Chapter 9

(Note: Apologies for the short chapter, but I wanted to do it this way rather than end up with a chapter that's 10 or 12 pages long.)

"You're going the wrong way." Quipped Donna, walking quickly to keep up with Jack.

He exhaled, frustrated. "No, I'm not."

"Sure, don't listen to the person that's been living in industrial designed buildings for ten years. I'm sure she wouldn't know anything."

"Now really isn't the time..." Jack mumbled, eyes on a junction in front of them. The hallway split into three corridors, each as bland and featureless as the rest. Along the wall, a map sat in a cheap plastic mount.

Donna barely glanced at the sign, and continued straight ahead. As she passed Jack, he raised his head to say something, but decided it was easier simply to give up. He trotted to catch up to her, and they continued down the hallway in silence.

The Doctor stared up in wonder at Ianto Jones, trying to regain his balance. He felt Rose take his hand and pull him to his feet. He couldn't have been more happy to see Martha, and Gwen as well.

"Right." The Doctor said, tugging at his jacket and then calmly smoothing his tie. He smiled at his new companions. "Run!"

He bolted down the stairs, careening madly. Martha kept right behind him, with Rose, Ianto and Gwen in the rear.

"Where are we going?" Called Ianto, too out of breath to add 'sir'.

"Down!" The Doctor hollered back.

Rose turned to Ianto as they rounded another landing. "The TARDIS is down there." She gasped, her hair partially obscuring her face as they ran. Ianto said nothing, watching the woman. He'd never trusted someone less in his life but here she was, running with them.

"Here we are." Said Donna proudly, arriving at a seemingly unimportant door, no different than the dozens they'd passed before.

"The central staircase." He said, working out the map in his mind.

Donna nodded, smiling.

Jack grinned. "Let's go." He opened the door, then bowed, extending his hand. "Ladies first."

Donna eyed him critically, but stepped through the open door, just in time to hear a whooshing sound above her become very loud, and very painful.

Having just sprung over another railing onto the stairs below him, the Doctor had very little control over where he was going to land – especially when Donna Noble stood exactly where he had anticipated to be standing himself. He tried to call out, to warn her - "Donna, watch out!" Unfortunately, and much to the Doctor's aggravation, all that came out was a high pitched yelp as his feet slammed into Donna's chest, throwing her backwards into Jack. The Doctor leaned forward in a desperate attempt to latch onto the door jam, but his momentum propelled him forward. He actually wasn't very clear on what happened after that, but he was sure how it ended.

The Doctor's feet were rested on Donna's stomach as he lay flat on his back, staring up at Martha and Rose, who'd arrived first to the accident. Below Donna was Jack, trying his best to push himself to a sitting position.

Donna swung around as he struggled. "You pervert!" She howled, slapping him across the face. Jack turned his head back, grinning.

"You know, I once read that people see what they want to see."

"Meaning?" Donna asked threateningly, raising her hand again.

Jack shrugged, deciding that one slap was enough (For now, that was – he made a mental note to mention the incident to Ianto later), and pulled himself free. The Doctor was still looking up towards Rose and Martha, who'd been joined by Ianto and Gwen. He couldn't suppress a wide grin as he caught their eyes.

Reaching to his head, the Doctor rolled over, groaning. He rested on one arm, pushing himself up. Rose and Martha stood next to him, each with their hands extended. Reaching up groggily, he grabbed Martha's hand and she hauled him up.

"Jack!" He said happily. "And you've got my coat. Brilliant!"

Jack passed the jacket to him. "I also have something else of yours." He said, reaching into his pocket and producing the Sonic Screwdriver. Rose's eyes grew large when she saw it, and she stepped back unconsciously.

The Doctor stared incredulously. "What?"

"What do you mean, 'what'?" Jack asked. "I picked it up after you disappeared. You had to have known it was missing."

Frowning, he took the screwdriver from Jack. It was of the exact same design as the one he'd held minutes ago. Slowly he turned the top, and it emitted a low whine. He held it to his ear carefully.

"Doctor -" Jack began.

"Shhhhhhhh!" He hissed, eyes closed.

"This isn't possible." He murmured, spinning the sonic between his thumb and index finger. This screwdriver was a year old – the exact same age as his previous. The same grip, the same crystalline emitter, even the same gentle wear marks on the grip.

"We can work it out later, right?" Asked Rose, looking up the stairwell apprehensively.

The Doctor nodded. He smiled at the group. "Alright gang, and I really, honestly hate that word, to the TARDIS!"

As he throttled down the stairs again, the Doctor kept his grip on the screwdriver. His suspicions had finally been confirmed, but he had to wait. His grip tightened. She'd lied to him, again. But this time, he wasn't angry. In fact, he was elated.

They finally reached the bottom of the stairwell. The door easily gave way to the sonic, opening into a spacious laboratory. It's broad, circular room was equipped with the most modern technology of the time, plus a few items the Doctor didn't immediately recognize. The TARDIS sat in the middle, it's door open and held in place by bundles of thick wiring. Clean white light spilled from it in sharp contrast to the dim lighting of the lab. The Doctor bounded forward, swinging his arm up beckoning the others to follow.

He'd never felt better to step foot into the TARDIS. He stood at the entrance, gazing happily at the time rotor. Now he could get to the business of setting things right, he thought cheerfully. Now he -

His thoughts were cut short by a shoulder slamming into his arm. Gingerly he pulled it away to see Donna rushing by, followed by Jack, Rose, Martha, Gwen, and lastly Ianto. What quiet peace he'd experienced was cut short by bursts of chatter, the noise of boots and heels on the deck, and most certainly, by him.

"Ok, ok, so, first things first. Don't. Touch. Anything. Unless I tell you to, in which case you should. Second, when I'm talking, you all be quiet. Third, you," He pointed at Rose with the sonic. "Need to explain this right now."

"What do you mean, me?" She asked, glancing nervously as everyone's eyes settled on her.

"Don't play stupid." The Doctor sighed, tossing her the device. Gingerly she caught it. "Did I leave you a codeword? A pass phrase? If I did, just forget about it, and tell me what I said when I gave it to you."

Martha's stare shifted to the Doctor. "What do you mean, when you gave it to her?"

Jack attempted to stifle a snicker, and was greatly aided by the Doctor and Martha both glaring at him.

"She knows." The Doctor said simply, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Rose sighed, and sat down. "I don't know what to say. I only remembered anything about where it came from after I saw it. It's like remembering was... forbidden." She tossed it back and he caught it, already headed to the central console. Reaching down, he grabbed a set of tools from under the control panel and began methodically taking the screwdriver apart.

"Shouldn't be surprising to you. Hasn't been the first time the TARDIS has locked knowledge from you." He said, putting on his glasses, his gaze not deviating from the screwdriver.

Rose was silent, her eyes flicking back and forth as she looked at the floor. Slowly she looked up at him.

"Doctor."

"Hmm?" He asked.

"Doctor."

He looked up. "Yes?"

"You came back." She said quietly.

"I suppose I will. I did." He scratched his head. "English just doesn't have enough conjugations to handle things like this."

She smiled slightly. "You came back..."

"Rose, what did I tell you when I gave you this? It's important."

"You came back, and you hid it from me." Her eyes were like daggers as her expression hardened.

The Doctor sighed. "And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but I wouldn't have done so unless it was important Rose, you know that."

This was getting all a bit heavy for Donna. She stood up, and loudly declared, "I'm getting tea – if you want some, come with me."

She started towards the door, and noticed one person markedly not following her: Jack. "OI."

Jack swung his head. "I'm good, thanks."

The Doctor, not looking away from Rose, said quietly, "Why don't you go eat?"

"I'd rather -"

"It's not a question." He replied softly, but firmly.

Begrudgingly, Jack turned and followed Donna to the kitchen, leaving the Doctor and Rose in the center of the TARDIS.