The hidden Rose

Chapter 6

Rose stood there, her hands still on the edges of his shirt.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"I think this has gone far enough, don't you? Unless you actually want me to take my shirt off, I said you only had to ask."

"Wouldn't have been as much fun that way. I should go to my room now."

"Really? You didn't have to be so dramatic about unbuttoning my shirt, I'm capable of doing that myself. Ok, that was the only time I make an exception to you finishing what you started, next time you won't be so lucky. You've had your goodnight kiss on the cheek. See you in the morning, with my breakfast. I'll have some toast with strawberry jam and tea."

He moved her hands off his shirt and turned around to go into the bathroom, leaving Rose standing there confused. What the hell had just happened? She shook her head and went into her room. He had let her unbutton his shirt and neither of them had done anything about it. Good thing she hadn't gone for the zip of his trousers then. She heard him come out of the bathroom and close his door.

Now in her pyjamas, she crept silently into the bathroom and locked the door. She told herself to get a grip but she had liked what she had seen so far and it was going to be difficult not to be tempted to rip his shirt off him the next time. Finally getting into bed, she fell asleep, pretending they had actually taken it further and he was lying there with her. All was well until she woke up screaming. Alec was there in a few seconds.

"Rose, what's wrong?"

The door was open and the landing light was on. He sat on the edge of the bed and Rose clambered over to him. He was wearing just a white t-shirt and some sleep shorts and Rose clung to him. Those damn Cybermen again, one had grabbed hold of her in the lever room and she was hurtling towards the void and the Doctor was too late to save her. She didn't answer him. What the hell had brought that to mind? It had been ages since she had nightmares about that day.

"Rose, tell me what's wrong. It's ok, I'm here now."

Rose glanced up at him. "Sorry I woke you Alec, I'm fine now."

She was still visibly shaking. She knew she couldn't fool him. "Just something that happened before I came here, I thought I was over it."

"I know Rose, it's ok. Try and go back to sleep, it's three in the morning. Shall I tell you something?"

Rose nodded, still keeping hold of him. "I still wake up from that day I found that girl in the river, from the case before last. I went under trying to get her out. I wake up and I'm soaking wet from sweating it feels like I've just been dragged out of the river a few seconds ago. I can't forget it Rose, I don't think I ever will. Now it's your turn."

He was still holding her, resting his chin on her forehead, occasionally kissing it, his arms wrapped around her.

"I dreamt about the Cybermen and the other creatures that were there the day I came here."

"What other creatures?"

"The stuff of nightmares. Believe me Alec, you don't want to know, just be glad they never came here."

Torchwood had already confirmed that in the history of this world, no Daleks had ever made it through, much to her relief.

"What really happened that day Rose? Don't tell me the altered version, I can sense there's something more. Pete didn't bring you here voluntarily did he?"

Rose shook her head.

"Then there was your mother and that Mickey. You said Mickey stayed here the first time but your mother came through with you the last time. I guess Pete brought you both here and you went back and something happened, didn't it? Pete said something about the space between worlds, where the Cybermen got trapped and now these other creatures."