Chapter 6:
The Doctor and Rose had just returned from a day out and around the city, and for once Rose couldn't believe they didn't run into any trouble, no running for their lives or defeating an evil crazed lunatic planning to take over the universe.
Today was a very empty day.
As much as Rose loved the peace, she could see by just looking into the Doctors eyes that he too was longing for some adventure.
They were sitting on a ledge over looking the vast gardens of the palace, chatting away. Or more like the Doctor nattering about the history of the place with some obscene joke about bananas thrown in every once in a while.
They fell into silence as Rose looked up into the sky and noticed the sky was turning darker as the day had ended, but the night had just begun. She grinned, as she thought of what amazing meals awaited her and the Doctor, she was absolutely starving. All there walking about had left her in such a state that she was even beginning to day dream about food…just as she was now.
"What you grinning about?" The Doctor said as he glanced over to his right to look at Rose. Rose turned at looked at him, he looked bored but content at the same time. Pretty much how she was feeling too.
"I can't wait for this evening! I think I might just die of excitement!" She laughed, mostly at herself about the fact she somehow managed to stoop so low as to become excited about food.
"O Really?" Rose had stopped grinning and turned to face the Doctor head on. His manner had completely changed. Instead of laying back supporting himself with his elbows as he was doing only a moment ago, he had now sat up and was leaning forward glaring at a statue. Rose didn't know what had gotten into him! But she had had enough.
She stood up and moved so she was sitting right in front of him. "Right. You spill it." Now she was the one giving the glare.
"Hmph." The Doctor shrugged his shoulders. "What are you talking about, honestly maybe all of your excitement for this evening's meal has jumbled up your ape brain even more!" The Doctor wasn't looking at her when she said this but had turned his head to his right and was looking out into the distance to nothing in particular.
Rose stopped, she bowed her head down and stayed silent. The Doctor noticed this and averted his eyes to look at her but with his head still facing the right.
"You know what Doctor, I've been waiting for you to just open up to me to tell me why since we've come to this palace you've been acting so strange! If its not the fact you seem to grip me tighter or snap at me when I'm trying to care for you then it'll be something else next time! What is it? Is there some sort of danger around here? Because then I'd be flattered that your trying to protect me, but there is nothing!" She waved her arms up in the arm and stood up. She turned around in one full circle, slowly putting some distance between the two of them. A decision she immediately regretted.
"Just tell me damn it!" She was almost screaming but not quite. She stopped and then shut her eyes, forcing herself not to cry, not to feel guilty. No Rose this isn't your fault, he should be the one feeling guilty not you. I'm just seeking the truth, yeah, suppose you could call it some justice! That what we always fight for, justice…except Rose knew she was lying to herself, so she kept her head low and began to walk towards the entrance of the palace, which was right behind where they were sitting. As she tentatively stepped forwards she kept her gaze down and when she was standing right next to him she kept her head down and gently whispered, "Im sorr- " But she never got to finish her sentence as the Doctor had stood up and was now gripping her by her shoulder and just above her waist, to ensure she didn't break from his grip.
He was just looking at her but she saw things which frightened her in his eyes. Hatred, to her? Fear, of what? Anger, about what?
"You want to know what's going on Rose, well I'm afraid I can't tell you. Because sometimes I don't know, so don't for one second think you can tell what's going on in my mind."
Rose's fear was rising within her, but she wasn't scared of him, she was scared of where this would lead, but she wasn't going to back down, she knew what she saw, and she saw him and his ever changing moods.
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see you're hurting inside Doctor! Why can't you just open up! I'm not just someone who's tagging along for the adventure Doctor, I thought you knew that! We are on a different level…aren't we?" She was now gazing at him with watery eyes, almost pleading to him to tell her she was right.
The Doctor was dieing inside, what was this human doing to him! First she's telling him she can't wait for their little session with his highness and next she's telling him they have a connection which was deep. The Doctor was about to speak when all of a sudden a small rumbling noise was heard. The Doctor looked confused as he gazed down to a slightly blushing Rose. She laughed nervously and spoke, "Yep I definitely can't wait for this evening, absolutely starving I am." She was now laughing whilst staring at the ground.
The Doctor however was just looking at her with his jaw dropped open and his eyes almost bulging out. He felt like he couldn't breathe. O you stupid Time Lord…she was just hungry…just hungry…His lungs felt three times smaller and he was almost of the verge of gasping for air. He thought he had lost her. He thought that was it, she had decided this was to be their last adventure and the Doctor couldn't do anything about it. He was so close…to close to losing her.
Rose looked up at him when she heard nothing but silence and no joke about her silly ape digestive system. When she looked up she saw a surprised time lord. "Doctor…" She said in a bemused tone. She was beginning to move back to give him some space when all of a sudden she was brought in to a bone crushing hug. Her arms where by her side and she couldn't move. He was just holding her and slowly he began to sink to the ground bring Rose down with him.
Rose knew he had realised something but what? He wasn't in pain she was fairly certain. Maybe the guilt of being a complete weirdo these past few days got to him…except he wasn't a weirdo…just more affectionate, and you loved every minute of it.
"Doc-tor" Rose managed to speak when he sudden let her go and moved back slightly.
Rose was not ready for the sudden lose of contact or support and was falling forward, when none other than the Doctor caught her.
"O god Rose I'm…I'm so sorry! Ha! Didn't mean to crush ya there. Just was thinking about all that gorgeous food that was awaiting us! Mmm! Finest cooks remember? That's what Nicky Prince Boy said! Nicky hmm rhymes with Ricky! And Mickey! Maybe hes quite the idiot ay Rose? Wouldn't be that hard to imagin-"
"Doctor." Rose said in a deadly serious tone and no more words were needed to let him know she wanted an explanation; there was no getting out of it this time.
He sighed and closed his eyes. "Rose, I – " He stopped he couldn't tell her what he had assumed. She would think he was some love sick alien dieing from some love. She'd be frightened, run a mile and maybe run straight into the Prince's arms! You are doing it again! Stop underestimating your connection with her! Tell her you fool!
"Rose…I made a seriously daft, foolish, unintelligent, irrational…"
"Got the drift Doctor…" She smiled one of those smile and the Doctor thought he could just sit there staring at her the whole trip.
"An unbelievably stupid mistake…I may have jumped to a rather rash conclusion." He said as he began to rub the back of his neck and stare of into the distance.
Rose, who wasn't expecting a "conclusion" to come in anywhere in this conclusion frowned and pressed on. "Which was…"
Just as the Doctor opened his mouth to speak, a servant ran towards them out of breath and bowed. "My apologies for interrupting but the Prince has been called away right now to attend to some pressing matter and sends his apologies to you for having to miss your meal, however he does hope you enjoy the food prepared."
"Oh that's unlucky," Rose replied in a genuinely sympathetic tone, "Thank you for telling us."
"Think nothing of it Lady Tyler, good evening." And with that the servant bowed and left to re enter the mansion.
The Doctor, who was beginning to look less pale grinned over at Rose and took her hand.
"Ready for diner my Lady?"
"O just about so I think."
Rose's stomach then made a rather loud grumbling noise as the Doctor and her laughed and walked into the palace for food that would even mesmerise the taste buds of a cold hearted sinner…