Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who
Warning: Implications of suicide and euthanasia
Chapter 14
Once he and Rose were back in TARDIS and safely away from Hajia, for a while the Doctor stood and said nothing at all. However, after what seemed like an endless silence of contemplation, he held out a hand to Rose and said, "Rose come with me."
Without a second of hesitation, Rose took put her hand in his, feeling his cooler skin against hers, and followed him out of the room. The Doctor led her down the twisting, never-ending corridors of the TARDIS, and after a minute, Rose recognised where they were headed. But why was the Doctor taking her there?
Reaching their destination, the Doctor stopped, the lights of the med bay positively glaring compared to the dim glowing lights of the rest of the TARDIS. Letting go of Rose's hand, he began opening and shutting drawers, looking for something.
As he looked, he said to her, "Rose I need you to promise me something."
"What?"
The Doctor hesitated in his search, and picked something up out of the drawer he had open. "You remember on the planet, when Lya said that I could see to it that the universe was in no danger?"
"Yes," Rose said slowly.
The Doctor turned toward her, know holding something in his hand, "Well… there is a way. A way to see to it that you… and the rest of the known universe are safe."
"But I thought you said you couldn't stop what was happening to you?" Rose asked, not getting what the Doctor was talking about.
"I can't."
"Then what're you on about?" Rose asked, genuinely confused.
The Doctor sighed and held up what he was holding in his hand. It was a syringe, full of a colourless liquid.
Rose shook her head, "I don't understand."
"This is liquid salicylic acid," the Doctor explained, "Take this and combine it with acetyl chloride, and you get Acetylsalicylic acid… otherwise known as aspirin"
Rose stared at the Doctor, comprehension dawning. The Doctor was allergic to aspirin, she knew that, he'd told her that a single tablet could kill him. But surely he wasn't asking her to—surely not… he wouldn't…
The Doctor continued, deadly serious, "Now, I'm deathly allergic to salicylic acid. The amount in this syringe is enough to kill me dead several times over, so hopefully it'll still work… if the worst should happen."
By now, Rose was staring at the Doctor in horror. But with his eyes, he couldn't see the expression on her face.
"I didn't want to have to tell you this, Rose. I would want nothing more than to do as all you humans do, bury our heads in the sand and hope it goes away… but it's not going to go away. It is going to happen, so you have to know about this… just in case… I mean, I'll do it myself, Rose. I can't let whatever it is inside of me roam free in the universe, free to kill millions… to hurt you… I'd die first…" The Doctor paused for a second before suddenly adding, "Oh! I'd take you home first," as though that would reassure her. "But see, the thing is…" he began to speak again.
Oh God, there was more?! Rose didn't think she could take any more bad news. This day was just going from bad to worse.
"See, the thing is…" the Doctor began again, as if he were trying to gather the courage to actually say it. "Ok, the thing is… as I was saying, I need you to promise me something. I wish I didn't have to ask you, but I need you to promise me that if something happens and I don't manage to inject myself before, you know, … that you'll do it."
"What?!" Rose shrieked, wishing that she'd heard him wrong.
"I wish I didn't have to ask you this, Rose, but—"
"No," Rose said, shaking her head in horror, "I won't do it."
"Rose…"
"No!" Rose cried, "I won't-- I won't… kill you! You can't make me do this!"
"I know," the Doctor said quietly, "And I'm not going to. I'm asking you."
"There must be another way!" she cried.
"I could take you home."
"What?!" Rose asked, sure she'd heard him wrong. He wanted her to leave?
"Look," the Doctor said, putting down the syringe, and taking Rose into his arms, "I never want to hurt you, so I need you to promise me this. Otherwise, I'll have to take you home, and do it myself."
"What… now?!"
"If I have to," the Doctor said quietly, completely seriously.
Rose was speechless. She'd always known that the Doctor would kill to keep her safe, that he'd give his own life to save hers, but she'd never considered that he'd take his own life to protect her. Thinking about it, she didn't know why she was so surprised. If she knew that killing herself was the only way to keep the Doctor safe, then she'd do it in an instant, there was no question about that.
"Do I have to?" the Doctor asked. And Rose knew what it was he was really asking her. He was asking if she'd see this through with him, to the end. And that wasn't such a difficult decision. After all, she'd already made it with a promise in Torchwood tower, all that time ago.
"I made my decision a long time ago, and I'm never leaving you."
Course, that hadn't worked out so well at the time, what with her getting herself trapped in an alternate dimension and everything. But the Doctor had found a way back to her, a little worse for wear, but he was still her Doctor, and she was going to keep to her promise.
"No," Rose said, making her decision, "No, I promise, I'll… I'll do whatever you need me to."
"Thank you," he said, and brushed the backs of his fingers down her cheek, and giving her a tender kiss.
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A/N: I know, another short chapter… But I was thinking, what would everyone prefer… short update now… or long update later… well, I voted to update now, and I aim to finish the next chapter tonight (which I'm afraid is looking to be even shorter than this one) and update tomorrow, along with chapter 16, which is finished! Also, I know it was a bit depressing too, but as I'm doing exams right now, that's how it's gonna be!
Ooh, and a second ago, I just saw an advert for Saturday's Dr Who, and the return of Captain Jack- yay!!!
So, Questions, comments? Please review!