A/N - Hey all! Here is chapter 4 for you, a little longer than usual, so yippee! Hope you enjoy it, don't forget to review!
Disclaimer - Sadly, I don't own any aspect of Doctor Who (though I can still dream, can't I?)
Chapter 4 – Two sugars?
"I'm going to take a look around the other side," Rose told the Doctor.
"Alright," he replied, not taking his eyes off the suspended ice, "Just don't break anything!" Rose laughed and began to walk around the side of the huge sculpture.
However, instead of studying the large blocks of floating ice, she found herself thinking about the kiss that the Doctor had placed upon her lips earlier. The warmth that had flooded her body. The prickling tingle that had raced down her spine. The very thought made her slightly weak at the knees again. Something so wonderful, lasting so little time. She looked forward to another one of those…
Suddenly, Rose felt the buzz of her mobile phone in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw the word "MUM" flashing on the screen. Her mother never called her when she was out "travelling". Fearing the worst, Rose hastily pressed the green button and held the phone to her ear.
"Mum! Is everything alright? Is it more aliens over London, 'cause if it is-"
"Rose, sweetheart, calm down!" Jackie's voice replied, somewhat in disbelief, "Nothing's wrong! No aliens flying around or anything. Is it a crime to want to have a chat with my daughter?"
"No, 'course it isn't," said Rose, her shoulders visibly relaxing now that she knew her mother (and her planet) was safe. Her mind at rest, Rose began to animatedly report on what she and the Doctor had been up to since she last saw her mother.
"We're now in an art gallery in New New York in the year five billion and twenty eight." Rose turned and spotted an exquisite glass sculpture of a unicorn, with what looked like fine blue and silver gauze trapped inside it, "Oh, I just found the most gorgeous unicorn statue! It would look great on the mantelpiece. I'll see if there are any postcards of it!"
"Rose, darling," Jackie interrupted, "I know you may have lost track of things with all this traveling in time, but it's my birthday today."
"Oh my god!" Rose gasped, "Mum, I'm so sorry! You're right, I have completely lost track! And it's your 40th as well"
"39th, sweetheart," Jackie corrected hastily, "And don't worry about forgetting, I'd have thought as much. Anyway, I'm having a party and I've love it if you could come."
"A party at the flat?" Rose asked, "How many people are you asking over?"
"Oh, just a few friends," Jackie replied vaguely. Rose rolled her eyes, knowing that the small flat would be full to bursting. "Well, do you think you can tear yourself away from that gallery for a few hours? You can bring that Doctor over as well. I don't get to see you both often enough!"
"Oh, Mum! Of course we'll come," Rose agreed.
"Alright, sweetheart. Mickey's here; he's looking forward to seeing you too. Just make sure you get the right year, ok? See you soon, darling."
"Bye Mum!" Rose pressed the red handset on her phone. By now she had done a full circuit of the great ice sculpture. She stopped in her tracks to see the Doctor talking to a girl with long red hair
"…wanted to thank you properly since that day." The girl sauntered closer to the Doctor, tracing the line of his chin with her finger. Rose saw the Doctor take the girl's hand and place it by her side.
"Now, now, Lissy. We have only just met properly, after all." The girl looked embarrassedly at her feet.
"Oh. I… I'm sorry, Doctor. I didn't mean to be so… forward," Rose frowned, feeling that it was time she stepped in.
"Doctor!" she called, rather obviously. The Doctor turned to see Rose putting her mobile phone into her pocket.
"Rose!" he cried, rushing over to grab her hand and pull her back to the girl, "Guess who this is. Looks familiar doesn't she? That's 'cause we've met her before. Down in the hospital entrance hall! This is Lissy and she is one of the New Humans! But guess who she is now. Only the Alyssa Brooke!"
"Seriously?" Rose gave a rather forced smile and took Lissy's hand to shake it, "It's lovely to meet you… again!"
"You were there too?" Lissy breathed, "Oh my goodness, thank you!" She flung her arms around Rose's neck. The Doctor stifled a laugh at the look of pure embarrassment and shock that was on Rose's face. When Lissy had let go of her, Rose smiled at her again and turned to the Doctor.
"That was Mum on the phone," she told him "She wants us back at home as soon as possible."
"You dragged me away from that gallery to attend your mother's birthday party?" The Doctor spluttered as he and Rose reached the TARDIS. After making a hasty goodbye to Lissy, they had dashed from the gallery with the Doctor under the impression that there was a dire emergency back on the original planet Earth. However, Rose had only just informed him that there was no catastrophe back home, but Jackie had requested their presence at her birthday party.
"Oh, come one, Doctor!" Rose wheedled, "We hardly ever go back to visit her and it is her birthday! Let's at least put in an appearance, then we can come back here! Lissy won't even notice that we were gone!" She considered this for a moment, "Well, actually, she was getting a bit up close and personal, wasn't she?" The Doctor unlocked the TARDIS and they climbed in.
"Ah, you saw that did you?" The Doctor chewed his bottom lip in feigned embarrassment, though secretly smiling to himself. 'Rose doesn't miss much,' he thought.
"Yes, I did see that," Rose replied, hand on hip and eyebrow raised.
"C'mon, Rose!" The Doctor reasoned, hanging his coat on the coat stand by the door, "She was locked in a cell for most of her life! She was just… making up for lost time."
"Like I want to make up for the time I don't see my mum!" Rose hung her hoodie on top of the Doctor's coat and pulled a face like a child trying to get her own way, "Pleeease, Doctor? I don't want to argue any more, I've got such a headache. Please can we go to Mum's party?" The Doctor looked at Rose for a long moment in silence before finally giving in.
"Oh, alright then," he grinned, squeezing her hand, "How can I say no to that little face?"
"Oi, watch it!" Rose protested. The Doctor laughed and bounded over to the control panel, flicking switches and turning dials.
"Right. London, February 1st 2007, here we come!" He pulled a lever and the TARDIS thundered into time travel mode. Rose came and sat on the seat near the console, head in her hands.
"Still got that headache?" The Doctor asked sympathetically, adjusting some coordinates.
"Hmm," Rose nodded, not looking up.
"I know what you need. A good cup of tea! Two sugars?"
"As always," Rose replied gratefully.
"The best way to have it! I believe George Orwell once said that." The Doctor smiled, "I'll be right back." He ruffled her hair and strode out of the room.
Rose kneaded her forehead with her knuckles. Her headache had come on very suddenly; a dull, throbbing ache that was gradually building up inside her head. She shivered. The TARDIS felt suddenly cold. She rubbed her upper arms to try and warm herself up, before deciding to put her hoodie back on. She got to her feet and made for the coat stand by the doors. With her back to the wall, Rose pulled the cosy jumper over her head. It was the one that Mickey had bought for her one or two Christmases ago. She looked at the great glowing column in the centre of the control room, its decrease in pace indicating that they were nearly back in the 21st Century. All at once, Rose felt light-headed, her knees shaking so violently that she could no longer stand up. Slowly, she slid down the wall of the TARDIS and sat slumped on the floor. The TARDIS grew quiet and eventually stopped. They had arrived at the Powell Estate.
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