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Title: The Persephone Problem
Series: Journeys in the In-Between
Characters: Nine/Rose
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot!
Warnings: None
Notes: Set immediately after 'Father's Day'
Chapter 1: Consequences
The Doctor watched Rose from behind the console discretely. She was sitting on the bench, fiddling with the ends of her hair, waiting for him to finish whatever it was that was in need of fixing today. In truth, however, nothing needed his attention. He was stalling. It had been a rough couple of weeks, since the Reapers and Rose’s dad. She’d seen the consequences of mistakes, consequences he’d wanted so much to protect her from, and, perhaps most damagingly, she’d seen him lose patience with her. Her horror at the results of her actions and his angry outburst had left things a little strained. She’d said sorry and he’d said he’d forgiven her but the ‘stupid ape’ gibe had hurt her. He’d known as soon as he’d said it that it was a mistake. He lumped her in with the rest of her kind and she was different. Special. But he’d suddenly found himself doubting her. Despite everything, despite her willingly letting him aim a bomb at her, forgiving him for shutting her in with a Dalek, he’d still questioned her motives. It's about the Universe doing something for you. Rassilon! He’d known it wasn’t true even as he’d snapped it at her. What had he been thinking?
The whole ‘boyfriend’ confusion, he thought grimly, that had had nothing to do with his reaction, had it? He hadn’t felt his hearts lift at that, just a little, even though it was wrong, had he? And her rush to deny it, well, that had had no impact on his response, had it? And her calling him on it, him demanding his key back; nothing like a lovers’ spat, that.
He prodded at the console irritably; he’d behaved like a callow youth. A human. What in chaos’s name had come over him? Grumpy sod that he was, he’d hit out at Rose and he’d done damage. He’d made her think she was dispensable. He’d told her he wouldn’t really have left her, and she said she knew that, but she’d doubted, just for a bit, he could tell. She was wary with him, now. She was that little bit more reticent, that little bit less exuberant than before. She was just a child and he’d shouted when he should have explained. And he was still trying to make up for it.
He stared grumpily at the console, his piercing blue eyes willing it into submission, as he racked his brains for somewhere suitably fantastic to take her. Somewhere with dressing up. She’d loved that when they’d visited Cardiff. He darted a quick look at her again. She’d look good in something white and flowing, maybe some gold and some flowers. Ancient Greece. But not on Earth. Time and Space, he’d promised her and it hadn’t escaped his notice that he’d been showing her rather a lot of the time thing, but very little of space. Phoses. Perfect planet. Dress up potential for Rose, but suitably alien to make him look impressive. Not that impressing Rose was important. He poked the console, twiddling a dial, trying to ignore the TARDIS’s rippling amusement in his mind. It never used to be this complicated to pick a destination. Then again, he’d never done anything quite so blindingly stupid as take a companion to see their father’s death before either.
‘Rose, get over here and hold this switch down.’
‘We off, then?’
‘Yep. Promised you time and space. Thought we’d see a bit of the space. All right with you?’
‘I never argue with the designated driver, remember?’ Her voice was a bit subdued. Damn it!
They landed with a thud.
‘What’s out there, then?’
‘Not yet, first you’ve got to change. Can’t go out there looking like that. Wardrobe. Greece. Fifth century BC. You’ve got ten minutes.’
Rose huffed at the time limit, but bounded off. Had he imagined the extra spring in her step at the chance to dress up? He hoped not.
Rose watched the Doctor from beneath veiled lids. He was brooding. She wondered if he was thinking about taking her home. She’d messed up, big time, saving her dad. The Doctor had never shouted at her before; told her she was useless. He’d told Adam he only took the best and clearly she wasn’t one of the best anymore. She’d let him down. He said she was forgiven, but he’d been looking at her funny ever since. She felt like she was on borrowed time. She’d been waiting for the blow to fall, for him to take her home. When he’d finally taken them out of the vortex, four days ago, she’d been convinced she was going to find the Powell Estate. It had been some sort of market instead. He’d said he needed to pick up some parts and given her some local currency to spend. She’d not strayed far from the TARDIS, though and had been back before him, waiting for him in the console room, currency unspent in her pocket. He’d looked displeased to find her waiting when he’d got back and had barely grunted at her before taking them back into the vortex, where they’d been floating ever since. It felt like he was proving a point – they couldn’t go anywhere in case she made a mess of it again. Or was he trying to make her so bored she’d ask to go home before he had to throw her off?
She started when he asked her to hold down a button. Was this it? She’d forced herself to ask, to be brave, be someone he could be proud of, even in defeat. It had been a surprise to discover he was taking her someone in space. Not time, she noticed. Perhaps she couldn’t do any damage if they went somewhere contemporary for her? It meant dressing up. Was this a test, to see if she could manage to find a suitable costume? The time limit implied so. She sprinted to the wardrobe room. Please god let her not mess this up.
When Rose got to the wardrobe room she was relieved to discover that there was only one dress on the rack marked Greece, 5 BC. It was green and floaty and rather beautiful. She hurried into it, slipping small leather slippers onto her feet, before sprinting back to the Doctor. He’d looked surprised to see her again so soon, his eyebrows arching, and she’d felt a swift swell of pride. Then he frowned and she hurried down the walkway to the TARDIS doors before he could change his mind, swinging them open with enthusiasm and stepping into the warm dry air of the planet he had brought them to.
The Doctor looked up as Rose returned to the room and felt his mouth go dry. He’d been right about this period suiting Rose, she looked exquisite, like some rare and precious flower caught at its most perfect moment. The soft green of her gown and its subtle pleats and folds complimented her complexion and figure and made her look like a goddess. He frowned; she also looked impossibly delicate, like she might blow away on a breeze, like she might break if handled too roughly. Once more he felt the tightening in his gut, the screaming in his head that she was too good for him. She was innocent, precious, perfect and he was a monster. His life would devour her whole and he was wrong and stupid and selfish to keep her with him. He opened his mouth to speak, but she was already moving, heading outside. He followed, reluctantly, behind her, trying not to notice the soft sway of her hips beneath the fine fabric of her gown as she moved.
‘Oh, it’s beautiful!’ Rose exclaimed. He had to concentrate, force his eyes away from her, before he responded.
‘Planet’s called Phoses. It’s a society based on ancient Greek principles. Mediterranean climate. Nice place for a holiday.’
Rose turned to him in surprise. ‘Is that what this is, then? A holiday?’
He crossed his arms defensively, leaning back on the TARDIS. ‘Problem?’
‘No. No. It’s nice. Just didn’t know we did holidays, that’s all. It’s a bit,’ she struggled for the right words, ‘It’s a bit domestic, that’s all.’
He stiffened. ‘Like I said, I don’t do domestic. This isn’t domestic. I thought we could do with a nice simple day. If you don’t like it, though, we can leave. No skin off my nose.’
Rose hurried to make good her mistake. ‘No, it’s fine. Great, even. I like it. We can stay. I was just surprised, yeah?’ She looked at him, eyes huge, before moving tentatively to stand beside him, one small hand reaching out to lie on his crossed arms. ‘Tell me about it?’
He stared at her hard for a moment, before relaxing his stance, letting his arms slip to his sides, grabbing her little hand in his. It felt so good. She smiled up at him and he allowed himself to smile back.
‘Right. Well, Phoses is a patriarchal society …’ he began, letting the TARDIS doors swing shut. Rose wrapped herself around his arm and he found himself leaning in towards her as he led her away from the TARDIS, towards the nearest settlement, regaling her with facts about the planet he had brought her to.
Chapter 2
The Doctor watched Rose from behind the console discretely. She was sitting on the bench, fiddling with the ends of her hair, waiting for him to finish whatever it was that was in need of fixing today. In truth, however, nothing needed his attention. He was stalling. It had been a rough couple of weeks, since the Reapers and Rose’s dad. She’d seen the consequences of mistakes, consequences he’d wanted so much to protect her from, and, perhaps most damagingly, she’d seen him lose patience with her. Her horror at the results of her actions and his angry outburst had left things a little strained. She’d said sorry and he’d said he’d forgiven her but the ‘stupid ape’ gibe had hurt her. He’d known as soon as he’d said it that it was a mistake. He lumped her in with the rest of her kind and she was different. Special. But he’d suddenly found himself doubting her. Despite everything, despite her willingly letting him aim a bomb at her, forgiving him for shutting her in with a Dalek, he’d still questioned her motives. It's about the Universe doing something for you. Rassilon! He’d known it wasn’t true even as he’d snapped it at her. What had he been thinking?
The whole ‘boyfriend’ confusion, he thought grimly, that had had nothing to do with his reaction, had it? He hadn’t felt his hearts lift at that, just a little, even though it was wrong, had he? And her rush to deny it, well, that had had no impact on his response, had it? And her calling him on it, him demanding his key back; nothing like a lovers’ spat, that.
He prodded at the console irritably; he’d behaved like a callow youth. A human. What in chaos’s name had come over him? Grumpy sod that he was, he’d hit out at Rose and he’d done damage. He’d made her think she was dispensable. He’d told her he wouldn’t really have left her, and she said she knew that, but she’d doubted, just for a bit, he could tell. She was wary with him, now. She was that little bit more reticent, that little bit less exuberant than before. She was just a child and he’d shouted when he should have explained. And he was still trying to make up for it.
He stared grumpily at the console, his piercing blue eyes willing it into submission, as he racked his brains for somewhere suitably fantastic to take her. Somewhere with dressing up. She’d loved that when they’d visited Cardiff. He darted a quick look at her again. She’d look good in something white and flowing, maybe some gold and some flowers. Ancient Greece. But not on Earth. Time and Space, he’d promised her and it hadn’t escaped his notice that he’d been showing her rather a lot of the time thing, but very little of space. Phoses. Perfect planet. Dress up potential for Rose, but suitably alien to make him look impressive. Not that impressing Rose was important. He poked the console, twiddling a dial, trying to ignore the TARDIS’s rippling amusement in his mind. It never used to be this complicated to pick a destination. Then again, he’d never done anything quite so blindingly stupid as take a companion to see their father’s death before either.
‘Rose, get over here and hold this switch down.’
‘We off, then?’
‘Yep. Promised you time and space. Thought we’d see a bit of the space. All right with you?’
‘I never argue with the designated driver, remember?’ Her voice was a bit subdued. Damn it!
They landed with a thud.
‘What’s out there, then?’
‘Not yet, first you’ve got to change. Can’t go out there looking like that. Wardrobe. Greece. Fifth century BC. You’ve got ten minutes.’
Rose huffed at the time limit, but bounded off. Had he imagined the extra spring in her step at the chance to dress up? He hoped not.
Rose watched the Doctor from beneath veiled lids. He was brooding. She wondered if he was thinking about taking her home. She’d messed up, big time, saving her dad. The Doctor had never shouted at her before; told her she was useless. He’d told Adam he only took the best and clearly she wasn’t one of the best anymore. She’d let him down. He said she was forgiven, but he’d been looking at her funny ever since. She felt like she was on borrowed time. She’d been waiting for the blow to fall, for him to take her home. When he’d finally taken them out of the vortex, four days ago, she’d been convinced she was going to find the Powell Estate. It had been some sort of market instead. He’d said he needed to pick up some parts and given her some local currency to spend. She’d not strayed far from the TARDIS, though and had been back before him, waiting for him in the console room, currency unspent in her pocket. He’d looked displeased to find her waiting when he’d got back and had barely grunted at her before taking them back into the vortex, where they’d been floating ever since. It felt like he was proving a point – they couldn’t go anywhere in case she made a mess of it again. Or was he trying to make her so bored she’d ask to go home before he had to throw her off?
She started when he asked her to hold down a button. Was this it? She’d forced herself to ask, to be brave, be someone he could be proud of, even in defeat. It had been a surprise to discover he was taking her someone in space. Not time, she noticed. Perhaps she couldn’t do any damage if they went somewhere contemporary for her? It meant dressing up. Was this a test, to see if she could manage to find a suitable costume? The time limit implied so. She sprinted to the wardrobe room. Please god let her not mess this up.
When Rose got to the wardrobe room she was relieved to discover that there was only one dress on the rack marked Greece, 5 BC. It was green and floaty and rather beautiful. She hurried into it, slipping small leather slippers onto her feet, before sprinting back to the Doctor. He’d looked surprised to see her again so soon, his eyebrows arching, and she’d felt a swift swell of pride. Then he frowned and she hurried down the walkway to the TARDIS doors before he could change his mind, swinging them open with enthusiasm and stepping into the warm dry air of the planet he had brought them to.
The Doctor looked up as Rose returned to the room and felt his mouth go dry. He’d been right about this period suiting Rose, she looked exquisite, like some rare and precious flower caught at its most perfect moment. The soft green of her gown and its subtle pleats and folds complimented her complexion and figure and made her look like a goddess. He frowned; she also looked impossibly delicate, like she might blow away on a breeze, like she might break if handled too roughly. Once more he felt the tightening in his gut, the screaming in his head that she was too good for him. She was innocent, precious, perfect and he was a monster. His life would devour her whole and he was wrong and stupid and selfish to keep her with him. He opened his mouth to speak, but she was already moving, heading outside. He followed, reluctantly, behind her, trying not to notice the soft sway of her hips beneath the fine fabric of her gown as she moved.
‘Oh, it’s beautiful!’ Rose exclaimed. He had to concentrate, force his eyes away from her, before he responded.
‘Planet’s called Phoses. It’s a society based on ancient Greek principles. Mediterranean climate. Nice place for a holiday.’
Rose turned to him in surprise. ‘Is that what this is, then? A holiday?’
He crossed his arms defensively, leaning back on the TARDIS. ‘Problem?’
‘No. No. It’s nice. Just didn’t know we did holidays, that’s all. It’s a bit,’ she struggled for the right words, ‘It’s a bit domestic, that’s all.’
He stiffened. ‘Like I said, I don’t do domestic. This isn’t domestic. I thought we could do with a nice simple day. If you don’t like it, though, we can leave. No skin off my nose.’
Rose hurried to make good her mistake. ‘No, it’s fine. Great, even. I like it. We can stay. I was just surprised, yeah?’ She looked at him, eyes huge, before moving tentatively to stand beside him, one small hand reaching out to lie on his crossed arms. ‘Tell me about it?’
He stared at her hard for a moment, before relaxing his stance, letting his arms slip to his sides, grabbing her little hand in his. It felt so good. She smiled up at him and he allowed himself to smile back.
‘Right. Well, Phoses is a patriarchal society …’ he began, letting the TARDIS doors swing shut. Rose wrapped herself around his arm and he found himself leaning in towards her as he led her away from the TARDIS, towards the nearest settlement, regaling her with facts about the planet he had brought her to.
Chapter 2
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This is a beautifully poignant line. Very nice. I could see both Nine and Rose having exactly these thoughts after 'Father's Day'.
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I think that period post-Father's Day is another one of those fascinating gaps, like after Dalek or between The Doctor Dances and Boom Town (S1 seemed to have many more of them, and still hang together so well, paradoxically). Very emotive start. That "not a lovers' spat" fight is the most raw, hurtful thing I've ever seen in a film or movie, I think because the actors put so much into it. I've always thought her "I know how sad you are" was even worse than his "stupid apes" in terms of sheer knife-twisting.
Looking forward to their adventure - I know enough Greek mythology to guess that Persephone is going to fall into the underworld at some point.
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