A/N: Hello every one! Hope you are all well and well done for finding me!!!
Here is the first chapter of my new story, seeing as I'm half way through the third and the ending is complete I figured I was pretty safe to start posting!
This serves as another sequel to "All that's left behind" in that Rose is back with the Doctor, Jack is around somewhere too, oh and Rose has grown a second heart since she's been away! If you haven't "all that's left behind" then it doesn't really matter but you missed quite a lot of fun.
So are we all sitting comfortably?
End of the line
"Doctor?" Rose called. She'd been looking all over the TARDIS for him. Usually he could be found under the control panel cursing and banging his head on something. But today was different. Today he was no where to be found, as if he was hiding from her.
XxXxX
Standing on the observation deck he stared through the glass into the big black. There were times when it soothed him, watching the planets on their orbits and stars sail by. But the blackness of space held no comfort today. Debris slowly flew over him, a carpet of rocks that was once a star or even a planet, bits of space ships destroyed long ago and it made him feel even more lonely than usual. He wrapped his coat tighter round him against the chill that trickled down his spine and closed his eyes, listening to the hum of the TARDIS, bits of rock lightly tapping against the window as they floated pass. Then he heard her voice. The one person that kept him going, the one person that made his feel warm inside, not like the monster he was painted to be by other races. She knew everything he'd done, knew the monster inside but she didn't run. She'd stayed until the universe dragged her away but event hat wasn't enough. She'd landed back on his doorstep and never looked back. No hint of regret that she was there with him instead of with her mum and Mickey.
There was part of him that would never understand Rose Tyler but he supposed it didn't matter. He was just grateful she was back with him, that he could hold her again. Rubbing his face with his hands he sighed and, taking one last look out in to the big black he turned to the doors that lead him back to Rose.
XxXxX
"Doctor?" Rose called again.
"Hello. Did you want me?" The Doctor's voice came from behind her, making her jump.
"Where've you been? I was getting worried."
"Oh you know, here and there. No reason to worry." He grinned what he hoped was convincingly.
"Well, I know how you always manage to bang your head so I thought you might've knocked your self out this time." She smiled back at him, studying his face. "So, what are we doing today?"
"Depends what you're in the mood for." He put his arm around her shoulders and led her towards the control room. "Relaxed? Fun? Exciting? Terrifying?"
"Like you can ever get this thing to land where you want her too!"
"True, true. Oh well, pot luck it is!" He threw his coat over one of the railings and went through the normal routine of flicking his levers and switches, this time Rose noticed he didn't seem to be as bouncy as normal.
"Are you ok?" she asked, placing her hand on his arm.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I dunno, you just seem less……happy today that's all."
"I'm fine. Really."
"'Cause you would tell me if you weren't wouldn't you?"
"You know I would." He cupped her cheek with his hand than dropped it suddenly, as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't.
"Ok," Rose sighed and leant back against the railing.
"You alright?" he asked her, worried that he'd upset her. How could he tell her what was making him down when he couldn't even explain it to himself so that it made sense? It was like the whole universe was wrong, dragging him down somehow. Maybe he just needed to get out of the TARDIS and blow the cobwebs away. He felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth at the thought. Yes, being outside would be good. He just prayed that they didn't end up in a shopping centre otherwise, with Rose in tow; he would be in serious trouble!
"I'm ok. Just…. Dunno, itching to get out," she told him watching as a smile spread across his face. She loved it when he smiled at her because it made her smile too. She couldn't help it; the Doctor's smile was contagious, whether he was northern with big ears or the giddy scientist that stood in front of her now.
They waited for inevitable bump signalling the TARDIS landing and looked at each other before racing to the doors.
"Well, this is…..different," Rose said, stopping in the doorway as the Doctor came up behind her.
"Blimey. That's a bit menacing." He nodded to the foreboding hill poking above the horizon in front of them. "Must be at least 1700 feet high and a couple of miles across I wouldn't wonder."
"Where are we?"
"Earth. And by the feel of it England." He shivered and pulled his coat together, buttoning it, something Rose had never seen him do before.
"What makes you say that?"
"It's dark, dank and windy." He prodded her lightly urging her forward, looking up at the gloomy clouds that filled the sky.
"It's not always like this," Rose pouted, feeling the need to defend her country.
"True, true. Some times it rain and snows." He grinned at her, taking her hand in his before trudging up the smaller hill directly ahead.
"Do you think Jack's okay?"
"Positive. We'll see him in a few hours; he only wanted to check on a few things. I don't think he's ready to leave us just yet."
"You don't mind having him around do you?"
"Only when he mucks about with the TARDIS or comes bounding into our room at three in the morning."
"Why should you care? You only come to bed to read."
"That's not the only reason I come to bed Rose."
Rose couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "Oh yeah?" she panted; the hill was taking its toll on her far quicker than normal. Her heart was pounding.
"Are you okay?" The Doctor stopped abruptly and hunched to look into her face.
"Just a little out of breath that's all."
He frowned at her. "Rose."
"Really, I'm fine. The hill's just a little steeper than I thought."
The Doctor shook his head and crouched, resting his ear against her chest.
"So this is why you come to bed is it?" she teased, running her fingers through his hair.
He shushed her and listened intently. "Blimey Rose! Why didn't you say they were beating like that?"
Straightening her placed one hand over each of her hearts and closed his eyes, frowning. Rose tried hard not to snigger as she heard Jack's voice in her head.
"Alfresco groping? Where's my invitation!"
"Rose, thinking of Jack while I have my hands over your…. Well it's not very fair is it?"
"Well what do you think other people are going to think when they see you practically groping me halfway up a wind swept hill?"
"Lucky girl?"
"Cheeky."
"Nope, I'm definitely not touching your cheeks at the moment."
She almost gasped as she felt her hearts stop completely for a few seconds.
"Don't panic" the Doctor soothed. "I've got you." He pressed his lips to her forehead in reassurance.
Within a few moments she could feel them beating again less ferociously.
"What was that all about?" she asked when he finally withdrew his hands and opened his eyes.
"Well one of your hearts is the new boy in town and is finding it hard to keep a steady pace. I just reset it," he shrugged with a small smile.
"Like a computer. When you press the reboot button?"
"That's the one! Does it feel easier?"
Rose stopped and thought about it for a moment. "I suppose so, but it's not like I'm exerting myself and that's when it kicked off."
"Better start walking then," he grinned taking her hand again and starting off. He almost skidded backwards when she didn't move. "What? What's wrong?" Worry was plain on his face. He never was good at hiding things from her these days or was it just that she'd learnt how to read him better?
Rose just smiled and pulled on his hand so he was standing in front of her again. "Let's start off easy," she purred, reaching her hand to his neck and pulling him down for a kiss. She could feel the Doctor smiling against her lips as she deepened the kiss further. It was soft and incredibly sensual. Rose didn't think she'd ever get bored of his kisses.
His hands snaked round her back and pulled her flush against him, groaning softly.
XxXxX
They finally reached the top of the hill and had begun down the other side when thunder rumbled.
"Oh great," Rose sighed.
"Better make a dash for it before it all comes down."
Gripping her hand tighter the Doctor started to run, the both of them stumbling and laughing until they reached the road.
"What now?" Rose panted.
"Shall we see if they have any room at the inn?" He grinned at her.
"What did you have in mind?" She narrowed her eyes at him, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.
"Well it is getting dark," one of his arms slipped round her waist, "and it does look as if it's about to rain. I thought somewhere warm and cosy might be nice." He lowered his lips and pressed them to her jaw causing Rose to sigh. "So what do you think?"
"I think you better get us inside before that rain comes down."
The Doctor chuckled at the huskiness of her voice. Taking her face in his hands he pressed a sound kiss to her lips then pulled her in the direction of the nearest pub.
XxXxX
"God it's a bit murky in here." Rose shuddered involuntarily.
"It won't be so bad once we've got the fire lit and a few more candles," the Doctor said reaching into his coat pocket and rummaged around. "I'm sure I've got some in here somewhere. Aha!" With a magician's flourish he produced a handful of church candles. "See, a few more of these," he darted around the room placing candle on every free surface and lighting them with his sonic screwdriver. "And a nice warm fire." He threw a few more logs in the hearth, blowing on the embers until they took hold more fiercely. "There. All snug." He stood and admired his handy work.
"Be even more snug over here," Rose called.
The Doctor turned and found her lounging on the bed, looking up at him through her eyelashes.
"So you gona come and warm me up after dragging me up and down that mountain or not?"
"That was a hill," he rasped.
"It was high and hard work. That makes it a mountain in my book." She began unzipping her coat. Shrugging it from her shoulders she dropped it on the floor beside the bed, her tongue poking out from between her teeth, enticing the Doctor.
"Could have been worse," he squeaked, "could've been the monster hill on the other side!"
When he didn't move Rose crooked her finger at him. She looked like a siren with her windswept hair reflecting the light from the candles in a golden halo. He could just make out the flush of her cheeks in the warm glow. Snapping himself from his trance he swept across the floor towards her, the space between them seeming far to big and his lips crashed down onto hers, knocking her back to lay in the bed.
"'Bout bloody time," she smiled, pushing his rain coat from his shoulders. "And you know the best bit? No Jack to interrupt."
"I may never go home again," he growled, his finger tips slipping under the hem of her t-shirt.
"I think I'd miss our bath." She gasped as his teeth grazed the soft skin on her neck. "You know what?" she said, placing her hands on his chest. "Before we go any further, I'm going to get another blanket, 'cause it's bloody freezing in here."
The Doctor chuckled and shook his head. "Wuss."
"Hey just 'cause you've got a lower body temperature! I'll be right back," she grinned and kissed him long and hard before running out of the door to find the landlord.
He lay back on the bed and smiled to himself. For a few hours at least he would have Rose all to himself without the threat of Jack interrupting. One day he'd lock that man in his room with only food and water for an entire night. He loved having Jack back on the TARDIS but every now and then he could quite easily throttle him. He had a habit of appearing at just the wrong time.
XxXxX
How long did it take to get a blanket? The Doctor stared at the door intently as if she would appear if he thought about her hard enough.
But she didn't, and she'd been gone for a good ten minutes he was sure. He got to his feet and paced the room for a while, chewing on his thumb and glancing up at the door every few seconds.
Right, that was it. He was going to find the teasing little minx.
Walking carefully down the stairs towards the bar he listened for any signs of life but there was nothing. He looked around and apart from a few lanterns on the wall still alight there was no sign of anyone still being up.
He frowned as he reached the bottom step. Then he heard the sound of rain coming quite clearly and fairly loudly, almost as if….. the door was wide open and his stomach lurched. There in the middle of the doorway was a crumpled blanket and a fallen over chair.
Hearts pounding he bolted for the door scouring the darkened street. He could hear foxes screeching and it made him shudder. Sometimes they could sound far too human. Then his eyes fell on a figure at the corner of the road, peering at him from round the building. He wasn't sure why, but he started to run at them, calling Rose's name but as he got there the figure melted into the shadows.
The rain began to soak through his clothing as the Doctor spun round and round, searching every shadow and every doorway looking for any sign of Rose but she was gone.
XxXxX
Next time:
"Where is that rotten little creature? You should have been watching her!" the old Crone complained.
"Maybe the Devil has been kind and ordered the wolves to have a nice supper from her skinny bones."
Laughter filled the air and it made Rose's blood run cold, there was an unnatural sound to it. Now she looked about her there was an unnatural feel to the whole place.
Coming soon:
It all seemed to happen in slow motion, someone took the stool away and she dropped just a few centimetres, slowly turning as she lost the fight to breathe.
The Doctor clenched his jaw, willing himself not to crack as he watched her being strangled to death by the rope that was now cutting into her throat.
The crowd began to disperse but the Doctor stood by her until she took her last breath.
"Cut her down," the Doctor growled at the guard.
A/N: Yes I really am leaving it there!!!! Mwahahahaha. So what do ya think guys? Worth carrying on with, not that you can tell much really other than the fact Rose wandered off...again! Will she ever learn? hehe.
Anyways, reviews are loved as always and are great indicators of if anyone is interested. And don;t worry, all (well most) will be revealed in the next chapter. The quicker the reviews come the quicker I write, which means the quicker I post. (I like to be two chapters ahead at least!)
"Catch ya on the flip flop!"