HOWLING HALLOW
Chapter Four They walked back through the woods to the TARDIS. On the way, Rose had a sudden thought and tugged on his jacket sleeve. "The pelt, you didn't ask her about it," she said. "Because I suspect that it is lycan," the Doctor said. "It's a darker color than most wolves have and the hair follicles are also larger than a normal wolf. I have a feeling it's authentic. Now whether or not it'll change me into a wolf, that's debatable. Same for the medallions. I s'pose we'll have to wait and see." "Well, you better change," Rose said. "Your wife and you need to have a moonlight run together." They giggled when the Doctor tickled Rachel under her chin while she walked beside him. "Yes, my misses and I need to have a little moonlight howl and growl," he said before he tried to howl. The women giggled while Max, John and Ian looked at each other and shook their heads. "So, this will become a running joke, I take it?" John said. "What joke, we got married, didn't we?" the Doctor said while Rachel giggled. "I mean, that's how you lot do things right?" He tickled Rachel under the chin again and Rose patted her on the back when she laughed at that. "How old are you, by the way?" the Doctor asked Rachel. "I'm 21," Rachel said. "You?" "Oh, I'm 902." Rose laughed when Rachel's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. She looked him up and down while Rose laughed harder. "You have really good face lifts on your planet," she said while everyone laughed. "Does that turn you off, my being that old?" the Doctor asked her. "The way you look, no, I'm cool with it," she said. The Doctor patted her shoulder and put his arm around her while they walked. When they entered the TARDIS, the Doctor stopped and let everyone enter. "I'm going to analyze this pelt in my lab. I think I could get more conclusive results there than Alphaga could ever give me. If you need me, ask the TARDIS to direct you there. We'll go to the fair tonight but first we should rest up. In the meantime, Rose, show them around and make yourselves at home. There's a multitude of things you can do in here. Rose will show you." He ran through the back door and Rose beckoned to the others to follow her. "So, we have the living room with the TV that gets a zillion channels, the library, swimming pool, park area, rec room, kitchen, bedrooms. Like he said, a million things you can do in here," she said as they walked. "How big is the TARDIS?" Rachel asked her as they went through the back door. "I don't know, I don't think the Doctor knows. It goes on forever," Rose said. "I've been here two years and I haven't even begun to explore all the rooms. It just has everything." "What about a home for us," Rachel said. "Why can't we live somewhere in here?" "Because I'm sure the Doctor doesn't want us living here," Max said. "He travels around, we'd be in the way." "No, but…maybe he would," Rose said. "The TARDIS is huge and I think it can make rooms. Maybe it would make a place for all of you. I've seen fake moons in some of the rooms like the park room. It could do that for you and make a room where you could run free without any loonies trying to kill ya." "Rachel, you just want to stay because you fancy him," Max said. "The man isn't interested in ya. He has Rose." "I know that, you git," Rachel said, turning and stopping. "That was just a joke. Christ, the Doctor's right, you need to pull that stick out your arse because you have no sense of humor. I'm sure you resent us making him an honorary member of the pack as well since that would threaten your alpha male status, wouldn't it?" Max glared at her and looked around at his pack. "Look, I realize I've been a bit uptight but I'm sorry, I don't trust very many non-lycans." "But the Doctor's different," Rose said. "He doesn't mean any disrespect to ya when he makes a joke. He's trying to fit in. He's trying to be our friend but Rachel's right, you're uptight and I think you're a bit jealous because he's competition and because he likes me. Rachel might fancy the Doctor but you fancy me and you don't like that I want to be with him, especially since I was supposed to be the alpha female, yeah? So, we made him an honorary member of the pack without your permission. It's a joke. Get over it!" Max turned and stomped back towards the console room while Rose threw up her hands in exasperation. "He wasn't like this before the Doctor found me," she said. "When he thought he had me all to himself." "He's like this, Rose, he doesn't like competition," John said. "Trust me; he did the same thing for awhile to Ian and me when we first joined. He suspicious of any newcomers." "Really? He wasn't suspicious of me," Rose said. "Okay, let's rephrase that, he's suspicious of any MALE newcomers," Ian said. "Believe me, if there was anyone who ever fit the phrase "Lone Wolf" it's him." "But the Doctor's not trying to take over the pack, he's trying to help you lot find a place to live. And considering the fact that he usually just leaves right after taking people to a new home, I'd say he's being pretty generous." "But old habits die hard, Rose," John said. "He has that alpha wolf mentality. The Doctor's got a powerful aura and he feels threatened by it. That's why he isn't as welcoming of him as we are. I couldn't give a fig myself, he's a pretty decent bloke but Max needs time to adjust to him. So don't take anything he says personally, neither should the Doctor. That's just his way." "He's not the only one, to be truthful," Victoria said. "We all have our trust issues. Comes with being a werewolf. It's not often you find someone as accepting of us as he is and it's a bit of a shock. You tend to be a bit wary and I admit I was at first but I know he's not like other people. Max still has to find that out. Just don't worry about him, Rose, he'll come 'round eventually. So how 'bout the swimming pool? Does he have swimming costumes?" "Um…yeah, I'll show you were the wardrobe room is," Rose said. "Follow me."
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