Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC. I do not own any of the characters nor do I get paid for anything.

A/N At long last, here is the final part of this story. I am sorry it took so long to finish this but I promise that it is worth it. And don't worry about further delays. I already have the finale written out.

So, Part 4 of 'Trouble in the Amazon'.

Happy Reading!


Trouble in the Amazon: The Evil Within

Previously

With a cry of agreement, the Tala started leaving the cave. Soon, the only people left were Kana, Rose, Rory and Kuma. Both of Kuma's men had left but he had refused to go.

"They will be killed," said Kana, her voice shaking. "They are marching to their slaughter."

Rose gripped her shoulder in comfort. "We'll stop the Mara," she said confidently. "There is a way..."

The Doctor watched with a wide smile as the Tala emerged from the dark forest one by one. He hastily arranged his features into far friendlier ones. A middle-aged man approached him as the rest of the people stopped a few paces away.

"I am Von," the man declared. "I speak for the Tala now."

The Doctor smiled. This was too easy. He really had expected more of a challenge. "I am the Doctor. It is very nice to meet you, Von. I must congratulate you and your people for making the right choice," he said.

Von preened at his words. "Then you might also want to know that your two friends refused to come, along with Kana and Kuma," he said.

The Doctor shrugged carelessly. "I am not particularly bothered about them," he said. "If they refuse to see sense, then they can stay in the forest until they do." His gaze sharpened as he walked up to Von. "But you, you will be useful," he grabbed his arm.

Before Von could do more then look up at him in shock, he felt the Mara's will take over his mind. The Doctor smirked as he let him go. "My lord," Von bowed to the Doctor. "I await your command."

"Get your people together. Break into the rubber groves at Tapherini. Then, steal the rubber seeds and load them onto the Gwendolyn. After the boat is full, take it back to Manaus and then make sure it gets on a ship to England," he said in a clipped tone.

"How will that take the strangers from our land?" a young man from the group asked bravely.

"Avi," Von snapped. "It is not our place to question, Lord Mara."

"No, no," said the Doctor as he glanced at Avi with interest. "Avi, is it? Come here, boy." Avi looked a bit scared but walked up to the Doctor. The Doctor put an arm around his shoulder in a gesture of friendship. "You see Avi, all these foreigners came to your land because of the rubber. But if they get to grow the rubber on their own lands, they will leave yours alone."

"So, the rubber seeds we steal from Tapherini will get them to leave us," said Avi, understandingly.

The Doctor smiled and clapped his shoulder. "Good lad," he said. "Now, get to work."

At Von's orders, the Tala started forming into groups. The Doctor watched with a smile as they slowly left into the dark forest. The only ones staying behind were three newborns being looked after by a ten year old girl. They were inside one of the huts. Otherwise, men and women alike were marching to steal the rubber from Tapherini.

The Doctor had rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, keeping the mark proudly on display. He glanced at it now and threw his head back in joyous laughter that rang through the silent night. This had been far too easy. These people were too primitive and stupid to understand the consequences of their actions.

Once the Europeans had a way of growing rubber, they would leave this land. And with them, they would take away all the wealth and order that they had established. The labourers would lose their source of income, the traders would go bankrupt and the economy would collapse. The so-called rubber boom would fall into decline before plunging this land into poverty.

He heard a slight rustle from the shrubbery and his head snapped around quickly. To his surprise, the bushes parted and Rose Tyler emerged out of them. His brows rose almost lazily as he saw her raise her hands to her side in a gesture of surrender. "I just wanna talk, I swear," she said.

Intrigued, the Doctor nodded and beckoned her forward. She hesitated slightly but walked up to him, stopping in front of him. "I came to warn you," she said.

"Warn me?" asked the Doctor, sounding a bit amused.

She nodded quickly, chewing on her lip nervously. "Look, we were debating on how to stop you," she blurted out. "The mirror thing worked before and Kana said that if we kill you when you were hiding from your reflection, you would die."

The Doctor's eyes narrowed in anger as he advanced on her. "And you just decided to tell me all of this?" he asked, gripping her wrist tightly and pulling her close to him.

Rose met his eyes in fear and nodded. "Rory and Kuma agreed," she continued, even as her wrist hurt where he was gripping it.

His grip loosened as he gazed thoughtfully at her. "And yet here you are," he said.

She nodded quickly. "If they kill you, they kill the Doctor. I couldn't let that happen," she said.

He let go of her wrist and threw his head back in laughter. "Foolish human emotions," he murmured, as he brushed his fingers quite tenderly against her cheek.

Rose almost recoiled before holding her ground firmly. "I want to make a deal," she said.

"You do, do you?" he asked, looking amused once more. "I'm listening."

"Let the Doctor go," she said. "Take me instead. You did once before. Just let him go."

"You know Rose, you and the Doctor confuse me. So quick to sacrifice yourself for the other," he said. "But I'm afraid I must decline your offer. The Doctor simply has more potential."

"But you must have seen something in me," she said, desperately clutching at straws. "You said so before."

"You are right," he said. "You have much potential. Much untapped power," he murmured, running his fingers over her cheek again. "I will make you a counter-offer," he said.

"What?" she asked warily.

"Join me," he said, leaning close to her. "You and me. The Doctor and Rose. Just like the old days. We could travel in the TARDIS. Find new places. And we could be together." He was moving closer and closer to her as he spoke.

Rose hesitated for a moment before closing the distance between their mouths. She felt his triumphant smirk as he kissed her languidly. She was almost surprised at the gentleness of the kiss but there was no hesitance on her part as she matched him stroke for stroke of their lips and tongues. When they pulled away, they were both a bit breathless.

"I take it that is a yes," said the Doctor. "A wise decision, my dear."

Rose smiled at him and caressed his jaw with her fingers. "But there is something we must do first," she said, her eyes hardening.

"What?" he asked.

"Stop the others," she said. "I rather like this body. They know that I came to warn you and they'll try to kill you."

"Don't worry, my dear," he said. "I know a safe place."

"Where?" she asked. "Kana knows this forest better than you. Even Kuma must, I suppose."

"Then we must simply get out of the forest," he said. "Never liked the wilderness much, anyway. We'll go back to the Gwendolyn. We could...catch up," he added, his gaze seductive as it ran over her.

Rose almost shivered but managed to control her reaction. Barely. "Let's go then," she said. "I don't like staying here in the open."

The Doctor smiled as he took her hand. "Come on then," he said.


"Are we ready?" asked Kana in a whisper.

"Almost," said Rory as he and Kuma moved the last mirror in place.

Kana paced around the cabin which had a circle of mirrors in the middle of it. She remembered the plan that Rose had explained to them.

"We'll stop the Mara," she said confidently. "There is a way..."

"How?" asked Kana, sounding almost desperate.

"When the Mara was in my head, it was thinking about the first time it met the Doctor," said Rose. "It was on a planet called Deva Loka."

"And the Doctor defeated it?" asked Rory.

"Yes," said Rose. "But more importantly, I saw the way he defeated it. I couldn't remember it before but the longer the Mara stays away from me, the more of its memories float into my mind."

Rory patted her shoulder in comfort. He wouldn't want a monster's memories in his head at all. "What did he do?" he asked.

"He made a circle of mirrors and trapped the person possessed by the Mara inside it. Surrounded by all of those mirrors, the Mara's true form got revealed and left the possessed man," she said, her forehead slightly wrinkled as she tried to remember it.

"So we can save the Doctor AND defeat the Mara?" asked Rory, sounding hopeful.

"I expect so," said Rose. "But where are we going to find mirrors in the middle of the Amazon?"

"On the boat," said Kuma immediately. "The cabin has a full-length mirror and there are mirrors in each of the crew rooms and my personal stateroom."

"Great, so we can use them," said Rory.

"But how do we get the Doctor to the boat?" asked Kana.

"I'll do it," said Rose, a look of determination crossing her face.

"Rose, it will be incredibly dangerous," said Rory. "If he finds out you're tricking him, he will kill you. This is not the Doctor anymore."

"I know that," said Rose softly. "But I'm the only one who can do this. I have to, Rory."

Rory gazed at her determined face and nodded once. "Please be careful," he said.

She smiled. "Of course," she nodded. "I'm always careful."

Now, Kana's pacing was getting worse. The Doctor and Rose should have been here by now. She saw the circle of mirrors and had to admit it was an ingenious plan. Rory and Kuma had made sure that there was no mistake. It would take considerable strength and agility on their part to get the Doctor inside it and also out of it once the Mara left him.

"I hear them," said Kuma. "Hide!"

Kana moved next to Kuma as they hid next to the door. Rory was on the other side. As soon as the Doctor entered, she and Rory would create a gap in the circle, leaving Rose and Kuma to push the Doctor inside.

"You know Rose," he was saying as they approached the cabin. "Those handcuffs from before were an interesting idea."

They heard Rose's nervous laughter as she made a remark about him being shameless in a fond voice. Kana held her breath as the handle on the door moved and the door opened slowly. The Doctor's head was turned around as he was flirting with Rose.

Kana met Rory's eyes and with a quick nod, she and Rory pushed the mirrors in front of the door aside. The Doctor's head snapped around but Kuma and Rose sprang into action and pushed him inside.

He yelled in surprise and Rory and Kana pushed the mirrors back together again. "Fools!" he screamed.

"Will this work?" asked Kuma, in a slightly apprehensive voice as the Doctor screamed over and over at them.

But Kana was positive it was working. His screams became quieter and quieter which made Kana peer at him through the slit between two of the mirrors. He was clutching at his arm as the snake on it jumped to life. The Doctor screamed loudly once before the snake dropped off his arm.

"NOW!" Kana yelled. "Get the Doctor out."

Kuma and Rory created a gap and Rose grabbed an unsteady Doctor and pulled him out. The snake hissed loudly as the circle closed again. Kana gasped as the snake started getting bigger, hissing loudly as if in pain.

Soon, it was as big enough to touch its head to the cabin's ceiling. But the mirrors stayed steady and there was a final, loud hiss as the snake dissipated into red smoke. Kana burst into tears of relief and threw her arms around Kuma who returned her hug just as enthusiastically. She saw Rose and Rory fussing over an unconscious Doctor but he appeared to be breathing fine and Kana knew he would be alright.

"I should find the tribe," she said finally leaving Kuma's arms, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Yeah, I should go and stop the other supply boat," he said, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. Then almost shyly, he gazed at her. "Can I come and see you sometime?"

Kana felt her heart flutter and she nodded quickly. "I would like that very much," she said. Then, before she lost her nerve she quickly got on her tiptoes and kissed him. Grinning with exhilaration, she ran away before he could open his eyes.

"Okay then," said Kuma slightly breathlessly, a goofy smile on his face. He glanced to the side where the Doctor was awake and saying something to Rose and Rory. He nodded at them and left to flag down the supply boat.


Rory saw Kuma leave and then glanced down at the Doctor and Rose. Rose was cradling the Doctor's head in her lap and the two of them were asking if the other was fine over and over again. When an awkward silence fell upon them, Rory knew it was time to leave them alone.

"I'll just go see if Kuma needs help," he said.

The Doctor and Rose barely heard him as the Doctor sat up slowly, keeping his eyes on Rose.

"I'm sorry," they blurted out together. Their eyes went wide and they laughed nervously.

"You go," said Rose.

The Doctor took a deep breath. "I am very sorry, Rose," he said. He shook his head, knowing that he couldn't even begin to apologise for everything.

"Me too," said Rose. "I..."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he said at once. "In fact, you were the one who stopped the Mara."

"I was the one who got possessed in the first place," she pointed out.

"Yes, but that was not your fault," said the Doctor. He hesitated slightly before grasping her hand, sighing in relief when she didn't flinch away from his touch. "I, on the other hand, have much to be sorry for," he said regretfully, holding up her wrist where his fingers had caused an angry bruise.

"It was the Mara, not you," protested Rose at once.

The Doctor shook his head. "That is not an excuse, Rose," he said. "Not when I caused so much damage."

"Do you blame me for the things I did when I was possessed?" she asked him.

"Of course not," he said at once.

"Then don't blame yourself either," she said, reaching up to cradle his cheek. "You took the Mara from me. You saved me."

The Doctor's eyes closed as he sighed. "And you saved me, Rose," he said. "Thank you for that." He opened his eyes to find Rose smiling at him. He hesitated for a moment. "I killed Muro," he confessed.

Rose's eyes softened and she stroked his face lightly. "I know," she said. "It wasn't your fault."

"I wish I could believe it," he said, hanging his head.

"Do you believe in me?" she asked.

The Doctor raised his eyes to hers again. "Yes," he answered without hesitating.

"Then just believe me when I say that Muro's death wasn't your fault," she said.

A smile graced his face and he raised her bruised wrist. "I believe you," he whispered and gently kissed her wrist.

Rose's breath caught at the tender action. The Doctor's lips left her wrist and he moved his face towards hers slowly. Rose felt her eyes close.

"Hey, we're ready to go," Rory said, poking his head into the cabin. "Oh," he stopped short as the Doctor and Rose froze, their faces inches away from each other.

"Yes, of course," said the Doctor, pulling away and jumping to his feet. "Rose?" he asked, offering his hand.

Rose gave him a small smile and took his hand to stand up. "Let's go. I'm ready to go back to the TARDIS and get out of this dress. It's almost completely ruined," she complained, glancing at the delicate lace that had been torn in places.

Daylight had fallen over the Amazon as they emerged onto the deck. Kuma waved at them. "We're ready to set sail," he said.

"Onwards then," said the Doctor, squeezing Rose's hand.

The Gwendolyn pulled out of the dock and began her journey back towards Manaus. Unknown to any of them, three crates of rubber seeds were stashed away in her hold. They would reach England safely and the decline of the rubber boom would be set in motion.

Sometimes, history couldn't be rewritten.


"Hey, where's the Doctor?" asked Rose as she emerged out into the console room, changed out of the dress.

"Said he had to find something," shrugged Rory. "Listen Rose, about before..."

"It's okay, Rory," said Rose. She was disappointed that they had been interrupted but she wasn't going to let Rory feel guilty over it.

"You think you two will get together?" he asked.

"I...I don't know," she said, honestly.

"I think you should," he said.

"Wouldn't that make you feel like you're playing the gooseberry?" asked Rose teasingly. "If the Doctor and I play a couple all the time."

"Oh you two already play the couple all the time," smirked Rory. "Only difference is that you two would stop denying it." With that, he patted her shoulder and left the console room grinning to himself.

Rose glanced after him in confusion and jumped slightly when the TARDIS doors opened and the Doctor came in. "Oh hello, Rose," he said.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"I just had to get something," he said. "In fact, I'll give it to you right now."

"You got something for me?" she asked in surprise.

"I did," he grinned and pulled something out from his coat. "Hold out your hand and close your eyes."

Rose looked a bit confused but decided to humour him. She closed her eyes and extended her right hand. Her eyes flew open when she felt something cool drop into her palm. She gasped when she saw that it was the wolf figurine from Abel's stall.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"The legend of the wolf princess," smiled the Doctor. "The princess who saved the Tala from the Great Serpent. Seemed appropriate to get it for you."

Rose smiled as she glanced at the figurine again. "Thank you," she beamed.

"You're very welcome, Rose," he said as he started the dematerialisation process. "I'm sending the TARDIS into the vortex. I guess we all need some rest."

Rose nodded, realising that she was very sleepy and tired. But she knew that the minute she closed her eyes, the nightmares would come rushing back. She took a deep breath and turned to the Doctor. "Can you stay with me tonight?" she asked, hating how small her voice sounded.

The Doctor looked up at her in surprise. The last time she had asked him that was with the aftermath of the Nira incident. But he supposed it was only natural that she would want him close after their ordeal with the Mara. He himself was dreading the possibility of being away from her.

"Of course," he answered her. "Come on."

She smiled as the two of them walked down to her room, hand in hand. As Rose got into her bed, the Doctor contemplated the comfort of the thick carpet. "Don't be daft," said Rose, guessing his line of thought. She nodded pointedly at the space in her bed.

"Are you sure?" he asked and she knew he was asking about far more than just sharing the bed.

"Yes," she answered with complete certainty.

The Doctor smiled widely as he nodded at that and walked towards her bed.


A/N End of Part 4 and the end of story #12 'Trouble in the Amazon' So, what did you think?

I know that historically, the rubber found in Malaysia contributed greatly to the decline of rubber boom in Manaus but there was also a lot of smuggling of the rubber seeds that led to it. This story takes place in 1910 and the rubber boom was officially over by 1912. So, it does fit with the timeframe.

The Doctor and Rose, huh? That's something, I suppose.

The next adventure is the final one called 'Downfall of the Daleks'. Part 1 will be up on Monday. See you then!

~ Phoenix