Chapter 4: Getting to Know You… and Me

Disclaimer: I have as much chance at owning Doctor Who as Rory Williams does of staying alive.

A/N: Just watched Boom Town again and I couldn't stop smiling! I miss Nine so much…considerably longer chapter here – Warning! FLUFF AHEAD

The enigmatic brunette toed out of his room but he could do nothing but stare as she left. In the short time she was with him, he came up with several ideas.

When he first saw her, she looked to be mid-twenties, pretty, and very worried about something. Something dark sat in her eyes, sad and old. What could someone like that worry about? Maybe him? Why would she be–

Suddenly an onslaught of memories of blood and war and enemies and death surrounded him. Initially, his forehead only furrowed. Then as he remembered more, he began to shake, the bed creaking with the violent spasms. The Would-be King and his army of Neverwheres slaughtered his brothers. His fists clenched the cloth beneath them. The Host and the Horde of Travesties fed off his life force, reducing him to a husk. He couldn't help a cry escaping his lips. The Nightmare Child laughed throughout time as he played with the timelines like toys, snapping each one and turning anything and everything to ash. Tears leaked from his eyes. President Rassilion, ordering the Final Sanction and his fear for all he loved.

And here he lay, warm and cared for back at home in his TARDIS with a beautiful young woman tending to his wounds. Why? His mind raged. How had he survived the Moment? The strange box had stood dormant, seeming so innocent as he destroyed worlds.

Words came to him then. "She will save you," was whispered huskily, like a secret.

More silent tears rolled down unfamiliar cheeks and he closed his eyes against the stinging. He shouldn't be saved. He shouldn't have lived. And he never should have… Hold on. Why was a woman in his TARDIS?!

He bolted into a sitting position, anger at something blazing with full force, the very moment the woman – Violet, he reminded himself – returned with a cup of warm tea.

"Oi! Sit back right now! You will not move until you're over this regeneration." His mouth opened and closed, astonished at being spoken to in such a way (and slightly turned on). She took the opportunity of his shock to pour tea into his open mouth, making his sputter with indignation. When he swallowed, she leaned in and brushed the dampness off his face, looking incredibly sad.

"Who do you think you are? I am perfectly fine and you will leave this instant!" For some reason, he felt he should be harsher to a stranger in his magnificent ship, but her gentle touch and kind mannerisms and abrupt instructions left him at a loss of what to do. This is not what he should be doing so soon after…

"I most certainly will not, Doctor. Now you must drink." Once again taken off guard by her candidness, he obeyed and said back slightly.

"That's better, isn't it?" A very faint Cockney accent surprised him, although he wasn't sure why. She looked to be in complete orderly disarray, her wavy brown hair fell to her lower back in a half-attempted pleat and she wore no make-up loose strands of hair fell into her face, and it probably hadn't been properly washed in some time. Considering that, she didn't smell too nice either – a oil and grease and metal obscuring some of her natural scent. Her clothes were simple. A baggy gray jumper covered her top and green trousers ended in tattered high top red converse.

And yet, she had an air of someone very smart (slightly pompous, not that he was better. Probably far worse if this face was as rude as he thought) and more than aware of her surroundings. So far, Violet made no sense.

"Why are you here?" he queried. Quickly, the Doctor had a rather startling idea. "I didn't get amnesia again, did I? The last…" he stopped himself from even mentioning his previous incarnation, and Violet watched him with a gentle pity. "…Doctor… he had amnesia when he regenerated. You wouldn't happen to be someone I don't remember meeting, would you?" He glowered. "Although, if you were my companion, I might ask you to dress better." Ooh, for some reason the Northern accent went very well with insults. That'd make things interesting.

"Why? For the past few years I haven't had anyone to say differently!" Her tone was offended, but he saw a small grin puling at her mouth. A strong urge to make her smile for real made him say, "Well, now that I'm here, I suppose we'll have slumber parties and braid each other's hair and have spa days!" He knew he had spoken as if it was his worst nightmare, but what? He, the Doctor, did not offer to braid girl's hair!

But he stopped yelling at himself when she let out a hearty laugh ended with a tongue-in-teeth grin.

"But Doctor, you don't have much hair for me to braid, now do you?" His hand when to his head to feel the short crew-cut of his newest hairstyle. Seeing his reaction, Violet guffawed again. She was teasing him like they had been friends for years and he realized she never answered his original question.

He sipped his tea. "So what, I've gotten amnesia again?" She looked at him, surprised.

"No, you just haven't met me yet." She smiled again, but it was less teasing and more looked slightly disappointed. That did not sit well.

"Ah." His jaw snapped shut and he forced his face blank. "So you aren't staying." She straightened her posture and looked him in the eye. He stared right back.

"I'm staying for as long as you want me, Doctor." He began to protest, to say he didn't want her at all, but stopped himself when he saw her look of uncertainty. He had just come from the Last Great Time War, and here he was, chatting away and drinking tea with some odd human girl in her twenties.

A miraculous, almost imperceptible smile lifted his lips.

"Good. You make a pretty decent cuppa, so it can't hurt to keep you around for a while." He let her in. This woman – practically a child – was now part of his life.

"Good." She smiled that grateful, yet still sad, smile down at him, then pulled a chair he hadn't realized was there an sat upon it, feet away from where he was tucked in. She looked resolute, a guard for him in his weakened state.

"So, you know about regeneration and you seem to be familiar with my TARDIS, you haven't seen many people for a while, and you make a damned good cup of tea, and you've some how ended up here even after the-" He chocked on his words for a moment. "Want to tell he how the hell that happened?"

"Nope," she exclaimed popping the 'p' obnoxiously, but grinning like it was a private joke. "Now, you are going to rest and once you are healed more, we'll take a little jaunt, maybe visit a nice, calm planet or two, and then when I know you're doing alright, we'll talk." Her tone left no room for brokering a compromise and the Doctor felt oddly safe letting her take charge, something he hated doing, in any incarnation. Especially this one, he was quickly discovering.

"And what will you do as I regain my strength, Violet?" he accentuated her name, reminding her that he still didn't believe her. She didn't seem to care.

"I will be right here, making sure you don't wander off."

"Oi! I never- It's always-" He came up short, wondering what he was abut to say.

"Rule number one, Doctor!" She mocked in a sing-song voice. More serious, she instructed, "Now sleep, I'll have another cup ready for you when you wake up."

As she left the bedroom, he called, "And that's another thing! How do you know how this body likes his tea?"

She grinned mischievously. "If you behave, you can have a banana too!" His eyes widened and he promptly laid down and closed his eyes.

~:~:~

When he woke, he quickly noted he had slept for exactly nine hours, fourteen minutes, and twenty six seconds. When he opened his eyes, He had a moment of bliss. The world hadn't caught up with him yet, and he didn't have to remember anything. Turning on his side like he usually did when waking up, he noticed something was attached to him. His coarse hand was held in the gentle grasp of an unfamiliar but very beautiful woman.

Once more his past assaulted him but this time, he couldn't help but cry out in shock. Violet was awake and attentive immediately, taking both his hands in hers, waiting out the storm.

As his subconscious raged, his physical form convulsed, arching off the mattress and almost dislodging Violet. Then she began to speak. Her voice swept over him like cold water, soothing the fire in his veins.

He still trembled, but the soft fingers running over him soothed the tremors and he was at last able to control his own body.

"Violet?" The name still sounded wrong coming off of his lips, like it didn't quite fit the soft delicate skin of her hands in his.

"I'm here, Doctor." Tears pricked behind his eyes, but didn't come forward. Instead of giving in, he smiled up at her, making contact with deep whiskey eyes.

"I think I'll take that tea, if you don't mind," he lightened his voice, pushing back the images and focusing on the present. It was worth it, she smiled and turned around, taking a cup off another piece of furniture he hadn't realized was there.

Noting his confusion, she explained.

"When I got here, there was only the console room and your completely empty one, so she's busy trying to rebuild herself." So, she knew the ship was sentient.

"I expected that. My previous self didn't spend much time using recreational rooms, what with the war and all." Whoa. He just mentioned the Time War. He just casually mentioned the Time War. He felt sick. Violet, apparently sensing this, reached for a bucket as he rolled off the bed and onto the floor. She held it beneath him as he retched, an arm across his back and speaking more calming words.

"There, Doctor, it'll get better, I promise. It ain't easy now, and it'll be hard, but trust me, we can handle it, you an' me" In her concern, her accent grew a little and he found it quite endearing. Or, he would have, if he hadn't been heaving over a plastic bucket for one hundred and fourteen point eight seconds.

"Oh really? How nice of you." He wasn't sure why he was pushing her away, but he had to. If he didn't… maybe he would get better. Maybe she would help him heal. He knew he deserved none of that.

But she wouldn't let him. As if she knew what he was thinking, she cradled him to her, even though she was easily half his size. The girl really needed a few meals in her. Then he remembered his earlier train of thought.

"Are you a telepath?" She grimaced, and his stomach knotted in anticipation.

"Yes, but not a natural one, certainly not an experienced one, and I am not using it with you unless you ask me too. Besides, I'm so clumsy you would know immediately." She smiled, and he felt a tendril of thought come from her and knock courteously, but haltingly and unsure, at his defenses. Reaching out as well, he brushed hers carefully but with far more grace. In front of him, Violet gasped.

"Is something wrong?" He was out of breath from the sickness and the almost intimate meeting of minds. He had a strong pull towards her, and ridiculously wanted to bind the two of them just so he could have someone in his mind to hold back the emptiness.

"I've just… never felt another telepath." She gulped, judging her words. "And I haven't even spoken to another life form in, oh, sixteen years?" His eyebrows shot up expressively.

"Is that so?" This caught him completely by surprise. He immediately called her out on the hole in her story. "You couldn't have been older that what, six?" He narrowed his gaze menacingly. "And if that's so, when did you travel with me?" Humph. Just as he was beginning to like her, the stupid ape lied to him even more. To his chagrin, Violet only giggled. He wanted to see surprise, remorse, quilt, anything but amusement.

"Oh no, doctor. I was a hundred seventy-one, if I remember correctly." The Doctor only stared at her, completely blind-sided.

"Ah." Then he hung his head to hide his smile, but he could do nothing to stop the deep chuckle that rose. Once more surprising him, she laughed too. Here he was, laying on the ground, half naked, leaning on a strange hundred and eighty-something year old girl, and laughing. It seemed neither of them would stop any time soon.

Eventually they both quieted down, easing into a much more companionable silence.

"Er, Doctor?"

"Yes, Violet?"

"I think you need a new wardrobe." He looked at her and nodded. She got up and offered her hands to him, at which he raised his eyebrows mockingly. "I'm stronger than I look, you know."

"I think I'm starting to understand that," he responded and she hefted him to his feet. He swayed more than was natural, and she quickly ducked under his pinwheeling arm to support him. He found that he loved the feel of the human (or what ever she was, he'd do some tests later) pressed up against his bare chest and had a fleeting wish for her to be topless, too.

Wait, what? Good lord, he was acting like a pubescent human male! Before he could pull away, however, Violet spoke.

"I think the TARDIS should be done with the wardrobe by now." For some reason, she now looked slightly uncomfortable, and he couldn't imagine why. Maybe it was because he was clinging to her wearing nothing but trousers? There was something very strange going on here, but when he checked the timelines, it didn't seem wrong. In fact they looked like they were healing. Interesting.

"Here we are!" she said enthusiastically. Opening the wide door she ushered him in. She wanted to sit him in a chair, but there he drew the line.

"Fine, be that way, you grump," was said almost insultingly, but it was too obvious she was teasing for him actually be angry. "What do you want to try?" She grinned as if she knew something he didn't.

"Hmmm. What about a nice-cut suit?" Violet bit her lip at that, but left and quickly came back with a brown two-piece suit with pinstripes.

"Oh, I didn't realize I was a skinny rake with a horrid- are those pinstripes?" Violet was practically cackling now and he could barely keep the grin off his face, opting to cross his arm in consternation. "What else would I wear with that, anyway? I can't run in dress shoes." Violet gave him a sly smile.

"What about a pair of these?" she asked, wiggling her Converse-clad feet. He could only stare, insulted beyond words. She kept going. "And that coat Janis Joplin gave you! And a nice… ooh! What about a bowtie?" He shook his head, teasingly disappointed. He pushed back more questions about her past with him and decided – it was only clothes, after all – to trust her on this.

"Ha! Oh well, maybe next time." She stood up and walked behind a stack of boxes and came out with one labeled with a black marker 9. His eyebrow quirked. In answer, she said, "I made this as an afterthought while helping the TARDIS rebuild." As his mind reeled from this new revelation, she set the box on the table on front of her and opened it. Before he could get a good look, she pulled out a very nice pair of black combat boots. "What do you think?"

"It'll do, I suppose." She smiled, obviously thinking that meant a yes.

"And these?" A tailored pair of non-formal black trousers followed the boots. Next was a dusky purple, long sleeved, short V-neck jumper. He harrumphed, skeptical. It wasn't bad, yet it was missing something. "Alright, go change!" She handed the clothes to him and bumped he hip against him, nudging him towards the divider.

He grumbled out loud to her as he changed, but as he put each item on, he found they fit rather well. It wasn't quite right, and he felt far too exposed and understated (especially considering his sixth body), but it would have to do. Walking out, he first saw his reflection.

"Not too bad… but would you look at the ears! And the nose looks like I got into a bar brawl!"

"Well I like it." Violet's voice came from somewhere behind him, but he didn't notice her until she placed something dark and heavy on his shoulders, easing the coat onto him. It was a thick leather coat, almost like armor, that wasn't too different from the one he had worn in the… he blinked away the image. This coat was far nicer, and went with his personality like a house on fire.

"So…" Violet prompted with a grin.

"Fantastic!" Ooh, that sounded rather nice.

"My thoughts exactly, Doctor." He turned to her. He realized she was looking at him with such… was that love? He shut that door immediately. No one in their right mind would even think about getting close to him. Not that she was normal. Violet seemed so much more. And he had known her all of a day and he was beginning to with she would never leave. Just as a precaution, he decided not to let her get too close.

She took his arm and held it close and they walked to his room together and he let a small smile escape. Or he could simply return the gesture. That wasn't dangerous, and he didn't want to scare her off completely. He liked the company. She wasn't perfect, she spoke her mind too brazenly, and she kept far too many secrets. But just now, she felt as right on him as the coat did.

"Doctor?"

"Rose?"

"Tomorrow, would you like to go somewhere?"

"You read my mind." Actually, he was very glad she hadn't. That wouldn't do well for the whole 'keep her ignorant' thing. When they came to his door he turned to her again.

"Human or no, you still need your rest, Violet." She looked up at him, eyes so innocent and bright for someone who had seen as much as she hinted at. He felt his own face soften in return.

"If you're sure," he nodded. "I'll be right next door if you need me" She rose onto the balls of her feet and kissed his cheek. "'night, Doctor" She entered her room and closed the door.

"Goodnight." Walking into his own room, he found that the TARDIS had replaced most of his books and belongings. Without Violet, the room seemed a little darker. From that darkness, the past slowly crept upon him. Kicking off his new boots and shrugging the jacket onto the chair, he laid on top of the covers and fell into memory.

A/N: There you go! I was initially planning on Nine being super debilitated, but he always covers it well, so it might take a while for that darkness to present itself… But it will!