Shelter

With eagerness and impatience to get things going, the Doctor circled the TARDIS console with a quick step, hands hurriedly flying over the controls. He shot an anxious glance at the doors; still not there yet. Time, she needed more time–had to re-pack and say goodbye to Jackie, both of which took a while.

Forcing himself to slow down, the Doctor made some finishing touched to the settings, checked some readings on the monitor, double-checked the wiring under the console and tinkered with the controls as he waited.

A whole half-hour passed and there was still no sign of her. Just to make sure the time hadn’t only felt longer than it really was, he glanced at his watch. But the little hands on the face only confirmed that his perfectly-accurate internal clock was indeed perfectly accurate.

What was taking so long?

Storming over to the doors, he tore them open and poked his head outside. He glanced around the street in hopes that she was nearby, on her way, but he found nothing–only a dark, empty courtyard beneath pounding rain. Not wanting to go out in the bad weather nor be anywhere within ten yards of Jackie Tyler, the Doctor slammed the doors shut and charged back over to the console.

He would simply ring up her mobile, that’s what he’d do–tell her get a move-on.

Holding the receiver up to his ear and dialing in her number, he waited. It rang once, twice, a third time...and continued on until her voice-mail clicked on. The Doctor frowned as he hung up; Rose always answered her phone. Could she really be so tied up that she wouldn’t answer a call from the TARDIS?

No, that wasn’t right. Not right at all.

After trying her mobile again and still getting no answer, he began to worry. It wasn’t like Rose to not answer his calls–she always answered. Unless Jackie had prevented her from doing so...It wouldn’t surprise him; the woman disliked him as much as he disliked her.

Not desiring to wait around any longer, the Doctor stepped through the TARDIS doors out into the pouring rain. Jogging through it until he reached the shelter of the flat, he raced up the stairs and pounded on the door.

“Rose? You in there? Come on, then, we haven’t got all day!” he shouted.

The door swung open with an angry creak, leaving him face-to-face with a very upset Jackie Tyler.

“What the hell’s gotten into you?” she snapped. “What’s all this banging and shouting? Bloody mad, you are! Do you have any idea what time it is? You’ll wake the neighbors!”

“Where’s Rose?” he asked curtly, pushing past Jackie to pace across the living room.

“She’s just left to meet you back in that box of yours,” Jackie said, her voice and expression carrying some puzzlement.

The Doctor whirled to face her. “When was that? Just now?”

“About twenty minutes ago.”

He stilled as the information sunk in. “The TARDIS is right out in the street, it wouldn’t take her that long to get there.”

Jackie’s brow furrowed. “You haven’t seen her, then? She didn’t show up to meet you?”

“Would I be here if she had?” he remarked irritably.

“Well, then, where would she...Oh my god, she could be in trouble! She could be hurt!”

Ignoring her obvious fear over her daughter, the Doctor charged passed her back outside.

“Where’re you going?!” Jackie cried.

He didn’t answer her, instead rushing back down the stairs out onto the street, ignoring Jackie’s biting shouts at him from the flat. Standing in the middle of the courtyard, icy rain flowing over him, he glanced around for any hints or ideas. He stormed around the street, glancing around corners, scanning the windows of surrounding buildings, his concern and anger quickly building.

As he paced passed an adjoining alleyway, he threw a quick glance down it’s dark length, but continued onward. It was only the disturbance of a strangled, and quickly muffled, scream that caused him to stop. His mouth parted, both hearts picking up their pace–that had sounded far, far to much like Rose. And Rose didn’t normally scream. In fact, he hadn’t ever once heard her scream. She wasn’t the screaming type.

Without any further thought on the subject, he spun around and bolted down the alleyway, adrenaline already pumping through his body and both hearts pounding against his chest.

He came to a skidding stop at the end of the alley, a tall fence blocking his path. Coming closer to it, he squinted through the bars, trying to get a good look at the other side. He was just reaching into his pocket for his sonic screwdriver when voices to his right caught his attention.

“Keep her still, man!”

“I’m trying! She’s bloody squirmish!”

“Well get out your damn knife, that’ll make her sit still.”

The Doctor backtracked a few steps and found a much narrower alley splitting off from where he stood. Passed the mess of trash and graffiti-covered dumpsters and boxes, he could make out two bulky human male shapes, one on his knees, the other squatted over, trying to pin something, or someone, down.

Rose.

Trying to keep himself level-headed and restrain the urge to bolt over to them, the Doctor cautiously strolled toward them. Once his foot crunched down on a piece of broken glass, the two males immediately went rigid and twisted around to face him. He was both surprised and disgusted to find they were just a couple of teenage kids.

The sight absolutely sickened him, his blood broiling in utter rage. There Rose lay trapped under the strength of the two boys, her wrists caught and pinned by the hands of one, and her legs parted by the knees of the other, his body poised over hers. Her mouth was covered with a tightly-bound cloth, and her makeup was smeared down her face from the rain. Her eyes were locked on him, staring at him desperately, irises drowning in intense emotion of horror. A tight, hard lump knotted and twisted in the Doctor’s throat seeing her in such a condition, trapped in such violation.

“Who the hell are you?” one of the men spat.

“Doesn’t matter who the bloody hell he is,” said the other. “Get the hell out of here!” he shouted at the Doctor. Then he waved his knife threateningly at him. “Before we have to hurt you.”

Tearing his eyes away from Rose’s terrified eyes trained on him, the Doctor glowered at the kid closest to him. “You might want to think about that first,” the Doctor advised.

“No thought required man, you’re interrupting, and my patience is really about worn out right now.”

“Because that girl’s mother has been worrying herself sick all night,” the Doctor went on. “Been bothering the whole place. We finally got her to calm down and call the police. On their way now; probably already here, actually.”

One of the kids cursed sharply, but the other was a bit skeptical. “How d’we know you’re tellin’ the truth?”

“True or not, I’m not waiting around to find out!” said the other, immediately letting go of Rose’s hands and getting to his feet.

“What’s the matter with you?” the other berated harshly. “You’re gonna run?”

“Dude, the cops are coming!”

“You’d better run while you can,” the Doctor pitched in. He glanced over his shoulder. “They’re gonna be here any minute, and you’re not so far away, after all.”

“Bloody hell,” the kid pushed off away from Rose and also got to his feet. He took a step in close to the Doctor, pointing his knife dangerously close to the Doctor’s face. “One word about this, what we look like, to the coppers, and we’ll come after you,” he sneered.

The Doctor didn’t so much as flinch, and he watched as the two teens ran as quickly as their legs would carry them. When he turned his gaze back to Rose, she was struggling to sit up and trying to pull the cloth off from her mouth.

He immediately went to her, helping to get her free of the cloth. “You alright? Did they hurt you?” he asked the moment her mouth was free.

Rose shook her head. “No, no, I’m...I’m fine.”

Looking her over, he noticed the darkening bruises around her wrists. Gently taking her hand, he examined her damaged wrist, turning it over to see both sides. He brushed his thumb over the tender skin and she jerked her hand back. Looking at her, she had her eyes down-turned shyly as she cradled her hands close to her body. She was trembling, her hair in matted, soaked tangles around her face, clothes completely drenched from the heavy rain.

He knew from the moment he had met her that Rose was a strong girl; all through their travels she hadn’t once proved otherwise. Seeing her so vulnerable now, so violated, pained him in ways that could not be described with words.

“Let’s get you home,” he said quietly, and was relieved at her consenting nod.

Firmly holding onto her arms, the Doctor helped her to stand. Once she was up, he noted that she had begun to tremble even more, and the color was drained from her cheeks. Her eyelids were hanging over her eyes, drooping, and she swayed off balanced, leaning into him.

He held onto her tighter to keep her upright. “Rose?”

“I’m f-fine,” she said through chattering teeth. She pushed away from him, attempting to keep herself steady.

She was far from fine; humans couldn’t withstand long exposure to extreme temperature without consequences, and the evidence was more than clear in her composure. Not only could she hardly speak or stand, but her normally warm skin was ice to the touch.

Shrugging off his leather jacket, he carefully draped it around her shoulders, pulling it closed tight around her. His jacket wasn’t exactly dry, but it wasn’t as thoroughly drenched as her own clothes, and it was still warm from his two-hearted body heat. It must’ve helped, because she looked up at him with a mix of surprise and gratitude, a small smile touching her lips. This time, she leaned into him of her own volition, and he slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in snug against him.

They were both silent as he lead her back toward the flat. He didn’t ask any questions, although he had quite a few. None of it really mattered; what was important was that she was safe. Besides, he was clever enough to gather what had, and had not, happened.

Coming out of the dark back alleyways and stepping out into the courtyard, the Doctor began leading them toward the Tyler flat when Rose came to an abrupt stop. He looked down at her with a frown. “What’s the matter?”

“I...” She pulled his coat tighter around herself as she drew her eyes up to him. They were almost pleading, a look he had never seen in her gaze before. “Can we just go back to the TARDIS? I don’t...I don’t want Mum to see me like this.”

“She knows you’ve gone missing, Rose. I think she should know you’re alright,” he told her gently.

Rose looked momentarily alarmed at this news, but then she bit her lip in discomfort. “Just lemme go clean up, then. If she sees me like this, she’ll go completely nutter.”

The Doctor studied her in silence for a moment before finally nodding softly. “Alright. Come on.”

Changing direction, they headed for the TARDIS, waiting patiently for them in the corner, glowing warmly at them. Opening the door for her and following her inside, the Doctor immediately felt a wave of comforting warmth, safety and relief wash over him, allowing him to relax somewhat. He had found Rose, was she unharmed, and back with him in the safe confines of his TARDIS.

Rose slowly, somewhat reluctantly, slipped out of his jacket and held it out for him. “Thank you.”

Meeting her gaze, he somehow knew that she wasn’t just thanking him for the loan of his coat. He gave her a half-hearted, crooked grin as he reached out for it, his fingers softly brushing hers as he did so.

“I won’t be too long,” she told him, brushing her tangled hair out of her face. “Just gonna jump in a hot shower real quick, then I’ll go talk to Mum.”

He nodded, thinking that tea would do her good right now. Watching her soaked form disappear into the passageway, he decided he wouldn’t rush her to leave, to return to their travels through time and space. Rose was certainly a strong girl, but he knew she was thoroughly shaken by this experience. He wouldn’t push her.

Instead, he hung his jacket over the railing to let it dry out and headed for the wardrobe room with a specific object in mind that they would most certainly need. After having found it, he tucked it under his arm and made his way back to the control room only moments before Rose did.

She looked much better, but a little worn. Even behind the freshly-applied makeup, he could see her eyes were waterlogged and tired. Some color had returned to her cheeks, giving them the warm rosy glow they usually had, and her hair was now dry and fluffed, framing her face with golden wisps. Even with a bit of weariness to her appearance, she looked absolutely beautiful, and for a moment he found himself short of breath.

“Feeling better?” he inquired cheerily, grinning at her.

Returning his smile, she shyly tightened her scarf around her neck. “Yeah. Could use some good tea, though.” She sniffled and wiped at her nose, then offered him another weary, shy grin.

“Well, good thing we’re parked right outside your mother’s, then,” he replied, picking up his jacket and pulling it back on. “The number one tea addict in all of London.”

Rose laughed softly, then tilted her head in mild vexation. “You coming with me?”

“Course I am!” he said with slight offense. There was no way he was going to let her out there again on her own.

“What for? You usually hate being around my Mum.”

“Because it’s the gentlemanly thing to do, and I am the most gentlemanly a person can be in the universe.” He beamed at her, and held out his arm in offering.

Rose skipped over to him and happily took his arm. “We’re gonna get wet again,” she pointed out.

“That’s what this is for.” He bumped the TARDIS door open with his shoulder, and sticking his free arm out, opened up an umbrella large enough to shelter both of them. He gave her a smug smile, to which Rose responded with a shake of her head and a peek of her tongue at the corner of her mouth as she grinned.

“Think you’re so impressive,” she remarked fondly.

“Oi!” he frowned, and Rose tightened her hold on his arm as she giggled, leaning into him.

“Come on, Mr. Impressive,” she began. “Let’s go get a cuppa Mum’s tea.”




End