008 | walter reed |

[thatoldthatkind]

[ The Doctor is at the console of the TARDIS this evening, flicking lightly at one of the switches on it. His cowboy hat is firmly on his head and his eyes are on the blinking lights. He eyes the phone on the console before looking back at the lights. He always knows where to go, what to do. What left he can see in the universe before the ... well, end.

Maybe it's time he stopped running. But, he doesn't want to stop. There's so many people he has to meet and to help still. Maybe the universe would be better without the Doctor. River said that the whole of everything would turn against him if he kept carrying on like he does. Maybe it is time for him to stop.

He reaches up and tilts his cowboy hat down, unaware of his company. Maybe the dreamer is new to his dreams, or a frequent visitor. Either way? The Doctor has lost a bit of jump to his step. ]

Comments

[thatoldthatkind]

I doubt that. She's old. And temperamental--[ And the console sparks. ]

[waterfell]

Like Doctor, like Tardis. [It had to come. At least it seems to come without bite or ill-will.]

[thatoldthatkind]

Oi!

[waterfell]

[Smile, smile.] Did I say something wrong?

[thatoldthatkind]

I am not temperamental!

[waterfell]

Why don't we ask the Tardis if you are?

[thatoldthatkind]

It's not like she talks like you and I.

[waterfell]

She was pretty vocal just a moment ago. [Eyyyyyeing the last of the sparks dying away.]

[thatoldthatkind]

That? Nah. That's normal. Besides, that isn't words. Just sparks. Very bright and noticeable sparks! [ He whacks the console. ] Behave!

[waterfell]

She seems to have a mind of her own. [Not that Ami would know anything about that...]

[thatoldthatkind]

She does, but that doesn't mean that its words like you and I speak. The TARDIS has her own unique way of speaking. Thoughts, feels. She's a telepathic creature.

[waterfell]

Telepathic? [She glances back to the buttons dials and the console. It's hard for her to imagine; she's lost a lot of that spark that led her to combine her love of technology with her heart to understand this.]

I've only experienced very primitive forms of telepathy before this.

[thatoldthatkind]

That's what I said. Is there an echo? Or are you just not hearing me right? [ He reaches over and flicks her ear with a grin. ]

Yes, well, you're going to be traveling all of space and time with me, Ami. You'd best get used to things that boggle that mind of yours.

[waterfell]

[There's really only one question left, and it's such an important question that she'll overlook his teasing her.]

How does it work?

[thatoldthatkind]

You've already made the connection. It happens whenever you walk inside the TARDIS. Even if it is a dream.

[waterfell]

[She stiffens. Should she walk out? She doesn't want someone to dig too deeply, even at the same time she wants to be understood.]

So you use it to take people unawares. [And learn their secrets, their weaknesses, their fears and their hopes.]

[thatoldthatkind]

I don't use it. She does! She gets to know you that way. It's how she makes rooms for all of you when you come aboard.

[waterfell]

[Rooms? She was in danger of echoing him again, for a moment.]

If she makes rooms for us, I want to see it. [She knows she shouldn't look for herself in how others see her - but she's curious what reflection she'd find in what the TARDIS thinks would suit her.]

[thatoldthatkind]

You sure? You might like it a bit too much.

[waterfell]

How rude! You make it sound like you're afraid you won't get me to leave.

[The teasing drops, but only a little, to true interest.]

Let me see it.

[thatoldthatkind]

More like I don't want you complaining if you don't want to leave. [ Tap on the nose. ]

Just this way. Don't go wandering off!

[waterfell]

If I don't want to leave, I just won't leave.

[See, no complaining. And really, stop touching her. Because that is absolutely not the smallest of smiles starting to form. In any event, Ami follows the Doctor, torn between curiosity and trepidation.]

[thatoldthatkind]

[ He grins and throws a lever, causing the TARDIS to simply float in space then he motions for her to follow. He quickly hops up the stairs and disappears into a hallway. ]

[waterfell]

[She hurries behind him, half ready to hurry ahead of him if only she knew where they were going. She reaches the hallway just a second behind.]

Which room? Where is it?

[thatoldthatkind]

[ The Doctor stops and licks his finger, holding it up as if he's testing for the wind. ]

Down the hall, left, left then right then left again and the third door to the right. Next to the palm tree.