Norway…..
"Rose," Jackie pressed, "Come on love we've gotta go, you heard 'im say so, it's imposs-"
"The Doctor can do six impossible things before breakfast." She muttered in response, remaining as she was stood staring out at the ocean.
"Come on Rose," Mickey urged with a gentle hand on her shoulder, "It's gettin' late, we'll be lucky if we get outta this place before the worst of that get's here." He turned towards the dark clouds that had begun gathering behind them, the rumbling of thunder in the distance just audible over the wind and waves.
"Five and a half hours, that's all I need." She whispered.
"You've been here five and a half months love," Pete replied softly, coming to stand on her other side with Jackie tucked under his arm, "You've said your goodbyes, but it's time to go home now."
"Home?" She laughed sadly shaking her head, "My home is lost-"
"Oh come on sweetheart," Jackie tutted taking her daughter by the shoulders and turning her towards the jeep, "It's not all that bad now is it, we're together eh, that's what matters."
"But we're not-" Rose objected shrugging off the arm that seemed to smother her, "He's gone-"
She could barely get a proper breath into her lungs as pain tore through her skull and she lurched forward, the world around her spinning out of control as she clutched her head, her back colliding hard with the jeeps side as she stumbled and slid down it, her eyes rolling back as ancient indecipherable whisperings of once leather and blue turned pinstriped and brown echoed through her mind.
Rose gasped, opening her eyes to the great glass ceiling of the TARDIS library.
"Good to see you've finally joined us." The amused tones of a voice she had never heard before echoed around the alcoves.
"Yes," Called another eagerly, "Welcome, so nice to finally meet you properly."
Rose breathed in the familiar scent of old parchment and the gentle wisps of sandalwood incense the ship continuously burnt in the corner of the room. She sat up cautiously, rising to peer over the back of the sofa in the direction of the two as yet unknown female occupants.
"Where am I?"
The one with the blonde curls spoke first, her tone pleasant if not a little condescending, "In the TARDIS of course." She chuckled.
"That's impossible," Rose replied quickly, sliding off the couch and moving steadily, "The walls are-"
"Oh piffle," The woman with the jet black hair giggled "It's merely a matter of perception."
A warm feeling fluttering in Rose's head at the sound of her voice and she frowned as she sat herself down across from her.
"Who are you?" She asked again, watching the kindly woman pour tea from a pot on the table.
"Patience." The blonde replied diverting Rose's attention as she reached out to take a cup from the tray.
"The last memory I have is of a beach in Norway," Rose raised an eyebrow, "Had a pretty rough few months as it is so you'll excuse me if my patience is wearing-"
"Oh no," The woman laughed, reaching out a hand to rest on Rose's knee, "You misunderstand and I apologize, I am Patience, that is my name."
"Oh." Rose was silent as she took in this new information and nodded, "Sorry," She mumbled turning to the other woman as she offered her a cup, "And you?"
"Oh so many names," She flustered, "What does he call me, no wait I remembered, will remember- Ooohhhh I am Sexy?"
"No dear," Patience sighed fondly with just the hint of a smirk, "That's only when you're alone."
"Oh yes," She smiled brightly at Rose and spread her arms wide, "This is me, I am everywhere, every when, everything-"
"You're the TARDIS?" Rose gaped at the familiar wheezing, "But you're-"
"Yes that's it!" She nodded enthusiastically.
"Idris," Patience smiled nodding towards the open book on the table, "Perhaps it's time we got down to business?"
"Business?" Rose glanced between the two.
"Yes, yes of course," Idris nodded, "So little to do and so much time- no that's not right-"
"Yes well," Patience rolled her eyes, "He does have a rather ridiculous penchant for those blasted films I'm not surprised-"
"You're talkin' bout the Doctor," Rose shot to her feet, glancing frantically about, "Where is he, I gotta find 'im, let 'im know I'm here-"
"My Thief is not with us," Idris took Rose's hand gently from across the small table, rounding it to pull Rose back down to sit by her, "I know how much this must hurt but there are greater things at stake here than your heart little one-"
"So you're not really here," Rose nodded sadly, "This isn't real yea, just a figment of my imagination? A-a dream or halluc-"
"The TARDIS is a transdimensional creature," Patience offered, "Just because a Time Lord cannot breach the walls of reality does not necessarily mean his ship cannot exist outside of that reality."
"So if she's the TARDIS," Rose questioned downing half her tea to help quell the impending migraine that will no doubt develop from this particular conversation, "Then who are you?"
"The Doctor's wife." She supplied calmly from behind her cup, taking a sip before returning it to its saucer, crossing her legs as she observed the other woman's reaction.
"Oh, right," She sniffed, hiding her emotions behind a mask of indifference, "Of course he's got a wife, a thousand years old he was bound to 'ave one. So what is all this then, warnin' me off chasin' after 'im or something, 'cause I won't then- sorta explains- quite right, never mind-"
"Don't misconstrue our intentions with a Time Lord's inability to keep his name sake," Patience chuckled, "He will say it when the time is right, or perhaps he has already done and you just weren't paying attention?"
Rose frowned at the woman's quirked brow, "How'd you mean? I thought you were- why would you-?"
"Long before the Doctor there was another," She replied cryptically, "And while they are one in the same, I no longer lay claim to either, merely a ghost of all things past granted the grace of the TARDIS to keep watch over him until enlightenment might free me."
"You're an eternal?" Rose asked curiously.
"I was once born of the purest house of Gallifrey," She acknowledge with a nod, "Immortal and Eternal by birth right, it is my only wish to one day return home and be at peace."
"He mentioned em' once," Rose mused, "Eternals that is and enlightenment an' all that, said you all fled after the Time War."
"I know," She smirked, nodding towards Idris, "We were there remember."
"And you keep an' eye on 'im yea," Rose fiddled with her sleeve, "Protect 'im?"
"Always." Patience agreed, "As long as he needs it."
"Yea right," Rose snorted, "An' he calls me jeopardy friendly, bet he's in no end o' trouble right about now."
Patience laughed, "There are fail safe's put in place to ensure time plays out as it should."
"So I'm one of those fail safe's?" Rose asked, Idris smiling proudly as she caught on.
"Clever girl." Patience smirked.
"So I'm gonna see im' again?" Her smile began to stretch out across her face.
"Oh yes." Patience replied waggling her eyebrows.
"And-and we'll be together?" Rose asked hesitantly.
"Spoilers." Patience smirked.
"There is a long way to go till any of our futures can be assured my little wolf," Idris took Rose's cheek in hand, "There is much to do and many to save and you didn't like, won't like what you might, will find or do on the path that awaits you."
"He's worth it though," Rose replied adamantly, pressing a hand to the palm on her cheek, "You both are."
"Then you will accept what is, will be asked of you?" Idris smiled softly as she gazed at the little girl who she'd shared her heart with.
"Without hesitation," Rose nodded, "Whatever it takes."
"Good," Patience grinned sharing a knowing glance with Idris, "Then you must return to them."
"Yes," Idris agreed, "The loud slappy one cries for her child."
"Mum?" Rose laughed.
"You've been out for quite some time," Patience glanced up at the bank of clocks on the wall to her right as she produced a small object from a hidden pocket in her gown.
"Right." Rose nodded releasing a puff of breath as the other woman slipped the small trinket into her palm and closed both their hands around it with a wistful smile.
Rose met her eyes, "Back to it then?"
"Good luck Rose Tyler." She beamed stepping away.
"And remember, you are not alone," Idris smiled hugging Rose tightly, "He will find you soon, here it comes, here it comes, do you hear it yet?"
"Hear what?" Rose frowned, watching Idris lift her hand to touch a long delicate finger to her forehead applying the slightest of pressure.
"The sound of drums."