Tangled Skein, Chapter 4/?
Title: Tangled Skein, Chapter 4/?
Characters: Rose Tyler, The Doctor (10th), Jack Harkness, Jenny and many others
Raiting: All
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. They belong to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: up till JE
Continuity: sequel to "Universe is Cruel"
Summary: Rose's regenerated into someone achingly familiar...
Previous
It’s still dark when Rose gets up and she concludes it must be early. After everything that happened to her she doesn’t bother thinking it strange. Not that she’s ever been a late sleeper. She turns to her alarm clock and sighs at 5.30 staring back at her. She slept for four hours. Only. Rose sits up cautiously remembering the ten bottles of wine they managed to empty last night and finds that her head is light as usual and her thoughts are not as jumbled as she would’ve expected them to be. She pulls her dressing gown around her tightly and walks to the kitchen. On her way she notices the TARDIS in her living room and thinks of the Doctor, girls and Jack. She’s pretty sure they are not asleep. Tinkering most likely. Or reading. For some reason she doesn’t feel like having tea anymore and she turns back deciding on the shower instead. The alarm clock shows 6.00 when she enters her bedroom clean and steamy and moves in search of some clothes. The wardrobe is nearly empty, as is the chest of drawers and she decides on going shopping as soon as she can. Somehow the idea of getting clothes form the TARDIS doesn’t sit well. Like an invasion of privacy… or lack of one. A heavy sight escapes Rose as she surrenders to the granny-styled clothes at her disposal and pulls on the jeans she took from the TARDIS earlier and a thick sweater she knitted when she still could see what her fingers were doing. A quick look in the mirror confirms that the jeans are too tight and short and sweater is too baggy and long and she can’t help smirking. “At least the hair is great,” she adds and turns gingerly when something catches her eye in the mirror. It’s a small bag on a chair, not hers, probably Cathie’s, and some papers tucked under it. Rose pulls the colored notes to take a closer look and grins, pulls the bag open and a few minutes later picks the wallet out of it (it is bigger on the inside naturally), and rushes out of the flat into early morning Cardiff. The all-night clothes shop cards fall forgotten onto the floor next to the bag.
***
“Do you think she’s up already?” Jack asks the Doctor who’s busy under the console fixing something which is probably not in need of fixing at all.
“It’s been only six hours forty minutes since she went to bed and after the amount of wine we drank earlier I don’t think she’ll be up for another two and a half hours at least,” the Doctor says with a smirk. “And no way would I be the one to wake her up.”
Jack laughs and waves at Cathie walking into the room. “Dad,” she says straight away ignoring Jack’s greetings with a worried note in her voice. “Are you sure Mum’s okay after the wine and everything?”
This time the Time Lord pulls himself up from under the console and looks at her closely. “As fine as anyone could be. Why?” he asks his girl watching her as her fingers play with her scarf.
“Nothing. It’s just… When I was little I had a connection with her. It became weaker with time and nearly gone when… when she died. And now…” she trails off not sure how to continue.
“Do you still have this connection with her?” the Doctor asks her seriously.
“I don’t know. I feel something from her, but it’s not something I can understand. It’s alien,” she laughs nervously. “It’s like I’m listening to her talking the language I can’t understand and… and it always feel like she’s distressed and I’m worried.”
The Doctor sighs not looking at the girl or Jack. “Look, Cathie, somehow Rose’s regenerated. Even for a Gallifreyan this is a highly stressful process. I say ‘even’ when I should just say just ‘for a Gallifreyan’ as nobody else is supposed to have this power. But anyway, it’s stressful for Gallifreyans even though we’re aware of what it is. Nobody thought it would happen to Rose. So yeah, probably she is distressed which is perfectly understandable. The fact that you still have this connection to her is amazing. More often then not we lost our special bond with our parents after we regenerated for the first time. Or they regenerated after for that matter. Rose was able to create a bond with you only because she is your mother. She couldn’t establish a mental bond with anyone else… not with me, not with Jenny. What I’m trying to say is it’s a parent- child bond. And the fact that you still have it is just… fantastic.”
“But I don’t understand her!” Cathie exclaims with tears prickling in her eyes.
“You will eventually. You both just need to calm down and adjust,” the Doctor says gently pulling her into a hug. None of them noticed Jack wasn’t in the room for some time now.
“And what if I lose her?” the girl whispers into his shoulder trembling at the sound of these words.
“You will probably be able to establish a new link. She’s changed after the regeneration and I’m not sure how much. Probably she’s capable of it now. And if not… she’ll still be around and she’ll still love you as much as she ever did. It would just probably take a little bit more words then before,” the Doctor pulls a bit away from her enough to look into her teary eyes. He pulls a stray lock off her face and waits till she looks up at him. “You won’t lose her. Not now that she’s finally not dead.” They share a small smile when the outer doors swing open revealing Rose trying to squeeze in with a few dozens of colorful bags.
“Oi! Standing there staring is very helpful!” she throws at the pair of them standing frozen at the console.
“Oh, what’s that?” comes the Captain’s cheerful voice from the corridor. “Rose, what’s all these?” he asks moving to her quickly and taking as much of the bags form her as he can pulling them one by one giving Rose enough space to come into the time ship at last.
“Well, I couldn’t explore the Universe in my old jeans and an oversized sweater so I did a bit of shopping. The wardrobe here is good, no offence. But a girl likes having her own clothes,” she winks at Cathie who’s openly staring at her.
“So,” the Doctor finally snaps out of it. “You’re coming with us then?”
Rose looks uncertain for a moment there but then shrugs and says “Well, I guess I am, if you still want me here. But I’d love to spend some time in Cardiff before we go. Just to get used to this body and everything. It’s still a bit of a shock looking in the mirror and all,” she smiles sheepishly at them tucking at her hair not noticing the ‘I told you so’ look the Doctor gave Cathie at her last words.
“Of course we want you here! Let’s get you settled with all those… bags and then go explore the city, how about that?” the Time lord says taking the bags from Jack.
“Sounds as good a plan as any,” Rose says following him into the depths of the TARDIS.
When they reach the door to her room Rose pauses, “Doctor,” she says quietly.
“Rose?” he says surprised when she stops him from opening the door.
“I was wondering, can I have another room? It’s just… I’m not the girl that used to live here all those decades ago and I… it’s weird there… really. And now that I changed it’s really not mine and…”
“Of course you can,” he interrupts her. “Just come here,” he moves to the next door and motions her to come closer with his head. “Take the door knob and think of a room you want. Just like last time,” he smiles softly at her as she closes her eyes and pushes the door open.
“No way!” is all Rose’s able to say on entering her new room. The Doctor hurries after her to look what startled her so much. He’s about to ask her when his gaze falls on the wall with a dozen of photos attached to it.
“Oh,” is all he can manage. They stare open mouthed at their surroundings taking in all little souvenirs and pictures scattered around the room for a while. “I guess…” he swallows and takes a deep breath turning to look straight at Rose suddenly unsure of what he’s about to say. “Never thought I’d say this again, but…” they stare at each other both scared of what he’s about to say. He swallows again and says, “Donna Noble, welcome aboard.”
The words finally out in the open hang as the Doctor stares at the woman in front of him and she stares at her ginger reflection in the mirror trying hard to accept what this means for them, their friends and their family.
Next
Characters: Rose Tyler, The Doctor (10th), Jack Harkness, Jenny and many others
Raiting: All
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. They belong to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: up till JE
Continuity: sequel to "Universe is Cruel"
Summary: Rose's regenerated into someone achingly familiar...
Previous
It’s still dark when Rose gets up and she concludes it must be early. After everything that happened to her she doesn’t bother thinking it strange. Not that she’s ever been a late sleeper. She turns to her alarm clock and sighs at 5.30 staring back at her. She slept for four hours. Only. Rose sits up cautiously remembering the ten bottles of wine they managed to empty last night and finds that her head is light as usual and her thoughts are not as jumbled as she would’ve expected them to be. She pulls her dressing gown around her tightly and walks to the kitchen. On her way she notices the TARDIS in her living room and thinks of the Doctor, girls and Jack. She’s pretty sure they are not asleep. Tinkering most likely. Or reading. For some reason she doesn’t feel like having tea anymore and she turns back deciding on the shower instead. The alarm clock shows 6.00 when she enters her bedroom clean and steamy and moves in search of some clothes. The wardrobe is nearly empty, as is the chest of drawers and she decides on going shopping as soon as she can. Somehow the idea of getting clothes form the TARDIS doesn’t sit well. Like an invasion of privacy… or lack of one. A heavy sight escapes Rose as she surrenders to the granny-styled clothes at her disposal and pulls on the jeans she took from the TARDIS earlier and a thick sweater she knitted when she still could see what her fingers were doing. A quick look in the mirror confirms that the jeans are too tight and short and sweater is too baggy and long and she can’t help smirking. “At least the hair is great,” she adds and turns gingerly when something catches her eye in the mirror. It’s a small bag on a chair, not hers, probably Cathie’s, and some papers tucked under it. Rose pulls the colored notes to take a closer look and grins, pulls the bag open and a few minutes later picks the wallet out of it (it is bigger on the inside naturally), and rushes out of the flat into early morning Cardiff. The all-night clothes shop cards fall forgotten onto the floor next to the bag.
***
“Do you think she’s up already?” Jack asks the Doctor who’s busy under the console fixing something which is probably not in need of fixing at all.
“It’s been only six hours forty minutes since she went to bed and after the amount of wine we drank earlier I don’t think she’ll be up for another two and a half hours at least,” the Doctor says with a smirk. “And no way would I be the one to wake her up.”
Jack laughs and waves at Cathie walking into the room. “Dad,” she says straight away ignoring Jack’s greetings with a worried note in her voice. “Are you sure Mum’s okay after the wine and everything?”
This time the Time Lord pulls himself up from under the console and looks at her closely. “As fine as anyone could be. Why?” he asks his girl watching her as her fingers play with her scarf.
“Nothing. It’s just… When I was little I had a connection with her. It became weaker with time and nearly gone when… when she died. And now…” she trails off not sure how to continue.
“Do you still have this connection with her?” the Doctor asks her seriously.
“I don’t know. I feel something from her, but it’s not something I can understand. It’s alien,” she laughs nervously. “It’s like I’m listening to her talking the language I can’t understand and… and it always feel like she’s distressed and I’m worried.”
The Doctor sighs not looking at the girl or Jack. “Look, Cathie, somehow Rose’s regenerated. Even for a Gallifreyan this is a highly stressful process. I say ‘even’ when I should just say just ‘for a Gallifreyan’ as nobody else is supposed to have this power. But anyway, it’s stressful for Gallifreyans even though we’re aware of what it is. Nobody thought it would happen to Rose. So yeah, probably she is distressed which is perfectly understandable. The fact that you still have this connection to her is amazing. More often then not we lost our special bond with our parents after we regenerated for the first time. Or they regenerated after for that matter. Rose was able to create a bond with you only because she is your mother. She couldn’t establish a mental bond with anyone else… not with me, not with Jenny. What I’m trying to say is it’s a parent- child bond. And the fact that you still have it is just… fantastic.”
“But I don’t understand her!” Cathie exclaims with tears prickling in her eyes.
“You will eventually. You both just need to calm down and adjust,” the Doctor says gently pulling her into a hug. None of them noticed Jack wasn’t in the room for some time now.
“And what if I lose her?” the girl whispers into his shoulder trembling at the sound of these words.
“You will probably be able to establish a new link. She’s changed after the regeneration and I’m not sure how much. Probably she’s capable of it now. And if not… she’ll still be around and she’ll still love you as much as she ever did. It would just probably take a little bit more words then before,” the Doctor pulls a bit away from her enough to look into her teary eyes. He pulls a stray lock off her face and waits till she looks up at him. “You won’t lose her. Not now that she’s finally not dead.” They share a small smile when the outer doors swing open revealing Rose trying to squeeze in with a few dozens of colorful bags.
“Oi! Standing there staring is very helpful!” she throws at the pair of them standing frozen at the console.
“Oh, what’s that?” comes the Captain’s cheerful voice from the corridor. “Rose, what’s all these?” he asks moving to her quickly and taking as much of the bags form her as he can pulling them one by one giving Rose enough space to come into the time ship at last.
“Well, I couldn’t explore the Universe in my old jeans and an oversized sweater so I did a bit of shopping. The wardrobe here is good, no offence. But a girl likes having her own clothes,” she winks at Cathie who’s openly staring at her.
“So,” the Doctor finally snaps out of it. “You’re coming with us then?”
Rose looks uncertain for a moment there but then shrugs and says “Well, I guess I am, if you still want me here. But I’d love to spend some time in Cardiff before we go. Just to get used to this body and everything. It’s still a bit of a shock looking in the mirror and all,” she smiles sheepishly at them tucking at her hair not noticing the ‘I told you so’ look the Doctor gave Cathie at her last words.
“Of course we want you here! Let’s get you settled with all those… bags and then go explore the city, how about that?” the Time lord says taking the bags from Jack.
“Sounds as good a plan as any,” Rose says following him into the depths of the TARDIS.
When they reach the door to her room Rose pauses, “Doctor,” she says quietly.
“Rose?” he says surprised when she stops him from opening the door.
“I was wondering, can I have another room? It’s just… I’m not the girl that used to live here all those decades ago and I… it’s weird there… really. And now that I changed it’s really not mine and…”
“Of course you can,” he interrupts her. “Just come here,” he moves to the next door and motions her to come closer with his head. “Take the door knob and think of a room you want. Just like last time,” he smiles softly at her as she closes her eyes and pushes the door open.
“No way!” is all Rose’s able to say on entering her new room. The Doctor hurries after her to look what startled her so much. He’s about to ask her when his gaze falls on the wall with a dozen of photos attached to it.
“Oh,” is all he can manage. They stare open mouthed at their surroundings taking in all little souvenirs and pictures scattered around the room for a while. “I guess…” he swallows and takes a deep breath turning to look straight at Rose suddenly unsure of what he’s about to say. “Never thought I’d say this again, but…” they stare at each other both scared of what he’s about to say. He swallows again and says, “Donna Noble, welcome aboard.”
The words finally out in the open hang as the Doctor stares at the woman in front of him and she stares at her ginger reflection in the mirror trying hard to accept what this means for them, their friends and their family.
Next