Chapter 3 – Trustworthy

Clara's promise gave the Doctor strength.

He started to bustle about all around the console and soon, the TARDIS landed with unusual ease.

A proud smile brightened his face. 'Well, here we are, safe and sound – still safe and sound, I mean. This is the plan: one of us get's the Angel's attention; the others run into Sarah Jane's house, get her out safely and hurry back to the TARDIS.'

'Doctor...' Clara said and frowned demonstratively, 'you are aware that one of us will be in constant danger for at least ten minutes while the other three evacuate your friend?'

The Time Lord looked at each of his companions. None of them seemed convinced by his cunning plan.

'But what else could we possibly do?' he asked stubbornly. 'Without distraction we would be trapped in another time in a few seconds!'

'Clara is right' River agreed, 'What about the person who has to wait? They wouldn't last longer than two seconds as well.'

A sudden movement of the TARDIS threw all of the rescuers on their backs – except for the Doctor who slipped through a gap into a deeper level of machinery.

As so often, he was glad he didn't only have two hearts but also a very resistant skull because he fell right on top of his head which made an unhealthy sounding crunching noise, but didn't hurt too much. Nevertheless, he needed some time before his vision went from funny colours everywhere back to normal.

Although everything was clear again, the Doctor couldn't believe his eyes. He wasn't alone in the machinery, someone was sitting there; a someone with blond hair and big blue eyes and full lips that were predestined to speak a very British accent.

'Rose?!' whispered the Doctor in shock.

Those well known lips smiled. 'No' they answered, 'I'm not her. I'm an interface that originated in your brain. I use her face because I wanted to talk to you and I couldn't do that ever since that day on that planet. We built a double of me, remember?'

The Doctor's eyes widened in surprise.

'You actually are my old girl?'

Another smile, this time with a hint of sass. 'Oh yes' the interface said, 'your good old faithful TARDIS and this time in a body that doesn't just die from me being in it.'

'But – this is no real body, is it? It's just a hologram, like – Amelia's and Donna's interface. Right?' the Doctor asked.

'Not exactly. I'm not a simple, soulless projection. I really am your TARDIS, not only with a data core but also with memories and some weird emotions I don't fully understand yet, but I surely will some day; and I know what you're thinking right now, I know your plan.'

The Doctor ignored her implications and reached for his screwdriver.

'Do you really want me to disappear' the TARDIS wanted to know, 'or are you just scared, Time Lord? You're already sure that I'm not lying because machines can't lie, not even those from Gallifrey. Trust me, Doctor, I can help you and your former companion. I remember Sarah Jane just like I remember every single other companion and every place in time and space we ever visited.

I have never let you down, so let me help you.'

'Who are you talking to down there, dear?' River shouted. 'Are you okay?'

'Yes, of course, I'm absolutely fine' the Doctor muttered just loud enough for his wife to hear the very last word. Then he stared at his TARDIS again.

'You are my first and oldest and steadiest companion, I guess' he murmured more to himself than to her. ' The question is if you are trustworthy because of that.'

The smile on Rose's face that wasn't hers slightly faded.

'How can you still think I'm unworthy?! I might be nothing but a stupid box like your friend Clara always reminds you, but if I'm one thing than this is faithful. I never betrayed you and you know that very, very well.'

After a long observant glance at her, the Doctor sighed heavily.

'Good. Fine. I trust you. But don't disappoint me or there will be consequences.'

The interface's smile returned to its old brightness. 'Well then – I asume you are not going to tell your friends about my real identity in case they don't agree with your strategy?'

The Time Lord nodded. 'You know what you have to do?'

'Of course.'

With a last theatralic clearing of his throat the Doctor started to climb up the steep stairs until he finally stood amongst his confused companions again.

'What happened?!' Clara asked with a very leery expression on her face.

'To be completely honest – I don't really know.'

River shook her head in disbelief.

'We all know what kind of things connect you and your ship, sweetheart. Don't lie to us.'

The Doctor started kneeding his hands more nervously than ever before. 'River, just trust me on this. I found someone unexpected and she volunteers to distract the Weeping Angels. Please don't try to squeeze the truth out of me.'

Confused, but almost convinced, River stepped back and crossed her arms. 'Who is it, then?'

The Doctor took a deep breath. 'I warn you, she's – fragile. Don't try to touch her or she might react in a very uncomfortable way.'

'Who is it, Doctor?!' Jack asked impatiently.

'It's Rose.'

Jack's jaw dropped even more satisfyingly puzzled than Clara's did earlier as Rose appeared on top of the stairs.

She had put on a very convincing disturbed face.

'Doctor, are you sure she's able to distract and then run from the Angels? She looks quite – tired.' Clara remarked in a worried tone.

The interface put on a calm grin.

'No, I'm alright. Believe me, it's best if I do this. The Angels can't touch me.'

'How-' River started, but her husband interrupted her immediately.

'The truth – later – okay?'

'Fine. But it's a little curious how someone-'

'River.'

'Please excuse that I try to analyze a situation that makes no sense at all.'

'It will make sense later on, I promise. But right now, it's better for all of you not to know.'

The Doctor turned to the putative Rose.

'Are you ready?'

'Always.'

And without saying goodbye or hearing a 'good luck', Rose turned around, marshed towards the door and disappeared through it. In the moment the blue wood closed behind her, the console turned dark.

'Doctor, what does this mean?' Clara whispered into his ear, 'why did the light go out?'

He looked at the black silhouette of her head and found the shimmering light spots that marked her eyes.

'We need to go, Clara. The Weeping Angels can't be distracted by a trick forever.'

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AN: Sorry for such unregular updates, I try to update twice a week, but sometimes it's just not possible. Btw: Did you notice the thingy I hid in there with 'trust me on this?'

(And thanks to all the readers)

(And sorry for all the mistakes that were in the first version of this chapter)