Peter Alan Tyler. Born 15 September, 1954. Died, in this universe, 7 November, 1987. Died, in the other universe, 21 July, 2041.
Unlike the first time he died, everyone knew it was coming. He had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. They gave him six months to live, but he was a stubborn man and lived a little over twice that. He gave command of Torchwood to Rose, gave the mansion to Tony, and gave all his love to Jackie. When they went over his last will and testament, Jackie died with him. She was stubborn, refused to go to another funeral for Pete. She just wouldn't live without him, not again.
She didn't eat, didn't sleep. She stopped living. After a month of this, she ended up in the hospital with a Do Not Resuscitate order. Two weeks after that, she died. Her only regret, she told Rose late one night in that damn hospital bed, was that she wasn't strong enough to stay around for her kids.
They were buried together. John always went to the grave with Rose, talking to the tombstones as if they could hear him. Eventually, Rose started doing the same. It still hurt, but talking to them like normal made it hurt less.
Her biggest regret in life was that she wasn't there when he died. She had been working late for two weeks straight, spending so much time making up for all the days she took off to be with her father. She was to take off the next day in order to see him, but she fell asleep at her desk. She missed call after call after call. When she woke at 3pm the next day, her father had been pronounced dead.
So, when her and the Doctor were sitting in the console room, just swapping stories, Rose decided she would take that trip to see her father after all. She had been so daft the first time around, thinking she could save her dad, but this time she was smarter. She would be more careful.
"Mum always says how he would've loved to have seen me grown up." Rose said to the Doctor sitting in front of her as she told him the story of her dad. "So, I was thinking, could we? Could we go and see my dad when he was still alive?"
"Where's this come from all of a sudden?"
"I dunno," she answered, not entirely honest, "I jus'…. I wanna see him. If you can't do it, though, that's fine."
"No, I can do anything. I'm just more worried about you."
"I wanna see him."
"Your wish is my command, but be careful what you wish for."
That's how they ended up sitting back row at her parents small wedding. It was so different from when they remarried back on Pete's World. That had been a huge affair, whether they wanted it that way or not. They tried to do it quietly, but paparazzi still found them outside the court house. It was quite a miracle story; Vitex king reunites with wife he believed dead and long-lost daughter. How anyone bought that was beyond Rose, honestly.
"I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline… Susanne… Suzette… Anita?"
"Oh, just carry on. It's good enough for Lady Di."
Rose smiled fondly at them as the Doctor contained his laughter. The rest of the wedding went smoothly. When the kissed, every clapped. The Doctor tugged Rose's hand gently in his, leading her back to the TARDIS. They walked in slowly, Rose still trying to decide if this was the right thing to do.
"I wanna be there for him." She blurted out. "When he dies. I don't want him to die alone."
"Are you sure, Rose?" The Doctor asked, tentatively. She only nodded. "November 7th?"
"1987."
The Doctor pulled up a lever and they went. It was the smoothest ride Rose had ever had in the TARDIS. She supposed either the Doctor or the TARDIS herself was trying to be sympathetic. They walked out of the TARDIS together.
"The day my father died. It's so weird, it looks like just another day."
"The past is another country, 1987 is just the Isle of Wight." He joked, trying to get Rose to crack at least a little smile. "You sure about this?"
"Yeah." She answered immediately. She supposed it was because she'd actually known her father now, but it was more important to her this time around that she be there for her father's death.
She held out her hand and the Doctor took it, giving her a reassuring squeeze. They walked in silence down a few blocks. The Doctor wished he could take Rose away, back to the TARDIS, but she was so determined not to let her father die. She had never even known this man, as far as he knew, and yet she wanted nothing more than to make his final moments better.
"This is it. Jordan Road. He was late. He'd been to get a wedding present, a vase. Mum always said 'that stupid vase'." She chuckled lightly with no humor. A green car turned down the road. "He got outta his car… and crossed the road." The car stopped and they could see Pete Tyler in the vehicle. "I need you to hold on to me tight. Do not let go of me until he needs me." She said to the Doctor, shaky but stern.
A tan car came barreling down the road as Pete got out of his car. The driver shielded his eyes and rammed right into her dad. The vase smashed loudly, tire squeaks echoed in the empty street. Rose flinched as if she were the one being hit. The Doctor's grip on her didn't let up until the car was out of sight.
"Go to him, quickly." The Doctor murmured in her ear as he released his grip on her.
She ran to her father's side as the Doctor went to the nearest phone booth to call 999. Pete was shaking in her arms, trembling like a leaf. Rose took his hand, holding back her tears. She would be strong for him.
"Shhh, shhh, it's alright." She soothed him. "I'm here, I'm not goin' anywhere. Imma stay with you till the end."
He smiled at her, and then his eyes fluttered shut. She kissed his forehead as she heard sirens approaching. The EMTs told her mum that it was a hit-and-run, but that a blonde girl was holding his hand as he died. She disappeared before they could ask her name.
She had only glanced back once before they stepped around the corner to the TARDIS.
The Doctor held her in his arms as she broke down behind the closed doors. She fell to her knees on the grating and let out sob after sob for her father. She buried herself into the Doctors chest as he stroked her hair. They stayed like that for a good fifteen minutes before Rose finally hiccupped her last tear away.
"My head hurts." She said weakly.
"C'mere. I think you need a Doctor." He said sweetly, reminding Rose of something she couldn't quite place, as he helped her up and walked her to her bedroom.
He opened the door for her and lead her to her bed, making her sit. She let him take off her shoes as she shrugged off her jackets. She tugged her hair free of its messy ponytail and scratched her scalp lightly. He took her hands and pulled her up to stand. He moved to unbutton her jeans and Rose helped him pull them off.
Now, under any other circumstance, both the Doctor and Rose would be quite embarrassed by this, but neither cared about that at the moment. Rose was still reeling at the loss of her father for a third time and the Doctor was only concerned with how Rose was feeling.
Standing there in nothing but her t-shirt and knickers, Rose felt pitiful. The Doctor did not see her that way, though. He looked at her with not pity in his eyes, but understanding. He knew the pain of having to watch as the ones you love are taken away. He looked at Rose and saw a brave young woman with so much kindness in her heart.
He nudged her into bed, then he slipped off his leather jacket, kicked off his boots, and climbed in after her. Together they lie in the dimly lit room, the TARDIS hum comforting them both. Rose burrowed herself in his chest, listening to his double hear beat.
"Thank you, Doctor." She whispered. "For everything."
A/N: Another chapter I just couldn't wait to upload, here it is! I hope you guys enjoy it, let me know if you did. Next update may not be for awhile due to school, but I will be back asap.
