Hey guys! Sorry its been a little while. I've just got back from holiday in New Zealand and I'm pretty pooped. Luckily for you guys though, I do bring my laptop with me and write in bed while i'm on holidays so here we are :D Hope you like it :)
(My apologies for those who think this is rushed, random or simply ridiculous. There is a reason for the speed)
Rose knocked hesitantly on the door of her mum's apartment and waited. A rustling could be heard from inside before the door was flung open. Jackie appeared, looking like she was about to yell at someone, but when she saw her daughter her mouth fell open and she just gaped at her.
Swallowing and smiling awkwardly, Rose stepped closer to her mother "Hey mum" she murmured hoarsely "I'm back. I don't know how long it's been since I've seen you and I don't know if you even had time to miss me, but I just needed to come by and say hello".
"Oh Rose" Jackie rushed forward and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug "It's been over three months sweetheart, and no one knew what had happened to you".
"I'm alright though" Rose pulled back and smiled at her for a moment before becoming serious again "I...I don't remember anything of what happened in the past twelve months. The Doctor said that my memory will return in time, I hope so anyway".
"So you don't remember what happened for the past twelve months?" Jackie asked.
"No" Rose shook her head "Anything important happen to me?"
"Well I dunno" Jackie frowned "You never really talked about anything too serious with me, although there was this bloke. You and him were getting pretty close from what you'd said".
"Really?" Rose asked, wide-eyed "I wonder if he realises I'm back".
"He wouldn't yet" Jackie shook her head "Anyway, come in love, let's get you out of that horrible hospital gown and into some normal clothes, and I guess I better ring the hospital and tell them you're here, doesn't look like you got discharged properly" she cocked an eyebrow at her daughter, ushering her inside.
Jackie was relieved; her daughter was alive and kicking. She had wondered, during the darker days, what it would be like if Rose was really gone forever. Would she ever be able to go about her daily life again? She shuddered at the thought. Rose was strong and stubborn, so deep down Jackie always knew that if she were alive and able, she would find her way back. Once the first shock had worn off, Jackie felt nothing more but joy; her baby was home, where she belonged.
John lay in his dark bedroom, trying desperately to get more sleep. Light was leaking into the room from the gaps between the thick curtains. He had gone to sleep never wanting to wake up again. He felt like a failure. He couldn't save Rose from that place and he had given up on ever seeing her laughing face again. She was what kept him fighting, that was true, but she was also his weakness in many ways.
In the short time he had known her she had made it clear to him what sort of person she was. She was funny and smart, not to mention beautiful. All of her virtues combined were what made John fall for her so quickly. Then everything had happened in a rush. They were happy and safe, so they thought, until the night she was taken from him.
Although his memory was still hazy from that night, he remembered forcing her behind him so that he would take the biggest hit. At least he could feel satisfied in that. He had saved her most of the injury so that wherever she was, she would be alright.
John heard the door creak and he shut his eyes again "John, I know you're awake" Jack's voice carried from the foot of the bed.
John sniffed "Am I though?"
"Yeah" Jack sat down on the bed beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder "Come on pal, I've got news".
"What news?" he grumbled.
"The hospital you were in had a blondish haired female admitted last night. She had a serious head injury and a LOT of partially healed wounds dating from three months ago".
John sat up so quickly that he cricked his neck and had to wait for the strange sensation that followed, to stop "Then let's go".
"John wait" Jack stopped him from standing up "The woman in question discharged herself pretty soon afterwards. John, if this is Rose..."
"What?!" John almost yelled at him "What aren't you telling me?!"
"She had a serious brain injury and...John, she doesn't remember the past twelve months, she may never remember that time at all".
John froze and Jack could almost see his heart sink "But...but it could still be her, right?" John's voice was softer and somehow weaker.
"Yeah it could be" Jack nodded "but we can't just go rushing over to her house if she might not even remember us".
John was about to reply when the phone rang "Hello?" John answered.
"Turn your TV on" came Donna's voice through the line.
John hesitantly walked over and pressed the button to turn the TV on: "And in other news a local woman, Rose Tyler, who has been missing for the past three months, was admitted into hospital last night after being found beaten and bloody on the side of a road outside London. Nobody seems to know how Miss Tyler managed to get so far out of the city, since the hospital refused to allow any of our reporters in to see her. The woman herself has since left the hospital and is being kept at a private location until police can be certain of her safety".
John's heart rate had sped up during the report. Certain words stuck out at him and remained in his head. 'Beaten' and 'bloody'. The thought made him almost sick with anger.
Jack looked over at John to see his friend shaking with anger. He wasn't sure what to do though. John had always been a strong person and Jack normally knew what to do whenever he was wavering, but now, he had never seen him like this. His hands were clenched into fists, but at the same time a small smile was on his lips and happy tears were falling from his eyes.
"John?" Jack started carefully.
"Jack" John turned to him and flung his arms around his friend, crushing him in a tight hug.
"Ok" Jack smiled and patted his back "I really don't know why you're hugging me".
"Because" John pulled away and grinned "She's alive".
"You knew she was alive" Jack laughed.
John nodded "Yes, and now everyone does".
Jack's smile faltered "What about Jimmy?"
John's face darkened "I don't know. Maybe she was left on the road because he was sick of her? She's free of him now but if the rest of London knows about her being found, then so does he. We need to get to her before he does".
"The police are already protecting her though, we'd just be strangers".
"Don't say that" John's voice was pained "and how do we know those policemen aren't friends of Jimmy's either? He must have friends all over the city; why else do you think he still hasn't been caught?"
"You've got a point" Jack walked with him to the door "but two things first".
"What?"
"Firstly: you need pants and secondly: we don't know where we're going".
"Firstly: thank you for the reminder, and secondly: I have a fairly good idea of where she will be if she needs to think about things".
"Then get your clothes on man, I'm sick of seeing those awful boxer shorts" Jack laughed and exited the room.
Rose walked slowly through the park. No matter what was happening around her in the world, this place was always there for her, like her sanctuary. Ever since she was little she had come there to get away from the estate. She had worried her mother sick when she disappeared, but Jackie had soon learned where to go if Rose was missing.
The policemen that were guarding her walked around the perimeter of the park, keeping a subtle distance so as not to arouse the suspicion of the public. It felt nice to be guarded by policemen, though when she looked into one particular man's eyes she felt something stir inside her brain like she knew him but she just couldn't remember. In the end she put it all down to her missing year and having seen him at some point during it.
John and Jack made their way across the road to the park, pretending to joke and laugh together. They had agreed that if John was right about the policemen guarding Rose then they better stay as inconspicuous as possible.
When they entered the park they both spotted the police officers at either end of the perimeter of the grass. So far so good, they made their way along the path through the trees and to where a small playground was situated. Picking a bench by the line of trees they sat down, Jack pulling out a sandwich and handing it to John, who in turn handed him one of the hot takeaway cups of tea they'd bought that morning. The idea was to appear as two simple businessmen having lunch together in the park before returning to the office for another few hours of bossing people around.
John took a sip of his tea, but almost spat it out when he looked across the playground to where a blonde-haired figure was making her way towards the swing set.
"John, you can't" Jack whispered, looking seriously at his friend.
"I know Jack" he let out a shaky breath "If anybody makes a move it has to be you and it has to be subtle. They don't know who you are but they might know me" he recited.
"I'm sorry".
"I know" John replied, his full attention now focused on the woman at the other end of the clearing.
As she got closer he could see the familiar outline of her body, though a bit skinnier. Her hair had gotten darker since he'd last seen her, and one of her arms was covered to the elbow in badges. She stopped when she came to the swing set and looked up, making eye contact with him. He felt as though his heart was bursting in his chest. She looked at him for a moment like she was trying to figure something out, but she soon appeared to have given up and just gave him a small smile before sitting down on the swing and kicking off from the ground.
Jack let out the breath he had obviously been holding and gave John a sad smile "Here goes".
Jack stood up and made his way over to the swing set, trying desperately to conjure up his usual level of charm. It never did work on Rose, but he didn't mind, they were more like siblings anyway.
"Hey" he flashed her his biggest grin.
"Hi" she smiled back awkwardly, glancing over at her guards who were currently preoccupied with another man.
"I'm sorry" Jack shook his head "I was going to go try and charm my way into this" he sighed "but basically, you knew us before you lost your memory of the past year".
Rose looked up at him fearfully, her eyes wide "How can I trust two strangers?"
"You can't" Jack shook his head again "but that doesn't mean we haven't missed you Rosie".
Rose frowned at him "Nobody calls me Rosie".
"I do" he grinned "It's our thing".
Rose nodded, a slight frown on her face "And what about him?" she nodded to John.
Jack glanced back to where John was trying to look everywhere except at Rose "That's John, but baby steps Rosie, we don't want to overwhelm you".
Rose continued to frown over at John "I think I've seen him before, why doesn't he come over here too?"
Jack sat down on the next swing and murmured quietly "Because we aren't sure if those policemen guarding you are safe, and because of past events, we can't risk John being seen with you".
"Why?" Rose whispered back "What happened in the past twelve months?"
"You want the long version or the short?" Jack asked, a small smile playing on his lips. It felt great to talk to her again, almost like their old banter.
"Short now, long later" Rose nodded, glancing towards the guards "I don't know how much time we have".
"Right well..." Jack paused "You got a job at a restaurant, made new friends, fell in love with a great man, things were going great, but then you were both run down by a car on the way to dinner, you were kidnapped by your ex Jimmy Stone. He'd been threatening you for a while. Luckily for you your boyfriend took most of the damage from the car. You were being held hostage for nearly three months and your boyfriend was in a coma for nearly as long as that. You have to believe me when I say that it's amazing to see you again Rosie, three months is a long time".
Rose sat and listened to this man, taking in every word he said "And how did I get back?"
"We won't know that until you remember the past year" Jack replied.
"Wow" Rose breathed "Quite an eventful year, almost too hard to believe" she cocked an eyebrow at him.
"You do believe me don't you?"
Rose shook her head "I don't know, I mean, I already had a job at a café and Jimmy's in prison. I haven't trusted anyone enough to become close to them since him".
"You still have a job at Duncan's, and Jimmy is on parole. Nobody has seen him since he kidnapped you so we suspect that he has friends in the police force".
As Jack was talking, John rose from the bench and made his way over. The pain in his heart intensified with each step, but so did his excitement.
"Jack, we have to leave" he murmured to his friend, his eyes never leaving Rose's.
"Why?" Rose asked him directly.
John stared at her for a moment "Because they'll be coming back here pretty soon. There are only so many diversions and booby-traps a man can set before they start getting suspicious".
"Yeah" Jack agreed "We have to go, Rosie".
As they walked away they could hear Rose's footsteps catching up behind them "Wait!"
"What's up?" Jack asked.
"Who are you?" Rose asked John "Please, I need to know".
John looked at Jack who nodded "John Smith" he held out his hand.
She shook it carefully "Rose Tyler, obviously" she smiled.
John closed his eyes for a moment; he could feel the tears starting to well up in his eyes. "Jack, I can't do this" he allowed a tear to roll down his cheek.
Rose looked up at the tall, handsome man in pity. Whoever he was, her not remembering was affecting him greatly. Almost out of instinct she raised her hand and wiped away the tear with her thumb.
John lost any control he had originally possessed and pulled her to him in a searing kiss. He allowed himself to become lost in her familiar taste and scent, and he never wanted to leave the comfortable world that was Rose Tyler.
It took several seconds for Rose to even realize what was going on, but when she did she kissed the man back as if her life depended on it.
When John had to pull away he leant his forehead against hers "Please remember me, Rose Tyler...I..."
"John!" Jack called him "I'm really sorry but we have to go, they're coming".
John nodded, taking Rose's face in his hands and giving her one last kiss he ran after Jack, out of the park and across the street.
"Well that went alright" Jack panted "Too bad we couldn't just take her then".
"What do you want with her?" came a voice from behind them.
They both turned to see a man of about medium height, hazel eyes and light brown hair. John recognised the eyes immediately and gasped. So this was the brother she had talked about the day they had met.
"We want to help her" Jack spoke up "And who are you?"
The man gestured for them to follow him "My name's Tony and she's my big sister".
"Big sister?" Jack asked "You're nearly taller than John, and that's saying something".
"She's my big sister by about six minutes" Tony explained "but she doesn't know I'm back in London yet".
"So why are you here?" John asked.
"Come on" Tony led them into a small pub "We can talk in here".
Inside the pub Tony filled them in on everything that had happened since he and Rose were younger. The story of Jimmy Stone and how, even though she'd tried to hide it, Tony had figured out what had happened on 'that night' a very long time ago. He'd stayed away from London because he needed a break from it all and he couldn't believe that Rose would stay silent about something so horrible. Of course she hadn't known why he was avoiding her, so it had left her hurt and vulnerable for a while.
When Tony had returned to London he found out that Rose had been kidnapped, presumably by Jimmy. He was furious and went into a rampage. He must have uncovered almost a hundred kidnapper's lairs before he found out about the club. He had gone there every night and seen his sister. He couldn't report it to the police though, because he knew for a fact that some of them were dirty.
One night he decided to try and break into the club to get her, but he got caught and had to make a run for it before they saw him. After that he never saw her on the balcony above the dance floor anymore. She had obviously been taken away to a more secure location. He found the warehouse only hours after Rose had left it, and he was the one who anonymously brought her to the hospital, covered in blood and dirt.
Both John and Jack listened intently to his tale before telling him theirs. Tony seemed to have made a decision to trust them by the end of their conversation and asked if John knew of anywhere that he might be able to get a room.
When they all left the pub it was settled that for the time being they would all live at John's house and work together to take down Jimmy. Amazingly, Tony was sympathetic towards John and understood that what John really wanted to do was keep an eye on Rose, but considering the circumstances, Jimmy would expect John to be near Rose and would be following his every movement.
Rose wandered back towards the two guards that were protecting her. She couldn't stop thinking about John Smith. There was just something about him that stirred feelings deep in her heart. He was obviously the boyfriend or 'bloke' that her mum had been referring to. She considered that fact for a while. He seemed like a pretty good choice really, if he was her boyfriend. He was handsome and tall, thin but muscular, and his hair was simply amazing, in all its spikey glory.
Somehow deep inside her she knew that she loved this man and no matter how much she could remember she still felt herself drawn to him. Now all she could do was wait for her memories to return to her so that they could be together again.
The guards up ahead turned as she approached and smiled at her. "Simon" she addressed the more familiar looking man "Have we met before?"
"I don't know" he smiled at her "We might have".
"Hmm" she looked thoughtfully up at him "You look familiar is all".
Simon swallowed and nodded "I know Miss Tyler, I know".
Alrighty then! :D Let me know what you think in the reviews, it helps me out a lot. To new followers: Thanks for joining and reading :) To older followers: Thanks for sticking with it you're all legendary :D I'll try to write the next part soon :)