~~OO~~II~~OO~~

((Merry Christmas))

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Inside, inside!" the Doctor cried as he ushered me into the TARDIS, glancing over his shoulder at the furious "rock people" chasing us. I darted inside and he slammed the doors shut moments before a massive rock man crashed into it, sending me tumbling forward and catching myself on the control panel as the TARDIS tilted. The Doctor grunted as he did the same, and then began to rapidly work on the controls. "Ali, get the switch by your hand!"

I did as he said, gasping, "What did you do?! They were so nice!"

He whirled a lever in a circle, and then pulled another. "I may have caught the attention of a young woman who fancied me?" he said with a cheeky smile, eyes gleaming. "Still haven't lost it after years and years."

I laughed, shaking my head he pointed at a button. I quickly pressed it, and then slid something to where a light was blinking. "Only you would say that."

The TARDIS began to make the familiar rasping sound, signaling that it was moving. Relaxing, the Doctor pulled away from the controls and ran his hand through his hair with a grin on his face.

After the events with the Cybermen, he'd taken my friends and me to a tropical island, where Drevan had managed to upset a peaceful alien. After that, they'd been sent home and we'd gone to see the Aztecs, and then to visit the planet of the rock people. Apparently, while we'd been there, the Doctor had captured some lady's attention as he'd just said, and we'd been chased off.

The Doctor cleared his throat suddenly, and I turned my attention on him with curious eyes. "Ali," he said slowly, and I immediately became wary at his tone as he walked over. He dug in the pocket of his trench coat for a few moments, and then pulled something out. He offered it and I took the gift with wide eyes as he winked. "Merry Christmas."

My jaw dropped. It was the TARDIS key! I grinned, happily throwing my arms around him in a hug. "Thanks!" He chuckled, and I frowned as I pulled back, demanding, "How do you know it's Christmas? It might be Fourth of July in America for all you know!"

He laughed, waving at the TARDIS screen, which showed the area outside. It was snowy, and a street corner held a Christmas tree. I immediately recognized the area and squealed. "Come on, I know where we are! Let's go walk around and just look without getting killed!"

Clave, who had appeared moments ago with a hiss of happiness, gave me the evil eye as I told him, "You have to stay in here, buddy. People will freak out if they see you." He hissed angrily and stormed away to go hide in the corner of my room, which the TARDIS had fixed up specifically for him.

The Doctor grinned, striding across the central room to throw open the doors of the TARDIS. He beamed at the snow that slowly drifted down from the sky. He glanced at me with a warm smile, waving at the outside world. "After you." I hurried outside, tilting my head back to look at the sky as the TARDIS whispered a farewell, exhausted. I pursed my lips at this, shooting an anxious glance at the time machine.

The Doctor closed the doors behind us, locking them before offering me an arm. I gladly took it and we started down the street. I fought a smile back as I noticed a few people shoot us strange looks. The Doctor paused to pick up a free newspaper, reading it as we walked. "It's the twenty fourth of December, so three months and six days after you left."

I bit my lip at this. "Guess I don't own my apartment anymore," I murmured. "I'm homeless."

"Not homeless," he corrected with a reassuring smile. "The TARDIS is your home just as much as it is mine. Now. Anything you want to do?"

"Nothing really," I admitted. "I just want to walk around without anything trying to kill us for once." He grinned, and I frowned. "Hey," I muttered, pushing at him as he tossed the newspaper to a confused and random person. "That's all we seem to do when we go places."

The Doctor sighed. "A lot of fun you are," he complained.

I shoved at him again.

We walked among the snow covered streets, and after a while, and as the day faded to dusk, I began to notice the lack of people. "What's with everyone hiding out?" I mumbled. "They didn't do this last year…I think."

He gave me a look of utter surprise. "You didn't…where have you been the last three years?" he demanded. "You moved here four years ago, and you didn't notice the spaceships or anything?"

I shook my head. "I can't remember Christmas for the past few years. Every year, I get ill and sleep right through Christmas Day except for last year. Last year, I was at my friend's place and I just randomly passed out. She freaked out and told me something happened on the news, but I forgot about it until just now."

His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Interesting…so everyone but us seems to know about you, including River-" I winced at the reminder of that conversation. A very long and painful one that ended in him prying out that I'd ad help with using his sonic screwdriver, though I hadn't told him who had done the helping bit. "-and every other alien. My TARDIS is unnaturally responsive to you. And you pass out on Christmas, when everything to do with other species is going on. Anything else I should know?"

"Nope." Yeah, actually, there is. I talk to "your" TARDIS, and she tells me not to tell you! "So what are we going to do now? You done boring me about things that I can't help?"

"ALI!"

I squealed as I was suddenly sent sprawling, a heavy form landing on top of me. The Doctor was immediately protective, jerking the person off as I lay there, stunned for a few moments. I scrambled to my feet, gasping for breath as I recognized who it was. "Bre!"

The Doctor scowled, obviously not happy with the fact that someone had "attacked" me, while Bre eyed him up and down appreciatively, making me flush slightly in embarrassment on her part. "So this is why you up and left for over three months, hm?" she teased, winking at the Doctor.

The Doctor's irritation disappeared, and he grinned at me, mouthing, See? Still got it.

I fought back a smile as hard as I could, but ended up snickering anyways. "Ignore him; he doesn't exist until he learns how to not impress anyone."

"Hey!"

"Kind of hard to ignore him," Bre drawled before scolding, "You up and disappeared, you know that? There does so happen to be someone here who worries, even if I did yell at you the last time we saw each other. Where have you been?"

"Oh, you know, traveling with that idiot," I mused, smiling slightly when the Doctor made a face at me. I was glad that he was in such a good mood. Hm…I guess we hadn't really done anything but run from aliens and help them out. Maybe that had something to do with that.

Messing with the key to the TARDIS in my pocket, I pursed my lips as she eyed the Doctor again. She was going to inflate his ego if she kept that up. "We should get going," I said with a soft sigh, "We're looking around before heading off again."

Bre huffed, crossing her arms. "You're going to run off again? It's Christmas! At least come hang out for a few hours. Bring the guy, too. I'll make tea or hot chocolate or something, and we can watch something."

I glanced at the Doctor, waiting to see what his decision was before making mine. He waved at Bre with a slight smile. "She's another friend of yours. It's up to you whether you want to spend Christmas with her. I'll come along or go back to the TARDIS if you want."

I bit my lip, and then gave a sigh. "Lead the way, Bre. We'll come over for a few hours, but then we really do have to leave."

I became thoughtful, following after Bre and the Doctor as they began to converse quietly, and I sighed as I realized Bre had decided to full out flirt with the guy. The Doctor was grinning as he spoke, and I found myself worrying over a stupid thought that entered my mind: what if he decided he liked someone else better and left me here alone? What would I do if that happened?

I had no home. I had no source of money now that my adopted mother was gone. So I couldn't fly to Texas and stay with Drevan and Catie. I would literally be left out on the streets with nobody and nothing but the clothes on my back and whatever was in my bag.

I shook my head, scolding myself. He wouldn't do that. He just wasn't that kind of person to up and leave someone without a damn good reason.

That thought reassuring me; I followed after them with a soft sigh. Now I'd get to chase Bre off. Wonderful. ...I made a face. I was acting like an overly possessive person, freaking out over other girls coming near him; I really needed to stop that.

I blinked as I realized the Doctor had suddenly decided to drop back and walk beside me, eyes concerned. "You alright? You've been unnaturally quiet for once."

A smile kicked up the corners of my lips and I playfully pushed at him. "Yep. I'm fine. I'm just...thinking. That's all." I reassuringly smiled, then added when he moved to protest, "I'm fine, John Smith, I was just thinking about what'll happen after you kick me out of the TARDIS for some reason or another."

For some reason, he took what I said to heart. His eyes darkened and he said firmly, "Never. I'd never kick you off of my ship. You're the one that everyone seems to want. And you're helpless against alien technology."

I blinked in surprise at the fierce tone, and then smiled brightly. "Well that's good to hear, 'because I don't exactly have a place to go if you do. Now, what's up with the name? That's twice you've used it now."

"John Smith," he mused, "A good old common name I use when I don't feel like explaining myself."

"And you don't explain very well when you do feel like it," I stated bluntly. He smiled in response, and I rolled my eyes. "You're never going to tell me the truth when it comes to this matter, are you?"

"Not necessarily," he answered thoughtfully, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his beloved trench coat. "I'd prefer not to answer that whole mess though. Names hold power. And besides, I choose who I want to be and I'm the Doctor. Now, let's move on from this discussion and discuss the very important matter of who helped you with my sonic?"

I grimaced. "…good point. I'll stay off that subject if you stay off of this one."

"Good," the Doctor said cheerfully, "Now. After this, where would you like to go?"

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully from where I was curled up on the couch in Bre's apartment beside the Doctor, my pencil skimming my paper quickly as I sketched out a scene on it. The Doctor, who was happily spread out on the couch beside me, peered around Bre's colorful place. "This is the complete opposite of your room," he mused.

I glanced up from what I was working on, cocking an eyebrow. "That's 'because I like black and white and Bre's this weirdo who likes every other color in the world but black and white."

"Look who's talking," Bre chimed back as she ducked into the room, offering a cup of tea to the Doctor. He took it with murmured thanks before frowning as I took my hot chocolate from her. "She doesn't drink hot tea," Bre explained with a grin.

I grimaced at the thought. "I don't know how you drink that stuff." I mumbled with a shudder.

The Doctor pressed his lips together, and then told me firmly, "We're going to fix your taste in drinks."

"Hot chocolate isn't bad," I protested, "It's one of the best things to ever exist."

"Not as good as tea," the Doctor replied, tone firm and leaving no room for argument. I stuck my tongue out at him and he beamed in response. "What are you drawing now?" he asked as I turned back to my drawing.

"Not sure," I replied, sketching out the crazy hair of a woman that grinned at nothing in particular. "Saw something in my head again last night, and I'm drawing it." He moved to peer at it, and I used my foot to block him, keeping him from getting any closer. "You can see when I'm done."

The Doctor pouted, and I was reminded of just how childish the idiot was. I grinned, getting back to work as my friend turned on the movie that had been chosen. While he focused on the movie, I focused intently on my drawing.

It was when I had started drawing the second woman, a familiar woman with smiling golden brown eyes, short blond hair, and a loving look on her features that I realized what I was drawing. These were all of the Doctor's past companions. Well, at least in this regeneration, in this form of him. The image formed in my mind again, and I came up with names to go with all four figures I was drawing. Rose, Martha, Donna, and even Jack were in there. I didn't recognize Martha or Donna, but I knew for sure who Rose and Jack were.

My eyes softened. The TARDIS had known we would land here for Christmas. It was the TARDIS's idea of a gift for the Doctor.

I just hoped he'd like it.

I'd finished Martha and Rose and had just started on Jack when a pounding began in my head. I grimaced at the headache, shaking my head. There's no way I'd get sick on Christmas this time, I had stuff to do. A flash of pain and I flinched, pausing in drawing to rub my temples and rasp, "You got any Advil, Bre?"

Bre nodded, scrambling from her perch in her favorite chair. "Yep! Let me go grab it…" she disappeared out of the room.

The Doctor, who appeared to be lost and thought, glanced over. "Headache," I explained with another grimace. A massive flash of pain had me cringing and muttering under my breath, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!"

Cool fingers prodded my temples and the pain disappeared for a brief moment. I sighed in relief, but then yelped as it returned in full force and the Doctor ripped his hands away with a curse. He mumbled to himself under his breath, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. "Did this happen last year?"

I shook my head no, wincing. "Last year I had the flu," I rasped with a whimper, clutching my head.

Bre appeared with medicine in hand, her eyes anxious. "Should we take you to the hospital?"

I shook my head, glancing at the Doctor with a wince. "Are there any medicines you have that'll get rid of it?"

"Probably," he said in a low tone, frowning. "They'd be all the way back at the TARDIS though…and that's a ten minute run from here, not including finding the right medicine…" I glared at him and he threw his hands in the air. "Right! I'll be back! Breana, I'm putting you in charge of our friend, so don't let her get into any trouble, which seems to happen constantly! Anyone but me comes knocking, don't answer it!" With that, the Doctor was gone.

I scowled furiously at nothing in particular while Bre brought over a glass of water that I quickly drank. "Why do I have to be the one in pain? He never gets hurt or sick!"

Bre chuckled softly, rubbing my back while replying, "He's running around for you trying to keep you happy in case you didn't notice."

I shot her a dark look, wincing. "Don't you dare go into this talk, Bre; I'm not in the mood."

Bre huffed. "I'm just saying. He obviously wants you to stay happy and healthy; otherwise he wouldn't be running around to get better medicine for you or offering to do what you wanted so that you could hang out with me."

"He's my friend, of course he's doing all of that stuff," I said with a huff of anger. But then I grimaced, doubling over. "I'd do the same for him or you."

Bre fell silent, shaking her head, but gently pulled my drawing from my hands to set it aside. She scanned over it curiously before setting it down and saying softly, "Why don't you tell me about your travels while we wait for Mr. Smith?"

I gave a dry laugh. "We've helped a few people out and angered a few others, but nothing other than that has really happened."

"Okay, what about where you've gone?"

Boom! The door slammed open, saving me from another annoying question, and the Doctor came flying in, looking almost panicked. "Ali, we need to leave. Now."

I glanced up, my gray eyes filling with confusion. "Why? Did you do something again? Because I'm not running from your-" I broke off with a hiss.

"The TARDIS is failing," he stated bluntly. His eyes were narrowed. "Something here is causing her to fail. If we don't leave now, we'll be stuck here for good. I don't know about you, but I really don't want to envision myself with finding a proper home right now."

My face paled and I rocketed to my feet, staggering. So that was the headache. A warning. I stuffed my things into my bag, stumbling over to him and very nearly falling flat on my face. "Let's go."

"You can't just run off while you're sick!" Bre cried anxiously, looking utterly confused.

"Have to," I gritted out at another flash of pain. I pushed her away. "Let's go, Do- John."

Despite the situation, he gave a thin smile and ushered me out the door, calling over his shoulder to Bre, "We'll come back another time. It was nice meeting you, Breana Nicole!" He closed the door behind us and we hurried off, this time ignoring the beauty and the snow that had begun to fall.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

The moment we stepped into the TARDIS, I knew something was wrong. Sparks flew from the central column and the control center and the Doctor simply pressed a button. The TARDIS began to make the familiar sound of moving, but there was high pitched screeching to go along with it, and the ship suddenly tilted sideways. I grabbed on desperately to avoid going flying, and the Doctor grasped the control panel.

After a few seconds, the TARDIS fell silent. "What happened?" I whispered, the headache disappearing. Thank goodness, 'cause that had been a huge pain.

The TARDIS lights flickered and then she gave a hum, signaling that everything was safe. "My Girl," she greeted warmly, practically purring as Clave came hurrying from the corridor and climbed up to curl around my neck, quivering anxiously. I stroked his head reassuringly. "My Girl is safe. My Girl and my Thief are safe." Then the TARDIS shuddered. "My Girl's friend is not."

My blood ran cold as the Doctor slid a pair of glasses on and began to intently work on the screen of the TARDIS, muttering to himself under his breath. "There was something poisoning the TARDIS while we stayed there. I can't find out what it is unless we go back, but if we go back, the TARDIS will fail for sure…"

I paused, and then said slowly, "How about you go there and I get the TARDIS away and let her hang around in space while we wait on you?"

"Can't," he said immediately, "you don't know what you're doing."

"The TARDIS will show me what to do," I said in response with a firm look. The TARDIS hummed her agreement. I hesitated, then finally said softly at the encouragement of the ship, "Trust me, Doctor, she'll tell me." I tapped my head. "She likes to talk to me quite often, actually."

The Doctor whirled around, his expression a mask of shock. "The TARDIS talks to you?" he rasped.

I flushed, nodding. "Telepathically, I think. She was trying to warn us, that's what the headache was about. She tells me where you are if I can't find you, and I know she'll show me what to do now. Trust me."

The TARDIS hummed aloud and within my mind. "My Thief, my Thief. You must learn to trust my Girl with my controls, or you will not be able to accomplish what must be done."

I grinned at this. "Trust me, Doctor. Let me control the TARDIS. Please. The TARDIS told me that Bre isn't safe, and I'm worried. I can't use your sonic screwdriver, but the TARDIS can help me steer her."

He searched my gaze, and then gave a curt nod, warning furiously, "If you can't get her back to Earth, then you'll be stuck here forever and I'll be stuck on Earth. I want you to reverse what I just said so I know for sure that I can trust you to get her back."

I grinned, immediately pulling Clave from my shoulders and offering him to the Doctor, who took him despite an annoyed hiss from the strange alien. I moved over to the controls, whispering to the TARDIS with bright eyes, "Show me what to do."

The TARDIS leaped into action. A light appeared under a button, and I pressed it, and then did the same when it came to pulling a lever. As soon as the TARDIS was moving, I stepped back with a proud look at the astonished Doctor's face. "Told you I could do it, Doctor."

He pointed at me, pulling his sonic screwdriver at me as he backed towards the doors, obviously needing to go check out whatever was going on. "You, Alissa Levine, and I need to have a talk when I get back." I grinned, and he added, "Take the TARDIS to the moon and wait until I send you a sign with my sonic. The TARDIS will show the sign on the screen. Then come back to the exact same place as before, got it?"

"Got it," I said firmly, then added quietly as he disappeared outside, "Good luck."

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

I grinned, leaping to my feet as I finally finished drawing, my eyes lighting up as I examined it for any mistakes. But there were none, and the picture looked like a photograph, with color and everything. All four of the people in the picture were grinning or smiling, and I flushed at the fact that Jack almost seemed to be wearing a suggestive look on his face.

I folded it carefully, tucking the picture into the jacket I had pulled on. The TARDIS, with nothing to do, had fixed it a few days ago. My mother's jacket looked as good as new, to my relief. I climbed to my feet, moving to check on the screen. "Hm…I hope he fixes whatever's going on soon. I wanna give him his gift."

"Patience, my Girl," the TARIDS cooed in response, amused. "My Thief will call for us soon."

I sighed, biting my lip. "He's taken hours. I hope he didn't get himself killed."

A loud beep caught my attention and I darted over to the screen, fixing it so that I was able to see it properly. I grinned. "Time to go back then."

As I began to direct the TARDIS, the ship suddenly began to tilt sideways before suddenly slamming down roughly on its side. I yelped, clinging to the control panel and struggling to reach for button that was flashing brightly. I finally managed to reach it and the TARDIS jerked upright, slamming me into the floor. As the doors opened, I rasped, "Other than that, there were no problems."

The Doctor strode over, offering a hand to help me to my feet with a raised eyebrow. "Still having that conversation."

"Supposed as much," I sighed, accepting the hand and letting him pull me up. "So what was it?"

"Still not sure," he said slowly, "It appears we're going to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota in the U.S."

I couldn't help but grin. "We seem to be going back to my home country a lot."

He snorted. "Another thing to add to my list of questions." He shrugged off of his trench coat, and I remembered the picture in my pocket.

"Hold on, before we go," I cried, diving in between him and the TARDIS controls. "I have something."

He frowned. "Ali, we need to deal with whatever's not happy with the TARDIS. I was able to stop the poisoning bit, but it's still out there."

"I know," I replied, shoving the picture at him. "Here. You gave me the TARDIS key and its Christmas. You needed something in return." I paused, and then said softly, "It was the TARDIS's idea."

I watched intently as he opened it, waiting for his reaction. His eyes widened with surprise, and then softened as he ran his fingers over the paper. "…thank you, Ali," he murmured, folding it carefully and tucking it safely away into his suit. Then he grinned, as if forgetting it. "Ready to go?"

I smiled. "Yep!"

"I told you, my Girl. That means more to my Thief than anything else you could have thought of." And then, to my surprise, an image flashed in my mind and she purred, "You forgot one, though."

Oh, but I'm still here, I answered, my eyes twinkling. As a light flashed and I pressed the button as the Doctor instructed. I glanced over at him and grinned. "Merry Christmas, Doctor," I teased.

He merely smiled and winked back, clicking his jaws together to make a strange sound before pulling a lever.

And into the time vortex we went.

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

A/N: And here's my Christmas chapter! What do you think? :3