Chapter 3: TARDIS, We Have A Problem

I am SO sorry this took so long, but this story didn't have a plot when I started it and sadly it still doesn't. So updates will probably continue to be woefully random. I'm not going to just abandon this fic though, so it will eventually get finished. Enjoy!

The Doctor couldn't help but pace as he waited for the test results to come back, even though he knew what they would tell him.

Jack was sitting on the edge of the table where Rose lay, alternating between looking at her, looking at his hands folded in his lap, and running a hand through his hair that was already standing on end.

The Doctor jumped when the machine bleeped a message of completion and dashed over to scan the readout. His glasses were perched on his nose and he was wearing what Rose secretly referred to as his "I can kill you with my brain" expression.

Jack started when the Doctor's fist suddenly smashed through the screen, sending fragments across the Med. Room floor and also shattering the heavy silence.

The Doctor almost sank back onto the bench beside Rose as if he just couldn't stand anymore and put his head in his hands, looking so defeated it scared Jack a little. Just then Rose stirred.

Jack walked over to her and grasped her hand in his, noticing it was much colder then it used to be, more like the Doctor's temperature. Her eyes snapped open staring up into Jacks suddenly.

"Jack what the hell happened? I'm dead! I should be dead! This isn't me!"

Her voice was bordering on hysterical and she'd only been awake for a few seconds.

"Why wouldn't it be you? You're still yelling at me aren't you? And you're still gorgeous. That's the same. What are you worrying about?"

Jack smiled at her, hoping he was still a good enough con-man she wouldn't see he was terrified.

Rose couldn't help but smile back a little. The comment was so off the wall and exactly like Jack.

"No crying, OK? We know how this is. It's going to be OK. You too," he finished turning to look at the Doctor who still had his head in his hands, his face hidden.

He finally turned to look at them with pain soaked eyes. "All those hundreds of years and I never could figure why it hurt them so much. But now it does hurt and I know how much and why but it's so stupid when you're right in front of me."

"Doctor it is me," Rose finally said.

"Yeah. In your head. But listen to yourself Rose. Listen inside. What do you hear?" The Doctor was staring right into Rose's eyes and yet again Jack wondered if there was something about Time Lord eyes. They froze you like a cobra's stare.

Her brows furrowed as she thought. "Heartbeats."

"And that's just it isn't it? Heartbeats. Plural. Humans don't plural hearts. Only Time Lords."