Rose looked around and huffed, sighing heavily as the first drop of rain hit her square in the eye. She began walking towards her car. It was only two blocks away, one block away…“oof!” Rose said as she bumped into you, she was snapping up with an apologetic look. “M’sorry. I wasn’t looking.” She stammered, playing with the hem of her shirt a s the rain poured even more.
“It’s alright, neither was I. When did this rain start?”
Rose looked up, a hand shielding her eyes, “about five minutes ago…” she said, smiling back down at her. She reached out her hand and held it out, “M’Rose, Rose Tyler.” She said as friendly as she could manage.
“Rose?! Rose Tyler?! COME WITH ME!” I grabbed her hand and ran toward the center of town. I looked back at her face and I could tell she was very confused. I looked forward and almost ran into the TARDIS, I opened the door and ran in. “DOCTOR, DOCTOR! I FOUND HER!”
Rose widened her eyes and swallowed thickly. “H-how? W-who?” she glanced around the empty TARDIS, the Doctor, was obviously not in. “NOW where did he wander off to!!” I ran around the control room looking for the Doctor, then the console phone started ringing. I ran over to it and answered quickly “DOCTOR! Where are you!!!”
Rose swallowed down the bike in her throat. Maybe she had got it all wrong. He replaced her, new companion, pretty face. She slowly backed out of the TARDIS doors, staring at the ship in sorrow and shock.
“Yeah she’s here.” I turned around to hand the phone to Rose, “Rose he wants to talk to you…Rose? Doctor , I got to go, I call you back!” I ran out of the TARDIS to find Rose. “UGGH! Why is everyone running off today!”
She was running down the street as fast as she could, ignoring the tears that stung her eyes. He had replaced her; it was as simple as that.
I ran back into the TARDIS and called the Doctor, he didn’t pick up! I searched all over the console for the number the Doctor had left. AH! Found it! I dialed the number, “come on Rose! Pick up!”
Rose froze as she felt her mobile ring. Was it him? Mum? Pete? Mickey? She hoped it was him. No she didn’t! she was supposed to be mad! No, she hoped it was mickey, or Mum. (She secretly hoped it was him) “Yes?” she answered simply, the mobile pressed against her ear.
“Rose! Yes good, where did you go! The Doctor needed to talk to you! Please come back to the TARDIS, I think he’s in trouble! He didn’t answer when I called him back.”
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s never answered directly.” Rose said harshly. “M’going home. He doesn’t need me anymore obviously. He has you.” She said bitterly, hanging up the mobile and placing it in her pocket.
She hung! “Now what am I supposed to do! I’m all alone in the TARDIS with no idea how to fly it, no idea where the Doctor is, or Rose!” I realized I was still talking into the phone, so I put it down and collapsed on the floor. DOO-WEE-OOO. The TARDIS was moving! “what’s happening!!”
Rose choked back a sob as she heard the familiar sound of the TARDIS.
When the TARDIS stopped moving I looked up and saw the Doctor standing above me, “hello Addy! Let’s go find Rose!”
Rose pulled on her jacket and pulled up the hood, blocking out the rain as she continued walking, away from her past.
I watched from the TARDIS as the Doctor ran over to Rose. When she turned I was surprised to see sadness on her face, I thought she’d be happy to see him. She seemed to be really upset with him. The Doctor placed his hand on her shoulders and looked right into her eyes and said something that seemed to calm her down. The Doctor hugged her and then led her back to the TARDIS.
I sorta stood between Rose and the Doctor. Rose seemed to be in her own world, so did the Doctor. That kind of daze he gets when he’s thinking. He was running around the console pressing buttons and pulling levers, and muttering to himself.
Rose slowly pulled her knees to her chest and bruised herself in her own embrace, ignoring the Doctor’s occasional longing glance, and Addy’s worried expression. \
“Doctor, what’s going on?” “What? Oh! Yes! Monsters in a forest, in another galaxy! Doesn’t that sound fun!” “Yeah, but I was kinda meaning about Rose.” “Oh, um…I’m not entirely sure…”
Rose shook her head and stood, “nothing’s wrong with me. M”just realizin’ something and makin’ a decision.” She said harshly, “take me back.”
“To late Rose, welcome back.” The Doctor ran out of the TARDIS and I walked over to rose and helped her up, “there’s no harm in checking it out, is there?”
Rose shook her head and stormed past you out after the Doctor. “Oh no you don’t! You bloody well take me back right this moment!” she yelled at him.
I was starting to feel like a pointless piece of dust in this world of the Doctor’s. And I had a feeling Rose was feeling the same way. I followed Rose out the door *crsh* I heard a gun cock next to my head. I looked up and saw Rose and the Doctor with guns to their heads too. Rose looked over at the Doctor and scowled, “Doctor M”going to kill you if they don’t kill us first
He gave her an apologetic look and winced as the man holding the gun shoved Rose forward hard.
“Take his prize! Lock her up” “DON’T TOUCH HER!” The alien leader person looked at him and laughed. “You don’t want Rose, or Addy! Let them go and take me.”
I stood there frozen in terror; I’m in no way cut out for this. I looked around trying to find a weakness in the enemies or some sort of way to get out of here. “Don’t hurt her!” the Doctor tried to get to Rose but his guard held him back.
Rose grunted as the guard tightened her restraints and pulled her off the ground by her hair, causing her to cry out in agony.
The Doctor made a face as if he could feel Rose’s pain, which honestly wouldn’t surprise me. “Listen to me” I looked around to try and find the voice, it was the guard with a gun to my head! “What? What’s going on!” “I’m here to help you.”
“Tell us who you are!” the guard holding Rose’s hair demanded. The Doctor remained silent, agony painted on his face. “Fine” the guard said with a smirk, dropping Rose to the floor with a thud and delivering a quick kick to her side, causing her to cry out again.
I looked back at my guard and noticed that he, or she, was taller than the rest. “Listen, there’s a quick way out of here.” “Oh yeah? What is it?” “YOU! SILENCE! Now tell me who you are!”
Rose sucked in a painful breath, waiting for another blow to her.
“If I tell you who I am will you let Rose and Addy go?” “Maybe” “Maybe isn’t an answer! I need a yes!” “Oh but I can’t do that” “Why not!”
The guard lifted another foot as if to hurt her again. “Not important. Speak!”
“Alright!” I saw the Doctor look around then stand up, “My name’s the Doctor I’m the last of the Time Lords, I have nothing left except my company, and when you hurt them I get angry, and you don’t want to see me when I’m angry!”
Rose wiped away some blood and laughed, “you really don’t.” she agreed, spitting a mouthful of blood purposefully on the guard’s shoes. He growled and hit her once again.
The Doctor whipped around and slammed the enemy on the back of the head; he immediately went limp and fell to the floor. Rose’s guard trained his gun on the Doctor, but my guard didn’t, he aimed at Rose’s guard. “What are you doing fool! Shoot him!” “No” my guard took off his hood, and the Doctor shook his head, “hello Doctor! Miss me?” “Hello Jack”
The guard trained his gun on Rose and jerked her up, placing the point at her temple. “Make one move and the bottle blonde’s brains spew.” He threatened. Jack tsked. “See, I quite like Rosie. So, that’s not gonna happen.” He said calmly. “Now put the gun down.” He said coldly, cocking hi gun in a threatening manner.
I looked at the Doctor and said “who is he?” “He’s a friend, don’t, just don’t” Jack smirked and winked at me “now one of your guards are down, one isn’t even of the same species” motioning to himself, “and one of you doesn’t have a weapon. It’s just you little doggie, so put down your gun!”
Rose grunted in pain as the guard held her closer. “See, she’s my only leverage, so no. if you take one step closer I will send a bullet through her head.”
I saw out of the corner of my eye the Doctor reaching into his coat pocket. I knew what he was reaching for, I mean who wouldn’t? With one quick move the Doctor had whipped out his sonic screwdriver and had pointed it at the alien thing. “There, locked your bullet in place, there’s no shooting that gun anymore. Now, let Rose go.”
He chuckled darkly and threw his gun, quickly grabbing Rose’s neck in his arms and squeezing. She made a choked noise, and clawed at his arms as he slowly lifted her off the ground, choking her even harder.
Jack let off a shot, hitting the enemy in the head, and knocking him to the ground, Rose feel with him. Rose was gasping for breath as the Doctor ran over to her and took her in his arms. Jack quickly grabbed the alien leader and handcuffed him. “See he told you, you don’t want to see him when he’s mad.”
Rose quickly grabbed her throat in pain, desperately trying to get much needed air. When she caught her breath she realized she was having difficulty breathing, sharp pain was in her chest and she was bleeding profusely. “Jack?” she called out, oblivious to the Doctor’s hurt expression that she called Jack first. “You’re alive.” She said incredulously, her eyes tearing up. Whether she teared up in relief or pain she wasn’t sure.
I could tell there was tension between Rose and the Doctor, and she was obviously hurting him more by ignoring him. Jack came over and took Rose from the Doctor and supported her. The Doctor walked over to the lead alien dude and got in his face, “listen here! You will leave Earth alone and never try to hurt it or my friends again, understood?”
Rose pulled Jack into a hug and let loose the sobs she’d been holding back. He soothed her, gently coming and rocking back and forth after a few moments he pulled back and brushed some hair out of her face, pressing a kiss to her forehead, “hey, it’s alright, let’s get you onboard and cleaned up, alright?” he asked soothingly, ignoring the Doctors jealous stare.
The Doctor hustled me into the TARDIS and right to the console. He started flicking switches and pulling levers again. “Jack, take Rose to the rooms, I'm sure you remember where they are, get her cleaned, but remember I'm here if you need help.” “Yes sir.”
Jack nodded as he carried Rose in, “come on gorgeous, time for a shower.” He said with a wink and saucy smile that cause Rose to giggle, he gave a slight nod to you and the Doctor and whispered something into Rose’s ear that caused her to blush bright red and swat at his chest. You heard one last giggle before they both disappeared down the hall.
The doctor stared where they had gone with a wistful look on his face. I’d never seen him so jealous before, granted I hadn’t been with him for long, but still. “Doctor, is everything all right?” “Huh? Oh yeah everything’s fantastic.” “Doctor, something’s wrong, tell me.”
“Nah. I’m fine really. Just a bit upset Rose got hurt is all.” He said casually, his hand tightening on the controls as he and you heard Rose’s shrill squeak a splash of water and “Jack!” followed by boisterous laughter from the both of them.
I shuddered, not even wanting to think about what might’ve just happened in there, so I sat down to watch the Doctor as he flew the TARDIS to who knows where. “Where are we headed?” “Earth, just like Rose wanted.”
About ten minutes later Rose came out in a robe with Jack following her, soaked head to toe. “Well, that was eventful.” She said, shaking her hair, oblivious to the Doctor’s glowering stare.
“Feeling better Rose? I'm taking you home, I'm taking everyone home” he said pointedly at Jack.
Rose shook her head “I don’t want to go.” She whispered “I didn’t mean it. I promised you forever, and I intend to keep that promise.” She said with a sad smile, “that is, if you want me too…” she trailed off.
The Doctor walked over to Rose and gave her a hug. Jack and I just sank back and stayed quiet. The Doctor kissed Rose on top of her head, “of course I want you to stay! I always want you to stay! Why do you think I came looking for you?”
She shook her head, remaining silent, just holding him. “Hey Doc, I don’t mean to be a bother but, I’d love to stay too.” Jack said with a charming smile and a wink.
The Doctor smiled, “just for a little Jack! Then it’s back to wherever you are now!” *beep beep beep* there was a noise coming from the tele on the console.
Rose pulled away from him to let him go check and walked back over to where Jack was.
“Doctor what’s happening?” “OH! Addy! I forgot you were there! Being so quiet and all!” “WHAT’S HAPPENING??” “oh, yes, um we’re about to crash into a giant meteorite!”
“WELL SAVE US!” Rose yelled immediately wincing at her throat from where she had been choked. In all honestly her multiple throat bruises and possible cracked ribs there the least of her concerns.
“I can’t! We’re stuck in some sort of tractor beam! But with that I can, probably unsafely, assume that we’ll land safely. If someone is going into the trouble of making it so we can’t escape, why would they want us dead?”
Rose breathed a sigh of relief, moving closer to Jack for comfort, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and shook his head, “can’t we just avoid all this? Rose is seriously injured. She can’t deal with another attack.” Jack said worriedly, glancing down at Rose’s injured form.
“We can leave her here, the TARDIS will protect her, right Doctor?” “Yes! Brilliant Addy! We’ll figure out how to leave quickly as possible, but, Rose, you are going to have to stay here.”
Rose scoffed and shook her head. “You daft alien. If you think I'm missin’ out on the action you’re barmy!” she said, quickly running to go change out of her robe.
“ROSE! No! Listen to me! You are in no condition to do anything but lie down and sleep! And you aren’t listening to me are you!”
She called back from her room. “NOT REALLY, NO.” she came out a few moments later dressed with a smug smile, “let’s go”
The Doctor rolled his eyes “alright, but on one condition! As soon as we get out of here, I'm taking you to a hospital, alright?”
She scoffed, “thought you were a Doctor.” She teased, sticking her tongue between her teeth in a smile.
“I am! Just not of the medical kind.” He winked at her then looked at each of us in turn, “let’s go see what decided to ruin our day!” and with that we all ran out of the TARDIS.
Rose blushed at his comment but then nodded in agreement, running after them with much pain.
When we stepped outside the first thing to greet us was the smell. A horrid smell or rotting fish and snot, not that I’ve smelled enough snot to realize what it smells like…
Rose choked back a gag and leaned against the Doctor. “Gross” Jack mumbled through a pinched nose. Rose nodded in agreement
The Doctor simply pulled out his sonic screwdriver and scanned our surroundings. He supported Rose and walked over to a wall and slammed his fist into it. A flap opened and he pushed a bunch of buttons suddenly there was a sound of air being vacuumed out of the room and the fog was cleared and the stench lifted. “thanks Doctor, but why haven’t we gotten captured yet?”
“Yeah,” Rose croaked out, her voice still sore.
“I’m not sure, but it does seem weird. No greeting party, no traps, nothing!” he scanned the wall computer and studied what was on the screen, “one life form, that’s no wonder.”
Rose raised an eyebrow and shifted to Jack for support so the Doctor could move better.
The Doctor nodded with more respect hen jealousy now, and motioned me over, “what do you see here?” I studied the screen trying to make out the pictures and words and lines and circles. “It looks like we’re on a ship, or a broken off part of a ship, not a meteorite.” “Correct! And only one life form on this ship.” “Does that mean we can just go?” “No, I believe the tractor beam was a call for help.”
Rose groaned, “but those always end in disaster!” she whined. Jack nodded in agreement and wrapped an arm around her waist to help hold her up better, all traces of flirtatious behavior gone.
I started to freak out all over again. The Doctor seemed to be nervous too, “that’s true, so why don’t all three of you go into the TARDIs and I’ll go find this life form and see what I can do.”
Rose laughed, “Yeah right. They can go back, but I'm staying with you. No way am I leaving you alone with some random alien!” rose persisted, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “If Rose stays, I stay. “Jack said, “She’s ill and needs so-” as if on cue rose started coughing, a bit of blood coming up. Jack immediately wiped it away and held her closer.
“No way am I letting you three have all the fun! I’m not leaving either.” “Ah ok fine, just promise me you won’t leave my side, promise me you won’t wander off?” *shoom* and just like that the Doctor vaporized right in front of us.
Rose choked on a bit of her blood and her eyes widened,. She sat erred coughing and gasping for air, “WHERE…IS…HE.” She gasped out between breaths, shoving away Jack’s helping hands.
“UGGH! So much for not wandering off!” Jack set Rose on the and I went to comfort her. Jack ran over to the computer “where did he go? Ah! Yes here! Um how do we get there?”
Rose finally caught her breath and gave you a grateful smile. “Well, maybe if we’re lucky the being’ll pick us too.” Rose suggested, her head beginning to spin.
Rose fell against my shoulder and I could feel her lungs working overtime, Jack was still studying the computer, I had no idea what to do. Jack hit the screen, “darn aliens! Come on! Take us to your leader!” *shoom*
Rose tensed, choking back a sob, “JACK!” she called out, wasting precious air that he lungs couldn’t afford to lose.
“Rose, maybe we should wait in the TARDIS, jack and the Doctor will be able to figure it out. We’ll be safe in there.”
“Not gonna happen.” She said defiantly, standing precariously and making her way to the computer, she banged it a few times, sighing heavily when nothing happened.
“Rose, they won’t take us there, maybe we can get there ourselves. See if we find a path that leads to where they are we can follow it without the alien thing teleporting us there.”
She spun around, “and how are we gonna do that?! Let’s face it, we aren’t time traveling genius alien or 51st century flirtatious time agents. We’re shop girls who got lucky!” she yelled frustratingly.
“but we must be special! If we weren’t why would the Doctor keep us around huh? If we weren’t special he would’ve saved our lives and moved on! I'm sure between the two of us we can figure out to make the computer show us a route!”
“I CAN’T.” she yelled, breaking down, “I’M SORRY ADDY BUT I CAN’T. I can hardly breathe and I sure as hell can’t figure out how to save the Doctor and Jack!”
I looked at Rose not sure what to say. I simply went over and held her in a hug, “you aren’t doing it alone, the world isn’t on your shoulders. You’ve got me with you. And besides maybe the Doctor and Jack are already on their way back here.”
She shook her head, “they aren’t though. They aren’t’…” she trailed off, “and it’s all my f-” *shoom*
“Hello girls” I looked up and saw the Doctor and Jack tied to operation beds by their arms and legs. “OH MY GOSH! WHAT’S HAPPENING!?!”
Rose’s breathing had become labored. “Are… you alright?” she finally managed to whisper, her hand still holding Addy’s.
“Yeah we’re good.” Jack said in a very flirtatious way. “Yeah, but we’d be a lot better if we weren’t about to be chopped up to pieces by a crazed maniac!” “Oh yeah sorry Doctor!” I set Rose down on a box and went to set the boys free. Rose started coughing again and there was a noise from the next room. I scurried to get the doctor free “MY SCREWDRIVER GET THE SCREWDRIVER!” I looked around the room and found it, I handed it to him just in time.
Rose’s breathing became heavier; her lungs were giving out, probably punctured by a rib from when that guard had kicked her. Her own fault really. Stupid, she thought to herself.
The ‘crazed maniac’ came in and started freaking out. Apparently her didn’t teleport us here. The Doctor soniced Jack’s restraints when the ‘maniac’ wasn’t looking. He’s such a genius, always got a plan.
Rose laid her head in her hands, trying to maintain her breathing pattern. The ‘maniac’ walked over to her, concerned and placed a reassuring hand on her back, “are you alright?” he asked. She nodded yes, unable to speak.
The Doctor soniced his own restraints and he and Jack leapt off the tables Jack grabbed a knife and held it to the ‘maniacs’ throat, “if you can help her, do it, and we may spare your life.”
The ‘maniac’ held up his hands, “listen, I don’t know what’s wrong with her. i can’t help if I don’t know the basic facts.” he pointed out.
“Then figure it out, examine her! SAVE HER!” the Doctor put his hand on Jack's shoulder to try and calm him down, “please, see what you can do.”
He nodded, gently scooping her up in his arms and walking towards a big machine. “No! M’fine.” she managed to say.
“Rose please, I don’t want to lose you.” I could hear pain in the Doctor’s voice. I walked over to Rose and whispered in her ear, “you don’t need to carry the world, take help, be strong when you really are.”
Rose gulped and nodded. The ‘maniac’ then proceeded to x-ray her. He came back a few minutes later, “her lungs punctured.” he said, pulling off his gloves, “not much I can do except make her comfortable…” he said sadly.
The Doctor sat down on a box and held his head in his hands, “we need to get her to a hospital.”
“Well you aren’t leaving my ship until you explain to me how you got teleported to my lab.” he said harshly.
At this point all I wanted was for Rose to get the treatment she needed, “well we can’t answer that because we have no idea how that happened! you sucked our ship in with your tractor beam, you teleported the Doctor and Jack to your lab, maybe the computer just thought we should join the party!”
The ‘maniac’ narrowed his eyes, “I’m sorry, let me rephrase my last words. you aren’t leaving with Blondie unless I get some answers now. And if I think one thing is off I’m gonna press this button.” he held up a button, “know what this does? It sends 20,000 volts of electricity into, Rose, is it?”
I looked at the Doctor and Jack, both of their faces were mirroring my exact thoughts: uh oh.
Jack narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth, “let her go. We don’t have answers, nor will we.” He said threat fully.
You could get the concern in Jack’s voice, but the ‘maniac’ didn’t seem to care. “I need answers, you need the girl. It seems we are at an impasse.” I looked up and with a weary voice asked a question that was nagging at me for a while, “did you teleport any of us to your lab on purpose?”
His attention immediately snapped to you, along with Jack and the Doctor’s, he cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. He became lost in thought, and after a moment finally spoke, his voice serious and grave as he said, “no.”
I was beginning to get excited, “does your ship have some sort of defense that teleports people here is something happens?” I could see the Doctors face filling with thought.
He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could they were all met with Rose’s coughing and groaning from the other room. The ‘maniac’ dropped the ‘bomb’ “it’s not real, I could never hurt anyone, you all just had me scared. I wasn’t expecting you, now go check on her. She hasn’t got much time left.” He said sadly.
Jack and the Doctor ran into the other room to carry Rose back to the rest of us. I looked the ‘maniac’ in the eyes and I could see fear, “what kind of ship is this? Why was there a tractor beam?”
He shook his head, “I-I don’t know. To be honest, I found the ship abandoned no crew nothing, desolate and barren. Not a trace of blood, all pods on board. So I took up residence, every once and awhile I’ll hear scuffling, but other than that it’s a completely normal ship.”
That got the Doctors attention, “scuffling?” he laid Rose’s weight completely on Jack, “where do you hear this scuffling?!”
He took a step back, alarmed, and held his hands up defensively, “woah, woah! Only at night, in the walls, it’s nothing. Probably rats or mice.” He said, shrugging off the idea of the noise being dangerous. Rose coughed up more blood and winced as Jack laid her down on the examination table, “it’s okay Rosie.” He whispered reassuringly, taking her hand and giving it a small squeeze.
“Doctor, we need to get her to a hospital!” the Doctor turned to look at Rose, concern in his face. He looked back at the ‘maniac’, with a wistful look. “Yes! Yes, we need to get her back. Mind if we run off?”
He shook his head, “by all means go! Wouldn’t want a pretty girl like that dead.” He said thoughtfully. Rose shook her head no, “no, we need to help him. M’fine.” She wheezed out, beginning to sit up.
Jack looked her in the eyes with such concern it was almost as if he felt Rose’s pain, “no Rose we need to help you!” the Doctor walked over to Rose and took her hand. He leaned in and kissed her temple, “you know me I’d love to stay here and get into trouble, but you take priority.”
She pushed his hand away stubbornly sat up, immediately wincing at her chest. It felt like it was on fire! She swallowed then managed to croak out, “no. your priority is savin’ that man.”
The Doctor’s face was full of frustration and stress. “Doctor is there a way you can save them both?” the Doctor looked at me with his interest perked, “OF COURSE! But how?’
She squeezed eyes shut and concentrated on breathing, her grip tightening on Jack’s hand. Jack ran a soothing hand through her hair, stroking it out of her face.
I pulled the Doctor aside so I wouldn’t give the ‘maniac’ false hope, “can’t we take him with us Doctor? Take them both home?”
The Doctor shook his head, “this is his home. I suppose I can force Rose to leave. But she would hate me.” He said quietly, shoving his hands in his pockets. Rose’s breaths were becoming shorter, her vision swimming, pure agony showed on her face. “DOCTOR!” Jack yelled.
The Doctor ran over to Jack and Rose, he took her pulse and his face went pale, “her pulse is almost nonexistent!” Rose was struggling to stay alive.
She laid back, her breathing becoming even heavier, “Doctor, she croaked out, reaching blindly for his hand.
“Doctor!” I couldn’t take this anymore! “do you want her safe, or do you want her to like you?!” the Doctor looked at me, then back at Rose, “safe” he whispered. “Alright! We are getting back to the TARDIS!” he turned to the ‘maniac’ “feel free to come with us if you’d like.”
The man shook his head no. Rose tried to protest once again, but Jack silenced her with his finger on her lip.
The Doctor ran around the room scanning things with his screwdriver. He came to one spot and stopped, “I found it! The teleport controls!”
Rose removed Jack’s fingers and spoke, “Doctor, you teleport us and help m-” *shoom*
We were safe back in the TARDIS. The Doctor instantly started running around flicking switches and pulling levers. Jack took Rose into her room and stayed with her. I sat down in a chair and placed my head in my hands. This was all too much for me.
Rose fussily refused to stay put, she kept trying to convince Jack to go back and help that man. After a minute of pleading it became apparent to her that Jack was not going to do what she asked. “Can you tell the Doctor to come here?” she said weakly. Jack nodded standing and leaving the room. “Doc!” he called as he stepped into the control room.
The Doctor looked up. “She wants to see you.” The Doctor nodded and walked into Rose’s room. Jack came over and sat next to me, “you alright?” I looked up at him, “is it always like this?” Jack smiled sadly, and nodded.
Rose looked up at the Doctor angrily. “I told you no!” she said harshly, ignoring the insistent throbbing in her lungs. Meanwhile…Jack shook his head, “I mean most of the time it is. Boulder really says yes. Never been this bad. But this is killing the Doc, to know he hurt Rosie. He’ll never let it happen again.” He swore quietly, twiddling his thumbs to keep time.
“Rose! Look at you! I can’t lose you! We are bringing you to a hospital, you’re gonna get better, and when you can walk you can join me on more adventures. How does that sound?”
“But what if that man dies?” she croaked out, her eyes tearing up. Whether from frustration, worry or pain he didn’t know.
“You won’t be happy about this, but I’ll go back and check it out once I check you into a hospital. It’s the only way you can both be safe.” Rose closed her eyes and her breathing became more labored.
She silently shook her head, reaching out and grabbing his hand, “please.” She whispered.
“I’m sorry Rose, I can’t let you go” from the control room I shouted “Doctor! We landed!” the Doctor scooped up Rose and carried her out of the TARDIS.
She pushed against his hold, desperately trying to break free. His grip only tightened. “Doctor! Please!”
The Doctor kept walking into the hospital with Jack and me right behind him. “Doctor! Please!” Rose kept struggling but she was week she barely bothered him. “Rose! Let us helped, nothing is helped by you being dead!”
That stopped her. She tensed at the words dead and sulked against his chest, laying her head on his shoulder. Jack softly smiled and pretended to take a picture with his hands of Rose laying against the Doctor, Jack gave one quick wink to you, then walked ahead.
Jack jogged ahead to start checking Rose in. I started slowing down and eventually sat down on a bench, the Doctor was walking strong into the hospital. I took a few deep breaths and entered the hospital. The Doctor laid Rose on a stretcher and kissed her forehead. Jack came over and did the same. I smiled shyly and waved. After that the nurses wheeled her away.
The Doctor finally let his nervousness show, his expression growing agitated. Jack placed a calming hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze, “hey it’s okay, Doc. She’ll be fine.” He promised
“Yeah” he sighed, then stood up quickly, “we have to go save a maniac!” we all ran out and back to the TARDIS.
Jack held open the door for you with a charming smile and then walked inside himself, closing the door behind him, “don’t see why Rosie was so concerned, he should be fine.” Jack said, flopping onto the jumpseat.
I sat down next to Jack and studied the Doctor as he worked. He ran all around the console trailing the tele behind him. “I have to find it! Come on! Last landed point! I have to save him!”
Jack got an amused expression on his face as he watched the Doctor’s anxiousness, “you want to get back to Rose, don’t you?” Jack asked with a raised eyebrow. The Doctor froze and turned.
“Is that so bad? She’s my friend! And I promised her I’d save him! So I have to keep that promise!” with that the Doctor turned back to the console with a frustrated look.
Jack scoffed, “friend my ass…” he whispered to you.
I smirked but didn’t look at him. “AH! I found it! Come on you two! Let’s go save a maniac!” and with that we ran out of the TARDIS into a smoke filled room.
Jack swung his hand in front of his face, trying to clear away some smoke, he began coughing and squinting, “what’s going on?!” he yelled, slightly alarmed.
The Doctor ran over to where he had found the computer before and pushed more buttons, but no venting happened this time. “DOCTOR! DOCTOR IS THAT YOU? YOU…you came back?” I tried to find where the voice was coming from but then the ‘maniac’ came into view.
Jack cursed loudly as he bumped into the computer unable to see. “Where is everyone!?” he yelled in frustration. Meanwhile… Rose immediately went into x-ray, then surgery, the surgeons worked tirelessly to pump the fluid out of her lungs and patch her lung, they had already removed 5 fragments of rib bone from the punctured organ, but her vitals were still life threatingly low.
I reached out and grabbed Jack’s arm for bearings, “hey mister! What’s happening?!” “The scuffling noise! It was dangerous! They attacked my ship!”
Jack tensed as her heard a faint scuffling sound, “you mean that noise?” he asked the ‘maniac’. The man shook his head, “yeah.” He said with a gulp.
The Doctor turned around, “WHERE’S YOUR LAB? IS IT SAFE?” “No! But there is a room just off that hall that’s safe as far as I know.” “OK! WE GO THERE!” we all started running down the hall toward the safe room.
“HEY! HERE’S AN IDEA; HOW ABOUT WE AL JUST GET ON THE TARDIS AND BLOW THESE BASTARDS TEN WAYS TO FRIDAY?!” Jack yelled suggestively.
“JACK! You know I don’t do things that way!! You know I like to save everyone I can! We are gonna figure out how we can do that, got it?!”
“BUT WHAT ABOUT ROSE?” he yelled, that sentence made the Doctor pause immediately, “we all know she obviously had to go into surgery. What if she dies? Or wakes up and we aren’t there?” Jack pointed out.
The Doctor stopped seeming no to know what to do for the first time. He turned to jack, “30 minutes! Just half an hour to see what I can do, if I can’t do anything, its back in the TARDIS and back to Rose.”
Jack raised a disbelieving eyebrow, “fine. But I’m holding you to it.” He promised, “Rose needs you.”
“Ok! Agreed! Now you! What’s your name?” “Gryfum.” “Good! Gryfum! Lead the way!” Gryfum led us through the hallway to the safe room.
Jack shook his head in disbelief but followed along silently, watching, and listening to the faint scuffle that followed them.
We entered the room and we all searched the walls for a computer. I found one and the Doctor ran over and started punching buttons. I leaned over to Jack, “is that always the first thing he does, push buttons?” “Yup, pretty much.”
He smiled at you, “either that or make googly eyes at Rose.” He said with a wink.
I smiled, I couldn’t help it. I liked Jack; he always tried to lift everyone’s spirits. “OF COURSE! Why didn’t I think of that before!” I ran over to look at the screen “what is it?” “Cybermats.”
“Cybermats?” jack asked questioningly, raising an eyebrow and walking to where he was to get a better look.
“Yes Cybermats. Little Cybermen rats. Nasty little things, extremely hard to catch. Jack, how much longer do I have?” Jack glanced at his watch, “20 minutes.” “Great! That’s all I need!”
He rolled his eyes, “so what’s my part in this plan in this plan, to catch the Cybermats?” Jack asked annoyed. He wanted to go see Rose, make sure she was okay. He knew the Doctor did too, so why wouldn’t he hurry up?!
“Actually, no! We’re gonna do it your way Jack! We’re gonna blow this place up!” “Whoa, whoa wait just a minute!” Gryfum obviously wasn’t happy about his home being blown up. “Sorry Gryfum, these are nasty little things, blowing this place up is the only way.”
He rolled his eyes, “fine. But you better find me a place to stay!” he said, obviously distressed about his home being destroyed.
“15 minutes” “ok, we’re gonna have to multitask! Addy, find out what species he is, find out if he has a home. Jack, you’re my guard, if you see any Cybermats I need you to shoot it with this.” The Doctor tossed Jack some sort or weapon, “I’m gonna rig the explosives.”
Jack raised an eyebrow and glanced down, “where the hell did you get a Time Agent’s gun?” he asked loading it and preparing to shoot. “I’m from Puluxia.” Gryfum stated making Addy’s job a little less hard.
The Doctor turned around, “what are you doing here?” “Doctor, 12 minutes!” “Right! Keep talking Gryfum!”
“Um… like I said before; I stumbled upon this, oh, and how’s your blonde friend?”
Jack glanced over, “as far as we know she’s fine, dropped her off at the hospital and came back here to save your butt. 10 minutes.” “Yes! Ok! So give me seven more minutes, then it should only take 3 to get back to the TARDIS!” the Doctor turned back to his work.
Jack rolled his eyes, “fine. Just hurry.” “That’s good.” Said Gryfum.
We sat there in silence. 9 minutes, 8 minutes, 7 minutes. *scuffle* “what was that!” “Cybermat.” The Cybermat came into view and Jack shot it very quickly.
“We need to get out of here!” Jack yelled over his shoulder as he shot another Cybermat.
“Almost…done…” 5 minutes *bang* 4 minutes *bang bang* “DONE! GO, GO, GO!” We all ran to the TARDIS and got in just in time.
Jack closed the door, breathing a sigh of relief. “Now, to Puluxia, then to Rose!” said Jack with a happy smile.
“Yes sir!” the Doctor beamed, mirroring Jack’s happiness. Gryfum sat down on one of the seats in a sort daze. I understood that look; I’d had it not too long ago. A look of admiration, and shock all in one. It’s amazing how much the Doctor can impact someone’s life.
After 30 minutes and a trip to Puluxia they were back on Earth in the hospital. The Doctor rushed in, only to be greeted by a worried nurse, “sir!” he didn’t respond, “Mr. Tyler!” the Doctor froze. “Mr. Tyler?” he asked Jack, knowing he was the one who had named him. Jack gave an eyebrow waggle and a smirk. “Yeah, your wife and you were enjoying a hike when she fell and cracked her ribs.” He said, smiling as the Doctor reddened. The nurse cleared her throat, “your wife has been moved to ICU, she’ll be taking visitors shortly.” And with that she left.
I sat down in the waiting room and Jack came and sat next to me, we both watched the Doctor pace back and forth. I leaned to Jack, “nice cover up with the hike mister.” “Thanks.”
Jack smirked, “aww just relax! Have a seat. Mr. Tyler.” He said cheekily, giving him a wink.
The Doctor rolled his eyes and sat next to me. His feet and fingers never stopped moving. The nurse walked in, “Mr. Tyler, you can see your wife now.” We all leapt up and walked into Rose’s room.
Rose was in the hospital bed, her chest bandaged and tubes hooked up to her nose, forcing her to breathe. “She stopped breathing about halfway through surgery. Thought we had lost her. She was declared clinically dead for 2 minutes before she woke up murmuring something about a Doctor… poor girl.” The nurse said, shaking her head and leaving the room.
The Doctor walked over and took her hand, placing a gentle kiss on it. Rose stirred and mumbled, “Doctor” “I’m here Rose,” he gave her hand another kiss, “I’m here.”
Her heart monitor immediately started beeping like crazy, causing a nurse to rush in, “what happened?!” she asked frantically.
Rose’s eyes shot open, “did you save him!” The nurse looked at the Doctor, “save who? Was there someone else on your hiking trip?”
The Doctor shook his head and laughed nervously, “no. of course not. She’s just a bit confused, aren’t you honey?” Rose nodded and the nurse relaxed. Jack saw the opportunity and took it, “hey John. I think you should give your wife a kiss, after all, she is alive.” Jack said cheekily.
The Doctor didn’t seem to have any objections to this. He leaned down and placed a loving kiss on Rose’s lips. Before he stood up he whispered, “Yeah, Rose, we saved him.” Rose smiled and looked over at Jack and me, “hey you two, thanks for keeping John company.” The nurse smiled and left the room.
“No problem!” said Jack thoughtfully then, “how about another kiss!” Jack said, gesturing to himself and leaning in towards Rose purposefully to make the Doctor mad.
I laughed, and so did Rose, but she winced in pain. Jack kissed her on the forehead and smiled, “you’re looking better already Rosie!” “Thanks Jack, what happened back on that ship?” we told her everything and when we’d finished Rose blushed and smiled at Jack and the Doctor.
“So, Mr. Tyler?” she asked the Doctor with a wink, propping herself up to see them better.
“Jack thought it’d be best if he made up a cover story, and I’m very honored to play the part of your husband.” The Doctor smiled, giving her hand, which he hadn’t let go of, a squeeze. Jack smiled “aren’t I clever?” I looked at the three of them, so happy, so loving. I didn’t belong here; I couldn’t deal with that again.
Rose smirked and squeezed his hand, she tried sitting up and immediately winced, crying out in pain which caused Jack and the Doctor to quickly move to her side.
They laid her back down and Rose tiredly consented. “Um, Doctor, can I talk to you in the hall for a moment?” “Sure” he looked back down at Rose and smiled, then looked at Jack and nodded, then followed me out into the hall.
Jack concentrated on Rose, not wanting to eavesdrop. “What is it?” the Doctor asked, already anxious from his separation from Rose, he hated that she did this to him.
“I can’t do this anymore. Rose almost dies today. And it was partially my fault. I think I should go back to my normal life, I hate to leave you Doctor, but you should travel with Rose, not me.”
He shook his head, “nonsense! You’re brilliant! You’ll cope! Besides, this hardly ever happened! Rose’ll be fine, no need to worry about her, brilliant she is, my brilliant Rose, anyway don’t worry, and stay!” he rambled, giving you a smile.
“Doctor, I…I can’t, I’m sorry.” I looked down at my shoes, to ashamed to look him in the eye. The Doctor reached out and with two fingers raised my chin, “listen to me, if you want to go, I guess I can’t keep you here. But I’d always love for you to join me on an adventure another time.” I smiled staring into his old eyes, “I’d love that.”
He clapped his hands together enthusiastically, trying not to let her see his hurt expression, “right! Now, back to Rose!” he said, belfry quickly retreating to her bedside.
I lingered in the hall a moment before returning to Rose’s bedside. I looked at Jack’s smile, always teasing. The Doctor’s ever changing expression, and such old eyes. And Rose, poor Rose. This is what happens to people who meet the Doctor; they become attached, and never want to leave. I was starting to regret my choice.
Rose immediately reached for the Doctor’s hand, causing him to smile brightly. “Alright Rose, time for lunch.” Said the nurse as she walked in, carrying a tray of food. She set it up for her then left. “Thank you,” said Jack as he snagged a chip from her tray. Rose laughed and rolled her eyes.
I looked around the room and spotted a pen and pad. I grabbed it and scribbled down a number. I held it in my hand in case I second guessed myself. “Addy, you’ve been awfully quiet back there,” Rose said with a slight smile. “Sorry, a lot of things happened today.” The Doctor looked away from me, but I saw his face was sad; he didn’t want me to leave. But I knew Rose did.
Rose noticed the Doctor’s expression and frowned, “what’s wrong, Doctor?” she asked worriedly.
The Doctor started to answer, but it was my choice, I should tell her. “I’m leaving, Rose, I can’t do this; it’s too much.”
Rose’s attention snapped to you. “What’s to much?” she asked softly. Suddenly, realization dawned on her. “Actually. I was leaving to, Addy.” She said softly.
The Doctor’s expression got even sadder. I knew I couldn’t let him lose both of us. “Rose, you should stay. You two obviously have some catching up to do. And if that catching up happens on a different planet in a different galaxy then so be it. But you should stay. You’ve been doing this a lot longer than I have, I'm just not ready.”
“Yes you are! You’re brilliant!” Rose insisted, her hand letting go of the Doctor’s which made him even sadder.
I was stuck. Either leave and hurt both the Doctor and Rose’s feelings, or stay, and possibly get hurt in a way that could never be fixed. I looked down at the scrap of paper in my hand and smiled. “I’ll stay a little longer, as long as you promise me, Rose, promise me you’ll travel with us when you can.”
Rose smiled and nodded softly. “Promise.” She whispered, holding out her pinky finger.
I smiled and linked my pinky in hers in a promise. I looked at the Doctor, he seemed content. I looked at Jack, he seemed happy too. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “you’re never gonna wanna leave.”
