A/N. April Fools is over (luckily), therefore…


Previously…

Rose's reaction was just as unexpected, as she spoke with tears in her eyes. "Doctor – how many years of your life have you just put to waste? Was it worth it?"


Chapter Two

Mysteries

"Rose-" the Doctor's voice was close to breaking. "Don't ever give me such questions." I'd risk my life for you, without a second thought. "I thought you were gone, Rose. What was I supposed to do? Stand and watch you die in front of my eyes?" Then mourn you forever? He was suddenly struck with the realisation it has been, indeed, a very close call.

The blonde inhaled deeply, an apologetic look on her face. "Of course not," her voice was barely audible. She was not going to get involved in a pointless quarrel about what the Time Lord should or should not have done. He has done the right thing...

"I'll ignore the fact I am still lying in the pool of blood." Barely wearing anything, too, but this was the last of her problems.

"Oh. Yes. Sorry. Do you need me to assist you?" the Doctor was aware it was unlikely, but asked anyway.

Rose grimaced, getting up effortlessly. "Nope." The fact he was watching her with sincere concern on his face has made her sigh heavily. "However, I need to-" she gestured around herself hopelessly, her eyes wandering towards the place she absolutely needed to go as soon as possible. To clean up and make herself at least relatively presentable, for one. No less for the Doctor than for herself. She could distinctly smell both blood and dirt on her body – or on her clothes, it did not exactly matter at that moment, as merely the smell was already making her feel dizzy.

"Bathroom is very likely the word you're looking for," Donna suggested, finally daring to speak and smiling at her encouragingly. She realised Rose had to be a very determined young woman… someone whose life was a very dangerous one, too.

It seemed the fair-haired companion has only fully registered the other woman's presence then. "Yes. And I must wash the blood off me. Fast. Excuse me," she nodded at the ginger uncomfortably, rushing away with unlikely speed. Both the Doctor and Donna could only watch her with a mixture of conflicting emotions.

"What have you done to her?" the more recent companion asked. "She seems perfectly healthy again."

"I have fixed her up," the Doctor said. "Completely. Rose is supposed to be all right now." For many years to come.

"Completely?"

"Yep."

The ginger was looking at him, her eyes wide with wonder. Do you mean there will be no more bleeding? No infection? No scars? How does one do that so quickly?" How is this even possible?

"Time Lord," he shrugged, unwilling to return to the complicated subject. He hoped it would not take much time to reassure the fair-haired companion there was no other choice but to do what he had done.

Donna rolled her eyes, but gave up on the subject for now. Maybe Rose would be more willing to explain the mystery to her…

Rose was led to her room by the TARDIS. The familiarity of the chamber has made her want to cry. But she knew better, suppressing the tears and hurrying to the en suite instead, welcoming the soothing sounds of encouragement the ship sent her. Just as she had expected, she could neither see nor feel the smallest trace of the gun wounds. Naturally, knowing just how much he had sacrificed for her…

An uncertain knock on the door woke the girl up from her dream-like state. "Rose?"

"Allow me to get dressed, please…"

The Doctor held his breath. She was away from him for almost two hours, and he was agitated, to say the least. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Thanks to you. I might have dozed off for a bit. Just give me two more minutes."

The Time Lord sighed in relief. "Take all the time you need," he spoke, no traces of previous unease in his voice.

Rose shook her head. Who was she trying to fool? She had changed into a lovely sky-blue dress and put on a fitting pair of flats at least ten minutes ago… "Come in, Doctor."

The Doctor entered the room noiselessly, almost forgetting to breathe at the unbelievably familiar sight before him. "Rose-"

Before he could continue, Donna entered unceremoniously. "I hope I'm not ruining anything. I'm Donna, by the way. His… well- current companion. I have come to… well, check on him. All the panic on his face- you know, it tends to be contagious."

The Time Lord cleared his throat, but saw the amused look in Rose's eyes and shut up.

The girl rolled her eyes at him, directing her attention at Donna. "Hello. I'm Rose. Sorry for all this mess. But I was in a desperate need to reach the TARDIS, if I wanted to live."

The Doctor found himself by Rose's side the next moment. It was as if he was trying his best not to pull the girl into a mind-blowing snog. The ginger looked at him pityingly. Never before had he been so easy to see through. Even his firm posture was giving everything away. She decided to distract him a little bit.

The more recent companion smiled at the other woman. "Rose? If I may ask – what were you running away from?"

"I might have done something to annoy someone from- from my working place."

"Torchwood." Again. Always Torchwood.

Rose allowed herself to sigh heavily, seeing the Doctor's face twitch."He knows."

"You seem just like an ordinary human to me… Not someone to get involved in these shadowy things, yeah?" It was unlikely the Doctor would ever fall for someone like Rose if she were like that.

The blonde shook her head. "I used to be an ordinary human, once. Not any more, I'm afraid. Thanks to him," Rose giggled bitterly.

The Doctor winced. "I'm sorry. I couldn't-"

"I know," the fair-haired companion smiled. "You did what you thought was best."

"I'm sorry?" he sounded hurt. "There was no other alternative, Rose!"

Donna spoke, unable to ignore the conversation. "You were almost dead the moment we found you. Almost gave the Doctor a heart attack."

Rose bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

The ginger stared at her. "What did you say?"

. The blonde sighed. "I might have found some other alternative, of course… but there she was, calling me in… What was I supposed to do?"

"You… Rose. The TARDIS is the best place in the universe. Luckily, you have reached her in time, or else-" he gulped.

"It doesn't matter now."

"Rose?" Donna could not hold back her interest, seeing the girl's eyes encouraging her to continue.

"This alien man of yours- spaceman, I call him-" the ginger swallowed. "He had said to have healed- to have fixed you completely-"

"He has," Rose shrugged. For better or for worse… "As a Time Lord, he can do this."

Donna could not believe it, the girl's nonchalance only puzzling her further. "But what if the bleeding begins again?" The disturbing sight of the blonde lying in the pool of blood was still in her mind.

"It won't," both he and Rose spoke in unison, the latter chuckling. "For all I know, he could have made me live for centuries."

The ginger has almost sighed in relief at the smiles on their faces. Whatever it was that had happened… it seemed fine for now.


A/N. Happy Easter weekend, everyone :) I cannot promise everything to be flowing smoothly in the following chapters, but… who's to say for sure? (I can. XD )