Curb Appeal

.

A/N: Paddington - thank you so much. I wish you had an account so that you would know how much I appreciated all the kind words you sent my way. I hope you'll like the ending as well. :o)

Previously in Chapter Six...

.

The Doctor stepped next to Jackie, placing his hand on her forehead briefly before nodding to himself at the normal, human temperature he felt. He then took three steps over until he was in front of Rose. She stirred slightly with his movement but did not awaken. Her coloring was good and her breathing was normal, as he expected.

He sighed, deciding to let both Jackie and Rose rest for a while. It was the best medicine he could prescribe for them both. He sat down in the cushioned chair next to the door, allowing himself a bit of a respite while still being close by in case either of them should need him. And if this stretched into an hour or two of peaceful bliss before the two Tylers awoke, well, that was simply a bonus.

.

Chapter Seven:

All's Well That Ends Well, Really.

.

Jackie began to rouse first, under the Doctor's cautious watch from his perch now leaning against the largest of two beige dressers. He'd stood up as soon as he'd heard the change in her breathing pattern, tempted to run into the corridor. Instead he'd stayed within the room, ready to face whatever wrath the woman offered him. He was due, he realized.

As she became more focused she moaned, and the Doctor walked beside her bed. "Jackie?"

"What?" she nearly snapped, rubbing her palms up and down on her face, covering it. Quite suddenly she opened her hands to peek out at him. "Doctor?"

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"Where's Rose?" She dropped her hands and sat up.

The Time Lord stepped to the side, his right hand sweeping through the air where he'd just stood, drawing her attention. Jackie's eyes followed the movement, landing on Rose lying on the bed across from her.

"Is she -"

"Sleeping comfortably," he interrupted quietly. "I've repaired her injuries from the accident, and she's fine. So I'll ask again. How are you feeling?"

Jackie swung her legs off the side of the bed and stood before the Doctor could stop her. He backed a little away from her, the action one of self preservation. Luckily for him, she fell back on the bed with a squeak of surprise as opposed to falling on the floor. Nevertheless, he was in front of her again, grasping her shoulders to help her balance.

"What is it with you Tyler women? Always on the move long before your bodies are ready for it," he huffed.

"Suppose it's in the genes," Rose replied sleepily from behind him.

"You're awake." The Time Lord grinned, turning to see Rose but still supporting Jackie.

"Yeah, and you're still in one piece. Pretty amazin' if you ask me," Rose teased.

"Rose?" her mother inquired.

"I'm all right Mum. Really," she reassured.

Both she and the Doctor watched as Jackie broke into tears.

Rose stood unfalteringly and stepped over to her mother, sitting down beside her and hugging her tightly. "It's all right, Mum. I'm really all right," she whispered as tears prickled her own eyes. The Doctor stepped away from them, letting them have a few moments as he stood near the doorway.

"Thank God," Jackie whispered, holding her daughter firmly. She leaned back long enough to kiss Rose on her forehead, then nearly crushed her in another fierce hug.

"Well," the Time Lord began a bit smugly, "I wouldn't go that far, but I do good work, I'll admit." He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest and rocking back and forth on his heels, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Rose instantly backed away from Jackie, concern all over her face at her mother's suddenly stiff posture. Before she realized what was happening Jackie was standing, her body mere inches from the Doctor's.

"Who the hell do you think you are!?" Jackie spat in his face. "She is MY child. Mine! Not yours!"

"Jackie ... I, I didn't mean to -"

"No!" She backed away from him but was still within reaching distance. "Tell me, Doctor. Tell me how you didn't mean to snatch my daughter from my hands. Tell me how you didn't mean to run, just to keep her away from me, an' all the while she was hurt an' she was bleedin' an' you ..." She paused, breathing heavily through her nose. "You!" she growled, her index finger poking him in his chest. "You left me outside while you brought Rose in here to play God, and by God, you damned well better be grateful you succeeded, because if you hadn't -"

"Mum!" Rose was suddenly beside her mother. She placed her hand calmly across Jackie's arm, the one that was currently assaulting the Time Lord. "Mum? I'm better because of him. He wasn't thinkin' about what he was doin' to you. Can't you see? He was only worried about fixin' me and makin' me all right. And he did it. Please don't hate him because of it?"

"I don't hate him because of it, Sweetheart," she said softly to Rose, placing a hand on her daughter's cheek. "I'm really grateful. He saved my baby."

The Doctor grinned, pleased with the outcome as he looked from Rose to Jackie. "Looks like it's time for a group hug," he spoke cheerfully.

The next thing he knew, he was on the floor.

Rose had no time to react to her mother's sudden fury, watching as Jackie's hands balled into fists and her face grew red with fury. She hadn't slapped the Time Lord. No, she'd punched him so hard she literally wiped the smile from his face, landing him in the doorway, half in the bedroom and half in the hallway.

"Doctor!" Rose called with alarm. She was crouched beside him instantly, watching as he propped himself up on his left elbow while bringing his right hand to his mouth. When he pulled the appendage back, he raised his eyebrows at the blood he saw on his fingertips. His eyes moved up to meet Jackie's.

"Feel better now?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, believe I do, thanks," she replied with an equally sarcastic tone.

OoO

It took two long days of feeling practically imprisoned in the Tyler home before the Doctor felt it was safe for him to bring up the subject of his and Rose's departure. He'd felt certain that Rose should be the one to talk to Jackie about them traveling again, but when he'd raised his eyebrows to encourage her, she shook her head vigorously back and forth in refusal.

When he finally did mention it over dinner, Jackie was surprisingly calm and compliant.

"You feeling all right, Jackie?" the Time Lord had asked, only to get kicked under the table by Rose.

"Course I'm all right. It's just that after what happened to Rose, I figure out there in space isn't much different than bein' right here in London. As long as you'll make sure she's taken care of an' all."

"I will, Jackie, I promise you that."

"You'd better. You thought I hit you hard before? Well, just let me find out you allowed someone or somethin' to hurt my baby. Hell hath no fury like a Tyler," she told him, emphasizing her words as she pointed her fork at him threateningly.

The Doctor stared at her, his jaw slack.

"I think I'll be the safest girl in all the galaxies," Rose told her mother, smiling confidently.

"Yes." The Doctor cleared his throat. "Quite."

"Good." Jackie nodded. "Now who wants dessert?"

OoO

The End.

OoO