The Doctor had retreated to Rose's old room and shut himself in. Rose and Jackie let him alone, although Rose still worried about him. She was sat on the sofa with Jackie drinking tea quietly while Jackie talked. "It's not cousin Mo, Rose! It's my friend Mo, remember? From when you were tiny?" Rose remembered, eyes widening and mouth forming a little 'o'.

Jackie rolled her eyes. "She lives in the country in a nice big house. John and her both have such high-up jobs, although she hasn't now, with the twins." Rose smiled at her mother, then spoke; "Can't wait. I'm not sure about taking the Doctor-"
Jackie cut her off. "He has to come!" She said, almost angrily. "Mo will only let us round if he comes. See, I've told him the Doctor is your" She looked around, as if expecting the Doctor to be listening. "Boyfriend" She whispered.

Rose rolled her eyes. "I wish" She giggled, as did her mother, both going all girlish and un-tylerish. Once they got a grip on themselves, Rose sighed again. "So that means buses or Taxi, no TARDIS?"
"Yep. I've saved up for the Taxi and Mo's sent us some money." Rose smiled at her mother.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The Doctor sat moodily in the back seat, arms folded as he stared out the window, bored. Jackie sat in the front. Rose leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Don't be so moody" He looked at her, a little boy look of annoyance, before looking out the window again. Rose rolled her eyes and sat back.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Mo was a slightly dumpy woman of 34, with shimmering brown curls and pale blue eyes, and a large smile. She saw them approach and waved, and the three of them- or rather, Rose and Jackie, Rose dragging the Doctor- almost ran up the steps.

Her husband John was the same sort of build, but with short hair and shining grey eyes. The two twins, Kairy and Michele, were lying sweetly in a double buggy, Kairy's chubby fist in her mouth. Rose and Jackie squee'd over the little ones and the Doctor stood and talked with John about nothing of importance.

They went inside, Mo showing Rose, The Doctor and Jackie their rooms. "Unless you two want to sleep together?" Mo asked Rose and the Doctor, both of who shook their heads. Rose was put in a large double bed with thick covers and soft downy pillows. The other rooms were pretty much the same.

It was a country estate with a large garden, with flowers and a fountain. It was beautiful. They spent the day doing normal things, talking, having dinner. The Doctor got hold of one of John's old game consoles and enjoyed himself sat in his room, recalibrating the whole thing with his screwdriver. Rose entered every so often. She entered holding a cup of tea for him, looking at the things scattered about. "If you're going to make it fantastic you'll have to break it again afterwards or you'll advance the whole human race" Rose pointed out.

The Doctor shook his head. "John said I could keep it. We'll have it on the TARDIS; I'll give you a game every so often" He grinned at her and she grinned back, handing over his tea. At least he wasn't moody anymore.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\//\/\

Rose started suddenly, yawning and blinking rapidly. There was someone in her room! She moved her head silently sideways, looking around – and then she saw him, stood in her window, moonlight reflected from his eyes and making his face seem more angular than ever. "Doctor?" Breathed Rose and his head snapped around to face her. She noted with a small shock his eyes were beginning to turn black again. He stared at her, before walking over silently and sitting next to her on her bed.

"Did I wake you?" He asked softly. She shook her head, then glanced at the window. "You're not sleeping?"
"I can't" Rose looked puzzled at him, and he sighed, staring out into the night. "I don't know when the full moon is, Rose, but it's close. And I can't sleep. If we're staying here for three nights then… well, there's a risk." Rose nodded slightly, understanding. "I just can't sleep. I walked around outside for a bit, and… it's scaring me, Rose." He turned to look at her. "I'm scared. My senses are heightened more than yours anyway, but my hearing is so sensitive now it's painful." He looked away from her.

She reached up and stroked his hair back, or rather attempted to, but as soon as her hand moved over the fabric of her quilt his head swung around. She still stroked his hair back and he continued in the faint whisper. "And please don't talk so loud" He smiled sadly at him, as he leant against her for a moment. Then he was up, returning to the window, looking out at the grounds. She went up to him, kissing her palm and holding it out. He looked at her and then realised, mimicking her movement and laying his palm flat against hers.

Then, in a flash, he was gone, and she caught sight of his foot rounding the corner. She sighed softly and lay back in bed, knowing she wouldn't be able to sleep now, the thought of the Doctor wandering lonely through the grounds. But as soon as her head touched the down she dropped asleep, her dreams haunted by wolf's howls and the Doctor's anguished cries.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rose awoke to see sunlight streaming through her window. She stood, stretching, and got dressed, mulling over the events of last night. Heading downstairs she found the Doctor in the kitchen, devouring a cooked breakfast. Mo and the twins were nearby, her tending to them. They really were sweet. The Doctor rolled his eyes at them and spotted Rose. He jumped up. "Mo's gone to the trouble of cooking us a breakfast" He grinned at her, pointing at three covered plates near his, as John entered the kitchen. He sat down nearest Mo, kissed her and then started to eat.

Jackie followed soonafter. Rose enjoyed the meal and later all seven of them went to a country fair. The Doctor won a big teddy from a stall with his fantastic aim and gave it to Rose, who hugged it, smiling at the Doctor. Soon, though, they had to leave as the Doctor was complaining of a really bad headache.

Back at the house, in the twilight, the Doctor and Rose walked through the garden, the Doctor revealing to her that the noise of the people had overloaded his senses and it was really painful, he couldn't stand it, had to get away. "And.. and for a moment, Rose, I felt like attacking them, killing them all to stop the pain" He swallowed hard.

She stroked his hair softly again. "It's okay" She whispered, leaning against him. He smiled at her and they sat on a bench, looking out at the dusk as the sun began to set. The Doctor felt a faint tingle down his spine, and thought nothing of it until, as the velvety darkness began to settle, a painful stab shot up his backbone. He gasped out an Rose looked at him worriedly, but his eyes were fixed on the faint outline in the sky. "Rose, help me out my jacket. I had enough trouble finding a new one last time, I think this was the last one."

She helped him, panicky, as he gasped out in pain, having trouble controlling his arms. He got his jacket and tie off, and his shoes. He was just finishing undoing his top buttons when the moon came through clear and he cried out, tumbling to the floor. Rose lay a hand on his back, and he didn't try to shrug her off. She could feel him overheating through the fabric of his top, watching worriedly. What was Mo going to think?

"ROSE!?" Jackie's voice called out across the garden. Rose turned and beckoned. "Rose!" Jackie was running towards her. "You have to get in before something happens, I just saw on the computer, there's a full moon tonight-" She spotted the Doctor and gasped.

"We noticed" The Doctor half-growled, thrashing wildly without warning. Rose backed away a few steps, watching, terrified, his eyes changing colour as he cried out, with two cracks his cheekbones realigning. He began to snarl more, bulking up, few remaining clothes torn away. Rose pushed the pile of clothes on her mum. "Get these inside" She said. "No questions" Her mother turned and ran back towards the house.

The Doctor was changing fast, in those few moments his fur was emerging and his head was almost fully changed, only the thick fur needed. his teeth shone sharply, wickedly dangerous. With several cracks the tail emerged and he snarl-roared, lifting his head back. She looked straight into his eyes, seeing, once more, the internal struggle between wolf and Time Lord.

"Doctor?" She placed a hand on his furry shoulder and he whirled, teeth snapping together where her hand had been half a moment ago. She stepped back, staring at him, terrified. But her touch seemed to have willed him further.

Rose! Get inside. I'll try to keep myself outside. Check your hand for cuts, if even the tiniest drop of m saliva gets in your blood, you're cursed. Get- get inside!

The Wolf reared, head pointing skywards. The Doctor couldn't control himself and the howl echoed menacingly, as Rose ran towards the house. I wish I could help you, Doctor…

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Rose watched from her window, seeing the Doctor bound around it as a wolf. He leapt high up and came down on a bush, flushing out a rabbit, and was off like a streak, returning with it in his jaw and eating it. She had to cover her mouth and turn away at the gruesome sight. She knew the Doctor had lost control; willingly or not. He would never do that if he could control himself, not her Doctor.

She didn't sleep, laying in the dark on the bed, trying to, hearing the growls and barks and the occasional howl from the Doctor from outside. Then a man screamed. Rose was up in a second and away, down the stairs and out, seeing the huge werewolf wrestling a man to the ground, teeth sunk into his back. "DOCTOR!" She yelled, throwing herself onto the werewolf and trying to pull him away. his hold was released and he fell back, shaking violently.

Oh no… NO! Oh my god, oh my god… I lost control, Rose. I lost control!

The Doctor's voice was shaky and panicky, and she stroked down the fur on his neck as he shivered.

Doctor, at least you have more control over it than last time.

I don't. I.. what have I done?

It appeared to be a gardener. He was badly maimed and wounded but not dead and Rose and the Wolf-Doctor walked along, away from the sight. He was on all fours but could stand upright in this form; he didn't. Once away from them, in the dark, the Doctor collapsed.

I lost it. Rose…

"It's okay" She stroked the thick fur on his neck, wondering how he could cope with it.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

She didn't go inside. She sat in the garden with him that night, him curled up beside her, and she awoke laying against his furry body, looking to the sky, the faintest pink streak on the horizon. She sat up, stretching and looking at him. His eyes were closed, and he was sleeping, but his eyes flickered open as he began to transform back. It was the first time she had seen this happen and it looked just as bad as it had the original change. He gritted his teeth and cried out, as, with many cracks, his body reverted

She closed her eyes and passed him the dressing gown she had been lying on, which Jackie had brought out partway into the night before she'd realised how comfortable The Doctor was to lay on. She stood and strode away a distance, not looking, and didn't turn until she felt his breath on her neck. She turned and looked into his eyes.

They re-entered the house, noting how Mo and John stared at the Doctor in terror. Rose let the Doctor go to his room as Jackie intercepted her. "They saw it all" She breathed. "From the window. I told them not to tell anyone, I think Mo was halfway between calling the police or the animal catchers." Rose shuddered silently.

"The young man he attacked. Has he died or…?"
"He's still alive"
"He'll probably be better off dead. The Doctor's cursed him. He's one too, now. You should have heard him, he was horrified-"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean The Doctor" Rose looked puzzled.
"He didn't say anything!"
"He used Telepathy."
"Oh."

She felt his warm breath on the back of her neck again and smelt the cinnamon. "Hello" He whispered into her ear, softly. She smiled, lifting her head back and looking into his eyes.

Jackie rolled her eyes.

"Mo and John know" Rose informed The Doctor. He looked worried. Then he looked away. "I'm going back, Jackie. I'm going back to get the TARDIS and I'm not going to leave it. Goodbye, Rose." He turned and began to walk away. Rose, not understanding, gawped after him, and then ran to him. "What are you on about? I'm not gonna leave you just because of your little… problem. We can go if you want to, but I'm not leaving you!"

He shook her arm off angrily. "I could have gotten you, Rose! I already cursed one person, I can't risk you. I can't." He turned away and continued to walk. Then, he felt himself being turned. Thinking it was Rose, he opened his mouth to tell her he was going and that was final. But he didn't get the chance to speak as Jackie gave him a proper Tyler slap. He stumbled, reeling.

A very angry Jackie stood In front of him. "What was that for!?" He exclaimed, and she glared harder. "You know what! Rose has supported you through this, even though most people would go ape and get the animal people on you! She's been through so much for YOU, and you do this! You will NOT leave her behind!" The Doctor looked around. "Where is she?"
"She ran off crying"

The Doctor turned, walking away from Jackie, face smarting. She was right. She was SO right. He headed down the corridor until he heard the sound of crying, pushing her door open and seating himself next to her on the bed. "Rose" He whispered softly. She looked up at him, face tearstained. He pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry. You can stay with me. But you'll have to cope with this. You'll always be at risk. You understand?" She nodded into his jacket, and he stroked her back.

Then he stood. "Let's go" He grinned, as did she. They ran out of the house, shouting a goodbye, heading for the nearest place to call a Taxi. New adventures awaited.

-END-