Jack disappeared into the corridor, leaving Rose and the Doctor alone once more. They barely had time to talk before the Doctor sent them after Jack, and now that everything was settled, the air around them felt heavy.
"You're not upset I brought him on board, are you?" The Doctor asked her, bringing her back into a dancing stance as the TARDIS shifted the music around them once more to something soft and, perhaps, romantic.
"No," She replied. "Bit surprised, though."
"I think Jack just needed a second chance." He said. "But I'd toss him out on the nearest planet if you're at all bothered by it."
"Shut up, you would not." Rose countered, feeling her heart swell at the Doctor's deep laugh lightly playing at her eyes.
"Alright, perhaps I wouldn't toss him out, but I certainly wouldn't let him stick around."
There was a lull in conversation, one pacified by eyes locked on to one another, bodies swaying close in time to slow music, moving in a circle in one spot rather than around the console like earlier.
"We never," Rose began, but lost her voice as the Doctor leaned in a touch, his breath dancing on her lips.
"We never what, darling?" He asked, his voice low, quiet and smooth. She shuddered at the way "darling" sounded, having realized now how often he'd call her that, and yet it was never said that way.
"Never really finished our discussion." She said, matching her tone to his.
"About?"
"This, us."
"You would like to label it?" The Doctor asked, brow ticking up slightly.
"Like to know boundaries and such." She countered. "You said you don't understand human datin' rituals. Well, don't understand Time Lord ones, me."
"Time Lord's don't date, or court. They enter into an arranged marriage that usually benefits the family financially or politically."
"Oh," Rose said, feeling a bit dumb, "Well, then."
He grinned, and it made him look a little younger. "Rose, we can go on as if I said nothing, as if nothing that transpired in the hospital happened. I would be sad, a little put out, of course, but I would never make you enter into something you didn't want. But, if you're agreeable to a more romantic relationship, I would gladly do so, to whatever degree you were comfortable with."
"Yeah?" She asked.
"Yes," He said firmly.
Rose's mouth twisted into a smirk before she got slightly on her toes and pressed her lips to his. He relaxed instantly, moving his hand from her waist slowly up her back, moving his fingers into her hair. Then she pressed her lips more firmly, opening her mouth just enough to dart her tongue out to taste his lips. He surprised her with a quiet hum of approval, and reciprocated in kind, deepening the kiss.
Her knees went weak, and she found he'd abandoned the dancing stance to hold her with both arms. She wound both arms around his neck, expecting him to pull back, and he didn't.
Her brain was starting to fog, and she found herself taking breaths through her nose as she didn't dare to break away. Yet he didn't move, didn't push her further, and when she pressed her body closer to his he held her there.
With a slight whimper, she pulled back, breaking the kiss with a smack and looking at the wonderfully dazed look on the Doctor's face. His yes darted between hers and her lips, his own a bit kiss swollen with a light smile playing at the corners.
"You really mean that, don't you?" She said.
"Was that a test?" He asked, grinning. "Did a I pass? If not, I'll happily retake it. Maybe I could do so anyway, improve my score. I mean, the console is right behind you, if I had known I would have lead you backward, and-"
"'Kay, alright, gettin' the picture, here." She laughed, feeling light as he did the same. "But, physical limits aside, someone asks if you're my boyfriend."
"You know, I would actually really prefer to not be known as your boyfriend. I'm over a thousand years old, boyfriend seems ridiculous." He replied, wrinkling his nose a little.
"Can't really call you my lover." She grinned.
"We could change that." The Doctor teased leaning in for a peck on her lips. "But in all seriousness, Rose, if someone asks I am yours. Just yours." He shifted his hold on her, taking her hands in his. She expected he would kiss her knuckles as he always had, but instead of lifting them to his lips, he brought them to his chest, placing each one over a heart. "They're yours for as long as you'll have them. They were yours before today, and they would have continued to be until you told me you didn't want them. And even then, I think, they would have beat for you for a long time. I will not lie to you and pretend I did not give them out before, or that they did not beat for any other. But those people are gone, and more than that, they were from a different time, when I was a different man within this same body. I will think back on them fondly but you, darling, you're who holds them now. Do you accept them?"
Tears pricked her eyes as a her lips fought a smile. He was too much, too romantic, too poetic, too good for the likes of a chav from the estates. But she was also a little bit selfish, and finding herself falling more in love with this alien than she could have ever imagined being in love with anyone ever.
Tentatively, she took his right hand and brought it to rest over her singular heart. "Only got one to give you in return." She said, a slight laugh in her voice as she looked to where he spread his fingers against her shirt to have her digits fall between his own.
"Yours is so much bigger, brighter, more beautiful and far less damaged than either of mine, let alone the two together. It would be a genuine privilege to call you my own, my darling." He said softly, and Rose met his gaze.
"Well that settles it, then."She grinned, the Doctor's eyes lighting up in a way she so rarely seen.
"Settled, then." And that's when he lifted her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles far longer than any time before, lingering over them for a length completely unnecessary, and making her utterly dizzy. "Now," he said as he righted himself and stepped back. "Jack will likely be indisposed for some time. Anywhere you would like to go?"
Rose shook her head. "Best we wait, yeah? Besides, had enough adventure for the day."
"Then how about somewhere simple. An asteroid market, perhaps? Give this dating thing a try."
"Only if there are chips. Proper chips, this time, nothing like those soggy blue ones."
"Alright, if you insist," he teased again, and Rose put her hands in her pockets, bouncing on her feet as the Doctor moved around the console, putting in the coordinates of wherever he was taking them.
~DW~
"Where are we?" Rose asked as they stepped out the TARDIS.
"Asteroid 4592 Alpha pi." The Doctor replied. "A nice little place, not far from New Earth. It's a tourist place, admittedly, more so people feel less inclined to actually go to New Earth just to sample the delicacies."
He offered her his arm, and she took it, smiling up at him as they stepped away from the TARDIS which was parked in a small ally way just off of what looked to be a town square turned market. Rose gasped quietly, still not even remotely used to seeing alien worlds, even if this one felt closer to home than any of the others.
There were so many people, human people, milling about. The skin colors seemed a little different, hints of odd tints here and there, but they were humanoid at least. There were aliens as she knew them, as well, but they were few and far between.
"Blend in here, won't we?" Rose asked.
"Yes, this is an asteroid favored by the humanoids of the world. Admittedly there are some people here who would prefer to keep it that way, a lot that Cassandra would have fit in with quite nicely, if she hadn't become nothing more than a flap of skin. But they aren't the majority."
"Excuse me, sir, ma'am." A man in an official looking uniform addressed them as they came a bit more into the square. "Might I see your papers?"
"Papers?" The Doctor questioned.
"Yes," the man said slowly, looking at the Doctor as though he were made. "Your papers? You're not allowed here without proof of acceptance."
Another man, equally dressed in official capacity, came up beside the first. "It's to cute down on the unsavory sort, sir." He said in a bored tone, looking at the crowd and not at them
"You were just telling me 'bout that." Rose said as the Doctor began reaching into his jacket for the psychic paper, elbowing him gently as he pulled it out.
"Right, how forgetful of me." He said, and the second man frowned a little, though he still didn't pay them any attention. "Here you are." The Doctor said as he showed the paper to the first officer. "We're very accepting, Rose and I."
"Glad to hear," He said, handing the paper back. "You and your wife enjoy the festival." He said, moving on, his partner following without ever having looked at them at all.
"Your wife?" Rose asked quietly, leaning in slightly toward the Doctor.
"Bit of a strong label, I'll admit, but I figured better safe than sorry. Would hate to wind up in jail because we did something deemed inappropriate."
"That happens? Jail time for a kiss?"
"Well, it's more of a time out, really." He said in that way that was meant to shrug off any concerns.
"Glad to hear." She said. "Now, chips?"
"Yes, darling, chips." He smirked, taking her hand this time, running his thumb off over hers.
"Like it when you call me that," She confessed, kissing his cheek and causing him to smile.
"Be sure to fit in more often." He replied, leading her to the chip stand.
She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes and savoring how the scent lingered so strongly she was salivating. "Mmmm, smells like proper chips."
"Alright, alright, you've made your point." He said as they joined the cue. "I will never again try and say something is chips when they are, in fact, nothing more than a poor facsimile."
She smiled at him, pressing her tongue into her cheek moment so she wouldn't tease him further.
They waited a bit, the cue going slower than she would have liked, and Rose could feel the Doctor beside her getting fidgety.
"Something wrong?" She asked, glancing up at him and noting the confusion on his face.
"No, not wrong, per se, just… off. I'm getting not only a strong sense of deja vu, but like there's something in my head. Another me there, it's rather off putting."
"What, like there's another version of you here?" She asked, looking around for a long scarf or man in a bright coat.
"I'm not sure." The Doctor replied honestly. He then turned to him. "Would I be a terrible date if I went off to investigate?" He asked.
"'Suppose not, so long as I still get chips." She replied.
He rolled his eyes but smiled, reaching into his coat pockets and pulling out a stick. "It's currency, like a credit card. Buy as many chips as you like."
"Not worried about the bill?" Rose asked.
"Bill, what bill?" The Doctor scoffed before bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it quick. "I'll be back." He said before taking off, and Rose watched him until he disappeared into the crowd.
She sighed, wearily and dreamily all at once. Even chips was an adventure with him, but she couldn't complain.
Her turn came up, she got her chips and loaded them with salt and vinegar before looking for a place to wait for the Doctor. There were tables about, but they were all full, and frankly she wouldn't have been easily spotted. Far too many people around for that to happen with any sort of ease.
She meandered a bit until she found a sort of standing area near the edge of the market, over-looking what appeared to be a lush little garden with large bushes and paths that could be mistaken for a maze at the wrong angle. There was a fountain in there, easily spotted, and Rose figured it was as good a place as any to wait for the Doctor.
Rose was beginning to head that way before she noted the same officers from earlier start to make their way toward her. She paused, waited, hoping that she wasn't about to be arrested for something like a fraudulent credit stick.
As the approached, the one they had spoken to earlier handed her a slip of paper. "I'm afraid your husband is being detained for the next three hours." He said as she reached for the slip.
"What's he done?" She asked, looking down at the paper, but finding the handwriting hard to read even with the TARDIS translation aid.
"I'm afraid he's offended a vendor." Replied the other. "He swore up and down that he'd never seen the man before in his life, however, the vendor swore it was him, had even seen him traveling around with a yellow haired human in a black jacket."
"In fairness to your husband," said the first, "the vendor's got quite terrible eyesight these days. It's possible he was mistaken, but your husband went quietly asked us to find you. You are Rose, yes?"
"Yeah, that's me," She replied.
"If it's any consolation, I'm fairly certain it was mistaken identity." The seconds assured. "Best he followed us, might get him out sooner if we can prove it."
"You can prove it." Grumbled the first.
"Telling you, mate, it wasn't him."
"Right," Rose said, pausing their argument. "So's this my claim to him, then? Like a coat check or something?"
"No, miss." The first one said, and she mused to herself that she wouldn't be a miss if she were married. "We'll release him later without you needing to come by, that's mostly for your records."
"Be sure to frame it, then." She said, and was perplexed when they seemed quite pleased with that, turning and walking away.
She shook her head, then continued onward to the standing spot, already trying to figure out how she was going to entertain herself for the next three hours. She did have a credit stick in her pocket, and she supposed she should eventually think of something to bring back to her mum when she went home again. A little bit of proof that she'd been else where, just in case the alien she ran off with wasn't enough. But knowing her luck, she'd get lost during the endeavor, and when the Doctor was released, they'd never find one another.
There was also the option of going back to the TARDIS, but then she remembered that Jack was there. She trusted him, getting the sense that all she had to do was mention that her relationship with the Doctor received an upgrade and he'd stop flirting with intent, but she wasn't sure she was ready to be alone with him again. And it was likely the bloke would be sleeping for sometime. She could pop back in for a book, though. Or maybe even just a magazine. Something to pass the time with while she waited for the Doctor's sentence to be over.
But for now, she would enjoy her treat. The chips were the gorgeous, with the perfect crisp and tang, and just greasy enough to feel unhealthy while likely not being as bad for her as she thought. She watched couples in the garden below meander about, leaning into each other and stealing kisses. She watched children scamper about, chasing each other or the odd, bird-like things that had bills that looked more like trumpet horns. It was rather lovely, peaceful.
"Ah, there you are." She heard the Doctor behind her, startling a little at his unexpected presence. "Thought I'd lost you." He came up beside her as she looked down at her chips.
"Lost me? Authorities said you weren't supposed to be out for-" She turned to look at him, and was taken aback.
He was younger. The younger one he'd shown her in the TARDIS, tucked inside her bedroom at her mum's flat. He was wearing velvet and a cravat, his hair was long with looser curls. There was hardly a line on his surprised and confused face, and he sort of reminded her of a baby deer.
Then she remembered what the officers said, recalled the poor vendor's assurance that it was her Doctor who caused offense, and smacked this Doctor on the arm. "You did offend that vendor, didn't you?"
"P-pardon, what?" The Doctor stammered.
"You offended that old vendor over somethin' then ran away." She said crossing her arms and smirking at him as he blinked at her. "Left yourself to be tossed in jail, too. Really are rubbish at the datin' bit, aren't you?"
His confusion turned to amusement, and she noted how he looked her over like any bloke with interest might. "It seems as though I'm at a disadvantage. You appear far more intimately acquainted with me than I you." He said, shifting a touch closer to her.
She said with a frown. "This going to mess things up for you, then?"
"What is?"
"Your having met me… before you met me." She chuckled nervously.
"I'll forget." He said. "A frequent habit in this body."
"You've said as much. 'M Rose."
"Rose," He repeated. "What a lovely name. Have we been traveling together long, Rose?"
"Never sure with you." She countered, tongue between her teeth as she smiled at him. He smirked, eyes darting to her lips. "Who'd ya think I was?"
"Lucie." He replied. "I lost her in the crowd while we were looking at the wares of the vendor I offended. I turned to show her something, and she was gone. Except, I hadn't realized that holding the item while turning away from him was something of an offense. I think if older me remembered that, he wouldn't have taken you here."
"Well, you just said you'd forget."
"You, yes. Not today altogether. It must be quite a while into my future." He said, leaning toward her. "When are you from? I can tell by your shirt from where you come from." He said, eyes darting down to her Union Jack tee and glinting merrily.
She shook her head. "You teased me for it, ya know. Said I was worried people wouldn't know I was British."
"It's certainly a statement." He replied. "But when, when, I wonder. If I had to guess, I would say the early twenty-first century."
"2005," She replied.
He tilted his head, "So is Lucie. And She's about your age, too. I wonder if maybe you know each other."
Rose frowned while he smiled pleasantly. "You have a thing for blondes my age or something? Is it a type for you?"
The Doctor opened his mouth, but no words came out, not at first. He had to close it and try again, like a computer restarting. "I … have been known to travel with blondes around your age, but it's not something I make a point of, and certainly not the common thing. But, ummm…. Oh! A type! You mentioned 'date' earlier, I understand now. No, Lucie, Lucie and I are just friends. There's no… attraction there or anything."
"So she's not one'a the ones you've danced with then." She said, dropping her voice low when she emphasized the euphemism.
"No," He smirked. "Have we danced, Rose?"
"Bit forward you are." She countered, eating a chip.
"You're the one asking about my love life." He countered stealing a chip for himself.
"Supposed to be a date, this." She jabbed him in the arm with her finger. "Figure if you're gonna make my proper Doctor wind up in jail for a bit, gonna have you make it up to me while I can."
"That seems fair, all things considered." He agreed, stealing another chip. "How did you know I wasn't your 'proper Doctor', as you say? You took one look at me and somehow knew."
"Too young to be my Doctor," She replied. "Plus, you're dressed a bit different."
"Too young!" His voice pitched, and Rose sucked her lips in to stop herself from laughing, tasting the salt and vinegar on them. "Blimey, how much older do I look? Don't tell me I've gone grey. But then, that might be a good thing, going grey in a body that wasn't already grey to begin with."
Rose snickered, "I hadn't really noticed." She said as she popped another chip in her mouth.
"Just tell me I don't look older than your father." He teased.
The chip became hard to swallow around the sudden appearance of a lump in her throat, but she managed. Attempting to clear her throat of it and failing, she managed a, "Pretty easy, that. He died when I was a baby."
"I'm sorry." He said sincerely.
"S'alright, you didn't know." She said, pushing her chips around in the little dish.
"No, but I probably know when I'm with you."
"Not sure you do," Rose frowned. "Not sure I ever mentioned."
"Well, I apologize." He said again, taking her hand away from moving the chips around and cupping it both of his. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"S'alright." She said, finding her throat felt less constricted as she met his eye. He was so earnest, terrified that he somehow messed things up for himself. He was so young looking, and something about his youth made his pleading expression that much more adorable. He reminded her a bit of a puppy. Rose cupped his cheek, stroking her thumb along it. "Promise, Doctor." She said, and he seemed to consider it before nodding.
"Alright." He accepted, and then Rose withdrew both her hands, returning to her chips. "So is it just you and me traveling about?" He changed the subject.
"Just had someone come on board, actually." She said around a chip. "And 'fore that, we had another bloke with us."
"So I have a lovely woman on my ship, one whom I clearly have feelings for if I have tossed the term date around, and you're asking if I have a type that I like to dance with, yet I keep bringing other men on board."
"Bit odd, yeah?" Rose smirked. "S' alright, though. Not interested in either of them."
He was about to reply when he stiffened, remaining stock still. "Oh." He said, and Rose frowned, looking over her shoulder to see what had all the color drain from his face.
Her Doctor stood not ten feet away looking utterly displeased with himself, and beside him was a blonde Rose's age, in a black leather jacket and a pair of ripped up denims. Her vest was purple, the logo of a rock band Rose wasn't familiar with on it, and she looked utterly pissed.
"What's all this about, then?" The girl said before stomping over. "Stealing your own date, then? Leaving me locked up in a jail cell while you're out here flirting?" She crossed her arms, glaring at the younger Doctor.
"Ah, Lucie, there you are." The younger Doctor said as if he hadn't just gotten laid into. "This is Rose. Rose, Lucie."
Lucie turned and gave her a genuine smile. "Nice to meetcha. Other Doctor there was frettin' somethin' awful 'bout you til he managed to break ya out." She then turned back to her Doctor. "TARDIS, shift, before we get arrested again."
"I think it's probably a good idea if we do the same," the other Doctor said as he came up behind Rose. "Thank you for keeping her company, though I've never been less impressed with myself."
"I look forward to the experience." The younger one said as Lucie grabbed his arm and started tugging him away. "It was nice to meet you Rose, I look forward to it." He called before he turned to walk forward and lead Lucie around the corner.
"We should go, too." The Doctor said. "Jail here isn't all that unpleasant, but I wouldn't want to have to stay locked up much longer than needed." He slipped his hand in Rose's, turning her toward the TARDIS. She quickly snatched up her chips, carrying them in her free hand as they made their way back.
"You know," The Doctor said as the time ship came into sight, "that encounter went better than most. Mind, at least I was meeting me as me, usually I can't ever stand any of my other incarnations."
"Psychologists dream, that." She said as he unlocked the door.
"Think it be more of a nightmare. Probably why we never had them on Gallifrey." He said holding the door open for Rose.
She hummed in agreement before sitting on a nearby jumpseat and finishing her chips.
He moved around the console slowly, flicking switches, adjusting knobs, mind seeming to have gone off somewhere. She finished her chips, then smirked as a trash can manifested beside her seat. It also promptly disappeared as soon as her empty carton was placed in it.
"I knew." The Doctor said, causing Rose to return her attention to him. He still didn't look at her, instead seemed vastly more fascinated by something on the console. "About your father. I heard you and Gwyn talking, the night we met Charles. I heard you said your father passed young, but I wasn't sure… you never mentioned him to me."
Rose tilted her head. "Never brought it up cos it's not something I think a lot about, yeah? Never knew him, never knew life with him, not really. Don't know what his voice sounds like, or anything. Just know 'im from pictures mum has about."
"You could meet him." The Doctor said, and Rose's breath caught. "He can't know it's you, but you could see him, if you'd like."
All the breath left Rose's lungs at once, her heart having done a strange little somersault in her chest before stuttering and soaring and swelling. She got to her feet, and walked to where the Doctor was standing, taking his face in her hands and turning him to face her. She didn't even look at him to figure out what he was thinking or feeling before she kissed him chastely and sweetly on the lips.
"You're serious?" She asked, feeling his hands come to rest on her waist.
"You can't interfere, not at all, not in the least." He said firmly. "You've never known life with your father, and you can never know it. You can't interact with him, you can't give him any hints about his death, no matter how it comes. But if you want to see him, I'll find a spot in time."
She sniffed, eyes clouding over a little. "Umm, h-how about, umm, June 14th, 1985, s' when my mum and dad got married."
"Then your wish, is my command." He said softly.
"You're seriously taken me?"
"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't going to take you." He assured.
She sniffed again. "Thank you," She said before kissing him again.
It was a little too much. Kissing the Doctor, getting to do it even just in thanks and knowing it was well received. But also his doing something she wasn't sure she could ever ask for.
"Oh, sorry," Jack's voice caused them to break apart, thought neither Rose nor the Doctor acted as if there was anything to hide. Jack stood in the corridor entryway, still in the Uniform from the 1940s, though he appeared to have left the hat behind. He smiled lasciviously at them. "Didn't mean to interrupt." He said without making any attempt to leave.
"It's alright." Rose said. "Wasn't interrupting anything."
"Didn't look like it from where I'm standing."
"Jack, I get the feeling it doesn't matter where you're standing, you'd find a way to make a mountain out of a molehill if it suited you." The Doctor said as he moved around the TARDIS console once more. "We're about to make a quick stop, captain."
"Oh, where we going then?" Jack asked.
The Doctor glanced up. "To a wedding," he said, before throwing a switch and sending them off."
~DW~
She had asked for this. Rose knew, as she clutched the Doctor's hand tightly in her own, watching her father's car pull up to the side of the road.
They'd been to the wedding, and while it was wonderful in an odd way to watch her father blunder her mother's name, it left an ache in her heart she couldn't quite explain. The Doctor had held her to his side, but Jack had looked at her with much more obvious concern.
"How'd he die?" He'd asked on the way back to the TARDIS.
"A car," Rose said. "He was late to a wedding, Had to go pick up a vase. The stupid vase, mum always called it. He got out of his car…." She had trailed off a moment. "Hit and run." She finally managed. By time ambulance got there, he was gone. He died alone."
"You know he doesn't have to." Jack said, and the Doctor tensed.
"Wha?" Rose had asked.
There had been a slight debate, filled with clipped and harsh tones between the Doctor and Jack, and somehow Rose had managed to say something she never thought she would.
"I wanna be there when dies."
And that's why they were there, now, November 7th, 1987. It was a cool, clear day, though Rose thought the sun had no right to be shining. They were just at the corner where it would happen, standing about and trying not to look too inconspicuous.
Pete's car turned the corner, and pulled up outside a pottery shop that looked newly opened, just at the corner. Rose watched him through her blurred vision as he left the vehicle and dashed around the front. Jordan Road, a little one way street that Jackie had avoided Rose's whole life, or at least as long as she could remember. She never pictured the whole thing happening as she was seeing it. She didn't even think Jackie quite knew how it happened.
"Remember what I said, darling." The Doctor whispered to her as he stroked his thumb along hers. "You can't interfere, no matter how horrible."
"Know," She replied quietly, shuddering quietly as she watched her Dad re-emerge from the shop with the vase. The stupid vase. He went around the front of the car, got in the driver's side. Rose watched him set the vase down on the passenger seat, close the door, and stop. Pete had frowned at the thing beside him, picking it up, looking it over. He had that look, universally known to anyone for being annoyed. Perhaps it was the wrong one, or maybe it was damaged. He glanced down at his watch, at the shop, his watch.
"Oh God, this is it." Rose said to herself as she heard the vehicle turning the corner.
Pete opened the door, a decision made to return to the shop.
The Driver of the car didn't seem to be looking at the road.
Rose put her head on the Doctor's shoulder, clenching her eyes shut just as the sickening sound of her Dad colliding with the car hit her ears.
It was a hit and run.
It had always been a hit and run.
And by the time the ambulance made it to him, he was gone.
But the sound had barely stopped sounding in Rose's ear when air moved around her, and the Doctor snapped, "Jack!"
Tires squealed to a halt, a trash can fell over, causing a loud ruckus.
She turned away from the Doctor's shoulder, jaw dropping a little and tear filled eyes going wide.
"Call an ambulance." Jack shouted as the man from the Pottery shop came out to investigate. The former time agent stood in front of the car that had hit her father, hand on the hood as the driver remained shocked behind the wheel. "You, out." Jack said to the man before rushing over to Pete Tyler, the view obscured by his vehicle and the over-turned tin.
"Jack!" The Doctor shouted again, leaving Rose's side and rushing to the scene.
Rose stood still for a minute, remembering what her mother had always said.
Pete Tyler was involved in a hit and run, the driver was never caught, never known. Pete had died before the ambulance made it there, but no one knew exactly how long it had been before he was found.
But that was changing. She could feel it changing in her head.
Running over, she saw Jack on the ground by her dad, the Doctor kneeling behind him scowling.
"You can't save him," The Doctor said as quietly as possible, but she heard it.
"The hell we can't," Jack said.
"We can't," The Doctor said. "The repercussions of saving someone when they are supposed to pass on is devastating. I know, I've had first hand experience with it."
Rose looked from the Doctor and Jack to her Dad, and her heart launched itself into her throat.
He was looking right at her, staring her in the eye. His breathing was shallow, and he was bleeding, but he seemed to see her.
Without her telling them to, her feet led her the rest of the way, and she knelt down beside her Dad and took his hand.
"It's alright." She said. "I got you, you're not alone. I'm here." She said, her voice cracking. She'd never been able to remember her father's touch, and now she had his hand in hers.
"Rose." He said, and her breath caught.
"Yeah, it's me." She said, feeling the Doctor's hand on her back. "'S me, Dad. I'm here."
"Rose," The Doctor whispered.
"Rose." Pete said, gasping, frowning. "My Rose?" He squeezed her hand just a little before he took another deep, ragged breath. "Rose?"
"I'm here, it's me, you're not alone, yeah?"
"Rose?" he said again, the sirens of the ambulance cutting through the odd atmosphere.
Pete Tyler looked her in the eye, and despite the confusion, that his brain was shutting down, Rose believed he understood in the moment that she was his daughter. There was an understanding, a knowing, a look of love and pride in his eyes as he looked at her. Whether he was thinking of the baby girl somewhere with Jackie at this very moment, or meant it for the woman she became, it didn't matter. She clung to it, to that love and pride that she never got to see in her life, and held on to it, deep in her heart, as the light drained from his eyes. Pete's hand went limp in hers just as the ambulance pulled up.
The second Rose's face began to crumple, the Doctor had pulled her away from the body and into his arms, standing them up and holding her as she wept for a heart break she could never full appreciate until this moment. She lost her father when she wasn't quite a year old, but she had never really had a reason to grieve until today.
~DW~
There was a shift in time lines, subtle but felt all the same, as the Doctor led Rose back to the TARDIS. A fixed point in time, one he didn't understand, had been shaken but not disturbed. Time lines remained, things were as they should be, and they could walk away from the potentially dangerous situation.
Rose, understandably, had a terrible headache. Her own, personal history had been altered, and now she had two memories to deal with, one where her mother told her of the original events, and as Rose said, the new ones.
When she was informed that the young man had faced the consequences of his actions, and hadn't gotten away with what he'd done. That there were some bystanders there that helped as much as they could, and were there for her Dad when he was passing. That the ambulance got there, but were still too late.
"You need rest," He told her as he removed her jacket from her shoulders in the privacy of her room.
"Yeah," She said softly.
"Rose," he said, turning her gently, looking into her swollen, red eyes and cupping her face. "I am so, terribly sorry we couldn't help him."
She sniffed. "Know," she said. "Just… he looked right at me. Might not'a believed I was me, but… Doctor, I could see he loved me, yeah?" She said, her face crumpling a little.
"Shh, I know, darling, I know. Of course he did, how could he not." He soothed, kissing her gently on the forehead before shifting his fingers to smooth back her hair. "I think you should sleep, just for a little while. Your headache will pass if you do."
She nodded again, leaning against him, looping her arms around his waist.
Sighing the Doctor pulled her to him, awkwardly holding her around her shoulders a moment before pulling back and kissing her briefly on the lips. He then turned, guided her to the bed, pulling back the sheets as Rose slipped off her shoes.
"Finally gettin' me in bed, 'n' it's not even for fun things." She quipped as she climbed in, and he could help but snort softly.
"You make it sound like this is a sort of goal of mine." He said as he laid the blankets over her. She smiled, but said nothing, her eyes already shutting. "Rest, love." He said, already getting the sense that she was asleep. He paused, watching her for a moment before his body stiffened and he left her room, moving to the console room with sure steps.
Jack looked up from his spot on the jumpseat when the Doctor entered. He met the Doctor's cold glare with one of steeling confidence, and held it all while the Doctor maneuvered the TARDIS into the vortex.
They stared one another down, Jack blinking more frequently than the time lord, but he didn't let up.
"Jack, do you know what vortisaurs, or reapers are?" He asked, watching the former time agent. When no answer but a slight, nearly imperceptible crease in Jack's brow came, the Doctor continued. "I've had experience with the former, and understand the latter is a bit of a sub breed, a more vicious one. Reapers are mess cleaners, they repair damage done when time lines and fixed points have been altered. Do you know how they repair the damage? They destroy everything, anything, until the anomaly that caused damage to the fixed point had been removed. The Time Lords used to be able to intervene, or at the very least hold them off until they could go in and fix the problem their selves, but now there's only me."
"So you are a Time Lord." Jack said as if that's all this conversation was about, his deciphering the Doctor's species.
"Yes, Jack, I'm a Time Lord. I sensed you already figured that out." The Doctor snapped back.
"So what happened to the others?"
"Why don't you tell me?"
"It's said you were just wiped from existence, if you ever did at all. You and the Daleks."
"Mostly true. But they haven't been removed from existence, just moved to another one. I'm the only one left, so if you'd kindly refrain from meddling in the future-"
"It was Rose's father!" Jack half shouted.
"Yes, and do you truly believe that I would have allowed him to die if I thought he could be saved?" The Doctor snapped back. "I can't read Rose's time line, I never could. I have no idea how it would affect her if he lived. But what's more, what I could see was that Pete Tyler had to die that day."
"Because it was a fixed point." Jack said, stiffening.
"Yes." The Doctor said firmly. "As minor as it may have seemed to you, most fixed points are small. One person living when they shouldn't, one vote cast in favor of another, one drop of rain in the right field makes all the difference."
Jack nodded slowly, casting his eyes down and sighing. "So much for being bigger on the inside." He slumped back down in the jumpseat.
The Doctor sighed, rubbing his forehead before pre-setting the controls to the Estates in Rose's time. "You tried to save Rose's father. What's more, I think you might have helped her find the courage to be there for him in those last moments. Something tells me had it just been she and I, she wouldn't have moved. And I would have hardly have made her." The Doctor said before stopping in front of Jack, leaning back against the console. He pinched the bridge of his nose a moment before meeting Jack's eye. "I'm not going to toss you back to your century or anything of the sort for a minor slip up. If I did that with every one of my companions that meddled where they shouldn't, I would have spent most of my life traveling alone. And as Rose so helpfully pointed out, I'm not much better myself in most cases."
"So where are we going after this?" Jack asked.
"A quick visit back to Rose's home, just to make sure Jackie isn't suffering some ill-effects."
"Jackie?"
"Rose's mother."
"You've met her mom? Must be serious, this thing you two have going on."
"This, dear captain, is where that line of conversation ends." The Doctor smiled, and Jack laughed. "But if you want to discuss other things, we could wait for Rose to sleep off her temporal headache in the galley."
"I'd like that," Jack replied with a flirtatious wink, and the Doctor rolled his eyes before pushing off the console and leading the way.
~DW~
Two hours, forty three minutes, and twenty one seconds later, Rose found them in the galley deep in debate over who, or rather what, had caused the Jack the Ripper murders in London.
"Well then, shall we go see Jackie now?" The Doctor asked, draining the last of his tea before standing.
"Wha? Home?" Rose said, confused and a bit worried at the prospect.
"Just for a moment," The Doctor said, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I just want to make sure Jackie isn't feeling any different after what happened with your Dad."
"Alright, then," Rose nodded, "As long as we aren't staying long."
"In and out, promise." The Doctor smiled, letting go of her hand. "You changed?" He noted, looking down at Rose's blue top and black joggers. Her hair was pulled back, too, the waves from before still in place as the locks hung behind her neck.
"Yeah, figured the shirt had it's go." She said, tugging on her new, short sleeved tee subconsciously.
He turned, heading to the galley exit as Jack finished his coffee and scrambled to catch up. "I think I might miss it." He teased Rose as she came up beside him, looping her arm around his.
"Shut up," She half-laughed, leaning on him a moment as they entered the console room. "Right, so quick trip, there and back, yeah?"
"Promise," The Doctor said as he moved to the switch and through it, sending the TARDIS out of the vortex.
She shifted violently, a strain to her engines that almost sounded pained as she tossed her passengers about. Rose grabbed on to the console, stroking the edge as she looked up at the rotor in worry. Jack had crashed against the wall, cursing.
And while the TARDIS seemed to find that mildly amusing, she groaned in the Doctor's mind as though she was very put out and really didn't want to be anywhere near where they were going.
She landed with a thud, a slight whine and grumble, and then felt quiet.
"Alright," Rose said. "That's different."
"Something's off," The Doctor said as Jack got to his feet.
"Sure it's not just your flying?" He asked, brushing imaginary dust or wrinkles from the sleeve of his long coat.
"No, but the TARDIS seems a bit tetchy." He replied, leading them to the door.
They stepped out of the TARDIS, and on to the deck of a space ship.
"I thought you said we were going to Earth, Rose's time?" Jack asked, looking around. "I doubt this is tech from then."
"It's not." The Doctor replied. "The Old Girl can often be a bit cheeky or temperamental. But when she is, when she sends us where we didn't want to go, it's usually for a reason."
"It looks abandoned," Rose noted, edging a little further away from him. "Anyone on board?" She asked.
"I'm not sure, certainly doesn't seem like it." The Doctor said, narrowing his eyes at the state of the room. It was dark, with dust motes in the air, though the surfaces were relatively clean. Disorganized, yes, but there wasn't any sign that the ship had been left alone long. There weren't any engines running from what he could tell, at least no hum of them. He noted the ship systems and shifted toward them, typing on the controls. "The year 5263," he noted.
"Oh, come on Doc, I know I had a minor slip up, but I've been good besides, haven't I?" Jack said somewhere behind him.
"You have, but if you call me Doc again I may just leave you here." He smirked, sensing Rose come up beside him. "I'm kidding, I wouldn't. At least, not for that." He peeked up to see her smirking at him. "Have you noted anything, darling?"
"Awfully quiet." She said.
"Yes, let's…" he flicked a switch, and overhead and to the side, panels retracted to reveal the space out side the ship. He watched Rose's face as the star clusters revealed themselves, her gasp of awe and wonder at the universe never ceasing to warm him.
"Bloody gorgeous." She said, her lips turning up seemingly without thought.
"That's the Diagmar Cluster," Jack noted with a pleased, almost wistful note. "I've only been a handful of times in my life, and haven't been by in years."
"Well, they did revamp it. It's more touristy these days, I believe. Less hidden gem, more something to see to say you've seen it." The Doctor commented, turning to the computer again. "But we aren't moving, are we?"
"Suppose not," Rose said, looking up at the windows and then back to the Doctor, "Why would ya say?"
"Well, because the warp engines are going full speed. We shouldn't be able to see the cluster, let alone still be in the cluster. At the rate they're going, we should be half way across the galaxy by now, if not further." He turned to Jack he came up to his other side, frowning with concern as he read what the Doctor did.
"There's enough power to punch a hole in the Unverise here, let alone getting half way across the galaxy." Jack noted.
"So, engines going full on, but we ain't movin'." Rose said as the Doctor continued to type, moving on to life signs. "Where'd all the crew go?"
"I'm not sure," The Doctor said. "We're the only life on board at the moment."
"Then who's cookin?" Rose asked, and when he turned to her, she gestured about them. "Smells like Sunday roast."
"Or barbeque," Jack noted.
"How odd," The Doctor agreed, tuning in to his olfactory sense to catch a whiff. There was something underlying to the scent that made him uneasy, like it wasn't precisely food as his human companions would think of it as, but something more sinister. He shuddered a little, reaching out to touch Rose's arm in a way to reassure himself she wasn't far. As she leaned a little closer, giving him the contact he didn't fully realize he needed, he flicked another switch, causing a panel behind them to slide open. As one, the three turned to face what appeared to be a lovely fireplace mantel.
"Sunday roast, eighteenth century French decor behind a hidden wall, warp engines on full, but are not moving." The Doctor said before moving to the newly revealed space. "Something's beyond not right here." He said as he removed his sonic from his jacket and began to do a scan. "It's not a hologram," he noted as Rose crouched down and peered into the flames.
"Doctor, there … there looks like there's something on the other side. Another room, or something."
"Can't be," Jack said as the Doctor finished his scan and knelt beside Rose. "The outer hall of the ship isn't close enough to here for there to be a room next to this one."
"No, she's right," The Doctor said, there's another-" He stopped as the hem of a night dress came in to view, followed by a curious little blonde girl as she knelt by the fire. "Oh, hello." He smiled at her.
"Hello…." She replied with a soft accent.
"Hello, I'm the Doctor, this is Rose." He said, introducing them. "Our friend behind us is Jack. Do you mind, umm, telling us where you are?"
The little girl frowned. "I'm in my bedroom." She replied cautiously.
"And, where would your bedroom be, exactly?" He asked. "What city?"
"Paris, of course!" She replied. "What are you all doing in my fireplace?" She asked before the Doctor could get a word in.
"Ah, well, umm, good question. We're uh…."
"Lost," Rose supplied, shaking her head as if it were no big deal for someone to be lost in another one's fireplace. "Just lost, trying to figure out where we are."
"And we're a little fuzzy on the date." The Doctor chimed in. "What's the year?"
"Seventeen hundred twenty-seven, of course." The little girl said with a little bit of amusement.
"Of course, how forgetful of me." The Doctor said, smacking himself gently on the forehead, and bringing a grin to the little girl's lips. "1727, I should have known. Thank you, umm…. I'm sorry, I didn't catch you name."
The little girl tilted her head, lips quirking slightly as she replied, "Reinette."
THANK YOU all of you for your wonderful reviews! I'll try to get back to you all as soon as I can, but for now, just many, many thanks, and more coming soon!