Back To You

Chapter 4: A Visit Home

By: Dame Rose Tyler

A/N: This is a revise chapter!!!

Yes, I know I've been out of the update loop for a little while, but I had my computer stolen, and with it all of the chapters I was working on.. So in short it may take me a little while to get over it and find the creativity I seem to have lost with my laptop… Luckily the home insurance bought us a new one,. So updates are going to start again now, hopefully at least once a week. This particular chapter may be revised at a later date… Depends on your response to it.. so without further a due.. Here it is, chapter four.

~Rose

Last Time when we left Rose…

"I know what you're thinking Rose. It's not as bad as you think; you'll understand it all when the council reveals the prophecies to you." Rose smiled slightly and waved goodbye to Romana as she started the dematerialization process.

"I'll be back in a few days your time k? By then I should have a companion for the council to meet. If you need me before I return you have my number."

Romana smiled and closed the Tardis door.

"Rose, you'll heal in time, just give it a chance." She knew Rose was missing her family, she also knew that was the first place she was going to go. Into the past when she wasn't there to see her mother, all Romana could do now was hope Rose would find what she needed to in herself before she met the up with the Doctor again.

And now on with the story!

Rose sat in her jump seat thinking of the council's decision and things past. The scope of it was the fact she knew they were right in their decision; she needed to see the world for herself before she returns and joins the doctor. The idea of showing her own companion the universe was slightly appealing when she really thought of it.

Rose reached into her suit pocket and pulled out her own sonic screwdriver, she had already gone with Romana to acquire so many things to be like the Doctor. Rose gasped in realization; they wanted her to be her own person, to find the strength in herself. Now she knew for sure it was a good idea, it was time to find this companion of other worldly origins, right after she finished with her mother. Rose cringed, she loved her mother but at this point she could see why the Doctor was so set on limiting their visits. The Tardis hummed to life, notifying Rose that they had landed on the Tyler estate.

Rose sighed and walked over to the railing by the door, grabbing her jacket she marched down the ramp and threw open the doors. Before she could even take three steps Jackie, Mickey and Pete were all standing before her.

"Rose! Oh my sweet child your finally home!" Rose hugged her mother and smiled.

"Yeah that's me, home to the family for a break." Jackie frowned.

"What do you mean home for a break?"

"I have to go back and finish my final tests for Tardis flight, I'm just taking a sabbatical to see the universe."

Mickey couldn't help it and just laughed.

"Good to see you again Rose, I see not only have you taken to dressing like the Doctor, you've developed his sense of humor as well." Mickey held out his arms and waved her into a hug.

"Glad you came to visit. So how long you staying and what are are you doing next?" Rose smiled, same old Mickey.

"About a week, then it's off into the universe in search of a plus one to scare and put into mortal danger.' Rose clapped her hands together and laughing in a mockingly evil way.

"Well enough chin wagging, let's go inside and see what you've been up to, before your mother freaks out Rose." Rose smiled at Pete and followed them up to the house.

Rose smiled as they walked into the house at the few memories she had here. Of Christmas and then her mind wondered to the Doctors final good bye. Rose shook her head and smiled at her mother.

"I'll go grab some tea, you guys go sit down."

Mickey and Pete sat across from Rose as she looked around the room.

"I see not much has changed in the few days I've been gone."

Mickey could only shake his head, "Come on Rose I wasn't born yesterday, you've been gone longer then that. It shows in your eyes."

Rose nodded, "Yeah but don't tell my mom, been three hundred some odd years for me."

Pete smiled and looked to the door to see if Jackie was coming before he continued.

"Before you leave Rose I'd like you to look at some of the reading we're getting back at Torchwood."

"Really, Anything I should be concerned about?"

"We're not sure yet, but we think the stars are going out?"

Rose reached in her pocket and fingered her Tardis key, she wasn't sure but something about that statement made her really nervous. It was almost like something from the academy was nagging at her subconscious.

"I'll look at it, but it sounds like something I should tell the council about back on Gallifrey."

Rose looked over to the door and smiled at her mother as she walked in carrying a trey of hot tea.

"So, Rose how is things on Gall-galifry, that planet that you're on?"

"It's pronounced Gallifrey mother. Things are going really well, the council will give me permission for Tran dimensional travel once I complete the tasks at hand."

Jackie frowned and sat the trey on the table, "Back to the Doctor then? It's like you're not even concerned about seeing me anymore." Jackie continued to rant her voice piercing Rose's now superior hearing. Before she could stop herself Rose had stood and glared at her mother.

'Would you please shut up!?" Rose took a deep breath once Jackie had calmed down.

"I'm not going to be there all of the time; my Tardis can travel between worlds, so I will still be able to see you. That and you know damn well that I want nothing more in the universe, hell the span of eternity then to be with the Doctor." Rose huffed and sat back down; her eyes were still filled with a black swirl of anger.

Jackie took in Rose's appearance and swallowed.

"Rose, I'm sorry I didn't realize."

"You normally don't, so quick to judge. That's one thing I'm glad the doctor taught me, how to look beyond and accept things for how they are, not how they seem."

From that point on Rose's visit was uneventful. After dinner Pete took Rose to his office at torchwood to look over the readings they we're getting from the rift.

"I've seen these before Pete, on Gallifrey. They were in the archive pertaining to the Time War. I may have to cut my visit short and go find that companion so I can return to Gallifrey and go get the Doctor. I have a feeling we're really going to need him.'

Pete sighed and leaned back in his chair, Rose glanced at his face. It was as if that sentence aged him.

"Is it going to be like the cyber men all over again?"

"Pete, I'm not going to lie to you, this could be and more then likely much worse." Pete picked up the papers regarding the rift readings and shoved them into a manila envelope and handed them to Rose.

"Take these with you. I think you need to head back and get this sorted soon before whatever it is gets here."

The drive back was silent; Rose shifted through the readings and sighed. These readings were familiar; she just didn't want to let Pete know until she spoke with the council. The only other thing she really wondered was if it was affecting the Doctors universe as well.

Jackie was waiting in the kitchen when they got back and smiled as Rose came in.

"So now that business is taken care of are you going to spend some time with your mother and tell me what you've been up to? I know you think I wouldn't notice Rose, but I'm your mother, I know you've been gone longer then you said you were."

Rose looked at her shoes sheepishly and sat across from Jackie.

"Your right I've been gone for 300 some odd years. Had a lot of adventures, but I mostly spent my time in the academy."

Jackie nodded, "So what kind of stuff are you learning?"

Rose looked at her hands and winded her fingers together, before looking over at Jackie and smiling.

"All sorts of things really, stuff that I would have never learned taking my A levels back on the estate."

"Well I'm sure that what ever your learning it's too complicated for me to wrap my mind around."

Rose smiled and reached out to her mothers hand.

"Just because I'm different now doesn't make me any less human."

Jackie smiled weakly at her and cleared her throat.

"Well I had better get up to bed, Pete told me you would be leaving, something about important business."

Rose nodded and hugged her mother.

"I'll be back soon, and I will call."

Rose turned and walked up to her Tardis. Throwing open the doors she threw her coat over the railing. Her hands drifted over the controls.

"Tardis put us into the vortex; I have to go do some research in the library before we head out to find me a companion." The lights flickered as the Tardis responded. The center council wheezed to life as the Tardis disappeared from Pete's lawn.

From that point Rose spent hours in the library pouring over all of the information regarding the Time War. So far all of the data matched, it was the Daleks. There was no mistaking it now, the records confirmed it. Rose threw the book against the wall and screamed.

"They just never stop!"

Growling in frustration Rose walked out of the library and down a hall until she reached her room.

"Find us a planet so I can get a decent companion. I think I'm going to take a nap and reflect." The Tardis nudged her mind in agreement and Rose smiled.

Sorry to leave it here, but my kids are awake and I have some homework to do, I'll try to get some more up in the next day or so depending on where my mind takes things. Please review, suggestions and changes are always welcome!

~Rose