The Cafe of the Third Eye Chapter 6, a doctor who fanfic

The Cafe of the Third Eye

Where Do I Go from Here?

Sabrina Lonewalker

The TARDIS materalized with a loud thump and was still. It was several minutes before the door opened and a tall, lanky man with spiked hair, squared off sideburns and a pinstripe suit and a brown trench coat stumbled out. He had been crying, his eyes red rimmed and puffy. His face looked like he had been sad for a very long time. He stood there for a few as if getting his bearings, trying to remember where he was and why he had come here. It had been a hellish few weeks and there were things that had happened he didn't want to remember but that he could not forget, no matter how hard he tried.

Then, he looked over at the doors to the cafe and for once, he was afraid to go inside. He was afraid of what Allegra would sing to him. He had usually welcomed Allegra's songs but now, he was afraid of them because of what had happened back at Canary Wharf. He could still his voice screaming Rose's name as she was pulled towards the opening of the Void. He had been relieved when Pete had stepped through the opening and had caught Rose and disappeared with her but, that had seperated Rose and him, forever. The walls had closed between dimensions and Rose was locked away in another dimension.

He remembered standing against the wall she had disappeared through for the longest, the right side of his face pressed against the wall, thinking he could sense Rose on the other side till finally, he had turned and walked away, walked back to the TARDIS and had come here. He stood outside the Cafe and just looked at the doors. "Should I go in and risk what Allegra will say to me?" He thought to himself. "I could just get back in the TARDIS and leave." As that thought hit him, he heard a rude noise from his beloved machine and he grimaced. "I get it," He said out loud, "We don't leave until I do go in, right?" TARDIS answered in the affirmative and he muttered, "Traitor."

He knew she was right, however. He had come here for a reason and he had to face it now or run forever. He sighed, he was tired of running. He walked over, opened the door and walked into the cafe. He sat at his usual table, in the back corner and watched the rest of the clientile as they milled around, talking, getting drinks and speculating about what Allegra would sing that night. The waitress walked over to his table, "Hello, Doctor. What will you have, tea?" He smiled, "Yes, please." She nodded and went off to get it.

He looked at the stage and saw that Allegra's band was setting up for the evening. He went back in his mind to the one time his Eighth self had come here, after leaving Grace behind on Earth. He had been drawn here and what he had seen around Allegra still had him puzzled. he could have sworn she existed in multiple times all at once but that was suppossed to be impossible, wasn't it? Who was she, what was she? Maybe someday he wouold finally figure it out. The waitress returned with his tea and he thanked her.

Allegra walked out towards the stage and stopped. He was here and he was in such pain, such heart tearing, soul wracking pain and she knew why. He had just lost his Rose but Allegra could see what he couldn't see, that he would have her back, if only for a short time but now, he was hurting. The song that flashed in her mind held questions, no answers but right now, all he was doing was asking questions. As she thought on it, images began to flasn into her mind, images of the Doctor and Rose, images she could use in singing this song for him. She nodded and mounted the stage to mild applause. She smiled, whispered to her lead guitarist and took her usual seat. She locked eyes with the Doctor for a few seconds then, the intro began.

"Autumn days
Lying on a bed of leaves
Watching clouds up through the trees
You said our love was more than time

It's colder now
The trees are bare and the nights are long
Can't get warm since you've been gone
And I can't stop singing sad songs"

He looked up sharply, 'How did she know?' He thought. How did she know about that btime on New Earth when he and Rose had reclined on the grass on his spread out coat? How could she know about that? Then there was Rose saying she would be with him 'Forever'. How did allegra know? He settled to listen to the rest.

Where do I go from here?
Tell me where do I go from here?
Said you'd take me through the years
So where do I go from here?"

That was the question he had been asking himself but had been afraid to say out loud. Now, Allegra was asking it for him, Where was he to go now? Without his guiding star, where would he go?

Lovers plans, like falling leaves on windy days
Flutter past and they fly away
I thought I knew you all so well

And I need you now
I need to feel you in the night
I need your smile so warm and bright
I wish my mind could let you go

He couldn't let her go, that was just it, he thought. 'I can't let her go, she's so much a part of me I just cannot let go of her.' Then, those questions again, tearing at his heart and mind.

Where do I go from here?
Tell me where do I go from here?
You said you'd take me through the years
So where do I go from here?

You said that you'd take me though the years
So where do I go from here?"

As Allegra's voice trailed off at the end, the tears were flowing down the Doctor's face. He didn't even notice when allegra sat down across from him till he looked up. There were tears in her eyes as well. "Doctor?" was all she said. He managed a small smile. "You did it again, girl, just like always." Allegra smiled, "It wasn't so hard this time, you were broadcasting as soon as you landed." He ducked his head, "Sorry," he mumbled. Allegra smiled, "Don't apologize. Want to tell me about it? I get the feeling you need to talk to somebody."

He looked at her and realized, she was trying to be a friend and he needed one. Allegra motioned to the waitress and ordered her own drink and let the Doctor talk about Rose and what had happened. By the time he was done, it was dark outside but Allegra listened. He looked at her. "Thanks." She smiled, "Hey, you needed a friend. Listen, you will find her again, ok?"

He looked at her, "How do you know that?" Allegra smiled, "All I can tell you is that she's looking for you. Doctor, she will be back, ok? I know." She smiled at him, got up and went back to the stage but, before she did, she looked back. "I don't usually do this but stay, I have a message from her for you." His brown eyes widened. Allegra never sang two songs for the same person but, this was a strange situation. He stayed.

TBC