Martha had heard the Tardis fly off or whatever it did, the Doctor had never fully explained how it came and went then moved to the past, present or future and since it also landed on spaceships about to crash into a sun, she'd given up asking. Even when they had been back in 1913 and she'd had to keep checking on the time machine, he'd left no clues as to how it worked.
She decided to forget about him and the Tardis for at least a day, get some perspective on the situation where it seemed only a few days had gone by since the hospital she worked in got transported to the moon but she should have known when he'd kissed her that he'd meant what he said – that it meant nothing and would save a thousand lives. She had been the one who had wanted to make something out of it.
The Doctor's head was spinning – time travel without a capsule was deadly, well it hurt at the very least and he'd have a bit of a headache later, not that Timelords usually got headaches. It was dark, that much he knew, it wasn't just that his eyes were playing tricks on him and he was outside, it was cold and as his vision came into focus again, there were traces of a light coating of snow on the ground as he put his hand out to steady himself as he was crouched down besides what looked like a large industrial sized trash can.
He tried to shake the dizziness off and get his bearings and gingerly tried to get up slowly as he slid up against the wall behind him. What greeted him shook him even more as he slowly turned and looked beyond the metal receptacle that had been blocking his view. He knew that landmark in front of him, he'd been there dozens of times, in his past and present forms, he'd come out once to be greeted by the police and escorted to Downing Street, he'd also more recently landed there to find Cybermen posing as 'Ghosts' but the most memorable time was crash-landing when he'd regenerated – badly and Rose had not believed it was really him.
He was in the Powell Estate but how had he managed to get here? Well since the weeping angels couldn't exactly send him back to a time before he was born, his estimated age was a bit 'off' to say the least and when he'd sat with Rose on the roof of her block of flats, that had been his best guess. So the angels must have sent him back to the time before he'd just come back to earth as he'd detected something was going on and judging by the snow plus the coloured lights blinking from some of the balconies in front of him, it was Christmas or new year but not the Christmas he'd crash-landed with Rose doubting who he was.
He was about to step out of the shadows when he heard voices - familiar female voices.
"I'm late now, I've missed it. It's midnight, Mickey's going to be calling me everything. This is your fault," the young woman whom the Doctor recognised her voice immediately said.
How could he ever forget that voice? He heard it constantly in his mind.
"No, it's not. It's Jimbo's fault. He said he was going to give us a lift, then he said his axle broke. I can't help it," the other voice answered, who could only be Jackie Tyler – his nemesis.
"Get rid of him, Mum, he's useless."
"Listen to you, with a sometimes boyfriend who's a mechanic. Be fair though, my time of life I'm not going to do much better," Jackie sadly replied, Rose rubbing her arm.
Rose was dressed in a purple hat, purple jacket with a blue top underneath, that he could plainly see as she levelled with his hiding place. He had to stay out of sight, at least until she was alone and came out the following morning but could he stay outside all night? He doubted the Tardis had been sent back a few years with him. This had to be 2005, a few months before the first him had met her in the department store's basement, which he'd not so cleverly blown up.
Rose and Jackie were still stood talking.
"Don't be like that Mum, you never know, there could be someone out there."
"Maybe, one day. Happy New Year sweetheart."
"Happy New Year Mum! Don't stay out all night," Rose laughed as her mother went to the block of flats opposite theirs after they had hugged.
"Try and stop me," Jackie laughed back.
The Doctor felt privileged to have seen what they had been like, before she'd stumbled into the store's basement and he'd pulled her away from the shop window dummies. What would her life have been like if they'd never met that day? Would she have been better off without him? Well she'd still be here, in this universe for starters, that had to be better, didn't it?
Then he had a horrible thought. What if just by being here, he was to change her destiny and she never ventured into the basement that day? He felt dizzy again and slapped his hand on the metal bin so hard, it made Rose, who had been about to head for the door of their block turn towards the darkened area.
"Who's there? Is that you Mickey?"
This was his chance, if he spoke, she may never go on to meet him, the first him but if he didn't, he was stuck here because he'd not been on earth prior to meeting her for a long time, well not since the eighth version of himself, who had been a bit of a ladies man, so he'd discovered and then he'd have to wait around six months or so before his ninth self came along.
He thought if he pretended to be slightly drunk, he may get away with it but she might just brush it off. Then he had an idea.
"You all right mate?" Rose asked as she heard him cursing something about keys.
"Yeah, can't find my car keys, someone thought it was funny to toss them over here when we were on the way to a party."
"Too much to drink? If you have, you'd be best leaving them there mate."
The Doctor laughed. "Something like that. Maybe you're right? Know any cab numbers?"
"Maybe it's time you went home then but you won't get a cab for hours, they'll all be booked. Where was this party then?"
"Yeah, just my luck I never got the address, there were a few of us, left my car down the road at the pub and we walked. I planned on crashing there for the night and collect my car in the morning."
"Makes sense to me. There can't be that many parties going on, just walk on some of the balconies and listen for the noise, you might see some of the people you came here with?"
She didn't even know him yet and here she was, his Rose, being just as practical as ever and this was the time when she hadn't even turned nineteen yet and he had to look twice as old as she did. She'd always estimated he was around his early thirties, she said he'd get away with thirty four-ish.
"Thanks, I might just do that. I don't even know your name."
He couldn't just come out with saying a 'thanks Rose', could he?
"Well I don't normally talk to strange men who hide in the shadows. I'm Rose and you are?"
"Me? Oh, I'm John Smith and yeah, tell me about my parent's wicked sense of humour. Promise not to laugh?"
He heard her giggling. "Anyway, happy New Year, John Smith, hope you find your friends. If you don't find your mates, I live up there, number 48, just buzz me, I won't be going to bed just yet, too giddy."
"Well happy New Year to you too Rose and thank you. What year is this?" he asked, thinking he should maybe let her catch a glimpse of him but what about when the time came to regenerate and she remembered him?
This was getting too complicated by the minute but maybe, just maybe, he could use that to his advantage? He came out of the shadows and under one of the lamps, Rose hugging herself to keep warm and all he could think of was how much he missed her hugging him.
Rose just smiled when she saw him, probably thinking he looked a bit like that Scottish actor she used to tease him endlessly about.
"Blimey, how much have you had? It's 2005, January the first."
The Doctor knew he was right then, there were at least six months before his former self discovered what the Nestene Consciousness were up to and put a stop to it, with her help.
"2005 then? Tell you what, I bet you're going to have a really great year," he smiled as she unfolded her arms.
"Yeah? See you aren't that drunk then are ya? Have you any idea where to look for your friends?"
He shook his head. He could really use her help but her mother had taken a long time to get used to him and she wouldn't take too kindly to him in his present form, well she really would have something to worry about, all the early accusations she'd thrown at him.
Rose stood there observing him. Did she think he looked innocent enough to invite him for coffee or something and to wait to call a cab, which she was right, it would take a few hours and he still had to pretend he'd not found his car keys or remember where he'd left his supposed car. He hoped she wouldn't ask him what model it was, since he'd not taken much notice back in 2005 what types there even were.
"So, let me get this right then? You don't know where your friends went and your car keys are over there, somewhere? How were ya even gonna find them in the dark and get back to your car?"
"I have a small torch, a sort of penlight one with a blue glow?" he offered, reaching into his jacket pocket and thankful his sonic screwdriver was still there, along with his psychic paper.
Rose was looking at the silver, sleek object with a doubting look on her face.
"You expected to be able to see, with that?"
It was almost as accusing as she'd been over him assembling cabinets with it.
"Yes, it's brighter than it looks. Anyway, I'm keeping you in the cold and this isn't finding my car keys."
Rose giggled again. "I don't think there were any car keys, were there?"
He put the screwdriver back in his pocket, there was never any fooling Rose Tyler, not then and not now. He shook his head.
"I heard you coming along and decided to hide until you'd both gone past, then you stopped to talk and I lost my balance."
"That I can believe. Come on, I'll make you a coffee and you can wait an hour and try booking a cab. Where do ya live then?"
What could he say to that? That he lived in a blue wooden police box in 2007? She'd have him certified, well at present she would so he could only think of one place, since he wasn't entirely sure where he'd dropped Martha off earlier, well a few hours ago, the Tardis had obviously stored her address from last time.
"Oh, well, I probably couldn't get a cab to take me as far as Chiswick."
"Blimey, that's a way off, been out all night have you?"
"Yeah, met some friends after they'd finished work."
"So what do ya do for a living then?"
This was getting far beyond what he'd reckoned on but if he wanted to survive another six months, what else could he do? As long as he didn't tell her how important she was going to become to him in the future, he'd be able to get by, make friends with her but where would he stay?
"Physics teacher, well maths as well," he bragged.
"Show-off. Come on then John Smith, I'll probably get into trouble when my mum finds out but she won't be back tonight, trust me. So, do you have any fancy letters after your name or any fancy titles?" Rose asked as she put the code in the door lock and he opened the door for her, allowing her in first then realising she was taking the stairs to the fourth floor, her way of telling him he'd be completely sober by the time they got there.
"Well, actually, I didn't want to brag but most people call me Doctor."
Rose stopped as they got to her landing.
"Including your friends?" she asked, fishing in her jeans pocket for her key, the Doctor half expecting it to be her Tardis key.
"Yeah but you don't have to call me that, not that I'm not saying you're not a friend or anything. You could call me that, if you wanted?" he gushed out, as Rose used to tell him at 50 mph.
"Mmm, I'll have to think about that. Come on, I'll make you that coffee then you can tell me exactly how you got here, since the car was just to throw off suspicion you'd fallen down drunk by the trash can."
"You got me," he grinned as she opened the door to the flat he'd last been in just hours before he'd lost her.
He'd been back to the estate, which had been in chaos as people had been trying to locate friends and relatives and women comforting each other. He'd not stuck around in case he was asked any questions, they would have certainly seen him with Jackie and Rose at some point during his visits. Besides, it had been all too painful and he trusted the flat would have been taken care of.
While Rose was in the kitchen, probably making sure his coffee was strong or just black, he looked around to find nothing much had changed, well the cat-flap had been there, the glass coffee table that they'd smashed between them when the arm from the shop window dummy had attacked them was still intact.
He heard Rose's mobile ringing and her saying something, probably to her mother, just as the hatch opened and two cups were placed on the shelf and he could hear her saying goodnight to Jackie again.
"Don't worry Mum, I'll be fine, just come back when you want tomorrow, I'll start lunch if you want? You what?" she asked as her mother asked her something.
Then she mouthed to him to be quiet.
"No Mum, I did not pick any strangers up after you left me. Yeah, I know I used to bring cats home but they all left. Don't you trust me?"
He could only imagine what her mother was saying on the other end. All he wanted to know was what time she'd be back so he could escape her endless questions she would undoubtedly have.
Rose put her mobile by the side of the two mugs then went around into the living room.
"Sorry about that, I think my mum has psychic powers or something. Here, drink this."
He took one of the mugs, seeing she'd made it just how he liked it and he wondered how she'd known that first time she'd brought his other self inside on some false pretence it was about the store fire.
"Thanks, I don't want to get you into any trouble with her."
"Too late for that don't ya think? So anyway, about getting back to Chiswick in a taxi, I hope you have plenty of money on you? It'll be double until the day after."
"Oh, I never thought of that," he grinned, pretending to search his pockets.
"Lost your wallet as well as your car keys?" she teased him, a smile on her face as she curled up in the chair, like she used to do when he was there, then she'd pat the space at the side of her and he'd sit half on the arm and half in the chair, her mother scowling at him.
He thought of bringing out the wallet containing the psychic paper but he dreaded to think what she would make of it.
"Just my small wallet with my bank card," he had to lie as he fingered it, made sure she'd seen it then put it back again. "I'll have to go find a cash machine."
Rose laughed. "You'll have a trek then, there are none around here, where have you been living? Oh I forgot you come from a posh area, you probably have them in shops and every street corner in Chiswick?"
"Not quite," he smiled back, remembering when he was getting money out to pay for a taxi with Donna and having to fix the machine to churn out notes to distract the robot Santas.
"Can I trust you?" Rose asked, sitting up.
The Doctor nodded as he put the empty mug down.
"You can sleep on the sofa but you'll have to be gone before my mother gets back."
"You should not be encouraging complete strangers to sleep on your sofa Rose."
"You're not a complete stranger, I know your name, what you do for a living and roughly where you live."
That was exactly what he had meant, he didn't come from Chiswick but he had posed as a teacher, twice and got away with it. Maybe he could find a place to stay, get a job and lie low until the day the department store blew up then go find his former self and hope he'd get a ride back to just after he'd dropped Martha off, before he'd been stupid enough to get zapped into the past by the angels but the question was, did he really want to do it on his own?
He'd been given another chance to spend some time with Rose but if he did, how exactly was he going to play this?