DISCLAIMER: I do not own Doctor Who; the BBC sadly does.

Long story short: I was swamped with school and I broke my finger. I had to go through surgery and am currently in a cast on one hand to my elbow. Needless to say, it sucked to type this with one hand.

Erin

My lovely beta this time around was pottrwho on Tumblr 3

One touch can be a difference between life and death.
You have three months to make yours count with the one you love.

Chapter Three

Here come the dreams of you and me.
-Tegan and Sara, Closer

"So your name's actually John Smith?"

The question came out of the blue, interrupting the quiet calm that had settled amonst the occupants of the car and startling nearly everyone with its blunt delivery. The Doctor focused his gaze on the blonde beside him and felt a lump of emotion lodge itself in the pit of his stomach. Rose Tyler was sitting beside him, and Mickey Smith was in the front seat. Again, he found himself pinching his arm to make sure that this world-this path he was currently traveling on-was real.

He found himself peering deep into Rose's brown eyes, and a warm smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This was happening. This was real.

In some instances, much like this one, the Doctor caught himself wondering just how one ordinary human girl had changed him in such an extraordinary way. At first glance, she was nothing to make a fuss about: a nineteen-year-old with a dead-end job and no real promise in life; however, once you met her, she turned out to be one of the most remarkable individuals you would ever had the privilege of crossing paths with (at least in the Doctor's eyes). In total, he had only spent two meager years out of his nine hundred with her by his side, and yet that seemed to be just enough time for her to capture his hearts forever. No single entity had ever affected him the way Rose Tyler did, and he wondered if one ever would again.

"Yep, John Smith," the Doctor said as he shifted in his seat, wincing when he jostling his sore joints. "Well, if you want to be technical, it's Doctor John Smith… So you could call me the Doctor if you want too."

"Why?" she asked. "Was that your nickname in uni or something?"

He was taken back, never having expected that response from the blonde. "No… Just a name I go by."

"Oh, so you're just trying to sound impressive, is that it?" She raised her eyebrows and giggled under her breath.

Out of the corner of his eye, the Doctor saw Mickey readjust his grip on the steering wheel, clenching his hands into tight fists until the knuckles were white. A spark of satisfaction burst to life in his chest, and he ducked his head, a smug smile taking over his expression. As Rose narrowed her eyes in his direction, he turned his attention back to her, ignoring Mickey's silent envy, and concentrating on the conversation at hand.

Rose was inspecting his form again with careful scrutiny. "Are you sure you're alright? You're not hurt?"

"I'm fine," the Doctor replied.

Rose continued to analyze him for a moment longer before sitting back in her seat, shrugging to herself. "If you say so, mate."

"So, Doctor, is it?" Mickey interjected, glancing at the older man in his rearview mirror. "Am I right in guessing that you're not a medical doctor?"

He furrowed his eyebrows in bemusement. "What makes you say that?"

"Because I don't know a doctor who's daft enough to walk in front of moving traffic," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Mickey," Rose snapped, eyes flashing wildly. However, when he managed a snort, she whirled her head back around towards the alien, poking him in the chest with her finger. "Honestly, though, that was stupid."

"I was distracted," the Doctor mumbled plaintively. He definitely wasn't on a good starting point with Rose, and this wasn't exactly how he had pictured running into her again (or her running into him-with a car.)

Suddenly, the car gave a sudden lurch beneath them, and their conversation remained unfinished, racing to the back of their minds, as they clutched onto their seatbelts. "Mickey, what the hell was that?" Rose exclaimed, leaning forward as her boyfriend pulled the vehicle to the side of the road.

"I told you this was a test drive," Mickey said, snapping his seat belt off and getting out of the car. "Then we crashed into him and now the brake's sticking again." He murmured quiet expletives under his breath without sparing the two passengers a single glance, choosing to concentrate on the task at hand instead of pressing matters about the trouble that the Doctor had caused him.

The Doctor cocked his head to the side and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He knew Mickey had been a mechanic back when he had been dating Rose and continued with that career up until he decided to travel with them, giving the car shop a two week's notice before hopping onto the TARDIS to see all of time and space. He knew that Mickey was sufficient enough to fix whatever problems they had encountered with the vehicle, but that didn't mean he would deny himself the pleasure of poking fun where it was needed. The Mickey Smith that the Doctor had come to know was someone that he had learned to respect, someone that didn't deserve the teasings and constant downplay. This Mickey Smith, on the other hand, could use some good competition.

The Doctor sighed and pushed himself out of the car, opening the door and coming around to join Mickey under the hood. "You sure it's the brake sticking?"

"Brakes," Mickey clarified. "The brakes are grabbing when I'm not even pressing on 'em. They sort of drag the car to a stop. Seems like the further I go, the worse it gets."

The Doctor chuckled lowly. "Maybe that's a sign that you shouldn't be driving the car."

"It's a nice car!" the younger man protested, irritation flashing across his features. "Never had a problem with it before."

"Oh, yes, it's a very nice car," the Time Lord agreed, knocking on the hood with his fist. "It's got a sturdy exterior, not a dent or scratch where I hit it. But it could use a new paint job though, bit chipped on the side." He stepped back, shifting to the side as he scrutinized the vehicle's appearance. "Of course, you can fix that, can't you, Ricky?"

"It's Mickey."

"I'll call you that when you earn it," the Doctor mumbled under his breath at a level so quiet that no one could hear him. He tugged on his hair before scratching the back of his neck. "It might be a caliper piston that's dragging. That friction could cook the brake fluid, resulting in high brake-line pressure, locking that corner."

Rose, who had come around the side of the car to join the two, raised her eyebrows, puzzlement nipping at the edges of her expression. "You know cars?" she asked in surprise.

"Just a bit." The Doctor pulled back and turned to Mickey. "Drive it around the block, see if one brake gets hotter than the others."

Mickey didn't even spare him a second glance. He snatched the keys from the dash and hopped back into the driver's seat. From his expression, the Doctor knew that he had hit a nerve with the younger man. As he watched Mickey drive away, a sudden thought struck him: Rose was dating Mickey. Rose Tyler was dating Mickey Smith. Back in his ninth incarnation, he had seen how much the young, blonde human had cared for the man, and while they drifted apart due to his travels, he knew they had been on the rift even before he'd met the couple. Was this the reason? Had his trip back in time truly played a part in ruining the relationship between Rose and Mickey? A short stab of guilt overcame him, but the Doctor quickly buried it. He knew he would be hurting people by doing so, but he also knew what the future entailed.

Mickey was destined for Martha, and, according to the Bad Wolf, the Doctor was destined for Rose. The two had to end sometime.

"Hope everything's alright," Rose said, breaking through his quiet reverie.

"Unfortunately, I don't even think its a caliper piston. To tell you the truth, it's probably the master cylinder if the brakes are locking simultaneously like that. But Mickey's the expert; he'll figure that out eventually-"

"So you're a car doctor?"

The Doctor turned towards Rose. "Excuse me?"

"A car doctor? You said you were a doctor," Rose pointed out, a bright smile overcoming her expression. "And I don't think you're a medical doctor. So are you a mechanic of some sorts? Of course, you don't look like a mechanic.." She raked her gaze up and down his form, and not in the manner the Doctor preferred. "You were pretty drunk when I last saw you too. Got back from some party maybe? You some sort of scientist or something?"

The Doctor shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his trousers, rocking back on his heels. "Oh brilliant deductions, Rose Tyler," he said, pride lacing the edges of his voice. "Great job, really."

Her expression lit up. "So did I get it right?"

"Oh no, not at all." Make it all in one.

Suddenly Rose's mobile began to ring, startling to duo from their conversation. She sighed and pulled out of her silver phone, not even glancing at the number. "Hello?" she asked and placed a hand on her hip in aggravation at the person's response. "Oh for gods…. So where are you?" She paused for a moment, listening closely, before letting out a soft moan. "Alright, I'll meet you there."

When she shut her silver phone, she flashed the Doctor an apologetic glance. "That was Mickey," she said as if that was an explanation for everything in and of itself. "He said the car's stuck. Brakes are hot, locked up, and steaming."

"Master cylinder," the Doctor replied with a wink. "What'd I tell you?"

Rose groaned and rubbed her temples with her fingers. "He's on the other side of the block, so we've got to go and meet him. I'm gonna be so late for work."

Even though he knew the answer, the Doctor asked, "Where do you work?"

"Hendrik's, a few blocks up the street," she said, gesturing to the street beside of them. "Long hours, minimum wage, and angry customers. Just your regular job in the shop, I reckon." She cast him a curious glance. "Where do you work?"

The Doctor froze, unable to conjure up a quick answer. He wanted to impress her, but the idea that he didn't have a stable job wasn't exactly a gold star in his book. "Oh, that's a secret, Rose Tyler," he said, staring straight ahead as they walked along. A sudden laugh escaped her, the sound like trilling bells to his ears, and he smiled softly. He had always loved the sound of her laughter, and it was something he didn't realize how much he had missed. Now that he had finally heard it again, he desperately craved more.

For now, he had Rose Tyler back, and he wasn't too keen on letting her go anytime soon.

"Come on," Rose said, cocking her head to the side. "Where do you work? I told you about me, complaints included. Seems fair that I know about you too." She turned on her heel, casting a quick glance over her shoulder, and started to walk backwards down the sidewalk. "You said you're a doctor: a doctor of what?"

He sighed to himself, the fight leaving him as his shoulder slumped forward; he raised his hand and ran it through his hair, tousling it with silent aggravation. "I'm actually between jobs at the moment. I've been away, traveling across the world."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," the Doctor answered, his expression softening as he rubbed the side of his face. "I've seen so many brilliant people and places, all the different wonders the world has to offer. It's fantastic, really, everything I've seen…" His voice trailed off as a small lump formed in the back of his throat. "Hard to imagine life without it, actually. Traveling, I mean."

"Why'd you quit then?" Rose suddenly interjected, narrowing her eyes with curiosity. "Seeing all that… Seems like it'd be hard to give up."

The Doctor hid a grin behind his hand. Rose Tyler, even when she didn't know him, seemed to understand him ways that some people just couldn't.

"Oh, it was," the Doctor said. "It is, but I've learned that there are things I haven't seen yet. Most of them happen to be your normal day-to-day things: like owning a flat, or having a job, or driving a car. There's only so much you can see on Earth, and some of the best things are in those fleeting moments that you always tend to overlook." He paused and stared at the blonde in front of him whose mouth had dropped open in disbelief. "What do you think?"

Rose swallowed and laughed breathlessly. "I think you're some sort of public speaker." She quirked an eyebrow high. "Is there a doctor for that?"

He huffed rather loudly and shook his head. "You're never gonna figure it out."

The two continued to walk along in a comfortable silence, almost as if the other's presence was enough to fill the void left by their lack of conversation. Their footsteps were in sync with one another, and the noise of peculiar pattern pounding against the wet pavement filled their silence. Rose pulled her purple coat tighter against her body, shivering slightly, as a blustery wind whipped past them. The Doctor, on the other hand, shoved his hands into his trouser pockets, vaguely aware of the wintery mix whirling around him, and instead chose to relinquish in existence of Rose Tyler beside him.

It had been too long since he lost her, so now, her simple reappearance into his life brought a wave of memories crashing down around him. He remembered all the little things he had thought he had forgotten, and all the main ones that had fallen victim to the passage of time, laying dulled and broken in the recesses of his mind. Now, he could recall every moment he had ever spent with Rose Tyler in picture-perfect clarity.

He remembered how, in the early morning, she would stumble in the console room to greet him in a daze with two mugs of her tea in her hand, her own unique scent of cherry blossoms and vanilla accompanying her. He remembered how she would listen to him drone on endlessly, losing herself in the sound of his voice and surrendering herself to her fleeting thoughts. He remembered how her doe-brown eyes sparkled whenever she laughed and how she always seemed to harness a quiet strength in times of crisis. He remembered her brash courage, unfailing nobility, steadfast loyalty, and her sensible wisdom. He also remembered her quick temper, her stubborn shield, her overprotective nature, and her jealous facade. He remembered her flaws and imperfections, her fears and insecurities, her hopes and dreams, and her loves and losses.

He remembered everything about her, everything that made her his Rose Tyler, and he knew then and there that he couldn't lose her again. He refused too. He had been given the opportunity to do something greater, and he couldn't ruin this chance. It was the only one he would get.

He couldn't lose her again. He just couldn't.

When the two finally rounded the corner, they spotted Mickey's panic-stricken form underneath the hood of the car. The sharp smell of burning rubber flooded the Doctor's nose as they ambled closer to the younger man, wincing at the explicit curses that flew out of his mouth. The Doctor smirked slightly at the sight while Rose merely shook her head in shame; he stifled a laugh, grateful for the knowledge that Mickey Smith would somehow evolve into someone much better than the one before him.

"Smells like someone was driving with the parking brake on," the Doctor said, bouncing around the vehicle with a smug grin.

Mickey snapped his head in the Time Lord's direction. "Oi, I'm the expert here. I don't need a back seat mechanic hovering over my shoulders, thanks."

"But you left the parking brake on."

Mickey fixed his gaze on the ground. "That's not the point."

The Doctor studied the car for a short moment before cocking his head to the side. "Master cylinder?" he asked, quirking the corner of his mouth up in a tight-lipped smile.

"Yeah."

"What'd I tell you, Rose?" the Doctor cried out triumphantly. "It was the master cylinder after all!" She flashed him a small smile, and his happiness faded as he realized most of her focus was on Mickey.

The dark-skinned man hung his head in humiliation as he stared at the vehicle in front of him. Rose stepped towards him, rubbing his shoulder in a reassuring manner as if her mere presence could soothe his wounded pride. Like most cases where Rose was concerned, it did. Mickey sighed and stood tall, surveying the car with a resolute expression, and reached into his back pocket to withdraw his cellphone.

He groaned suddenly and placed a quick kiss in the center of Rose's forehead while the Doctor bristled on the side. "I'm gonna have to call Mike back at the shop and have him come pick the car up. If we hurry, I can walk with you to Hendrik's."

"No, don't worry 'bout me," she interjected quickly. "I'll be fine. Besides, I'm already late as it is. Shareen owes me one anyway; she can cover for me."

"Sure you'll be okay?" Mickey asked.

She fixed a dark look in his direction, but her brown eyes sparkling with a hint of playfulness. "I can take care of myself," she pointed out.

"Call me when you get there," he said before turning around and dialing a number on his phone.

Rose turned around to face the Doctor who had busied himself with observing London. He felt a stab of uneasiness at the daunting challenge he was now facing-stranded in one place for the next three months (it wasn't the first time he had encountered this situation before, but it definitely held the highest stakes). He was effectively changing his own personal timeline by simply conversing with Rose Tyler and Mickey Smith now; on any normal occasion, he would have been running in the opposite direction. However, he trusted Bad Wolf to make things right, protect the timelines in terms of paradoxes and other catastrophes, as well as preserve the past he so desperately loved.

"I don't think we can take you where you need to go," Rose said, nudging his shoulder as she flashed him an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that, mate… Will you be alright on your own?"

"Yeah," the Doctor answered quickly, sensing that she was now taking her leave. He scrambled desperately for something to keep him close to her, something that would allow him to spend more time in her company. He spared Mickey a sideways glance, confirming that the other man was otherwise occupied, and leaned forward. "Does your friend need me to take a look at his car? I know some things, and I might be able to help. It's a piece of junk, mind you-"

Rose furrowed her eyebrows at his comment. "It's vintage. It's got quality."

"Is that his excuse?" he quipped in return. When Rose refused to respond, he sighed and internally cringed. "That was rather rude, wasn't it?"

"You think?" she huffed.

"Sorry!" the Doctor said, causing Rose to jump in surprise at his anxiety-stricken tone. With wide eyes, he continued, "Sorry. I can be rather rude. It's not my fault, honestly, it's just a predisposition I have. I can be rude sometimes. Half the time I probably deserve a slap."

Rose let out a startled laugh, catching Mickey's attention, and shook her head. "It's fine, really. Don't worry about it." She crossed her arms against her chest and cast a quick glance over her shoulder. "Anyway, I should really get going. My boss is gonna kill me."

"I'll see you around then," the Doctor interjected, rocking forward onto the balls of his feet. "I guess. I mean, if you want."

She sent him a reassuring smile and made a move to turn around but paused. She merely took a few steps towards him, a soft expression upon her face. The Doctor stood rooted to his spot, unsure of her actions. His hearts echoed through his head, four continuous beats as he watched Rose Tyler come closer to him. The curiosity was eating him alive as he stood there: was she going to slap him for being rude or was she going to snog the life out of him and dump Ricky Smith then and there? The possibilities were endless.

She took a tentative step forward and cocked her head, watching him from behind heavy-lidded lashes, before leaning forward and touching her lips to his cheek. It wasn't supposed to be romantic by any means, just a well-meaning goodbye between fond strangers, but the Doctor's hearts were still screaming. He knew it was a spur of the moment thing, really, as Rose pulled away with a faint blush dusting her cheeks. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed thickly, barely able to contain his emotions. He could still feel her hot breath against his cold cheek causing his skin to tingle, and he wanted to stay in that moment forever.

However, she simply locked her gaze with his and raised her hand in a small wave. "See you around, John. Hope your head gets better."

With that said, she turned on her heel and waltzed off, soon disappearing into the crowded London sidewalks.

The Doctor watched her leave and took a deep breath, mustering as much confidence as he could, and turned back to Mickey. The younger man was leaning against the side of car, murmuring to the person on the other end of the phone in a hushed tone. The Time Lord did not have the patience to deal with any questions Mickey might ask or deal with the aftermath of his actions. Instead, he cast a longing glance back towards Hendrik's and sighed, shoulders slumping forward as he wandered aimlessly into the meandering citizens beside him.

He was at a loss as to where to go. He had been thrust into the morning of January second without proper preparation or explanation aside from what Bad Wolf had offered him. The last few hours of his life had flown by, and he was struggling just to hold on; his world was slippery, and his thoughts were curtained by a foggy haze in his mind. He had just talked with Rose, fully and completely without a care in the world, for the first time in years, and he still couldn't believe it.

"Why the sad face, mate?" a voice asked from behind him. The Doctor turned on his heel and caught sight of Bad Wolf leaning against a shop window. "You'd think getting a second chance would make a bloke happy."

"I thought you were leaving me on my own."

Bad Wolf pranced lightly over to his side. "Haven't we been through this already?" She smiled and cocked her head to the side, crossing her arms against her chest. "You're scared."

He raised his eyebrows and sent her a smug smirk. "Me? Scared? If you think I'm scared you should've seen Mickey Smith with-"

"Krillitane?" Bad Wolf said. "Trust me, I know. I was there."

The Doctor narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What?" he asked, facing her in puzzlement.

Bad Wolf bit her bottom lip, hesitating for a moment, before she locked her gaze with his. "How much do you know about 'Bad Wolf?'" she questioned, pushing herself off the wall to join him at his side.

"Well…" he trailed off, letting his eyes settle on his worn converses. "Not much, I suppose. Just that Rose came back to Satellite 5, opened the heart of the TARDIS, and absorbed the Time Vortex. She was a god amongst us all; she saw everything in time and space. But then I took the power out of her, even changed my face doing so or else it would've killed us both." He shrugged half-heartedly, shaking his head as he ambled aimlessly down the sidewalk. "I guess there's more to the story, though, if you're here."

The blonde raised her head, keeping her vision trained on the ground. She was quiet for a few minutes as the two continued to meander in silence. "I saw all of time and space," was all she offered.

The Doctor had many questions that he desired answers for, but he was reluctant to ask them. He had been thrown into this situation, and he was finally able to grasp the importance of the chance he had been offered. He made a move to switch topics, sensing Bad Wolf's discomfort.

"What do I do?" he said, interrupting Bad Wolf's train of thought. She whipped her head around, staring at him with mystification tinging her expression. "Do I settle down, find a house, get a job? Where do I start?"

"Same as the rest of the universe," Bad Wolf answered with a small smile.

The Doctor closed his eyes as he turned to face forward. He listened to the sound of his converses platting against the wet cement and tried to process his thoughts. All he really knew was that he needed answers so he could better understand the situation he had even thrown into. This second chance-it came with a cost-and if he didn't play things out exactly right, then the cost would be Rose.

"I know it's a lot to take in, but it'll be alright," Bad Wolf said as she nudged his shoulder with her own.

The Doctor swayed on his feet, nearly colliding with a passerby. "How are you going to protect us from paradoxes?" he asked, casting her a sidelong glance.

She could feel his burning gaze on hers, so she ducked her head from his line of sight. "Don't worry so much about that. It's already taken care of."

The Doctor refused to settle for her response, reaching out to grasp her wrist before she could change the subject. He scrutinized her face for answers she was unwilling to give, studying her unwilling gaze with a critical eye. Eventually she pressed her lips into a resolute expression and pulled her hand from his loose grasp, letting it drop to her side. She clenched her hands into tight fists, her posture tense and foreboding.

It was if a barrier had been slammed in front of him, and no matter how much he pushed against it, it refused to fall. However, regardless of how powerful the almighty Bad Wolf thought of herself to be, there was only so much she could do against a stubborn 900-year-old Time Lord.

"You don't have to tell me everything, but we're in this together," he reminded her. "If anything happens here that jeopardizes my personal timeline, it will impact you as well. Even worse…." hesitating to gauge her reaction, knowing he had her attention, he leveled his gaze with hers. "If something happens to Rose, you will cease to exist, and we wouldn't want that, would we?"

A harsh smirk marred her angelic features. "You think you're so clever, don't you, Doctor?" A dark look overcame her, and the air sparked from the ignited tension between the two. "Oh, there's so much more at stake than you realize. You only have three months to convince Miss Rose Tyler to fall in love with you, and yet, already, you've managed to make an arrogant arse out of yourself. Tell me, how does it feel knowing you're starting this whole journey one step back?"

The Doctor was taken back. He had not expected to gain this reaction from her. "I… I don't know."

Bad Wolf, seeming to recognize her patronizing antics, sighed and crumbled in on herself. She hugged her arms close to her torso, her head lolling forward so that it rested on her chest. "I'm sorry."

To the Doctor, she looked totally and utterly defeated.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "I trust you. Don't think I don't because I do. It's just that-"

"-You need answers," she said with a small smile. Digging her nails into the skin of her upper arms, she huffed rather loudly and finally met his eyes. "You have to realize that there are certain things that I just can't tell you. I've told you before that I can see all possible timelines, but if you knew what they were…" Her voice trailed off, and her eyes flickered to the ground.

The Doctor knew that she couldn't elaborate, so he decided not to push. However, he had one question before he could be satisfied. "What… What if, after everything, nothing changes? What if I'm right back where I stated?"

Bad Wolf fixed him with an unreadable gaze. "Then you will regenerate into your next body." When he made a move to protest, she shook her head. "Then is no other option. I know how much you would suffer; you were born from love in this body… It's fitting that you die from it as well."

"And if I fail?"

"There will be consequences," Bad Wolf said, resigning herself to lowering her arms. "If your actions cause Rose to die in your past, you will face those ramifications."

He opened his mouth to respond, but words failed him.

She could sense his distress, however, and reached out to take his hand in her own. She interlaced their fingers together and bumped them against his hip. "It'll be alright. I know you can do it. I believe in you, Doctor."

Hearing those words, reflected back to him from an opposite point of view, caused a shiver to run down the Doctor's spine. He pulled Bad Wolf close to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her as he attempted to convey his gratitude to her. For this second chance to see Rose again, to be with Rose again, and to love Rose again.

This was all he had. He couldn't ruin it. It was time for the journey to begin.

Lovers reunite at a journey's end,
So why not make ends meet when it begins?