Them PT9

"What do you think it means?" Rose asked Jon.

"I dunno, you tell me. You are – or at least were – the Bad Wolf. The last time I saw these words something bad was about to happen."

Pete looked at him sharply. "When was that?"

"It was right before the events leading up to the Reality Bomb, and right after Donna won over the influence of a Time Beetle," Jon looked at Rose, "with your help."

"Yeah," Rose agreed, "but this doesn't feel like a warning to me. The first time I saw these words, I had planted them to encourage myself to find a way to help you."

"You saved my life," Jon agreed, "and it nearly cost you yours, not to mention it cost me a regeneration."

"Yeah, but better regenerated than killed by Daleks."

"Agreed."

"I'm sure I planted the ones you and Donna saw to let you know I was coming back to you, as well as to make sure you took the warning about the darkness seriously. But this looks and feels different."

"It does," Jon agreed. "Maybe it will tell you something if you touch it."

Under Jon and Pete's watchful eyes, Rose climbed upon the bed and stood in front of the wall, placing her hands on the letters and leaning forward so her cheek was against them. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Tell me."

As the two men looked on in fascination, and a little alarm (Jon had to grab Pete's arm to urge him to stay back), the letters evaporated into a soft, shimmering golden fog which slowly settled upon Rose. She stood up straight, then turned and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing them. Slowly a smile stole across her face, and she gently fell back upon the bad, cupping her face with her palms, and started laughing, first gently, then building almost to hysteria – but not quite. Tears flowed from her eyes as she sat up, laughing, "Oh that is brilliant! Just brilliant! How fantastic!" She fell back upon the bed again with her arms spread wide, then hugged herself, rocking back and forth on the bed. "Oh Jon, you just won't believe it!"

"What, please tell me!"

She sat up and looked directly into his eyes. "I need to talk with The Doctor." She looked at Pete apologetically. "Privately."

As soon as they assured him that no one was in any immediate danger, Pete cast a doubtful glance at the wall and left them. Rose's car had been delivered and was parked in the garage, so they could come and go as they pleased.

"Let me know what happens," he made them promise before he left.

Jon looked at the time. It was nearly 5:30. "OK," he said, "can you tell me what's going on before he calls?"

"Well, I can tell you this. You weren't an accident."

He looked gobsmacked. "Really? Well, that's certainly refreshing. But how?"

"I don't remember very much," she cautioned,"so I can't tell you exactly how, but apparently when I had that bit of the Time Vortex in me, I saw into the future."

"Go on," he urged, fascinated.

She smiled ruefully. "I guess I saw that you – or rather, your brother - was going to dump me."

"Oh..."

"Yeah." She took a deep breath. "So I did something about it. I set the circumstances in motion that would lead to your creation. I scattered hints that would help lead everyone to the right places at the right times."

Jon paled. "Now Rose, that's truly frightening. Do you realise the damage you could have done to all the universes?"

"But it wasn't just me, Jon!" She anxiously tried to explain to him, "The Vortex was with me. It enabled and allowed me to do it. Somehow this all was meant to be."

He shook his head and smiled a little ruefully as he looked at her. "Rose Tyler, Defender and Creator of the Universes."

"I didn't create the universes, Jon, just you," she teased. "But, more seriously, there's something that I have to tell him."

"What's that?"

"Not to ever lose hope. That he is loved, and to believe in himself, and to believe in us."

"Us?"

"Yeah, us. He's going to need us someday." She shrugged. "That's what was impressed upon me."

The phone rang. "You or me?" Jon asked.

"You," said Rose. "Find out what he wants, then I'll talk to him last."