Rose wasn't sure how long she'd been waiting in the sitting room when John finally came back from seeing Donna. The Doctor had told them that the only people allowed to see her were those that had already had measles, and Rose had never had them. Rose was doing her best to hold herself together, there was no need in getting herself wound up, not when she didn't have all the facts, not when she knew what this was going to do to everyone else on the ranch. Rose needed to be the strong one. She would be the strong one.
When John entered the room, Rose immediately stood and crossed the room to where he was hesitating in the doorway, throwing her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly. "How is she? She's going to be okay, right?" she asked, letting go of him and stepping back.
"The Doc said there are possibilities for several complications when you get measles as an adult," he said softly. "She's still going to get worse before she gets better, it's early," he finished, not looking up from his shoes.
"She'll be fine, you know Donna… If anyone can beat this, it's her, she's the toughest person I know," Rose said, reaching out and taking his hand.
John looked up then, all emotions leaving his face, "I'm going to need you to fill in while she's sick," he said, removing his hand from hers.
"Don't do that, don't shut down, John. She's going to be fine! If you shut me out I won't be able to help you! I won't help you. We've had a lovely day together, you don't get to shut me out because you're afraid," Rose said, feeling a bit like she was scolding a child, but she wasn't going to put up with it anymore.
John fought back the initial thoughts that came to mind, held in the words that would drive her away from him, and took a deep breath. "Yeah, I know… I'm sorry. She's like my sister, I don't know what I'm goin' to do if," he said softly.
"No need in worryin' about that if, John, she's goin' to be just fine," Rose said taking his hand again, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Now, I'll be more than happy to take over Donna's work while she's sick, no need in worryin' about that either."
"Thank you, Rosie. Meet me in my office this evening and we'll go over everything. I've got to take care of some things for Donna," he said, giving her hand a brief squeeze before turning and leaving the room.
-
"Jack, I don't need you to take care of me. I'm going to be fine," Donna huffed from her place in bed. "Or you can get someone else to do it. John's already havin' to do without me, he's goin' to need you."
"He's got Rosie, and I won't take time off work, I'll just take care of you when I ain't workin'," he said as he pressed a cool rag to her forehead. "You're fever is pretty bad Donna, the Doc says it might even get worse. Someone's got to keep an eye on you."
"Well, I don't wanna cause you any trouble. Last thing you need on your plate is some sick and pathetic woman."
Jack couldn't help but laugh, "Donna, you may be sick, but I don't think you could ever be pathetic. Besides, if I take care of you, I'll get to give you sponge baths… could even help you with the regular ones too," he said with a charming grin.
"I knew there was an angle, always is with men like you," she teased weakly. "Always tryin' to get me naked, you should be ashamed. I might die and the last words you say to me will probably be somethin' about me gettin' naked."
Jack looked at Donna for a moment, his face suddenly serious, his eyes full of an emotion that was so very unfamiliar to both of them, before he schooled his featured back into a wolfish grin. "If you'd just let me get you naked I'm sure my final words to you will be something else, maybe. Besides, you won't be dying anytime soon."
"Well, you are now in charge of taking care of Rose and John. I don't want them fallin' apart again, you'd best keep an eye on them."
"You got it, Donna, I promise to make sure they keep movin' in the right direction."
-
Rose had her first experience of life without Donna that evening when she gathered the eggs for the next day and prepared dinner all by herself. It wasn't that the work was impossible, Donna had been doing it alone for years, it was that Rose missed the companionship, she missed her friend. If this was how sad it was after only a few hours Rose wasn't sure how she was going to make it until Donna was well enough to come back to work.
Rose worked quickly to finish dinner and get it out on the tables before the men came in for the day. She wasn't surprised in the least to find Wilf absent from the table, knowing he was probably spending the evening with Donna. She was however surprised to find John absent. Rose knew John and she knew he certainly wasn't visiting Donna, he didn't do that. When he was in danger of losing someone John's walls went up, he avoided them.
When John's parents were ill John avoided them completely. He spent as much time away from the ranch, whether it was spending time with Rose or working, it didn't matter as long as he was far away from the death that was surely going to take his parents. She remembers the guilt that it caused when they'd finally passed, the look of shame on his face as they put them both in the ground. That wouldn't stop him from doing it again. He saw it as protecting himself from another death.
Rose took her seat next to Mickey and ate in silence, no one uttering a word. It was clear that the woman's absence was affecting everyone. Donna was such a vital part of the success of this ranch and everyone knew it, and everyone loved her. It was going to be a hard time without her, but Rose was optimistic that Donna would make it through.
-
After Rose cleaned up the dishes and made preparation for the morning's breakfast she made John a plate of food and made her way to his office for their now nightly meetings. She silently prayed that the man wouldn't shut her out, that he would remember how she'd been there for him when his parents were ill and know she'd gladly do the same this time.
She gave a soft knock to his open door before entering, "Sorry, I'm a little late I think. I brought you dinner," she said, placing the plate in front of him and sitting down in the chair in front of his desk.
John offered Rose a soft smile, "Thank you, now, let's get down to business," he said before taking a bite of food.
"Right, you're going to try to finish up winter prep in the next few days?" she asked, remembering their conversation from that morning.
"Mhm, that's the plan. We've got to make sure the winter pen is secure and finish moving the hay in there. Then of course we need to move the cattle in. I think we should be able to finish in two or three days, depending on how much of the pen we've got to fix. We haven't had a winter come this early since I was a boy, it's getting colder every day. Anyway, how did you manage this evening without Donna?" he asked.
"It was fine. It's not impossible, I mostly just missed her company," Rose said, her hands playing with the hem of her light pink apron she'd forgotten to remove.
"I understand that," he said softly. "I'm going to miss meeting with her every evening, not that I'm not happy to meet with you. I know you're more than capable of doing the extra work."
"Thanks, John, but you know you could always go see her. I'm sure she'd be glad to see you."
"No. No, I can't."
"Don't do to Donna what you did to your parents. Do you remember the guilt? You were devastated you weren't there. God forbid something actually happen to her and once again you've run away from things," Rose said, her face full of concern. "I just don't want you to hurt like you did when your parents passed. I hated seeing you that way. You looked completely defeated, like the weight of the world was completely on your shoulders and you were totally alone. I don't want that to happen again."
John fought back the initial reaction to her words, fought back the urge so snap at her for bringing up his parents, for talking to him like a child. He knew she meant well, he knew she was trying to help. She'd been there for him all those years ago and he'd pushed her away the first chance he'd gotten. He wasn't going to make that mistake again, not when their friendship was growing again. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "You're right, Rose, I should see her. I'm afraid I'm going to lose someone again, I don't think I can take it. I lost my parents and then I lost you… I can't lose Donna too."
Rose leaned forward and took his hand in hers, "I didn't stay lost and Donna's going to get through this. You'll see, everyone's going to be fine."
John smiled at Rose and held her hand tightly, "I'm so glad you came home, Rose."
"I never felt at home anywhere else, I'm glad to be home too."
-
The next evening while everyone else was enjoying dinner, John was pacing outside Donna's room working up his courage to finally enter. Just as he was about to knock for the fifth time he heard her voice from the other side of the door. It was weak and not nearly as loud as she normally was, but it was her.
"John! If you don't quit pacing in front of my door and knock, I'm going to get out of this bed and smack you again!"
John wasted no time in opening the door and entering her room. "Donna, how are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better now that you've decided I'm not going to die," she said, clearly angry he hadn't taken the time to see her. "I know you, if you thought I was dying you wouldn't step foot in this hallway," she said before a coughing fit hit her.
"No, I just… Rose told me I was being dumb."
"And you listened? What a nice change. Knew she'd be good for you, just like she always was. You ask her to marry you yet?"
"Donna, you've only been sick for two days."
"So? You have been in love with her for half your life, it shouldn't take too long."
"I," he began before began struggling to find the right words. "Things are running smoothly, but it's only been two days. You better hurry up this bein' sick business so you can get back to work. Rose misses you, and so do I."
Donna smiled over at John, "I'm sure you and Rose are fully capable of keepin' each other company."
"I'm trying to have a civil visit so I think you'd better quit all this talk about me and Rose."
"Alright, I'm not sorry but I'll knock it off. I'm glad she convinced you to come visit me. Please tell her I love her, you can give her a hug for me if you want to," Donna said, a sly grin on her face.
"Donna!"
"Okay, I'm done now, I promise. Tell me what's happening around the ranch."
"We're hurryin' to finish up the winter preparations. It's going to snow soon, I know it."
-
A week and a half later TARDIS Ranch got its first snow fall of the winter. They'd managed to finish all the preparations only a few days prior to the snow, but it was all done.
The ranch looked beautiful. The pasture was covered a few inches of snow. The tree tops of the woods visible from the house were a beautiful sight. Every fireplace inside the house was lit and Rose and John often enjoyed a nice cup of cocoa together in the evenings.
With the first snow fall also came Donna's health worsening. The Doctor had told them she was going to get worse before she got better but none of them were really prepared to how bad she would get.
Donna's fever would get so high she would see things that weren't there, there was a red rash covering every inch of her body, and worst of all her fiery spirit was replaced with exhaustion and sadness.
