A/N: I really wasn't expecting so many positive reviews for the first chapter, but I'm very pleased by it. I was a bit afraid that the style I chose to open the story with was going to be a problem, but I'm glad people liked it.

S o m e t i m e s

The stupid things people say can lead to good ideas.

"She doesn't talk much does she?"

"Would you let it go, Linda?" Jamie gave his female companion an annoyed look. "She says what she needs to, maybe she's happy that way. Stop trying to make it your business."

Linda just rolled her eyes. She was used to Jamie's annoyance with her. They had worked together ever since Torchwood re-opened, along with their currant conversation topic, Rose Tyler. The blond girl had just shown up one day, claming to have a good amount of alien knowledge. Of course she backed her claim up, but that didn't stop Jamie from taking an instant dislike to her. He always had a problem with people who kept to themselves and had "smarts", as he usually put it. Jamie pegged her as a snob that was hung up about something.

Although Linda was a bit less brash about things, she had to agree that Rose seemed to be stuck on something from her past. The way she stared off into space when she had a bit of free time gave Linda the chills. It was as though the sadness Rose was feeling just sort of emanated from her. It was a feeling beyond description, just, empty. Completely empty.

There was a suspicion that Rose knew more then she let on. That further set her apart from the other workers. Everyone seemed to be on edge around her. It started from the first day when Rose walked around the building as though it wasn't the first time. She didn't know the halls like the back of her hand by any means, but it was as though she had already been there before. People thought she was from the main branch checking in on the productivity, making little cuts here and there and weeding out the useless workers.

Linda wasn't convinced that was the story. She wasn't sure why, but that just didn't sound right in her mind.

"How could you think she's happy? Look at her face. She looks like she's about to cry," Linda replied indignantly. She forked her salad a few times before deciding against another bite. "Her eyes are always so glossy," she added as an after thought.

"Maybe she does drugs?" Jamie offered, not really paying attention. Linda smacked him up side the head. "What the hell was that for?"

Linda smacked him again. "The fact that you are asking that is a testament to Torchwood's "Non-discriminative" policies." Jamie gave her a confused look. "Did you lie about graduating high school on your application? Torchwood does regular drug tests, so there is no way she could be doing anything like that."

"D'you have to insult my intelligence?" The look Linda gave him was answer enough. "Fine, then. Well if you don't like my answers go ask her yourself," Jamie said defensively. He knew that was the one thing that would shut Linda up. Even though she was the only one who didn't think Rose was from the main branch, Linda was still too frightened to actually say anything to her.

The familiar perk of Linda's shoulders brought a smirk to Jamie's face. The slight twist of her lips made him grin. When Linda stood up from her chair and marched over to Rose, Jamie nearly had a heart attack.

She had started with unshakable determination. However, the closer she got to Rose the less she felt she could go through with her intent. Rose Tyler was not exactly the intimidating type. In fact, if it weren't for her dead stare and empty vibe, she would be very approachable. Still, Linda was set to prove that she could talk to the un-talkable.

"Um, hi there, Rose right? D'you mind if I sit here?" Linda asked, pulling out the chair across from Rose. Her response was a small nod. Linda hoped the gesture was a good one. "So, how are things?" she began, making awkward conversation. It was strange. For all the fear she had to talk to Rose, it didn't show in her voice. It reassured her that Rose was a good person, just a very sad one at that.

Rose didn't answer right away, she just sort of looked at Linda. If her gaze hadn't been so intense, Linda would have sworn Rose was looking through her. "Things have been better," She finally said.

Jamie's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He was in complete shock that Rose was able to respond to anything other then work related conversation. Linda had heard his slight gasp that he had tried to play off as a cough. She used her will power not to turn around and stick out her tongue. "What's been wrong?" Linda ventured a bit daringly.

"Everything," Rose said. Her voice sounded on the edge of breaking. Linda was not prepared for this. She had expected Rose to keep everything to herself, maybe indulge in a bit of mindless chatter at most. "This world is wrong," Rose spoke again.

"What do you mean?" Linda pressed. She didn't know what was making her pry. Maybe it was to prove Jamie wrong. Maybe it was the look in Rose's eyes. Maybe it was that those words sounded right coming from Rose Tyler.

Rose reached out her hand and held Linda's loosely. A small, sad ghost of a smile flickered on her lips like a dying candle flame before burning out. "I don't belong here. I belong with him," she explained. It would have sounded crazy if anyone else had said it. Linda knew that Rose was right, whatever she was saying. It was a strange sort of ultimate trust that only two complete strangers could have. Rose needed someone, and Linda had been the only one to try.

"Does anyone else know this?" Linda asked. She knew Rose had a family, but she wondered if they knew about her sadness.

"Yes. But there isn't much they can do. They want me to be happy. They tell me it's what he would have wanted, but I know better. He would have wanted me to find a way back, even though I know he'd never say it." Tears formed in Rose's eyes, but she was smiling. Whoever she was talking about made her smile. He was probably the only one who could help her now.

Linda held Rose's hand more tightly. "Isn't there a way you can reach him, a letter, email, maybe a phone?"

"No, he has no permanent address," Rose laughed at this. Linda figured it must have been an inside joke between the two. "He doesn't do the whole computer thing, really," She continued. "And I doubt my phone can reach his," Rose added softly. Linda saw her free hand slip into the pocket where she was known to keep the "broken phone".

"No doubt your phone can't reach his," Jamie said from his seat across the room. "The model is so old it's obsolete." Linda glared daggers at Jamie.

"No, the phone is better then it looks," Rose explained. "It's a super phone."

"Then why can't it reach him if it's so super?" Jamie spat back.

"Jamie! Shut it!" Linda scolded. "Rose, ignore him."

"Oi!"

"No. Oh my God, he's right. I never even tried that!" Rose was nearly screaming with joy. She ran over to Jamie and hugged him before dashing out of the room, the phone already in her hand.

Jamie and Linda sat there silently for a moment. Both where confused by Rose's sudden change in personality. Linda smiled slightly, then stuck her tongue out at Jamie. She stopped gloating however when she saw her friend's face. "Jamie? What is it?"

"Nah," Jamie said, shaking his head slightly. "Couldn't be. I thought that key of hers was glowing."

O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

A/N: well that's it for chapter 2. I thought I would start out by showing Rose through the eyes of another person. The Narrative of the story will probably jump around from person to person. It's kind of a new style for me, so bear with. Thank you, and please review.