Gold.

Chapter One: Black and White.

AN: Thank you so much for the response to the first part ofthis. I'm still not sure it wouldn't have been better to have left it alone, but my exams finish on Monday which means I'll have a lot more time for writing, so I wanted to have a go at this. It's a challenge to me, anyway.

p.s. reviews make the world go round. as does tea.

The air around them is full of whispers. He can't hear them but he feels them as he sits, leaning against the central pillar with Rose in his arms, memories of his time with her slowly clarifying. He remembers the first time he took her hand, how different she seemed from any of his previous companions. He remembers her saving his life, and the look of shining excitement on her face that always made him feel so proud. He remembers so many things; slaps and chips and dancing, and always her hand in his.

He remembers how she glowed, stepping out of the TARDIS like some guardian angel.

"I want you safe. My Doctor."

Even now he can hear the words and see the look on her face. He can feel the shock he'd felt and the rush of love and fear that had flooded through him as he watched her and saw what she was willing to do for him.

For him… but what is he worth? What has he ever done to deserve such a protector?

He leans his head back against the console and closes his eyes, one hand absently stroking Rose's hair. He shouldn't feel this close to her, he knows, not after a regeneration. He should be confused, different; changed inside as well as out. He shouldn't be replaying that kiss over and over in his mind, and yet it is all he can think about. He knows he should be thinking of other things; fixing up the TARDIS, for one, checking that she's okay after what she'd done for him, for Rose.

He should be thinking of Jack, who fought so bravely and died because the Doctor wasn't good enough to save him. He saved Rose though, and he hopes that is enough. Hopes that Jack can forgive him because at least he saved Rose, and she's always been more important than either of them. He squeezes his eyes tight shut, fighting against the tears that he can feel forming.

"Right, no more of this," he says aloud, startling himself with his higher, softer voice, his brisk London accent completely at odds with what he is used to hearing.

He can't think anymore about the important things; can't make sense of it all. Feels like his head is going to explode with light the way it's already done twice this day. He grins to himself, forcing his mind to focus on the trivial matter of what damage has been done to his beloved ship.

"Get on with it then." He has to move now, has to act. Has to make sure Rose is okay, but nothing he tries succeeds in waking her up. He doesn't want to let her out of his sight, so he carefully deposits her in the chair that seems to live by the console and shrugs out of the leather jacket, laying it over her.

He takes out his sonic screwdriver and gets to work, leaning over a panel on the console, trying to focus all his energy into the task at hand. But he can't concentrate; he is so painfully aware of her presence.

"What did you do to us, eh?" He lays a gentle hand against the central pillar of the TARDIS, wishing she had a way of answering his question.

The whispers in the air grow louder in his mind; he can feel time's energy pulsing and flowing around him, he feels things he has never felt before. Rose shifts in the chair, a frown crossing her features, and suddenly the Doctor can feel echoes of her racing heartbeat all through his body. Black and white images flood his mind and he struggles to make sense of them, his eyes locked on Rose as he leans against the console for support.

He sees Jack, hands out by his sides as he is thrown backwards, accepting his death willingly. He sees countless others, falling under the relentless power of the Daleks, hears their screams and feels their fear. He sees Rose stepping out of the TARDIS, commanding and beautiful as she killed and…

"I bring life."

Only Jack is there in his mind now. Jack laughing, Jack flirting with Rose to make the Doctor mad with envy, Jack's face on the communications screen on floor 500.

"Never doubted him, never will."

He gasps and jumps back from the console as though he's been burnt. In the same moment Rose wakes with a start and they stare at each other, silently acknowledging the shared visions and the knowledge of what they must now do.

She stands quietly by his side as he sets the coordinates for the Gamestation.

Thank you for reading.