Donna jumped back as he shouted the last word, and watched as he threw the lever, sending the TARDIS into space flight.

Donna came back towards him. "Where to now?"

The Doctor hopped around the console in typical Doctor fashion. "Earth! We've got to help Earth. They don't have the defenses that Teni does, not nearly as advanced. And Earth will be hit hardest."

Scarlett finally spoke back up, having observed everything up to this point quietly. "Why?"

"Because Davros knows what Earth means to me, what it has always meant to me. He doesn't care about any of the other planets, except what they can do for his bigger plan. Teni was just another planet plucked out of time and spaced. He has no idea we knew each other. No idea about—" He paused momentarily, glancing up to her. "—about us." He finished his statement, staring at her another moment before looking back down at the console.

The Doctor walked around the console, almost mindlessly, ending closer to Donna and Scarlett. He turned to Donna as he spoke, "Donna, I have a feeling we're going to find Rose soon."

"Oh, Doctor!" Donna felt so bad for him, she knew how much Rose meant to him, but also how horrible the things are that she has done to get back to him. Including sending Donna to her own death, something she still has mixed feelings about. "What are you going to do?"

Scarlett piped up, "Rose? Sucked-into-a-parallel-universe-Rose?" She spoke as she pulled off her outer robe and draped it across one of the coral struts of the TARDIS, giving it a quick pat before turning back. "How could she possibly be here?"

"How could the Daleks possibly be here?" The look on his face was almost hopeless as he considered the possibilities of how that happened. "She was in a parallel universe with Donna. If that's the case, I think she is ripping holes in the universes to try and get back here—to me- and I'm worried she may have inadvertently helped the Daleks get where they are now—or they helped her without her knowing it—either way it's not good." He slumped into the jump seat. "And it's all my fault."

"Oh no, Doctor." Donna stomped over, and he recognized the hand on her hip and the storm that was coming, "You will not blame yourself for her actions. You left her, you tried to give her closure. It was her own—insanity—immaturity—whatever—that caused her to do horrible things to get back here."

Scarlett came over, setting a hand on Donna's shoulder to try and calm her. "So… what are you going to do? If she is here, if she is on Earth, she'll find you."

The Doctor ran a hand through his hair, then across his face, and leaned over, his elbows on his knees. "What I have to do… I must act like I'm happy to see her. Even if it makes me physically ill to think about." He looked up at the two women whom, if he was honest in this dark moment, meant more to him than anyone else in the universe. He looked them each dead in the eye, back and forth as he spoke. "I need you two, of all people, I need you two to know—while this is going on—I'm going to act like things are a way that—well, that they aren't. I'm afraid you're right, Donna. Rose is unstable, based on what she's done, and there's no telling what traveling back and forth across the universes has done to her mind." He stood up from the jump seat, standing tall and straightening out the front of his suit. "To keep us all safe, I have to keep her close—for now. There was a time when she saved me from myself, after the Time War. But when I look back I realize so much now. Once this is all over with, we'll figure out what to do. We'll get her back to that universe and figure out how to keep her there for good."

Donna couldn't believe that in that moment, she almost felt sorry for the woman. To Rose, the Doctor was all there was worth living for, it seemed. And the Doctor was going to lead her on to dump her back in the parallel universe. "So that's it. That's the only option? To lead her on like that? You're going to pretend you care, so that you can trick her?"

"Donna, you know I would not do this if I didn't think it was completely necessary. I cared about Rose deeply. I care about each of the companions I have had, in different ways and for different reasons. I take the blame for her believing we were going to be something more than was ever possible. In a moment of passion, I think I felt the same way." The Doctor felt deeply embarrassed to be talking about this in front of Scarlett. "But I tried to end things with her as kindly as I could when I contacted her across the universes. Obviously, it didn't work—So, yes, I'm going to have to put on a bit of a show, as much as it disgusts me to think about doing this to her or anyone—"

"Alright Doctor, I understand." Donna squeezed him on the shoulder as he moved to the controls to land them.

As they materialized, Scarlett made her way around to the Doctor. "Doctor?" She leaned towards him, trying to catch his attention.

He glanced quickly, afraid to look her in the eyes. "Scarlett…"

She frowned, grabbing his hand with one of hers, then the other reached for his chin, lifting it, forcing him to look at her. His eyes closed briefly, and he took a deep breath at the physical contact. "Hey—" She continued, "—hey Doctor, I get it." She smiled, looking into his eyes, trying to reassure him. "Don't be ashamed or worried about it—about me. Not here, not now. Things are happening fast around here. When this is all over, we'll talk more, okay? You do what you have to do. We need to find a way to save Earth and Teni, and all the rest of those planets. Right?"

Donna watched them from the other side of the console, deeply moved by both the verbal and non-verbal communication she could feel coming off the two aliens.

Scarlett straightened herself, removing her hands from the Doctor. "I'm going to stay on board, monitor things from here." She turned to Donna and continued, "Donna, the Doctor and I have the ability to communicate telepathically, if—" She glanced at the Doctor then back. "—we open ourselves up to it. I need to be able to communicate with you as well. If we had more time I'd develop a device for this purpose, but we just don't have the time. I'd like to suggest that I open a telepathic link with you. I will be able to speak to you inside your mind and you will be able to speak back to me. What do you say?"

The Doctor watched, quite impressed by the idea. He had never thought of it, but if there was a companion prepared to encounter telepathic communication, it was Donna. She was strong enough, he knew it. Donna looked at him for some sort of confirmation or opinion and he nodded to her as he spoke, "It's a good idea, Donna. Don't know why I didn't think of it myself. She's brilliant, I told you. You can do this, I know you can."

Donna turned to Scarlett. "Okay—I guess. What do we do?"

Scarlett approached her. "You're not practiced at this, so you don't have walls developed naturally, you'll need to imagine closing off everything except what you want to say to me. Imagine an invisible string formed between us, and only send across what you want to. You should begin preparing yourself by imagining those walls now." After a moment, Scarlett held up her hands. "Are you ready?" Donna nodded, and Scarlett lowly placed her hands up next to Donna's head, placing her fingers on Donna's temples much like the Doctor had so that she could hear the Ood song. A moment later, Donna felt the strangest sensation in her head. There was a—nudging—in her mind.

Can you hear me, Donna?

Donna gasped. Yes. Is this how I do it?

Scarlett smiled. Very good, Donna. Scarlett turned to the Doctor, "You've done well with this one, Doctor. She's strong of spirit and of mind."

The Doctor grinned, "You have no idea."

Donna spoke into Scarlett's mind again. Can he hear us?

Scarlett responded. No, we would have to do something a bit more intentional for that to happen. I don't think it necessary for now, unless you wish…

No, no, I think one voice in my head right now is enough. Let's not get Spaceman rattling around in here too. Donna felt rather than heard a chuckle from Scarlett, presumably at her nickname for the Doctor. Then she noticed Scarlett turn towards the Doctor and saw her head tilt in the slightest bit to the side. For a few moments it was quiet, she expected they were communicating.

Scarlett had turned and looked at the Doctor. He nodded to her and at almost the same time they felt a mental wall come down that, for him, had been up for several years. His breath pulled in visibly, then he slowly released it. Since his people had all perished, Scarlett was the first person he had let into his mind like this. It was… beautiful.

Ah, there you are Doctor. Scarlett smiled at him.

Uh, yes, hello. He thought bashfully; physically, he blushed.

Oh, Doctor. You've not used your mental capacities as a Time Lord in so long. Our history books say that the Time Lords not only had the power of telepathy, but telekinesis as well. Do not be shy with me.

She mentally chuckled towards him, then turned and began speaking out loud again. "I'll observe what's going on from the TARDIS monitors." She turned towards the Doctor. "Are you ready?"

He nodded. "As I'll ever be, I guess."

Donna took a deep breath and looked over at the Doctor who nodded to her. They both began walking down the walkway to the door together. Before walking out the door, the Doctor turned back to look at Scarlett one last time.

Go, and be safe, Doctor. She sent his way. Take care of Rose. You're doing the right thing, the thing that must be done. She will be terribly fragile when it comes to her feelings for you. I'll be here when this is all over.

He nodded and turned back, opening the door and stepping through, Donna following him.

The TARDIS had materialized in the middle of a street, just outside a church.

Donna looked around. "It's like a ghost town."

"Sarah Jane said they were taking the people. What for?" He turned to Donna. "Think, Donna. When you met Rose in that parallel world, what did she say?"

She shook her head. "Just, 'the darkness is coming.'"

"Anything else?"

On the monitor in the TARDIS, Scarlett caught sight of her at the same moment Donna did. She rubbed her hand over her mouth a moment before leaning in, resting against the edge of the console.

Outside, at that moment, Donna saw her. All the moments from her time in her own alternative universe with Rose flash into her mind. Suddenly Donna realized the Doctor was right, they all had to play along and play their parts until they could get Rose back where she needed to be.

Donna, that's her, isn't it? Scarlett sent to Donna. You've got to let him know, it's time. He must do this. It's time for him to see her again, and we must be here to support him through it.

Donna mentally sent a nod to Scarlett, and verbally spoke to the Doctor. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

Donna was looking down the street behind him. A look of confusion washed across his face momentarily before he realized—she was here. He turned, saw her there, too far away to get a good look, but it was her. He grimaced for a moment, before he felt a warmth in his mind.

It's time, Doctor. Run—run to her and for a moment let yourself remember her as the girl you left behind—remember how you felt when she was torn from you and live in that moment. Act as you need to-for her-for her now. Scarlett encouraged him mentally, glad he couldn't see her there, in the TARDIS, as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Almost as if being compelled physically, the Doctor began running towards Rose. In that moment, Scarlett slumped down into the jump seat. A moment later, she felt a jerk within her mind, coming from both people who she was currently linked with. She looked up just in time to hear over the comm system, "EXTERMINATE!"

She gasped as she saw the Dalek's ray graze the Doctor's side, lighting up his whole body and knocking him down. She gasped, almost immediately feeling sick as she felt the wave of immense pain rip through their mental connection. She willed herself to continue to watch the monitor as the man from the subwave network, Jack, he was called, appeared out of nowhere and blasted the Dalek with a large gun he carried. She continued to gasp for breath from the feeling of pain that had coursed through her along with the Doctor. She saw Donna and Rose both running towards the Doctor, Rose getting there first.

"I've got you. It missed you. Look, it's me, Doctor," Rose spoke as she pulled him up into her embrace.

"Rose," He gasped in pain.

"Hi." She smiled lovingly at him.

"Long time no see." He tried to return the smile. Even in this moment, trying to keep a hold of the plan he had formed with Donna and Scarlett. Where was Donna? He hadn't the strength to communicate with Scarlett, but he nudged as strong as he could and felt her still present, loosely, in his mind.

"Yeah." Rose grinned, "Been busy, you know." The Doctor couldn't hold back the grimace as pain continued to flood through his body. "Don't die. Oh, my God. Don't die. Oh my god, don't die."

Jack approached and took command of the situation, "Get him into the TARDIS, quick! Move!"

As they entered the TARDIS, Scarlett came running to help them get him in, then pulls Donna back away, giving Rose room to be close to the Doctor. Jack took note of the action, looking a bit confused, but too busy to comment.

"What, what do we do?" Donna was panicked. This was not how the plan was supposed to go! "There must be some medicine or something."

"Just step back! Rose, do as I say, and get back! He's dying, and you know what happens next!" he yelled at Rose and turned to Scarlett. "Help me keep them back."

Scarlett nodded and put an arm around Donna's front, pulling her back as far away from the Doctor as possible.

"What do you mean? He can't—" Donna was frantic. Scarlett tried to speak to her mentally, but Donna was too distracted.

"Oh, no. I came all this way." Rose cried.

"What do you mean, what happens next?" Donna shouted.

The Doctor held his hand up above him as it began to glow. "It's starting," he gasped out as he used the last bit of his strength to begin pulling himself up on the console.

"Good luck, Doctor!" Jack shouted as he finally yanked Rose away from the Doctor and over to Donna and Scarlett.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on!" Donna spoke up again.

"When he's dying his body—it repairs itself—it changes." Rose explained. "But you can't!" She shouted at the Doctor.

The Doctor looked at Rose one last time, "I'm sorry—it's too late." He gasped a few more times. "I'm regenerating!" In that last moment, the Doctor looked towards Scarlett. No one else caught it, they were distracted in a moment of panic, Jack had turned the other ladies' heads in towards his chest as he held them. With a look that spoke a million words. Then, at that moment, his arms and legs spread out and his head jerked up towards the ceiling as golden energy spewed forth from his hands and head.