A/N: Oh god. It's been hell these past few weeks, there was a strike, and now we're cleaning the mess up now. I've been working constantly. I'm sorry that this has been taking too long, I have been doing it in every moment I have. Please bare with me! Anyways enjoy!

Chapter Nine - More Questions than Answers

I'm going to kill them both.

I kept repeating it in my mind as Rose and I ran down the stairs, through the door to reach outside, Mickey trailing behind us but I honestly wasn't really paying attention to him. We reached outside, and that little hope I had, that little tiny hope that Mickey was just messing with us disappeared. I was not a happy camper when I saw the TARDIS gone. Oh god there was going to be hell to pay. I stopped a few feet from where the TARDIS should have been and glared, willing it to return at the precise moment so I could give both Matt and the Doctor a nice piece of my mind. Rose spun on the spot close to me, her eyes wide with panic and fear. We glanced at each other, fear written on her face as anger was on mine. How could they leave? The Doctor promised us that he wasn't going to leave. Well he promised Rose, and Rose was panicking. I didn't blame her, I would be too if I was as pissed off as I was. I held onto the though that Matt wouldn't leave me behind. I took a couple of deep breaths to just calm myself down so I wouldn't do something I'd regret or say something either. I wanted an explanation that's for sure. I closed my eyes as I pinched my nose to try to stop a headache to appear and sighed heavily. I opened my eyes turning to watch Rose search for any sign of the TARDIS.

"He wouldn't just go, he promised me." She said weakly, her eyes wide, fear covered her voice, sounding slightly whiney. I crossed my arms against my chest and shook my head.

"She's right. Besides, Matt's with him. Matt would never leave me behind." I stated, annoyance in my voice, but I was calm. Well as calm as I could make myself. Rose gave me a look, and I sighed. "They can't of gone far. Knowing the two of them they went to check out what's really going on with that spaceship." Rose nodded slightly, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Oh, he's dumped you, Rose. Sailed off into space. How does it feel, huh? Now you are left behind with the rest of us Earthlings. Get used to it." Mickey sneered suddenly from behind me. Both Rose and I turned to look at him. I narrowed my eyes. Please sir, continue. I dare you. I would love to yell at Mickey but it wasn't my place. Mickey was Rose's friend, boyfriend...thing. I was not about to unleash my wrath on the poor man. No I was saving that for the two morons who took off. I continued to glare at Mickey as I looked him over. Mind you, I understood. I understood why he was so mad, why he was happy the Doctor left. Why he was loving the fact he could rub it in Rose's face. You could see it in his. He was in love with Rose, she was his girlfriend first. Sighing I shook my head, did I agree with what he was doing? No. Actually it annoyed me more than the Doctor and Matt running off.

"Shove it Rickey, the Doctor wouldn't leave without an explanation nor would Matthew." I growled at the black man, which earned a nasty glare back. Even thought I got it, I wasn't about to let him make matters worse with his gloating. Poor Rose, she's seen the universe, of course she didn't want it to run away from her. I looked over this girl, this girl who was just living an ordinary life, got to see and experience that there was more out there than what we thought there was.

"It's Mickey." He spat at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Rickey." I stated, Mickey took a step towards me but Rose got in front of him holding her arms out.

"Stop it. Just stop it you two. This is no time to fight." She looked at me with pleading eyes, and I nodded. She's right, I wasn't mad at Mickey, I was mad at the two men. Mickey just annoyed the living daylights out of me. The Madman and my Best friend I was quite angry at. I shouldn't take my anger out on this poor fool. Rose turned to Mickey, who just glared at me but didn't continue. "He would have said." Rose sighed staring at her friend.

"What're you three chimps going on about? What's going on? What's this Doctor done now?" Jackie's voice rang through the alley, and my heart dropped into my stomach as panic ran through me. Oh god. This was exactly what we were trying not to do. Involve Jackie, cause Jackie being a mother was going to freak out. I glanced at Rose who had the same expression as me.

"Ho, ho, ho. He's vamoosed." Mickey piped up once more, now Jackie was here he seem to enjoy this more than I thought he should. My eyes narrowed once more. He got his confidence up again, what was he planning on doing? Try to ruin Rose's life?

"Shut it." I snapped.

"He's not, because he gave me this." Rose reached into her pocket to pull out the TARDIS key. The look on Mickey's face was priceless, it was a cross between wanting to hit something to utter astonishment. I laughed. "He's not my boyfriend, Mickey. He's better than that. He's much more important than." Rose trailed off staring at the spot the TARDIS should have been. I walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, she looked at me with fear filled eyes and I gave her a comforting squeeze.

"Don't worry, they'll be back. Matt's with him and Matt wouldn't leave me behind and he's quite fond of you too." I said quietly, smiling, which I got in return, but Rose wouldn't calm down until she could actually see the TARDIS in front of her. I didn't blame her, I wouldn't be happy until I slapped the Doctor once more. Jackie came forward, a confused expression on her face, opened her mouth to speak when that familiar whirring noise sounded through the alley. Rose and I spun to where the materializing TARDIS was and then turned to look at Jackie, who seemed more confused than ever.

"I said so." Rose said with triumph at Mickey, I just smirked. The younger blonde than turned to her mother. "Mum! Mum, go inside. Mum, don't stand there, just go inside. Just, Mum, go." She tried to push her mom away from where we were, I stepped forward to help, only the wind kicked up, turning to look the TARDIS appeared.

"Oh, blimey." I mumbled, before sharing a look with Rose. Glancing at Jackie she looked scared and confused, Mickey looked just dumbfounded and if I didn't know better a little pissed off, but if I wasn't worried about Jackien finding out, I would have laughed at Mickey's face.

"Huh?" I heard Mickey say.

"How'd you do that, then?" Jackie's voice came next. I groaned as I glanced at Rose. Oh god this wasn't going to end well. The TARDIS fully materialized and the noise stopped, sharing a look the blonde and I ran towards the doors, both Mickey and Jackie following behind us. Rose was first up the ramp, glancing between Matt who was leaning against the railing and the Doctor who was hovering by the screen. The Doctor glanced up saw Rose and I, he smiled.

"All right, so I lied. Matt and I went and had a look. But the crash landing's a fake. I thought so. Just too perfect. I mean, hitting Big Ben. Come on, so I thought let's go and have a look." He walked around the console, to lean against it, his arms crossed against his chest. Matt smiled at me but I wasn't paying attention. As soon as I entered the TARDIS I felt that hum, suddenly it just sounded through my mind, making me stumble slightly. It was a little stronger this time. It was happy, extremely happy. Happy to see me, to see Matt, to see Rose. I blinked and glanced around the TARDIS. I gulped as I tried to convince myself that it wasn't the TARDIS.

"My mum's here." I heard Rose say, turned and groaned. Both Mickey and Jackie were inside the TARDIS. Matt walked beside me and raised an eyebrow.

"Um..?" He looked at me, which I just shot him a glare.

"We're going to have a discussion when things finally settle down." I whispered low to him, he just smirked.

"Come on Anna, you knew this was going to happen. You can't be that mad." He wrapped me into a hug, before smiling down at me, I continued to glare.

"I know. I know. Just let me be angry anyways. You should have seen Rose. Panicking she was. If you guys didn't return when you did I was afraid I might have to find a paper bag."

"Oh, that's just what I need. Don't you dare make this place domestic." I heard the Doctor snap at Rose, glancing between the elder blonde and the black man. I sighed stepping forward, going to help smooth this over but sadly Mickey got there before I did.

"You ruined my life, Doctor. They thought she was dead. I was a murder suspect because of you." Mickey snapped at the Doctor. I rolled my eyes, like I said. I understood why he was mad, and he had a right but really? This was getting a little out of hand.

"You see what I mean? Domestic." The Doctor moved from his spot, waved a hand in Mickey's direction before walking to the opposite side of the control room, glaring at the other man.

"I bet you don't even remember my name." Mickey said.

"Ricky."

"It's Mickey."

"No, it's Ricky."

"I think I know my own name! You're just as bad as her!" Mickey yelled pointing at me. I threw my hands up in surrender and shrugged, my eyebrow raised as I just stared at him.

"It suits you." I stated nonchalant. The Doctor threw me a smiled before turning to Mickey.

"You think you know your own name? How stupid are you?" He smiled once again his arms across his chest. The whole while the two of them were bickering like school girls, Jackie had been silent. I actually forgot she was there until Rose called to her mother.

"Mum, don't! Don't go anywhere. Don't start a fight!" Rose turned to follow her mother out, and I sighed. This was going to be one of those days. The hum chuckled in my mind, and I sighed once more. I'm glad it found this amusing. This was annoying. I got a look from Matt, which I just shook my head. One day, when it's just him and me I would explain to him what's going on inside of my head. I glanced outside the TARDIS's door's hearing Rose shout after her mother. I was very thankful that my parents weren't even in the same country as us. Oh man, that was a conversation I was not willing to do. Matt laughed as he watched Mickey and the Doctor glare at each other, I just rolled my eyes.

"Men." I said quietly, which earned a look from Matt and I smiled. "What? I'm allowed to make a few cracks since, ya know, you abandoned me!" Matt rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Come on Anna, you know I would never." He said, he looked at me, he seemed slightly hurt but I narrowed my eyes.

"I know Matthew but...but still I couldn't help but freak out a little. The fact that you two snuck off...it's not like you to sneak off and I got scared okay?" I mumbled, wrapping my arms around myself, sighing. My anger was disappearing which was a good thing.

"Oh now Adrianna, I would never leave you or Rose behind." I heard the Doctor say, I jumped when I saw him beside me. I blinked and raised an eyebrow. He smirked, before spinning to towards the console. I rolled my eyes and laughed. It was then Rose appeared back into the TARDIS.

"That was a real spaceship." Rose stated once she got up the ramp.

"Yep." The Doctor replied as he looked at her briefly.

"So it's all a pack of lies? What is it, then? Are they invading?" I asked next, wrapping my arms around myself looking slightly worried now.

"I don't think so." Matt glanced between the four of us. The TARDIS did seem pretty crowded now.

"Funny way to invade, putting the world on red alert." Mickey spoke next, as much as I hated it, he had a point.

"Good point! So, what're they up to?" The Doctor said without looking at anyone, he pulled up a grate and hopped under it, pulling at wires and other interesting bits. Matt hurried over to the alien to go help as Rose and I just shared a look and went to the jump seat to sit down. Mickey looked kinda lost about what to do, he seemed interested in what the Doctor and Matt were doing but he didn't seem to want to intrude or ask. Caught between a rock and a hard place he was. Hating the Doctor yet his curiousity was waging battle against him. Curiousity won.

"So, what're you two doing down there?" He finally asked, I had to smile. The fact that he asked was killing him. At the same time I was glad he did ask, I was curious myself.

"Ricky." Came the Doctor's voice, Rose and I shared a look again and rolled our eyes. Oh god he could be like a child sometimes.

"Mickey." Mickey snapped.

"Ricky." The Doctor replied like he hadn't heard him. "If I was to tell you what I was doing to the controls of my frankly magnificent time ship, would you even begin to understand?"

"I suppose not." Mickey sighed in defeat than noticed Matt. "Why is he helping you then?" The Doctor glanced at Matt who just stared at a set of wires intently. The Doctor smiled.

"He understands." I raised my eyebrow, deciding to walk over.

"Understand? How a time-traveling ship works? I know your good at electronics Matt but this...this is advance stuff." I kneeled in front of my friend who looked up at me and smiled. Mickey huffed, which got a look from the three of us.

"Yeah nothing seems familiar to me." Mickey admitted.

"Well, shut it, then." The Doctor said, smiling at the other man before ducking his head under the grate again. I watched Matt who seemed to be picking things up at a reasonable speed as the Doctor would bark an order or tell him where to put something. I smiled, my madman and my best friend.

I stood up, stretched before glancing over at Mickey and Rose, they were in their own little world, talking. She needed to explain to him what happened. I walked over to the jump seat and sat down, my feet were seriously killing me. I needed to change shoes soon, I also knew if I took my shoes off now, I would never put them back on or walk again. The hum sent a comforting wave through my mind, as if apologizing for the pain I was in. Okay, since we had a few minutes I am seriously going to figure out what that was. I closed my eyes leaning back, I concentrated on the hum that was at the back of my mind, I could almost see it, it was like a gold light that flickered in a constant darkness that was my mind. I could feel my brow crease as I try to concentrate on the light, but something stopped me.

"Not yet." Came a voice, almost like a song, it washed over me gently pushing me back from the light that I was so desperately trying figure out. I had a feeling that it was the TARDIS, the ship herself. When we first met the Doctor he did say that his ship was alive but sadly, my curiousity was winning in my inter debate. The light closed off after I tried once more, the hum seemed amused but also cautioning me to stay away. What the hell was going on?

"So, now that you've come back, are you going to stay?" Mickey's voice brought me out of my thoughts as I opened my eyes, I glanced over at the blonde and the man, only to see Rose glance between Mickey and the Doctor. I knew her choice, I would choose the same thing.

"Got it! Ha, ha! Patched in the radar, looped it back twelve hours so we can follow the flight of that spaceship. Here we go. Hold on. Come on." The Doctor's excited voice made me jump, him and Matt appeared from under the space grate and the Doctor danced around the console before stopping in front of the monitor, I stared at his back, before poking around to look at Matt with a questioning look. Matt just shrugged and sat beside me, as Rose and Mickey came a little closer. We all stared at the screen an image popped up, showing what looked like the earth, with a line coming from the earth before pointing back at the earth. "That's the spaceship on its way to Earth, see? Except. Hold on. See? The spaceship did a sling shot round the Earth before it landed." The Doctor seemed confused, which I was glad. Glancing at everyone else I'm not the only one who was just as confused.

"What does that mean?" Rose asked after a moment. The Doctor glanced at her before looking back at his screen.

"It means it came from Earth in the first place. It went up and came back down. Whoever those aliens are, they haven't just arrived, they've been here for a while. The question is, what have they been doing?" He stood back from the monitor, crossing his arms against his chest staring at it.

"Alien's have been here the whole time." I said, making the Doctor look at me. His brow creased as he stared at me before back at the monitor.

"It seems that way." He said. Now we wait. The Doctor went back to work on the TARDIS as Matt followed him without question, the two men worked away silently. I scooted over on the seat allowing Rose to sit next to me and Mickey on the other side. We sat in silence for a bit before Mickey got tired of the quiet finding what looked like a remote on the console, he started flipping through the channels on the screen. I raised an eyebrow as Rose and I shared a smile. Of course the Doctor would have television.

"How many channels do you get?" Mickey asked after flipping through a few channels.

"All the basic packages." Came the Doctor's voice, he came over to look at what we were doing, his face showing his disapproval.

"You get sports channels?" Mickey asked. I snorted which got a look from the other man.

"Yes, I get the football." The Doctor said distracted before pointing to the screen. "Hold on, I know that lot."

"It is looking likely that the Government's bringing in alien specialists - those people who have devoted their lives to studying outer space." The woman spoke from the T.V, the four of us stared at each other before turning to look at the Doctor.

"Who are they?" I asked, staring back at the T.V

"UNIT. United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. Good people." The Doctor replied watching the screen intently.

"How do you know them?" Rose asked, staring at the Doctor raising an eyebrow before turning to look at me. I raised my hands and shrugged, I didn't know. Matt shook his head as he caught Rose's eyes. As much as we were there before Rose, we didn't know that much about him.

"'Cos he's worked for them. Oh yeah, don't think I sat on my backside for twelve months, Doctor. I read up on you. You look deep enough on the Internet or in the history books, and there's his name, followed by a list of the dead." Mickey's sneer came from behind Rose, his eyes glaring at the Doctor, who didn't even blink at the sound of Mickey's dislike. I sighed and shook my head. He was never going to let this go.

"That's nice. Good boy, Ricky." The Doctor said distractedly.

"If you know them, why don't you go and help?" Matt asked next, which we all turned to look at him. Good question.

"They wouldn't recognise me. I've changed a lot since the old days." The Doctor said looking at the three of us, he rubbed the back of his head as he continued to speak. "Besides, the world's on a knife-edge. There's aliens out there and fake aliens. We want to keep this alien out of the mix. I'm going undercover. And er, I'd better keep the Tardis out of sight." He sighed glancing at the ship. I groaned slightly which earned a look from the Doctor, I shoot my head and smiled, rolling his eyes he turned to look at Mickey. "Ricky, you've got a car. You can do some driving."

"Where to?" Mickey asked after a moment, glaring at the alien. The Doctor moved towards the doors of the TARDIS and glanced back, the rest of us following suit.

"The roads are clearing. Let's go and have a look at that spaceship." He said with a smile. Matt, Rose and I smiled back at him, the three of us glancing at each other. Oh god it was good being here. I let the Doctor, Matt and Rose go a head of me as I looked back at Mickey who had nothing but a scowl on his face.

"Come on Mickey, it's not so bad." I said, I felt bad for him. I did. As much as he drove me nuts, he was still a good guy. He didn't deserve what Rose did to him, much less on how we were treating him. He stared at me for a moment before sighing, his angry scowl slipping.

"I just wish I knew what I did wrong." He mumbled, almost too low for me to hear, I glanced at the doors before looking back at him.

"You did nothing wrong. Now come on before we get yelled at." I smiled slightly at him, but he wasn't going to have it. I went back towards the door stepping out, the Doctor, Matt and Rose stood there waiting. As soon as Mickey and I were out in the open a bright light appeared shining down on our little merry band. I raised a hand out to block the light out of my eyes but it didn't help. I felt the Matt grab me close to him, as he also reached for Rose bringing her close to us, we stared at each other as shouts rang through the wind.

"Do not move! Step away from the box and raise your hands above your heads." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mickey run. Coward. I thought as we all stepped away from the TARDIS. Each of us shared the same confused look, the same fear in our eyes, except the Doctor, he seemed to look around with amusement. Police vehicles and armoured cars appeared around us, as the helicopter continue to fly above us. Matt grabbed my hand and Rose's as he stared around at the commotion around us. Guns were being pointed at us, the light was bright, the wind loud making it hard to see. The Doctor looked around apparently amused by the situation.

What the bloody hell is going on?