A Change In Time

A Change In Time Chapter One

As soon as the TARDIS doors had shut, Rose bolted to her room. She didn't want the Doctor to see her cry, didn't want him to see her when she was weak. She ran in and shut the door, jumping onto her bed and sobbing into her pillow. Why did Mickey have to go? Why did he leave her?

She knew it was selfish, but him being there, loving her, made her feel special. Even though she didn't feel that for him, he did for her. But now she was all alone. Well not alone. There was still the Doctor. But without Mickey things would be awful.

She loved the Doctor. Had for some time, and having Mickey around balanced everything out. But now he was gone, and she was stuck with the Time Lord whom she loved but would never desire her the way she did for him. She began sobbing even harder into the pillow at the thought of the Doctor. Why couldn't he love her? He flirted with her all the time, why couldn't those feelings be real? Why couldn't he love her like she loved him? It didn't seem fair.

He knew she was trying to keep her feelings from him. That saddened him deeply. Was he really that bad with people when they were upset? Was he not a comforting enough person? He tried, he really did, but why did she have to hide? "Oh," He said aloud softly. "It's because she doesn't want me to see her cry.." The pieces began to fall in place. He was rushing to her door when the TARDIS spoke sharply in his mind.

Don't, she said, making the Doctor jump. He put his hands on his hips.

"And why the bloody Hell not?" The Doctor mentally shot back. To anyone observing their conversation, they'd hear her, but only through beeps and hums. He was telepathic, and with the help of the translator inside his lovely ship, could speak to her.

Don't use that tone with me. I was only going to suggest how you approach her, the TARDIS huffed. The Doctor sighed. Sometimes he forgot his TARDIS was a female.

"Alright, what should I do?" He asked her, a bit annoyed his was taking advice from a sentient spaceship but open for possibilities. The TARDIS replied simply,

Knock on the door and you march right in. The Doctor was confused,

"Why would I do exactly the opposite of what she asks?" He asked. The TARDIS hummed at him as if he were the stupidest bloke to ever step into her console room,

She doesn't want you to see her while she's crying, but what she really wants is for you to go in there, wrap your arms around her and tell her everything is going to be okay. He sighed. The TARDIS was right. Wise, for a ship. But he knew better than that; She wasn't just some ship. She was a TARDIS, a part of the Time Vortex, and she was indeed very wise. Though he never pegged her for a sappy sentimental. He patted her appreciatively and walked up to Rose's room. What he heard on the inside made his hearts burn; She wasn't just crying, she was bawling. Uncontrollably. He knocked,

"Rose," He said, "Are you alright?" The crying ceased. He got no answer for thirty six seconds, the silence defining. He slowly slid down her door, landing on his bum, "Rose, I know it hurts, but please don't shut me out. I know what it's like you know. I-" His voice faltered a bit, "I've lost people. I can help." Again, silence. After a minute and twelve seconds he heard the strained response,

"Doctor please, just leave me be."

Did that count as telling me to go away?" The Doctor mentally asked the TARDIS. She cooed, so the Doctor plucked up his courage and sat up, spun the door knob, and walked into Rose's room. She was laying down on her bed, her face pressed against her tear-stained pillow. Her arms were underneath it, cushioning her head. She was silently crying,

"Doctor," She said, her voice muffled from the pillow and strained from crying, "Please, please leave." Her words hurt him, but the Doctor only went closer to her. He sat on the edge of her bed, eyes fixed on his hands.