A/N: Yes, this one is a lot shorter than the others. I just felt that the end was a good place to break it off. For readability purposes, of course.

Also, a reviewer asked if I was planning on including the Master in future chapters. My answer is of course! Not only is he a major point in the Doctor's timeline, but in Jessica's future timeline as well. And that' s all the spoilers from me. :D

Please, please, please let me know what you think! The reviews keep me going!

Aliens of London

Part 3

By the time I returned to the alley by the Tylers' apartment, I'd changed into more suitable clothes: jeans; old, black turtleneck, green trench coat, and my favorite pair of converse sneakers (or whatever the British version of them were called). I even had my bag of odds and ends slung over my shoulder. Even I didn't know what I'd stuffed in it anymore. If I was able to convince the Doctor to at least let me tag along, I'd better make sure I had some usefull things to help out.

Rose and a guy I think was her boyfriend were already outside. "He wouldn't go. He promised me." Desperation and fear folled off of her. Not bothering me in the slightest, thanks to the Doctor.

"Oh, he's dumped you, Rose." The man crowed. "Sailed off into space. How does it feel, huh? Now you are left behind with the rest of us Earthlings. Get used to it."

No need to take it over the top. I snorted and just leaned against a pole, crossing my arms.

"He would've said," Rose murmured, turning in a circle. She stopped when she spotted me, though. "Oi, Jessie! Where's he run off to? You said you were going with him, so where is he?"

I pressed my lips together and shrugged. "I tried to go with him, Rose, honestly. The Doctor wouldn't have it. Don't get mad at him, though," I added with a shrug. "He probably wanted you to spend some more time with your mom. Or he wanted to keep you from itchy trigger fingers."

"But ... he wouldn't just leave like that. He promised."

Jackie Tyler emerged from the building. "What're you three chimps going on about? What's going on? What's this Doctor done now?"

That only set the boyfriend off again. "Ho, ho, ho! He's vamoosed!"

"He's not, because he gave me this." She held up the key, eyeing it like it was the most precious gift in the universe. "He's not my boyfriend, Mickey. He's better than that. He's much more important than..." Rose yelped, almost dropping the key.

The key which now glowed a bright gold.

The chaos of Rose trying to send her mom inside faded around me as the TARDIS' wheezing seemed to fill my senses. A giddy smile worked its way onto my face. I couldn't help it. Seeing the blue box fade in and out until it became solid filled me with such ... such a mix of warm, thrilling feelings that I didn't know what to name them. Rose was the first to burst inside.

On a rare spike of daring, I followed her, experiencing some sort of vertigo as I stepped over the threshold. I prided myself on not gaping like an idiot. Although I did stare at the inside since I didn't have time previously. My grin spread a little wider.

Gorgeous.

The Doctor was circling the main console, not even bothering to look at who exactly stood in the entrance besides a quick glance. "All right, so I lied. I went and had a look. But the whole crash landing's a fake. I thought so. Just too perfect. I mean, hitting Big Ben. Come on. So I thought, 'let's go and have a look.'"

"My mum's here."

I winced. The Doctor didn't do domestic yet Jackie was sneaking in behind me, staring dumbstruck at the interior of the TARDIS.

An annoyed glower darkened the Doctor's face as he glanced at all of us in more detail. "Oh, that's just what I need. Don't you dare make this place domestic. And you," he added, shaking a finger at me, even more dissapointment radiating from his lean form. "I told you to stay home. Don't you Americans ever do as you're told the instant you're told to do it?"

I made a face. "Nope."

The boyfriend, Mickey, who'd snuck in behind Jackie, couldn't stay silent any longer. "You ruined my life, Doctor. They thought she was dead. I was a murder suspect because of you."

"You see? Domestic." The Doctor snorted, somehow turning that word into some kind of four letter word.

His stubborness made me want to reach out and give that shiny head another good smack.

"I bet you don't even remember my name."

"Ricky."

"It's Mickey."

"No, it's Ricky."

"I think I know my own name."

Another scoff from the Doctor. "You think you know your own name. How stupid are you?" Somehow, his scowl turned my way again and intensified. "Not as stupid as she is, but close enough."

"Hey!" I snapped out of my observation and gave the Doctor a withering glare of my own. I even resorted to putting my hands on my hips, an action that I rarely used because it made me feel so stupid. Not with the Doctor, though.

The chaos of Rose, Jackie, and Mickey flew out the door again until it was just the two of us.

"Don't ..." I burst as the Doctor opened his mouth. No doubt he planned on saying something that would get me off the ship. "Don't even try, Doctor, because I'm not going to be so easy to get rid of again. Not after searching for you for years." I strode up until we were only a couple of feet apart. He was still over a foot taller than me, but that didn't make me back down any. "You're stuck with me until I get some answers."

"No, no, and again, no!" The Doctor snapped, moving around to the other side of the console, forcing me to follow. He didn't come across as annoyed anymore, just angry. Almost furious, even. "What part of 'stay home' don't you understand? It's far too dangerous for you to come with me."

"You're taking Rose!"

"That's because I asked her to come and, unlike you, she knows what she's doing." In a split second, he turned and stalked towards me until our faces were inches apart. His emotions pulsed against my barriers, making me doubly grateful that I coulodn't feel even a fraction of what I used to. "You have a chance to live a normal life, Jessica Gale. A normal, long, peaceful,. boring human life. Not many humans I meet have that chance. I'm telling you, turn around and ..."

"Do you want me to slap you again?" I snapped, chest almost bursting with anger and frustration. I punched his shoulder, hard. "I'm not some hopeless American or idiot human, you know. If it makes you feel better, I'll leave once you help me figure out who I am, alright?" I softened my tone on the last bit. I wasn't a complete idiot, unlike him.

The Doctor glared at me longer, probably hoping I'd give in. When neither of us moved in at least three minutes. A muscle in his jaw twitched then he straightened. "Fine. Just don't slow me down. You'll be no use if you can't keep up."

"Ha. So you do think I can help." I flashed a grin at him, but held my hands up in defence at the Doctor's glower. "Okay, okay, I get it."

Rose charged back in, so thankfully we didn't have to continue the awkward conversation. "That was a real spaceship."

"Yep." The Doctor's voice somehow managed to return to normal in the span of a few seconds.

"So it's all a pack of lies? What is it then? Are they invading?"

Mickey stuck his head in. "Funny way to invade, putting the world on red alert."

The Doctor's eyebrows shot upwards. "Good point. So, what are they up to?"