The Doctor and Cassandra made their way up back to Ward 36 when the NNYPD arrived. Rose watched as they walked in and watched one of the nurses being taken away.
"The Face of Boe!" The Doctor cried out, suddenly remembering.
The Face of Boe was here? That's right, he had mentioned it to Rose on the phone, before he knew she was taken over by Cassandra. There were many things she realized she didn't know about this trip. Rose was glad this time around she got to watch it all.
The Doctor started running down the hall, Cassandra lagging behind. When he finally stopped, there was the Face of Boe. Rose could've sworn he was smiling when he spotted them.
"You were supposed to be dying." The Doctor teased as he walked up to the tank.
"There are better things to do today." Came the Face of Boe's voice in their heads. "Dying can wait."
Suddenly the audio to Rose's view cut out as Cassandra spoke. Rose looked puzzled, until another voice replaced it.
"Hello, Rose."
She whipped around and there stood Jack, looking the same as she had last seen him. She couldn't believe it until she remembered her talk with the Face of Boe on Platform One. She had almost forgotten the man who she considered her brother would become the Face of Boe. Rose couldn't stop herself from running up and hugging him.
"I know this is all in my head, but it feels good huggin' you again!" She and Jack laughed.
"Rose." He said kindly as he pulled away to look her in the eye. "If this is going to be the last time I see you, I wanted you to see me as I was."
"But you just said you weren't gonna die."
"Not now, but I know it's coming. The next time the Face of Boe meets with the Doctor will be the last."
"So, I'll see ya then… right?" Rose's voice became fearful.
There was a moment of silence and Rose knew exactly what that meant. The next time the Doctor saw the Face of Boe, she wasn't there. If she wasn't there, does that mean she would fail? She's be trapped in the parallel universe again, or worse this time.
"Hey, now don't go worrying that pretty little head of yours." Jack said rubbing her cheek with his thumb, trying to cheer her up. "Everything is going to happen the way it should. I can't tell you how I know, but I do."
"I have so many questions."
"And one day, the answers will come. But, for now, let me just say, you and the Doctor were the best things to happen to me."
"Oh, Jack." Rose sighed, trying hard not to cry.
"Our time is up, but we'll see each other again."
Rose nodded and smiled. They finally released each other and Jack gave Rose a small salute before fading away. The Doctor's voice caused Rose to turn back around to the projection.
"And now for you."
"But everything's happy. Everything's fine. Can't you just leave me?" Cassandra tried, but the Doctor clearly wasn't having it.
"You've lived long enough." He answered. "Leave that body and end it, Cassandra."
"I don't want to die." She cried.
"No one does." The Doctor sympathized.
"Help me!"
"I can't."
"Mistress!" Another voice cried out.
"Oh, Chip, you're alive!" Cassandra said, sounding relieved.
"I kept myself safe, for you, mistress."
"A body." Cassandra mused. "And not just that. A volunteer!"
"Don't you dare! He's got a life of his own." The Doctor tried.
"But I worship the mistress!" Chip argued. "I welcome her."
The Doctor tried reasoning with Cassandra, but she took a deep breath and Rose was suddenly thrust back into her body. She nearly fell over at the pain behind her eyes, but the Doctor caught her.
"You alright?" He asked her.
"Yeah." She breathed out heavily. She looked up into the Doctor's eyes as he held her against him. "Hello!"
"Hello!" He repeated and they shared a smile. "Welcome back."
"Oh, sweet Lord!" Interrupted Cassandra. "I'm a walking doodle."
The Doctor was reluctant to let Rose go, so he took her hand as he moved to Cassandra, now in Chip's body.
"You can't stay in there." He scolded her. "I'm sorry, Cassandra, but that's not fair. I can take you to the city. They can build you a skin-tank, and you can stand trial for what you've done."
"Well, that would be rather dramatic. Possibly my finest hour, and certainly my finest hat." Cassandra responded, sounding carefree, but Rose knew she was putting up a front. "But I'm afraid we don't have time. Poor little Chip, he's only a half-life, and he's been through so much. His heart is racing so. He's failing. I don't think he's going to last…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Chip's body crumpled to the ground. Rose and the Doctor were immediately at her side to catch her.
"You alright?" The Doctor asked.
"I'm alright." Cassandra said in a dazed voice. "I'm dying. But that's fine" She concluded, very matter-of-fact. She didn't seem worried or sad, just resigned. Rose felt a bit of respect for the woman. She may have been a pain in the arse, but she was taking her death with dignity.
"I can take you to the city…" The Doctor started, but Rose stopped him.
"No, Doctor." Rose interrupted. She kept looking Cassandra in the eyes, ignoring the Doctor's confused look. "Everythin' has an end. This is Cassandra's, and damn it all if she doesn't go out with a bang."
Cassandra smiled gratefully at Rose, which she returned gladly. With the Doctor's help, Rose got Cassandra in the TARDIS. Together, the Doctor and Rose piloted the ship in silence as steadily as they could. Once they landed, Rose ran down the hall to the closet and grabbed a large black cloak to put around Cassandra. She put it around Chip's body and lifted the hood over her head, then, the Doctor walking ahead of them, she helped Cassandra out the doors.
People all around were chattering, but Cassandra's voice could be heard easily above all the rest. She joked and dazzled the crowd around her, completely in her element. Looking at her past self, Cassandra gasped quietly.
"I thought you'd wanna visit this night again." Rose whispered in her ear. "Go on." She nudged Cassandra. "Go tell her."
Cassandra knew exactly what Rose wanted her to do. She whispered a thank you to them both, then, steeling her nerves, walked up to her past self. They talked for a moment, Cassandra in Chip's body making sure that her past self knew she was beautiful. Rose caught a glimpse of the past Cassandra's face, both bewildered at the honest compliment and yet so grateful for it. Then, Chip's body promptly collapsed. She died in her own arms, an oddly fitting way to go for Cassandra, Rose thought. The Doctor took Rose's hand, gave her a reassuring squeeze, then led her back into the TARDIS.
He didn't release her hand when the entered the ship, instead leading her to the left and into the infirmary. Rose decided it was in her best interest not to protest. Besides, the Doctor was visibly worried about her because of Cassandra's occupation in her mind, so, if it would put him at ease, she'd do anything.
"How're you feelin'?" He asked her as he began to scan her with some equipment.
"Fine. The headache went away a while ago." Rose shrugged. She paused for a bit, thinking about her next words carefully. "Could you… see wot was happenin' while Cassandra was in your body?"
"No, why?" He asked, puzzled.
"I could. It was like I was at the cinema and I was wotchin' it all play out." She explained, earning her a surprised eyebrow raise from the Doctor. Before he could ask her any hard questions she didn't have an answer to, she gave him a sly grin. "She kissed you."
That definitely moved the Doctor's attention. He actually started to blush, averting his gaze down and rubbing the back of his head with his hand.
"Ah, yes, that… Well…" He tried, but no words were forming.
"Did'ja think it was me?" She asked, causing the Doctor's ears to turn even more red.
"Why would I think it was anybody else wearing your face?" He asked, defensive.
"Was she a good kisser?"
"She was you!"
"So, you think I'm a bad kisser?" She asked, pretending to be offended.
"No! No, not at all, you're great! Brilliant, really!" The Doctor's mind kept screaming at him to stop talking. His mouth did not obey. "Best kiss I've had in ages, if not ever! If it wasn't Cassandra in disguise, mind you."
"Doctor." Rose finally interrupted. "I was joking."
"Oh." Was all he could say.
His scanner beeped, causing both of them to jump slightly. He looked it over and deemed her fine. Rose jumped off the bed and started making her way to the door, but stopped in the door frame, turning back to the Doctor. She fiddled with her necklace as she considered her next words.
"Y'know, if you ever wanna actually kiss me, all you have to do is ask." She grinned at the bewildered look on the Doctor's face. Feeling satisfied by his reaction, she turned and walked off to her room.
