Chapter 1: Shackles of the Mind
Chapter Text
Rose Tyler was lying awake in her bed onboard the TARDIS. She got to travel with the love of her life and though the feelings were unspoken, she had started to let herself believe they had been mutual right up until recently. She couldn’t maintain her anger towards Sarah Jane Smith for very long, she was actually a lovely person.
Still, was the Doctor in love with Sarah at some point? Was he in love with Sarah Jane in the past but never in love with Rose? The Doctor had said that he wouldn’t leave her like he did Sarah Jane, does that mean he matured or was Rose special to him in a way the rest of his companions had not been?
He almost said he loved her, but maybe it was only as a mate. Maybe he loved neither of them, maybe he would forget her one day. If any feelings he had for her were only platonic, what would happen if he met someone he really loved and brought her on board? That would be devastating. Yet, it’s possible. Rose honestly had no idea whether she meant anything special to the Doctor at all anymore.
To be honest with herself, why should she hope to be special to him? She was a nobody. An estate shopgirl. She wasn’t a princess or a queen nor could she pass for one. She was a nobody in love with a Lord of Time. Mum had dated a sailor and Keisha’s brother was in the Navy. So Rose knew of the HMS Queen Elizabeth I and also of an American ship, the USS Queen of France. The latter was named after Marie Antoinette.
Maybe that’s the kind of person the Doctor would fall in love with. Maybe if he lowered his standards he’d go for Madam De Pompadour. The uncrowned queen of France might be good enough but how could Rose be enough for a Time Lord? He probably was actual royalty on his home planet.
Rose thought back to the moment the Doctor told her he wouldn’t leave her behind. Trying to replay the words, no not to you, in an attempt to comfort herself. Deep down she knew he meant it. Furthermore, she knew he was trying to tell her she was different and that his feelings for her were unique and special.
Still, Rose tossed and turned and a lump grew in her throat as she recalled how another man by the name of Jimmy Stone also promised never to forksake her. That promise had been a lie.
Rose hated feeling like this. She hated thinking this way. Despite the lump in her throat and the knot in her stomach she shoved the doubts away from her mind. The Doctor was her best friend and she wouldn’t let anything get in the way of that. Of course he was telling her the truth when he said he wouldn’t leave her behind. He wasn’t just another dodgy human bloke. He was so much bigger that. As for her other fear, even if he did fall in love with someone else, he was still her best friend. She decided to try to distract herself by grabbing some chips from the kitchen.
Lo and behold, The Doctor was also milling about the kitchen.
"Up for a midnight snack, eh?” the Doctor smiled at her with his usual devastatingly handsome grin.
"Yeah. Just remembered we had some chips in here. They won’t make me smarter, but I didn’t want them to go bad”
Rose tried to quietly reach for the back of chips sealed on the counter in a zip lock bag. They were a bit soggy, but they would do.
The Doctor was rifling through the fridge in his nightgown and pyjamas. The same ones that Rose’s mum gave her that had belonged to Howard.
“You know what would be interesting, Rose? Being an android. No need to eat. No late night hunger.”
Rose knew she was in for one of the Doctor’s long rants. One of his long adorable rants that she could not keep up with but couldn’t help but love.
The Doctor continued prattling on.“ ‘Course, I wouldn’t want to be one of those clockwork droids. I heard that they will actually kill people to fulfill their programming. I’ve seen a few of them too. Really creepy things. You lot, the humans, resorted to using them instead of me electronic robots in the 51st century since they had become dangerous. Turns out, the clockwork ones were just as dangerous.”
Rose was smiling. This was so typical of him. Just to get fixated on some totally random topic. Only he could think of murderous clockwork men because of rifling through a fridge. He grabbed a cold chicken leg and just started eating it.
The Doctor caught Rose smiling. “What?”
Rose replied, “Only you would think of creepy robots because you’re hungry. What’s with the cold chicken leg anyway? You have a microwave”
"No need. Chicken tastes perfectly fine cold." The Doctor spoke with a mouthful of chicken.
"Whatever." Rose was smiling again.
This man made her smile too much. She then felt sad again about whether he really loved her. She didn’t eat more than five chips because she just wanted to go back to bed.
“Well I think I can sleep now. Night, Doctor.”
Rose headed back to her room without even waiting for a response. She nestled into her sheets and was able to fall asleep this time.
~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
Rose, The Doctor, and Mickey stepped out onto what looked like an abandoned 51st century spaceship. Immediately something smelled like a Sunday roast. The four of them discovered a an old fashioned fireplace inside the ship. It had a young French girl looking out of it. She was actually in their past while the ship was still most definitely in the fifty-first century. The Doctor asked her name, where she was from, and what year it was. She was named Reinette and was from Paris in 1727.
The Doctor opened a door and disappeared, but Rose was also suddenly watching him. Like a fly on the wall or something. She couldn’t talk or move. They were in the girl’s bedroom on the other side of the fireplace. The Doctor was just talking to the child. Then he saw a strange creepy clock clown-like thing scanning the child’s brain. Terrifying, but Rose could not do anything.
Suddenly, they were back on the spaceship and The Doctor was spraying the clown clock thing with a fire extinguisher. She was also back in her body. The Doctor quickly disappeared behind the door once more.
Rose was with Mickey for a moment before once again she was back as an observer in 18th century France watching The Doctor and an adult Reinette.
He was gushing over her. He was utterly flustered and clearly infatuated. He did not seem to have awareness of Rose being in the room. She couldn’t move but she felt her heart sink. Her stomach felt sick but she could not throw up. The spoke for a little bit and then she suddenly kissed him with fierce intensity and passion. Rose wanted to die. To rub even more salt in the wound, the Doctor discovered she was Madame de Pompadour and was raving about all the easy that she was important and special.
“I’m The Doctor, and I just snogged Madame de Pompadour.” He declared this as if it was the most significant thing to happen in his life.
Rose felt like weeping. She was just an ordinary shop girl with no A-levels. How could she keep up with an uncrowned Queen of France? She was being delusional hoping for returned feelings.
Rose then saw the Doctor step back onto the spaceship, but she still wasn’t back in her body and had no control over where she was going. She just sort of hovered above the Doctor, who just found a horse following him.
Now, they were back in France as the Doctor figured out where the horse had come from. He was outside in an immaculate royal courtyard hiding behind a fence watching Reinette. Hiding to watch her like an obsessed school boy. He gazed so longingly at her. Rose wished she didn’t have to watch this but of course there was no way out. She had no control whatsoever.
Rose switched back into her body standing next to Mickey on the spaceship. She breathed a sigh of relief. Then she saw The Doctor but this time she could talk again.
She pretended not to know what just happened.“Oh here’s trouble. What have you been up to?”
"Oh this and that. Became the imaginary friend of a French aristocrat, picked a fight with a clockwork man…. Oh and I met a horse”
The Doctor seemed to have this proud look on his face as he talked. It was sickening to Rose, even though she knew she had no right to be sickened.
The horse appeared and Mickey and The Doctor argued about what it was doing there.
Rose would normally go up and pet the horse. She loved animals, but even a horse couldn’t comfort her now. She even zoned out on what the rest of The Doctor was saying at first. Only noticing Reinette again through a time window mirror thing. He mentioned how remarkable she was, right in front of her. She was beautiful. Her face was gorgeous and her figure was full but still slim. Rose did feel slightly better when she heard he was the mistress of King Louis XV. At least she was somewhat taken, although obviously had a strong disregard for fidelity.
Suddenly, a clockwork figure appeared through the mirror and The Doctor sprang after Reinette back to France. This time Rose and Mickey followed. Rose was in 18th century France in her own body for the first time. Somehow Rose remembered the clockwork things had used a human heart on the ship. After some talking, the four of them worked out that they were after Reinette’s brain to fix the spaceship. It had been using multiple parts from different humans but for some reason wanted Reinette’s brain specifically. It suddenly transported away.
The Doctor was shouting hysterically, “It’s back on the ship! Rose, take Mickey and Arthur and follow it!”
"Arthur?” Rose asked
“Good name for a horse.” The Doctor replied urgently.
Rose would normally find this cute. Normally she too would love the horse. She was so upset though. The Doctor had never put her safety in jeopardy like this. Not so readily. He had to know those things might be after her but Reinette seemed more important.
She felt herself respond with, “No, you’re not keeping the horse.”
The Doctor was even more frantic. “I’m letting you keep Mickey, now GO GO GO!”
She was back on the spaceship for a moment but then out of her body again watching the Doctor and Reinette. He created a psychic link with her to figure out why the clockwork people wanted her. It was for a practical purpose but it still hurt. The Doctor never did that with her. He even called her “Oh, dear Reinette.”
Then she was back in her body again and with Mickey, who was so excited to rub the situation in her face. “That Doctor, eh? Madame De Pompadour, Sarah Jane Smith, Cleopatra?”
Rose tried to protest that “at least he only mentioned Cleopatra once.”
Soon after that conversation, they were kidnapped by the clockwork figures.
The Doctor truly risked her life over this French woman she just met. Whether or not he was in love with her, she still couldn’t believe he would ever put a stranger’s safety ahead of hers like this. He couldn’t even barricade that Dalek off a second time when it came to keeping her safe. He lost his mind when Cassandra had her body. He learned how to sculpt so he could make a statue of her that would save her life. A detailed sculpture he did just from memory. He was horrified when he thought she’d been turned stone forever and even said she was pretty. He had even, however briefly, kissed her on the lips after that Roman ordeal. Why did he stop caring about her all of a sudden?
Rose was unconscious and then back to being an invisible fly on the wall watching The Doctor and Reinette. He observed her mind and she invaded his back. This really upset him. She said he was lonely. As a little boy and now still. So she really must not have counted. Then she insisted he dance with her and whisked him away.
Rose then started waking up in her own body again. She was lying tied down in restraints by the creepy clock clown. It was just her and Mickey, they spared the horse. She instinctively called for the Doctor, but he didn’t come.
Finally, the Doctor strode in. He was acting drunk and didn't even seem to care that this thing was getting ready to chop her up. He was just going on and on about inventing the banana daiquiri. It's like he was so happy about whatever happened to Reinette she didn't even matter anymore. How could he not care? All he seemed to care about anymore was this Reinette woman.
He finally freed her and Mickey and then told them that the clockwork things were going to go after her when she’s thirty-seven. Many more clockwork clowns had appeared by the time he said that, but then they transported out again. Rose was still angry but she looked at the Doctor’s face and felt empathy. She decided that if this is who he loved then she needs to help him save her.
Rose found a time window and found Reinette when she was about thirty two and told her she had five years and tried to warn her. She tried to calmly explain everything. Reinette was getting angry with Rose, but in Rose’s mind her being a bit testy right now made sense. It wasn’t her fault.
Suddenly Mickey was calling out for Rose. Rose and Reinette entered the spaceship, Rose tried to stop Reinette but she wasn’t having it. She followed. Rose watched Reinette listen to her own screams through the other time windows and felt compassion for her. She asked if she was okay.
Reinette then disappeared after saying “You and I both know the Doctor is worth the monsters.”
Rose hoped it was back to her own time she was dashing off to. She quickly felt her jealousy rise again. This woman seemed to know that she also loved The Doctor.
Now five years later for her, Reinette was screaming. If she died, The Doctor would be heartbroken and Rose would be jealous and also heartbroken for him all at once.
Rose got back to the Doctor and Mickey. The Doctor was running around, acting mad, and not making sense. He even pushed her while he was running about. Her Doctor who she thought would never ever hurt her just body slammed into her like she was nothing. She was so distressed the only things that seemed to make some sense from his panicked ramblings was how there will be no way back once the window is smashed and he was also saying something about how he needed something as heavy as a truck to smash the time window that had thirty seven year old Reinette.
That the time window was so strong because it had plate glass on one side and hyperplex on the other.
Once again, Rose was like a fly on the wall. She was watching as The Doctor found Arthur and rode him through the proper time window. Somehow a horse broke through the glass that only a truck could get through. Somehow a horse jumped through regular plate glass without a scratch. The horse just galloped on like nothing happened. How did the Doctor even convince a horse to just jump through something solid in the first place? He looked so sexy on that horse though. He winked at Reinette. A gorgeous beautiful wink that Rose would never have for herself ever again.
A man asked what was going on after the Doctor arrived.
Reinette said to the Doctor, “this is my lover the King of France.”
”Oh yeah, well I’m the Lord of Time.” The Doctor responded. “And I’m here to fix the clock.” He continued.
He pulled the mask off of one of the droids. He then told that droid, “Forget it. It’s over. For you and for me. Talk about seven years bad luck. Try three thousand.”
He wasn’t even upset about being separated from Rose. He knew she wouldn’t live that long. The only thing he’d find in 3,000 years was his TARDIS.
Then Rose was back in her body. Mickey was saying something but she didn’t know what. All she knew was that he burst through that time window with no way back. No way back to her. He left her. He had abandoned her and left both her and Mickey to die. And he wasn’t even sad about it. She just stared at what used to be the window. Unable to move. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. The Doctor she thought she knew would have at least taken her with him. She just lost the man she loved the deepest forever. Maybe he was never who she thought he was. Just like Jimmy Stone.
Mickey kept asking her how they were gonna get off the spaceship, but Rose was frozen. Her heart was completely shattered.
Rose could see the Doctor talking to the droid again.
”The link with the ship is broken. No way back. You don’t have the parts. How many ticks left in the clockwork heart. A day? An hour? It’s over. Accept that. I’m not winding you up.”
The Doctor took Reneitte’s hand asking if she was alright. Yet he obviously didn’t care that Rose as definitely not okay.
Mickey continued asking questions as Rose stared up at the stars. The Doctor took her all over the universe. Just to promise he’d never leave and then break that promise immediately. Rose was frozen in grief for five and half hour’s.
After all that time passed, Rose’s mind was bombarded by images of Reinette and the Doctor speaking again. The Doctor confirmed that he knew he couldn’t get back after saving her. Then she saw Reinette taking the Doctor’s hand and leading him away.
She took him to the fireplace where they first saw each other.
He made it through! she saw him again. She was in her body on the spaceship and he was there too. The Doctor was back! He came back through the Fireplace door. At first he was still talking to Reinette through the fireplace, but she hugged him tightly anyway. He wasn’t in love with her but at least she had her best friend back.
After the hug the was looking through the fireplace calling for Reinette again. He didn’t hear her so he went back for her. Rose could feel her heart crumbling once more.
Rose was a fly on the wall again. He saw The Doctor receive news that Reinette died from illness when she was fourty-three and he tucked a letter in his pocket. He seemed so sad.
Then she was in her body again on board the TARDIS. The Doctor came back, saying he did not know why the clockwork droids wanted Reinette. Mickey asked her to show him around the TARDIS but once again she seemed to be overhead observing the Doctor as he read the letter. He was devastated. The letter didn’t say much, only that she wanted him to hurry back to her. She couldn’t even comfort him because she wasn’t in her body. That, and because she had realized that he never loved her as she wanted to be loved. Not at all.
Rose was in her own body again. She apparently just showed Mickey to his room. “Alright, then good night.”
She gave him a hasty goodbye, knowing she was about to fall apart. She ran out of the room sobbing.
Rose’s consciousness was transported to outside the old ship and she saw it was called the SS Madame de Pompadour. That’s what it took for the Doctor to love you. You had to be important enough to have a ship named after you.
~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
Rose finally woke up, it had all been a terrible nightmare but she was still sobbing. Sobbing loudly at that. She still wasn’t sure what was real and what was a nightmare.
The Doctor wasn’t far and he heard the sobs. He knocked on the door gently. “Rose, can I come in?”
Rose did not answer. Hoping he would just go away.
"Rose? I heard you crying. What’s the matter? Please let me come in.” His voice was pleading.
Rose still didn’t answer.
The Doctor ignored the lack of express permission and simply entered.
“Rose! What is it?” He quickly went to her side and wrapped his arms around her.
“J-Just a nightmare I think. That’s all.” Rose tried to speak through the tears, but her words were incoherent.
The Doctor didn’t fully make out her words but he ran his fingers through her hair and gently looked down into her eyes. “Rose. You matter to me. So much. If you can’t talk, will you let me try something else? Will you let me see into your mind just for a little bit? Just nod if it’s okay.”
Rose wasn’t sure how to respond. He would see how she really felt for him. She wasn’t ready for that. She really wasn’t but she also needed him so badly. Desperate to feel seen, Rose nodded slowly. She vowed to herself not to look back inside his mind. She know that would be violation.
The Doctor put his hands around her face. “You’re okay Rose, I’ve got you”. The Doctor stayed silent for a long time.
He released her after what felt like an eternity. “Rose, look at me.” Rose looked up, still with tears in her eyes. “First of all, you’re not gross or pathetic to be crying like this. Second of all, that was one hell of an inaccurate nightmare. I wouldn’t abuse a horse by sending him through any kind of glass.”
The Doctor stopped and took a deep breath. “I certainly would never fall in love with someone else and leave you to deal with that kind of danger. I would never be so calm while clockwork droids were about to dissect you. The mere thought of abandoning you and even Mickey on some empty spaceship is sickening beyond words. Those kinds of things would never EVER happen in real life.”
He paused again for another moment. Rose could see the same vulnerability in his eyes that she saw outside the diner. The same pained look he had when he told her humans wither and die. “It hurts me that I will outlive you so it’s hard to say things like this, but here goes….. no one, and I mean no one, has ever meant as much to me as you do. Not even close." the Doctor had winced a little before continuing. "To be honest with myself and you… I don’t believe anyone ever will. Not Sarah Jane, not Cleopatra, and certainly not Madame de Pompadour.”
It clearly tore at him to say these words. After all, in his perspective, her normal lifespan probably seemed to him like someone with terminal cancer given a year to live. At least her nightmare had been fully dispelled. He'd rather say some of the words that hurt him than let Rose go on feeling she wasn't good enough, which meant a lot to her. Rose finally stopped crying so hard. She could finally breathe a little. None of her worst fears had actually come true.
There were still tears in her eyes but she wasn’t weeping anymore and could respond to the Doctor. “You really mean that? Cuz I feel the same about you." Then she forced a half smile and remarked "Also, in real life, I would've wanted you to keep the horse.”
The Doctor wiped her tears and kissed her forehead. “More than I’ve meant anything in my whole nine hundred year life.”
Rose smiled softly. She did not know for sure if this meant he loved her in a romantic sense, but she was now at peace knowing that no one could challenge her place in his hearts.
Though, she did start to regain her suspicion that the romantic feelings were mutual. They might remain unspoken forever, but they were together and that’s what mattered.
The Doctor held her there until morning. She could feel his fierce protectiveness for her. Rose fell asleep in his arms, finally feeling at peace.
When Rose woke up, she smiled and him with her big toothy grin and her tongue between her teeth. The Doctor reciprocated her huge smile and then suddenly gave her that sexy sexy wink she saw in the dream. Only this time, in real life, it was for her.
Chapter 2: A Rose Among the Tulips
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Rose sat up on her bed next to the Doctor. She gazed up at him softly, feeling overwhelming gratitude for his willingness to just sit there for the rest of the night while she slept in his lap.
“Thank you,” said Rose.
“Oh, no bother at all.” The Doctor smiled back. “I’ve got a splendid idea for today.”
“What’s that?”
“Eighteenth-century France,” said the Doctor, continuing to grin.
“Oh no. I’ve had quite enough of that.”
“Oh, you’ll love it! I can’t have you going on with a bad feeling about eighteenth-century France. If we meet Madame de Pompadour, I can prove to you that I don’t think someone like her is better than you. Not even close.”
The Doctor stood up and reached for her hand. Rose smiled and rolled her eyes, but she followed him to the control room.
“Mickey’s not up yet. Shouldn’t we at least wait for him?” asked Rose.
“Yeah, I suppose that would be the proper thing to do,” the Doctor paused for a brief moment. “Nah, let’s surprise him.”
The Doctor proceeded to pull levers and flick switches, setting the TARDIS in motion.
“Here’s the plan.” said the Doctor. “I’ll take us to the palace gardens in, oh, say 1754. Anyone dressed appropriately can explore the gardens. We’ll enjoy a stroll then we can use psychic paper to get into the palace itself.” It wasn’t long before they arrived. Mickey still hadn’t joined them.
“Rose.” said the Doctor, his eyes twinkling. “Time for you to get dressed. Don’t be shy about choosing something fancy.”
Rose remembered that the last time she put on a dress was the first time she called him beautiful. She dashed up to the TARDIS wardrobe and combed through her options.
Rose searched through the 18th-century women’s section. She found a beautiful and extravagant sapphire off-the-shoulder ball gown with intricate lace and gold patterns. The Doctor did say not to be afraid of being fancy, but Rose had never imagined herself in something like this before. Maybe she should try? There was also a much simpler gown she could wear that would be more in her comfort zone. She paused, weighing the options in her mind.
Rose picked up the simple gown. As she ran her fingers over the fabric, it felt safe and comfortable. Is that what she wanted though?
Rose went for the posh gown. After doing her makeup, she even decided to go all out and put in some extensions. She’d never let her mum know she actually used them. Then she cinched herself into a corset the best she could on her own, did her hair up, put on her petticoats, and finally the gown.
This was definitely not the most comfortable outfit. Rose couldn’t understand how women of the time survived dressed like this every single day. She felt beautiful, though. Even more beautiful than she had felt in the black and red dress she wore when she met Charles Dickens.
Rose made her way down to the console room, feeling the weight of the dress with every step. She found the Doctor leaning against the console in a relaxed manner. He was being so patient as he waited. He had not yet noticed her.
“Doctor!” Rose called out.
The Doctor turned to look directly at her, and his jaw dropped.
“Well, what do you think?” Waiting for the Doctor’s reaction sent Rose’s heart racing.
The Doctor turned and stared at her, his mouth falling open in surprise. His eyes widened, and he blinked several times, trying to process the sight before him.
“Rose Tyler.” His voice was tender and warm. “You are just…”
Before he could finish, another voice rang through the console room. “Oi! What’s goin’ on? Why’s Rose dressed like that?”
Mickey had finally woken up.
“Oh! Now we’ll have to wait for him to get dressed too!” bemoaned the Doctor.
“Dressed up for what?” demanded Mickey.
“Pre-revolutionary France!” declared the Doctor, his voice slightly more chipper.
“Don’t I get a say? My first trip and I don’t even matter. It’s just all about dressin’ Rose up like royalty or somethin’.” Mickey folded his arms. “Besides, I don’t think they like black people very much in that era. Did you even think of that?”
Rose looked at the ground shamefully. She hadn’t thought of that.
The Doctor put a hand on Mickey’s shoulder. “Ah, you’ll be fine. Just choose a good outfit from the 18th-century men’s section and stick with us.”
“Wonderful. As long as I scuttle behind the white people, all is well, right? You’d think an alien might be a bit more understanding.”
Rose finally looked up at him again. “I’ll take you to pick something out.”
Rose and Mickey didn’t speak much as she helped him choose an outfit. After he came out of his dressing room, Rose noticed he did look very handsome. It just wasn’t the same way she used to notice him. They’d technically been split up since Rose started travelling with the Doctor, but Mickey seemed to be having trouble letting go. Mickey was Rose’s oldest friend, and she didn’t want to say anything to ruin that, but her lack of blunt communication seemed to keep giving Mickey false hope and inviting disappointment. Rose knew he deserved clear boundaries, but she just didn’t know how to set them.
In this one circumstance, Rose made the decision not to say anything about his appearance. “I’m sorry we didn’t ask you where you wanted to go, Mickey. The plan, it just sort of happened.”
“I’ll get through it,” Mickey replied plainly.
~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
The three of them opened the TARDIS door. It was a lovely, sunny day, and they had landed outside the Palace of Versailles’ gardens, just as the Doctor had planned. Something that rarely seemed to happen.
“Landed us in the right spot for once!” teased Rose.
“Oh, now c’mon. I do get it right sometimes. If I’d been given a fifth go at my TARDIS practical test at the Academy, I believe I would’ve passed.” The Doctor feigned indignation, but soon after, he was looking at Rose and grinning.
“So this is just for fun then?” asked Mickey. “No giant green things or creepy bat-like aliens or nothing?”
“Welllll, I can’t promise anything. That’s part of the fun though, Mickey!” The Doctor moved over to Mickey and threw an arm around him casually. Mickey didn’t seem happy about this.
As the trio entered the garden, the Doctor moved so he was closest to Rose again. He raised his hand up in what looked like the same gesture a man might make to help someone up.
“Hold your hand like mine and press the back of your hand up against my palm.”
Rose was confused, but she complied anyway.
“There we are! Now we’re holding hands like the courtiers!” he exclaimed.
Rose felt herself smiling. She’d held his hand a million times by now, but something about him asking to hold her hand in a different way made her feel like it was the first time they’d joined hands.
“What about me? Who’s gonna hold my hand?” asked Mickey.
Rose felt remorse swell up within her, but she didn’t want to separate her hand from the Doctor’s.
A woman approached them. She was also well dressed, although her attire was simpler than Rose’s. “Such splendour, Mademoiselle!” she exclaimed. “For what occasion are you wearing such grand attire?”
Rose felt her cheeks burning. She hadn’t considered that this gown would be seen as overly formal. She just wanted to get out of her comfort zone a bit. Rose stiffened and smoothed her dress awkwardly.
“Just wanted to try something new,” she shrugged.
“Who is your ebony friend?” the stranger asked. “He is very handsome.”
She reached her hand out for Mickey to kiss it. Mickey hesitated at first but then he bowed down and kissed it, as if he’d done so with ladies countless times.
“My name is Gabrielle Babette,” she introduced herself to Mickey.
Gabrielle looked at the Doctor and Rose again. “May I take a walk with your friend?”
“Oi!” protested Mickey. “I’m my own person. You don’t need their permission. I’ll go with you. At least you noticed me.”
Mickey and Gabrielle left the gardens together, and Rose turned towards the Doctor with worry. “Is he safe, do you think?”
“Oh, don’t worry about ol’ Mickey. He can handle himself.”
“We don’t even know who she is. She could be anyone. You said anyone could be in the gardens if they were dressed proper,” said Rose.
The Doctor reverted back to his normal manner of hand holding. He squeezed her hand and looked into Rose’s eyes with a deep sense of knowing and compassion. His relationship with Mickey was complicated, but in this moment, he seemed to understand Rose’s feelings.
“I s’pose I need to learn to let him sort himself out without me.” she said.
The Doctor nodded and rubbed her hand with his thumb. Rose felt immense comfort in knowing he could respect how she was feeling. She decided to trust Mickey. He had to pave his own way from such a young age. He can handle pre-revolutionary France. Last time he’d mentioned dating someone else, Rose had felt irrationally jealous even though she knew she didn’t want him that way anymore. This time, Rose actually hoped this woman flirting with him might boost his confidence.
The Doctor lightened his grip on Rose’s hand, and they went back to walking around with one hand on top of the other. Rose allowed herself to absorb the splendour of the gardens. It was both sterile and beautiful. She and the Doctor strolled through mazes of tulips and lush green bushes.
The Doctor was unusually quiet for a short time, almost as if he could understand Rose needed a moment inside her own head to absorb everything going on around her. Rose had seen other worlds and dangerous aliens like Daleks, Slitheen, Gelth, and even a werewolf. What she hadn’t experienced was walking about the gardens of a royal palace dressed as if she were royal herself. While she was genuinely enjoying the beauty around her, she also felt like a fraud.
They approached a magnificent fountain. Rose was mesmerised, but when she looked up, the Doctor was only staring at her.
Chapter 3: A King and a Time Lord
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The sunlight bathed Rose in a way that made her seem almost ethereal. Her golden hair shimmered as it caught the light. The Doctor took in her beauty and marveled at the transformation—from just hours ago, when she had been so raw, so vulnerable. Her hair had been messy, her face swollen and tear-stained from the weight of emotion. Now here she was, standing before him, transformed. Draped in a gown far more extravagant than anything he’d ever seen her wear, she embodied a grace that felt almost foreign. And yet, she was still unmistakably Rose. She didn’t chase luxury, didn’t need it to shine. But somehow, this gown captured her spirit—wild, unpretentious, and magnificently radiant.
Rose didn’t belong to gowns, jewels, or opulence. The Doctor knew that no garment could ever capture how extraordinary she truly was. As she stood there, illuminated in the soft glow of Versailles, this gown felt like the closest anything could ever come to showing the world how irreplaceable she was.
The Doctor tried to fight off the haunting images in his mind. Images of this vibrant force of nature succumbing to frailty and time. Ever since he’d seen how much Sarah Jane had aged, the reality of a human’s brief lifespan weighed on him. The thought that one day, this woman—who had saved him from the pain that had nearly consumed him—would one day fade away, broke something deep inside of him. How could he bear to watch her light slowly dim, knowing that when it happened, he’d be left in even deeper sorrow, with nothing but the memories of what he had lost?
Last night he was so consumed by his anticipatory grief, he even lashed out at her. He snapped at her when she was only trying to understand her place in his life—asking If she was special to him, if he’d ever leave her behind. And he had rebuked her, unable to face the depth of his feelings for her, especially in that moment.
Rose needed him though. He knew that more than ever after being privy to her vivid nightmare of him cruelly abandoning her. Somehow, the Doctor was going to have to embrace his feelings just enough to show Rose she mattered to him. Somehow, he would have to show her she mattered, without going insane due to the fear of losing her.
“Whatcha lookin' at?” Rose’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Sorry. Was I staring?”
“Yeah. Like some sort of weirdo.” Rose laughed.
As the Doctor averted his gaze, he realised the fountain was running.
“The King must be nearby.” said the Doctor.
“What do you mean?”
“The water supply here is really really bad. So, palace gardeners only turn on the fountains when the King can see them. Well, they don’t turn it on so much as they have to forcefully crank open pumps.”
“You won’t be able to call me a ‘wee naked child’ this time.”
“No. No I won’t.”
“You’re staring again.” Rose poked his chest.
“Sorry.” The Doctor pursed his lips and began scanning for the King.
“There!” said the Doctor, pointing to a man surrounded by guards. “That’s him.”
“Blimey! I’ve met Queen Victoria and now I’m about to meet Queen Louis XV!”
Rose’s enthusiasm always warmed the Doctor’s hearts. He started walking towards the King with Rose by his side. As they neared the king and his entourage, the Doctor took a bow and Rose followed with a curtsy. She stumbled a bit under the weight of the dress, but he reached out steadied her.
“Who goes there?” one of the guards demanded.
“I’m the Doctor and this is Rose Tyler.” The Doctor reached for the psychic paper and the ever curious King Louis XV leaned over to inspect it.
“Ah! A physician from London,” the King said with a raised eyebrow. “The Marquise de Pompadour has been unwell. Could you offer your expertise?”
“Certainly. It would be an honour, your majesty!” the Doctor responded with a slight bow of his head.
The king’s gaze shifted to Rose. “It says here your lady is an art critic. I think she’ll find our art is the best in the world.”
“No doubt from me!” said Rose.
A second guard, less convinced, frowned. “Are we to trust these English visitors?”
“England may yet surprise you.” King Louis replied. “The Marquise’s current physicians have failed to provide answers. Let us see what England can offer.”
Normally, emotional intelligence was Rose’s department, but this time, when the Doctor looked into the King’s eyes, he recognized a familiar sense of inevitable sorrow and grief. Just like in his own situation, there was nothing he could truly do to change it. Maybe he could ease Madame de Pompadour’s suffering, but her death in 1764 was a fixed point in time.
~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
The Doctor and Rose followed King Louis and his guards into the palace. The Doctor felt a tender feeling wash over him as he saw another look of wonder and awe wash across Rose’s face. It was very unlikely she could ever come to take this for granted. Not for the next seventy to eighty years anyway. The Doctor’s chest tightened at the thought.
“People live here?” Rose whispered in the Doctor’s ear.
“That they do!” the Doctor whispered back. A smile tugging at the corner of his mouth once again. The Doctor’s emotions were becoming a rollercoaster.
The Doctor shifted his gaze to King Louis, who was leading them intently to a specific room. The palace was so enormous it took several minutes to reach their destination. The Doctor felt a lump in his own throat as he saw King Louis take a deep breath before opening a door.
The King turned to the Doctor. “For now, I would like only the physician to enter.”
“I really don’t like to leave Rose behind. I assure you, Madame de Pompadour will benefit from her company.”
The King gritted his teeth for a moment. “I’ll allow it. Unless Madame requests she leaves.”
The three of them entered the room while the guards remained posted at the doors. Madame de Pompadour was sitting up in her bed, coughing like she was about to hack up a lung. King Louis rushed to her side, reaching for salve to rub on her back and chest.
“May I approach?” asked the Doctor.
“You may.” said the King
Rose held back, seemingly trying to observe the situation from afar. The Doctor approached Madame de Pompadour and bowed before going towards the porcelain container with the salve. He sniffed it. It was mostly liquorice, honey, and mint. Nothing out of the ordinary.
“I have acquired a fine set of Sèvres porcelain from Paris. It should arrive soon. I trust it will lift your spirits.” said King Louis to Madame de Pompadour. “This physician has arrived in the company of a lady from England with a keen appreciation for the arts. Just another thing to lift your spirits when you are able to engage in discussion with her.”
Rose approached the bed and curtsied with greater grace than before, to the Doctor’s quiet satisfaction. He loved being able to support her. But he also adored watching her shine on her own.
“Yes Madame, I’m Rose Tyler and I’d love for you to show me your favourite pieces art when you’re up for it.”
To the Doctor’s relief, Madame de Pompadour gave Rose a weak but genuine smile. The Doctor focused his attention back on the Marquise’s treatment. Besides the topical salve, there was another small porcelain container with another form of goo inside.
He lifted it up and turned to the King, “Is this intended for ingestion?”
“Yes, Doctor it is.”
There was chamomile and liquorice in it. Something smelled off about it, though. Like there was something else in it that wasn’t from this century. The Doctor dipped his finger in and took a tiny taste. His suspicions were confirmed—the concoction contained Ideannasid, a medication not only out of place in the 18th century but also completely inappropriate for Madame de Pompadour’s condition.
The Doctor’s brow furrowed, and he shot a glance at the King. “This… medicine… where did you get it?”
King Louis frowned. “It was prescribed by her other physician.”
The Doctor’s jaw tightened. “Well, it’s not from here. And it is certainly not going to help her.”
Chapter 4: Mickey in Paris
Chapter Text
Mickey had been trudging through the woods with Gabrielle for what felt like an eternity. His socks were soaked through with mud and the smell of deer droppings filled his nostrils. Worse still, he had no idea where he was going.
It was all worth it though. This woman was paying attention to him. Actually paying attention to him. She asked about his interests and hung in every word. Mickey started to become convinced she would still be interested if he recited an entire book on string word for word. She was stunning too. Delicate features and shiny brown hair curled to perfection.
Without warning, Gabrielle fell to her knees and clutched her head.
“Owwww.”
“Oi! What’s the matter?” asked Mickey.
Mickey rushed to Gabrielle’s side in an overly dramatic fashion.
“Do you need help? What’s happening? I don’t even know how to get back!”
“I don’t need help! I just need a moment,” Gabrielle groaned.
Gabrielle stayed on the ground for several more moments. Mickey was rubbing her back in what was meant to be a comforting way, however Gabrielle eventually pushed him away. “I must apologize,” she said quietly, rising unsteadily to her feet. “I fear I have behaved most improperly. I am not… I do not usually carry myself in such a way. You are a most handsome man, that much is true, but I do not even believe that women should be bound to men at all.”
Mickey stiffened. Embarrassment flooded through him. Clearly, he had misread the situation.
Gabrielle wrung her hands. “I was so caught up in… in the way I felt, I neglected to tell you why I was running through the woods in the first place. I beg your forgiveness.” Her cheeks burned scarlet. “It was my father’s physician. He told my father that my temperament was unbecoming of a lady and prescribed a tonic to soothe my nerves. An hour after I had taken it, he returned to the house—unbidden—and he kissed me.
“For a moment, I wished to kiss him in return. I have never felt so drawn to a man in my life. So I did. But then—” Her breath hitched. “Then he laid his hand upon my thigh, and I recoiled. It was as though something in me had shattered. I fled before I could think better of it, straight to the gardens. And then I saw you.”
Mickey remained silent, dumbfounded.
Gabrielle gave a nervous laugh. “I fear I have dragged you into a dreadful mess. I had no intention of running into the woods, only to collect my thoughts. But when I saw you, truly, I thought you the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes upon. And when you spoke to me, I… I could not bring myself to walk away. I am sorry. I ought to have done so.”
“S’alright,” Mickey replied with an awkward smile. “Really, I don’t mind being dragged off by a beautiful woman. But, uh… one question, though.”
“Yes, of course. Anything.”
“Why didn’t we just stay in the gardens until your dad came home? Can’t you tell him what happened? Or even now, shouldn’t we go to him and explain?”
Gabrielle sighed and averted her gaze. “No. My father has strict notions of honor. He would blame me for returning that man’s kiss. He would believe I have let my virtue slip… that I am becoming loose. And he would be eager to see me married at once, lest I destroy my reputation entirely.”
Mickey raised an eyebrow. “I take it you’re not exactly thrilled about the idea of marriage?”
“No,” she admitted, shaking her head. “I know I shall have to wed eventually. My father is already seeking a suitable match. But all I truly wish is to read. I adore history. And once I am married, my life shall be devoted to my husband, to children. I only wish for a little more time before that fate is sealed.”
“And running off into the woods with a dashing ebony gentleman was your idea of buying more time?”
Gabrielle let out a soft chuckle. “It is absurd, I know. But I have not been myself this evening. I have acted upon impulse, felt desires I cannot explain. I do not understand it myself. Perhaps it is the tonic.”
“Well now that your head’s clear, what should we do?” Mickey was beginning to get exasperated.
“I guess we can start heading back to the gardens. We can follow our muddy footprints. I’ll have wait until my dad is likely to be home and I’ll have to tell him the truth. It’s either that or risk assault again.”
Mickey could see the look of defeat on Gabrielle’s face. He was getting frustrated, and he couldn’t imagine a father blaming a daughter as she described, but she wasn’t making it up. He reached for her hand and they started retracing their steps.
A man with dark curly hair approached them. He seemed to suddenly appear from behind a tree.
“Oh Miss Babette! I found you! I was so worried when you ran away. You need more tonic for your nerves to control this condition!” the man spoke in
a sugary, patronizing voice.
“She doesn’t have no condition!” Mickey protested and tried to grab the glass bottle in the man’s hand. “You’re drugging her, mate. That’s a bloody roofie, that is!”
The man’s eyes went cold “Just who the hell do you think you are! I’m a doctor! I bet you don’t know anything!” shouted the man.
Gabrielle summoned every ounce of courage she possessed. “He is right,” she said. “I shall take nothing further from you. You sought to defile me.”
The man had the same price of technology on his wrist Mickey had seen Jack wearing, and he pulled another from his pocket and swiftly grabbed Mickey and Gabrielle’s wrists, fastening them together with the device. With one press of a button the man was gone and the terrain looked slightly different. There was no more mud and the trees were less numerous.
~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~
“What’s happened? Where are we?” asked Gabrielle.
Mickey himself was just trying to get his bearings. “I think we just moved through time.” said Mickey. Knowing the device used by the strange man looked like the same thing Jack used to use.
“Travelled through what?”
“The thing on our wrists. I used to know a guy that had one. He was from the 51st century.”
“You’re talking nonsense.” hissed Gabrielle as she unhooked the device and threw it to the ground.
Mickey dove after it. “Come on. I think it just moved us in time and I think we’re standin in the same place. Let’s keep walking towards the palace and you’ll see what I mean.”
Gabrielle glared at him, but she followed. Their footprints weren’t there anymore, so Mickey was really hoping they wouldn’t get lost. To his surprise, he did successfully lead them back to the palace.
This time, however, there were tour buses at the entrance. No one was dressed in period clothing and Gabrielle stood out like a sore thumb. Mickey didn’t know exactly what year it was, but it looked like his home time year of 2006.
Gabrielle was staring at the bus, with her mouth gaping open. Then she was staring at the people.
“Mickey!” she shouted. “The women are practically naked here! I consider myself open minded but you can see women’s legs and arms fully exposed!”
Mickey reached into his pocket and found his credit card. If he could find an ATM he might be able to get some francs and buy tickets to get into the palace. If of course, this was his time period and his card was valid.
“Gabrielle, I’m bettin’ you never been inside the place have you?”
“No. Of course not. My dad’s just a merchant. I dress nice and all but I’d never be allowed inside.”
“Your luck just changed. Come on.”
Mickey wondered if this is how the Doctor must feel getting to show Rose new things. He could offer her so much. Now Mickey could offer something to someone. He grabbed her hand and whisked her to the ATM. His heart raced as he wondered if the card would actually work. It did. The he rushed her off to the entrance and they got inside.
After touring the Palace, Mickey took her to modern day Paris. He found posters for different events that confirmed he was back in 2006. Gabrielle seemed overjoyed the entire time.
Mickey took Gabrielle to dinner at a small restaurant. It was only then that Gabrielle’s enthusiasm seemed to waver.
“Do you think that Doctor might be drugging other women?” She asked. “I feel like it’s not fair I get to be whisked away to the future with a handsome suitor while he could be hurting others back in my time.”
“Oh Gabrielle. I wouldn’t worry. Just enjoy yourself. You deserve it. It’s not your responsibility.”
“I know.” she said. “But I still feel guilty.”
“You said you like history. Let’s go back to London tomorrow. The British Museum has tons of history.”
“Strange to think that they consider my time history here.”
“It’s cool isn’t it!” Mickey tried to be as enthusiastic as possible to make her forget about the crooked doctor.
Mickey found a relatively cheap hotel and bought two separate rooms. Which almost completely drained his account. His suggestion to go to the British museum wasn’t entirely selfless. He needed to get home. He could sleep on the couch and give Gabrielle his bedroom.
Gabrielle did end up enjoying the British Museum, but immediately after she started bringing up concern for other women back in 1754.
“You kept that device. Maybe we could use it to get back. Please. Can you try.” Then she held his hand and gave him a pleading glance.
“Alright fine. I’ll take a look.” Mickey decided that he wouldn’t get to continue wooing her in 2006 anymore. She was insistent.
As he looked at the device, he remembered what Jack had called it. A vortex manipulator. It took some time to figure out but the last setting was set to random. He figured it wasn’t entirely random on someone who had a strong trace to another time period, like he did to 2006. He truly didn’t know how to set it back to 1754, but Gabrielle was pacing his apartment clearly still eager to get back.
“You know Gabrielle, if you stay here can marry when you want and who you want. Or never marry at all. Be a free spirit.”
“That is awfully tempting. But how could I be so selfish?”
This woman was not gonna quit. Mickey had to figure this out. So he did. After several more hours he hacked the code and set it back to 1754.
“Alright, Gabrielle. I think it’ll work now. You’re sure this is what you want?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how to change our location. Only our time. We’ll have to leave in the morning to go back to the Palace.”
Mickey kept hoping Gabrielle would change her mind, but she didn’t. The next day Mickey bankrupted himself even further and they went back to the palace. Then Mickey used the vortex manipulator to get them back to 1754.
“Thanks Mickey.” said Gabrielle. “I know you’d work it out. That physician certainly thought he’d gotten rid of us. He foolishly underestimated you.”
She even kissed his cheek. Which almost made it worth it to return.
Chapter 5: Of Quacks and Witches
Summary:
The Doctor confronts the King about whats actual in Madame de Pompadour’s remedy
Chapter Text
“King Louis, I really need to see you outside.” the Doctor insisted.
“I would prefer not to leave Madame’s side.” The King replied simply.
The Doctor gave him a look. A look Rose knew well. Meant he wasn’t playing around. The King held Madame de Pompadour’s hand, reassuring her he’d back soon and he walked outside with the Doctor.
Rose stood awkwardly in the corner of Madame de Pompadour’s bedchamber. Her eyes occasionally studying the uncrowned queen of France. Her frailty was obvious, and yet she had an otherworldly beauty about her. Rose glanced from her over to a nearby mirror. Studying her own features. Her attempted updo was a mess. Her mascara was clumping. Even her foundation was beginning to cake together. And her features — were they really beautiful? She glanced back at the Marquise. Who even in sickness seemed to hold an aura that Rose could never hope to match.
The silence was beginning to feel awkward. So Rose approached the woman and curtised once more. She had no idea if she was being intrusive or not, but standing there in awkward silence was becoming unbearable.
“Ma’m.. I mean your Grace, I mean, Marquise.”
“I know who you’re talking to.” said Madame de Pompadour. A slight edge to her tone.
“Yeah, sorry. I just. I mean, do you need anything?”
“Nothing you can give me.” The Marquise’es tone softened into one that was more wistful than curt. “Why don’t you grab yourself a book off my bookshelf while I nap?”
Rose nodded, and walked towards the bookshelf. Scanning to see if anything interested her. In this moment, she was extremely grateful for the TARDIS translating things in her head. Then she whipped around, realizing she must’ve seemed rude to Madame de Pompadour — after all, she’d just nodded. No curtsy or formal address like she had earned by being a Marquise.
To Rose’s relief, the Marquise was already fast asleep. Presumably not too bothered by Rose’s brash behaviour. So, she turned back to the bookshelf and continued her search. Her fingers landed on a book titled Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men. She only skimmed through it, not even sure what she was looking for.
~~~~~~~. ~~~~~~~~~
“Doctor, what is it you need to discuss?” The King was clearly growing impatient.
“Your Majesty, before I tell you what this drug is meant for, will you answer me a few questions?”
The King nodded curtly.
“The dose of this remedy, has it been increasing over time or has it remained steady?” The Doctor’s jaw was still clenched tightly.
“The Marquise has been taking more and more of it every week. Her other physician, who I might return her to if I’m dissatisfied with you, promised its effects would eventually be noticed but that some patients don’t respond to lower doses.”
“He was right about that.” Said the Doctor. “Your majesty, does this physician treat anyone else in the palace?”
“Indeed, Doctor”. Replied the King. “He says he specializes in women’s ailments. Since bringing him onboard he has also asked to do preventive treatments on all women of the court, including the Queen. He’s stated that about half, including her Majesty, require the same remedy as a preventive measure”
“One more question”. the Doctor was tensing more and more. “What happened to her old old Doctor. Not before me but the physician before the one giving these remedies.”
“Dr. Quesnay? that is a mystery indeed. He just vanished along with Madame du Hausset, Madame de Pompadour’s lady’s maid.” the King’s face drooped.
The Doctor’s hearts started pounding. How would he explain this drug to the King without scaring him off with the concept of time travel.
“Your Majesty, please listen to me very carefully. And remember both the lives of your Queen and the Marquise might depend on this. That remedy will kill them if that dose keeps increasing.”
The King’s eyes narrowed. “With all due respect Doctor, I know nothing of you or your credentials. How do you know this?”
The truth is, the Doctor didn’t know much about the drug’s origins. It was only given a name because the exact chemical compound was found in multiple unrelated autopsies of sudden deaths. However, it was never approved for medical use and he didn’t know how people even got it or why. When analyzed it was believed to work like a 21st century chemsex drug, but far more intense. However, no one knew for sure.
“You’re going to have to believe me. I hope your affection for the Marquise will cause you to at least entertain this. Here’s what I know, the ingredients of this remedy do nothing to cure ailments. They are meant to induce intense euphoria and increased libido. A cold tempered woman is supposed to go hot.”
“Oh, be assured, Doctor,” replied the King “Remedies for a frigid temperament do not imperil life.”
“Not remedies from around here. But in the future, they do.” The Doctor regretted this statement as soon as it came out of his mouth.
“The future?!” snapped the King “are you purporting to be some kind of time traveler”
“I suppose I am.” said the Doctor plainly.
the King opened the door to the Marquise’s room and looked at the Doctor. “Get out of my palace and take your friend with you. I don’t know if you’re just naturally mad or if she is a witch who has driven you that way”. He muttered under his breath.
“Rose! time to go!” the Doctor knew he had no choice. They’d have to regroup and form another plan later.
Rose put her book back on the shelf and rejoined the Doctor. In what seemed like an instant, guards were escorting them out of the palace.
~~~~~~~~~~. ~~~~~~~~~
After walking so far the palace was out of view, the Doctor and Rose discreetly made their way back to the TARDIS.
“We’re gonna have to park elsewhere. We are very much not welcome in Versailles anymore.”
“Very suddenly too. First Queen Victoria and now King Louis” Rose looked a little flustered but not entirely shocked. “What happened anyway?”
While the Doctor moved the TARDIS to a spot further out in the woods, he filled Rose in on the drug.
“Oh my God that’s terrible!” Rose exclaimed. “You think someone’s trying to poison half the court?”
“Poison or date rape drug. I’m not sure which. Or why.” the Doctor seemed more dejected than usual.
“We’ll figure it out. We always do” Rose reached for the Doctor’s hand but he pulled away.
Rose felt her stomach drop. They stood there in silence for what felt like an eternity. The Doctor just stared at the console like he was in a trance.
“We better find Mickey”. the Doctor finally spoke. “We need to get to the far future and try to understand the purpose of the drug and why someone would bring it back here. As far as I know most of the deaths from the drug will be women. Mickey and I will investigate. You’ll stay in the TARDIS”.
“What! I don’t understand. You’re leaving me behind? You never leave me behind? I’m not letting you, I’m coming along!”
The Doctor’s eyes went cold. “Did I stutter? Most of the victims are women!”
“Well then I won’t eat or drink anything not from the TARDIS! It’s not that hard to avoid swallowing poison.” Rose spat back.
“I don’t know hardly anything about Ideannasid! It could be absorbed through the skin for all I know.”
The Doctor’s steely gaze felt like daggers. Rose searched his eyes for the joy and playful glint she’d seen barely a week ago, but it was nowhere to be found.
“I will not lose you before your time. You’re to stay onboard the TARDIS while I go and find Mickey.”
“You're not my mum!!!” Rose was in shock at his behaviour. “What’s the point in traveling with me if you plan to lock me up in the TARDIS all the time?!”
“Oh come off it! It’s not gonna be all the time! Just while women like you are at high risk of being poisoned or roofied and probably worse!!” He stormed out of the TARDIS and slammed the door.