Author's Note: This takes place right after Doomsday. Want to get this out before Christmas. AU for obvious reasons. And for this story that is very ironic.
It is now going on 2 in the morning and I figured I'd throw this story out and see what I get. First Dr. Who story and probably the shortest chapter I've ever written. So please forgive me, and also forgive that I'm obviously American. So If I get any slang wrong or common Brittish terms go wonky please go ahead and see to punishment. Thank you. Enjoy! And please review.
The doctor rubbed at his temples and let out an aching groan. He'd just gotten rid of bridezilla without any explanation as to how she'd gotten on the Tardis in the first place. Just wonderful.
Now, stretched out with his trainers propped up on the control station of the Tardis, the doctor tried to figure out how the woman had so suddenly appeared. It had never happened before as far as he knew.
The headache, a combination of too much thinking and the brides earlier shrieking was not getting any better. Because ontop of all that recent mess, the last few days events and the new deafening silence in the Tardis weighed on his thoughts as well.
The doctor raked his fingers through now messy brown locks.
'Am I ginger?'
' No. You're just sorta brown.'
The doctor gave a bitter laugh as the little snatch of memory invaded. It wasn't helping.
He could of easily taken the lady in the bridal wear with him. Shown her all the things he had shown to all his traveling companions before and more. Just like he always promised them. Just so he could have the company for however short lived it was.
But looking around the Tardis, at the things Rose had left behind.
It was the little things. The baubles the two of them had picked up from different planets and time periods, a hair band she'd worn during one of their many escapades, and the memories. The memories lingered and held onto this place the strongest, along with her smell.
Closing his eyes, the doctor took a deep breath and welcomed the scent he had always identified as Rose Tyler. Suprsingly it had no flowery sweetness to it at all. It was a mixture of air dried clothing, peppermint and mascara.
He smirked, his eyes still shut as he recognized his own smell mixed in with hers. It had rubbed off on her with all the hugs they'd shared and the times when she was so scared she'd cling onto his coat or arm for reassurance.
But the more he focused on the memories that made him smile, where all he had to do was reach out and find her hand there ready to twine his fingers with, he also remembered the reason his hand felt so cold now.
She was gone.
He would of dealt with it better if Rose had just stayed with everyone on Pete's world the first time. He should of known she'd never let him send her away. Instead he ended up losing her. He wasn't even given a chance to say what he'd kept inside for so long now, even time had stolen away those words.
Somewhere deep down the doctor knew that he didn't have to tell her. Rose knew, just as he'd known her feelings. But he'd wanted her to hear. It would of made her smile.
The doctor smirked and shook his head. He'd give anything now to see that smile of hers. The way her tongue would poke out between her teeth and her eyes would scrunch up as she'd give him a playful push. The one he always tried to coax out of her was that smile.
'What's that ringing?'
The doctor furrowed his brow at the random thought that brought his attention to the actual ringing sound that was now filling the Tardis. Before he had time to look for the noise a bright light flashed in the ship and blinded the good doctor, instinctively forcing him to shield his eyes against whatever had just happened.
When the ringing stopped just as suddenly as it had started, the doctor cautiously opened his eyes and blinked away the white spots floating about his vision.
" Well that was an unwelcome wake up," he mumbled to himself with a dazed look on his face as he surveyed what damage the light show had caused.
What he did see wasn't harmful to his Tardis but it did no good for his mood.
" No! No! No! No!" The doctor half whined half yelled as he saw the woman sprawled rather ungracefully on the ground where she'd no doubt landed.
" I just got rid of one of you already and I'm not gonna be any nicer to you then I was to her," he said sternly, gesturing off to the side as if the bride was still there to aim such comments at. " At least you're not in all that veil and gown getup. Not the bloke to be taken to a shot gun wedding without a few things to say about it I'll have you know..."
The doctor halted in his rant for a moment when he got a better look at the woman who was staring up at him in open disbelief. The doctor practically jumped over to where she sat staring at his shoes and crouched in front of her. Completely forgetting in his curiosity what personal space was as he inspected her features.
" Hold on a minute," he said thoughtfully, leaning down to squint his eyes at her. " I know you."