Fic- Echoes: Call of the Bad Wolf
Title- Echoes: Call of the Bad Wolf
Chapter: A New Old Face
Characters: Rose Tyler, The Doctor (Eight)
Spoilers: none yet
Tagline: What if Nine wasn't the first Doctor Rose Tyler ever met? What if she was more then just a Companion? And what if there was more to Bad Wolf than meets the eye?
Disclaimer: I wish it were mine..oh how I wish.
Author's Notes: none really. First bit of real plot..Special thanks to my beta
whochick
Summary: Sometimes things get shaken up in the way you need most.
Jackie had left earlier that morning in a whirlwind of hugs, kisses and warnings not to blow the flat up while she was in Wales for two weeks. Rose had smiled as she pulled her hair into a ponytail and nodded that she wouldn’t do anything stupid and that she was sorry that she couldn’t get out of work to go see her Gran. Jackie wasn’t exactly pleased with leaving her nineteen year old daughter home alone for a couple of weeks, but didn’t have a choice as her mother wasn’t doing exactly stellar due to a hip replacement earlier in the year.
“You’ll be sure and lock the doors?” Jackie asked, trying to load her luggage up in both arms and maneuver through the hallway to the living room.
“Yes, mum.” Rose answered, already annoyed.
“And you’ll not go out unless someone’s with you?”
“Of course, mum.”
“And don’t eat just chips while I’m gone. There’s food in the fridge and a list of things you can make…there’s no reason to junk yourself out just because I’m not here to cook.”
Rose rolled her eyes and sifted through the piles of clothing all over her bed in search of her purse. “I know, mum.”
“Oh…I wish you were going with me. Your Gran always loves to see you…” Jackie gushed as she stood watch in Rose’s doorway.
“I know…but I have to work…” Rose started, but didn’t quite have the energy to have that fight again.
“I know you think you need to pay me back, but you don’t. I love having you back home.”
“I know, mum. I know. Look, I have to go. Call me tonight and tell me you got there okay.” Rose rushed past her mother and tugged a black jacket on over her already bulky three layers of clothes. Jackie sighed and ran a hand through her platinum hair, watching as her daughter pulled on mittens and a scarf and readied herself for another normal, mundane day at work.
“You know I just want what’s best for you, don’t you?” Jackie asked as Rose made for the door.
The younger girl stopped and looked at her mother, hazel eyes scanning her face for some sign that it was just an off hand remark and not the same sentimental gushing that had been coming out of her mouth since the day her daughter had come home. Jackie’s eyes were wide and from that her intentions were like an open book…she wanted her daughter home because she was lonely and didn’t have anyone else. Rose silently cursed her father for dying before they could have any more kids, leaving all the pressure on Rose to do exactly what Jackie wanted.
“I know. I just…I have to go. Love you.” Rose mumbled and slid out the door, shoving her hands in her pockets as she made her way down the steps to the street.
The day had been worse than normal and Rose could feel the tension of it slowly building in her shoulders as she hunched over the last display that she had to put together for the afternoon. It had been a slow day due to the crappy weather, yet she wasn’t one of the lucky ones who had got the all clear to go home. She sighed, tugging on the hem of a skirt that wrapped around the legs of a mannequin, and stood back to admire her work. It looked good. Therein lay the problem.
It wasn’t as if Rose particularly hated her job or was bad at it; it just didn’t exactly give her the mental stimulation that a job should. It was easy, repetitive, paid well, and let her have fun with the displays, but it just didn’t…have that something that she needed. Not that she was about to quit anytime soon, though. Oh no, Rose saw a long future of folding shirts and skirts and socks ahead of her to pay back the debt she owed her mother. It sickened her, really.
Rain and sleet had thundered down for most of the afternoon, bringing with it a feeling of cold that Rose couldn’t shake even though she was indoors. It was as if she’d felt it before…tenfold…and her bones refused to let go of it. When she had gone out for lunch earlier in the day it had taken her a solid half hour or so to keep her hands from shaking after she’d come back. It worried her. Even as she wound her fingers through the soft warmth of the fleece sweaters she was supposed to be hanging up her hands still refused to stop trembling. In a brief moment she wondered if maybe she was sick…which of course would happen the day Jackie left for two weeks.
“I’m fine.” She whispered to herself and shook her head.
The end of business hours came finally and none too soon. She wrapped herself back up in the bulk of the jacket and waved good bye to her co workers before heading down to the employee entrance. As she walked through the long corridor past all the stock, inventory and extras she felt a small tingle up her spine that she couldn’t place. A thrill washed over her as she locked eyes with one of the shop dummies and in less than a thought she transported away to that other time with the other Rose.
A haze of golden light filled her mind and a soft singing rang in her ears. She saw the dummies and felt that same excitement as she felt a hand slide into hers. In her mind she saw clear blue eyes looking up at her. She knew those eyes. She’d seen them before, but couldn’t quite place where. Her eyes closed and the light brightened a bit as the singing softened even still and a voice called to her. The words were muffled, but the presence of those blue eyes haunted her. Something was calling her….and in an instant it was gone.
Rose found herself outside and in the biting cold once the fog in her mind cleared. She shivered as the sudden onslaught of rain and sleet rain down her face and into the neckline of her shirt. It was a horrendous night to be out, she realized as she wrapped her arms around herself, but there was something that just felt…right. Light rushed past her as a car sped by and in that moment, despite the rain and cold and misery that the weather was, Rose decided that she wouldn’t take the bus home and would walk instead. She could hear Jackie’s voice in her head as she turned away from the bench covered by what looked like a hard plastic tent and started home on foot, “you’ll catch your death out there!”
Rose smiled and huddled more into her jacket, “I don’t care.”
By the time she neared the Estates it was pretty apparent that walking had been an incredibly stupid idea. Her hands shook and burned with cold and breathing was a luxury restricted to the few moments after she stopped to rest. No, she wouldn’t be doing this again in such weather. Not ever again.
A powerful wind ripped through the spaces between the buildings, sending a shiver through her body that almost pushed her to her knees. Wet papers and trash whirled through the air as the wind screeched by, the sound accompanying it echoed in her ears as she crouched low to keep herself from falling over. A moment later she heard a crash and looked up through her blonde tresses to see something falling out of the sky. With a yelp Rose ducked over to a wall and covered her face with her hands, wincing as she heard the sound of wood and metal scraping along the concrete.
She opened her eyes as the gale slowed and saw that not far from where she crouched stood a tall blue box. She squinted at the lights through the rain that poured from above and murmured slightly as she read the inscription of “Police Public Call Box”. She’d never seen one of those before. Let alone one that fell out of the sky during what felt like a hurricane. It took a moment for her mind to clear as she shakily got to her feet and made her way over to the structure.
A hum resonated from the wood as she neared it and a sense of ease passed through her, taking away all of the fear and panic she’d just been feeling. She rested her hand against the door and for a split second the hum pulsed through her body. With it came singing and brilliant gold light again. This time nothing called out to her, but a distinct feeling of home and safety erupted in her heart. Everything melted away in that moment…all the cold, boredom, fear and anxiety gave way to the brilliance that shrouded her in warmth and comfort. She was where she needed to be. Then, as quickly as it had come, it slid away and she was back to huddling against the box to hide herself from the wind.
Rose stayed that way for a bit, clinging to the structure for dear life as the storm raged on. Her breathing slowed as she rested her forehead against the door; something very familiar seeped into her mind as she groped at the handles absentmindedly. There had to be something inside.
No sooner had the thought processed in her mind the doors pulled open, causing Rose to jump back and cry out in surprise. A man stood in the doorway, leaning on the frame with one hand clutching at his chest. His eyes were squeezed shut and blood seemed to cover his torso from the chest down. She looked on, wide eyed, as the man stumbled from the doorway and turned to pull the wooden slats closed. He, too, leaned against them for support before sinking to his knees. A moan cut through the sound of the wind in the alley as he slumped down further.
Rose blinked a few times and went to his side, one hand resting on his shoulder. The rain had already soaked his long, light brown curls and matted them to his forehead, making him look worse than he already did. His handsome face was contorted and twisted in pain as he gripped at the bloodied vest he wore. Sounds of labored breathing pushed through his teeth and lips before his eyes opened slowly to focus on Rose. She gasped, something triggering in her mind, as deep blue eyes fixed on her.
“Please…help me...” the man moaned, turning to face her.
Rose gaped a bit and looked around at the empty streets. No one would be out during the storm and if she came to a door carting a body people might worry about their safety. No, she was on her own, “I’ll call an ambulance…” she said evenly, trying to keep her voice calm, and pulled out her mobile.
The man’s eyes widened for a second and he snatched the phone from her hand. He fumbled with the buttons but managed to turn it off and looked up into Rose’s hazel eyes, “No…they’ll kill me. Please…you have to help me…”
Rose shook her head, “what can I do? You’ll bleed to death before I can do anything!”
“The doctors…they’ll just cause problems for me…please…I just need somewhere to rest.” His breathing slowed and his face paled as he tried to speak.
Rose grabbed her mobile out of the man’s hand and turned it back on, going through her contacts list in a panic. Any other sane person in the same situation would completely ignore this person’s plea and call for help. Rose understood that well enough and knew that somewhere along the line it would probably come back to bite her, but for some reason that she couldn’t place she didn’t care. All she knew was that deep down in her heart she had to help him…and she was the only one who could.
No one she knew could help her, though…or would in this kind of situation. Finally she settled on Mickey and dialed, cursing softly as it went to his answer phone. With a frustrated cry she shoved the phone back in her pocket and leaned back over him, shoving back the soaked, blonde strands that had escaped her ponytail during the walk home.
“Think you could walk if I helped you?” she asked, sliding the man’s arm around her shoulders as carefully as she could.
“I don’t know…maybe.” He was breathless and Rose shook a little as she felt him start to tremble.
“Worth a try. Come on, then.” And with a strength she didn’t know she had she stood up, pulling him to his feet.
“Thank you…” the man whispered and the two made their way toward the flat in
silence.
Hope you all enjoy it!
Chapter: A New Old Face
Characters: Rose Tyler, The Doctor (Eight)
Spoilers: none yet
Tagline: What if Nine wasn't the first Doctor Rose Tyler ever met? What if she was more then just a Companion? And what if there was more to Bad Wolf than meets the eye?
Disclaimer: I wish it were mine..oh how I wish.
Author's Notes: none really. First bit of real plot..Special thanks to my beta
whochick
Summary: Sometimes things get shaken up in the way you need most.
Jackie had left earlier that morning in a whirlwind of hugs, kisses and warnings not to blow the flat up while she was in Wales for two weeks. Rose had smiled as she pulled her hair into a ponytail and nodded that she wouldn’t do anything stupid and that she was sorry that she couldn’t get out of work to go see her Gran. Jackie wasn’t exactly pleased with leaving her nineteen year old daughter home alone for a couple of weeks, but didn’t have a choice as her mother wasn’t doing exactly stellar due to a hip replacement earlier in the year.
“You’ll be sure and lock the doors?” Jackie asked, trying to load her luggage up in both arms and maneuver through the hallway to the living room.
“Yes, mum.” Rose answered, already annoyed.
“And you’ll not go out unless someone’s with you?”
“Of course, mum.”
“And don’t eat just chips while I’m gone. There’s food in the fridge and a list of things you can make…there’s no reason to junk yourself out just because I’m not here to cook.”
Rose rolled her eyes and sifted through the piles of clothing all over her bed in search of her purse. “I know, mum.”
“Oh…I wish you were going with me. Your Gran always loves to see you…” Jackie gushed as she stood watch in Rose’s doorway.
“I know…but I have to work…” Rose started, but didn’t quite have the energy to have that fight again.
“I know you think you need to pay me back, but you don’t. I love having you back home.”
“I know, mum. I know. Look, I have to go. Call me tonight and tell me you got there okay.” Rose rushed past her mother and tugged a black jacket on over her already bulky three layers of clothes. Jackie sighed and ran a hand through her platinum hair, watching as her daughter pulled on mittens and a scarf and readied herself for another normal, mundane day at work.
“You know I just want what’s best for you, don’t you?” Jackie asked as Rose made for the door.
The younger girl stopped and looked at her mother, hazel eyes scanning her face for some sign that it was just an off hand remark and not the same sentimental gushing that had been coming out of her mouth since the day her daughter had come home. Jackie’s eyes were wide and from that her intentions were like an open book…she wanted her daughter home because she was lonely and didn’t have anyone else. Rose silently cursed her father for dying before they could have any more kids, leaving all the pressure on Rose to do exactly what Jackie wanted.
“I know. I just…I have to go. Love you.” Rose mumbled and slid out the door, shoving her hands in her pockets as she made her way down the steps to the street.
The day had been worse than normal and Rose could feel the tension of it slowly building in her shoulders as she hunched over the last display that she had to put together for the afternoon. It had been a slow day due to the crappy weather, yet she wasn’t one of the lucky ones who had got the all clear to go home. She sighed, tugging on the hem of a skirt that wrapped around the legs of a mannequin, and stood back to admire her work. It looked good. Therein lay the problem.
It wasn’t as if Rose particularly hated her job or was bad at it; it just didn’t exactly give her the mental stimulation that a job should. It was easy, repetitive, paid well, and let her have fun with the displays, but it just didn’t…have that something that she needed. Not that she was about to quit anytime soon, though. Oh no, Rose saw a long future of folding shirts and skirts and socks ahead of her to pay back the debt she owed her mother. It sickened her, really.
Rain and sleet had thundered down for most of the afternoon, bringing with it a feeling of cold that Rose couldn’t shake even though she was indoors. It was as if she’d felt it before…tenfold…and her bones refused to let go of it. When she had gone out for lunch earlier in the day it had taken her a solid half hour or so to keep her hands from shaking after she’d come back. It worried her. Even as she wound her fingers through the soft warmth of the fleece sweaters she was supposed to be hanging up her hands still refused to stop trembling. In a brief moment she wondered if maybe she was sick…which of course would happen the day Jackie left for two weeks.
“I’m fine.” She whispered to herself and shook her head.
The end of business hours came finally and none too soon. She wrapped herself back up in the bulk of the jacket and waved good bye to her co workers before heading down to the employee entrance. As she walked through the long corridor past all the stock, inventory and extras she felt a small tingle up her spine that she couldn’t place. A thrill washed over her as she locked eyes with one of the shop dummies and in less than a thought she transported away to that other time with the other Rose.
A haze of golden light filled her mind and a soft singing rang in her ears. She saw the dummies and felt that same excitement as she felt a hand slide into hers. In her mind she saw clear blue eyes looking up at her. She knew those eyes. She’d seen them before, but couldn’t quite place where. Her eyes closed and the light brightened a bit as the singing softened even still and a voice called to her. The words were muffled, but the presence of those blue eyes haunted her. Something was calling her….and in an instant it was gone.
Rose found herself outside and in the biting cold once the fog in her mind cleared. She shivered as the sudden onslaught of rain and sleet rain down her face and into the neckline of her shirt. It was a horrendous night to be out, she realized as she wrapped her arms around herself, but there was something that just felt…right. Light rushed past her as a car sped by and in that moment, despite the rain and cold and misery that the weather was, Rose decided that she wouldn’t take the bus home and would walk instead. She could hear Jackie’s voice in her head as she turned away from the bench covered by what looked like a hard plastic tent and started home on foot, “you’ll catch your death out there!”
Rose smiled and huddled more into her jacket, “I don’t care.”
By the time she neared the Estates it was pretty apparent that walking had been an incredibly stupid idea. Her hands shook and burned with cold and breathing was a luxury restricted to the few moments after she stopped to rest. No, she wouldn’t be doing this again in such weather. Not ever again.
A powerful wind ripped through the spaces between the buildings, sending a shiver through her body that almost pushed her to her knees. Wet papers and trash whirled through the air as the wind screeched by, the sound accompanying it echoed in her ears as she crouched low to keep herself from falling over. A moment later she heard a crash and looked up through her blonde tresses to see something falling out of the sky. With a yelp Rose ducked over to a wall and covered her face with her hands, wincing as she heard the sound of wood and metal scraping along the concrete.
She opened her eyes as the gale slowed and saw that not far from where she crouched stood a tall blue box. She squinted at the lights through the rain that poured from above and murmured slightly as she read the inscription of “Police Public Call Box”. She’d never seen one of those before. Let alone one that fell out of the sky during what felt like a hurricane. It took a moment for her mind to clear as she shakily got to her feet and made her way over to the structure.
A hum resonated from the wood as she neared it and a sense of ease passed through her, taking away all of the fear and panic she’d just been feeling. She rested her hand against the door and for a split second the hum pulsed through her body. With it came singing and brilliant gold light again. This time nothing called out to her, but a distinct feeling of home and safety erupted in her heart. Everything melted away in that moment…all the cold, boredom, fear and anxiety gave way to the brilliance that shrouded her in warmth and comfort. She was where she needed to be. Then, as quickly as it had come, it slid away and she was back to huddling against the box to hide herself from the wind.
Rose stayed that way for a bit, clinging to the structure for dear life as the storm raged on. Her breathing slowed as she rested her forehead against the door; something very familiar seeped into her mind as she groped at the handles absentmindedly. There had to be something inside.
No sooner had the thought processed in her mind the doors pulled open, causing Rose to jump back and cry out in surprise. A man stood in the doorway, leaning on the frame with one hand clutching at his chest. His eyes were squeezed shut and blood seemed to cover his torso from the chest down. She looked on, wide eyed, as the man stumbled from the doorway and turned to pull the wooden slats closed. He, too, leaned against them for support before sinking to his knees. A moan cut through the sound of the wind in the alley as he slumped down further.
Rose blinked a few times and went to his side, one hand resting on his shoulder. The rain had already soaked his long, light brown curls and matted them to his forehead, making him look worse than he already did. His handsome face was contorted and twisted in pain as he gripped at the bloodied vest he wore. Sounds of labored breathing pushed through his teeth and lips before his eyes opened slowly to focus on Rose. She gasped, something triggering in her mind, as deep blue eyes fixed on her.
“Please…help me...” the man moaned, turning to face her.
Rose gaped a bit and looked around at the empty streets. No one would be out during the storm and if she came to a door carting a body people might worry about their safety. No, she was on her own, “I’ll call an ambulance…” she said evenly, trying to keep her voice calm, and pulled out her mobile.
The man’s eyes widened for a second and he snatched the phone from her hand. He fumbled with the buttons but managed to turn it off and looked up into Rose’s hazel eyes, “No…they’ll kill me. Please…you have to help me…”
Rose shook her head, “what can I do? You’ll bleed to death before I can do anything!”
“The doctors…they’ll just cause problems for me…please…I just need somewhere to rest.” His breathing slowed and his face paled as he tried to speak.
Rose grabbed her mobile out of the man’s hand and turned it back on, going through her contacts list in a panic. Any other sane person in the same situation would completely ignore this person’s plea and call for help. Rose understood that well enough and knew that somewhere along the line it would probably come back to bite her, but for some reason that she couldn’t place she didn’t care. All she knew was that deep down in her heart she had to help him…and she was the only one who could.
No one she knew could help her, though…or would in this kind of situation. Finally she settled on Mickey and dialed, cursing softly as it went to his answer phone. With a frustrated cry she shoved the phone back in her pocket and leaned back over him, shoving back the soaked, blonde strands that had escaped her ponytail during the walk home.
“Think you could walk if I helped you?” she asked, sliding the man’s arm around her shoulders as carefully as she could.
“I don’t know…maybe.” He was breathless and Rose shook a little as she felt him start to tremble.
“Worth a try. Come on, then.” And with a strength she didn’t know she had she stood up, pulling him to his feet.
“Thank you…” the man whispered and the two made their way toward the flat in
silence.
Hope you all enjoy it!