Chapter Text
Rose Marion Tyler. Nineteen years old. A simple shop girl heading nowhere. That’s what she was. But Rose wanted more. That thought was stuck in her mind as she folded shirts in the men’s section at Henriks.
“Rose? You alright?”
The voice of Ivy, Rose’s colleague and work friend, broke her out of her stupor. She shook her head lightly and put the shirts she was folding back in place.
“Yeah. ‘M alright, Ivy. Just a lot on my mind lately.”
Ivy smiled softly. “I understand. If you need anybody to talk to, you know I’m here. I was coming to get you because the store’s about to close, and I didn’t want you stuck in here.”
“Thanks, Ivy.”
Ivy sheepishly looked away. “That wasn’t just the reason I came over here. I was wondering if you could take on my shift tomorrow? I know it’s your day off, but it’s my little brother’s birthday, and I was planning on taking him somewhere special….”
“Oh, ‘course I don’t mind! I know how much you love your brother, I can take the shift.”
“Thank you so much Rose!” Ivy hugged Rose before running off. “I owe you one!”
Rose waved at Ivy, before sighing and heading to grab her stuff. She really didn’t mind the extra work, it would help pay off the debt she was in anyway.
She nodded to the guard as she headed out. “Bye, Neal. I hope you enjoy you and your boyfriend’s anniversary!”
Neal smiled and waved goodbye at her. “Bye, Rose! Have a nice night!”
Neither of them saw a statue on the other end of the street, before it blinked out of sight.
Rose sighed as she started walking to the bus stop a bit away. It was the same boring life, day after day after day. Maybe, once she had finally paid off her debts, she would be able to take her A-Levels. Then she could actually start being something, and do something with her life. She turned the corner, nearly crashing into a weird statue. An angle with its face covered, making it look like it was weeping. Rose stared at it for a moment, confused as to what is was doing in the middle of the sidewalk. She looked around, thinking that perhaps somebody had put it there as a prank.
"Hello? Whoever's done this, it ain't funny. You can come out now!"
She turned back towards the statue, only to step back in shock. Its face had been covered before, but now its eyes were wide open, gazing at Rose. It was also closer than it had been before. She blinked at it in surprise.
The features around her had changed instantaneously. What was once the pavement of a London street in the evening, was now what looked like to be an old junkyard. It was almost silent, except for the fact that there were voices just around a pile of junk. It sounded like they were arguing. Not knowing what else to do, Rose cautiously stepped towards the voices.
“We can't force him.“ A women, a bit older than Rose said. She could see the people, all three of them. A woman and two men, one closer to the woman’s age and the other already white-haired.
“But we can't leave him here. Doesn't it seem obvious to you he's got her locked up in there? Look at it. There's no door handle. There must be a secret lock somewhere.”
Rose could barely see what was happening, but he gestured towards a blue police box, one that they had around in the sixties.
There seemed to be something weird about it, though. Rose could hear a faint singing, and she could swear that she had seen the box before…
“Grandfather?” The voice of a young girl came from the box, causing the two other people to get agitated.
“That was Susan's voice!” The woman said.
“But of course it was. Susan! Susan! Susan, are you in there? It's Ian and Barbara, Susan!” The man stepped closer to the box, causing the older gentleman to get even more agitated.
Rose stayed in the shadows, out of sight of the three people. She took a deep breath in to calm herself. She may not know where she is, or how she got here, but that is no excuse to panic. Or maybe it was just that she hadn’t fully processed what had happened yet, who knows. Rose continued to watch as the people argued. Susan cried out again, causing the younger man, Ian, to wrestle with the older one while the woman, Barbara, got through the doors, himself following soon after. The old man was alone, and Rose wanted some answers.
As he sighed and slumped a bit, she stepped closer, gaining his attention. “Who else is out there? Show yourself!”
She stepped closer, and finally let him see her. “What was that all about? Did you really kidnap a child? How're all three of them in that box?” She rapidly fired questions at the man, who grabbed at the sides of his coat and stuck his chin out at her.
“None of your business, my dear. Now, go home. You people have already caused enough disruptions!” He started to walk away, muttering to himself. “Perhaps I can fix this problem with as few casualties as possible.”
Rose asked one final question, one that had him stopping and turning towards her."Where am I?"
"My dear, how do you not know where you are? You must've gotten here yourself somehow."
Rose shook her head. "No, I don't. I blinked, and suddenly I was here. The last thing I saw was a weird stone angle..."
The man's eyes widen slightly. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear....you might as well follow me, my dear-" he gestured towards the police box- "I believe I know what caused you to appear here. Now, come along." He bustled inside without waiting for her response.
Rose had no other choice but to sigh and to follow him, knowing that he might be the only person with answers.
She went inside, gasping at the sight that lay before her. It was bigger on the inside, sterile white walls surrounding the group. There was a strange column with blinking buttons surrounding it, and a door way that looked to lead to more hallways. The singing got louder, and Rose closed her eyes to focus on it for a moment. It seemed so strangely familiar, and yet so soothing. It faded into the background, but didn't fully disappear.
“Close the door, Susan.” Rose saw a young girl, Susan, press a button on the column, causing the doors to close silently. “I believe these people are known to you. Or, at least, those two.” The man stood next to Rose, who was clutching the strap of her bag, still looking around in wonder. She looked at the faces of the Ian and Barbara, who looked just as stunned as her.
“They're two of my schoolteachers, but I don’t know the other one. What are you doing here?” She asked the two.
“Where are we?“ Barbara questioned.
The old man ignored her, instead walking towards the center column. Rose followed him, stepping beside the two teachers, who were holding onto each other tightly.
“They must have followed you. That ridiculous school. I knew something like this would happen if we stayed in one place too long. The girl, however, is something else entirely...”
Susan blinked at Rose curiously. “But why should they follow me? And who are you?”
Barbara switched tactics, instead asking Susan questions. “Is this really where you live, Susan?”
Susan nodded while her grandfather snorted indignantly. “Yes.”
“And what’s wrong with it?” He asked, daring the three to say something.
“I think we’re all just confused how it’s bigger on the inside, and why you didn’t just tell them, you know?” Rose spoke up, causing everyone to look at her. “And you’re Susan’s grandfather, right? The one she was calling out to earlier?”
Susan spoke before the man could. “Yes, he is!”
“So, while you three were arguing, why didn’t you just tell them that? It would have save you a lot of trouble.”
"I don't discuss my private life with strangers.”
"Well, maybe if you did, they wouldn't have barged in this place!"
"You don't deserve any explanations. They pushed their way in here uninvited and unwelcome, and you are only here due to a time disturbance, which is now up to me to fix!"
Rose clenched her teeth together, reminding herself that yelling won't get anywhere. "Yeah, which you still haven't explained to me how I got here! Or, even better, where even is here!"
"It's the TARDIS! It's our home, where Grandfather and I live. I made up the name TARDIS from the initials, Time And Relative Dimension In Space. I thought you'd both understand when you saw the different dimensions inside from those outside.”
Rose stared at the girl. "Is it alien?"
Susan startled back at the question, looking her up and down. "....Yes, it is. How did you-"
"Are you alien?" Rose cut Susan off.
Susan looked at her Grandfather, who's face had soured immensely. "Why does it matter, girl? You three are coming with us either way, so there is no need to answer that question. And, as I have already told you, I don't discuss my private life with strangers!"
"Well, I don't care! And I was just asking!" Rose exclaimed, moving closer to the man while glaring at him.
"Wait, wait. Did you just say we're coming with you? Because we are doing nothing of the sort!" Ian loudly said, him and Barbara moving further away from the center of the room.
"Well, don't be impertinent, young man! You two are going to tell everybody about our ship now, and I just cannot let that happen! And you, my girl, must be placed back in your proper time."
"Just let me get this straight. A thing that looks like a police box, standing in a junkyard, it can move anywhere in time and space?"
Rose shook her head. "I guess so, yeah. But, honestly, with the kind of day I'm having, I'm willing to believe it."
"Quite so. At least the child has a grip on it!"
Rose felt her cheeks heat up at the insult. "I am not a child!" She huffed and looked away, trying to calm herself.
"Why won't you believe us?" Susan cried.
"How can we?" Barbara answered, shaking her head gently.
"Now, now, don't get exasperated, Susan. Remember the Red Indian. When he saw the first steam train, his savage mind thought it an illusion, too."
"You’re treating us all like children! Maybe if you actually explained what's happening, then we would believe you!" Rose huffed, tired of the old man insulting their intelligence.
"Am I? The children of my civilization would be insulted."
"Your civilization?" Ian questioned.
"Yes, my civilization. I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it. Have you ever thought what it's like to be wanderers in the fourth dimension? Have you? To be exiles? Susan and I are cut off from our own planet, without friends or protection." He paused, taking in a deep breath. "But one day we shall get back. Yes, one day. One day….” he trailed off, lost in thought.
Rose softened at the sight of him. He was exiled from his home, trying to protect his granddaughter. She understood, but still. "You may be exiled from your own planet, wherever that may be, but that doesn't give you permission to kidnap people! I may have come willingly, but that doesn’t mean they did!”
"Yes, Grandfather, she's right! Let them go now, please! Look, if they don't understand, they can't-they can't hurt us at all. I understand these people better than you. Their minds reject things they don't understand. Let them go!"
"No."
"He can't keep us here." Ian stated to Barbara and Rose.
Barbara ignored him and moved closer to Susan. "Susan, listen to me. Can't you see that all this is an illusion? It's a game that you and your grandfather are playing, if you like, but you can't expect us to believe it."
"It's not an illusion! There's plenty proof, and they’re obviously telling the truth!" Rose declared, stepping in front of Susan.
"How do you know? You don't even know Susan, or us! Where did you come from, anyway?" Barbara interrogated.
"But she's right! It's not a game. Look, I love your school. I loved England in the twentieth century. The last five months have been the happiest of my life." Susan shouted, stepping next to Rose.
"But you are one of us. You look like us, you sound like us."
"Or, we could sound and look like them. We don't know that!" Rose interrupted Barbara, placing a hand on Susan's shoulder. She could sense the tension radiating off of the girl, and tried to calm her down a bit. Susan startled at the feel of Rose’s hand, but she calmed after a moment, her ridged back and her balled fists melting away.
Ian tried to cut into the small group of women. “Now, look here, girls-“
“Shut it. You keep angering Susan’s grandfather, so just shut it! You’re not helping anybody!” Rose whipped around to face him, her hand still on Susan’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Susan whispered to Rose, and softly smiled at her. Rose said nothing, just gave her a smile back. “It's no use, you can't get out. He won't let you go,” Susan uttered to Ian and Barbara with a sigh.
Ian, who had been momentarily stunned from Rose yelling at him, shook himself back into focus. “He closed the doors from over there. I saw him. Now, which is it?” He moved over to the console, and started pressing buttons, causing Susan’s grandfather to turn red in the face. “Which control operates the door?”
He pushed Ian’s hands away. “You still think it's all an illusion?”
Ian chuckled in disbelief. “I know that free movement time and space is a scientific dream I don't expect to find solved in a junkyard.”
“Your arrogance is nearly as great as your ignorance.”
“Will you open the door? Open the door! Susan, will you help us?” Ian shouted, causing Rose to wince slightly. The sound was hurting her ears, too loud. A headache was starting to build.
Susan looked away. “I mustn't.“
“Very well, then. I'll have to risk it myself.” Ian pressed more buttons, while the older gentleman stepped back, rolling his eyes. “I can’t stop you.”
Susan moved away from Rose and towards Ian, leaving her in direct sight of the man, who frowned when he saw her kneeling on the floor.
“My dear girl, are you alright?”
Rose could do nothing more than groan in response. “‘M head….it’s killing me…”
“Hmmm, well, that’s no good. Let me have a look.” He started to bend down to her level, a shake from the TARDIS caused him to whip his head towards the console, where Ian, Susan, and Barbara were yelling. “Hold on, my dear. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Rose didn’t hear him. She didn’t hear any of them. All she knew is that she had a killer headache, and Ian needed to stop touching the console! The pain subside gradually, enough to gain back her hearing.
“Oh, no, Grandfather! No!” She heard Susan yelling before she saw her clinging onto her grandfather. Rose stood up, the pain now gone, and quickly moved over to the other side of Susan. “What’s he doing?” She asked her.
“Oh, he promised he would open the doors, but he isn’t! He’s taking off! He can’t, I won’t let hi-“ her voice cut off as the ship moved from side to side, causing Ian and Barbara to try and keep their balance and for the other three to grab onto the console. The couple lose the battle for balance, however, with Ian knocked out on the floor and Barbara in a chair.
The shaking stopped eventually, letting Rose caught her breath. “Is it always like that?” She gasped, still trying to steady herself.
Susan’s mumbled answer came from beside Rose. “Oh, not usually.” She went quiet for a moment. “You still haven’t told us your name.”
Rose smiled softly at the girl. “It’s Rose. Rose Tyler. And you’re Susan, from what I know. I….don’t really know what’s going on. Last thing I knew, it’s was the year 2005, and I saw this weird stone angle. I told your grandad, and he told me to follow me.”
Susan’s eyes went wide. “You encountered a Weeping Angel!? But…I thought they were just fairy tales. It’s no wonder Grandfather asked you to come with us.”
Rose tilted her head. “What’s a Weeping Angel?”
“Oh, they’re these absolutely horrid monsters that are stone when you’re looking at them, and move faster then a blink when you aren’t! They feed on people’s time streams by sending them back in time.”
“So, what you’re saying is….that…the Angel touched me, sent me back in time, where I met your grandad and your teachers, who had followed you home from school because they were worried about you?”
Susan blinked in surprise. “Well, yes, that’s exactly what happened. You’re really clever Miss Tyler! Did you hear her Grandfather? Don’t you think she’s clever?”
“Wha-what? Hmm, oh, yes, child. Very clever. Very clever,” He voiced, his eyes staying focused on the console. “Now, if I could just fix what that Chesserman has done….”
Rose glanced over, seeing a lever to the right of the Doctor. She reached over and flicked it up, causing said man to look at her in surprise.
“How did you know how to fix that?” He moved closer to her, staring intently. Rose blushed under his gaze, but didn’t look away.
“I’m not sure. I just…knew, I suppose.”
“Hmmmm, very interesting…..very interesting.” He mumbled. “How is your head, my dear?”
“It’s alright now, thanks.”
“Very good, very good.” He went back to the console without giving either of them another glance.
“Your grandad’s an odd one, isn’t he,” she whispered to Susan.
“I suppose I am one as well!” The brunette giggles, causing Rose to smile at her.
“Ughhhhh…”
A groan coming from Barbara startled the two girls, Susan quickly turning back to the console, with Rose moving to help the older woman.
“Are you alright?” She asked, laying a hand on Barbara’s shoulder.
Barbara shook her head gently in slight disbelief. “Yes, yes. I’m alright. But, what about Ian?” She turned her head toward Ian, who was just waking up on the floor. “Ian!”
Ian groaned and slowly sat up with Rose and Barbara’s help.
“I'm all right. I must have hit my head.” He paused and looked around. “The movement's stopped.”
“I believe we’ve landed somewhere. I think, I’m not sure,” Rose answered gently.
“Oh. Well, thank you Miss….”
“Tyler. Rose Tyler. And you two are Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright?”
Barbara nodded her head. “Yes, we are. Do you have any idea where we are?”
“We’re not in London 1963 anymore.” Susan exclaimed from the console, causing the small group to look at her.
“Oh, yes, undoubtedly. I'll be able to tell you where presently.” The Doctor spoke to Susan, before muttering to himself, “Zero? That's not right. I'm afraid this yearometer is not calculating properly. Hm! Well, anyway, the journey's finished.” He finally took notice of the three on the ground. “What are you doing down there? The only one who would need rest is Miss Tyler down there, nasty headache earlier.”
“What have you done?“ Barbara stood slowly, still standing next to Ian and Rose, the former helping the latter stand up.
“Barbara, don’t tell me you believe all this nonse-ouch!” Rose had dropped the side she was holding, causing him to lose balance and drop back down on the floor. “What was that for?”
“All of this and you’re still denying it?”
“Well, you didn’t need to drop me so harshly,” he muttered, standing up and dusting himself off, allowing Barbara to grab his arm.
“If you don’t believe Rose and I, you can just look at the scanner screen.” Susan moved beside Rose, pointing at a screen that showed an almost endless desert of rock and sand, with some mountains in one direction and a jungle in the other.
“Just sand and rock?” Ian furrowed his brow.
“Yes, that's the immediate view outside the ship,” the Doctor replied.
Barbara frowned at the scanner. “But where are we?“
“I don’t believe it,” Ian stated.
The Doctor sighed, moving to stand beside Rose. “You really are a stubborn young man, aren’t you?” He asked, pointedly ignoring Rose’s muttered, “I can think of another stubborn person.”
“All right, show me some proof. Give me some concrete evidence.” He turned towards Susan and Rose. “I'm sorry, Susan, I don't want to hurt you, but it's time you were brought back to reality. You as well, Miss Tyler.”
“You're wrong, Mr. Chesterton,” came Susan’s response.
Rose’s cheeks turned red with irritation. “Stop acting like I’m a child!”
“What concrete evidence would satisfy you? Why not just take on Miss Tyler’s choosing of belief?”
Ian sighed and rolled his eyes. “Just open the doors, Dr. Foreman.”
“Hm? Doctor who? What are you talking about?” The Doctor questioned.
Rose tilted her head. “Your name ain't Dr. Foreman?”
“No, no, my dear! I am-“ he grabbed onto the lapels of his coat- “the Doctor!”
“Just the Doctor?”
“Quite so!”
Rose grinned at him, peaking her tongue out in between her teeth. The Doctor tracked the pink appendage with his eyes, before snapping back up to meet hers. “You think you’re so impressive.”
He haughtily grinned and stuck his chin out. “My dear, I am extremely impressive!”
“Grandfather!” The exclamation caused the two to snap their heads back towards the other traveling companions. Ian and Barbara had confused looks on their faces, and were glancing back and forth at each other, the Doctor, and Rose, while Susan had a small grin along with a raised eyebrow. The two blushed lightly.
“The door?” Susan reminded him.
“Yes, yes, of course. I must first check to make sure it’s safe.” He bustled over to the console, checking a couple of counters.
“Yes, it seems quite safe! Splendid, splendid. I think I’ll take my Geiger counter out, just in case. Do you still want to challenge me, young man?”
Ian rolled his eyes for what he felt wouldn’t be the last time today. “Well, just open the doors and prove your point.”
“Grandfather, do you know where we are?”
“Yes, we've gone back in time, all right. One or two samples and I shall be able to make an estimate. With rock pieces and a few plants. But I do wish this wouldn't keep letting me down. However, we can go out now.” He patted a satchel he grabbed, moving to press a button the console.
“So, when we go out of that door, we won't be in a junkyard in London in England in the year 1963.” Ian raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, so that’s where we were. That makes sense.” Rose exclaims, gaining weird looks from the teachers.
“You are both quite correct!” The Doctor answers.
Ian sighs and rubs his hands across his face. “But it is ridiculous. Time doesn't go round and round in circles. You can't get on and off whenever you like in the past or the future.”
“Really? Where does time go, then?“
“It doesn't go anywhere. It just happens and then it's finished.“
The Doctor ignored Ian, instead turning towards Barbara. “You aren’t as doubtful as your friend, I hope?”
“No.”
Ian sputters for a second, a tad stunned. “Barbara, you can’t possibly believe this!”
“Maybe it’s because she has more sense than you,” Rose teasingly mutters, standing next to the Doctor with her own satchel.
“What-that’s not-who’s side are you on anyway!” Ian stammers, causing Barbara to turn her head away to try and hide her smile.
“If you could touch the alien sand and hear the cries of strange birds and watch them fly about in another sky, would that satisfy you?” The Doctor asks the man.
“Yes.” His answer is short and precise.
“Then see for yourself.” The Doctor opens the doors and steps out, Rose following him.
“It's not true. It can't be.”
Susan steps beside him. “That’s not on a screen!”
“Hmm. Well, my boy, I have no time to argue! I must collect those samples. Miss Tyler, you’ll help me.”
“I am not your assistant Doctor. Ask nicely, and I’ll help you.” She crosses her arms over her chest, raising an eyebrow.
The Doctor huffs. “Fine. Miss Tyler, will you please help me?”
Rose brightens almost immediately and steps out before the Doctor. “Why, all you had to do was ask!” The Doctor mutters incoherently before following her.
Barbara leaves the TARDIS, calling back in, “Ian, come and look!” He moves to follow her, but stumbles and grabs his head.
“Oh, here, lean on me!” Susan moves to Ian’s side, ready to grab him, but is stopped by his hand.
“No, don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Susan shrugs and steps out, Ian following right after.
The doors close on their own, a slight tinkling sound of laughter heard on the ship. Her Wolf and Her Thief were finally together!