TWENTY - ABANDONED
Teddy climbed on to Rose's knee after the Doctor had finished checking him over "good boy" she kissed his head "well?" Jack asked the Doctor concerned "well physically, he's OK. Everything is fine. Has he told you what the nightmares are about?" Jack shook his head "every time we ask, he gets worked up" "Teddy?" The doctor said, and Teddy looked at him shyly "what happens in your bad dreams? Can you tell me?" The Doctor was around Jack's age, so young, but he seemed reassuring and professional to Rose, Jack wasn't so sure. "Daddy… and Mummy… and Liza…" "Eliza is his little sister" Rose clarified and the Doctor nodded his head "and what happens to them in your dream? What do they do?" "Leave me" "leave you?" The doctor looked confused but Teddy nodded "leave me like my other mummy did" Jack's heart sank, how could he not have thought of that? Yes, Teddy had a fantastic mother in Rose, but really, Elizabeth did 'leave' him. She died, Teddy went to Maggie's house when Elizabeth went in to labour. He left the house with a Mum and returned to the house without one. Of course it was traumatising. Jack sighed and closed his eyes, disappointed in himself.
He explained to the Doctor "Teddy's mother died during childbirth just over 5 months ago" "I see" the Doctor replied "and where do they go, Teddy?" He said referring to his nightmares, Teddy shrugged "I don't know" "OK" he smiled at Teddy reassuringly and stood gesturing for Rose and Jack to leave the room with him "you play with your bear for a minute, OK? We'll be back soon" Rose sat him on the sofa and followed Jack and the doctor out the living room, closing the door behind them "so?" Jack looked at the Doctor "unfortunately there isn't much we can do medically. He's not physically sick, which is fantastic. He's a child that's been through something awful and it's showing" "so how do we treat it?" Rose asks "we can't I'm afraid, you just have to be there for Teddy, so he knows you won't leave him" Rose nodded "that's it?" Jack asked, disgust in his voice "I'm afraid so, there's no treating this other than just showing Teddy you're here for him" Rose, noticing Jack getting more frustrated, thanked the doctor and showed him out.
"That's it?!" Jack said angrily
"Jack, calm down" Rose replied
"Calm down?! My son is waking up screaming every night! Covered in sweat, breaking his own heart! He's traumatised Rose! And all that Doctor had to say was 'be there for him' like I haven't been there for him! Do you have any idea how insulting that is?!"
"He didn't mean it like that! But what do you want them to do, Jack?! Take Teddy off us, run away with him so they can make him 'better' you'd want that for our son?!" She replied, clearly annoyed but jumped as Jack yelled
"HE'S NOT YOUR SON! Christ Rose, it's just become clear that he's still grieving for Elizabeth!" He immediately regretted what he'd said but Rose stood there, hard as stone. Her purse was on the counter top beside her, she picked it up calmly and grabbed her coat which was hanging of the back of the chair, as she was putting it on Jack spoke "Rose" he sighed "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry" he stood in front of her "move out of my way" she said coldly "no, Rose, I'm sorry- please" he almost begged "if you don't move out of my way within the next 3 seconds, I will scream, and you wouldn't want me to scare your son or your daughter, would you?" She knew she would never scream, in fear of scaring the kids, but he didn't know that, and so, he moved to the side "at least tell me where you're going" he pulled on her arm, but she ignored him. She opened the front door and left. Jack threw his head back "nice one Jack" he said to himself. "Daddy?" Teddy said as he walked in to the hallway "where's mummy gone?" He asked, he'd watch Rose walk down the driveway. Jack sighed, "she's gone for a walk, she'll be back soon" he said as he lifted him up. It was the first time he'd ever lied to his son, and he hated it. Had Rose just gone for a walk? Would she be back soon? He had no idea.
