Chapter Sixteen: When in Doubt...

Inspiration struck with all of the drama of a lightening bolt. "This is my mind. Mine. Not yours. You are an invader here, and you're not welcome," Rose said, spinning to face the current appearance of the Intellivore. Around her, the stark white of her mindscape shifted. Colors, shapes, images, and even people appeared. "This is my mind. My thoughts. My dreams. My hopes. My desires. And they are far too powerful for you."

"You can't do this," it growled.

"Of course I can," she smiled, "This is my dream, Soul Eater, my world. I control it. So..." Rose stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger at the creature, "You can just LEAVE."

The ancient entity seemed to expand with its anger as it loomed over her. "There is no escape, Rose. There is only me left for you now. Give up this pointless fight, you are mine. Forever, Rose, forever..." Her mind was suddenly filled with temptations as it offered her the universe. She saw herself as a piece of the creature - forever hungry, forever powerful, and forever evil.

Rose stumbled as she placed a hand to her forehead. "No," she whispered as the Soul Eater attempted to force a compulsion upon her.

"Come to me, Rose Tyler."

"Forever," she repeated its earlier vow.

"Yes, forever," the creature held out a hand for hers.

Rose smiled, and the being wavered as it attempted to interpret the expression. "My forever, Soul Eater, belongs to one being in this universe."

"Me."

"No," she corrected, "It belongs to the Doctor." Standing amongst her own thoughts, dreams, and desires Rose felt empowered. By her admission of her love for the Doctor, she was empowered. "GET OUT," she commanded.

With a startled look upon its face, the Intellivore disappeared.

----
Hyperdrive Section

"She'll make it," Jack said, even though he suspected that the shred of doubt in his voice did not go unnoticed by the man – or, rather, Time Lord - he was trying to comfort.

The Doctor offered him an unconvinced smile, "I hope you're right, Jack."

"Have I ever lied to you?" he asked, and a moment later, he regretted that statement. Surely, at some point in their time together, he had said something that wasn't entirely truthful. Or maybe he could just call it a sin of omission. "Hey!" Jack scolded the entity as he fired another warning shot, "Stop getting cocky." The tendril that had been snaking closer during their conversation obligingly withdrew.

"It's getting bolder, even though some portion of it is trying to defeat Rose," the Doctor frowned slightly as he considered the entity before them, "Even if she defeats it mentally, it is still a threat. I'm not sure how to stop it."

"I might be able to help with that," Jack smiled as he pulled out a pale grey deodorant can.

"Is that...?"

"Nitro Nine," Jack nodded, "Never leave home without it – or some other sort of explosive – especially when you're dealing with the unknown. When in doubt, blow it up."

His lips quirked into a faint smile, "I'd agree with that. At least where the Soul Eater's concerned. Though we can't destroy it – and this ship – without Rose or the gwaila crystals."

"Wasn't planning on it," Jack replied, "Though, why don't you grab some of those crystals now? I'll keep an eye on our girl and our buddy over there."

The Doctor couldn't prevent the swell of anger he felt at labeling Rose 'our' girl. Where she was concerned, he wasn't in the mood to share. However, centuries of practice prevented Jack from noticing his emotional state as he nodded. "Let me know if anything changes," he ordered, though he referring more to Rose than to the Intellivore.

"You got it," he said as he shifted Bettie into a more comfortable position against his shoulder. The former Time Agent followed the Doctor with his eyes as the Time Lord made his way to one of the command and control consoles that lined the walls of the hyperdrive bay. He was worried – about Rose and about what losing her again might do to his friend. The last time Rose's departure had been the Doctor's foolish choice. This time, Rose might be leaving in a far more permanent manner. Unless one was a Time Lord, death tended to be rather final. Then again, he wasn't certain what losing Rose might do to him.

Jack sighed and glanced at Rose. She couldn't die, not like this. The former Time Agent's expression grew grim as he silently promised both Rose and himself that he wouldn't let it end this way. There was always a chance – the Doctor had taught him that much. He was startled out of his thoughts by an imagined movement – or so he thought. He focused his attention upon Rose's lips, for the moment ignoring the Intellivore. There. Another movement, almost as if she were silently trying to say something. Lip reading had been one of his best skills during his training as an agent and he put them to good use. However, 'get out' did not seem like something Rose would normally say. "Rose?" he questioned, moving closer to her.

Without warning, Rose's eyes flew open as she gasped out loud, "Doctor!"

"Rose! Welcome back!" Jack greeted her with a wide grin, not caring in the least that she had not called out for him.

"Jack?" she identified him quickly, her eyes darting about the room until she spotted the familiar leather clad form of her Doctor by one of the consoles, "What happened?"

"As far as I know, you just had a mental combat with our buddy over there, the Doctor's getting some gwaila crystals out of the consoles and I'm keeping the Soul Eater occupied with Bettie here," he patted his gun fondly as he explained.

"Bettie?" Rose asked curiously as she attempted to regain her bearings after her 'fight.'

"Named after Bettie Page, lovely girl, you'd like her," Jack grinned.

"Right," if she sounded rather unconvinced, Jack forgave her.

"Rose," the Doctor's voice interrupted their conversation, and she smiled as she turned to face him. Rose could sense the words that he wanted to say – mostly about her being a silly little ape who could've been killed amongst other, far more important things – but he thankfully restrained himself.

"Got them?" Jack asked, knowing and yet not asking about the apparent change in his friends' relationship.

"Right here," the Time Lord patted his bulging pockets.

"Would thirty seconds do it?" Jack pulled the fuse out of one of his pockets and began to fix it to the Nitro canister. He hefted the deodorant can in his hand and grinned at his companions, "My turn."

"YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME!" The Intellivore's voice rumbled through the room.

"Just watch me," Jack snapped as he tossed the canister into the writhing mass of the entity.

"RUN!" the Doctor commanded, and the three bolted for the door.

Behind the rapidly retreating time travelers, the Soul Eater screamed in inarticulate rage. A moment later, the entity was engulfed in flames.

Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone for their wonderful reviews. I have to admit that they definitely are a wonderful pick-me-up for the day, and I'm truly glad that you are enjoying this story. There are two more chapters after this one, and then the story is finished. And not to worry, there is most definitely a good Nine/Rose resolution after everything that I've put them through :) - Gillian