(no subject)
Reading the Lines, TenII/Rose, light R
“Stalking is such a crude word,” the Doctor commented. “I’ve never stalked anyone in my life.” He scratched the back of his neck with a slightly sheepish expression upon seeing the knowing look on Rose’s face. “I might have aggressively followed someone without them knowing, but I never stalked.”, 2,730 words
Rose looked at sign above the store then at the eagerly grinning Doctor standing next to her. She sighed and wondered if maybe the fact the Doctor couldn’t leave the planet was beginning to get to him.
“This is a joke, right?” Rose asked.
“What?” The Doctor returned with a hurt expression. He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Well, what the lady does is a joke, but I thought it would be fun. We’ve never been to one and with Halloween just around the corner it might be good for a laugh. It’s really all just hokum anyway.”
“And yet you want to go in,” Rose said.
“Of course,” the Doctor replied. “It’s a new experience. We’ll get a giggle out of it. And maybe it’ll be slightly more accurate than you trying to convince me that one of the lines on my right hand means that Jupiter negatively effects my mood. I’ll have you know that when I do visit Jupiter, I always have a pleasant time.”
“I was nineteen and trying to get you to notice that I was into you. Usually, when you play with a guy’s hand and flutter your eyes enough they get the point.”
“Oh, that’s what it was,” the Doctor murmured. “I thought you had something caught in your eye.”
Rose closed her eyes and groaned into his arm.
“Well, I know now,” the Doctor told her. “And maybe a bit then after I regenerated and you decided kissing me was a good idea, but definitely now.”
“I’ve got you now,” Rose pointed out. “I don’t have to try as hard to seduce you.”
“That’s just rude, Rose Tyler. I may have to make you work harder to get me into bed from now on. Just on principle.”
“Please. All I have to do is mention the bedroom and you become quite eager.”
“Lies,” the Doctor stated. “That is a blatant lie. You make me sound as if I’m controlled by silly human hormones.”
“Whatever you say,” Rose responded with a smile that caused her tongue to stick out just enough for him to consider on letting those silly human hormones take over. “Come on. Let’s go get our palms read. Maybe she’ll let you know about your relationship with Mars.”
“I can tell you now. The Martians and I are definitely not on speaking terms.”
****
The Doctor looked up at a surprised Rose before looking to a very annoyed Jackie Tyler then back at Rose.
“She was right,” the Doctor said.
“No,” Rose quickly responded. “She could have been talking about anyone. And I thought you said it was hokum.”
“It might very well still be hokum, but your mum is of the matronly sort. And she said it would happen within a day.”
“I’m not old,” Jackie interjected as she roughly pushed away from the Doctor then stood up, making a show of dusting herself off. She picked up her purse and looked down the road where the car, that could have either put her in the hospital for quite a while or ended her life, had zoomed off. She turned back to her daughter’s beau in amazement. “You saved my life.”
The Doctor shrugged.
“You bloody alien git!” Jackie yelled. “You saved my bloody life and you can only shrug.”
“I used to save planets and civilizations, Jackie. Saving you really just comes with the territory when one lives with Rose Tyler.”
“You make it sound like trouble just comes with the Tyler name,” Rose retorted.
He gave Rose a look as he got to his feet then frowned as he noticed a hole in the right leg of his trousers.
“And I liked these,” the Doctor muttered. “Rose, I’ve torn another pair.”
“We’ll go shopping then,” Rose told him. “Though we should probably get mum home first. Are you okay, mum?”
“Yeah. Fine. What are you two on about though?” Jackie asked. “Who is she? And what’s hokum?”
“Nothing,” Rose answered with a wave of her hand. “Just a silly thing the Doctor and I did yesterday.”
“We visited a psychic,” the Doctor supplied with a grin. “And she read my palm.” He held up his hand then made a face at the scrapes that were there. “But it wasn’t bloody. She read it and said three things would happen. That I’d save someone matronly, I’d get a gift from the beyond and that Rose Tyler would die.”
“She did not say that,” Rose shot back, crossing her arms. “She said you’d lose someone very close.”
“And you’re very close to me,” the Doctor pointed out. “Extremely close sometimes. Any closer and we’d be the same person. Except that would be odd and we’d probably have to be living on Philsandrous 4 where wedded couples become the same being. I rather like us as we are.”
“Oh, good,” Rose muttered. “Look, mum, it’s just nonsense and the reason the Doctor saved you is that he’s the Doctor, and that’s what he does.”
“That could be my motto,” the Doctor said. He took a Superman stance. “I’m the Doctor and that’s what I do.” He grinned brightly. “I quite like that.”
“I’ve been to psychics,” Jackie informed her daughter after giving the Doctor a look. “Most of the time they’re quite accurate.”
“Mum, it’s just silly. They just take the bits of information you offer, you’re reactions and you’re money then make vague predictions based upon them. It’s silly.”
“The Doctor seems to believe in them,” her mother returned.
“I don’t believe in them exactly,” the Doctor pointed out. “I’m just leaning towards the fact the one we visited may have been on to something. And, really, only her first premonition came true. Well, as true as it possibly could have. Saying the word ‘matron’ covers quite a bit of ground. It might have been about a woman of the cloth instead of Jackie Tyler.”
“I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to start stalking nuns,” Rose said.
“Stalking is such a crude word,” the Doctor commented. “I’ve never stalked anyone in my life.” He scratched the back of his neck with a slightly sheepish expression upon seeing the knowing look on Rose’s face. “I might have aggressively followed someone without them knowing, but I never stalked.”
“Right,” Rose drawled. “Let’s get mum home. And we’ll discuss your aggressive following after we buy you new trousers.”
“Is this one of these discussions where I’m going to feel like a scolded schoolboy?” The Doctor inquired as he followed after the two Tyler women. “Because I really hate those discussions.”
****
Rose wanted to pound her head against the nearest wall as the Doctor bounded around gleefully in his lab, going on about gifts from beyond and how this would help in not only making the TARDIS grow faster, but fix his Sonic Screwdriver, create some non-lethal weapons and even get that extra money Pete had been trying to ask President Harriet Jones for. They didn’t really need it, but if the government felt involved then they wouldn’t interfere as much.
“The psychic was right,” the Doctor stated. “Not that I really believed her, but she was.”
“The psychic wasn’t really a psychic,” Rose returned. “She made vague premonitions and you believe her because two slightly similar things occurred within the time frame she suggested they would happen. You of all people can not be taking her words seriously.”
“I suppose,” the Doctor murmured as he looked down.
“And I really don’t want you wandering around afraid that I’ll die sometime ridiculously soon,” Rose added. “Then acting upon whatever crazy plan you’ve got to keep me safe.”
“Of course not,” the Doctor agreed as he focused back on her with large, worried eyes. “We’ve already agreed that we’re dying together when we are quite old. And I mean very old. A time when our teeth and hair are falling out.”
Rose gave him a forced smile as she thought about the image.
“Right,” she murmured. “Look, you really shouldn’t think about the woman’s words anymore. You saved mum’s life, which is brilliant, but you really would have saved anyone’s life if they were in danger. It’s what you do, Doctor.”
“Can we not say that?” The Doctor asked. “I’ve had no luck in trademarking it and all the good costumes have been taken.”
“And a cape really hides your excellent bum.”
“Exactly,” the Doctor replied as he peered over his shoulder to get a look at that bit of anatomy before turning back to Rose. “It’s almost as great as my hair. Though, only you get full advantage of both.”
“And you have no idea how happy I am about that,” Rose responded. She moved closer to the Doctor and took his hand. “Perhaps we should go home and you let me take advantage.”
The Doctor’s forehead furrowed in confusion.
“But we’re supposed to be working,” the Doctor said. “You told me we can’t skip out in the middle of the day just because we want to have sex without people walking in while you’re mid-orgasm.”
“Yes, well, I think we deserve to slack off a bit,” Rose informed him. “You’ve been working extremely hard and I still have days off that I’ve yet to use. A little trip up to Scotland. Find an inn. Spend some time sans clothes.” She kissed him on the side of his neck and grinned at the shudder that she caused.
“We should go now,” the Doctor stuttered. “And when I say now. I definitely mean now.”
Rose giggled as he pulled her out the lab.
****
Rose Tyler was dead.
The psychic had been right and now Rose Tyler was lying on the ground staring up at the sky with a surprised expression. Her chest didn’t rise and her eyes didn’t move.
The Doctor spared staring at her lifeless body for one more second before throwing himself at the alien holding the smoking weapon that had taken Rose’s life. His mind was filled with only the thought of destroying this being who felt they had to take away the love of his life. His fists pounded every bit of flesh he could find and, despite being pretty sure he’d broken some fingers, he didn’t stop.
This was the blood, anger and revenge the Time Lord Doctor had been talking about. And he understood it, but he didn’t care. Rose was dead and the control he’d prided himself on when he had two hearts snapped.
“I could save the world but lose you.”
“I think you need a Doctor.”
“Give her back to me.”
“You can spend the rest of your life with me. But I can't spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on, alone. That's the curse of the Time Lords.”
“The street. They left her in the street. They took her face, and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things... simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?”
“No.”
“Because now, Detective Inspector Bishop, there is now power on this earth that can stop me!”
“But that implies, in this big, grand scheme of gods and devils, that she's just a victim. Well, I've seen a lot of this universe. I've seen fake gods and bad gods and demi-gods and would-be gods. I've had the whole pantheon. But if I believe in one thing... just one thing... I believe in her!”
“I... I love you.”
“Quite right too. And I suppose... if it's my last chance to say it... Rose Tyler...”
“I love you, Rose Tyler.”
He didn’t have to look behind him, but he could feel the transformation. He could sense with the last bit of sanity he had left, the change in Time. The power cackled around him and then it touched the Doctor. It burned and soothed. It sang and screamed.
The Doctor stood and turned to face the golden woman that was once Rose Tyler. Now, before him, stood Bad Wolf. She took his face in her hands and peered into his eyes.
“It is time for good-bye, my Doctor. Your time has come. I see every atom of your existence and I erase it.”
Then there was no Doctor. All that remained was Bad Wolf who howled into the abyss and everything came to an end.
****
Rose let out a gasp as she opened her eyes. She quickly pulled her hands out of the grasp of the woman with raven hair and ran out of the shop.
“Rose!” The Doctor called after her.
She stifled a sob at his worried tone, but didn’t stop. An irritated driver honked as she crossed a street without looking.
“Rose, come back! Rose!”
The blonde kept moving, bumping into people and nearly running into doors until a strong hang pulled her to a stop. Arms slid around her and she pressed her nose into a chest that she’d know without even looking.
“Rose, it’s okay,” the Doctor murmured.
“No, it’s not,” Rose replied. “It’s never going to be okay.”
“What are you talking about?” The Doctor asked. “Have I done something again? Do I need to do something that I’m not doing? I’ve told you that you only need to tell me and I’ll fix it.”
Rose pushed away from him and stared at the man with pursed lips and a tear stained face. He shuffled a bit under her gaze.
“Would you destroy an entire planet to save me?”
“What?” He nearly squeaked. “Rose, I…”
“Would you destroy an entire planet to save me?” Rose repeated.
“I really can’t…”
“Doctor, answer the question,” Rose interjected.
“Rose…”
“Doctor,” she said firmly.
He sighed, rubbed the back of his neck and let his eyes move from hers, to the ground then back up at her.
“Yes. Without a second thought.” He frowned. “Why are you asking me this?”
“Because I needed to know,” Rose told him. “What I saw was you losing control and I don’t want that to happen. You are not formed out blood, anger and revenge. You’re made of love and warmth and…”
“Sugar and spice and everything nice,” the Doctor gently teased.
Rose half-heartedly smacked his arm.
“Stop it,” she responded. “I’m trying to be serious here. I need you to promise me you won’t lose control. That if something was to happen to me before…”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Rose Tyler,” the Doctor interrupted as he took a hold of her shoulders. “Because we need to talk about what you may or may not have seen back at that shop. And the pavement in front of a Tesco is not the place to do so.” He kissed her forehead. “Also, keep in mind, whatever you may have seen might have just been your anxieties coming into play. Mix in a bit of that hallucinogenic incense that Madame Alexandria lit to make her patrons feel relaxed and that’s really a recipe for disaster.”
“You knew she’d done that?”
“Took me a moment to sort it out since the olfactory senses aren’t exactly what they used to be, but, yeah.”
“So, it was just my overactive imagination?” Rose inquired.
“Probably less your imagination and more to do with your experiences,” the Doctor returned. “But all the same, we’ll go home, have a cup of tea and talk about what you saw.”
“Sounds brilliant,” Rose murmured as she buried her head into her Doctor’s chest. “Thank you so much.”
“All part of the service, Rose Tyler,” he said as he moved them down the pavement. “And then maybe afterward, we could have sex.”
“Doctor,” Rose drawled in amusement.
Neither noticed the sudden flash of gold in Rose’s eyes nor heard the howl of a restless wolf.
“Stalking is such a crude word,” the Doctor commented. “I’ve never stalked anyone in my life.” He scratched the back of his neck with a slightly sheepish expression upon seeing the knowing look on Rose’s face. “I might have aggressively followed someone without them knowing, but I never stalked.”, 2,730 words
Rose looked at sign above the store then at the eagerly grinning Doctor standing next to her. She sighed and wondered if maybe the fact the Doctor couldn’t leave the planet was beginning to get to him.
“This is a joke, right?” Rose asked.
“What?” The Doctor returned with a hurt expression. He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Well, what the lady does is a joke, but I thought it would be fun. We’ve never been to one and with Halloween just around the corner it might be good for a laugh. It’s really all just hokum anyway.”
“And yet you want to go in,” Rose said.
“Of course,” the Doctor replied. “It’s a new experience. We’ll get a giggle out of it. And maybe it’ll be slightly more accurate than you trying to convince me that one of the lines on my right hand means that Jupiter negatively effects my mood. I’ll have you know that when I do visit Jupiter, I always have a pleasant time.”
“I was nineteen and trying to get you to notice that I was into you. Usually, when you play with a guy’s hand and flutter your eyes enough they get the point.”
“Oh, that’s what it was,” the Doctor murmured. “I thought you had something caught in your eye.”
Rose closed her eyes and groaned into his arm.
“Well, I know now,” the Doctor told her. “And maybe a bit then after I regenerated and you decided kissing me was a good idea, but definitely now.”
“I’ve got you now,” Rose pointed out. “I don’t have to try as hard to seduce you.”
“That’s just rude, Rose Tyler. I may have to make you work harder to get me into bed from now on. Just on principle.”
“Please. All I have to do is mention the bedroom and you become quite eager.”
“Lies,” the Doctor stated. “That is a blatant lie. You make me sound as if I’m controlled by silly human hormones.”
“Whatever you say,” Rose responded with a smile that caused her tongue to stick out just enough for him to consider on letting those silly human hormones take over. “Come on. Let’s go get our palms read. Maybe she’ll let you know about your relationship with Mars.”
“I can tell you now. The Martians and I are definitely not on speaking terms.”
****
The Doctor looked up at a surprised Rose before looking to a very annoyed Jackie Tyler then back at Rose.
“She was right,” the Doctor said.
“No,” Rose quickly responded. “She could have been talking about anyone. And I thought you said it was hokum.”
“It might very well still be hokum, but your mum is of the matronly sort. And she said it would happen within a day.”
“I’m not old,” Jackie interjected as she roughly pushed away from the Doctor then stood up, making a show of dusting herself off. She picked up her purse and looked down the road where the car, that could have either put her in the hospital for quite a while or ended her life, had zoomed off. She turned back to her daughter’s beau in amazement. “You saved my life.”
The Doctor shrugged.
“You bloody alien git!” Jackie yelled. “You saved my bloody life and you can only shrug.”
“I used to save planets and civilizations, Jackie. Saving you really just comes with the territory when one lives with Rose Tyler.”
“You make it sound like trouble just comes with the Tyler name,” Rose retorted.
He gave Rose a look as he got to his feet then frowned as he noticed a hole in the right leg of his trousers.
“And I liked these,” the Doctor muttered. “Rose, I’ve torn another pair.”
“We’ll go shopping then,” Rose told him. “Though we should probably get mum home first. Are you okay, mum?”
“Yeah. Fine. What are you two on about though?” Jackie asked. “Who is she? And what’s hokum?”
“Nothing,” Rose answered with a wave of her hand. “Just a silly thing the Doctor and I did yesterday.”
“We visited a psychic,” the Doctor supplied with a grin. “And she read my palm.” He held up his hand then made a face at the scrapes that were there. “But it wasn’t bloody. She read it and said three things would happen. That I’d save someone matronly, I’d get a gift from the beyond and that Rose Tyler would die.”
“She did not say that,” Rose shot back, crossing her arms. “She said you’d lose someone very close.”
“And you’re very close to me,” the Doctor pointed out. “Extremely close sometimes. Any closer and we’d be the same person. Except that would be odd and we’d probably have to be living on Philsandrous 4 where wedded couples become the same being. I rather like us as we are.”
“Oh, good,” Rose muttered. “Look, mum, it’s just nonsense and the reason the Doctor saved you is that he’s the Doctor, and that’s what he does.”
“That could be my motto,” the Doctor said. He took a Superman stance. “I’m the Doctor and that’s what I do.” He grinned brightly. “I quite like that.”
“I’ve been to psychics,” Jackie informed her daughter after giving the Doctor a look. “Most of the time they’re quite accurate.”
“Mum, it’s just silly. They just take the bits of information you offer, you’re reactions and you’re money then make vague predictions based upon them. It’s silly.”
“The Doctor seems to believe in them,” her mother returned.
“I don’t believe in them exactly,” the Doctor pointed out. “I’m just leaning towards the fact the one we visited may have been on to something. And, really, only her first premonition came true. Well, as true as it possibly could have. Saying the word ‘matron’ covers quite a bit of ground. It might have been about a woman of the cloth instead of Jackie Tyler.”
“I hope that doesn’t mean you’re going to start stalking nuns,” Rose said.
“Stalking is such a crude word,” the Doctor commented. “I’ve never stalked anyone in my life.” He scratched the back of his neck with a slightly sheepish expression upon seeing the knowing look on Rose’s face. “I might have aggressively followed someone without them knowing, but I never stalked.”
“Right,” Rose drawled. “Let’s get mum home. And we’ll discuss your aggressive following after we buy you new trousers.”
“Is this one of these discussions where I’m going to feel like a scolded schoolboy?” The Doctor inquired as he followed after the two Tyler women. “Because I really hate those discussions.”
****
Rose wanted to pound her head against the nearest wall as the Doctor bounded around gleefully in his lab, going on about gifts from beyond and how this would help in not only making the TARDIS grow faster, but fix his Sonic Screwdriver, create some non-lethal weapons and even get that extra money Pete had been trying to ask President Harriet Jones for. They didn’t really need it, but if the government felt involved then they wouldn’t interfere as much.
“The psychic was right,” the Doctor stated. “Not that I really believed her, but she was.”
“The psychic wasn’t really a psychic,” Rose returned. “She made vague premonitions and you believe her because two slightly similar things occurred within the time frame she suggested they would happen. You of all people can not be taking her words seriously.”
“I suppose,” the Doctor murmured as he looked down.
“And I really don’t want you wandering around afraid that I’ll die sometime ridiculously soon,” Rose added. “Then acting upon whatever crazy plan you’ve got to keep me safe.”
“Of course not,” the Doctor agreed as he focused back on her with large, worried eyes. “We’ve already agreed that we’re dying together when we are quite old. And I mean very old. A time when our teeth and hair are falling out.”
Rose gave him a forced smile as she thought about the image.
“Right,” she murmured. “Look, you really shouldn’t think about the woman’s words anymore. You saved mum’s life, which is brilliant, but you really would have saved anyone’s life if they were in danger. It’s what you do, Doctor.”
“Can we not say that?” The Doctor asked. “I’ve had no luck in trademarking it and all the good costumes have been taken.”
“And a cape really hides your excellent bum.”
“Exactly,” the Doctor replied as he peered over his shoulder to get a look at that bit of anatomy before turning back to Rose. “It’s almost as great as my hair. Though, only you get full advantage of both.”
“And you have no idea how happy I am about that,” Rose responded. She moved closer to the Doctor and took his hand. “Perhaps we should go home and you let me take advantage.”
The Doctor’s forehead furrowed in confusion.
“But we’re supposed to be working,” the Doctor said. “You told me we can’t skip out in the middle of the day just because we want to have sex without people walking in while you’re mid-orgasm.”
“Yes, well, I think we deserve to slack off a bit,” Rose informed him. “You’ve been working extremely hard and I still have days off that I’ve yet to use. A little trip up to Scotland. Find an inn. Spend some time sans clothes.” She kissed him on the side of his neck and grinned at the shudder that she caused.
“We should go now,” the Doctor stuttered. “And when I say now. I definitely mean now.”
Rose giggled as he pulled her out the lab.
****
Rose Tyler was dead.
The psychic had been right and now Rose Tyler was lying on the ground staring up at the sky with a surprised expression. Her chest didn’t rise and her eyes didn’t move.
The Doctor spared staring at her lifeless body for one more second before throwing himself at the alien holding the smoking weapon that had taken Rose’s life. His mind was filled with only the thought of destroying this being who felt they had to take away the love of his life. His fists pounded every bit of flesh he could find and, despite being pretty sure he’d broken some fingers, he didn’t stop.
This was the blood, anger and revenge the Time Lord Doctor had been talking about. And he understood it, but he didn’t care. Rose was dead and the control he’d prided himself on when he had two hearts snapped.
“I could save the world but lose you.”
“I think you need a Doctor.”
“Give her back to me.”
“You can spend the rest of your life with me. But I can't spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on, alone. That's the curse of the Time Lords.”
“The street. They left her in the street. They took her face, and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things... simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?”
“No.”
“Because now, Detective Inspector Bishop, there is now power on this earth that can stop me!”
“But that implies, in this big, grand scheme of gods and devils, that she's just a victim. Well, I've seen a lot of this universe. I've seen fake gods and bad gods and demi-gods and would-be gods. I've had the whole pantheon. But if I believe in one thing... just one thing... I believe in her!”
“I... I love you.”
“Quite right too. And I suppose... if it's my last chance to say it... Rose Tyler...”
“I love you, Rose Tyler.”
He didn’t have to look behind him, but he could feel the transformation. He could sense with the last bit of sanity he had left, the change in Time. The power cackled around him and then it touched the Doctor. It burned and soothed. It sang and screamed.
The Doctor stood and turned to face the golden woman that was once Rose Tyler. Now, before him, stood Bad Wolf. She took his face in her hands and peered into his eyes.
“It is time for good-bye, my Doctor. Your time has come. I see every atom of your existence and I erase it.”
Then there was no Doctor. All that remained was Bad Wolf who howled into the abyss and everything came to an end.
****
Rose let out a gasp as she opened her eyes. She quickly pulled her hands out of the grasp of the woman with raven hair and ran out of the shop.
“Rose!” The Doctor called after her.
She stifled a sob at his worried tone, but didn’t stop. An irritated driver honked as she crossed a street without looking.
“Rose, come back! Rose!”
The blonde kept moving, bumping into people and nearly running into doors until a strong hang pulled her to a stop. Arms slid around her and she pressed her nose into a chest that she’d know without even looking.
“Rose, it’s okay,” the Doctor murmured.
“No, it’s not,” Rose replied. “It’s never going to be okay.”
“What are you talking about?” The Doctor asked. “Have I done something again? Do I need to do something that I’m not doing? I’ve told you that you only need to tell me and I’ll fix it.”
Rose pushed away from him and stared at the man with pursed lips and a tear stained face. He shuffled a bit under her gaze.
“Would you destroy an entire planet to save me?”
“What?” He nearly squeaked. “Rose, I…”
“Would you destroy an entire planet to save me?” Rose repeated.
“I really can’t…”
“Doctor, answer the question,” Rose interjected.
“Rose…”
“Doctor,” she said firmly.
He sighed, rubbed the back of his neck and let his eyes move from hers, to the ground then back up at her.
“Yes. Without a second thought.” He frowned. “Why are you asking me this?”
“Because I needed to know,” Rose told him. “What I saw was you losing control and I don’t want that to happen. You are not formed out blood, anger and revenge. You’re made of love and warmth and…”
“Sugar and spice and everything nice,” the Doctor gently teased.
Rose half-heartedly smacked his arm.
“Stop it,” she responded. “I’m trying to be serious here. I need you to promise me you won’t lose control. That if something was to happen to me before…”
“I’m going to stop you right there, Rose Tyler,” the Doctor interrupted as he took a hold of her shoulders. “Because we need to talk about what you may or may not have seen back at that shop. And the pavement in front of a Tesco is not the place to do so.” He kissed her forehead. “Also, keep in mind, whatever you may have seen might have just been your anxieties coming into play. Mix in a bit of that hallucinogenic incense that Madame Alexandria lit to make her patrons feel relaxed and that’s really a recipe for disaster.”
“You knew she’d done that?”
“Took me a moment to sort it out since the olfactory senses aren’t exactly what they used to be, but, yeah.”
“So, it was just my overactive imagination?” Rose inquired.
“Probably less your imagination and more to do with your experiences,” the Doctor returned. “But all the same, we’ll go home, have a cup of tea and talk about what you saw.”
“Sounds brilliant,” Rose murmured as she buried her head into her Doctor’s chest. “Thank you so much.”
“All part of the service, Rose Tyler,” he said as he moved them down the pavement. “And then maybe afterward, we could have sex.”
“Doctor,” Rose drawled in amusement.
Neither noticed the sudden flash of gold in Rose’s eyes nor heard the howl of a restless wolf.