So apparently this thing happened, so the first chapter is now fixed, and should h ave its full content, not just the summary and code

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Rose and the Doctor have some conversation and chips while they wait for Jack.

Huge thanks to my beta grammar goddess, empress of the betas veritascara for making this story so much better.

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"We don't really have to have carpets where we live, do we?" His expression was pained, though there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

Rose burst into laughter. "No, no, we don't."

The Doctor breathed a mock sigh of relief. "Then, Rose Tyler, I think this is the start of a beautiful life. Together."

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While they waited for Jack, they started swapping stories from the time they were apart. He told her of meeting Shakespeare, of getting stuck in 1969, of Donna waving at the baby Adipose. She told him about working at that universe's Torchwood, and lightly touched on some of the places she landed in search of him. Rose had also gone back and gotten her A-levels, and started some studies at a university. He was so proud of her for that, but he noticed that they both were sticking to lighter subjects.

Studying her, he started to notice the differences between this Rose, and the one he had lost. She was a bit thinner and moved differently. Her Torchwood training, he supposed, but it made him a little uneasy to wonder what she had been through. Because as he observed her, he picked up on the fact that she was constantly keeping watch. Every time someone new came close, her eyes would flick to them, evaluate, and then return to him. His stomach twisted a little when he realized she reminded him of a solider, a hunter, and–his traitorous mind supplied–a wolf.

Then his stomach twisted for another reason, as it gave an audible growl of hunger. Aghast, he stared down at it, before looking up at Rose. "Blimey, that was loud. Oh, oh, no! Don't tell me I metabolize things like a human now. Well, that's just rubbish."

Rose couldn't help it; she burst into laughter and squeezed his hand. "Welcome to what the rest of us have to deal with. Come on, you, I have Mum's old money she gave to me. How 'bout we go find a chippy, yeah?"

Her laughter and grin made his scowl fade away, and he let her tug him to his feet. "Oh, that is so you; it could be end of the world, and you want chips."

"And I'm still the one paying for them, you owe me, mate." Rose bumped him with her shoulder as they started to walk.

"Not my fault I don't carry money around. How many planets have we been to, Rose? If I carried money around for all of them, well, that would fill even my pockets." He stuck his free hand down in his suit pocket as he grinned at her.

"I s'pose it would. Good thing for us, then, I planned ahead." She gave him a wide grin as they started closing in on a chip shop. The tip of her tongue sticking out of her mouth distracted him from investigating whatever it was he felt in his pockets.

Rose noted his dazed look, and her expression morphed into one of concern. "Doctor, is everything alright?"

He blinked at her, refocusing, "What?" Realizing he had been staring at her mouth, a red flush started to creep across his face, and he hastily cleared his throat, his voice coming out a bit high pitched. "Yep, just fine, that's me, a-okay. Oh, don't let me say that again."

"Aaaand we're here!" He bounced on the balls of feet, and then tugged on his left ear, looking sideways at her as the stopped at the chippie.

Shooting him an amused look, she gave him a playful shove. "Yep, why don't you find us a table, and I'll be right back."

He watched her go, his gaze drifting downward, resting on her bum as she walked away. With a jerk, he realized what he was doing and flushed again, quickly moving to find a seat. Rassilon, he thought to himself, what is wrong with me? Finding a table, he dropped himself into a seat, taking a deep breath as he did so.

It was then that it really hit him. Taking in that breath, he realized the scents he took in were somewhat muted. Oh, he could still pick up on traces of different things in the air–chemicals, personal scents, pollen on the breeze. However, it wasn't as sharp and distinct as it was with his full Time Lord body. He had to think about things hard and carefully analyze them in order to distinguish fine details. It was like someone had draped a blanket between him and the rest of the world, dulling his senses slightly. Which lead to another disturbing thought, just what else was affected?

Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose as he took a quick inventory. He already knew he had only one heart, and yep, no respiratory bypass either. This body was a bit more fragile, still stronger then a human's but less then his full Time Lord self. And, oh, oh no, this was bad. This was very bad. He had no control at all over his hormones. Which meant it was going to be har- . . . difficult, to hide his reactions to one very attractive Miss Rose Tyler.

Groaning a little, he did a quick check of his mental and telepathic capabilities. Luckily enough, he retained the Gallifreyan physiology for the brain, which left his mental skills more or less intact–perhaps not quite as sharp–but there at the back of his mind, was the faintest of presence of the TARDIS and of the full Time Lord.

That presented a whole other set of problems, but it would take the Time Lord actually being on the same planet and in the same time to pick up on him. He was gone now, so he could relax. They might never be in the same time and planet again. Odds were they would just crisscross each other's paths through space and time. Oh, who was he kidding, this was the Doctor and Rose Tyler. Of course, it would happen sooner or later. Which would mean what, for him?

"Doctor, are you okay?" Rose's voice interrupted his increasingly more morose train of thoughts, as did the plate of fish and chips she set down in front of him. When he breathed in the scent, his stomach growled at him again. Opening his eyes, he looked into her worried expression and dragged up a smile.

"I'm fine," he hastened to reassure her, as he picked up a chip. He popped it into his mouth, chewing as he took in her skeptical expression. After he swallowed, he sighed and sat back, his conscience prodding at him not to lie to her. Oddly enough, it almost sounded like Donna's voice pestering him.

"Okay, I'm not fine. I just don't want to worry you." His admission had her hand sliding over to clasp his.

"It's okay to worry me. I'm not completely fine either." His eyes met hers, and he saw the pain hidden in their depths. "I've learned how to keep going and having you here with me helps. Once things get sorted, well, I'm sure there will be lots we have to talk about."

He squeezed her hand lightly, keeping it there as he reached for another chip. Somehow he just felt more settled, calmer, having her hand to hold. "Speaking of which, what did you have planned, originally?"

Rose's smile was ghosting her lips, but it was there. Choosing to eat left-handed, she kept her hand in his, taking bites interspacing their conversation. "Oh, Dad set me up with some stuff to convert to cash. I figure Jack can help with that. Originally, I was thinking of going to uni and studying for a bit. Still can, but I was thinking if we settle in Cardiff, that might help our TARDIS grow, being near the rift and all."

"Oh, that's brilliant!" He beamed a smile at her and saw her smile grow stronger in response. "A ready source of energy for the baby TARDIS will help speed things up a bit. Still, most likely take a couple of years to reach full growth."

Then his face fell. "Oh, I suppose I'll have to get a job; isn't that just wizard."

Rose had to laugh at the face he made. "Could always work for Jack. I'm sure he'd be happy to help us out."

At that, the Doctor made an even more disgusted face. "Now that just makes it worse." But the expression faded into a smile as she laughed, because that was what he wanted.

"Jack's not that bad," Rose grinned at the look he shot her. "Besides, we have time to decide, we don't have to decide everything right now. I've got more then enough to get us settled, and time to make decisions."

There was something more; he could see how she was hesitating. "Rose, what is it?"

"Well, we are going to have to get some identification made up. Rose Tyler is dead here, so I'll have to come up with another name." She shot him a look, keeping her tone light. "You'll have to think about that too. I mean, you'll need human identification, you could go with John Smith, but that's pretty generic."

He stopped eating, his stomach twisting as he stared at her. Insecurities sent a chill up his spine as his mind filled in other reasons. The Doctor went by John Smith, was it she didn't believe he was really him? "I've always used John Smith. I'm still me."

The look Rose gave him back was calm, and she squeezed his hand in reassurance. "I know you are, and if that is what you decide, that's what we'll use."

It didn't quite calm the sly lick of panic and insecurity. "I am still me–same memories, thoughts, same man. Just, some bits of Donna got thrown into the mix."

She gave him a reassuring smile. "S'like when you regenerated, same man just the packaging changed. In this case it only changed a little, yeah?"

He breathed out slowly, calming. Rose believed him, believed in him; he was going to be okay. "Yeah, same man," he shot her a look. "You'll still call me Doctor, right?"

"Yes," she was quick to reassure him.

Rose watched him relax as he started eating again. She was used to the Doctor extruding confidence no matter what. This him, though, seemed to have some insecurity, perhaps influence from Donna? The woman she met in that very wrong parallel world didn't really believe she was anything special.

She felt a flash of guilt at the way she was comparing him to the original. It was natural to do so; he both was the Doctor, and he wasn't, all at once. It was going to take time for that fully to sink in. This Doctor, though, he was staying with her, and that was enough for now.

He looked up and blurted out, "John Noble." At her raised eyebrows he went on to explain. "Still me, but with a bit of Donna added. Do you think she would like that?"

Nodding slowly, her smile spread. "Doctor John Noble has a nice sound to it. I think Donna would be chuffed." As she watched, he relaxed further. They were both on edge; they both had been running for a while. When they stopped, well, she would deal with that when it came.

Before she could think more along that vein, her phone rang in her pocket. Fishing it out, she saw it was Jack calling, and she answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Doll, just hitting London now, where are you?"

Looking up at the corner, she rattled off the name of the chippie and the cross streets to Jack.

I know right where you are, I'll be there in ten minutes. How are you holding up?

The concern in his warm voice was evident, and she smiled slightly. "M'fine. We're fine. Might need some help with a place to crash once you get us back to Cardiff.

Already on it, Gwen booked a nice hotel room for you, and I've got the bill covered, so don't worry about it. Got you one room, two beds, so whatever you two are up to, or not, you are covered. Though I think you should take him out for a test drive and give me all the details."

"Jack!" Her voice was filled with laughter, "Not happening."

"The test drive or the details?"

"I'll see you in ten minutes, Jack." With a grin, she hung up, looking over to the Doctor's raised eyebrows. "Just Jack being Jack, y'know? He'll be here shortly, so it's a good thing we are about done here." Rose watched him start and look down at the empty plates.

"Blimey. Didn't realize we had finished all that. Was too caught up in talking to you, I guess."

Bemused at his surprise, she studied him. "Feeling better, though, getting some food in ya?"

His expression cleared as he considered and nodded slowly.

"I thought you might, come on lets clear out, yeah?"

They relinquished hands and picked up and tossed things in the nearest rubbish bin. Though as they walked towards the street, it seemed automatic to reach and twine fingers again. It was an instinctive gesture, linking hands–the fit feeling just right.

Rose looked over at the Doctor, and then her gaze flicked up into the sky. It was dark, but the lights of London prevented her from seeing any stars. He was out there, somewhere, the original Doctor, and a part of her ached knowing that. Was he okay? Was Donna looking after him? It was such a disjointed feeling, being worried about him out there, when he was also right here next to her.

When she dropped her gaze down, she felt the Doctor's eyes on her. Looking over, she gave him a small smile. His expression was hard for her to read at the moment. He opened his mouth, a question on his lips, when they were interrupted by a black SUV pulling up to them. The window of the passenger side rolled down and a familiar voice called out, "Someone here call for a taxi?"

Rose's whole face brightened, and she launched forward, the Doctor coming with her, as both refused to relinquish their grip. "Mickey! Jack didn't tell me you were going to be here too."

The dark skinned man grinned, pushing the door open and giving her a hug, which Rose returned one armed. "Yeah, well, I figured Captain Cheesecake could use an extra driver, just in case. After the last time, you aren't allowed to drive when I'm in the car."

Rose just laughed. There was the sound of another car door slamming shut, and Jack came around the bonnet of the car. "Okay, where's mine, and I told you, Mickey Mouse, it's beefcake."

This time, Rose broke free and ran forward, Jack sweeping her up in a hug. "I have to say, Rosie, the other Doctor is an idiot, but I'm glad I get to spend some time with you."

Rose's breath hitched once, and Jack's hold on her gentled. "Rose?"

His voice was laced with concern, and Rose pulled back shaking her head. "M'fine, really, I am."

The Doctor approached her slowly, caution written all over his body language. She reached over to grab his hand when he got close. "Just really missed you, Jack, how did you get here and everything anyways?"

Jack swung his gaze over to the Doctor, who rocked slightly on the balls of his feet, his face a mask. "Well, that is a really long story. How about the two of you hop in? Mickey and I are just going to stretch our legs a bit. We'll be right back and then head to Cardiff. Sound good?"

Rose frowned, looking from Jack to the Doctor, who offered a tight lipped smile. "Alright, I still want that story, mind."

"In the car, Blondie," Jack teased her lightly, as he and Mickey started to walk off.

"Oi, watch it!" Rose gave him a playful swat and opened the door, starting to climb in, the Doctor following her.

As soon as they shut the door, she turned to look at him. "What was that all about?"

The Doctor was quiet, staring at his shoes before lifting his gaze to meet her eyes. "Do you remember anything from the Game Station–from when you came back to rescue me?"

Rose turned a little, and steeled herself visibly, while keeping her hand in his. "Almost everything now, some of the details are a little fuzzy. I started having dreams in th' other universe. That's when it started coming back t'me."

"Oh," the Doctor rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. "Do you remember bringing Jack back to life?"

Her gaze turned inward as she carefully sorted through the memory, she nodded slowly, gaze locking with the Doctor's again. "I do now."

"Weeeeeeellllll, you weren't fully in control of the power, and you kinda brought him back to life permanently." He watched her face as she puzzled through is meaning and then paled.

"Y' mean he can't die, ever?" Rose was horrified at the thought, eyes wide.

"He can die, he just can't stay dead."

"And we just left him there?" The Doctor winced at her tone and moved hastily to explain.

"Rose, listen, you remember I had to draw the Vortex energy out of you so you wouldn't burn up?"

She scowled a little at him. "Yeah, and you kissed me doing it, don't think we're not talking about that later."

"Yeeeees, well, anyways," he hastily started explaining the rest, "I was dying; I had to get you into the TARDIS. What happened to Jack made him a living fixed point. Now you need to understand that we are trained from a very young age to stay away from fixed point. A living being becoming a fixed point just feels utterly wrong; it isn't something that was ever supposed to happen. So I was hurting, trying to make sure you were okay, and my instincts were screaming at me to get away from him. A Time Lord has to be really sick in mind to deliberately mess with a fixed point of any kind."

Rose listened, her expression calming. "An' then you regenerated, got regeneration sickness, and fought the Sycorax."

A somewhat wry and bitter smile twisted the Doctor's lips. "That was also when my hand got chopped off, the hand that eventually resulted in my creation. Which is an odd way to think about it, but so very true, I was that Doctor then, and this Doctor now."

They were both silent for a moment, and then he cleared his throat and continued. "By the time that was over, well, I didn't forget about him but . . ." His voice trailed off, and he tugged on his ear. "You were so uncertain for a bit over my regeneration, and I was a little afraid that you would go off with him."

Rose's mouth opened and then shut, as he stared at his shoes. "Oh," she finally managed.

"Yeah, not my finest moment," he risked a glance up at her.

Rose was quiet, thinking it over, and in that moment Mickey and Jack climbed back in the vehicle. Rose leaned forward, letting go of the Doctor's hand to give Jack a hug. "M' so sorry, I didn't mean to do it, Jack."

He was startled at first, but then Jack shot a glance at the Doctor, giving Rose a gentle squeeze back before she pulled away. "S'okay, Rosie, I came to terms with it a long time ago. Besides, it's allowed me to save a lot of lives. I take it the Doctor explained it to you?"

She nodded, shifting back into her seat. The Doctor slowly reached over for her hand again, and she promptly took it. His taut frame relaxed.

Jack looked back at them as Mickey started up the vehicle, "Next stop, Cardiff."