Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The BBC owns all, I am merely borrowing.
Spoilers: Through Girl in the Fireplace.

It was several hours since the Doctor had stumbled back into the spaceship and, without even a curt explanation, sent the TARDIS into the vortex and his companions to their respective beds.

Rose spent most of that time taking a very very long shower, for which the TARDIS willingly supplied plenty of scalding hot water. Stepping out into the slightly damp and steaming room, she wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and peered into the bathroom mirror. Her eyes were still slightly puffy from the tears that she hadn't been able to contain.

When she had stepped inside her room the tumult of confusion and hurt had overwhelmed her. He had left her behind. Done what he always did, saving the world or attractive damsel as it were. He was fantastic at finding those. But five and a half hours had been plenty of time for Rose to worry that this might be it. The time when everything wouldn't turn out all right. He'd come back, but she was certain he hadn't expected it to be so easy.

And he'd wanted to bring Reinette along. She could see it in the way he'd rushed back. Eager to have someone new to amaze with his ship that was bigger on the inside and all the places it could go. Ever since Sarah Jane, Rose had wondered if he saw her in the same light. Just someone to impress. She'd become accustomed to his ways and now he needed more companions to make up for it. It was selfish, but she wanted to be as special to him as he was to her. Maybe that really was impossible.

Rose found a pair of soft flannel pajamas waiting on her bed and she was grateful for the comforting warmth. But she needed something to calm her nerves if she was ever going to sleep. Finding a pink robe in the closet, she put it on and entered the hallway outside her room. She trusted the TARDIS to help her find what she needed. Possibly the kitchen or maybe that garden with the apple grass and babbling brook. What she found was a small study that looked like it had been transported from some manor house. There was a velvet sofa in the center of the room and...

Apparently, the ship had misunderstood. Two feet with mismatched socks rested on the arm of the sofa and she knew exactly who they belonged to. But the Doctor didn't acknowledge her presence, deeply lost within the pattern of his own thoughts. He was missing his suit jacket and she noticed it lying crumpled in a far corner, carelessly tossed aside. His long frame just fit on the sofa and she briefly wondered if it was that size on purpose.

She hadn't caught him brooding since before he changed, but she couldn't think of a more apt explanation for his crossed arms and distant expression. She had thought he'd forgone the habit for brief bursts of reticence, but perhaps she simply hadn't caught him at it. She wanted to interrupt like she used to, distract him from wherever his thoughts had led, but feared the intervention would be unwelcome. If he was hiding himself away, then he certainly wasn't looking for her aid. She looked up to study his face in more detail. His brow was furrowed and his eyes were dark and...now entirely focused on her.

"Rose. How...how long have you been standing there?" He looked nervous and just as startled to find her in the room as she had been to discover him.

"Doctor! Sorry. Didn't know you were here. There. On the sofa. I couldn't sleep and...I'll just go..." She stopped, hand hovering in midair. "The door's gone."

The Doctor shifted, unfolding his arms. "Gone?"

"Yeah. S'just...gone."

She heard him muttering something unintelligible which she hoped was directed at the ship. The lights dimmed.

"Somethin' wrong with the TARDIS?" Rose asked, picking at the sleeve of her robe as she lingered nervously where the door used to be.

"Yes," he said giving the ceiling a glare. "No. I mean, no. Absolutely no idea why the door's gone. None whatsoever."

"Can you get it back?"

"Um..." His gaze wandered the room. "It's a temporary malfunction. Easy to fix, usually. But, this isn't...well, this room is cut off from everything. Meant to be that way, really."

"So you can't fix it?"

"Oh. I'm sure it'll reassert itself."

"When?"

"Hmm?"

"When will it be back."

"In a bit." He returned his attention to her. "You said you couldn't sleep?"

"Yeah." Rose took a step into the room, taking in the crowded bookshelves and crackling fire. "Never seen this room before. S'cozy."

"It's new. Well, newish."

"This where you disappear to?"

"Sorry?"

"You used to tinker. Be gone for hours." She ran a finger over several book spines. "But I could always find you."

He frowned and tilted his head. "Have you not been able to?"

She spun to face him. "'Course I haven't! Wouldn't of tonight either, if I hadn't accidently opened the wrong door." Realizing how harsh her outburst sounded, she backtracked. "Not that I was lookin' for you. Tonight, that is. Made it clear you wanted to be alone."

"Which door did you think it was?" he asked calmly, raising himself up to a seated position.

"Um, the one that led to the garden."

"That's exactly how I found it! Aimed for the conservatory, but voila! Ended up here." When his enthusiasm failed to improve her mood, he added softly, "Rose, I didn't know this room was so hard to find."

Rose sniffed and readjusted the closure of her robe. "Right. I'll be out of your way, soon as that door appears. Sure there isn't some way to get it?"

"None." He slid over on the couch and patted the plush seat. "Come here. Plenty of room for two."