DW Fic- Right Beside You 8/13

[salimali]

Title: Right Beside You 8/13
Author:  Salimali
Rating:  PG
Characters:  TenII/Rose, Jackie, Pete, OC
Disclaimer: I don't own DW or any of its affiliated characters.
Spoilers: I assume you're all familiar with Journey's End by now.

Summary:  TenII hasn't settled very well into Pete's world. Rose has to set him free before he destroys them both. Can there ever be a Happily Ever After for these two?

Author Notes: PLEASE NOTE, this is NOT part of the Meant to Be series. This is another take on Rose/TenII's life in Pete's world.

Thank you to the brilliant  wishiknewwho who has been an awesome beta and friend.

Dedicated to my lovely friend nipplemuggins  who is snowed under with A-Level revision- hopefully we'll see her soon xxx

Chapter 1


Rose stormed into the mansion, slammed the door behind her and kicked off her heels. She ran up the stairs as fast as she could, taking them two at a time, not stopping until she reached her bedroom. She was frantic as she scrabbled around the drawers looking for the mobile phone.

“Where is it? Where is it?” she muttered to herself.

“What are you looking for in such a hurry?” Jackie had just arrived in the room, out of breath after hearing the commotion downstairs.

“The Doctor’s mobile phone. He’s been texting me,” Rose answered frustratedly, flinging clothes around the room like snowflakes. “Mum, I can’t find it.”

“Your father took it for safekeeping, just in case it got lost. Come on let’s go and get it and you can explain what has happened on the way,” Jackie answered trying to keep Rose as calm as possible.

Jackie led Rose to Pete’s study, calling Pete on the way. He met them in there and was soon opening his safe and handing over the phone. Rose quickly plugged it in and powered it up. The seconds it took to start up felt like years for Rose as she continued to wait for the texts to sync up.

Beep! Beep! The text alert beeped repeatedly. There was at least a months’ worth of texts. Rose’s heart stopped as she realised he’d been texting her daily for weeks now even when he thought she didn’t care anymore. Even though she’d not heard from him for months now, she still felt bad that when he did reach out for her she wasn’t there.

With trembling fingers Rose selected the first message.

Hello

I messed up

I’m sorry

x

Rose stifled her tears as the words blurred in front of her, her heart beating fast as the realisation that he was sorry hit home. As she pressed the button for the next message she became aware of Jackie giving her some privacy and telling her they’d wait in the lounge for her.

Hello

I’m an idiot

Sorry x

She shyly smiled at the image of him having to admit he was an idiot. He’d come a long way since that awful day in her flat. Her heart flipped as she thought about what this might mean for them. She pressed the message button again:

Hello

I miss you

Sorry x

Over and over Rose pressed the message button and the same message phrases appeared. I’m sorry, I messed up, I’m an idiot, I miss you. It made her smile that he repeated the same phrases, maybe he was learning, hopefully he was realising the mistake he’d made.

The last message made her heart stop:

Hello

I understand why you won’t forgive me

I’ll leave you alone

I love you

Sorry x

Rose’s fingers flew over the keypad as she formulated a response to the last text. She was aware that it had been sent over a week ago and that the Doctor had started to take risks as he thought she didn’t care. She hoped he hadn’t got hurt again. She needed to stop him berating himself. She needed him to stop taking risks. She needed him full stop. And he needed to know the truth.

I love you too

Please stay safe

R x

She pressed the send button and waited.

Rose sat up all night staring at the screen on the mobile but no message had been returned. She wondered whether he’d received the text, if he was too busy to read it or if he hated her for not replying sooner. As the sun rose through the blinds at the windows Rose resolved to sort this out between them once and for all. Standing, she picked up the phone and went to shower, ready for her meeting with Cassie Walker.

Rose watched through the glass wall of her office as Cassie walked nervously up to knock on the door. She giggled when she realised she was just as nervous as Cassie.

“Come in,” she called in response to the gentle knock.

Cassie came in, looking younger today in her everyday clothes of boarders and a t-shirt, her hair pulled back into a pony tail and, Rose smiled when she noticed Converse trainers on her feet.

“Sit down, Cassie.” Rose gestured to her, trying to make her feel less nervous but wanting to seem professional too, when all she really wanted to say was, ‘I’m the one that Dr John loves, I didn’t know he’d been texting.’ “I think its best I cut straight to the chase. I have authorised the donation you requested to be transferred into your charity’s bank account forthwith. But it comes with a condition.”

The smile that Cassie wore at the sound of the donation soon wavered when Rose mentioned a condition.

“And that is?” asked Cassie, nervously wringing her hands.

“Oh nothing bad, I promise you,” Rose replied. “Just I’d like to accompany you to the refugee camp to see for myself where our money is being spent.” Rose realised that maybe discretion was the better part of valour here. Maybe it wouldn’t be a good idea for Cassie to know too much just yet.

Cassie instantly relaxed. “I’m not going back for another two months, Miss Tyler. But there’s a team flying out next Friday, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind taking you.”

Rose smiled. “No, I don’t think you understand Cassie, I need you to take me. Today.” Rose didn’t like being firm but if she wasn’t on a flight to Africa tonight, she’d go spare.

“But I...um…we haven’t got a flight booked or anything. It’ll take longer than that to get everything organised.”

Rose noticed that Cassie didn’t flinch at being asked to go back immediately, only that she worried about the technicalities. She hoped this would bode well for their journey.

“You’ve no need to worry about things like that. We’re at Vitex, I have flights at my disposal.” She gestured around the corporate room to illustrate her point. “We could be going by seven o’clock tonight. Now. Are you in?”

“And you promise to transfer the money?” Cassie verified.

Rose nodded. “As soon as we’re in flight it’ll be done.”

Cassie stood up and shook Rose’s hand. “It’s a deal. Where shall we meet?”

“At London West zeppelin port. 6 pm.”

Cassie left the room and Rose slouched down in her chair, her smile wide and genuine. She clapped her hands. She was going to sort this out.