TIME LORDS DON'T CRY

CHAPTER TEN

The Doctor and Marie were sitting on a worn sofa in the darkened parlor of the farmhouse. The electricity wasn’t working, so Marie showed the Doctor where her uncle kept some kerosene lamps and camping lanterns. While the Doctor was lighting the lamps, Marie started a fire in the fireplace, to keep out the night’s chill.

Neither of them spoke very much, each absorbed in thoughts of their own. The Doctor sat with his head bowed, hands clasped together, deep in thought.

Marie was sat beside him, looking forlornly out the window at the moon, which seemed to be caught in a single beckoning branch of a long dead elm tree. It hung suspended in the crook of the farthermost part of the skeletal limb.

The young girl kept thinking the same thought, over and over; how was she going to get on without the comfort and companionship of her Chauncey?

Sighing, Marie tore her gaze away from the window and looked at the Doctor.

“Mister? You want me to make you some tea?”

After a moment, The Doctor tore himself away from whatever problem he was pondering. He smiled at her.

“You know, I have no clue what my real name is…“ He made a face. “Gahh–, I hope it’s not something rubbish, like Egbert or Spike, or Mickey. But, I’m pretty sure it’s not ‘Mister.’

Suddenly snapping his fingers in the air, the Doctor’s eyes lit up. He flashed a grin at Marie.

“I know! Why don’t you just call me Fred? That’s as good a name as any.”

The Doctor looked at Marie and grinned mischievously. Trying it out, he rolled the name on his tongue.

“Fred. Fah-red. Frrred. Yup. Like the sound of that. Neat, clean, easy to say, ey? Especially in an emergency. I mean, ‘look out Fred!’ takes less time to say than, ‘look out Michelangelo!‘ So, what do you think?”

Not waiting for Marie’s approval, the Doctor slapped the arm of the sofa, and answered for her.

“Yup, Fred it is.”

“Okay, Fred,” Marie shrugged, “The electricty is out, but there’s still gas for the cooker. I’ll go make us some tea…only we’re out of milk, sorry. The cows all disappeared this afternoon.”

Picking up a lamp, Marie went through a swinging door into the adjoining kitchen.

“Did they, then?” The Doctor muttered to himself. “Isn’t that interesting? Well, that might account for the blood in the barn. Hmmm–then again, it might not.”

Minutes later, Marie returned holding a tray supporting two bone china cups with saucers. She set the tray down on the worn pine coffee table and sat next to the Doctor. The Doctor picked up his cup and admired it.

“Hmmm–Antique Staffordshire china–very posh, Marie. I’m impressed–and believe me, for me, that’s really saying something.” The Doctor winked and gave her a slight nudge. “What’s the occasion, then?”

Marie smiled shyly, staring at the cup in her hands.

“They were my mom’s favourite. They belonged to her great-grandmother she told me, once. Uncle Tobias tried to sell them, but I hid them away in the secret space behind the pantry. Mom always kept them for special company. They’re the only thing I have left of hers. She especially liked the pattern. She loved roses, you see.”

The Doctor examined the pattern on the cup.

“Ah yes—little tea roses, on a tea cup. How sharp is that?”

Unexpectedly, a series of dazed, confused and incredulous expressions ran across his face. He stood hastily, nearly spilling the hot tea in what would have been a very unpleasant place. He put the cup down and raised an eyebrow, saying,

“Roses..roses…why roses?” His eyes lit up, and grinning like an idiot, he slapped his forehead. “Ow!”

The Doctor shook his head ruefully.

“Oh, of course! Rose! Dear, sweet Rose! How could I ever be so thick as to forget her?” He paused, and added, “Now, her mum, I wouldn’t mind having a spot of amnesia…”

Then, the Doctor’s face fell.

“Rose, how could I…?”

Marie sat still as a statue, alarmed at the Doctor’s antics. Tentatively, she tugged on the Doctor’s sweater.

“Fred? What’s going on, what’s happening?”

The Doctor whirled around, kneeled down and hugged Marie.

“What’s going on, sweetheart, is that you can stop calling me Fred. My name’s the Doctor.”

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