Rebound

The Next Doctor

A/N: This is only the first chapter, no others will be posted on this site. I only made this account because another wattpad user had started to post my stories without my permission. If you would like to read the rest of the completed story, please see the external link ;)

~8~ is a scene break

~/~\~ is a flashback

'italics' is the Doctor/Professor speaking telepathically.

This incarnation of the Professor (her 10th) is a lean, blue eyed, blonde woman, hair in a ponytail, who typically wears a gray/blue thin strap tank top, knee length black cargo pants, black shoes, and black fingerless gloves, along with a familiar sonic blaster in a holster around her waist.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who...if I did, I'd have a jacket with pockets bigger on the inside too...

~8~

The Next Doctor

The TARDIS materialized under a bridge in the snow. The Professor peeking out of it as per the norm to make sure it was safe before stepping out, seeing no danger.

She'd lost the fingerless gloves she used to wear, but kept her blaster and its holster, though added a thin grayish-blue hooded jacket made of a thin sweater-like material. Her bracelet, the one the Doctor had given her for her 100th birthday, was visible on her wrist once more, having been hidden under the fingerless gloves to keep it safe. There was a new addition in terms of jewelry as well. The Doctor seemed to have realized he'd never properly given her an engagement ring when he saw her bracelet visible again and disappeared off somewhere in the TARDIS, only to come back with a little golden band with a small, simple, familiar diamond on the top, a Whitepoint Star, which could only be found on Gallifrey. He'd apparently kept a few more keepsakes from their planet than just their things and had taken the small stone and the metal ring to an Earth jeweler's to be fitted into an engagement band in 1969, when both she and Martha had been at their jobs. He'd forgotten about it since then, what with going to Utopia and dealing with the Master and then her regeneration...she hadn't been one for displaying jewelry.

But now, she wore it proudly.

She held the door open, allowing the Doctor to step out after her. He looked around with a smile, seeing freshly fallen snow, before they headed out under the bridge and into a busy market area. The people, dressed in period clothing, were milling around, buying things from the garland and ribbon decorated stalls.

"You there, boy!" the Doctor called, spotting a boy a few feet away, "What day is this?"

"Christmas Eve, sir."

"What year?"

"You thick or something?"

"Oi, just answer the question."

"Year of our Lord 1851, sir."

"Right. Nice year. Bit dull," the Professor shook her head at him, "What?"

"You do know that I'm here yes? I can tell you the time and day just as well."

He grinned, still so happy that she was back to herself, to a point. He'd noticed that she was far more open around him than with others, when strangers came into play, she was just as cautious as she had been before being dosed with Donna's humanity, "Oh I know, just thought I'd give you a break."

She rolled her eyes at him and looked around, smiling softly, "I love Earth at Christmas time."

He nodded, "That always was your favorite Earth holiday," he remarked, gazing at her a moment, "I don't actually know why that is."