Dr. Russell looks up from his work as Rose and the Doctor enter medical. "There you are, Miss Tyler! I don't see nearly enough of you. You'd think that I run Frankenstein's lab instead of a medical establishment. I understand that you took a tumble yesterday." He is ready to get down to business.

"You know I don't like to be called 'Miss Tyler'…"

Ignoring her comment, he says, "I need you on the examination table." He points, indicating where he wants her. Dr. Russell proceeds to examine her injuries once she complies. "I understand that your locks aren't responding to you again. Let's see if we can find out why."

"I don't need a sample taken! Just reset the data."

"You know that hasn't been working. I need a sample." She looks toward the Doctor, wanting him to back her up.

"Rose, we need to determine why your locks aren't working right. Your dad said that they're keyed to your genetics. Add to that what I learned when I scanned you. The sample will be used to reset your locks and to find out what is happening to you."

She is still voicing her complaints as she complies with what she sees as an unreasonable demand, but realizes that with both of them working together on this that she is not going to win the argument.

After the sample is taken, her arm is put in a sling to remind her not to use it for a bit and the cut on her forehead is dressed again to keep it clean.

The Doctor inserts the sample into the analysis equipment and proceeds to complete the workup for access to her lab. After that is straightened out, he continues to design an analysis to find out what is going on – why her locks stop working after a while. He accesses previous samples and finds that there are not nearly enough to do a complete analysis, so he starts with what they do have. Dr. Russell starts to review the data with him as it starts to come in.

"Let's go find you some suits," Rose says after a bit. "We can't turn on the cannon yet and you are going to need more clothes than the few we picked up yesterday."

"Go on, Doctor. This is going to take a while. She's been patient and this really isn't what she's good at. Check back with me later, there should be some results then."

The Doctor stops by medical when they return to Torchwood later while Rose continues on to her lab. Dr. Russell tells the Doctor that his suspicions were correct; some of Rose's DNA seems to match the Doctor's. He asks when he'll bring Rose back so that a more thorough analysis can be started.

When he returns to Rose's lab, he finds that she has already turned on the dimension cannon and is studying it. As he considers what he is seeing, he is drawn to it even more than he was previously. He can understand Rose's fascination with the equipment. Turned on, it looks like a whirlpool of light with visible currents in it, reminding the Doctor even more of the Untempered Schism on Gallifrey. Just at a glance, he can see events reflected in the currents and eddies within it. As he stands back from it, he can see the larger picture of the shape of time as long as he doesn't focus on a particular place. He finds that he can discern actual images of events if he concentrates on particular elements.

"Rose," the Doctor says as he gazes at the cannon, "tell me what you see."

"Hmm? …I see," responds Rose as she watches the vortex, "so much. I see – what is – what was – what will be – what must be – what cannot ever be. It's wondrous... And… it's terrifying."

"Please… show me what you see?"

She turns to him with a puzzled look on her face at his request, asking, "What?"

Taking her hand in his to gain her attention, he adds, "Rose, a human can't see the flow of time the way a Timelord sees it. I need to know exactly how you see time. It will tell me how far your consciousness has come."

"Why?" She asks absently as she turns back to the cannon. It draws her attention as much as it does his.

"Rose," he says as he gently squeezes her hand to regain her attention. When she looks at him again, he continues, "I think you have Timelord DNA mixed in with your human DNA now – we're still checking on that. While you were my travelling with me - before - you didn't. You seem to be changing – I'm still working out how. The transformation is not complete, but you are already evidencing some capabilities. I want to know what you see when you look into the vortex, and that cannon does give access to the time vortex, at least to view. It may give me an idea of how far your consciousness has come.

"When you were linked to the vortex through the Tardis you were able to view time like I do. I think you are far enough through the changes taking place that you can show me telepathically."

Intrigued, she asks, "So, how do I show you?"

Smiling as he realizes that he finally has her full attention, he says, "Relax. Focus your mind. I'll do the same. Just hold my hand."

Confused at the simplicity of the request, she asks, "I don't have to place my hands on your head like I've seen you do?"

"No," he replies. "Timelords are capable of telepathic contact just through holding hands. If familiar with the other's mind, contact may not even require that. Think back to when you first arrived here; do you remember hearing my voice calling you… that first time, when I led you to Bad Wolf Bay?"

"I thought I was dreaming it at first," she replies, wondering. "Is that why you told me that you would know if other Timelords had survived the first time I met a Dalek?"

He nods in reply. "There are a few other things involved as well. ...Just hold my hand, calm your mind, visualize me, and try to speak to me – in your mind. I should be able to meet you halfway."

She does as he asks. She takes his hand, takes a deep breath to calm herself, pictures him in her mind, and calls to him mentally, 'Doctor?'

'I'm here Rose,' he responds, mentally. 'Now, look at the vortex. Show me what you see...'

Rose looks at the vortex, searching for Donna's timeline. Finding it, she brings it to the Doctor's attention. Together they trace the timeline, including the alternate timeline that Rose corrected. Throughout this exchange, the actual events, as Rose took the required action, overlay the information in the vortex. Rose shows him how everything recently converged on Donna. She also shows him how a lesser seeming Donna continues on almost immediately after the events that took place.

They then find the Doctor's timeline and follow it to when they first met. Starting there, they follow the path, finding a spike that coincides with the Doctor's regeneration. Continuing on, they come to the point where their paths separate. He tightens his hold on her hand, comforting her. Other timelines coincide with his, until eventually, they all come together again. There is another spike which has two timelines coming from it. One of them continues on, while the other has another spike, after a number of convolutions, in the not so distant future.

After this, they follow Rose's timeline from the time she meets the Doctor. They can see the point where she joined with the time vortex through the Tardis. They also see the point where she and the Doctor were separated. Once separated the strength of her time line increases noticeably and continues to strengthen even after rejoining the Doctor. They also see a point where the timeline is indistinguishable from that of a Timelord - it is in the near future.

Near the end of the day, Pete Tyler enters the lab and calls their names. Their concentration is so intense on the various time lines being researched that they do not initially respond. Pete turns off the equipment then touches Rose's shoulder.

They come out of their telepathic communication as awareness of Pete Tyler impinges on their thoughts, namely by taking both of their shoulders.

"I didn't realize it would be so hard to get your attention," Pete says wryly.

"I'm sorry," responds Rose. "We didn't realize you were here."

The Doctor squeezes her hand, sending a last thought across to her. 'We'll discuss it later.'

Pete continues, "Jackie will be upset if everyone is not there for dinner, especially since last night. We need to start for home."

"We need to stop by medical before we go," the Doctor replies. "We've got some analyses running that should be approaching completion. We'll leave as soon as we check on them. Would you like to see the results so far?" Pete nods.

As they enter medical the Doctor says, "Dr. Russell, we just stopped by to check on the genetic analyses."

"I was just getting ready to contact you, Doctor. The tests on your DNA are complete. Your DNA is entirely Timelord, according to the parameters you gave me.

"Miss Tyler…"

Shaking her head, she complains, "Rose… please, just call me Rose…"

"Rose, your DNA pattern is a blend – of human and Timelord DNA. I can't even begin to understand how that can be, but that is what the analysis shows. We have a lot more work to do on yours."

Rose looks at Dr. Russell and asks, "Are you sure? I mean, DNA can't change, can it?"

"Rose," says the Doctor, "I think you know that isn't true. Think back to what happened to the first Dalek you met."

Dr. Russell continues, as he considers, "Viruses can change DNA, cancer can damage it, and radiation can change it. It is normally stable, but every now and then, an outside force does succeed in changing a person's DNA. However, it normally does not happen on the scale of what is happening to yours… Yours still seems to be changing, looking at past samples as well as the current one."

"So," she says as she looks from one doctor to the other, considering the implications, "my biology is changing."

"Yes," responds Dr. Russell. "I don't know if or when it will stop at this point."

"Edmund," Pete says, "we must be leaving. We can discuss this some more tomorrow when the analysis is more complete." The Doctor leaves medical with Rose and her father.

"Pete," the Doctor says as they reach the car, "I really don't think it's wise to let Jackie know about this yet. I don't think she'd understand."

"You're probably right," he replies. "How long before you determine exactly what is happening?"

"I've got to run some more tests… Give me a couple of days… I know we'll eventually have to tell Jackie, but I'd rather find out exactly what is happening first. I'll be sure to keep you up to date with events." Turning to Rose, he continues, "As for you, Rose, I'm sure you had some idea that something was happening."

"Yes… I've suspected something for a while. I…"

"Go on," the Doctor says as he encourages her to continue.

"That's why I planned to stay. I wasn't planning to come back."

"Go on…" he says as he takes her hand.

She looks at the Doctor, willing him to understand, wanting him to understand how she felt when she thought that she would never be able to see him again. "I've been trying to get back to you ever since I was trapped here."

"So you've told me. So what have you noticed?"

"I see time, the flow of events …all of the time now. It's easier with the dimension cannon… clearer… but everyone else needs to use the dimension cannon and the program to read it. Math and science come much more easily to me. I've been able to explain things to the scientists here that they couldn't understand, before, when we were working on the dimension cannon – most of them still have trouble with some of it. Then… recently… I seem to… be able to… understand… even… - like while we were waiting for the zeppelin." Her speech slows as she thinks back.

"You are also speaking other languages… fluently. I noticed it in Bergen. It is as if you are still connected to the Tardis. But… the Tardis is out of range. That leaves telepathic skills similar to those of a Timelord when linked to a Tardis." She looks at him quizzically. "That's why I asked you to show me what you see when you look into the vortex. I can feel you… up here…" he says as he touches his temple, "since you came back to me… in the same way that I could sense my own people. That's new. When I first saw you again…" He folds her into his arms, just holding her close.

"What?"

"When I first saw you again… I was so surprised and happy to see you again… I… Then the Daleks. I didn't really notice until he left me here with you. There was finally time to pay attention to what I was sensing from you. I'm not sure he realizes yet either."

He continues to hold her, the peace that he feels when with her healing him just in the quiet moment they are sharing. She senses this and is content to just be held closely.

Pete has been watching the exchange and coughs to get their attention when he realizes that they have gone into their own private world. The Doctor releases her from the hug, giving her hand a quick squeeze in reassurance. "We should be getting home," Pete finally says, smiling at their preoccupation.

"I'm sorry," Rose replies, embarrassed that they were oblivious to everything else. Pete smiles more broadly as he thinks about what he is seeing between them.

When they arrive home, they go in, greeting everyone as they see them. They continue to make small talk as they eat dinner. When done, Jackie announces that she is going to get Tony ready for bed. He asks for a story from Rose before he goes to bed. When she acquiesces, the Doctor smiles and says that he will help with the story. Jackie leaves with the boy.

Turning to Rose, the Doctor asks, "So, Rose, what kind of stories does Tony like?"

Smiling, she replies, "He loves to hear about my travels and adventures. He'd like your stories too. You can come and help if you like."

Pete comes over to them as they are leaving the dining room and asks, "So, what did Dr. Russell say about your injuries, Rose?"

Rose looks at the Doctor, then at her father. "I'll heal pretty quickly. I'm supposed to keep this sling on until next week.

A bit later Jackie comes back in with Tony on her hip. "Here he is. All ready for bed and a story."

"We'll take him up," Rose says as she reaches for him.

The Doctor steps forward to take the child with a smile. "No, Rose, I'll carry him up," he says as he tickles Tony, getting giggles in return. "You're not supposed to be lifting much yet. That's why your arm is in a sling, remember?"

"Alright then, you can help."

They take him upstairs to put him to bed for the night. Rose asks as she starts to tuck him in, "Ok, what story do you want?"

"Horse… robots," Tony answers.

"Alright then, horse and robots it is," Rose responds. The Doctor looks at her with a question in his eyes. She mouths 'Mme. Du Pompadour' in response. He rolls his eyes. "He likes it because Mickey is in it too." As she finishes putting him to bed, she starts to tell him the story.

As she tells the story, she gradually starts to project images as she relaxes into the tale. She doesn't even realize that she is doing it. As she continues, the Doctor realizes that she is going non-verbal in the telling, projecting her thoughts directly to her little brother. Tony is smiling and relaxing, giggling at times, enjoying the story. The Doctor is surprised in that he can see the images as well while she is telling the story.

As the story concludes, Rose kisses her brother's forehead, wishing him good night. He subsides into sleep. She rises from her seat on his bed saying, "He'll sleep through the night."

"Rose," the Doctor says quietly.

"Shhh, don't wake him. He's only just gone to sleep." She takes the Doctor's hand as she walks to the bedroom door.

Once out of the room, he stops and places his hands on her arms, stopping her. "Rose," he continues quietly, "do you realize what you were doing?"

"I was telling Tony a story."

"How? I need you to think about how you were telling the story."

"I…" Frowning as she considers his words, Rose says, "Oh my god!" Realizing how she has been telling the stories, she adds, "I'm glad Mum didn't walk in on me."

"I was able to see the images and I was across the room when you started projecting.

"Timelords are telepathic…"

"I know… You said I've got some Timelord DNA now… Could that be part of it?"

"Undoubtedly… Rose… your strength is unusual. I need to teach you control. You are actually much stronger than I thought. Your language skills actually make more sense now." Using his hands to emphasize what he is saying by demonstrating what he does as he explains, he continues, "Normally, I need to touch to communicate telepathically. You don't need to. If you don't learn control, it could drive you mad."

"I… thought…" she says, thinking aloud,"… it explains a few other things also. Is the time vortex telepathic?"

"No, but the Tardis is… You've always been very empathic, picking up on any number of things. The changes you are going through seem to have expanded this into telepathy."

They head back downstairs, holding hands and continuing to quietly discuss her telepathy. As they reach the bottom, they see Jackie.

"Tony's asleep, Mum," Rose says as they reach her.

"Thanks. There's tea in the kitchen. Go help yourself." They continue into the kitchen.

"Would you like some?" Rose asks the Doctor as she reaches for cups.

"I want to show you some of what I've got on my computer. That is why I brought it home."

"We'll take the tea upstairs with us then," he replies with a smile.

When they get upstairs, Rose starts to show the Doctor what she has been working on. As they get into her work, the Doctor asks her, while pointing at a particular sequence, "Why did you choose this sequence?"

"It seemed right. It makes everything else make sense. Why?"

"It reminds me of the Skassis Paradigm. But… looking at the rest of it… it does make sense." He continues to study what she has done, finding more links to the paradigm, but in every case, its use is warranted. "I'll take this back to Torchwood tomorrow. You'll be busy with your mother and I want to study this more. Your work is incredibly advanced… much more so than anything else I've seen here."

"That's why I store it on the crystal. I can't really show it to anyone. I had a copy of it in my pocket yesterday… no, that was day before yesterday… I was going to show you – your other self – when I got a chance. I never did…"

Rose is with her mother at lunch the next day when her mother says, "I'm too old to be pregnant again!" It is an ongoing complaint since she left her doctor's office with the news.

Rose smiles at the outburst. "But you're not too old, Mum." When Jackie looks at her daughter in disbelief, Rose adds, "But you're not! You're still young. …So, when are you going to tell dad?" Jackie glares at Rose, still not happy with being pregnant again, before returning to her meal.

As the silence grows between them, Jackie says, "You were planning to stay, weren't you?"

Feeling blind-sided, she replies, "Sorry?"

Hammering her point home, Jackie reiterates her point, "You were planning to stay… With the Doctor… In the other universe, weren't you?"

Looking directly at her mother, she answers, "I'm sorry, but, yes…"

"Why? Why would you leave us?"

"He needs me… and… I need him. I love him."

"You'd leave us? To be with him?"

"Mum… Everybody leaves home eventually."

"They don't leave home to roam the universe!" Jackie's voice is rising as she becomes more demanding of an answer that she is willing to accept. Tony looks up as he continues to eat, picking up on the suddenly charged atmosphere.

"Maybe not, but they do leave home to roam the Earth. His world is just… bigger." Rose quietly answers her mother, trying to avoid an argument in front of her little brother, shrugging as she considers the size of reality and her comparison to the Earth. Continuing, she adds, "Mum, you wouldn't be alone. You've got Dad and Tony. You'll have the twins," she lets this slip but Jackie doesn't pick up on it. "The Doctor doesn't have anyone."

"He's got Donna."

"Not for long. Donna will die if she stays with him. She will have to go home. He'll be all alone… again… and I won't be there for him. I'm stuck here instead of where I belong!"

"And what if he leaves you?"

"He wouldn't."

"He left you here…"

"With his other self," she says, defending the Doctor's actions, "because he needs me too."

"Yes, but what if something happened and he had to leave you too?"

"He's already told me that he wouldn't. Mum, I know he's never said it before until we got back here - and his original still hasn't said it - but he loves me, just as much as I love him."

"Yes, but what if he did leave you?"

"Mum…"

"What if he did?"

Quietly, Rose asks her mother to consider the same questions that she has been asked, "Mum, what would you do if dad left you? We feel the same. Dad is the other half of you just as the Doctor is for me."

"Your dad wouldn't leave me, though… And, the Doctor's sent you away before."

"Because of a promise he made to you, Mum! Now, leave it be!" She gets up and leaves the table. Tony starts to cry, upset that his sister has left.

"Rose… come back. Come back, Rose!" Rose continues on, leaving the restaurant. Jackie starts to cry, realizing that she has pushed the issue too far, but also wanting an answer that she is willing to accept. Realizing that her son is crying, she regrets the argument, but knows that it is too late to apologize to her daughter. She turns to Tony and starts to comfort him, picking him up to hold him close. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." She doesn't know who she means it for, only that it needs to be said.

Pete walks into medical looking for the Doctor. He sees him working with Dr. Russell deciphering DNA. "Doctor," he calls as he sees him, "may I have a word with you?"

Looking up from what he is doing, he replies, "Certainly."

"Jackie called me. Rose walked out of the restaurant. Evidently they had a row. She's upset about it now. Could you go collect Rose? We have her located. Jake can take you."

"I wonder what happened?" he says to himself. "… Never mind, of course I'll go.

"Edmund, we'll continue when I get back." He leaves with Pete.

Jake and the Doctor reach the park where Rose is sitting on a park bench. Jake parks the car, telling the Doctor that he will wait for them. The Doctor exits the car and walks toward Rose. He notices that she has been crying. "What's the matter?" he asks her as he sits on the park bench beside her.

"Mum. She started going on about me trying to leave here. She only starts in on me any more when Tony is there. She knows I won't argue with her when he's there… I left instead of having a row in front of my brother."

"Quite right. He doesn't need to be exposed to family arguments at his age." He takes her hand. "Come on. We can go back to Torchwood if you don't want to go home right now."

Distracted and still disturbed by the argument with her mother, Rose says, "She'll just start in again when I go home."

He stands, urging her to stand also, and walks over the car where Jake is waiting. "Torchwood then… Come on."

Back at Torchwood, they return to medical. "Rose, you need to see this." He starts to show her the DNA coding of her own DNA, sitting down to access the computer properly.

"And what am I looking at?"

"Strands of your own DNA. What you are looking at is the same strand, same section, over time. See the changes?"

"Yes, but… how do I compare?"

"Come look at this other monitor," he says as he pulls another monitor near to the first one. "This one is your father's DNA," he says as he points to one that is obviously human. "This one is mine," he says as he points to the other.

As she looks at them more closely, she starts to notice details. "It's between a quarter and half like yours now. And… the rate is increasing – nonlinearly." Thinking of the changes he went through, that he only has one heart now, she adds as she realizes that his DNA is entirely non-human, "I thought you were part human now?"

Puzzled, he asks, "How did you see that so quickly? I only just figured it out. And, by the way, genetically, I'm still a Timelord. The single heart is more of a regeneration error – the energy had an incorrect model to build on. Correctable if Gallifrey still existed, but since it's not…"

"I'm sorry." Returning to the point, she points out to the Doctor, "Just looking at what is happening looks steady if you just look at the change from sample to sample, but if you look at the dates, it is getting more frequent. Therefore the rate is increasing." She then adds, just to tease him a bit, "You just have to remember that we are living in linear time at present. It also tells me how much genetic variation security allows for the locks. I'll…"

"Point taken," he says, totally missing the jibe and turning back to his work. "That's why it took me a while to realize how the rate is changing. I'm not used to thinking linearly." Realizing that she is considering how to cheat the locks permanently, he adds, "And, no, you aren't to adjust the security program. You will give samples regularly to update your records." He doesn't notice as Rose smiles at him, shaking her head slightly, thinking that he is so like his original.

"We could get an idea of the rate by comparing the count of the changed portions to the dates."

Dr. Russell chides her, "We could if there were more samples. You've avoided medical like the plague."

"I'm sorry," she says contritely. "I know - I should have had samples taken regularly when I started to suspect something."

Looking up again, the Doctor says, "That's neither here nor there. I've arranged with Edmund for you to have samples taken weekly from now on. And, Rose, I also want you to be checked over physically at that time." She opens her mouth and looks at him as if to say 'are you kidding me?' He notices and adds, "I mean it Rose. I realize you are changing and it can be overwhelming, but we need to be able to track what's happening to you." He gets up and gathers her up in his arms, giving her a hug. "I need to know what's happening so that I can help you," he says quietly to her. "I don't think I…" he says gruffly. He hugs her more tightly, kissing the top of her head, at a loss for words.

As they return to her lab later that day she sees that her computer is already set back up so she says, "Why don't you set up yours to access the memory crystal too. I'll get your permissions set up for it." She heads over to her computer and logs on, then goes into the permissions to set up his access to the memory crystal. Acceding to her control of her lab, he does so. It takes only a few moments for her to grant him access to her files so she continues the work she has been involved with pertaining to inter-dimensional travel. He is occupied with modifying his computer as she goes into her work, opening a system of equations and getting out some paper. She starts working through some calculations. The Doctor notices her working and starts to watch her, eventually going over to stand behind her as he watches. He realizes that she is working on power specifications for linking through to their original dimension and relating them to levels required to send a message without damaging the continuum.

The Doctor continues to watch her in fascination. He notices that she is very methodical in her work, entering the results into the computer as she completes something. He is surprised at the level at which she is functioning and continues to watch her without interrupting. He crosses his arms as he settles in for the duration.

Her concentration on her work is so complete that she is oblivious to everything outside of what is occupying her attention - even the Doctor. Eventually, she winds down in her work and finally notices the Doctor standing behind her. "What are you doing back there?" she asks him.

"Watching you work." She looks at him unbelievingly. "I didn't want to disturb you."

"Doctor…"

Pete walks in announcing, "Come on, you two, we need to head home."

Rose looks at him and shakes her head. "I don't..."

The Doctor places his hands on her shoulders, kneading them lightly to interrupt her objection. "Rose, you need to go home. You're tired and you need to unwind."

"I talked to Jackie," Pete says. "I finally got an answer out of her. Rose, please try to understand her. She loves you. She only wants what is best for you."

"But…"

"Rose, I'll be there for you," the Doctor says quietly.

She turns to face him. "But she'll never understand."

"I'll help you explain," he tells her quietly. "Trust your heart. It has served you well up to now." He takes her hand and starts to lead her toward the door. "Come on, we need to go." She logs off of her computer as she gets up, realizing that they are right.

At home, Rose is helping to set the table for dinner when Jackie starts again, asking, "Rose, you still haven't told me why you wanted to leave… Why you wanted to leave us all behind."

Closing her eyes as she thinks 'here we go again', she says, "Mum, please don't."

"I deserve an explanation."

Exasperated, Rose replies, "Mum… I've already told you I'm sorry. Isn't that enough?"

"I still want to know why."

"Mum, you've got Dad and Tony. You'll have the twins. The Doctor's got no one… "

"What about Donna?"

"He's got to leave her behind to save her life. She's human… she can't maintain a Timelord's knowledge. It'll kill her. He's got to remove all of her memories of him to save her life. He won't let her die, but he'll be alone again. He needs me as much as I need him. I love him. Can't I be happy too?" Rose looks into the distance as she considers what and how to tell her mother. "…And I need him. I'm …changing. I don't know how far it will go, but I need him to teach me how to be a…"

"But he left you here… with the other one."

"I know… I know. And it's tearing me up inside… knowing that he will be alone again… and that there is nothing I can do about it right now. To me, they are both the same and I love them both."

All of a sudden, Jackie realizes what Rose is saying, she shouts, "Changing! What do you mean, you're changing?"

Looking at her mother, she tells her, very seriously, "I mean just what I said, I'm changing."

"How are you changing?"

"I'm changing… into… a… Timelord, I think. That's why I need him. I need him to teach me."

Suddenly, all of Jackie's memories of the changes and complications the Doctor has brought into her life come to mind. She shouts, "What! Ever since that man walked into our lives…!"

"Mum… this is why I didn't want to tell you."

"I don't understand. How can you change?" She is still shouting.

"The Tardis," Rose replies quietly.

"What do you mean 'the Tardis'? Tell me!"

"Mum… please!" Her voice is starting to rise as well at this point. "I'm trying to tell you, but you aren't willing to listen!"

"How could it change you?"

"Mum, do you remember when I took the Tardis back to the Doctor?" Rose says, more quietly, with tears in her eyes. "I looked into the heart of the Tardis and it looked into my heart… It saw my love for him."

"But how could it change you? I knew I should have stopped you!" Jackie is still nearly shouting. "I knew nothing good could come of him!"

"Mum," Rose has now raised her voice as well. "Mum, it's my choice! You can't live my life for me! I'm sorry if you don't like my decisions, but I need to live my own life!" She walks away from her mother, heading for the door, trying to keep from crying.

"Rose, come back here! Rose! You can't just walk out on me! I want an answer!" Rose ignores her and heads for her car, Jackie starts crying, knowing that she has probably chased her daughter away in her quest for an answer that she can understand and accept. "I'm sorry," she says quietly, "I'm so sorry."

Pete comes in with Tony and the Doctor. Deciding not to mention the raised voices, he asks, "Where's Rose?"

"She left," Jackie answers. "I think I…" Jackie sobs as Pete takes her into his arms.

They hear a car drive off. The Doctor heads for the door. "She's gone," he says sadly to himself as he sees her driving off. "She's gone." He wants to round on Jackie, but contains his anger. He has never been as irritated at her inability to let her daughter live her own life as he is right now. In hindsight, he blames himself for telling her to trust her feelings to decide when to let her mother know that her biology is changing – Jackie was not ready to hear it.

The Doctor picks up Tony and takes him into the living room, allowing Pete to comfort his wife. Once in the other room Tony asks, "Where Sissy?"

"She went for a ride. She'll be back in a bit. Would you like to hear a story?" the Doctor says as he tries to sidetrack her little brother. "I could tell you about when I met your sister. Would you like to hear about it?"

Tony looks up at him brightly, saying, "Story?"

"Yes, a story." He takes him over to the sofa and sits down, settling Tony on his lap. He starts to tell him the story, highlighting what his sister did. He shares the images of his memories in the same way that Rose has, but does not forget to speak the words of the story. When he finishes, Tony has calmed down and is content to sit on the Doctor's lap.

Pete comes in and takes his son, sitting in a chair. "Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for keeping him occupied. You're good with kids. You should have your own.

"Jackie went up to bed. I don't know if Rose will come back here or not. I doubt she'll be back tonight. I'll put in a call to Torchwood; have them call when she gets there. That's where she normally goes when she and her mother have a row." He gets up with Tony and heads into the kitchen to feed his son. "I'll get him fed and to bed for the night."

"I'll just – go for a walk," the Doctor replies. He realizes that the argument had to happen, but it didn't make it any easier to hear it. He knows it was hard on Rose, Pete had known it was coming too. He is just hoping that Rose and her mother can reconcile. He also knows that Jackie will have to be the one to start the reconciliation; Rose is not likely to offer her regrets – not this time.

Later, Pete comes out. He offers the Doctor a drink, "You look like you could use one."

"Thanks."

"Security called. Rose arrived. She went to the lab."

The Doctor sighs. He is relieved that she is safe. He sips the drink, trying to think of what to do to try to bring Rose and her mother back together.

Putting a hand on the Doctor's shoulder to show that he understands, Pete says, "Doctor, this was coming anyway. Rose needs to be on her own. Jackie can't bear to let go. It was just those two for so long…"

Replying, the Doctor says, "I know… Then I came along and upset Jackie's safe, comfortable world."

Turning to look out toward the drive and resting his elbows on the rail of the porch, he continues as he takes another sip of his drink, "When I met Rose… I blew up her job. I changed her life forever. She could have blamed me, instead she became my friend. She… fell in love with me… and I couldn't even bring myself to tell her that I loved her in return. I… I will regret that until the day that I die."

Turning to look at Pete, he adds, "After my home was destroyed, I didn't think I could ever love again. She taught me that I could. Her love… She accepted me as who I am. Without conditions. Can you imagine what that means to me?" He pauses in emphasis as he turns away again. "That's why I won't risk it. I will accept her as a friend if that is what she wants. I hope it will grow, but I will not risk her love." Pausing again, he continues more quietly, almost to himself, "I have to give her time… to sort out her feelings."

"I understand there are two of you now," Pete says, as he tries to break the somber mood.

"Yes. It's a long story. Let's just say that we have the same memories and feelings, but I won't be able to regenerate – not as I am now. My other self wanted Rose to have a chance at happiness – the happiness that she deserves."

"I appreciate that. Your original… he realizes how important family is, correct?" The Doctor nods his head. "Did you ever think that he could have left you here because you and she are the only family he has and he wants you safe?"

"I didn't really think of it like that," the Doctor replies, smiling as he considers what Pete is saying. "It's possible." He falls silent as he considers what Pete has just said.

Nodding, as he considers what he has given the Doctor to think about, he adds as he prepares to go inside, "I'll just go inside now. Why don't you come in, too?"

"I'll come in a bit. I'm just going to do some thinking." Pete goes in leaving the Doctor to his thoughts.

The Doctor goes to the lab in the morning and sees Rose working. Going to her, he says, "You look tired. Didn't you get any sleep last night?"

"No," replies Rose, "I couldn't sleep… I needed to get away from the argument."

"So… you worked all night."

"Hmmm," she says as she returns her attention to what she has been doing, concentrating on her work. "I think I have the communications problem solved along with the energy required."

"I'll look at it while you sleep."

"But…"

"Rose," he says as he helps her up and leads her to the sofa in the lab, "you need sleep. You're still recovering from your fall." He sits her down, asking, "Do you have a blanket in here?"

Confused, she asks, "What? But…"

"Rose, just try to relax," he says as he telepathically urges her to sleep. He sits beside her, holding her close and caressing her brow to help to calm her to sleep. "You've had such a bad time of it, haven't you?" he says quietly to himself as she drifts off to sleep, "what with being returned here and all."

Once she is more deeply asleep, he gets up, gently laying her down and covering her with his jacket. He goes over to her computer and starts to review her work. As he looks at it, figuring out what she has done, he comments to himself, "Brilliant… absolutely brilliant… It's so simple…" He continues to comment to himself as he studies her work.

Pete comes in later in the morning. When he sees her asleep, the Doctor at her computer, he says, "Doctor?"

"She was working when I got here. I helped her to get to sleep."

"There's a blanket and pillow in the file cabinet." He goes over and pulls them out. As he covers Rose, Pete says quietly, "She works off the anger, but doesn't sleep until she is so exhausted that she falls asleep at her desk. I'm glad you were able to help her."

"Pete, can you come over here a minute?" the Doctor says to Pete. "I want to show you something."

Pete comes over to see what the Doctor is showing him. "Doctor, I'm not going to even pretend that I can understand any of this. I'm not an engineer."

The Doctor shows him the equations for the new material that Rose has worked up. "This is time energy," he says as he shows Pete a series of equations.

"Time energy? Where would we get that?"

"Cardiff is built on a rift in time and space that leaks energy out of the scar. It's not dangerous to humanity, but it can be harnessed for use. These equations describe how to do it."

"Then it's a good thing that I'm sending you there."

"I'm sorry?"

"She mentioned Cardiff as an alternate site for the dimension cannon before she left to help you. I didn't understand then. I think I do now.

"An alternate site would also get her out on her own. Either you or she would be a logical choice to head it, and there's a void there now that Mickey's gone. She has more experience with alien life than anyone else anywhere in Torchwood other than you, Doctor."

"So, I'm sending the two of you to interface with Torchwood in Cardiff and to locate living space for the two of you. You'll be going today. The reservations are all made. Jake will pick up bags for each of you. I've got to send him out anyway. Oh, and I checked, the men's shop will have your suits here today, too."

"So Rose and I go to Cardiff… this afternoon."

"Yes. I think it's best if we work toward Rose establishing her own household. With you if she wants to. …Yes, I do think that would be best, especially with the changes she's going through. You can tell her when she wakes up." Pete leaves. The Doctor finishes reviewing the work she just completed then works to complete the adaptation to his computer to access the data crystal that Rose made.

Later, Rose wakes up. "Doctor?"

"Brilliant!" he answers as he claps his hands together and gets up from what he has been doing on the computer. "You're awake! Your father's invited us to a late lunch in his office."

"What time is it?"

"About one o'clock. Are you feeling better?"

Rose thinks about it a moment. She is still not fully awake. "I think so… I'm not sure I'm awake yet."

"Come on," he says as he helps her up. "Let's not keep your dad waiting."

When they arrive in Pete's office, Pete and Jake have lunch laid out on the conference table. "Come on and sit down," Pete beckons as they walk in. "Tuck in."

"So," Pete says, "how do you feel about Cardiff? There's a site there …"

"Dad, you know I've mentioned Cardiff before. There's a rift that would provide plenty of energy for the dimension cannon. It would actually take less energy because I wouldn't have to run it through a converter to create the right kind of energy."

Pete smiles as he realizes that she is making the same arguments that she has in the past, but he now understands why as the Doctor explained the differences in the energies to him. "So," he says, "you'll be going to check out the site, looking for a place to install the cannon. While you're at it, look for an apartment or something, you'll both be relocating there."

"Suzie's not going to like it," Rose says. "She likes being in charge."

"We can move her back here, if she doesn't take well to the new situation. She can head one of our troubleshooting teams, just as Jake does… just as you did when needed."

"Rose," adds the Doctor, "from what your dad's been saying, you've asked to be relocated to Cardiff before – along with the dimension cannon. He knows that you need to be out on your own."

"I need to review something I saw in the cannon before we leave…"

"I told him you might need to use it for a bit before we left."

As the meal continues, they discuss the travel arrangements and other details for the project, gradually getting to other small talk. As the meal is winding down and everyone is finishing, Pete says, "Rose, I can't ask you to forget what your mother has done, but, maybe you will be able to forgive her… Later. All I'm asking you to do is to think about it."

"Dad," she says as she starts to cry, quietly. "Dad, I don't know if I can. Not yet."

"I know. I'm only asking you to think about it," he says as he leaves, leaving the Doctor to explain the details to Rose. "Jake, come on."

The Doctor steps over to her as they leave, reaching out to her. She turns to him, tears in her eyes. He wipes the tears from her eyes, kissing her forehead, as he holds her close. "Rose, your dad's giving us time. Time to learn… time to heal… time to…" He doesn't finish the sentence. She gradually calms down.

"Before we go," Rose finally says, "I really do want to check something in the dimension cannon."

"Alright, we'll check it as we're packing computers. I already told your father that you might want to check it. Then we'll head to Cardiff."

They get to the lab. Rose turns on the dimension cannon and searches to find the timeline she is looking for. She finds what she is looking for and follows it through its permutations trying to understand everything in light of what she now knows. She can see the split in the time line, from one to two. She sees her timeline intertwined with it at one point in time, then separated, then joined again at a later date just before the line splits. Her timeline continues on with one of the timelines while there is an energy spike on the other one in the not so distant future. She sees additional timelines stemming off of the timeline joined with hers. She pulls herself away from the cannon and turns it off understanding more of what she has to do. It doesn't change the way she feels, but she knows what she needs to do to bring the Timelords back, preserving hope for the far future.

She goes over to the Doctor, seeing that he has packed up both computers. She takes his hand. "Did you see what you needed to see?" he asks her.

Resigned, she answers, "I think so. Need some help?"

"If you'd like. Go ahead and disconnect your computer. I held off on it while you were studying timelines." They finish packing up computers for the trip and leave with the rest of the items they need.

On the way to the car, Pete intercepts them, saying, "I thought you would already be gone."

"It took a little longer than I thought to check what I needed to," Rose replies. "We're on our way now." She gives her father a hug then leaves.

On the trip to Cardiff, Rose reviews what she has learned studying the timelines. She relaxes as she reviews the information that the cannon revealed and eventually falls asleep. She doesn't really say anything all of the way to Cardiff.