"Why?"
That was the first thing the Doctor asked as soon as he saw me again, safe within the TARDIS.
"Didn't Gwyn explain it to you?"
His gaze got even heavier, "It didn't make any sense."
Well I didn't know how much more sense I could make, she said she'd tell him about the hunters. Honestly, I was still trying to understand why myself.
"Maybe you didn't listen hard enough."
I walked around the console, a newfound appreciation for the ease of flannel pants and a simple cotton tee.
I ran my fingertips over the console's many buttons and dials carefully. I didn't want to press anything, I shouldn't.
I looked up at him before chickening out and looking back down, "Are you still angry with me?"
He didn't answer but gazed at the cellular I had placed in my tees pocket.
"How's your mum?"
I let out a nervous laugh to fill the awkward silence, "How domestic."
I let out a sigh of relief when I saw his lips twitch.
"She's mum. She cares and she gossips, her only 2 settings."
He looked down at the controls, "How about a visit then?"
I looked nervously at him, "You are not going to leave me there. I'd be rather put out if you did."
He didn't answer, instead he pulled a lever. The TARDIS sang her tone slightly apologetic for her pilot's rudeness.
As soon mum finished hugging me, she looked at the Doctor in curiosity.
"Who's he? He looks familiar. Have you been on the telly?"
"Nope." The Doctor rocked back on his heels.
I was surprised he even bothered to come up.
"And you!" Mum's face turned stony, "I haven't heard from you for 3 months! 3 months Rose!"
"I'm sorry mum." Time passed differently for her and I. I had only called her a couple of hours ago but to her its been much longer.
The Doctor started inching toward the door but as soon as he did my mom pointed at his back, an ah hah moment written all over her face.
"That's it! Wasn't he the one who interviewed you about the explosion a year back?"
"I never had an interview. He was here regarding my travel plans."
My mom smirked, "Oh is he part of the package deal?" Jackie's eyes flashed, piercing the Doctor's back despite her joking words.
"He's like the team leader."
The Doctor snorted. "Fat luck, you never listen."
"One time, Doctor."
I met mum's gaze as she looked between the two of us.
"You seem to get along fine."
I knew that calculative look.
"We are friends, mum."
They were on the roof overlooking the city and the Doctor gazed out at the skyline I could tell he was purposely trying to not look at me from when I turned toward him he turned away.
"So much trouble, are you going to stay then?"
I shook my head, "My mum might carry about but she's happy I'm getting out and seeing the world. I think she was worried I'd end up being too much of a homebody."
The Doctor's eyes widened in surprise, "You?"
"I know." I laughed, "I just always had a hard time putting down roots in friendships. They were either kids younger than me or the old couple a couple doors down. Never anyone my own age."
A honking like sound had us ducking as a ufo narrowly missed our heads.
The doctor's trademark grin graced his features.
"Come along!"
He grabbed a hold of my hand and we raced to the TARDIS.
When we were joining the crowds overlooking the crash site in the Thames I turned toward the Doctor.
"Did you know this was going to happen?"
"Nope."
"Do you know who it is?"
"Nope."
I gave him a grin to rival one of his own, "So I get to show you something new in my time."
"Yep!"
"Excellent!"
It wasn't long for the whole floor of Powell Estate dwellers to all congregate in ours.
The newscaster was speaking: "We still don't know if its alive or dead...Albion Hospital is closest to the crash..."
I sat on the Doctor's chair's arm, "So what next?"
"We investigate."
The room was loud with all her neighbours talking at once but it was his wide smile that caused her heart beat to quicken and her lips to lift.
"I've been taking notes." I passed him my notebook with the important places mentioned in the news as well as the different observations we'd already made. I even had questions at the side and guessed answers.
"Thorough." He went through the pages, "Brilliant thinking." Settling on one of the pages he ripped the page from the notepad before making his way out of the apartment.
"I'll just pop over to the hospital, you stay and spend some time with your family."
"You won't leave me behind, will you?"
Perhaps I gave away my nervousness with the question or perhaps there was a waver in my voice either way the Doctor turned and came back to stand before me.
He took something from his pocket, lifting my hand. He placed a key that warmed at my touch. The TARDIS's song sang in my head.
His gaze was serious and intent, his eyes searching mine and then as if he found what he found what he was looking for he smiled.
"TARDIS key about time you had one."
I took my bottle cap locket necklace off my neck and then placed the key on the chain. A wave of comfort came over me as it slipped into my shirt.
I smiled as I felt Sexy's excitement at my new acquisition.
"Thank you."
The next couple of hours would have been agonising if I couldn't sense that the TARDIS was still in London.
After several hours passed, I felt the TARDIS key heated up.
"I'm heading out, mum."
"When will you be back?" Jackie called from the kitchen.
"I'll call."
"You better!"
I ran outside to watch from our story as the TARDIS rematerialized.
I ran down the stairs, a giddy smile on my lips.
I kept running until I made it through the TARDIS doors.
I couldn't help as I nearly skipped toward the Doctor.
"You came back."
"I told you I would."
I nodded, "So what did you find out?"
"The whole crash landing was faked. As suspected, hitting Big Ben far too perfect a target."
"Was the spaceship real though? If it was it would be odd that whoever sent it put the world on red alert."
A knock on the TARDIS door had us looking curiously at each other.
I opened it carefully only to find Mickey on the other side with a frown on his lips.
"Why did you never call?"
"Mickey."
"I thought we were family." He shuffled his feet before looking at me.
"We are." I looked at the Doctor before looking away. He'd be no help, "There was oddly not a lot of time."
"You called your mum..."
"I told her to say hi for me."
He glared.
"I'm sorry, Mickey."
"Rose..."
Another far too familiar voice cut through the tense air, my eyes widened as I looked up to see my mother frozen on the threshold of the TARDIS.
I looked back at Mickey, eyes narrowed.
Mickey smiled grimly, "Oh did I forget to mention, I told on you?"
"Great, just great domestics." The Doctor grumbled.
I watched as my mum ran out of the TARDIS.
I turned toward the Doctor and Mickey pointing at each of them, "Behave," before running after my mum.
I found her sitting on her bed, head in her hands. The sounds from the neighbours filtering in through her closed door.
"What is he? Is he one of them?"
"He's not responsible for the crash, he's trying to find out what happened. He wants to help us mum."
"Was it all a lie? Were you even travelling?" Her cheeks were wet and I sat beside her, and picked up her hand in mine.
"He really is my travelling partner. Our travel distance is just more than around the world."
"But he's..."
I let out a sigh, "Yes he's an alien, but he's a good one. He helps whenever he can." I squeezed my mom's hand.
She looked at me, her face stricken, "You can't trust him, Rose."
"I'm careful, mum. Even so he's still my friend." I looked toward the door, "You know how you'd always ask me what I was waiting for, it was adventures with him. If there ever comes a time I want to stop I can."
My mum shook her head, "But you won't."
Her blue eyes looked into my own and I felt for a moment she could see me, all of me.
"No, I don't think I ever will."
She squeezed my hand back, "Is it dangerous?"
"No more than climbing a live volcano in some desolate place, or swimming with sharks, or climbing the tallest mountains here on Earth."
I kissed her forehead, "Will you be ok? I need to check on the boys."
She nodded.
"I promise to be careful mum."