Chapter Eleven

Donna had just stepped out of the TARDIS when the group came in. River and Jack were leading the way, looking grim, and a resolute looking Rose limped behind them. As soon as she found a chair, she flopped down, sighing with relief.
"What happened?" Donna asked, she walked up to Rose, noticing the large hole in her pant leg. Rose shifted her leg and waved a hand.
"It's fine, I'm fine." she insisted. River perched herself on a desk and crossed her arms scowling.
"She got in the way of a 740 blaster, but she won't let us touch her." she said. Jack glared at her and threw his jacket over a chair.
"Where's the Doc? did you find anything?" he asked. Donna was about to open her mouth when the Doctor himself stepped out. He spotted Rose and nearly sprinted over to her.
"Rose! What happened!" He crouched to her level, pulling out the screwdriver. River looked away from the pair, trying not to be hurt. He looked ragged, she noticed, something heavy was on his mind. Rose just rolled her eyes.
"I tripped and got in the way of a blaster." she showed him the hole in her pants, revealing a small burn wound. River looked at Jack frowning. It had been much worse, the laser clearing slicing into her leg. But since Jack had come to help, it had rapidly decreased as if she was healing herself. The Doctor still had the screwdriver out and Rose pushed it away. "I'm fine."
"What are we going to do with you?" he asked softly, the words nearly choking him. Rose squeezed his hand, sensing his unease.
"We'll just keep River around to save the day, eh?" she joked, looking up to the woman smiling appreciatively.
"Hey Doc, how'd the tests go?" Jack interrupted, his eyes on the screens. The Doctor stood up and went to explain things to him. River approached Rose, her eyes narrow.
"What are you?" she asked suspiciously.
"Human, I think." Rose stretched her leg out and attempted to relax.
"Then how did this happen? It had to have been after you left him." River sat beside her, and waited expectantly. Donna sat down as well, eager to hear. Rose's eyes darkened, and she shrugged slightly.
"I didn't leave him," she stated hardly. "We were closing the void and I lost hold of my clamp. I would have been sucked in if my Dad hadn't caught me in time. I escaped the void but was trapped on a parallel earth, with no hope of getting home." she paused for breath. "So I started working for Torchwood, just in case I could find something to take me back. One day a field mission went wrong, I was hit by a Progothan's dagger. Next thing I knew, I was completely healed and under examination at Torchwood." she replied, looking up at River. River's eyes clouded.
"Did you feel anything?" she asked. Rose smiled bitterly and nodded.
"Oh yes. Which is why I was surprised that I was alive, and slightly disappointed." she remarked. Donna watched her with empathy.
"I'm so sorry." she said. Rose nodded, shifting restlessly. She turned to River.
"You know, I could ask you the same question, very few people time travel and flit about the TARDIS whenever they choose." she stated. River shrugged.
"I can't say much, just met him when I was young and impressionable. Incited my appetite for danger you could say..." she paused as she remembered. Maroon aliens, with tentacles for arms, attacked her high school and he had just grinned madly at her and dashed off. They'd saved the world with seconds to spare, if Rose hadn't found the breakers...her thoughts screeched to a halt and she looked up at her. "You were there, but I don't remember that from before." Rose's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You weren't there before, when I met the Doctor. I'm sure of it." River stated with more confidence. The two women stared at each other, each realizing what that meant. Rose stretched out her hand and laid it on River's. The memories faded, replacing themselves with the ones she knew so well.
"What's going on?" Donna asked, watching the two surprised. Rose looked up at her.
"Nothing, it's fine." she looked up at the Doctor, typing away at a computer. "I think it's time we had a talk."