A prequel to Bridging the Gap. Inspired by a Youtube video about the Human Doctor and Rose set to "Fix You" by Coldplay. Tennant's Coldplay love makes it all the better, I think. I don't own Doctor Who or the songs used.

Fix You

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bone
And I will try
to fix you

-Fix You, Coldplay


The Doctor thought that he needed to be fixed. That's why he had been left here on this strangely familiar planet. That's why he was at the Tyler's, leaning against the door to Rose's room, wishing she would at least talk to him.

They'd begun a tentative relationship, becoming reaccquianted with one another. He kept forgetting he was a human. He would tire easily and sleep, becoming angry that he couldn't do what he used to. Angry that his head hurt with all of the Gallifreyan knowledge stuffed into his inferior human brain.

He was still part Time Lord, but he couldn't help but feel angry at the Doctor. Sure, he had committed genocide against the Daleks, but millions of humans would have died. He honestly didn't understand the logic the Doctor posessed at that point. Sure, as a human he was more brash, more jumpy, but that didn't warrant being sent into exile. Sure, he had a TARDIS coral, but it would take a few years, even with Donna's brilliance. The only bright bit of said exile was Rose.

He dipped his toes into human life. Rose informed him off all the small differences in this world. Coldplay was not as mocked. The Tube was cleaner. Harriet Jones was not dead, in fact. Torchwood was alien-friendly. Prince Charles had passed, leaving William next-in-line, but the Queen still reigned. There was no moon landing by the U.S. The Russians had beat them to it. She mentioned something about alien interference at NASA, some creatures she said that looked like the Ood, but creepier. He tried chips, and found that his human taste-buds quite liked them. There was a pub in downtown London with the best chips, according to Rose. So they had gone together, hand in hand.

Since he had no psychic papers, Pete Tyler situated him with a falseifed birth certificate. (He was from the small village of Gallifrey in Scotland. As of a decade ago, the entire population had left, leaving it untraceable.) He also needed a name. John Smith was the logical choice. But he had to honour Donna in some way.

"Noble?" Pete had asked sceptically.

"I am part Donna, after all."

He noticed the ever so slight wince that Rose made. For those first few days, she was wary of him. Trying not to get attached. But he was so loveable. Still her Doctor. She had grown as attached to him as ever, it was inevetiable. But he was darker, more cynical. He reminded her of the first Doctor she had met. Bad attitude with a leather jacket. When he told her to run, she did. And she hadn't looked back. He was the Doctor, just a bit more human. But he insisted on being called "John". She couldn't.

His face was pressed up against the side of her door, hearing her wracked sobs. On the other side of the door, she had slid onto the carpet, head resting against the door. She was taken to a time when she had first been torn away from the Doctor, pressing her head against the metal, as if he was just on the other side. Her letting go of the lever. His retreating back. It was all too much. She slammed her hands against the floor. She was supposed to be helping him, but here she was crying.

She had been surprised to see a bit of Nine's personality shining through. At first she had been solemn, as it was a sign that her Doctor no longer existed in him. But then she realised that she had both of her Doctors in him. The bitterness, the sarcasm, she welcomed it. He had begun to mellow, his anger at being abandoned subsiding.

They had both been abandoned. What was to stop him from abandoning her? They had the TARDIS coral. He could get sick of her and up and leave. The tears streamed down her face as the panic set in deeper. The fear of abandonment was all too real. He couldn't leave her again. She wouldn't be able to take it.

A light knock came at the door.

"Rose," he whispered.

She opened the door a crack, his teary eyes matching her own. She leapt to her feet, hugging him.

"Don't leave me," she said.

He looked at her, flabbergasted. How was he to know a throwaway jab at running away from Jackie's chattering could make her so emotional?

"Never, Rose Tyler," he hugged her to his chest, running his hand through her golden hair.

"Even when the TARDIS is fully grown?" she asked.

He pulled away from her, hands on her shoulders.

"Then we'll be travelling the stars together," he assured her.

She smiled lightly, "Well don't we look like a right mess?"

He looked serious, considering it. They both needed some healing, to be fixed. He grinned slightly.

"And I will try to fix you," he sang softly. Her smile broadened, and she shook her head. How could she never become attached to this man? This wonderful, crazy man.


So, a bit sappy, but I like it well enough. So, who thought the Doctor's Wife was a brilliant episode? I did, especially because Rory's the "Pretty One". And bunkbeds are cool. Anyways, thank you for reading. Please review, I appreciate it.