REVELATIONS
TWENTYNINE
Rose stood in the doorway, watching him sleep.
His face was emaciated. There were huge dark circles under his eyes and bruises on his exposed right shoulder and upper arm.
Farther down his right hand was white knuckled, gripping the edge of the comforter.
He opened his eyes. "Rose."
"Are you okay?" She asked softly.
At first he nodded but then his eyes filled with tears as he started shaking his head back and forth.
"No," he sobbed.
She went to him quickly, dropping to her knees at the edge of the futon and wrapping him in her arms.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "It's gonna be okay, I promise. I'm so very sorry." She rocked him back and forth and pressed her lips into the top of his head.
He inhaled sharply, pulled away and looked at her.
"What have you to be sorry about?"
"My Doctor, I mean to keep you safe and protected, always, and I failed you," she whispered.
"Oh, don't be silly."
"No, don't you be silly," she snapped back at him, but with a glint in her eye. "It's part of the job description, don't you know? To safeguard, defend and watch over you; it is a very solemn responsibility! Are you gonna fire me?"
She sat back and repositioned herself, pulling her knees up to her chin.
"Well, no," he answered. "But at your next annual review we'll have to further discuss this failure." The Doctor laughed and it sounded genuine; it warmed her heart and gave her hope.
The two were silent for a long minute, looking at each other – she in relief, he in gratitude.
"I'm cold," he said, raising the edge of the comforter into the air. "Care to join me?"
She looked down and giggled, and then laughed.
He reacted with a surprised, questioning look.
"Cats?" she said, still laughing. "Orange cats with balls of red yarn?" She was staring at his boxers.
The Doctor glanced at himself in embarrassment.
"They're Jack's; his idea of a joke I'm sure…
"Come here," he added, extending his other arm. "I need you."
She scooted under the blanket and they held each other close.
After a few minutes he gently pushed her back as he tried to make his still aching body more comfortable.
"Rose," he said finally, quietly, looking up at the ceiling. "My people didn't exile me, I ran away from them, and when I left I stole the TARDIS. I have been a father and a grandfather. My first companion, Susan, was my granddaughter."
He took a deep breath.
"During our travels she fell in love with a handsome twenty-second century revolutionary, and it hurt so much and was so hard when I realized that I would have to let go of her…"
