The Doctor and Sloan (The Doctor and Sloan Series book 1)

Aliens of London

Sloan sat on the jump seat as the Doctor worked the console. He was taking Rose home to see her mother. Sloan was offered on numerous occasions to be taken home, which she flat out refused each time he mentioned it. He presses a few more buttons before the TARDIS lands. The Doctor and Rose leave with Sloan following close behind them. Sloan grinned, not only was she in the past but she was she was in London. He pulled Sloan close to him as he leaned against the blue box.

"How long have I been gone?" Rose asked turning to look at the Doctor.

"About twelve hours." He answers making Rose laugh which made the Doctor start to chuckle along. Sloan just thought the two were insane.

"Oh. Right, I won't be long. I just want to see my mum." Turning to walk off.

"What're you going to tell her?"

"I don't know. I've been to the year 5 billion and only been gone, what, twelve hours?" Rose said as the Doctor made a nose. "No, I'll just tell her I spent the night at Shareen's. See you later. Oh, don't you disappear." She waved to the two before continuing to walk off. That's when Sloan noticed the missing persons flier. She nudged the Doctor who looked at the flier in shock.

~

"I'm back! I was with Shareen. She was all upset again. Are you in?" Rose asked as she walked into the flat throwing her keys down on the small table. Her mother comes into view wearing a robe, holding a cup of tea. "So, what's been going on? How've you been? What? What's that face for? It's not the first time I've stayed out all night." She watched as her mother stand stock still in shock and drop the cup of tea onto the floor.

"It's you." Jackie said with disbelief.

"Of course it's me."

"Oh, my God. It's you. Oh my God." Jackie hugs Rose, who spots several different types of missing person posters on the table. Just as Rose sees the missing persons fliers on the table both Sloan and The Doctor run in.

"It's not twelve hours, it's twelve months. You've been gone a whole year. Sorry." The Doctor told her with an embarrassed grin. Sloan just gave Rose and apologetic look before turning back to the Doctor intimidated at the look Jackie gave her.

~

"The hours I've sat here, days and weeks and months, all on my own. I thought you were dead, and where were you? Traveling. What the hell does that mean, traveling? That's no sort of answer." Jackie yelled upset then turned to the police officer she had called "You ask her. She won't tell me. That's all she says. Traveling."

"That's what I was doing." Rose protested from her seat on the settee. Both Sloan and the Doctor were off to the side trying to stay out of the older woman's fury.

"When your passport's still in the drawer? It's just one lie after another." Jackie yelled again pointing in the direction of the passport.

"I meant to phone. I really did. I just I forgot." Rose said but it was horrible excuse, but it was the truth as she really hadn't been gone as long as her mother thought she was.

"What, for a year? You forgot for a year? And I am left sitting here. I just don't believe you. Why won't you tell me where you've been?" Jackie asked finally finished with the yelling she had been doing and now just looked really upset.

"Actually, it's my fault. I sort of er, employed Rose as my companion." The Doctor imputed, Sloan behind him, too shy to actually show her face. He pulled her to his side keeping an arm around her. "Sloan and I both did." Although it was the Doctor's idea she come along Sloan liked having Rose with them.