A/N: Hi! Back to school tomorrow (urgh) and the work will begin, so I figured I try and squeeze in another update. Thank you so much to alaine.105, JForward and DWIAgal for their lovely reviews, it really means a lot. Here's the next bit and I really hope you like it! And before I forget, I obviously don't own it.

The Doctor and Rose stared at each other in silence for a moment. Rose reached up her hand to try and brush away but the Doctor caught her wrist.
"Don't," he said sharply. "I'm not going to let it hurt you." Rose snorted.

"Unless I'm going barmy, I think it's a bit late for that." Her gaze returned to the glowing specs.

"What are they, then?" Slowly, the Doctor reached out a hand and brushed a few particles from his skin. His face split into a giant grin. "Let's find out!" Grabbing Rose's hand in his own free one, he dragged her down the corridor, sprinting towards the lab. He flung open the door.

"Dr Cloudan!" he yelled. "Dr Cloudan." The older creature's head shot up form where it had rested on the desk.

"What is it?" the scientist asked.
"I know what's happening. Well, I don't know yet, but I will soon! Rose and I have both been infected, and I have some of whatever it is on the back of my neck. I don't fancy keeping it on there for much longer though, so if I could run it through one of your DNA testers I would much obliged. Chop, chop man, haven't got all day, hop to it!" Dr Cloudan blinked slowly. Suddenly, his eyes shot to awareness, and he was out of his chair in an instant, gesturing the Doctor further into the lab.

"How can you be certain that this is the cause of infection?" he asked.
"Well, I've had mysterious visions and several small, glowing things appeared on my neck. Seems pretty suspicious." Dr Cloudan nodded. He swung open a door to reveal a huge device. It resembled a washing machine, except with countless bright buttons and viewing screens. The Doctor winced.

"That's all you've got? Bit primitive, and-Oof!" Rose elbowed him in the ribs, hard. "Am I being rude again?"
"Yup," Rose grinned. Her blood was pounding in her ears, adrenaline surging through her veins, and she knew without looking that she had that massive, stupid grin on her face that only came from the rush of solving a mystery. For a moment, it was as if nothing had changed. Then she caught sight of the glowing spores on the Doctor's neck –they feed on darkness- and she was brought crashing back down to reality. The Doctor seemed not to notice. He was already pulling the particles off his neck with strong fingers. Rose could see tiny bloody dots where they had left in the skin. He dumped the specks into the main apartment, and with clever fingers activated the machine. Lights started flashing immediately, as the glowing dots were whirled round and round. Information started to feed into one of the screens, and the Doctor was in front of it immediately, digging his fingers into the metal. Rose saw his eyes light up, and smiled, bouncing up next to him.

"What is it, then?" she asked.

"Psychic pollen," he replied. "It's a parasite; feeds off the darkness in you, both figuratively and literally. Needs heat to activate. Originally from the Candle Meadows of Karass Don Slava –must have infected a traveller who brought it here. They're a long way from home."

"And how do we stop it?" the Doctor spun around to face her.
"It's a parasite," he grinned. "A pest! And what do you use for pests? Pesticides!" He raced into the laboratory, Dr Cloudan and Rose hot on his heels.

"A plan," said Rose. "You've got a plan then? A way to stop it."
"Course I do," the Doctor exclaimed. "I'm brilliant!" He whizzed around the room, pulling chemicals from shelves and occasionally wincing at what Rose could only assume was the lack of one.
"Anything I can do to help, Doctor?" asked Dr Cloudan.
"Certainly. If you could just combine the polyhydro-" the scientist rushed to help, while Rose gaped, mouth hanging open slightly. She rammed her fists into her pockets. Again, the Doctor was saving the day and again, she was doing nothing to help. What a useless-

"Hibi!" Dr Cloudan's shouts cut across her thoughts. "Could you bring in 50 cromons of faltine please! Quickly now!" The girl raced in, tripped and went careening into the table. As if in slow motion, she hit the metal surface, and beakers and test-tubes shattered to the floor. Rose could only watch in horror as the psychic pollen particles she had been admiring earlier were scattered across the room. They latched onto the four creatures. The Doctor's eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed across the workbench.
"Doctor!" Rose screamed. She ran over to him, shaking his shoulders, and then desperately slapping his cheeks. "It's no good," she yelled at the stricken Dr Cloudan. "I can't wake him." The Doctor's face contorted into a mask of pain, and he suddenly went rigid. His arms and legs began to flail wildly, catching Rose across the cheek.
"I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry," Hibi was stuttering in the background. Dr Cloudan was talking to her, whether words of reassurance or condemnation she was unsure. She watched as the Doctor helplessly writhed on the ground. If they couldn't wake him up, they were all doomed.

A/N: *dramatic music, dramatic music.* I really hoped you like this bit; I have explanations for everything that has happened which will be put in later, but if I'm missing anything blindingly obvious please let me know. Only a couple more chapters now; I really hope you're enjoying it and please do review and tell me what yo uthink?