Just a Little Bit Different - A Doctor Who Fanfic

Chapter 2

It was 2:30am, and still Rose couldn't fall asleep.

She had tossed and turned all night, images and thoughts of the Doctor and his strange, new clone racing through her head. It felt like the night he'd left her all over again, but this time with a twist: he hadn't exactly left her, he was just down the hall and to the right. 

Eventually the thoughts had become to much for her to bear, so she let a little tear squeeze out. Of course, it couldn't just come by itself and soon enough her pillow was soaked through, drowning in her teardrops, her crying muffled by the blankets she'd crushed against her mouth.

Rose had thought it would never, ever end, not until the day she died. She thought she'd always wind up back in the TARDIS with the Doctor and that goofy grin on his face, asking her if she was ready for yet another adventure.

Who is he? she wondered about her new houseguest. He had all of the Doctor's memories, all of his personality traits (plus a few stolen from Donna), and he was, in essence, the exact same man. But with a heavier heart, and a limited lifespan.

Another sob escaped her lips as she wished for a life that wasn't so confusing, wishing again to be able to go back to her travels with the Doctor across time and space, with aliens and ray-guns and explosions. The domestic, human life was absolutely dreadful.

Eventually, her tears subsided, replaced with an aching need for sleep, along with the hunger she always felt after she cried. Once, when she was a little girl, her mom had said to her, "Goodness, Rose! I can never get you to eat your dinner unless you throw a hissy beforehand!"

The kitchen was downstairs, but she doubted anyone would be awake at this hour, so she wouldn't have to clean up her streaked face too much. Rubbing her blanket over both of her eyes, she quietly snuck down the stairs and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl. In less than 20 seconds, she was back upstairs, padding quietly down the hallway to her room.

Slam. In the darkness, she hadn't noticed the figure just emerging from his room, who evidently hadn't noticed her either.

"Sorry," came the sheepish whisper.

"Stupid wanker," Rose muttered, chastising herself for not being more careful. She could have been dozing off to sleep at the moment, instead she was conversing with the man she had just been bawling over in the darkness. "What are you doing up at this hour?"

"I could be asking you the same thing." The woman grunted in the silence that followed. "Oh, alright... I heard you making some noises in your room and I was getting up to check on you."

Warmth flooded Rose's cheeks at this. He worried about her? She tried to force away the smile that was spreading across her lips and failed miserably. "Yeah, well, I uh... I'm fine. Thanks."

"So, to repeat your own question, what are you doing up at this hour, miss Rose Tyler?"

"I... couldn't sleep..."

She must have hesitated a split-second too long, for the Doctor's eyes seemed to rake over her in the darkness. She jumped a little and stifled a surprised squeak as she felt his hand reach up and caress her cheek. For a moment, he paused, then gently wiped a stray tear away with his thumb, and lowered his hand once again.

"You've been crying." It wasn't a question.

"N-no." Rose's voice cracked, and she winced, but carried on. "No, I yawned, and my eyes watered. I'm tired, Doctor. Now, if you don't mind..." The blonde attempted to step around her tall, skinny friend, but he smoothly blocked her exit.

"Rose," his voice was silky and sent shivers up her spine. "Please don't lie to me. I care about you, and we obviously need to talk about this."

"It's 3:00 in the bloody morning! My mum would have a fit if she saw us now."

"It's probably the only time we'll get to talk."

A part of her screamed to listen to him and follow him into his room, pour out all of her feelings about this whole mess and kiss him just as she had a few days before. But she couldn't. Quietly, she pushed past him and opened the door to her room that she hadn't realized she'd closed. Lingering at the doorway, she almost ran back to him and fell into his arms. He seemed to be expecting it.

At last, she whispered, "Goodnight, Doctor. Also, we'll need to be thinking of getting you a birth certificate if you want a job. You can't keep going by 'The Doctor' forever." Not turning back to see what his reaction was, she snuck back into her bed, and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

~~~

The Doctor's clone loitered in the hallway for a few mintues after his best friend left, silently hoping she'd see her fault and come talk to him. He knew that her feelings would be mixed about this, as he wasn't the Time Lord she'd fallen in love with, and it must be like his regeneration all over again for her.

He remained for a good ten minutes before heading with a resigned sigh into his new room. He rather liked it, almost as much as his room in the TARDIS. It was cozy, with it's tiny wardrobe and plain little bed, and there were even some pictures, strangely for a guest's room, of little Rose lining the walls.

He climbed into the comfy bed with a smile on his lips, though he was still a mite upset with his former-companion. Before he fell asleep, his final thought was a wonder of what his real self was doing now.