Turn Your Back, Look Away and Blink
By Lumendea
Chapter Nine: Crossing Paths
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who and gain nothing from the creation of this story
….
Leaving the school was an exercise in determination for Rose. After finding the Doctor, at least in part, after so many years it was difficult to just walk away from the building he was in. None the less that night Rose pulled on her new shawl and made the walk down towards the village of Farringham.
Walking down the road Rose watched the area around her carefully, awaiting any sign of an attack and remaining ready to face any threat that might appear. The moon was low in the sky that night, creating shadows through the trees that added to the darkness on the road. Rose's years of training and alien incidents at Torchwood had sharpened her reflexives, but the current situation still had her biting her lip in nervousness. A million questions about whom she was meeting were rushing through her mind and making her long for her old stun gun.
Fisting her hands in her pockets, Rose sighed in relief when she caught sight of the Bad Wolf pub just a little farther on. In this day in age, a woman's scream would gather attention and protection and as much as she loathed the idea, she would use that particular weapon if need be. The pub was brightly lit and the light from inside poured out onto the lawn. The Bad Wolf's sign had a howling wolf and creaked in the wind, none the less it made Rose smile. She took note of the noise coming from inside the pub and began to look about for anyone who appeared to be waiting. The message had been very vague, not giving any instructions for how to find the person meeting her.
"Rose Tyler," a voice softly called and Rose turned towards it.
Martha, the maid from the school, stepped out of the roadside shadows and raised her hand. Hanging from her fingers was a very familiar key, a key to the TARDIS. Her heart clenched just a little at the sight of it. She'd known that he'd find someone next to travel with eventually, but the evidence of it in the girl's hand still affected her. However, Rose did not allow her inner turmoil to show as she calmly pulled out her own small yale key.
"Then you are his last companion," Martha concluded as she eyed the twin key and took a tentative step forward.
"And I take it that you're the new one," Rose observed in return as she slipped her key back under her dress.
Martha frowned at the woman in front of her at her remark but answered, "I travel with him if that's what you're asking."
Nodding, Rose looked around making sure there was no one nearby before asking, "So now what Miss Jones? H ave a drink and swap stories of the universe or are you going to tell me what's happened to him?" Rose couldn't help the bitter tone that seeped into her voice.
Martha sneered, "Oh you mean the great Rose doesn't know, and he made you sound so perfect."
Blinking in honest surprise, Rose gaped at Martha for a moment before the question slipped out, "He talked about me, but he never does that?"
Martha sighed in front of her and shrugged. Rose could see a shadow of tension and exhaustion on the young woman's face and felt a flash of guilt.
"Yeah he talks or rather talked about you," she answered as she took a step forward. "Look, Rose, he's hiding here and he's just a human right now. John Smith can't remember you, he has no clue who you are so just stay away from him. I don't know why you left in the first place but stay away from him. You've hurt him enough and he's not your concern anymore."
Taking a step closer to Martha, Rose raised her voice slightly, "You have no idea what you are talking about." Rose forced herself to relax before she continued, "I would never willingly hurt the Doctor. I've been hoping, praying to find him for five years and I will do everything I can to finish getting back to him. When you want to tell me exactly what is going on you know where to find me."
Martha watched as Rose straightened up and walked past her down to the Bad Wolf pub. Holding back a few choice words Martha returned her TARDIS key around her neck and frowned at the retreating form. After watching the pub for a few moments, she turned on her heel and began walking back up to the school, muttering angrily under her breath. What was so special about this Rose Tyler?
Reaching up she clutched her key tightly and thinking of the Doctor, she whispered, "I wish you'd come back," she bit her lip and closed her eyes, "I wish things could go back to normal."
Meanwhile, Rose entered the pub and sighed as the villagers turned to look at her as the rumour mill had apparently been hard at work. Walking to the barman she ordered half a pint and sipped it thinking hard about Martha. She understood Martha's jealousy and perhaps they had both been overly rash in their dismissal of each other. It reminded her too much of her first meeting with Sarah Jane and in the end, they had worked things out so she should be able to do the same now. Rose sighed softly, irritated at herself for allowing her jealous to colour her interaction with Martha so much. She had really thought she'd outgrown that.
At least she knew why the Doctor was human, but that didn't help much. Groaning under her breath, Rose cursed herself for not finding out what it was exactly that was hunting the Doctor, but perhaps the journal could tell her. Martha Jones was so wrong about John, he remembered a great deal and he just didn't realise that it was real. Finishing her drink and paying for it quickly, Rose left the pub to return to the school.
Pulling her dark red coat tighter around herself she sighed as she looked up at the stars. She had looked at them often enough in the last five years, wondering what the Doctor was doing a universe away. Rose shook her head and headed for the road reminding herself that she hadn't wanted him to be alone. Still, the knowledge that he did have a new companion stung a bit. Yet he talked about her and that fact made her feel lighter.
Rose jumped as a voice behind her asked, "Rose are you quite all right?" Turning, Rose couldn't help the smile that spread over her face as John stepped up next to her. A similar smile lit up his face and he chuckled, "Sorry if I startled you."
Rose shook her head and assured him softly, "I was just lost in my thoughts, John." She sighed, "I've got a lot on my mind right now."
John's smile faded, replaced with concern as he asked, "Anything I can help with?"
Shaking her head Rose smiled, "No but thank you for caring."
He nodded awkwardly before softly asking, "Of course, uh, are you returning to the school?" At Rose's nod, he added, "Then please allow me to escort you."
Grinning Rose nodded and told him, "I'd welcome it."
Smiling in return, John offered her his arm, which Rose took with a smile. It was as nice as holding his hand, but she supposed it was still nice. They walked in silence for a bit until it became too awkward for John.
"Did you enjoy visiting town Rose?" John asked.
"I didn't see much of it, to be honest. I just wanted to escape the school for a little while. I'm still hoping that something will come back to me." Rose sighed softly and shook her head. "It doesn't bother me much of course, I do so adore being at the school. It is just strange to look in the mirror and wonder who that person is."
"I'm sure you will conquer this challenge Rose," he assured her, placing a gloved hand on her own.
Laughing happily, Rose teased John gently, "Is that because the Doctor's companion always does so."
Raising an eyebrow at her, John returned the chuckle and remarked, "As I recall Rose in the stories wanders off and find more trouble than even the Doctor."
"Jeopardy friendly, that's Rose," Rose agreed with a small smile. "Finding trouble at every turn."
John smiled softly and added, "And helping and enchanting others while at it."
Giving him a soft glance, Rose looked away from him and actually blushed slightly. She shrugged uncertainly as she met his eyes again.
"I don't know about enchanting John."
"Oh, I'm certain of it Rose," John murmured as he gazed at her, his eyes light but serious. "The Doctor was certainly enamoured with his Rose." He looked away from her, turning his eyes up to the sky in mild embarrassment before muttering, "My words seem to slip from me around you."
Rose tightened her grip on his arm and softly reassured him, "I already told you, John, that I didn't mind."
He didn't look at her but kept looking up at the stars and Rose looked up as well. She wondered what he saw them as now as a human. Did he imagine them as brilliant balls of gas billions of miles away from them or did he see them being born in his mind, did he see the worlds orbiting them and their deaths?
"Jupiter is very bright tonight," John suddenly said making Rose blink in surprise. "Despite Venus being close to it, usually Venus overpowers any stars near it. It shines brighter than anything else in the night sky, except the moon of course."
"And here I thought you were a history Professor," Rose said gently, making him look back at her.
"There are more than just history books in the library."
"Of course, there are science, art, music, literature, math and me."
John laughed at Rose's joke and nodded to her, "I think my favourite subject has changed." They stopped walking as they reached the main doors, John shifted his weight nervously.
"Thank you for walking me back," Rose told him with a smile, deciding to so easy on her.
"My pleasure," John told her with a smile. "I'll be heading into town tomorrow for some errands and I could show you around."
"I'd like that," Rose agreed softly, giving his hand a squeeze before turning to walk into the main hall.
….
The morning light of November 6th found Rose Tyler at her desk in the library, pouring over the journal. She read every page thoroughly while muttering to herself about being too short with Martha the night before. Something was after the Doctor and she had failed to find out from Martha Jones who or what it was. Therefore, she had turned to the journal John had lent her which she kept locked in a drawer. Sighing, she leaned onto her fist and turned the page. In reality, the journal was quite boring to Rose, she had lived many of these adventures and in many places, the journal was more of a jumble of random things.
Then Rose came to one of the later pages and frowned at the almost frantic scrawl. John had recorded the information in a hurry like he was afraid he would forget it. Tilting the book, Rose focused on the runny ink words, 'The Family are scavengers who use the bodies of others to hunt and fulfil their goals. They seek the power of a Time Lord to make them immortal, so that they may breed and spread across the stars.'
Sighing, Rose gently set the Journal of Impossible Things down and bit her lip. He was hiding from them and he had stopped being a Time Lord so they could never get his power. Closing the journal, Rose locked it back in the drawer under another book. She had an answer, but she didn't like it at all.
Standing up from her desk, Rose smoothed her dress before putting away a few books and checking in on the students. Seeing that everything and everyone were in order she left the library and entered the main hall. She offered a kind smile to the servant girl, Jenny, the one who had delivered her dresses if her memory served.
Jenny smiled in return and greeted, "Good day Miss Rose."
"Good morning Jenny," Rose replied. "Have you seen Martha?"
Blinking in confusion, Jenny shook her head and answered, "No Miss Rose I'm sorry. She's about somewhere else in the school."
"Well if you see her, kindly ask her to see me in the library," Rose told Jenny, giving her another smile.
Jenny nodded slowly but didn't say anything further as Rose turned away to return to the library. Sitting down at her desk, she pulled out her TARDIS key and turned it over in her palm. For five years it had been her only link back to this world, back to the Doctor. When she had been trapped through, she had nothing but the key, the clothes on her back and her family.
Rubbing her eyes, Rose tried to push the thoughts of her Mum, Dad and brother Tony from her mind but she failed. Putting a hand over her mouth, she breathed deeply to control the tears that were being to slide down her cheek. She had lost them, and she hadn't even regained the Doctor.
