N.B. Partly because of the incredibly positive response this story got and partly because the plot bunnies refused to leave me alone I have decided to continue this story as a selection of one shots exploring the Doctor relationship with his companions, the Tardis and his impact on his friend's lives. I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who commented on / read / favourited this when I first posted it. You are all amazing people. Also I had moved my other one shot (All of Time and Space) from a story on it's own to part two of this series. I will keep the original up as an independent story until further notice. I'll shut up now and let you read something other than this rambling. Ash to Dust x

Disclaimer: I emailed the BBC and they reminded me that I still own nothing and earn nothing from it.

This one shot was inspired partly by the Corsair's tattoo in The Doctor's Wife and partly by my strange imagination. Constructive critism always welcome, happy reading (or re-reading as the case might be).

Mark of a Time Traveller

Amy first saw the mark the marred the Doctor's perfect skin when he undressed in the hospital in front of both her and Rory. At the time she had dismissed it as a bizarre but strangely beautiful tattoo that curved gently around the back of a pale shoulder, black ink against milky white. Frankly, she was actually thinking of asking him where he got it but had no opportunity because by the time she'd remembered the existence of the mark he'd gone running off again.

X

The fifth time she saw the mark, well sort of, it didn't really count, was after Loristan VI. The Doctor was ignoring her for no apparent reason, muttering about spacey-wacey things to do with the Tardis, when she caught a glimpse of the monitor and saw a strangely familiar shape bouncing around on the screen in a constant state of change.

"What's this swirling thing?" She asked the Time Lord who had his head stuck under the console and was messing about with his sonic screwdriver.

"What swirling thing?" The Doctor asked, alarmed and sat up, realising a second too late that he was still under the console and smashing his head into the underside of the panel. Rubbing his head and cursing he stumbled out and looked around bleary-eyed until he spotted Amy, hands on hips, pointing at the view screen.

"I mean this swirling stuff on the screen." She said pointedly. The Doctor sighed in annoyance and relaxed.

"You had me worried that something extremely very not good was happening." He was pointing a finger at her and trying to look intimidating whilst still rubbing his aching head. Amy, pitying the injured man gave a small sigh of her own and apologised for scaring him.

"But really, what is it?"

"Well," the Doctor replied enigmatically, "you don't really think English is my first language do you?"

"So this is like your native language then?" Amy ventured turning her head and trying to make some sense of the circles.

"Yes," the Doctor said moving over and carefully switching the screen off, "Gallifreyan."

"It sounds beautiful." The Doctor gave her a wistful look for a long moment.

"It is."

X

Neither of them talks about the fourth time. The ambassadors hadn't appreciated the Doctor's attempts to negotiate. Amy vaguely remembered supporting the Time Lord back to the Tardis and to the med bay, remembered slipping off layers of clothing, trying her hardest to ignore every flinch and pain-filled moan that her ministrations caused, remembered a glimpse of black under glistening red as her carefully cleaned and bandaged the bullet wound.

Later when she comes across him sat in just his undershirt in the Tardis kitchen eating fish fingers and custard and declaring that he's mourning the loss of his bowtie she knows he'll be alright.

X

The second time is just after he's found the swimming pool which has managed to relocate itself to the wardrobe. He takes her there to find some clothes after the incident with the Star Whale and Amy's glad because she understands that it's his way of saying sorry and proving to her that she can stay.

However the moment he opens the door for a big reveal and steps through he lets out a girly yelp, slips on wet tiles and falls head first into the pool. Amy watches as he surfaces, sputtering and soaking wet.

"But now I'll have to find some dry clothes too!" He cries indignantly as Amy laughs, she can't help herself, he looks so funny and strangely adorable floating in the calming water. She doesn't notice his amused smirk as he reaches her side of the pool and in one swift moment pulls her in.

She shrieks too but then they're both laughing at each other's expense and the Doctor's jacket gets removed and flung onto dry land before he races her to the deep end. After half an hour of chasing and splashing they lay floating staring up at the several floors of clothes racks.

Eventually the Doctor rolls over in the water and swims over the side, pulling himself out with ease then leaning over to help her out. She's surprised when she finds her swim still smooth even after such a long soak.

"Let me guess, it's some spacey water thing yeah?" The Doctor laughs and nods in agreement helping her out and heading towards the stairs,

"I think you'll find some stuff on the third floor." He nods towards the stairs and Amy heads up, glancing back down to catch a glimpse of the Doctor sliding off his shirt and then she sees it again, clear against his shoulder.

It's just as beautiful as the first time she saw it.

After a moment she moves on to find herself some clothes before it gets a little too cold in her own damp nightgown, but on the way up she traces entwining circles on the banister.

X

Amy promises herself that she'll never forget the third time. It had been a couple of weeks into her adventures when she'd first woken with nightmares, tired and scared she'd tried to find comfort in a good book only to find that she couldn't find the library. Instead she ended up outside a large wooden door that looked more than a little intimidating, but after a push of hot air from the Tardis she knocked, feeling for the entire world like a little girl outside the headmaster's office.

"Come in." It was the Doctor's voice. Surprised she pushed the door open and found herself in what could only be the Doctor's room. The ceiling of stars, walls packed with shelves of books and trinkets and littered with photos of all sorts of people and in the middle of the chaos a large bed with an antique wooden bedstead and several mattresses. In the middle of the bed lay the Doctor, looking up at her over the rims of his glasses (seen when did he wear those?) wearing only pyjama bottoms and with a large book propped up in his lap.

"Did you have nightmares?" He asked softly, knowing without even needing confirmation but she nodded anyway. Smiling softly he shifted over on the bed which looked inviting and snugly and warm as he gently patted the spot beside him.

Sheepishly she sat beside him and curled up on herself, wrapping her arms around her knees. But the Doctor was having none of it and placed the book aside, lifting the covers for her. Hesitantly she slipped under and marvelled at how soft his bed really was. A moment later he joined her, head propped up against the pillows the covers pulled up to his waist.

"Comfy?" He queried and she nodded, scared that moving any closer to him would scare him away. "Want to talk about it?"

"Not really." She didn't, frankly she'd rather forget it all.

"Alright then, try to get some sleep." The Doctor told her as he turned back to his book.

"Why are you wearing glasses?" The question was out before she could stop herself. But much to her surprise the Doctor wasn't angry.

"When you get to my age your eyesight tends to go a bit." He explained simply, "It was worse in my last body but it's not gone completely. Usually it's ok but reading for long periods gives me headaches unless I wear them." Amy nodded, understanding now that he had explained regeneration to her.

"Can you read aloud for me?" If the Doctor was surprised at the request he didn't look it, just nodded and pulled a different book for a pile on the bedside table. As he leaned over Amy could clearly see the mark on his skin and up close she realised it wasn't a tattoo at all, it seemed to be part of him, like a birthmark. She reached out to touch it, fascinated but pulled away when she thought that it could easily but poisonous to her or something like that. The moment was lost as the Doctor found what he was looking for and turned back towards her.

When he pulled her towards him and told her to get comfy she realised that he had suddenly become the father-figure she'd seen him as during her younger years. Admittedly when she had seen him in the hospital he had become more boyfriend material but now, in his arms as he read a bedtime story to keep the nightmares away he was the dad she had never had.

That night she fell asleep curling up to the Doctor's side, one of his arms slung comfortably around her shoulders as his voice lulled her into pleasant dreams.

X

Amy first saw the mark that marred her own skin in the mirror in her bathroom on the Tardis. It hadn't been there the day before but it was there now, curling around her waist on the right side. It was faint but it was a pattern of circles, entwined and intricate, just like the Doctor's. Initially she was scared, wondering what it meant, but decided the best way to deal with it would be to confront the Doctor directly. Wearing a crop shirt so that the barely-formed mark was clearly visible she headed to the control room.

"Doctor, can I ask you something?" She asked when he didn't notice straight away, turning back to his tinkering.

"You already have." He pointed out with a teasing smile.

"There's a mark that's appeared on me." The Doctor immediately stopped and glanced up at her, eyes widening slightly as he saw the mark on her skin.

"Oh." He said simply as he approached her slowly, reaching out with a hand but stopping himself just short, "May I?" When Amy nodded she felt his cool skin carefully caress the mark, following its curves around her waist.

"Is it bad?" She asked fearfully.

"Bad?" He asked in shock, "No, it's not bad. It's the mark of the Tardis."

"Sorry?" Amy asked now thoroughly confused.

"Occasionally the Tardis marks companions like that; it's her way of saying that she likes you and that she's not likely to throw you into the nearest supernova if I'm not around."

"Is that it?" Amy asked, now relieved that it wasn't a symptom of a strange alien illness.

"Yep," he announced moving backwards, "completely harmless." After a moment of silence Amy decided to bring up something that had been bothering her for a long time.

"You have one too." The Doctor nodded, "It's stronger than mine."

"Well, I've lived here longer. Yours will probably get stronger the longer you stay here."

"Is it permanent?"

"Sort of, it'll fade if you leave but it won't vanish entirely."

"Can I see yours?" Once again her mouth moves ahead of her brain and she blushes furiously but to her surprise the Doctor nods again and slides his jacket off, unbuttons the top few buttons of his shirt, removes his bowtie and carefully slides the material off his shoulder.

This time Amy can examine it properly, this time she doesn't shy away and carefully traces the lines just as he did with her. It seems strangely intimate and steps back after a moment allowing the Doctor the slide his jacket back on.

"It's the mark of a time traveller." Amy announces and the Doctor confirms her thoughts with a smile.

"The whole of time and space Amelia Pond, welcome aboard."

For once she doesn't mind that he uses her full name, although it might be something to do with the fact that his bowtie is still lying forgotten on the chair. Either way, she wouldn't want to be anywhere else, she was home.

X

Fin.