Chapter Two – Rose?

The Doctor looked at Clara, worried. The TARDIS door slammed shut at the smoky air entered the machine. He held his breath as he ran to the centre console and switched a leaver up releasing the vent pipes which were to vacuum up the toxic smoke from the near star collapse.
The TARDIS engaged a whirring sound as the smoke started to ventilate through the pipes of the machine. The Doctor breathed out a ragged gasp, his throat sore from the toxic gas. He looked to Clara, lying on the floor. Her hair was slightly out of place, fanning out on the cold floor. She looked so peaceful, yet the Doctor knew that Clara was seeing something bad, wherever she was.
He knelt beside her, gently tapping on her left shoulder. "Clara, where are you? What do you see?" She rolled over, facing towards the Doctor, yet her eyes wasn't opened. He didn't want to disturb her in wherever she was. The huge explosion before probably had something to do with it but he couldn't figure out what. A star collapse turns someone unconscious? It just wasn't realistic.
"Doctor… I can't see you," Clara whispered, frightened. "Where are you? Where am I?" She was scared; the Doctor could hear that much in her voice. Her eyebrows were also turned up slightly.
"Clara, I'm here, that's all you need to know. You're under my protection, remember that." He put a hand on her head, withdrawing when he realised that she was boiling, as if she was radiating heat. "Clara, think. What do you see?"
"Doctor… I see… a table… and a book," she replied, her eyebrows curving downwards in concentration.
"Keep going, Clara, you're doing well," the Doctor prompted, searching for an answer to the mystery. Yet another mystery.
"The book… it has words on it… a message… to you."
The Doctor was startled. A message? He didn't expect that. Who would be writing to him? And through Clara? How was that possible? He looked back to her, feeling a pang of worry deep in his chest. He was worried about how they could talk through Clara. Whoever 'they' were.
"What does the message say?" the Doctor asked.
"It says… 'Doctor, I know how to get to you again. I've figured it out,'" Clara said in a monotone voice.
"Who is it? Who is talking to you, Clara?" the Doctor asked, propping Clara up so that she was leaning against the door of the TARDIS. When she didn't answer, the Doctor felt a sliver in his heart. What was happening to her? She suddenly gasped and opened her wide hazel-coloured eyes. The Doctor relaxed, his shoulders sagging. She was alright; Clara Oswald was alright.
He helped her up with his right hand and stared directly into her eyes. "Clara, who was it? Who was talking to you?"
"Rose Tyler," she whispered, knowing that the Doctor would have known who Rose was. His eyes widened and he took a step back.
"But that's impossible… Rose is.." He left his sentence unfinished then went towards the TARDIS's centre console. He put his arms on the cold metal and leant forward.
"Doctor, who is she?" Clara asked, standing next to him. "Who is Rose?"
"An old, old friend," he replied and his eyes began to water. It was one of the few times Clara had seen the Doctor actually cry. She then remembered his time at Trenzalore. She knew it would have scared him so much to actually be visiting his own grave. Any of them could have died; she almost had.
"I'm taking you home, Clara." The Doctor began flicking switches and pressing buttons as the TARDIS roared up and started to flash. His face was a mask of pain and grim; Clara could tell that he was struggling to keep himself from crying. But, who was Rose? Was she a previous companion that the Doctor had travelled with? Clara didn't think she had ever met her…
"Doctor, I can't leave you here, not like this. You don't have to explain… but I want to help you." Clara looked at the Doctor, her chest fluttering. She put a hand on the Doctor's shoulders and stared him in the eyes. His dark brown eyes glinted in the light and the same-coloured hair curled over his forehead. She looked down at his chest and saw the crooked bowtie at his neck.
Clara pulled her left hand up and straightened his bowtie. "Doctor, who was she? Who was Rose?"
The Doctor stepped backwards, making Clara drop her hand from his shoulder. "I can't talk to you about Rose," he said, his lip curling. Clara's eyes widened. Was he angry? Why was he angry?
"Doctor, I didn't mean to upset y-"
"Just get out! Go away!" he yelled. He closed his eyes and turned around. Clara felt tears burn behind her eyes. He never yelled at her, not ever, not at any time. Why was he yelling at her now? Had she offended him?
She gritted her teeth and curled her fists. Turning her heel, she headed towards the door. She opened it and exited but before she could make it to the front of her house, she heard a voice. She turned around and saw the Doctor standing in the doorway of the TARDIS.
"Don't come back, Clara, don't ever come back," he said, his voice thick with tears.
"Doctor… please…" But it was too late. The TARDIS had left and so had the Doctor. Clara buried her head in her hands and collapsed by the front door. "Please… Doctor… why did you do this to me..?"

(Break/Pause)

The Doctor was upset. He looked up to the top of the TARDIS. The ceiling seemed to go on forever, endlessly. He felt a prod on his back and there she was. The woman herself.
"Rose…" he whispered as she smiled.

(Second chapter up and ready to be read. Gah. This was sad to write. :c By the way, this is my first fanfiction so reviews and comments would be good :). Thanks for following and reviewing my first chapter everyone!)