Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who

Chapter 3

As Rose went down to breakfast that day, she was expecting it to be a day like any other. She realised later, that where the Doctor was concerned, you should always expect the unexpected.

When she entered the kitchen, her parents and Mickey were already there. As she sat at the table, her mum pushed a bowl of cornflakes towards her, saying, "There you are sweetheart. Get that down you."

The TV had been on in the background up until now, but as they were sitting eating, a special news report flashed on the screen, "Oi, Mickey, turn that up." Rose asked, nodding toward the TV. Mickey complied, and the group sat, listening to what the newsreader was saying.

"We interrupt the regular news programme with some breaking news just in. There have been reports of an alien spaceship crash-landing in the centre of London at 7.08AM this morning. These reports have not yet been confirmed as to whether the so-called "space ship" is actually extra-terrestrial, or a hoax. Nevertheless, we do have some footage of the crash that was taken from the blimp of a local millionaire. And here it is.

The group watched attentively at the screen, and as they watched, a 1960's blue police box materialised into existence in the sky above London and plummeted down on the city centre. It crashed into one of the towers on Tower Bridge, ricocheting off and hitting the ground in the middle of the bridge. There it lay, on its side, its light still flashing as the people from the early morning traffic got out of their cars and went to look at the strange blue box lying in the road.

At the Tyler household, they stared at the now-frozen picture of the TARDIS. Rose could scarcely believe her eyes, it was the Doctor, her Doctor. He had found a way back to her!

Suddenly, her heart was gripped by fear, what if it wasn't her Doctor? What if it was the Doctor from this dimension? Rose couldn't bear to think that it could be a different doctor, one who didn't know her.

She was dragged from her thoughts however, by Mickey saying, "Well, he hasn't got any better at driving that thing has he?" He looked nervous though, and she could tell that he was only trying to break the tense silence that had fallen on the room.

On TV, the newsreader had now started interviewing various "alien experts" who were saying that the ship being in the guise of a police box from the past was probably some sort of primitive camouflage attempt.

Jackie shook her head in disgust, "Who do them lot think they are? You're the one who should be on there Rose. You know more about aliens than they do!"

But Rose wasn't listening, she was still thinking about the Doctor, "Where is he? The TARDIS landed almost an hour ago, he should've come out by now?"

"As you said Rose, that footage was taken an hour ago. By now the TARDIS'll be surrounded by soldiers. Not to mention the media." Pete pointed out.

Rose shook her head, still staring at the screen, "That wouldn't have stopped him."

However, their conversation was interrupted by the newsreader saying urgently, "We're just getting a report saying that the door of the ship has opened, we do have a reporter at the scene."

The scene flicked back to the TARDIS (which had now been hauled into an upright position) on the bridge. As Pete had predicted, armed soldiers, as well as police officers (who were trying to hold back the media) now surrounded it. However, despite being behind a barrier, the TV reporters had managed to get a good view of the blue box, and they could clearly see that the door was indeed open. Rose and her family watched with baited breath as a figure staggered out unsteadily, the door of the TARDIS swinging shut behind him.

The soldiers all had their guns trained on him in second, and the camera zoomed in slightly, meaning the audience watching on TV could see the figure clearly. But only a few people in this world would recognise this man. It was the Doctor.

On seeing the Doctor for the first time in months, Rose had to bite back a cry of shock. He looked awful. His face was pale and gaunt, with dark circles around his eyes. He had a large gash just above his left eye, which was bleeding profusely down his face and was surrounded by a massive purple and black bruise. He also had a thin scar that stretched the whole way down the right side of his face, from his temple to his jaw. The Doctor only had his trench coat over his shirt, no jacket or tie. This meant that the group could quite easily see the bloodstains on his white shirt, as well as how thin he'd become. He was definitely a lot thinner than Rose remembered; his clothes that once fitted him now hung loosely off him. However, what worried Rose the most was his eyes. Usually bright and sparkling with life, they were empty and slightly unfocused. Probably meaning he had a concussion from the wound on his head.

The officer in charge of the soldiers had begun to bark orders and questions at the Doctor. But the Doctor didn't seem aware of this; he merely stood there, not looking very steady on his feet. He gazed around at the shouting crowds, though his eyes didn't look like they were really seeing anything at all.

He swayed slightly where he stood, and began in a voice that sounded rusty with disuse, "I— I'm –I'm looking for Rose." Then his glazed eyes rolled up into his head and he fell to the floor, unconscious.

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Thank you to all my lovely reviewers so far! There you go, another chapter! So… please review and tell me what you think, reviews make me update even quicker, honest! Also, if you review, I'll give you… cookies! So if you want a cookie, you know what to do… (Sorry guys I'm a little hyper right now…)