Thank you for all the reviews so far! They really mean a lot to me! The next few chapters are mainly setting up the story, so please be patient with me. Chapter Four will be the last of the setting up chapters, and Chapter Five will get things rolling.
Enjoy!
Red Dragon
One: Home Again
Rose thought, and thought. She sat on her old bed - which Martha had graciously moved to another room to allow her access to the one that had once been hers. Her mind considered all that the Doctor had said, pondering the fact of what exactly the Time Vortex had unleashed inside her. She bit her lip. She felt lost in a swirl of colours as her mind attempted to untangle the mess that it now found itself in.
She sighed, leaning back against the wall. How the hell am I ever going control it without the Doctor's help? An unbidden voice answered her. Because he doesn't know what we really are….
We?
But no answer came.
And still Rose contemplated.
Martha unpacked her belongings from an old wooden box, settling the few possessions she had acquired on one shelf above her bed. Mickey stood in the doorway, watching. He was leaning against the side, arms folded together.
"So, how long have you been travelling with the Doctor?"
Martha shrugged. "Not long really. Maybe a few months - to me it feels like forever!"
"How'd you meet?"
"He fainted in a café I was in. I tried to help him by calling an ambulance but he shrugged me off and fled before the transport could get there. I followed him to the TARDIS and watched it disappear. Four years later he saved me from a rapist. I was hurt and he healed me. I only understood then why he hadn't wanted to go to hospital. I mean, he blends into Earth so well."
"I know." Mickey grinned. "What do you specialise in?"
"I was working with John and Co Limited when I came aboard - just trying to earn enough money so I could go off to University and study History and a few sciences. I adore learning about Science. It's all fascinating to me." She moved her hands animatedly, demonstrating her point. "There's just so much to learn…"
"Have any family?"
Martha threw him a quizzical look. "What's with the twenty questions?"
Mickey surveyed the room, trying to avoid the question, but when his gaze returned to Martha's, he found the young woman still staring at him, eyebrows raised.
"Are you scared of telling me why?" she poked fun.
Mickey scratched the back of his head. "I just wanted to know a bit more about you. We'll be in regular contact with each other. I don't want to wonder what type of person you are."
"And I suppose in return for my gratitude, you'll tell me all about yourself and how you fit in the working of things around here?" She held out her hand.
Mickey took it, the pact sealed.
"You've been in here for hours! You're not brooding again are you Rose Tyler?" the Doctor poked his head round the doorway, grinning madly.
"Now why would I brood when I'm perfectly happy to be here again?"
"Because I know what I said about Bad Wolf is bothering you." The Doctor innocently stated.
"It might be."
"Oh come on! You can tell me!" the Doctor seated himself on a stool, staring his companion in the eyes, attempting to find a weakness.
Finally her face cracked and Rose said: "You're right. This Bad Wolf business is driving me crazy!" she halted, figuring out how she could say her feelings. "It's like something's woken inside me. A bubbling power beneath the surface of my mind is waiting to strike….and the fact that you can't help - when you're supposed to be knowledgeable about everything in the universe - is absolutely frustrating." She clenched her shoulder length hair in her hands showing her aggravation.
"All I can do is lead you on the right track; the rest is up to you." He placed his hand on her heart. "As long as you stay pure in here, the Bad Wolf will not win."
"Are you sure?" Rose inquired.
The Doctor nodded. "That's all I can do. I've never dealt with anyone taking the heart of the TARDIS before. It's something that's new to me as well as you. Trouble is, it's you who has to live with it. No matter what happens I'll be there."
Rose allowed herself a smile. "I knew you always would be."
Stepping out of the TARDIS, Rose planted her feet on the earth of the front garden. The sun shined brightly upon her skin. Behind her Mickey came, followed by Martha, with the Doctor at the back, his hands shoved in his pockets as he took in the bright colours that now covered the Tyler estate. She headed up the stone stairs, laying a hand on the railing. She smiled warmly at the thought of home.
Home? Is this really home? It was a question that she had no answer for. Placing her hand on the wall, she activated the bell that they could hear ringing throughout the establishment. A few minutes later the door was pulled open, revealing the slender figure of Jackie Tyler - her mother.
"ROSE!"
She found herself drawn into a crushing hug.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so happy that you're alright." Jackie clasped her warm hands on Rose's face, checking that her eyes were not playing her up. "It is you!" She swung her daughter round in a circle.
"Mum!" Rose complained. "I'm not a child anymore!"
"You'll always be my little baby."
Rose stepped aside, allowing Jackie to view Mickey, a young woman she had never met before and a familiar face she had never expected to see again.
Her mother rushed past and grabbed the Doctor, overwhelming him in an embrace. His hands flayed in the air, completely taken back by Jackie's sudden movement.
Both Rose and Mickey giggled. Martha looked on, slightly amused, her brown eyes taking in the scene before her. Jackie finally turned from the Doctor to fix her gaze upon Martha.
"And who might you be?"
Martha shuffled on her feet. "Um, Martha Jones." She held out a hand, and Jackie gently shook it.
"How'd you wind up with this lunatic?" Jackie indicated the Doctor, who was about to protest when Rose shot him a disapproving look.
"He saved me from a rapist. I've travelled with him for a while." She smiled lightly.
"Well, we can't have any of you standing in this baking sun! Come inside for a fresh cup of tea." She led them inside the mansion.
The Doctor followed behind Martha, running his intense brown eyes over the many ornaments that lay in cabinets and on tables. Jackie led them down two corridors before arriving in the main lounging room. Rose positioned herself comfortably on a sofa; her mother in the middle, with Mickey on the side. Martha chose a pretty pink chair that went well with the white-pink colour of the room. The Doctor chose to sit in the white chair. He had never been much a fan of pink. It was nice and comfortable, and quite relaxing. He laid his arms on the arm rests, putting his feet up on the matching cushion.
An elderly maid entered holding a tray of a tea pot with five cups. She poured each of them one, handing one each out. The Doctor took the steaming cup and saucer and took a gentle sip. It was actually quite nice - one of the best he'd ever had.
"The tea is especially made in India but different from what was farmed in the old universe." Rose explained.
The Doctor nodded. "It's nice." He sipped again, sampling the exotic taste that wormed its way into his stomach.
"Now," Jackie gently tapped her tanned hands on her knees, "Tell me exactly what happened. From the beginning."
The Doctor listened as Rose spun the tale, marvelling at how she wove it. He had to admit he was impressed. Rose had changed so much. When she had finished he remarked: "I had no idea that you were so good at telling stories."
Rose shrugged. "A natural talent when you have a little sister to look after."
"Her name?" he asked.
"Emily." Jackie replied. "Pete's choice."
"Speaking of Pete, where is the old fella?"
"At work." Jackie dutifully replied. "He's still dealing with what John Lumic left behind. His solicitors are fighting for his rights."
The Doctor looked surprised and a little concerned. "Didn't the world know what he did?"
"Yeah, they did, but the solicitors are trying to make him a hero by improving humans. The research he conducted has been useful in this past year." Explained Jackie.
"Well, at least that makes sense, a little." The Doctor admitted. They sat back sipping tea, unsure of what to say.
"Here is little Emily." Rose picked up her baby sister. The baby had light ginger hair, with Jackie's eyes, but with Pete's nose. Little Emily Tyler gurgled happily and reached out her pudgy arms to the Doctor. He looked taken back. "What?" Rose laughed. "Never seen a baby before?"
The Doctor looked slightly embarrassed. He flushed lightly. "It's just been a long time." He murmured.
"You can hold her if you want." She stated, holding Emily a little closer, her chocolate eyes sparkling.
Carefully the Doctor pried the baby from Rose's arms and gently held the small human. The baby again gurgled happily.
Rose grinned. "Little Emily, meet The Doctor, a time-travelling alien from a far away planet. He's your first alien and probably the only one you'll ever meet."
"You just had to say it didn't you?"
"Always!" Rose laughed, her dancing eyes alight with mischief.
The Doctor was grinning widely. She could see the love shining from his eyes, and she wondered whether he would come out and say it. But he didn't.
One day maybe, she thought, when the time is right.
The Tyler's plus Martha and the Doctor (Mickey was an honorary Tyler) sat seated round a wooden table discussing the future.
"I do have a confession to make," Rose said, settling her gaze on her mother.
"You're going to leave again, aren't you?" her mother whispered.
Rose nodded, a lump forming in her throat. She had loved her life here, making achievements and a name for herself. "My place is with the Doctor. How can I miss out on the life that I love when there is an easy way for me to see you every so often?"
"I know honey," Jackie squeezed her hand, "but you know I will always miss you."
"I realise that. And I'll make a promise to visit more often then I did the last time round."
"You can go. It's what you've craved for ever since that meeting on the beach. I see it in your eyes now - the excitement of what is out there."
Pete leaned across the table, placing his gaze upon the Doctor. Rose listened to the exchange. "You can bring her back can't you?"
"I can. One of the last surviving artefacts of my people allows me to cross from one universe to another. Each time I come through I have to close it to prevent matter from seeping through that would pollute the two universes so that they would die. This device enables me to keep both universes safe."
Nodding, Pete was satisfied by the Doctor's answer.
"I'm coming too."
Rose' eyes widened as she turned her gaze upon Mickey. The conviction in his eyes was enough to persuade her that he meant it.
"That's fine by me." The Doctor responded. "And I will bring them back. You have my word."
Throughout the exchange Martha had sat in silence.
"I want a word with you."
The Doctor spun round to find Jackie walking towards him. He braced himself for the inevitable hug but it never came. He opened his eyes seeing a stern face, and realising that this was no social call. The others were already inside the TARDIS. "I suppose my promise wasn't good enough for you?"
"It was fine. I just don't want to lose her. I love her so much. Can you really protect her like you say?"
"Yes." He replied, unsure where this conversation was going. "I want to make her happy."
"Then why don't you do the decent thing?"
"I think I'm a little bit lost here. Are you sure being rich hasn't made you a bit….different?"
Jackie gave him a piercing stare and he quickly stepped back. He shouldn't find her intimidating - he was above her after all. There was something about the woman that scared him, he just couldn't pin-point it.
"I know that you love her and she returns it." The voice was soft.
"What?"
"I see it in your eyes. Even Rose does. Are you afraid?" her features were not soft, regarding him.
How could he get out of this one? "I'm just not ready…look I'm not sure myself yet. I need more time."
"Just promise me you'll think over it. I don't wish for my daughter to wonder forever."
The Doctor lowered his eyes. "I suppose I have no choice do I? Since you've become rich you've made me scared of you." He waved a hand. "I'll think about it. I can't promise."
"Then that's enough for me." She gave him a smile.
The Doctor hurried into the TARDIS. Did he love Rose?
"So where are we off to Time-Lord?" Rose joked.
"Well," the Doctor considered, "I was thinking of a holiday. A holiday on the most wondrous planet you will ever see. We all need a break after all this trouble."
"I completely agree with that," Rose said. "And what exotic planet are you planning on going to this time?"
"The resort of Spring Waters on the planet Canodi!" he announced happily, dancing round the control panel, setting co-ordinates. "And it's the perfect place to find no trouble at all!"
TBC
I hope everyone liked this…Please let me know what you think!
Next chapter will be available in three days time. It is titled 'Unwelcome Conversations'.
Leila-Rose-Bell