Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. Only thing that's mine is Ivy my o/c.
A/N: Hi! Hello! It's been far too long and for that I sincerely apologise. Combination of RL and writers block. A writers worse nightmare, coupled with computer issues which have thankfully now been resolved make up the brunt of why it's been so long.
Also I'm sorry this isn't the full episode, but with my writers block being fairly stubborn and the muse being a pain about giving me any ideas of what to have happen I thought I want to get something out to you guys and perhaps you guys could help shift it but offering up ideas of what you might like to see happen with Ivy in this setting.
Who knows what might get the muse pumping again.
That being said, I hope you enjoy the chapter. I've missed you all! And hope 2021 is treating you all well and that you're all staying safe.
CHAPTER 7
The Girl In The Fireplace
Part 1
Ivy hummed softly in appreciation as the cream she was massaging into the irritated skin on the back of her shoulder, soothed away the last of the persistent itch that had woken her from her peaceful slumber.
She slid her fingers away from the soothed skin, eyes taking in the circular symbols. Symbols that were becoming familiar to her, despite her inability to read them – with curiosity. The pinkette wondering if she'd ever find out the word they spelt out.
The name of the Doctor.
Her teeth sank into her lower lip, her lashes lowering over lids as a low blush pinked her cheeks as she recalled the Doctor's warm smile. His words. 'If he was lucky'. It warmed her and made her nervous. She'd yet to decide if she wanted such a serious and close bond with the Time Lord. And yet… his own.
His own was quite obviously already made up. He was just waiting. Waiting for her to decide. And though she'd decided to stay. To give them a chance to get to know each other. He was still decidedly waiting.
Still waiting for her to make one last decision. And this one – this one would be life changing; literally.
She swallowed. Her gaze flitted back, coming to rest once more on the circular tattoo emblazoned on the back of her shoulder. She slid her fingers back towards the golden symbols. This time lightly tracing over the wide circumference of the outermost circle. Casting her mind over what little the Doctor had told her of the change that would occur. The very idea of her entire body changing – becoming something other than human. It was daunting. Terrifying in a way that was entirely different to that of being chased by a werewolf or large batlike aliens. Change of any kind was uncomfortable.
But becoming a Time Lord? Lady? She had enough trouble trying to manage being human on the daily.
She trailed her finger down the curved line, before they jerked away as the regeneration energy that had embedded itself in her skin shimmered, almost as if it was acknowledging the gentle, curious probing of her fingers.
She swallowed, a small tingle of unease swelling at the sight. She blew out a soft breath of air, dispelling the feeling. It was only natural she reasoned. She wasn't supposed to have something that could shimmer like that embedded into her skin like it belonged there. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever get used to the sight of it on her.
She'd never wanted a tattoo. Let alone an alien one. One that held such significance and with it what felt like a universe of pressure – as this one did. And yet, she was glad she'd decided to stay – she wanted to get to know the eccentric Time Lord. To see if her own desires aligned with that of the Time Lord's.
More importantly, she wondered if she could even handle what that would mean for her. For her life.
She eyed the innocently shimmering tattoo for a moment longer. Silently acknowledging to herself that unasked for as it was. It was rather pretty. The shimmering settled; the golden colour of the tattoo dimming in response. She turned from the mirror she'd been peering into, to wash her hands free of any excess cream.
A moment later, she stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom that the Tardis had designed for her. All soft colours that she favoured. An odd mixed of pinks and blues that somehow worked like she'd wanted for her bedroom at home – but had always lacked the means to design as a teen. And had lacked the time as an adult to bring to life. She grabbed the beige t-shirt she'd chosen to wear that day from where she'd laid it out on the end of her bed, slipping it on over her head, before stepping over to the nightstand. Grabbing the chain of her locket from where she'd hung it with care from the soft pink cloth of the lampshade and looped it over her head.
She made sure the chain was latched securely as she turned to the body length mirror, giving herself a once over. Her hands going to the messy ponytail she'd thrown her hair up into before applying the cream.
She adjusted it, hesitated a brief moment, before tugging the hair-tie free and letting her pink hair fall loosely around her shoulders. She slipped the hair-tie over her left wrist and teased her hair into sitting nicer.
Satisfied with her appearance and that the mark over her shoulder was hidden from sight as the Doctor had requested. Ivy turned and headed for the door, stepping out into the corridor she headed towards the console room.
She navigated the twists and turns, turning and altering her direction only once when the Tardis dimmed some lights and brightened others. The pinkette turning and following them without question.
She paused outside the console room. The happy voices of Rose and Mickey and the occasional snarky remark from the Doctor reaching her as she hesitated just before the top of the stairs. Indecisive. She yanked the hair-tie off her wrist and quickly threw her hair back up into a messy ponytail, before she continued on her way.
She descended the stairs. Her eyes lighting on the console room. Her eyes sweeping over her cousin and Mickey to land on the Doctor as he lounged in the pilot's chair.
The Time Lord grinned brightly as his brown eyes met hers. A grin she returned with a warm smile of her own, before he was jumping energetically to his feet and flitting about the console with enthusiasm.
Mickey, who'd looked to Rose, swallowed. Expression falling slightly as he took in hers as the blond looked at the Doctor as he looked at Ivy. Before he shook it off as excitement took hold once more as the Tardis engines thrummed into a low rumbling roar as the Time Lord sent them off onto places unknown.
*O*O*O*
"It's a spaceship," Mickey breathed with awe as he followed the Doctor, Rose and Ivy out of the Tardis. He grinned, near trembling with excitement as he gazed about the long narrow shaft that they stepped out into, "Brilliant!" he exclaimed with growing delight, "I got a spaceship on my first go!"
Ivy shot him a smile as she tore her gaze from the alien spacecraft they'd stepped out onto, "It's my first spaceship too," she confided.
"Wicked!" Mickey replied brightly, before returning his attention to the fascinating interior of what he'd guess was a hub of some kind.
"Yeah," Ivy agreed, "Even if it's um…" she hesitated, tugging briefly at her lower lip as she took in the abysmal state of the long central shaft they were in, searching for a words that best described the mess, "Well… stripped."
"It does look like someone left in a hurry…" Rose mused, flashing her cousin a small smile, before turning to the Doctor, "Anyone on board?"
"Nah, nothing here," the Time Lord assured with self-assured flippancy before he blinked, "Well, nothing dangerous," he amended. Rose raised her brows at him, "Well, not that dangerous," he amended again. His gaze drifted to Ivy who was gazing at him with a look that was almost identical to Rose's with her brows quirked.
Their shared Prentice genes shining through.
He swallowed as his eyes met Ivy's, "You know what," he turned sharply to the hub, his back to his two female companions and Mickey. His hands moving rapidly over the hub's controls, "I'll just have a quick scan," he decided.
Ivy nodded whilst Rose withheld a small snort of amusement.
"In case there's anything dangerous," the Time Lord concluded, valiantly ignoring the amused snort that'd come from one of them.
"Good idea," the pinkette hummed, lips quirking slightly despite herself as she eyed the Time Lord's turned back; despite the anxiety that was simmering below the surface at just what kind of 'not that dangerous' awaited them in the bowls of the ship that from this one room looked like it had seen better days.
"So, what's the date?" Rose asked after a brief moment of silence had passed between the four of them. Excitement thrumming beneath her skin at just what kind of adventure awaited them, "How far have we gone?"
"About oh…" the Doctor tugged at his ear as he mentally did a quick calculation, "Three thousand years into your future, give or take," he flicked a switch on the console and above them the ceiling opened up to reveal a glass pane that gave them an unobstructed view of the stars of the system they'd found themselves in, "51st century. Diagmar Cluster," he explained, "You're a long way from home, Mickey," he added barely sparing the young man a glance as he tossed the words over his shoulder at him, "Two and a half galaxies."
Ivy stepped closer, her gaze fixed to the view opened above them, her eyes wide as she took in the stars, "Two and a half?"
"Yep!"
Ivy swallowed; all anxiety forgotten as she stared enraptured by the sight of stars that she'd never seen before. Brightly burning stars that formed unfamiliar constellations across the inky black space stretching out before them. She'd never see the stars so close before and never so clearly… she hadn't realised just how obscured the atmosphere made them back home. She'd heard of course, but it'd never hit home as much as it did right now. When the stars were so close that she felt like she could reach out a hand and touch them, they looked so close.
The Doctor smiled, her wordless awed silence, speaking volumes as he gazed at her. The sight making his hearts swell in his chest.
Ivy, feeling his gaze on her, tore her gaze from the view above them to look at him, only to see his head swiftly turning away. She smiled softly as she watched him to start to pick through debris that had been left on the console. His expression turning distinctly unimpressed as he rummaged through the broken bits of technology that had been carelessly strewn about.
Rose watched them, how the Doctor was looking at Ivy. How close they were… thoughts darkening as it was suddenly Ivy staring at the Doctor. She sucked in a breath and gave herself an internal shake as her heart panged painfully in her chest. Unable to help but wish that it was her in Ivy's place.
She took another breath and shook it off. She'd made her choice. She tried out a smile as she turned to Mickey, who'd wandered over to a porthole to stare out into universe beyond. Her smile turned warmer, more genuine as she quietly walked over to him. She placed her hands over his shoulders, squeezing warmly, "Mickey Smith, meet the universe," she murmured sliding her hands forward so that she was draped over his back. Arms hanging down from his shoulder, as she joined him in gazing out the porthole, "See anything you like?"
"It's so realistic!" Mickey exclaimed jubilantly and far louder than he'd actually intended, a flush rising to his cheeks as he waited for a scathing comment from the Timelord.
"Dear me," the Time Lord tsked and Mickey felt the tension leave him as he realised he wasn't about to be put down by the alien, "Had some cowboys in here," the Doctor continued as Mickey reached up to take one of Rose's hand in his own. Happy to return her affectionate touches. Only for the blond to pull away from him to wander towards the Time Lord with curiosity, "Got a tone of repair going on," he observed as Mickey held in a sigh. Unable to help but feel resentment at how easily the other man managed to catch and hold his girlfriend's attention whilst he struggled to obtain it at all these days.
"Now, that's odd," the Doctor murmured, oblivious to the glare Mickey was levelling on him as he peered at the console, "Look at that. All the warp engines are going-" at that Mickey couldn't help but wander over; curious despite himself. "Full capacity. There's enough power running through this ship to punch a hole in the universe," he expounded and then frowned, tugging at his ear, "But we're not moving. So, where's all that power going?"
"Not to the clean-up crew that's for sure," Ivy muttered as she cast her eyes about the long shaft of a console room.
"Speaking of the crew," Rose frowned slightly, "Where'd they all go?"
"Good question." The Doctor acknowledged, "No life readings onboard," he stated as he glanced over the results of the scan he'd done.
"Well, we're in deep space," the blond retorted lightly as she glanced about the mess that was the central hub, before she turned back to the Doctor with slightly raised brows, "They didn't just nip out for a quick fag."
"No," he replied, completely serious, not catching or ignoring her touch of sarcasm, "I've checked all the smoking pods."
"So… maybe they took… the escape pods?" Ivy suggested with a frown, eyeing the mess of half fixed and torn apart equipment left in the hub.
"Hmm," the Time Lord hummed, peering at the console again, "Nope, escape pods all accounted for. And," he frowned slightly, "Nonresponsive."
Ivy blinked in surprise at that, glancing over at Rose, the cousins sharing a brief look of concern, before their attention was drawn back to the Doctor.
"Can you smell that?" he asked, glancing about with a bit of surprise as he sniffed at the air, catching unmistakable scent of cooking meat.
"Yeah," Rose nodded, concern lifting as she sniffed the air, at the sign of life the scent brought, and smiled, "Someone's cooking."
Mickey grinned brightly as he sniffed the air appreciatively himself, "Sunday roast, definitely," he enthused, a laugh escaping him in his delight.
"So, soups on but no body's home?" Ivy frowned.
Rose shrugged a little, "Probably plan on coming back from whatever spacewalk thing they've left on."
"I s'pose," Ivy muttered, still a bit uncertain at the explanation. Spacewalks from what little she knew weren't the type of thing you just ducked out on quicky before a meal… but then, they were three thousand-ish years into the future. Spacewalks were probably much easier now. It could very well be just popping out for a quick walk before supper type of deal.
The Doctor who'd returned his attention to the console again pressed a button, "There we are," he beamed a triumphant grin as behind them a door slid open to reveal a soft warm glow emanating from the otherwise dark room beyond it.
The four walked into the next room, to see that the warm glow was coming from a small fire that had been lit in an ornate fireplace, an ormolu clock set on its mantle. Ivy blinked in surprise as she took in the otherwise entirely metal wall the fireplace was mounted in. Its placement making the otherwise beautiful fireplace stick out like a sore thumb in the deary room of the rather rundown ship.
"Well, there's something you don't see in your average spaceship," the Doctor murmured with intrigue as he approached the fireplace, "Eighteenth Century!" he observed with growing delight, leaning in towards it for a closer inspection of the surprising piece, "French! Nice mantle," he stated as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at the mantle and flicking the switch, "Not a hologram," he noted and then blinked in surprise, "It's not even a reproduction. This actually is an Eighteenth-Century French fireplace," he exclaimed enthusiastically.
Ivy skimmed her fingers lightly over the mantle feeling, running her gaze over the carefully sculpted designed framing the warmly crackling fire, "It looks brand-new," she murmured, lifting her fingers away only to find that they'd come back clean, no dust, not even soot from the merrily crackling fire that was pleasantly warming her skin. Compared to the previous room and the one they were in now. It was in pristine condition.
"It does, doesn't it," the Doctor mused, shooting her a warm smile before peering at the mantle again, "Ooh, she's double sided," he exclaimed with enthusiasm, drawing Rose and Mickey's attention back to him. He pointed at the fireplace as he stated, "There's another room through there."
"There can't be," Rose protested as she peered through a porthole on the same wall as the out of place fireplace they'd stumbled across, "That's the outer hull of the ship," she exclaimed as she peered out into the darkness of space as well as a glimpse of the exterior of the derelict ship, "Look," she urged turning just as the Doctor spoke.
"Hello," and the blond quirked a brow at seeing the Time Lord squatted in front of the fire, only to blink as her cousin squatted down beside him to peer into the fire as well only to let out a soft sound of surprise.
"Oh, hello there," the pinkette greeted and Rose shared a quick curious glance with Mickey before the inched towards the fireplace too, the two leaning down, hands braced on their knees, as they peered into the fireplace only to see a blond little girl, glad in a white nightie, playing with a small dolly on the other side of the fireplace.
"Hello…" the young girl replied, her small voice cautious as she gazed a bit wide eyed at the unexpected sight of a man and woman in her bedroom fireplace.
"What's your name?" the Doctor asked the little girl with an encouraging smile.
The little girl glanced from him to the woman with pink hair beside him, before focusing back on the man, eyeing him with continued cautiousness, "Reinette."
"I haven't met a Reinette, before," Ivy smiled, "I like it."
Reinette smiled back, gaining a little confidence, "And I haven't met anyone in my fireplace before."
"Reinette, Reinette," the Doctor mused to himself, drawing the child's attention back to him and he smiled brightly, "That's a lovely name," getting a happy smile from her "Can you tell me where you are at the moment, Reinette?"
Reinette's eyes narrowed with mild suspicion at the strange question, "In my bedroom," she stated slowly.
"And where's your bedroom? Where do you live, Rienette?" he prompted as the little girl blinked at him in growing confusion.
"Paris, of course!" she exclaimed, smiling just a little in amusement at the strange man with the funny questions.
"Paris, right!" the Doctor nodded slowly as he glanced about the fireplace they crouched in front of thoughtfully.
"Monsieur, Mademoiselle, what are you doing in my fireplace?" Reinette took her chance to ask a question of her own.
"Oh well, that's um…" Ivy floundered, at a loss as to how to answer.
"Oh," the Doctor tugged at his ear, "It's just a routine… fire check," he said airily, ignoring the bemused look Ivy shot him, as Reinette stared at them with eyes now full of curiosity, "Can you tell me what year it is?"
The question was met with an indignant look from the little girl, "Of course I can!" she exclaimed with a slight huff, "1727."
"Right lovely," the Doctor nodded to himself like it explained everything, "One of my favourites… August is rubbish though. Stay indoors," he cautioned much to Reinette's bemusement as she blinked at hm. Wondering just how the man could know something like that. August was a long way off.
"August?" Ivy questioned, a brow arching at him curiously.
"Horrible weather," the Doctor replied dismissively with a small wave of his hand, before he turned back to Reinette, "Ok, that's all for now. Thanks for your help. Hope you enjoy the rest of your fire. Night, night."
"Goodnight Monsieur, Mademoiselle," Reinette replied as the man stood and the woman waved a hand at her.
"Sleep well," Ivy bid as she stood, straightening up from her crouch and turning away from it as Mickey spoke.
"You said this was the Fifty-First Century," he accused unable to help and not really wanting to the smugness on his face.
The Doctor rolled his eyes, "I also said this ship was generating enough power to punch a hole in the universe," he reminded him, "I think we just found the hole. Must be a spatio-temporal hyperlink," he mused.
"A what?" Ivy blinked in confusion, brow creasing with it.
"Exactly!" Mickey pointed at her, glad that he wasn't the only one who had no idea what the alien was talking about, "What's a 'spatio-temporal hyperlink'?"
The Doctor shrugged nonchalantly, "No idea," he admitted, "Just made it up. Didn't want to say magic door."
"So, it's like the wardrobe in 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe'?" Ivy half-asked half stated with a smile.
"Yes!" the Doctor nodded, then paused, "Well, no," he amended, "But yes. Sort of, but not really," he babbled.
Ivy blinked at him eyebrows quirking not sure if she was feeling amused or annoyed as she eyed him with mild scepticism, "Starting to get the feeling that you don't actually know what you're talking about."
"Of course, I do!" the Time Lord protested indignantly, "I always know what I'm talking about," he insisted, "And that is a magic door – that's not really at all like the wardrobe to Narnia, but sort of is – if you squint."
"Uh-huh," Ivy replied slowly, still eyeing the Time Lord.
The Doctor blinked at her, eyeing her in return with a mildly furrowed brow, "Am I sensing sarcasm, Miss Ivy Prentis?"
Ivy smiled in response, eyes shining with a teasing amusement that had the Doctor pouting briefly, before he couldn't help but return her smile with a wide one of his own.
Rose rolled her eyes a little at them, swallowing down the pang of hurt, before she cleared her throat to draw the Doctor's attention so that he could get back to explaining, "And on the other side of the magic door," she lowered her voice briefly, "Is France in 1727?"
"Well, she was speaking French," the Doctor shrugged at her, before expounding with a curious delight, "Right period French, too."
Mickey shook his head before speaking up in protest as he eyed the Doctor wondering if he was taking the mickey out of him once again. He wouldn't put it past the alien, "She was speaking English," he protested as the Doctor turned away, uninterested in conversing with the younger man any longer, "I heard her!"
He was far more interested in the doorway to another time that the spaceship had managed to punch into being. It was brilliant. Not good in anyway. In fact, it was probably closer to bad. He'd have to fix it before they left.
But first he wanted, needed to know more about it. And feeling of Ivy's eyes on his back, he felt an extra wave of determination to prove that he knew what he was doing. Because he did. He just needed to poke at it a bit first to iron out the finer details.
Plus, he was curious.
"That's the Tardis," Rose jumped into explain confidently, draping an arm over Mickey's shoulders and squeezing as she shot him a tongue between her teeth grin, "Translates for ya."
Ivy hummed under her breath as she shifted slightly, leaning her weight against the fireplace, feeling the heat of the crackling flames through the thin material of her jeans. Her gaze on the Doctor as he felt along the mantel piece with an air of concentration, a slight frown pulling at his brow, "Just what are you up to, Doctor?"
"Half-a-tick," the Doctor shot her a quick smile, "You'll see in a minute," he turned his attention back to the mantle, "I've almost got it. I know I have."
Ivy cocked a brow, before her attention was drawn back to the conversation between her cousin and Mickey.
"Even French?"
"Yeah!" Rose enthused.
"Even alien cat-people-ish," Ivy put in.
Rose nodded with a mild shudder, easily suppressed shudder at the memory of the cat people on New Earth, "Yep, even that," she agreed as Mickey gaped as he processed through the mild shock.
Ivy glanced at the Doctor, leaning towards him a bit as she questioned lowly, "They were speaking something other than English, right?
"Nope," the Doctor replied with distraction as he continued feeling around the fireplace; having now moved on from the mantle, "They were speaking English – well," he paused with a blink, "The New Earth, American variant. You Earthling's," he mused with fond and slightly exasperated amusement, "And all you're slang and euphemisms. Across galaxies and a whole new planet and English is still the most difficult human language to learn."
"So, it can't translate alien cat person?" Mickey asked, not sure if he was more relieved or disappointed.
The Time Lord rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Of course it can," he huffed harshly, not pausing in his search.
Mickey scowled at the Time Lord's back before he rolled his eyes and turned his attention away from the arrogant alien. More than used to that attitude from the man.
Ivy frowned with concern as she took in Mickey's scowl. That was doing it's best to hide the wound the Doctor's unnecessary curtness had inflicted.
Unconcerned, the short interaction with Mickey already forgotten. The Doctor beamed as he pressed against something that had some give, "Gotcha!" he exclaimed and gleefully yanked it, grinning widely as the fireplace began to rotate.
Whilst Ivy let out a startled yelp as she stumbled and flailed slightly at the sudden unexcepted movement. She grasped onto the fireplace mantle, her eyes a bit wide with her shock as she turned her head to stare at the grinning Time Lord.
"Doctor!" Rose shouted starting towards the fireplace as she watched the Time Lord and her cousin disappear as the fireplace finished its rotation and slotted back into place with a shudder and a quiet thunk. The dust and soot its rotation had kicked up slowly settling back on the ground.
Leaving Rose and Mickey to stare at the fireplace that had just made off with their friends with wide eyes.
*O*O*O*
Ivy released the fireplace's mantel from the death grip she'd had on it as it shuddered to a stop, "Ok," she muttered, "Magic door. Is actually a magic door…" she paused peering about the darkened room they'd been rotated into.
"Yep," the Doctor nodded as he started across the room towards the window, "Just had to find the handle and wallah."
Ivy shook her head at the Doctor's back as she quietly followed him across the room, sparing a glance at Reinette as she slept peacefully. Thankfully unaware that they were uninvited guests trespassing in her bedroom.
"You ever been to Paris before, Ivy?"
The pinkette shook her head, "Nope. Haven't even in been to France before."
"Then Ivy Prentis, welcome to Paris," the Doctor murmured as she stepped up beside him to stare out the window and into the night. Snow falling softly from the sky and blanketing the ground outside the palace.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, before shivering, despite the warmth of the room, and rubbing at her bare arms. She chuckled, "And making me cold just looking at it."
She'd barely registered the sound of softly rustling fabric, before warmth settled over her shoulders as the Doctor settled his long brown trench coat over her slender shoulders. She glanced up at him as she felt his warm hands settle over her shoulders – the touch lingering as their gazes met and held.
She felt her breath hitch in her throat. Her heart skipping a beat in her chest. His hands slowly slid down her shoulders before sliding off completely as if burned as the pairs attention was drawn towards the bed at hearing a sharp startled gasp. Their gazes landing on the little girl who was sitting up and staring at them with wide eyes.
"It's ok," the Doctor hurried to assure, moving away from Ivy, "Don't scream," he murmured soothingly as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver, using it to quickly light a candle to illuminate their faces, "It's us. The man and woman from the fireplace. Look," he smiled as the little girl blinked at the two of them owlishly, "We were talking just a moment ago," he reminded before prompting lightly, "We were in your fireplace."
Reinette frowned at them both in confusion, "Monsieur, that was weeks ago," she declared and got a surprised blink.
Ivy blinked again, "Barely felt like five minutes ago."
"It was months," Reinette insisted.
"Really?" the Doctor questioned with surprise and barely caught the firm nod Reinette gave him before he was striding back over to the fireplace, "Ooh," he mused as he raised a fist and knocked it against the fireplace and listened intently to the sound it produced, before he nodded to himself as if that had told him everything he needed to know, "Must be a loose connection," he stated confidently before shrugging as he cast his gaze upwards as he mused lightly, "Need to get a man in."
"Lucky you're here then," Ivy commented and got a pleased affirming hum from the Doctor, before the pinkette grimaced, lips thinning slightly in mild annoyance. She turned her attention back to Reinette, "How'd you sleep with that obnoxiously loud ticking?" she questioned. Drawing the little girl's attention to her. She wouldn't be able to stand it. Not at all. It'd drive her to toss the damned thing out the window just for the satisfaction of hearing it break and the glorious silence to be had afterwards.
Tick-tock-tick-tock.
The sound was so damn loud. She couldn't imagine have to put up with it for an entire night let alone every night.
Reinette shrugged her shoulders delicately, before frowning up at the woman with pink hair, "Who are you?" she demanded sharply, "And what are you doing here?!"
"I'm Ivy," the pinkette replied, "And uh, I guess you could say where here to um, conduct some fireplace maintenance," she jerked a thumb over her shoulder, "Loose connection and all. We'll get that fixed right away," Reinette tilted her head at her, eyeing her with intelligent and considering eyes, "You can go back to sleep if you like," she smiled apologetically, "We didn't mean to wake you."
Reinette's expression turned stubborn as she stared up at the strange lady in her bedroom, "Sleep? How can I possibly sleep?!" she declared. She had far too many questions to simply lie down and go back to sleep whilst the strange man and woman she'd spied in her fireplace months past stood before her. In her room! "How's your hair pink?!" she asked, the question falling from her tongue as she took in the strange hue Ivy's hair in the flickering candlelight.
"Uh…" Ivy hesitated, hand coming up to finger the ends of her ponytail, mind turning, "It's a wig!" she stated after perhaps a beat of silence too long. Hoping that she was remembering correctly and that French women wore wigs in the 1700's.
Reinette blinked eyeing the pink strands tied back in the messy updo, "Strange. It doesn't much look like a wig."
"Doesn't it?" Ivy questioned, teeth lightly abusing her lower lip as Reinette shook her head in the negative. So, Ivy turned her attention to the Doctor with relief as he spoke, drawing the young Reinette's attention from the hue of her hair.
"Ok, that's scary…" the Doctor stated.
"Not exactly confidence inspiring," Ivy muttered.
Reinette stared dubiously as she eyed what had caught the strange man's attention, "You're scared of a broken clock?" she asked incredulously.
Ivy blinked, stiffening despite herself, "Broken?" she questioned turning her own gaze up to look at the clock situated prettily on the mantle. Her gaze taking in the broken face and still hands. She tugged at her lower lip. The loud ticking that had previously just been an annoying irritant. Now sounding rather ominous to her ears as she glanced around for another source of the noise and found none in sight, "Oh… that is scary," she muttered disconcertedly, glancing about the room, scanning for another source of the loud ticking.
"Just a bit scared, yeah," the Doctor confirmed as he slowly backed away from the fireplace heading towards the bed. Keeping his steps as quiet as possible. Not liking now how far away he was from Ivy and an unknown ticking potential threat. He wanted to get to her. Needed to get to her, but he also could afford to scare the creature into potentially attacking his Soul-Bond or the now uncertain little girl on the bed, if they perceived him to be a threat, "Just a little tiny bit," he rambled, voice careful and low – unthreatening, "Cos, you see, if this clock's broken, and it's the only clock in the room… then what's that?"
The obnoxiously loud ticking sound seemed to get louder in Ivy's ears. Her eyes focusing on the Doctor as he moved at an achingly slow pace. His steps completely silent, or completely hidden under the loud rhythmic ticking. That sounded so much like a clock she wouldn't have thought anything of it, if the Doctor hadn't noticed the broken face of the only clock in the room. At least the only visible one.
"Because, you see, that's not a clock," the Doctor continued levelly, not a hint of his tension in his voice, "You can tell by the resonance. Too big," he explained, just rambling on. Stating the facts as he deduced them, "Six feet, I'd say. The size of a man."
Reinette twisted her head this way and that, eyes wide as she searched the firelight room with eyes now wide and fearful, "What is it?"
Ivy's gaze turned to the little girl at the waver of fear in her voice. She sat on the side the bed hand, gently taking the little girl's hand in one of hers and squeezing comfortingly. Her body easily shifting slightly to accommodate the little girl as she gravitated towards her on the bed, pressing heavily into her side and hip.
"Now let's think," the Doctor mused aloud, glancing briefly over at Ivy, reaffirming that she was still fine, "If you were a thing that ticked and you were hiding in someone's bedroom, first thing you do, break the clock."
He paused only long enough to quietly peer behind a heavy curtain, before continuing on his slow journey back towards the bed and Ivy, "No one notices the sound of one clock ticking, but two? You might start to wonder if you're really alone," he said as he reached the bed with some relief, "Stay on the bed," he urged the little girl, gesturing for her to shift back towards the middle of the bed, "Don't put your hands or feet over the edge," he instructed, before turning his gaze to Ivy with a smile, "You too. Legs up," he urged, fingers brushing over her knee, before settling on the bed as Ivy lifted her legs so that they were resting on the mattress and out of the way of whatever was ticking away under the bed.
The only other viable spot for a man sized being that ticked.
"It's under my bed?" Reinette whispered.
Ivy turned her head to look at her, "You know something that helps when there's something scary under the bed?" she murmured, voice soft, "Pulling your blankets up over your head and squeezing your eyes shut tight. Cos the scary things under the bed, don't know that your there if they can't see you."
Reinette grabbed her blankets, settled back down on the bed as she threw the blankets up over her head, fingers gripping the ends tightly as she screwed her eyes shut, her side pressed firmly against Ivy's legs, taking comfort in the presence of the older woman.
The Doctor shot Ivy a fond smile, before he rested his weight on his knees and carefully peered under the bed, sonic extended the tip flashing briefly as he flicked the button, only for it to go flying from his hand with a clatter as whatever was under the bed lashed out, knocking the slender device from his hand as the Doctor fell back in surprise.
Catching the briefest of movements out of the corner of her eye, Ivy turned her attention from the Doctor. Her gaze landing on a man-sized figure that was now looming ominously over the bed, a smiley mask hiding its face, "Doctor," she murmured, body tensing.
Reinette, unable to help herself at the sound of the woman's voice, flicked the blanket off her head and peered up at Ivy, "What is it?" she asked, before making to turn to look in the direction the pinkette was.
"Reinette," the Doctor called, softly but firm enough to catch the girl's attention and make her pause, long enough for him to whisper from where he now stood beside the bed again, "Don't look around."
Reinette frowned in confusion and growing fear but didn't turn around to look. Despite wanting to see.
"You, stay exactly where you are," the Doctor reiterated, shifting closer to her, "Hold still," he urged as he gently took her face in his hands and met the young girl's eyes scared and confused eyes with his own, "Let me look."
Ivy found herself squeezing Reinette's hand again as she took the closest one in her own, the little girl gripping her tightly as she remained still in the Doctor's grasp, unflinchingly meeting the Time Lord's probing gaze.
The little girl feeling the disconcerting and yet curious sensation of a door in her mind gently swinging open.
"Is something wrong?" Ivy murmured with concern, shooting a look to the being that was still standing motionlessly by the bed, "Has it hurt her?"
"No," the Doctor replied as he released Reinette and Ivy let out a relieved breath. The Time Lord turned the being on the opposite side of the little girl's bed, "You've been scanning her brain," he stated incredulously, before continuing in response to the being's silence, "What, you've crossed two galaxies and thousands of years just to scan a child's brain? What could there be in a little girl's mind worth blowing a hole in the universe?"
"I don't understand," Reinette frowned in confusion, "It wants me?" she questioned before turning to look as she asked it directly, "You want me?"
"Not yet," it broke its self-imposed silence, its head turning slightly to look at Reinette, compelled to answer her, before stating matter-of-factly, "You are incomplete."
The Doctor frowned in confusion, "Incomplete? What's that mean, incomplete," he persisted as the being returned to silence. His brown eyes hardened into a glare and he levelled his sonic that he'd retrieved when he'd stood at the being threatening, "You can answer her, you can answer me. What do you mean, incomplete?"
The soft snick of a blade shooting out from the being's hand followed the Doctor's threatening words and Ivy stiffened on the bed.
"Oh, it didn't like that," she muttered to herself, eyeing the extremely sharp, rather scary looking blade that was protruding out of its hand.
The Doctor shifted eyeing the being in the period appropriate mask as it started round the foot of the bed, "Ivy," he murmured and gestured for her to get up, "Stay where you are Reinette," he added as the little girl seemed posed to move, "It's not going to hurt you," he reassured – no it was after him. And he needed to get himself, Ivy and it back through the magic door it had carelessly punched into being.
But why?
Ivy slipped off the bed, giving Reinette's had a parting reassuring squeeze as the little girl tightened her grip before slipping her hand free of the grasping fingers with the ease born of being an older to cousin to much younger children. The Time Lord urged her behind him with a gesture. The pinkette backing up as the Doctor started slowly backwards and away from the approaching threat.
"Monsieur, Mademoiselle, be careful!" Reinette called alarmed as she watched from the bed, fingers fisted in her sheets as the strange ticking being swiped its blade wielding arm out at the Doctor, forcing him to dodge back.
"It's just a nightmare, Reinette," he attempted to reassure. His gaze focused on the threat, "Don't worry about it. Everyone has nightmares," he dodged backwards as the being slashed violently at him once more.
Ivy moved swiftly to keep from getting in the way. Her heart hammering in her chest as she watched – scared for him. Helpless to help in the situation for fear of getting in his way – getting him hurt by drawing his attention from the deadly blade his assailant was wielding. The Time Lord continuously moving whilst continuously ensuring that she was safely behind him. Out of the strange being's line of sight.
Keeping its attention on him. Her back hit the fireplace mantle and she found herself sidestepping rapidly to keep out of the way as the Doctor continued backwards. Eyes locked on the advancing being.
"Even monsters from under the bed have nightmares," the Doctor taunted as he consciously backed away, forcing the being to give chase if it wanted to get him within reach of its blade, "Don't you, monster?"
The being swung its deadly blade again and the Time Lord sidestepped, shoulder brushing up against Ivy, just in time for the being to imbed its blade deeply into mantle of the fireplace with the force of its swing.
Ivy breathed a soft sigh of relief as the being jerked in place trying to pull its blade free and failing. Foiled for now.
"What do monsters have nightmares about?" Reinette asked from the bed, eyes wide as she watched the being struggle to free itself from the mantle.
"Me!" the Doctor called over his shoulder as he glanced at Ivy double checking that she was with him on the fireplace, before he pulled the lever, sending it in to motion. Reinettte watching with wide-eyed aw as the fireplace rotated taking the fireplace man and woman along with the monster from her nightmare.
She smiled.
*O*O*O*
"Doctor!" Rose exclaimed with relief before the fireplace had even fully finished its rotation at it swung the Time Lord and her cousin back into the room, "Ivy!" she blinked as the two swiftly moved from the fireplace. The Doctor rushing right by her without a glance.
He yanked a tube-like instrument off a nearby rack, before he spun back around just as the being managed to yank its blade free of the mantle and spin around sharply to attack once more. The Doctor pulled the trigger, stopping it in it's tracks as the contents sprayed from the nozzle froze it in place – blade extended threateningly.
"Excellent!" Mickey enthused appreciatively as he eyed the gun the Doctor was holding. He grinned with excitement, "Ice gun!"
"Fire extinguisher," the Doctor corrected.
Ivy blinked, eyeing the 'gun' in the Time Lord's hands with curiosity, "They make fire extinguishers gun-shaped?"
"Yep," he agreed and tossed it to her, "I much prefer the pen-shaped ones. Good for fitting in your pocket on the go. But you humans," he lamented, eyeing the gun shaped extinguisher with mild distaste, "You're oddly fond of the old gun design."
"Huh," Ivy murmured under her breath as she tested the weight of the extinguisher, "It's lighter than I thought it would be."
Rose waved a slightly impatient hand, wanting to move on from the fire extinguisher, "Where'd that thing come from?" she asked, gesturing at the seized-up thing donning the creepy smiling mask and wielding a sharp blade.
"Here," the Time Lord answered, pulling his gaze from Ivy to return his attention to the thing that had been lurking in a little girl's room.
Mickey frowned, eyeing the thing himself, taking in its period French get up, "So, why's it dressed like that?"
"Field trip to France," the Doctor shrugged, "Some kind of basic camouflage protocol. Nice needlework," he mused, "Shame about the face," he grasped the mask, pulling it off to reveal the clockwork within a thick protective glass dome, "Oh," he breathed in awe, pulling out his spectacles from his inner jacket pocket, "You're gorgeous! Look at that space-age clockwork, I love it. I've got chills!" he shivered a bit dramatically as Mickey and Rose edged closer to get a better look, "Listen, seriously, I mean this from the heart, and, by the way, count those," he gestured to the both sides of his chest where his hearts where beating beneath his ribcage, "It would be a crime, it would be an act of vandalism to disassemble you," he slipped his sonic screwdriver back out of his pocket and aimed it at the domed face of the droid, "But that won't stop me," he warned a second before the droid disappeared in a beam of light.
"It poofed?!" Ivy huffed, gesturing with her hands for emphasis, "Why do the bad guys get the cool abilities like being able to poof outa dodge?"
"Oi!" Rose exclaimed, leaning out of the way of the fire extinguisher as Ivy accidentally waved it towards her face.
"Ah, sorry," Ivy apologised letting the blond take the extinguisher from her grasp as she gazed at her cousin sheepishly.
Rose shrugged, peering down at the extinguisher now between her hands. Ivy was right it was pretty light for an extinguisher. At least compared to the ones back home. It was kinda cool if she was being honest.
"It didn't poof," the Doctor interjected with fond amusement, drawing the blonde's attention back to him, "It teleported," he explained, "Short range. Can't have got far. Could still be on board."
"What is it?" Rose asked with curiosity.
The Doctor paused and fixed Rose with a firm stare, "Don't go looking for it," he stated firmly, before turning and nabbed Ivy by the hand. Wanting her near him – who knew how many blade happy droids were on board, "I mean it," he called over his shoulder as he started for the fireplace, Ivy easily following him, even as she quirked a brow up at him, shifting her hand in his so that it was a more comfortable grip, fingers lacing with his, "Don't."
"Where're you going?" Rose huffed with a frown, jealousy attempting to bubble up beyond her immediate control – her heart still yearning for the days when it was just him and her and the Time Lord would reach for her hand. Wanting to have her with him. She swallowed it down and shifted deliberately closer to Mickey.
"Through the fireplace again, apparently," Ivy replied as the Doctor led them over to it, "We kinda left a little girl..." she swallowed, picking up her pace a little bit. A little girl who was probably still curled up on that bed and terrified of the ticking thing that'd been lurking in her room – scanning her brain for who knows what.
Rose blinked in surprise and then frowned, "A little girl… what?"
"Back in a sec!" the Time Lord spoke before she could finish her question, making the blond scowl in annoyance at the Doctor's back.
Before she sighed out a low breath as the Time Lord activated the magic door again and the fireplace rotated sweeping the two from view. She bit her lower lip and hefted the fire extinguisher she'd taken from Ivy. Eyeing it consideringly.
Mickey eyed his girlfriend dubiously, easily reading her expression, "He said not to go looking for it," he pointed out unnecessarily.
Rose pursed her lips, "Yeah he did," she huffed a bit stiffly, but the Doctor had swanned off with Ivy – leaving just her and Mickey. Why shouldn't they explore, it wasn't like he was here to stop them. And it wasn't like she'd ever let him order her about, "He's also not here…" she prompted and waited eyeing Mickey expectantly.
It'd been a while since it'd just been the two of them. It'd be nice way to pass the time, a little adventure all of their own.
Mickey hesitated a moment, before he turned and grabbed another of the fire extinguishers off the rack.
He turned back to Rose, extinguisher in hand. She grinned, tongue between her teeth in delight, "Now you're getting it!" she enthused, before they took off at a steady eager pace to explore the decrepit fifty-first century ship.