Thanks to all the reviewers! This is the last chapter
"Rose?" Jack asked queries, and the blank eyes flicked from the Doctor to him.
"No. Rose Tyler to longer exists. There is only me," the smirk again, which twisted the features into a harsh parody of the once-beautiful features.
"What right have you got to use someone else's body?" The Doctor demanded, eyes flashing in anger. In return, the mechanical voice changed slightly in anger, becoming sharper.
"I have every right. I take bodies because they do not have a purpose in this life; I use their otherwise wasted years to continue my work."
"She isn't a worthless body, she's Rose," Jack snapped, and what had been Rose shrugged lazily.
"Oh, it has a name, then," Vance commented.
"Yes, she has a name," The Doctor growled.
"So what are you going to do then, Doctor? You cannot kill this body, because you are scared you will kill your friend." Another smirk. "Technology has advanced since we last met Doctor, I can read you like a book now."
"Are you advanced so much as to tell me why a 'Critical Error has occurred during Transfer'?" asked Noel, reading off the screen behind Rose. She spun, giving a horrified cry when the message flashed up again.
"No!" She lunged forward, but fell short, hand gripping the railing in front of the computer as she shook violently.
"What-" Jack began, only to be interrupted by the Doctor.
"He needed the people he used to be intelligent, but easily influenced. Rose is attached to the TARDIS, which affects her brainwaves," He caught Jack's eye, grinning for the first time since the confrontation. "But this Rose, not going to give up without a fight, stubborn ape."
"Jack and I'll have a look for a way out; this place will probably go with a bang once he gives up his hold on her. We'll leave you to the girl," Noel grinned slyly and pushed Jack out of the door ahead of him, while the Doctor walked up to Rose and turned her to look at him. The gold threads in her eyes were flashing more rapidly now, as Vance struggled to keep control of Rose's mind.
"Rose," The blank eyes that were shifting back to brown focused on him, tears of pain starting to fill them. "It's me, the Doctor."
Rose frowned, head tilting to one side as if listening to a half-forgotten memory; and recognition flickered briefly in her eyes as she repeated the name. "Doctor?" Her mouth curved upwards in a gentle, wistful smile, "I remember..."
The Doctor darted forward and caught her as her collapsed suddenly, gold retreating from her limp figure back to the computer, which suddenly shut down, the screen going black. He cradled Rose to him as the door swung open, Jack leaning around the frame and gesturing to him urgently.
"Noel was right, Vance set the machines in the building to self-destruct if there was ever an error, and we can't reset them," Jack started forward when he saw Rose. "Is she..."
"She's fine, but she's exhausted from housing two people. Come on."
Jack led the way down the stairs and through the corridors, the doors locked by an override code created by Noel. They escaped out onto the street, turning just in time to see the windows blown out by the self-destruction of the computers. The Doctor shifted his grip on Rose, jumping slightly as Noel tapped his shoulder.
"Is the lass alright?"
"She will be, but I'll check."
Noel grinned and nodded "I'll be seeing you then, I gotta go and distract the authorities. Don't get into too much trouble too soon, right?" Noel paused, and chuckled to himself, "though mind you, that's like asking the sun not to shine."
"Thanks Noel." Noel merely smiled and wandered away, throwing his arms around a couple of the local police and loudly declaring. 'What d'you say lads? Drinks for everyone!'
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The Doctor placed Rose gently on the table, and was about to pick up the scanner when a hand on his arm stopped him. He looked around at Jack, who nodded to the figure on the table. Dark brown, half-open eyes looked back at them, and Jack leaned over her, giving a kiss that was moved from her lips to cheek when he got a gentle shove from Rose.
"So cruel, especially after we saved you and all," he ruffled her hair. "Good to see you back, Rosie."
"I'm not a puppet!" she grumbled, and he laughed affectionately and left the room, nudging the Doctor towards her as he did so.
"Are you alright?"
Rose smiled softly, beckoning him to her and when he was close enough twined their fingers together. Her eyes closed briefly but her grip didn't slacken.
"Better?" he asked, sitting next to her. Rose sat up and curled up to him, her head falling easily into the hollow of his neck. She smiled brightly enough to put the Sun to shame.
"Better."