The Master Calls

Chapter 11

"Time to wake up!" his voice ordered.

Rose opened one eye a slit and groaned. "Five more minutes."

"You told me to wake you up at seven. I'm trying to be nice, but if you insist on testing my patience, I may just be tempted to zap you with my screwdriver. Your choice."

"You wouldn't dare," she said, her eyes now open and glaring daggers at him.

"You keep assuming I won't do certain things, but I have always proven you wrong. What makes you think this time is going to be any different?"

She huffed and threw back the blankets, getting out of bed. She stretched, a kink in her neck protesting and she rubbed at the spot with a scowl. "The Med Bay beds were always uncomfortable to sleep in," she muttered.

He handed her a cup of tea and her eyes lit up. She took a sip, humming in appreciation. He watched her and then produced a brown paper bag from his jacket pocket, shaking the contents for her attention.

"Ooh, what's that?" she asked, snatching the bag and peering inside. Bagels. She looked up and quirked an eyebrow at him.

He shrugged. "Not the healthiest breakfast, but not much open at this time in the morning, and I really didn't want to waste my time driving around finding a place."

She smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank-you. I appreciate that you thought of me at all."

"I think of you all the time, Rose," he retorted. She looked up at him in surprise. He held her gaze. She had been expecting him to be embarrassed by such an admission. But there was nothing but sincerity in those brown eyes. Then his face became business like. "I've completed the gadget that will incapacitate her. As for the question with regards to whether the real Rebecca can be saved, well, that depends entirely on how co-operative our alien pal is."

Rose bit into her bagel and nodded. "I hope we can, but past experience has taught me that not everyone can be saved."

"Hmm, aren't you a little ray of sunshine this morning?"

She shrugged. "Still too early to be optimistic." She took another bite of her bagel.

"Do you want to go home and get showered and changed?" he asked.

"No need. There's showers here and I have a kit bag here for times like these."

"Really? You make it a habit of staying here overnight a lot."

"Has been known to happen in the past. Especially when I'm busy working on a case. I've spent a whole weekend here before."

His look was indecipherable. "You'd better finish eating and get dressed. I don't think you want to do a takedown in sweatpants."

"I'd be damned more comfortable," she grumbled.

He chuckled and strolled out. She finished her bagel and tea and made her way to the shower. Time to get this day started.

She showered and dressed in her usual black jeans and form fitting black shirt. Next was the black combat boots and she had her leather jacket that she always wore. She loved the jacket. Mainly because it reminded her so much of her first Doctor. She sometimes wondered why she still clung to the memory of him. Maybe because she had made him her whole world. But now that he had been gone for so long, maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go and move on.

Then her thoughts wondered to last night. She and the Master had almost had sex. This morning she felt no regret or shame, something she had been expecting. Somehow, it felt right. True, they were rushing into things quite quickly, but she was tired of always waiting and regretting missed opportunities. He had made it clear that he wanted her and wasn't going to let her go. And she found that she didn't want him to go. She wanted him by her side.