Domestics and Divisions
Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter! Hope you enjoy this one and I hope to get the next one up soon.
Disclaimer: Nothing you might recognise belongs to me.
Part Sixteen: Daddy
It was Jonny who Jack saw first. The child was toddling dangerously close to the metal bars that fenced off the deep water of the Bay. He hurried forwards and scooped up his godson before looking around for the boy's mother.
Rose was sitting huddled on a rock, her head down and her shoulders shaking gently. Jack set Jonny down in a reasonably secure space before enfolding Rose's small body in his arms.
"I'm OK," she protested weakly, struggling to move out of his embrace.
"Really?" he asked disbelief evident in his tone.
She nodded slowly. "I've got to be now, Jack," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead. "That's rubbish. I'll still look after you and Jonny."
She smiled tearfully up at him. "I can't believe it," she whispered, "I want him back but not if he's gonna be like this…"
Jack sighed. "Give him time, honey. I wouldn't give up on the Doctor just yet."
"I hate him!" she cried, "Why can't he just accept Jonny?"
"He might be alien, Rose, but he's still a man," Jack responded, glad when he saw her crack a smile, "We'll make sure he stays here for a while and see what happens, yeah?" He smiled as she nodded. "And no matter what happens, I'll be here for you, I promise."
"Thanks, Jack," she whispered, giving him a hug.
"Hey, no worries," he answered easily, "Are you ready to come back to the Hub now?"
"No," Rose shook her head, "I think I'm gonna take Jonny to see the TARDIS. Want to come?"
"Might join you in a bit," he replied as they walked back across the Bay, "Got some stuff to sort out first."
She nodded. "Fair enough. See you."
"Bye, honey."
Rose smiled and reached up to kiss his cheek before strolling over to the TARDIS, gently leading her son. She stopped in front of it and felt for her key before unlocking and pushing open the door.
"Welcome to the TARDIS, Jonny," she smiled at her son who had followed her curiously inside, "What do you think?"
"It big!" the little boy nodded, staring around, "Little outside."
Rose laughed. "I know what you mean, sweetheart. I remember the first time I saw it."
"Mummy, who singing?" Jonny asked suddenly.
Rose frowned. "Nobody is, love." She paused for a moment, her face thoughtful. "It's you, isn't it, TARDIS?"
The lights flickered in confirmation and Rose nodded.
"Jonny, you can hear the ship singing," she explained, "I guess it's because you're half Time Lord. Say hello to the TARDIS."
"Hello TARDIS!" Jonny smiled, copying his mother and patting the wall. He giggled as the lights flickered again.
Rose smiled. "Come on. Let's go and see Mummy's old bedroom." She took his hand and they walked deeper into the ship.
Memories washed over Rose as she opened the familiar door. The big double bed still sat proudly in the centre of the room and various pieces of furniture surrounded it, including the desk where Rose had done her work for her A-Level exams all those years ago. Dropping Jonny's hand, she crossed over to the wardrobe and pulled it open, seeing all her old clothes hung neatly next to the Doctor's suits and shirts. She smiled, running her hand over her clothes. She'd half wondered if he would have gotten rid of them, seeing as they both thought they'd never see one another again. She glanced around and was surprised to see a door had appeared in one wall. She curiously crossed over to it and pulled it open before letting out a sad sigh at the sight of a fully furnished nursery.
"Thanks, TARDIS," she whispered, "But I won't be needing it. I'm not staying."
There was no reply.
Rose shrugged and closed the nursery door again, slightly regretfully. She knew Jonny would have adored the little room if only the Doctor would get over himself and love the little boy as his own.
"Mummy."
She turned at her son's voice to discover him sitting on the bed and pointing at a framed photograph, sitting on the bedside table of what used to be the Doctor's side of the bed.
"That's right," Rose nodded, lying next to her son and contemplating the photograph.
Jonny frowned, staring at the other person in the frame. "An' that… that the man from the Hub!"
"Yep," Rose confirmed, "Well done." She hesitated before adding, "That's your daddy."
Jonny turned to stare at her. "My daddy?"
She nodded silently, watching his face carefully.
It instantly lit up. "My daddy! Where is he, Mummy?"
"Back at the Hub," Rose replied, her heart breaking. She didn't know how she was going to explain to her three year old son that his daddy didn't want him.
Suddenly, she was startled by a voice echoing down the corridor.
"Rose?"
It was the Doctor.
"In here," she called back, deciding she might as well be pleasant to him however long they had left. She watched as he appeared in the doorway, smiling awkwardly at her before his eyes landed on Jonny, who was grinning widely at him.
"Daddy!" he said happily.
"The TARDIS made us a nursery," Rose commented, before the Doctor could say anything. She pointed at the closed door. "Told her we wouldn't need it as we're not wanted."
"Rose…" the Doctor started.
"Will you do me a favour?" she interrupted.
"Yes, of course," he answered immediately, "What?"
"Can you take Jonny and check him over in the sick bay? I did try back in the parallel world but obviously the TARDIS equipment is more advanced and you're more of an expert on having two hearts…"
"What?" the Doctor said in disbelief, his eyes roving over Jonny, who was still smiling happily up at him. "He's got two hearts?"
"Why don't you go and find out. Jonny, go with your Daddy."
"Are you not coming?" the Doctor asked, with a frown.
"No," Rose shrugged, "Got to clear out my clothes if I'm not staying."
"Rose…" the Doctor sighed.
"Just go." Rose turned and rummaged in the wardrobe until she was certain both males had left the room, however reluctantly. Then she stood up and sighed miserably.
What was she going to do now?
The Doctor looked at the little boy, who stared solemnly back. He raised his eyebrows and exhaled deeply.
"Right, I need you on the bed so… yeah, I guess I'll have to lift you," he nodded, bending down and picking up the boy under his arm pits. He lifted him into the air before trying to put him down on the bed in the med bay. However, this proved to be impossible as the boy clung on tightly.
"Look, kid. You need to let go of me, yeah?" the Doctor said, trying to dislodge Jonny's fingers, "Your Mum wanted me to check you over and I can't do that if you won't let go of me!"
"You my daddy," Jonny smiled.
"No… No I'm not," he sighed, struggling to remove the boy, "Just let go."
"Are!" Jonny insisted, "Mummy said so."
"Well, she lied," he muttered.
"Mummy says lying is naughty."
The Doctor frowned before finally managing to dislodge Jonny and gently placing him on the bed. "OK, I'm going to listen to your heart… uh, Jonny. That's your name, isn't it?"
Jonny nodded and grinned adorably.
The Doctor blinked and pulled out his stethoscope before placing the business end over the left side of the boy's chest. He listened carefully, counting the number of beats before nodding in satisfaction. Then he frowned. There seemed to be some sort of echo… He paled slightly. No. Rose couldn't be right. The boy couldn't have two hearts… He quickly listened to the other side of Jonny's chest.
"You've got two hearts…" he whispered, staring at Jonny.
He nodded. "Mummy says it's 'cause I got lots of love!"
The Doctor nodded distractedly. He couldn't have two hearts. Only his people had two hearts. Humans didn't. But if Jonny had two hearts, did that mean…?
"Doctor?"
He jerked up and saw Rose standing in the doorway.
"I'm going back to the Hub," she told him, her face expressionless, "Can you bring Jonny back when you're done? Thanks." She smiled weakly at him and waved at Jonny before disappearing.
The Doctor turned back to look at Jonny who was reaching up for the stethoscope. "Leave that alone," he said, "Jonny, hold still." He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and scanned it over him, making the little boy giggle at the buzzing sound and try to catch it. "Jonny, sit still!" he said impatiently.
"Sorry, Daddy!"
"I'm not…" The Doctor sighed and put the sonic screwdriver back into his pocket. Jonny seemed to be perfectly healthy and normal both inside and out, save for the two hearts. Still, to be on the safe side, he'd better check the kid over with one of the TARDIS' scanners. He hooked it up and ran it gently over Jonny before waiting for a print out to appear. He studied the paper and shook his head. "Nothing wrong with you at all, Jonny," he shrugged. "Let's go back and tell your Mum. And she can answer me a few questions at the same time."
Jonny smiled. "Daddy…"
"Look, stop calling me that!" the Doctor suddenly snapped, "I'm not your daddy!"
"Mummy said you are!" Jonny said again, "She no lie!"
"Well, she must have done this time, alright?" he said in annoyance. He didn't know why he was irritated at the little boy. Probably because the discovery that he had two hearts had shaken him more than he cared to admit.
"No! You my Daddy!"
"Jonny, stop it!" the Doctor yelled, "I am not your daddy!"
He stared up at him before his bottom lip started trembling and he began to cry.
The Doctor was horrified by what he'd done. "Oh no. Don't cry, Jonny. I'm sorry," he said hurriedly. Even thought he couldn't be his, the kid was still almost a baby and he had never shouted at a child before.
"I want my Mummy!" Jonny sobbed.
"Well, OK. Let's go and find her. Just don't cry. It's alright. I didn't mean to shout at you." The Doctor felt a nudge in his head from the TARDIS, telling him to cuddle the child. He sighed and picked him up, bringing him close to his chest and patting his back. "I'm sorry, Jonny. Let's go back to the Hub and find Rose." He began walking hurriedly through the TARDIS, trying to comfort the upset child and feeling the TARDIS' stark disapproval at what he had done.
"I'm sorry, alright?" he muttered to her, "It's been years since I've had to deal with a child on my own!"
The lights flashed.
"I know it's no excuse! But he's got two hearts, girl. Two hearts! Why?"
The TARDIS didn't reply, obviously deciding that the answer was so blindingly obvious that she didn't need to point it out to the Doctor.
He sighed. "He's not mine," he muttered, "He's not."
He stepped outside, back into the late Cardiff afternoon. The brief sunshine there had been earlier after the afternoon's rainstorm was dying away to be replaced by dark threatening clouds as the evening drew in.
"Looks like it might rain again soon," the Doctor told Jonny.
He squirmed in his arms. "Down, p'ease."
"Well, OK," the Doctor nodded, gently lowering the boy to the floor, "But stay close."
Jonny reached up and slid his small hand into the Doctors'. The Time Lord froze for a moment before shrugging and holding his hand. It was the least he could do after upsetting the boy earlier.
"Come on, let's go." They started slowly walking over the Bay to the entrance of the Hub. The Doctor was anxious to get inside soon, especially as the heavens opened and it began to rain again.
Suddenly, he became aware of something large behind him that grunted. The last thing he remembered was feeling pain at the back of his head and the sound of Jonny screaming before darkness overtook him.
Review please. Constructive criticism is gladly received.