Firefly/Doctor Who crossover fic: A Different Kind of Companion (14/20)
“Coulda, woulda, shoulda...”
The silence stretched out between them. Idly, Rose ran a hand through her hair as she wondered whether it was sticking up at all ends. The thought of hair made her think of the conversation she had had with the Doctor before stepping out of the TARDIS.
“Y’know, it was her decision to leave.”
The words were said so quietly, Rose almost didn’t hear them. Reynolds was staring at her through the bars. “So now you care?” she asked.
“I’m just sayin’. It was all up to her how this went down.”
“Maybe she doesn’t really want to leave.” Rose looked straight at Reynolds. “Maybe something’s holding her back.”
He looked away.
“If you want Inara to stay, then it has to worth while, yeah? Can’t just fly all over the universe, dragging her along.” A thought came to Rose. “S’like me and my last boyfriend. I think we just stayed together because it was safe. We didn’t want to take a risk.” She smiled sadly at the thought of Mickey. He had found something worth while for himself, but there were times she missed having him around.
“Is that why you’re with the Doctor?” Reynolds glanced at Rose from the corner of his eye. “You’re takin’ a risk?”
“Well, it’s better than sittin’ around all day, wishing you had something more.” There was no reply, but to Rose it looked like Reynolds was lost in thought. She wiggled her fingers, the feeling in them mostly returned. Her first time in a prison cell; she doubted she would be telling her mother this story any time soon.
Reynolds banged his hand against the bars. “Rose.”
The concern in his voice as he said her name - more than the clanging of the bars - caught her attention. “What?”
His gaze was fixed on the corridor, his head cocked to one side. “Time’s up.”
The silence stretched out between them. Idly, Rose ran a hand through her hair as she wondered whether it was sticking up at all ends. The thought of hair made her think of the conversation she had had with the Doctor before stepping out of the TARDIS.
“Y’know, it was her decision to leave.”
The words were said so quietly, Rose almost didn’t hear them. Reynolds was staring at her through the bars. “So now you care?” she asked.
“I’m just sayin’. It was all up to her how this went down.”
“Maybe she doesn’t really want to leave.” Rose looked straight at Reynolds. “Maybe something’s holding her back.”
He looked away.
“If you want Inara to stay, then it has to worth while, yeah? Can’t just fly all over the universe, dragging her along.” A thought came to Rose. “S’like me and my last boyfriend. I think we just stayed together because it was safe. We didn’t want to take a risk.” She smiled sadly at the thought of Mickey. He had found something worth while for himself, but there were times she missed having him around.
“Is that why you’re with the Doctor?” Reynolds glanced at Rose from the corner of his eye. “You’re takin’ a risk?”
“Well, it’s better than sittin’ around all day, wishing you had something more.” There was no reply, but to Rose it looked like Reynolds was lost in thought. She wiggled her fingers, the feeling in them mostly returned. Her first time in a prison cell; she doubted she would be telling her mother this story any time soon.
Reynolds banged his hand against the bars. “Rose.”
The concern in his voice as he said her name - more than the clanging of the bars - caught her attention. “What?”
His gaze was fixed on the corridor, his head cocked to one side. “Time’s up.”