SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

Chapter Fifty Five

After taking a break, they got back on the road with Alan in the driver’s seat. Rose sat behind him with Awinita chatting quietly. Occasionally, Alan gave a surreptitious glance in the rearview mirror checking to see if she was okay. He relaxed when he noticed that she didn’t seem to be upset anymore. He was so glad that Awinita was with them so that Rose could have someone else besides him to talk to, not to mention she was fun to have around. Alan sincerely hoped that she would stay on with them past North Carolina. He was even entertaining the thought of having her be a companion once they got the TARDIS up and running.

Although that will be in ten years and by then she’ll probably have moved on with her life, he thought.

As he passed by a field, he suddenly saw something out of the corner of his eye and slowed down. Both women gave him a confused look when he stopped.

“Alan, what’s wrong?” Rose asked.

“Look to your right. Over there in the field,” he said, pointing out the passenger side window.

Both of them looked where he was pointing and saw a family of deer grazing in the field about twenty five feet away from them.

“Oh, wow,” Rose whispered.

She reached over the seat for her rucksack, found her camera and took a quick picture.

“They still haven’t seen us,” Awinita said. “That’s rare, usually one of them is on the lookout for predators.”

“Maybe no one comes this way much,” Alan said. “This is a little scenic road.”

He smiled at them.

“Apparently, we’re out of Jersey Devil territory since they don’t seem too concerned about him,” he said.

“Ugh, don’t even mention that thing,” Rose replied. “The more distance we put between us and him, the better.”

“How’s your arm, by the way?” Awinita said.

Rose glanced down at the bandage.

“Still stings a bit and it’s kinda itchy. Kinda like when I got my tattoo, I guess.”

“You have a tattoo? I didn’t know that. Where?”

Rose pulled up her sleeve.

“Wow, that’s beautiful. What is it, just a design you thought up?”

“No, actually, it’s the Doctor’s language. It says Amo’tiri. That’s Alan’s pet name for me.”

“What does that mean?”

“Kindred soul.”

“I love that. It’s a beautiful word. I have one too on my back.”

She turned around in the seat and raised her shirt up. Both of them stared at the monarch butterfly near the bottom of her spine.

“I love it,” Rose said.

She gave Alan an evil grin.

“Now, it’s your turn, sweetie,” she cooed. “Show us your tattoo.”

Awinita’s eyes widened while Alan gave Rose a look of death.

“You…have a tattoo?” Awinita said in amusement.

“She made me do it!” Alan said, pointing at Rose.

“I talked him into it,” Rose clarified. “So, come on, Alan. Show us your tattoo.”

Alan looked at Awinita.

“Promise you won’t laugh?”

“Why? Is it something goofy?”

“Yes!”

“No, it’s not. It’s not goofy. Just show her.”

Alan sighed. He shifted slightly in his seat and hitched up his sleeve. Awinita stared at it.

“Isn’t that the Disney alien?” she said.

“Yes, that’s Stitch,” Rose said.

“Yeah, that’s right. Why…um…did you choose Stitch besides the fact that he’s an alien?”

He sighed.

“Have you seen the movie?” he asked her.

“Um, yeah, once a long time ago.”

“You know how Stitch is this evil little alien that Lilo adopts and turns into a good little alien? Well, that’s Rose’s take on me. I’m Stitch and she’s Lilo.”

Awinita giggled.

“Cute, but wait, you’re not evil.”

Rose glanced at Awinita.

“You didn’t tell her what you did?” Rose said to Alan. “You didn’t tell her why the Doctor dropped you off here?”

“Well, I may have danced around that a bit,” he said. “I just didn’t want to freak her out because it was a lot to take in hearing I was an alien without that on top of it.”

“What do you mean? I mean, why were you dropped off here? You told me you were left here with Rose, but I assumed it was because you were supposed to take care of her.”

“No, it’s the other way around,” Alan said. “Rose is supposed to take care of me.”

He turned the ignition off when he saw the confused look and he and Rose explained everything that happened on the Crucible. When they were done, Awinita was silent for a moment.

“You basically saved all of creation and the Doctor punished you for that?” Awinita finally said.

“Well, he was upset because I committed genocide.”

“Yeah, but Davros was gonna destroy everything and I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe in killing but isn’t what you did the lesser of two evils?”

“That’s what I thought as well but the Doctor doesn’t see it that way. He told Rose that I needed to be reformed when he dropped us off here.”

“Reformed from what? You’re a sweet guy. You’re not evil, not by a long shot. I mean, answer me this, Alan. If you hadn’t have done what you did and you guys let the Daleks go, would they have just stopped with the killing and everything?”

“No,” both of them said in unison.

Awinita looked at Rose.

“You agree with him?”

“I agree with both him and the Doctor. I see both men’s sides and why they did what they did, but it was unfair for Alan to be punished like this. The Daleks wouldn’t have stopped killing people; they would have gone somewhere else and planned another way to get back at the universe. They are nothing but cold, heartless killing machines and the guy who created him is completely twisted and evil. Alan did what he did to preserve the universe and save everyone. He’s not evil; he’s not a genocidal monster, what you see right here is what you get with him. I’ve been with him almost since the moment he was born and since then the only thing that has happened was he wounded that creature and that’s only because he was trying to save my life. I trust him completely. I’m not under any threat from him and neither are you and neither is the universe. But, because of that whole being entrusted to turn him into a good guy, I chose Stitch to symbolize that, which is why he has him on his arm.”

“And please….don’t tell anyone it’s under there,” Alan said. “I got it because Rose asked me to and I requested that it be made to fit under my sleeve because it’s there for her. I’m not ashamed of it, although I tease Rose about that, but it’s just a personal thing between us…RIGHT, ROSE?”

She coughed when he gave her a pointed look.

“Awinita is a friend and she’ll keep quiet.”

“Yes, I’ll take the secret of your Stitch tattoo to my grave,” she said.

“Thank you.”

He turned back around and noticed the deer had gone.

“Well, anyway, I just thought I would point out that scenic bit of nature,” he said to them. “I didn’t mean for us to get into a show and tell about our tattoos, so I’ll keep going now and you guys just chit chat some more.”

He started the car, put it in gear and drove off.

After about two hours, they finally reached route 9. Alan switched with Awinita and she headed south while he took her spot beside Rose. He put his arm around her shoulder and fiddled with the sleeve of her shirt.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine, just a bit tired.”

“You were thinkin’ about staying the night somewhere?”

“Not sure. I mean, we could always find a secluded spot and pull off or we could take turns napping in here and just keep going. We have enough food and supplies now that we don’t have to spend the night somewhere.”

“I just don’t want beastie boy to come back and harass you again.”

“Nah, I doubt he will. I think you showed him. Besides if he does, you and Awinita will be out there beating the crap outta him.”

“Got that right,” Awinita said. “But, yeah, if you wanna spend the night in the car or take turns driving through the night, I’m all for that.”

“Yes, because we just have to reach Disneyworld in record time,” Rose teased.

Alan caught Awinita’s eye when she looked in the rearview mirror. A conspiratorial look passed between them.

“Yes,” Alan said, casually. “Because of course you will want to ride the Dumbo ride, right?”

“Why would I do that when I’m riding with Dumbo now?”

She gasped when Alan shoved his fingers in her armpits and began to tickle her.

“What was that, Tyler?” he said.

“I’m sorry, I take it back!”

“That’s what I thought,” Alan said, letting up.

He snickered.

“What?” Rose said.

“Actually, that’s what Donna called the Doctor. Dumbo. So I guess it’s not too far from the truth.”

She called him Dumbo?”

“Yes, she did. And great big outer space dunce!”

“The woman’s brighter than I thought.” Rose said.

“Hey!”

Rose laughed when he tickled her armpits again. He let up and let her catch her breath.

“But, seriously, what we need to do is get one of those travel guides to Disney so we can plan properly. Especially since I’m sure we’ll need more than one day to take it all in. Do we wanna stay in a hotel nearby or one at Disney?”

“I think if you stay at one of their resorts you get all these extra perks and things,” Awinita said to them.

“Well, we’ll need to get a double room for the three of us,” Alan said.

“Wait a moment, I didn’t say for sure I was gonna come with you.”

“Oh, come on, it’ll be fun. Rose and I will have a lot more fun if it’s the three of us. Besides, I thought you wanted to go to Disneyworld because…”

He trailed off when he realized what he was about to say.

“Because what?” Rose said.

She looked at them.

“What are you guys up to?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“She wanted to go to Disneyworld because she’s always wanted to see Mickey Mouse,” Alan said.

“Yeah, that’s right, I love Mickey Mouse and I’ve wanted to go to Disneyworld and see him ever since I was a little girl.”

“Why am I not convinced of that?”

Alan shrugged and gave her an innocent look.

“You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?” she said.

Alan tried to keep his face passive.

“No, not at all. I don’t hide anything from you, you know that.”

He kept calm while Rose studied his face.

“I’m still not convinced, but I’ll give you two the benefit of the doubt since I figure it’ll take forever to get the truth outta ya. I just hope whatever you two are planning isn’t illegal.”

“No, why would you think that? Especially after you just got done telling Awinita two hours ago that I wasn’t a threat to anyone.”

“I didn’t say you were a threat. I’m saying that you have a mind for mischief and you and she seem to think alike, so I can just imagine the stuff you’ll get in to down there.”

“Rose Tyler, I’m insulted. I will not do anything that will get us thrown in jail and neither will she. We know better than that!”

“Well, good, just keep on knowing it because I don’t want my mum to open up the paper and see my arrest in the headlines.”

“I promise, we’ll be good as gold at Disneyworld and I guarantee you will come away from that place happier than you have ever been in your whole entire life.”

“Good, I certainly hope so.”

“Me too.”

She snuggled up against him and closed her eyes while Alan breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He glanced at Awinita in the rearview mirror and locked eyes with her.

“That was close,” he mouthed.

She nodded.

After about an hour, Rose switched places with Awinita. Awinita clambered into the back and laid down to take a short nap while Alan moved up into the passenger seat.

“Are you feeling alright?” he asked.

She smiled.

“I’m feeling fine, Alan. How about you?”

“Well rested. This car was a good idea.”

“Yes, it was, although…”

“What?”

She slowed the speed down a bit as she glanced at the beach beside the road. She finally found a parking spot and pulled in. She glanced back.

“Awinita asleep?” she said.

“I think so.”

“Come with me then.”

They both got out and quietly closed the doors. Taking each other’s hands, they walked down towards the ocean as the sun began to sink in the sky.

“Thought we might get a little bit of private time together,” Rose said. “If that’s okay.”

“It’s more than okay, it’s brilliant.”

She glanced around but there were only a couple of people scattered around on the beach. She looked back at the minivan.

“You think Awinita will be alright?”

“She’ll be fine, we won’t go far,” Alan assured her.

They sat down in the sand just out of the reach of the crashing waves and put their arms around each other.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said.

“Yes, it is.”

“Too bad we can’t spend the night here like we could in Norway.”

“Yeah, but I’m sure the authorities would frown on that since this isn’t deserted like Bad Wolf Bay. Still, we have lots to look forward to both here and when we get back home to London.”

“I don’t wanna go back, ever.”

Alan glanced at her.

“I mean, I would like to see mum and dad and Tony again but I don’t wanna go back and have to spend all that time working at Torchwood. I wish we could just keep on travelin’ and never stop.”

He rubbed her back.

“Yeah, me too, Starlight.”

He chuckled.

“God, the Doctor did rub off on you, didn’t he?”

“Yes, I have the same distaste for the domestic life that he does. I just…wish the Doctor had trusted you enough to give you the TARDIS now instead of having to wait ten years.”

“Yeah, me too, but he didn’t and now we have to deal with it.”

They watched while the waves crashed on shore.

“Are you still worried about the dream?” Alan finally asked.

“A bit. I can’t help it, Alan. I worry about him the same way I worry about you. I love you both and if there’s a way I could help him, I would in a heartbeat. I’d do the same for you if you were in danger of becoming the Valeyard.”

“And I would do the same as him. I would tell you to run away and never look back and forget about me. You are far too special to both of us to die senselessly or be turned into female version of the Valeyard. I would give my life in an instant if it prevented that.”

“And I would do the same for you.”

He held her close and kissed the top of her head.

“You are so good to both of us, Rose. Both of our lives have been enriched because you’ve been in it.”

“And I feel the same way about both of you. You’re both are special and I never want to see either of you become some twisted version of yourselves. If there is some way, any way to prevent that, then I will find it.”

Alan knew it was pointless to argue with her, so instead he pulled her closer still making sure not to hurt her bandaged arm. They stared out at the waves in silent contemplation for several minutes before they gave each other a kiss on the lips and headed back up to the car.

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