House Call

Chapter 4

The leather-clad doctor and Rose marched up the road towards the castle while Eleven, Rory and Amy took up the rear. The three watched as the two held hands and playfully swung them between each other like carefree kids.

Nine beamed at Rose and said, "It's just like old times, you and me. Pointing out the obvious, just like the time we first met."

Rose laughed and said, "Yeah, but you would have figured out the London Eye was the alien satellite beam on your own eventually."

"Yeah, but better with two, right?"

Rose smiled knowingly at the familiar statement and caught the gentle look in his eye and simply replied, "Always."

Meanwhile, a few paces away Eleven felt his heart ache in a way it hadn't in a long while. It seemed bad enough to see Rose again in this world, but to hear her say such words with such a look of admiration in her hazel-eyes was almost too much to bear. Always was once a promise made to him. Rose wanted to give him her forever. She was once willing to sacrifice family, friends and a life of her own just so she could be with him. She wanted to be the hand he needed to hold, but he couldn't bring himself to be that selfish.

Rose deserved a fantastic life. He thought he granted her that wish by giving her the other him, the Doctor-Noble. The one part of him that could give her forever, but it seemed he was wrong. Instead, Rose was with an even newer version of his old self. A man he knew nothing about. It was so strange and the only thing that gave this new half-man credit was that he seemed to make her happy.

Amy made a cuffing sound and bumped the bow-tied Doctor on the shoulder and said, "Gah! Can you believe those two? You could get cavities. There's no way you used to be like that."

"Like what, Amy?"

The redhead pointed and said, "Like—like that. They're like a real couple. You know, holding hands, and you can't even stand River touching you and she's supposed to be your wife."

"That was then, Amy, this is now."

"So, what? Are you tell me that you and Rose used to be like that?"

Rory attempted to intervene and said, "Uh, Amy, maybe you should—"

"What?"

Rory sighed and walked beside her to say, "Maybe you should let it go. Look, it's obviously the Doctor's business and they look like a nice couple. And the Doctor already said him and her weren't like that."

Amy scuffled and confidently said, "Yeah, but he's clearly lying. Those two are bothering him, I know it, Rory."

Suddenly, Nine stopped and looked up to admire the large castle doors. It was clearly some sort of fortress and the doors were enormous. Curious, he looked around and noticed a control pad with a screen.

"Ah, a level 10 security system. It's state of the art."

Rose looked at it appraisingly and said, "Oh, a bit of Spock. Are you going to hack it?"

The leather-clad Doctor smiled and stated, "No need to. Just press the doorbell and say hello."

Amy was startled by what she heard. "What? Is that it?"

Eleven beamed and fixed his bow tie before standing at attention at Rose's other side in front of the door and replied, "It's the direct approach, Amy. I'm sure they get tourist all the time."

Flabbergasted, Amy exclaimed, "You're daft" before smiling and joining the line. Rory was momentarily confused, but then sighed. It would be like Amy and the Doctor to invite themselves into a big scary castle on an alien planet. They didn't care whatsoever about things like sense or risk.

Nine then pressed the doorbell on the control panel and unexpectedly a short melody that sounded strangely like Old McDonald began to chime. However, instead of a doorman or guard like you'd expect, there was nothing. All that happened was the huge door popped open and lurched three inches in.

"Ok, that's spooky," commented Pond.

Eleven stepped forward and poked his head in to take a look around and said, "Nonsense, they could just be extremely shy. It's obviously an invitation to come in."

"Or a trap," added Nine.

Eleven frowned and said, "No need to be a Mr. Grumpy, Joe Noble."

Though, surprisingly Rose stepped in with a gun drawn and a flashlight in hand. "Yeah, but you can never be too careful. Doctor, scan the facility."

Nine sighed and obeyed her instruction and used his sonic to make sure the coast was clear. He pointed his screwdriver around the large entrance hall and clicked the change the setting and stated, "All clear. No strange readings. Is there anything else, Ms. Tyler?"

Teasingly, she replied, "No, that'll do, Doctor."

In reaction, Eleven was taken back at Rose's newfound military persona. It seemed Torchwood was rubbing off on her. The Rose he knew would have never carried around a gun. Plus, she never used to be so bossy. In distraction to the awkward silence, he clapped his hands and said, "All right! Everyone let's split up and have ourselves a look around. Let's say if you find something give us a shout, good? Good."

Amy decided to seize an opportunity and grabbed onto to Rory and said, "Yeah, great. Rory and I are going with Joe while Rose can go with the Doctor."

Nine was about to open his mouth and protest when Rose cut him short and said, "Right, sounds like a plan, but just in case you've got my cell."

The leather-clad man sighed and nodded his head. "Fine, but don't do anything stupid. At least not without me."

Rose winked at him and said, "Promise" before grabbing onto Eleven's arm. "Well, come on then. What are we waiting for?"

XXX

TBC

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What dangers will the Doctors and friends meet? What dirt will Amy uncover about the other doctor? And what will become the the TARDIS? Who knows?

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