Old friends (Mickey & Rose)

[Rose Tyler]

Rose Tyler pulled her pale blue parka tightly around her as she ducked her head against the wind. Truly, the Doctor could have picked a better place to part. Granted, it was the best place to recharge the machine, but bloody hell, it got the chill off the bay well enough of an afternoon. Not that the weather had been great lately. Some sun might be nice for a change, she thought, looking up at the grey, brooding sky.

Maybe it was the weather that had her feeling so restless. The blonde doubted it. She had a fair idea of exactly what was bothering her, and it had nothing to do with impending rain. It was all taking too long. It had been weeks and weeks since she’d arrived in Cardiff, and she felt like she’d achieved nothing for her cause. She’d certainly not gotten any answers. If anything, there were only more questions, and things were getting more complicated by the day.

Nope, everything seemed to be happening in Cardiff, and Rose didn’t like it one single bit. It was all too familiar. Obviously not the weird stuff, like the alternate Doctor, but the weather, the aliens, the deaths that were getting so commonplace in the daily paper. It has her feeling restless, but she didn’t know what she could do. She’d talked to Torchwood. She’d talked to the Doctor. Now she just had to play the waiting game, and she hated it.

She was worried about everyone back in the other dimension too, and it was all just part of that helpless feeling. She hated that she had left them, although she knew that she she had to do it, and knew that they knew it. It didn’t make leaving Pete and Tony behind any easier. And her mum had been devastated. And Mickey – god she was missing her friend. They might not be any more than that now, but they were still bloody close.

Which was why what she saw across the pavement took so long to register. When her eyes scanned the area habitually as she walked, she didn’t see the figure, also slightly hunched against the cold, at first. Even when she did, she shook her head, convinced that she had a screw going loose. All the stress, it was doing funny things to her head. But as she stared at the figure, and the figure glanced up, her stomach dropped. Her speed picked up, she changed direction, getting closer to the man. It couldn’t be.
"Mickey?" she called, the hesitation and disbelief obvious in her voice.

[scooterbug8515]

Mickey was ever glad to get out of that book shop with the psychic and the other Doctor. Two of them? How can there be two of them? So were all time lords called the Doctor? But then that one knew who he was and called him Ricky the idiot, which was so classic Doctor. It didn't exactly make sense. Was the other one like a clone or was it a matter that there were really two Doctors didn't that mess with time or something? Mickey wasn't certain but he didn't like it. Two Doctors at one place just sort of seemed wrong and the thought of two Doctors both ignoring him and giving him the shaft did not comfort Mickey any more. Maybe there being two of them was the cause of all the problems in the first place.

Mickey continued on his walk through Cardiff keeping his hands in his pockets and hunching against the biting wind. He had to be getting close seeing as the wind was picking up and it was getting colder. He had still be uncertain about direction when he left the shop but he didn't want to risk stopping in another place and being attacked by another psychic. He was just going to go on his own and find the place. Things did seem to be getting a bit more familiar.

Mickey made it a few more steps and was certain he was in basically the right spot or awfully close to it when he heard his name from an unmistakable voice. "ROSE!" cried Micky his face lighting up at the sight of his friend. He instantly enveloped her in a hug. "You're a sight for sore eyes," he remarked as he held the hug just a bit longer before pulling away happy to just look at her and know that she was alive. He had been told but it meant all the more to see it and know it.

[Rose Tyler]

The hug might have been a bit longer than conventional, but Rose wasn't oing to break it. She couldn't believe that Mickey was actually in her arms to be hugging. As he stepped back, she did the same, looking him up and down for any change, anything different. He was the same old Mickey she remembered, a suprising relief with all the changes happening around her. She'd not expected everything to run smoothly and peachy back through in this world. She'd come to warn them of death and chaos to come after all. But Alternate Doctors and stranded Tardis....it was all a little bit more complicated, to say the last.

Not that she regretted her decision, not one bit. She made her choice, long before being locked into Pete's world. And she'd known what she was doing. But sometimes, despite those assurances, things could get a bit on top of you. Which was why it made seeing such a familiar, reliable face infront of her now so pleasant. And the man before her was reliable, no one could doubt that. He'd always been there for her, no matter what. The blonde knew that she hadn't treated him so well in the past. She'd run off with the Doctor and left him behind, then expected him to jump to when she called. However, over the past few years their relationship had developed into a much healthier, equal one.

"Not the only one" she said, smiling, before the expression was replaced with one of concern. "Are you okay? The trip through didn't hurt you or anything?" she asked, before smiling at him once again. "It's a bit of a rough one" Rough was an understatement. It had hurt like all hell, like being compressed and torn apart all at once, and had left her completely knackered. It had been worth it though. She'd found her Doctor, after all.

Suddenly, it dawned on her that there must be a reason Mickey was here, and the concern was back again. "What's wrong?"she asked."Has something else happened?"

[scooterbug8515]

No one but Mickey actually knew how happy he was to see Rose. Upon arriving and meeting that other Doctor he was told that Rose was alive but that wasn't going to be enough until he could see her for himself and having done so he felt much more at ease. Though he and Rose had agreed to not be romantically involved Mickey still held a candle for the blond, he just kept it quite for Rose's sake it made things easier for her and allowed him to remain close with her. Though he couldn't be with her he wanted to be around her.

When Rose asked if he was okay Mickey scrunched his face in a casual way saying, "It was rough one but I was fine, nothing I couldn't handle." So there was some falsehood in what he said but he wasn't about to say that he had collapsed, and had a small moment of panic. He didn't really want Rose to worry about him nor did he really want to seem weak. He wasn't even going to mention like he felt like he was ready to die.

"You came out alright as well?" he asked with concern. Yes Rose was fine now but he wanted to be sure she wasn't hurt too bad.

Though it was great to see Rose, it didn't take long for his reason for being there was addressed. "We had thought we lost you," answered Mickey in a quiet sad tone. "We had to try and send another," he answered continued on, "It's gotten worse, it's lucky I was even able to make it. Doubt any other can make it through." Mickey held a serious frown as he looked Rose in the eyes. He hoped she wasn't going to be too bothered by it all seeing as her family was still back there. He just hoped they kept safe and alright for they were his adoptive family so to speak. He was just glad his gran passed away before it all started.

[Rose Tyler]

Rose shrugged. “I'm here in one piece aren't I?” she said with a sweeping gesture and a shrug. It had been rough, but Rose had a hunch that her trip through had been quite a bit easier than her friends. He was trying to hide it, but she'd known him long enough to noticed the rougher voice and the change in the way he walked. She could also tell when he was lying, but if he didn't want to say, whether it was so she wouldn't worry, or for another reason entirely, she wouldn't mention it. What she would do is buy him a cup of tea, and she reached for his hand, twisting her fingers in his as she led them towards a nice little cafe nearby. However, as he continued, she stopped and spun to face him.

Things were getting worse. She'd expected it to happen, and as soon as she'd seen his face, she'd known the news wouldn't be good. But she'd not realised how strong, nor persistent that little bubble of hope telling her otherwise had been. The little voice in her head telling her that maybe it was good news, they'd fixed the problem, and brought it here. That they wanted her home, even if she wouldn't go. It was a little bubble cruelly popped, and as it was, she felt her stomach drop. Jackie, and Tony and Pete were all still trapped. If the situation was still deteriorating, how long would they have before things completely went to hell. If Mickey was right, and they couldn't send anyone else through, would she never see them again. Her head spun, and she bit her lip, failing to stop tears welling in her brown eyes. She took a deep breath, pulling herself together before she spoke. “They've still got no idea.” she asked. “Nothing at all?”

[scooterbug8515]

The way Rose assured him that she was in one piece told Mickey a lot. He got the feeling that his trip as bad as it was wasn't the same for her. He was glad of that, Rose didn't deserve to go through what he went through and when it came down to it he was certainly glad it was him instead of her. He would gladly take the worse for the sake of Rose. Admittedly he still loved her though he tried not to let those feeling out too much and worked not to act on them. He loved Rose and that was why he accepted the whole just being friends thing because it made her happy and that's what Mickey wanted most of all for Rose to be happy. He smiled at her and nodded his head glad to know of the truth.

It felt nice to have Rose' hand entwined with his, it brought back memories of old and just made her feel all that more closer to him. It was in that moment that Mickey felt that he could forget everything that had happened and potentially would happen, but he couldn't really not when Rose deserved to know the truth and the truth is what he gave her though when they suddenly stopped in their walk for Rose to look back at him he wished he hadn't spoken of what was going on back at Pete's world. He would have loved to have kept that blissful moment and not cause the worry that was now on Roses' face. He knew she was worried about Pete. Jackie and Tony.

"Don't worry too much Rose," he broke in trying to help make things better though he felt like his words might be useless. "Pete got Jackie and Tony out. He made them get away from the mess. They are staying in some cottage in the country far away from the mess seeing as the quite areas are as affected." Mickey hoped that would cause Rose to worry less. Of course he didn't mention how Pete was staying in the middle of it despite Jackie's protests. The man was quite the determined one, he was going to see things through or die trying. That just seemed to be the way of Pete.

"They're still working though" added Mickey to try and give some added hope. "Think something might be here that will set things right but no ones certain." added Mickey. It was a weak hope that had come up there at the end before he left but there was nothing solid, even Mickey had his doubts but he said it to try and give Rose hope that something could still be done for Pete's world. He also said it for himself as well. He wanted to believe there was still hope for Pete, Jackie and Tony. The kid deserved to grow up in a normal world not one that seemed to be falling apart.

[Rose Tyler]

As Mickey told her where Pete had sent her family, Rose attempted a weak smile. It was better than she had hoped for. They were alive, for one. And they would be safe in the country, for some time at least. Not permanently, but it didn’t have to be. The world’s greatest minds, and some of the greatest minds not from this world. They would find a solution. They would have to. After all, she’d seen the future, and it wasn’t like this. The human race was amazing, reaching across the universe. It didn’t end in the bloodshed she’d seen so far. They would find a solution. They had to. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

And maybe, just maybe, if she kept telling herself that, she might eventually be convinced.

She took a deep breath, and smiled at her friend. “ We’ll work something out.” she said, as though saying it out loud may make it true. “ It’s not supposed to be like this. The Doctor’s working on it, and UNIT, and Torchwood. There’s still plenty of hope that we’ll find a solution.” She squeezed his hand, and frowned in concern. She didn’t like the grey tone to his dark skin. “Now, we need to get you a comfortable seat and a nice cup of tea. Then you can fill me in” She knew she could certainly do with a nice cuppa, and it certainly couldn’t do Mickey any harm at all. She led the way to a little café nearby. They Tardis was just as close, but she wasn’t sure if the Doctor or Donna was there, and she wanted a bit of time alone with her closest friend.

[scooterbug8515]

Despite his words Mickey knew that Rose was still worried, Just one look at her told him this. He hated to see that and make her worry but he didn't like keeping things from Rose and she deserved the truth he just wished he could make it all better for her and it seemed like his words though not fixing everything did help some.

One of the best parts of Rose was despite how dire things were and how scared she might get she always seemed to have an eternal bit of optimism about her always looking for the bright spot in things always looking toward the better and brighter future. It was one reason why Mickey liked being around Rose and needed her because she just seemed to make everything brighter and negate some of his pessimistic tendencies.

So with her positive words Mickey found himself putting on a bit of a smile and agreeing with her, "Yeah," he nodded his head for added emphasis. "We've got some of the best minds here." After Mickey had said that his mind fell back to his encounter with the other doctor who wasn't the doctor and a bit of confusion crossed his face. He was going to ask about it but Rose brought up having some tea and pulled his attention away from his thoughts for a moment or two.

"Yeah a nice cup of tea would be great. Haven't had a decent one since..." Mickey trailed off a bit. "I don't know when the last time I had a decent cup of tea," he shook his head, "This dimension shifting with different time lines can really mess with you." Mickey allowed a crooked half smile to play on his face to indicate that he wasn't upset about it and it was a bit like old times.

[Rose Tyler]

Rose smiled. "Don't I know it." she said, pushing open the door for Mickey before entering herself. There might not be a large gap in the two universes, but it was enough to twist you around a little. Hell of a jetlag.

She moved towards a little table near the window and settled down, glancing around for a waitress. As her eyes scanned, they flashed past the window, and froze there. Her mouth opened a touch, and her fingers clutched, one hand splaying at the table, the other grasping for Mickeys. She half rose from the seat, turning fully towards the window.

"I think that cup of tea is going to wait" she said, as she went pale. "Can you see what I see?"

Rose really hoped he couldn't, and she was imagining it. Discovering it was a random flashback would be nice, from back when The Doctor and herself had crossed paths with Charles Dickens. Because the the corpse walking up the street, shining blue light from the mouth, was a hell of a lot like the Gelf.

[Sorry for taking so long, sorry if its a dodgy post and sorry for jumping. thought it might liven things up ]