Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Doctor Who.
The Feeding Ground
Part One
Rose stared down at the ornament she had just bought for her Mother. The gems glistened in the light from the main console. The Doctor was busy adjusting settings for heading home.
"Doctor, what do you think of this as a birthday gift for my mum?" Rose asked as she presented him with a small sphere ornament.
"Let's have a look shall we?" The Doctor grabbed it from his companion's hand and began to examine it closely.
"Well the gemstones are obviously fake, the setting is all wrong and not to mention it's a bit tacky isn't it?" The Doctor said as he looked up to see Rose glaring at him.
"But I'm sure your mother will love it."
"Nice save, you." Rose said with a smile
"Oh me, I'm the master of saves. Heroics and such, Free of charge, although some compensation would be appreciated, maybe a fruit basket with lots of bananas."
"It will be nice to get home. That planet with all the midgets certainly wasn't the best place to get a present."
"Hey, they prefer little people, mind you and they were nice little Martians, very smart compared to you lot." The Doctor argued.
"Excuse me, this coming from the Nine-hundred year old Time Lord that thought that insulting them was a greeting?" Rose teased.
"I got them mixed up with the Venusians, very easy to do. They're a race based on opposites. If you insult them you are actually paying them the highest compliment."
"You are the smartest man I know and possibly the smartest man in the entire universe." Rose said with a large grin.
"Thanks, oh." The Doctor said realizing her joke.
"Remind me to pay you back for that one later. I know we'll go see the little people again!" The Doctor yelled.
"Hmmm, My Mother or Midgets, that's a hard one. I still don't know why we couldn't go visit those ice tombs on Mars."
"Trust me it wasn't a good idea. There are some old friends of mine there, not exactly the friendly type."
"So Birthday, Birthday, Birthday. When was your Mother's birthday?"
"February 1st, do you think I should wrap this up first?"
"Probably help with the surprise, of course you can't give it to her?"
"What do you mean?" Rose asked.
"Where are you going to tell her you bought her gift?"
"At a little shop….on Mars." Rose murmured.
"That little knick knack is made from materials from 2348 if it were to fall in the wrong hands back in your time who knows what could happen." The Doctor stated.
"I know I just wanted to get her something. Try to make up for not being with her."
"Well hey this trip we can stay as long as you want. Just remember to leave that here." The Doctor said as Rose reluctantly nodded her head.
"Speaking of presents I got you a little something." The Doctor said handing his companion a small sphere.
"What is it Doctor?" Rose asked.
"Flash grenade, don't you like it?" The Doctor wondered.
"You couldn't get me a gun?"
"Never liked guns, they're too violent. I've been meaning to talk to Mr. Heston about that."
Rose sat the ornament on the floor by her backpack and put the grenade inside it.
"Doctor when were you born?"
"A long time ago and trust me when I say long. It was a warm day, back home."
"Doctor." Rose said as she went to put her hand on top of his.
He stared up at her and their eyes locked.
"We're here." The Doctor said as he moved towards the door.
"Are you coming?" He yelled from outside.
"Just a minute, I'm getting my pack." Rose said as she began to load clothes into her bag.
Suddenly the ornament she had bought caught her eye. She held it in her hand and stared at it. A small red light shot out from one of the gems and shine up and down over Rose's face. It stopped and Rose put it into her pack as if she didn't notice. She soon joined the Doctor outside.
"Here we are home sweet home." The Doctor said as a car flew by overhead.
"You were saying?" Rose joked.
"We might be a few decades off." The Doctor said.
"Rose, Rose!" Mickey yelled running up to them.
"Mickey?" Rose was astonished.
"I heard the Tardis coming. I knew it was you it had to be." Mickey said eagerly.
"You look so…" Rose was cut off.
"Old? Rose you have been missing for thirty years. I heard the Tardis I thought I was dreaming. But it's you Rose, it's really you."
"What do you mean I've been missing? We were just headed back." Rose stared back at the Doctor.
"Alternate timeline. You're future changes every time you step into the Tardis. Probably should have mentioned that." The Doctor explained.
"You've changed my future?"
"Well don't worry; we can change it back."
"Rose you can't go, there's something you have to know." Mickey stated.
"Well what is it?"
"It's your Mum she's in the hospital." Mickey said softly.
"Is she sick?"
"Rose, get back in the Tardis!" The Doctor yelled.
"She's dying. You have to see her."
"Get back in the Tardis now!" The Doctor yelled once again.
"Doctor I have to see her. She's my mum!"
"She's not your mother, not from your time. If you go to her you will watch her die. Is that something you really want to put yourself through?" The Doctor said as Rose began to run off with Mickey.
"Rose!" The Doctor yelled after her.
