Rose stepped into the fish and chip shop with John, trying to keep the mood between them light, but it was difficult. The Doctor's appearance had brought up a slew of emotions, things she thought she'd put past her over the few years it had been since that day at Bad Wolf Bay. Only, it seemed, she hadn't dealt with them, only buried her feelings as the Doctor buried his.

Then there was James. Her guilt over not knowing. Her need to fix things, to make things right with him. She didn't believe he was responsible for killing those women. It wasn't simply not wanting to believe, it was different. A feeling that it was someone else. Only, no one would listen to her.

She pulled herself out of her thoughts as they drew up to the counter. A dark haired woman, mid twenties, flashed John a smile from behind the counter. He returned it. Rose glanced at her nametag. Jules. She gave the woman her own smile.

"Two orders of chips," John said.

"For here or to go," Jules asked.

"For here," Rose said.

She didn't want to go back to her flat just yet. Not with everyone there. She was sure the Doctor or Sherlock or both of them would want to talk to her and she needed a bit of time before that happened.

"Hi, Rose."

She glanced to her right. Tom stood next to her, leaning on a mop. He was a bit gangly, early twenties, and about as uncoordinated as they come. She met him when the shop first opened. He usually worked in the back because he was one of those shy types. Didn't really get on with other people, which tended to be because of his scar. A jagged stretch of pink that ran under his right eye. She didn't give it much notice, but he seemed to always be conscious of it.

"Hi, Tom. Working the front today?" she asked.

"Just a bit of cleaning up. Jerry didn't show up for work," Tom said.

"That's good. Good that you're out here, not that Jerry didn't show up."

"Yeah," he shifted giving her an embarrassed smile, "well, you know how people are."

She knew he was talking about his scar. She'd seen people point it out. It's why he tended to work in the back.

"Just ignore them. Bunch of idiots that they are."

"Who's this then?" Tom asked, turning his attention to John. "Another boyfriend?"

He gave her a teasing smile. She laughed.

"No, this is John. He's a friend."

Tom offered his hand.

"I'm Tom."

John took his hand and they shook.

"Nice to meet you," John said.

"Well, I better get back to work." He turned and then seemed to think better and glanced back. "It was nice seeing you."

"You too," Rose said, giving him a smile as he walked away.

Jules handed John their order. Then he led Rose over to one of the booths.

"He seems to like you," John said as they sat down.

She laughed.

"He's just being polite," she said, then picked up a chip and blew on it before popping it in her mouth.

"That's a bit more than politeness."

She glanced at Tom as he mopped the floor.

"He's nice. I wish more people could see that."

"What happened to him?"

She turned back to John, grabbing another chip.

"I'm not sure. He said it happened when he was a kid, but I didn't press him. It's probably hard to talk about."

"I'm surprised Sherlock didn't deduce what happened."

Sherlock? She wasn't sure what John was talking about.

"What do you mean?"

"When they met."

"They haven't met, at least, not that I know of."

John gave her a confused look.

"I assumed they had when Tom asked if I was another boyfriend."

"Oh," she laughed. "No, he usually works in the back. Tom asked me about him once. Probably saw us come in together."

John gave her a teasing smile.

"I told you he likes you."

"I think I have enough trouble in that department right now. Let's not go adding to it."

They were quiet for a time, but one glance at John told her he had something on his mind and she was pretty sure she knew what that was. She focused her attention out the window, hoping to put him off, but knowing that it wouldn't work forever.

Her thoughts turned back to the two men she cared about. The Doctor. A man she said forever to. Time Lord. Alien. But still a man. He saved her life and then she traveled with him for two years and during that time he changed her, made her see things differently and she fell in love with him. He was her world, even after they were separated. She spent every waking hour trying to get back to him. When he left her she was heartbroken.

Deep down she knew he was trying to do the right thing. That was the Doctor. Always doing what was right, even if it was wrong, which, to her, it was. She didn't want a duplicate…a copy…she wanted him. According to the Doctor they were the same, but she couldn't see that because the man she loved walked away.

He was trying to set them both free. Give her the life he thought she needed and saving himself from watching her age, wither and die, his words. She also knew it hurt him as much as it hurt her. She saw that in his eyes that day on the beach.

Then there was Sherlock. A man so unlike the Doctor in many ways, but similar in others. A man who hid his feelings behind a shield of calculating intelligence. He lived his life being different. I don't feel the same as other people feel. Only, he did feel and she could bring that out in him.

He challenged her. Showing her the world through his eyes. Things were different with him than they were with the Doctor and, after everything she'd gone through he made her feel alive again.

There were other things to deal with at the moment. James and the murders, but she knew the day was coming when she'd have to make a choice and she didn't look forward to that day because one way or the other someone she cared for was going to be hurt and she would be the one responsible for causing the pain.


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