Chapter 4

Richard Red sat on the expensive leather sofa reclined in his finely dressed business suit. He had opened his jacket and unfastened the first top two buttons on his shirt and had pocketed his tie. In his hand he nursed a glass of ice water served to him by the maid, but it was more a tool to occupy his hands than a means to quell his thirst. He sighed loudly in the richly furnished home and brushed his blond hair out of his eyes. He really needed a haircut and made a mental note to do so. Except, he couldn't stop feeling antsy. He nervously bobbed his knee up and down and kept looking at the stairs for any sign of Rose.

He wanted to tell her something important. Something serious he had done, but there was no way to determine which way it would pan out. Would things work out in his favor? He could only hope. Yeah, hope was on the line—the hope that Rose Tyler, wonderful mystery woman of the world would choose him.

He knew he had the advantage. Rose had been dating him now for almost 3 months, but they weren't yet serious. No, they were somewhere in-between—not just friends, but not quiet boyfriend/girlfriend.

Red took a long swallow of his drink and felt the cold liquid ride all the way down to his stomach.

God, sometimes he really hated being a psychic. He felt it was more trouble then it was worth, but he knew he had it better than most. He knew he was a strong psychic, and only a handful that could best him, but sometimes knowing something you were better off not was like a cruel joke.

It his pesky mind reading ability that had landed him in this fix in the first place. For the longest time, his relationship with Rose Tyler had been great. They met as work, colleges at Torchwood Paris. He was recently reassigned to take over the position as special analyst after she had a falling out this her friend, Doctor John Smith. He didn't think much of it. It never even crossed his mind what type of relationship the two might of had, but he got wind that the two had been an item. It did surprised him when she decided to go out on a date.

He was happy. He had noticed her from the start, but—things were complicated and not just on her end—no, like the Doctor, he was an alien too.

Red took one more look at the stairs and looked at his wristwatch. She was late. Then, suddenly he heard her footsteps and saw her standing before him. He smiled and rose to greet her. She framed his face with her hands and gave him a kiss.

"Hi. Sorry to keep you waiting, but fabulous takes time."

"For you my lady, it is worth it."

Rose laughed and dragged Red back to the sofa. She cuddled up to his side and squeezed his hand.

"So, what was so urgent that you had to come see me?"

"Rose…I have to tell you something important. I adore you, but you must know things about me before we make any promises. I want to be honest with you and I want you to be honest with me."

"Of course, Richard. You can tell me anything."

Red adjusted his seat on the sofa and angled himself to face her and took one of her hands.

"Rose, I know that we've both seen things while working for Torchwood so the thought of aliens isn't such a stretch, but—Rose, I am an alien."

"What?"

"I'm an alien."

"You don't look alien."

"Overall, I'm not much different from a human."

Rose shook her head, completely exasperated, "What is it with me and aliens?"

"You mean the Doctor. I guess you're just lucky."

"Wait, how you know about the Doctor being an alien?"

"Rose, I said I was overall like a human, but I do have abilities that humans don't. I'm a psychic and I can live about three times longer."

Alarmed, she shouted, "So, you read my mind?"

Rose pulled her hand free from his grasp, but didn't move away. She'd worked long enough with Richard to know he was safe. It was one of the things she liked about him. However, it did explain a lot. Richard Red was a great special analyst. He knew loads about different alien spock that he was almost as good as the Doctor. Yet, Rose still didn't like it when aliens read her mind. To her it was an invasion of privacy.

"I didn't read your mind intentionally. Personally, I don't like reading minds at all, but that day when you kissed me. It caught me off guard. I'm sorry."

Rose felt better after the explanation and she vividly remember the sudden passionate kiss she gave him after a wonderful victory against some badies.

"No, it's ok, yeah? Just don't let it happen again, not without telling me."

"I promise." Rose smiled at the word. God, she couldn't ever get her Doctor to promise her anything. However, with Richard it came so easy. Richard had a strange Old World quality about him like he fell out of a romance novel. He always liked to call her his lady and had good manners and was a real stickler for good hygiene. In fact, this was probably the first time she ever saw him take off his tie.

"Where'd you learn to act human? From a chick novel or something?"

"Chick novel? No, my manners are actually old habits from my past. Where I'm from, there was a war and I was created to be an integrator and infatuate the enemy. You'd be surprised how far flattery can get you. However, I deserted. I was made to break minds, but I didn't like my work."

Rose was shocked, "You were a spy? And you just up and defected?"

"Yes."

"Wow. So, that's way you never like talking about your past? Like were you grew up and everything?"

"I didn't grow up, Rose. I was created in a lab."

"Right, like a test-tube baby, but faster. I've read of that. And you're telling me this now cause you want to go steady?"

Red laughed and gently brushed her hair away from her face. She was so accepting,

"Not just that above all else I want you happy and I knew you knowing the truth about me would make you happy. However, my lady I can't help knowing you're just with me cause you're on the rebound."

"No, there isn't anyone else."

"Rose, please. I read your mind and I hate myself for it because I know what you're really thinking. You still think about your Doctor, you still think about him even when you're with me."

Rose got up from her seat and turned her back to Red. She tried to hold back a sob and rubbed her eye. She said, "It isn't fair. I don't want to think about him, but I can't. I want to move on with my life, but I can't. I can't be with the other-Doctor and I can never see the proper Doctor again. I've got no choice. I really wish I could stop thinking about him."

She then walked up to Red and looked at him with her red eyes and said, "It isn't fair. And I can't help what I'm thinking."

Red hugged Rose tightly and rubbed her back.

"Rose, I said I want you happy, no matter what, you should get what you want. So, I've made you a miracle."

Rose sniffled into his suit and mumbled, "What?"

"I've got the Doctor."

Rose pulled back confused. "What do you mean? No. That's impossible! The Doctor said it was impossible. He said the walls were closed. You don't know what you're saying."

She then turned to storm away and left the living room. She was fuming with rage. How many bombshells was the man going to make? First, hello I'm an alien and now, yeah I just pop on over and did the impossible. Piece of cake!

Suddenly, Rose heard a knock on the backdoor. It was probably the grosser again to drop off the weekly order. She swiftly grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open and she couldn't believe her eyes.

There, right in front of her was her old Doctor. There he was all black leather and blue eyes giving her a cheesy grin. She literally felt her brain stop working. It was like it turned into mush and was leaking out her ears.

She slowly turned and saw standing next to him was her last Doctor. The new Doctor. The babbling, hopping mad brown Doctor in a trench coat. Rose suddenly felt like she couldn't breath. Her vision began to fade and before she knew it, she fainted.

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Sorry if it comes off a tease, but I felt I needed to give Richard Red a background story. He can't be a staker. He's got to be a real contender. I was thinking a brawl for next time. A three man smack down.

And, thanks to the following for your reviews. I live off reviews, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Thanks:

Sunfall E -- I keep thinking they should get 10 and 9 to meet in the real show someday. Dreamcatcher49 -- I hope the challenger doesn't disappoint. It was either going to be an OC or a Dalek. LOL. clarklit05 -- Thanks.