Child of Earth
By Lumendea
Chapter Six: Skye: Finding Home
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any of the spinoff material and I gain no income off of this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.
AN: Thank you everyone for your reviews and comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed the first episode of Child of Earth.
….
It was all a bit anti-climatic really for Rose and the others. Once Meyers was gone the Doctor checked on the controls of the nuclear reactor just to make sure that everything was going to be okay while the groggy employees began to wake up. Skye was fawned over by Sarah Jane and Johnny who needed to reassure themselves that she was alright. Rose wondered if they'd figured out where this all was heading. Judging from the soft, but slightly uneasy look on Luke's face he'd figured it out. So had Rani and Clyde, but Sarah Jane and Johnny didn't seem to know yet.
They walked out towards the vehicles quickly with Skye holding tight to Sarah Jane's hand as Johnny and Luke walked along beside them. The little girl paused and looked up at the blue sky with a wide smile. It occurred to Rose suddenly that she was already about twelve years old and had only seen a tiny fragment of the world. Exchanging a look with the Doctor, she found him smiling.
"Good day huh?"
The Doctor gave her a beaming smile in return. His eyes kept going over to the smiling Sarah Jane. Rose held back a chuckle and just gave him a warm smile when he looked back to her.
"So Sarah Jane is your mother?" Skye asked Luke. Her eyes were wide and a bit nervous as she looked up at the older boy. "And Johnny is your father?"
"Yeah Mum adopted me a while ago," Luke explained. "Like I told Meyers, I was made by aliens too. They wanted me to help them take over the world and Mum adopted me after that was over. Then she married Johnny and he became my Dad."
"Does this happen often then?" Skye questioned with a tilt of her head. "Aliens making children to do bad things?"
"Uh I don't really think so," Luke assured her with a small smile. "I was made on Earth, but you weren't and I don't know of any others like us."
"That's good at least," Skye answered with a small nod. "I don't think being made to do bad things is good."
Luke laughed as Sarah Jane looked over at Skye in amusement and beamed at the younger girl. "Yeah it's better not be made for bad things," he agreed. Luke hesitated, but then reached down and ruffled Skye's hair as they reached the car park.
"Rani, Clyde!" Rose called to the others. "You're with me and the Doctor!" She looked over at Sarah Jane and smiled. "We'll meet you back at Bannerman Road."
"Wonderful!" Sarah Jane beamed before she dug into her pocket and retrieved Rose's pen. "Thanks for this," she called. Then Sarah Jane tossed it to Rose before she looked at the Doctor. "I suspect the TARDIS is in my attic."
"Where did you want me to park Sarah?" the Doctor asked easily with a widening smile.
The sound of an alarm inside the power plant made them all jump and Sarah Jane pushed Skye towards the car. Rose glanced towards the Doctor who was grinning manically.
"Come on!" Rose called to Rani and Clyde, "That's our cue!"
As the four of them climbed into her SUV, Rani and Clyde in the back they could see the Chesterton-Smiths and Skye climbing into Sarah Jane's little car.
"They haven't figured it out yet," Clyde said as he buckled up.
"No," Rose agreed. She laughed and started up the car. "Not yet."
She shared an amused glance with the Doctor just before Rani and Clyde began to ask him questions about his latest adventures. Rose listened with a small smile as he described a meteor shower to the pair of eager teenagers and headed for the exit. They made it out just before the barriers slid up and Rose laughed out loud. The Doctor caught her eye once more and it was all Rose could do to keep herself from bursting out into giggles. All things considered, it had been a pretty good day.
…
The trip back to the house thankfully didn't take long and the Doctor seemed quite content to entertain Rani and Clyde. It amazed Rose how good this incarnation was with kids despite the gruffer exterior he embraced. For a moment she felt a twinge of regret that Astra wouldn't be born until his next incarnation, this form would have made a good father too.
She pulled over and parked on the side of the street just beyond the Chesterton-Smith drive and Rani and Clyde scrambled out in their rush to join Luke. The Doctor climbed out but paused by the gate of the drive where he stood watching Sarah Jane interact with her husband, son and the kids with a small smile on his face. Bumping his shoulder, Rose shared a wide smile with him but headed towards the entrance. As she lingered in the entryway she could hear the others following her inside. Just as well, she decided, they didn't need to give the neighbors even more to wonder about.
Moving into the living room, Rose froze and barely held back a gasp of surprise as she found the mysterious Shopkeeper seated in one of the armchairs. He was still in the same paisley tailored suit as before with his kufi complete with its golden tassel on his head. The Shopkeeper merely smiled at her with a tilt of his head, clearly enjoying her surprise.
"A pleasure to see you, Miss Tyler," the Shopkeeper greeted. He stood up from the armchair and offered Rose and small bow.
"What the-" Sarah Jane gasped as she came into the room. "Who are you!"
"This is the Shopkeeper," Rose told her as calmly as she could manage. "The servant of the White Guardian that I told you about." Beside her, the Doctor pulled Sarah Jane back and moved into the living room. "Is he going to be joining us?" Rose asked calmly. She quickly became aware of the startled look she was receiving from the Doctor.
"No this is was a small matter," the Shopkeeper said with a smile. "And the White Guardian has such demands on his time."
"What matter?" the Doctor asked with narrowed eyes. "Why are you here?"
"You brought Skye here didn't you?" Rose said. Understanding dawned on her and she nodded slowly. "To prevent the genocide."
"Ah Skye, my compliments Sarah Jane Smith," the Shopkeeper said pleasantly. The others moved into the room though Rose made sure she stayed closer to him than the others while the Doctor eyed him suspiciously. "Such a perfect name for such a perfect child, young Skye." The Shopkeeper nodded to Rose. "Indeed I brought the child here. Sometimes, things can't be left to chance. Sometimes, a breeze must blow from east to west, not north to south." The Shopkeeper shifted back and began to straighten the bookshelf. He adjusted the placement of one of Sarah Jane's ornaments on the mantel. "Sometimes, a sky should be blue, not laden with clouds. And sometimes, a child must find her way home."
Sarah Jane glanced towards Johnny who was keeping a protective hold on Skye with Luke close to his side. Skye, on the other hand, looked sad and worried. Sarah Jane moved forward and quickly shifted the ornaments back into its original spot as the Shopkeeper looked at Skye.
"I am the servant of the White Guardian. It is my task to put things in the right place," the Shopkeeper said. He looked right at Sarah Jane and shifted the ornament back where he had put it earning a look from her. "And of all the homes in all the universe, I could find none safer for this child than yours Mrs. and Mr. Chesterton-Smith."
"So, have you come back for me?" Skye asked in a soft voice. She stepped away from Johnny with a sad expression.
"Well, that depends on you," the Shopkeeper answered with a gentle smile.
"Can I stay here with you?" Skye pleaded as she turned to look at Johnny, then at Luke and Sarah Jane. "That's what I want."
All three looked a bit stunned and Rose stepped back to stand next to the Doctor. She glanced towards the doorway where Clyde and Rani were watching with curious expressions.
"I wouldn't mind having a sister I suppose," Luke said. He looked over at his parents. Skye grinned at him and looked at Sarah Jane hopefully while Johnny smiled and put his arm around Luke's shoulders.
"Oh, Skye," Sarah Jane breathed as she walked back over to the little girl. "It's only been a day and I feel like I've known you since you were a baby." She grinned widely and nodded. "Yes, this is your home for as long as you want it to be."
The new family of four hugged and Rose risked a look at the Doctor who was looking at Sarah Jane with her husband and kids with soft eyes. Looking back at the Shopkeeper, Rose tried not to smile too widely, but the Shopkeeper winked at her clearly pleased with the events.
"Well then," the Shopkeeper breathed as he straightened his jacket. "I'll inform the White Guardian that the task has been completed." He looked towards the Doctor and gave him a small bow as well. "Shall I give him your regards Doctor?'
"I wasn't aware that a Guardian would be so concerned over something like this," the Doctor said with clear suspicion.
"Ah but everything impacts how the story unfolds," the Shopkeeper replied. "There are reasons for why the Guardians become involved or why they do not become involved," the Shopkeeper said very seriously to the Doctor before his smile returned. The question of the Time War was heavy in the air between the Doctor and the Shopkeeper. "And my lord does keep a close eye on the life of Miss Tyler." The Shopkeeper informed the Doctor with a growing smirk. "You are after all not the only one with an interest in her." The Shopkeeper looked at Rose and gave her a wide friendly smile. "I wish you a wonderful final year on Earth Miss Tyler. I'm sure that you will handle all of your challenges beautifully."
Before the Doctor could respond the Shopkeeper vanished in a flash of white light. Rose sighed and shook her head in amusement. She could feel the Doctor's eyes on her but didn't want to ruin the mood surrounding the Chesterton-Smiths. They recovered from the ominous statement of the Shopkeeper quickly and everyone crowded around Skye for hugs. Avoiding the Doctor's gaze, Rose slipped out of the living room and moved to the stairs. She could hear the heavy footfalls of the Doctor's boots behind her and sighed to herself.
"Bloody guardians," she muttered while stepping into the attic.
"Rose!" The Doctor followed her into the attic with a worried expression. "What-"
"I'm okay, I promise," Rose said. She turned back to him and offered a reassuring smile. "Things are just a little crazy around me. I swear the Guardians have never hurt me."
"I doubt that," the Doctor all but growled, crossing his arms across his chest.
"It's sweet that you're worried," Rose said with a soft chuckle. "But really it's okay."
"Rose the Guardians are-"
"Extremely powerful with their own agendas," Rose finished with a firm nod. "I know Doctor, I didn't say that I liked it, but I can handle it. They've helped me a few times too when I was in over my head when even you couldn't help me." Licking her lips, Rose debated with herself for a moment. "For what it is worth… you're there when they are a lot of the time. I guess it's just you being a bit protective."
"Do you do anything in order?" the Doctor choked out, sounding very uncomfortable.
"As much as I can," Rose answered with a slight shrug. "But honestly Doctor, please try not to worry too much. The Guardians are a pain, but they really do want me to be okay."
"Is everything alright?" Sarah Jane's voice called up the stairs. "Doctor? Rose?"
The journalist appeared in the doorway behind the Doctor with a slight frown on her face. She was looking between the Doctor and Rose with a hint of concern in her eyes. Rose gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile and looked back towards the Doctor.
"Fine Sarah," the Doctor told Sarah Jane quickly. "Just catching up before I go."
"You could stay for dinner," Sarah Jane offered with a smile. "Johnny called Ian and Barbara, they're on their way down." She grinned almost evilly. "They don't know that they've got a granddaughter yet. It'll be a surprise for them."
"Thanks, Sarah, but no thanks," the Doctor answered uneasily. "Not really my thing."
"I see," Sarah Jane replied trying not to sound disappointed. Then she grinned at him teasingly. "Well, at least you'll attend my wedding."
"Sarah Jane," Rose said giving the woman a sharp look. "Timelines."
"I'm only teasing him a little," Sarah Jane defended. She grinned widely at the Doctor and shook her head fondly. Before the Doctor could react she stepped forward and hugged him, forcing the Doctor to drop his cross arms. "But really thank you, Doctor." A moment later the Doctor brought his arms up and hugged her in return. "I'm so relieved."
"You're welcome Sarah," the Doctor replied a little emotionally.
"Yeah, thanks for coming," Rose agreed. Sarah Jane released the Doctor and he took a step back towards the TARDIS. "I don't think we ever could have convinced Meyers to deactivate Skye. Not with her attitude."
"Probably not," Sarah Jane admitted with a sigh. "I wonder what will happen to her."
"I'm sure I'll find out," the Doctor muttered as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.
"Heading that way are you?" Rose questioned with a small smile.
"Seems like some outside mediation is overdue between those two planets," the Doctor sighed. "And I have to do something until you graduate."
Sarah Jane laughed and shook her head at him. Stepping forward she leaned up and kissed his cheek quickly before heading back downstairs. The Doctor watched her go with a soft smile and a relaxed stance that made Rose's smile widened.
"She's doing just fine," Rose assured him, tilting her head and sighing again. "And now she has a daughter. Barbara is going to utterly lose it."
"Probably," the Doctor agreed and seemed to be hesitating on something.
"I'm staying for dinner, I'll have my camera at the ready," Rose promised with a grin. "I'll send you a video of the Chestertons' reactions."
"Thanks," the Doctor answered gruffly, but with an obvious tone of amusement.
Rose leaned up to kiss the Doctor's cheek as Sarah Jane had done, but a beep from Spock made the Doctor shift just enough that Rose's lips landed on the corner of his mouth. They both froze in surprise and Rose couldn't help but the note the rougher texture of his lips now. Holding back a blush, Rose pulled back and almost giggled at the stunned look on the Doctor's face and the red beginning to stain his cheeks.
"Take care Doctor," Rose told him as she fought down a silly smile.
"You're the jeopardy friendly one." The Doctor recovered a bit though he was still blushing a little.
"And you're the trouble magnet," Rose countered with a grin. "So stay safe."
The Doctor beamed at her as he stepped into the TARDIS and called back, "I make no promises!"
"That's my line!" Rose laughed as he closed the door. A moment later the TARDIS dematerialized and Rose let out a soft chuckle before turning to Spock. "Okay Spock, time to get some adoption papers and forged records in order."
"As long as I don't have to watch you flirting, your wish is my command."
Chuckling, Rose crossed her arms and held back a smile of contentment. This had been an odd day, but she had a good feeling about the coming year and after that… well, she'd be off in the TARDIS and speeding towards her future.