@followedmystar : okay so jill is fantastic and i just really vibe with her content and think she’s a stellar (pun fully intended, re your url) person :) her url is great, her content is great, and her writing and shipping savvy is just INCREDIBLE. (and by shipping savvy i just mean that you’re very invested and understand the characters and dynamics really well and i appreciate and love that :) )
@travelintimeandspace : just so wonderful tbh. so much lovely doctor who stuff and a fab url and just an honestly great person who i’m very glad i have on my dash
@emkaywho : you’re always so lovely when i see you around and in my activity and everything! the fandom is lucky to have someone so nice :)
@bau-profiler : ahhh i love your url! i don’t talk about it much on here but i LOVE Criminal Minds and just !!!!!!! a+++ (also your blog is great!)
@damerosebadwolf : beth is amazinggggggg :D she so sweet and wonderful and is really good at prompting fics ;D but seriously i love her to pieces and am super lucky to be able to call her a friend ♥♥ love you beth!
Summary: It started with a drunk phone call and an act of kindness but nothing’s ever that simple. Dark pasts, uncertain futures, criminal masterminds and kill orders complicate everything. So does a growing, unexpected love. (Nine/Rose AU)
Note #1: Here we are, at the end at last. It’s been a wild ride over the last 10 months from that original one shot to a total of almost 22k words. It has definitely been fun and thanks for sticking with me through it all!
Note #2: this whole thing was prompted by the lovely @damerosebadwolf who probably did not expect me to get this carried away with it!
Word Count: 2231
Catch up here: tumblr // tsp // ao3 // ff
The first thing Rose saw was the icy blue of John’s eyes staring down at her, filled with worry. She wanted to reach up to soothe the crease between his eyebrows away but her head was fuzzy and everything ached and moving seemed like an impossible proposition.
“Ow,” she said after a moment before wincing.
“Shh,” John soothed, stroking her cheek once more. “The vest took the bullet but you’re still going to be sore and I think you might have a concussion.” His hand moved to the back of her head where it had impacted with the concrete floor.
His fingers were coated in blood when he removed them.
“That doesn’t seem good,” Rose said softly, his fingers swimming in front of her face. She tried to focus on them but concentrating was just out of her grasp.
“It’s not, but you’ll be fine, Rose.”
“Course I will be,” she said, words slurring together, “you’re here after all.”
John’s heart twinged. “I thought you were dead, Rose.” His voice cracked. “I thought you were dead because I couldn’t protect you.”
Rose fought through the haze fogging her mind. John shouldn’t sound so despondent, not when they had both survived. She forced her hand up to cup his cheek. “Not dead, John. And I’m only not dead because of you. Did a bang-up job of protecting me. Made sure I wore the vest, you did, and made sure I felt safe enough to do this.”
His hand came up to cradle hers against his face. “You still got hurt.”
“But it’s going to be okay. We got him, right?”
John’s lips quirked up in half-smile. “We got him. Jack should be with the bastard right now.” A scream pierced the air at that moment, startling them both. “Yeah, Jack’s definitely with him,” he said.
Rose’s eyes slipped shut as her mouth tried to produce a smile. “Don’t suppose I could talk you into that third kiss now that this is over?”
He chuckled. “Not while you’re bleedin’ on the floor. We agreed we’d both be sober and mostly calm and I don’t think this qualifies.”
“Technicalities,” Rose said, eyes still closed.
“Rose, I need you to stay awake.”
She just made a consenting noise. She was aware of John continuing to talk to her, tone growing more concerned, more urgent but she couldn’t quite make out the words. Rose tried to open her eyes, to tell him not to worry but everything faded back into black before she could manage it.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Rose came to slowly. Wherever she was was quiet and warm and much more comfortable than the warehouse floor had been. It felt safe. Her eyes fluttered open and she took in her surroundings. She was in Jack’s guest room.
“You know, I’ve never seen the Doc that terrified.”
Rose jolted, eyes snapping to her right where Jack’s voice had come from. He was leaning back in a chair, inscrutable look on his face.
“What?” Her voice was scratchy from disuse.
Jack stayed quiet and handed her a glass of water that she drank greedily.
“Jack, what did you mean?” she asked, setting the glass back down on the nightstand.
“When you passed out in the warehouse, the Doctor walked through with you in his arms and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on his face.” he paused. “I’ve seen him in situations where he was in imminent danger of losing his life and I’ve never seen him as scared as when he thought he might lose you.”
Rose’s head was spinning, trying to process the implications of what Jack was saying. “Survived though. I take it Saxon’s taken care of?”
A feral smile curled the corners of Jack’s mouth for a moment. “He’s taken care of. He may be a little roughed up but he was still alive when I dropped him off at a government black site. He’s their problem now and won’t be causing you any more trouble.”
“Good.”
They lapsed into silence for a moment.
“John thinks it’s his fault you got hurt,” Jack said finally, watching his friend closely for her reaction.
“It’s not! Told him he did a brilliant job protectin’ me,” Rose protested.
“He walked right past the Master and left me on my own to take care of him because he refused to leave you for even a second. I’m only here right now because I forced him to go take a break.”
“How long have I been out?”
“About four hours. The Doc got you back here, stitched up your head wound, and then sat here worrying himself to death. Finally convinced him that he needed to eat since he couldn’t do anything for you if he didn’t take care of himself as well.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Rose said, reaching out a hand to him. He took it and squeezed, giving her a small smile.
“Thank you, Rosie. You’re the reason we got the Master off the streets. I’m just glad you’re okay and this is all over with.”
Rose was opening her mouth to answer him when she was interrupted by a voice in the hallway.
“Do I hear you talking in there, Jack? Any change?” John opened the door to the guest bedroom as he finished his second question and froze as soon as his eyes met Rose’s. Her name slipped out of his mouth almost involuntarily.
She smiled up at him. “Hi.”
“You’re awake.”
“Heard you actually played doctor for me and got me all fixed up,” Rose said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
John crossed the void between the door and the bed in just a few strides and wrapped his hands around one of hers. “Thought about taking you to hospital but didn’t want to risk it. How are you feeling?”
“Head’s poundin’ and it feels like a lorry ran over my chest a couple of times but I’m alive and that’s thanks to you from what Jack’s told me.”
The Doctor ducked his head, tips of his ears turning pink. “Jack’s been exaggerating, as usual.”
“Nope, don’t think so,” she shot back, squeezing his hand. “I think he was telling the truth about you stitching me up and watching over me.”
“Sounds like he’s been quite talkative.”
“I think I’m going to leave the two of you to sort this out. I’ll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me,” Jack cut in before either of them could continue talking. He slipped out the door after giving them both a meaningful look and closed it behind him. Hopefully his friends would use the alone time to work out whatever was between them.
“Jack said something else,” Rose said quietly as John moved to take the chair Jack had vacated.
“I’m sure he did,” John groused.
“He said you still think it’s your fault that I got hurt.”
A pained look crossed John’s face. “It is. I’m the one who didn’t plan for Saxon to take you out of my line of sight. I couldn’t protect you and he shot you, Rose.”
“But I’m still here, John. We knew going in that there was danger and that our plan wasn’t perfect but everything turned out alright. We’re all alive and we got Saxon. You took care of me, made me feel safe and helped me do what needed to be done. Yeah, alright, I got shot. And yes, that is terrifying, but I’m okay and you’re here and everything’s okay, yeah?” She reached out and cupped his cheek. “We made it through, John.”
He raised a hand to cover the one she had on his cheek, cradling it before pulling it down so he could entwine their fingers. “I suppose we did.”
“That calls for a celebration, yeah? I think we’re both sober and mostly calm and I’m more than ready to claim that third kiss,” Rose said with an impish smile emerging on her face.
“Third time’s the charm, you said. Didn’t think ‘mostly calm’ would include you in recovery from being shot and hitting your head, but who am I to argue with a lady?”
“Usually first in line,” Rose quipped.
He grinned at her. “Cheeky.”
Carefully, he leaned forward and braced himself against the bed before reaching out with his other hand to cradle her face. Slowly, making sure she was still okay, he closed the distance between them until their lips met.
It was almost chaste at first, both of them reassuring themselves that the other was alive and okay and safe. It stayed that way until John scraped his teeth across Rose’s bottom lip as he pulled away briefly. He barely had time to see the flash of heat in her eyes before she was kissing him again, mouth opening beneath his for a gloriously messy kiss. It was all of the pent up desperation of trying to keep her safe and her worrying that she wasn’t going to make it through. It was all of the adrenaline and fear and attraction that had been running through their veins.
It was finally.
John pulled back after a couple minutes and looked down at Rose. Her lips were glistening and swollen, eyes still closed and hair mussed from where his hand was. She looked thoroughly kissed and he couldn’t even try to stop the grin from spreading over his face.
“Wow, um, okay,” Rose started, opening her eyes to blink up at John. “Third time was definitely the charm.”
He leaned down and softly brushed his lips over hers in agreement before settling back in his chair.
“So what happens now?” Rose asked. “Saxon’s gone, London is a bit safer, your job is done.”
“Do you think I’m going to disappear just because the job’s over, Rose?” he questioned, disbelief evident in his tone. “Not gonna happen. You drunkenly stumbled into my life before you were part of my job and I’m not letting go of you just because we caught Saxon.”
He paused. Panicked. “I mean, that is, I’m not going anywhere if you want me to stay. It’s up to you.”
“Daft man, of course I want you to stay. And you’re never going to let me forget how we met, are you?”
“Nope,” he replied cheerfully, grin at full force.
Rose smiled back just as brightly but it didn’t last long.
“What’s wrong, Rose?”
“It’s just, you and Jack are both going to go back to life as normal, right? I mean, life as normal plus me since I’m keeping both of you,”
“Jack will be thrilled to hear it,” John deadpanned.
Rose hit his arm and ignored his exaggerated wince, knowing he was just trying to get her to smile again. “But the thing is, I don’t really have a life to go back to. Not anymore. What am I supposed to do?”
He reached out for her hand. “Whatever you want to do. You have a chance to start over and be whoever you want to be, Rose.”
She chuckled weakly. “I think that might be more terrifying than being shot.”
“Could be, yeah,” he agreed. “But you know I’m going to be here if you want help.”
“You’re probably going to need help too,” Rose said after a moment of pondering. “Someone in whatever the hell your mystery Agency is was trying to work to protect Saxon. You and Jack are going to have to tread carefully if you want to find out how high the conspiracy goes.”
John made a face. “Was hoping you weren’t going to pick up on that so quickly. Didn’t want you to worry while you’re still recoverin’.”
“I’m always going to worry,” she said gently, stroking her thumb across his. “But, since I’m probably unknown to most of the people who were working with Saxon…” she trailed off.
“You want to help,” he stated flatly.
“Maybe. At least while I try and figure out who I want to be, now.”
“It’s going to be dangerous, Rose, just as dangerous as this business with the Master, if not more so.”
“I know, but it’s the right thing to do and I want to help.”
John looked at her in awe. It was so rare to find someone who was so passionate about doing the right thing and he just felt so lucky to have found Rose and have her in his life now. He had a feeling that her influence would eventually help him become the good man she seemed to think he was.
“Okay, when we start trying to take down the rest of Saxon’s associates you can help if you still want to but let’s not make any decisions while you’re still nursing a head wound.”
“I’ll want to,” Rose promised through a yawn. “An’ I’ll have you know that I’m resistin’ the urge to make a nurse and doctor joke.”
“Get some sleep, Rose. I’ll wake you up in an hour or so to check your head.” John said with a fond smile.
She hummed, indicating she’d heard him, before curling into her pillow and closing her eyes. John watched her fall asleep, completely content for the first time in a long time. If this was how he felt after only a few insane days of knowing Rose Tyler, he couldn’t wait to see what the rest of their future had in store.
Summary: It started with a drunk phone call and an act of kindness but nothing’s ever that simple. Dark pasts, uncertain futures, criminal masterminds and kill orders complicate everything. So does a growing, unexpected love. (Nine/Rose AU)
Note #1: Ummm, it’s been three months but I finally have an update! Sorry about the wait. Also, we’re definitely nearing the end. I’m thinking one or two more chapters most likely.
Note #2: this whole thing was prompted by the lovely damerosebadwolf who probably did not expect me to get this carried away with it!
Word Count: 1825
Catch up here: tumblr // tsp // ao3 // ff
“Why hello there,” Saxon cooed, walking up to her. He looked out of place in the dusty warehouse in his immaculate suit yet seemed completely at ease, just as he had when he’d visited Jimmy. “So glad you could join us for this little chat.”
Rose took a deep breath, before speaking with a tremor in her voice that wasn’t entirely manufactured. “Let’s just get this over with, yeah? I give you the info and the Doctor’s mobile and you call off the people you have trying to kill me, that’s the deal.”
The Master laughed and the hairs on Rose’s arms stood up at the sound. “If I like the intel you have, I’ll do my best to protect you from whoever is trying to kill you.”
Jack swore in her ear and Rose wished she could echo the sentiment. She needed him to admit to putting a contract out on her and he kept sidestepping it with an ease that spoke of a significant amount of practice.
“Someone’s coming into the building. Looks like they’re with Saxon and they’re carrying something.”
Rose was still listening to the last of Jack’s warning when Saxon started talking again.
“Why don’t we step over here, standing in the middle of this place seems so cliché and I’d rather not feel like I’m in some low budget movie.” Saxon grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the edge of the room where his underling was setting up a table. Rose resisted but the slim man was deceptively strong so before long she was standing next to the table, Saxon’s hand still holding her arm in a bruising grip.
John grit his teeth when he saw the Master put his hand on Rose. Him manhandling Rose after everything she’d been through was another reason on his very long list of reasons that he wanted to punch Saxon’s face in. When he realized where he was taking her he let out a curse of his own.
“Rose, he took you out of my line of sight. I’m blind up here now. I’ll try to move to reestablish visual but for now Jack and I both only have audio on you,” he whispered.
“Do you think he knows you’re up there?” Jack asked, voicing Rose’s worry as well.
“No, I think he’s just being a prick and happened to pick the only spot in the warehouse I can’t see.” John grumbled.
Rose halfway listened to her boys talk as Saxon finally let go of her arm and sat down in the single chair his man had provided. He gestured to the other side of the table, apparently expecting her to stand opposite of him.
It was terrifying knowing that John wasn’t keeping an eye on her any longer but Rose wasn’t going to disappoint him and Jack by folding at the first sign of pressure. She mentally straightened her spine and outwardly shuffled to where the Master wanted her, head bowed in a picture of submission.
“Much better,” Saxon said, leaning back in his chair. “Now, down to business. Why don’t you go ahead and hand over the Doctor’s mobile.”
“Don’t give it to him yet,” John instructed. They’d wiped most of the sensitive data from it, leaving just enough about the Master for him to think he was hitting the jackpot when he first got a look at it.
“I think I’ll hold onto it for now,” Rose said haltingly, putting a possessive hand over where it rested in her pocket. “It’s my only physical bargaining chip and I’m more comfortable havin’ it with me until I know you’re going to hold up your end of the deal.”
“I can’t promise my protection until I know your information’s good and that includes whatever is on that phone.”
“How do I know you won’t just get rid of me as soon as I hand it over?” Rose asked, tremor back in her voice.
“You don’t,” Saxon said, sickly sweet smile forming on his lips. He held his hand out and beckoned for her to hand over the phone.
“No, I need to know that people are going to stop trying to kill me before I give it to you.”
“Seems we’re at a standoff then, Miss Tyler. You are surprisingly difficult to deal with,” he commented, leaning forward over the table. Rose’s eyes widened as he continued in an offhand manner. “It’s no wonder that Mr. Stone went out of his way to try and teach you some manners. His methods were somewhat crude but…so is he. Fitting really.”
He paused for a moment. “Now, what information do you think you have, besides the Doctor’s mobile, that could entice me to call off your impending assassination that I went through so much effort to secure.”
“Got him,” John whispered darkly.
Rose resisted smiling at the satisfaction evident in John’s words and the calming effect he had on her. One mission down, one to go.
“I know the Doctor suspects that your dealings with Jimmy are a part of something bigger,” she offered, making sure to sound as scared as she could. It didn’t require much acting skill as Saxon wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in her head if he picked up on the fact that she was satisfied with their proceedings so far and that was not the plan, not by a longshot.
The Master propped his chin up on his fist and made a show of contemplating her statement. “That’s not much of a problem and not nearly valuable enough information to guarantee your safety.”
Rose swallowed hard. “What if I told you that he and the Captain are working together to piece together all the information they have on you to figure out what that bigger plan is?”
“I’m listening,” the Master drawled.
“They’re still gatherin’ their information so you have time to cover up whatever it is you’re doing,” Rose continued.
“They’ll never figure it out,” he answered cheerfully. “I’m planning something that would never even cross their tiny little minds.”
“Doesn’t hurt to be careful, though,” Rose said. “The Doctor seemed pretty confident.”
“Oh that one’s always confident,” Saxon replied, leaning back in his chair. “Doesn’t mean he knows what he’s doing, though.”
Jack snorted in her earpiece.
“What are you doing?” Rose asked, disregarding Jack’s aside and John’s annoyed huff.
He tutted at her. “Now, why would I tell you that? You’ve exhausted your information, little flower. Hand over the Doctor’s mobile and I’ll call my men off and you’re free to go. But if you ever breathe a word of this conversation to anyone I will not hesitate to put a bullet in that pretty head of yours.”
Rose nodded silently, shaken to the core by how nonchalant the man was while threatening her life. “Got it,” she said.
“Mobile.” He held out his hand again.
“Not until you call off your men,” Rose maintained stubbornly. “Told you I don’t want to die.”
The smile he gave her chilled Rose’s blood. “I’m sorry, that’s just not an option.”
Rose opened her mouth to ask what he meant but before she could make a sound, the sharp report of a gunshot echoed through the warehouse, shattering the silence as a bullet flew towards Rose from the gun in the Master’s hand.
“Take the mobile off her and then get rid of the body,” Saxon said, stripping off his gloves and handing the gun to one of his henchmen. “Her being dead is one less thorn in my side at least.”
He waited until his companion gave a halfhearted chuckle at his pun before grinning and laughing himself.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
The bottom dropped out of John’s stomach as the shot echoed through the large space. Not caring if he was seen and completely ignoring Jack’s panicked questions in his ear, John started scrambling across the catwalks to get a visual on what was happening. He was talking over Jack, saying Rose’s name over and over, praying to every deity he could name and some that he couldn’t that she would answer him.
He found a ladder and slid down halfway before jumping the rest of the way to the floor. He was pulling out his sidearm, having abandoned his sniper rifle in the catwalks as soon as the shot rang out, when Saxon walked around the corner.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the mighty Doctor,” the man said, rocking back on his heels and sticking his hands in his pockets. “Should’ve known Jimmy’s little tart couldn’t have come up with that intel and this whole meeting all on her own. What a shame you aren’t very good at making plans either, always getting people you’re trying to protect killed. Tsk tsk, some doctor you are.”
The Master’s smile was the very definition of smarmy and John barely resisted punching him in the teeth. It could wait until later, right now he had to get to Rose. He needed to see her, there was no way he was trusting Saxon’s word that Rose was actually dead.
“Get out of my way,” John growled.
“She’s dead, getting there faster won’t change anything. Why not stay here and have a chat with me? We have so much to talk about.”
“Not interested.” He pointed his gun at Saxon.
The man just laughed.
“Now, we both know you’re not going to-” His sentence was cut off by his own scream and another gunshot. “You shot me.” He said in shock from the floor where he had fallen. “You actually shot me.” Blood was pooling on the concrete floor around his right knee where a bullet from John’s gun had impacted.
“You were in my way.” John stepped around him and started towards the corner that hid Rose from view. A glare from him sent the Master’s cronies scrambling, none of them loyal enough to their employer to risk getting in John’s way as well.
“Don’t tell me you actually care about the girl?” Saxon said incredulously from behind John. “She’s nobody, just a pawn in the game!”
The Doctor didn’t answer him, filling in Jack instead who was still asking questions about the gunshots and Rose. “Captain, our target is incapacitated if you’d like to come collect him. I’m on my way to Rose now.”
John raced around the corner as soon as Jack confirmed that he was on his way inside. His heart stuttered to a stop when he caught sight of Rose was sprawled motionless on the floor. The noise of the Master still pontificating and rambling and Jack bursting into the warehouse faded away to nothing as he knelt next to Rose, carefully cupping her cheek in his hand.
“Rose? Rose, please answer me,” he pleaded softly. “Rose…”
A second passed. Two. Three.
He brushed his thumb across the curve of her cheek, name still slipping off his lips like a prayer.
KELSEY!!! I JUST FINISHED WATCH IT BURN AND IT WAS SO GOOOOOODDDDD!!! I can't believe I got a couple of chapters behind but it was actually kind of nice in the end because then I got to do like 4 in one shot to finish it off!! And the EPILOGUE OH MY GOODNESS I CAN'T WAIT FOR MOOOOORRREEE!! You're a gem, my friend, and I am so thankful for you and your writing. :):) <3
AHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT!! :D and you getting the ending in one dose helps make up for the amount of time i left you with that police box cliffhanger that one time right? :D
a;lsdkfjaaldj thanks so much beth, you’re the best ♥♥♥
congrats darling! you deserve all of them and more. :)
thanks so much fleur!!! ♥♥
kelkat9 replied to your post “eyo, finished the Watch it Burn epilogue. Which means I’ve officially...”
I can't wait to devour the last few chapters! yessss!!!
wheeee, it’s finally finished and a;ldsfjalfjk :D i hope you enjoy the last few chapters!!
damerosebadwolf replied to your post “ahhhh okay i’m at 8k now!?! i’m just astounded. thank you all so so...”
CONGRATS!?!?!? YOu just like continue to amaze me, Kels!! (Also I feel like I haven't been on here in a billion years and I miss yoooouuuu! Hope you're doing well, dear!!)
i miss you tooooooo! and thanks!!! *hugs*
damerosebadwolf replied to your post “eyo, finished the Watch it Burn epilogue. Which means I’ve officially...”
I think I'm behind!! I need to catch up so I can enjoy the finale! :):)
well it’s all finished now so when you catch up, you get the whole entire thing! (better than waiting like four to six months for me to catch up to the cliffhanger i sent you in advance that one time and then actually resolve said cliffhanger ;D )
nottonightjack replied to your post “eyo, finished the Watch it Burn epilogue. Which means I’ve officially...”
Psst congrats on the follower milestone and finishing the epilogue! Can't wait to read it :)
Summary: It started with a drunk phone call and an act of kindness but nothing's ever that simple. Dark pasts, uncertain futures, criminal masterminds and kill orders complicate everything. So does a growing, unexpected love. (Nine/Rose AU)
Note #1: Here we have the beginnings of the plan being put into action :) Sorry for the long gap between chapters again but I have returned with a longer chapter!
Note #2: this whole thing was prompted by the lovely damerosebadwolf who probably did not expect me to get this carried away with it!
Word Count: 3659
Catch up here: tumblr // tsp // ao3 // ff
Jack joined them in the kitchen as Rose put food on the table. The trio talked as they ate, going over the intricacies of the plan and throwing out what-if scenarios so they would be prepared in case things went pear-shaped.
By the time they were leaving the flat to actually put the plan in action, Rose felt extremely prepared. She was still terrified, to be sure, but the plan was sound and she knew John and Jack would be in contact with her at all times. Jack had produced a set of earbuds that would be undetectable in a standard tech scan should the Master chose to utilize one. The tech meant her boys would be able to hear everything she said and a direct wire and a button cam ensured that every move that Saxon made, every word that he uttered, would be recorded as evidence.
The whole plan hinged on Saxon’s arrogance and the fact that he expected Rose to be nothing more than a scared, simpering victim to lull him into complacency. The more he underestimated Rose, the more likely he was to incriminate himself while talking to her.
“Everyone ready?” Jack asked.
“Think so,” John answered, fiddling with the fit of his earbud. “Rose?”
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself and stop her hands from shaking. “Ready as I’m gonna be.”
John took a long look at her and then tossed the car keys to Jack. “Go get the car started, Captain. We’ll be down in a minute.”
“Lock the door behind you,” Jack said in response, throwing a different set of keys to the Doctor who deftly plucked them out of the air and pocketed them.
As soon as Jack disappeared, John took a step closer to Rose. “Are you sure you’re okay with all of this?”
“It’s our best chance of taking Saxon down,” she replied.
“That’s not an answer.”
“Yeah, it is,” she said with a wan smile. “I’m scared, yeah, but I’m going to do this anyways because I need to and you need me to.”
John couldn’t suppress the gentle, slightly goofy smile that appeared on his face, didn’t want to. He cupped her cheek in one of his hands. “You’re incredibly brave, Rose. Thank you.”
Rose ducked her head, unable to meet his eyes when they were burning with sincerity and belief that she did not think she deserved. Her? Brave?
“’M not brave,” she murmured. “I’m terrified.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not brave,” John countered gently. He tipped her face up so she was looking at him again, leaving his fingers in place under her chin. “Bravery is standing up and doing the right thing even through it’s not the easy thing or what most people would choose to do. It’s doing what needs to be done even when you’re scared to death.”
Rose cracked a weak smile, trying to break the serious mood they’d fallen into. “Blimey, you could have a second job as a motivational speaker.”
“You’re probably the only one to think that,” he admitted with a smile of his own.
There was a beat of silence that stretched between them, at once fleeting and infinite as they stared at each other.
Rose trapped John’s hand against her cheek and leaned into his touch. “Think I’m ready now.”
He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “Let’s go take down these bastards, then.”
Rose’s expression hardened at his words and she gave a decisive nod as their hands dropped from her face.
They left the flat together, locking it behind them. Their hands found each other in the life, fingers entwining and the contact grounding them both. When they reached the door of the building, John gave her hand a squeeze before dropping it and pushing the door open for her to go through. From that moment on they would have to be in character for the plan, have to assume that they were being watched.
There was no further conversation as they got into the car or as they drove to a shopping center not too far from Jack’s place that the Captain had insisted was perfect for their needs.
Rose let her fear rise to the surface. She needed the Master to think she was just a scared little girl and authenticity was key. Tapping into her very real fear and letting it show when all she wanted to do was tamp it down was uncomfortable but it was necessary. She was going to wear that genuine fear like a mask and hope that the knowledge that she was purposely allowing it to show and grow would help her feel braver and more in control.
She rather thought it was working as they exited the car. Her hands were shaking again and she knew she probably looked properly terrified but she felt calmer.
Rose listened with half an ear as John and Jack gave her a pretend lecture about how they were only here so she could get necessities, not so she could shop or browse for hours. To an outside eye it would look like her two protectors didn’t much care about Rose or her state of mind, which is just what they wanted.
As Rose brushed by John to head into the first shop she lifted his mobile from is jacket pocket without a hitch. She was already out of sight in the women’s clothing section of whatever department store she’d wandered into when his voice came through the earpiece.
“That was some very nice pickpocketing. You’ll have to teach me how you did that so smoothly,” John said softly.
Rose suppressed a smile and resisted answering, knowing she needed to get down to business. “Dialing the phone now,” she said, barely moving her lips.
“Good luck, Rose,” Jack chimed in.
She took a deep breath and focused on bringing all of her fear and worry to the forefront of her mind instead of the anger that she’d been cultivating towards the person she was calling. She punched in the familiar string of digits and waited as it rang three times before the call was answered.
“Who’s this?” The voice on the other end of the line was deep and suspicious and Rose had to choke back bile at hearing it again. She’d thought she was ready but this might prove to be more difficult than she anticipated.
“Jimmy, it’s me. It’s Rose.”
“Well, fuck. Where the hell have you been? You fucking ran out on me and you know no one leaves me,” Jimmy said, voice threatening. “Calling to come running back, aren’t ya, babe? If you’re real good I might let you.”
Rose shuddered as he talked, from both revulsion and at the first-hand knowledge of just what Jimmy considered “good behavior.” She’d tried to leave once before and had had to abide by it when she’d realized there was no where she could go at that time but back to Jimmy.
“You’ve got this Rose. Just stick to the plan and you can be done with him forever.” Jack’s voice pulled her out of her memories and reminded her that she was out this time and she wasn’t going back. Jimmy couldn’t touch her anymore.
“’S not why I’m calling, Jimmy.” She knew the slight tremble in her voice wasn’t an act but hopefully John and Jack would think it was. John thought she was brave and she wanted to keep it that way even though she felt anything but.
“Then why the fuck did you ring me?”
“I need to talk to Saxon.” Rose’s voice was small in comparison to Jimmy’s angry roar.
Her ex laughed. “Now why would someone as important as him want to talk to a nothing like you, huh?”
She took a deep breath and tried to sound as steady as possible. “Because I have information he’ll want. Tell him to ring me at this number if he wants to know about the Doctor.”
“Lookit you tryin’ to sound all mysterious and important,” he sneered. “It ain’t working. Can’t convince nobody when you’re voice is shaking.”
“I’m serious, Jimmy,” she protested.
He just laughed. “Why don’t you just come on back to the flat and we can talk about how much good behavior I expect from you for being gone for so long.”
“I’m not coming back and unless you want to risk Saxon being upset with you, you tell him to call me.”
Rose hung up as Jimmy spewed out a new round of insults and sputtered out his disbelief at her talking back to him. She’d talked back to him many times before but she usually paid for it instead of just getting to ring off.
“That was excellent, Rose,” John soothed gently over the comms. “You did wonderfully. Now just keep wandering so it looks like you’re avoiding us and wait for Saxon to call.”
“Got it,” Rose confirmed. She was a bit shaky after the call with Jimmy but she felt better now that it was over with. The Master would be more easily fooled by her act since he had almost nothing to compare her behavior to. He didn’t know her tells so she didn’t have to worry about suppressing them as much. He was going to expect her to be cowering and scared and that’s exactly what she was going to give him.
As Rose moved into the next section of the department store, John caught Jack’s eye and motioned him over. He slipped his earbud out and waited for Jack to do the same before speaking.
“That sorry excuse for a man never gets anywhere near Rose ever again,” he snarled once he was sure Rose couldn’t hear them. Listening to Jimmy just expect Rose to come crawling back and hearing the very real tremors in Rose’s voice break through her controlled façade of fear had set his blood to boiling.
“Agreed,” Jack said grimly. His jaw was clenched and John knew that he was feeling the same desire to punch the wanker’s face in as he was.
They both put their earbuds back in just in time to hear Rose brush off a sales person asking if she needed assistance. They moved away from each other and started their wait.
It was Saxon’s move now.
Fifteen minutes passed before the phone in Rose’s hand rang. She whispered that it was time and then answered the call.
“H-hello?”
“Ah, my little elusive flower at last. How are you, Rose?”
“Saxon?”
The man whined. “Oh come now, if you’ve been spending time with the Doctor I’m sure you know my name.” His voice hardened. “Use it.”
“Master,” she said the smallest voice she could manage. The man was just as disturbing as she remembered him.
“Good, excellent,” he said cheerfully. “Now, I heard that you have information for me regarding a certain pesky physician.”
“Yes,” Rose answered quietly, letting her voice shake. So far Saxon was acting as arrogant as they had hoped. All she had to do was keep up her act and hopefully he would slip up.
“So, how is it that you’re seeking me out? And from the Doctor’s phone, no less! Last I hear you were under his protection.”
She could hear the suspicion coloring his words and did her best to sound as scared and unsure as possible. “I heard him talking to his friend and he said that you and he were enemies and that you were tryin’ to kill me and that they didn’t know how to stop you.”
The Master’s gleeful laughter cut her off. “Oh Rose, They’ll never be able to stop me. They don’t even know what I’m doing.”
Rose wanted to press him about what his plans were but knew it would be too obvious and would just serve to tip him off that she had an agenda. She was going to have to stroke his ego some more if she wanted to know more.
“That’s what it sounded like to me,” Rose said, “so I thought I should talk to the man with the power.”
“You found him,” he answered, oozing conceit. “What do you want?”
“To not die,” Rose said on a shaky exhale.
“Isn’t that what everyone wants,” the Master rejoined.
“Yeah, I guess, but not everyone has a kill order out on them.”
“True,” he conceded with what sounded like a smile. “So what do you have fore me that could convince me to let you live and protect you from the bad people trying to kill you?”
Rose wanted to curse. He wasn’t going to admit to putting the hit out on her quite that easily apparently. “Information about the Doctor and details about what he knows about you and your business.” She paused, letting him consider what she might know. “Also his mobile, if you’re interested in having it.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line as the Master weighed her offer. Rose worried that she had sounded too confident in making the offer and had somehow given the game away too soon.
“We have a deal, Miss Tyler, but I expect the information you have to be good, otherwise I consider it all null and void.” He continued talking over her stuttered and shaky thanks. “Meet me in the warehouse two blocks from where you are now. I’ll send the address to the Doctor’s mobile. It should go without saying but don’t let the two idiots you arrived with follow you.”
“Y-yes sir.” Rose answered, relieved that he was treating her like an idiot. Maybe he was buying the act after all.
“Good girl,” Saxon sneered. “And, Rose, if you’re playing me somehow I will know it and you will regret the fact that whoever is trying to kill you has failed thus far.”
Before Rose could reply, the line went dead.
“Damn,” she whispered under her breath. So much for the Master not suspecting anything, she thought.
She looked down when the mobile vibrated in her hand, indicating a new text. Trying not to move her lips, Rose read off the address that Saxon had sent her so John and Jack knew where to go.
“You doing okay still, Rosie?” Jack asked
“As good as can be expected given what’s goin’ on,” she answered, ducking behind a rack of cookware so that no one could see her talking.
“You did great,” John praised. “Almost got him to slip and admit that he was the one who ordered the hit.”
“You think he suspects something?” Rose asked, worry leaking into her tone.
“Nah, that was just a scare tactic, it was,” John reassured her. “He just wanted to make sure you thought twice about double crossing him in case you were thinking about calling the police or something. He still thinks you’re harmless and easily manipulated.”
“How do you know?”
“He wouldn’t have warned you off if he thought you were an actual threat. He thinks he has you right where he wants you and so his guard will be down when you meet.”
“You sure?” Rose asked uncertainly.
“Pretty sure, yeah.”
“’Kay, you two just get to the meeting spot and get in place. I’ll start walking that direction in a mo.”
John and Jack exchanged a look as Rose’s voice took on a note of steely determination as she tried to hide her fear from them.
“It really is going to be alright,” Jack said as he started jogging towards the building the Master had selected and quickly scanning for guards and cameras. “John and I have your back.”
Rose made a soft sound indicating that she’d heard him but said nothing.
John was no longer in Jack’s line of sight but he would have bet good money that the older man looked worried as hell upon hearing Rose’s non-answer. It was too late to reassure her though. Everything was in motion and there was no stopping it now. The Master was on his way and it was up to Rose to get the confession that they needed to put him away.
As he slid into position inside the warehouse, John prayed to every deity he could think of that Rose would come out of this unharmed and that taking down his old nemesis wouldn’t come at the cost of the one person he’d found that he felt could actually help him become the good man she had named him.
He had promised Rose over and over again that he and Jack would protect her and he planned on keeping that promise. Their plan was solid, he was of it, but so much could still go wrong. The fact that John had no direct control over the situation meant he had to watch and listen and worry from a distance as Rose faced off with the Master, armed only with her wits.
It was much too late to try and convince himself that his protectiveness towards this woman was just his normal, professional instincts. Everything had been insane since Rose had dropped into his life, not the least of which was the sheer force and enormity of the emotions that bubbled to the surface when she was involved. Maybe it was too soon to tell if anything between himself and Rose would work out or even last past the forced closeness this crisis had created but there was no denying that he wanted there to be something. He wanted there to be some sort of future with her and it scared him more than he was quite ready to admit.
It was all too fast but it felt right all the same. They just had to make it through this and then he could see if Rose was right about the third time being the charm.
John shook himself out of his uncharacteristically sentimental train of thought and checked his surroundings one more time to ensure that he would not be visible to anyone the Master sent in to sweep the place before his arrival.
“In position,” he whispered.
“Me too,” Jack confirmed. “Rose, start heading this way if you haven’t already. No one else has entered the building but I have eyes on a team of three that may be heading this direction.”
“Is Saxon with them?” John queried once Rose had indicated that she was on her way.
“No, but I would guess he is close and will make an appearance once these guys give him the all clear.” He paused. “Keep your head down, Doc. Would hate for them to injure that pretty face of yours if they spot you and get trigger happy.”
“Noted,” John answered dryly before going silent, anticipating the entry of the Master’s goons.
“Saxon’s team entering now,” Jack reported. “I can also see Rose. ETA three minutes.”
Rose listened to Jack’s reports as she walked down the street towards the warehouse. She tugged on the hem of her jacket before wrapping her arms around herself as she walked. It wasn’t just the cold that was making her shiver but she would definitely blame it on that if anyone asked.
In just a few minutes she would be face to face with what was probably one of the most dangerous men in the world if everything John and Jack had told her was true. Sure, she’d met him before but back then she’d just thought he was another sleazy friend of Jimmy’s who just happened to have money. Now she knew better and had to attempt to play him.
She knew John would be in the building with her, prepared to do whatever was necessary in order to keep her safe and that Jack would be monitoring the outside of the building, ready to step in if necessary. They had her back but she knew the truth was that she was ultimately on her own as she faced off against the man who had ordered her murder and was more than likely planning on killing her, deal or no.
She’d never been more scared.
She’d never felt so powerful either.
Her boys trusted her to do this and she’d be damned if she was going to let them down. No one had to know that her fear was as genuine as her rage, that the shaking of the sheep coexisted with and fed the snarl of the wolf. She just had to play the sheep, the sacrificial lamb, for Saxon and hope that he didn’t see her sharp teeth before they closed around his throat.
Rose took a deep breath and opened the side door of the warehouse a minute after Jack confirmed that the Master’s men had exited. She stepped inside and swept her gaze over the interior, unable to ascertain where the Doctor had concealed himself.
The cavernous room left her feeling exposed and vulnerable, rooting her to the spot as the door swung shut loudly behind her. It was only the warm weight of John’s watchful gaze and a whispered “good luck” from both the Doctor and the Captain that gave her the courage to walk further into the room.
She had just reached the middle of the room when she heard a car shriek to a stop outside the warehouse and she tensed up. Jack barely had time to warn them that they had company before the door slammed open and the Master strode in.
He had a smarmy smile on his face and two men at his back. Rose was hard-pressed to decide if she wanted to run for cover or slap the smug look right off of his face more.
She settled on shaking in her shoes more than necessary, playing the scared little girl he expected.
The game was on and Rose was ready to play. Hopefully, she thought, Saxon wouldn’t realize until much too late that there was another master playing opposite of him.
damerosebadwolf replied to your post: oh god killer cockroaches. *shudders*
I forgot you were watching txf!? Or did you just start!? (Also yes boooo to the cockroach ep!)
i started awhile back but i got caught up in doing other things and had only watched a couple episodes here and there but i’m avoiding packing now and so...watching txf! :))
scullywolf replied to your post: oh god killer cockroaches. *shudders*
Yeeeaaah…
*shudders* wayyyyy too many cockroaches in one episode and in one place.
KELLSSSS HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE! I hope you have had a FABULOUS day and that the evening continues to bring good things for you!!! Feel celebrated and awesome because you are!!! Love ya, girl! <3
THANKS SO MUCH BETH!!! :DD you’re so wonderful and i love you lots and lots! ♥♥♥
