Time Can Be Rewritten
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
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Boom Town
The Tardis loved Captain Jack as much as Rose did, clearly because as she wandered around his room curiously, as he lounged on the massive emperor sized bed. She peeked into his ensuite and gaped at the size of the bathtub; you could practically swim in it.
"You know, the ladies love me," He grinned at her, as the Tardis hummed pleasantly in their minds, "Actually, everybody loves me."
She snorted, "So modest!"
"So, Rosie," He waggled his eyebrows at her, "How is he?"
"How is who?"
"The Doctor. In bed." Jack rolled his eyes at her, "How is he? He looks all rough and possessive, but he seems the type to take his time all sweet and slow."
Rose flushed, "We haven't, I mean we-"
Jack sat up on his bed, mouth hanging open in shock, "You mean, the entire time you've been together, you've not even-"
She cut him off as she sat next to him on the bed, "Not even seen each other naked."
"Well, that won't do at all, Rosie!" He looked aghast, "No wonder he looks so frustrated tinkering away under the console all the time."
Rose snorted, "That's just him."
"Is it him…" He quirked an eyebrow, a lascivious smirk playing over his lips, "Or just him since he's met you?"
"Do you think he wants to?" Rose asked hesitantly, even after the 'dancing' conversation, he had never given any interest in anything sexual.
"He might be a Time Lord with superior biology and all that," Jack scoffed, "But he's still a man, Rosie," He looked her up and down, "And with the way you look, the way the two of you can't stop touching and cuddling up together?" He grinned, "Trust me, he wants to." Jack cupped her cheek gently, "Remember, you're 19, he's hundreds of years older, he's probably holding himself back for you. So, you have to make the first move."
"But how?" That made sense, she could have kicked herself, the Doctor would never pressure her into anything, "With Mickey all I'd have to say was 'you wanna', and his pants would already be off." Jack snorted, "But the Doctor, he's not like any other bloke."
He hummed, "I'll say."
She hit his chest playfully, "Shut up."
"Well, normally, I'd say seduction is key, but…" He paused, "I think with our stubborn Time Lord, your just gonna have to come out and say what you want."
Rose fell back onto the bed, "Oh, God."
"That is what you want to be saying." He teased solemnly.
She whacked him.
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Rose had rolled her eyes and flushed as the Tardis flooded them both with amusement when Jack promised to stay locked up in his room whilst she attempted to get her some and to tell them all about it after.
She couldn't believe she was being ganged up on by the pair of them. The Tardis hadn't been such a pervert before, even with Jack's influence. As she stumbled directly into the console room as she stepped out of Jack's bedroom, she knew the ship was messing with her.
The Doctor snorted as she scowled up at the ceiling, muttering, "Interfering, perverted old ship."
The Tardis hummed in amusement, the lights dimming slightly as music started up, making the two of them jump.
The Doctor's eyebrows raised in surprise, he looked at Rose, "Wanna explain?"
"Oh, God," Rose put her face in her hands, "This is humiliating."
He got up from under the console and walked over to her, the Tardis thrumming excitedly as he pulled her into the captain's chair with him. Even if Rose was refusing to look at him.
"What's wrong?" It was only the genuine concern in his voice that made her peek up at him.
"IwannasleepwithyouandtheTardisisinterfering." She rushed out, burying her face back in her arms.
He smirked as he caught her words, and couldn't resist prodding, "I didn't quite catch that?"
"Don't make me say it again." Rose whined at him making him chuckle.
"Look at me." The Doctor said softly, his voice turning serious. She slowly raised her head to meet his eyes, his eyes were gentle as he looked at her, "I never want you to feel embarrassed about your desires, especially not if you wanna take things further."
"I wasn't sure if you…" She looked at him hesitantly as she trailed off.
The Doctor let out a sigh, "Admittedly, physical relations are seen as archaic and primitive by my people. We're a telepathic race after all, it's… more intimate. But I'm the last of the Time Lord's this body has more primal desires than my previous incarnations."
Rose cocked her head to the side, "This body?"
He looked uncomfortable, "Time Lord's have a little trick, when we're close to death we can change every cell in our body, I'm still me just with different face and personality."
"With the same feelings?"
He grabbed her hand gently, "Always."
She smiled back at him, teasing, "So, telepathic? Does that mean you can read my mind?"
"If you let me," The Doctor said softly, "I would never without your consent."
Rose leaned against him, tucking her head under his chin, as she moved back to the original topic, "Would you want to if we… you know?"
"It's not a requirement." His voice still unbearably soft and patient, "I want you, Rose, however you'll have me. You're in control of how we proceed. Nothing happens that you don't want."
Her body flushed with pleasure at that, "And if I do want something more, physical?"
The Doctor pulled her full in his lap, she squeaked as he smiled up at her, "Whatever you want."
She leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. "I want."
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Her body fell back against the bed as her Doctor devoured her mouth, her back arched as he ran his hands up her sides. Her body felt like it was on fire as his body firmly pressed against her, she could feel his desire as she pulled him closer.
He pulled away only to tug the jumper off, throwing it to the side as Rose threw off her jeans with surprising speed. His blue eyes were burning with desire as he looked over her, he removed his own trousers as she bit her lip, trailing her hand gently down his chest. He was beautiful.
The Doctor snorted, she flushed as she realised, she said it out loud, the soft look in his eyes making her smile sweetly back at him as she added, "You are, you're perfect."
"You need your eyes checking," He chuckled, "But since we're talking about perfection…" He trailed off, his eyes drinking her in hungrily, he leaned down, gently touching the top of her shorts, he glanced up at her, she grinned down at him, the Doctor smirked as he kissed up her thigh, nuzzling into her inner thigh, so close to where she wanted him. He slowly pulled down her shorts, revealing her most intimate area to him as her breath hitched, her eyes dilated with desire and want, he kissed her pulse point softly, before moving upwards, licking up and twirling his tongue around her womanhood.
She moaned as gasped as he focused his complete attention on her. Her mind was fuzzy with pleasure, she couldn't remember anything before his mouth on her, and ohh, what a mouth.
As she came down from her haze of pleasure, she felt him kiss up her stomach, reaching back as she arched her back, unhooking her bra, he threw it to the side as he mouthed at her breasts, his other hand gently teasing as the first rubbed her clit. Overwhelming her entirely as he took control.
She couldn't do anything other than respond as he expertly explored her body. He claimed her mouth in a possessive kiss, entering her slowly, filling her to the hilt as she gasped as writhed with pleasure.
"You, okay?" His voice was gentle and filled with love.
"Ye-es." Rose gasped out, unable to think as she scratched at his back, her legs wrapping firmly around his waist as she attempted to pull him deeper into her as they made love.
Her body ached pleasantly as she rested her head on her Doctor's chest, the beat of his hearts lulling her to sleep, a smile on her face as she muttered sleepily, "My Doctor."
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As soon as she and the Doctor had emerged from her room, Jack had immediately grabbed her and dragged her away.
"So," Jack grinned at her, "You were in there for quite some time." Rose hummed noncommittally, smiling as Jack nudged her playfully, "Come on, tell me, how was it?"
"God, you're such a pervert!"
He leered at her, "But you love it."
She snorted, "I'm not gonna give you details."
"So, you DID sleep together!" Jack crowed gleefully, "Was he slow and sweet, intimate and tender-" He cut himself off as Rose groaned hugging her knees and burying her face. "Oh, that is so adorable!"
"I hate you so much."
"No, you don't." He grinned wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down to the bed with him.
OoOoOoOo
A week had passed since Rose had slept with her Doctor for the first time. It hadn't been the last either, it seemed Jack and the Tardis were conspiring to trap the two of them together as often as they could and whilst they didn't share the same room, they switched between her room and his every night, even though the Doctor didn't need to sleep as much as her, he held her as she fell asleep and was there when she woke up, either tinkering with something or reading quietly. It warmed her heart every time she thought about it. To know he wanted to stay in her presence as much as she wanted to be in his.
He was currently talking to Jack about some technical stuff which she didn't really understand, despite living this twice, he had told them they were stopping off in Cardiff so the Tardis could refuel. She had called Mickey last time to bring her passport, a poor excuse really, but she had felt guilty. It hadn't stopped her from continuing to take advantage of him.
She picked up her phone and dialled her mum's number instead.
"Hi, mum." Rose said softly.
"Oh, hello sweetheart!" Jackie responded happily, "Have you finally convinced the Doctor to bring you home for a while?"
"I don't need to convince him," She laughed, "He'll bring me home whenever I want, but we're stopping in Cardiff for a bit if you wanna come and meet us? We can drop you back home after."
"Oh, I wish I could, sweetheart, but I can't get up to Cardiff," Jackie paused, "Tell you what, I'll see if Mickey wants to go and meet y-"
"No, mum!" Rose tried to cut her off.
"He can bring you your passport."
"I don't need-"
"Maybe not on those alien planets, but what happens if your stranded in Brazil or something? Then you'll need it!"
"Why would I be stranded in Brazil?!" Rose asked incredulously.
"I don't know! Ask that fella of yours." Jackie shot back, "Now stop complaining, Mickey'll meet you in Cardiff, ta-ra!"
Rose gaped at her phone in shock as Jack and the Doctor had stopped what they were doing to watch her in amusement
She let out a cry of frustration, "She hung up on me!" The Doctor snorted, Rose scowled at him, adding defeatedly, "Mickey's coming to meet us in Cardiff."
"Why?" The Doctor asked, disdainfully.
Jack grinned, "Who's Mickey?"
"Mickey's my ex and he's coming cos for some reason my mum's gotten it in to her head that I could be stranded in a foreign country and need my passport."
The Doctor rolled his eyes, "Tell her you don't need it!"
"I tried!"
He scowled, Jack chuckling as he went over to the console and started to mess around as he said reluctantly, "Fine, we'll stay long enough to meet Rickey."
"I'm sure Mickey doesn't wanna come here either," She walked over and nudged him with her elbow, "What with you provoking him." His lips quirked upwards as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Jack watched them from the captain's chair, "You two are so sweet." The tips of the Doctor's went red as Rose grinned back at him.
OoOoOoOo
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Must be Rickey." The Doctor said from where he was sat in the captain's chair, Rose curled up on his lap.
Jack grinned, "I'll get it."
"Be nice." Rose said as the Doctor smirked.
"I'm always nice." He winked at them before he turned and opened the door and popped his head out, "Who the hell are you?"
They could hear Mickey respond indignantly, "What d'you mean, who the hell am i? Who the hell are you?"
"Captain Jack Harkness." There was a distinct lack of flirtation in his voice, "Whatever you're selling, we're not buying."
Mickey barged past, "Get out of my way!"
Jack winked at the Doctor who smirked back, "Don't tell me, this must be Rickey!"
Rose rolled her eyes at her boys.
"Here comes trouble!" The Doctor grinned, considerably more cheerful now Jack had joined in, "How're you doing, Rickey boy?"
"It's Mickey!"
"Rickey!" Jack smirked as he and the Doctor corrected him.
Rose got up and wrapped him in a hug, "Ignore them."
"You look good." Mickey said quietly.
She grinned back at him, "You too, you been seeing someone?"
A hesitant smile curved his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes, "I'm going out with Trisha Delaney."
"Are you happy?"
"Yeah."
She beamed at him, "Good, she's nice and you deserve that. Someone nice."
"Thanks." Mickey huffed out a laugh, he patted his pockets then, "Oh, before I forget."
He handed Rose her passport, she rolled her eyes as Mickey grinned, "Thanks."
"So, what're you doing in Cardiff?" He motioned over to Jack then, "And who the hell's Jumping Jack Flash?"
"This is Captain Jack Harness-"
"A Captain of what?"
"Sexiness." Jack responded automatically, letting his eyes roam up and down Mickey as he smirked at him. Mickey scowled back at him as Rose and the Doctor snorted.
"We just stopped off. We need to refuel." Rose explained, "Thing is, Cardiff's got this rift running through the middle of the city. It's invisible, but it's like an earthquake fault between different dimensions,"
The Doctor continued, "The Rift was healed back in 1869,"
"Thanks to a girl named Gwyneth, cos these creatures called the Gelth, they were using the rift as a gateway, but she saved the world and closed it."
Mickey looked bewildered as Jack picked up the conversation, "But closing a rift always leaves a scar, and that scar generates energy, harmless to the Human Race,"
"But perfect for the Tardis, so just park it here for a couple of days, right on top of the scar and,"
"Open up the engines, soak up the radiation,"
Rose grinned at him, "Like filling her up with petrol and off we go!"
Jack hi-fived her, "Into time!"
"And space!" The three of the shouted as the Doctor hi-fived her, lacing their fingers together as their hands touched.
Mickey stared at them in disbelief, "My God, have you seen yourselves? You all think you're so clever, don't you?"
"Yeah." The Doctor and Rose said in unison, grinning at each other.
"Yep!" Jack gave Mickey a friendly slap on the cheek.
OoOoOoOo
They all bundled out of the Tardis.
"Should take another twenty-four hours, which means we've got time to kill." The Doctor informed them.
Mickey pointed out, "That old lady's staring."
"Probably wondering what four people could do inside a small wooden box…" Jack patted the Doctor suggestively on the shoulder and the three of them sniggered as Mickey scowled at Jack.
"What are you captain of? The Innuendo Squad?"
Jack made the 'whatever' sign to Mickey and wandered over to Rose, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Wait!" Mickey asked, "Er, the Tardis – we can't just leave it. Doesn't it get noticed?"
"Yeah, what's with the police box? Why does it look like that?"
Rose stroked the side of the Tardis fondly, "It's a cloaking device."
The Doctor grinned, grasping Rose's hand in his, "It's called a chameleon circuit. The Tardis is meant to disguise itself wherever it lands, like if this was Ancient Rome, it's be a statue on a plinth or something. But I landed in the 1960's, it disguised itself as a police box, and the circuit got stuck."
"So, it copied a real thing?" Mickey questioned, "There actually was police boxes?"
"Yeah, on street corners. Phone for help before they had radios and mobiles. If they arrested someone, they could shove them inside until help came. Like a little prison cell."
Jack looked over Rose's head at him, "Why don't you just fix the circuit?"
"I like it!" The Doctor defended, "Don't you?"
"I LOVE it!" Rose agreed happily, the Doctor beamed at her.
Mickey snorted, "But that's what I meant! There's no police boxes anymore, so doesn't it get noticed?"
Rose and Jack shared a look as the Doctor sighed, "Rickey, let me tell you something about the Human Race. You put a mysterious blue box slap bang in the middle of town and what do they do?" He put a hand on Mickey's shoulder as Mickey opened his mouth the respond, not getting a chance as the Doctor continued, "Walk past it. Now stop your nagging, let's go and explore!"
He wrapped his arm around Rose's waist, Jack's arm around her shoulders as they walked ahead. Mickey followed them, annoyed.
"What's the plan?" Jack asked curiously.
"I don't know!" Rose bounced excitedly as the Doctor answered, "Cardiff. Early 21st century. And the wind's coming from the… East. Trust me – safest place in the universe."
Rose snorted, "Not anymore."
Jack and the Doctor looked at her curiously. She shrugged at them as she explained, "He said it was the safest place in the universe, clearly he's jinxed it."
Jack laughed as the Doctor rolled his eyes.
OoOoOoOo
Rose giggled as Jack continued his story, "I swear, six feet tall and with big TUSKS-"
"You're lying through your teeth!" The Doctor chuckled.
Rose gave Jack her tongue in tooth grin, "I'd've gone bonkers! That's the word – bonkers!"
He grinned at them, "I mean, it turns out the white things are tusks and I mean tusks! And it's woken, and it's not happy-"
The Doctor snorted, "How could you not know it was there?"
"And we're standing there, fifteen of us, NAKED-" Rose leered at him, and Jack smirked at her, "And I'm like, oh, no, no, it's got nothing to do with me! And then it roars, and we are running. Oh, my God, we are RUNNING! And Brakovitch falls, so I turn to him and I say-"
Mickey cut in, grinning, "I knew we should've turned left!"
All four of them roared with laughter as Jack agreed, "That's my line!"
"I don't BELIEVE you; I don't believe a work you say EVER, that is so brilliant!" Rose giggled, "Did you ever get your clothes back?"
He grinned, "No, I just picked him up, went right for the ship, full throttle, didn't stop until I hit the space lanes, I was shaking! It was unbelievable, I'm freaking out and by the time I got there I was fifteen lightyears away I was like this." Rose turned away from him as the Doctor stood up and grabbed a newspaper from someone.
He showed them the headline with Margaret the Slitheen, "And I was having such a nice day."
"Who is that?" Jack asked curiously.
"Margaret the Slitheen." Rose answered quietly.
"Ah."
Mickey looked between them, panicked, "You mean one of those things escaped Downing Street? I thought they were all dead!"
The Doctor rolled his eyes as he walked out of the café, Rose and Jack exchanged a look before they followed him, dragging Mickey behind them.
"Why is it still here then?"
"That's what we're going to find out." The Doctor sighed.
They strode up the steps to the town hall and entered the building, walking up the steps into the entrance hall.
Jack looked around, "According to intelligence, the target is the last surviving member of the Slitheen family, a criminal sect from the planet Raxacoricofallapatorius, masquerading as a human being, zipped inside a skin suit." He looked at them as he continued, "Okay, plan of attack, we assume a basic fifty seven/fifty six strategy, covering all available exits on the ground floor. Doctor, you go face-to-face, that'll designate Exit One, I'll cover Exit Two, Rose, you're Exit Three, Rickey Smith, you take Exit Four. Have you got that?"
Rose bit back a smile as Mickey looked confused and the Doctor looked mildly surprised.
"Excuse me," The Doctor cut in sternly, "Who's in charge?"
Jack looked at him, smiling sheepishly, "Sorry, awaiting orders, sir."
The Doctor's voice deepened with authority, "Right. Here's the plan," He paused and then beamed at them, "Like he said, nice plan. Anything else?"
Rose snorted as Jack grinned, "Present arms."
They pulled out their mobiles and said in unison, "Ready."
"Speed dial?"
They each pressed a button with a beep.
"Yup." The Doctor nodded.
"Ready." Rose agreed.
"Check." Mickey responded.
Jack gave them a lazy grin, "See ya in hell."
OoOoOoOo
The Doctor's voice suddenly rang through Rose's mobile, "Slitheen heading North."'
"On my way." She started to run.
"Over and out." Jack answered.
Mickey's voice came last, "Oh, my God."
She ran down a corridor, apologising as she pushed past two secretaries, paperwork going flying. She burst out of an exit and saw Margaret the Slitheen climbing down the scaffolding from her balcony and ran towards her, she could see Jack running from the other direction as the Doctor climbed down the scaffolding after Margaret.
He called mockingly, "Margaret!"
The Slitheen bolted down the only clear exit as Jack, Rose and the Doctor converged at one end.
Jack threw his arms up, annoyed, "Who was on Exit Four?!"
"That was Mickey!" Rose answered, out of breath.
Mickey finally appeared, panting, "Here I am!"
The Doctor glared at him, "Mickey the Idiot!"
Rose rolled her eyes and defended, "Oh, be fair – she's not exactly gonna outrun us, is she?"
Margaret suddenly vanished in blue light.
"What was that you were saying about jinxes, Rose?" Jack asked, frustrated, "Now we're NEVER gonna get her!"
Rose just smirked at him, wrapping her arms around the Doctors, "Oh, the Doctor's very good with teleports."
He produced the sonic screwdriver and held it in the air with a dopey grin, clicking it once. Margaret reappeared, much closer, running towards them with a self-satisfied smile which faded as she realised where she was, she grinded to a halt, hurriedly changing direction. She vanished again, and again the Doctor clicked the sonic screwdriver.
She reappeared, again running towards them. She turned around, vanished again, and again, the Doctor clicked his sonic screwdriver causing her to reappear once more, in front of them, exhausted and gasping for breath.
The Doctor smiled cheerily, "I could do this all day."
Margaret put her hands up, "This is persecution, what can't you leave me alone? What did I ever do to you?"
The Doctor raised his eyebrows, "You tried to kill us and destroy this entire planet."
She shrugged dismissively, "Apart from that."
They headed back into the building, into the exhibition room, the Doctor looked at Margaret, "So, you're a Slitheen, you're on Earth, you're trapped. Your family get killed but you teleport out, just in the nick of time. You have no means of escape. What do you do? You build a nuclear power station." He gestured to the model in the centre of the room as Rose, Jack and Mickey examined it, "But what for?"
"A philanthropic gesture. I've learned the error of my ways."
"And it just so happens to be right on top of the rift."
"What rift would that be?" She asked innocently.
Jack quirked an eyebrow, "A rift in space and time. If this power station went into meltdown, the entire planet would go schwwwupboom!"
The Doctor looked down at the model, "This station is designed to explode the minute it reaches capacity."
"Didn't anyone notice?" Mickey asked, "Isn't there someone in London CHECKING this?"
Margaret the Slitheen scoffed, "We're in CARDIFF. London doesn't care! The South Wales coast could fall into the sea, and they wouldn't notice – oh…" She paused a look of disgust covering her face, "I sound like a Welshman. God help me, I've gone native."
"But why would she do that?" Mickey looked at the Doctor, "A great big explosion – she'd only end up killing herself."
"She's got a name, you know." Margaret interjected snidely.
Mickey glared at her, "She's not even a she, she's a… thing."
The Doctor eyed Margaret, "Oh, but she's clever…" In one swift movement he prised the middle section off the model and flipped it over, revealing a giant circuit board underneath, "Fantastic!"
Jack looked at it excitedly, "Is that a tribophysical waveform macro-kinetic extrapolator?"
The Doctor grinned, "Couldn't've put it better myself."
"Ooh, GENIUS!" He took it off the Doctor, admiring it before he turned to Margaret, "You didn't build this."
"I have my hobbies. A little tinkering…"
"No, no, no," Jack shook his head, "I mean, you REALLY didn't build this. Way beyond you."
"I bet she stole it." Mickey accused.
Margaret replied offhandedly, "It fell into my hands."
"Is it a weapon?"
Jack placed the extrapolator onto the floor, "It's transport. You see – the reactor blows, the rift opens, phenomenal cosmic disaster, but THIS thing shrouds you in a force field, you have this energy bubble, zzhum, so you're safe. Then you feed it coordinates, stand on top, and ride the concussion all the way out of the solar system."
"It's a surfboard!"
Jack nodded, "A pan-dimensional surfboard, yeah."
Margaret scowled at them as she said bitterly, "And it would've worked-"
"If it wasn't for us meddling kids." Rose muttered as Mickey snorted, the Doctor and Jack looking amused.
Margaret glowered, "I would've surfed away from this dead-end dump and back to civilisation."
Mickey was incredulous, "You'd blow up a whole planet just to get a lift."
The Slitheen smirked, responding snidely, "Like stepping on an anthill!"
The Doctor stared up at the poster, "How'd you think of the name?"
"What, Blaidd Drwg? It's Welsh."
"I know, but how did you think of it?"
"Chose it at random, that's all I dunno. Just sounded good. Does it matter?"
The Doctor turned to them, frowning, "Blaidd Drwg."
"What does it mean?" Mickey asked.
Rose answered softly, "Bad Wolf."
The Doctor looked at her, "Everywhere we go. Two words, following us. Bad Wolf."
"How can they be following us?"
The Doctor stared at her before he shrugged himself out of it, "Nah! Just a coincidence! Like hearing a word on the radio then hearing it all day. Never mind! Things to do!" He clapped his hands briskly, "Margaret, we're gonna take you home."
"Hold on, isn't that the easy option," Mickey asked, "Like letting her go?"
Rose looked at him gleefully, "You mean we actually get to go to Raxacoricofallapatorius!"
He grinned back at her as Jack laughed before Margaret cut in coldly, "They have the death penalty."
They all turned to look at her, "The family Slitheen was tried in its absence many years ago and found guilty. With no chance of appeal. According to the statutes of government, the moment I return, I am to be executed. What do you make of that, Doctor? Take me home and you take me to my death."
Margaret stared coldly into his eyes as the Doctor shrugged indifferently, "Not my problem."
OoOoOoOo
Margaret stared around the Tardis in awe, "This ship is IMPOSSIBLE! It's SUPERB. How do you get the outside around the inside?"
The Doctor scoffed, "Like I'd give you the secret, yeah."
"I almost feel better about being defeated. We never stood a chance. This is the technology of the Gods."
The Doctor snorted, "Don't worship me – I'd make a very bad God. You wouldn't get a day off, for starters… Jack, how we doing, big fella?"
Jack continued wiring the extrapolator to the Tardis as he replied, "This extrapolator's top of the range," He peered over at Margaret, "Where did you get it?"
"Oh, I don't know… some airlock sale…?"
"Must've been a great big heist. It's stacked with power."
The Doctor turned to Jack, "But can we use it for fuel?"
"It's not compatible… but it should knock off about twelve hours. We'll be ready to go by morning."
"Then we're stuck here. Overnight."
Margaret announced, "I'M in no hurry."
Rose snorted, but inwardly she agreed, she wanted more time with her leather Doctor but it was running out. After he regenerated, this version of him would be gone, lost to her forever. The Tardis hummed sadly in her mind, wrapping around her in the mental equivalent of a hug.
"We've got a prisoner!" Mickey cut in, "The police box is really… a police box."
Margaret smiled unpleasantly, "You're not just police, though. Since you're taking me to my death, that makes you, my executioners. Each and every one of you…"
"Well, you deserve it." Mickey responded coldly.
"You're very quick to say so. You're very quick to soak your hands in my blood. Which makes you better than me, how, exactly…?"
"We haven't killed countless people, or tried to destroy planets for profit, or worn the skin of a dead person as a suit." Rose glared coldly at her, stepping protectively in front of Mickey, "We are taking you home, which is the safest thing for Earth and probably countless other planets, the death penalty may await you, but what did you do to earn that punishment? What else have you destroyed, stolen or killed in the name of making a profit?"
Margaret's mouth snapped shut as the previous tension lifted, Jack and the Doctor pointedly ignoring the Slitheen as Rose just raised an eyebrow. Mickey wandered outside as the Slitheen pinpointed him as the weak link and stared at him silently.
"I'm just gonna check on him." Rose said, following him outside.
OoOoOoOo
"I'm okay." Mickey said before she could say anything, "It's just a little weird in there, and not all of that is to do with the… Slitheen."
Rose smiled sadly, "I'm glad you came though, even if I didn't need my passport."
He laughed, "Jackie wouldn't stop nagging me."
"That's mum." Rose agreed, "You're still family to me, Micks."
"Yeah."
He looked at her confused as she grabbed his hand and led him away from the Tardis.
"I never did explain why I left with the Doctor, did I?"
He stumbled after her, "What'd you mean?"
"I mean," She sighed and turned to face him, leaning back against the wall, "I mean, that wasn't the first time I met the Doctor, I-"
He cut her off, "What're you saying, Rose?"
"I got trapped somewhere… about a year into the future." Rose looked up at the sky, "I was separated from the Doctor with no way back, but Bad Wolf – the words that are following the Doctor and me? That's me, I use the words as a message to myself, to lead me back to 'im, but sometime after I somehow sent my memories back into my 19-year-old body, back in that basement in that shop."
"I can't believe this!" Mickey started to walk away.
"Micks, please just-"
He spun around, frustrated, "Just what, Rose?"
"Listen." She pleaded with him, desperately.
He sighed and settled next to her against the wall, "Am I in your future?"
She grinned, "Mickey Smith, Defender of the Earth."
"If you're gonna make fun…"
"I wouldn't." She said seriously, "Some stuff happens, and you, Mickey Smith save both me and the Doctor. Just like Downing Street, the world was in your hands." He snorted, "He changes you know, in the future, not too far away, Christmas Eve, he regenerates to save my life and his entire body changes."
"This actually happens." His voice was disbelieving.
"Yep."
"Tell me."
"I can't, not everything."
"Tell me what you can."
She grinned at him, "You believe me?"
He snorted but nodded at her, "I take it you haven't told the Doctor?"
"Nope, only you."
Mickey preened at little at knowing something the Doctor didn't making her roll her eyes at him, Rose took a breath before she made a choice. She explained everything, how she had changed it and what was going to happen right up until Bad Wolf. She shrugged, "I can't say anymore, but eventually you come with us."
"Really?" He sounded incredulous. Rose just grinned back at him, he smiled then, "I think this is the first time I've understood you in a while, it makes sense now… you and 'im. You had an entire life with him before you ran off with him." He smirked then, "It's also nice to know something big ears doesn't."
"Oi," She poked him, "Be nice!"
He sniggered as they made their way back to the Tardis, he seemed lighter, smiling more easily as if a weight had been lifted from him. And it had been really, the insecurities that he wasn't good enough faded as he realised Rose had loved the Doctor for two years, it hadn't been a spur of the moment decision, not in this life at least.
Rose fell against Mickey as the ground shook, a huge bolt of lightning coming from the Tardis. She grinned at him, holding out her hand, "You coming?" He laughed, taking her hand as they ran for the Tardis.
As they burst into the ship, Mickey asked, "What is it? What's happening?"
Margaret laughed gleefully, "Oh, just little me!"
Rose pushed Mickey towards Jack and the Doctor as the Slitheen freed one of her arms from the skinsuit, she made to follow but Margaret caught her around the neck. Mickey went to dart forward after he realised what had happened, Jack reached out and pulled him back.
The Doctor had also rushed forwards, but Margaret's next words stopped him cold in his tracks, "One wrong move and she snaps like a promise."
"I might've known." The Doctor glowered at her.
Margaret moved closer, Rose choked slightly as she did, "I've had you bleating all night, poor baby, now shut it." She turned towards Jack, "You – flyboy – put the extrapolator at my feet." Jack hesitated, looking to the Doctor as Margaret tightened her grip, he nodded, Jack placed the extrapolator at her feet, Margaret smiled pleasantly, "Thank you, just as I planned."
Mickey snarled, "I thought you needed to blow up the nuclear power station."
She chuckled, "Failing that – if I were to be… arrested… then anyone capable of tracking me down would have considerable technology of their own. Therefore, they would be captivated by the extrapolator. Especially a magpie mind like yours, Doctor. So, the extrapolator was programmed to go to plan B!" She pulled roughly on Rose's hair making her cry out as Mickey, Jack and the Doctor tensed, "To lock onto the nearest alien power source and open the rift," She looked around the Tardis in awe, "And what a power source it found… I'm back on schedule… thanks to you."
Jack shouted, panicked, "The rift's gonna convulse – she'll destroy the whole planet."
"And you with it!" Margaret added spitefully. She threw her arm out to the side, Rose made a strangled noise as her air was cut off, Margaret stood on the extrapolator, smiling maliciously, "When I ride this board over the crest of the inferno all the way to freedom. Stand back boys… surf's up."
Suddenly a panel in the console opened directly in front of Margaret, drawing her attention as a blinding white light flooding out. Rose closed her eyes tightly, careful not to look.
The Doctor spoke calmly, "Of course, opening the rift means you'll pull this ship apart."
"So sue me."
"It's not just any old power source. It's the Tardis. My Tardis. The best ship in the universe."
Margaret responded nastily, "It'll make wonderful scrap."
"What's that light?" Mickey asked.
"The heart of the Tardis. This ship's alive. You've opened its soul."
Margaret started breathing heavily, her voice taking on a dreamy tone, "It's… so bright…"
"Look at it, Margaret," The Doctor encouraged.
"… Beautiful…"
"Look inside, Blon Fel Fotch. Look at the light."
Margaret's grip on Rose loosened as she stared into the light, a blissful smile on her face. Rose gasped and stumbled away, Jack and Mickey rushed forwards to catch her as Margaret turned to look at the Doctor and said softly, genuinely, "Thank you…"
She was engulfed by the bright light. When it cleared, her bodysuit flopped down onto the extrapolator.
The Doctor darted around the console quickly as he commanded, "Don't look – stay there – close your eyes!" He slammed down levers and the gap in the console closed, shutting out the white light. "Now, Jack, come on – shut it all down. Shut down!" Jack rushed over to the console, "Rose, that panel over there – turn all the switches to the right."
Mickey stood awkwardly as the three of them worked, the shaking eventually lessened, and everything went back to normal as the Doctor said, "Nicely done! Thank you, all."
Mickey asked quietly, "What happened to the Slitheen?"
The Doctor looked at him startled as Jack answered, "Must've burnt up. Carried out her own death sentence."
The Doctor shook his head, "No, I don't think she's dead."
"Then where'd she go?"
He smiled, "She looked into the heart of the Tardis, and even I don't know how strong that is. And the ship's telepathic – like I told you, Rose. Gets inside your head. Translates alien languages. Maybe the raw energy can translate all sorts of thoughts."
The Doctor knelt beside the skinsuit, Rose, Jack and Mickey followed suit. He reached inside the skinsuit and pulled out an egg, "Here she is!"
"She's an egg?" Mickey asked, astounded.
"Regressed to her childhood."
Jack repeated, "She's an egg."
"She can start again! Live her life from scratch. If we take her home, give her to a different family, tell 'em to bring her up properly, she might be alright!"
"Or she might be worse."
"That's her choice."
"She's an egg." Mickey said again.
The Doctor nodded happily, "She's an egg."
"Well," Mickey announced standing up, completely bemused, "That's enough weirdness for one day, I should head home."
"Do you wanna lift?" Rose asked softly.
"Yeah, if you're offering, besides…" He trailed off.
Rose teased, her tongue poking out, "You gotta get back to Trisha?"
Mickey rolled his eyes, smiling, "Shut up."
The Doctor watched them amused, "We can leave now, we're all charged up."
Jack added, "After that we can go to Raxacoricofallapatorius."
"Just stop by and pop her in the hatchery," The Doctor grinned, nodding towards the egg, "Margaret the Slitheen can live her life again! A second chance."
The engines rose and fell as the Tardis faded away.
"Rose!" They heard Jackie shout from outside the doors.
She glared at the Doctor who looked sheepish, "You had to land in my mother's living room."
Mickey sniggered, "You better pray you haven't messed up the flat, or they'll be hell to pay."
The four of them exited and saw Jackie stood in the doorway to the kitchen. "Rose!" Jackie rushed over as she saw her daughter and wrapped her into a bone crushing hug.
Mickey grinned as Jackie pulled away to flirt with Captain Jack, he leaned forward wrapping Rose in a hug himself as he whispered, "I'll see you soon, yeah?"
She smiled, "Yeah."
Mickey looked back at the Doctor, "You take care of her, Doc."
"Always." The Doctor nodded; Mickey mock saluted as he left the flat.
"Oh, my God." Rose complained as she realised Jack was flirting with her mum who was responding very positively, the Doctor snorted, "Jack, that's my mother."