Chapter 9

Of all the places Jackie could have taken her, Rose didn't expect to be dragged to James' office. Or that James would be sitting with his head down on a spotless desk in an organized office. Rose didn't know what worried her more, the dark circles and scruffy beard or the organization.

"Rose? Mrs. Tyler? What? Is something wrong?" He ran a hand over his face and stood, his dark eyes running over Rose, his hands twitching at his sides like he wanted to reach for her.

"I'll say somethin's wrong and it ain't the way the two of you are mopin' 'round each other. Someone knows where my Rose lives. Someone that don't like you much Dr. McCrimmon."

"Sit." He moved behind them to shut and lock the door pull the blinds down for good measure. It became clear to Rose exactly how worried her mother was when she didn't make a sharp comment to the Doctor about him ordering her around and instead took a seat and dragged Rose with her.

"Mrs. Tyler, what do you mean, someone that doesn't like me much?"

"Didn't occur to either of you to ask how those newspaper articles turned up so conveniently, did it? No, just moped about and avoided each other…"

James threw his hands up. "I called, I texted, I stopped by!"

Rose looked up at that. "You never stopped by. Mickey never said anythin' about that."

"And I'll get to Mickey in a minute," Jackie interrupted. "Did Rose or Mickey tell you about the man in the suit that stopped by the flat last week?"

James shook his head. "I assumed the clippings had been mailed. It's old news. It's not the first time they've shown up when I've moved on." Grabbing three waters from the mini-fridge, he handed them out and sat on the corner of his desk.

"My father was brilliant but eccentric and he had the mood swings that often accompanied genius. Nothing violent – but he would be surly and moody one minute and then off on another topic the next. My mother was wonderful at handling him, able to coax him out of a funk when an equation won't work out and get him to focus on family for a bit." James tugged at his loosened tie. "He was rubbish at University events and fundraising, so my mother took over that."

"Sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the tree, there." Jackie said.

"Mum!"

"What? 'S true."

Sighing, James nodded. "It is true, Rose, even then people could see it. That's part of the reason they turned on an eight year old boy. The evidence didn't point to me and eventually my grandparents sent me away. Gossip died down. But those articles and rumors followed me. To boarding school, to uni, to my first job."

Rose looked up. "Why didn't you tell me about them when you told me about your parents?"

"Oh, and that's a great conversation when you're getting to know someone; 'By the way, you know how my parents are dead? Well the whole town thought I did it for a while.' I like you Rose and forgive me if I think that screams run as fast as you can in the opposite direction."

Rose twined the newly pink strand of hair around her fingers and chewed her lip. "I get it, I do. I'm lousy at relationships and I guess you could say I've got some trust issues. 'S hard to want one person to be an open book when you wanna lock up tight."

Jackie snorted. "You two make a right pair, you do. Now what are we gonna do about that man at my Rose's door."

Scrubbing a hand over his face, James picked up a small toy brain off his desk and began squeezing it rhythmically.

"Did he look familiar in anyway? Someone you might have seen around here, for instance?"

"Nooo, I don't think I've seen him before."

"Are you sure, Rose? Even picturing him wearing something other than the suit?"

"Hold on a minute, Dr. McCrimmon, why would someone here want to cause you trouble?" Jackie asked.

"I'm an outsider for one. There are people here that resent me for being hired for Wilf's…Dr. Mott's position. Plus the circumstances that surrounded my hiring weren't ideal. That's another problem."

Shaking her head, Rose frowned, "Sorry, Doctor, but I don't think I've ever seen 'im before. And he hadn't been 'round since, least not that Mickey's said."

"Mickey?"

"Yeah. He's been crashin' on the sofa. Says he doesn't want ta leave me alone at night."

James shook his head. "That would explain why every time I came over he would meet me in the stairwell and threaten to toss me out on me head."

Rose gasped. "What! He didn't! Why? I mean, he knew I was confused about you an' all but why wouldn't he say anythin'?"

"Rose Tyler that boy has been sweet on you since the third grade. You've always turned him down but maybe he's lookin' for 'is chance." Jackie smacked at her knee.

"Well, he's not helpin' himself!" Rose snorted.

"Much as I hate to say it, I'm glad Mickey was staying with you Rose. It's not a good idea to be alone until we figure out if this person is just trying to scare you off or if they are planning something else."

"Doctor, I don't want Mickey moving in, I can't sleep with him there as is. He snores, watches too much late night telly, and the kitchen is a mess."

James dropped the little toy brain. "Well, if you wanted to, that is, if you don't have any other options that you want to pursue, you could stay with me."

Rose looked from her mother to the Doctor. "You don't have ta do that ya know."

"I know but I really can't think of a reason why someone would want to personally deliver old clippings to you unless they were monitoring you, watching your movements. And it would throw them off to have you coming and going from my part of town."

Rose had the feeling the Doctor had a good idea of who he wanted to pin this on but wasn't going to say anything around Jackie and she didn't blame him. Her mum was taking this all so well, whether it was because she was truly doing better or because the focus was off her and on Rose, she didn't know. The time alone with the Doctor would give them a chance to talk about everything.

Jackie stood. "Well, then that's settled. Rose, love, I want you to call me when you get to work and when you leave."

"Mum, I work such odd hours…"

"How about this, Mrs, Tyler, Rose will call you when she gets to work. That should work out with you starting your new job. She'll call me if she's finished in the middle of the day and I'm still here or I'll plan on meeting her at Henrick's in the evening if she works late?"

Jackie nodded then leaned down and kissed her daughter. "I suppose that will have to do. Take care of yourself, love. Doctor, walk me back?"

As she swept out the door, James sent Rose a panicked look and for the first time in a week she found herself smiling.

"Wait here for me? I'll only be a few minutes."

Glancing around, Rose noticed just how different James's office looked this time from her previous visit. It wasn't just that the boxes and files were put away; most of the toys that were scattered around last time were now out of sight. The spider plant was missing and so was the little basketball net above the waste paper bin. It looked sterile and ordinary, nothing at all like James. In a way, it reminded her of James's flat, nice to look at (posh in the case of the flat) but reflected nothing of its owner.

"Why Miss Tyler, what a delightful surprise. I must say I am surprised to find you keeping such unsavory company."

Rose clasped her hands together tightly in an effort to keep from bolting out of the room. That voice slithered over her and seeped into her very marrow, chilling her. Harold Saxon.

Wanting to face him eye to eye, she stood, bracing her bum against the desk.

"Dr. Saxon. Dr. McCrimmon is takin' my mum back to her room. He should only be a few minutes."

Saxon stepped into the office. "Well, a few minutes of your time should be all I need. Really, Miss Tyler, I would think you'd have better taste than to waste your time on an imbecile like Dr. McCrimmon."

Jutting her chin forward, Rose growled, "Who I spend my time with is none of your business, Dr. Saxon. And I think my taste has gotten better over the years."

Stepping forward, Harold gripped her chin. "Are you so sure about that, Rose? Poor little Estate chav raised by an unstable single mother. Your taste in men is bound to lean on the…unsavory side, wouldn't you say? Maybe…repeating past mistakes?"

Rose wrenched her head away. "Whadda you know about it?"

Saxon chuckled and was about to reply when James came in.

"Rose! Are you alright?"

She moved without thinking, her feet just took her there while Saxon was distracted. She darted around the other man and tucked herself into James's side.

"I'm alright. I think Dr. Saxon was leavin'."

"Hmmm, yes, if that's what you'd like. I was just here to check up on Dr. McCrimmon and see if his day had gotten any worse. Unfortunately, it seems to have gotten better." He winked at Rose. "Think about what I said Rose."

When he left, James looked down at her and fingered the pink strand of hair. "Are you sure you're okay."

She laced their fingers together. "Can we just go to my flat? Please? I just don't wanna think about things for a bit. I know it's early…"

"No, I can go. You're sure you want to stay with me?"

Rose smiled. In for a penny…