A/N Rose is ready to get back to a semblance of normal living, but she and "her doctor" don't quite see eye-to-eye on how much she's ready for.
This chapter was originally going to be twice as long, but it was becoming a beast to edit with my current schedule. Rather than delay posting longer, I'll break it in half so I can get this up quicker, with the next part to follow soon. :)
Chapter 20
A week had now passed since Rose had lost her most recent memories of the past four years. Since their first session, the Doctor had worked with her a little each day in hopes of restoring what had been lost. Although there had been progress made with some of her clouded memories from between the ages of eighteen and nineteen becoming a little clearer, her more resent memories – specifically ones including the Doctor – had not returned. Although he had not voiced his fears, the Doctor knew there was the chance that the damage might prove to be just too extensive.
Trying to at least remain optimistic, the Doctor thought ahead on how to prepare for the best way to handle it if those memories did begin to return. If they began trickling in slowly, then Rose's first reaction would no doubt be to question what had become of the version of the Doctor she had first known. Now that could get tricky. On the one hand, it would be much easier if all of those memories could return at once so there would be no anxiety or confusion or difficult questions to try to explain; but on the other hand, the Doctor feared the sheer magnitude of it all would be far too much for her to withstand in a single deluge and could cause her condition to regress. He would just have to take it with her one step at a time once that point was reached. If that point was reached.
Throughout the week, the Doctor had continued monitoring the progression of the pregnancy through scans with the sonic, but he was growing more and more on edge not being able to perform the comprehensive tests in the infirmary as he would like. Jackie had been the one to try and reassure him over Rose's current health, saying that physically Rose appeared to be doing fine other than normal symptoms such as nausea. The Doctor wasn't one to take any chances, though – especially in this case. He didn't plan on letting any more possible complications blindside him. If much more time passed without being able to give Rose a thorough exam, he was considering administering a sedative so he could bring her onboard the TARDIS. For now, he would give it just a few more days of settling for scans with the sonic.
As for Rose, she was ready to get on with living her life. She was glad for the memories that, with the Doctor's help, had become a little more clear, but she wondered if she would ever fully recover them all. During her sessions with the Doctor, those most damaged memories were still difficult for her to even focus her awareness on, to say nothing of being able to actually see with any kind of clarity. Rose wasn't giving up hope, but regardless of whether or not those memories returned, she wasn't going to let the past hold her back from living in the present. Her mum and the Doctor continued to seem overly watchful of her, and though she appreciated their concern, Rose just wanted to be treated normally again. Despite the Doctor cautioning Rose that her health was still in a delicate state, she thought she was perfectly fine. There was the nausea and occasional tiredness and weird cravings that still persisted, but otherwise she felt mostly recovered from her brain injury and she wanted to get on with living her life.
It was that determination which made Rose decide to leave the flat on her own early one morning without anyone hovering over her. She had a goal in mind, one that her mum and the Doctor might not agree with, so she made the decision without telling anyone first. She simply left a note behind in the flat telling her mum that she had gone out.
Upon waking that morning, the first thing Jackie did was quietly phone Pete, not knowing there was no need to keep her voice down since Rose wasn't even in the flat.
"Good morning, love," came Pete's voice upon answering.
Jackie folded her legs beneath her on the bed and smiled into the phone as she spoke. "S'pose it's good evenin' to you, with the time difference and all. How was your day, then?"
A sigh could be heard on the line. Jackie wasn't sure if he was tired, missing her, or stressed over, well...everything. Probably all three. "The meetings have all been going well. We've made good progress and laid down some solid groundwork. It's just hard to focus on business, though, while thinking about how Rose is getting on...and how much I miss you."
Jackie didn't want him to worry over the current situation when there was nothing he could do to change things, but a part of her was just a little pleased with the admission that he was missing her. "Well, Rose seems to be doing good, aside from still not getting back all of her memories. The Doctor keeps sayin' she just needs more time, though. Time for the damage to heal properly. So I s'pose we both have to just try not to worry. These past few days especially Rose seems to be feeling much better." She paused, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. "And as for missing me...I plan on makin' that up to you as soon as you're able to come back."
Pete smiled genuinely for the first time that day as he relaxed into an overstuffed chair in his hotel suite. "Is that a promise, Mrs. Tyler? And while we're on the subject, just what exactly do you have in mind...?"
Jackie tried for stern but knew the grin could be heard in her voice. "Well I'm not gonna say it over my mobile, am I? Cheeky man. I can just see where your thoughts are headed. Next thing you'll be askin' me what I'm wearin' and trying to seduce me over the phone in that deep voice of yours..."
"Was that a request, my love?" he chuckled, knowing she was rather enjoying the idea. He also knew that beneath their flirting, her mind was still focused on the situation with the Doctor and Rose, even if some of her initial worries had eased. His playful tone softened. "So, you said Rose is still doing okay, considering; but how about you?"
Jackie considered his question as she leaned back against the pillows. "I'm not as worried about her health like I was. I feel better about that. She's gettin' stronger and right now just seems to have normal pregnancy symptoms. Try telling that to the Doctor, though. He tries to reassure me about her memories coming back, but when it comes to her overall health right now I think he's starting to get more on edge than me. He was even talking last night after Rose was asleep about the idea of sedating her so he can get her on the TARDIS for a proper exam. I'm not against being cautious, but it's almost like he's just waiting for something worse to happen."
"Well, you really can't blame him, I suppose, with what's already happened," Pete reasoned.
Jackie sighed. "I s'pose not. I just wish more than anything right now that Rose's life could be back to what it was, back to normal for her and the Doctor both. Not that I'd call the life she had before 'normal,' mind you, but you know what I mean." Jackie smiled slightly. "She'll get there, though. I know she will. You should see the way she looks at him, Pete. Even if she doesn't remember it, I don't think she could ever stop loving that man."
"They might still have some challenges ahead of them, but you're right, Jacks. They'll get through this. Even if it means starting back from the beginning." He hesitated for a second before asking a question that had been at the back of his mind through this. "Speaking of starting new again, has seeing Rose's complications with this given you second thoughts about the plan of us trying to have a baby together sometime in the near future?" Pete's question was asked in a curious tone, but beneath it there was also a little doubt.
"Well, considering my husband's not an alien, I don't think I'd have to worry about any complications quite like hers," Jackie half chuckled. She then continued coyly. "And...maybe you'll find out just how sure I am of the idea of still tryin' once you get back..."
-:-:-:-
After talking with Pete, Jackie slipped on her dressing gown and left her room, heading to the kitchen to start some tea. It was then she found the note Rose had left stuck to the fridge. She was at first surprised, but not overly concerned that Rose had stepped out. She had told Pete she wanted Rose to have her normal life back, and she was glad Rose was now feeling well enough to at least be up and about.
The Doctor, however, didn't take it quite as well once he found out. He came in a few minutes later at his usual time that morning after spending the night in the TARDIS researching all he could about human and Gallifreyan pregnancies, and also memory loss, as had become his new ritual.
When he arrived and learned Rose was gone, his concern kicked into high gear. "What do you mean she's gone?" the Doctor asked in an alarmed tone.
"That's all her note says." Jackie handed him the piece of paper upon which Rose had jotted:
Gone out for a bit. Be back later. Rose xo
The Doctor thrust a hand through his hair and began to pace. "She shouldn't just be out on her own! Any number of things could happen. She could–"
"Doctor," Jackie cut in, "I've been worried sick about Rose through all this, too. But she's gotten so much better now. Don't you think you're over reactin' just a bit? Let her have a little time on her own. Rose is pregnant, not broken," she pointed out with womanly wisdom.
The Doctor stopped his pacing and turned on his heel, looking at her with heightened agitation. "She's not just pregnant, Jackie. It's not that simple. In case you've forgotten this isn't exactly a normal pregnancy – and it almost did break her."
Jackie's hands came to rest on her hips. "Don't go gettin' tetchy with me. I know exactly how serious things have been for my daughter. And I also know that she's well enough right now to have a little time out on her own without expetin' the worst because of it. So you just relax, will ya? Honestly, you're beginning to get as jittery as an ol' woman."
Frowning, the Doctor shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away. He muttered a phrase Jackie didn't quite catch, but something told her he'd just cursed at her under his breath in an alien language. Ordinarily she'd call him on it, but decided he was already too worked up for his own good so she let it slide, shaking her head as she turned back to the kitchen to make breakfast.
After an hour had passed without the return of Rose, and not even knowing for sure how long she had been gone before that, the Doctor was ready to head to the TARDIS to track her whereabouts – whether he would have Jackie's agreement about it or not.
Just about the time he had decided enough was enough, Rose finally returned. Her smiling face as she came through the door was met by the Doctor's stern scowl.
"Where have you been?" he asked without preamble as he swiftly approached.
Rose was taken aback by his demanding tone. "Out," she replied, purposely vague in response to his demand. She wasn't feeble and helpless, and she was tired of being treated as such.
Rose pushed past him and headed to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. The Doctor followed on her heels, not about to leave it at that. He needed her to know the possible seriousness of the situation and that he didn't want her disappearing on her own like this again. Maybe Jackie was right and he was being unreasonably fearful, but he really didn't care.
Jackie could see a lover's row coming on (even if Rose didn't know that's what it was) and decided to detach herself from the situation, using the time to slip into the bedroom and sort through some of Rose's old baby things. She had been getting together a few special, gender-neutral items she wanted to give Rose for the baby – once Rose was actually able to know about the baby again.
She would leave the Doctor and Rose to work this argument out on their own. She had already tried to tell him he was too uptight, and if his reaction to Rose's return was anything to go by then apparently she hadn't gotten through to him. If the Doctor now stuck his foot in it with Rose over this, then that was his responsibility. Maybe next time he would learn listen to her. Somehow she doubted it, though.