He opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally answering in a barely audible voice, "it's me."
Rose took a deep breath, preparing to barrage Jason with a thousand questions when the doorbell began to sound. They both went completely still, the tension in the room palpable. They stared at one another as if waiting to see who would make the first move. Both of them were silent, lost in their own thoughts. Was it really the Doctor, the Other Doctor? Why now? How? The questions swirled unanswered between them.
Jason's heart beat double time in his chest. He had faced Cyberman and Daleks. He had lost more in one moment than most people could lose over a thousand life times. Yet here, now, he was afraid. Terrified if he admitted it to himself. He had run into himself before. It was inevitable when one travelled through time as much as he did, but this time was different. This time he feared that his other self, his fully Time Lord self, would take away the one thing that he held dear in this universe. The one thing that kept him grounded when he wanted to simply run without ever looking back. Would Rose leave him when she was confronted with the opportunity to travel once again with Him?
The ringing on the doorbell became more insistent, followed by loud pounding. Jason started, finally waking from his stupor and headed towards the door, Rose a few paces behind him. His heart was pounding and his palms were sweaty, but Jason knew that he had to do this. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, Jason threw open the door.
Except for the eerily familiar ancient eyes, the man in front of him was young, impossibly young.
"Blimey," muttered Jason, "if this keeps up, I'll be wearing nappies on the next go around."
"Oi," the Doctor snapped, "you've just gone and gotten old." He pointed at the laugh lines around Jason's eyes and the stubble on his chin, leaning forward a bit and squinting as he did so.
Jason opened his mouth to respond then closed it again. He looked towards Rose for support, but she merely shrugged, covering her mouth to hide her smile. Apparently, he was still rude and not ginger in this regeneration.
"But,' began Jason, deciding it best to move on from the insult, "how are you even here? It's…"
"Impossible," supplied the Doctor, clapping his hands together. "Yes, yes it is. But you see, I was… Well, there was this… And then I just…"
Jason crossed his arms and leaned back against the door jamb. "You have no idea, do you?"
"Well," he began, scratching his head in a familiar nervous gesture, "actually, erm… no."
"But why come here? Why didn't you get in the TARDIS and high tail it back to your proper universe?" Jason pressed. If the Doctor came here, to see him, there must be some reason, some motive. Jason had been the Time Lord for over 900 years, long enough to know that he didn't just pop in for a social call.
The Doctor looked at his shoes and muttered something, a slight blush tinging his cheeks. Rose was surprised, not even realizing that Time Lords could blush.
Jason straightened and squinted at the Time Lord, "I'm sorry what did you say?"
"She locked me out," the Doctor huffed, not looking Jason in the eye.
Jason blinked and tried to hold back his laughter. What had the Doctor done to make the TARDIS mad enough to lock him out? He only recalled that happening once. And as he remembered, he definitely deserved it.
"She seemed to want me to come here," the Doctor continued, scratching his head again. "I'm not sure why? Wait a minute! Have you done something stupid? Been mucking about in the time lines or trying to rip holes in the fabric of reality?"
"Me?" Jason roared, pointing his finger and narrowing his eyes at the Doctor. "I was just sitting on my couch enjoying a well-deserved day off and watching a cheesy science fiction film with my wife. You're the one who came crashing through the void into the wrong universe!"
At the word wife, the Doctor's eyes flicked over to Rose.
"Are you two…" he began, waving his hand vaguely between the two of them.
Jason snaked his arm possessively around Rose before responding firmly, "Yes. Yes we are." He realized that he was acting a bit like a dog peeing on his turf, but at the moment he couldn't help himself.
The Doctor continued looking at Rose, a wild grin forming on his face. "Well that's just brilliant!"
It hurt Rose that the only look in the Doctor's eyes was one of kindness and affection. It was the same look one would give to any friend. She knew it shouldn't bring her pain. She had her Doctor. And she should be happy knowing that the Other Doctor had moved on, found someone or something worth living for. But she felt a squeeze to her heart nonetheless. She wondered if he had ever even mentioned her name once she was gone. Had it been so easy for him to relegate her to the back of his mind along with the long line of other companions he had travelled with? Was that all she had really been to him?
Rose sighed and leaned towards her husband whispering, "Are we going to make him stand outside all day? Shouldn't we…"
"Oh, right." He looked startled, as if the idea had never occurred to him. "Best come in then, since you're here." He stepped aside, allowing the Doctor entry to their home.
The Doctor's eyes widened a bit in surprise. He had been afraid of their reaction to him. He had expected anger, maybe even hatred, but here they stood, inviting him in to their lives. He let out a breath that he hadn't even realized he was holding.
"Do you have a bunk bed I can sleep in?" he blurted out suddenly.
Rose furrowed her brows in confusion, but a look of glee spread on Jason's face. "No we don't, but that would be brilliant. A bed with a ladder. Ooooh Rose, we have to get one!"
At that, Jason turned and walked back into the house continuing to ramble about what a great invention bunk beds were. She thought she heard him say something about the inventor of bunk beds and a noble prize as she tagged along behind him.
The Doctor stood at the door for a moment longer before finally following them in.
"Right then," the Doctor muttered, straightening his shoulders, "Geronimo."