Fandom: Doctor Who
Author:
strange_charmed aka kilodaltonCharacters: Rose Tyler, Pete Tyler, The Doctor (10th), Mickey Smith, Jackie Tyler, OCs
Rating: All ages
Summary: Rose Tyler awakens in the hospital from a coma, and a certain pinstriped Doctor tells her he has never seen her before ...
A/N: Very very sorry for the delay =X
Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Doctor Smith slowly exited Rose's hospital room, his head down and his eyes fixed on his trainers. Rose had looked so resigned when he left her - defeated, even. He hadn't known what to say to her, and she certainly didn't seem to have anything else to say to him. He had simply stood up and walked out of the room, not even daring to look back as the door shut behind him. She had been lying curled, facing a wall, turned away from him - have I done that to her?
He didn't let himself answer that question.
He remained lost in contemplation until the soft sound of someone clearing their throat roused him from his thoughts.
Looking up, his jaw clenched perceptibly to find Faith waiting in the hallway, leaning back against the wall, arms and ankles crossed. He couldn't help the stony glare that crept into his eyes.
"I told you to wait for me," she said, almost casually, as she came to a standing position.
Her tone was soft, and although it would have been imperceptible to most people, he was aware of the visible annoyance in her eyes. Something began to snap inside him.
"You seem to forget who I am," he said sternly, placing his hands casually in his pockets.
Faith's eyebrows raised momentarily in surprise at his statement, as if he were a mere child making a ridiculously amusing claim. Steadily holding his gaze, her expression soon hardened into a glare.
"I believe it's you who is forgetting your place, Doctor Smith."
She slowly took a step closer to him, and while her voice dropped to a whisper, the edge that had crept into her tone remained firmly in place.
"None of this is my doing. None of it. I'm not even supposed to be here. You'd do well to remember that I'm doing you a favor, Doctor Smith.
"Ohhh, I'd hardly call this a favor."
His gaze remained cold and steady into her own, belieing the anger swelling up in his chest.He was practiced in keeping his voice steady - a trait that had taken him a very long time to develop, but one that had served him well. He could fool most everyone.
Faith paused, reflectively. Her eyes were riveted onto his own, and she seemed almost to judge him. After a moment, her gaze began to soften.
"You need be patient. All in due time, Doctor Smith."
"That's not good enough."
"It will have to be good enough. Do your job, and I'll do mine."
His eyes fell to the silver chain around her neck, the small stone it held sparkling slightly under the hospital's fluorescent lights. Faith bristled visibly under his stare, and continued glaring at him as his eyes finally flicked up to meet her own.
"Oh, I always do mine."
--
It had been a fitful night's sleep for Rose. Whether it had been made better or worse by the fact that Doctor Smith hadn't come by again, she didn't know. At every knock on the door, she'd steel herself up and think he's the last person I want to see - but when the visitor would invariably end up being a nurse who had come by to simply take her vital signs, Rose would be inexplicably disappointed.
Shakily, Rose grabbed the rail of her hospital bed and slowly pulled herself up to a standing position. She had to get herself together. Whatever was going on - even if her memories of the past two years were just a coma-induced fantasy - she had to get to the bottom of it. There was still so much that she didn't understand - or remember. Rose knew she probably should have waited for Jackie to come help her out of bed for the first time, but she could hear Jackie and Pete talking in the hall outside her room, the sounds of their laughter only partially muffled by the walls. She hadn’t wanted to disturb them — they seemed so happy getting to know each other over the past day and a half.
Rose wasn’t sure what to expect from her body now — a body she thought until a couple of days ago was toned and fit from constant … well, nevermind that now, she thought. What must the state of her body be in now, after two years in a coma? Hesitantly, she released the rail of the bed and stood, for the first time, alone on her own two feet, and waited to see how her body would respond. Her muscles felt a little achy, as if they hadn’t stretched in a while. Other than that, she thought, as she flexed her back and rolled her neck, I feel surprisingly —
Outside her room, a peal of Jackie’s flirtatious laughter rang out.
Just as well they’re not here, Rose thought, glancing over at the bedside clock. I’ve got matters to attend to.
She reached for the bedside phone.
--
An hour later, there was a quick rap at Rose's door. It opened slowly, and this time, Rose knew exactly whom to expect.
“Hello, Rose, I’m Sarah Jane Smith from the Times —“
Rose smiled broadly, in welcome.
“Yes, I’m so glad you could come. Thank you for coming in to see me on such short notice,” Rose said, still smiling, steadying herself on the edge of her bed and slowly lowering herself down to sit.
“Of course, I definitely wanted to speak with you,” Sarah Jane said, with a soft smile. “And how are you recovering, dear?"
“Oh quite well,” Rose said, and then paused. “The medical staff here has been excellent. Have you, um — have you met my doctor?”
Sarah Jane nodded quickly. “Yes, I believe I did, after you were admitted.”
"So not before then?" Rose asked.
Sarah Jane looked at her quizzically. "No, why would I -"
"Nevermind," Rose said, shaking her head. She felt oddly calm as she swallowed down the last tiny bit of disappointment she thought she could possibly feel. No matter what, Rose thought, I still have a job to do - I still have to figure out what happened to me. She took a deep breath and gave Sarah Jane Smith another broad smile.
"Right then. So Miss Smith, please tell me everything you know about me, and this explosion at Henrik's."
Comments
I can't wait to see more of this apparent conflict between Doctor Smith and Faith. I'm not sure what to think of Faith yet though; I'm not sure if I trust her, but that could just be me being suspicious.
I liked that Rose called Sarah-Jane to get information.
Good chapter.
The tension between Faith and the Doctor is certainly intriguing, and the fact that Sarah hasn't met the Doctor as the Doctor, and that Rose's muscles are stiff but haven't really atrophied after two years. So, has she not been in a coma that long after all? Or, it could be something the Doctor's done.
This is really, really getting good and interesting, and amazing. I hope this means more updates are on the way? Please?
And that you remember/are still interested in reading this - it's been a while!!!that Rose's muscles are stiff but haven't really atrophied after two years. So, has she not been in a coma that long after all
That is a supremely interesting question ...
More updates are definitely on the way - I'm starting in on ch 8 today, striking while the iron is hot! =D
I'm intrigued by your premise, and poor Rose. But good for her for not giving up and getting to the bottom of this messed-up situation. Looking forward to another update!
So... SJS is here, asking about Henrik's. Very, very interesting. Still don't have a clue where this is going. You have set up a fantastic mystery!
Curiouser and curiouser. Faith and the Doctor are obviously colluding on something; what is the question. It's also up in the air (unlike Mickey, Jackie, etc.) whether the Doctor remembers the past at all. I still think Rose is the key to unraveling everything, and the Doctor sort of has his hands tied on whether he can help her or not. Maybe it's some sort of alien test! I'm leaning more towards an Anya and her vengeance amulet sort of situation...
(The other thing I never considered is that this could be some sort of similar adventure with Ten II, where Rose has had some of her memories wiped. That would explain the presence of Pete and Mickey, and the one heart of the Doctor.)
I can't comment much on your comment without possibly giving something away, but I'm glad you're enjoying it!!
The one thing I'll say tho is re. the one heart thing - it's possible that he does only have one heart, but possible too that because Rose had her finger on the stethoscope in the wrong way, she was picking up her own pulse, and not his at all! (This actually happens, btw! It's one of the reasons I don't like taking blood pressures in school - I always second guess WHOSE heart I am hearing!)
Huh, before this chapter I thought the Doctor has no memories either (which I no longer think!) so I totally didn't pay any attention to how ambiguous this line is: But he thought the better of it, letting her continue. The "thought better of it" could totally be because he's not allowed to "help" Rose.... Hmmm, intriguing!
(You need to update the Chapter 6 page to link to Chapter 7, btw.)
(You need to update the Chapter 6 page to link to Chapter 7, btw.)
Ahhhhh I knew I was forgetting something! Thanks - fixed =)
(She also took my pulse by hand (?) and got it terribly wrong, but I thought it would be rude to correct her)
*CLINGS*
Ok, so the Doctor and Faith totally know what's going on...but for some reason they can't clue Rose in. So what's going on? Some kind of Turn Left-style spin-off 'verse?
Can't wait to see what's next!