Chapter 2: One Foot in Front of the Other

She finished her local news interview in front of the library. She mentioned to the reporter afterwards that they should really be interviewing the man who came up with the plan, but they stated that a local beauty like herself, heiress to the Tayler fortune and a small celebrity in her own right, would attract much needed attention to the story.

Tired of smiling cheerily for the camera, she entered the library. It was late afternoon, and she secretly hoped to get another ride home tonight, as it was quite the ways away from central London.

He had really wanted to make sure they weren't going to be crossing paths, huh? This was about as out-of-the-way that you could get and still generally call it the Greater London area.

She found him reading in a sunny alcove between this shelf and that. He still wore the 'brainy specs' as he called them, but she knew for a fact that that he didn't need them. Small comforts, she gathered, like a lucky penny. He was out of his element in this world, stranded in the slow path.

She had said to him once, "Stranded with you isn't so bad." but she had said it to another man, hadn't she? He was deep in his book, those achingly familiar features set in stern concentration.

"Wocha," She approached, putting a smile on her face. He looked up and his smile spread.

"'Ello!" He rose, his body language leaning towards a hug, although he veered that off admirably and rocked off the heels of his feet lightly instead.

Rose didn't want to drag this out too much, and she certainly didn't want to raise his hopes. She just wanted to explain herself. She owed him that much.

"So-"

And Janica was right there, talking far too loudly for a library,

"Oi, you two!" She grasped Rose by the shoulders, talking excitedly, "You did a great job there, love!" She looked at the Doctor, "You're joining us for a celebratory dinner, yeah? It's her first public appearance since Torchwood!"

She thought she saw a flash of disappointment flash across his face, but it was gone before she was certain.

"Naah, I really ought to head home. I've been off the clock for an hour, and fell into this book." He pointed at it as if to prove his point. He had sat around waiting for her. She never asked when he was off, he just made sure he was around. Classic Doctor.

"Yeah, you should join us," Rose grinned at him, trying to shake herself free from her agent's talons, "I didn't know we're going to celebrate, so we can be surprised together."

This seemed to hit the issue right on the head: She didn't call him here just to ditch him, or to force him to meet her agent or something crazy like that. He flashed her a toothy grin, rocking on his heels,

"How can I refuse you, Rose Tyler?"

She told her knees sternly to remain firm.

They found themselves at a nice restaurant a car ride (Janica volunteered the Doctor's) away, towards the city. It was hardly the fanciest, but seemed to fit everyone's budget.

"So Theo," Janica tried once they had ordered and there was still no conversation, "I hear MIT offered you a job!"

The Doctor seemed a little surprised that she knew. "Uh, yeah." He said, sipping his water, "I sort of hacked into their computers a couple of weeks ago," He pursed his lips, "I say 'hacked' but it was more like 'strolled right in', it was really not even an effort, I mean-"

Rose cut him off, curious,

"Why would you do that?"

"They had published a book awhile ago, and I wanted to know if the bullocks about it being out of print were true."

She smiled, "Were they?"

"Actually, yes." He coughed uncomfortably, "I turned down the job, and they agreed to drop the charges. And they'll send me a copy of that book if I explain to them how I got in, since I wanted it so much."

Classic Doctor antics.

"Why did you say no?!" Janica was stunned, "They must have offered you a fortune!"

The Doctor looked at his napkin, folded it this way and that, "I came over here to live the peaceful life. I'm done with running about, trying to solve everything I look at. Mind you I still do it, but the temptations here are a lot less... risky."

Now that wasn't classic Doctor at all. Something else occurred to Rose, however,

"Wait, you two know each other?"

"Yeah!" Janica chirped, her piercing voice carrying and sending back glares from other patrons. "My hubby plays over at Doctor's place all the time!"

"Plays?"

"The boys have their poker nights, and us wives go and get our nails done." She showed Rose her nails, which looked like nails to her. Rose had been vain before she met the Doctor, worrying about things like her weight and her cuticles and her hair, but other than bleach, she kept none of it up. Perspective.

"Weeell," The Doctor intoned, looking uncomfortable, "It's not exactly poker, it's more like poker meets Bridge while dating Hearts, crossing a few streets and calling Yahtzee on the phone for tips."

Rose laughed, "What's it called?"

"The Gallifrey Gamble." He muttered.

"Your- Your hometown had gambling?" She asked, laughing incredulously.

"My people, my 'townsfolk', may not have been as saintly as I often portray them in prose." He looked away awkwardly. She laughed.

"How's it played?"

"It's a bit hard to explain..." The Doctor tugged at his ear, a habit so familiar it shot that pain she knew so well straight to her core. "You sort of have to play it to get it."

It was almost an invitation, but not quite. Could be read as such, if she so chose. Sometimes she forgot how brilliant he really was. Wondered how much of everything he said was a clever calculation. Like a game of chess with him, his mind always five steps ahead.

"I'd love to learn it one day." There. She could be clever, too. She's not promising anything and not shutting him down, either. She wished Janica would leave so that they didn't have to lie or and dance around truths.

"It sounds like you're taking it easy." Rose leaned back, tried to remain casual even when his expression showed signs of distress at her question. Again, he regained control quickly.

"Yeah, just this and that…" There was a nagging worry in the back of her mind. That answer wasn't clever. Wasn't anything other than evasive. On this topic she was stumped. He wasn't acting like himself at all. Upon studying him, she found he had probably lost weight, not that he had a lot to work with from the get go. He looked nervous at her scrutiny and asked if either of them read any good books lately.

After dinner he suggested they get the bill and he'll drive her home. Janica managed to weasel that he drop her off first.

So most of the trip was to the sound of Janica's piercing voice, asking questions and chattering away about everything from celebrity gossip to the weather.

By the time the Doctor dropped the vocal agent off, they were a mere 15 minutes away from Rose's apartment. This time the Doctor made no effort to talk to her along the remaining distance, his eyes hard in his face and his mouth set into a thin line.

She finally had a chance to speak, but the nerves made her delay speaking until of course, it was too late.

He slowed down to a stop in front of her building, pulling the handbrake.

"I'm sorry about all this." He said. Her heart jumped, but he clarified, "I didn't know the 'celebrity' Janica had invited was you. I didn't mean to…" He stumbled, then tried again, hands gripping the wheel, "I didn't mean to break the promise."

Somehow these words calmed her. He was just as nervous about all of this as she was. Seeing him nervous seemed to have some calming effect on her, twice now, and she said,

"You want to come up and grab a drink? This is the second time you've driven me home."

His gaze, set on the steering wheel until now, snapped to her, his brows up. Had he assumed she'd send him on his way and not talk to him? She was trying to heal, and the distance between them was causing her equal measures of satisfaction and stress, just like everything else about him.

She both loved the sight of him and despised every second in his presence. She wanted to sort it out and at least get a chance to explain what she had come to explain.

He agreed cautiously.


Oof, took me longer than I thought to update. It's been a rough while. Don't worry, I do plan on continuing it, although the pace might not be very fast. Give me a couple of weeks and I should have the next part.

Ever yours,

LunarBlade.