Untitled - TARDIS Big Bang

The Doctor rapped his knuckles over his chest. "Thunk, thunk, thunk. Just the one. Think I'd notice the
other if it was there."
Tony, finding this a great game, slapped his hands against his tray. "Tuck tuck tuck!" he squealed. Jackie
shushed him.
Pete's attention barely even flickered from the Doctor, and Rose got the idea that her dad was
interrogating a suspicious first date. It made her simultaneously want to slap him and giggle into her
napkin. "Must be a bit of a shocker for you," Pete said easily. "Change of species and all."
The Doctor just shrugged, chasing bits of chicken around his plate. "Well, it's different, I'll grant you that,
but I'm looking forward to it. Human life, human limits, just...I don't think I've ever been ordinary before,
if that makes any sense. I think it'll be a great adventure."
Pete frowned. "Isn't that what Peter Pan said about death?"
Rose choked on her cauliflower. Jackie attempted to kick Pete under the chair, though from the sound
of it she hit more wood than flesh.
The Doctor smiled, thought he suddenly looked a little wild around the eyes. "Well, it's all the same
thing, really. The price of a human life is a human death. Something new either way, and after nine
hundred and four years, that's sort of refreshing, innit?"
"Actually," Rose couldn't help but put in, "weren't you technically just born yesterday?"
The Doctor's grin relaxed a little, and he nudged her with his elbow. "Oi, you. Show a little respect."
"You respect your elders!" Rose said, flicking him with the corner of her napkin. And then they were
giggling and nudging each other, until Jackie reminded them to set an example for the baby, and
whatever shadows had crept into the conversation just as quickly slipped away.
Despite her unintended nap earlier, Rose was yawning by the time they were clearing the dishes. "I'm
not tired," she protested after a big one. "I can't be tired, the sun's still out."
"Well, I'm exhausted," Jackie declared. "Maybe you'd like to take care of Tony's bath for me?"
"It's just time traveler's lag," the Doctor added. "Nothing to be ashamed of." He himself yawned, and
then frowned, as if he hadn't been expecting it.
"So are you turning in, then?" Rose asked, and managed to surprise herself with a sudden surge of
anticipation.
The Doctor shrugged. "Eh, maybe in a minute. I wanted to talk to your dad about something."
Whatever it was, it couldn't possibly take more than a few minutes, Rose was sure. She left a messy pile
of plates in the sink and quickly wiped her hands. "I'll just go wash my hair, then," she said. "You, ah, you
know where all the bedrooms are?"
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