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toxic_cornSeries: Kristy and The Doctor
Title: Chapter Sixteen - Alternate Los Angeles (Part II)
Author: toxic_corn and nutmeg610
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Ann M. Martin, Scholastic Books, and the BBC. Sometimes ABC even. And NBC. Okay, practically no one is ours, okay? We aren't collecting any money so pretty please don't sue? We're both broke college students.
Summary: Kristy Thomas has been doing well since her days as president of the Babysitters Club. She's about to graduate from the University of Connecticut and her best friend's finacee can get her a place in the LAPD. It looks like her future is set until a strange man in a magic blue box shows up and changes everything...
Authors' Note: Yet another pairing in the crack series. We found the idea of The Doctor having to put up with the blunt, bossy Kristy to be funny and from there the story grew. If you think that now we are officially certifiable, you're most likely right. This follows the other stories in the crack series: Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne and Wanna Get It On, Dawn?
Wow, this one was too big for LJ! Split up in two parts.
Catch up on earlier chapters at the organizational post.
Kristy set them up in the office The Doctor had first met her in. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere. Keep this door shut and don’t open it for anyone except me.” She looked from The Doctor to Frey with worry in her eyes and then hurried out again, closing the door.
The Doctor waited until Kristy had left and then took Frey’s hand. "Let's take a look at these aliens for ourselves."
“Right,” Frey said grimly.
~*~
When Chad heard on the radio that the invasion had started, his first thought was for Mary Anne. But he quickly pushed that thought aside and knew he had to get to his wife. Rita.
He drove crazily to the hospital and parked on the curb in front, running inside at top speed. “Rita!” He roared. “Rita?!” A laser blast hit the wall next to him and Chad threw himself to the ground. What the hell had that been? He crawled along to the nurses’ station and among the crowd of frightened people gathered in the small space, he saw Rita.
In the arms of his former partner.
“Hopper?” he said in disbelief.
Brett Hopper jerked in surprise but relaxed warily when he saw who it was. “Shelten.”
“Rita?” Chad questioned. His eyes narrowed when she didn’t look at him. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m sorry, Chad,” she said quietly.
“Are you going to come home?” Chad asked, already knowing the answer.
“I don’t know,” she said, softly. “I need to stay here. People are getting hurt.”
Chad nodded, staring Hopper down until the man had to look away. “Right. I should go help someone who actually needs me, then.”
“Chad…”
But he walked away, no longer interested in what he had to say. Another laser blast flew by him but he was ready for it this time and ducked, running hunched over to the door. Once he was in his car, his cellphone rang.
“Shelten,” he said tersely.
“Ch-Chad?” A tearful voice asked.
“Mary Anne?”
“I need you.”
“I’ll be there, sweetheart. Just wait.”
~*~
They’d been eating dinner. Steak had been on sale so Mary Anne grabbed some, knowing Logan would enjoy it. Still guilty over her developing feelings for Chad Shelten, she wanted to lavish her husband with attention and his favorite dinner. She made mashed potatoes the way his mother made it and canned green beans even though the fresh ones were better but Logan liked what he liked.
Midway through trying to convince Alma to eat her vegetables, the aliens had attacked. There’d been no warning, no nothing, just the glass door leading to the backyard shattering and these… creatures infiltrating her house.
“Get Alma out of here!” Logan roared, shooting up out of his chair. He automatically used it as a weapon, slamming the smaller green things this way and that.
Mary Anne scooped her daughter up and ran into the living room. She looked out the window and saw more of the things out in the streets; there was nowhere to go. Whimpering, she locked the front door and told Alma to hide. What could she possibly do? Help Logan.
She went back to the dining room in time to watch Logan’s bad shoulder seize up. Wincing, her husband grabbed at it, falling to his knees. The aliens took advantage of this and- She turned her head away and screamed.
Now the creatures were focused on her. Wide-eyed, she ran back to the living room, to the fireplace and picked up the poker. She slipped her phone out of her pocket; she’d need back up. Kristy wasn’t picking up her phone. She saw one person on there who could and would help her; his number was now in her phone since he’d called her that afternoon asking if he could drop off the cooler. Had that been today? It felt so long ago.
Mary Anne dialed Chad Shelten’s cell phone and sobbed in relief when he picked up.
~*~
“Do they have weapons?” Frey asked as The Doctor hung out the window, observing the aliens.
“Some of them. They prefer not to use them, however.”
“Why?”
“See their teeth?”
Frey shuddered. “What’s their purpose?”
“To destroy,” The Doctor said, flatly.
“We can’t leave Kristy with them,” Frey said, growing distressed.
The Doctor took his hand and they ran to the elevators. “No. We can’t and we aren’t.”
~*~
Chad drove up on the Bruno lawn and leapt out of his SUV. The mood he was in, he was ready to kick some ass. The front door was locked so he went through the yard where the broken-latched gate was open and carefully stepped into the house through the broken glass door. He saw Logan Bruno with his throat torn open, staring sightlessly at him and swallowed hard to keep from throwing up.
He went into the living room where he heard angry screaming and the sounds of battle.
Mary Anne was fighting off aliens with a fire poker, rage contorting her pretty features. It made Chad feel perversely aroused, seeing her like this. He grabbed an alien – small buggers – and snapped its neck. The movement caught Mary Anne’s attention and she glanced at him as she skewered one of the aliens through the face.
“Thanks for coming,” she said breathlessly.
He grabbed two aliens and smashed their heads together. "No problem. Anything for you."
She yanked the poker out of the alien and slammed it across the windpipe of another. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” Chad knocked his elbow back into an alien’s jaw, making it wail. He grabbed it by the shoulders and kneed it in the stomach and when it was down elbowed it in the back.
They made quick work of the rest of them and then Chad and Mary Anne stood across from each other, panting.
“Thank you,” Mary Anne said as blood and sweat dripped off of her.
Carefully, Chad went to her and held her by the shoulders. “Are you hurt?”
“One of them got my shoulder.” She winced.
Chad quickly pulled his hands away. “Oh god, I’m sorry!”
“It’s okay. D-don’t worry.” She looked around the room, wild-eyed. "Alma, honey?? It's safe to come out now!"
Alma came out from under the piano and made a beeline for Mary Anne, who wrapped her up tight in her arms.
"What about her? Is she ok?" Chas asked.
"Sh-she's fine. I didn't let any of them touch her. Neither did L-L..." Finally snapping, Mary Anne burst into tears and Alma cried along with her.
“Hey- hey now.” Chad hugged Mary Anne tightly as she cried. "Let's go somewhere safer,” he quietly suggested, stroking Mary Anne’s hair.
"O-Okay. I just n-need to gather some stuff together. Alma, go pack an overnight bag, okay? Be sure to pack your toothbrush."
"Okay, Mommy." Glad of a distraction, Alma ran up the stairs in a flash.
When Mary Anne still seemed reluctant to let him go, he promised, "I'll wait here for you; make sure no more show up."
"Thank you so much, Chad." She kissed the corner of his mouth.
Chad ran his hands gently along her sides. "You're welcome."
She finally let him go to oversee Alma’s packing and get a few of her own things together. He wasn’t alone very long when Alma came back down the stairs, a pink Minnie Mouse backpack over her shoulders.
"I got a Barbie watch. See?" She held her wrist up.
"I see that. It's very nice."
“Thank you,” she said politely and stared up at him with her impossibly big blue eyes. “My daddy’s dead.”
"I know. I'm so sorry." Chad nodded solemnly.
Alma sighed, a tired weary sigh that no child should have to sigh. “Me too.”
The sound went to Chad’s heart and he sank down onto his haunches to hug her. The little girl hugged him back and started to whimper softly. It was then that Mary Anne returned, her own bag over her shoulder. She watched them quietly a moment.
"I need to do something else before I can leave."
Chad let Alma go and stood up. “Sure, what is it?”
Mary Anne spoke to Alma. "Sweetie, can you go back under the piano? Stay there and play with your fairy princess doll, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.” The girl followed instructions obediently and Mary Anne went to the couch, pulling a blanket off the back.
As she passed Chad on the way to the kitchen, she muttered, "I can't leave him like that." In the kitchen, she knelt by Logan’s side and closed his eyes. Sniffling, she covered him with the blanket and placed a hand over his heart. “You always said you'd take care of us, and you did a good job. Thank you, Logan." Her shoulders shook for a moment and then she stood up.
“We should go,” Chad said softly, feeling like a bastard for intruding on this moment. But it was necessary for them to get moving; they didn’t know if any more aliens were on the way.
“I know.” Mary Anne blew Logan a kiss and then turned away, going back into the living room. "C'mon Alma, we have to go."
The little girl came out of her hiding place and took Mary Anne’s hand, then Chad’s. She looked up at them trustingly.
"Where to?" Mary Anne asked.
"I was thinking my house, if it's still there."
Mary Anne nodded. “Okay. And that’s safer?”
"When I left, they weren't anywhere near that side of the city."
“Let’s go, then.”
~*~
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY PUT!!" Kristy shot at the aliens and then ducked behind the pillar, glaring daggers at The Doctor.
He situated Frey behind him, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. "Sorry, I must have a hearing problem."
Kristy looked absolutely livid as she shot another alien. "I can't believe you brought him with you!"
"It's safer than leaving him alone, because he'd just follow me!"
“God damn it!” Kristy shot another alien and then when she noticed Frey trying to peek out, snapped, “Stay back!!"
Frey automatically ducked behind The Doctor.
The Doctor looked around the room and saw the one who had the laser. It was doing the most damage, getting people who couldn’t be taken down with hand-to-hand combat. He pointed his screwdriver at it and just as a laserblast was about to hit a police officer, the gun locked.
“What?!” the alien shouted. It looked around angrily but froze when it saw The Doctor. “T-Time Lord?”
“That’s right,” The Doctor called. “Call off your little green men.”
“Stop!” the leader called and they all instantly obeyed. An eerie silence fell over the room.
“This planet doesn’t concern you, Time Lord,” the leader said nervously. “Mind your own business!”
“Oh, but this planet does concern me,” The Doctor said. “It’s under my protection. Leave and leave now.”
The leader swallowed and nodded nervously, trying to smile with its mouth full of shark’s teeth. “Yes! Yes… the last thing we need is a war with the Time Lords!” He spoke into his bracelet, ordering a retreat and the army left the station hastily.
Time Lords? Maybe that meant in this universe that there had never been a Time War. His people could still exist. A pang of homesickness threatened to topple him and The Doctor squeezed Frey’s shoulder to ground himself. This wasn’t their home. They couldn’t stay here.
Kristy dropped to her knees, exhausted, and looked at Frey. "You okay, jellybean?"
He nodded and then ran into her arms. She hugged him and whispered in his ear. "Yeah, you're okay. Such a good boy."
“What about you? Are you all right?” The Doctor asked.
She looked shaken, but nodded. “I-I’m fine.” She looked across the lobby to a grim faced officer coming their way. "You checked on the Brunos like I asked?"
The cop sighed. "Mary Anne and Alma weren't there but Logan.... he's.... I'm sorry, Thomas."
Kristy’s face crumbled but she nodded, staying strong. “Thanks.” She got her cell phone out and dialed Mary Anne’s number, not noticing The Doctor’s look of shock at hearing who Mary Anne was married to. Frey looked disconcerted by that as well.
Once she had ascertained that Mary Anne was safe, Kristy hung up the phone. "I have to... go take care of Logan. I'll take you two back to my place."
“All right,” The Doctor said quietly.
Kristy scooped Frey up in her arms though he was getting too big to be carried. She kept one arm under his butt to support his weight and took The Doctor’s hand in hers. They walked out that way, the three of them, as press people started arriving and filming the results of the carnage.
~*~
As soon as they came in the door, Alma complained of being sleepy so Chad set her up on the living room couch. The kid was so wiped she fell asleep instantly.
“Want some coffee?” Chad asked Mary Anne once they were both in the kitchen.
She nodded and the next thing he knew, he had her up on the counter, kissing her deeply and she was undoing his pants. He barely knew this woman, he was married, her husband hadn’t been dead long… but sinking into her warm, willing body felt like the rightest thing he’d ever done.
He’d never been with a woman so sweet before. She made soft mewling sounds and purred softly and came with a subdued cry, aware of the sleeping child in the next room. Chad came soon after and rested his forehead against her shoulder as she cuddled him warmly. He wanted to stay like that forever.
But then she was pushing him away, looking as if reality had set back in. "We shouldn't have done that." She started pulling her clothing back into place, smoothing her hair.
"I know, it was-- we shouldn't have..." He pulled his pants up, not liking the look of shame on her face.
"It was.... I've been thinking about it since I met you, but..." She looked away, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I’m sorry.”
"Don't be. I've been thinking about it too,” he confessed.
Mary Anne looked back at him and smiled softly, warming up to him again. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He smiled back.
Tenderly, she reached out to touch his face. "Why does this feel so familiar?"
"I don't know, but I can't stop thinking that I know you from somewhere, and not just the station." He placed his hand over hers and gave her a lopsided grin. "Maybe we were together in a past life."
“Maybe.” Her expression turned serious. "But you're married to someone else in this life."
“I know.” He nodded quietly, feeling guilty. "I-I never wanted to hurt her, but you and I-- there's something here. We feel it."
"I don't want to split up your marriage, Chad." She shook her head sadly. "As much as I wish you were mine, I can't..."
He cupped her face, unwilling to let her go just yet. "I wish things were different."
“Me too,” she sobbed out. He pulled her down to the floor and into his chest, tucking her head under his chin. "Alma and I should go."
“I don’t want you to.”
"If we stay, I'm not going to be able to-" She tried to pull away but he ran his hands up her back, trying to soothe her.
"I'm not sure if she's coming back. She wouldn't leave Brett Hopper’s side."
Mary Anne took a shaking breath. "Do you want her back?"
He shook his head. "No. You're all I can think about and, and I don't want you to leave."
Smiling softy, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Okay. Then I'll stay."
“Good.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “Want me to set up a bed for you near Alma?”
“Yes, please. I should go check on her.”
They reluctantly parted and Mary Anne went to her daughter, kneeling down next to the couch to gently brush her long blonde hair out of her face. Alma was her everything now.
She could hear Chad swear softly in the hallway and got up to help him with the mattress. They dropped it to the floor and both hazarded a quick look at Alma to make sure she hadn’t woken up. She continued to sleep and the two of them breathed a bit more easily.
But just as they were relaxing, a buzzing came from Mary Anne’s pocket and they both hustled into the kitchen so she could answer her cellphone.
"Hi, Kristy. We're fine, but Logan didn't.... he's...." As her voice broke, Chad rubbed her back soothingly. "I'm at Sergeant Shelten's house; he came to help us." She gave Chad a grateful smile and he smiled back. For a long moment she was quiet. "So they're gone for good?"
Relief made Chad sag. No more aliens, good.
"Okay. So they're fine too? I-I didn't think to call them, I was just so-" Mary Anne looked as if she was going to break down so Chad took the phone away from her.
"Thomas? Yeah. Ok, don't worry; I'll look out for them. Uh huh." His tone turned a little steely. "I know. She's staying with him. Right. Ok, well it's been a long day and we all need some sleep. Ok, bye."
“Thank you.” She looked up at him with shining eyes. “You really are my hero.”
He kissed her forehead. “Tired?”
She sagged against him. “God, yes.”
Chad chuckled without much humor and led her back into the living room. She lay down on the mattress he’d brought out and Chad settled into an armchair, earning him a skeptical look.
"Do you want to share the mattress? It's really comfy." A look of embarrassment crossed her face. "Which you should know. Because it's yours. And... from your marriage bed. Never mind. God, I’m sorry.”
"It's ok. I'd like to, but maybe I shouldn't... because of Alma."
Mary Anne turned her head and smiled warmly at her daughter. “I understand. We should get to sleep.”
“Right.” Chad nodded. “Goodnight, Mary Anne.”
“Goodnight.” She curled up in a little ball but both of them knew the other wasn’t going to fall asleep any time soon.
~*~
Finally, she’d gotten all of the dirty business taken care of and she could come home. Kristy stumbled in the front door and dropped her keys in the dish by the door, kicking off her boots and shedding her jacket along the way. She locked her front door and took a moment to watch The Doctor, spread out on his back in the middle of the fold-out bed, snoring softly.
What was it about him that had frightened those aliens? She shivered and decided she didn’t really want to know.
Going into her bedroom, she wasn’t surprised to find Frey there, waiting for her and dozing fitfully.
“Are you going to keep me company?” she asked him softly, pulling back the covers so she could lay down.
“Uh huh,” he said sleepily, snuggling close to her.
Guilt prompted her to say, "Maybe your daddy needs you, jellybean."
"You need me." He yawned.
"I'm trying not to..." she whispered but he’d fallen asleep.
~*~
Chad jerked awake to the sound of the tv. He realized it was a kid’s cereal commercial that had woken him and ran a hand over his face. Looking down at the floor, he saw that Mary Anne had been woken by the sound, too.
“The aliens are gone,” Alma chirped. “The newsman said. Also, I saw Aunt Kristy on tv.”
“Really?” Mary Anne sat up and stretched, glancing over at Chad. “Sleep okay?”
“Ungh.”
Mary Anne smiled and got to her feet. "You hungry, sweetpea?"
“Does Sergeant Shelten have Cocoa Puffs?” Alma asked, eyes glued to the television.
"No, but I have Cap'n Crunch. Does that work?" Chad asked.
Alma considered this a moment then nodded. “Yes, please.”
"Ok, I'll get you a bowl." He stood up and cracked his neck.
"We slept in our clothes." Alma said to Mary Anne as she sat down next to her.
"We sure did." Mary Anne sniffed herself and made a theatrical pewwwwww face. "Mommy needs a shower."
"Am I stinky, too?" Alma asked eagerly.
Mary Anne sniffed her and gagged jokingly. “Yes!”
Chuckling, Chad went into the kitchen and poured some cereal and milk into a bowl, then grabbed a big spoon because he remembered thinking those were fun when he was Alma’s age. He brought the food out to the little girl and she beamed.
“Thank you, Sergeant Shelten. Look Mommy, he got me a big spoon!”
“Neato!” Mary Anne tousled Alma’s hair and then turned to Chad. "Could you watch her for a bit while I take a shower? I mean, if that's okay."
"No, that's fine. Do you need help finding stuff in the bathroom?" He gestured vaguely.
"I think I can struggle through okay. Thank you." Smiling at him, Mary Anne went upstairs.
"Heeeeyyy, Blue's Clues is on!" Alma picked up the remote control and changed the channel.
Chad sat back down in the armchair. "Did you sleep ok?"
"Yep. Mama says I can sleep through a hurricane. I slept through an earthquake before. And when our neighbor broke his window during a fight."
“I see.” He leaned forward, looking at the tv screen. “So what’s this show about?”
She pointed at the screen. "The doggie hides clues around the house and the man in the stripey shirt has to find 'em. But he's stupid and can't find anything without help. Me 'n Daddy give him the wrong answers cuz it's funny. But he never listens to us, though."
“Guess he’s not listening hard enough.”
“Guess not.” She was quiet a long moment then said, “You like my mommy a lot, huh?”
Chad paused and thought over his options. "Yes, she's very nice."
"Yeah. She's pretty much the best mommy on the planet."
"From what I've seen, I'd have to agree, though my mom's up there too."
“Up where?” Alma asked, confused.
Chad chuckled. "Up at the top of the best mommies on the planet list."
"Ohhhh okay. I thought you meant she was in heaven. That's where my Daddy is now." She started to look sad. "He liked Cocoa Puffs. We used to eat 'em and watch Blue's Clues, then he'd take me to kindergarten."
"Sounds like he's at the top of the best daddies list."
"Yeah. We used to play catch, too. My daddy played baseball when he was a kid but then he hurted his shoulder in college and had to stop playing."
Chad nodding, knowing how that was. "I hurt my knee in college and had to stop playing football."
Alma frowned worriedly and looked just like Mary Anne in the process. "Owwie. Does your knee go all hurty when it rains like Daddy's shoulder did?"
"Sometimes, yeah."
“Do you have a kitty?”
Chad blinked in surprise, unused to children’s conversation and their abrupt subject changes. "Nope."
"Neither do we. We used to but he got old and we had to put him down. What about a doggie?"
"Not anymore. He got old too."
“That’s sad.” She tipped the bowl back and started drinking the sugary milk, leaving behind a mustache. "Any goldfish?"
“Nope, did you?” Chad asked, smiling.
"Uh huh. But I was little and stupid and fed them too much and they s'ploded." She made a sound effect and simulated an atomic blast with her hands.
Grinning, Chad reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, intent on rubbing away her milk mustache. "You've got yourself a mustache, and little girls shouldn't have those. Here."
“Oh! Thank you.” She took it and delicately wiped her mouth before handing it back. “You’re like an Englishman.”
"How's that?" He put it back in his pocket.
"The Englishman have hankerchees,” Alma explained patiently.
“All of them?”
“Yes,” she said with a serious look.
"I did not know that. Wow, that's something."
“Did you know that two and two is four?”
“Yup.”
"Diiiiiiiiid you know thaaaaaaaaaaat...." She thought hard and then her face lit up. “My favorite color is purple?”
"I did not. Wanna know what my favorite color is?"
“Yes, please.”
“Blue.”
“My eyes are blue!”
“Mine too!”
“That’s so cool!” Alma exclaimed, genuinely excited by this.
Chad grinned. "It is."
Mary Anne came in just then wearing clean clothes, her wet hair brushed back. "Time for your bath, sweetpea."
"Oooh! Morning baths are neat!" Alma scrambled off the couch and ran to her mother.
"Best way to start the day,” Chad agreed. “That and Blue's Clues."
Alma pointed at him. “You are a very smart man.”
Mary Anne smiled at him as she led the girl away and Chad switched off the tv. He took Alma’s bowl out into the kitchen and washed it, then set about returning the mattress to his bed. His and Rita’s bed.
He and Mary Anne in the kitchen last night flashed through his mind but to his surprise, he didn’t feel guilty any more. It was like… it’d been meant to happen.
By the time he was done with these activities, Alma was done with her bath and ran to him in the living room. “Smell my hair!”
He knelt down and took a whiff. “Apples?”
"Uh huh. Auntie Dawnie got it for me. She's awesome."
Chad nodded and smiled at Mary Anne, who smiled back a little uncertainly. "Kristy called again and said that... houses have been... cleared out. So, it's safe to return to our homes."
"Oh, ok. Umm, I could call someone for you... about--" He cleared his throat awkwardly. "About him, and get him taken care of before you go back."
"Kristy took care of it, but thank you,” she said gently.
Of course. Chad nodded. "So, you want to go?"
"I probably should." She put her hands on Alma’s shoulders. "Have you got your stuff together, sweetpea?"
"Nope, it's all scattered around."
"Well, better go pack it up then."
Alma went to do just that and Chad shuffled closer, looking concerned. "You'll call if you need anything?"
"Yeah. I will." She gave him a half smile.
“Okay then.” Chad looked down at Alma, stuffing things into her bag. "So this was a different kind of sleepover, huh?"
“It was my first,” she announced.
"Oh, well then it was the best you ever had." He winked and she tilted her head, giggling.
Mary Anne laughed softly. "Wanna watch for Aunty Kristy, sweetpea?"
“Yep!” Alma skipped out into the hall to look out the window.
Taking a deep breath, Mary Anne said sincerely, “Thank you so much for this, Chad.”
"You're welcome. I'm glad I could help." He touched her elbow gently.
"It's been wonderful knowing you."
Alma’s voice from the hall called, “She’s heeeeeere!”
Chad’s smile faded and a feeling of dread sank into his stomach. "You're making it sound like we'll never see each other again."
Mary Anne hung her head and tried to walk away. "If things don't work out with your wife, then... come find us."
“Wait.” He grabbed her arm, making her stand still. "I've already made my decision. I want you."
"And I want you free first before I really start becoming attached to you.” She looked into his eyes. “And I have to think of Alma, too."
Already missing her, he let his hand slide down to hers to give it a squeeze. "Alright."
After appearing to debate with herself a moment, she gave him a soft kiss. “We’ll be waiting.”
"It won't be long,” Chad promised.
She backed away, smiling at him all the while and then she was gone.
“Bye, Sergeant Shelteeeeeeeeeeeeen!!” Alma called.
“Bye, Almaaaaaaa!” he called back, making she and Mary Anne giggle.
Then the door shut and they were gone.
~*~
After Kristy dropped Mary Anne and Alma off at the Bruno house, The Doctor gave Kristy instructions to their ship. At least he said they came in a ship. It looked more like a big blue box to her, but hey, whatever.
As they walked up to it, Frey held her hand, chattering a mile a minute. “We have so much to show you! All these galaxies and planets and stars and aliens and-“
"I can't go with you, Frey,” Kristy said softly.
This made Frey’s face fall. “But… but-“
"I'm not your mom,” she said gently. “I wish I was, but I'm not. This isn't my life."
Frey’s lip quivered. “But it could be!”
Kristy shook her head. "That wouldn't be fair to your mom. Or me. Or you."
“Don’t you like us?” Frey asked, plaintively.
"Ohhh, jellybean." Kristy knelt in front of him. "I like you very much. But that's not the issue here."
“I know.” He sniffled.
Cupping his face gently, she whispered, “I’ll miss you, though.”
"I'll miss you too." He started to cry and threw his arms around her.
She tried to hold in her own tears but didn’t succeed very well. "Be a good boy. And take care of your daddy. He needs you."
Frey bit his lip, ashamed of the way he’d been treating his father and looked apologetically up at him. "He does."
"Of course he does." She gave the boy one more big hug and kissed his forehead before getting to her feet.
"Well... thanks for all your help, and your hospitality, and all that,” The Doctor said.
Kristy nodded. “You’re welcome.”
The Doctor took Frey’s hand. “Time to go, son.” When Frey was by his side, he said, "Goodbye, Kristy Thomas."
“Goodbye, Doctor.” Tears sliding down her cheeks, she smiled bravely and turned to walk back to her car. They watched her a moment, not ready to leave quite yet.
"We'll be ok,” The Doctor said, unsure of who he was trying to reassure. “We have each other."
"But she has no one,” Frey said, watching Kristy walk sadly away. “Go and say a proper goodbye.”
The Doctor sighed. "She'll find someone. I know she will."
Frey gave him a little shove, a teasing smile showing through his heartbreak. "Go and give her a kiss."
The Doctor watched Kristy open her car door. "Do you think she'd let me?"
“Yes.”
He took a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Ok. Stay here." He jogged back to the car and hearing him, she turned to face him, looking confused.
“What are you-“ Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. For a second she was too stunned to do anything but then she recovered herself and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him back and matching his ardor exactly.
Finally, they broke the kiss but still held onto each other. "My son insisted I give you a proper goodbye,” The Doctor panted. "However, I suppose that's only a proper goodbye to the French. Hope you didn't mind." Smiling a little, he released her.
Dazed, Kristy blinked a little. "No, I- I didn't mind." She smiled back. "I don't think that kind of goodbye is exclusive to the French; I'm pretty sure it's universal." Looking over his shoulder at Frey, she giggled. “Look at him.”
The Doctor turned and saw Frey practically bouncing on his heels, squealing. He laughed. "Well, I think I made his day. Made my day too."
Kristy stepped close again and kissed his cheek. "You'd better go before I start begging you to stay."
He gave her a look and nodded. "I can't be stealing you away from whoever you're really meant for."
“Who I’m meant for?” She rolled her eyes, not believing in fate or destiny.
"Alright, alright. Whatever you want to believe. I'm going." He grew serious. “Goodbye.”
"Goodbye, pretty,” she said, smiling at him affectionately.
Pretty. His forehead wrinkled as he frowned at that but at her worried look he relaxed. "Same to you."
She got back into her car and he walked back to the TARDIS, unlocking the doors.
“What if she was meant for us?” Frey asked.
“If she really was, then the TARDIS will find a way to bring us back here." He shooed his son inside.
“Okay.” Frey accepted this answer and they both went into the ship and closed the doors behind them. A second later, they were gone.
~*~
What Kristy needed was some coffee. After feeling like she’d physically and emotionally been through the wringer, some caffeine was right on the agenda. She opened the door to the coffee shop she always went to and was knocked by a man hurrying out.
"Hey, come back here with my wallet!" someone inside screamed.
Eyes widening, Kristy tackled the would-be thief to the ground and wrestled the wallet out of his hand. “You’re under a-“ The guy shoved her off of him and then took off down the street. By the time she’d found her feet again, the guy had disappeared into the crowd of people. Great.
Disappointed, she went back into the coffee shop.
"Oh, a cannae thank ye enough!" a man with a Scottish accent said.
Kristy didn’t pay much attention, just handed the wallet back. "Sure, no problem. Sorry that he got away, I would've made sure he was punished to the full extent of the-" She stopped dead when she looked at him, her eyes widening.
"Wot? I 'ave something in me beard?" The man who looked exactly like The Doctor, only with facial hair, said. He ran his hand through his beard.
"No, just..." She started blushing. “You look familiar.
He nodded and took his wallet from her. "Mebbe ye saw me on the telly? I'm an actor."
"Oh. I don't really watch much tv. But maybe that's it." She bit her lip. "Um. Well, I should..." She pointed at the counter where she should order her coffee.
"Oh, right. Well..." He smiled gently. "Hey, could I buy ye a cuppa to say thanks?"
“Cup of what?” she asked, frowning.
"Ehm, a cuppa coffee I suppose? That's what ye were lookin' ta get?"
"Right. Of course. I'm Kristy, by the way." She held her hand out. “Detective Kristy Thomas.”
He shook her hand. "I'm David MacDonald, nice to meet you."
Kristy gave him a little smile. “You too.”
******************
Before anyone says ANYTHING, he didn't visit Rose because this was a different Alternate Earth; she either didn't exist or wouldn't have known him. And yeah, Frey should never have been able to break another hole in the universe, especially intentionally but you know what? The Daleks were supposed to have all died out in the Time War so... Never say never, I guess. It's fic, just have fun. *nods encouragingly*
******************
< Chapter Fifteen - The Memory Machine : Chapter Seventeen - The Star >
Title: Chapter Sixteen - Alternate Los Angeles (Part II)
Author: toxic_corn and nutmeg610
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Ann M. Martin, Scholastic Books, and the BBC. Sometimes ABC even. And NBC. Okay, practically no one is ours, okay? We aren't collecting any money so pretty please don't sue? We're both broke college students.
Summary: Kristy Thomas has been doing well since her days as president of the Babysitters Club. She's about to graduate from the University of Connecticut and her best friend's finacee can get her a place in the LAPD. It looks like her future is set until a strange man in a magic blue box shows up and changes everything...
Authors' Note: Yet another pairing in the crack series. We found the idea of The Doctor having to put up with the blunt, bossy Kristy to be funny and from there the story grew. If you think that now we are officially certifiable, you're most likely right. This follows the other stories in the crack series: Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne and Wanna Get It On, Dawn?
Wow, this one was too big for LJ! Split up in two parts.
Catch up on earlier chapters at the organizational post.
Kristy set them up in the office The Doctor had first met her in. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere. Keep this door shut and don’t open it for anyone except me.” She looked from The Doctor to Frey with worry in her eyes and then hurried out again, closing the door.
The Doctor waited until Kristy had left and then took Frey’s hand. "Let's take a look at these aliens for ourselves."
“Right,” Frey said grimly.
When Chad heard on the radio that the invasion had started, his first thought was for Mary Anne. But he quickly pushed that thought aside and knew he had to get to his wife. Rita.
He drove crazily to the hospital and parked on the curb in front, running inside at top speed. “Rita!” He roared. “Rita?!” A laser blast hit the wall next to him and Chad threw himself to the ground. What the hell had that been? He crawled along to the nurses’ station and among the crowd of frightened people gathered in the small space, he saw Rita.
In the arms of his former partner.
“Hopper?” he said in disbelief.
Brett Hopper jerked in surprise but relaxed warily when he saw who it was. “Shelten.”
“Rita?” Chad questioned. His eyes narrowed when she didn’t look at him. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m sorry, Chad,” she said quietly.
“Are you going to come home?” Chad asked, already knowing the answer.
“I don’t know,” she said, softly. “I need to stay here. People are getting hurt.”
Chad nodded, staring Hopper down until the man had to look away. “Right. I should go help someone who actually needs me, then.”
“Chad…”
But he walked away, no longer interested in what he had to say. Another laser blast flew by him but he was ready for it this time and ducked, running hunched over to the door. Once he was in his car, his cellphone rang.
“Shelten,” he said tersely.
“Ch-Chad?” A tearful voice asked.
“Mary Anne?”
“I need you.”
“I’ll be there, sweetheart. Just wait.”
They’d been eating dinner. Steak had been on sale so Mary Anne grabbed some, knowing Logan would enjoy it. Still guilty over her developing feelings for Chad Shelten, she wanted to lavish her husband with attention and his favorite dinner. She made mashed potatoes the way his mother made it and canned green beans even though the fresh ones were better but Logan liked what he liked.
Midway through trying to convince Alma to eat her vegetables, the aliens had attacked. There’d been no warning, no nothing, just the glass door leading to the backyard shattering and these… creatures infiltrating her house.
“Get Alma out of here!” Logan roared, shooting up out of his chair. He automatically used it as a weapon, slamming the smaller green things this way and that.
Mary Anne scooped her daughter up and ran into the living room. She looked out the window and saw more of the things out in the streets; there was nowhere to go. Whimpering, she locked the front door and told Alma to hide. What could she possibly do? Help Logan.
She went back to the dining room in time to watch Logan’s bad shoulder seize up. Wincing, her husband grabbed at it, falling to his knees. The aliens took advantage of this and- She turned her head away and screamed.
Now the creatures were focused on her. Wide-eyed, she ran back to the living room, to the fireplace and picked up the poker. She slipped her phone out of her pocket; she’d need back up. Kristy wasn’t picking up her phone. She saw one person on there who could and would help her; his number was now in her phone since he’d called her that afternoon asking if he could drop off the cooler. Had that been today? It felt so long ago.
Mary Anne dialed Chad Shelten’s cell phone and sobbed in relief when he picked up.
“Do they have weapons?” Frey asked as The Doctor hung out the window, observing the aliens.
“Some of them. They prefer not to use them, however.”
“Why?”
“See their teeth?”
Frey shuddered. “What’s their purpose?”
“To destroy,” The Doctor said, flatly.
“We can’t leave Kristy with them,” Frey said, growing distressed.
The Doctor took his hand and they ran to the elevators. “No. We can’t and we aren’t.”
Chad drove up on the Bruno lawn and leapt out of his SUV. The mood he was in, he was ready to kick some ass. The front door was locked so he went through the yard where the broken-latched gate was open and carefully stepped into the house through the broken glass door. He saw Logan Bruno with his throat torn open, staring sightlessly at him and swallowed hard to keep from throwing up.
He went into the living room where he heard angry screaming and the sounds of battle.
Mary Anne was fighting off aliens with a fire poker, rage contorting her pretty features. It made Chad feel perversely aroused, seeing her like this. He grabbed an alien – small buggers – and snapped its neck. The movement caught Mary Anne’s attention and she glanced at him as she skewered one of the aliens through the face.
“Thanks for coming,” she said breathlessly.
He grabbed two aliens and smashed their heads together. "No problem. Anything for you."
She yanked the poker out of the alien and slammed it across the windpipe of another. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” Chad knocked his elbow back into an alien’s jaw, making it wail. He grabbed it by the shoulders and kneed it in the stomach and when it was down elbowed it in the back.
They made quick work of the rest of them and then Chad and Mary Anne stood across from each other, panting.
“Thank you,” Mary Anne said as blood and sweat dripped off of her.
Carefully, Chad went to her and held her by the shoulders. “Are you hurt?”
“One of them got my shoulder.” She winced.
Chad quickly pulled his hands away. “Oh god, I’m sorry!”
“It’s okay. D-don’t worry.” She looked around the room, wild-eyed. "Alma, honey?? It's safe to come out now!"
Alma came out from under the piano and made a beeline for Mary Anne, who wrapped her up tight in her arms.
"What about her? Is she ok?" Chas asked.
"Sh-she's fine. I didn't let any of them touch her. Neither did L-L..." Finally snapping, Mary Anne burst into tears and Alma cried along with her.
“Hey- hey now.” Chad hugged Mary Anne tightly as she cried. "Let's go somewhere safer,” he quietly suggested, stroking Mary Anne’s hair.
"O-Okay. I just n-need to gather some stuff together. Alma, go pack an overnight bag, okay? Be sure to pack your toothbrush."
"Okay, Mommy." Glad of a distraction, Alma ran up the stairs in a flash.
When Mary Anne still seemed reluctant to let him go, he promised, "I'll wait here for you; make sure no more show up."
"Thank you so much, Chad." She kissed the corner of his mouth.
Chad ran his hands gently along her sides. "You're welcome."
She finally let him go to oversee Alma’s packing and get a few of her own things together. He wasn’t alone very long when Alma came back down the stairs, a pink Minnie Mouse backpack over her shoulders.
"I got a Barbie watch. See?" She held her wrist up.
"I see that. It's very nice."
“Thank you,” she said politely and stared up at him with her impossibly big blue eyes. “My daddy’s dead.”
"I know. I'm so sorry." Chad nodded solemnly.
Alma sighed, a tired weary sigh that no child should have to sigh. “Me too.”
The sound went to Chad’s heart and he sank down onto his haunches to hug her. The little girl hugged him back and started to whimper softly. It was then that Mary Anne returned, her own bag over her shoulder. She watched them quietly a moment.
"I need to do something else before I can leave."
Chad let Alma go and stood up. “Sure, what is it?”
Mary Anne spoke to Alma. "Sweetie, can you go back under the piano? Stay there and play with your fairy princess doll, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.” The girl followed instructions obediently and Mary Anne went to the couch, pulling a blanket off the back.
As she passed Chad on the way to the kitchen, she muttered, "I can't leave him like that." In the kitchen, she knelt by Logan’s side and closed his eyes. Sniffling, she covered him with the blanket and placed a hand over his heart. “You always said you'd take care of us, and you did a good job. Thank you, Logan." Her shoulders shook for a moment and then she stood up.
“We should go,” Chad said softly, feeling like a bastard for intruding on this moment. But it was necessary for them to get moving; they didn’t know if any more aliens were on the way.
“I know.” Mary Anne blew Logan a kiss and then turned away, going back into the living room. "C'mon Alma, we have to go."
The little girl came out of her hiding place and took Mary Anne’s hand, then Chad’s. She looked up at them trustingly.
"Where to?" Mary Anne asked.
"I was thinking my house, if it's still there."
Mary Anne nodded. “Okay. And that’s safer?”
"When I left, they weren't anywhere near that side of the city."
“Let’s go, then.”
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY PUT!!" Kristy shot at the aliens and then ducked behind the pillar, glaring daggers at The Doctor.
He situated Frey behind him, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. "Sorry, I must have a hearing problem."
Kristy looked absolutely livid as she shot another alien. "I can't believe you brought him with you!"
"It's safer than leaving him alone, because he'd just follow me!"
“God damn it!” Kristy shot another alien and then when she noticed Frey trying to peek out, snapped, “Stay back!!"
Frey automatically ducked behind The Doctor.
The Doctor looked around the room and saw the one who had the laser. It was doing the most damage, getting people who couldn’t be taken down with hand-to-hand combat. He pointed his screwdriver at it and just as a laserblast was about to hit a police officer, the gun locked.
“What?!” the alien shouted. It looked around angrily but froze when it saw The Doctor. “T-Time Lord?”
“That’s right,” The Doctor called. “Call off your little green men.”
“Stop!” the leader called and they all instantly obeyed. An eerie silence fell over the room.
“This planet doesn’t concern you, Time Lord,” the leader said nervously. “Mind your own business!”
“Oh, but this planet does concern me,” The Doctor said. “It’s under my protection. Leave and leave now.”
The leader swallowed and nodded nervously, trying to smile with its mouth full of shark’s teeth. “Yes! Yes… the last thing we need is a war with the Time Lords!” He spoke into his bracelet, ordering a retreat and the army left the station hastily.
Time Lords? Maybe that meant in this universe that there had never been a Time War. His people could still exist. A pang of homesickness threatened to topple him and The Doctor squeezed Frey’s shoulder to ground himself. This wasn’t their home. They couldn’t stay here.
Kristy dropped to her knees, exhausted, and looked at Frey. "You okay, jellybean?"
He nodded and then ran into her arms. She hugged him and whispered in his ear. "Yeah, you're okay. Such a good boy."
“What about you? Are you all right?” The Doctor asked.
She looked shaken, but nodded. “I-I’m fine.” She looked across the lobby to a grim faced officer coming their way. "You checked on the Brunos like I asked?"
The cop sighed. "Mary Anne and Alma weren't there but Logan.... he's.... I'm sorry, Thomas."
Kristy’s face crumbled but she nodded, staying strong. “Thanks.” She got her cell phone out and dialed Mary Anne’s number, not noticing The Doctor’s look of shock at hearing who Mary Anne was married to. Frey looked disconcerted by that as well.
Once she had ascertained that Mary Anne was safe, Kristy hung up the phone. "I have to... go take care of Logan. I'll take you two back to my place."
“All right,” The Doctor said quietly.
Kristy scooped Frey up in her arms though he was getting too big to be carried. She kept one arm under his butt to support his weight and took The Doctor’s hand in hers. They walked out that way, the three of them, as press people started arriving and filming the results of the carnage.
As soon as they came in the door, Alma complained of being sleepy so Chad set her up on the living room couch. The kid was so wiped she fell asleep instantly.
“Want some coffee?” Chad asked Mary Anne once they were both in the kitchen.
She nodded and the next thing he knew, he had her up on the counter, kissing her deeply and she was undoing his pants. He barely knew this woman, he was married, her husband hadn’t been dead long… but sinking into her warm, willing body felt like the rightest thing he’d ever done.
He’d never been with a woman so sweet before. She made soft mewling sounds and purred softly and came with a subdued cry, aware of the sleeping child in the next room. Chad came soon after and rested his forehead against her shoulder as she cuddled him warmly. He wanted to stay like that forever.
But then she was pushing him away, looking as if reality had set back in. "We shouldn't have done that." She started pulling her clothing back into place, smoothing her hair.
"I know, it was-- we shouldn't have..." He pulled his pants up, not liking the look of shame on her face.
"It was.... I've been thinking about it since I met you, but..." She looked away, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I’m sorry.”
"Don't be. I've been thinking about it too,” he confessed.
Mary Anne looked back at him and smiled softly, warming up to him again. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He smiled back.
Tenderly, she reached out to touch his face. "Why does this feel so familiar?"
"I don't know, but I can't stop thinking that I know you from somewhere, and not just the station." He placed his hand over hers and gave her a lopsided grin. "Maybe we were together in a past life."
“Maybe.” Her expression turned serious. "But you're married to someone else in this life."
“I know.” He nodded quietly, feeling guilty. "I-I never wanted to hurt her, but you and I-- there's something here. We feel it."
"I don't want to split up your marriage, Chad." She shook her head sadly. "As much as I wish you were mine, I can't..."
He cupped her face, unwilling to let her go just yet. "I wish things were different."
“Me too,” she sobbed out. He pulled her down to the floor and into his chest, tucking her head under his chin. "Alma and I should go."
“I don’t want you to.”
"If we stay, I'm not going to be able to-" She tried to pull away but he ran his hands up her back, trying to soothe her.
"I'm not sure if she's coming back. She wouldn't leave Brett Hopper’s side."
Mary Anne took a shaking breath. "Do you want her back?"
He shook his head. "No. You're all I can think about and, and I don't want you to leave."
Smiling softy, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Okay. Then I'll stay."
“Good.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “Want me to set up a bed for you near Alma?”
“Yes, please. I should go check on her.”
They reluctantly parted and Mary Anne went to her daughter, kneeling down next to the couch to gently brush her long blonde hair out of her face. Alma was her everything now.
She could hear Chad swear softly in the hallway and got up to help him with the mattress. They dropped it to the floor and both hazarded a quick look at Alma to make sure she hadn’t woken up. She continued to sleep and the two of them breathed a bit more easily.
But just as they were relaxing, a buzzing came from Mary Anne’s pocket and they both hustled into the kitchen so she could answer her cellphone.
"Hi, Kristy. We're fine, but Logan didn't.... he's...." As her voice broke, Chad rubbed her back soothingly. "I'm at Sergeant Shelten's house; he came to help us." She gave Chad a grateful smile and he smiled back. For a long moment she was quiet. "So they're gone for good?"
Relief made Chad sag. No more aliens, good.
"Okay. So they're fine too? I-I didn't think to call them, I was just so-" Mary Anne looked as if she was going to break down so Chad took the phone away from her.
"Thomas? Yeah. Ok, don't worry; I'll look out for them. Uh huh." His tone turned a little steely. "I know. She's staying with him. Right. Ok, well it's been a long day and we all need some sleep. Ok, bye."
“Thank you.” She looked up at him with shining eyes. “You really are my hero.”
He kissed her forehead. “Tired?”
She sagged against him. “God, yes.”
Chad chuckled without much humor and led her back into the living room. She lay down on the mattress he’d brought out and Chad settled into an armchair, earning him a skeptical look.
"Do you want to share the mattress? It's really comfy." A look of embarrassment crossed her face. "Which you should know. Because it's yours. And... from your marriage bed. Never mind. God, I’m sorry.”
"It's ok. I'd like to, but maybe I shouldn't... because of Alma."
Mary Anne turned her head and smiled warmly at her daughter. “I understand. We should get to sleep.”
“Right.” Chad nodded. “Goodnight, Mary Anne.”
“Goodnight.” She curled up in a little ball but both of them knew the other wasn’t going to fall asleep any time soon.
Finally, she’d gotten all of the dirty business taken care of and she could come home. Kristy stumbled in the front door and dropped her keys in the dish by the door, kicking off her boots and shedding her jacket along the way. She locked her front door and took a moment to watch The Doctor, spread out on his back in the middle of the fold-out bed, snoring softly.
What was it about him that had frightened those aliens? She shivered and decided she didn’t really want to know.
Going into her bedroom, she wasn’t surprised to find Frey there, waiting for her and dozing fitfully.
“Are you going to keep me company?” she asked him softly, pulling back the covers so she could lay down.
“Uh huh,” he said sleepily, snuggling close to her.
Guilt prompted her to say, "Maybe your daddy needs you, jellybean."
"You need me." He yawned.
"I'm trying not to..." she whispered but he’d fallen asleep.
Chad jerked awake to the sound of the tv. He realized it was a kid’s cereal commercial that had woken him and ran a hand over his face. Looking down at the floor, he saw that Mary Anne had been woken by the sound, too.
“The aliens are gone,” Alma chirped. “The newsman said. Also, I saw Aunt Kristy on tv.”
“Really?” Mary Anne sat up and stretched, glancing over at Chad. “Sleep okay?”
“Ungh.”
Mary Anne smiled and got to her feet. "You hungry, sweetpea?"
“Does Sergeant Shelten have Cocoa Puffs?” Alma asked, eyes glued to the television.
"No, but I have Cap'n Crunch. Does that work?" Chad asked.
Alma considered this a moment then nodded. “Yes, please.”
"Ok, I'll get you a bowl." He stood up and cracked his neck.
"We slept in our clothes." Alma said to Mary Anne as she sat down next to her.
"We sure did." Mary Anne sniffed herself and made a theatrical pewwwwww face. "Mommy needs a shower."
"Am I stinky, too?" Alma asked eagerly.
Mary Anne sniffed her and gagged jokingly. “Yes!”
Chuckling, Chad went into the kitchen and poured some cereal and milk into a bowl, then grabbed a big spoon because he remembered thinking those were fun when he was Alma’s age. He brought the food out to the little girl and she beamed.
“Thank you, Sergeant Shelten. Look Mommy, he got me a big spoon!”
“Neato!” Mary Anne tousled Alma’s hair and then turned to Chad. "Could you watch her for a bit while I take a shower? I mean, if that's okay."
"No, that's fine. Do you need help finding stuff in the bathroom?" He gestured vaguely.
"I think I can struggle through okay. Thank you." Smiling at him, Mary Anne went upstairs.
"Heeeeyyy, Blue's Clues is on!" Alma picked up the remote control and changed the channel.
Chad sat back down in the armchair. "Did you sleep ok?"
"Yep. Mama says I can sleep through a hurricane. I slept through an earthquake before. And when our neighbor broke his window during a fight."
“I see.” He leaned forward, looking at the tv screen. “So what’s this show about?”
She pointed at the screen. "The doggie hides clues around the house and the man in the stripey shirt has to find 'em. But he's stupid and can't find anything without help. Me 'n Daddy give him the wrong answers cuz it's funny. But he never listens to us, though."
“Guess he’s not listening hard enough.”
“Guess not.” She was quiet a long moment then said, “You like my mommy a lot, huh?”
Chad paused and thought over his options. "Yes, she's very nice."
"Yeah. She's pretty much the best mommy on the planet."
"From what I've seen, I'd have to agree, though my mom's up there too."
“Up where?” Alma asked, confused.
Chad chuckled. "Up at the top of the best mommies on the planet list."
"Ohhhh okay. I thought you meant she was in heaven. That's where my Daddy is now." She started to look sad. "He liked Cocoa Puffs. We used to eat 'em and watch Blue's Clues, then he'd take me to kindergarten."
"Sounds like he's at the top of the best daddies list."
"Yeah. We used to play catch, too. My daddy played baseball when he was a kid but then he hurted his shoulder in college and had to stop playing."
Chad nodding, knowing how that was. "I hurt my knee in college and had to stop playing football."
Alma frowned worriedly and looked just like Mary Anne in the process. "Owwie. Does your knee go all hurty when it rains like Daddy's shoulder did?"
"Sometimes, yeah."
“Do you have a kitty?”
Chad blinked in surprise, unused to children’s conversation and their abrupt subject changes. "Nope."
"Neither do we. We used to but he got old and we had to put him down. What about a doggie?"
"Not anymore. He got old too."
“That’s sad.” She tipped the bowl back and started drinking the sugary milk, leaving behind a mustache. "Any goldfish?"
“Nope, did you?” Chad asked, smiling.
"Uh huh. But I was little and stupid and fed them too much and they s'ploded." She made a sound effect and simulated an atomic blast with her hands.
Grinning, Chad reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, intent on rubbing away her milk mustache. "You've got yourself a mustache, and little girls shouldn't have those. Here."
“Oh! Thank you.” She took it and delicately wiped her mouth before handing it back. “You’re like an Englishman.”
"How's that?" He put it back in his pocket.
"The Englishman have hankerchees,” Alma explained patiently.
“All of them?”
“Yes,” she said with a serious look.
"I did not know that. Wow, that's something."
“Did you know that two and two is four?”
“Yup.”
"Diiiiiiiiid you know thaaaaaaaaaaat...." She thought hard and then her face lit up. “My favorite color is purple?”
"I did not. Wanna know what my favorite color is?"
“Yes, please.”
“Blue.”
“My eyes are blue!”
“Mine too!”
“That’s so cool!” Alma exclaimed, genuinely excited by this.
Chad grinned. "It is."
Mary Anne came in just then wearing clean clothes, her wet hair brushed back. "Time for your bath, sweetpea."
"Oooh! Morning baths are neat!" Alma scrambled off the couch and ran to her mother.
"Best way to start the day,” Chad agreed. “That and Blue's Clues."
Alma pointed at him. “You are a very smart man.”
Mary Anne smiled at him as she led the girl away and Chad switched off the tv. He took Alma’s bowl out into the kitchen and washed it, then set about returning the mattress to his bed. His and Rita’s bed.
He and Mary Anne in the kitchen last night flashed through his mind but to his surprise, he didn’t feel guilty any more. It was like… it’d been meant to happen.
By the time he was done with these activities, Alma was done with her bath and ran to him in the living room. “Smell my hair!”
He knelt down and took a whiff. “Apples?”
"Uh huh. Auntie Dawnie got it for me. She's awesome."
Chad nodded and smiled at Mary Anne, who smiled back a little uncertainly. "Kristy called again and said that... houses have been... cleared out. So, it's safe to return to our homes."
"Oh, ok. Umm, I could call someone for you... about--" He cleared his throat awkwardly. "About him, and get him taken care of before you go back."
"Kristy took care of it, but thank you,” she said gently.
Of course. Chad nodded. "So, you want to go?"
"I probably should." She put her hands on Alma’s shoulders. "Have you got your stuff together, sweetpea?"
"Nope, it's all scattered around."
"Well, better go pack it up then."
Alma went to do just that and Chad shuffled closer, looking concerned. "You'll call if you need anything?"
"Yeah. I will." She gave him a half smile.
“Okay then.” Chad looked down at Alma, stuffing things into her bag. "So this was a different kind of sleepover, huh?"
“It was my first,” she announced.
"Oh, well then it was the best you ever had." He winked and she tilted her head, giggling.
Mary Anne laughed softly. "Wanna watch for Aunty Kristy, sweetpea?"
“Yep!” Alma skipped out into the hall to look out the window.
Taking a deep breath, Mary Anne said sincerely, “Thank you so much for this, Chad.”
"You're welcome. I'm glad I could help." He touched her elbow gently.
"It's been wonderful knowing you."
Alma’s voice from the hall called, “She’s heeeeeere!”
Chad’s smile faded and a feeling of dread sank into his stomach. "You're making it sound like we'll never see each other again."
Mary Anne hung her head and tried to walk away. "If things don't work out with your wife, then... come find us."
“Wait.” He grabbed her arm, making her stand still. "I've already made my decision. I want you."
"And I want you free first before I really start becoming attached to you.” She looked into his eyes. “And I have to think of Alma, too."
Already missing her, he let his hand slide down to hers to give it a squeeze. "Alright."
After appearing to debate with herself a moment, she gave him a soft kiss. “We’ll be waiting.”
"It won't be long,” Chad promised.
She backed away, smiling at him all the while and then she was gone.
“Bye, Sergeant Shelteeeeeeeeeeeeen!!” Alma called.
“Bye, Almaaaaaaa!” he called back, making she and Mary Anne giggle.
Then the door shut and they were gone.
After Kristy dropped Mary Anne and Alma off at the Bruno house, The Doctor gave Kristy instructions to their ship. At least he said they came in a ship. It looked more like a big blue box to her, but hey, whatever.
As they walked up to it, Frey held her hand, chattering a mile a minute. “We have so much to show you! All these galaxies and planets and stars and aliens and-“
"I can't go with you, Frey,” Kristy said softly.
This made Frey’s face fall. “But… but-“
"I'm not your mom,” she said gently. “I wish I was, but I'm not. This isn't my life."
Frey’s lip quivered. “But it could be!”
Kristy shook her head. "That wouldn't be fair to your mom. Or me. Or you."
“Don’t you like us?” Frey asked, plaintively.
"Ohhh, jellybean." Kristy knelt in front of him. "I like you very much. But that's not the issue here."
“I know.” He sniffled.
Cupping his face gently, she whispered, “I’ll miss you, though.”
"I'll miss you too." He started to cry and threw his arms around her.
She tried to hold in her own tears but didn’t succeed very well. "Be a good boy. And take care of your daddy. He needs you."
Frey bit his lip, ashamed of the way he’d been treating his father and looked apologetically up at him. "He does."
"Of course he does." She gave the boy one more big hug and kissed his forehead before getting to her feet.
"Well... thanks for all your help, and your hospitality, and all that,” The Doctor said.
Kristy nodded. “You’re welcome.”
The Doctor took Frey’s hand. “Time to go, son.” When Frey was by his side, he said, "Goodbye, Kristy Thomas."
“Goodbye, Doctor.” Tears sliding down her cheeks, she smiled bravely and turned to walk back to her car. They watched her a moment, not ready to leave quite yet.
"We'll be ok,” The Doctor said, unsure of who he was trying to reassure. “We have each other."
"But she has no one,” Frey said, watching Kristy walk sadly away. “Go and say a proper goodbye.”
The Doctor sighed. "She'll find someone. I know she will."
Frey gave him a little shove, a teasing smile showing through his heartbreak. "Go and give her a kiss."
The Doctor watched Kristy open her car door. "Do you think she'd let me?"
“Yes.”
He took a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Ok. Stay here." He jogged back to the car and hearing him, she turned to face him, looking confused.
“What are you-“ Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. For a second she was too stunned to do anything but then she recovered herself and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him back and matching his ardor exactly.
Finally, they broke the kiss but still held onto each other. "My son insisted I give you a proper goodbye,” The Doctor panted. "However, I suppose that's only a proper goodbye to the French. Hope you didn't mind." Smiling a little, he released her.
Dazed, Kristy blinked a little. "No, I- I didn't mind." She smiled back. "I don't think that kind of goodbye is exclusive to the French; I'm pretty sure it's universal." Looking over his shoulder at Frey, she giggled. “Look at him.”
The Doctor turned and saw Frey practically bouncing on his heels, squealing. He laughed. "Well, I think I made his day. Made my day too."
Kristy stepped close again and kissed his cheek. "You'd better go before I start begging you to stay."
He gave her a look and nodded. "I can't be stealing you away from whoever you're really meant for."
“Who I’m meant for?” She rolled her eyes, not believing in fate or destiny.
"Alright, alright. Whatever you want to believe. I'm going." He grew serious. “Goodbye.”
"Goodbye, pretty,” she said, smiling at him affectionately.
Pretty. His forehead wrinkled as he frowned at that but at her worried look he relaxed. "Same to you."
She got back into her car and he walked back to the TARDIS, unlocking the doors.
“What if she was meant for us?” Frey asked.
“If she really was, then the TARDIS will find a way to bring us back here." He shooed his son inside.
“Okay.” Frey accepted this answer and they both went into the ship and closed the doors behind them. A second later, they were gone.
What Kristy needed was some coffee. After feeling like she’d physically and emotionally been through the wringer, some caffeine was right on the agenda. She opened the door to the coffee shop she always went to and was knocked by a man hurrying out.
"Hey, come back here with my wallet!" someone inside screamed.
Eyes widening, Kristy tackled the would-be thief to the ground and wrestled the wallet out of his hand. “You’re under a-“ The guy shoved her off of him and then took off down the street. By the time she’d found her feet again, the guy had disappeared into the crowd of people. Great.
Disappointed, she went back into the coffee shop.
"Oh, a cannae thank ye enough!" a man with a Scottish accent said.
Kristy didn’t pay much attention, just handed the wallet back. "Sure, no problem. Sorry that he got away, I would've made sure he was punished to the full extent of the-" She stopped dead when she looked at him, her eyes widening.
"Wot? I 'ave something in me beard?" The man who looked exactly like The Doctor, only with facial hair, said. He ran his hand through his beard.
"No, just..." She started blushing. “You look familiar.
He nodded and took his wallet from her. "Mebbe ye saw me on the telly? I'm an actor."
"Oh. I don't really watch much tv. But maybe that's it." She bit her lip. "Um. Well, I should..." She pointed at the counter where she should order her coffee.
"Oh, right. Well..." He smiled gently. "Hey, could I buy ye a cuppa to say thanks?"
“Cup of what?” she asked, frowning.
"Ehm, a cuppa coffee I suppose? That's what ye were lookin' ta get?"
"Right. Of course. I'm Kristy, by the way." She held her hand out. “Detective Kristy Thomas.”
He shook her hand. "I'm David MacDonald, nice to meet you."
Kristy gave him a little smile. “You too.”
******************
Before anyone says ANYTHING, he didn't visit Rose because this was a different Alternate Earth; she either didn't exist or wouldn't have known him. And yeah, Frey should never have been able to break another hole in the universe, especially intentionally but you know what? The Daleks were supposed to have all died out in the Time War so... Never say never, I guess. It's fic, just have fun. *nods encouragingly*
******************
< Chapter Fifteen - The Memory Machine : Chapter Seventeen - The Star >
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2007-06-29 04:34 am (UTC)\0/ SO MUCH WINNAGE!
D'you think people still want to kill us since we teased them w/ fake!Kristy?
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Date: 2007-06-29 04:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-29 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-29 04:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-29 04:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-06-29 09:17 am (UTC)And there's SO MUCH for me to SQUEEEE OVER!!!!
I'm so glad that one of our couples were still together! (Dawn & Kevin). But I ABSOLUTELY LOVED Mary Anne and Chad's story!!!! It was so... well I was worried that it was gonna be heartbreaking, but you left it hopeful!
And Kristy got her own "Doctor"!!!
And poor Frey! He just wanted his mummy!
I had wondered how you were gonna continue this with their Kristy dead, and this was such a wonderfully emotional way! There were MANY tears!
I still don't know how you're gonna keep going, but I can't wait! I'd so been hanging out for this chapter and now I CANNOT WAIT for the next!!!!
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Date: 2007-06-29 07:46 pm (UTC)I think you'll be very pleased with the next chapter and luckily you won't have to wait as long for that one as you had to for this one since it's nowhere near as epic in length. ;) Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! *hugs*
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Date: 2007-06-29 08:22 pm (UTC)[/Dalek]
*giggles*
Seriously, though. I loved this chapter. I love that all of them meet each other or have met each other, and it provides a nice closure to the Kristy/Ten love story. Which I needed. Because you killed her. Just like that. She's dead. Not alive. Because you killed her. Damn you.
*counts to ten*
Mary Anne and Chad are *so* meant to be! I have to admit that I really thought Kristy would go with them, but I think this is a very elegant solution which leaves room for, dare I say it, a sequel :-)
*sighs*
Also, I really put the fear of God into you guys, didn't I? *basks*
no subject
Date: 2007-06-29 08:24 pm (UTC)Be afraid. Be very afraid.
I might be scarier but I emote a lot more, too :P
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Date: 2007-06-29 09:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-02 06:29 am (UTC)I have found two medals for bravery and just excuse me while I pin them on you and Nutmeg *pins*. Killing Kirsty took some guts.
I loved this, spcifically that except for a goodly kiss the alternate Kirsty didn't come with them, because the idea must have been tempting.
:D I also loved the Mary Ann/Chad side story, poor Chad, getting up there in years. (He'll still be good and fertile, betcha half a dollar).
*applauds*
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Date: 2007-07-02 11:56 pm (UTC)There was a loooot more to Chad/Mary Anne in this story but it was already way too long and got chopped. If there's any interest, I might revisit this weird AU verse in short-story form.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 08:51 am (UTC)*Bats eyelashes*
Pretty please?
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Date: 2007-07-03 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-03 09:14 pm (UTC)Crap. I have a scenario in mind. Maybe sometime soon.
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Date: 2007-09-13 09:14 pm (UTC)XP
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Date: 2008-03-01 03:02 pm (UTC)I miss the old Kristy too....
And I just love the fact that you brought in David with his shmexy Scottish accent.... =D
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Date: 2008-03-01 09:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-03 02:44 pm (UTC)And I seriously loved his accent in Tooth and Claw. I was quite sad when he went back to the British....