Forgotten Roses

By Kyizi

Disclaimer: The Doctor, Rose, TARDIS, and all related items do not belong to me; to my knowledge, they're some lucky git at the beeb's.

Rating: PG (may up later on)

Pairing: Ninth Doctor/Rose

Spoilers: Lets just say any episodes 9th Doctor/Rose are fair game.

Notes: For those that asked about Kit, no, she's not a previous companion; she's all mine. For those that commented on the fact that she was a lot like Rose…well, that's kinda the point! ;) You'll see why!

Thanks for the response, keep hitting that review button!

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Part Two: By Any Other Name

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The suns have barely begun to light the streets, but already they are bustling with activity. The marketplace is large and decorated with lanterns, rugs, barely lit lamps, and a miscellaneous assortment of spices that add an almost oriental smell to the air. He glances at Kit, who is taking it all in with a wide grin. She's something of the avid explorer herself, he knows, but seeing her in this setting reminds him that the simple things can be an adventure as well. He feels a tug in his heart and a flash of memory assaults him, but he pushes it aside; he's wide awake and his dreams are only a distraction.

"Come on then," she says, looking at him with a glint in her hazel eyes. She tugs his hand and tries to pull him towards a rug stall.

"We don't need anymore decorations for the TARDIS, Kit. You promised."

She rolls her eyes. "There's no harm in looking, Doctor."

"With you, yes, there is."

"Fine. I know, let's go look at the flowers!" Her mock enthusiasm has him groaning. He's going to pay for it in every possible way she can find, but at least his pockets won't be empty by the end of it.

"Why do you want to look at the flowers, Kit? There's a whole world here."

"Yes, and whatever it is you've dragged us here for isn't likely to start for a while yet. I know you, remember, you like to sound all condescending and show me you know all about the culture before you start trouble."

"I don't start trouble, thank you very much. Trouble just likes to find me."

She smirks and reaches out to finger some flowers, bringing one to her nose. Her eyes close as she inhales the scent and he smiles at the simplicity of the act. She pulls one of them from the vase, looking at him with puppy dog eyes.

"Buy me a flower?"

"No."

"Please? These are my favourite!"

"I'm not buying you a flower. That's…mushy."

She laughs and punches him lightly on the arm. "I'm not coming on to you, Doctor. Trust me, you're not my type. Yellow roses are for friendship. Besides, they're really pretty."

"Never took you for a flower person."

She shrugs. "I'm not, really, I just always remember my grandma talking about flowers. Roses were her favourite. She was always trying to grow them in the garden, but the suns on Terra2 were too hot for it."

"Roses?" he asks, frowning, "Rose…?"

"Yeah, why?"

He shrugs and shakes his head, grinning at her. "No reason. They're pretty, those."

"Yup, almost like on that planet the TARDIS likes."

"Earth, you mean?" She nods and he frowns. "You humans are so fickle. A couple centuries off your home world and suddenly it's 'just some planet'."

Kit grins widely at him and he can't help but smile when she replies. "Yeah, but it winds you up something rotten."

He rolls his eyes and hands some money over to the flower seller, causing Kit to grin at him. "Aw, aren't you mushy."

"You know, I can just leave you here. I don't need to take you with me."

She laughs. "You'd get too bored on your own, Doctor. I think half the thrill for you is sharing it with someone. Doesn't really matter who."

He wants to correct her; tell her that the person does matter, but he can't. He remembers why he chose Kit to be his companion and he can't say that it was because of who she was, more because she was in trouble than anything else. Losing one's own ship would be hard on any traveller, but to do so on a backwater planet where women are prone to be sold into slavery was not something he could ignore. When he had first seen her he had realised instantly that she was not native; her lack of a third arm and the fact that she wasn't blue had been a dead give away. He had saved her, had fun running from her 'masters', and, in the end, hadn't wanted to get rid of her…there was something almost familiar about her, he just wasn't sure what. She was right, though, he hated to travel alone. What use was seeing the universe if you didn't have anyone to share it with? He had been searching for so long, but he still hadn't figured out what he was searching for. He had hoped Kit would help, and she did, but she wasn't…it; she wasn't the phantom woman who haunted his sleeping moments and, lately at least, many of his waking ones.

"So…you planning on explaining why we're here?" she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

"Nope."

"And why not?"

"Where would be the fun in that, eh?"

She laughs and they begin to wander through the streets. The vendors are finished setting up and they have to start avoiding the determined ones. As they approach the end of 'Seller's Lane', the Doctor glances at Kit, who is looking at him expectantly. He grins and pulls her up one of the side streets, breaking into a slow jog as they wind through the washing lines and kid's playing at every corner. The simplistic lifestyle seems to make everyone around them happy and he takes it all in, almost pained to think of what's about to happen…unless he stops it.

"This way," he says, dragging her around a corner and he hears her groan as she realises they're on an incline.

"Okay, I've decided you can drop me off on the next planet," she grumbles and he squeezes her hand slightly. He knows she's only joking, but he still feels the need to be reassured. When she squeezes back, he grins.

"Almost there," he announces gleefully.

A few moments later, they reach what can only be described as a castle. The outer walls, bleached white by the suns, are high and topped with rolls of barbed wire. The only way in seems to be the large, wrought iron gates in the centre, which are heavily guarded and buzzing with electricity. The castle itself is extensive, made of the same stone as the walls and just as white…but the only words he can find to describe it are sinister and oppressive. He wonders how that works; how something so white and lit in broad daylight can looks so sinister, but it looms precariously over them.

"Right," Kit pants, "do you…mind telling me…why we're here?" He opens his mouth to answer, but she cuts him off, "And don't you dare say, 'nope'…or anything with the same meaning."

"They're about to set off a nuclear weapon."

"What?"

"Shh!" He claps a hand over her mouth, glaring at her for her exclamation. "Why don't you just alert the media?" he gripes.

"Sorry, Doctor," she mumbles, although, through his hand, it sounds more like, "Smry, d'cr". He removes his hand and she smiles widely, cheekily, until he rolls his eyes at her. She's forgiven. "Right, so…nuclear weapon? What?"

"The TARDIS picked up a signal coming from the castle. An alien race has made contact with the leaders and decided to play, I guess. They're under the illusion they're buying something that will terraform the desert into a plentiful forest, rich with food and water."

"But it's really nuclear?" The Doctor nods and she shakes her head. "Why would anyone do that?"

"It's a bit of a laugh, isn't it?"

"Excuse me?"

"To rich university students from thriving races, who tend to get bored easily, it is."

"That's sick," Kit says with disgust.

"Says the race that used nuclear weapons on themselves."

"Hey, before I was born, thank you very much."

He shrugs. "Doesn't matter; its human nature."

"Gee, thanks, Doctor," she says, pulling her hand from his. "So nice to know you think so highly of me."

"Look, humans as a whole are stupid little apes; fascinating, but stupid. On their own, however, you can be…amazing."

"Why Doctor, are you flirting with me?"

He rolls his eyes. "Remind me to introduce you to Jack sometime."

"He's the guy that travelled with you before me?"

The Doctor nods. "Briefly. Right, I think I know how we can get it." If Kit was surprised that his attention had been split between the conversation and the gates, she didn't let it show. He pointed to the walls. "I think there's a hidden grate there."

"How do we get to it and please tell me you're not basing this whole plan on 'you think'?"

"Have I ever been wrong?" He grins widely.

"Do you want me to answer that?"

"Cheeky."

"So," she asks as they begin to crawl to the other side of the street. "What's the plan?"

"Ever seen 'The Two Towers'?" She shakes her head once. "Rose made me watch it once, trust me, this'll work."

"Rose?" she asks and he frowns.

"What about it?" He looks at the flower in her hand.

"No, you just said that Rose made you watch something."

"No, I didn't…did I?"

She nods, looking at him unsurely. "Who's Rose?"

He shakes his head slowly and looks at her and he can tell she doesn't like the look in his eyes. "I don't know."

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End of Part Two

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