Chapter 2! Sorry for the delay, loves. School got in the way. An OOC Doctor who is very glad to see that Rose still knows who he is.
Rose shuddered as the words of the beast echoed in her mind.
The valiant child, who will die in battle so very soon…
The Doctor had sent her to bed soon after her return to the TARDIS, and at the time she'd agreed – adrenalin had stopped coursing through her veins and her limbs had felt heavy. But as she'd laid in her bed, the words had returned to the forefront of her mind and whenever she closed her eyes she imagined the Doctor jumping into that god-forsaken pit.
Deciding sleep wouldn't come any time soon, Rose had left her bedroom, heading to the galley for a cuppa. She'd been sitting there for several minutes, palms wrapped around the warm ceramic and eyes gazing off into the distance, trying to think of anything but the beast, its words, and losing the Doctor forever. The tea was comforting in every aspect – its warm scent and the heat on her lips and palms spoke of home and safety, and the taste was a nearly painful familiarity that grounded her. She wasn't stuck on Krop Tor, she was safe on the TARDIS, the Doctor was with her.
She was safe.
The valiant child, who will die in battle so very soon…
Rose squeezed her eyes shut against the words, fighting them with every aspect of her being. She wasn't going to die. The Doctor would keep her safe. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and stood, ready to try sleeping again. She quickly washed out the mug and left it on the small drying rack before making her way out of the galley and back to her bedroom.
She passed by a familiar door when she heard a whimper. She stopped, frowning and wondering if she'd imagined things, but the whimper came again and Rose turned to look at the familiar door.
She'd been in his bedroom before, of course. Since his violent nightmare in his previous body, she'd joined him in his bed several times, each basking in the other's presence and taking comfort in their safety. Rose had never slept better than when she was wrapped up in the Doctor's arms, protected against the universe.
But she hadn't come to the Doctor since his regeneration, fearful of rejection, especially after the incident with Madame de Pompadour.
She let out a deep breath and carefully opened the door.
The bedroom was different. It was dark in the room, but Rose could still see that the previous Doctor's hard, utilitarian tastes had been replaced by this Doctor's more baroque style – eccentric and heavily decorated.
The Doctor was in his bed, and unlike her previous Doctor, he seemed to almost be drowning in blankets, a warm-looking duvet covering most of him. His handsome face was grimacing in pain from his dream, and he twitched harshly in his sleep, indicative of a nightmare. Quietly, Rose closed the door behind her and moved forward, kneeling next to his bed like she'd done so long ago with the other Doctor. She gently reached forward to stroke his cheek.
Burning. Everything was burning. Everyone was screaming, running, burning. No matter where he looked the people screamed at him for help.
"EXT-ER-MIN-ATE!"
The vision changed suddenly, and her mind was filled with the giant beast with blazing yellow eyes that seemed sunken into it's terrifying face, horns curling from the top of its head and its mouth snarling to reveal broken and sharp teeth…
She snatched her hand away, her eyes widening in shock and fear. What was that?
The Doctor whimpered again, his face drawn in terror and tears now leaving tracks on his cheeks, and Rose steeled herself. She could do this. This was her Doctor, and she could do this for him.
"Doctor," she whispered, reaching forward to stroke his cheek again and whimpering when the beast filled her mind again, laughing at her, mocking her…
No.
The beast didn't control her. It snarled as it was pushed aside, tossed into the corners of her mind. She pulled the feelings of safety and warmth to the forefront of her mind, hoping that if his nightmare could be projected to her, her comfort could find its way to him.
The frown disappeared from his face and the creases left his forehead. His mouth slackened slightly.
The screaming dulled, as though he were gradually losing his hearing, and the Daleks and the beast disappeared, pushed away. Warmth and comfort flooded his mind, a golden tide ebbing slowly into his thoughts, chasing away the negative and promising safety and love.
His eyes fluttered open and confused brown met warm and hopeful hazel.
"Rose," he whispered, so like his past self.
"I'm here," she told him, smiling slightly at him and reaching forward to take his hand in hers, knowing the tears from his nightmare still stained her cheeks.
"You're here," he repeated, reaching forward with his free hand and gently wiping a stray tear away. "You came. I dreamt – "
She shushed him quietly, stroking his cheek with her thumb. "I know," she murmured, keeping her gaze locked on his.
He shuffled away from her, a pleading expression in his eyes, and she nodded. There was no hesitancy in her movements as she quickly slipped into his warm bed – much plusher and softer than it had been before – and she moved until their faces were only centimeters apart, keeping up her gentle touches on his face. His arm snaked its way around her waist, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he rolled onto his back and she shifted to rest her head on his chest, feeling his hearts pound beneath his ribcage. A hand went to her hair and he gently ran his fingers through the soft locks. "I'm so glad you came," he told her in a strangled whisper, and Rose bent her neck to look up at him, seeing fresh tears reflect off his cheeks.
"I'll always come," she promised him quietly. "I've got you now."
He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling the same weight behind the promise as he had in his last regeneration. He'd feared she would abandon him to his nightmares now that she wasn't the same man she knew, but he understood, now, that her promise wasn't limited to a particular face. Regardless of what he looked like, she had him. She would always come for him.
"We're safe," she echoed her words from so long ago.
He tightened his grip on her waist. "Don't leave me here alone," he begged quietly.
He felt her shake her head against his chest. "Never," she swore. "I've got you, Doctor. I'll never let you go."