Glimpses of Time

Chapter Fourteen: President of Earth

By Lumendea

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

AN: I don't have plans to ever rewrite the Death in Heaven arc for reasons that will become clear in the future, but I thought this would be amusing.

…

The Doctor kept a tight hold of his wife's hand as Kate Stewart, and Mickey Smith escorted them to the stairs leading up to the waiting plane. The cold wind tugged at his grey curls, and he glared angrily at the sky. Another day, another invasion of Earth. Honestly, this planet could not keep things together.

"Inside," Kate said. He sounded more like an order than he liked. "We need to get into the air."

"Come on, Doctor," Rose said. She gave him a soft smile, the one that she used to encourage him to be patient in this body.

Rolling his eyes, he released Rose's hand and let her go up first. He followed close behind as the wind picked up, very aware of their escorts staying right behind them. A crew member directed them away from the door and into the central area of the jet. It was furnished with carpet, a large communication screen, and dominated by a long table.

"Honestly, Kate," the Doctor grumbled as he slumped into the chair at the long table. "Your father wouldn't be nearly so pushy." He furrowed his eyebrows at the blonde woman in question.

Rose sat down in the next chair, laughing softly. "Yes, he would. Alistair absolutely would be this pushy."

"Thank you," Kate said. She straightened up and walked across the room. "The President is on board."

"Hang on a second. The President?" the Doctor huffed. "We don't want Americans bobbing around the place. They'll only start praying. And against the Sontarans, that won't help."

"Not the President of America, sir," Mickey said. "The President of Earth."

The Doctor glanced over at Mickey. The now Colonel Smith was barely holding in a smile. Even Rose was looking at him suspiciously.

"I'm guessing that what happens now, Mickey is that I say there isn't one, and then you or Kate correct me," the Doctor said drily.

Mickey did smile now. "Something like that."

"Mickey, what did you do?" Rose asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I did nothing," Mickey insisted. But his smile was widening.

"The incursion protocols have been agreed internationally," Kate said, returning to the table. "In the event of a full-scale invasion, an Earth President is inducted immediately, with complete authority over every nation-state. There was only one practical candidate.

"That's your answer for everything, isn't it?" the Doctor sighed. He turned his attention to a cup of tea the aide brought him, loading it full of sugar cubes. "Vote for an idiot."

"I'd hardly call Rose an idiot," Kate replied.

"Wait, what?" Rose blinked at Kate. The Doctor nearly choked. "I would have thought…." She gestured at him, and the Doctor stared at her. He would have been a horrible idea.

"The Doctor was considered, but it was quickly pointed out that you are actually a human born on Earth. As a result, you were the only practical candidate, and historically you're more reliable than the Doctor." The Doctor shrugged at that remark. It wasn't exactly wrong. "So long as you're on this plane, you're the Commander in Chief of every army on Earth. Every world leader is currently awaiting your instructions. You are the Chief Executive Officer of the human race. Any questions, Madame President?"

"This is your captain speaking. Please prepare for take-off," the captain's voice said through the intercoms.

"Yes, one," Rose said, turning her husband. "Is this panicked, 'what are you people thinking' feeling the same one you got when the Time Lords tried to make you President?"

"It does sound very familiar, Darling, yes." He took a sip of his tea, trying to hide his smile.

That was when Mickey lost it, despite the brewing invasion. He started laughing.