And this is where the not very nice things start to happen.


Rose floated in the darkness and, God, it was beautiful. Blissful. Peaceful. Devoid of everything. Devoid of pain, of his face smiling down at her.

A sharp slap to her cheek snapped her eyes open.

"No," she croaked out, her voice raspy from her earlier bout of screaming.

"Oh, yes," he replied, gleefully.

She hated looking at him, hated seeing the man who wore the face of her beloved with that manic smile, his eyes glinting in pleasure at the pain she endured. Why? Why did this man have to look like him?

"Rose." She turned her head toward the sound of his voice. Not the man who was hurting her, but the other one, her light in the darkness that had become her life. "I'm here, I'm right here."

The pain in his emerald eyes reminding her that they weren't the same. That the man hurting her wasn't her Doctor. He brushed her cheek and she knew he wished he could help her, but he couldn't.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you," John demanded.

He hated being called that. The human name he gave her father for his credentials. John Noble. But she wouldn't call him the Doctor because he wasn't the Doctor, he would never be the Doctor.

Raggedy Man turned his piercing gaze on John and she knew if it were possible he would tear the man limb from limb. She'd seen his Oncoming Storm face, but the look he wore would've stopped a fleet of Daleks in their path. He laid a protective arm on her shoulder, gazing, threateningly at the man who hurt her, but she was the only one who could see him so John remained unfazed.

She knew who Raggedy Man really was. She would know him anywhere no matter what face he wore, but he gave her the name and told her to call him that because of the cameras and listening devices. If John thought she retained any connection to him or the TARDIS he would use that against her.

"I said LOOK AT ME!" John yelled, making her jump, even though she was trying to be strong.

Her eyes darted to John and he grinned.

"Good girl. Now, as I was saying before you so rudely blacked out," he continued, as if it was her fault that he inflicted so much pain that her mind couldn't take anymore and finally allowed her a reprieve. She felt Raggedy Man tighten his hold on her shoulder as his anger reached a boiling point. "I've got a surprise for you."

Surprises were never good. Was it a new weapon to test on her? A new test he thought up? Before her mind could wonder any further he pulled something from his pocket. The movement made her flinch. John gave her an amused glance.

"No need to be dramatic. It's only a piece of paper." He unfolded the paper. A paper? Definitely not what she expected. What could be so important about a paper? He cleared his throat, gave her a quick smile that sent a shiver of dread down her spine, then he began to read. "Rose Sweetheart." He paused, glancing at her and she knew he was looking for a reaction to the term of endearment only her mum used and although she tried to cover it up she knew he'd seen the widening of her eyes when he smirked. "I wanted to tell you in person, but those bloody Torchwood tossers told me you were on assignment and couldn't be reached. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but there's been an accident." For a moment she couldn't breathe then she felt Raggedy Man take her hand, entwining their fingers. She glanced at him gratefully. He gave her that look that told her he was there, he would always be there and they would get through this, whatever it was together. "It's your father. He was on his way home…yada, yada, yada, so sorry, blah, blah, blah. I'm skipping over the unnecessary parts, but you get the gist of it." He brandished the letter. "You see Rose this is what happens when you don't listen." He leaned close to her, clutching the rail near her hand. "When you don't do EXACTLY WHAT I SAY."

"I…I…" she couldn't even think. Then she felt Raggedy Man's hand tighten in hers. Pete, her dad, was dead and the man in front of her was the one who killed him. "Why?" she finally managed.

"Did you forget last week?" he snapped.

Last week? She thought back. It was hard. The days seemed to run together. Every day. Breakfast then here then back to her cell then dinner then lights out. It was the same thing every day.

"Remember this?" he asked, pulling his shirt collar down. Two long, angry scratches ran from the back of his neck to the front.

Now she remembered. That was the day he got hands-y with her. When the guards brought her in he sent them out, telling them he would secure her to the table. They hesitated, but were sent scurrying from the room when he threatened to fire them. He was the Director of Torchwood after all.

After they left he offered to give her the day off, forgo all those tests if she wanted. She knew exactly what he wanted and she told him exactly where he could shove that thought. He grabbed her then, told her she didn't have to be a willing participant. She tried to push him away, but he pulled her closer. That's when she scratched his neck. He let out a scream and released her. With one tactfully aimed kick she reminded him that she was Rose Tyler and her mum hadn't raised a girl unable to defend herself against men who thought they were entitled to take whatever they wanted.

And now her actions had cost her the life of her father and she wasn't the only one who was hurt. There was her mum who would have to mourn the loss of the same man twice and her little brother who would grow up without a dad. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. She hated John. Hated him like she'd never hated anyone or anything in her entire life. If killing him meant bringing back the Daleks then she thought in that moment she'd do it anyway.

"It's not true," Raggedy Man's voice drew her attention.

"What?" she asked.

"That's right Rose. It's your fault. How's it feel to be the woman who killed her own father?" John asked, drawing her eyes back to him as guilt welled up inside of her.

"Rose," Raggedy man said, resting his other hand on her shoulder again and her attention was once more diverted to him. His ancient green eyes held her gaze as he bent close to her. "He's lying. You hear me? It's a story. That's all this is. One of his own design to inflict pain, just like his tests."

"But-" she started to protest because it sounded like something John would do. He didn't care about her, never cared about her, which meant he didn't care about her family and if he could use them to get back at her she knew he would.

"Your father was the Director of Torchwood and his death, even accidental would warrant an investigation. John wouldn't chance that because an investigation might uncover you and you're a secret he won't allow anyone else to discover."

"I'm a secret?" she asked.

"Who are you talking to?" John demanded.

"Think Tyler. Where are you?"

"Torchwood."

"No, you're smarter than that. Think."

Wait. She wasn't at Torchwood? Think. Okay, there was her cell, which was a bit similar to a holding cell, but…different. The bed was different. The mattress was a bit thicker, just a bit. Her clothes were different. Not a hospital gown, same sort of fabric, but it slipped over her head, no ties in the back. That didn't tell her much.

"Rose, Rose!" John insisted, but she ignored him.

Cell. Okay, not much there. Hallway, overhead lighting, brighter than typical Torchwood hallways. Wait.

"There aren't any windows," she said.

"And what does that tell us?" Raggedy Man asked.

"We're underground."

"Ha ha!" Raggedy Man smiled. "I knew you'd get there."

She couldn't help grinning back, but in the next moment she realized what a bad idea that was as John grabbed her shoulders roughly and gazed down at her.

"Who the hell are you talking to?" he demanded.

"No one," she said, her voice quiet as she stared into eyes that harbored no remorse, no mercy.

"You were talking to someone." He grabbed her hair lifting it on first one side then the other, not caring when he pulled too hard and she had to bite her lip to keep from yelling as he searched for some device that she might be using to communicate with someone. When he didn't find anything he became more agitated. "Tell me!"

"I wasn't talking to anyone," she tried.

He backhanded her, the sound echoing through the room from the force of his blow. She felt Raggedy Man's hand stiffen in her own and she didn't have to see him to know that murderous look was back.

"You're a liar!" she shouted, rage and pain mingling from her shock, making her reckless, but in that moment she didn't care.

She shouldn't be shocked. She knew she shouldn't. He tortured her, even killed her a few times, but that was the first time he used his own hands to inflict pain on her. Hands that were identical to ones she once held. Ones that once held her.

"My father's alive. You wouldn't chance killing him or any of my family because that might make someone look into it and you wouldn't want that would you? Because if they looked into it then they might find out about me. Wouldn't want that, would you?" she yelled.

For a moment John remained impassive, staring at her. Then he smiled, that manic smile, the one that told her she was about to find out what horrible thought put that glint in his eyes.

"Oh, that is ever so clever, Rose," he beamed and it nearly made her sick. "Clever, clever, clever." He chanted, leaning in close enough for her to feel his hot breath and a shiver of revulsion ran though her. His eyes locked with hers. Raggedy Man squeezed her hand, reminding her that she wasn't alone. "Of course you're right. Can't have anyone come looking for you. Have to keep you all snuggly safe down here, way, way down here under layers and layers of computerized security and you're right we're nowhere near Torchwood. Nowhere near anything." His manic grin turned gleeful as he leaned back and that sent terror into her heart. Raggedy Man took a firm hold on her shoulder moving into the position of sentry. She exchanged a worried glance with him. "You're family's safe, but that's more than can be said for you. You are so far from safe, Rose Tyler and you're going to stay that way until I say otherwise. Do you know why my darling Rose?" he leaned his face inches from hers. "Because. You. Are. Mine." His eyes locked with hers again and for that moment she couldn't breathe. Then he leaned back. "To do with as I will, which is something you might want to keep in mind when you wake up…or is that come back? I'm not entirely sure how to put it."

Then he pulled a blaster and shot her.


Standard Disclaimer.

Thank you to all my brilliant readers!

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