A Breath Away
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Previously, in Chapter Six:
"Why don't I just meet you over there?" she asked, pulling a blue satin gown down and draping it over her front. "It'll save you the time of comin' back and gettin' me."
"No," the Doctor responded swiftly. "I don't want you wandering about alone with a murderous group on the loose that's missed out on their last few planned sacrifices."
"Yeah? Well that goes for you as well, doesn't it? You were one of the chosen too, if I'm not mistaken," she answered smartly. "B'sides, it'll still be daylight."
"Rose," he took her hands, stopping her from pulling another dress down so that she'd focus solely on him. "They're bound to be desperate now. Daylight won't matter to them." His face reflected his genuine concern and worry. "Please?"
"All right. But don't take too long, yeah?"
The Doctor bent down just enough to kiss her on the forehead, then quickly turned away, walking briskly toward the corridor. "One hour. I'll be back in one hour," he hollered over his shoulder.
"One hour," she whispered, watching him disappear.
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Chapter Seven
Another Night In Glasgorn
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Rose paced around the center console, listening to the hum of the ship and the clatter of her heels on the grating as she went round and round. She stopped, checking her watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. He was late. Very late.
It had been two hours and fifteen minutes since he'd left her. Two hours and fifteen minutes since she'd promised him she'd stay within the safety of this vessel. But it wouldn't be long before the dark of night would fall on Glasgorn, and the Doctor was out there, somewhere.
Rose stared at the time rotor, remembering their time on the spaceship, when she'd thought she'd lost him forever. Five and a half hours; he'd said always wait five and a half hours. She looked at the satchel she'd packed clothing and make-up within to last a few days, then looked at the door.
Nighttime was fast approaching. They'd captured both her and the Doctor their first evening there. No way was she waiting. Leaving the bag behind, she walked out of the TARDIS and made her way quickly back to town.
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It didn't take long for Rose to find her way to Lord Lupus's home; the large plantation style house was easy to find amid the smaller, less voluminous homes. Her pace quickened as she climbed the steps. Reaching the door she rang the bell, hearing its echo within.
"Miss Rose!" Estelle appeared, surprised to see the woman who'd been so nice to her at the door. "I thought you and your husband were going to be staying at the widow Johnston's home? Oh, forgive me, come in, come in." she ushered Rose inside, closing the door behind them. "Can I take your wrap? Perhaps get you some tea?"
"Actually, if you could just get the Doctor for me, I'd appreciate it," Rose answered. "We promised to be back over there in time for Mrs. Johnston to cook some big ol' dinner, and the Doctor's probably been givin' Lord Lupus an earful ever since he got here. I know personally that once he gets started on somethin' he can go on and on and on." Rose smiled when she finished talking, realizing that she had just been babbling, much like the Time Lord. It was no wonder the servant was giving her an odd look.
"Miss Rose, the Doctor left at least an hour ago. Mrs. Johnston called here with some urgent business, and he departed quickly after talking to her."
"He left an hour ago?" Rose questioned, knowing if he had come for her first, it would've only taken him fifteen minutes to reach the TARDIS, and she hadn't seen him, which meant the Time Lord had gone to Mrs. Johnston's straight away.
"Yes ma'am," Estelle answered. "I spoke with the widow myself. She said something about needing to speak with the Doctor urgently."
"Must've been some sort of emergency, then. I'd better get over there." Rose turned quickly and opened the door. "Thanks, Estelle. I'll be seein' ya," she said as she jogged down the stairs and out on the sidewalk.
If she were lucky, Rose was fairly certain she could make it to the widow's home before dark. She picked up her pace a little more though, just in case.
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Rose entered the gated yard just as the last tendrils of a glorious sunset lit the sky, hues of red and deep amber brushing across the front of the house like water colors. She stepped quickly up to the front door, ringing the bell impatiently as soon as the button was within reach.
Hearing a clatter and then a few footsteps, the door finally swung open, revealing Mrs. Johnston dressed in a fancy apron, now wearing make up and jewelry as well. She quickly ushered Rose inside, closing and locking the door swiftly.
"I was getting a little worried that you would be heading over here from Lord Lupus's in the dark."
"Made it just in time," Rose replied, handing the widow her wrap. The house smelled of meat and garlic, and her stomach rumbled a little, appreciating the aroma. She stilled. "How'd you know I just left Lord Lupus's?"
"That is where you and the Doctor said you were going when you left here. Come on, we can talk in the kitchen. You can help if you'd like."
"Oh. Where is he, then? Helpin' you in the kitchen as well?" Rose asked with a bit of indignation. She was a little perturbed that the Time Lord hadn't come back for her nor even bothered to greet her as she arrived. Still, she followed her hostess toward the back of the house.
"He's not here yet. But he said he'd be arriving at dinner time. Won't be long now," Mrs. Johnston stated as they entered the large room. The kitchen was bigger than her mum's entire flat, well stocked and immaculately clean, despite the full dishes of fruits and foods on different countertops. At any other time Rose would have been impressed, but ...
"When did he tell you that?"
"Oh, about an hour or two ago," the widow began, handing her an apron.
Rose took the apron but made no effort to put it on. "He's already been here and left again?"
"No, he called from Lord Lupus's house. Well, I say he called. In actuality he had the maid call over to let me know he was running a little late, but he would be here in time for dinner."
"That can't be right," Rose began, setting the apron down on the counter. "Estelle said you called him!" she raised her voice, her tone accusing.
"I didn't call him!" Mrs. Johnston angrily yelled back. "And I'll thank you not to take that tone with me, especially within my own home." Her voice had settled down by the end of her rant, but she still sounded irritated.
Rose forced herself to calm down as well, regrouping her priorities. "Why would Estelle say you did? She said she spoke with you, and you said you had somethin' urgent to discuss with the Doctor, and then the Doctor left to come here after talkin' to you."
"I never did. I don't even know the number."
"Ever heard of a directory?" Rose asked sarcastically. She backed up a little, her hand now resting inconspicuously over a knife on one of the many cutting boards. "Maybe you did call him. Maybe you've got him tied up somewhere right now - or, or worse!" Rose blanched, looking at the fresh meat cut and drawn on a butcher block centered within the room.
"What?" the woman screeched indignantly. "The servant called me! Besides, look around you, I've been cooking all afternoon for the two of you. I dare say I've hardly had time to wrestle some man and tie him down, much less do any harm to him."
Rose stared at Mrs. Johnston a good ten seconds before finally allowing herself to back down a few notches on her defensiveness. Logic told her that time wise, the Doctor would've had to go to the Lupus estate and chat and be cordial. But by the time Estelle said that he'd received the urgent call, he would've already been gone, coming to fetch her, not the widow. Long gone already, because that would've been more than a half an hour past the time he said he'd return to her. And he really was impeccable when it came to time, being an actual Time Lord --
"Oh my God," Rose uttered under her breath, her face paling as she looked at Mrs. Johnston. "When I got over there, Estelle told me that the Doctor had left an hour or so before I arrived." She slapped her forehead, much like she'd seen the Time Lord do on countless occasions. "I'm so bloody stupid! They've got him!"
"How can you be sure?" the widow asked, looking at Rose with great concern.
"Because Estelle said you called there, but you didn't. And you said she called you, so she was trying to cover her tracks and keep me from lookin' for him, probably thinkin' that I was here. Then there's the fact that Estelle knew we were plannin' on stayin' here with you, so that means the Doctor was there - she can't deny it - because there's no other way she could've known about that change in our plans. He went there and they took him somehow! They've got him," she whispered the last three words to herself before running out of the kitchen.
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