Rose and Donna sat with the children at the fire ring, doing their best to keep them company. Martha was next to them, giving Matteo a full checkup as best as she could without any equipment. The Doctor had asked the three of them to spend some time with the children and to check on Matteo while he questioned the adults. Rose didn't agree to it at first, there were over twenty people that they could possibly question, and only four of them. She had offered to make it easier for him, but he stuck his ground with confidence. All there was left for her to do was to nod her head and go with the flow.

"Okay, and how long ago was it that you got hurt?" Martha asks Matteo, trying hard to be delicate around his makeshift sling.

"Round three days ago" They hear a voice say. They turn the attention to another child sitting with them at the ring, on Matteo's left "s'when he got taken anyway"

The three women eye each other questioningly, not sure as to why the child was supplying the answers

"He's hardly said two words since we found him" the child answered for them, positioning themselves closer to Matteo's side, rubbing his back with their hand for comfort

Martha looked down to Matteo for confirmation. The small boy had refused to meet her eye, it was obvious that he was dealing some aftermath trust issues

"And how long were you out there hurt and by yourself before they found you?" Martha questioned him lightly, hoping to gain his trust. But the child had only continued to stare at the ground.

"The adults are thinking that it was only the next morning" the other child answered

Rose's heart went out to the child. There was no doubt that he was still scared out of his mind from whatever happened to him. She couldn't imagine being left on her own all night after she had been injured at his age, she guessed he couldn't be any older than eight.

"Well then you know what we're going to do?" Donna asked, having the same thoughts as Rose, directing her question to Matteo while also getting the rest of the children's attention "We're gonna help you find this person, this thing. And then we're gonna have the Doctor beat him up for us!" she finishes, making one hand into a fist and beating it into the palm of the other, making the children laugh

Rose and Martha smiled to Donna, thankful that she was able to lighten the mood

Donna glances upwards, and they both follow her gaze to see the Doctor returning with the adults. They let out a sigh of relief as Donna and Rose stood up to join him. The Doctor glances their way, greeting them with a lazy wave. "Anything useful?" Rose asked once they reached him

"Yes actually" the Doctor said lightly "They mapped out the area for me, including where they found Matteo"

"So what's the plan then?" Donna asks as Martha approaches them, having just finished with the boy

"We're going to track it down" the Doctor answers, looking to all three of them "I'm going to take the adults with me, well the men and however many women want to volunteer. That way we have numbers."

"Great. That way we could split up!" Rose said excitedly "We can use our cell phones to communicate, cover more ground"

"No" the Doctor said suddenly, causing Martha and Donna to do a double take

"So, you'd rather we stick as a unit?" Rose asks carefully "I guess I could just stay at the back of the group for coverage.."

"I meant no, you're not going" the Doctor says to Rose, his face completely blank

Rose blinked at him "But I volunteer" she says slowly

"They could use your help here at the site" the Doctor says simply, beginning to turn away

"Hey!" Rose says abruptly, reaching to tug the Doctor's arm, turning him back to face her "We all know I'd be better use out there"

"No" the Doctor repeats clearly, holding Rose's gaze. Donna and Martha looked to each other, immediately sensing the tension growing between the couple. "Wha-? Wh-?" Rose tries, baffled at the Doctor's refusal "But you're letting them go?" she challenges him, gesturing to the other two

"Donna already said she's staying here to help with the children, and Martha is a certified medical Doctor, we could use her" the Doctor responds matter of factly, not backing down

"You could use me" Rose says evenly, not wavering her argument as well "It's not like I'm asking for your permission"

"Rose" the Doctor begins with a sigh

"You used to let me" Rose interjects, the conversation starting to wind her up

"It's not safe" the Doctor tries

"You used to let me go everywhere with you, thought anywhere was safe enough as long as we were holding hands" she says, trying her best to keep her voice calm

"That was before—"

"Before what?" Rose interrupts sharply "Before the alternate universe got in the way?" she says dryly, her face becoming icy "Cause last time I checked, that was me who was trapped" she says harshly "You told me to go back with mum and I refused. Turns out no matter what I chose to do, I would've still ended up saying goodbye to you on that beach"

The Doctor face hardens at her words, his body stiffening, as Rose holds his gaze, her face still blank and cold. Martha and Donna are left with their mouths hanging open, looking back and forth wide eyed between the two, as a long uncomfortable silence fell

"As I said" the Doctor says finally, keeping his words short, his voice even, and his face blank "I would like you to stay and assist Donna please" he finishes curtly, turning quickly and walking away from the argument, leaving Rose to fume on her own.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The Doctor, Martha, and the volunteers had all made sure to set out before the days end, looking to avoid spending too much time out there in the dark. They say their goodbyes to one another, the Doctor taking one last look over to Rose and Donna at the fire ring. Rose returns his look with her face still hard and her eyes still sharp like daggers. The Doctor nods to her, and turns to everyone else with a large sigh, rubbing his face with his hand. "Let's go then" he says tiredly, leading them out of sight

Donna and Rose immediately get to work helping the mothers out with the kids, doing their best to keep them entertained. Rose teaches the girls how to braid each other's hair and how to play hopscotch, finding a rock that gave off enough of a chalky residue to draw the court. Donna took the boys and taught them how to play freeze tag, she was really good at freeze tag. Afterwards they came together to tell stories at the fire while the mothers did their best to scavenge up some dinner for everyone.

The mothers had called the kids for dinner, leaving Donna and Rose to themselves, sitting around the fire. They both sat in a comfortable silence, staring at the fire for entertainment.

"I'm sorry" Rose said eventually, Donna looking up to her in confusion "I could tell I was making you guys uncomfortable, but I couldn't stop myself."

"Yeah….geez" Donna jokes, getting a chuckle out of Rose

"It's just.." Rose begins, frustrated "I get that this whole ordeal obviously dramatically affected him as well, but he's making it as if me getting trapped in a different universe made him the victim"

"Im sorry" Donna offers, putting her hand on Rose's arm for comfort "I have no way of knowing what you two are going through, especially you. But we both know how the Doctor is, maybe he just learned he needed to handle it a different way than you. If anything, at least you won't have to deal with him alone anymore" she tries hopefully. Rose smiles softly to her, putting her own hand on Donna's

"They've been gone for hours" Rose concludes, looking around them

"Hmm" Donna agrees "Maybe they got lost, ended up going in circles."

Rose nodded her head, staring intently into the fire. After a few minutes she slapped her leg and stands up "I'm going after them" she decides

"What?!" Donna gapes at her "After all of that?"

"Donna, what if they're in trouble?" Rose questions

"What if they're not?" she sends back

"Well if they're not in trouble then they're not in trouble" Rose answers, as if it was obvious "I'd rather the Doctor be safe and be pissed at me, than us never see them again because I just sat around the fire hoping they were okay"

Donna sighs

"Look" Rose says to her, bending at the knees to meet her at eye level "I'm not asking you to come with me, cause I know you'd be more comfortable here. But I'm not, Donna. I'd be more comfortable out there"

"No stopping you?" Donna asks

"Course not" Rose answers with a smile

"Stay safe Rose" Donna tells her "please"

"Yes ma'am" Rose replies with a laugh, hugging her friend. "If they come back before sunset and I'm not with them, then tell the Doctor I was worried and went looking close by. I'll tell him the parts he won't like once I get back" she finishes, standing up and walking away.

-.-.-.-.-.-

Rose made her way the direction she saw them leave, immediately turning her Torchwood training into gear. She kept her mind sharp and was aware of everything around her.

To her advantage, she was able to follow the obvious trail of twenty or so footprints in the dirt. She tracked it for a little while until she was able to pinpoint where they must have started going in circles. She chose her own direction and then walked until she found some of the human height grass in front her gently parted to the sides, deciding to follow the new man made path in front of her. She walked in what she felt like were circles for a while until the grass ceased immediately 'This must be the edge of the valley' she concludes to herself 'a different side of the forest we originally traveled through'

It was then that she saw him. He was crouched down behind a thick tree, his back to her, as he was using his hands to signal the others along. She follows his gaze and notices the mouth of a rock cave located just inside the edge of the forest, and she was able to make out a hoarse howl coming from inside.

She crouches herself down like the others, carefully and quietly getting herself closer to them. She halts herself a short distance from everyone else, positioning herself off to the side so she could watch everything that was happening.

The howling cry increased in volume as everyone observed the mouth of the cave expectantly, as a creature that could only resemble the common man's caveman emerged. Only this one was a humanoid version. It resembled a human being, as it walked on two legs and used the other two as arms, but it was triple in size and reminded the Doctor of a gigantic armadillo. It carried a big stick in its right hand that reminded him of a cactus, with spikes poking out every which way, probably as its weapon of choice. Why there were gigantic armadillos wielding a cactus stick taking refuge in a rock cave located on the edge of a forest and a valley, he had absolutely no clue, but still, he's seen stranger things

The creature starting screeching into the air, obviously aware it had visitors, as more of them began emerging from the cave one by one. Rose's eyes lingered on the bizarre creature, as she leaned her body forward for a better look, making a stick split under her weight. When she heard the snap, she quickly drew in her breath, hoping to keep everything around her completely still. She looks back over to the Doctor and sees his body immediately tense up. Rose knew. The Doctor knew she was there.

The creature lost its patience as it let out another screech, challenging its visitors and signaling its own to attack.

"Stay down!" Rose heard the Doctor yell to Martha, commanding her to remain in the shadows until her services were needed

Rose watched as they fought the creatures off with nothing but giant sticks they had picked up along the way, the Doctor of course dodging around all of them, doing his best to scan them with his sonic screwdriver. One of the creatures aims his stick to strike the Doctor, and instead hits the stick to the ground, one of the spikes catching in it and coming off, leaving behind a purple clouded gas.

The Doctor looks at it wide eyed "Don't let them hit you with the stick!" the Doctor calls hastily to the others, before he resumes his scanning

Once things started looking up in their favor and their competition had dramatically decreased in size, Rose notices another armadillo warrior emerge from the cave, this one way bigger in size, reminding Rose of a queen bee. And she's obviously not happy with them as she lets out her deafening wail, rattling the trees and shaking the ground below them

The Doctor goes to help one of the fallen volunteers from the ground. Once he hears the thunderous roar from the queen bee, his eyes widen in dismay as his whips his head to Rose's hiding spot frantically. The queen grabs the absorbed Doctor, picking him and capturing him in its claw- like hand. Rose decided to take that as her cue as she leapt up from her place quickly, despite having not yet decided her plan, and bounded her way to the queen.

"ROSE NO!" the Doctor cried

Before Rose could get too far, the queen swung her cactus stick swiftly, knocking her off of her feet effectively, throwing her several yards away from her spot. One of the thick spikes had broken off the club, stabbing itself securely into Rose. The Doctor looks to her in horror as she landed hard on the ground, immediately wrenching out in pain and holding her side as tightly as she could.

The queen turns its attention back to the Doctor and cornering the volunteers further. Rose watches them from afar as her eyesight starts to blur. She looks down to see the spike injected into her side was giving off the purple gas the Doctor had warned the others about. By this point Rose knew the others had no chance of surviving if she resulted herself to cowering in pain, so she swallowed down her cries and bit back as much pain as she could as she made her way to one of the already fallen armadillos and took the cactus stick out of its hands. She blinks back the waterfall of tears pooling in her eyes, as she takes the deepest breath she can. Rose steadies herself for a moment and then gets a running start at the queen, coming up from behind and using all of her strength to lunge forward, causing her to cry out from the exertion.

The Doctor hears her cry and spots Rose as she jumps up the back, relying on her free arm to grasp on and give her leverage. Once she is hanging on, Rose quickly takes the opportunity to take down the queen, driving the cactus weapon as forcefully as she could into the side of the queen's neck. The creature cries out in obvious pain from the injection, immediately dropping the Doctor to fall to the ground and whipping itself back and forth. Rose loses her grip on the creature and is once again thrown yards away, landing on the ground like a raggedy doll, to immediately sit herself up and heave into the grass around her.

The queen continues its cries as it attempts to retreat back into the cave, to only collapse short from the entrance. As soon as they Doctor had hit the ground, he was immediately back on his feet and on his way to Rose.

"MARTHA!" the Doctor called sharply, signaling for the medical Doctor to join him as he ran.

Rose could hear the Doctor's cries as she finished heaving into the grass. She lifted her head up and turned herself to see him and Martha running full speed to her. Before they could reach her she felt herself numb as her body fell the rest of the way, head hitting the solid ground.

"ROSE!" the Doctor cried as he close the distance between them. He immediately ran his hands over her for inspection, taking in the spike that penetrated her side. Once Martha got to them, she quickly checked her for a pulse and repeatedly tapped Rose's face in hopes to get a response.

Rose could see the Doctor and Martha above her, desperate for her attention. But the haze in her view was starting to cloud the rest of her eyesight. The world was getting less and less detailed, and every noise she heard was slurring itself together. She struggled a few breathy words and then succumbed herself to unconsciousness.

Once Rose stopped moving the Doctor frantically moved his hands back and forth from her wrist to her neck, desperate for a pulse. Martha could tell as Rose's skins started to pale, only from the immediate reaction from the Doctor as he only cried out her name even louder.

"We have to get her back!" The Doctor yells to the others "Now"

Martha immediately gets to her feet, as some of the volunteers gather themselves towards Rose to help.

"No" The Doctor spits "Nobody touch her" he commands, voice quivering

Martha watched the Doctor nervously. She never seen him like this before. With her he was always guarded and seemed to plan out every word he said. Now she saw him, and he was scared. His eyes were big and painted with fear for his Rose. He didn't know what to do, but he was desperate for results. He gave off his angry commands but with a shaky, frenzied voice. Sure this was a critical moment, but the thing that was making Martha scared the most was the Doctor.

"Doctor" Martha forces, making him to listen to her "We need to get her back. Now"

The Doctor shoots up, bending back down to quickly pick Rose up in his arms. He spends half a second adjusting to make her as comfortable as possible, and then shoots off back to the camp. Martha commands the others to follow them back.

"Doctor!" Martha breathed heavily "You'll wear yourself out!" she called to him in front of her

"I have to get her back now. She won't make it if I walk" he tells her, and she knew it wasn't up for debate. The Doctor speeds up from his jog and breaks out into a full run.

-.-.-.-.-.-.

Donna turns away from the fire ring as she hears people crying out for help. She looks and sees the group returning, but the volunteers had come back into the clearing and were fanning people clear from their way hastily and she knew something was wrong. It was then that she saw Martha emerge from the grass, face completely flushed from running. Martha looked up to Donna quickly, and she could see the immediate urgency in the woman's eyes. Donna got up from the fire ring, quick to make her way over to Martha, as she saw the Doctor finally emerge from the grass, a white Rose Tyler is his arms.

"What the-!?" Donna cried, eyes widening in fright

"We need to get her to the TARDIS. Now" Martha told her simply and quickly.

"But—the TARDIS is hours away, remember?" Donna said

"Rassilion!" The Doctor spat as he sat Rose down, hastily fumbling through his pockets.

"Is she alright?" Martha heard Adilene ask behind them

"We don't know" she answered "not yet"

The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver from his coat pocket. He quickly flicked it to a setting and then bent down to Rose, grabbing the chain containing the TARDIS key around her neck, pressing the screwdriver to it and making it buzz "I need to take her to the med bay" the Doctor said quickly "I won't even know if she has a chance until I get her to the med bay" It was then that Donna was catching on to the desperation in his voice.

After a few seconds they began to hear the familiar whirring sound of the TARDIS as it appeared in front of them. The Doctor quickly picked Rose back up, and hurriedly ran in as Martha opened the door for him.

"Have them gather their stuff" Donna and Martha heard him command as he was already on the other side of the console. "Get them into the TARDIS immediately" "I'll take them home as soon as I know Rose will be okay" he sent out quickly before leaving them, making his way to the med bay with Rose in his arms.