Notes: This is probably my second-favorite chapter. (grins) So by now you've probably figured out how I twisted the challenge, or how it presented itself to me (depends on how charitable you're feeling): it didn't make me wonder how the Doctor could realize what he was doing, dump the French tart, and win Rose back; it made me wonder what the hell would be wrong with the Doctor to make him do that. (Of course, after having seen a few episodes with him, I realize to my dismay that this is not exactly out of character. But I digress.) In short, I didn't blame the other woman, I blamed him for totally losing his mind. I'm not going to make a point of it-- after all, this was all finished before I saw any Ten episodes at all -- but I still think if Nine met Ten, there's a very good chance Nine would (to put it in local parlance) whup his ass into next week. Or next millenium. He is a Time Lord after all. (grins)
And yes, by now GitF has been shown on American TV. I couldn't really bring myself to watch, though I know I should've. Did read a summary, though, which lessened my resentment of Reinette even more, and did nothing to correct my impression that Ten had lost his mind. Ship full of evil clockwork robots who like to cannibalize humans for their repair work in the fifty-first century. And Sarah Jane thinks she got dumped in the wrong place. Ay. (For further thoughts, see 'Moon Revenge'. And my profile.)
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We haven't had that spirit here since 1969
"...can't believe this..."
"Excuse me! I've been a little bit distracted, okay?"
"I hope she forgives you someday. Sweet Rassilon on a bungee cord, look at this--"
"All I've got to do is dust it off!"
"Shameful. Simply shameful."
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Yeah, actually. I do."
"Right," said Rose, trying not to feel so disappointed. "You still sure you can actually hit the right decade?"
"Oi! Ye of little faith. I told you. It's simple. Be back five minutes after I left."
"And then what?" Rose asked. "You just-- go back? Pretend none of this ever happened?"
"...Pretty much, yeah. Don't worry. I'm good at that." He smiled at her. This time, it wasn't reassuring.
"So you-- what? You can just forget about all this?"
"Well... yeah."
"Wow." Rose looked down, fiddled with a pencil. "Must be..."
"Incredibly awkward," said her second Doctor, poking his head up.
"...Yeah." Rose fiddled with her pencil. "It just doesn't seem fair."
"That's 'cos it isn't." Her first Doctor stepped closer to her. "It's not fair. Never has been. But it's how it's got to be. Gotta let the Pretty Bungler over here destroy the universe for himself."
"Oi!" her second protested.
"Sorry. He's not actually that pretty."
"I swear, if it wouldn't cause a temporal paradox that would destroy all of existence..."
"Fine, fine, you're pretty, all right? Don't be so vain about it." He waved him away. "Seriously," he whispered, leaning closer to Rose, "did I hit my head or somethin'? And by 'hit my head', I mean 'so hard gray matter flew all over town'?"
"I can hear you."
"Oh, good, I was worried that'd gone off, too."
"Clown."
"Dandy." He grinned.
"...Actually, you're both insane."
"I know." He smiled at her sadly. "But I really do have to get going. For one thing, if I stuck around much longer we'd kill each other."
"I could take him," her second Doctor muttered to himself. Frankly, Rose kind of doubted that.
"Yeah," she said, and tried her best not to cry. "You gotta go back to me an' Jack. He's a good person, you know. He's... he's a lot bigger on the inside. You gotta learn to trust him."
"Yeah. I will. Right!" He straightened up. "Hate long goodbyes. Goodbye, Rose. Goodbye, French tart. And as for you, Wonder Boy..."
He glared at his future, eyes flashing, words slow and deadly serious like his teasing hadn't been before. "Don't you ever make me come back here again."
He flushed and looked down instantly. "Yes, sir."
"Right! I'll be off then. See you soon."
Very soon, and he must know it, Rose realized, stifling the heartache as he closed his TARDIS door. What that could be like, she still couldn't imagine.
But maybe she was closer than before.
"...I can't believe I just let him scold me like a schoolboy," the Doctor said, sounding stunned. "I have seniority! I shouldn't let him push me around!"
"What, you're still not going to shut up?" the Fury complained, from her sulking spot in the doorway. "You really aren't ever quiet, are you?"
"Do you really want to test my patience today?" the Doctor inquired. "Sure, Mr. Broody felt free, but you've got to remember he was protected by a time paradox. Are you absolutely sure you want to risk it? Today would be a glorious day to-- hang on, that's Star Trek. At least I didn't do that in front of Mr. Broody. I'd never have heard the end of it."
"Never hear the end of bloody anything around here," the Fury muttered.
"Do you have a place you want to go or not?"
"Yes. Carpathia VII."
"Excellent choice. Now, about the time."
"...How should I know?"
"D'you have any idea how easy it would be for me to dump you on there during their prehistory?" the Doctor said, starting up the engines. "You are so lucky I'm a great person."
"I see you got over hell fast," the Fury muttered. "May you find yourself returned there soon."
"See, he may be a great person," Rose said, "but I'm just a London shopgirl. I've had a bad couple of months and I've still got that cricket bat."
"...I'll go quietly."
"Thank you." Rose smiled at her sweetly.
The TARDIS landed, and the Fury hurried toward the door.
"I could give you some money--" the Doctor began.
The Fury hurried out the door and slammed it behind her.
"...All right, then," the Doctor said, and readjusted the controls. "Let's see if I can remember where I left Mickey."
"You don't remember where you left Mickey?"
"Yeah I do! Mostly. I have a pretty good idea!"
"Dandy," Rose said, very, very quietly.
"What?"
"I said, let's go!"
She grinned at him, and he grinned back.
She wasn't totally sure she'd ever trust him the same way again... but she was pretty sure she could trust him enough.
And anyway, there was only one way to find out.
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