The Doctor and Alice

Chapter 4

Alice holds onto the pillar and signals for the girl to do the same, which she does, but on one away from everyone else.

The TARDIS shakes and then the whirring noise and the TARDIS lands. The Doctor holds out his hand for the girl who runs over and clutches his hand. "Alright, there isn't any ice out there so do you mind if I carry you?" She nods and he picks her up. 

Alice smiles at his tolerance for kids and walks beside him as they exit. "You're quite good with her." She smiles.

"Well..."

She thinks back to what he had said about the time lock and war, and decided to not press further. Instead she focused on the futuristic scene in front of her and keeping her hair from blowing in her mouth or anyone else's. 

They walk into a big white building. "I don't like hospitals."

"Why?" Alice asks, still looking around. 

"They're just... Bleh," he looks around "oh look a shop! And not a cat in sight!" He exclaims. Jack goes up to Alice, "so, you like kids?"

Alice shrugs. "Hm." She ignores the other comments. Alice nods. "Yeah. Not if they're bratty, though. Then I despise them." She replies, looking at him.

Jack smirks. "So tell me, what could a guy do to win a pretty girl like you?" He asks while the Doctor checks the girl in. 

Alice smiles and blushes, but she doesn't know she did.

"Hm. Well, a drink to start." She smiles.

"How 'bout dinner after we take care of the girl?" He asks. He looks at the girl and his eyes soften. He knew how it felt. He's had blood poisoning and been cut up tons of times. 

Alice smiles at his softness for the girl. "Sure." She knew how the girl felt as well... poisoning was not fun.

They get brought to a room where nurses take care of the girl. "What's your name?" One asks her but of course gets no reply. So the nurse turns to the Doctor, "What's her name?" The Doctor shrugs. "I think she's mute due to traumatic events."

Alice nods in confirmation. "But we need to get her taken care of now." She said, looking at the girl once again.

The nurse nods and begins tending to her wounds. "Should we leave her solve the mystery of her planet?" The Doctor asks his two companions. 

Alice is indecisive. "I don't know, sorry." She bites her lip. "Probably." 

He leans over and whispers, "we can be back in 5 minutes."

Alice feels stupid. "Right! Of course! Sorry." She looks at the floor and blushes.

"It alright," he smiles at her

She smiles sheepishly. "We- uh. We should go."

"ya. They walk out the door, through the halls, out the main lobby and to the TARDIS. Not much conversation goes on throughout that time. When they get back in the TARDIS, she whirs worriedly. "She'll be alright," the Doctor tells her. Then he starts preparing for takeoff. 

Alice looks at him curiously. "Are you talking to the TARDIS?" She asks quietly.

"Yes I am! He pumps the thingy and flicks the whatchamabob. 

She gives Jack a "What am I going to do?" Look and watches the Doctor be strange.

Jack laughs and shrugs. The TARDIS starts shaking and they travel back to where they found the girl. The doctor opens the door and hears Alice call, "Doctor?" He turns around questioningly but Alice shakes her head. "That wasn't me," she tells them. "Who else..? Oh."