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Making It Count

Chapter Twenty Five

The Doctor's hand gripped Rose's tightly as he pulled her down the corridors with the water licking their ankles as they ran. He was holding her hand so tightly – afraid she'd slip away from him. The Doctor glanced at his watch and saw it was almost one in the morning – he knew they were running out of time.

When they stopped for breath Rose stared at him desperately

'What we gunna do?' she asked – he remained silent in response looking away from her questioning eyes

'You don't know' she answered for him. He nodded and framed her face with his hands

'I don't know Rose, I don't know' he admitted. Rose bit her lip and watched him

'At least we have each other' she murmured.

'Rose…' he began again – but stopped when he saw her eyes narrowing. He then took a deep breath almost in defeat, remembering how the last time he was here, he had nearly drowned and he was a Time Lord, he couldn't bear to think about how the icy water would affect a human. Rose broke through his thoughts with a suggestion

'We still have the Tardis' she gently reminded him, he looked down at her

'We still can't get in her though' he reminded Rose.

'Doesn't mean we can't try – she's telepathic right?' she told him as she pulled his hand.

'You got any better ideas?' she asked – he shook his head defeated.

'Hope your right' he murmured 'for both our sakes' he added on silently.

The Doctor and Rose remained silent as they ran along the passages, they squeezed each others hand tighter as they saw the faces of the doomed dragging their possessions along. Some carrying suitcases, others carrying children, all of them with fear in their eyes and tears threatening to stain their cheeks.

Rose tried to keep her eyes on the floor but every now and then someone would catch her eye and she would almost cry out. The Doctor held her hand as they ran against the current of people and towards the water filled compartments – they could only hope it wasn't too late.

The Doctor ran down the stairs, pulling Rose along beside him as he realised the ship was beginning to tilt forwards – however they continued to run down the stairs towards F-Deck. As they ran down the stairs the lighting above them flickered plunging them into darkness, the only sound welcoming them below was the gurgle of fast sweeping water. The Doctor saw the bottom of the steps engulfed in water which overflowed and bubbled as it began to climb the stairs.

The Doctor stared in disbelief at the dark water which had swallowed his ship; he froze unable to move for a moment as he watched the water lap against the steps threatening to consume them both. Then he jumped in – he wadded down the steps, the freezing water burning his skin as he forced himself down

'Doctor!' Rose cried out in protest as he pushed his way through the overwhelming water

'Doctor! What are you doing' she cried as he became waist deep in the water – he continued moving as he made his way down the drowned stairs. Rose stared at him, her heart aching for him – then she followed him into the water. She let out a sharp gasp as the water stung against her legs, but she ignored it, continuing through the current to where the Doctor stood.

He heard her cry out as the water lapped against the raw skin of her burns – and he turned to face her, his eyes wild and desperate.

'Rose – get back up those steps' he commanded as he continued to walk forward

'No' she cried out as she paused against the currently battling her legs.

'Rose, you have to go back up there' he yelled as his voice cracked.

'I'm not going without you' she whimpered as the water began to climb around her legs. He shook his head as he pursed his lips, his eyes were wild with emotion as he stared into the darkness of the corridor

'I have to get down there' he swallowed heavily

'Doctor, you can't you'll drown!' she protested as she pressed one hand against a shifting wall for balance. He shook his head desperately at her

'No…no, the Tardis is in there – I can't leave her behind' he choked as he moved further into the water.

'Doctor…please' Rose whispered as her voice cracked. He turned round to face her again, his features taunt as his body wrestled with emotion – she could see the unshed tears that glistened in his eyes

'Doctor, even if you do get down there, you can't get her out' she whispered over the scream of the water – willing him to understand. He shook his head

'But I can try…that's my home Rose – our home. I can't just leave her…she's…she's the last one' he whispered like the broken Time Lord he was.

'Just like you are' she murmured. He nodded sadly at her

'Rose that's my Tardis – I can't leave her' he admitted as the water swarmed above his waist. Rose shivered as the water hit her waist line; she shook her head, her eyes desperate

'Doctor! No, you can't reach her' Rose begged as the water swam through her legs almost knocking her off balance. She leant forwards against the current, reaching before her

'Doctor, please' she begged. The Doctor's gaze was fixed on the dark depths of the ocean that swamped the ship

'Is she all that matters?' she asked emotionlessly. His nod told her everything she needed to know, her whisper was lost in the crashing of waves as she fought her way down the flooded steps.

'Then I'll help you get her back' she murmured as she slid her hand in his. He glanced down at her shivering form and shook his head

'No, you don't have to' he began

'Yes I do' she cut him off shortly. 'if you're going down, I'm coming with you'. The Doctor watched Rose's eyes unable to understand her – she made no reply but moved down a step so the water climbed heavily above her waist. She let out a gasp at the freezing water but continued down – her hand slipping from his. As the Doctor reached his hand out to stop her, a current surged past knocking her off her feet. He turned away from her to glance down at the drowned corridor – as he did this the water surged past him, he tightened his grip on the sunken hand rail but he heard Rose's scream as she was swept off her feet. He turned around to see her falling beneath the forceful waves, the current pulling her under as her hands flailed uselessly – when her head bobbed up she released a single scream

'Doctor!'. He barely glanced back at where the Tardis drowned as he battled his way up the steps to where Rose was sinking. He bent down into the water, scooping up her tired body and pressing her against him. He dragged her up the stairs until they sat against the wall together, Rose dripping in the Doctor's lap as he brushed the hair from her face. Her eyes were wide with fear and her hands gently trembling as he stroked her fingers

'I'm sorry' he whispered – she just shook her head and trembled against his shoulder.

'We need to go' he said briskly as he looked back at the rapidly filling stair well, 'We parked in the second water tight bulk head…the ship's going down head first, we need to move to the stern'.

The Doctor pulled Rose to her shaky feet before he turned to pull her along the corridor; Rose glanced over her shoulder at the corridor where the Tardis lay. Shivering she tried to speak

'B-b-but Doctor…w-w-what about the Tardis?' she whispered with wide eyes. His features tightened and he shook his head

'You're all that matters now' he told her as he squeezed her hand pulling her shaking, dripping form along the corridor.