Chapter 2

*BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ.*

Rose groans and rolls over, slapping the alarm clock violently. She rolls back onto her other side and slides her arm across the bed. She frowns when she feels its emptiness. This isn't the way it's supposed to be. She sits up and stretches, raising her arms above her head. She runs her fingers through her blonde hair then gets out of the bed, going about her usual morning routine.

Quick shower. Breakfast for one. A cup of coffee. Brush teeth. Throw up. Brush teeth again. Get dressed for work. Another cup of coffee. Pick up the keys. Out the door. Drive to work.

The drive was typical. Nothing special about today. Nothing special about any day since he left. She sighs and looks at her left hand. Both rings, the diamond and the simple gold band, still in their place. But he wasn't. She barely noticed anything as she pulled into the parking lot of Torchwood and parked in the place with her name on it. Rose Smith. The place right next to his. Empty as usual.

She gets out and starts into the building, smiling politely as she passes her coworkers. She gets on the elevator and presses the 11 button. The doors begin to close until a hand slides in and they open back up. Rose looks up and smiles at her new best friend.

"Dr. Jones," she says, nodding slightly. Martha laughs as she walks on and pushes the 10 button.

"Good morning, Rose," she says. Rose smiles a little more and shakes her head slightly. The doors close and Martha turns to her, crossing her arms. Rose's smile falls.

"No," she says, simply. Martha rolls her eyes and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a small white stick and holds it out.

"Either you take it or I'm forcing you to the hospital to have blood drawn," she says. Rose shakes her head.

"Martha. I'm not pregnant. It's not possible," she says, looking at her fully. Martha shakes her head.

"He's been gone a month, Rose. You've just started feeling ill recently. It's entirely possible and you know it," she says. Rose runs her hands over her face then looks up when the doors open. "Take it," Martha says, backing off the elevator slowly. Rose rolls her eyes and snatches the test from her hands quickly. "Thank you!" Martha chirps, rushing to her duties. Rose sighs and leans against the wall as the doors close again. She stares down at the test and bites her lip slightly before the doors open onto her floor. She slips the test into her pocket and rushes off the elevator to the nearest bathroom. She locks the door behind her quickly before leaning against the door for a moment. When she finally gets up the nerve to take the test she goes into a stall. She comes out after a moment and washes her hands, staring blankly at her reflection.

"This is so stupid," she mumbles, leaning against the counter. She crosses her arms and taps her foot slightly as she waits. After a minute, she rolls her eyes and picks up the test. She looks at it and her eyes widen slightly before there's a loud knock on the door. She jumps and looks at the door quickly.

"Rose!" Martha says. Rose frowns and starts for the door slowly. "Rose! You have to get out here!" Martha says. Rose rushes to the door quicker. She unlocks it and pulls it open.

"What is it?" She asks. Her eyes widen when Martha grabs her hand and pulls her from the bathroom quickly. "Martha, what is going on?" She asks, dropping the small test into her own pocket again. They stop at a crowd gathered around a small monitor.

"This transmission was just picked up. I thought you should hear it," she says. Rose looks at her confused then at the screen just as the image of a blonde woman appears on the screen.

"My name is River Song. This message is for anyone who knows...who loves the Doctor. He's dying. But we can stop it. We can save him. We have to. He needs you. He needs us all. I'm including some coordinates at the end of this message. Hurry. Please," the woman says. Rose stares at the screen blankly.

"Wh-what are the coordinates?" She asks quietly. The person at the monitor begins to type and pull up different maps and global positioning systems.

"It doesn't matter. You're not going," a voice says from behind her. She whirls around and meets the eyes of the man she loves. The man whose name she'd taken. John Smith. Her husband. Her human meta-crisis doctor.

"I am too. And you have no right to tell me what I can and can't do. You gave up the right to even suggest what I should do when you walked out on me a month ago," she says, turning back to the monitor. "And why are you even here? You completely vanished off the face of the earth for a month," she mumbles. John walks over and looks at the monitor as the message plays again.

"I got the message," he says, shrugging. Rose looks at him quickly.

"You got the message? How did you get the message? And where have you been?" She asks, staring at him. He shrugs again, watching the coordinates flash across the screen. She rolls her eyes and looks at the monitor.

"Get the dimension cannon ready," she says. Martha and John both look at her.

"You're not going!" John says. She looks at him and nods.

"I am too. He needs me. He's dying and I'm not going to sit back and let it happen," she says, walking across the room. He sighs as he follows her.

"You can't interfere, Rose," he says. She sits at her desk and looks at their wedding picture. She frowns and lays it facedown quickly as he walks over. "Rose," he says, softer as he kneels down next to her. He turns her chair to face him and takes her hands in his. "Please. Promise you won't go," he says quietly. She frowns at him and pulls her hands away.

"Okay," she whispers. He smiles a little and kisses her forehead.

"Thank you," he says, standing back up. She turns to her desk, nodding. He watches her for a moment then turns to leave. Rose wipes at her cheek quickly when she feels a stray tear fall. She waits until she hears him leave then stands up.

"Get the dimension cannon ready," she says. Martha rushes over to her.

"Are you crazy? You just promised John you wouldn't go!" She says. Rose shrugs and pulls the test from her pocket.

"And he promised me forever. Guess we both lied," she says, looking at the tiny positive sign.