Sorry for the delay! Was lost. Had to find inspiration. Well. Here it is!
He felt like his whole soul was coming bare before him. She touched his broken hearts in a way he didn't even dream anyone would be able to. He was an ancient being, a Time Lord, the Oncoming Storm, but he felt so small besides her. And so big the other times. She gave him life, reason to fight and live again, to show compassion to others. And she was slipping away.
He hated her secret. And he hated himself for not being able to let go, for his mind not being able to let him live in peace and not question it. She knew too much. She felt non human. But she was far more human than anyone else.
Don't look at me like I'm the whole world to you. It was too much for him. Such intense eyes, filled with devotion and desperation. She was not saying anything, but her eyes were shouting at him. Just like that time at Game Station. Before she was...He closed his eyes in memory.
Rose watched his every move, cautiously. When he closed his eyes and gulped, she felt worry fill her whole. What was wrong? What will he tell her? Will she finally have to leave him? No. Anything but that. Not after everything she had been through. Not after crossing dimensions just to be able to live her life with him again. He was too much important. They were too much important, even if he didn't know it yet.
Oh, but he knew. And the moment he opened his eyes Rose could see it all. Pain, anger, desperation, need, gratitude, even love. Yes, it was there. It was always there. She may have refused to believe it was actually there the previous time, but it was there for sure. He loved her as she did love him.
Rose leaned her head to the side as she bit her lip from trembling more. She watched the man she loved from all her heart battle with himself. He couldn't accept his feeling yet. That she knew. The feeling of watching her age - whither and die was too strong as of yet.
Well, it was not so much of a surprise, really. Her Doctor could fully relax and give in to live for the day only after Krop Tor. It was one of the scariest things they had experienced. The first time they were losing hope to see each other again, to see home. The second being final, as she let go of that lever. But now she could only see one thing.
He didn't want to lose her.
And that was enough. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered almost not audible, her voice wavering and eyes so sad.
It made the Doctor blink in surprise, lips slightly parted. His precious pink and yellow human was actually scared of losing him. Him. Whatever the thoughts he had had before, quickly passed away. His mouth began to quiver in a smile as he exhaled a relief filled breath.
"You're not losing me any time soon, Rose Tyler." He told her in a confident voice, as his one hand lingered on her cheek, caressing it a little.
Rose smiled at him slightly as she savoured the touch. They were alright. There will always be her and him.
Forever. Right?
Mickey and Sarah Jane were sitting on her car's booth, talking and Mickey realising his place in their team.
"Oh my God. I'm a tin dog." He sat there, completely devastated, as the realisation hit him. Sarah Jane just patted his back, comforting.
"I can't believe it. Is that all I am?" He shook his head in disbelief. Then he suddenly stood up to see the pair talking intensely to each other. Or they should have been talking. Mickey frowned. They were not. They were just staring at each other.
"What're they doing there?" Mickey asked.
"I think you should leave it for them to work it out," Sarah said gently.
"But they've stopped. They're not doing anything!" Mickey gestured to them.
"Let them have their moment..." Sarah Jane tried to hint him, but failed completely.
"If they just wanna stand there, doing nothing, I might as well come out and ask." He began to march towards the pair. Only a simple gesture of the Doctor caressing Rose's cheek, stopped Mickey a bit in his tracks. It seemed affectionate. Such a simple thing could have made anyone shy, but Mickey was completely oblivious to it.
"Oi, Time Lord!" he called out for the Doctor. "How-" he began, as the pair backed away from each other.
A sudden, faraway voice startled the group.
"Time Lord," Mr. Finch exhaled, standing on the roof himself. It took everyone's attention, as the Krillitane screeched and swooped down towards them. They had to duck its flying attack above their heads. But to everyone's surprise, the alien did not even try to reach its prey, just flying through the air.
The Doctor looked at it in concern, Rose still holding onto the Doctor's coat sleeve as she tugged on it just moments ago instinctively.
"Was that a Krillitane?" Sarah was first to ask.
The Doctor watched it fly away, measuring its intentions. It was weird.
"What was that all about?" Mickey added. The same thing was on the Time Lord's mind, but... first thing's first.
"Broadcast it next time, would you?" the Doctor shot at him, annoyed.
"What did I do?" Mickey cried in defence.
The Doctor just gave him the find out yourself look.
The next morning, with the school bell going off and the children flocking towards the building, the group gone out of Sarah Jane's car and were now striding towards the school. The determined atmosphere surrounding them. The Doctor paused only for a moment to give instructions.
"Rose and Sarah, you go to the Maths room," he began, watching the school building intensively, as he pulled out his sonic. "Crack open those computers, I need to see the hardware inside. Here, you might need this." Handing it to Rose.
The moment she saw the sonic extended towards her, it took her by surprise. Was he really giving it to her? As if answering her silent question or maybe just by urging her, the Doctor waved it a bit to make his point to take it. And she took it. Carefully, like it was the biggest treasure. And it was. But there was so much more to it. He trusted it to her this time. Why?
"Mickey. Surveillance. I want you outside," the Doctor said firmly, as he began walking forwards.
"Just stand outside?" Mickey complained.
"Here, take these." Sarah Jane chucked him her car keys. "You can keep K9 company."
"Don't forget to leave the window open a crack!" the Doctor added.
"But he's metal!" Mickey extended his hands in the air.
"I didn't mean for him!" he shouted back at him, not stopping his pace.
"What're you gonna do?" Rose asked, as she caught up with him. He had really long legs. Too long.
"It's time I had a word with Mr Finch." He spoke of his name in a bit of disgust.
Back in computer lab, Rose was crouched beneath one of the computer desks and bleeping the sonic screwdriver.
"Rose?" Sarah Jane's voice startled her and she accidently hit her head on the desk.
"Ouch." She sat up on the ground, rubbing her head.
"Oh dear. You alright?" Sarah squatted down to look at her. "Didn't mean to scare you." She looked concerned and a bit guilty, checking her head with her hand.
"It's alright." Rose smiled at her warmly.
Sarah sighed at that, as she lowered her hand from Rose's head.
"I really am," Rose confirmed, thinking that she did no believe her.
"It's not that," Sarah began, as she stood up to lean on one of the desks. "Did you... properly talk with him?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. She felt a bit uncomfortable to ask.
Rose looked at the woman questioningly.
"Doctor," Sarah Jane added meaningfully.
Rose bit her lip, unsure what to tell her, as she stood up. "We did..." she began slowly, her head lowered. "But not everything I can tell him..." She trailed off.
"Why not?" Sarah asked softly.
"There are some things, Sarah, things that cannot be revealed yet. It's too soon," Rose whispered.
"Who are you?" Sarah stated her question blankly.
It shook Rose a bit. This woman could really be straightforward sometimes. "Just the Doctor's companion." Rose shrugged, smiling slightly.
Sarah shook her head. "You eyes are ancient. They feel like his. They have witnessed lost of something important, which couldn't compare even to any adventure." She spoke her words wisely that it made Rose's mouth fall open. She always looked up to her. Well, not always, but from the moment Rose came to really know her, she understood that if there was someone she could take advice from, it was her.
Sarah just smiled in understanding. "I might not be as old as him, but I have seen life with him and without. I know that longing look." She paused a bit. "What are you not telling him?" she asked. Rose was not sure where this woman had her confidence come from. Rose was not even telling the Doctor but now she expected her to tell.
"I'm repeating my timeline," Rose stated, with a bit of a smile on her face. Sarah could only put a confused look. Well, it was understandable.
"I don't..." She shook her head.
"I have travelled with him for a year and half," Rose began. "When something happened...something..." she stopped, considering her words, and calming herself down. "Something which separated us," she finally said faintly.
"I thought I would never see him again, you know?" She looked at the woman with pained expression. Sarah just let her continue. "But somehow, and I'm not sure how, as I still don't know anything about it. Somehow my conciousness was sent back to the moment I first met him."
Sarah Jane frowned at that.
"I've met you before too, Sarah, that's why I see you as a friend already." Rose spoke fondly. She felt that she was not very convincing, that there was something amiss. She inhaled, continuing to speak. Let's come clean then, shall we?
"I have never heard anything about you from the Doctor. And I'm sorry to say that. I really am." She looked at the hurt Sarah's expression. "But I know you have met mummies, robots, daleks, dinosaurs and even The Loch Ness Monster!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm at the end.
"Oh my..." Sarah looked at her in disbelief. "How did you..." She covered her mouth. "Is it...Is it really true, what you say?" She edged closer, looking at her.
"Yeh." Rose nodded softly.
"And he doesn't know?"
"No. I can't tell him," Rose whispered.
"No, of course not. It would disturb the whole timeline." Sarah drifted away, looking at the ground.
"Can I... trust you?" Rose asked in a pleading voice. At that, the woman was a bit shaken, not sure what she meant, but seeing the girl's look she formed a gentle smile.
"Of course. I'll keep it to myself. Until the day you think he's ready."
"Thank you," Rose mouthed the words, as she found tears filling her eyes.
"Oh, dear. Everything is going to work out." She embraced Rose, soothing her, rubbing her back.
"I just- I fear to loose him again." Rose sobbed silently, her voice cracking, as she hugged her.
"You will not," Sarah Jane stated in a confident voice, holding Rose at her arms length now. "If the universe sent you back to him at such lengths, it will not rip you apart again. Just fight for it."
"Yeh. I will. Always." Rose brushed her tears away, smiling at her friend.
"Feeling better now?" Sarah asked her gently.
"Yep." Rose nodded, laughing a bit. Sarah Jane smiled back at her in contentment.
"So..." She trailed off. "Did we-" She gestured.
"What?" Rose asked, feeling a bit lost.
"Did we get along well the first time?" the woman asked, curiosity taking over.
Rose snorted at the memory. "No." She shook her head, smiling. "We had a nasty raw with each other, before finally coming to terms with one another."
"Oh my." Sarah placed her hands on her lips, as she began to laugh again. "The Loch Ness Monster?" she asked faintly.
Rose nodded, laughing. Sarah joining too. After a few moments she asked again. "Does he still stroke bits of the TARDIS?" She looked around, making a disturbed face at the memory.
"Yeah!" Rose exhaled, laughing. "Yeah! He does!" Sarah was now laughing out loud. "I'm like, do you two wanna be alone?" Rose played the part, making Sarah laugh all the more.
"And he does that with his sonic screwdriver too!" Rose cried between laughs. "And I didn't even notice until yesterday, as he moped over it, not being able to hold it in the cafeteria."
Both women were laughing madly, when the Doctor came rushing in the room.
"How's it going?" he asked, concerned.
The sight of him made the pair laugh even harder. Sarah bending over slightly, Rose clenching on the sonic, both mouths open.
"What?" the Doctor asked, completely oblivious to the situation. "Listen." He looked sideways. "I need to find out what's programmed inside these." All serious.
It never ceased to amuse them. Rose was pointing the sonic screwdriver at him, while laughing hysterically, Sarah doing her own fair share herself.
"What?" the Doctor asked, genuinely confused.
More laughs.
"Stop it." He frowned, feeling uncomfortable.
After the pair calmed down, the trio was back to work. The Doctor, sonic screwdriver clenched between his teeth, ripping a handful of wires out of a computer and hanging them around his neck, as he ran the sonic screwdriver along the back of the computer. Sarah Jane watched him the whole time, looking slightly anxious herself.
"I can't shift it." The Doctor shook his head, anxious, looking at the wires frantically. Rose could only look at his side from the doorway, as she was put on the lookout.
"I thought the sonic screwdriver could open anything!" Sarah said, worried.
"Anything except a deadlock seal. There's gotta be something inside here," he spilled. "What're they teaching those kids?" he muttered between his teeth.
Sarah turned around to face Rose, who smiled at her sadly and shook her head slightly. Sarah sighed. It must have been too difficult for Rose to hint it for the Doctor.
After a few moments, every computer in the class lit up, glowing green with the code and cube swirling around in a high speed.
"You wanted the program - there it is," Sarah exclaimed.
The Doctor was staring at the wide screen on the wall. "Some sort of code..." he whispered, totally mesmerised by the sight, as he slowly approached the wall.
"How bad it is?" Sarah whispered to Rose.
"Very," Rose just mouthed, making the woman gulp and squeeze Rose's hand, as if assuring her but maybe taking it for herself.
They must have gone out safely from this one. That's all she could think of to calm herself down with.
The Doctor still staring at the code, eyes wide and mouth slightly open. "No... no, they can't be..." He looked at it in horror. "The Skasis Paradigm. They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm." He looked at the screen with wide eyes.
"The Skasis what?" Sarah whispered, confused.
"The... " He stopped for a millisecond to find the word. "God-maker. The universal theory." He lowered his head, his eyes hardening at the sight. "Crack that equation and you've got control of the building blocks of the universe." He was once again looking frantically at the writing, his voice slightly shaking. "Time and space and matter, yours to control."
"And the kids are like a giant computer?" Rose whispered.
"Yes," the Doctor breathed. And the next moment began pacing around the room, as he tried to work it out.
"And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil!" he exclaimed. "That oil from the kitchens, it works as a- as a..." He gestured with his hands, searching for the word. "Conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer," he ended, leaning his hands on the table.
"But why use children? Can't they use adults?" Sarah asked.
"No, it's gotta be children." The Doctor shook his head in a whisper. "The God-maker needs imagination to crack it." He smiled sarcastically. "They're not just using the children's brains to break the code..." he exhaled helplessly, walking away. "They're using their souls," he said painfully, looking back at them.
"Let the lesson begin." Mr. Flinch walked into the room. The Doctor turned to face him.
"Think of it, Doctor," he began meaningfully. "With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it." He was approaching the trio slowly. Rose gave him a dangerous look.
"Oh yeah? The whole of creation with the face of Mr Finch," the Doctor said sarcastically. "Call me old fashioned." He grimaced a bit. "But I like things as they are."
"You act like such a radical, and yet all you want to do is preserve the old order. Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good." Mr. Finch was speaking in his sweet voice.
"What, by someone like you?" the Doctor asked him sceptically, as he laughed a bit.
"No..." the Krilittane whispered. "Someone like you," he said in a luring voice.
The Doctor kept silent. It was not the answer he was expecting.
"The Paradigm gives us power," Mr. Flinch continued, happy to get the wanted attention. "But you could give us wisdom. Become a God. At my side. Imagine what you could do-" He took one step forward. "Think of the civilizations you could save." Locking the Doctor's gaze to his. "Your own people, Doctor. Standing tall. The Time Lords... reborn."
The Doctor said nothing, just gulped at the words.
"Doctor, don't listen to him." Sarah tried to make sense to him.
"And you could be with him throughout eternity." Mr. Finch walked at both Rose and Sarah. "Young... fresh... never wither, never age... never die." Rose glanced at him with a dark look. "Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes." Looking back at the Doctor. "How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us."
The Doctor was looking at the distance. He was so terribly temped. His people... his home planet... his... she could stay with him forever... His mouth was quivering, not daring to say anything yet, but having no will to deny the fact either.
Rose couldn't watch it anymore. She took a step forward, before the Doctor could even begin to say the words, which would torture him later on, for even being said by him.
"You may have taken the form of humans, but you certainly don't know us." She spoke calmly, taking Mr. Finch attention. The Doctor looked at her too, surprised.
"Don't you want to stay forever with him?" Mr. Finch spoke again, making Rose tilt hear head, as she gulped, but not enough to waver her. Of course she wanted! She even promised him! And... she knew it was not forever forever... just her forever, which was obviously not enough. But even so! How dare he?
"That's not for you to choose. And not for some code," she spat the last words, getting anger ahead of her. "You can't even imagine what a person can done alone, once determined." She held her gaze strong.
"I'll create my forever myself." As her gaze travelled sideways to meet the Doctor's totally stunned face. She gave him a reassuring smile and that was enough for him to recover.
It gave Sarah enough time to think of a plan to run out of the room. She took one of the chairs and crashed it into the wide screen, making every computer shut off.
"Out!" the Doctor cried, taking Rose's hand to drag her out, together with Sarah, leaving frustrated Krilittane alone in the broken room.
Kenny, the boy whom Mickey found banging on the glass door, just before he crashed inside with Sarah's car, and Mickey himself met the Doctor, Rose and Sarah Jane at the bottom of the stairs.
"What's going on?" Mickey asked, looking frantic.
The Doctor looked wide eyed at the approaching Krillitanes from the sideway corridor. The three Krillitanes were half flying, half groping their way along the corridor to them. The Doctor and the others turned on their heels and now were running in the opposite direction. The Krillitanes were flying at high speed. Almost there, but never quite reaching them.
They found themselves at the canteen, but all the doors were locked. The Doctor still tried to reach inside his coat for his sonic, but just at the same moment Mr. Finch burst through the doors, followed by several Krillitanes, shrieking dangerously at them.
"Leave the Doctor alive," Mr. Finch instructed his mates. "As for the others... you can feast," he spat.
At the same moment Krillitanes swooped down on them. The Doctor tried to beat them off with a chair, Rose was doing the same on the other side, while others were screaming and ducking out of the way. Rose soon found her chair in the grasp of Krillitane, she backed away, startled.
It snarled at her, the chair flying at her with the light's speed, seconds later. She fell down from the impact at her head.
"Rose!" the Doctor called out for her in worry, as he saw her down.
"'Am fine!" She assured him, while slowly standing up. Well, her head was spinning a bit, though. She held her head in her hands, shaking it a bit to get her focus back.
The Doctor gazed back at the Krillitanes, anger forming its way, as he hit one of the Krillitanes right at the head, making it fly off backwards, hitting the ground, moments later.
Before long, K9 was there too, beaming the red light at them, making them drop dead on the floor. Mr. Finch roared furious with rage at the sight.
"K9!" Sarah exclaimed in delight of seeing her friend.
"Suggest you engage running mode, mistress."
"Come on!" the Doctor urged everyone to run after him, leaving K9 shooting at the Krillitanes again and again.
"K9, hold them back!" the Doctor yelled out for him just before leaving the room.
"Affirmative, master. Maximum defence mode!"
With everyone out, the Doctor slammed the doors shut, locking them with his sonic screwdriver. After running through few corners, they found themselves in one of the classrooms, the Doctor leaning against the teacher table, deep in thoughts.
"It's the oil!" A sudden brainwave hit him. "Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil! That's it!" He was looking at everyone with his manic eyes. "They've changed the physiology so often, even their own oil is toxic to them. How much was there in the kitchens?" He looked at Rose frantically.
"Barrels of it."
They jumped, as the Krillitanes started pounding on the locked door, their claws ripping holes in it.
Sarah was looking genuinely scared, Mickey was trying to look tough, Rose was shaking her head, trying to make her view focused, but failing miserably. Everything was a bit of a blur. But she couldn't let others be aware of that now. They had more important things at hands than some head spinning.
"Okay, we need to get to the kitchens. Mickey-" the Doctor began, looking at the claws, ripping through the doors.
"What now, hold the coats?" Mickey sighed helplessly.
"Get all the children unplugged and out of the school." He instructed Mickey, looking at him only for a moment before turning his attention at the door. "Now then, bats, bats, bats, how do we fight bats?" The Doctor was muttering to himself.
Mickey and Rose watched as Kenny strided over to a fire alarm, breaking the glass with his elbow and setting it off. The Krillitanes immediately winced and quailed at the shrill sound. The Doctor beamed at the effect it gave, as he flung the door open, running past the Krillitanes, who were too much distressed to hurt the running group. Well, running group plus one stumbling at the walls.
Finch, gritted his teeth as he glared at Rose, resting for a moment on the wall. Clearly not the best moment. He began to move at her, but with the last effort she kicked him in the stomach, making him snarl at her, as she half ran towards the group.
After a few moments the sound of the alarm stopped and Rose knew they would soon catch up to her. She was too slow. Her head was pounding, she could only hid herself somewhere safe. Running was not the option anymore. She rubbed her temple with her palm and saw it painted red, once she withdrew it. She chuckled sadly.
"Really jeopardly-friendly." She stumbled upon the walls, supporting herself. As she heard the hissing sounds nearing, she hid herself on the side hallway. She could only pray they would be too focused to follow them to notice her. Or she was finished.
Once the Doctor, Sarah Jane, K9 and Kenny had reached the kitchens, the Doctor immediately held his sonic screwdriver to one of the oil barrels.
"They've been deadlock sealed!" he exclaimed, clearly unhappy with the results. Then he tried another in desperation. Not working again. "Finch must've done that - I can't open them."
"Where's Rose?" Sarah Jane's voice caught the Doctor's ears. He turned to face her, searching the room.
"Where's she?" he whispered, feeling a bit scared.
"She did not come with us," Mickey exhaled, as the realisation hit him.
"What do you mean she didn't?" the Doctor yelled at him. "I saw her running just as we got K9!" he cried, looking frantically at him.
"No. She was not present at that time." Sarah shook her head too.
"What are you talking about!?" the Doctor cried. "I sa-" he started, when he began to go through his memories of the past couple of minutes and it didn't make sense to him. One time he was sure that he ran the last with K9, Rose just ahead of him, the next, she was nowhere present.
He closed his eyes as if shaking the memory to fall into pieces. But he did not have time to dwell on it.
"You lot, out the back door. K9, stay with me." He instructed.
Sarah Jane, Mickey and Kenny ran to the backdoor, leaving the Doctor crouched before K9.
Where was she? There was no time to waste. He looked at K9 like he would give him the answer.
At the same moment Rose was sitting on the cold school ground, leaning on the wall. She could hear the ripping sounds of the flesh being torn apart. She winced at the thought. She had to get away. They had no time to spare for her search. She had to move on her own.
She pulled herself together, still staggering a bit, but after a short rest, should have been possible to move. There were shadows of the Krillitanes, somewhere on the other side of the corridor.
Rose slowly peeked over the edge of her wall, to see the group occupied. It's now or never. And with that, she dashed further into the corridor, trying to not make a sound as much as possible.
She ran further and further until finally she reached her destination - the kitchen. He should still be there.
Where had she gone? He had to find her. The Doctor was moving the vats of oil within easy shot of K9. He gritted his teeth at the thought that he had to choose the priority now. Any minute now the Krillitanes would come running at this very place, if the trap was not set yet, everything would be for nothing.
The thoughts of abandoning the barrels were swirling around his mind. Was she even alive? Did she meet her fate while he was busy moving barrels here? He abandoned her.
No.
He would find her, no matter what. As he continued his work with desperation.
"Capacity for only one shot, Master. For maximum impact, I must be placed directly beside the vat."
"But you'll be trapped inside." The Doctor rushed to his side.
"That is correct."
"I can't let you do that." He looked at him worriedly.
"No alternative possible, Master. You must find mistress."
The Doctor looked at him in disbelief. She was already recognised by K9.
"No need finding me. 'Am here." Rose's breathless voice echoed inside the room.
The Doctor sprung around at once. "Rose!" He ran towards her to hug her briefly, as he exhaled a breath of relief, smiling in contentment.
As he let go of her, only then he noticed a blood stain on her temple. His face twisted at once, horrified.
"No time." Rose chided him. And soon a sound of the screeching Krilitannes in the background reached them. He glanced at her frantically before running of to K9, for one last goodbye.
"Goodbye, old friend," he whispered.
"Goodbye Master."
"You good dog," he told him fondly, in a soft voice.
"Affirmative." He waggled his ears and tail. The Doctor patted him once more and rushed out of the room, taking Rose with him.
Just as the Doctor emerged outside with a very unsteady Rose and slammed the door behind him, locking it with the sonic screwdriver, Sarah met them there.
"Rose!" she called in relief, but soon her face twisted in worry. "Where's K9?" she asked urgently.
"We need to run," the Doctor said urgently, urging her. "Can you do that?" He looked at Rose.
"Yeh. Don't worry about me." She confirmed him with a nod. He wasn't very convinced, but he let go. They had to get away after all.
"Where is he?! What've you done!?" Sarah cried, losing hope. The Doctor had to grab her to pull her away.
The Doctor grabbed hers and Rose's hand and the trio started to run for their lives. Just like always.
And then, the school exploded. The children assembled outside, all burst into cheer and applause.
Everyone were cheering and chanting 'Kenny! Kenny! Kenny!', patting him on the back. Only the Doctor and Sarah Jane stood separately from the merriment. Sarah Jane looking distraught. Rose backed away to the side, letting them have their moment.
She walked towards Mickey, who was yelling happily at the sight. Only when he witnessed Rose's state did his smile drop.
"Oh, my God, Rose." He rushed to her side. "Do-" he began to shout for help, but she placed a palm on his mouth.
"Don't."
"But you're all bloody and-" he began, but seconds later found Rose's arms wrapped up against him.
"Just let me rest. And leave them be," she whispered. "Please." And with that Mickey just held her in surrender. He took one last glance at the Doctor as he held Sarah's sobbing form. Mickey frowned at that. He was furious at the Doctor. What bloody Doctor was he, if he left injured person be, and instead was busy snuggling with another woman.
Just what did Rose see in him?
"Don't." Rose's voice reached him.
"Don't what?" Mickey asked, confused.
"Don't blame him."
Great. She was still defending him.
"It's nothing. It's just a graze. I'm not that fragile." She didn't want him to see her like that. She could take care of herself. She had to, if she wanted to survive the final battle. She had to be strong enough by herself.
After everything calmed down, Rose snuck out to the TARDIS bathroom, just before everyone else came inside it and took care of her wound.
It was not that deep really. Well, TARDIS might have helped her a bit by bringing a gel to her side, but overall, everything was fine. Really. Only that...headache. Was a bit off...
"Cuppa tea?" The Doctor gestured to the TARDIS, as he stood there, outside with Sarah.
She was very surprised to see the newly decorated TARDIS, but she found it nice. While Sarah Jane was looking around, taking her new surroundings, Rose approached them in the console room. All her clothes changed, and her body free of any redness.
"Oh, Rose." Sarah was first to notice her as she met her in a hug. Rose responded just as warmly.
"Are you alright?" the woman asked seriously. Rose chuckled at that. "Yeh. Good as new," she joked. Sarah smiled a bit at that. The Doctor was watching the two cautiously. He wanted to say something, but it felt like he didn't have place in there to butt in, so he found himself busy with the console.
"Don't disappear on him like that," Sarah whispered to Rose, as both of them walked further away from the console.
"Eh?" Rose asked, a bit lost.
"He was a great mess when he found that you were not in the room." Sarah smiled at her gently.
"He was?" Rose grimaced a bit.
"Oh yeh."
"I should apologize then," Rose whispered.
"You can do that later." She smiled warmly at Rose. "It's time for me to go now, but if you need me for anything - find me." Sarah squeezed Rose's hands tightly. "I'm on your side."
"I'll." Rose gave her a reassuring smile. "And thank you."
Somewhere in the middle, Mickey decided that he wanted to travel with them. Maybe feeling overprotective of Rose from the last scene he had witnessed, Sarah Jane already left at her home, with a newly restored K9, and now only Rose and the Doctor were present in the console room. Mickey exploring the width of the TARDIS.
As the Doctor was fiddling with the console buttons, Rose just sat there on the jump seat. Her head was still a bit spinning, but now not from the bump. Her mid was uneasy, and she wanted desperately to let go of that feeling.
"Doctor?" she called out for him in almost a whisper.
"Mm?" he answered her absentmindedly.
"Can we talk?" she asked softly.
"About?" Still not turning.
"Me," she ended flatly. That made him turn around to face her.
"What about-" he began, then his face twisted. "Your head!" he exclaimed. "How's it? Does it hurt? Did you hit it hard? No, you couldn't know, I need to bring you to the med bay-" he began his blab, which just made Rose chuckle.
The Doctor glanced at her with horror filled eyes. "Did you hit it hard?"
"Forget the head." Rose dismissed him. "I don't want to talk about that."
"We don't need to talk! If you don't want...But I need to check you out." As he grabbed her hand, ready to drag her out. Rose was still chuckling at his reaction, when a sudden fear wave hit her.
He would scan her. NO. She couldn't let that happen.
She let herself lose of his grip, as she sat there in the jump seat. Her face unreadable. The Doctor looked at her like she gone mad.
"Let's just talk, yeh?" she pleaded him with her eyes. The Doctor just rubbed the back of his neck, as he sighed, leaning on the console while looking at her, his hands in his pockets.
"Fine."
"I lied to you." Was her first words, making the Doctor shiver inwardly at once.
What did she lie to him about? All kind of horrible thoughts swirling in his head. But it didn't take long, because soon Rose continued.
"I think it's fair, that you know it."
"Know what?" he whispered. Quite a bit scared to hear the rest.
"I lost someone," Rose began faintly, playing with her fingers, fidgeting. The Doctor narrowed his eyes, letting her continue, but unsure where was this coming from.
"He was my..." Rose struggled with the words. Friend? Comrade? Gang member? Teammate? Oh, she's catching his flu of the lack of words. "Partner," she finally exhaled.
The Doctor raising an eyebrow at her. "We used to travel together," she continued, the Doctor just nodded slowly.
"He...He showed me how much more there was to the world. He showed me the universe!" She smiled at him with her watery eyes, the Doctor just nodded in understanding. Taking her words as metaphor.
After a short pause she continued. "He was the one who introduced me to aliens," she stated calmly.
Pause.
The Doctor just stared at her like she had grown a second head. What? Did he hear her right? Did she just-
"Yes," Rose answered to his thoughts. "I'm not new to alien life." She shook her head slightly, smiling. "And a year ago wasn't the first time I saw them." She looked at him apologetically.
The Doctor was showing unreadable expression. His gaze somewhere in the distance. It was quite blank. It looked like it needed more information, because now, this one, just made him stay stunned to the floor.
"I've been travelling in time for 2 and a half years, Doctor." His name, coming from her mouth shook him. He gazed at her and saw all her words play out in her eyes. Such deep emotions and all that knowledge. It was it. The answer he wanted. The answer he feared just came out of her mouth when he least expected.
He truly didn't know how he felt about it, though. He was glad, of some sorts. That it was not some kind of, UNIT or another governor organisation out there to hunt him and sent this pink and yellow human at him.
Not that he really was against UNIT. He worked for them and with them for a time... But they all were gone now, everyone he knew. Now new faces occupied their seats and judging from his encounter with them in 10 Downing Street, didn't have that much trust in him.
So it could have been them sending Rose at him...And that was only a guess on his part. One of the possibilities he thought would have been possible. No matter how unfit Rose would have looked working for UNIT. Or wasn't she?
Rose Tyler, Defender of the Earth
Where did that thought come from? He shook his head, closing his eyes to shake the thoughts away. Then he started to pace around the console room, walking in circles and triangles, his hands free off his pockets. Suddenly coming to a stop to stare in the distance.
So he should have been glad. But what was that other emotion? Something in his stomach. Something in his head was working out the facts. He frowned at the thought that he was not the first to show her the universe. So he was not so special to her after all? His gaze darkened even more at that.
"Doctor?" Rose asked cautiously.
Oh, no. This wasn't a good sign, right? He didn't like that she had witnessed aliens before. Will he tell her to go home now? Was he disappointed? Rose frowned, being unable to read his expression. And just when she was edging to press her hand on his arm, he abruptly turned to face her, his eyes wide, mouth eager to ask the question.
"You said aliens and time travel," he stated, looking at her frantically, pointing at her direction. Rose was too startled to process things so she just nodded.
"How?" He frowned, as he asked.
"W-what?" She shook her head, missing the point.
"How were you able to travel through time?" he asked her in a serious, impatient voice. "If I hadn't met your family, I could have thought that maybe you were not from this century, but now that clearly being not the case and as there are no time travel in this time yet, weeell..." He came to a stop to consider, looking upwards. "There's always me, right?" Asking nobody in particular. "Anyway! Now that it's not me-" He trailed off.
"How in the world were you able to travel through time!?" ended the last sentence with a raised eyebrow, a bit of curiosity added.
Rose chuckled slightly, making the Doctor stare at her intensely. Oh, the irony of that. It has always been you! She wanted to shout at him.
"Well," she started slowly, locking his gaze to hers. "He was not from...here," she ended a bit mysteriously. The Doctor was giving her the look that it was not enough. Rose gulped, glancing sideways.
"He had a ship, of some sort." She shrugged, trying to play innocent.
"A ship," the Doctor repeated flatly.
"Yep," Rose ended with a p.
"So what's that ship called?" he persisted. Now that was the hard part. Couldn't he just let her go?
"I'm not sure..." She glanced to her shoes. "He always..." She bit her lip, looking sideways. "There was just a lot of things I didn't know about him, yeh?" She looked at him, pleading that he would drop it.
But he didn't. Or not entirely. "And you were alright with that?" he asked in disbelief. "Not knowing where you're going, how you're going, just trusting a complete stranger and swooning off?" he raised his voice in concern at the end of the sentence.
"Sounds hell of a lot like someone I know," Rose sang in a whisper. The Doctor frowned at that. Then the realisation hit him.
"Rose! Do you do this all the time!?" he half-shouted at her, making her jump a bit, as her head shot up to face him.
"Doing what?" she snapped.
"Running off with strangers!" he cried. "Like there is nothing to be-..." He turned his head sideways. "Hold on. Hold on." He placed his hands before himself, like trying to still the movements around. "Hmm...No wonder." He nodded in his self understanding manner. "Oh, no wonder...that explains...yeh..."
"Um, Doctor?" Rose waved a hand before his face.
"Mm?" He turned absentmidedly. "Oh, right, right. We were talking..." He trailed off again.
"Yes, we were!" Rose laughed. "Until you gone off to your own world and I haven't seen you since." She beamed at him.
"No, I was just...processing...things...certain things...important things." He looked at her. "Facts. Like-" He was starting to gesture with his hands. "Like tying the knots together and see if they fit." He frowned. "No, that doesn't necessary have to fit. Wait a moment. Hold on. Hold on." He had his face in his palms, walking in circles. "Ah!" he exclaimed, stopping in his tracks, making Rose step backwards a bit. She just made his head a mess. That much she knew.
"Like a puzzle!" he exclaimed in a total bliss that he found the word he was searching for, Rose was laughing nervously, unsure where did their conversation stood at the moment.
"Oh, I love puzzle!" The Doctor beamed at her. "I used to play it all the time when I was a kid! But always the white one, completely white one, can you imagine?" He looked at her expectedly. "Just one blank white picture, gathered together from millions of pieces." He gestured a rainbow with his hand. "Although." He grimaced. "It's a bit boring, don't you think? Not that I thought-" He was interrupted still half mouth open by Rose's sudden outburst.
"Doctor!" she yelled at him, eyes filled with rage. Rage? Why would there be rage?
"What?" he asked in complete dense tone.
"We. were. talking. Remember?" She looked at him with furrowed brows. "Before the whole puzzle thing, the whole tying knots and sorts. Remember?"
"Oh, yeh." Realisation on his face. "Right. Right. We were. Where did we left of?" He was like asking her, but the minute she opened her mouth, she was shushed. "No no no no, shush. I remember. Yeh. Right. Strangers. Running. Strangers. Running with strangers!" He was back to his previous worried and hyper mood.
Rose sighed.
"What were you thinking!?" he asked her like she had just told him she had her hand placed in the lion's mouth. Well, their travels could have been considered as that...
"You don't even know half of it!" But she decided to snap.
"Because you're not telling!" he snapped back.
"I've already told you enough!" she cried.
The Doctor just stared at her. "You wanted to know, what was the big secret about me, yeh?" she began casually. "Well, there it is! I have been travelling around aliens for a year and a half before you-" She gestured to him. "That's why I was looking strange to you. That's where the whole Madcap-y came from!" She was panting heavily at her last words. She didn't mean to snap. Not really. And she told him some truths about herself, which she frankly speaking, was beginning to scare her now.
What had she done?
She glanced at him worriedly, but what she saw made her blink. The Doctor was just shaking his head at her. A smile was making its way on his face. He suddenly felt a dash of happiness. It was just that!
"Madcap-y doesn't come from your knowledge of the aliens. It's from your behaviour!" He gestured at her, his face composed.
Rose just gulped. "Okay..." She trailed off, looking at him.
"Now then. Where to now?" He dashed to the console, clasping his hands.
"W-what?" Rose just stood there in bewilderment. "Is that it?" she asked of his back.
"Is that it of what?" he asked her nonchalantly.
"You not gonna ask more? Just like that?"
"What more to ask?" He turned to face her, as he continued to walk backwards, his hands held up to his sides. "You told me about your travels, now let me show you ours." He grinned at her one of his best smiles.
Rose swallowed her tears from the sight. Was it so simple? Just that tiny bit of information made him relax so much? Was it really enough? And before she knew it, she flung herself at him, wrapping her hands around his neck.
"Rose, what is it?" he asked her worriedly, wrapping his own arms around her back. "Hey." As she snuggled herself into his shoulders.
"I thought you wouldn't want me anymore," she whispered, that making the Doctor chuckle.
"Why wouldn't I want you?" He told her gently, as he held her more tightly, smiling to himself. Sure he knew she didn't tell him everything, but this was more than enough. Gradually she could tell him more.
Feeling the need to lift up the mood, he decided to literally lift Rose up, as her legs left the ground for a moment and with a gentle thud reaching it again. Then he let go of her just to start to rush about the console madly. A sudden wave of energy filling him inside.
"What's the commotion?" Mickey's voice echoed from their backs.
The Doctor made little effort to glance at Mickey, as he locked his gaze to Rose, grinning at her, before reaching the last button.
"Allons-y!"
to be continued...
Oh and. I so completely loved the response for the previous chapter that uff! You are all amazing, you know? Thank you! Love the reviews and all.
Better fail the chapter, than the whole story. If what, always tell me. Will do my best to fix things.