[IC] Doctor Who- I'm so sorry (Me and Kirah)

[Magic223]

It had been a year, a year since the Doctor had last seen Rose, a year since he had dropped her off home and then disappeared. He had not meant to go missing, But the TARDIS had started going crazy and he was drawn in a direction he shouldn't have been. He knew that Rose would be angry, he had thought she would have liked time with her family for a bit. Though not a year, Never a year, he had meant to come back for her the day after he had dropped her off. He knew Jackie might slap him. He was sighing as he leant on the console.

He missed Rose, he knew that she was going to be rather upset. He had to be ready to face that. He knew the TARDIS was damaged and needed time to repair. He had barely got it working enough to get out of the situation he had been. He just hoped the TARDIS could make it to Rose's place, or at least London. He was flicking the controls, he coughed because of the smoke coming from the console.
"Come on... old girl." he urged. He was worn out, but rest would have to come later.

The TARDIS span out of control and crashed in Rose's street, The Doctor was thrown off his feet. He groaned as he was laying on the floor of the ship. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He was looking at his damaged ship. He was sure that it was going to take her a few days or so to repair. He looked around sighing. The smoke wasn't good for his lungs. He gets out of the ship and gasped a bit and closes the door. He stroked the door. "I'll be back."

[Kirah]

Rose was getting ready for work. She had spent the first month of The Doctor's absence sulking. The second month she had spent looking for a job. It wasn't until most of the way through the third month that she actually found one. A job in a shop. Of course. She hated it. Day in day out working with people who had no idea what was out there. They were so focused on their little lives that they didn't have a clue about the bigger picture. To top it off, it was boring, god awful boring. Nothing interesting happened. Not even for Christmas! So it was just a year of drudging through the days hoping that the next the Doctor would return, but he never did. Rose had gone through most of the stages of grieving, had even called up Sarah Jane and spoke with her a bit, but it hurt too much so they never did more than chat over the phone twice.

Now she stood in the hall her jaw dropped as she heard the noise she had been hoping to hear for months, for a year. She grabbed her coat and ran out the door, shoes untied. She wasn't hallucinating it was the Doctor, oh he better have a good reason for being gone so long. "Mum! It's him!" She yelled back over her shoulder to Jackie who was in the kitchen on the phone. Before Jackie could react Rose was running down the stairs and toward the Doctor and the TARDIS, the place she had considered more of a home than anywhere before.

"Doctor!" He was just coming out of the TARDIS, smoke following him out of the door before he shut it away. Tears were stinging Rose's eyes. "Where in the universe have you been? It's been a year. I had to get a job." But despite the anger in her voice she was wrapping her arms around him. Her Doctor.

Jackie had hung up the phone and was following Rose out of the apartment, just not as fast. Her arms were crossed and the cordless phone was in her hand tapping the opposite upper arm. She stood about twenty feet back watching their reunion, and when they were finished she had a bone to pick with him. Rose had been a wreck!

[Magic223]

The Doctor was wondering how Rose would react. He wondered if she would know that he was really there. He soon saw her , he didn't have to wonder long. He could see she was a bit angry and upset.
"I"m so sorry Rose... I," He was looking at her. He felt so bad about what had happened. He wasn't looking forward to get a ear full from Jackie. He was looking towards Jackie with a nervous smile.

"I had only meant to drop you off for one day to see your family and come back for you the next day, But something happened, The TARDIS got pulled out of control and into the unknown, I couldn't escape it and to make matters worse the TARDIS was damaged, I was lucky I found a way out and got her working enough, But she is going to need a few days to rest and repair." He explained.
He had spent alot of time missing Rose, he had a few tears himself. He was sure that Rose had never seen him cry. He hugged her and held her close. He knew in the time he had gone missing, he would have been off the radar and unable to be tracked or contacted.

He looked at her with a small tired smile "I was worried you would give up on me." He said "Glad to see you haven't." He sighed looking at his precious ship "Suppose we are stuck with your mother for a few days." He said with a grin. "But your still welcome to come with me.... that is if you are not too angry.' He looked down a bit and was looking around.

"Again.... I am so sorry," The Doctor seemed to say he was sorry over and over again.

[Kirah]

Rose wiped away her own tears. Tears of joy and anger. She wanted to be mad at the Doctor. She wanted to rant and yell at him, but she was happy to see him again. And he was saying that they'd be able to travel together again. She rolled her eyes as he said that they'd be stuck with her Mum for a few days. She didn't mind, not really, she loved her mother.

"I know you are." She finally said in response to the Doctor's apologies. She released him from the hug, but held onto the sleeve of his coat, as if if she let go he'd fly away again and leave her behind. "Mum?" She turned to face Jackie. Jackie's face was priceless. She had attempted to contort into the most upset look she could muster. For Rose it was humorous, but for anyone else it may be terrifying.

"A year." She started. "A year! Do you know what Rose was going through? She thought you were dead! Or worse had chosen to abandon her, like so many others before. That she was just another name in a long roster of names. Just a person you traveled with for a while. I spent months getting her to move. To do anything! And now you're back. She had started to grow out of it." Rose's face fell. She hadn't wanted the Doctor to know how messed up she had been over the last year. God it had been a terrible year, but here was her mum giving him the riot act.

"Mum, please stop." Rose tried to cut her off, but it didn't work, Jackie kept going and the farther into her rant she went the louder she got.

[Magic223]

"I was stuck Jackie... I didn't want that to happen, I didn't even want to go where I did, But the TARDIS was dragged and I go stuck. I thought I was going to die, Time Lords weren't even welcome where I was," He was a bit angry with her. "I stayed alive for her!! I tried to not give up, I was constantly trying to find the quickest way out, I could have been stuck there for 50 years had I not." The Doctor was looking exhausted and upset. "I shouldn't even be alive, the air itself could have killed me. Though at least Rose was here and not there, I would have lost her and I wouldn't know what to say to you then."

"I'm so so sorry." the Doctor replied. He didn't think he could get Jackie to understand. He was just happy to be back with Rose. He smiled tiredly looking at his companion "The TARDIS missed you too Rose,"
He mumbled randomly. He knew that he would need to get some sleep soon; It had been a hard few days getting out of that place. He had been so worried that he wasn't going to see Rose again.

"I am sorry I put you through all that Rose, Oh had I know I would get pulled away and stuck that day I wouldn't have left." He closed his eyes a bit " I know you just got to see me after a year, But I really need some rest, I feel like I am going to collapse. I haven't slept in a few days."

[Kirah]

Rose understood though, she watched the Doctor as he explained why he had been gone so long. Fear struck her hard and she clutched his jacket sleeve that much tighter. He could have died out there. Where had he been? What happened? She took in his tired face, the bags under his eyes. She had never seen him like that before. Her heart ached and she just wanted to hold him, and forget the last year, she doubted that would happen though. Jackie swallowed her next tirade, cut off by the Doctor. "Alright," She finally said. "Come inside. I'll make you a cuppa and you can get some sleep." Rose beamed at her mum hugging her.

"Thanks Mum." She told her as they hugged.

"That's alright, but you've got to get to work. You're covering someone else's shift." Rose nodded.

"I'm sorry Doctor, but I am. I'll quit today after shift." Rose was hugging the Doctor again. Walking with him up to the apartment she shared with her Mum. "I'll text Micky and let him know you're back." She expected he might have heard the TARDIS noise anyway, but just in case she'd let him know. He had been worried about her too.

[Magic223]

The Doctor yawned. He was so tired. He knew he might end up sleeping most of the day. He just wanted to fall onto a bed and sleep. He looked at Jackie "Alright... thanks Jackie, tea would be nice actually."
He rubbed his eyes and headed inside. He was smiling a bit. He goes and sits down on the couch. He was looking at Rose. He knew that sleep was important for him. even without the temptation of travelling he knew either way he needed sleep.

"Its aright Rose, " He looked at her "I will likely be asleep most of the day." He heard her mention Mickey. He wondered if Mickey was going to be mad at him too . He got up again and hugged Rose there was a dull tired look in his normally bright eyes.
"Ah yeah Mickey... suppose he'll be mad too." He considered Mickey a friend. Even if things had been difficult between them since he had taken Rose away from him. He was very tired still and he needed sleep.

He was waiting calmly for his tea. He knew he would fall asleep soon after.

[Kirah]

"I'll talk to him. Let him know what happened." She hugged him happily back. "I'm sorry, I've got to go to work though." She said goodbye to her mum and left the apartment. On the way to work she shot Mickey a slew of text messages that updated him on everything she knew on what had happened to the Doctor. It wasn't much, but it would hopefully keep him from yelling at the Doctor too. Rose had never seen him look so tired before. She was worried about him, but she knew her mum would keep an eye on him. She remembered when he changed his faces and became him, a weird though, he was asleep for what seemed like forever. They had worried about him then. Rose had been so afraid. This time at least she knew he was just tired. He wasn't leaving her again.

Jackie, while Rose left for work, bustled about the kitchen. She was babbling at the Doctor, more than to him. Talking about what he had missed. Most of what she said was gossip and didn't matter beyond the little world that Jackie lived in, but she was updating him on Rose and Mickey too. Telling him that Rose worked at a new store, and that the job was good, as were the hours and pay, well as good as you could expect working being a shop girl. She finally came into the living room where the Doctor was sitting with the cup of tea. "It's a bit hot now, so give it a minute still." She told him handing over the cup. "I think Rose will be okay now, now that you're back. We were worried about her for a while there. She wasn't willing to get a job, she kept saying you'd be back any day now. And finally I got her to go looking, but she didn't really have her heart in it."

[Magic223]

"Aright good bye Rose." The Doctor replied. He didn't want her to go to work either. But he knew that she had to. He though knew he had been gone awhile and she would have had to do something. He was so tired though he wasn't able to spend time with her anyway. He knew that he would be out of it. It was unlike the Christmas that he had first regenerated into the Tenth Doctor. He knew now he was only tired and nothing else.

"Thank you Jackie." He takes the tea and drinks it. He was looking at her "Yeah I think so, I know she didn't seem the type to be cut out to live her life doing normal things, not after all that either." He looked upset, he sighed and wiped away his tears. " I really didn't want all this to happen." He knew his tea was hot, so he was careful.
He yawned more and closed his eyes for a moment.

[Kirah]

"I'll let you sleep now." Jackie said gently. She pulled a spare blanket and pillow from storage and handed it over to him so he could curl up on the couch. Last time he had slept in her bed, but it had been a much more questionable experience then this. He was right about Rose, of course. She couldn't settle for less than the adventure his life gave her. She deserved it too. As much as it pained Jackie to see her only child run off with this man, especially since she could die out there. How many times had Rose nearly died? Jackie had no idea. Rose didn't tell her things like that. Jackie sighed and went into the kitchen. She figured she'd have a sandwich for now, have something ready to heat up for the Doctor when he woke up.

Rose's shift was only five hours long. She was covering for one of her work mates, so she wouldn't have normally worked that schedule. When she went to clock out she had to explain to her boss that she would be traveling and so wouldn't be coming into work anymore. Her boss asked where she'd be going. "Oh I don't know. Traveling with an old mate of mine. We just wander a bit, end up in some strange places, but it's never dull." She smiled, and left after a round of goodbyes. Rose wasn't worried about never seeing anyone here again. She hadn't gotten all that close to them, and she figured that eventually she'd run into one or more of them just about. It wasn't like she was never in London.

Right now though Rose wasn't thinking about what the future with her old co-workers held, but instead of what her future with the Doctor held. She was going to go back out to the universe with him again. See strange stars and planets and meet new people and races. Her heart lifted at the idea. It had been the only thing that got her through that last shift. She was going back into the TARDIS! Finally! She nearly ran the whole way home. Entering the house quietly, just in case the Doctor was still asleep. Rose figured he would be.

Jackie had some soup heated up, in expectation of Rose's return.

[Magic223]

The Doctor nodded and closed his eyes. He looked exhausted. He knew that he just needed sleep. He couldn't ever force Rose to live a normal life. He hoped that they would be together for as long as she was alive.
"Yeah.... I really need to sleep," he smiled . He wasn't sure if he would be fully awake when Rose got back. He though knew that she would understand if he was still tired. He curled up in his blankets.
He soon was falling asleep and dreaming,

The Doctor was having nightmares, He rolled over and he was moaning. He seemed to be breathing deeply. He looked rather scared and upset. He was tossing and turning and he kicked off all his blankets. He was seeming quite restless in his sleep. He was gasping when he woke up. It had been a few hours since Rose had got home. He knew that he was rather hungry as well.
"Ohh Hey Rose..." He whispered. He was trying his best to stay calm.

[Kirah]

Rose was frowning into her cup of cold tea when the Doctor entered the kitchen, but she pointed to the microwave. "Mum made some soup.There's a bowl in the microwave for you. She went out with some friends. She'll be back later. " She reached over and turned it on for him. "I was thinking I should wake you...it seemed like you were having a nightmare." Rose was never one to beat around the bush. "Are you okay?" She wanted to know what happened to him when he was gone. Could she call it a year? How long had it been for her? Suddenly any sort of anger she had had for him became worry. She pulled his sleeve so he'd sit down.

After he did sit, she pulled out a glass and asked him what he wanted to drink. She could make a cup of tea if he wanted, or there was water, milk and some juice. The microwave beeped, as he replied what he wanted to drink. She took out the bowl and placed it, with a spoon in front of him. Rose found herself full of nervous energy that she only wanted to direct into caring for her Doctor.

[Magic223]

"Ah I am hungry." The Doctor gives a small smile. "Ohh I see," He knew it wasn't so bad if JAckie was out. It would give him time to talk to Rose. "ah Yeah I was having a bad dream." It showed in his expression that it had bothered him, he looked at the ground. IT felt foolish to be bothered so much by a dream. "I am ok I suppose, the dream is bothering me a bit though."
He knew he could only be as truthful as he could with her. He wanted to avoid lying too much. He though noticed her pull his sleeve and he sat down. He knew she would want to talk with him as well.

"Oh yes please." He said in response to asking him if he wanted a drink. "More tea would be good, I was too tired to really finish the last and you know me, LOve my tea." He chuckled. He smiled when she passed him the soup and he began eating it.
"Anything you want to ask... Go ahead." He told her "I will try tell you what I can."

[Kirah]

Rose was quite for a bit as she started to heat up the water in the kettle. She had a million questions about where he was and what had happened. "Will you be okay? I mean the dream, is it just a memory from where you where? Where were you?" It started, she hadn't wanted to be overbearing, but she had to know, what happened? If he was okay? Physically? Mentally? Both hearts still beating? She needed her Doctor to be okay.

After a long stream of questions, she took a deep breath. "Sorry, don't answer those. I'm just worried about you. You were gone so long, for my time. How long were you gone in your time?" Such a weird question, but one that only made sense now with him. The kettle started a low whistle, she pulled if off the heat and started seeping the tea. It felt good to be doing something. She watched him eat, with glances, making sure he got full. Just in case she pulled a package of crackers from the cupboard and placed it next to him on the table.

[Magic223]

"Yeah ... you know me, always ok." The Doctor smiled a bit weakly. He knew that Rose has been bound to ask alot of questions. "Its a dream only, It was if I never got back." He sighed a bit. He was looking at her, He was eating his soup.
He was looking upset still and had tears falling.

"I don't really even know where...... Normally I do," He looked worried as he said that. He knew it was bad to not even know where he had been.

The Doctor was looking at her "Its ok Rose, I knew you would have a lot of questions, I was gone for a year," He hoped that he truly would be ok. As soon as she asked how long he had been gone in his time. He broke down. It seemed being stuck had been not good for him mentally. He seemed like it had been tough for him. He didn't want to even think how long it was in his time.

"A hundred years for me.... Was hard To stop myself going crazy, I was so worried how long I had been gone your time, I could have been stuck 50 years your time, but made sure I got out."

[Kirah]

Rose sat as his tears fell and slid her chair next to his wrapping her arms around him. God it hurt to think of him gone for so long his time. She had been upset at him for being gone a year. What if really had been her whole life? What if she had never gotten to hug him again, or see him smile again? How could she help him? She wanted him to be happy again, to smile, to laugh, to dare enemies to fight him and he'd win. Of course he would, right?

"Doctor, you're back, that's all that matters now. You're here." Her grasp around him tightened. She couldn't let go. Not ever again. She'd never let him leave, not even for a day. "We'll talk about what happened later. Right now you need rest, and food and tea. Tea makes everything better." A British lie, tea was only a band aid. Eventually for the sake of his sanity they'd have to talk about what happened. He'd have to have a release. More than just the tears. He need a shrink, but how does one find a shrink for a Time Lord. The tea, speaking of it, was probably already ready, probably done seeping, but Rose couldn't let go of the Doctor. Not yet. They both had tears and those tears needed to be shed. She hid hers into his shoulder, kept her sobs down so he wouldn't know.

[Magic223]

The Doctor hugged her, he really had never cried in-front of her. He had really never thought he would be gone from Rose so long. He was just glad to be back with her. "I am glad to be back, I wasn't sure what I would have done If I was stuck forever."
He really knew that he didn't want her out of his life yet. He knew tea did help, even if it was only a temporary thing, even if it didn't deal with the problem deep down.

He held onto her , he could tell she was crying, He knew how much that she would have missed him. He sipped his tea when she passed it too him.
"Yeah sleep would be good," He replied " I still need more sleep." He was still eating his soup as well. He knew he was a bit broken mentally.

[Kirah]

Rose was determined to take care of the Doctor. She'd be his Doctor. He needed her. "I'm here for you. We'll take this at the pace you need it to be taken to." Tomorrow she'd look into some psychology texts and see what she could learn. She knew the Doctor well enough, or at least she hoped she did, to be able to tailor what human psychology had for him. "You can use my bed, so you're not on the couch. I don't mind sleeping on the couch for a while." She had slept on it for the first few weeks he was gone, she had been ready to leave at a moment's notice.

"After you get some rest, we'll work on the TARDIS." That always made him feel better, working with his hands. She finally let go of him, and started cleaning up.

[Magic223]

The Doctor was looking at her. She was glad that he did care so much about him. "Thank you Rose." he knew that he would sleep so much better in a bed, He hugged her a bit. "My Rose Tyler." He wasn't sure what he was going to do to get his mental state back on track. He knew been so sleep deprived wouldn't help,
He hoped he would be able to think clearer after a good nights sleep, He smiled and then headed to bed laying down and fell asleep.

He knew working on the TARDIS would very much depend if the smoke had gone, till then it was up to his ship. He rolled over in bed and curled up in the covers, He was having more nightmares and he awoke at Midnight gasping. He wished he could sleep through. Dreams were making it hard to do that.
Knowing he needed to rest more he went back to bed and slept till 10am, when he was normally awake way before then.

[Kirah]

Rose didn't sleep well either. She was thinking too much. Thinking of how to help the Doctor. When her mom came home sometime in the middle of the night. Rose explained as much as she thought she had the right to of the Doctor's situation. Jackie understood. She'd be there for Rose as Rose helped the Doctor.

Early in the morning, long before the Doctor woke up Rose went to the library and spent a couple hours looking over text books about psychology. She knew she'd need as much information about it as she could gather. She hoped she'd get home before the Doctor woke, but she wasn't so lucky.

Jackie did have breakfast ready with a note that she was sorry she wasn't there, but she had to go to work. The note mentioned that Rose was out, and should be home shortly.