THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB
Chapter Five When Rose returned with Amber, they were carrying robes, two white and one black. The Doctor assumed the black one was for him and his suspicions were proven right when Rose handed it to him. As she came up to him, their eyes locked and the Doctor felt like his insides were turning to goo. He remembered that Rose had once told him that she could see his old self reflected in his eyes just after he regenerated. Would that be the case now? He both hoped for and dreaded the moment when she found out who he was. "Men wear black robes, women wear white," Rose said to all of them after she and Amber finished passing out the robes. "We want you to wear these here, it makes us all equal. That's how the Doctor views us." The Doctor heard River let out a soft snort but she didn't say anything to Rose as she accepted the robe. Rose asked Amber to show them around and Amber asked them to follow her. Amy and River followed her as she walked to the door but the Doctor lingered behind. Rose gave the Doctor a confused look when she noticed he wasn't following the women. "Yes?" she said to him. "Thank you for letting us stay," the Doctor said, loving the sound of her voice. "Uh…you're welcome. I just hope you adjust to life here, we do have rules. It's not like living out on the street." "I understand. Thanks again," the Doctor said. They locked eyes again, the Doctor hoping she could see who he was in his eyes but all he got from her was a confused look so he decided not to press his luck in case Rose threw him out for being weird. He excused himself and hurried to the door where the women were waiting for him. Amy gave him an odd look and River gave him a suspicious glance and what the Doctor swore was jealously. He tried to be casual about it all while he told Amber he was ready to go but he knew by the look River gave Rose that he needed to be careful if he decided to reveal himself to his lover. He'd watch River kill without a second thought and he had no idea if she'd harm Rose but he had no desire to find out. He glanced over his shoulder at Rose who was standing by her chair, watching them go. He waved at her but Rose did nothing, just stared at him silently. The Doctor walked outside the room with everyone else and Amber turned left. "Up here are the sleeping areas," Amber said to them. "We have two empty rooms so the two women can room together and the man can sleep alone. Women and men have segregated sleeping areas so if you're thinking of having a go at someone while you're here, think again." She stopped at one empty room with two black metal framed beds, lamp, table and chest of drawers. "Either the man or the women can have this room," Amber said to them. "Do not open the curtains for any reason, if you need light, turn on the lamp. Who wants this room?" "I'll take it," the Doctor said, knowing he was only two doors down from Rose. "Very well, go in and change into your robe and I'll show the women their room," Amber said. The Doctor went into the room and shut the door. He let out a sigh as he leaned against it. "Oh, Rose. Why are you doing this?" he murmured. "What would you have to gain by creating a cult around me, even if you do believe I'm mankind's last hope? Something's very wrong here; you'd never do this, not voluntarily anyway. I have to find out what's going on and save you from yourself." The Doctor stared at the black robe in his hands, shook his head sadly and stepped away from the door so he could slip it on. Rory stood beside the door of the Time Lord Disciples house, checked the address once more to be sure and then used the knocker. He knocked three times, stuffed the address back in his pocket and waited for someone to come to the door. A few minutes later, the door opened and Amber peeked out. "Yes?" she said. "Hi, I'm interested in joining your group," Rory said. "Blimey, we're busy tonight," Amber muttered to herself. "Okay, wait here a moment, I have to talk to Astra." Rory nodded and waited patiently while she closed the door. While he waited, Rory looked around but could only see a few people near the building. He looked at the window beside the door and gulped when he saw the drapes covering it. Who knows what barmy things they're doing in there? He thought to himself. I have to stop these nutters or at least alert the authorities before they do something crazy. The door opened again and Rory smiled at Amber. The smile faded when he saw who was standing behind her. Dressed in monk's robes, Amy, River and the Doctor stared at Rory in silent shock. Rory tried to keep his composure and avoided their gazes while he stepped inside. "I'm in the middle of a tour at the moment for these three," Amber said, gesturing to the stunned people beside her, "but I'll take you upstairs and let you meet Astra." "Thank you," Rory said. He glanced at the Doctor who mouthed, "What are you doing here?" to him. Rory shrugged and the Doctor glanced at Amy and River before everyone turned and followed Amber. While they walked up the stairs, Amy glanced back at Rory and Rory smiled at her. "Why are you here?" she mouthed to Rory. "I'm here for you," he mouthed back. Amy smiled at that and Rory gave her a discrete squeeze on the hand before they reached the top. Amber led them to Rose's room and gestured for Rory to go inside. Rory glanced at his friends and walked past them, stepping inside the room while everyone watched him. Once he was inside, Amber closed the door and beckoned for them to follow her while she finished the tour. After the tour, the Doctor, Amy and River went to their rooms. Amy and River were staying two doors down from the Doctor on the same side as he was. The Doctor went into his room, closed the door and shook his head. "Great, now Rory's here. Rose is back, Rory's here, what's next, the clone turns out to be my roommate?" he said, glancing at the empty bed beside his. He heard a knock on the door and walked over. He opened it and saw Rory standing there. "I'm rooming with you," he said. "Is this going to be an amicable arrangement or are you going to jump down my throat again," the Doctor said softly. "I'll keep it civil," Rory said. "Good. Then come inside," the Doctor said, stepping back. Rory thanked him and came inside, a black robe slung across his right arm. He stared at the Doctor's black robe and chuckled. "Thought the fez and bow tie were odd. Never thought I'd see you as a monk," Rory said after he closed the door. "Yeah, well, you're going to be a monk right alongside me. Why are you here though? Thought you had enough of this sort of thing." "I did too but I heard a news report about this place and I wanted to make sure that these people wouldn't do anything to hurt Amy." "And that's it then? No concern for me? None for River? They can hurt us all they want as long as Amy stays safe?" Rory sighed. "Of course I'm concerned about you and River but Amy comes first in my heart, always has, and I worry about her first and foremost." "Good. That's the way it should be. However, I want to bury the hatchet with you, here and now. I want us to room together without being at each other's throats. How about it? Friends again?" "Friends," Rory said. The Doctor smiled and hugged him and this time Rory returned it. He tried to apologize and the Doctor held up his hand. "No need, I do understand your fears for Amy's safety. But you do understand that she wants to be here and she knows the risks, yeah?" "Yes. And I respect that. I want her to be her own woman and not be controlled by me." "Ah, mate, I don't think anyone could control her," the Doctor said, patting his shoulder. Rory chuckled at that and the Doctor patted his back. Happy that his friend was back and not angry at him anymore, he settled down on his bed and relaxed while Rory changed into his robes.
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