Of Moss and Vines (Doctor Who)

[Beach Crew]

So, after some encouragement from FBF, I've finally completed and finished this short Doctor Who story. It's set somewhere in season two, and it includes Ten and Rose. With a little shipping between them, but hopefully not too much.

The idea for the name of the planet came from me asking my friend, "What would you call a planet where people are part plant?" and thus, his answer, "Fernosa" so don't blame me.

And also, this is the first time I've properley written for Doctor Who, so I don't think I've quite got the characterisation right yet...so yeah....constructive critisim please

Of Moss and Vines

It was ridiculous, really, Rose thought as she tugged on her restraints. In reality, they shouldn’t be able to hold her, but since travelling with the Doctor she’d come to learn that anything was possible. Hence why being chained up with vines in a cell lined with moss didn’t surprise her. In fact, being taken captive by a plant had kinda been inevitable.

“It’ll be fun,” he’d said, when she’d raised her eyebrows suspiciously. “Don’t you want to see the pretty plants?” he’d asked, whilst tugging on her hand like a four year old. That had been this morning, when yes, she had wanted to see the pretty plants. And then, of course, the expected had happened and she’d been captured.

“Fun,” she growled to herself, grimacing as the moss squelched underneath her, “I’ll show him fun,” she muttered, trying to scratch her wrists. She had a feeling they were nettles.

If she were back home on the Powell Estate she’d be straight down to B&Q to buy a bit of Weedol and she’d have this problem sorted sharpish. But this wasn’t the Powell Estate, this wasn’t even earth. They were on some pretty planet called Fernosa, that had turned out to be not so welcoming to visitors.

Rose didn’t remember exactly what had happened, but the Doctor had gotten into an argument with one of the plant shaped natives about how often he needed to be pruned and so she had, as always, wandered off. Ironically, she’d been distracted by some beautiful blue roses, and not understanding the signs, had reached out and touched. Apparently, touching was a no go and the next thing Rose knew she’d been dragged away by a guard who she’d thought was a shrub.

“I hate plants,” she groused, settling back against the moss wall. Well, at least it made a change from cold stone.

***

The Doctor had been leaning against the TARDIS for almost an hour now. The locals didn’t seem to like him, especially when he’d very politely told them how he thought they needed to do a bit more pruning. Some people just couldn’t take a bit of constructive criticism.

He sighed to himself for the umpteenth time wondering just where Rose could have gotten to. Personally, he was pleased that she enjoying the planet so much. They’d been through a lot lately, what with being chased by werewolves and the like. He’d wanted her to be happy for a change. To see her smile, and hear her laugh, and watch her tongue poke out between her teeth the way she liked to do.

Shaking his head, he pushed himself forward and headed back to the main street. Maybe somebody had seen her? They didn’t exactly look like the half-plant half-human species that inhabited the planet. Also, she was wearing a post-box red hoodie and so wouldn’t be hard to miss.

“Excuse me,” he asked a young woman with flowers in her hair, “I’m looking for my friend. Rose. About your height. Blonde hair, and her roots showing.”

Smack.

The Doctor reeled backwards as the woman dealt a hard blow across his cheek. He realised then that the flowers in her hair were actually a part of her. “I don’t know who your friend is,” the woman frowned, “but we certainly don’t go showing our roots around here!”

Ah. That explained the slap. He rubbed his cheek and looked around for someone else to help him, planning to choose his words more carefully this time. Finally, he spotted a shrub-like man who he presumed to be some sort of police officer. He approached cheerfully.

“Excuse me, my good…er,” he coughed to fill the gap, “I don’t suppose you’ve seen my friend. A young woman, blonde hair, wearing a red jumper.”

The guard frowned and the Doctor wondered what he’d done wrong this time. “You’re with her are you?” the shrub-man frowned. Oh, so it was Rose that had done something wrong. He didn’t get chance to ponder much longer, however, as he was soon dragged away towards what he could only presume was the local prison.

***

Rose was starting to get a little panicked. According to her watch (thankfully glow-in-the-dark), she’d been here for almost two hours. Nobody had come to see her and she hadn’t had one sign that the Doctor was going to rescue her. Also, she was getting rather soggy. Moss seemed to retain a lot of water.

Suddenly, the door to her cell was flung open and somebody was thrown inside. The light faded as soon as the door was closed and so it took her a few moments to work out who it was.

“Hello,” a familiar voice said through the darkness. Rose could practically hear his grin.

She growled, “Took you long enough. I’m tied up with a nettle!” The Doctor winced, Rose sounded close to hysterical, and very, very angry. “I’ve been sat here, sittin’ on god knows what f’hours, and you’ve been swannin’ off doin’ god knows what an’ probably having the time o’your life!”

The Doctor settled back against the mossy wall as Rose continued to talk. Eventually, he tuned her out and began to plan for their escape. A part of him wished that he could see her – she looked very endearing when she was angry what with red cheeks, flashing eyes and her hands on her hips.

Swallowing, the Doctor pushed the endearing images of Rose to the back of his mind and settled for trying to get his sonic screwdriver out of his jacket pocket. “Are you even listening to me?”

“Yes Rose,” he sighed, “Plants, capture and grossness. I got every word.”

She hmph-ed and pouted, even though she knew the Doctor probably couldn’t see it. Finally, she shuffled so she was sitting next to him, their legs touching, and spoke softly. “Sorry,” she muttered.

The Doctor sighed, “It’s not your fault Rose.”

“But I wandered off again, and you always say-”

“I know what I always say Rose, but where would be the fun if you didn’t wander off and get into trouble,” his voice was teasing, and so Rose relaxed, bumping her shoulder against his.

“Anything I can help with?”

“Actually yes. I don’t suppose you can reach into my pocket, I can’t quite twist that way.”

Rose chuckled, “Which pocket?”

“OH! My jacket pocket, Rose. Jacket.”

She giggled, relieved and slightly embarrassed at the same time. Twisting, she managed to move her bound hands so that she could reach inside his jacket pocket. There was much twisting and giggling and awkward moments, but finally, finally, her fingers clamped around the sonic screwdriver and she pulled it out with a flourish.

“Brilliant!” The Doctor exclaimed, taking it from her, “Simply brilliant. What would I do without you Rose Tyler?”

Rose shrugged as she felt a blush rise to her cheeks, and watched happily as the light of the screwdriver punctuated the sullen darkness. There was a whirring sound and then just as suddenly Rose was free from her shackles. It was only then she noticed the sting on her wrists. Yep, definitely nettles.

“Now what?” Rose asked.

The Doctor frowned but just as quickly, he was up on his feet, and dashing around their cell. The light of the screwdriver kept going on and off until finally, Rose heard the Doctor clap his hands. “Um, we’re still trapped,” she began, pausing to sniff the air, “Do you smell burning?”

The Doctor grabbed her hand, grinning, “It’s about to get very hot in here, Rose,” he whispered, his voice very close to her ear.

Rose fought back a blush as she tried to work out what he meant, when suddenly, she felt tendrils of smoke wrapping around her face, “You set our cell on fire?!” she screeched.

“Well yes, quite brilliant isn’t it?”

“With us still inside?”

“Ah, well…um. One of the guards will come set us free soon,” the Doctor smiled, rubbing the back of his neck with worry.

“In the mean time I’ll just die of smoke inhalation. Human, remember?”

“Ah.”

“Yeah.”

There was a pause and then both the Doctor and Rose started screaming, “Help! There’s a fire! Let us out!”

After a few terrifying moments, and Rose screeching between coughs how she was about to cough up her lung, or spleen or something, the guards finally came running and set them free. The Doctor was thankful he was free again, although Rose was just grateful to breathe.

The next thing Rose knew, the fire had grown and smoke was filling the very room they were standing in. People were shouting, and screaming, and Rose was trying not to choke when suddenly she felt the Doctor’s hand slip over hers and he was tugging her away and into a run.

They had almost made it outside when the sprinkler system came on and Rose let out another squeal. Clearly she didn’t appreciate being soaked through, muddy and rather flushed. The Doctor, on the other hand, thought she looked quite beautiful.

They ran and ran and ran, and Rose became increasingly aware that they were being followed by some very angry locals. The Doctor still had hold of her hand as they ran and out of the corner of her eye she noticed he was grinning. It was infectious, because soon, she was grinning too.

This really was brilliant. Fantastic even. It was what they did – get into trouble, escape and run. Always running. Rose and the Doctor. The Doctor and Rose. On some level, they both knew that it wouldn’t last forever. Inevitably, things would change. But for now, they’d take every moment they could get.

Laughing, the pair half slammed, half skidded into the side of the TARDIS, unlocked the door and clambered inside. “Come on Rose, let’s get you out of those wet clothes.”

She murmured something, and the Doctor raised his eyebrows, “Rose Tyler, are you flirting with me?”

Her only answer was a peal of laughter as she disappeared down the corridor and towards her room. The Doctor shook his head, sprinkling drops of water across the TARDIS console as he did so, thinking that one day, that girl would be the death of him.

Again.

Fin.

[firebreathingfishies]

I loooove it! Seriously, you got both of them down perfectly! And the planet is so original! Aaah I'm speechless! You definately wouldn't think you had just started watching it like, two weeks ago or something! The bit where the flower woman smacked him for saying Rose's roots were showing made me proper snort I love it so much (once again my DW obsession is showing ) There's not one thing I could possibly criticise. Their banter is great and the ending is just perfect.

Seriously, you have to write more of these I can sense a whole bunch of Doctor Who stories popping up in the fan fiction bit

[Beach Crew]

Seriously? You mean it? *Squee* Oh, thanks. That's made me grin. *Giggles* I've been working hard to try and look like an expert, which I'm not, but at least it seems believeable. Ha, yes, I thought the play on the word "roots" would be fun, and lead to some awkward moments - glad you liked it, lol. Awww, you're gonna make me blush in a minute, thanks. Was the shipping ok? I didn't want to go overboard but I did want to have a few little hints.

Ha, I think I'd like to write more. I just need to think up some ideas, lol.

Thanks again, it wouldn't be here if it weren't for you

[firebreathingfishies]

Yeah course I mean it! I really enjoyed it The shipping was fine, it's when it's kind of pushed in your face when it gets annoying, like you get some pretty freaky Doctor/Rose stories about... But this one is spot on

Oh I'm the same, I need to think of some ideas I came up with a daft one yesterday when I got my housemate to give me three random words, but I didn't write it down and I forgot it

You're very welcome I like pushing people into DW love

[monster-eats-pilot]

Beaches it's brilliant!
You should write more DW stuff!

[Beach Crew]

Originally Posted by firebreathingfishies

Yeah course I mean it! I really enjoyed it The shipping was fine, it's when it's kind of pushed in your face when it gets annoying, like you get some pretty freaky Doctor/Rose stories about... But this one is spot on

Oh I'm the same, I need to think of some ideas I came up with a daft one yesterday when I got my housemate to give me three random words, but I didn't write it down and I forgot it

You're very welcome I like pushing people into DW love

Thank you so much. I'm really chuffed now, lol. You should see my grin Ah, yes, I've read a couple of those, where suddenly they're a couple, and yeah...it's just, not them - so out of character, lol. Thank you.

I know, I'm trying to think of something, but my head is empty. That's a good idea. Mine can come up with planet names, so perhaps they can come up with ideas too.

Well I'm very glad you did

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

Beaches it's brilliant!
You should write more DW stuff!

Awww, thanks Mep. I'm glad you like it. Once I get an idea I'll write some more. Promise

[KatesFate]

That was awesome Beachy! I love it. I've never watched Doctor Who, but I am loving these stories. Cant wait to read the next one!!!