Rose sighed as she placed the hot, steaming mug of coffee she held in her hands, onto the desk in front of her.
She was yet again, sat in her office, and crouched over piles of paperwork and a laptop. Not exactly her idea of fun.
But this was her life. This was how Torchwood worked her…and she had to say, she could think of much more boring things for her to be doing, than researching aliens.
She could be working at another shop.
The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, and slowly, her thoughts drifted to the Doctor and the last time she had seen him…
A year ago…god, it had been a year ago. It felt like a lifetime. The adventures she had been on…the things she had seen…
She shook her head, wiping her mind of all thoughts.
No, she had gotten on with her life. This was how it was now.
She could sense someone watching her, and she glanced up from a piece of paper to meet the worried looking eyes of her secretary, Jennie.
"Are you all right, Miss Tyler?"
Rose inwardly sighed.
"Its Rose, Jennie. Please, call me Rose."
Her secretary gave a small, nervous smiled and nodded, then walked over to Rose's desk, only to dump another load of paper on it. Rose stared at the bundles all over her desk and held her head in her hands.
"Erm, Rose?"
"Yes Jennie?" asked Rose, not looking up.
"Jack asked if you could meet him in his office soon."
"Well, you can tell Jack that I am very sorry, but on account of all the paperwork I have to read, sign, investigate and type up on my laptop, I will not be able to make it. Maybe not even for the next decade."
Jennie tittered slightly, and then shook her head.
"Jack said that you would say that…He says he has something important he wishes to discuss with you, and it cannot wait."
Rose rubbed her temples and nodded, her silent reply telling her secretary that she would go.
Jennie shuffled out of the large office into the one next door, and after she had gone, Rose stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in her black skirt and suit.
"I'm never going to finish this lot off." She muttered to herself, peering at the cluttered desk, before walking out of her office door.
Her heels made clicking noises as she walked down the corridors and occasionally she would get a respected nod from someone she knew or had worked with before.
She paused as she reached a certain door and looked up at the sign on it.
Captain Jack HarknessShe smiled at the sign and made her way in without knocking, forcing the man who sat in the chair behind his desk to whirl round.
They both locked gazes and Jack instantly stood and embraced Rose.
"You ok?" he whispered into her ear, in his charming American accent.
Rose laughed and pushed him away.
"Of course I am. You asked me that yesterday as well."
She didn't look into Jack's eyes and he could tell she was lying.
"That's because you don't look ok."
His eyes skimmed over her form. She stood before him in a black suit, with a white shirt, her hair tied back, but her delicate frame definitely thinner. She looked paler as well, he noted.
"I'm fine." She reassured, smiling at him now. A smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Jack knew he wasn't going to find out the source of her problems today, so he sighed and sat down in his chair, motioning for Rose to sit down opposite him.
She accepted, and they both looked at each other for a while.
"There's been a rumour up North…" Jack started.
"A rumour?" Rose asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes, a rumour. Truth is, we need someone of your expertise at the moment to go and check it out, Rose. Everyone else is busy elsewhere…"
"Jack," Rose warned, "I have a hell of a load of paperwork at the moment…you know that-"
"Paperwork that I am quite happy to take over for the time being." Interrupted Jack, flashing his boyish grin at her.
Rose shrugged.
"I don't know Jack…"
"Come on Rose…you know more about this kinda stuff than most of the staff here. You'll only be gone a few days, I promise."
"Mickey will-"
"Oh, who gives a stuff what he thinks? Its what you want Rose. You'll get a pay rise as well."
This made Rose raise her eyebrows further.
"You sure?" she asked, definitely tempted.
"Yes. Very."
"Um…all right, I guess. When will I have to go?"
"Tomorrow. That all right with you?"
Rose couldn't help but feel surprised at this. She would have to leave so soon…oh well...
"Yeh. That's fine."
"Good!"
Jack stood and yet again embraced Rose. She sighed into his shoulder and he pulled away from her, holding her out at arms length.
"Have something for dinner tonight, Rose."
Rose frowned at his stern gaze.
"I always eat-"
"No you don't. Mickey told me."
Rose rolled her eyes. Trust Mickey to spread everything she did in her life to all the people she knew. Anyway, she wasn't always hungry, and sometimes she was too busy. She could barely manage a coffee these days…
A coffee…Damn. She had left her coffee on her desk. It was probably cold now. She turned away from Jack and walked towards the door. His voice broke her thoughts as she reached the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow Rose. I'll get a private jet to take you to the place. Can you be here by six in the morning?"
Rose peered over her shoulder.
"Sure."
She strode out of the doorway, leaving Jack to worriedly watch her retreating back.
"Oh! By the way Rose!" he piped up from behind her, "Take the rest of the day off. I'll get Jennie to bring me the files on your desk."
Rose smiled slightly and nodded, then carried on walking, this time, heading for the exit of the Torchwood institute.
Rose didn't know what to do with herself.
She watched people walk past the small coffee shop she was sat in, admiring the masses of shopping bags they all seemed to be carrying.
A sudden thought entered her mind. Christmas was soon.
Instantly she began to worry. It was November and she hadn't bought her parents or Mickey anything.
She put down the coffee she had almost completely drained, and left the shop, occasionally glancing in the window's of interesting shops.Suddenly, as she walked down the pavement beside a card shop, a pain erupted in her head, and she clutched it, bending over slightly.
"Are you all right Miss?" asked an old man, now standing beside her, looking worried.
She swallowed and forced herself to regain a normal composure.
"Yes," she murmured whilst flicking a piece of her hair out of her face, "I'm fine. Thank you for asking."
The man still seemed unsure about whether she was telling the truth, but she didn't wait for him to decide this, and walked off in the direction of the flat her and Mickey now shared.
After what seemed like ages, she came to see the building she lived in, and fumbled for the keys, before feeling a cool hand on her shoulder. She looked up.Mickey stood to the side of her, his dark eyes flickering over her.
He gently prised the keys from her hands and opened the door, granting them access to their comfortable home.
Rose knew questions would follow so she made her way into the lounge, where she sat on the sofa, giving a content smile, before feeling the sofa shift as Mickey sat beside her.
"Why are you back from work so early?"
Rose rubbed her temples, the pain now becoming a dull throb.
"Jack gave me the day off."
Mickey looked suspicious.
"You're going away again, aren't you?" he sighed, looking slightly angry.
Rose bit her lip.
"Yeh. I'm sorry Mickey. I didn't want to go, but Jack promised me a pay rise and to take my paperwork off me."
"But you're always going away Rose! Your parents and I never get any time to see you anymore! You know what I think you should do? I think you should-"
"…Quit Torchwood and gain control of my life again, blah, blah, blah." Interrupted Rose, quoting what was usually said at the end of one of Mickey's rants.
Mickey cupped her face, forcing her to look around at him.
"Please don't go." He whined. Rose pushed his hands away and stood up, looking out of the window, refusing to let him see her face.
"I have to go Mickey. Torchwood needs me."
"Torchwood always needs you!" replied Mickey angrily, standing up as well.
Rose didn't bother to turn and look at him.
"As I said before…I'm sorry."
The cold tone of her voice chilled Mickey and he frowned in confusion at her.
"Are you all right Rose?" he asked her quietly.
She turned to face him, her eyes giving no insight into what she was thinking.
"You know, that's the fourth time someone has asked me that today." She laughed. A mocking laugh. Humourless.
"It makes me wonder…when is anybody ever going to stop worrying about me...?" she carried on, turning to look out of the window again.
Mickey was unsure about what to say. Her words had struck him as bitter, so, deciding it was better to leave her alone for a while, he left the flat, ready to come back later when she was in a better mood.
The front door slammed shut and Rose made her way into the kitchen looking through the cupboards for an aspirin.
God, what an awful headache.
The Doctor chuckled slightly as Martha tripped over a bunch of wires in the control room of the TARDIS.
He missed Rose more than anybody could imagine, but Martha kept him occupied, kept his thoughts away from Rose. Martha scowled at his amused expression and then brightened as her thoughts drifted to something else. She walked over to the Doctor, and leant against the railing.
"Where to next?"
The Doctor grinned at her eagerness to go somewhere new, and ruffled his hair slightly.
"Hmmm…. that's a hard one that is. We could always visit Yurgturd, but believe me, the welcome I got from the people there was definitely not very nice…on the other hand we could…"
"Lets go to London. I want to quickly visit my family." Interrupted Martha.
The Doctor tried not to let his disappointment show, but nodded, and fiddled with a few buttons and knobs, making the TARDIS move slightly. He knew it was important for Martha to regularly see her relatives. They easily got worried about her.
The TARDIS suddenly shifted and he grinned again, clutching hold of the railing, and motioning for Martha to do the same.
In a fast moment, the TARDIS began to travel, and he could feel time soaring through his body. The rush of years passing him by, the way the stars and planets moved for him to pass through. The feeling of being a Time Lord.
But then, the TARDIS did something unexpected.
It started to shake and the lights flickered, and Martha and the Doctor were flung back as it tossed and turned.
The Doctor stood shakily, and frowned, then turned and held his hand out to Martha who took it and stood up.
"What's happening?" she asked, hesitantly.
"I…I don't know." Said the Doctor uncertainly. "Maybe there's a storm…"
He rushed over to the side of the TARDIS and began to flick levers and pulled out his sonic screwdriver, pointing it at a few things.
The TARDIS began to shake even more, and Martha gasped as she was yet again flung to the floor. The Doctor was frantic now.
"Its…its never done anything like this before. Hopefully it'll be over soon." He said, flashing that trademark idiotic grin of his at Martha, who smiled right back.
Soon enough, the TARDIS calmed down and stopped, and the Doctor rushed to the door, and flung it open. London. He sighed contently. They had gotten there. But what was wrong with the TARDIS?
He frowned slightly and took a few steps outside, looking around. Then he spotted something that made him freeze.
Posters of Roses's dad. Pete. But Rose's dad was dead…the only time he had seen something like this had been when…
He paled, and his shoulders drooped.
No, it wasn't possible…Martha peered out from the TARDIS entrance and smiled happily, walking outside.
"Well, at least we got here." She said.
The Doctor turned to face her.
"This isn't your world Martha."
She frowned at him.
"Of course it is. Look around you. This is London."
"No…this is a parallel dimension of your world. A world, which I thought it was impossible to get to…" he said.
Martha still looked confused.
"This is Rose's world." He added, muttering under his breath, his eyes lighting up as he looked around.
Authors Note: Okay, this is my first Doctor Who fic, so please, go easy on me, lol. Anyway, I have no clue as to how long its gonna be or take to write. I have chapter 2 and 3 already written, so hopefully, if I get enough reviews, I'll update in a day or so. So, please, feel free to review, ideas for the story plot are welcome as well. See ya!
x X x gothlyssa x X x