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Despairs Darkest Destiny

Chapter Nine

The Doctor turned away from the panel and looked at Rose, she was pale and her eyes blankly stared ahead as she swallowed heavily. He held onto the rail around the Tardis and slowly walked towards her as the ship rocked flying through time and space. Rose wiped her face and swallowed all her emotions. As she brushed away her tears, her fingers ran across the dark scabs that clung to her face, she ran her fingers down them so each finger matched its indent. She closed her eyes but all she could see was Isabella's crumbled body – she opened them only to see the Doctor's intense gaze watching her. He was now kneeling in front of her, his tender fingers rested on her forearms; she looked at him warily for a moment then briefly smiled. The Doctor gently rubbed her arms, neither of them speaking of what had happened – the Doctor had only seen the beginning of the nightmare but he could tell by the fine shivers that ran through her that something else had happened.

'He killed her' she murmured disbelievingly. The doctor watched her eyes

'The man – the one who's always there…I think his name is Lewis' she quietly told him as he soothed her gently

'You alright?' he asked softly, his eyes instantly searching her body for fresh marks – for fresh signs of abuse, Rose nodded slowly

'Yeah, its just next time I know… its going to be me he gets' she starkly whispered. The Doctor brushed her hair off her face

'I know – it's just a dream' she said screwing her face up before she fell sombre

'But it feels… so real' she murmured. The Doctor squeezed her hand

'I know – we're going there' he gently told her. Roses' eyes flew open

'What?' she exclaimed

'To where your dreams take place – it might help us figure all this out' he told her convincingly. Rose nervously looked around

'But what if… what if he's there?' she asked genuinely frightened. The Doctor squeezed her hand reassuringly

'I won't let anyone hurt you – I promise' he told her, his voice unyielding. She breathed deeply

'Help me up' she told him, his hands went to her waist and he carefully lifted her to her feet as she winced. The Doctors shirt drowned her, it hung down to her thighs and dark bruising peaked out of her shirt marking her collar bone. She self consciously tugged the shirt down as it floated to meet her stark white cast that imprisoned her leg. The Doctor put his hand around Roses' waist and helped her slowly limp towards the control panel, she watched the central column move slowly as it wined, she could feel the ground beneath her trembling as forgotten water droplets cascaded to the floor, she tugged at her shirt and knew they'd be landing soon.

Whilst the Tardis had been travelling through time and space, the Doctor had been helping Rose get dressed. She now wore a white cotton dress that ended at her knees, her cast stuck out from under the dress and she only wore one sandal. The Dark purple bruises that covered Roses arms and chest contrasted greatly compared to the fresh white of her dress. Rose had pulled all her hair off her face so a cascade of blonde curls ran down her back. A dark scab was forming across her forehead were the stitches held her skin together, scabs ran down her cheeks where her fingers had once ran and a dark bruise clouded her eye. Rose smiled at the Doctor

'So how do I look?' she asked self consciously. The Doctor looked at her and grinned – answering without a moments hesitation

'You look beautiful' he replied, Rose smiled shyly at him

'You're sweet' she replied knowing how terrible she looked with her swollen lip and her battered skin

'No – I'm honest' he sincerely said as he rested a hand on her cheek, Rose smiled at him and leaned forwards losing herself in his eyes, the Doctor returned her smile and traced his thumb down her cheek moving slowly towards her.

'Oh Rose' he murmured as their heads moved closer together, just as their lips were about to meet the Tardis shuddered to a halt flinging the Doctor and Rose backwards. Rose grasped the safety bar and remained standing whilst the Doctor stumbled backwards. The spell over them was instantly shattered and they smiled at each other awkwardly for a moment

'So' Rose began, breaking the awkward silence that had come over the Tardis

'Where are we?'

The Doctor moved over to one of the screens and frowned

'What?' Rose asked flatly

'We're in Ireland, a town called Cahernane'

'And the year?' Rose asked

'1994' the Doctor told her frowning

'What is it?' she asked quietly after fumbling with her hands

'Nothing… it's just' he began, then he saw the fear in Rose's eyes

'Nothing' he told her with a reassuring smile. Rose studied him for a moment but took his word

'Right then, shall we take a look?' she asked before starting to move forwards – the Doctor saw her wince and being to falter as she tried to stand on her shattered leg

'First things first' the Doctor told her 'you need crutches'

Rose's mouth opened on a protest as the Doctor moved towards the medical room

'But Doctor!' Rose began to moan. She was cut off by the opening and shutting of cupboards as the Doctor searched for what he was looking for. A few moments later Rose heard a triumphant shout and the Doctor reappeared clutching a pair of dank, grey crutches. The Doctor handed them to Rose and grinned, she looked at the metal sticks, drippings still with abandoned droplets, then back at the Doctor's proud smile – she couldn't help but laugh. She picked up one of the crutched that fitted to her hand and elbow and tested it

'What about the other one?' the Doctor asked. Rose grinned at him from over her shoulder wincing in the process.

'Na, one will do me fine'

'You sure?' the Doctor asked as he watched her take wobbly steps across the control room

'Yes!' she exclaimed with a sigh

'Alright then – onwards and upwards we go' Rose laughed and joined him at the door of the Tardis. He smiled gently at her and squeezed her hand feeling the tension that was running through her

'Remember – I won't let anyone hurt you' he softly told her. Rose smiled back and nodded at him – they said everything they need to say in their eyes. The Doctor and Rose held each others hands and stepped out of the Tardis in perfect unison – the ultimate unbreakable pair. What they stepped into was magical – rolling fields of emerald green blades of grass covered the horizon, in front of them clusters of trees dotted the fields and dark green leave stuck to the darkened bark. Underneath them jewels of dew wetted their shoes and ticked at Roses feet, around them the emerald beauty went on for miles, tiny sheep wandered in the distance as cotton tailed bunnies pricked up their ears before dancing across the fields

'Wow, that's… beautiful' Rose murmured as she looked around unable to believe this was the place her nightmares stemed from. The Doctor held her hand still and glanced around – a small smile began to take hold of his face

'Fancy exploring?' he asked as he slowly moved away from the Tardis so the grass licked the corner of his coat staining the edges.

'Hell yeah' Rose replied as she moved with the Doctor to the other side of the Tardis. Past several fields lined with animals they could see a tiny village tucked between the trees. The sun shone down over the tiny village and the last drops of the mornings mist vanished with it. A creek trickled around the village dancing with life and scattering light everywhere… like a million tiny diamonds… Rose winced and her hand went to her head

'You alright?' the Doctor asked slowly. Rose nodded unable to tear her eyes from the village that seemed to live in a bubble of serenity.

'Can we go…' she breathed gesturing towards the village, the Doctor watched her for a moment then nodded

'Shall we investigate?' he asked raising his eyebrows, Rose grinned and grasped his hand

'Lead the way' she instructed. It was a slow process walking across the fields as Rose adjusted to her crutches, climbing the hills was nearly an impossible task but the Doctor carried her effortlessly. They stopped for breath on top of the hill and looked down at the tiny village below. It looked like it had been abandoned in time – that the rest of the world had just changed and moved on without them. The Doctor could see a steeple of a church reaching into the sky, around that cottages lined the mud streets each with thatched roofs.

'Wow' Rose murmured 'that would be a beautiful postcard'

The Doctor laughed

'I can see it now: Dear Mum, in 1994 Ireland, just thought I'd say hi, love Rose'

Rose glared at him

'And what's wrong with that?'

'Nothing' he replied grinning cheekily 'nothing at all'

Rose ignored him and slowly began to make her way down the hill towards the sleepy little village. When their legs were splattered with mud and grass clung to their legs they had finally reached the village. A single mud track lead towards them calling them in, the ground was beaten by regular use and wet mud clumps stuck together. The Doctor and Rose slowly worked their way down the path watching the approaching houses with interest, each house was the same. Endless white cottages lined the tack that soon widened and was covered in cobble stones, each house had dark brown wooden bars across the white paint work, each bar reaching up towards the thatched rood that hung overhead. The Doctor and Rose fell into silence as they inspected the tightly drawn curtains of the cottages, each cottage looking more uninviting than the last. When they reached the end of the road a dark grey church stood, its bells chiming out over the entire village – the only sound to be heard in the deadly silence.

'I think' the Doctor murmured quietly – almost whispering 'That it's a Sunday' his thoughts were confirmed when enthusiastic bursts of Amazing Grace broke through the doors shattering the silence. Rose raised her eyebrows and glanced around, there was a tiny post office, built of large grey stones, a crumbling white mixture held them together. The windows were lined with stationary, food, drink and toiletries – this wasn't the corner shop Rose soon realised, it was the only shop. Her eyes rested on another stone building, this one was larger with dark windows. A wooden sign shook in the winds and a man's face filled with laughter welcomed them. 'The Kings Point' it read in faded black paint. Rose grinned at the Doctor

'Fancy a drink?' she asked, he grinned at her

'Don't mind if I do' the Doctor and Rose set towards the empty pub hoping for peace and sanctuary but the villages of Cathernane knew otherwise. They all crowded around the church doors murmuring to one another as they watched the strangers intrude upon their village. All they knew was that it wasn't safe for them to here; they had to leave – and soon. The villagers glanced to one another before slowly setting out for the tasks that lay ahead of them – it was going to be an eventful day for the people of Catherane – that much they were sure of.

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