This chapter's a shortie.....Hope you like it though. Thanks for all the reviews so far! :-)
The Doctor slid open a big metal door, allowing the crowd to flow through. Leaving just him and Rose at the back.
"You alright?" he asked her.
Rose stared forward watching the others move over to a trolley full of food.
"Yeah I'm fine," said Rose, still a little shaken.
The Doctor, seeing how distant Rose looked, hugged her tight, rubbing her back comfortingly.
"We're going to get out of here, I promise," he whispered, as she nuzzled his neck.
Rose pulled away. "You should check with the Midshipman, see if he's okay," said Rose.
The Doctor beamed at her concern and moved off.
Rose watched him go before jumping at a sudden voice at her shoulder.
"You really love each other don't you?"
Rose turned to see Astrid standing there, holding out a cup of water towards her.
"Yeah, we do," said Rose, glancing over at the Doctor and blushing.
"Here, have this," said Astrid handing Rose the cup, "you look exhausted."
"Thanks," said Rose, sipping at the water.
"I'm sorry about earlier, as you we're climbing through, I didn't mean it to sound-"
"That's okay," said Rose, "I overreacted."
Astrid and Rose smiled at each other.
"So how did you meet?" asked Astrid, nodding towards the Doctor.
"Long story," smiled Rose, "met him when he was completely different man."
Astrid gazed at the Doctor.
"Was he kidding when he said he was 903?" whispered Astrid curiously.
Rose shook her head.
"Are you.....?"
"No," said Rose quickly, "I'm human. That's my planet down there, Earth."
Astrid looked at her wide-eyed. "Really?"
"Yep," said Rose popping the p, just like the Doctor.
The two women looked up to see the Doctor walking over to them. He sat down an upturned crate, pulling Rose down to sit on his lap. Astrid sat next to them passing the Doctor a cup of water.
"Thanks," said the Doctor smiling.
"We we're just saying that you look good for 903," said Rose looking over her shoulder at him.
"You should see me in the mornings.......Oh wait, you already do," said the Doctor tickling Rose's ribs.
She giggled and squirmed in his grasp.
"Yeah and it's not a pretty sight," joked Rose, leaning in towards Astrid.
"Hey!" said the Doctor, setting down his cup, as Astrid laughed.
"Doctor," said Mr Copper heading over towards them, "It must be well past midnight. Earth time. Christmas Day."
"So it is," said the Doctor beaming. "Merry Christmas."
"So this Christmas thing?" said Astrid looking between Rose and the Doctor, "what's it all about?"
"Long story. We should know," said the Doctor looking at Rose, "we were there. We got the last room."
Rose smirked.
"But if the planet's waking up cant we signal them?" said Mr Copper, "They could send up a rocket or something."
"But it's only the 21st century, they don't have spaceships yet," said Rose glancing up at Mr Copper.
"No but I've read about it, they have shuffles. Space shuffles," said Mr Copper.
"Your degree in Earthonomics," said the Doctor, "where's it from?"
"Honestly?" said Mr Copper glancing around.
"Just between us," said the Doctor.
"Mrs Golightly's Happy Travelling University and Dry-cleaners," said Mr Copper taking a seat beside them.
"You lied to the company to get the job?" said Astrid.
Rose leaned back against the Doctor who grasped her tighter and listened to Mr Copper's story.
"-and so Earth sounded so exotic," he said sighing.
"S'pose it is yeah," said the Doctor musing.
"So if you're not from Earth," said Astrid to the Doctor, "how did you meet Rose?"
"I was sort of, um.....a few years ago, I was sort of made, well......sort of homeless, and there was the Earth," said the Doctor, his eyes becoming glassy, "And then I met Rose, and she, well, she sort of fixed me."
Rose turned and kissed the Doctor on the cheek.
"Thing is," said Mr Copper. "If we survive this there'll be police and all sorts of investigations......the minimum penalty for space lane fraud is ten years in jail. I'm an old man, I won't survive ten years."
Suddenly there was a loud bang from the other side of the metal door.
"We've got Host," said the Doctor lifting Rose to her feet and getting up himself. "Move! Come on!"
He gestured for the others to follow him.
Hope you liked that!....... Bridge-scene coming up next. Please review.....Thank you!
