Chapter 10:
"Alright," the Doctor beamed as he circled the console of the TARDIS. "You've seen the future, how 'bout a trip to the past?"
Rose Tyler could only answer that beam with one of her own, circling opposite of him in what looked like a dance for the two of them. One that they had done a hundred times and would continue to do for a thousand years more.
"You think you can get us to the past?" she taunted him.
"Oi!" was his indignant reply, his eyes danced with mischief. "I can get us to the past, and then you'll see how impressive I am, Rose Tyler."
"If you can get us to the right place," Rose returned, smirking already knowing she was going to win this. "If not, you have to buy me chips again."
The look in his eyes grew more intense at the challenge she laid out r him. They had sent a wonderful day at the market on Manestre. He had bought her chips that had made her coo and purr in pleasure. In fact the sounds she had made tingled along his nerves and followed him late into the night while she slept in a guest room the TARDIS made her. Even after his anguish at finding the rings had faded and the confusion were laid to rest, he found himself lying on the bed of his dark room.
If he were more honest, he would admit he really had no idea what the dark room actually looked like beyond the dresser, nightstand and bed. There was a chair, he knew that his jacket had laid on. And off to one side was a door to his bathroom. He never turned the lights on in here. The only time he came in there was to sleep, but only if he was beyond exhaustion. The nightmares kept him from a regular sleep schedule of four hours every five days, like a proper Time Lord.
But last night, his mind drifting as he set switches and turned knobs, last night he was there, in the dark and quiet, still hearing the soft sounds Rose had made in her throat. It was a shock, both to the system and his emotional state, to realize he was getting hard just at the thoughts of her. Imagining the sounds she could make if she was under him, writhing, or over him, bouncing. Would she squeal or cry out? Would she sound as husky as the whiskey color of her eyes or would she be more high pitch? He figured she would be throaty and husky with her sounds, if her laugh and the little moans she made at the chips were a clue. The images in his frankly brilliant mind made his fingers twitch to take himself in hand and release the tension that had built to a painful ache. He smiled to himself as he punched in the coordinates into the TARDIS navigation system, thinking about the feel of her against him when she hugged or held him. It would be all too easy, he thought to let himself get lost in those erotic thoughts, in the privacy of his room.
Instead, he had gotten up and taken an ice cold shower.
He was a Time Lord, he reminded himself. They did not indulge in such base desires. And they did not lust after humans.
Especially ones with whiskey color eyes.
Throwing the big red lever that would send them flying through the storm of the Time Vortex, the Doctor set them into motion for what would be their next adventure.
He hoped.
Instead, the TARDIS had other ideas. It was never out of malice she did what she did. It was simply too easy to mess with her beloved pilot. At least this time her Wolf knew the game and could play along. And thus, the main room shifted crazily, like a tilt-a-whirl and spun like the outside of the ship was doing. Sparks flew off a few of the console panels, the TARDIS winced at that. Okay, that wasn't intentional. But it wasn't all bad, just a little TLC needed there. So she kept up the rough ride as the Doctor and Rose clung with matching manic grins to her.
"Hold onto that lever," the Doctor called out to Rose.
She did not hesitate for a second, grabbing hold of the lever in question and flipping it to the right position it needed to be in and held it down. Some of the crazy twists stopped. The TARDIS pressed against Rose's mind, nudging her to a couple of switches in the down position. With her free hand, the golden girl reached out and quickly flipped them up. The loud grinding of metal against metal ceased. Rose had to grin when she felt the TRADIS relief wash over her. How long had those been in the wrong position, Rose had to wonder.
The Doctor was not idle at all. In fact, he was in near constant motion, jumping from one panel to another. How he was able to keep his footing, Rose would never know. Throwing switches, ringing bells, pressing buttons, he even pumped a bike pump a few times to Rose's amusement. His 'modifications' never ceased to entertain her. Or the TARDIS. It was on the tip of Rose's tongue to ask the Doctor if he actually knew what he was doing, but thought better of it. Shifting back and forth between the two panels, he was grinning at her, waiting for her to ask him where he was taking her. She just stared at him back, the little smirk on her lips.
A pout darkened his pale blue eyes for a moment when he realized she wasn't going to play along. Throwing another lever, a bit haphazardly, he turned to speak when the room shook hard.
"At least it's not spinning," Rose grumbled as she held on for dear life.
Sparks flew from a few of the untouched panels. Rose was reaching for a button on the panel next to her, at the TARDIS' urgings when the Doctor cut into her thoughts.
"Hold that one down!" he commanded, pointing at a white one on the panel to the other side of the one with the button she was reaching for.
"I'm holding this one down!" She yelled back, still trying to reach that damn button.
"Well, hold them both down," the Doctor retorted making Rose glare at him.
Looking over at the lever in question, she glared at it like it was offending her. She knew it was out of arms' reach for her, so she threw her leg up onto the panel. Using her foot, she held the white lever down. Then she stretched, determined to hit the damn button the TARDIS was insisting on being push.
"Oi! I promised you a time machine," the Doctor called back at Rose. "That's what you're getting. 1860. How does 1860 sound?" The Doctor was talking rapidly as he worked.
"What happened in 1860?" Rose had to ask, wincing in her head. Some questions are just destined to be asked multiple times, she guessed. Even the stupid ones.
"Don't know," The Doctor laughed as he pulled out a rubber mallet and hit the panel to his right. "Let's find out! Hold One!"
Rose stretched just enough that she was able to slap her fingertips against the glowing button and let out a sigh of relief when the violent shaking stopped. The Doctor, when she stole a look at him, was grinning like the hitting had worked. Rose just rolled her eyes and tried not to think of the rather risqué pose she was in, draped over the console like she was. It was cold comfort to know that the Doctor would never be behind her to see it.
Or give her any more fantasies.
The TARDIS landed with a loud thump, throwing both of her passengers on their backs. The control panels let out steam as if the TARDIS was letting out a heavy breathe. Laughter filled the massive room from both of them. If the time and space machine had a head, she would have shaken it at them. Silly organics, she thought fondly.
"Blimey," Rose's laughing voice rose above the sounds of the old engines settling.
The Doctor rolled over to his side, facing where Rose was laughing on her back, knees slightly bent. She was laughing with complete delight at the rough landing. Pulling himself to his feet, he helped her to her feet, pulling her up with ease.
"You're telling me," he grinned at her. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she smiled brightly at him, running fingers through her mussed up hair. "Nothing broken. Did we make it? When and where are we?"
Still smiling at the little human, the Doctor made his way to the monitor to check. He couldn't remember the last time since the War that he had actively enjoyed traveling this much. Glancing at Rose one more time, he checked the reports of what was around them.
"I did it!" he crowed, grinning manically. "Give the man a medal. Earth, Naples. December twenty-fourth, 1860. Ha!"
"You sure about that?" Rose watched him with a smirk and a knowing gleam in her eyes.
The Doctor smugly gestured towards the door, "All yours."
"It's so weird," Rose muttered softly, moving closer to him. "It's Christmas. But, like, think about it. Christmas, 1860. Happens once. Just once, and it's gone." She reached out and placed a hand on the lapel of his leather jacket, smoothing it as she continued. "It's finished. It'll never happen again. "
He covered her hand with his larger one, studying her intently. Her eyes, still so full of life suddenly filled with a deep pain.
"Except for you," Rose murmured, lifting her face to study him as intently as he was her. His smile was soft as he listened to her, comforting. "You can go back and see days that are dead and gone. A hundred thousand sunsets ago…"
For a moment, she wanted to know, had he ever gone back in time to see her after he left her. It nearly broke her heart to think about. Forcing those thoughts she wasn't even aware were being reflected in her eye, she smiled up at him.
"No wonder you never stay still."
The Doctor curled his fingers around the small hand he still held and squeezed. He didn't know what had put that darkness in her eyes or made her look so broken for a second. He realized he hated it. Hated whoever put it there.
"Not a bad life," he replied lightly.
"Better with two," Rose purred at him.
The two of them lost themselves in that moment, just smiling at each other. Together that darkness inside each of them seem to ease back, instinct pulling them together. For a moment, Rose's eyes flicked to the Doctor's lips then back again. Unconsciously, she wetted her lips, not knowing the Doctor was watching that little pink tip run over her full lips and found himself wanting again. Then, Rose suddenly grinned, as if she remembered something and dashed past him, slapping him on the ass as she ran.
"Come on then!"
"Oi!" The Doctor protested, laughing. "Where do you think you're going?"
"1860, where else?" Rose paused, looking back at him.
"Not like that," the Doctor grinned, crossing his arms over his chest as she looked down at herself. "You'll start a riot, Barbarella! How is it you thought to change for the future, but not think about it for the past?"
Rose stood there like a deer caught in headlights for a moment. She had honestly forgotten about that. She had been so excited to see if they actually made it to Naples that she didn't think about her jeans and trainers in 1860. Again.
"Well, go on," he was delighting in her expression. It was so innocent and adorable, he almost wouldn't know about that darkness that dwelled in her heart. "Wardrobe room with you. Hurry up!"
The Doctor watched as she hurried down the corridor, the smile fading from his face. What was that he had seen in her eyes? Those enchanting brown orbs had appeared so much older than they should be. She had looked so lost, broken. Squatting down, he pulled a part of the grating up before lowering himself down. His thoughts were swirling around what he knew about the mysterious girl that was quickly stealing his sanity from me. Every minute he spent with her, he found it harder to breathe when she was out of his sight.
Shaking his head again, for started doing a few minor repairs, to the annoyance of the TARDIS. The Doctor was so lost in his thoughts as he bent down, checking the wires. His mind was centered on Rose. He knew that she appeared to be a nineteen year old from London, Earth. But there were times, like against the Nestene where she had shown compassion and no fear. Against Cassandra, her compassion was tempered with the rage for justice for those that lost their lives at the plans of the skin rack. She adapted faster than any human or companion he ever met in his considerably long life. Even the ones from other planets.
She was fast to his side, ready to do as he needed. She challenged him and gave the feeling she knew him more than she let on. Then there were the touches of the mind he swore were her. But humans aren't telepathic by nature. And she never once questioned why she was hearing English from the aliens on Platform One she had met. Frowning down at the wires crossly, the Doctor stopped what he was doing, hauling himself out of the hole. He made his way to his room, for the second time since he had met Rose.
Pushing the door, he walked into the dark room. The only light he would accept in the room was from the bathroom and the hall. He didn't want to see the room in detail. The TARDIS tended to change his room based on the personality changes with each regeneration. Out of the corner of his eye, he stopped to look at the mess that was once the mirror that had been over his dresser. He had told the TARDIS to leave it be after he shattered it shortly after his regeneration. He hadn't wanted to know what he looked. Didn't care enough to know. Walking to the closet he knew was there, he pulled out a clean jumper. Throwing his jacket onto the bed, he pulled his current jumper off.
For a moment, he wished there was a mirror in there. Looking down at himself, he wondered what Rose thought of him. With his big ears, and too large nose. He knew he wasn't pretty. It was with her at his side he had cared enough to look at himself for the time. Now he looked down at his body. He wasn't built impressively, he sighed. Wide chest with a light dusting of hair and a long torso. Skinny, he thought with a laugh. Patting his stomach, he wondered if he lost some weight again.
Before Rose came into his life, he often forgot to eat.
Pulling on the clean jumper, the Doctor stalked from the room back to the console room, snatching his jacket up as he walked by. Slipping into the leather armor, he stopped a moment. Breathing in deep, the faint traces of Rose's scent was still there, clinging to the fabric. It brought a soft smile to his face as he let his mind wander back to the sigh of her sleeping peacefully under it on the jump seat. It took him a lot of willpower to not just sit there and watch her. Knowing his luck, she would have woken up and called him a pervert.
Not like he didn't call himself that.
'Where is Rose?' the Doctor reached out to his ship, curious why the little Earth girl hadn't returned yet.
Getting dressed, the TARDIS returned. Patience.
He lowered himself back into the hole under the grating and started again on his useless repairs.
'It's not like she needs to do anything,' he told the TARDIS absently. 'Fantastic already, is what she is.'
I agree. She does not ,the TARDIS sighed. She thinks she is plain at best. Let her have this.
'Why would she think that?' the Doctor's head snapped up. "Who told her that?" he called out a little louder than he meant to.
"Who told who what?" Rose's voice surprised him.
Turning around so fast, he hit his elbow on the grating. His jaw dropped at the same time his hand went slack, dropping his sonic screwdriver on his foot.
"Blimey," he breathed, taking her in. "You look beautiful."
Rose blushed softly, giving him a shy smile. He didn't seem to want to look away from her.
She truly was beautiful to him. More so now. The dress she had selected only enhanced her natural beauty. Her hair was twisted elegantly up, held in place by the hair pin he had bought her at the alien market. Another one crossed it and held her hair firmly in place. Little yellow gemstones glittered at her ears daintily, setting off her eyes in the dull light of the room. No necklace touched her neck, leaving it bare to his gaze. The urge to cover the skin there with his mouth, to nibble, to lick and bite. To mark was nearly knee buckling for the Doctor. Her dress was perfect for her. A tasteful, yet simply corset in dark browns and blacks with accents of gold hugged her torso, setting her breasts up to appear more full and soft than ever. The skirt of the dress was the same colors as the corset, with hints of the yellow crystals that played with the ruffle that covered her feet.
Was she wearing a garter, the Doctor found himself wondering.
Clearing his throat, he took a moment to retrieve his sonic. He needed that moment to get the pure biological reaction to her ease off a little. He was aching already, cock twitching in the confines of his jeans.
Fuck.
Rose was grinning at him now, waiting for something.
Blinking up at her innocently, the Doctor pulled himself once again from the hole. "What?"
That made Rose blink at him, surprise on that expressive face. She said nothing, still waiting for something.
"What?" the Doctor asked again, turning from her to carefully squat, swallowing the grunt as he strained and rubbed the inside of this denim. Not the best feeling in the universe, really. Pushing the grate back into place, he turned back to her. She had her head canted to the side. A slow, soft smile curled her lips and he fought the urge to lean down to kiss those welcoming lips.
Instead, he took her bare shoulders in his hands and brought his lips to her forehead in a lingering kiss. "You look fantastic," he whispered to her, watching as the blush covered her pale cheeks once more. Taking a step away from her, he offered her his arm.
Breaking out of her stupor that his actions had caused her, she suddenly grinned up at him brightly and shook her head.
"Wait here," she laughed, heels clicking against the grating as she hurried to the door. Turning back, she gave him her signature grin, "You've done this before. This one is mine."
He could only laugh as he followed her slowly.
Rose was enchanted as always when she stepped out into the snow. The gleeful smile on her face lit up doubly so when she realized that she won their little bet. She knew exactly where they were and when. She would never forget the soft snow fall as she spun around. She laughed out, ignoring the cold and closed her eyes. The snowflakes kissed her nose, cheeks, her lashes.
As she was dressing, the TARDIS had reached out to her in comfort as the memories had started to fall in her mind. It was nearly overwhelming, choking her in the quiet of the wardrobe room as she had crumpled to the floor, hugging herself. The tears had been hot and her sobs harsh as she rocked herself. It hurt so much. It was like someone had taken the old wound, long since scabbed over, and ripped it open again. She remembered the feelings of terror as she had fallen. Of being lost in the desperate heartbreak as she bruised her hands and knuckles beating the unfeeling white wall. The sheer darkness of her mind until she finally saw him one more time. Only to be denied the one thing she had ever wanted from him.
Him to just tell her.
But he never did. Even as he abandoned her and John in Pete's world. As he stole her choice from her and broke her soul. He still could not tell her the truth.
The sound of a door closing and the click of a lock caused her eyes to open. A soft cloth covered her shoulders. Turning, Rose found the Doctor behind her putting a black velvet cloak over her. Without a word, he took her now cold hands in his, and covered them with soft matching gloves. The tenderness he showed her made her own darkness ease back more.
He would never abandon me, Rose thought with a blush.
Stepping back, he grinned that daft grin of his down at her and once more offered his elbow.
"Ready for this?"
With a laugh and a nod, Rose accepted his offered arm.
"Here we go!" the Doctor laughed as her head leaned against his shoulder. "History!"
The pair exited the alley, and were greeted almost instantly to the sound of carolers moving down the street. The snow muffled the loud sound of hooves clacking against cobblestone a little, as carriages bumped pass them. The streets were surprisingly busy as party goers and revelers walked, calling out greetings and season wishes to everyone. Drunks staggered along the sidewalks and merchants called out with their wares for last minute shoppers or the working man hurrying back to his wife for dinner.
Like before, Rose was simply enchanted with the near fairy tale like quality of the night.
The Doctor kept Rose close to his side. He noticed more than a few looks being thrown Rose's way. He fought again to growl at the men what dared to get to close to her. Instead he graced them with the look that earned him the nickname the Oncoming Storm. Part of him tried to excuse his protectiveness as the fact she was in his care and still just a child. She trusted him to keep her safe, damnit. So if he was fantasize of breaking the limbs of any man that strayed too close to the two of them, that was just him making sure his companion was safe and sound.
At his side.
Away from them.
The Doctor stepped away from Rose long enough to buy a paper from someone once they reached a main square. He could hear her calling out to others, wishing them a happy Christmas in return as she walked back to her side. Vaguely aware that a pair of blokes had tried to approach her while he was away, the Doctor merely glared dangerously at them as she moved to her spot beside him. She waved at the two men, bidding them good night. He heard her say something about her escort was back and she would be fine.
Looking over the paper, the Doctor had a sinking feeling. It only got worse as they two of them kept walking. He could feel Rose's amusement again, all smug, as she took his arm again. Her fingers dusted some snow off the leather, pausing when he groaned. Her grin only got bigger, her expression turning a mocking copy of an innocent stare.
"Something wrong, Doctor?"
Clearing his throat, and refusing to look at her, he mumbled, "Might have got the flight a bit wrong."
"So?" Rose shifted closer to him, still grinning.
"It's not 1860," he admitted, refusing still to look up from the paper. "It's 1869."
"I don't care," she nearly laughed.
"And it's not Naples," now he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, suspicious.
"Still don't care," she laughed openly, before calling out another Christmas greeting to a passing couple.
"It's Cardiff."
"Well," she beamed, not knowing he was watching her. "I did say to Mum I might end up in Cardiff."
The Doctor paused to stare at her now. She turned to look up into his eyes, internally wincing when she realized she was being too casual about the whole thing. She offered her a teasing grin, "You owe me chips again."
"I do not," the Doctor actually looked affronted.
"You do," Rose said. "You got the location wrong. I told you if you did, you owed me chips. If you did, then I would admit you were impressive."
He just gaped at her. "When did that agreement happen?"
"Wait," Rose blinked then nearly squealed. "You said it's December 24th 1869 in Cardiff, right?"
"Yeah," the Doctor watched now as she seemed to become more excited.
"Oh that's fantastic!" She cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek quickly. "Charles Dickens was in Cardiff for Christmas in 1869. He had a show where he recited 'A Christmas Carole'. Imagine, Doctor?? Getting to see The Charles Dickens, telling one of his most famous stories!"
He almost asked her how she knew that as he remembered her telling him she liked History. Maybe she was like him, a big fan of the famous author. Nodding, his face broke into a wide, daft smile.
"Well then," he agreed with her. "Let's go see if the show has begun yet. Bet we could get in."
Giggling, the two of them started off towards the theater. At least, were they thought it was. Rose honestly couldn't remember where it was from last time. Going there, they had run, following screams. Leaving there, she was drugged. The Doctor stopped to ask directions a moment then the time travelers were off to enjoy a night at the theater.
Of course, the universe never lets things be quite so easy for her Champion.
A scream split the air, followed by others. Rose blinked and gripped the Doctor's arm tightly. It was starting, she thought with a trembling breath. The Doctor didn't notice her chance physically, but he did feel a shift in the warm affection he had been feeling to tension and dread.
Then, like all the times before, it was gone as Rose released his arm. It was like someone or something was blocking. Or hiding from him. He turned to say something when a louder scream tore his attention from Rose.
Grinning at her he tossed the paper over his shoulder, "That's more like it!"
He took off in the directions of the screams, still grinning like the mad fool he was. But if anyone looked close enough, those pale blue eyes did not reflect it. No, they looked dark and stormy now. He had a strong suspicious what he was feeling was. But that was for another time. Right now was for adventure.
Running across Cardiff Square, the Doctor was aware that Rose was right behind him, panting slightly. The heels of her boots clacking against the stones as she fought to keep up with his long legged run sounded behind him, making him swell with pride. Reaching back, he took hold of her hand again out of instinct to keep her close. Ahead of them, he saw the theater as people were pouring out of it, running terrified in whatever direction they could safely run. It was a mob scene really.
Looking around frantically as the people ran, Rose looked for the hearse. Spotting it already at the curb, people running around it, Rose knew that Sneed and Gwyneth were already inside. The trick was to keep from being drugged this time, she mused. A man running away from the danger slammed into her shoulder, jerking her free from the Doctor's grip. He stopped instantly, spinning around to watch as another man grabbed hold of Rose, pulling her back away from the theater.
"Don't go in there!" he was crying out in alarm. "Demons haunt it!"
The Doctor struggled against the crowd to get to Rose when she yelled at him to go on.
"I'll catch up as soon as I can," she urged him, eyes wide. The man had let go of her and run off. He obviously didn't want to stay close to the damn theater any longer.
Nodding, the Doctor called back "Be careful!" before he turned to enter the theater.
Rose shifted so the carriage of the dead sheltered her from the rushing mob. She watched the Doctor disappeared from her sight and took a deep breath. A group of men had rushed forward to see if anyone needed help and to keep people out of the building. She never noticed the way the people had reacted last time. Even in the panic and fear, a handful of brave people stepped forward to protect the people. People doing the right then, she thought with a smile. Around her, she watched as people across the street and the square clung to each other, comforting and tending to those who were hurt in the stampede. All too soon, however, Sneed and Gwyneth emerged with the body of the old woman held up between them.
Rose, moving from where she stood next to the end of the hearse to the sidewalk, had to wonder how no one noticed this last time.
Simple. The TARDIS giggled. Remember, humans are thick. For the most part.
'Oi,' Rose sent back with a ghost of a smile on her lips. She was answered with the musical tones of the TARDIS laughing.
Rose waited a little longer as she watched the two of them put the body of Mrs. Redpath into the back of the hearse. Mr. Sneed moved around to ready the horses like last time, leaving the servant girl to finish up.
Moving quickly, Rose rushed to confront Gwyneth. Her sudden appearance startled the poor girl.
"Oh, it's such a tragedy, miss," Gwyneth started talking quickly before Rose could. "Don't worry yourself, me and the master can deal with this. See, the fact is this poor lady's been taken with brain fever and we have to get her to the infirmary."
Rose just watched Gwyneth, her face set and eyes stern. The longer Gwyneth spoke, the softer her voice became until she finished on a soft note and lowered her eyes.
"I know that isn't true," Rose stated softly. "She is already dead."
Gwyneth's dark round eyes got even bigger at the words the strange lady was saying. How could she know?
"I also know this isn't the first time this has happened, is it?" Rose let herself mentally reach out to the other girl. If she thought Gwyneth looked shocked before, she was dumbfounded now at the soft, golden warm touch against her mind. "I can help."
Before Gwyneth could reply, horror took over her face a second too late, alerting Rose to Sneed's return. Acting on remembered instinct, Rose grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the drugged rag in a tight grasp. Moving slower than she would have liked, Rose ducked under Sneed's arm, pulling it back with her as her wrenched it up his back. Gwyneth could only squeak in shock. She had never seen anyone move like that.
"Mr. Sneed," Rose greeted him, her voice still soft as she kept the man in her grip, trapping the hand with the rag between them. "It is very rude to drug someone who is only trying to help you out with your problem."
"Problem, Miss?" Mr. Sneed tried to stammer out. If his maid was shocked, he was dumbfounded. How did a simple female get the better of him? "We, we have no problems. We are just trying to help this dear lady. Sick she is, you know."
"And you try to knock me out instead of telling me that?" Rose challenged the foul little old man.
"Right, well, you see," Mr. Sneed tried to think of something anything to say when suddenly he was released. Staggering forward, he turned around as quick as his age would allow, Gwyneth at his side to steady him. "So who are you then, Miss? To disturb us in this time of urgent need?"
Rose almost smiled as he tried to turn this around on her. She almost was expecting him to tell her she wouldn't understand, being a simple female that she was.
"My name is Rose Tyler," she greeted him with a smile and a nod of the head. "I work for a man called the Doctor. We are aware of your problem with the deceased being restless. We can help you."
The pair looked surprised at her words which made her want to laugh. Swallowing back her giggle at their expense, she kept that little professional smile that apparently she had retained from a lifetime ago.
"How can this man," Mr. Sneed asked softly, closing the back door of the hearse, "help us exactly? Is he… well is he a part of the Church maybe?"
Shaking her head, Rose glanced towards the doors of the theater. The Doctor would come out at any moment, she needed to keep them here longer. There was no way she could explain why she stopped them to him.
"No, but he has experience in dealing with the unknown," Rose tried.
"A detective then," Sneed nodded.
"Doctor," Rose corrected with a smile. "A very learned man. He and I can help you."
"Rose!" the Doctor called out to her, excited as he jogged down the steps towards them. A man she knew to be the man of the hour himself, Mr. Charles Dickens, was following the Doctor down the stairs. She found it funny to watch Charles continue to rant and deny what he saw with his own eyes. That was so the Charlie Boy she remembered so fondly.
A smile bloomed over her face as she turned to address him. Taking a step around the carriage, she suddenly lost her footing. A patch of ice found her heeled boot, sending her crashing to the cobblestones. All around her she could hear people's shouts of surprise as her temple connected with a hard thud.
"ROSE!" She could hear the Doctor yelling for her, but he sounded so far away. As darkness swamped her mind and she lost consciousness, all Rose Tyler could think was: Of course.