Hooray for my boring chapter. I was kinda lost for anything exciting to write, but i HAD to post a chapter, so that was what came out. I liked Rose's little sister - she made me smile.
Thankyou to everyone who answered my plea and reviewed. I was overjoyed at the response you guys gave me, and i'll never doubt you again.
"Doctor." Rose pulled on The Doctor's arm to make him stop in the middle of the street.
"What?" He turned around to face her.
"We can't leave yet."
"Yeah, I know." He sighed. "We have to go say goodbye to Mickey, right?"
"Well… he did…"
"I have to thank him too. He helped me."
"Really? How did he help you?"
"Lets just say that after all this time, he's the only one who knows you better than me."
"Not better than you. He just knows a different side of me. He knows the side of me that wanted to stay with Sim. That's what you went to Mickey for, wasn't it?" The Doctor looked down at his shoes as he scuffed them along the concrete.
"Maybe." He drawled.
"That's so sweet of you." Rose grabbed his head and pulled it down to kiss the top of it. "You would have done anything to get me back, wouldn't you?" The Doctor grinned at her.
"I would have gone to the ends of the universe. There's no way I'm ever losing you to another man." The Doctor pulled her into a hug.
"I never want to lose you, either, Doctor. Promise me that you'll never send me away again."
"I-" The Doctor hesitated as Rose pulled away and looked into his eyes.
"Because you know that I'll always do anything for you. I even looked into the time vortex to save your life."
"About that, Rose… I-" The Doctor stood wringing his hands nervously.
"Yeah?"
"Were you serious when you said that you'd stay with me forever?"
"Until the day I die."
"And if you were to… uh…" He took a deep breath. "…Not die?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Rose…" The Doctor took a deep breath. "Can we find somewhere to talk about the stuff I haven't told you yet?"
"Sure. Where did you have in mind?"
OIOIOIOIOIOIOIO
The Doctor and Rose sat on a park bench. It was dark, and they both just stared out into the blackness, The Doctor searching for the right words to explain what he needed to Rose, and Rose waiting patiently for him to tell her. She had never doubted that The Doctor would always tell her what she needed to know and no more, so she wasn't bothered much by his silence. This was just another of those quiet moments to treasure before they set off on another dangerous adventure. She was curious, but she knew better than to push The Doctor, so she sat and listened to the crickets chirp. For all her resolve, Rose Tyler was not the most patient of humans. After a long silence, she had to push.
"Spit it out, Doctor. We've been sitting here in silence for ten minutes now. Is this about what's wrong with my head?"
"Yes." The Doctor breathed. He finally turned to look Rose in the eye. "Do you remember anything about having the time vortex in your head?"
"Not really. I have some fuzzy memories of making Daleks die, and you kissed me, but that's about all."
"Do you remember Bad Wolf?"
"Yeah. I remember that one, too."
"I…" The Doctor sheepishly looked down once more. "I don't think I got rid of all the vortex out of your head, Rose."
"You what?" Rose stood up and looked down at The Doctor, who was now finding his fingers extremely interesting.
"I don't think… I know that the Bad Wolf is still a part of you."
"How do you know that?"
"The Bad Wolf is the reason for your memories slipping into your subconscious and your subconscious slipping into your consciousness. If that makes sense at all."
"Maybe. Explain it to me."
"Well, it would seem that the TARDIS was helping you to suppress your memories of that whole… day… and when you came into this universe, your mental barriers started to fall apart and you… well, made it worse and forgot everything. But the Bad Wolf would still come out every now and then."
"So the Bad Wolf is a… a part of me?"
The Doctor frowned.
"Even I don't know everything, and this is one mystery that I don't understand. You have to… well, Rose. If you come back with me, then you're probably going to have to let go of all of those barriers – going home will do that to you… and you'll remember everything about being the Bad Wolf. I don't know what's going to happen to you."
Rose sat back down next to The Doctor. Neither of them looked at each other.
"Then we'll just have to see what happens when we get back there, then." Rose said softly. There was another long, but not uncomfortable silence between the two. They sat for what seemed like hours - and may well have been – before The Doctor jumped up.
"No point waiting for it, then. Let's go say our goodbyes to Mickey-boy and then go home, shall we?" He extended his hand to help Rose up and she looked up at his face and beamed.
"It is about time I went home." She told him as she accepted the hand.
OIOIOIOIOIOIOI
It was late when The Doctor and Rose got to Mickey's house. He opened the door right away, as if he had been expecting them. Rose stood awkwardly in the doorway as The Doctor pushed past Mickey, inviting himself into the house. Mickey stood with his arms folded watching Rose as she looked intently at her shoes.
"This is the time you come say goodbye, right?" Mickey asked her.
"Yeah." Rose didn't look up at him. "Probably for good this time."
"Don't worry Rose. I understand now why you have to go. Anyone could see that you weren't really living without him around." Rose finally looked at him, her head cocked to one side. "You were always there for me, Mickey. I don't know how I'm going to go on without you."
"You've got him. He's just as good."
Rose nodded lightly and the two were silent for a minute.
"There's no way I can ever thank you for what you've done."
"Then just be happy, yeah? Stay with him forever like you promised."
"Yeah." Rose gave a weak smile. "Exactly like I promised." Mickey moved slowly into the house and Rose followed, closing the door behind her. This was going to be a goodbye to remember. The Doctor and Mickey getting on? This was like some crazy world. She wondered briefly if The Doctor was freaking out Mickey's girlfriend. She also wondered what Mickey's girlfriend was like. This was definitely going to be the saddest goodbye she had ever had.
OIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
"How did that goodbye turn into a party?" Rose giggled as she staggered into the TARDIS with The Doctor keeping her on her feet when they slipped out from underneath her. They had hardly reached the console before he finally had to slide her down onto the floor.
"And why - just because it is a party filled with people you don't know - do you feel the need to drink so much alcohol?" The Doctor asked as he smiled fondly at her.
"Are you kidding? That's one of the only things I'm going to miss about this universe. The beer gives a real kick."
"Don't worry. When we get back, I'll take you to Resiak. They really know how to party there."
"But do you know how to party, Doctor? What am I going to do without a buddy to carry me along afterwards?"
"Of course I can party." The Doctor scoffed indignantly. I'm over 1000 years old and you don't think I can party? I could dance, couldn't I? I have had some wild parties over the years, Rose Tyler. I had a headache for weeks after the celebration party the people of Xerox threw me when I rescued their princess from a… well, you don't really want to know."
"No. Now I'm intrigued. Princess?" As Rose raised her eyebrows she seemed sober and The Doctor had to wonder if she was just putting on a big show so that he could half carry her all the way back to the TARDIS from Mickey's place.
"She wasn't my type." The Doctor shrugged nonchalantly as he pulled her to her feet roughly. "Now that you're more… clear-headed." Rose blushed a little under his glare. "We can get back to the task at hand… Getting home - which may be harder than it was to get here in the first place."
"Why?"
"Well, there is the fact that I've been here for quite a while, and the TARDIS hasn't moved in all that time…"
"Oh." Rose looked slightly embarrassed. "Sorry about that."
"Not a problem. That isn't really my major problem with getting back, anyway."
"And what is?"
The Doctor rubbed the back of his head.
"I really don't have the slightest clue how I got here in the first place."
THE END
I am seriously serious here. For anyone who notices little details, you may have seen the 'complete' tacked on to my story. Yay! That makes two completed stories.
In saying this is the end, i also have to say that this is really NOT the end. I have another story coming your way as soon as i can get on the computer long enough to write it. it'll be called forever, and i really want to post it with this chapter, but then you wont get this chapter for a long while, because although i have a basic outline for the first chapter, it doesn't make sense.
So, if you're hoping to find out where Sim came from... i'll try to find an explanation soon (i have part of one, but not one i can put into words, so bear with me). If you want to leave it with a slightly annoying happy ending, leave it here and don't read any more. if you want to have a happier ending, complete with 'what's going on' complete craziness in a thrill ride of Forever, then read the sequel. (okay, just made that sound probably a hundred times more interesting than it is going to be) seriously, though. my sequel is going to go further into the unknown than this story, and it is completely different from anything else that i have ever read on this site. I'm going to go completely over the edge of reality (i think) so i'm just warning you.
Before i say anything else, i have to thank all of my reviewers for this story because this would not have been a worthwhile story without you guys sticking around till the end.
RagamuffinSundrop, Tania, horsefly, HarryWhoFanatic, ScoutGirl, WhisperLuna, Jacqueline Roget, forestwife
Rach6, agapi16, Blaidd Drwg, timano, Logan's Lover, gaiafreedom21, floorpie, Steph, saiyamar, bexxy, Xevenof9, Gamine Madcap, BulgarianSeeker24
so... anyway... if you're not happy with my ending, here is an alternate ending i had to include. This is compliments of Tania. Who i really have to thank AGAIN, because without her, this story would probably have been... less thrilling. hehe. seriously, Tania helped me - usually with some witty comment, or the choosing of words, or names (planet names in this chapter - blame Tania) and THIS is her alternate ending...
I've done a bit of editing Tania. Sorry.
The Doctor embraced Rose as they strode together down the empty streets towards the TARDIS. Rose stopped him.
Rose grabbed a hold of his head and kissed him. When The Doctor responded after a split second, they kissed passionately for a few minutes.
"You taste like fish and chips". Rose whispered to his lips when they pulled apart.
"I had it for lunch". The Doctor told her. "Remeber? It was before that roast that your mother insisted we eat."
Rose laughed and pulled away from him.
"Take me with you in the TARDIS" She said.
"OK".
The End."
And with that. See you next time. Remember this is your last chance to review, and i've given you a lot to review about. I only need 22 reviews to get to 200, so if i have more than 22 readers - even if you don't say much - i just want to say i got to 200 reviews. it would make me ecstatically happy.
Mikkifavo