Fic: Sheriff of the Universe
Title: Sheriff of the Universe
Disclaimer: They ain't mine!
Rating: PG-13 for some minor language, thanks to Jimmy
Genre: Fluff, semi-angst, Rainy Day Verse
Characters: Rose, Pete, Jackie, Mickey, Jimmy, the Doctor
Summary: what if the Doctor shows up, and I don't have a Christmas gift for him?
Notes: The first part of this takes place before Rainy Day Woman, and The Day to Day Adventures
Notes #2: Big hugs to Dettiot For the help!
Fic under the cut:
"You're coming home for Christmas."
Rose's shoulders slumped as she held her phone to her ear. "No."
"Yes," her father replied. "Where are you?"
"Jake, Mickey and I are in Madrid," she said.
"Good. Where's Jimmy?"
"I don't know, but chances are we can go looking for him tomorrow," Rose said.
"Good," Pete replied. "I'll send a plane tomorrow night. You're all coming home."
"But-"
"I'm putting my father foot down," he cut her off. "We haven't seen you in almost a year, and your mother has been driving me up the wall."
Rose grinned. "She does that anyways."
She heard him grin. "See you soon."
She sighed and hung up, before turning to Mickey and Jake. "We're goin' home."
*****
"ROSE!"
She dropped her small duffel bag just as Jackie bum-rushed her, throwing her arms around her.
"Oh, Rose! It's been a whole year! Are you alright? Have you been eating? Let me look at you! Oh, your so skinny! And what happened to your hair?!"
Rose smiled patiently. "I'm fine. I've been eating as much as the job allows. I'm not that skinny. And I haven't had time to dye my hair."
Jackie blinked and then hugged her daughter again. "It's so good to see you!"
"I missed you, too, Mum." Rose looked to her father's bemused face and smiled. "I'd hug ya, but I don't think she's letting go any time soon."
"She'd better! I want a hug, too!"
"MICKEY!" Jackie let go of Rose and moved to pounce the new arrival. "Oh, Mickey!"
Rose laughed a little and hugged Pete. "Hi."
"Hello, Love. Good of you to make it."
"You didn't leave me much choice."
Pete grinned and pulled back. "Where are Jake and Jimmy?"
"We dropped Jake off at his parents' place for the night, and Jimmy's out for a stroll. Said he'd be back later."
"Typical," Pete sighed. "You look like you could use a shower and a kip."
"Probably," Rose grinned.
*****
Jackie had followed them up the stairs and to their rooms, talking all the way, and had even waited in the bedroom as Rose had showered in the en suit, still talking all the while. When Rose gave a powerful yawn, Jackie smiled sympathetically.
"Get some sleep. It's good you're back."
They hugged, and Rose watched as Jackie left. Her room looked the same as it had the last time she'd been there a year ago. Neat, and pink in the dim light from the tiffany lamp in the corner.
She pulled off her clothes, and put on a fresh pair of knickers, along with a soft brown t-shirt, before turning the lamp off and climbing into bed.
It was only a few minutes before she found sleep.
*****
Rose opened her eyes to find the Doctor, tawny hair in his eyes, hovering over her, smiling. He leaned down, kissing her sweetly and slowly. She felt her heart pound as her hands reached up to brush through his hair.
"Good morning, Rose Tyler," he said in a warm voice against her lips. "Merry Christmas."
*****
She woke with a start and looked around her silent, empty room.
Two years in, and she still couldn't let him go.
Rose let out a sad whimper and slumped back in bed, throwing the sheets and duvet over her head.
She heard the doors open, but didn't emerge from under the covers.
"Morning," Jimmy's voice said. "I brought you tea. And whiskey."
Rose pulled the sheets down and gave him an add, squinty look. "Whiskey?"
"That's how I intend to get through his holiday."
She sighed and sat up. "I have to go Christmas shopping today." She quirked an eyebrow at him as she accepted the cup of tea. "I'll buy you lunch if you be my pack mule."
Jimmy grinned, and opened his mouth, but Rose held up a hand.
"Figuratively."
He pouted. "Well...I do like food."
She grinned.
****
"What're you gonna get me?" Mickey asked as he followed Rose to the front door of the house.
Rose smirked. "I don't know yet. You'll just have to wait and see."
"But Jimmy's gonna know what you get him!" Mickey complained.
Jimmy stuck his tongue out.
Rose rolled her eyes. "I'm getting you something nicer than what I'm getting Jimmy. And Jimmy hates Christmas."
Mickey rolled his eyes.
*****
Rose had picked out a sparkly, purple shawl for her mother, and a silver pocket watch for her father. For Mickey, she'd found a large coffee table book on Football that she knew he'd enjoy, since the history of the sport was so different in this dimension. For Jake, she'd found a new pair of boots, since his current ones had been spewed on by a Clfdrigcion who had eaten too much Chinese food. For her baby brother, she'd found a stuffed moose that seemed perfect.
For Jimmy, she'd picked up a package and handed it to him.
He blinked at her. "Is this for me?"
"Yep."
He read the label. "Glow-in-the-dark condoms."
"Yep."
Jimmy laughed.
"Well!" Rose laughed as well. "You're always complaining that 'birds always want to shag in the dark' and 'how am I s'posed to see what I'm doing or where I'm aiming if we're in the dark?'"
"Ha!" Jimmy cried triumphantly. "Fucking amazing." He reached in and gave Rose a wet kiss on the cheek. "Merry Crimble to me!"
Rose smiled and wiped her cheek, as something shiny caught her attention in a store window. She wandered over and peered down at the old-fashioned silver badge. It looked as if it could have come right out of an old American western. An intricate pattern was engraved around the word "Sheriff."
"Something caught your eye?" Jimmy asked, sauntering over to join her with the packages she'd purchased.
"Uh..." Rose blinked and pursed her lips. "Yeah. Hold on." She slowly walked into the small shop.
Jimmy waited, and watched as the store clerk removed the badge from the window and Rose purchased it. She walked back out of the shop a few minutes later, and gave him a small smile. "Okay. Where do you want to eat?"
He blinked. "What's with the badge?"
"S'nothing. I want chips, what about you?"
"S'at for Nigel?"
"No. I'm not getting anything for Nigel."
"I bet it's for Nigel," Jimmy teased. "What's he Sheriff of? Being a pussy?"
Rose stopped and turned a hard stare on him. "Leave it."
Jimmy took a step back. "Alright, then. Chips it is..."
****
That night, Jackie was going through all of the gifts to put under the large, brightly decorated tree in the front room. She'd hired someone to wrap everything up (a neighborhood girl who wanted some extra money to buy gifts of her own).
Off to the side was an unwrapped, black box with a note on top.
Mum-
Please have this wrapped up. Thanks!
XOXO
Rose
Jackie pursed her lips and opened the box, peering inside. She looked over the sheriff's badge and sighed in exasperation. "Oh, Rose..."
"What are you 'oh Rose'-ing about?" Pete asked as he wandered in.
She lifted up the box.
Pete blinked. "Er..."
"I know who this is for, and he's not going to come," Jackie said. "She did this last year, too. She bought a gift, just in case, and he didn't show up. She was crushed."
"It's never a bad thing to have hope, Jacks," Pete offered.
"He's not coming back, Pete. He said he could never come back." Jackie shook her head. "She can't keep doing this. I'm not gonna let her waste her life on someone who isn't here to have it wasted on."
Pete frowned. "Jackie...it's Christmas, and she's been fine all year. Just...let her have this one-"
"No! The sooner she lets go the sooner she can move on with her life." Jackie sighed. "I miss that dodgey old alien, too. Those last few months, we really started to get along, he and I. He fixed things round the flat, and he brought Rose round more often for visits."
Pete pursed his lips. "Why don't I talk to her."
Jackie shook her head. "Nope. Puttin' my foot down."
He stopped her from heading up the stairs. "No, Jackie. Let me."
His wife sighed heavily. "Fine. Talk to her."
*****
Rose looked up from the case report she was filling out as a knock sounded on her door. "Come in."
Pete poked his head into the room. "Hello. Got a minute?"
She smiled. "Yeah. Come on in."
He walked in, fidgeting with the unwrapped box.
"I thought I told Mum to have that wrapped up," she said curiously.
"You did. She doesn't want to do it."
"Why not?"
"Because she knows who it's for."
Rose didn't reply.
Pete sighed and took a seat on the foot of the bed. "Rose-"
"I know, alright?" she snapped. "He's not coming back, and I'm being foolish, and-"
"Why a sheriff's badge?" Pete asked.
Rose stopped and stared at him for a moment.
"Just curious," he clarified.
She nodded. "We used to joke...you know. Hope and Glory, Mutt and Jeff, Shiver and Shake." Rose sighed and got to her feet, moving to sit next to her father on the bed. "And we used to joke about being detectives." She smiled a little. "He called me Lewis sometimes..."
Pete smiled, too.
"And one time we wound up in the American west, with cowboys and gunfights and the whole lot, and I told him the way he acted sometimes, he was like the sheriff of the universe." Rose sighed and frowned again. "I saw that badge and it reminded me of him. I know it's stupid, because I'm never going to see him again...but there's a part of me that keeps thinking 'what if the Doctor shows up, and I don't have a Christmas gift for him?'"
Her father took her hand and held it gently.
"And it's ridiculous," Rose went on. "Because he's never coming back. And I can't let him go."
Pete sighed and wrapped an arm around her, allowing her a little comfort. He kissed the side of her head. "I'll get your mum to wrap it up for you."
She sniffled quietly and shook her head. "No. There's no point." She took the box from him and got up, tossing it into her closet and closing the doors. "He's never coming back."
*****
2 years later...
The Doctor picked up a bright yellow stuffed duck and looked it over. "Rose?"
"Hm?" she asked, as she filled up another duffel bag.
The Doctor turned the duck toward her.
"Oh! Dad got me that; first month I was here." Rose smiled. "His name is Waddles."
The Doctor gave her an incredulous look. "Waddles?"
"Waddles."
"Can we rename him?"
"Nope."
He nodded. "Waddles it is, then."
Rose giggled.
The Doctor placed the duck underneath his arm and wandered over to the closet, opening it up. He stepped in and looked around. When he looked down, he noticed an unassuming box. Curiosity got the better of him (as always) and he lifted it. "What do you suppose this is, Waddles?" He blinked. "That's not a very dignified name." He took the duck from under his arm and looked him over again. "I'm going to call you Albert."
"I heard that!" Rose called. "His name is Waddles!"
The Doctor sighed. He replaced the duck under his arm, and opened up the box. "Rose?"
"Hm?"
"Why is there a sheriff's badge on the floor of your closet?"
He got no reply. He waited what seemed like forever, but still, got no answer. He walked out of the closet and tilted his head at her.
She was standing above her duffel bag, still, worrying a pair of socks between her hands.
"Rose?"
She glanced over at him. "Er...That was...that was actually for you."
The Doctor looked confused. "Me?"
"Bought it a couple of Christmases ago," Rose said quietly. "It reminded me of you."
He stared at her for a long moment, and then looked back down at the badge. "Sheriff of the universe."
She gave him a watery smile.
The Doctor walked over and swept her up in a hug, dropping Waddles on the floor. "Thank you, Lewis."
Rose giggled and snuggled into his shoulder.
END
Disclaimer: They ain't mine!
Rating: PG-13 for some minor language, thanks to Jimmy
Genre: Fluff, semi-angst, Rainy Day Verse
Characters: Rose, Pete, Jackie, Mickey, Jimmy, the Doctor
Summary: what if the Doctor shows up, and I don't have a Christmas gift for him?
Notes: The first part of this takes place before Rainy Day Woman, and The Day to Day Adventures
Notes #2: Big hugs to Dettiot For the help!
Fic under the cut:
"You're coming home for Christmas."
Rose's shoulders slumped as she held her phone to her ear. "No."
"Yes," her father replied. "Where are you?"
"Jake, Mickey and I are in Madrid," she said.
"Good. Where's Jimmy?"
"I don't know, but chances are we can go looking for him tomorrow," Rose said.
"Good," Pete replied. "I'll send a plane tomorrow night. You're all coming home."
"But-"
"I'm putting my father foot down," he cut her off. "We haven't seen you in almost a year, and your mother has been driving me up the wall."
Rose grinned. "She does that anyways."
She heard him grin. "See you soon."
She sighed and hung up, before turning to Mickey and Jake. "We're goin' home."
*****
"ROSE!"
She dropped her small duffel bag just as Jackie bum-rushed her, throwing her arms around her.
"Oh, Rose! It's been a whole year! Are you alright? Have you been eating? Let me look at you! Oh, your so skinny! And what happened to your hair?!"
Rose smiled patiently. "I'm fine. I've been eating as much as the job allows. I'm not that skinny. And I haven't had time to dye my hair."
Jackie blinked and then hugged her daughter again. "It's so good to see you!"
"I missed you, too, Mum." Rose looked to her father's bemused face and smiled. "I'd hug ya, but I don't think she's letting go any time soon."
"She'd better! I want a hug, too!"
"MICKEY!" Jackie let go of Rose and moved to pounce the new arrival. "Oh, Mickey!"
Rose laughed a little and hugged Pete. "Hi."
"Hello, Love. Good of you to make it."
"You didn't leave me much choice."
Pete grinned and pulled back. "Where are Jake and Jimmy?"
"We dropped Jake off at his parents' place for the night, and Jimmy's out for a stroll. Said he'd be back later."
"Typical," Pete sighed. "You look like you could use a shower and a kip."
"Probably," Rose grinned.
*****
Jackie had followed them up the stairs and to their rooms, talking all the way, and had even waited in the bedroom as Rose had showered in the en suit, still talking all the while. When Rose gave a powerful yawn, Jackie smiled sympathetically.
"Get some sleep. It's good you're back."
They hugged, and Rose watched as Jackie left. Her room looked the same as it had the last time she'd been there a year ago. Neat, and pink in the dim light from the tiffany lamp in the corner.
She pulled off her clothes, and put on a fresh pair of knickers, along with a soft brown t-shirt, before turning the lamp off and climbing into bed.
It was only a few minutes before she found sleep.
*****
Rose opened her eyes to find the Doctor, tawny hair in his eyes, hovering over her, smiling. He leaned down, kissing her sweetly and slowly. She felt her heart pound as her hands reached up to brush through his hair.
"Good morning, Rose Tyler," he said in a warm voice against her lips. "Merry Christmas."
*****
She woke with a start and looked around her silent, empty room.
Two years in, and she still couldn't let him go.
Rose let out a sad whimper and slumped back in bed, throwing the sheets and duvet over her head.
She heard the doors open, but didn't emerge from under the covers.
"Morning," Jimmy's voice said. "I brought you tea. And whiskey."
Rose pulled the sheets down and gave him an add, squinty look. "Whiskey?"
"That's how I intend to get through his holiday."
She sighed and sat up. "I have to go Christmas shopping today." She quirked an eyebrow at him as she accepted the cup of tea. "I'll buy you lunch if you be my pack mule."
Jimmy grinned, and opened his mouth, but Rose held up a hand.
"Figuratively."
He pouted. "Well...I do like food."
She grinned.
****
"What're you gonna get me?" Mickey asked as he followed Rose to the front door of the house.
Rose smirked. "I don't know yet. You'll just have to wait and see."
"But Jimmy's gonna know what you get him!" Mickey complained.
Jimmy stuck his tongue out.
Rose rolled her eyes. "I'm getting you something nicer than what I'm getting Jimmy. And Jimmy hates Christmas."
Mickey rolled his eyes.
*****
Rose had picked out a sparkly, purple shawl for her mother, and a silver pocket watch for her father. For Mickey, she'd found a large coffee table book on Football that she knew he'd enjoy, since the history of the sport was so different in this dimension. For Jake, she'd found a new pair of boots, since his current ones had been spewed on by a Clfdrigcion who had eaten too much Chinese food. For her baby brother, she'd found a stuffed moose that seemed perfect.
For Jimmy, she'd picked up a package and handed it to him.
He blinked at her. "Is this for me?"
"Yep."
He read the label. "Glow-in-the-dark condoms."
"Yep."
Jimmy laughed.
"Well!" Rose laughed as well. "You're always complaining that 'birds always want to shag in the dark' and 'how am I s'posed to see what I'm doing or where I'm aiming if we're in the dark?'"
"Ha!" Jimmy cried triumphantly. "Fucking amazing." He reached in and gave Rose a wet kiss on the cheek. "Merry Crimble to me!"
Rose smiled and wiped her cheek, as something shiny caught her attention in a store window. She wandered over and peered down at the old-fashioned silver badge. It looked as if it could have come right out of an old American western. An intricate pattern was engraved around the word "Sheriff."
"Something caught your eye?" Jimmy asked, sauntering over to join her with the packages she'd purchased.
"Uh..." Rose blinked and pursed her lips. "Yeah. Hold on." She slowly walked into the small shop.
Jimmy waited, and watched as the store clerk removed the badge from the window and Rose purchased it. She walked back out of the shop a few minutes later, and gave him a small smile. "Okay. Where do you want to eat?"
He blinked. "What's with the badge?"
"S'nothing. I want chips, what about you?"
"S'at for Nigel?"
"No. I'm not getting anything for Nigel."
"I bet it's for Nigel," Jimmy teased. "What's he Sheriff of? Being a pussy?"
Rose stopped and turned a hard stare on him. "Leave it."
Jimmy took a step back. "Alright, then. Chips it is..."
****
That night, Jackie was going through all of the gifts to put under the large, brightly decorated tree in the front room. She'd hired someone to wrap everything up (a neighborhood girl who wanted some extra money to buy gifts of her own).
Off to the side was an unwrapped, black box with a note on top.
Mum-
Please have this wrapped up. Thanks!
XOXO
Rose
Jackie pursed her lips and opened the box, peering inside. She looked over the sheriff's badge and sighed in exasperation. "Oh, Rose..."
"What are you 'oh Rose'-ing about?" Pete asked as he wandered in.
She lifted up the box.
Pete blinked. "Er..."
"I know who this is for, and he's not going to come," Jackie said. "She did this last year, too. She bought a gift, just in case, and he didn't show up. She was crushed."
"It's never a bad thing to have hope, Jacks," Pete offered.
"He's not coming back, Pete. He said he could never come back." Jackie shook her head. "She can't keep doing this. I'm not gonna let her waste her life on someone who isn't here to have it wasted on."
Pete frowned. "Jackie...it's Christmas, and she's been fine all year. Just...let her have this one-"
"No! The sooner she lets go the sooner she can move on with her life." Jackie sighed. "I miss that dodgey old alien, too. Those last few months, we really started to get along, he and I. He fixed things round the flat, and he brought Rose round more often for visits."
Pete pursed his lips. "Why don't I talk to her."
Jackie shook her head. "Nope. Puttin' my foot down."
He stopped her from heading up the stairs. "No, Jackie. Let me."
His wife sighed heavily. "Fine. Talk to her."
*****
Rose looked up from the case report she was filling out as a knock sounded on her door. "Come in."
Pete poked his head into the room. "Hello. Got a minute?"
She smiled. "Yeah. Come on in."
He walked in, fidgeting with the unwrapped box.
"I thought I told Mum to have that wrapped up," she said curiously.
"You did. She doesn't want to do it."
"Why not?"
"Because she knows who it's for."
Rose didn't reply.
Pete sighed and took a seat on the foot of the bed. "Rose-"
"I know, alright?" she snapped. "He's not coming back, and I'm being foolish, and-"
"Why a sheriff's badge?" Pete asked.
Rose stopped and stared at him for a moment.
"Just curious," he clarified.
She nodded. "We used to joke...you know. Hope and Glory, Mutt and Jeff, Shiver and Shake." Rose sighed and got to her feet, moving to sit next to her father on the bed. "And we used to joke about being detectives." She smiled a little. "He called me Lewis sometimes..."
Pete smiled, too.
"And one time we wound up in the American west, with cowboys and gunfights and the whole lot, and I told him the way he acted sometimes, he was like the sheriff of the universe." Rose sighed and frowned again. "I saw that badge and it reminded me of him. I know it's stupid, because I'm never going to see him again...but there's a part of me that keeps thinking 'what if the Doctor shows up, and I don't have a Christmas gift for him?'"
Her father took her hand and held it gently.
"And it's ridiculous," Rose went on. "Because he's never coming back. And I can't let him go."
Pete sighed and wrapped an arm around her, allowing her a little comfort. He kissed the side of her head. "I'll get your mum to wrap it up for you."
She sniffled quietly and shook her head. "No. There's no point." She took the box from him and got up, tossing it into her closet and closing the doors. "He's never coming back."
*****
2 years later...
The Doctor picked up a bright yellow stuffed duck and looked it over. "Rose?"
"Hm?" she asked, as she filled up another duffel bag.
The Doctor turned the duck toward her.
"Oh! Dad got me that; first month I was here." Rose smiled. "His name is Waddles."
The Doctor gave her an incredulous look. "Waddles?"
"Waddles."
"Can we rename him?"
"Nope."
He nodded. "Waddles it is, then."
Rose giggled.
The Doctor placed the duck underneath his arm and wandered over to the closet, opening it up. He stepped in and looked around. When he looked down, he noticed an unassuming box. Curiosity got the better of him (as always) and he lifted it. "What do you suppose this is, Waddles?" He blinked. "That's not a very dignified name." He took the duck from under his arm and looked him over again. "I'm going to call you Albert."
"I heard that!" Rose called. "His name is Waddles!"
The Doctor sighed. He replaced the duck under his arm, and opened up the box. "Rose?"
"Hm?"
"Why is there a sheriff's badge on the floor of your closet?"
He got no reply. He waited what seemed like forever, but still, got no answer. He walked out of the closet and tilted his head at her.
She was standing above her duffel bag, still, worrying a pair of socks between her hands.
"Rose?"
She glanced over at him. "Er...That was...that was actually for you."
The Doctor looked confused. "Me?"
"Bought it a couple of Christmases ago," Rose said quietly. "It reminded me of you."
He stared at her for a long moment, and then looked back down at the badge. "Sheriff of the universe."
She gave him a watery smile.
The Doctor walked over and swept her up in a hug, dropping Waddles on the floor. "Thank you, Lewis."
Rose giggled and snuggled into his shoulder.
END