ALAN AND TARA'S DAY IN THE CITY

Chapter Four

Alan and Tara sat at the back of the bus. When they got on, Alan spoke to the bus driver briefly and asked if the bus went to the airport. The bus driver told him no and gave them both transfers, saying he was going back to the bus station and they could catch the bus to the airport there. Alan thanked him and made his way back to Tara where he flopped down in the seat beside her. Now both of them were teasing each other while the bus headed to the transit center.

"So," he said, leaning in. "What we gonna get when we get to where we goin'?"

"A big jet!"

She giggled when Alan stared at her.

"Um…hate to tell ya this, but a jet and a car are two separate things."

"Nooooo, really? Didn't know that!"

She giggled some more when Alan eyed her.

"Are you getting cheeky with me, young lady?"

"No, I'm getting mouthy, my cheek is over here," she said, pointing to her left cheek.

The giggling increased and Alan leaned into and stared intently at her cheek.

"Why don'tcha take a picture, it'll last longer," Tara said.

Alan began to breathe hard on her cheek.

"Quit breathing on me, Goober."

"Quit inhabiting the same planet I'm inhabiting, Goobette!"

Tara and Alan stared at each other with wide eyes and then burst out laughing. They calmed down a bit when the people around them gave them odd looks.

"Anyway, back to the problem at haaaaaaand-ah! What car we gonna get, huh, huh?"

"How 'booooooout a big minivan like we had in Florida!"

"Are we expecting company along the way?"

Tara shrugged.

"I was just thinkin' we could fill it with stuff and drive it into the TARDIS and take it."

"Um…it won't fit through Daisy's doors."

"Then land Daisy on it, duh!" Tara said, poking him.

Alan pursed his lips as Tara giggled.

"Ahem, did you just poke me?"

"Yes," Tara said, poking his arm.

Alan raised his eyebrow and poked her back.

"Ha! I did the same, advantage me!"

Tara poked him back and hunkered down in the seat as Alan eyed her intently.

"No one plays pokey with me and lives to tell about it."

He poked her side.

"Ha, see, I have had my revenge."

He grinned when the bus pulled into the transit center.

"And we're here so you can't get me back."

"Wanna bet, Dork Geek?"

"Yeah, Nerd Dweeb!" he said.

They got up and followed the others outside. When they got outside, Alan's mouth dropped open when he saw where they were.

"What is it?" Tara said.

"Blast and botheration, we passed by here on the people mover! See?" he said, pointing to the elevated station across the street. "We could have gotten off here and saved three dollars."

"Well, we didn't because you're a goober."

Alan eyed her and grinned when Tara squealed and took off running for the front door of the transit center. Alan gave chase and both of them breezed in the front door of the wide, newly built, Rosa Parks Transit Center. The inside was huge with several seats in the middle. Off to the right were the bathrooms, a pay phone and in between the bathrooms were racks with brochures listing the buses and schedules. Alan sauntered over to them and looked through them. Tara came up beside him and looked at the schedule inside.

"Is it far to the airport?"

He gave her a disgusted look.

"Anything's far when you're riding with me."

He laughed when she slapped his back and ruffled her hair affectionately. He checked the time on his watch and beckoned to Tara as they went outside. There were two lanes for the buses to pull up in and benches with glass shelters spread out on the dividers between them. Alan found the bench that was beside their bus stop and sat down with Tara inside the shelter. He sighed.

"Finally, maybe we can get to where we're goin' now," he said to Tara.

"Then we can have some fun!" Tara said.

Alan grinned at her.

"Bet you don't have this much fun with your father, eh?"

"Yes, I do. We have lots of fun," Tara said.

"But he doesn't let loose like I do," he said.

"Yeah, he does."

Alan was shocked.

"He does? When?"

"When we're alone. Daddy acts just as silly as you do but he usually just does that when I'm with him."

"News to me," Alan said.

"Well, you don't act as silly around Daddy. You got really quiet when he was here and Daddy does the same when he's around everyone else."

"Why?" Alan said.

"I think it's cause he thinks he has to act all grown up and be the leader when he's around everyone else. I think you get quiet around him sometimes because you are afraid he's gonna get mad, you know, because you're not acting your age."

Alan thought that over.

"Could be. I told you that I feel more comfortable being silly around children."

"Well, I think Daddy's the same way," Tara said. "I think he thinks I won't judge him for his goofy behavior and I think you think that too."

"You are wise beyond your years, young jedi," Alan said.

"Just telling ya what I see. You think you're so different from Daddy cause you came from Donna too but I think you two are a lot alike. You both loosen up when you get around kids. You don't think Daddy acts like you then you should go and buy a hidden camera and put it in his TARDIS cause you'll be surprised. He gets just as loud and silly as you do with me."

Alan smiled at that.

"I don't wanna see it. I have a feeling that's meant to be a private thing between you and him just like our goofing around is between us and you're right, I s'pose we are alike in that way. It's easier to be silly with children than adults because most adults have grown up and think that's not the proper way to act anymore, plus they're afraid of someone seeing them and being embarrassed. Me? I could give a flippidy doo about who sees me but I can understand why the Doctor hides it because he's done that sort of behavior almost his entire life. But I'm glad he feels comfortable enough around you to open up and do that. I think everyone in this family has a different dynamic and that's yours and his and mine and yours, we clown around together…except he also guides and teaches you on top of it. Not that I don't do that but you're his daughter and that's his responsibility. He's your teacher and mentor, I'm your wacky uncle that takes you out and lets you cut loose."

"Yup, you are," she said, giving him a sideways hug.

Alan returned the hug and kissed her head.

"Ugh, lice," he said.

He giggled when Tara smacked his head several times. They looked over when their bus pulled up. Alan reached into his pocket and pulled out three dollars.

"Come, my little partner in crime, let's go get us a motor," he said as they stood up.

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