Wandering Rose
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Previously, in Chapter One ...
"Nathan! Get the gun!" the oldest of the two brothers yelled. He'd obviously been pushed to the floor when the Doctor had invaded their home. Nathan, it appeared, was too stunned to take action.
"Thomas?" the younger brother called out, his eyes still staring at the Time Lord, frozen in place, his mouth gaping in surprise.
The Doctor turned to Nathan, his eyes meeting the frightened stare. "Shut your yap," he spat, then slammed his fist under the younger brother's jaw, effectively closing it closed and knocking his head back enough to bounce into the wall behind him. Nathan slid to the floor, a bloody trail following him down the aged and peeling wallpaper.
The Doctor turned to the man still sitting on the floor, his steely gaze telling him that he would be next to face his wrath. The older man began scrambling backwards until he, too, was up against a wall.
"What, what d-do you want?" Thomas stuttered, willing to barter anything to save himself from this stranger's ire.
"The girl," the Doctor seethed evenly, stepping closer.
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Chapter Two:
Wandering Worries
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"Wait Mister - just, just wait a minute!" Thomas said, hands rising in front of him defensively. "We didn't know she belonged to anyone! She was sitting by herself, an' she didn't say she was married! Jus' take her!"
"So you thought she was just waitin' there for you and your brother to take home?" The Doctor's voice was furiously low, his nostrils flaring with each breath. He grabbed the man's wrists, hauling him up until he was standing. "She. Is. Mine," the Time Lord seethed, slamming Rose's kidnapper against the wall between each word.
When he was done speaking he released Thomas, watching as he fell back, dazed from the attack. The Time Lord couldn't stop himself when his hands balled into fists and began punching. He didn't want to.
"No! Stop! She was friendly to us! No one's friendly with us!" The paling man shouted out, hoping to stop the beating he was taking.
"So you thought because she was nice that she wanted you and your brother to bring her here to your place, beat her until she was unconscious, and then what? WHAT?"
The Doctor did not wait for an answer, pulling the coward's arm while using his other hand to push until he heard the satisfying crack of his humerus. He watched without emotion as Thomas screamed in agony, then punched him in the face, effectively knocking him unconscious. He could've done more harm, and really, he wanted to. But he restrained himself. His priority was Rose.
The Doctor hadn't heard a peep from Rose during his tirade and spun around, expecting to find her unconscious. Instead her eyes met his. They were glassy and wide, staring at him with a look he could not decipher.
"Rose?"
She continued to stare as he stepped closer. He knelt down beside her, fully taking in her appearance. Rivulets of dried blood skimmed down her pale chin from her lips, and a deep purple bruise was forming on her right cheek. Her shirt, torn to expose the lacy bra beneath, allowed his eyes to see the scratches marring her skin, and just beyond the edge of the material he saw more bruises forming. He could only guess what other harm had been done to her, hidden beneath her tattered clothing.
Bringing his gaze back to her face, he noticed her shivering and knew she was going into shock. "I'm goin' to get you untied and back to the TARDIS," he spoke softly, though his tone was a little gruff. "Have you sorted in no time, me. You'll be good as new." He leaned toward Rose, intent on untying the ropes binding her to the chair. The Doctor did not anticipate the scream that tore from her as he neared.
Rose continued to scream as the Doctor untied her bonds, undeterred. He knew she was probably concussed and presumed she didn't recognize him.
Whether from exhaustion or her injuries or both, Rose soon collapsed against the Time Lord's chest, falling forward as he finished with the ropes holding her upright in the chair. Quickly he lifted his companion into his arms, taking her out of this nightmare and into the night.
Mounting Rose on the horse-like creature had been ungraceful at best, but somehow the Doctor managed to get her balanced, laying her carefully on her stomach across the animal's back. He then crawled atop the equine and pulled Rose up to a seated position in front of him, resting her limp form against his chest. Carefully he removed his jacket then wrapped the garment around her front, hoping to warm her chilled skin.
They began their journey away from the house on the hill, heading downward at as fast a speed as the Doctor dared, feeling her unsteady respirations beneath his grasp.
He began talking softly to Rose, her head on his shoulder. The wind picked up, whipping leaves across their path as the Time Lord spoke of an approaching storm. He encouraged her to awaken and watch the lightning that would surely be spectacular. She did not respond.
The weather was definitely deteriorating, but he kept them in forward motion: The sooner he could reach the TARDIS, the sooner he could get them out of it.
When two men on horseback suddenly came out from between the trees in front of him, the Doctor was caught unaware, his focus on Rose and his senses dampened down by the storm and all its rising glorious noise. He stopped his steed from bucking Rose and himself off, but only just barely; the animal was clearly startled.
"Where d'you think you're headin' to, boy?"
The Doctor looked at the man speaking, but did not respond until he was sure he had Rose balanced, secured once more within his grasp.
"I'm takin' us home, if it's any of your business. She's been hurt and needs takin' care of," he responded, his words harsh even through the thunder. A bolt of lightning streaked above them, illuminating the men clearly for the Doctor to see. It struck him a bit odd; they looked familiar to him, though he knew only a very few on this planet.
"I don't think you're goin' anywhere, pal. You see, me an' my brother here, we just saw you leavin' our place. Roughed up our brothers pretty bad, and it looks to me like you're due a little payback."
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