I don't think the Doctor has ever gone out of his way to avoid me as much as he has for the past week. The Timelord is either hidden away in the depths of the TARDIS or when I finally catch some sleep he's out saving planets. Even when I go with them it's like we've reverted back to the first meeting coldness. I lay in my room ,sulking since he has decided he can't act like the 900 year old man he is, with my headphones blasting music as I read a new book I'd found in the library, the books and English translation of an alien species called The Eternals apparently they're in the constellation called Kasterborous and the species in itself is incredible. Their abilities align themselves with the power of deities, although apparently they have disappeared after a war which was mentioned briefly in the first section. I flip back to the table of contents, intrigued to find more with this war or more to the fact what and how these creatures had managed to disappear from the face of the galaxy. A new figure in my room scares the shit out of me. Since my back was facing the door my fluffy blanket wrapped around my shoulders as I hunch over the book; the figure though in the corner of my eye causing me to throw my book in their direction with a yelp.
With quick reflexes the intruder in question, the Doctor, grabs the book mid air snapping it closed without even looking. I sat there, mouth open at the display before snapping it shut after realising I had been staring for slightly too long. He sends me an awkward smile before offering the book in my direction but not after catching a glimpse at the title which causes a slight line to define on his forehead. He awkwardly stands there as I take my headphones of and place the book beside me, watching him closely to gauge if this was a 'can you fuck off' or a 'lets just forget' talk. I gently clear my throat hoping to influence a movement behind his eyes, and it seems to work since his own eyes widen before he licks his lips and starts,
"I just wanted to say that my actions recently have been uncalled for and most likely hurtful. You haven't done anything wrong and it was all me. Uh yeah..." he starts strong, his words trailing as he watches my face to try and predict my reaction.
"Rose spoke to you." is my first sentence, watching as his head drops looking down at his hands clasped in front of him.
"Yeah." he mumbles.
I sigh, dragging a hand down my face, "If you're going to apologise I don't want it to be because you've been shoved through my door with it locked behind you." I flop backwards to lie on my bed now, staring at the constellations above me decorating my roof.
"No Alula, believe me all Rose did was open my eyes to my arrogant and selfish behaviour." he responds moving closer and sitting on the bed beside me. I feel the mattress dip under the added weight. I nod, my eyes clouding before I try and blink back the emotions rising.
"I just don't understand what happened. You're my best friend." I state, refusing to look in his directions as I display a vulnerable side that most don't see. He nods solemnly his eyes avoiding mine as he utters.
"I would like us to forget what happened. Well no not forget that's not possible but I don't want what could have happened to change anything between us. You're my friend Al, I don't want to lose you." he whispers, my heart clenches as I try not to cry in front of him. He wanted to forget.
"Okay." I respond, not looking at him as he nods, his hand hovering near me as if he could hear the sound of my heart cracking. "You can go now."
He sighs, retracting his hand and leaving without a fuss. And once my door shuts the tears start. Grabbing the nearest thing I chuck it at the door rage mixing with my grief. How dare he do this? Ignore me for a week then tell me to forget anything happened? I choke on the air around me. My throat closing as I struggle to regulate my breathing. Falling off the bed as I try to make it to the shower, stumbling in I quickly turn the water to the sink on and splash my face. A trick I'd picked up that helped me with panic attacks; helped ground me or something. The freezing water sends shivers wracking my body as I stand pyjama clad with water dripping from my face and down my neck. I look in the mirror at my bloodshot eyes and wet face.
Fine. If he wants to forget lets forget, it's not like it meant anything.
"Didn't mean anything to me." I mutter, returning to my bed as my breathing settles. His words swirl my head as I grab my anti-psychotics from the table beside my bed. I think the only good part about them is the sedation they provide at times. Mix them with a bit of alcohol and I'm out like a light but I'm not starting that up again. Not after what happened. I shake my head removing the thoughts as I lay down, shoving my headphones on a drifting away; forgetting the Doctor and all about the book lay at the end of my bed.
~1~
The TARDIS lights turn up in brightness helps me finally wake up. Hopefully today will be better, not full of awkwardness as the past week has been. With a deep sigh I pull myself out of the comfort of the warm duvet; hoping to choose a comfortable outfit since my mood understandably isn't brilliant. I pull out some baggy loose black jeans, an oversized deep blue v-neck fleece and my black converse. I pull my hair back in a plait, the smaller strands falling out from my inability to keep a tight plait on my own head. They frame my face though so it's allowed. I stick in some simple hooped earrings in my lobe piercings, the only ones that I change daily, and replace my necklaces with a single cat charmed necklace. I hold the charm tightly my thoughts focusing on my own feline friend, he was more of an emotional support animal than a pet. Maybe Rosie will let me ring her mum on her phone so I can see if Jackie knows. After all last time I saw the woman she was shouting and she wasn't in the mood to help me find my cat. With a small smile to myself in the mirror and an appreciative pat on the wall for T I head down the corridors in hope to find my only human friend. First I hit her room which was useless since she didn't really spend much time in it; she prefers to be in the kitchen or the pool. The never ending list of slides and fun pool activities always kept the blonde busy when Doctor decided to force a rest on us. I head to the kitchen first since I wanted to grab a coffee on my way through; without looking up I grab the kettle filling it at the sink before placing it back and flicking it on. I turn to rest against the side waiting for the water to boil when I see the one and only person I didn't want to see standing at the fridge, a banana in hand awkwardly looking anywhere but my eyes. I spin on my heel if he's going to ignore me then two can play that game; my chest squeezes at the silence the sound of water boiling filling the air. But I've never been able to stand awkward silence and it isn't long until I turn to him to state,
"I'm looking for Rose, know where she is?" without looking at him I pour the water onto the coffee granules in my mug. The water quickly turning a dark brown almost black, I give it a quick swirl with a teaspoon before turning to Doc who sits at the kitchen table his brows furrowed whilst glaring heatedly at his banana. I clear my throat slightly, taking a sip when he turns to me.
"Oh, I saw her with Jack in the movie room, they were watching some show." he responds after a few blinks. I nod, leaving the room as quickly as I could whilst holding the mug steady. I think I catch the Doctor opening his mouth to say something in the corner of my eye but when I'm not stopped as I pass him I second guess myself.
I make my way to the entertainment room, this is my second favourite room excluding my bedroom. My will always be the library, whilst my own room has a small collection of books, the libraries never ending rows and columns with the fire place to sit down at on the love seats and couches with a surprising magnitude of blankets and square pillows strewn around the atmospheric room. I take a mouthful of coffee as I enter the entertainment room, the pair sat near each other on the couch whilst good old Zoolander on the screen. Show my arse, shows just how much that Timelord knows of human stuff.
"Oooo Zoolander. Now that's a good laugh." I state. Sitting down on the couch to the left of Rose, taking another mouthful of the coffee. "Saw the Doctor in the kitchen." I whisper to Rose, watching the comedy at the same time. Her eyes widen before she turns to me, a small smile on her lips. "I wouldn't be too happy, he ignored me until I asked where you were." I grumble, my cheeks tinging red with my anger.
"Ignore him, he's being stupid. He'll apologise soon, just you watch." she confidently states, placing a comforting hand on my knee. I smile sadly my emotions running high causing small tears to line my vision. I blink them away nodding with her words, but not a single atom in my body believes her words. The concept of the Doctor apologising for his words is very low, even lower is the likelihood of him meaning the apology. We enjoy the time together just watching the movie and occasionally laughing at them. Small moments like this are the best. Team TARDIS, a name Jack made, might be the best thing right now. The only constant being Rose and Jacks crude comments to each other and Jack and I's playful bullying. Everything else is a gamble. Especially the aliens in our life.
~1~
Why is that the Doctors stupidity always comes to bite us in the arse. Running through the corridors Rose and I are panting heavily as we sprint away from the blue blob thing chasing behind us, a surprisingly fast alien that has a vendetta against the Doctor after the Timelord insulted its child. Hopefully Jack is with the Doctor and not captured because we all got separated as the hunt for us began, Rose and I found each other as we collided in a hallway. The shrill screech of the creature focuses me back in as we manage to find a room to hide in. We both duck in hiding together behind large metal drawers on one side of the room near the door; I point to the door as we watch the jelly like creature sludge around the room, it's face sniffing the air. Rose nods, following my lead as I creep out of the room; what I didn't take into account is the slug-like trail the alien had left behind. This slippy substance causes me to fall a yelp escaping me as I hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from me as I lay gasping. My shock is short lived though when the creature hears me, turning with a feral bellow and starts towards us. I scramble, quickly grabbing the door and throwing my body against it to close it. Rose rushes to help me, both twist the door closed with the large wheel handle. We smile widely at each other, high fiving as I twist my back to try and get rid of the twinge growing through my spine. To our shock though the creatures starts to seep through the seams of the door, which we now discover is not sealed fully. We both yelp and start running again, a chuckle escaping us as I slip again. Maybe converse weren't the best idea, they provide no grip.
We quickly scrabble down the corridor hoping that our game of cat and mouse would eventually lead us to Jack and the Doctor who has a plan. All very hopeful thinking but you never know. Rose and I grabbed each other's hands, sliding down the corridor and back to the canteen of the spaceship we were racing through, in hopes to hid behind some of the many machines and stacked tables in there. But as we breach the doorway an extremely uncomfortable wet thing wraps around my ankle, my body dragging down to the ground breaking my grip on Rose's hand as the alien drags my back and down.
"Luna!" she shouts out, spinning on her heel whilst staggering backwards her eyes wide with horror as she looks at me and my new friend. Another voice shouts out the same thing, bellowing across the weirdly sterile white room.
"ALULA!" the Doctors voice echoes, his eyes equally as wide as the creatures grabs me. It's weird jelly-like self not really holding more like smothering my skin. I cry out when it travels further on my, now covering my entire arm and shoulder. I swear to God if this is how I die. Out of nowhere the creature starts to almost vibrate, I look up to see the Doctor and one of the surviving ship members, Darren, with this weird machine thing. Darren aiming it in our direction as Doctor aims his sonic switching what I'm assuming is the frequency. My alien captor pulsates aggressively before finally exploding, the blue jelly-like substance covering my body and the nearby area. I stand frozen, afraid that if I moved there was a high chance I would end up on the floor.
"I am covered in an alien." I state semi calmly, my voice wavering slightly when I open my eyes. "I now know how Jackie and Mickey felt with the Slitheen." I make eye contact with Rose who stands there her hand over her mouth in slight shock. A small giggle leaving her as she shakes her head at me. With my comments the trio in the room run over, Darren staring at me with disgust whilst Rosie and the Doctor wrap there arms around me, laughing in relief as we group hug.
"Doctor, where's Jack?" Rose questions as we pull away, Doc sheepishly looking down at us opening his mouth to answer.
"Jack was stuck cleaning up Blue aliens Purple friend when we ran into him. Meaning I missed all the fun because Doc here volunteered me to help the rest of them." said man announces as he struts in, he may as well have his hands on his hips.
"I wouldn't call this fun." I drawl, my voice low and monotone. They all look back at me, their eyes trailing my form as blue goo drips off me. I am still yet to move from my position. I grab Rose's arm, using her as I ease myself out of the main puddle of my deceased captor. The floor now overly slippy, as if I needed anything else to help me fall. Once out of the puddle I shiver walking towards the male members of our group. Noting my quaking shoulders, the Doctor quickly shrugs his jacket of holding out for me to stick my arms in. I stand looking at it intently, my gaze wandering up to his own intense look; his eyes challenging me to refuse his offer. Sighing I concede turning around to slot my arms in, the warmth from his body sending a pleased shudder through me as if I'm defrosting. "Who would have thought alien goo would be so cold."
~1~
The landing to the alien planet we just survived was quite rocky, Doc's excuse is that the TARDIS is running low. As in the Time and Space multi dimensional ship needs fuelling up.
"So you're telling me that we've just got to pop to Cardiff of all places to fill up the wonderful and amazing TARDIS that travels through time and space." I state, my face pinched with distrust. "I can't tell if you're pulling my leg or not."
"Not pulling your leg, promise." he responds a small smile tugging his lips. I hum in response before jolting as Rose skips merrily in.
"Mickey is meeting us at Cardiff he's gonna bring my passport as well. Oh and a surprise for you Al." I furrow my brows,
"Why your passport, we have the psychic paper." I respond, shifting to rest my legs over the arm rest of the jump seat.
"Cause I might need it." she responds, leaning nearby as the Doctor whizzes around the console.
"You don't need your passport-" he starts but is cut off as Jack struts in.
"It's just an excuse to see your boyfriend." he teases her, ruffling my hair on the way past.
"Hey! It takes effort to look this good." he simply sticks his tongue out in response.
After a few turbulent rocks and me nearly falling due to my improper position we finally land in one piece. I sigh in relief retracting my white knuckle grip as I stretch the sore digits.
"God someone else should drive." I mumble, an offended 'Oi' makes me look up at the Doctor I offer him a tongue pressed to my teeth smile before looking over at Rosie who was checking her phone every few seconds. "Hey Rosie, we've got plenty of time Doc said it would take a while for us to fully charge. You'll see your little boy toy." she rolls her eyes nudging me but the small grin on her face tells me she didn't take offence. I stand up, approaching Jack and the Doc who were crouched around a certain spot on the TARDIS. "What ya looking at?"
"The Spacial Geometer is being dodgy, so we're having a look." I nod, vaguely remembering the purpose of this piece, he had brought it up before,
"That's the part that allows the TARDIS to move through space, right?" he nods, sending me a proud smile.
"How did you know that?" Jack asks, sending me a surprised look.
"Cause Doc here was telling me about one of his past encounters with this part. Something about leaving them lying around and then having to go hunt each piece down in loads of different countries." I respond, crouching near the pair. "Any way I can help?" I offer, already bored with the whole waiting thing.
"Yeah if you could go grab the tool bag and my screwdriver." Doc responds, I nod. Rising moving to the other side of the console, the bag under the main console and his sonic set near the time rotor at the centre of the console. I set the bag down and hold the sonic ready. "Okay now setting 26A that will scan it to tell us whats wrong."
I nod, changing the setting and scanning the pieces; the information rushes through my head and I nod. "There's something blocked up, needs unclogging I think. Or maybe changing?" Still unsure on how to efficiently read the information that sonic provided sometimes.
"That'll be why the particles get to the second piece but then struggle past to the third." Jack responds, whilst Doc nods pulling at two pieces. He removes a small tube attaching the pair and sure enough some debris or something was clogging the pipe.
"Haha I'm just too good." I boast, grinning happily at the pair. Fully aware that either of them could have easily done what I did. Doc grins dragging the bag to him and shoving his arm in. The sight reminds me greatly of Mary Poppins as his arm disappears down and down up to his shoulder. With a victorious sound he pulls his arm out producing a new and clean pipe instead. He pass the pieces and new tube to me, I smile at him before taking the grease he offered using my hands to ensure a tight seal with no risk of it rubbing and causing abrasions.
After a while I had somehow managed to help them fix quite a few parts, grease and oil on my hands and some on my neck where my hair had irritated me as I worked. Thankfully the Doctor helped and with his clean hands had tied my hair back for me. A knock on the TARDIS doors scared the shit out of all of us, the four of us simultaneously jolting. Mickey Mouse must be here.