Title: Manipulation of the Mind

Author: Trustno1

Disclaimer: As usual, they do not belong to me.

Chapter XIV

Knives. Needles. Red-hot pokers. Pneumatic drills.

Rose felt as though all these things and more were torturing her. Her body burned. Not just her skin, but inside. Her blood felt like it was boiling through her veins. The Voice constantly whispered what she should be thinking about, what was wrong with her and humanity, why the Doctor left her, and each time Rose fought against it, whenever she deviated from the Voice's way of thinking in the most insignificant way, bolts of pain shot down her spine from the base of her skull. Rose was convinced she was being kept alive by the sheer cruelty of the Voice, just so it could continue tormenting her relentlessly.

Not long after the Doctor had left her – in her mind, to find a way of saving her, in the Voice's louder and more painful opinion, because that's what always happens – Rose discovered the part of her as yet untouched by the poisonous Voice. The part that told her this was very wrong; the part that told her to keep fighting. She realised that as long as she continued to listen to this part of her that for some reason as yet unknown was not overwhelmed by the Voice, she could fight back. And if she fought back, the pain she felt coursing through her body meant that she could still feel; that she was still real; that she was alive.

You were doing so well, Rose. Why are you doing this to yourself now? He's left you – just like I told you he would. And it's only this painful for you because you insist on hoping that he's going to come back. We talked about this. You shouldn't hope for unrealistic things; it causes pain, like you're in now. But if you listen to me, I'll stop the pain, so you think properly, and get us out of here, and back to your pointless little existence.

"NO!" Rose shouted, her voice tailing off into anguished cries as more pain flooded her body. "He's gonna save me," she whimpered into the tear soaked pillow.

Think about it, Rose. You can think, can't you? The Voice asked derisively. Why would he? When you're so far gone, why would he want to save you, when he can just as easily leave you to it, and find someone better, someone untainted, someone braver? You did it yourself, when you abandoned Mickey for the Doctor, not once, but twice. Turned your back on someone you thought you loved, for someone you thought loved you. The Doctor hasn't known you as long as you knew Mickey – why should he save you, keep you around?

"It's not the same and you know it! The Doctor's different, and he always saves me!" Rose screamed, shaking her head to rid herself of the malicious Voice who was now laughing cruelly, trying in vain to rip her hands free from the restraints. "Leave me alone! Shut up, just shut the hell up!" Her voice reached fever pitch, her throat hurt with screaming, and right then she could have easily given up, ignored the small piece of her telling her to fight, ignored the Voice, and wished for a darkness to swallow her up.

The Voice, as always, was happy to oblige. For the second time in a day, Rose felt a fatigue engulf her that seemed greater than the Universe. And she was happy to allow herself to be consumed by the darkness.

And as Rose went down, inside of her, a tiny part went down still shouting to be heard.

The Doctor and the Director were just entering the observation room adjoining the room where Dr. Max Duffy was currently being held when the Doctor stopped in his tracks, a strange expression on his face, a mixture of confusion and panic.

"Mr. Tyler? Are you okay?"

Doctor!

She was shouting for him, he could hear it clear as cut crystal, only the sound didn't register through his ears; it was inside him, inside his head. The shout echoed, and as the sound diminished the fear within him grew louder. She was yelling his name; he could hear the intense agony in just that one word, and for a moment he felt the hope drain out from him, as fear tightened its already hard, icy hold around his hearts. But the Doctor gave himself a shake and forced himself to concentrate on the here and now – yes, Rose was very ill, more likely than not in danger, but hearing someone inside his head shouting with such clarity had not happened to him before. Not with a human anyhow. And that, he decided steadfastly, meant that Rose was still strong, still alive. It also meant something else if he could hear her, but he wasn't going to think about that option just now, only concentrate on getting back to her as quickly as possible.

Dr. Duquesne watched emotions fly across Mr. Tyler's face, and saw the steely determination settle in his clear blue eyes that for some reason looked far too old for such a younger looking man. Younger than himself anyhow, he thought with a wry chuckle. Not for the first time since he had met this mysterious stranger, Stephen Duquesne felt that he wasn't being told the entire truth about what this man and his friend – who evidently meant a great deal to him – were doing here. And not for the first time he pushed the feeling aside – well, for the time being at least.

"Mr. Tyler?" The Director's kind yet authoritative voice finally penetrated the Doctor's thoughts, and he glanced up. "Are you okay?" he repeated.

"I heard her. Yelling my name." His face and voice held a note of confusion and distress, although the determination had not left his eyes.

"Your friend? You could hear her?"

"Yes. Never happened before, especially not with…" he almost said 'with humans' but caught himself in time. He didn't want to be answering questions when he should be helping Rose. "Not even with Rose," he finished. The Director gave him a look that was unreadable, then smiled sympathetically.

"Calleigh experienced something like that – she thought she heard Max crying for help. She isn't completely sure, however, she's still a little shocked; the three of them were close, but her and Max were especially so. I imagine that's why you heard your friend." The Doctor nodded, thinking the Director was only half right.

End Chapter XIV