Author's note: Sorry guys, it's been a heck of a week, and I don't have two chapters done to give you the option that I gave last week. I wasn't sure I would be able to get this finished for you guys today. I will try my hardest to get the next chapter finished asap, and if I ever get 3 reviews, I will get that chapter up as soon as I finish it. Promise.
Thanks for all of your encouragement! R&R
"Ardalmarchnad"
Rose just stared at him. "Arda who? Is this going to be another.. Raxicoricofalipitorious?"
"Nahhh, that's eleven syllables, this is only four. Ardalmarchnad is a market world. It has all kinds of different vendors, anywhere from food to clothing to gadgets. They have everything. Now, some of their vendors are a bit sketchy, but their items are top notch. You'd get the best fish'n chips you will ever taste, and their bananas! Just amazing. They sometimes have some exotic foods that can be quite delicious as well. And their -"
"Doctor," Rose interrupted him, thoroughly amused. That gob of his…
"Right!" He appeared to reel himself in. "Anyways, try not to wander off this time?"
Amusement lit his eyes, but Rose still felt the concern that he was trying to cover.
"Same goes for you too!" She responded, hoping to lighten his worry with some light-hearted teasing.
It caused him to smile. "How about we just stick together then?"
She gave him a cheeky smile, laughter in her eyes as she spoke. "Forever."
He groaned. "Now that, Rose Tyler, was cheesy even by my standards!" He laughed as he had half a mind to go over and kiss her, but even the Tardis was getting antsy, sending him an image of the empty kitchen to keep his mind on track. "Right." He spun around, fiddling with the controls. "Ardalmarchnad."
Rose was all but laughing as she felt the Doctor's emotions go haywire.
Then he pulled the lever, and they were both grasping on to the railing to keep from falling over. As soon as the Tardis became steady again, they walked over to the doors, the Doctor opening them to reveal a whole new world.
There were no actual buildings as far as Rose could see. As far as the eye could there were just large tents set up with different items underneath them. She had never seen so many tents in one place. And the people! More races than she had ever seen were there, only a small fraction were actually humans. Everything imaginable was there, all crowded in the rows upon rows of tents.
Rose stepped forward as all of her senses were overwhelmed by the new world. She heard everything; laughter between a woman and a man trying to coerce her into buying something, an argument between what might be a husband and wife, crying from a child being momentarily ignored by her mother, sizzling from what she saw was… something being cooked on a grill like thing. The most delicious scents assaulted her nose, her eyes momentarily falling shut as she took in the scents. She just let herself take it all in.
The awe on Rose's face caused the Doctor to grin. He loved showing her new places, she always appreciated it.
The Tardis had materialized between two very large tents, so they had some room before being thrust into the crowds.
"Okay," The Doctor began, "It smells like food is to our left, so I say we head that way. The crowds are impressive today, so try to stay near, alright?"
Rose just grabbed his hand before pulling them both out into the stream of the crowd.
After a couple hours, Rose and the Doctor both had a cart full of exotic and normal foods. It had taken them forever to get through each vendor, the differences of the foods were so intriguing. Rose wanted a taste of everything at her disposal.
And the carts! They were… apparently, living. They looked like large turtles, except with an upside down shell on their back to carry their purchases. Rose was in shock when she first saw the Doctor grab one to walk beside them.
They were heading back to the Tardis, laughing over something the Doctor had said, when something caught Rose's eye. She paused, turning to walk over to the vendor. What caught her eyes was an antique tea set. The teapot was gorgeously made, the symbols that decorated it were foreign to her.
She sensed someone walk up behind her, and, thinking it was the Doctor, she spoke. "My mum would have loved this."
"Is your mum here?" A strangers voice responded.
She spun around, surprised that the Doctor was not who she was faced by. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else…"
"No worries, miss." The man responded. He looked to be about 40 something, by her judgment, and more than a little rough around the edges. He was probably one of those people the Doctor would have suggested avoiding. "I was just wondering, though, Is that your cart over there?"
Rose turned to see where he was pointing. Someone had moved her 'cart' behind the vendor's tent. Unease began to go through her. She didn't even notice the Doctor's concern and worry go through their bond. "Yes, that is my cart." How did it get over there?
"Well, had my boy take it over, because I didn't want anyone taking it, if you know what I mean."
She didn't see a boy anywhere around, but she tried to give the man the benefit of the doubt. Unease stayed with her but she smiled at him. "Thank you, sir." She tried to cast an inconspicuous look around. Where was the Doctor? She began to feel his worry begin to build through their bond. It only caused her own unease to grow.
She began to head over to her cart, sensing the man's continued presence behind her. She paused before she got behind the tent to pretend to look at something else, glancing over at the man. He gave her a friendly smile, not pretending to not be following her or anything, so she told herself she was overreacting. A real creep would pretend not to be following… Right?
And there was still no sign of the Doctor.
Other than the panic she was beginning to feel from him.
She hesitantly then walked behind the tent to her cart. As soon as she got it, she turned around to find that the man was no longer alone. She guessed that the man standing beside the one from the tent must be the other man's 'boy', though he had to be no younger than, say 20.
The two of them were blocking her path, and unease quickly began to form into dread. She began to back away, only to run into the wall of another tent.
The two men were closing in on her when the older one began talking. "You must have quite a bit of money to afford all that you have right there. I can barely afford food for myself, let alone my boy here. "
Oh no, this is not good. Rose shook her head. "No, I don't have any more money on me, I have nothing!" Fear began crawling up her spine. what were they going to do.
"Well, see, I don't believe you. You needed to have enough to buy all of this, and so that means you would have more, or at least a means to get more."
"No! I have nothing. Really, I have nothing on me!"
"I don't believe you. Roy?"
The younger man stepped forward, raising a hand ,palm up for her to hand over whatever it was they wanted.
Rose stared at that hand. What was she going to do? "I don't have any money. You need to let me go." She wished there was an exit she could get to.
Rose! Where are you? She heard the Doctor's voice in her head, giving her a minor comfort, but she didn't know yet how to respond.
"Then we will just have to search ya." the older man began walking toward her, then around.
She saw her opening as the older man passed behind the younger one, and she began to sprint.
The younger one, Roy, was expecting it though. He quickly grabbed her arm, jerking her to a stop.
She couldn't help the small cry of pain before Roy covered her mouth. She immediately knew that her arm would bruise.
Then she felt the older man's arms grasp her from behind, holding her while Roy began searching for money on her.
At first Rose thought it was a good thing she didn't have any money on her. They would discover that and just move on.
That's not what happened.
When Roy came up empty when searching for the money, he stood up straight, giving the older man a look.
Then the older man spoke. "Give her some incentive."
Rose felt her stomach drop as Roy pulled back his fist, aiming for her face. She began struggling hard to get away from the man.
"No." Roy paused when the older man spoke, "Go for her stomach, knock the air out of her. That will give her better incentive."
The baby!
Rose felt terror go through her as she fought against the man. Luckily, the older man didn't think to cover her mouth as she struggled against him.
"DOCTOR!" She called out, hoping he would somehow hear her. The man's hand slapped over her mouth, hissing at her to be quiet.
The Doctor must have been close, because only a moment later he was standing in the isle between the tents as well.
He froze when he saw Rose being held by an older man, looking… unsanitary. The other man, younger, looked to be about to begin physically abusing Rose. The Doctor saw the man's clenched fist and felt his hearts miss a beat.
If this man punched rose…
The baby might not survive.
