FIC: New Ground 2/7 [Rose, Mickey and Jake]

[grimorie]

Back to I

II.

The sitting around always got to Rose. Even after all these months she's still not used to the easy pace, the quiet. It will take time getting used to waking to one timeline again, to looking at the stars and realizing she couldn't just pick a planet, to be confined by gravity and the rules of time. Rose liked to think it was just time lag. It will go away but it will take time.

Time heals all wounds.

She's moving on and letting go and accepted the world beyond the Void can never be crossed again. Rose has seen what keeping still and holding on could lead to and she'll never let herself become another Cassandra. She burrowed her hands into her jacket pockets, not even minding the smell of cigarette smoke. Rose looked up at the sky, overcast and gray. Pete told her months ago that it wasn't always this cold; before the breach closed Earth was getting warmer, boiling itself into Armageddon way before its time but the Earth's healing itself, clearing over the boil with a cold front, moving on.

Four zeppelins danced overhead, a small village in itself. Uppers, the natives called it, looking down on those who lived below. Another class divide, another indication this world was not as perfect as she first thought it was.

"Well, well, Tyler." Rose frowned and glanced at Tommy Duran - good looking, lean and dark haired. Rose might've fancied him if he wasn't such a prat. "Shouldn't an heiress like you be up one of those?"

"Duran," she said with a sigh and noticed some of the crowd of smokers thin as they moved away and even left.

Duran noticed the exodus and smirked. "Tell you what, seeing we'll be alone in a few seconds, let's do something useful with our time."

"My answer is the same as the last time, Duran," she glared. "Because if you don't mind bruising your other cheek, I also won't mind bruising my other hand."

"I knew you liked it rough." His smirk grew and then he blew smoke at her.

She stepped back and refrained, barely, from clocking him. He wasn't worth getting a black mark in her records for. "How the hell do you manage to dodge sexual harassment complaints?"

"It's 'cause I'm too bloody good at my job." Rose wished it was Duran just being Duran , but unfortunately he was a brilliant scientist, one of the leading minds who developed the dimensional travel device or as Rose liked to call it, the big yellow button.

"Wait and see, princess," Duran said with a wink that was enough to bring out a disgusted expression from Rose, "I'll even be richer than your dad, get to be an upper myself and get the hell out of this sink hole. I'll be the next John Lumic."

"What, homicidal and crazy?"

Duran let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Funny."

Before Rose could say anything she would regret the door banged open. Rose tilted her head and saw Hinds, Duran's boss, join them. Hinds' hair was turned up at odd angles, his clothes in disarray.

"Looks like the boss had a few bottles," Duran said with a derisive snort.

"Oh, shut it would you?" she said, irritated. Hinds always projected the absent-minded scientist vibe but he was always neat about it.

"What, don't tell me you and him? If I knew you like them old--"

"Finish that sentence, Duran," she hissed, rounding on him, "and I will make your life a living hell!"

Duran snorts, "What, are you going to run to daddy?"

She wasn't going to - she never liked using her relationship with Pete - but he didn't need to know that. "Do you really want to know?"

He tossed his cigarette into the bin and glowered at her. "We all know why you're here - too stupid to get a job so daddy had to pull strings."

He huffed away before she could respond. Good riddance to bad garbage. Rose turned and found Hinds looking out, his face creased with a dozen worries. Rose knew a little something about him. They were the only two non-smokers who kept insisting on coming here. She'd learned from their brief, stilted conversation about his daughter, Marie, diagnosed with cancer.

It didn't strike Rose as fair that Marie survived the war only to suffer through a disease humanity was still years off in finding a cure. It was also too personal a death. She's seen so much death, it had always been fast, the death's she's seen, not this slow burn that ate not only the person afflicted but the whole family as well.

Rose approached him. "Hinds, you alright?"

He jerked, startled, "Miss Tyler, I didn't see you."

"It's alright," she assured him. "You looked preoccupied."

He didn't reply, just kept on frowning at the pavement.

"How's Marie?" Rose asked gently.

"She's worse." He said in a dull tone. "All the alien equipment in the world and I can't even take it out to save my own daughter."

The bitterness in his tone made Rose shift uncomfortably. "I know, they can be really hard cases when it comes to these things. Can't you bring her here?"

"No," he said, shoulders sloping down, grief hung around him like a cloud. Rose wished she could do more than stand around and listen to his grief. She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"There you are," Mickey's voice drifted behind her, "We're done with the debriefing with the berk, Jake an' me are heading out for lunch."

Rose hesitated but there was nothing she could do, this was Hinds' grief. Jake appeared from over Mickey's shoulder and started clapping his hands. "Chop, chop, Tyler I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry, Jake." She gave Hinds one last look before Mickey and Jake caught her arm and dragged her out to hunt for food.

*

Duran returned to his workstation, pissed. As far as he was concerned, the whole bloody human race owed him. If it wasn't for him the Cybermen would still be around but what did he get in return? A promotion to second instead of head and a reminder of the Official Secrets Act document he signed when he joined Torchwood.

His mobile rang, and he swiped it off the table. Another thing he has to get used to, a world without earpods. What the hell kind of life was that?

"Duran."

"Mr. Duran."

Duran froze, eyes darting around the department but the section was deserted. "I told you not to call me here!"

"Our employer would like to see the equipment you promised."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll deliver like I said it's a bit hard with all the security-"

"He is not interested in your excuses, Mr. Duran, only that you deliver it and wants to see it tonight."

"Tonight?!" he exclaimed, then lowered his voice again. "Do you know how bloody impossible that is?"

"If you cannot deliver with your promise..."

"I always deliver!"

"Then, I'll see you tonight with the instrument." The line disconnected, and he stared at his phone. Dammit, he didn't know they'd be demanding so soon. It just means he has to take more... drastic measures.

"Anything the matter, Tom?"

He jumped. "Hinds, when did you get in?"

"Just now," Hinds shrugged, "Why?"

"Nothing." He said, pushing back a few schematics. Hinds nodded at him, looking like utter crap and the most miserable soul in London - and this was what they passed him over for? - went back to his office as clueless as the others.


*

"Rose."

"Hmm?" she said absently, before looking up to find Pete standing by the doorway, "Are you on your way home?"

She blinked and looked at the watch. "I didn't know it was that late."

"Almost everyone in the building thinks that."

"I haven't seen you the whole day." They almost never see each other, they were in different departments and he was trying to be more hands off with Torchwood these days.

"I was off at Vitex. Board meeting, I only got back to Torchwood." He shifted to another foot, "Your mother called, insisted I talk you into coming home early since she has a meal prepared for us."

"Why didn't she just call me instead?"

"She said you might make excuses, at least if I'm here to make sure to see you off, you'll go."

Rose smiled. "Well, that makes sense."

"Then, you'll be going home now?"

There was a pile of files still needed perusing but Pete was looking at her in a patient way that meant he wasn't leaving until she budged. "Yeah, I suppose I am now."

"Good," he said, "I'll just get something from my office and we can take my car together."

"I brought my car."

"I'll just let the chauffer drive it."

She sighed. "All right."

"Meet you downstairs."

She nodded and proceeded to shut her computer down. Jake wandered in and eyed her. "What's this? Rose Tyler actually going home early?"

"It's not that rare a phenomenon," she said in exasperation.

"Yes, it is!" Jake retorted and poked his head in Mickey's cubicle. "Mickey, c'mere, Rose is actually leaving early."

"I don't think six thirty constitutes anything special." Rose heard footsteps and a second later Mickey appeared.

"Is there some sort of catastrophe? World ending?"

"Oh, would you two come off it? Mum just wanted me home early. She had Pete come over to call me home." Rose shelved the last of her files. "Look, it's nothing special."

"So you say." Mickey mocked.

"You work late too, do I mock you?"

"See that's the part of our eccentric charm, Preachers out saving the world," Jake said at the same time Mickey said: "We don't work, we play video games."

She stared at them. "Is that why you two stay here so late? To build up your street cred so you can get lucky with some girls?"

"And blokes," Jake put-in.

"Well, you two are a pair," Rose said, rolling her eyes, "C'mon, why don't we shock everyone in Torchwood and leave early."

"Not a bad idea," Jake grinned, "Lemme just save - er, shut down my computer."

"I'll be doing the same." Mickey said, rushing away.

Boys, really. Even the Doctor was the same. Rose went down and headed for the lobby, waiting for Pete and the boys. Rummaging in her bag, she realized she'd left her book in her car and made her way to the parking lot.

A car door opened not far away and Jeffrey, Pete's chauffeur got out. "Ma'am, Mr. Tyler said I should drive your car back to the mansion?"

"Just going to get something, Jeffrey, I'll give you the keys after I get it."

"Yes, ma'am."

Just as she's about to enter her car a loud, terrifying bang filled the immediate area, shaking the ground so hard it almost threw her off her feet. Rose held on to the edges of her car door--instincts taking over as the flash of fire burned up in a pillar. She pulled Jeffrey down as a second, equally surprising, explosion hit, shaking the foundations of the Torchwood Tower.

To her horror the fifth and eight floors were burning; the steel blast doors barely came down. Oh God, oh God, oh God. Pete, Mickey and Jake were still in the building.

"Call an ambulance!" she ordered Jeffrey. "And for God's sake stay here!"

There was debris everywhere, people scattered in the confusion. Rose ran through them, too fast to be stopped and nearly went weak kneed when she spotted Mickey and Jake.

But not Pete.

"Have you seen Pete?" she demanded, grabbing Jake's arm.

"No," Jake answered, dazed. There was dirt on his cheek and a bruise.

"He wasn't with us," Mickey told her. Her eyes widened at the blood gushing from a cut above his eye.

"Your eye!"

He ducked from her hand. "I'm alright, looks worse than it is."

Rose turned and shouted for a medic. Jeffrey must have already called because a medic came forward there were also firefighters seemingly coming out of the woodwork. Satisfied Mickey and Jake were in good hands Rose proceeded to rush away but Jake saw her move and grabbed her hand.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Pete's still in there!" She gestured to the lobby, smoke filled and debris laden.

"Are you mad?"

She didn't have time to explain, every second that went by might mean Pete's death. She'd seen him die twice already and both times nearly killed her. She wasn't going to let that happen again, not if she could help it.

"I'm sorry," she said. Jake looked at her, confused, before she kicked him on the shin. He let out a pained yelp. Rose tugged, danced away from Mickey's hands. There were some people staggering away from the lobby doors, some firefighters entering with either a hose or an axe.

Rose removed her jacket and covered her face with it, grabbing the first fire extinguisher she saw and running forward to the fire. Smoke immediately stung her eyes but she kept on, shouting for Pete. What if he's in one of the upper floors? What if he never made it down? What if--? No. Rose crushed all the possibilities. She couldn''t think like that.

Her heart stopped when she saw a prone body on the floor. Rose ran forward, heart in her throat and knelt beside it, turning it over. A rush of relief flooded through her: it wasn't Pete. Guilt replaced the relief and Rose pulled at the man's arms, bringing him up.

"Medic!" she shouted again.

A firefighter appeared out of the smoke. "You should leave now, Miss Tyler!"

He took the man from her, carrying him on his shoulder. Rose coughed, tied the coat more firmly around her face and pulled away. "I have to find Pete!"

She stumbled into two more bodies. This time Rose can't do anything for them: they're both dead. It was getting harder to see and the jacket could only do so much. She turned around, looking hopelessly, too much rubble then she saw a hand and-

"Dad!" She rushed to him, heart pounding. His leg was on fire. Rose sprayed the white foam at it and kept on until it died down. She knelt beside him. "Dad-- Pete, it's me."

He blinked at her. "Rose?"

A laugh of pure relief bubbled from her. "Yeah, yeah it's me. He's here! Pete's here! Are you alright? Anything broken?"

"My arm," Pete said faintly.

The firefighter from earlier appeared at her elbow and proceeded to lift Pete out. "We must go now, Miss Tyler!"

"No argument from me!" she laughs, helping Pete up with one shoulder and praying she isn't inflicting any more damage to his wounds as the firefighter took Pete's other arm. They don't hesitate, barrelling through the smoke and the debris. The moment they stepped out the door the emergency services appeared, putting Pete on a gurney. Rose kept close but had to let go when she went on a coughing fit off her own. She threw down the jacket as she doubled over. Medics came at her waving oxygen masks, which she gratefully accepted but batted away the other medic who kept insisting on getting her pulse.

"No, my dad, Pete," she said in between coughs. "Check on him!"

"We are, miss!" the medic explained, grabbing for her wrist again, "Now let us check on you."

"There you are!" Jake said, scrambling forward glaring.

"Dammit, Rose, don't ever do that again!" Mickey looked murderous.

"Yeah, 'cause next time I'll kick back," Jake threatened, "Don't think I won't!"

"How is he?" Mickey asked as soon as he saw Pete.

Rose batted the medic's hand away again and took off the oxygen mask. "I don't know, yet."

"You're cleared, miss," the medic declared, quite possibly out of annoyance, leaving her the oxygen bottle.

She felt grimy and in need of a wash. She frowned when Mickey wouldn't stop glaring. "What?"

"You can't just go swanning off the way you do."

"I wasn't swanning off, I was trying to save Pete!"

If any, Mickey's glare deepened, "An' what would happen if you died in there? You don't have the D--"

"Oh, for God's sake it wasn't even about that I was just--"

"Runnin' off to save your dad! Without back-up!" he thundered. "What would I tell Jackie if you'd died in there?"

She was about to fire off an angry retort when Pete's gurney wheeled past. "It's a moot point, I'm alive," she said as she reached out and squeezed his arm. "Jake, get him to sit down, will you?"

"Where are you going now?" Jake groaned, pulling Mickey back.

"With Pete."

"Never mind us, then," he said. She looked at Mickey.

He looked back but his angry scowl smoothed into something like resignation. He nodded. "Go."

Rose was off before the word 'go' passed Mickey's lips. She dodged the people blocking her path and took the opportunity to dig into her pocket and fish out her phone. She could see news vans lining up across the street, but Jackie didn't watch the news and learning from another source would be too cruel. Running and dodging and speaking on the phone was familiar. It's almost enough to make her heartsick.

God, she was morbid.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Mum!" Rose said in a breathless rush, finally catching up to the medics.

"Rose, what's wrong?"

"Mum! There's been an accident--"

There was a gasp over the line and before Jackie could work herself into hysterics Rose told her about the bombing and Pete's condition - omitting her part in his rescue. "He's being flown in," she added when the medics pushed Pete's gurney to a helicopter.

"I'm on my way!"

Rose scrambled forward, caught her father's hand as the medics speed walked to the helicopter, "I'll see you--"

"Tyler!" a voice barked out. She turned her head and saw Ianto. His coat was off and his shirt was dirty. He gestured to her. "We need all the hands available!"

The fires were under control but so many people were injured and more were still missing. Rose hesitated, torn between duty and love.

She looked down at Pete then back to the chaos. "Rose?"

"Change of plans," she said stopping in her tracks. She felt Pete's hand slip away as the emergency crew stacked him on the helicopter.

One crewmember turned to her. "Miss?"

"I won't be coming." Rose informed him.

"What?"

Then to the phone: "Mum, I won't be along. I still have things to do. I'll see you in the hospital."

Before she could change her mind, Rose shut her phone and ran to the crowd.
*

On to Part III