[IC] F A N T A S T I C !

[Torchwood]

The Doctor

The Doctor froze in his steps and allowed his eyes to collide with the beautiful hues of his companion, Rose. A sledge hammer? Really? Would he run if defeating these stone creatures would be so simple, that even Jack Harkness could do it? No. Of course the Doctor wouldn’t do such a thing. The man did have courage, after all, and he was known to be a ‘killer’ to some races; the Dalek being one of them. The man sighed with a tinge of aggravation – but, he couldn’t blame her. She didn’t understand everything without his explanation. He had to occasionally remind himself that she, indeed, was human. She knew nothing of other worlds prior to his introduction into her timeline. Eventually, she would be up to speed with his world. He only hoped that it would be while she was still young. “No, Rose, I can’t. These aliens are very dangerous. They can rewrite your timeline by bringing you to the point where you die and I can’t do anything to save you,” he explained. In the back of his mind, he felt that he knew someone, some people to which that happened to, but, he couldn’t remember. He couldn’t remember, yet, he couldn’t forget that feeling.

Shaking his head, the Doctor released his hold from Rose’s hand and pressed them on either side of her shoulders, “Stay here for a moment. Don’t blink. I’ll be right back.” The Doctor then immediately took off towards the TARDIS. With the zap of his screwdriver, he unlocked the door and ran inside, starting her up. He merely only wanted to change the position of the TARDIS to appear before the girl and prayed that his sexy blue box would obey his command. He hadn’t thought that his actions would frighten his beautiful blonde companion – it hadn’t occurred to him because his primary train of thought was to protect her, to keep her safe. The TARDIS cranked up, making its beautiful creaking roar, and vanished from sight. A minute or so later, the TARDIS appeared before the blonde British female and out popped the Doctor half way through the door. The man seized the girl by the arm and pulled her in, closing the TARDIS doors tight. Once they were both safe behind the doors of the spaceship, the Doctor embraced the girl very securely in his arms.

“I’m sorry,” the Doctor murmured, “I didn’t mean to put you through that.” Eventually, the Doctor released the girl to meet eye to eye once more. “Those are called Weeping Angels. They are murderous psychopaths that live off of the time energy of their victims,” the Doctor explained as he ran his fingers through the blonde’s hair. The moment wasn’t killed until the angels began banging against the door and shaking the TARIDS. The Doctor grabbed onto the railing of the ship as it shook before stumbling his way over to the console. He cranked the gears once more on the machine, having the grinding sound of the engine kick in once more and then, they were off. Instead of actually choosing a location, the Doctor allowed the TARDIS to float in space for a number of reasons. One, to recharge the ship, and two, to allow them to have some legitimate peace time. With a sigh, the Doctor looked towards the younger one and asked, “Are you all right? I really didn’t mean for all of this to happen. I know you wanted to have a fun day but it seems like trouble always finds its way around to me and you end up getting caught in the middle of it.”

The Doctor turned around the propped his back against the console with his arms folded against his chest. He really didn’t know what else to say to her – sorry? Sure, like that actually accomplished anything. How many times would he have to apologize for every situation that he put her in? He felt so guilty. After all, prior to being in the image of what he was at that moment, he was something much more. He was a fighter, the bringer of destruction; not the man and lover that he currently was. It was still difficult for him to put his past behind him. Hopefully, his beloved little flower would help him rediscover the mortal side of the beast. It would have been easier if he could find his home, if he could contact his people…but that wasn’t an option now was it? It was impossible for him to locate his kind, considering his planet was destroyed. The man stared off at the metal ground in thought as to his next step. Should he take her to another planet, where they might end up in another situation or was that the now expected series of events?

He knew the future – to a degree. He knew wherever he would take her, trouble would find them. It was hard to be as chipper as he appeared to be at times. The man bit his bottom lip before turning his attention back to the girl. “Well,” he finally said, breaking the silence, “We could float here for a while to let the TARDIS regain some power and then we can figure out somewhere else to go, if that’s what you want, Rose.”

[Genkai]

R o s e T y l e r

The Doctor was trying to translate their immediate danger but it wasn't connecting as well as it should have. Maybe she just wanted them to have some actual peace and quiet and these creature didn't seem as threatening as the Doctor said they were. She could sort of understand that they messed with time but since she hadn't seen it first hand, she didn't think that much of them. What did blinking have to do with anything? 'Did they really move only when they weren't being watched? How did that work?' Still, Rose didn't say anything as he let go of her hand and placed his hands on her shoulders. What he said next struck more fear than the stoney angels had. He told her to stay? Why? Wasn't he staying with her? Where was he going now? Before she could begin to yell at him, he was already off. "D-Doctor?" She called out as she began to hear the faint noise of the TARDIS leaving. Her heart sank to the center of the earth beneath her feet. He was leaving her all over again? Why? What had she done to screw up this time?

Panic was quick to set in as she could only hear her heart pounding. Gray memories of him abandoning her flooded her mind. She took a step back as she focused on the two angels in front of her. A bit of anger welled up inside of her as she looked around for some kind of weapon but considering they were stone, she wasn't too sure she'd be lucky enough to make even a scratch. When her eyes darted back to the assailants, they were closing in. Shivering, Rose took a few cautious steps back and kept her eyes on the angels. Her mind attempted to echo the Doctor's words, him saying he'd be right back but she was quickly forgetting them. All she knew was he left her. Again. And this time, she was in danger. Time for her went by achingly slow. She never knew how fond of blinking she was until she was instructed to not do so. Rose tried not to cry but when tears formed in her eyes, it was difficult to not blink a little.

Frozen in place, her mind repeated him leaving her before and now he was doing it again. She was confused, she had no idea why he would leave again when it crushed her so much the first time. She had still yet to really forgive him dropping her off when he lied right to her face and said he wouldn't do so. If she couldn't count of him, who could she count on? Did he leave because she was getting to close when they were sitting on that bench together? He had been giving her mixed signals for a while. Before her mind could whirl around any faster, going from one worry to the next, the sound of the TARDIS broke the silent snowy night. She didn't even look to where it appeared, as she was almost sure she was just imaging things. A hand latched onto her arm and pulled her out of the cold and into the dim light of the spaceship. Her body tensed, not reacting to the man holding onto her now.

When she finally noticed she wasn't freezing or in peril, did she blink. "You...left me...again." She whispered, there was a definite tone of contentment rather than disappointment or relief in her statement. This second act of betrayal in her mind, made her question their relationship all over again. She felt so cold, even if the snow on her had melted already. He muttered an apology but she didn't really buy it. Their eyes locked but she was quick to look down, her heart rate still struggling to return to normal. She felt his hands run through her hair and she weakly batted them away. Why did he do that? Why did he get close if he couldn't stay? Why did they have moments that seemed to last a mere blink of an eye? How was she supposed to act around them? Were they or weren't they together? Who the hell was she to him? Someone he could just leave? Did he still not see her as an equal in their adventures? Sure, she knew she wasn't as smart as him but she had wanted to think she held value but if she did, how could he keep throwing her away?

It broke her heart every time she tried to get close and he pulled away.

She didn't watch him while he moved to control the TARDIS. It was only when he asked if she was alright that she raised her heavy head. What could she say to that? Part of her just wanted to go back home but that didn't even feel like a safe possibility anymore. She felt lost, as if he wasn't even around anymore. "Yeah I'm great." Rose just sighed, not really sure how to bring up her doubts. Was there a point to them anymore? She had no idea why she was even with him if he kept treating her like something you could put away when you got bored or something. Was she like his pet? A burden but overall a decent distraction from the big picture? He almost died. She almost lost him. He left her twice. Didn't he care what was going on? The Doctor finally broke the agonizing silence and mentioned they stay suspended for a while and then carry on. It didn't seem like he needed her help making that decision.

"Yeah whatever sure." Rose said unconvincingly. She hated being upset with him. She knew the angels weren't his fault and that his intentions had been good, at the start but now she was just confused. And she didn't know how to tell him without him just deciding he didn't want her anyone. That was her biggest fear and it terrified her. Rose realized she hadn't stopped trembling. 'Am I even useful to him? Why am I here?' She couldn't help but wonder. The danger didn't bother her. She thought it was a thrill. But now she was more confounded by the Doctor himself and what he wanted and what they ever were to each other. She knew her feelings for him were strong and sometimes she thought she knew he felt the same way but then he would go and retreat and she'd end up being wrong about everything. She didn't care if he just saw her as a fleeting companion but when he got close, it hurt to have him just distance herself. And she was beginning to wonder if she should just put distance between them.

That way he wouldn't pull away from her, because he wouldn't need to get close.

And neither of them would get hurt.

Was that the solution?

Was that the way to not be a burden in his eyes?

She walked towards the edge of the TARDIS and turned around to look at the walls of the TARDIS. Her hands gripped the rail as she kept her back to the Doctor. She refused to let her mind off its tight leash. Or she'd begin to blame herself again. "Think I'll make some tea, tea's always good." She just said. It was something her mother always thought could fix anything. A cup or sometimes even a pot of tea. Rose then exited the main control room and found the kitchen. It wasn't until she put some distance between her and the main heart of the TARDIS that she found herself letting out a sob. Why was she so weak? Rose rubbed her face, mostly under her wet eyes, and quickly found a kettle and filled it with water. Putting it on the stove, she just leaned over it and pressed her lips together. 'I'll just make sure the line is clear, and maybe we can go back to how we were before.' She thought sadly.