Chapter 8

Revelations

Rose was loading the dishwasher when Mickey burst into the kitchen. "Rose, we need to talk!"

Without looking round, Rose carried on with what she was doing.

"Rose, stop that now and look at me! I need to talk to you."

Slowly Rose put the last glass in the machine and closed the door. She turned round to face him, leaning back against the work surface.

"How long have we been married?" Mickey demanded.

Rose shrugged. "Eight years?"

"And how long have you been taking these?" Mickey flung a half-empty blister pack of contraceptive pills down on the table.

Rose smiled. "Eight years."

"And how long..." Mickey's voice was trembling, "...have you been seeing the Doctor?"

Rose said nothing. Her face was a mask.

Mickey ran up and grabbed her by the shoulders. He was shaking with rage.

"Why, Rose? WHY? If you'd told me at the start you didn't want children I might've been disappointed but we could've worked something out... could've talked it through. You know me. I'm not a bully. But I don't know you, Rose. After all these years I don't know you anymore than I did when we first met. Less - because you've changed, Rose. You're not the girl I married. I can't... I can't reach you any more... I can't tell what's going on up here!" Mickey jabbed at her head with his finger. Rose didn't flinch.

"Even your own mother doesn't come round any more because it upsets her, seeing you like this..." Mickey shook his head. "All that crap on our wedding day about commitment. All those years... all those years of deception... of lies. You stood by and said nothing while I was having those awful bloody tests at the hospital and all the while you were on the pill! Well, I've had enough Rose. I've come to the end of the line. Either you get help, or I go."

"Help?" asked Rose.

"I mean, see someone. See a doctor..."

"I don't need a doctor."

"Yeah, well, I'll need one if I spend any more time in this place." Mickey picked up his jacket from the chair and headed towards the door. "I'm off, Rose. Goodbye. Good luck. I think you'll need it..."

"Where are you going?" Rose asked

"I dunno... Maybe to Jackie's place for a while. Then... I dunno. All I know is that I've got to get out of here. Away from you!"

Mickey slammed the door of the flat behind him. Rose stood listening to the clatter of his feet on the stone stairs.

Mickey opened the door of the car. He glanced up at the kitchen window of their flat. Rose was staring out at him. She raised her hand and gave him a slow wave. He got in and shut the door. Fighting back the tears he put the car in reverse and then drove off.So, it had come to this. That the beautiful, caring, brave girl he once loved should change so much... should turn in to some cold, emotionless monster, prepared to deceive him at every turn. It was something to do with that bloody Doctor, Mickey was sure. When he was around there was always trouble. He'd done something to her. Well, he never wanted to see him or Rose ever again. He'd served his time. He needed to get his life back.

-

Jack paced up and down the floor of the TARDIS. The Doctor watched.

"Are you sure it wasn't someone who just looked like me?" he asked.

"I'm sure. I was standing as close to him – or you – as I am now. Can you swear that you were here all morning?"

"As far as I know, I've been working on the TARDIS all morning. Unless someone's messed with my mind..."

Jack shook his head. "I don't know whether I can trust you any more..."

"But, Jack, think about it. Why would I do it? What would be the point? If I wanted to give Rose the rogue crystal, or whatever it is, I could just give it her. I don't need to go creeping round charity shops..."

Jack held his head as he walked up and down. "You're right. It doesn't make sense..."

"How about telling me exactly what happened?" said the Doctor.

Jack stopped and took a swig of water from a flask in his pocket. Then he carried on walking.

"I was in the charity shop. I'd had a chat with Olive..."

"Olive?"

"She's retired but works in the shop on a voluntary basis. She's cute. I think she likes me."

"OK, OK, I get the picture. And?"

"...And then I'm looking through men's suits, and I hear the door open. I look round, and –it's you! You walk into the shop. I say, 'hi!', but you just look right through me. You ignore me. You walk up to the counter and take something out of your pocket. You talk to Olive for a few seconds – but very quiet – I can't hear what you're saying. She nods and takes whatever you gave her to the back of the shop, and you walk out. I'm so stunned that I don't move for a couple of seconds. Then Olive comes back and I go over and ask to see the thing you just gave her..."

"And?"

"...and she says, 'no, it's not for sale. The gentleman asked me to keep it for someone.' And I ask if I can just look at it. At first she says no, but in the end she says OK, just a quick look. She brings out a little black box. Opens and closes it quickly and I see the crystal. Or at least, the pendant Rose is wearing when I see her in 2009..."

The Doctor leant against the control panel and closed his eyes for a few moments. Suddenly he opened them and stood up.

"OK, Jack. You know what we've got to do. We've got to fix the TARDIS. I'm sure the problem's the sonic compression chamber. You can help me build another one.And then we must find out who took the crystal. I'll need to find another hotel while you..."

"Don't tell me," sighed Jack. "I'm the sucker that goes into the past to see who broke into Rose's apartment."

"Got it in one."