Well hello you lot, sure has been a while hasn't it? I wonder how many people even want to read this still, after all this time. I'm cringing at the old chapters these days and I really want to rewrite the whole thing but I'm not sure I have the attention span for that. This is also a really old chapter, and I might post another soon after. I had all this written ready and never put it up so... enjoy I suppose.
Alex wandered out into the console room glancing down at her clothes. The denim skirt was not something she'd often wear, but it felt safe to go with paired with the dark leggings and the Tardis blue shirt tucked in. Rose had finally, after much begging, managed to convince her to wear something different and even abandon 'that ridiculous bow tie'. To which she spent twenty minutes lecturing the blonde that bow ties were cool. In the end though, Rose won out. Something about being the companion. How do that humans do that? She wandered into the console room as the Doctor was talking.
"Late 1970's? You'd be better off in a bin bag" He told Rose, stopping when Alex wandered in. "Blimey" His eyes went wide as he looked over what she was wearing and Alex immediately felt self-conscious. "How did Rose do that? I can never get you out of anything you decide is your outfit in any regeneration"
"Alex regenerates?" Rose frowned slightly.
"I've spent most of my life between human and Time Lord form. But humans are too fragile" Alex told her in response. "All the same, the Doctor's right. I pick something, I wear it. I don't change my clothes for any old human"
"It's a good thing I'm special then" Rose smiled smugly.
"Hold on you two, listen to this" The Doctor spoke up suddenly, placing a CD in the console and a song started up. "Ian Dury and the Blockheads" The Doctor commented, wandering around the console. "Number one in 1979" The girls laughed to themselves.
"You're a punk!" Rose pointed out, looking rather excited by this news.
"It's good to be a lunatic" The Doctor sang along, flipping a switch and working across the console. Alex laughed, moving to join him.
"This regeneration's taste in music leaves something to be desired" She pointed out, still laughing.
"How dare you!"
"That's what you are" Rose kept on. "A big old Punk with a bit of Rockabilly thrown in"
"Would you like to see him?" The Doctor asked her, childishly ignoring Alex, who made a face and nudged him with her elbow.
"How d'you mean?" Rose asked, mouth open in shock. "In concert?"
"What else is a Tardis for?" The Doctor returned. "I can take you to the battle of Trafalgar, the first antigravity Olympics-"
"Uh, but we won't take the bike" Alex cut in quickly.
"Oh but I like the bike" The Doctor whined.
"That bike is bloody terrifying" Alex told him seriously. "If you take the bike take Rose, I'm not going"
"That's not where we're going anyway" The Doctor huffed, moving around the console again to input co-ordinates. "Ian Dury at the Top Rank, Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st of November, 1979. What do you think?" He looked between both of them now. Rose glanced at Alex first, who shrugged.
"I enjoy any concert" She told the two. Rose grinned.
"Sheffield it is!" She declared happily.
"Hold on tight!" The Doctor called to them. The girls instantly grabbed hold of the console, knowing when he said it he really meant it. It wasn't any worse than it had been before, but if anything, it was fun. Alex knew she should really be stabilising them but decided otherwise at the Doctor's grin. She could let him have his fun every once in a while. That being said, that didn't include the hammer he had in his hand. He was banging on the console in time to the music, shouting out the lyrics until the Tardis landed with a thud and threw them all to the floor, the music cutting out.
"Oh, I don't think she likes your music" Alex commented, setting off the other two laughing. Alex made a face at them before letting her head fall back, laughing herself at the ridiculousness of her own life. Suddenly the Doctor was standing above her, yanking her up quickly before rushing off. She had to steady herself so she didn't fall right back down, glancing up to see him do the same to Rose.
"1979, hell of a year!" He told them excitedly, rushing off to get his coat. Alex went the other way around the console, giving her blue coat a longing look. "China invades Vietnam. The Muppet Movie, love that film. Margret Thatcher, urgh. Skylab falls to Earth"
"With a little help from us" Alex added, following the Doctor out the door now that he'd gotten his coat on.
"Nearly took off my thumb" The Doctor remembered. "And I like my thumb, I need my thumb, I'm very attatched to…" He paused at the sight of several guns being pointed at the three of them. "…my thumbs" He finished, raising his hands slowly. The girls copied, staring at the guns warily. Rose glanced at Alex, noticing how she didn't seem to mind the guns as much. She was standing out beside the Doctor instead of how she used to hide behind him at the sight of guns. New New Alex indeed.
"1879" The Doctor realised at the click on the guns. "Same difference" He hissed in pain as Alex stomped on his foot.
"Not 'same difference'. Look at what I'm bloody wearing" She reminded him, annoyed. He glanced at her, silently mouthing an 'oh' as he seemed to realise what she was talking about.
"You will explain your presence" The man on the horse, seemingly the leader, ordered. "And the nakedness of these girls"
"Are we in Scotland?" The Doctor asked, using a perfect Scottish accent. Alex looked down at her feet as she smiled, trying her very best not to think about a certain Scottish actor she'd been a fan of in her human life. She didn't succeed.
"How can you be ignorant of that?" The man sounded confused.
"Oh I'm- I'm dazed and confused" The Doctor told him, changing tactics. "I've been chasing this- these wee naked children over hill and over dale. Isn't that right ya… timorous beastie?"
"Ooch, aye" Rose tried, failing horribly at any attempt of a Scottish accent. "I've been oot and aboot" Alex bit her lip and looked away to keep from laughing.
"No don't do that" The Doctor told her quietly.
"Hoots mon" She said in response.
"No, really don't. Really" He insisted, making her fall silent.
"Would you identify yourself sir?" The man asked, not letting up on that gun at all. Alex glanced at it as the Doctor responded.
"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon" He answered, making Alex smile at the reference to their former companion. "From the… Township of Balamory. Eh… I have my credentials if I may?" He gestured to his pocket. The man nodded and the girls slowly lowered their hands as the Doctor fumbled to pull out the psychic paper. "As you can see. A doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Dr Bell himself"
"Let them approach" A voice spoke from behind the men. Alex glanced at the carriage but was unable to see the person inside. All the same, she knew who it must be. One set of memories was an expert on Earth history, and only one person would have that much security in 1879. And her other set of memories recognised this as one of her favourite episode beginnings. But memories became harder to sort when you suddenly get nearly nine hundred years shoved back in your head after being crammed in a pocket watch for twenty years, so she couldn't quite remember what was going to happen.
"I don't think that's wise Ma'am" The man spoke over his shoulder.
"Let them approach" The woman repeated evenly. The man hesitated before lowering his gun. The Doctor made a gesture to the carriage in question.
"You will approach the carriage, and show all due deference" The man stated clearly. Alex and the Doctor gave a small salute in unison as Rose passed them before following. The man frowned slightly at the two. The three situated themselves by the carriage and one of the men opened the door to reveal none other than Queen Victoria. Alex and the Doctor started grinning immediately, much to the silent amusement of Queen Victoria.
"Rose, might I introduce Queen Victoria" The Doctor told the younger girl.
"Empress of India and Defender of the Faith" Alex finished in an equally believable Scottish accent to match the Doctor. "It is an honour to meet you, your highness. Alexandria Collins" She curtsied almost shyly, finding herself stepping closer to the Doctor as Rose took over.
"Rose Tyler Ma'am. And my apologies… for being so naked" Rose laughed nervously. Alex nodded once in agreement.
"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me" The Queen responded evenly and even respectfully. "But you, Doctor… show me these credentials" The Doctor obligingly handed over the psychic paper and the Queen looked it over a minute.
"Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector"
"Does it?" the Doctor asked, looking it over as she handed it back. "Yes, it does! Good! Good! Um… Then let me ask… Why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"
"A tree on the line" She told him simply.
"An accident?"
"I doubt it" Alex shook her head slightly.
"Your girl is correct" The Queen told him. "I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned" Alex decided to skip over the bit about the Queen calling her his. If he wasn't going to mention it, she certainly would not. Besides, she found she didn't mind people thinking of her as his. Anyone else, she would certainly be correcting them, left right and centre, Queen or not. But with the Doctor… it was just different.
"An assassination attempt?" The Doctor asked, now serious.
"What, seriously?" Rose looked between them, staring at the Queen in disbelief. "There's people out to kill ya?"
"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun" She said in response.
"Sir Robert McLesh lives but ten miles hence" The man on the horse behind them spoke up. "We'll send word ahead. He'll shelter us for tonight. Then we can reach Belmoral tomorrow"
"The Doctor, his girl and his… timorous beastie will come with us" The Queen told them.
"Yes Ma'am" The man nodded. "We'd better get moving, it's almost nightfall" Alex glanced around, just realising this herself.
"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts" The Queen told them, sounding excited about them. "Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Drive on!" She called, sitting straight once more as one of the men closed the door. The trio stood back as the carriage set off, beginning to walk behind them a moment later.
"It'd funny though, 'cos you say 'assanintation' and you just think of Kennedy and stuff. Not her" Rose pointed out, sounding confused.
"1879. She's had… ooh…" The Doctor thought about it a moment. Just long enough for Alex to interrupt him.
"Six attempts on her life" She finished.
"Six. That's what I was going to say. Six" The Doctor complained.
"Oh, sure you were" Alex waved off.
"No, I was!" He insisted.
"We both know I've always been better at Earth history" She reminded him. "Tell you what though, we just met Queen Victoria" She pointed out, grinning at Rose.
"I know!" She shot back excitedly.
"What a laugh!" The Doctor agreed, seemingly forgetting the comment about Alex's history being better.
"She was just sitting there" Rose went out, sounding disbelieving.
"Like a stamp" The Doctor inputted, making Alex laugh.
"I want to make her say, 'I am not amused" Rose told them, putting on a posh voice to mimic the Queen. "I bet you five quid I can make her say it"
"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveller in time" The Doctor told her.
"Can't, I know this one" Alex shrugged.
"Ten quid?"
"Done"
"I'm with you" Alex whispered to Rose, who grinned in response.
The three of them walked up to the house as the carriage stopped and one of the men helped Queen Victoria down. They stopped behind her as two men walked out from the house.
"Your majesty" The first man acknowledged, bowing.
"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency" The Queen responded. "And how is Lady Isobel?"
"She's… indisposed. I'm afraid" Sir Robert told them reluctantly. "Gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her. The kitchens are barely stocked, I wouldn't blame her majesty if you wanted to ride on"
"Oh, not at all!" The Queen shook her head, even as Alex and the Doctor watched Sir Robert closely, noticing his reluctance. "I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is… charming. If rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood estate" Alex smiled softly at the mention. "Now, shall we go inside?" Sir Robert hesitated, but the Queen didn't seem to notice. "And please excuse the naked girls"
"Sorry" Alex and Rose chorused, much to the Doctor's amusement.
"They're feral children" The Doctor told them, smiling even as Alex resisted the urge to glare at him. "I bought 'em sixpence each in Old London town. It was them or the Elephant man, so…"
"He thinks he's funny but I am so not amused" Rose said after him, looking pointedly at Queen Victoria. "What do you think Ma'am?"
"It hardly matters" She brushed off. "Shall we proceed?"
"So close" Rose muttered to the Doctor. Alex shook her head slightly, glancing over to make sure the Queen had gotten inside before she elbowed the Doctor at her side. He let out a soft 'oof' and Rose looked at her in shock.
"You know I don't like being degraded in early Earth" She snapped at him. "This is why we avoid the planets that still favour men. If only you could actually drive the thing, the Tardis might not have dropped us in 1879 while I was dressed for the seventies"
"I'm sorry" He told her, seeming genuine as he looked at her guiltily. Alex simply shook her head, following the Queen and the others inside. "Alex, I'll double check the co-ordinates next time, I promise"
"You do that" She threw over her shoulder. Let him be a little desperate a little longer. He'd have her forgiving him soon enough, whether she wanted to or not, no need to rush about it.
Alex walked behind the Queen as Sir Robert led them to the observatory. The Doctor followed, still glancing at her continuously when he thought she wouldn't notice and with Rose at his side. She tried her best to ignore the 'household staff' which would be suspicious even if she didn't already know. Alex gaped at the rather lovely telescope that took up space in the centre of the room and through the ceiling.
"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour" Queen Victoria assumed.
"All my father's work" Sir Robert confirmed. "Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession… He spent his money on this rather than taking care of the house or himself"
"I wish I'd met him, I like him" Alex spoke up before the Doctor could, remembering her Scottish accent as she did. "It's beautiful. Could I…?" She gestured at the large telescope a moment.
"Help yourself" Sir Robert nodded, seeming unfazed by her 'nakedness'. Alex stepped forward, moving right to the looking hole as the Doctor and Rose joined her, looking over the design.
"What did he model it on?" The Doctor asked, stopping beside Alex.
"I know nothing about it" Sir Robert admitted. "To be honest, most of us thought him to be a little… shall we say, eccentric" The Doctor laughed and Alex even found herself smiling. He glanced over at her and she gestured for him to take a look though. He obliged, trying it out as she stood beside him. He sneaked a glance out of the corner of his eye, seeming to smile slightly as he noticed she'd not walked off. "I wish now I'd spent more time with him. And listened to his stories" Sir Robert continued, glancing at the Queen.
"It's a bit rubbish" The Doctor spoke up. Alex and Rose shared a glance, grinning as she wandered over to take up a place beside the blonde as the Doctor started looking up and down the side of it. "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone way over the top, that's a stupid kind of a- Am I being rude again?" He whispered the last part, leaning over slightly to the girls.
"Yep" Rose responded.
"Yeah" Alex nodded, giving him a bemused look.
"But it's pretty!" The Doctor amended quickly, moving back so the others could hear him. "It's very… pretty"
"I think it's beautiful" Alex smiled, her voice happily genuine. The Doctor smiled fondly at her as she stopped in front of him, giving Sir Robert a grin.
"And the imagination of it should be applauded" Queen Victoria agreed.
"Thought you might disapprove, your majesty" Rose started. "Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful?" Queen Victoria simply stared at her as the Doctor rubbed at one of his eyes, trying to hide a smile and Alex coughed slightly to cover a laugh. "You could easily… Not be amused or something. No?" Rose kept on.
"This device surveys the infinite work of god. What could be finer?" The Queen returned calmly. Alex and the Doctor both shook their heads at their friend. "Sir Robert's father was example to us all. A polymath. Steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairy tales"
"Stars and magic. I like him more and more" The Doctor smiled, wandering around the telescope to have another look.
"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company" The Queen agreed, looking to Rose. "Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg"
"That's Bavaria" The Doctor whispered to her.
"When Albert was told of your local wolf, he was transported" Queen Victoria told Sir Robert then.
"So, what's this wolf then?" The Doctor asked curiously.
"It's just a story" Sir Robert dismissed.
"Then tell it" The Doctor said simply. Alex glanced at Sir Robert, who looked uncomfortable, and the man behind him, who was all but glaring at him, and resisted the urge to sigh heavily. Well, at least there was a reason the Tardis dropped them in the wrong century.
"It's said that-"
"Excuse me, sir" The man spoke up, interrupting Sir Robert. "Perhaps her Majesty's party to retire to their rooms. It's almost dark"
"Of course. Yes, of course" Sir Robert nodded.
"And then supper" The Queen added. "And… could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler and Miss Collins? I'm tired of nakedness" The Doctor looked pointedly away from Alex.
"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose asked the Queen, watching her closely. She turned and looked at Rose a moment before deciding to dismiss the comment, turning back to Sir Robert. The Doctor whispered something to Rose as she grinned. Alex stood on the other side of Rose, her arms crossed over her chest and trying not to blush in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry" The Doctor said softly, coming up behind her. "I really am sorry Alex. I didn't want to land in the wrong century" He wrapped his arms gingerly around her waist, looking down at her. She didn't meet his gaze, watching the Queen as she spoke to Sir Robert before they both left. Alex pulled away from the Doctor, going to follow but he caught her wrist, making her turn back to him. "Will you forgive me?" He asked, looking at her so sadly it took all she had to not hug him and shout 'yes'.
"'Course I will" She told him, brushing off his hold. "I'm gonna get changed" She stated pointedly, giving him a short nod as she followed Rose to the bedroom the girls were led to. They were told there would be clothes in the cupboards and they could wear whatever they found fit them. Rose grinned at Alex, moving to the first cupboard and pulling the doors open, she started looking through the rather lovely dresses.
"How do you do it Alex? He is desperate" Rose laughed, holding a dress up to herself as she twirled. Alex couldn't help but smile.
"Nah, not that desperate. Just, it'd be weird, travelling together if I was still mad at him" Alex brushed off.
"No, no, he's desperate alright" Rose told her. "I told you with the last one. He does love you"
"Why?" Alex asked bluntly, making Rose pause.
"What?"
"Why would he love me?" Alex repeated quieter.
"Alex" Rose breathed softly, placing the dress in her hands on the bed. She patted the empty spot as she sat down and Alex sat next to her. "Don't you ever think like that" She pleaded suddenly, taking her hands. "That man is hopelessly in love with you and he has good reason to be"
"You don't know" Alex shook her head, pulling her hands away. "What I've done. I really don't deserve him"
"You told me" Rose corrected. "You told me what you did, but that wasn't your fault" There was a pause. "When was the last time you slept?" Alex glanced at her but said nothing. "Alex, have you been sleeping?" Alex shook her head slowly.
"Can't" She told her quietly.
"Nightmares?" Rose guessed. Alex cleared her throat loudly, standing.
"We should get on with our clothes" She announced, moving back over to the cupboard. She heard Rose sigh but decided to ignore it as she moved through the dresses, trying to decide on one she'd like to wear. Rose stood a moment later, moving towards the second dresser and opening the doors. She screamed and Alex was immediately at her side. She paused, faltering slightly at the sight of the young maid cowering in the bottom of the dresser. Rose glanced at her and she gave a small shrug, prompting her to kneel down in front of the frightened girl.
"It's alright, we won't hurt you" Rose told her, voice gentle so not to scare her. "My name's Rose, this is my friend, Alex" Alex gave a small nod when the girl's eyes fell on her. Best to let Rose do the talking, she'd decided. She stood back by the bed to let her coax the girl out of her hiding space. It was only a minute later that the three of them were sat on the bed. Alex on one side with Rose beside the young maid on the other side.
"They came through the house" The girl explained to them, still sounding scared. "The incitements. They took the Steward and the Master. And my lady"
"Listen" Rose told her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We've got this friend, he's called the Doctor. He'll know what to do. You've gotta come with me"
"Oh, but I can't Miss" She insisted quickly.
"What's your name?" Alex asked evenly, speaking up for the first time. The young girl looked over at her almost fearfully, having not been comfortable with her like Rose yet.
"Flora" She told her quietly. Alex gave her a small smile.
"Flora, everything will be fine" Alex told her. Flora watched her a moment, seeming to notice something about her that made her seem so genuine. Alex knew it was something about to do with her psychic field that was always lingering around. Humans weren't fully susceptible to it, so they couldn't use it properly but they could feel the basic emotions being projected towards them. Something Alex had discovered early in life that was a great help in moments like these.
"There's new people arrived downstairs. Soldiers and everything" Rose continued for her. "They can help us. I promise. Come on, okay? Come on" She stood, taking the younger girl with her. One look at Alex had her moving to the door first. She opened it a crack and peeked out before stepping out carefully, checking that the coast was clear before signalling for Rose to follow. They started down the corridor, Rose being careful to look behind them as Alex walked just a few steps ahead.
Alex cursed under her breath at the sight of the unconscious guard just around the corner. She knelt down quickly, checking his pulse at his neck as Rose joined her.
"Oh, Miss. I did warn you!" Flora cried, her terrified voice trembling as she stood just behind the two.
"He's not dead" Alex told Rose. "Just unconscious. Drugged most likely" She listed off, checking for any sign of being knocked out physically. "Yeah, drugged" She confirmed. There was a muffled scream from behind and by the time Alex turned there was another and Rose disappeared from her side. Alex had just turned to see the monks dragging the girls away when another was in front of her. He swung for her and there was pain before everything went black.