Curb Appeal

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Previously in Chapter One...

There was wind, or was that breathing? Rose listened and determined it was a combination of both. Someone was breathing heavily, and as some of her senses began to focus, she realized that someone was carrying her. And it hurt. She moaned again.

"Almost there, Rose. We're almost there. Just hang on ... Please." That was the Doctor's voice. He was still carrying her, and he sounded nearly breathless and quite worried. She remembered he was carrying her before, but nothing else as her pain faded and she lost consciousness once more.

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Chapter Two:

Blame

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Her thoughts teased her with false memories of a mountaintop and intimacy with the Doctor. But there had been no mountain, and they had not been intimate. Somehow she knew that but did not know how she knew. What had happened to her, and why was he carrying her in what felt like the coldness of a winter storm? If only she could open her eyes...

Rose heard the sound of the Doctor's key in the TARDIS lock, the noise unique and welcoming. Next she heard the doors slam closed behind them, then the hum of the ship as it comforted and calmed her thoughts. Heated air surrounded her, and she knew it was the warmth of coming home.

The Doctor was still carrying her, but his steps were more even and her pain not as severe with each one now.

"Stay with me, Rose. Stay with me," the Doctor's voice washed over her, repeating his words over and over again. She wanted to look at him, wanted to see his face and calm his worry and tell him that she knew - knew - he would make everything all right. But her eyes still refused to obey her wishes.

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He laid her down and she immediately felt bereft without his arms around her, shivering from his abandonment. A blanket was placed over her, though it was hardly a replacement for his touch.

"You're in shock, Rose. It's why you feel so cold. But I'll fix that. Have you back to normal in no time. Good as new. You hear me?" His voice held a hint of desperation and she moaned once more, trying to speak and failing miserably.

"I know it hurts, but I'll fix that too, you'll see." His voice was fading in and out, and she wondered if it was because of him moving around the room or her body trying to coax her into the pain-free bliss of unconsciousness again.

"So much blood," she heard him whisper to himself. His voice sounded almost confused, and she wondered if he was trying to figure out where to begin. She must've been hurt pretty badly. If only she could remember how...

"I'm giving you something for the pain. I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I know on some level you're feeling at least some discomfort. This," he paused and she heard the sound of a hypo, hissing just below her left ear, "will make you a bit numb for a while. You won't feel any pain, and when you wake it'll be all sorted."

Again she tried to speak to him, but only succeeded in grunting slightly in response. She felt his hand cup her cheek, brushing the hair back slightly. "It's all right, Rose. I promise you, it will be all right. Sleep, now, and when you awaken things will seem much better."

She could feel herself slipping away, and hoped it was the medication he'd administered and nothing more. Her last thought was affectionate as she felt him place a kiss to her forehead.

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The Doctor looked down upon Rose, her body bloodied and broken. Tears stung in his eyes as he processed the enormity of the work ahead of him. He would not fail her. Would not let her leave him. Even if it meant turning back time.

He'd pulled several pieces of equipment within reach upon arriving in the Infirmary, and now the Doctor removed the blanket he'd placed over her for comfort and began scanning Rose, checking every bone and every ligament. She had a broken left femur and radius, but he could easily mend them as soon as his scans were done. He'd also discovered her left ankle bruised to the bone. He continued, grabbing one of his more sophisticated scanners to check for internal hemorrhaging. He needed to know all the damage her body had sustained in order to determine which repair would take priority.

The Time Lord stood back for a moment, wiping his forehead as he clicked off the last instrument he'd used. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. It could've been so much worse. In fact, he had truly believed that it was. But his Rose, she was sturdy and strong. And they had been ... lucky - this time.

After mending the broken bones and healing the deep contusions, he rolled over a stainless steel stool beside his unconscious companion. Setting another tray beside him, the Doctor sat down and began cutting away her clothing. Much of it had been pasted to her skin by the blood seeping from her cuts and abrasions, but he pulled the cloth away as gently as he could.

"How do I let you get into these situations?" he asked as he removed the layers of cloth, uncovering more of her injuries to his eyes. "Why do I put you in them?"

After getting Rose undressed, the Doctor began washing away the evidence of his failure, revealing scrapes and cuts and bruising as he cleansed the wounds, determining their order of repair by the severity of each injury.

There were so many wounds on her once perfect skin. Oh, the dermal regenerator would repair the damage. It would generate new skin and leave it scar free. But what of the emotional scars this ordeal would leave upon her? Could he magically fix them as well?

He was so stupid. This was his fault - his blame to take and no one else's - and he wondered if she'd ever forgive him for it.

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