Unanimously United
Prompt: "cat" "dog"
From: abbytemple
Words: 1015
Finn was lonely. At least, that was what the Doctor thought. Donna wasn't so sure, but she had nothing against getting another cat to keep Finn company.
So, one day, they landed on Earth. The Doctor went to a pet store to buy another cat while Donna went to a mall. They agreed to meet up in the TARDIS in three hours.
"Wonder what cat he's going to get," Donna muttered as she munched on some chips.
She was tired. She had spent two hours shopping and had gotten through all the stores with very much luck in purchases. She had to admit, it was very unusual doing something which didn't involve running and constant danger.
Meanwhile, the Doctor was walking the isles of Petco. He had seen hamsters, rats, snakes, fish, and guinea pigs (he will not think about the spiders). But no cats! No dogs, either.
So he decided to go to a small, family-owned, pet store on the other side of the road. It didn't seem crowded, given that such a big store that sold what it did was right across the street.
The Doctor casually walked in. With his suit, trench coat, and dirty converse, he looked out of place among the 1950's housewives and cheery children.
"Hello!" he cheerily said as he skipped up to the cash register.
"Hello," said the teenage girl minding the cash register.
"Do you have cats here?" he asked. "Always wanted a cat. Nice creatures, cats. Smart, too. Some of the smartest Earth mammals. Come to think of it. . . might not be from Earth. . ."
The girl popped her chewing gum and stared at the strange man in front of her.
"Sorry," the Doctor said. "So. . . cats?"
"Over there," she said, pointing to the other side of the store, where a large family were cooing at something.
"Thank you," he said, and ran to the cats.
The family he saw before, consisting of a mother, father, and about five children, were standing in front of a cage. It was the cage that held the cats and kittens. At the moment, there was only one it it. Its fur was a spotted black and brown, unlike Finn's bright orange.
"Brilliant," he whispered.
It was a beautiful kitten. It was rolling around the cage, looking wistfully at the family and sneaking glances at the lurking Doctor.
The family glanced at the Doctor in surprise when his shoes squeaked on the floor as he leaped to the cat.
"Hello," he said gently to the kitten.
It stopped rolling around and looked at him curiously. To the family's surprise, it gave a quiet meow. The Doctor smiled in response.
"Really?" he said, eyes wide with interest.
The kitten nodded and twitched its nose.
"I was wondering—hoping—" he stopped.
"Yes?" she asked, more impatiently.
But before she could inquire further, the Doctor dashed away, back to the kitten.
The family that stood there before, who had seen the Doctor talking to the kitten, who had seen the kitten responding, who had heard the Doctor mutter something about buying the cat, were still looking at the animal. Now, however, the two smallest children, ages two and four, were crying, while the two next of age, five and six, seemed to be on the verge of tears.
"It's alright," the father whispered, bent down to be on his kids' level. "We'll find another cat somewhere else."
"Why can't we have this one, father?" asked the oldest, eight-year-old, child, a boy.
"Because the other man, the one in the suit, is getting him," the mother patiently explained.
"Sorry!" the Doctor cried, bounding into the conversation. "Excuse me."
The mother shot the Doctor a disapproving look, as her children looked up at him sadly, and her husband looked ready to throttle the Timelord for making his children cry.
"Sorry," the Doctor lifted his hands up in a peaceful gesture. "But I couldn't help but notice. . ."
The family's eyes followed the Doctor's hand, which was gesturing at the kitten. The parents realized that their children were looking longingly at the animal.
"We must apologize," the mother said diplomatically. "It's yours."
"What?" the Doctor took a step back. "No, no, no! He's yours."
"What?" the mother echoed. "But. . . don't you want him?"
Her husband and kids were almost elbowing her, trying to get her to accept the pet.
"No, no. . . who, me?" the Doctor cringed at how fake he sounded.
The mother cracked a smile.
"Sir," said her husband. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," the Doctor said.
The family walked away to the cash register. The Doctor heard some words, most about the cat and how much it cost. He knew there were no other kittens in the store, that there were no other pet stores nearby. He also knew that Donna would not want him to return without a companion for Finn.
About fifteen minutes later, the kitten's new owners left the store.
"You know," said the woman from the cash register, coming over to the Doctor. "It was a very nice thing you did there."
"Hmm," the Doctor nodded.
"You wanted that cat, right?" she asked, ignoring the fact that the Doctor wasn't listening.
The Doctor shrugged noncommittally and "Hmm"-ed again.
"Well, I don't have any more cats, but. . ." the woman smiled. "I think you'll like him."
"Doctor," Donna greeted. "How'd it go?"
"They didn't have cats," the Doctor said with a frown, walking away from the Console.
"So?" Donna wondered, setting down her shopping bags. "What did you get?"
"Sid," the Doctor calmly stated, gesturing to the kitchen. "He's with Finn right now."
"Who's Sid, then?" Donna asked, following the Doctor to the kitchen.
"See for yourself," the Doctor invited, opening the door for Donna.
In the kitchen, which, by the way, was a mess, Finn sat happily on the table with his new friend. The orange tabby gave a satisfied meow, curling into his companion's side. He, in reply, woofed loudly.
"A golden retriever, then," Donna stated. "What's for dinner?"