Moving Forward Series Part 04 - Chapter 33 - The Stone Rose
"Mickey, I don't know what to say." I state as I stare at my stone replica.
“Told you I had a surprise for ya. The caption says the goddess Fortuna but there is no mistaking who it was modeled after.” Mickey crows.
"That’s brilliant, it looks like I have a future as an artist’s model; I’ve always fancied that." I state thoughtfully.
The Doctors reply from behind of, "Looks like were going to Rome today." startles me, as almost the minute we had walked into the museum he had headed off in another direction. I am unsure what he was so intent on seeing, but figure he wanted to give Mickey, mum and I some time alone. It hasn't been that long from their perspective since I ceased to be human, even though from mine it now seems like ages. I know he still feels guilty about that transformation, in spite of his joy at no longer being alone. My other thought, that is he has sensed that presense again, which although I would want to know I am not sure he could tell me for risk of me giving away we aware of it’s presence. Then I realize what he has said.
"Wait why do you say today?" As I ask he pulls out the sonic and begins scanning the statue to determine exactly when we are headed to in second century Rome.
His response is a lightning grin as he gently plucks the earring from my right ear and dangles it next to its twin hanging from the ear of the statue.
“Amazing so detailed” I state astounded at the complex carving of the earring on the statue.
With a big smile Mickey teases "Looks like he has a point Rose with the rate you lose earrings it best be today." with that he dodges out of the way as I bat at him.
Suddenly, I can feel the sadness radiating from mum and look over seeing her indignant face just as she says, "What you off already? You barely gave me time to say hello to my only daughter before your dragging her away again." She states hands on hips.
This time it is the Doctor who replies "Sorry Jackie, Micky's right we do need to go." And I can see how her words have hurt him even if mum is oblivious. With that he takes my hand and begins to head toward the exit pulling me with him.
"But, sweetheart..."
I call back to her "Don't worry, we'll be back soon mum." wondering at his sudden haste to leave. Mum isn’t happy at our truncated visit, but I can tell by the way the Doctor is moving that he isn't stopping until we get back to the safety of the TARDIS.
As the doors close behind us he doesn't stop moving until we are once again in the vortex.
"Now what was that about?" I state as I fold my arms, I don't intend on moving any further than the doorway until I have an answer. As he looks up from the controls he is fiddling with I can see he is upset, even as I realize he has yet to lower his shields to us. At that I move to his side "Doctor, talk to me what is wrong?" In response he gives a big sigh and lowers them a bit.
"I have a bad feeling about this Rose.
"Simple, then we don't go, I mean that statue 'as been around thousands of years not like we need to go now." But even as the words leave my mouth I feel the paradox this would create. "Oh"
With that he nods, "Yes oh. See it now do you?"
"But..."
"No buts, we need to go to Rome." He sounds so frustrated with the thought that I move to comfort him. At my approach he pulls me in to a tight hug. For a time he holds me like he will never let me go, I wonder what it is he knows that I do not. Just as I am about to ask, he lets go of me abruptly pushing me back to arms length. “We’ll that won’t do, he states looking at my attire. Go on find yourself something to wear, were heading for Rome!” He states clapping his hands together with glee I know he doesn’t feel as he heads over to the console to begin putting in the coordinates.
As I reach the wardrobe room I find hanging close to the door two outfits one obviously for me the other I know Verity has put out for the Doctor even though we both know it not something he will wear. As I look over mine it is obvious that it is made of high quality material and it is obvious I am to be dressed as a lady of considerable influence. As I look at the shoes I smile, as it is clear they are intended to hold up well even if we do wind up running for our lives.
I can hear the smile in Verity’s mental voice as she comments, ‘Only the best for my Rose, and knowing himself you will need them.’
By the time I finish dressing I feel quite pretty in the pale blue gown with a dark blue shawl draped over my head. The colors I know will perfectly compliment the Doctor’s eyes, and I know we are about to land and head for the control room. As I walk in I see him working at the console I can’t help but smile as I see him, and then feel his smooth interaction with Verity as they bring us in for a landing.
By the time he looks up he has banished all trace of worry from his face and actually looks like he is looking forward to this adventure.
"So how do you think we will meet this sculpter?"
"Don't know, lets find out." with that he flips the lever to open the doors and moves to join me. "Shall we?" he states holding out a leather clad elbow.
I can't help but smile as I remeber another time where he offered me his arm and we wound up meeting Charles Dickens. No matter what we find outside I know it's better with two.
As we exit the TARDIS I am surrounded by the sights and sounds of an ancient Roman market. The smells are as diverse as the people and range from divine to putrid. Having landed in an alley way between two buildings ther is a bit more garbage littering the walkway and I wonder if maybe we aren’t in the best part of town yet in it's own way even that is interesting.
My concern is justified as we exit the short alley and we hear a cry ring out from off to the right. As I realize what is happening I am only a couple of steps behind the Doctor as he charges up to three knife wielding muggers who are standing threateningly above an older man with a beard.
“Excuse me I do believe you seem to be confused…” I hear him state with all the ferocity of the Oncoming Storm. In that moment I spot a pile of clay pots and quickly throw one at the head of one of the men causing him to jerk back, seizing the moment of their distraction to further convince them they should leave. I delight as they turn and run with bits of shattered potty hanging about their clothing.
Even as I crow with delight their departure, the Doctor is already helping the man to his feet.
“Thank you so much. Nayus Fabulous Drucillus at your service” comes the man’s feeble reply
“You all right? Those blokes nick anything?” I ask, as he seems to be unsteady on his feet. As he shakes his head it seems to be too much for him and he loses his balance the Doctor stepping in quickly to keep him from falling.
“Easy there, I don’t think you are all right, are you.
“I must confess I feel slightly dizzy” Drucillus states in a dry hoarse voice.
The Doctor gives me a quick concerned look and asks, “when did you last have anything to eat?”
“I don’t know, sometime yesterday I think…” but he trails off looking unsure.
“Well it sounds like you need a bite to eat and a sit down then.” I state moving to the man’s other side.
“No, no I need to continue my search.”
This time the Doctor is gentle but firm almost like a real doctor with a stubborn patient, “No, food and rest, and while you do you can tell us what your searching for, you see Rose and I we love a good search, don’t we Rose?”
Seeing how frail the man looks and the way he look like he is about to argue I am quick to agree. “Oh yes, love ‘em.”
“See there we go, now do we have a deal?” He asks not letting the man formulate a complaint he shakes his hand stating with a brilliant smile, “Fantastic then we have a Deal!” and with that he begins to lead the man toward the center of town.
At a café the Doctor fetched us pastries and spiced wine that tasted more like vinager with cloves as I settled Drucillus on a bench.
“So what you searching for then?” I ask, and I watch him summon the energy to answer.
“My son, my handsome clever son Optartus, he has gone missing.
“And you reckon he’s in Rome somewhere than?” I ask and feel his despair as he replies.
“I do not know, my family has been at our country villa, but the area has been searched. So I thought of Rome, you know how boys are always looking for more adventure. But not a trace have I found.”
At that the café’s proprietor speaks up “Hear, I know what you can do.”
At his words Drucillus leaps up stating “You can help me find my son?”
“Well, no, but I reckon I know who can. There’s this girl you see, they say she can tell you the future just by looking at stars.”
“An astrologer you say? Tell me where can I find her?”
With that I look to the Doctor and we both move to follow.
As the proprietor finishes providing Drucillus direction he turns to us. “I thank you for your kindness an if you find yourself in need of lodging please come and see me, but for now I will not impose myself further on your goodness.”
“Now none of that, do you think we would miss out on being able to meet a lady that can tell the future?” Come the Doctor’s delighted reply.
With that we make our way to the address that the café owner provided and are met by a shifty eyed fellow at the door. “Well what do you want?” He asks looking a cross between wary and board.
“We have to come to meet the lady of the house, you know the astrologer.” Is the Doctor’s exuberant reply and I smile at his childlike joy at facing something new and unknown.
At the Doctor’s words the mans whole attitude changes “Ah this would be my great pleasure and with only the smallest of small fees I will be glad to take you to the lady.
With that he lead the way to a back room where a young woman was huddled over a desk. “You have visitors Vanessa he states with undisguised glee.”
I stare for a moment surprised at the woman before us. I had been expecting an older woman dressed like a gypsy like those who in her youth told her and Shreen of tall dark strangers and voyages across the sea. But this was just a girl, a small, thin, dark skinned girl with sad, haunted eyes.
At the girl’s small reed thin reply of “Yes master” I look up at the Doctor with imploring eyes and his hand finds mine as I hear his gentle thought. “Yes Rose, she is a slave.” The small shake of his head tells me not to pursue the discussion. At that same moment I notice the sharp, startled look she gives us and I know I dare not ask the questions that swarm my mind even as I consciously shore up my shields as I feel Verity do so.
As Drucillus asks if she can help find his son she gives a sharp look over to the man in the door and begins asking about Optartus, then quickly begins doing calculations. As the moments pass, the expression on the face of the man in doorway becomes less and less friendly and I can tell Vanessa is becoming more distressed. Finally, the proprietor interjects “Well Vanessa, tell the man what he needs to know.”
The Doctor is quick to reply “Come now sir let us have our money’s worth, you can’t calculate the movement of the heavens in mere moments.” With his words, I feel her quick surge of gratitude for his intervention even though she doesn’t hesitate for a moment in her scribbling, if anything she is going quicker. I reach over to grasp the Doctor’s hand in thanks, at which he gives me the gentle smile he reserves only for me.
As the moments tick by I can tell Vanessa is becoming more and more desperate and as if reading my mind he states leaning forward conspiratorially. “I am sure that calculations such as there are not easy with so little information to work with, maybe it would be better if you could see where it was that Optartus disappeared.
“Yes, yes that would make this much easier.” is her desperate reply.
The Doctor continues as if not noticing the terrified quiver in her voice. “Well then that’s settled, I am sure that your…” he pauses a moment the vile word sticking in his throat. “Owner wouldn’t mind if we popped over to the Villa where…”
At that the man in the door steps forward intimidating and angry whiny tone. “Now hear now, I’m afraid I couldn’t consider…”
This time it is Drucillus who interrupts as he angrily slams his hand down upon the desk making both Vanessa and I jump. “If it is money you want I will buy her from you. I need to find my son!” The negotiations are quick, lively and decisive and I am both amaze and disgusted that they would so callously discuss the sale of a person as if she was no more important than a pack of gum at the local Tescos.
Negotiations completed a few minutes later, we are out in the afternoon sun with Vanessa in tow and I reach over to take her hand to reassure her. Leaning in close I whisper so only she will hear “Everything will be okay, the Doctor will see it works out okay for you.” Her small wane smile tells me doesn’t believe me but appreciates the kindness. I listen as the Doctor invites us to Drucillus’ villa on the pretext of needing to see the location of where Optartus was last seen.
**********************************
The trip will take two long days, and I long for the easy comfort of Verity’s walls as I look at the bug ridden bed, thankful at least that the Doctor has the sonic in which to scare off the vermin so we will sleep unbitten. Not that I am feeling particularly tired even though it feels like I should.
“Doctor?”
“Hmmm?” I hear his distracted reply.
“What’s going to happen to Vanessa?”
He pauses as he is washing his face to look over at me. “Rose I…”
“Never mind.” I say as I feel his hesitancy to discuss this and go to his side. As I slip my hands beneath his leather jacket I can feel his relief and snuggle closer to him. For long moments he holds me, I will never grow tired of this closeness we now share but as I feel his nervous energy I know that neither of us are going to sleep tonight. Leaning back I smile up at him. “So what did you do with yourself all night while us humans used to sleep?”
“Oh, this and that, resourceful me.”
“No seriously, Doctor what do you do while everyone else around you is sleeping?
“Tinker, work on the TARDIS, read, lots of things.” He states sounding a bit frustrated and I tell he is wondering where I am going with these questions.
“I know that, but what did you do when we weren’t on the TARDIS, times like now?”
His expression is pure mischief.
Moving Forward Part 04 - Chapter 34 - Encounters
Moving Forward Index