Thanks to TheBigCat for her amazing editing as always.
seriously -Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and follows and favorites and for reading and be Doctor Who Dorks with me. Its really nice to know that I am not alone. So as promised here is 25 and Jack is here I can here the screams of joy. He's in the last part of this chapter.
This chapter I loved to write and I hope you guys will love to read please leave me your thoughts. Please I really do love to here from you.
Allons-y
The TARDIS landed with its usual rattle, but shook a bit harder than necessary. The Doctor caressed her. "I know, old girl, you don't like him," he muttered. "Me neither, but Rose needs to do this."
She flickered a few lights in acceptance, and he smiled. "Well at least you get a top-off. We'll just open you up a bit and let you soak in that nice rift energy. That will be nice, right honey?"
She hummed happily, and he set off pushing the buttons needed for her recharge. He heard a happy laugh from down below.
"You two done flirting, or do you need more alone time?"
The Doctor glared at Rose, which made her laugh all the more.
"Shut up," was his huffy reply.
"Seriously," she choked out, having stopped laughing for a moment. "I can go to my room- put on some music- I won't hear a thing." That teasing grin of hers appeared again briefly before she started to laugh at him again.
"Rose Tyler, there is nothing going on between me and my magnificent ship."
"Keep telling yourself that mate, but I've heard you call her 'sexy'. By the way, she likes it. Us girls know things."
The TARDIS gave a warm hum. The Doctor was bright red now.
Oh, Rose though smugly. We made him blush. Now, why did she find that so appealing?
Stop it, she told herself firmly, her own face going a faint pink at the way her thoughts were turning. Not going to happen, won't let it happen, can't fall again. Don't care if I still love the idiot, it's not worth it. Won't be rejected again. He was staring at her again with that look. Must force eyes away before I do something I will regret. Mates. We are mates. Mate is fine, mates are safe. Mates don't grab each other by the tie and snog them senseless because they find each other foxy. Mate-mate- mate.
He was closer now. He was going to kiss her and she would not be able to resist this time. But he just took her hand in his and walked her to the door releasing his grasp when they reached it.
"Go see Jack, Rose. I'm going to do some work on the TARDIS while I have a chance."
Suddenly she was afraid to move thoughts began racing in her head. This was his chance. He was going to leave her here with Jack and take off again. Leave her like he had on the beach, leave her like he always did. He was going to do what he thought best for her, that's why he had not fought her when she wanted to come see Jack. He had planned this. He was sick of her already- her moods and anger, the crying- it was all too domestic for him. He didn't want her; never had wanted her. Wanted her to stay where he had left her. Her heart was racing, and she couldn't seem to catch her breath. Her head was spinning. She forced words through gasping breaths.
"No, don't-" pant "-want-" pant "-to go-" pant "-see Jack. Stay here. You'll leave me again." gasp. Why couldn't she get air? She needed more air. "Can't breathe," she managed, and felt strong arms come around her. She panicked at the pressure. Her arms were pinned to her sides- she fought the grip, trying to break from it. But the person just held tighter. Rose could hear words now= a calming voice offering her words. Telling her to breathe, to relax; that he had her- she was safe.
She felt herself relax as her Doctor held her- she knew it was him now. His grip eased as she calmed down, allowing her arms to hold him close. He continued to whisper words of reassurance and she relaxed the rest of the way. He held her for a few more minutes before pulling back slowly, but still keeping his arms around her waist.
"Rose," he said, deeply serious "I'm not going to leave you again, I promise. Cross my hearts, I'm never going to leave you again. This is your home for as long as you want it Rose. The TARDIS is your home. The Doctor and Rose Tyler in the TARDIS, just like it should be. I'm not going to lose you again!"
He said the last sentence so abruptly, and she could hear the raw emotion in his voice. She stared into his eyes and knew he was not lying to her. He would not do that to her again, not without it being her choice.
Her breath caught in a sob. For the first time since she had been back she looked at him- really looked at him, throwing all her own feelings to the back of her mind- and concentrated on what was in front of her.
His eyes were older now, so much older than they had been when he and she had first started their adventure together. She wondered again what he had gone through since that day on the beach. Something was broken in the Doctor. She didn't know what it was, but something was different. There was a quiet rage behind his eyes, like the Oncoming Storm warming up for a rampage.
She raised her fingers and traced his jawline. Rose was tempting fate and she knew it, but at this moment she really didn't give a damn. She wanted to help him the way he was helping her. She wanted that rage to go away. She cupped his cheek. He leaned into her touch and she took a leap of faith.
"I believe you," she told him. "I still don't know if I trust you. But I believe you won't leave me behind. But can you come with me to see Jack? I don't think I can do it alone."
He nodded and they both stood, his arms going back around to squeeze her in a tight hug and she matched his enthusiasm. They took each other's hands the minute they stepped out of the TARDIS, and their fingers entwined.
She fought the reaction that made her want to pull away from this intimacy. It was such a normal response. But she forced her hand tighter to his, and smiled up at him. "They still fit."
"They always will, Rose," he said, grinning back.
They walked in silence the rest of the way, each caught up in their own thoughts.
She was thinking of how everything had started to change since the night before. She really did believe that he wouldn't leave her again, and she wanted him to come with her to see Jack- not because she was afraid of him leaving, but because she was afraid of leaving him on his own. He had been on his own too long. Plus, his company would be nice. If she started to freak out for some reason, he could talk her down. She wasn't ready to let him out of her sight just quite yet.
The Doctor was thinking about all that had gone on that day as well. Her offer of friendship towards him. Rose hugs, Rose fingers, Rose lips that had once again been so close. He shut those thoughts down quickly. Not ready, not ready, she's not ready for that right now. Mates first, then the kissing. He truly hoped it was going to happen sooner rather than later. He would have to tell her or show her what he had become without her there to stop him. Then he could let her decide if she could handle something that was as broken as he was. But it would work out. He had hope for that. At least they were mates again, and that would be enough for now.
He started to hum happily before stopping her and lifting a leg off the ground. He began to hop. She stood there, a foot apart from him their hands still clasped, and raised her own foot. They both started laughing and with that with no words spoken, they hopped together all the way to the Hub. People kept a wide berth as they did so and gave the pair of them very odd looks.
They stood at the secret door and the Doctor went to pull out his sonic when they opened, without warning. Rose was pulled up in a tight hug along with a quick snog, before being set back on her feet once again. She glanced at the Doctor, next to her- he was glaring daggers. "Don't start, Jack."
"What?" he protested, grinning. "I was just saying hi. I think I might do it again."
"I don't mind," was her automatic response. He went to move in again, but thought better of it when the Doctor pulled Rose tight against his side. "Hi Rosie, long time no see."
Then he turned his attention back to the Doctor. "Hiya, Doc. You got some explaining to do and thanks for the intro by the way. Alonso- great guy in more ways than once."
Rose stared at the pair of them.
"Alonso," she realized suddenly. "He introduced you to a guy called Alonso. You said it, then! You got to say allons-y Alonzo!" She was grinning brightly at him. He smiled back.
"Yup."
They were ignoring Jack, now, completely wrapped up in each other.
Jack cleared his throat pointedly. "You guys going to flirt all day and make bedroom eyes at each other, or are you going to come in?"
They both went beet red and dropped each other's hands, taking a step apart, before following Jack through the door. It was at that moment Jack knew something was wrong. And if something was wrong- he was going to figure out how to fix it.
