Chapter Three: Tell Me Your Name

Wilf's sofa wasn't the most comfortable bed in the world, but it wasn't that which contributed to Rose's lack of sleep. Most of the night was spent lying there thinking - about Wilf, about Earth, but mostly about Donna. Wilf had promised that today they'd go round to talk to her, and Rose was sure there'd be fireworks.

It wasn't a long walk to Donna's place, but it was a quiet one. There weren't many people roaming the streets, and when they did pass someone, the stranger would silently shuffle past, staring at the ground. Donna's house was remarkably similar to Wilf's - in fact, so was every house on this street. And the next street. And the rest of the town. Row upon row of these flatpack tin can homes.

Wilf rattled on the metal front door, and eventually a tired, middle-aged woman answered the door. Donna.

"Donna, this girl. She knows you. Wants to talk to you." Wilf explained, before brushing past his granddaughter and disappearing into her house.

Donna looked Rose up and down, trying to figure out where she knew her from. Then it clicked. "You're the one. Christmas Eve. You were in town."

Rose looked awkwardly at the ground. "Donna. Hi."

"Hi. What was your name?"

"How're you doing? You're looking... good." Rose smiled. Donna scoffed. Rose gulped, this wasn't going to be easy. "How're things, what've you been up to?" Rose took a quick glimpse at Donna's back. It - whatever 'it' was - was still there.

Donna closed over the door, and stepped closer to Rose, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed. "Who the 'ell do you think you are?" Then she noticed. She looked over her shoulder. "You're doing it. Again. You're looking behind me. People keep on doing that, looking at my back."

"What sort of people?"

"People in the street. People in the factory. Not everyone, but... Strangers. I just catch them sometimes, staring at me. Like they're looking at something. And then I come home, or I get to a mirror, and there's... nothing there." She checked her back again. "Now even I'm doing it, it's like I'm paranoid."

Progress, thought Rose. "Can I come in?"

"Are you mad? I don't know who you are, there's no way you're getting inside my house. And- and you're even wearing the same clothes."

"No I'm not-"

"Do you think I'm stupid? A purple leather jacket, you stick out like a sore thumb. Who are you!?" Donna stepped closer again, forcing Rose to stumble backwards.

"Listen, Donna, I'm not even supposed to be in this universe, I only came back because I wanted to help you-" Rose fell backwards over some rocks, landing in a pile of black bin bags. Donna towered over her.

"Are you just talking for the sake of it? Stop talking rubbish, just tell me your name!" Donna grabbed Rose by the lapels and lifted her back up. "That Christmas Eve, that was the night when all of our lives turned into nothing, and you show up out of the blue now and it's like... it's like you're enjoying this? It's sick, is what it is, just sick!"

"Donna!"

Donna let Rose go, and spun around. Wilf was standing in the doorway, looking distressed. Then both Donna and Rose realised why. Standing across the street was a group of three creatures - tall, dressed in bulky black armour and heavy boots. One of them stepped forward and removed their helmet to reveal the head of a rhinoceros. These were the creatures Wilf was talking about last night.

"Earthlings!" barked what Rose assumed to be the leader of the platoon. "Platoon 382 have witnessed a serious case of disturbing the peace."

"No!" Donna spluttered. "It was just a joke, we were only having fun, I swear!" she cried, putting her arm around Rose and letting out a fake laugh. Rose joined in. "We're best friends, honest!" Donna lied.

"Incorrect." The Judoon Captain plugged a small red device into his chest, and soon a recording of Donna's voice began playing. "Are you mad? I don't know who you are, there's no way you're getting inside my house." Donna shook her head. The Judoon Captain removed the device and stepped closer to the pair. "Earthlings, you are charged with disturbing the peace. Sentence - 100 days imprisonment!"

Donna became hysterical. "You can't lock me up, I've got a job, I've got a family, I've got- I've got a reputation!"

"100 days in prison just for shouting in the street?" asked Rose, realising that perhaps the better idea would've been to stay out of Donna's way entirely.

"Justice is swift." growled the Captain. The two other Judoon officers marched behind Rose and Donna, and despite Donna and Wilf's protests, the two girls were cuffed.

"Where are you taking them, you swines?" shouted Wilf.

"Prison camp designated 42B/19. Visiting orders not permitted."

Donna sighed. Rose turned to her. "Do you know where that is? 42B/19?"

Laughing, Donna stared at Rose. "Bloody Siberia!"

"Wha-" began Rose, but the two girls - along with the three Judoon - had teleported before she had the chance to finish. Sometimes, thought Rose, it'd be really great if she were able to keep her nose out of other people's business. Rose was sure there'd be fireworks, but she wasn't expecting this. Bloody Siberia.

Author's note: Some of the dialogue has been borrowed from Russell T Davies' Turn Left, from the scene depicting Donna and Rose's second meeting. Thanks for reading!