A/N. Writing Rose as a Time Lady is always a wonderful thing. The Sarah Jane Adventures references are tiny and temporary – you needn't have seen the show to understand it, I am sure.

Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC.

Lost in Forever

Chapter One

The Ones Who Understand

It has been a busy day on Vindbwol 3. Many people of different races have been rushing to and fro madly, like the Doctor. Some, like Donna Noble, were stopping at every of the planet's countless attractions.

The Doctor was no longer sure bringing the ginger with him was such a good idea. "Remember, you have the tracking device on your wrist. Try not to get lost – I have no time for running after you every time you get distracted by something."

"Me? No way. Not when you've given me this," Donna waved the small card in front of him. "Endless credits, remember?"

"That's why I've given it to you. Go, enjoy your day!" He waved her off, determined to find that one tiny shop he knew had what he needed.

The companion knew there was something behind his proclaimed need to find some very rare parts for his beloved TARDIS… But nobody could ever truly understand the alien, anyway. Besides, some otherworldly trends were just marvellous… and Donna had every intention to explore those as much as she could.

The Doctor watched her enter some brightly coloured building with sparkly advertisements – let the woman have her fun – and continued running down the lively alien boulevard. The tiny shop of alien gismos he had visited several times during his existence had to be somewhere there!

With so many people of different builds and races - hair, fur, short, tall, skin of different colours – possibly not only from different planets but from different galaxies - hurrying through the crowded alley he was not surprised one of them bumped straight into him. A female, he realised without looking.

Before his mind could form another coherent thought, the Doctor felt her cool lips brush his. Please,her mind begged. Please…

Of course, Rose Tyler knew she had to keep her identity secret, even in this crowded place filled with mostly ignorant beings. Even from him. And she really, really should not have rushed to him straight after having seen him. Still him. How long was it for the Doctor? Funny. Her mind kept saying it was barely a few years for the Time Lord… But his touch was what Rose needed to help her survive… at least for another hundred years. Her foolishness was not going to pay off well, she realised. But her perception filter had to be working still. Or else…

The Doctor heightened his mental barriers at once. A telepathic race. This was going to be interesting. Please what? He countered, trying to move away. Everything felt wrong about her. Only the black wig was standing out as something openly fake. As if she were an actress in a poorly financed and even more poorly-written play.

She might have been one of the Slitheen, for all he knew.

Please, understand. Her arms were around him… as if she knew something he didn't. At least the female was not trying to kiss him any more. Or whatever sort of communication this was.

She was blocking her thoughts from him. It was impossible to catch one glimpse from the woman's mind but the ones she chose to share with him. The Doctor could not hold his curiosity any longer.

What are you? He tried to move away from her, but it was impossible, as if some invisible force were holding him from doing it. There have been some species capable of that, surely… but the Time Lord chose to let it pass for the time being.

I am not a 'what', Doctor.

She knew who he was… How?

Who are you? Do I know you? Can I help you? "Could you say something? Using your vocal chords, that is?" The Doctor knew he had nothing to lose by giving her this simple request.

The reaction was immediate. She stiffened, yet spoke.

"Call Sarah Jane."

This was a change. Her voice-

What? How do you know her?

"She knows."

No, this had to be nothing but an illusion. After all, there were many people with similar voices. The Doctor shook the thought off. It was better he kept to mental communication if he wished to retain his reason.

Assuming Sarah Jane knows you... why should I contact her? The companions were supposed to be calling him, not the other way around!The girl – or whatever she really was – had to be an alien. Funny how he himself was called one.

You call her, then. Do you even have her number? Or however you contact her?

Vindbwol 3 was one of the safest places in this galaxy to hide in, Rose knew. Too many species to find her among them easily. Fine, but I'm not letting go of you. I'm sorry. I can't. The Doctor shrugged at her. These few words she'd said out loud had set his mind spinning.

Clearly, she had a mobile phone. Tiny, but nothing unheard of. The Doctor chastised himself inwardly for his foolishness… which has prevented him from hearing some essential information.

Sarah Jane picked up after the third signal, her voice careful and barely above a whisper. "Rose? Did it work out? Is the Doctor with you?"

"He is, but-" distress was audible in her words. The other woman understood what the trouble was at once.

"Doesn't he recognise you somehow? Does he sense anything?"

"No…"

"Give him to me." This had to be fixed, one way or another.

The Doctor spoke joyfully. "Sarah Jane! So nice to hear your voice again! Feel like telling me who your friend is?"

"She needs you."

"So? Who is she, Sarah Jane?"

Explanations had to wait, as the composed expression on the woman's face turned into one of terror.

Everything got very dark and cold out of a sudden. The crowd of people were suddenly all rushing in the closest building with a roof, finding better things to do than wander outside.

"They're here," Rose's eyes widened. There was no time left for games. "Kiss me. Quick. You will be able to see through the perception filter then."

"Sarah?"

"Just do it, now. Two Time Lords in one place with a dangerous enemy is a very bad combination!"

So this was it! "Do I know you?"

The reply came out quiet. "Yes, you do." You know me very well. Rose ended the call and clung to the Doctor again. He trusted Sarah Jane with his life and knew she could never fool him on intention. He smiled. "Here we are, then." This time, he began the kiss. It barely had time to escalate into something more intense… but the Doctor could see it all. Rose Tyler was standing in front of him, tears in her eyes. Rose! It's you! And you are-

"Not now, Doctor. Run! They are after us! Time Lords must be exterminated, they say. Destroyed. Removed. Killed."

"Deleted," he suggested. "Can't allow that, can we?"

The darkness was now pitch black. Too bad the ones aiming to catch the Oncoming Storm and his apparent accomplice – one the men were ordered to shoot on sight - forgot darkness was never a problem for the Bad Wolf girl. The fact she looked nothing like the girl they remembered was complicating things greatly for the attackers.

Grabbing the blonde – for now he could see behind her disguise - was sensible enough to remember his other companion was still there somewhere. "Donna! We must get Donna!"

The said redhead seemed to have heard his shouting and stepped out of the shop, casting a sole sad glance at the bags of alien goods she was about to purchase. "I'm here. I guess we need to leave? Who's your friend?"

"No time!"

"I'm Rose."

"The Rose? His Rose?" Donna looked Rose over, then gave her a small smile. So young and so charming. When was she expecting anything else from him?

Rose grabbed Donna by the hand, aware the Doctor was holding hers... the familiar warm feeling of unconditional trust between them was still there. "Later!"

"What are we running from, exactly?" Donna asked.

"Two Time Lords in the same place. The danger doubled."

Donna blinked. "Is there another one? Thought you'd said-"

The Doctor and Rose exchanged a glance. "Run!"

They were not the only ones running from the fear-filled streets… which has reminded Rose how lucky she was the Doctor has chosen this particular planet for picking up the needed parts… of which he's got none. How lucky she was Sarah Jane Smith was there to help her. Sarah Jane! She needed to know they were safe. The amount of time spent in jumping among time streams and different timelines looking for the correct ones was an endless and devastating thing… but Rose has never dared to complain. Not even when Pete and her mum have died. Not even when Tony has become but an old man with memory lapses.

Rose sighed heavily. They were gone. All of them.

Donna eyed the couple worriedly. "You two need a cuppa. Or a lengthy chat. Or both. Or a hug. Or a kiss. Or-"

She met the disapproving looks on their faces and excused herself. Dealing with couples was never her expertise.

My Rose.

Yeah? Don't you think it's a little too late for that? Seventy bloody years, Doctor!

He blanched. "Why haven't you tried to contact me?"

'You can't', remember?

"Stop it!"

I believed in you. For years, I did! Then… all of a sudden, it began. The pain. I needed help, and needed it soon…

Looking only half-conscious, she placed his palms on her temples, transporting the Doctor's mind to the conversation between the two companions… the first one since that meeting.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Rose. Rose Tyler. You have given me your number and I thought-"

"I remember you! Has the Doctor sent you away, you poor thing?" Sarah Jane sounded genuinely concerned, which has only saddened Rose more.

"Oh- that's happened such a long time ago- I just can't- please, could we meet? I need to talk to someone who knows… who understands-" she bit back a sob.

"Don't cry, Rose! You are a friend of the Doctor's, so you're my friend as well. Of course we can. Where and when?"

When Rose Tyler stepped into Sarah Jane's house that particular day, it was already dark outside.

"Rose, darling!" The girl's eyes were red-rimmed.

"Tell me what the trouble is. I'm certain it can all be worked out with a nice cuppa!"

"It can't. Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing! And I just don't know what to do."

"Is the problem big enough for me to consult my all-knowing alien computer?" Sarah Jane asked seriously. Rose did not seem like one to shed tears without a reason.

The girl's lips curled up – only slightly. "Would he be able to track him down for me?" Rose sounded hopeful.

The woman did not ask who Rose was having in mind.

"The Doctor? I am sure of it."

Rose removed her hands from his temples, feeling and looking incredibly tired.

"So. We've tracked you down... You should have seen her face the moment her genius computer apologised for not being used to working with Time Lords… Time Ladies, the computer corrected himself then and Sarah- Sarah Jane, she- It would be all right, she said-"

Rose was out of words, her throat dry.

"Shush. It's okay."

"What is okay? Just so you know, Doctor - I have never expected this. Never even dared to think some particular error was going to change me this much!"

"Errors tend to do that," he smirked at her. "Do you by any chance know what might have caused it?"

"Yes. Yes, I do." She mused, clearly uncomfortable. Why did the Doctor have to be so-"

"What was it?"

Rose's eyes darkened and he knew the answer at once.

"You. It was you, Doctor."

The Time Lord gulped, so used to the feeling of guilt he did not even question it.

A/N. Reviews do wonders. Thank you!