F/O: Last chapter people :(
I just want to say thank you to all of you - my reviewers, my excellent beta's dokodemohoney and oldweirdme who were brilliant and made this story good. I want to say thanks to all who've read and enjoyed this, for giving this a chance. Thank you!
I still like this fic. It's my first complete - (and I hope not the last!). Glad to have you all along for the ride.
Heather.

Chapter Ten

"So how did you get involved in this?" Rose asked, and Jack shrugged.

"I dunno. They must've figured something was going on on Satellite Five, and sent a dispatch to find out what. Luckily for them, I was there." He grinned mirthlessly. "Pretty much as soon as you'd both gone, they arrived – got me in the back with some sort of sleeping dart. Next thing I know, I'm bound to a bed with even more people messin' with my mind." He looked up at Rose and the Doctor.

"Guess I must be just mentally attractive." He smirked. "Anyway, they made some sort of copy of all my memories with you guys, and then came the fun bit. They didn't want to just see what happened – they wanted to know everything they could. That Haverlake guy was obsessed with the idea of time travel, and when he heard the vortex could be channelled into one person, well," he gestured, "he went nuts. Next time I saw him he came in to gloat about how he was gonna be the next ruler of the universe. I really must remember that evil megalomaniacs don't like being insulted."

"Anyway, when he left, I saw my chance. Burnt the bonds on the Electrocuter he left behind and escaped. Knocked out the guard, took his gun – that's when I heard you scream."

"Wait," the Doctor said with a frown. "How did you know Rose was using the power of the vortex?" Jack grinned, and turned to Rose.

"I really meant to thank you for that – saving my life and all." He turned reflective, and his grin fell slightly. "It was weird – dying. I can't really remember it, but I was somewhere, and then I heard you call me back. Next thing I know, I'm waking up with no hole in my stomach, and the sound of the engines ringing in my ears."

"I knew it was you all along, and for that split second when you called me back, I could, I don't know, sense what was going on. That must've been what he picked up on."

"That makes sense." The Doctor added. "I couldn't figure out what he was on about. I guess he never mentioned you in case it gave me an idea to escape – especially if he watched your memories."

"The Doctor's never let us down on escapes," Rose said with a wink. Jack nodded in agreement. There was a slight tinge of red to the Doctor's cheekbones. "So come on then Doctor, your turn."

"Me?" he stood and walked to the other end of the room while they waited patiently. Then he turned to Rose. "I really meant all I said, Rose. I thought I was dying, I really did." He stopped, and Jack frowned, confused, at Rose, who held her finger to her lips.

"But then something happened I didn't expect. A transmat beam, and I fell unconscious. Woke up to his sneerin' face." His expression tightened, and Jack shivered as he remembered the screaming, convulsing body of James Haverlake.

"I don't know why he kept me there. Maybe he wanted a chance to raid my mind, once he'd worked out how to break me." The words were said in such an even voice, it struck Rose to the core. "Then he said he had you, and I fought him. Didn't last long of course; he had about half a dozen men to subdue me, and some heavy duty tranquilisers. He seemed to delight in coming in every so often and gloating. And, the last time, he said Rose was in the building – they'd somehow detected the TARDIS' landing." His eyes were fixed on Rose, but he continued for Jack's benefit.

"They knocked you out and took us to the control room – I'd been there once before. I had no idea what he was going to do. I felt so damned helpless." He turned away from them again, looking uncomfortable and tense at showing his weakness.

"Then we were carried to the experiment room, where you burst in like the cavalry." The Doctor smiled wryly, turning to Jack. "One of these days you're gonna get killed like that."

"Not today." Jack replied, with his own smirk. "Come on then Rose, your turn."

"Once upon a time…" she started jokingly, and was relieved to see a grin work its way onto the Doctor's face. Then, turning serious, she remembered seeing the Doctor disappear and him, the impostor, take his place. Lost in thought, she was startled when she felt arms gently fall onto her shoulders, and realised the Doctor was looking at her, his expression concerned.

"You OK?"

"Yeah," she replied. "Yeah, I'm fine. Right." She thought for a moment. "You disappear into a blinding flash of light, and there's this man in your place."

"Rose, I am the Doctor."

"He said he was you – said he'd regenerated or somethin'," she grinned dryly. "I think I've hung around you guys too much – I didn't believe him. Good thing really. I think he must've hit me over the head, because next thing I know I'm in here, and he's tryin' the act again. He just didn't seem to get that I knew, but he gave up eventually. Gave me some sort of shot, a drug that made me forget. But he reckoned without the TARDIS."

"What?" the Doctor was giving her a funny look. He was stood next to Jack, leaning against the bed, but he leant forwards at this.

"I think, it doesn't really make much sense, but I'm connected to her. She said all sorts of things – that's how I knew how to fly the TARDIS. She sort of visited me in a dream…" Rose trailed off. "I sound like I'm crazy, don't I?"

"A bit." Jack admitted when the Doctor didn't reply. "But then everything's been crazy since I met you guys – it's practically normal."

"Anyway, yeah, we had this plan. It worked great…"

"Something's going wrong! The energy exchange must have taken a lot out of her!"

"Wrong!"

"…And I managed to break through. The TARDIS took the co-ordinates out of his head, so when I woke up I flew there. Of course, my escape plan obviously wasn't as great." She shrugged. "That's your forte." She added to the Doctor.

"And for the non-psychic among us," Jack piped up. "What the hell happened in that room?"

The Doctor sighed. "I let my emotion run away with me – the first rule you learn at the academy and I blew it. I broke his mental barriers in order to find out how to stop the machine – his mind was such a mess of greed and insecurities that it was hard to find." He paused. "I destroyed him," he added in a whisper.

"He of all people deserved it. Who knows how many people's minds he's screwed up to get where he is?" Jack asked. "Not to mention Rose."

"Maybe. You had me worried a minute there," he added to Rose. "I could barely find you."

"But you did." Rose smiled. "And I'm glad you did."

"So am I."

Jack stretched, wincing, and completely breaking the atmosphere. Couldn't be helped.

"I don't know about you kids, but I'm going to bed."

The Doctor nodded. "Good idea. Rose?"

"Nah," Rose replied, "I'll stay up a bit – I need to think."

"OK." The Doctor gave her a long look, before watching Jack leave. Once the American had departed, he walked slowly up to Rose, and sat down next to her.

"You OK?"

Rose sighed. "I don't know. It's all…" she searched for a word. "Insane."

"Life is, trust me." The Doctor agreed. "Somehow I think you meant somethin' else though."

"He actually got me to trust him." Rose said eventually. "If it wasn't for the TARDIS, we'd be in such a mess. I should've known it wasn't you."

"How could you have?" the Doctor asked seriously. "You didn't know what a regeneration looks like. You weren't to know."

"I should have known! He didn't act like you, he didn't try to explain anythin'."

"Like what?"

"Like why you sent me away in the first place!" Rose replied heatedly, before closing her eyes.

"I sent you because I didn't want you hurt." He replied sincerely. "I didn't think it would hurt you this much."

"You left me there! How d'you think that made me feel?" Rose asked suddenly, turning to face him, eyes shining with hurt and anger.

"And how do you think I felt, sendin' you away?" he replied in turn, standing again, and turning to hide his face. "Do you think I wouldn't have rather had you by my side? But I chose for you to live instead."

"You shouldn't have to choose for me!" she returned, standing too and moving to face him. "I wanted to stay with you, no matter what."

"And if you had been in my position?" he asked, his tone turning harsh as he repressed his emotions.

"I-" she replied, startled. Then her expression cleared, and she looked away. "I'd have done the same."

"Rose," he started, then paused. She looked up at the sound of her name, and was surprised to see him look uncomfortable. "Rose, I can never let anything happen to you." He sighed, and ran a hand over his short hair.

"Me neither," she said softly, reaching out for his hand. "Because I love you." He turned to face her again, his blue eyes locking with her brown. Then he smiled, his eyes bright.

"You know what?" he asked. "Me too. I love you."

Then, gathering her confidence, Rose reached up and pressed her lips to his. Her Doctor.

Then, as they pulled away, Rose saw a small smile on his face, and revelled in the fact she knew it was just for her.

"I'm so glad I met you." He rubbed his thumb gently over her cheek. Moving closer again, she whispered her reply against his lips before recapturing them.

"Me too."

Fin.