I'm back. But sorry; this one will not be that great.
I'm going on holiday for two weeks now, and I didn't want this to get too behind. So I've updated. Sorry for the pointlessness and poor quality.
Spoilers: Fairly early on. Before Jack came along, anyway. Completement out of sync with the series.
Disclaimer: I don't own it - it's the BBC's. Which is hardly fair. I think they should share it out among the dedicated fans and bring Christopher Eccleston back.
I think I'm in serious denial. Anyone else feel the need to send a letter begging for CE back? Hehehe. Because the BBC's really going to be able to do that... We could at least ensure he's in the Christmas Special. And tells Rose he loves her?
Mentions for all those lovely reviewers:
Jessie Wings: Thank you. I'm glad you think it's interesting. Even though the story idea is incredibly random. I swear, I have no idea where it came from.
EbonyBeach: Hehehe, thank you.
Grace: Don't worry about missing any chapters – loads of people have said that they missed chapter 2. Dunno why. Can't really give you any hints about what the Doctor's picking up. Except that it's nowhere near as exciting as you think... Christopher Eccelston is the best ever. No doubt about it. And yeah, this is kind of meant to be a Rose/Doctor fic. But it may not come across that well. Thanks for the review!
Erulasse: Oh my God, I love that cat story. I will definitely try and work that in. Thank you :D.
golwenadanath: For lovely, encouraging people like you, I continue. Thank you so much for your lovely review. And I know what you mean. This was meant to be really short but it now seems to be making its own decisions.
Princess Jennifer: I do want to know about your hair! I like hair – I have long hair too... Anyway, thank you for your review. I love jealous Doctor...
MaidM: Rose is doing pretty well in this fic, isn't she? So many guys... Anyway, thanks for your really kind review.
Eevee: Yeah, I love your reviews. Once I start dialogue I really can't stop. At all. As you can probably see. Next chapter, I will work hard to include more description. Thanks for reviewing!
Grimley Fieendish: You're so mysterious. I will take that as a... compliment? Thank you :D
sora's-evil-twin.the-Bad-Wolf: Oh dear, I've got everyone all worked up about what the Doctor's picking up. Hmm... lol. Thanks for your kind words and I like your name.
VampireHelsing: Aw, thanks. :D
GinnyGin: Thank you vair, vair much. Here I am, updating! I hope you like this one.
Erin Richards: Wow, thanks so much for your review. It was really useful – all the information was great. So thanks very much for that. And also, thank you for the compliments. It's nice to know it's Doctor Who-ish. Thank you!
So I hope you all enjoy this. And if you don't, please tell me why...
"Rose," whined the Doctor, "this isn't necessary."
"Um, yeah, it is," assured Rose, firmly, "Because right now that guy thinks he's on Earth when he's actually on an alien planet. Ingesting loads of alien imitations of Earth drugs."
"But he's happy," tried the Doctor, "Look at that great big grin on his face..."
They both turned and looked at where Ben was sitting with a group of other hippies, sharing a joint. The young guy's hair was ruffled and he was wearing a dazed, but blissful expression.
"Doctor," sighed Rose, "he may be happy now, but what about later? He deserves to be back on Earth where he can make his own decisions."
"You're overreacting because he's pretty." said the Doctor, calmly, "He can make decisions here. It's practically Earth here, anyway."
"Except that it's full of aliens."
"Nice aliens."
"Aliens who clearly kidnapped him. I mean, how many people here were originally kidnapped from Earth?"
The Doctor shrugged. "Ask Fridem. Probably not many."
"I thought you fought against injustices like this!" exclaimed Rose, exasperated, "Some people are being kidnapped and taken to a foreign plant against their will. How is that different to other stuff we've tried to stop? I bet if he was some girl you wouldn't think twice."
"Maybe I wouldn't," said the Doctor, stiffly, "I just keep remembering what happened last time I let you have a boyfriend onboard."
"Not my boyfriend," muttered Rose, "Anyway, we'd only be dropping him on Earth. We're not talking about a full time companion or anything."
"I might not be able to land us in the '60s," tried the Doctor, a little desperately, "We might end up in the '80s and that would be even worse."
"Doctor," said Rose in mock surprise, "are you doubting the TARDIS' abilities?"
"No, the TARDIS can do anything..." he trailed off as he noticed the triumphant smile on Rose's face. "Fine. But we're only dropping him off. That's all. It'll be one quick trip. No sleepovers and bringing him along on trips. He gets on and gets off."
"Thanks," said Rose, gratefully, throwing her arms around him and giving him an affectionate hug.
"Alright," said the Doctor, pretending to grumble. "Go and tell him the good news. Although he probably won't want to leave."
Rose released him and with a final smile went off to tell Ben some story about being on their way to Kent and did he want a ride? And failing that, would he accompany them on a random trip?
Then, she planned to meet up with Fridem and ask him whether there were any other kidnapped Earth hippies. With the Doctor's help of course.
The Doctor leant back against the wall as he watched Rose hurrying off to join the group Ben was currently part of. The confident and smug way she was walking showed that she had clearly won a fight. A fight the Doctor should never have let her win. But when she opened her eyes all wide like that there was nothing he could do. Saying 'no' to Rose Tyler was like licking your elbow – impossible and painful, no matter how hard you tried.
He watched as she reached Ben and held out a hand to pull him to his feet. The Doctor felt himself stiffen a little as he watched Ben place his hand in Rose's and stand up. He had no right to... It was ok. Rose had dropped his hand as soon as Ben was upright.
But the stupid little ape was, if the Doctor wasn't mistaking, flirting with Ben! He was sure that the smile she was giving the guy was a bit over the top. And did she really need to be giving him that particular, flirtatious look? Was it necessary to be fiddling with that strand of hair? She was only telling him that they could drop him home, for God's sake. And Ben was lapping it up, the Doctor could tell. Hadn't he seen the hug Rose had given him just moments before?
The Doctor folded his arms and scowled at the floor.
That was how Rose found him when she came back over about five minutes later.
"You know," she said, laughing, "you look exactly like a sulking seven year old. A seven year old human."
The Doctor cleared his throat and stood up straight.
"How did the boyfriend take it?" He asked brightly.
"Very well. He's really grateful and I've arranged it so he meets us tonight, just before we leave. That way, you don't have to spend any longer than necessary with him."
"Oh great," said the Doctor, sarcastically.
Rose laughed happily and linked her arm through his.
"Now, are you going to show me some more of this place, or what?"
"Why doesn't Benny-Boy show you around?" asked the Doctor, somewhat petulantly.
"What?" asked Rose, comically, "You think I'd choose a common human over a Time Lord? Don't be stupid. Come on."
The Doctor cheered up a bit at that and led her back out the gates of the house. He took her into the town centre which was pretty close by. It contained an idyllic centre of worn and faded shops selling unfamiliar objects, health basics and some basic clothing. Rose wanted to take a picture of the shop openly dedicated to selling drugs, but she'd left her camera on the TARDIS. A souvenir shop was tucked cleverly down an alley – noticeable enough so day trippers could pick up a memento and hidden enough away so the genuine hippies wouldn't be offended by the materialism of it all. Rose bought a badge saying, "I've been to Peaceandlove, man" which glowed red when she was at peace with herself. It currently remained blue. They also stumbled inadvertently on a small concert which contained a mass of bodies swaying in time to some acoustic music. They stayed for a while but left after people began chanting and demanding for "Peace! Love!"
Later, they sat on a small bench outside a park. Instead of children playing on the swings, there was a long haired young woman swinging higher and higher, her eyes wide and unblinking. Beneath her on the grass, lay a young man who was reading something to her.
Rose sat beside the Doctor sipping at the cold drink he'd got for her. It was green, slightly gloopy and seemed not unlike a milkshake. Even though it was unrecognisable, it was drinkable and apparently very, very healthy. It was also surprisingly refreshing in the midday heat.
"Weird," Rose breathed out suddenly, as she stared around her.
"What is?" asked the Doctor, looking at her expectantly.
"Is the whole planet hippy-ised?"
"Pretty much, yeah," replied the Doctor, turning his attention back to his drink.
"But isn't the planet huge?"
"S'not that big. Fridem's rich, but he couldn't afford an Earth sized planet."
"But there are countries? And there are hippies on every part of every country?"
"I suppose so. But it's nowhere near as big as Earth. I'd imagine that this area around here is about... one tenth of the whole planet."
"That's still pretty big. And there are enough aliens to fill it up. Enough aliens obsessed with hippy lifestyle."
"Well the '60s was a very popular decade," explained the Doctor. "Loads of aliens could wander around Earth, pick up a few good books, and all the humans were too stoned to realise. And they had fun drugs that many aliens hadn't heard of. So yeah, there are quite a few aliens wanting to come here."
"Weird," said Rose, again.
The Doctor shook his head and grinned, staring resolutely ahead of him. Rose drank through the straw noisily, but stopped when she felt something hard and unfamiliar go into her mouth. She gently put the cup next to her on the floor. She'd had enough.
"Did you get that thing you wanted from Fridem?" asked Rose, lazily as she leant back against the wood of the bench. She could have sworn that the bench bent slightly to maker her more comfortable.
"Oh," said the Doctor, moodily and beginning to scowl, "No, I didn't. He wouldn't give it me."
"Really?" asked Rose, surprised, "Why not?"
Rose blinked as something like a flash of anger seemed to pass across the Doctor's face. "He thought he could blackmail me or something. One thing in return for another, but slightly less friendly."
Rose sat up and looked at him in interest. "Blackmailed you? What were you trying to get from him, anyway?"
"Just something," answered the Doctor, going vague, "Something I partly needed for the TARDIS." He frowned again, and looked at Rose out the corner of his eye, "But it doesn't matter now. We can get it somewhere else."
He stood up and picking up Rose's cup, threw it in the bin, along with his.
"How'd you know I'd even finished?" complained Rose, as she too stood up.
"You didn't want any more," said the Doctor, simply. "We should get back to the manor now."
"Ok. What did he blackmail you with?" asked Rose as she linked her arm through his again and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Nothing I was prepared to accept," answered the Doctor casually.
"I want to talk to him, when we get there," said Rose, confidently. "I want to ask him about this kidnapping stuff."
"Ok," said the Doctor, pleasantly, "But I have to come too."
Rose looked at him in surprise, but smiled. "That'd be great, thanks."
He smiled back at her, but it was slightly distant, as if he was worrying about something else as well.
When they got back to the manor, they were greeted by Ben. He smiled as they approached and Rose went up and met him warmly.
"I'm on time," he said in a friendly way to the Doctor, "Rosie said you hated it when people were late."
The Doctor grunted disinterestedly.
"Don't worry about him," Rose reassured Ben. "We just want to go speak to Master Fridem before we leave."
At that moment Fridem himself came out from the front door wearing smart clothes and holding a single rose. His face brightened when he saw Rose standing at the bottom of the steps and he hurried down to meet them.
"I'm so glad you're here. It's truly a pleasure." He handed her the rose politely, "I know it's a cliché and you probably always get it, but I couldn't resist." He smiled expectantly at her.
"Um, thanks," said Rose, looking confusedly at the rose in her hands.
"I didn't think your friend here would agree," confided Fridem, eyeing the Doctor, "But clearly he's seen sense."
"Would you excuse us?" asked the Doctor curtly, as he took Rose's arm and led her slightly down the path to a safe distance.
Fridem turned, unbothered and began talking animatedly to Ben.
"Ok," said Rose, wearily, "What's going on? Not that I don't enjoy having charming young men handing me flowers."
The Doctor winced a bit as she mentioned the bit about 'charming young men', but ignored it as he pulled her closer and talked a little more quietly.
"That's what he was blackmailing me with," explained the Doctor in a low voice.
"What, flowers?" asked Rose, bewildered
"No," said the Doctor, impatiently, "He was blackmailing me with you. He wouldn't give me the...He wouldn't give me the part I needed unless you had dinner with him. I said no, of course, but clearly he assumes it's going ahead. He thinks you're having dinner together."
I would love you forever and ever if you reviewed.
(Hope that doesn't put you off)