A/N As always thanks so much for the reviews. I hope I did this episode justice, tell me any time its getting boring or anything. Happy reading :D

Disclaimer: I own no rights to Doctor Who.


Chapter 9 Idiot's Lantern

Martha coughed out in a loud laugh as soon as the scene finished shaping itself, seeing Rose in a ridiculously pink dress and matching hair band and high-heeled shoes, denim jacket over the top. Through her giggles she glanced at the Doctor to see him staring at Rose in utter delight, obviously enjoying the view, one of the most easy to read looks on his face Martha thought she had ever seen, only making her laugh harder. She never dressed up for the time period specifically to avoid things like that, though it did seem to suit the girl amazingly well and come to think of it, based on the look the Doctor was still shooting at the image maybe if she wanted him to notice her she should have.

"I thought we'd be going for the Vegas era, you know the white flares and the," her nose scrunched up, making a tiny growling noise and making a claw with her hand, making the Doctor's grin widen, "chest hair."

Finally the other Doctor poked his head round the TARDIS door, his hair gelled back, that being the first time Martha could ever recall seeing the Doctor's hair being neat in any why, let alone styled.

"You are kidding, aren't you? You want to see Elvis, you go in the late 50's!" Martha gleefully took note that his eyes flicked uncontrollably to give the blonde a once over, a maneuver she could just imagine the Doctor was doing right then but not bothering to turn to check. "The time before burgers, when they called him 'the Pelvis' and he still had a waist," he called from inside the TARDIS again.

Rose laughed and the real Doctor relished in the sound, keying away everything they saw, making sure to take note of all the small details he had missed before. He remembered having some of the same thoughts, though less intense, after this very adventure, never letting her know just how shaken up he was after seeing her with no face, no personality, nothing that made her Rose.

The smile slipped slightly from his face, the beginnings of a frown appearing. He knew he was confusing Martha with all his sudden mood swings but after being in that room for so long, sometimes he almost forgot, because he wanted to, that these were just memories, though if he really forgot he'd be over there trying to catch her up in his arms in an instant. But that just made it all the more painful when he had an urge to go comfort his beautiful little human and he had to come crashing back to reality and to the fact that she was still as far away as eve, though the tiniest modicum of hope was beginning to well in him that it wouldn't be forever, but it was so small he still refused to let himself feel it.

"What's more, you see him in style!" They heard the sound of an engine coming from within the TARDIS before Martha's mouth fell open in gaping shock and envy as he rode out on a blue moped, sunglasses and helmet already in place, Rose laughing in amusement the whole while.

The Doctor looked over at her with a cheeky grin and put on a fake Elvis accent. "You goin' my way, doll?"

Rose smiled back and put on a pair of pink sunglasses, attitude dripping off her movements, also using an accent as she spoke like an American. "Is there any other way to go, daddy-o? Straight from the fridge, man!" She began laughing at the end of her own sentence and walked towards him, almost skipping with pleasure.

"Hey, you speak the lingo!" He tossed her a pink version of the same helmet occupying his head, her catching it and putting it on while climbing onto the back.

"Yeah well me, mum, Cliff Richard movies every Bank Holiday Monday." As she settled behind him Martha couldn't help but once again think that were she in the same position with the Doctor there was no way he would look as relaxed as he did with Rose, smiling at her over his shoulder and his expression only intensifying as they took off and Rose wrapped her arms rather unnecessarily around his waist tightly.

"Ah, Cliff! I knew your mother'd be a Cliff fan."

The street faded into another and the Doctor and Rose were still astride the moped, coming around a corner and stopping, gazing in confusion at tall gates that were closed off with two men sweeping the ground in front of it.

The Doctor stared up at the tall gates, bemused. "Lost them. How'd they get away from us?" He asked rhetorically.

Rose shot an annoyed look at his back. "Surprised they didn't turn back and arrest you for reckless driving, have you actually pass your test." Martha smiled as he ignored her, calling into play his selective hearing that he used at the best of times, she snorted at her own thoughts sarcastically.

"Men in black? Vanishing police cars? This is Churchill's England, not Stalin's Russia!"

"Why were you chasing them?" She asked the still stiff man beside her.

"We had just seen them taking a man from his home and stealing him away. A boy told us people were turning into monsters." He let a sliver of fake mysteriousness slip into his voice for her benefit and cocked his eyebrow at her, glad to see her smile in return.

They turned back in time to hear Rose saying, "Maybe we should go and ask the neighbors."

The Doctor spoke to her sweetly over his shoulder, smiling slyly. "That's what I like about you. The domestic approach."

Rose again changed her voice comically as she grinning widely at his comment. "Thank you." She stopped and seemed to think about it for a second. The Doctor kicked the moped back into life a just the right second as she figured it out and Martha heard Rose's unsure, but offended, question as they sped off.

"Hold on, was that an insult?"

Without anything further Martha found herself looking down at the Doctor and Rose from beside a rather large man, the two of them looking up at him from the doorway with huge, fake and cheesy grins covering their faces.

"Hiiiiii!" They exclaimed in perfectly synchronized cheerful chorus, Martha thinking that they probably didn't even have to practice to do that so perfectly, knowing being so in sync with each other was a natural thing, even when acting as they so obviously were.

"Who are you, then?" The big man questioned aggressively, Martha instantly took a rather large disliking to him.

The Doctor spoke low, tilting his head just slightly in Rose's direction so only she would hear him. "Let's see then, judging by the look of you - family man, nice house, decent wage, fought in the war - therefore, I represent Queen and country!" He held up his psychic paper now talking to the man, grin still in place. "Just doing a little check of Her Majesty's forthcoming subjects for the great day. Don't mind if I come in? Nah, didn't think you did, thank you." They pushed in past the man rudely as Martha registered that they were at the coronation of the Queen, wondering if that was important.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the Doctor glowering strongly at the large, dark haired man and wondered just what the man did to provoke such a stare.

Once inside, the Doctor and Martha following the Doctor and Rose into the living room, the four of them looked around. "Not bad, very nice! Very well kept, I'd like to congratulate you, Mrs.?" He looked to the woman standing meekly in the corner.

"Connolly." She said simply, shooting anxious looks at her stern husband.

"Now then Rita, I can handle this. This gentleman's a proper representative!" The man spoke loudly over his wife and Martha watched as the Doctor sent a reassuring wink to Mrs. Connolly, Rose perching herself on the arm of the chair quietly, observing attentively. "Don't mind the wife, she rattles on a bit."

The Doctor looked back at the man distastefully and scowled at him. "Well, maybe she should rattle on a bit more." He ignored the shocked looks he received all round. "I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty. Nice flags. Why are they not flying?" Martha then saw a bundle of tangled union flags on a side table and smirked at the horrible man, just waiting for one of the men to lose their anger.

"There we are Rita, I told you get them up, Queen and country." The Doctor looks at him with his eyebrows raised, not impressed by his attitude towards the small woman.

"I'm sorry-"

"What's she sorry for, she didn't do anything wrong!" Martha stated, outraged. Dealing with monsters and aliens was everyday work for them but coming upon an abused family really got to her because it's obvious that's what they were, even if the abuse wasn't physical.

"Get it done, do it now." The Doctor held up a hand, looking between the two, Rose frowning at Mr. Connolly in disgust from her place on the chair.

"Hold on a minute-"

"Like the gentleman says–"

"Hold on a minute. You've got hands, Mr. Connolly. Two big hands! Why is that your wife's job?" Martha wondered how he would explain that one, since it was clear this was a time when it was commonality for the woman to do the housework.

"It's housework, innit? Mr. Connolly responded, proving Martha's point.

The Doctor plastered a surprised and shocked look on his face. "And that's a woman's job?"

"Course it is!"

The Doctor stepped closer to him, beginning to look threatening. "Mr. Connolly, what gender is the Queen?" Martha smirked again at the dumbfounded look on the mans greasy face.

"She's a female."

"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" She saw the son grin happily as Mr. Connolly looked stricken, hesitating in his answer.

"No, not at all." The bulbous man replied unconvincingly.

The Doctor picked up the string of flags and half handed, half threw, them at him. "Then get busy."

"Right, yes sir."

"Ah, that was fun," the Doctor said from her side, somewhat more lighthearted than before. "Rose was brilliant," he added, almost making it sound like an after thought but probably wanting to acknowledge it since the memory started. Martha smiled; she thought she was getting better at reading him.

"You'll be proud of us, sir. We'll have Union Jacks left, right and centre." Rose suddenly stood from were she was sitting, placing her hands on her hips, as the Doctor slowly paced back across the room, watching interestedly.

Excuse me, Mr. Connolly, hang on a minute. Union Jacks?" She raised an eyebrow at him in mock offence.

He paused in his work and turned to look at her. "Yes, that's right, isn't it?"

"That's the Union Flag. It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea," she replied confidently, staring him down impressively.

"Oh, oh, I'm sorry I do apologize."

Rose smiled at him widely, patronizingly. "Well don't get it wrong again, there's a good man. Now get to it!" She ordered him forcefully, looking proud of herself as he turned back to his work and she sent the Doctor a coy smile, seating herself right beside him on the sofa.

"Nice," Martha nodded approvingly, wondering how they were always so comfortable with no personal space as their faces lent together to talk quietly to each other.

"Yeah," the Doctor replied nostalgically.

"Union Flag?" He questioned her, glancing down at her in bewilderment.

"Mum went out with a sailor." She grinned up at his face that was so very close to hers.

"Oohohohoo, I bet she did!" He raised his voice again as she laughed at him, Martha wondering just how invested he got into not only Rose, but her family. Every time she brought it up the Doctor blatantly, outright refused to associate with hers but it sounded like he knew Rose's mother rather well, looked like it too based on the things they had seen before. He's afraid of losing another family.

With that the scene fast forwarded what looked to be only a minute or two, though she couldn't tell for sure and she wasn't going to bother asking the Doctor, knowing he was, and had been, watching everything intensely like he was trying to imprint everything perfectly in his mind for a second time.

"Hold on a minute! Queen and country's one thing, but this is my house!" He looked down at the flags in his hands and chucked them down. The Doctor propped his head on his forearm and balled fist, appearing calm but giving the distinct impression that he was restraining himself.

Martha looked back at the bigger man who seemed to be turning a dark red. He's in trouble now. She hardly ever saw that look on the Doctor's face but when she did she always tried to duck for cover.

"What the… What the hell am I doing? Now you listen here, Doctor! You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business!"

The Doctor spoke at him scathingly. "All the people are being bundled into-"

The other man interrupted, shouting at the Doctor loudly and signing his own death warrant. "I am talking!"

Something in the Doctor seemed to snap and he was up and out of his seat in a second flat, face only centimeters from the other mans as his face contorted with anger and he shouted even louder, looming over the stubby man.

"And I'm not listening! Now you, Mr. Connolly, are staring into a deep, dark PIT of trouble if you don't let me help." The other man was clearly shaken and the only person in the room without any fear seemed to be Rose, who was beside the wife, comforting her quietly. Even Martha felt a shrill of foreboding at such a strong attack coming from the Doctor and it would take someone who knew him incredible, indefinably well to be able to be completely comfortable in the same room as the raging Time Lord.

Her eyes found Rose and she deflated again, being reminded for the thousandth time why she would never be with the Doctor. After all, now that she thought about it, she hardly knew him at all and suddenly she didn't want to because it only felt like she would be intruding were she didn't belong.

At her internal revelation she hardly even noticed the change, only catching her attention when a large, burly man brutally punched the Doctor in the face forcing him to the ground in an unconscious collapse.

"Doctor!" Rose screamed in horror as he went down, following him to the ground and bending over him; face a picture of extreme worry. Martha didn't think that had ever happened to the Doctor before, it was such a common thing that it seemed like it should never happen to such an uncommon man.

After she had the time to really take in the extent of Rose's, perhaps unnecessary, dismay the focus changed, now Rose was by herself in a shop full of televisions, the Doctor no where in sight.

"I'm sure you'll find somewhere to watch it. Please go." The man standing near the door said, his voice shaking with nerves.

"Seems to me half of London's got a television, since you're practically giving them away." Rose stated suspiciously, glaring at him in determination to get answered, once again taking the lead in investigation so well that Martha considered her almost as good as the Doctor.

"I have my reasons." He responded noncommittally.

But she kept pushing, though the man was potentially dangerous. "And what are they?"

Though the Doctor wasn't sure he wanted to keep watching, knowing without a doubt how this scene was going to end, he couldn't help the mass amount of pride that welled in him as he watched her question the man confidently. She was such a natural and if he wasn't so overly protective of her he probably wouldn't have minded her wondering off so many times when they were still travelling together.

One of the TV's behind them flashed on and an old fashioned woman wailed out at them. "Hungry! Hungry!" Martha didn't like the look of the woman and felt something akin to fear at her whines but ignored it, she was just an image wasn't she?

"What's that?" Rose asked, jumping in shock.

"It's just a television. One of these modern programmes. Now, I really do think you should leave! Right now!" Martha frowned, there was no way the man was telling the truth.

"Not until you've answered my questions. How comes your televisions are so cheap?" Her voice grew firmer and louder, patience waning as he still refused to talk to her and her very own brand of anger clearly welling up inside.

I wonder if she got that from the Doctor as well?

"It's my patriotic duty. Seems only right that as many folk as possible get to watch the coronation. We may be losing the Empire but we can still be proud. Twenty million people they reckon'll be watching, imagine that." Rose smiled, obviously unconvinced as she stared the man down, still not moving to leave. "And twenty million people can't be wrong, eh? So why don't you get yourself back home and get up, bright and early, for the big day?" He once again tried to usher her out of the shop and Martha knew he was going to lose, badly.

"Nah, I'm not leaving 'til I've seen everything."

A quick fast forward later and Martha shook her head, trying to keep up with the quick changes.

"What a pretty little girl." The woman on the TV said chillingly. Martha's eyes widened, she was actually right! She could feel the Doctor's glare get even worse as the woman spoke, his yes practically shooting flames at the image.

"Oh, my God, are you talking to me?"

"Yes, I'm talking to you little one. Unseasonably chilly for the time of year, don't you think?"

"What are you?" Rose was breathless as fear crept into her suddenly, her posture stiffening.

"I'm the Wire. And I'm hungrrryyy!" The foul woman bared her teeth and Martha felt a huge urge to try and help Rose as pinkish tendrils of electricity shot from the screen and encompass Rose's face, augmenting it as it was seemingly sucked up. She heard the Doctor growled ferally beside her and saw his fists clench tightly as he took a minute step forward before stopping himself, Martha knew, thinking and feeling the same thing as her only a thousand times stronger.

"Magpie, help me!" Rose cried, her voice strained like she was speaking through pain.

They listened in anger and disgust and Rose begged the man to help her, whimpering and crying out as he did nothing. As her face was sucked completely into the screen they were both infinitely thankful that the image altered, Martha for the Doctor's sake more so than her own, his every muscle visibly straining at the effort it took to not do anything.

"Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know." The Doctor was now speaking with what looked like a police man in a small, dark and dingy room while they stood over a large map on a stand.

"We started finding them about a month ago. Persons left sans visage. Heads just blank." Martha deduced that the Doctor did not yet know what had happened to Rose for he was much too calm and collected.

"Is there any sort of pattern?" The pinstripe suited Time Lord asked while he examined a file he picked up from the desk occupying the room.

"Yes, spreading out from North London. All over the City. Men, women, kids... grannies... the only REAL lead is there's been quite a large number in-"

"Florizel Street."

There was a sudden knock at the door and The Doctor and Bishop look up just as another policeman walked in, leading a girl with a blanket over her head, painfully familiar skirt and shoes peeking out the bottom.

"Found another one, sir." As the Doctor's eyes dropped to the voluminous skirt his expression froze and denial instantly shone in his eyes.

"Oh, good man, Crabtree. Here we are, Doctor." The Doctor dropped the file onto the table absentmindedly and walked forward, never taking his blank eyes off the shrouded figure. Martha held her breath, waiting for the reaction that was sure to come.

"Take a good look. See what you can deduce." They pulled the blanket off over her head and revealed the totally blank face of Rose, the Doctor's eyes widening and mouth falling slack in horror and disbelief, the barest hint of tears welling in his eyes.

Martha could hear the hitch in her Doctor's breathing and would bet everything that after this event he had had nightmares, probably stared at her just to imprint her features into his mind perfectly. She didn't realize just how right she was. It was infinitely difficult for him to see her like that again, especially now he knew what it was to live without seeing her face everyday.

"Rose." The holographic Doctor whispered brokenly as he drew within a few inches of Rose's face.

"Do you know her?" One of the men asked ignorantly.

"Know her? She-" he never finished, once again unable to define what she was to him. The Doctor remembered exactly what he was thinking, exactly how he was going to end that sentence and he couldn't help the words that slipped past his lips when his past self cut off.

"She's everything."

It was so quiet Martha barely heard but when she did she wasn't surprised as she might have been some time ago. It was blatantly clear that was how they thought of each other. It wasn't just being in love with each other. They way they acted was as if they were each others entire life and somehow Martha found herself thinking that they weren't exaggerating either.

"They found her in the street, apparently, over at Master Square, abandoned."

"That's unusual, that's the first one out in the open. Heaven help us if something happens in public tomorrow for the big day, we'll have Torchwood on our back, make no mistake."

The Doctor held his gaze, never letting it fall from Rose's face as his expression became more and more heartbroken with every word they spoke.

But Martha knew he wouldn't just let it go as his face hardened and he spoke coldly, voice a lot lower and more threatening than it usually was. "They did what?"

"I'm sorry?"

"They left her where?" The forced calm in his voice threatened to explode at any second, lips quivering with the effort of repress his emotions.

"Just... in the street." The policeman responded simply.

His voice dropped even further. "In the street. They left her in the street. They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things-" he paused and swallowed, face growing more furious with every word. Martha waited for what she knew was coming. "-simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?"

He finally tore his gaze away from Rose's face and took his glasses off, turning to the two men.

"No."

The Doctor's eyes blazed with fury and his face contorted in the effort it took, probably, to not reach out and hit something. "Because NOW, Detective Inspector Bishop, there is no power on this Earth that can stop me. Come on!" Without a moment's hesitation, he made for the door, the Detective Inspector following, obviously believing his words as his face frightened and intimidated.

As they rushed from the room the hologram quickly moved on. "It's not the only power source in this room." The Doctor stated, still more stiff and cold than his usual manner, now in the TV store that Rose was in before it happened.

He pointed the sonic screwdriver around the room and the static on each of the televisions gradually faded away, on each screen appearing a different face; the faces of the people who were taken by the Wire. Martha felt sick at seeing how terrified they were and frowned at the general situation silently.

They were all mouthing the same thing, a plea for help.

"Gran?" The boy from earlier directed at one of the TV's, looking horrified.

The Doctor walked slowly by a row of them, obviously looking for only one face, and finding it. As Martha saw it amazed her that she was the only one mouthing something different in a silent scream.

Though such a young girl could be calling for her mother or father or help in general she only called one name, over and over again, eyes afraid and trusting at the same time. He knelt before the screen, looking at it with both sadness and intensity.

"I'm on my way." He told her quietly and Martha just barely registered the quiet echo from the Doctor beside her, his words though identical having a completely different meaning now.

With that the loathsome shop owner entered the shop. "What do you think you're doing?"

The Doctor was thunderous as he rounded on the man. "I want my friend restored and I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician so tell me, who's really in charge here?"

As soon as his shout died they found themselves standing in the middle of a familiar street, the day entirely too sunny for such a miserable day. Or so Martha thought until she saw Rose standing only a few meters away, chatting with someone pleasantly, wide smile on her lips and laughter dancing in her eyes as she turned to see the Doctor watching her with immeasurably joy.

The Doctor remembered that feeling and only wished to feel it again, ideas and possibilities running constantly through his head as he gave his otherwise undivided attention to the scenes playing out in front of him. He breathed in and sighed as he watched his past self return her wide, beautiful grin and quickened his pace towards her. She laughed, so happy to see him again and he threw his arms around her enthusiastically, lifting her right off the ground in a huge hug. She clung to him while burying her face in his shoulder, both pairs of eyes closing for just a moment to relish the comfort each other's arms brought.

And as the Doctor watched he put his whole hearts into wishing and praying that he would feel that again; her tightly encased in his arms where he knew she was safe and hers securely around his back, holding him more perfectly than anyone ever had before.

Out on the street, 50's music was playing and people were out on the street dancing and talking. The Doctor and Rose watched as, in the distance, Mr. Connolly and his son walked down the street side by side. The Doctor handed Rose a glass of orange juice as people swarmed around them and they domestically clinked their glasses together, sharing another, softer smile and laughing lightly before drinking, eyes never leaving each other.

A/N Dunno if I really did this episode justice but I really hope so. It was a tad rushed and I didn't have time to go over it to see my mistake so I really hope there aren't too many. I'm away at a medieval festival for two days now so it'll be a few before the next update. I really hope this one was okay and you all enjoyed it and please keep giving me feedback, I'm loving it so far.

Please review!
Metal.