Chapter 8: A Meeting of the Minds

The large group stood in utter silence for several minutes, staring at one another. "Well," Jack sighed, breaking the silence. "Since it seems that you're all here for a while, how about a tour?" he smiled his devastating smile. "A – a tour of what?" Rory asked nervously. "My place," Jack smirked. Gwen scoffed and rolled her eyes. She grabbed Jack's arm and pulled him close. "Do you really think that's such a good idea?" she whispered into his ear. He shrugged and smiled. "You worry too much." He kissed the top of her head affectionately. He turned his attention back to the others. "Any takers?" Jack asked. "Jack, I don't think…" the Doctor stated. "Me either," Rory cut in. "I mean, you don't even know us and…"

"Oh, come on. Any friend of the Doctor's is definitely a friend of mine," Jack winked. Amy giggled; she stepped over and grabbed his arm. "Sure, why not?" "Amy!" the Doctor and Rory interjected loudly. Rory shot a dark look at Jack. "I'm game, too," he grabbed hold of Amy's other hand possessively. The Doctor stared disapprovingly at his two companions. "Terrific!" Jack laughed. He looked expectantly at River. "Coming, River?" he stretched out his other hand for hers. River gave a quick look at the Doctor. "River, don't…" the Doctor begged. River smiled wickedly. "Lead the way, Captain."

The Doctor huffed and turned his back on the others. "Doctor?" Jack asked, a smile touching his lips. The Doctor turned back to glare at Jack. "Okay, then. Be back soon!" he called over his shoulder as he turned to walk toward the Information Station. He walked arm-in-arm with Amy and River, dragging Rory along behind; Gwen walked behind them, keeping her distance, with a stern look on her face and her hand moving toward her gun holster.

The small group reached the door of the Information Station. "Prepare to be amazed!" he smiled as he opened the door. River, Amy, and Rory were less than impressed by their surroundings. "This is it?" Rory snorted. Jack laughed. He jumped over the large desk and opened the door to the long staircase. "Oh, just you wait." And with that he disappeared down the stairwell. The others looked at each other; then they ran for the stairs. "Newbie's," Gwen sighed as she made her way down into the Hub.


Odessa stood close to the TARDIS, staring at the large blue panels. She placed a shaking hand on one, gently caressing it; she smiled, feeling the pulsing power hidden inside.

"You didn't want to go with the others?" the Doctor asked. She jumped, not hearing him come up beside her. "I've seen it," she smiled, not taking her eyes off of the TARDIS. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" the Doctor smiled, placing his own hand on the door. "That she is…" she nodded, smiling. The Doctor tilted his head in Odessa's direction. "Want to come inside?" he asked, already knowing her answer. She turned to look into his eyes, holding her breath. "Could I really?" He smiled and pushed the door open.

The large expanse was almost completely dark, except for the blinking lights of the console. The dim glow cast odd shadows all around them; Odessa paid them no notice, her eyes were only on the central console. She walked up the ramp to the console without a word. "No comment?" the Doctor asked, disappointed. "No, 'It's bigger on the inside,' or…anything?" She laughed out loud. "Aren't all TARDIS's bigger on the inside?"

She made her way around the console, admiring all of the buttons and dials. "What's wrong with her?" she asked sadly, not taking her eyes off of the central console. "I'm not really sure…" he replied, placing a hand on the console. "She just stopped…" he couldn't finish the thought. "I'm sorry," Odessa whispered. "Maybe…" she trailed off. She took a breath and squared her shoulder. "Maybe, I could help?" she offered, smiling.

"You? Do you even know anything about TARDIS's? They are quite complicated," the Doctor laughed. Odessa ground her teeth. "I know a lot about mechanics, engineering, and my way around a tool box," she shot defensively.

He opened his mouth wanting to retort back, but thought against it. They stood in silence for several minutes. She turned her attention back to the console, wanting to reach out and touch it, but could not bring herself to do so.

"Have you checked the thermo-couples? Maybe there's one loose or one may have slipped," she offered. "The couples are fine," he shot back. "What about the Ziton crystals? They could have burned out and…"

"The Ziton crystals are fine as well," he retorted defensively.

"You could have miss-laid your coordinates, resulting in a symbolic resonance in the trackor time crystal and that would…Why are you staring at me like that?"

The Doctor blinked. "Like what?" he shrugged off the question. "If the trackor time crystal were compromised, we would not have been able to land at all."

"True, but if the crystal was damaged, it would need power to complete repairs, which means that it would have to land at the nearest Time Rift to recharge, which is here," she shot back with a smile.

The Doctor's mouth fell open; he could not think of anything to refute her.

They stood marveling at one another for several minutes.

"Greek, isn't it?" he asked, taking a step toward her, breaking the long silence. "What is?" she asked, turning to face him. "Your name," he said back. "Yes, yes it is," she answered. The Doctor nodded slowly. "It means long journey, if I'm not mistaken; and I rarely am," he shot back. He took another step toward her. "As a matter of fact, it does," she shot back, defensively. The two stared each other down; neither one wanting to blink first. She finally looked away, smiling. She made another circle around the console; her hand hovering over the panels.

"What are you?" the Doctor asked. She turned and stared at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, looking innocently into his eyes. "You're different. You don't belong here, do you?" he shot at her. Odessa swallowed hard. "I-I don't know what you mean," she stammered, looking away and putting distance between them.

In two steps he was right beside her; he grabbed her arm firmly. "What are you?" he whispered. There was a sudden spark that flowed between them. He felt her pulse quicken, but not in the way he had expected. In that moment, he knew; he realized what she was.

He dropped her arm and stepped backward in bewilderment. "That's not possible…" he whispered, barely audible. Odessa took several steps backwards, slightly shaking. He took a step toward her again. "Two hearts? How?" he grabbed her by the wrist, squeezing hard. Odessa squirmed in his tight grasp. "You're hurting me…" she tried to pull away, but he held her fast. "How is this possible?" he asked again. "I – I don't…" she shook her head, trying to pull away again.

For the first time he really looked at her. He looked deep into her eyes. He saw the contours of her face; the way she stood and walked; the way she talked to him; the half smile and gleam in her eyes when she knew something he didn't. It was her eyes that gave her away as who and what she was.

He looked into her big blue eyes, where tears had begun to form; eyes that he should have recognized immediately. Rose, his mind whispered softly. It's Rose. His grip loosened on Odessa's wrist and she wrenched it away sharply. She took two steps backward, putting distance in-between them.

"You're…" the Doctor started. "You're a…" he couldn't help but stammer his eyes wide. "I – I…" she took another step backward, shaking her head slowly. Her hand fell on the console. The lights flashed and the engines roared to life.

"Of course," the Doctor laughed out loud looking from the console to the being in front of him, then back again. "The TARDIS. You are a child of the TARDIS!"