WARNING: Torchwood Season 3 spoilers!
It's not necessary to watch the show to understand this story, but if you ever intend to watch Torchwood, this has spoilers!
One hour… The Doctor looked around anxiously, checking his watch regularly though his time sense kept him very aware of each passing minute. Rose was late. She was never late.
Two hours… The Doctor paced restlessly in front of the TARDIS, kicking up red dust with each step. Punctual. That was Rose. It could be just a small miscalculation, but she was very careful when setting in coordinates. He could try finding her, but he didn't know when he should arrive. Too soon and things could get very mixed up.
Three hours… That was his limit. She had a time machine. No matter how long she spent away, she could always make it to a rendezvous on time. It could only mean one thing – something was stopping her. The Doctor raced into the TARDIS and was quick on the controls. Sister TARDISs, his and hers. So long as she wasn't in the time vortex, his TARDIS could track hers anywhere.
Earth, Cardiff, 21 September 2009
The Doctor fought hard to remember anything significant about the that period of time, but nothing was forthcoming. A threat existed though, or Rose would be with him now. The coordinates were set in mere seconds and the TARDIS took flight.
The TARDIS had barely finished materializing when the Doctor raced out the door. He had landed just where he intended, a small garden in Rose's TARDIS. He was quick in making his way to the door and even faster as he ran through the corridors, calling her name in a loud panicked voice. Upon finding the console room empty, the Doctor made no hesitation in racing for the door.
"Rose?!" he shouted into the darkness. He appeared to be standing in the middle of an abandoned factory or warehouse. Shadows of electrical equipment stood alone near the wall with the light of one computer shining through the room. The man sitting at it stood quickly to face him.
"Doctor?" it asked uncertainly.
The Doctor froze for half a moment, the voice quite familiar to him. "Where is she?"
"Knew you'd show eventually. Not for me, of course," the American accent was full of disdain, but sounded tired at the same time.
"Don't play with me, Jack. Where is she? What happened to her?" the Doctor demanded as he approached.
"She's- She's alright. She's safe," Jack replied a little quieter.
"Don't lie to me! If she was safe, she'd be with me. What happened? What was she even doing here?" The Doctor's eyes were hard and his nostrils flared in anger. Jack's jaw clenched and stared straight back.
"She was here because you weren't," he ground out. "We needed you. The world needed you. I called and I called and you never picked up the damn phone! I was desperate, so desperate that I tried her phone. It was a long shot, I knew, but she answered and when I asked for help, she came running."
"What happened?" the Doctor demanded again.
"Aliens were at our door, making demands we couldn't give. We didn't know what to do. Then we found a solution. We needed a sacrifice. This is what I got." Jack thrust a paper angrily into the Doctor's hand but looked away in what the Doctor feared might be might be shame. His insides twisted with overwhelming anxiety. His hands shook as he read the quickly scrawled note.
Use me instead. I won't die. I promise.
The writing was unmistakably Rose's. The Doctor's greatest fears were rising up inside him. In fury he hadn't unleashed in ages, he grabbed Jack by his coat's lapel and nearly lifted the man from the ground. "What did you do to her?"
"I wouldn't have if I thought there was any other-"
"There's always another way!"
"But we couldn't find it!" Jack bellowed in return.
"If you needed a sacrifice, then it should have been you!"
"You don't think I would have if I could?! I would in a heartbeat! But we needed a child – a human child – it was the only way to transmit the wavelengths necessary-"
"Rose isn't a child! She-"
"She was when she came out!" The Doctor was stunned into silence so Jack continued. "She walked into that box and came out looking 8-years-old with that note clutched in her hand. It was between the death of an innocent little boy and a competent woman that claimed she wouldn't die."
The Doctor released him instantly and raced back to Rose's TARDIS. He no longer wanted to hear it. He wanted to see it with his own eyes. Standing in front of the monitor, the Doctor brought up the TARDIS's video record. There, three days prior, he found the event and watched in horror.
Little Rose Tyler, a girl around eight years of age, walked up to Jack and handed him the note. For a moment he stood there staring at her, too surprised to even glance at the paper. When he did, he began looking around helplessly, running his fingers through his hair. His eyes turned to the hysterical little boy being restrained in the far corner and back at the stoic little girl in front of him. Rose took his hand and gave him a small sad smile. She didn't say a word, but she didn't need to. Her offer was there and she was urging him to take it.
Jack scrubbed his face with his hands. The option tortured him but he was desperate and running out of time. He didn't look at Rose again. He couldn't. He reached down and took her hand again and led her to a small circular platform that stood in the center of many computer control stations. He released her once she was in place and turned his head. He wouldn't look at her again. He moved to a laptop in the circle of equipment, positioned directly in front of her and typed as quickly as he could. Rose glanced around with a worried frown, but then suddenly stiffened, her eyes glazed over and her mouth hung open. A high pitched, unnatural tone was emitted from her tiny body. It increased in volume and waved in pitch. She was screaming, screaming at the top of her lungs. The scream went on for over a minute and her body began to shake, a spasm coursing through every muscle in her body at the distress the signal was causing her. Then the blood came. Slowly leaking from her nostrils, and then trickling from her ears. And then she collapsed.
Silent tears streamed down the Doctor's face. He had forgotten how to breathe minutes ago, but now sobbed on that held breath.
The video wasn't done. Jack raced forward and knelt at Rose's side desperately calling her name. The young girl's eyes were closed and Jack very gently shook her, pleading for her to wake. He pulled his hands back suddenly and watched as a golden mist began to rise from her body.
"Oh god, no," Jack gasped, shaking his head. He recognized the sign of regeneration and watched helplessly, but only for a second more. "No. No you don't."
He leant over her body, pinched her nose, and breathed into her mouth. After a few breaths, he came up and began forcefully pressing on her tiny chest, pleading with her the entire time. The gold mist held suspended around her, neither rising nor receding. People around them stood staring, but Jack saw nothing but his dear friend. It took several rounds of CPR, but Rose took a sudden breath and stared up at Jack in shock. He smiled, he laughed, held her against his chest, and cried.
The Doctor saw none of Jack's fear, heroism, or relief. He couldn't see past the suffering his Rose had endured.
He stormed out of the TARDIS and made straight for Jack.
"I'm sorry, Doctor. Really, I am. I would never want to hurt Rose. I just-" Jack's speech was cut short when the Doctor's fist struck his jaw. Jack didn't retaliate. He didn't even move, believing that he truly deserved it.
"Where is she?" the Doctor hissed.
"At a friend of mine's," Jack answered quietly. "She's alright. Well, she... She's just-"
"Take me there," the Doctor ordered.
Jack didn't utter another word. The two of them climbed into a black vehicle marked 'Torchwood' and the Doctor sneered at the name. The ride was silent, as was the walk up to Gwen's flat, but when they made it to the door, Jack stopped him. He opened his mouth to speak, but the Doctor stopped him, leaning in close to the door to listen.
"You know the ancient Aztecs used chocolate as currency, well, cacao beans, but to me that's chocolate," Rose's young voice spoke casually. "Thousand years later, humans spread out through the galaxy, further even, bringing their beloved chocolate with them, planting cacao trees wherever they settled. Can you believe that by the 79th century, there are no less than 14 planets trading in cacao! Seriously, money you can eat! The Doctor says-"
The Doctor was ready to push into the flat, but was stopped again by Jack. "Listen, Doctor."
When the Doctor didn't seem keen on listening, Jack pushed him back and blocked his way. "You need to listen. She… I didn't know how to tell you and I still don't now… She's not the same. She…"
"Whatever she is, I'll see for myself." The Doctor's fury was rising again.
"I'm trying to warn you, Doc; her brain doesn't work right." Jack shoved him back again and the Doctor paused.
"What do you mean it doesn't work right?"
"She can't remember."
"Can't remember what?" The Doctor didn't want to waste any more time on Jack, but his concern for Rose always came first.
"Anything," Jack replied quietly, staring down at his shoes.
"But I heard her. I heard her just now. She's-"
Jack let out a great sigh and reached for the door. "You'll see."
"Jack!" Gwen gasped in surprise, nearly spilling the two mugs of tea in her hands. "Don't you ever knock anymore? I swear-" She paused when she saw he wasn't alone and gaped at the Doctor. "Is that him?"
Jack affirmed with a nod. "Hey, Rosie," he greeted brightly. Rose sat on the floor in front of the coffee table with a deck of playing cards in her hands. At Jack's greeting, she looked up at him, but did not respond. She tucked a strand of dark blond hair behind her ear and placed the playing cards on the table.
"I brought a friend with me today," Jack continued brightly, gesturing toward the Doctor. "Does he look familiar?"
Rose shrugged in reply and stared down at the deck of cards with a sad look on her face. The Doctor's hearts broke and his breathing became irregular again. His words when he spoke were broken by fear and confusion. "But… But she mentioned me. She was talking about chocolate and the 79th century and me."
"Rose," Jack asked quietly, "what's chocolate?"
Rose shrugged again, intentionally not looking in his direction. She picked up the cards and began shuffling them expertly.
"What's it taste like?" Jack prompted further. At each shrug he received, he asked another question. "What's it look like? Have you seen it before? What color is it?"
"Jack, that's enough," Gwen cut him off tartly. "That's why she's afraid of you now. You keep pushing her."
"Three days, Gwen, and she still can't remember my name."
"It doesn't mean she hasn't come to fear you," Gwen argued.
"The Doctor's here now. He needs to see."
"Fine then, but let me do it," Gwen said quietly. She wasn't happy to volunteer, but she spent more time with Rose, and Rose seemed to have taken to her. After all, Gwen didn't usually quiz her like Jack did. He was never unkind, but was easily frustrated, always discouraged by lack of progress.
Gwen set the mugs down on the coffee table and sat on the floor across from Rose. "I made you some tea," she offered, pushing it toward the young girl.
Rose nodded, took the proffered cup, and began gently blowing over it.
"You know we have to play that game again, don't you?" Gwen asked gently.
Rose nodded.
"You remember the game?" she asked hopefully.
"Just that it makes everyone sad," Rose answered quietly.
"Yes, but only because we care about you. We're trying to help you." Gwen took Rose's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You ready?"
At Rose's nearly imperceptible nod, Gwen began. "Okay, Rose, what's your name?"
Rose shrugged.
"What about your mum? Do you remember her?"
Rose shook her head.
"What about when I say 'mum' though? What's the first thing you think when I say 'mum'?"
"Pete and Tony," came Rose's small reply.
"Good!" Gwen praised, patting her hand. A small smile appeared on Rose's face then. "Can you tell me who Pete and Tony are then?"
Rose's smile dropped and she shook her head.
"No, no, don't be sad. You're doing just fine. This is hard. I know it is," Gwen said consolingly. "How about we take a look at some of the pictures you drew today? Would that be better?"
"Maybe."
"Well, I hope so. You're a very good artist. I'm sure I couldn't do as well." Gwen took a small stack of papers from beside her and pointed at the first one. "This is a nice one. Can you tell me what it is?"
The picture, drawn in colored pencil, was the Doctor's TARDIS, expertly colored in a dark blue shade. Rose sighed and shook her head.
"What about the color? Do you know what color it is?"
Rose didn't answer but the pout on her face was answer enough.
"Last one," Gwen assured her. "This picture. This man you drew… is he someone you know?"
Rose bowed her head, nearly in tears, and Doctor strode forward. He'd seen enough. He couldn't watch another second.
"Come on, Rose," the Doctor said as calmly as he could manage. "It's time for us to go."
Rose was immediately startled out of sadness and thrown into confusion and panic.
"Wait, no," Gwen pleaded as she got to her feet. "You don't understand yet."
"I understand enough," the Doctor declared.
"But you don't," Jack argued. "She's still smart. She still remembers everything. If you let her be, let her start talking, she can go on and on. She just can't… I don't know… access it. And can't retain new information."
"And why is that, Jack?" the Doctor snapped. "Just who was it that fried her brain? Any sadness, any confusion she feels, that's your fault."
"You think I don't know that?!"
"Hush," Gwen ordered. "You're frightening her."
"Come on, Rose," the Doctor said again, extending his hand and offering her a smile.
Rose was wary of him though. She didn't retain memory, but she did hold onto emotion. This man worried her. "I want to stay with her," Rose said quietly as she pointed at Gwen.
"But you belong with me." The Doctor's voice was soft and he knelt down beside her so that she might find sincerity in his eyes. "The two of us together."
He took the top two drawings off the stack and showed her the picture of the man she drew, holding it out beside him so that she might compare them. "This drawing, looks a bit like me, don't you think? Same jacket. Same bowtie."
Rose nodded in acknowledgment but then looked at him quizzically. "But where's your…?" She pointed at the picture and motioned above head.
"My fez? Oh yes, I have a fez. It's in my wardrobe. You'll have to see. I'll bring it out if that's what you'd like."
Rose still looked uncertain and glanced up at Gwen.
"How about this picture again," the Doctor tried, showing her the picture of the TARDIS. "This is where we live, you and me. We travel, the two of us, and this is how we get around. It's called the TARDIS. Do you remember it?"
Rose shook her head.
"That's alright," he said with a sad smile. "You'll love it just the same. But… what if I asked you… When I say the word 'TARDIS', what the first thing you think of?"
"Home." Rose's reply surprised even herself. The Doctor's smile brightened slightly.
"Don't you think that's where you should be then? Home?" He tucked a stray lock of hair back behind her ear and rose to his feet. After dusting off his knees, he offered her his hand again.
Rose looked past him at Gwen. The Doctor made her feel hopeful, but Gwen still made her feel safe.
"I love you, dear. I do," Gwen told her reassuringly, "but the Doctor's the one you belong with. If anyone can help you, it's him."
"And I will, Rose. We'll get through this. We'll get you feeling right again," the Doctor assured her.
Rose took a deep breath and let it out, settling her final decision. She took the Doctor's waiting hand and climbed to her feet.
"That's my brave girl," the Doctor praised.
"I'll grab the car," Jack offered, heading toward the door.
The Doctor's hand landed on the doorknob first. "We'll take a cab."
Jack stepped back, allowing the Doctor through. His eyes met Rose's one last time and he closed his eyes, turning his head in shame.
"One thing, Doctor," Jack called down the hallway after them. "Can you fix it? Can you make her well?"
The Doctor scowled at the man he once called his friend. "That's one thing you'll never know, Jack."
I already know that not many people are going to read this story. It's a sequel and has Torchwood spoilers so most people will pass it by. That means I'll get little to no feedback. I'm really putting myself into this story, so I'm begging you to leave a review for me. Just a little note to let me know how I'm doing. Please.
More to come soon.
