Out There

By Sonic Jules

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Disclaimer: Doctor Who and the characters of said show do not belong to me, no matter how hard I've wished for it. (Really, I've been wishing for an awful long time. Years, even. Shouldn't someone be listening by now?) No infringement meant to the owners and associates, nor BBC. :o)

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Chapter One:

Hold On

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"Hold On!"

The Doctor was yelling those two words over and over as the TARDIS bounced through the Vortex. The spatial equilibrium stabilizer had seized, and the ship was tumbling, unable to stop.

The ship had flaired with fire, lighting up the control room with golden blazes shooting from her center column, and then things had gone further downhill from there.

The time traveling vessel always twirled, spinning around like a carousel throughout all of space - that's what it did. It was her unique method of flying. But the mechanics of the TARDIS' inner integrity made sure her occupants never felt the gyrations.

Now that the ship could no longer contain her internal fluctuation controls, it was like riding on a never-ending, looping roller coaster, without the benefit of being strapped in.

"Rose, talk to me!" the Time Lord yelled as he grasped the center column tightly with one hand, almost swinging from the grip he securely held while using his other hand to aim his sonic screwdriver straight at the controls.

"Rose!"

He couldn't look for her, not when he was so close to stopping this problem, or at least slowing it. He had to assume that she was all right, merely holding on literally for dear life, perhaps too shocked from the sudden turn of events to speak. That wasn't like Rose, but still, he hoped.

A wire sizzled then popped, sending a small electric shock to the Doctor's hand which caused him to yelp, almost releasing the sonic tool. He tightened his grip and with a growl, increased the setting and zapped the wiry nest again.

A loud noise, similar to jet engines winding down, began within the vessel as the uncontrolled spinning began to slow. It was an eerie sound - one that the Time Lord had never heard before upon his ship. It unsettled him deeply - the anguish he heard within it - knowing the TARDIS was suffering some discomfort.

When he was finally able to stand, he began looking around for his silent companion. Terrible scenarios flooded his mind as he continued to call out to her. The ship would eventually be all right, but a frail human ...

"Rose!"

He spotted her down near the ramp, lying across the floor with her arms loosely wrapped around one of the coral pillars.

"Rose?"

He ran to her side, only to get thrown into the doors as the TARDIS pitched sideways. Quickly regaining his balance, the Doctor was beside his friend instantly.

"Rose," he spoke softly as he brushed the hair from her face, sensing she was unconscious. Sonic screwdriver still in hand, the Doctor began scanning her body, looking for the many broken bones he was sure she'd have if she'd been unconscious for long. In his mind, he pictured her small frame being bounced around during the turmoil like a rag doll.

He was very surprised to find no fractures as he scanned her body, especially with the bruises that were already forming. Even more surprising to him was when his traveling companion began to stir.

"Doctor?"

"It's all right Rose, I'm right here. You're -" He fell to her side as the ship lurched to the left, but quickly recovered. When he sat up to face her again, she was blinking rapidly as if trying to focus. "You're going to be just fine. Nothing that a quick trip to the Infirmary won't fix right up. All right?"

Rose sat up with his help, then stared at him for a moment before turning her head. "Doctor!" she yelled toward the corridor, causing the Time Lord to squint at her loud tone. He gently grabbed her chin and turned her head to face him as he stared at her for a moment, peering closely in her eyes. Finally he released her.

"You've got a concussion, and I can't rule out any internal injuries at this point. I need to take you to the Infirmary." He watched as Rose's eyes seemed to narrow when meeting his. "Can you understand what I'm saying?"

His companion nodded once in acknowledgement, but said nothing as she continued to watch at him.

"Good. I've got the stabilizer somewhat fixed, but it still needs a little bit of modifying before it'll be tip-top, obviously. In fact - now that I think about it - perhaps you should stay put rather than me taking you to the Infirmary. I don't want to risk any more injury to you in case the TARDIS goes all willy-nilly in the middle of our trip. Will you be all right here?"

Again, Rose simply nodded.

"Very well." He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "I'll be back before you know it," he told her as he stood. He turned and began walking toward the corridor, tipping into the wall once as the TARDIS canted again. Mumbling, the Doctor continued his forward journey.

OoO

The walk to and from the Infirmary had been less than stable, but the Time Lord managed to stay upright the entire way. The ship was teetering less often as the moments went by, no doubt trying to fix the problem herself. He would tend to her though, as he always did, just as he would take care of Rose. He'd lavish both his girls with the attention they needed until each felt well again.

Entering the console room, the Doctor - carrying an array of different tools and bandages - made his way around the time rotor and stopped abruptly.

"Rose?"

His eyes scanned the entire console room, including looking down beneath the grating. With a deep sigh, he dropped the items he'd brought in on the Captain's chair none too gently.

"Every time - each and every single time I tell them to stay put - they just go wandering off!" the Doctor muttered to himself. He looked around the room once more.

"Rose?"

OoO

To be continued...

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