Author: Ardith S.
Author's Notes:
Spoilers for Doomsday.
This is a bit of a vignette scene - post Doomsday. 10xRose. A bit of a preview of Salamander. Rated E for everyone, though Salamander (which continues the story) will be M for Mucho Adult Stuff in future chapters.
I own nothing but my imagination and it sure does like the world of Doctor Who. I'm still a bit of a novice, so pardon my mistakes please.
Empty Rooms and Infinity
It was maudlin, but sometimes he just wanted to indulge. He learned long ago that dwelling on the past could cost more pain than anything, but he couldn't let go.
Rose Tyler was gone, but he would always be her Doctor.
She had wanted to stay with him forever. Was willing to sacrifice being with her family for him. No matter what world, what universe she was in, he would always feel a connection to her through out time and space. He knew that she would be as safe as she could be on Pete's world. Pete would pamper his daughter like no one else. She would be safe. Stay safe. For him.
After over 900 years, no one has ever marked him as much as a slip of a girl who was barely out of her teens. She opened his eyes in so many ways. Broke through his walls.
The TARDIS seemed to miss her, too. The hum of the ship would slow every so often, as if sighing. Those times, the TARDIS would be particularly unreliable, landing him years off of the time period he was aiming for.
Or maybe that was him.
He wandered down the spiral stairs that lead to the ship's living quarters towards her rooms. He hadn't been in her rooms since that day. How long has it been? Does it matter?
The room still smelled of her. Utterly female, the room smelled sweetly of vanilla and musk. He sat on the bed with a thump. Over 900 years gone, last of the Time Lords, and no matter how many companions joined him, time marched on and he with it.
Laying down on her bed, he closed his eyes and let his vision go, tapping into the past, the future. Entering time, as if drifting in infinity could bring him a measure of peace.
Rose Tyler.
Out of my world, now. But she would always be there, within him.
As he drifted in his mind, the Doctor felt surrounded by Rose. So close, as if he could touch her. Of course that was impossible. The flash of pain that arched through time and space left him gasping.
"ROSE!" The echoes of pain, faded as he panted. He rubbed his face, the tears drying almost instantly.
Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. And Rose was at the center of it.
When the TARDIS shuddered, he sprang up at a run towards the control room. Rose needed him. And he knew that he would pay almost any price to help her.
Rose Tyler saved the Earth once. Died for it once. The Doctor was not about to let anything else happen to her. Not this time. And if there was a wrinkle in time and space, he would find it and find her.
As if agreeing with his decision, the TARDIS hummed happily.
Grinning, he caressed the controls and laughed. Rose was calling. Rose needed him. And he would find her. Nothing was impossible. This would be the best adventure. Utterly fantastic.