Author's Note: I really like were this story has been going with itself. It turned from a Rose has doubtful feelings to Rose left and the Doctor tries to woo her back to him. Not what I pictured either at the start, but I hope if you've read this far then I hope you're enjoying it as well. I'm all the way up to the 50th anniversary special in the show now, and I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with myself once all caught up. Any suggestions?
Lots of lead-up this chapter and then everything will just explode in the next. Enjoy trying to be sweet and sexy Nine, along with bitchy, confused and slightly turned on Rose. I personally think it's a great combination that the world needs to know about. Long chapter, but totally worth it.
The Doctor showed up at her door just as she was leaving to walk to work. It was just after 7 and she had told him she worked at 8, so no matter how dashing he was in that leather jacket of his; she couldn't afford to drop everything to have awkward tea time at this moment. Her work was quite far away and she refused to spend her money catching a bus when she was young, active and had two good legs underneath her. Even if her very short shorts made he feel like she was freezing to death along the way.
The worst part about it was that he had a bouquet of flowers with him like he had put thought into this. The Doctor took all of two seconds to sweep his eyes down her body, no doubt taking in the outfit and her intent of leaving; before he dropped from his smiling mood. He realized she was on her way to work then; but Rose noted her Doctor not letting his disappointment show, just swooping back to his usual gruff mood.
Rose took pity and gave him a more polite smile then she used to be able to and then let her gaze drop to the flowers. At which point the leather jacketed male coughed like something was caught in his throat and thrust the bouquet of what could only be Earth flowers at Rose. Not the most graceful way a guy could ever give a girl flowers; but then again Rose had never actually received flowers before. It made her feel happy, and yet at the same time she was confused to why he would bring flowers. Or bother showing up when it was late and he said he would be early.
"I'm just going to work now, you caught me just heading out the door." Rose was really trying to be polite, he had brought flowers after all. Though, she wasn't sure what to do with them other then go back inside and hand them over to her hung-over mother, whom hadn't been in the best of moods that day. Rose really didn't want to do that, and besides if she didn't leave now she would need a faster pace than walking to get there on time and she didn't want to waste all her energy before even starting her shift.
Right, stupid ape can play it stupid and get a little bit creative. On the few journeys they had been through together, Rose had learned a thing or two about thinking and planning on the run; though she hadn't pictured using her newly found skills against the Doctor. Oh well, life seems to work in mysterious ways and she might have still been a little angry about his last night visit. Rose made her move quickly, not giving herself anytime to back away once her mind was made up.
She shoved the flowers back into the Doctors surprised hands just hard enough that he had to clutch them to his chest and then moved around him to get on her way to work. Rose nearly gave up her little charade when he reacted in less than three seconds, scampering after her like the wounded animal she knew he secretly was. On her heels, trying to grab at her hand for one reason or another.
The thing about this whole ridiculous situation was that he was still clutching those flowers to his chest and for some reason that made her heart jump in a funny arrhythmia of palpitations. If she gave in now, Rose knew that she would be dropping everything and spending the night with him. Not even for something like sex either, for awkward tea and watching him out of the corner of her eye as long as he would stay. Not exactly the greatest thing to lose her job over, even if it would be a few hours with him.
Though, that was exactly the reason to why she had left in the first place. Her life was to simple and she couldn't keep up with the big eared Time Lord. Just an ape, an ape that he seemed to have grown attached to and even though it had been realized back into the wild, he still wanted to make sure it was functioning and remembering to do things like eat once in a while. It was just hard to see pets move on when you are already attached to them.
Great, now she wanted to cry in front of the Doctor; which was entirely not an option. He was still to close behind her, even as she hooked down the buildings steps, for it to be considered socially acceptable. Even he didn't take notice to that fact or he actually didn't care at the weird looks they got as soon as they were out the building. Actually, he was probably used to weird looks when wearing that leather jacket git-up to planets and time-lines where it wasn't exactly acceptable. She could almost feel his cold skin pressing into her back with him that close, and if it didn't bother him; she would just forget to mention it. Then again, he was getting flower petals on her work outfit.
Rose stopped and swung around in one abrupt moment that had the Doctor showing off his obviously superior motor skills, in managing to stop with them pressed together and pull the flowers out of the way at the same time. Hooking that arm around her waist and giving her what Rose would classify as his best closed mouth grin. That, was hardly fair in her opinion as he knew how much she loved to see the expression and he seemed to have saved it for the most special of moments. Moments like everyone lived and look Rose, I didn't cut myself shaving today!
She couldn't stay angry at a face like that, and Rose was sure at that moment that the Doctor was taking advantage of that. "Doctor, I'm going to work. I don't have time for tea today and I don't want flowers." Okay, so apparently she could stay a bit madder than anticipated; Rose was proud at herself in that moment. Or maybe not, as she watched the expression on his face melt from the grumpy hurt puppy dog look that had when he was happy, to the you have just injured me.
He didn't move away though, as apparently glaring at her with an arm holding her against him was enough. They probably looked like a fighting couple to anyone passing by; and the worst part was that even Rose thought she was being a bit cruel. Well, more than a little bit cruel and there was always the thought of he had actually come to see her and she was hard running in the opposite direction. What else could she do? The flowers were scaring her and the Doctor had never acted anything like this before!
She didn't deserve that arm around her waist or the flowers, not after the way she reacted when he did something as simple as tell her his age. It would be better if he left now, and found something new. Maybe him never coming back to her would serve her right; Rose knew she didn't deserve the gruff and yet sweet warrior. Yet, here the Doctor was seeming trying to get her attention as she spat in his face. Or maybe it was much worse than that; what if he was in some kind of trouble and was trying to send her the right signs?
Suddenly everything made sense in the world to Rose once more; this visit was him trying to warn and/or protect her. The Doctor was probably so frustrated with her tiny human brain at this point, but Rose was happy to have understood when she did. Otherwise she would have probably had a heart-attack when he just through the flowers away from them. They had landed in an open trash can, Rose took the time to note, as the Doctor slid impossibly closer and wrapped his other arm around her. Her feet left the ground as he pulled her up, to practically be sitting against him.
Yes, Rose was very grateful she understood now, because otherwise the motion of the Doctor combined with that glaring, and frustrated face would have lead her in a misleading direction. Rose knew better than that though; the Doctor didn't do small things like domestics, so doing larger than life things like bringing a girl flowers was just a sign of trouble. The flowers were gone now though, she had expressed she didn't want them and they had served there apparent life's purpose.
Rose wrapped her arms loosely around the Doctor's neck, trying not to fidget at the fact that he had her hitched up to be nearly sitting around his waist. She had never actually been this close to the Doctor before and was feeling a bit uncomfortable about it. The worst part was that she wasn't even sure what kind of uncomfortable it was; like she was shivering about this and though she was scared about all these unknown and dangerous implications, there was also the fact that she could feel a cool and attractive body between her legs. Rose wasn't even sure if she wanted to go to work anymore.
Except that she was a grown-up, with boring and yet Earth necessary adult responsibilities. When had she grown up anyways? It actually probably happened at the moment the Doctor picked her up and made the space between her legs throb with his stupid and dangerous alien situations and tactics to get out of them. What's worse was Rose was now reminding herself every few seconds that this was some kind of crazy plan for him and that meant she was being used like some kind of pawn. A small chess piece in a greater picture. There was no point in getting hung up over such things like her alien friend making sure she was pressed up against him.
"I still have to get to work." Rose whispered in a much quieter tone then she could ever remember using before in her entire life. It wasn't the time to be load when pressed up to another and your faces close enough together that you can feel each other breathing on you. On the upside; that also meant that she was close enough to him to hear that low, throaty growl he did when he was irritated. The growl that she had only heard once before, when they had been tied up back to back in a dungeon together. It sent a shiver down her spine just like it had that other time; with the embarrassing addition of her back forcefully arching closer to him for a few seconds out of reflex.
Her face heated up red and Rose bit her lip in shame. The Doctor only seemed to grip her tighter, nearly making it impossible for her to move. That was understandable; he certainly didn't want ta lowly human doing something like dry humping him. It's not like she meant to do that or anything, but Rose was still ashamed of what little control she seemingly had over her body. He was probably disgusted with her at this very moment, though his face was blank and gave nothing away.
The Doctor examined her for another moment before breaking out another one of his fantastic grins; showing her that in his mind he had yet again had the best idea ever. "Just quit, what's human money when you're travelling the stars anyway?" His tone was insistent; like he was trying to make her understand.
Rose's heart pounded hard in her chest; she was terrified of the implications of what was happening. He needed her to come with her, but couldn't say why and apparently this minute without giving motion that she would come back. It made her think that someone or something had been watching or following her instead of the Doctor. Suddenly, Rose feared she was putting her mother in danger by being back on Earth. She clenched her teeth hard enough to make them ach; no one threatened her mum.
Overall, Rose Tyler felt like crying while being held in the arms of the man (he preferred being referred to as an alien to a man,) that she respected and maybe even loved. It was a hard moment; if she left with him again it would be giving in. There was a chance that it could be called going back into a bad situation; people would certainly talk. Not the first time she had run off with an older man, and even her neighbours around her knew she wasn't the smartest girl. They had to, after watching her come home crying and beaten after 4 months when she had only been 16.
The Doctor was most certainly not Jimmy and he would not take a swing at her because she wasn't old enough to purchase alcohol for him. One of the first things she noticed was that the Doctor didn't drink and though he had tended to brood like most men did when frustrated and angry drunk, he remained a soft centered grizzly bear. She trusted him from, "Run!" and so she would just have to trust him now. Except there was a thought in her mind of if she left this job without so much as a say it would be impossible to find a job when she came back again.
"Let's drop by and say I'm not coming back then." Rose said with a sigh, wanting to jump down and away, but unable to with just how tightly she was being held.