Chapter 9

Rose groaned and raised her head, slowly pushing herself up from the… ground? Wait. I've been here before.

That you have, dear one. The calm voice echoed around her, and Rose stumbled to her feet, glancing around. The TARDIS' Rose-figure stood beside her, smiling gently.

Rose frowned. How'd I get here, then? Last time the Doctor had to help me in.

I thought it would be best to speak to you as you recovered. Come, walk with me.

Rose followed the TARDIS—herself—bemusedly, walking through blank nothingness until she suddenly found herself surrounded by golden fields under a burnt-orange sky. Whoa. Where are we?

The TARDIS was staring around herself, drinking in the landscape with her blazing gold eyes. This was once my home.

Rose started, staring around herself curiously. You mean this is…?

Gallifrey, yes. All that is left of her. She was once the guardian of the universe, and now she resides only in the Doctor's and my minds—and yours, now. The TARDIS smiled sadly. And even this is but a shadow of her true self. The planet used to sing to us, you know. To my brothers and sisters and I. No matter where we were in the multiverse, her song would guide us home.

I'm so sorry. Even as she said it, Rose winced. How could three words ever be enough to comfort such a loss?

Golden laughter flickered from the figure beside her, and the timeless voice was amused. You'd be surprised at the power three small words can wield, even if it isn't those particular three.

Rose blushed, remembering the shocked, disbelieving look that still showed in the Doctor's eyes whenever she told him she loved him.

The TARDIS nodded approvingly. Just so, dear one. She turned to look at the blazing twin suns again, her blonde hair drifting weightlessly around her. In the last days of the Time War, as the Doctor buried himself in desperate plans, I looked to the future. His future. He would be the one to end it all, we both knew. No one else had the integrity or the courage, or perhaps the madness. Yet I knew something that he did not: I knew that he would survive. That survival could be either a gift or a bitter curse, and I swore that I would do all I could to protect my Doctor. And then we met you. In you, Rose, I saw fearless loyalty and a love that could heal his wounds.

Rose stared at her trainers, battered and dingy against the shining grass. That's a nice thought an' all, but I haven't really healed him. His wounds are still there, he's just better at hiding 'em.

So impatient, the both of you. The TARDIS laughed softly. It takes time, dear heart, time and love—both of which you can now give him freely. You may not see what you have done for the Doctor, but I do. You've given him a priceless gift, Rose. He no longer merely survives. With you, he lives. She cocked her head, as if listening to an unseen speaker. Your time to awaken grows near. I am sorry for the pain the Bad Wolf has caused you, these last few weeks. Her purpose is fulfilled, and you need not worry about… how did you put it? 'Going glowy' again.

Rose followed her example and stood, brushing golden blades of grass from her jeans. The Bad Wolf's gone? She should have felt relief, she supposed, but all she felt was hollow.

Not all of her. She will forever protect you, but you are no longer her conduit. With the destruction of the Cult of Skaro, she has ended the Time War once and for all. The Daleks are no more, and the Doctor is safe from their pestilence. The TARDIS snorted, sounding remarkably exasperated. Of course, it's probably too much to hope for that he will remain safe for long, but that's why we are here.

Rose bit her lip and shoved her hands in her pockets. TARDIS? If the Bad Wolf's gone—if I can't access her anymore—what about Jack?

The TARDIS sighed, her golden eyes sad. Jack's resurrection was no chance thing, Rose. His life will be a long and a hard one, but the universe needs him. Why else do you think it insists he stay?

Rose nodded before impulsively reaching out and hugging her, ignoring the oddity of the situation. Right. Thank you.

You're welcome, dear one. Close your eyes.

Rose did, and opened them to find herself staring up at their bedroom ceiling. There was a rustle beside her, and the Doctor's worried face appeared.

"Rose?"

"Yeah?" She coughed, surprised to find her throat dry and aching. The Doctor hurried into their bathroom and returned with a cup of water, which he helped her sit up to drink. "Thanks."

"No problem." He was still watching her carefully, brown eyes dark. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine—bit weak, that's all." She glanced at her husband and frowned, taking in the rough stubble on his cheeks and the shadows under his eyes. "How long was I out?"

The Doctor sighed and scrubbed a hand through his hair, grimacing at the state of it. "Around three days, give or take." He glanced at her and smiled wryly. "You know, this gives me a whole new appreciation for why you were so mad at me last Christmas."

She stuck her tongue out at him playfully. "Not much fun, is it?"

He looked away, jaw tight. "No, it's not. Not at all."

"Hey. I'm right here, yeah? I'm fine." She reached up to turn his face back to hers, and he nuzzled into her palm. "What happened at Torchwood?"

"You don't remember?"

"I remember the ship opening up, but then everything goes gold. I went all Bad Wolf again, didn't I?"

"That you did, and I wish you would stop doing that."

Rose frowned, rubbing her forehead. "I don't think you'll have to worry about it anymore. The TARDIS told me the Bad Wolf's 'purpose was fulfilled', and we won't have to worry about her anymore."

The Doctor's eyes narrowed. "You were talking to the TARDIS?" When she nodded, he scowled. "No wonder she wouldn't let me wake you up."

"She took me to Gallifrey, in my mind." Rose glanced up, biting her lip. "It was beautiful."

His face tightened for a moment, but his eyes softened when she took his hand. "It was."

"An' she told me the Time War was over now, really over." Rose took a deep breath. "Apparently the—what did she call it? The Cult of Skaro? Anyway, apparently they were the last of the Daleks." She sighed and flopped back against her pillows, hand at her forehead. "I'm almost afraid to believe she's right, though."

The Doctor's voice was dark. "Yeah."

"Were you able to fix the hole the Void ship caused?"

He flushed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I—ah—I haven't been back to Torchwood, necessarily."

"What? Why not?" He raised an eyebrow at her, and she turned red. "Oh. Right."

"Now that you're awake, though, I think it's time to explore."

Rose grinned up at him. "You might want to take a shower, first."

"Oi! Rude."

She stretched. "Actually, I could probably use one, too."

The Doctor's expression shifted from offended to intrigued so quickly that Rose couldn't help but laugh.

The TARDIS landed with a thump, and within a minute there was a knock at the door. The Doctor swung it open to find a tall, broad-shouldered UNIT guard standing outside, looking supremely discomfited. "Yes, hello. Who are you?"

"Private Ross Jenkins, sir. I was told to wait for you and to escort you to the Brigadier's headquarters when you arrived." The soldier saluted, and the Doctor rolled his eyes.

"Oh, Rassilon. Not this again. Don't salute. Really, don't."

Rose grinned, her tongue tucked between her teeth. "Oh, so you're salute worthy here? How come that doesn't happen more often?"

"Rose." The Doctor's ears were turning pink, and his voice had picked up a distinct whine. She giggled and turned back to the private, who had caught a glimpse of the TARDIS' interior and was staring, dumb-founded, inside. The Doctor glanced behind him and sighed. "Yes, it's bigger on the inside than the outside. I believe you were supposed to be taking us somewhere?"

"Oi." Rose nudged him in the side. "You're bein' rude."

The Doctor grimaced and nodded apologetically at Ross as they walked down the hallway. "Sorry, Ross. I'd forgotten about the old UNIT hierarchy, that's all. It's like slipping into an old skin—creepy feeling, that."

Rose paused, her eyebrows drawn together. "Please tell me you're not speakin' from personal experience."

"What? No, don't be daft."

"Well, I don't know, do I? When we met, you were wearin' a different face."

"Yes, but regeneration is a completely different process than moulting."

Ross, in the meantime, had begun to turn a rather interesting shade of chartreuse. He reached a door guarded by two other soldiers and handed them off with poorly-hidden relief. "The Doctor and Rose Tyler to see Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart."

The short brunette woman who seemed to be in charge looked them up and down, sniffing disdainfully. "Identification, please."

"No need for that, Sgt. Lundy." The door opened, a tall, neatly dressed man with a precise mustache on the other side. "No one would be mad enough to impersonate the Doctor around here." He paused, and his mustache twitched as he smirked. "Well, Captain Harkness might."

The Doctor grinned and rocked on the balls of his feet, looking so excited Rose feared for a moment that his hair would actually take flight. "Alistair. It's good to see you."

"And you, old friend." He invited them into the spacious office that was apparently their war-room, glancing back over his shoulder at the Doctor. "Although I'm not sure that appellation really applies anymore."

"Oh, you'd be surprised."

"Knowing you? For some reason, I doubt that." He smiled at Rose and offered her his hand. "I've heard much about you, Miss Tyler. May I say, it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance?"

Rose blushed and shook his hand, caught completely off guard. Much as she loved the Doctor and Jack, they couldn't exactly be termed gentlemen. "You may. An' the pleasure's mine, really."

The Doctor scowled. "Oi. You've got Doris, no need to be charming."

"Indeed." The Brigadier's eyebrows lifted, and he winked at Rose. "Well, I can see that you haven't changed all that much. Congratulations to you both, by the way. Doris wanted me to invite the two of you over for tea sometime soon, on the understanding that you would land somewhere other than her rosebushes."

The Doctor coughed lightly. "I did remember to apologize for that, didn't I?"

"The first time, yes."

The door opened and Jack walked in, wincing away from a very loud and very familiar female voice. "An' let me tell you this, mate—Torchwood had better think twice before deciding to come after me again!"

Jack flopped down at the desk, rubbing his forehead. "Trust me, we already are."

The Doctor and Rose, meanwhile, were staring at the ginger woman who was standing in the doorway. "Donna?"

She blinked and pursed her lips at them. "Oh, honestly, I should've known you'd show up now."

The Doctor frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well, where were you when Torchwood decided to pick me up for questioning, hmm? And by the way, you might want to be a bit more careful next time you're breakin' in to a secret organization's laboratory—they had the whole thing caught on camera."

Rose winced. "You could've called us, Donna. We would've gotten you out, somehow."

"Please, and get you two caught by these nutters? Tell me, how would that have helped?"

The Doctor's jaw dropped. "But you just said—"

"Oh, bother what I said. I wouldn't sell the two of you out like that." She smiled suddenly, and pulled Rose in for a hug. "It's good to see you."

"You, too, Donna. We've missed you."

Jack laughed. "I take it you guys know each other."

The Doctor grinned. "You could say that, yeah." He hugged Donna happily when Rose released her, and turned back to Jack. "She helped us get rid of a little spider infestation."

"Spiders? Sounds a bit low-key for you, Doctor."

Rose shuddered. "They were the size of elephants."

He paused. "Yeah, okay, that sounds more like it."