There was a long silence after the Doctor was done telling his story to Rose. She hadn't said a thing while he was speaking. She hadn't run away either. He had studied her, and she hadn't been scared. Not even once. She wasn't looking at him as if he was a monster. She was sad, but she was sad for him, because of his story. He could feel some of her emotions now thanks to the bond they had built over the years of him being human. He could read her will not to let him down, to help him through his recovery. Physical and psychological. He could feel her touch being as gentle and loving as it had been those past years. Nothing had changed for her. He was the same in her eyes, when he was the complete opposite of the man she had known and gotten married to.
Rose raised a hand and cupped his cold cheek. The habit made him lean into her warm touch and closed his eyes as her thumb traced circles on his skin. She smiled softly. He didn't see it, but he imagined it on her lips. He didn't know what to do or what to think anymore. He was just lost. He knew that he had to go back to his ship, to find out how the universe was going. Not so bad since the Earth hadn't noticed anything. Humans were so focused on getting messages from space that they wouldn't have missed something coming from up there. And the news would have talked about it again and again until something bigger came around.
"You should rest like the doctors said but... I can take you there if you want. To your ship, I mean."
"You would do that for me?"
"You look very attached to it."
"That's the last piece of my home I have left."
"I'm sorry," murmured Rose, wrapping her arms around him. "But you still have me, and the kids. We're your family. We'll always be here for you. Even if you have to go."
The Doctor didn't say anything to that and just leaned into her touch once again. Rose felt like getting his identity back had put a wall between them. Her Maxence would have cuddled into her, but the Doctor was putting his shields back up and protecting himself from everything. Even from the woman he loved.
Rose helped him into the wheelchair she had gotten for him and made sure he wouldn't get cold by wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. He was starting to really feel the pain but he wasn't worried. He would probably find something in the infirmary of the TARDIS. They went downstairs thanks to the goods lift and Rose took the Doctor to the basement. He was surprised to see his beloved box so close to him.
"I was surprised to find it there too. It appeared a few days after I found it."
The Doctor stroked the wooden box which purred, happy to see him back. Rose helped him in, but stayed in the background so he could have a moment alone with his machine. She just watched him as he stroked the console and took his time to come back into his universe.
YOU ARE READING
Down to Earth
Fanfic"Instead of killing himself, he could rewrite his whole life and have a better one. He only had to use the Chameleon arch. And maybe finally be happy in a life where his past as killer wouldn't weight so much on his shoulders."
