And The Greatest Of These is Love

Part One

by

Sabrina Lonewalker

The TARDIS had been dropped into the core of the Crucible to be torn apart. The Doctor was in anguish, he could feel what was happening to his beloved ship. To make matters worse, Donna was trapped inside and he could do nothing to save her. That was what was hurting the worst, that he couldn't save her.

Then, he felt Rose slip her hand into his and he tightened his grip. At least he still had her, for now. He had no idea as to what Davros wanted from them. Jack was also in anguish beside them, he knew and liked Donna and now, he too was helpless. Then came the words the Doctor had dreaded. In that cold, souless metallic voice the Supreme Dalek had said, "The TARDIS is destroyed."

The Doctor's hearts sank in his chest, that meant that beautiful, brave Donna Noble was gone. That hurt more than losing TARDIS did. Then Jack reacted out of grief and rage, firing his pistol at the Supreme Dalek. All it did was get him killed. Rose was crying but the Doctor pulled her away before she could see what was about to transpire.

The two were led away by the other Daleks and the Doctor looked back briefly, just in time to see Jack Harkness wink at him. The Doctor managed a ghost of a smile, at least now Jack had a chance. Rose and the Doctor were led down into the vault to await Davros' pleasure. They were seperated by different holding cells and Davros began telling the Doctor what was to happen.

In the TARDIS, now spinning in space again, the Meta-Crisis Doctor was pulling on a blue jacket talking to Donna about his creation. He figured out what Davros was up to almost in the same instant as the Original doctor figured it out. Both were horrified. The Mete-Crisis Doctor began pulling parts out of various places and putting them together in what looked vaguely like a gun.

He explained rapidly to Donna what this was supposed to do as he assembled it. In the Crucible, Jack had met up with Sarah Jane, Mickey and Jackie. Sarah Jane pulled out the Warp Star and handed it to the Torchwood leader. Martha Jones was trying to bargin with the Daleks for the Doctor's release but, soon, they were all in the vault.

Davros laughed, telling the Doctor how pathetic his warriors were when the unimaginable happened. The sound of the TARDIS materilization filled the room and even the Doctor looked shocked. Then, it landed, the door opened and Jack said "Brilliant!" as everyone saw the figure in the doorway. Even Davros backed up in shock as the Meta-Crisis Doctor sprinted forward.

But then, things changed, The Doctor yelled "No, Stop!" at his clone. In confusion, the Mete-Crisis Doctor slowed down and Davros launched a bolt at him, knocking him down. A holding cell was activated and then, Donna, brave, foolish Donna was struck down as well. The Doctor was heart broken, it had all come to naught.

Davros was laughing manically as the Daleks prepared to activate the Reality bomb. Dalek Khan was chittering in his weird fashion but, even he could not forsee everything that was about to happen, even Dalek Khan didn't understand the power of pure, unconditional love and had no clue that help was coming from the one source he had not forseen, one that died long ago but, still there, still around to do what she had to do to save her beloved Doctor.

The Daleks were about to learn about the power of unconditional, eternal love from one person, Grace Holloway, the Heart of the TARDIS.

Begin Part One