Chapter Two: What do you think you're doing?

Rose sat down quietly to watch the Doctor, trying not to disturb him as only his feet stuck out from underneath the main console of the TARDIS. She had no idea what he was doing, and she had a sneaking suspicion that he didn't either, only that it involved a lot of enthusiastic waving of the sonic screwdriver and a constant muttering. The TARDIS didn't seem to mind whatever it was much, as she was fairly quiet, only the occasional beep or clank.

Curiosity finally getting the better of her, she spoke up.

"Wha' d'you think you're doin'?"

The feet jerked suddenly, and a loud bang came from further inside the mechanics, closely followed by a yell and a vehement string of words. The TARDIS hissed.

"Sorry!" called Rose, as much to the TARDIS as to the Doctor. "I guess tha' means y'can hear me then?"

"Yes I can hear you! Give me a warnin' next time!" came back the slightly muffled reply. Rose waited for a while, and when it became obvious that he wasn't going to reply, she spoke again.

"So wha' ARE you doin' in there?" she asked. There was a small thump this time, and a shorter string of angry words. The TARDIS made a grinding noise.

"Sorry!" called Rose again. There was a long silence. Rose was about to get up and leave in search of something more engaging to do when the Doctor called out to her.

"You still there Rose?"

"Yeah. Why?" she answered.

"I need the thing on the left that looks like a green-handled screwdriver."

"Isn' the sonic one good enough?" puzzled Rose.

"It's not that, I need to poke somethin' with it. Would you jus' pass it here?" he asked sternly.

"No' until you tell me wha' you're doin' in there." said Rose, annoyed.

"Would you even understand if I told you?" growled the Doctor, getting frustrated. He gave a yelp as the TARDIS made a whooshing noise, obviously doing something to him.

"Well I won' learn if you don' tell me, will I?" huffed Rose.

"Fine. I'm trying to fix the spatio-temporal-dimensional declination cessation accoutrement, now pass it."

Rose blinked. "The WHAT?"

She heard the Doctor mumble something about apes.

"The landin' gear! Now pass the bluddy screwdriver would you?"

She passed it, and then left quickly, so she didn't hear the yell that came from the console as the TARDIS dropped a heavy piece of metal on the Time Lord's head…