SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Chapter Twenty Three After several more days, they finally made it back to London. Alan sat in between Rose and Tony and watched the scenery pass by while they drove back to the mansion. While Jackie drove, Pete turned around and looked at them. “Before you guys take off somewhere, I want you both to come with me to Torchwood. I made a couple of calls to Jake and not only has he convinced the higher-ups to give you the time off for this journey, he’s also going to forge all the necessary documents for Alan as well, including the passport. And Torchwood will enter everything into the government database, so Alan actually exists. But you need to go in so Jake can take a photo and finish up the passport and also you need to pick out a birthday and give him your full name if you have one.” “I have one. It’s Alonzo Arthur Timelord,” he said, proudly. Pete raised his eyebrow. “Alonzo? You picked Alonzo?” “That’s what I said,” Jackie said, glancing at him. “It’s…a long story, but most of the time I go by Alan,” he replied. “Well, I might also slip up and call you Doctor for awhile, so don’t take offense, alright?” Alan nodded. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get you out of here in a day or two. Torchwood can forge the papers on the spot, so there’s no wait. In the meantime, go to any shop you want and get whatever you’re lacking and put it all on my credit card. I don’t want Rose spending her money until you’re out on your own.” “Are you sure, dad? I have tons of money saved up since I never really went out anywhere and I have credit cards.” “And you’ll need them. Don’t worry about using my card. Jacks bleeds me dry, so you might as well too.” “Oi!” Jackie said as he winked at them. “Just go and get the things you’ll need to get along out there,” he said, handing her his card. “Thanks dad,” Rose said, putting it in her purse. “Thank you for being sensible enough to come back here and get what you need, both of you. Now…may I ask where you were planning to go if you didn’t come with us?” Alan and Rose glanced at each other. “Well, we were going to go through Russia towards Japan,” Rose said. “And that’s where you wanna start? Because I will get you plane tickets to Moscow or Kiev,” Pete replied. Rose opened her mouth. “Weeeeeeell…” Alan said. Rose looked at him. “You don’t wanna do that?” she asked. “Weeeell, I mean, Russia is a big country and it’ll take awhile to get through it. I’d rather save something like that for more towards the end, wouldn’t you?” “It’s up to you, Alan. I can go wherever you wanna go,” she replied. “Well, see, I’ve been thinking. If Pete is offering to pay, why not start over in America? Fly to New York, roam the country and then…” His eyes lit up. “We can end up going to D-I-S-N-E-Y-W-O-R-L-D,” he spelled out since Tony was listening in. “And then, S-E-A-W-O-R-L-D and U-N-I-V…” “I get it, I get it, you wanna go to Florida and go to all the theme parks,” Rose said as he laughed. “Well, how ‘bout it? America is a big ol’ country and I’m sure we’re gonna need a few days rest after getting through it and I’ve always wanted to meet M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E.” Pete stared at him and looked at Rose. “Is this how the other Doctor acted?” “Sadly, yes.” She laughed when Alan swatted her arm. “Okay, fine, America’s okay by me. I’ve never been there either.” “Yippee!” Pete stared at him as he suddenly burst into song, much to the delight of Tony and the embarrassment of Rose. “WE’RE COMIN’ TO AMERICAAAAAAA. WE’RE COMIN’ TO AMERICAAAAAAAA. WE’RE COMIN’ TO AMERICA, TODAY!” He paused and sang… “WELL, MAYBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WE’RE NOT COMIN’ TODAY AT THIS VERY MOMEEEEEENT, BUT VERY, VERY SOON, YES INDEEEEEEEEDY!” “Oh, Lord, will you please shut him up, Rose?” Jackie said, glancing back in the rearview mirror at the snickering couple. “What? Tony likes my singing, don’t you?” he said, smiling at the giggling tyke beside him. “You funny!” he squealed. Rose’s heart leaped when Tony reached out for him from the confines of his car seat and Alan lowered his head, so he could give him a hug. After a half hour, they reached the mansion and after taking a quick bathroom break, Pete, Rose and Alan piled into the car while Jackie got herself situated and fixed Tony some dinner. They drove to Torchwood and after meeting Jake, Alan gave him his name and his actual date of birth. “I was born that day, so I might as well use it,” he said to Rose. Then after getting his photo taken, Jake went off to finish making the documents while Rose showed him her office. “Posh,” he said, looking around the spacious room. He wandered over and stared out the plate glass window at the London Eye a couple of miles away. “Not bad, Tyler, you’ve done really well for yourself. Although, I never imagined you as the sit all day in the corner office doing office things type.” “Yeah, well, that’s why I don’t fancy working here,” she replied, sitting down in the leather chair behind her wooden desk. “You must have had some excitement though,” Alan replied, turning to her. “I mean, it just occurred to me that I’ve been talking about the Doctor’s adventures and you’ve never really said anything about working here.” She swiveled around and faced him. “Because there’s not much to tell. Up until a few months ago when the darkness started to threaten us, I basically did paperwork and gave advice on alien cultures and technology. I didn’t even really travel anywhere until they built the dimension cannon and then that was just to find the Doctor and get in contact with him. I mean, it really isn’t like traveling in the TARDIS. It’s pretty boring here, which is why I’m so glad you decided to come up with this trip of ours. I’ve hated working here for two years and I’m not looking forward to another eight and a half or nine years after we get back. And, I would hate for you to work here with me. Seriously, you would find more fulfillment flipping burgers at McDonalds than you would being an advisor here, which I’m sure is what they would want you to do. I mean, Torchwood is great for times like this when you do need documents forged that would be almost impossible to get legally, but other than that, I can do without it. They’re not as bad as the other Torchwood, but there are some practices and technology I find questionable and I’m sure you will too. I just wish there was some way we could speed up the growth of that lump in your pocket.” “Sorry, Amo’tiri…” He paused. “Unless…Torchwood…” “No!” Rose said, holding up her hand. “Don’t even think of it. Their motto here is if it’s alien, it’s ours, same as the other one, and don’t doubt for one second that they will, at the very least, try to get you to use the TARDIS to do things for them if they don’t seize it outright. No, I am not letting Torchwood or UNIT or anyone else get their hands on our coral. No way. I’ll wait the ten years before I let that happen. Don’t breathe a word to anyone that we have it, got that?” “Got it.” They looked over when Pete and Jake entered the room. He handed several items to Rose. “All set, passport, birth certificate, national insurance card, driving license and his medical records as well as your own. He’s officially a British citizen now and you carry those with you at all times on your journey. Your mum has your birth certificate back at home, so make sure to get it from her before you leave.” “Why does she have your birth certificate?” Alan asked. “Did she have it on her the day you were at Canary Wharf?” “No, my stuff is forged too and so were Mickey and mum’s documents. Torchwood entered all of us into the database, so we existed here. Like I said, Torchwood is great for some things, but for others…” Alan nodded. “Now, now, missy, don’t bite the hand that feeds ya,” Jake said. “You shouldn’t talk bad about your lords and masters here.” He chuckled when Rose flipped him off. Alan took the cards, passport and manila folder from Rose. He grimaced when he inspected his passport photo. “Ugh, I gave them a big smile and it looks like I’m completely soused,” he said. Rose giggled. “You oughta see my passport photo. I look stoned.” She held up her hand when she saw the eager look on his face. “You can see it later, for now; I wanna get outta here and go shopping or something.” She got up from her chair, took Alan’s hand and all of them walked out of her office. After spending the day shopping, Alan and Rose phoned for Pete to pick them up and after a hearty supper, they went upstairs to Rose’s room to add their latest acquisitions to the rucksacks. “So, now we have a couple of bed rolls for those nights we don’t wanna be cooped up in a building and a hunting knife and Swiss army knife and some more snacks and a little radio and that oughta do it for the moment.” “Yup, hopefully the rucksacks won’t be too heavy,” she said, settling down on the edge of the bed. “Nah, build up endurance. Besides, we can handle it. We’re both tough fighters who took on the Daleks, we can handle anything.” “Too right!” she said, giving him a high five. They looked over when the door creaked open and Tony wandered into the room. “Hey, there’s your buddy,” Rose said, pointing. “What are you doing in here?” he said, waggling his fingers at the giggling toddler. “You can’t come in here unannounced. I need to give you a ticklin’ for that.” Tony squealed and ran towards Rose as Alan got off the floor and went to him with fingers wagging. “Sissy, help!” he yelled as he scrambled onto the bed. “Run, Tony, run! He’s coming after you!” Rose said as Alan spun around and followed him. “Oooo, come here, ya little pollywog and get what’s comin’ to ya!” Alan said, putting his knee on the bed and grabbing for him. Rose smiled as she watched Alan tickling Tony mercilessly. “Disturb us, will ye?” he said in a pirate voice. “Aarrrr, I’ll tickle ye to within’ an inch of ya life, ya landlubber!” “Nooooooo!” Tony shrieked as he tried to get away. Finally, Alan let up and Tony ran squealing out the door. With a sigh, he sat down beside Rose. “You know, I really will miss that little guy once we’re gone,” he said. “Now see, I told you, if you will just be friendly and get along with my family, they’ll be a family to you in return. You were so frightened about coming back here and dealing with them and now you’re gonna miss my brother when we’re gone.” “Yeah, I know. Well, I have the Doctor’s genes running through me and all I can say is, old habits die hard.” “Well, now this is one more way you can set yourself apart from him,” Rose said. “Yup, I most certainly can.” He gave Tony a stern look when he saw his little head peeking around the door again. “Are you back again, you little pest?” he said as Rose giggled. “Geez, I thought I just taught you to respect our privacy, but apparently you have as hard a head as your sister.” “Oi!” Rose said, slapping his back. With a sly grin, Tony snuck around the door and inched into the room. “Hey, you get outta here this instant,” he said, wagging his finger with mock sternness. “I mean it. Get your little bum outta this room before I’m forced to tickle you again. Don’t you come close to me, you’re gonna get it! I swear. I swear you’re gonna get it if you take one more step….alright….your funeral!” Rose laughed as he leapt off the bed and Tony sped back out the door. He sat back down and his eyes bulged from his head when Tony peeked around the door again. “You just don’t learn, do ya?” he said, as Rose snorted out laughter. “I think I’m speaking English, in fact I’m sure of it. I…don’ t you come over here…I’m warning you, I will tickle you, I swear…Tony…quit walking over here, I mean it. You are a glutton for punishment, aren’t you? I mean, you must have some death wish since you just keep coming into the room. I…” Suddenly, his eyes bulged from his head and he slammed his hands over his heart. “Gah, I’m having a heart attack! I’m dying! Goodbye, Rose!” He flopped back on the bed and laid there with arms sprawled out. Rose giggled when Tony paused at the foot of the bed and stared at him quietly. “What happened, sweetie, your best mate keel over?” she asked him. Rose watched as Tony crawled up onto the bed, crawled over to Alan’s head and laid down near it. Alan bit his lip while Tony examined his face and squeezed his nose. “Awan?” he said. “Awan, you sweepin’?” “No,” Alan said in a deep voice as he kept his eyes shut. “I’m dead.” Tony slapped him a couple of times on the chest. “You wake up, Awan!” he yelled. Alan kept still as Rose giggled and watched them play. Alan made loud snoring sounds while Tony giggled and squeezed his nose shut. “Get your grubby peanut butter and jelly stained hands off my honker!” Alan said in a nasally voice. “Why you no wake up, Awan?” Tony said in his ear. “I don’t wanna wake up because I’m slowly luring you into my tickle trap.” His eyes snapped open. “Like this!” he said, grabbing him. Tony howled with laughter when Alan jerked him onto his chest and tickled him furiously. He let go after a couple of minutes and sighed contentedly when Tony scrambled off him and ran out the door giggling. “Yup, definitely will miss the little pollywog,” he said as Rose lay down next to him. “We’ll have to try to get him cloned, so we can have a Tony of our own on the TARDIS.” Rose’s eyebrow rose. “I thought the TARDIS was going to be for us and us alone,” she said with a grin. “Eh, I can make some…exceptions to that rule.” His eyes flicked over to her and he took in her amused grin. “But, that doesn’t mean your mum and dad can come in there. Just Tony because Tony’s brill…like you are…although…he apparently still has trouble listening because there he is again!” Rose laughed and leaned up on her elbow watching as Alan ran after Tony yelling at the top of his lungs.
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