Chapter Eight

Rose was climbing the stairs two at a time, she'd heard him shout out again and she was scared that he was dreaming again.

"John! John it's OK I'm coming."

She burst in to the room and John spoke first,

"Rose I'm OK, I'm alright look at me."

She did just that.

"You're still pale."

"Just tired I promise but I need to speak to you and I need you to promise me four things first."

"Yes?" Asked Rose cautiously.

"I need you to promise you'll hear me out, that you'll believe me and that you won't get cross or have me sectioned."

"I'll try. Well listen I promise I'll listen and I'll believe you and I won't have you sectioned but it depends what you tell me as to whether or not I get cross."

"In that case I need you to promise you'll forgive me."

"John you're scaring me."

"And I don't mean to but what I have to tell you might frighten you."

"John are you sick?"

"No. I really don't think so. Just let me tell you."

Rose nodded and after John patted the edge of the bed she perched on it and waited for him to begin.

He started.

"Rose I promise you when it began I didn't know what it was, I saw *him* just flashes, glimpses of *his* life. I didn't tell you because I was scared and I didn't want you to be afraid or…jealous."

She bristled at his use of the word jealous but she had promised to hear him out and hear him out she would.

"Then I realised he could see us, well me at least."

Rose opened her mouth and closed it again, she had promised to listen.

"It was in the pool, when we made love on the steps?"

Rose nodded.

"*He* reacted when I came, he felt me. I can't explain it but he groaned and staggered back in to the pilot's seat and Rose he was panting."

She had to ask,

"Was *he* alone?"

John nodded and leant forwards to brush the single tear that was tracking down Rose's face away.

"I'm sorry" he whispered to her. "*He's* not always alone. I saw *him* battling Cybermen with a man named Jackson; *he* had Christmas dinner with him… And I saw *him* on a planet with a bus and a woman called Christina, she kissed *him,* I… I felt that."

"Did *he* enjoy it?"

"I think *he* was shocked."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"No! No and this is exactly why I didn't want to tell you… but there's more and Donna said I had to tell you."

"Donna?"

"Donna, I can see her too. Just occasionally and not in much detail. She's happy Rose, she's getting married to Sean and her Granddad is still with her… and her Mum."

"Can she see us too?"

"I think so… sometimes."

"Rose this is hard for me to tell you and I don't know what will happen but she said I have to tell you. I saw the Doctor on Mars… *he* changed something."

"*He* was always changing things."

"No Rose *he* changed a fixed point in time."

Her hand flew to her mouth and she gave an involuntary gasp,

"*He* can't do that!"

"*He* has, it's done and Ood Sigma visited *him* and me…."

"That means…"

"*He* will die, well change, regenerate. But I can't change Rose."

"You'll die?" Another tear slid down her face.

"I don't know. I genuinely don't know, but I am *him* and *he* is me, if *he* changes… I can't change. I... I just don't know."

"*He* wouldn't… *he* wouldn't let that happen, you said… you said we'd grow old together. You promised! Donna said, *he* said… you promised!"

Rose collapsed sobbing and John pulled her to him and rocked her as she wept.

"I can't lose you. I can't not now, what if?" She patted her stomach and wailed, "It's not fair! You promised!"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'll try not to die and we may not even be pregnant."

"John I'm late, only just but I'm late. I can't lose you not again… You promised!" Rose knew she was being irrational; it wasn't as if John would choose to die and leave her.

John cupped her face in both of his hands,

"Rose listen to me. I just don't know. Maybe it will be OK; maybe Ood Sigma was just warning *him.* But I promise I will try not to die!"

Rose laughed weakly,

"You look so earnest."

"I am!"

"Well if you do die I'll be so mad at you I won't speak to you ever again!"

It was John's turn to weakly laugh and then he spoke again,

"You're late?"

Rose nodded,

"Just two days but yes I'm late."

"Dr Vince will be here soon."

"He will be what shall we tell him now?"

"Let him come and check me over, maybe take some blood. I don't think it's necessary but it won't hurt for me to have a physical… under the circumstances."

"Under the circumstances…"

When the doctor arrived he gave John a very thorough examination and had him do several tests on the spot. He could find nothing wrong and had him provide urine and blood samples for analysis at the lab and just advised rest until he had the results in a few days time.

When she had seen the doctor out Rose returned to John.

"You heard what he said; rest."

"He couldn't find anything wrong with me. He said I was fit and healthy."

"He took blood and pee away with him John. Let's wait until we have those results eh?"

"You're the one who's late. You need to pee on a stick Rose."

"If I'm still late in a couple of days I'll pick up a test… promise."

"Late; I can't tell you how happy that would make me."