Note: EbonyBeach - Thanks for the review! Yes, it is indeed true about the pyramids and the stars. I'm doing a home study course in Egyptology at the moment and it's fascinating. I hope your arm is ok! xx

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The noise startled Rose back to reality. She had been sitting in the control room trying to figure out a way of rescuing the Doctor and so far she hadn't come up with much.

She glanced nervously towards the door. She knew they wouldn't be able to get in, but it worried her none-the-less.

'Who's there?' She called, feeling stupid. Had horror films taught her nothing? Never ask 'who's there.'

A foreignvoice from outside called in to her.

'Open up! We have your friend.'

Rose's heart sank. Had they hurt him? No. The Doctor could talk his way out of a paper bag. Still, she couldn't help but worry, especially as he had made no effort to call out and reassure her.

'What have you done to him?'

'Please, open the door. We will not hurt you.'

Isn't that what all crazed killers said?

She started towards the door, stopping as her hand gripped the handle. Should she open it? They could be lying. She could walk right out into a trap, and what use would she be to anyone then?

She couldn't explain it, but something was telling her to open the door, that it was for the best.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled it open.

The Doctor wasn't there.

'Where is he?' Rose demanded, not being able to hide the growing panic in her voice.

An official looking man stepped forwards from amongst the guards.

'Forgive me. I am High Priest Semiseti. Your friend… I am sorry. There was a misunderstanding… an accident. I am afraid he was killed. I am so very sorry.'

Rose nearly choked and she felt the colour drain from her face.

Semiseti and the guards stepped to one side. On the hot sand lay a wooden box.

A long wooden box.

A coffin.

No, no. It wasn't possible.

'I don't believe you.'

'I am afraid it is true. We saw you coming. Thought you were a threat. Outsiders. We were wrong. We were letting him go… then the accident. A terrible, terrible accident. Nothing could be done.

'This box. He said it flies. Take him home. Put him to rest. Mourn him. Remember him.'

This was wrong, all wrong. But Rose couldn't think. She absently stepped aside as the guards carried the box into the TARDIS.

The box.

She refused to call it a coffin.

Stupid thing to do, letting them in. But that thought didn't even occur to her until they had walked back out. She felt like she was hearing things underwater, like she was there, but she wasn't.

As much as she didn't want to believe it, she did. She didn't know why, but she knew it was true.

Semiseti said something to her, but she didn't acknowledge it. Her head hurt too much.

Then the door closed and she was left alone.

With the Doctor.

With her Doctor.

With her Doctor in the box.

The coffin.

Her Doctor.

Dead.

Rose fell forward and grabbed hold of the control panal for support. She couldn't breath. Her skin was burning and she felt dizzy. Her vision swam and she sank to the floor. She wanted to scream, to pound the floor, to make it not be true. But all she could do was sit and stare at the wooden box. Her forehead was damp. Her mouth dry. She stared to shake.

And then she threw up.

Somewhere, a man woke with a start. His head was pounding. He put a hand to it and winced. There were footsteps in the distance, footsteps which hurt his head. Then they grew louder and eventually came to a stop next to him. He was kicked in the face. He tried to stand, but found his legs to be tied together.

Two pairs of gruff hands pulled him into an upright position. Another man stepped in front of him.

'You. Slave.'

The injured man glared at him.

'I am no slave. Now untie me or you'll soon regret it.'

He got a slap for his trouble.

'Quiet, slave.'

'I'm warning you, let me go. I meant no harm, I've done nothing wrong.'

'You are strong. Different. We need someone like you to help get the pyramid finished in time for the ritual. The Pharoah will be going to his final resting much much sooner than he thought.'

'Whatever it is you're planning, I'll have nothing to do with it.'

'You will do as commanded. Or you will die. The girl -'

'Rose! What have you done to her?' The Doctor demanded, indignant.

'She has gone. Left you. I told her you were dead. I'm very good at making people believe anything I say. You could say I bewitch them. We brought her a coffin, the body of a dead slave inside which she believes to be you.'

'She'd never believe it,' he replied, unconvinced of his own words.

'Like I said. Bewitched.'

The Doctor stared at the ground.

'Rose,' he whispered.

He fell to his knees. What could he do? He had been striped of his possessions, had no means of escape. Just a few hours ago he had been telling her about pyramids and the stars. He was supposed to be showing her Orion's belt.

He was supposed to be protecting her.

'Who are you?' He said, looking up.

'I am High Priest Semiseti. And you are under my command.'

The order was given for his legs to be untied. He was told they would be back for him later, then it was quiet.

Alone, he stared at the ceiling.

'Oh, Rose,' he whispered again. 'I'm so sorry.'

He had to get out. He would get out.

But how on earth would he get back to Rose?

With incredible effort, Rose picked herself up off the floor, going into auto-pilot as she set the TARDIS on its course home. It lurched into life, whining and launching its way forward through time and space.

When it stopped, she walked in a daze to the doors and stepped out into the cool London air.

'Rose!'

Rose stared blankly in front of her.

'Rose?'

The person in front of her came into focus.

'Mickey?' she said, the effort put into speaking that word clearly visable.

'Rose, what's happened? You look like death.'

She nearly laughed.

'Um…' she swallowed. Her lips were dry, her face pale and damp.

'Rose?' Mickey looked at her in concern, and then walked into the TARDIS.

'Oi! Doctor! What've you done to her?'

Rose appeared in the doorway.

'Mickey -'

'Doctor? Where are you!'

'Mickey, stop it,' she pleaded.

'Where is he Rose?' Mickey kept looking round the control room, even though he very clearly wasn't there. He started towards the stairs.

'Mickey -'

'Don't ignore me, Doctor, I know you're -'

'MICKEY, SHUT UP!' Rose screamed at him.

Mickey froze and turned to face her.

Rose's hands flew to her mouth.

'Oh, God.' She leant against the wall for support. 'Oh, God,' she whispered.

'Rose, what's going on?'

She couldn't answer him, couldn't admit it out loud.

She pulled out her TARDIS key and gave it to Mickey.

'Lock the door behind you.'

He stared at her in disbelief as she ran from the TARDIS towards her Mum's flat. Reaching the stairs, she threw herself up them until she reached the right floor. Bursting through the door, she dragged herself along the landing until she reached the door to the flat. She fumbled as she tried to put the key in the lock. She eventually managed it and, rushing in, she nearly sent Jackie flying.

'Rose! What're you…' She shut up when she saw the state her daughter was in.

'Oh, God. What's happened? What's he done to you?'

Rose stood still, catching her breath.

'Why do you always do that!' She spat. 'And not just you, Mickey too.'

'Do what, darling?'

'Assume that the Doctor's done something wrong!'

'Well look at you! What am I supposed to -'

'He's dead!' Rose yelled. Jackie stared at her, shocked.

'He's dead,' she said again, barely audible, as if she still couldn't quite believe it. But admitting it out loud finally broke her. She choked and the tears came rushing out. Her legs gave way, but Jackie managed to catch her before she hit the floor. She didn't know what to say to her. They slid to the groud together, Jackie cradling her distressed daughter as she started to sob loudly, painfully.

Mickey appeared in the doorway.

The Doctor groaned under the weight. It might have helped build magnificent monuments, but this rope and pully system really was torture. But worse than that, he thought, he had finally been forced into a loin cloth. Now he looked like all the other slaves, only paler.

Sweat covered his bare torso, his hands beginning to blister from the rope. He wanted to sit down and rest, but he had already been whiped once that morning for being obstinate. He didn't think they'd be particularly laissez-faire when it came to requesting a break.

The only thing that kept him going was thinking about Rose. He wondered how she was coping, if she had gotten home okay. He hoped so. He was sure the TARDIS would have got her there safely.

She'll be okay, he told himself. She was strong. She'd get on with her life.

He was being stupidly naive, of course, for at that moment Rose was completely wretched and utterly inconsolable.