I don't own Doctor Who. I wasn't going to write this yet, because I have other stories in the works but the idea wouldn't rest. This is my first time writing the ninth Doctor, so please forgive me if it's a little off. If it is, I'm open to suggestions. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Rose shook her head, shifting to stand on her feet again. Her head spun for a moment, but stopped just as quickly. She was in a field, of flower mingling with tall grass, and it was quite pretty. Even if the air felt thick around her and the day much too warm to really be comfortable. Sweat was pooling over her brow and she wiped at it absently trying to collect her thoughts.

Okay, so the Doctor was going to be mad she was certain. And yes, she should have listened but she was only trying to help, surely he could understand that. And when had she ever listened when he told her to stay somewhere?

But this had never happened before either. Had she been transported? That seemed like a much better option than being dead.

"Hi," a young female voice called out to her.

Rose spun around searching for the source until she saw a girl sitting in a tree, at the edge of the field. She was nine, maybe ten, sitting what comfortable on a large outstretched branch swinging her feet happily.

Rose walked over and looked up at her smiling, trying to appear calm. "Hi."

The girl scratched at her face for a moment, and then asked. "Where did you come from? You just appeared."

That accent, it wasn't British, in fact sounded very American. And it held what Rose knew was a hint of a southern drawl. "It's a bit complicated," Rose looked back to where she had appeared, trying to find a better answer, but when she looked back the girl was working her way down the tree.

In a minute she was standing in front of her, a bit on the short side, but very pretty. She was tan, and had natural blond hair pulled back into a tie, bright green eyes looking up at Rose as if she was trying to figure it all out.

"Okay," she finally agreed at last, leaving the next move up to Rose.

"Where am I?" Rose asked, eyes searching for a clue, but all she saw was the field and trees. This girl might be the only one for miles, but at least she seemed to be on Earth. At least she hoped it was Earth.

The girl followed her gaze around the field, before they settled back on Rose. "In a field," she told her, her voice friendly.

If she had been an adult Rose would have thought that was sarcasm but it was said in innocence. It was just a child answer.

"Right," Rose agreed, nodding and offering the child a smile, trying to appear harmless. She didn't want to scare of the only person she had found. "But where? The US?"

The girl gave her a small head tilt, and nodded. "Yes, Missouri. Are you okay? Did ya hit your head?"

Rose shook said head, "No, things are just a bit complicated in my life." That was an understatement. "What year is it?"

The girl smiled, looking like she thought Rose might be a little off. "1996."

She told her and Rose gave a small smile. "1996," she repeated. Across and ocean she was alive and well, about the same age as this girl in front of her.

Well she had been in front of her, now she was walking away, but slowly giving Rose a chance to catch up. She did so quickly, placing a hand on her arm. She didn't know what had happened, but she knew the Doctor would stop at nothing to find her, but until then she would need an ally.

"I'm Rose," she said when the girl stopped.

The younger held out a hand politely, which Rose shook. "I'm Autumn. Listen, it's getting towards dinner time, would you like to join us."

Rose was quite hunger, and all she could do right now is wait and try to stay out of trouble. "Sure, that sounds great, Autumn."

DW

'Stay in the TARDIS, Rose,' he had told her. How hard was that? It was for her protection, it wasn't as though he was just doing it for his amusement. He would die for his silly little human, move the world for her, so why couldn't she do the one thing he asked of her?

Why couldn't she stay safe? Couldn't she see that she was his everything, and he had lost her? Oh, he would find her, it wasn't going to be easy, but he was determined. He had finished taking care of the enemy and now he was back in the TARDIS, fingers working away, trying to use the TARDIS to track down where she had vanished, when was an even better question.

When in the world was Rose? The scanner was protesting and he slammed his hand against the console, her image of surprise flashing across her face, just before it happened. He had seen it in the window, and his turning instead of watching had probably caused this.

But if she had stayed, none of this would have happened. They would be laughing now, instead of him holding his sore hand and the TARDIS humming a loud protest.

He rubbed her gently, "Sorry," he muttered, and he meant it. It wasn't her fault; it was like finding Rose in the whole world with a scrap of clothing. Except it was just a faint trace of her energy.

And it wasn't easy. There were two many bodies, too many years, to try to sort through, and it could take days, or longer. And what if she didn't have that kind of time? Was she safe, wherever she was?

He hoped she found good kind people. People who would watch out for her, not that she wasn't capable of doing it on her own, but that didn't stop his worry.

"Please," he begged, though he wasn't sure who he was asking the favor for.

He began to work again, knowing that he wouldn't stop until she was back with him. All of time, billons of lives, but there was only one Rose, and he would find her.