It Could Be Worse

By Sonic Jules

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Previously, in chapter two...

The Time Lord helped Rose to stand up, 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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Chapter Three:

Confusion and Worry

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Rose stared at the Doctor for a moment. "What's that mean, it's me?"

"For some reason the TARDIS doesn't seem to want you here," he replied, a questioning glint in his eyes as he looked around the room, silently contemplating his own words.

Rose stepped near the console, looking crestfallen. "But why? What'd I do to her? If I did anythin' to upset her I didn't mean to," she finished quietly, her words sounding apologetic. She lowered her palm absently toward one of the levers.

The Doctor moved swiftly, grabbing her arm a bit harshly as he lifted her hand away from the controls. "Don't touch it!" he said gruffly.

"But I -"

"No buts. It's obvious she doesn't want to cause you harm, otherwise you'd be dead right now. But if you keep pushin' yourself on her she may not have a choice. Don't. Touch. The. Console."

Rose practically growled. "You're treatin' me like a two year old! 'Don't touch the baby. Don't touch the console.' Next you'll be sendin' me to my room. Oh wait - you can't do that because we can't find it!" She finished her rant with a wave of her arms in the air, pulling herself free from his hold.

The Doctor closed his eyes for a moment as if trying to regain a bit of calm within. Sighing, he opened them again and looked at her. "Rose, whatever's the matter, I can fix it. Gettin' upset isn't gonna help."

"Yeah? Well what am I s'posed to be doin' in the meantime? My room's gone missin', I can't touch the anythin' ..." Rose's words faded off as she looked at the Time Lord, her anger replaced with sadness. "I thought the ship liked me."

"She does," the Time Lord replied instantly with conviction, leading her over to the jump seat. When they sat down he took her hand in his. "The TARDIS has liked you since the first time you stepped on board. I know it for a fact, so don't you be thinkin' otherwise. There's just somethin' off about her at the moment, but I'll get it sorted - always do. I tell you what, why don't you rest here for a spell while I work on figurin' it out?"

Rose sighed then nodded with agreement. "Yeah, all right. I am feelin' a little knackered."

"Exhausted's more like it, I'd say." The Doctor released her hand then stood up quickly and smiled down at her. He turned away from Rose and walked over to the console while she stretched her legs out in front of her and relaxed her body to conform with the bend of the chair.

When the Time Lord looked back at Rose a few minutes later, she was sound asleep. A mixture of deep concern and worry crossed his features.

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Rose awoke to the sound of the sonic screwdriver clattering on the metal grating, followed by a muffled curse of which she couldn't quite decipher the words. The tone of them, however, was enough to figure out the Doctor's aggravation.

"Hey," she said, stretching her limbs as she unraveled her crumpled form from it's awkward position. Apparently she'd laid down on the Captain's chair as best she could in slumber.

The Time Lord looked up then, obviously surprised to find her awake. "Hey," he replied back. "Good kip, then?"

"I s'pose," she answered, rubbing her neck absently. "How long was I sleepin'?"

"A few hours," he answered as he stood. The Doctor also looked as if he'd been in an uncomfortable position for a while, stretching himself as he walked over in front of her. "How're you feelin'?"

"I'm all right," Rose answered quickly. "How's the TARDIS?"

"She's good," he said, accepting Rose's unspoken invitation and sitting down beside her when she slid over to one side of the jump seat.

"So you fixed the problem?"

"Not exactly," the Time Lord answered a bit ominously, looking at the time rotor.

"What's that mean?" Rose asked, turning herself to face him.

"There's nothing wrong with her. I've checked all things relevant to our current predicament. The only thing I can figure is that she's tryin' to be rid of an anomaly on the ship."

"Somethin's on board that shouldn't be?" she asked. Suddenly wide awake, Rose stood.

"Not somethin', but someone. And -"

"There's someone else here? On the TARDIS?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nope, no stowaways. Actually, I was right all along. It's you."

"I'm the anomaly?" Rose asked, clearly surprised. "It's really me? I thought you were just saying things off the top of your head before ... at least I was hopin'." She sat back down beside him.

"I reckon it's because of you touchin' the baby an' causin' the parodox, but I can't be certain just yet." He looked at Rose, a slight sadness in his eyes. "I'm sure I can get it straightened out."

"But what if you can't?" Rose asked, at first looking down, then meeting his eyes. "What if you can't travel with me in the ship anymore? What if the only way for you to move on is to leave me here, behind?"

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To be continued...

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