The Truth in Time (Reunited AU) - Chapter 9 - The Truth of the Matter
The Doctor sat by Rose's bedside for a long while, just staring at her. Rose had been stripped down and covered by a sheet and a reflective blanket. Her arms were laid in top of the blanket, the right one wrapped in thick bandages from the bicep up. The damage must have been pretty bad because most of her upper torso was wrapped as well, yes some for stability of the bandages but not all.
Jackie, who had left to settle Janie down, returned and spoke quietly, "How long has it been for you Doctor? I mean you changed faces again…" The Doctor looked up and sighed. "About 300 years or so. You lose count when you get this old." He rose and grabbed a stethoscope from nearby, placing it on the right side of Rose's chest. He heard a steady beat, but at the same time a murmur. He moved to check the other side when she started glowing again. Her body began to glow brightly, she took in a sharp breath and breathed out more of this golden light. As it dissipated her eyes fluttered open. The Doctor backed up and looked to Jackie who was just standing there smiling.
"Rose? Are you… A-are you alright?" The Doctor asked, nerves raking his voice. She picked up her left hand and used it to sit herself up, the Doctor gingerly helping. "Mum? Janie.." Jackie came closer to the side of the bed. "She's fine dear. Pete is watching the kids." Rose nodded and swung her legs over the side slowly. "Right. Hello again." She smiled sadly and looked up at the Doctor. "Changed your fa-"
Before she could finish her sentence the Doctor had wrapped her in a hug, he breathed out heavily and held tightly. "Doctor, please. I'm alright, but you are kind of hurting me." The Doctor let go and stepped back quickly. "Right, sorry." He reached to rub the back of his neck in a reminiscent way. Rose giggled slightly and took the new sight of him in. "You really have changed… Wait. How did you get here?" The Doctor sat down in a nearby chair awkwardly. "No clue actually. It was kind of an accident, but I think we fell through a hole... that was invisible. Where's John?" He said suddenly, with enthusiasm.
Rose was taken aback and she started getting emotional, but held it back. There was no way she would let him see her cry ever again, let alone her mum. "Dead." She breathed out shakily. "He died shortly after you left us here. Went and risked his life on a stupid mission. Saved a kid who shouldn't had been out of training yet." He nodded and drew back, crossing his arms.
The room was silent for a moment before the Doctor jumped up and circled Rose several times. "Rose Tyler, it's been awhile. Now I'm a bit confused… Which for me is a bit odd, so maybe you could help me. First, you have a daughter, but she's too old to be John's. Then when I left you kissed John, and quite fiercely I'll add, so I don't think you were in another relationship. And you had broken up with Mickey the Idiot beforehand. So that leaves me with no answer as to whose she is…" Rose snapped. "She's mine you daft idiot! Janie is my daughter and only mine, we don't need anyone else." She had gotten up quickly and lunged to slap the Doctor, only proceeding to collapse on her knees in front of him crying. "Dammit…" The Doctor got down to the floor with her and pulled her towards him. "Rose? I'm just trying to understand. I want to know about your life and that it's going well. It's not like I'm trying to hurt you." Rose nodded and let out a few heavy but quiet sobs, shrinking away.
Jackie placed a hand on the Doctor's shoulder and kneeled down beside them. "She hasn't had a good cry yet Doctor. You didn't do anything wrong she was just overwhelmed. But, I think you may be just a little jealous of Jake out there." Rose overheard the last bit and laughed through her tears, the Doctor glaring at Jackie. He picked Rose up and set her back in the cot and sat down on the side. "Instead of talking about Janie how about we talk about you? What's going on with the time energy, Rose? How is it still present and controlling you?" Rose shook her head and calmed down a bit more. "I don't know, Doctor. When it happens I'm always asleep or passed out, but according to everyone when I'm hurt badly it will appear and heal me most of the way. If I'm in a bad situation when I pass out it will usually destroy the most immediate danger. It doesn't make sense." The Doctor shook his head and stood up, "You're right, it doesn't make sense."
He seemed so casual that Rose sat up just enough to slap him with a true Tyler slap. "This is my life we are talking about. Not just another one of your mysteries! I have a life and a daughter who needs me for the short time she's here and I'm not going to let you get away with this! Get out!" She turned away, tears threatening again. Jackie came up behind the Doctor, who was now cringing at the words that just flew at him, and pulled on his shoulders to drag him out of the room towards a smaller room with happy duck curtains covering the glass walls.
He had turned his face down to the floor and walked quietly with Jackie to this new room. "She has a right to be angry. I'm half tempted to slap you myself." She let out a quiet laugh to sooth the tension in the air. "But, she's not really all that mad at you. She's mad about you and everything that's happened… It's taken its toll on her. She's seen you die at least four times and no doubt almost lost you many more, then there's her own life. Maybe for a Time Lord all that risk and danger doesn't faze you, but for us humans our minds are so limited, we can only take so much and she had her fair share before you came along."
They reached the door and Jackie pushed it open to see a Janie on a little cot sleeping heavily. The room was lit up by a nightlight that painted stars all around the room. "That little girl is the only thing that kept her sane, but she won't last much longer. Please, Doctor. Help them." Jackie walked out of the room and shut the door behind her leaving the Doctor staring a little helplessly at the small form.
(Everyone, I am so sorry! Life has really gotten in the way recently and kept me from fulfilling my duties and I am sincerely sorry! I hope that this chapter makes up for it in it's length and content. Now that basketball is over I hope I can start writing again and uploading on time. Thank you so much for reading!)