A/N: Muahahaha! Buuuuuuuuurn! (Ahem) I'm not mental, really.


Chapter 3 – Save Her, Dammit

Neighbours were screaming loudly, most of them having just gotten out of bed. He could hear sirens, but they were incredibly distant. Without thinking he burst into a run, flying out the stairs towards the burning flat. He pushed through the milling crowds and got to the front door, hammering on it desperately.

"Rose! Jackie! Can you hear me?!" he yelled through the door, but if they were conscious he doubted strongly that they could hear him. But like a miracle he heard a voice, muffled but clear enough over the fire.

"Doctor!" It was Jackie. "I can't get to Rose, I think she's been hurt! The door's stuck! Help me, help me please!"

"Jackie can you get to the front window?" He remained calm, hoping she'd get the vibes off of him.

"It's all burnin'…"

"Jackie I need you to get to the front window. I'll be waiting there for you, okay? Go!"

He was aware of all the eyes of the watching crowd following him, filled with awe and trepidation. He moved over to the window, wishing he'd remembered the Sonic as he tried in vain to slide it up. Just a bit more…just a bit…

Something cracked, and it shot open. The Doctor ducked his head inside, suddenly engulfed with smoke vapour and the heat of the blaze. He could see a figure moving towards him, so he offered out a hand.

"C'mon Jackie!" he yelled, "I've got you!"

Seconds later he was pulling the woman out through the window, several people moving forward to help him. When she was finally out he knelt down next to her, helping her to sit up.

"Save Rose, please Doctor…" she gasped through hyperventilation. The Doctor nodded, suddenly decisive.

"Look after her," he said to a bystander, and they nodded. He turned back towards the window, suddenly daunted by the amount of smoke and light of a blaze that came out. He wasn't a fool. He knew there was more chance of him dying in there than there was of him saving Rose.

But he had no choice. The fire brigade still hadn't arrived; they definitely wouldn't be here in time to save Rose…

Save her. He could see it in the smoke; the same words as on the wall. A sign.

He took a deep breath, and then climbed in.

The searing heat was probably bad enough to burn without even contact. He dropped to the floor, crawling forward through the burning room towards the door, towards Rose's room. He called out for her in the desperate hope that she'd answer from close-by, having found a way out and to safety. He got no such blessing.

He reached Rose's bedroom door, coughing and spluttering and still calling out her name. But…was that a reply? He strained to hear, hovering near the door.

"Doc…" she coughed, again, and again, "…tor…" more coughing.

"Rose!" he called back, reverting to his respiratory bypass system to communicate with her easier. "I'm here! Can you get through the door?"

"N…no…" she choked, "it…it's…" then she fell quiet. The Doctor's eyes widened, listening hard for any sound.

"Rose?! ROSE!"

He pulled himself to his feet, trying desperately to push the door inwards. He rammed it with his shoulder, kicking it again and again in desperation to enter. It wouldn't budge.

"ROSE, TALK TO ME!" he yelled, "ROSE!"

The door was stuck, fast.

What was he going to do?!

He span back around, searching the room for any kind of help. His eyes finally rested on a fallen piece of metal infrastructure lying on the floor. He grabbed out, crying out in agony as the white-hot metal burnt through his skin. He drew it back, aimed for a weakened-looking section of the wall, and used all his strength to hit it.

It collapsed, leaving a gap in the wall.

He dropped the metal implement and clambered clumsily through the wall, feeling the burns still eating away at his skin. He searched for Rose, eyes finally locking on a small unconscious figure in the corner, surrounded by cascades of fire.

He was just about move forward when suddenly something high above him cracked, and he turned just in time to watch the wall he had just smashed his way through fall straight onto him. He cried out, trying to move but having nowhere to escape to as it totally collapsed, and he was left lying helpless beneath the weight, groaning in agony.

"ROSE!" he yelled once again, tears pouring down his face. He couldn't move. He couldn't get to her! After all they'd been through, Gelth, Slitheen, Daleks, Cybermen…it wasn't supposed to end like this!

He finally realised the ironic nature of this situation. Rose was burning, just like Gallifrey. Only this time, he would burn too.