Reconcile (Doctor Who X Tenth Doctor)

Chapter 6: Tooth and Claw

A/N  A bit out of order episode wise, but I just thought this would be fun for Katie and Mickey! - DLConter

Katie didn't know when she fell asleep in her husband's arms, warn out from crying. She had faint memories of her weight being shifted around in his arms and being scooped up, the cold metal grating disappearing from underneath her legs. She leaned her head on his check listening to the calming sound of his dual hearts beating in his chest.

The Doctor didn't speak as she carried Katie down the hallways of the TARDIS. Rose opened her bedroom door just as he was about to walk past. She was dressed in pajamas. The blonde opened her mouth to speak but his stern expression made her promptly shut her mouth as she gazed at the sleeping Time Lady in his arms.

Mickey came up behind Rose and wrapped his arms around Rose's waist, pulling her against his chest. He nodded at the Doctor passing by. "Come on, Rose. Let's get some sleep."

Hours later, Katie woke up alone. She groaned and stretched out her arms and legs. She twisted so she was laying on her side and pulled the golden silk blanket closer to herself as she buried her head further into her pillow. Breathing deeply, the scent of Gallifrey's Fire Oaks, nicknamed for their appearance in the sunlight, filled her nostrils.

That was when her eyes snapped open.

That familiar scent should have been long gone.

Katie sat up quickly in bed taking in her surroundings. The golden blanket fell into her lap revealing that someone had removed both her gown and her corset leaving her in a loose-fitting silk top and petticoat. She was laying in a fourposter king sized bed in the center of a large bedroom. Two Fire Oaks sat in opposite corners of the room framing the door leading out into the hallway of the TARDIS.

Red walls surrounded her on all four sides engraved with golden Gallifreyan that listed off the names of the Kings and Queens of Gallifrey before her. Her name was up there somewhere. So was her husband's.

Two tall dressers were pressed against the far wall with a long dresser in between. They were made from the same dark brown, almost black, varnished fire oak. Picture frames littered the long dresser. There were several depicting herself with the Doctor. Others were of them with their children, their grandchildren. One of her with her parents. There were smaller frames setting along the edge, each a headshot of all the companions that once traveled with them.

Slowly, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Touching them to the floor, she quickly pulling them put up as she stepped on her discarded gown and corset. She rolled her eyes and kicked them to the side before standing up. Her bare feet felt cold against the wooden floor. Taking careful steps, as if thinking the room would melt away if she moved to fast, she walked towards the pictures. Her fingertips brushed the edges of the frames. Ripping her hand back and rubbing her fingertips together, she frowned at the thick layer of dust. She took a deep breath and blew, a sad attempt of clearing the dust from her precious photos.

She coughed as the particle gathered into the air. Waving the space in front of her face she grumbled to herself, "Smart one, Arcadia. Smart move." Shaking her head back and forth, she walked towards the door leading to the hallway. Placing her hand on the door handle she turned around to stare at the room once more. "No place like home, I guess."

She pulled the door open and stepped out into the hallway. Closing the door behind her she looked around realizing that the TARDIS's layout had changed dramatically since the last time she was aboard. Turning around, Katie looked at her bedroom door. It was still made from the same Fire Oak as it had been for years with the royal insignia engraved in gold in the center. Her fingers traced the pattern. "At least something hasn't change." She looked up towards the ceiling as the TARDIS hummed and smiled. "Can you show me to the kitchen, my love?"