Previously…
"Ask her. Ask her nicely," the Doctor suggested. "I'll go get you your favourite tea," he smiled, catching the blue pyjama trousers the ship had thrown at him.
A/N. The 13th of March is the 3rd anniversary of the lovely Underground Fanfictioners group on Facebook. Happy anniversary, guys!
On a more actual note - could I PLEASE get to forty (40) reviews for this story already? Or more? Thanks. :)
Chapter Ten
Impossible Things
You know this is something that only fits when Rose and I are alone, right? The Doctor rolled his eyes at the all-knowing vessel, quick to find his usual pinstriped ensemble – why bother looking for it in the wardrobe-room when the TARDIS has been thoughtful enough to place several of these nearby?
Rose giggled. "I suppose you don't need to shower, because I'm going to. I'll be quick, I promise!" she hurried to add, knowing just how much trouble spending too much time in a bathroom – in the tiny flat of theirs, for one thing – could cause. It did not matter if she were at Mum's, at Mickey's or even at Jimmy's…
"Take all the time you need, my darling Rose," the Doctor was quick to reply, sensing her uneasiness, even though she did not bother leaving the warmth of the bed just yet, watching him with a small smile on her face, a smile contradicted by the sad look in her eyes.
"If you want me to stay with you instead, just say a word, my Rose."
"Oh-" the girl bit her lip, as if having bit off an important sentence. "Go, Doctor. I'll just make myself get up and get to the shower. We'll think of something afterwards, right?"
"When don't we, love?" he smiled. They had to talk about many things… but not necessarily right away.
"Perhaps I should throw a glance at Donna and Martha, to see how they're doing?" the Gallifreyan suggested.
"Sure. Just don't make me-"
"I remember, love." He remembered talking to his dark-skinned companion was something he'd promised not to do… the promise fell to shreds as soon as their voices reached him.
"I still think this Rose is somehow different," Martha could not let go of the subject easily.
Donna rolled her eyes. The lengthy sleep seemed to have put the hangover at bay. Or perhaps it was the TARDIS. "It's his Rose," she corrected. "Why can't we discuss something else? She's here, they are so happy… and I'm happy for them."
"But this girl… she can't be human, I am sure of it! Her eyes… the way the ship is on her side… The Doctor doesn't just fall for humans, right?"
The ginger turned her eyes upwards. "Why had I accepted you in my room, in the first place?"
The familiar voice startled them. "How dare you even assume Rose isn't human, Martha?" the Doctor was strangely composed, considering the complicated situation.
"I thought-"
"Keep your thoughts to yourself. You have hurt her. This alone requires-"
"I might try to apologise, sure, but she wouldn't hear me! Wouldn't listen!"
"Not sorry, remember?" he waved at the approaching Donna, suddenly seemingly forgetting Martha Jones was even here. "Hey."
"Hello, Spaceman! How are things?"
He rolled his eyes at her. "Still trying to make sure-" the Doctor gulped. "Anyway- She's-"
"Hey, now! I've caused your Rose no physical harm!" Martha could not ignore the conversation.
"Just your luck you're unscathed, Martha," he shrugged at the dark-haired girl. "Just your luck she's kind, peaceful- human." The Time Lord turned away from Martha Jones. He was not supposed to be talking to her at all. Was no longer sure about his Rose being fully human, either… but this required some serious consideration the Doctor could not allow himself ponder on. Not when the only thing he wanted to be sure of was that nobody was ever going to intentionally harm Rose again. Sadly, Martha did not seem like someone to be trusted on this. Not yet.
Doctor! He froze, not completely used to the fact his one and only bond-mate, his one and only Rose Marion Tyler was calling him with unmistakable feeling of dread in her voice. Voice only he could hear.
Luckily, his two female companions had long stopped questioning his alien behaviour. The Doctor breathed in, heading straight to his room without explaining anything, only earning a curious glance from the redhead. Martha was nowhere to be seen… And he believed to have known just where the girl had gone to.
The moment Martha entered, Rose was still in bed, waiting for the Doctor to return to her. Still conveniently wrapped in bed sheets, she was secretly planning to take a shower only right after her morning tea promised to her. The one only her Time Lord knew how to prepare properly… Assuming the Doctor did not have other plans, she smiled. Her peaceful smile has changed into a blank expression the moment she saw the other girl.
After having sent the Doctor a mental cry for help – this was much too soon for her to deal with the girl on her own, not with Bad Wolf so brutally provoked and still almost tangible within her.
Rose did not think twice, getting up and making her way to the en suite, not once meeting Martha's eyes. So what if she was naked. Martha did not exist for her. Not today. Not until she could be sure she was able to fully control her wild Wolf within.
The Tyler girl turned on the water, glad the running water blocked the majority of sounds outside, even if not being able to hear everything was making her somewhat uneasy.
"What are you doing here?" The Doctor hissed at the still stunned Martha, almost runing into his – their – room the TARDIS did not bother making look less like a war-zone after last night. She never had the chance, with both or one of them still present in the chamber. Placing two cups of tea on the floor – he had no time to think of a more fitting place – the Time Lord almost growled at the companion. "I suggest you get out of here immediately, Martha Jones. This is our room, and I don't remember giving you the permission to-"
"She pretended to not have seen me, anyway."
"Oh my. I wonder just how many signs of inhumanity you have noticed on her," he was growing more and more irritated by the second.
"Out. Out," he has forced her out of the messy room, only throwing a self-explicatory glare at her before returning to the room and sonic-locking the door, just in case.
Martha's left, the Doctor's mental nudge made Rose sigh in relief. Will be with you in a minute. The next request made the Doctor smile smugly. He had an idea the TARDIS would offer her something barely covering her body again... But the shocked expression on his face after having seen the garment provided was still there when Rose came out.
"Hello," she blinked, a nearly blinding smile on her face.
"This is what she wants you wear, love."
Rose eyed the seemingly very exquisite… and very red garment curiously. A dress. What's up with you and red, old girl? The ship sent her a sound of barely detectable annoyance. The companion was shocked to find everything waiting for her - even fitting underwear.
"When I have asked her for something suitable... Isn't this just too much?" Rose peered at the Doctor worriedly.
"Not with this, no," her Time Lord seemed to have found his tongue just after a couple of minutes. "Do you need any help in putting this on?"
Seriously? "I can do that on my own, you know that," the fair-haired companion smirked, hurrying to put on the clothes closest to her bare skin in record time. He smiled at her sadly. Good job.
Okay… "Judging from the distant look in your eyes, Doctor - does this – does this mean something to you?"
The Gallifreyan cleared his throat. "It's a traditional Gallifreyan… a Time Lady wedding dress," he finally managed to say.
What? "But I'm not a Time Lady! Maybe she should have picked something else?"
"No."
"But I am human! One heart!" Rose panicked. This meant nothing good.
"What's happening to me? Am I becoming someone else or-" Doctor?!
He seemed just as puzzled and terrified as his young lover was, which has only added up to Rose's distress.
"I don't know!"
His admission has only deepened her feeling of dread.
The Doctor has only understood the effect his words might have had when she covered her face with her hands.
"I'm sorry, so sorry about this, my Rose! I know as little about this as you do, trust me!"
"Time to visit the infirmary?" she suggested in a small voice. It was clear she was terrified, yet determined.
"Time to help you with your dress first," the Doctor smiled at her encouragingly.
The next ten minutes were spent in working on putting the dress on properly, trying not to get lost in its complicated constructions of ties and laces and most often failing. "Fine. We should stop laughing about silly things and concentrate, right, Rose?"
"Yeah." Rose sighed heavily, wiping every last trace of amusement off his face.
It only took a minute to finish the work then.
"Infirmary?" the Londoner rushed him, not even caring to look at a mirror.
"Rose! Whatever is happening to you, I have sworn to protect you forever. Our bond is more important than anything. Anywhere. Nobody practices it any more - but no matter the species or the universe they know the two of us are inseparable. It's engraved in their subconscious."
The girl could not help but grinned. "So the Time Lords were what, gods of the universe?"
"No," the Doctor giggled darkly. "Some of us used to think we were." Not any more.
He met the sad look she gave him. "Rose. I'm sorry! I should never-"
"Hush, husband. Better tell me… will removing the dress take as much time?" She grimaced.
"Don't worry. Getting this off is much easier," he assured her with a smirk.
"Ready to face the truth, love?"
Are you? Rose bit her lip. She closed her eyes, covered her ears and allowed him to take her to the dreaded cold room, filled with alien medical equipment. Look at me, Rose. The girl needs to scan you, perhaps take your blood sample for truer results-" She was trembling. "Are you afraid?"
The girl rolled her eyes at him. Please, TARDIS. Do it now. The next thing she felt was a sharp needle cutting her finger. The only reason the old girl did not choose a vein must have been the fact the dress was long-sleeved... what did it matter now?
The old girl wasted no time. The results were shining on the screen in no more than two minutes.
Rose buried her face in his chest. "You read it."
"You know the moment I read it you will know it too?"
"Not if I move away from you, yes?"
"You might escape it for one-tenth of a second," he agreed, ready to turn around and be the first to face her diagnosis.
Rose moved away just to sense his shock and give in to curiosity at once.
Both Martha and Donna could hear her heart-breaking reaction.
"Why?!"
'Rose Marion Tyler.
Age: unknown.
Home planet: Earth.
Species: Time Lady.'
"The TARDIS isn't well. She must be mistaken! One heart, see?!"
Rose was starting to panic. Instead of suggesting it, the Doctor checked the right side quietly, then placed her hand on his.
She screamed.
The two companions stared at each other.
"He refuses to do something for her?" Martha guessed.
Donna shook her head. "Let's leave it." Not wanting to anger her new acquaintance, the dark-skinned girl did just that.
Rose clung to the Doctor for support. After a long time in his embrace, many soft and slow soothing kisses and words Rose was feeling utterly devastated.
"What am I going to do? What am I going to say to Mum?!"
"We will deal with this. Together," he assured her. "Jackie will need to tell everyone you have got married to a handsome and sexy, very, very sexy weirdo from... South America? New Zealand? Australia, perhaps?"
"Silly. They mostly speak Spanish in South America." Rose's lips curled up, just a bit.
"Just checking," the Doctor smiled at her.