Too Close For Comfort

Night-time Meetings and Broken Bones

The TARDIS was out of control. The unorthodox blue police box flew haphazardly through the swirls of never-ending spirals, stars and colours, hurtling through time and space without a hope of being halted. The small light sitting proud on top was flashing dangerously, sending out unanswerable distress calls to anyone who could pick them up. But there was no-one else.

"Pull that lever down, quickly!"

"Which one?!"

"That one! No, not that one, that one!"

Rose pushed her way past an anxious Doctor and reached for the large lever he was pointing at. She pulled it downwards and a green light burst into life on the monitor in front of her.

"Good. Now press the button to the left of the screen and hold it down for seven seconds!"

Rose did as she was told, her heart thumping wildly. They had been in situations similar to this before, but that had been with the old Doctor. Rose was getting used to the new Doctor by now, but she couldn't easily forget the strange 'episode' he'd had after his regeneration. The Doctor behind the wheel of his 'frankly magnificent time ship' was still worrying her immensely. If they survived this, she would never doubt him again... but they had to survive first.

"What exactly is the problem?" she asked nervously, watching his face change from nervous to petrified with one look at the monitor.

"The TARDIS is being intercepted!" he replied hurriedly, trying to catch his breath as he dashed backwards and forwards in front of her. "Something's drawing us deep, deep into space, no idea where, no idea when, no idea why. But whatever it is, it wants us. And by Hell, it's getting us!"

He looked up in time to see Rose glance at him, her eyes wide in fear.

"Oh, but don't worry. I can handle it," he said quickly, unable to disguise the panic as effectively as he had hoped. He pressed a small button and sparks erupted instantly and launched themselves at his face. He ducked slightly, wincing, before reaching for a large dial and turning it at a skilful fate. Rose ignored his last comment.

"Something's intercepting The TARDIS?" The Doctor nodded and she switched her gaze back to the screen in front of her. Oh, we're in trouble!

"Hold on, here we go!" The Doctor called. He reached over and grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him. The TARDIS flew on, small explosions rocking it from the outside, pushing and pulling violently. Rose and The Doctor hit the floor, hands clasped tightly together, hearts beating madly and cries of shock ripping from their throats at the force of the explosions.

Never again will I doubt this man if he gets us through this...

***~***~***

"Harry?"

"What?"

"Are you ready to spill, yet?"

Harry sighed and looked up from behind the four inch tome he was trying to digest. Ron was watching him eagerly, clearly forgetting how worried his best friend had been about an hour before. Hermione sighed too and gave Ron a 'You're such an inconsiderate prick, Ronald Weasley' look.

"What?" he whispered back, in response to the painful glare he had received. "Aren't you even a bit curious?"

"No!...Well ...well yes, all right I am, but I'm also prepared to wait until he's ready to tell us himself, Ron. Have you no patience?"

"Hey, I'm a chess player! If anyone's got patience it's me. God knows I need plenty of it whenever I end up playing against you or Harry!"

"I'm still here, you know! Have you quite finished insulting your best friends, Ron?" came Harry's indignant response. He glared over the top of the book at Ron, whose ears were burning red again. Ron however, kept a straight face and stared unblinkingly back.

"Well it's true! Oh, but I must say, you're improving a lot, mate! Really coming along!" he added hastily as Harry prepared to send across daggers. Harry nodded and returned to his book.

"Gee, thanks!" he muttered, sarcastically.

"Anytime!" Ron smiled. His tone became more serious as he spotted the look of intense apprehension alight on Harry's face. "What's happened, Harry? What did McGonagall say to you?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. I don't even think I believe it happened, to be honest. Maybe if I don't mention it I'll find it was just a dream or something. Maybe it didn't happen. You wouldn't believe me!" he said when he spotted two pairs of raised eyebrows in front of him.

"Try me," they said in unison. Harry felt a smile threaten the corners of his mouth in spite of himself. They really were well suited for each other.

Ron and Hermione waited with bated breath, hoping he would elaborate. Harry studied them both briefly before slamming the book shut and dropping it onto the table with a dull thud. He stood up and began pacing up and down in front of them.

"McGonagall wants me to take over for Dumbledore as Head of The Order of The Phoenix," he said, quietly.

Ron and Hermione gaped at him, mouths open and eyes wide with incredulity. The silence within the library at that moment must have been a record. It had never seen such quietness in all of its years of service.

"A-are...are you s-serious?" Ron stammered, when the silence following Harry's explanation seemed to become too unbearable.

"Dead serious," Harry replied. He sank into his chair again, weak-kneed. As he had said those words, the immense truth of them had hit him with as much force as a stampeding bull. They wanted him to take over for Dumbledore! That was impossible!

"But you're seventeen!" Hermione screeched shrilly.

"You've only just joined the Order!" Ron added in awe, mouth hanging open.

"How can they expect you of all people to just jump in straight away, no questions, and govern the entire Defence Group? That's just insane!" Hermione shook her head violently and walked towards him, watching for his reaction. She looked terrified.

"Well that's what I said when she told me what she had in store for me. But her excuse was that no-one else had coped as well under pressure as I have in the past. Well, that's what she said anyway. What she really meant was that none of the adults have faced Voldemort enough times to have the required 'experience'. They wouldn't be able to last if they faced him for the first time, they'd end up breaking down and losing it."

Hermione sat in silence, thinking hard. Ron just stared at Harry. They were taking this harder than he had thought they would. It wasn't what you would call reassuring. Christ, if this is the reaction I get from my two best friends, what are the rest of them going to say tomorrow night?

"Well, I guess this makes you my leader, mate," Ron said finally. "Wow, think of the power you're going to have. Does the rest of The Order know about this proposal yet?"

"No, McGonagall said we're to attend a meeting tomorrow to...ah...'place the wheels in motion'." Harry was going to tell them about Animagi training, but thought better of it. They could be complications that stop them from training. It was better not to get their hopes up, Ron's especially.

Harry sighed heavily and picked up the huge book again, flicking uninterestedly through the pages until he reached his break-off page. No sooner had he read the first three lines, he slammed it shut again.

"Oh, I can't do this now! My head's spinning. I think I'm going to turn in early tonight. It's not like we're in a hurry anymore, we can't leave Hogwarts. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Ron nodded and Hermione murmured a distracted goodnight. She seemed to be completely lost to the world, away in her own private haven. Harry wished dearly for his own haven, but every time he had come close to finding one, it had been invaded horrifically. He'd given up now. Everywhere he went was like Hell for him. Could he be sure that he hadn't died on one of the countless attempts at his life?

If this is life for me, what must it be like in The Underworld? I don't think I really want to find out.

Harry had reached the Room of Requirement and was about to walk through the open door before he changed his mind. He wouldn't be able to sleep now even if he tried. There was just too much going on inside his head. Instead, he made his way back downstairs, heading for the Entrance Hall, thinking a walk and a little fresh air would help him to gather his thoughts.

Moving quietly to avoid being noticed, he opened one of the huge doors just enough to let him squeeze through. He felt a strange pull around him as he stepped over the threshold, giving him the peculiar feeling of his mind being drawn from his body.

"It's me," he murmured to no-one in particular. After a couple of seconds it vanished; the wards parted and he was aloud to leave.

The cold evening air whipped delightfully at his face. He sighed heavily and began to make his way down towards the lake, trying to calm his nerves. Everything was happening at once. Dumbledore's death, Snape's betrayal, the Wedding, the argument, Godric's Hollow, and returning to Hogwarts. It was as though his entire life was on fast-forward, flying past him before he'd even had a chance to settle into his surroundings and make sense of them.

Harry dropped down onto the embankment and leant against a towering beech tree, slightly inshore. The Giant Squid was resting on the edge of the lake, half in water, half out, as tiny bubbles disturbed the stillness when it drew breath.

'But you're seventeen!'

'You've only just joined the Order!'

'How can they expect you to jump in straight away and govern the entire Defence Group?'

'Well, I guess this makes you my leader, mate.'

'But you're seventeen!'

"They're right. How can I do this? I mean, take over for Dumbledore? No-one could ever replace him! And then there's the fact that in a few days I won't be in life any more. What am I supposed to do then?

D'you hear that?" he called out suddenly. He looked up at the stars, taking in each one, and spoke to the heavens as though Voldemort would be sitting up there, listening. "You've ruined my life, you know. Everything's gone wrong because of you! I'm supposed to have a family, an education, a life. But instead I'm stuck with hunting you down! Connected to you in ways I can't even understand. Reduced to travelling to The Underworld just to figure out how to get rid of your sorry arse! Are you happy? Was immortality worth it? Stuck in your hideout surrounded by freaks, cowards and spies, handing out death sentences to anyone you despise!

And I swear to God, if I have to go down, you're coming down with me! You've destroyed my life, and I'm going to end yours, you sonuvabitch! It's over for you, Riddle! It's over!"

There was a sharp intake of breath, and Harry looked behind him, heart thumping. He sat motionless, straining his ears for any tiny sound. A stifled sob glided over to him, coming from a small bush beside the lake, inches from where he was sitting. Harry jumped to his feet, pulling out his wand, and aimed it at the bush.

"Who's there?" he called nervously. "Show yourself! I mean it!"

There was a crunch and the rustle of leaves, and a small figure emerged from behind the bush, stumbling clumsily towards him. She stopped in front of him, eyes wide and tear-filled. Harry's mouth went dry. He lowered his wand and watched her silently, trying to remember how to talk.

They stood in silence for what seemed like hours, the wind whirling around them, their cloaks billowing gently. Harry finally broke eye contact and sat down against the tree again, gazing out over the lake.

"Hello, Ginny," he muttered.

***~***~***

Rose groaned and sat up slowly. She rubbed her head and stumbled to her feet, teetering dangerously. Overcoming the urge to throw up on the spot, she gazed blearily around the room and spotted The Doctor lying unconscious feet from her. She had apparently landed on top of him when they had fallen. Funny, she wouldn't have minded if the circumstances had been a little different. The dull, foggy feeling in her brain disappeared as she looked at him.

"Oh no, Doctor!" she cried. Forgetting about her own sickness, she hurried over to him and dropped to her knees at his side. She grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

"Doctor, wake up!" she whispered urgently. "Doctor!"

The Doctor remained motionless.

"No," Rose muttered distractedly. She leant over him quickly and checked for his heartbeats. Holding her breath, she counted for both hearts, waiting in hope for him to show some sign of life. She sighed in relief when she heard them.

"Both working...Doctor, can you hear me?" Nothing.

She sat back on her heels, thinking desperately. What now? Water!

She scrambled to her feet and dashed towards the kitchen, pelting through hundreds of doors, passing rooms she had never been in, rooms she was intensely curious about, and even rooms she was sure hadn't been there before.

Skidding to a halt in the large kitchen, she yanked a glass from the draining board and stuffed it under the tap, filling it to the brim with ice-cold water. Forgetting to turn off the tap in her haste, she turned on the spot and ran as fast as she could back to the Control Room.

She wasn't sure what to do with it when she was sat beside him once more. Did he take to freezing water? He wouldn't melt or something if she just poured it over him? He wasn't human, after all.

Instead, she held the glass up to his lips and tried to encourage him to drink.

"Oh, come on, Doctor, don't you do this to me!" she cried frantically.

His eye-lids flickered, and a small gasp left his lips. Rose could have cried with relief.

"Doctor?" she whispered, "Doctor, wake up!" She shook his shoulders gently and received a low groan as a response. He tilted his head slightly and slowly opened his eyes.

"Oh, what happened?" he mumbled. His voice sounded hoarse, and it upset her ears just to listen to it. He blinked, gazing up at her as if he couldn't see her properly.

"Oh, you know. Near death experience, unconscious companions, crash landings, the usual," Rose replied, smiling. She winced slightly as her head-ache from earlier returned full strength, but she brushed it away for now. The Doctor tried to sit up but she pushed him back down again. "Wait," she said.

"What?"

"Well I've got to make sure you're ok," she replied with a motherly air. She could see him about to protest and he tried to raise himself from the floor again. She placed a hand on his shoulder and held him down. "Just relax a minute."

He sighed and gave in. "I can never win against you, can I?" he said, quietly. He was smiling, though.

"No, you can't, now relax!"

Rose began to look over every part of his body, moving her hands over his chest, trying to remember everything her mother had told her about elementary health when she was a child. She smiled slightly at what Jackie would have said if she could have seen her daughter now. The Doctor gasped as she worked her way ever further down his body, past his stomach.

"Have you quite finished, Nurse Tyler?" he asked. Rose smiled and shook her head.

"No, not qui..." but he gasped again, for quite a different reason. "That hurts?"

"Congratulations on stating the obvious," he groaned. All teasing forgotten, she began to press gently onto his side, feeling over each section. She slipped one of her hands underneath his shirt and pulled it up so she could see his stomach. He moaned as her hands pushed down on his abdomen and reached over to knock her out of the way. Before he could reach her, though, he cried out in pain and fell back onto the floor.

"Do you have ribs?" she asked, sitting up again and watching him worriedly.

"Of course I do, and a lot more than you have, too," he hissed, gritting his teeth against the throbbing pain.

"Well, you've broken one. Oh no, I'm so sorry!" she said, raising her hands to her face and covering her mouth in shock.

"What? It isn't that bad, honestly. I'm..." but he was interrupted.

"Could that be from when I fell on you earlier? Oh, Doctor, I'm really sorry!" she gasped, tears welling in her eyes again.

"Rose, please, stop it right now," he called firmly. "It's nothing, and I've got plenty more. It'll just be a little sore for a few days, that's all." She didn't look convinced. "Look, will you just help me up?"

Rose lowered her hands and grasped one of his, pulling The Doctor to his feet. He growled inwardly but didn't say anything. He didn't need to. He was standing awkwardly and his face was scrunched up against the pain.

"Look, maybe you should go see..."

"Rose, I am a doctor and there's nothing to be done about it!" he snapped. "It'll heal itself in a couple of days. And then there's the fact that any medical work performed on me would alter the entire future of modern science in ways I don't even want to think about! Oh, and on top of that," he paused; looking faintly puzzled, "we have no idea where we are, and wherever 'here' is may not have 'doctors'."

Rose gasped and stared behind her at the TARDIS door. Something extremely powerful was standing on the other side of that if they had managed to draw her and The Doctor to wherever they were now. She turned back to him and considered his face.

"What do we do?" she asked quietly. The Doctor winced again but straightened up quickly.

"We go and meet the neighbours," he replied. The light of adventure was burning bright within his auburn eyes. His face was determined but unreadable in any other way. He was giving off an aura of mystery and wonder. And power. For some reason, Rose didn't want to take her eyes from his face. He was such a strange person, so alien and yet so normal. What was it that he was doing to her? She shook herself mentally and blinked, looking away.

"Are you sure you can?" she asked briskly.

"Positive. There's nothing I can do about this and moping around here won't help. Anyway, it's already started healing. Time Lords don't worry about tiny injuries as much as you lot do. It's kind of strange actually, the way you all run around like headless chickens if you so much as cut yourself. Quite pathetic, you know."

"But that isn't a tiny injury, that's a broken bone! What if there's some flesh-eating alien thing out there? You can't exactly run, can you?" she asked sceptically. "Oh and don't even think about asking me to carry you, I don't do piggy-backs!"

The Doctor smiled and walked over to her. "See," he said as he stopped in front of Rose and grabbed her hand. "I can walk, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I hate people fussing over nothing."

"Yeah, but..."

"Rose, stop it and lighten up a bit!" He glared at her for a few seconds before dropping her hand and walking over to the door. He stopped, grimacing slightly, and placed a hand on his waist. He looked back at Rose who was watching him with great apprehension, and smiled cheekily. "Are you coming?"