Disclaimer: Of course I don't own anything in the Who or Torchwood universe - I only wish I did. Nothing belongs to me, everything belongs to the creators. I just like to play around in the universe. :)

Many sincere thanks to Liv16, Figure in Black, Ryan, and TV-a-holic, all of which inspired, encouraged, and helped me to make the most of my first DW fan fiction story.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy. Reviews very welcome!

...

"Goodnight sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." - Hamlet

...

The TARDIS jerked and shivered as she dematerialized, transporting herself from reality into that of the chaotic time vortex. The two passengers within the blue box were forced to grab hold to the TARDIS's interior in an attempt to keep upright as the time winds ravaged her exterior. If they weren't careful, they'd be black and blue before reaching their destination, although if Rose was honest with herself, it wouldn't be the first time.

The Doctor, grinning maniacally, positively beamed at his companion as she struggled to remain afoot. Although things were currently crazy and chaotic, and the Doctor was doing all he could to avoid the subject, she wasn't going to take no for an answer. Continuing the conversation they had been discussing shortly before taking off, Rose shouted above the TARDIS's whooshing groan. "Oh please! I promised Shireen that I'd be home for a visit soon an' we'd both go shopping together! I need some new clothes, Doctor. You can't keep me from shoppin' forever!"

Rose let go of her most current spot of safety to chase the doctor around the deck, failing as she was thrown about the deck in the process. It really was both dangerous and exciting to try and move around the TARDIS while in flight...well, not so much as in flight but as in... movement of time and space... In truth, the TARDIS didn't actually "fly" very well at all, as Rose'd seen first-hand when she'd gotten picked up by a herd of Enantiornithines when the Doctor had taken her to see the Cretaceous period. He'd been too busy showing off his knowledge of pre-historic plant life to notice that she'd been mistaken for food and as she had risen into the air screaming, he'd sprung into action. piloting the TARDIS in a way that she wasn't meant to be driven - with her doors open and everything - in order to save Rose. Less than pleased by the entire ordeal, Rose had been about to give him a piece of her mind about what constitutes a "safe" place to visit, when she had noticed the damage done to the TARDIS's flight controls. The poor girl was smoking and steaming, letting harsh groans out of the base of the heart of her - she had almost been torn completely apart in the Doctor's attempt to save Rose. It broke Rose's heart seeing what he had almost given up, and what the TARDIS had almost lost, and since then, Rose had felt more forgiving of the TARDIS's bumpy movement as she travelled through time and space.

But even so, the journey to and fro banged and bruised her up more than she liked to admit. Still, it was an exhilarating ride to jumble about trying not to cause serious injury from one place to another.

The Doctor was too busy pushing this and pulling that to pay her any attention as she tried to make her way to him, spinning the blue wheel before pumping the brown spiny thing. Figuring out that he wasn't going to pay her any attention until she forced him to, and like she'd had to do on more than a few occasions with Mickey when a football game was on, or her Mum when she got involved on her cell to a girlfriend, she stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest in an overly practiced movement, blocking his path and further movements on the control panel. He grimaced, knowing he wasn't going to escape without a fight, his grin falling downwards as his lips pursed into a pout.

He knew her too well in times like this - she could see it all over his face. This wasn't the first time she'd had to put her foot down and go to physical extremes to get him to focus on her and what she was saying for a few minutes - the man literally couldn't keep still. Of course she'd had to go to extremes on more than one occasion to get him to look at her and listen - he literally went a million miles a minute! He wasn't going to get out of this conversation, though, and he knew it, and he knew that she knew that he knew it.

Frowning in displeasure at being forced to stop, even for a moment, he whined, his arms gesturing madly, "But Rose! I thought we were going to go to Nuwavia to see the Wind Almsgivers make their way to the Crystal Beach!"

"Well, we still can! But first, I need some clothes! After our last few trips - don't even make me remind you - it's amazing I've got anything left to wear at all!"

"There's always the TARDIS wardrobe - plenty to choose from in there!"

Rose sputtered, "Yeah - for you, maybe!"

"What do you mean? There are women's clothes in there."

"Costumes, more like!"

It was the Doctor's turn to sputter. "But, I found my clothes in there!"

Rose laughed. "And?"

"What do you mean, and?"

"And... you wear a costume."

"A costume?" He cried indignantly, his mouth dropping open as he took a step back from her, clearly insulted.

Realizing quickly that she'd allowed her foot to quickly make it's way into her mouth, she tried to make the last comment not seem as... offending. Besides, an upset Doctor wouldn't be a very giving Doctor, especially considering that she was currently trying to butter him up to take her home.

"A very nice one, at least. Very...fitting."

"My suit is not a costume, Rose," he told her seriously. "It's a very practical outfit. Extremely durable, it is! Pants, shirt, jacket, tie," he said, pointing to each item as he named it, pulling at each piece in emphasis to his point, "... everything a bloke would ever need."

"A bloke doesn't always need to wear a suit jacket and tie." Rose argued, her hands grabbing at the center control grating as the TARDIS made a harsh left jerk.

The Doctor looked appalled. "But, I have bad circulation! I have to keep warm."

Rose couldn't have kept herself from laughing if she'd tried. "Bad circulation, Doctor! How can you possibly have bad circulation? You've got two hearts!"

He looked at her pitifully, as if she was nothing more than a small child - patiently and slightly condescending. "Yes, which means more blood that has to circulate, Rose." He was infuriating, and also quite amusing, much to her dismay. Rose decided the only thing left to do in a situation like this was to take a deep breath and steer him back to the topic at hand. Which involved getting him to take her home!

"It's not bad circulation, Doctor. It's that you have no meat on your bones." She couldn't resist one last attempt at taking the mickey out of him.

"Oi! You've never complained about my figure before!" The Doctor turned towards the side, trying to get a better look at his backside, causing Rose to laugh out loud. Could the man be any more vain? Honestly.

"Oi! You've never refused to take me shopping before!"

He looked at her seriously, as he straightened up to full height and stepped up to her, letting his hands gently drop on the top of her shoulders. "Admit that it's not a costume."

"Fine. It's not a costume." Rose agreed, smiling. "But you are still going to take me home so I can go buy some new things to wear."

"I have found some lovely scarves in the wardrobe in my time." She'd lost him again as he turned away from her, jiggling that and switching on this. The TARDIS jumped suddenly, forcing Rose forward. Almost hitting the control panel with her forehead, she righted herself, still arguing. "I don't need a scarf, though! Trust me, I've gone through the wardrobe! There is nothing I can seriously consider wearing on a day-to-day basis. I need jeans and shoes and...other things." Rose trailed off, thinking it best not to inform him of her need for new underclothes.

The Doctor struggled not to grin. Quirking an eyebrow, Rose folded her arms across her chest. His smile faded a bit. Smart man.

Stepping closer, Rose pleaded one last time with him.

"Please, Doctor?" she begged softly, reaching towards him to lay a hand upon his arm. She watched as he suddenly focused on her instead of the console, his eyes following the movement of her hand, and couldn't help the smile that slid across her face as she saw him soften at her touch.

"Oh, alright." Finally giving in, he groaned - rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. "Alright, alright... But only for a day. I'm not hanging around for much longer than that. Got things to do - places to see!" Rose was ecstatic. Reaching to hug him, he side-stepped her, grinning a little evilly.

"Besides, I don't think I can take much more of your mother for more than that in one go."

Rose reached over to smack him, as he hollered and jumped away. Rubbing his shoulder pitifully, she shook her head, bemused by his antics. He smirked at her, and went off in plan mode.

"I'll drop you off, take a short trip to New New Earth..."

"New New New New..." Rose interrupted, laughingly.

He shushed her with his hands as he continued on, ignoring her, "... for a few repairs and a few extra medical supplies, and then we're off to..." The Doctor rolled his tongue around his teeth, making the word stretch just a bit longer than necessary, "Nuwavia!"

Rose clapped her hands together like she did when she was a little girl and the next thing she knew, she was embracing her Mum and Mickey, bringing trinkets out of her bag to give to the both of them, as she attempted to explain what they were and what they could do. Jackie, of course, couldn't be bothered to care about the gifts for she was dragging the Doctor into her arms, pecking his lips with her own rather soundly, while he tried to wrestle out from under her - to no success. Sighing resolvedly, he allowed himself to be dragged onto the couch and allowed Jackie her twenty questions before glaring pointedly at his watch and standing up saying, "Oh look at the time. How time flies when your..."

"Oh shove off, already," Jackie told him, struggling to keep a straight face while Rose giggled.

Gladly, and slightly exaggerating its overdue, the Doctor took his leave, yelling over his shoulder that he'd be in the TARDIS if Rose needed him - he had to gather things and make a few lists before he left.

Jackie sighed at Rose, exasperated. "Don't know how you put up with him, Rose. How do you get him to have a single conversation? The boy couldn't sit still if we tied 'im up, could he?"

Rose could only shrug, still smiling at her Mum. It was the Doctor. It was just how he was.

...

Jackie bustled around the small kitchen, pulling plates and cups out of the cabinets as she brought them to the table just a few steps away.

"...And Beth from work told Rosalie down in Resources that Yvonne and Matt had ended things - can you believe it? I thought they were a match made in heaven, those two...but I guess you really can't always know what's going on at home with people, can you, Rose?"

Rose smiled as she shook her head in agreement. It was always nice to be home for short periods of time, and it always made her feel warm inside to hear her Mum natter on about the gossip at work.

"Matt came into the office the next day, just crying his eyes out! If it weren't so unmanly of him, I would have tried to comfort him myself..." Jackie thought for a moment as she stirred the stew with her wooden spoon, "He does have a nice build for a man his age."

"Mum!" Rose exclaimed.

Jackie winked. "What? I've got eyes, don't I? No harm in looking."

Amused, Rose flipped through the magazine laying in front of her before glancing at the clock. It was amazing how slow time moved when actually stopped to watch it. Turning to her Mum, she asked, "What time's Shireen supposed to show up?"

"She said she'd get here as soon as she got off work. Said she was taking half the day off so the two of you could spend more time together. Of course, I invited her to dinner, but I told her not to wait until then as it'd be quite late by the time the stew'd be finished." She paused, looking at the clock. "Mickey should be getting back before long too. I just sent him out to collect the mail - I forgot to pick it up on my way in. My arms were full carrying the groceries up and that damn dog from 2B got out again..."

Shireen would be here soon then, as it was already afternoon. Rose stood up and walked over to where her Mum was now adding onions to the pot. Feeling a moment of affection for her Mum, she lifted her arms around her Mum's shoulders and laid her head in the nape of her neck.

"I've missed you, Mum." Rose said cheerfully.

"Oh, dear! You're gonna make me tear up, hanging on to me like this! Or maybe it's just the onions..."

Rose laughed.

"You know I've missed you too, sweetheart! I always do when you leave with the Doctor." She sighed. "Taking you off to who knows where...never knowing if you're getting yourselves into trouble or what kinds of things you're gettin' exposed to. I reckon you're mad, the pair of you. It's like you both go looking for trouble."

Rose hugged her a little tighter.

"I'm just happy you've managed to remember your old Mum. I'll need to give that Doctor of yours a thorough talking-to when I see him again. He needs to bring you 'round more often than once every couple of months!"

"Has it really been a few months since we saw you last?"

"Yes it has - almost three!" Jackie looked to be on the verge of tears.

"Sorry, Mum. I didn't realize."

"Damn onions." Jackie wiped her eye. "Oh, don't worry about it. I'm just so glad you're here now!"

"Me too, Mum." Rose squeezed her a little tighter.

Knock, knock.

Jackie nodded towards the door. "That'd be Shireen now."

Giving Rose one last peck on the cheek, she turned back to her cooking as Rose skipped towards the front door. Swinging it open, she grinned widely as she pulled her friend into a hug.

Rose held her tightly as she said, "I'm so glad you came by! It's so good to see you!"

Squeezing just as much, Shireen laughed and replied, "Of course I came by! How could I not? You aren't in town every day! How have you been?"

"I've been great! Everything's been jus' wonderful!" Rose grinned, and reached to touch Shireen's long braid, "Oh, your hair looks amazing! I love it dark red like that."

"Thanks! I got a new product in..."

"Oi, Girls! Dinner's gonna be ready around six, which only leaves you a few hours to get your shopping done!" Jackie yelled. "You'd better get going if you plan on making it back in time." Both girls grinned at each other in amusement.

"Yes, Mum." Rose laughed as she grabbed her purse and followed Shireen out of the flat.

"Be safe!" Jackie called after them.

...

Glancing at the crowd around her in embarrassment, laughter bubbled out of Rose as she covered her mouth with the palm of her hand to keep some semblance of privacy to the joke she shared with her friend, Shireen. Hunched over, still grasping her friends arm in sheer delight, she gasped as she tried with little success to control her breathing in order to finish the tale.

Shireen broke out in new peals of laughter, causing Rose to tumble once again into a fit of helpless giggles, her grin now starting to cause a slight ache to her cheeks.

"He came out wearing what exactly?" Shireen wiped the stray tear from her eye.

Rose grinned, "Nothing at all. Not one single thing." Shireen burst out laughing. "Mickey decided that leather made him look "sexy" of all things, and went out and bought the first pair he could find. He came over to try them on this morning, so that we could all 'experience' was the word, his new look.

After about 15 minutes of listening to him grunt and groan, I finally went over to the bathroom to see if he needed help, and he..." Rose could barely finish the sentence she was laughing so hard, "all I heard was this noise. This big bang - sounded like he cracked the tub or somethin' - and poor Mickey is just moaning...so of course I tried the handle to see if I could get in...he obviously needed some help!"

"Could you get in?" Shireen asked, rubbing her hands together in delight.

"No! The poor bloke'd locked himself up in there and got himself stuck..." - Shireen let out a shout - "...and couldn't even bring himself and his big male ego to let me know he wasn't okay.

So I'm there, with Mum now - who's just come over to see what's going on - and she just starts screaming at Mickey to come out and tell her what the fuss is all about."

Shireen rolled her eyes. "I can just see Jackie banging on the door yelling at poor Mick."

"She had to finally threaten to break the door down herself and come in if he didn't come out, going round-n-round with him about how we're all family and he's got nothing she's never seen before on someone else, and that he's got nothin' to be ashamed of...! I'm jus' standing there with my arms crossed in complete amusement while poor Mickey's in there stutterin' and trying to get a word in edgeways."

Leaning over, Shireen started to grab some of the bags that had been dropped in their moment of carefree amusement. Rose reached down to stuff one of the scarves that had slipped out of one of the hessian bags back into another. She'd found just the perfect one to show the Doctor, after the great debacle over the TARDIS wardrobe.

Standing up again with a huff from the weight of the lot, she noticed the twinkle of mirth in Shireen's eye as she continued, "So Mum finally gets it in her head that the reason he won't let us in is 'cause we're not men. She start's asking Mickey if he'd feel better if another bloke helped him instead of us girls. And Mickey - he's just yellin', 'No Jackie! No! Leave me alone!' I'm laughing my arse off when Mum suddenly turns to me an' says, 'Rose - go get the Doctor!'"

"No! She didn't!"

"Yes, she did! I was enjoying myself so much at this point, decided - fine. I"ll go get him. So I went and grabbed him - thank goodness he hadn't left yet for the... mechanics..." Rose paused, deciding that was as good a word as any to describe where he was going, "... an' dragged him back to where Mum was still goin' off on Mickey to come out. Mickey's pouting in the bathroom refusing to speak to Mum anymore now - and the Doctor..." Rose broke out in giggles again. "The Doctor kneels down, peeks in the little keyhole and starts to try and negotiate with him! Can you imagine?"

Shireen shook her head in disbelief.

"He takes out that screwdriver of his and says, "Mickey, I've gotta be honest with ya. This isn't exactly how I planned to be spending my day..." and Mickey starts yellin' at the Doctor to leave 'im alone and to not come in! Has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen!

The Doctor then covers his eyes with one hand..." - Rose covered her own to show Shireen - "...and yells, 'Brace yourselves, Ladies' as he swung the bathroom door open and went in.

Mickey went into a strop, slamming the door after the Doctor stepped in. Me and Mum tried to listen to wha' was happenin' but we couldn't hear much through the door. All we could hear was Mickey shrieking like a little girl - oh, I did hear the Doctor say, 'Don't be such a little girl!' and Mickey said something like, 'Do I look like a girl to you?' and the Doctor says all matter of factly, "I am a Doctor - you haven't got anything I've not seen before!" and Mickey yells, "Oi! I am not a girl!" and then the Doctor comes out, amused and smirking of all things. We asked him what was happening and all he did was laugh over his shoulder as he walked back to 'is room!

Finally, after another 10 minutes or so, Mickey yells out, "Doctor? You gonna bring me those clothes?"

Shireen gasped, "Did he come back?"

"No! He'd left." Rose replied.

"So Mickey finally manned up and yelled at us to go away 'cause he was just gonna come out."

Chuckling, Shireen beckoned Rose to continue walking down the sidewalk, as they originally had been headed to Jackie's flat before getting side-tracked with girlish hilarity.

Rose sighed with a grin as she remembered the look on her Mum's face, "Without giving me an' Mum any time at all to leave, he jus' comes stormin' out - completely starkers mind you - and just stands there! I couldn't believe it! Mum about lost it trying to scream and cover her face up! And Mickey just stood there in shock, red-faced as we fumbled around like idiots trying to not fall down as we..."

"He just stood there?" Shireen gasped.

"Yea! He stayed there, completely frozen until Mum finally told him to get on with it and stop standing around starkers!" Rose chuckled. "She yelled, this flat isn't a nudist colony!

He came out about 10 minutes later, and we, of course, were still just standing there where he left us, our eyes covered and mouths still hanging open - and he just walks in like nothing happened, all smug-like, and asks Mum what's for lunch!"

Shireen could hardly sputter, "Your Mum!"

Rose about fell over laughing again, "Poor Mum! She didn't know which way the wind was blowing! She just uncovered her eyes and squeaked, 'Shepherds Pie?'"

Shireen guffawed.

"And Mum just went to the kitchen and started pourin' tea." Rose finished with a smile.

"So what happened to the leather pants?"

"Oh those?...Well, they went in the bottom drawer of my dresser to be kept until the perfect moment to blackmail..."

"You wouldn't!"

"Wouldn't I?"

Shireen grinned manically. "Oh, I miss you when you're gone!"

Rose smiled. "I miss you, too!"

"Of course, I'm entirely jealous that you've found a rich bachelor that can sweep you off your feet and head off for months at a time."

Rose laughed. "It does have its perks, doesn't it?" She winked cheekily.

"I wish I could find me one." Shireen said wistfully. "Maybe one with a normal name..."

"Oi!" Rose laughed. "I like what he goes by. It's... unique."

"It's definitely different." Shireen smirked.

"Maybe different is good." Rose replied. "Sometimes, yeah... it's... good."

"I know that look, Rose Tyler!" Shireen exclaimed. "Has something happened between you two?"

Rose shook her head. "No, not like that."

"But you wish it would?"

"Yeah... No..." Rose trailed off wistfully. "Maybe. I don't know."

"Maybe's not a no..." Shireen told her helpfully.

Agreeing more to herself rather than to Shireen, Rose replied quietly, "Yeah. Maybe..."

Hugging Shireen goodbye took a good 20 minutes before they split up to go their separate directions. Enjoying the cool breeze as she lifted her face up to the sky, and was reminded of another something blue that always made her swell with joy. Head tilted, she wondered if the Doctor had made it back yet. Smiling to herself, she all but skipped home. Well, as capably as could be expected with the amount of purchases she'd made.

"Mum! I need help! Open up the door!" Rose huffed as she lugged her way up the stairs to her Mum's flat, the weight of her shopping bags finally starting to cramp her shoulders, and fumbled around to find her key whilst trying not to drop anything.

"Mum? You there?" Rose pounded on the door with her fist. Hearing nothing from inside, she worked the key into the doorknob and turned it, opening the door and stepping inside.

There was a note propped up against the mirror on the hall table.

Rose,

I forgot to get a few things that I need to finish dinner. Can't believe I forgot them the first time! Like I haven't got better things to do with my time then go back and forth to the grocery store. Mickey wanted to come, so he's with me. I shouldn't be gone more than a few minutes.

Love you,

Mum

Rose wondered when she'd left. She was running a good half an hour behind as it was. Shrugging out of her jacket, Rose draped it over the chair as she made her way into the kitchen. Gasping, she rushed over to the stove and to turn off the heat. The stew was boiling over, and smoke was beginning to spread thickly around the kitchen. Rose quickly pushed it to the back burner to try and prevent further burning.

Coughing slightly, Rose rushed over to the sink and opened the window, waving her hands a bit to try and usher the smoke outside. How could her Mum have left it on like this? Didn't she know that she was just asking for a disaster? She could've burned the house down!

Before Rose could really start fuming at her Mum's idiocy - and Mickey's for that matter for letting her do something so ridiculous - there was a knock at the door.

Marching over to the door, fully expecting it to be her Mum and Mickey with their arms full, she flung the door open, ready to give them both a good talking to.

Two officers stood there, a heavy-set man and a much shorter woman, looking uncomfortable and slightly nervous. Rose's anger dissipated immediately.

"Yes?" Rose asked. "Can I help you?"

"Miss Tyler? Are you Rose Tyler?" The officer asked, his voice gruff.

"Yes?" Rose said in trepidation. The last officers that had come into this apartment hadn't been exactly human, and Rose had experienced enough not to take anyone at face value.

"May we come in, Miss Tyler?"

Considering that for a moment, Rose reluctantly agreed. Rather than replying, she simply held the door open, allowing them access in. Her stomach fluttered nervously, and her heart started thumping loudly, so loudly in fact that she couldn't hear much else other than the pounding in her ears.

The female officer turned down her radio, which had been blaring between cracks and noise, and pulled a notebook and pen from her belt. She had a dark complexion and some of the most striking eyes Rose had ever seen. Rose took them to the kitchen.

Ushering them towards the table, Rose felt it only polite to offer them a seat. "Would you please sit?" She asked, feeling that if they would at least sit, she'd have more of a chance at escaping if they started acting...strangely.

"Yeah, thanks," the man replied, still looking out of sorts and nervous. It made Rose feel uncomfortable. Trying to come up with something to do, to make herself feel more in control and at ease with the situation, she turned towards them and asked, "Would either of you like a cup of tea?"

"Uh...no. Thank you. That's not necessary." The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notepad. "If you'd join us, Miss Tyler." He pulled out the chair to his left and patted the back of it twice.

She really didn't want to. He had a strange expression on his face and Rose flinched slightly, but she pulled the chair out of his grasp and sat primely down. Whatever these two officers had to say, Rose wanted to be prepared. The Doctor hadn't made it back yet and she wasn't sure she wanted to have a sit-down with either of them by herself. She couldn't imagine why they were here or what they wanted. She only hoped that it was something...earthly. Shopping with Shireen had worn her out, and she was starving, and she didn't want to have to battle aliens on an empty stomach, if thats what they were going to turn out to be.

Remembering her Mum and Mickey - well, their lack of presence - Rose said aloud, "My Mum's not here..." Rose's voice faltered as she watched the man suck in a breath and watched the woman's shoulders sink. Neither seemed overly inclined to answer her, giving her further cause for concern.

Leaning forward now, giving them her undivided attention, she tried again. "Who are you? What do you want? Why are you..."

The man interrupted her, holding up a hand. "Miss Tyler, is there anyone else here with you? Someone close we can call? Is there someone we can contact for..."

"Why?" Rose questioned, her heartbeat fluttering madly in her chest.

"We have some news to..."

"What kind of news?" Rose asked, quickly.

Suddenly, a sound that normally brought such enthusiasm to her step, such joy to her soul - the TARDIS was coming back, and with it - her Doctor. Rose couldn't take her eyes off the man that was sitting across from her. She wanted to keep an eye on both of them until her Doctor was here. He'd make everything alright - he'd figure out what was happening.

"What's going on?" The woman exclaimed, jumping up. "What is that?"

The man's hand hovered over his weapon as he slowly made his way to where the noise was coming from.

"Wait!" cried Rose, arms outstretched as if to stop them, desperately trying to think of an excuse for the TARDIS engines. "Just a minute... it's just the... washing machine. It makes that sound when the load is about to finish."

The officer's looked at Rose in disbelief before quickly glancing at one another.

"Never heard a washing machine quite like that before..." The woman stated.

The other officer grinned sheepishly. "My wife and I had an old one several years back - didn't make a noise quite like that, but it probably could have competed well enough."

The woman chuckled and made her way back to her seat.

Rose felt relieved.

Mum had made extra space in Rose's room for the TARDIS to land, so that the Doctor didn't have to park her four miles away, and most definitely not in the middle of the sitting room. That had drove Mum nuts when the TARDIS had landed smack in the middle of the living room the last time. The Doctor had stayed often enough with Rose and her Mum now that he had pretty much claimed Rose's room as his own, forcing Mickey to take over the couch when the Doctor came to stay. Grumble as he might, Rose didn't think it ever really bothered him much. So long as he knew Rose was safe and was staying for a good visit - and as long as Rose stayed in the same bed as her Mum, and not in the same bed as the Doctor.

Rose's bedroom door opened, and the Doctor emerged, attired in his usual tight blue suit and red Converse trainers. His hands were occupied, working diligently on his sonic screwdriver, fumbling with the gears, and burbling on about something getting stuck as he walked over to where Rose and the officers were sitting.

"Hi Rose!" He announced happily, completely absorbed in the screwdriver. "Now then! Good as gold!" Giving a peck to the sonic screwdriver and patting it down into his pocket, he finally looked up. "You'll never guess what I ran into..." He trailed off, finally noticing not only Rose, but that there were two strange people in the kitchen.

"Oh, hello! Rose, you have guests!" The Doctor sidled up to the male officer. "I'm the Doctor. And who might you be?" He stuck out his hand, and blinked before sticking out his other hand to the female officer, shaking hands with both officers simultaneously.

The woman looked concerned. "We didn't know anyone else was here. We did ask."

No one really gave her an answer. Rose felt a little uneasy, her stomach tying in knots as she waited for the Doctor to make some sense out of the situation. They had said they had bad news. Her mind felt numb, and she felt an oncoming terror - something she couldn't quite place yet, but she felt scared of what the near future held for her. And being scared completely terrified her. Nevertheless, she tried to remind herself not to get worked up and worried until she knew what kind of situation she was in.

Shaking the Doctor's hand, the man replied, his voice deep and tired, lacking almost all inflection and emotion. "My name is Edward Patel, and this is my partner, Officer Julie Barge. If we could all sit down for a moment?"

Becoming aware that there was some kind of situation, The Doctor looked at Rose for the first time - peering at her with a concerned expression. She hadn't moved from that spot since he entered the room. Her cheeks were very pale, as if she had lost all of her color and warmth. Her hands were clinging to the table in front of her, and he could tell she was trembling. It was barely visible, but he recognized it. Walking around the two officers, he firmly grasped Rose by the shoulders, giving her a small squeeze with his hands before sitting down next to her in one of the kitchen table chairs.

Scooting his chair next to her, closer, and putting an arm gently around her shoulders, he directed his attention at the officers.

"What's happened then?" He asked them resignedly, his free hand finding her tightly clasped ones. Rose quickly looked over at him. He didn't seem concerned that they might be aliens at all.

Frowning, she wasn't sure she wanted to sit here any longer. If anything - after all, she reasoned, they didn't know why the officers were here to begin with. Could be a simple complain from a neighbor... Maybe Mum had kicked that poor dog in 2B one too many times.

Officer Julie Barge fumbled with her notebook. Rose still hadn't been able to look away from the Doctor yet, and he had yet to meet her eyes. His attention was currently focused on the officers, waiting patiently, although Rose did take in the slight nervous tick he had in the thumb of his right hand.

His slight tick made her more nervous than she liked, and already she was forcing herself to sit still instead of bolting like she really wanted to.

Taking her eyes off of the Doctor, and still up to looking at either officer, Rose glanced at the wall. Squinting, Rose noticed a line near the ceiling that hadn't captured her attention before. The spot looked like something had scratched against it - no, make that pushed against - there was a bit of an indention to it's shape. Staring hard enough, she couldn't imagine what had dented the wall. It was so high up - Mum'd never be able to reach up there.

Berating herself for not paying attention to what they were saying, Rose knew bad news was coming and it was all she could do to not focus on something completely ridiculous and tiny.

The Doctor had leaned back into his chair, shoulders slumped as he watched her, worriedly.

"I'm sorry," she interrupted. "Could you please say that again?"

Officer Patel sighed and refused to meet her eyes. "I'm very sorry to inform you that both Jackie Tyler and Mickey Smith were in an accident today."

Rose's eyes widened and she felt a chill come over her, but she said nothing further.

"It is obvious that they were making their way back home, when a young woman ran out in front of their car. Mrs. Tyler swerved to miss the girl, and unfortunately, in doing so, caused the car to run off the road into the postal building, just a few blocks over.

The Doctor had now grasped Rose's hand as she tried to comprehend the information. She couldn't even begin to process it. She saw, more than felt the Doctor's tight hold. She felt shaken. Her eyes wandered back to the thin black line on the wall. She still couldn't think of what had caused such a trauma.

"I'm sorry, but they were both killed instantly around 5 p.m. this afternoon."

The officers stood up, their chairs scraping against the tile, as did the Doctor after very gently rubbing her neck and gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear. She knew they were talking quietly but she couldn't seem to do anything more than stare blankly at the wall. Blinking slowly, her head tilted to the left as that strange spot on the wall found her attention once again. Surprisingly, there were several dings and scrapes on the wall. Something that Mum never noticed, probably, or she would have gotten it fixed long ago.

"Please tell her that she can reach us anytime at this number," Officer Patel handed a card to the Doctor, "and she will need to come in to get her familial belongings from the station."

"Alright, thanks. I'll make sure she knows."

"Oh, and here's the number for the coroners. She'll need to contact them in the next few days to make arrangements for the funeral. Also, we are going to need some contact information for Mr. Smith. We're having a difficult time getting in touch with his family."

"Thank you, officer. We'll be in touch."

Rose cringed inwardly. The funeral. Funerals. Oh my God, how could she even think about funerals? It was all too much right now. Too fast and too heavy - Rose's chest felt tight, constricted.

Her mum. And Mickey. Oh, God.

No, Rose, she told herself. Don't think about it. Don't think too much on that quite yet. Too much. Focus, Rose. Yes, back to the spot on the wall. If she squinted hard enough, the black line almost resembled a tree.

"Rose?" The Doctor was kneeling gently beside her. "Rose, can you please look at me?"

Shaking her head, slowly, she knew she couldn't. She couldn't even breathe. Inhaling, exhaling - it was beyond her and she felt stiff and scared and - alone.

Rose couldn't help but wonder if this is what the Doctor felt like on a daily basis. Was this what it was like to be him, every day? She'd always wondered, always stared a little too closely at him to see if she could see it - to feel it from him - the waves of grief he must feel, the raw power of so much knowledge, so much horror that she knew he'd seen. Hell, that he'd even caused. She'd stared so deeply at him and for so long and had never gotten the tinniest of clues as to what he was thinking or feeling. To know where he'd come from and how he really thought about things - he kept it all so deep, hidden, and she'd only barely skimmed the surface in trying to understand the depths of the Doctor. How she's stared when she thought him not looking - how she'd noticed every line and crease on his face, every frown, trying to get an idea of the turmoil she knew he must feel at times, but he never gave anything away. She'd never asked him about it, either, to tell her what it was like for him to have gone through the many horrible things she knew he had. It wasn't as if he wouldn't answer her if she had - it was just something she knew wasn't her place - wasn't her right - to ever bring up to him. His past, his history - she had so desperately wanted to know him, to know all about him. To experience his pain, to get him to open up to her, to maybe even be able to help him. But he kept it so close to his chest, so locked up, she knew that he'd never willingly bring his past up to her - to anybody. The time had never been right, the situation had never been acceptable before.

But now - things were wrong. Oh so wrong, and so terrible. It was times and situations like this that brought out those horrible pasts in people. Made them easy to talk about, easier to share, and able to sympathize with others.

It was ironic how much time she'd spend staring at him to try and figure him out, when right now, she couldn't bring herself to so much as look in his direction. If she looked at him now... when she looked at him... she would see the sorrow there; concern, and sympathy. That tragic understanding of someone who really does understand.

After all the time she searched for it in him and come back emtpy, she knew it would be all over him this time - everywhere, pouring out for her to acknowledge and access. And that was too much - it would make it too real. And she wasn't ready for it. She wasn't ready at all. She couldn't to even look at him, to see what she knew she couldn't take.

It made her feel guilty, knowing how hard she'd looked to find this pain in him before. It was cruel - hadn't she realized it? Why would anyone want to know about anyone feeling this way? There was no mature realizations of knowing someone through this. This pain - it was just raw and thick, and sudden. It didn't define a person, she saw that now. It was just a thing that happened to someone, and it hurt and was awful.

She thought that by understanding his pain, she would know him better - be closer to him somehow - be someone he confided in. Now she knew better. Pain doesn't allow you to understand someone better, it only allows you to understand pain better. Guilt overwhelmed her and she thought she might just be sick right there in the kitchen.

Attempting to take a deep breath was beginning to seem impossible to Rose. Struggling, she tried again to no avail. She trembled, and yet still felt constricted - it was is if she couldn't move, couldn't even turn her head an inch, or she'd physically snap. Break into a thousand pieces, she would, and it was terrifying. Rose couldn't even force herself to blink. Staring wide-eyed at the wall, her vision blurred and yet, she couldn't close her eyes.

As if sensing that she wasn't herself, that she was having trouble and wasn't up to answering questions or facing reality of any kind yet, and most certainly not up to looking at him, the Doctor slid one hand under her arms and locked one arm under her legs and lifted her against him as if she weighed nothing at all. Quickly striding out of the kitchen, into the guest bedroom - into the TARDIS, she was sure that's where they were going - her gaze remained on that small dent on the kitchen wall, until she could no longer see it.

And then, with all the effort in the world, she shut her eyes, refusing to open them or acknowledge the truth of what just happened. If she didn't see, if she didn't comprehend, she wouldn't feel. She wouldn't hurt. There wouldn't be any pain.

And as she desperately clung to oblivion, the sorrow she knew was coming was seeping in the cracks, molding itself around her in a thick, unbreathable, suffocating blanket, where there was no escape.

Listening to the Doctor's steady breathing and the patterned beating of his hearts - her arms unconsciously tightened around his neck. Rose's breathing started coming out in harsh gasps and her eyes flew open for what seemed like the first time. Tucking her forehead against his warm neck, she pushed herself into him, struggling to avoid what was coming - what was taking over.

It hit her like a tidal wave, hurt and horror and the worst kind of loneliness. It knocked the wind out of her and she was falling, helplessly falling, her eyes large and wild, and she clung to the Doctor - grasping tighter, furiously, endlessly grabbing for him. Until she was clinging instead of grasping, her fists digging into his jacket lapels. She couldn't feel him hold her - couldn't feel his hands upon her. She felt out of her mind - perhaps she was mad - she was so lost. Drowning in her own despair and there was nothing that anyone could do to help her. Nothing anyone could do to take away the pain. She was choking - she couldn't breathe.

The Doctor had reeled back from her, dropping her knees to the ground as he made to grab her wrists in an attempt to stop them from pounding at him. Rose hadn't even realized she had attacked him. All she knew was that she couldn't breathe.

Desperately trying to inhale, it was if her lungs wouldn't accept the air - she was breathing in nothing. Suffocating, she lifted her eyes in growing horror, finally daring to look into his deep brown eyes, and the hollow understanding she saw there made the reality finally settle.

She moaned, deep and gutturally, losing her footing - her knees went weak and she was sliding, falling... And then she was being lifted up firmly by the arms, wrapped up in his strong embrace. Her arms hung limply to her sides, palms still facing upward in question as to why. She felt his warm breath on her neck - knew that he was talking to her, but what he was saying couldn't be translated, couldn't be understood. She wondered briefly if he was even speaking English, but as the shock wore off, she couldn't find the energy to care. There was no energy for even existing anymore. Right then, Rose could only be held as he whispered over and over, "I'm sorry, Rose. I'm so, so sorry. I'm here, I'm right here - just take some deep breaths, that's a good girl."

Feeling hot tears against her cheek, she lifted her hand to her face, wondering if she was crying without knowing it, and in doing so, knew that it wasn't her tears she was feeling. Not yet. She couldn't yet.

They were his tears.

The Time Lord was crying for her, when he knew she couldn't. Perhaps because he knew she needed to cry and just wouldn't.

It was overwhelming, and claustrophobic, and so much worse than horrible. Horrible would come later, when things were easier to deal with. Right now, it was just unbearable. Unthinkable. Unimaginable.

Rose really couldn't breathe. What had been coming out as shallow gasps, was now just an endless silence. She felt very much like a fish out of water. Feeling herself being lowered to the grate flooring of the TARDIS deck, the Doctor gently stretched her legs out in front of her - she felt as limp as an old rag doll. He bent her knees slightly and pushed her to lean into her knees, all the while rubbing slow circles along her back. She felt herself being covered by his coat - she was still shivering - it couldn't be helped. Rose tried to feel the cold, but was dismayed when she felt nothing at all.

The Doctor was murmuring absurdities to her - in regards to getting her warm, something about shock, and putting her to sleep. Nothing made sense, and still, no matter how hard she tried, she still couldn't manage to pull in a full breath of air.

Was the TARDIS losing it's oxygen levels? What was going on? Everything was getting a bit grey and fuzzy. Lifting her head as best she could, Rose raised her eyes to look at the Doctor once more. He wasn't in focus - in fact, he was rather blurry.

"Doctor?" It wasn't much more than a whisper.

And finally, the sweet bliss of blackness swept over her, and she succumbed to the darkness, letting it take her and comfort her for now, until she could handle the knowledge of what was to come a little better. Until she could look at him and see what his eyes held for her, without feeling the guilt.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Rose. I'm so, so sorry," was the last thing she heard as she slipped off to unconsciousness.

...