Chapter Eleven

"John what's wrong? Run from what?"

When she received no reply Rose pulled on her jeans and moved to the head of the stairs.

"John!"

She raced down the stairs and felt for his pulse on his neck. It was reassuringly strong and regular but he was still lying in a heap at the foot of the stairs. Had he fallen? Should she try and move him? No, if he had fallen he might have hurt himself. She was about to use her mobile to dial her Mum for help when he groaned.

"John! I'm here can you hear me?"

"Mmmm… Where am I?"

"At home John, I think you fell down the stairs." He moved his legs, "No don't try and move just yet. I want to make sure nothing is broken. Does anywhere hurt?"

"Just my chest."

"I'm scared to move you in case I hurt you. You'll have to do it yourself, can you roll over?"

He pushed himself up on an arm and turned himself over.

"That's good; I don't think you've broken anything. Where exactly does your chest hurt?"

He pointed dead centre and said,

"Here."

"Does it hurt to breathe?"

"No it just hurts, like I've been punched."

"Let me look." She rolled his shirt up over his toned stomach until she had exposed his entire chest. Her eyes went wide when she saw the mark.

"What is it?"

"You've a large, red circle, it looks almost scorched. Touch it."

Gingerly John felt his chest and winced before pulling his hand away.

"It's warmer than the rest of me, not hot and it's sore like sunburn. Let me sit up."

Rose helped him to sit with his back against the wall. He looked down and gently prodded the edges of the circle.

"Did anything happen John? You were in the kitchen how did you get here?"

"I remember flicking the kettle on and then… Yes! It felt as if something hit me, it knocked the wind out of me and then it did it again. I couldn't call you I had no breath… like I was winded."

"Go on."

"I got scared. I couldn't breathe and something was hitting me. Rose I got scared."

"You thought…?"

"I don't know what I thought but I got scared and I didn't want to… be alone." He had been about to say die alone but changed the words at the last second. "I dragged myself to the stairs."

"You didn't call me?"

"I tried, but there was a drum beat, four beats in my head over and over and then bullets… I screamed at you to run after that I don't remember."

"Bullets?"

He nodded,

"Lots of bullets and then I don't remember… until just now."

"Can you stand up?"

"I think so" he put his hand out and Rose stood first and helped him up.

"Back to the kitchen eh? Cup of tea and a sandwich? We were gong to have lunch do you remember?"

"Yeah, yeah I do and tea is good for..."

"… healing the synapses, yeah I remember." Rose smiled encouragingly at him as they walked slowly to the kitchen. When John was seated at the table she bustled about getting tea and sandwiches ready. She set John's in front of him and sat down opposite him and watched as he picked at his lunch.

"I think maybe we should stay here today. I'll call Mum yeah?"

"Maybe for the best. I'm tired."

"You could have a lay down after you've eaten, are you sure you didn't bump your head?"

"Nowhere feels sore, except for here," he lifted his t shirt up.

"The marks gone."

"It's not warm any more either."

"That's just weird."

"I can't explain it. I can't explain any of it I just want it to stop… whatever that may mean…"

"Tell me what you were thinking about earlier John; I don't think now is the time for secrets."

"You have to promise that you won't hate me."

"John I could no more hate you than hate what I am growing inside me. Tell me."

John sighed heavily. Of course Rose was right, she usually was, now was definitely not the time for secrets. Now was that time to tell her everything he ever wanted to in case he didn't get the chance to later.

"You have to understand that what I was thinking was how to spare you pain. It occurred to me that if I were to go now, leave and not come back you'd get over me and move on. Live your life and make it a good one for you and the baby. Jackie did it so I knew she'd help you. That way you wouldn't have to see me die or bury and mourn me and if by some stroke of luck I were to live long enough to see the baby, well, that way he or she wouldn't miss me either because I'd never have seen…" He broke off on a sob unable to continue.

Rose too had tears rolling down her cheeks and she gathered John to her and rocked with him as he sobbed in to her shoulder. When she could finally speak she spoke in to his hair,

"Don't you dare, just don't you dare. We don't even know what's happening or even what will happen when *his* time comes. I'm not letting you out of my sight… whatever happens we will face this together; you have to make me your own promise. Promise me you'll never think like that again."

He hiccupped softly and swallowed several times before replying to her entreaties,

"I promise. I'm sorry I'm just so scared. I swear show me an army of Daleks, Cybermen, whatever… that would be easy compared to the thought of ever leaving you."

Rose held him until his body stopped shaking and he grew heavy in her arms as he relaxed.

"You're tired. Let's go and lie down."

He nodded and stood up with her and allowed her to guide him to bed. She lay with him and held him as he relaxed in to sleep. When she was sure he was deeply asleep she rolled away from him and made a call to her Mother simply saying they were taking some time out together. That done she switched off her phone and rolled back towards him and his warmth.

If what he had seen was accurate then it sounded as if the planet needed its defender; all that she needed was sleeping next to her and today of all days she wasn't leaving his side.