Author's Note: Okay, I am so BEYOND sorry for getting this out late. I was home this past weekend, and I didn't get this story written up in time, so I had no chance to get it together :/ So sorry. I'll be starting the next chapter right after I post this, and hopefully I can get it finished by Friday. And again, I really am sorry. I hope you enjoy the chapter! Reviews are nice, and if you wish to yell at me I would understand.
The Doctor's mind momentarily froze when he saw the man about to punch Rose in the stomach. That kind of abuse surely would not end well for Rose or their child. It was due to that fact that a small part of his mind knew, just knew that Dezod was somehow a part of this.
He watched them, momentarily calm because they had yet to actually hurt her. If they did… There would be nothing on that world that could stop him. "Let go of her." He spoke, his voice dangerously calm. He felt her fear, and he also felt her trust. That trust is what kept his emotions stable, handling the situation with a cool head rather than teaching those fools a lesson.
"We aren't going to let her go." The older of the two men spoke, his voice low and gravelly as he tightened an arm around her neck.
The Doctor struggled to keep his anger tightly controlled. "What is it you want, money? Is that what you want?" He pulled out a handful of credits, tossing them at the two men. "Take them! Just give her back to me!" Anger began to vibrate in his voice. He wasn't a particularly patient man.
The older man's eyes flashed to the ground where the credits laid, but still he didn't let go of Rose. "Roy, pick them up."
The man who had been standing in front of Rose began picking up the credits, keeping an eye on the Doctor while he did so.
The Doctor didn't bother watching Roy, he just continued to stare at the other man, each of them daring the other to make a move.
The man spoke first. "I just want some food for my boy and I. That is all." As if reasoning would excuse his actions.
"That doesn't excuse you from threatening to harm an innocent stranger!" Anger vibrated through his voice.
Roy finally finished picking up the coins, holding them out to the other man. The other man eyed them, doing a quick visual count. "That's barely enough for two days! With all the food you bought, you have to have more."
The Doctor saw Rose tense, and felt her worry increase.
His eyes flashed to Rose and back to the man holding her. "Let. Go. Of. Her." He emphasized each word, a threat lingering in his voice.
The other man's eyes flickered away before returning to the Doctor's. "We need to eat!"
"And I understand that, but I don't have anything else to give you, so you need to let her go!" He was running out of patience as he spoke in a very matter-of-fact tone.
When the man holding her still hesitated, the Doctor took a step forward, determination in his gaze. He saw the man tighten the arm that was around Rose's neck, and anger flashed through the Doctor's expression.
Then, the man let go - luckily for him. Rose immediately ran to the Doctor's side, relief washing through her. This situation was a lot more easily dealt with than a lot of their previous encounters.
And, now that he wasn't threatening her child, she felt bad for the two men.
The Doctor, though, still had half a mind to make the two men pay, and it was coming across their bond plainly.
Rose grabbed his hand, "Come, Doctor. Leave them be." She cast sad eyes to the two men, "They will understand the flaws of their ways one day, without our presence. Let us go." She tugged him back, wanting to just leave the two men to their fate.
When the Doctor slowly began to give way and retreat somewhat, Rose only pulled harder.
They grabbed their carts and quickly fell in with the flow of people again, staying side by side. Rose still felt the anger that the Doctor continued to harbor, but she also felt the relief. That relief is what kept Rose from truly worrying about what he might be tempted to do.
They soon reached the TARDIS and walked the carts inside in silence. They unloaded the items in the console room for the time being, not needing to vocalize their intentions to put everything in the kitchen after they took care of the carts.
Still in silence, the two of them took the carts back to be dropped off. They made sure to walk side by side, not wanting a repeat of what just happened.
Rose was beginning to grow nervous. The Doctor rarely stayed that silent, he always had something to say.
It was because of that silence that she spoke, needing to hear him say something. "I'm sorry.." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She felt terrible for doing exactly what the Doctor warned her against doing, and putting their child in harm's way. Not to mention herself, but she wasn't as important. Not really.
He sighed, and for a second she thought he still wasn't going to say anything. She felt her stomach twist, doubt entering her mind. Maybe he really was mad at her… Maybe she should just have stayed silent…
Then his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. "Oh Rose… I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you…"
She shook her head, "Nothing could happen, not when you are around." Rose wrapped her own arms around him, needing him to know she was okay, that they were okay.
Then a static sound interrupted them. The Doctor pulled back, confusion in his gaze. Rose was just as confused. Where was that sound coming from…
The Doctor walked around the console, his confusion growing through their bond. Rose followed him, and discovered what caused the increased confusion.
The TARDIS's screen thing was activated, showing only static.
"What-" Rose was cut off by an image slowly forming on the screen.
Of course, it was Dezod who slowly formed. "Good evening Doctor, Rose." he gave them both a warm looking smile, glancing between the two of them. "So I heard that you two go into an incident."
Rose felt a feeling of confirmation wash through the Doctor. He nodded his head, more to himself than in answer to Dezod.
Rose cast a confused look between the Doctor and Dezod, not understand for a minute before she put two and two together. Dezod orchestrated the entire thing. Anger began to grow within her. This man was going to pay for putting her and her child in harms way.
"What do you want, Dezod." The Doctor's voice was icy calm.
Dezod looked offended. "I just want to keep in touch. I had been doing such a bad job of it, so I though I might just give you a call. And, you know, make sure you and our Rose are okay…" Amusement laced his voice.
Rose felt the Doctor's emotions spark when Dezod referred to her as "our" Rose. "Oh, no, we are just fine. Would you like to meet up somewhere to prove it?" He asked, obviously - to Rose, at least - plotting how he would trap the man.
Dezod just smirked, though. "Oh, there is no need for that! I would hardly want to interrupt your time. I'm just getting my information lined up, I'm sure you understand."
The Doctor narrowed his eyes. He was just opening his mouth to say something when Dezod interrupted.
"I'm sorry, I seem to be in need somewhere," He winked, "I'll see you around!"
The screen went dead.
Rose felt anger radiate from the Doctor, and she was sure that if he were a lesser man, he would have punched something. She put a hand in his, reminding him that they were still together, they were still okay. His attention turned to her, his eyes softening only a touch. Then he took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he breathed out.
"I'm sorry, Rose. I will figure this out, I won't let him harm you or our child." He looked at her with a piercing gaze.
With her free hand, Rose covered her stomach. "We will figure this out, we wont let him harm our child. You aren't alone in this, Doctor."
He looked like he wanted to protest, but the look Rose gave him kept him from vocalizing any thoughts he might have had. Rose could be quite stubborn when she wanted to.
