The Travels of Rose Harkness... Age 16.
This is part of the adventures of Rosie Harkness, index is at http://jovialien.livejournal.com/20976.html
Rose was 16 when she ran into Torchwood again.
Jack had reluctantly agreed to let Martha host a 16th birthday party for Rose. Her house was decked with balloons, banners and baby photos and all sorts of things guaranteed to make a teenager cringe. But Rose still appreciated the chance to return to Earth and catch up with everyone so took it with good grace. It was almost worth it to see the Doctor running around in a pointy party hat whilst her dad tried to look cool as Martha draped streamers over his head. Martha had even let her sons invite a few friends so Rose would have some people closer to her own age to talk to. Earth date wise it wasn’t actually Rose’s birthday but the one advantage of being a time traveller was being able to guarantee a day with good weather for a party.
As always tends to happen at parties the adults had all ended up sat in the kitchen talking whilst the youngsters gathered outside or upstairs. Rose and some of the boys were playing football in the road outside, Rose as a girl and never having played before was goalie, standing between the gate posts whilst the boys showed off. She had picked up her role easily, reflexes born of fire fights on alien worlds and Jack's self defence lessons letting her block most goals easily. Instead she watched the others interact, shout, tease and cajole each other and felt a twinge of jealousy. She was laughing at a particularly bad tackle, and an overly dramatic “injury”, when a screech of tyres came from the corner. She looked up and narrowed her eyes as a black SUV came down the road, fast.
“Out the way!” She screamed at the boys and they started running but the boy who had been tackled was taking too long to get up and was in the path of the car. It’s brakes were screeching but there was no way it would stop in time. Rose sped forwards, aiming low and with a leap tackled the boy, grabbing him and rolling them both out the way as the car pulled up. “You ok?” The boy nodded, slightly winded, then she saw his eyes widen in shock as a shadow passed over them. Before she could react strong hands were clamped over her mouth and a slight hissing followed by a stinging sensation in her neck were all she knew before she passed out.
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Jack was on his feet as soon as he heard her shout and paled as he heard the boys yelling. He made it to the door in time to see the SUV start accelerating off down the street. He ran after it as fast as could although he knew he had no chance of catching it. The Doctor was right behind him, their coats over his arm and pulling a party hat off his head as he ran.
“Come on Jack, let’s go.” Jack couldn’t move, just stared at the spot where the car had vanished from view. “We’ll get her back, come on!” Jack took his coat and they ran off back to the TARDIS, the unspoken thought flashing between them.
Would they be in time?
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Rose awoke slowly, flat on her back and with a killer headache. She didn’t open her eyes, knowing she was somewhere strange. Instead she carried on breathing steadily as she listened to her surroundings. The room was bright, too bright, and her wrists were strapped down. Great, just great. The SUV came back to her and she opened her eyes slowly. Sure enough the doors had an all too familiar T on them. The room appeared to be some sort of medical facility. A lead was clipped to her finger and she could hear her own double heartbeat coming from somewhere behind her head. That ruled out trying to pass as a human then. Equipment cupboards lined the walls and there was a keypad lock on the door. Rose sighed and closed her eyes again. Some birthday this was turning out to be. She looked up as the door opened and two men walked in, one young, armed and in a suit and the other older in a white doctor’s coat. The doctor was turned away from her, busy at the equipment cupboard whilst the suit came closer.
“Ah you’re awake. Good. Identify yourself and your purpose here.” Rose snorted with laughter and rolled her eyes.
“Identify myself? If you want to know my name just ask. Or should I ask you to ‘take me to your leader’ instead?” He just looked at her and she sighed. “Rose. My name is Rose. And if you must know I was at a birthday party and playing football. My own birthday I should add so I hope you’ve brought me a present.” She eyed him up and down now and grinned. “Unless you’re a stripper gram? I am 16 now you know, all legal so please don’t hold back on my account.” The suit didn’t react and carried on looking at her as he addressed the other man.
“Doctor Harper, have you identified the species yet?” Rose glanced over at the medic again, willing every muscle in her body not to react. Owen. He was older than when she last saw him, not just the years but his eyes seemed dull. He was coming over to her now, checking readings, moving slowly and casually but his eyes suddenly fixed on hers and he stared at her intently.
Say Nothing.
“Too soon to be sure but the two hearts seem to confirm the hypothesis that she is a Time Lord like the Doctor.” The suit nodded thoughtfully.
“Early records show he had what we believe was his granddaughter travelling with him. Could she be another relative?” Owen shrugged.
“No way to be sure, not without a sample of his DNA.” The suit nodded again.
“Very well, continue testing. We will start interrogation after you’ve finished your evaluation. Make sure it is a thorough one.” The suit left but Rose knew they had to be monitoring still. She sighed and lay back again.
“So doctor, what’s the verdict? Am I going to live?” Owen continued to work around her but slowly, ignoring her as he made notes.
“Subject appears outwardly to be a female human, approximately 16 years old. Tests show subject has 2 hearts but further testing will be needed to verify other internal structures.” Rose watched him carefully as he worked. Finally he finished and unlocked the restraints before throwing her a hospital gown. “Put this on.” Rose sat up, rubbing her wrists.
“Bite me.” Owen turned to her again.
“I suggest you do it yourself miss, or they will send in someone to do it for you.” Rose breathed deeply and frowned.
“Fine but I’m keeping my underwear you pervert.” She thought she saw the slightest flicker of a grin cross his face before he turned his back on her. Rose counter herself lucky that the Doctor had confiscated her screwdriver before the party otherwise she would have lost it by now. Getting changed carefully she managed to slip the TARDIS key into her bra before folding her clothes neatly and placing them on the bed. The ties on the gown were fiddly but she took time to make them as closed as possible. Like her father she wasn’t overly burdened with modesty about her body but she preferred to be the one in charge of how much she revealed. Luckily her hair was now long enough to cover most of the gaps. “Ready.” Owen turned and she grinned, hands on her hips. “So what’s first? I don’t suppose a manicure or a pedicure is on the cards? Massage?” Owen simply motioned to the door and she followed him, a twinge of fear well hidden behind her own brand of Harkness cockiness.
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Jack was still not sure exactly what the plan was as the TARDIS rematerialised and the Doctor marched out. Jack followed, a blaster well hidden on his person whilst the Doctor had his and Rose's screwdrivers safely stashed in his pocket. Jack walked through the doors them stopped short. “Torchwood 1?” The Doctor nodded, an evil grin on his face. “This is your big plan? To go somewhere we don’t even operate out of anymore?” The Doctor raised an eyebrow at Jack’s slip of the tongue. Old habits were hard to beat. He nodded.
“Yep.”
“And then what?” The Doctor looked at a clock in the corner and started to count.
“10….9….8….7…”
“Doctor….”
“6….5….4….3….2….”
“You sure about this?”
“1…0!”
“Hands up!” A security guard came around the corner, a gun pointed at Jack's head. The Doctor grinned again and put his hands up.
“You got me. We surrender!” Jack groaned slightly and looked at him angrily as he raised his hands too.
“THIS is your big idea?” The Doctor nodded, still quite cheerful. The guard was frantically calling for backup and Jack could hear footsteps running towards them. “Some plan.”
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