Chapter Twelve:

The Departure

Andie took a deep breath before she closed the final suitcase. Torchwood had given her a credit card on behalf of her work and files that this Torchwood hadn't found or investigated. She bought a whole other wardrobe to bring with her into the TARDIS. It was very flowery, bright colors, bohemian. It was a stark contrast from what she normally wore, but she felt like she had to be a new person with the Doctor. She couldn't be the rough and tumble; totally in the lead and the strong woman she was with Jack's Torchwood and UNIT.

She gazed at the blue sky, the clouds that slowly moved. She could almost feel the earth orbiting around. It was a thrill, a beautiful thrill. Andie's hand opened the door, and stepped out into the balcony. The air whooshed around her, her hair blowing easily in the wind. It was almost as if the wind were whispering to her. Andie Echo, Andie Echo. Professor?

She shook her head, smiling as her breathing cleared her mind.

"Knock, knock?" The other Doctor walked into her room, leaning against the door. "I don't know if anyone, or I, has told you lately, but you're really Donna's daughter. You're the right sort of fire with a collected spirit to really get things done and help people out."

Andie turned, smiling up at him. She had grown used to this Doctor, his funny hair, the way he was attractive in his own goofiness. This Doctor felt more and more like her Doctor than the proper Doctor had. He was always about the place, looking for mistakes or other nonsense like that, but this Doctor, like Boe, was genuine people. They didn't have any barriers or guards to keep her out, because they didn't feel like they needed to hide. They were out in the open, but the proper Doctor still hid in his TARDIS with whomever lucky person was with him.

"I know it was sort of blunt." He grinned down at her and pointed across the way to where the TARDIS stood, the Doctor roaming about inside it. "I don't think I ever tell you that, though. I doubt this incarnation would. He's a bit dark and touchy."

She nodded hair out of her pony tail once more and starting to curl from the stress of the water she washed it with. Her hair was a difficult thing and it was curling the more the wind blew around them. She smiled up at him once more before looking down and feeling the gaze of the Doctor from down below. Andie had noticed the look of almost jealousy yet still a patient waiting expression on his face, leaning against an open TARDIS door. She waved and went inside, shutting the door behind her.

He took a deep breath outside, his head gently falling against the door of the TARDIS. Then he heard a familiar laugh and a knock on the side as a face peeked around.

"Doctor, I do believe your new companion has fascinated my husband in much the same way a science experiment fascinated you." Rose smiled in a kind-hearted way, a smile not sarcastic or rude, but something kind and without anger. She looked very different, her aura softer because of the kind influence of his metacrisis.

The Doctor nodded, a smile forming on his lips. He knew, deep down and in the front of his mind, no matter what, he was a different man and this Doctor was much darker than the one Rose had helped and the one Rose had now. This man, this personality wasn't in need of someone like Rose. Still, he stepped back and let her come in.

"Andie is Donna's daughter, and let me say, time hasn't seemed to change this world." He looked at her for explanation.

She grinned at him, looking around and touching here and there. "You were wrong on your time length. We're only a year and a half after you left us. Andie, if she is here, is probably only a few months old." Rose took her time to look at the new console, not bothering to turn when the door opened to her husband and Andie.

But it didn't matter, because the door slammed shut, the TARDIS shook again, and took off. The lights weren't flashing, but had dimmed and the other Doctor flew up the stairs and started aiding the proper Doctor. He was still part Time Lord. The TARDIS refused these buttons. Instead, she made her own course.