Here you go! A nice, fat chapter. Thank you for the encouragement and reviews! You guys are so kind!

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Chapter 16

A few days past and Rose's sour mood improved as she thought about what Danny had said. She had thought of a million reasons why she should conveniently pop by to see him, but hadn't brought herself to do it but once.

He hadn't been at home.

Lewis had discovered that the drugged drink that Rose had managed to get had been intended for the kitchen staff after the party had been over.

"They were planning a party of their own, as it turns out." Lewis told her. "It's nothing to worry about, Rose. But, it always is a good idea to check."

Pepper was livid about the situation which had thankfully not made it into the press. Rose was unable to remember anything except showing up for the party that evening and slipping on the icy sidewalk.

The city had been blanketed by yet another snowstorm. The tile floor of the flat was cold and Rose found herself wearing two pairs of wooly socks as she walked around holding a hot cup of tea. It was late afternoon and the cold front that was moving in left her feeling sleepy. She considered a nap rather than drinking the cuppa. She stood at her kitchen inside of her suite staring into the cup, lost in her thoughts when someone knocked on her door.

She sighed. "Lewis. You can just open the door."

Someone knocked again.

She groaned and walked over to open the door.

"Well, there you are!" Mickey celebrated.

"Mickey!" She embraced him. "I didn't expect you until next week!"

"Oh, I sent Jake to deal with that shit." They let go of one another and Mickey closed the door. "I wanted to see you and make sure you are really alright. You didn't sound like yourself on the phone."

She smiled sadly. "I'm fine."

He rose his eyebrow and studied her. "No, you're not. And I know just what you need."

"No, thank you." She winked at him. "Your girlfriend would most likely not approve of that."

"Nah. Not that." He took her hand and they walked over to the sofa together. "Rose, you've just been…"

"Bitchy." She finished his sentence.

"Well, I wasn't going to say that. But-"

"Well, it's true. Mickey, I just hate everything about this."

"You hate being rich and having everything you want?"

"I hate pretending to be someone I'm not. I'm not Pete Tyler's daughter-"

"Sure you are-"

"No, I'm not. My Dad died. Long ago. I never knew him. And now….Mum has him back and…." She shook her head.

Mickey nodded in understanding. "When was the last time you spoke to Jackie?"

"It's been days." She sighed. "I asked Lewis not to tell her about this…mess that happened at the party."

"A very good idea." He agreed. "Lewis is furious, though."

"What? Why? It wasn't his fault."

"Ah. He takes it personally. But, that's what makes him so perfect to be with you."

"To babysit me." She sighed.

"It's a bit more than that, Rose."

"That's just what it feels like. Just."

"What?"

"I just feel ….. I call Mum and she….only wants to talk about the baby, and how I need to ….. find something to do. I just feel so….forgotten."

He took her hand, "I haven't forgotten about you, Rose."

"I know. It's just how I feel."

He stood up and pointed at her. "You need a cup of tea. Always helps when you are like this."

She giggled. "I just made one. It's over there-"

"I'll get it." He insisted and walked over to fetch it for her.

She sat back on the sofa and crossed her legs.

He busied himself in the kitchen making a cup of tea for himself. "So, guess who I saw in the lift?"

"Father Christmas?" She teased.

He chuckled, "No. Danny. He just has gotten back."

"Where was he?"

Mickey shook his head. "I didn't ask. But, he'll be over later tonight. We're watching the match over here."

Rose closed her eyes and sipped her drink.

Mickey noticed. "And what was that?"

"What was what?"

"That face-"

"I didn't have a face-"

"Yes, you did. You should come into the main room and watch the match with us."

She shook her head, "I think Mum is right and I need to find something to do-"

"Nah, none of that!" He insisted and sat back on the sofa with her. "Come on. All of the guys will be there. It will be fun."

She looked up at him, unconvinced.

"Come on. Just like old times. I'll be there."

"That's the only thing that is the same."

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The flat became full in a surprisingly short period of time. Mickey introduced her to men in black Torchwood uniforms that he worked with. She smiled and politely greeted them. Some men arrived in suits who worked directly under Lewis. Including the largest man Rose had ever laid eyes on. Lewis introduced him as Summus.

"My boss." Lewis smiled.

Summus was a very tall, very muscular black man with a cleanly shaven head. Lewis almost seemed child-sized next to this man with a booming, deep voice. Rose couldn't figure out why, but she liked him immediately. His smile put her completely at ease.

The kitchen table was filled with meat pies, small cakes, crisps, drinks, and things that Mickey called, 'Football Food.'

Summus was loading his plate, "You have the absolute best here in your corner. I would sleep soundly knowing that Primus Lewis is keeping an eye out on you."

Summus pat Lewis on his back which nearly knocked him completely off of his feet. It caused Rose to laugh.

Lewis smiled as Summus joined the others. "Ah. He's generous in his compliments."

She shook her head. "Mickey says the same thing about you, Lewis."

Lewis looked at her and took a deep breath.

"What?" She asked. She couldn't help think that he knew more than he was saying.

He continued to look at her with a proud smile. "One day, I'll tell you. But, it's not today."

She watched as he picked up his plate and walked away to join the others. He shouted, "And is the betting closed?"

Several men shouted in hopes that it wasn't.

Lewis shouted, "Then you'll have to answer to Summus!"

The room was met with a mix of laughter and moans.

Summus's booming voice laughed, "That's right!"

She stood watching him as she thought about what Lewis could have meant by telling her later. Without thinking, she sipped her orange soda.

Rose turned to walk back to her suite. She held a plate of food of chips, meat pies, and some biscuits. The football game didn't interest her at all. Instead of watching the big game, she had already planned to stay in her room and watch a cheesy, girlie movie that she had seen a million times. Well, in the other Dimension. She was sure it wasn't going to be completely the same here.

Nothing was.

She sighed as she closed the door with a gentle kick.

Five minutes into the movie, she found her first difference and turned it off.

She sat there, nearly about to burst into tears again when she heard a knock at the door.

She groaned, "Completely alone unless I want to be."

She got off of the sofa and wiped her eyes as she made her way to the door. She opened it to find Danny standing there holding a plate and two orange sodas.

"Brought you another one." He smiled.

She couldn't help her surprise and took the drink from him. "Thank you. How did you know?"

He smiled and rocked on his feet. "Lucky guess. You're not going to watch the game?"

"Nah. It's not really my thing."

"Yeah, mine neither."

She laughed, "You love football. You have it memorized."

"You're right. I love football." He then spoke in an English accent, "Not proper football."

She giggled and invited him in. "Your accent isn't that bad."

"Very expensive voice coaching." He walked over to the sofa and sat his plate down on the low table, next to hers. "So, what are you doing?" He picked up the remote and began flipping through the selection.

She laughed as she closed the door. "Just make yourself at home, Danny."

"Alright." He continued to click through the screens. "What section are you in? Love stories? Something mushy?"

She sat next to him on the sofa, "Mushy?"

"Yeah." He said absentmindedly. "You seem like a mushy type."

"See if you can find something." She opened the soda he had brought her. "I don't think anything good is in there."

He shook his head. "I don't like watching movies."

She sat back and took a biscuit to nibble on. "You are a documentary kind-of-guy."

He nodded, "I am. Yeah."

She rolled her eyes. "Have you ever narrated a documentary?"

"Yeah. Several actually." He glanced at her and tapped his throat. "Women love this voice."

She couldn't help but smile as he laughed in that sexy, deep voice. She knew that voice was the only thing that had probably kept her from hitting him a few times. Just as she thought about telling him this, he turned on a children's cartoon. "Now, this! Is quality entertainment."

She shook her head and smiled at him. "That's fine with me."

He sat the remote on the table and reclined his area of the sofa. After a few minutes, she could feel eyes on her. She peered next to her and saw him resting his chin on his fist.

"Why are you staring at me?"

He shook his head. "You look a bit different. What's different?"

She smiled and shook her head. "You must be drunk already."

"I haven't drank anything in nearly a week."

"High then." She teased.

"Completely clean. Nearly for a full week."

"Really?"

"Yeah." He looked back at the television. "I won't lie about it. It's nothing to be proud of. I'd been….just everyday. I knew I needed to stop, or slow down. So, I decided….new Danny. New life. I'll stop."

"Really?" She smiled.

"I've got it." He pointed at her. "That's what it is."

"What?"

"You're smiling. I've never seen you do that."

She rolled her eyes and couldn't help smile.

"You should do that all of the time. So, how is your new life going?"

"Well." She stopped and thought about what she wanted to say.

What could she say to him about it? Just as the thoughts of everything began as if a huge wave had knocked her over in the ocean, Danny took her hand.

"Coping." He offered.

She nodded, "Yeah. That's it. Coping."

He sipped his soda and gripped her hand tighter. "Sit there for a while. In the coping phase. You learn a lot about yourself there."

She reclined her seat and relaxed while holding his hand. She closed her eyes and exhaled in relief that he was there. Even though he annoyed her, she had missed him.

"Where have you been?" She asked. "I came by yesterday and you were gone."

He rolled his head over to be able to look at her. "I would have called but, I've never asked for your number."

She smiled, "Of course, if I can have yours."

He mirrored her smile. "Only if you use it."

A character laughed loudly on the cartoon, getting their attention.

"I had to go upstate. Deal with some…." He shook his head, "Family affairs."

"Family affairs. Yeah. I hear your enthusiasm."

He nodded and drank his soda. "How are your family affairs?"

She shook her head and sighed. "The same. Just.."

"Hard?"

"Yeah."

He nodded. "What have you been doing the past few days?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Just…watching telly. Eating junkfood."

He rose his eyebrows in surprise. "The most honest thing I've ever heard a woman say."

She laughed.

"We cope about the same then. I'm just a bit ahead in my stages than you are."

"Stages?"

"The Stages of Grief. Russ is always preaching at me about this." He sat his soda down and still holding her hand, he brought up his other hand to rub his eyes. "He's played a psychologist in a movie and now thinks he is one."

Rose giggled.

"So, there are seven stages. Shock and denial that something bad happened, then pain and bargaining, and depression and coping. I get them twisted around."

"I know what you are talking about. Yeah."

"So, I'm on like six of the seven and you are on like….three."

"I'll take your word for it." Looking back at the television. She sighed, "Feels more like a two most of the time."

He gripped her hand tighter. "It does get better. But it's a long walk uphill. Sometimes you slip back to a previous step and start over."

Her heart ached.

He nailed how she felt. "That's the most honest thing I've probably ever heard a man say."

He glanced back at her and winked.

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Rose and Danny had been watching the cartoons for a while. Danny had turned off the lamps to make the room darker about an hour ago. Rose had never watched much animation but found that she enjoyed it. Sitting there in the dark, holding his hand, she felt that he understood. Even though he didn't know what she had been through. What she still was coping with.

He had long flipped his shoes off and she had pulled a blanket over both of them. Rose had leaned over and propped her head on his shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt him prop his head on top of hers.

The long series of cartoons continued. Rose pat his knee and whispered, "I'll be straight back."

He grunted.

After about ten minutes, she returned to find that Danny had fallen asleep on the sofa. With the television still on, the light knock on the door didn't disturb him. Rose walked over and cracked it open to find Mickey there.

"Hey. Danny still here?"

Rose smiled and turned to point to his sleeping figure. She tapped her finger over her lips to tell Mickey to be quiet.

Mickey nodded, "Ah, we'll just leave him there. Will that be alright?"

She smiled. "Sure. I'm on my way to bed."

"Alright. Good night, then."

She wished him good night and closed the door.

She walked back over to the sofa and pulled the blanket up on Danny. His breathing was slow and even. He looked so handsome lying there that she knelt to look at him closer. He wore a long-sleeved black cotton polo shirt that had the first two buttons undone. His greying hair seemed to glow against his olive complexation.

He was absolutely the most handsome man she had ever seen in her life. Of course, she would never tell him that.

She was certain he already knew it. With that inflated ego of his. That ego reminded her so much of her Doctor.

Her heart seemed to ache as she thought of the Doctor again. She had missed so many opportunities with him. Was this what she was still doing?

Before Rose could stop herself, she had leaned in and kissed his sleeping lips. She was surprised when his lips responded immediately to hers. Was he truly asleep?

She opened her mouth to welcome his tongue in. She inhaled his scent deeply as they continued to slowly explore one another's mouths. She felt him move his hands to her face.

Her heart stopped aching and seemed to swell with love as the kiss continued. In some way, she felt as though she was kissing her lost Doctor.

Before she realized what she was doing, she straddled his waist and lay down on top of him as they both continued to gently kiss one another.

She briefly thought how insane this was as she felt his hands gently pull her long hair back. He inhaled deeply and sat up with her as his kisses became more energetic.

He ran his hand up the back of her blouse and unfastened her bra. Knowing her breasts were free, he moved his hands to cup them both. He teased the nipples with both of his thumbs.

It seemed to send fireworks through her body with every touch. Her lungs were filled with his handsome cologne's scent.

Rose began to pant louder with the realization that this wasn't her Doctor, but she wanted him anyway.

Just as she was about to move to unfasten his jeans, he stopped kissing and jumped.

She sat back, "Are you alright?"

His eyes met her in surprise. He glanced around the room and then noticed he held both of her breasts. "Umm."

"Danny?"

"I think I just woke up."

She climbed off of him and laughed in embarrassment. "Are you kidding?"

"Ah, don't leave. Shit."

She sat on the reclined seat where she had been before. He watched her laugh with a smile on his face. "How long had we been doing that?"

"What? Snogging?"

"With some boobs. I remember that."

She covered her face and laughed as she slipped down on the sofa. She could feel her face was heated and blushed. "You snog in your sleep?"

She heard his deep voice smile. "I guess I do. It's a first for me."

He lay down between where she had folded her legs and leaned over her. "How was I doing?"

"Not bad." She giggled. "Gosh, I'm so embarrassed. I didn't realize you were asleep."

He propped himself up so he wouldn't crush her. "I'm awake now."

"Are you certain?"

"If I'm not, this is better than sleep-walking." He began to gently kiss her face.

She giggled, "Sleep snogging."

He continued to pepper kisses down to her neck. He whispered, "Do you want me to stay?"

"Well, I'm not going to tell you to get out."

He smiled and met her lips again.

"Danny." She began. "I don't know if-"

He put his finger over her lips. "Shh. I know I want this. Asleep or not."

She closed her eyes as he began to kiss her neck again. "Danny…."

He hummed into her neck and he continued to kiss her.

She was growing wetter by the second. She held onto the back of his shirt with tightly closed fists.

"Danny…." She attempted to speak again.

He stopped and looked into her eyes. His deep voice quietly said, "I think you're asleep, too. What do you think?"

She closed her eyes as his lips met hers again. She stopped all protesting and decided that she wanted this. Her body seemed to be a few steps ahead of her mind. She didn't even remember unfastening her jeans. Danny's breath seemed to become part of her own.

He kissed perfectly. Which only made her want to continue even more.

Her entire body was aching for more of him. She slipped her hands under his shirt. Feeling his bare skin seemed to only excite her more.

"Danny…" She began again.

"Shhh." He mumbled, "Don't think about whoever it was that hurt you so badly, Rosie. Just think about how you feel."

She closed her eyes and completely surrendered to his touch.

He rubbed his nose to hers and whispered, "You are such a beautiful woman. Don't let what happened destroy who you are."

She smiled as her wit seemed to return. "Is this your way of coping?"

He rolled his neck back and looked into her eyes. "Isn't it everyone's?"

She laughed at him. "Danny…."

Danny stood up and pulled her to her feet. He gently met her lips with his own and then stepped back.

Her heart immediately began to pound against her rib cage. Even though she was still fully clothed, she felt exposed with how he was looking at her.

Before she knew what she was doing, her hands had betrayed her again. She couldn't believe it as she took off her own blouse, tossing it to the sofa along with her unfastened bra.

He held her in his arms and leaned back to look at her breasts. "These are beautiful. How sensitive are they?"

"I don't know. What does that mean?"

He winked at her and then moved his head to suck the nipple of one of them.

He had her in his mouth tightly. She gripped him tightly and swore. The thrill of his lips on her was enough to make her wet. She was beginning to come already. How did this man do this to her? Her eyes rolled back in her head and her knees began to buckle under him.

He stopped and held her up. "They are very sensitive. How many orgasms have you ever had with them?"

Her lip quivered.

He smiled at her lost look. "Not enough apparently. New question. How many times do you want to?"

She closed her eyes and moaned, "I don't know-"

He chuckled, "Liar."

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They each were feverously working to remove the clothing off of the other one while they continued to snog. Walking into her bedroom, Danny only slowed down long enough to locate the bed and allow her to lay down on it to display herself for him.

He glanced over and turned on a lamp.

Seeing him, standing over her as she lay there nude, made her heart began to beat out of her chest. His eyes felt like radars as he slowly studied every curve as he lay down and began to pull his finger across her chest. The butterflies danced throughout her body. She imagined they were flittering as they flew out of her opening between her legs just as his finger made its way there.

She inhaled deeply. She had wanted him to continue downwards, he lay down beside her and lightly ran his fingertips across her form.

"I've never had anyone do this." She whispered.

He smiled and lightly kissed her chest. "You're so beautiful, I just want to take it all in."

She exhaled in pleasure.

He continued to lightly run his fingertips across her, teasing her in a way she had never experienced or thought of.

She could feel his eyes on her as he studied her form. Every so often, he would lightly kiss her.

Lying there, with his handsome form admiring hers, she felt sexier than she ever had in her life. She smiled and pulled her arms over her head. "Danny."

He lightly kissed her chest and smiled up at her.

"I've never felt like this."

His handsome face spread into a smile as he whispered, "It gets even better."

She giggled just as his lips met hers.

She inhaled his handsome smell into every area of her lungs. She held him tightly as they snogged. Her body begged him for more.

He was dressed in his jeans and boxers. She had managed to unbutton his jeans but hadn't been able to reach them to get them off of him. He didn't seem concerned about it and continued to kiss her. First her lips, and then down her neck.

She started to say something just before he made his way to her nipple again. He began to roll it between his teeth. Both, a wonderful and frightening feeling, Rose found that she loved it. His hand moved down to her hip that usually was covered by her knickers. He had removed them someplace between the bar of the kitchen and the doorway of her room.

She bent her knees and angled her folds so that he could reach them easier. She longed for him to tease her there. But, he seemed more interested in teasing her in any other way he could. He moved his hand to her inside leg and moved up to the fold, just enough to pet the small curly hairs. She felt as though she was getting wetter with every tease.

She didn't realize she was nearly shouting when he stopped sucking her nipple and kissed her breasts. He mumbled, "Wow. Very sensitive."

"Please." She managed.

He moved up and rubbed his nose against hers.

She could only lay here and pat.

He smiled, "I can tell you are enjoying this."

She relaxed and enjoyed the feeling that rushed through her body. "Danny." She whispered.

He gently kissed the end of her nose. "Tell me. What do you want?"

She didn't open her eyes.

He grinned, "How many do you think you have left in you?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

She felt his fingers move to feel her opening between her legs. "Oh, please." She moaned. She felt as though she was wet down the inside of her thighs. She longed to feel him inside of her.

He breathed heavily into her neck. "Do you need me now?"

"Yes." She panted.

"Tell me." He teased her with his fingers as he spread her folds apart and began to tease her clit. She arched her back just as he silenced her shouts with his kiss.

She tried her best to return his kiss but, couldn't think anymore. All she knew was the pleasure that was rushing through her veins. She didn't even feel when he stopped teasing her and placed himself inside. He was stroking slowly and panting in her ear.

She moved her hand down to tease her own clit some more and felt herself began to orgasm. He moaned loudly as he pressed himself inside of her as deep as he could go.

"Oh, that feels so good." He moaned. "Don't stop."

He began to kiss her some more as he took over teasing her clit. Within too short of a period of time, she felt herself come so hard that she pushed him out of her.

She lay on the bed, panting and holding her chest. Her legs felt wet as she returned to her senses.

Danny collapsed next to her on the same pillow she lay on. He was sweaty and was trying to catch his breath. Inbetween his gasps, he mumbled, "Good Lord, woman."

It made her laugh.

He rolled over to face her. His dark eyes seemed to be the only thing in the world that mattered. He smiled, "I really like this stage of your coping."

She giggled, "I like it, too."

His deep voice chuckled.

She rolled over and faced him. With them lying only inches apart, his face wasn't very clear. She bought her hand up to his cheek and smiled.

"You have a beautiful smile."

They lay there looking into one another's eyes.

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