"How many rooms do you have?" Mickey asked as the Phoenix took him on a tour of the ship. She decided to show him around after the way he had handled himself whilst helping Jack and Will. If he'd been more of a hinderance than a help, she would be taking him home but the human impressed her. I bet Rose would have a major freak out she thought at she walked.
"You know, I'm not sure. I've had the TARDIS for centuries and I'm pretty sure that I've not seen all the rooms. Though I'm almost positive she adds more with every regeneration", the Phoenix told him "oh, right…you don't know about that", she added, seeing his confused look.
"No, I don't", Mickey admitted "don't think I know anything about your species other than the name and the TARDIS".
"Well, I'm gonna have to rectify that, aren't I?" the Phoenix looped an arm around his "I cannot have a companion of mine not knowing about my species. In fact, I'll do one better. I will give you the special Companion 101 that I give everyone who's travelled with me".
"Does that include how the TARDIS works?" Mickey asked, remembering how he'd expressed interest in the Doctor's ship but the Time Lord was rather rude to him, saying he wouldn't understand.
"Mickey, by the time I'm done, you'll know the dos and don'ts of both space and time travel. You will also know handy little tricks to get yourself out of any situation that you may accidently wind up in. And you will most definitely know how my ship works, including how to fix AND pilot", the Phoenix said "you know, what? Your first lesson will be flying the TARDIS" and with that she pulled him down the corridor towards the console room.
"So, where do we start?" Mickey asked, excitedly.
"With the basics", the Time Lady replied and then launched into the lesson, Mickey following along as best as he could. As the minutes passed, he found himself getting really involved, asking questions and being allowed to demonstrate what he'd learned.
"This is so fun!" he declared.
"Good, I'm glad you're enjoying yourself", the Phoenix said with a smile. She was actually enjoying herself too. It was nice to have a companion in the TARDIS after so long…
"What n-" Mickey broke off when he looked up to see that she was crying "Nix, what's wrong?"
"Nothing", the Time Lady replied.
"Then why are you crying?" Mickey questioned. The Phoenix touched her cheek, looking down at her fingers at the wetness. She backed up to sit down on the jump seat, more tears falling. Mickey joined her, silently placing a hand over hers. The Phoenix looked at him and everything just came pouring out. She told him all about the Time War and what she'd been through in it. "Oh, Nix", he said quietly "I'm so sorry". His heart broke at the hell she had experienced, by the hands of her own people no doubt.
The Phoenix sniffled, dropping her head onto his shoulder. "Thank you", she whispered. She hadn't meant to tell him anything about the War until she was ready to share but it did feel like a big weight off her shoulders knowing that someone else besides Jack knows what she went through.
"I have an idea", Mickey said, standing up, holding out his hand to her "come with me". The Phoenix took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. The man led her down to the simulation room where they entered to see that they were on a beach. "Rum?" he offered picking up a bottle that was on the sand.
"Uh…sure", the Phoenix replied, taking a sip of liquid. Before long they were dancing around a fire, singing A Pirates Life at the top of their lungs. "And really bad eggs!" she shouted.
"Wooo!" Mickey cheered, drunkenly and laughed. The Phoenix giggled at how he pranced about. She knew he was trying to make her feel better and it was actually working. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!" he declared in a very bad pirate voice before falling to the ground. The Time Lady shook her head and pried the bottle out of his fingers. "Nooo I want my rum!" he pouted, making grabby hands.
"Nope", the Phoenix said holding it out of his way "you're drunk".
"No ship Sherlock!" Mickey slurred. The brunette flopped down onto the sand next to him, flicking her sonic at the sky, changing it to night time. "Oh, that's so cool", her companion mumbled.
"Why did I think it was a good idea again?" the Phoenix said to herself as she chased a drunk Mickey around sands of Woman Wept while the man waved a jar of dirt around shouting a
"I got a jar of dirt! I got a jar of dirt!"
The Time Lady heard the sound of the Doctor's TARDIS appearing but paid no mind as she as still trying to catch Mickey. For someone very drunk, he was running pretty fast. She very nearly collided with him when he suddenly stopped, gaping at the police box on the sand. "There's a blue box…" he said in amazement. Mickey booped her on the nose, cackled and ran off shouting about his jar of dirt. The Phoenix sighed and ran after him when she noticed Jack step out of the ship along with the Doctor and Rose.
"Jack…" she breathed.
"Hey Nix!" Mickey shouted, making her turn. The three newcomers watched him toss a bucket of water at her. "You're all wet!" he cackled and ran off. The Phoenix ran after him.
"Uh…what the hell is Mickey doing with her?" Rose demanded watching the pair lark about.
"She probably offered him a trip or two", the Doctor replied "don't worry, the Phoenix wont let anything bad happen to him". As soon as he said that, the pair took out swords and started fighting each other!
"You just had to say that!" Rose snapped at him and rushed towards the duelling duo, not wanting her boyfriend to get hurt. The Doctor and Jack hung back, both knowing that if the blonde wanted to step in, the Time Lady would handle her. "Stop this! It's insane!" she cried "you're gonna hurt Mickey, you lunatic".
"Oh shut it, wicked witch", Mickey shot at her, making Rose feel rather offended "I'm having fun".
"Just lighten up, Rose. He's fine", the Phoenix said calmly.
"The hell he isn't", Rose said and grabbed her wrist. In a swift movement, Mickey was on the floor and the Time Lady's sword was pointed at the human.
"Don't ever do that again", the Phoenix said in a low angry tone, making Rose step back "I know what I'm doing. Mickey wouldn't have been hurt. But you what you just did could have gotten you injured, you stupid girl!"
"Doctor!" Rose shouted, glancing back at him with a fearful look on her face.
The Doctor put his hands up "Sorry Rose, you're on your own", he said. Jack bit his lip, stopping himself from voicing his thoughts about how turned on he was at watching the Time Lady put Rose in her place. Actually just watching her kick ass full stop did that to him.
Trembling, Rose turned back to the Phoenix and waited to see what she would do. The Time Lady gave her one last glare before she lowered her sword and turned to Mickey, helping him sit up. "Sorry about that. I didn't want you accidently harming that moron" she took a small bottle from her pocket, similar to the one she gave him to get rid of the hangover "here, this'll sober you up".
"Do I have to?" he pouted.
"Fun's over Mick. At least for the moment", the Phoenix told him. Mickey glanced over her shoulder at Rose.
"Bloody fun police", he groused and drank the liquid. Mickey shuddered as he felt it sobering up. The Phoenix pulled him up where he gave Rose an annoyed look. "Let's go Nix. I don't want to be here anymore", he said and she nodded.
"Nix, wait", Jack said, catching her arm as she passed "can I talk to you?"
"Sure", the Phoenix replied and they walked off a ways to talk in private "is this about your memories? Did you find them?"
"Uh no…I didn't. Haven't even started looking yet", Jack confessed "Rose mentioned that you often showed up around the Doctor so I decided to stick around with them that way I…could see you more. I've missed you".
"How long has it been?" the Phoenix questioned.
"Weeks I think", Jack answered "but even 5 minutes away from you feels like a lifetime", he admitted "I know, I know that's stupidly corny".
"Actually its not", the Phoenix said, surprising him "it feels like that for me too sometimes".
The Doctor watched the pair with a small smile on his face. He honestly had no idea anything was going on between them. Well, he could tell that they were close but didn't really know how close until now. He was actually pretty grateful to Jack as it meant his best friend has someone else was looking out for her.
"Mickey, why are you travelling with her?" Rose asked.
"Because I want to", Mickey replied "She's actually pretty fun. And she's even thought me how to pilot the TARDIS…" he trailed off when he noticed Rose wasn't even paying attention, she was looking at the Phoenix and Jack who appeared to be having a tender moment. "You know what? It doesn't matter, I'm Nix's companion and I don't need your approval", he said sharply, earning him a shocked look from Rose "hopefully next time we meet, you'll have an attitude adjustment". He walked off, leaving the blonde staring after him with her mouth hanging open.
"Do you think I could see you again at some point?" Jack asked the Phoenix "maybe soon?"
"Yeah, I'd like that very much", the Time Lady answered "How about Hawaii? Three days from now".
The American smiled, kissing her softly "can't wait", he said.