He Needed Me
folder
1 through F › Doctor Who
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
18
Views:
6,336
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Category:
1 through F › Doctor Who
Rating:
Adult
Chapters:
18
Views:
6,336
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
The concept nor the characters of Dr. Who are mine. The BBC and Russel Davies own everything. I'm merely borrowing their toys for the purpose of this story and in no way am I making a dime out of this.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
The TARDIS gave a small shudder, obviously landing somewhere and jolted Rose out of the book she was reading. She frowned and marked her place, wandering out of the library and through the corridor to the console room, “Doctor?” They hadn’t had that conversation yet and he hadn’t mentioned a trip to her. Her aloof partner was no where in sight, his coat gone and one of the TARDIS doors partially open. She sighed before grinning to herself at the thought of another adventure and picked up her own hoodie laying over the railing, slipping it on as she walked down the ramp and peeked out the door. A cool wind hit her face and she zipped up the hoodie as she looked around. Her eyes widened at the sight, “Is this...is this Gallifrey?” It wasn’t possible. He’d said his whole planet and all of his people were gone but it certainly looked like it.
The Doctor didn’t look at her as he stared silently at his surroundings. Didn’t even acknowledge her presence at first, so lost in his own thoughts. By his calculations, with good luck, he had maybe three hundred years left to live. It was a long time. Several lifetimes to most. But...was it really worth not having Rose? He wasn’t foolish enough to believe he could resist her forever so either they would be together, or he’d take her home. And with her he could share maybe eighty years of chips and adventure and laughter and love. That was the choice he had to weigh: quantity of life or quality.
Rose felt her breath catch in her throat, seeing what she’d seen in his bedroom. Same burnt orange sky. Same orange grass, “It’s only missing the sun.” Her eyes tracked the Doctor, he standing a few feet from her, hands in his coat pockets as he looked around. A strong wind was whipping his coat and hair about, blowing the tall grass around him. He pointed to the single orb in the sky, “It should have two suns but there’s only one. Binary stars are so rare after all, not to mention having a solar system within them even less likely-...” His babble stopped short, his voice cracking the slightest bit. His brown eyes glanced at her, misted over with tears he refused to let fall. Always so stubborn to hold it in, “It’s missing people, too. This planet is completely uninhabited...a super virus eradicating every form of life. Even plants and bacteria, gone. Caput.” He clicked his teeth to emphasize his ‘t’ even as he went back to studying the sky.
She watched him shiver and knew it didn’t have anything to do with temperature since it was a very rare occasion for the native of Gallifrey to actually feel cold. Quickly tucking her mouth into her shirt, partly worried and partly trying to distract him, “Is it safe to breathe, then?” She silently gasped as a single tear fell from the corner of his eye.
Making a scoffing gesture, not even looking in her direction this time as he quickly wiped a hand over his face, his voice now betraying none of his inner turmoil, “Nay, don’t worry, virus disappeared with no one left to inhabit. It was a good...ooh, 2000 years ago.”
Frowning and peeking out of her shirt, “Then how are we breathing? Need trees for that, yeah? And, I think I’d say grass was a plant.”
He nodded, pointing down the hill the TARDIS was stationed on. In the distance she could see a forest of silver-tipped trees stretching as far as the eye could see. She frowned to herself. If this planet had died how were there plants here? As if reading her thoughts and maybe he had but she doubted it, “Time Lords always carry seeds and soil from home on their TARDIS. Like good luck or some such. After the war I came here and I planted all of this.” Shrugged, “Didn’t need the soil so it’s still on the TARDIS somewhere...” He left it unsaid; how long he’d probably stayed here, grieving for his people before he’d even met her.
Coming up next to him, raising an eyebrow, “You did all this?”
He pursed his lips a little, stiffening his spine to get it all out, “After the war I regenerated and...I needed time so I drifted to the past...” Shrugging, obviously distancing himself from the memory. All this time, even with a new regeneration it was still a painful subject, “Well, started it with my new body 1673 years ago... it just grew on it’s own.” Shrugging again, “Came here after you’d gone and introduced a few animals and things ‘bout 1000 years ago or so...”
Rose looked around, seeing a strange looking neon green bird fly overhead and towards the forest, taking it all in before something occurred to her and she smacked his shoulder, “You prat.”
“OW!” He rubbed his shoulder, giving her a hurt/confused look, “What?”
Laughing, “Here you’ve been going on about not being domestic and you go and find your own planet. You’re more domestic than me.”
“Oi!” Crossing his arms and pouting, “I’ll have you know Rose Tyler this is not my home...” Toeing the ground and mumbling, “...just visit sometimes...”
Wrapping her arms around him and squeezing, ignoring his grumbling, “I think you should call it New Gallifrey.”
He gave her a sharp look, “Don’t.” Pain silently flashed in his eyes, as if asking her how could she possibly say something like that.
She didn’t relent but unlike Martha she knew the right thing to say, “You planet is gone but never forgotten. It lives here and here.” She pointed to first one heart and then the other. He felt them both squeeze, “Naming this planet that isn’t a joke, to either of us. I said it so that when you think of that sky and your people, you’ll have a...a memorial of what you’ve lost...and what you still have.” Giving him another squeeze, “If it’s too soon I understand but don’t dismiss the thought. Sometimes it’s nice to have little reminders of the past even if you can’t have it back.”
He looked around thoughtfully before sighing softly, “...New Gallifrey...” And she saw it. A slight bit of smile crossed his face. A real one, seemingly finding comfort in naming this planet. He gave her a grin, “Rather insightful of you.” She just shrugged and leaned her head against his chest. He tilted his head in curiosity, “How did you know, I never told you what my planet was called.”
Smiling softly, “Let’s just say TARDIS told me.” He’d handled the knowledge that TARDIS had changed her a little rather badly, she didn’t want to find out just yet how he’d react to finding out how much she’d changed. He frowned slightly but she looked around again, thinking to distract him from pressing, “What was it like?”
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as his mind immediately drifted back to his home, “A lot like this. Same sky...same trees...a giant city under a large glass dome...it was perfect, Rose. Perfect.”
Grinning wickedly, remembering their discussion outside of the blackhole when they’d been certain the TARDIS was gone for good and they were stuck living in the distant future together, “And we could build that house right here, so no need for a mortgage.”
He glared down at her, “Not funny.”
Her fingers moved a little against his sides, warning him of a possible tickle, “I thought it was very amusing. You looked so panicked when you thought we were stuck outside that blackhole. Oh, the horror, the Doctor with a job and a mortgage...”
An evil look crossing his face, remembering how chauvinistic some humans still were in the twenty-first century, “If I’m the one with the mortgage and the job and you oh so kindly offered to shack up together then what’s that make you? Barefoot and pregnant if you ask me.”
He was legging it for the forest, she in hot pursuit as her mind wrapped around such a horrid and embarrassingly appealing scenario. But only with him. She wouldn’t tie herself down for just anyone, “Come back here, Doctor, and I’ll show you how much you don’t want me barefoot...I’ll kick your bloody arse from one side of the world to the other with it!”
He yelped and ran faster, knowing he had the advantage of longer legs and more stamina. Maybe he could outrun her until she was appeased, “Rose! Sorry! Didn’t mean it! Just kidding! Don’t kill me!” Partly through that he started laughing, she giggling as well even if she still pursued him.
She smirked after him, even if he couldn’t see it. Yes, he was taller and his legs were longer and he could run all day and night but there was one difference between them: he would never fight dirty and she would. She flew and tackled him, both of them landing in the soft grass. She immediately worked over his ribs and stomach until he was laughing hysterically, thrashing helplessly under her tickle assault since he had no way to retaliate. He was laughing so hard tears were gathering and she thought to herself it was about time she saw a bit of happiness in him, “Please...I surrender... Rose!”
She sat on his hips victoriously, grinning down at him as he continued to giggle softly, “You surrender, huh?”
He panted and nodded as he calmed down, wide smile on his face as he looked up at her, “To you, anyway.” Her breath caught in her throat as she locked onto those deep brown eyes of his. He pointed at her, “Just keep those fingers away from-...” He jerked his face to the side at the last second or her lips would surely have met his. Instead her kiss landed on his cheek and he sighed in relief while she jerked back with a hurt expression on her lovely face. She tried to rise, his grip locked on her hips to keep her in place and a firm look on his face, “You said you’d wait for a talk.”
Giving him an exasperated look, “It’s just a ruddy kiss! What, I got bad breath or something?” He just quietly sighed through his nose and she tilted her head back to calm. Shaking her head a little, “So when’s that, then? You avoid me and bring me here-...”
He pushed her gently off, his expression going blank and it was the first time she’d ever seen it directed at her, “I wanted to show you a bit of my past. Sorry. My mistake.”
He tried to rise but she scrambled back on top of him. He could have thrown her off, he was physically stronger. But he didn’t, letting her settle back into her previous position. She nibbled on her lip and played with one of the buttons on his shirt before sighing, “Sorry...thought you were just...”
She shrugged a bit and he nodded, relaxing his body and his expression. He understood since his track record was primarily based on avoiding everything sticky, “I’m not going to avoid the topic, Rose. You deserve to hear it and I’ll explain but...” He grimaced, “Some parts are embarrassing and others...” He shook his head, carefully choosing his words, “Once you’ve heard everything you’ll want to leave and I’m...delaying that as long as I can.” She cupped his cheeks and leaned down and he shrank back, “Don’t kiss me.”
Sighing, “Why?”
Swallowing, watching her carefully to make sure she didn’t do something she’d regret, “It’s part of it.”
She nodded and sat back, pulling in a breath and blowing it out as she shook her head and stood up. She was used to sexual tension by now, “Alright.” Giving him a glare, “And I have no intentions of leaving so just get that out of your stubborn Timelord head right now.” She glanced at her watch, the one her mum had given her that was set on London time, “We’ll have dinner, then a bit of a chat.” He raised himself up on his elbows, mouth opening to object and her expression firmed, realizing suddenly what Bad Wolf had meant, “By Rassilion’s mandates I have every right to know.” His eyes widened incredulously and he swallowed once before ever so slightly nodding. She nodded back, “No more avoiding, Doctor. Either tell me after supper or take me to Earth. Your choice.”
A hurt look shadowed his face for a fleeting moment before he hid it, “You just...”
She gave him an evil look, “Cardiff. I’m sure Jack can torture the truth out of you with his little Torchwood team.” Sticking out her tongue at him, “And no, I’m not telling you how I know he’s there.” And off she stomped to go make dinner, leaving a flabbergasted Timelord in her wake.
The TARDIS gave a small shudder, obviously landing somewhere and jolted Rose out of the book she was reading. She frowned and marked her place, wandering out of the library and through the corridor to the console room, “Doctor?” They hadn’t had that conversation yet and he hadn’t mentioned a trip to her. Her aloof partner was no where in sight, his coat gone and one of the TARDIS doors partially open. She sighed before grinning to herself at the thought of another adventure and picked up her own hoodie laying over the railing, slipping it on as she walked down the ramp and peeked out the door. A cool wind hit her face and she zipped up the hoodie as she looked around. Her eyes widened at the sight, “Is this...is this Gallifrey?” It wasn’t possible. He’d said his whole planet and all of his people were gone but it certainly looked like it.
The Doctor didn’t look at her as he stared silently at his surroundings. Didn’t even acknowledge her presence at first, so lost in his own thoughts. By his calculations, with good luck, he had maybe three hundred years left to live. It was a long time. Several lifetimes to most. But...was it really worth not having Rose? He wasn’t foolish enough to believe he could resist her forever so either they would be together, or he’d take her home. And with her he could share maybe eighty years of chips and adventure and laughter and love. That was the choice he had to weigh: quantity of life or quality.
Rose felt her breath catch in her throat, seeing what she’d seen in his bedroom. Same burnt orange sky. Same orange grass, “It’s only missing the sun.” Her eyes tracked the Doctor, he standing a few feet from her, hands in his coat pockets as he looked around. A strong wind was whipping his coat and hair about, blowing the tall grass around him. He pointed to the single orb in the sky, “It should have two suns but there’s only one. Binary stars are so rare after all, not to mention having a solar system within them even less likely-...” His babble stopped short, his voice cracking the slightest bit. His brown eyes glanced at her, misted over with tears he refused to let fall. Always so stubborn to hold it in, “It’s missing people, too. This planet is completely uninhabited...a super virus eradicating every form of life. Even plants and bacteria, gone. Caput.” He clicked his teeth to emphasize his ‘t’ even as he went back to studying the sky.
She watched him shiver and knew it didn’t have anything to do with temperature since it was a very rare occasion for the native of Gallifrey to actually feel cold. Quickly tucking her mouth into her shirt, partly worried and partly trying to distract him, “Is it safe to breathe, then?” She silently gasped as a single tear fell from the corner of his eye.
Making a scoffing gesture, not even looking in her direction this time as he quickly wiped a hand over his face, his voice now betraying none of his inner turmoil, “Nay, don’t worry, virus disappeared with no one left to inhabit. It was a good...ooh, 2000 years ago.”
Frowning and peeking out of her shirt, “Then how are we breathing? Need trees for that, yeah? And, I think I’d say grass was a plant.”
He nodded, pointing down the hill the TARDIS was stationed on. In the distance she could see a forest of silver-tipped trees stretching as far as the eye could see. She frowned to herself. If this planet had died how were there plants here? As if reading her thoughts and maybe he had but she doubted it, “Time Lords always carry seeds and soil from home on their TARDIS. Like good luck or some such. After the war I came here and I planted all of this.” Shrugged, “Didn’t need the soil so it’s still on the TARDIS somewhere...” He left it unsaid; how long he’d probably stayed here, grieving for his people before he’d even met her.
Coming up next to him, raising an eyebrow, “You did all this?”
He pursed his lips a little, stiffening his spine to get it all out, “After the war I regenerated and...I needed time so I drifted to the past...” Shrugging, obviously distancing himself from the memory. All this time, even with a new regeneration it was still a painful subject, “Well, started it with my new body 1673 years ago... it just grew on it’s own.” Shrugging again, “Came here after you’d gone and introduced a few animals and things ‘bout 1000 years ago or so...”
Rose looked around, seeing a strange looking neon green bird fly overhead and towards the forest, taking it all in before something occurred to her and she smacked his shoulder, “You prat.”
“OW!” He rubbed his shoulder, giving her a hurt/confused look, “What?”
Laughing, “Here you’ve been going on about not being domestic and you go and find your own planet. You’re more domestic than me.”
“Oi!” Crossing his arms and pouting, “I’ll have you know Rose Tyler this is not my home...” Toeing the ground and mumbling, “...just visit sometimes...”
Wrapping her arms around him and squeezing, ignoring his grumbling, “I think you should call it New Gallifrey.”
He gave her a sharp look, “Don’t.” Pain silently flashed in his eyes, as if asking her how could she possibly say something like that.
She didn’t relent but unlike Martha she knew the right thing to say, “You planet is gone but never forgotten. It lives here and here.” She pointed to first one heart and then the other. He felt them both squeeze, “Naming this planet that isn’t a joke, to either of us. I said it so that when you think of that sky and your people, you’ll have a...a memorial of what you’ve lost...and what you still have.” Giving him another squeeze, “If it’s too soon I understand but don’t dismiss the thought. Sometimes it’s nice to have little reminders of the past even if you can’t have it back.”
He looked around thoughtfully before sighing softly, “...New Gallifrey...” And she saw it. A slight bit of smile crossed his face. A real one, seemingly finding comfort in naming this planet. He gave her a grin, “Rather insightful of you.” She just shrugged and leaned her head against his chest. He tilted his head in curiosity, “How did you know, I never told you what my planet was called.”
Smiling softly, “Let’s just say TARDIS told me.” He’d handled the knowledge that TARDIS had changed her a little rather badly, she didn’t want to find out just yet how he’d react to finding out how much she’d changed. He frowned slightly but she looked around again, thinking to distract him from pressing, “What was it like?”
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back as his mind immediately drifted back to his home, “A lot like this. Same sky...same trees...a giant city under a large glass dome...it was perfect, Rose. Perfect.”
Grinning wickedly, remembering their discussion outside of the blackhole when they’d been certain the TARDIS was gone for good and they were stuck living in the distant future together, “And we could build that house right here, so no need for a mortgage.”
He glared down at her, “Not funny.”
Her fingers moved a little against his sides, warning him of a possible tickle, “I thought it was very amusing. You looked so panicked when you thought we were stuck outside that blackhole. Oh, the horror, the Doctor with a job and a mortgage...”
An evil look crossing his face, remembering how chauvinistic some humans still were in the twenty-first century, “If I’m the one with the mortgage and the job and you oh so kindly offered to shack up together then what’s that make you? Barefoot and pregnant if you ask me.”
He was legging it for the forest, she in hot pursuit as her mind wrapped around such a horrid and embarrassingly appealing scenario. But only with him. She wouldn’t tie herself down for just anyone, “Come back here, Doctor, and I’ll show you how much you don’t want me barefoot...I’ll kick your bloody arse from one side of the world to the other with it!”
He yelped and ran faster, knowing he had the advantage of longer legs and more stamina. Maybe he could outrun her until she was appeased, “Rose! Sorry! Didn’t mean it! Just kidding! Don’t kill me!” Partly through that he started laughing, she giggling as well even if she still pursued him.
She smirked after him, even if he couldn’t see it. Yes, he was taller and his legs were longer and he could run all day and night but there was one difference between them: he would never fight dirty and she would. She flew and tackled him, both of them landing in the soft grass. She immediately worked over his ribs and stomach until he was laughing hysterically, thrashing helplessly under her tickle assault since he had no way to retaliate. He was laughing so hard tears were gathering and she thought to herself it was about time she saw a bit of happiness in him, “Please...I surrender... Rose!”
She sat on his hips victoriously, grinning down at him as he continued to giggle softly, “You surrender, huh?”
He panted and nodded as he calmed down, wide smile on his face as he looked up at her, “To you, anyway.” Her breath caught in her throat as she locked onto those deep brown eyes of his. He pointed at her, “Just keep those fingers away from-...” He jerked his face to the side at the last second or her lips would surely have met his. Instead her kiss landed on his cheek and he sighed in relief while she jerked back with a hurt expression on her lovely face. She tried to rise, his grip locked on her hips to keep her in place and a firm look on his face, “You said you’d wait for a talk.”
Giving him an exasperated look, “It’s just a ruddy kiss! What, I got bad breath or something?” He just quietly sighed through his nose and she tilted her head back to calm. Shaking her head a little, “So when’s that, then? You avoid me and bring me here-...”
He pushed her gently off, his expression going blank and it was the first time she’d ever seen it directed at her, “I wanted to show you a bit of my past. Sorry. My mistake.”
He tried to rise but she scrambled back on top of him. He could have thrown her off, he was physically stronger. But he didn’t, letting her settle back into her previous position. She nibbled on her lip and played with one of the buttons on his shirt before sighing, “Sorry...thought you were just...”
She shrugged a bit and he nodded, relaxing his body and his expression. He understood since his track record was primarily based on avoiding everything sticky, “I’m not going to avoid the topic, Rose. You deserve to hear it and I’ll explain but...” He grimaced, “Some parts are embarrassing and others...” He shook his head, carefully choosing his words, “Once you’ve heard everything you’ll want to leave and I’m...delaying that as long as I can.” She cupped his cheeks and leaned down and he shrank back, “Don’t kiss me.”
Sighing, “Why?”
Swallowing, watching her carefully to make sure she didn’t do something she’d regret, “It’s part of it.”
She nodded and sat back, pulling in a breath and blowing it out as she shook her head and stood up. She was used to sexual tension by now, “Alright.” Giving him a glare, “And I have no intentions of leaving so just get that out of your stubborn Timelord head right now.” She glanced at her watch, the one her mum had given her that was set on London time, “We’ll have dinner, then a bit of a chat.” He raised himself up on his elbows, mouth opening to object and her expression firmed, realizing suddenly what Bad Wolf had meant, “By Rassilion’s mandates I have every right to know.” His eyes widened incredulously and he swallowed once before ever so slightly nodding. She nodded back, “No more avoiding, Doctor. Either tell me after supper or take me to Earth. Your choice.”
A hurt look shadowed his face for a fleeting moment before he hid it, “You just...”
She gave him an evil look, “Cardiff. I’m sure Jack can torture the truth out of you with his little Torchwood team.” Sticking out her tongue at him, “And no, I’m not telling you how I know he’s there.” And off she stomped to go make dinner, leaving a flabbergasted Timelord in her wake.