Memories and the Master
Disclaimer: Nothing you might recognise belongs to me
Part Twelve; The Morning After
The Doctor was awoken a couple of hours later by a light tapping at Rose's bedroom door. He quickly stood up, stretching as he did so, before opening the door to see Jackie standing there, a smile on her face and two cups of tea in her hands.
"Morning," he said, gratefully taking one of the mugs and having a sip,
"Mornin'," Jackie responded, trying to peer over his shoulder, "How's Rose?"
"Still asleep at the moment," the Doctor answered, "Had a bit of a disturbed night but we've talked about what happened yesterday,"
"What did happen yesterday?" asked Jackie, "You said her memories have come back but how?"
The Doctor scratched his head. "It's a little complicated," he finally said, "I promise I'll explain it to you but..."
"Doctor?"
He was saved from having to continue by a small tired voice from behind him. He instantly spun around to see Rose sitting on the side of the bed.
"Hello," he grinned, taking a seat next to her, "How are you feeling?"
"Alright," she mumbled,
"That's good," he said, tenderly cupping her chin and aiming for a good morning kiss. Instead, his lips met the top of her head as she pressed her face against his chest, sliding her arms around his waist. He frowned; she hadn't let him kiss her on the lips since... well, it felt like forever.
"Hi, Mum," she said, glancing up and spotting her mother who was still standing at the doorway.
The Doctor looked at her, before kissing Rose's head and walking out of the door to allow the mother and daughter to have some privacy. He made for the kitchen where he found Jack nursing a cup of tea.
"Doctor!" he said immediately upon seeing the Time Lord, "How is she? Is she OK? Does she remember everything?"
The Doctor nodded. "She's OK, and she remembers everything."
Jack visibly sighed with relief. "Thank God."
The Doctor nodded. "Jackie's with her at the moment but when she's ready we're going to sort everything out,"
"How'd you mean?" Jack asked,
"Well, we still don't know who did this to her so I want to find that out for starters," the Doctor replied, sinking onto a chair,
"Ah right," Jack said, "Did you ever finish watching those security visuals?"
The Doctor shook his head. "Got about an hour left. So far all we've seen is our drinks standing on the side table we put them on. It's really not that interesting,"
"Doesn't sound it!" Jack laughed.
The Doctor grinned before his smile slid off his face. "Jack, she won't let me kiss her," he said, abruptly,
"Rose?"
He nodded. "I've tried twice now- once just after her memories returned yesterday evening and once just now- but she just turns her head. I don't get it. She told me she still loves me but won't let me kiss her!"
Jack looked thoughtful. "Maybe she's finding it a bit strange at the moment. Just give her some time, alright?"
"Alright," the Doctor nodded, looking downcast.
Both men looked up as the door opened and Jackie appeared in the kitchen, a happy smile playing at her lips. "Jack, she wants you," she announced.
The ex-Time Agent leapt up happily, a big grin on his face. "Be back soon. My lady awaits!" he chuckled, before disappearing out of the kitchen.
Seconds later, the Doctor and Jackie heard his loud whoops and Rose's giggles from her bedroom as the two friends greeted one another again. The Doctor smiled slightly before slouching over the table.
"You alright, sweetheart?" Jackie asked, in concern,
"I'm fine Jackie, thanks," he mumbled,
"You sure? 'Cause you don't look fine,"
"I'm OK," he said, raising his head, "It's nothing to worry about." He stood up. "Can you tell Rose to meet me in the TARDIS when she's ready? Thanks." He nodded at her before swiftly walking to his beautiful ship.
"I'm so sorry,"
"Rose, stop apologizing. It's alright," Jack said, gazing up at her from where he was lying with his head in her lap,
"But I really am," Rose insisted, running her fingers through his hair, "I just basically ignored you for a month!"
"It's not your fault, honey," Jack reassured her,
"I know, but I'm still s…"
"Rose!" Jack cried, "If you say that one more time, I'm gonna have to tickle you to death! You've said it once; not that you had to say it all; and that's the end of it!"
"OK," she said before giggling.
Jack's lips relaxed into an easy grin. "'Sides, I got to bond with Matt anyways,"
"Is he OK?" Rose asked, "'Cause he seemed off at the beginning,"
"He's fine," Jack said,
"What was up with him?"
"You know, I think I'll let Matt tell you that. It's nothing bad or anything but it's his secret to tell,"
"Sure," Rose accepted, "Have you told them yet? About me getting my memories back, I mean,"
"Nope," Jack replied, "We can give them a ring later,"
"Yeah," Rose nodded before lapsing into a companionable silence. She heard footsteps walking briskly down the hall outside her room and then the front door opening and closing. She wondered if it was the Doctor. Rose bit her lip. She really needed to talk to him.
"So, why won't you let the Doctor kiss you?" Jack asked abruptly.
Rose's fingers stilled on his hair. She stared down at Jack who was watching her seriously.
"He… he said that?" she eventually asked.
Jack nodded. "You still love him, don't you?"
"Of course I do!" Rose exclaimed immediately, "It's just…"
"Yeah?" Jack prompted,
"I need to talk to him," she decided, carefully disentangling herself and pulling her shoes on. She was still wearing yesterday's clothes but couldn't be bothered to change,
"He's gone down to the TARDIS," Jackie told her, suddenly appearing in the doorway, "Said to meet him there when you're ready. He looked a bit rough."
Rose nodded. "See you in a bit." She pulled open the front door, breathing in the fresh summer morning air. Despite her rush, she let a smile spread across her face. She could remember everything! Everything out there now made sense to her! Happily, she jogged along the balcony to where the steps were.
"Morning Helen!" she sang out to her neighbour, who was collecting in the milk bottles,
"'ello Rose," Helen replied,
"You alright?" Rose asked, looking at her in concern. Her neighbour looked worried,
"Yeah, we're just a bit anxious. You know our Michael won a runners up prize in that Saxon competition?"
"Yeah?" Rose nodded, remembering that Michael was the nephew twice removed of the sister of the best friend of Helen's son-in-laws secret girlfriend,
"Well, 'e went to that conference yesterday and 'e ain't come back yet. We was gonna have a party for 'im as well as it's such a big deal. Everyone came except 'im!"
"Maybe it went on for a while or something," Rose shrugged, itching to get to the Doctor, "He'll turn up, I wouldn't worry, Helen,"
"Yeah Rose," Helen nodded, "Let's hope so. See you around, yeah?"
"Yeah," Rose nodded and continued on her way, the conversation disappearing out of her mind as she approached the TARDIS.
Taking a small breath, she pushed open the familiar blue door and stepped inside, smiling at the structures and console in the centre of the large room. The floor vibrated with a welcoming hum beneath her feet and the lights flickered.
"Good to see you too, TARDIS," she mumbled, placing her hand on the nearest wall,
"You're turning into me," remarked a voice.
Rose grinned before walking over to the console and sitting down on the edge of the pit. "Is that such a bad thing?"
"Nope," the Doctor grinned up at her, "Need more me's in the world."
Rose laughed. "Can I come down?"
"Sure."
She slipped down into the pit and immediately engulfed him in another hug, burying her face in his chest and inhaling deeply.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked, after a few moments,
"Course you can," he answered, stepping back and looking at her in concern, "What's up?"
Rose sighed and slid down the wall of the pit to sit cross legged on the floor. The Doctor imitated her so he was sitting facing her.
"You know I still love you more than anything or anyone in the universe in the present, future and past, right?" she began, reaching out and taking his hands in both of hers before linking their fingers and idly beginning to play with them, "Even with the whole memory loss thing,"
"Yeah," the Doctor answered, watching her seriously. He wasn't sure what she was trying to say and he was feeling a bit nervous of what it could be. It would break him if she wanted to finish with their relationship.
"Well, I've been thinking and…"
"And…" the Doctor gently prompted, his hearts thudding,
"I'm not sure I'm ready to take things back to the physical level just yet," Rose said in a rush. She stilled her hands and nervously looked at his face.
He gazed back at her, his face blank for a while whilst he thought it over.
"Why do you mean by the 'physical level'?" he eventually asked,
"Um… I guess I mean sex and kissing. Stuff that we started doing after we told each other we loved one another…" Rose trailed off, "I'm sorry, Doctor, I just… I just can't deal with it. It just feels… weird." She bit her lip and stared at him worriedly.
He smiled gently at her. "Take your time, sweetheart," he said, brushing a lock of her hair back from her face, "It's OK. I can't say I'm not disappointed but I've waited a month. I can wait longer. I'd wait forever for you."
Rose felt tears come into her eyes. "Is that OK? I just don't feel like I can go back to doing that right now. It's too soon and I'm still coming to terms with remembering everything but I saw you looked upset when I wouldn't kiss you this morning and yesterday but I just… can't!"
"Rose, it's OK. I want you to concentrate on sorting yourself out, alright?" the Doctor said, squeezing her hand, "We'll just stick to hugs and stuff like that for now,"
"Thanks, Doctor," Rose said, leaning forward and giving him a hug, "You're the best,"
"I know" he joked, hugging her back, "Right, if you're ready, I thought we could attempt to watch the rest of those security visuals. It's time we found out who did this to you,"
"Alright," Rose nodded, standing up and climbing out of the pit, "I'll go get the popcorn."
Jack jogged down the dirty white stairs of Bucknall House. Rose had left about thirty minutes ago and he hoped she'd managed to talk to the Doctor by now.
He reached the chewing gum splattered concrete that made up the forecourt of the Powell Estate where the TARDIS sat proudly, glinting in the morning sunshine, and pushed open the door of the ship.
"Hey Jack," Rose said, looking up and grinning at him,
"Hi," he replied, closing the door, "What you watching?"
"The security visuals," the Doctor said, from where he was sat next to Rose on the captain's chair, one arm draped casually around her shoulders, "It's very exciting. So far we've seen a couple, who we swear we saw arriving with other people, having a sneaky kiss and grope in the corner next to our drinks and also a wizened old Groporian carefully examining our drinks but not touching them,"
"It was Sleepy!" Rose giggled,
"Who?" Jack asked, confused.
The Doctor rolled his eyes playfully. "Rose thinks the Groporians are similar to the dwarves in Snow White and when we were at the party, we saw one fast asleep in an armchair and she decided that was Sleepy."
Jack laughed whilst Rose giggled and the Doctor shook his head, grinning.
"How long is there left to watch?" Rose asked, once she'd controlled herself,
"About half an hour before we came back. Whatever happened has to happen soon," the Doctor said, budging up so Jack could sit down,
"It better be soon," Rose muttered, "I'm bored!"
They returned their attention to the visual and watched it with growing impatience as nothing happened.
"They're very nice glasses," Jack commented, about twenty minutes later,
"Oh, I agree," the Doctor said, "The glasswork is just exquisite!"
Rose laughed before suddenly taking in a breath. Finally, something was happening.
The three time-travellers watched with bated breath as a figure sauntered up to where their glasses were and quickly dropped something into one of the glasses, which began to fizz slightly before stilling again. The figure turned around to walk away and the three viewers gasped.
"That's…"
Jack's choked gasp was suddenly interrupted by a hammering at the doorway.
Rose looked up at the Doctor, an eyebrow raised.
"Your Mum's probably called your friends with the news," he said, with a distracted grin.
She smiled back and went to answer it.
"Rose Tyler?"
"Yeah?" she nodded, staring curiously at the tall woman with curly hair, dressed in a smart suit, who was standing in front of her flashing a small ID card,
"Yvonne Hartman, Torchwood. You're coming with us."
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