Casino TARDIS Part Seven
Notes: Lucky number, seven.
Becsy Lexi: Lol yeah, that's exactly what he's done. Yes, feel sorry for her, because now she's a twisted lonely old woman...Everything seems to have gone downhill since Rose died. Yes, I'm cruel, but am I that cruel...you'll just have to wait and see. The names in this fic chosen for the Doctor's daughter are very significant, because they both express feelings. Dilys means loyal, expressing the TARDIS's feelings towards her. Amy means something else which you'll find out, which expresses Rose's feelings towards her daughter. It's very symbolic, I'm very proud.
Immi-in-the-TARDIS: Thank you, thank you very much. I'm upating now because I had some final tweaks...anyway...yes, thank goodness! If it weren't for Jack, I wouldn't have anything to write about!
Uh.yeah: Yes! Watch them grow...while you still can...Lol, it would be very ironic if they just buggered off out for a night (which by the way, Dilys has never done...every night at the casino because of the TARDIS...just thought you'd like to know). Yes, it's very sad, but I think that's probably what would happen without Rose. When you grieve for someone you tend to push everybody else away if you're that kind of person, and both Jack and the Doctor are very proud...they wouldn't like to ask for help. Anyway...
Here we go then. Wish them luck.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
The casino was crowded and noisy. But then, that was how the Doctor liked it. Noisy meant he couldn't hear himself think. It was only by not thinking that he'd managed to stay sane.
Rose…
He scratched the back of his head. It felt sort of…itchy. Tickly. On the inside. Like someone whispering in your ear.
I know that feeling, he thought, dropping his bottle (water this time, don't worry, he's not turning into a naughty boozehound) as he realised what it was.
Someone came rushing up to find the source of the noise. She saw the broken glass by the Doctor's feet and tutted.
"Did you hurt yourself?" she asked. She was American.
"No," said the Doctor. "No, I don't think so…I'm sorry, I just…let me help." He squatted down and started picking up the bits of broken glass.
"Thanks," said the woman. Her name tag said 'Sarah Billings'. "You sure you're OK?"
"Yes, thank you," said the Doctor, smiling at her. She looked at him strangely.
"Say," she said. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
"I…I don't think so," he replied. Sarah frowned.
"You look really familiar," she insisted. "Just…something about you…" She laughed suddenly. "Maybe it's me."
"Yeah. You looked tired," offered the Doctor.
"I've been busy today, trying to contact a friend who's being very elusive," she said. "It's OK, leave the glass now. I'll get Dilys to clear it up if she's not busy." They both straightened up. "You here by yourself?"
"No, I'm with…" He looked over to where Jack was playing cards, and by the sounds of it, winning. At leas one of them was having a good time. "I'm with a friend."
"Well…have a good evening," she said, glancing at him again, then walking away.
The Doctor, left alone, turned his attention back to the whispering feeling he'd had before. That wasn't just a feeling. That was the TARDIS. Nearby.
He tried in vain to contact it, but over the years the link they'd once had had faded, much like the link between him and Jack, him and Amy, and him and the real world in general. He walked around the casino, trying to pick up the 'signal' again. He barely noticed bumping into a teenager, evidently Dilys, who'd come to clean up the mess from his bottle.
"Sorry," he muttered, not looking at her as he made his way through the crowd. The girl didn't even look up.
There's finger marks around her soul
But your laughter fills the hole
Through her window
Your baby girl's window
He came to a wall and leant on it gratefully. He was really tired. Maybe it was time to call it a night.
But then…he felt it again. The whispering, tugging feeling of the TARDIS.
Where are you? he asked frantically. There was no response. The feeling faded. Irritated, he looked around for Jack to say goodbye. His eyes fell on a door nearby. It opened briefly and a blond boy walked out, looking around covertly, but not looking at him. The Doctor walked forwards quickly and caught the door before it closed, slipping inside.
Oh, I wish you'd stayed
To see what she made of herself
And there it was. His TARDIS…safe and sound. In a casino, granted, but…
The Doctor ran his hands over the familiar surface of the wooden door.
"There you are," he muttered. "I heard you…I found you at last." He felt strongly like hugging the police box, but didn't.
He heard the door open again behind him.
"Davey?" asked a quiet voice. "Is that…who are you?" The Doctor spun around. It was the girl he'd bumped into, Dilys. The one with dark hair and the…the weird outfit. She gasped.
"It's you." The Doctor had no idea what she meant by this, but noticed that she'd gone very pale. And she was swaying. Quickly, he ran to her and tried to support her. He lowered her to the ground carefully.
"Are you OK?" he asked. "You're Dilys, right?"
"You know me?" she asked faintly.
"Not exactly…" he admitted.
"I know you," she said. "You're…you're my dad…my…I found you."
"What?" asked the Doctor, aghast. But she'd already fainted. He quickly put her into a recovery position, checking that she was still breathing while he tried to control his own. Her dad? What was going on? This couldn't be…
"Amy?" he whispered. "Amy is that you?" The girl's eyelids flickered and opened. She smiled at him.
"Sorry about that," she said. "I don't think I can stand."
"That's OK, just…just stay there," he said. "Before…you said…"
"You don't recognise me," she said. "I didn't think you would…but I know you."
"Am I…" The Doctor swallowed. "Am I your father?"
"Yes." The Doctor wasn't quite sure what to say next. After all these years of searching, he'd wanted so badly for this day to come. But after all of the preparing himself for disappointment, he wasn't sure how to react now that he'd actually found her. He'd assumed the worst. Now he'd got the best. And it was weird.
"I…I'm sorry. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say…"
"It's OK," she said. She smiled at him. "I'm…I'm nervous too." They both laughed hesitantly. Suddenly the door burst open, revealing Davey and…
"Jack?" said Dilys and the Doctor simultaneously.
"You know him too?" the Doctor asked Dilys.
"Who's this?" Jack asked the Doctor.
"Man this is confusing," said Davey.
"What's going on?" asked Jack.
"You want to sit up?" the Doctor asked Dilys. She nodded and he did his best to help her.
"Hi Jack," she said quietly. Jack looked baffled.
"Uhh…what?" he said.
"Jack, it's OK," said the Doctor. "This is…this is…"
"Oh I get it now!" said Davey suddenly. "Hey, this is great! You found your dad Dilly!"
"What?" asked Jack. "This is Amy?"
"Nooo…" Davey looked confused. "This is Dilys. She's his daughter."
"Your daughter's called Amy," said Jack. He looked suspicious.
"Well I was hardly likely to remember that, was I? I was only little when you left me, and the TARDIS couldn't say names," said Dilys. "Sarah named me."
"Who's Sarah?" asked Jack.
"That woman in the casino? She named you?" The Doctor frowned. "Can I ask why?"
"Look…everybody shut up!" said Davey. For once in his life, he was obeyed without question. "Look, I know this is confusing for all of you, but asking a bunch of questions isn't going to…look. Jack, this is Dilys. She's his daughter. And yes, Sarah renamed her because Sarah was the one who found her. Am I getting this right Dil?" Dilys nodded. "Sarah built the casino around the TARDIS and brought Dilys up as her own child. Um, Dil lives on the TARDIS and I think she can talk to it, right?"
"So who are you?" asked Jack.
"Her best friend," said Davey defensively.
"Right." Jack still didn't look convinced. "Doctor, what do you think of this?"
The Doctor looked at Dilys. There she was, in this girl's eyes…Rose.
People say you were gone too soon
I see your face when flowers bloom
Through her window
Your baby girl's window
"Yup," he said, grinning. "This one's mine." He helped her to her feet and Davey immediately hugged her.
"Told ya we'd find him," he said gruffly.
"You were awesome," said Dilys. "Really empowered." Davey glowed. They parted. Dilys looked at the Doctor, feeling herself go red. Neither of them were quite sure…
"Oh just hug him Dilys," aid Davey. So she did. Awkwardly. And he hugged her back. Awkwardly.
"My girl," he said. Dilys just smiled.
"Knock knock," said Sarah as she walked in. "Dilly, could you…Dil? What's going on?" Dilys pulled away from the Doctor and grinned.
"Sarah," she said. "I'd…I'd like you to meet my dad."
Oh, I wish you'd stayed
To see what she made of herself
……………………………………………………………………………………………
"I still can't quite believe it," said Sarah. They were in the control room, stood around the console. "It's all so sudden."
"We were very lucky," said Dilys. "I contacted Jackie Tyler today, but she said you'd already gone. I never thought you'd turn up here."
"You talked to Jackie?" The Doctor grinned. "I bet she was helpful."
"I should probably ring her back, just…not tonight…you know?"
"I know," he said. "Jackie's very…overwhelming."
"So you're Amy now are you?" asked Sarah, smiling. Dilys looked uncertain.
"Well…" She glanced at the Doctor.
"Oh, it's OK, you stay Dilys if you want," he said hurriedly.
"Thanks. It would be too weird," she said apologetically. "But Amy can be my middle name. And Tyler can be my last one."
"You know what Amy means Dil?" said Sarah.
"Sarah's really good with names," explained Dilys quickly. "Mine means loyal cus that's what the TARDIS calls me. What does it mean?"
"Beloved one," she said, beaming at them all.
"That's…I dunno what to say," said Dilys, blushing. "Thanks, I guess."
"Nothing to do with me, it was Rose's choice," said the Doctor honestly. "I'm as surprised as you. I wanted to call you Besquattle."
"Besquattle?" Dilys laughed.
"It suits you," teased Davey. Dilys thumped him.
"Gallifreyan name," said the Doctor.
"Oh? What does it mean?" asked Dilys.
"Terrifying." Dilys thumped him too.
"I am not!"
"Hey, I was young…" Jack looked at him, eyebrow raised. "OK, not that young, but a kid was a scary thought."
"I'm glad Rose named me," said Dilys, rolling her eyes.
"So what happens now?" asked Jack. He'd been a little silent, felt a bit out of it. He hadn't been close to the Doctor for a while now and he barely knew Dilys. And he definitely didn't know her friends. Maybe once, a while ago, he would have felt more comfortable…but he'd put up a lot of walls since then.
"Well…" The Doctor looked nervous. "That's up to Dilys. If you want us to stay…"
"I do," she said quickly. "I really want you to stay. And so does the TARDIS. You can…you can show me how to fly her. Take me somewhere."
"I'm not sure I remember…"
"Liar," said Jack, smiling. "You flew her for centuries."
"OK, maybe I do," admitted the Doctor. "I just haven't for a while. But it's like riding a bike. You never forget."
"I did once, it's a funny story," said Davey. He stopped and glanced at them. "But obviously not one I'm going to share right now."
"You want to bring this one with us?" asked the Doctor.
"Um…" Dilys looked awkward. "Can I? I mean…would you like to?" She silently pleaded for him to say yes.
"Would I like to?" Davey looked like he was considering his answer. "Let's see. Flying around the universe with my best mate, probable time travel, possible death, lots of danger…sure. Who wouldn't?"
"I'm not sure I should approve," teased the Doctor, trying to act 'dad-ish'. "I mean, what are his intentions? His full name? How do I know he's not some psychotic weirdo?"
"He is," said Dilys impishly.
"My intentions?" Davey looked baffled. He looked at Dilys. "My intentions? With her?" He looked at her again. "Again, I ask, my intentions?"
"Never mind," said the Doctor. He turned to Jack. "What about you Jack? You want to come with us again?"
"I'd love to," he said. He'd waited for this moment, when they'd find his daughter and everything would be roughly whole again. Roughly because nothing was the same without Rose. But somehow, being back on the TARDIS made it OK to move on. He could travel with them, have fun, and still stay loyal to Rose. Dilys smiled at him. Jack quickly thought of something else. He wasn't sure just how 'psychic' a Dilys/TARDIS team could be.
"What about you Sarah?" she asked.
"Yeah, you wanna come with?" asked Davey.
"Hey, it's my ship!" protested the Doctor.
"Um, excuse me? Who's been the sole inhabitant for thirteen years?" said Dilys, affronted, hands on hips.
"It's OK," said Sarah quickly. She looked at the four of them. Dilys and her father. Their best friends. Much as it saddened her, it looked like Dilys didn't need her any more. She was an adult now, with a real family. "I'll stay here. I have to look after the casino." She tried to put on a brave face. Dilys walked over to her, looking shocked that she'd been turned down.
"But…but I need you with me," she said. Sarah hugged her gratefully.
"You don't need me anymore Dilly," she said. "I'm needed here. And you can always visit."
"Of course you can," said the Doctor. He paused. "Look, if you don't want to go…that's fine." Dilys looked at the both of them, feeling helpless.
"But I can't…I can't choose between you," she said. "It's n-not fair. I can't choose…"
"You have to," said Jack gently. "You're an adult now."
"But I c-can't…" said Dilys. She felt ready to cry. Sarah meant so much to her, and now she had to leave her behind? Or stay here and watch her father leave her again?
"Don't…don't decide now, OK?" said Sarah. "Sleep on it and…come and see me in the morning. That OK with you guys?"
"Fine by me," said Jack and Davey simultaneously. They looked at each other crossly.
"Don't do that!" said Davey.
"I'll see you tomorrow Dilly," said Sarah. "You'll be OK. Talk to the TARDIS and…come back in the morning."
……………………………………………………………………………………………
What next, what next? Who will she choose? Either way would be a happy/sad ending, which is what will happen…anyway. And you know how nasty I can be. What do you guys think? Will she stay or will she go? Not that it makes any difference, because I have more control over this story than you can shake a stick at, and you should only trust me as far as you can throw me.
Anyway.
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
