Chapter Eleven
"You know, I've never actually seen this movie," Awinita said.
She and the other women were in the living room watching It's A Wonderful Life on cable.
"I haven't seen it either," Donna said. "Never seemed that interesting to me, but I have to admit it's pretty good. Although the whole premise of having your life be different if you've never were born is kinda disturbing since I went through this with the parallel universe and all."
Rose nodded.
"I was thinking the exact same thing. The whole Doctor being dead and how different people's lives would be, all our lives would be if we never knew him."
"Well, it's a hellish place, that's for sure," Donna said. "And I'm so glad I was able to free myself from the Trickster so I won't have to live it anymore."
"Yeah, I bet," Rose said to her. "I hated that world too. No Doctor, no hope, no nothing."
Rain sat nearby listening to her sisters. She had been watching the movie but her thoughts drifted and she began to think about what they were saying. Suddenly, she had a thought and went out of the living room to find her husband.
She found him in the console room. She came in and smiled when she noticed I've Had The Time Of My Life was playing and he was dancing around the console flipping switches and singing to himself while the TARDIS flashed her lights on and off in time to the music. Rain's hearts filled with love while she watched her husband being happy. He rounded the console, saw her and danced over to her singing while she giggled. He took hold of her waist.
"Nobody puts Rainy in a corner," he said to her.
She laughed when he began to dance with her. She put her head on his chest and sighed while he lowered his chin to her head and sang to her.
"We need to learn how to do the dance routine to this," the Doctor said to her while they slow danced. "Especially the lift. That'll impress them."
"Yeah, especially when I sail over your head and land flat on my face behind your body."
"Never, I'm a professional," the Doctor said.
The song went off and Hungry Eyes came on.
"Are you in a Dirty Dancing mood, dear?" Rain asked.
"What can I say, it's a fabulous soundtrack," he said.
They danced around the console while the Doctor sang to her. Rain closed her eyes loving the sound of her husband's voice.
"I've been meaning to tell you," he said. "I've got this feeling that wooooon't subside. I look at you and I fantasize. You're mine tonight. Now I've got you in my sights with these…"
"Hungry eyes," they sang together.
"One look at you and I can't disguise. I've got…"
"Hungry eyes," they sang together.
"I feel the magic between you and I…" the Doctor whispered in her ear.
He kissed her face.
"You're my everything, my love," he whispered. "I'm so thrilled that I'm going to be spending the centuries to come with you by my side. My precious Rain, my beloved joy."
Rain held him closer while he rained kisses down on her scalp. She sighed wistfully when she thought back to the reason she came to find him. The Doctor heard the sigh and gave her a worried look.
"What is it?" he said.
"The rest of the women are back in the living room watching It's A Wonderful Life," she said.
"Ah, Frank Capra. Brilliant film. Out you pixies go, through the door, through the window."
She giggled.
"Why aren't you watching it? Why are you out here dancing with an old fart like me? Bored watching angels saving people and getting their wings?" he teased.
"No, it's just that I've had a thought and wanted to ask you about something."
"Ask away, my little dancing partner."
"Well," she said, dancing with him, "see, Rose and Donna started discussing that parallel universe that got built around Donna."
"Yes."
"And talking about the Trickster."
"Yes."
"Well, the Trickster went after Sarah Jane first and then went after Donna to get to you."
"Mm-hmm."
Rain looked at him.
"I'm a target then."
He stopped dancing with her.
"How'd ya mean, sweetheart?"
"Well, isn't it obvious? When you went after Rose and Alan, I was the first one who befriended you. I kept your secret when you were Morana; I got the disc out of your head. I helped heal you and all because I made this sudden decision to leave Arizona. What if the Trickster came along and convinced me to stay and go to college so we never met one another. You keep saying I'm the best thing that ever happened to you. What if I was never a part of your life? What if the Valeyard found out what you did and reactivated the disc and since it was still in your head, you would have hurt or killed Rose and Alan and everyone else. What if you had still been angry and bitter and went after them? What if the Trickster decides to go after me next?"
The Doctor held his wife close to him and rubbed her head with his cheek while he thought about that. Rain had become a huge part of his life and he was to the point where he wondered how he ever survived without her. He had thanked every god he knew of every day that he had met her and the idea that the Trickster could prevent her from meeting him scared him. What scared him even more was the thought of what her life would have been like if she had stayed in Arizona. It was the same as if he had never gone back for Rose and she spent the rest of her life as a shop girl in London. But while he held her close, he had a thought of his own.
"Love, I understand your fear but you know, you aren't the only one who could be targeted," he said gently. "He could target Donna again and convince her not to touch the jar when they're in the TARDIS. Alan is never born, the TARDIS and everyone in it perishes and doesn't come back to rescue Rose and me and Jack and everyone else and the reality bomb happens. He convinces Rose to go back with me at Bad Wolf Bay and leaves Alan there alone and angry and bitter and filled with rage and he does something bad. They never meet Awinita, they don't meet Mingxia, they never meet Imiko. There's more than just our meeting, love. I realize that's a huge monumental part of my healing and yes, you're the perfect target but you're not the only one. But I would guard you with my life and never let the Trickster have you; especially since I am aware he wants me now."
Rain sighed and laid her head on his chest while she closed his eyes. The Doctor smiled and gazed at her tenderly while he rocked her back and forth. He had a thought and guided her over to the console. He held her close while he typed something into his monitor with one hand. He smiled when Bailamos began to play and he swayed back and forth with her.
"I like this song," Rain murmured.
"I do too."
"You have some nice taste in music, love," Rain murmured.
He smiled.
"I try."
She swayed back and forth with him while the TARDIS dimmed the console room lights.
"It must be rough being a constant target," Rain murmured.
"Nah, I'm used to it now. There's always gonna be some maniac waiting in the wings to menace me. I just have to enjoy the here and now and not worry too much about it. I learned to cherish little moments like these and make permanent memories of them to carry me through the bad times. I suggest you do the same."
She smiled and nodded. The Doctor kissed her gently on her head and closed his eyes while he held her protectively in his arms. She stopped moving when he did and gave him an inquiring look. She smiled when she saw the devilish look in his eyes and he led her back over to the monitor. He restarted Bailamos.
"Enough slow dancing and talking. I showed Rose my moves once, now it's your turn," he said. "I'm sure my ship is bored and needs a few laughs."
The music started and the Doctor grabbed her hand and put a hand around her waist while the two of them danced around quickly around the console. The TARDIS laughed and blinked the lights on and off while she amplified the music so it echoed through the whole room. The Doctor and Rain laughed while they danced.
"Oh yeah, this is definitely more like it," the Doctor said while they danced.
Alan, hearing the music, wandered into the console room and smiled while he leaned against the back door watching his brother and his wife dancing and laughing. Rain let out a joyful yell when he dipped her and brought her back up to his body.
"Oh yes, I got moves!" the Doctor crowed.
Alan giggled and walked over to the railing. The Doctor noticed him when he rounded the corner.
"Hey! Can I cut in and dance with the beautiful lady?" he said to the Doctor.
Rain giggled and blew him a kiss.
"I'll take that as a gargantuan yes," he said.
Rain giggled when he sashayed up behind them and followed them around the console.
"I trust the daily repair work is progressing smoothly judging from all this," Alan said while he followed them around.
"Oh yes, nothing like repair work to get the blood flowing," the Doctor said while Rain laughed. "I'm sure the TARDIS enjoys the repairs I'm doing as well."
The TARDIS rumbled out laughter and nudged their minds playfully.
Alan giggled and shuffled along behind the dancers. He winked at Rain when she glanced back at him.
"Yes, we need to do repair work more often, Brother," Alan said to him.
They laughed and began to sing loudly…
"Bailamos! Let the rhythm take you over... quiero amor mio...Bailamos! Wanna live this night forever... quiero amor mio...Te quiero"
By now the rest of the family was at the back door watching and laughing. Alan saw Rose and beckoned to her.
"Come on, Starlight, come and dance with the Doctor and me," he said with a wicked grin.
Rose danced over and Alan grabbed her hand. The two couples danced while the others walked up with the dogs and watched them.
"Oh yeah," Alan said, "Strictly Come Dancing here we come!"
The music stopped and they let out a groan.
"Not to worry, my fellow dancers," the Doctor said, stopping by the console.
His fingers flexed over the keyboard while he thought of a song.
"Could relieve old memories and play In The Mood," Rose said, winking.
"Nah, I don't want that. I want something bouncy," the Doctor said. "TARDIS play something disco-y."
The TARDIS played Staying Alive.
"Not bad," the Doctor said.
He grabbed Rain and waggled his eyebrows when she laughed. Alan and Rose followed him around the console while the dogs followed behind them jumping and barking.
"Oi, you two mutts get away. We're dancing with each other," Alan said while Rose laughed.
Rose laughed harder when he tried to do the falsetto voice and failed miserably.
"Will you stop that, Brother, my ears are bleeding now," the Doctor said while they laughed.
"Just trying to sound Beegeeish," Alan yelled back.
They rounded the console and laughed when everyone except Jenny sang along with the song. Jenny listened quietly with a big smile on his face. Alan grinned at Rose.
"Sorry, I have to do something for a moment," he said to her.
Alan left off and grabbed Jenny. Jenny laughed when he began to dance around with her. The Doctor came around the console and looked at Rose standing alone.
"Out in the cold now?" he said as they went past her.
"I guess so, he wanted to dance with another woman," Rose said, shrugging.
"Uncle Alan, I can't dance," Jenny protested.
"What'd ya mean, you can't dance? I see ya dancin'," Alan said as they rounded the console towards Rose.
He looked at his wife.
"Can't dance, will you listen to her talk?" he said to Rose while they passed by her. "She's dancing just fine. Can't dance."
Jenny laughed and slapped his chest. Rose sat down on the jump seat and watched the Doctor and Rain when they came around the console again. When they reached the cubbyhole, the Doctor pushed the button and grabbed the mobile with one hand when it flew up out of it. Rain watched while he scrolled through the menu, found Torchwood's number and called Jack.
"Hello?" Jack said.
"WELL, YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY I USE MY WALK, I'M A WOMAN'S MAN, NO TIME TO TALK!" the Doctor sang in a screechy voice.
"What the hell?" Jack said while everyone laughed. "What the hell is going on there, Doctor?"
"A disco dance party," the Doctor said.
"Really? Come get me, Ianto and I wanna do it!"
"Ianto and I wanna do what?" the Doctor heard Ianto say in the background.
"Disco dance party on the TARDIS. Come on, Ianto, let's sluff off Weevil chasing tonight and go boogie!"
The Doctor paused by the monitor and inputted the coordinates for Torchwood while he sang to Jack. Alan and Rose laughed while they danced by him.
A few minutes later, the TARDIS landed at Torchwood and there was a knock on the door.
"Hey!" Jack screamed through the door while he pounded. "Open up! I wanna party!"
Alan and Rose danced to the door while The Hustle played. They opened it up and danced back while Jack danced up the ramp to the laughter of his team.
"Come on, Yan, get those boogie shoes a movin'!" Jack called back through the door.
Martha looked through the door and laughed while she danced up the ramp. Jack smiled at her.
"Oh okay, you're not Yan but you'll do," he said, dancing over to her.
They danced towards the console while the rest of the team entered. Gwen took Mickey's hand and they danced with the others while Ianto stood by the door with his hands in his pockets. Mingxia looked at the others and danced over to him.
"Care to dance with a Time Lady?" she said to him.
Ianto grinned, bowed and took her hand.
"What gives? You'll dance with Mingxia but not me?" Jack said while they laughed.
"You're dancing with Martha."
"Because she got to me first," Jack said.
The Doctor danced over to him.
"Care to go get Sarah Jane so we can watch her dance?" the Doctor said.
"Gee, think she will?" Jack said while he and Martha danced.
"Not sure, but we could find out."
"Could go get Wilf so he can dance with Donna."
"I don't think Granddad would fancy that," Donna said, sitting on the jump seat with Rose and Awinita.
"Well, we need three more for them," Jack said, pointing to the women. "No one should be a wallflower during this party. So we could go and get Wilf, Clyde and Luke."
"Then Sarah would be a wallflower," the Doctor said.
"I'll dance with her. I'm man enough to handle two women at once!"
"Oh puh-leeze!" Martha said while he laughed.
"Actually, what we need to do is go and get Sarah Jane so we can pair the Smiths with the Smiths and the Jones with the Jones," Jack said.
He looked down at Rory and Blizzard who were cavorting around their feet.
"And you two can just dance with each other," he said while Martha laughed.
"Wow, they're getting big, Doctor," Martha said, pointing to them.
"Yes, they are. They're gonna get nice and big soon," the Doctor replied.
The song finished and the Doctor programmed in more disco while Ianto switched off Mingxia for Awinita and Jack for Rose. Martha went to talk to Donna while Mingxia rested and for the rest of the afternoon, the friends had a small dance party right inside the Torchwood Hub.
