Authors Note: OK, So I said this would be the last chapter! And it kinda isn't. That's only cos it was seriously long so I chopped it into two parts. I'll post the second part in a few days. Again, my apologies for the delay but I wanted to get this just right. It took me ages to write! Anyway, here's some more responses, thanks again for your reviews guys, you rock!

MissHaunted-Moonlight: Thanks for another great review. Yep, one more to come after this one now, it was just getting too long! I hope you like this one. Let me know!

Unnamed Anon person: Sorry, you didn't leave your name! Thanks for the review though. Glad you like my story. Torchwood series 2 starts here in Jan, am very excited! Anyway, hope you comment again!

Reefgirl: Thanks, glad you like. Please review again.

Syreene: Oh, glad you liked the angst! I'm a bit fan of that sort of thing too. Bit more of that in here too, pls comment on it again. I hope it reads ok. Sorry to keep you waiting again! Hope you are still with me!

Isha: Thanks. Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Please comment again.

Lil-baby-tash: Thanks for the comments! I'm glad you like! Sorry, more Hurt!Doctor to come!

Shadowtheo: Another review! You're loyal! Thanks so much!

Oh and if the Master is suddenly now more resembling John Simm's portrayal, you can guess why! Cos I loved him. It is still my AU Master, just with some Simm-isms thrown in. I added a few lines in as a bit of a nod to him! I'm sure you'll spot them.

OK. And onward:)

Chapter 11

Jack uncrossed his arms slowly but didn't take his eyes off of the Master. He wanted to turn his attention to the Doctor, to ensure his friend was alright but he couldn't take the risk. He knew it would probably mean death for them all to underestimate the evil Time Lord.

Martha was moaning softly. She lifted her head painfully and glared at the Master. He eyed her, an amused smile on his lips.

"That was unnecessary," he admitted, "I apologise." And he gave her a mock bow. Martha tried to move but a agonising throbbing in her left arm made her yelp. The Master chuckled, enjoying her discomfort.

Jack's expression darkened. Oh, what he would give to remove that smirk from the Master's face..

Instead, trying his best to show no emotion, he stepped closer to the Master.

"Move away from the Doctor," he said confidently.

The Master leered. He knew which of them had the power at that moment and he wasn't about to give it up easily.

"I don't think so." He put more pressure on the Doctor's chest, causing the other Time Lord to groan in pain. Jack's frown intensified. The Master smiled before continuing. "Let me explain how this is going to happen. You move away from the console. I link myself to the TARDIS and she breaks her connection with the Doctor. Then and only then will I allow all three of you to leave - on a planet of your choosing."

Jack scoffed. "All of us? Even the Doctor?"

Another cold smile. And a nod.

Jack's gaze fell on the Doctor, still lying helplessly beneath the Master's boot. Jack stopped in surprise when he saw that the Doctor was awake and staring straight back at him. Shock turned into delight seconds later, as Jack could have sworn that the Doctor had winked at him. He forced himself to look again at the Master. He didn't want him to notice that his enemy was conscious.

"Well Jack? What is it to be?"

Jack decided to stall.

"What happens if I don't give you the TARDIS?"

The Master's smile faded. He watched Jack for a moment and then quickly reached down, grabbed the Doctor and forced him into a kneeling position. The Doctor was facing Jack, his back to the Master. The evil Timelord was smirking at the fuming Captain.

"What? You actually thought I didn't know he was awake?" Jack didn't reply.

The Master tutted.

"I'm a Time Lord Jack, I can sense him! Remember?" He laughed.

Again, Jack said nothing. A beat passed. And then:

"You're no Time Lord."

The Master stopped laughing.

"What?"

"You're an embarrasment."

Martha, once again standing to one side of Jack, cradling her broken arm, gaped in shock at the Captain. Had he lost it? Why was he purposely trying to make the already unstable Master madder?

The Master seemed to stunned to respond. He stammered, trying to find the words. Finally, he gave up and instead of a witty retort, he clasped his hand on the Doctor's shoulder, causing his hostage to scream in agony, his face contorting.

Jack jumped forward. "Stop hurting him!"

The Master chuckled. After a moment, he relented and stopped the pain but tightened his grip on the Doctor, who was now trembling. "Move any closer Harkness and I will destroy him, right here and right now."

Raising his hands, Jack edged away, moving back towards the console.

"Stop." The Master ordered. "Do you think I'm stupid? Move away from the controls, towards the door."

Jack stayed where he was. The Master snarled and dragged the Doctor up off of his knees. Again gripping the other Time Lord harshly, he snarled, "do as I say!"

"You kill him, you lose your one bargaining tool."

The Master scoffed. "You won't let him die!"

The Doctor cleared his throat. "Jack is smarter than you, Master. You're acting irrationally, consumed by your need for revenge. Jack is the one thinking clearly."

"Is that so?" The Master returned. "He cares about you though doesn't he? He'll do anything to save you." He leered back over at Jack as he drawled in the Doctor's ear, "let's ask him why, shall we?"

Unbeknownst to the Master, Martha had finally got to her feet and was slowly crossing the room, her scared eyes trained on the evil Time Lord's back. She had heard the Doctor speak, in her head, giving her instructions, coaxing her. She could feel his strength building, knew the TARDIS was revitalising him. But for how long? She moved towards the console, the control she needed dead in front of her. If she could only reach it before the Master noticed...

The evil Time Lord was addressing Jack once more. "Tell us Jack, come on. Tell us why you are still here. You could have controlled the TARDIS, the vortex would have done it for you. You and young Martha could have been well away from here. But you stayed. For him. For the alien that wished you dead. Why?"

Jack tried to focus on the Master. He had now seen Martha too, it seemed the Master was still oblivious to her. Jack had to keep him talking.

"He didn't mean those things he said." Jack said simply.

The Master threw back his head and laughed. The Doctor's eyes dropped to the floor.

"You actually believe that, you stupid ape? You believed his pathetic, desperate lies?"

"Don't." The Doctor whispered.

"He is a Time Lord Jack! You are possessed by Time! OK, he may not have known you were alive and looking for him exactly but he knew something was wrong. He could have found you, if he had ever bothered to try. He chose to ignore his feelings, his senses, to bury them with the rest of the pain. And do you know why Jack? Because he was having such a merry old time with Rose, keeping up his performance! Eventually, of course, he did forget about you. Out of sight, out of mind."

Jack swallowed hard. He wanted the Doctor to start shouting, to deny it all. But the other Time Lord didn't react. He merely continued to stare at the ground.

The Master was on a roll. "And when you finally caught up with him," he continued, revelling in the pain his words was causing to both men, "he treated you like a disease! Why?" He pointed at Jack, accusing him. "Because you are wrong, Captain Harkness! You are a fact. And you need to be dealt with. He knows it. Instead of facing that, he "freaked out" as you humans would say. Oh yes, what a hero!"

"Please, Master." The Doctor couldn't take anymore. "Stop."

The Master smirked. His eyes didn't leave Jack. "So Human, what do you say now?"

Jack's world had just died. The spark that had kept him going was extinguished. The Doctor had had an inkling all along. He could have searched for him, he could have ended the pain. But he had made his choice. And he had chosen his life with Rose. Even Martha was still now, her eyes on the Doctor. She looked as if she couldn't believe her ears. But Jack knew. He knew the Master was speaking the truth, however much he longed for him to be lying.

Jack's eyes met the Doctor's. And that was when Jack realised. The Doctor was crying. Silent tears were running down his face. The Doctor's voice shook as he spoke, "I'm so sorry Jack. I, I was wrong. He's right, I could and should have done more to find you, to help you. I ignored you and I'm sorry. Rose was everything to me. I didn't want that ruined. She was only human. Knowing she had been a God, knowing she had had the power of life and death, it could have driven her mad. I wanted her with me." He paused. "In the end, I lost her anyway.."

Jack interrupted him. "I'm human too."

"I know Jack, I was wrong and my behaviour to you was.. " Another beat. His cheeks reddened. "I was so shocked to see you, alive and in front of me. Needing my help. I panicked. I was scared. That's not something I'm used to, feeling afraid. It threw me and I reacted badly." He smiled. "I'm not perfect."

"Enough!" The Master demanded. "Are you so stupid Jack? Are you really going to forgive him?"

Jack said nothing. He was now gazing down at the ground. He was heartbroken and betrayed, that was certainly true. But as he raised his eyes to the Doctor, it was another emotion he felt, so strong that it buried all the others. And that was enough for him.

"Maybe." He replied.

The Master twitched. "What?"

"Maybe I am stupid. But, I can't help it. I love him." He spoke those last three words softly but both the Doctor and the Master heard him only to well. The Doctor had shut his eyes, his head again bowed. The Master however, was highly amused.

"Say that again Jack, I don't think he caught it."

Jack cringed. But his voice remained steady as he repeated his words.

"I love him."

The Master threw back his head and laughed. He was far too concentrated on Jack's shame to notice that Martha, though still looking stunned, was now nearly at the console, her hand ready to grasp the switch the Doctor had described in her mind. She nodded to Jack, whose eyes widened when he saw she was nearly at her goal. Just a few more seconds...

"You earthlings!" The Master bellowed, "you with your love and your hate! We are Time Lords, humans are pets to us. Especially to him!" The Doctor shook his head. The Master ignored him, still addressing Jack. "So, you love the man he was before, am I correct?"

"Yes," Jack answered simply. "The man he was." He paused before adding, "and the man he is."

The Master frowned. "But after the way this Doctor treated you..."

"Doesn't matter." Jack said. "I love 'The Doctor'. That daft man in his leather jacket. This new model, more manic, more alone. And any other man he is yet be. It's what he is that I love, not the form he is in." The Doctor was gazing at Jack, open-mouthed. Jack smiled. "And now," Jack continued, his words till aimed at the Master but it was the Doctor he was looking at; "he's going to seriously owe me one."

The Doctor, despite himself and his current state, giggled. The Master was incredulous.

Leaning down to whisper in the Doctor's ear, he muttered, "I don't understand you're humans."

"You never will." The Doctor croaked. He could sense Martha's progress. He knew her hand was hovered on the lever. Activate it Martha, he thought desperately. Now.

"All very sweet, I'm sure," the Master was saying outloud, his eyes flashing dangerously, "but we've moved on from the matter at hand." With a simple wave of his hand, Jack and Martha were picked up and thrown across the room. The Master, still holding the Doctor to him, leered down at his foe.

"You actually thought I wouldn't notice her?"

The Doctor didn't offer a response. His eyes were calm, his face steady. He noted that his friends weren't hurt, both of them getting up carefully, Jack supporting Martha. It suddenly dawned on him that he could move again. He wondered if this was an oversight of the Master's? His fellow Time Lord obviously believed the Doctor was far to weak to cause any trouble.

"Stand Doctor," the Master demanded, releasing his hold. The Doctor instead sank to the ground. Hissing at him in annoyance, the Master gripped his coat and violently threw the Doctor against the console, sending him crashing against the machine. Once he had steadied himself, the Doctor reached out and patted the console, relief at touching it again flowing through him The Master eyed this, a sickened look on his face.

"Very moving Doctor, " he taunted. "Now, your 'special' friend Jack has decided your fate for you. Nice of him wasn't it?" He smiled. The Doctor merely gazed back, his large brown eyes still amazingly calm. The Master swallowed before continuing. "The deal was made, your freedom for mine. Break your telepathic link to the TARDIS. She's mine now."

The Doctor didn't speak. He kept on staring, holding on to the console for support. The Master could see his enemy was still weak. He was also being expectedly difficult.

"Give her to me, Doctor. You can't refuse. There was a gentleman's agreement."

"Not with me." The Doctor said softly.

The Master shook his head.

"And you know that that is unimportant. I kept my part, you're alive. The ship is mine."

"No."

"Doctor.."

"I said no."

The Master was just keeping control. The drums were getting louder again. They had been so quiet for so long, now they were back. And it was because of the Doctor. Because the Doctor was once again fighting him.

He tried again. "You will break your link Doctor, or I will simply snuff you out. I can do it."

The Doctor actually shrugged. "I know, Master." He said, his voice now hoarse. Even standing up to the Master was draining what little strength he had. Still, he continued, "But then you'll never control the TARDIS will you? She'll never be yours."

With a hiss, the Master spun around, his arm outstretched, pointing straight at Martha.

"Then watch her suffer."

The power surged from him, heading straight for her. All Jack could do was scream a warning, the attack had been to sudden, to ferocious. And the Master was just to strong for him. Jack had realised, he may have control of the vortex, just like the Master but he was a human. He was no match for a Time Lord turned Time God. He could only stand and stare in horror as the power shot towards Martha. He closed his eyes.

But there was no death scream from Martha, no cry of anguish from the Doctor. Opening his eyes slowly, Jack gazed in awe at the sight before him. Martha was now on the ground, her good arm raised in an effort to protect her from the golden glow which was now, inexplicably, hovering above her head. The Captain shook his head in disbelief as he regarded the two Lords of Time.

The Master was stood in exactly the same position, gesturing towards Martha. The Doctor was now almost laying down on the console, his eyes closed. Jack could feel the war going on between them, inside their minds. It was a battle of wills. The Doctor had stopped the Master's power but the pressure was slowly killing him. It seemed the Master had been the one underestimating – he had forgotten about his greatest enemy's never say die attitude, to his cost. The TARDIS had revitalised the Doctor enough for him to put up a fight. But he was losing that strength fast.

The Doctor changed tack. He send images into the other Time Lord's mind, causing him to moan. Jack smiled when he sensed why. The Doctor was showing him his happiest memories. The smiling faces of the Doctor's companions confronted the Master one at a time. This was the one thing the Master couldn't take, the Doctor's contentment and love of humanity. With a shriek of anger, the evil Time Lord gave in. With one last shimmer, the golden glow of death above Martha slowly melted away. Once it was gone, both the Doctor and Master opened their eyes and each regarded the other.

Jack fell to his knees beside Martha and held her close to him. "Are you OK?" She nodded. Jack turned again to the scene at the console. He shivered when he saw the Master's eyes. They were flaming. The Doctor was pale and still. He was exhausted. The effort had used up everything he had. He could do nothing as the Master slowly stalked towards him.

The Master had forgotten that Jack and Martha existed. All he cared about was the Doctor and finally defeating him. Grabbing the other Time Lord by the throat, he pinned him down against the TARDIS console.

"No more fighting, Doctor. At last, it's time to end it."

The Doctor was too weak to struggle. He began to scream as wave after wave of agonising vortex energy hit him.

The Master, delighting in the Doctor's pain, leant right in close.

"Does that hurt?" He spat at him as he tapped a familiar rhythm on the console beside the Doctor's face. Grabbing his hair and forcing his head back, the Master pressed his lips to his enemy's and again began to burn out the Doctor's mind, as his power continued to ravage the other Time Lord's body. The Doctor's screams intensified. "Die," the Master hissed.

Suddenly, the Master was shoved to one side as Captain Jack Harkness flung himself at him. Jack's body, vortex power and soul all crashed into the Master, the only goal to force him away from the Doctor. Taking advantage of the Master's surprise, Jack grabbed the smaller man and shoved him face down against the console.

The Master laughed manically. "All you had to do was ask, Jack! Given up on him already have you?"

Martha had run to the Doctor, who had slid to the floor.

"Jack, help me!" She whimpered. And then: "JACK!" .

Jack heard the Master laugh. "Too late! You've lost him." Another evil chuckle. "He won't regenerate Jack. Over!"

The Captain had heard enough and he wasn't the only one. He heard a female voice in his head, commanding but kind:

"He will not hurt my Doctor anymore. Tell sweet Martha to open me, Jack Harkness, she knows how. He will give back what he stole."

Jack didn't need to be told twice. He shouted out to Martha, "Whatever the Doctor told you to do earlier, do it NOW!"

She understood. Forcing herself away from the deathly pale Doctor, she darted to the TARDIS console and slammed down a lever. There was a crashing sound. She backed away, unsure.

The Master let out a frightened howl and tried to scramble clear of Jack but the Captain clung on to him, holding him fast. The compartment of the console infront of the Master was rising. Jack had seen this happen once before, when Margaret had looked into the heart. The Doctor's words back then came rushing back to him as he saw the Golden glow pour out of the TARDIS and surround all four of the occupants.

"Martha!" He shrieked, "close your eyes!"

She obeyed without a word..

Jack followed his own advice but didn't loosen his grip on the Master. The power pummelled into the ex-Time Agent as well as the evil being in front of him. Jack gasped from the pain, feeling his Power draining away. The Master, however, had been stood directly in the Power's path and was receiving the full surge. He stared unblinking, completely helpless, into the light. He was unable to look away, powerless to resist.

"No." He moaned. "Don't, mine..."

Jack heard the female voice, not sure if it was inside or outside his head, saying, "You were unworthy of my majesty, Time Lord. You will return what is not your right to have."

The Master screamed uncontrollably, his arms flailing as the light streamed into him. He was knocked forwards, backwards and sideways, as if he were no more than a rag doll, as his God-Like powers were torn away. The drums were deafening. They were disapointed in him. Finally, the screaming grew quiet. The light around the Master slowly diminished and the glow quickly retreated back into the TARDIS. The compartment slammed shut. And the ship was still once more.

Both Jack and The Master lay on the floor, trying to catch their breath. Jack recovered first, getting painfully to his feet. Martha was staring at both men in shocked awe, her eyes wide with wonder at what she had just witnessed. The Master lay still, staring up above, his eyes wet with tears. He was surprised to find himself still alive. He forced himself into a sitting position, staring up at Jack who was now stood over him. The Captain's face was blank, the Master's fearful.

Martha moved to stand beside Jack, one hand on her hip. She regarded the Master with disgust."How does it feel, being just another Time Lord again? Like the Doctor?"

The Master sneered at her. "I'm the Last of the Time Lords, I think you will find, Miss Jones." He inclined his head at the unmoving form of the Doctor.

Jack's face darkened. Very slowly, Jack outstretched his arm.

"You deserve to die." He said simply.

"You're weak." The Master whispered.

"I've got enough Power for this, don't worry."

Martha moved past Jack, returning to the Doctor's side. There was still no sign of any pulse and his skin was deathly cold. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Killing me won't bring him back." The Master told Jack.

"No, but it will make me feel better."

Fury was coursing through Jack. He wanted revenge. He wanted the Master to die horribly and slowly, at his hand. And all he had to do was will for it to happen...

"Jack," Martha said softly, "the Doctor wouldn't want you to kill for him."

Jack stopped. He looked over at the young medical student and then down at the prone body lying beside her. Finally, his gaze once again fixed on the Master, who was watching him with interest.

"Going to show me mercy, Captain? You and I both know I would hardly be your first victim." The Master was taunting him now, eyes twinkling, all fear gone. "We are are very alike you know, we have shared a love for causing suffering haven't we?"

Jack didn't reply. Despite his desire, he lowered his arm and the Power building up inside him fizzled and died.

"I'm not like you." He told the Master. "We'll drop you off, somewhere safe and very, very dull. Where you can do no harm." As he spoke, the central column of the TARDIS console began to move and the familiar wheezing sound could be heard. They were in flight.

Nobody spoke for a moment. The Master and Jack were eyeballing eachother whilst Martha sat on the floor, stroking the Doctor's messy hair, her quiet sobs and the clinking machinary of the Time and Space ship were the only sounds to hear.

Suddenly, the TARDIS sprang off course. The Master and Jack toppled over, landing in a heap. Martha let out a small cry as she slid into the console, her broken up causing her agony.

The Master leapt to his feet before Jack could register would had happened.

"At last!" The evil Time Lord exclaimed. He ran to the console and began to flip switches and press buttons. He placed a small device on the console. After one last grin at the unmoving Doctor and giving the stunned Jack and Martha a mock salute, he stood proudly as a white light appeared around him. Two seconds later, there was a bright flash and then the Master was gone.

Shaking his head to clear it, Jack scrambled to his feet, already knowing that he was far to late. The Master had escaped. He had killed the Doctor and got away with it. Jack rushed to the device and picked it up.

"A homing beacon!" He snarled as he furiously threw the device on the floor and stamped on it. "We've been followed this whole time!"

"Who by?" Martha asked.

"No idea."

"Is it a ship?"

"Yes."

"Will they fire on us again?"

"I don't know!"

Martha shut her mouth. Jack sighed. He opened his mouth to apologise but someone else spoke first.

"Move her again Jack."

Jack and Martha stared at eachother, the weak voice shocking them both. After a beat, the two of them rushed over to the Doctor, their faces beaming. They fell down at his side, both grabbing his hands.

"Doctor!" Exclaimed Martha.

"You're going to be OK," Jack whispered.

The Doctor smiled. "The TARDIS doesn't want to say goodbye. She's using all of her energy to keep me going." He blinked. "It's failing though." A cough. "I haven't got long." A shrug. "Maybe it really is the right time." Jack shook his head fiercely.

"No, you have to keep fighting. The Master escaped, I'm sorry. You have to go on too."

The Doctor gave him a grin. "No giving up. Good for you Jack." He squeezed his hand as he arched his back as a wave of pain went through him. Jack fought back the tears. This could not be happening.

"Get the TARDIS away from here Jack," the Doctor growled, through clenched teeth. "Before that ship attacks again."

Jack nodded and closed his eyes. Seconds later, the ship was once again in flight.

"Don't go," Martha pleaded.

"Everything has it's time." The Doctor replied kindly. "Everything dies."

His body spasmed again. Martha laid her head down on his chest, her droplets spilling onto his coat. A memory came to him, from a long time past, causing him to smile. 'You're soaking my shirt.' He heard the words, felt her friendly punch. He remembered the laughter. And it calmed him.

He gently brushed the tears away.

" Tears, Martha Jones?" Another memory. Another smile. "Don't cry."

One last gasp and then, with eyes now staring at her but not seeing, his head rolled to one side and he lay there, completely still. There was no regeneration, no golden light, no explosion, no nothing. The Doctor was dead.

Martha stared at him, disbelieving. She shook his lifeless body once and then more desperately, pleading. "Wake up!" Then louder, terrified, "Please wake up!"

Jack gathered the sobbing girl up and, wrapping his arms around her, held her close to him. She continued to weep, holding onto him as if for dear life. Silent tears fell from Jack's own eyes as he stared at the body below them. He had waited so long. How could it end this way?

Throwing his head back, Jack let out a devastated, agonised cry before he too gave in and began to weep.

"DOCTOR!"

TBC

Gawd, that's one evil cliffie! Do you really think he's gonna stay like that? Hee! Please, please comment cos you can't beat feedback! The last chapter will be up in the next couple of days and will be a lot shorter. Til then, bye bye! And pls reviews! Begs