The Doctor or Chips?

[Beach Crew]

So, this idea came to me due to the reminder of that old advert where the little girl has to choose between her dad or a plate of chips. And I know this idea has probably been done a thousand times, but oh well...

It's set after "The End of the World" - I actually included the last scene, and it's a tad shippy, but not too much. It's a friendship thing, and more of a character study then anything else, lol.

The Doctor or Chips?

The Doctor followed Rose out of the TARDIS watching her closely as she looked around the busy London street. She still looked a little shell-shocked, and he was feeling guilty. But maybe, just maybe, this reminder of home would make everything ok. “You think it’ll last forever,” he began after a few moments, “People and cars and concrete. But it won’t. One day it’s all gone,” he paused, looking over to check she was still coping, “Even the sky.”

Rose was staring up and down the street, clearly listening to him but distracted by being back on earth. “My planet’s gone,” he said suddenly, not sure why he was telling this young woman his secrets. Her head snapped to look at him, her eyes full of sudden understanding but thankfully no pity, “Its dead. It burned like the earth. It’s just rocks and dust,” the Doctor swallowed, “Before it’s time.”

Rose didn’t say anything for a long time. He was trusting her and she wanted to be careful. Finally, however, her curiosity got the better of her, “What happened?”

The Doctor responded solemnly, “There was a war but we lost.”

Rose frowned, “A war with who?”

No answer.

Rose coughed softly and changed tact, “What about your people?”

“I’m a Time Lord,” he said, “I’m the last of the Time Lords.” He laughed bitterly. “They’re all gone.” Rose frowned as he continued, “I’m the only survivor, I’m left travelling on my own coz there’s no-one else.”

“There’s me,” Rose said without hesitation. Her voice was dangerously close to cracking.

Seeing the tears shining in her eyes, the Doctor continued, “You’ve seen how dangerous it is. Do you wanna go home?”

She paused, “I don’t know. I want…” she looked conflicted, and then suddenly broke off and sniffed the air, “Oh, can you smell chips?”

The Doctor laughed, amazed at her strength, “Yeah, yeah.”

Rose looked at him, “I want chips.”

He grinned, “Me too.”

“Right then,” she said, shaking off the emotion, “before you get me back in that box, chips it is and you can pay.”

“No money,” he shrugged honestly.

“What sorta date are you?” she teased, her tongue catching between her teeth as she grinned. The Doctor was fast growing to love that smile. “Come on then tightwad,” she laughed, “chips are on me.” Rose paused, smirking, “We’ve only got five billion years ‘til the shops close.”

With that, he grabbed her hand and squeezed before pulling her gently through the crowds and towards the chip shop. He was glad she was staying, or at least appeared to be, because as much as neither of them would admit it – they needed each other, now more than ever.

***

Fifteen minutes later and the Doctor and Rose were seated on a bench not far from the chip shop, but away from the hustle and bustle of the main street. To the casual outsider, they looked like the perfect couple. Rose had her knees tucked up to her chest and she was leaning to her side, resting against the Doctor’s side and stealing chips from his lap.

“Oi,” he teased, swatting her hand away, “You’ve got your own chips.”

“Yours are better,” she grinned, swiping another chip from his bag.

The Doctor rolled his eyes but said nothing. He was enjoying the moment and simply in awe of the girl next to him. Half an hour ago, she’d watched the end of her world and had almost died in the process, now, here she was, teasing and laughing and happily eating chips.

And they were good chips.

Rose had insisted on doing them, putting on the salt and vinegar as though it was some sort of scientific art. She’d paid too, and giggled when the man who’d served her had made a comment about how her boyfriend should be paying. The Doctor had simply glared back.

He watched her closely out of the corner of his eye. She seemed so content. And he was rather content to just sit with her. Rose Tyler, nineteen years old, bleached hair, brown roots and brown eyes. If he’d known a bag of chips would’ve made her this happy, he would’ve saved the end of the world trip for later. Reaching out to distract himself from his thoughts, he snatched a chip from her bag.

“Oi, don’t you go nickin’ my chips,” she said, sitting up to look at him properly.

“Well you took mine.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“It just...is.”

The Doctor raised his eyebrows, “That’s your argument. ‘It just is’”, he chuckled, “Rose Tyler, you’re gonna have to do better than that.”

“Maybe later,” she grinned impishly and then jumped up, winking at him as she did so.

The Doctor blinked and then shook his head and followed. He was going to have to watch his hearts with that one, and his wit. She was sharp, and a lot cleverer then she let on. Not that this was a bad thing, he just needed to watch himself around her.

She grinned at him, “C’mon then, stop starin’ an’ let’s get goin’.”

Especially around that smile.

***

Rose felt much calmer now that she was back on earth and had some chips. It made her feel safe. The Doctor especially made her feel safe. If it wasn’t for him, she would’ve died on that space station. In fact, if it wasn’t for him she would’ve been killed by the living plastic. She shuddered, neither were a particularly pleasant way to go.

“Alright?” the Doctor asked, peering at her curiously. He was obviously still worried that she was terrified, or upset by what had happened up in space.

If she was honest, she was still terrified and probably always would be. She’d seen and experienced things that she’d never even dreamt about and that was a little scary. But she was safe now, she conceded, and the Doctor would keep her safe. She knew that now.

“Rose?” his voice was more urgent now.

“Huh?”

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, yeah,” she smiled, “I’m fine. Just thinkin’.”

“Did it hurt?” he grinned.

“Oi!” Rose smacked him on the arm, “Watch it you. Those big ears of yours look in need of a clippin’.”

The Doctor laughed, “My ears are just fine, thank you,” he paused, “Seriously though, what were you thinking about?”

Rose paused, a sly smile forming on her lips, “Well, it’s kinda important actually…”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“So?”

“Well, y’gonna finish your chips?”

The Doctor laughed even harder, “Rose Tyler, don’t you ever change, you hear me?” he grinned handing over his chips, “You’ve been to the end of the world, seen things nobody else ever will and all you care about is your chips. Rose, you are fantastic.”

Rose preened, blushing prettily, “S’about time somebody noticed.”

“So, where to next?” the Doctor asked, knowing it was futile because Rose was already distracted by the chips.

“These are good chips,” she muttered, following the Doctor back to the TARDIS.

“Yes, they were.”

“Want one?”

“Not after your grubby fingers have been all over them.”

“Oi!” Rose shrieked again, “I’m gonna clout you in a minute.”

“I’d like to see you try,” he grinned at her, unlocking the door to the TARDIS. He’d stepped inside, but called back, “And don’t bring those greasy things in here. Hurry up and finish them or I’m leavin’ without you.”

Rose frowned, he was making her choose?

Doctor or chips?

Doctor or chips?

The Doctor or these wonderful crunchy on the outside soft on the inside chips?

“Rose?” The Doctor poked his head back outside of the TARDIS and peered at her curiously, “What’s taking so long?”

She grinned teasingly, “I’m trying to decide between you and chips.”

The Doctor looked surprised, “Oh? And what have you chosen?” Rose looked up at him cheekily and popped a chip in her mouth. His face twisted into a sulking pout, “Well if that’s how you feel…”

Rose rolled her eyes and dragged him back onto the street, making a spectacle as she dropped the chips into the nearest bin with a flourish. She patted his jaw as she walked past him and back to the TARDIS, “You are such a baby.”

“Am not.”

“Are too,” she paused in the doorway, one hand on her hip, “So, we goin’ somewhere or not?”

The Doctor grinned, “Sure. We’re going somewhere,” he winked roguishly at her and then walked forwards, “Got a preference?”

“As long as I’m with you I don’t care,” she smiled, suddenly serious, before disappearing into the TARDIS.

His grin widened, oh yes, he needed to watch himself with that one, but first, he’d show her the time of her life.

And then maybe buy her the chips.

Fin.

[firebreathingfishies]

aw beachy that was great! your characterisations are perfect, and I love how you led it on from an actual scene. It's not too shippy at all, because you can actually imagine them thinking those things. Man i can't believe you've just got into Doctor Who and you're writing them so well

[Beach Crew]

Thank you so much! I'm really pleased with how this one turned out. I've been working on it all afternoon. A random idea that came to me and put my other ideas on a back burner until this was written, lol. And yes, that's one of my favourite scenes from season one, so I had to include it - in fact I adore most of the Doctor/Rose scenes from "The End of the World".

And I'm glad you can imagine it too - I mean, they've just met, there's bound to be a little attraction here and there .

Ha, neither can I. I'm so addicted to Doctor Who, lol.

[esn]

Love it!

I think you have this Doctor Who fandoom down to a fine art Beachy - I also think you have the subtle differences between the 9th and the 10th down to a tee. Twas really good.

[monster-eats-pilot]

Beaches that was awesome
I just wish I wasnt hungry right now and wanting chips

[Beach Crew]

Originally Posted by esn

Love it!

I think you have this Doctor Who fandoom down to a fine art Beachy - I also think you have the subtle differences between the 9th and the 10th down to a tee. Twas really good.

Thank you! It's really good to hear that from long-time fans. I'm glad I'm getting somewhere. Characterization is what I pride myself on, so I sit for ages trying to get it right. Thanks so much hun

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

Beaches that was awesome
I just wish I wasnt hungry right now and wanting chips

Thanks sweetie And lol, you wanted chips at 2am? Teehee. Although saying that, I dragged a friend out for chips today...it doesn't half make you crave them when you talk about them

[monster-eats-pilot]

Originally Posted by Beach Crew

Thanks sweetie And lol, you wanted chips at 2am? Teehee. Although saying that, I dragged a friend out for chips today...it doesn't half make you crave them when you talk about them

Lol yeah
You described it so well it made me want them

[Beach Crew]

Originally Posted by monster-eats-pilot

Lol yeah
You described it so well it made me want them

Teehee. And yeah well, I happen to like chips a lot, so I should be good at describing them, lol

[monster-eats-pilot]

Same But you described everything well aswell