Chapter Twenty-Six

(Two Months later…)

The Doctor sat on the steps in the conference room utterly dejected. He had managed to survive the torment he was put through without regenerating. But, Rose had disappeared and no one would tell him where she was or what was happening to her. His pleas to the Master and the alternate Doctor only resulted in mocking laughter and taunts and he quickly learned that he would never get anything out of them. There were now two guards posted by the door during the day and one guard at night which meant he couldn't get out and no one could get in except the Master or the alternate Doctor. He was effectively cut off from the rest of the ship and he had no idea if his love or his friends were dead or alive. All he could do was sit and hope that his plan would still work.

He looked down at his hands while he thought of Rose. He had tried numerous times to contact her mentally but got no response which left two possibilities. She was imprisoned in his double's TARDIS which could block his telepathy or…

He closed his eyes in anguish thinking of her enslaved by the chip. He knew his double well enough to know he was taking full advantage of her compliance and it pained him knowing he had an opportunity to take it out when they first got back to the TARDIS after escaping the Artaxis. Guilt flooded his mind and for a moment, he wished he had died that night. It would have been preferable to the hell he found himself in now. He quickly shook that thought away. He couldn't die now. Like it or not, he was needed. The Earth needed him even if his friends and his beloved were now dead and beyond his help. He sighed. At least Jack was still alive, unless they figured out a way to kill him too. Not knowing if they were alive or dead tormented him even when the Master or alternate Doctor weren't around. This, he knew, was all part of their plan.

As he continued to stare down at his hands, he heard the door open.

"State your business." He heard one of the guards say.

"I wish to speak to the Doctor."

He jerked his head up and looked over at Lucy Saxon. What was she doing here? He had barely seen her since the day the Toclafane invaded. And now she wanted to speak with him? Intrigued, he watched as the guard let her by and she walked over to him. He remained quiet waiting for her to talk. As he stared at her face, he noticed that she seemed more lucid than normal and a tiny bit of hope swelled in his hearts.

"Doctor." She said.

"Yes." He said hesitantly.

Lucy looked back at the guards and walked closer to him.

"Rose is alive." She whispered.

The Doctor's hearts nearly beat out of his chest. He had half a mind to kiss Lucy Saxon for saying that if he didn't think the guards would shoot him. He calmed himself and thought carefully before he spoke. If she was breaking free of the Master's control…

"Where is she?" he asked quietly.

"She's with the other Doctor."

"Has he hurt her?"

Lucy shook her head.

"She has the chip on though. He doesn't turn it off."

The Doctor closed his eyes. He had figured that, but just hearing confirmation filled him with anguish. He opened his eyes.

"Can you bring me to her?" he asked her.

Lucy glanced around nervously. The Doctor took her hand and Lucy looked back at him.

"Lucy, help me." He said. "Let me see her."

"My husband…"

"I can protect you from him if you let me. Please, I have to see her."

"She won't respond to you."

"I know that. But, I want to make sure she's alright." The Doctor said.

He paused and swallowed hard.

"Has he…"

He took a deep breath.

"Has he had sex with her?"

Lucy nodded and the Doctor put his head in his hands wishing he could just die then and there. He had failed her. The woman he loved. How could she ever forgive him for this? He was sure once she regained her mind that she would leave him forever. With great force of will, he lifted his head and looked at Lucy.

"Take me to her, please." He said in a choked voice.

Lucy glanced around.

"Lucy, please, help me. I can save us all. But, I need you to help me. You must not agree with what's happened if you're in here talking to me. Let me see Rose."

"What good will that do?" Lucy asked.

The Doctor thought for a moment.

"Does the Valiant have a med bay of some sort?"

She frowned in confusion.

"Where you take people when they are hurt." He clarified.

"Oh, yes."

"Does it have an operating table?"

Lucy nodded.

The Doctor could barely contain himself. If he could get Rose in there and get her sedated, get the chip out of her head.

"Can you lead me to Rose and guide me there once I have her?"

"Why?"

"Because I want that chip out of her head. I can take it out and free her, I just need time. Please, I need you to do that for me and distract your husband and the other Doctor long enough for me to do it. Can you do that?"

"I…I don't know if I can."

The Doctor grabbed her hands.

"Please, I'm begging you, help me." He said.

Lucy glanced around nervously.

"I gotta go."

"Lucy!"

"I can't. I can't stay. He'll wonder where I am. I'm sorry, Doctor. I'm sorry."

"No!" he hissed as Lucy turned and hurried out of the room.

The Doctor lowered his head in his hands and began to sob quietly.

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The Master and alternate Doctor looked up when the door slid open and Lucy walked into the room.

"Oh, there you are, darling." The Master said. "Where'd you go?"

"I just went for a walk. I was bored." She replied.

"Hmmm, personally I'd think a walk around here would make someone even more bored, but to each his own, I guess. "He said as the alternate Doctor shrugged. "Anyway, what were you saying?"

"Well,"

The alternate Doctor leaned in close and conferred with the Master. Lucy went and sat over on the couch. As she did, she noticed that the alternate Doctor's jacket was slung over the arm of the couch. She stared at the pocket. She knew that he kept the box that controlled the chip in that pocket. If she could just get at it… she glanced over at her husband and the alternate Doctor. Their heads were lowered and they were whispering to one another. Lucy looked back at the pocket. Keeping her eyes on the Master and alternate Doctor, she reached her hand inside the pocket, grabbed the box and quickly put it in the pocket of her jacket before they had a chance to notice. As calmly as she could, she stood up and forced a smile onto her face.

"I'm going to go for another walk." She said.

The Master glanced at her.

"Bored again?" he asked.

"Yes, I am."

"Well, have a good time then."

He leaned back in. As he and the alternate Doctor talked quietly, Lucy walked over to the door, walked out and hurried to the alternate Doctor's bedroom.