Title: The Drums
Author: Sailorneo
Characters: Rose Tyler, Tenth Doctor, Martha Jones, Jackie Tyler, Pete Tyler, Mickey Smith, Jack Harkness, Jake, the rest of the Jones clan except for Leo, OC…so basically a bunch of people…
Summary: Rose Tyler is the head of a team for Torchwood, saving the universe. After one particular mission, things go a little wrong. Reunion fic.
Chapter Seven:
"Okay, that was horrible," the Doctor said as they returned to the TARDIS some six hours later.
"I didn't think it was so bad," Jack said.
"That's because you're a sex maniac," the Doctor responded. "Why did it never cross your mind to tell us that your planet's full of sex-crazed lunatics?!" he asked, whirling on Ryssen.
"Just never did," Ryssen replied. "I mean, you always knew I was crazy for it, and mum's the same way. It's just the way we are, I guess."
The Doctor grumbled in irritation as he made his way to the console, Rose snickering at him.
It hadn't been Ryssen's family in actuality that had done the job of transporting them, but it had been at her mother's orders. In order to confront Ryssen's mother about it, they had all been forced to change into traditional Romulan attire. Which was basically a few scraps of fabric in strategic locations. Ryssen was completely comfortable in it, as was Jack—though Jack was probably more comfortable naked than he was with clothes on—while the others (and Rose included herself in the 'others' category) were not comfortable at all.
Though the outfits did have benefits. Mainly the fact that her Doctor was pretty much naked…Maybe she could sidetrack him and not let him take her home just yet.
All you had to do was ask. You won't be going home for a bit yet.
Rose grinned in delight as the Doctor headed out of the room, calling over his shoulder, "We'll be there in ten minutes. Ryss, take us over then, would you? I'm changing out of this ridiculous thing."
Rose darted after him, the grin of delight turning into a wicked one as she saw him turn the corner she knew led to his room. "Got to get this off," she heard him mutter. She hid behind the corner until she heard the door open, where she darted around and pounced on him, pushing him into the room and kicking the door closed with her foot.
The Doctor, for his part, looked extremely surprised. "Rose? What are you—" But his query abruptly ended as she kissed him. His hands went to her waist as he kissed her back for a minute before pulling back. "What's this about?"
"Your clothes," Rose said.
"You mean the fact that I'm not really wearing any?" the Doctor asked, genuinely perplexed.
"For being over 900 years old, you are incredibly dense," Rose said with a roll of her eyes. She pulled him down for another kiss, whispering, "You're nearly naked, and I've been forced to stare at you that way for nearly six hours. Add in the fact that last night was the first time that we actually did anything, and you get this."
"Oh," the Doctor said wickedly. "In that case…"
oOoOoOo
Just after Rose vanished after the Doctor, Mickey and Jake left to go see if Mickey's room was still there. The two of them didn't want to stay in the clothes—or rather, lack thereof—any longer than they had to. This left Ryssen and Jack alone. After what Jack estimated was ten minutes, he asked, "Aren't we going to go to Rose's house?"
"Nope. We're sitting in the Vortex," Ryssen said from her place on the jump seat. "Rose wanted to jump the Doctor, and who was the TARDIS to complain? Apparently he's been cranky."
"So we're just sitting here?" Jack asked.
"Yup," Ryssen said. "Think I'm going to take a nap."
With that, she closed her eyes, leaving Jack to himself. Well, that just wasn't fair. She'd been teasing him ever since he met her practically, and now that the two of them were alone…she was just going to go to sleep?
"Did I forget to mention that I'm psychic?" Ryssen asked, her eyes still closed.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, you did," Jack said.
"'Kay then. As long as you know," Ryssen said.
"You're just going to sit there and sleep?" Jack asked.
"Unless I want to do something else, yes," Ryssen said. She cracked open an eye. "Or unless there's something else you want to do." She grinned and sat up, stretching out her back. "And since you do want to do something else…"
Jack grinned. Looked like the Doctor wasn't going to be the only one having fun while they were stuck in the Vortex.
oOoOoOo
"Where have you all been?" Jackie asked in annoyance when they finally got back. "It's been hours."
"They didn't want to let us in, and then it took six hours to yell at my mum. They were being very annoying," Ryssen said.
"And it took you eight hours?" Jackie asked.
"Well the TARDIS hiccupped and we were stuck in the Vortex for a bit," Rose said.
"But we managed to pass the time quite nicely," Ryssen added.
"I'm going to go pack," Rose said.
"Don't take forever," Ryssen said.
"Do the words 'Time Machine' mean anything to you?" Rose asked with a grin.
"Nope," Ryssen said happily. "Ooh! I have to go pack!" She darted back to where they'd left the TARDIS. "Oh brother dearest! Come help me pack!"
"I am not! And I'm not taking you either! The TARDIS is not a taxi cab!" he called after her.
Faintly, the whirring of the TARDIS's engine could be heard. "Looks like she left you," Mickey said.
The Doctor scowled in her direction. "That's just not fair."
Rose laughed her way up the stairs to her room. Ryssen had better come back. The Doctor would go crazy without the TARDIS. Once in her room, Rose looked around, grinning at the sight of her very untidy bed. It had been fun to muss it up.
She went to her closet and grabbed a russack. She wasn't going to pack everything because then the Doctor would have to bring her back. And anyways, why on earth would she need her all of her "Vitex" attire—i.e. all of the cocktail dresses. Oh, some of them she'd bring, just as she'd bring some of the heels. Yes, the TARDIS was able to outfit her for nearly any situation thanks to the Wardrobe, but sometimes it was nice to have her own things.
An hour into packing the Doctor came up. "I cannot stand another moment of your mother flaunting that child at me," he said.
"You're the one that brought him into existence," Rose said as she shoved more clothes into the russack. She was almost done with her everyday clothes. The dressy clothes had already been packed neatly.
"What are you doing?" the Doctor asked as Rose got out another bag and began to stuff shoes in it.
"Packing," she said simply.
"I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the concept of you packing your entire wardrobe into the TARDIS. From the looks of it, even she wouldn't be able to hold it all."
"Very funny," Rose said. "And I'm not bringing everything. And you should remember that if I pack a lot, it means I'm going to stay longer."
"That I can deal with," the Doctor said. "But do you really need fourteen pairs of shoes?"
"Yes," Rose laughed. "And if you're going to continue talking and distract me, you're going to have to leave."
The Doctor pouted, but stopped talking. After he was silent for nearly ten minutes, she began to get nervous. He had never gone this long without saying something. She darted a glance at him and saw him staring at her, which caused her to look away.
"Rose," he sighed. "This is boring."
"Well then go find something else to do," she told him with a laugh.
"Fine, I will," he said, getting up. She could imagine the pout on his lips as she closed the bag full of shoes. She expected him to walk out of the room, so she was surprised when his arms came around her and his nose nuzzled the back of her neck.
"This isn't what I meant," she told him, pushing his arms away.
"Well, you told me to find something else to do," the Doctor said. "And I want to amuse myself, so this is what I'm going to do."
"Doctor," Rose said, trying to keep his arms from coming around her again. "I have to finish packing."
"Oh, you can hold it off for a little longer," the Doctor said, slowly turning her around.
Needless to say, it was another good hour until Rose came downstairs.
oOoOoOo
"You sure you're leaving?" Mickey asked.
"Hey, someone has to make sure he doesn't lose Rose," Ryssen said. "And I'll be coming back."
"If he loses her, or she gets hurt, kick his arse," Jake said.
"Got it," Ryssen said with a laugh.
"Ryss!" the Doctor calls from the TARDIS doors. "Come on! You're holding us up! Places to see and people to meet, you know!"
"That'll only work if you take me to see Shakespeare!" Ryssen called back. She turned to Jackie, Pete, Mickey, and Jake once more. "Don't worry, we'll be back."
She turned and ran to the TARDIS, darting inside, waving cheerily at them before she closed the doors. The whir that Jackie and Mickey were so accustomed to hearing sounded and the TARDIS faded away.
Epilogue should be up tomorrow!
