Chapter 3

AN: I'm not overly happy with this chapter, I couldn't get the flow right and I'm not sure I got across all I wanted to but I am sick of looking at this chapter and trying to re-write it. So here it is!

Somewhere along the way from Sarah Jane's living room to the med bay in the TARDIS, Rose passed out. The Doctor wasn't really surprised given the state her body was in and the demands the pregnancy must have been making on her, add in the dimension jumping and he was actually amazed all she had done was pass out he was well aware it could be much worse. It was that fear that saw him work with such speed and efficiently that Rose had only been in the med bay for a few minutes before the Doctor had her attached to all the IV fluids and medications he deemed necessary. Sure there were probably some things she didn't need but he would figure that out later, for now he wasn't taking any chances. He had already lost her once, so he wasn't about to stand back and watch it happen a second time not when he could do something to stop it.

Once he had Rose stable, the Doctor become aware of Mickey and Sarah Jane hovering by the door to the med bay.

Turning to them with a small sad smile he announced

"She's ok, for now". And then he turned his attention back to the woman on the stretcher in front of him.

"Let's see what I can do for the child" he muttered as he started to collect some stuff from around the room.

"So do you know exactly how far along she is Mr Mickey?" the Doctor asked distractedly as he begun fiddling with the machines he had dragged to Rose's side. He was just about to lift her shirt so he had clear access to her expanded middle so he could assess the child when Mickey's reply made him pause.

"As close as we can work out she has been pregnant about eight months; no one can work out how long she has left though"

"Are you sure Mickey boy? She is kind of small to almost be full term"

"Our doctors believe Rose to be equivalent to around the five-month mark at the moment. The baby is growing extremely slowly by our standards but they are unsure if that is because the baby isn't receiving the necessary nutrients or if she just needs a longer gestation period". Mickey replied in a tone that suggested that this was a discussion he had heard and been a part of many times before.

While Mickey spoke, the Doctor continued to work, trying very hard not to reacted to the bruises and marks that covered the woman lying in front of him, but paused once again as the young man's word sank in.

Swinging around to look at Mickey, "Why would she need a longer gestation?" and suddenly he froze.

"Wait you said eight months but that can't be right, eight months ago Rose was here on the TARDIS…. with me" the last two words were spoken at barely a whisper.

A few moments later whispered again "But that means…", he never finished the thought out loud, instead he swung back around and quickly scanned Rose's stomach with one of the devices he had collected earlier.

Suddenly a screen nearby crackled to life with a 3D image of a baby on it. The baby had one arm across her face while she sucked the thumb of her other hand and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

The sound of her twin heart beats filling the room.

888

The Doctor sat alone in the med bay next to a sleeping Rose staring at the image still on the screen, his thoughts in turmoil. He had sent Mickey and Sarah Jane to go find a cup of tea and while back, needing the time to come to terms with what was happening. Rose was stable for the time being and the Doctor knew that as long as he could keep Rose stable the child should be fine. But his mind still reeled that tiny little girl shouldn't even have been possible, human and time lord just weren't compatible. If he had thought even for a second, there had ever been a chance of him and Rose creating a child together he would have taken the necessary steps to make sure that wouldn't happen. Through his own actions he had lost his first family when he ended the time war, and whether that was his punishment or not he had long ago come to terms with the knowledge he would never have children again and regardless of all of his own personal issues, he would never have deliberately risked Rose's life like that. Time Lord genes always breed true and quite simply the human body was not capable of carrying a pure Gallifreyan child. The fact Rose had already made it so far should have been impossible and yet somehow here she and the child was. Both very sick but both very much alive. Now it was up to him to keep them that way. The woman he loved and the child they had created.

His mind still reeling at everything he had learnt he didn't feel the first soft touches of another's mind against his own. It was only as the pressure grew slightly in strength did the Doctor actually notice it. It was the mind of the child, the chaotic thoughts of the Doctor having disturbed her from her sleep. The Time Lord had long ago stopped shielding his mind and his thoughts and the sudden onslaught of thoughts had the baby automatically reaching out in an attempt to make sense of what was happening. The Doctor's response was automatic as well, the absence of his own people had created a longing he had long stopped noticing, but at the first soft touch of the child's mind, the longing and loneliest came rushing back and the Doctor found himself reaching out without conscious thought of doing so. The mind he met was so small, delicate and filled with such confusion the Doctor connected immediately, desperate to help the child in any way he could.

The child should have bonded with her mother many months ago but of course being human Rose had no ability to do so. The child didn't understand this though and without this connection was left lost and confused.

Shh little one, the thought drifted over the child's mind followed with a gentle caress and had an immediate calming effect.

Everything will be okay, sleep now I'll look after you, the Doctor continued, gently sending as many calming and reassuring feelings across their connection as possible as his daughter relaxed back into sleep. The connection now formed, would strengthen until the bond between father and daughter was completed.

AN2: Next chapter Rose and the Doctor finally talk, should be fun!

Please R&R and let me know what you think.