Travellers' Hearts {The Wattys 2017}

Chapter 1

It was a sunny day in London, one of the rare sunny summer days that year, so the Doctor decided to pop out for some fresh air. There was some sort of melancholy that day, and maybe that was why the Tardis' door's paint seemed to be wearing off, as if she was trying to forget. Forget Rose Tyler. Just like the doctor. He still kept seeing her in everything - in the roses that bloomed in the garden in front of him, in the shop windows that reminded him of his first encounter with her. Maybe that was why Martha had left without a word. Maybe it had been too obvious that he had another girl on his mind. He saw Rose in the girl with the beautiful hair that had just - Wait! The Doctor knew that girl. He had seen her before, in a church, at Jackie and Pete Tyler's wedding. Wasn't she that girl that had sacrificed herself to hold back the Reapers, claiming that she was even older that the Doctor? But she was supposed to be dead, wasn't she? Hadn't the Reapers torn her apart?

Having gotten curious, he ran after her. 'Hey!', he shouted as he caught up. The girl whirled around. When she saw the Doctor, she furrowed her brow and shook her head, not quite seeming to remember him. 'I'm the Doctor', he said. 'Hello... Yes, hello, Kate. Have we met?' The Doctor was a bit disappointed. She had offered to die to save him (and the other guests, okay, but anyways), and she didn't even remember him? 'Yes, I think so. At the wedding...' 'Oh, yes!', Kate seemed to recall their meeting. 'Sorry, yes! Nice to meet you again!'

An hour later, the two of them were sitting in the Tardis, sipping cheap Starbucks coffee. 'So, did Rose go for a stroll? Should we go check if she's alright?', Kate asked sheepishly after a few moments of silence. The Doctor's smile disappeared and his face seemed to cool down from a hundred to zero within two seconds, as if a part of him had just died that very moment. Rose. He took a deep breath, holding back tears. 'Rose is gone', he finally said. Kate's traits immediately softened, and there was sorrow in her eyes as she looked at the Doctor's side-face. 'I'm so sorry', she said, her voice quiet. The Doctor shook his head. 'Oh no, she's fine, happy! Left her in another universe, but she's doing great over there!', he exclaimed, smiling broadly. Kate nodded. She could sense that something was wrong, but the Doctor didn't seem to wish to explain further, and she thought it would be the best to leave him alone.

'Okay, so... I'll be gone now. Bye', she told the Doctor. He gave her a puzzled look. 'Don't you want to come with me? See another planet, maybe?' To his surprise, Kate shook her head. 'I don't want to bother you, really!' 'Don't you want to travel?', he shouted after her as she was halfway to the Tardis door. 'Oh, I love travelling. But I don't want to annoy you by sticking around all the time. I'll just go. Maybe visit another Galaxy, who knows.' The Doctor didn't quite understand. Visit another Galaxy? 'And how do you plan to do that?', he asked. 'Not many travellers nowadays, no one to pick you up, is there?' 'I can travel on my own', Kate said. 'Just like you.' Christ. Another traveler!!! The Doctor was excited! 'Oh, wow, so do you travel around with a machine?' Kate shook her head. 'How do you travel in time without a time machine, then?', the Doctor exclaimed almost agitatedly. After all, he was a Time Lord, but he couldn't think of any way another, well, being could do that. Funny enough, Kate laughed. 'You can travel in time?', she exclaimed. The Doctor nodded. 'Oh, that changes everything. No chance for you to get rid of me now!' They both laughed.

'So, where do you want to go?', The Doctor asked her. Forwards or backwards? 'Hum... backwards!' 'Okay - Allons-y!'