Chapter 8: Thursday, Again
On Thursday afternoon, Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith were again kidnapped by aliens, these some bright pink serpentine creatures calling themselves the S'tss. As they waited in their bare prison cell, Rose grinned at Mickey in complete humor. "It's almost like I spend more time with aliens now than I did wandering around on every world I ever went to."
"More prisons, too," Mickey replied, almost amused. "Kinda silly, if you think about it."
"We'll be fine, Mickey, just let my brilliant mind get to work."
"Yeah, and while you're doing that, see if you can't figure out what this lot want, ok?"
They escaped from the cell in short order and made their way to the bridge of the ship, Rose holding a guard captive with her sonic screwdriver.
"Who are you?" the aliens demanded, befuddled when she let her captive go into the arms of his fellows.
With love in her eyes and no surprise at herself, she opened her mouth and said, "I'm the Doctor."
"Doctor who?" the S'tss demanded.
Mickey laughed while she winked at him. "Just the Doctor," she replied, took her companion's hand, and saved the world.
Author's Note:
This started out with a simple, good idea, and evolved into some ways I wasn't expecting and some ways I wasn't surprised about. I hope no one thinks Rose decided to lie down and die once she lost him – she's better than that, and she'd already seen what it did to one girl who completely lost everything she valued about herself, at all, becoming someone her 20-year-old self would never have even tolerated, never mind liked.
I always felt bad for Sarah Jane: she was one-of-a-kind and she lost every single ounce of that one-of-a-kindness over the course of her time spent with the Doctor. It was so SAD. Love should change you. It should make you learn and grow and become. It should make you yourself, but more. It should never make you less than you are. If any of you are mad at me about what I did to her in this world, think about what she did to herself in the Doctor's world. Then email me, and we'll talk about it.
There is one more chapter, entitled "Aftermath" in which the future is known in bits. Tell me what you'd like to see the resolution of and I'll include it in that chapter. And review, let me know what you liked, what you didn't, what I can clear up, and whether you still like me.
Also, last thing. The astrophysics Rose spouted are mine and bloody obvious to me. The programs Rastajn was talking about can be seen frequently on several science channels. I can't do the math so I can't correct them, but if you happen to know any astrophysicists, or are one, feel free to mention it. Credit where it's due is required, of course. If you need more, email.
All my best,
-Jessa L'Rynn