The Slow Path
McRaider
Summary: Rose Tyler was sure she'd had her adventure and seen all she was meant to have seen. But the universe isn't done with her quite yet. Now she's being given a whole new exciting beginning, fraught with danger, packed with adventures, enemies, friendships and love. Welcome to the Slow Path Rose Tyler; it is gonna be Fantastic!
Author's Note: This really stemmed from several ideas all rolled into one, it began as a completely different series which didn't turn out nearly as well as I'd like it to. However, the one thing remaining constant was that I wanted to take Rose to Atlantis, I also wanted her to be happy when she was there, which is how I came up with this. Also we're going to assume that everyone was in their early thirties when they headed to Atlantis, which will put them in their early forties.
2nd Author's Note: This is cross posted several places, including Teaspoons for the Mind, ninelove and TimeandChips.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who soley belongs to the BBC and genius Russell T. Davies who began it again, Stargate Atlantis belongs to MGM and the geniuses Robert Cooper, Gero, Wood and anyone else I'm forgetting. Any characters you do not recognize such as Cayden are mine. John is not mine, because he is the embodiment of Nine in human...form you get the idea.
Pairings: Currently Alt!Nine/Rose. Everyone else is kind of going to be a secret.
Rated: PG-13 to R, nothing remarkably explicit.

Prologue: Living a Life I could never Have
London, England
November 23rd, 2007

Mickey smiled as he moved towards Rose's desk; she sat immersed in papers looking bored out of her mind. "Why don't you come to dinner with Jake an' me," Mickey questioned.

It had been just under a year since Rose, Jackie and Mickey had permanently been stranded in the alternate universe; where London had a president, and people flew zeppelins. Rose had started working for her father under the disguise of Vitech, but the organization was called Torchwood and she ran Torchwood four, on the outskirts of London near Wales. Rose hadn't dreamt of this, she'd once imagined her life with a blue or brown eyed man, now it seemed like her every moment was filled with work and Mickey badgering her to get out more.

"Mickey--" she sighed, there was just no reasoning with him. Mickey had been so nice since the goodbye. Rose had appreciated it at first, the company but she was beginning to tire of everyone dancing around her as if it had never happened. She wasn't frail, and she hated others acting like she was. The only person who treated her normally was Peter Tyler, the alternate version of her father who seemed all too willing to treat her like a normal daughter. She realized as each day passed that as much as she missed and hurt to see her Doctor again, the good memories were what she was left with, so she cherished them more with each passing moment. "I'm really just not in the mood tonight, why don't you guys go an' have fun," she lied. She'd promised Lexi she'd hang out with her tonight. Her roommate, a wonderful young Wales girl was bright and also making her way through school, they two had gotten a flat a few months back and enjoyed their time together. She had to head to her parents tonight as well after dinner.

"Come on Rose, ya haven't spent ten minutes with me! Couldn't ya just enjoy one night of dinner with me!?"

Rose looked up at her old friend, "Mickey, I'm sorry I--" she shook her head, "I just can't, I'm really not in the mood. Listen I've gotta get home; told mum I'd be home this weekend," she stood up and pressed a kiss to his cheek before grabbing her purse and leaving for her flat.

Mickey watched her go, silently cursing the Doctor for stealing Rose's heart. At that moment, Mickey realized he was losing her all over again and this time, he had the feeling she'd never return to him.

It'd been raining all day, maybe she should have expected it, and been more careful or stayed home for the night, deciding to go see her parents the next morning. The windshield wipers were working over time as she tried to focus on the street in front of her.

Tires screeched she turned her wheel as she felt the car begin to hydroplane. She felt her stomach churn in fear as she lost control of the car. She cried out in terror as the car smashed into a concrete barrier, coming to a stop, her world went black.

o0o

The first thing that struck her was the bright lights and the pain in the right side of her head. Rose groaned as pain shot through her skull, reaching a hand up to cover her eyes, she was surprised to feel a light tug against the back of her hand. She slit her eyes open to see a needle in her hand. She looked over to see where the needle and tube led, to find she was hooked up to an IV--that meant she was in a hospital. Her hand continued its path towards her head, when it was gently caught by a stronger grip.

She caught sight of a fuzzy figure for the first time, squinting slightly, her vision cleared and she was able to see a fairly clear image of her father standing there. "Da?"

"'Ello sweet heart," he whispered as he gently brought her hand down, rubbing circles over her hand with his thumb. "Your mum went to get the Doctor, everythin's gonna be fine." he explained.

"'M in a hospital?" she questioned.

Suddenly the door opened, Rose looked over to see her mother trialing behind a man with gray hair and even grayer eyes, "Yes you are, hello, I'm Doctor Wilson--can you tell me your whole name and your birthday?"

"Rose Marion Tyler--" she paused for a moment, "March 5th, 1986."

He nodded as he pressed his fingers lightly against her waist and glanced at his watch, "How about your parent's names, sister's and her birthday?"

"Peter an' Jackie Tyler, Lilly Tyler--August 23rd, 2007."

He nodded and pulled out a penlight, "This is going to hurt a bit," he shined it in both eyes. Getting a pupil reaction in both as well as her trying to pull away, "Sorry love, almost done. "Rose do you remember how you got here?"

She thought for a moment as he grabbed one of her hands, "Squeeze for me," he spoke while she continued to think. She gripped his hand hard, and then he switched to the other and repeated the task.

"Car accident--I hit another car. Are they all right?"

He smiled as he pulled her sheets out from the bottom of her bed, "Yes, they're fine. Can you press against my left hand? Good and now the right? Very good." He tucked the sheets and blankets back in and moved back to the head of her bed. He leaned against it slightly and smiled down at her, "Am I clear and how many fingers?"

"One and yeah fairly clear."

"An' you can hear everything I'm sayin'?"

She nodded slowly.

"Excellent, Rose, tell me where you were a year ago?"

Jackie and Peter both eyed each other, hoping Rose would remember their cover story. However, it was the look of pure panic on Rose's face as she glanced at her parents.

"No--" she whispered, "I--I"

"Shh, it's okay; let's try another question, Rose who was your last boyfriend? When did you date him?"

"Jimmy Stone--last year of school, dropped out--" she looked up at her parents as her mother's eyes grew wide. "Is…is that wrong?" she tried not to show her fear.

The doctor glanced back at her parents, "Could you two step outside for a moment, I'd like to ask Rose a few more questions. I'll come get you when I'm finished."

"She's my daughter!" replied Jackie.

Peter sighed and gently grabbed his wife's hand, squeezing his daughter's feet he all but dragged Jackie out into the hallway.

Dr. Wilson turned back to his patient and smiled at her softly, "What's the last thing you remember, before the accident?"

"Working with my father. I…I can't remember anything before that--what's wrong with me?" she felt panic rising in her stomach.

The doctor gently gripped her good hand, "Take it easy, it won't do any good to have a panic attack, tell me Rose, what can you recall from your childhood? Do you remember your schooling?"

Rose nodded, "A little, not much, it's all--fuzzy."

"That's okay, we'll work on that. Just breathe; we'll get you through this okay? I'd like to run a few more memory tests, based on that information we'll see what we come up with okay?" Again Rose nodded slowly, "Good girl, you sit tight, I'm going to go fill your parents in and order those tests."

o0o

Jackie sighed, crossing her arms across her chest as she paced nervously, "What if it's permanent?" she whispered.

Pete shrugged, "Then we help remind her of her past--"

"No," Jackie said suddenly, her eyes a light with a plan, "We can't Pete. I can't watch my daughter fall apart again."

Pete Tyler suddenly shook his head, looking at his wife as though she were crazy, "Are you saying you want to lie to your daughter?"

"It's just a little lie, Pete, do you want to watch her go through that pain again! Watch her fall to pieces, it's been a little under a year and she's finally getting over it! I can't let it destroy her again. No, unless she remembers, we'll pretend like nothing ever happened."

"Jacks I'm not sure that's such a good ide--"

"Pete, I've been raisin' that girl for twenty-one years, I know what's best for her."

Pete wasn't so sure anymore, there were days when he watched Jackie with Rose, and he wondered if maybe Jackie was suffocating their eldest daughter, not allowing her the chance to grow a little more, and better herself.

"I'll make you a deal," Pete suddenly said, deciding that if they were going to lie to the poor girl, then she at least deserved something else in return. "We keep the past three years a secret from Rose, then that means if and when our daughter wants to move on, then we let her. You want her to move on with her life then you have to give her a life to move on to."

Jackie glared at her husband for a moment; it was such a strange thought, to call him husband when he wasn't even from her universe. He wasn't the same Pete she'd lost, the same that Rose had tried to save by accident. "Fine," she relented, "If Rose asks, or wants to leave I'll let her."

"Willingly without pestering?" Pete prodded.

"Yes!" hissed Jackie.

o0o

Two Hours Later

Rose, Jackie and Peter all sat in her hospital room, waiting patiently for the doctor to return with the results of her tests. Rose already knew something was vastly wrong. She was considering what she'd been asked when the door opened.

"I'm afraid I don't have the best news in the world, though it could certainly be worse. Rose you're suffering from amnesia, for whatever reason your mind has blocked out the first six years of your life and the past three. You appear to remember everything between those years and several things in the past year, like working for your father, your sister's name simple things like that."

Jackie broke the uncomfortable silence, "Why doesn't she remember?"

"I'd like to say that we understand amnesia, but unfortunately its one brain damage problem we don't have a full grasp on. The mind is a very complex thing; there could be a number of reasons why you simply forgot those periods of time. Now, we're going to release you into your parents care tomorrow morning. We encourage you to try and show things from Rose's childhood and the past few years, slowly remind her of what occurred. There's a possibility you could completely regain your memory over time."

Rose shook her head, "Wait a minute…doesn't that mean there's a chance I won't as well."

Dr. Wilson sighed, "There's always that chance Rose, you may have to start over from here with your memories. However, I strongly encourage you to continue with your daily life, stay involved and active it'll help stimulate the mind."

"Three years of my life," she whispered.

"I'm sorry I couldn't give you better news love, I really am. We'll release you tomorrow, I'd like you on bed rest for the rest of the week and you can return to work on Monday."

o0o

One Month Later
December 25th, 2007
Vancouver, Canada
5:29 AM

She rolled over with a soft sight, her eyes slowly slid open and she practically jumped when she saw him lying there, perpendicular to her, supported by his elbows, grinning like an idiot.

"Good morning, and Merry Christmas!" he spoke cheerfully.

She had to pause a minute to recall where she was, before realizing he had a reason for being this pleasant. Accepting that he was actually excited about Christmas for once she smiled in return as she reached her hand out and played with his dark brown hair.

"So can I give you your first Christmas present?" he questioned softly as he caught her hand and played with it for a moment, "Before the runt wakes up and ruins it?" He spoke fondly of his niece, who she knew he adored.

"Of course, and she's not a runt," she replied, surprised when as if in answer to her response he gently tugged her from the bed.

"Close your eyes, I don't do romantic often," he replied as he steered her out of their beautiful guest bedroom and towards the living room where presents sat a plenty under the tree, most of them for a five and a half year old princess.

She chuckled in anticipation, having dated him for almost a year now, there was little about him that tended to throw her off, though she had to admit, she was completely lost right now.

"Okay, open your eyes," her green eyes opened to stare at the beautifully lit tree, that he and his sister had worked so hard on the night before to bring back a little spirit after the tragic events of the past year.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

He shook his head, "Your gift is at eye level in the tree, find it," was the only direction he gave her as he gently propelled her forward. He was vaguely aware of the sound of footsteps in the hallway, he wanted this before anyone else came, though he knew it may not be possible, he hadn't been quiet about it.

She searched and searched, for a good five minutes before finally, her eyes hit it. A beautiful gray silver box, small and square, simple but beautiful, picking it out of the tree she realized it was a ring box and it was velvet. With a lip between her teeth she popped it open, only to find nothing in it. She turned to question him, when she gasped, he was down on one plaid clad knee, holding out a white gold, ring with three small and simple stones.

His blue eyes as sincere as they came he grinned up at her, his charm completely turned on, "Elizabeth, will you marry me?" He asked, oblivious to all his other surroundings, and their spectators standing in the hallway dying to hear her answer.

Elizabeth felt her eyes burn with unshed tears, a grin lit up her face as she silently nodded, unable to trust her voice. He, and the other three observes let out glorious whoops of joy as he whirled her around in the air and pressed a kiss to her lips.

When he pulled away he slid the ring over her dainty fingers and hugged her close, "Merry Christmas," he whispered as he held her for another moment.

Smiling she hugged him tight, and chuckled as she felt a tiny body hurtle into them. He pulled away and reached down to pick up his niece who was cheering still, "Merry Christmas Rodney," Elizabeth replied as she pecked his cheek again.

TBC