*After the Running*

Missing Scene #6

Title: "Always"

Episode: After Christmas Invasion, before New Earth

Main Characters: Rose Tyler, Ninth Doctor, Tenth Doctor

Rating: K+ for minor language

Summary: Much like Clara's call from the Eleventh Doctor in Deep Breath, Rose got a call of her own, from her first Doctor the night after her new Doctor defeated the Sycorax. "Is he really you?"

A/N: Yes, I had to do this. After all, it's a missing scene, so basically it could have happened. I'm not trying to step on anything special Clara had with Eleven (at least, not intentionally), but I could totally see this happening, especially since Nine didn't tell her about regeneration. (And Clara knew every form of his, imagine that...-_-) Also, I'm not going to take any lines from "Deep Breath", as I want this moment between Nine and Rose to be special, not stolen (and this is supposed to be canon).

Rose couldn't help it. As soon as she reached her room on the Powell Estates and shut the door without bothering to lock it, she threw herself on her bed and began to sob. She didn't want to feel this way, really, after all, the future looked so bright with the new version of her Doctor. But after he had...regenerated, things had happened so fast. First he was hopping around like a bloody idiot, then he nearly flew the TARDIS into oblivion, then lapsed into a coma, before waking up and defeating the Sycorax with only a sword. One Christmas dinner and an hour of staring into the snowy...ahem, ash-filled sky later and she could finally reflect on what had happened.

She felt sick to her stomach. She missed her Doctor so much, the one with the leather fetish, the gruff demeanor with the soft interior, those icy blue eyes with so much compassion amidst the pain. She turned on her side and clutched the pillow tighter to her face, 'lest this new Doctor should hear her sobs. She truly believed he was the Doctor, after all, who else could bring down the most powerful woman in the government with only six words? The look on his face in that moment still sent shivers down her spine. He reminded her so much of her old Doctor it hurt. Even hearing that word "Fantastic" coming from his lips did only a little to ease her pain.

She knew she'd get over it. After all, she knew she loved her Doctor, no matter what he looked like. She didn't realise she'd have to accept a new face until the second it happened, but she knew she could do it. The next morning she'd be okay, and things would be back to normal. She would never reveal her feelings for fear of destroying their friendship of course. Just like before.

But for now, she let herself grieve one last time. However, as she continued to cry, all she could do was see her Doctor's face in her head, and she wanted nothing more than to have him back in her arms. That wonderful smell of leather and time was fading, and she wondered if she really could accept this Doctor, this stranger she'd only known for a day. She suddenly felt so inadequate. What if he changed his mind about letting her travel with him, what if his personality had changed so much it would be too different? What if, what if, what if...

She jerked with a start when her phone began to ring. She grabbed her purse sitting on the floor and scrambled to find her phone. Who the hell could it be? Her mum was over in the next room and Mickey had just said goodbye to her only a few minutes ago. The Doctor was most likely tinkering in his TARDIS, adapting to his new likes, dislikes and mannerisms. He wouldn't be thinking to call her now, so who...?

"Hello?"

"Rose?" Her heart leapt into her throat at the familiar Northern brogue.

"D-Doctor? Is it...is it really you?"

"It's me, Rose." His voice was strained, like he was in pain.

"What...where are you?" She'd be lying if she said she didn't want to see him again.

"I'm in the TARDIS. It's minutes after what happened on the Game Station." Rose's memories of what had happened were still hazy, all she could remember was a glowing light and the most beautiful song she had ever heard. She could still hear it if she thought hard enough, but it was fading too, like the familiar smell of her first Doctor.

"You're calling from the past." It was more of a statement than a question. She could nearly hear his nod.

"You're unconscious just a few feet away from me."

"But, why are you calling me?" She strained to think of any reason the Doctor who stayed away from 'domestic' like the plague would take the time to call her in the future, but couldn't come up with one.

"I called to say I'm sorry. I should have told you about regeneration sooner, but I was naive, thinking I'd never destroy this form so fast. It's definitely the shortest time I've had in a body." The words sounded like nonsense to her, but she knew he was telling the truth. She wouldn't have believed him a few days ago, but now...

"How many bodies have you had?" She knew it really wasn't something to talk about now, of all things, but honestly she wanted to prolong this conversation as long as possible. She most likely only had a few minutes left with him.

"This is my Ninth. The one you're with now is my Tenth."

"What makes you think I'm still with you?" She let a smile grace her lips and she let out a small chuckle to let him know she was joking. She heard a short laugh from the other end.

"Because I know you, Rose Tyler." She shivered, loving the way he said her name, with such reverence and care. The smile fell from her face as fast as it had come.

"I thought I knew you." With a flash she remembered what she had confessed to her mum earlier in the kitchen.

"I thought I knew him, mum...He left me!"

The other side of the line was quiet for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry." He whispered and immediately Rose felt sorry.

"It's okay. I forgive you. So much." She heard a grunt of pain and her heartbeat sped up, the image of him bent over and clutching his stomach assaulting her memory. The fear and worry that had struck her in that moment... "I'm dying." The Doctor's next words snapped her out of the nightmare.

"I better go." He said, and Rose rushed to say what was on her mind before he could hang up.

"Doctor...did you kiss me?" It felt more like a dream than reality, but she wanted to know, sure that her new Doctor wouldn't tell her.

"I did." He chuckled again. "Sentimental me. There were any number of ways to remove the vortex from you. I'm sorry if it changes your view of me."

"No, of course not. And thank you. You saved my life."

"And you saved mine. Be good to him Rose." With that Rose looked up and saw the new Doctor standing in her doorway. She hadn't even heard the door open. He gave her a sort of sad, knowing smile. Hopefully he hadn't heard her question about the kiss. Or didn't remember it, for that matter. Rose tried to keep the blush off her face as she continued to talk with her Doctor long gone.

"Doctor, just one more question. Is he really you?" Her eyes flicked back to her new pinstriped-clad Doctor. She watched as he mouthed the words at the same time she heard them in her ear.

"Always." She hung up the phone seconds after he hung up. She looked up at her Doctor and invited him in. He sat on the edge of her bed and tried not to frown, seeing the tear tracks on her face.

"Your mum's gonna kill me if she finds me in here." He said as more of a distraction. This made Rose chuckle as she grabbed a kleenex off her nightstand and wiped the moisture off her face.

"Thank you." She said, irritated that she felt her eyes filling up again. Stupid, sentimental...

"You did take it rather hard." She didn't reply to that, merely threw her arms around him and hugged him. Sure, she'd always miss her first Doctor, but she'd be damned if she let any minute she had with this second chance slip by.

"Always."

Thoughts? I thought it kinda ridiculous that Clara refused to accept Twelve because he was so old (psht), when she had seen the War Doctor and Ten in the 50th Anniversary, not to mention seeing his whole timeline and every one of his regenerations from the beginning. I know, Rose had it easier, but still. Psht. Haha! Btw I didn't think Nine would care too much about his appearance, after all, maybe he had some sort of hazy memory of already seeing him before in the 50th ;) Please be a dear and alert/favorite/review! :)