I don't feel like dancing, no sir, no dancing today...

[bloodsoulrhythm]

It's been a rough three days for Charlie. He was going to see her, going to see his daughter (and that still confuses and hurts him, that he never knew), and...

It was a little like falling (like Falling?), a little like turning a corner that wasn't there.

And then he was elsewhere (elsewhen?) and the Doctor was... far away. So very, very far,

Comments

[belle_heaven]

Rose has left the tower. Without telling anyone. Because she's kinda an idiot. And wants to go be near the

However, instead of finding trouble (thank GOD) she finds a dazed Charlie. She doesn't believe it's him at first, after all, now that she thinks about it...he's been gone for a...long time, hasn't he? But then Rose gets a good long look at him.

"Charlie?!"

Here Charlie. Have an emotionally wrecked, small Rose Tyler suddenly hugging you. Tightly. And most likely not letting go until you pry her off. Yeah. She's very happy to see you.

[bloodsoulrhythm]

At first, his instinct is to dismiss this as not-his-ward, and just brush her off, but something in his mind kicks into gear, and he matches the idea of Rose to the person clinging to him.

This gets her hugged tightly and scooped into the air.

"Where's the Doctor?"

Wait, not the right thing to say, given the circumstances. Revise.

"I mean..." He squeezes her again. "Rose. Sorry." He sighs. "What's going on?" Like she'd know.

[belle_heaven]

Rose returns the hug tightly and grins weakly.

"I dunno where he is," she admits, "after Romana attacked him, Torchwood pulled out, me with them and Mat, and what I understand the Doctor just...wandered off. You know him."

She realizes Charlie has NO idea what has happened. So she back tracks.

"Er...Okay. Wait. So. Uhhh....Lot's of tension between Romana and Torchwood and the Doctor. And it kinda came to a head. Jack shot Romana, who shot Jack and Sam, Jack left Torchwood and the hotel, Romana attacked the Doctor and tried to put him through the Rift! Well so he left, and Torchwood pulled out and it's all gone to hell."

This was all said in one breath. So if you need clarification, it's totally understandable.

"Where've you been anyway? You've been gone forever!"

No, she hasn't fully let go. Please don't expect her to. Her whole support system is just kinda...uhhh...broken...or gone. Or both.

[bloodsoulrhythm]

"Romana what?" Oh look, Charlie's wings are suddenly out, spread in an obvious gesture of threat. "Has she gone insane?"

For all Charlie knows, she was there already, but attacking another angel's ward?

It's at that point that Charlie realizes he's snarling, and, again, it's best not do that with Rose.

"I don't know. I was... I was going to see Becky. It was after the Doctor, Jack, and Des went to take down Calisto. And then, I was... somewhere else. Couldn't find anyone."

His voice goes very, very quiet. "For me, that was three days ago."

[thatsortofaman]

The Doctor's not far. He's on the pier, in fact - sure, he's got places to be, but really, he'd like to be alone just a bit longer. Well, not even alone, just... out. And he likes the pier. Never mind that he once was stabbed here - there's fresh air and clear skies and the moon out over the lake and he can almost pretend he's not stuck here.

So he's wandering down the pier, looking out over the water and paying absolutely no attention to anyone around him. No, he actually hasn't stopped moving for more than an hour or two since he left the hotel - he has a lot of thinking to do, and it helps if he just... keeps moving. Doesn't matter where.

[bloodsoulrhythm]

Charlie's been near-frantic with the need to find the Doctor. And when someone huge and agitated is trying to find someone... Well, people clear away pretty quickly. So it really doesn't take long for him to track the Doctor down, what with the presence burning in his mind.

"You." The tone's part overwhelming relief, part confusion at all that's happened, and a large portion I just know you've gotten into trouble that I couldn't be there to get you out of, goddamnit.

[thatsortofaman]

"Me?" the Doctor asks automatically, spinning around, and then blinks in surprise when he sees who it is. Well. It's mostly surprise. And then there's a little disappointment because really, he doesn't need a guardian angel hovering over him, and relief because Charlie's alright and alive and a number of other things it's difficult to put a name to...

"Charlie!" he says brightly. "You're back!" Like he just went for a holiday or something.

[bloodsoulrhythm]

And that gets the Doctor a look. The kind of look that says, I'm really wondering whether or not to hit you.

The Doctor goes unhit for the moment, though, as Charlie settles on a sudden hug that's just short of bone-crushing.

Yes, Doctor, he missed you.