Disclaimer: This is not mine. I repeat, Doctor Who and any other related characters are not mine.

Thanks to those that reviewed and sorry about the silly mistakes in the last chapter. That's what comes from late night updates with a pint too many in youcringe Anywyay, the story continues.

Chapter 2: Going Domestic.

Rose sat back and watched the Doctor work, nibbling on a stale biscuit. They had been hiding out in the TARDIS for a whole week now, stuck in a war torn city. They had run out of food after three days, something the Doctor had received a severe verbal beating for, and so while he worked on the TARDIS, Rose had been sneaking out to scrounge for food and information. She had had to resort to stealing in past few days and had been so proficient at it that the Doctor had commented she was in the wrong profession. She had thrown his hammer at him.

They had managed to upright the TARDIS and move it to another back ally, but Rose had noted on her trips out, that they had begun to get noticed by the shady characters that frequented said back alleys. It was only a matter of time before the soldiers noticed and then they were truly screwed. Rose took up an old paper that lay beside her and sighed.

The planet they had landed on was co-inhabited by two different species. There were the human like ones, the Fieans, that were the dominant species and another more… lizard like one, the Anaxine. The two were at war, fighting over the land, the planet, the right to live there. The Anaxine were employing guerrilla warfare and bombings were a regular occurrence within the city limits. The Fiean had the place under military rule with curfews for Anexine and annexed settlements for them. There were beatings on the street, looting, gang land wars within communities and severe prejudice on both sides. Food was rationed, as was water. Rose counted themselves lucky that they had landed themselves in a relatively good area. The TARDIS did have its own water supply but the food was easier to steal here, though she hated doing it. They needed to survive.

She looked up as the Doctor cursed in Gallifreyan and threw a circuit across the room. She sighed and got up, walking over to him. He had been working non-stop on the TARDIS for seven days, minus the three hours she had gotten him to sleep. It was time to force him to rest again it seemed. She tapped her foot next to his head and he sighed, sliding out from beneath the floor panels.

"Fine. I'm going."

She walked along the corridor with him. "So, any idea how much longer were gonna be stuck here? We're beginning to get noticed."

"I know."

"How long?"

"A few months. Minimum."

Rose stopped walking and closed her eyes, attempting to quell the rising panic in her stomach. She felt hands on her shoulders and looked up at the Doctors pale, drawn face.

"Don't worry. We'll get out of here eventually."

He pulled her into a hug and she laid her head on his chest, listening to the comforting double heart beat.

He sighed into her hair. "I hate to say this, but we're going to have to go domestic."

She pulled back and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Get a job, get money. Get a house, apartment, whatever. We need to incognito. Like you said, we're getting noticed."

"You mean I have to get a job and get money so that we can get a house or apartment or whatever so that you can work on the TARDIS in peace."

"Sorry."

She hugged him again. "S'all right. It's necessary. I thought you didn't do domestic?"

"It's an emergency and besides, if I'm gonna do it with someone, might as well be with you."

"Gee, thanks. Now," She pushed him in the direction of his room. "Off you go. Bed."

"Yes dear. You're getting the hang of this already."

"Careful or you'll be getting another hammer to the head."

Rose walked down the street, skilfully nicking a paper from a street stand as she passed. She unfolded it and began to read as she rounded the corner. She skipped straight to the rental pages, scanning the print for the lowest rent she could find. She sat on a bench, mentally circling a few of the ads in the paper. One of the lowest was situated not too far from where she sat. She got up and pushed her sunglasses on top of her head as the sun disappeared behind grey cloud. There was a bar across the road that had a help sign in the window. 'Ray's Place' was the grimy words that announced the name and nature of the dingy building as she approached. Inside, the place was not much better. It reeked of smoke and strong alcohol. To her surprise, the place was fairly packed, but then she had noted that there were few bars in the city. She wandered up to the bar and looked at the man behind it.

"I'm looking for Ray."

"You're staring right at him sweetness. You here about the job?"

She nodded.

"Come on back and I'll see what I can do for you."

Rose ducked under the bar and entered an even darker back room. There were several doors that led to what she could only assume were cellars and living space for Ray. One was open and revealed a remarkably dirty kitchen. Ray moved into the kitchen and motioned her to follow. He was a scrawny man with long greasy hair, pulled back in a pony tail and about three days worth of stubble. His t-shirt and jeans were stained with a variety of things.

"So," Ray leaned against a counter and looked at Rose. "What kind of work you looking for?"

"What ever will get me the most money."

Ray threw his head back and laughed. "In that case Hunny, you're in the wrong place. I can give you Sweet Sue's number. You'd rake it in at her place."

Rose cringed. "The most money, without doing that."

"Oh, heh. Well, pity."

Rose shivered as Ray's eyes travelled the length of her body, a hungry look in his eyes.

"Listen, I need to get rent money and I need it as soon as possible. I'll work full time and I have experience dealing with rowdy drunks."

"In that case you're hired. You can start this afternoon if you want. Pay is weekly and since its Wednesday you'll have to wait for next week. Do you work weekends?"

"Yes, I do. Listen, if I work double shifts all this week can I get my pay this week. I really need rent."

"Fine. We're a twenty-eight hour establishment, so I'd get some rest between now and five pm if I were you. You're second shift finishes at nine am."

"Nine hour shifts?"

"You wanted the job, or should I get someone else?"

"No! No, I'll be here. Don't worry."

"I'm not." He sidled up to her, getting a little too close for Rose's comfort. "What's your name?"

Rose cringed at the smell of alcohol and cigarettes on his breath. "Rose."

"Rose. That's a pretty name. Here's the thing Rose. I like you. I think my customers will like you too. I'll advance you this week's pay. Get you that rent."

"Thanks Ray."

"Well, give us a kiss then."

She felt nauseated but leaned over and kissed the scratchy cheek.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she got out of the stuffy bar, but the smell of smoke lingered on her clothes. She put her hand into her pocket and smiled as she felt the wad of cash Ray had pushed into her hand.

She walked for about a half hour and found herself in a small, run down neighbourhood of small, flat roofed bungalows, chain link fences and the alien equivalent of crack heads. A group of men that lingered on the corner shouted at her as she passed but that, Rose was used to. She knocked on the door of a particularly rundown house and a woman wrenched open the door.

"Yes? What?"

The woman was only in her thirties, Rose could tell, but she looked a lot older. Gery hairs shone in the weak sunlight among the woman's bright red mass of curls and she had worry lines that made her look as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

"Um, are you C'trina?"

"Yeah. Who're you?"

"I'm Rose. I'm here about renting the house."

"Oh, come on in then." Rose entered the house and looked around. It was a sorry state of affairs. There were three rooms. A Kitchen/living room, a bedroom and a bathroom. There was a door in the ceiling that she assumed led to the flat roof. C'trina led her into the kitchen part and pointed to the tap. "That water's good for nothing 'cept washing. Same in the bathroom. You want drinking water you have to go to the well down the road. There's a bit of a leak in the roof. All the furniture and stuff stays here. You can have the TV too. My man's got a new one. Now I'm only living two blocks over so you keep this place in good condition."

"I will. Um, can I give you this months rent now, as well as the deposit."

C'trina raised an eyebrow. "You got all that dough and you're living here?"

Rose shrugged. "I got lucky I guess. It won't last long and I don't want to end up on the streets again."

The other woman nodded her head. "Makes sense. Anyone else living with you?"

"Yeah. A man. My… My friend."

"Uh huh."

"We're just friends."

"Whatever you say Hunny. Hey, you see those guys on the corner?"

She pointed out the window to the group of men that had shouted at her and she nodded.

"Be careful of them. They run this neighbourhood. Just steer clear and don't piss them off and you'll be fine."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Enjoy the place."

C'trina disappeared out the door and left Rose alone in the small, damp house. She pulled across the curtain and pulled out her mobile, dialling the TARDIS.

"Yes?"

"I got a job. I got a house."

"Fantastic. Where?"

"Can you get the TARDIS across town?" She gave him the address.

"I'm sure I can sort something."

"With the help of your slightly psychic paper."

"It's always handy. It'll take me a few hours" Rose glance at a cracked clock that hung on the wall.

"I won't be here. I'm working tonight."

"Where?"

"A bar called 'Rays Place'. I won't be home 'till morning. I have to work a double shift."

"Already?"

"How do you think I got the rent? Well, that and my boss is a perve."

"You'll be ok?"

"I can take care of myself. You just work on getting us out of here."

"Yes M'am."

End Chap.

Well, hopefully better than the last chapter but you lot have to tell me that.