Breaking Through

Chapter One: Victim of the Mind

Donna should have known something was out of order the moment the Doctor has suddenly stopped acknowledging her idle chatter, turning eerily quiet. Or should she have got concerned earlier in the day, when he was suddenly fulfilling her every wish without question, even bringing her to this particular dancing club earlier? The alien's eyes were fixed on a human – or at least she looked like one. For God's sake, was he even breathing? Since when was the Time Lord into- She followed his gaze. "She shouldn't even be here," he muttered to himself, tense. If anything, this was simply inconceivable. "Wrong time. Wrong place. Wrong universe..."

The companion's eyes widened in understanding. "Don't even start, Spaceman. She's someone special, isn't she?"

"Well…"

"She is."

"Yep," the Doctor saw no reason to negate it. Disagreeing with Donna further might cause trouble, and that was exactly what he was trying to avoid. The alien stiffened, not ready for answering any questions.

"Then why won't you go to her?"

"With some of the things I'd done… I don't deserve her, yeah?"

"Does she think so, too?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

"Go and ask, then."

"I can't."

"That's new!" Donna eyed him with playful disbelief in her eyes.

"Get out of my sight," he growled. "You're not helping."

The ginger rolled her eyes at him, knowing full well he did not mean what he said. Not with the longing look in his eyes. "Was she a companion of yours?"

He nodded, visibly unwilling to talk about it. However, Donna was not going to stop, choosing the question that was undoubtedly going to get some reaction - or information - out of him.

"The last question. What about Rose? Was this youngster before or after her?"

The Doctor's eyes were burning. For a second it seemed he was going to slap her. "Companion or not... it's none of your business," he hissed. "My life… Rose is none of your business. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Fine," he snarled.

Donna was shocked at the way his hands were trembling. Was that stress, fatigue, or anger, she couldn't say. But the way his eyes kept following the blonde spoke tomes to her. There was no way he was going to escape facing the mysterious girl, not while she was with him. And she was not giving him an alternative this time. "Would you want me to accompany you, just for until she notices you?"

The Gallifreyan looked at her uncomprehendingly for a moment – it seemed he had forgotten Donna was there. "Yeah, sure."

"Yes. Let's go to her, then."

None of this is real. None of this is real, Rose kept repeating in her mind, refusing to acknowledge the very real, very wet, and very salty tears now flowing down her face. It was one of those dreams. She was feeling strangely cold. Must have been the effect of the ice-cream she was talked into having earlier today… or was it yesterday? Although it could not be. Maybe it was the wind. Mum must have left the window ajar. A small part of her mind reminded Rose she was not living with Mum anymore.

"Just a dream," she kept whispering to herself. "None of-" she sobbed, assured this was but one of the very frequent and extremely detailed dreams that was soon, as was the rule with her dreams, going to become a nightmare.

"None of this is real!" she cried. "It cannot be. Cannot," she whimpered, allowing the dream to take its usual course. As always, the Doctor was coming towards her… Just a second, and he will approach, showing her his true face. Its true face. Sometimes, if she was being unusually lucky, the face would not transform, and he would lean it to kiss her… But this never happened. Instead, she would find herself separated from him. Again.

Rose was unpleasantly surprised, clearly feeling someone watching her. But, as dreams went… This had to be her mind toying with her. Nothing else. The worst thing that could happen was her waking up screaming.

"I'm sorry," Donna wasn't wasting time. "This guy right here wants to talk to you." She seemed to have missed the fact Rose's face was red from tears. But this could have been the effect of the lightning.

"If it's about dancing, I won't- I don't-" the blonde was not surprised about someone not daring to ask her openly – this world – every world - was full of men or boys too shy to ask a girl for a dance.

She was startled by a very familiar voice the following moment. "Really, though? You were all for dancing the last time I saw you…"

Rose had to find something to hold on to. Donna was the closest. "I never thought he'd have this kind of effect on anyone," the redhead smirked.

There. There he was. Rose's Doctor, watching her incredulously, his eyes wide and shining with wonder that looked so much like love.

The blonde backed away. "You are but an illusion. A creation of my mind…" None of this is real, the phrase was running through her mind like a broken record.

"Sorry," the Tyler girl muttered, her eyes tearing up once again almost immediately, as soon as she faced the Time Lord – or as much of the Doctor as dreams could give her. "Why can't these dreams last? You will be gone, just like the last time, and the time before, and-" she bit her lip fiercely, unpleasantly surprised about the amount of pain this caused her.

Donna Noble said nothing, holding the girl's hand assuringly. The Doctor and the blonde must have been very good friends once, judging from their faces. Shock on his, sorrow on hers.

"This is not a dream, Rose."

Ah. Oh, my God. How could she have been so stupid? The ginger woman was grateful she did not give in to the first reflex to let go.

"Isn't it?" It was obvious she did not trust him.

"Nope. Not a dream," the Doctor assured her, touching her arm softly. The cool sensation was not enough to assure her.

"I don't believe you."

"Believe me, then," Donna winked at her. "The Doctor asked of me to accompany him up until you see him… but in no way am I leaving now I see you still think it's not real. I know just the thing." Poor girl seemed overtaken by some strange idea she was dreaming. The ginger companion was ready to let go of the blonde's hand and slap some sense into her. Always worked…

Then, she realised. There was always a less drastic way to arrange it… Particularly now that they were so close to each other. Or was he just as dazed as the young woman seemed to be? Were they in need of encouragement?

"Stupid alien. Kiss her," Donna hissed into his ear, never letting go of Rose's hand.

"Er… Donna… I doubt a kiss would convince her." Of course it wouldn't, their only proper kiss being-

However, before he as much as thought of it, Rose broke away and started to run. Away from the illusion. She was a reasonable person. She could distinguish an illusion or a dream from reality! This was not, could not be-

"Are they causing you trouble, miss?" she was stopped in the middle of the hall.

Rose froze. "I don't- don't think so. It's just-"

"Do you know them? I could always call security! A guard standing by the door was prepared to help this young woman, possibly under the influence, poor thing.

The blonde shook her head. "No need, thank you. I'm leaving," she spoke firmly, believing the illusion would evaporate the moment she found herself out of the somewhat stuffy room, possibly in a completely different place.

"Are you sure you need no help, miss?"

"No, thanks. I will find my way out."

She could not help a glance back, pale as a sheet of paper, barely able to keep her balance. "Are you all right, miss? Is there a person we could call to bring you home?"

"She's with us," Donna came towards her, the Doctor following the ginger companion close, too stunned to word his thoughts clearly.

A/N. Reviews would be lovely. :)