Rose got home and Jackie gave her a hug as soon as she was through the door. Checking her all over for any wounds.
"It's on the telly. Were you anywhere near...?"
"Just around the corner."
This time the hug was a tad bit tighter until at least the phone rung and then Jackie was back to her gossiping self.
"I know!...At least she has her A-levels. She could get a better job after this."
Shaking her head, Rose remembered a fanfic where the person put the arm in a cardboard box, careful what kind of tape she used.
"No more plastics needed."
With a nod, she turned her back on it only for her phone to ring.
"Hey Mickey!"
"What happened? Are you alright?" His voice was worried but still sounded distracted.
"Just dandy. Don't worry about me bestie. It's game night isn't it?"
"Well yeah." His voice mumbled.
"Enjoy yourself, Mickey. I'm fine."
Jackie came back, "It's Debbie with the Mirror says she could..."
Rose shook her head, "Mum, there's nothing to tell."
--
The next morning had her mum putting the morning paper by her plate.
"I bet you could get entry-level at any of those big companies."
To keep her mum from going into nag-mode, Rose brought the newspaper forward and made a show of circling several jobs that might have worked if she didn't plan on traveling with the Doctor.
"I think I'll go traveling. I've saved up since I started working summers back when I was 15."
Jackie looked at her daughter with concerned gaze, "Travelin' really?"
"Why not?" Rose gave an eyebrow raise over her tea. "In fact I think I'll go see train schedules today, maybe even pack a bag." The bag had been packed since the first day of March.
As if on cue the front door's cat flap jiggled. Rose could barely hold back her grin as she walked down their flat's corridor and opened the front door to find the Doctor kneeling on the front stoop.
"Hello Doctor, need something?"
He blinked up at her, confused for a moment before muttering, "Must have the wrong signal."
"I still have the arm. If that's what you are looking for."
"Who is it?" Mum called out.
"A friend from Henrik's." Not a complete lie.
As mum peeked out from her bedroom in her dressing gown, a demure expression across her features. Rose took the Doctor into the apartment past her flirty mum.
"Coffee, Doctor?"
"Might as well. Just milk."
"I'll get you the arm after then."
Quietly making his coffee she could hear his commentary as he made it around the room.
When his coffee was ready she brought it forward, "Coffee with only milk."
As he took a sip, Rose went to get the arm only to find the box empty and busted open the paper tape broken.
"Doctor?"
Sounds of a struggle had her running back to the living room.
The hand was chocking the Doctor, Rose ran up and tried to pull it off.
It seemed she succeeded only for the arm to switch directions and come for her.
She ducked only for the arm to grab a bunch of her hair pulling her across the room. Her hair felt like it was about to be ripped out and her scalp stung and ached.
The Doctor came for her, wielding his sonic like a valiant knight, to her rescue.
The sonic sound rang in the room as tears fell down her cheeks but the Doctor at last gained control of the arm again. Sonicing the center of its palm until it let go of her hair. Her neck sore she rubbed it as the Doctor glanced at her as she wiped her tears from her cheeks.
"There stopped it. Never fear, its armless."
He gave her a wide grin and she gave a wobbly one back.
Then he was on the run out the door again.
(Not knowing then that the living plastic mind had been made aware of his rescue not once but twice.)
Rose followed him out the door. She was a little unsure how to proceed.
"So Doctor how do we stop the living plastics from whatever their main objective is?"
The Doctor glanced her way, "You are taking this all rather well."
"More mysterious things have happened to me Doctor than though controlled plastics."
His brow furrowed, "I never said they were thought controlled."
"But it makes sense, doesn't it?"
The Doctor nodded but still eyed her slightly suspiciously before knocking her head gently and then just muttering, "Still a bonehead." He strode forward, "Alright then. Their main objective is taking over the human race and destroying you."
Rosalind nodded, "Do they want the planet then?"
The Doctor nodded, and watched as she continued to walk beside him backpack and everything.
"So what's the deal with you, Rose Tyler?"
Ah he'd read her mail address.
"Yeah?"
"Why are you following a strange man through London?"
"Maybe because I know there's more to him than meets the eye."
He rose a thick eyebrow and let out a slightly condescending laugh. "Oh really what can you see."
"You..." Rosalind metered out, "Life-threatening situations are all an adventure to you." He nodded. "You move so fast, always running, never stopping." His brow furrowed, and his blue eyes grew intense. "You feel so much and yet you hide it behind nonchalance and jokes. You, Doctor, are a mystery. I believe even sometimes to yourself."
He grabbed her arms, firm but wasn't hurting her, "Where did such insight come from?" His eyes narrowed as he stared into her amber as if trying to read her thoughts and maybe he was.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Doctor."
"Maybe I would. I've seen many an impossible thing."
"I've bet you have Doctor."
He shook his head and stepped back from her. "It would be best to forget me, Rose Tyler." His face had grown serious and I could see the weight of the universe on his shoulders again.
"I could never forget you, Doctor."
But he was already walking way without even looking back.
And that was the thing wasn't it?
Rosalind wanted him to want her to join him, not because of some role she played but because he saw something in her true self and that wasn't something she could force.