A few minutes after I reach the TARDIS, Jack and the Doctor come racing in.

"Maiden, go hide deeper in the TARDIS. We're going to go get Rose. You know they have the path web. If one ends up in here when we materialize, and it sees you, we're screwed."

"Fine. But stay safe."

I run deeper into the TARDIS, straight to a security center, of sorts. I can see a bunch of different rooms of the TARDIS with it, so I can see the console room. Jack and the Doctor are running around like lunatics. Jack says something about incoming before I hear an explosion. I look, and Jack says something about extrapolator shielding. The Doctor is suddenly a magician, as he mentions what he's doing for his next trick. The TARDIS starts to land, and Rose and a Dalek become visible in the console room. Damn. He was right.

The Doctor yells at Rose to get down, Jack shoots the Dalek, and everything gets really quiet. I wonder if I can join them now...

It's not safe so don't even think about it.

Party pooper.

He hugs Rose.

I can see that, you know.

Then stop looking. It's not like I'm doing anything that actually hurts you, nor am I doing it with impure intentions.

It's not you I'm worried about.

He tells her how he did tell her he was coming to get her. They have a conversation on how they feel, then Jack asks if he gets a hug.

Tell Jack he can come hug me.

No.

I send back a mental tongue-sticking-out.

Jack welcomes Rose home (ugh), and explains how that one shot killed the gun. Shame, would've been nice to add to my collection. The three discuss how the Daleks are still alive, how the Time War killed everyone.

You did what you had to do.

But they still aren't alive while the Daleks are.

That isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. I don't.

I love you.

I love you, too.

He tells the others how humans shouldn't talk all the time and then goes outside to see the Daleks. I could pull up that screen, but I really don't feel like seeing the monsters that trained me to be the Matron. I just wait.

Within a few minutes, all of them come back into the TARDIS, but the Doctor looks truly distraught.

You'll figure it out.

Hopefully.

He pilots us back to Satellite 5.

Can I come out now?

No. They'll be on their way soon. Plus I want to do a Delta Wave. No way am I frying you.

Of course, just leave me to worry then.

Yep. The TARDIS won't let you out, either. She knows.

Fuck you.

If we survive. He sends a mental wink. Asshole.

I kind of zone out until I feel a short, sharp spike of pain.

What was that?

Jack kissed me. He's going to fight the Daleks... I don't think he's going to make it.

No fair! How come you get a kiss, and I don't? I ignore the bit about him not making it, knowing that he does and why, in a way. When I get back to future him, I'm getting a kiss. And you're not allowed to protest.

Ha! Like that's going to happen.

Oh, it will. You can't stop me.

Whatever. You're distracting me. Go sleep or something pregnant women do.

I'm offended.

Good. Stay offended, as long as it means you're safe.

Whatever.

I love you, just know that.

I love you, too.

A few minutes later, I feel a smaller pang, but a pang none the less.

Now what?

I'm ignored. That can't be good. I look to the monitor and see him come in, tell Rose to hold down a lever, and run out.

I love you. Goodbye.

Suddenly, the TARDIS is taking off. I run to the console room. Rose is still clueless.

"No. No, no, no no!" I run around the console, trying to take us back, but she isn't having it.

"Maiden?" I think that's the first time she has said my name without being disgusted or angry.

"No!" I start sobbing, and Rose runs to me. She doesn't know what's going on, but she wraps her arms around me. This is new. I hug her back, sobbing so loudly.

Emergency Programme One's hologram of the Doctor pops up. Rose looks at him confused.

"This is Emergency Programme One. Rose, Maiden, now listen, this is important. If this message is activated, then it can only mean one thing." This causes me to cry more. "We must be in danger. And I mean fatal. I'm dead or about to die any second with no chance of escape." She starts crying, too. "And that's okay. Hope it's a good death. But I promised to look after you, and that's what I'm doing. The TARDIS is taking you home. And I bet you're fussing and moaning now, typical. But hold on and just listen a bit more. The TARDIS can never return for me. Emergency Programme One means I'm facing an enemy that should never get their hands on this machine. So this is what you should do: let the TARDIS die." At this, Rose's mouth drops open, and she starts begging the TARDIS to take us back. I just sob harder. "Just let this old box gather dust. No one can open it, no one will even notice it. Let it become a strange little thing standing on a street corner. And over the years, the world will move on and the box will be buried. And if you want to remember me, then you can do one thing. That's all. One thing." He turns toward me and Rose. "Have a good life. Do that for me, girls. Have a fantastic life. And take care of my twins." I completely lose it as his hologram disappears. I can't move. All I can do is sob.

"Maiden." I don't look at her. "Maiden!" She pulls my face to look at hers. "I'm sorry, for how I've treated you. But if he doesn't survive here, does he ever save you? Or get you pregnant?" I shake my head. "Then we have to save him. I know time is in flux, but this must mean there is a way to save him, and we don't have a choice. You, your kids, none of you are going to fade. We WILL save him. We just have to figure out how."

"You don't even like me."

"You were right. About Mickey, everything. Mickey actually left me. Or is trying to, anyways. I wasn't fair to him. And I wasn't fair to you. The Doctor has a life with you, a future and a past. And he's never really reacted to my advances. He's always been my best friend. If we make it through this, I hope I can become one of yours, too."

Maybe I'm entirely too forgiving, but I hugged that girl. "Of course."