He wasn't overly sure what the date was. It could have been somewhere between March and May but all he knew was that it was definitely 2007 and he was stuck in a hospital bed with a gobby bad tempered redhead in the bed next to him.
"I mean if you're going to teach a class do it somewhere else. I am trying to read what has happened in Big Brother, I haven't had a chance to read since I've been travelling" she snapped at the teacher.
"Aha" said one of the medical students "she could have some sort of tropical disease"
"In Paris" the redhead sneered "also you must be a lousy teacher if these students are jumping to crappy solutions so bloody quickly"
He was very sure that the medical student was going to cry. And then he heard it, first it was the soft hum of a Time Lord presence and then it was the soft, happy voice he thought he would never hear again.
"Scaring the nice doctors away Donna?"
He looked round quickly so he could see her. She was older, not much but still…her hair was longer, it was darker as well. She was wearing dark colours as well. She seemed to be even more beautiful than he remembered…
…his view was instantly blocked by the medical students but he distantly heard the gobby redhead, Donna whatever her name was, say "I still don't know why I have to be here Wolfie"
Wolfie? Is that what she calls herself these days?
She felt his presence in the back of her mind and immediately blocked him out. She didn't need any interfering old buggers in her head right now. She walked to her friend who sat there arms crossed, glaring.
"Donna, how many times have I asked you not to call me Wolfie?" she asked quietly "my name is Bad Wolf not Wolfie"
"Your name is lousy as these doctors" Donna groused.
"Donna, my best friend, my wonderful assistant, my sweet evil girl do you have to insult my name?" Bad Wolf said she held up a box of chocolate truffles "especially when I brought you chocolate"
Donna's glare softened to a frown "you always knew how to get on my good side"
"Well I have travelled with you for what…six months? I know how to get on your good side give me six more months and I'll learn how to stay on it"
"Doubt it no one apart from my granddad stays on my good side" Donna said smirking slightly
Bad Wolf chuckled lightly but sobered up quickly; she turned to look at the man with sticky up brown hair that was surrounded by medical students.
"See that bloke there" she murmured
"Guy with the riot for hair? Yeah he's been glaring at me all morning" Donna said her mouth full of chocolate.
"He's a Time Lord" she murmured "he's trying to get into my head…what is his name?"
"John I think" Donna said "why what are you planning?" but when she looked up Bad Wolf was already striding across the space between the two beds. "Oh no, this does not look good"
"John sweetie good to see you looking better" Rose said walking to him. He beamed she's back. She's returned to him; somehow that wonderful genius has crossed through the void.
"I feel better now I have seen you Rose honey" he said cheerfully. She blinked when he called her honey, but stayed in character, if she was going to yell at him for trying to get into her mind she will do it when no one was watching. He will explain to her that for a moment he thought he sensed a Time Lord presence and wanted to make sure.
He patted on the bed "sit down Rose" he said. She sat down and smiled at him, though it seemed to be a bit weak.
"Oh who is this? Your cousin?" the black medical student ask, what was her name again, Marta? Maddie? Something beginning with an M.
He wrapped an arm round Rose's waist "nope she's my girlfriend" he said, yes there was consequences for saying that but right now it didn't matter she was back. He even pecked her on the cheek.
"Oh" the medical student said looking a bit deflated. He ignored her and looked back at Rose.
Rose who looked down on him without any recognition. The medical students were herded away and she spoke softly "stay out of my mind Time Lord or there'll be consequences"
"Rose I'm sorry I really am but I swore I felt a Time Lord presence when you entered the room. I missed you, how have you been, how did you get here?"
"Listen to me Time Lord" she hissed "I don't know who the fuck you are but stay out of my mind and stay out of my way. I am investigating a disturbance round here and I have no need for you to interfere"
"Rose, it's me" he said pleadingly "the Doctor remember?"
"I don't know who this Rose is" she said "just stay out of my way and I will stay out of yours" she got up to leave but he held her wrist in a vice like grip.
"If you're not Rose then who are you and what have you done to her?" he said quietly
"I am Bad Wolf" she snarled "I am what the monsters have nightmares off. I have done nothing to Rose, I never heard of a Rose. But since you know me so well please tell me what happened before I regenerated? Are you my killer?"
He looked up at her in horror. The Bad Wolf? She took his Rose away? She erased her memories? She tugged her wrist out of his grip and leaned in to peck him on the cheek.
"I'm going to sit with Donna, sweetie" she said loudly for the other patients and the medical staff benefit, before bounding off to the redheads side.
As she walked away she mulled over what happened. He recognised her. He looked scared, shocked and wee bit angry. He probably thought she was dead. At first she thought he was her killer but his actions suggested that she was his lover. Either he was a good actor or she really is this Rose.
Right now she preferred to think of him as her killer.
