The Bits In Between

As soon as the door closed, the Doctor went to work. He paused briefly to see Rose leaning heavily on the ramp railing. He reached an arm to her. “Come here.” She slowly but gratefully fell into his half-embrace. He typed information with his free hand and asked her to work the controls on the other side. He wished he had more time to properly comfort her.

It took some doing but they eventually ended up back where they belonged. He turned to her, hugging her fully. “Alright then?”

“I’m not sure. It’s just all a little overwhelming. I met someone just like my dad but wasn’t. My best and oldest friend is somewhere I can never see or talk to again. I watched someone who was my mum but not be turned into a thing. Then, I helped destroy that thing.” She couldn’t stop the tears. “I love this life, but I don’t know if I can handle this.”

She clung to him as he gently rocked her. It was a rare moment that he didn’t know what to say. A few minutes later he pulled back and rubbed her arms. “Go change and meet me back here.”

“Why?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Always.” When she returned, he had changed as well. She went back to his opened arms. Not long after they landed and he nodded for her to open the door. Her shock at being in the flat’s living room was quickly replaced with relief when she saw her mum.
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Jackie wanted answers but knew better than to press at the moment. The Doctor said he was going to move the TARDIS and she nodded, still holding her daughter. She led Rose to the sofa.

“I’m going to put the kettle on and then we’ll talk, okay?” She nodded silently and retreated to her own world. Jackie could tell it was serious but the pair of them accepted what had happened as well.

When Jackie came out with the tea, the Doctor had returned. He was sitting next to Rose. Their heads were close and they were quiet conversation. He had one hand on her knee and the other rubbing comforting circles on her back. She chose to ignore this and alerted them to them to her presence.

“Here we go. Nice cup of tea.” They separated at that but slowly and without guilt or shame. They took turns telling her what happened. When Rose started to tell about her, the other hers death, she held back a sob. The Doctor took her hand and squeezed it. He tried to fill in as many details as possible. By the time they got to the part of Mickey choosing to stay behind and that it was impossible for him to return, Jackie was crying with her daughter.

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I’m glad you decided to come here.”

“I didn’t. He did.”

“Sometimes a girl just needs her mum.” He smiled down at her and she returned it.

“So, how long are you lot planning on staying then?”

He answered. “A day or two, maybe more, the TARDIS needs a rest.”

“Right then, Doctor, you’re staying on the sofa, no arguments. I need to pop round the shops and get some food. Wasn’t expecting anyone but I’m glad you’re here.” Jackie Tyler taking charge of things put a normalcy into the air that set everyone at ease. As she went to leave, a voice stopped her.

“Jackie, this is a list of things we need for the TARDIS. I’d go with you but someone needs to stay with her. Do you mind?” The concern on his face touched her deeply. She took the list.

“Of course, love. Won’t be a mo’, take care of her yeah?” They both knew she was talking about more than the current situation. He nodded.

They had a quiet but comfortable dinner. “We’ll clean up, Mum.”

“We will?” He looked almost horrified at the idea.

Rose gave him a look. “Yes, we will.”

He knew he was defeated. “Yes, Jackie, we’ll clean up.”

“Alright then, I’m going to get you blankets and pillows. Howard’s pyjamas are still here too, even though he’s not.”

“Ta, Jacks.” They went about their respective tasks. When Jackie finished she sat down and turned on the telly. She wasn’t watching it though; she was watching the pair in the kitchen.

She was certain they thought she didn’t know. She was also certain they wouldn’t tell her. Not now anyway. What she didn’t know was when it happened. Was it recent? Or was it with the old him? She’d started wondering at Christmas but one couldn’t be sure.

It wasn’t too hard to figure out. She easily recognised the way they acted around each other. They always got on but now there was the confidence that only lovers had about them. They touched each other differently. They looked at one another different as well. Did they even realise themselves how much they loved each other? And she knew it was love. She had had that once. She was jealous, happy and scared for her daughter all at the same time.

Any parent would want their child to find happiness and love. But she could see this was all consuming, potentially dangerous love. While it was romantic and great in the movies, it could destroy a person in real life. They wouldn’t mean to hurt each other, but it was probably inevitable with the lives they were living. She resigned herself to the fact that as long as Rose stayed at least a little like the girl she brought up, she’d let her be. She had been concerned when the previous him came swanning into their lives. She could see Rose was instantly besotted with him, even though she denied it. Jackie worried then that he would break her heart. Now, she could see not only did he return her feelings; his were possibly even been deeper.

She was rather fond her, well, she wasn’t quite sure what he was to her except hers through Rose. As such, she would protect him like she protected Rose. She thought of him somewhat as a son-in-law, but how many people had son-in-laws who were hundreds of years older than they were and alien? She found if she dwelt on it too long, her head would hurt.

They had warned her once, that people might show up asking questions about him. They didn’t expect her to keep them safe, but wanted to keep her that way. She understood and still answered the “Where’s Rose?” question with “Travelling with mates.” Safety in numbers right?

By the time they had finished, Jackie was deep into Eastenders. When they came out they were more relaxed and Rose was even smiling. She couldn’t begrudge anyone who could do that to her daughter. They set themselves on the sofa.

Jackie noticed he was a more comfortable person now. She supposed that was Rose’s influence. Even now, his jacket was off and sleeves rolled up. The always loose knot on his tie was a third of the way down. His glasses were on to watch the telly. She continually had to tamp down the maternal instinct to tame his hair.

She was trying not to laugh at their attempt to be nonchalant. They kept their hands next to each other, entwining their pinkies only. Their feet rubbed against each other. They kept stealing glances at each other and when they caught one another, they smiled. They were acting like teenagers. It was sweet to watch. She should have given them their privacy, but his was too much fun.

She finally gave in. “Do you have everything you need, Doctor?”

“Hmm? Oh, I believe so. Ta.” He smiled at her. She went to her room and changed. She about to turn in when she realised she had left her magazine in the living room.

She was about to announce her presence when she saw what was happening. She froze and watched them for awhile. Rose was curled under the Doctor’s arm. He would occasionally whisper something in her ear. She would either murmur a response or look at him and smile, and then they would share a quiet laugh. She had never seen her daughter look so content and happy. They looked so normal. No one looking would ever suspect the truth. That they were the most extraordinary individuals she had ever met. It made her chuffed. She let them be and went to bed.

“We should tell her, you know.”

“Yes, but would I survive the encounter?”

She looked up at him. “You’re actually scared of my mum!”

“Aren’t you?”

“Nah, I’m used to her. Besides, I think she likes you a little. Are you really gonna stay out here?”

“I’ll sneak in later and sneak back at daybreak.”

“Good. I’ll meet you then.” She got up to stretch and got ready for bed. He did the same and settled back into the sofa for a bit. When he was sure it was clear, he picked up a blanket and made his way to Rose’s room.

He shook his head and laughed at himself. Here he was, the last Time Lord, the Oncoming Storm, defender of the universe and he was creeping down the hall to a girl’s room so that her mother wouldn’t catch him. And he didn’t have the decency to be embarrassed.

He laid on top of her duvet and covered himself with his blanket. As he gathered her into his arms, he heard her sleepily murmur, “There you are. Wait, where are you?” He could feel her try to reach him through the bedding.

“I am not keen on the idea of your mother finding me under your covers. I brought protection.”

“That’s just silly. Still, glad you’re here. I can sleep now.” She rolled over and out of her cocoon. She placed her arms on either side of him to hover above him. “Hello.”

“Hello.” They snogged lazily for a few minutes when the Doctor realised Rose was unbuttoning his top. “What? What are you doing? Remember. Jackie. Across the hall.”

“Oh, do shut it. I’m just making the both of us comfortable. I want to do this.” She put her head on top of one heart and a hand on the other. “I don’t have the TARDIS noise, but I do have one familiar sound.”

“Well, I quite like this.” He put one hand in her hair and the other on top of the one on him. Through some clever shifting, she managed to throw a leg over his without losing the blankets. “Good night, Rose.”

He heard something that resembled “’night, Doctor,” as she burrowed his face into his chest.

The next thing he knew, sun light was creeping into the room. He knew that was his cue to go back to the sofa. “Rose. Rose, I need to get up.” She murmured something unintelligible as he untangled himself. He was unable to save the blanket.

As he left her room, he made to button the pyjama top. He looked up to see a smiling Jackie in her dressing gown, arms crossed, and standing in her doorway.

“You’re going to hurt me now, aren’t you.”

“No.” She kept smiling. That scared him.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

“Oh, but I think it is.”

“Well, it is but not the way you think. We’re not…”

“Yes, you are.”

“Okay, maybe a little bit.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“I know.”

“But how do you know?”

“A mother knows these things. You make her happy.”

He got quiet. “I’d like to think so.”

”You do. That’s what a parent wants, isn’t it? Even if that means you take her away.” Her face fell as she turned contemplative.

He touched her arm. “Jackie, I promise you, I’ll always bring her home.”

She smiled genuinely at him. “That may not be your choice to make but I do appreciate it. I suppose you should move your things in there. No point in doing this every morning.”

“Alright, I promise nothing will happen while we’re here.”

“Even if you’re lying to me, thank you.” She walked over and buttoned him up. “Doctor, thank you.”

“For what?”

“For making my Rose blossom.”

“I had very little to do with it but the pleasure was all mine.”

“You break her heart, I’ll personally find out how many of those regeneration things you have.” He believed her.

“And I would deserve it. But rest assured, if I do, it will only be to keep her safe.”

“I can live with that.” They smiled at each other. She continued to the kitchen. He returned to the bedroom, this time under the covers.