Chapter Ten: Reunited
"Whoa, that is an awful teleport," Martha muttered.
"Like I always say… no capsule. But that was better than the Vortex Manipulator…" The Doctor looked around. "What's this place, then?"
"Torchwood Junior," the girl replied rather proudly. "Welcome."
The room seemed like a combination of the TARDIS, a scientific laboratory, and a grade-school classroom. Kids of various ages all sat in a circle around a conference table. It was weird but so very impressive.
"I designed it myself," Cassie said. "Amazing how easily design comes when you're a Time Lord."
"And you are fully Time Lord?"
"Almost. I have two hearts and I regenerate, but I don't change what I look like. It's nice, honestly."
"I would bet," the Doctor replied, remembering a certain Christmas.
Just then, there was a soft zap and there she was. Older by fifteen years, but the same nonetheless.
Rose Tyler.
His Rose Tyler.
"Doctor," she said softly. "You made it."
Cassie sighed. "Oh, will they just get over themselves?" she muttered to Donna.
"I know, right?" Donna laughed. "The chemistry's so thick you could cut it with a knife." They both burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" the Doctor asked.
"I will remind you of my own existence," Cassie chuckled, winking playfully at Donna and Martha. "On three, Donna, what do we think?" She quickly sent a mental message to Donna with her Time Lord telepathy. Donna blinked but got the message and nodded imperceptibly. "One, two, three, OH MY GOD WILL YOU JUST BLOODY SNOG ALREADY?!"
There was an awkward pause. Martha snorted, finally over her crush on the Doctor, as mentioned in events some person named Helen once called The Sontaran Stratagem or something like that.
Cassie leaned to whisper in Donna's ear, "Three, two, one…."
***AN: Not giving you details, sorry!***
It felt like an eternity later when they finally broke apart. "Rose," the Doctor whispered. "Rose Tyler, it's been too long." He kept his arms around her back.
"What were you going to say? That sentence, how was it going to end?"
Say it, Cassie told her father in her head. Just say it…
"I love you," he murmured.
Here we go again…
***AN: Still no details!***
"I love you," he said again when they pulled apart, his hands on her waist in the most loving manner possible. "Rose Tyler, I love you."
"Fifteen years later…"
"Right, it's been fifteen years! Blimey, I still can't believe-" He motioned to Cassie. "I mean, we have a kid. A bloody kid."
"Oi!" both Cassie and Donna called at the same time. And then the two burst out laughing, again. Martha too joined in the fun.
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Rose were hugging each other, just relishing in the comfort of the other's embrace, Rose crying, the Doctor laughing as he swung her around in the air.
"Oh, this is cuter than Karen and Caitlin covered in mud," Eve giggled to John, hoping to get some attention.
"I heard that!" the twins shouted together.
Cassie spoke into her earpiece. "All operatives, get your little bums out onto the playground so I can hang out with my family. See you later."
"We're all right here," impossible-girl Jenna muttered. Cole nudged her arm, and Billy, Piper, Catherine, Tate, and the crew left the room. Donna and Martha made for the door, but Cassie stopped them. "Oh, absolutely not. You two, stay."
"Okay then," Donna grinned. She and Martha took seats that looked like they came from a kindergarten classroom. "God, is there a more comfortable seat?"
"Right," Cassie said. She pointed her sonic screwdriver - how does she have one, the Doctor wondered again- at the chairs and they became squashy armchairs.
"What the-?" Martha's eyes widened.
"It's like a multisensory perception filter. Works well for the ambience."
"Multiwhat?" Donna looked confused.
"Long story," Martha and Cassie said simultaneously. They both chuckled.
"Wait a minute," the Doctor mused. "How are we getting back home?"