Realty of Nightmares

Chapter 10

Both Doctors had just finished completely explaining things about the Master, Rose, Bad Wolf, the parallel dimensions, all of it. "So you're the Doctor," Amy said, looking at her Doctor, "and you're the Doctor, but you're half human?"

"Yes," the half human Doctor confirmed.

"And Rose is being turned into a Time Lord?" they both nodded.

"Doctor that's impossible." River pointed out.

"Not true," the eleventh regeneration spoke up. "You, River, have Time Lord powers, or rather you did. You were able to regenerate, and why? Because you were conceived on the TARDIS. Part of the vortex had latched onto you too."

"It's quite possible. She won't have two hearts, but chances are she'll be able to regenerate." The other finished.

They watched as Amy looked between them. "Does anyone else find this all a bit weird?" Rory asked

The human Doctor laughed. "You should have been there when there were three of us."

"Three Doctors?" Amy asked.

"Oh yeah, right confusing that was." Jackie said. "They were all finishing each other's sentences."

"Three Doctors…"

"The Doctor Doctor, the Doctor Donna, and the Donna Doctor." The full Time Lord said.

"If it was in his head it was in my head, if it was in my head, it was in his head,"

"And if it was in her head, it was in our heads."

"Okay…you two need to stop that." Rory said shaking his head. "That's just confusing."

Both Doctors smirked but they left quickly, replaced with scowls. "We still don't know what the Master is planning. We still need to figure that out, and somehow manage to save the earth and Rose in the process."

"Save the world, get the girl, look devilishly handsome while doing it?" the clone smirked. "Just like old times."

"Just like old times." The two Doctors set to work, devising a plan and creating an escape act.

It was dark. So dark. So…empty. Her body was moving, and she could see people. People she should know…people she should love, but they weren't registering. They were just…there. She was just there. There was nothing. Just emptiness. Her body moved but she wasn't controlling it. She felt weightless. There were people talking but she couldn't hear what they said. Nothing was registering. She was so tired. Someone came to stand behind her. Wrapped arms around her. She felt secure. Held to the ground. She wouldn't float away into the blackness. His voice. She didn't know what he was saying. Couldn't hear the words. The tone was happy though. Was something good happening? There were angry voices too. What was going on? She couldn't get her brain to work. Her head hurt. She was so tired. She just wanted to go to sleep.

The people were being led away. But the person behind her stayed. He kept her held to the ground. Was he a friend? He took her hand. He led her from the room. So tired. So…sleepy.

But then there was a small light. Off in the distance. Slowly she walked towards it. Like it was calling her. Her steps were slow. Like she was walking through water. The light got brighter, stronger, warmer.

Rose slowly blinked. The light was blinding as she looked around, trying to gather her bearings. Where was she? Slowly it all came back to her. The Master, the Doctor. All of it. She looked around and saw the Master playing around with some of the controls on the ship. He didn't seem to notice she'd waken up. Slowly she reached up to the mind controller he'd put on her and tried to take it off. It wouldn't budge, and it hurt when she pulled on it. It was attached to her whether she liked it or not. But…she'd been able to break out of his control. She was stronger than he thought she was. She wouldn't let him control her any more.

Slowly she stood, trying to make her heels as quiet as possible on the marble floor as she slowly approached him. Measuring every step she took. Her eyes darted around the room looking for a weapon. Before she even cleared the first step the Master spun and looked at her. His eyes were glowing with a sadistic fascination. "Rose Tyler you continue to amaze me." He walked down the stairs, backing her up until she hit the table. He planted his hands firmly on either side of her and just smirked. "I knew the Doctor liked you for a reason." He scoffed. "Too bad he's not going to get to keep you."

"What did you do to the Doctor?" she demanded. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her.

"Nothing…yet." He smirked and one of his hands moved from the table, holding her hip. "I don't see what it is about you humans he finds so attractive. I suppose you look like us, the physical similarities are astounding…but then again, you're not quite human, are you?" he smirked, his hand smoothing around to grasp her rear, pulling her against him. "Maybe I should try to figure out just what it is he loves so much about you."

Rose pushed him away before he could kiss her and the Master stumbled back. He laughed and then glared at her, his eyes burning with something that terrified her. He backhanded her, snapping her head to the side. Slowly Rose turned back and looked at him, defiance burning in her whiskey colored eyes. "Don't touch me."

"Defiant, aren't we?" he sneered, pushing away from her to pace around the room. "So, you're strong enough to break out of my control. Guess I'll just have to gain some leverage, won't I?" he reached over to an intercom. "Bring them in."

One by one four people she knew were led in, and four she didn't. Though…one of them looked familiar. Like she should know him from somewhere. But she was absolutely certain she'd never seen him before. "Rose." Both the man she loved and the one she felt like she knew moved forward. But the other stopped, letting the Doctor come to her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. He pulled back, cupping her face. "Are you…" he trailed off, his thumb brushing over the bruise starting to form on her face where the Master had struck her. His eyes on fire he glared up at the Master. "I will make sure you pay." He vowed.

Rose took his wrists in her hands and pleaded with him to look at her. "Doctor," he laid his head against hers and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I'm going to save you Rose. I promise."

The Master walked over and tore them apart, grabbing Rose in a bruising hold and pulling her away from the Doctor. "I wouldn't make promises you know you can't keep, Doctor." He laughed and twisted Rose's arm in his hold until it was wrapped behind her body painfully as he pulled her against him tightly, wrapping the other arm around her waist. "Why don't you introduce our dear Rose to our other guests?" he suggested.

Rose looked at the man who had called her name and moved towards her. He was looking at her, heartbreak in his eyes, and something else. Why was he so familiar? "Rose…" The Doctor sighed. "This is Amy, Rory, and River…and this." He walked over to the man and sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "This, Rose, is the Doctor."

Rose nearly passed out. They weren't in Pete's world anymore. They were back…they were home. The Master held her, even when she tried to break free of his hold. She had to touch him…make sure it was real. She'd seen him regenerate once…that's all that had happened. He was still the Doctor; he just had a different face.

"Let her go!" both Doctors shouted.

Rose nearly fell to the ground from the force of pulling against the Master when he let her go. She ran over to the Doctor, the Time Lord Doctor and stopped in front of him. Slowly her hand reached up and touched his face. He just smiled and leaned into her touch. "You're…real." She whispered.

He smiled and covered her hand with his. "I'm real." He laughed as Rose threw her arms around him, hugging him close. "Oh, Rose Tyler." He whispered, hugging her close.

"I thought I'd never see you again."

"So did I." he admitted pulling back to look at her. "Are you alright?" She nodded and stepped back as her Doctor stepped up beside her. He looked almost unsure. She took his hand in hers, squeezing it, letting him know that she was still his. He smiled a little and laced their fingers.

All three of them turned and looked at the Master. Regarding him carefully. It was like dealing with a time bomb and no one knew when it was going to explode. Slowly, Rose let her hand slip free from the Doctor's and took a few careful steps towards the Master. "What do you want?" she asked.

He smirked and closed the space between them, stepping up until he could cup her face in one of his hands. He pulled her close so he was whispering into her ear. "I want to destroy the man that ruined me." He stated, pulling her back against his chest and holding her close. "Gentlemen, I'm afraid this reunion will be cut a little short." He said nodding to the guards.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Everyone looked to the back of the room. Unnoticed someone had slipped into the room, and Rose couldn't help the smile that spread over her face. He looked at her and gave her a wink. "Did you miss me?"

"Jack!" Rose struggled against the Master but he tightened his hand around her throat.

Jack walked into the room. "I suggest you let her go," Jack said. "Or this whole ship will be blown to kingdom come." He held up a detonator and the Master just laughed. "Not the reaction I was going for…" The Master just laughed harder as two of his men walked in carrying the bomb Jack had planted, the wires cut. Now it was just a messy paper weight. Jack was taken into custody and held along the wall with the rest of the companions. "Sorry, Rose."

"S'alright."

"Take the Doctor's to the special room I've had prepared for them." The Master commanded. "The others can go back to the cell." Rose fought against his hold as she watched her friends and family being pulled away. The Master's grip tightened on her throat. "Behave yourself."

"Where have you taken the Doctors?" she demanded.

"To be executed." He pushed a button behind him and a screen appeared in front of them. The Doctors were being strapped down to two chairs, though they were fighting. "If you don't do what I say, Miss Tyler, they will die, and it will be your fault."

Rose went slack in his arms. Completely giving up. She wouldn't let them die because of her. "What do I have to do?" she asked.

The Master smirked, his lips brushing over her ear. "Become mine." He whispered. Rose gasped, shock, fear, and heartbreak spreading through her. Could she really do that? To save his life…could she pretend to be someone else's? The Master chuckled. "Knowing that you belong to someone else, will break him." Rose nodded her head in agreement, playing the part, all the while thinking of a way out of this. A way to save the Doctors and her family.