A GOOD MAN GOES TO WAR
Chapter Four The Alternate Doctor let out a sigh of relief when he finally got into his hotel room, it had been a long walk and he was exhausted but he had work to do so he headed over to the bed nearest the window and sank down onto it. He pulled the holophone to him and dialed a number of an old friend. Someone, unlike Bazz, who he trusted and knew wouldn't betray him. It rang four times before someone answered. "Yeah," said a man with a gruff voice. "Syril, remember me?" There was silence on the other end for several seconds. "No, who is this?" Syril finally said. "This is the Doctor." "Really, doesn't sound like you, mate." "That's because I regenerated and gained a new body and with it, a new voice." "Then how do I know you're the Doctor," Syril said warily. "We looted the Pinecord Frigate near Totolus Eleven two years ago." "Okay, it is you, what do you want?" "I want your help and the help of anyone you can find. I need to take down an old adversary and this time I need an army. I need all the help you can muster up." "Well, I have my friends and I'm sure their friends will join in but I'm not sure about others," he said. "Then find some people who know the other Doctor and hate him. I want as many enemies of his as I can find." "Oh, you mean that double of yours?" "Yes, him, I want him dead, driven to madness, my slave, any of that, just find people who hate him and are willing to form an alliance with me to take him out once and for all! I don't care if you have to recruit the fucking Daleks, just get me an army!" "Okay, where are you now?" "I'm on Garabaldi, don't know how I ended up here but something must have happened to the Doctor's TARDIS to make it eject the room I was being held in." "Huh?" "It's a long story and I'm being charged for this holophone call so I'll explain in person, alright? Just find me some people who hate the Doctor enough that they'll band together with me to take him out." "You got it, mate. How can I reach you if I need you?" The Alternate Doctor gave him the number of the holophone and ended the call. "I don't know what your TARDIS did, Doctor," he mumbled, lying back on the bed, "but pretty soon, you're gonna regret that she did it." "Wow, they love their lavender here," Rose said when they opened the door to their hotel room and she still smelled the scent in the air. "I think it's scent-sational, myself," the Doctor said, coming in behind her. "If you want my two scents, that is." "Hardy har har," Rose said, closing the door. The hotel room was spacious with a double bed and a nightstand near the door and a table and four chairs by the window. Across from the bed they had a holotelevision, stereo system and minifridge. There was a doorway by the minifridge and Rose walked through it. "Found the nursery," Rose said, walking back out. "It's beautiful." The Doctor walked into the nursery. The walls were painted a pale purple color with butterflies and birds all over them. There was a cedar crib in the corner with a changing table beside it and on the other side of the room was a rocking chair and table with children's books. Beside the rocking chair was a huge pile of plushie animals and dolls. The Doctor looked through the plushie animals while Rose walked over to the changing table and put the papoose down on it. She was undoing the straps to let her out when the Doctor laid a plushie purple octopus with a huge smiling face down on the table. "I will nick this one, I like it," he said to her. "How many times have those toys been used, are they all manky?" Rose said, opening the first flap. "No, they're in good condition which is why this octopus will go to me," the Doctor said. "Yeah, I'm sure they'll let you swan out of here with their toys," Rose said, undoing the straps for the second flap. The Doctor watched while she laid back the second flap and Melody moved her arms and legs. The Doctor held the octopus up and Melody stilled while she stared at it with interest. The Doctor brought it closer to her when she reached a hand out for it and she grasped one of the tentacles. "See, Melody likes it, all the more reason to steal it," the Doctor said. "I don't think they'll let you, I think they'll search you before you leave just in case you decide to take it." "Me? Why would they search me?" "Sorry, I meant to say they probably search everyone just in case they take things from here," Rose said while she checked Melody's diaper. The Doctor watched while she finished checking and finding a clean diaper, snapped the pink sleeper up. "Who would have thought that the chav from the council flats would turn out to be a terrific mum," he murmured. "Gee, thanks," Rose said. "I'm serious," the Doctor said. "Did you ever think you'd become a mum someday?" "Sorta," Rose said, picking Melody up and holding her against her body, "always wanted children, never planned on having a blue shapeshifting child though." "Yeah, but Mara's a peach, she's a good girl." "Yes, she is…actually, I should rephrase that, I have three kids to look after, Mister Pinch the Plushie Pus!" "I like it," the Doctor said, picking up the octopus and holding it to him. "Besides, as my forth self said, what the point of being an adult if you can't act childish sometimes?" "Very wise thought," Rose said. "Yes, I had my moments back then. Scarf was a bit long; surprised I didn't trip and break my neck." Rose listened to the Doctor muttering to himself and smiled. She loved when her husband went off on strange tangents like that, especially about himself since he still hadn't told her much about his past lives. She started to go out of the room when she felt the Doctor's hand on her arm. He turned her and guided her into an embrace. Rose laid her head against his shoulder while he rubbed her arm and laid his hand against Melody's head. Then Rose heard him speaking softly in Gallifreyan while he held her. Sometimes he translated what he was saying but Rose liked it more when he didn't. Gallifreyan was a beautiful language and she felt it lost its beauty in the translation. She could tell from the way he was speaking that it was something loving to her or Melody or both. That suspicion was confirmed when the Doctor interrupted what he was saying with a loving kiss to her forehead. He didn't tell her what he said and she figured it was something deeply personal and private that he was afraid to say to her openly. She knew he used Gallifreyan in those sorts of situations and she just accepted it as another one of his personality quirks. She knew that whatever he said had quieted Melody and she glanced at her and saw that she was fast asleep. The Doctor gently took her and spoke more hushed Galilfreyan to her while he walked over to the crib. Rose walked to him and watched while he laid her down gently in the baby bed and covered her with a light cloth blanket. He then walked over, got the octopus and placed it in the crib beside her body. Then he folded his arms on the crib's railings and gazed down at her while she slept. Rose came up to him and he glanced at her before looking back at Melody. "Who would have thought that something so beautiful could have come from that twisted, evil git," the Doctor said as he gazed at his daughter. "The only good thing that bastard's ever done." "I'm just worried about the Bad Wolf being in her," Rose said. "I don't think it'll do her any harm, it didn't faze her when she was glowing." "Yeah, but…" Rose trailed off and the Doctor glanced at her. "You're scared he'll come for her once he finds out? I told you, if he so much as breathes on her, he's dead. He wants to steal the cub, he'll have to fight off mama and papa bear…and Donna…definitely Donna and I'd be afraid to fight her when she's pissed off. Don't worry, my hearts, she's protected, I swear by my lives she is." Rose smiled when he kissed her temple. She continued to watch her sleeping daughter. "Ooooo!" Rose turned when she heard the Doctor let out a squeal. "An etch-a-sketch!" he said, holding it out to her. "I found it in the plushies. I love them. Wonder if I can draw my TARDIS with it?" Rose laughed when he went to the rocking chair, plopped down in it and began to fiddle with the knobs. Rose kissed her fingers, put them against Melody's nose and left the room to check on Donna and Mara.
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