"This is Emergency Program One." Said the Doctor hologram from behind Rose. She turned to face him and began to walk up the ramp slowly. "Rose, now listen, this is important. If this message is activated, then it can only mean one thing. We must be in danger, and I mean fatal. I'm dead or about to die any second with no chance of escape. 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."

"Think again, love. I'm coming back for you." She said firmly as she could to him, knowing he was a hologram but not really caring.

"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 Program 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. 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." His head turned to face her just as it had last time. "Have a good life. Do that for me, Rose. Have a fantastic life."

"Only with you." She promised as he faded away. She let the tears finally flow down her cheeks. This time, however, she didn't feel as frantic or hopeless. She just couldn't hold it back any longer now that she didn't have to. She hardly noticed when the TARDIS finally landed. After a few more moments, she made her way out and leaned against the side of the box.

"I knew it!" Came Mickey's voice as he ran up. "I was all the way down Clifton's Parade and I heard the engines and I thought there's only one thing that makes a noise like tha'." She turned slowly as he got closer. He stopped just in front of her, looking at her in concern. "What is it?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. He reached for her and held her while the tears poured down her cheeks. Finally, when all her tears had dried up, she took a step back and told Mickey everything. Everything that happened and everything that would happen. He took it all in, never interrupting her as she spoke.

"I think we should call your mum." He said when she finished. This was not what Rose expected him to say. "I'm just sayin', if we need her help and she can't know why yet then we gotta play it like you did last time 'round. You make your case, she helps us, and you save the Doctor with your superpowers."

That last bit made Rose chuckle a little, and Mickey looked pleased. Rose called her mum and explained everything. They waited, Mickey still keeping a comforting arm around Rose as she sniffled. When her mum did show up, she took one look at them and suggested they go get food.

"Two hundred thousand years in the future, the Doctor is fighting for the whole universe," Rose said coldly. "I'm not going for chips."

"Like you said, two hundred thousand years, it's way off." Her mum tried to comfort her.

"But it's not, it's now. That fight is happenin' right now and there's nothing I can do!"

"Listen to me." Her mum said sternly. "God knows I've hated that man, but right now I love him and you know why? Cos he did the right thing. He sent you back to me."

"They're dying, mum." Rose took a breath, releasing any left-over hostility. "This isn't right, me being here. I meant to be out there, with him. The Doctor showed me a better way of livin' your life. You don't just give up; you don't just let things happen. You take a stand, you say no. You do wot's right when everyone else just runs away. I can't run away. And never away from him, mum. Never." And with that, she walked away.

She ignored her mum calling her, she needed time to think of a plan. How would she get her mother on board? She could always hope that what she said last time would work, about her father. But that depended too much upon her mum bringing him up. Rose ended up at an abandoned parking lot. She plopped down on the bench and ran through possible scenarios until she noticed Mickey sit down next to her.

"Nice job convincing her," He said sarcastically.

"Mickey." She warned.

"I'm just sayin', if that worked last time it sure as hell isn't this time. You need a different tactic."

Rose looked off in the distance and saw the chalk writing on the pavement. Huge letters that spelt out Bad Wolf. The moment she read it, she heard that singing. Faint, sure, but it was the same melody she'd heard when the TARDIS opened for Margret.

"Hush." She said to Mickey as she stood, trying to figure if it was her imagination.

"Rose we have to come up with a plan if we're gonna…"

"No, really. Hush!" Rose turned to him; confusion clearly written on his face. "D'ya hear that?"

"Hear wot? I don't hear anything'." He said, turning his head to where she was looking. "Wait, Bad Wolf, isn't that wot you said that power was called. When did it get here?"

"It's a message, Mickey. It's how I lead myself back to the GameStation last time." She answered quickly. The singing was getting louder. Suddenly, she knew. "I have'ta go back."

"I know, but how?" Mickey asked.

"No, to the TARDIS. I think… I think she's callin' me."

Right after she said it, Rose broke into a run. Mickey ran after her, calling her name, but she ignored him. Her mum was still by the TARDIS, and she called out to Rose in confusion when she saw here, but Rose flew right past and went into the open door. When she crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut. It was silent for only a moment, then the console opened and the singing took over. Rose walked to the glowing light, trying hard to not even blink in fear of losing contact.

She could fell warmth spread through her body, like fire was running through her veins. It was beautiful and powerful, but it was also painful. It was like she was being ripped apart and put back together over and over, until finally, she faded away.

Wake up.

Next thing she knew, she was rising from the floor. She felt like she was moving in slow motion. The song was gone, but she could remember how it went. Every note seemed to be seared in her mind. She blinked a few times, getting her bearings. She was in the TARDIS; she could even feel them floating in the Vortex. She turned and there he was. Her Doctor, safe. He was hunched over the controls, not piloting, just waiting for her to wake.

"Wot happened?" She croaked.

"Don't you remember?" He asked casually.

"It's like…. There was this singing…" She started to say as she sat up, but again she couldn't remember.

"That's right, I sang a song and the Daleks ran away." He joked.

"There was this light… the TARDIS, she called me, and… and I can't remember anythin' else."

"Rose Tyler." The Doctor said, making Rose look up at him. "I was gonna take you to so many places. Barcelona, not the city Barcelona, the planet Barcelona. You'd love it, fantastic place. They've got dogs with no noses." He laughed and Rose couldn't help but smile despite knowing what was happening. "Imagine how many times a day you end up telling that joke and it's still funny!"

"Why can't we go?" Rose asked redundantly. She acted clueless, but really, she was taking this moment for every second she could get.

"Maybe you will, and maybe I will, but not like this." He smiled sadly at her.

"Tell me wot's goin' on, you're not making sense." She said as she stood.

"I might never make sense again. I might have two heads or no head!" The Doctor laughed again. "Imagine me with no head. And don't say that's an improvement!"

"Doctor." She said in a careful tone.

"It's a bit dodgy, this process. You never know what you're gonna end up with." As if on cue, a jolt went through the Doctor. He glowed for a moment as he reeled back and clutched his stomach.

"Doctor!" Rose shouted, making her way to him on instinct.

"Stay away!" He yelled back in warning.

"Doctor, talk to me." She urged as he winced.

"I absorbed all the energy of the Time Vortex and no one's meant to do that." He let out a pained groan before he could continue. "Every cell in my body is dying."

"Can you do anythin'?" She asked for his sake.

"Yeah, I'm doing it now. Time Lords have this little trick, sorta way of cheating death." The word death sent an unpleasant shiver down Rose's spine. "Except… it means I'm gonna change… and I'm not gonna see you again. Not like this, not with this daft old face. And before I go… I wanna tell you… I just wanna tell you, you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And y'know what? So was I."

They shared a smile. Then, before Rose could even think of saying another thing, he threw his head back and burst into a golden light. Rose shielded her eyes but still watched as he transformed. It was a long few moments, but finally, there he was. His new frame much smaller in his leather jacket.

"Hello, okay." He said in his new London accent. He paused, moving his tongue around his closed mouth. "New teeth, that's weird. So, where was I? Oh, tha's right. Barcelona!"