Doesn't remind me of anything

Chapter 2: Losing Face

Laura – thanks for your fantastic review it is the nicest praise I've ever had over my writing. I'm glad your enjoying it and don't worry the mysteries are going to become deeper and the relationships more intense. Enjoy!

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The clicking of the machine gun was the loudest sound Rose had ever heard it echoed through her brain, never ending. She stepped back to be closer to the Doctor, if she was going to die at least she would be with him. The guns lifted up to aim at her head – it felt like hours passing by in slow motion but really it was barely seconds.

'This is no way to treat clients!' the Doctor exclaimed to the minions, his voice sounded light and joky but she could hear the strain underneath it.

'We have an appointment' the Doctor told themas he reached his hand into his pocket so he could pull out the psychic paper.

'We must obey orders' the robots replied in chorus. They lifted their guns preparing to make their shot as the Doctor close his eyes. A minute – that was all he had at the most, he had a minute to think of a plan to save Rose. It didn't matter what happened to him just as long as Rose was safe. Just as the robots began to pull their fingers on the triggers, Stavishm ran in front of Rose.

'I must protect my mistress' he declared. Just as gun fire began to rain down on them, Stavishm produced a force field around them, protecting Rose and the Doctor from death.

Rose had her eyes squeezed shut – she couldn't bare to open them. This is it, she thought, this is how I am going to die. Her eyes were clamped tightly shut and she could feel tears beginning to trickle out of them, her hand reached back and found the Doctors'. They squeezed hard hoping that this final touch could reveal all the emotions they wanted to show – all the things they needed to say.

The Doctor held onto Rose's hand as though all the power in the world could not separate her from him. He looked around him and saw a force field shinning over them; the bullets were bouncing off of this and rebounding into the robots. A grin spread over his face as he turned around to grab Rose. What he saw wiped the grin from his face and stopped both of his hearts. Rose's face was one of despair, her eyes were clamped tightly shut and he could see the tears trickling down her cheeks. Seeing her like this set a fire through his soul, he wanted to kill who ever made her feel like this – except he knew that deep down he was to blame. Rose opened her eyes and gasped at the bullets bouncing off of the shield; she turned to see the Doctor and threw herself into his arms. He held her sobbing against his chest, willing her to be alright, with every sob she let out another piece of his hearts cracked.

'Hey' he whispered into her hair, 'shhhh, it's alright I've got you'

She looked up at him from the cage of his arms trying to understand all the emotions running through her mind. She wanted him to hold her to his hearts so she knew he was alright, she wanted to shout at him for… well for no particular reason – but most of all she wanted to know why he had paused. Why he didn't save her, her Doctor couldn't save her but a robot could. All of these questions tore at her soul, tormenting her mind and poisoning her brain. When she looked up at the Doctor she could see the hurt in his eyes, she knew that he could tell what she was thinking and although she wanted to stop, although she knew how much she was hurting him she couldn't stop the thoughts.

She's welcome to them, she deserves them, the Doctor told himself, she has every right to hate me. If only it didn't make me feel so small, so pathetically worthless when she looks at me like that.

Rose let go of the Doctor, her eyes accused him as she turned to Stavishm and threw her arms around him.

'Thank you' she whispered to the robot as all the Doctor could do was watch on in despair. He had experienced many wounds and pains over his life but watching Rose thank another man – turn to another man for comfort sent a dagger to his hearts, causing him to experience emotions he didn't even know existed. That wasn't even the worst of it, the worst was that she had turned to a robot for comfort, not another human not even an animal but a bloody robot.

Rose turned back to the Doctor and saw the hurt in his eyes, she also saw the anger. She knew this wasn't the time or the place for the conversation that was inevitable, so instead she asked him how they would get out of this situation. With a completely emotionless voice the Doctor replied

'Watch and learn'. The Doctor held up his psychic paper to the wall of the shield and with a definite air of authority he declared

'I am Dr. John Smith and I have an appointment' he held his card up for all of them to see. Rose watched a lady step out of a wall compartment, dressed in a black dress, her badge read Amanda Pew. She walked towards the Doctor and as she did all of the robots lowered their weapons and bowed down to her. As the woman approached Rose quickly wiped her cheek assuring herself that none of her tears remained, she couldn't believe she had allowed herself to cry in front of the Doctor – to cry because of the Doctor.

'I am so sorry, a total misunderstanding' Amanda told the Doctor, the Doctor nodded to Stavishm who removed the shield, releasing them into the atmosphere. Rose looked around and saw the robots rushing around removing all traces of their battle. The lady shook the Doctors' hand and dismissed Rose and Stavishm with a glance.

'Excuse me-' Rose started, but the Doctor took Amanda's arm and started walking with her. There was nothing Rose and Stavishm could do but follow. Rose understood the Doctor turning his back to her, she would if their roles had been reversed – but that doesn't mean it hurt any less. They reached the reception desk where they were asked to wait whilst she found the visitors log. Rose settled herself into a chair and looked up just as the Doctor was walking away towards the lifts.

'Where you going?' she asked him

'Well I'm not just going to sit around here' he replied and continued to walk on. He paused and turned back

'Coming?' he asked, holding his breath. If she came he knew everything would be alright, sure they would have to talk but everything would be alright. But if she stayed, then that was a sign – a sign that he had ruined everything, a sign he couldn't bare to think of. He watched her as she sat there think for she knew as well how important this choice was. For a moment the Doctors' hearts sank and he almost believed she wouldn't come, that was until she jumped up onto her feet and gave him an uncertain smile.

'Wouldn't miss it for the world' she whispered. Using the sonic screwdriver, the Doctor, Rose and Stavishm entered the lift. They selected the highest floor and stood there with an awkward silence smothering the room. Both of them couldn't think of what to say without starting the conversation they had both been dreading, so it was easier for them to stand in silence.

When they reached floor 238 they silently started down a corridor – the Doctor leading and Rose following. They reached a chamber that was above the clouds, the walls were made of glass as was the ceiling. In the centre of the room lay a huge great blob. But it wasn't a blob, Rose realised, it was in fact a creature. It had tiny arms that stuck out of its torso awkwardly, long frog like legs attached to a large round blob. This blob was the creatures' face; it had three eyes that gazed perceptively at them, a large mouth, a nose and ears. The creature was coloured entirely mauve. The Doctor stepped back in wonder, his mouth hung open.

'My god, that is beautiful' the Doctor declared still gazing at the blob. Rose stared at it some more wondering how anyone could find that thing beautiful.

'What is it?' she finally managed to ask. The Doctor turned and grinned at her, his brown eyes brimming with excitement and his smile manic.

'That, my dear Rose that is a Fodelen. They were extinct thousands of years ago, a war between them and the Fraghers. But this… this is just wonderful' he continued to gawp at this creature.

'I do have a name you know' the Fodelen informed then. Rose jumped back when it spoke, it had a voice of stone; it was heavy and lingering and made her want to listen.

'Yes, of course. I am the Doctor, this is Rose and Stavishm' the Fodelen looked them up and down.

'Hello, I am Luca' as he breathed out tiny particles like dust swirled in the air making Rose remember the Sucoses. Rose then noticed the chains that held Luca's ankles and wrists in place, there was a glowing light around the locks. The Doctor started towards them with the sonic screwdriver ready.

'Doctor, maybe you shouldn't….' Rose tried to warn him, but the Doctor ignored her and undid the chains. He turned to grin at her

'It was an optical illusion' he informed her, she blushed feeling ever so stupid she hated moments like this, where she felt like a silly school girl compared to his great knowledge of everything. She turned to look out the window when a searing screech rang through her ears; it was all she could do not to scream at the intense pain in her ears. Luca grimaced and was then teleported out of the building by a blinding light. The Doctor turned to Rose and ran towards her, his face set in a determined expression, he grabbed her hand and shouted in her ear

'Run!', together they ran down flights and flights of stairs until the sound stopped. It was replaced by the sound of scorching flesh and screams as and explosion ripped through the building. Flames jumped up around the Doctor and Rose, Rose looked into his eyes panicking, but she knew in her heart of hearts she could trust him. For if she couldn't trust him now, then when could she? Which is why she let him grab her hand and pull her out of the window, they came hurtling down towards the ground with shattered glass showering down around them.


Chapter Three: Rose opened the door and before she could scream at what she saw a hand closed over her throat silencing her. The last thing Rose saw before the world blacked out was the blood that spattered the walls. The Doctor knew what had happened – he knew that what he had been dreading for so long had just become a reality. 'You were supposed to keep her safe' he whispered to himself as he sunk to his knees with his head in his hands. Images of his beautiful Rose flashed through his mind, he had to get her back he. He promised himself he would; he had to because without her – he was nothing.

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