A/N: Two chapters in one week! I hope that sort of makes up for the year that I was missing. It's still another short chapter though, but I feel like I do way better in short increments. If anyone has any advice on how to write longer, engaging chapter,s please message me. I just feel like my longer chapters dragged too much. ALso, I again apologize for any grammatical errors.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer alert- Flashback uses script from the episode "Father's Day" from DW of course.


Rose made the slow trek back up the stairs. Her feet felt like lead as she trudged back to the main floor like a scolded child. She rounded a corner and the hum of the party grew louder as she continued solemnly down the hallway. However, a pair of voices caught her attention above the gregarious clamour.

At first, the voices were muddled due to distance, but soon they became clearer and clearer. She found it strange that they were headed toward this part of the manor when they had security sectioning off this part of the house. Her apprehension piqued when one of the voices became more familiar.

"This way, follow me," she heard the voice of her father say.

"Very well," another voice replied. She stopped in her tracks as the two men came around the corner. Her father jumped a little, but the other only looked agitated by her presence. Her brows furrowed when she recognized the man that she had met earlier that evening. What was his name again? I think it started with an E? No, no… an L for sure…

"Will this be problematic?" the man asked.

Her father shook his head quickly, almost anxiously, "no, no… Luis," he raised his hands as though to placate the man, "I think everything should still be fine."

"Dad?" she asked warily, eyeing them both suspiciously.

"Rose! Love," her father seemed to fumble over the words too quickly before he approached her further. The lines in his forehead seemed to crease further in his skull as he rounded on her. She could barely comprehend what he was doing before he grabbed both of her shoulders.

"Go back to the party and find your mum. I have some business I have to take care of," he said but suddenly leaned in close to her ear, "I love you. Tell your mum and Tony that I love them too." As he retreated, she noticed how his lips dipped into a frown and his eyes were slightly misted.

Rose knew this scene felt all too familiar. An awful wave of deja-vu washed over her. It was like the day she tried to save her dad-her real dad-many years ago.


Her dad stood before her while shimmying into his suit jacket,"the car that should have killed me, love. It's here. The Doctor worked it out way back, but he, er, he tried to protect me," he flattened out his shirt and tie with nervous conviction, "Still, he's not in charge anymore. I am."

"But you can't," she choked, her eyes fluttering from the tears that threatened to spill.

"Who am I, love?" he reached to touch her cheek and her face scrunched with bitter-sweet emotion.

"My daddy," she whispered.

Her mind skipped through the memory quickly before remembering one of the last things he said to her.

"I never read you those bedtime stories. I never took you on those picnics. I was never there for you."

"You would have been," she said.

"But I can do this for you. I can be a proper dad to you now."

"But it's not fair," she cried.

"I've had all these extra hours. No one else in the world has ever had that. And on top of that, I got to see you," he reached for her cheek again, "and you're beautiful. How lucky am I, eh? So, come on, do as your dad says," he said, straightening out. She reluctantly reached for the vase behind her before giving it to him. Her heart felt like shattering. "You going to be there for me, love?" he asked and she nodded, "thanks for saving me," he reached for her and gave her a big hug. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she held onto him for the first and only time.


Her dad's touch brought her back to the present. Pete's hands trembled when he squeezed her shoulder, "come on, do as your dad says," he finished with a quivering smile. She stared at him in horror as the memory of those same words came back to haunt her.

"Let's talk over here," her dad said suddenly to the man while gesturing forward. He turned back to her and gave her a tight lipped grin. He began to walk past her with the man at his heels.

She felt her pulse quicken and her breathing became more shallow. She recognized that panic was commandeering every nerve in her body. She didn't know why she felt like she was losing her dad all over again.

He's just going to talk to someone for God's sake! She berated herself. How irrational can you be? Paranoid, much, Rose? However, she couldn't help but ask: was it her anxiety and PTSD that were hijacking her mind or did she have a legitimate reason to be concerned? It was driving her mad.

"Dad… wait!"

He stopped and turned back to her, "Just some business, love, I promise. Nothing to worry about," her dad said quickly while backing up from her, "you going to be there for me when I come back, love?" he smiled. She could only nod dumbly. "Good," he said, "alright, let's go then." The man-Luis-followed him but not before eyeing her suspiciously.

She was about to protest again before she heard a blood-curdling scream. Her heart jumped, and her body grew stiff. Her eyes sought her father's but found that he and the man were walking briskly in the opposite direction. She wanted to call out to him, beg him to stop but the sound of screaming grew into a chorus of shrieks. She had to make a choice.

"Shit."

She quickly kicked off her heels and picked up the train of her dress, "shit, shit, shit…" she swore as she bolted toward the source of screaming.

She paused as soon as she reached the ballroom. She blinked, attempting to make sense of the scene. A crowd was gathering in front of the windows. Many women held their hands to their mouths with eyes wide with terror. Rose approached and pushed her way to the front.

"Hey!" a man hissed when she accidentally stepped on his foot. She didn't offer an apology; her eyes were glued to the large windows that revealed the front of the manor outside.

"Oh my God."

A car was on fire! It was rolling slowly into the driveway and toward the manor. Flames flickered and lapped up the interior. Hot yellow and orange tendrils danced and leapt out of the open widows. The contrast of the darkness and the light from the burning vehicle created an eery, hypnotizing glow. It rolled so close that she could read the license plate from where she stood. However, she forced herself to look closely for details-anything out of the ordinary-

Her eyes widened.

There in the midst of the flames, was a timer plastered to the front of the car.

"Everyone, backup! BACKUP NOW!" she screamed. She turned towards the crowd and saw their faces become confused. Some started to back up but many held their ground. "Did you not hear me? BACK AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS!"

"You heard my daughter!" Rose heard her mother say. She made eye contact with her from the back of the crowd and nodded to her in appreciation. Jackie began pulling at a man's arm, "She said, MOVE!"

Rose opened her arms up and made a "swooshing" movement. The crowd finally got the hint and started to run toward the back of the room. Rose turned toward the window and saw the timer was down to five seconds.

"RUN!" She shouted.

She started to bolt from the window but it was too late.

There was a blinding flash-like hot lightning-before a huge ball of flames burst and belched outward with terrifying vengeance. The windows didn't stand a chance. They rattled with feverish complaint until they exploded on impact. A whistle of splinters and shattering glass deafened the room. Rose was hurled forward and rolled several feet over broken glass. She yelped in pain as each shard carved and sliced her skin. Smoke and fire spit with hot fury. Flames quickly lapped up the remaining curtains hanging by a thread.

Her face was flat on the marble floor, which had an odd cooling touch, all things considered. However, a piercing ring consumed her mind and shred her rationale to pieces. Her eyes were unable to focus-the whole world was spinning. She tried to blink away the dizziness but found that doing so made everything around her whirl faster. She attempted to move but each limb seemed to yelp with hot, searing pain. She left them alone and allowed the darkness that kept playing "peek-a-boo" with her eyes to finally win over.