Universe is cruel, part 14
Title: Universe is cruel, part 14
Characters: Jackie Tyler, Rose Tyler, The Doctor (10th), The Doctor (Duplicate 10th) and many others
Raiting: All
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. They belong to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: up till JE
Summary: The Doctor and Rose live a fantastic life on Pete's World until one drunk driver shatters it all.
Previous
Ten minutes later Rose finds herself clean and dry in a misty bathroom. For the first time in months she debates applying some make up. She is scared to death meeting those who once were friends. The woman looking at her back from the mirror is slim and pale. She pulls her tube of mascara and does the job with trembling hands unused to this kind of procedure. She studies her reflection again. It is a bit better. Of course, nothing can hide the dark circles around her eyes and bony jaws. And dark roots. Nearly tree inches long. God! They do grow fast. She pulls her hair in a ponytail making a mental note to go see the hairdresser. Soon. She straightens her shirt and trousers and with a last quick glance to the mirror leaves the room.
She creeps down the stairs listening to the unusual sounds of cheerful chat and laughter. She hears Martha’s voice telling about her parent’s second wedding. It painfully reminds Rose of what she’s left. And of her Martha, who lost her family, just like she has… now. The sounds are getting louder as she comes to the doorframe. She pauses and draws a deep breath before entering the room. She stands there, watching the people on the sofas. They haven’t noticed her yet and she’s glad to have this moment for herself just watching them, noticing the differences. Mickey. He’s older which is not a surprise at all, given the year. Jack is not. Thirty something as ever. He has more wrinkles now though. She wonders where the rest of Torchwood team is. Or whether they are still alive. Rose turns her attention to River. She can’t see her. Only the crown of her curly hair with a hint of ginger. She smiles. She notices the conversation die and looks at Jack to find him staring at her. She swallows unsure of whether to smile or run away. Sarah Jane merges from the kitchen carrying a tray.
“Oh, there you are. Come here, Rose. Have some tea.” Rose smiles at the woman who sounds so much like her mother it hurts.
“Thank you,” she replies and walks to the sofa hesitantly only to be met halfway by Jack who pulls her in a rib-crashing hug.
“God, Rose, it’s really you? Thought I’d never see you again. Nearly killed the git when he left you there without giving us a chance to say goodbye at least.”
“Yeah,” is all she can whisper back. All her doubts about his forgiveness and friendship vanish as he swirls her around the room till Mickey tears her from him.
“My turn, mate,” he says jokingly to the Captain pulling her to him. “Hey, babe. Don’t cry,” he gently wipes tears from her cheek. “Oh, I missed you.”
“Missed you too.” She hugs him back. It takes all of her self-control not to cry. For the briefest moment she lets herself believe she won’t be that alone here. She has no idea what she did to deserve this loyalty from the man who’s cursed with immortality because of her and the man, who’s been damped for an alien without so much as an explanation and an apology.
All of a sudden, Rose finds herself sitting on the sofa between Mickey and Jack with a warm mug of tea in her hands listening about their last adventure. She laughs and comments and doesn’t remember all the odds of the situation. She still hasn’t talked to River. It’s strange for her to be humiliated by another woman and she feels like a teenage girl under her confident gaze. It’s not irritating, but calming. Rose thinks that it probably wouldn’t be such a problem after all. River is his wife. Despite all the madness, Rose feels safe around this woman and returns the smile when their eyes meet at last.
They don’t talk about Rose’s life in the other world. Those people know her too well to not understand the wounds are still soar. But she tells them about her Martha Jones, how good a friend she was, how she moved to the mansion when Rose moved out. She doesn’t tell them about Cathie. Not yet. They swap stories about same invasions they’ve dealt with and it all seems like old days. A group of happy cheerful people talking and joking. It would be just that if Jack’s team was still around, if Mickey hasn’t seen his Gran die twice… if she wasn’t a widow with an 8-month old alien child. If Martha didn’t walk the Earth, if the Doctor hasn’t lost everyone he cared for and wasn’t about to experience that again. If Sarah Jane hadn’t spent most of her life waiting for the man who had no intensions to come back. She looked at every laughing face in the room and thought of the deep buried sadness in the eyes. Even Luke, only about 20 years old has already experience something terrible by the looks of him. It’s easier to bury her own pain around these people and soon she’s joking as well, and laughing. She doesn’t mention her Doctor or Jamie. She understands now.
“So, Rose. What are you going to do now?” Mickey asks her.
“Donno. Find a flat, get a job. Usual.” She replies.
“There’s always a place for you in the team,” Jack says. “And the flat in Cardiff is not a problem.”
She doesn’t reply for a few seconds. “No, Jack. I can’t. I mean I can’t work for Torchwood any more.”
“Rose, I understand, this universe’ Torchwood’s done nothing good for you, but it’s changed.”
She looks at Jack. He’s proud for his Torchwood, for things they do and is hurt by her rejection.
The familiar anxious nudge in the back of her mind informs her that her daughter is awake and hungry. She exchanges an understanding look with the Doctor. This mental communication thing is handy sometimes. Rose smiles back at Jack.
“Never doubted that. No, Jack. It’s not that. I just can’t. Look, I need to go upstairs for 10 minutes and when I’m back, I’ll show you why. Okay?” She enjoys curious looks on nearly all faces as she leaves the room.
The little girl giggles sensing Rose’s change of mood but is quickly distracted. Rose’s thoughts drift as well while nursing. The day, which started as a pretty bad one even in her scales, seems to turn better and better. It does hurt that the Doctor is with someone else, but at the same time she is glad. She still hadn’t exchanged even a few words with River and hopes to have a chance later this day. This woman’s calmness and silent understanding captivate her. Rose has no idea why she thinks River understands, but something in her eyes…No jealousy, no hesitation. Only gentle curiosity and… support? She doesn’t need her acceptance, but… if Rose is honest, she does. She remembers the first time she encountered someone from the Doctor’s past. Sarah Jane. Oh, they were so jealous. They both were. And then… She smiled at the memory of their contest of who’s seen more. She’s grown past it now. She’s seen and she’s lost too much to let such basic emotion as jealousy break her relationship with any of the people downstairs. They are all she and Cathie have now.
With a loud pop the girl announces she’s finished and Rose dresses her up to meet the family.
Next
Characters: Jackie Tyler, Rose Tyler, The Doctor (10th), The Doctor (Duplicate 10th) and many others
Raiting: All
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. They belong to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: up till JE
Summary: The Doctor and Rose live a fantastic life on Pete's World until one drunk driver shatters it all.
Previous
Ten minutes later Rose finds herself clean and dry in a misty bathroom. For the first time in months she debates applying some make up. She is scared to death meeting those who once were friends. The woman looking at her back from the mirror is slim and pale. She pulls her tube of mascara and does the job with trembling hands unused to this kind of procedure. She studies her reflection again. It is a bit better. Of course, nothing can hide the dark circles around her eyes and bony jaws. And dark roots. Nearly tree inches long. God! They do grow fast. She pulls her hair in a ponytail making a mental note to go see the hairdresser. Soon. She straightens her shirt and trousers and with a last quick glance to the mirror leaves the room.
She creeps down the stairs listening to the unusual sounds of cheerful chat and laughter. She hears Martha’s voice telling about her parent’s second wedding. It painfully reminds Rose of what she’s left. And of her Martha, who lost her family, just like she has… now. The sounds are getting louder as she comes to the doorframe. She pauses and draws a deep breath before entering the room. She stands there, watching the people on the sofas. They haven’t noticed her yet and she’s glad to have this moment for herself just watching them, noticing the differences. Mickey. He’s older which is not a surprise at all, given the year. Jack is not. Thirty something as ever. He has more wrinkles now though. She wonders where the rest of Torchwood team is. Or whether they are still alive. Rose turns her attention to River. She can’t see her. Only the crown of her curly hair with a hint of ginger. She smiles. She notices the conversation die and looks at Jack to find him staring at her. She swallows unsure of whether to smile or run away. Sarah Jane merges from the kitchen carrying a tray.
“Oh, there you are. Come here, Rose. Have some tea.” Rose smiles at the woman who sounds so much like her mother it hurts.
“Thank you,” she replies and walks to the sofa hesitantly only to be met halfway by Jack who pulls her in a rib-crashing hug.
“God, Rose, it’s really you? Thought I’d never see you again. Nearly killed the git when he left you there without giving us a chance to say goodbye at least.”
“Yeah,” is all she can whisper back. All her doubts about his forgiveness and friendship vanish as he swirls her around the room till Mickey tears her from him.
“My turn, mate,” he says jokingly to the Captain pulling her to him. “Hey, babe. Don’t cry,” he gently wipes tears from her cheek. “Oh, I missed you.”
“Missed you too.” She hugs him back. It takes all of her self-control not to cry. For the briefest moment she lets herself believe she won’t be that alone here. She has no idea what she did to deserve this loyalty from the man who’s cursed with immortality because of her and the man, who’s been damped for an alien without so much as an explanation and an apology.
All of a sudden, Rose finds herself sitting on the sofa between Mickey and Jack with a warm mug of tea in her hands listening about their last adventure. She laughs and comments and doesn’t remember all the odds of the situation. She still hasn’t talked to River. It’s strange for her to be humiliated by another woman and she feels like a teenage girl under her confident gaze. It’s not irritating, but calming. Rose thinks that it probably wouldn’t be such a problem after all. River is his wife. Despite all the madness, Rose feels safe around this woman and returns the smile when their eyes meet at last.
They don’t talk about Rose’s life in the other world. Those people know her too well to not understand the wounds are still soar. But she tells them about her Martha Jones, how good a friend she was, how she moved to the mansion when Rose moved out. She doesn’t tell them about Cathie. Not yet. They swap stories about same invasions they’ve dealt with and it all seems like old days. A group of happy cheerful people talking and joking. It would be just that if Jack’s team was still around, if Mickey hasn’t seen his Gran die twice… if she wasn’t a widow with an 8-month old alien child. If Martha didn’t walk the Earth, if the Doctor hasn’t lost everyone he cared for and wasn’t about to experience that again. If Sarah Jane hadn’t spent most of her life waiting for the man who had no intensions to come back. She looked at every laughing face in the room and thought of the deep buried sadness in the eyes. Even Luke, only about 20 years old has already experience something terrible by the looks of him. It’s easier to bury her own pain around these people and soon she’s joking as well, and laughing. She doesn’t mention her Doctor or Jamie. She understands now.
“So, Rose. What are you going to do now?” Mickey asks her.
“Donno. Find a flat, get a job. Usual.” She replies.
“There’s always a place for you in the team,” Jack says. “And the flat in Cardiff is not a problem.”
She doesn’t reply for a few seconds. “No, Jack. I can’t. I mean I can’t work for Torchwood any more.”
“Rose, I understand, this universe’ Torchwood’s done nothing good for you, but it’s changed.”
She looks at Jack. He’s proud for his Torchwood, for things they do and is hurt by her rejection.
The familiar anxious nudge in the back of her mind informs her that her daughter is awake and hungry. She exchanges an understanding look with the Doctor. This mental communication thing is handy sometimes. Rose smiles back at Jack.
“Never doubted that. No, Jack. It’s not that. I just can’t. Look, I need to go upstairs for 10 minutes and when I’m back, I’ll show you why. Okay?” She enjoys curious looks on nearly all faces as she leaves the room.
The little girl giggles sensing Rose’s change of mood but is quickly distracted. Rose’s thoughts drift as well while nursing. The day, which started as a pretty bad one even in her scales, seems to turn better and better. It does hurt that the Doctor is with someone else, but at the same time she is glad. She still hadn’t exchanged even a few words with River and hopes to have a chance later this day. This woman’s calmness and silent understanding captivate her. Rose has no idea why she thinks River understands, but something in her eyes…No jealousy, no hesitation. Only gentle curiosity and… support? She doesn’t need her acceptance, but… if Rose is honest, she does. She remembers the first time she encountered someone from the Doctor’s past. Sarah Jane. Oh, they were so jealous. They both were. And then… She smiled at the memory of their contest of who’s seen more. She’s grown past it now. She’s seen and she’s lost too much to let such basic emotion as jealousy break her relationship with any of the people downstairs. They are all she and Cathie have now.
With a loud pop the girl announces she’s finished and Rose dresses her up to meet the family.
Next