Chapter Fourteen: TARDIS Rules

A/N: Last week I was two chapters behind now I'm seven chapters ahead, but I'm only loading the first three today.

Chapter Fourteen: TARDIS Rules

As soon as Martha had put her things in her room she returned to the consol room. Unfortunately as soon as she neared the mushroom shaped controls she tripped over. Luckily Jack caught her. Martha turned round to see the grating from the floor had been moved.

"That's the first time I've done that." Martha moved slightly and sat down on the Captain's chair.

"Right!" Came a cry as the Doctor entered the room carrying Tala, Rose followed him in shaking her head.

"I don't see why Mum was complaining she hasn't made a sound since we fetched her." At that moment Tala let out a giggle. Rose looked at her daughter closely. "You did that on purpose didn't you," Rose tried to look serious but couldn't help the smile that broke out.

"And to think you blame me." Theta told her smirking slightly. Rose shoved him slightly. "Right…" He began again. "Now you're part of the group…gang…erm…"

"Get on with it." Rose and Jack muttered at the same time. The Doctor shot them glare, which they stepped back from.

"Anyway," He started, not taking his eyes from them. "There are some rules to being a companion." Martha looked at Jack and Rose unsure; Rose sat down next to Martha.

"We've had them as well." Rose gestured to him. "Although my favourite is number three." She smiled sweetly.

"I think I like number six the best." Jack chipped in.

"Have you finished?" The Doctor asked, pointedly, Jack shared a long, drawn out and exaggerated look with Rose before nodding. "Number One, The Golden Rule: Don't wander off!" Jack and Rose began to nod. "I don't know what you're nodding for, you never stay put."

"Us?" Jack asked, pulling a hurt face. Rose began to laugh.

"Number Two: Always do what I tell you to do." He dared Rose and Jack to laugh.

"This is my favourite." Rose whispered to Martha.

"Number Three: No domestics onboard the TARDIS." The moment he said it he had all three of his companions laughing, Jack was wiping tears from his eyes while Rose and Martha were doubled up on the chair. "I mean it!" The Doctor stood there trying to hold onto Tala and her toy looking the picture of domesticity. "Stop it!" He moaned, Rose laughed harder. "Moving on…Number Four: Don't touch the TARDIS unless you know what you're doing!" The Doctor turned to face Jack who immediately sobered up.

"Now Theta play nice." Rose whispered to him.

"Number Five: Always be prepared to run."

"Number Six: No getting into trouble." Jack doubled over again, Martha looked at him – mouth open.

"Of course not…" Rose started. "It wasn't us companions that caused the Sycorax to turn up, to disappear just before his daughter was born, Pompadour." She felt a surge of pleasure as her husband shuddered.

"New Earth." He tried.

"The lift went the opposite way, besides you didn't wait for me."

"Werewolf."

"Kidnapped because I was sent to change after being the 'wee naked child' that was 'chased over hill and over dale'." Jack coughed slightly drawing attention away from the argument.

"Number Seven: No flirting with anyone."

"It came about after Rose flirted with…erm who was it Rose?"

"Mickey." Rose looked at her husband who's neck was slowly turning red before his face began to turn red as well.

"Mickey?"

"My boyfriend at the time."

"Are you two going to point out every little detail?" He raised an eyebrow daring them to say something. "Number Eight: Never ever, ever, ever insult the TARDIS." He looked quickly at Jack who remained silent. "Number Nine: Always be prepared for anything and lastly Number Ten: Beware of Jacqueline Tyler." He managed to dodge before Rose's hand connected with his cheek.

"Oi! That's my mum you're talking about." Rose moved closer to him, he stepped back.

"Yeah, the woman who's hit me more times than I can count." Jack snorted and Martha giggled, suddenly a soft snoring filled the room. The Doctor's eyes widened almost as big as saucers. He looked to his shoulder trying to see his daughter's face. He tried to pull her away from his shoulder but found she had a fist in his jacket. "Rose." He whispered. Rose gently lifted Tala from him, uncurling her fist gently.

"She must be exhausted keeping her Grandmother awake." Rose stepped back slightly. "I think we'd better put her to bed." He nodded. Rose gently caressed her husband's cheek before turning and leaving the room.

"Do you want to go somewhere more comfortable?" Jack asked Martha.

"Sure." Jack held his hand for Martha to take. She accepted it

"Actually I was thinking of a planet." The Doctor cut in, making Martha and Jack turn to face him.

"What about Tala? You've just put her to sleep."

"You two go and enjoy yourselves, Rose needs to have a medical exam to make sure that everything's okay."

"Do you want me to perform…" Martha began but stopped at the Doctor's shaking head. He turned and pulled a few leavers the TARDIS began to shake, stopping almost immediately.

"Here we are." He told the pair. Martha barely had time to grab her jacket before she was pushed down the ramp.

"He wants us out of the way doesn't he?" Martha muttered to Jack.

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"Rose?" A soft call came round the door of the dark nursery. Rose turned slightly to see him.

"She's sound asleep." She whispered. He stepped inside, moving to stand next to her; he wrapped one arm around her waist. Rose mouldered herself to his side, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I want to remember everything as we only get to do this once."

"She'll be saying her first word soon." He told her, changing the subject slightly.

"Ten quid its 'mummy'." She smiled at him.

"It'll be 'daddy'." He challenged. His smile faltered slightly. "We've got to check you over, just to make sure the 'treatment'," He grimaced at his choice of words. "Has definitely worked." He felt rather than saw Rose's nod. He took her hand, and gently led her from Tala's room closing the door behind them.

They walked down the corridor in complete silence. As they reached the med bay Rose hopped onto one of the white beds. He picked up a scanner and gestured for her to lift her top. He scanned her stomach for a few seconds.

"Has it worked?" She asked him.

"Yes, it has," He went silent and Rose pulled her top down. He climbed upon the bed next to her. "I promise you I will find a way to undo this Rose."

"I know you will." She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly. They stayed there for a while. "Theta,"

"Yes, love."

"This bed's really uncomfortable."

"You didn't complain last time." He muttered.

"Anything was comfortable after carrying a child for nine months." They both went quiet. After a few minutes he stood, unable to bear the silence.

"Come on."

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He handed her a cup of tea before sitting next to her on the old red sofa in the third TV room.

"Sometimes I wish she didn't grow up so fast."

"Rose she's nearly a year old."

"It's just gone by so quickly." She turned to face him. "I can't believe how fast everything's gone in the last two years, I mean your regeneration, then Barcelona, being pregnant, our wedding, the birth everything."

"I know love, and I'm sorry everything happened so fast."

"I wouldn't change it for anything," She reassured him. "What are Jack and Martha doing?"

"Exploring."

"Exploring where?" She smiled at him, curious.

"A planet. It's a nice planet." He tried. "Okay it's a little on the cold side but nice locals." Rose began to laugh.

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Eventually the Doctor and Rose reached the colony, Rose all wrapped up warm. Being a Time Lady she didn't feel the cold as much anymore but that didn't stop her from following her instincts and wrapping up warm.

"How do these people survive?" Rose asked looking around at the landscape.

"They trade with other villages, hunting animals for food." He stopped and turned to her. "They evolved and adapted Rose. It isn't necessarily a bad life for them."

"Its hard to believe anything could live like this."

"You've met the Ood."

"What have the Ood got to do with this?"

"They come from a planet much worse than this."

"Really?" She looked at him completely amazed. He nodded.

"Nearly here." As they neared the colony it seemed that everyone was indoors. "Ooh hello." He muttered to himself in his usual way. The huts looked as if they were made from wood, a clear contrast to the hard frost covered ground around them. Tracks were worn into the ground, indicating this was a busy colony. But it was completely deserted.

"Where are they?" Rose asked.

"I have no idea, they should be right here." The noise of a crowd drifted towards them on the breeze. "I think…they are that way."

"Can you smell something burning?" Rose asked. He sniffed around them.

"Just a little bit." He looked at her. "Your mother's not here is she?"

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As soon as they reached the crowd the first thing they noticed was the two large pillars in the centre of what they assumed was the town square. The crowd seemed to be staring at the two pillars. As Rose squinted she realised what was 'attached' to the two pillars. Surrounding the pillars were torches lighting the area up.

"Why does Rule Six come to mind?" He asked. Rose looked at him. Rose sighed.

"The best part is you had nothing to do with this." He looked at her trying not to pull a face.

"I'm trying not to be offended." He stepped forward, pushing through the crowd.

"I'm glad we left Tala on the TARDIS."

"The TARDIS will come to us if anything's wrong." He told her shouting slightly as they neared the front.

When they reached the front of the crowd a guard, or what Rose assumed to be a guard, stepped forwards and held out a form of scythe preventing them from advancing.

"Oh do move out of the way!" The Doctor cried, pushing past the guard, Rose followed dodging the blade.

"IT'S ABOUT TIME!" Jack yelled. Rose desperately wanted to take a photo of Martha and Jack chained to the pillars. "THEY WERE ABOUT TO STONE US!"

"What did you do? Rule number six: don't get into trouble!" He shouted back at him.

"This wasn't our fault!"

"How?" Rose asked.

"Someone may have neglected to mention the fact that a man and a woman can't travel together without either being related or married!"

"Why didn't you tell them you were related or married?" The Doctor asked.

"Would they have believed us?" The Doctor looked at Rose exasperatedly, she stepped forward, knowing that if she didn't intervene he'd strangle Jack.

"You could've tried." The guard chose that moment to come towards them again.

"You know these people? Are you blended?" Rose squinted slightly as she tried to understand his question.

"Yes and yes." The guard looked at her. "Yes we know them. Yes we're…that's me and him." She gestured to the Doctor. "Blended, married, joined, mates, soul mates, life partners, wedded, linked…" The Doctor stepped in front of her.

"Don't blow it Rose." He muttered. "My wife and I would like to know, guard, why these people are about to be stoned." He turned on his best polite voice.

"They are not blended." Rose looked across at her husband, seeing him trying to think of a way to sort this mess out coming up with nothing.

"May I ask, is it against the law on this planet for siblings to be 'blended'?"

"Yes, a severe crime." Rose looked at the pair.

"The you have no other choice but to release my children." The Doctor looked confused. The guard and people laughed.

"These people do not look like you, how can they be your children?" Rose looked to the Doctor. He groaned, rolling his head as he did so.

"I'm the Doctor, this is Bad Wolf. Now release our children." The crowd looked around uncertainly. The guard was unphased.

"Time Lords died out centuries ago." The crowd laughed nervously. The Doctor chose that moment to pull out his screwdriver, the chains surrounding Martha and Jack fell away. The pair ran behind the Doctor and Rose.

"Thanks 'mom'." Jack told her, trying to sound sincere.

"Time Lord magic." The guard stepped back; the crowd fell to their knees, bowing reverently before the Time Lords. "We apologise Lord of Time, we were unaware of your children walking among us. Please forgive us." The Doctor held his head high as if he were regal. He made a great effort of nodding. "Thank you, Lord of Time."

"Don't ever come near my children again." Rose told him. The guard nodded. The Doctor motioned for Rose to hold her head high and the others to follow suit. The group made their way through the crowd that parted for them.

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Jack and Martha made it into the TARDIS first, Martha rubbing her wrists where she was sure she'd have a few bruises from the chains. Rose offered her a sympathetic look.

"Thanks." Rose glanced at her husband, waiting for him to begin a rant, but was surprised when she caught sight of the glint in his eye. "One minute more and me and Martha would've been…why are you looking at me like that?" The Doctor's smile grew.

"Rose, tell him to stop otherwise…"

"Is that anyway to talk to your mother?" The Doctor asked.

"She's not my mother!"

"Jack! Manners!" The Doctor smiled, leaning forward slightly. Martha began to grin.

"What about rule three?"

"Doesn't apply. Like it doesn't apply to Tala and me." Rose told him.

"Dad, do you think I could go and wash up before tea?" Martha pulled a cute childish face that made Rose laugh. Jack turned to face Martha; he couldn't believe what she as doing. Rose's tongue caught between her teeth.

"Yes love, you may."

"You're playing along with this?" Martha gave him an innocent look. Rose smirked at her; Martha winked in reply before skipping off down the corridor.

"Hang on this is unfair!" Jack began.

"What do you mean Jack? We just had to adopt you to save your life. Don't tell me your not grateful…" The Doctor gave Jack his best disapproving look.

"Come on Jack, behave you self for your father." Rose cut in.

"Rose will you stop it!"

"Don't talk to your mother like that Jack!"

"Sorry mom…I mean Rose." Rose snorted slightly. "He confused me!" He whined.

"Go to your room and wash up before supper Jack." Rose told him sternly, trying not to laugh.

"But…"

"GO TO YOUR ROOM!" Rose shouted, Jack gulped and quickly left the room. The sound of laughter following him all the way.

TBC