Author's Note: Second piece in my Ashes to Ashes series. It's still pretty angsty, set in the episode 'Rose', right after the Doctor walks off with the plastic arm, leaving Rose standing there. Also, if you've read my bio, you've probably realized that I ship Rose/Doctor, which is how this series will go. I realized I hadn't mentioned that in Inferno, so I'm saying it now. I'm staying true to the series, which means they'll never 'get together' in this series, but the Doctor will have potentially romantic thoughts of her. You can take it as really close friendship, it's so mild, but it's there. You've been warned.

Disclaimer: If you actually think I'm smart enough to come up with Doctor Who, you need a reality check. None of it's mine, promise.

Nagging Thoughts

Stupid. Bloody. Apes! Was all the Doctor could think, as he sent the TARDIS into the time vortex, busily tracking down that sodding signal. Stupid, curious females! Didn't she realize how dangerous he was? Couldn't she see the blood on his hands, staining everything he did?

The Doctor stopped his frantic, forceful movements around the console, staring into nothing as his hand traced absent symbols on the ancient hub.

She had followed him, trusted him. He had said 'run' and she did, no questions, no protests or pointless panicking. He had told her to go home, and she followed him, he remembered, slightly touched by that innocent belief.

Snorting, he abruptly turned away, regaining his energetic rhythm.

'Like a bloody dog' the thought darkly. Well, he didn't need a pet, didn't want a follower. Certainly not such a nosey one at that. No, he decided firmly, there would be no more thoughts of Rose the Dog.

With a swift swipe of his hand, his beloved ship shuddered to a halt. The Doctor shrugged into his battered leather coat, still not thinking of Rose Tyler, the curious, brave blonde. With a firm shake of his head, trying to dislodge the nagging feeling that this wasn't over, she wasn't quite done mucking around in his life, he strode out the door, setting off to track down the signal, before it caused real trouble.