A/N:
I'm always listening to music while I read and write fanfic. So I'm going to start listing some that go along with specific chapters & characters.
The Doctor & Scarlett's Theme: "Love Dance" by Cirque du Soleil
The next morning, Donna made her way sleepily to the kitchen on the TARDIS to make a cup of tea. So much had occurred in the last few days. But even with her new alien Time Lady body, she noted to herself, she still didn't like mornings, and it seemed she still required a cup of tea before she became anything close to capable of polite conversation.
As she stepped into the open doorway of the kitchen, she saw Scarlett's back. Scarlett was was wearing similar clothing to what she had worn just a few days before when she first came on board the TARDIS, the top made of wrapped linen fabric, the pants made of a similar woven material to that of the top, both were in a matching deep purple fabric.
It took Donna a moment to realize what was taking place on the counter in front of Scarlett. The other newest Time Lady was pouring a cup of tea from a teapot. Donna's mouth gaped open and she froze as she saw, just off to the left side of Scarlett, a pan of eggs was being stirred by a spoon, but neither of Scarlett's hands were holding on to it.
"What. The. Bloody…!" Donna screeched, but she didn't finish, as simultaneously the large wooden spoon that had been stirring the eggs dropped into the pan and Scarlett's body turned to see the commotion.
"Oh! Donna!" Scarlett quickly glanced between Donna and the pan. "I'm so sorry." She hurried to move the pan off the burner, then rushed to Donna, who was still gawking in the direction of where the pan had sat. Scarlett rested a hand on Donna's shoulder. "I'm sure that was quite the sight! Please, come have a seat. You appear to be quite shocked. Let me make you a cup of tea."
At that moment the Doctor came running in, with Jacob and Jack hot on his heels. "What?! What's wrong?!" He looked between the two ladies and into the kitchen to see if there was a fire or some other sign of danger.
Scarlett continued to look at Donna apologetically as she moved her towards the table and rubbed her shoulder as she encouraged her to sit down. "I've given Donna quiet the shock. I thought I'd be efficient and while fixing myself a cup of tea, I was preparing some breakfast for all of us. I seem to have forgotten that some aren't accustomed to the use of telekinesis. I'm sure it appeared that a ghost was stirring the eggs as I calmly poured the tea."
Donna blinked and finally looked up at Scarlett. "Telekinesis." She said the word slowly. "So, you really were doing that? That's—"
"—brilliant!" Jack interrupted with a grin and completed her sentence. "Is that a Teni trait or Time Lord?" He looked between Scarlett and the Doctor.
Scarlett looked at the Doctor with a slight smirk. "Would you like to answer that, or shall I?"
"Well," the Doctor drew out as he ruffled his hand through his hair. "Both, I suppose. Gallifreyans, and so, by virtue of their ancestry, also Teni, had both telepathic and telekinetic abilities. However, when the Teni left, Gallifrey focused more on time and space travel, strengthening the Time Lord characteristics. The Teni focused on their mental powers, it's now one of their greatest strengths." The Doctor considered a moment. "Only time I've ever attempted it was in The Year That Never Was." He glanced at Jack. "And that was with the minds of the whole of Earth strengthening me. But, I suppose, or at least I would think, that perhaps I could get back into practice if I tried." He looked to Scarlett, the proposition directed to her. "Should catch on again pretty quick, eh?" He grinned as he finished his thought.
"Oh!" Jacob tilted his head to the side. "Oh, I remember that year. Just accessed that memory—" He paused a moment. Donna was nodding, obviously remembering as well. Jacob continued, "but I don't remember telekinesis.
Scarlett sighed. She knew Jacob was incredibly concerned about what information had been blocked from his mind. It would bother anyone but was probably particularly disconcerting to him as when he looked in the mirror, he saw the Doctor, but the memories in his head were all bits and pieces. "I really am sorry, Jacob, that things aren't neat and tidy in your head, for you and Donna. I couldn't exactly be precise when I was blocking things out in the middle of the meta crisis. I had to work quickly before the meta crisis took hold. I promise when things settle down on Teni, I will go back in and tidy things up. Make sure I'm only blocking that which is absolutely necessary. I'll have the Doctor assist me, we'll allow you to keep as much as we can while still allowing for our privacy and protection." She looked to both Jacob and Donna. "Agreed?"
Jacob and Donna looked at each other quietly for a few moments before nodding. "Yes, I think we'd like that. Thank you." Donna spoke up this time.
"Are you two communicating telepathically already?" The Doctor questioned their silent glances at one another.
"Just a little. So far, it seems we can understand a lot just from facial expression, however. But I'd like to get more practice with the telepathic abilities—and the telekinesis for that matter," Jacob mentioned, and Donna nodded in agreement.
"Maybe I could…," Scarlett began, but stopped as quickly as she started, frowning at herself. "No," She reconsidered and shook her head. "Let me get through these meetings. I have some ideas, but I must focus on what's ahead of me the next few days, then I can consider the future, and whatever that holds."
"That seems fair." Donna smiled at Scarlett and squeezed her hand. "Now—did those eggs get ruined or will we have breakfast soon?"
Scarlett smiled back, relieved to be let off the hook for the time being. And happy at the idea that she might have the chance to help her new friends find some peace and completion in what had been a tumultuous few days. "Yes, breakfast! I should be able to salvage something, and we'll have a meal soon! Take your tea and go relax in the library, I'll let you know when everything is ready."
She turned back to her work and noted that Jack and Jacob both slipped in beside her separately to pour themselves a cup of tea before heading out. She also noted to herself that she had not seen the Doctor do the same. She glanced sideways and saw him leaned against the end of the counter, watching her work. Her eyebrow shot up as she carefully retrieved the spoon from the eggs and placed them back on the heat.
Are you sure you weren't just showing off? The Doctor let a small smile creep onto his lips as he gently pushed the thoughts out to her.
She audibly cleared her throat, but didn't look back at him, instead, focusing on pulling more ingredients from out of the refrigerator. You think I would do such a thing? Show off?
Nah, not really. He watched her a few more moments before he released his thoughts to her again. Before, when you stopped yourself. You were thinking about teaching all of us to strengthen our minds, weren't you? Would you teach me? How to strengthen my abilities again? My telepathy isn't too rusty, but you are amazing. And that whole telekinesis thing. Don't know if I'd be using it to prepare breakfast, but it would sure come in handy when performing repairs on the TARDIS, to be able to get to things my hands can't reach.
"I'd like that, yes." She switched between thinking and speaking with him with ease. "That is, if things work out. If I get to stay. It's why I reconsidered bringing up the idea." She stopped what she was doing a moment, trying not to be overwhelmed by what the next few days might hold for her future. She cleared her throat again and tried to refocus on the task in front of her. "Should we have toast?"
"Why are you the one making breakfast anyway? We're headed back to your planet for you to go into important meetings, I should be making breakfast for you." He stepped over and held his hand out for the utensil in her hand.
"I don't mind, you know. I enjoy cooking." She held tight to the spoon in her hand.
"Nevertheless, let me do this. Please. Donna has gotten me accustomed to helping in the kitchen and I've actually gotten quite good at a few things. Let me show you. Now please, sit."
Scarlett relented, handing him the spoon. She moved to sit down at the table and smiled as she spoke, "Donna—she's been good for you." She watched him continue her preparations.
He smiled back. "Oh yes, she has. She's brilliant. Can't wait for you two to get to know each other better. You didn't have much time to get to know Martha either, we'll have to swing back round to her some time, so you can chat. You'll love her story about when—" He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the concerned look in her downward turned face. "What is it? What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "You're talking as if I'll be able to hop right back onto the TARDIS and go off adventuring." The look of fear on her face overwhelmed the Doctor as he saw tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm worried it won't be so easy. What if I must stay on Teni for months? Years?"
"Then I guess I had better find a place to park the TARDIS close to the citadel, maybe a place of my own so I'm not getting in the way watching you while you work. Maybe you can help find me some work to do. When Jack is ready I'll drop him back off on Earth. We'll see if Donna and Jacob want to visit Earth for a bit too, but they may want to stay and explore Teni." He was going to continue rambling on before she interrupted him.
"Doctor!" She looked genuinely shocked. "How can you possibly be so easily prepared to stay on Teni for that long?"
"How could I possibly want to leave?" he answered her question with one of his own, equally shocked. "Scarlett, I left you before and I almost lost you. I'm not losing you again. I wasn't kidding when I told you yesterday, I'm staying till you kick me out."
"But Doctor," she pleaded. "You are a traveler, an adventurer, you—"
He interrupted her, finishing her sentence, "—made a promise to you before I left the first time. Nothing has changed."
"But that's been three years for you! You must have moved on. Martha. Donna."
"Moved on?" He stopped what he was doing and turned to look her in the eyes. "Martha and Donna, they have been my companions. I explained to you what being a companion meant before I left. Now Martha, she fancied me, but I pushed her away because, well, it could never be like that. And she eventually moved on, albeit after some terrifying ordeals. I was denying my heartbreak over not hearing from you by talking about Rose." He moved on to his next companion, explaining, "Donna and me—she's my best friend. You see that, right?" He came close and knelt down in front of her, so he could be at eye level with her as she sat. "The only reason I kept you a secret was because I thought it was what you needed. It broke my hearts when I didn't hear from you as the months went by. There's been no moving on, just avoiding my own feelings…" His voice faded off as he thought for a moment. Then just as quickly his mood turned and a broad grin came across his face and he exclaimed, "But you're back now!"
Scarlett was already preparing to give an argument back. That was until the Doctor spoke again of his feelings. And then that grin, why did he have to do that? She froze with her mouth open, then slowly shut it again with a sigh. "Doctor." She paused. "Are you sure?" It had only been three months of her time since he had left, promising to give her as much time and space to consider the revelation he had made to her. She knew how she felt, but thinking it to herself and revealing it to others, even him, were two very different things. And things had been busy on Teni, keeping her distracted by her thoughts on the matter. Then the planet moved and all hell broke loose and suddenly he was back. Now he was declaring his feelings again, albeit a bit indirectly, so far—the flirting, the smiles, the looks, brief touches. Now, he was speaking again of promises and commitment. She interrupted her own revelry to remind him of things they had discussed before. "You know I can't—I won't leave my people before the time is right. I just can't run off with you. And I can't expect you to stay. It isn't fair."
"It's fair if it's my decision. I will wait as long as it takes. I will gain your trust." He stood up, speaking firmly and passionately as he paced across the space in front of her. "I will prove to you and anyone else on Teni—anyone else in the whole of time and space, that I am true in my hearts. Nothing has changed about the way I feel. I just can't leave you this time…" His face grew serious and he looked down to the floor, stopping in his tracks as he considered the next words he spoke, "not unless you decide otherwise—if you make up your mind that it's over and tell me to leave you forever."
He looked as if his hearts might be breaking at even the thought. She stood, reached out and took his hand gently into her own, catching his attention enough for him to look back up to her face, then she shared a small smile with him. "Hey, that's not what I'm trying to say. Okay? And you know," as she continued, she smiled, hoping to turn the conversation on a more light-hearted note. "At some point, somewhere down the line, knowing your adventures, we are surely going to get separated. You can't hang onto me forever."
His own smile finally returned. "I can try. We'll deal with that when the time comes, but now is not the time. I. Am. Not. Leaving. Without. You." he said emphatically, staring into her eyes. She stayed quiet now, looking down at his hand in hers. "Please," he continued, grabbing her other hand, "Scarlett, I will do this properly. I'll follow any customs, rituals, traditions, whatever the Teni people require, whatever you wish." He squeezed her hands and she looked back up into his eyes. He then finally spoke the words again that she had heard three months ago. The ones that had rocked her world, and his. Possibly altering the course of both their lives forever. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, "I love you."
"Doctor," she barely whispered and closed her eyes, but not before a few tears escaped.
He wiped the tears off her cheeks with his free hand, pulled up the hand he still held and kissed the back of it. He let out a sigh and spoke again, quietly, "I'm sorry I upset you. I just wanted you to remember how I feel before you went into that meeting with Balen."
"Not upset. I'm just a bit overwhelmed by your affection. I had forgotten how passionately you feel everything."
He smiled and feigned shock. "Three months for you and you were already starting to forget me? One more reason I must stay around, I suppose."
They both smiled and chuckled, then seemed to both decide it was time to move on and complete breakfast. As they plated all the food that had been prepared, he spoke again, "You know, I really am looking forward to seeing Teni again. You have a beautiful planet. I look forward to getting to see more of it."
She nodded. "I'll go let everyone else know breakfast is ready. You finish setting out the plates. We'll be ready to go to Teni before you know it."
An hour later, after everyone had eaten, Scarlett made contact with Teni High Command and alerted them that the TARDIS would be landing inside the citadel. It would do no good to cause havoc when their sensors detected an alien vessel. After confirming coordinates, Scarlett left the other four in the control room and went back to her quarters to change clothes. Her intention had been to change back into the outfit she had worn when she arrived on the TARDIS, ensuring their timing was such that she could go back to her suite and change into the proper attire. However, upon arriving in her room, she found a surprise waiting for her.
Laying on her bed was a replica of her royal dress garments and outer robes, exactly what she would need for her meeting. Atop it was a note: Hope you don't mind, I asked the TARDIS if she could put this together for you. She and I paid very careful attention on our last trip here, and she downloaded lots of information, so it was easy enough for her. ~D
A bit later, everyone's heads turned when they noticed Scarlett coming into the control room.
"Wowza!" Jack exclaimed and let out a whistle.
"Jack, stop." the Doctor glared. Donna and Jacob snickered.
"What? We can all appreciate the regal beauty of her Highness, the Queen of the Teni." Jack bowed slightly and winked at Scarlett. "You're all thinking it, I'm just brave enough to say it."
She smiled back, a hint of blush warming her cheeks, and slightly bowed her head in recognition. "Thank you, Jack." She turned to the Doctor. "Shall we, Doctor?" she said aloud, then in his head, Thank you for the gift.
It is very much my pleasure, the Doctor thought back to her, glancing back over her attire. The he turned back to the console and hopped about with his normal frenetic pace. He pulled the final lever and the TARDIS materialized in an alcove in an inner garden of the citadel. "My lady, your planet awaits." He smiled and spread his hand out in the direction of the TARDIS door as he bowed.
Scarlett moved towards the door and turned, looking towards Donna and Jacob, who seemed to stay close by each other most of the time, ever since Jacob had formed. "No matter what happens, I want the two of you to know that I do not, under any circumstances, regret what I did to save you both. There is nothing that can happen in those meetings that would make me want to go back and change a moment of what I've done. Donna, you are incredible, and the Doctor is right when he speaks of how important you are in the universe. I promise, whatever happens, I will find a way to help you both to settle the thoughts and memories in your minds."
She then turned towards the man in the old-Earth style military coat. "Dear Jack, you have stood faithfully as a friend of the Doctor for years, and I am grateful. Your life is a mystery, one that I hope to get to learn more about in the future."
She looked last to the Doctor, smiled, and without saying any words, turned to open the TARDIS door.
