Born of Fire (Doctor Who AU)

Chapter 15 Everyone Deserves one Little Escapade, Don't They?

"Answer me, Jake," Rose muttered, glaring at the mobile's screen. If she stared hard enough, he had to answer. But he didn't and calls to Pete went to voicemail. Female voices drifted in from the lounge, raising and falling as they discussed the events and how things had gone wrong. At least, they no longer followed her around, asking what her problem was and how dare she smack him like that. She didn't need their anger, she felt enough guilt.

Rose glanced around the simple, tasteful kitchen and realised for the first time how he'd weaved elements of the TARDIS throughout the house. Even this kitchen was a reminder of all the meals and jokes she'd shared first with the Doctor and Captain Jack and then with the Doctor and Mickey. Bigger, and certainly airier but he'd managed to give it same feel with its retro1950's table and chairs and state of the art appliances. Tears burnt the back of her eyes as memories flooded back. . Guilt over how she'd treated him should have sent her walls crumbling, but standing inside this replica kitchen, the pain of remembering fuelled her grief and anger.

A round of laughter came from the lounge. Rose tucked the phone away and moved toward the doorway, A half dozen faces turned and flashed tense smiles as she weaved her way through the crowd toward Jackie. A lady reached out and patted her arm as she passed. "It's all right, love," she said. "It all settle out in the bedroom."

Rose blanched and a second stranger pulled the woman away, She couldn't reach Jackie fast enough.

"Still no answer; it all goes to voicemail." she said.

"I'm going to kill Pete," Jackie said, pulling her into a hug. "Come on, we can help with the washing up unless you want to wait with Marcus and Nick. I think they're watching telly in Addie's suite." Instinctively Jackie wiped a tear from Rose's face.

"No, I'll help." She glanced at the women clearing the buffet table. "I might make it out of here with my skin intact, one lady told me all things will clear up in the bedroom," she quipped.

"They're not so bad," Jackie replied rubbing her daughter's back. "In fact, they remind me of that bunch on the Powell estate back home. Well, except this bunch has Scottish accents. And Sarah Jane is really sweet, just like Sarah Jane at home. We've talked about Plum. She says that he's a very good teacher. The kids adored him during the summer term."

"Everyone adores him, Mum. Can we not talk about his teachin'?"

"I know, I'm just sayin', he has friends here, Rose. Good Friends."

"He has friends in London and Glesga too."

Well, that's true and he sees them."

"I miss Shareen." Rose swallowed a sob.

"Sweetheart, you have had lots of chances to make friends here. But all you do is go to work and come home. Can I tell you a secret?

"What?"

"Pete and I have thought about making you move out, start building a life. His Lordship isn't coming back, Love. You need to put a period to it and move on. Look around ya, these women rely on each other like I rely on Nancy in London. We go out, we go shoppin'; we've even got a whole little group. What do you have, Rose? When's the last time you grabbed a girlfriend and went to lunch? "

"Mum --"

"There ur motor lights comin' up th' lane, ah think th' dunderheided sods ur comin' back," Mrs MacDougall called from her place at the window. Normally kind, the angry woman turned to face the group. "I wull gie mah Harry, sic a thumping -- takin' fur nae bringin' that laddie back. I tellt him th' ither day; Daniel is sic an innocent."

Jackie looped an arm around Rose only to have her pull away garnering a frustrated sigh from her mother. She joined everyone moving toward the front window and door, shaking her head at the stupidity of men as she went. "They're all gonna come in here, all pissed up, you just wait and see, if they don't."

Rose followed, "I might just give Daniel another slap for scaring everyone." Her effort to sound light failed.

"No. You won't."

Rose turned to face the petite, dark-haired young woman standing arms crossed behind her. Her pleasant expression didn't match the anger in her eyes.

"Excuse me, Nora, isn't it?" A rush of jealousy threatened to overwhelm Rose every time she looked at the young decorator. How dare this woman stake a claim on Daniel. Still, after tonight, Rose knew that she may have given her the hammer to drive it into the ground.

"For the third time this evening, Miss Tyler, it's Filson, Nora May Filson. And you will not touch him."

"Yeah, well, whether or not I say anything or slap him for takin' off is none of your business," Rose said hotly. "Why are you even still here? It's not like you were stranded like the others." God, what the hell is wrong with me, why can't I shut up? she thought as her mouth kept going. "Nice job decorating the house by the way. Decorating other people's houses provides a good living does it?"

"Yes, it does." Nora flashed a cold smile. "And, I stayed because Mr Barrow is not only my client; he is my friend."

"Alright, Rose that's enough. They're here. Nora, no offence but he is not only our friend; he's our family." Jackie nodded curtly at the young woman. "Adela, get Doctor Jones from in front of the telly, and then you should bring coffee."