Setting: Towards the end of Season 3 for 'Doctor Who', Absolution Era for Muse

Pairing: BellDom, Matt/Gaia and a small hint of Doctor/Master and at the very beginning even a thinner hint of Ten/Rose (just because unfortunately it's canon, not because I like it, of course!)

Disclaimer: the Tenth Doctor, the TARDIS and everything around them is property of the BBC and the various authors, Muse and those around them belong only to themselves, the madness is mine and I'm proud of it, even if I don't profit from it XD

Chapter I: The Meeting

It finally happened.

Martha left him, she chose of her own free will to get away from him, not to follow him anymore in his adventures through time and space.

And the Doctor doesn't even have to question himself too much to find the answers, he knows he hasn't always treated her in the best way: no one likes to feel compared to someone else, another girl, to be precise, no one likes living in the her shadow, no one likes to feel like some sort of replacement.

The Doctor knows that Martha has made the right decision, he can't help but admire her for this, the fact is that now he finds himself in the condition he hates most: loneliness.

The Doctor needs to move, to have fun, to meet new people, but above all he needs something that has always helped to cheer him up: good music.

He gets back in his TARDIS, going to the console.

"I'll leave it to you, my dear, as long as you take me to a good concert... whichever planet you prefer."

Time to say it and the TARDIS emits her characteristic sound, setting off, without missing an opportunity to torment who is on board a little with her jolts.

Once the landing is complete, turbulent otherwise it wouldn't be the TARDIS, the Doctor rushes out, opening the doors of what appears to everyone outside as a vintage blue police telephone box.

"Oohh, Italy, thank you,Sexy, I've been wanting to go back for a while." smiles the Doctor, locking the cabin to which he has just spoken.

Fortunately no one is paying attention to him, so no one can call him weird.

The Doctor, who has already understood that he is in Pordenone, a city in Northern Italy - because when you are almost a thousand years old like him you now know every place on Earth by heart -take the opportunity to take a ride on the suggestive bridge, the cathedrals, the museums and to savor the typical local cuisine.

In his wanderings, a hanging poster informs him not only of the historical period, but also of the choice of his spaceship:

31 Oct 2003

Sports Hall
Muse

"Uhmm yeah, I've already heard something from them and I don't mind at all. Quite the contrary, I'll take advantage of that to deepen my knowledge about it. Anyway, I already know it will be fun." the Doctor comments to himself.

He doesn't have a ticket to enter, it's true, but when you're lucky enough to have a psychic card where people can read inside everything you want them to believe, the problem doesn't even exist.

And while he waits for the first supporters to appear on stage, the lead band enjoys a little relaxation in the dressing room.

"Have you seen? The club is filling up," Chris comments satisfied, "I think I'm going to keep Tom at bay, before he charms too many girls!"

"Uh-uh, look what a lucky coincidence, we have the dressing room all to ourselves," chuckles Dom, climbing on Matt's lap, who is sitting on the sofa, but the brunet rejects him at the first attempt to kiss him.

"Dommeh, no. You know I love the pre-show sappiness, but... Not here," Matt mutters, a little flustered.

"Why? Are you afraid that your beautiful Italian girlfriend might enter at any moment?" Snorts the blond.

"Yes, she told me that she took half a day off on purpose and that she would join me..." the other tries to justify himself, scratching the back of his neck.

"Matthew, do you know that you can't carry on two relationships, one in the open with her and one, for much longer, hidden with me?" Dominic looks at him seriously.

Matthew is immediately close to him, stroking his face reverently, before hugging him.

"Dominic, you can't even begin to imagine how I wish things were different, that we didn't have to hide. I love you and you know I would never give up on you, but I also love Gaia, I feel between two fires, even if you are the one who burns the most."

Dominic nods, before pushing him away, albeit in a kind way.

"I know, Bells, we've had this speech several times. Having something halfway is better than not having it at all," He winks at her lover. "Besides, who knows, maybe one day I'll find myself in the same situation as you and will love a girl other than you. Isn't it that Gaia has a friend?" He makes him laugh, even to ease the tension a bit.

"Come on, you idiot! I just can't picture you living in Italy." Matt teases him. "But I could, near where Gaia lives there is such a wonderful lake..."

"To me, you can even move to live with her, but at least you should be honest first, you owe her, don't you think so?"

"You are right. I'll talk to her, although, as smart as she is, I suspect she's already figuring something out... so next time I'll think twice before falling in love with a brilliant future psychologist!"

"Come on, let's go out and join the others, so if your brilliant future psychologist arrives she won't see anything inappropriate." Dom offers and Matt accepts.

When Gaia arrives she finds all four of them in the dressing room, while the supporters are about to finish the last song.

"Sorry I'm late, love, but you have no idea how much traffic there was on the street!" the beautiful Italian girl runs towards him, kissing him. "Hi, Chris, hi Tom, how nice to see you again!" She smiles at the bassist and at the photographer, without separating from Matt.

"Dom."

"Gaia."

It is difficult to establish which of the two used the more glacial tone, worthy of a Cold War.

Matthew prefers not to think about when he will have to face the consequences of his choices and focuses more on the concert they have to start.

-------------------------------------------------

After the two encores, greeting the warm and involved audience with a superlative 'Stockholm Syndrome', the Muse entertain themselves on stage for a few photos and to give away picks or drumsticks, before heading towards the dressing room.

On the way, however, in addition to a group of screaming girls waving their CDs or some of their posters, they find a man slightly older than them, with large lively eyes and messy hair.

"Hey, I like your style!" Matthew approves, gesturing at his blue pinstripe suit.

"And I liked you, your every song, what they talk about!" congratulates the bizarre individual, with overwhelming enthusiasm. "I am looking for new Companions for my travels and you are definitely the ideal candidates."

"Are you a tour operator?" Chris looks at him puzzled.

"Whoever you are, you have a charisma that I would follow you anywhere!" Dom flirts a bit, flattering him.

On any occasion, Matthew would be extra jealous , but he's too intrigued by that stranger and what he said.

"Companions.. Travels... it almost feels like we're dealing with 'Doctor Who'" chuckles Matt.

"What?! Do you... you... do you know who I am?" the Doctor's eyes widen.

"Wait a minute.. Are you the Doctor?" enthuses Matt. "But you don't look like The Eighth, not even the Seventh..."

"I am the Tenth Doctor. You can call me Ten."

"What? Will they continue with the series up to the Tenth?" Matt gets excited about it.

"What?! Is there a series about me?" Ten gets excited about it.

"Yeah, and the theme song is so cool, I could do something similar in a song," the frontman reveals to him, as Ten is already lost in his thoughts.

- So the TARDIS sent me on such an extra-dimensional journey that I landed in some kind of parallel universe where my deeds are narrated in a TV series? A TV series that for the year we are in has stopped at the Eighth Doctor? Does that mean that one day someone will play my role?-

"Matt I don't know what you and he are babbling about, but there are other fans waiting, let's get moving!" Chris tugs at his shirt, about to carry him towards the group dominated by the girls.

"Don't move from there, I'll be back later!" Matt recommends himself with Ten, before following his friend.

Within ten minutes they get rid of the fans who came to greet them and Matt finds Ten exactly where he left him.

"You have it in your pocket... don't you?" asks the frontman, excited.

There's no need to clarify what, Ten understands it quickly and draws the sonic screwdriver out of his pocket.

"Oooohh, it's even cooler than the Eighth Doctor's!" rejoyces Matt.

"Come on, Matt, it's just a toy." Chris tries to rationalize.

Time to say it and Ten points the sonic screwdriver, now illuminated by its classic blue light, straight to the cell phone that the bassist is holding, which shortly after receives a text message.

" ''And who are you calling 'toy'?' " he reads, dumbstruck.

"I still don't understand what's going on, but with that tool in your hand you're even cooler!" winks Dom in the direction of Ten.

But Matthew just doesn't have time for any jealousies.

"Well, it happens that we are about to go through space and time aboard the coolest spaceship that has ever existed!" he anticipates to the other members, with an ecstatic big smile. "Ten, can you give me a moment? There is someone else that we absolutely have to take with us!" he adds, disappearing like a rocket before Ten has the time to nod.

"Honey, where are you going in such a hurry?" Gaia crosses him on the threshold of the dressing room.

In response, Matthew pulls her towards him, giving her an impetuous kiss.

"Wow, I need to pay a visit to you more often after a concert!" She smiles, satisfied.

"Gaia, my darling, I love you so much and will miss you, I can't tell you where and how, but I might as well be gone for months..." he informs her. "But actually I think we'll meet again in five minutes." He rectifies, running away because he didn't find who he was looking for.

- No, maybe it's better to leave him alone after the concerts... he's even more nutcase than usual! - ponders Gaia, perplexed.

"Here we are, now there's not anyone missing!" returns to the other Matts, dragging a bothered Tom with him.

"Bells, damn you, such a pretty girl was going to give me her number..."

"Come on, if things go well, maybe soon you'll be able to flirt with a beautiful Venusian or Saturnian or who knows what else!" Matt counters, as Ten leads the way to his TARDIS which he has parked outside the arena.

"For a moment I thought you wanted to take Gaia with you," Dom whispers to his partner as they walk off.

"Gaia is important to me, but, Dommeh, it is only our love that deserves to spill over into the Universe." Matt murmurs, taking his hand.

"Well, that's a nice vintage phone booth, can I go back to the girls now?" Tom mutters.

Ten exchanges a knowing look with Matt, opening the doors to the TARDIS.

"But what?" Chris wonders puzzled, before Matt pushes him inside, doing the same thing with Tom.

Dom just needs to see Matt enter to reach him, he would follow him anywhere.

The enthusiasts: 'But it's bigger on the inside!' ritual begins, with Dom, Tom and Chris continuing to go in and out, while Matt admires every corner of the console.

"I take it they show that in the TV series as well." comments Ten, amused.

"Yes, but it can't even remotely be compared to actually being in here!"

"But now I'm curious, then you'll have to show me some episodes."

"Sure, Ten, I have some DVDs in the tour bus, when we get back you'll be my guest." the pianist nods. "But... you said before that our songs convinced you that we could be your Companions, but... it doesn't seem to me that any of those in the playlist were about space or anything like that...."

"I meant the ones you will write ... already starting from the next album, I know it!" chuckles Ten mischievously.

"Oh." is all the singer-songwriter manages to answer, while the other three decide to return once and for all.

"So we're on a spaceship..." Tom summarizes, looking around.

"That's right. I am a Time Lord and this is the TARDIS, acronym for 'Time and Relative Dimension in Space'... don't you want to take full advantage of it?" offers the Doctor. "Who wants a nice trip?"

"In the space?" Tom asks, excited at the thought.

"Not only that, Tom, even over time. The TARDIS can travel to the past, present and future of any planet or dimension... Did I say it right, Ten?"

"Couldn't have said it better, Matthew!" the Doctor makes him gloat.

"Ah, right... and before you ask, we can be absent with the Doctor even for days and days and we won't miss a single date of the tour, because it's like time stops here, so no one will notice our absence."

"The perfect crime." approves Tom.

"That's right, I still haven't figured out if I like the fact that I have a Companion who is already so knowledgeable about everything or it takes away the fun of explaining it to me," Ten caresses his chin. "Naahh, it's fun after all!" he giggles.

"Come on, Ten, show us what the TARDIS is capable of, how about we go spy on the Zetas and maybe foil some of their evil plans?" Matt prods him impatiently.

"I don't think they exist..." the Doctor mutters.

"What?!" the frontman gets alarmed.

"I mean... I don't think there are effective systems to remain hidden from their eyes, it's best not to risk getting too close to them." the Time Lord corrects himself instantly, reassuring him.

"You're right, it's best not to deal with them. Then, you choose."

"I don't think I have to think much about it. You are musically brilliant, perhaps it is appropriate for you to meet another type of genius."

The TARDIS makes her distinctive sound and the fans outside will probably get the impression that an unusual phone box is about to vanish, but it is due to how much they drank after, during and perhaps even before the concert.

"I advise you to hold on tight!" Ten warns them.

In response, Matt and Dom hug each other tightly.

"Um, I meant hold on to something firm..." Ten looks at them perplexed, waiting for them to grab some bar or column like Tom and Chris did. "Although now I think I understood a little more about you." He smiles at the pair of secret lovers, now much less embarrassed.

The TARDIS does her duty and arrives at its destination amid jolts and somewhat daring landings.

"This is one of my favorite parts," the Doctor trots towards the doors, opening them, "After you."

It is hard to imagine who is more amazed between his new Companions and the individual who sees a phone booth materialize in his office in Bern, from which many people come out, many more than how would be scientifically allowed.

Not to mention that the individual in question is Albert Einstein.

"You weren't kidding when you said you were taking us to a genius!" Matt whispers to Ten

"I never joke... except when I joke!" replies the Doctor in the same way.

"Oh Mein Gott! Maybe I'm working too much and now I'm hallucinating." the scientist mutters, puzzled.

"Why can we understand this?" Tom whispers to the Doctor.

"Uh, well, that's another little thing my dear TARDIS can do, the same way he'll understand you." Ten informs his Companions, save for Matt who already knows this well.

"Uh, no, I can explain, Professor Einstein." intervenes Ten.

"Uh? Do you know me?"

"I'm a professor too, Professor Smith," the Doctor invents, at the moment. "These are my pupils and what you have witnessed is a means of transport that is still very, very experimental!"

"You seem a bit old to me, young men, to still be students!"

Matt has to control himself not to burst out laughing, Chris and Tom are too excited to say anything, Dom instantly adds Einstein to his personal blacklist.

- There's no way this bloody geezer didn't mistake me for a twenty-year-old boy!-

"They are out-of-course students... but that's not the point. Can't we just watch you do your calculations? I'm sure you were working on something big..." Ten spurs him on.

Subtly proud of having such an interested audience, Einstein does not hesitate and returns to the blackboard.

"Indeed, Gentlemen, what I have just witnessed reinforces my belief: Energy is mass, related to the speed of light."

And while he says it, he launches into calculations and equations which then lead him to write as a final result one of the most famous formulas that have ever existed:

E = mc 2

The ensuing collective applause is as spontaneous as it is inevitable and the scientist gloats happily.

"Not bad at all, genius, but I prefer the principles of Thermodynamics. Maybe one day I'll write something about it," Matthew leaves him stunned, before saying goodbye and returning to the blue cabin.

"I didn't tell you anything... but know that he will!" anticipates Ten to the remaining Companions, before everyone greets Einstein, who remains baffled to watch the phone book vanish under his eyes, as it appeared.

"So... You do this every day, don't you?" Chris questions Ten, all thrilled.

"For almost a thousand years? Yes .. it's a lifestyle that doesn't get you bored so easily, am i right?" chuckles Ten, putting himself at the console. "So, does anyone want to propose the next trip?"

TBC

Notes:

More travels and more craziness to come, do you already have any idea?
the bit about Matt saying he could do something along the theme song of 'Doctor Who' is just thanks to Claudia Pfeifer who made me notice how 'Uprising' seems to contain this and Nicci Cimino who confirmed it, thanks a lot, ladies <3

Hope you'll like this umpteenth story i didn't expect to write, lol