Rated T for safety reasons.
Disclaimer: Belongs to BBC. I'm just a girl who fell in love.
Thanks for the reviews(!): bored411, Cashagon, That's Balderdash, Booklover0608, and Sam
I'm not going to lie. I'm excited for the new Doctor. She looks beautiful and sexy. Like the Doctor always does.
Unbeta'd: All mistakes are my own and I will fix them when you or I catch them :)
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Boom Town:
Forgiveness
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May sat down onto the chair with shaky legs. Wringing her hands together, May bit her bottom lip and rotated her lip ring anxiously. Her eyes flickered to Jack's form which sat patiently in the chair opposite of her. He crossed his arms which caused his sleeves of his light blue shirt to strain over his muscles. His shirt was unbuttoned three notches revealing his white undershirt. His suspenders were by his thighs hanging like ropes and his shoes were the same military grade boots. His eyebrows rose expectantly and his blue eyes screamed at her to begin talking.
May took a shallow breath.
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. Please, I'm...just...I was scared, Jack. I was scared you wouldn't like me...love me anymore. I didn't think I could live with that, but this is worse. So much worse. Because you don't know and you know I won't tell you - you are avoiding me. That...that hurts. Hurts more than anything. And I...I keep wondering if I told you, would this hurt go away? Would you accept me for who I am?
Would you accept this weak pitiful liar back into your heart? This hope is just as equally painful because I want to do it. I want to tell you! If there is a chance, no matter how minuscule, that you would accept me than telling you would be worth it. I just want you to look at me again, Jack. I want us to talk again about everything and nothing. Can we be friends again, Jack? Can we be like we were before?
Even though I am...I am not of this universe? I wasn't born here, I wasn't supposed to be here! This isn't...I wasn't...I lied Jack. I lied about it all. I never knew you. I knew of you, but I had never actually met you before. You were...were a legend. A character from a show. I'm not lying. Not about this, not ever. I'm not crazy either. This isn't supposed to be real. You weren't supposed to be real! I don't know how...this happened, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying. Can you forgive me? Can you believe me?"
May stared directly into Jack's eyes pouring everything she had into the gaze. His blank expression didn't change not even as he stood up walking over to her. May flinched only slightly as he laid his hands upon hers and squatted down to her level.
"Oh Legs." He mumbled as he touched her cheek softly. "My May." His stare was intense causing May's cheeks to flush.
"Oh umm...?"
"You need to leave."
May's mouth went dry and her heart broke into a million tiny pieces.
"W-what?"
Jack settled his hands on her knees - his gaze was intense and frightening. "You lied to me. You are going to lie again. It is in your nature. So you should leave before you harm anyone else."
"I ah - I um." May stuttered unable to form words. Her heart hurt. Everything hurt. It felt like she was dying inside.
"I'm disappointed in you." He confessed stepping back. He closed his eyes and pressed his palm onto his forehead. His expression was one of pain. "I thought you were different, but you are just like them. A monster." He opened his eyes. They were sharp and cold - cutting straight through her very soul. "A parasite."
"No! No! No!" May shouted stepping back. She crossed her arms and turned around. "Stop it! Just stop it! If you are not going to take this seriously than why did you bother even helping?"
Jack's chuckle started off soft before it grew in volume. "I was only trying to be realistic as possible. Your face though - I thought you were going to cry."
"I wouldn't give you the satisfaction." May spit back venomously glaring over her shoulder.
Jack's smile never once wavered. "For now."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes before walking over to her bed and sitting down. "Well? How was it? Do you think Jack would forgive me?"
Jack's image flickered once before reappearing a few feet away from May. Only this time in the form of the Tenth Doctor.
"I don't know." The Doctor confessed rubbing his chin in thought. "Maybe you should try sounding a little bit less like a whiny dog. I could hear your pathetic neediness in your voice."
"Ugh." May groaned, shaking her head. "You're such a...ah jerk. Why are you even here?"
The Doctor sighed crossing his arms. "Geez, do you not pay attention? You are inside me, parasite. The bed you are sitting on is me. That bookcase is me. That closet is me. Everything in this room is me. You are in the Tardis and the Tardis is me."
"Right." She flopped down onto the bed and stared up into her canopy. "So no such thing as privacy then."
"So are you going to do it?" The Doctor questioned suddenly, walking to the other side of her bed. "Beg for forgiveness?"
"It's the right thing to do."
"It certainly is." He agreed as he leaned against her bed post. "Four days and you've done nothing but sulk. It was amusing at first but now its gotten quite dull."
"It's been thirty five days." May corrected shifting her position to her side so she could see the Doctor better. "You've forgotten that time Jack and I were stranded on Earth with Das."
"Oh yes." The Doctor grinned and nodded in remembrance. "The neanderthal. The Doctor and his pet traveled into the far past to find that nasty time rip engine."
"Yea." May mumbled closing her eyes. While the Doctor and Rose went to 29, 185 BC to figure out what exactly had happened to Das - May and Jack were tasked with integrating the caveman into the 21st century.
Well, to be more exact, May taught Das. Jack spent his entire time partying and being in other people's company avoiding May. He was a 51st century man - what did he know about the 21st century? Or so he told May and Das. More than a month Jack and May had spent on Earth waiting for the Doctor and Rose's return. It was excruciating for May. Even more so for Jack who was like a caged animal. Pacing and growling - anxious for the freedom only time travel could give.
May, on the other hand, was ecstatic to be teaching again and Das was an incredible student. Polite, sweet, and thirsty for knowledge. She just wished Jack would look at her - talk to her. Waking up everyday was like waking up to rain and fog. It was dark, dreary, and depressing.
So when the Tardis appeared again, it was a relief for both. For Jack it was like getting his fix back. His favorite drug had returned. For May it was like someone had opened a window after being stuck in the house for months. The windows may have been barred, and May still couldn't leave, but she had air. Fresh, breathable air again.
"Why do care about one man's opinion so much?" Asked Ten his eyebrows knitted together. "Especially a man who you do not have sex with?"
"Excuse me!" May shouted, bolting up - cheeks flushed. "T-that's none of your b-business!"
Ten's eyebrows rose high above his hair line. "Do you? I didn't think your and Captain Jack Harkness's relationship was based on skin ship." He then raised his hand and rubbed his chin. "Then again, your species do have superior appetite for sexua - ."
"Stop!" May screamed in horror and pure mortification. She pressed her face into her mattress and covered her ears. This was not happening. No, no! She was not talking about...about...with the TARDIS! "Jack and I are just friends!"
The Doctor blinked before slouching against the bed post again. "You are doing an awful lot for something as mundane as friendship."
May lifted her head and glared at Ten. "He is my best friend. I would do anything for him." She then turned fully towards him. "Friendship isn't something to be taken lightly."
The Doctor shrugged and pushed off the post. He took a step back and uncrossed his arms. "I will never understand you mortals and your need for emotional attachments."
"What is that supposed to mean?" May inquired curiously as she sat up, using her arms as leverage. "You are a Tardis. Tardises have feelings just like anyone else." May paused and then glanced at the Doctor uncertainly. "Don't you?"
Ten rounded her bed, his image flickering like static on a TV before completing changing into Rose. The blonde woman stood in front of May's bed arms behind her back and a cheeky smile on her face.
"Humans are so droll. Their lifespans are so short, so minuscule that I blink - " She snaps her fingers. " - and it's done; over with. There must be more!" Rose playfully pouts and stomps her feet like a child. "There has to be more, they shout! So they lash out against the world like a child throwing a tantrum. There must be more! So they Love, they Hate. They make War and Peace just so they can make a mark - just one mark. They are erratic, emotional, and unstable. Even I find it hard to completely understand the human race." Rose leaned in and laid her hands on either side of May's knees. "I believe that is why my thief enjoys their company so much."
"So you do have emotions." May points out. "You find humans amusing."
"I know emotions." Rose states with a bored expression. "I understand them. I know what they are used for in contexts: love, hate, hope, fear, joy, sadness. These emotions are not new to me. I just find emotions irrelevant." Rose stepped back and crossed her arms. "I know what the humans do not. I know that there is nothing more." Rose's eyes begin to glow an eerie gold.. "I am time. I am space. Why should I be afraid of pain that will be over in a moment? Why should I love something that will die tomorrow? Why should I have to feel emotion for something that I already know the outcome of?"
May stared at Rose completely dumbfounded. "But, don't you love the Doctor?"
"No, I do not love the Doctor." Rose rolled her eyes. "Have you not been listening? Love. Passion. Friendship. I am above such emotions."
"But? Don't you?" May scrunched her eyebrows together - confusion evident on her face. "I heard that Tardises mourn their Time Lords when they pass. You feel loss. You feel sorrow."
"I am my thief's Tardis." She said blatantly. There was no waver in her voice nor on her face. "And The Doctor is my thief. I belong to him and he belongs to me." Rose's face grew soft and placid. She didn't look sad nor angry just serene. "The Doctor will die - I have no delusions about that and neither should you. Everything has an end and that includes the Doctor." Rose raised her chin high. "And on the day the Doctor dies, I will be of no further use."
"No more use? Couldn't you just go back to Gallifrey and find yourself another Time Lord?"
"Are you not paying attention, parasite?" Her eyes flashed with annoyance. "I am the Doctor's Tardis. I am his and his alone. On the day the Doctor has no more use of me, I will die. This relationship that my thief and I have is not one of love, but of servitude. He is my master and I am his humble servant."
May stopped and stared at Rose for a moment. Eyeing her expression, her body language. The Tardis truly believed everything she was saying. There was no hesitation, no bitterness, just quiet acceptance.
She sighed and pushed herself towards the edge of the bed; letting her feet hit the floor. "I'm sure the Doctor feels differently."
"Of course he does." Rose scoffed, rolling her eyes. "My thief is kind."
"Yet you fear me." May pointed out, standing up.
Rose's form flickered until she was a couple more feet away. "Only a fool would ignore the danger you represent."
"Such a charmer as always." May muttered grumpily before walking towards her closet. She opened the bifold doors and walked into the walk-in-closet. She shuffled through her shirts, eyeing them up and down with a critiquing eye.
"If friendship is so important to you why do you not try to seduce the Doctor's newest pet. The one named Rose?" Shouted Rose from outside May's closet. She grabbed a dark purple plaid shirt and stared at it while in thought.
"I don't know."
In the beginning, Rose did try to establish a connection. If not friendship, at least a feminine relationship. They were two women, traveling with men, in a space ship that neither of them could properly ever begin to understand. At least they could have been the type of friends who got together once in a while to complain about their significant other over a latte. Maybe talk about the latest trends and their bad hair days.
That never happened.
During a shopping trip (because Jack and May needed clothes after their ship blew up), aka the first adventure, Rose ended up being arrested for attempt of murder. So, Jack and the Doctor spent the entire day turning the alien planet's government on it's head, while at the same, unintentionally starting a civil war. During this time, May was completely oblivious to anything that her companions were doing. Her entire time was spent shopping for clothes and little trinkets that caught her eye. She was unaware of everything until the very end. When Jack unceremoniously shoved her into the Tardis shouting "GO GO GO!" to the Doctor and the unconscious Rose. Fortunately, everything May had bought made it onto the Tardis despite its rough handling. Unfortunately, the girl time Rose and her decided on never happened.
May was never one to live life on the edge, to run at full throttle. No, May was content with her books and her tea. Sadly, she was living in the company of extremists who couldn't wait for that next adrenaline high. Maybe that's why the three of them got along so perfectly and the reason why May couldn't seem to connect with anyone. When she lived with Jack, it was only just the two of them, and because of their circumstances they were forced to connect. Based on their single commonality of the Chula Empire, May and Jack were able to communicate and establish common ground. They may not have liked or disliked the same things, but they had enough respect for each other that it didn't matter.
With the Doctor and Rose, she did not have that. The one thing they did have in common, the Empty Child, was based on a lie - that May got caught telling. Not a good start.
"Knock. Knock."
May blinked in confusion before turning her head towards the door. Rose stood there, leaning against the doorway, expression amused.
"What?"
"Knock." Rose's image shivered. "Knock." Then she disappeared from May's sight. She had just a moment to ponder the Tardis's strange farewell before her bedroom door shook loudly
Knock knock
"Oh." May mumbled with a surprised expression and let the plaid shirt fall from her finger tips. "Knock knock!" She then hurried towards her door as the knocking only got louder and more persistent.
"Yes?"
"Hey, it's Rose." Came her voice from the other side of the door. "Mickey is here and I was wondering if you would like to meet him?"
May paused and looked around suspiciously. This wasn't a trick by the Tardis was it?
"May?"
"Yes? Oh, yes. Yes, I wouldn't mind meeting him." May called out flushed. "Um, give me a moment. Let me get dressed and I'll be up there in a moment."
"Oh, alright. See you soon."
"Yeah." May backed away and went straight towards her closet. She grabbed the purple plaid shirt and a pair of legging distressed jeans then walked towards the bathroom. As she got dressed, May ignored the fact the Tardis might be watching her. She ignored the fact the shower she had used was the Tardis, she ignored the fact the mirror she looked into was the Tardis, and she ignored the fact the toilet she sat down on was that Tardis. Then when she finally left her room, May ignored the fact that she was ready to peel her skin off and dip her insides in bleach.
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"I can go anywhere now!" Rose shouted excitedly waving a little black book up in the air as May entered. She was standing in front of Mickey who was staring at her with stars in his eyes. Like he couldn't believe she was standing in front of him in the flesh. Mickey Smith was a good head taller than Rose but not as tall as the Doctor or May. Like she remembered, he was of darker skin color with a crew cut and large black eyes. His body language and expression reminded May of her students. Older and wise in his own way but still quite innocent in the ways of the world. He knew, but at the same time, he didn't. May was excited to met him.
"I've told you." The Doctor grumbled from the top of the second floor. He stopped soldering for just a moment to turn around and look down. "You don't need a passport."
"It's all very well going to Platform One and Justicia and the Glass Pyramid of San Kaloon, but what if we end up in Brazil?" The blonde asked in a matter of fact tone and winked. "I might need it. You see, I'm prepared for anything." The Doctor shook his head and turned back around towards the opened wall of the Tardis. Jack eyed the two young adults as he walked back to the console underneath the Doctor.
"Sounds like you're staying, then." Mickey stated gazing at Rose hopefully. The blonde held his gaze for just a moment, mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish, a blush blooming on her cheeks. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. Jack, who hadn't said a word to May in days, suddenly caught her eye and jerked his head towards the couple. May froze slightly not expecting the gesture, but quickly recovered, and shrugged her shoulders while rolling her eyes. He smiled but quickly covered it by looking away.
Noticing Rose's sudden apprehension, and probably not wanting to know her answer, Mickey changed the subject. "So, what're you doing in Cardiff?" Mickey shuffled backwards and pointed at Jack. "And who the hell's Jumping Jack Flash? I mean, I don't mind you hanging out with big-ears up there..."
"Oi!" The Doctor gasped offended, he lifted up his goggles to see Mickey properly. He then touched his chest feigning hurt. May snickered as she walked around the center console in order to see the gang better. As she did so, there on a make shift table was a half a dozen donuts - ripe for the taking. May's eyebrows rose and her stomach gave a low pitched growl.
"Look in the mirror." Mickey shouted with a glower before turning back towards Rose. "But this guy, I don't know, he's kind of..."
"Handsome?" Jack supplied, hopeful.
Mickey sneered. "More like cheesy."
"Oh, I like that one." Interrupted May with a small smile. "Cheesy Jacky."
"Early Twenty First Century slang." The captain wondered thoughtfully. He began wiping his hands on a cloth as he walked towards the couple. "Is cheesy good or bad?"
"Its bad."
"But bad means good." He was grinning, but his expression was that of unease. "Isn't that right?"
May shrugged her shoulders. "Depends on the culture and the way its used in a sentence."
The Doctor came down the stairs with a pout on his face. "Are you saying I'm not handsome?"
"Try to be more cheesy." The captain suggested offhandedly.
Mickey looked over Rose's shoulder and stared at May. "And who are you?"
She blinked and pointed at herself. "Me? I'm May."
"May?"
"Yes, May Owens."
Before Mickey could ask more Rose interrupted. "We just stopped off. We need to refuel." She explained. "The thing is, Cardiff's got this rift running through the middle of the city. It's invisible, but it's like an earthquake fault between different dimensions."
The Doctor walked up to the couple and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "The rift was healed back in 1869."
"Thanks to a girl named Gwyneth, because these creatures called the Gelth, they were using the rift as a gateway but she saved the world and closed it." Rose's eyes sparkled excitedly as she told Mickey.
"But closing a rift always leaves a scar, and that scar generates energy, harmless to the human race-." Jack chimed in.
"-but perfect for the Tardis, so just park it here for a couple of days right on top of the scar and-" The Doctor interrupted.
"Open up the engines, soak up the radiation." The captain finished smugly.
Rose squealed. "Like filling her up with petrol and off we go!"
"Into time!" Jack shouted excitedly
"And space!" The three of them shouted together before they flew into fits of giggles and began high-fiving each other.
Mickey stared at the trio with a look of awe and bewilderment.
"My God, have you seen yourselves? You all think you're so clever, don't you?" He turned towards May who was standing behind the three covering her mouth to keep from bursting out into laughter. "Are they always like this?"
"Twenty four seven." She replied before popping in a donut into her mouth. She gave him a sugary smile.
"You're insane." He pointed to each of them individually. "All of you."
"Oh, Rickey! Don't be like that!" The Doctor cooed intending to give Mickey a one armed hug, but the black male dodged him.
"Don't touch me! You'll infect me with this insanity!" And the young British man stormed out with Rose hot on his heels calling after him. The Doctor and Jack stared after them with varying degrees of amusement.
"Well." May walked up next to them and stopped - licking off the excess sugar from her fingers. "He seems nice."
The Doctor glanced down at her before shaking his head. He turned towards Jack. "Break?"
"Sure." The Captain nodded and turned around stalking off to his original spot.
May glanced at them inquisitively. "Break?"
"We were planning on grabbing fish and chips while were waiting for the Tardis," The Doctor explained as he removed his goggles from his forehead. "And visiting Rose's mother." He didn't seem particularly thrilled as he said that.
"Oh." May shifted awkwardly in her position.
"You're welcome to come." The Doctor told her as he turned to walk away. The way he spoke, he didn't sound afflicted or excited or even curious. Just an offhanded suggestion from steely blue eyes.
May's heart fluttered anxiously. "I..ah." May stumbled and flushed. "What are we doing here? At this particular rip in time?"
That's great. May berated herself sarcastically. Avoid a simple yes or no question.
"Everyone's got to eat. Every vehicle needs fuel." The Doctor replied, seemingly unfazed by her avoidance. "The rip in time was one of the largest I've have ever seen. It was like the window of reality had been cracked and the branches had spread out through time and space." There was a small upbeat lilt in his voice. "All that power, all that energy leeching through like blood from a wound. When Gwyneth closed the tear, it was like she put polymer over the crack, or scab over the wound."
"When something is broken, it is never truly healed again." Jack interrupted looking over his shoulder at her. "There is always a scar or mark left."
"Yes." The Doctor agreed excitedly as he put away his tools. "The rip was large, so in return, the scar is large. The energy, the radiation, regenerating like red blood cells. As we've said before, completely harmless towards humans, but to the Tardis it's like going to Christmas Dinner."
May picked up another donut and took a bite. "So, this is the only tear?"
"Yes and no."
"Yes and no?" She mumbled, confused. "What do you mean?"
The Doctor turned towards her, arms crossed, and body leaning against the console. He didn't look at her with contempt or suspicion like she was used too. No, he was staring at her like she was a puzzle needing solved or a surprise he wasn't expecting. He was staring her like she was a person.
"Rifts are not a common thing, May." He replied causing May to flinch. He had said her name! She didn't recall him ever saying her name before. "You can't just walk down the road, turn to the left and "Oh! There's one!". It takes a lot of power, an enormous amount of power, to cause such a tear. The chances of even coming by even one is highly unlikely. One in a triillion."
May had to look away to hide her amusement. One in a trillion, he says? It should be the other way around. The chances of the Doctor not finding a tear in the universe is one in a trillion.
"There are other rifts, but these tears have not been made; or to be more precise, they are being made." The Doctor paused, looked at his hands, and began counting. "I believe there are five other rifts that may be or not be created."
I bet they all involve you, Doctor. "So you know where they're at?"
"Yes and no. It's all very...?" He paused, mouth opening and closing as he tried to find the right words.
"Timey wimey?" May suggested.
"What?" The Doctor gaped horrified. "No! Wait, yes, but no!" He shook his head and pushed himself off the console. "In layman's terms, yes, but just no. Please, don't say that again."
May raised her hands, palms facing up, in a sign of peace; but couldn't keep the smile off of her face. The Doctor playfully glowered at her, but didn't say anything more.
"Rose and her boy toy must be waiting for us." Jack chimed in suddenly, turning around staring at the two. "Shall we go?"
"Sure." The Doctor agreed as Jack slipped on his coat. "Are you coming, May?"
Once again, May sputtered. "Um...I...I think I'll just stay here. Thanks though."
The Doctor just shrugged off her answer with one simple roll of his shoulders. "Suit yourself."
He walked out of the Tardis without further prompting while Jack hung back, standing there awkwardly by the door. He was staring at her with a perplexed expression and slight disappointment in his eyes. Jack looked like he was about to say something but he shook his head and followed the Doctor out.
May let go of a breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"That was a perfect chance to tell him."
May did a full body twitch in surprise and swung around to see Clara Oswald standing there arms crossed and eyebrows raised. She was wearing a long sleeve yellow turtle neck underneath a knee length black and white checkered Sunday dress.
"What?"
"Your chance at amnesty." She said expression amused. "You've just lost it."
May sighed and rubbed her forehead. "No, I didn't. That wasn't the right time."
"Is there ever a right time?"
"Touche." May reluctantly agreed before walking away from the console. She walked down the stairs and into the hallway before turning to see Clara leaning against a wall, arms behind her back, looking at her expectantly.
"Why did you refuse to go with them?"
May glowered as she walked by. "Why do you care?" But Clara pushed off the wall and kept in step with May.
"It can't be because you enjoy my company."
"Maybe you've grown on me."
"That seems highly unlikely."
May let loose a long exasperated sigh. "Maybe I just didn't want to go."
"More likely." She laced her hands together and raised them above her head where she did an act of stretching. "But from what I've gathered, you enjoy the adventures; not per say with my thief, but in the act in of itself. You gush about it as much as he does. No, it's not that you don't want too. It's that you are afraid too. Why is that?"
"I am not afraid."
"Ah, lying does not become you, parasite. May I make an hypothesis?"
May rolled her eyes and grumbled. "It's not like I can stop you."
"Point." Clara's lips twitched; barely containing a smile. Suddenly, her dark brown eyes went glassy and empty. "I think it's because you do not wish to feel the pain of rejection. Your precognition is gift in a way, but in many others, it's a curse. Don't give me that look, parasite. Your special capabilities is not unknown to me, though try as you might to hide it. Honest opinion, it is not that remarkable. Your foreknowledge is so linear and single minded -."
"Are you done?" May glowered, gritting her teeth.
"Not quite but it seems I have gone off on a tangent. My apologies. What I was trying to say, parasite, is that if Captain Jack Harkness finds out what you are he will surely reject your entire being. Then you will have no one to control anymore. With no one to protect you, my thief will vacate you into an event horizon in the darkest reaches of a collapsing star. Where you'll spend the rest of eternity floating endlessly in a black hole." Clara tugged on the ends of her brown hair, curling it around her index finger nonchalantly. She then looked up at May with an eager expression. "Am I close? Please, tell me. I am ever so curious."
May stopped walking and closed her eyes. Pulling every ounce of patience known to man into her body. It's getting kind of sad. She thought to herself over the bubbling rage burning in her chest. I'm almost getting used to this. May turned around and stared down at the smaller woman with a glower on her face. She made sure to bottle up the pain, fear, and sadness she felt. They were locked and hidden in the deepest and darkest part of her soul. She made sure only rage and determination illuminated her features.
"Why do you not speak to the Doctor?" She shouted rather than questioned. "Like in the way you do with me? Why do you not bother him with these inane questions and narcissistic comments?"
Clara's lips twitched upward, but her eyes narrowed. It appeared as though she was conflicted on whether to be annoyed or amused.
"I guess we both will never know." She replied astutely, eyeing May. "Shall I show you to the library?"
"Yes, please. I would love that." May tried to keep the sound of defeat out of her voice, but ultimately failed.
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There was a swimming pool in the library.
May was curious (and slightly furious) as to why the Doctor thought it was a great idea to put a pool where books were to be held, but according to the Tardis, all of the books were waterproof. So if anything should happen, like if the Tardis's stable gravity failed, none of the books would come to any harm if they should fall. Instantly, May felt a form of relief. Literature should be cherished not carelessly placed where they could be harmed. Despite his apparent negligence, the library was beautiful and grand: it seemed eerily similar to the library the Beast gave Belle in Beauty and the Beast. The Doctor had so much knowledge tucked away in his little cove that May idly wondered if he was preserving its wisdom or just collecting like one does with baseball cards.
May had spent hours in her little cushioned chair enjoying the company of silence while listening to the tales of the long forgotten. So deeply she had been entranced with the biography of the Twice King of Sunder: Hero or Betrayer of the Tre that she did not hear the Tardis calling out to her. She had just gotten to the part where the three times widowed Ges'ruid had married the new Queen of the Tre. Once again, taking the seat of the King and the Commander of the United Armies all in the same lifetime. It was all very suspicious, unusual, and so highly unlikely that May thought -
"MAY OWENS!"
She jumped back in her chair, dropping her book onto the floor and nearly her heart. With wide frightened eyes, May shot her head up to stare into the irritated gaze of Clara Oswald.
"W-w-what?" She stuttered, unable to help herself. She flushed in embarrassment and raised her hand to rub her face in attempt to smother out the redness. "What?"
"Captain Jack Harkness is looking for you." She replied leaning back, crossing her arms. There was small a smirk in her lips and her eyebrow raised cockily.
This time, May's heart jumped for a different reason. "Really?"
"Yes, though it is on behalf of the Doctor. He wishes to speak to you."
Her heart dropped. "Oh, why?"
"I think it has something to do with the raxacoricofallapatorian he brought aboard."
May picked up her fallen book up and tucked it beneath her arm. "Raxacoricofallapatorian?
"A female raxacoricofallapatorian." Clara revealed taking up the space by May's side as she walked out of the library.
"Female?" May mumbled face scrunching up trying to remember who she was talking about. "Oh, raxacoricofallapatorian! Oh, oh. What was her name again?"
"Don't know." Clara beamed with arms folded behind her back.
"It was Mary. No, Susan? Maria? Beth? Margaret!" May grinned excitedly, but it quickly fell. "No, wait that is her human skin's name. What is her true name?"
She looked down at Clara inquisitively who just remained unmoved at her side. "Well?"
"Told you, don't know."
"Don't know?" She grumbled doubtfully, shuffling her book to her other side. "Do you really not know?"
Clara rolled her eyes and shimmered. "I'm a Tardis. I know everything, I know everyone."
"So, it's not that you don't know." May mumbled. "It's that you won't tell me?"
The short brunette tapped her nose.
Groaning, May rolled her eyes and continued through the intricate hallways of the Tardis. It took only a few minutes, but soon May, minus Clara, entered back into the center of the Tardis. There stood the Doctor leaning against the center console staring intensely into a monitor that revealed the outside. May could not see what was on the scanner, but whatever it was it caused the Doctor's expression to go stormy.
"So, what's on?" Jack asked cheekily from the Doctor's side as he gripped wires that were connect to the Tardis. He pulled them and wrapped them around his forearm.
The Doctor shook his head, and quickly shut the monitor off. "Nothing, just..."
The female raxacoricofallapatorian, who was using the name Margaret, sat far away from the other two. She was huddled together near the entrance of the Tardis using its stairs as a seat. May couldn't see her face, but her body language - her aura - screamed prideful, and maybe, slightly fearful.
"I gather it's not always like this, having to wait." She spoke up from her position. She didn't bother to turn around. "I bet you're always the first to leave, Doctor. Never mind the consequences, off you go." Her tone turned bitter and hateful. "You butchered my family and then ran for the stars, am I right?" May could feel her rage and sorrow in her question. "But not this time. At last you have consequences." She coldly looked over her shoulder, eyes burning icy hot. "How does it feel?"
"I didn't butcher them."
"Don't answer back." Jack cautioned, glancing between the two of them warily. "That's what she wants."
"I didn't." The Doctor snapped with glare and opened his mouth to say more, but May interrupted.
"I'm sorry for your loss." She stepped up into the center, hugging her book close to her chest.
All three pairs of eyes fell onto her.
"May." Jack spoke first, surprising her. It had been a while since she had heard him say her name.
"Hello." Margaret grinned. It was a creepy smile. It was one that split from ear to ear and spelled trouble. "Are you another one of the Doctor's posse?"
"Posse?" The Doctor sputtered, eyes wide and ridiculous.
"Posses, comrades, groupies." Margaret clarified, smugly. "Sidekicks."
"No." May told her standing in the middle between her and the Doctor. "And yes. I'm May Owens."
"Oh, how polite this one." She cooed, smile never fading, but her eyes narrowed calculatingly. "I'm Margaret Blaine."
"That isn't it, is it?" May inquired curiously. "I thought the raxacoricofallapatorians usually place hyphens in their names to show placement in their families." Silence was her answer, but May pushed on. "Are you a Slitheen or Blathereen? Sorry, those are the only two powerful criminal syndicates that I know of from Raxacoricofallapatorius."
Margaret stared at her as if she had grown two heads. "Polite and smart. How delightful." She then turned towards the Doctor brows raised high. "Do I get a last request?"
"Depends what it is." The Doctor replied, shooting May an annoyed look.
"I grew quite fond of my little human life." The older woman told them, expression whimsical. "All those rituals.: the brushing of the teeth and the complicated way they cook things." She leaned back, head angled towards them, eyes flashing with an emotion that passed to quickly for May to decipher. "There's a little restaurant just round the Bay. It became quite a favorite of mine."
The Doctor stepped away from the center console putting back down a piece of the Tardis. He carefully made his way towards the female raxacoricofallapatorian. He seemed suspicious yet slightly intrigued. "Is that what you want, a last meal?
"Don't I have rights?"
Jack scoffed barely looking their way as he continued to sort through the many colorful wires. "Oh, like she's not going to try to escape."
"Except I can never escape the Doctor, so where's the danger?" She scowled menacingly in his direction, before returning her sights on the Doctor. Her smile was sickly sweet. "I wonder if you could do it? To sit with a creature you're about to kill and take supper." She purred. "How strong is your stomach?"
"Strong enough." He replied without hesitation as he leaned over the railing to meet her eye to eye.
"I wonder. I've seen you fight your enemies, now dine with them."
He leaned back with his chin raised. He looked down at her as if he was judging her from on high. "You won't change my mind."
"Prove it." She goaded with saucy grin and twinkling eyes.
There was silence and a rising tension that could have been cut with a butter knife. May shifted awkwardly in her place. What am I doing here? She thought to herself. I'm not even needed for this.
"There are people out there." The Doctor pointed out suddenly. He backed away and turned around, missing the flash of fear that crossed Margaret's face. May didn't miss a thing.
"If you slip away just for one second, they'll be in danger." He told her as he grabbed his sonic from the center console.
May had thought that was the end of the discussion, and so did the older woman, but Jack suddenly raised his voice.
"Except I've got these."
May turned around to look at the captain only for her breath to catch in her throat. H-how can...? He isn't suggesting - ? In his hand, smugly displayed, was the pair of bracelets that May knew only to well.
"If you recall, which I'm sure you do, she cannot move more than ten feet away." Jack was grinning and his expression was complacent. "But I added a little imagination. If she tries to run away, our lovely lord mayor gets zapped by ten thousand volts." He made an exaggerated "bzzzt!" sound for added effect.
Margaret turned a little gray at that speech, but quickly recovered when the Doctor turned around. He crossed his arms and placed that maddening grin on his face. The one he used when he believed things were going his way. Which most of the time - it was.
"Margaret, would you like to come out to dinner?" He questioned sweetly. Exactly in the same manner as a man who would ask a woman he liked. "My treat."
The female raxacoricofallapatorian, using her human disguise, copied the expression of a woman who was flattered and overjoyed perfectly.
"Dinner in bondage." She purred with cat like features. "Works for me."
The Doctor then pushed off the console and grabbed the bracelets from Jack. However, before he could take a step towards Margaret, the older woman raised her hand.
"Before we go, if I may, I should like to make another request." She added pleasantly. "A tinsy one, really. I would like a plus one on this dinner date." She then gave May a sideways glance. "Her."
Everyone in the Tardis went deathly still.
"What?" Exclaimed May and the Doctor at the same time.
But Jack had slammed his hands down and shouted: "No!"
Margaret's cheshire grin never once wavered despite the rising tensions.
"Well as you know, us girls need to stick together."
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I finally finished the chapter! I'm so excited haha I was going to make this chapter a original piece, but the original just go too long. So I decided I was just going to make that one an extra. Not much Doctor and May time, but I saved that for the next chapter.
How did you like May's interaction with the Tardis? I'm doing my best to make Sexy not like anyone else's version. The Tardis is no human or really mortal. If you think about it: do Tardises grow old? If I recall, she was already old when the Doctor first commandeered her. A museum piece.
They die, I mean we've seen that, but do they die of old age like humans or Time Lords? Food for thought.
The Tardis is also a vehicle, a sentient vehicle, but wasn't born to...BE. I'm not explaining it right, am I?. I'm sorry. My thought process is a little funny sometimes. I get it out better in stories than actual conversation.
Don't worry though, there is more Tardis and May interactions to come. We will delve deeper into my interpretation of the Tardis and her emotions (or lack there of).
Question: Why do you believe May didn't go out of the Tardis with everyone? Did the Tardis get it right? Or is there more too it?
Thanks for reading,
Kait
p.s.
Please leave a review! I've had a sucky new year and I need some smiles! Praises or constructive criticism - anything you say will make me grow as a writer and a person.