#ft excerpt

One of the passengers had left the group huddled around the mangled bus and was walking their way. Donna had noticed her before and had disliked her on sight. She knew this type of posh woman all too well—the type who dressed all in black so you couldn’t help but noticed how expensive their clothing was.

She set her backpack down, and the heavy bag left an indentation in the sand. “Well, the four of you seem a little more organised than that group back there.”

The Doctor and Rose exchanged a glance, and Donna crossed her arms over her chest.

“We’re just experienced in handling emergencies,” Rose offered after a second’s conversation.

The woman’s mouth curved into an amused, almost mocking smile. She reached into a small pocket of her backpack and pulled out a pair of sunglasses.

“So am I,” she agreed as she put them on. “Ready for every emergency.”

Donna rolled her eyes. “Having a pair of designer sunnies does not count as being ready for an emergency.”

The woman didn’t respond. She just sidled closer to the Doctor. “And what’s your name?”

“I’m the Doctor. This is Rose, Donna, and Lee,” he replied, pointing at each of them in turn.

It didn’t matter, because she didn’t look away from the Doctor. “Name, not rank.”

“His name is the Doctor.” Rose bit back a sigh. It got a little old, the way everyone they met ignored her.

The woman spared her a quick glance, then focused on the Doctor again. “Surname?” she pressed.

“Listen, sunshine,” Donna snapped. “He’s told you his name is the Doctor. His wife has told you his name is the Doctor. What more do you need? His passport?”

The woman finally blinked. “You’re called the Doctor?” she queried, somewhat disbelievingly.

“Yes, I am.” He put his hands in his coat pockets and rocked back on his heels. 

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not a name. That’s a psychological condition.”

“Well, what’s your name?” Donna demanded.

She sighed. “Christina. Lady Christina de Souza, actually.”

Forever Timeless:

The Doctor rubbed a hand over his face. “I need to create a setting on the sonic for Allen wrenches. Those belong on a list of forbidden torture devices.”

Jackie’s snort interrupted Rose’s teasing response. “And here I thought you were some kind of superior alien,” she said as she entered the room, carrying two tall glasses of water. “How the mighty have fallen—defeated by an Ikea flat pack.”

Rose could sense the Doctor weighing the merits of defending himself against the likelihood that Jackie would dump the glass of water over his head. In the end, he only rolled his eyes and said, “Thankfully, the fate of the universe has never rested on my ability to put together furniture with vaguely Swedish names.”

A Wish Your Heart Makes:

Rose’s heart skipped a beat. This was what she’d hoped for, but she tried to keep her expectations low. A week had passed since she’d finally had the courage to talk to the Doctor about their relationship. Despite the mutual agreement that they were far more than friends, and that they wanted to develop that more, he still hadn’t kissed her.

She suspected the Doctor was waiting for the Perfect Moment. Meanwhile, she had to remind herself several times a day that she couldn’t just grab his tie and yank his lips down to meet hers.

Always Her Doctor:

The library was rather inconveniently located on the opposite side of the building from his room. At least with class in session, the hallways were empty enough that John felt free to move at a brisk jog, instead of a more sedate, professorial pace.

He was halfway there, mind filled with the imagined smile Marion would greet him with, when a sly voice stopped him.

“Where are you racing off to in such a hurry, Mr. Smith?”