Part 03 - Chapter 35 - A Visit with a Friend
Chapter 35 - A Visit with a Friend
It doesn’t take much to persuade Jack that we have reconsidered his idea of spending some time on the pleasure planet that he had mentioned yesterday and we probably will spend some time there, just not immediately. I promised Rose that I would take her to meet someone from my past and as I had promised Doris I would show her the TARDIS gardens the last time I had been there, it strikes me as the perfect way to take care of both promises at once. I have so much to thank her, Alistair and Harry for, because if it hadn’t been for them I would never have had the chance to meet Rose.
Looking back, I see why Verity took us there when I was in such bad shape. Verity has always known that I needed to travel with someone. I never have done well on my own, in spite of working so hard to be independent of the Time Lords, who had wanted to regiment and dictate my existence. Even deliberately marginalizing my test scores at the academy hadn’t been enough to dissuade them or my family leader Quences and later Borusa from wanting me to be their golden errand boy. The irony of that desire is not lost on me; I got my wish, far more so than I ever dreamed. I’m so independent now I will never again see or hear another Time Lord or Lady. Definitely not what I was thinking in those days of naivety; before the war and the perpetual, oppressive silence left in the wake of their death. Some days I would give anything to hear one of them again, even if it was to scold or mock me, anything would be better than this silence. True, I still have Verity and for all the rest of my days she will have me as long as she wants me, but Rose, my beautiful ephemeral Rose, has been willing to share her short existence with me, she lets me touch not just her body but her mind. Why she would want to, want someone so broken as me, I doubt I shall ever understand, but for her loving kindness, and for this gift I don't deserve, I would do most anything.
I watch Rose practically bouncing on the jump seat with excitement and, while I suspect that Jack is attributing it to his chosen destination, I am pleased that my offer is making her happy. I just hope she feels the same when she is done talking with Doris. I know Jack means well, and that he is really hoping that Rose and I will work through our ‘issues’, but what is between Rose and I is far deeper than what can be sorted, analyzed, or classified. Pleasure planet or no pleasure planet, it will never be enough to resolve all the different complexities. I feel guilty that once I had made my decision, I found I couldn’t tell him that we are going to leave him behind for a time. He deserves better from me after all he has done to help me heal. Nevertheless, I just can't ask him to come with us; this is between Rose and I. I am thankful that at least Rose didn’t protest or force me to explain why we weren’t bringing him when I told her we would drop Jack off. This visit is for Rose, and to thank someone who was far more of a friend than I deserved, when I needed one most. I know Alistair wouldn't appreciate Jack’s flirting with his wife even if it was done in all innocence, which I am not sure Jack could pull off even if he did try. Jack is very much a product of his century, and it seems at times as if the man is incapable of having a conversation with a stranger without flirting shamelessly, regardless of the species, gender or age.
Even as I set the coordinates for the pleasure planet, my thoughts are already running ahead to when in time to introduce Rose and Doris. Sometime after I left is a given, but how long should I wait before returning. At first six months seems the right amount of time, but as I think about it more, I know it needs to be less. When Verity suggests a month I know it’s too soon as I don’t think I would be able to face her with the events of what had happened so recent in her mind. This visit will be hard enough as it is because of those memories for me. I have decided on three months and hope that I am still welcome in their home after they have had time to consider what I put them through the last time I had showed up. With that thought in mind, I have also decided it will probably be for the best if I land in the back garden instead of the house. Give them a chance to not answer the door or tell me to go away. First, though, we need to drop off Jack.
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As we land, I make reservations for Theta, Rose and Jack in one of the more upscale hotels in town and provide Theta the details. I know he is more than capable of setting up arrangements for himself but I figure I will smooth the way for him since he has finally done what I have been badgering him to do, in spite of how hard it is for him, and has offered to let Rose into his life more. With that done gently I reach out to Jack, mentally tapping him on the shoulder. When I feel him pause in his internal thoughts and ask, 'What's up beautiful?’ I begin to show him some of the more lovely spots that he can explore while he is here and it doesn’t take him long at all to figure out that most of them would be of no interest to Theta or Rose. Jack's smart for a human and that is part of why I like him so much, and even though he doesn't comment on it directly I know he has got my message to leave Theta and Rose to have some time to themselves.
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I’m not sure what’s going through the Doctor’s mind, he has seemed preoccupied most of the morning, even though Rose seems to be delighted with the prospect that he has agreed to take us to the Caspellian pleasure planet. Sometimes I really wonder about these two, and other times they seem like their the perfect pair, her lightness and joy seems to be the perfect foil for his depression and bi-polar moods. Sadly, even when he appears joyful, there always seems to be an undercurrent, a dark undertow, which is perpetually there, awaiting a chance to pull him under. I know Rose sees it, and refuses to acknowledge or allow him room to think on his past too much. The amazing thing is most of the time it seems to work and I still marvel at how completely in tune she is to his moods. A trait I have only ever seen quite so strong in long married couples and telepaths, which is what makes it so remarkable to me. Rose at least isn’t telepathic, and they haven’t been together that long from what they have indicated. I have also interacted enough now with his beautiful lady Verity and him to know that both of them respect the privacy of the non-telepaths around them enough not to pry, so it's not as if he is reading her mind. Though some days I wish he would, to clear away the miscommunications with which their relationship seems fraught. In spite of my occasional frustrations on that front, that respect is a trait of which I am immensely thankful considering I am positive Verity is constantly in my head, at least enough to be able to translate the languages of the people around us.
I still find it amusing, though, that she refuses to translate profanity. Considering how I have heard the Doctor swear once or twice when something went very wrong, I know that prudish behavior is not something she picked up from him. Her response when I asked her one time was quite amusing, ‘Vulgarity does not lead to congenial communications. If someone wants to swear they can learn the words themselves, it’s not my job to be rude for them’. As Verity interrupts my musings with a plethora of fun things to do here, I begin to see a pattern to the kind of places she is showing me and realize she is hoping I will entertain myself for a bit and leave the Doctor and Rose to their own devices. I wonder what she has planned for them, if she has found this many things for me to do. I just hope that whatever it is helps them relax and get some much-needed rest. It's bad enough when the Doctor is cranky, some days I am convinced that's his default operating mode, but when it even starts getting to Rose it's time for something to change.
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As we part from Jack, he assures us he will catch up with us in the next day or so but no more than two, I feel a wave of relief knowing he will probably never even know we have left the planet.
Hard on the heals of that relief is trepidation, as I know that soon Rose will be speaking with people who know my darkest secrets and yet have still cared for me, fought for me even, when I hadn’t even the will to fight for myself. I so want to believe that Verity is not mistaken in her assurances that Rose can learn things about me that I have no courage to be able to tell her and not walk away in disgust. Yet, in spite of her encouragement to trust Rose, I still feel a mounting trepidation at our next destination.
I jump as I feel Rose's soft hands encircle my belly as she hugs me from behind and I close my eyes trying to soak up the feel of her softness and warmth pressed to my back just in case.
"Doctor it's going to be all right," comes her quiet reassurance.
"Yes, of course it is,” I agree with a cheerful confidence I don't feel as I turn in her loose grasp. Gently hugging her too me, I press a quick kiss to her lips.
As I pull back to turn in order to begin the dematerialization sequence I feel her soft hand on my cheek guiding me to look her in the eyes, which I have been avoiding for fear of her seeing how much this scares me. As our eyes meet, she paraphrases her previous statement, "Really, it's going to be okay."
I say nothing but give her a wane smile, nodding acceptance of her reassurance.
With that, I guide Verity, launching us backward in time to the year 2005. As if sensing my nervousness, Verity deposits us in one of her most gentle landings in Doris and Alistair’s back garden.
Taking a deep breath, I escort Rose to the door. As we step out, I wonder what kind of reception awaits us. Moments later I am engulfed in a tight motherly hug and can't help the sudden rush of relief at knowing that I am still welcome here.
"Doctor! It's so good to see you again! We had feared the worst when we didn't hear from you after the explosion." As I hear this, I wonder for a moment if we have mistimed the landing and arrived after the bomb blast at Downing Street. My internal chronometer and Verity both assure me simultaneously that is not the case, and at the same time I remember the destruction of Rose's previous employment.
"No, just fine me,” I state with a genuine smile, as she pushes me back to get a good look.
After a moment of intense scrutiny, she states, "Yes, I believe you are. So how long..." and feel a frisson of fear as I realize she has just spotted Rose even as I feel Rose’s fingers reach for mine.
After a moment of awkwardness as the two women size each other up she asks with friendly curiosity. "So Doctor, who is this? A new companion?"
I feel a sudden rush of heat to my ears, feeling like what I imagine a teenager boy feels like bringing their girlfriend home to meet their mother and stumble over words that should be simple. "D-Doris I want you to meet Rose. Rose Tyler, Mrs. Doris Lethbridge-Stewart"
I watch as Rose reaches out her hand, "Pleased to meet you, mam."
I hold my breath awaiting her response, which comes in a confused look between Rose and I, at which I blush even deeper as I realize she is putting two and two together. A second later that seems like an eternity she burst into a broad smile grabbing and pulling Rose into a welcoming hug.
"Welcome, Rose, any friend of the Doctor's is more than welcome here. Can I offer you a cup of tea?" She says as she takes Rose's arm guiding her toward the house.
For a moment, I stand bemused with delight that that went so smoothly. Then before they can get far I hurry to cut them off. "Not to worry, I will make the tea, Doris, let you two talk a bit. Everything in the same place?"
"Doctor, you don't have..."
"Nonsense, I am sure you have lots to talk about, least I can do, worrying you and then dropping in all unexpected.” With that, I escape to their kitchen to make tea.
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At first I don't recognize the sound that I had reconciled myself I may never hear again, preoccupied as I was with putting away groceries. However, as the one of a kind sound of a TARDIS materializing dawns on my consciousness I can't help the smile of pure joy that bursts on to my face. He made it! He wasn't killed in the blast that had left three dead in the popular department store Henricks in downtown London. The building had been so destroyed there had been no chance of rebuilding and we feared the worst when only two of the bodies had been identified and all they could determine of the third was that it had been a man. Our concern had escalated when no one had been reported missing that would have fit the scant information that investigators had been able to piece together from the remains.
Alistair had tried to assure me that it couldn't have been him, we both though were painfully aware of how hard it had been for the Doctor to even begin to come to terms with what had happened to his home world and people and his part in their destruction. As I feel a rush of cheerful greeting from his ship I have to smile all the more, as I know how mournful and grief stricken she too had been, not only about the destruction of her home but its effect on her Time Lord.
As I head toward the back garden, my heart is lighter than it has been in months. As he steps from the TARDIS, I can't resist pulling him into a hug at the pure joy of seeing him again, and in the same body. As I pull back, and ask how he has been doing I can’t help but notice how much healthier he looks. I also notice he isn't alone and am both amazed and delighted to see the affection this young woman has for him. I am even more amazed to see him blush profusely even as his fingers, almost of their own volition, seek out the hand she has extended to him. The girl looks so very young but I remind myself the Doctor doesn’t look but the smallest fraction of his age so that doesn’t necessarily mean much. The fact that he has brought her here lets me know that this youthful looking woman has come to mean a lot to him in the time he has been absent, however long that has been. Ms Rose Tyler seems to have made quite the impression on our war torn Time Lord and suddenly I wonder if there is more than just friendship between them, which even as the thought occurs to me, makes me note how deeply he is blushing - it is utterly adorable. What is more telling than that, though, is the way he stumbles through a simple introduction and I can’t help but feel an upwelling of joy that he has again been able to find some measure of happiness. For that alone she is more than welcome in my home.
Asking them in to tea, I find I am incredibly curious about the woman that has made such a change in the Doctor. I feel a flash of amusement as he quickly excuses himself to make tea and, in spite of my offer to make it, he insists and then quickly disappears in the kitchen before I can even answer his question as to if I have moved anything.
“So, Ms Tyler, what brings you and the Doctor to come visit?”
“Rose, please, I… well, he said that you were a friend of his and that he had made you a promise the last time he had visited.”
“All right, Rose it is then, and by all means, call me Doris.” Even as I ask, I wonder what he has told her about Alistair and I and what it is that he feels Rose and I should be talking about. “A promise you say? I can’t think what it might be that he promised.” Even as I say that, I wonder how much he has told her about why he had been here the last time. As we settle on the couch, I feel a soft brush on my mind that I have learned to associate with his ship requesting to speak with me and feel even more curious as to what has drawn his usually very taciturn friend in to starting a dialog.
‘Doris?’
‘Yes?’
‘Rose is VERY special to the Doctor and you can tell her anything other than exactly how Gallifrey was destroyed as I know he wants to tell that to her himself. In fact a big part of the reason he brought her here, whether he will admit it or not, is because he hasn’t been able to tell her what happened right after, but wants her to know.’
From the way she says very special I am even more amazed, because I with that suddenly know that my first impression of young lovers can’t be far off; if one can even use the word young in relationship to the Doctor.
Rose stating, “He said something about showing you a garden,” abruptly drags my thoughts back to the conversation at hand, and I take Verity’s advice with regard to trusting Rose.
“He did? I mean, of course I remember him saying he would, but he was in such bad shape when he said that I didn’t actually expect him to do so.”
“Why? I mean, did he tell you about the war?” and I can hear such concern in Rose’s voice that it reassures me.
Taking her hands to comfort her, “Rose, he didn’t tell you? The TARDIS brought them here as soon as she could after the war ended.” I wonder if I have said too much as I watch as her eyes go wide. “Rose, are you okay?”
“I… he said he was taking me to meet a friend, I didn’t know he…” I watch as she stares in the direction of the kitchen as if in shock.
“He what, Rose?”
“I just thought he was just going to introduce me to someone he traveled with… You must be very important to him if the TARDIS thought she could trust you to protect him.”
“More my husband Alistair actually. You see they worked together for years in UNIT. He and Harry, Harry Sullivan, both did. Harry traveled with the Doctor for a time and is from what I can tell the closest thing the Doctor has to a doctor now that his people are gone.”
For a long moment, she is quiet, and she has gone very pale. “Wh… why did he need a Doctor?” She asks quietly and with much hesitancy and I can feel how her hands have tightened on mine.
“Rose, the Doctor was very sick when the TARDIS brought him here. She was afraid he would hurt himself again if he didn’t have someone to help him deal with the loss of his people. You see it wasn’t so much me but those three that helped him get back on his feet.”
I start as I hear the Doctor behind me say, “No Doris, it was all four of you, you as always, underestimate your own value in these things.”
“Doctor I…” I start as I suddenly feel in spite of Verity’s encouragement that I have said too much and as I look between him and Rose, I see the tears that have begun to silently cascade down Rose’s face and am positive that if he wasn’t holding the tea service that she would have been in his arms in a flash.
“It’s okay, Doris,” he says, as he places the tea service on the table in front of us and Rose confirms my suspicion as she moves as if released from a cannon to wrap her arms around him, causing him to have to look down at the girl in his arms as he continues. “You see, Rose, Doris here is a very caring lady. Where Harry and Verity looked after my physical and mental health and Alistair wouldn’t allow me to hide or shut down, Doris allowed me the space to come to terms with what had happened. She reminded me there was beauty left in the universe, still something to make getting up worthwhile. She helped me to remember there was wonder in the basic things like growing flowers and sunrises. Never asking me to talk about what had happened, but always was willing to listen if I did. A lot like someone else I know actually.” The smile he gives her lights up the whole room causing her to blush through her tears and hide her face in his jumper.
Chapter 36 - Revelations & Reactions
Moving Forward Index 1
It doesn’t take much to persuade Jack that we have reconsidered his idea of spending some time on the pleasure planet that he had mentioned yesterday and we probably will spend some time there, just not immediately. I promised Rose that I would take her to meet someone from my past and as I had promised Doris I would show her the TARDIS gardens the last time I had been there, it strikes me as the perfect way to take care of both promises at once. I have so much to thank her, Alistair and Harry for, because if it hadn’t been for them I would never have had the chance to meet Rose.
Looking back, I see why Verity took us there when I was in such bad shape. Verity has always known that I needed to travel with someone. I never have done well on my own, in spite of working so hard to be independent of the Time Lords, who had wanted to regiment and dictate my existence. Even deliberately marginalizing my test scores at the academy hadn’t been enough to dissuade them or my family leader Quences and later Borusa from wanting me to be their golden errand boy. The irony of that desire is not lost on me; I got my wish, far more so than I ever dreamed. I’m so independent now I will never again see or hear another Time Lord or Lady. Definitely not what I was thinking in those days of naivety; before the war and the perpetual, oppressive silence left in the wake of their death. Some days I would give anything to hear one of them again, even if it was to scold or mock me, anything would be better than this silence. True, I still have Verity and for all the rest of my days she will have me as long as she wants me, but Rose, my beautiful ephemeral Rose, has been willing to share her short existence with me, she lets me touch not just her body but her mind. Why she would want to, want someone so broken as me, I doubt I shall ever understand, but for her loving kindness, and for this gift I don't deserve, I would do most anything.
I watch Rose practically bouncing on the jump seat with excitement and, while I suspect that Jack is attributing it to his chosen destination, I am pleased that my offer is making her happy. I just hope she feels the same when she is done talking with Doris. I know Jack means well, and that he is really hoping that Rose and I will work through our ‘issues’, but what is between Rose and I is far deeper than what can be sorted, analyzed, or classified. Pleasure planet or no pleasure planet, it will never be enough to resolve all the different complexities. I feel guilty that once I had made my decision, I found I couldn’t tell him that we are going to leave him behind for a time. He deserves better from me after all he has done to help me heal. Nevertheless, I just can't ask him to come with us; this is between Rose and I. I am thankful that at least Rose didn’t protest or force me to explain why we weren’t bringing him when I told her we would drop Jack off. This visit is for Rose, and to thank someone who was far more of a friend than I deserved, when I needed one most. I know Alistair wouldn't appreciate Jack’s flirting with his wife even if it was done in all innocence, which I am not sure Jack could pull off even if he did try. Jack is very much a product of his century, and it seems at times as if the man is incapable of having a conversation with a stranger without flirting shamelessly, regardless of the species, gender or age.
Even as I set the coordinates for the pleasure planet, my thoughts are already running ahead to when in time to introduce Rose and Doris. Sometime after I left is a given, but how long should I wait before returning. At first six months seems the right amount of time, but as I think about it more, I know it needs to be less. When Verity suggests a month I know it’s too soon as I don’t think I would be able to face her with the events of what had happened so recent in her mind. This visit will be hard enough as it is because of those memories for me. I have decided on three months and hope that I am still welcome in their home after they have had time to consider what I put them through the last time I had showed up. With that thought in mind, I have also decided it will probably be for the best if I land in the back garden instead of the house. Give them a chance to not answer the door or tell me to go away. First, though, we need to drop off Jack.
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As we land, I make reservations for Theta, Rose and Jack in one of the more upscale hotels in town and provide Theta the details. I know he is more than capable of setting up arrangements for himself but I figure I will smooth the way for him since he has finally done what I have been badgering him to do, in spite of how hard it is for him, and has offered to let Rose into his life more. With that done gently I reach out to Jack, mentally tapping him on the shoulder. When I feel him pause in his internal thoughts and ask, 'What's up beautiful?’ I begin to show him some of the more lovely spots that he can explore while he is here and it doesn’t take him long at all to figure out that most of them would be of no interest to Theta or Rose. Jack's smart for a human and that is part of why I like him so much, and even though he doesn't comment on it directly I know he has got my message to leave Theta and Rose to have some time to themselves.
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I’m not sure what’s going through the Doctor’s mind, he has seemed preoccupied most of the morning, even though Rose seems to be delighted with the prospect that he has agreed to take us to the Caspellian pleasure planet. Sometimes I really wonder about these two, and other times they seem like their the perfect pair, her lightness and joy seems to be the perfect foil for his depression and bi-polar moods. Sadly, even when he appears joyful, there always seems to be an undercurrent, a dark undertow, which is perpetually there, awaiting a chance to pull him under. I know Rose sees it, and refuses to acknowledge or allow him room to think on his past too much. The amazing thing is most of the time it seems to work and I still marvel at how completely in tune she is to his moods. A trait I have only ever seen quite so strong in long married couples and telepaths, which is what makes it so remarkable to me. Rose at least isn’t telepathic, and they haven’t been together that long from what they have indicated. I have also interacted enough now with his beautiful lady Verity and him to know that both of them respect the privacy of the non-telepaths around them enough not to pry, so it's not as if he is reading her mind. Though some days I wish he would, to clear away the miscommunications with which their relationship seems fraught. In spite of my occasional frustrations on that front, that respect is a trait of which I am immensely thankful considering I am positive Verity is constantly in my head, at least enough to be able to translate the languages of the people around us.
I still find it amusing, though, that she refuses to translate profanity. Considering how I have heard the Doctor swear once or twice when something went very wrong, I know that prudish behavior is not something she picked up from him. Her response when I asked her one time was quite amusing, ‘Vulgarity does not lead to congenial communications. If someone wants to swear they can learn the words themselves, it’s not my job to be rude for them’. As Verity interrupts my musings with a plethora of fun things to do here, I begin to see a pattern to the kind of places she is showing me and realize she is hoping I will entertain myself for a bit and leave the Doctor and Rose to their own devices. I wonder what she has planned for them, if she has found this many things for me to do. I just hope that whatever it is helps them relax and get some much-needed rest. It's bad enough when the Doctor is cranky, some days I am convinced that's his default operating mode, but when it even starts getting to Rose it's time for something to change.
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As we part from Jack, he assures us he will catch up with us in the next day or so but no more than two, I feel a wave of relief knowing he will probably never even know we have left the planet.
Hard on the heals of that relief is trepidation, as I know that soon Rose will be speaking with people who know my darkest secrets and yet have still cared for me, fought for me even, when I hadn’t even the will to fight for myself. I so want to believe that Verity is not mistaken in her assurances that Rose can learn things about me that I have no courage to be able to tell her and not walk away in disgust. Yet, in spite of her encouragement to trust Rose, I still feel a mounting trepidation at our next destination.
I jump as I feel Rose's soft hands encircle my belly as she hugs me from behind and I close my eyes trying to soak up the feel of her softness and warmth pressed to my back just in case.
"Doctor it's going to be all right," comes her quiet reassurance.
"Yes, of course it is,” I agree with a cheerful confidence I don't feel as I turn in her loose grasp. Gently hugging her too me, I press a quick kiss to her lips.
As I pull back to turn in order to begin the dematerialization sequence I feel her soft hand on my cheek guiding me to look her in the eyes, which I have been avoiding for fear of her seeing how much this scares me. As our eyes meet, she paraphrases her previous statement, "Really, it's going to be okay."
I say nothing but give her a wane smile, nodding acceptance of her reassurance.
With that, I guide Verity, launching us backward in time to the year 2005. As if sensing my nervousness, Verity deposits us in one of her most gentle landings in Doris and Alistair’s back garden.
Taking a deep breath, I escort Rose to the door. As we step out, I wonder what kind of reception awaits us. Moments later I am engulfed in a tight motherly hug and can't help the sudden rush of relief at knowing that I am still welcome here.
"Doctor! It's so good to see you again! We had feared the worst when we didn't hear from you after the explosion." As I hear this, I wonder for a moment if we have mistimed the landing and arrived after the bomb blast at Downing Street. My internal chronometer and Verity both assure me simultaneously that is not the case, and at the same time I remember the destruction of Rose's previous employment.
"No, just fine me,” I state with a genuine smile, as she pushes me back to get a good look.
After a moment of intense scrutiny, she states, "Yes, I believe you are. So how long..." and feel a frisson of fear as I realize she has just spotted Rose even as I feel Rose’s fingers reach for mine.
After a moment of awkwardness as the two women size each other up she asks with friendly curiosity. "So Doctor, who is this? A new companion?"
I feel a sudden rush of heat to my ears, feeling like what I imagine a teenager boy feels like bringing their girlfriend home to meet their mother and stumble over words that should be simple. "D-Doris I want you to meet Rose. Rose Tyler, Mrs. Doris Lethbridge-Stewart"
I watch as Rose reaches out her hand, "Pleased to meet you, mam."
I hold my breath awaiting her response, which comes in a confused look between Rose and I, at which I blush even deeper as I realize she is putting two and two together. A second later that seems like an eternity she burst into a broad smile grabbing and pulling Rose into a welcoming hug.
"Welcome, Rose, any friend of the Doctor's is more than welcome here. Can I offer you a cup of tea?" She says as she takes Rose's arm guiding her toward the house.
For a moment, I stand bemused with delight that that went so smoothly. Then before they can get far I hurry to cut them off. "Not to worry, I will make the tea, Doris, let you two talk a bit. Everything in the same place?"
"Doctor, you don't have..."
"Nonsense, I am sure you have lots to talk about, least I can do, worrying you and then dropping in all unexpected.” With that, I escape to their kitchen to make tea.
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At first I don't recognize the sound that I had reconciled myself I may never hear again, preoccupied as I was with putting away groceries. However, as the one of a kind sound of a TARDIS materializing dawns on my consciousness I can't help the smile of pure joy that bursts on to my face. He made it! He wasn't killed in the blast that had left three dead in the popular department store Henricks in downtown London. The building had been so destroyed there had been no chance of rebuilding and we feared the worst when only two of the bodies had been identified and all they could determine of the third was that it had been a man. Our concern had escalated when no one had been reported missing that would have fit the scant information that investigators had been able to piece together from the remains.
Alistair had tried to assure me that it couldn't have been him, we both though were painfully aware of how hard it had been for the Doctor to even begin to come to terms with what had happened to his home world and people and his part in their destruction. As I feel a rush of cheerful greeting from his ship I have to smile all the more, as I know how mournful and grief stricken she too had been, not only about the destruction of her home but its effect on her Time Lord.
As I head toward the back garden, my heart is lighter than it has been in months. As he steps from the TARDIS, I can't resist pulling him into a hug at the pure joy of seeing him again, and in the same body. As I pull back, and ask how he has been doing I can’t help but notice how much healthier he looks. I also notice he isn't alone and am both amazed and delighted to see the affection this young woman has for him. I am even more amazed to see him blush profusely even as his fingers, almost of their own volition, seek out the hand she has extended to him. The girl looks so very young but I remind myself the Doctor doesn’t look but the smallest fraction of his age so that doesn’t necessarily mean much. The fact that he has brought her here lets me know that this youthful looking woman has come to mean a lot to him in the time he has been absent, however long that has been. Ms Rose Tyler seems to have made quite the impression on our war torn Time Lord and suddenly I wonder if there is more than just friendship between them, which even as the thought occurs to me, makes me note how deeply he is blushing - it is utterly adorable. What is more telling than that, though, is the way he stumbles through a simple introduction and I can’t help but feel an upwelling of joy that he has again been able to find some measure of happiness. For that alone she is more than welcome in my home.
Asking them in to tea, I find I am incredibly curious about the woman that has made such a change in the Doctor. I feel a flash of amusement as he quickly excuses himself to make tea and, in spite of my offer to make it, he insists and then quickly disappears in the kitchen before I can even answer his question as to if I have moved anything.
“So, Ms Tyler, what brings you and the Doctor to come visit?”
“Rose, please, I… well, he said that you were a friend of his and that he had made you a promise the last time he had visited.”
“All right, Rose it is then, and by all means, call me Doris.” Even as I ask, I wonder what he has told her about Alistair and I and what it is that he feels Rose and I should be talking about. “A promise you say? I can’t think what it might be that he promised.” Even as I say that, I wonder how much he has told her about why he had been here the last time. As we settle on the couch, I feel a soft brush on my mind that I have learned to associate with his ship requesting to speak with me and feel even more curious as to what has drawn his usually very taciturn friend in to starting a dialog.
‘Doris?’
‘Yes?’
‘Rose is VERY special to the Doctor and you can tell her anything other than exactly how Gallifrey was destroyed as I know he wants to tell that to her himself. In fact a big part of the reason he brought her here, whether he will admit it or not, is because he hasn’t been able to tell her what happened right after, but wants her to know.’
From the way she says very special I am even more amazed, because I with that suddenly know that my first impression of young lovers can’t be far off; if one can even use the word young in relationship to the Doctor.
Rose stating, “He said something about showing you a garden,” abruptly drags my thoughts back to the conversation at hand, and I take Verity’s advice with regard to trusting Rose.
“He did? I mean, of course I remember him saying he would, but he was in such bad shape when he said that I didn’t actually expect him to do so.”
“Why? I mean, did he tell you about the war?” and I can hear such concern in Rose’s voice that it reassures me.
Taking her hands to comfort her, “Rose, he didn’t tell you? The TARDIS brought them here as soon as she could after the war ended.” I wonder if I have said too much as I watch as her eyes go wide. “Rose, are you okay?”
“I… he said he was taking me to meet a friend, I didn’t know he…” I watch as she stares in the direction of the kitchen as if in shock.
“He what, Rose?”
“I just thought he was just going to introduce me to someone he traveled with… You must be very important to him if the TARDIS thought she could trust you to protect him.”
“More my husband Alistair actually. You see they worked together for years in UNIT. He and Harry, Harry Sullivan, both did. Harry traveled with the Doctor for a time and is from what I can tell the closest thing the Doctor has to a doctor now that his people are gone.”
For a long moment, she is quiet, and she has gone very pale. “Wh… why did he need a Doctor?” She asks quietly and with much hesitancy and I can feel how her hands have tightened on mine.
“Rose, the Doctor was very sick when the TARDIS brought him here. She was afraid he would hurt himself again if he didn’t have someone to help him deal with the loss of his people. You see it wasn’t so much me but those three that helped him get back on his feet.”
I start as I hear the Doctor behind me say, “No Doris, it was all four of you, you as always, underestimate your own value in these things.”
“Doctor I…” I start as I suddenly feel in spite of Verity’s encouragement that I have said too much and as I look between him and Rose, I see the tears that have begun to silently cascade down Rose’s face and am positive that if he wasn’t holding the tea service that she would have been in his arms in a flash.
“It’s okay, Doris,” he says, as he places the tea service on the table in front of us and Rose confirms my suspicion as she moves as if released from a cannon to wrap her arms around him, causing him to have to look down at the girl in his arms as he continues. “You see, Rose, Doris here is a very caring lady. Where Harry and Verity looked after my physical and mental health and Alistair wouldn’t allow me to hide or shut down, Doris allowed me the space to come to terms with what had happened. She reminded me there was beauty left in the universe, still something to make getting up worthwhile. She helped me to remember there was wonder in the basic things like growing flowers and sunrises. Never asking me to talk about what had happened, but always was willing to listen if I did. A lot like someone else I know actually.” The smile he gives her lights up the whole room causing her to blush through her tears and hide her face in his jumper.
Chapter 36 - Revelations & Reactions
Moving Forward Index 1