at Rose, who seemed a bit embarrassed, then turned back to Pete, "Is this really Janis Joplin's jacket?"
Pete nodded. "The Hall of Fame was in need of renovations recently, so I made a generous donation. They offered me something in return."
The Doctor couldn't hide the grin. "Brilliant."
"Mine next!" Rose said excitedly, and practically threw her gift at the Doctor. He slowly opened the box and found himself speechless.
Before him lay a black leather jacket almost exactly like the one he had had when he first met Rose. He looked at her, unable to articulate how he felt. He wanted to thank her, but it didn't seem like enough.
One look in her eyes explained it all. She had bought him this jacket because she finally saw him as the same man she had met all those years ago. Not a replica, not a part-human copy, but the same.
How could he even begin to convey how much that meant to him?
"Do you like it?" She asked nervously.
He nodded, "It's fantastic!"
Rose's ear to ear smile was all the response he needed.
