Chapter 2:

Needs Vs. Wants

It was late afternoon when they reached town, their feet tired from the long walk. Not much was said between the half Doctor and Rose, as they trudged along. Jackie was the one to break the silence.

"I don't know about you two, but could sure use some hot food and a good cuppa. First though, we need to check in to a hotel and then get some essentials if we are going to last until the zeppelin arrives." She said to the two of them, not expecting a response.

The partial Time Lord spoke first. "S'pose you're right Jackie. I am feeling a little peckish-well, more like famished actually. Could also do with a good kip too. What say you, Rose Tyler? You up for a bit of food?"

Rose nodded and replied, "Ya, sounds good. I wouldn't half mind some chips right now" as a small smile crept up her lips.

A cheeky grin came to the Half Doctor's face, as he remembered the first date Rose had shared with his full Time Lord counterpart. "That reminds me of the time we went to the year five billion to watch the end of the world on platform one. Do you remember?"

Rose, forgetting her heartache momentarily, replied "Our first date – we had chips!" As soon as she said those words, her smile faltered and she muttered "On second thought, I don't feel hungry anymore. Maybe you could bring me back something instead? I think I'll just head to bed when we check in."

Sensing she was uncomfortable with talking about the memory, the half Doctor decided not to push Rose any further and simply said "Yup", popping the 'p' and nodding his head in agreement.

A few moments later they reached a suitable hotel and sauntered into the lobby. At the front desk, a man with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes watched the trio come in. Jackie went up to the gentleman and asked for 2 rooms, specifying they be close in proximity and one needed to be a suite with two beds.

The blue eyed attendant nodded and said "Yes Madam, we have two rooms available with your specifications. They are located on the third floor of the hotel – rooms 310 and 312, the latter having the suite. Will this do?", his voice thick with a Norwegian accent.

Meanwhile, the half Doctor wandered about, already bored out of his mind. He began inspecting the many paintings of the foyer, flicking through the tourist brochures and testing the lobby's chairs by bouncing on them.

"Yes, thank you" Jackie said, as she gave her information, paid for the rooms with her credit card and gave Rose one of the key cards to their suite. Just before Rose turned to find the elevator, Jackie grabbed her arm gently and said in a quiet voice "Sweetheart, I know how hard you worked to get back to the Doctor and I'm sorry it didn't work the way you planned. Your heart may be broken now, but it will heal, and as I see it, he's given you a gift. Don't waste it."

With fresh tears threatening to fall, Rose softly replied "I know Mum. I just need some time to get my head around the situation. I'll come around, I always do" As she wiped the tears from her lashes and gave her Mum a hug.

Jackie nodded in agreeance and decided to change the subject. "Since you've decided to get an early night, is their any essentials I can pick up for you while his highness and I are at the shops?" She said with a smirk.

Rose, smiled at her mother's comment. "Actually, that would be great, thanks. All I need are some pajamas and knickers – size medium, a toothbrush, toothpaste and something to brush my hair with."

"Alright love, we'll also make sure to bring you back some take away. I'll just put it in the fridge if your asleep when I get in, shall I? Off you pop." Jackie said as she kindly pushed her daughter towards the elevator.

"Now, where did he get to?" Jackie pondered with her hands on her hips as she began looking around the lobby for the half Doctor.

"Trying to phone home, are you? Your just like bloody E.T., you are!" she quipped as she

found the partial Time Lord toying with a pay phone in an alcove off the lobby.

"Oi! I take offense to that remark! I'm only part alien if you care to remember Jackie, and as for looks, E.T. has nothing on me." the half Doctor exclaimed ending the sentence with a cheeky grin.

Rolling her eyes, Jackie sighed and motioned for the partial Time Lord to follow her out of the hotel. Walking down the steps and onto road, they soon found a shopping centre that supplied everything they needed.

Walking into the entrance, Jackie and the partial Time Lord looked around, immediately finding a hypermarket called ICA Maxi where they could get everything they needed.

"Now, since I am the one with the money, don't wander off too far. Just grab the necessities you will need for tonight, yeah?" Commented Jackie as she turned around to see the half Doctor already traipsing away from her.

XOXOXOX

The partial Time Lord, only half listening to Jackie's requests, sauntered down one of the isles not really knowing where to start first. Minutes later, he found the Men's section and decided to start there. Browsing through the department, he casually picked up shirts and trousers as he went and put them up against himself to see if they would fit. Still continuing to browse, he made his way through the department trying to think of what he would consider 'essential'.

Suddenly, spotting the section designated for coats, he let out an excited "HA!" and dashed full on towards it. His face was full of excitement as he frantically browsed through the coats until he found exactly what he was looking for: a brown, ankle length faux-suede trench coat, complete with satin lining. This coat closely resembled the one his full Time Lord twin wore, minus one small difference; the satin was a beautiful maroon colour. "Oh, you beauty! Your gorgeous! I'm going to have to get you!" He gleefully slipped the coat on and twirled about, almost knocking into a rack of oxfords. Sighing with happiness, the half Doctor decided the trench coat was an essential he just couldn't live without.

Continuing on through menswear, his excitement overtook him as he forgot to search for more practical essentials like underpants and socks. Instead, he went looking for something that, he thought, made him look a little bit cleaver. Eventually coming across a rack of glasses, he began trying multiple pairs on. Settling on a pair of square, black frames he put them on, gave a beaming smile and waggled his eyebrows for good measure. Now that he grabbed everything he thought he needed, the hybrid Doctor decided to turn his attention back to finding Jackie.

Five minutes later, the half Doctor found her in the toiletries section of the store, picking up

some toothpaste and some toothbrushes. "Ah, Jackie. There you are. I think I've found everything I need. how did you get on?" Now clad in his trench coat and glasses.

Turning to look the hybrid Doctor, she realized the only things he managed to 'pick up', were a flipping coat and a pair of bleedin' glasses. "You've got to be kidding me. Are you trying to wind me up or something?" Obviously irritated with his lack of attention and self control.

Not knowing what she meant, the half Doctor gave a quizzical look. "I'm not. Everyone needs a good coat, especially one with pockets! Pockets are a genius invention, don't you think? I once smuggled a portable prismatic matrix stabilizer onto the planet Apollonian in the galaxy of Delphi-386 in one of my pockets. If Rose and I hadn't done so, the planet would have been blown to smithereens! Besides, I think it looks good on me."

"And as for the glasses, th-" trying to continue, the partial Time Lord was interrupted by Jackie.

"Doctor! Stop, yeah?. You're really a plum, aren't you! I meant essentials like pants, toothbrush, toothpaste, pajamas and a comb, not a ruddy coat and a pair of glasses you don't even need!"

The partial Time Lord looked at her sheepishly "Oh. Right. So sorry. Forgot in my excitement, I guess. On the TARDIS, almost everything is provided for, so I don't usually go out for 'necessities'. I'll just go look for them, shall I?" He walked away as fast as his feet could take him.

The half Doctor momentarily felt a pang of longing stir deep within himself as he quickly navigated the store picking up the objects that Jackie had listed. He reached into his pocket and felt for the piece of TARDIS he was given. Curling his slender fingers around it, he hoped the time would go reasonably fast so he could once again travel the stars with Rose.