Curb Appeal
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Previously in Chapter Four...
A scuffling noise to his right had the Doctor turning and looking around to the side of the TARDIS. There he watched Jackie stand up. She was soaked through and through, her clothes hanging heavily on her body.
Her face was smeared in make-up, mascara streaking down her cheeks to her chin. Her hair was askew, wet and stringy like a pup who'd been playing in puddles. But it was her eyes that caught his attention the most. They lacked all hope, looking dead to the world around her.
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Chapter Five:
Distraught
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He'd expected her onslaught the moment he'd opened the doors. Had known her verbal lashing was the least of his worries as Jackie would surely strike him over and over again. But she made no move toward him. Instead, her eyes looked at his face then wandered down to his shirt and stayed there.
The Time Lord followed her gaze, allowing himself to see what she did: Blood. There was so much of it. The rain was already mingling with it, causing the smears to enlarge slightly on the material.
"Jackie, it's not -"
He never finished the sentence, stopping to catch the mother of his best friend as she fell to the pavement.
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Carrying Jackie Tyler was not the easiest of feats for the Doctor, but somehow he managed to lift her and take her inside his ship. Rain water dripped a trail from the doors to the jump seat, causing an odd hiss from below the gratings, but he paid it no mind.
Sitting Jackie up and propping her in place with his right hand, he called to her while retrieving his sonic screwdriver with his left. He'd placed it in his pants pocket absently whilst working on Rose in the Infirmary; he was grateful now that he had.
Concern crossed his features as he scanned Jackie's head, worrying that somehow he'd missed something earlier during his cursory examination of her. Reading nothing other than the contusions he already knew of, he changed the settings on the tool and scanned her again. The Doctor frowned. Apparently he had caused this.
Stretching her across the bench, he replaced the sonic in his pocket then lifted her dead weight into his arms with a grunt. Whispering words of apology, he carried Jackie down the corridor.
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The guest room he first came to was large and beige, very beige. The walls were a darker shade of the color, and the duvets were lighter with a pattern of small, pastel flowers embroidered across them. There were pieces of off-white (beige) furniture arranged throughout, and plush light tan (dark beige) carpeting from wall to wall. Somehow though, the Doctor thought that Jackie would find it calming, and perhaps comforting.
Two double beds were centered across from each other on the farthest wall by a bedside table, and the Time Lord wasted no time choosing the one closest to the bathroom to lay Rose's mother upon. Stretching her out comfortably, he lifted her eyelids and observed the pupils' reactions. Whispering an apology to her again, he walked away, returning from the bathroom with sufficient supplies to clean her up properly.
His first priority was to remove her wet clothing. It was yet another thing he knew she'd castigate him for as he listed her reasons in his mind like lessons on a chalkboard. But he'd done this to her, and he was going to make it right; possible injury to himself for his actions was likely, but he realized it was deserved. Still though, he placed his fingers to her temples, giving her mind the slightest of nudges to remain asleep until he was done. There was no need to tempt his fate earlier than necessary after all, and he was sure she needed the rest.
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After cleaning away the make-up smears and sorting a few minor scrapes and contusions, the Doctor dressed Jackie in a pair of loose sweats he'd 'borrowed' from Rose's dresser before walking to the Infirmary. The sedative he'd given Rose was fast acting and lasted only a little while, its main use to induce a deep, restful sleep, but not keep the patient under its influence for long. Even though he stepped quietly as he walked into the sterile room, Rose still stirred when he entered it.
"Doctor?"
"Rose." He offered a soft smile to his companion as he sat beside her on the couch. "How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good, I think," she replied, stretching herself then sitting up beside the Time Lord with his help.
She looked him over for a few moments, leaning back slightly.
"What?" he asked, slightly unnerved by her sudden scrutiny.
"Was just lookin' for bruises. You did go find my mum, didn't you?"
"Yes," he sighed, looking away from her.
"Doctor? What's wrong?"
"She really is fine, Rose. But she exhausted herself both physically and emotionally. When I went out to talk to her, she'd been sitting out beside the TARDIS, waiting in the rain. She was cold and distraught, and when she saw my shirt -"
"With my blood on it," Rose whispered.
"Yes. I tried telling her you were all right, but she passed out on me before the words came out."
"You shouldn't've left her like that. She passed out 'cause she was worried about me, and you could've prevented that just by lettin' her in the door with you. Hell, she passed out probably thinkin' I was dead!" Rose accused.
"I know that and I'm sorry, I truly am. But that stranger was helping her chase me down, and I didn't want him in coming in here. I didn't have time to go through the whole 'bigger on the inside' chat. Besides, I really wasn't thinking too clearly, and I wasn't worried about her hurt feelings, Rose," the Doctor defended himself. "I was more concerned with saving your life."
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