Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who which is a pity because I really miss Ten and Rose.
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Rose picked up the small plaque that sat on the desk in front of her, a look of distaste evident on her face. It read: Dr. Julia Atkinson, Chief Medical Practitioner. Rose rolled her eyes. As far as she was concerned, this was just a fancy way of saying this woman was the doctor. This particular title did not bode well with her.
Dr. Julia closed the filing cabinet, having located the dossier she was searching for. She glanced at it briefly before turning to take her seat opposite Rose.
"Oh, Miss Tyler," she said, jumping slightly, clearly startled at Rose's sudden presence. "I hope you haven't been waiting long. How are you feeling today?"
Rose was worried by the woman's reaction, something strange was going on and she wasn't quite sure what it was.
This had been happening to her an awful lot lately, people not noticing her. Cashiers would look on as she waited to pay in stores, people would accidentally bump into her on the street without even acknowledging they had done so, payslips she received had entire days missing at a time when she had, in fact, been working those days. Even her own family would look straight through her sometimes with vacant expressions on their faces.
If she had to guess the cause of it, Rose would have said it was just residual energy left over from wearing the perception filter but having spoken to Angela Morris and been reassured otherwise, that theory didn't make any sense. Angela was convinced Rose was so used to going by unnoticed that she now just wasn't making herself present enough in general. From the sound of it, Morris thought it was intentional on Rose's part.
Rose knew it was more than that. She knew it sounded crazy but at times it was almost as if she didn't exist.
"Yeah, fine," Rose told Dr. Atkinson honestly. It was true. Physically, she had never felt better.
Julia referred to her file again, her glasses sliding down her nose at the movement. "You were in two weeks ago suffering from light-headedness and you were also having trouble sleeping, is that correct?"
Rose sighed, she did not want to be here. This was a colossal waste of her time, not to mention all Jackie's fault. Having caught Rose asleep at her desk again, Jackie had decided to take 'affirmative action'. This action, however, could not simply be taken at Torchwood where they had specially trained medical staff. No, Rose had to go and see a 'proper doctor'.
"Not exactly, no," Rose corrected, inwardly cursing her mother. "I'm sleeping just fine, it's staying awake that seems to be the problem."
Her nightmares were becoming more and more intense recently, striking her at any moment, often causing her to nod off in the middle of the day.
"Ah, yes." Atkinson jotted something down in Rose's file before asking, "And the light-headedness?"
"I mentioned that once," Rose bluffed. "My mother has a tendency to blow these things out of proportion. Honestly, you should never take what she says seriously. If you diagnosed me as a hypochondriac, she'd ask you to prescribe me something for it!"
Rose laughed a little too enthusiastically, hoping to sell the lie. The truth was she had said she'd been feeling light-headed. It wasn't that she felt unwell but she definitely wasn't feeling herself. It wasn't that Rose felt light-headed exactly, it was more a sensation of floating, in a way. She'd often feel like she was drifting along, in another state of consciousness. It was a surreal, out of body experience. She couldn't seem to recall long periods of time, leaving her unsure of where she had been or what she had been doing during that time.
Julia removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. She almost looked to be disappointed as she spoke. "I'm sorry Miss Tyler. I've got the results back and there doesn't appear to any abnormalities."
Rose was impressed. This visit was quicker than she had imagined it would be. "Well there you go then, that's great! Nothing to worry about. I'll be on my way so. Good to see you again." She started to head towards the door, eager to get out of there.
"Your blood levels are all normal," the doctor continued without looking up. Rose reluctantly slumped back to her chair. It didn't look like she'd be getting out of here any time soon after all.
"You're not deficient in iron or any vitamins. You tell me you're getting plenty of sleep. You don't fit the profile for vertigo or anaemia. You're not narcoleptic. You don't think you've been exposed to any toxic chemicals or gases as of late."
She took a long look at Rose, a troubled look on her face.
"This is the first time in thirty years that the only diagnosis I have to offer is a clear bill of health. In fact, I'd go so far as to say you're in the best physical shape of your life."
Rose couldn't figure out what this woman was so upset about. "Then what's the problem?" she asked impatiently.
"Nothing, it would seem and, in a way, that is the problem. Rose, you don't have so much as a paper-cut. Not a bruise or a scratch. Not one calcium spot on your nail."
"Well what's wrong with that?" Rose asked defensively.
"You don't understand. I've been doing this for thirty-four years. Never once have I come across a patient that didn't have so much as a blemish."
"I guess I just take good care of myself," Rose joked even though she knew that wasn't remotely true. Jeopardy friendly, that's what she was.
"It's not that," Dr. Atkinson looked nervous, like she was trying to confess something. "Miss Tyler, I took your blood last week. I turned around to get a cotton swab to disinfect the puncture wound and by the time I turned back around, I was unable to locate the needle mark again."
"So? You probably just missed it. Don't give yourself a hard time, we all make mistakes," Rose allowed when really this entire conversation was starting to unnerve her.
"That's not what I'm saying. I was looking directly where it should have been. I'm telling you, the wound was completely healed."
Rose sat in silence, she had absolutely no explanation for this. What exactly was this woman implying? Whatever it was, Rose didn't like it.
"I have never seen healing to be so accelerated before. It simply isn't possible," Julia muttered under her breath. The way she was staring at her made Rose uneasy. It was like she was an equation that couldn't be solved. No, it was more like she was an equation that shouldn't exist to begin with.
"Anyway," Rose said in a bright voice, trying to lighten the mood. "So, you're telling me that I'm a freak. That your only diagnosis is it, doc?"
Dr. Atkinson cleared her throat, obviously trying to bring herself back down to reality. "Often, when we are under mental strain, that pressure can also take it's toll on us physically. If this was any other patient I would say the apparent lack of symptoms would indicate a psychological issue as opposed to a medical one. Your mother tells me you've been working a lot, is it possible that you're a little bit run down? Perhaps your sleeping problem is due to stress. I can prescribe you something to boost your energy levels. That might help you to stay awake."
There was an awkward silence before Dr. Atkinson said in a suggestive tone "Or..."
Rose suddenly became very uncomfortable. This could not be happening. She got the distinct impression the doctor would just love to conduct an experiment on her.
Sure enough Atkinson didn't disappoint her. "Miss Tyler, how would you feel about-"
"Don't even think about it," Rose said a little bit too loudly. "You're not hacking me up so you can stop looking at me like that for starters! You'd swear I was bloody diseased or somethin'..."
"It wouldn't be anything invasive," the doctor promised. "We could put you under a general anesthetic. You needn't even be awake for the procedure."
"I said no," Rose told her firmly. "I'm not an animal and I'm not bleedin' contaminated..."
Rose was unable to finish the thought, her mind completely wrapped up by a single word.
You'll know when it's ready. You should be classed as a contaminate and this reality will start to force you out, via the breach. I can't say more, there's no time. I wish I could. I'm sorry.
So there it was, the reason. She was contaminated. That could only mean one thing.
It was finally time.
Rose barely took the time to register Dr. Atkinson's perplexed expression before she sprinted from the room.
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Thanks for everyone who is sticking with it. Love you all!
