Chapter Ten: Inevitably Dead.
Series: Three.
Episode: Six - The Lazarus Experiment.
Part: Two.
The Doctor turned to face the ceiling and source of the noise. Each crash and subsequent crunch of metal made Rose's head pound and sent her pulse thrumming in anticipation, adrenaline already coursing through her veins.
"He must be breaking through that door. The stairs, come on!" The Doctor instructed them, leading the way.
Rose tried not to think too much about the hideous creature chasing them or the Beast's words from not so long ago as she flew down the stairs after the Doctor. But nonetheless, she did. And of all the ways to die, as a dried-out husk was not something she was looking forward to.
They thundered down the stairs, heels and skirts making it that much more difficult for the girls, the sound of crashing and growling echoing behind them. Used to running in formal attire, Rose wasn't far behind the Doctor but she was glad for her choice in footwear nonetheless.
A crash sounded from above.
"He's inside!" Martha screeched.
"We haven't got much time!" The Doctor shouted back.
They made it to the reception in record time.
"Tish, is there another way out of here?"
"There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked now." Tish fluttered.
Rose was impressed with the girl's resolve, despite being massively out of her depth, she was still managing to hold it together. Maybe it ran in the family.
"Martha, setting fifty-four. Hurry." The Doctor tossed the sonic screwdriver to Martha.
The sisters ran off in the direction that Tish had indicated earlier.
"Now what?" Rose asked, panic starting to settle in as she took note of just how many people were in danger.
"We need to get them out." The Doctor said, gazing flickering about the room before landing on the contraption that had started it all, he leapt onto the platform to address the room. "Listen to me! You people are in serious danger! You need to get out of here right now!"
"Don't be ridiculous. The biggest danger here is choking on an olive." A woman in a bejewelled champagne dress argued just as Lazarus crashed into the railing above.
The crowd turned to gape at the monstrosity, frozen in place even as it leapt down onto the reception floor. People finally started moving as Lazarus started flinging tables. Rose tried directing them towards the emergency exit, in an attempt to control the chaos. But panic very rarely followed logic and a stampede of gowns, suits and heels quickly formed, Rose, getting swept up in the process.
Servers had dropped trays of food and drink in their haste to flee from the beast leaving the floor extra slippery for those in heels. Rose was shoved about as the crowd buffeted her to and fro, her attempts to free herself from the throng of people were no match against the fear and hysteria that had gripped them.
As the crowd tried to avoid the tables being flung at them by Lazarus, someone stepped on Rose's TARDIS blue gown as they shunted past her, causing her to skid on a patch of nibbles and go hurtling to the stone-paved floor. Her attempt to break her fall sent shooting pain up her arm and the buzzing in the back of her mind rose to a screeching pitch - that reminded her of old TV static - all of which left her gasping for breath and momentarily disoriented.
But now was not the time to worry about that as she pulled herself to her feet, she caught sight of the Jones', still nowhere near the exit. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her arm and the fading mental static, she dashed over to them just as Leo called out.
"Mum, get back!" Leo stepped in front of his mother in an attempt to shield her as Lazarus sent another table flying in their direction, taking Leo down with it.
"Leo!" Francine called.
Rose pulled Leo out from underneath the table - her arm screaming in protest as she did so - once Lazarus' focus had been directed elsewhere.
"What are you doing?" Francine spat, accusation and suspicion lacing her words.
"Nevermind that just help me!" Rose shot back, not in the mood for questions, all things considered.
She heard Martha call something out to the guests, likely having gotten the door open, as she dragged Leo over to a corner further from the carnage with Francine's help.
Rose looked up, wondering what had captured Lazarus' attention just in time to see him turn to drain the life of the woman who denied there being any threat.
"No! Get away from her!" Rose heard the Doctor bellow, turning away from the scene she knew was going to play out with a flinch.
A loud rattling thump was heard that Rose knew was the sound of the now desiccated body hitting the floor. But she focused on Leo, willing to take any distraction. There was no sign of bleeding but he seemed woozy and dazed. God she wished she'd taken that first aid training course they'd offered at Henriks', she thought to herself, not for the first time.
There was a scuttling sound on the stones behind them and Rose looked up to see Lazarus looming over them. She tried to ignore the stifling wave of nausea his proximity provoked in her.
"Go. Go. Go!" Rose muttered as she shuffled backwards, dragging Leo back with her good arm and Francine's help.
Lazarus roared at them as he edged closer. Rose grimaced at the sight of human teeth behind mandibles, it was just all kinds of wrong. The buzzing in her head shifted to something more akin to humming as if the TARDIS was in agreement with her assessment.
"Lazarus!" The Doctor called, causing the creature to turn away from them even as they continued to shuffle away, "Leave them alone."
"Martha," Francine said relieved as her daughter finally joined them.
"Come on, stay with me. You're okay." Martha stepped forward, taking Rose's position to help Leo stand up.
"What's the point? You can't control it. The mutation's too strong. Killing those people won't help you. You're a fool. A vain old man who thought he could defy nature. Only Nature got her own back, didn't she? You're a joke, Lazarus! A footnote in the history of failure!" The Doctor taunted before leaping off of the dais and dashing off down a corridor, Lazarus close on his heels.
Rose stood, tempted to follow after the Doctor - and the monster subsequently - they'd rarely left each other's sides since Canary Wharf the last time they'd done so Martha had been kidnapped and almost died. The thought only increased her anxiety. But Martha tugged her back with a glare.
"What's the Doctor doing?" Tish asked.
"He's trying to buy us some time. Let's not waste it. Leo, look at me. Focus on me. Let's see your eyes. He's got a concussion. Mum, you'll need to help him downstairs." Martha told them after checking Leo over.
Martha reached for one of the buckets of champagne to scoop some ice into a napkin before pressing it to Leo's forehead. "This'll keep the swelling down. Go! I'll be right behind you. Tish, move! We need to get out of here."
Rose moved to follow after the Jones' when Martha stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. Rose turned back to look at her, question present in her gaze.
"Your arm?" Martha asked, gaze locked on her left arm, the one she'd fallen on.
Rose pulled her shoulder free. "I'm fine, we'll worry about that when we're back on the TARDIS. Come on."
When they finally made it to the bottom of the stairs they noticed the pile-up of guests pushing against the locked doors.
"We can't get out. We're trapped!" Tish panicked.
"There must be an override switch. Where's the security desk? Tish!" Martha demanded.
"There." Tish got hold of herself enough to answer.
Martha darted over to the security desk that Tish had indicated, Rose close on her heels. Martha ran the sonic over an electric blueprint of the building. A groan of frustration spilling out when the door setting didn't trigger the override.
"Give it here," Rose said softly, stepping up beside her.
Martha placed the sonic into Rose's waiting hand. Rose held the device lightly in her left hand finding the correct setting with her fully functioning right. She gritted her teeth as she ignored the shooting pain in her arm, the adrenaline helping to numb the feeling.
Setting set, she ran the sonic over the blueprint just as Martha had done before. Within moments the lights came flickering back on and the cries of the trapped guests shifted to triumph and relief.
Martha let out a sigh of relief herself.
"Quick, better join the others." Rose motioned back the way they came.
The Jones' stood before the doors behind the rest of the guests waiting to get out too when they rejoined them.
"I've got to go back," Martha announced suddenly.
"You can't! You saw what that thing did. It'll kill you." Francine argued.
"I don't care. I have to go. " Martha turned to Rose, hoping the blonde would agree with her, but instead she found apology in her eyes and already knew the denial that would spill from her lips.
"No. I'll go. Stay with your family, make sure they're safe." Rose pleaded softly, already walking backwards even as she kept eye contact with Martha, the unsaid words lingering in the air between them.
Stay with your family because I can't. Stay because you never know when you might lose them.
Martha's jaw tightened in protest but she nodded regardless. The pain in Rose's voice during their discussion on the TARDIS still ringing in her ears.
Having gotten her confirmation, Rose spun on her heels and ran back the way she'd just came. She blindly headed for the corridor she'd seen the Doctor take when she heard an explosion. Grinning, she ran towards the sound, sonic clutched in her good hand, the other buried in her skirt to prevent her from tripping again.
She bumped into the Doctor as they both came charging around the corner. The Doctor's hand flying to her waist to steady her as they both came to a stop.
"What are you doing here?" The Doctor shrieked.
"Returning this." Rose panted, holding up the sonic, "You're useless without it." She teased.
"How did you...?" The Doctor trailed off.
"I heard the explosion, know you've got a thing for pyrotechnics, figured it was my best bet. What did you do anyway?"
"I blasted Lazarus."
"Did it kill him?" She asked just as she spotted movement out of the corner of her eye.
She turned to face it only to see Lazarus very much alive and launching himself through the glass barrier. From where his hands were still on her hips, the Doctor looped one arm around her waist to pull her down the corridor with him as he started running again.
"More sort of annoyed him, I'd say." The Doctor admitted.
Rose's brain finally engaged with her feet and she reached for his hand, running back the way she'd just come. It was a night of running in circles it would seem.
Martha was keeping an eye on her brother when her mum was pulled away by a member of the staff. She thought she'd caught him mentioning the Doctor before he lowered his voice but she couldn't be sure. Too consumed by her worry for the Doctor and Rose. She should have gone with them. Should have insisted. Proven herself to them.
But all she could keep thinking about was what Rose had confessed before on the TARDIS. And her family had already been in danger once tonight she wanted to keep an eye on them, wanted to keep them safe. Like Rose had asked. Like she hadn't been able to with Addie.
They found themselves once again back in the main reception room casting about for a plan. The Doctor seemed to flounder for a moment. Unwilling to risk the guests they'd just saved, they were confined to the building and its limited options.
"Please tell me you've got a plan 'cause we've just gone round in a circle."
Just then Lazarus leapt into the room and in doing so seemed to force the Doctor's hand as he lunged for the sonic manipulator chamber that had started all of this. Still holding his hand Rose went with him as he moved. The sudden movement jarring her injured arm, her wince concealed by Lazarus' crashing.
"We can't lead him outside. Come on, get in."
The chamber was not meant for two people and was more than a little bit cramped, in any other situation Rose may have tried to appreciate the setting but now was not the time. Trying to distract herself from her mounting fear and the ever-present pain, she decided to find out what exactly the Doctor's plan was.
"So the plan is to hide then?" Rose questioned.
"No, he knows we're here. But this is his masterpiece. I'm betting he won't destroy it, not even to get at us."
"But we're trapped." Rose pointed out.
"Well, yeah, that's a slight problem."
Rose took a deep breath trying to stay calm as she asked, "Doctor, what is the plan?"
"The plan was to get inside here." He said simply.
"And then?"
"Well, then I'd come up with another plan."
"Take your time, it's not like we're monster bait or anything."
The Doctor reached into his tux inside pocket for the sonic he'd just recovered as Lazarus growled from outside.
Rose hissed in pain as her arm was squashed between herself and the chamber wall. The state of her arm couldn't be ignored in the cramped space, guilt flickered across the Doctor's before being replaced with determination.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'll take a look at that once we get back to the TARDIS." He promised.
"Monster first." Rose reminded him, a tad breathless from the agony.
"Here we are." He said as he finally freed the sonic from between them.
"What're you going to do?"
"Improvise." The Doctor answered as he slid to the floor to access the panel at their feet that Rose hadn't noticed before.
Rose tried to focus on the panel at their feet and it's exposed wiring and circuitry rather than how close the Doctor face was to the exposed skin of her thigh from the slit in her dress or the pain in her arm and mind. It was only a semi-successful endeavour.
"That's not nearly as reassuring as you think it is." Rose threw back, aiming for their usual banter as a form of distraction.
"Oi! I'm very impressive, I'll have you know, Rose Tyler."
"I'm still not convinced. Where'd that thing come from? Is it alien?"
"No, for once it's strictly human in origin."
"Human?" Rose scoffed. "Excuse you, I'm not a big vampire scorpion thing."
"Probably from dormant genes in Lazarus's DNA. The energy field in this thing must have reactivated them. And it looks like they're becoming dominant. Some option that evolution rejected for you millions of years ago, but the potential is still there. Locked away in your genes, forgotten about until Lazarus unlocked it by mistake."
"So it's a throwback." Rose clarified.
"Exactly. Nice shoes, by the way."
Rose smiled wryly at the odd timing of the compliment, likely an attempt to distract her, one she was thankful for regardless.
"Thanks, was the TARDIS' idea, seems she's rather fond of blue." She said absently as the Doctor continued to work on the circuitry and wires at their feet.
Suddenly the lights inside the chamber flared to life as secondary whirring - separate to the sonic - started up.
"That's not what I think it is, is it?" Rose asked feebly.
"Sounds like he's switched the machine on. I was hoping it was going to take him a little bit longer to work that out." The Doctor answered before focusing on the opened panel with renewed interest.
"We better not get scrambled," Rose warned him, squinting against the bright flashes of light.
"I know, I know. Nearly done."
"What're you doin'?" Rose all but shouted, panicking mounting as he still hadn't answered that.
"I'm trying to set the capsule to reflect energy rather than receive it."
"Will that kill it?" More desperate for something to focus on other than their current situation than before.
"When he transforms, he's three times his size. Cellular triplication. So he's spreading himself thin."
"Not gonna work if we end up like him before you're finished!"
"Just one more!"
The whirring increased in pitch to a squeal and the lights increased in brightness before suddenly dying down. The capsule door clicked as it unlocked. Rose breathed a sigh of relief as the Doctor pulled the door open, the buzzing in her mind had died down to an almost unnoticeable hum which also made it easier to breathe.
The Doctor stepped down from the platform and on wobbling feet, Rose followed closely behind.
"You cut that one close."
"Really shouldn't take that long just to reverse the polarity. I must be a bit out of practice." The Doctor admitted with a glare, frowning at the chamber.
As they stepped free of the shadow of the machine they caught sight of Lazarus' prone form.
"He's human again." Rose gasped. "It's almost pitiful."
"Eliot saw that, too. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper." The Doctor quoted gravelly.
It wasn't long until the paramedics arrived for the professor's body and the two travellers joined the rest of the guests outside. Martha rushed over to join them as they emerged. The Doctor loosened his tie staring morosely as Lazarus was loaded into the ambulance.
"Is he…" Martha trailed off.
Rose nodded lightly, unable to speak the words.
It didn't matter anyway because Martha's sudden departure had caught the rest of her family's attention and now Francine was striding over to them looking none too pleased by their presence. Rose gulped, looking at the woman with uncertainty.
"Ah, Mrs Jones. We still haven't finished our chat." The Doctor spoke with a faux cheer that hadn't been there moments before.
Francine strode right up to him and slapped him across the face drawing gasps from the few lingering guests.
"Keep away from my daughter," Francine warned.
"Mum, what are you doing?" Martha asked through gritted teeth.
"All of the mothers, every time."
"He is dangerous. I've been told things." Francine told her daughter.
The proclamation drew worried frowns from the other two travellers.
"What are you talking about?" Martha said tersely.
"Look around you. Nothing but death and destruction."
"This isn't his fault. He saved us, all of us!"
"At least twice today by my count," Rose muttered, glaring at the woman trying to ignore the weird sense of deja vu the situation was giving her or the pang it sent through her at the reminder of her mother.
"And it was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place. I'd say technically, it's her fault." Leo stepped in.
Tish elbowed Leo in the ribs at his offhanded accusation when suddenly there was a loud crash from the direction the recently departed ambulance had taken. The remaining crowd turned towards the sound.
"Was that…" Rose asked trailing off not daring to complete the sentence in case it wasn't true and she jinxed them but the returning force of the mental buzzing dissuaded such notions.
The Doctor cast one look back at Martha before the two of them darted off towards the noise. Leaving the option of joining them open but not forcing it in the current situation. Perhaps it was another test, Rose thought absently.
"Leave him," Francine demanded as she grasped Martha's arm midstep.
Martha silently shook her head before following after them.
"Martha?" Tish called after her sister, stepping forward.
"Not you, too?" Francine pleaded.
"Sorry."
Tish quickly followed after her sister leaving her mother and brother behind on the steps of her disastrous PR event.
The ambulance doors were flung open to reveal the desiccated corpses of the paramedics. Rose fought against another wave of nausea at the sight. She'd seen far grizzlier but was unsettled all the same. Martha joined them at the ambulance, her proclamation of shock announcing her arrival.
"Lazarus, back from the dead. Should have known, really." The Doctor admitted defeatedly as he pulled out his sonic and began scanning their surroundings.
"Because things were starting to feel too easy," Rose muttered sarcastically.
Another set of heel clad footsteps clattered up beside them. Rose turned to see that Martha's sister had decided to join them. Rose had to admit she was impressed, perhaps all the Jones' were this fearless.
"Where's he gone?" Martha asked.
"That way. The church." The Doctor announced.
"Cathedral." Tish corrected, garnering their attention, "It's Southwark Cathedral. He told me."
The quartet slowly made their way inside the cathedral the Doctor leading with his sonic and Tish all but trailing behind as she followed the travellers uncertainly.
"Do you think he's in here?" Martha whispered in the still cathedral.
"Where would you go if you were looking for sanctuary?" The Doctor asked rhetorically but Rose couldn't stop herself from answering.
"Somewhere a little less creepy." Because tonight really was ticking all the creepy cliche horror movie boxes thank you very much.
They walked carefully up the nave to the altar. Their footsteps loud and echoing in the high vaulted building. They stepped around the altar to find Lazarus clad in a red ambulance blanket shivering and retching.
Noting their presence, Lazarus began to speak, "I came here before, a lifetime ago. I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat here, just a child, the sound of planes and bombs outside."
The Doctor began circling the rejuvenated professor until he stood in front of him not wanting him out of sight in case he changed again.
"The Blitz." The Doctor said simply.
"You've read about it." Lazarus seemed almost surprised as he responded.
"I was there."
"You're too young." Lazarus rebutted.
"So are you." The Doctor shot back.
Lazarus laughed but was interrupted by his own gasping and twitching as his bones cracked for a moment before continuing with his story.
"In the morning, the fires had died, and I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again. So defenceless. I would arm myself, fight back, defeat it."
The Doctor began circling the professor again as he twitched, certain a change was imminent as he stared up at the ceiling. The girls followed his gaze up trying to gage his plan.
"That's what you were trying to do today?"
"That's what I did today," Lazarus stated all that cocky arrogance from before returning.
"What about the other people who died?" The Doctor demanded, with the edge of the Oncoming Storm.
"They were nothing. I changed the course of history." Lazarus dismissed nonchalantly sending a wave of disgust rolling through Rose.
"Any of them might have done too. You think history's only made with equations?" The Doctor spat before softening his tone, "Facing death is part of being human. You can't change that."
His words reminding Rose of their conversation not long ago outside of a nondescript cafe. The certainty with which he'd spoken of her death. Because that's how he saw them, the human race, the inevitable dead.
"No, Doctor. Avoiding death, that's being human. It's our strongest impulse, to cling to life with every fibre of being. I'm only doing what everyone before me has tried to do. I've simply been more successful."
He convulsed again, contradicting himself in the process, as he choked and gasped, still fighting the change.
"Look at yourself. You're mutating! You've no control over it. You call that a success?"
"I call it progress. I'm more now than I was. More than just an ordinary human." He spoke through the breaking of his own bones.
The idea of being more than human ricochets through Rose, resonating with the dual buzzing part of her mind that she's now certain doesn't belong to her.
"There's no such thing as an ordinary human."
Lazarus convulsed again, more violently this time, his whole body thrown into the movement as he retched on the cathedral floor.
Martha saddled up to the Doctor, Rose not far behind her, eyes not leaving Lazarus in the process.
"He's going to change again any minute," Martha whispered.
"I know. If I can get him up into the bell tower somehow, I've an idea that might work." The Doctor whispered back.
"Up there?"
Any confirmation was disrupted by the professor speaking up again. The Doctor stepped away from the two of them, circling the man again.
"You're so sentimental, Doctor. Maybe you are older than you look."
"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one. In the end, you just get tired." For a moment Lazarus looked nearly regretful at the Doctor's words. "Tired of the struggle, tired of losing everyone that matters to you, tired of watching everything turn to dust. If you live long enough, Lazarus, the only certainty left is that you'll end up alone." The Doctor crouched down next to Lazarus, looking him in the eye as he spoke in the hopes that he'd finally understand.
Rose swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill at the gravity and loss in the Doctor's words. It was all too easy to forget how long he'd lived, except for moments like this. If she could keep him from feeling that pain, she would. But one day she'd leave him too. Whether it was emergency program one, on a fifty-first-century spaceship or in a parallel universe, she would leave. Against her own will, but inevitably so. You can't escape death. Not even Lazarus could.
"That's a price worth paying." And then the moment of regret was gone.
"Is it?"
Lazarus flinched as the convulsion started up once more.
"I will feed soon," Lazarus said instead.
"I'm not going to let that happen."
"You've not been able to stop me so far."
"Leave him, Lazarus! He's old and bitter. I thought you had a taste for fresher meat."
Rose's gaze flickered to Martha in alarm. God, she hoped she knew what she was doing.
"Martha, no." The Doctor warned.
Lazarus lunged at Martha with a growl. Rose grabbed her arm and dragged her across the floor towards the stairwell. If they were gonna do this they better move. Tish ran after them.
"What are you doing?" Martha shouted to Tish.
"Keeping you out of trouble!"
"Less talking, more escaping." Rose interrupted.
"Doctor! The tower!" Martha called.
They were partway up the spiral staircase when groaning and bones snapping could be heard.
"Did you hear that?" Tish asked.
"He's changed again. Keep moving. We've got to lead him up."
They resumed their previous pace as Lazarus' growls followed them up, the beast likely not far behind. They were at the end of a landing when the Doctor called up to them.
"Martha?! Rose?"
The trio stopped to look down from where they stood in a passageway in the clerestory to see the Doctor stood below.
"Doctor!" Martha called back.
Rose panted beside her. The buzzing in her head now a roar so similar to that of the creature's it was difficult to focus. Coupled with the fact her head was being filled with quick flashes of a similar scene but they were much more fleeting than the ones she'd experienced at the hospital and she could not distinguish anything useful from them. All it did was make her stomach roll.
"Take him to the top. The very top of the bell tower, do you hear me?!"
"Up to the top!" Martha repeated the Doctor's instruction for clarity.
"Martha." Tish interrupted, tapping her sister's arm as she looked back the way they'd come.
Rose turned to look too. Only to see the creature was much closer than anticipating and still gaining.
"Then what?"
"We need to go." Rose interrupted tugging the girl's arm.
"Martha, come on!"
Three sets of heels clattered on the stones as they charged through the passages to the bell tower. Finally emerging to find only a circular runway. They moved around futility, hoping for escape or at the least to put some distance between them and it.
"There's nowhere to go. We're trapped!" Tish exclaimed.
"This is where he said to bring him." Was all Martha could say.
"All right, so then we're not trapped. We're bait."
"I've been in worse situations," Rose said feebly, suddenly feeling a tad too hot for the drafty bell tower in her light dress.
"He knows what he's doing. We have to trust him." Martha argued.
"Ladies," Lazarus announced himself.
The three girls pressed themselves against the wooden railing trying to create more space as the monster crashed through the wooden beams.
"Stay behind me. If he takes me, make a run for it. Head down the stairs. You should have enough time." Martha instructed.
"But-" Tish started to argue.
"Just do it, Tish!"
Lazarus swung out his scorpion tail, they ducked with a scream in an attempt to evade in the cramped space. Rose heart pounded as they each did their best to avoid his attack but he seemed most focused on Martha.
Rose kept her eye on the young medical student as organ music filled the air. The barrier in front of Martha went crashing down on the first swipe, the second swipe sending her tumbling over the edge, suspended in the air only by her fingertips. Rose hurried over as Tish cried out.
"Martha!"
Lazarus leapt across the railings to another part of the walkway. He lifted up his tail to once again swipe at Martha when the roaring in Rose's head sent a blazing wave of heat through her.
"No." She said in an echoey voice unlike her own as she raised her arm up as if to physically stop the creature.
Her arms were covered in the golden light of Huon particles and as she raised them to the creature, the golden tendrils enveloped his tail too. Her body burned with the pulsating heat of the Huon energy as she focused on the rage buried inside of her, pushing it all towards the creature and her goal of keeping him suspended where he was, away from Martha.
Lazarus fought to free himself from the power just as Rose fought to keep him there and fought to stop the fire from consuming her mind. Her arms quaked with the effort as though she had a physical hold on him.
"Tish, get her up!" Rose shouted through gritted teeth over the booming organ music.
Her head was throbbing from both the energy coursing inside of her, the effort it took to control it and the music that reverberated through the bell tower and subsequently her skull.
Tish hoisted Martha up, both their faces twisted up in pain as the music grew ever louder pounding against their skulls with no protection from it.
Rose trembled in the golden light, the pain mounting as Lazarus started to flail and twitch, with a scream she let him go. As whatever the Doctor was doing took effect, he went careening to the stone floor far below.
Rose crumpled on the wooden landing beside them as the music finally ceased and the golden light retreated along with the buzzing. She shuddered as exhaustion set in and the chill seeped through, replacing the fire that had consumed her seconds before. She looked to a gaping Martha and Tish with scared pleading eyes as she returned to herself.
She knew that hadn't been her. Yes, it had been her determination to keep Martha safe, her anger at Lazarus for trying to take Martha from her family and her grief at losing her own family. But that power? The knowledge of what to do? The act itself? That had come from somewhere besides her.
And that thought terrified her. What was happening to her? What had she done?
"Rose? Martha?" The Doctor called.
"I'm okay." Rose called back automatically, before turning back to Martha with a whisper, "Please don't tell him. I don't know how I- I can't jus-" Her voice quaked as the last few moments caught up with her and the terror swept out the rage. "Just please don't."
"Martha!?" The Doctor shouted again, worry starting to seep in at her lack of reply.
Martha stared back at Rose for a few heart-stopping moments in which the blonde feared this would be what would push her over the edge. What she would decide was too much.
"We're all okay." Martha finally answered.
Beside her, Rose breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, she mouthed to the two sisters.
"It's your Doctor you should be thanking," Tish spoke softly, fear barely concealed by her awe. "He cut it a bit fine though, didn't he?"
"He always does. It's more fun that way." Martha smiled.
"Who is he?"
Martha seemed to wrestle with the question for a moment unsure of how to answer.
"He's, he's the Doctor." Was the answer she finally settled on.
"No other explanation really," Rose said.
"And you? You're not really investors, are you?"
"No. We're not. Be lucky to have a penny either of us. I'm…" She trailed off. It was rare she had to answer the question for herself and the answer suddenly seemed a lot more complicated than before. "Tired. Come on."
On wobbly knees, they stood and made their way back down to the Doctor. Rose's arm still throbbing by her side and Martha's ankle twingeing with every step after being swiped at by Lazarus, it was a slow descent.
The Doctor ran towards them, meeting them halfway as they finally came to the bottom of the stairs. He swept Rose up in a hug first, the two of them clinging to each other in relief.
"You okay?" The Doctor whispered in her hair, feeling her tremble.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Rose answered, pulling back to give him a reassuring smile.
One the Doctor gladly returned before turning to hug Martha too.
"I didn't know you could play?" Martha asked as he let her go.
"Oh, well, you know, if you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick a few things up."
"Hmm. Especially about playing loud."
"Sorry?" The Doctor feigned hard of hearing causing Martha to laugh.
Rose couldn't help smile at the exchange even as she gnawed at her thumb nervously.
When they finally exited the cathedral and the sisters had said their goodbyes, they hailed a taxi back to Martha's. Squashed in the backseat with the Doctor in the middle, Rose pulled off her heels and tiredly laid her head on his shoulder.
Her head was thankfully quiet at last and if it wasn't for the life she lived after today she would have considered a mental breakdown to be the cause. But the churning of guilt in her stomach and the look in Martha's eyes reminded her that it wasn't. It was something far more bizarre.
As the taxi came to a stop, the Doctor patted her hand to rouse her.
The trio clambered from the taxi and into Martha's home. The two girls were exhausted after booking it up several flights of stairs away from the mutated scientist.
The Doctor unlocked the TARDIS, pushing open the doors a crack before turning to Martha.
"Something else that just kind of escalated, then." The Doctor said, considering Martha carefully.
"I can see a pattern developing. You two should take more care in the future. And the past. And whatever other time period you find yourselves in." Martha told them.
Rose watched them both carefully. She knew what they'd discussed last night before this had all happened. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to Martha. The young doctor was brilliant. But once again her life had been in danger as well as that of her family. They couldn't.
And yet. She'd been certain the Doctor had been testing her earlier. And his next words confirmed it.
"It's good fun, though, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Martha agreed with a giggle, face beaming.
"So, what do you say, one more trip?"
Martha's face faltered as she broke eye contact with the Doctor looking instead at the TARDIS.
"No. Sorry."
"What do you mean? I thought you liked it." The Doctor asked, perplexed.
"I do, but I can't go on like this. One more trip. It's not fair."
Suddenly the guilt that Rose had been feeling gained another dimension. This was her fault. She'd asked the Doctor to bring Martha along for a trip. And then just one more.
"What're you talking about?"
"I don't want to be just a passenger anymore. Someone you take along for a treat. If that's how you still see me, I'd rather stay here."
The Doctor looked down at the floor guilty as Martha spoke.
"Okay, then. If that's what you want."
"Right. But we've already said goodbye once today. It's probably best if you just go." Martha said in shock, a touch of hurt and anger in her words as she turned away.
Rose smacked the Doctor's arm, frustrated at his inability to just come out and say what he meant.
"What's that for?"
Rose sighed, before stepping forward towards Martha.
"He means come with us. We want you to travel with us. Properly."
Martha looked towards the Doctor for confirmation.
"I said okay." The Doctor said nodding towards the TARDIS, "You were never really just a passenger, were you?"
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" Martha exclaimed hugging them both in turn.
Rose smiled at her, "Come on, I'll help you pack."
The two girls packed Martha's bags in record timing and soon enough the three of them were in the TARDIS leaving Martha's flat far behind, all of time and space at their fingertips.
But back in Martha's flat, an ominous warning echoes through the empty room, the intended recipient of the warning already long gone.
"Martha, it's your mother. Please phone me back. I'm begging you. I know who this Doctor really is. I know he's dangerous. You're going to get yourself killed. Please, trust me. This information comes from Harold Saxon himself. You're not safe!"
A/N: I wanted this to be up already but I didn't have any wifi at home, then I was getting settled at uni and now I have a cold (it's not corona, don't worry the plague hasn't got me yet) and I've been super excited for this chapter so wanted to do it justice, I also tweaked some of Martha's dialogue to better fit Rose so if it seems different to canon thas why. Next chapter will be a bit of a filler so should be up sooner. Anyway, let me know your thoughts in the comments. See ya next chapter :)
Comments:
Ace of Spies:
I'm glad you enjoyed! Again sorry about the wait of last chapter and this one, I have no perception of how much time has passed when I'm procrastinating. I've been procrastinating another one of my stories since november 2018 whoops
Tscheby:
you can pretty much guarantee that i'll always come back to this story eventually, I have too many plans for it and Rose is my favourite character to work with
HARLLEN:
I'm glad you enjoyed it! Hope this one was worth the wait
And the longest for last - Guest who:
I'm glad you're enjoying it. I have similar views on the 50th anniversary ep, I have a rant about it on my tumblr reblogged from my main cus Im not going into it here, I didn't know about the deal with BBC. I've seen quite a bit of classic who enough to know the doctor's relationship with timelords wasn't a pleasant one, Ive actually seen the a clip of that quote by the sixth doctor. I dont know what prompted your comment but i thought it was interesting and enjoyed the read. The 50th anniversary ep is still a way away in terms of this story and I havent entirely decided how im going to tackle it yet but I also am not a fan of moffats writing.
As for the order of the eps; ill be rearranging the order like this one. this episode originally was sixth with the dalek two parter coming before it, ive moved this one forward and am doing the dalek one later and may move others to fit with the pacing of the story because a key plot point i want to do is dependant on certain episodes that occur later in the season. yes i will be doing originally stories like i did for chapter 5 as well as referencing some of the official doctor who stories (with maybe flashback glimpses), I dont think Im going to include infinity quest and ive not listened to any audio adventures. if i can find access to the comics online i may reference them as well but i dont have access to them in person anymore.
Again im sorry about my updating schedule it frustrates me too. I hope to do more with rose as thats what this series is sort of focused on, although i do think that in series 2 we did see some character development from her in terms of taking on the role of leadership in the doctor's absence (with the werewolf in tooth and claw, in satan's pit when the doctor goes radio silent, with the cult of skaro in doomsday) but yeah i agree id like to have seen more. i find Roses growth in series 4 (though unseen) fascinating and i enjoy exploring it in stories post petes world (i talked about it in my story: too good at goodbyes) although it will be different with this deviation from canon. Again I havent decided with day of the doctor yet, but i do hope to do other crossover episodes with other doctors i always think thats a fun trope in dw fanfics. I hope I covered everything? im quite hungry at the moment so a lil scattered so my apologies if not