It Could Be Worse

By Sonic Jules

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Previously, in chapter one...

The Doctor stared at Rose for a moment, seeing for himself that she was unharmed, then lowered his hands and looked above them. "Whatever it was happened when I was tryin' to take us into the Vortex. Must've been a short of some kind, but I'll have it sorted in no time."

"So we're stuck here? On Earth? In 1987?" Rose asked, her tone slightly alarmed.

"Momentarily. But I can fix whatever's happened." He looked her over carefully. "You sure you're all right?"

Suddenly the excitement seemed to be over and Rose felt uncomfortable again. She nodded, looking away from him.

"Good. Why don't you go have that lie down and I'll repair whatever's gone wrong with the TARDIS." The Doctor turned and walked back toward the console room, leaving Rose feeling dismissed. She walked toward her room, refusing the emotions that tried to surface.

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Chapter Two:

Problems

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Rose wandered the halls of the TARDIS a bit absently, thinking about all the havoc she'd caused, nearly destroying her own world with her one single wish. She'd been selfish in his eyes - the Time Lord didn't understand that she hadn't meant for everything to happen as it had. His words were haunting her - Rose wasn't sure he believed her when she'd assured him that she didn't board the ship with the sole intention of saving her dad. He'd told her she'd gotten what she wanted when he'd left Pete's flat; when he'd left her.

Rose wouldn't blame the Doctor if, once he got the TARDIS working again, their next trip would be to take her home. When the thought struck her, tears began stinging her eyes. Perhaps instead of lying down she'd pack her things and make it easier on him. It was the least she could do after nearly ruining everything, and she honestly believed she deserved no less.

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Rose continued walking, but after a half an hour she found herself back in the console room, watching the Doctor as he stared at the center console, looking deep in concentration as one hand held the sonic screwdriver and the other scratched at his scalp absently.

"I thought you'd be asleep by now," he said, still looking toward the column.

Rose wasn't surprised by his acknowledgement of her presence. Of course he'd known as soon as she'd entered.

"I can't find my room."

Her words caused him to turn his head sharply, giving his traveling companion an odd look. "What d'you mean, can't find it? Did you hit your head earlier?"

"What? No!" Rose replied a bit indignantly. "I've been walkin' the corridors this whole time. I can't find it."

The Time Lord casually stepped toward her, still looking at her suspiciously, then suddenly smiled and held his hand out to her. "I suppose we'd better go find it, then."

Rose took his hand and let him lead her down the hallway.

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Fifteen minutes later and the Doctor was scratching his head again, looking up and down the corridor.

Rose couldn't help the small smirk that quirked her lips. He hadn't been able to find her room, either. Still, she didn't verbalize that fact.

"Whatever's wrong with the ship must be affecting the TARDIS's rearrangin' of rooms." He looked down at Rose. "Not to worry, though. Once I work on the ship - uninterrupted - that'll be fixed, too. Come on," he continued, grabbing her hand again and leading her toward the console room. "You can stretch out across the jump seat."

The Time Lord released her hand once more as they crossed the threshold, walking straight up to the center console, but a moment later he turned back to look at Rose, who was still standing where he'd left her.

"What's the matter? Can't find your way to the jump seat now?" he asked smugly.

She ignored his question, walking over beside him instead. "Do you need some help?" she offered sincerely.

The Doctor looked at her, clearly contemplating her offer, while Rose leaned forward, resting her hands on the console.

As soon as her fingertips touched the cool metal, Rose knew something was off. She did not feel the welcoming vibration beneath her touch. Instead, a zap of electricity shot up from the console and literally surrounded her small frame before she was thrown, landing on the floor a few feet away.

The Time Lord heard the popping, crackling noises emanating from within the heart of his ship before he saw the sparks of electricity emerge from the time rotor, literally shoving his companion away from it.　

"Rose!"　

He was beside her instantly, surprised to find her still conscious, though dazed. "Rose! What did you do? What did you touch?" he asked with conviction as if she'd surely done something wrong. "Are you hurt? Did you get burned?"

"No, no ... I don't think so." She raised her hands up and looked at her palms, but they were unmarred. "I don't think I touched anythin' I wasn't s'posed to."

The Time Lord helped Rose to stand, looking at her hands himself to be sure they weren't burned. He pulled out the sonic screwdriver and quickly ran it up and down her frame, studying the instrument carefully before clicking it off. "Yep, everythin' seems to be like it should."　

He turned away from her then, walking over to the console and lowering his hands toward one of the panels.　

"Doctor! Don't!" Rose yelled from behind him, her worry sounding clearly. Of course he ignored her. He laid his hands down flat upon it.

Nothing happened.

The Time Lord turned and looked at his companion oddly for a moment, then suddenly snapped his fingers. "Of course!" he began excitedly. "There's nothin' wrong with the ship - it's you!"　

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To be continued...

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