Hey guys! Sorry for the time it took to get this chapter up. I have loads of ideas, but organising them and writing them out takes a lot of time and is really frustrating. Also be warned: I'm entering my exam period again, so updates might not be as frequent.

Sorry.

This isn't a flashback chapter, I don't think the next flashback chapter is going to come all that soon. :D

Also, I apologise for the delay in surprises and Confrontations, a chapter should be up in the next few days.

Not that much happens in this chapter, but it uses the flashback scene. Also there is a healthy dose of Max/Doctor rivalry ;DD

So far the day had gone fairly smoothly, Rose thought, satisfied. The questions had taken up most of the morning, but it meant that Torchwood accepted the Doctor. Many looked excited about working with him and asked him many questions about his travels through space and all the creatures he had encountered so far. The also talked to Pete and Rose a lot, Rose told some of the more recent Torchwood agents about him and Pete Tyler told the interested one about the Doctor's involvement in stopping the Cybermen. Eddie was also surrounded with people, who all had questions about the Doctor's biology.

They all needed a break when the questions finally subsided.

But Rose was still a little worried about Max. Although Pete had said that Max had had no complaints in his office this morning, Rose suspected that that was simply because hadn't wanted to get in anymore trouble. However, during the conference and question round, he had stood at the back of the room, his posture rigid and straight and a look of displeasure and distrust on his face. Rose decided that she needed to talk to him. Today, if she had time, or sometime in the next few days.

She truly liked Max, he had been one of the few people who had somehow kept her sane after the Doctor. Somehow, finding someone who was grieving as much as her helped. Max had been a good person to talk to, to grieve with, and he was someone who understood her sadness. Unfortunately, Rose had never told him that she had loved the Doctor romantically, she had a feeling he thought it was a strong friendship, or possibly almost a father daughter type relationship, seeing she had told him that the Doctor was a lot older.

Of course, seeing the Doctor was now practically married to her in Gallifreyan standards, and although there definitely was an age difference and he was an alien, they did love each other and it wasn't just a simple relationship. She knew Max had to get over the feelings he had for her, but she was scared that it would be hard for him. After all she hadn't gotten over the Doctor in almost six years, and although she didn't think Max's feelings for her were that strong, she knew it wasn't just a simple crush. The thought that she was hurting Max this much broke her heart; she had never wanted to cause him this pain intentionally.

She didn't mind when Max tagged along after lunch. They were currently on one of the top floors of Torchwood, and on a floor that Rose secretly hated. Max shoulders were always rigid when he was on this floor too, and he always walked a little closer to her, as if being protective. Rose wondered if he knew about the white room and about her feelings towards it, though she couldn't figure out how - maybe he had overheard her somehow. Now she was on this floor with him and the Doctor. She could see that Max was itching to somehow hug her, or hold her hand or inch closer to her somehow. But right now the Doctor was close to her (in Max's opinion far too close) and holding her hand.

Max didn't think it was right. He remembered seeing Rose in that room, crying because of the Doctor, and now he was casually strolling through Torchwood, holding her hand.

The second they neared the room, the Doctor heard some sort of noise from it and went inside the second Rose had turned around to ask Max something. The door was unlocked for some reason.

The second Rose saw what the Doctor was doing she called out: "Doctor don't go in-"

But it was too late. The Doctor had already entered the room, and both Rose and Max heard his sharp intake of breath. Rose sighed, pain crossing her face. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to stop the tears (though Max thought she was annoyed. "Stay here!" she told Max, and ran into the room after him.

"Commander-" Max began, but she had already disappeared into the room. Max stood there fuming. He had been used to always being with Rose, talking to her, almost getting to the point where he could hold her hand and then the alien had simply sauntered in, stealing his role. Max had been so sure that he had almost reached the point where he and Rose could have a relationship, but now there was practically no chance. The alien was now the one Rose smiled at, whose hand she held and who she hugged. Now he was the one being treated like some sort of extra unwanted person standing on the sidelines. Rose had never commanded him to stay put somewhere like that. He frowned angrily, balling his hands into fists. He knew what that room looked like; he had seen Rose crying her heart out in that room. He wanted to go in and comfort her. Now.

He was staring at the room so intently that he didn't notice Pete Tyler's coming up behind him.

Pete Tyler stared at Max, wondering what was going on. Max was standing there, angry and staring at the room as if hypnotised. "Lieutenant Rogers are you alright?" he asked worriedly. Max whirled around.

He paused, wondering how to answer. He wasn't sure if the Director was on the Doctor's side or not.

"Your daughter is in that room sir, and I don't know whether I should go after her or not", he replied. A worried expression crossed the Director's face.

"She ran in after the Doctor entered against her wishes sir." Max added.

"Ah" the Director said, understanding. He supposed Rose and the Doctor needed some alone time in that room. "I think it would be best if you gave them some privacy for now, Lieutenant."

"I beg your pardon?" Max asked shocked. Pete Tyler raised his eyebrows.

"I'm sorry" Max hastily added. "But what if the Doctor is doing something to R-"

"I have already assured you Rogers that the Doctor is no threat" Pete Tyler said, and this time there was an edge to his voice.

"But Rose is so different!" Max protested. He couldn't help it. Ever since this alien had come, Rose was not being herself. In only a few hours, Max had seen her become silly and giggly. And the only person she was now cold to was him-it had always been the other way around before! This was not Rose, the Doctor had to be manipulating her somehow…Eddie had said he was telepathic. Maybe it was mind control?

The Director sighed. "I assure you that Rose is perfectly fine. She is simply not as sad anymore. The Doctor poses no danger to her or to Torchwood. I suggest you let them have their privacy in that room Lieutenant."

With that he walked back down the corridor, leaving Max rooted to the spot.

Max shook his head. He had to go in and make sure Rose was okay.

The door was ajar, and he tiptoed into the room. The Doctor was standing against the white wall, the white wall Max had seen Rose leaning against so many years ago. The Doctor had one cheek pressed up against the wall. Rose was standing behind him, almost unsure as to whether or not she should approach him. "Doctor" she began quietly. The Doctor turned to her, and picked her up into his arms. It took all of Max's willpower not to interrupt.

"I'm here" she whispered to him gently, hugging back just as tightly. Max stepped out of the room just as they broke apart, and sighed with relief, they hadn't seen him.

Or so he thought.

The Doctor knew that Max had been behind him the whole time. He had heard him come into the room, heard his accelerated breathing when he and Rose hugged, hell, he had even heard him talking to Pete outside. He hadn't bothered saying anything; this was a moment he wished to share solely with Rose. But she heard him too, as he hurriedly exited the room.

"Doesn't he understand the meaning of privacy?" the Doctor asked, slightly annoyed. He got that Rose and Max were friends, but seriously the man needed to take it easy for a change.

Rose sighed. Yes, she loved Max as a friend, but his behaviour was getting on her nerves.

"Apparently he thinks I am not safe" the Doctor told Rose with a slight smile. Rose raised her eyebrows.

"He was talking to Pete and thinks that it's not safe to leave you alone in a room with me."

Rose smiled slightly." Depends how you see it Doctor" she said cheekily. "If you had kissed me while you hugged me it would have been extremely tempting, and who knows what might have transpired…"

"Ah, I see, so we should thank Max for keeping us in line?" he asked. But he was also smiling. Rose nodded and led him outside, where Max was doing his best to remain unsuspicious.

"Should I lock it?" the Doctor asked and Rose nodded. He took a TARDIS key from his pocket and reached out to lock the door.

"You have a key?" Max asked, dumbfounded. He was about to turn Rose to ask why the alien had a key to that particular room, but Rose got there first.

"Yes he does. In fact, that's the original key to that lock, mine, the Director's and Mickey's are merely copies."

"You gave him the original k-" Max began, furious. Why hadn't he gotten a key?

"No Max" the Doctor jumped in, and although his tone sounded pleasant, there was a steel edge. He was getting annoyed with Max. He knew it didn't matter that much, but technically he had a higher rank, and Max shouldn't be treating him so disrespectfully.

"What Rose means-"

"What Commander Tyler means-"Max corrected him.

"Rose to me" the Doctor replied. "I don't use rank with her".

"Well you should!" Max retorted. "It's a case of respect!"

"Maybe for you Lieutenant, but –"

"Enough!" Rose said, annoyed. This 'cock and bull' thing was stupid, though she had to admit that she did find it slightly amusing.

Both men turned around to look at her. Max looked extremely angry, but at least a bit sheepish. The Doctor looked annoyed, but still completely confident, unlike Max, who was probably questioning his bond with Rose a bit.

"The Doctor's key is the key that my key was modelled from" Rose said calmly and instinctively reached for the Doctor's hand.

"But yours isn't a copy" the Doctor told her. "The TARDIS made that for you personally."

"Really?" Rose asked, pleasantly surprised. "I thought you just carried around spares all the time."

"Yeah. But the TARDIS made that one especially for you".

"Who?" Max asked, frustrated. He hated beingout of the loop.

"My ship" the Doctor said shortly.

Great, just great Max thought. Our new Commander thinks spaceships are living things.

Thank you for reading. I know I am always switching back and forth with Max, sometimes showing him in a positive and sometimes in a negative light. I know most of you hate him, but I like him as a character, although I do think he can be a bit of a twat…but still.

Please review!