First the sour, then the sweet... (Or rather, we'll be putting Rose and the Doctor in mortal danger, 'cause what's new, then get some serious answers, before it's time to breathe again.) Happy Reading! =)

CHAPTER 11. FRAGILE

Sunaq's cry rang out across the garden. Rose was already heading towards the gate, the Doctor right behind, just in time to see Aleas disappear down the street. He was a clever boy and he knew these streets well. If they lost sight of him, it would be near impossible to find him again. Rose sprinted across the cobbled stones, dodging people and barely avoiding several near-collisions. Someone cursed as they jumped out of the way, but she hardly noticed.

Aleas was so quick on his feet that when he suddenly doubled back, Rose nearly ran past him. The Doctor was just behind and together they ducked into the alley where Aleas had disappeared. The narrow street allowed for little room and daylight hardly penetrated here.

The Doctor was still only a few feet behind when the alleyway opened up into a yard. At the opposite end of the yard, Aleas was already halfway over a wall, his small, nimble fingers clutching at almost non-existent handholds.

A flash of light and a sudden gust of wind ripped through the alleyway. Aleas startled and lost his grip. He slipped and crashed to the ground.

'No!' Aleas cried out as he was grabbed by the scruff of his tunic and dragged back down the alley.

'Stop fighting,' the Doctor called. 'It's us!'

The boy was in a complete panic and didn't calm down. The Doctor pointed the sonic and Aleas slumped like a rag doll, making it easy for the Doctor to prop him over his shoulder.

A whirlwind of light was tearing up the stones in the alleyway. More dirt and debris was sucked into the vortex. Then it abruptly died down.

The Doctor didn't hesitate. 'Run!'

They bounded across the cobblestones back the way they had come. A massive howl came from behind, then the sound of the alley being torn apart as something searched for its prey.

'Keep going,' the Doctor yelled. 'Don't look back.' With the added weight of Aleas over his shoulder he wasn't as quick on his feet as usual. The alleyway seemed to go on forever, but the sounds from behind didn't fade. They were losing ground. Then he spotted something. 'Rose, over here!'

There was an open gate to the right, leading into a garden. The Doctor hurried Rose inside and slammed the door behind them. 'It's the same thing from the Temple courtyard,' Rose panted. 'A wooden gate is not going to stop it.'

'No, but it uses an Accretion Portal to get around. That means it zones in on body heat, and it kills by absorbing a prey's energy. Quiet!'

From the alley came a thump, followed by another, closer by—the sound of stone being crushed under an enormous weight. Rose held her breath, her lungs starting to burn. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying that Aleas wouldn't choose this exact moment to wake up. Another flash of light lit up the alleyway, then everything went quiet once more.

'It's gone,' Rose said. 'And that awful stink as well.'

'That's the smell of hexacolphur, a chemical compound. It uses it to open the portal. But it won't come back. Nor for a while, at least. That chemical is very volatile. If it uses it too often, it will kill itself.'

~x~

The moment they arrived back at the house, the front gate was yanked open and Sunaq stormed out. Aleas was still unconscious, the Doctor carrying him in his arms. Sunaq looked from Aleas to the Doctor and back again, eyes large with fright.

'He's fine,' the Doctor said. 'Shaken up, a couple of bumps and bruises, but he'll be fine tomorrow.' The fear in Sunaq's eyes disappeared, replaced by intense relief. The Doctor carried the boy inside and carefully put him down on one of the sofas. Eshar held his son's hand as Sunaq lifted her son's head, trying to revive him.

The Doctor looked over at Rose, who stood a little to the side. She subconsciously rubbed her hand across her arm and the Doctor felt something akin to anguish. 'Let me see,' he said. Rose held out her arm and he checked for wounds or broken bones. He was relieved to find only minor injuries. 'I can help you with those later,' he said. He let his thumb slide over the palm of her hand, feeling the soft skin.

'It's nothing,' she answered. 'Had worse, remember?'

He did remember, vividly recalling the sight of her scars.

Sudita came up to them. 'They'll take Aleas to rest. His people have a few tricks of their own to help him recover.' She smiled. 'By the way, they do trust you now. Completely.'

'That's good,' the Doctor said, 'because we still need to have that talk. Right now.'

~x~

Even from a distance, Rose could see the Doctor's mind spinning, putting everything together, even though nothing had worked out at the pace he would have prefered. Rose had to admit that the events of the last few days were beginning to wear on her as well. They needed answers, and they needed them fast.

She joined the Doctor and Eshar in the dayroom. Sunaq was still with Aleas but the Doctor didn't want to wait for her return.

Eshar looked thoughtful, perhaps unsure of where to start. 'I'm not a shapeshifter,' he began. 'My wife most certainly is, as you learned earlier. Although I'm allowed to speak on behalf of my wife's family, I feel I don't have the right to tell you all the secrets of her community. She has to decide on that. So, I will give you the facts that matter most.' Eshar breathed deeply. 'Everyone believes the Eohim are monsters. Once, a long time ago, they were accused of destroying the Rift. Truth is, they didn't. But they did fail at their duty. The shapeshifters were once the guardians of the Rift. Before the Ancients left, they entrusted the Key to the shapeshifters. When the people became restless, they blamed the Eohim for abusing their power. Then the Shadow Plague struck, and it became the perfect excuse for fear and hate to boil over. The Eohim were supposed to have brought evil to the City. They were persecuted into near extinction by the priests. The Key, the symbol of our duty towards the Ancients, was hidden and knowledge about it handed down through the generations.'

'We learned about the Shadow Plague,' Rose said, 'from a book we found earlier. But what exactly was it?'

Eshar shrugged lightly. 'I always believed the Plague to be a mythical tale, perhaps conjured up by the priests to make sure the Eohim were hated even more.'

'History has a tendency to turn into myth, if you wait long enough,' the Doctor said.

'We learned some of this history,' Rose said, 'but we couldn't find out what the Key was for…'

Eshar shook his head. 'I am ashamed to admit I don't know either, which is part of the problem. The Eohim have been living in hiding for such a long time that much of their knowledge has faded from memory. Everyone is terrified these days that our secrets will be exposed and the Eohim hunted down again. It is a fear that strips away common sense. Part of the Elder Community wanted the Key to stay hidden, the others want it destroyed. Eventually they came to a compromise. The Key was to be hidden in a new, safer location.'

'But then we were in the way,' the Doctor said.

'Indeed.' Eshar looked up as his wife entered the room. She looked calmer than Rose had ever seen her, perhaps because the weight of keeping secrets had finally been lifted a little.

'That night at the Palace,' Sunaq said, 'those prisoners you freed, they were our people as well. The plan was that Sudita would give them the Key and they were to hide it, but someone betrayed them. You didn't encounter any guards because they expected us to come and free them, but you were ahead of us. Those men died protecting our people's most important secret, but if you two hadn't been there, we would have walked right into a trap and everything would have been lost.'

'The only thing we really know about the Key,' Sudita said, 'is that it's some sort of protection, that it was created to control the Rift and protect this world from the evil that has always threatened it.' Sudita took a deep breath. 'The Ancients never returned and the Eohim protected the Key blindly. Now, as a result, we have become ineffective as guardians.'

The Doctor leaned forward, looking at Eshar and Sunaq. 'Are you sure that your people are being targeted now because of the Key, or is there something else?'

'It must be the Key,' Sunaq said. 'Officially, the Order is independent and ruled over by the High Priests, but in reality it's the Protector who governs the priests' every act, and the Order is determined to eradicate us.'

Rose looked at the Doctor as he reached into his pocket and took out the puzzle box. He knew how it worked now, and as it clicked open, a hush fell over the room.
'People have been trying to take this away almost since the moment we got here. Maybe your Elders were right and it should be destroyed. Or I can try and find out what it really does.'

~x~

His name was Adam, and Rose was coming for him. It was like a chant in his head, the only hold on his sanity he had left. There were so many voices in his head now, all telling him to give up. Nights were the worst, when his cell transformed into a black hole and he struggled against being swallowed up by the darkness.

They didn't come for him as often now. Either he had lost track of time entirely or they no longer had much use for him.

Adam lay his head down and shivered. If he fell asleep he might not wake up, but he was tired, so very tired. Maybe he could just close his eyes for a few seconds.

He was still afraid, but if true oblivion came, he was sure he wouldn't fear it as much anymore.

When she stepped from the shadows, he knew he must have fallen asleep. He couldn't muster the strength to wake up. The Trickster, her long dark hair hidden beneath a hood, her face a mask of death, her fingers like icy tendrils running along his skin. She whispered in his ear, words he had heard before but always forgot the moment he woke up.

Time Lord.

He knew what she would show him next. There was always blood.

Kill him.

The words echoed through his mind, piercing and wounding, infiltrating and poisoning him with the vilest of desires.

Kill the Doctor.

Adam gasped for breath, his hands flailing across the stone floor. Shivers ran down his spine, hot sweat turning into an icy layer on his skin. Of course he was alone, the cell empty and silent but for his own ragged breathing, as he knew it would be. After a while he settled back against the cot, clutching the rough blanket to keep out the cold. Rose had promised to come back, so he would hold on, as long as it took. If only he didn't have to sleep anymore.

~x~

The light outside had begun to fade but the Doctor hardly noticed. Across from him Eshar and Sunaq had fallen quiet, as if they knew what was coming next. There was still one very important thing they hadn't talked about. He looked at Eshar. 'Who is Aleas' biological father?'

There was no reply from anyone.

'Your son has a tattoo on his hand,' the Doctor said, 'something he explained away as a custom among his male relatives.' He looked at Eshar whose hands were folded in his lap, the back of his hands mottled but otherwise clear of any markings. Sunaq shifted in her chair. Then Eshar took a deep breath, clearly past keeping secrets.

'It's true,' he admitted. 'I am not Aleas' birth father, but I have always considered him my son and I will do anything to keep him safe.'

Sunaq put a hand on his arm and Eshar covered it with his own. 'My first husband died a long time ago,' she said, 'before our son was even born. His name was Samadi.' She drew in a breath, forcing her voice to steady. 'Like Eshar here, he was Caliun and not Eohim—not a shapeshifter.' Sunaq paused for a second, choosing her words carefully. 'Even so, we expected Aleas to take after me and exhibit shapeshifter abilities, but he never did. Therefore we decided to keep his heritage a secret from him, to protect him from persecution. Just a normal little boy.'

'Your son is a lot of things,' said the Doctor, 'but he is anything but normal. The Eohim and Caliuns weren't the only two species on this planet. The ones you call 'Ancients' were actually Time Lords.'

Both Eshar and Sunaq looked at him, wide-eyed. The Doctor heard himself speak the words, but even he had trouble coming to grips with what he was saying. 'At one point, the two races, Time Lords and Eohim, must have had offspring. Aleas' biological father was a direct descendant of those people. That also means Aleas is at least part Time Lord, which would explain why he never manifested as a shapeshifter, his Time Lord genes being dominant.'

A stunned silence descended over the room. The Doctor looked towards Rose. She had probably drawn a conclusion or two of her own by now.

'The Ancients never meant to abandon your people,' he continued. 'They couldn't come back because they were caught up in a great war that eventually destroyed their home planet. I know, because I was there. They're all gone now.' The Doctor kept his face unreadable, but inside he struggled to suppress a rush of nausea.

Eshar frowned. 'But you and your brother are both Time Lords? How is that possible?'

'My brother is not a Time Lord. It's complicated. But if he's still alive, we need to find him as soon as possible. He might be the answer to keeping all of you safe, your son in particular.'

The Doctor looked at all the people present, settling finally on the dark-haired woman who had joined them a few minutes ago. He recognised her as Lila, the one at the warehouse who pretended to be Rose. She stood behind Sunaq, a comforting hand on her shoulder.

'Fortunately,' the Doctor said, 'there's someone who knows exactly where Adam is.' Lila's dark eyes locked onto his and a barely-suppressed tremble ran through her. He held up his makeshift DNA scanner. 'You couldn't have impersonated Rose so well without using at least some form of surface telepathy. Somehow you've been in contact with Adam and you learned enough about Rose to mimic her. Tell me, did you try out your new trick on him?'

Lila clearly understood there was no way to wiggle out of this one. She glanced at Sudita, her partner in crime, then sat down quietly. 'Your brother,' she said, 'he is being held at an underground complex. It's interconnected with the Palace and several other important buildings across the city, through a series of tunnels.'

Eshar looked shocked by this revelation, as did Sunaq.

'Ires didn't want me to go there,' Lila said, 'but I went anyway. I'm very sorry for my disobedience. When I found Adam, I believed I could get information from him about the strangers.' She looked over at Rose. 'All Eohim have surface psychic abilities and I pretended to be you.'

Sunaq suddenly turned on Lila, eyes blazing. 'You risked exposing us all. How could you?'

'She didn't mean any harm,' Sudita spoke up.

'It might have been dangerous,' Rose said, 'but you're all in trouble already. At least now, thanks to Lila, we may come up with a way to free Adam. Maybe we will even learn who is after you.'

'It's already getting dark,' the Doctor said. 'We will have to go soon.' He looked at Lila. 'Will you be able to show us the way?'

She nodded.

'Good,' the Doctor said. 'We leave after sundown.'

~x~

Now that the day was almost over, the air in the garden filled with the scent of flowers. Rose sat quietly, trying to clear her head of all the thoughts tumbling into each other. The garden stretched out in front of her, its boundaries already blurred by the approaching shadows. Above her, in the darkening sky, a myriad of stars was appearing and it was as peaceful out here as she could ever have wished for.

A slight rustle nearby drew her attention—footsteps on the grass, so familiar she didn't even have to turn to see who it was. The Doctor sat down beside her and they continued to gaze up at the stars. After a while, Rose pointed to the sky. 'That's the Archer,' she said, then indicated another group of stars, 'and his wife, the Lady of the Sands. Aleas told me that people here believe that they sleep during the day and come alive at night to watch over the world.' She pointed to yet another constellation. 'Also to protect everyone from the Shadow that hunts earthly beings in the darkness. They call that one Ar Hem Shadall.' Rose dropped her gaze, looking down at the grass instead. 'But you probably knew all that already.'

'Only what my people used to call these stars,' the Doctor said. 'But the new names sound much better.'

Rose smiled. 'When I was very little I used to try and count the stars. I always got really sad when it was cloudy because I believed they had gone away. Sometimes I try and stay up all night, waiting for them to return.'

The Doctor didn't say anything but quietly touched her hand on the bench between them. He entwined their fingers, an act that filled Rose with a calm happiness. She expected the Doctor to keep up his mental barriers, so she was a little surprised when a tingle at the back of her mind announced his presence. It was the sensation she had learned to recognise as uniquely his: the ability to experience happiness in the moment, always aware of the underlying sadness, the deep abyss of shame and buried needs.

As they sat there, quietly holding hands, the intensity of their shared feelings grew, and she knew what it meant; in the silence of the garden he was reaching out. Rose closed her eyes and concentrated on what the Doctor was trying to say. Whatever it was, she knew he wouldn't be able to express it in words. Her own ability to read him had grown much stronger in only a very short time, so she let go of the passivity of her own emotions and actively tried to reach out.

The Doctor let out a small gasp, almost inaudible except for Rose's heightened senses. She was becoming so caught up in the moment, she almost forgot to breathe herself.

Rose opened her eyes and glanced at the Doctor as he did the same. Their hands were still entwined, the connection strong inside her mind. The Doctor lowered his mental barriers further, allowing her more than just a glimpse of his true self. Was he aware of her in the same way? Was she an open book to him, all her own conflicted emotions on display? The thought momentarily frightened her. She cast her eyes down. 'The telepathic connection, you really need it, don't you?'

A small emotional jolt on his side told her that she was right.

'All Gallifreyans have telepathic abilities,' he said. 'But it's more complex than that. Time Lords used to share a common bond, a telepathic connection that went beyond what you would call mind reading. We weren't aware of each other's thoughts all the time, but we did share a connection as a species. When any of us chose to enter into a romantic relationship, partners usually sealed that understanding with a stronger, more private bond. Something only meant for the couple themselves. It gave us a greater understanding of each other. A lifeline, if you want.'

'And you need someone who shares that ability. In a partner, I mean.'

He gave the slightest nod. 'I can connect with someone who's not a telepath, but I could damage that person's mind, if I lost control.'

The silence of the night grew heavier, and Rose became unsure. She didn't want to make it more difficult for him, but she desperately needed to know. When she finally spoke up, her voice trembled. 'How? What could make you lose control?'

There was a hint of fire in his eyes. 'You could.'

Rose held perfectly still, unable to look away. Their hands were still clasped between them and the telepathic link made his meaning even clearer than his words.

Somewhere in the distance, outside the garden walls, music was being played. The intricate sounds of drum and string carried through the warm night air, almost a private performance, only for them. The Doctor stood up without relinquishing her hand. Rose followed, and he snaked an arm around her waist as they started to sway gently with the music, a rhythm that slowly synchronised their movements as it ascended into the night.

'You're so strong, Rose, so beautiful. Being with you, even for a single night...' He swallowed hard. 'But how can I risk destroying what I love most?'

Rose settled her head against the Doctor's shoulder as they continued to sway. 'Remember,' she whispered, 'when I asked you about your wish for a perfect world?'

The dance slowed down until they were almost entirely motionless, still locked in the embrace. Rose allowed her eyes to drift shut for a moment, taking in the Doctor's measured breaths, so close by. 'I was afraid you'd ask me the same question,' she said. 'Because, back then, I wouldn't have known the answer.'

'And you do now? Know your wish for a perfect world?'

'Yes.' Rose lifted her head and looked up at him. 'It's being here, with you. Right now.' His arms tightened around her, wrapping her in an invisible warmth, making his nearness almost overwhelming, a sensation she wanted to drown in. 'But now I got my wish,' she said. 'And when you leave again, it will become just a memory.'

The Doctor lifted a hand to the side of her face and brushed away a stray wisp of hair, his fingertips lingering against her cheek.

'Please, don't let me forget,' she whispered.

He grazed her temple and she took in a shallow breath as he entered her mind, so carefully it was almost ethereal. She reached out and their senses joined in a slow dance of their own, touching, exploring, until there was no longer any wish to resist. Her pulse quickened and blood rushed in her ears, creating a strange dream-like sensation where everything was possible, even finding herself in the Doctor's arms on this sultry night, with the pull between them growing ever more insistent.

Rose drew her hand upwards until it circled the back of his neck and he lowered his head, bringing them face to face. She only dared to open her eyes when the silence became unbearable, both their bodies taut with unspoken yearning, his silent words vibrating through her.

When he finally spoke, the Doctor's voice was only a whisper. 'If you were ever taken from me again, I wouldn't want to go on anymore.'

One look in his eyes told her more than she needed, and her thoughts fragmented as she leaned up and brushed her lips against his, ever so softly.

He remained utterly still, and for one terrifying moment she believed she had made a grave mistake, then he suddenly eased into her, an exquisite tenderness in his every move, lips sliding together, his breath a hot caress. Something inside her stirred as she sensed his mental fingers exploring her. Just below the punishing sweetness of his kiss, there was a suppressed desire. A sudden feeling of exhilaration shot through her as he took control of the kiss, cradling her head in his hands, her own hands instinctively seeking the small of his back, gripping the fabric of his jacket to steady herself against the incoming current.

The rapid twin-thump of his heartbeats vibrated against her chest. Rose felt him go through her as if he'd entered her bloodstream, his very essence mingling with hers until they were one. His fingers then skimmed lower and brushed the pulsing hollow at the base of her throat, the pure sensation causing her to draw in a ragged breath.

They parted for only a moment, then he was there again, his eager mouth finding hers with undisguised need, as if he were already familiar with every intimate part of her, inside and out. It was almost impossible not to provoke this smouldering desire as it grew inside both of them.

She parted her lips, inviting him in, and he accepted without hesitation, his tongue entering her mouth with a lazy, sensuous movement, deepening the kiss and pushing them both further away from the safety of the shore; even though they had been lost long before this moment. She had the power to free him, to unleash that passion buried deep inside, and in the gathering night they were rapidly heading for that place, ready to claim each other, body and soul.

But it couldn't be.

This was their perfect world, and she knew he had only allowed them this moment to satisfy her wish, not to chase that ultimate desire. Whether they stayed together or not, this was it, the Doctor and Rose Tyler, never destined to have more. Only one moment to treasure until the stars went out.

Rose withdrew a little, as far as she dared without breaking contact, now afraid of becoming overwhelmed and ruining the moment by claiming more than she had a right to. The Doctor kept his eyes closed as he leaned their foreheads together, soft panting breaths still mingling. She inhaled his scent, wanting to store away the memory of him in the safest of places, where she could guard it. They stood like this for several long moments, the semblance of self-control only an illusion. She could still feel his inner light, the joy he had felt in touching and kissing her, now eclipsed by the inevitable moment of separation.

'It's time,' the Doctor whispered. 'We need to get ready.'

Her mind filled with desperate thoughts, not all of them hers alone. I don't want to leave here. Please say we can stay for a little while. Only a little while.

From the other side of the garden voices were coming nearer. Rose made a final effort to refocus her thoughts. They had to go.