A.N. Thankyous to horsemaniac, Mystra14 and Rowan for reviewing the last chapter.

XXX

He supposed it made sense in an infuriating sort of way that the Bad Wolf would translate for Rose now that the Tardis wasn't there to translate for the both of them. He'd rubbed his jaw and stalked back towards the hut, Rose close behind him and he wolf circling around them, ever on he look out for potential threats. It was just like a regular dog in some respects, bounding around happily while still keeping watch. After the third time the Doctor nearly tripped over it he rounded on Rose.

"Can't you call that blasted thing off? Or at least keep it away from me."

She looked at him in uncertain shock.

"There's no need for that, he's just playing. Aren't you Puppy?" she asked the wolf fondly.

The Doctor glared even harder but turned around and continued his fast pace towards the hut, muttering under his breath all the way. When they got there, the Doctor pushed open the wooden door with too much force and the thing nearly fell to pieces. He didn't even stop to acknowledge it and went straight through to the bedroom. Rose could hear him in there, throwing himself around, muttering and kicking the walls. After about two minutes he went quiet, and Rose could only sigh.

XXX

She new he didn't do trapped domesticity well but this was ridiculous. She was starting to wonder if her lie to Vasile was actually accurate and the Doctor was starting to crack up. Maybe their sudden transportation through time without a vessel had damaged his sensitive Time Lord synapses or something. Or maybe he was suffering the shock of loosing the Tardis. Rose new that the Doctor and the Tardis had shared a link, much like the link she now had with her wolf. Maybe the sudden absence of that link had hurt him somehow, made him less able to deal with his situation, thoughts and feelings, so he was lashing out. What if he didn't even realise he was doing it.

Rose began to tremble as her Wolf sent an affirmative straight to her mind. The Doctor really was sick.

He'd been in the bedroom all day since they got back from the town, and Rose's, knowing better than to try to talk to him when he was in such a foul mood, had been out and about trying to establish things around town. Like how to get food and supplies when they had no money. Wolf had stayed at the hut, keeping his glowing eyes on the Doctor. Down in the town, Rose had introduced herself to some of the towns-women and they had been more than helpful. They had smiled and appeared kind, giving her some food to see her through for a while, and then, when they thought she was out of earshot, they had laughed at her and muttered between themselves in barely hushed whispers.

She was the woman with the crazy husband, and look at her hair, fair hair but obviously unnaturally so, the darkness at her scalp and eyebrows proved that. Scandalous. She should be ashamed to be seen out of doors like that; she should keep her hair under a cap until the proof of her wanton nature was gone.

So it seemed that these women believed her to be a working girl. Rose supposed they could keep believing that. She didn't need friends like that anyway. She was however, grateful for the food and went around trying to determine a way for the Doctor and her to support themselves. They couldn't live off the charity of others. They'd both hate it and eventually the charity would wear out. It looked to be quite an impoverished town as it was. The only businesses that seemed to be doing well by any means was the farm where Vasile had said he was labouring, and the tavern. The farm was the largest structure in the town, and the closest to the river. It was over the far side away from the wood, and she had been informed by the group of women who had given her the provisions, that the farm supplied most of the town's meat and grain.

Deciding to have a snoop around, Rose headed off towards the farm with the idea that if anyone asked her why she was there, she could always say that she was looking for Vasile to thank him again.

She got to the farm and could hardly move for chickens, it was slightly worrying for her. She had after all, been raised in London, and so had hardly ever seen live chickens. She'd hardly seen live anything to tell the truth. London was not known for its livestock. The chickens paid no heed to her and continued to scamper and peck around her. Starting to feel slightly timid around so many live birds, she gave an undignified shriek and tried to get away from the things. Losing balance, she toppled over and tried to prepare herself, in a slit second, for the inevitable rushing ground.

But the ground never came. Instead she felt strong arms around her keeping her steady. Flustered she turned around to thank her saviour. She found cool green eyes staring at her in amusement.

"Th…thank you" she stammered.

The owner of the eyes crinkled and grinned at her, getting his face too close to hers than was comfortable. Fetid breath ghosted over her face and she felt the urge to be sick.

"Not at all Miss, maybe we can think of some way you can repay me." His arms held her more forcefully than before, and to Rose's utter disbelief she realised he was trying to cop a feel. Obviously the group of women were not the only ones to think of her as a whore.

"Get off me." She practically yelled in his face. She struggled in his grasp but it only seemed to spur him on and he laughed at her.

"HEY"

Her attacker turned around at the sound of the voice, just in time for a fist to come flying at him and connect firmly with his nose. There was an almighty crack and blood began to spurt forth from his nostrils in a steady stream. Rose looked around to find Vasile kneading his knuckles with his other hand. Her attacker glared at Vasile before turning tail and fleeing.

"I'm very sorry for him Miss Rose. You have my assurances that he will not bother you again."

She was struck by how utterly handsome he was. Tall and muscular, with smooth skin, tanned and bright from his work in the sun. He had light brown hair that hung in slight curls around his shoulders. He was rugged and clearly hadn't shaved in a long while. He wore plain tan coloured overalls, farm hand clothes, torn and ragged in places. He was quite obviously poor, but also healthy, like he had three square meals a day, much more than some of the townsfolk she had come across.

More of the labourers had gathered to jeer when her assailant had been hit, and they were calling out to Rose, making obnoxious derogatory comments.

"Clear off" Vasile yelled out to them. He was clearly the one in charge so they scattered as instructed, getting back to their work.

Rose's cheeks burned with embarrassment. At this rate she was going to get a reputation if people kept implying certain things about her.

"I'm sorry Vasile, I keep making a spectacle of myself. I want you to know, the things people are saying about me, they're not true." She didn't know why but she didn't want him thinking badly of her. She'd only just met him, but she really liked him.

"Think nothing of it Miss Rose. They are all scoundrels and do not know how to treat such a fine lady as yourself." She thought this a bit rich considering the rags she was wearing. And then she looked at his. They really were in a terrible state.

"Then I think you again Vasile. That is twice today you have aided me, is there anything I can do to thank you." As he humbly indicated to the negative, she had an idea. "At least allow me to mend your overalls for you. It would not do should you catch your death of cold. And people will see what a good job I have made of them; maybe some will pay me to mend things for them. So really you see, you'd be helping me again, by giving me the means to establish myself and to earn a wage."

She hadn't the faintest idea how to mend clothing, but she'd found some rags and needles in the pantry at the hut. She'd improvise. He agreed readily, and soon Rose found herself mending the attire of the entire farm for a steady wage. She also found herself with a sturdy friend in Vasile.

XXX

A.N. This chapter felt weird to write. I don't really like it. I just need a couple of chapters of set-up until Rose and the Doctor are established. What do people think to the idea of the Doctor going of to work at the farm with Vasile?