-Chapter 37-

Rose woke up to a knocking at her door. She yanked back the covers and tried to straighten out her hair. It worked somewhat. "Yeah?" she said.

"Morning my dear! Hope you slept well!" the Master said stepping in the room.

"Oh yeah. Great." She said and gave him a fake smile.

"Good. Now, I thought we'd have a little chat before the day gets interesting. Take a seat." he said motioning to the bed. She sat down and he sat next to her. "I bet you've heard just the worst of me. I'm not all bad as some portray me. Actually anything I am I blame completely on the Doctor."

"The Doctor?" Rose asked confused, but more skeptical.

"Oh he didn't mention that little part, did he? Well did he explain about the void? And what Time Lords used it for?"

"A bit." she wasn't sure where he was going with this.

"Well yes I wouldn't expect him to talk much about our time there. Did he mention we were friends? We were. Me and him, ready to look into the void and really become Time Lords. We were...oh children. And we had to look into the void. Ever see the raw void?"

"Yes." she said simply.

"Oh, and you're not mad. That's a change. Anyway. Some see it and are, oh I don't know, empowered to be the bestest Time Lord ever. Some see the endless void and go mad. And some see it and run. Guess which your Doctor chose? I, on the other hand, didn't run. But he did. And he left me alone. I suppose I should have chosen better friends. But that's when he chose his name. It's ironic isn't it? The great Doctor, running around helping people all over the universe. All except me, he destroyed me. Every non pleasant thing I have ever done is a byproduct of his action. I suppose I am a bit bitter about that part. Even if being mad is ever so liberating. It was always me and him. Even when there were other Time Lords around. The rebels. Not that we were on the same side, no we fought all across time. The perfect warriors for a Time War. Oh yes I was a part of that too. Except I ran that time. I saw it and ran."

"I saw the emperor and the trillions of Daleks and came running right to them. I killed them all. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat." Rose said evenly.

He grinned wickedly. "I know. To save him. Poetic. All that power. And you didn't even know you were doing something that would mark you for the rest of your life. Let's talk about that shall we? I believe my information is a bit out of date here. Two hearts? And you don't age? And of course there's the fact you changed your basic genetic structure. Oh and the lovely bit where you are now telepathic too. That is so very interesting. Because you should have burned as soon as you looked into the TARDIS. Seconds after maybe. But you lasted quite some time after, didn't you? Why is that? That's the big question? Why aren't you a pile of dust?"

"I don't know." she said honestly. Would he ever shut up?

"I can tell you." at that she stiffened. He knew? What did he know? How did he know?

"How?"

"Because I was in on their little secret."

"Secret?"

"Oh, now I've got your attention. Yes. Of course there's a secret. No random human could have lived. And a not so random human doesn't go unnoticed by the Time Lords."

The Doctor pulled on his tie to loosen it. He walked around the room. The future version of him was sitting on the couch fiddling with his screwdriver. He went to Jack and sat down.

"Jack?"

"Yeah Doc?"

"You know her better than anyone. Well except her mother and myself. Point is, on the beach...that day...did she know what I was going to say?"

Jack turned to him and gave him a sympathetic look. "She wasn't sure then. There was always that seed of doubt, 'what if he was going to say...' And she had that for a long time. A long, long time. But he fixed it." Jack said nodding towards his Doctor. "Whatever she was unsure of about you, she knows now. And if she didn't, she'd just ask. She's persuasive enough on her own but now it's different. It's kinda creepy how much you and her are meant for each other. In any regeneration. Well I say creepy, but I've seen him without her when he could, and it's just sad. Like when she's not in the room he immediately misses her and has to go find her. Not that she minds. She's the same. And in case you're wondering, she doesn't love him anymore than she loves you. She's Rose and all she sees is the Doctor. Not the tenth or the eleventh. Just the Doctor. Well, I always think she has a softer spot for you when you were all leather and crew cut but that's just me."

The Doctor smiled slightly and nodded. "That's good. That she knows now. At least she knows."

"Trust me, she knows." Jack laughed. "You still get jealous. Even of me. It's hilarious."

Rose sat on the bed listening to the Master. He knew what she had been wondering her entire life since that day at the game station.

"The Time Lords tend to take a special interest in people like you. Seeing how there was only one other. That makes you their only favorite human. They watched you. Your entire life. They just didn't expect to all die before they actually did anything. But that is soo them. Not doing anything and just watching everything. Can't blame them too much, all that power in a little blonde human. But you have no idea."

"So tell me then."

He just grinned. "I think it's time to go say hello to your Doctors. I know they miss you. Wonder how that will work? Which one will you run to when you walk in? Either way you're going hurt one of them. It's better that what I had planned. So much better. Don't you love when Time works for your side?"

"Oh I need to get rid of those." the younger Doctor said, talking about the pictures of his past Jack had apparently seen.

"No! The one guy was pretty good. Well except for the celery part. Oh and the one where you happened to have an accident with a bowl and scissors?

"Oi that was early! I was only just starting!"

"No excuse, that hair was an insult to society. But honestly what's the deal with you getting younger every time? Will we have a teen Doctor next time? Because I don't think that's going to look good with Rose..."

"No! It's mostly what is around me and what I feel at the moment when I regenerate. After the war, when you met me, I was born of war and hate. The next time...well I don't need to say."

"Rose?"

"Obviously. Youngest I've ever been to fit her better. Can't say I've ever complained with this body."

"What about the tactile-ness and the licking thing?"

"No idea." that was a lie. This body was so sensitive because Rose was the first to ever make him feel the way he did. That translated into his body becoming so much more sensitive too.

There was a sharp knock on the door. "Is everyone awake? I've brought you all a friend!" the Master called. They all three stood.

As the door opened they saw Rose with the Master holding her hand. He was grinning and she just rolled her eyes. Jack smirked and winked. She looked to him with an almost pleading stare. Oh, the double Doctor problem.

"Here we are, gang's all back together. With the MVP here too. I think I'll just leave you to it."

He released Rose and walked out. When he did she ran into Jack's arms. That was the best way. Then neither could say she chose the other because she chose Jack. And she had missed Jack too.

"Hey there Rosie. You ok?" he said still hugging her.

"Not really. I've got news." she said quietly close to his ear. "Yeah I'm fine." she said louder and she smiled. Jack pulled back enough to look at her and raised an eyebrow.

"That's good. Have a nice sleep?"

"Yeah fine. How are you?" she asked honestly concerned.

"I'm great. I saw the maid by the way." he said with a happy glint in his eyes.

She grinned. "Yeah, so did I. She's a sweet girl, did you talk?"

"Not really, she only took out the tray but she's beautiful."

Rose rolled her eyes. "You and your flirting."

"Yeah but that's why I'm so charming Rosie." he joked winking and she laughed.

Both the Doctors stood back confused. She went to Jack? The present Doctor stood even more confused and a little worried. Was she that mad at him? He couldn't tell. Why didn't she come over to him? She couldn't possibly be that mad. Then again he had been wrong about things like that before.

The younger knew she wasn't going to run to him. He knew it. It still hurt a bit because she was Rose. And no matter how old she happened to be, or what time line, he loved her.

Rose pulled away from Jack and walked straight to the younger Doctor. She stopped in front of him and smiled. Then she hugged him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. Looking at him...she couldn't do anything else. He had looked like someone ripped out his heart. Well, they had.

He was surprised, more than surprised. But he hugged her back just as tightly. He held onto her a tight as he possible could. She smelt the exact same. He had memorized that smell, and the feel of her hand in his. Her hair brushing against his face. He closed his eyes and buried his face in her shoulder. She was Rose. And he was holding her again. He never once thought he would be able to do that again. He had hoped, but he never thought it would happen. But he was. And he never wanted to let go.

"She's fighting for you." Rose whispered quietly to him and he held on tighter.

"So am I."

Rose pulled back only very slightly but not pulling out of his hold on her. It broke her hearts to see him like this. She put her hand on the side of his face and blinked back tears. "Are you ok?"

He laughed. "I'm fine Rose. You shouldn't worry about me."

"I always worry about you, don't be silly." she said and he smiled and shook his head.

"Rose..." he just laughed again.

"What's so funny?" she asked smiling.

"You. You're here and you're happy and that's more than I ever could have hoped to see."

"You'll catch up soon enough. Just might take a bit."

He grinned and hugged her close. "Then I can't wait. I'm just glad."

"Glad about what?"

"That you're happy. I told myself that no matter what the next time I saw you, I would be happy if you were. Even if that meant you were with some other person. I must say it's much better knowing that it's me."

She smiled too and he kissed her forehead. "Me too." she said and he pulled back to let her go. Not that he moved all that far away from her.

Jack was smiling almost sadly. This was not anything he would ever think to happen. It was so far from it. And the fact the Master had some huge other thing coming made it worse. His two best friends had only just gotten each other back. And now the one he had known before, it was like he was being teased. He now knew that he would have Rose, but he couldn't have her yet. And he had to watch. That must be hell.

Rose hugged her present Doctor so tightly she was afraid she might choke him. But he didn't seem to care and hugged her back just as tightly, if not even more. "I missed you." Rose said quietly.

"Oh you have no idea." he said. He had only just become not alone in his mind and to have it taken away again so quickly was terrible.

"We have a plan. And we know some of his plan too." she mumbled, hoping the cameras wound pick that up.

He pulled back and crushed his lips to hers. He really didn't remember why he shouldn't, and at that moment he didn't care. He hadn't quite realized how much he had missed her. She kissed him back until Jack cleared his throat.

Jack saw that and almost winced. He cleared his throat rather loudly. And looked to the younger Doctor who was pointedly not looking. Of all the times for the Doctor to actually do something.

Rose blushed and for a moment he wasn't sure why. Then he remembered that his younger self was right next to them. And he had just lost her. And he was still in love with her. Oh he was so much worse than an idiot. "Sorry." he mouthed. Rose shook her head and took a step back.

That wasn't good. Well it was, and as much as she wanted to continue, his younger self was right there and she had completely forgotten. She felt a knot in her stomach tighten. Time Lords felt everything so much stronger, and he certainly would have just seen that. Oh she was stupid.

"Right. So Rosie, what did you want to tell me?" Jack said a bit loudly.

"Yeah, um it was just that-" she started but he was interrupted.

"Right! This is boring, and a bit awkward. Can't have that can we? Let's make it a little more fun shall we?" the Master said bursting in. "Though I must say, that kiss sure stirred things up didn't it? The happy couple, how sweet. But isn't it you that love her too? And there she is. Alive and well. Kissing some other man. And he may be technically you but then again, he isn't. He gets all that and you get the pain of watching her wrap her arms around him. Just after she first got stuck in that rather strange world. And she's there with that Mickey now. Ooh. You don't get much do you? Just the little hope that one day you get that. But not now when it's killing you. Hm. Pity." he said to the younger Doctor.

"Master, what are you playing at?"

"Oh I always do love it when you use my name. But well I can't tell you can I? Then you'll get it in your pretty head that you can stop me. That's why your all here where you can't get into any trouble." he said and grinned. "Now then. Little Rose Tyler is all grown up. I remember stories of you missy. Girl who took in the heart of the TARDIS and lived much longer than she should. I bet its just eating away at you as to why."

The older Doctor frowned and put a hand in front of Rose. "Master, I know you. Much better than you like I suppose. And I know this isn't going right, not how you want. Because there is one thing you know that you can't bend to your will."

The Master scoffed and waved a hand in the air. "Oh really, if it's love I could really care less. Love can't stop me old friend. Love makes you weak and that is why you lose. You couldn't kill me because you feel." the Master said stepping close to the Doctor so that they were almost nose to nose. "And that, Doctor. Is exactly why this will never end. No matter what either of us do. Countless will die for one reason. Your love. So stew over that."

The room went silent. Even the guards shifted uneasily from the tension in the room. Then the Doctor smiled. A tiny, smug grin. The younger was a little more than confused at this. Plus the Master was there and he could just feel his mind and that feeling was quite possibly what he had missed the most since the Time War. Not the actual people, just their presence in his mind. Even if it wasn't open, he could always feel. And the other thing that had been bothering him, he could feel a third mind.

"No one is going to die." the older Doctor said firmly.

At that the Master flashed a wicked grin. "Oh but they have."

The Doctor let go of the smug look. But he didn't replace it with fear or worry. He looked like the Oncoming Storm that the Daleks had once called him. Jack had only ever seen that look way back before he couldn't die, on the Gamestation.

"Not one other person will die. Not one. And I won't lose. Because you neglected to look after one very, very important detail."

"Oh yes and why would that be exactly dear Doctor?"

"The power has been off for almost thirty minutes."

The Master frowned slightly and became serious, losing that evil grin. "The lights are on Doctor, or have you gone senile already?"

"Yes, in this room. You should really do a better job of screaming the members of your staff."

"Staff?" the Master asked shortly, losing patience and becoming slight worried about the expression of confidence that had grown on the Doctor's face.

"And you really should not have all members including yourself equipped with alien technology."

Rose could feel the Doctors mind again and she relaxed more. He had explained everything. Jack and the younger Doctor were just as confused at the Master still.

"And why is that?" the Master almost spat with anger.

"Because. With the power running on backup, and systems rebooting, they reset. Or at least now they're programmed to."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, bye bye!" the Doctor said waving. The Master was just about to yell something when he and the two guards disappeared in a flash of light.

Rose blinked a few times and regained focus. Jack stood there confused for a moment but soon snapped out of it. "What was that? I can't be the only one a bit lost here."

"No, no Jack I can say I am much more lost at this point." the younger Doctor said.

"No time here, we need to get out, and with luck Jenny has already done that."

"The Doctor explained it to me, don't worry. We have about what, ten minutes to get out before they come back?" Rose guessed. The Doctor grinned at her.

"Exactly, now you're getting the hang of it, let's go!" the Doctor said and took her hand.

"Can I just say you're little psychic talk thing is a bit weird? Useful sure, but weird." Jack said following them out running.

"Psychic?" the younger Doctor said now more lost that ever.

"It's happening. At least in London. And we're here, in Scotland."

"Amy. Please. We saw what happens if we don't stay away. That can't happen. Ever." Rory said as they sat outside a little restaurant in the Scottish countryside, almost in the middle of nowhere.

"I know! But we're here, perfectly safe and sipping tea and god knows what's happining to them! He'll hate us. He hated River. When she couldn't come. He hated her then. He was so angry. And that's how he'll look at me."

"No." Rory said taking her hand. "He won't."

"But he will. Because we left him. When he thinks he needs us most. We left and all we gave him was a bloody note! A note! He could be being tortured like Jack had been and we just left! He can't have known what we saw. He won't know why."

"We can tell him as much as possible when we go back. It doesn't matter how he feels now. What e saw can't happen, Amy."

"When is that? When something terrible happens? After someone gets hurt? Then he really will hate me."

"Amy…what we saw…" Rory started and Amy covered his hand with hers and closed her eyes.

"That won't happen. N-not ever. No. That's why we're doing this. So it won't happen. I know. I-I…I won't ever get that image out of my head."

The four of them walked down an alleyway a fast as they could without getting noticed too much. It looked almost like a normal day. Except there were less than a quarter of the people that should be walking around. Maybe five on a street at once. When there should be massive mobs of people walking downtown on a Saturday. But it was so quiet.

"Care to explain Doc?" Jack asked as the rounded a corner.

"Later. Not safe."

"Where's Jenny?" Rose muttered mostly to herself.

"Rose!" came Jenny's voice from behind them. Rose turned around and dropped the Doctor's hand to hug Jenny.

"Oh thank god you got out." Rose said.

The younger Doctor was still trying to wrap his head aground the fact he somehow had a daughter. He never expected he would have either, ever. And he didn't really know if he wanted one.

"Hey there Jenny. Did it go alright?" Jack asked.

"Well yeah I'm just glad Da- the Doctor figured it out in time." Jenny said still nervous about calling him dad. Especially with the younger version of her father was there who had no idea who she was.

"You were brilliant." Rose said grinning.

"And that's not all." Jenny said it smiling as much. "I don't know his exact plan but people have gone missing. A lot of people. It's causing a panic. People have fled London."

"Is that all you know?"

"That and he wants to rebuild Gallifrey."

"What? I know he was a bit extreme but that..." the young Doctor said. "That is beyond him. Way, way beyond him."

"Maybe before, but he tried to do this before too. Now he's just going at it another way."

"He's the energy man." Jack said picking up a newspaper that was thrown in the trash. "That's what it says on the front page."

"That's what people call him. In charge of all matters on energy and power for great Britain." Jenny added.

"Right. And we don't know how long he's been working and traveling around. No way of telling." the Doctor said walking in circles and tapping his head. "But what am I missing? What is he going to do? No massive ship this time. Nuclear weapons aren't his style either...he's much more...well the Master."

"What about his job? Energy? Is there any way he can use that? I mean it can't be for nothing that he chose that job, yeah?" Rose asked.

"Oh! Oh yes there is!" the younger said hitting his head and his eyes went wide with excitement of the moment

The Doctor seemed to get it too and clapped. "Yes! That has to be it. Or something like it." the two Doctors looked at each other like they were having a silent conversation and Rose was starting to get lost with the rate his mind was racing.

"Care to share Doctors?" Jack asked.

"Energy. If that's what it is. He'd need energy, power, lots of it. Tons." the younger said, talking fast like he did when something important was going on.

"But why?"Jack asked.

"People have gone missing. He's managed to get enough raw energy to block telepathic signals. You'd need quite a lot for that. And a very specific type." the older added.

"What, people as energy?" Rose asked.

"Exactly. Humans. Great source and if you're trapped on earth the best way is raw energy. Nothing more raw than people." the younger said more darkly.

"Doctor, it's getting dark..." Rose pointed out.

"Right. Well we can't just go back to the place we were before."

"Obviously Doc. But where else can we go?"

"What about Martha's place?" Jenny asked.

"Who?" the younger said at the same time the Doctor said, "What?"

"Martha?" Rose asked confused.

"Martha. No, he knows about her. There is another person..."

"No. Jack that is way out of the question." the Doctor said already knowing who he was going to suggest.

"Well Doc, you don't have all that many friends."

"Bridager! The Bridager. He still lives around here doesn't he?" Rose asked.

The Doctor raised his eyebrow. "How do you know him?"

"Well I didn't exactly make it straight back to you with the dimension cannon. I missed a couple of times, well a lot. I met him twice. He's a great man I'm sure he be happy to help too."

"The Bridager? I haven't seen him for years..." the younger said.

"Neither have I."

"Doc, he seems to be the only one left around here that you haven't actually, well I and say this in the nicest way possible, screwed up."

"Jack!" Rose said and she wasn't joking this time.

"No he's right Rose. Alright. Not for long I don't want him to be too involved."

Rose laughed. "He was still a major person for UNIT when I met him last. And I think that was only a little while before now."

"Yes, well." the Doctor said shifting uneasily. She took his hand.

"Doctor. He is fine. You made his life better. Trust me, he still thinks of you as a friend."

"That's not what he's, I'm, worried about." the younger Doctor said.

"What?"

"I could find out too much, or see something else I shouldn't. But that shouldn't matter because I am the only other one that is as smart as you, because I am you. We are still different and I can think in different ways than you can."

"I know that, I was you. Fine. Let's just go quickly."

"Ah, ah, ah." came a voice from a loud speaker. "I don't think so Doctor. Oh you were so close weren't you? I have ears everywhere. All around the city. Time to come home dears." he said harshly.

They started running as fast as they could for the street but guards started running down the alley. Jack fell back and tried to hold them off but they just shot through him. Even he couldn't just walk away from being shot, he still fell. "Stop. The Master requires you in his office."

The Doctor stood in front of Rose and so did the younger Doctor. "Well that seems like a brilliant offer but I'm afraid we will have to pass." the younger said.

"You do not have a choice." then they rolled out a canister that started to smoke. Before they could cover their mouths they were unconscious on the ground.

The Doctor woke up chained to the floor of a white room. "Rose!" he called out.

"Here, shhh. I'm fine, I'm behind you." she said.

He turned as much as he could to see if she was alright. The Masters machine was working again and he couldn't feel her mind as much as he should. "Everyone else?"

"Doc, I'm offended I don't get my own name out of that." Jack said still a bit weak from being shot ten times in the chest. He coughed. He was across from Rose against a wall.

"Jack, are you...stupid question." Rose said. Jack laughed weakly.

"I'm fine, just takes a bit to heal back up from ten bullets."

"Ten?" Rose asked even as far as he was away, Jack saw her eyes flash gold.

"Rose, calm down. Stay in control. I'm fine. See? Healing." The Master couldn't find out that she had that little control problem with the Bad Wolf. No doubt he'd try to use that somehow.

She nodded and looked around. She hadn't even seen the other Doctor slumped next to her. "Doctor. Doctor!" Rose whispered. He blinked and sat up quickly.

"Rose." out of unconscious habit he reached for her hand and she took it. A little shock ran up his arm at the familiar contact. "Are you alright?"

She laughed shortly. "Not bad. Jenny?" she called out, still not letting go of his hand.

"Yeah I'm just back here!" she called from the other side of the room.

Suddenly the big metal door slid open. "Hello! Everyone's awake now, good. I thought I'd let you see the grand finale. I know you'll just love it." the Master said grinning. He snapped his fingers and a massive machine came from under the floor. "So you know what this is don't you Doctor? Course you do. Shall we share with the rest of the gang?"

"High power energy converter." the Doctor said pulling at his chains.

"Yes! Very good. And I know you all worked out what I'm doing so I thought I'd let you see it in action! Isn't that nice of me? Oh and I have a little surprise for you too!" he said walking over to Rose.

"You already know what it is. You already worked it out in that pretty little Time Lord head of yours." Rose felt the Doctor tense when he called her Time Lord. "It will change everything. And you know that. Your entire past and future will change. All because of you."

"Get away from her." Jack growled sitting up straighter.

The Master turned around and shook his head. "Now I can't have you interrupting me. So how's about…we start off at two hundred thousand." He said and nodded at the camera in the corner.

"What-" Jack started but suddenly ten volts of electricity shocked through him. His body convulsed and he did his best to not scream. When it stopped his body shook and relaxed. He took in deep breaths and grinned and started laughing. He was breathing hard but he looked the Master in the eye and winked. "Oh keep it coming, psychopath." He said in between breaths.

Rose looked like she could kill the master. She saw Jack and his jaw was clenched. He was in pain, more than he was going to let on. "Oh I will don't worry about that. I think we should do what our special guest asked, give him some more." The Master said.

Jack tried to brace himself but this time it was much worse. His body shook even more made he let out a groan as his body hit the floor and the shock stopped. He was sweating terribly and he had yanked his wrists when it happened, causing the cuffs to scrape against his skin and they were now bleeding. He let out a shaky breath and spat on the floor. He grinned and laughed. "That all you got?"

"Oh not by far boy. ten? NO, I know, just below death rate? Wouldn't want you to die of course."

Jack didn't have time to even blink before the electricity rocked through his body. Rose saw him thrash against the chains and his nose started to bleed along with his eye. Every time he would jerk his hands they scraped again the already raw skin. "Stop!"Rose screamed. She yanked against her chains and the Master just turned towards her and smiled. "Do that one more time and you will pay."

"Rose." The Doctor warned. If she lost control and the bad wolf took over, the energy converter could lock on and use it to either instantly explode and destroy all of Europe and most of Asia and Africa and also about half of the Americas, or also it could do exactly as the Master wanted and he'd have enough energy to create his new world. And that was only a guess. He had no idea exactly how much power she held.

"I'd listen to your Doctor girl. All of you are hooked up with the stuff that he is and none of you can heal like he can." The Master grinned.

My numbers are most likely very wrong, please excuse that! My apologies.