Chapter Five: Aliens of London
You find yourself in a random chair, it's simple, not detailed, but wonderfully carved. Around you is a dimly lit open concept room, torches line the walls and birds can be heard from outside.
From behind you a voice breaks the silence!
"Deep in the inner sanctums of Aincrad! Laid a familiar building! A refuge for the weary traveler. A place of learning for nerd culture! A bridge between writer and reader. The Writers Pu-"
"Mage… are you monologuing?" Tinker asked, appearing beside you.
"That's it. You ruined it." Mage said walking around you and hopping behind the counter, "can't believe I have to deal with this. I let you have your bit!"
"Come on Mage, it's their first go at this!" Tink said, "you're going to overwhelm them."
"Ugh, coddling them isn't going to help them learn." She said, making a drink.
"We'll explain it then!"
"Fine." She groughed, taking a swig of her drink and pointing to you. "Welcome (Y/N) to the Writers pub! A creation of my own design."
"Our design." Tinker corrected.
"I've heard it both ways." Mage said, "this is the space between realities, the place where the writer and reader can sort of… interact!"
"Since there are two writers here, we thought it best to do this thing as more of a joint effort." Tink said, "although some of you might recognize us better like this." Tinker snapped his fingers and transformed himself and magician into two odd looking swordsman. Tinker having a shorter thinner sword with red/white armored clothing, and Magician having samurai armor holding twin blades joined by hooks.
The now male version of Mage/Deron said, "this is what we looked like when we first started up the pub! With the story Lyoko Online."
"But you are here for the Pathways of Time!" Tinker/Rory smiled.
"This is where we can respond to your messages, reviews, questions and more!" Mage/Deron said.
"For example. Someone asked in the reviews about how River knew so much about Tinker. The question is a good one and the answer to that is rather simple. You wanna finish the thought, Mage?"
"Time travelers have ways of communicating. River did it multiple times with the doctor, giving him coordinates and having him figure out what to do. In Tinkers case future Tink sent her a message instructing her how to turn him into a time lord and when to show up." Mage/Deron said matter of factly, "all rather simple when you think about it."
"Exactly. Thank you Mage/Deron. My future self also sent a message to Amy and Rory."
"Plus as writers we have total control over the plot anyways so we literally could've said 'wobbly wobbly timey whimey stuff' and you would've had to accept it."
"Very true. Fortunately for you readers we are not as lazy as the Doctor."
"Very fortunate for you." Mage Deron smirked.
"Now that we've gotten all this out of the way the both of us would like to thank all of you for your support of the story thus far, it means a lot."
"Seconded! Without you both of these stories would be that much the lesser. Thank you for the support of Lyoko Online and Pathways of Time!" Mage/Deron said with a bow.
"And with that said we don't want to keep you any further."
"Speak for yourself I'm on break." Mage Deron said returning to his/her drink.
Tinker/Rory gave Mage/Deron a strange look. "I'm unsure how that relates to any of this but regardless welcome back to Pathways of Time. Hope you enjoy. And please review."
"Oh stop beggin and get in with the story Tink."
"We would have started already without that comment Mage."
"Yeah yeah whatever… ok Cardiff 1869."
As a side note those who have read chp4 may wish to reread it before continuing. A colleague of mine pointed out the paradox that would be caused if Gwyneth didn't die. So if you've read it and Gwyneth didn't die in the last chapter… well now she has. Sorry. And her death does change Mage and Tink's attitude.
The month that Tink spent with Mage went by very fast… although it felt like an eternity. The injuries that he and Mage suffered from their last adventure had managed to heal in the time they were there. And luckily due to Mage's technology and medical skills the burns he suffered by the Gelth would only leave a small scar.
However because of all the damage he received Mage was very hard on him. She felt that if Tink was going to be getting himself into trouble with trying to save everyone on his future adventures with the Doctor that he should be taught some essential skills. If only so he wouldn't regenerate unnecessarily.
'Though how a 19th century ion cannon is gonna help prepare me for the future I have no idea.' True enough that is exactly what Mage had him building right at this moment. Working off some partial designs she had for her stun guns Tink was attempting to create an ion gun. And had been working on it for the last month.
Not to say that he'd worked on it alone. Mage and him had been working together. That and along with the many books that Mage had collected over her many years of traveling the world of different eras.
'Though Mage sure does seem like having me do most of the work. Almost like she's been testing me.' Tink thought to himself.
Then at long last the inventor in training installed the final piece of his ion gun. He cautiously aimed it at the target Mage setup to test the device (as she did not feel like repairing any walls to her temporary home) he pulled the trigger.
Tink cheered in joy as the target was shot several meters back. "I did it! Oh yeah! Who's the man? That's right, that's me! Yes!"
And he would have continued to celebrate his success had it not been an interruption. "Enjoying ourselves, are we Tinky?"
"Mage!" He shouted, startled by her sudden appearance. Tink gave her an exasperated look as she laughed in amusement at his reaction. Despite their rough beginning the two had managed to form a... decent enough friendship.
"What are you doing here Mage? I thought today was my day to 'Work on this alone'?" Tink repeated to Mage.
To keep from annoying or agitating each other with their constant presence every now and then they'd take days to work on their own. And today was his day.
Since, as it was they already ate together, studied together, trained together, and pretty much did everything else together well… they liked each other more than they did before but not that much.
Then there was the fact that they barely got along for long periods of time. All it took was one wrong word and the two of them would be ready to force the other into an early regeneration.
In Tink's opinion Mage was still on her fatalist mindset. And to Mage he was hopelessly optimistic.
Since there was ironically little hope of either of them changing any time soon, Tink proposed a truce. They wouldn't try to push each other against their ideals. Unless one of them was so hopeful or so fatalistic that it interfered with what needed to be done.
Mage simply placed a bag on Tink's workstation. When Tink raised an eyebrow in question she smirked. "The month is almost up so I thought I'd give you a care package for the next year in good ol' London town. It's got the same Time Lord tech I added to your clothing."
Now that caught Tink's attention. Tink put down the gun and looked through the bag. First thing was… "Psychic paper?"
Mage shrugged. "I think you'll need some identification. You can go on introducing yourself as 'The Tinker' but best to remain inconspicuous for the time being. Especially with the new knowledge from Gwen."
- (Flashback, a month earlier) -
Mage and Tink met with Gwyneth shortly before she was due to bridge the link with the Gelth. She told them that she'd had a vision. Something she felt she had to share with them.
"Gwen. It's good to see you again." Tink said with a smile.
"I have an important message for you. A warning."
"A warning? What kind of warning are we talking about here?" Mage asked.
Gwyneth's eyes blanked out and she spoke as though the two of them were not there. "There is one among you three, chosen by entities of great power. He is one who is as old as the seconds of the day. Weaving the threads of time to shape his future. The two of you have been chosen by the light and he by the darkness. He is known by many names."
"Chosen by the darkness huh? What is this, Kingdom Hearts?" Tink asked sarcastically.
"One way or another does that sound good to you?" Mage asked back.
The young Time Lord had nothing to say to that. "Touche. I guess we should keep an eye out for him then shouldn't we?"
- (Flashback End) -
Tink had to agree with that. Unfortunately the fact that she was giving this to him now only meant one thing. "You're about to leave aren't you?" He asked somberly.
Mage said nothing, only acknowledging the question with a nod.
Tink sighed somberly. "I'll miss you Mage."
"Oh you'll see me soon enough." Taking a quick look at her pocket watch. "Now there's not much time left. Don't get into any fights, unless you've rigged them, stay out of Ireland for the year, and if you go to Scotland promise not to go through any pubs." She said, holding her hand out.
"Yes Mum I'll be careful." Tink rolled his eyes and gave her a hug. "You're really gonna have to learn that this regeneration of mine is a hugger."
"You haven't regenerated yet boyo. This is just you."
"Either way you'll have to get used to it." Tink told her before he let go. "Till we meet again Mage." And with those final words Tink started putting in the coordinates the Doctor gave him. Since the original idea was to go back shortly after the two of them left, that meant that Tink would have to wait the year in London till they got back. Just so nothing seemed amiss.
Mage nodded. "Till we meet again." As soon as she said those words Tink activated his Vortex Manipulator and disappeared in a flash.
Seconds later the watch attached to the Mage's hip began chiming a deep ring of warning bells as the world around her began dissolving. She pulled out the watch and glanced down, the seconds were ticking down to zero. "Another time. Another life." In a flash of blue light she was gone, hurled through the time vortex, leaving the mansion vacant.
- (London, March 2005) -
In a flash Tink appeared in the alleyway that the Doctor and Rose were destined to appear a year from then. With a sigh he resigned himself to a long and lonely year in London, UK.
"Oi where did you come from?" A very familiar voice shouted at Tink.
Turning around he saw Mickey. That put a smile on his face. Good old Mickey the idiot. Now he had to talk to him. "Oh I just popped out of thin air." When Mickey looked at him like an idiot he laughed. "Mate I just came down the road. Midnight stroll so to speak. Have a good night."
'Man I can't believe that my first meeting with Mickey is as a random guy walking down the street. Life is strange.' He thought to himself with a laugh as he walked out into his year alone in London.
- (One year later) -
The Tardis slowly and calmly appeared in the streets of London. Seconds afterward, Rose popped out, finding the same alley they head left. The Doctor came out as well. Who then turned to Rose and said. "There we are! Back home. You've just been out for the night."
Rose looked at the Doctor and then looked around her at London City. "This is so cool! All that happened and I've only been out for the night?"
When the Doctor nodded his head Rose cheered and said. "Wait right here! I'm gonna go see my mum." Before she ran down the street into her apartment building.
"What are you gonna say?" The Doctor asked curiously.
Rose turned back to him. "Hmm I don't know. That I've been to the year 12 Billion, met Charles Dickson and saved him from an untimely demise and I've only been gone for what? 'Bout 12 hours?" She asked rhetorically, getting a chuckle out of him. "No I'll just tell her I spent the night at Shareens. Don't you go disappearin' on me. And if you see Tinker tell him 'hi' for me!"
The Doctor watched her disappear into the building with a smile on his face. If Tink followed his coordinates then… 'He should already be here actually.' He thought to himself questionably with a frown. The Vortex Manipulator should have placed him close to the Tardis shortly before or after they arrived.
Eventually however, as he wandered the street he noticed a flyer posted to a pole that answered why it was that Tink was nowhere in sight. And as soon as he saw what it said the Doctor ran as fast as he could after Rose.
He barged into Rose's apartment who was trying to console her mother. "Sorry Rose, miscalculated. You haven't only been gone for the night. You've been gone a whole year." He panted out.
Unlike the month in 1868, the year that Tink had spent in London had passed very slowly. The only reason he had even been able to stand it was with the books that Mage had given him to study in his bag. And there were a lot of books. One of the books that especially caught his attention was a book on how to use his Manipulator.
Now he wouldn't be 'porting all around the world or back and forth through time but he could make simple close range transports. Which was a very useful time saver.
With all the books he had Tink was always busy. Unfortunately reading the books was the only thing he truly enjoyed from his busy time.
At the moment however Tink was bored as bored could be. In the last year in order to simply survive Tink had to get a job at a bookstore. Not that he liked it.
Oh sure he loved the books as it helped on his path to learning everything he possibly could. And the discount working there gave him was amazing. But he absolutely hated his boss... with a burning passion.
He was one of those bosses that was very unappreciative to his employees. The only reason he even stayed was because otherwise he would have been a hobo living on the streets. But the moment things changed and the Doctor returned he would be out of there.
Currently Tink was in the middle of his lunch break. However shortly after his break ended he heard a commotion outside. Being his usual curious self he looked outside.
Tink watched along with the rest of London as the spaceship "crash landed" on earth. To the young Time Lord that was as big a sign as any that the Doctor and Rose had returned. "And it's about time too." He said with a smile.
"HEY idiot! Get back to work!" Tink's boss yelled at him.
Which meant that Tink's next words were about to give him great pleasure indeed. He even smiled at his boss as he said them. "No I will not. In fact… I QUIT!" The stunned look on his boss's… sorry ex-boss's face caused his heart to swell with joy.
"B-b-bu-but you can't just quit!" The look on his face only served to make Tinker feel even happier.
"I can and I will. I have had it up to here with your attitude concerning me! I have fixed and improved your coffee machine, set up security cameras, as well as a security system that will prevent anyone from breaking in here and I have received bupkis from you. Barely more than a thank you. Therefore I am out and happy to leave."
After his rant at his ex-boss Tink grabbed his bomber jacket and was about to leave when he turned back to say one last thing. "Oh and don't worry about my last check. I won't be needing it. Uh bye bye."
It was then that he charged out the door. He had been long since ready for another adventure with the Doctor.
And he knew exactly where to go stand in wait for him and Rose. Only real question was if his preparations could save the one person he could actually save. The alien specialists were unsavable. 'Like Gwyneth.' He thought to himself morosely. Failing to save her had hit him hard.
Even if he'd known that she couldn't be saved he felt that he hadn't been able to do anything but watch everyone else think, and come up with plans.
The only plan he had in the last adventure with the Doctor was the street lamps and going in to talk to the Gelth. The first wasn't even his idea originally, and the second hadn't even worked.
"This time will be different. This time I'll save someone. Anyone." Tink promised himself. It was time to put his knowledge to use. He didn't want to have to rely entirely on the Doctor or Mage, or anyone else the entire time he was here.
Tink may have gone off towards the center of all the upcoming adventure in search of the Doctor but… the Doctor was shockingly nowhere near it. Instead he was watching the news with Rose and her family.
On the Tv it showed all the information they had on the crash, even talked about an alien body being discovered which intrigued him. It was at that moment that one of the kids present with them changed the channel.
It was the inventor's channel. "After a little tweaking and tinkering we there we have it. Your very own remote control spaceship."
The word "tinkering" caught his ear even louder than the alien body.
Rose must have noticed his face. "Doctor? What is it?"
"Tinker."
"What about Tinker?"
The Doctor stared at Rose and soon enough realization dawned on her. "Exactly." He said grimly.
"Doctor we have to go get him."
"Unfortunately we can't."
"And why not?"
"We've already become part of the timeline. As has Tinker. We can't go back to get him."
"Then what do we do? How do we find him?"
"I don't know. For all we know he might not even be in London anymore." The Doctor shook his head with a wry grin. "But if I know Tink as well as I think I do we'll run into him again."
Rose looked at him, confused. "What makes you say that?"
The Doctor's wry grin turned into a genuine smile. "He's a Time Lord. Whether he finds us or we find him it will end the same. We'll see him again.
Later that night as he approached 10 Downing St, Tink knew exactly how to get inside. "But man oh man do I hope nobody is in the hall." Tink said under his breath.
Bringing up his Manipulator Tink punched in coordinates so he would appear in the hallway at the top level of the building as that was where he hoped the least amount of security would be.
The Manipulator did its job and Tink found himself inside the building. Just as he was about to pat himself on the back on a job well done when a stern voice came from behind him.
"Oi you there!"
As he turned around, cursing himself mentally for being caught immediately, Tink saw a british agent standing there, with his gun raised and ready to fire. "Who are you and what are you doing here? This area's a restricted section."
The Time Lord almost groaned in dismay 'Ok it's not too bad. It means he didn't see me just appear out of nowhere.' That would have been harder to explain. Luckily Tink had a plan b.
Aloud he said in his best cockney accent. "If you don't mind me grabbing my identification I'd be glad to tell ya." The agent nodded and Tink reached into his pocket and brought out his psychic paper. "Ya ever hear of Torchwood?"
The agent gave him a skeptical look. Though whether that was due to his accent or that he mentioned Torchwood he didn't know. Either way he handed the agent the psychic paper.
The agent studied it closely, looking up at him several times before he handed it back to him. "What does Torchwood have to do with this? They are only needed once the specialists reach a conclusion as to their orders." He said with suspicion.
Tink tried not to show any discomfort or nervousness as that would ruin any cover he was trying to establish.
So he raised an eyebrow at the agent's words and asked a question in return. "Tell me this then agent. If you were an alien planning on attacking the earth what would do first?"
"I fail to see how-"
"Because I'll tell you what I would do personally. I would take care of any and all people on the planet that could pose a threat to their invasion. Does that explain my meaning?" At that moment Tink was very glad of his ability to keep a stern face.
The agent met his gaze but after a short while he started to fold. Having stared down the Gelth, the agent was nothing. A moment more and the agent gave back the psychic paper. "I'm sorry sir. Carry on."
Tink nodded and turned to leave when the agent asked one more question. "Sir? Would you mind telling me why a Torchwood operative is dressed as you are?"
Tink's breath stilled at the question. "To keep a low profile." He said, hoping that his reasoning felt reasonable to the agent.
His hopes were dashed when he heard the agent cock his gun. "Sir I'm going to need you to come with me."
Slowly he reached into his inner pocket and grabbed the ion gun he had built with Mage. Without warning he whipped around and the two exchanged fire, hitting each other.
"Ahh!" Tink yelled as he gripped his shoulder. After the pain subsided a little Tink walked over to check the agent. "Huh. Well apart from being unconscious you should be fine." He said to the agent with a sense of relief. 'Note to self. Lowered settings on the ion gun do not kill people… luckily.'
Tink dragged the agent into a nearby closet, which considering his wounded shoulder and that the agent was not very light made it a big chore for him, and moved on downstairs. Just as he walked down the stairs to the main floor he heard someone crying. Upon closer inspection he saw Rose who had a crying lady in her arms. "Rose!"
Said woman looked up at him in surprise as before she smiled. "Tink!"
The other lady who had been crying looked up as well. "Who are you?"
Tink was surprised to note that the other woman was Harriet Jones. Still he nodded towards the other woman. "I'm Tink."
Harriet looked at him strangely which caused him to roll his eyes. "Yes yes I know it's a strange name. It's just a nickname that stuck."
The older woman just nodded her head before she introduced herself as she held back her tears. "Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North."
That made Tink smile. "Well yes, I know who you are, now Harriet Jones. What can we do to help you?"
She quickly explained everything she'd seen to Rose and Tink. Afterwards they moved up to the meeting room used by the acting Prime Minister. Where Harriet showed Rose and him the skin suits. "They turn the body into a suit, a disguise for the thing inside!"
Rose turned to console the obviously panicked woman. "It's all right, we believe you. It's alien."
"Really Rose? I didn't realize that humans had the ability or the necessity to use human skin suits as disguise's." Tink said a little shortly, the pain in his shoulder not helping his mood.
"Alright I could use a little less attitude."
Tink grimaced. "Sorry Rose. Let's just say it's been a long day."
Rose had to agree to that. "Alright… but what do we do now?"
Tink sighed. "Well they must have some serious technology behind all of this. Rose why don't you go take a look?"
While Rose looked for any tech, though Tink knew she would only find the prime minister's body he turned to Harriet and asked. "Was the alien particularly big Harriet?"
"Oh yes! Big and smelly and green! Are you an alien expert as well Mr. Tink?" The reporter asked hopefully.
"Well no, not exact-"
"Ooh!" Rose exclaimed as the prime minister's body fell to the floor as Indra Ganish came in and yelled at Harriet for something that Tink didn't pay attention to as he moved around him so he could defend him from Bel Flon… Bleg Fotch… the alien in a lady suit.
"Oh, has someone been naughty?
Indra turned to the false woman whose name, fake or otherwise Tink could not remember. "That's the prime minister. But he shouldn't be here, he left this afternoon!"
"And exactly who told you that?" The woman asked. Before she gleefully answered her own question. "Me!"
'Creepy.' And the aliens from Rexicoricofallipatorious were some of the least creepy aliens Tink knew of. 'It's ironic that I can remember the name of their planet but I can't remember her freaking name. I'll just call her Rex.'
"Tinker!" Rose called him back to reality as 'Rex' shed her outer shell.
"Everyone get behind me!" Tink shouted as he drew out his weapon at the alien, wincing in pain as the motion used his injured shoulder.
She paused in her attack, eyeing the gun curiously. "Is that an ion blaster?"
Confused at the sudden questioning Tink replied. "Uhh… yes? Technically it's called an ion gun… though I think I'm liking blaster better… what's your point?" He asked, getting back on track.
"I'm simply curious to know how an earthling such as yourself possesses such an advanced weapon."
"Enough to let us go if I give you an answer?" He questioned hopefully.
The alien lady laughed. "No."
"Well then we'll just be leaving. Twitch wrong and you get a face full of an ion blast." That's if the blaster even had enough of a charge left to fire again. The design was still a prototype and it had already been fired twice. Keeping his eyes on the alien he spoke to the others. "Move it. Quickly!" The others quickly ran out the door and just as Tink was going to follow after them the alien questioned him again.
"That ion blaster… it's a little on the small side is it not?"
"Yeah… so?"
"So a weapon of that size could only have limited strength and fire power correct?"
"Maybe…"
The alien turned around to face him and without warning charged at him. Tink quickly fired at her, wincing as the recoils irritated his shoulder even more, but his fears of the ion blaster prototype proved true. The shots fired from the blaster as he moved back lost power with each shot fired. Three blasts in on his firing the weapon at Rex showed to be it's limit.
Then just before she got to him she started convulsing, being electrocuted due to the Doctor… reversing the polarity Tink guessed. That was typically the answer for a lot of things in Doctor Who. Then again now probably wasn't the right time to be thinking about it. He put the blaster back in his pocket thanking Mage for fitting his clothes with the Time Lord tech as he ran out of the room. 'I've really gotta stop letting myself get distracted by things happening.' He berated himself.
On his way he ran back into Rose, Harriet, and Indra trying to run back into the room. He gave them an agitated look. "What are you doing! That way, go!" Rec growled behind them, which only encouraged them to run even more.
As they attempted to find a hiding place Tink saw the Doctor standing in the elevator. "Oh Tinky you made it!"
"Yeah… after a year of waiting!"
"Well… you've waited this long. You can wait a bit longer now can't ya." He said as the elevator doors closed again.
"Oh he's gonna get it." Tink said as his eye twitched in annoyance.
"He can get it later! Let's move!" Indra yelled.
The four of them hid themselves when they could go no further. Since there were limited space's to hide Tink hid with Rose while Indra hid with Harriet.
'How am I gonna buy us the time we need?' He knew that in the show the Doctor showed up to save Rose and Harriet but that was the show. And here there were 2 extra people. 'If only my gun still worked. Wait…' A thought occurred to him. It was dumb but… they only needed a few seconds.
Just before Rex uncovered Rose, Tink stood up. "Hold it!" The aliens were about to pounce on him when he spoke. "Not another step! Not unless you want to meet a cruel and gory end!"
The female actually did stop and motioned the others to do the same.
"Sister why are we listening to this puny earthling?" Then it sniffed as it smelled something. "Especially an injured puny earthling?"
"Because he is not an earthling. At least not a normal one. Besides if he is merely bluffing then he is dead. If not…" She didn't need to tell them.
"Then tell us little human! Why should we not devour you?"
"Because… because… that would be dumb."
"But why?"
'Doctor please oh please get here quickly.' Tink pleaded mentally. "Because of…"
The aliens started to laugh as they slowly moved on him, like predators stalking their prey.
As though being summoned the Doctor charged in, extinguisher in hand. "Everyone behind me!" He ordered, hosing them down with the extinguisher.
Tink and the others quickly moved behind him who turned to Harriet. "Who are you?"
"Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
The Doctor hosed the aliens down one more time before the five of them ran out of the room with the aliens hot on their trail. He quickly unlocked the door to the cabinet room where the 4 of them gathered.
However while the Doctor and the others went to the other opening where the aliens were coming, Tink sat in one of the chairs. His shoulder was killing him now and he could tell that he'd lost a lot of blood. 'Well at least there's nothing more for me to do here. I've saved the one person I could. Now it's time to sit back and relax. As much as I can at least.'
Soon the cabinet room sealed itself. "Installed in 1961, three inches of steel lining every single wall. They'll never get in."
"And we'll never get out." Tink quipped, weakly.
"Tink's got a point, Doctor." Rose agreed before she took notice of his weakened state. "Tink?" Upon closer inspection she finally noticed the blood trailing down his arm.
As did everyone else. "Oh Tinkerbell… why is it I can't take you anywhere without you getting yourself hurt?" The Doctor asked as he moved in to inspect the gunshot wound.
Tink couldn't help but laugh at that. "You know it's not so much where you take me, but where I take myself that I get hurt." He grit his teeth as the Doctor took off his jacket to treat the wound.
"Oh don't be such a baby." The Doctor critiqued. "Now when did this happen?"
"You know Doctor, you could really put some work into your bedside manner." When the Doctor gave him a stern look Tink sighed wearily. "Maybe thirty minutes ago. As for how well… let's just say that getting into 10 Downing street in the middle of an alien crisis is not that easy."
"Wouldn't think so. Alright that's as good as it's gonna get with what I've got. But you're gonna have to rest alright?"
Judging by his tone and the stern look he was giving him Tink felt that wasn't a request. And though he wanted to help more… his body decided that the Doctor was right and he passed out.
"Is he gonna be alright Doctor?"
"He'll be fine Rose. He's only fainted. Once we get out of here I'll be sure he gets the treatment he needs." 'Though to be honest I am not liking the blood flow coming from his shoulder.' He admitted, mentally.
The next thing Tink knew he awoke in Jackie's living room along with Rose and Jackie and watched the replay of Harriet Jones' speech. And Jackie, as always, had something to say. "Harriet Jones. Who does she think she is?"
"I think she's the future prime minister." Tink's joke made Rose laugh.
Jackie gave him a look before going back to berating Harriet. "Look at her, taking all the credit. It should be you on there. My daughter saved the world!"
"I think Tinker and the Doctor helped out a bit." Rose told her mother as she looked at Tink.
"Oh alright you've got a point. Maybe the Doctor isn't so bad. And Tinker doesn't seem so bad himself. You know the three of you should be given knighthoods."
"It's just not the way he does things."
"I don't know, Rose. A knighthood sounds pretty darn cool to me." When Rose turned to him, surprised he shrugged. "What? It's every boy's dream at one point or another to be a knight!"
"No not that! You're awake!"
"Obviously."
Rose gave the injured Time Lord a look. "Acting a bit cheeky are we?"
Who in return gave her a wry grin. "Always."
She gave him a kind smile before she said. "Well anyway. How are you feeling? How's that shoulder of yours?"
Tink cringed a little as the reminder brought to mind the pain still present in his shoulder. "Still sore but I think I'll be good."
"I still can't believe you didn't say anything about it!"
"Well can you really blame me? The moment we met up we got busy dealing with big green alien 't much time to say anything." Tink said, defensively.
"I suppose so. Just be more careful in the future will ya?"
"Can't make any promises. But I will try."
"You're really stubborn, you know that?"
"Yep."
Rose rolled her eyes and sighed as she turned her attention back to her mother. "Anyway the Doctor's not like that. He doesn't make a fuss. He just moves on."
Now Tink gave her a look. "No offense Rose but the Doctor is a lot of things… a boy however he is not." He said while he thought to himself. 'Not in this regeneration however.'
"But you do agree that he's a good person don't you?"
Tink knew what he would have said if he had just met the Doctor. But he had known the Doctor for a large chunk of his life. "I believe that he tries and in the end that's all anyone can really hope for. After all, no one's perfect."
"Finally someone's talking sensibly." Jackie said, though she reluctantly agreed with Rose as well. "But he's good in a crisis, I'll give him that."
Tink zoned out again for the rest of Rose and Jackie's conversation. Till Rose got his attention and gestured to him to follow her.
"The Doctor's got another adventure set up." Rose told him as soon as they entered her room.
Tink sat on the side of her bed watched as Rose moved back and forth around the room, packing her bag. "You've really enjoyed these last little trips haven't you?"
Rose looked at Tink with a big grin on her face. "What and you didn't?" She shot back playfully. "Look all my life it's always been the same old thing. Get up, work, go back to sleep, and rinse and repeat the day after. Always the same thing." Then with a sigh, she said. "This is an adventure that doesn't seem like it has an end. And it will never be the same. I love it." She then went back to packing her bag again.
Tink continued to watch her pack before finally Jackie's rang out. "Does that Doctor like tea or coffee?"
Rose, still a little occupied, responded. "Umm to be honest I'm not sure."
Then Jackie came into the room with a cup of tea and saw what Rose was doing. "Please don't go." She asked softly, making Tinker wince in sympathy for how she must be feeling. Jackie and just lost her daughter for over a year and now was losing her again.
Rose turned to her mom. "Don't worry mum. I'll be alright. The Doctor's a good… alien." She said with a slightly awkward face at the word 'Alien'.
Jackie looked conflicted and asked. "Are you sure 'bout him?" Rose answered her with a nod. "And about this… trip?" Which she once again answered with a nod. Then with a long-suffering sigh, Jackie said. "Alright then. Just be careful why don't ya. I don't want my daughter dying in some forest billions of miles away, a thousand years ago ya hear?"
This time Rose answered with another, more excited nod and wrapped her mother in a big hug. "Yes yes! Thank you so much mum!" She said before she gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, grabbed her bag, and ran out the door. Only stopping for a moment. "Hey, Tinker! You comin'?" She asked.
Tink looked at Rose and said in a subdued voice. "Yeah, I'll be down in a moment. Don't let the Doctor leave without me alright?" After another excited nod, Rose bolted down the hallway leaving Jackie and Tink together.
Tink then turned to Jackie and in a soft tone said. "That was… really brave what you did there Jackie."
Jackie turned to Tink. "Thank you Tinker." She said before she started to stare off into the distance for a while. Just when Tink was about to ask if she was ok Jackie turned back to him again and asked. "Take care of my baby for me will ya?"
To say that Tink was surprised would have been a big understatement. But looking at Jackie's face he didn't feel like he could refuse her this little console. So he nodded. "I will. I promise I will." He promised.
Jackie sighed in relief, looked at Tink with a smile, and said. "Thank you, Tinker."
Just then they heard the Doctor's voice coming from outside. "Oi Tinker! You comin' or not!"
Tink simply raised an eyebrow and gave a quick laugh. "Guess the trains a-callin'." He said getting up from the chair he was sitting in. He took one last look at Jackie and said. "Well, I guess I'll see you later Jackie." With that, he ran down to meet up with the Doctor and Rose.
Jackie walked over to the window and watched as Tink joined up with Rose and the Doctor. As they entered the Tardis Jackie softly said. "Be safe. Oh please just be safe."
End of chapter 5
Well… to be perfectly honest there wasn't a whole lot to do in this chapter but I felt like a normal chapter was something Tink needed.
But anyway… I've done it! I've managed to write another chapter and it didn't take me months to do it. Now granted as I said earlier there wasn't much to do and this is a pretty short chapter. But either way I hope you're all enjoying the story.
Ps: the Writer's Pub introduction will only happen every now and then. And in case you haven't noticed Mage will not be appearing in every chapter.
Until next time this is Flame! Signing off.
BYE!