Title: Desperate Measures
Summary: As the 11th Doctor struggles to find a way to wake up his former self, Rose struggles to come to terms with the Doctor's secrets, and the fact that she's starting to have trouble distinguishing his thoughts and memories from her own. Book 3 of 8.
Rating: R
Warnings: Adult situations, mild violence (some sexualized), tasteful sex.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dr. Who. Additionally, several of the stories contained in this book have been alluded to in canon but not explicitly depicted. Some of these ideas, as referenced, are not my own although their depiction is. It is not my intention to plagiarize a story that's already been told, but to bring out the issues I'm specifically focusing on even if that was not the original writer's focus.
A/N: COWRITTEN WITH THAGRRRL79 This is intended to be the third book in an eight book series exploring the secrets and memories of the Doctor. Starting here would be rather like starting Lord of the Rings in the second installment - you can do it, but you will be a bit confused to start. You may want to read State of Confusion first.
A word about canon: Elements strewn throughout "strict canon" (defined by me as Classic and New TV series AND mainline Big Finish audio dramas) and "sub-canon" (books, comics, etc) are utilized, though sub-canon will not be strictly adhered to. The author assumes reader knowledge of the 2005 reboot, Series 1-6 (not 7, because I started writing before series 7 and frankly, I don't want to deal with the Skaro/Dalek mess). All references to Classic canon and Big Finish (and there will be many) will be self-explanatory.

PROLOGUE

Previously...

"Doctor!"

It only took Rose a few seconds to realize he was unconscious.

"Oh, Doctor, please wake up. Come on..."

But whatever he'd felt, whatever it was that had sent him racing back towards the safety of the Tardis, it had taken its toll. She would have to drag him the rest of the way to safety.

*X*X*X*

"It's called a Quiescenary," River explained quickly, eyes fixed on the unconscious figure of the Tenth Doctor. "It's a very primitive consciousness of pure psyonic energy that latches onto the oldest, most powerful thing in its peripheral area and drains it dry."

Rose stared at her for a moment. She still didn't entirely know what to think about this woman who'd shown up at the door of the Tardis as if on cue. She still wasn't entirely sure she could trust her. But at the moment, she didn't have much of a choice. Clearly, the Doctor needed help, and this stranger seemed to know how to help him.

"Alright so what do we do?"

River turned her attention to Rose. "We're going to have to go inside, drain its current food source and see if we can force it out of the Doctor and into the Tardis Matrix."

*X*X*X*

"So you decided to join me after all," River observed as the Tardis doors opened to allow the Eleventh Doctor inside. "I was beginning to wonder."

"Yeah..." He watched as she checked the vital signs of his former self, unconscious on the control room floor. "Although, to be perfectly honest, I really shouldn't be here."

"Any change in you is a change in history, in the way this all works out. And the last thing I want is to unravel your history. But that thing is going to kill you if someone doesn't stop it. And, more importantly, you were also the one who told me that you werethe one who stopped it."

*X*X*X*

The endless hallway, blue-grey and glowing, had a million doors on either side. Inside of the Doctor's mind, Rose was unsure of just how she was supposed to access the memories locked safely behind each of the doors. She was equally unsure of what to make of the boy with the brown, bowl-cut hair who was wandering this corridor as if he belonged here.

"Who are you?" she asked warily.

The boy smiled. "I'm called the Master."

*X*X*X*

"I'm not an independent entity from the Doctor. I'm an automated system he created to keep order in this section of his brain." The man - older now than the boy she'd first met, but still the Master - cast her a sideways glance and smiled at her look of confusion before continuing in a more reassuring tone. "Don't let the appearance of autonomy fool you. I'm a sentient being only in his mind."

"So you only feel what he feels? Think what he thinks?"

The Master hesitated. "I think and feel as he imagines I should think and feel. As he remembers I would, when he knew me."

*X*X*X*

"Please." Rose turned in circles, careful not to put her back to the threatening man, keeping as much distance between them as she could. "Just leave me alone."

"Did he tell you what you would find in here? Your precious Doctor..." The Master was taunting her, his voice cutting. "Did he ever tell you about his darkness and his secrets? The centuries of lies - pretending everything he did was safe and good and right?"

*X*X*X*

"You shouldn't even be in the same time space as him!" River stepped between her Doctor and the one lying unconscious on the floor beside Rose. "What makes you think he'd even let you in!"

"If anyone can break down his defenses, I should think it would be me," the Eleventh Doctor answered.

"But you can't! It could kill him - you - both!"

"The only risk is if I encounter his consciousness."

"And can you guarantee that you won't?"

"No."

"Then don't do this," she said firmly. "Send me."

Anger and frustration mounting, the Doctor took a step forward, crouching in on River's personal space. "And what makes you think you'd be any better equipped than she is to handle the Master?"

*X*X*X*

"You're not the Master, not really. You're just a filing program. Specific memories of specific times."

The Master sneered at the Eleventh Doctor, an intruder in the mind of his former incarnation. "You think I don't realize that?"

The Master straightened his posture as the Doctor leaned in closer, his voice so low, it was meant only for him. "I know the real Master," he whispered. "I know everything he's been and everything he will be. I know how he dies. I know his very last words."

"Oh really? And do you know hers?"

The scream from behind him made the Doctor spin on his heel, just in time to see the ground roll under Rose's feet, throwing her backwards into one of the doors. It opened behind her, then slammed shut again, trapping her inside as she still screamed and pounded.

"Doctor! Let me out! Doctor!"