04-07-09 : Ten and Rose Who: The Doctor (Nine) and Rose Tyler When: Tuesday, April 7th, 8:30pm Where: The park, near the lake. What: Nine and Rose need a little chat. Rating: PGish Status: Incomplete and Closed
The sun had gone down about an hour ago and the Doctor, after spending most of the day inside the TARDIS, had finally emerged to take a look around. First, he'd looked to the sky -- the stars were all in the right place, the moon was where it should be (and almost full) and the street lights around the small town were glowing softly and illuminating the streets and the few paths inside the small park. And that was where the Doctor was headed. He'd been here a little over a week now and had kept mostly to himself. After the little meeting between himself, his next regeneration (it could have been worse), Jack, Jack's Plus One, and Rose.. well, he'd needed some time to try and figure everything out. Unfortunately, he'd failed in figuring it out. Days after, he'd met up with Ianto Jones in the coffee shop and he'd spoken with him but things still weren't much clearer, though he had a bit of a better understanding of what was going on around here, it still wasn't clear. Following that, he'd spent a few more days in the TARDIS, alone and trying to fix it, though it wasn't broken. He simply couldn't figure out why they were stuck here -- worse off, he couldn't figure a few things out. He simply couldn't see like he used to be able to. It was like he'd lost that part of himself, like something here was blocking it. No longer could he see everything that ever was and everything that ever could be. No. He could still see most of it.. but anything to do with this place? Gone. Gone, like it wasn't happening at all. Like it had never happened and never would.
Like this place didn't even exist.
And after having realized that, the Doctor had decided that he needed a bit of downtime.. and his feet had taken him through the quiet, sleepy streets of the town, to the park. There, on that bench facing the lake, he could look across it and still see the pale light of the TARDIS, glowing like a beacon through the darkness. His beacon. His home. Long, jean-clad legs stretched out in front of him and the Doctor leaned back, stretching both arms out beside him along the back of that dark green bench. Wood felt nice beneath his bum, even though it was a little chilly to the touch. Another cold front had come through to chill the tiny town again. But it was welcome, and he was warm in the enveloping leather of his jacket.
He turned his head then (all the way to the side, neck straining), eyes narrowing down a bit as if to help him see better. And when the wind blew just right, there between swaying trees and shivering leaves, he could see the light of the other TARDIS. The light of Ten's TARDIS. Where he knew the other incarnation was. Where he knew Rose was. The thought made him sigh, blue eyes returning to focus on the light of his own shining beacon. He'd get out of here. He was the Doctor! He was clever.
He was more clever with Sarah Jane at his side.
He was at his most clever with Rose.
And Rose was with him.
Really, he couldn't complain.. Rose hadn't exactly left him, he'd left her. But he hadn't exactly left her, either -- he was still there. He was still with her. She was still with him. In a round about way. He took in a breath through his nose, smiling for only a moment before it left his face again. He was alone again. It always came back to him being alone. That was just the way it needed to be. If he wasn't alone.. he wouldn't be the Doctor anymore, he'd just be some man. Some dumb, happy bastard. No longer the last of the Time Lords. No longer the cold-hearted creature he'd become following that Time War. He'd be different.
He'd be Ten.
The breath he'd taken in through his nose was slowly released through his mouth in a sigh, the hot air turning to a puff of white that he watched blow away with the wind. The smile returned. "Fantastic."