A Place in Time (25/30)

[amberfocus]

 
                                                                                                    Banner by Megz33

Chapter Twenty-five:  Running Scared

The Doctor paced around the confines of the little room he and Donna had been locked in. “You just couldn’t let him touch your hair, could you?”

“His hand was dripping with viscous fluid! And it was purple! And steaming!” Donna protested.

“They’ve never seen a red-head before! You could have washed it out.”

“Oh, yeah? And how often do I get access to the shower room anymore? You and your girlfriend/fiancée/wife or whatever she is to you are always in there playing drop the soap!” Donna accused. “Honestly, if I’d known you were going to turn into such a randy Time Lord, I might have stayed home!”

The Doctor stared at her gone completely speechless for a moment. She met him glare for glare, but then she couldn’t hold it any longer. The corners of her mouth turned up and she started laughing. The Doctor tried to continue his glare, but he always found it impossible to stay mad at Donna once she’d started with the laughing. Her laugh was infectious and he found himself giggling like a school girl.

“You two sound like you’re having far too much fun in there,” came a voice from outside the window.

“Rose!” The Doctor sobered instantly. He moved to the window, climbing up on the bed to take a look outside. Rose stood on a box and she was busy loosening the iron slats that covered the window with the sonic screwdriver. This was the last time he left that behind in the bedroom. Ever since Rose had found out about setting 3,607…well, he best not think about that right now. As it was he felt his ears going pink.

As quietly as possible Rose passed each iron slat through to the Doctor so he could put it down on the bed. It was either that or crawl down off the crate every time to put it on the ground. Each slat took about five minutes to get loose. Finally the last one was done and the Doctor boosted Donna out the window then crawled up behind her. As he put his foot to the ground there was an outcry.

“Oh-uh,” said Rose. “Time to run.”

Donna dashed off ahead of them in the direction of the TARDIS, while the Doctor grabbed Rose’s hand and pulled her along. “She’s a fast one,” Rose managed to pant out.

“She’s the only companion I’ve ever had who can run faster than me.” The Doctor sounded ridiculously pleased at that.

Another angry shout made them put on a burst of speed, but even so they didn’t catch Donna until she was shoving open the TARDIS door. Once inside, the Doctor slammed and locked the doors. They had made it just in time for something loud and big slammed into the doors behind them.

“Donna, press button Epsilon,” the Doctor said panting heavily and sliding to the floor. Donna reached forward, pressed a button with a Greek symbol that was unfamiliar to Rose and the TARDIS lurched, the sound of dematerialization filling the console room.

“What’s button Epsilon?” Rose asked. “That’s new.”

“It’s the get us the hell out of here, it’s an emergency and the Doctor’s incapacitated, button,” Donna said. “’Course, we’ll have no idea where we’ll land, but fate tends to favor us in the better than where we were department. And half the time we don’t end up where we’re going anyway, so what difference does it really make?”

Rose laughed. “Some things never change.”

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the shower room. That purple gunk may not have gotten in my hair but my clothes are saturated with it. It better come off my skin,” Donna said shaking her head in annoyance and walking out of the room.

“Hey, Rose, I wanted to ask you something,” the Doctor said as soon as he was sure Donna was out of earshot.

“What?” She turned slightly so she could meet his eyes as his tone turned serious.

“Would it be okay with you if we gave Donna your old room?”

“My old room? Why?” Rose wanted to know. “It’s not like I need it or anything, but…”

“Because it has a separate bathroom. I guess we’ve been hogging the big one, and since the one in our room isn’t big enough for two, I don’t see that as changing any time soon.” He smiled down at her, his eyes dancing.

“Oh, well, that’s fine then. But why don’t you just have the TARDIS restructure the rooms instead to make the bath larger in our room?” Rose wanted to know.

“I will eventually. She’s working on something else right now. It’s a surprise for the wedding and bonding ceremony. And it takes up a lot of her resources at the moment.”

“Speaking of the bonding, we need to talk to Mum,” Rose said. “We can’t keep putting it off anymore. The gate is stable enough to use now.”

“I know,” the Doctor said, running his hand over his face then up through his hair. “I just…I still worry.”

“We’ve been through my memories. We’ve talked to the TARDIS. Both agree it’s safe to do. You’re not afraid of my Mum are you? Because she softened on you a good deal you know.”

“I do know. I spoke to her when I went to get you. It’s not your mum.” The Doctor fidgeted and she reached over and picked up his hand.

“Then what?”

“It’s just that universe. It’s the one that took you away from me so I’m not terribly fond of it.”

“You’re not going to lose me again, Doctor. You saw what our future will be, what the TARDIS conduit told me…”

“I know!” he said in frustration, then looked at her and eased his tone. “I know. It isn’t rational. I’m not being rational. It’s hard for me to be rational when I think about you.  About losing you.”

Rose sighed and leaned her head into his shoulder. “I didn’t reorder time and space to let me be taken from you again. I did it so we’d be safe together. And we will be. You just have to have faith. What do you believe in, Doctor?” she asked.

“I believe in you,” he said kissing the top of her head.

“Then let yourself do that and then let the fear go.”

“All right. I'll try,” said the Doctor as the TARDIS came to a halt, materializing somewhere. “I best go see where we landed on our emergency jump.” He stood up, pulled Rose to her feet, and then went over to the console.

He flipped on the view screen. “Oh,” he said. Rose moved to stand next to him and saw that the TARDIS had taken matters out of his hands. Rose flew out the doors.

“Mum!” she hollered and flung herself into the waiting arms of Jackie Tyler.

Ch. 26:  http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/56175.html