Doctor. Doctor, why isn't it working?" Rose leaned over his shoulder as the Doctor attempted to open the door with the new make-shift sonic screwdriver.

"I don't know…" His brow was furrowed in concentration. He straightened, banged the thing a couple of times and flicked the switch again. Nothing.

Rose sighed. "What's wrong with it?"

"I don't kno—OH!" He smacked himself in the forehead.

"You know what's wrong with it?" Rose asked hopefully.

"Ohh yes! I'm brilliant! Of course! All I need to do is reattach the central ion fluctuator and add a bit of that bithsanium metal back there, and then use the field methaline conductor and switch around the metal shie—"

"Doctor. As much as I adore you talking tech-y on me, could you just—" She gestured with her hands. "Could you just, you know. Fix it. So we can get out of here?"

The Doctor stared at her a minute. "Oh. Right. Of course." He grinned and then sat back down by his pile of mechanical scraps, fixing his new sonic screwdriver. "This one doesn't have as sleek a design as my last one, of course, but it should do the trick."

"And you should be able to fix it when we get out of here too," Rose added.

"Right. Of course." He quietly became absorbed into his project. "Aha!" he exclaimed about twenty minutes later. "Done! It should work now!" He bounced to his feet and hurried to the door.

Rose was at his shoulder, waiting with anticipation. "Good, it's getting stuffy in here, yeah?"

The Doctor gave her his patent grin and flicked the switch. It whirred and thirty seconds later the door made a low clanking noise, sparks flying everywhere. "Hah! Brilliant! Aren't I just brilliant! Definitely needs some fine-tuning. And definitely needs to be prettied up, but it works!" He grinned widely at her.

Rose laughed and gave him a hug. "You great lug, I knew you'd do it! And there! Lookit! You've got yourself a new sonic screwdriver!" She pushed at the door. "Doctor? Doctor, the door isn't moving." She pushed harder.

"Hold up, hold up. Just a minute here." He slipped the sonic screwdriver into his pocket and slammed his tall frame into the door which gave a groan of protest before opening slowly. "Here we go…" He ground out, slipping out the opening.

Rose followed, taking a deep breath of relief. "Here we are. Thought I'd be stuck in there with you all day."

"Would thatta been so bad?" He looked at her guardedly.

"What? No, it's just that… Well. You know." She gave him a flippant smile. "I have work to get done. And I would have had to use the loo at some point…"

The Doctor looked away almost awkwardly. "Right…" He looked at her again, perked up. "Well then! What next?"

"Oi… They'll need to get the door fixed; I'll have to fill out a report," Rose mused to herself, back in business mode. "I'll need to get back to my desk. We'll find you something to do, yeah? We can probably have you identify stuff, since you'll know what most of it is. We can do lunch in about an hour, if that's alright with you."

The Doctor nodded quietly, both hurt and impressed by her attitude. Clearly this type of thing was old-hat for her. "Right. Well. We going out for lunch? Or how does that work?"

"Oh right. I'll take you out to a nice little fish'n chips place." She gave him a smile. "Come on. Let's walk and talk." She waved a hand and headed back towards the cubicle area. "We'll have an hour for lunch, yeah? I'll talk to Cindy. She's our pay-staff manager. She'll get you on the payroll." Pausing, Rose spun, giving him a brilliant smile. "Then you can treat me to lunch, yeah?" She laughed quietly and took his hand continuing down the hall.

The Doctor smiled to himself, giving his head a small shake as the headed back to civilization, hands swinging between them.


The Doctor worked at Torchwood, becoming accustomed to the in's and out's of the company, spending his days identifying random technology that the higher-ups brought to him. Most days, he and Rose went out to have lunch at the 'nice little fish'n chips place' she'd told him about the first day, which just so happened to be called Queen Victoria's Fish'n'Chips. He and Rose laughed about that.

To the rest of the world, and most of Torchwood, he went by Doctor John Smith. The familiar alias seemed empty this time, since he was no longer just putting it on for a short while, instead using it more permanently. It bothered him. The Tyler's and other close friends all called him Doctor, as they always had. And the new name even allowed for 'Doctor' to be a nick-name. But it was a nick-name to the outside world, and not his real name. That was the part that bothered him. Rose still slipped up every so often, and they blundered their way through the situation. 'Oh, it's just a nickname.' 'He used to be a doctor.' 'He likes to pretend he's a doctor.' 'He really is a doctor, just not of medicine.' There were a myriad of excuses.


"Good morning, sleepy head," Rose said from the table as the Doctor blundered into the kitchen, his hair a mess, eyes still bleary with sleep.

He muttered a response, shuffling to the cabinet for a box of cereal. He went through the motions of preparing himself breakfast, finding himself seated at the table without really knowing how he'd gotten there. He glanced at Rose and then did a double-take. "Why aren't you dressed? We've work in just short of a half-hour. I can get ready in five minutes, but you aren't even—"

"Don't worry about it," Rose laughed. "We're on vacation. We've got the week off."

"Week off?" The Doctor looked at her, confused. "What for?"

Rose shrugged. "Down time. Time to relax. We can go out somewhere nice for a change, you know. We could see a show. We haven't really done that. Mum'd know if there's a good one playing. She keeps up on all that stuff, you know. Tony—"

"Ah yes, Tony," the Doctor said darkly. "Little bugger's got a set of lungs on him. I'll say that. Though I'm not surprised he inherited the Tyler capacity for sound and volume. He must have had some sort of awful ailment last night."

Rose chuckled. "Ah. Bad dream. He seems to have those periodically. Mum is trying to let him get through them on his own."

"The boy's almost four! He could use his mum."

"Mm. I dunno. It worked for me. And I turned out fine, yeah?"

The Doctor shook his head. "So what are we going to do with all of this free time?"

"Well, today, my mum and I are going to go shopping. You and my dad can watch Tony. Have some time together, just you blokes."

The Doctor looked terrified. "What!"

"Yeah! Mum thinks it's a good idea, and dad doesn't mind. And you've been working all this time, yeah? So it'll be a good chance to relax."

Glaring down at his cereal, the Doctor took a vicious bite. "I think your mum has been having one too many 'good ideas' lately."

"Hey now! Don't insult my mum!" Rose stood and walked to the door. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll survive. After all, you've been through worse, yeah?"

"I dunno…" the Doctor said dubiously. "They aren't called the 'terrible three's' for nothing. I don't know if I can handle the troublesome mine of a toddler."

"First of all, Doctor, it's the 'terrible two's,' and you'll have my dad there with you, so you won't have to face the toddler alone," she said wryly. "You'll be fine. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to go get ready."

The Doctor muttered some more under his breath. "Yeah, yeah. Have fun."

By the time Rose and Jackie got home late that afternoon, they found three very tired boys, sacked out on the couches of the living room, Tony curled across the Doctor's chest, sucking his thumb.

"We'll have to break him of that habit," Jackie said quietly, fetching the camera.

"Hm?" Rose glanced at her mother. "What? Who?"

"Tony," Jackie replied, snapping a few pictures of her husband and then the Doctor. "Can't have him sucking his thumb. You know they say that's actually bad for their teeth?"

Rose shook her head with an amused smile, returning her gaze to the Doctor and her little brother. "He's adorable."

"I know…" Jackie smiled softly. "Tony'll be a handsome bloke when he grows."

"The Doctor, mum. I was talking about the Doctor."

"Oh right! Of course… Well. Dinner?"

Rose nodded and they had a quiet dinner, letting the boys sleep.


"What? No!"

Rose nodded.

"Really? Nooo!"

She nodded again.

"Planned running? For exercise?"

She nodded a third time, tying her hair back. "Yeah You're getting a bit thick around the waist, Doctor. And I haven't run in a while. I thought we could go together."

"What? Thick about the waist!" He looked down at his middle, pinching his sides. "I am not!"

Rose smiled, walking up to him, patting his abs. "Just a bit. Running'll take care of though. Let's go."

"Well, that doesn't make any sense at all. I've never been thick about the middle—well, I wouldn't say 'never,' I would more say that often, or more recently I haven't been thick about the middle. I still don't understand the idea of planned running though. I mean, really? If you're going to run, then it should—"

"Doctor. Shut it. Go put on a pair of those loose jersey shorts that mum got you a while ago. And find a t-shirt. Something you can sweat in."

"Sweat?" The Doctor looked at her, mildly horrified.

"Let's go!" Rose clapped her hands, shooing him towards the stairs. "We have to get going."

Disappearing up the stairs numbly, the Doctor returned in aforementioned clothing and they were off.

"You know…" The Doctor puffed fifteen minutes later. "I don't… really know… how it is… you run like that… This is… horribly shameful that… I can't… keep up… and I'm… puffing and huff—" He took a deep breath. "Huffing like…this…"

Rose laughed. "I won't be too hard on you this time. You've only got one heart. You're used to two. Pumps more blood, I assume." They went on a bit before she added, "Though I do find it a bit entertaining that you're so slow. At least now you know how your single-hearted companions feel when then 'run' with you." She grinned at him smugly.

"What?" The Doctor cried. "Don't be… ridiculous! That's just… preposter—"

"If you can make it passed the library, then we'll stop and I'll buy you something to drink, yeah?"

"The library! That's… so far!"

"Well,…" Rose trailed off, grinning at him slyly. "What if I were to say that I'd snog you senseless too?"

At that, he perked right up, grinning madly. "Well, if that's part of the deal…. Then I'll… go right along! …Library it is!"

The Doctor made it passed the library. Barely. Though Rose rewarded him handsomely for it, making good on her word.

It became a habit, then, for the two of them to go running when they had days off, which Rose enjoyed until the Doctor was able to keep up with her. After that, it became more of a comfortable ritual during which they spent quiet time together.


The week passed quickly, and then they were back to work. Rose's job frequently kept her close to her desk in the main area of the Torchwood building, while the Doctor's job mostly kept him back in the mammoth, maze-like confines of the storage rooms, cataloguing, identifying, and filing the strange items on which the people of Torchwood had managed to get their grubby paws. Some of the items he had discovered had both frightened and awed him, to see that it was held by humans. There were a few things, like a working vortex manipulator that he couldn't possibly let the humans have. Knowing that they'd never miss it, the Doctor secreted it away into a pocket and brought it home with him. There were several other items with which he had done the same. The ironic thought never crossed his mind that he himself was now human.

Life settled into a pattern this way. He and Rose left for work early each morning during the week, spent their time, and then returned home again together. The weekends would come and he and Rose would run together, occasionally going out to a show or a nice restaurant for a date. However, with Jackie, Pete, and little Tony, it was more of a domesticated family situation than the Doctor would have liked. And while he appreciated her family for all they had done for him, past and present, he was stuck. His relationship with Rose, while they were in that house was stuck. There was no room for the two of them to be an 'us.' However, he was inclined to wait for Rose to make the suggestion of moving out, seeing as she had spent a fair amount of time away from her family and deserved the time together with them.

Luckily for him, the idea came out a few weeks later, about eight months after he had begun living with them.

"Mum… I was thinkin', ya know…" Rose began casually over breakfast, as if she was nervous about broaching the subject.

"Oh that's not a good sign," Jackie replied distractedly, fixing Tony's breakfast.

Rose rolled her eyes, but continued, keeping her eyes trained on her cereal. "I was thinking. It's been a bit too crowded here, you know. I love you guys, but I think it's time that I—we moved out."

The Doctor looked up, surprised.

Catching his movement, Rose looked over at him. "What? Don't tell me you weren't thinking the same thing."

"No, no, well, I mean yes. Yes, I was, but—"

"I've actually been doing some looking around, and I found a place that's not too far, so we can still come visit often if you want, and it's close to work which is convenient. So…"

"Okay," Jackie replied simply with a shrug. "I was expectin' you two to move out soon anyhow."

Rose looked up, an expression of mild surprise on her face. "Really? You're okay with that?"

"Of course, sweetheart! I only want you to be happy!" She flashed a coy smile. "And with this bloke around, I'm sure—"

"Mum!"

Jackie laughed as the Doctor covered his face to hide his faintly blushed cheeks. "Oh, go on, Rose. Go ahead. It's about time I didn't have to cook for that one anyway," she said, jerking her head at the Doctor.

"What about Dad?" Rose asked.

"What about him, sweetheart?"

"Will he be upset?"

"Rose, you're a big girl. You've got to move out of the house at some point. I'm sure he'll insist on checking the place out though, and probably paying for it," Jackie replied with a tsk-ing noise. "You know how your father is…" She puttered around some more before leaving the kitchen.

Sneaking a glance at Rose, the Doctor noted her wistful smile. She knew this father, but perhaps if the Pete on her Earth had lived, he would have ended up somewhat like this man who bore his name and image. The Doctor shook his head with a fond smile.

"What are you smilin' about?" Rose asked almost sharply in the silence.

Looking over at her, the Doctor smiled still. "What? I need a reason?"

Arching an eyebrow, the corners of Rose's lips turned up slightly as she responded. "It's suspicious is all."

"I love you."

Rose looked at him sharply, all of her wandering attention now focused on him. "What?!"

The calm smile still in place, the Doctor chuckled. "Oh don't say it like you're that horrified to hear me say it."

"No, no… That's not it…" Rose said evenly. "I was just… surprised to hear you say it… say it so casually."

"I don't mean it casually," he responded quietly, looking up at her with his dark serious eyes.

Rose gave him a quick smile and stood suddenly, taking her dishes to the sink. "I have to get ready for work." She walked by him, hesitating, and then kissing him softly on the cheek as if by way of apology, though for what he didn't understand.