A/N: Thanks to all the recent reviewers! You know who you are! Having so many has given me so much inspiration that I already have this out for you. I think I'll make chapters as long as I feel they need to be. Like natural pauses that feel right. Some might be longer, other's shorter, but this feels easier.
Thanks again for reading all the way to this point for you new readers! I can't wait to get to the big drama part near the end! It'll be epic! Or I should say….FANTASTIC!
Father's Day
Part Two
Bright and sunny.
I squinted in the light as the three of us hovered on a street corner. The day Rose's dad died looked so cheerful. Why did I feel like invisible jaws were starting to close around us?
My hand went to the TARDIS key now tucked under my shirt. Cool and smooth against my skin, it helped me focus on something other than Rose's mounting anxiety. I had to be imagining those jaws of doom. Rose's emotions could be influencing my own past what seemed reasonable.
The concern still persisted, so I hung back. Ready to jump in if I had to.
"He'd been getting a wedding present. A vase," Rose murmured. I could barely hear her above her own anxiety. "Mum always said…that stupid vase."
The Doctor took Rose's hand as a van pulled up to the curb around the corner. Conscious or not, he tried to give comfort in his own way.
A soda can crunched like it had been stepped on by the next building over. I wouldn't have given it any thought, but the presence I'd come to know as the TARDIS pulled my head in that direction. My eyes snapped open….
….and met a pair of dark ones I'd know anywhere by now. Those eyes flew wide and the man straightened, almost ducking back out of sight. Not just a man, the Doctor…but he stood right in front of….
Dread filled me. I quietly smacked my forehead before fixing my gaze on him again. Something would happen very soon that would make him risk being seen by himself. Intense eyes pleaded with me not to say anything.
With a frown showing my disapproval, I just nodded and pointedly turned my back to him, facing the current Doctor and Rose again. Now I knew Rose would do something stupid.
A man that looked more like Rose than Jackie did stepped out, said vase in hand.
"He got out of his car and crossed the road." Rose pressed a hand to her mouth as another car came around the corner. "Oh, God. This is it."
My jaw ached from how tightly I clenched it. The build up to the moment had been intense enough. Time to see how well I could keep my barriers up and going on my own.
Tires screeched. A heavy thud I remembered from hitting Jack cut through me even though I'd squeezed my eyes shut. Pete Tyler didn't have Jack's problem. He couldn't survive a hit like that.
Even though I kept my barriers as fierce as I could and still sense things, the explosion that came from Rose sucked the breath from me. Forced me to take a couple steps back.
"Go to him," the Doctor urged quietly in the kindest voice I'd ever heard from him. "Quick."
From the immobilizing fear and grief that drove me back, I knew Rose wouldn't be able to. I gave my head a shake, forcing my eyes open once more and shoving that growing sense of dread down into a deep pit.
Rose shook slightly as she strode past to the TARDIS, Doctor following hot on her heels. Sirens echoed in the distance, drawing closer. "It's…it's too late now. By the time the ambulance got there, he was already dead."
The second Doctor itched at my mind. Tempted me to turn around, but I knew that would be the worst idea ever. Either that sixth sense came from the TARDIS or me seeing too many time-traveling movies for my own good, I didn't care. Whether Rose's actions sprang from a plan she hid from the Doctor or her being human and acting on emotions, something would happen that would push against the Doctor's rules.
I could be forced to keep them both from killing each other.
I caught up, placing a hand on her shoulder. Whatever her reasons, whatever I felt about the matter, she'd just seen her dad die in front of her. It would be cruel and petty if I acted from emotions I wasn't sure were founded yet. "Rose, I'm…."
"He can't die alone." She sucked on her bottom lip and tried to meet the Doctor's gaze. Tried and failed, like she'd be terrified of his answer. "Can…can I try again?"
My hand snapped off her shoulder before I could control myself. There. That one request that could set everything off in the wrong direction. Looking at the Doctor, I could see the wheels churning faster than they ever had. His knowledge of time versus his friendship and feelings with Rose.
"Fine," he sighed. "But only this once," he added with some sense of firmness.
I had to almost literally bite my tongue. Rose had risked a lot by asking to go back in her own timeline to even get a glimpse of her Dad. Two Rose's, two Doctors, and two of me in the same place? If Jack hadn't wanted me meeting myself, then….
Rose darted inside the TARDIS.
"Doctor," I breathed, letting a frown finally cross my face.
"I know, I know." The Doctor ran his hand over his head with a grumble then sulked into the TARDIS behind her.
Shaking my head, I followed, closing the door behind me. We were so tempting fate. The best I could do was keep the Doctor and Rose from tearing each other apart before the end.
Once again we found ourselves on the same day. Hiding behind that same building I'd seen Doctor number two at. I stuffed my hands into my long coat's pockets as the Doctor poked his head around the corner.
A dizziness rushed through me for a moment, forcing me to close my eyes. The Doctor's very audible intake of breath made me wince in embarrassment. We just made eye contact again. Or for the first time. I couldn't keep the terminology straight when two sets of the three of us lingered in the same instant again.
"You saw me."
I winced as the Doctor turned his head my way. "Yeah."
"You saw me and didn't say anything." Instead of a scowl, the Doctor's eyebrows had risen in surprise.
"Nope. Figured we were already breaking a few rules so I didn't want to make it worse. You know." In the silence, I risked meeting his eyes. "Sorry?"
Though distracted by Rose, the Doctor's smile relieved any sort of nervousness.
In that brief moment of eye contact, Rose broke from the Doctor's hold and sprinted towards where her Dad was getting out of the car again.
"Rose! No!" The Doctor lunged after her, but for once he was too slow.
Everything happened in slow motion, just like the movies.
The car raced towards Pete Tyler.
Rose ran into the street and grabbed her dad.
Both of them stumble to safety, the vase remaining unbroken.
And double empathic punches to my gut had me breathless as I reached out to brace myself on the Doctor.
Shit. Why did I have to be right this time?
The rage and just plain hurt that exploded from the Doctor's opening to me made me forget Rose altogether. He went so calm on the outside, I knew that anything would make him explode and say things he'd beat himself up over later. Pushing through the punches to my psyche.
From the storm in his eyes as they trained on Rose, he appeared almost blind to anything else.
I placed my hand firmly on the Doctor's chest even though I knew his dislike of touches like that. "Doctor, she's only human. A girl saving her dad. Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same if you had the chance."
Silence. Was I even getting through to him? Could he even hear me? If he did, would he just completely ignore what I was saying?
"I'm mad at her too, Doctor, but I'm not going to bash her head in because she acted on instinct." Boldness came over me and I put both hands on his shoulders. "Don't do something stupid, okay?"
I had no more words for him. Not when I didn't even know if he heard me or not. Plus, how could I defend Rose completely when she'd fractured his trust a second time?
The Doctor said nothing so I dropped my hands and turned towards where Rose and her dad were talking. I didn't bother hiding the frown on my face this time. Rose had royally screwed up.
As much of a peacemaker as I tried to be, I had no idea how I could clear this mess up and still come out of it in one piece.