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]

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!"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The kitten, if he could hear her thoughts, would blush if he was able and assure that that wasn't it wasn't that at all but now that he thought about it...

Well. Luckily he cannot, and merely offers an ironic mew of greeting as she calls for him.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"He's not responding to either of us," Sarah tells the cat, kicking at the pile of clothing. "I don't understand this at all, kitten. It's not exactly like him to leave a pile of clothing in the console room and the TARDIS door ajar."

Pause.

"Oh, maybe it is. But still." She sighs and frowns, then nuzzles her cheek against the kitten's head. "I hope he's not avoiding me for some silly reason."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

A soft, indignant yelp as she does so, and then, upon hearing her speculation, he's rubbing his head against her cheek. Of course not, why would he? Everything is so strange at the moment but he wouldn't...though perhaps he is, in a way, avoiding everything.

Which isn't to say he doesn't regret being unable to tell her that he would certainly not leave the door ajar thank you very much.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah looks at the cat and smiles softly. It seems that it understands her on some level, at least enough to try comforting her, and that's sort of reassuring.

"Well, if the Doctor's not going to show up, I'm going to leave him a note to let him know I was waiting, and take you home with me until he has the right mind to stop hiding," she decides, looking around the console room for something to write with -- and on. "The TARDIS isn't any place for a kitten."

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

He wishes he could smile back, and does his best with his eyes.

When she speaks mew is somehow both grateful and alarmed, or at least he wants it to be. That TARDIS is the perfect place for him! Of course there's no way to...

He starts mewing again, nodding his head toward the console.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh all right," Sarah replies to him, walking towards the console. "What is it, kitten?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

After a thankful glance he hops onto the console, stepping lightly and carefully towards a certain switch.

With one paw he opens the scanner, revealing the outside world, and looks pointedly at Sarah. He really hopes he won't have to do anything more complicated.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane gasps, staring at the kitten in shock. Her mouth forms a small 'o' and her hands go up to cover it. "Oh."

Hesitantly, "...Doctor?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

If he could beam and call her clever he would, but he has to settle for a bright, triumphant meow and a bit of a hop.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Doctor!" It comes out as more of a laugh than anything. "Oh, and how did you manage this one?"

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor tilted his head, trying to relay that he didn't really know. Of course he knew that it was happening to people - Nyssa, Aislinn - but the why of it was beyond him.

Being a kitten, he figured, wouldn't help him in any endeavours he made in the area.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah shakes her head, picking the kitten from the console and starting to walk further in to the TARDIS. "Is there anyone here to keep an eye on you or should I be making myself comfortable in my old room?"

It's not that Sarah doesn't trust the Doctor as a kitten. It's just that, well, she doesn't.

[thecricketer.livejournal.com]

The Doctor's paws grip futiley at the console as he's pulled away. Claws may have been more effective but...claws. On the console.

Nyssa is currently small and fluffy, but there's still Turlough - he hopes - but he doesn't know how to tell Sarah that.

So he just looks up at her and mews.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no protests," she scolds, looking down at him as she continues on the path towards her room. "Until I find someone sensible enough to keep an eye on you, Doctor, I'm staying."