Hey guys, yup a really short ish AN. It's the chapter you've all been waiting for, and even has the line that inspired this whole fic at the start! (...the guy that played Adam was in...some UK soap...okay that's just gonna end up REALLY confusing! Thanks to google – Bruno Langley in Coronation St. After Sarah and...her hubby get married and hubby is annoyed about the whole getting married even though her brother might be dying and goes does to the pub with Bruno's character. That scene is pretty much the first few lines of this one (rephrased a bit and all), and just loved how it started, though it didn't continue as this one does...so much for a short AN!! Anyway, now that you're all completely confused, THAT'S the scene that inspired this fic...and no I don't watch Corri (if you couldn't guess by my total lack of names etc) just happened to be an episode I did catch while in the UK (I didn't even realise it was the Thames at the start till I got to the UK!!) ANYway, without further adieu...
"What's wrong sweetheart? He's sitting right there, why don't you just go over and talk to him?" Jackie asked as she joined Rose and Davey at the main table.
Rose just looked up her mum for a moment before looking back over at the Doctor, chewing on her right thumb nail as though it might hold the answers, while her other hand tugged at the Rose Quartz hanging from her left ear.
"Jacks how bout you got get us some drinks?" Davey asked, nodding toward the bar.
Jackie narrowed her eyes slightly, but walked away.
Rose gave a soft laugh as she shook her head. "Oh you are so going to pay for that one! Only Pete's allowed to call her that," she told him.
He just shrugged it off. "So what's wrong? He's sitting right there, why don't you just go over and talk to him?" he repeated Jackie's question.
If anyone pointed out to Rose that the pair had actually asked identical questions she would never have believed them. For some reason in her mind they seemed completely different, and rather than the blank stare she'd given her mother, an almost forlorn expression crossed her face as she faced Davey. "He's moved on...and I guess I have too sort of," she mumbled the thumb she was chewing now rubbing the ring on the same hand.
"Pff, hardly," Davey replied, causing her to raise a brow. "Come on Rose, noone's even been allowed to say the word Doctor around you since before Mickey met Martha. And if you were so over him, going over and talking to him wouldn't be such a big deal. And if he doesn't feel the same about you then he never deserved to have you as a companion in the first place," he added with a definitive nod.
Rose rolled her eyes, though she appreciated it, rubbing his hair affectionately. "Okay fine, maybe I haven't moved on as much as I might like. Tell anyone that and you're dead," she added, pointing a stern finger at him, to which he mimicked her eye roll. "But whose to say he hasn't? I mean think about how long he's probably been travelling with Martha for! I don't stand a chance against that!" she replied.
Davey snorted. "Do you really think he could ever look at Martha in that way?" he asked incredulously.
"He might, I mean he was the one who first told me to give her a chance remember?" Rose replied, looking over at the Martha she'd known for so long before looking at the one she'd only just met, who was now standing at the desserts table.
"I mean look at the way he keeps looking at her," the Doctor was telling Jack, giving Davey a quick glance before turning back to her.
Jack rolled his eyes. "If you're so convinced they're a couple, why don't you put your money where your mouth is and go ask?"
"Well one because I don't have any money and two it's rude to ask people personal questions the first time you meet them," the Doctor replied huffily.
Jack couldn't help but laugh. "Doc, I hardly think this classifies as your first time meeting Rose."
"Might as well be," Rose replied, trying not to wonder what the Doctor was saying to make Jack laugh.
"Oh come on Rose, stop being such a baby and go over there and talk to him!"
"I'm not acting like a baby! I'm more than 700 hundred years older than you remember?"
"Well then act like it," Jack retorted. "Honestly, do you think Rose is sitting up there making this much fuss?"
Rose glared at Davey. "No, and in a way that's part of the problem. I mean he probably hasn't even given me a second thought since I last saw him."
Davey's jaw dropped. "You're kidding right?
"Jack I hardly think she's spent the last year wallowing in what might have been," the Doctor replied, getting quite annoyed by the conversation now.
"Yeah Martha's been telling me about her adventures with you, and I gotta say they don't sound nearly as fun as the ones we used to have."
"Oh you can't listen to anything he tells you Davey. There's only one sort of adventure he'd be happy with and--"
"I don't think I need to know," Davey quickly cut her off, scrunching his nose. "So is it weird..." he trailed off at the frown that crossed her face. Following her gaze, he found Martha carrying three bowls back to the two men. "What is it?" he asked.
"Great," she grumbled, ignoring his question. "Now I have to go over or we'll all be putting up with a grumpy Doctor," she continued sulkily, picking up Davey's dessert plate as she stood up, despite his protests.
Raising her chin, she walked over with all the confidence she could muster, which was barely any compared to normal. "Here I'll trade ya," she told the Doctor, picking up the bowl Martha had just placed in front of him and putting Davey's in it's place.
"Rose!" he beamed, not believing his luck in her coming over, quickly looking back to his plate so she might not see how much it meant to him. "Edible ball bearings!" he exclaimed, having just spotted what was on his plate.
Jack gave a soft laugh as he shook his head. "You come to join us Rosie?" he asked, giving her his best charming smile.
"Oh I should probably--" she motioned back towards the table she'd come from, but Jack was already pulling out the seat between him and the Doctor for her. She reluctantly sat down, grabbing a fork so she could at least pretend to focus on her fruit salad.
"It's banana!" the Doctor mumbled around his mouthful of cake, the joy evident on his face.
Rose couldn't help but laugh just a little. "Yeah, it's become Davey's favourite too."
"Don't see what's wrong with the fruit salad," Martha mumbled begrudgingly.
"Pears," Rose replied, wondering how the Doctor could have told her to give Martha a chance when his seemed nearly as bad as hers from first impressions.
The Doctor pulled a face. "Now why would you go and ruin a perfectly good fruit salad with pears? I--"
"Hate pears," Jack and Rose half-sang the end of his sentence for him, before cracking up.
He glared back at the pair of them. "Alright, just because I've told you a few times."
"A few times?" Rose asked incredulously.
"I would have been happy with a few times, wouldn't you Rosie?" Jack asked.
She nodded. "When it comes to tellings, a few is a nice number, so much better than a hundred."
"Or a thousand," Jack added.
"Or--"
"We get the point!" the Doctor cut them off, setting them off chuckling once more. "Blimey, I'd forgotten what a bad idea it was having you two in the same room!"
"Oh believe me it's so much worse--" Mickey, who had just arrived at he table, was stopped finishing his sentence by the rather painful thwak to his arm from Rose. He couldn't help but grin at her before turning to the rest of the table. "Captain Innuendo, always a pleasure, and Doc, still causing trouble wherever you go," he said to each of the men as he shook their hands good naturedly.
"If it isn't Mickety McMickey," the Doctor greeted him with a smile. "And this must be the local Martha Jones," he nodded toward the woman standing beside him.
"Nope, this would be the amazing Martha Smith," Mickey corrected him pointedly.
"Right, it was your wedding I almost stopped," the Doctor replied, nodding so that the others might not notice his embarrassment at stuffing it up.
"Well we're just doing the rounds. We'll have to catch up on all your latest misadventures later," Mickey told the group. "And as for you, don't go flying off alright?" Mickey said, giving Rose a pointed look.
As if his words had suddenly triggered a memory, Rose looked over at the Doctor. "Can I see her?" Rose asked timidly.
"See who?" Martha Jones asked frowning.
The Doctor just gave Rose a small smile though. "Course," he replied, before standing and turning for the exit, Rose and Jack right behind him followed a bit belatedly by Martha.
Mickey just shook his head before calling after them, "You better have her back before the cutting of the cake!"
After a moment's hesitation, Davey jogged up to Rose, pulling her aside from the others slightly. "Can I come?" he asked almost desperately, the excitement clear on his face.
Rose looked over at Jackie whose jaw was already clenched before turning back to Davey. "If you're okay with facing her wrath I guess I can't really stop you," she replied with a wink. "Come on," she added, wrapping her arm through his as they hurried to catch up with the others. "So where's she parked?" Rose asked as she fell into step beside the Doctor.
"Same place as last time we were here surprisingly enough...although because we went to your house first," he stopped, looking around as he tried to figure out which direction they should be going in.
Jack sighed and Rose rolled her eyes. "How do you manage to not get lost inside the TARDIS?" she asked as she grabbed his hand and led him back the way they'd come.
He was momentarily speechless as he savoured the feeling before clearing his throat. "Oh you know, years of being lost in a maze, you eventually know it inside out," he replied with a wink.
"Or in your case decades," Jack teased, earning himself a glare.
They walked through the alley between the church and the reception hall before coming out next to the main road.
Rose stopped dead, not for any traffic, as the road was surprisingly empty, but at the sight that met her. She could feel tears prickling at her eyes as she stared at the familiar blue box. It was almost as powerful as seeing the Doctor again after all this time, and she was overwhelmed by the feeling of finally returning home.
The others paused with her, Davey just as stunned by finally seeing what he'd heard about for so long, while Jack knew Rose might need a moment. And the Doctor, well it was taking all his will power not to run into the TARDIS with Rose and set it going before any of the others could catch up. Instead he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and a smile before moving forward to cross the road.
It seemed he wasn't the only one forcing himself to walk as after the initial couple steps to get her legs working again, Rose found herself running to the box. Turning to Davey, she grinned as he'd already pulled her chain out from around his neck and passed it to her. Taking the key she slid it into the lock, grinning madly at the four around her before pushing it open, unable to stop the squeal that escaped her as she stepped inside.
She ran up the ramp and steps to the console, rubbing her hand along one of the smooth portions. "Hey girl, did you miss me?" she asked, her smile growing and her cheeks aching as the TARDIS hummed a welcome. She covered her face with both her hands, before drawing them down, giggling as she found it wasn't just a dream. Spinning around again she just beamed at the Doctor, who couldn't help but smile back in a way that he only did for Rose.
Davey wasn't hiding his excitement either as he bounced around the console. "Oh is this the Elbbabonhcet? Oh and the gijamagniht! This is so cool! Is that really Gallifreyan?" he asked as he bounced from one section to the next.
Jack raised a brow at Rose, wondering how much she'd told the younger man.
She just shrugged in return, before bouncing over and giving him a hug. They grinned at each other before looking over at the Doctor who looked taken aback as Davey jumped in front of him.
"Is it alright if I go have a look at the closet? Please I've heard all about it and--"
"Just say yes Doc, doesn't sound like he'll stop any time soon. Is he part squirrel or something?" Jack quipped, turning back to Rose.
"Think so yeah," she replied.
The Doctor looked over at her before returning his gaze to Davey. "Oh alright, it's--"
"Through there," Davey cut him off. "First left, second right, third on the left. Straight ahead, under the stairs, past the bins, fifth door on the left, right?" he asked excitedly.
The Doctor frowned, looking back over at Rose who looked mildly embarrassed.
"Yes Davey, now scoot before you embarrass me further!" she told him, not surprised when he bounced over to her, engulfing her in a hug before sprinting from the room. "Sorry, he just loves hearing about her, and since I never thought I'd see her again, didn't think it would do too much harm."
He nodded before making his way around the controls, just idly checking to make sure the TARDIS was alright.
Jack and Rose frowned at him. "You alright?" they asked in unison.
"Course, why wouldn't I be?" he asked, only glancing up at them before looking down once more.
They shared a look before turning back to him. "Maybe he's tired?" Jack asked.
"Not as fit as he used to be?" Rose wondered.
They looked at each other, mirroring each others grins as they asked in unison, "Not enough potassium in his diet?"
"What are you two babbling on about?" he asked, walking back around to face them.
"Just never seen you walk around the controls," Jack replied.
"What? I walk around the controls around the controls all the time!" the Doctor replied, frowning at the pair of them.
"No," Rose said slowly, "You run..."
"...or bounce..."
"...or hop, do you remember hopping around the controls? Hop, hop, hop," Rose asked in an evil impression of him.
He glared at her, but his retort was cut off by Martha. "Hang on, what did Davey mean the closet?" she asked.
"You know, the closet," the Doctor shrugged.
Rose looked at her, trying to figure her out. "Kinda hard to miss, bout five stories of clothes," she added, not able to work out how she could have travelled with the Doctor as long as she must have and not know about the closet.
"You have five stories worth of clothes?" she asked incredulously.
"It's a bit more than that really. There's rails all stacked around and on top of each other. Surprised we ever managed to get anywhere with Rosie always picking new outfits," Jack replied teasingly.
Rose just rolled her eyes. "I didn't take nearly as long as you," she retorted. "Oh can we make a quick stop in Top Shop?" she asked in an impressively accurate impersonation of him, causing him to glare and the Doctor to laugh shortly followed by a groan.
As they looked over at him Rose was the first to notice the blood seeping through his shirt, his jacket having been discarded as he walked in. "Looks like you're in need of the medbay," she said softly, torn between going over to him and letting Martha do it.
Seeing the blood, Martha darted from the room, returning a moment later with the first aid kit. "You'll need to take your shirt off," she told him, seeing the cut stretched further than the torn fabric.
The Doctor looked over at Rose as his fingers went for the top buttons.
"I'll umm...go see what's changed," she stuttered heading for the door, followed by a bemused looking Jack, who raised a brow at the Doctor before disappearing out the room.
"It's not like it's anything she hasn't seen before," Martha mumbled as she dabbed at the wound.
"But it is," he murmured back.
"You mean to tell me in the entire time you travelled with him, you never once saw him without his shirt on?" Jack asked incredulously.
Rose glared at him as her cheeks burned. "It's not my fault the TARDIS runs a very PG ship," she grumbled, not surprised by the indignant beeps she got in response.
Jack laughed. "You sure about that? 'cause I remember walking around in the nude all the time," Jack replied.
"And I recall you complaining about how long it took to get from one place to the next as well," she goaded
She looked him up and down then and Jack had the almost distinct feeling that he was naked and not completely upset about it.
"All patched up," the Doctor called down the corridor, buttoning up a new shirt.
Rose left Jack in a daze as he licked his lips as she headed back to the control room, though he joined her there a few moments later.
"You alright there Jack?" the Doctor asked, raising a brow at him.
"Mmhmm," he mumbled in a higher pitch than normal before quickly clearing his throat. "Yeah, course," he said nodding a bit longer than necessary.
Just then Davey came racing back into the room. "It's just as you described," he told Rose excitedly, his face covered in a huge smile. "And I found Arthur! Can't believe you tried to make him get rid of him!" he scolded her.
"Arthur?" Jack and Martha asked, though it went unnoticed as Rose asked, "You still have him? Didn't think he'd survive this long!"
The Doctor shrugged. "Ah he's got years left on him," he replied, trying not to show his growing annoyance at what she'd told her boyfriend about his ship, and wondered how much she'd told the boy about him!
Noticing the Doctor's worsening mood, Rose checked her watch. "We should probably get back, they'll be cutting the cake soon."
Martha and the Doctor looked relieved by the suggestion, though Davey looked disappointed and Jack confused.
"Hurry up," Rose said, giving Davey a stern look as he looked back at the doorway to the rest of the ship forlornly.
Sighing, he headed for the main door, before turning back to the Doctor. "Can I come explore more of it later?"
Looking at the Doctor, she knew the answer he wanted to say wasn't the one Davey wanted to hear, so beat him to it. "We don't know how long they'll be able to stay for Davey, just be grateful you got to see her."
"Oh I am! She's magnificent!" he said enthusiastically, directing his comment to the main column.
As if aware that the compliment was intended just for her, the TARDIS hummed her gratitude, causing Davey's smile to broaden.
"She's really alive!" he said excitedly.
Rose sighed. "You knew that already, now SCOOT," she told him pushing him out the door.
Jack looked over at the Doctor, hoping for some sort of explanation, but the Doctor refused to even meet his gaze as he followed the pair out.
Arriving back, they found the reception in full swing with the dance floor now full of couples as a live band played from the front, though the current song was just ending.
Rose had a sinking feeling as they smiled over at her and an all too familiar song began.
"Hey, it's our song Rosie," Jack said cheerfully as he came up beside her, not even remembering when he'd last listened to Glenn Miller.
Rose put her hand to her forehead. "As if things weren't complicated enough," she mumbled.
"What's wrong?" he asked, a frown replacing his smile.
She looked up at him, looking almost sad. "Just don't let him leave yet alright? There are things to discuss and hopefully enough time later to do so."
"What's going on Rose?" Jack asked, now really worried about her.
Before she could answer, one of the band that wasn't needed for to play Moonlight Serenade spoke into the mic. "Would Rose please make her way to the dance floor?"
Rose gave Jack an apologetic look before slowly making her way through the crowd, who seemed to be teasing her in amusement.
Jack watched as she forced a smile for them as they all but pushed her to the middle of the dance floor, which was now empty in preparation. "Isn't it only meant to be the wedding couple that gets a lone dance?" he asked no one in particular.
"Not when two of the worlds greatest heroes are in attendance," Davey replied. "This could definitely get interesting with you being here," he added, glancing at Jack before back at Rose.
"Why do you say that?" Jack asked, but he needn't have as it was at that moment that Rose was joined by none other than a man Jack could only describe as himself! "Uh Doc, what am I doing over there?" he asked, turning to the Doctor, who looked just as stunned by it.
"I don't think it's so much you as this universe's version of you," the Doctor answered without thinking as he watched Rose being swept around the dance floor. It broke his hearts to admit it, but she looked truly happy in the other Jack's arms. "We should go," he said, turning to the exit.
"Don't need to tell me twice," Martha replied, already smiling at the thought of leaving.
Jack looked over at him. "We can't."
The Doctor frowned. "Why not?"
"Cause she wants us to stay," he replied.
The Doctor shook his head. "Jack does she look like she wants us to stay?"
"Maybe not, but she asked that we did, and I don't plan on going anywhere till I find out what she wants to discuss," he told him crossing his arms.
"Aren't you worried he'll just leave you behind again?" Davey asked, causing the Doctor to glare at him.
"Fine, we stay, but only till the end of the reception," he replied, turning his glare on Jack.
Jack nodded. "Fine, as long as that's all the time Rosie needs."
"So close," Martha mumbled quietly enough so neither could hear as she looked longingly at the door.
So, who liked the latest twist in the tale? Hope you guys enjoyed it, might be a couple weeks before this is updated again, though I'll post the first chapter of Spin Off (yes I've officially given up thinking of a different title for it) next week (reckon four posts this week is fair since one of my fave authors only put up one :p (which I plan to have BMQAed by tomorrow ish ;))) Anyways, let me know what you think. Kinda worried about how all the characters are (as in OOC or not) despite loving this chapter...but yeah, would love to know how you guys are finding it :)