Parking Games
Title: Parking Games
Rating: PG
Paring: Ten II/Rose
Spoilers: Journey’s End including the deleted scene from the beach
Summary: The TARDIS isn’t yet grown. While on a break during the workday at Torchwood, Rose and the Doctor find themselves a mystery of their own to investigate.
AN: Over a year ago I promised roxyk630 a little something. Things got complicated after that but I got it done! This is for her because of several reasons, one of which was her saying there’s not enough precocious alien children in stories these days. Extra special thanks to kalleah for beta work, virtual hand holding and an appreciation for pb & j and fine cheese.
Rose tilted back her head and let the sun warm her face. She stretched, pointing her toes, letting her full body relax with her muscles. She shut her eyes and relished in her always-too-brief respite. This had been her own little piece of rebellion since she’d started Torchwood.
She would sneak out of the confines of the office to the park nearby. Just because she had to do paperwork, didn’t mean she had to do it at a desk. The seemingly endless pile of folders held the same content indoors or out and a biro was portable.
Now that the Doctor was there with her, she let him in on her escapes. He would have tracked her down regardless. As it was, he spent most of his time where she was to the point she would work where he needed to be just to keep him focused. While their TARDIS was thriving and growing ahead of schedule, they needed something to fill their days until she was travel-ready. Once she was, though, both the Doctor and Rose would happily return to their paperwork-free adventuring.
True, they had agreed to help Pete with the occasional difficult situation but they planned to do as they always did and skip out before the bureaucracy could kick in. Of course that part hadn’t been shared with anyone (like Jackie or Pete) yet.
Rose took a deep breath and convinced herself that her sunglasses and eyelids provided ample protection from any solar-induced retinal damage. She felt someone sit next to her and the corners of her mouth curved up. Without turning she said, “I was beginning to wonder where you’d got to. Girl could get a complex.” She let her head fall to side and opened her eyes. “Oh! Hello!”
Instead of her absent significant other, a little girl was sitting next her; a little girl who was studying her like there would be a quiz later. She was pretty in a way Rose couldn’t put her finger on. Her hair was long, to her waist, and wavy. The colour wasn’t quite right. It had a purple-hue, as did her eyes, but Rose chalked that up to her earlier sun worshipping.
“I’m Rose. What’s your name?”
The girl cocked her head and put it back up again. Seemingly coming to a conclusion she nodded and straightened her little skirt. “Suppose he’s right.”
Rose had been with the Doctor in any form long enough to not be fazed by not being let in on a conversation she was supposed to be a part of. “Sure he is.”
The girl stuck out her hand. “I’m Ellie.” After a business-like shake she continued. “My brother said you are quite pretty. I couldn’t agree with him until I had a closer look.”
“I did not say that!” The shrub next to them seemed quite indignant.
Rose grinned but held her chuckle in.
“That is Nev,” Ellie said with a distain saved only for siblings. “He’s my little brother,” she added with a smirk.
“Only by five minutes!” the shrub yelled.
“And 23 seconds.”
Rose smiled as the sister and brother continued to argue. Once they reached a lull, she spoke. “So has Nev always been a bit of greenery or is this new?”
“Am not green!” Nev finally stepped out and Rose gasped. The boy was beautiful. There was no other word for it. He had the same colouring as his sister, only intensified. His hair was shorter but just as wavy and his eyes practically glowed. He was going to be a heartbreaker when he grew up. For now, however, he was a boy in a dusty t-shirt and shorts, trainers ratty from playing and a smudge of dirt across his cheek. Rose resisted the temptation to lick her thumb and wipe it away. She wasn’t ready to adapt that Jackie mannerism quite yet.
“Hi, you must be Nev. I’m Rose.” She waved at him.
Nev’s eyes widen and cheeks turned red when he realised who it was he was talking to and dove back into the bush.
Rose giggled and turned back to Ellie who was doing the same. The moment was broken when someone called for the twins.
“That’s our mum. We’ve got to go. Nice to meet you, Rose.” Ellie said in a single breath. Nev emerged from the shrub and went running to the woman waiting patiently in the car park. Ellie waved before taking off as well.
This time Rose knew what she had seen. Ellie had blinked.
Sideways.
“Sorry I’m late. But Brenda in Accounting was having a party for something, I don’t know what. And I thought it would be rude to not at least stick my head in. Then Nicola was handing out cake. And between you, me and the park bench, that’s one person who certainly doesn’t need any more cake. Anyways, I know it’s no excuse, but cake! Brought you some.”
The Doctor offered a piece of cake on a serviette in one hand and held a half-eaten piece in another. She took hers and he sat next to her, and then scooted over the very small space between them so that their legs completely touched for hip to feet.
She turned to him. “Did you see...?” She took a bite.
“Mmm?” He faced her, mouth full.
“Never mind. It’s silly.”
“I like silly. What? Did I see what?” The Doctor took her free hand.
“The kids. Here in the park. I was talking to them right before you got here.”
“Kids? In a park? You don’t say!” He shot her a charming grin. Its effect was ruined by the smeared icing and cake crumbs around his mouth.
Rose smiled anyways while rolling her eyes and bumping her shoulder with her own. “Shut up. No really, did you see them?”
“No, I just heard car doors, I’m guessing that was them leaving. Why?” She could see his interest had fully shifted from his snack to her.
“The children, twins, a boy and a girl, they weren’t off, but...different. Their hair had a purplish tint and their eyes were purple as well, violet really. The boy’s kinda glowed. The girl. I think I saw her eyes blink sideways.”
“Sideways?”
“Yeah, like a lizard. They were just ordinary kids otherwise. Nev, the boy mostly hid in the bush. I think he’s shy.”
“Did you see their parents or any other clues?”
“No. Just their mum in the car park. She was too far away. Then you showed up.”
They finished their cake. Rose wiped her mouth with her napkin, the Doctor with the back of hand, further smearing the icing on his face. Rose laughed and cleaned him up.
He batted her away and said, “Think we might see them again?”
Rose shrugged. “Don’t know. They could have been a million times before and I wouldn’t have noticed. I’m usually distracted when I’m here.
“Why?” The Doctor was concerned. He’d protested more than once that she worked too hard. He stood and she followed.
“Because I’m with you. It’s a very welcome distraction. I promise.” She took his hand and leaned into him.
“Oh. Well, that’s okay then.” He stood a bit taller. “I’ll just make sure to pay attention then as you’ll clearly be occupied with more important endeavours.” He gave her a cheeky grin.
She just shook he head and led him back inside.
Three days and an alien plot involving cotton wool and tea cosies later...
The Doctor carefully laid out the blanket he’d brought with their picnic he’d packed the night before. As soon as he was done Rose flopped onto her back and sighed. She waved her hand in his direction. “The wine list, if you pleased.”
The Doctor laughed. “I’m sorry but we are currently out of wine. Might I interest you in a Vitex? It’s a fine vintage.”
Rose curled her lip. “Vintage Vitex? Don’t like the sound of that.”
“Well, I say vintage. I mean I grabbed a couple of bottles from the warehouse. So it may be as old as yesterday. I also have water.”
“Yes please.” She had closed her eyes as soon as she’d hit the ground and still refused to open them. After some aimless patting, she found the water bottle and pulled it closer to her. She sensed the Doctor hovering closer to her and opened her mouth and smile as she chewed the piece of fruit he obligingly dropped in.
“Don’t get used to this. I’m not your beck-and-call man.”
She cracked an eye at him. “You sure about that? She covered her eyes with her arm.
The Doctor sputtered. “I’ll have you know, madam...” When he trailed off Rose looked at him in question. “Rose? Those children from the other day, I think I found them.”
Rose sat up and followed his pointing finger to the two children tossing a ball between them and the woman she had seen with them before. “Yeah, that’s them and that’s their mum.” They watched the family in silence, waiting for something unusual to happen. They both gave disappointed shoulder shrugs when nothing did and the group packed up to leave.
They started to do the same when it happened. The kids were holding their mother’s hands, skipping along and laughing. The boy let out a happy shriek and he skipped into the air and back down again.
The Doctor and Rose looked at one another with matching shocked expressions and then they grinned. “I think we have a mystery!”
Rose practically bounced with joy. “Do you have any idea where they’re from?”
The Doctor scratched his chin. “A couple of possibilities but nothing concrete at this point. Also, I’m not sure if the possibilities are the same threat levels being a different universe and all.” Then he mumbled, “Found that out the hard way.” At Rose’s snort he got louder. “Look, in the other universe that was not a mating ritual. Now then, to the task at hand...Oh, they’ve gone. Think they’ll be back?”
Still smirking, Rose said, “Don’t know. Though it seems likely as they’ve been here twice that we’ve noticed. We do know it’s not likely they live or work near here as they seem to go off in a car. You know what this means? We’ll have to keep ‘em peeled.”
The Doctor’s excited grin matched hers. “Rose Tyler, have I ever told you how much I enjoy being with you?”
After checking her watch, she said, “Not in the last two hours.”
“Well then, I’m quite overdue.” After a quick kiss, he sat back. “We can discuss strategy while we eat.”
The next few days, the Doctor and Rose stole away to the park whenever they could. Eventually the break they were looking for happened.
Rose was sat her desk when she received a phone call from a very excited Doctor telling her to come to the park right away.
“What are you doing?” The Doctor startled at her voice and fell on his bottom, one arm catching in the bush he was crouched beside. Rose tilted her head. “And did you change your clothes?”
The Doctor shushed her and motioned for her to join him. She saw no reason to not indulge him and knelt down. “I saw them arrive from a window, so I changed into something more covert.”
Somehow Rose said with a straight face, “Doctor, you’re wearing all black in the middle of day in the middle of a park lurking next to a shrub. You’re lucky no one’s called the police .”
“Well, they haven’t,” he said with as much dignity as he could muster. He promptly ruined the moment by adding, “So there.”
She did laugh at that. “Where are they then?”
“I’m not sure but I was coming up on their car when you arrived.” He stood and brushed himself off. “They surely haven’t gone far.”
After being helped to her feet, Rose joined the Doctor in scanning the park. They turned their heads simultaneously at the sound of slamming car doors. “Doctor!”
He held a hand up, watching their prey pull away. “There! I have the plate number memorised.” He turned to her expectantly.
“Oh no, Doctor. We really shouldn’t use Torchwood’s facilities for our own purposes. Especially considering whose daughter I am.”
The Doctor looked equal parts chastised and put out.
That was until Rose grinned at him.
“That’s my Rose!” He matched her expression as he grabbed her hand and they went running back to the office building.
Later that evening after negotiating a deal ensuring that winner of the next series of The X Factor would be the son of a nobleman from a neighbouring galaxy...
Rose parked the car and she and the Doctor made their way down the pavement. They stopped in front of an ordinary looking house. She checked the paper in her hand. “This is the place.”
The Doctor nodded. “Now Rose, we need a proper plan here. No running amok. Amok. That’s a word I need to say more often. Amok. Amok. Anyways, we can’t just charge in there. Though sneaking wouldn’t be bad. I’ll go ‘round back and you keep look out here. Okay Rose? Rose?”
Rose had left his side the second time he’d said, “amok” and was now at the front door, hand raised to knock. As she did so, she heard the Doctor scramble up next to her. “The direct approach. Exactly what I had in mind all along.”
She smiled but didn’t turn to him. The woman whom they’d been spying on opened the door. She was wiping her hands on a tea towel and smiled politely at them. “May I help you?”
Before either of them could answer, Ellie came bounding down the hallway. “’Ello Rose!”
“You know these people, Ellie?” The woman grew wary of the strangers on her doorstep.
“Just her. That’s Rose. Nev’s in love with her.” Ellie fluttered her eyelashes dramatically as she said the last part.
The boy in question popped his head out a door. “I am not! I’m in love with Suzy from the laundrette!” He disappeared back into the room he had been in.
“We met her at the park. She and this man have been watching us for the past couple of weeks.” Seeing nothing wrong with what she had just said, Ellie skipped away.
“I think you better leave before I call the authorities.” The woman backed away slowly.
Rose was desperately searching for some ID. “No! It’s nothing like that.”
“Well, it is true, Rose. We have been watching them.” The Doctor was trying to help but Rose knew from experience that if he kept his mouth running they’d end up in more trouble than could be imagined. So, she jabbed him in the ribs. “Ow! What was that for?”
She handed over her ID and nodded for him to do the same. The woman looked at the items in her hands and her shoulders slumped. “Oh. It’s you lot. Suppose it was just a matter of time. You better come in.”
She motioned them into the lounge. As soon as they sat, she said, “Now look here, we are not causing any trouble. Why can’t you just leave us be?”
Rose spoke first. “I’m sorry...what’s your name?”
“Tamer. Tamer Morehaus.”
“Tamer. We’re not here on official Torchwood business. Yes, we work there but this is purely our own curiosity. The Doctor and I have noticed you and your children in the park by our offices and after observing something ... unusual happening, we got nosy. We mean no harm and won’t get anyone else involved unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Tamer still looked sceptical. “Wait a minute! You’re that Rose Tyler! I knew you looked familiar. And you’re her mystery man! Thinner than I thought.”
“Oi! Manners!” The Doctor settled a bit when Rose patted his arm.
Rose cleared her throat. “Yeah. That’s us. How about you? Where are you from? And tell us the truth.”
Tamer sighed. “Nelus System. There are a group of us coming to Earth for a long-term project. I’m part of the early scouting team to make sure the locations are everything we hoped. My husband will be part of the next wave. We decided it best for the twins to come with me to get settled.”
The Doctor had been keeping quiet, nursing his wounded pride until then. “When you say project...”
“We come somewhere and check the area out. What resources are; and then try to find a way to utilise them. Make it better. For instance, one planet couldn’t solve its flooding problem. My people came in and helped them harness the water to be used as a source of energy. I guess we’re what you’d call sort of efficiency experts only on a larger scale. I can give you references if you need them.” She looked at her hands clasped in her lap. “Please don’t mess this up. It’s a huge opportunity for us.”
Rose furrowed her brow. “Why would you think we’d do that?”
“We heard about you before we came. Torchwood.” She actually snorted. “Shoot something down first, ask questions later.”
Rose took a slow breath. “I won’t deny that our past is less than stellar but things have changed. We wouldn’t be there otherwise. And I told you, we’re not here on official business.” Rose reached over to cover Tamer’s hand with her own and shot the Doctor a look pleading for help.
“Oh, right. No, no Torchwood. Don’t completely trust them myself. We’re just really meddlesome. I promise.”
Tamer considered it all for a moment. “How? How could you tell? About us that is.”
“Your hair and eye colour are a bit different from the norm but not enough to be completely odd. Rose chatted with your children and caught your daughter blinking sideways. She told me about it and we kept watch for you all. The other day we saw your son skip up into the air and back down again.”
Tamer shook her head and smiled. “Yeah, it’s because they’re still kids. They are still learning to control it while in public. The eyes Ellie got from her father’s side. We were hoping if people noticed, they’d pass it off as their imagination. That could happen, right?”
The Doctor smiled warmly. “More than you know.”
“And with what we’ve seen, we didn’t think our hair and eye colour would make that much of a difference.” She paused. “I can’t believe I told you all that. But, I don’t know, you just seem so trustworthy.”
“That because we are.” The Doctor grinned.
Rose shook her head. “Tamer, we won’t do anything to harm you or the people you care about. And you may not want to hear it but one way to help that would be to tell Torchwood you’re here and why. You might be surprised how they would react. And, well, I have some pull with the higher ups.”
Tamer was silent for a moment and then stood. “I can only say I’ll think about it. And I have to discuss it with my husband and the rest of the team.”
“That’s only fair.” Rose dug in her bag and produced a business card and a pen. She used the latter to scribble on the former and handed the card over. “Call us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions or help in any way. That’s my personal mobile number on the back there. I hope you use it.”
They stood to leave but before they made it to the hall, the Doctor turned around. “The Nelus System doesn’t speak an Earth dialect I know of, yet you and your children’s accents are flawless. One would never know you weren’t from here. How did that happen?”
Tamer waved a hand in dismissal. “Oh, that. We have this device, works like that fish thing from that story about that bloke in the dressing gown. Carried a towel. Know what I’m talking about?”
They both smiled and the Doctor answered, “We might be familiar with it.”
And with that they left.
On the way to the car Rose said, “So, do you believe her?”
“I do actually.” The Doctor opened the door for Rose before moving to the passenger side. “I’ve heard about this. They could do a lot of good for a lot of people. We can check into it to be sure, but, honestly, I think it will be fine.”
Several surprisingly quiet days later...
The Doctor and Rose sat at a table with Tamer, her husband Ryk and the twins. They did research into everything and were duly impressed by what they found. All the references Tamer provided checked out. They discovered their race had actually saved one planet from complete ruin and stopped a civil war on another, among other things. Rose and the Doctor had been invited over for dinner to discuss plans for Earth.
“So, what we are proposing is a database of sort. A census for average working aliens in the area. ” Ryk sat back and opened his hands in finish.
Rose looked at the Doctor and then back. “That sounds great but don’t you think that’ll be hard?”
Ryk shrugged. “Let us worry about the details. It’s what we do.”
The Doctor finished chewing and said, “What about the ones that don’t want to be known?”
“Maybe they’ll stay unknown.” Won’t know until we try.” Tamer smiled at them. “Besides, they might open up to someone else who’s far from home. And don’t think we’ll just be handing this over to your lot.”
Rose nodded. “Understood. Perhaps we’ll ask for favours now and again.”
“Perhaps.”
The rest of the meal was spent in friendly chatter. And afterwards, the twins performed for them. While they were being walked to the door, Rose realised she’d forgotten her handbag and went back to retrieve it. As she was walking out, Nev pulled on her arm.
He looked very serious.
“Rose, I’m very sorry but things would have never worked between us. With Suzy, things are just so right. We use the same type of fabric softener after all. I hope you understand and we can still be friends.”
She nodded solemnly. “I do understand. And some day I may get over it. Goodbye, Nev.” She waved to Ellie who was further down the hall and left.
When she made it outside the Doctor was waiting, one hand in his pocket and the other pulling on his ear. “Ready? What was the hold up?”
“I think I was just broken up with.”
“Broken what? I didn’t...You don’t think that...? I didn’t say, did I...? Because I...”
Rose let him sputter for a bit before placing a hand on his arm. “Not you. We are still very much together.” She pushed herself up to her tiptoes and kissed him.
He beamed. “Good! I still feel I should apologise though, just in case. Chocolates? Flowers?”
Rose took his hand and led him to the car. “How about a nice trip to the park?”
Rating: PG
Paring: Ten II/Rose
Spoilers: Journey’s End including the deleted scene from the beach
Summary: The TARDIS isn’t yet grown. While on a break during the workday at Torchwood, Rose and the Doctor find themselves a mystery of their own to investigate.
AN: Over a year ago I promised roxyk630 a little something. Things got complicated after that but I got it done! This is for her because of several reasons, one of which was her saying there’s not enough precocious alien children in stories these days. Extra special thanks to kalleah for beta work, virtual hand holding and an appreciation for pb & j and fine cheese.
Rose tilted back her head and let the sun warm her face. She stretched, pointing her toes, letting her full body relax with her muscles. She shut her eyes and relished in her always-too-brief respite. This had been her own little piece of rebellion since she’d started Torchwood.
She would sneak out of the confines of the office to the park nearby. Just because she had to do paperwork, didn’t mean she had to do it at a desk. The seemingly endless pile of folders held the same content indoors or out and a biro was portable.
Now that the Doctor was there with her, she let him in on her escapes. He would have tracked her down regardless. As it was, he spent most of his time where she was to the point she would work where he needed to be just to keep him focused. While their TARDIS was thriving and growing ahead of schedule, they needed something to fill their days until she was travel-ready. Once she was, though, both the Doctor and Rose would happily return to their paperwork-free adventuring.
True, they had agreed to help Pete with the occasional difficult situation but they planned to do as they always did and skip out before the bureaucracy could kick in. Of course that part hadn’t been shared with anyone (like Jackie or Pete) yet.
Rose took a deep breath and convinced herself that her sunglasses and eyelids provided ample protection from any solar-induced retinal damage. She felt someone sit next to her and the corners of her mouth curved up. Without turning she said, “I was beginning to wonder where you’d got to. Girl could get a complex.” She let her head fall to side and opened her eyes. “Oh! Hello!”
Instead of her absent significant other, a little girl was sitting next her; a little girl who was studying her like there would be a quiz later. She was pretty in a way Rose couldn’t put her finger on. Her hair was long, to her waist, and wavy. The colour wasn’t quite right. It had a purple-hue, as did her eyes, but Rose chalked that up to her earlier sun worshipping.
“I’m Rose. What’s your name?”
The girl cocked her head and put it back up again. Seemingly coming to a conclusion she nodded and straightened her little skirt. “Suppose he’s right.”
Rose had been with the Doctor in any form long enough to not be fazed by not being let in on a conversation she was supposed to be a part of. “Sure he is.”
The girl stuck out her hand. “I’m Ellie.” After a business-like shake she continued. “My brother said you are quite pretty. I couldn’t agree with him until I had a closer look.”
“I did not say that!” The shrub next to them seemed quite indignant.
Rose grinned but held her chuckle in.
“That is Nev,” Ellie said with a distain saved only for siblings. “He’s my little brother,” she added with a smirk.
“Only by five minutes!” the shrub yelled.
“And 23 seconds.”
Rose smiled as the sister and brother continued to argue. Once they reached a lull, she spoke. “So has Nev always been a bit of greenery or is this new?”
“Am not green!” Nev finally stepped out and Rose gasped. The boy was beautiful. There was no other word for it. He had the same colouring as his sister, only intensified. His hair was shorter but just as wavy and his eyes practically glowed. He was going to be a heartbreaker when he grew up. For now, however, he was a boy in a dusty t-shirt and shorts, trainers ratty from playing and a smudge of dirt across his cheek. Rose resisted the temptation to lick her thumb and wipe it away. She wasn’t ready to adapt that Jackie mannerism quite yet.
“Hi, you must be Nev. I’m Rose.” She waved at him.
Nev’s eyes widen and cheeks turned red when he realised who it was he was talking to and dove back into the bush.
Rose giggled and turned back to Ellie who was doing the same. The moment was broken when someone called for the twins.
“That’s our mum. We’ve got to go. Nice to meet you, Rose.” Ellie said in a single breath. Nev emerged from the shrub and went running to the woman waiting patiently in the car park. Ellie waved before taking off as well.
This time Rose knew what she had seen. Ellie had blinked.
Sideways.
“Sorry I’m late. But Brenda in Accounting was having a party for something, I don’t know what. And I thought it would be rude to not at least stick my head in. Then Nicola was handing out cake. And between you, me and the park bench, that’s one person who certainly doesn’t need any more cake. Anyways, I know it’s no excuse, but cake! Brought you some.”
The Doctor offered a piece of cake on a serviette in one hand and held a half-eaten piece in another. She took hers and he sat next to her, and then scooted over the very small space between them so that their legs completely touched for hip to feet.
She turned to him. “Did you see...?” She took a bite.
“Mmm?” He faced her, mouth full.
“Never mind. It’s silly.”
“I like silly. What? Did I see what?” The Doctor took her free hand.
“The kids. Here in the park. I was talking to them right before you got here.”
“Kids? In a park? You don’t say!” He shot her a charming grin. Its effect was ruined by the smeared icing and cake crumbs around his mouth.
Rose smiled anyways while rolling her eyes and bumping her shoulder with her own. “Shut up. No really, did you see them?”
“No, I just heard car doors, I’m guessing that was them leaving. Why?” She could see his interest had fully shifted from his snack to her.
“The children, twins, a boy and a girl, they weren’t off, but...different. Their hair had a purplish tint and their eyes were purple as well, violet really. The boy’s kinda glowed. The girl. I think I saw her eyes blink sideways.”
“Sideways?”
“Yeah, like a lizard. They were just ordinary kids otherwise. Nev, the boy mostly hid in the bush. I think he’s shy.”
“Did you see their parents or any other clues?”
“No. Just their mum in the car park. She was too far away. Then you showed up.”
They finished their cake. Rose wiped her mouth with her napkin, the Doctor with the back of hand, further smearing the icing on his face. Rose laughed and cleaned him up.
He batted her away and said, “Think we might see them again?”
Rose shrugged. “Don’t know. They could have been a million times before and I wouldn’t have noticed. I’m usually distracted when I’m here.
“Why?” The Doctor was concerned. He’d protested more than once that she worked too hard. He stood and she followed.
“Because I’m with you. It’s a very welcome distraction. I promise.” She took his hand and leaned into him.
“Oh. Well, that’s okay then.” He stood a bit taller. “I’ll just make sure to pay attention then as you’ll clearly be occupied with more important endeavours.” He gave her a cheeky grin.
She just shook he head and led him back inside.
Three days and an alien plot involving cotton wool and tea cosies later...
The Doctor carefully laid out the blanket he’d brought with their picnic he’d packed the night before. As soon as he was done Rose flopped onto her back and sighed. She waved her hand in his direction. “The wine list, if you pleased.”
The Doctor laughed. “I’m sorry but we are currently out of wine. Might I interest you in a Vitex? It’s a fine vintage.”
Rose curled her lip. “Vintage Vitex? Don’t like the sound of that.”
“Well, I say vintage. I mean I grabbed a couple of bottles from the warehouse. So it may be as old as yesterday. I also have water.”
“Yes please.” She had closed her eyes as soon as she’d hit the ground and still refused to open them. After some aimless patting, she found the water bottle and pulled it closer to her. She sensed the Doctor hovering closer to her and opened her mouth and smile as she chewed the piece of fruit he obligingly dropped in.
“Don’t get used to this. I’m not your beck-and-call man.”
She cracked an eye at him. “You sure about that? She covered her eyes with her arm.
The Doctor sputtered. “I’ll have you know, madam...” When he trailed off Rose looked at him in question. “Rose? Those children from the other day, I think I found them.”
Rose sat up and followed his pointing finger to the two children tossing a ball between them and the woman she had seen with them before. “Yeah, that’s them and that’s their mum.” They watched the family in silence, waiting for something unusual to happen. They both gave disappointed shoulder shrugs when nothing did and the group packed up to leave.
They started to do the same when it happened. The kids were holding their mother’s hands, skipping along and laughing. The boy let out a happy shriek and he skipped into the air and back down again.
The Doctor and Rose looked at one another with matching shocked expressions and then they grinned. “I think we have a mystery!”
Rose practically bounced with joy. “Do you have any idea where they’re from?”
The Doctor scratched his chin. “A couple of possibilities but nothing concrete at this point. Also, I’m not sure if the possibilities are the same threat levels being a different universe and all.” Then he mumbled, “Found that out the hard way.” At Rose’s snort he got louder. “Look, in the other universe that was not a mating ritual. Now then, to the task at hand...Oh, they’ve gone. Think they’ll be back?”
Still smirking, Rose said, “Don’t know. Though it seems likely as they’ve been here twice that we’ve noticed. We do know it’s not likely they live or work near here as they seem to go off in a car. You know what this means? We’ll have to keep ‘em peeled.”
The Doctor’s excited grin matched hers. “Rose Tyler, have I ever told you how much I enjoy being with you?”
After checking her watch, she said, “Not in the last two hours.”
“Well then, I’m quite overdue.” After a quick kiss, he sat back. “We can discuss strategy while we eat.”
The next few days, the Doctor and Rose stole away to the park whenever they could. Eventually the break they were looking for happened.
Rose was sat her desk when she received a phone call from a very excited Doctor telling her to come to the park right away.
“What are you doing?” The Doctor startled at her voice and fell on his bottom, one arm catching in the bush he was crouched beside. Rose tilted her head. “And did you change your clothes?”
The Doctor shushed her and motioned for her to join him. She saw no reason to not indulge him and knelt down. “I saw them arrive from a window, so I changed into something more covert.”
Somehow Rose said with a straight face, “Doctor, you’re wearing all black in the middle of day in the middle of a park lurking next to a shrub. You’re lucky no one’s called the police .”
“Well, they haven’t,” he said with as much dignity as he could muster. He promptly ruined the moment by adding, “So there.”
She did laugh at that. “Where are they then?”
“I’m not sure but I was coming up on their car when you arrived.” He stood and brushed himself off. “They surely haven’t gone far.”
After being helped to her feet, Rose joined the Doctor in scanning the park. They turned their heads simultaneously at the sound of slamming car doors. “Doctor!”
He held a hand up, watching their prey pull away. “There! I have the plate number memorised.” He turned to her expectantly.
“Oh no, Doctor. We really shouldn’t use Torchwood’s facilities for our own purposes. Especially considering whose daughter I am.”
The Doctor looked equal parts chastised and put out.
That was until Rose grinned at him.
“That’s my Rose!” He matched her expression as he grabbed her hand and they went running back to the office building.
Later that evening after negotiating a deal ensuring that winner of the next series of The X Factor would be the son of a nobleman from a neighbouring galaxy...
Rose parked the car and she and the Doctor made their way down the pavement. They stopped in front of an ordinary looking house. She checked the paper in her hand. “This is the place.”
The Doctor nodded. “Now Rose, we need a proper plan here. No running amok. Amok. That’s a word I need to say more often. Amok. Amok. Anyways, we can’t just charge in there. Though sneaking wouldn’t be bad. I’ll go ‘round back and you keep look out here. Okay Rose? Rose?”
Rose had left his side the second time he’d said, “amok” and was now at the front door, hand raised to knock. As she did so, she heard the Doctor scramble up next to her. “The direct approach. Exactly what I had in mind all along.”
She smiled but didn’t turn to him. The woman whom they’d been spying on opened the door. She was wiping her hands on a tea towel and smiled politely at them. “May I help you?”
Before either of them could answer, Ellie came bounding down the hallway. “’Ello Rose!”
“You know these people, Ellie?” The woman grew wary of the strangers on her doorstep.
“Just her. That’s Rose. Nev’s in love with her.” Ellie fluttered her eyelashes dramatically as she said the last part.
The boy in question popped his head out a door. “I am not! I’m in love with Suzy from the laundrette!” He disappeared back into the room he had been in.
“We met her at the park. She and this man have been watching us for the past couple of weeks.” Seeing nothing wrong with what she had just said, Ellie skipped away.
“I think you better leave before I call the authorities.” The woman backed away slowly.
Rose was desperately searching for some ID. “No! It’s nothing like that.”
“Well, it is true, Rose. We have been watching them.” The Doctor was trying to help but Rose knew from experience that if he kept his mouth running they’d end up in more trouble than could be imagined. So, she jabbed him in the ribs. “Ow! What was that for?”
She handed over her ID and nodded for him to do the same. The woman looked at the items in her hands and her shoulders slumped. “Oh. It’s you lot. Suppose it was just a matter of time. You better come in.”
She motioned them into the lounge. As soon as they sat, she said, “Now look here, we are not causing any trouble. Why can’t you just leave us be?”
Rose spoke first. “I’m sorry...what’s your name?”
“Tamer. Tamer Morehaus.”
“Tamer. We’re not here on official Torchwood business. Yes, we work there but this is purely our own curiosity. The Doctor and I have noticed you and your children in the park by our offices and after observing something ... unusual happening, we got nosy. We mean no harm and won’t get anyone else involved unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Tamer still looked sceptical. “Wait a minute! You’re that Rose Tyler! I knew you looked familiar. And you’re her mystery man! Thinner than I thought.”
“Oi! Manners!” The Doctor settled a bit when Rose patted his arm.
Rose cleared her throat. “Yeah. That’s us. How about you? Where are you from? And tell us the truth.”
Tamer sighed. “Nelus System. There are a group of us coming to Earth for a long-term project. I’m part of the early scouting team to make sure the locations are everything we hoped. My husband will be part of the next wave. We decided it best for the twins to come with me to get settled.”
The Doctor had been keeping quiet, nursing his wounded pride until then. “When you say project...”
“We come somewhere and check the area out. What resources are; and then try to find a way to utilise them. Make it better. For instance, one planet couldn’t solve its flooding problem. My people came in and helped them harness the water to be used as a source of energy. I guess we’re what you’d call sort of efficiency experts only on a larger scale. I can give you references if you need them.” She looked at her hands clasped in her lap. “Please don’t mess this up. It’s a huge opportunity for us.”
Rose furrowed her brow. “Why would you think we’d do that?”
“We heard about you before we came. Torchwood.” She actually snorted. “Shoot something down first, ask questions later.”
Rose took a slow breath. “I won’t deny that our past is less than stellar but things have changed. We wouldn’t be there otherwise. And I told you, we’re not here on official business.” Rose reached over to cover Tamer’s hand with her own and shot the Doctor a look pleading for help.
“Oh, right. No, no Torchwood. Don’t completely trust them myself. We’re just really meddlesome. I promise.”
Tamer considered it all for a moment. “How? How could you tell? About us that is.”
“Your hair and eye colour are a bit different from the norm but not enough to be completely odd. Rose chatted with your children and caught your daughter blinking sideways. She told me about it and we kept watch for you all. The other day we saw your son skip up into the air and back down again.”
Tamer shook her head and smiled. “Yeah, it’s because they’re still kids. They are still learning to control it while in public. The eyes Ellie got from her father’s side. We were hoping if people noticed, they’d pass it off as their imagination. That could happen, right?”
The Doctor smiled warmly. “More than you know.”
“And with what we’ve seen, we didn’t think our hair and eye colour would make that much of a difference.” She paused. “I can’t believe I told you all that. But, I don’t know, you just seem so trustworthy.”
“That because we are.” The Doctor grinned.
Rose shook her head. “Tamer, we won’t do anything to harm you or the people you care about. And you may not want to hear it but one way to help that would be to tell Torchwood you’re here and why. You might be surprised how they would react. And, well, I have some pull with the higher ups.”
Tamer was silent for a moment and then stood. “I can only say I’ll think about it. And I have to discuss it with my husband and the rest of the team.”
“That’s only fair.” Rose dug in her bag and produced a business card and a pen. She used the latter to scribble on the former and handed the card over. “Call us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions or help in any way. That’s my personal mobile number on the back there. I hope you use it.”
They stood to leave but before they made it to the hall, the Doctor turned around. “The Nelus System doesn’t speak an Earth dialect I know of, yet you and your children’s accents are flawless. One would never know you weren’t from here. How did that happen?”
Tamer waved a hand in dismissal. “Oh, that. We have this device, works like that fish thing from that story about that bloke in the dressing gown. Carried a towel. Know what I’m talking about?”
They both smiled and the Doctor answered, “We might be familiar with it.”
And with that they left.
On the way to the car Rose said, “So, do you believe her?”
“I do actually.” The Doctor opened the door for Rose before moving to the passenger side. “I’ve heard about this. They could do a lot of good for a lot of people. We can check into it to be sure, but, honestly, I think it will be fine.”
Several surprisingly quiet days later...
The Doctor and Rose sat at a table with Tamer, her husband Ryk and the twins. They did research into everything and were duly impressed by what they found. All the references Tamer provided checked out. They discovered their race had actually saved one planet from complete ruin and stopped a civil war on another, among other things. Rose and the Doctor had been invited over for dinner to discuss plans for Earth.
“So, what we are proposing is a database of sort. A census for average working aliens in the area. ” Ryk sat back and opened his hands in finish.
Rose looked at the Doctor and then back. “That sounds great but don’t you think that’ll be hard?”
Ryk shrugged. “Let us worry about the details. It’s what we do.”
The Doctor finished chewing and said, “What about the ones that don’t want to be known?”
“Maybe they’ll stay unknown.” Won’t know until we try.” Tamer smiled at them. “Besides, they might open up to someone else who’s far from home. And don’t think we’ll just be handing this over to your lot.”
Rose nodded. “Understood. Perhaps we’ll ask for favours now and again.”
“Perhaps.”
The rest of the meal was spent in friendly chatter. And afterwards, the twins performed for them. While they were being walked to the door, Rose realised she’d forgotten her handbag and went back to retrieve it. As she was walking out, Nev pulled on her arm.
He looked very serious.
“Rose, I’m very sorry but things would have never worked between us. With Suzy, things are just so right. We use the same type of fabric softener after all. I hope you understand and we can still be friends.”
She nodded solemnly. “I do understand. And some day I may get over it. Goodbye, Nev.” She waved to Ellie who was further down the hall and left.
When she made it outside the Doctor was waiting, one hand in his pocket and the other pulling on his ear. “Ready? What was the hold up?”
“I think I was just broken up with.”
“Broken what? I didn’t...You don’t think that...? I didn’t say, did I...? Because I...”
Rose let him sputter for a bit before placing a hand on his arm. “Not you. We are still very much together.” She pushed herself up to her tiptoes and kissed him.
He beamed. “Good! I still feel I should apologise though, just in case. Chocolates? Flowers?”
Rose took his hand and led him to the car. “How about a nice trip to the park?”