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Chapter 4

"Doctor?"

Rose looked at the face of her travelling companion and had never been so worried. She had seen him angry, sad and happy and now she saw a new look that she had never seen before

He looked lost. She never seen him like that before and this was scaring her more than Daleks, Sycorax or the Autons ever did.

"DOCTOR!"

His pale face turned and looked at her and for a moment she could see confusion in his eyes then all of a sudden they shifted to comprehension as if remembering who she was and that she was even there.

"Ahh Rose, sorry 'bout that. I...what do you call it... oh yes, I zoned out for a second there."

"Are you ok?"

"Now that is a very good question. And do you know what a good answer is?" He asked inquiringly as she shook her head

"I haven't a clue"

The Doctor took another look at the screen and proceeded to walk round the console, flicking switches, turning dials and then went to the bicycle pump which Rose didn't exactly know the function was.

"Doctor?"

"Hmmmmmm?"

"Where are we going and what are you doing?"

"I am setting the TARDIS to go to the source of the signal she is receiving. And where we are going? That I'm afraid is up to the old girl here" As before he gave the console an affectionate pat "She may get a bit mixed up in her old age but she is very good at following that kind of signal"

He turned another dial and the time rotor went into motion.

Rose looked at the Doctor

"What was that signal anyway? If it was mauve and you say it's the space way of saying danger than why are we going to it?"

"Well, it's also a way of letting the TARDIS know that there is another time lord nearby or within a certain time zone or area. That in itself is strange because I would've been able to feel something too." He poked himself in the head twice. Rose thought he actually done it a bit too hard.

"And do you feel anything?"

"Nope. No feeling, no thoughts, no anything. Though it has happened before.

"The no feeling thing?"

"Oh yes 3 times actually."

"And who was it you met then?"

"Oh it was me. Once I met two of my other selves, another I met 4 of them and another time just the one. It isn't a normal occurrence I can assure you and I am sure that cannot happen again either."

"Whys that then"

"'Cos the time lords allowed it to happen. And they are not here anymore so it cannot be that"

"Wonder who it could be then?"

"Yes I am wondering that too."