Author's Note: This chapter is still teen, and the next couple should be, too, unless the Doctor and Rose get carried away. I did decide, however, after being informed it was my only option, that this will get upped to an adult rating when the time is right.
Betas: scullywolf and re-sile
When he sucked gently on her lower lip, she was shocked out of her immobility, pressing her body against his and eagerly returning the kiss, completely oblivious to who else might be around to see Rose Tyler and the Doctor, snogging on a public street, unaware of anything but herself and him and how they touched.
Then she felt tapping on her shoulder.
She pulled back reluctantly, looking into the Doctor's eyes, which were hungry and flickering with emotion, before turning around to see who was trying to get her attention.
"You folks tryin' to get locked up again?" said the man standing in front of them, whose name Rose couldn't quite remember, Frank or Fred or something. Any chance she had of recalling his name was ruined when the Doctor moved so he was directly behind her instead of beside her, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders. Was that just where he wanted to stand, or was he trying to hide evidence that the kiss had affected him as much as it had affected her?
Rose focused her attention back on the smirking townsperson in front of her.
"Kissing isn't against the law, not even here," she said, calling on the information she'd picked up from Simon's leaflets.
The man's smile grew, and he raised his eyebrows.
"No, it ain't, but that looked like it was a mite more than just a kiss. Looked a lot like ya'll forgot you weren't in your hotel room."
Rose flushed, remembering the feel of her soft body pressed against the Doctor's hard one, his lips gentle but insistent, his-
"Thank you for interrupting us, then," said the Doctor, voice rough.
The man looked up to the Doctor's face. His smirk vanished.
"Well, I, uh… Happy to help," he managed before making his way quickly down the road. Rose relaxed and turned back to the Doctor, who dropped his hands and took a step back, his eyes shuttered.
"That was…" started Rose.
"That shouldn't have happened," said the Doctor, eyes fixed on hers. She felt her heart sink. If he thought it was a mistake, if it was only good for her… How were they supposed to go back to normal after that?
"The kiss was-"
"Perfect," he interrupted again, eyes flashing before he returned to a neutral expression. "But it shouldn't have happened. Not yet."
"Then when?" Rose clutched at a large bow on her dress, needing something to do with her hands. She saw the Doctor's twitch at his sides. He shook his head.
"I need a day or two to think, Rose. There are… There's a lot to think about, for both of us. Lot of room in this head of mine. Shouldn't have kissed you before I got it all straight. Wasn't right."
"But we've…" She stopped, swallowed.
"Just need a little time, me." The corners of his mouth pulled upward, a pale imitation of his real smile. "Don't want to make things harder on you, on us, by not thinking everything through."
"Okay," she said, licking her still-tingling lips. "Suppose that makes sense."
He pasted on a smile. "Dinner?"
"Sure."
She turned absently toward the hotel, which served food that passed for a light meal in the evenings, and the Doctor followed behind her.
O~O~O
Dinner had been quiet. They'd barely spoken, and searching looks were caught and averted. Now they were in bed, in the dark, the Doctor on his side and facing away from Rose. Meanwhile, she lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.
He'd said he'd needed to think, but they'd had time to think. They'd been together for months, maybe even close to a year. If he wasn't sure yet, would two days help at all? What did he need to think about, exactly? They were good together as traveling companions, as friends, and if that kiss was any indication of how good they'd be together physically...
She pressed her fingers to her lips, remembering how they'd felt against the Doctor's. The kiss had been even better than she'd sometimes let herself imagine it would be. Was that why he needed some time? Maybe he'd been fighting his attraction as much as she had, hadn't let himself seriously consider the possibility. Now, he needed to think about it. And what about her? If he was ready to take that step, was she? Ready to spend their days saving the worlds or saving themselves, ready to end adventures with a kiss, ready to spend the nights together much more intentionally...
She turned her head toward the Doctor's back, watching his steady breathing in the scant light filtering through the window from the sleepy town. He was still, his breathing almost too regular. She was pretty sure he wasn't asleep. Maybe he was trying to make her feel like they each had space to think in the small, shared bed. Space to think about whether she wanted to take that step together.
Yes. If he was ready for all of it, she was, too. If he wasn't, if he decided he wanted to stay as they had been, could she go back? Could she pretend she didn't want more after that brief taste? The alternative was, what, to leave him, let him travel alone? She shook her head. That would be even worse.
She sighed, and the Doctor shifted, lying on his back, eyes closed. He took her hand, slowly, giving her a chance to pull away. She squeezed his hand, then breathed in and out, forcing herself to relax. Whether they were together or together, at least they would have each other.
O~O~O
The next day crept by slowly. Rose worked behind the counter, as usual, and Simon kept himself busy in his office. Customers came and went, the Doctor noticeably absent. Rose discussed the weather, families, jobs, cooking and sewing. Finally, after a few pointers from Sheriff Bob, she spent a couple of hours trying to knit.
She was brilliant at making knotted lumps of yarn.
"Helps if you pay attention to what you're doing, or so I've heard," Mr. Bartl commented, making her jump.
"Isn't really my thing, I don't think. Was just trying to pass time. The shelves are all straightened. Here's the log for the day so far." She set down the yarn and handed him the logbook. He put his pile of papers down on the counter so he could read through the book, as he seemed to like doing a few times a day.
She untangled the needles from the yarn, angling herself toward Simon's papers. The top paper was the same as it had been last time she'd tried to sneak a peek, just a chart on pricing trends. She glanced at Simon, who was absorbed in the sales for the day. She pulled the ball of yarn toward her, trying to move the top sheet of paper away without being conspicuous.
"What was this?" asked Simon, pointing to the book and startling Rose. She pulled the yarn too hard, and papers were suddenly flying off the desk.
"Oh, bollocks," said Rose, scrambling to pick everything up, reading as much as she could without being obvious. Most of it was more paperwork that made sense for the store, prices and sales and costs of acquisition. She hesitated as she grabbed the last sheet that had fallen on her side, one that looked very much like some of the forms she and the Doctor had needed to sign at the sheriff's. Before she could really read it, Simon took the stack from her hands.
"Thank you," he said, shuffling them and holding them atop the closed logbook.
"Was that… Do you have paperwork from the sheriff?"
"He sends in orders sometimes, yes." Simon kept his attention firmly fixed on the papers.
"Didn't look like an order. Looked like one of the forms the sheriff sends to the person who runs the immersion. Do you have those?" pressed Rose.
"Why would I have that?" asked Mr. Bartl calmly. "I'll be in my office."
"Wait," called Rose before he could walk off, and he turned back to face her.
"Yes?"
"Can you get us our ship back?"
Simon blinked, looked down at his papers, then back up at her. He shook his head.
"I can't give your ship back," he said, remaining still where he stood.
"Can't as in it isn't you, or do you mean it is you but you can't do it?"
"The person in charge… He or she has even more rules to follow than most. If that person were caught breaking major procedure without a justifiable reason, they wouldn't be arrested. They'd be immediately removed from the immersion, belongings sent afterward. They'd be allowed no further interaction with the immersion or contact with anyone still in it."
"Even if he was just trying to do what's right?"
Simon nodded. "Even if. I love this town. The laws are typically part of the appeal, but I can also see how, to one in charge, they might be terribly restricting."
"And Lea's here for another two years," said Rose.
He nodded again. "I'm very sorry I can't tell you who can give you your ship back. If you need anything else, though, any help settling in, please do let me know."
"But you can't…." her words fell on his retreating back, and she heard his office door shut firmly.
Should she follow him? She was sure he was the person in charge, and he'd never denied it. He'd seemed pretty clear, though, that getting the TARDIS back wasn't on the agenda. It would be pretty hard, leaving somewhere you loved, alone and, if her observations were right, without the person you loved. She couldn't imagine being unable to so much as talk to the Doctor for two years. She didn't think she'd be able to talk Simon out of any more information today, and she knew Lea was working all night. If she pressed without a solid plan, he might clam up permanently.
Rose bent and retrieved the yarn and needles from the floor, placing them where the logbook typically rested. The door's bell jangled, and she looked up to see the Doctor.
"Hullo," he said, smiling at her. "Ready to go?"
"I think so," said Rose. "Let me just go tell Mr. Bartl I'm leaving."
"All right." He leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Rose made her way to Simon's office, knocking lightly on the door. When there was no response, she knocked harder.
"Mr. Bartl?" There was silence. "Mr. Bartl, the Doctor's here. Can I leave for the evening?"
After a few seconds, he finally responded. "That's fine. I'll see you in the morning."
She walked back to the Doctor, thinking. Simon definitely didn't want to talk about this anymore, at least not under these circumstances. Should they just wait? Or maybe there was a way to get him more comfortable with being willing to bend a few rules.
The Doctor stood as she approached, holding out his arm for her to take. She accepted his unspoken invitation, and they left the store.
"Good day?" asked the Doctor, breaking into the silence.
"Slow," she said. "But I think…" She stopped, looking around to make sure nobody was in earshot. "I think it really might be Simon who's in charge. He had these papers, and we had a conversation that was sort of… But he isn't gonna tell us anything today. I think he's locked himself in his office. I've got a plan, though, and I'm gonna need your help."
The Doctor looked at her, quietly, appraising, then broke into a grin. "Okay. What's the plan?"
Reviews!
siriusenigma: Glad to keep you on your toes ;)
Blue Stone Shining Wolf: I think that's exactly why it wasn't as obvious to her as to everyone else. I can update so frequently because 1) I work at home, 2) my daughter started all-day school so I have way more time than I'm used to, and 3) I have endlessly awesome and amazing betas who put up with my frequent chapters.
JediKendalina: Thank you! I've been ready to get to that chapter since chapter one, so I'm glad people seem to have liked it.
JessiePie6: But they finally got to kiss! :-D
scgirl-317: Sorry if I disappointed ;)
SolemnlySwearToManageMischief: I think the Doctor has been affected by Rose since sometime around "run." :) I'm glad you're enjoying it! I'd have fun writing it, anyway, but comments make it even more rewarding, so I appreciate it.
