A/N. Thank you! Read, enjoy… et cetera. Reviews would be lovely!
Previously…
"You might have thought removing our memories would have been the best decision. But it does not work on everyone."
"Or it does, but the TARDIS has decided to overwrite my efforts."
This was not a question.
She nodded.
Oh, shit.
After You Get What You Want
Chapter Two
The Doctor was suddenly gaping at her, more or less like a fish. This has meant he had done something he has sworn to never do, not again… and never, never to Rose Tyler.
"But… but she can't have done that! The TARDIS loves you, she can't have made you-"
You have done it. You alone. Rose's mask of indifference was in place again after one torturous moment. Only someone as close to her as the Doctor could have made out her inner walls crumbling. But the Doctor was right here in front of her… and has long since chosen to severe the connection between them up to- to save her, fine… but why like this?
"I did not want to forget. Don't want to forget. Have chosen not to," Rose whispered.
He touched her hand tentatively. She thought for half a second before taking it away. "Have you been thinking I would be all joy and excitement after having met you? Rose would have called the Doctor a traitor… but he has at least had the decency to tell her what had to be done to keep her safe.
The Time Lord's eyes sparkled with a mixture of thankfulness, relief and shame. But he needed to know. As soon as possible. Maybe this could be undone somehow? It had to be! "I can't recall any of this," he admitted sadly. "Something is nagging me in my mind… but is gone whenever I attempt to concentrate on it. Could you please give me an inkling, at least, what I might have done to make myself forget? It's very important, Rose!"
"I was never supposed to know where you were going to finish the deed. Humans not allowed, or something… Although… you have mentioned some kind of order, some- 'something above me'… I can't quite recall your exact words now. Have been too busy crying. But you haven't been happy about it. Crossing timelines, doing the impossible… something like that. Eternal somethings."
The Doctor run his hand through his hair, his eyes suddenly wide in dread. "No! No, no, no. You can't mean the Eternals. You don't, right? Right?"
Rose paled, remembering. "Yes, this must be it."
Shit. This was bad. Worse than anything he could have ever even thought of doing. Not only has he intentionally gone to meet those… more or less spiteful, more or less evil beings… But he must have promised, must have given them something very, very important. Unless… they might have done it in pity… or for giggles. The last of the Time Lords, broken enough to ask for their aid.
But now, now that he has had the crucial information… he was ready for everything to get his memories back. Which might or might not be possible now.
"It's all right. You have done all you could to have kept me safe. Don't blame yourself… Doctor."
The Doctor could see Rose's exhaustion better than she did. Not wanting to tire her down further, he patted her on the shoulder. "Even the fiercest Wolf needs her rest. We will finish our chat whenever you're more like yourself, Rose. Go have some rest. Doctor's orders."
She stared at him. Rose has long since got used to the fact people were afraid of her… never commanding her. But the girl knew he was right. The goddamned alien whom she was supposed to hate… but didn't. On the contrary.
"Only if you promise you will still be here when I return."
"I swear it, Rose."
She gulped. "Fine. You have seen where the kettle is, there should be some books to your liking… "
"I'll be sitting here quiet as a mouse and waiting for you. Deal?"
Rose rolled her eyes at him and went to the tiny side-room to have a nap. Her dream has just come true. The Doctor was here and was not leaving her… Sleep has arrived to her unnaturally quickly this time.
In less than an hour of contemplative silence – as much as quiet contemplation was possible to someone as the Doctor, someone has entered. Noisily.
"Where has Wolf gone? I need-"
"To rest. Apparently, you lot have made her work on her day-off."
The young woman he remembered meeting at the entrance blinked at him in confusion. "And you are still here because?"
"She has asked me to wait for her," the Doctor shrugged.
"What makes you think she would be back any time soon?" The girl licked her lips, looking John over seductively. He bit back an angry remark. A very cheap move, girl.
"I know it. Know her." Intimately, it appears. All of a sudden, he was aching to remember. All of it. But nothing came. Some part of his brain was blocking it. But right now he needed to get rid of the girl. "As far as I know, the majority of institutions, unless it is some sort of brothel, don't allow such behaviour towards complete strangers. Torchwood included. I think you should leave. Find yourself a man somewhere else."
"What if it is you I want?"
Oh dear. He hated situations like this. "I am a married man."
The girl, Laura, her name-card said, looked at his hand doubtfully, then smirked. "Don't think so."
He wondered for a moment if he should call for either security or Jack Harkness. "I might.. er… call her. My wife would-"
"If you do have a wife, which I doubt, she's not here!" The nearly predatory look in the girl's eyes has made the Doctor back away.
Help has arrived from the one he did not dare hope it would. A slap, a torrent of angry words, yes. But Rose Tyler, having seemingly appeared out of nowhere, has had something different in mind. "Is Laura causing you trouble, John?"
"I'd say so," he grunted, eyeing the lost girl incredulously. For once, he felt completely relieved. The girl, was visibly uncomfortable with Rose around.
Her steely voice has made Laura forget everything about her failed efforts of seduction. "Try and look for victims among those willing. Or wait for Jack. You know that you will be kicked out of this place at another such attempt?" Usually kind towards her team-members, Rose has sometimes run out of patience, just like anybody would. Particularly when it involved someone dear to her. No, dear was not the word. It was a Gallifreyan word he has taught her… but merely using it felt like a blasphemy now that the one in question could not remember.
"What is your problem, girl? Why don't you go outside, take something off and play a damsel in distress again? There is a reason why John and I don't wear rings. But you really shouldn't risk breaking us apart," Rose hissed at her.
She shook the gloomy thoughts off her, one look making Laura leave the room.
"Ooof," Rose exhaled. "That girl is looking for romantic company everywhere." Another Reinette, of sorts.
"Thanks for saving me," he mumbled under his breath. "You have implied we-"
"Exactly. That is why you owe me one heck of a bloody favour, Time Lord!"
"You are not wearing a ring," he noted, trying to change the topic, uncomfortable. He owed her too much.
Rose cleared her throat, not ready for some sort of quarrel with the Doctor. "Well. You have left me. Asked of me to leave the past behind. And now you're wondering why I'm not wearing a ring?"
"I am merely curious." There have been more reasons for his inquiry than ordinary curiosity. But maddening Rose further was out of the question.
"You know… You are the only one who- I have promised your ring would be the only one I would wear."
Because that was how sharing a bond worked. The Time Lord sighed heavily. What have I done?