Chapter 14

                                    

                                          
Rose laughed her arse off for what seemed like an eternity. The Doctor sat with his face covered by his hands, a tint of red making its way up to his cheeks and ears. You couldn't really see it, since it had gotten quite dark, but he was definitely blushing from embarrassment. Stupid human body.
                          
Back when he was a Time Lord he could control these urges, control his parts. But now? Bloody human body.
                          
Rose stood, wiping away her tears. She took a big breath to relax, then walked up to the window.
                          
„The sky's clear." she crossed her arms. „Fancy some star gazing?"
                          
They drove back to the mansion where they grabbed some covers and pillows, neatly arranging them in the back garden. You could smell the lilies and hear crickets sing their song of the night. They sat on their backs, hands behind their heads.
                          
The stars were bright and beautiful that night. Although some of them were still missing, the Doctor noticed. He scraped the thought off his mind though; since time fluctuated differently here, it must've been normal.
                          
The Doctor smelled the freshness in the air. It was quite chilly, as autumn was approaching, but comfortable. Maybe a bit stuffy.
                          
Rose glanced at the forms of his face. The moonlight was cascading a gentle gleam, but she could see his eyes clearly. And they looked sad. Lonely. Disappointed.
                          
Must be hard. He was stuck here, unable to reach the stars. She knew how it felt.
                          
„One day we'll get back to them." Rose whispered. „I believe we will. Who knows, maybe Valorant won't be the only ship to fall through the rift."
                          
„The slow path." he turned to one side to look at her. „Could be worse. Stuck with you? That's not so bad."
                          
Rose smiled. „Yeah?"
                          
„Yeah."
                          
„With me, mum and Pete."
                          
He sucked air through his teeth, plopping to his back again. „Ahh, don't remind me. Now that...that is just...wizard."
                          
Rose chuckled.
                          
„'S not that bad though. Imagined she would slap me often. She's changed." he continued.
                          
„We all changed. Especially mum. This whole dimension took a toll on her."
                          
„And the money."
                          
„And the money." Rose laughed. After a moment of quiet, she continued. „The Doctor changed too. The eyes. He, I mean you, must've...been through some stuff. They aren't the same eyes anymore."
                          
„Is that bad?"
                          
„No. Not bad. Just...sad." it was now her turn to roll on her side. „Doctor, what happened out there?"
                          
„Oh, you know. Stuff."
                          
„Oh, come on, you can tell me." she gently pushed his shoulder. „Said it yourself, slow path."
                          
The Doctor took a deep breath. Where would he even begin? Daleks? The Family of Blood? The Weeping Angels? The Master?
                          
He would think about the other Time Lord sometimes. And how much he wished he didn't die. How much he wished not to be alone in the whole of creation.
                          
They lay under the night sky, the Doctor talking about the Master and the year that never was. And Rose listened, her heart threatening to break at his words.
                          
„I'm sorry." she said.
                          
„Ah, I'll be alright. I'm always alright. Last of the Time Lords. Although...I guess I'm not even that anymore." he sighed. „It's eerie, you know. Always looked down on humanity and look at me now. Part-human. A body I didn't even choose. One I can't control. Doing domestics just like everyone else. Sleeping every day. Now that. That is something I'll never get used to. At least I've got my brain." he tapped at his skull. „Imagine me without a brain. Brainless. Point zero. Glad I have that."
                          
After noticing her silence, the Doctor looked at Rose. She was curled up in a ball, breathing slowly and asleep. He smiled in the corner of his mouth, brushing away some strands of her hair, then gently planted a kiss on her forehead.
                          
„I wish you'd know I'm still me." he caressed her cheek.
                          
-
                          
Rose and the Doctor were on their way to Bell Wharf Beach, where they were to meet with Pete and the team.
                          
After waking up back in her bed, she had asked herself when she had fallen asleep in the first place? She remembered the Doctor talk about the Master and Martha and the year that never was. Then she heard him mumble about him being human and how much that changed him and then...nothing. He must've carried her to bed. Which was a surprise. The Doctor never did that before.
                          
Once there, they boarded the conning tower which led to Valorant.
                          
The Doctor gave her a reassuring smile, while she gathered the essentials for the trip into the ocean.
                          
„Don't forget this." he handed her her jacket.
                          
„Thanks."
                          
„Should be ready in five minutes." Pete approached, smiling. „Remember, Rose. Any sight of danger and you come back. Take no risks."
                          
„Roger that. You'll be alright then?" she turned to the Doctor who was awkwardly watching, hands in his pockets.
                          
„Me?" he scoffed. „I'm more worried about you. Will you be alright?"
                          
„I was born for this!" she smiled.
                          
The Doctor hugged her tightly, applying a kiss on her temple. „Take care, Rose. And again, any sign of danger-"
                          
„I come back. I know, Doctor."
                          
„Two minutes!" yelled one of the team members.
                          
„This is it!" Rose grinned. She jumped to the ship's wing and into the seat, before strapping herself to ensure her safety. Valorant turned on with the engine vibrating and the console lit up.
                          
Rose closed the doors then placed her hands on the steering wheel. Then she looked through the window.
                          
„Good luck." the Doctor mouthed.
                          
„Thank you." she mouthed back.
                          
„Three, two, one...aaaanddd...go!" the team member, whose name was Nick, exclaimed.
                          
The ship slowly submerged, shaking at the impact of water. Rose's heart pounded and she was to lie if she didn't say she felt a bit anxious. It was something new, something fantastic. And at the same time scary.
                          
The Doctor moved to Pete who was looking over the control panel.
                          
„Establishing video interface." Nick flicked a switch. „Torchwood to Valorant. Torchwood to Valorant, do you hear me?"
                          
Silence.
                          
„Torchwood to Valorant. I repeat, Torchwood to Valorant, do you hear me?"
                          
Silence.
                          
The Doctor jumped to the controls. „What's going on?"
                          
„The connection seems to be dysfunctional."
                          
„Rose, do you hear me? Rose!" he looked over at Pete. „Get her out of there."
                          
„Torchwood to Valorant. Please respond." Nick tried again.
                          
Silence.