Summary: When Jackie becomes dangerously ill, Rose has a tough decision to make, leading the Doctor to question his own life. Can he handle domesticity for the sake of another? The sake of his Rose?

The Girl Who Sold The World

Chapter One

Sometimes Rose didn't want to move, she felt she would give anything and everything just to stay like this. There was something about the heavy weight of his arm draped over her shoulder and the warmth of his breath settling over her neck as she leant back against him. It was in moments like this Rose never wanted to leave the Tardis – she just wanted to stay in this spot forever, curled up in the Doctors arms, her twiddling with her phone whilst he studied a crossword.

She let a smile dance over her lips before she went back to hitting the buttons on her phone, finally she let out a sigh. When she gained no response she glanced over her shoulder to see the Doctor's face scrunched up – a sign he was deep in thought. A small smile tugged on the edge of her lips as his thick glasses slid down his nose, his intelligent eyes studied the paper intensely.

This time she sighed louder, pressing the buttons on her phone until it blared, the Doctor startled beside her, his face peering over her shoulder so that his smile lingered next to her cheek.

'Hmmm?' he enquired lazily. She let out a disgruntled sigh and leant back against his chest

'Mum won't answer her phone' she grumbled as she tapped at the buttons again

'Shame' the Doctor murmured – his eye twinkling.

'Oi' she warned, nudging him in the ribs. He clutched his ribs in mock agony

'Well maybe she's busy, you know, getting chips or something' he murmured softly. Rose shrugged, something didn't feel right.

'I dunno…I've been trying to ring her for days but she's just not picking up'.

The Doctor glanced down into her worried eyes for a brief moment

'Well maybe she's been out…what was that guy's name? Harold the green grocer?'

Rose laughed in response before shaking her head

'It's just not like her…' she murmured before trailing off. The Doctor watched her for a moment before jumping up taking Rose with him.

'Where we going?' she asked with her familiar smile gracing her lips. The Doctor grinned at her as he tugged her by the hand over to the control panel frantically hitting buttons.

'Doctor!' she squealed as she poked him. He turned and smiled softly down at her

'We are going to Earth – to see your mother' he told her. The look on her face was reward enough.

'Thank you' she murmured, gazing up at him from under her lashes, he held her gaze for a moment before grinning at her

'Well I can't have my companions being worried now can I?' he exclaimed as he squeezed her hand, she squeezed his hand back in silent thanks – they remained that way until the Tardis came to a thud.

'Right, here we are – Earth 2008' he declared as he grasped her hand

'Ready?' he grinned; Rose glanced around once more, her brow settling into a frown. The Doctor caught this out the corner of his eye and turned to face her. He raised one hand to gently trace her cheek

'She's fine Rose, I promise you'. Rose looked up into his eyes and saw the worry that he held there for her, forcing a smile she nodded her head. He took one last sweeping gaze of her face before turning and tugging her hand

'Onwards and upwards!' he declared

'Onwards and upwards' she agreed, giggling as she clung to him. They walked towards the looming shadow of the Powell Estate, Rose fighting the feeling that was coming over her as she clung to the Doctors' hand tighter.

They slowly began to walk up the stairs leading towards Jackie's flat, when they reached the door all the comfort being provided by the Doctor's hand disappeared. Rose saw letters that were days old sticking out the letter box, a pile of unread newspapers beside three days worth of milk bottles untouched.

Rose unfroze herself and ran to the door, her fists pounded against the wood

'Mum! Mum!' she shouted.

The Doctor began to run.

The sound of the Doctor's feet pounding on the concrete was the only other sound echoing through the Powell Estate other than Rose's cries. He was at her side within a moment, his eye instantly assessing the scene Rose had just comprehended – he saw the unopened mail and the gone off milk, and instantly he drew the same conclusion.

He glanced up to Rose's eyes, they were wild and desperate as her fist collided with the wood and her cries fell from her mouth. He grasped her hands as her knuckles started to bleed and covered them with his own; she was still flailing beneath his grasp until he steadied her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. She held his gaze for a fleeting moment, her eyes wide and frightened

'Open it' she pleased quietly, sounding like a lost child. He ran a finger across her cheek before nodding and releasing her.

He pulled the Sonic Screwdriver from his pocket and turned towards the bolted door – the faint buzzing of the blue light released the locks so that the Doctor could place a cautious hand upon the handle and push it. The door slowly swung open, they both stood in silence looking through the panel before the Doctor silently wrapped his hand around Rose's. She locked her fingers within his, still trembling slightly.

Holding onto one another they slowly entered the flat, the stale air filling their lungs as the glanced around the empty corridor. For a moment neither of them spoke, both filled with their illusions and possibilities.

The Doctor felt Rose shiver beside him and he squeezed her hand

'Jackie?' he called out – his voice sounded alien to him as it echoed through the empty rooms.

'Mum?' Rose asked softly, her voice barely a whisper. The Doctor squeezed her hand before breaking away from her; he turned into Jackie's bedroom whilst Rose remained in the hall paralysed by fear.

The Doctor stepped into her room, his hearts pounding with panic as his eyes surveyed the unmade bed and the empty floor, he took a last sweeping glance before calling out

'She's not in here Rose'.

Finally Rose could breathe, she turned into her room, pausing momentarily from the memories – this was where the Doctor had nearly died. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath.

'Maybe she's gone up to Aunty Mo's you know' she murmured down the corridor, starting to feel silly for her screams.

The Doctor had moved to the kitchen, his eyes quickly passing over counter tops – as he turned to leave, to reassure Rose all was well, he saw the foot. Silently he paced across the floor towards it, only one word escaping his mouth

'Rose…'

Rose was leaving her room, the panic from earlier slowly lifting – then she heard her name. She began to run. When she reached the kitchen she met the Doctor's eyes from across the room, she saw the sympathy in his eyes and the grim lines that were set around his mouth – then she saw the foot. By the time she reached his side he was kneeling on the floor, there her mother lay, sprawled out on the floor in a t-shirt and jeans, dried blood marked a wound on her forehead and her ankle stuck out at an unnatural angle.

Rose couldn't speak – she just watched as the Doctor pressed his fingers against her neck in search of a pulse. It was an agonising wait for Rose who watched the Doctor desperately – he slowly met her eyes and nodded

'She had a pulse – it's weak but it's there'. Rose let out a small cry before falling to her knees, she grasped her mothers hand and brushed her hair off her pale face.

The Doctor moved away from them

'Where's the phone?'. He gained no response – Rose was too consumed by her mother. The Doctor found the phone and grasped it, dialling quickly he instructed down the phone

'I need an ambulance'

The Doctor on the phone became a blur to Rose as she gently rocked her mothers hand against her own. Tears fell quickly, wetting her skin as the world ceased to exist. The Doctor stood above them; there was nothing he could say so he remained silent. He stepped back watching them as he waited, he watched the family he could never be a part of and he felt fear surge through his heart.

Instead of moving, waiting by the door to help the ambulance crew, he remained transfixed by the sight before him. It was in this moment, where Rose held her mother's body to her own and pain wrecked her features, that he realised how cold it was.