The Doctor and the Bad Wolf Chapter 9
AN: And her we go again! Thanks so much to those who reviewed/favorited/followed! These mean a lot to me and keep me writing! I also notice those who have reviewed multiple times, thanks because it's nice to know how people like it as the story moves on. Again, I own nothing but some of the ideas that come from my brain. The characters and transcripts belong to the lovely people at the BBC.
Enjoy!
The Doctor walked into the kitchen and found Rose boiling spaghetti. He smiled at the situation; his ninth self would've had a fit seeing how domestic they had become. They could stay like this forever, right?
*You ridiculous Time Lord! Admit your feelings, why are you so against this?* the TARDIS yelled in his head.
Because I don't deserve her, she is still so wonderfully pure and human. She is the light to my world, such pure golden light. How could I muddle that with the darkness of my past?
*If she did love you and wanted that part of you in her life, would you surrender to your true feelings then?*
Yes, but why would she ever love me?
*Oh, you are blind! She almost died for you, you daft...thief!*
The Doctor pushed her to the back of his mind and focused on Rose again.
Rose strained the spaghetti and turned to the cupboard. She smiled when she saw the Doctor at the table. She had not heard him but she had also been arguing with herself. She wanted to have a romantic relationship with the Doctor, she did love him in that way. But she feared that he didn't feel the same way. How could he? He was a 900 year old Time Lord and she was a 20 year old Londoner. Yes the TARDIS had helped her along by making her like him but that wouldn't help if he didn't love her back.
"I hope you're hungry," Rose said piling the pasta on two plates. She placed one in front of the Doctor on the table and sat down across from him.
"Rose, you make the best pasta," he said smiling at her.
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
The Doctor was the first to break the silence, "Rose, how's your head?"
"It's better," Rose replied quietly.
He mentally kicked himself again. Cassandra had done damage to her brain with that psychograft and he thought rest would magically heal it but he also thought that her more time-lord-like DNA would've helped too.
Why isn't she healed already, I though her new genes would take over, he yelled at the TARDIS in his mind.
*She needs to actually rest before her full transformation can finish* she replied to him.
Why didn't you tell me that, he groaned back to her.
*You didn't ask*
He groaned out loud this time and Rose looked at him concerned, "Something wrong with the pasta?"
"No, no, it's wonderful like always. What'dya say we go take a break in London?" he asked, making up a plan.
"I don't know, Doctor. We haven't been back since me, Mum, and Mickey had that row. Why would we go back anyways?" she asked sounding sad again.
He cringed realizing his mistake in suggestion, "I just thought you would like to go shopping is all."
"Okay, that could be a great idea!" Rose smiled.
They finished dinner and cleaned up together enjoying the comfortable silence again. After that they headed to the console room. Rose sat in the jump seat and read one of the books that the TARDIS had laid out for her. The Doctor went to work on the TARDIS, opening the grating and sliding under.
The Doctor began to hum as he worked. Rose stopped reading and listened to the beautiful tune as the TARDIS joined in also. She smiled, this was one of her favorite times. They weren't running for their lives or trying to solve some problem. They were just being the Doctor and Rose in the TARDIS.
"What's the name of that song?" she asked.
Both the Doctor and the Tardis stopped their song. "Huh?" he asked poking his head out from under the grating.
"You were humming, just wanted to know what song it was," Rose said quietly.
The Doctor pulled himself up on to the console floor. "Oh, I didn't realize I was humming..." he said embarrassed.
"I've noticed that you hum whenever you aren't stressed. It's normally when you're working under the console or just thinking somewhere. Sometimes the TARDIS joins in too, but it's always the same song," Rose explained looking at her feet. She really didn't want him to know how much she watched him.
He smiled, she had noticed the little things he did and he was happy to know that he wasn't the only one watching. He cleared his throat, "Well…Um…It's a song that my mother used to sing, whenever I was upset," he said with reverence in his voice. "It's always been very comforting to me. I guess I must subconsciously hum it whenever I'm thinking about something," he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"It's a beautiful song, does it have any words?" she asked smiling. She was happy that he was opening up to her. Sure he had spoken to her about Galifrey before, but never about his family.
"Sure," he said quickly, "would you like me to sing it to you?"
Rose nodded and the Doctor began to sing to her. He used his native language and the Tardis stooped translating for Rose. He closed his eyes and smiled when his ship joined in.
She gasped as she heard his native language un-tampered for the first time. She smiled wider and closed her eyes also.
He began to move towards her. He pulled her into his arms and continued the song. They sat down together and he held her close. The Time Lord was putting all of his feelings for this wonderful woman into this one song. He hoped that she could feel it. He also knew that the undertones of the song would begin to work on Rose's mind and pull her into a deep relaxing sleep.
Rose began to feel extremely tired; she leaned into the embraced and welcomed the comfortable sleep.
The Doctor felt her mind relax into sleep and kissed her hair. "Oh, Rose Tyler, I do love you. I just can't tell you yet, not until I know that you would fully consent to spend forever with me as my bond mate and wife," he whispered to her. She nuzzled closer to him and sighed. At first the Doctor thought that she had heard him, but he relaxed when he was certain she was still asleep. He held her for most of the night but before "morning" was to arrive in the Tardis; he placed her under her own covers in her room and left quietly.
He walked into the Tardis console room and sat in the jump seat that he and Rose had just been sharing. He hoped that she wouldn't notice that he held her the whole night. He sighed heavily. This was getting complicated, keeping his feelings for her secret while he needed to constantly be in close proximity to her. He learned earlier in the day that whenever they were separated he could not feel her mental essence. This made him feel emptier than the Time War had, when he lost his whole planet of Time Lords. How could one being affect him so?
The Tardis brought forward many accounts and descriptions of how other Time Lords had experienced their "soul mate" or one true bond mate in his mind.
"You and I both know that is a myth," the Doctor said to her.
*No, you just say that because you don't want to admit that you need someone. You have never outright admitted that you need anyone and we both know that this is the biggest lie you have ever told. You finally started to accept it when people corrected you but that is still few and far between. * She chastised him sharply.
"Are you my mother?" he retorted.
*No but sometimes you do act like a defiant child,* she teased.
"No one asked you," he said ignoring her again. He walked towards the kitchen to start a pot of tea and maybe make him and Rose some breakfast.
He finished the tea and made French toast before Rose entered the kitchen. He sat down and read a current London newspaper that the Tardis had provided, while he ate his share.
Rose had a wonderful dream that night. She and the Doctor had been able to visit Galifrey. He walked her around the planet and pointed out places that held specific memories for him. The dream ended at a beautiful ceremony, it appeared to be a wedding. A man, who she assumed was the groom, was standing in regal clothing with an official looking man. The bride was in a beautiful crimson and gold garment and headdress with a veil. She and the groom's hands were wrapped in a crimson cloth. Rose couldn't hear anything that was said but it appeared to be a lot like a human wedding and finally the groom was allowed to kiss his bride. He lifted her veil and Rose saw her own face under it. She looked closer at the groom and realized that it was indeed the Doctor. This was where the dream ended and Rose woke up smiling.
The Tardis sent her warmth and affection.
"Did you see that whole thing?" Rose asked quietly.
*Yes, darling daughter of Time.*
"Promise you won't tell him?" Rose requested getting up and gathering her clothes for the day.
The Tardis sent her more waves of love and understanding. It hurt her to know that both of her travelers were struggling with this.
After she got dressed for the day the Tardis told her that the Doctor was currently in the kitchen. She walked that way and thought about everything. Even though the Doctor had promised a relaxing day, she knew that with their luck it would probably end in them running for their lives. But that was one of the things that she loved, it was always interesting.
She walked into the kitchen to find the Doctor reading a London newspaper and eating a banana. She laughed at how domestic he looked. "Morning," she said starling him.
He dropped his half-eaten fruit on the ground and frowned. He looked up again, throwing a smile on his face, "Good Morning, I made breakfast!"
"I see that," she giggled, "when did you become so domestic? The old you would have a fit." She sat across from him laughing.
"Oi, I thought you would like this delicious feast. If you don't want it then I'll just have to eat it," he said pulling her plate across the table towards himself.
Rose grabbed the plate as he was about to stab the first piece of toast. She bit into a strawberry that was sitting on the side.
The Doctor watched her and swallowed hard as he imagined kissing her lips. This time it wouldn't be to save her life either, it would be fully voluntary on both sides but he couldn't bring himself to act on it.
"So according to that newspaper, what's going on in old London town?" she asked pulling him out of his thoughts.
He shook his head and looked down at the paper again, "Well…apparently this one school has fired almost all of its teachers and staff and needs to fill all of these positions."
"I thought we were going shopping, you know relaxing? Doctor you promised," Rose looked disappointed.
"You can go shopping still, I'll go and investigate this one on my own," he said a little disappointed too.
Rose knew that she needed a day of rest, but she couldn't let the Doctor just go off on a mystery by himself. What if he needed someone to help him figure something out or someone to hold his hand if it got too intense?
*It's your choice child,* the Tardis told her.
"No, you know I can't resist a good mystery," Rose said smiling at him.
"Alright, finish your breakfast and we'll be off," the Doctor said.
She finished eating while he kept reading the newspaper. After she cleaned the dishes and put the kitchen back in order, she followed the Doctor into the console room.
"So what's our alibi?" she asked as he put in the coordinates for the school.
"Well…the Tardis already called us in a story and I'm a physics teacher, not bad. But you're a…" he trailed off frowning at the screen.
"I'm a what?"
"You're a lunch lady," he said trying to hold back a laugh.
"What, that's not fair!" Rose shouted back.
"Yell at her not me," he said completely sober again.
*I'm sorry child, but it is too close to your time, I could not do it. You never had any A -levels or time at University. This is the best I could do, the closest I could possibly get you guys,* the Tardis apologized.
"Oh well, at least we might still see each other right?" she asked smiling.
"Of course, the only for during school hours, now Allons-y Rose Tyler," he said escorting her out of the Tardis and into the building.
They went to the main office and reported for their first days. One office assistant left to take the Doctor to his class room and another took Rose by the cafeteria to pick up her uniform.
The Doctor looked around the room and smiled, he figured he could just talk his way through a lesson. There was no need for him to plan out a formal one. He decided to stop by the cafeteria to see how Rose was getting on before his lessons began. He walked down and watched Rose being chastised about her hair. He wanted to run up and yell back at that woman that was yelling at his Rose, but he held back because this was not an appropriate move now. Maybe if he and Rose were more than friends, but definitely not now.
After the woman was done yelling at Rose, he walked up to the counter. "Hey," he said smiling.
Rose forced a smile onto her face, she was miserable but she had to do this in order to be able to help the Doctor. She had been yelled at twice now and she knew that it wasn't going to be the last time. "Hey," she said back.
"I'm sorry Rose. I should've made you my assistant or something. This was a horrible plan," he said looking at her.
"No, it's my fault for dropping out of school and why would you need an assistant?" she said trying to laugh.
"You know me, I can always find trouble," he said winking at her.
She blushed and giggled like a school girl. He joined her in laughing and the head of the kitchen noticed them.
"Miss Tyler! I will not have you gallivanting while you are on the clock," the woman yelled. "Now let this fine teacher get to his classes and start with your work!"
Rose sighed, "Yes, ma'am," she did a fake salute behind the woman's back. "You better go and get investigating. I'll see you at lunch."
"Will do Miss Tyler, I shall report back at 1200 hours," he said making her laugh. Then he went off towards his classroom as the warning bell sounded.
He arrived shortly after the class bell rang and walked into a classroom full of young minds. He put his glasses on and smiled at the bored students, "Good morning, class. Are we sitting comfortably?"
His mind went completely blank so he decided to write "Physics" on the board and would continue to talk as he thought, "So, physics. Physics, eh? Physics. Physics. Physics! Physics. Physics, physics, physics, physics, physics, physics, physics. I hope one of you is getting all this down." The students did not look amused so he decided to quiz them to figure out how much they already knew, "Okay let's see what you know. Two identical strips of nylon are charged with static electricity and hung from a string so they can swing freely. What would happen if they were brought near each other?"
A young boy with in glasses threw his hand up immediately.
"Yes…er…what's your name?" the Doctor asked rather clumsily.
"Milo," the boy answered.
"Milo! Off you go," he encouraged the boy.
"They'd repel each other because they have the same charge," Milo answered.
"Correctamundo! A word I have never used before and hopefully never will again. Question two. I coil up a thin piece of micro-wire and place it in a glass of water. Then I turn on the electricity and measure to see if the water's temperature is affected. My question is this. How do I measure the electrical power going into the coil?" he said thinking of a marginally more difficult question.
Just one hand went up. Everyone else looked completely bored.
"Someone else? No? Okay, Milo, go for it," the Doctor said rather disappointed.
"Measure the current and PDs in an ammeter and a voltmeter," the boy explained the answer simply again.
"Two to Milo. Right then, Milo, tell me this. True or false. The greater the dampening of the system, the quicker it loses energy to its surroundings," the Time Lord challenged. This boy had incredible knowledge and he needed to figure out how much and where it came from.
"False."
"What is non-coding DNA?" the Doctor now moved on to other subjects.
"DNA that doesn't code for a protein," Milo replied almost bored.
"Sixty five thousand nine hundred and eighty three times five?"
"Three hundred and twenty nine thousand nine hundred and fifteen."
"How do you travel faster than light?" he asked now just trying to stump the child.
"By opening a quantum tunnel with an FTL factor of thirty six point seven recurring," he replied as if the Doctor had asked him what color the sky was.
The Doctor's jaw drops, as does some of the other student's in the room. He assigns the class some reading in their textbooks because he really needed to think.
The rest of the morning past completely normal, at least as normal as it could be being surrounded by super genius children. Soon it was time for lunch and the Doctor needed to speak with his companion. This was when he was glad that she had chosen to stay with him instead of relaxing.
He joined the lunch line and soon was standing in front of Rose. She looked absolutely miserable. He tried to smile at her but was then told to move forward. He sat down with his food and ate a chip. It tasted off, so he pushed the tray away and waited for Rose.
Rose was told to go wipe down tables, so she rushed straight to the Doctor.
"This day has been awful, please tell me you have something?" she pleaded as she sat down.
"Blame the Tardis. She's the one who put us onto this. And she was right. Boy in class this morning, got knowledge way beyond planet Earth," he replied.
"You eating those chips?" Rose asked.
"Yeah, they're a bit different," he said scrunching up his nose.
"I think they're gorgeous. Wish I had school dinners like this," Rose said popping another one into her mouth.
"It's very well behaved, this place," the Doctor said looking around.
"Mmm…" Rose agreed her mouth full of chips.
"I thought there'd be happy slapping hoodies. Happy slapping hoodies with ASBOs. Happy slapping hoodies with ASBOs and ringtones. Huh? Huh? Oh, yeah. Don't tell me I don't fit in," the Doctor said as she gave him a weird look. They smiled at each other.
The head dinner lady came over, "You are not permitted to leave your station during a sitting."
"I was just talking to this teacher," Rose said standing up.
"Hello," he waved at Rose's superior.
"He doesn't like the chips," Rose explained hoping not to get yelled at anymore.
"The menu has been specifically designed by the headmaster to improve concentration and performance. Now, get back to work," the lady ordered.
Rose sighed, "See? This is me. Dinner lady."
"I'll have the crumble," he teased her.
"I'm so going to kill you," Rose laughed as she walked back.
The Doctor felt awful for Rose but the faster he solved this, the faster they could leave and Rose could heal. He left to head up to the Teacher's lounge, hoping to find out from his teaching counterparts.
After the lunch period was over, Rose cleaned her station and noticed that she was the only one left in the kitchen. She was drying up when the other dinner ladies wheeled a large cooking oil drum through the kitchen. It had lots of strange symbols on the side. Rose tried to memorize them so that she could report them to the Doctor. She also noticed that they were all wearing breathing masks and heavy duty protective gauntlets.
"Careful. Keep it steady. Don't spill a drop. I said, keep it steady. Careful. That's it. Easy now. Steady," the head woman said as she led them back towards the storage room.
She decided since they were busy that she would use the internet access on her phone to look up information. She searched for any bizarre stories that speared in the last six months. She found army records that reported massive UFO activity three months ago. There were more than 40 sightings. She tried to access the photos but she kept running into a warning. "Torchwood Access Denied" it would say again and again.
She began a search on the school too. She found out, three months ago, the whole kitchen staff was sacked and these new ones were hired. That was odd. And these women were all really weird too and she was used to weird. There was something definitely going on here and she and the Doctor had to figure out what exactly.
The commotion brought Rose out of her thoughts. "Watch it!" the head woman yelled. The next barrel of oil toppled over. One of the women gets splashed and started screaming. "Get her up, get her up!" the head woman yelled at the others. The injured woman is hustled into the office and the blinds are pulled down.
Rose opened her phone again and began to dial the ambulance.
"What're you doing?" the lady asked her.
"Calling an ambulance," Rose replied.
"No need. She's quite all right," the woman tried to explain. She was cut off by an awful scream that came from the back room. "It's fine. She does that." The woman went back into the smoke filled office.
Rose sees that the spilt oil has eaten through metal. She has to find the Doctor and fast because this is getting way too weird.
The Doctor had made it to the staff room and was talking with the other teachers about his weird morning.
One teacher completely agreed with him, "Yesterday, I had a twelve year old girl give me the exact height of the Walls of Troy in cubits."
"And, it's ever since the new headmaster arrived?" the Doctor questioned.
"Finch arrived three months ago. Next day, half the staff got flu. Finch replaced them with that lot, except for the teacher you replaced, and that was just plain weird, her winning the lottery like that," he said looking as if the Doctor had just revealed a grand secret to him.
"How's that weird?" the Doctor asked puzzled.
"She never played. Said the ticket was posted through her door at midnight," the other man explained.
"Hmm. The world is very strange," the Doctor replied. The door opened and the Headmaster entered.
"Excuse me, colleagues. A moment of your time. May I introduce Miss Sarah Jane Smith. Miss Smith is a journalist who's writing a profile about me for the Sunday Times. I thought it might be useful for her to get a view from the trenches, so to speak. Don't spare my blushes," Finch said then left.
The Doctor looked at the woman and she knocked the wind out of him. She looked the same as she did when his fifth incarnation dropped her off. Sure, she had aged but he could still see the brave and brilliant woman that he loved having on his adventures. He still counted her as one of his best friends and it broke his hearts to see her aged. He knew this happened but it was still hard to witness.
She walked up to him and smiled, "Hello."
"Oh, I should think so," he said smiling. He wanted to lift her up into a huge hug and spin her around.
"And, you are?" she asked looking confused.
"Hm? Er, Smith. John Smith," the Doctor fumbled with his words. He still couldn't believe that she was standing there right in front of him.
"John Smith. I used to have a friend who sometimes went by that name," she said as if she were remembering their adventures.
He wanted to tell her that he was that friend but he couldn't. He didn't want her to have to adjust to this new him and then adjust to life without him again. It was best to stay anonymous until he needed to break character. "Well, it's a very common name," he replied still smiling.
"He was a very uncommon man, Nice to meet you," she said trying to move on to another teacher.
"Nice to meet you. Yes, very nice. More than nice. Brilliant," he said excited. He loved Sarah Jane, still missed her dearly and now here she was.
"Er, so, er, have you worked here long?" she asked.
"No. Er, it's only my first day."
"Oh, you're new, then. So, what do you think of the school? I mean, this new curriculum? So many children getting ill. Doesn't that strike you as odd?" she asked sparkle lighting her eyes again.
"You don't sound like someone just doing a profile," he accused. He knew that Sarah Jane would never give up a mystery.
"Well, no harm in a little investigation while I'm here," she explained shrugging.
"No. Good for you," he replied happily. Sarah moved away from the scarily grinning Doctor. "Good for you. Oh, good for you, Sarah Jane Smith."
The rest of the day past slowly, Rose had gone back to the Tardis because her job was done and she didn't want to sit by herself in that creepy school anymore. She went and grabbed herself and the Doctor a pizza and waited for him to return to the storage closet that their home was now hidden inside the school. The Doctor came back and they swapped their stories over pizza. The Time Lord didn't mention his meeting with a former companion. Soon it was late enough that they deemed it safe for them to investigate without being questioned.
"Oh, it's weird seeing school at night. It just feels wrong. When I was a kid, I used to think all the teachers slept in school," Rose said shivering. The Doctor squeezed her hand.
"All right, Rose, go to the kitchen. Get a sample of that oil. I'm going to look in Finch's office. Be back here in ten minutes," he said letting go of her hand.
Rose got the oil sample as instructed and then looked up as something screeched overhead. She needed to find the Doctor because this place was too creepy at night. It gave her an awful feeling.
The Doctor found Sarah Jane and follows her to the storeroom door where she discovered the Tardis parked inside. She stood there and gasped.
"Hello, Sarah Jane," he said calmly. Even though he wanted to run up and hug her. But going from past experiences, companions didn't take to regeneration well. Although Sarah Jane had seen it before, he didn't want to frighten her.
"It's you. Oh, Doctor Oh, my God, it's you, isn't it. You've regenerated," she said facing him smiling.
"Yeah, Half a dozen times since we last met," he said sadly. He missed being some of his older selves.
"You look incredible," she remarked, almost shocked.
"So do you."
"Huh. I got old. What are you doing here?" she asked moving the conversation off her.
"Well, UFO sighting, school gets record results. I couldn't resist. What about you?" he asked.
"The same, I thought you'd died. I waited for you and you didn't come back, and I thought you must have died," she said almost in tears.
"I lived. Everyone else died," he said sadly again.
"What do you mean?" she asked confused.
"Everyone died, Sarah," he tried to explain.
"I can't believe it's you," she said diverting the conversation again.
They were about to hug but they heard Rose scream. The Doctor had a look of pure panic on his face.
"Okay, now I can!" she laughed.
They ran until they found Rose standing by an open closet.
"Sorry! Sorry, it was only me. You told me to investigate, so I started looking through some of these cupboards and all of these fell on me," Rose said trying to catch her breath. She pointed to dozens of vacuum packed rats.
The Doctor laughed, "And you decided to scream?"
"It took me by surprise!" Rose said hurt.
"Like a little girl?" he asked still teasing her.
"It was dark! I was covered in rats!" Rose pouted.
"Nine, maybe ten years old. I'm seeing pigtails, frilly skirt," he laughed and Sarah Jane joined in.
Rose wanted to stamp her foot and go sit in the Tardis, "Hello, can we focus? Does anyone notice anything strange about this? Rats in school?" she huffed.
"Well, obviously they use them in Biology lessons. They dissect them. Or maybe you haven't reached that bit yet. How old are you?" Sarah Jane teased this time.
"Excuse me, no one dissects rats in school anymore. They haven't done that for years. Where are you from, the dark ages?" Rose said threated by this new woman. "Who are you anyways?"
"Rose, Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane, Rose," the Doctor explained.
"Hi. Nice to meet you. You can tell you're getting older. Your assistants are getting younger," Sarah Jane said back to the Doctor.
"I'm not his assistant," Rose said really stamping her foot this time. She looked towards the Doctor, was he not going to defend her at all?
"No? Look at you, tiger," Sarah Jane teased him again.
The Doctor rubbed his neck. He needed to break this apart because he could tell Rose was becoming angry with this situation. "Anyways, moving on, everything started when Mister Finch arrived. We should go and check his office."
The group began to walk down the corridor in silence but it didn't last long. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you?" Rose asked.
"Sarah Jane Smith. I used to travel with the Doctor," she stated simply.
"Oh. Well, he's never mentioned you," Rose said trying to outdo the other woman, who obviously had a history with the man she loved.
Who was she trying to kid? She and the Doctor could never have anything special. Of course he had travelled with other women before; he was over 900 years old. How could she be so daft as to think that she was special? Maybe he enjoyed leading girls like her on and then just dumping them, like this Sarah Jane woman. By the way he looked at her, she was special to him and it made him happy to have her back. Maybe she was becoming boring for him. Jealousy rose in her chest and she just wanted to scream.
"Oh, I must've done. Sarah Jane. Mention her all the time," the Doctor said trying to think if he had ever told Rose about any of his other companions. Surely she knew that there were others, hadn't she seen the other rooms.
"Hold on… Sorry. Never," Rose said grinning at the other woman.
"What, not even once? He didn't mention me even once?" Sarah Jane asked in disbelief.
They finally reached the Headmaster's office and the Doctor sighed in relief. He used the sonic screwdriver on the lock. "Maybe those rats were food."
"Food for what?" Rose asked looking disgusted.
The Doctor looked inside the door and at the ceiling, "Rose, you know you used to think all the teachers slept in the school? Well, they do." He pointed at the aliens that they found sleeping in the office. They looked like giant bats hanging from the ceiling.
The Doctor shuts the door and they walk quickly out of the school. Once they are in the school yard they stop to regroup.
"Those were teachers?" Rose asked surprised.
The Doctor nodded at her pulling her close, "When Finch arrived, he brought with him seven new teachers, four dinner ladies and a nurse. Thirteen. Thirteen big bat people. Come on, we have to go back to the Tardis. I forgot I parked her inside. She'll be able to analyze that oil you got from the kitchen," He smiled down at Rose.
Rose felt a little better with him holding her so close, but she still couldn't help feeling like she was being led on.
"I might be able to help you there. I've got something to show you," Sarah Jane smiled dangling her car keys.
They followed her towards the car park. She walked to the boot and unlocked it. The Doctor looked closely as she pulled a blanket of K-9.
"K9! Rose Tyler, allow me to introduce K9. Well, K9 Mark Three to be precise," he said smiling like kid on Christmas morning.
"Why does he look so disco?" Rose asked, tilting her head.
"Oi! Listen, in the year five thousand, this was cutting edge. What's happened to him?" the Doctor asked waiting for his faithful companion to acknowledge him.
Rose flinched when he shouted towards her. Now she really wanted to go sit in the Tardis, he didn't need her anyways. He had Sarah Jane and her cyber dog thing. They could solve this mystery together and she could just go home. She almost burst into tears when she realized that she had nowhere to go. She never thought that her Doctor would get bored with her. No, he wasn't her Doctor anymore. He didn't need her… he had his Sarah Jane back. She turned back toward the couple fussing around the tin dog.
"Oh, one day, he just, nothing," Sarah Jane shrugged.
"Well, didn't you try and get him repaired?" the Doctor asked her.
"Well, it's not like getting parts for a Mini Metro, Beside, the technology inside him could rewrite human science. I couldn't show him to anyone," Sarah Jane said again.
"Ooh, what's the nasty lady done to you, eh?" the Doctor talked to the robot in a baby voice.
"Look, no offence, but could you two just stop petting for a minute? Never mind the tin dog. We're busy," Rose said trying to pull the Doctor back to her. Her jealousy and emotions were getting the best of her.
"Right, we'll take K-9 somewhere that I can work on him and talk over what we've found," the Doctor said lifting up the tin dog and placing it back in the boot. He went to grab Rose's hand but she walked away quickly. He didn't know what was wrong with her but he could feel sadness radiating off of her in waves. It almost felt like despair and it could've killed him. He wanted to know what was wrong but they needed to solve this first.
The group got into Sarah Jane's car and drove to a coffee shop on the next street. The Doctor and Sarah Jane sat at a four top with K-9 siting on the table but Rose went and ordered chips then sat at a different two top. The Time Lord wanted his Rose to be there next to him, to meet Sarah Jane and figure this entire problem out. He figured that she wanted space and would come to him when she was ready.
Rose knew that if Mickey were here he would be telling her "I told you so." She had told him over and over that the Doctor was different, that he really did love her and need her around. But now she wasn't so sure.
The Doctor was tinkering with K-9 as Sarah Jane explained what had happened after he dropped her off. "I thought of you on Christmas Day. This Christmas just gone? Great big spaceship overhead. I thought, oh yeah, bet he's up there," she explained to him.
"Right on top of it, yeah," the Doctor said reconnecting a few wires.
"And Rose?" Sarah Jane asked looking at his current companion who was sitting with her back to them.
"She was there too," he said looking at Rose too. He wished that she would come over here. He needed to touch her, he was going crazy. Sure Sarah Jane was right there but she wasn't fulfilling his need for contact like Rose did. It just felt completely wrong to him.
"Did I do something wrong, because you never came back for me. You just dumped me," Sarah Jane said hurt.
"I told you. I was called back home and in those days humans weren't allowed," he explained. He really didn't want to tell her that he went back for Rose, numerous times and she came back for him too. He would do anything for his Rose.
"I waited for you. I missed you," she said sadly.
"Oh, you didn't need me. You were getting on with your life," he said confidently.
"You were my life. You know what the most difficult thing was? Coping with what happens next, or with what doesn't happen next. You took me to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, you showed me supernovas, intergalactic battles, and then you just dropped me back on Earth. How could anything compare to that?" she asked him.
"All those things you saw, do you want me to apologize for that?" he asked looking at her. He knew that he should've stopped interfering with humans and their lives. He looked at Rose; she had fought with her boyfriend and mother over travelling with him. She had chosen him over her family. It meant the world to him and he didn't think he could ever keep travelling if he ever lost Rose.
"No, but we get a taste of that splendor and then we have to go back," she sighed.
"Look at you, you're investigating. You found that school. You're doing what we always did," he said trying to point out the positives in her life.
"You could have come back," she pleaded with him.
"I couldn't," he said sadly.
"Why not?" she asked again.
The Doctor ignored the question and kept working on K9.
"It wasn't Croydon. Where you dropped me off, that wasn't Croydon," Sarah Jane said changing the subject.
"Where was it?" he asked still not looking at her.
"Aberdeen," Sarah Jane replied.
"Right. That's next to Croydon, isn't it?" he asked not paying attention at all now. He was reattaching wires. K9 came back to life. "Oh, hey. Now we're in business."
"Master," the tin dog said recognizing the Doctor.
"He recognizes me," the Time Lord laughed.
"Affirmative," K9 confirmed.
"Rose, give us the oil," he shouted towards Rose.
She flinched again, this wasn't her Doctor shouting at her and barking orders. "I wouldn't touch it, though. That dinner lady got all scorched," she said still concerned for his safety. She handed the jar over to him.
"I'm no dinner lady. And I don't often say that," he said smiling at her. She smiled back but it didn't reach her eyes. The Doctor knew that they had to talk about something because it was obviously bothering her.
The Doctor opened the jar and smeared a sample on to K9's probe. "Here we go. Come on, boy. Here we go."
"Oil. Ex… ex… ex… extract. Ana… ana… analyzing," K9 said almost shaking.
"Careful. That's my dog," Sarah Jane said looking at the shaking tin dog.
"Confirmation of analysis. Substance is Krillitane Oil," K9 finally said.
"They're Krillitanes," he said grimly.
"Is that bad?" Rose asked concerned. She may be angry that he was just tossing her aside, but she was still going to help him. Be there to hold his hand as long as he would have her.
"Very. Think of how bad things could possibly be, and add another suitcase full of bad," he said looking deep into her eyes. She could feel his concern in her mind and she gasped.
"And what are Krillitanes?" Sarah Jane asked.
"They're a composite race. Just like your culture is a mixture of traditions from all sorts of countries, people you've invaded or have been invaded by. You've got bits of Viking, bits of France, bits of whatever. The Krillitanes are the same. An amalgam of the races they've conquered. But they take physical aspects as well. They cherry pick the best bits from the people they destroy. That's why I didn't recognize them. The last time I saw Krillitanes, they looked just like us except they had really long necks," he explained just looking at Rose.
"What're they doing here?" she asked looking straight back at him. She swore that he was trying to comfort her with his gaze. That's at least what it felt like in her head.
"It's the children. They're doing something to the children," he said his voice full of concern.
They carried K9 to the back of Sarah Jane's car and put him into the boot.
The Doctor stepped back with Rose; he knew that he needed to explain something now or he might just lose her.
"How many of us have there been travelling with you?" she asked him, crossing her arms.
"Does it matter?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck. It didn't to him, he loved showing people the universe, to see to wonder and awe on their faces. But none of them mattered, not when he compared them to Rose. She was his one and only now. He would give up ever meeting anyone again, if it meant he could always watch the wonder and awe on her face. That is all he wanted now.
"Yeah, it does, if I'm just the latest in a long line," she accused.
"As opposed to what?" he said getting mad now.
"I thought you and me were…" she trailed off. She wanted him to admit that she was more than just one in a long line of companions. She wanted him to say those words that her dreams always alluded to but she never heard. She wanted him to mean those words too. She was hurt, "I obviously got it wrong. I've been to the year five billion, right, but this? Now this is really seeing the future. You just leave us behind. Is that what you're going to do to me?"
The accusation hit him like a punch to the stomach. She thought that he could just leave her. She was so wrong, he would never be the same, he had formed himself around her wants and needs. He had made himself into a man who could love her properly after giving his life for her. "No. Not to you," he said his voice breaking.
Rose didn't even hear the emotion in his voice she just heard his words. He was denying what he did to the woman that was now helping them, "But Sarah Jane? You were that close to her once, and now you never even mention her. Why not?" Rose glared at him.
"I don't age. I regenerate. But humans decay. You wither and you die. Imagine watching that happen to someone who you…" he voice trailed off. He couldn't even think of her dying, it would quite possibly kill him for good.
"What, Doctor?" Rose asked stepping closer.
"You can spend the rest of your life with me, but I can't spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on. Alone. That's the curse of the Time Lords," he whispered to her, his hearts breaking.
"Then we'll just have to bear that burden together, I'm like you now, remember? You said that I was a Time Lady, so you will never have to carry on alone because I'll be there to hold your hand," Rose said tears rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't stand seeing him hurting.
The Doctor realized that she was right. She wasn't able to die, as long as his Tardis lived. Her statement had been so beautiful, so human, so Rose. He couldn't stand not to touch her. He swept her into his arms and claimed her mouth with his own.
Rose was completely shocked by the kiss but soon responded by wrapping her own hands around his neck. She intertwined her fingers in his unruly hair.
The Doctor poured all of his emotions into this one action and held her close to him. The emotions that he was feeling were so strong that he had trouble keeping them standing upright.
They broke apart panting for air. He looked at her with so much love and admiration that she looked down blushing.
Sarah Jane shrieked and the couple broke apart completely. They looked up and saw a giant bat creature coming towards them. They ducked and it flew off.
"Was that a Krillitane?" Sarah Jane asked shaking.
"But it didn't even touch her. It just flew off. What did it do that for?" Rose asked completely confused. She didn't know what to think of these aliens or about that breathtaking kiss that she and the Doctor had just shared.
They all piled back into Sarah Jane's car and drove back to the school. It was late and Rose was feeling the exhaustion from the day. She decided to curl up and get a few hours of sleep. She heard Sarah Jane and the Doctor talking but was soon consumed by the welcoming darkness of sleep.
The Doctor looked into the back seat as Sarah Jane parked the car. He smiled when he saw Rose's peaceful resting form. He had to admit it now, he was so deeply in love with this woman and he knew that he needed to tell her soon. He at least hoped that her response to the kiss was a sign that she reciprocated his feelings. He sincerely wanted her as his companion forever, his wife and bond mate. He felt the Tardis's approval and smiled wider.
Sarah Jane sighed, "She's really done a number on you."
The Doctor was startled out of his thoughts, he smiled at his old companion, "Yes, she has."
"I'm glad you found happiness, even if it is not with me. But it was never that way with us," she said feigning disgust.
"Oi, we were a great team Sarah Jane Smith!" he said offended.
"You know that I didn't mean it that way, you daft man," she laughed.
"Yes, I know Sarah Jane. It hasn't ever been this way with any of my previous companions," he said looking towards Rose again.
"What makes her different?" Sarah asked with curiosity in her eyes.
The Doctor sighed, he had asked himself this question many times and he could give thousands of answers. "She saved me, truly saved me from myself, from what I was becoming." He paused then spoke again, "I was a very different man when I got out of the Time War and I was rough and harsh and unloving. I was even more reckless and really didn't care who got in my way, they were meaningless.
"I had followed the Nestene Consciousness to earth and was trying to stop it. It was animating store mannequins and trying to take over Earth. I had followed them to the basement of Hendrik's and that's where I found Rose. She was surrounded and probably was on the edge of being killed. I did something completely new to that version of me, I cared for her and I saw her fear and wanted to get her to safety. I grabbed her hand and said 'run!' and we did. I got her to safety and told her to get far away from the building and forget ever meeting me. But that wasn't enough, I went back and introduced myself to her and she told me her name. I told her I was most likely going to die and she looked genuinely sad. That hit me, hard.
"The next day, I followed a straggler to her flat, but I didn't know it was her flat. She told me to explain and I did. Not quite sure why but I wanted to connect to her. I explained to her everything and she kept up pretty well. I even told her who I was, my real identity. I was a completely open book for her and I didn't know why. I told her to forget me again but of course she didn't.
"Long story short, we destroyed the Consciousness with anti-plastic before it was able to do much damage. Well, actually Rose destroyed it, I was held captive by the mannequins. That was the first time she saved my life.
"Of course, I offered her a chance to be a companion. We had wonderful adventures and she taught me to live again. She was my reason to live and I began to fall for her because she was just so…"
"You talk as if you've regenerated while she was with you," Sarah said quietly interrupting him.
"I did, I died for her," he sighed again. "We were surrounded by Daleks and there was no plausible way out. I almost begged her to ask me to take her away, but she knew that I needed to be there to stop them. So, I did what I needed to. I sent her home in the Tardis. I wasn't going to sentence her to death at my side, I'm not worth that.
"I was ready to accept my inevitable death when I heard the Tardis return. I looked over and saw Rose surrounded with golden light. She had looked into the heart of the Tardis and flew her back to me. She became time itself, she disintegrated the Daleks and saved me again. But the energy was too strong for her and she was burning. I did what I needed to and pulled the energy out of her. That ended up killing that body but I saved her. Because I was so in love with her then, this body was made for her when I regenerated. We fit perfectly together and I need her near to function." He said still watching Rose sleep.
"So what will happen when she becomes too old to have adventures with you?" she asked him.
"She won't," he said.
"Doctor, don't be unreasonable, she's human. We age, die…" she said trying to stay quiet.
"She's not human, not anymore, the Tardis changed that," he said looking at his hands now.
"What do you mean?" she asked baffled.
"She's a Time Lord, well, Lady. It was a side effect of her taking in the Time Vortex. She can't regenerate but she can't die, at least not while the Tardis is still alive. I've finally found someone that can run with me across all time and space. She'll stay young with me and hopefully become my wife," he said smiling.
"Oh…" Sarah Jane said a little defeated.
The Doctor knew that he hit a chord but he couldn't help being happy, "Sarah Jane Smith, I will always cherish those adventures with you."
The car fell silent, Sarah Jane tried to get a few hours of sleep and the Doctor sat there thinking.
At six, the Doctor walked over to the coffee shop and picked up scones and tea for him, Rose, and Sarah Jane. He walked back to find Rose sitting on the concrete outside the car. He smiled at her and she returned it, getting up off the ground.
They both re-entered the car and he handed her some breakfast. They ate in enjoyable silence. Sarah Jane woke up and ate her breakfast as the first students were arriving.
After the trio was done with their food, they exited the car and stretched.
"Rose and Sarah, you go to the Math room. Crack open those computers, I need to see the hardware inside. Here, you might need this," the Doctor said producing his sonic screwdriver.
Rose held out her hand, but the Doctor gave the screwdriver to Sarah Jane. He felt that he needed to make something up to his old friend.
Rose frowned, maybe things hadn't changed at all last night.
"K9, surveillance. I want you outside," the Doctor said putting the tin dog on the ground.
"Affirmative," K9 replied.
"What're you going to do?" Rose asked, concerned that he might do something really dangerous or stupid, but most likely both.
"It's time I had a word with Mister Finch," he said seriously.
The trio walked into the school and split up. The Time Lord picked up on Mr. Finch's thought signature and followed him into the pool room. They stood at opposite ends of the pool. "Who are you?"
"My name is Brother Lassa. And you?" the Headmaster asked.
"The Doctor. Since when did Krillitanes have wings?" the Doctor fired back.
"It's been our form for nearly ten generations now. Our ancestors invaded Bessan. The people there had some rather lovely wings. They made a million widows in one day. Just imagine," the Krillitane leader laughed.
"And now you're shaped human?" the Doctor asked curios to why they kept that aspect.
"A personal favorite, that's all."
"And the others?"
"My brothers remain bat form. What you see is a simple morphic illusion. Scratch the surface and the true Krillitane lies beneath. And what of the Time Lords? I always thought of you as such a pompous race. Ancient, dusty senators, so frightened of change and chaos. And of course, they're all but extinct. Only you. The last," he teased.
"This plan of yours. What is it?" the Doctor asked ignoring his comment.
"You don't know," he laughed.
"That's why I'm asking."
"Well, show me how clever you are. Work it out."
"If I don't like it, then it will stop."
"Fascinating. Your people were peaceful to the point of indolence. You seem to be something new. Would you declare war on us, Doctor?" he teased again.
"I'm so old now. I used to have so much mercy. You get one warning. That was it," he said darkly.
"But we're not even enemies. Soon you will embrace us. The next time we meet, you will join with me. I promise you," the Krillitane smiled.
Rose and Sarah Jane ran to the classroom. Sarah tried to sonic the computers but she made no progress.
Rose wanted to laugh at the older woman's efforts. She was not using the sonic right at all.
"It's not working," Sarah Jane complained.
"Give it to me," Rose demanded, pushing of the desk that she had been leaning against.
"Used to work first time in my day," the older woman complained again. She didn't believe that Rose was any better than her.
"Well, things were a lot simpler back then," the younger woman said pointing the screwdriver at the computer.
"Rose, can I give you a bit of advice?" the older woman asked.
"I've got a feeling you're about to," Rose groaned.
"I know how intense a relationship with the Doctor can be, and I don't want you to feel I'm intruding…" Sarah Jane started. She didn't think that Rose realized how serious the Doctor wanted to be with her and she didn't think she was willing to be that serious.
"I don't feel threatened by you, if that's what you mean," Rose scoffed.
"Right… Good… Because I'm not interested in picking up where we left off," she said not leading on to how she and the Doctor had been together.
"No? With the big sad eyes and the robot dog? What else were you doing last night?" Rose accused working on another computer.
"I was just saying how hard it was adjusting to life back on Earth," Sarah Jane defended.
"The thing is, when you two met they'd only just got rid of rationing. No wonder all that space stuff was a bit too much for you," Rose replied rudely.
"I had no problem with space stuff. I saw things you wouldn't believe," she replied offended.
"Try me," Rose challenged. She couldn't have seen anything that would surprise her.
"Mummies." Sarah Jane started.
"I've met ghosts." Rose countered.
"Robots. Lots of robots."
"Slitheen, in Downing Street."
"Daleks!"
"Met the Emperor," Rose laughed.
"Anti-matter monsters."
"Gas masked zombies."
"Real living dinosaurs."
"Real living werewolf."
"The Loch Ness Monster!" Sarah Jane said pulling out one of her favorite Doctor adventures.
Rose stopped, "Seriously? Listen to us. It's like me and my mate Shireen. The only time we fell out was over a man, and we're arguing over the Doctor. With you, did he do that thing where he'd explain something at like, ninety miles per hour, and you'd go, what? And he'd look at you like you'd just dribbled on your shirt?" Rose asked trying not to laugh.
"All the time. Does he still stroke bits of the Tardis?" Sarah Jane asked finally finding a friend in Rose.
Rose smiled, Sarah Jane wasn't too bad. She laughed, "Yeah! Yeah, he does. I'm like; do you two want to be alone?" Now Rose feels like she has a sister that she can talk to, when things get too complicated or stressful on the Tardis, Sarah Jane could be the one she runs to.
They both crack up laughing, the Doctor walks in and they point at him and laugh harder.
"How's it going?" the Doctor asks.
They laugh harder at him.
"What? Listen, I need to find out what's programmed inside these," he said trying to ignore the laughing women.
Hysteria was beginning to set in.
"What? Stop it!" he shouted, not knowing what to do with the hysterical women.
The PA crackled to life, "All pupils to class immediately. And would all members of staff congregate in the staff room."
The two women have now calmed and Rose is stationed at the door turning children away at the door. "No, no. This classroom's out of bounds. You've all got to go to the South Hall. Off you go. South Hall!"
The Doctor stood looping wires around his neck and shoulders as he tried to get inside the main CPU.
"I can't shift it," the Doctor said stressing out.
"I thought the sonic screwdriver could open anything!" Sarah Jane said shocked.
"Anything except a deadlock seal. There's got to be something inside here. What're they teaching those kids?" He asked pinching the bridge of his nose.
Alien symbols pop up on all the computer monitors.
"You wanted the programme? There it is," Sarah Jane said pointing out the weird characters to the Doctor.
"Some sort of code," the Doctor said trying to translate it. Shock fills his features, "No. No, that can't be. The Skasis Paradigm. They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm."
"The Skasis what?" Sarah Jane asked confused.
"The God maker. The universal theory. Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe. Time and space and matter, yours to control," the Doctor explained, trying to hide his fear.
"What, and the kids are like a giant computer?" Rose asked solving the problem with him.
"Yes. And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil. That oil from the kitchens, it works as a, as a conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer," he said.
"But that oil's on the chips. I've been eating them," Rose said looking frightened.
"What's fifty nine times thirty five?" the Doctor asked.
"Two thousand and sixty five. Oh, my God," Rose gasped.
"But why use children? Can't they use adults?" Sarah asked confused.
"No, it's got to be children. The God maker needs imagination to crack it. They're not just using the children's brains to break the code, they're using their souls," he explained now truly showing his fear.
Rose left to try and stop the children.
The Headmaster entered the room. "Let the lesson begin. Think of it, Doctor. With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it," he said trying to persuade the Time Lord.
"Oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mister Finch? Call me old fashioned, but I like things as they are," the Doctor growled back.
"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order? Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good," the Headmaster tried again.
"What, by someone like you?" he spat back.
"No, someone like you. The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom. Become a God at my side. Imagine what you could do. Think of the civilisations you could save. Perganon, Assinta. Your own people, Doctor, standing tall. The Time Lords reborn," he says playing his cards carefully.
"Doctor, don't listen to him," Sarah Jane begged.
"And you could be with him throughout eternity. Young, fresh, never wither, never age, never die. Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us," he said seeing the pain in the Doctor's features.
"I could save everyone," the Doctor said as he considered the offer.
"Yes."
"I could stop the war."
"No. The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world, or a relationship, everything has its time. And everything ends." Sarah Jane yelled pulling the Doctor out of the Krillitane's spell.
The Doctor threw a chair at the big screen, smashing it. "Out!" he yelled. He and Sarah Jane run into the Café. The Krillitanes swooped. They hide under the tables.
Suddenly a laser beam hit one of the bats.
"K9!" Sarah Jane cheered.
"Suggest you engage running mode, mistress," K9 called to her.
"Come on!" the Doctor ordered. "K9, hold them back!"
"Affirmative, master. Maximum defence mode," K9 replied.
The Doctor sealed the doors once everyone was through. He ran towards his classroom and hoped that rose was having more luck than he was.
"It's the oil. Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil. That's it! They've changed their physiology so often, even their own oil is toxic to them. How much was there in the kitchens?" He asked.
Rose made it sound like the were barrels of it," Sarah Jane answered.
The Krillitanes were battering at the door.
"Okay, we need to get to the kitchens," he said trying to think. "Now then, bats, bats, bats. How do we fight bats?"
Sarah Jane pulled the fire alarm. The noise hurt the Krillitane's ears. Sarah Jane and the Doctor ran past. They encountered K9 outside the café.
"Master," K9 said happily.
"Come on, boy. Good boy," the Doctor said running.
Rose reached the classroom and entered. "Okay, listen everyone. We've got to get out of here," called to the children.
The children didn't hear her, or notice when she waved her hands in front of their faces.
The Doctor, Sarah Jane, and K9 made it to the kitchen and tried to open the barrels. The Doctor tried his sonic screwdriver on the barrels of oil. "They've been deadlock sealed. Finch must've done that. I can't open them."
The vats would not withstand a direct hit from my laser, but my batteries are failing," K9 said.
"Right. Sarah Jane out the back door. K9, stay with me," he ordered.
Rose followed the computer power leads back to a single wall switch. She pulled the plug out of the wall and heard click, fizz, and the screens went blank.
"Everyone get out. Now!" Rose yelled hoping that the Doctor had a plan. The children got up. "Come on, move! Let's go! Let's go!"
The Doctor lined up the oil barrels for K9 to shoot at.
"Capacity for only one shot, Master. For maximum impact, I must be stationed directly beside the vat," K9 analyzed the situation.
"But you'll be trapped inside," the Doctor said defeated.
"That is correct."
"I can't let you do that."
"No alternative possible, Master."
"Goodbye, old friend," the Doctor said patting K9's head sadly.
"Goodbye, Master." K9 answered.
"You good dog," he smiled running out.
"Affirmative."
The Doctor sealed the door.
"Where's K9?" Sarah Jane asked.
"We need to run," the Doctor replied.
"Where is he? What have you done?" Sarah Jane asked in horror.
They ran outside where they saw Rose ordering the children out.
"Come on, guys! Let's go, let's go! Run!" she shouted. After all the kids were behind Sarah Jane and the Doctor, she ran towards them. She grabbed the Doctor's hand and smiled as the school blew up. The children all cheered.
"I'm sorry," the Doctor said looking at his older companion.
"It's all right. He was just a daft metal dog. It's fine, really," Sarah Jane said as she burst into tears. The Doctor hugged her with his free arm. He tried to comfort her.
Sarah Jane drove off in her car to change clothes at home. The Doctor and Rose headed to where the Tardis had moved herself when she saw the Doctor's plan. They went to the future, while Rose went to make some food. The Doctor picked up a new K9 model to make it up to Sarah Jane. He programmed him to have all of the old model's memories with the sonic and ate lunch with Rose.
Sarah Jane knocked on the door of the Tardis. Rose stayed inside and left the Doctor to say goodbye alone.
"Cup of tea?" he offered. She followed him inside. Rose was sitting in the jump seat reading, trying to give them privacy.
"You've redecorated," Sarah Jane commented.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"Oh, I, I do. Yeah. I preferred it as it was, but er, yeah. It'll do," she smiled.
"I love it," Rose said giving up her original plan.
"Hey, you what's forty seven times three hundred and sixty nine?" she asked the younger woman.
"Seventeen thousand, three hundred forty-three," Rose answered. "The oil should've faded by now," she said looking to the Doctor for answers.
"We'll look into it later," the Doctor said shocked too.
"Oh, you're clever. More than a match for him," Sarah Jane laughed and hugged Rose.
"You and me both. Doctor?" Rose said looking at him like she wanted him to do something.
The Doctor knew what she wanted and he wasn't sure he understood why, "Er, we're about to head off, but you could come with us."
"No. I can't do this anymore. Besides, I've got a much bigger adventure ahead. Time I stopped waiting for you and found a life of my own," Sarah Jane said holding her head high. "Well, I'd better go."
"What do I do? Do I stay with him?" Rose asked her new found friend, while the Doctor was making sure Sarah Jane's gift was ready.
"Yes. Some things are worth getting your heart broken for. Find me, if you need to, one day. Find me," she said handing Rose a piece of paper with her phone numbers on it. They hugged one last time and Sarah Jane walked out of the Tardis. Rose stayed inside while the Doctor said good bye.
"It's daft, but I haven't ever thanked you for that time. And like I said, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," Sarah Jane smiled up at the Doctor.
"Something to tell the grandkids," the Doctor smiled.
"Oh, I think it'll be someone else's grandkids now," she said sadly.
"Right. Yes, sorry. I didn't get a chance to ask. You haven't? There hasn't been anyone? You know…" he asked awkward.
"Well, there was this one guy. I travelled with him for a while, but he was a tough act to follow. Goodbye, Doctor." She said smiling again.
"Oh, it's not goodbye," he said to her. He hated goodbyes.
"Do say it. Please. This time. Say it," she begged.
"Goodbye, my Sarah Jane," he smiled and lifted her off her feet in a big hug. He went back inside the Tardis. He programmed her to go to the Vortex and left Sarah Jane one last gift.
Rose came up and hugged him. He pulled her close and held her there. "I'm sorry that I didn't mention the other companions before,' he apologized.
"It's okay, we're friends now and I think that we should use her if we ever need outside help," Rose said smiling at him.
"Good, I think the Tardis has an answer to your questions though," he said feeling the Tardis alert him.
*Yes, it seems that your transformation is almost complete. This has left you with the knowledge that I have. You are able to process things faster also. This all comes with the new capacity of you mind.*
"That explains why I could feel your emotions so strongly today," the Doctor said.
"Oh, I could feel some of your emotions too, at times," Rose admitted.
"What?"
"Well, I could tell when you were scared or worried mostly," Rose shrugged.
He lifted her up and spun her around, "Rose Tyler, you are the most amazing creature I have ever met!"
She giggled.
*It seems that she is mostly Galifreyan no…* the Tardis stopped communicating and started to convulse.
"Rose, hold on," the Doctor yelled grabbing the console. The emergency programs were starting and he didn't understand why.
AN: So School Reunion is done…Sorry it took me so long but its finals week for me and I've had projects and exams due. As you can see I decided to write Mickey out, I did this to help my story. I promised that I don't hate him, he just doesn't serve a purpose in my story. Good news, I think Sarah Jane might make some more appearances. :)
What did you guys think? I gave a little romance that people have been craving and some hurt and explanations. Ten/Rose still have a little ways to go before anything big happens but I do have a plan! Also I had a question for how long this is going to be and I have ideas for all the episodes so far, it just depends on how long I can write a good story line.
Thanks for Reading! Please let me know how you guys feel in Reviews. Keep favoriting and following too!