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Title: Acquainted with the Night
Series: Journeys in the In-Between
Characters: Nine, Rose
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot!
Warnings: None
Notes: Set immediately after The Persephone Problem
Series: Journeys in the In-Between
Characters: Nine, Rose
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot!
Warnings: None
Notes: Set immediately after The Persephone Problem
Chapter 1. Clenched Soul
The Doctor watched Rose carefully as she walked towards him and the console. It was four days since they had left Phoses and though all of her physical injuries were fully healed and the pomegranate poison eradicated she was still tired and a little subdued. They hadn’t really spoken about what had happened and he was beginning to think that that was a mistake. He didn’t normally indulge in post-adventure analysis; it had a tendency to make him maudlin and rarely served a useful purpose. Still, Phoses had not been an ordinary adventure and what had happened between Rose and him wasn’t ordinary either.
He had trusted her completely; not only had he voluntarily surrendered his sight for Rose, but blind and vulnerable he had trusted her implicitly. In the midst of events the true import of his behaviour had escaped him. Now, however, he was very aware of just how unusual his actions had been.
His own reactions were not the only thing that bothered him, though; Rose’s terrified him. She had resigned herself to death and her main concern had been for him. She had pushed herself beyond endurance to lead him to safety and had imperilled herself to ensure his safe passage. He had known she was brave and resilient but the extent of her selflessness shocked and disturbed him, especially as he could not fully comprehend what motivated it. He wondered if it was because she had so recently lost her father, again. Was he some sort of father figure replacement for her? Or had she felt a need to atone for her mistakes in 1987, even though he had forgiven her? He wasn’t sure and, having not broached the subject immediately, could find no way of introducing the matter now.
He fiddled with a knob ineffectually, faking busy, as Rose plonked herself on the bench by the console, curling her feet up beneath her and hugging her knees. He studied her from beneath hooded lids, uncertain of what to do next. Their trip out of the underworld had brought home a few startling truths; Rose was special, more than just another companion. She was important to him, vital, like breathing. The mere idea of losing her had been paralysing in its intensity. He had risked his life to rescue her, had been prepared to give his life to save her and would have if he could have been confident that he would have recovered from his regeneration swiftly enough. He was the last of his kind, without him the Universe would have no champion to protect it from the scourges his race had once kept in check. Yet he had been prepared to shorten his span and the time he would stand as Time’s defender, in order to keep Rose safe. And he would do it again. He had come to realise he would do almost anything for her. Had done. He had let loose a Dalek and taken her to see her dead father, hardly the smartest things he had ever done, but he could not regret them, for they had been for her. She was dangerous. The emotions she unleashed in him were dangerous. But he could not give her up. Would not. He didn’t deserve her, but she had found him and now he could not surrender her, however much he feared he should.
He cared for her. Deeply. He had tried to let her know, but he wasn’t sure she understood. Rassilon, he didn’t understand it, but he wanted her to know how important she was to him. Problem was, he had no idea what to say or do to show her. Worse still, he was uncertain how she would react. She was a child, a wonderful, beautiful, innocent child and he was death. Regardless of what she had said to him on Phoses about Hades, he knew that she couldn’t care for him as he cared for her. Nevertheless, he knew that he was drawn to her as irrevocably as a moth to a flame and that, if he was not careful, her flame would destroy him. It would be worth it, though, if she would be his. As he watched her, however, he felt that he was as doomed as Echo, drawn towards a creature that would never see his devotion, his emotion, not because she was cruel or self-obsessed but because he was both more and less than a man to her. She didn’t see him, he thought, not as he was. If she did, she would run from him, but unless she did, she would never truly run to him either. How did one shatter an illusion without destroying everything which was built upon it?
He sighed. He was not ignorant of the extent of his folly. He had embraced the role of Orpheus, the lover, consummating the charge made by the Dalek. Rose, however, was oblivious. Perhaps it was just as well. He was not for her, whatever he might wish. Death and life, winter and spring, they were polar opposites. They might travel together but they were not meant to be together. Still, regardless of the hopelessness of his plight, he would like to show Rose how precious she was. He suspected that life had not shown her, not held a mirror to her soul and shown her its brilliance but rather smothered it with disinterest and neglect. If he could do nothing else for her he would like to gift her that – the knowledge of how incredible she was.
First, though, he knew that he had to deal with the ongoing awkwardness between them. He just had absolutely no idea of how to accomplish such a feat. Maybe chips and shopping? Or shopping and chips? And, if he had to, a visit to Jackie; though he hoped things weren’t that desperate. He wouldn’t take her to Earth unless he had to. She might decide to stay and he couldn’t risk that. So, maybe Mars, thirtieth century? Great shopping, according to Romana at any rate, and, if he remembered correctly, which, of course, he did, an old Earth quarter that was bound to do decent chips. With an assertive twist of the dial and a flick of a couple to switches they were on their way.
Rose contemplated the Doctor. She knew he was watching her and she wondered if he was taking her home. She’d landed them in a whole heap of trouble on Phoses and she knew he hadn’t forgotten the mess with her dad. She bit her lip, hugging her knees tight against her, cringing as she recalled the callous bravado with which she had taunted him; You don't scare me. I know how sad you are. Did he understand she had been afraid? Did he understand that, as he had taken her key, she had felt as if her heart was being crushed? It had felt like death, watching him walk away from her. It had been a child’s reaction to terror that had formed her words. She hadn’t meant them. He wouldn’t abandon her now, would he? He’d begged her not to leave him when they’d been in the underworld. He couldn’t have changed his mind already, surely? She watched as he twirled a dial, reaching his lean form to hit a switch. She sucked in an anxious breath as the TARDIS shifted in the vortex.
‘So, where are off to?’ She asked, trying not to sound as if his answer was important.
‘Somewhere with shopping and chips,’ he replied. He beamed at Rose like a lunatic, inwardly flinching at what he knew must be his completely inane expression, as he hurtled them towards his gift for Rose, hoping to Rassilon and Omega that it would be just what the Doctor had ordered.
Chapter 2
The Doctor watched Rose carefully as she walked towards him and the console. It was four days since they had left Phoses and though all of her physical injuries were fully healed and the pomegranate poison eradicated she was still tired and a little subdued. They hadn’t really spoken about what had happened and he was beginning to think that that was a mistake. He didn’t normally indulge in post-adventure analysis; it had a tendency to make him maudlin and rarely served a useful purpose. Still, Phoses had not been an ordinary adventure and what had happened between Rose and him wasn’t ordinary either.
He had trusted her completely; not only had he voluntarily surrendered his sight for Rose, but blind and vulnerable he had trusted her implicitly. In the midst of events the true import of his behaviour had escaped him. Now, however, he was very aware of just how unusual his actions had been.
His own reactions were not the only thing that bothered him, though; Rose’s terrified him. She had resigned herself to death and her main concern had been for him. She had pushed herself beyond endurance to lead him to safety and had imperilled herself to ensure his safe passage. He had known she was brave and resilient but the extent of her selflessness shocked and disturbed him, especially as he could not fully comprehend what motivated it. He wondered if it was because she had so recently lost her father, again. Was he some sort of father figure replacement for her? Or had she felt a need to atone for her mistakes in 1987, even though he had forgiven her? He wasn’t sure and, having not broached the subject immediately, could find no way of introducing the matter now.
He fiddled with a knob ineffectually, faking busy, as Rose plonked herself on the bench by the console, curling her feet up beneath her and hugging her knees. He studied her from beneath hooded lids, uncertain of what to do next. Their trip out of the underworld had brought home a few startling truths; Rose was special, more than just another companion. She was important to him, vital, like breathing. The mere idea of losing her had been paralysing in its intensity. He had risked his life to rescue her, had been prepared to give his life to save her and would have if he could have been confident that he would have recovered from his regeneration swiftly enough. He was the last of his kind, without him the Universe would have no champion to protect it from the scourges his race had once kept in check. Yet he had been prepared to shorten his span and the time he would stand as Time’s defender, in order to keep Rose safe. And he would do it again. He had come to realise he would do almost anything for her. Had done. He had let loose a Dalek and taken her to see her dead father, hardly the smartest things he had ever done, but he could not regret them, for they had been for her. She was dangerous. The emotions she unleashed in him were dangerous. But he could not give her up. Would not. He didn’t deserve her, but she had found him and now he could not surrender her, however much he feared he should.
He cared for her. Deeply. He had tried to let her know, but he wasn’t sure she understood. Rassilon, he didn’t understand it, but he wanted her to know how important she was to him. Problem was, he had no idea what to say or do to show her. Worse still, he was uncertain how she would react. She was a child, a wonderful, beautiful, innocent child and he was death. Regardless of what she had said to him on Phoses about Hades, he knew that she couldn’t care for him as he cared for her. Nevertheless, he knew that he was drawn to her as irrevocably as a moth to a flame and that, if he was not careful, her flame would destroy him. It would be worth it, though, if she would be his. As he watched her, however, he felt that he was as doomed as Echo, drawn towards a creature that would never see his devotion, his emotion, not because she was cruel or self-obsessed but because he was both more and less than a man to her. She didn’t see him, he thought, not as he was. If she did, she would run from him, but unless she did, she would never truly run to him either. How did one shatter an illusion without destroying everything which was built upon it?
He sighed. He was not ignorant of the extent of his folly. He had embraced the role of Orpheus, the lover, consummating the charge made by the Dalek. Rose, however, was oblivious. Perhaps it was just as well. He was not for her, whatever he might wish. Death and life, winter and spring, they were polar opposites. They might travel together but they were not meant to be together. Still, regardless of the hopelessness of his plight, he would like to show Rose how precious she was. He suspected that life had not shown her, not held a mirror to her soul and shown her its brilliance but rather smothered it with disinterest and neglect. If he could do nothing else for her he would like to gift her that – the knowledge of how incredible she was.
First, though, he knew that he had to deal with the ongoing awkwardness between them. He just had absolutely no idea of how to accomplish such a feat. Maybe chips and shopping? Or shopping and chips? And, if he had to, a visit to Jackie; though he hoped things weren’t that desperate. He wouldn’t take her to Earth unless he had to. She might decide to stay and he couldn’t risk that. So, maybe Mars, thirtieth century? Great shopping, according to Romana at any rate, and, if he remembered correctly, which, of course, he did, an old Earth quarter that was bound to do decent chips. With an assertive twist of the dial and a flick of a couple to switches they were on their way.
Rose contemplated the Doctor. She knew he was watching her and she wondered if he was taking her home. She’d landed them in a whole heap of trouble on Phoses and she knew he hadn’t forgotten the mess with her dad. She bit her lip, hugging her knees tight against her, cringing as she recalled the callous bravado with which she had taunted him; You don't scare me. I know how sad you are. Did he understand she had been afraid? Did he understand that, as he had taken her key, she had felt as if her heart was being crushed? It had felt like death, watching him walk away from her. It had been a child’s reaction to terror that had formed her words. She hadn’t meant them. He wouldn’t abandon her now, would he? He’d begged her not to leave him when they’d been in the underworld. He couldn’t have changed his mind already, surely? She watched as he twirled a dial, reaching his lean form to hit a switch. She sucked in an anxious breath as the TARDIS shifted in the vortex.
‘So, where are off to?’ She asked, trying not to sound as if his answer was important.
‘Somewhere with shopping and chips,’ he replied. He beamed at Rose like a lunatic, inwardly flinching at what he knew must be his completely inane expression, as he hurtled them towards his gift for Rose, hoping to Rassilon and Omega that it would be just what the Doctor had ordered.
Chapter 2
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From:
no subject
This was definitely an unexpected treat on a kinda of rainy Monday, and provided--as usual--an excellent lunchtime treat. Poor Nine, all mixed up about what Rose has caused him to feel, and how he's changed because of her presence. He loves her so madly; and he's so unused to feeling that kind of love, that he's just totally overwhelmed. *hugs Nine*
And Rose. *sigh* I forget that it took her time to learn to 'read' her Doctor; and that even after a looooong time, she still doesn't have it quite down pat (neither does the Doctor, of course). How painful for her, to not know which way is up when it comes to her and Nine!
*hugs* Thank you for the lovely chapter!
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Anyway, hopefully this fic will take us to The Empty Child and Jack believably, without my head exploding!
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Erm, *whispers so nobody can hear me* will there be smut?
;-)
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If you ask very nicely, I might do a stand alone 9/Rose smut-fest at some point! I rather imagine I'd enjoy writing it ;-)
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I'll be your friend forever if you do!
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Working through it - just hope this story doesn't suffer as a result.
Hugs.
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I really liked this beginning...there's a different dynamic between Nine/Rose versus Ten/Rose...tentative, neither of them as sure of the other. It's absolutely beautiful to read, and the emotion of it is so evident.
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Hugs for reviewing :-)
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Yay for another nine/Rose story.
I love how you write nine, the angst that is there, the torn soul- and the bit about Rose seeing him as a Father figure *snort*. I love it all- and I am sure a little shopping trip is going to be a lot more than that.
*really needs to get nine icons for this sort of thing*
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Glad it's working so far :-)
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And Nine is SUCH a sweetheart. Chips, shopping, even Jackie if it comes down to it? He really is willing to sacrifice everything for Rose, isn't he? *hugs him*
Looking forward to more. And soon. But you have a history of amazingly fast updates, so I won't beg yet ;)
From:
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Hugs - will do my very best to stick to my Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, plus once at the weekend schedule.
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Ok, you can probably tell I'm a bad reviewer. Loved the chapter:)
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Glad you liked :-)
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Poor Nine...to feel so inadequate...he thinks Rose did it all, but he had a big part too! And Rose needs hugs too, as she worries about her mistakes, and what lies ahead...
Can't wait to see where this one goes.....
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PS Next chapter of Wolf Moon please!!
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fantastic!
while the fifth doctor, followed very closely with ten, will always be my favorite doctor, this fiction may just make nine my favorite.
you capture him very, very wonderfully, and i can totally see this being played out in my head.
can't wait for more!
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Re: fantastic!
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Hope you enjoy.
Hugs