disclaimer... I own nothing
A/N I bet ya'll thought that was the end huh? NOooooo lol Just here to tie up the loose ends of what's happened so far. I added some fun stuff in here so hopefully it's not too boring lol. Also, this chapter will address more about the kiss... but not much. In response to the comment that several of you made about the Doctor having good enough sense/Rose having good enough sense to use the Tardis's medical lab... maybe. But I was going on the fact that the Doctor will do just about anything for Rose and how he'll do things the hard way just because it's more interesting or he forgets. Also I'd like to apologize to all of you who are still reading... this chapter was late because my computer crashed and I lost the next two chapters. I always try to write at least two chaps in advance but now I have to do some catching up. Also, the chapters are going to be much longer. I was going to keep them short but several of you positively responded to the longer chapters. Again, please tell me if I'm butchering the show. That's the last thing I want to do! Remember, I'm only nearing the end of the first season and majoritively picking it up as I go. Please don't forget to let me know how you liked the chapter, I love hearing from you guys!
Chapter 5: Life Goes On
It was nearing on eight o'clock in the morning when Jackie Tyler checked her watch again for the fourth time. She sipped at her daily coffee, sitting silently at the kitchen table and gazing blankly at the wall. Rose was normally up by now, even if she didn't want to be. She'd come trudging through the doorway in her pajamas and robe, grumbling about the hour and where breakfast was. She was almost twenty years old and hadn't yet learned that her mother detested making breakfast. A small smile grazed her lips at the memories. All that wasn't so anymore, she reminded herself. Rose was never there in the mornings, she was always with the Doctor. He got to deal with her dawn grumpiness now, not Jackie. She guessed she would always miss it though. A mother does feel the void when their child isn't there, no matter how often they visit or phone in.
A rustle of movement drew Jackie's eyes away from the pastel colors of her kitchen to the propped open door revealing the living room. She had pushed one of the chairs from the dinner table over to hold it so she could see the couple asleep on the couch from her coffee. There Rose and the Doctor slept, entangled adorably whilst they recovered from the day before in a deep slumber. Their body language, read in the positions they unconsciously took through the night, could've told an entire stranger the finer points of their relationship with one glance... much less the well aware Jackie. When she came in two hours earlier to find them snuggled contentedly on the sofa she had taken a picture of the rare display as evidence for the next time she argued with them over their status. Now that she looked at the freshly developed image on the table before her she second guessed her decision. Rose had her nose resting at the base of the Doctor's neck, peacefully clinging to him the way Jackie supposed she wanted to when she was awake, though vigilant even in her sleep not to harm his wounded chest. The Doctor on the other hand was more complex. With one arm he held Rose firmly, gripping her shoulder protectively and almost fearful that she might be taken away. With the other he supported his head in an obvious thinking position, pushing his cheek up into his right eye. His lips were curled up at the edges in a small smile he used while flaunting his knowledge to a dimmer species, but his eyebrows were furrowed together severely in anger or frustration, she couldn't tell which and she didn't want to. Something was clearly bothering him that wouldn't be ignored because itself showed only in sleep. Did Rose know about this? Did the Doctor even know about it? Did she really want to show it to them in a picture? She looked at her watch again. The tiny hands of the clock read 7:56 AM and the growing strength of the sunlight in the room confirmed it. In four minutes she would have to go and wake them up before she left, no matter how much she didn't want to. If she didn't Mickey was sure to come in and see them together and she didn't even want to imagine the hurt he'd feel. He was a good lad, honest and always giving it his best, but he just did not get that no matter what Rose said, she was completely and utterly in love with the Doctor and always would be... a mother knows.
Jackie looked at the picture again and smiled. When the Doctor had first come along and stolen Rose away she had been furious. In fact, on more than one occasion she had even slapped the man out of his senses, but things were different now. She had grown used to him and the lifestyle that came with him. His quirks and constant affiliation with danger that had once floored her into a heart attack now only startled and surprised her slightly. She guessed she was as accustomed to him as he'd ever allow her to be. It was nice to think she knew the Doctor well enough to believe that he'd never let anything happen to Rose. At the very least not intentionally. Of course why would he let anything happen to her? He was just as in love with her as she was with him and no one would convince her otherwise... two minutes till eight. Jackie sighed and took another sip of her coffee, letting the picture flop back onto the table. Perhaps she would ask the Doctor what was on his mind. It never hurt to ask and it might turn out that he needed to talk about it. If the need arose she would use the picture against them, but until then... Jackie stood, taking the picture with her to the other side of the room where multiple jars of flour and sugar sat on the counter. Opening the smallest one she dumped out several packets of sugar and slid the photo inside. With Rose never home and the Doctor's rejection of 'domestic' (as Rose put it), neither of them would ever think to look there so it would be safe until needed. Satisfied that it was hidden, she then tossed the sugar packets in the trash and aimed for the two time travelers on her couch.
"Mornin'! Calling all sleepy heads!" she announced loudly and came to stand beside them. The Doctor jerked upright in an instant, knocking Rose loose and away in his blind panic. His features were filled with fear.
"DOCTOR!" Rose screeched, holding tightly to him to keep from falling off the couch. In a flash he had a hold of her and was pulling her back up, his worry now focused on her. Rose offered him a weak smile as she settled next to him, his hand remaining with her arm.
"Sorry Rose," his voice cracked from lack of use. He looked over to Jackie with a half glare, blinking against the sleep in his eyes. "What is it? What's going on?" Rose, safe and stable next to him once again, looked at her too. They looked so comical just then, both of their faces twisted up in an effort to look serious and see through the lingering cloud of sleep they'd just been pushed out of. She didn't care if she had put them on high alert, it had been worth it. She couldn't fight the grin tugging at her lips and she didn't. Her face lit up with the most brilliant smile they had ever seen.
"You two are just adorable!" she cooed in delight. The Doctor glowered fiercely at her for such a wake up call when there was no urgent reason for it while Rose cocked her head to the side in pure bafflement.
"You woke us up like that for that?" she questioned. Jackie's hands went to her hips defiantly.
"No I woke you like that because I know you don't like wakin' up, Rose Tyler... so don't you take that tone with me!" she scolded. "Like I knew the Doctor was gonna throw you in the floor," she added. The Doctor's jaw dropped in dissent.
"I did not throw her in the floor," he defended.
"Did to, I saw ya," she shot back.
"You did kinda push me off," Rose agreed. He turned his defense against her, his eyes now holding a tiny hint of betrayal.
"I did not!"
"Yes you did!" she exclaimed. "You sat up and almost tossed me in the floor!"
"ALMOST! You just said it, almost. That means I nearly did but didn't," he reasoned. "Which means I'm right and you're wrong."
"Oh you're always right," Rose snipped sarcastically, pushing her wild tresses behind her ear as she turned away. The Doctor crossed his arms triumphantly. If Rose couldn't argue with him then Jackie definitely couldn't. He'd already won this one and it had barely started. He loved arguing with Rose first thing in the morning.
"Of course I am. Why do you think I'm the one that does the thinking for the both of us?" he joked. Rose turned back to him, an expression of laughter and disapproval mixing on her face.
"Cheeky," she smirked. Jackie just watched them with interest. Moments like these made her think of herself and Pete as a young couple, before Pete had played around with other girls and died. Of course the Doctor had already tortured Rose with his own version of those (dying first and then messing around with other girls later) but it didn't seem to affect them now. Rose seemed happy with him as he was and he the same with her.
"Ah but that's what you love about me," he smiled back, quirking his eyebrows flirtaously. If Jackie wasn't mistaken she could've swore she saw Rose blush just then.
"Yeah you're right," she laughed, leaning forward in her own flirtaous manner. For a second they just grinned at each other before the Doctor once more turned to face Jackie.
"So there's no danger then? Just enjoy watching us squirm?" he asked. She smiled and crossed her arms.
"You make it sound like a bad thing."
"Well technically it is. We're always on alert, you know that. Could've given us both a heart attack, well... gave me two seeing as I have two hearts… or would that be 3 heart attacks counting Rose's?" he chattered aimlessly. "We'll let it slide this time," he added more directly. Rose chuckled as she got up and headed toward the hallway.
"You're so generous," Jackie mocked. She too then turned to leave him.
"Is that tea I smell?" the Doctor piped. Nimbly he got to his feet and followed her into the kitchen, an enormous smile taking over his face despite the pain this action caused. He had almost forgotten he was wounded until then, but tea was worth it. Perhaps it was a side effect of his regeneration gone wrong but he positively worshipped tea, especially Jackie's... though Rose's was a very close second. Every time he'd get sick or injured or simply felt low Rose would fix him up a nice pot of it and they'd sit in the console room telling stories and reminiscing of past travels. Sometimes he couldn't decide what he liked more about that, being with Rose or sharing a moment of normality with someone who was just as non-normal as he was. By way of an answer Jackie handed him a mug and went to get the steaming pot off the stove. He smiled brilliantly at her, bouncing about like a child who was about to receive candy. She came back with the hot kettle in tow, a green towel wrapped around the handle so she wouldn't burn herself. She reached to hold onto his mug.
"Hold still, I can't pour it if you're movin' like that!" she snapped and he instantly quit bouncing. She filled his mug only half way, knowing it would take him a while to get through it since it was so hot.
"Mum! Where are the towels?" Rose's voice echoed from nowhere. The Doctor glanced to the doorway and sipped his scalding tea gently. He had halfway expected her to be standing there, but no one was around other than Jackie.
"They're in the spare room!" Jackie yelled back, settling the pot back on the oven top. The Doctor looked back at the doorway when clanging responded. "On the bed!" Jackie added.
"I don't see them!"
"Honestly! What do you need a towel for?" she demanded, sitting down at the table and her abandoned cup of coffee. The Doctor remained standing for the sake of his chest, silently listening to their loud conversation. Jackie seemed to prefer yelling from one end of the flat to the other than to talk face to face.
"I want to take a shower but there aren't any towels in the water closet!" Rose replied. Jackie's face scrunched up in confusion.
"But I put some in there yesterday! Did you check--"
"There aren't any in there!" Rose cut in sharply. "I just need a fresh towel, mum," she continued, her voice getting louder and softer at the same time. The Doctor turned as she came into the room. Thankfully she hadn't started to get undressed and was still in her rumpled pajamas. The Doctor sipped at his tea, quietly standing by the wall and watching them.
"But I know I put some clean ones in there... I washed the extra ones from storage Thursday and put them on the guest bed, but did you check the closet in the bathroom for the regular ones?" she asked. Rose's hand involuntarily found its way to her hip.
"No. That's only the first place a reasonable person would look," she retorted smoothly, sounding as though she were agreeing to be stupid. The Doctor smiled at her nearly perfected sarcasm. He'd been getting to arguments with her for weeks now, attempting to teach her his flawless method of insulting someone without them realizing they were insulted; and it seemed to be paying off. Jackie, however, saw straight through it and glared at her daughter.
"They're next to the basket of things to be ironed... on the left." Rose perked an eyebrow at her in irritation. "Oh I'll show you!" she finally barked and shoved away from the table. "Sugar's on the counter," she tossed over her shoulder as she moved toward Rose.
"That's alright; I prefer it pure this morning."
"Suit yourself," she shrugged and shoved Rose the rest of the way out of the room. He listened to them bicker their way down the hall and smiled to himself. Just like old times, back when he'd first met her... only Jackie wasn't hitting on him. He wondered why vaguely. Rose clearly preferred his tenth form in appearance so why not her mother? He headed out of the kitchen as he thought. Jackie had clearly liked his ninth form and yet said nothing of his tenth... or maybe she did and he was unconscious when it happened. He paused in the family room, looking about at the things he'd seen so many times before. The old television, the tattered couch with sheets wrapped around it, the potted plants... all very domestic and all growing on him rather unwelcomely. It wasn't like he wanted Jackie to find him attractive. Honestly he didn't care, but he was curious as to why she didn't show a reaction. He wandered to the front door and aimlessly held it open to the morning breeze. Not too cool and not too warm with just a sprinkle of water in the air. It was going to rain probably. That was more than likely why the normally bustling street they lived on was now moving at a crawl. Everyone seemed to be locked up in bed, where he would have preferred to stay if he'd had the choice. He sighed, grunting at the tinge of pain he felt in his chest as shoved one hand into the pockets of his pajamas. All at once the thought hit him: Rose had probably prevented her mother from saying anything! Of course! It made perfect sense. Rose was terribly selfish with him and lately he'd only made it worse by flaunting in her face that he could have other women if he wanted them. Any loving mother would keep herself in check under those conditions. He felt another tinge of pain as he thought about it. He'd really hurt her. In his attempts to free himself from the fear and anticipation of losing her or finding out she didn't return his feelings, he had done the worst possible thing he could do, he rejected her. Now that by itself could've been mended but his rejection had almost cost him her friendship, companionship and worse, any chance of more. Luckily he underestimated her and they were still together, though as what he couldn't be sure. The kiss from last night could've meant what he wanted it to mean, it could've meant what he'd been bleeding for it to mean... it could've meant that she wanted him too. He replayed the kiss in his mind. Not the best, but thrilling all the same. If only it were real, if only it was included in her declaration the night before about how those were her true feelings pulled from obscurity. That damn chip... if he ever got a hold on whoever put it on her he'd kill them.
"What you doin out here?" He turned to see Jackie come up beside him and smiled.
"Just thinking," he answered and sipped at his tea. "Thanks for this by the way." He held out his mug and smiled at her. She instinctively saw through that ill made mask he'd thrown up because it was the same one she watched him create hundreds of times when Rose came home. It was shielding others from seeing his pain, from knowing he really was humanoid.
"You're welcome," she muttered. Together they faced the street, uncertain of where to go from there. They hadn't really had many conversations and almost all of them involved Rose in some way or another. Inevitably it returned to that. "She's in the shower now."
"Found a clean towel?"
"Yeah." Jackie crossed her arms against the breeze. "Had to get one outta the guest room... sorry you couldn't have it last night."
"S'alright. Made it along fine on the couch," he replied solemnly.
"I'm sure you did what with Rose all snuggled up into ya," she smiled and when he made no move to smile back she added, "but see, funny thing. When I found you two this morning you didn't look fine. You looked serious... almost sad like. Almost as if somethin were on your mind?" He looked to her, distant eyes unwavering from her sympathetic ones as he held his tea against his chest for the warmth. She was asking him a question without pretending she didn't already know the answer, without pretending she didn't care. What was she up to? Why did she look so open to anything he might say?
"I've been told I look like that when I'm sleeping," he responded flatly, eyes returning to the road. Hers however stayed glued to him, scanning every crease in his face with painstaking maternal intuition.
"I've seen you when you sleep Doctor. I've sat at your bedside and watched over you until I couldn't watch a single thing more and that is not how you look when you sleep," she retorted softly. "What were you thinking about just now? What in the world could be worth such sadness?" He didn't answer her, just watched the cars whiz by without any real interest. She wasn't sure what to say next or what to do if anything. He was just standing there acting like nothing had been said at all with his hair flying about in the wind. She only wondered for a second if he'd even heard her.
"Rose."
"What?" she questioned, face curling up in confusion. He looked at her exasperated, the mask of indifference quickly slipping away as he agreed to share the thoughts that had been tormenting him for months.
"Rose. I was thinking about Rose," he snapped.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't really expect you to answer I guess," she muttered innocently. His lips twitched guiltily and he averted his eyes. "What about Rose? Is she well? Did that chip do something to her? Is she sad?"
"I don't know..."
"What do you mean you don't know?" she cried frightened.
"No no. She's fine... I just don't know if she's happy... with me," he explained. "I mean she goes wherever I go, she does whatever I ask of her and she lives on the brink of insanity every day of her life when she doesn't have to. I mean she's all but declared that she wants me to show her everything and tell her how! But... is it what she wants? Is she truly happy with that sort of life or is she doing it to protect me?"
"Protect you from what? Seems like you do most of the protectin'."
"From loneliness I suppose..."
"Ah, I see. Big mister time lord actually considers someone else's feelings for a change and still gets to think about himself?" she taunted and he glared at her for turning his fears into a joke. "Listen, I know my Rose, Doctor. There's a lot of things she would do to make someone happy and giving up her life... it isn't one of them." His scowl dropped away, giving in to a blank stare of astonishment. "I mean think about it really. Why would Rose uproot her entire life just to keep you from feeling lonesome?"
"I - I don't know," he frowned, lower lip extending in a genuine pout. Jackie Tyler, the most annoying and busybodiest human he'd ever had the honor of meeting had just presented him with a real question, one he hadn't even thought of!
"Because she wants to," she warmly pointed out, grinning kindly at him. "Now why would she be sad if she's doing something she wants to do?... You see, that's why I don't try to stop her. She's grown; she knows what makes her happy and what doesn't. Even if it hurts me I know she's happier with you and that in itself makes me happy. Its how life moves on Doctor, I'm surprised you didn't know that."
"Me too," he retorted grumpily and took a big swallow of his tea. How had he not considered that? Of all the times he had thought about it, studied Rose's reactions, and added things up, how had he never looked at it that way? "I just don't know if I can do it."
"Do what?"
"Let life move on when I know where it's going to end up..."
"I'm gonna choose to ignore what you could be saying..." she whimpered and he half grinned. Poor Jackie hated to think of the end, to think of not having Rose or of dying and who could blame her? She was happy with what she had.
"Sorry," he chuckled.
"But you can't know for sure where anything'll end up, can you? I mean even if you have a time machine... you could always go back and accidentally change things to where you never met Rose in the first place and then this wouldn't even be a problem." She didn't know how wrong she was, that it was always the same for every one of his companions. They wither and die and he's left alone again. Rose was different but she simply could not be that different. He was still left with a problem - could he let his feelings for Rose actually exist if it meant they would possibly kill her in the future and mean even greater heart ache for him? It wasn't a risk he was tempted to make.
"How exactly did you get to know so much?" he asked smiling.
"Just trust me. You've got all of time and space before you and you don't want to live it with regrets. Rose obviously doesn't or she never woulda jumped onto that crazy ship of yours!"
"Tardis, it has a name. Tardis. Call it the Tardis," he groaned. Jackie's jaw dropped in complete bafflement. Here she was trying to help the Doctor and in the process help Rose, and all he could do was nit pick at her! She knew the name of the damn thing and she didn't need him correcting her.
"Fine! The bleeding Tardis! Ya happy?" she whined, tossing her hands in the air and heading back into the flat. "See if I ever try to help you again," she muttered angrily. The Doctor smiled gloriously to himself. She really was a great woman under her mouthy exterior. She'd probably never know how much peace of mind she'd just given him or how content he felt with just being there. The fact that she had reached out to him, to help him even when he didn't want her help... well it meant a lot to him. And though he still questioned what exactly he felt for Rose and what it meant to them, he now understood where he'd gotten lost. Somewhere along the way he had drowned in his own worries. Things like how does she feel, is she happy, is he getting too close to her, is he becoming domestic, they had all consumed him. Suddenly all he could see was worry and choices weren't as clear. It was no wonder he had invited Mickey to travel with them as a way of distraction and even less of a wonder that he had allowed himself feelings for the Madame de Pompadour in the belief that she could erase his feelings for Rose. He knew better than that now. Even when he was alone with the woman he had tried to love instead all he could think of was his Rose and how deserted he felt without her. He had stopped seeing the beauty of life in an instant and started feeling the pull of sadness from a future that had yet to even happen.
"Yes I am happy," he called after her. "And Jackie," she stopped and turned to him, "thank you for your help." With that he looked back to the street and sipped his tea. He didn't see Jackie smile happily nor did he need to. He had decided, even if Rose didn't care for him the way he cared for her or she couldn't be with him forever, he had her now and just the chance to hold her hand tightly when they walked was enough for him to risk everything. He couldn't explain it, there was just something special about that girl that drove him mad. He grinned cheekily. Rose must mean more to him than he thought she had. No one else had ever changed his entire way of thinking repeatedly just so he could protect them. Perhaps it wasn't so absurd to hope she could love him, to hope that kiss they shared was real, to hope she'd never leave him. Hoping never hurt anyone...
He eventually found himself back in the flat, standing behind the sofa while he watched the morning news with a fresh cuppa. He hadn't bothered to change into his suit yet, he was still fighting off a powerful desire to go back to sleep and not wake up in pain. Though this was no longer an option as Jackie was currently folding up his bed things to put away. The only thing consoling him was the lack of pain he'd felt so far this morning. It had become little more than a dull roar of what it had been the night before and that was good enough until he could get to the Tardis.
"Much better," Rose piped cheerily as she came in to join them. Showers were her patented way of revitalizing herself for another day and it seemed they had worked their magic yet again. She was now wearing a strikingly pink top that hung off one shoulder and old blue jeans with holes in the knees, her hair up high in a loose ponytail. He smiled at her, doing his best to avoid noticing precisely how much curve he could take in with one look. Jackie glanced up at her, mid-fold.
"What you all dressed up for?" she questioned.
"Carnival today with Mickey, remember? You suggested it," replied Rose. Jackie paused to recall the conversation in question and nodded approvingly when she did.
"So I did! You two need to have some fun!" she muttered and dropped a pillow on top of the stack of sheets she had created on the coffee table. "After the week you've had." Finally finished with the sheets and blankets that had been the Doctor's bed she began to fluff up the couch cushions.
"What you all dressed up for?" Rose shot back.
"Work. Gotta actually do some if I plan to pay rent," she grumbled. "But you wouldn't understand that. You two don't even have jobs!" The Doctor grinned goofily over the rim of his mug at Rose and she grinned back knowingly at him. If Jackie knew the true amount of work they did in a day she might decided drop dead from sympathy exhaustion.
"Unless you count saving the world," corrected the Doctor. Jackie looked back at him, gripping a couch cushion dangerously as she glared.
"And I don't!" she snapped, tossing it back onto the couch. She didn't need to be reminded of the hazards Rose encountered while away from home. She'd gotten first hand glimpses of it more often than she wanted... on several occasions. Rose laughed and walked over to the coffee table to pick up the pile.
"Here, I'll put these up, oh laborious one," she said, intentionally trying to harass the anger from her mother. It'd been two years since she'd chosen a life with the Doctor and still, it was their touchiest topic to date.
"What d'you mean by that? Don't think I don't know what laborious means!" Jackie growled as Rose headed to the hall closet with the heap of fabric. "I had to go through it the day you were born and every day since!" she shrilled, hands on her hips defiantly. Comments like those were making her believe Rose was getting too big for her britches and needed a reality check. Which she would gladly have given had the telephone not just started to ring so distractingly. As she rushed off to answer it Rose came back in, stopping at the doorway, her hands in her back pockets.
"What?" asked the Doctor, uncertain about the soft smile on her face.
"You should probably go get changed," she replied.
"Why? You don't like me in my jimjams?" he flirted.
"No," she blushed, "that's not it. It's just... Mickey's going to be over soon."
"Mickey doesn't like me in my jimjams?" he repeated hurt. Rose laughed at him.
"Just go change!" she cried out, gesturing toward the bathroom. Jackie reentered the room, a hunk of plastic with an antenna stuck to her ear as she flittered between them.
"I know Bev! I'm on mah way... Yeah... Just trying to get things settled here," she chattered. The Doctor looked at Rose intently over her mother.
"Don't have to tell me twice," he blanched. He always did dislike the gossipy, chicken like mannerisms Jackie normally displayed and he always would, no matter how benevolent she acted. It was exactly that kind of small minded behavior that would lead the world to its end if it weren't for people like him and Rose. In fact, people like Jackie probably wouldn't even notice until their phones went dead. He set down his mug on the coffee table and grabbed his suit and shoes to take with him. Rose grinned as he passed her. It was her fond way of saying thank you when he conceded to doing things her way without arguing; it was definitely something that went on just between them. Though when she thought on it, there were a lot of things that went on just between them.
"Rose would you please help me clean up? Howard's coming over tonight and -- I know Bev... I'm talking to Rose!... I'm coming!" Jackie cried into the phone. Rose picked up some old magazines from the living room table as asked, watching her mother argue helplessly. "Alright! I'm on mah way!" she finally snapped and hung up the phone. "That was Bev. Says if I'm late one more time I won't have anything to be late to..." she informed as she grabbed the things she had collected earlier. "But what was I saying? Oh yeah, what am I supposed to say to my boss if I were to get there late? Sorry I'm late coming off of my vacation but my daughter was back from time/space for a visit and I wanted to make sure I spent time with her because she may not come back again?" she added, pulling on her coat. "I think I know better than to be late!"
"Mum..."
"Oh I know! You're going to come back, but you aren't sure of that and that last time with the Tardis... well Mickey and I both thought you were dead!" She flung the door open, snatching her pocketbook and keys from the small table next to it. "But I love ya and please don't leave without at least calling me," she begged. Behind her Mickey appeared in the doorway and smiled lightly.
"I won't mum, promise this time," Rose nodded. Jackie blew her a kiss and headed out the door.
"Morning Mickey!"
"Morning Jackie," he laughed as she rushed by and he came into the flat. He closed the door. "And good morning to you, Rose," he grinned. She came toward him for a quick kiss before letting him take off his coat. "Cold out there," he shivered and she giggled. "What you up to?"
"Just cleaning up. Mum says Howard's coming over tonight, I guess she wants me to meet him or something," she answered and took the magazines into the kitchen to throw away.
"Need some help?" he called to her.
"Yeah, that'd be great," she called back. Instinctively he went to clear the dishes off the coffee table where there was a freshly used mug, two not so fresh ones, and a paper plate covered in what looked like pie. Rose came back and started to straighten the curtains and potted plants that had been knocked askew at some point during the week. In their wake were several clumps of potting soil so she grabbed a dustpan and broom.
"So where were you last night?" Mickey asked from the kitchen door.
"What d'you mean?" she grunted, bent over the carpet. He knelt on his haunches at her feet and held the dustpan for her. She was really kind of surprised at how good of a mood he was in. Normally he came over sulking, but today his voice carried everything as though it was a joke and it was reminiscent of what she'd fallen in love with before.
"Well you weren't at my place so I figured you must've had something better to do," he shrugged. Rose paused, looking at him intently as she thought.
"Oh my god! I was supposed to go over to your place! Mickey I'm so sorry!" she whimpered. Again he shrugged, taking the broom from her hand and finishing up with the pile of dirt she'd created.
"S'alright. Figured you were safe and probably off with the Doctor somewhere," he retorted. She was sure he had no idea how much that statement had just stung her or else he wouldn't have said it. It felt like someone had just slapped her smartly on the back or kicked the wind out of her. He wasn't worried about her at all. He hadn't even tried to call when she didn't show up, he'd just expected her not to show and that was what hurt the most. Lifting the dustpan he carried it carefully into the kitchen with her hot on his heels.
"It wasn't that Mickey... if it hadn't been for this chip the Doctor found I would've been there," she assured. He tossed the dirt in the trash and headed to put away the dustpan.
"What chip?" he asked curiously. She split from him and ran over to the Doctor's trench coat draped across the recliner to dig through its pockets. He came to stand behind her.
"This little chip," she started and finally producing the metal square dropped it into his hand, "was attached to my head. It was supposed to be like controlling my emotions or something of the sort... The Doctor explained it all last night, but I was bit out of it needless to say."
"So... this little thing was what was making you act so bizarre?" he teased. Shocked into laughter she swatted at him playfully before admitting:
"Yeah."
"I knew something was up," he said triumphantly, "I knew I knew you better than that! I was beginning to think you'd been taken over or something, what with the way you were acting. I even started to carry around pickle juice everywhere I went," he laughed. She beamed at his reference to the slitheens that had caused them so much trouble before. He seemed to really have gotten the hang of all this alien stuff at last.
"Mum had no clue," she giggled.
"Does she normally?" he replied and they both laughed.
"Does who normally?" queried the Doctor as he entered the room. He was now in his striped suit again, his converse all stars tied up nicely and his hair brushed. Rose smiled at him to hide her interest in how he looked while Mickey's joke still lingered on her face.
"Oh we were just talking about how Rose's mum normally hasn't a clue," Mickey replied simply and both men burst into laughter.
"Hey hey! Come on now, be nice... both of ya!" she scolded, her grin getting wider in spite of her efforts. She was her mum after all and someone had to defend her. The Doctor's face quickly altered to apologetic and seriousness, making Rose and Mickey giggled harder.
"So -- so now that the chip's off of you, does it have any side effects?" Mickey tittered, calming himself enough to hand the chip back to Rose. Te Doctor crossed his arms and rocked backward in thought, cringing when his chest protested.
"There shouldn't be... but we'll know better once we've had a chance to scan the bugger," he said wickedly, eyeing the chip with an evil glint in his eye that Rose identified as calculate mayhem... his specialty.
"When are you going to do that?" Mickey wondered.
"Now if ya like," was the indifferent answer.
"Hold it! Not that I don't want to know what was going on in my own head, but... the carnival," she reminded them. The last thing she needed was to forget about Mickey again for something with the Doctor. So long as the chip wasn't hurting anyone, it could wait if Mickey wanted her attention then.
"Oh. It stormed pretty bad last night and since they were calling for more today the park closed," replied Mickey, brushing it off as efficiently as Rose always did with him. "Besides, I'm kinda interested in this chip thing and how much of a zombie you actually were while you were here," he added.
"No more than the rest of you," commented the Doctor smugly. "So it's settled then? Off to the Tardis!" he announced, pointing ahead as he walked toward the door. Rose and Mickey grabbed hands, smiling happily as they followed him out of the flat and across the concrete courtyard.
"I was kind of counting on doing something on my last day home," Rose pouted to Mickey as they walked. He grinned at her, glancing at the Doctor's back and then to her again. He loved the idea of just the two of them, knowing that it would grate the Doctor's nerves if they went, but also knew how much Rose loved the Doctor's company.
"We could always do breakfast or something, ya know, after we look at the chip," he suggested. "The Doctor can even come if he likes."
"Well Mickey! Never did I think I'd see the day where you'd wish to dine with me!" piped the Doctor cheerily. "Maybe we'll leave Rose behind?" he added, turning to walk backward. When her jaw dropped with hurt he grinned the grin he reserved especially for her, the one that held fondness and wanting and loyalty that he'd never show anyone else as long as she was alive. It seemed to do the trick because she stuck out her tongue to show him her dislike of his joke and then smiled back. "Settled then. Breakfast! After I get fixed up and we scan that chip," he said, turning back to walk right. Inwardly Rose felt like glowing with happiness despite her leftover exhaustion. Things were finally getting back to normal for her and the Doctor. Sure he was still wounded and she was still tired, but essentially they had gotten past his lies, gotten rid of the manipulator chip, and reconciled most of her chaotic emotions nicely. She had expressed her attachment to him, he had returned it. She had spoken of her fear, he had dismissed it. She had fixed him up, asking minimal questions about his mystery trip and he had let her. She still wanted to know more about this Correll person and what dangerous games they had been playing for the Doctor to be so seriously wounded and the Tardis to look so sad. And she wanted to know why he had deemed the mission too risky for her and yet not told her so flat out. He did plenty of things he didn't want her doing, but every other time he'd told her about them. Most of all, she was elated with his response to the kiss she'd given him in the dark of her room last night. He had graciously let it drop, not even hinting at it with a raised brow, but how long could that last before he started questioning her on it? How long could she really go without hearing "so, about that kiss" in some cramped corner where she couldn't get away? He loved to tease her on things like this so she suspected it wouldn't be much longer. He'd probably wait until they were alone again on the Tardis and she had to depend on him for everything like before. Heaven knew she was dreading it already, the very thought making her nerves raw with premature anxiety. Maybe that was why he hadn't said anything. Maybe he thought it'd be more fun to watch her writhe... or maybe... The thought was more heartbreaking than if he'd yelled at her. What if he hadn't liked it all and wasn't even amused with her display? What if she had put him off completely by shoving herself on him? What did it even mean? Why did she do it and why did it even matter how he felt about it? He'd already said that it wasn't her, it was the chip, and if she needed to she could say that it actually had been the chip, but... would he believe her? Would she believe herself? She gripped Mickey's hand to ground herself. She could feel her good mood slowly slipping away.
The Tardis rumbled happily when Rose set foot on the grated floor. A grand feeling of being welcomed home flooded her and her good mood was strengthened. Ever since she had shared a soul with the Tardis it had been much more affectionate with her. Even Mickey took note of it as he smiled at her. "Good ole Tardis," she whispered with a grin and lightly touched the wall next to her. Meanwhile the Doctor was racing about the console room, his face twisted up in irritation.
"Where is the blasted thing!" he barked. His eyes rove to meet hers and she unconsciously let Mickey's hand drop.
"What?" she innocently questioned. He began digging through the pockets in his suit and coat…
"The sonic screwdriver... You and I were the last ones in here. Do you -- oh lookit! I've been searching for this for ages!" he suddenly cheered, pulling out a small book.
"What is it?" she asked, eyeing it as he laid it on the console disinterested.
"It's an instruction manual for the screwdriver! s'kinda pointless now though seeing as I've changed the thing so much," he replied, still digging. Mickey lifted the novel. "AH! I remember, my bedroom!" he wailed, taking off at a run for the screwdriver. Rose's laughter filled the room only to die out into a comfortable silence as she and Mickey awaited his return. Moments later he came bouncing back in to stand beside her, smiling like no tomorrow.
"Well don't you look happy?" she grinned.
"Course I am. I'm all better now, no more nasty cuts to clean," he answered playfully and leaned in closer, a curious look in his eye. It was almost like the first time he'd looked at her through those eyes, thrilling.
"So you're all better then?" she asked jubilantly and whacked his chest with the back of her hand. He stopped himself from doubling over, but his face twisted up in agony. "Oh my god! You aren't better! I just hit your wound didn't I?" she screeched, jerking round to grip his arms.
"Wound? What wound?" Mickey whined in response as he too had come to the rescue, dropping the screwdriver's instruction manual. The Doctor took several steadying breaths and swallowed hard before he righted himself, refusing either of their aid. Whatever look of sorrow Rose's face held right at that moment she deserved, he thought bitterly.
"He got this -- gash on his chest and it was bleeding horribly yesterday," Rose's voice quivered.
"Yesterday? Are you alright? Is he alright? Why wasn't I invited along on the mission?" Both time travelers stopped and stared at him confused.
"You would want to go wherever it was he got cut up?" Rose asked dumbfounded. Mickey shrugged defensively. "Well anyway, he didn't get it here. Got it when he was on his own," she explained vehemently, the regret for hitting him subsiding. The Doctor locked eyes with her sternly, the last bits of pain fading as he took more shallow breaths.
"Before you hit me - I was going to say 'not completely'. I'm not completely healed!" he said. He then lifted up his shirts and suit jacket to reveal a decent string of bruises where his laceration had been. "The sonic screwdriver did what it can, but because I let it go for so long its going to be bruised for a couple of days," he added, quirking an eyebrow at her.
"Oh yeah, blame it on me," she said tartly, hands on her hips. "Why didn't it heal you completely? I thought it was good for everything?"
"Well it's not a nanogene, Rose. It can't do EVERYTHING no matter how many functions I program it with. But its good enough," he returned, jerking his shirts down and then whimpering at the pain it caused. Rose giggled and their row was over.
A/N: also check out the song "Murderer" by Rihanna. It's the perfect theme for Mickey and Rose. Mickey will be missed! I might not have enjoyed him as Rose's boyfriend but I liked him:( Oh well, we may see him again. AND two songs that just suit Rose/Dr would be Tarzan's "strangers like me" and Aladdin's "a whole new world"... just thought you might wanna know... please remember to review if you liked it cause if people don't like it, it will go away :(