Bits In Between

By Lumendea

Chapter Twenty-Seven: UNIT Gossip

AN: So, I was working on the next episode of Journey, but then looked at a calendar and went 'oh Christmas episode… right' so here is a Bit in Between to tide you over until next Saturday when I'll be posting the first chapter of Sugar Plum Nightmare which is a special Christmas rewrite of Amy's Choice for Rose, the Ninth Doctor, and Jack.

….

Rose Tyler was a favorite topic amongst members of UNIT. Taking about personal lives always felt odd when you were surrounded by alien technology, and in the aftermath of most alerts, no one wanted to remember the latest terror. So, the interesting little girl who fought aliens was a safe and amusing topic. At least at first. Everyone knew the story about the Mona Lisa when she was fourteen, and there were plenty of rumors about what happened with those vanishing kids, even if there was no official record.

As time went on, the stories became more impressive, and the conversations where her name came up increased. It had been some time since the Doctor's last mission with UNIT, and all of a sudden, this girl seemed to have a connection to him. She wasn't exactly a companion. She was something different, and that left room for speculation. New recruits who learned about Rose Tyler and the Doctor suggested that she might be a grandchild, joking about the Doctor's time on Earth. The older members of UNIT were less than impressed by the perceived slight against the Doctor, but they wondered.

But new rumors began to develop. Tyler went into college, became a very attractive young woman, and the Doctor showed up to help her with cases time and time again. The UNIT enlisted couldn't help but discuss the possibilities as they saw them. It was completely innocent, of course.

"I hear that he kissed her," Meyers insisted, leaning towards Private Ross, who seemed determined to focus on his tea. "Right in front of everyone!" The cafeteria wasn't full, but there were other soldiers paying attention to their conservation at the next table over.

"Just a rumor," Anderson huffed. "It is the Doctor we're talking about."

"And Rose Tyler!" Meyers frowned at the nonbeliever. "That makes it a bit different don't you think? It's not like she's normal either. Ross, what do you think?"

"I'm not sure." Ross shrugged.

"You've met Tyler, though," Anderson pressed. "Have you ever noticed anything?"

"Nothing that I'd want to gossip about."

"You're a stick in the mud," Meyers huffed. "Look, the Doctor tends to travel with women, everyone knows that, but don't things seem different with Tyler. And think about how Benton and Lethbridge-Stewart act with her. That's different."

"Yeah, maybe," Anderson said. "But come on, everyone knows that he's never been romantic with his female companions. Why would that change now?"

"She's got a great smile," Ross pointed out with a slight smile of his own. "Bright and real. Plus, she's smart and not a damsel in distress. And she's nice." Ross shrugged a bit. "I can see it. Maybe it's a bit odd, but anyone would be lucky to be with Rose."

"Don't tell me you've got a crush too," Meyers teased. "Mickey is bad enough."

"Hey, don't be harsh with Mickey," Ross corrected. "He's known her longer than any of us. Even longer than the Doctor. Besides, nothing is happening there. They're more like siblings than anything now."

"I think Meyers is right." A young woman soldier slid into the seat beside him and smiled. "I saw the Doctor once with her. The young one with the bowtie kept flirting with her. They were acting like a couple. And Liz Shaw was acting strangely after that encounter."

"She hadn't seen the Doctor in years, Rogers," Anderson pointed out. "Plus, she just got back from the moon base."

"No, you don't get it," Rogers said. "All the higher-ups know something. There are special orders concerning protecting Tyler and her family, more than for the other companions. There's something to these rumors."

"Why do you care so much?" Anderson asked. "Got a crush on Tyler."

"Let's not pretend that most of you UNIT boys don't have crushes on Tyler," Rogers laughed.

"Well, she is hot," Anderson laughed. "And I mean, if you are right, not saying you, then she's getting busy with-"

"Gentlemen," a sharp voice called.

They all looked up only to tense as they found Brigadier General Benton standing beside the table. All the chatter at other tables had stopped as their fellow soldiers looked over at them. Meyers and Rogers' eyes were wide as if they'd been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Ross was silent and stood up from his chair. The others followed suit, standing straight and waiting for their superior to address them.

Benton narrowed his eyes at the soldiers, barely holding back his amusement at their topic of conversation. Gossip was natural, but there were lines of respect, and he hadn't liked where it seemed things were going.

"While I appreciate that gossip is a useful means of releasing stress and bonding within the ranks, I remind you that a level of respect is necessary. Especially for two people who have saved this planet more times than we will likely know."

Benton gave them all a long look before sweeping his gaze to the other tables. No one said anything, and he turned on his heel. A smile finally took over his face as he left the room. It was necessary to speak up, he didn't want to hear someone theorizing about Rose and the Doctor, but even he knew that his words would be taken as confirmation from a higher-up that something was going on. That amused him far more than it should.