SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
Chapter Eighty Four After they ate they all walked out and got back in the car. Alan giggled when Rose stayed as far away from the passenger side door as she possibly could while Bill was getting in. He grinned at her and put her hand on her back. “Not the first colorful character you’ve met in your travels, Starlight,” he said. “I know, I just hope I can get the image of him shagging a twenty something woman out of my head tonight,” she replied. Once he was in, the three of them climbed in the back and closed the door. Margaret started up the car and pulled out. “I’ll take you to AutoZone to get the belt,” she said, glancing back at them. “Huh?” “I’m talking to them, Daddy,” she said. “Oh.” “Anyway, as I was saying, I’ll take you there and stop off to get some White Castles and I’ll stop at the store for a Wick’s pie so you can have some tonight.” Rose glanced at Alan who was grinning from ear to ear. She patted his leg and he put his arm around her shoulder. “See that house right there? That asshole owes me money!” The three of them sat in the backseat shifting uncomfortably. On the way back, Bill told them everything he had said on the way over, word for word. In addition, he had screamed some more at Margaret about the potholes, even going so far as to scream at her when she hadn’t gone through any at all. This was followed up a few times by his rant about how the Goddamned government needed to fix them all. Once they were back at Margaret’s house. She pulled the van up to the door so Bill could get out and go inside. She waited until he was inside before turning around in her seat. “I’m sorry about that. He’s senile and he forgets all the time what he’s said. Trust me; I hear the same thing, day in and day out every time I drive that way. And I’m sorry for what he said to you in the diner, Rose.” “It’s alright, I understand,” she said, holding up her hand. Margaret smiled. “Well, I’ll park the car and we’ll go inside then.” “Well…that was interesting,” Alan said. They were all in the guest bedroom with the door closed. “I just hope granddad keeps his hands to himself around me,” Rose said. They giggled. “Hey, the man has a pulse,” Awinita said. “I assume he still has a penis so why shouldn’t he have an eye for the ladies?” “Well, I’m not Anna Nicole Smith,” Rose said. “Now, Rose,” Alan teased. “Don’t cut him off like that. You never know, he might be a billionaire and if you play your cards right…” They laughed when Rose gave him a look of disgust. “I’m don’t fancy senior citizens, thanks,” she said. “Um…the Doctor’s over 1200 years old as I recall,” Alan said. “Okay,” she said as they laughed. “I don’t fancy senior citizens who show their age, is that better?” “Well, it’s a good thing the Doctor was restored to his youthful self on the Valiant then,” Alan said. “Course by the time that happened he was a dwarfy, pruny thing in a birdcage so I’m sure you would have been even more turned off than when he resembled Bill.” They shut up when they heard someone knocking on the door. “I have the air mattress,” they heard Margaret say. Rose opened the door and she brought in a bright blue air mattress and a small air pump. “I’m sorry, I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have,” she said. “That’s fine. We appreciate it,” Rose said. They took it from her. “I’ll get you some sheets and a pillow and cover for it,” she said to Awinita. She shut the door behind her. The three of them spread out the wrinkled air mattress attached the small white air pump and plugged it in. The sat down on the bed together and watched while the mattress rapidly inflated. There was another knock on the door and Rose opened it again. She thanked Margaret as she took the white bed sheets, plump pillow and powder blue comforter from her. The mattress grew hard and firm and after putting her hand on it to test it, Awinita went over to the wall and unplugged the pump. She put the cover over the air hole and laid out on it. “Not bad,” she said. “Not a bed at the Holiday Inn but at least it’s not the ground in the woods.” “Well, hopefully we can get the car fixed and get back on the road tomorrow before randy gramps steals my girl from me,” Alan said. “Trust me, you couldn’t pay me to sleep with him,” she said as they laughed. The three of them sat together on the bed in silence. Alan sighed and lay back on the white cotton comforter. “Well, you know, it would be awfully rude of us to stay in here all night long,” he said, putting his hands behind his head. “Especially when these people have been kind enough to take us in for the night. Should we go out and chat with them?” Rose leaned back against the wooden headboard. “Will you wrestle gramps to the ground if he tries to feel me up?” Alan laughed and patted her leg. “I will protect you from the horny senior citizen at the cost of my own life,” he said. “I’m surprised he hasn’t said anything about me,” Awinita said. “Weeeeell, maybe he fancies blondes. Plus, you were sitting in the other booth. He seemed to forget Rose was there for a moment so maybe he did the same for you.” “And you don’t have a British accent which reminds him of the woman he shagged during World War 2,” Rose said, rolling her eyes. “Now, now, Amo’tiri, be polite. For all we know, he’s this universe’s Captain Jack minus the immortality and…minus the Jack moniker.” “I wouldn’t doubt it,” Rose muttered. Alan sat back up and patted their legs. “Well, let’s go outside and be polite to our hosts, kiddies,” he said to them. The three of them sat together on an overstuffed khaki couch in the living room sipping cups of tea while Margaret talked to them. Bill occasionally said something but for the most part his attention was fixed on a football game on ESPN. Earlier she had informed them that her neighbor would be over around 10 a.m. to install the belt. After that, they had made small talk. All three of them were careful what they told her about Alan and he for the most part remained silent so she wouldn’t be tempted to ask too many questions about his personal life. Rose and Awinita, sensing what he was doing kept the conversation going. Thankfully, Margaret was more than happy to talk to them about her life in return. “So, then I came back to Indiana,” Margaret said, “and I’m hoping to retire here now. What about you? Are you wanting to stay in London after you get married?” “Um…probably, but mostly we’re going to travel,” Rose replied. “Really? Where to?” “Oh, all over. Doesn’t really matter as long as it’s somethin’ new to see.” “Are you gonna have enough money to be able to do that?” Margaret said. “Forgive me for saying so, but you’re awfully young and I’m surprised you have the time and money to go across the US, let alone keep traveling.” Rose smiled. “My dad is helping us out. You know the Vitex health drinks?” “Yes.” “He invented them.” “Oh! I’ve had those every once in awhile, they’re pretty good. I have a number of friends that drink them regularly and swear by them so I can imagine he’s pretty rich.” Rose nodded. “So, where did you two meet?” Margaret said, gesturing to Alan. Rose hesitated while she tried to think up something to say. “We met a few years ago,” she said. “I was a PA at my father’s company and Alan was a temp. We hit it off right away and a couple of months ago he proposed to me.” “So, where did you meet them?” she asked Awinita. “I was in a McDonalds in New Jersey and they came in to eat and I went over to talk to them and introduced myself and we started talking and I had just lost my job and was trying to go back home to North Carolina and they offered to take me. Then we became friends and they wanted me to keep traveling with them, so I accepted.” “So, what are you gonna do when they go back to London?” “Go with them and find a job there.” “Lots of beautiful women in London,” Bill said, keeping his eyes on the TV screen. “I was on leave during World War 2 and had sex with a beautiful British woman.” Alan tried not to laugh but couldn’t help himself. “It’s alright, I understand,” Margaret said. “You have to have a sense of humor to live here; otherwise you’d fly off the handle every five minutes. He means well. He’s just losing his memory, not to mention he’s had a series of strokes in the past.” “Hey!” They looked over at Bill when he cried out. Rose noticed he was staring right at her. “Um…yeah?” she said, hesitantly. “Are you related to Doris Meriwether?” “No,” Rose said, shaking her head. “That’s the name of the girl I had sex with. You look an awful lot like her. I was wondering if you were her granddaughter.” “Um…no, I’m not related.” “Well, you look like her,” Bill said, turning his attention back to the screen. “Doris Meriwether. She and I had sex every night I was on leave. She was a virgin when I screwed her.” Alan bit his lip when he saw Rose stiffen. He leaned into her ear. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him get into your pants,” he said. He gave her a kiss on the cheek when she rolled her eyes. Bill turned his attention back to her. “Sure you’re not related to Doris Meriwether?” he asked. “No, I’m not.” “You look like her, I’m surprise you aren’t. She had the same long blonde hair as you and the same brown eyes. She was a looker.” Alan and Awinita were about to lose it completely. Alan put his arm around her when she shifted nearer to him. “You sure you’re not related to her?” “Daddy, leave her alone and watch your game!” Margaret said. “She’s not related to the woman!” “I’m just wondering,” Bill said. “Doris was amazing. Had the tightest little twat I’ve ever seen on a woman.” Rose’s mouth fell open as her friends clamped their mouths shut. Margaret sighed angrily. “Come outside with me. We can sit on the patio and talk away from him,” she said to them. Alan thought Rose was gonna jump through the ceiling judging from the way she jerked up from her seat. He stood up beside her and smiled as he put his arms on her shoulder. They all turned and followed Margaret out to the patio. Alan and Rose lay together in bed, their arms wrapped around each other. Neither one of them could fall asleep in the strange house. They had caressed and fondled each other for awhile but eventually they stopped and just cuddled against one another in silence listening to Awinita’s soft snoring drifting up from the floor. “So strange being in a house again after all these months,” Rose finally said. “Not to me, I was only in your mansion for a few days, before that I was in the TARDIS and the Crucible. Rest of the time it’s been hotel rooms and cars and moonlit forests,” he whispered back. Rose fingered the hem of his plum t-shirt. “Do you think you’ll ever get used to living in a house?” she asked. “I s’pose I’ll have to, at least for nine years,” he replied. “But even then, you won’t like it, will ya?” “No, living in a house doesn’t appeal to me. What about you? Did you feel a bit antsy living in a house after you were first stuck here?” “It took some gettin’ used to, that’s for sure,” she replied. “I hated it. It was the closest I’ve ever come to what I’d imagine Hell being like. Being out there among the stars, seeing the universe and the next thing I know I’m separated from the Doctor and the TARDIS and stuck behind a desk at Torchwood. But, I s’pose all the other companions had to adjust to an ordinary life as well.” “There’s no such thing as an ordinary life. And I’m sure the other companions did have a period of adjustment, but the difference is the majority of the companions went back home by choice. You didn’t have that luxury.” “Can I ask you somethin’ Alan?” “Sure.” “If I had never come back to the Gamestation, if the Doctor had found a way to survive the Daleks, would he have tried to come back for me?” Alan rose up in bed, bent his arm and rested his head on his hand. “Dunno to be honest. He never got the chance to do that. You came to him and saved his life. I’m not sure what he would have done if you hadn’t become the Bad Wolf. I would like to think maybe he would have tried to find you again. Perhaps if Jack hadn’t been killed he could have used his vortex manipulator like he did on Malcasairo and came back for you. I know he would have been heartbroken just as he would have been heartbroken if you had stayed over here when he tried to send you away and the gap had closed. He tried to pretend that he could have gotten along without you but the fact is once you were really gone his world became a whole lot darker and a lot less kind.” “And now it’s become dark again,” Rose murmured. “Not necessarily, he has Donna with him.” “Yeah, but you said…the drawing out her memories. What if he had to do that?” He sighed sadly as he ran his index finger up and down her arm. “I’m hoping he could find a way around it,” he said. “If anyone could save her, it’s him. I just hope he did. I would hate for Donna to go back to the way she was before. You met her after the Doctor had helped to bring her good qualities to the fore. Before he met him, sad to say, she was a bitchy little hag.” “I saw a bit of that side as well. I was with her in her parallel universe, remember?” “Oh yeah, that’s right. Well...that’s what Donna would be like if the Doctor did have to take her memories away and it’s heartbreaking to even think about that because Donna Noble is not like that at all. She’s much kinder and loving and oh so brilliant.” He trailed off. For a moment he listened to Awinita’s soft snoring and then he smiled. “I think we better let Awinita drive first when we get the car back. We’re gonna be knackered, come mornin’” he said. “I just can’t sleep.” “Why? You afraid Grandpa Stalker will whisk you away from my arms in the night?” “No,” she said, giving his arm a playful swat. “Just can’t sleep in here.” “You’ve slept in dozens of hotel rooms.” “Yeah, but that was you and me and Awinita. I’m used to us. I’m not used to others sharing the same space.” He chuckled. “Even more incentive for us to get our TARDIS?” “Too right. If I knew how to make that lump of rock grow faster, I would make that thing grow and the three of us would be off planet Earth before we could blink.” “If Awinita comes with us.” “I hope she does.” “Yeah, so do I.” “Goddamn it!” The two of them fell silent when they heard Bill shuffling outside the door. They frowned when they heard him muttering to himself under his breath. “Goddamn sons of bitches,” he muttered. “Damn those assholes!” Both of them bit their lips. “Stupid bitches leaving the toilet seat down,” they heard him mutter as he walked into the bathroom. “Damn them! Can’t even put the Goddamned toilet seat up for Christ’s sake.” The bathroom door slammed shut. “Um, okay, which one of you bitches left the Goddamned seat down?” Alan whispered. They both snickered. “It’s probably me, I’m the stupid bitch,” she said as Alan giggled. “Blimey, is the poor man ever happy?” Alan said. “He’s 90 and infirm, Alan, I’m sure he’s old and tired now. Plus he’s senile and has had a bunch of strokes.” “Bloody Hell; get me the chameleon arch then. I don’t ever wanna get to the point where I’m wandering around the house muttering about stupid bitches leaving the toilet seat down.” “The Doctor didn’t do that after the Master aged him?” Rose teased. “Um…no,” he said as she giggled. “Not once during that whole year did he say anything about the toilet seat being down when it should have been up.” They heard the toilet flushing. A moment later the door opened back up and they heard him walk out. “Goddamn the bitches for leaving the seat down. Stupid assholes can’t do anything right.” Rose’s eyes widened when she looked past Alan. He was confused for a moment and then he heard Bill coming into the room. He slowly turned in the dark and noticed he was standing there staring down at Awinita. “Who is this stupid asshole on the floor?” they heard him mutter under his breath. “Goddamn it, get a bed like the rest of us.” Rose buried her face in Alan’s shirt while Alan clamped his hand over his mouth. Bill stood there for a moment. Then he turned and walked out of the room. “Goddamned bitch doesn’t know how to use a bed,” he muttered as he walked out. They waited until they were sure he was gone and then they let out the giggles they’d been holding in. “Shame Awinita slept through that. That’s another thing I’m gonna have to show her,” he said to Rose. “Um, maybe I should go close the door now,” Rose said. “Good idea, Starlight,” he said. “Next time we might wake up and find him beating her to death with the air pump for not using a bed like the rest of us assholes.” Rose swatted his arm. “You gotta admit, Rose, this whole day has been mighty interesting,” he said as she got up out of bed. “It’s amazing the kind of people you meet when your timing belt snaps.” “Well, the quicker we can get back on the road, the better,” Rose said, standing up. Alan laughed softly when she ran around the bed and quickly closed the door and locked it. She ran back around and got back under the covers. “Much better,” Rose whispered. “I feel better already.” “Good, I’m glad. Now let’s try to get some sleep so Awinita doesn’t have to do all the driving, eh?” She nodded and gave him a kiss. “Good night, my love,” she said. “Good night, Doris.” She swatted his arm as he sniggered. She gave him one more kiss on the lips and then with a sigh, snuggled against him and slowly drifted off to sleep.
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