Lean on Me

Chapter Three

I woke up the next morning, amazed to find that the last day had not been a dream. I smiled at the man with the mussed-up brown hair and slim frame lying down next to me, realizing that I had actually slept through the night for the first time in a little under two years. I kissed his cheek and stepped out of bed to take a shower. 

I came out ten minutes later, dried my hair, and got dressed for work and realized I had the day off. We all had a day off every month, and everyone back at Torchwood had kind of been expecting me to stay in the real world, so they decided today would be my day.  By the time I was out of the bathroom, the Doctor was gone and the bed had already been made. I went downstairs moments later to the smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. I walked to the kitchen to investigate. As I approached the door, the smell of breakfast being cooked was even stronger. I could hear the Doctor laughing along with James, and saw the two of them leaning over the stove together. I swear, if I could live in any one moment for the rest of my life, this would be it. I stood in the doorway for a while, trying to burn the image into the back of my mind so that I would never forget it. 

Soon, though, the Doctor turned around and smiled. "Morning, Rose," he said, walking over and planting a small kiss on my cheek. I smiled and said a quick "hello" in response. 

"Mummy!" James yelled, running up to me and hugging my leg tightly.

"Morning, James," I said, bending down to kiss him on the head, ruffling his hair straight after. "Breakfast smells delicious boys," I told them. "What are we having?"

"Well James here made some pancakes and bacon, and I made some eggs." He said, smiling with pride at the boy, who's face also lit up. We sat down and ate a moment later. It didn't taste nearly as good as it smelled (which was probably just because it was cooked bu a two-year-old and a half-alien-ish person.) Mum and Dad came down a few minutes later and ate some of the extra food. We talked about how big James was getting and how this weekend was actually supposed to be sunny for a change. 

"Maybe we could drive up to the country and have a picnic or something," I suggested, and  Mum almost immediately objected. 

"No," she said stubbornly,"I was in the car for three hours yesterday. I'm not going to sit in it for another hour or so just to spend the day on a grassy field."

"Jackie!" Dad said. "It was just a suggestion. You don't have to go if you don't want to." Then he turned to me. "Sounds like a lovely idea, Rose. I'd love to go, but I have some work to make up for from yesterday. I was in the middle of a meeting when I left to pick you up. But I'll tell you what, I have a house just outside of Durham, and you can all spend the weekend there if you like."

"Sounds great! What do you think, Doctor?" I questioned, wanting his input before saying yes to the offer. 

He smiled widely and said, "I think it sounds absolutely fantastic!"

"Great," I said, a smile spreading widely across my face. "Do you want to go on a mini vacation, James?" I asked him. Soon he was smiling too. 

"Yeah!" he said, clapping his hands.This made me laugh, and I realized that I hadn't been this happy in a while. It felt good.

After breakfast the Doctor and I went upstairs to pack up some stuff. I put some of James' things into a small duffle bag, and then went back into my bedroom to get my stuff. The Doctor was already in there, putting two more of the suits and shirts that we got him into a bag. I dug another one out of my closet and stuffed some clothes in there for myself, then went into the bathroom to grab a brush, some soap, deodorant, and shampoo and conditioner. I also grabbed my toothbrush and an extra one for the Doctor. Within half an hour, we were off. I had the keys to the house, and the Doctor was sitting next to me reading the directions we printed offline. James sat in the back of the minivan, playing on my phone and listening to the radio.

About an hour later, we pulled up into the driveway. It was a magnificent house, absolutely huge. It had a lot of windows, and the inside appeared to be fully furnished. The house itself was a feat. It looked almost exactly like the house that the vampires lived in from Twilight. (Don't judge; my mate Sherene was a big fan. She made me watch a few of the movies.) I pulled the car up in front of the house at around noon and we all hopped out. I could feel that this was the beginning of something good. A new tradition.

James immediately jumped out of the car with his football and started dribbling around the grass. "Don't wander too far off, James," I warned. "Just stay on the grass."

"Okay Mummy," he replied. 

I walked up to the house with the Doctor right behind me. Both of us were carrying bags of clothes and other things. Once we got into town we stopped and bought some food. Not long after entering the house, we located the kitchen and started unpacking the groceries. The Doctor started making some sandwiches and I went outside to go get James. I didn't see him on the front lawn, so I went around to check in the back. He was nowhere in sight.

I immediately began to panic. "James!" I yelled out. No response. "James!" Still nothing. Where could he be? "James! Come on, this isn't funny!" I cried out, this time the panic and worry creeping into my voice. "James!" Tears were streaming down my face now. I had circled the house three full times now, and I still couldn't find him. I ran into the house through the glass back door and into the kitchen, full out crying now. 

"Rose?" The Doctor said, worried and confused. "Rose whats the matter?" He came up to me, grabbing my forearms and bringing me closer to him. 

I shook my head, crying and internally screaming. "Its James," I said, choking on his name. "James is gone." 

Just then we heard a screeching noise that must've come from the street. "James!" The Doctor and I both yelled, sprinting towards the front door. The Doctor swung it open and we both bolted out the door. We ran down the front lawn as fast as we could, but by the time we got to the street a full minute had passed since we heard the noise. I stopped dead in my tracks as soon as I could see the street clearly. No, I thought. No. This is not happening this is not happening this is not happening this is not happening, I chanted over and over again in my mind. Maybe if I deny it enough it won't be true. But no matter how many times I denied it, it was still true. 

James was dead.