Chapter Text
“Who is your emergency contact?” A police woman droned, clearly wishing she were anywhere but the dreary station on Christmas Eve. “For bail purposes.”
The same person sprung to Jackie and the Doctor's minds, making both wince in a rare moment of synchronicity. “Errm—” Jackie began, before the Doctor slapped a hand across her mouth.
“Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, UNIT.” He ground out, just as Jackie licked his hand making him release her with a scowl. “Whaddidya go and do that for?”
Jackie stared mutinously at him. “She’s going ta find out eventually.”
“Well, ‘m always running from the inevitable me.” The Doctor replied in a measured tone that hid his anxiety surrounding the matter. Jackie only snorted.
“Too right mate. If she kicks you out, you won’t be sleepin’ on my couch.”
The Doctor was not looking forwards to explaining their predicament to Rose. Not one little bit.
Although, if you looked at it a certain way, the whole thing was kind of Rose's fault, not that he’d ever say it to her face.
After dropping Jack back to his timezone for a week, Rose had politely requested that the Doctor take her home to Jackies for Christmas. He’d acquiesced, realising that if he intended to continue his relationship with Rose (which he did), he and Jackie would at some point need to get along at least a little bit.
And there was the teensy tiny matter of telling her that they were dating. His cheek ached at the very thought, and for once he wished Jack were around to soften the blow. He had a way with Jackie, most likely because he was a shameless flirt, and she basked in every drop of attention schmoozed her way.
Thankfully Rose had elected to tell Jackie while the Doctor was out, and his hopefully future mother in law had taken it surprisingly well, eliminating slaps from the option.
This new development did not mean that they got on well, far from it, they were their usual snippy selves regardless of Roses huffs, and it would all come to a head just two days after landing in London.
On that fateful afternoon the day the Doctor and Jackie ended up in a police holding cell, Rose came down with a fever. Although she tried her damndest to assure both her mother and the Doctor of her wellbeing, between the two of them she was swiftly sent to bed early to rest and recover.
And thus began the argument on how to best take care of one sick Rose Tyler.
“‘M her mother for cryin’ out loud,” Jackie snarled in a low tone, hoping that Rose wouldn’t hear their bickering. “I know what's best for her! All she needs is a good sleep and a couple a panadol ta ease her fever.”
The Doctor crossed his arms, leaning back against the kitchen counter with a fake, mocking smile on his face. “Right, right, forgot you were the resident expert on human biology.”
At that, Jackie snorted. “Don’t you go tellin’ me about Rose's biology, I don’t wanna hear anything about wha’ you two get up to!”
If he’d been human, the Doctor would have reddened at the accusation, but being a Time Lord, he simply rerouted the blood flow and gave her his patented glare. “All I’m saying is the TARDIS has access to the very best medicinal care—”
“An all I’m sayin’,” Jackie cut him off, her nose stuck in the air. “Is that she’s been just fine wi’ twenty first century human medicine! And guess what mate, she hasn’t died under my care yet.”
“You got lucky.” The Doctor mumbled under his breath, but luckily for his face, just as Jackie was gearing up a slap Rose called out to them pitifully from her bedroom.
What exactly she’d yelled was debatable as it was greatly muffled by her pillows, but both the Doctor and Jackie assumed she was calling for them and ended up at her side.
Rose groaned at the sudden light pouring through her doorway and slung an arm across her eyes. “Ugh, ‘s bloody bright. Mum, I know you do your grocery shoppin’ on Sundays, and ‘s Sunday isn’t it?”
Jackie nodded. “Yeah, but I didn’t ‘ave time with all the fuss this mornin’ so I was planning on going tonight. Why?”
“Could ya please get me some chamomile tea while you’re there?” Rose asked, using her patented pleading voice.
Jackie took the opportunity to flash a victorious grin at the Doctor as she stroked Rose's sweat slicked hair back. “Course sweetheart. Anything else?”
“Mmm. Doctor, I want you ta go with her.”
The Doctor and Jackie both objected vocally.
“‘M not going shopping with your mum Rose—” The Doctor spluttered, affronted at the mere suggestion.
“I’m perfectly capable of shoppin on my own!” Jackie hissed venomously at him, using her spare hand to make a rude gesture. “Don’t need himself breathin’ down me back!”
Rose wearily held up a hand to silence them both. “Please, Mum. Can’t have him stuck here tinkering away, might blow up the flat if ‘e’s left alone, an’ I’d feel better you goin’ out tonight if he was by your side. ‘S Christmas Eve an’ more often than not people aren’t in their right minds.”
Jackie looked as if she were about to start objecting again, but Rose cut in quickly. “Please mum? He’ll pay, won’t you, Doctor?”
The Doctor really, really, wanted to refuse, not wanting to spend one on one time with Jackie Tyler, but when Rose turned her red rimmed eyes on him he was helpless to argue. He’d do practically anything for her.
Everyone in the known universe knew that.
“Alright love.” He murmured, barely loud enough for Rose to hear, dropping a kiss to her forehead. “As long as you promise to rest.”
Rose made a noncommittal sound and only snuggled deeper into her duvet.
“Right, shoes on Doctor.” Jackie ordered, practically chasing the Doctor from Rose's room. “Places ta be, lets move!”
The two most important people in Rose's life hurried out of the Estate and down the street towards Tescos, intent on completing their mission. The quicker it was accomplished, the quicker they could be rid of one another's presence, and both were equally pleased with the prospect. Hopefully everything would go smoothly, and they would be back at the house before nightfall.
Unfortunately for them, the universe was not feeling particularly kind, and decided to make their lives hell.
Who could have guessed?
To Jackies horror, when the duo arrived at the local Tescos they discovered that not only was this store closed for Christmas Eve, but every single one in the country. Jackie nearly had a fit then and there outside the building.
The Doctor was less distressed, and instead of panicking he proposed another idea. “Couldn’t we just take the TARDIS? Back in a mo, all our shopping in hand—”
“Back in a mo or a month?” Jackie snapped, a derisive look on her face. “I ‘aven't forgotten what you did to my Rose, so you can take that suggestion and shove it right up your—”
“Alright, alright.” The Doctor growled back, crossing his leather clad arms across his chest. “What’s your undoubtedly brilliant suggestion ta fix this then?”
Jackie let out a puff of air, visible in the cool night. “Right. There's only one solution I can think of, but I warn you ‘s not for the faint of heart.”
The Doctor snorted. “I’ve faced cybermen with nothing more than my sonic and a roll of toilet paper Jackie, an’ come out on top to boot.”
Jackie raised an eyebrow. “Ever bin ta Costco on Christmas Eve before Doctor?”
For some inexplicable reason, a pit formed in the Doctors stomach at her words.
Honestly, how terrifying could one measly human store be?