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Trouble at Torchwood

Chapter Nine

The Doctor frantically felt his pockets searching for the Sonic Screwdriver so he could override the controls for the door. When his hand reached into his empty pocket he felt a sharp stab of fear in his stomach – Teriana had thrown the Sonic Screwdriver, and had then lied about where it was. It certainly wasn't in here – that means it must be in the room, with Rose.

'Jack' Jackie weakly called out as she looked down at Rose – she was so certain she had seen the eyelids flicker. Her hands rested on her daughters face as she gently tapped her cheeks – Jack came running over to her.

'What is it?' he asked. She looked up at him her eyes troubled

'She moved Jack' she whispered 'I swear it – she moved'

Jack looked from Jackie to Rose who seemed perfectly still to him and incredibly corpse like. He sat down beside Jackie and gently stroked a piece of hair out of her face

'She's gone Jackie – there's no way she could move' he gently told her. She glared at him fiercely

'Don't speak to me like I'm crazy – I saw her! I swear!' she protested. He looked at Rose again who defiantly wasn't moving

'Jackie – you've been through a lot. Maybe I should take you back to the Tardis for a lie down' he told her soothingly. She jumped up to stand face to face to him

'Don't you dare speak like that to me. I know what I saw and I know I am not imagining things'

Jack paused for a moment to consider she may actually be telling the truth – he took Jackie's hands

'Stay away from her' he warned as he pulled her back to safety behind him.

'Why? It means she's getting better doesn't it? That she's not really dead?' Jackie dared to hope. Jack looked gravely at her

'Or that something is taking over her body' – a deadly silence cloaked the room.

In the cavern the Doctor was pacing the floor whilst running several scenarios through his mind – Teriana leant back against a wall unsure of the atmosphere of the room – something wasn't right. The Doctor knew he could trust Jack to do the right thing – he was almost grateful it wasn't him trapped with Rose, because having to kill her again, having to watch the life flicker out of her eyes is something that no-one can remain sane through twice.

Teriana, on the other hand, was thinking about the next stage of the plan – once the creature had ascended into Roses' body how would she escape? She didn't dwell on it for too long though because she believed in the creature.

The sudden sound of rasping breath filled the cavern breaking the Doctor and Teriana out of their thoughts. It sounded as though the creature was having struggle breathing… as though it was panting.

'Almost… there' the creature called out. The Doctor knew what this meant – the creature could almost fully take over Roses' body and use it – probably to kill Jack and Jackie in the process.

'Yes – so close!' the voice called out exuberated before a blinding white light shot up out of the canyon and lit up the entire room. Teriana through her hands over her eyes and screamed – the light was burning her. The Doctor pulled out his glasses and put them on – the glass reflected the rays and since he wasn't human the light didn't scorch him in the way it did Teriana. Teriana screamed and yelled in pain as her skin began to blister – these blisters rapidly burst with new blisters forming on top of those. Her skin was alight with fire by now and the stench of burning flesh filled the air and she dove to the floor trying to put out the flames.

'Damn you Doctor!' she screamed as she began to roll around on the floor 'You will pay for this!' she yelped as her eyes began to burn – her skin was melting and forming sticky puddles on the floor. There was nothing she could do but scream and roll around helplessly on the floor – the Doctor couldn't help her, there was nothing he could do and even if there was he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it. She rolled and rolled over and over again, her skin sticking to the floor and pealing away – she was moving closer and closer to the cliffs edge but she couldn't see it for she no longer had eyes.

'You might wanna look out for that-' the Doctor began but before he could finish she rolled off the side plunging deep into the canyon below

'Cliff edge' the Doctor finished – not without a smile. He listened carefully as her body sailed through there air – a few minutes later he heard the thud of her remains hitting the solid floor of the canyon – no one could have survived that the Doctor knew. One down – one to go he couldn't help but think.

Jackie stood behind Jack her mouth open as she prepared to scream – Roses' eyes had defiantly opened – her chest didn't rise or fall, her eyes just stared vacantly ahead. A burning white light began to shine out of her eyes as she lay on the floor – the moment Jack noticed this he turned and pounced on Jackie pushing them both to the floor. He lay ontop of her and held her to the floor

'Don't look at it, what ever you do don't look!' he hissed at Jackie who remained gob-smacked.

'My baby – who's doing that to my baby' she whimpered

'I'll be damned if I know' he sighed as he threw his hands over his eyes after checking Jackie had done the same.

'Come on Doctor' he whispered urging him along.

They lay like that for a few moments before Jackie began to fidget

'What's the matter?' he asked her without opening his eyes. She began to grope around blindly with her hand

'I'm lying on something' she muttered, as her fingers closed in on an object. It was made of cool metal that tickled her fingers – it felt strangely like a screwdriver. She felt a button and put her finger down on it - a familiar humming filled the room.

'The Sonic Screwdriver!' Jack exclaimed jubilant. He knew exactly what to do.


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