Hey Guys and Girls! Welcome to the third instalment of the Impossible Girl Saga. We're kicking off the next part of Jenna's journey with the Runaway Bride!
Description of Jenna: she's 5.5ft with long brown hair, fair skin and violet eyes. As of Platform One she wears a golden locket engraved with Gallifreyan. Jenna looks similar to Emily Rudd.
"You can't do that. I wasn't…we're in flight!" the Doctor stuttered, completely bewildered as to how the bride got into his ship "That is….that is physically impossible! How did…?"
"Tell me where I am" the woman cut in "I demand you tell me right now where am I?"
"You're inside the TARDIS", Harmony told her.
"The what?" the woman asked.
"The TARDIS", the Doctor repeated.
"The what?"
"The TARDIS!" the Doctor said again, louder this time.
"The what?"
"It's called the TARDIS", Jenna replied as the Doctor turned to the console to try and figure out how this woman had gotten inside while they were in flight.
"That's not even a proper word. You're just saying things", the bride said angrily.
"How did you get in here?" Jenna asked wondering if the ginger had any idea.
"Well, obviously, when you kidnapped me", the woman snapped. The Doctor moved in front of Jenna, not liking how the woman turned her anger on her. She didn't deserve that, not after just losing her best friend. Besides, it was a perfectly valid question. "Who was it? Who's paying you? Is it Nerys? Oh my God, she's finally got me back. This has got Nerys written all over it"
"Who's Nerys?" Harmony asked.
"Your best friend", the bride said.
"Hold on, wait a minute…what are you dressed like that for?" the Doctor questioned eyeing her outfit.
"I'm going ten pin bowling. Why do you think, dumbo? I was halfway up the aisle!" Harmony suppressed a smile at that. She'd always thought that Donna's sass/sarcasm had come from Jenna but now it seemed that the woman had always been that way. "I've been waiting all my life for this. I was just seconds away, and then you…I don't know, you drugged me or something!"
"We haven't done anything!" the Doctor protested.
"I'm having the police on you! Me and my husband, as soon as he is my husband, we're going to sue the living backside off ya!"
The Doctor just shook his head and went back to the controls. When Donna noticed the doors, she made a bee line for them. "Wait a minute!" Jenna shouted chasing after her but it was too late. Donna threw open the doors and stared at the supernova outside.
"You're in space", Jenna informed her "Outer space".
"This is my space ship", the Doctor said as he and Harmony joined Jenna and Donna at the doors "It's called the TARDIS"
"How am I breathing?" Donna asked.
"The TARDIS is protecting us", the Doctor replied.
"Who are you?" Donna questioned looking at the trio.
"I'm the Doctor. This is Jenna and Harmony. You?" the Doctor said introducing him and the two women.
"Donna", Donna said.
The Doctor looked her up and down "Human?" he asked.
"Yeah" Donna replied "Is that optional?"
"Well, it is for me", the Doctor said.
"Are you three aliens?" Donna asked looking at them.
"Nope I'm human", Jenna replied. For the moment Harmony thought.
"I am an alien, so is Harmony", the Doctor said making Jenna look at curly haired ginger woman questionably. Seems like there was some stuff she missed while she was unconscious.
"Later", Harmony said, meaning she'd explain after they'd gotten Donna back where she needed to be. Jenna nodded at that.
"It's freezing with these doors open", Donna said shivering. With that the Doctor slammed the doors shut and goes back to the console.
"I don't understand that and I understand everything! This…this can't happen!"
"Well it has happened Doctor, the proof is in front of you", Jenna said gesturing to Donna. Suddenly the Doctor grabbed an ophthalmoscope and used it to look into Donna's eyes.
"Some sort of subatomic connection?"
"Nope", Harmony said knowing enough about the TARDIS to know they would've been warned about that.
"Something in the temporal field?"
"Uh…no", Harmony said after quickly checking the scanner.
"Maybe something pulling you into alignment with the Chronon shell"
"Chronon shell is fine", Harmony said checking the controls. Jenna noted how Harmony seemed to understand what the Doctor was saying and how comfortable she seemed to be at checking the controls, like she'd had experience in a TARDIS before.
"Maybe something macro mining your DNA within the interior matrix"
"I think he just made that up", Jenna said quietly to Harmony.
"He did", she confirmed.
Jenna opened her mouth ask her a question when Donna suddenly slapped the Doctor. "What was that for?" he asked clutching his cheek.
"Get me to the church!" Donna yelled.
The Doctor tossed the ophthalmoscope away before turning to the controls "Right! Fine! I don't want you here anyway! Where is this wedding?"
"Saint Mary's, Hayden Road, Chiswick, London, England, Earth, the Solar System", Donna replied. She then spotted a purple blouse draped over the railing. She snatched it up "I knew it, acting all innocent", she said striding over to the Doctor, showing him the blouse "I'm not the first, am I? How many women have you abducted?" not even waiting for a reply, Donna rounded on Jenna and Harmony "and you two! Are you a part of it? Do you lure them in for him?"
Jenna didn't answer her, just watched the blouse that Donna was waving around in her hands. The Doctor looked up from the controls and saw the shirt in Donna's hands "That's our friend's", he said quietly.
"Where is she, then? Popped out for a spacewalk?" Donna asked sarcastically. As her attention was on the Doctor, she missed the pained expression on Jenna's face. But the Doctor didn't and neither did Harmony. The curly haired ginger put an arm around the brunette as the Doctor said
"She's gone"
"Gone where?" Donna pressed.
"It doesn't matter Donna", Harmony said reaching out with her other hand, taking the garment from Donna as she turned to her.
"Why doesn't it matter? Where did she go?" Donna asked as Harmony passed the shirt to Jenna, who clutched it tightly in her hands.
"We lost her", Jenna said quietly fighting back the tears that threated to fall. She walked over to the railing and carefully draped the shirt of it. The Doctor went over to her when he heard her sniffle. Donna watched as he hugged Jenna realising that they had to have lost their friend very recently and that she had been someone they cared about a lot. She felt really bad for shouting at them now.
The Doctor kissed the top of Jenna's head and went back to the controls. "Right, Chiswick", he said. He wanted to drop Donna off as soon as he could so that he could concentrate on Jenna.
"I said Saint Mary's. What sort of Martians are you? Where's this?" Donna asked not recognising her surroundings. The Doctor didn't answer her, he was more concerned with the TARDIS. Harmony was looking at the blue box in concern too. The Doctor had put in the right destination, she'd double checked it to make sure and yet they still didn't end up in the right place.
"What's wrong?" Jenna asked seeing the worried looks on the Doctor's and Harmony's faces.
"I don't know. I think she's recalibrating or something", Harmony replied going back inside to check the console. The Doctor and Jenna followed her back inside, the Time Lord going over to the console as well. Jenna watched as they checked over the controls feeling bad that there wasn't anything she could do to help.
She glanced over to the door to see Donna stick her head inside for a moment before pulling back with a rather overwhelmed look on her face. "Donna?" Jenna said going over to the door. She stepped out to see Donna running away. She turned back to the Doctor and Harmony "Uh guys? Donna's making a run for it", she informed them before chasing after the bride.
"Leave me alone. I just want to get married", Donna said as Jenna caught up to her.
"Come back to the TARDIS", she said.
Donna shook her head "No way. That box is too weird", she said.
"Oh! That's all?" Donna said sarcastically as the Doctor and Harmony caught up with them. Donna checked her watch "Ten past three. I'm going to miss it"
"You can phone them. Tell them where you are", Harmony suggested.
"How do I do that?" Donna asked.
"Haven't you got a mobile?" the Doctor asked.
"Doctor she's in a wedding dress, they don't have pockets", Jenna pointed out "actually I have one you can use".
"Actually you don't. It kinda got broken", the Doctor told her.
"Oh", Jenna said knowing her meant that it had gotten broken when she hit the wall.
"This man you're marrying. What's his name?" Harmony asked wanting to steer away from the subject of Canary Warf.
"Lance", Donna replied with a look on her face that told Jenna she was very much in love with this Lance. Well, she'd have to be in order to marry the guy.
"Good luck, Lance", the Doctor muttered earning him a light tap in the arm from Jenna.
"Oi! No stupid Martian is going to stop me from getting married. To hell with you!" Donna shouted before running off again.
"I'm…I'm not…I'm not…I'm not from Mars", the Doctor said feebly.
"Come on!" Jenna said grabbing his hand and pulling him along as they and Harmony chased after Donna.
Harmony and Jenna watched the Doctor and Donna tried to hail a taxi only to have them drive past time and time again. The brunette shook her head, stepped up to the curb, sticking her fingers in her mouth and letting out a piercing whistle. When a taxi pulled over, they all piled in the back. As there was a lack of space in the back due to the four of them and Donna's dress, Jenna ended up on the Doctor's lap. Not that either of them minded particularly.
"Saint Mary's in Chiswick, just off Hayden Road. It's an emergency, I'm getting married! Just… hurry up!" Donna said instructing the driver as he drove.
"You know it'll cost you, sweetheart? Double rates today", the cabbie said.
"Do you three have any money?" Donna asked.
"Nope sorry", Harmony said apologetically.
"Me neither", Jenna said regretfully.
"Um…no. And you?" the Doctor asked.
"Pockets!" Donna exclaimed gesturing to her dress. The taxi screeches to a stop and the trio got out. "I'll have him. I've got him number. I'll have him. Talk about the Christmas Spirit", Donna grumbled.
"Is it Christmas?" the Doctor asked surprised.
"Well duh maybe not on Mars, but here it's Christmas Eve", Donna said before spotting a phone box and hurried toward it.
"How come you're getting married on Christmas Eve?" the Doctor asked.
"Can't bare it. I hate Christmas. Honeymoon in Morocco. Sunshine, lovely", Donna explained. She pulled the door open and stepped inside. "What's the operator?" Donna asked picking up the receiver "I've not done this in years. What do you dial? 100?"
The Doctor took the receiver, flashed his sonic over it and gave it back to Donna. "Just…just call direct"
"What did you do?" Donna demanded.
"Something…Martian. Now, phone. I'll get the money!" the Doctor grabbed Jenna's hand and pulled her off to the nearest cash machine. The young woman shook her head as the Doctor shifted on the spot as they waited for the man in front to finish. He really didn't seem to have that much patience. When the Doctor started hopping from foot to foot, Jenna tapped him on the arm.
When he looked at her, she smiled and pulled him down for a kiss. The Doctor immediately kissed her back, winding his arms around her. "The machine's free", Jenna said as they pulled away, both a little breathless. The Doctor gave her one more kiss before turning to the ATM. Jenna turned away with a smile on her face. It was then she noticed Harmony looking at something. "Whatcha looking at?" she asked joining the ginger.
"Those Santa's. There's something about them…" Jenna followed her gaze and stiffened when she saw a trio of familiar looking masked Santas.
"It can't be", Jenna breathed.
"You know what they are?" Harmony asked.
"Pilot Fish", Jenna replied. She suddenly looked at Donna who was flagging down another taxi.
"A feeling?" Harmony asked recognising the look on her face.
"Uh huh", Jenna answered.
"Go", Harmony said.
"You want me to go?" Jenna asked surprised. That was kind of the last thing she'd expected considering the last time she had one, it ended up with bot her and Rose being trapped in a room with the Cult of Skaro. Who wanted to exterminate her when they found out she was responsible for going medusa on the Emperor.
"I do", Harmony replied "Go".
Jenna nodded and ran towards Donna who was speaking to the driver of the taxi. The bride-to-be pulled the door open and shouted at the Doctor "Thanks for nothing, spaceman! I'll see you in Court"
Donna then got into the Taxi, yelping when Jenna practically threw herself in the vehicle, slamming the door shut. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Making sure you get to the church safely", Jenna replied settling into the seat.
"Hold on a minute. I said Chiswick. You've missed the turning", Donna told the driver when he missed the turn "Excuse me, we should've turned off back there" no response from the driver "We're going the wrong way!"
Jenna watched the driver for a moment before lunging forward, yanking the hood back. "Oh, my God", Donna gasped seeing that the driver was actually a robot. She turned to the window and started hammering at the glass, yelling "Help me! Help me! Help me! Help me!" Jenna dug into her pocket hoping she still had the sonic on her person and that it wasn't broken from her collision with the wall.
"Thank you Harmony", the brunette said pulling the sonic from her pocket, thankfully intact. As if the robot knew what she was about to do, it put its foot down, jolting Jenna forward "really?" she grumbled as the sonic fell out of her hand.
"Help me! Help me! Help me! Get me out!" Donna yelled unaware that Jenna was currently trying to pick up her sonic that had rolled under the driver's seat.
"Gotcha!" she cheered managing to grab it as the TARDIS came into view.
"You are kidding me", Donna gaped.
"That's not something you see every day", Jenna remarked. Donna stared at her wondering how she so calm.
"Open the door!" the Doctor shouted.
"Do you what?" Donna shouted back not really hearing him properly.
"Open the door!" the Doctor shouted again, this time the girls heard it.
"I can't, it's locked!" Donna yelled back. Jenna flashed her sonic on the door allowing Donna to push the window down. "Santa's a robot!"
"You don't say", Jenna said sarcastically which Donna ignored.
"You need to open the door", the Doctor said.
"What for?" Donna asked.
"Uh so we can escape", Jenna said in a 'duh' tone.
"I'm not bleedin' jumping I'm supposed to be getting married!" Donna said shrilly. The robot put his foot down. With some pretty nifty manoeuvring on the Doctor's part, and with Harmony's help, he managed to catch up with the Taxi again. He sonics the robot disabling it.
"You two need to jump", the Doctor said again.
"I'm not jumping on the motorway", Donna insisted.
"Yes you are", Jenna said before giving Donna a shove out of the Taxi. Thankfully the Doctor caught her as she collided with him. She took a breath before launching herself out of the taxi. Like Donna, she knocked the Time Lord onto his back. The doors slammed shut and Harmony smoothly piloted the TARDIS away from the busy motorway.
"You ok?" the Doctor asked Jenna not getting up from the grilled floor just yet.
"Yeah", Jenna replied.
"How are you holding up?" Jenna asked sitting next to Donna on the roof that the Doctor had parked the TARDIS. Harmony and the Doctor were busy trying to put out the small fire that had erupted on the console that occurred the moment they landed.
"Well I missed my wedding", Donna said gloomily.
"Sorry about that. Couldn't you book another date?" Jenna asked.
"We could", Donna replied.
"You've still got the honeymoon", the Doctor added sitting down next to them. Harmony sat on Donna's other side.
"It's just a holiday now", Donna said still sad.
"Yeah…yeah…sorry", the Doctor said.
"It's not your fault", Donna assured him.
"Oh! That's a change", the Doctor remarked.
"Wish you had a time machine, then we could go back and get it right", Donna said.
Jenna, Harmony and the Doctor exchanged looks at the "Well…even if we did, we couldn't go back on someone's personal timeline. Apparently", Harmony said earning a suspicious look from Donna.
"You'd better put this on", the Doctor said pulling out a simple gold ring from his pocket.
"Do you have to rub it in?" Donna asked eyeing the ring in the Doctor's hand.
"Those creatures can trace you. This is a bio-damper should keep you hidden", the Doctor explained holding the ring out to her. Donna took it and slipped it onto her finger.
"So the robot Santa's, what are they for?" she asked.
"Your basic robo-scavanger. The Father Christmas stuff is just a disguise. They're trying hard to blend in. Jen and I met them last Christmas", the Doctor said.
"Why, what happened then?" Donna asked curious.
"…Great big spaceship? Hovering over London? You didn't notice?" the Doctor asked.
"I had a bit of a hangover", Donna shrugged.
That's one way to miss an alien invasion Jenna thought. "We spent Christmas Day just over there" Jenna said nodding to the Powell Estate "with my friend and her family. It was nice" Jenna smiled as she remembered "Dinner…crackers with bad jokes in them…" her smile dropped knowing that she was never going to have Christmas with the Tylers again "but they're gone now, it won't ever be the same"
The Doctor took her hand, knowing where her thoughts had gone. "Your friend…who was she?" Donna asked carefully.
"I think the more important question is, what do camouflaged robot mercenaries want with you?" Harmony asked going back to the matter at hand.
"And how did you get inside the Tardis?" the Doctor added "I don't know. What's your job?"
"I'm a secretary", Donna replied. The Doctor got out his sonic with his other hand and scanned the ginger.
"It's weird. I mean, you're not special, you're not powerful, you're not connected, you're not clever, you're not important…" the Doctor said.
"This friend of yours. Just before she left, did she punch you in the face?" Donna queried as Jenna tugged the sonic out of the Doctor's hand, seeing Donna getting annoyed.
"What kind of secretary?" Harmony asked.
"I'm at HC Clements. It's where I met Lance. I was temping", Donna replied and then she launched into an explanation as to how she met Lance "I mean, it was all a bit posh really. I'd spent the last two years at a double glazing firm. Well, I thought I'm never going to fit in here. And then he made me a coffee" Donna smiled, recalling it "I mean, that just doesn't happen. Nobody gets the secretaries a coffee. And Lance, he's the head of HR! He don't need to bother with me. But he was nice, he was funny…" Donna smiled ever more as she remembered how she and Lance used to laugh and joke around at the office "And it turns out he thought everyone else was really snotty too. So that's how it started, me and him. One cup of coffee. That was it. So what about you two?"
"Sorry?" the Doctor asked, confused.
"The cash machine wasn't that far away, I saw that kiss", Donna eyed both the Doctor and Jenna "So how did you two meet?"
"It was at my friend's flat. Just met by accident and we ended up saving the world from living plastic", the brunette answered.
"Technically you saved the world", the Doctor corrected.
"By accident. I just happened to kick the dummy holding the anti-plastic into the vat", Jenna said.
"Doesn't matter. You still saved the world", the Doctor insisted "And me…in more ways than one".
Jenna blushed slightly at the way the Doctor was looking at her "so how long have you been together?" Donna asked noting the way the Doctor was looking at Jenna. She could tell that they were very much in love.
"Not long", Jenna replied "how about you and Lance?"
"We met 6 months ago", Donna answered.
"Bit quick to get married", the Doctor remarked.
"Well…he insisted. And he nagged…and he nagged me…And he just wore me down. And then finally, I just gave in"
Why do I get the feeling it was the other way around? Jenna thought.
"And what does HC Clements do?" Harmony asked getting back on track.
"Oh, security systems. You know…entry codes, ID cards, that sort of thing", Donna replied "If you ask me, it's a posh name for 'locksmiths'".
"Keys…" the Doctor mused.
"Anyway, enough of my CV. Come on, it's time to face the consequences. Oh, this is going to be so shaming. You can do the explaining, Martian boy, Martian girl and Jenna", Donna said.
"We're not from Mars, Donna", Harmony told her.
Donna nodded and the Doctor stood up, helping up both Donna and Jenna. Harmony got to her feet on her own. "Oh, I had this great big reception all planned. Everyone's going to be heartbroken"
When they arrived at the reception, the party was in full swing…without Donna. "Ok I didn't see that coming", Jenna remarked watching them all dance, having a good time. Donna's mother Sylvia spotted her first and then the rest of the room soon followed after. Now that they were all aware that the bride-to-be had finally arrived, the entire room went silent.
"You had the reception without me?" Donna asked in disbelief.
"Donna…what happened to ya?" Lance asked walking over with a look of concern on his face.
"You had the reception without me?" Donna repeated, her voice raising up a notch.
An awkward pause followed her words until…
"Hello!" the Doctor said cheerily "I'm the Doctor, this is Jenna and Harmony".
"They had the reception without me", Donna said turning to the trio.
"Yes, we kinda gathered that", Harmony said.
"Well, it was all paid for. Why not?" a blonde woman, Nerys spoke up.
"Why not? I'll tell you why not. You don't have a reception when one of the two people it is for is missing. Doesn't matter if you've paid for it", Jenna said deciding that she didn't like the blonde.
"Who the hell are you?" Nerys demanded.
"I'm Jenna. I'd say it's nice to meet you but that would be a big fib as I don't like you" Jenna put her arm around Donna "Donna on the other hand, I do like. And if you've got anything bad to say about her, I suggest you keep it to yourself. Unless you want to deal with me" Jenna eyed them all making sure they knew she was being very serious. Donna had just been through quite a bit in a short space of time and she wasn't having anyone having a go at the ginger.
Harmony and the Doctor lean against the bar watching the reception as it carries on where it left off, except now that Donna has joined in with the dancing. "Jenna's enjoying herself", Harmony commented noticing the brunette dancing away, with a little boy and girl. Though it wasn't dancing in the proper sense as it was her just doing random moves looking rather silly but Jenna didn't look like she was that bothered as the children where happy.
It rather reminded her of how the Doctor, in his next incarnation, did the same thing at Amy and Rory's wedding. Her hearts clenched at the thought of those two, she still missed them so much. She knew that is was going to be just as hard on the Doctor and Jenna to lose the Ponds as it was to lose Rose. And there was nothing she could do to stop that from happening, it was part of her personal timeline. A timeline which cannot be altered in anyway, like she told the Doctor in her previous incarnation.
"Yeah she does", the Doctor agreed. He then noticed a man holding a smart phone "can I borrow that?" he asked and the man nodded, handing it over.
The Doctor put his glasses on and did a WAP search for H C Clements. Harmony shook her head when he got out his sonic, using it on the phone to speed up the search. He was never one for patience except when it came to Jenna. "What's wrong?" Harmony asked seeing him stiffen, practically glaring at the small screen.
Without a word the Doctor showed her the screen and Harmony's eyes widened.
HC Clements. Sole Proprietor – Torchwood.
"Torchwood", she said angrily. Of all the companies HC Clements had to be involved with, it had to be the one responsible for Jenna almost dying and for the loss of Rose Tyler.
On the dance floor, Jenna spotted a camera man and headed over "excuse me you wouldn't have happened to tape Donna's disappearance by any chance?"
"Oh, I taped the whole thing" the camera man said putting the tape into the camera "They've all had a look. They said: 'sell it to You've Been Framed'. I said: 'more like the News'. Here we are…" he plays the tape, the camera closing up on Donna's face as she turned into golden particles with a scream.
"Play it again", Jenna said.
The man nodded and replayed the footage "Clever, mind. Good trick, I'll give her that. I was clapping"
"That can't be", Jenna said looking at the screen. The answer for what those gold particles were had popped into her head just like most of the alien stuff she seemed to know, except this answer gave her a really bad feeling. "I'll be back in a sec" Jenna made her way over to the Doctor and Harmony "there's something you guys need to see", she told them. They went over to the camera man where Jenna had him show the other two the footage.
"But that looks like…Huon Particles!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"That's what I thought they were but I needed another opinion", Jenna said. Harmony nodded in understanding.
"What's that then?" the camera man asked.
"That's impossible. That's…ancient! Huon energy doesn't exist anymore, not for billions of years! So old…" the Doctor turned, his eyes finding the biodamper on Donna's finger "that it can't be hidden by a biodamper!"
Jenna rushed over to Donna while the Doctor and Harmony ran over to the window "They've found you", she told the ginger.
"But the Doctor said I was safe", Donna cried.
"The bio-damper doesn't work", Jenna said as the Doctor and Harmony joined them.
"We've got to get everyone out of here", Harmony.
"My God, it's all my family…" Donna breathed looking around at everyone.
"Out the back door!" the Doctor grabbed Jenna's hand and they all ran out the back door only to be confronted by two Pilot Fish "Maybe not".
"We're trapped", Donna gasped seeing more Santa's outside.
"Oh no", Jenna breathed seeing the remote in their hands, immediately recognising it. She looked over at the Christmas tree in the middle of the room, her mind flashing back to last Christmas. "Everyone get away from the tree!" she shouted running into the crowd, trying to push as many people as she could away from the evergreen. The Doctor, Harmony and Donna followed her example.
"Don't touch the trees! "Donna said ushering a group of children away.
"Get away from the Christmas trees!" the Doctor shouted pushing people away.
"Stay away from the trees!" Harmony called doing her best to help keep people away.
"Oh, for God's sakes" Sylvia rolled her eyes, not believing them at all about the danger "they're idiots! Why? What harm's a Christmas tree going to…oh!" she trailed off as the baubles began to float away from the tree in some kind of weird dance.
The Doctor, Jenna and Harmony mistrustfully eyed them as they floated above their heads. Everybody else just chattered about them excitedly not aware of the danger until…
The baubles suddenly dropped down, dive bombing around the room causing small explosions. The wedding guests started screaming and running for cover. Donna grabbed Lance and pulled his down to hide under a table. Harmony got hold of the little boy, Jenna had been dancing with and ran for a table, pushing the child underneath to protect him.
The Doctor grabbed Jenna's hand and started pulling her towards Donna and Lance when she tugged him towards the DJ stand instead. They ducked behind it as a bauble exploded right by it. "You know if they had any sense they wouldn't let either of us get near the sound system", Jenna said another explosion went off.
"Whys that?" the Doctor asked eyeing the Santas as they lined up opposite, readying for the next attack. In response Jenna pulled out her sonic, waving it at him. "Oh, fantastic", the Doctor said with a smile as he realised her plan. He gave her a quick kiss before standing up and pulling out his sonic "Oi! Santa! Word of advice. If you're attacking a man with a sonic screwdriver…" he held up the microphone "…don't let him near the sound system"
The Doctor held his sonic next to the amplifiers and it makes a horrible, high-pitched screeching sound. Jenna along with everyone else held their hands over ears to try and block out the awful noise. The Santas shook violently on the spot until they fall to pieces.
"You ok?" he asked Jenna as she stood up.
"Yeah", she replied rubbing her ears. The Doctor took her hand and led her over to one of the Santa's.
"Look at that. Remote control for the decorations" the Doctor said showing Donna as she came over with Harmony.
Jenna picked up the head and examined it "is it just me or does that look like a remote control?" she asked.
"Yeah it does", Harmony agreed taking a look.
"Looks like someone's taken possession of them", Jenna said giving the head to the Doctor so he could have a look.
"Never mind all that. You're a doctor. People have been hurt", Donna said.
"Got to think of the bigger picture", the Doctor said holding the head to his ear "There's still a signal!" and with that he took off. Jenna and Harmony followed him outside. "There's someone behind this, directing the roboforms", the Doctor said scanning the head with the sonic screwdriver.
"But why is it me? What have I done?" Donna questioned having followed the trio outside.
"If we find the controller, we'll find that out", Jenna replied.
"Oh!" the Doctor said raising his sonic into the air "It's up there. Something in the sky". Donna, Jenna and Harmony follow his gaze as he looked up at the sky.
"I've lost the signal. Donna, we've got to get to your office. HC Clements. I think that's where it all started. Lance! Is it Lance? Lance, can you give me a lift?"
The Doctor darts off without waiting for an answer. Jenna shook her head "rude and not ginger", she muttered as she followed him.
~HC Clements office~
It didn't take long for them to arrive a HC Clements. "To you lot this might just be a locksmiths, but H C Clements was brought up twenty three years ago by the Torchwood Institute", the Doctor explained going over to a computer.
"Who are they?" Donna asked.
"They were behind the battle of Canary Wharf", Jenna replied quietly. Harmony who was standing by her, took the brunette's hand seeing look on her face. Donna looked at her blankly as if she had no idea what she was talking about.
"…Cyberman invasion" the Doctor tried but still nothing but confusion from Donna.
"Skies over London full of Daleks?" Harmony added.
"Oh, I was in Spain"
"They had Cybermen in Spain", the Doctor told her.
"Scuba diving"
That's one way to not notice either alien Jenna thought. "That big picture, Donna. You keep on missing it" the Doctor darted over to another computer "Torchwood was destroyed, but HC Clements stayed in business. I think…someone else came in and took over" he whacked the top of the monitor "the operation".
"Out the way", Jenna said going over and giving him a nudge so she could take a look.
"But what do they want with me?" Donna asked as Jenna got out her sonic, flashing it across the screen, unlocking it.
"Somehow you've been dosed with Huon energy. And that's a problem, because Huon energy hasn't existed since the Dark Times" the Doctor explained "The only place you'd find a Huon particle now is a remnant in the heart of the TARDIS. See? That's what happened. Say, that's the TARDIS" he picked up a mug "And that's you" he held up a pencil "The particles inside you activated. The two sets of particles magnetised and whap!" the Doctor throws the pencil into the mug "You were pulled inside the TARDIS".
"I'm a pencil inside a mug?" Donna asked weakly.
"Yes, you are. 4H. Sums you up" he turned to Jenna "how are we doing?"
"Almost there", she replied.
"Lance what was HC Clements working on? Anything top secret? Special operations? Do not enter?" Harmony questioned.
"I don't know, I'm in charge of personnel" Lance said defensively "I wasn't project manager. Why am I even explaining myself? What the hell are we talking about?"
"They make keys, that's the point" the Doctor said as Jenna finally got up a 3D plan of the building "And look at this. We're on the third floor".
~Lift~
The Doctor, Donna, Jenna, Harmony and Lance wait for the lift to come down to their floor "Underneath reception, there's a basement, yes?" the door pings open and the Doctor stepped inside "Then how come when you look on the lift, there's a button marked 'lower basement'? There's a whole floor which doesn't exist on the official plans. So what's down there, then?"
"Are you telling me this building's got a secret floor?"
"No, he's showing you this building's got a secret floor", Jenna corrected him.
"It needs a key", Donna pointed out, nodding to the slot.
"I don't" the Doctor soniced it and the light for 'LB' button flashed on "Right then. Thanks, you two. We can handle this" Jenna and Harmony stepped into the lift "See you later".
"No chance, Martian" Donna stepped into the lift "You're the ones who keep saving my life. I ain't letting you out of my sight"
"Going down", Jenna smiled at Donna.
Donna looked pointedly at Lance "Lance?"
"Maybe I should go to the police", he suggested, hesitant.
"Inside", Donna ordered and Lance meekly stepped into the lift.
"To honour and obey?" the Doctor smirked.
"Tell me about it, mate"
"Oi!"
Jenna lightly hit the Doctor across the back of the head "rude". The Doctor just smiled and gently tugged her in front of him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Well I'm not ginger", he said resting his head on her shoulder. Harmony couldn't help but smile at their little moment. It was nice to see them in the early stages of their relationship as the only other time she'd seen Ten and Jenna like that was in her last body. And they were much closer than they are now.
~Lower basement corridor~
When the lift reached the lower basement, they all stepped out into a long corridor dimly light by a green light.
"Where are we? Well, what goes on down here?"
"Let's find out…"
"Do you think Mister Clements knows about this place?" Donna asked.
"The mysterious HC Clements? He's probably a part of it", Jenna replied.
The Doctor's eyes caught something and he smiled "Oh, look! Transport!"
Soon they were all trundling along the corridor on a Segway each, with the exception of the Doctor and Jenna who shared one. Donna looks at them all and laughed at how comical they all looked. Harmony, the Doctor and Jenna joined in but Lance didn't as he didn't see what was so funny.
They stopped at a door marked 'Torchwood-authorized personnel only'. The Doctor hopped off the Segway and went over to the door, turning the wheel to open it, revealing the ladder behind it. "Wait here" he told the four of them "Just need to get my bearings. Don't…" he points at Donna and Lance sternly "do anything" he turned to Harmony and Jenna "keep an eye on them".
"You got it", Jenna said.
As the Doctor started climbing up the ladder, Donna called up to him "You'd better come back".
"I couldn't get rid of you if I tried!" Doctor called back getting a smile from Donna.
"Donna…" Lance began quietly "have you thought about this? Properly? I mean, this is serious! What the hell are we going to do?"
"Oh, I thought July", Donna replied not really listening to what Lance was saying.
The Doctor reached to top of the ladder and pushes aside the manhole cover. He climbed out to discover that he is overlooking the Thames flood barrier. He quickly climbed back down the ladder, jumping off the last rung "Thames flood barrier! Right on top of us. Torchwood snuck in and built this place underneath"
"What, there's like a secret base hidden underneath a major London landmark?"
"And not for the first time", Jenna said remembering her first adventure with the Doctor.
The Doctor led the way down the hall and through the door into what appeared to be some kind a lab. "Oh, look at this. Stunning! Particle extrusion", he remarked, eyeing the equipment and the bubbling test tubes. He darted over to one of the bubbling test tubes and taps it "Brilliant. They've been manufacturing Huon particles. Course, my people got rid of Huons. They unravel the atomic structure", he explained.
"Your people? Who are they? What company do you represent?" Lance somewhat demanded, eyeing the three time travellers warily.
"Oh, I'm a freelancer" the Doctor said waving off his question "But this lot are rebuilding them. They've been using the river. Extruding them through a flat hydrogen base so they've got the end result of…" he looked at Jenna
"Huon particles in liquid form", she finished.
"And that's what's inside of me?" Donna asked.
The Doctor turned the knob at the top of the test tube making the liquid inside glow. "Oh my god!" Donna exclaimed when she started to glow as well.
"Because the particles re inert, they need something living to catalyse inside and that's you. Saturate the body and then… Ha!" the Doctor said making Donna jump. "The wedding! Yes, you're getting married, that's it! Best day of your life, walking down the aisle, oh, and your body's a battleground! There's a chemical war inside! Adrenaline, acetylcholine, wham go the endorphins, oh you're cooking! Yeah, you're like a w…" Jenna clapped a hand over his mouth stopping him in mid ramble when she saw that Donna was getting annoyed again.
"Unless you wanted to get slapped again, I wouldn't finish that ramble", Jenna suggested.
"Just tell me, these particles, are they dangerous? Am I safe?" Donna asked worried.
"Yes", the Doctor said rather unconvincingly after Jenna removed her hand from his mouth.
"If your lot got rid of Huon particles…why did they do that?" Donna asked.
"Because they were deadly", he replied gently.
"Donna, the Doctor and Jenna will sort this out, I promise", Harmony said putting her arm around the woman.
"She's right. We're not about to lose someone else", the Doctor added.
Suddenly something crashed behind them, they all turned around hearing a bang from above. "Oh, she is long since lost", a rasping voice called as one of the walls slid upwards to reveal a secret chamber with an enormous hole in the middle of the floor "I have waited so long, hibernating at the edge of the universe until the secret heart was uncovered and called out to awaken!" a voice said echoing through the chamber. The Doctor, Jenna, Donna and Harmony saw more Robo Santas around the walls of the chamber. Unbeknownst to all of them Lance ran off.
"Someone has been digging…" the Doctor remarked looking down the hole "oh, very Torchwood. Drilled by laser. How far down does it go?"
"Down and down, all the way to the centre of the Earth!" the voice said.
"Really? What for?" the Doctor asked.
"Dinosaurs", Donna replied also looking at the hole.
"What?" the Doctor asked confused.
"You meant that film Under the Earth. I highly doubt there's dinosaurs down there. I have a feeling its far worse", Jenna stated.
"Clever girl. It is so much worse"
"Only a madman talks to thin air and trust me, you don't want to make me mad. Where are you?" the Doctor called.
"High in the sky, floating so high on Christmas night"
"I didn't come all this way to talk on the intercom! Come on, let's have a look at you", the Time Lord demanded.
"Who are you with such command?" the voice asked.
"I'm the Doctor", the Doctor answered.
"Prepare your best medicines, doctor-man, for you will be sick at heart", the voice said. The Doctor's eyes widened when he saw the being that teleported into the chamber.
"The Racnoss but that's impossible, you're one of the Racnoss!" he exclaimed.
"Empress of the Racnoss" the spider corrected.
"She's the last of her kind", Jenna said quietly.
"Such a clever little girl", the spider said pretty much confirming what Jenna assumed. The Doctor and Harmony noticed a pair of shoes sticking out from a giant web in the ceiling.
"HC Clements, did he wear those… those erm, black and white shoes?" the Doctor asked Donna.
"He did! We used to call him the fat cat in spats", Donna replied smiling a little at the memory. Her smile fell when the Doctor pointed up and she looked. "Oh my god!" Donna exclaimed looking at the shoes. It made Jenna feel sick just thinking about the Racnoss devouring that man.
"Mm, my Christmas dinner", the Empress said cackling.
"You shouldn't even exist! Way back in history, the Fledgling Empires went to war against the Racnoss, they were wiped out", the Doctor said trying to figure out how the Empress could've survived.
"Except for me"
Donna at this time had noticed Lance on the balcony above the Racnoss. "But that's what inside of me, that Huon energy thing", she said but the Racnoss paid her no attention. "Look at me, you!" Donna shouted "look me in the eye and tell me"
"The bride is so feisty!"
"Yes I am! And I know what you are, you big…thing but spider is a spider and an axe is an axe! Now do it!" Donna said to Lance which was when the Doctor, Jenna and Harmony noticed him. Lance swings the axe but stops short of the hitting the Empress. He lowered the weapon and they both began to laugh much to the confusion of Donna.
"That was a good one", Lance looked at the Empress "Your face".
"Lance is funny"
"What?!" Donna exclaimed not understanding what was happening. Meanwhile the Doctor, Harmony and Jenna had worked it out, the moment Lance stopped his attack on the Empress.
"I'm sorry", the Doctor said quietly to her.
"Sorry for what? Lance, don't be stupid! Get her!" Donna said still not understanding.
"God, she's so thick", Lance said looking at Donna pityingly.
"Donna he's been giving you coffee for months. Coffee dosed with Huon particles", Jenna explained trying to stay calm. But she was finding it very difficult as all she wanted to do punch Lance, possibly toss him into a black hole somewhere along with the Empress.
"He was poisoning me?" Donna asked, weakly, extremely shocked that someone she loved…someone she was going to marry could do that to her.
"I'm afraid so", Harmony said to her softly.
"It was all there in the job title, the Head of Human Resources", the Doctor said
"This time it was personnel", Lance joked and he and Empress started laughing again.
"But we were getting married", Donna said quietly. She then had to listen to Lance hurling abuse about her pointless nattering's which was making Donna more and more upset.
"You're gonna regret insulting her like that", Jenna snapped putting an arm around Donna.
"Oh what are you going to do?" he asked not really afraid of her.
"I don't know. Why don't you come down here and find out?" Jenna said glaring at him.
"But I love you", Donna spoke up.
"That's what made it so easy. It's like you said Doctor, the big picture, whats the point of it all if the human race is nothing? That's what the Empress can give me. The chance to go out there. To see it. The size of it all. I think you understand that, don't you Doctor?"
"Who is this little physician?" the Empress asked.
"Oh, I'm sort of… homeless. But the point is, whats down here? The Racnoss are extinct. What's gonna help you four thousand miles down? That's just the molten core of the Earth, isn't it?" the Doctor asked wanting them to pretty much tell him what they were up to but of course it never was that simple or easy.
"I think he wants us to talk", Lance said to the Racnoss.
"I think so too", the Empress agreed.
"Well tough! All we need is Donna!"
"Kill this chattering little doctor-man and his women!" the creature ordered the Pilot Fish.
"Don't you hurt them!" Donna said stepping in front of the Doctor, Jenna and Harmony in an effort to protect them.
"At arms!" the Empress commanded her Santa robots who pointed their guns at the trio.
"Ah now. Except", the Doctor said rather calmly, he had an idea on how to get them all out.
"Take aim!"
"Well, I just want to point out the obvious…" the Time Lord continued.
"They won't hit the bride. They're such good shots", the Empress assured him.
"Just…just hold on, just a tick…just a tiny little tick. If you think about it, the particles activated in Donna and drew her inside my spaceship. So reverse it…"
"The spaceship comes to her", Harmony finished looking at the tube in his hands figuring out what he was planning to do. The Doctor smiled at her before twisting the top of the tube causing both Donna and the particles to glow. The Santa Robots fired at the trio but it was too late, the TARDIS had materialised around them.
"We need to find out what the Empress of the Racnoss is digging up. If something's buried at the planet core, it must've been there since the beginning. That's just brilliant!" the Doctor said working at the console with Harmony helping him. Jenna put her arms around Donna as she began to cry. She led her to the captain's chair and sat down. Jenna rubbed the top of Donna's arm while the bride silently cried on her shoulder.
The Time Lord looked over at them from where he stood at the console. "We've arrived", he said and the two women looked at him.
"Shall we go check out the creation of Earth then?" Jenna suggested.
"I suppose", Donna mumbled. She reluctantly got up and followed Jenna, Harmony and the Doctor over to the doors. "You two are going to be the first humans who'll see this", the Doctor said before he opened the doors.
"I've seen some pretty amazing things but the universe still continues to surprise me", Jenna remarked gazing out at giant dust and gas clouds dotted with large rocks that would eventually come together and form the Earth. They spot a star shaped rock as it emerges through the dust and clouds.
"Is that?" Harmony asked.
"The Racnoss", the Doctor said looking at it. He quickly shut the doors and went back over to the console.
"They became the center of the Earth", Jenna said as they watched it on the monitor. Suddenly the TARDIS shook violently.
"Whats happening?" Donna asked as they all struggled to maintain their balance as the ship shudders and tips.
"Remember that little trick I pulled, particles pulling particles. It works in reverse, they're pulling us back!" the Doctor explained as he and Harmony tried to pilot the TARDIS with little success.
Jenna ducked down, grabbing the extrapolator and pulled it out "we can use this!"
"Brilliant!" the Doctor said taking it from her.
As the TARDIS started to materialize in the chamber, the Doctor whacked the Extrapolator. The blue box then reappeared in a corridor. The trio left the TARDIS and ran down the corridor to the door which led to the Thames Flood Barrier.
"Now what do we do?" Donna asked catching her breath.
"I don't know!" the Doctor said pulling out a stethoscope and listening to the door "I make it up as I go along!"
"He does have a history of doing that", Harmony informed Donna.
"But he does it brilliantly", Jenna said getting a smile from the Time Lord.
"Thank you", the Doctor said, glad she was on his side.
"But I don't understand. I'm full of particles. What for?" Donna asked.
"There's a Racnoss web at the centre of the Earth but my people unravelled their power source", the Doctor explained.
"So the Racnoss is stuck because there are no Huon particles for them to use. That's why they dosed you Donna. They needed to 'activate' the particles presumably to extract them later to power up that thing in the center of the Earth", Jenna added putting two and two together.
"Have I ever told you how amazing you are?" the Doctor asked turning to the brunette.
"You have, a few times", Jenna replied, blushing at the look he was giving her.
"Well you really are amazing", the Doctor said before going into a long ramble about it. Unknown to himself and Harmony two robots had snuck up grabbed Donna and Jenna, covering their mouths so they couldn't call out and dragged them away.
It was only during the ramble that Harmony had noticed that they were short of one ginger and one violet eyed brunette. "Uh Doctor? Donna and Jenna are gone", she said, mentally kicking herself for not being more observant.
The Doctor spun around, his hearts stopping when he saw that they were indeed gone. He turned back to the door opening it with his sonic only to be confronted by two robots pointing a gun at himself and Harmony.
Jenna winced as the robot holding her tightened its grip on her arms. She'd tried to escape a few times but unfortunately her attempts were unsuccessful. All it did was cause the robot to hold her arms tighter. Jenna was pretty sure she was going to have bruises which would mean shirts with long sleeves for a few days. Although her situation was probably a little better than Donna as the ginger was currently tied up in the web on the ceiling. Along with Lance. To be honest Jenna was not entirely surprised that the Empress had double crossed Lance.
"I hate you", Donna said crossly.
"Yeah, I think we've gone a bit beyond that now, sweetheart", Lance said also cross. He couldn't believe that the Empress double crossed him, forcing him to be this 'key' that she needed to awaken her children.
"My golden couple, together at last. Your awful wedded life. Tell me, do you want to be released?"
"Yes!" Donna and Lance shouted together.
"You're supposed to say, 'I do'"
"Ha" Lance scoffed "No chance"
"Say it!"
Lance shot a look at Donna, hesitating to actually say the words "I do".
"I do", Donna said grimacing in the process.
"I don't!" the Empress cackled "Activate the particles. Purge every last one!"
Jenna watched unable to do anything as the pair glow with a golden light before the particles streamed down into the hole. "The secret heart unlocks, and they will waken from their Sleep of Ages"
"Who will? What's down there?" Donna asked, scared.
"How thick are you?!" Lance spat.
"You're the one to talk!" Jenna shouted up at him "you're stuck in the web just like Donna. Betrayed by the Empress" she looked at Donna "it's her children. The Huon particles have awaken them from where they slept in the centre of the earth", Jenna explained.
"Such a clever girl", the Empress remarked as her children began their ascent up the hole "My babies will be hungry. They need sustenance. Perish the web"
"No!" Jenna shouted struggling in the robot's grip causing it to tighten its hands around her arms even more.
"Use her! Not me! Use her!" Lance begged.
"Oh, my funny little Lance! But you are quite impolite to your lady friend. The Empress does not approve"
The web around Lance loosens and he falls down the hole, screaming. "Lance!" Donna screamed watching him fall. Jenna just watched in silence, she didn't feel awful for him dying as he was the one who'd been dosing Donna with Huon particles in the first place.
"Now for the clever girl", the Empress said and the brunette's eyes widened.
"What?!" she exclaimed.
"Jenna!" Donna exclaimed as the robot holding Jenna started pushing her towards the edge. The young woman struggled in its grip, there was no way she was going to be Racnoss food. No way!
Suddenly a shot rang out, sounding rather a lot like Harmony's gun and she was no long being forced towards the edge. Jenna spun around and saw the robot on the floor with a smoking hole in its head. "What is this?" the Empress shrieked looking for the source.
"Me!" Harmony shouted. Jenna looked up and saw the ginger haired woman pulling off her robot disguise. The robot next to her pulled of its mask too to reveal the Doctor. The Time Lord not looking at all happy.
"My children are climbing towards me and you can't stop them doctor-man"
"I wouldn't be too sure about that", he said glaring at her. The Doctor pointed his sonic up at Donna and the web loosens.
"I'm gonna fall!" she screeched.
"No, you're going to swing", Harmony corrected. Sure enough, the web loosened in such a way that it only left one strand for Donna to grab on to. The bride screamed as she swung across the gap, the Doctor holding out his arms to catch her. Only it didn't quite go to plan and Donna almost hit the wall below if it wasn't for Jenna managing to grab hold of her in time, sending them both sprawling.
"You ok?" Jenna asked her.
"Yep. Thanks for the save", Donna replied.
"No problem", Jenna said, standing up and helping the ginger to her feet.
Seeing that both women were relatively ok, the Doctor turned his attention back to the Empress, his stance stiff as he was still angry at her for taking Jenna and then for attempting to feed the girl to her children. He was oh so tempted to destroy the Empress and her children right now, he had the means and it was an understatement to say that he was definitely in the mind-set not to be merciful. But he knew he had to at least give the Empress Racnoss one chance to stop what she was doing to allow him to relocate her and her children to another world.
"I give you one last chance. I can find you a planet. I can find you a place in the universe to coexist. Take this offer and end this now", he said.
"These men are so funny"
"What's you answer?" the Doctor asked.
"I'm afraid I have to decline", the Empress said laughing.
"What happens next is you own doing", the Doctor told her with a look on his face that rather unnerved Harmony even though it wasn't directed at her.
"I'll show you what happens next", the Empress hissed. She turned to her robots "at arms!"
All the robots raise their guns.
"Take aim!" some took aim at the Doctor and Harmony, others pointed their weapons at Jenna and Donna "And…"
"Relax", the Doctor said quietly and the robots go limp.
"What did you do?" Donna asked looking up at him.
"Guess what I've got, Donna?" the Doctor asked, not taking his eyes off the Empress as he pulled out the robots' remote control from his pocket "pockets".
"How that fit in there?" Donna gaped at the Time Lord.
"They're bigger on the inside", Jenna told her.
"Robo-forms are not necessary. My children may feast on Martian flesh", the Empress declared.
"Oh, but I'm not from Mars", the Doctor told her.
"Then where?" the Empress questioned.
"My home planet is far away and long-since gone. But its name lives on. Gallifrey", the Doctor answered, with a grave expression on his face.
The Empress reared back, angry "they murdered the Racnoss!"
"I warned you" the Doctor reminded her "you took my girl, you put her in danger, tried to kill her…" he shook his head "you shouldn't have crossed me" he produced some baubles from his pocket "You did this".
The Doctor threw them in the air. Some surround the Empress while others smash into the walls of the corridor, destroying them. Water from the Thames rushed in, pouring down into the hole. A couple explode at the Empresses feet, creating a small fire, making her writhe in agony.
"My children!" she screeched in grief. The Doctor just watched in silence surrounded by fire and water as the river swirled down the hold.
"Doctor! You can stop now!" Donna shouted. He just ignored her and watched the Racnoss in pain.
"Doctor that's enough", Harmony said touching his arm. Still he just looked on, his expression dark.
Jenna ran up the metal steps to the platform where he stood. If the other two couldn't get through to him, she had to try. "Doctor", she said softly placing a hand on his arm "you need to stop" the Doctor looked at her, his expression still unchanged. Jenna placed a gentle hand on his cheek, the Doctor automatically leaning into her touch "come back to me, please"
He closed his eyes taking a breath as he felt his anger fade. When he opened his eyes, Jenna could see that she had her Doctor back. He looked down at Donna "come on, its time I got you all out of here".
When they reached the surface, they were in time to see the Empress' ship being destroyed. "Um guys. We have a slight problem. We've drained the Thames", Harmony said which made them all laugh.
"There you go. Told you she could survive anything", the Doctor said when they stepped out of the TARDIS which appeared outside of Donna's home.
"More than I've done", the former bride muttered.
"You'll be ok Donna", Jenna said "all the Huon particles are gone from your system".
"Yeah, but apart from that… I missed my wedding, lost my job and became a widow on the same day. Sort of"
"Well… there is one thing that'll make this day a bit better", Harmony said before flicking a switch just inside the TARDIS. A beam shot out from the light and exploded making snow fall down on top of them.
"I can't believe you did that!" Donna laughed in delight.
"Oh, basic atmospheric excitation", Harmony said casually.
"So what is Donna Noble going to do next?" Jenna asked.
"Not get married for starters. And I'm not going to temp anymore. I dunno…travel…see a bit more of plant Earth…walk in the dust. Just…go out there and do something"
"Well you could always come with us?" the Doctor offered "there's plenty of room".
Donna shook her head "No", she said, declining.
"Ok", the Doctor said quickly.
"I can't…"
"No, that's fine", the Doctor said with false indifference but his expression gave him away.
"No but really…everything we did today…do you live your lives like that?" the ginger asked.
"Oh, not all the time", Jenna said, rather unconvincingly.
"I think you do, and I couldn't", Donna said.
"But you've seen it out there Donna, its beautiful", Harmony said although she knew Donna wouldn't come along this time around. It would only be after Adipose Industries that the ginger would travel with the Doctor and Jenna as their companion.
"And it can be dangerous too. That place was flooding and burning and they were dying and you were stood there like…I don't know…a stranger. Harmony couldn't talk you out of it…only Jenna seemed able to get through to you…" Donna shook her head "you honestly scare me to death!" she glanced at Harmony "and then you go make it snow…"
"Well then…" the Doctor said rather surprised with how direct she was about his anger.
"Tell you what I will do though. Christmas dinner" the Doctor immediately looked uncomfortable at that suggestion "Oh, come on".
"I don't do that sort of thing", the Doctor said. He didn't think he could, not after just losing Rose. It would bring up too many memories of last Christmas.
"You did it last year, Jenna said so", Donna reminded him "and you might as well because mum always cooks enough for twenty".
"Why not? Could be an experience", Jenna said looking at the Doctor.
He sighed "oh, all right then. But you go first, better warn them. And…don't say Harmony and I are Martians" he nodded at the TARDIS "we just have to park her properly, she might drift off into the Middle Ages. We'll see you in a minute"
He turned and walked into the TARDIS with Jenna and Harmony. As it begins to dematerialise, Donna realised that he wasn't just going to park it. "Doctor! Jenna! Harmony!"
The engines stopped and the Doctor popped his head out the door "Blimey, you can shout", he remarked.
"Am I ever going to see you three again?" Donna asked.
"Only time will tell", Harmony said sticking her head out the door, giving the other ginger a wink. The woman pulled her head away going back over to Jenna as Donna said
"Just…promise me one thing…find someone"
"I've got Jenna, I don't need anyone else", the Doctor told her.
"Yes you do", Donna said sadly "because I think you need someone to stop you other than Jenna or Harmony".
"Yeah" the Doctor softly agreed "thanks then, Donna, good luck, and just…be magnificent".
Donna smiled and laughed "I think I will, yeah".
The Doctor smiled and retreated back into the TARDIS. He just closed the door when Donna called out again "Doctor?"
"Oh, what is it now?" he asked opening the door with mock exasperation.
"That friend of yours… what was her name?"
The Doctor hesitated before answering her "Rose, her name was Rose".
He closed the door for the last time and instead of its usual dematerialisation, the TARDIS shoots up into the night sky. Donna watched with a sad smile and then walks back into her home.