Cat's Cradle

[thecricketer]

The Doctor had kneeled down to begin repairing some damaged circuity in the console.

Then he couldn't get up again.

There was an indignant mew in the folds of his clothing before a pale head emerged, followed soon after by a small furry body.

Well. You did have to be careful what you wished for. After a resigned look at his tools the Doctor trotted over to the doors and peeked outside.

Comments

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Well, a small kitten wasn't what Sarah Jane had expected when she saw the TARDIS doors open.

But still, she smiled at it and bent down to offer a hand. "Did the Doctor pick you up?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor shook his head - not kitten behaviour, surely that should help - before butting her hand with it, purring.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

It does, and while Sarah scritches at the kitten's ear, she looks at it suspiciously.

"Cats don't generally shake their heads."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

Oh, that felt rather nice. He could get used to this.

He tilted his head up, mewing in agreement.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"What are you then? Some kind of alien?"

Bending down is starting to get tiring, so Sarah Jane gently picks up the kitten in her arms to continue scritching his head. She still prefers dogs, but it's soft and cute, and that mewing is rather adorable.

She laughs for a moment, making a face at him. "You must think I'm silly, talking to a cat. It's just that I was expecting the Doctor to come out of the TARDIS, not you."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The purring growslouder, and the Doctor snuggls against her before tipping his head again - very alien, yes.

This is followed by a meow that he hopes is somewhere between amusement and aggravation but can't be sure. It's a bit frustrating. He misses his voice.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"You are adorable, whatever you are," Sarah decides when he snuggles against her. She leans her head down to kiss the spot between his ears and grins. "I've always wanted a pet, you know. A nice big, shaggy dog - but Aunt Lavinia always said no. I wondered if you'd do, a little alien kitten."

Of course, she wouldn't take him without the Doctor's permission. Where ever he was.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

As appealing as the idea of being pet and cuddled all day by Sarah Jane is, the Doctor is forced to shake his head. He nuzzles her chin to make up for it.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah mocks a pout. "Aww, and why not? Like travelling more?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor mews in discontent, hoping to convey that that's really not a fair question at all. He bats her on the shoulder for emphasis.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Mmph, and what was that for?" She scritches at his ear again, hoping it'll calm the cat down. "I think it was a perfectly reasonable question, kitten."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The kitten's eyes fall closed and he starts purring again. Okay, he was easy.

He still managed to meow negatively, though.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah chuckles when he starts purring again, giving his head another small kiss. "I'm not going to keep arguing with you, you know. Especially when you seem so content right now. But I do wonder where you came from."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The earns a very pleased mrow, and a lick to her chin. In answer to her question he raises a paw towards the TARDIS.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

A cat's tongue is rough and sandpaper-y, not at all like slobbery puppy kisses. Still, it gets a giggle from Sarah Jane as she looks towards the TARDIS.

"I don't recall the Doctor ever mentioning he had a cat."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

Oh, that would have made him smile if he could, hearing her laugh - he settled for wide happy eyes.

That faded into a rather pointed look and a frustrated butt, as if to say "I don't".

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah looks at the cat skeptically. "So you're not his kitten then?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

A sharp shake of his little head, which left him noticeably dizzy but it was worth it.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Who's then?" she asks, smiling warmly at the head shake. "One of his companions'?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He turned his whole body left and right this time, hoping it would be less uncomfortable.

Naturally, he almost fell out of her arms.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"A stowaway?"

She certainly approves of that. After all, she technically was a stowaway her first trip in the TARDIS.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He doesn't risk rolling again - in fact he's snuggled quite closer to her chest - instead trying to mew a 'no'. He isn't sure how it comes across.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid I don't speak cat," Sarah answers, adjusting the kitten in her arms in a way that she hopes will make the snuggling more comfortable for both of them. "And the TARDIS isn't being kind enough to translate. Maybe if we went inside, we could find the Doctor and he'd explain you to me."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor closed his eyes, murring in what might be a groan. He gestures with a paw towards the TARDIS, though, inviting her inside.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

If Sarah didn't know better, she'd think that holding this kitten close to her chest was...well, almost turning it on, what with that groan-like noise just now. But the thought's ridiculous, she decides, walking towards the TARDIS.

The door is opened, which means she doesn't have to fish out her key, making carrying the kitty much easier. The first thing she notices when she steps inside is a pile of clothing -- clothing that looks suspiciously like the Doctor's.

"Ah, um. Well, that's certainly strange," she tells the cat, and then looks around the console room. "Doctor!"