Life Viewed Through an Amber Focus

A/N:  Recognizable dialog is from School Reunion.

                                                                     Chapter Six: Revision

When the code finally comes up on the computer screens before the three of them they all feel a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Until, in fear, the Doctor realizes exactly what it is.

( Read more... )

A/N:  All recognizable dialog is from the episode School Reunion.

                                                                   Chapter Five: Revelation

Once they are firmly established at the high school a few days later, it is Rose’s idea to sneak in after dark and see what they can discover. She’s less than thrilled that her undercover assignment has been that of a dinner lady, but with her lack of a completed education there isn’t much else she’s qualified to do. She’s not old enough to pass herself off as a parental volunteer and not quite young enough to pretend to be a student either.

( Less angst, more jealousy... )

A/N:  Okay, this has morphed into six parts from four.  Sorry.  Otherwise this chapter would be nearly 6000 words long and that's just too many.  But it is finished and I'll post a chapter a day until it's all up.

                                                                Chapter Four: Reflection

Rose turns back to the sprawled form of the Doctor and he looks up at her with his Oncoming Puppy Dog Eyes and Rose sighs and offers him her hand. He grabs it and he’s up on his feet in a heartbeat and Rose just shakes her head at his wounded expression before she pulls her hand away. He follows her into the kitchen. “What do you mean you didn’t think of that? You wouldn’t have hit me, Rose, would you?” He’s got that little boy note in his voice that is sometimes endearing and sometimes irritating. Right now she’s not sure which.

She shakes her head. “No. Meant I didn’t think to warn you that Mum might. She’s rather upset with you. I—I called her when I was, when I thought you wanted…” She swallows hard and so does he. “Now go and sit down in the other room. I’ll just be a moment.”

( A little less angst, a lot more conversation... )

A/N:  Rose gets mad, the truth comes out, and finally a real conversation follows.

                                                            Chapter Three: Disillusion

Rose is done feeling sorry for herself. Her numbness has faded. In its place a slow burning anger is filling up every organ in her torso and settling deeply into her bones. How dare he put her in this position? How dare he be so unyielding? How dare he treat her like…like this isn’t her decision to make? How dare she let him?

When the phone rings again she snatches it up. “All right sweetheart, I got you a date and a time.”

“I’m not doing it,” she tells her mother, her decision clarifying in the same instant she says it. “I’m not doing it, Mum. I’m gonna have it.”

( Angsty McAngstalot and his wife Angstella... )

A/N:  The Doctor lays down an ultimatum, continuing to act with righteous indignation.  Only he's wrong.  So wrong.  Rose reacts with stoicism, making up her mind to do what she thinks she has to do.  Then she falls apart.  You will need tissues.  I cried.

                                                              Chapter Two: Confusion

“If you end this, Rose, I’ll take you back. I’ll let you stay with me,” he says. “But you have to promise me that you’re going to end it. And that it’ll never happen again. No exceptions, ever. With time I can get past this, but it’s going to take a lot of work.”

She nods mechanically and is gone. She only makes it a few steps down the corridor before he hears her burst into sobs. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She runs down the hall away from him, her footsteps echoing loudly as she goes.

( There are tears in my Thanksgiving turkey... )