Author's Notes: Spoilers for Doomsday below. Also, um, there be a reunion, um, union below. It's nothing crazy, folks. As this is my first Doctor Who fic, i just want to preface with an apology. Sorry if I get bits n pieces wrong. Just let me know and I'll, um, upgrade.
Author: Ardith S.
There were a lot of things that Rose could handle. She had traveled across the universe with her Doctor and most of those trips included an adventure or two. And now, working with alien technology, one often ran into...complications. Waking up covered in nude, covered in ash, and NOT dead was not exactly something that occurred on a regular basis in Torchwood.
Well, waking up nude, shocked, or totally discombobulated happened quite a bit. It was waking up from cold (or crispy) death that wasn't exactly a regular occurrence. Of course that would leave a girl feeling knackered. A cup of tea and heading back into the office was not going to cut it for her father. He sent her home straight way. Barely enough time to get some clothes on.
"Never a dull moment with you, Rose." Mickey laughed as he drove her home. "You run off with the Doctor and get all time vortex'd and almost die. Sure, you let me know about the time vortex thing, but you didn't mention the death-by-time-vortex issue."
"Mickey, I didn't want you and mum to worry. And that day, it was so horrid. Then the Slitheen came. I didn't feel like adding, 'By the way, a bit ago, I almost died by absorbing time and space into my wee mind.' That didn't seem like the thing."
"All that time and space killed the Doctor before," he mused. "But he didn't think that it would change you?"
"H-he absorbed it all into himself. Took it away. Saved my life before I lost my mind. And nothing was different about me until now." She stared out at the landscape. The land was so green. The cool air seemed so normal against her skin. But she had changed inside, as if a key had unlocked something deep inside her. You have something of the wolf in you... "I think working with the puzzle box amplified the changes. Tomorrow, I want to continue my examination."
"Rose, it's dange--"
"Mickey, I am not some kid. Not anymore. We have to find answers." The car grew silent as Mickey drove on.
"What if they aren't the ones you are looking for," he sighed. "You know, in ancient times, people thought salamanders were born in fire. They often appeared to run out of fire. So our ancestors thought that salamanders controlled fire. But they were wrong. Those little lizard things are amphibians and just sort of were hiding in wood. The fire burnt them, so they ran out of it. What if the whole come-back-to-life thing was a one off, Rose?"
Rose laughed. Mickey stared at her, startled by the happy sound. Rose hadn't laughed like that in so long. "'Fraid it's not a one off. I can feel it in my bones. And you know, there are so many possibilities."
"Right. Possibilities. You were always a bit mad, Rose. Well, your mum and Jamie will be ready to greet you with tea. I don't want to be the one to explain your costume change, though."
"Tea. It solves everything. Mum is teaching Jamie that it's the key to the universe."
"Well, tea did once. I'd bet you that it could do it again."
Tea, of course, did cure a lot of ills. Her mother knew how to wield a great cuppa. It was her one culinary skill. Rose sipped her tea, exhausted. She could see the cautiously speculative gleam in her mother's eye. Of course, Jackie Tyler would not just let anything be. Rose sighed and prepared for the inquisition.
"So...," Jackie sat next to her daughter. "Your dad called saying there was a bit of an accident." Her mother frowned, examining Rose closely. Pushing her hair way from her daughter's face, Jackie bit her lip.
"Hm. Yeah. The project I was working on turned out to be a little--"
"Explosive?" Jackie asked, a note of resignation in her voice.
"Mum, I'm fine." Rose frowned. "Perfectly healthy. Not a scratch."
"You could have died. Your dad told me that you DID die, Rose." She drew her daughter close and hugged her. "All I ever wanted was for you to be safe. All HE ever wanted was for you to be safe."
"I know. But there is something in me that is growing, changing. And..." She stared into her mother's eyes. "And I need him, mum. I feel like there is something missing in me. And he needs me, too. Stubborn git has to figure it out."
"You think that what happened this afternoon will bring him to you? Are you mad? Didn't he say something about time and space and rips in the universe? Rose, have you lost it?" Jackie's voice rose and Jamie noticed, toddling over. He climbed onto her lap. Jackie clutched her son close to her as if his sturdy little frame could anchor her. The look in Rose's eyes struck her heart. "You do. You think he will come. Rose, that's madness."
"No. No, Mum, Perfectly sane. I never told you exactly why the Doctor regenerated that Christmas. And what happened to me. I didn't want to worry you or Mickey too much. And with the Doctor, changing, it didn't seem too important." Taking Jackie's shaking hand in hers, she started in the beginning.
That night she did not dream of fire. Instead, she dreamt of him. The feeling of his arms around her, hugging her tight, as if he wouldn't let go. She loved feeling his arms around her. He smelled like home, like warmth and comfort. Perfection.
"Never let me go, Doctor," she murmured, breathing in his smell.
"Are you ok, Rose?" he asked. He felt solid, so real. But it couldn't be real. She would wake up and he would be gone. And she would be alone. Her eyes threatened to tear, but she did not want him to remember her as weeping. Not after their last meeting. "Rose. Rose Tyler. I feel you. That's not possible. There are no more gaps in the universe, but here you are."
Rose snuggled closer. She could feel his hearts beating against her. Her hands wandered up to tangle his his hair. He groaned and held her tighter. "Aren't we dreaming, Doctor? I dream of you all the time."
He chuckled. "Yes, well. I did read you diary, Rose. Racy stuff, that."
"You what?" She pulled back and pinched him.
"Oi, you were gone! Your stuff was all I have left of you. You're going to begrudge me that?" He grinned, cupping her face.
"That's private!" She could feel her cheeks heat. He hugged her close again, nuzzling her hair.
"Well," he whispered, "you happen to be in a different universe and not able to stop me." Grasping her arms, he pulled back enough for her to stare into his sparkling eyes, the dark brown depths filled with intensity. "Rose Tyler--Defender of Earth. I love you."
"Yeah? And rightly so." She broke down, hot tears dripped down her face. "Oh God, I missed you. I miss you so much. You're real, aren't you?" She leaned forward, her ear pressed against his chest to hear the thumps of his hearts beating. She dried her tears, just wanting to feel his arms around her.
"Now, real is relative. What we have here is highly unusual. Of course, it MIGHT be that you're dreaming, but as a Time Lord has little need for sleep, I hardly ever dream. But here we are. Dream fusion. This is interesting. You know, Rose, this shouldn't be possible." The room was awash in gold, blues, and shades of maroon. "Where exactly are we? Are we in your room? Alternate-Earth room? Pete's World? Am I here to seduce you while the household sleeps all snug in their beds?"
"Yeah, but it's fantastic. Amazing. Impossible. Brilliant. You're here. With me." Rose grinned up at him. Reaching her hands into his hair, she pulled him closer. Her lips brushed against his like a whisper. She felt his smile against her lips. He deepened the kiss, his lips felt wonderful. If it was a dream, she didn't want to wake up. Not yet.
"I'm not sure how long I have with you here, Rose. We. Should. Talk," he said between kisses. Giving in to her silent pleading, he kissed her hungrily, as if staved for the taste of her. "Oh, Rose. I miss you so much. It's not the same without you. I--"
"I love you, Doctor," she whispered against his lips. "I try. I'm trying so hard, but I need you. Something inside me is so empty without you." Her hands worked busily on buttons and ties.
"Rose," he groaned, bringing her closer to him. He was whipcord lean. His skin felt hot against her hands. She moved against him, savoring his touch. His brilliant hands moved against her, uncovering skin.
"Doctor. Please." His hands grew rougher, disrobing her. His mouth moved against her neck, against her skin. She arched closer. She teetered on the tips of her toes to deepen their kiss, then moved to nibble at his ears. She reveled in the warmth of his skin.
"Rose. Bed. Now." His breath was ragged.
She laughed and dragged him down with her, sinking into the softness of her bed. Moving against him, she luxuriated in the feel of him. She tasted his skin, smiling at his groans. They didn't speak as they came together. Rose gasped as he entered her. He hesitated, as if worried about hurting her. She answered the unspoken question with a kiss as her body clasped him close. He murmured against her ear before moving his mouth against her lips, deepening their kiss. She wrapped herself around him, holding him as tight as she could.
Their bodies moved slowly, as if savoring their reunion. She felt him deep within her, his thrusts pulling her towards glory. His hands reached between them, leaving her gasping. She could only hold on and let go of everything but him. Her love. Her Doctor.
With a hiccupping laugh, she opened her eyes, her arms reaching for his warmth. But she knew that the dream was over. And she was alone.
And, dammit, I didn't ask him about the puzzle box.
Then she sighed, snuggling back into bed. She could almost smell him, like a trace of a memory.
She closed her eyes, remembering the dream. Every touch, every kiss. Of course, she forgot to talk to him about the puzzle box. But, she thought with a laugh, I believe those were extenuating circumstances. Her heart beat faster as she grinned. "Oh. Doctor, you best get ready for me."