Thanks for all the reviews. As promised, here is the early chapter. If anyone has any input on how to improve the writing I would very much appreciate it. And if you are wondering where all the illustrations are, I have three towards the end of the piece that I am working on (one finished, one in progress). Waiting to post them until I publish the corresponding chapters. ;)

Chapter 21

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The Doctor had been working in the lab for precisely twenty-three minutes and fourteen seconds when he heard the first knock at the door. Fortunately for him, he had enough foresight the night before to set up bio-metric shielding on the door to refuse access to anyone but himself. It was this shielding that he was now counting on to buy him some time as he carefully tinkered with the chip now balanced expertly on his palm.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Startled, he nearly dropped his work, cursing as he reset his glasses higher upon his nose. That ever familiar partner in crime, adrenaline, began pumping through him, sending his body on high alert. Focuses the mind, he quipped internally as he skillfully handled the tiny chip, sonic between his teeth. Unfortunately, with his sensor not yet functioning he had no way of knowing if it was Rose on the other side or the guards come to take him away. Against the backdrop of persistent and rather annoying sound barraging his ears, he patiently waited for her call.

It never came.

If it were her, she would have called to tell him so. If she hadn't called yet, it meant she couldn't for whatever reason or she wanted to give him space to work. Either way, he had to assume the worst; they had come for him.

Several curious sounds now echoed from beyond the door: a loud clanking followed by a high pitched scraping. "Blimey, can't a guy get some work done around here?" he mumbled, wincing from the unpleasant frequencies just beyond the entrance as his sonic whizzed above his hand.

This was bad. If he hurried he could have the chip done in say, an hour and a half, but that was without interruption. Under such noise he was likely to lose a bit of concentration. Sigh. This wasn't going to work. The awful truth gnawed at him: he would have to confront them. Oh Rose was never going to let him live this down! Either he would convince them to let him be, or they would take him away.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

What to do? They would figure out how to disable the shielding soon enough. It was only a matter of time. And though he'd find ample entertainment watching Torchwood's attempt to get around his clever little stalling trick, it might look better if he opened the door of his own accord rather then have them bust it down.

Taking a deep breath, he carefully set the chip on the desk and slid his glasses back to his suit pocket. Sonic at the ready, he casually waltzed over to the heavy door releasing the shield on the other side. Before they had a chance to act his figure sprang forth, hanging halfway out of the door, spilling into a hall full of armored guards, a dumbfounded Hartman at the helm. They gaped at him as he peeked down to see them with large bolt cutters, attempting to take off the hinges.

"Care to keep it down out here? I'm trying to work you know!" With that, he had disappeared back into the depths of the lab leaving the door cracked open, carrying on as if their presence had merely been an inconvenience.

Hartman, no doubt thrown off by his sudden appearance and seemingly normal response, stood momentarily transfixed. After a moment of indecision, she marched the room, guards not far behind. The Doctor didn't even look up, focusing his energies instead on the task at hand. "Something I can help you with, Assistant Director?"

She didn't answer. Instead he felt her eyes on him analyzing his actions, seeking to find the answer to whatever question mulling over in her mind. More footsteps sounded at the door. Finally he looked up, scanning the growing figures in the room. "What's with the cavalry, eh? Expecting somebody?" In the back he spotted an apprehensive Rose having just entered, Pete behind her. Adeola peeked her head in the door worriedly. He didn't let his eyes linger, choosing to keep up an air of indifference rather than focus on what was rapidly becoming a distressing encounter which was not likely to end well.

"Why did you lock yourself in this lab?" Hartman asked calmly, her expression neutral but guarded.

"Well I would think the answer to that would be obvious," he muttered looking back down, his tongue sweeping to the side in concentration. Ever so nimbly, he pinched a pair of tweezers between his fingers as he nudged a tiny component in place. "We've had several security breeches. Can't be too careful. Plus, if I am the target of all of this, better safe than sorry, eh?"

The moment stretched on before her voice finally sounded again. "Why aren't you in line to be registered?"

Removing his brown specs from the bridge of his nose, he rubbed between his eyes in frustration. "Because, I have a job to do and right now I think my time is best spent here." It was an honest enough answer and the only one he could give her.

"It will still be here when you're done provided you are who you say you are," she replied, the heavy undercurrent of sarcasm detectable.

Glasses still in hand, he let out a long weary sigh and draped an arm over the desk, brushing his other hand through his dark bangs. "I am not the enemy here, Hartman."

She brought herself to her full height folding her arms, her eyes discerning. "Doctor, we have two protocols for this new security process. One for humans, and one for aliens. Tell me, which group do you belong in?"

He didn't need this, not now. And not from her. Standing, he spoke low and earnestly. "I'm one of you and I'm on your side. So stop this nonsense. We don't have time for this."

"Nonsense? I take my job very seriously, Doctor, and right now I think this will lead us to the perpetrator. Or perhaps we could save some time here. My agents went missing as soon as you arrived." He stood absolutely still, only his concerned eyes moving as she came to stand directly in front of him. "So tell me, why is that?"

"I don't know," he answered truthfully, his brow raising. "But I can find out if you let me."

She scoffed. "You've had three weeks on this case, Doctor, and you are no closer to the truth!" She turned, stepping away from him. "And maybe that's the plan, hm?" She swiveled around on the spot, her hair falling to rest upon her shoulders. With a flick of her head, two guards came up behind him grabbing hold of his arms and jerking them back. Rose let out a gasp. Pete held her back. "Scan him," Yvonne ordered. An agent in black tactical gear parted the crowd, holding out a familiar wand: a Jadoon species scanner.

Fantastic. His breathing hastened as the man approached. It whizzed loudly as a blue light his his face. "Species unknown. Alien and human traces detected," it spouted. He gulped.

Seemingly satisfied, she nodded to herself. "For failing to disclose your true identity you are under arrest. Take him below to the holding area. And be sure to take his little toy too." The guards bound him with a zip tie, roughly reaching into his pocket and snagged his sonic screwdriver. Well, there went his personal teleport disruptor. He had embedded the chip into it, the one thing he was never without. They then pushed him forward as he stumbled to right himself.

For a moment Rose felt as if she were in free fall. "No!" she yelled taking a step forward, her hands reaching toward him as another guard stepped in her way. "You can't do this! He's been helping us! We need him." They couldn't take him from her. Not like this.

"Last time I checked Agent Tyler, I didn't take orders from field agents." Hartman circled around to view her. "I've seen you cozy up to him. It hasn't escaped my notice and it's likely he's been using you and your father to infiltrate this facility."

"That's ridiculous! I've known him for years. He was the one who saved this world from the Cybermen and the darkness! He has been helping us since we got here. We need his expertise on this case. Whatever is happening things are escalating and we can't afford to lose him. Not now."

Those apologetic espresso eyes gave her one last meaningful look before he was pushed out of view. Her heart squeezed with worry. This wasn't some far off planet where all she needed to do was break him out of jail before making a clean get away in the TARDIS. There was no TARDIS and this was home. There was nowhere else to go. Everything they had together was slipping right between her fingers.

It was Pete who spoke next. "Hartman-"

"Don't!" she snapped. Yvonne's voice was now noticeably angry as she walked right up under Pete Tyler's nose, her finger pointing accusingly. "You've been sitting idly on this case for far too long. I have orders from the President herself to neutralize the alien threat and right now he's top on the list. You aren't going to interfere, Director Tyler, or you will lose your position."

Scowling, he shifted his weight as he weighed his options.

Jake stepped forward from behind her shaking his head woefully. "We need you boss," he pleaded quietly.

The air was tense, hinging on Pete's decision to act or not. After a moment of deliberation, he sighed in defeat.

"No," Rose cried, her eyes moistening as she looked from Pete to Jake. "No you can't just let them do this to him!"

"Remove her from this room," Hartman ordered. "Agent Tyler I suggest you take some time off."

Pete's eyes flashed but it was Jake who stepped in once more. "Come on, Rose, come on," he said gently, taking her hand in his tugging her toward the door. "We'll figure this out," he whispered, his piercing blue eyes pleading. "But right now we've got to let things cool down. If we fight they'll take us off the case and that will keep us from being able to clear him."

Despite the fear that gripped her, she knew he was right. Slowly she nodded as he led her into the hall, though not without throwing a vicious glare Adeola's way.

Tears streaming down her face, the woman shook her head adamantly. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"

"I don't want to hear it," Rose snapped, walking past. A string of curse words filled her head and she only just managed not to spew them out. Luckily for that little witch she had other things to worry about. "I've got to go and see him," she declared to Jake as she stormed down the hall.

"I don't think that's a good idea right now," he suggested, reaching out once more.

"I have to see him!" she asserted more firmly, yanking her hand from his grasp.

In an instant he had swiveled in front of her, stopping her dead in her tracks as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Look, Rose, when it comes to him your head goes funny, okay? It's not beyond you to try something daft, and if you do anything, anything at all you could jeopardize not only you and him but your father as well."

She refused to meet his eyes. He was right. Of course he was, but that didn't seem to matter. All she could think about was him. And her dad knew very well what she was capable of and how far she was willing to go to get to him no matter the cost.

"Rose," Jake warned.

Her gaze finally met his as she slid his hands off her shoulders. "I'm not going to do anything stupid, Jake. But I will see him."

He straightened the hem of his black turtle-neck, matching her resolve. "Then I'm coming with you."

"Fine," she snapped. With that, she turned and marched toward the detention center.

After a long ride in the lift, the armored guards shoved the Doctor further and further into the deeper recesses of the compound. They passed several thick steel doors pulling apart with groaning after every swipe of the badge. It didn't escape his notice that most of the cells they passed were occupied, judging by the green lights displaying on the panels outside each door. It seemed the days of interacting with aliens for mutual benefit had ended abruptly. Thank you Harriet Jones, he thought to himself sarcastically. They stopped at a cell of the highest defense, putting in a code as the door slid open. They slit his bindings thrusting him forward.

The door shut before he could even turn around again. He gritted his teeth walking up to it. Without warning, a blue electric force field zapped into existence with a hiss. Great, wonderful, fantastic, he growled in frustration throwing his hands in the air. Fuming, he spun around to examine his cell.

There was a single thin mat adorned in gray sheets laying on top of a metal slab which protruded out of the wall in the corner. A flat metal surface also extended from the wall next to it- some sort of beside table, if you could even call it that. There was a toilet in the other corner. A small frosted window hung above the table but it was obvious it wasn't real. They were far too far underground. It must be to simulate the outside world. A light shone above him next to a tiny vent. And that was it.

He twirled around and gave the edge of the 'bed' a swift kick. Pain shot through his foot as he fell onto the bed and grabbed his trainer. He exhaled.

Oh that dreadful woman! He couldn't stand her. Imprisoning all of them- for what? Simply existing? The whole thing was vile! This was bad. This was really really bad. How on Pete's World was he going to get out of this one?

Now more than ever he needed to figure out the real cause behind the missing people and he couldn't do that from here. But what if they never let him out of here? His heart sank. Rose. He couldn't have a relationship with her now. Not like this. He ran his hand through his hair and down the side of his face. That was it then. He wasn't going to stay here forever. He was clever enough to find a way out and get back to her. If the walls of the universe couldn't keep them apart then this certainly wouldn't. Not that he would stay anyway. He would go absolutely insane cooped up in here. He glanced about dismally with a sigh.

He was no stranger to breaking out of prison and as easy as it would be for him to work up a brilliant escape plan he had to be smart about this, because the consequences of his actions would be lasting. He couldn't run. Not this time. First he had to play their game, make them think they had him to give Rose time to get to the bottom of this. If nothing else simply waiting would prove that he was not involved in whatever was going on, or at least that's what he hoped.

But then they would undoubtedly come to interrogate him. They were probably going to try to chip him and fit him with an immobilizer too. He shuddered in response to that thought. Could he really let it get that far?

Suddenly, the steel door behind the field drew back revealing a very angry blond.

"I told you," shouted a burly guard from beside a very testy Rose Tyler, "we have orders from Assistant Director Hartman to accompany you!"

"Shut up!" she hollered at the man in an impressive yell that easily cut through the muffling sound of the force field.

The Doctor found her gaze, her face utterly despaired. Her warm golden brown eyes were glistening as she stepped closer to the field. He mirrored her, stepping forward just on the other side.

"They can't do this," she whispered.

His heart fell. She glanced every so slightly to her left as she subtly eyed the guards behind her. It was obvious that whatever she had wanted to say, she couldn't say it in their presence."You've got to find out who's behind this," he spoke quietly.

She looked back at him, nodding solemnly. "But they won't let you go," she muttered, her lip quivering ever so slightly. "They're going to register and chip you and force you to live on base." She couldn't bear the thought of him being confined for the rest of his life to a live as a slave, heeding the every beck and call of Torchwood.

She inhaled trying to stifle a sob with her hand. Jake inched closer to her and put a supportive hand on her shoulder. The Doctor tensed at the gesture, glaring his way. Now he really didn't like the thought of being trapped in here.

"Doctor, I'm going to figure all of this out. I promise," she asserted, her face now determined, lowering her hand.

"I know," he spoke in a low voice. A small smile crept on the side of his face. If anyone could do the impossible, it was her.

"Doctor I..." her words caught in her throat, as she nervously eyed him. "I..." she paused holding in a breath. "I've got to go," she finally breathed, tearing herself away bringing her hand up to wipe her face as she strode off.

His chest hammered at her words. What had she meant to say? He strained to look at her as she disappeared down the hall. But Jake had stepped in front of him emotionless, his eyes scrutinizing. With a wave of his hand the steel door shut in his face.