Okay struggling to find time for this, but there we go. Sorry if 9 is a bit darkish, he is still quite early on in season 1. I'd say somewhere after Downing street but before Father's Day. If I mention Jack later- it would be because I have forgotten what I am writing and I am sorry. Just ignore me, I am a busy person. Also when I say 'recent doctor' and 'older doctor' that's 11. I should really start using their numbers.


Meanwhile the current proud owner of the big ears and the perhaps-not-so-proud owner of the big chin were about to find out just how much trouble they were all in. The hatted doctor had started explaining.

'Okay, grumpy pants, I am you. But I can't remember any of this so what we do now is find Rose and find the Ponds and then I get myself, and by myself I mean you, or in other words – my past self- a full memory erase of this place. Which, of course, would explain how I got here in the first place, because both I and I know that I am not so stupid. Or maybe I did it on purpose! See, because I remembered meeting myself and-"

"That. Is bollocks." The leather- clad doctor interrupted and leant in, just for that nice little extra effect, smiling widely (a bit too much like a crocodile really). The older Doctor suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable next to this version of himself. Although he was usually the first to break into random people's personal space ( a bit of a hobby that was, really) and was the one feared across the universe, he actually felt intimidated by his own battle-scarred image. Perhaps it was quite early on for him, Rose hasn't had the time to fix him yet.

The other Doctor continued, smiling but his tone bitter:

"You. Are a joke. Like straight out of a kids book. And I- am not a joke, on the contrary. (he stopped every so often, just to make sure the weirdo was getting all that) I am very impressive, so clearly I am not you, and if you knew who I was , if you knew what I have been through and if you knew what I am capable of – then you would KINDLY shove off." But the weirdo hadn't budged an inch.

"Go on. Shoo. Go and buy yourself another hat. And do the world a favour. " – he leaned in even more to be able to whisper in his older self's much smaller ear (why was the world so unfair with him this regeneration)- "Burn that bowtie."

Okay enough was enough. The older Doctor whispered a response.

A response which made the Doctor in a jacket make five hasty steps back, open-mouthed and to mutter:

"You are kiddin' me."

"We've had worse. Besides- I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I'll say it again. Bowties are cool. Now!"- the recent incarnation jumped in excitement and brought his hands together in a clap- "As I said, we are lucky that nothing has exploded, imploded or just generally something-ploded yet. But- it should have! I touched myself" – this got the other Doctor, who unlike under usual circumstances was listening quite carefully, to raise his eyebrows way into his hairline before the bowtie-owner realised that there was a problem with his pronouns – "I mean past me and current my came into contact. Did I use to be dirty minded? Bad Doctor! Anyway! Somebody has a paradox machine and we need to find it and find it. To the Doctor Mobile!"

This got just the general, generic look of disapproval from the other Doctor.

"No? Doctors away? Still no? Blimey, I was so boring! What did Rose see in me back then, cheer up! Oh, right ,where's she so that we can go and fix that mess before the universe get ripped apart?"

"Ah." – okay, that stopped his enthusiasm quite quickly. It was the 'I made a mistake but I'll try to fix it before I have to admit it' kind of situation that both Doctors dealt with on such a regular basis.

"What. Have you lost her or something? " – it was more of a rhetorical question really, but the irony still stung.

"She keeps wanderin' off. Went off somewhere in that direction while I was haggling. I keep tellin' her but she never listens!" – there we go, whiny voice with northern accent. So that's how it sounded from the point of view of another person. And the sentiment was so familiar.

"That she did. Wander off. Hah!" – the older Doctor smiled. Reminiscing. Now That was a nice word, he'd have to use it more often, too. They started walking in that general direction.

"What do you mean 'did'. Have You lost her?" – there was the Oncoming storm glare in the leather-clad Doctor's eyes. ('what a hypocrite I am', he thought. And then he stopped, thought that sentence over, didn't feel like getting angry at himself just at this moment and decided to change it to 'what a hypocrite I will be') But that was alright. As long as she was alright, or just wandered off again. Maybe he had returned her because of a dangerous situation that caused him to regenerate. It was all fine as long as she was-

"She's alive and well. Fantastic really, you know- Rose Tyler. Just not here."

It was quite strange to look at his own eyes. Both Doctors could see such tired eyes in front of themselves. One just returned from the Time War, presented with yet another disappointment (he had expected it really, should have been happy that she is alright but..). And the other- so much more grief, which looked strangely emphasised by the young face.

"On Earth then? With Mickey the Idiot?"

"Parallel…world. I know- 'It's impossible' – it's not. You do it a couple of times. But never by our desire. She's stuck there. But she's happy."

Well, he was right, because for a person stuck in a parallel universe she was doing a great job laughing her ass off somewhere nearby. Nope, never mind, that was just past tense Rose. Apparently behind that motorbike stall. The Doctor's disappeared behind it to get her and continue on their way.

Well then! it wasn't just past tense Rose who was there.