The Wasteland
Chapter One: Rose

Author's Note: This is sort of a companion to Proof in that it deals with the division of Rose and the Doctor, but it's much longer. It's specifically set five years after their last meeting at Bad Wolf Bay at the end of Doomsday. The only spoilers for after that are for Human Nature and The Family of Blood, because that's what this is based on. Hope you enjoy it!

April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire.

- The Wasteland

by T.S. Eliot

Jackie Tyler caught a virus the days before her son's first day at school. Pete was busy at Torchwood and Josh was determined not to go with anyone else but Rose – or "Wose," as he still occasionally insisted on calling her.

In the playground, with the grit digging into her knee, Rose straightened Josh's little tie and smoothed his shirt, chanting out all the things he needed.

"Pencil case? Sharpener? Rubber? Lunch box? Reading book? Bottle?"

Josh nodded, his fluffy strawberry blonde hair wafting up and down.

"Are you coming to get me?"

"Yes, I'll be here. You'll be good, won't you? And maybe we'll pick up some sweets on the way home."

"Can't I stay home? I think I might have sniffles."

"No, Josh. Mummy's ill and Daddy's at work."

"You're home." There was a note of accusation in his voice.

"It will be fun, I promise."

"So, you're one of the new boys, are you?"

The blood in Rose's veins didn't freeze or even chill – it stopped. Her fingers clenched on Josh's tie and her eyes swam… "Take me back!" She didn't even consider that she could have made a mistake. That voice, that jovial tone - it was unmistakable and it terrified her.

"'Lo" Josh looked up at the tall man and pushed at Rose's fingers. "Rose, you're hurting."

"Sorry," she muttered. "Sorry, Joshie."

She was shaking, finding it difficult to stand; her leg seemed to have gone dead.

"You all right, there? Here, let me help," she felt his hand under her elbow and was hauled to her feet and turned towards him. She kept her eyes low, focusing on the tiny stones that had stuck to one knee of her tights. He still hadn't let go of her elbow. "Occupational hazard, that. Are you all right?"

She looked up finally, meeting his eyes. It was like a punch to the stomach because he was the image of the Doctor. The very image of him. He was tall, slender, with ruffled brown hair and brown eyes. They even crinkled at the edges in the same way and when he smiled at her, the edges swooped up on both sides of his nose, like a cartoon character. And there wasn't the vaguest glimmer of recognition.

"Hello. I'm Mr Smith. I think I'll be teaching your…" he paused slightly, waiting for her to fill in the blank.

"Brother," she blurted. "He's my brother. My mum's sick. Dad's at work. He's a bit nervous."

"Ah, I see. And what's your name?" he let go of Rose and crouched down in front of Josh. His lanky frame collapsed in awkward angles – long bent legs and arms crooked on his thighs.

"Josh."

"Josh Tyler?" Josh nodded sullenly. "Ah. Well. If you want, your sister can come in for a little while. You can show her the classroom."

Josh's face lit up and he looked up hopefully at Rose who was still staring at Mr Smith's profile.

"Wose?" he seemed to have forgotten that in the presence of unknown grown-ups, she was never 'Wose.'

"I can't," she said. "I have… work."

She bent down to Josh, who was wild-eyed with fear and pulled him slightly away from the teacher. She hung on to his little arms and kissed his head.

"I'll bring you jelly snakes, Joshie. I promise. But you have to be brave. Really brave."

"Brave like the Doctor?" he whispered.

Rose gulped and nodded.

"Like the Doctor."

Mr Smith had stood up slowly, stretching up to his full height and retreating back. She could almost feel him frowning over her shoulder.

"Wose, I don't have a sonic screwdriver."

"You don't need one, Josh. Because it's not like my stories, all right? It's lovely. There are other children and football, you like football and I'm rubbish, aren't I? And you get to draw. It's just different, that's all. It's new."

"And no monsters?"

"No monsters. None whatsoever," she glanced back at Mr Smith who was watching awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Mr Smith, but I really have to go."

"No problem," he flashed her a grin and extended his hand to Josh. She blinked away that memory of him extending his hand to her at Christmas, standing in the snow-ash of the Sycorax. "I'm not scary, am I, Josh?"

Josh frowned, his lips pouting slightly.

"No," he answered. "You're nice."

"See? Everything's all right, Miss Tyler."

"Rose," she gasped. "Please. Call me Rose."

There was a slight crease between his eyebrows then and for an insane moment she thought he recognised her. But it was gone as quickly as it came and he just gave her that cartoon smile instead.

"James," he said simply.

It was Jackie who met Mr Smith next. She took her son to school the next morning and when the teacher turned towards her, her bag dropped to the floor and she clutched at one of the low tables.

"Josh's mum?" he asked. "Your daughter said you were ill. I hope you're feeling better?"

He scooped up her bag and handed it to her. She was shaking, her mouth opening and closing.

"Just a bit dizzy, D – Mr Smith. It is Mr Smith, isn't it? That's what Josh said."

"Yes, Mr Smith. Perhaps you'd better be getting home, Mrs Tyler. You're white as a sheet."

"Yes, Doc – Mr Smith. I'll go. His dad will pick up him up. You'll be good, won't you, Josh? Be a good boy for mummy."

She patted his head absently and gave him a quick kiss. She sat at the wheel of her car for a long time before pulling away and driving home. When she got there, Rose was in the kitchen.

"You could have warned me, Rose."

"You saw him then?" Rose sighed, turning from the counter, stirring her coffee. "I hoped you'd miss him."

"Rose, he's –"

"He's James Smith, Mum. Not the Doctor."

"What's this about the Doctor?"

Pete Tyler was lounging in the kitchen doorway, a navy dressing gown – too short in the arms – belted loosely over his pyjamas.

"Josh's teacher is the Doctor," Jackie said.

Pete glanced at Rose, who was still slowly stirring her coffee.

"Rose?"

"He's not the Doctor, Dad. He's just a guy. A teacher. Josh's teacher. He looks like him, that's all."

"That's all? Looks like him? Pete, he's the spitting bloody image! He's his clone, I'm telling you."

"He can't get through," Rose said patiently. "Not properly. It's not him. This is a parallel universe, Mum. It's not so strange when you think about it."

"But –"

"Leave it, Jacks."

"Pete –"

"Have a lie down. You look done in," he touched his wife's elbow and gave her that little frown, cocking his head back towards the stairs. Jackie sighed and glanced at Rose.

"All right. I think maybe I do need a lie down. I feel ever so queasy with it."

Pete watched her go, then studied Rose for a moment. She had stopped her slow stirring and was now sipping the coffee as if nothing had happened.

"Rose, are you sure you're ok?"

"It was a shock. You know, five years since I last saw him and suddenly there he is. Right down to those freckles he has, the ones you don't see them unless you're close up. But it's not him, Dad. I know that. But, if you don't mind, I don't want to go back there for a while. Not 'til I get used to the idea."

"'Course. C'mere, love. Your mum doesn't mean to go off on one like that. It's the shock. You don't have to go near the place."

"Thanks, Dad."