Chapter 9: No Rest for the Wicked
Rose woke with a start. A loud noise startled her out of her sleep and had her reaching for something that wasn't there. The musical tones of the Doctor's native language reached her ears before the sleep faded completely from her mind. The hand that moved to the small of her back, grasping at nothing, relaxed and she let herself plop boneless against the worn leather of the jump seat.
The TARDIS greeted her with her own musical tones making Rose smile dreamily, snuggling back into the warm, heavy blanket that was draped over her. After a few deep breathes, Rose's eyes snapped open wide. Carefully, she took in her surroundings once more. The soft glow of the time rotor, the high arched ceiling with the organic coral like struts she saw so often in dreams in recent years. Pushing herself to sit up, she looked down at what her blanket was. Heat turned her cheeks red with a blush as she recognized the leather jacket of her first Doctor. Another loud clang followed by a sting of Gallifreyian curses drew her gaze to the sight that made her heart squeeze.
There lay the Doctor, head and torso buried under the console, tinkering and cursing away. His long dark denim wrapped legs stretched out over the grating, bringing a flood of teenage fantasies back to the forefront of Rose's mind and making her feel both hot and wet at the same time.
The lights flickered around the room, accompanied by the musical laughter that was the TARDIS in the back of Rose's mind. Then a shower of sparks came from under the console and the sound of the Doctor jumping at it, hitting his head in the process.
"You could have just said stop, you know," his Northern burr rumbled out as he slid himself out from his spot. "Bloody stubborn female."
That earned him an electric shock when he put his hand on the console proper to lift himself off the grating.
Giggling laughter caught his attention as he rubbed his forehead. The warmth of laughter and affection washed over him, soothing his bruised ego more than his head. For a moment, he let the golden warmth surround him, then it was gone. Withdrawn. Looking over at the still giggling human, the Doctor could not help with grin at her.
"Did I wake you?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head, fingers brushing through his short dark hair.
Sitting up, Rose shifted over so he could sit next to her, still smiling at him. "No, well maybe?"
Taking the offered seat next to her, he waited for her to explain herself.
"If the cursing in something definitely not human was you," which she already knew was, "then yes, you woke me up. I just don't remembering falling asleep."
The Doctor watched her as she grinned at him again in what was rapidly becoming his favorite smile in the whole of time and space. The little pink tongue slipped out to peek between her teeth in such an enticing way, it made him wonder what it would taste like against his own. If her lips were as soft as they looked. Would they mold to his, pillowing his lips as he explored that delightful mouth of hers? Leaning back in the jump seat next to her, the Doctor let his long arms fall behind him over the back of the seat. Rose, to his private pleasure, shifted to lean her head against his shoulder. Stealing a glance at her, he noted that her eyes drifted close once again, but a smile curved those lips. She snuggled more into his leather jacket, making his instincts purr again. She was wrapping herself in his scent and he could not find it in him to ignore the sheer thrill at that idea.
They sat like that, listening to the hum of the TARDIS, the undertones of her song filling the ship around them. Neither of the wanted to break the peace after the last near twenty four hours from them. From jumping into conflict with the Nestene, trying and failing to save him, then off to Platform One and the dance to avoid destruction there. Rose's smile only grew more as she leaned heavily against the Doctor's side.
How wonderful it was to be home.
"You falling asleep on me again?" The Doctor asked, his lips mere centimeters from her forehead. "You silly apes, sleep your lives away if you could."
"Not all of us can be grand Time Lords, you know," Rose tilted her face up a little to watch his smile.
"Superior," that grin grew.
"What?"
"Superior Time Lords," he explained his tone a confusing mix of lecturing, patronizing, and playful. "We Time Lords are superior in nearly everything. Well, compared to everyone else, that."
Swatting his chest, Rose narrowed her eyes at him as he made an exaggerated "oof!" sound and rubbed his chest. "You are so full of it!" she laughed at him.
The Doctor merely retaliated by reaching a hand under the jacket and pinched Rose's side. She let out a squeal of laughter and wiggled away from him. For a half of a heartsbeat, the Doctor entertained the idea of pouncing on her and seeing if he could make her beg for mercy from a tickle attack. The very idea of it had him stomach rolling. Had he already fallen so far down the rabbit hole to disregard all of the teachings of his people, whom he killed no less, to play around with a lesser race? She was a human, a companion, for the most part. The darkness inside was taking over his thoughts again. Rose was nearly a perfect companion, brave, clever, quick to adapt, and she was hiding something from him still.
Rose turned to smile at the Doctor and froze. His forehead was wrinkled in a deep frown, his normally bright blue eyes had turned to ice. He wasn't looking at her, but now at his hands. She could all but feel the tension and darkness radiating off him. Without a word, she shrugged his jacket off and laid it across his shoulders. He flinched away as if burned when her fingers brushed the back of his neck. Those piercing eyes turned on her now. She stood there, head cocked slightly to the side. Reaching up she lightly played with one of her earrings nervously and just waited.
"Tell me something about you," he grounded out making her hand drop, blinking.
"Well, what do you want to know?"
"Anything, everything," he growled standing up suddenly to pull his leather jacket back on as if slipping back into his armor. "You tell me nothing about you. You do things that are impossible. You say things that make no sense, and still I know nothing about you." As his anger rose with each word, his accent deepened.
Turn about's fair play, Rose thought dryly. That got a laugh and a mild scolding from the TARDIS.
Flinching herself, Rose glared mildly at the time rotor before sighing. With a little shrug, she showed no fear of the Oncoming Storm, not like it wasn't the first time in this timeline that she found herself on the receiving end of it. Poking the Doctor in the side, she budged him over and sat beside him again.
"I was raised by my mum on the Estates," she offered. "No dad. He died with I was six months old. Drive came out of no where, hit him as he was crossing the street. Peter Allen Tyler, that's my dad."
Blinking a bit, the Doctor leaned his elbows on his knees, lacing his long fingers together and just listened.
"Grew up with Mickey and his Gran. She was a force of nature, she was," Rose smiled fondly. Letting her head fall back, she looked at the ceiling, debating on what else to tell him.
"Never got my A Levels," she admitted sadly.
"Why not?" the Doctor was curious. She was so clever, she could have easily passed.
"I was a young, stupid ape," Rose laughed bitterly. "Old story, girl meets bad boy. Bad boy promise safety and an escape. Girl runs off. Bad Boy lies. Girl tries to pick up the pieces left of her life."
The bitterness and self-hatred oozed through the laugh. It amazed her how bitter she was at herself still, after all those years. The Doctor nearly flinched at the sound coming out of the lively woman at his size. Instead, he leaned back again and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her back to his side. She came willingly, laying her head against his shoulder.
"I used to do gymnastics as a kid," she offered up, making him smile at the thought of a little Rose doing handstands and tumbles. "Also took some self-defense classed. Really liked doing martial arts. Had to stop because of money. Let's see what else can I tell you?"
The Doctor thought about that question. He didn't have only one. He had a million. She was lowering her guard around him, trusting him. And he craved more of her still.
"Oh," Rose thought of something. "I've always loved history and space. Like astronomy and stuff. Wanted to reach out and touch the stars, yeah."
With a light chuckle, the Doctor gave in a little and pressed a kiss to the top of her head making Rose blush and grin as well.
"Do you know any fancy alien styles?" Rose looked up at him, knowing the answer but still wanting him to answer.
"I got some moves, but I wouldn't want to brag," was his reply.
"You got moves, huh?" Rose taunted him back. "Show me?" She did not intend for her voice to become husky and flirty. She swears, that just happened.
For half a second, the Doctor looked like he was going to close the distance between them. Her breath hitched in her throat at the idea of his lips covering, claiming her own. She always imagined this him's kiss would be full of fire and want, demanding and giving, completely overwhelming and dominating. Just as they started to drift close and her eyes closed slowly, the TARDIS jerked suddenly. Rose would have fallen backwards off the jump seat if the Doctor hadn't acted. His hands wrapped around his waist and pulled her to his chest. They froze against each other, both worrying about another jerk like the ones lately that sent them flying like ping pong balls.
"You okay?" The Doctor asked as he stood from the seat. One hand stayed at her waist, the other gripped the leather of the jump seat. Just in case.
"Yeah," Rose nodded, looking at the time rotor worriedly. "Is the TARDIS supposed to make that sound?"
The Doctor released Rose and they moves to the console. He circled it, flipping switched and turning knobs again. Rose just watched as he came to the monitor, pulling it down to eye level for him. Eyes moved over the screen reading the information as Rose placed her hand on the console. Gently stroking the old time ship, she worried over the vibration that wasn't normal for the old girl.
You worry too much, Wolf, the TARDIS chuckled in her mind. Always have, do, and continue to do.
Rose smirked and sent the ship waves of affection and warmth with her mind.
"Damn," the Doctor grumbled, frowning again.
"What's wrong?"
"A part gave out before I thought it would," he was growling a little. "Going to have to get a replacement if we want to travel anywhere safely."
"Does that mean we can safely go to there the part is?" whiskey brown eyes lit up at the idea. This was new.
The Doctor stared at her enthusiasm for a moment before breaking out into a wide grin. "Yes it does."
"And we are going to go?"
"Yes, we are," the Doctor laughed. The golden human was nearly bouncing on her toes with excitement.
"Fantastic!" Rose gushed, throwing her arms around his waist for an impromptu hug. "I'm going to see if I can find something to brush my hair with. I'm sure you got something in this big, beautiful ship."
The last part was said more for the TARDIS than him, but he didn't need to know that. He nearly preened at the praise laid on his magnificent space and time ship. He waved her off and turned to the controls to set the course. Rose gave a little squeal and raced off, following the lights that lit up on the floor, guiding her steps deeper down the hall.
Shaking his head, he realized humans will never cease to amaze and amuse him. No matter how old he got, their passion and drive for life was always a surprise that was a delight. That was likely why he kept picking humans as companions in the past. Could also have something to do with the fact it pissed off the High Council to no end. With a little sigh, he pushed that depressing thought away. It made him think of his home, and the War. That never led to a good place. Focusing on the task at hand, the Doctor located two places he could get the part he needed. And some he just wanted.
One was planet side, the other was on a satellite that orbited a less than friendly world. Neither were a good place for humans honestly. One of the two was a septic pit of scum from all over the universe, the other one was just a nasty, dirty place to deal with. One dealt with slavery of any race, the other just like to eat humans. Something about them being a delicacy. If he had his way, he would land and Rose would stay hidden away, safe in the TARDIS. He seriously doubted that would go over well with the passionate human. He could already hear that argument in the back of his mind and the headache that would bring. No, he just needed to flip a coin, both were about the same on hazard level for humans.
"Good character building experience," he grinned like a madman and set the coordinates. With a flourish, he threw the red level. With a groan and almost a whine, the TARDIS was off through the time vortex towards their next adventure.
One he rather hoped would be a bit more peaceful than the last one.
… … … …
The TARDIS set down with a thump and a groan. Inside, the force caused the two occupants to be tossed back into the railing of the central platform. Rose giggled as the Doctor laughed about that not being one of his better landings. Rose wanted to disagree, citing she knew much worse ones, but opted not to. After all, those landings hadn't happened. Yet.
"Rose," the Doctor tried to sound serious, but her laughter made him grin. "You need to know a few things about this place."
"Yes, Doctor?" Rose pushed her hair out of her face, and turned that beaming smile on him.
Clearing his throat, he swiped the smile off his face. It made him look stern and older, but the way his eyes were dancing, she knew that inside he was enjoying himself. "Rose, this place is not very friendly for humans. You need to stay need me," he informed her as they walked towards the door. "They are barter and trade system, and lives are part of that. They have a slave trade here, but don't worry. I'm here, I'll protect you."
Arching a brow, Rose looked up at him. He thought she looked impossibly young in that moment, with her wide brown eyes staring at him. There were a number of ways he could protect her from being mistaken for a runaway, pet or everywhere else she could be mistaken for. Giving up, he grinned at her in that charmingly mad way.
"You trust me?"
"With my life," she answered honestly, her smile fading away a little. The glint in her eyes told him he she was deadly serious. She barely knew him, he thought, and she trusted him so much. Why?
Nodding a little and pushing away the storm of questions and feelings in his head, which admittedly was not a good place right now, he settled on his plan. Before he could turn, second guess himself, or anything else, the Doctor stepped up to Rose. Before she could react to his nearness, he tilted her head to the side and closed his teeth around the soft skin of her neck. Rose let out a shocked cry as pleasure rolled through her. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging into the leather and leaving little groove as he suddenly started to suck on the trapped skin. His arms came around his waist, one large hand held her upper back, pinning her to his chest as he feasted on the tender flesh of her neck. The other hand gripped at her hip, trying to hold her still. She was writhing against him, lost and moaning breathlessly.
Then he let go.
The pair stumbled away from each other, both breathless. Chests heaved for much craved fresh air as they watched each other with passion darkened eyes. Shakily, Rose lifted her hand to touch the mark she just knew he left on her neck.
"Sorry," he mumbled, ducking his head so to not look at her face. He could only imagine the look of betrayal there, and disgust. "I… It was the best way to mark you as not available for trade." He winced at how lame that sounded even to his ears.
Rose stood there in shock. Never had her Doctor put hands on her like that. Once upon a time, she and John had experimented but nothing ever came of it. It was nothing like this. Swallowing down a whimper and the sheer demand of her body for him to continue, she just nodded dumbly.
"Yeah, okay," she breathed out. "S'okay. Better than what could have happened, yeah?" She tried to make light of what just happened, to put him at ease. "You didn't hurt me, Doctor. Promise. You did what you had to, to make sure I would be safe. Right?"
Slowly, he lifted his head to look at the impossible creature standing across from him. She was smiling at him, her fingers on the mark that graced the side of her neck. The pure instinct and passion in him stirred and rioted inside him. Need was sharp, all teeth and claws, demanding he take her fully, claim her.
Instead he just nodded and offered her a smile and his hand, shoving all that deep, deep down where it could hurt no one. Especially his golden girl.
Rose licked her lips, unknowing to him, did the same. Her whole body was humming with desire and lust. She wanted to reach out, grab him by those adorable ears of his, drag him to her level and bite him back. A little shiver ran up her spine as she gave him an answering smile, shoving all that deep inside. Taking his hand, she promised herself she would get him back for that bite.
And make him beg for more.
The two walked outside into the bright sunlight. Rose lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the glare and tightened her grip on the Doctor's hand. He was squinting himself, adjusting to the change in brightness. Once their eyes adjusted, the Doctor looked down at Rose for her reactions. It was not disappointed as the joy and enthusiasm for the new place spread across her face. Those lips on a mouth that some would say was too big curled into a bright smile that sparkled. Her eyes widened as she took in the different races around them.
It was a busy marketplace, with stalls and tents set up for traveling merchants from various worlds. The buildings standing looked like something from the Old West of Earth's 19th century America. They were normally two stories and made of what looked like mud and painted white. There were a few other colors mixed in. Rose could make out the sight of ships resting with canopies leading off the cargo bays, open for business. Some men, possibly Judoon, patrolled the area, keeping an eye out for trouble makers. Children of varying species raced around underfoot the adults, laughing.
Rose Tyler wanted to wander off so badly. She wanted to explore. Looking back at the Doctor, she tugged at his hand, dragging the taller alien along with her into the market place. She knew she looked like a tourist, but she didn't care. She had never been here before. It was something new!
"It's called Manestre," The Doctor began to explain as they walked along the street and Rose window shopped. "It's the main hub for the planet, which is named stupidly Nowhere. The planet itself is has no native life forms and was terra formed to be able to sustain life."
At this point, Rose had turned him out as she walked. She knew this part. He would talk about the history of the planet, who the main settlers where, possibly the year they were in. She was half listening to him as her eyes scanned the different stalls and displays set out for travelers.
"You need to be careful, Rose," the Doctor pulled her quickly to his side, her attention snapped from a floral display to him. "I told you that these people deal in slave trade. Male or female, means nothing to them. That's why I," the Doctor coughed, nodding at her neck.
She blushed.
"So with this, it says I'm off limits, right? Like if you collared me or whatever else they use to mark ownership?" Rose was asking. That proud smile made its way to his face.
"Exactly," he praised her. "Well done, Rose Tyler."
Fighting back her answering blush, Rose leaned against him. "So we are here for that part, yeah? Where do we need to go for it?"
"Not too far up ahead," he nodded up the street towards what looked like a hulled out ship that was made into a permanent building. "I want you to stay outside where I can see you, understand? Do not wander off. That's rule one."
With a sassy smile, she gave him a salute making his groan. "Don't do that," he complained.
The Doctor reluctantly left Rose at a stall outside the shop he needed to check in. It was dimly lit inside and smelled like oil. Pale blue eyes swept the area as he walked farther in. His heavy boots connected with the metal flooring that once was the ship.
"Whatcha lookin' for?" a raspy voice called out.
Turning, the Doctor noted the owner of the shop. He looked like a dragon almost. Tall, taller than even the Doctor was. Board shoulders were covered in a layer of sandstone colored scales that seemed dull in the light of the place. Long, strong arms, covered in the same scales ending with large hands tipped with nasty looking claws. The alien was bipedal, his legs just as strong as his arms, were covered in a pair of old, worn crew pants that looked to be made of canvas. A bald head, small horns were the eye brows would be and wicked yellow eyes studied the Doctor as closely as he was being studied.
"Just looking for a part, mate," the Doctor called back in greeting.
The owner grunted at him and settled his large frame behind a desk, leaning back on a chair that looked like it had been salvaged from further inside the ship.
Picking through the parts, the Doctor catalogued everything he needed, what was there and what he needed right now. Easy enough, he found the part he originally came for as well as a few hard to come by gaskets he needed to replace soon. Fairly pleased with his findings, the Doctor collected everything and headed over to the bored looking owner.
"I'll take this, how much?" the Doctor did not smile at this alien. He was as stern looking as ever as he crossed his arms over his chest.
The owner gave a low rumbling laugh, shifting forward in his chair to look over what the Doctor found. Sniffing the air a bit, he cocked his head to the side, looking at the Doctor.
"You ain't Ooman," he grounded out. One yellow eye flickering over the Doctor who pressed his lips into a tight line.
"No."
Another intake of air, the merchant turned his attention to the open doorway of his shop. He watched out there a moment too long that got the Doctor to turn his head. There, just across from the entrance, was his companion. Rose had her back to them, looking at the goods offered by the stall across the way. The merchant let out a low growl of approval.
"That one yours?" He asked, looking up at the Doctor again. The Doctor noticed that one of the alien's eyes was faded and scarred. That would explain the head tilting, he supposed.
"She is," the Doctor nearly growled now as the other man turned his attention back to Rose's backside.
"Tell you what," he smiled now, rows of needle sharp teeth displayed in what some might consider a frightening sight. "You give me her. And anything in my shop is yours. Any time you come through."
That took the Doctor back a moment. He looked over at his golden girl, the words of the alien male registering in his mind.
"Didn't know Drathians dealt in soft fleshes," the Doctor nearly snarled. His reaction made the Drathian laugh now.
"We don't," he agreed. "But she is something else. Her scent clings to you, and you to her. But not mated. So not your wife. Give her to me, I'll treat her right. S'long as she doesn't run. She ain't a runner is she?"
With every word the lizard man spoke, the rage and fury inside the Doctor grew and surged. The Drathian started conversationally talking about what he would do with a tasty treat like Rose in his care. And all the ways she could help him. If she turned out to be a runner, than all the more fun for him. He liked a bit of sport.
"Credits," the Doctor growled now, stopping the other man's sentence in a second.
The one good yellow eye studied the Doctor and his body language. It seem to amuse him that the soft flesh male thought he could intimidate a hardened Drathian.
"If I told you no?" the Drathian taunted.
The Drathian never saw the Doctor move.
A gurgling sound came from the Drathian, his own good eye widening in fright as he stared right into the Oncoming Storm. The pale blue eyes of the Doctor had turned to shards of ice, cold, empty. If he thought the Doctor looked stern before, that was nothing compared to the deadly glare he was getting now. The Doctor bared his teeth at the Drathian and he could not remember a more terrifying sight in his long life. He has been a warrior, a warlord before he settled here to sell parts after his exile from his home world. He had seen things that lesser races would have pissed themselves over, or left them a pile of drivel on the ground, insane and broken.
He had never seen anything like this.
The man was like staring into the heart of a black hole. The only thing that kept coming into the Drathian's mind was the tales his grand sire used to tell of a man, a legend, a god really who could turn an army away with just a glare. The Destroyer, his grand sire called this being. A being of pure power, unrestrained rage and darkness. There were other stories, of the Destroyer's race. If the Drathian did not know better, he would have thought he was staring, horrified into the eyes of an Old One. Those who walked before time.
"You listen to me," the Doctor snarled in a deadly soft voice. His fingers were wrapped around the throat of the Drathian, squeezing with a strength that was nothing to take lightly. "That is mine. And if you don't want me to tear your throat out with my hand and turn your shop into dust, you will accept credits. She is mine. Now and always."
The Drathian could only nod his head a bit to show he understood. The Doctor stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest. The Drathian wondered if any warlord in the history of his world had ever encountered one of the Timeless ones and lived after insulting the mate. Not likely.
"Take it," the lizard man rasped shakily. "As an apology. To your mate."
The Doctor studied the now frightened alien, his darkness growled in approval. The lesser beast insulted his mate, said crude things about her. It was right that he submitted to him. The rage beat in the Doctor's ears and through his veins as the Drathian collected the parts the Doctor wanted and put them in a bag. Standing, the Drathian offered the bag to the Doctor, keeping his bowed slightly. The merchant let out a loud breath of relief when the Doctor snatched the bag from his clawed hands and stomped out of the shop. Collapsing back into his chair, the Drathian ran a hand over the top of his bald head.
He thanked whatever god out in the cosmos had smiled on him that he lived through that. And pitied anyone who would try to harm that girl.
Outside, Rose was blissfully unaware of the scuffle behind her in the mechanic's shop. The glitter of exotic jewelry caught her eye, bringing her from the shop next door to the downed ship to the stall across the way. She was still well within sight of the Doctor, she thought. He wouldn't be too angry with her for just moving over one place.
Shifting in place, Rose looked over the different pieces offer for sell. A necklace the color of the Doctor's eyes winked at her in the sunlight and snagged her attention. Chewing on her lower lip, she took her time to admire the stone. The woman manning the stall just watched her from under the cover of her umbrella, a fold fan in her light green skin hand as she fanned herself.
The woman studied the pink skinned girl with interest. She hadn't seen too many people, regardless of race with that same coloration as this young one. Leaning back in her wooden chair, she narrowed her eyes on her potential customer. One could almost mistake the child, she thought, for a human with those small rounded ears, and cute little nose. But it was the eyes that told a different story, the woman thought. Eyes like the depth of the vortex that sunk into the core of this planet, but they were anything but empty. No, those eyes were of someone who had danced with Death willingly and left him wanting more. Those were the eyes of something beyond legend. And dangerous. Even as she sat there, they seller noted the little flashes of gold that danced in those soft brown eyes.
A sound behind the girl over in that foul dragon man's shop drew the woman's gaze. Her eyes widen a bit to see the dark man who had entered holding the exiled murdered as easily as a child would a doll. Curious indeed, she thought. Standing now, she came forward.
"See anything you like, my dear?" the merchant asked of Rose.
Rose looked up and smiled, so open and friendly that the merchant smiled back immediately.
"Not really," Rose giggled. "I just saw your pretty jewelry and wandered over here. Is that okay? I'm not bothering you am I?"
"Not at all, child," the green skinned alien woman assured Rose. Her sea blue eyes flicked from Rose to the shop behind her. She was determined to not let the child see what was happening behind her. Somehow she had a feeling that tall dark man was with her. "How about I show you some things you might like?"
Rose beamed. She had always loved to talk to the different merchants she had met before, and she was always up to trying to talk the Doctor out of some money for something she found.
"Do you have anything for a matron? Strong willed, and hard headed but supportive and loving?" Rose asked.
The green skinned woman thought about for a moment, eyeing Rose up and down. "You're matron?"
At Rose's nod, the woman relaxed and smiled. She had something that might work. Turning away from her customer, she opened a chest next to her chair and pulled out two things. One was a small wooden box that Rose immediately dismissed. The other was a necklace. A locket to be exact. It looked like antique filament scrolling over the front with a stone in the center. It looked a lot like tiger eye, but it was clear like a colored gemstone. It was the color of Rose's eyes.
"That is beautiful," Rose breathed out, accepting the offer to hold it. It had a good weight to it but was small enough and tasteful enough she was sure her mother would adore it. Rose wanted it.
The owner of the stall nodded, she was always proud of her ability to get people exactly what they were looking for. One could say it was a talent, she would say it was the low level telepathy her people were born with. Like she could tell you this woman's mind was bound to another, and unless she missed her guess, that was the very dangerous looking man in the leather jacket striding towards her with intent.
"Find something?" the Northern accent startled Rose. Spinning around, she beamed up at him. The owner watched as the stern man's face softened and he smiled down at the pink girl.
"Look," Rose was showing off the locket. "It's wonderful!"
The Doctor nodded and looked over the table as well now. His eyes landed on the wooden box the woman had pulled out for a moment before moving across the table.
"I want the necklace," he told her. Long fingers moved over the table and display. "And this." He picked up a hair pin. The metal of the pin was dark grey, almost black. The design was one of her own, one that many people did not understand. It was a symbol from her home world. The stones that glittered over the image shifted from purples to blues. Except the center, it was like an eye, winking up at the holder like a pair of golden eyes.
Rose threw her arms around the Doctor and whispered her thanks in his ear. His free hand came around her to hold her close for a moment then stepped back. Pleasure hummed through him, beating back the darkness that had nearly taken hold of his mind a few moments earlier. With a smile, he nodded when Rose said she was going to look at another table two down from where he was. As she fairly bounced off, he shook his head and looked to the woman.
"How much?"
She named a price as a trade and a credit amount. She was smarter than the Drathian. He agreed easily to the credit amount. As she turned to complete his transaction, the Doctor found himself investigating closer the wooden box that sat innocently on the table. The merchant watched him out of the corner of her eye as he picked it up.
The box opened easily for him. Inside was a beautiful blue cloth cradling three rings. One was obviously for a man, the other two were a set meant for a woman. With the utmost care, he withdrew one of the two rings for a woman. It was delicate but strong. The golden stone in the center shocked him. It looked like it was set in the petals of a flower and was the color he had seen Rose's eyes be in the sunlight. The band that accompanied the ring was solid if you did not count the delicate engravings. They swept over the surface in graceful arches and lines. The man's ring had nearly the same markings etched into the surface of the ring.
Swallowing hard, the Doctor stared at the rings. It wasn't possible. He knew these rings. He knew what the arched and circles were.
It was Gallifreyian writing.
These were rings for a fully mated and bonded pair.
His hearts ached as he looked at a forgotten piece of his world, long gone from the universe. Somehow that box that so innocently sat in had fallen through the Time Lock and found its way here.
"Where," the Doctor tried to get out past suddenly dry lips. "Where did you get this?"
The woman turned to him and offered a smile. "They belonged to my great grandmother. She was given them by a woman with eyes like the sun, she said. Said the woman told her to hold on to them. "
The Doctor listened as the woman spoke so casually about something she really should know nothing about. "It was believed the rings were from the Old Ones. Many times I put that box on the table and many times, people never saw it. You are the first to notice it."
She gently took the box and offered it to him.
"My great grandmother said that when the one who knew them came, it was theirs," the woman smiled at the Doctor. "We were just to hold onto it."
Taking the box, the Doctor nodded numbly. With almost reverent care, he replaced the rings in the box. With a nod of thanks to the woman, he took the back with the necklace and pin from her and headed off to find Rose. He caught up to her at a food stall as she was studying the offered food. His pain was forgotten again for the time when she innocently asked him if one of the offered nibbles was effectively a corndog because that was what it looked like. Grinning, he ordered two for them and a basket of chips. Rose lit up like the sun the morning after dark storms raged. It made him laugh as she bounced alongside him. She ate her food and nibbled on the chips as he told her facts and little things about the races around them or objects she saw.
By the time they returned to the TARDIS, Rose was drained but still so active with her joy of the day. She started rambling about some of the things she saw, asking for clarification on things she heard. He didn't notice until she went off to hunt up a bed for the time being for a proper sleep that she had not asked him once why she could understand what everyone was saying. He mentally added that to the growing list of Rose Tyler mysteries.
Slumping onto the jump seat, letting himself close his eyes and rest a moment, the Doctor reflected on the day. When was the last time he did that? Took his time to just enjoy a day for what it was? When he didn't go looking for trouble or something that could potentially kill him to end his torment and guilt? Shaking that off, he went to put away the things he had gotten.
Pushing open the door to his rarely used bedroom, the Doctor set the bag of parts on a chair near the door. Sitting on his bed, he took out the wooden box again. Running his fingers over the cravings over the lid, he smiled sadly. The wording there just said one thing. One word: Forever.
Opening the lid again, he took out the woman's band and looked at it closer. It was a word, a name. Turning the ring this way and that way, he was able to make it out: Arkyitor. Blinking a few times, then frowning, he put that one back. Pulling out the male ring, he did the same. Shifting it he was able to get the name much easier. That might have been due to the broader surface. As he read the name, his hearts stopped. As if burned, he put the rings back into the box and put it in the top drawer of his nightstand.
With a loud anguished groan, he covered his face as his shoulder shook with suppressed sobs. He refused to believe what he saw. It could not be true.
The name of the man's ring was been his.