#anyway rose simply left mickey for the doctor

[ppulverse]

i feel so bad for mickey lmao rose didn't give 2 shits about him she just left him and chased after other men

[the-doctor-3000]

The Dark Phoenix {Doctor Who x Reader}

~Y/n & Rose Pt. 2~

The Tyler girl arrived at Clive's house and waited for Rose. When she came, Mickey told them not to go but they disagreed with him and went anyway. The door opened and a young boy was standing there. He called his dad, Clive, to come. Clive welcomed the two girls and to his shed.

Clive was showing Rose and y/n around the shed, which was a sort of shrine to the Doctor.

"A lot of this stuff's quite sensitive, I couldn't just send it to you. People might intercept it, if you know what I mean. If you dig deep enough - keep a lively mind - this Doctor keeps cropping up all over the place. Political diaries, conspiracy theories. Even ghost stories. No first name, no last name. Just "The Doctor". Always The Doctor. And the title seems to have been passed down from father to son, it appears to be an inheritance. That's your Doctor there, isn't it?"

He pointed to a photo of the Doctor on a computer screen behind them.

"Yeah."they said

"I tracked it down to the Washington public archive last year. The online photo's enhanced, but if we look at the original..." He showed Rose and y/n some photographs of the Doctor standing in a crowd at the time and place of the assassination of JFK. "November the 22nd, 1963. The assassination of President Kennedy."

"Must be his father..."said Rose, trying to find a logical explanation

"And he is so identical?"exclaimed y/n in a questioning manner 

"Going further back... April 1912. *he brought over a photo album* This is a photo of the Daniels family, Southampton. And friend. *he pointed to the Doctor, standing with them* This was taken the day before they were due to sail off for the New World. On the Titanic. And for some unknown reason, they cancelled the trip and survived. And... *he showed them a sketch* 1883. Another Doctor. And look - the same lineage. He's identical. This one washed up on the coast of Sumatra on the very day Krakatoa exploded. The Doctor is a legend woven throughout history. When disaster comes, he's there. He has a storm in his wake. And he has one constant companion."

"Who's that?"Rose asked 

"Death."he simply said"If the Doctor's back... if you've seen him, Rose, y/n... then one thing's for certain, we're all in danger. If he's singled you out... If the Doctor's making house calls... then God help you two."

"Woah, isn't it a bit... harsh?"y/n  questioned

"I'm afraid it's true, ms. Tyler."

"But death? Couldn't it be just a coincidence?"

"So many times in a row? I don't think so."

"Yeaaah I think we're done here. Thank you for your time mr. Clive. Bye. Come Rose."

Rose and y/n came back to the car, talking before they even got in.

"Alright! He's a nutter! Off his head! COMPLETE online conspiracy freak. You win! Oof."said Rose

They got into the car. The person sitting at the wheel was obviously not Mickey, but a plastic replica of him. Rose seemed not to notice. Y/n glared at him.

"What're we going to do tonight? I fancy a pizza."said Rose

"Pizzaaa! P-p-p-pizza!"said ''Mickey''

" ...or a Chinese..."

"Pizza!"exclaimed "Mickey" and he drove off in a wobbly line.

A couple of minutes later, Rose, Mickey and y/n sat at a table for three in a restaurant. Y/n was still eyeing "Mickey" suspiciously.

"Do you think I should try the hospital? Suki said they had a few jobs going in the canteen. That's it then... dishing out chips... I could do A Levels... " "Mickey" stared at her, grinning. "I dunno. It's all Jimmy Stone's fault. I only left school because of him, and look where he ended up. What do you think?"said Rose

"So, where did you two meet this Doctor?"asked ''Mickey''

"I'm sorry, wasn't I talking about me for a second?"said Rose and y/n snorted while she rolled her eyes 

"Because, I reckon it started back at the shop, am I right? Is he something to do with that?"

"No..."they said

"Come on."

"Sort of."they said

"What was he doing there?"

"I'm not going on about him, Mickey, I'm not, because, I know it sounds daft but... We don't think he's safe. We think he's dangerous."

"But you can trust me sweetheart! *in quick succession* Babe, sugar, darling, sugar." Rose looked at him, confused. "You can tell me anything. Tell me about the Doctor and what he's planning, and I can help you, Rose. Because that's all I really wanna do, sweetheart, babe, sugar, sweetheart."

"What're you doing that for?"asked Rose

"Yeah... That's weird... So not you, Mickie."said y/n, emphasizing the 'not you' part. A waiter approached the table. A smile appeared on y/n's face.

"Your champagne."he said

"We didn't order any champagne. *he grabbed Rose's hand*. Where's the Doctor?"

The waiter had simply moved to the other side of the table and held the bottle out to y/n.

"Ma'ams. Your champagne."

"It's not ours... Mickey, what is it? What's wrong?"said Rose, Carina looked at the waiter and saw that it was Doctor who grinned at her and waved

"I need to find out how much you know, so where is he?"asked ''Mickey''

"Doesn't anybody want this champagne?"asked the Doctor 

Plastic Mickey, exasperated, raised his eyes to the waiter for the first time.

"Look, we didn't order i.... Ah. Gotcha."said plastic "Mickey" 

The Doctor shook the bottle.

"Don't mind me. I'm just toasting the happy couple. On the house!"said the Doctor, plastic Mickey still held tightly Rose's hand, hurting her. Y/n acted fast and took a knife and stabbed his hand making him back away as the cork popped out and hitted Mickey squarely on the forehead. His forehead absorbed the cork and he spitted it out of his mouth. It was finally revealed to Rose that Mickey was in fact been replaced with an Auton.

"Anyway. *his hands turned into clubs and he smashed the table in. Rose screamed and ran out of the way. The Doctor grabbed the Auton's head and pulled it off*. Don't think that's gonna stop me."

A couple at a nearby table screamed, but the Doctor grinned.

"Rose! The fire bell!"yelled y/n as she tried to stay away from the Auton, Rose pressed the fire bell.

"Everyone out! Out now!"

Everyone ran for the exit while the Auton stayed inside, blindly smashing tables with his club-hands.

"Get out! Get out! Get out!"

Rose, y/n and the Doctor ran through the kitchen and out of a back exit.

They ran at the back yard with the Auton in hot pursuit. The Doctor locked a metal door with his sonic screwdriver while Rose tried desperately to find an escape out of the yard they were in. She banged desperately at some locked gates while y/n looked around for any other possible way of escaping.

"Open the gate! Use that tube thing, come on!"said Rose

"What, this? This is a sonic screwdriver."

"Use it!"

"Nah. Tell ya what, let's go in here."

He approached a blue police box in the middle of the yard and unlocked it. The Auton was beginning to make dents in the door from the other side. Rose ran to look at it. Y/n followed Doctor in and once she stepped in, she gasped in amazement. It was bigger on the inside than it was from the outside and everything there looked so... out of this world. Literally. In the middle of it was a slightly raised platform.

"TARDIS..."y/n whispered in astonishment "I--- Wow. This is amazing! So beautiful."her fingers reached for the railings and happy sounds came from the TARDIS as the lights started flickering happily as well, she smiled softly and let out a heartwarming laugh.

"She appreciates the compliment."said the Doctor with a grin

"She's alien, right?"

"Yes."

"I presume you are one too, right?"she asked

"Yup. It does not bother you, right?"

"Nah, this is even better and more logical."she said and her attention went back to the TARDIS as she soothed her gently "Hello girl."the softness in her voice made the TARDIS' light flicker in happiness once again

"We can't hide inside a wooden box! It's gonna get us! Doctor! Y/n!"yelled Rose from outside

"Give her some time, she'll come."

"How come you two act and look so differently?"

"Apart from the fact that I am five years older than her? We are not sisters, well not biologically. Jackie, her mother found me sitting by the fountain alone. She brought me in and a few months later adopted me. I remember I used to live with my aunt. I have no memory of my parents..."

"W-what happened to your parents?"

"I don't know... I never met them. My rude aunt used to tell me that they died in an explosion."

"I'm sorry for your loss."y/n  smiled sadly at him as she mouthed a 'thank you'

Rose slammed the door behind her, took a few steps in, looked around, then ran straight back out again.

She walked once around the police box and arrived back at the front again. The Auton finally made a hole in the door and y/n quickly pulled her back into the police box.

"It's gonna follow us!"said Rose

"The assembled hoards of Genghis Khan couldn't get through that door, and believe me, they've tried. Now, shut up a minute."

Rose stood trembling near the door of the TARDIS while her older sister was trying to calm her, she looked around at how huge it was compared with the outside. The Doctor was wiring up the head of the Auton.

"You see, the arm is too simple, but the head's perfect."

Rose still looked around overwhelmed.

"I can use it to trace the signal back to the original source. Right. *he turned to Rose and y/n, giving them his full attention*. Where do you want to start?"

"Um... the inside's bigger than the outside?"said Rose

"Yes."said the Doctor 

"It's alien."

"Yup."said the Doctor and y/n  simultaneously 

"Are you alien?"

"Yes. *Rose stared at him* Is that alright?"

"Yeah"

"It's called the TARDIS, this thing. T-A-R-D-I-S, that's Time And Relative Dimension In Space. *a small sob came from Rose*That's okay. Culture shock. Happens to the best of us."

"Did they kill him? Mickey? Did they kill Mickey? Is he dead?"asked Rose

"Oh... didn't think of that."

"He's my boyfriend. You pulled off his head.They copied him and you didn't even think? And now you're just going to let him melt?!"

"Melt? *he turned around in time to see "Mickey's head melting with a bubbling noise* Oh, no, no, no, no, no, NO!"

He started running frantically around the console, pressing buttons and pulling levers.

"What're you doing?!"asked Rose

"Reviving the signal, it's fading! Wait I've got it... * he looked at screen* No, No, No, No, No, No, NO! *the TARDIS started shaking as the engines moved*Almost there! Almost there! Here we go!"

The engines stopped and the Doctor ran out the the TARDIS doors without another word and y/n followed after him.

"You can't go out there, it's not safe!"said Rose

She followed them outside.

"I lost the signal, I got so close."said the Doctor 

Rose hopped out of the TARDIS, looking confused again.

"We've moved! Does it fly?"

"Disappears there, reappears here, you wouldn't understand."

"Amazing."said y/n 

"But if we're somewhere else, what about that headless thing? It's still on the loose."said Rose

"It melted with the head, are you going to witter on all night?"

"We'll have to tell his mother..."said Rose. The Doctor looked at the pair questioningly. "Mickey! We'll have to tell his mother he's dead, and you just went and forgot him, again!"The Doctor rolled his eyes, unconcerned. "You were right, you ARE alien."said Rose and then turned to walk away.

"Rose, I'm worried about him too but this. All of this. Is a far bigger problem."said y/n 

"You can't actually trust him... We only know him for a day and a half."

"It's not a matter of trust. But the facts are that an alien life form wants to rule over the world and it seems that the Doctor is indeed trying to save our planet. You don't need to be a genius to know that, we have eyes."

Rose shook her head disbelievingly.

"If you are an alien, then how come you sound like you're from the North?"asked Rose

"Lots of planets have a North. He folds his arms indignantly and looks away."

"What's a police public call box?"

"It's a telephone box from the 1950s. *he patted the TARDIS fondly, grinning* It's a disguise."

Rose and y/n smiled and shook their heads.

"Okay. And this living plastic, what's it got against us?"

"Nothing, it loves you. You've got such a good planet. Lots of smoke and oil, plenty of toxins and dioxins in the air... perfect. Just what the Nestene Consciousness needs. It's food stock was destroyed in the war, all its protein plants rotted, so Earth... dinner!"

"Any way of stopping it?

Grinning, the Doctor produced a tube of blue liquid from his jacket.

"Anti-plastic!"

"Anti-plastic..."

"Anti-plastic! But first I've got to find it. How can you hide something that big in a city this small?"

"Hold on... hide what?"asked Rose

"The transmitter. The Consciousness is controlling every single piece of plastic so it needs a transmitter to boost the signal."

"Is it in the middle of the London? Round and massive?"questioned y/n 

"Exactly!"exclaimed the Doctor

He paced around, agitated, looking around for a clue.

"A huge circular metal structure... like a dish..."

He stood facing Rose and y/n, his back to the railings of the bridge. Behind him, the London Eye loomed 450 foot above them, but he didn't seem to register.

"...like a wheel. Close to where we're standing. Must be completely invisible."

Rose and y/n considered the Eye behind him.

"What?"

They noded towards the Eye, trying not to laugh. The Doctor turned around, then back to them, completely nonplussed.

"Shall we tell him?"whispered Rose, suppressing her laughter

"What?"the Doctor continued

The girls shook their head, looking at the Eye still. He turned around but still failed to make the connection.

"What is it? What?"

"Turn around."y/n said with a laugh, the Doctor turned around again and finally, it clicked.

"Oh... fantastic!"

He grinned inanely and ran off.

Hand in hand, the Doctor, y/n and Rose ran across London Bridge towards the Eye. They came to a halt at the foot of the Eye.

"Think of it. Plastic, all over the world. Every artificial thing waiting to come alive. The shop window dummies, the phones, the wires, the cables..."said the Doctor

"The breast implants..."

"Still, we've found the transmitter. The Consciousness must be somewhere underneath."

Rose and y/n ran off and found the entrance to a manhole at the foot of the wall she was looking over.

"What about down here?"asked y/n 

The Doctor ran to join them.

"Looks good to me. They run down the stairs to the manhole."

The Doctor took the lid off it, and red light and smoke poured out. They climbed down the ladder underground. The Doctor opened the door to another chamber and they went down some steps. The Doctor pointed to a huge, orange, wobbling mass in the middle of the chamber.

"The Nestene Consciousness, that's it, inside the vat. A living, plastic creature."said the Doctor

"Well, then. Tip in your anti-plastic and let's go."said Rose

"I'm not here to kill it. I've got to give it a chance."

They wnet down some more steps. The Doctor leaned over the railings and addressed the Consciouness.

"I seek audience with the Nestene Consciousness under peaceful contract. According to convention 15 of the Shadow Proclamation." The Consciouness flobbled around a bit."Thank you. That I might have permission to approach."

Meanwhile, as Rose and y/n paced around in the background, they spotted Mickey and ran to him. The Doctor rolled his eyes.

"Oh, my God! Mickey! It's okay! It's alright!"said Rose

They squatted down next to him.

"That thing down there, the liquid, Rose, n/n, it can talk!"

"You're stinking! Doctor, they kept him alive!"said Rose

"Yeah, that was always a possibility. Keep him alive to maintain the copy."

"You knew that and you never said?"

"Can we keep the domestics outside, thank you?" Rose and y/n helped Mickey to his feet. The Doctor approached the Consciousness. "Am I addressing the Consciousness? Thank you. If I might observe, you infiltrated this civilization by means of warped, shunt technology. So, may I suggest, with the greatest respect, that you shunt off?" The plastic globbered in what appeared to be a negative manner. "Oh don't give me that, it's an invasion! Plain and simple! Don't talk about constitutional rights!" The plastic reared what would appear to be its head angrily. "I... am... talking! This planet is just starting. These stupid little people have only just learnt how to walk, but they're capable of so much more. I'm asking you on their behalf - please, just go."

Two Autons approached the Doctor from behind.

"Doctor!" y/n tried to warn him but it was too late

The Autons grabbed him. One of them took the anti-plastic out of his jacket pocket.

"That was just insurance! I wasn't going to USE it." The plastic globbered angrily. "I was not attacking you. I'm here to help. I'm not your enemy. I swear, I'm not... what do you mean?" Doors above him opened to reveal the TARDIS. "Oh, oh no, honestly, no! Yes, that's my ship." The plastic roared. "That's not true. I should know, I was there. I fought in the war. It wasn't my fault! I couldn't save your world! I couldn't save any of them!"

"What's it doing?!"asked Rose

"It's the TARDIS! The Nestene has identified its superior technology. It's terrified! It's going to the final base. It's starting the invasion! Get out! Just leg it! Now!"said the Doctor

Rose dialed a number on her mobile.

"Mum?! I'm with y/n, where are you?"

"Oh, there you are, I was just gonna phone. You can get compensation. I said so. I've got this document thing off the police - don't thank me!"said Jackie through the phone

"Where are you, mum?"

"I'm in town!"

"Go home! Just go home, right now!"

"Darling, you're breaking up, look, I'm just going to do a bit of late night shopping. I'll see you later. Tara!"

She hung up

"Mum?! Mum!"

The Consciousness sent out a signal.

"It's the activation signal! It's transmitting!"said the Doctor

The electric blue signal shootted around the Eye.

"The end of the world..."

The activation signals transmitted from the London Eye. The Doctor was still being held hostage.

"Get out! Just get out! Run!"

Part of the ceiling fell in.

"The stairs have gone!" Rose, y/n and Mickey tried desperately to get into the TARDIS. "I haven't got the key!"

"We're gonna die!"said Mickey

"Mickie, do me a favour. Shut up for a minute."said y/n 

Y/n, Mickey and Rose were still cowering at the door of the TARDIS.

They watched the Doctor struggle to get to the anti-plastic, then seemed to reach some kind of decision. Y/n stood up.

"Just leave him!"said Mickey, both girls looked at each other. Y/n decided to take matters into her own hands "There's nothing you can do!"she looked at him and then back to the Doctor 

"I can't..."said y/n, she picked up an axe "I might have no idea where I come from, I don't know who am I or who my parents were, but I know one thing. I'm grateful that my aunt taught me how to fight."

The chain came loose and y/n grabbed onto it. Y/n swung across the gap over the Consciousness. She kicked the Autons holding the Doctor hostage into the Nestene, anti-plastic and all. The Consciousness started to writhe and scream. Y/n landed safely in the Doctor's arms at the other side of the gap.The Consciousness started to explode as y/n and the Doctor ran off. The signal from the Eye is cut off. Rose, y/n, the Doctor and Mickey all manage to reached the TARDIS. Rose grinned at the Consciousness before she went in and closed the door, as it started to die. Just before the whole chamber went up in flames, the TARDIS disappeared. When it appeared in the alleyway Mickey ran backwards, out of the TARDIS and fell over, looking terrified. He backed against a wall. Rose, however, stepped out and rung her mother on her mobile.

"Rose! Rose! You and y/n don't go out of the house, it's not safe!"

Rose laughed in relief to hear Jackie's voice.

"There were all of these things! And they were shooting! And they..."

Satisfied that Jackie was alive, Rose hung up on her, smiling to herself. Rose and y/n ran over to Mickey.

"A fat lot of good you were!" Mickey whimpered.

The Doctor stood in the doorway of the TARDIS. "Nestene Consciousness? *he clicked his fingers* Easy."

"You were useless in there. You'd be dead if it wasn't for y/n."teased Rose

"Yes, I would. Thank you. Right then! I'll be off! Unless, uh... I don't know... you two could come with me." Rose looked at him and put her hands in her pockets while y/n's eyes sparked in interest. "This box isn't just a London hopper, you know, it goes anywhere in the universe free of charge."

"Don't! He's an alien! He's a thing!"

"He's NOT invited. What do you think? You could stay here and fill your life with work and food and sleep, or you could go, uh... anywhere."

"Is it always this dangerous?"

"Yeah." Mickey put his arms around Rose's and y/n's legs like a little lost child.

"Yeah, we can't... we've um... gotta go and find my mum and um... someone's gotta look after this stupid lump... *they let out a small laugh and patted Mickey on the back* So..."

"Okay. See you around."

Rose looked at him intensely, as if she still haven't really made up her mind. Y/n was still looking, not daring to blink, she wanted to go but she couldn't leave her mother. The Doctor did not take his eyes off her, but closed the door. Rose and y/n looked at the closed door. The engines of the TARDIS reved up, and it slowly disappeared. They stared at the space where it was, lost in thought.

"Come on, let's go."said Rose, Mickey was in absolute shock, staring at the empty space where the TARDIS stood."C'mon... come on..."

They helped him to his feet and they begun to walk away. However, the sound of the engines was heard again. Rose, y/n and Mickey spun around. The TARDIS reappeared. The Doctor popped his head out.

"By the way... Did I mention, it also travels in time?"asked the Doctor as he grinned and went back in, leaving the door ajar. The girls turned to Mickey. A grin was formed on y/n's face, similar to the one Doctor had. The h/c haired girl hugged Mickey.

"I'll see you later, Mickie."y/n said and ran inside

"Thanks."said Rose to Mickey

"Thanks for what?"Mickey asked her in confusion

"Exactly."she said and kissed his cheek before running into the TARDIS with a huge smile on her face.

[ketamineharry]

Rose Pt 2 - Joshua Bradley

Requested: No, this is the second part of the Doctor Who au. This part is slightly longer than the first at an almost 3,000 word count. I really do hope you enjoy this as it has taken me forever to write it. Lots of love, as always xx

You sat in your front room, the familiar domestic style of your ordinary life being a vast difference from the experience that you were dragged into mere hours ago. Your mum, Jackie, as much as you loved her… was always a bit over the top, always had something to say or brag about. Always wanted the Earth to centre around her.

“The whole of Central London has been closed off as police investigate the fire. Early reports indicate.” The news reporter stated. The anxiety and severity of the situation, hadn’t yet sunk in. You were barely able to keep a track of your own thoughts.

You slumped down into the sofa, hoping that if you slipped down far enough, that it would swallow you whole and that you wouldn’t have to continue processing what had gone on. It was crazy to even think about, and you couldn’t talk to anyone about it, because as the Doctor had stated, it would get them killed. You were stuck between a rock and a hard place, as the saying goes.

“I know. It’s on the telly. It’s everywhere. She’s lucky to be alive. Honestly, it’s aged her. Skin like an old bible. Walking in now, you’d think I was her daughter. Oh, and here’s himself.”

Your boyfriend, Mickey flopped down on the sofa with you. His face is the picture of concern, as he takes your hand in his.  

“I’ve been phoning your mobile. You could’ve been dead. It was on the news and everything. I can’t believe that the shop went up!” He exclaimed, his voice frantic. Laced with worry. His eyes searched your face for some sort of answer, some sort of explanation.

“I’m alright, honestly, I’m fine! Don’t make a fuss.”

“Well, what happened?”

“I don’t know!” You exclaimed, frustrated with the fact that you couldn’t tell your boyfriend. The one person you were supposed to confide in, with everything.

“What was it though? What caused it?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t in the shop.”

“It’s Debbie on the end. She knows a man from the Mirror. Five hundred quid for an interview.” Jackie said, her excitement clear.

“Oh, that’s brilliant! Give it here.” You said, as you snatched the phone out of her hand and disconnected the call. The measures that you were having to undertake to protect people were beginning to mount up.

“Well you’ve got to find some way of making money. Your job’s kaput and I’m not bailing you out.” She told you, quite matter-of-factly.

The phone rang again, your eventful night being the gossip of the tower block so it seemed. You just wanted to be able to go to bed and try to forget about it. But, you couldn’t do that, until everyone that knew you, or knew of you was reassured that you were safe.

“Bev! She’s alive. I told her sue for compensation. She was within seconds of death.” Jackie said, as she made her way through the flat, presumably so that she could work herself up and get excited and not have you bring her down about it.

“What’re you drinking, tea? Nah, nah, that’s no good, that’s no good. You’re in shock. You need something stronger.” Mickey said, trying to convince you to come out, for an alcoholic beverage. As much as you would usually be down for it, the thought of having to face even more people with even more questions, was exhausting.

“I’m alright.”

“Now come on, you deserve a proper drink. We’re going down the pub, you and me. My treat. How about it?” He asked, as he playfully pleaded with you.

“Is there a match on?”

“No, I’m just thinking about you babe.” He stated, simply.

“There’s a match on ain’t there.” You said playfully, a broad smile spreading across your face. The small normality of your boyfriend trying to persuade you to go to the pub with him, so he could get drunk and watch the football, was a comfort that you didn’t know that you needed.

“That’s not the point, but we could catch the last five minutes.”

“Go on, then. I’m fine, really. Go. Get rid of that.” You instructed him, as you threw him the plastic arm that the Doctor had pulled off of the mannequin a few hours beforehand. You just needed it out of your house, so that you could continue to try and live in some sort of normality and repress the memories of what the afternoon and the evening had presented you with.

Mickey quickly gives you a soft kiss, before taking the arm and getting ready to leave.

“Bye, bye.”

“Bye.” You respond, as you gave him a small wave.

As Mickey was leaving, he pretended to strangle himself with the arm. He would never know just how chilling that imagery would be for you, and you could never explain. Or else get him killed. For the safety of everyone you knew, you had to pretend that you were fine and you had to pretend that you knew nothing. Quite the burden to carry on your emotionally exhausted shoulders.

--

You woke up to the sound of your alarm clock, blaring beside you. Begrudgingly, you stopped the sound and went to get out of your bed.

“There’s no point in getting up, sweetheart. You’ve got no job to go to.” Jackie’s voice called. Sending you into a vivid reminder of what had happened the night before. Perhaps, it would be best to go back to sleep for a little while.

--

You were sitting at the dinner table with Jackie, discussing your future or what was left of it. You had to find another job, but everything that was available or was suggested to you, just didn’t seem like the right fit. You couldn’t force yourself to work somewhere, when it just wouldn’t work. You just weren't that type of person.

“There’s Finch’s. You could try them. They’ve always got jobs.” She suggested. You knew that she was just trying to be helpful, but there was no way that you could work in a butchers.

“Oh, great. The butchers.” You groaned. You were fed up of trying to sound grateful for each suggestion, because they weren’t helpful and these weren’t jobs you could see yourself enjoying. After all, she was your mum and you had hoped she would’ve known you better than this by now.

“Well, it might do you good. That shop was giving you airs and graces. And I’m not joking about compensation. You’ve had genuine shock and trauma. Arianna got two thousand quid off the council just because the old man behind the desk said she looked Greek! I know she is Greek, but that’s not the point. It was a valid claim.” She said, as she danced her way back into her bedroom.

Once Jackie was in her bedroom, the cat flap at the bottom of the front door began to rattle. A telltale sign that although you had instructed her to pin the cat flap down, because you didn’t want to have strays coming into the tiny flat, that she had in fact not listened to you. As it seemed like the cat flap was able to move freely, for it to be making all of that noise.

“Mum, you’re such a liar. I told you to nail that cat flap down. We’re going to get strays.” You complained.

“I did it weeks back!” She protested.

“No, you thought about it.”

As you bent down to try and see what was going on, you noticed four silver nails sitting comfortably on the floor. Something had managed to unscrew all of them to be able to try and get through the cat flap. Without warning, it moved. Cautiously, you pushed the cat flap back, in an attempt to see what was going on, on the other side of your door. It wasn’t a total surprise to see the Doctor, the stranger that had saved your life the night before on the other side. Quickly, you rose to your feet and opened the door for him.

“What’re you doing here?” He asked, confused.

“I live here.”

“Well, what do you do that for?”

“Because I do. I’m only at home because someone blew up my job.” You explained, a slight hint of anger to your tone.

“I must have got the wrong signal. You’re not plastic, are you?” He asked, as he made a fist with his hand and gently tapped it against your head a couple of times. “No, bone head. Bye then.”

“You. Inside. Right now.” You instructed him, as you took his arm and successfully pulled him into the flat.

“Who is it?” Jackie asked, from her bedroom.

“It’s about last night. He’s part of the inquiry. Give us ten minutes.” You explained as you walked past her room.

The Doctor stood in the doorway, you couldn’t make out much of their conversation, but it seemed like Jackie had attempted to try and make a flirtatious advance onto him, which he had rejected.

As he joined you in the living room area, you felt a sense of shame. The clutter of your everyday life was on show. From magazines, to a deck of cards, the television set sat proudly in the corner of the room. The domesticity seemed alien to him. Like, he didn’t have any of these things himself and it concerned you. Perhaps, he was just some loner who in playing the hero had gotten himself attached to you and now you had let him into your house.

“Don’t mind the mess. Do you want a coffee?” You asked, breaking the silence that had filled the room.

“Might as well, thanks. Just milk.”

“We should go to the police. Seriously. Both of us.” You suggested, as you tried to think of a way to end the nightmare that you had found yourself residing in.

“That won’t last. He’s gay and she’s an alien.” You heard him mumble.

“I’m not blaming you, even if it was some sort of sick joke that went wrong.” You said, in an attempt at comforting him.

“Hmm. Sad ending.”

“They said on the news that they found a body.” You told him.

“Y/N Tyler.”

“Ah. Could’ve been worse, look at the ears.”

“All the same, he was nice. Nice bloke.” You said, as you continued trying to explain Wilson to him, but it seemed like he either wasn’t all that interested or couldn’t hear you.

You could hear that he was trying, and had failed to shuffle a deck of playing cards.

“Luck be a lady.”

“Anyway, if we are going to the police, I want to know what I’m saying.” You began, only stopping as you heard the deck of cards he was attempting to shuffle, fall to the floor. “I want you to explain everything.” You continued.

“Maybe not.”

He stops for a moment, as if he was trying to observe something. A silence from him, he failed to even explain his actions any longer.

“What’s that then? Have you got a cat?” He asked you, as he attempted to try and figure out what was going on.

“No.” You answered simply, as you finished up making the coffees. “We did have, but now they’re just strays. They come in off the estate.” You continued, as you picked up the two mugs of coffee and bought them into the living room with you. You placed them down on the coffee table in front of you, finally taking in the mess that was your living room.

“I told Mickey to chuck that out. You’re all the same. Give a man a plastic hand. Anyway, I don’t even know your name. Doctor what was it?” You asked, no sooner than you had. The plastic arm had attached itself to your face. You were barely, still able to breathe.

The Doctor, quick on his feet, pulled at it. Which only made matters worse, as he did, you both fell onto and crashed through the glass coffee table. Pieces of glass, and other matter flew everywhere as your bodies collided with it. He decides to use the metallic device that he had used the previous night to open the fire exit door, which finally pulls the arm off of your face. He then jabs the device into the palm of the hand, which stops the fingers from moving. The life from the object, seemed to have been drained.

“It’s alright, I’ve stopped it. There you go, you see. Armless.” He explained.

“Do you think?” You asked him, as you hit him with it.

“Ow.”

--

As soon as the Doctor had come, he was off again. But, you couldn’t let him leave until you had some sort of answers. A clear story in your head if you will. So, you decided to follow him down the stairwell.

“Hold on a minute. You can’t just go swanning off.” You protested.

“Yes I can. Here I am. This is me, swanning off. See ya.”

“But that arm was moving, it tried to kill me.” You said, voice raised slightly from a mixture of fear and annoyance.

“Ten out of ten for observation.”

“You can’t just walk away. That’s not fair. You’ve got to tell me what’s going on.” You all but begged. Once you had the answers, you could easily drop it and go on with your normal everyday life, treating the cause of these events as some sort of anomaly.

“No I don’t.” He stated simply.

You had found yourself outside, still chasing after him.

“All right, then. I’ll go to the police. I’ll tell everyone. You said, if I did that I’d get people killed. So, your choice. Tell me, or I’ll start talking.” You threatened. Which caused him to stop and turn around, allowing you to catch up to him a little bit.

“Is that supposed to sound tough?” He asked, flippantly.

“Sort of.”

“Doesn’t work.”

“Who are you?” You asked.

“Told you, the Doctor.”

“Yeah, but Doctor what?” You questioned.

“Just the Doctor.”

“The Doctor.” You repeated.

“Hello.”

“Is that supposed to sound impressive?” You asked.

“Sort of.”

“Come on, then. You can tell me. I’ve seen enough. Are you the police?” You enquired.

“No, I was just passing through. I’m a long way from home.”

“But what have I done wrong? How comes those plastic things are after me?” You couldn’t quite understand it all. It all just seemed a bit much. From your understanding, you hadn’t done anything wrong. Yet, these things still seemed to want to haunt you.

“Oh, suddenly the entire world revolves around you. You were just an accident. You got in the way, that’s all.” He explained.

“It tried to kill me.”

“It was after me, not you. Last night, in the shop, I was there, you blundered in, almost ruined the whole thing. This morning I was tracking it down, it was tracking me down. The only reason it fixated on you, is ‘cos you’ve met me.”

“So what you’re saying is, the entire world revolves around you.” You stated sarcastically.

“Sort of, yeah.”

“You’re full of it.” You teased.

“Sort of, yeah.”

“But all this plastic stuff, who else knows about it?” You asked, your inquisitive nature getting the better of you.

“No one.”

“What, you’re on your own?”

“Well, who else is there? I mean, you lot, all you do is eat chips, go to bed and watch telly, while all the while underneath you there’s a war going on.” He explained.

“Ok. Start from the beginning. I mean, if we are going to go with the living plastic, and I don’t even believe that, but if we do, how’d you kill it?”

“The thing controlling it projects life into the arm. I killed the signal dead.”

“So, that’s radio control?” You asked.

“Thought control. Are you alright?”

“Yeah. So who’s controlling it then?”

“Long story.”

“But what’s it all for? I mean shop window dummies, what’s that all about? Is someone trying to take over Britain’s shops?” You questioned, with a slight giggle.

“No.”

“No.”

“It’s not a price war. They want to overthrow the human race and destroy you. Do you believe me?” He queried.

“No.” You responded simply.

“But you’re still listening.”

“Really though Doctor, tell me. Who are you?” You asked. He took your hand in his before answering

“Do you know like we were saying about the Earth revolving? It’s like when you’re a kid. The first time they tell you that the world’s turning and you can’t quite believe it because everything looks like it’s standing still. I can feel it. The turn of the Earth. The ground beneath our feet is spinning at a thousand miles an hour, and the entire planet is hurtling around the sun at sixty seven thousand miles an hour, and I can feel it. We’re falling through space, you and me, clinging to the skin of this tiny little world and if we let go.” He began, as he let go of your hand.

“That’s who I am, now forget me Y/N Tyler. Go home.” He instructed, as he headed towards a blue police box with the arm in tow.

You turn around, deciding to go to Mickey’s as luckily he had a computer. Before you could go much further though, you heard a strange noise. You looked back over your shoulder to see that the police box was gone, something was definitely going on and you needed to find out what.

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

What do you think of Rose Tyler? She's my favorite but I've noticed that there tends to be rivalry between Rose and Martha fans. Personally I have nothing against Martha but you seem to really like her so whats your take?

I’m...not the biggest fan of Rose. 

(Going under the cut so people don’t have to see a critical post about her in the tag if they don’t want to.) 

So, in some ways, Rose is one of the more interesting Companions to me because she’s such a flawed human being. The drawback is that the series so rarely acknowledges this and simply treats Rose like she’s incredible. This gets especially bad during Season 2 because we see her through Ten’s eyes, and he’s falling in love with her. So even though she’s just as selfish and short-sighted as she always has been, the show stops calling her out on it. Really, Father’s Day is one of my favorite episodes for a multitude of reasons, but among them is the development we get of Rose’s character. The conflict in that episode is literally all her fault, and no one pretends otherwise. But you understand, as a viewer, why she did it. You recognize that hell, you might have done the same. “Rose” and the Aliens in London/World War Three two parter demonstrate how she treats Mickey and Jackie...and it’s not especially kind. The End of The World, where she picks a fight with Cassandra. Boom Town, where Mickey calls her out and the ending actually parallels her with Margaret and the whole idea of second chances. Even in the Season 1 finale, when she thoughtlessly tells Mickey that there’s “nothing left for her” here, and it goes over her head how much that breaks him. Rose is interesting because I don’t think she’s a very great person. 

I guess I’d like her more if the later seasons didn’t reflect on her like she was. Mickey’s character arc reaches an excellent peak in Season 2. But apart from that, Rose doesn’t grow or change as a person. The concept of “second chances” never returns. The season teases that she’s going to die, but that doesn’t happen. (They later do the same thing with Donna, so...) Her selfishness also reaches new bounds in the finale when, without a moment’s hesitation, she chooses The Doctor over her family and friends. Isn’t the least bit conflicted about losing Jackie. I recognize that it’s her decision to make about her own life, and they were trying to make it for her...but damn, she made that choice in a nanosecond. And seeing the way she broke down and screamed “Take me back!” After they were separated. Like, really? How bout a “Thanks Dad, for saving my life.” or something? Pete risked his own neck to recue her from the Void. Rose does eventually return in Season 4, but she winds up staying with The Meta-crisis Doctor. I can’t tell if this is supposed to be a punishment - recruiting her to watch over a cloned Doctor (Who they treat as a criminal for no good reason, but that’s neither here nor there) or if it’s supposed to be the ultimate happy ending for her. Either way, I find it amusing that she refused to stop coming back until she got a Doctor of her own. Like, sure, you could call that entitled, but I just find it funny, personally. 

I have no issue with Rose fans at all, or fans of Rose x Ten. It saddens me that there is some rivalry between them and fans of Martha, who I’ll freely admit to being a major fan of. Rest assured, it has nothing to do with my feelings about Rose, but I suppose I can’t blame fans of the show for feeling like they have to choose a side, because the show itself pushes that narrative. It pushes the idea of “Rose vs Martha” despite how silly that is. These two characters share exactly one bit of dialogue, and it’s mostly just Martha going “Holy shit, you’re Rose!” because The Doctor never stopped talking about her or pining after her during Season 3, oblivious to how much it hurt her feelings. Well, at least until The Family of Blood. I think after that The Doctor kind of knew Martha fancied him, because he doesn’t seem at all surprised when she admits it in the finale. Anyway...

[crimefightingpigeons]

I’ve shared my head canon on how we go from Doomsday to Turn Left - your turn! What do you think happens??  - @loupettes

OK I’ve got no excuse for why this took me so long (other than complete lack of productive brain cells) but heyyy look part 3 is here! And hopefully it was worth the wait??? Anyone wanna place bets as to how long part 4 will take haha? I PROMISE it will happen though because I’m determined to finally finish this fic.

part 1 | part 2

A Brief Guide to Love and Defending the Universe

3.

After a thorough talking to about her reckless actions and a mandated night of sleep (which everyone took advantage of), the team got right back to work with a lot more luck. Apparently the fractures just hadn’t been wide enough to travel through before, and now they were. For the most part, they took this as an absolute blessing and tried their best to ignore its solemn reminder that they only had so much time left.

For efficiency, both Rose and Mickey took on travelling through the cannon while Pete remained on base to keep track of the two. Plus, connecting Rose’s old phone to the mainframe, they had found a way to call the TARDIS’s number to every universe it could connect to, hoping at some point the ship’s owner might just pick up. On a good day, between the three of them, they could reach upwards of a hundred different worlds.

As powerful as the cannon was, though, nothing came as easy as they would have liked. For one thing, there was no way of knowing how close or far they were to their old universe, no way of knowing from this side of any crack where the Doctor was. It was a setback, but not a surprising one. What was even more frustrating, though, was the recharge time needed between jumps.

Most of the time it was extremely horrible just being stuck. All they had to do upon landing was a universal scan for TARDIS tech, wait a few seconds for a negative answer, and then… wait. Maybe if their own world wasn’t collapsing in on itself every day it might have been easier to enjoy, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case and each passing minute of not being able to do anything useful was quite stressful. And that wasn’t even accounting for the added trouble they’d face when they happened to be dropped right in the middle of an unwanted fight or war zone.

Other times, though, it could truthfully be amazing. Sure the entire multiverse was in a constant state of trouble, but sometimes it was nice to land somewhere that just needed a bit of help. Taking down local authoritarian regiments, solving mysterious disappearances, assisting on small scale alien invasions and such. It was just nice to help and feel properly useful. And sometimes it was these small victories that were just enough to get them to continue on through the next day.

Occasionally, though, very rarely, there would be an unexpected surprise waiting for them.

The first time it happened was to Rose. She had been running off from some strange alien hunting her, and just as she found a safe place to hide, there it was: the TARDIS. Her heart stopped and she didn’t believe her eyes. It didn’t make sense… the scanner said he wasn’t here… It wasn’t possible… Her mind was racing frantically, and then the door of the ship opened and… a blonde man with a piece of lettuce attached to his lapel stepped out. It was a man Rose recognized instantly from an album the Doctor had shown her. Except that her version of that Doctor had chosen celery as his accessory of choice… It wasn’t him, not her him anyways. Parallel universe, parallel Doctor. But before she could even think of how to react, the alarm telling her to jump back went off and she chose to go.

A few weeks later, Mickey had his own run in with the Doctor. He nearly didn’t believe Rose when she told him and Pete about seeing him, figured it was just her mind playing tricks on her. But then during one of his jumps, he had quite literally ran into a strange young man wearing a bow tie and tweed jacket.

“Oh, sorry there mate—” the man apologized as they both fell to the ground. Then just as the pair locked eyes, “Mickey?” The man’s smile grew and he excitedly jumped up, pulling Mickey up with him, and took him into a tight embrace. “Oh Mickey Smith! I can’t tell you how good it is to see you!”

Mickey just smiled and hugged him right back. “It’s good to see you too, Doctor.” It didn’t take an idiot to figure out exactly who that man was.

Since then, they both had a handful of other run ins with versions of the Doctor either they knew or who knew them. Most of the time it was alright. Mickey always seemed to enjoy the reunions, but Rose usually did her best to avoid them. Sure she wouldn’t mind a glimpse from afar every so often, but it was also difficult being so close yet so far from her own Doctor. And on the occasions she did run into a version of him who had clearly lost her… well, it wasn’t exactly easy to walk away from those situations. So she simply pushed forward, not letting herself get distracted.

But as time continued on, the team was facing more difficult problems than just running into people they didn’t want to see. If there were any stars left in the sky they were impossible to locate on even the clearest of nights, and the world was getting more scared and angry every day. Even Torchwood had been run down, the population blaming them for not doing more. Rose, Mickey, and Pete all felt even happier that they had decided to keep this project on the down low. Doing what they were trying to do was hard enough on its own, and they couldn’t imagine having to do it while putting up with angry protestors striking chaos.

Still, even with that obstacle out of the way, they couldn’t help but lose a little more hope every day. Some days the basement would be made a mess from a frustrated break down, and they believed no other room in any world had hosted so many nightmares or tears. They all knew they had a few weeks left- at the very most. A few weeks to get through enough of the infinite universes out there to find the right one. A few weeks to sort through whatever problem might be waiting for them on the other side. Every day it became harder to imagine finding real success. And as it turned out, inevitable universal destruction partnered with a lack of optimism and massive burnout wasn’t the motivation they had been looking for.

Pete chose to step back a bit to spend some more time with Jackie and Tony. It felt nearly cruel thinking everything he had just gained in the last few years was about to be snatched from him. And maybe it wasn’t responsible, but he was going to spend whatever time he could with his family.

Meanwhile Rose was simply running out of energy to keep going. After years of pushing and overworking herself, she had started taking the tiniest of steps back as doubt and hopelessness ravaged through her mind. Maybe this was as far as they got, she started to tell herself. Maybe she had been right all those years ago. Maybe without the Doctor she really wasn’t anything special. She remembered her young, naïve self. You don’t just give up. You don’t just let things happen. They felt almost like a stranger’s words now.

Of course if anyone knew that wasn’t true it was Mickey Smith, and he was determined to support her however he could. Most of the time this involved taking on some extra work, to let her have a moment of peace whenever she needed. With his gran gone (which truthfully he was thankful she wasn’t around to experience all this), he certainly had the time. And he knew if it had been Rose in his position, she would do the same for him.

Nowadays time seemed to bleed into itself and the gang never knew exactly when it was (they hoped that was just because of all the work they were doing in a windowless basement, and not a side effect from the whole multiverse ending thing). It felt like a very early morning though, at this particular moment. Pete was probably asleep next to Jackie or watching Tony. Rose was taking a nap on the cot in the corner. And Mickey kept working, taking full advantage of that autopilot function he wasn’t as judgemental at Rose for using anymore. As usual, he encountered failure, after failure, after failure. But he kept going, kept persisting, kept—

*beep beep*

Mickey looked down at his scanner on a planet which seemed to be made entirely of purple rock, a bit startled. His mind went through all the possibilities of what that sound could mean. Low battery? Interference? Surely it couldn’t have been…

But it was! The scanner had received a signal from the TARDIS. Their actual, real TARDIS.

A purely joyful grin spread over Mickey’s face and tears started welling in his eyes. He didn’t know which galaxy, which planet he was on. He didn’t know where Earth was, or wherever the Doctor happened to be at this moment. He didn’t know when he happened to land, 50 years in the past or 2000 years in the future. But none of that was important. Instead he chose to break out into a mad happy dance, hoping in the back of his mind that no alien was around to see him make a fool of himself.

After wearing himself out, Mickey couldn’t help but want to jump back. But then he remembered he still had to wait for his device to repower.

“Fucking hell,” he muttered under his breath. 25 minutes to go until he could jump, 25 excruciatingly impossible long minutes.

Finally though, after what really did feel like an eternity, Mickey’s alarm went off and not even a whole second later he jumped back. Once his feet hit the platform in the basement, he looked up to find a still sleeping Rose, prompting his grin to reappear.

“Rose, Rose!” he started calling her name as he stumble-ran towards her. Then crouching down by her side and shaking her, “Rose, wake up!”

“Mmm… wha’ is’t?” Rose shot up, but her mind was still caught in a sleepy haze. Mickey didn’t have the patience to wait for her to finish waking up, though, and started pulling her along.

“Got somethin’ to show you, come on now. Here, take this,” he handed Rose his jump button and helped her onto the platform. Then, running back to the console, he paused for a second to carefully adjust the coordinates and recalibrate the cannon.

“Mickey what’s going on?” Rose asked again, now awake but still completely confused.

Mickey smiled at her once again. “See for yourself, in 3, 2…” and he sent her off.

“Mickey!” Rose tried shouting again, but it was too late. And before she knew it she was thrown into the street of another world. A world which looked a lot like London, Earth at night. Which maybe it was, but surely it wasn’t their old London. Rose wandered down the road a bit, enjoying the wind on her face as much as possible and wondering what Mickey could have possibly wanted her to have seen… then she saw a gathering crowd around the corner. Her attention piqued and she continued on towards it. There was a big building- a corporate office of some sort or another- surrounded by emergency services of every kind. She was in the middle of wondering what could have possibly happened when a red headed woman came up behind her.

“Listen, there’s this woman that’s going to come along. A tall blonde woman called Sylvia. Tell her that bin there, alright? It’ll all make sense. That bin there.”

Rose could tell something good just happened to this woman by her smile alone. For a moment she remembered when she smiled like that, and the one person who could always effortlessly pull it from her. But she pushed it out of her head. She almost wanted to warn that other woman to hold off on her joy, too. If only she knew what was just around the corner for them all. Rose was sure she wouldn’t have such a reason to be celebrating.

With a sigh, Rose decided to walk away. Whatever Mickey had found so interesting about this event had either passed or simply wasn’t getting her attention like it might have any other time. And frankly she wasn’t too invested in helping that Sylvia woman- or whatever her name was- find a bin. So she went off into the dark street, hoping to clear her mind.

But then… something strange started happening. Rose was still walking down the street, but the ground beneath her started to disappear and the world around seemed to fuzz in and out just slightly and there was a weird static-y feeling around her-

And then everything was back to normal. She was back on the same street. At night. With a giant web star in the sky-

Rose’s head jolted back up to notice the very interesting thing that had certainly not been there just a few moments ago. ‘What the hell is going on?’ she thought. But before she could think of any sort of reasonable answer, she saw missiles being launched at whatever it was floating overhead, blowing it up.

On pure instinct, Rose started sprinting towards the source of the shooting. The whole time wondering- praying- that somehow all of this meant exactly what she was hoping it meant. That he was here. Maybe the Doctor had somehow gotten wind of their interdimensional jumping, maybe the TARDIS had picked up on it and alerted him! Maybe that weird moment she had experienced just a moment ago had been the Doctor pulling her back to him! With each breath and dash forward she had to forcefully restrict every ounce of hope in her body from seeping through.

Finally, Rose arrived at the scene. It appeared things had calmed down a bit, but there were still emergency vehicles and men and women in camo uniforms and red berets all around.

“What happened, what did they find?,” she slowed down as she got close to the barriers. There was a woman- a red headed woman. Rose turned to her. “Sorry, but… Did they find someone?”

“I don’t know. Bloke called the Doctor or something.”

“Where is he?”

“They took him away, he’s dead.”

Rose froze. Any thoughts running through her mind just a second ago disappeared and her body filled with a heavy numbness. She could hear the woman still going on behind her, but didn’t register a single word of it.

“…I came so far,” she breathed out.

Finally, though, Rose forced herself back to reality. Her worst fear may have been coming true, but that didn’t stop the rest of the multiverse from imminent destruction. And there was something weird about this world, something off… and something familiar about the voice talking to her. Rose turned around and for the first time since running into her, got an actually good look at who she was talking to. This woman wasn’t just any ordinary woman. It was the same woman who had told her about that bin just a few minutes ago in that crowded street. Something weird was definitely going on. A dead Doctor, this woman showing up twice… with something very odd on her back unlike before…?

“What’s your name?”

“Donna. And you?”

“I’m just… passing by… I shouldn’t even be here. This is wrong. This is so wrong,” she rambled on, more and more of her focus being diverted to whatever was on this woman’s back. “What was it, sorry? Donna what?”

“Why d’you keep looking at my back?”

Rose snapped her eyes away to look anywhere else. The last thing she needed to do was upset the woman who might be able to give her some answers. “I’m not.”

“Yes you are. You keep looking behind me, you’re doing it now. What is it, what’s there? Did someone….”

But before Donna could finish her sentence and before Rose had any more time to investigate, the world around her started to fuzz back out. And she was gone.

[saiilorstars]

Next Stop, Everywhere

Chapter 4: It Doesn’t Matter

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor (but we’re starting with the 9th Doctor)

OC face claim is the actress Victoria Camacho!

No real warnings for now!

// Story Masterlist // 

Chapter summary: Joy is dropped back on Earth but not in the correct time the Doctor promised her. And despite her insistence to leave London altogether, she ends up doing something far different.

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Remember what I said?

I was wrong.

Very wrong.

This was so a Third Wheel trip. Frankly, I can't take it anymore. I've grown fond of the Doctor and Rose but the fact that they barely acknowledge me is not that great.

What bugged me the most was that the Doctor didn't even bother getting to know me. All he knew was my name and that I was American. Other than that, nothing. But if you asked him about Rose, he'd have an answer in less than two seconds. Not only was it annoying, but it was also hurtful. It made me think that he didn't like me and I knew that wasn't the case because he could've easily dropped me off but... he didn't. But what was wrong, then?

I loved this place, I really did, but I can't keep going on like this. That's why I left home in the first place, years ago. I will not go through that again.

~0~

"Here we are, just 6 hours after we left," the Doctor pulled up in the same alley way we had left off in on Earth. I stepped outside, feeling as if it wasn't real. After seeing so much, it felt like I was just plain dreaming up the bland planet. "Now, are you sure you want to go home?"

I looked back, seeing him and Rose standing together. I nodded, "Yeah..."

"Oh, don't forget your coat!" Rose rushed inside the TARDIS and came back with my light, yellow coat, "Here," she handed it to me.

"You know we'll be back, right?" The Doctor asked.

I nodded, "Yeah...but-"

"Good then, we'll see you some time later," he grinned then walked inside.

I smiled sadly, nodding again even if he couldn't see it anymore.

Rose, oblivious to the ignorance, simply waved her hand before walking inside as well, "See you."

And just like the last time, one year ago, the blue box of wonders disappeared right before my eyes. "Goodbye Doctor," I whispered, thankful for so much opportunities I had been offered from him, "Thank you."

I turned and walked away, knowing I'd probably never see them again.

~0~

I entered the diner, feeling good and ready to begin the day. I felt I should leave London soon and head off somewhere new. Feeling ignored didn't help and so I wanted a fresh new start again, like the first time. That's usually what would happen: I'd travel, find a new place, meet people, waited a decent time until I saw things going for the worst then got up and left again.

It was that time again...

"Morning!" I yelled.

Ami, who was walking towards the counter, dropped the plates she had been holding to the ground. I jumped when the glass smashed into pieces.

"Ami! What the hell?" I walked towards the counter, setting my bag on it.

"It's...it's you," she pointed a trembling finger at me, "D-Dominic!" she yelled.

"What?" Dominic walked to his station and looked up through the opening window. His eyes widened when he saw me, "Oh my god..."

"Oh, Joy!" Ami threw her hands around my neck, "I'm so glad you're safe!"

"What are you talking about?" I pulled away, utterly confused, "Of course I'm safe!"

"Where have you been kid?" Dominic asked, "We were worried sick!"

"I thought you had finally left again," Ami said sadly, "Without even a goodbye."

"What are you two talking about? I just saw you yesterday," I shrugged off my coat.

"What are YOU talking about?" Dominic raised an eyebrow, "It's been 6 months since you came in."

My eyes nearly popped out, "SIX MONTHS?" I choked out, "N-n-n-n-no," I shook my head, "6 months? No...it..." I looked at them and saw they were serious, dead serious. They wouldn't lie like that; they weren't about the pranking style.

I had been gone for six months.

"Yeah, the boss was really angry you just skipped out like that," Ami said.

"Oh..." I shut my eyes, "I dread to think. I'm fired aren't I?"

They both nodded.

"And I don't think your American charm is going to work this time," Dominic said, "Sorry kid."

I sighed, "I lost my job."

"Where did you go?" Ami asked as I grabbed my coat and bag.

"Somewhere..." I mumbled, walking to the door, "But it doesn't matter now..."

6 months. I've been gone 6 months. The Doctor had said 6 hours. He clearly got it wrong. What was I supposed to do now?

I called where I lived and was greeted by an angry Ms. Griffin, the owner of the apartment in which I rented a room.

I had lost that too.

I was left walking through the streets with no place to go and no money. Wonderful.

I had lost everything...

I looked up and noticed something posted on a street post. At first, I couldn't make out what it was but when I neared closer, I saw it was a 'Missing Girl' flyer. I reached for it and studied it.

I gasped quietly, "Rose..."

'Have you seen me?'

"They've marked her down as disappeared." I read the entire paper and saw there was a phone number and address. I looked up, glancing ahead and back.

I dashed off to somewhere named the Powell Estate. I clutched the paper in my hand as I ran. Oh Rose, if only she knew.

~0~

I knocked furiously, alright I pounded, on a door until I was finally answered. "Jackie Tyler?" I said, catching my breath.

A blonde, blue eyed woman stared at me momentarily stood on the other side of the door, "Uh...yes?"

"I know..." I panted, holding up the crumpled paper in my hand, as if she could really see what was on it anymore, "...Rose..."

"Oh!" She exclaimed then pulled me in and shut the door. "Have you seen my daughter?"

I caught my breath and nodded, "She's been gone for 6 months?"

"Yes, yes, do you know where she is?"

I licked my lips, sucking in a deep breath, "You see..."

"Jackie?" Someone called as the door was reopened.

I froze; it was the young man Rose had been with in the London Eye.

When he recognized me he pointed violently, his anger growing clear on his face. "It's you!"

I blinked, not finding the right words to say. I mean, what could I really say?

"Do you know each other?" Jackie asked, desperately trying to keep up; a hopeful gleam in her eyes, probably belonging to the thought of finally finding her daughter.

"She was with Rose the day she disappeared," The guy exclaimed, nearly shouting at me, "Do you know how many problems your stupid Doctor caused me?"

"I'm...sorry..." I tried apologizing but Rose's mother cut in and started questioning for her daughter.

"You were with Rose? Where's Rose!? What do you know!?"

"Calm down," I gestured with my hands, I seeing her get really get worked up about it, "I can explain..."

"No, you left too!" the guy marched up to me angrily, 'Do you know I was a suspect for killing Rose?"

"Y-you were?" I blinked, now understanding completely his anger, "I'm terribly sorry but it's not my fault!"

"Mickey Smith you let her speak," snapped Jackie.

"Mickey?" I quickly said, "I can explain. Just give me the chance," He glared but nodded and allowed me to continue, "Jackie, I don't know where your daughter is," I began and I saw the disappointment in her face, "But I can assure you she's not dead. She's just...traveling."

"Traveling?" she repeated, "But why won't she call?"

"I don't know," I shook my head, really not getting the answer either. I mean, Rose knew her mother would pick up. She knew her mother would always be worried. She should feel lucky and grateful she had a mother like Jackie. But for some reason, she just wasn't bothered that she had left her mother without a word.

"Jackie, I went missing that same day but...here I am," I gestured to my safe body, "And look, no one even claimed a disappearance of me. I'm perfectly fine."

"Who...who are you?" she asked.

"Joy Souza."

"You seem pretty young..." she looked me over, "You say you disappeared too? And your parents didn't file it?"

I couldn't help but scoff, "Please, like they'd make time to look out for me."

She tilted her head, frowning with confusion, "But-"

"It's not important," I quickly moved on from the topic, "I just came over to give you some assurance over your daughter. I don't know where she is but she'll be coming back. Pretty soon." I turned to Mickey, "And I'm sorry for the trouble you had to go through. I didn't think that'd happen. I don't think the Doctor did either."

He smiled dimly, "I guess it's not really your fault..."

"I uh...better get going," I walked for the door.

"Joy?" Jackie called suddenly, "Hold on there," I looked back as she came up, "Your parents...what did you mean by that?"

I shook my head, "Jakie, it's not import-"

"It's important," she said softly, studying me for a minute, "I can bet you're not even eighteen yet," I tried hiding my shock at her correct guessing but she just saw straight through it. She took my hand, bringing me away from the door. "How's about a nice cup of tea?"

My mouth opened to immediately decline the offer, knowing it was best to put distance between myself and the Doctor and Rose. I had to leave anyways and the less people I said goodbye to, the better. "...can I get coffee instead?"

And that happened instead.

Jackie smiled, nodding as she brought me towards the kitchen, Mickey right behind, "Of course, sweetheart."

~ 0 ~

6 Months Later.

"See you later Jackie!" I exclaimed, running to the door and grabbing my bag.

"Hold on, no breakfast?" she walked out from the kitchen, expectant face that declared I sat down at the table for a proper meal.

"I have to find a new job," I reminded, sweetest smile I could give on my face.

"Again?" she leaned against the wall, "What happened to the one last week?"

"I quit," I shrugged, "Boss was incredibly rude and demeaning."

"Hm, well I already told you. Maybe you should just focus on school. The faster you finish, the quicker you can get into college."

"I will," I nodded, reaching for the door knob, "I am."

I ran through the street, looking intently on where I could apply for another job. It was becoming fairly difficult, I'd admit. Every since I lost the one at the diner, I just couldn't seem to stick in one job anymore. Granted, I never did but this time it was different. I just couldn't. I never stayed too long in a place; when I felt ready to leave I just did. But I hadn't done so in over a year and a half. I was still in London and for some reason, I couldn't leave.

Perhaps, it could have to do with the fact that I had found a real home that I couldn't admit was only a temporary one until Rose returned and took back her room. But the atmosphere was just so different! Right from the beginning, Jackie had sat me down on the table, handing me a cup of coffee, and along with Mickey, listened to my story...my whole story. She didn't yell, she didn't reprimand me, she didn't order me what I had to do...she just listened. While she didn't condone what I had done in respect to my family, she agreed that they had been wrong. She also agreed not to contact them for any reason unless I was in grave danger, and we were talking about life and death situations. In her, I had found the only other person that could possibly understand me and just...allow me to live my life the way I wanted to. I was doing nothing wrong, really.

I had even found a new friend, in Mickey. He had also listened and had understood me, especially since one of his parents had also been quite the distant from him. And now with his 'girlfriend' off traveling with an alien, we had become the best of friends.

I was really happy. So happy that I just couldn't bring myself to leave...

~0~

All morning I spent it in the mall, looking for a job. I managed to go around the shops inside and beside the mall, but still nothing. I was becoming frantic. 6 months of this! I don't know how much longer I can last! I didn't want to be taken care of, I never need anyone to help me. Jackie and Mickey had offered to pay for my expenses while I finished school but I didn't need my own parents to do that for me so I certainly wasn't about to let two people that actually cared for me to do so.

"Hey," I heard Mickey call from behind.

I turned around, hugging him quick, "Hi."

"What are you doing?"

"Job hunting again."

"What happened to the shop?"

"It didn't work out..."

"So, no luck yet?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, I had such a good job at the diner. I had all my money saved...but it's gone." I sighed, "And I can't seem to get up on my feet anymore."

"You'll find something." he assured, "I was heading to Jackie's for lunch. Ready to come back?"

I shook my head, "Ami and I are going to have lunch at the diner."

He nodded, "Alright. I'll see you later then."

I nodded continued on my way. I entered the diner and was greeted by the familiar greasy smell. "Hi Dominic." I greeted.

"Hey!" he waved from his station, "Ami's in the restroom. She'll be out," I smiled and sat at the counter, "Still no luck?"

"Nope!"

"Don't worry. You'll find something good," he assured, "Actually, one of my friends said there was going to be an opening for a high top institution."

"Really?" I perked up, curious, "What is it?"

"I don't know much about it but she said the pay is really good. If you want, I can give you the number of my friend. Just say I sent you."

'Thanks, Dominic." I smiled.

"Hey!" Ami came out, "Dominic, you know the usual!"

He groaned, "Yes."

We went to sit at a table by the glass window.

"How's the work today?" I looked around, "It's barely filled."

"Yeah, things have been going pretty slow this month."

"Because you need an American..." I trailed off, causing her to chuckle.

"We do miss you," she nodded.

"Me too," I admitted, pouting, making her laugh again.

We talked about the future plans we had both made for the rest of the year, specifically for Christmas which was nearing. She said her family would visit the Galapagos Islands. That sounded like fun...one of the places I had to visit. Though the thought of those plans I had had were slowly fading. I didn't want to go away for Christmas but I also didn't want to stay here. Jackie and Mickey were incredible but the truth was still there: I had no family in England and was living in a room that wasn't even mine. Christmas just seemed like a joke, I admitted to myself. Of course, Ami made me laugh through it. She was incredibly sweet when it came to my troubles. Together, we ate like we hadn't done so in months, much to Dominic's dismay.

I was eating my third chocolate mousse when Mickey busted through the doors.

"Oi man!" Dominic yelled, "What's the rush?"

Mickey ignored him and ran straight to me, "Minnie!" he cried, panting heavily, "You have to see..."

"Mickey, what's wrong?" I handed him a drink.

He shook his head and hand, "No, no. It's Rose..." he finally said, "And the Doctor!"

My eyes widened, "What about them?"

He shook his head, still regaining his breath. He grabbed my hand and ran us out. "See you Ami!" I yelled before we left for the streets.

I couldn't believe they were back...

It had been several months and honestly, secretly, I had started believing they would never return.

But now, the only thought that ran through my head was the trouble those two were in...

~0~

We ran up the stairs of the Powell Estate and bust through the door of the Tyler's. We saw Rose, the Doctor and Jackie in the living room.

"You're back..." I breathed, "Jackie..."

"It was him, wasn't it?" she frowned, "Did he take you away too?" I glanced to the Doctor for help, "He did," Jackie glared at him, "You took these two girls?"

"I didn't force them!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"He didn't," Rose assured, "Mum, please just calm down."

But Jackie was hysterical. She was angry. Furious.

And she should be...

12 months. One Year.

I think anyone who waited that long would be right to be angry...right?

"Jackie, what did I say?" I asked her, trying to ease her anger as best I could, "She was fine. Isn't that what matters?"

"Yes, of course but..."

"Then let it go." I said, "Your daughter is here. Be happy."

She stared at Rose, sighing, "Oh come here," she pulled Rose for a hug.

"Nice one," Mickey whispered behind me.

"Thanks," I whispered back, smiling as the mother and daughter reunited.

"Joy," the Doctor stood up, "How have you been?"

I glanced at Jackie and Mickey, silently pleading they wouldn't say anything, though I think only one of them got the message, "Um...good. I've been very good."

"Minnie," Mickey began, "You los-"

"I've been good," I repeated clearly, elbowing him in the stomach, "Working..."

"That's good." the Doctor nodded, "Really, really good."

I half smiled, "Come here," I pulled him for a hug, "I thought I'd never see you again, you goof ball."

He chuckled, "I did say see you some time."

I pulled back, "It's been six months."

"I thought it was 12," Rose said.

"For you," I looked at the Doctor, "You seem to have made a miscalculation with me as well. It wasn't 6 hours, it was 6 months."

"Oh..." he looked around, "Oops."

"Yeah, oops," I crossed my arms. I pretended to be angry but then started laughing. I re-hugged him, happy to see him again. Secretly, I thought that this time we'd actually get a chance to talk.

That was the plan...

A spaceship crashed into Big Ben, the Doctor as usual got us arrested and 'escorted' to give answers on something we clearly didn't know of. Aliens were discovered to be hiding in 'human suits' I'd say? It was the usual for the Doctor, got himself in trouble and inexplicably saves himself and the rest of the world.

And do you know what happened apart from that?

More ignores.

Now, it was just frustrating!

Throughout the whole chaos, I was only referred back to for a clever input that could possibly give the Doctor an idea. But other than that, it was like I was just one more human, like Harriet Jones, that had tagged along with the time travelers. Was I really just that awful? That bad of a 'companion' as Rose called herself.

Oh, and that's one more thing I also picked up on...

Rose didn't view the Doctor just as an alien. While she wasn't 'in love', she wasn't just viewing a friend. I truly believed that wouldn't end well for either party. And as selfish as I may sound, I also believed that it wouldn't end well for me if they become something more than friends. Because if I felt ignored now then I couldn't even begin to imagine what it'd feel like later on...

"Are you sure you don't want to come along then?" the Doctor asked me, once more, by the TARDIS.

I looked to Rose that was standing beside him, making my answer crystal clear in my head. "No. I have things to do here.."

"Like what?" he asked, slightly disgusted at the idea of turning down the glorious box of wonders for Earth.

You'd know what happened to me if we talked, I thought.

That was rude but...I was fairly irritated.

"Things. But I'll be here," I glanced at Rose, "You don't mind if I keep staying in your room?"

She smiled and shook her head, "Keep my Mum company for me. And take care of Mickey."

I did a pretend salute, "Understood."

"Well, I'll see you some time then," the Doctor gave a slight nod then entered the TARDIS.

Rose did a slight wave then entered the TARDIS. I took steps back as the TARDIS began de-materializing.

"Why'd you let him leave like that?" Mickey asked.

I sighed, "What do you mean?"

"I'm not an idiot, Minnie. I saw you barely spoke. Did you even tell him what happened when you came back?"

"No..." I admitted, "It doesn't matter."

'It does matter," he put a hand on my shoulder.

"What was I supposed to say?" I turned around to face him, "I lost my job? I lost my year of school? I lost everything for coming with him? Was I just supposed to drop it off like that?"

"No, but you could've said something," he replied, equally serious as I was, "While there was no mean intentions, he did hurt you. And he still is, much like Rose. They both ignore you and I don't like it! I'd never leave you like they did."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued at his last words, "...is that why you didn't take the Doctor's offer then?"

The Doctor had asked Mickey if he wanted to accompany he and Rose into the TARDIS, take him on those trips Rose talked about today but for some reason, Mickey said no.

"Honestly, I'm scared of the idea of time traveling but..." He sighed, nodding, "...I can't just leave you after everything. You lost your job, your home, your money, your school year...everything. And you don't even say anything? C'mon, Minnie, you're so sweet but there's a limit."

"I was asking you a question and you turn this back on me?" I frowned, disliking that tactic had taken custom of using.

"My answer has to do with you," he clarified softly, "A best friend looks out for a best friend, and I intend to do so."

"Oh Mickey, you're amazing!" I hugged him.

He sighed, "It saddens me that he doesn't even know you."

"It's a bit disappointing," I agreed, pulling back, "But maybe it'll change the next time we see each other."

"Maybe," he swung his arm around my shoulder, "How's about a chocolate milkshake in the meantime?"

I smiled, "Sure. Let's get Jackie too."

Hopefully, the situation wouldn't last forever. Maybe I was right, maybe the next time the Doctor came back, we'd finally talk like actual friends.

[chasingthecosmos]

A Hand to Hold

Fandom: Doctor Who Rating: G Pairing: The Doctor/Rose Tyler, Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler Chapters: 11/13 Read on AO3 here.

"The Doctor realized - far, far too late - that this hand-holding thing might be becoming a problem ..."

A (sort of) season re-write centering around the Doctor's touch telepathy and the many inconvenient ways that it gets in the way between him and his new companion, Rose Tyler.

This work is based around Season 1 and the Ninth Doctor.

Chapter Eleven: Boom Town

The three of them settled into a strange rhythm of normalcy in the following weeks (well, as normal as life traveling through time and space could possibly be). The Doctor marveled over the odd sense of complacency that he could feel himself settling into. When was the last time that he had known such peace? It was the type of contentment that he had never thought that he would be able to find (much less deserve) again.

The Doctor and Rose didn't have any more deep discussions about telepathy, dancing, or anything else that left him feeling completely out of his depth, but that wasn't to say that things weren't changed between them. The hand-holding and hugs lasted longer now, and the looks that passed between them always seemed charged with some sort of tangible energy. There was something new and indefinable in her eyes that he had a hard time ignoring, and an even harder time trying not to match with his own expressions.

It was all driving Jack quite insane, but the Doctor very quickly trained himself to ignore the ex-time agent's many suggestive, flirtatious remarks. Whenever Jack was being a particular pain, the Doctor would land on some alien planet and let him loose to wander by himself, giving the Doctor time alone with Rose. It was then that their lingering touches and teasing remarks could go on uninterrupted (for better or worse).

He was nervous when Rose suggested that they pop back to her time to meet up with Mickey, but he decided to go along with the plan anyway, hoping that (just maybe) she would prove him wrong once and for all and leave him behind for a nice, normal, human relationship.

He tried to tell himself that he was more disappointed than pleased when she ended up spending the entire day in Cardiff hanging on his arm instead of her (ex?) boyfriend's. However, there was no denying the sharp sting of hurt when he watched her head off to a hotel with him at the end of the night.

"So, what's going on?" Jack asked, his casual expression so fake that it made the Doctor want to hit him. But his rationality overtook his emotions for once and the Doctor settled for switching off the monitor with a sour look and refusing to give a proper reply instead.

So, throwing all previous plans out the window, he ended up going out to dinner with Margaret the Slitheen that evening. He told himself it was an attempt to grant a kind last request and not to fulfill the desperate need to keep his hands and mind busy and absolutely not thinking about what Rose and her (definitely-not-ex) boyfriend might be getting up to.

And what an eye-opening evening it turned out to be - as Margaret was able to remind him quite clearly of what exactly he was. He wasn't some dark, romantic prince with a tragic past and a princess to rescue. He wasn't even some poor, heartsick hero on a mission to help others and save the universe. He was someone who had to stand up and make the hard decisions when no one else would. He was someone who was dangerous - a killer, even. And he was someone who was certainly not good enough for someone as special and important as Rose Tyler.

That simple fact was really hammered home after things started to go wrong and Rose took no more than two steps back into his TARDIS and immediately became a hostage - her life on the line yet again, and all because he had failed to protect her. The Doctor decided that his dear time ship definitely had more mercy left in her than he did when they all crowded around the gazed down at the regressed egg of Margaret the Slitheen. He wasn't sure if he would have let her off the hook so easily after seeing her long claws poised so carefully against Rose's throat - ready to snap her in half at any moment.

As Rose ran off to find Mickey yet again, the Doctor resigned himself to cleaning up the wreckage left behind in the console room and preparing to get as far away from Earth as soon as possible. He ignored Jack's darting, sympathetic glances and reminded himself that this was what he had wanted - he had brought her here with the express purpose of coaxing her into staying.

But now the reality of that ill-conceived wish was crashing down around him. What if she told him that she didn't want to go traveling anymore? What if she wanted to stay behind in Cardiff with her nice, (boring) human boyfriend? She hadn't even been with him for very long, but already he dreaded the solemn silence that he knew she would leave behind when she eventually left him - just as all the others before her had.

He told himself that it was surprise and surprise alone that made his hearts start pounding when she finally opened the TARDIS doors and returned to him without an added passenger or an excuse to stay behind. But the heartbreak in her eyes was one that he knew well, and he had to offer to help, even if it was the exact opposite of what he really wanted to do.

"He deserves better," she admitted glumly, not meeting his eye.

The Doctor turned back to the console controls so that she wouldn't catch a glimpse of the fire he could feel burning within him. He knew that when it came to Rose Tyler there was nothing and no one "better". He felt as though he might burst with the need to know what Mickey could have possibly said to her to make her doubt herself so egregiously.

"Off we go, then. Always moving on," he announced instead.

He set their destination for Raxacoricofallapatorious and told Jack to mind the monitors before he finally allowed himself to step forward and take Rose's hand once more. He led her to the TARDIS infirmary without a word, and she followed without complaint or comment.

He didn't realize that he had lowered his mental shields until he subconsciously reached out to her and was met with a steel wall of silence. Whatever had happened between her and Mickey, he wasn't going to be able to use his cheap parlor tricks to get it out of her. For the first time since he had met her, she was purposefully keeping him out. He didn't expect it to hurt as much as it did, but he brushed off the feeling of rejection and loneliness with a practiced hand.

"How's your neck?" he asked, deciding to focus on the superficial hurt first.

Rose obediently hopped up onto the examination table without need of direction and he immediately flipped on the medical scanners. The two of them had been in enough scrapes during their time together that they were both relatively familiar with the routine of a typical infirmary visit.

"It's fine. You fuss too much, Doctor," she sighed wearily, still not meeting his eyes.

The medical scanner quickly confirmed her analysis and showed that apart from some light bruising, she wasn't injured in any way.

"Just some bruising," he muttered under his breath, reaching for the sonic in his inside pocket and then coming to stand before her at the edge of the examination table. "Nothing the sonic can't fix."

He held the blue-tipped instrument between them and waited patiently for her response, not daring to touch her in this moment without her explicit permission.

She simply raised one of her dark eyebrows at him in a "well-get-on-with-it" look and pulled the warm wool scarf from around her head in one hasty motion. She turned her head to the side without a word, continuing to keep her gaze trained away from his as she exposed her neck to his examination.

"You sure you're alright?" he asked slowly as he adjusted the sonic's settings and began to trace the edges of the mottled skin on her throat.

"I'm fine," Rose lied, closing her eyes as the sonic began to whir gently against her soft, pale skin.

The Doctor let her keep the lie - he knew from experience how clinging to them could offer a strange sense of peace in times of turmoil. He focused instead on making her feel better in whatever way he could - even if it was as simple as healing her bruises. His fingers were gentle against her as he let the sonic do its work to restore her broken blood vessels and he projected as much peace and acceptance as he could through their thin physical connection.

"Doctor," she said suddenly, her voice little more than a whisper in the small space between them.

"Yes?"

"Would you promise me something?"

He locked his jaw so that he wouldn't be tempted to open his mouth and impulsively swear to give her anything that she desired. He knew that they were already on dangerous ground once again and he wasn't about to let himself start making false promises - not to her.

When he didn't reply, she opened her eyes slowly and gave him a heavy, sidelong glance out of the corner of her eye.

"Doctor, please," she admonished quietly. "Just promise me that you're not going to leave me."

"Leave you?" he repeated, refusing to let himself make any vows or declarations until he knew all of the small print that she was drafting into this verbal deal.

"Yeah. Don't think I don't know why you really brought us back here today," Rose sighed, twisting her head to bare the opposite side of her neck without the Doctor having to ask her to do so. "I think maybe, deep down, you want me to stay. You think I'll be safer that way."

The Doctor bit the inside of his cheek roughly in an attempt to fight back the many responses that he had to such a comment. He forced himself to remain silent, but he couldn't stop the way that his fingers were brushing against the skin of her throat far more thoroughly than they needed to.

"But I don't want to stay," she continued, her annoyance clearly growing as he continued to refuse to respond to her. "I wouldn't be here if I did. I want to be with you."

The confessions were bubbling up within him and the Doctor knew that he had to do something - and fast - before he accidentally let one of them slip out. So, in a moment of weak desperation, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her warm skin in an effort to silence them. She gasped softly as his mouth connected with the side of her neck, just below her jawbone.

The gentle kiss only lasted for a second, but he remained bent over her, breathing heavily against the side of her face and refusing to allow himself a glimpse at her expression.

"Then stay," he finally whispered, closing his eyes tight and refusing to look at the time lines laid out before him that he knew were shifting and falling into alignment because of this one, simple command.

Now it was Rose's turn to be silent as she fumbled for his free hand and laced her fingers together with his. He was still leaning over her, frozen in time as she brought his hand into her lap and clutched it tightly - like a lifeline, like a promise.

He felt her thumb gently grazing over his and he squeezed her fingers once, tightly, before finally forcing himself away.

"Bruising should be fully healed by tomorrow," he announced as he turned his back on her and began bustling about the medical room, mindlessly straightening things and opening and closing cabinets and drawers. "Let me know if you notice any pain or scarring in the meantime."

"Alright," she sighed after a moment's pause. He heard her boots hit the ground as she jumped off of the examination table, and when he finally found the courage to turn around and face her once more, he found that she was already gone and the moment was over.

[lirlovesfic]

The Choice

A Doctor Who fanfic

Summary: After GitF, the TARDIS brings the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey back to the estate to solve a problem involving the TARDIS herself. But when they see a familiar face, the face of someone who should not exist, they realize the problem is deeper than they thought and could endanger the Doctor’s very existence. Primary characters: Ninth Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Jackie Tyler. Genres: Romance, mystery, adventure, drama, character study, HN AU, fobbed!Nine, sick TARDIS. Pairings: Nine/Rose, Ten/Rose Rating: Adult

Warning: none for this chaper

a/n: I am currently working on editing this chapter-by-chapter, with the hopes of completing a chapter a day until I catch up with myself. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m doing it to try to get back into the swing of writing and to build some momentum in order to finish this. Also, there have been some tiny things nagging at me for a while (grammar, punctuation, etc.) so I’ll be correcting as many of them as I can find as I go. The story will not change. In fact, most of the changes are going to be so minor that I doubt anyone (besides myself) will notice. But to keep myself on target, I’ll be posting it all here as I go, with links to the other websites it’s on. I hope you enjoy it.

Catch up: on AO3, on TSP, on ffnet

This chapter: on AO3, on TSP, on ffnet

Chapter Twenty-Four—London, 28 and 29 July 2007

Back at their table, Rose watched as John ascended the stairs with their drinks: whiskey for him, white wine for her. She didn't dare have anything stronger. Rather than easier, she was finding it more and more difficult to see him simply as John. It was more than his looks and his mannerisms and his frequent use of the words "fantastic" and "stupid ape". The Doctor was part of everything he did, everything he was: his impatience with stupidity; his desire to help, and intervene for, those who needed it; his patience with lonely pensioners and overly excited children. And of course it was difficult to remember he was John when they went to repair things on the estate. It was the goofy torch he wore on his head while he worked. It was the way he looked when half shoved under a kitchen sink trying to fix a leaky pipe, with only his dark jean clad legs and heavy work boots visible. It was the way he'd ask her to hand him a spanner or a screwdriver or some other tool while making repairs, or the way he chatted easily about science and architecture, films and books and music and any other topic that sprang to mind. It was like being in the TARDIS with him all over again.

But it was more than that. It was the way he'd hold her hand. He'd grab her hand, holding tightly as they walked down a crowded street so they wouldn't get separated, or squeezing it after they'd both had a difficult day at work, or intertwining their fingers and caressing the back of it with his thumb for no other reason than he wanted to.

And more than anything it was the grin he gave her over a private joke, and the way he'd look at her like she was the only person in the world.

It was so difficult to remember he was John when he so clearly was the Doctor.

As he joined her at the table, he flashed her that grin, the grin he reserved for her and no one else, and her heart pounded, just as it had when she was nineteen and they had just begun traveling together. And frankly every other time he grinned at her. She grinned back.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

For the tiniest instant, his grin faded into a frown and then returned to a wide smile. She would have missed it if she hadn't known him so well.

"Queue at the bar," he told her as he sat down.

She didn't believe him for a second and wondered what the real reason was.

~oOo~

The reception dragged as Rose caught up with some of her old friends from school. Some of them remarked that they didn't know she was back, but most of them said they were surprised to see her there since they had heard that someone named Mickey had killed her.

For a while John sat back and listened, hoping for more information beyond what she'd already told him about the time when she'd been missing, but every time someone mentioned it she quickly turned the conversation to other topics.

Eventually when anyone new joined them John's eyes would glaze over, and he'd make an excuse to leave, stating he was going to refresh their drinks or to talk to someone he knew from the Estate or from the garage. He excused himself to go to the loo so many times that he began to worry that Rose would think he had a prostate problem.

After that he gave up on making excuses. When someone approached he just left.

Until the best man began to cross the room, headed towards them. He was tall, blond, and good-looking enough to be on the cover of GQ. Or Playgirl. Most of all, the bloke was much closer to Rose's age than he was. John scowled.

And then he slowly smiled.

Before the handsome bloke could join them, John grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Come on," he ordered.

"Where are we…" she began. And then her face lit up as he spun her onto the dance floor.

When the song ended she backed away from him, obviously expecting them to return to the table, and he pulled her back into his arms. A look of surprise crossed her face, and then she melted into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder.

A very good sign, he thought, momentarily forgetting his decision not to press her into a closer relationship.

Perhaps a half an hour and seven songs later, she pulled away again.

"Thirsty," she told him.

As soon as they returned to their table, the maid of honor—Shareen, he remembered from the conversation downstairs—and the best man joined them. They were each carrying a drink, a half empty pint for him while hers was a glass of something a fluorescent blue.

The blond bloke set his glass down and grabbed a couple of chairs from a nearby table.

Shareen plopped herself down on one. "Steve, you remember Rose," she said.

"How could I forget?" he said as he sat down. He flashed a grin at Rose, revealing perfect, white teeth.

John shot him a dark look.

Shareen turned to him, her mouth twisted into a mischievous grin. "What did you say your name was?"

"John," he answered.

"Damn!" she said. "I owe Rita ten quid. We bet that you were—"

Rose interrupted her. "John, this is Shareen." She turned back to her. "So you saw Rita? Where is she?"

Shareen turned to her. "Oh, she had to take off. She was here with Joe and his girlfriend what's-her-name. They only stayed for a couple of minutes because she didn't want to risk running into that piece of shit Chuck." She turned back to face John. "Are you sure you aren't—"

"So, Steve," Rose said, interrupting her again. "What have you been up to?"

Before Steve could answer, Shareen grinned cheekily.

"I'm guessing about eight inches," she said, "but I'm sure I'll find out for sure later." She tossed her drink back and slammed the glass on the table. Then she leaned over and squeezed Steve's thigh. With a smirk he reciprocated, causing her to giggle.

She turned back to John. "Anyway, Rita and I had this bet goin', and she said that you were her neighbor, John, and I said—"

"What time is it?" Rose interjected. "It must be getting late."

Steve glanced at his watch. "Looks like it's half one."

"Wow, it's later than I thought," she said. She stood up abruptly, almost knocking over her chair. "We've really got to get going. Don't we, John?" Before he could respond, she continued. "Really nice to see you again, Steve."

She grabbed John's hand and pulled him out of his chair, across the room and down the stairs before he could get a word in.

"What's with you?" John asked as they dodged people in the pub on their way to the door. "Is she a childhood enemy or something?"

"No, actually she's one of my best friends," she answered.

He stared at her incredulously. "How do you treat your enemies?"

"Believe me, you don't want to know," she said as she pulled him out the door.

Outside the temperature had dropped and there was a heavy mist in the air. Rose shivered. John automatically pulled his jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Thanks," she said, slipping her arms into the sleeves.

John took her hand, and they headed towards the Audi they had taken to the wedding. He didn't own his own car; instead he had borrowed one from Arthur Mudali. Their boss had a couple of cars for hire that he kept for customers whose own cars were in the shop. Mudali typically didn't loan them out to staff, but John was his best mechanic. He didn't want to lose him to another garage, so it didn't take much for John to persuade his boss to make an exception.

Since it was Saturday night, between the regular pub goers and the wedding guests, they'd had to park a couple of blocks away, and by the time they got into the car the mist had turned into a drizzle. John turned the key in the ignition.

It didn't start.

In fact, it didn't even try to turn over. He tried again. Dead silence.

He frowned.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked.

"I don't know," he told her. "Sounds like the battery's dead. Did the lights come on when we got in?"

"I didn't really notice."

He reached up to turn on the overhead light, but it didn't turn on.

"You leave the headlights on?" she teased.

"Didn't have them on," he said seriously. "It was still light out when we got here. Could be the alternator's bad. On the other hand, if we're lucky the battery cable's just loose. Hand me the torch. It's in the glove compartment." She passed him the torch, and he popped open the bonnet. "Stay here," he said as he got out of the car.

She followed him, and he shot her a look.

"I have no idea why I thought you'd listen," he said.

She grinned at him. "I don't know either."

"Must have been a case of momentary insanity."

"Only momentary?"

He shot her another look. She was giving him a cheeky grin, with the tip of her tongue curling up to touch her upper teeth, and as he stuck his head under the bonnet, his mouth twitched as he tried to hold back a smile of his own.

"Hmm, not the battery cable," he said as he shined the torch at the engine.

The rain grew harder. He slammed the bonnet shut, and they got back into the car.

"Now what?" she asked.

"Well, I'm not going to figure out what's wrong in the dark, and even if I could, I couldn't fix it here. We could try to jump the engine, but it might not work. Not to mention that no one's around, and there's no sense trying to get a tow at two in the morning." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The buses don't run this late. We should get a taxi."

She stuck out her hand. "Give me your mobile."

"You need to get a new one," he said as he handed it to her.

"Why should I when I can just use yours?" she asked cheekily as she typed in a number.

"Just don't put her on speed dial."

"Why not? She's got your number on hers."

A pained expression crossed his face. "You really need to get a new phone."

She held a finger to her lips.

"Hi, Mum," she said. She fell silent for a moment. "Yeah, it was great." As she listened, she looked at John and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, she was gorgeous, and no, you couldn't tell she was pregnant. Listen, where are you and Stuart? Because the car's dead and we need a ride." She paused again. "Oh. Never mind then. If you can't, you can't. I'll see you later, yeah?"

She rang off. "His car's too small to fit all of us."

"Taxi it is then. Give me the mobile back."

As she handed the phone back to him, she stared out the window. "It'll take a half an hour for it to get here, easy. We're only about a mile from our flats, yeah?"

"About that. Maybe a little less." He stared at her as he realized what she was thinking. "Rose, it's pouring out there."

She gave him a crooked, mischievous grin. "So?"

"We can't walk that in this weather," he protested.

She jumped out of the car and stuck her head back inside. "Who said anything about walking?"

He got out and joined her. He shook his head. "Now who's the crazy one?"

Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed his hand.

"Run!"

She tugged on his hand, and they tore down the pavement, but before they got more than a block she pulled him to a stop.

"Hold on." She let go of his hand and pulled off one shoe.

"You're not going to be able to run that far barefoot," he said, having to raise his voice over the sound of the storm.

She snorted as she pulled off the other. "Believe me, I'm used to it."

With her shoes in one hand and his hand in the other, she took off again, pulling him along.

To his amazement, despite his much longer legs he didn't have to keep his speed in check. She easily kept up with him as they rounded corners and took shortcuts down alleys.

The rain was coming down in sheets as they neared the garage. Large puddles had formed on low places on the pavement while part of the road itself had turned into a fast moving stream about four feet wide and at least several inches deep.

He let go of her hand and easily jumped it. He turned back when he realized she hadn't immediately followed.

"What's wrong?" he yelled.

"I don't really want to wade it, but I'm not sure I can jump it," she called back. "I'm not exactly as tall as you."

"You can make it," he said encouragingly. "And if you don't, I'll catch you."

She nodded. She backed up several feet, ran and jumped.

He caught her neatly in his arms and set her down. He grabbed her hand.

"Run!" he said.

Laughing, they ran the rest of the distance to Bucknall House.

Once inside the entrance to the stairwell, they looked out the window at the heavy rain still coming down.

"That was fun," she said, as she squeezed water out of her dripping hair.

He turned to her, a wide grin on his face. "Rose Tyler, I don't know anyone else who wouldn't complain about the car breaking down and then would suggest running a mile in a downpour instead of waiting for a taxi. And barefoot no less," he said, admiration filling his voice. "You're fantastic. Absolutely fantastic."

She bit her lip shyly. "Thanks."

She looked up at him. Wide dark brown eyes met the steel blue of his own. His grin faded, and for the second time that night he almost forgot his resolution to keep their relationship platonic.

His eyes dropped to her mouth. The tip of her tongue was tracing her lips, as if in anticipation. He unintentionally mimicked her and began to lean towards her…

And then jerked himself to a halt, reminding himself of all the times she'd stopped him from kissing her. She didn't want this, and he didn't want to ruin their friendship.

He turned away from her to look out the window. "I think the rain's letting up a bit."

"Uh, yeah, I think it is," she said brightly. "Um… thanks for the use of your coat." She slipped it off and handed it to him.

"Any time. How are your feet?"

"They're fine," she said. "In better condition than these shoes." She glanced down at them. "I'm gonna have to bin them. The dress too, I think."

He automatically looked down at it. Despite her having worn his coat, the entire dress top to bottom was soaked from the rain. It clung to her like a second skin, revealing her slim waist and the soft curves of her breasts, bum, and thighs.

He swallowed hard and quickly looked up at her face, hoping she hadn't caught him staring.

"Do you… do you wanna come up?" she asked hesitantly.

He glanced back down, at the once opaque material that had gone sheer. He could see the outline of a lace bra and knickers, and a hint of dusty pink areolas and erect nipples. His mouth went dry.

"No, better not," he said in a low voice. Then he flashed her a manic grin. "You need to get into some warm, dry clothes."

"Uh, yeah, you too. You'll catch your death."

"Me? Nah. Takes more than a little rain to make me sick. Superior physiology."

She laughed quietly.

"Well, I'd better not keep you," she said. "Don't want you to get sick, superior physiology or not."

She turned to go, and he stopped her.

"Rose, thanks for inviting me. I had a very nice time."

She smiled at him. "Me too."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "G'night."

"Night."

As he slipped on his jacket, he watched her walk up the stairs. Then he headed back out into the rain.

~oOo~

The flat was dark when Rose entered, but just in case she called out to her mum to tell her she was home. As she expected, there was no answer.

After binning her shoes, she grabbed a bath towel and began to dry her hair on the way to her room.

He'd been about to kiss her, she was sure of it. But he had stopped himself.

No, she had stopped him herself, by holding him at arm's length the last couple of weeks.

She'd had to. It was the right thing to do, she told herself.

Wasn't it?

Even if it was, she couldn't help but feel incredibly disappointed.

She dropped her sodden clothes on the bedroom floor and slowly dressed, first pulling on a T-shirt and then sweat pants over dry knickers. She grabbed a pair of socks.

In the lounge, she dropped cross-legged onto the sofa and examined her feet. Despite her response to John, her feet were a little sore, although much less so than most other people's would be. She was telling the truth there. She had to run all the time while traveling with the Doctor, mostly in trainers, but frequently barefoot.

Besides being dirty, the soles of her feet had a few cuts and a small amount of gravel embedded in them. She laughed ruefully. Even with sore feet, running barefoot in the streets of London in the pouring rain was probably the most fun she'd had since she'd got here. Oh, they'd had fun sightseeing and watching telly and dancing at the reception, but running in the rain was so them. While they ran hand in hand, she'd almost forgotten about everything that had brought her here: the TARDIS, the fob watch, the Doctor being John. For those moments it was just the Doctor and Rose again, running for their lives, only without the monsters.

She got a damp flannel and some ointment and set about doctoring her feet. She was just slipping on her thick, white socks when she heard the door open.

"Mum, is that you?"

When she didn't get an answer she got up and walked into the hallway.

Her mother was standing by the door, staring at a piece of paper in her hand. She didn't respond.

"Mum? Where's Stuart?" When her mum didn't answer, Rose crossed over to her. "Mum, what is that?"

Jackie jumped. She hurriedly put the paper behind her back. "Rose, you startled me. I didn't know you were there."

"I've been calling you," she answered. "What is that?"

"Nothing!"

"It's not nothing." Rose reached around her and grabbed the paper out of her hands. Although most was illegible, what she could read was vile: threats and obscenities and crude, disgusting drawings. "Where did this come from?" she demanded.

"Oh, Rose, I didn't want you to see that," her mother said.

"Where did you get this?" Rose asked slowly and firmly.

"It… it was shoved in the door, same as the other ones."

"What other ones?"

"Doesn't matter," Jackie said.

"Yes, it does. How many of these have you gotten?"

"Dunno. Maybe a dozen over the last couple of weeks."

"What! And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't want you to know."

Rose opened her mouth to argue, and then shut it as something her mother said clicked.

"Hold on, you say it was shoved in the door?"

"Yeah, same as the others."

"But I've only been home five minutes, and it wasn't there when I got here."

Jackie blanched. "Oh my God, I must have seen him. I passed someone on the stairs just now. He was going down while I was coming up."

Rose's eyes widened. "Stay here!" she ordered. Still clutching the note, she ran out of the flat.

It was pouring again. Through the rain, she spotted a hooded figure crossing the courtyard. "Oi! Stop!"

The figure looked up and then began to run.

She flew down the stairs.

~oOo~

Just as he finished getting dressed, John's mobile rang. He glanced at the number.

"Hello, Rose?"

"No, it's Jackie! Rose is in trouble! She just took off after someone who's been threatening me!"

Jackie sounded terrified, and John's brain kicked into high gear. "Don't worry. I'm on my way."

He shoved his phone in his pocket and ran out of the flat. From the walkway, he could see Rose erupting from her building and running across the courtyard.

"Rose!" he yelled, but she ignored him.

He took the stairs two at a time. When that wasn't quick enough he swung over the railing, skipping over landings and entire flights of stairs. He ran out of his building just as Rose was leaving the courtyard.

"Rose!"

He followed her out of the courtyard, only catching up with her on the street.

"Damn it, I lost him!" she said angrily. "Where the hell did he go?"

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she snapped.

"Thank God," he said, ignoring her tone. He pulled out his mobile. "Jackie? Yeah, she's fine. Listen… No, listen! Is there someone who could come and stay with you tonight? Or better yet, is there someone you could stay with?" He paused. "That's perfect." Another pause. "No, I'll take her home with me. Don't worry, I'm gonna get to the bottom of this."

As he shoved his phone in his pocket he turned to Rose. "What on Earth were you thinking, chasing after someone alone in the middle of the night like that?" he snapped. "Don't you know how dangerous that is?"

"Someone is threatening my mum!" she told him. "She's been getting threatening notes for weeks! No one threatens my mum! And I almost caught him too!"

"And what would you have done with him once you got him?" he asked. She didn't answer. "You don't know, do you? You should have called me."

She glared at him. "There wasn't time! He was right there! And I almost had him!" She let out a cry of frustration. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" she swore. She looked up and down the street. It was empty.

"He's not here, Rose," he said. "There's no sense staying." He grabbed her hand and yanked her back in the direction of his building. She followed reluctantly, muttering under her breath.

Once they were in his flat with the door closed, he noticed the slip of paper she was clutching in her hand. "Give it here."

She thrust it at him.

He swore under his breath. It was so wet it was illegible. "That's no help."

She held her hand out to him.

"Give me your phone," she ordered. "I've got to call my mum."

"No," he told her firmly. "You're too upset. You'll just scare her more than she already is. I'll call her."

While he spoke to Jackie, on the other side of the room Rose sat down on the sofa and pulled off her soggy socks. "I'm gonna have to bin these too," she muttered. Instead, she dropped them on the floor.

He rang off and sat down next to her.

She jumped back up and began to pace the room.

"Why are we here? We should be protecting my mum," she said.

He stood up again. "Stuart's coming to pick her up," he told her. "He's gonna take her to his place."

"Then we should be out finding that… that… piece of shit who was threatening her." She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "Damn it! No one, no one, no one threatens my mum and gets away with it!"

"Whoever it was wasn't threatening Jackie, Rose," he said, trying to keep an even tone to his voice. He wasn't entirely successful. "They were trying to scare you."

She whirled on him. "What?" she said. "How do you know that?

"Stands to reason. I've been getting notes too."

"You've been… Why the hell didn't you tell me?" she demanded.

"I wanted to keep you out of it." She stared at him. "I was trying to protect you!" he snapped.

"Protect me? You don't need to protect me! You can't just wrap me in cotton wool, John!" she spat. "You have no idea what I've been through! I'm a big girl! I can take care of myself!"

"That's not the point!"

"Then what is the point?"

"You need to use your head!" he exploded. "You don't know what this person wants. He probably wants to hurt you. He could even want to kill you! It's just stupid to take off on your own like that! Next time, before you go off half-cocked, you tell me!"

"You aren't my father!" she shouted. "You don't get to tell me what to do!"

His eyes flashed. "Oh, I know I'm not your father, Rose Tyler. Don't you ever make that mistake!"

In an instant, he closed the distance between them, cupped her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his own in a hard, possessive, almost brutal kiss.

She froze.

As he felt her stiffen, he let go of her—practically pushing her away—and staggered backwards. They stared at one another in shock.

"I'm sorry," he said, panting. "I shouldn't have done that."

She closed the distance between them.

"Oh, oh, yes you should have," she said in a low voice. She grabbed his shirt, yanked him closer and kissed him back.

[megabadbunny]

For the DxR fic meme: Nine x Rose; 01 G ☯

(Nine x Rose, Jackie’s flat, midnight, Rose’s diary; from @doctorroseprompts )

***

He knows he shouldn’t, and yet, here he is.

(But it’s not exactly his fault, is it? If she didn’t wanthim to see it, maybe she shouldn’t have left it lying around all public in theopen, conspicuous and winking at him and daring him to take a little peek,wriggling its (figurative) hips like a minx in red throwing a perfumed kissover one shoulder. Never mind the fact that it wasn’t lying around in public somuch as it was in her room, that it wasn’t in the open so much as it was tuckedunder her mattress.)

The Doctor glances around furtively, even though he knows noone will catch him in the act; the flat is empty of any other living thing,save for him and the dust motes colonizing the space beneath the rug. Rose andher oddity of a mum have whisked off somewhere or other (“a proper girls’night”, Jackie might’ve said, or might not have, as the Doctor might not havebeen listening) and Jack is goodness-knows-where with goodness-knows-whom, sothe Doctor figures he’s got a good few hours to himself before anyone returns.And he’s got to find some way to occupy himself, hasn’t he?

(Besides, it isn’t as if he went snooping specifically for it.More like, he snooped, and there it conveniently was. Also, he’s bored.)

Plunking himself down on her bed—not nearly as soft or plushas her TARDIS bed, he thinks with a smirk—the Doctor opens the book to thefirst page.

Dear dairy readsthe first line.

The Doctor chuckles. There is no date scrawled anywhere onthe page, but the scribbles and misspellings amidst very careful and deliberatestrokes tell the Doctor these words were written by someone who had only recentlylearned penmanship, and was determined to do it well.

Dear dairy

Hello how are you? Myname is Rose Marion Tyler. It is my brithday today I am 6 years old.

It’s almost impossible to imagine Rose ever being so young;far easier to picture her emerging fully-grown and stubborn-willed and jeopardy-friendlystraight from inception. But the Doctor tries, and in his mind’s eye he canalmost see her sitting on the bed—no, lying on it, stomach-down, her sock-cladfeet kicking idly in the air. Her hair, unbleached and light brown, would be pulledback into a ponytail, held in place by one of those what d’you-call-it’s. A scrunchie. Her head would bend down inconcentration over the diary as she clutched her pen tightly in her small fist.The Doctor imagines the pen to be pink, glittery, one of those gel-things, hopelesslyand wonderfully childish and girly, and his grin broadens.

Mummy and me had aparty in the park and Lottie and Fred cud not come but Shireen was there andMickey to and his gran and my grandad Prentis. Grandad brung cake from thestore it has had a heart drawed on and my name and there were candels.We had ice cream to. And I had prezents there was a barby and shoes and a newbell for my bike…

The list continues and the Doctor rolls his eyes fondly.Clearly, six-year-old Rose had decided to commit only the most pertinent ofdetails to memory. He flips through perhaps the first quarter of the diary, pausingat a mention of Mickey here, a drawing of a flower there, and watches as Rose’shandwriting grows more confident, her entries more substantial. Her diary is amicrocosm of her adventures with mates, days at school, developing crushes, thelikeability of some of Jackie’s boyfriends and the caddishness of others. Atrandom, the Doctor slips a finger between the pages and opens the diarymid-entry, perhaps a year or two along its timeline.

and it felt awful butI didnt say anything bc he was right I dont have a dad but Keisha got angry andtold him to butt out and mind his own business. So then Nick laughed and madefun of Keisha bout her mum and I thot Keisha might cry so I punched Nick in thenose and it bled and the head teacher says I cant come back to school for aweek. Mum says Im in trouble but she didnt stop granddad from buying me a 99 onthe way home and she said next time do a slap its easier on the nuckles.

The Doctor can just picture Rose, eight years old, eyesflashing and stance wide as she bloodies some little twerp’s nose with herfist. Now that—that is a Rose he has no trouble imagining. Laughing, the Doctorshakes his head and flips to a later entry.

8 Nov 1996

Dear diary,

We went to go see Dad yesterday.

The Doctor pauses, hesitates. He knows what the words mean—they’refigurative, not literal, because it would be another eleven years before Rose sawany more of Pete Tyler than old photos and a grave—but the memory of the daynine years earlier still sends a shiver down his spine, clenches something inhis gut in a guilty-sick feeling he can’t quite explain.

Mum told me the storyagain. She seemed all right definitely better than the last time. I think thephotos help. Granddad came to and I don’t think he rly liked Dad very much buthe was nice about him today nicer than on other days. Afterwards Mum went todrop me off with Mickey but he said she needed me so I went on home and she seemeda little happier but she still cried a bit.

The Doctor wrinkles his nose. Something about Mickey theIdiot doing a good turn makes him grumpy. Who does that idiot think he is,anyway?

We had tea and fellasleep in front of the telly. I wanted to make her dinner but there was nothingin and I couldnt find anything in her purse so I went down to Ms Nodd’s bc she’sout seeing her grandson and I got the spare key from under her flower pot and Ilooked in her bedroom and found a few pounds and took them. I bought Mum aChinese from her favourite place and she didnt ask where I got the money so I didnttell her. I dont think Ms Nodd would know it was me that took it but I stillfeel bad I just didnt know what else to do. Ill pay her back when I get somemoney for my bday.

Nice old bird, that Ms Nodd. Much nicer than some of theother tenants on the Estate, with her blue-tinged hair and cheerful smile andwithered old hands that freely distribute home-baked biscuits to errant TimeLords who just happen to be handy with a squeaky front door. The Doctor makes amental note to liberate an ATM of a couple hundred-pound-notes at his earliestopportunity and slip them into her flat.

He reads a few more pages—comfortably silly stuff, all ofit, more crushes and rants about school and discussions of celebrities andfashion and Rose’s favorite things on telly—until his fingers land on an oddlybrittle page, warped in places, buckling. Several of the words are nearlyimpossible to discern, smudged as they are, and it takes the Doctorapproximately .003 seconds to identify the water marks as tears.

(There’s no dear diaryhere, no date. The words simply begin, as if writing anything more than theabsolutely necessary would take too much energy. Like it would hurt too much.)

Granddad’s gone.

The Doctor sighs, and his hearts each break a little foryoung Rose, curled up in her bed and crying bitter tears into her pillow. Tenyears old is far too young to experience the cruelty of such a loss. But it isn’tas if it gets any easier at any other age. The Doctor knows that to be painfullytrue.

Had a heart attack.Doctors said he went in his sleep and didn’t feel anything. I hope that’s true.Mum said he’s with the angels now but that’s stupid. The angels don’t need him wedo. I already miss him.

Mum can’t stop crying.I wish Dad was here.

And there’s that feeling again in the Doctor’s gut, thesquirmy-sicky one. Almost as if his stomach knows he shouldn’t be doing this,like his body is punishing him. It was all well and good reading about the funfrivolities of a carefree primary-schooler, but this sort of thing—this issomething else. Something deep and personal, a compound fracture of emptinessand hurt. The Doctor knows should stop reading now. He really should.

(He doesn’t.)

It takes a few weeks for the mentions of Granddad Prentice tostart fading, but eventually, they do, fading away to be gradually replaced bythe normality of everyday life. Sometimes months pass between diary-entries;other times, years. The Doctor smiles as he glances over recountings of schooldays and formals and skipping classes, of Jackie’s eccentric cluster of boyfriends,of fights with friends and happy makings-up after, of holidays and gossip andhopes for the future. The day Rose and Shireen fall out over a boy is marked byan obscene amount of swearing and words crossed-out and pencil-punctures dugdeep into the page; the day Mickey asks Rose to be his girlfriend is noted withexclamation points and a lipgloss-kiss.

The day Rose meets Jimmy Stone is noted with a single heartthat simply reads Mrs Rose Stone.

Grimacing at the words, the Doctor forces himself to presson.

OMG met this bloke Jimmyyesterday n he was soooo fit reads the next entry. Shireen and Keisha and me went down the pub and he was playing in theband and I thot he fancied Keisha at first but after he asked for my number ♡ ♡ ♡I kno it doesn’t mean nothing so I didn’ttell Mickey cos no point in him worrying and he gets so jealous anyway lol

Awww, poor jealous ickle Mickey, thinks the Doctor. He snortsderisively. Human beings—so quick to such petty reactions. He’s very glad hedoesn’t have to worry about silly things like that.

Still, it’s a little surprising when, just a few pages later,things have already progressed by leaps and bounds. Jimmy kissed me! leaps out from the page, followed by things like Mickey and me had a fight and Snuck out to hear Jimmy play downtownand Went to the cinema with Jimmy and he puthis hand up my sk

Hearts hammering, the Doctor flips past that page before hiskeen eyes have a chance to read any further. For some reason, the thought ofJimmy putting his hand up anything of Rose’s—indeed, of Jimmy or some otherfool even thinking about touching her, anywhere, with anything—makes him burn abit under the collar. Unpleasant, that. Maybe he’d better take a look at Jackie’sthermostat, make sure it’s doing its job, because it certainly doesn’t feellike it.

(Still, he skips the several pages that follow, just to besafe.)

said if Iwalked out that door I’d better not walk back in and you know what screw her.She’s wasted her whole life crying about Dad and never doing anything withherself and never doing anything for me. I hate her I would rather die then belike her

Eyes widening in surprise, the Doctor quickly scans over thenext few pages, his concern deepening by the second.

love Jimmy andno one can tell me any different and if Mum really knew what love was then she’dunderstand

Im so glad I’mwith him now he gets me like no one else ever has or ever will, ♡ him forever

didnt want totake my a-levels anyway not like it means anything out in the real world

moving into aflat together next week can’t wait ♡♡♡

and I love himbut I wish he’d get a job cos the gigs don’t make enough n I can’t covereverything on my own

came home drunkagain last night n wouldnt tell me where he’d been

told me I’dbetter cough up the rest of the rent by next weekend or else he would

And then, nothing.

The Doctor frowns. Whatever he would do is left unexplained, torn away along with a wholecluster of pages in the diary, leaving a ragged little scar behind where wordsand feelings used to sit. The Doctor runs a finger along the page-stumps leftin the spine, and wonders.

What could have happened that was so bad that even the memoryof it had to be ripped away?

The next entry picks up a few weeks later. It does notmention Jimmy. Instead, the page displays only a handful of lonely words:

He wasright. I’m so stupid.

It takes a moment for the Doctor to realize that the diaryis shaking in his hands. But that’s only because he’s gripping it so tightlyhis knuckles are glowing bright white in an attempt to jump out of his skin. Andsuddenly he’s glad, in quite a perverse way, that he has witnessed thedestruction of the Reapers firsthand, because otherwise the temptation to pilotthe TARDIS back in time to ensure that Jimmy Stone never hurt Rose—that henever so much as existed, never so much as blighted this planet with even asingle vile breath—would be so strong that he’s not entirely sure he’d be ableto stop himself.

Forcing himself to calm, the Doctor skips forward, hopefullyto an entry that won’t cause hisblood to boil angrily in his ears. Now phrases like moved back in with Mum today and applied at Henriks greet his eyes, and he feels the muscles in hisshoulders begin to relax.

and a sweet ginger boy’sstarted coming round, Mum named him Jonesy

but the new job’s notso bad

going out to the clubswith Shireen

Mickey stopped by withflowers today and it was like nothing had ever gone wrong

anyway we’re datingagain

nothing’ll come of itbut some blokes won in Bristol last week so who knows, maybe we’ll win a littlesomething n I could get Mum something nice

a little boring Iguess but prolly about the best I can expect for now

So my job blew uptoday???

Now a grin spreads across the Doctor’s face, lighting it upfrom ear-to-ear. Finally. Took longenough to get here. Now for the reallygood stuff.

Fingers tingling in anticipation, he turns the page.

Nothing.

The Doctor flips through the remaining pages, hunting forsomething, anything, but nothing buta sea of white greets his eyes, winking up at him obnoxiously without so muchas a single date or scribble or scrawl to capture his attention. The rest ofthe diary is completely, utterly blank.

Huffing in irritation, the Doctor sits back, flipping thebook closed with a scowl. It makes a certain sense, he supposes, but still.Really? She’ll write about ice cream and Barbies and school gossip and Mickeythe Idiot but no mention of the TARDIS, no asides about traveling through timeand space, no discussion of Dickens or Slitheen or bitchy trampolines or 900year-old Time Lords taking her by the hand to show her anything her littleheart could ever possibly—

CLANG.

“I just found it!” blurts out the Doctor without eventhinking, pushing off the bed and whirling round to face Rose’s open bedroomdoorway. But no one stands there; indeed, if his superior hearing is anythingto go by (and it usually is), there’s no one within several meters of him, certainlyno one in the flat. And the continuing ding-dang-dongbell’s sound, ringing at twelve lazy but significant intervals, informs himthat his nervousness was for naught—it’s just Jackie’s old grandfather clock,noisily (and unnecessarily, the Doctor thinks with a grump) proclaiming thetime.

It’s midnight. Probably Rose and Jackie will be home soon. Andprobably he shouldn’t let them know he was nosing through Rose’s diary.

(Even if it wasn’t his fault, seeing as they left him aloneand bored and unoccupied in the flat, and even if he didn’t find what he waslooking for—even if he’s not entirely certain what that was.)

As he slips the diary back into its hiding-place beneathRose’s mattress, it occurs to him that there are any number of reasons Rosemight not be writing things in a diary any more—she forgot it at home, or she’stoo tired after their adventures, or too distracted, or maybe she’s even got anew one aboard the TARDIS, hidden somewhere equally silly. But there’s anotheroption too, he realizes; that she’s simply too happy to see the need forwriting things down, that she is too busy living her memories to think of takingthe time to document them. The thought warms him, contentment blooming in hischest, and he leaves Rose’s room with a smile, closing the door behind him.

(He still checks her room on the TARDIS just in case.)

***

part ii

[waltsluckyrabbit]

[Ch. 1] - Epic Mickey 3: Sealed in Ink

(a collab by waltsluckyrabbit and 09alih [on DeviantART])

“I don’t get it, Ortensia,” Oswald muttered as he leaned against a wall. “I can tell something’s bugging him and I’m tryin’ to help, but every time I bring it up, he acts like I’m threatenin’ to punch him in the nose. And frankly, I’m gettin’ close.”

Ortensia smiled at him as she herded a group of bunny children outside to play. She knew he was just concerned, even if he wouldn’t admit it. “Now, Oswald, I don’t think you’ll have to do that. Why don’t you just ask outright?”

The rabbit looked up in surprise. “Huh?”

Ortensia rolled her eyes. Of course he wouldn’t have thought of that. “Ask him outright what’s bothering him. If I know Mickey, he’ll admit it eventually.”

Oswald looked at her, then smacked his head. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Ortensia giggled and playfully tugged his ear. “Because you’re too macho, hunny bunny,” she purred.

Oswald blushed a little and chuckled as she gave his cheek a kiss. “Thanks, hon.”

“My pleasure,” Ortensia giggled. “I’ll see you later.”

Oswald couldn’t help smiling as he headed toward Mickey’s house. How had he ever survived without her?

When he got to the door, he knocked a few times. “Hey, Mickey! You there?” He waited, tapping his foot, but no one answered. Letting out an impatient huff, he knocked again. “I haven’t got all day, ya know!” Still no answer. Finally, Oswald opened the door and stepped inside. “Mick?”

Across the room, the phone chimed in greeting. “No one home! Want to leave a message?”

Oswald smiled. “That’s okay. Ya know where he is?” 

The phone sighed. “He hasn’t been back since this morning. No one to talk to.”

Oswald frowned in thought. “Huh… okay, thanks.” Seeing the phone’s sulking look, he smiled and patted its head. “If ya want someone to talk to, we can send some of the kids over.”

The phone stiffened in alarm, then put on a casual look. “Oh, thanks, but that’s fine! I think I, uh… I’ve got some calls to make, anyway…”

Oswald smirked and headed back out. “Alright, take it easy.”

After jumping through the projector to Mean Street, Oswald saw Gus talking to Markus near the Penny Arcade. He hopped off the platform and walked over.

“Hey Markus, Gus,” he said. “Is Mickey still around here? I was lookin’ for…” He dropped off when he noticed the gremlins’ concerned looks.

“Not anymore,” Markus said. “He was here, but he left about a half hour ago. Last I saw, he was heading toward the Underground.”

Oswald scratched his head. “That’s weird… he should’ve been in OsTown. Thanks, Markus.”

As him and Gus walked toward the entrance to the Underground, Oswald looked over at the gremlin. “So, what were you talking about? Is somethin’ wrong?”

Gus shook his head, still frowning. “Not exactly, it’s just… has something about Mickey seemed, well, odd lately?”

Oswald stared at him in surprise. “It’s not just me?” he asked. Gus shook his head. “That’s actually what I’m lookin’ for him about,” Oswald said as they entered the tunnel. “So I can—”

He stopped in his tracks; something was lying on the ground in the corridor ahead. Oswald squinted, then his eyes snapped wide open as he realized what, or rather who, it was. “Mickey!” He ran over with Gus close behind and knelt down.

Mickey lay still on his back, eyes closed. He was breathing in slow, heavy breaths like he was hurt, but there was no sign of any injuries. Oswald noticed something in his hand and frowned. Why did he have the brush out?

“What happened?” Gus exclaimed, more to himself than anyone else.

Oswald shook the mouse. "Mickey? Hey, Mickey! Wake up!" Just then, he saw something that made his stomach twist. Small black drops were detaching from the mouse’s body, floating up into the air before disappearing. He looked up at Gus to see the same shock on his face. Shaking it off, Oswald took one of Mickey’s arms and hoisted him upright. “Gus, give me a hand! We gotta get him to the Doc!”

Gus immediately flew over and helped Oswald lift Mickey up. Working together, they carried him out of the Underground and to the new lab the Mad Doctor had set up on Mean Street.

“Doc!” Oswald called out. “We need your help! Somethin’s wrong with Mickey!”

The Mad Doctor looked up from the sparking wires he was about to cross. “Something wrong, you say?”

“Yeah, we found him like this in the Underground and he’s not waking up!” Oswald said.

The Doctor abandoned his project and hurried over for a closer look. He frowned when he noticed the drops and caught one, rubbing it between his gloved fingers. “Hmm… I see…” He nodded. “Put him on the table, quickly.”

Oswald and Gus set Mickey down on the lab table and waited as the Mad Doctor began doing routine checkups, listening to his heartbeat and breathing, then pulling back an eyelid to check his eyes. After that, he turned and punched a button on a nearby control panel. A device on the ceiling whirred to life and a large machine with an eye on the bottom lowered from it. The Mad Doctor grabbed the handles on its sides and pulled so it was positioned over Mickey.

Oswald frowned. “Uh, Doc?”

The Mad Doctor gave no sign of hearing as he looked through the viewport on the machine, muttering to himself as the eye clicked and whirred. Gus glanced at Oswald, who shrugged. Finally, the Doctor pressed the button again and the device whirred back up to the ceiling. His face was unreadable as he lifted Mickey off the table and placed him on one of the small cots against the wall.

“So, what’s goin’ on?” Oswald asked, tapping his foot with impatience.

“It’s very strange, my friends… very strange indeed.”

Oswald resisted the urge to roll his eyes; the Doc had finally stopped singing everything, but he still had a flair for drama.

“As you may have suspected, the Blot inside him has reawakened.”

Oswald stared in disbelief. “But… how? And why’s he so out of it?” 

Gus frowned with worry and nodded at the rabbit’s words. “I saw the effects after he absorbed it. They never got this extreme.”

The Mad Doctor frowned and tugged at a glove. “How it happened, I may be able to explain. Dark feelings like anger and sadness were very strong influences on the Blot. In large enough quantities, they certainly would have been enough to reawaken a smaller part. Why it happened… that, my friends, is unclear.”

Oswald looked at Mickey, a realization coming to him as he considered their recent conversations. “I think I know,” he said quietly. “Missing people you love… well, that’s about the darkest feeling there is.”

Gus glanced at Oswald in surprise, then let out a heavy sigh as he rubbed his neck. “I should’ve known. Ever since I told him about the device… but how did he get like this? It isn’t even the whole Blot, and…”

“Ah, and that, my friends, brings us to the real mystery,” the Mad Doctor said. “The reawakening wasn’t what caused his current condition.”

Gus and Oswald glanced at each other in confusion before the Doctor continued.

“A portion of the Blot inside him seems to have been…” He paused, then narrowed his eyes. “Forcibly removed.”

Oswald felt his jaw go slack as he stared at the Mad Doctor. “Ya mean... somethin’ sucked it out of him?”

The Mad Doctor drooped and sighed; it sounded nowhere near as dramatic put that way. “…In layman’s terms.”

Oswald looked at Mickey again, his ears twitching with unease. “So, is he gonna be all right?”

The Mad Doctor nodded, adjusting his gloves. “Fortunately, it hasn’t caused serious damage. He simply needs time to recover.”

Oswald let out a sigh of relief, but Gus still looked worried. “Will he wake up soon?”

The Mad Doctor nodded. “It shouldn’t be much longer.”

As if to prove his point, a faint groan came from the cot. The small group turned to see Mickey slowly lift a hand to his head. “Unh… wh-… what…”

Relieved, Oswald and Gus hurried over to his side. Mickey blinked, looking groggy and confused. “Wh-… Oswald? Gus?” He looked around with dazed eyes. “Where am I?”

“The Mad Doc’s lab,” Oswald replied.

“We found you collapsed in the Underground,” Gus added. “You had us worried for a while.”

“Oh… sorry…” Mickey murmured.

Gus smiled and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about it now. Are you all right?”

Mickey winced and grunted as he sat up and touched his chest. “Y-Yeah, I guess. But I…” Just then, a few small drops of ink rose from his arm. He froze, staring at it.

“That ol’ Blot inside ya’s actin’ up,” Oswald said.

Mickey’s face went blank with shock. Apparently, he’d assumed it was gone, too. “What?”

Oswald glanced at Gus, who looked just as uneasy. Before either could figure out the best way to explain, the Mad Doctor stepped up and cleared his throat.

“I’m afraid it was only dormant, still feeding on your negative emotions. It seems they were strong enough to reawaken it…”

Noticing the guilt filling Mickey’s face, Gus and Oswald glared at the Mad Doctor, who realized his lack of tact and stuttered. “Er… o-of course, it was bound to happen sooner or later. And I very much doubt it could have been avoided.”

Oswald nodded. “Mick… ya do know ya can talk to us, right?”

Mickey looked at him in surprise, then at Gus, who nodded. Shame quickly replaced it as he looked away. After a moment, he let out a heavy sigh and spoke. “I didn’t mean for this to happen again. I tried not to, but… I just miss everyone so much. And… Minnie…” Tears filled his eyes and he closed them. His voice began breaking as he continued. “I… I might never see her again. I can’t even tell her I’m okay, know if she’s okay…” He trailed off, letting out a soft whimper as he buried his face in his hands. He looked so heartbroken that even the Mad Doctor had to blow his nose.

“Mick, why didn’t ya just say so?” Oswald said as he put a hand on Mickey’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure you find a way home, promise.”

Mickey slowly looked up, then smiled a little. “Thanks, Os.” He glanced back down at his feet. “I guess I was afraid that… I was being selfish.”

Oswald shook his head. “Nah, Mick. There’s way more selfish things than that.” Oswald’s voice then lowered to a near-inaudible volume, as if voicing an unconscious thought. “Hah… I would know.”

Mickey seemed like he was about to say something when Gus suddenly hovered up to him, looking concerned.

“I’m afraid there’s something else,” the gremlin said. “The Mad Doctor says that some of the Blot in you was… well, pulled out.”

The Doctor nodded, stroking his beard. “Indeed, indeed… and judging from the circumstances, it was not by something or someone very friendly.”

Mickey’s eyes grew wide as he listened, raising a hand to his chest again. “Pulled out…” he muttered, a distant frown on his face.

Oswald glanced over at the Mad Doctor. “Wait, but shouldn’t gettin’ that inky mess outta him be a good thing?”

The Mad Doctor pulled down a small screen and turned it on. A white outline of the mouse’s body appeared on the blue backdrop, with a black blob floating near it. “If done the correct way, yes.”

Gus crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Correct way?” he repeated.

The Mad Doctor gestured to the screen; the black shape moved into the body and began breaking up as it swirled around. “You see, over time, the Blot began to merge with his own ink. Removing it safely would be a very careful process requiring time and patience. This, however…”

A portion of the black suddenly tore out of the body outline. Even in this crude form, it made the viewers wince.

The Mad Doctor shook his head. “This was the exact opposite. Fortunately, the shock wasn’t too severe… his body was able to recover in time to heal itself.”

Oswald snuck a side glance at Mickey, ears twitching with slight concern.

“In the meantime,” Gus said. “Perhaps, we should try to find out what did this. It could be very dangerous.”

The Mad Doctor nodded and turned to Mickey. “Do you remember anything?”

The mouse closed his eyes. “It happened real fast,” he said slowly, frowning. “But I remember seein’ some kind of a… a dome with a flat bottom. And there was a whirrin’ noise… it kept goin’. It sounded kinda like a Beetleworx.” His body tensed as he continued. “It knocked me down before I could do anything. Then somethin’ metal latched on my chest and started… pullin’. It felt like it was… rippin’ something out of me. That’s when I must a’ passed out. Next thing I know, I’m wakin’ up here.”

The Mad Doctor scowled as he rubbed his chin. “Strange… strange indeed,” he muttered. “It certainly must’ve been a machine. You don’t suppose it could be some kind of rogue Beetleworx? It’s unlikely, but certainly not impossible…” He glanced at the monitors nearby. “I’ll have to run some calculations to find if any disappeared from the grid recently.”

Oswald glared at the Mad Doctor with obvious impatience. “Well, what’re ya waitin’ for? Get to it! If it’s one of your machines, I want it shut down right away!”

The Mad Doctor jumped and started typing rapidly on the keyboard. Mickey placed a hand on Oswald’s shoulder, looking concerned. “Oswald, calm down. Whatever it was, we’ll find it.”

Oswald sighed. “I sure hope so. I don’t want this happenin’ again—to you or anyone else.” He then waggled a finger at the mouse. “So, don’t go off on your own again until we get this sorted out, got it? No more of that wanderin’ dark alleys nonsense. There’s a reason that never goes well in the movies.”

Mickey grinned sheepishly as he rubbed his neck. “Got it.” He touched his chest and sighed. “Believe me, I don’t plan on runnin’ into that thing again soon.”

Gus smiled and nodded before hovering upward. “I should probably tell the other gremlins on Mean Street, so they can keep an eye out for it.”

“Keep me updated,” Oswald said.

Gus nodded and teleported out of the lab.

“Hmm…” the Mad Doctor muttered, looking at the monitor. “This is troubling.”

He turned, frowning as he rubbed his chin.

“What’s wrong, Doc?” Mickey asked. The Mad Doctor started and looked up, as if he’d forgotten the two were there. He then cleared his throat.

“It seems that all the Beetleworx are accounted for, and none have displayed any serious defects in their programming.”

“Are ya sure?” Oswald asked. “Maybe you should double-check…”

The Mad Doctor pouted, looking a little offended. “Quite sure, but I can certainly run another check.”

“Sorry, Doc, I just wanna make sure we find it before… anythin’ else happens.”

The Mad Doctor’s frown softened and he nodded. “I’ll also perform some scans on different areas of Wasteland for unusual activity… the Blot portion may be detectable. The results will be ready by tomorrow.”

“Okay, thanks, Doc.” Oswald turned back to Mickey, a worrying thought crossing his mind. “Ya know, maybe it’d be best if you stayed with Ortensia and me for now, in case they or it tries to… well, we have a guest room ya could use.”

Mickey frowned, shifting in his seat. “Well… I don’t wanna impose, but if ya really think it’s a good idea…”

“It’s no problem,” Oswald said, then smirked. “Besides, the kids’ll be tickled.”

Mickey cringed a little. “Was that supposed to be encouraging?”

Oswald couldn’t help chuckling at that. Mickey grinned back and hopped off the cot, stumbling a bit on the landing.

Oswald steadied the mouse. “Easy… you sure you’re up to this?”

The mouse rubbed his head and nodded, still wobbling a bit. “Yeah, just kinda dizzy.”

Once he was sure Mickey was steady, Oswald let him go and they walked together toward the exit.

Ortensia looked up in surprise as Oswald walked in with Mickey following. “Oh… hello, boys,” she said, then noticed their looks. “Is everything okay?”

“Well…” Oswald said. “It’s kind of a long story, but is it okay if Mickey stays here for a while?”

Ortensia cocked her head, looking concerned. “Well, yes, of course. But… is something wrong?”

Mickey and Oswald glanced at each other, but just then, the Bunny Children hopped in excitedly.

“Daddy! Unca Mickey!”

Oswald cleared his throat and smiled. “Hey, kids, guess what? Your Uncle Mickey’s gonna be stayin’ with us for a while!”

The bunnies squealed and began leaping up and down with excitement. “Yay! Unca Mickey’s sleepin’ over!”

Mickey smiled, but he was buried in a heap of cheering blue bunnies before he could say anything.

“I’ll explain everything later,” Oswald said quietly to Ortensia before wading through the swarm of bunnies. “All right, kids, you can play with your uncle later,” he said as he grabbed hold of Mickey’s arm, pulling him out of the crowd.

He then led him upstairs to the guest room, which was full of antiques and old family photos. “Well, I know it’s not much, but make yourself at home.”

Mickey smiled gratefully as he looked around. “No, it’s great. Thanks a lot, Os.” Suddenly, a sharp ache throbbed in his chest and he couldn’t help wincing.

“Mick?” Oswald asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sorry…” Mickey said, rubbing his chest. “It’s still kinda sore.”

“Well, ya better get some rest,” he said, grabbing Mickey’s shoulders from behind and leading him over to the bed. “Just take it easy.”

Mickey slowly sat down; suddenly his body was aching like all the pressures of the past few days had caught up with him. “Thanks, Oswald,” he said.

The rabbit smiled reassuringly. “No problem,” he said. “Hope ya feel better.”

He turned to leave, but Mickey suddenly spoke up again. “Hey, Os…” Oswald stopped and looked back to see Mickey giving him a slight smile. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you were selfish either.”

Oswald stood there for a moment, startled. Slowly, he smiled. “Thanks, Mick.”

Next

Previous

Index

[moment-of-the-wolf]

Healing to the Hurt

“Isn’t there anything you can do Doctor? She’s my daughter!”

“Yes...There’s one last thing I can try...but you’re not going to like it...” 

Canon Divergence 1x13 - 2x1  Nine/Rose, shades of War Doctor/The Moment. Part one of The Space Between Stars, a series of long one shots

Jackie Tyler was Christmas shopping, Rose had disappeared with the TARDIS weeks ago with no word yet whether she had succeeded in saving the Doctor, but Jackie was looking for a present for her anyway. For them. If Rose succeeded, well, the Doctor got points for sending Rose back to her  to begin with. That was worth a Christmas present, even if it ended up just being a mug. 

What do you get an alien for Christmas? Did he even know what Christmas was?

Her mobile phone rang. Rose had insisted she let the Doctor tinker with it because he had upgraded her phone to be able to call her from across space and time, it would be much more convenient for Jackie to have her upgraded too so she could answer whenever Rose called. She still hated the thing, and couldn’t figure out her answering machine, but at times like this, when the screen read “Rose calling” Jackie was glad she had it.

She picked it up with a smile on her face, and tears threatening, “Well, it’s about time then, Mickey and I were just this close to making a wager about whether or not you made it.” The other end of the line was silent, and stayed silent for far too long, “Rose? Rose, are you alright, darling?”

Finally there was an answer, but it wasn’t Rose, Jackie’s heart froze when she heard the Doctor’s voice on the other line, “Help me.”

And just like that, no other words, the called ended. Jackie stood there in the middle of the street asking the Doctor to explain, even though she knew he wouldn’t answer. Then she heard it, that sound that his ship made. The sound had come to be one that made Jackie happy, it meant Rose was home. Now, with the Doctor’s cryptic call, she only felt dread as she dropped her bags and ran toward the sound.

As she turned the corner, Jackie saw that she wasn’t the only one drawn by the noise, Mickey Smith was running down the street opposite her. He had a smile on his face, excited to see Rose again- the look didn’t last when he saw the terrified expression on Jackie’s own face. The pair of them had become pretty close the last few weeks, she’d never been too fond of the boy, but in Rose’s absence Jackie had started to treat him more like a son.

“What’s going on?” Mickey asked as they approached the TARDIS together.

“I don’t know.” Jackie replied and banged on the door of the Blue Box, “Doctor? Doctor!? What’s happening? Where’s my Rose?”

It took a few minutes, but her question was answered when the TARDIS opened up and the Doctor came stumbling out, Rose dangling limp in his arms. The Doctor looked horrified and held her closer to him, “Help me get her to your flat!” He instructed, “Quickly!”

“What happened?” Jackie gasped, “Oh! Rose, Rose! Wake up!”

The three of them made their way to Powell estate, the Doctor didn’t really need any help carrying Rose. Pretty much all he needed was for Jackie to unlock the door to the flat and let him in so that he could take Rose to her bed. On the way, the Doctor tried to explain. “She looked into the Time Vortex, no one is supposed to do that.”

“Looked into the what?” Jackie shook her head, “What does that mean?”

“It’s the heart of the TARDIS, all of time and space running through her head. That’s too much power, she should be dead.”

“She’s dead!?” Mickey gasped.

“No!” The Doctor corrected, “No, she’s alive, she let go of it before it burned through her but that’s the thing! She shouldn’t have been able to hold it as long as she did. It should have killed her!”

After he laid Rose on the bed, the Doctor took out that weird alien screw driver of his and flicked a switch to run it over Rose’s body. “No internal hemorrhaging. Cellular structure is intact. Pulse is good. No fever.” 

“What’s wrong with her, Doctor?” Jackie asked.

“I don’t know!” The Doctor blurted, “By all accounts she’s fine, perfect health, but she should be dead!” He ran his screwdriver over again, “If it were me I would be dead. No one is meant to see the Time Vortex, I have no idea why she’s like this, I have no idea why she’s still alive.”

But he was relieved she was, that was plain as day on the Doctor’s face.

Jackie helped get Rose settled in the bed, wrapping blankets around her and fluffing her pillow up. “It’s like she’s sleeping… or in a coma.” Jackie mused, “Maybe she’ll be waking up soon.” She dared to hope.

The Doctor pulled a chair up next to the bed, and brushed Rose’s hair away from her face. “Maybe…” He replied, but he didn’t sound confident.

“Shouldn’t we take her to a hospital, then?” Mickey suggested.

The Doctor never took his eyes off Rose, “No, cause they’ll want to know how she ended up like this, and I can’t even begin to tell them.” He replied, “And they can’t give her any proper care unless I can tell them exactly what’s wrong with her. Without that information, they may try some brain surgeries or medicine or whatever other primitive practices you’re still using in this century and probably make her condition worse.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?” Jackie demanded, “Just sit here and wait?”

“I don’t know!” The Doctor snapped, “Nothing like this has ever happened before!”

“Stop shouting!” Mickey ordered, “Both of you! Just…Just calm down.”

Jackie bristled, ready to give Mickey a good slap, but the Doctor said nothing and just reached to brush Rose’s hair again. He was plainly stressed from worrying about Rose. “I’m sorry.” Jackie said, and found her own chair. She watched her daughter’s chest rise and fall, “What exactly happened out there?” Jackie asked.

She barely knew how to work her mobile phone, she doubted she’d understand a word of the Doctor’s explanation, but Jackie needed to ask for Rose’s sake, and for the Doctor’s. Perhaps if he spoke out loud about it, he’d remember some detail he was overlooking while worried about Rose.

The Doctor was silent for a moment, “I don’t know how long Rose has been gone for you…” He said, “But it’s only been…less that fifteen minutes total since she arrived with the TARDIS.”

“It’s been weeks now.” Jackie informed him.

The Doctor nodded, “I wasn’t exactly putting in proper coordinates, as long as we arrived in a time I could get your help…” He trailed off and continued his explanation, “When you opened the heart of the TARDIS, Rose absorbed the Time Vortex, it’s a power source of sorts, encompassing all of time and space, by absorbing it Rose became…”

“Became what, Doctor?” Mickey asked.

“Bad Wolf…” He replied, and started to explain the mysterious and continuous appearance of the two words, as if following them across time and space, how neither he nor Rose had given it much thought until fairly recently.

That was the part the Jackie understood, but as the Doctor explainedsomething about Rose being part of something he called  a 'looped ontological Paradox', absorbing the Time Vortex and sending the words out herself, as a message to lead her back to the Doctor, she became confused. “But how could Rose have become this Bad Wolf and sent the words out so that she would look into the Time Vortex? What would have inspired her to look and put them out to begin with if not the words? There had to have been a first time.”

She expected the Doctor to get angry, or at least annoyed or maybe just laugh at the poor stupid apes that didn’t understand, but the Doctor simply looked at Rose. He had one hand to his face, knuckle brushing his lip as if he were going to gnaw on it, “No, there doesn’t.” He said calmly, “It’s a paradox, Jackie, a self contradicting impossibility. Not even the Gallifreyan High Council would be able to explain it.”

“Gallifreyan?” Mickey quirked an eyebrow.

Again the Doctor was silent for a moment, this time biting his lower lip and flexing his fingers, “Me" He clarified, “I’m Gallifreyan.” He didn’t seem to want to say anything more than that, however.

And both Jackie and Mickey were quickly out of questions. They sat in silence around Rose’s bed for a long time, with no change. Soon enough, however, the two humans remembered that the world still turned, even with Rose in the state she was in. Mickey needed to get back to his own flat, and Jackie had to go back to the street and see if her bags happened to be still there and undisturbed. 

She doubted it.

Mickey walked with her to pick them back up. They were moved, and she found only one item- a pocket watch- missing. It had been what she planned to give Rose, set to London’s time so that Rose would always remember that they were waiting for her back home. Jackie frowned, that was the most expensive thing she bought this year, and she wouldn’t be able to afford a replacement.

The two humans parted ways at the corner, “Call me if there’s any improvement.” Mickey said.

“I will.” Jackie promised, “I’ll call you immediately.”

Within a few minutes she was returning to her flat, Jackie found the Doctor exactly as she’d left him. Still watching over Rose with the same worried expression, knuckle still at his lips and his free hand twirling his screwdriver around like he was resisting the urge to scan Rose’s condition again. Jackie stood in the doorway for several minutes, but the Doctor never acknowledged her return.

She started to get hungry and began working on dinner. Jackie was not in the mood to cook so she put in a microwave dinner, and then as a added thought, heated up a second one for the Doctor. She still wasn’t sure what he ate, but surely he had to eat something. 

Finally she came back in and sat down at the chair she’d occupied earlier. The Doctor still hadn’t moved.He also still didn’t acknowledge her until Jackie spoke to get his attention. “I’ve heated up some dinner.” She announced.

It seemed to take the Doctor a minute to realize Jackie meant that she made some for him as well. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Rose, “No, thank you.” He said simply.

“Come on, now, Doctor.” Jackie told him, “It won’t do Rose any good if you don’t take care of yourself while waiting for her to get better.”

“I’m fine.” He replied quietly, “I’m not human, Jackie. I don’t need to eat, or sleep. Not as often as you lot, at least.”

“Doctor.” Jackie said, a little more sternly, “I’ve heated up some dinner. Would you please eat it?”

More than anything, Jackie just wanted the Doctor out of Rose’s room. The waiting was making her nervous, like watching a pot boil, maybe Rose would recover when they weren’t looking. It was probably just a silly human superstition, but it would put Jackie at ease if she didn’t have to see that look on the Doctor’s face, just a few minutes of distraction.

The Doctor seemed to acknowledge this and finally nodded his head. “Alright.” He said and stood up, but not without brushing Rose’s face again. There was no hair to be brushed out of the way, but the Doctor was quick to say “Still no fever.” As if that were some kind of cover, he wasn’t touching her long enough to notice if there was a fever.

That was an affectionate stroke.

Jackie led the Doctor out and turned on the telly to watch a little crime mystery while they ate. The Doctor figured out the killer long before the show was over, and barely touched the mashed potatoes and beef until Jackie reminded him she wanted him to eat. “So..” Jackie said, “You said that if it’d been you that absorbed that Vortex thing, you’d be dead?” 

She was still hoping that if they talked about what happened to Rose, the Doctor would have some kind of epiphany about her condition. The Doctor nodded, “The Time Vortex is unlimited power, having it in your head gives you the that same unlimited power, but only for a few minutes, then it’ll burn you up. Not even a Time Lord can resist it.”

That was only a little different than what he’d told her before, Jackie tried to press for more information- anything that could help her daughter, “So it’s happened before? You’ve seen it?”

“Not personally, but I’ve heard of it. They used to say that a Time Lord that looked into the Time Vortex would momentarily become a vengeful God, with power over time and space until it destroyed them within minutes.”

“Why?” Jackie asked, “Why is it so deadly?”

“It just too much power, even for us.” The Doctor explained, “If Rose hadn’t let go of it when she did it would have caused every cell in her body to die, like radiation poisoning. I’ve been monitoring her condition and her body is fine… That means that her mind is probably what’s in trouble.”

He started to sit up straighter, Jackie did the same as she realized that talking about it was working, the Doctor was starting to figure it out. “What about her mind?” She asked.

“Since it didn’t kill her, all of time and space running through her head, Rose’s mind is simply be lost within herself.” He started to smile, relaxing slightly as he concluded. His expression dropped again, “But I don’t know how long it will take her to find her way back. And she’s human so her body won’t last long without her mind functioning right.”

His eyes darted back to Rose’s bedroom, and his mouth twitched. Clearly he had an idea, but was now hesitating for some reason. Jackie reached over and touched his arm, ““Isn’t there anything you can do Doctor?” She begged, Rose’s life was at stake, surely this alien with his superior knowledge and technology had some way to help. “She’s my daughter!”

“Yes… There’s one last thing I can try ” The Doctor replied slowly, “…but you’re not going to like it…” 

Jackie’s stomach flipped with dread, but she squeezed his arm. If it brought Rose back to her, she thought she’d let the Doctor do anything, but his comment unnerved her. “What is it?”

“Gallifreyans were a telepathic species.” He explained, “When something like this happened all we’d need to do is enter a shared dream state and lead the lost one out.”

“But…?” Jackie felt her stomach knotting even tighter.

“But humans aren’t telepathic.” Jackie wanted to hit him for giving her false hope when he continued, “There’s only one way for me and Rose to establish a shared dream state.”

“Do it.” She told him, standing up, ready to make whatever preparations he needed..

“You don’t even know what I need to do.” 

Jackie through her hands in the air, “For god’s sake, Doctor! What is it? What’s so dangerous!?”

The Doctor frowned, “Well, for starters, I could end up lost in Rose’s mind too and we’d both be trapped there. But that’s not the part you’re not going to like.” He said, and took a deep breath, steadying himself for whatever he was about to tell her, “For a telepath and a non telepath to enter a shared dream state we need skin-to-skin contact…the more the better.”

Jackie stared at him with her jaw dropped for a moment, waiting for him to say he was just pulling her leg. When he didn’t, she started to get angry. “You…” She started to growl, “You want to sleep… with my daughter…naked?”

“Jackie Tyler.” The Doctor stood up, “Your daughter is the way she is now because she crossed time and space doing the impossible to save me. If there were any other way to help her, I would have done it already.”

She wanted to slap him so hard he was sent back in time- or forward in time- or whatever. She very nearly did, but Jackie also didn’t doubt him, if there was any other way to save Rose, this man would do it in a heartbeat. It still bothered her that he didn’t object to wanting to. 

Jackie had one last question for the Doctor and she supposed when the measures were this kind of desperate, it was the only question that mattered. "Do you love her?" She asked.

The Doctor was startled by the question and he swallowed nervously, as if he feared there was no correct answer to that question. In a way there wasn't, Jackie was sure to have his head if he said yes, and to hound him about 'why not?' until he couldn't take it any more. The best way to answer was with the truth, "'Til the end of time." Technically this was a yes, but it remained vague enough to pass under her radar, as he could always say he meant it platonically.

They both knew it was romantically.

“Do it. Before I change my mind.” She relented, though her tongue felt like lead as she did.

He stood there a moment longer in silence before he nodded again, “Just…Make sure we’re not disrupted,” He said, “Shared dream states are fragile enough between two Gallifreyans.”

And with that he was off to Rose’s room. Jackie felt sick to her stomach, and against her better judgement started after him. “I’m warning you, though Doctor, any unnecessary touching and I’ll take those hands off of you.”

The Doctor pulled the blankets away from Rose, “If it makes you feel any better, Jackie, we don’t need to be naked,” He said, as he started to shrug off his jacket, “I said the more skin contact the better, but if you’d be more comfortable-”

“For god’s sake, just get you both under the covers and get this over with!” Jackie hissed and helped pull Rose’s clothes off, making herself feel even more sick as her daughter laid unconscious in her naught but her knickers while the Doctor pulled the blankets over them before taking off the rest of his clothes. Was he even wearing drawers?

After that came the uncomfortable manner of positioning so that they had the most skin contact possible. Jackie wasn’t sure if she was more uncomfortable watching or if the Doctor was more uncomfortable being watched. Finally after a few minutes of shifting, turning and curling their arms together the Doctor was resting on his back with Rose sprawled half on him with her arms draped over his chest and his around her. Jackie couldn’t be sure with the blankets over them, but she was sure the Doctor had their legs entwined too. Again, was he wearing drawers?

“How long does it take for you to fall asleep?” Jackie asked, trying to take her mind off their state of undress and focus on this shared dream solution. It wasn’t working. 

“Quicker if you don’t talk.” The Doctor replied and shut his eyes, “Now remember, don’t let anyone or anything interrupt, I don’t know how long this will take…”

He didn’t speak again, Jackie stood over them getting more and more uncomfortable as she looked on. The longer she was there the more she wasn’t sure she believed the Doctor’s telepathy story or if this was just some ploy to touch Rose. Jackie shivered and forced herself out of the room, and shut the door as quietly as possible. For Rose’s sake she had to trust him…For Rose’s sake…

The Doctor relaxed immensely once Jackie left the room. It was hard to fall asleep when he was wondering if Rose’s mother was really going to let him do this or if she was going to smother him while his guard was down. The worry remained, even when the door closed, but at least she wasn’t an immediate threat. That and it felt way less creepy when he wasn’t being watched.

After that it didn’t take long at all for him to begin drifting off. He’d told the truth earlier, that his species didn’t need to eat or sleep as often as humans did, and while he could still go several more days, maybe a full week before he needed to sleep  the Doctor could use a little time to recharge.

The dream started like he was walking. Walking through the Time Vortex instead of flying the TARDIS. The edges of his vision were black, not quite fully asleep yet, but he risked calling out, Gallifreyans had excellent mental control, he doubted he’d accidentally wake himself up. “Rose? Rose? Where are you?”

A loud shout in the dream world was nothing more than a breathy whisper in the waking world. And if Jackie were still in the room to hear, it would have been several agonizingly long seconds before there was a soft reply “I’m here.”

Back in the dream, those long seconds passed much quicker. No sooner than he had called out, the Doctor heard Rose’s voice, right in his ear as if she were standing right next to him. Before he could turn to look, however, the Doctor found himself falling through the Vortex, out of it, passed stars and planets. Light above him started to vanish as he slipped further and further into oblivion.

Blackness.

A soft sound beckoned him back, like the winding of a clock. He opened his eyes, not to Rose’s bedroom, but to a more familiar sight. The Doctor’s hearts ached to recognize the tattered ruined barn that had once been his childhood home. Funny, nine hundred years old and the sight of this place still stirred a such a boyish joy in him, even when he felt like it had been so much longer since he’d been a child.

And that, was largely due to the Time War…

The joy of seeing this old barn drained out of the Doctor when he realized that the barn was not truly the place of his childhood, but rather a more recent memory. A terrible memory. This was the place…and the time…

The soft whirring sound hit his ears again, this time a voice accompanied it, “This is where you did it.”

The Doctor twisted around and saw her. Rose was there, thank goodness he didn’t have to dive too deep into dreams to find her. Yet, even the joy of finding her so quickly was snuffed out when he saw how she was seated, back straight, legs apart and elbows on her knees, on top of a small box decorated with Circular Galifreyan warnings.

He knew that box far too well.

Immediately the Doctor was on his feet, rushing to pull Rose away from it, “Don’t sit on that!” He gasped, as he yanked her to her feet and stared at the box in horror.

“Why not?” Rose asked.

He pulled her closer to him as if to protect her from it, “Because it’s not a chair! It’s the most dangerous weapon in the universe.” He might have elaborated, Rose had a certain charm about her that loosened his tongue about his dark secrets when they were in the right time and place.

But an odd sense of Deja Vu suddenly had him blinking. Wait…why did this feel so familiar? Not the barn, and not the weapon, but that exchange. He turned to Rose in confusion, and noticed something was very odd about her as well. 

“Why can’t it be both?” She asked. It was very definitely Rose he was talking to, he knew those eyes, he knew those lips, but there was something about her that was very definitely different. She looked older, not Jackie’s age by any means, but older than nineteen, that was for certain.

Golden light flashed in her eyes, and the Doctor knew what he was looking at. She'd called herself the Bad Wolf when she absorbed the Time Vortex, but the entity Rose had become was a young one, an inexperienced one that had accidentally made her friend into an immortal fixed point when bringing him back to life. Here she was again; the Bad Wolf, thorugh only a few hours of sleep, now fully matured into one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Did she still have a piece of the Time Vortex in her mind?

Instead of answering her question about the box, the Doctor shook his head, “I came to get you.” he told her.

“I know. I’ve been waiting for you.” She replied, “I want to show you something.” The Doctor started to object, wanting to take her back to the real world immediately, but she pressed a finger to his lips and her eyes flashed with gold again.

Rose pulled away from him, opened the barn door with a mere glance, and beyond it was not the wastes of a war torn Gallifrey as the Doctor expected, but a thick blackness that Rose stepped into with no fear. He approached the doorway after her, Rose had vanished into the depths of the nothingness beyond, deeper into dreams, invisible beyond it. Curiosly he reached forward, and that was when he noticed that he was no longer the Doctor that he thought he was. 

He knew this hand, this had had belong to him, the Regeneration previous to this one. He found himself shuttering, he tried so hard not to think of this man as the Doctor, it was a coping mechanism he hoped one day he would be recovered enough to stop using, but for now it made the pain just bearable to distance this form from his identity as the Doctor. How long had he been like this? He was certain that he had been in the incarnation Rose knew when they spoke, she wouldn't have recognized him otherwise...

Of course, with the power of the Vortex that was still in her head, it was possible that she knew more than she let on. Far more.

He put his hand into the blackness beyond the barn, there was an odd sensation of touching something that was somewhere between a solid and a liquid. Like sticking his hand in pudding, the Doctor noticed how the blackness ate all visibility and stuck his arm further in. Rose had gone in, he had to go after her.

He stepped through, a chill went through him with every step. Odd, from the outside the blackness seemed to be complete, taking all of him into it's depths, but inside it, he could see himself perfectly. And Rose too. She was waiting for him on the otherside, both of them perfectly visible in the black.

"What is this place?" The Doctor asked, his voice carried around them, but he heard no echo.

"This is the universe." Rose replied, "Or at least it's what would be left if you hadn't ended the Time War."

She reached up and stroked his face, a sorrowful look graced her features. The Doctor felt his knees weaken at her touch. He felt as empty as the space around him, "Why show me this?"

She didn't answer, her eyes flashed again and dots of light started to fill the blackness around them. He saw the outlines of shapes around them, and soon they were standing on a beach together. The scent of salt air stung his nostrils. It was an Earth beach, he was certain of that, but the night sky above them was not Earth's. He knew those constellations better than any across time and space. That was Gallifrey's sky.

The Doctor was puzzled, but the question on his tongue was silenced by the arrival of Rose's lips against his. He whimpered into the kiss, realizing for the first time just how much he needed it. The Time Lord had long been aware of his growing feeling for Rose, but had always kept them back. He knew in the end that Rose would only be part of his life for a brief span of it, either she'd leave on her own terms, be killed on their adventures, or worse grow old and expire before his eyes. Those thoughts of losing Rose had always kept him at bay, thinking that if he didn't allow himself to get too attached, then maybe it wouldn't hurt as much when she was gone.

But now...

Rose kissed him and he couldn't contain those feelings any more. He returned the kiss with a feverish passion that blew like a storm. He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her closer to him, breaking the kiss only to suck in a quick breath and kiss her again. He only broke away when he realized his form was still that of the age Warrior who had killed so many.

The universe was worth it, he had known that when he used the Moment, and he was willing to pay the price of survivial...Or at least that was what he told himself. The Doctor began to weep, "I killed them all, Rose...They're gone..."

"I know." She said, and kissed his cheek, "I know."

"I don't want to loose you too." Tears were freely falling from his eyes now, he felt a stinging sensation across his skin, through blurry eye he recognized the glow of regeneration- or degeneration, perhaps, as the Doctor found he was back to his eighth incarnation now.  This body had a lot of fond memories from before the war, yet now he looked at his hands as if they belonged to a traitor. This was the man who had given up being a doctor to be a warrior and he couldn't quite bring himself to...well, forgive himself for that choice.  Yet at the same time he couldn't blame himself, either.

She was right to show him the empty universe, the non existance that would have been. In his hearts he always knew that he'd done the right thing, all of creation was worth more than his people, and certainly worth more than the Daleks.

"That's not why I showed it to you, Doctor." She said, taking him by surprise. Rose didn't bother with an explaination, hell, with the power she had, the Doctor shouldn't be surprised that the Bad Wolf could read his mind. "Look around you."

They had changed places again, the sky above them was Earth's now, but they weren't on a beach anymore. They weren't even on the planet. He recognized this place, it was Satalite Five, only now things seemed to be right. He could see it, this was the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire as it should have been.

"Time is always in a state of flux." Rose whispered, "You taught me that. Second by second someone somewhere does something that changes the world, that changes history, and all of time and space. It's happening now, here with you and me."

The Doctor could see that too. Timelines swirled in his head, he saw time spliting up like the atoms of the Daleks that the Bad Wolf destroyed. In one universe, she arrived too late, the Doctor was dead and while she had enough time to wipe out the Daleks she could not release the power in time and burned. In another she saved his life, but at the cost of hers. Similarily, the Doctor saved her with a kiss to remove the Time Vortex, but the act of doing so cost him this regeneration. The Doctor almost longed to be in that universe, he could feel that Doctor's feelings, so sad to be going so soon, but also swelling with joy because he knew that Rose would live and Regenerated to his next form with a smile on his face.

Fantastic.

Fresh tears dripped down his face.

"These are just dreams." He said, "We can go back and see days long passed, but once we do we can't go back to them again. What we see and what we do, that's it, unless we want the Reapers to come back."

"Maybe that's true." Rose replied, "And maybe it isn't. Who says that our reality is the only one that matters?"

The Doctor reached up to brush his hair back, only to find the familiar feel of the buzzcut from his Ninth incarnation as the Doctor. The timelines swirled in his vision, showing him more images of things that might have been. Rose saving her father, but destorying the universe. Jamie infecting all of humanity with his nanogenes while looking for his mother. Gwenyth being too afraid to help the Gelf and joining them on the TARDIS instead.

"There's so many."

The Doctor wasn't even sure if it was Rose or himself that had spoken.

"And only one where we remain together." Rose said, her eyes were flashing gold again, "And every second we get further and further from that future." Now she was the one that was crying, but it wasn't a desperate sob. She had a smile on her face too, like she was witnessing a miracle.

He knew what she meant, he'd caught a glimpse of this future himself a few times while reading the time lines. All the things that had to happen, and to not happen to ensure they stayed together forever was near impossible, even for a Time Lord, there were too many things that they couldn't control. The choice to turn right instead of left could lead Rose into the jaws of a monster, an manufactoring error on a year old vehicle meant that the breaks wouldn't work when a random motorist tried to stop as Jackie crossed the street, killing Rose before she was even born, a fearless captain drives his ship into a meteor to stop it from destroying the Earth, but the debris from the accident still wipe out a massive percent of the population.

"Does it drive you mad?"

"Yes, it does."

They were kissing again, this time they were naked together on Rose's pink bed from the Tyler flat on Powell Estate. No, they weren't awake yet, the Doctor knew their undergarments had been left on for decency's sake, but more imporantly, the bed was Rose's but the room around them wasn't a room. It was his barn on Gallifry again.

Her power was incredible.

"Have you figured it out yet, Doctor?" Rose asked, a tiny half smile played at the corner of her mouth.

He nodded and kissed her neck, "The reason you survived absorbing the Time Vortex is because you've never been quite human. At least not human as I understand them to be. You've always been a self created paradox, you willed yourself into being so that one day you would create yourself, the first and only one of your kind."

"Something like that." Rose replied, that half smile grew into a playful smirk. There were deeper mechniacs at work than even the Doctor could comprehend, but if Rose understood the nature of her own existence then perhaps he need not even worry about trying to understand himself.

The Bad Wolf, Rose Tyler, both were one and the same.

"I have other names, too." She added, "And you already know one of them."

The Doctor swallowed hard, this was the part that was most difficult for him to face but part of him had known as soon as he saw her in the barn the first time, "You're the Moment." The Doctor said, "The weapon that I used to destory Gallifrey. I remember you now, at least, flashes of you." He wondered why  he didn't remember her in full. Rose was quick to answer this unasked question

"I've sealed off your memories." She said and looked away sadly, "I want you to remember, I do. I hate seeing you suffer this way, but you were right, if the Time War had gone on the whole of creation would have been at stake."

The Doctor's hands started to tremble, he felt like a monster, he wiped out two species- his own people to end a war and even used a woman he didn't even know he loved to do it. He felt like he had violated Rose somehow, even if he hadn't known who she was...But at the same time, something didn't make sense, well even less sense than a paradox that existed in all time and all space.

The first time he had seen Rose Tyler, not even knowing who she was, he'd felt insinctively drawn to her, almost like he had known her for years. If it were true that she was the Moment, wouldn't and imprinted memories of her have left him feeling terrible for all the things he had done, shouldn't he have been repulsed by her?

Suddenly the Doctor felt her hands enfold over his, cupping them in her gentle touch. "I told you. I sealed off those memories. I didn't tell you why." She smiled at him and craned her neck to kiss his cheek, "That was the day it was impossible to get it right, and there's no shame in that. But what is a paradox, but a way to make the impossible possible?"

"What do you mean?" 

She was biting her lower lip, and pulled his hands up to her breast so he could feel her heart beating beneath the skin. For a brief second, he fooled himself into thinking she had two hearts, but was quick to correct himself, it was still a single heart but it beat twice as fast as a normal human's. A different sort of alien.

"Time is in flux. Nothing is what even you think it is." She answered, "And when you're ready to see what really happened that day, I will show you."

"Rose?"

He blinked, the barn was back to normalm the bed was gone, and both of them were clothed. Rose sat on the Moment.

This dream was bouncing around like crazy, the Doctor inwardly scolded himself. They needed to get out of here and back to the real world or Jackie would never let him live it down. Rose shifted her seat, and the box beneath her groaned with the clockwork inside it. The most deadly weapon in the universe, and also the woman he cared about most.

"I'm ready to go home now." Rose announced, "Are you, Doctor?"

She must already know the answer, but he held his hand out inviting her to stand and take it, "Come with me." He whispered.

Rose's delicate hand slipped into his, he hadn't even see her stand up and cross the barn, she was simply there, taking his hand. "What a pair we make." Rose mused, entwining her fingers into his long calloused ones. "One paradox is odd enough, but two...My, how the universe likes to throw the oddities at each other."

He quirked an eybrow, "Two?" he repeated.

She squeezed his hand, "A great man from another world who was inspired by the best of humanity." Rose replied, "But who inspired the best of humanity, eh, Doctor?"

In a flash he was opening his eyes. The Doctor blinked a few times, waiting to see if the scenery around him changed to reveal they were still in the dream. The sun had risen, they must have slept through the whole night. Rose looked back at him from across the pillow, aged back to her normal nineteen year old self. A slight glimmer in her eyes was the only indication that anything was out of the ordinary. Well, that and the fact that their largely naked bodies were entwined together with Jackie moving around in the other room.

The events of the dream were fading from the Doctor's mind, whether because of the usual failure to remember dreams or because Rose was once again sealing away his memories of the encounter. He found himself unable to keep from smiling. His Rose was safe, was there any better reason to smile?

"So what happens now?" He asked, it felt a little odd to be the one that asked, but it was up to her, really. It always was. "Rose Tyler I-"

She raised a finger to his lips, smiling back at him, "It doesn't need saying." She told him, winking like she'd made a joke he didn't get. She shifted her postion on the bed, crawling further on top of him, "I'm part of the Time Vortex. Always was. Always will be. Like Gwenyth and the Rift in 1969. What happens now is that we go on. Do as you always do, be a Doctor and touch your healing to the hurt."

Rose's hand lifted from his chest to stroke his face, "I cannot keep my power confined to one body, that would rip it apart so I splintered it across time and space. Pieces of me are scattered everywhere, some in places you know, places you've yet to know and places you will never reach." She explained to him, "But remember, even if we are divided by whatever reality throws at us, that I will be there for you when you need me, even if you don't know it's me."

"Like the Moment?" The Doctor asked.

She nodded, "And in small things you wouldn't think twice about, but all the same they give you hope."

The Doctor swallowed hard, he appreciated the gesture, more than Rose would ever know (Or perhaps she would, with her power anything was possible) but he did not want to think he'd ever need them. He never wanted to think about life without her by his side. Losing companions was nothing new, but Rose wasn't just any companion.

There was a slim chance, out of countless possibilites and endless chains pulling them through time, there was a single line that kept them together. The Doctor would do whatever he could to stay on that line.

"I suppose we should get dressed and tell your mum you're safe." The Doctor said, starting to pull the blankets off to do that. He got as far as sitting upright when Rose lifted her head and kissed him, which froze the Time Lord in place. He remembered they'd kissed in their shared dream state, it had brought him to tears because he wanted it so much, needed her so much. It was different here in the waking world.

It was better.

If he could spend his life in one moment for all eternity, it would be this one. Rose's lips were soft and sweet from chapstick, the taste of her mouth had a slight saltiness to it, lingering flavor from chips, no doubt. And so human, so very human. None of that poetic nonsense about tasting like stardust and fire. Just a normal, human girl, nineteen years old and in love. The most wonderful thing in the universe.

The Doctor wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer for a brief moment, she pushed him back, kissing him deeper. The move was a mistake, as the Doctor, focusing all his attention on her, lost his balance and fell back against the bed frame. The fall broke their contact as he hit his head on the frame and uttered a small shout of surprise that did not go unnoticed by Jackie.

Rose had just climbed off him and the Doctor regained his senses enough to be rubbing the back of his head when the door burst open. "Is everything alright Doctor? Did you manage t-" She stopped midsentance when she saw her daughter sitting upright in her sheets, grabbing her shirt from the  foot of the bed. "It worked!" She gasped, tears threatening.

Rose smiled, "It worked." She assured her mother and quickly slid her shirt back on while the Doctor flung himself off the bed to redress himself. To Jackie's relief, he was in fact wearing drawers and put his clothes on as quickly as possible, while Jackie took his place on the bed, hugging her daughter tightly.

"Oh my god sweetheart! I was terrified when that box disappeared! I thought I was never going to see you again!" Jackie sobbed. Rose patted her mother's back assuring her that she was alright, "And when the Doctor brought you back the way he did! I've never been so scared in my life!"

"It's alright mum. I'm alright. I'm always going to be alright." She said, and over Jackie's shoulder she looked to the Doctor, a wolfish smile on her face. Gold light flashed in her eyes for a second. The Doctor's smile faltered a little bit. Rose had said the power of the Bad Wolf was too much to contain in a single living body, but it hadn't occured to him that she would still have it when they were out of the dream. How much power had she kept for this body?

His smile brightened again when he realized he really didn't care. Rose was alive, and safe, and the rest of that could wait.

"I was just getting started on breakfast. " Jackie said, "It'd be no trouble at all to add a few more eggs and bacon to the pan. You hungry, sweetheart?"

"Very." Rose answered. "Let me get dressed, I'll help."

"Oh...Well, I suppose I should say, no you need to rest, but you two have been out for three days. Any more rest and you might not wake up at all." Jackie informed them, and turned to the Doctor, "How 'bout you? You joining us?"

"Sure, why not? I'm sure one breakfast with Jackie Tyler won't end the universe." The Doctor surprised himself with how much he wasn't objecting to the idea of staying for breakfast. Lord knew he wasn't getting involved with domestics, but right now he didn't want to be away from Rose and if Rose was having breakfast with Jackie he certainly could put up with that for a while. "What do you mean three days...?"

[asarahworld-writes]

(Not) Her Boyfriend

Notes: I’ve actually been busy attempting a longer fic, and so haven’t posted very many ficlets, let alone completed any bingo squares.  So have a ficlet.

“No, Mum, I can’t ask him to take me home.  Why?  Mum, what if he doesn’t come back?  He’s already gone and missed a year, I can’t risk that again.  I know it’s been a while since I saw Cousin Mo.”  Rose’s voice softened.  “I know, Mum. Mo’s the only family we’ve got, too.  I’ll speak to the designated driver, but ‘m starting to think that the TARDIS pilots herself sometimes.  You too.” Rose hung up her mobile, thinking ponderously.  Cousin Mo’s twenty-second birthday was looming, from her mother’s perception of time, and it had been nearly two years (from Rose’s perspective) since she’d seen her cousin (three years, counting the one Rose had missed, from Mo’s point of view).

The Doctor was waiting for her in the corridor.  Rose blinked.  “Hello,” she smiled.

He beamed. “Hullo.  No detour to the wardrobe this ‘morning’?””

Rose looked down at her jeans.  “Nah, I figured I’d check out the scene first, then decide if I needed a change or if I’d rather make a scene,” she joked.

“Where to?” He’d taken her hand and had his hand on the controls before she’d had time to answer.

“Mum’d like a visit,” Rose hedged.

“Saw her last week, didn’t you?”  The Doctor deflected.  “Anywhere and any-when, Rose!  Barcelona?  Did I ever tell you about Barcelona?  The planet, I mean, not the city.  Or Clom! Usually a rather dull planet, but Saturday mornings, the local Disney Land is a fantastic sight.  People from all over the galaxy visit Clom’s Disney resorts, though they do tend to avoid the locals.  Or the trees on Felspoon.  Picture a sunset.  Now forget it.  These skies turn purple to green to orange, one of the best colour combinations in the galaxy.  And when the stars appear, they’re so much brighter than the ones you lot see from Earth. Brighter, and closer, and we can go back and see them before anyone else in the universe has the chance to.”

Rose sighed deeply, smiling, thinking about all the lovely places that the Doctor had described.  “It’s my cousin’s birthday,” she started uncertainly.  The Doctor fixed his stare at the console.  “I haven’t seen her in three years, Doctor.  When we were kids, she used to get Mum to do her hair all the time.  And once she had her hair done, it only took her a few minutes to put together an ‘ensemble’ (as she called it) together from Mum’s wardrobe.  One for her, one for me.  We were practically best mates, ‘cept for Mickey o’ course.”

“All of time and space, wherever you wish to go,” the Doctor said simply.  “Powell Estate, London.  What’s the date, then?”

“Twentieth of August.  2006.” Rose patted a coral strut hopefully. “But what’ll you do?”  She had a sudden vision of the Doctor leaving, and this time never coming back instead of simply skipping a year.

“One might think that nine hundred years would give me some ideas of how to pass the time,” the Doctor smirked.  “Time machine.”

Rose dared not suggest that he accompany her.  “You’ll meet me in the flat?”  She asked hopefully.

“Might,” the Doctor shrugged.  “I do have a phone, Rose.”  He opened his arms, and Rose hugged him.

“Yeah, but would you answer it?”  Rose couldn’t help but tease.

“Might,” the Doctor repeated, noncommittedly.

“Right, then,” Rose said brazenly, “you come back at a decent hour, hear?  I don’t want to hear those engines in twenty years, with some sort o’ tree woman in tow.”

The Doctor smirked enigmatically.  “Go home. Rose Tyler.”  He flipped a lever and Rose could suddenly hear a startled scream from outside.  “That’d be your mother, I presume.”

“You’d better hope so.”  She waved a finger at him.  “Else you’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Me? I’m not even here.”  The TARDIS began to dematerialize around Rose.  She smiled sadly at the vanishing image of the Doctor until she was left staring at the blank telly.  She wasn’t alone long, however, as she was quickly enveloped in a hug from her mother.

“Oh, you’re home!  I nearly thought that you weren’t going to make it, said to Bev the other day.  I said, Bev,”

“Mum,” Rose rolled her eyes, amused by Jackie’s antics.

Jackie hugged her daughter closer.  “All right, enough about me, how are you?  And be ready to leave in two hours, don’t want to be late!”  She paused a moment, looking Rose over.  “I suppose you’ll be needing in the loo.  Must admit, I’ve sort of gotten used to taking a bit o’ time getting ready.  But no matter,” Jackie smiled.  “You’re home! Give me ten minutes to wash up, then you get on.”  Rose nodded, absently wondering what she had in her own closet that would be nice enough to wear.  She’d started to favour darker colours recently, and had shied away from the pink that had dominated her apparel.

Opening the door to her old bedroom, Rose stopped in shock.  She must have stood there, staring, for a good fifteen minutes until Jackie came up to tell her that the loo was free.  “Rose, aren’t you going to shower?  I thought you said – blimey, that’s gorgeous.”  Rose nodded.

There was a dress laying across her duvet.  It was impossible not to notice immediately – the dark blue stood out proudly against the chequered pink blanket.  There was a note laying off to the side.  Smartly handwritten, it read:

               Courtesy of the TARDIS.  Wanted you to have something different for tonight if required.

Short and to the point.  Rose reached out, touching the soft fabric reverently.  The Doctor had remembered why she’d gone home and, more impossibly, had given her a dress (far sleeker than anything she’d ever owned) just for the occasion.  If she’d ever believed in fairy tales, the Doctor was her knight in shining armour. He just never seemed to realize a knight generally kissed the princess after he saved her.

Moving on from that thought (or at least shoving it to the back of her mind), Rose quickly showered before tying up her old robe.  Having heard the doors banging, Jackie shouted for her to come across the hall.  Rose tightened her sash, padding into her mother’s room.  Jackie promptly began to comb Rose’s hair, easily styling it into a loose updo.

The dress was easily dressed down – it was only her cousin’s party, after all – with a faded denim jacket and a pair of patterned stockings.  Perhaps it was becoming a habit after spending so much time with the Doctor, but Rose opted for her boots.  They were far more comfortable than any heels she owned, and she was starting to realize that at any moment, while with the Doctor at least, if she needed to start running, boots were far more practical than high heeled pumps.

The bus to Peak District was long and tiresome for Rose.  It had been nearly a year since she’d been on a bus and she found that she’d quite gotten used to just appearing at her next, often unplanned, destination.  She’d fidgeted nearly the whole way, making light conversation with Jackie when spoken to.

“Rose!” A grin split the older girl’s face as she raced forward to embrace her cousin.  “It’s been too long!”  Rose smiled, hugging Mo.  “And Aunt Jaqs.  How’s everything up in London?”

“Good,” Jackie answered, looking at her daughter.

“Yeah? That’s great!  How’s Mickey, Rose?”  Mo began a tirade of questions.  Mickey, Jackie’s current boyfriend (“Boyfriends, perhaps?” “There’s always Jimbo, but truth be told, he’s pretty useless.”), the shop, the Estate.  “So you finally broke up with Mickey, eh?  Good on you, Rose.  Sounds like he was already over you, how many dates did he go on with that Trishie girl before you broke it off, anyway?”

“Just the one,” Rose said defensively.  “Anyway, he’s still my best mate.  We’re just not together anymore.  It just, it got so dull.  Eat chips, watch football, make out a bit, and watch more footie.  It was like I got stuck in some rut or something.”

“Whatever you say, Rosie.”  Mo beamed. “I’ve got a couple o’ mates coming, should be here soon.  They’ve promised to behave, but fair warning – they can get a bit randy.”

Mo’s idea of a party was simple.  Beer, crisps, with some cheese (there was a bit of mould on the end, easily scraped off) and loud music.  Nevertheless, Rose enjoyed herself.  This was the atmosphere she’d grown up in, and it was a comfort to come back to something so familiar after all the aliens she’d met and the foreign places she’d seen. So of course the Doctor would slip in, practically unnoticed, looking as though he were looking after an alien threat. Her curiosity getting the better of her, Rose followed him – Mo had gone off to talk to some friends, Jackie had made her way to the drink table for another round.

“What are you doing here?”  Rose stepped forward, looking at the Doctor’s face.

“Rose? I thought you’d swanned off with your mother.”  He said, looking (was she imagining?) slightly crestfallen.

“M here with Mum,” Rose told him off.  “Mum, Cousin Mo, few of her friends.  Go on, then – why are you here and not off in the TARDIS?”

“Did you actually think that I ever left Earth when you weren’t in the TARDIS?  I might be the ‘designated driver’ (as you put it) in your mind, but the TARDIS goes where she wants.  Usually, we’re in agreement about where or when that should be.”

Rose was staring at him in shock.  “So when I missed a year?”

“That was the TARDIS,” he bristled.  “It was important that we were in London to stop the Slitheen from nuking the planet, in case you’d forgotten.”

“You still haven’t told me why you’re in my cousin’s house,” Rose repeated.  It was at that moment that Mo reappeared.

“Roooose!” She giggled.  “Rose, you’re missing the party over here by yourself,” she slurred some of her vowels, dropped some consonants – partly due to her accent, partly because of the amount of alcohol she had already imbibed. After a moment, she noticed the Doctor. “Hello gorgeous,” she smiled.

“Hello. I take it that you’re Rose’s cousin. Mo, was it?”  The Doctor smiled tightly.

“He knows my name,” Mo half-shouted, though on her part she appeared to be attempting a whisper.  “So you’re the man Rosie dumped old Mickey for, eh?  Good on you Rose,” she turned back to her cousin, “he’s a real looker.”

“Mo,” Rose snapped, mortified.  The Doctor didn’t know, couldn’t know, how she really felt about him.  Mo looked from Rose to the Doctor and once more to her cousin.

“Oh,” she said quietly.  “You’re not…”

“He’s not my boyfriend, Mo.”  Rose looked over at the Doctor nervously.  It was far from the first time that someone had assume they were a couple – Jabe, Adam, and even her own father had made that supposition -  but it felt different to deny it to someone she knew quite well.

“Well, maybe he should be.”  Mo grinned, disappearing back into the crowd.

“Sorry about her,” Rose blustered.  “Does this happen to you a lot?  You must have had some other friends in the TARDIS before me?”

The Doctor didn’t answer.  “Funny how nearly everyone we’ve met assumes we’re together.”  He said slowly.  “Never happened, maybe once, before I ran into you.”

“Must have something to do with,” Rose started a quip, but couldn’t quite figure out how to end it.

“Even someone slightly telepathic – like Jabe – could sense it.  Hell, even your mother could see that I was, am, attracted to you.”

That I was, am, attracted to you.  The Doctor’s words swirled in her mind.  Before Rose’s mouth caught up to her mind, the Doctor had turned and started to walk away, his tall frame easily parting the crowd.

“Doctor!” She called, hurrying after him. He turned, a look of disbelief on his face.  Rose smiled, a smile full of hope and bright eyes full of adoration.  She reached for him and he took her hands in his, a gesture that was already so familiar.  But this time, he was holding both her hands – loosely at their sides – with her entire (small) family to see.

[lesbianbeiovaz]

Parallel: From Another World 11/34

I’ve been busy at college and with my new puppy so I apologise that there hasn’t been many updates lately. 

Rita Stone lives in our world. The world where a big blue box bigger on the inside is simply impossible. However, this all changes after what is most definitely an impossible event. Then again nothing is impossible with the Doctor. Follow Rita through time and space, learning about herself while struggling to comprehend her new life travelling with the Doctor and his companions.

AO3 | CH1 | CH2 | CH3 | CH4 | CH5 | CH6 | CH7 | CH8 | CH9 | CH10 | CH11 | CH12

"What was that?" Rose asked running in the direction of the scream her and Rita also heard.

"Your boyfriend" Rita chuckled also running in the direction.

They ran in the direction and then bumped into Sarah Jane and the Doctor. "Great now this turns into a soap opera" Rita groaned. "I'm not getting into this" she held her hands up in defence. The Doctor raised a brow.

"Did you hear that?" Rose asked the Doctor then noticed Sarah Jane. "Who's she?"

"Rose, Sarah Jane. Sarah Jane, Rose." he introduced them.

"Should have known you were going to be here" Sarah Jane chuckled talking to Rita. "Lovely to see you again"

"Same with you Sarah Jane" Rita chuckled, Sarah Jane then turned to Rose "Hi. Nice to meet you." She then looked over at the Doctor "You can tell you're getting older. Your assistants are getting younger." Rita rolled her eyes at the comment. "No offence?" Sarah Jane stopped obviously forgetting the girl's name.

"Rita" the brunette smiled.

"Sorry not good with names"

"Neither am I" Rita agreed.

"I'm not his assistant," Rose commented sounding pissed off. "Can someone tell me what's going on?"

"Met Sarah Jane in the staff room earlier today. "Love your work by the way" Rita grinned while Sarah Jane frowned.

"Foreknowledge" The Doctor informed her. "She knows my future."

"And you're past. Also a little about Sarah Jane. I'm from the future he would probably call it a 'Parallel world'" she used her fingers as speech marks. "I'm human 100% human but somehow I ended up on a Dalek ship and met these two" She pointed at the Doctor and Rose with her thumb after telling the basic information.

"Sounds impossible." Sarah Jane smiled.

"He likes impossible" Rita grinned.

"Where is Mickey?" Rose crossed her arms getting annoyed that she was basically being ignored.

"Good question" the Doctor praised. "Let's go find out" he then ran down the hall followed by Rose, Rita ran beside Sarah Jane who was chatting to her while they ran.

"So you're from the future and a parallel world?" Sarah Jane asked.

"Yeah, in my world this" she gestured to everything around her as they ran. "Is just a TV show, kind of like Sherlock, ooh I wonder if there is a parallel universe where Sherlock is real" she thought out loud while chuckling.

"And you just turned up?" She asked.

"Pretty much yeah, you could call me 'the impossible girl' but there is already one of those" They continued to run and then stopped outside a room where Mickey was standing in front of a load of bags.

"Sorry! Sorry, it was only me." He held his hands up. "You told me to investigate, so I started looking through some of these cupboards and all of these fell on me."

"Oh, my God," Rose gasped holding a hand over her mouth. "They're rats. Dozens of rats. Vacuum packed rats."

"And you decided to scream." The Doctor raised a brow.

"It took me by surprise!" Mickey defended himself.

"Like a little girl?" he mocked Mickey.

"It was dark! I was covered in rats!" Mickey protested his voice raising a little.

"Nine, maybe ten years old. I'm seeing pigtails, frilly skirt."

"So I am" Rita joined in laughing.

"Hello, can we focus?" Rose groaned. "Does anyone notice anything strange about this? Rats in school?"

"Well, obviously they use them in Biology lessons." Rita nodded agreeing with Sarah Jane. "They dissect them. Or maybe you haven't reached that bit yet. How old are you?"

"Excuse me, no one dissects rats in school anymore." Rose spat in annoyance. "They haven't done that for years. Where are you from, the dark ages?" She sassed.

"I dissected rats in year eleven of school and I'm from the future" Rita defended Sarah Jane. "Ah the digestive system, fun times."

"Anyway, moving on." The Doctor scratched the back of his neck not enjoying the arguing. "Everything started when Mister Finch arrived. We should go and check his office." They left the bags of rats and headed for the headmasters office.

"They're not going to stop arguing," Rita whispered to the Doctor.

"They will work it out-"

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you?" Rose turned to Sarah Jane.

"Hopefully" He groaned in annoyance.

"They will" Rita smiled then slowed down to walk beside Sarah Jane and Rose.

"Sarah Jane Smith. I used to travel with the Doctor." Sarah Jane said proudly.

"Oh. Well, he's never mentioned you." Rose smugly grinned.

"Oh, I must've done." The Doctor frowned thinking. "Sarah Jane. Mention her all the time."

"Hold on." Rose thought for a moment. "Sorry. Never."

"What, not even once?" Sarah Jane looked at the Doctor not believing a word Rose was saying. "He didn't mention me even once?"

"Ho, ho, mate. The missus and the ex." Mickey patted the Doctors shoulder. "Welcome to every man's worst nightmare."

"God Mickey you don't know what to keep yourself quiet" Rita rolled her eyes.

The group walked the rest of the way in silence, Rita could see Rose and Sarah Jane giving each other dirty looks. 'If they don't stop soon I'm going to have to do something to at least get the comments to stop.' Rita groaned not wanting to take sides with either of the companions since she very much loved them both. No Rita thought Not getting involved, not getting involved, I'm not getting involved. She repeated in her head over and over to stop herself and to block out the dreary silence.

The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver to unlock the door to Mr Finches office, the buzz of the screwdriver being the only sound in the school.

"Rita," the Doctor said breaking the 3 minutes or so of silence. "You know you used to say that there were bats in the school? You were right."

Mickey looking in the room turned and ran out. "No way!" Mickey shouted sprinting in the opposite direction of the headmaster's office, heading for the entrance to escape the school, Rose then followed after him not running as fast, however.

The Doctor and Rita looked at each other for a moment before he closed the door and walked in the direction that Mickey had run in moments before.

"What was that?" Sarah Jane asked following the Doctor and Rita.

"Rita?" The Doctor raised a brow.

"Secret: It's alien" She grinned.

"Well, I guessed that?" He rolled his eyes. "You are hard work sometimes."

"Can't give you all the answers. Would be no fun otherwise" Rita grinned smugly. "But seriously you might want to check the oil"

The Doctor nodded as the three walked out of the school.

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

"I am not going back in there. No way." Mickey panted arching over and holding his knees to support his weight.

"Those were teachers," Rose said in disbelief.

"Thirteen" Rita mumbled.

"When Finch arrived," the Doctor started to talk "he brought with him seven new teachers, four dinner ladies and a nurse. Thirteen. Thirteen big bat people."

"And a TARDIS in a school" Rita chuckled. "No? Seriously it reminded me of the twelve days of Christmas the TARDIS was all I could think of" Rita shrugged.

"Come on." The Doctor turned around, Sarah Jane followed along with Rose heading back into the school.

"Come on? You've got to be kidding!" Mickey said in shock.

"I need the Tardis. I've got to analyse that oil from the kitchen."

"I might be able to help you there. I've got something to show you."

"Now this is where I start to enjoy myself" Rita mumbled following Sarah Jane to a car.

Sarah Jane opened the boot to her car showing the shape of something under a white sheet.

"May I?" Rita looked at Sarah Jane who nodded smiling. Rita grinned and then dramatically pulled the sheet away showing a damaged metal dog sitting in the boot.

"K9!" said the Doctor excitedly. "Rita Stone, Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, allow me to introduce K9. well, K9 Mark Three to be precise."

"Why does he look so disco?" Rose frowned not looking very impressed.

"Oi!" he looked offended. "Listen, in the year five thousand, this was cutting edge."

"K9 is cool, just like bowties and Fezzes" Rita grinned the Doctor looked at her confused.

"Bowties?" He questioned.

"Fezzes?" Sarah Jane also questioned the brunette most likely thinking she was going crazy, which to be fair knowing the outcome of everything going to happen was making her a little odd.

"Don't worry it's secrets." She shook her head and began to pat K9

The Doctor then asked: "What's happened to him?"

"Oh, one day, he just, nothing."

"Well, didn't you try and get him repaired? " He questioned as if it was just as simple as that.

"Well, it's not like getting parts for a Mini Metro, Beside, the technology inside him could rewrite human science. I couldn't show him to anyone."

"Ooh, what's the nasty lady done to you, eh?" he scratched K9 behind the what would be the ear and spoke to the metal dog as if he was real. Rita snorted at the way he was talking. Sarah Jane then began to pet him as well.

"Look, no offence," Rose huffed feeling left out. "But could you three just stop petting for a minute? Never mind the tin dog. We're busy."

"She has a point" Rita sighed. "Can you fix him?" Rita looked up at the Doctor suggesting a secret which he grinned understanding what she meant.

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

The group were in a chip shops Rita, Rose and Mickey were standing waiting for the chips to be ready for collection while the Doctor and Sarah Jane were talking while fixing K9 "You see, what's impressive" Mickey began and Rita groaned a little knowing what he was going to say. "I s that it's been nearly an hour since we met her and I still haven't said I told you so."

"I'm not listening to this." Rose put her hands up.

"You and me both" Rita groaned.

"Although, I have prepared a little I was right dance that I can show you later." Mickey continued. Rose handed the money to the woman and collected the chips. "All this time you've been giving it, he's different, when the truth is, he's just like any other bloke." Mickey pressed on with the subject.

"Mickey you have no idea what you're going on about." Rita began to lecture him having had enough of the topic. "The Doctor isn't just 'like any other bloke' he's 900 or so years old for goodness sake I don't know why Sarah Jane and Rose are making it a competition over the Doctor but getting involved isn't going to help."

"Mickey, you don't know what you're talking about." Rose sided with Rita not denying the competitive comment made by the brunette.

"Maybe not. But if I were you I'd go easy on the chips." Rose paused noticing she was throwing a chip in her mouth almost every second.

"I'm going over to them, maybe they won't argue" Rita sighed walking over to the Doctor and Sarah Jane.

"I thought of you on Christmas Day." Rita heard the woman talking. "This Christmas just gone? Great big spaceship overhead. I thought, oh yeah, bet he's up there." Rita grinned.

"I saw it well probably not everything but most of it. Lazy Time Lord was too busy sleeping because he saved Rose and had to regenerate. So Rose, Mickey and the prime minister had to do his dirty work. That was until he woke up started to mimic the Sycorax, start to sword fight it then gets his hand cut off and then grown a 'fightin' hand'" She copied how the Doctor said it in the 'episode' "That sum it up Doctor?"

"Pretty much yeah" he smiled shaking his head "You wasn't even there"

"And Rose?" Sarah Jane asked.

"She was there."

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked him. "Because you never came back for me. You just dumped me."

"I told you. I was called back home and in those days humans weren't allowed," he replied.

"I waited for you." She then paused. "I missed you." Rita's face fell for the woman, she saw many of the Doctors companions get 'left behind' Some because they had no choice, they forgot him and some needed to get out.

"Oh, you didn't need me." he shrugged at her. "You were getting on with your life."

"You were my life." she sighed. "You know what the most difficult thing was? Coping with what happens next, or with what doesn't happen next. You took me to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, you showed me supernovas, intergalactic battles, and then you just dropped me back on Earth." She then asked an impossible question to answer, yet the Doctor had an answer every time. "How could anything compare to that?"

"All those things you saw, do you want me to apologise for that?" He asked.

"No," Sarah Jane said quickly. "But we get a taste of that splendour and then we have to go back."

"Look at you, you're investigating. You found that school. You're doing what we always did."

"You could have come back." she pressed on.

"I couldn't."

"Why not?" He ignored her question as if it never happened, continuing to work on and mess around with K9 Rita looked at her with sympathy understanding what she was going through even when she had never gone through it herself. Sarah Jane looked at her and smiled sadly thinking that one day that would be Rita and Rose just left or taken away Rita would most likely go back to her universe and never see the Doctor again. Rose would probably go back home.

"It wasn't Croydon. Where you dropped me off, that wasn't Croydon." Sarah Jane spoke up. Rita chuckled rolling her eyes.

"That sounds like something he would do"

"Where was it?" he asked sending a playful glare at Rita.

"Aberdeen."

"Right. That's next to Croydon, isn't it?" he asked obviously knowing that it definitely was not.

"God help you in my old geography class," Rita muttered just as K9 came on lighting up and moving his head.

"Oh, hey. Now we're in business." the Doctor stepped back watching the metal dog.

"Master." He spoke in what Rita though was an adorable voice.

"He recognises me." The Doctor beamed in amazement.

"Affirmative."

"He's adorable" Rita smiled patting K9's head.

"Rose, give us the oil." he gestured to her not turning back from the metal dog.

"I wouldn't touch it, though." She said walking over and handing a small pot filled with the oil. "That dinner lady got all scorched."

"I'm no dinner lady. And I don't often say that." He stuck a finger into the pot and collected some of the oil then smeared it on K9's probe sticking out of his head.

"Yeah add that to long list of words you will never say again, right under 'correctamundo'"

He finished smearing the oil on while playfully glaring at Rita again. "Here we go. Come on, boy. Here we go."

"Oil. Ex... Ex... Ex" K9 stuttered most likely still 'booting up' "extract. Ana ana analysing."

"Listen to him, man. That's a voice." Mickey laughed.

"Careful. That's my dog." Sarah Jane warned him, Mickey held his hands up apologetically.

"Confirmation of analysis. Substance is Krillitane Oil." K9 concluded.

"They're Krillitanes." The Doctor mumbled standing back a little.

"Is that bad?" Rose asked.

"Very." He thought of how to describe it. "Think of how bad things could possibly be, and add another suitcase full of bad."

"Then add another" Rita added.

"And what are Krillitanes?" Sarah Jane questioned not having come across them before.

"They're a composite race." The Doctor started to explain what the Krillitans were to the group, Rita already knowing just patted K9 not really listening to the whole description. "Just like your culture is a mixture of traditions from all sorts of countries, people you've invaded or have been invaded by. You've got bits of Viking, bits of France, bits of whatever. The Krillitanes are the same. An amalgam of the races they've conquered. But they take physical aspects as well." Rita shrivelled her nose at the thought of literally having parts of you ripped off for the Krillitans to do as they pleased. "They cherry pick the best bits from the people they destroy. That's why I didn't recognise them. The last time I saw Krillitanes, they looked just like us except they had really long necks."

"And now they look like big bats" Rita crossed her arms and leant on the table. "Big ugly bats"

"What're they doing here?" Rose asked mainly at Rita and the Doctor

"It's the children. They're doing something to the children." The Doctor mumbled. "Rita anything?"

"Hmmm," She hummed and tapped her chin for emphasis. "Secret: Fish and chips." The Doctor nodded most likely not fully understanding but not pressing on with asking for any more secrets, instead, he instructed Mickey to help Sarah Jane carry K9 they both exited the small ironic fish and chips shop heading for Sarah Janes car.

"How many of us have there been travelling with you?" Rose blurted out just after Sarah Jane and Mickey left.

"Does it matter?" The Doctor asked.

"Yeah, it does, if I'm just the latest in a long line."

"As opposed to what?" the Doctor questioned

"I thought you and me were."

"Rose" Rita spoke up warning the blonde who ignored her warning.

"I obviously got it wrong. I've been to the year five billion, right, but this? Now, this is really seeing the future. You just leave us behind. Is that what you're going to do to me and Rita?

"No. Not to you."

"What about Rita?" Rose countered.

"No" was all he replied.

"But Sarah Jane?"

"Rose stop it That's-" Rita tried to warn the blonde again knowing what was to come next broke the Doctor and Rose's hearts and quite possibly Rita's heart as well.

"You were that close to her once, and now you never even mention her. Why not?" Rose continued to throw questions at the Time Lord.

"I don't age." The Doctor said coldly "I regenerate. But humans decay. You wither and you die. Imagine watching that happen to someone who you" he paused and looked between Rita and Rose.

"What, Doctor?"

"Rose stop it, can't you see?" Rita spat having enough of getting ignored. "It's clearly hurting you and him" she pointed to them both. "He's a Time Lord, how old is he Rose?" Rita asked having enough of the constant arguing going on for the day. "How old is he?" she repeated this time talking a lot harsher.

"Rita" The Doctor placed his hand on her arm speaking calmly and softly.

"Say it" Rita calmed down looking at the floor. "Tell her what she needs to know but don't say it how I know you would say it, Doctor"

Although he had no idea what she was talking about he spoke calmly and slowly not like how she knew he had said it in the 'episode' not coldly and harsh but calm and slow. "You can spend the rest of your life with me, but I can't spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on. Alone. That's the curse of the Time Lords."

Rose sighed speechlessly. "Sorry" was all she mumbled the only word she could say before leaving the shop and joining Sarah Jane and Mickey, plastering a fake smile on her face hiding the broken pain now hidden in her heart, she saw the way Rita looked at him and how he switched his gaze between the brunette and herself when talking about watching people wither and die.

Rita sighed breaking the few seconds of tension and silence in the shop. "What's the plan then?" She asked although she knew the plan she was trying to lighten the mood a little and talk to the Doctor, the brunette was still leaning against the table the Doctor standing next to her arms folded just like she was, however, he was facing the table instead of away.

"Go back to the school tomorrow and have a word with Mister Finch" he replied. "I know you won't like it but you need to go with Sarah and Rose. Try and sort those two out, Mickey can be on dog watch."

"Alway going alone with you" Rita joked shaking her head. "Oh and if they're laughing their heads off tomorrow for some reason don't take it personally" She patted his shoulder, winked then walked out of the shop leaving the Doctor confused.

Rita looked up at the sky and groaned when she saw a Krillitan perched on top of a building. Realising it had been noticed it dived down towards her. Rita ducked, the Krillitan barely missing her head.

"You alright?" The Doctor ran out of the shop and over to Rita.

"Was that a Krillitane?" Sarah Jane asked rushing over to the brunette who was crouched down beside the Doctor.

"But it didn't even touch her. It just flew off. What did it do that for?" Rose asked

"I don't even know what it did that for" Rita muttered watching the Krillitain fly away past the moon.

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

The Doctor, Rose, Sarah Jane, Rita and Mickey all excited Sarah Janes car and stood watching the children enter the school. When nearly everyone had entered the building The Doctor began to explain to Rose, Sarah Jane and Mickey what they would have to do.

"Rose and Sarah, you go to the Maths room along with Rita. Crack open those computers, I need to see the hardware inside. Here, you might need this." He took the sonic out of his pocket both Sarah Jane and Rose held out their hands. Rita frowned. That's not how it's meant to go? Instead, the Doctor handed it to Rita. She just continued to frown a large crease forming on her forehead.

"Mickey, surveillance. I want you outside." The Doctor ordered.

"Just stand outside?" Mickey sighed thinking that he was just 'the tin dog'. One day Mickey.

"Here, take these you can keep K9 company." Sarah Jane threw her car keys over to him. The four then began to turn and head inside the school. The Doctor slowed down a little to walk beside Rita, she looked confused earlier and he wanted to know exactly why.

"Don't forget to leave the window open a crack." He said seriously over his shoulder.

"But he's metal!" Mickey shouted raising his arms up like the Doctor was being an idiot.

"I didn't mean for him." The Doctor shouted back.

"What're you going to do?" Rose asked.

"It's time I had a word with Mister Finch." He replied. "Rita" he held onto her arm as she began to walk away following Rose and Sarah Jane.

"Hmm?" she hummed turning around then noticing the Doctor holding her arm. She raised a brow and he quickly let go.

"You looked confused earlier?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, it's nothing." She waved it off then turned around again to continue walking, the Doctor being stubbed grabbed her arm again pulling her back around to face him. "Fine" she sighed. He let go of her yet again knowing she was now going to talk. "In the 'episode'" she did a gesture with her hands for speech marks "Only Rose was meant to put her hand out for the Sonic screwdriver, but they both did and then you gave it to me. It's not meant to go like that you were meant to give it to Sarah Jane."

"Rita" he shook his head chuckling a little. "Sometimes things don't go the way that you see them. Little differences are normal especially in a parallel universe, it's the big differences you should worry about not the little ones. Plus is it a bad thing that I gave you my sonic screwdriver?" He raised a brow in question.

"No, no not really" Rita shrugged "I just thought that it had to do exactly as planned. I noticed a few changes but they bent around me so I just figured it was because I was here but even when I was Sarah Jane should have had the screwdriver.

"Well, I guess you have it now" He grinned. "You better go catch up with those two, gods only knows what they could be arguing about, I also need to go find Mister Finch."

"See you soon Doctor" Rita nodded then turned towards the school and ran inside. The Doctor sighed deeply then followed the brunette.

[abigail-bohannon]

This is like the third time I’m trying to post this. Bare with me, this is gonna be a little rough for a while. I promise everything will get better though 😂. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been ten years since the completion of the railroad. Nine years since Abigail had been in contact with her father. Cullen went to China to be with Mei, he gave Abigail the option to go with him. Abigail is one that just can’t see herself in a foreign land. There was just too much opportunity left for her here.

Little did she know that her “opportunity” would lead her straight to Mickey’s saloon on Chicago. Mickey was too busy running his whore house next door, so he let Abigail run the saloon for the most part. She was the bartender, a saloon girl, the peace keeper, and sometimes the entertainment provider.

Luckily, Abigail’s father taught her how to handle her own from a young age. Therefore she carried his old revolver around her waist at all times. The men tend to get a little too feisty when they’re under the influence of whiskey. Abigail often tells them to go next door, that she won’t have any men disrespecting her saloon girls, or herself. Normally, they will see Abigail touch her gun and back off, if not, she’s been known to send a few men to the doctor.

The way she often entertained the drunk men was with music. The sweet sounds of her fiddle frequently put men to sleep, or reminded them of their homeland. Sometimes, she would play faster, dance worthy songs, it all just depended on how she felt that night. Abigail is a peculiar women, one that has never been with a man, and one that grew up knowing death like it was her best friend. In many cases, she would go through periods of great sorrow, others she would be as happy as could be.

Everything changed when a familiar town name was uttered in her vicinity while serving some men another bottle of whiskey. Abigail was eager to get to the table, eager to meet the seven men that saved Rose Creek. She knew her father knew Goodnight, from the war, but that’s all she could go on for a foot in the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abigail walked behind the bar, then made her way to the table with a bottle of whiskey in her hand.

“What can I get you seven men?” She asked with a delighted smile on her face, then sat the whiskey down on the hard wooden table.

“Damn she’s good.” The man sitting next to the lanky, dark man, grabbed the bottle off the table.

“Figured y'all could use a drink or so. Got just about anything here to keep you happy. Women next door.” She nodded towards the whore house.

The same man had a sinful smile on his lips. “Got any food?” The man next to him asked.

“Anything you’d like. For you seven, it’s on the house.” Abigail said before leaning lightly on the back of a chair.

“And why’s that?” Goodnight asked.

“Well, ain’t y'all the men that saved Rose Creek?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Men that brave deserve good treatin, even if it does piss off my boss.” She chuckled. “What would y'all like?”

“Another bottle of whiskey.” The same man added.

“Got a feelin Imma have to cut you off.” She said. “I’ll give y'all a moment.” With that she disappeared to get another bottle and some glasses. She knew at least some men were more civilized than the one.

As she left she listened to everyone from a far. The laughs, the talks, the clanking of glasses. A shattering bottle and the yell of a girl drew her from her thoughts. Abigail sat the tray on the counter and drew her gun quicker than anyone else could.

She saw a man holding one of the saloon girls by her upper arm. Abigail made her way to him, gun pointed as she pulled back the hammer.

“Let'er go.” She said simply. “I ain’t gonna ask again.”

The man, obviously bigger than her, just laughed and held the girl tighter. “And what are you going to do about it?” He asked with a wicked tone.

“Pray I don’t see your ass in here again.” Abigail said simply before releasing the hammer and pistol whipping him so hard, he turned the girl loose, and almost fell to the ground.

There was a satisfied grunt that came from the table of the seven men. Then slight murmurs that drifted around the hushed bar. The girl went behind the counter, as Abigail had instructed all the girls to do in this situation.

“Now, you gonna leave? Or am I gonna have to break something?” Abigail asked simply.

The man went flying at her in a cloud of rage; one Abigail could easily deflect. She placed her gun in its holster, then got ready once again. Abigail took her stance, as the man went flying at her again. Quickly, she placed her fist right under his chin.

The usual patrons didn’t bother to help, a few newer ones tried, but the veterans held them back.

“Should we offer some assistance?” Goodnight asked as he sat up straight.

“I think she’s got it.” Faraday said drunkenly.

“Someone can intervene when it appears she needs the help.” Sam said, sure that the young woman could handle her own. After all, she did have a gun.

Abigail hit him so hard, he went down to one knee. From there she moved swiftly, laying the man flat on his back putting him in an arm bar.

“You gonna leave my girls alone?” She said as she applied pressure to his fragile arm.

“You bitch. Get off of me.” The man struggled, spitting out his words like venom.

“Are you going to leave my girls alone?” She asked one more time, adding a little more pressure.

The man didn’t answer, Abigail took that as a no, and snapped his arm. The cracking sound seemed to echo, followed by a scream of immense pain.

“I like this girl.” The dark, lanky man said.

Abigail threw his broken arm off of her, and walked behind the bar to take care of the girl.

“Get out and don’t come back.” Abigail said towards the heap of a man on the floor.

Some of his friends helped him up and carried him off.

Abigail raised her voice so that everyone can hear her. “Free round for everyone.”

She took care of the girl as the men roared with excitement of a free drink. Abigail could hear a man step near the bar.

“We would like to order some food.” He said while leaning on the counter.

“Hold on a second.” She said with a needle between her teeth.

“Where’d you learn to do that?” His voice sounded sweet as honey.

“My daddy’s friend was a doctor during the war. Taught me a thing or two durin the railroad days.” She said as she finished up sewing the girls wound from the glass. Abigail grabbed a bandage and wrapped it around her arm. “You’re good to go. Get to givin out drinks.”

Abigail turned her attention to the man. She was met with intense brown eyes beneath a black hat. The man seemed tall, with long limbs.

“What can I get y'all?” Abigail asked before putting away the supplies.

“We’re not picky, just whatever you’ve got. Also, my friends would like to talk to you when you’ve got the time.” He said before tipping his hat and going back to the table.

Abigail got the food ready, then brought it to them with another bottle. She sat the plates out in front of them. Abigail noticed as the Indian man turned his nose up to it.

“Numinu?” Abigail asked to only be rewarded with surprised stares around the table.

“You can speak Comanche?” The black man at the end of the table finally asked.

“Yes sir. You’d be surprised whatcha learn on the railroad.” She could see them trying to do the math.

“Who’s your father?” Goodnight finally asked.

“Cullen Bohannon.” Abigail said simply.

“I knew I’d seen those grey eyes somewhere!” He let out a small smile.

[chasingthecosmos]

Two Words to Keep

Fandom: Doctor Who Rating: T Pairing: The Doctor/Rose Tyler, Tenth Doctor/Rose Tyler Chapters: 8/14 Read on AO3 here.

“This new body was all about words, but in that moment, the Doctor found himself struggling to find the right ones to say. He knew already that there were really only five that he absolutely needed to tell her - five words that would change their lives forever.”

A (sort of) season re-write centering around the Doctor’s touch telepathy and the many inconvenient ways that it gets between him and his companion, Rose Tyler. This work is based around Season 2 and the Tenth Doctor. It’s a sequel to “A Hand to Hold”, but can also be read as a stand-alone. This is NOT going to be a Doomsday fix-it fic, but there will be a separate Journey’s End fix-it sometime in the future.

Chapter Eight: The Girl in the Fireplace (Part Two)

The Doctor did eventually make it back to Rose - against all odds and reason, just as he always did. However, he still had to send her away as soon as they had completed their warm reunion and returned to the TARDIS without Madame de Pompadour. He didn't want to have to send Rose off with Mickey (in fact, he never wanted to let her out of his sight or reach ever again), but he Doctor knew that he needed to read Reinette's letter in private.

And he was glad that he did, because the woman's relentless hope in him shattered his hearts and made him want to simultaneously throw the letter into the heart of a black hole where it would never be able to see the light of day again, and also carve the words into his soul so that he would never be able to forget what a horrible, disgusting disappointment he was to everyone who was ever foolish enough to rely on him.

He wanted nothing more than to collapse onto his bed (something that he hadn't done in far too long) and spend a few hours sulking in his own self-hatred, but his meddling time ship had better ideas, and he found himself instead stumbling into the library, where Rose was seated on the couch as though she had been waiting for him.

She still startled when he entered, though - her eyes going wide as she took in his broken, desperate expression. "Doctor ...?" she asked slowly.

He didn't make any sort of reply - he didn't have any words that weren't dripping in six layers of regret and self-loathing and he wasn't about to add all of that to the weight that he had already put on Rose's shoulders.

Instead, he simply came around the edge of the couch that she was occupying and sat down heavily next to her. The Doctor stared hard at his shoes, refusing to meet Rose's eyes, but he noticed immediately the way that she shifted slightly away from him and it made him want to scream in frustration, hurt, and rage.

"Do ... do you want me to get you something?" Rose asked hesitantly, breaking the awkward silence between them. "Do you want a cuppa? Or maybe something to eat?" She was already getting up before he responded, ready to dodge outside of his reach once more, but the Doctor instantly knew that he couldn't let her leave. He needed her now more than ever - even the TARDIS knew it.

He grasped her by the wrist without thinking and sighed heavily as he hung his head in a dejected sign of defeat. He still didn't have any words for her - none that he could speak out loud, anyway - so he spoke directly into her mind instead.

You, Rose, he stated simply. I just need you. Please stay.

That's a change. Her response came quickly, without thought, and the bitterness of it nearly broke his hearts all over again. He glanced up to see Rose's eyes grow with panic as she realized that she had accidentally let the thought slip through to him.

The Doctor screwed his eyebrows up at her in confusion as she quickly shuttered the rest of her mind away from him and left him feeling somehow even more lost and abandoned than he already was. "Sorry, I ... I didn't mean it," she stuttered awkwardly. "It just slipped out. Please, Doctor, just ignore that."

"You don't ... you don't actually believe that, do you?" the Doctor asked quietly, running his thumb over the delicate bones in her wrist. "Rose ..."

"No, really, it's fine, Doctor," she insisted dismissively. "It's just ... it's been a long day. A lot has happened, and I don't want to get in your way."

Rose, please, he begged silently once more, bringing her hand close and pressing her knuckles to the skin of his forehead. He squeezed his eyes shut tight and let out a shaky, uneven breath as he quietly willed her to let him back in - to fix this mistake, to feel whole again. Please stay.

Rose hesitated, and he didn't have to know her thoughts to feel the tension running through every single muscle of her body as she stared down at him in consideration.

"Promise you won't run away this time," she finally said, her voice a quiet, desperate command.

When the Doctor didn't immediately respond, she sighed and gently slid her hand out of his grasp. "Let me make you some tea," she muttered resignedly. "I'll be right back."

And the Doctor quietly marveled over how even now when he stubbornly refused to give her any kind of promise or reassurance after the absolute hell that he had just put her through, she was still putting himself before her - still trying to take care of him, still loving him as though it was a helpless, thoughtless action. The very thought nearly stopped his hearts and he knew that he couldn't let it end like this - not again.

"Rose, wait," the Doctor insisted, standing to his feet and stepping in front of her so that he stood between her and the library door. "Listen, I ... I'm sorry. For everything, all of it. I've made a right mess of things and I know I don't deserve it - don't deserve you - but please, let me explain ..."

"What is it, Doctor?" Rose sighed wearily, not meeting his eyes as she glanced everywhere except at him.

"I'm ... a coward, Rose," he explained awkwardly. "The biggest coward who ever lived. I've been running all my life from everything, everyone - it's all I've ever known. I even ran from you, because ..."

The Doctor paused and raised his hands, but stepped himself just before he allowed his fingers to touch her because he already knew how badly he had messed up and he wasn't about to go assuming that she wanted anything to do with him unless she specifically stated otherwise. But when Rose finally met his gaze and didn't flinch away, he took that as permission enough and gently allowed his fingers to ghost over her temples.

His eyes shut on instinct and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief as he sank into her comforting presence - it was so, so different from what had happened not long ago with Reinette and the Doctor silently allowed himself a moment to simply bask in her warmth and allow himself to regain his courage.

Can you feel it? he asked her silently as their thoughts slowly aligned and became one.

Rose offered him a silent, wordless assent as she marveled at the way that their connection quickly fell into place and the tiny bond between them flared.

This is why I ran away, the Doctor explained. This isn't just telepathy, Rose. This is the beginning of a bond - a permanent thing that links two people's minds forever. I didn't even think that it was possible - in fact, it shouldn't be possible - for a human to do this. I was scared. I didn't want to risk having it go any further. At least ... The Doctor's thoughts suddenly scattered and trailed off in a million different directions, silently hinting at all of the things that even now he couldn't quite force himself to say.

But Rose seemed to understand anyway, just as she always did, and wasn't offended by his refusal to create a mental bond with her. She seemed to instinctually recognize that his "at least ..." was meant to end in "not until you agree".

She sighed softly, her breath ghosting against the Doctor's lips and igniting the flame of desire that he had held for her for far longer than he cared to admit. This close in each other's minds, there was no way of hiding it, and her breath hitched on a gasp as the Doctor leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers.

I can't promise you much, he admitted silently as he trailed his thumbs over the soft skin of her cheeks, but now you know the truth

Thank you, Doctor, Rose replied, her answering flare of love and desire nearly overwhelming him. The truth is enough.

Neither of them bothered to acknowledge the unspoken "for now" that they both knew hung on the end of that thought. After all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, they were content to simply live in the current moment, taking comfort in one another, and saving the rest for another day.

[lirlovesfic]

The Choice

A Doctor Who fanfic

Summary: After GitF, the TARDIS brings the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey back to the estate to solve a problem involving the TARDIS herself. But when they see a familiar face, the face of someone who should not exist, they realize the problem is deeper than they thought and could endanger the Doctor’s very existence. Primary characters: Ninth Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Jackie Tyler. Genres: Romance, mystery, adventure, drama, character study, HN AU, fobbed!Nine, sick TARDIS. Pairings: Nine/Rose, Ten/Rose Rating: Adult

Warning: brief, non-explicit depiction of domestic abuse

a/n: I am currently working on editing this chapter-by-chapter, with the hopes of completing a chapter a day until I catch up with myself. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m doing it to try to get back into the swing of writing and to build some momentum in order to finish this. Also, there have been some tiny things nagging at me for a while (grammar, punctuation, etc.) so I’ll be correcting as many of them as I can find as I go. The story will not change. In fact, most of the changes are going to be so minor that I doubt anyone (besides myself) will notice. But to keep me on target, I’ll be posting it all here as I go, with links to the other websites it’s on. I hope you enjoy it.

Catch up: on AO3, on TSP, on ffnet

This chapter: on AO3, on TSP, on ffnet

Chapter Thirteen—London, 15 July 2007

The night sky glowed red and gold, reflecting the fire on the ground. Fire was everywhere, burning everything in its path. Golden sand to fields of red, trees of silver to towns and cities, everything was ablaze.

Screams filled the night…

John sat up in bed. As the sounds of a woman screaming continued, his sleep-fogged brain realized the cries existed in reality, not just his nightmares.

Rose, he thought.

Convinced that Jimmy had returned and she was in danger, he was on his feet, pulling on his jeans, and out the door within seconds.

Once outside however, it was apparent that the screams were coming from the floor below rather than from Rose's flat across the courtyard. It was Rita and Chuck again. But this time, instead of being angry, Rita was clearly frightened.

John ran down the walkway and headed down the stairwell. Behind him, doors opened as the residents of the Estate again turned out to witness the spectacle, drawn by the same urge that drove people to slow down to witness an auto accident.

When he got to their floor, he found Chuck grasping Rita by the shoulders and shaking her. No one was moving to aid her. A second later, Chuck was on his knees, one arm behind his head, held in place by the pressure John was placing with his thumb and middle finger on his palm and the back of his hand.

"That's enough!" John ordered. Chuck struggled to get away, and John increased the pressure on his hand. "No more! How many stupid apes do I have to deal with in one day?" His voice was laden with disgust. He turned his head and scowled at the crowd. "And what's wrong with the rest of you? Why is it that I'm the only one helping her? No, you're all satisfied to stand around gawking while a woman gets hurt. Useless, the lot of you!"

On the other side of the courtyard, Rose woke to the sounds of screaming. Her first instinct was to go back to sleep. When she was growing up, screaming in the middle of the night wasn't uncommon on the Estate. Her mother had always forbidden her from leaving the flat to witness that dark side of the neighborhood, and as a young child there had been nothing she could do about it anyway.

But she was no longer a young child. She had faced Slitheen and werewolves, Sycorax and Daleks; humans didn't hold the same fears for her as they once had. She slipped on her shoes and headed out of the flat.

The commotion was emanating from the building across the way. She crossed to the railing, but despite the streetlights, she wasn't able to identify who was involved in the fight. It was just too dark.

A commanding voice carried across the courtyard. "I said no more, so knock it off!"

John, she thought.

"Knock it off!" he shouted again.

Rose pushed her way through the gathering crowd and ran flat out down the stairs and across to the other building. Even though she was in the best shape she had been in since she was seven, she was still out of breath by the time she reached the floor where John was.

The Estate was fairly small, and when she had lived there she had known most of the people who lived on it, but she was still surprised when she recognized the rowing couple. Her friend Rita was standing with her back against the wall of the building, one hand cupping her cheek. Even in the dim light coming from the courtyard and from the open doors of the nearby flats, Rose could see she was crying.

John stood in the middle of the walkway behind Rita's longtime boyfriend, Chuck, who was currently kneeling in front of him and whimpering, Chuck's right hand held high behind his head between two of John's strong fingers.

At her appearance, both Rita and Chuck froze, as if the shock at seeing her had made them forget the row that had brought her there.

"Rose?" Rita asked incredulously.

"I thought your boyfriend killed you," Chuck said.

John, however, didn't seem surprised at all to see her. He jerked his head towards the flat.

"Rose, take Rita inside while I finish dealing with this stupid ape here," he ordered.

Rose wrapped her arm around Rita's shoulders and led her into the flat. She shut the door behind them.

The flat was smaller than the one Rose had grown up in, a twin in layout and size to Mickey's only far cleaner. The front door opened up to a small living room, barely large enough for the chair, sofa and television that were in it. On one side of the room were doors that led to the kitchen and bathroom. The single bedroom was in the back.

Rose led Rita to the sofa, and they both sat down. Rose spotted a box of tissues nearby and handed Rita a couple.

"So, when did you get back? I thought you were still travelin'," Rita said. She wiped her face with the tissue and blew her nose loudly.

"I've been back about a week," Rose told her. "But that's not important right now. What happened?"

"Oh, you know Chuck. Same ol', same ol'."

Rose sighed. "What did he do this time?"

"He's been shaggin' everythin' in a skirt," Rita told her. "We've been rowin' 'bout it, and this time, well…"

It was obvious what she meant. There was a large bruise forming on her left cheek and jaw, and her left eye was beginning to swell.

"Rita, how long are you gonna let him do this to you?" Rose asked. "You need to kick him out. For good this time."

"I want to," Rita said. Rose raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "No. Seriously. After this I'm done. But I can't kick him out. Flat's in his name."

Raised voices carried through the thin door to the flat. Chuck was cursing at John. They couldn't hear what John said in response, but his tone was even and firm.

"You must have somewhere to go," Rose said. "I know you have some family somewhere. What about your mum?"

As the cursing outside continued, Rita shook her head. "Can't go there. Mum's new boyfriend is creepy, yeah? Stares at me all the time."

Rose sighed. "Been there. What about Marie? Or Joe?" she asked, naming Rita's siblings. Both lived only minutes away.

"Marie and her husband have three kids now, and his brother is livin' with them too. And Joe's in a bedsit. You know how they are. There's barely enough room for him, let alone me." She paused thoughtfully. "Might be able to stay wi' Dad for a bit. He's always hated Chuck. His flat's pretty small and he's got his girlfriend and her kids there, but I could probably sleep on the sofa for a couple weeks."

"Sounds like a plan," Rose said. "Next step we call him, let him know you're comin'. Where's your phone?"

Rita pointed at the small table crammed between the sofa and the chair. Rose handed it to her and then headed back outside to give her some privacy.

Across from the door, John was leaning against a concrete support beam, arms crossed in front of his chest. He was alone.

"Where's Chuck?" she asked.

"Gone," he told her. "For now. But he'll be back." He jerked his head in the direction of the flat. "Is she okay?"

Rose shrugged. "She will be, if she doesn't take him back again." She crossed the walkway and rested her arms on the railing. The crowd that had formed in the courtyard and the balconies of the other buildings was dwindling as people returned to their homes. John joined her at the railing.

"Everyone's going home," she said.

"Stands to reason. Show's over."

At the sound of the door opening behind them, they both turned. Rita stood silhouetted in the doorway, the light from the flat shining out from behind her, illuminating the walkway.

"Joe's comin' to stay tonight. That's my brother," Rita said, explaining who Joe was for John's benefit. "We'll figure out everythin' else in the morning."

"I'll stay until he comes," Rose told her. As Rita reentered the flat, Rose turned to John. "You wanna come in too?"

"Nah. I'm fine here."

Rose nodded and began to head back into the flat, but before she crossed the threshold she turned back. He had returned to leaning on the post with his arms crossed in front of him. He looked like a security guard or a bouncer at a club.

Or simply just her first Doctor.

He gave her a small smile, and she smiled back before rejoining Rita.

~oOo~

Less than half an hour later, Rita's brother arrived. He and Rita both thanked Rose and John for their help in dealing with Chuck. After the door to the flat had closed behind them, John and Rose remained in the walkway. When neither moved to leave, an awkward silence descended between them.

"What time d'you think it is?" Rose asked after a moment.

"About half three, I imagine," John told her.

"Well, I guess I should get home," she said.

"Yeah, you probably want to get back to bed."

"Not really. Actually, I'm wide awake."

"That'll be the adrenaline in your system," he said. "Fight or flight response. Normal reaction to a row, even if you aren't directly involved in it." He let out an irritated huff. "I'm just glad her brother's here to sort it. I'm tired of doin' it. This whole thing's a bit too domestic for me."

She grinned. "She was lucky to have you here to help her."

He grunted noncommittally. "Nothin' anyone else wouldn't do."

"Liar," she said, and she grinned at him affectionately for a moment before turning serious again. "No one else was helpin' her. Only you."

"And you," he said pointedly.

"We make a good team," she said.

"That we do," he agreed.

A light breeze blew through the walkway. Rose wrapped her arms tightly around herself and shivered. "Might be July, but it's still cold at 3 in the morning."

"I'd offer you my jumper, but I didn't put it on before I left my flat. All I've got is my T-shirt."

She grinned at him again. "Yeah, I noticed," she said cheekily.

John raised his eyebrows at the overt flirt. Before he could reply, she shivered again. He frowned. "You need to get inside." He paused for a moment and then continued hesitantly, "I don't suppose you wanna go have a cup of tea with me."

"What, now?" she asked. "Dunno if anything's open, and I'm not exactly dressed for it." She was still wearing what she had worn to bed, an oversized sleep shirt, bright pink and patterned with something that wasn't clear in the dim light. Underneath she was wearing exercise shorts, and on her feet were her trainers, but no socks.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I noticed," he said. "What's that on your shirt? Looks like… little moons wearing nightcaps?"

Her eyes widened, and she quickly glanced down at herself. She laughed nervously. "Uh, no, actually. Actually they're… bananas in nightcaps."

He grinned. "Bananas are good. Full of potassium. Just never thought of 'em as sleepwear."

"It was a gift," she explained.

He nodded. "Actually… about the tea… I meant in my flat. I don't have much in, but I've got that. So, wanna come up?"

She bit her lip and smiled shyly. "Yeah, okay. I'd like that."

"Fantastic."

~oOo~

As John led them into his flat, Rose looked around the main room. It was Spartan in appearance: nothing was out of place, not a cup, not old takeaway containers, not even a piece of cast off clothing. In some ways it was exactly what she would have expected, stark, with no nonsense furnishings and nothing beyond the bare essentials, exactly the opposite of her mother's flat. There were no pictures on the wall, no photos of family, no stray paperbacks or magazines or tabloids spread out over the table and floor. Even the rundown condition of the worn furniture and the threadbare carpet—worn down to the floorboards in spots—in the room seemed right. They reminded her of the metal grating and the tears on the jump seat in the console room of the TARDIS.

But it still seemed wrong that the Doctor, even a human version of the Doctor who didn't remember he was the Doctor, should live in a tiny, rundown flat on the Estate and not a bigger-on-the-inside Time and Space ship that traveled among the stars.

"You go sit down while I make the tea," he said. "You take milk or sugar?"

"Both," she told him, still shivering.

John frowned. "Hang on one minute." He disappeared into an adjoining room and returned with a blanket—and his leather jacket. After dropping the blanket on the sofa, he handed the jacket to her. "Put this on," he ordered. "I'll be right back."

As he left the room, she slipped on his jacket. She had worn it before, and it was just as warm as she remembered. As she wrapped herself in it, she clutched the collar tightly closed and buried her nose into the deceptively soft leather. Wearing it felt like being enveloped in a big hug from the Doctor, something she hadn't had since he had left a week earlier. She inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of the leather and his aftershave and him. Her mouth curved into a small smile, a smile that slowly faded. Even though he was here, she missed him, missed how well he had known her, missed their shared history—a history that hadn't happened for him yet.

And she missed his next self, his thick brown hair and sideburns, his brown pinstriped suit, his deep, chocolate brown eyes that could see into her soul…

Whether blue eyes or brown, whether leather or pinstripes, she missed the Doctor. John might be the Doctor, but with his memory gone he was missing an enormous part of who he was, and she missed that part of him.

Still shivering a little, she sat down on the sofa and pulled the blanket over herself. I just hope the Doctor and Mickey sort this soon, she thought.

~oOo~

A few minutes later, John carried two mugs into the room. He stopped just inside the doorway. Rose was on the sofa, buried under the blanket he had left for her. Peeking out from under the blanket was the collar of his leather coat.

She was staring off into space, lost in thought and frowning slightly. When she caught sight of him she gave him a bright smile.

"Warmer?" he asked as he crossed over to her.

She nodded. "Loads."

"Good." He handed her one of the mugs and joined her on the sofa.

"Ta," she said. She took a sip. "Mmm, good."

"So how do you know Rita and Chuck?" he asked.

"Rita and I were in school together. Chuck was in the same band as Jimmy. We used to all hang out together." She paused for a moment. "Y'know, I used to be so jealous of the two of them after Jimmy took off, but it didn't take me long to realize I was the lucky one, yeah? If Jimmy hadn't left, that could have been me in there."

John shook his head. "You're too smart for that. It may have taken you a bit, but you would have eventually wised up and dumped him."

"I'd like to think that was true, but I dunno," she said. "I was really messed up back then. Would have done almost anything to keep him."

"You seemed a little down before, when I came back with the tea," he said. "Is that what you were thinking about?"

"No," she said. "Was actually thinking about something else." She paused, as if she was wondering what to say, or if she should say anything at all. He waited her out, hoping she would open up to him. It must have worked, because after a moment she began to talk again. "'S just, I needed to talk to someone, but when I rang him I couldn't get through."

His stomach tightened into a knot. For days he had forgotten, or intentionally ignored, the fact that she had spent the last two years traveling with someone. An older man, according to the newspaper.

"The person you'd been traveling with?" he asked. He forced himself to use a light tone, rather than the jealous growl that threatened to come out.

She looked taken aback at the question. "Yes, actually. He was supposed to be back by now, and when I tried to call him I couldn't get through."

"So you're worried."

"Yeah."

"Is there anything I can do?"

She shrugged. "Not really."

"Why don't you tell me about him," he said.

Her brow furrowed, and she sank her teeth into her lower lip, an unconscious habit that John had discovered usually meant she was nervous.

"Uh… I don't know what to say," she said. "What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you want to tell me. Why don't you start with his name?" he suggested. "How you started traveling with him. Where you went."

"Well, his name's the Do—I mean, his name's… James McCrimmon, but everyone calls him the Doctor," she said. "And he travels, all over. Like, everywhere. We've been to Scotland, Anc—Rome, New… uh, New York, Utah, France." That last location was accompanied by a tiny frown, but then her face cleared. "Once we were headed to Naples, but we ended up going to Cardiff instead. He said he was gonna take me to Barcelona, but we haven't gone yet."

"He doesn't have a job? He just travels around? What, like on holiday?"

" 'S more than that. Wherever he goes, he helps people."

"You said he's a doctor. Is he part of a group… like Doctors Without Borders?"

She shook her head. "He doesn't help like that. Well, sometimes I s'pose, but mostly not. He just helps people with whatever they need. He's… brilliant. Can do most anything he sets his mind to. And I help him."

"Like an assistant?"

"No," she said. "Not an assistant. More like… a friend, yeah?" She met his eyes. "I try to help him, as much as I can, but I don't think he really needs my help." She paused, just for a moment, before she continued in a softer tone. "See, he's all alone. His family's all gone. Mostly I think I'm just someone to keep him company."

He searched her face. The look of melancholy she had worn earlier had rapidly changed to merriment while she was talking about her travels with the Doctor. Now it had just as quickly turned into sadness.

"Rose, were you…"

"Was I what?"

"Never mind. None of my business."

"No, what?"

He hesitated, just for a second, before asking what he really wanted to know. "Were you and he…"

Her mouth twisted into a small smile. "No," she said. "No, we weren't. Aren't. We're just friends."

Without conscious thought he took her hand and squeezed it. "You wanna know what I think? I think, wherever he is, he's probably fine," he told her. "He probably just got held up somewhere. And Rose Tyler, I think you're absolutely fantastic. If he thinks of you as just someone to keep him company… then I don't care how brilliant he is, he's a complete idiot."

She burst out laughing. "If you knew, if you had any idea…"

He gave her a wide grin. "And you can tell him I said that."

"Oh, I will. Believe me, I will."

Still chuckling, she stretched and then winced.

John frowned. "Is your back bothering you again?"

"A little bit," she answered.

"Did you have a hot soak before bed?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, and took some paracetamol. It helped a bit, but what really helped was that thing you did back at the garage. What was it called?"

"It's a form of acupressure. Take off the jacket and turn around."

She slowly slipped off the jacket and set it on the edge of the sofa before turning and facing the opposite direction.

Now that she had taken his jacket off, it became obvious that the sleep shirt she wore was thinner than the shirt she had worn to work, and in the light of the room it was also obvious she wasn't wearing a bra. That in addition to being in his flat in the middle of the night made the situation far more intimate than it had been in the shop in late afternoon. His heart pounded in his chest, and it felt like butterflies had taken up residence in his stomach. He took a deep, steadying breath.

Although his hands weren't cold, he vigorously rubbed them together and then cupped them over his mouth and breathed on them, warming them before lowering them to her shoulders. She shivered.

"Are you cold?" he asked in a low voice.

"No," she said softly.

He swallowed hard before beginning to gently massage her shoulders and back. "Take deep, slow breaths," he said.

He worked his hands from a spot between her shoulder blades upwards to the back of her neck. Her skin was so warm, so soft. She sighed, and it was all he could do to prevent himself from turning the gentle massage into a lover's caress, prevent himself from dipping his head and placing kisses on the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. He moved closer, close enough to smell a trace of her shampoo. It was intoxicating. He closed his eyes and took in the scent as his thumbs moved in circles over the pressure points on the base of her skull. With a quiet hum, she relaxed against his fingertips.

Finally, after several minutes he had to stop as any more would have done more harm than good. He moved his hands back to her shoulders, reluctant to completely pull his hands away from her.

She turned to face him. Her eyes were wide and dark.

"Thank you," she said softly.

"You're very wel—" he began.

"Not just for the massage," she said. "Thank you for everything. Thank you for helping Rita, and for dealing with Jimmy, and for listening to me talk. Thank you for just being here with me." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, and then rubbed the spot with her fingertips. Impulsively he pulled her into his arms and leaned back against the back of the sofa. She rested her head on his shoulder and snuggled against him, bonelessly molding her body to his. He rested his chin on the top of her head.

"Rose Tyler, I'm so glad I met you," he said.

"Me too."