Able and His Doctor

by HueHueFanfiction

Able is an actual doctor, and so, so much more. We all know 'The Doctor' has a canny ability to find himself running into impossible things - and if Able was anything, he was an impossible thing. (Twist on usual OC formula.)

7. The Long Game

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that I've written. Yep, that's right, I own not even one iota of the below work.

Summary: Able is an actual doctor, and so, so much more. We all know 'The Doctor' does have a pendent for running into impossible things - and if Able was anything, he was an impossible thing. (A twist on the usual OC and The Doctor formula has original ideas and later on, canon divergence. M/M)

Warnings: This is a Doctor Who fic, so I doubt any of the readers will turn down reading this just because it's slash. After all, we have the canon Jack Harkness. (Who deserves a warning all on his own.) Canon typical violence, language, and later on there will probably be more explicit sexual content.

Authour Note: I'm noticing a lot of character development in Rose that I hadn't before when I wrote about her morals. In the beginning she is very against killing in anyway, yet somewhere along the line it starts to become okay. Like in the episode with Satan... I'm playing it up with the morals of hers and making her a strong character who doesn't back down from them. Something I think Rose has always been, but those morals twist a lot when she's with The Doctor after a time. Can't believe I'm just now noticing this.

For RGB125 who, fairly enough, stated very strongly they didn't like the direction the story was going, next time please state more clearly why, so I know what I'm actually doing wrong. I'm treating the relationship between The Doctor and Rose as carefully and respectfully as I can, well still slowly working toward my own pairing. A pairing which I haven't been at all secretive about. How you got to chapter six if you disliked the pairing, only to review there, I've no clue. I'd also like to point out that my OC is NOT too good to be true. That chapter was LITERALLY me showing all of Able's faults. I admit I did state that I planned to have Rose and The Doctor together before the OC and The Doctor, but I have a few changes down the line which made that impossible so I had to change that plan. I'm sorry if you disliked that.

I said before that I was seriously considering both The Master and River Song for a threesome with The Doctor and Able. Considering the mix of characters I'm starting to think The Master is a better fit. Especially considering, you know, The Enabler... It all fits rather well. I'm not completely sure on this yet, but I'm definitely leaning toward yes, and with The Master. Just thought to let you know where I was with all of that.

Chapter Seven: The Long Game

...

The silence was broken with the crack of skin contacting skin echoing off the walls.

"I can't believe I ever wanted to be with someone who could do something like that." Rose sobbed out, holding her now reddening hand to her chest before running off – Likely back to the TARDIS

Leaving The Doctor and Able staring after her, and the numb shock stayed for a moment, maybe minutes, neither of them could tell when it was that The Doctor snapped out of it, but the despite the moment he did was astounding. Instead of flinching away, or blaming The Doctor like Rose had, Able accepted.

Able wrapped his mind around the mans, sending him forgiveness, telling him with emotions, not words, just how wrong Rose was. If she'd known the pain they had gone through when they thought she had died... The determination they had shown in the face of such an enemy... She still wouldn't forgive them because she couldn't understand. Her world was too small, too rigidly moral. Able however, his world was ever expanding, and full of grey shades that would send people into disgust at times.

"The Enabler, huh?" The Doctor suddenly asked, not even bothering to look at him, or hide the pain in his voice.

"It's pretty accurate, wouldn't you say."

...

"He's coming with us."

Her eyes were red as she leaned against the TARDIS, holding the hand of the young man who worked for Mr. Henry van Statten, his name was Adam, or something along those lines. Able didn't quite like something about him, but that might have something to do with him seemingly coming in between Rose and The Doctor, even before this falling out.

What a falling out it had been.

Rose's words had silenced both scientists, and hurt The Doctor deeply. Able and The Doctor were still connected by the mind, and that hurt still hadn't faded – If anything it only grew when seeing Rose's fiery determination. How could it not? Having someone so purely moral disagreeing with you when it came to what The Doctor did. Especially true when it was someone The Doctor seemed to have been coming to love, and had only wanted to protect. Able could feel the echoes of that raging protectiveness even now, and it had mirrored the gingers own.

Able sent back his comfort toward The Doctor at to soothe his current unease around their blonde companion. Still, behind that hurt there was something else.

The Doctor wanted Rose's forgiveness.

"Fine then, he can come along." The Doctor said, making sure to keep the device they'd used behind his back, as not to ensure farther rage from their friend.

Rose just nodded, and opened the TARDIS doors, dragging Adam in behind her, and leaving Able and The Doctor to watch after them, entering the TARDIS themselves, only seeing the other two disappear into the depths of the Time Machine.

Able took this quiet moment to muse over the feelings he was getting from The Doctor's mind, "You'll try to gain her forgiveness? My Lover isn't easy to win over, let me tell you..."

The Doctor sent back a solemn sort of determination, just walking over toward the TARDIS' console.

"Alright then, I'll take my watch back, and what about the 'instrument' that I bought?" Able said, letting the Rose matter drop, although decided that he would talk to her some time before the next trip.

"It's a empathetic life form from the planet Altros, called Alereros. It bounds with its owner more and more dependent on the emotions it receives, and the larger the bond, the better the music. Part of the reason Altros had such a beautiful culture, full of arts and wonder. It's beaches are like nothing that you would have seen on Earth, possibly couldn't comprehend at all unless you were to see it." The feelings of awe were quickly damped, "... It's gone now. Destroyed in The Time War, and this little guy is probably one of the last survivors of the planet..."

Able could feel childlike wonder build as The Doctor started to explain the wondrous world, and the picture painted had been breathtaking, and once again his wonder was stolen away. The ginger was starting to wonder if he could hold onto that feeling for more than an hour at a time.

"Do you think I could bond with it?" Able asked, watching as The Doctor took apart the device, petting the Alereros softly in thanks for its help.

The Doctor looked startled, but vaguely thoughtful, and a weary sort of reluctance went through their connection. Before Able could take it back, because what was he thinking, The Doctor deserved something, anyone that could understand him, the Time Lord had nodded.

"Probably for the best... I would bring too much melancholy to the bond I suppose. I'm sure the music the two of you make will be fantastic." Suddenly, a familiar manic grin was back, as both the Alereros and Able's sonic watch were returned to him, "I've got an idea for the next place we'll go. You'll love it."

The surety of that reflected in The Doctor's emotions, shining through all the depressive feelings, and it made Able fill with excitement. Before he knew it, the ginger was bouncing on his toes, "I can't wait."

With that, the two separated as well, it had been a long day, and they needed the rest. The companionship had helped some of the worst emotions go away, but both of them knew the dreams they had that night would be telling. When the bound between them broke. There was just one last string of reluctance.

...

...

...

Able was woken the next morning by the gentle humming of the TARDIS, which was one of the best ways to wake up. She filled you with a sense of warmth every morning, almost like getting a hug... In those moments, it was like the outside world didn't even exist. The ginger felt a bit of jealously toward The Doctor, for having that wake up for so many years. Then again, the Time Lord clearly paid in full.

"You know, TARDIS, you're acronym is so unfamiliar for a name. I'm going to call you Red from now on – Just to be mildly contrary."

He got a warm humming back, and Able went about his day. Took a shower, got dressed in his usual outfit, worked on his watch for a bit, fixing the fried circuits from the mild overloading it had received because of the Dalek Frequency Device. He also connected his mind with the Alereros', and the being was so sad... but accepting of Able. Once fully ready, he went out to the console room.

The Doctor was already there.

So was Rose and an amazed Adam.

"Lover, could I talk to you alone for a minute?" Able asked, keeping his tone level.

It was hard to do so, because inwardly he was so conflicted. He wanted to be understand Rose's feelings, but his understanding of The Doctor's were so much more intrinsic. Instead, the best way to go about it would likely be taking some of the heat off of the Time Lord, and explaining his line of thinking a bit more. After getting a single, almost harsh nod from the Blonde, they both walked into the kitchen.

"You shouldn't defend him for this. What he did was wrong." Was the first thing that came out of Rose's mouth, her tone stubborn.

She clearly knew her best friend and his intentions well.

"Yes, I will defend him, because I care about both of you and I think a little understanding could be used on your part. Please keep in mind that those Dalek killed all of The Doctor's people, did war with The Doctor's people, his family, his friends, everyone that he knew, and his planet is now gone. He wanted to protect you, and he knows better than anyone, including 19 year old human females, what one of them is capable of." Able explained logically.

Her stubborn mask faltered a little bit, and her eyes were so confused and hurt, "I can't condone something like that, I just can't. Killing is wrong, and if The Doctor thought that the Dalek killing his people was wrong, why could he possibly think that him killing the Dalek was okay? It's faulty, isn't it?"

Able and Rose had many talks over the years about logic and its inclusion within morality. They had vastly differing opinions, but seeing her so lost really drove home how much this matter wasn't in relation to the logical morality, but rather, to emotions.

"The difference is the feelings Rosie. Dalek's killed just to kill, because they were programmed that way. The Doctor, on the other hand, just wanted you to be safe, and he thought the best way to do it was to kill the Dalek before it could do any harm. Whether he was right, or wrong, his heart was in the right place." Able finally said after thinking it over.

Rose was crying.

These weren't the sobs that had happened when in front of the Dalek, but just soft tears running down her cheeks. A moment later, she leapt into Able's arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, and just took in the comfort that her best friend so willingly gave.

"I can't..." She muttered against his shoulder, "I can't forget this, I won't... I understand a bit better now, and maybe I can forgive him, and you had better believe I'll make him work for even that... I won't forget though."

Able couldn't help but admire just how strong his friend was, "You're amazing, Lover, you truly are."

It wouldn't heal everything between the two, and surely they would likely never be on track for the relationship Able had hoped the two would achieve, but it was something. The Doctor needed that something, because those emotions that he felt when Rose had spoken those words... He needed her, Able could describe it as codependence between the two, but it really wasn't.

The Doctor needed her, Rose didn't need him.

It wasn't healthy, Able knew this for a fact, but that was what he was, The Enabler. So despite the fact he knew it wasn't healthy, it made The Doctor feel better, and thus, the ginger wasn't going to try and change it.

"I'm sorry..." She suddenly said, pulling away from him and looking him in the eye.

Able titled his head questioningly.

"You were trying pretty hard to get us together..." Rose mentioned, looking almost embarrassed about it now, a stark contrast to how thankful she'd been before.

"Lover, I am the best wingman there is, and I would always do something like that for you. Besides, who knows, maybe someday. The Universe is filled with possibilities."

"Not that one." She stated strongly, and there was that fiery steel behind her eyes, "I won't, not with someone that thinks killing is okay, especially not when they did it to save me. It would always be on my mind when I looked at him, and that isn't fair to either of us."

Able wasn't entirely sure how close The Doctor had been to going into a relationship with Rose... But for the two of them, the ginger hoped it wasn't that far, because it would only hurt all the more. Rose made a good point though, because if that was on her mind when she looked at The Doctor, a touch telepath, it would never work out. It would only hurt more if they continued only to realize that, Able assumed. He didn't have much experience in the emotional side of having a partner after all.

"Well then, I have it on good authority The Doctor has a good trip coming up as an apology. We can take your cute little rebound and you can show off to him." Able planned, a small teasing note in his voice.

Rose cracked a smile, and they left the kitchen for the console room with Able's arm draped over the blondes shoulder.

...

...

...

Able took a place next to The Doctor at the console, after his talk with Rose, and pushed his shoulder against the man, attaching the two together in a telepathic bond once more.

'She says you'll have to work for your forgiveness.' Able projected, sending a digital version of a warm smile.

The Doctor sent back excitement, happiness, determination, and gratitude, all of which were undertoned by the still, always lingering guilt and more depressive emotions. With it all, was the slightest twinge of embarrassment, and however you could phrase the want to slip away from the connection. The Doctor was a private guy, Able knew that since they first started connecting their minds, and his inability to hide in regards to emotions in between their minds was probably a source of discomfort.

Yet, The Doctor seemed to need it, so Able was more than willing to comply.

And, because the ginger was so honest with himself, he could admit that he was starting to really get attached to The Doctor's mind and his own converging. It was close and intimate, it allowed him to know pieces of The Doctor you couldn't just by looking. The sadness, loneliness, all the bad things that he hid beneath that manic grin.

Able's embarrassing musings of The Doctor were cut short when the TARDIS started to move an Able was thrown to the ground, snapping his and The Doctor's connection – Hopefully before the gingers thoughts had spread to The Doctor's mind.

Instead of keeping his mind on The Doctor, Able rushed toward the TARDIS doors with enthusiasm. The Doctor had promised a trip that Able would love, which meant that it would be interesting and probably right up a scientific ally. Both Able and Rose started to look around with a curiosity you'd expect in children.

The Doctor cleared his throat, "Right, so it's 200,000 and it's a space station. Go try that gate over there, off you go!"

The second Rose's eyes met The Doctor's, the speech the Time Lord had put together for what this choice was, and why he'd made it, dropped off into nothing. Instead he leaned himself against the TARDIS and decided to watch, just let Rose make her own conclusions and do what she did so brilliantly, ask all the right questions.

"Adam? Out you get!" Rose exclaimed, looking the smallest bit excited.

Able was glad for his best friend, but seeing the minor flitch coming from The Doctor put a bit of a dampener on that.

Adam left the TARDIS and was looking around with a gapping mouth as he spun around and took in his surroundings. He was clearly awestruck, and Able could understand why. The place was a technological marvel compared to the time that they came from. The ginger could feel the urge to rock on the balls of his feet just itching at him, and he wanted to explore, to look around this place and learn all that he could, like a child in a candy store. However, leaving The Doctor and Rose alone after what happened before was slightly cruel. Able almost regretted what an amazing friend he was.

"Oh my gosh..." Adam finally muttered, what seemed to be an eternity later.

Rose just smiled in a false confidence, clearly wanting to show off to the handsome guy, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

"Where are we?"

"Good question... Let's see, judging by the architecture, I'd say that we are around the year 200,000." Rose quoted, but her face gave nothing away.

Able felt a grin twitching to his lips, "Smooth, Lover, get 'em."

The ginger looked over toward The Doctor, who also looked amused at what was going on. Able knew him better though, and could see that hidden layer of sadness, because the sun that was Rose Tyler currently didn't want the Time Lord revolving around her, and instead choose a... lackluster human being for that role which had been his.

Of course, Able knew that Rose wasn't replacing The Doctor, but he could see why the Time Lord would view it that way. That was assuming he was even correct as to the Time Lords thoughts to begin with.

"If you listen closely, you can hear the engines. We're on some sort of space station, yeah... Definitely a space station. It's a bit warm in here though, they could turn the heating down." Rose commented, before turning toward Adam, and her face was full of flirty intentions, "Tell you what, let's go try out that gate. Come on!"

Watching Rose tug along the still awestruck Adam, Able noticed just how weird it was. Rose wasn't the type for a rebound. So Adam must not be that, but if he wasn't a rebound... A message? A comfort? More than likely a message, for The Doctor then, and it's meaning? I don't like you as I did before, we are both going to have to move on.

Rose, perhaps the most unsubtle person in the Universe, came up with that.

Not only that, but from The Doctor's reactions, it was clearly working. It was forcing The Doctor to let go of those romantic connotations that had been building in the last five or so months that they'd spent together. How something which was so intimate could unravel so quickly because of one action... Able couldn't help but compare it to a fixed point in time.

The Doctor and Able followed after the two at a more sated pace. By the time they got there, Rose was staring in a sense of wonder as well, and Able practically pranced forward and stared, his eyes lightening up, and you knew just how much he'd healed from all the pain he'd gone through in the past few months, just because of how easily the childish awe came to him.

"... I'll let The Doctor describe it."

"The Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire, and there it is, The Planet Earth at its height. Covered with mega-cities powered with green energy that your generation will create, with five moons and a population of 96 billion. The hub of the Galactic Domain, stretching across millions of planets, billions of species, with mankind right in the center of it all." The Doctor spoke, his voice impassioned, and he'd never looked more human.

It was the same voice, that tempting tone that he'd used to seduce Rose back into the TARDIS. Every time he explained something, he'd slip into that tone and you would just want to listen to him.

Able thought The Doctor's voice was quickly becoming far too much like a drug habit that the ginger never wanted to get rid of.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Able's enthralled state was broken by the sound that was extremely familiar. A rather feminine sigh, followed by the sound of a body hitting the floor.

"Lover, you could do so much better."

"I'm beginning to see that now."

The Doctor just erupted into a careless laughter, although maybe there was a hint of mocking in there, jealousy at its finest, "Well, he's your boyfriend."

"Not anymore." Rose said simply, not even bothering to look at the slumped form, "Next trip we aren't bringing him, and I can get a proper apology trip."

The Doctor winced slightly, but nodded quickly, and he wanted her forgiveness. Wanted it more than he thought possible, "Wherever and whenever you want. Your choice, I will grant it if it's within the TARDIS' capabilities."

"Good."

Now that, is one hell of an apology, Able thought to himself, almost wishing that it was him that had been mad at The Doctor, "The Doctor, I have a lot of questions."

"I thought you might." The Doctor said, looking straight at Able, "You are far too curious not to have them, The Able, fantastic human that you are."

A few moments later, Adam had woken up and Able was drilling The Doctor for information. How did the Earth gain five moons? What exactly was a mega-city? What happened to the First through Third Great and Bountiful Human Empire's? Each was answered by a thrilled Doctor before they got to an intersection and the Time Lord went on to say, "You're gonna like this fantastic period in history. The human race at its most intelligent, culture, art, politics. This era has got the fine food, good manners –"

Then, chaos occurred.

Now, Able quickly observed that by his standards, these human beings were not exactly all that intelligent, good mannered, or eaters of fine cuisine. This could gave just been him sticking to his own ideals too much, maybe the meaning of those words changed with the times.

The Doctor seemed suitably confused as well though, which changed Able's opinion rather quickly, "My watch must be wrong..."

Able leaned over toward The Doctor and compared, "Well, mine's the same, and I think we both know who has the superior watch."

The Doctor looked at his ginger companion in utter deadpan, "You, shut up." The Doctor then took another look around, as though studying his environment intensely, looking for inaccuracies, and something about that sharp look in his eye was extremely appealing to Able –

Or it would have been had his best friend not only just came through an emotional roller coaster involving The Doctor.

"Yes... This is definitely weird."

Able thought it over for a minute, "You know what else is weird. Century 2000, and not a single non-human other than yourself on this station that I've seen thus far. Considering what you alluded to about the 51st century, that's a bit off. Instead this place is pure human... That's not right."

"That's a good point, The Able, just like I would point out that my history is perfect. So is my time sense, and thus, something is really wrong with this..." The Doctor paused for a moment, before wrapping an arm around Adam's shoulders as the boy looked around with amazement still, "Adam, me old mate, you must be simply starving."

"No, I'm just time sick." Adam stated.

Able rolled his eyes, "So glad you could make up a term for your fainting, but we could all just keep it simple and call it what it is."

This Adam was starting to get worse than Mickey, and Able hadn't been sure that was possible. Then again, in their last meeting Mickey had proved himself...

"Oi mate, how much is a Cronk Burger?" The Doctor yelled to the fast food joint.

"Two and twenty sub-credits sweetheart, now get some cash and join the queue." The owner said over the roar of the crowd.

A few moments later, The Doctor had lead them over to an ATM machine and pressed his sonic screwdriver against it. The computer systems in this century would surely be too complicated for the sonic watch... Just another thing that Able would need to change and add in the next time he got the chance. The Doctor handed the credits to Adam, and started to move away.

"Don't spent it all on sweets, kids."

"How does it work?" Adam asked.

"Go and find out, no need to nag me about it. The thing is Adam, that when it comes to Time Travel, you don't get a guide book, you throw yourself in, you use the wrong pronouns, you get slapped for offending people, you end up married to royalty in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries back-to-back... Or is that just me... Regardless, you got to figure it out yourself! That's part of the experience."

The Doctor walked away after that speech, and Able followed after.

"Did I make it seem like I wanted company, The Able?"

"Well, The Doctor, it was quite the opposite, which is what has me so curious. You wouldn't try to halt my curiosity, would you?" Able looked up at The Doctor, liking the fact light banter brought a bit more of that light into the Time Lord's eyes.

"The Enabler, your curiosity brings far too much to the foreground for me to turn it away." The Doctor said, and somehow using that extension, a title that Able knew was so fitting for himself...

It was intimate, and it surprised Able a lot that he felt in such a away. The title was so him, so perfectly fitting, and he could feel a flush of shame build to his cheeks. Being an enabler surely wasn't a good thing. An enabler is a person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another. Yet, this was The Doctor, and Able was exactly that, an Enabler, and thus couldn't ask the man to not use the title, despite how rude and somewhat hurtful it was.

They moved on, and Able didn't say another word until they met up with what The Doctor seemed to be looking for, "Erm, this is going to sound utterly daft, but could you tell us where we are?"

He asked this question to a couple of woman, who quickly looked at The Doctor strangely for the question, as the Time Lord had predicted.

"Floor 139, wonder if they could have written it any bigger..." The dark-skinned woman of the couple commented sarcastically.

"Floor 139 of what exactly?"

"Must have been some hell of a party." The woman said again, still looking at the two strangely.

Able just gave her a grin, "Oh, like you wouldn't believe. You see, me and this guy right here? We were actually on Earth when the party started, can you believe we ended up all the way on this station? But the Tree we had between us, oh she was a beauty..."

The Doctor just nodded with a manic grin, preferring to get answers, no need not to let The Able have a bit of fun when getting them.

"Well, that's certainly an impressive drunk travel."

"Nono, not drunk, it was the pheromones, oh she was an impressive specimen, said that she was getting a new job around here, but no idea where here was, too distracted, you see." Able farther explained, and oh the childish joy he was getting out of spinning the little web of lies was far too great to ever stop.

"Well... You're on Satellite Five." The other woman spoke, cutting across the dark-skinned woman before another sarcastic reply could be shot.

"You can't be serious... Getting on board because of some threesome you were having with a Tree..." The dark-skinned woman interjected, "Oh, is this some sort of test from the upper management?"

What an assumption that was. Able almost though his story was more believable in the face of that random conclusion.

"You've got us, far too clever, you are." The Doctor mocked agreed, before pulling out his psychic paper, "The Doctor and The Able, inspectors assigned by top management."

"We were warned about this in basic training. All workers have to be versed in company promotion."

"Right, Fire away, ask your questions. If it get's be to Floor 500, I'll do anything." The dark-skinned woman finally said, looking almost too eager, borderline fanatical.

"Why, what happens on Floor 500?" The Doctor asked.

"The walls are made of gold, which you should know, so... This is what we do." The woman stated, walking toward a screen. Able was starting to mentally list a bunch of questions that occurred to him, although for the time being just observed, "Latest news, sandstorms on the New Venus Archipelago, leaving 200 dead. Glasgow water riots into their third day. Space-lane 37 closed by sunspot activity. Over on the Bad Wolf Channel, we have The Face of Boe, who just announced he's pregnant."

"Really?! Brilliant! Jack told me all about that pregnancy, good for him." Able said, his lips curving into a toothy grin as he thought of the friend he'd made at Platform One.

"That, and everything else, we are the news, we are the ones that write it, package it, and get it out there for consumption." The dark-skinned woman said, and she had a fire in her eyes, clearly determined and hopeful that her drive would take her places, "I'm Cathica, and that over there is Suki. Please take note of that."

Suddenly an buzzer went off, and clearly break for these people was over. The group converged once again and, acting as Management still, Able, The Doctor, Rose, and Adam followed Cathica the station she worked under the pretense of having an inspection.

...

...

...

"Now everybody be on your best behavior, we have a management inspection today." Cathica spoke, gesturing toward The Doctor and Able, who gave nearly simultaneous little waves. Cathica then turned toward The Doctor, "How do you want it, by the book?"

The Doctor nodded, "Right from the scratch, thanks."

"After which, we will ask our questions." Able added.

"Okay, so ladies and gentlemen, multisex, undecided, and or robots, my name is Cathica Santini Khadeni. That is, Cathica with a C, just in case you want to write that to floor 500 praising me, and please, do." Cathica added, and her ego definitely filled the room.

Able fought the urge to smile as he bounced on his toes. Year 200,000 and people are greeting each other with more than just ladies and gentlemen, but also multisex, undecided, and robots... The advancement was amazing as a society. The ginger wished that he could bag some of that open mindedness and set it free in the 21st century.

"Please, feel free to ask any questions. The process of news gathering must be open, honest, and non-biased, as is company policy." Cathica lectured in a matter-of-fact tone.

Suki interrupted, "Actually... It's the law."

A law that prevents the news from being bias? Every news organization in the 21st century could use that... Able was starting to get jealous.

"Okay, keep it calm and don't go showing off for the guests. Here we go, engage safety, and... Spike!" Cathica spoke, sitting down on the seat in the middle, her forehead opening up to show her brain, and light started to pour into her mind, Able was utterly fascinated.

In the light you could see, ones and zeros, binary code being pushed into the human brain. So they were using humans as large, super powered processors or something along those lines. The idea of a human brain was a running idea in science even when Able was from. Interesting, although Able was confused as to how her brain didn't burn out.

"That can't be healthy – Too much information entering her mind at once... How does her head not turn to cream? Also, having a hole into your brain, kind of unhygienic if you ask me." Able finished off, but he was far too entranced by what he was seeing to look away.

"All that compressed information, streaming into her. It's got to be reports from every city, every country, ever planet, and they all get packaged inside her head. She becomes part of the software, and her brain is the computer. Of course, like The Able said, if she remembered any of that, her brain would burn out relatively quickly. Instead, the information flows through her, using her as a director, and she decides in the moment what she will report on, then the knowledge flows out. When it's all done, she doesn't remember a thing. To her credit though, you'd have to be quite clever to be considered for such a thing. If a moron tried it, their brain would surely fry." The Doctor explained, starting to walk around, watching with a fine tooth comb in his expressive eyes.

"What about all these people around the edges?" Rose asked, although she didn't bother to look at The Doctor, remaining awkwardness at the sight of him most likely.

"They all have little chips in their head, connecting them to her. She picks what they report, they are the ones that sort it all out into the cohesive stories, and through them, the 600 channels transmit. Every fact in the empire beams out of this station."

"With monopolies comes corruption." Able commented.

The Doctor gave him a grin, "Exactly! But how and why?"

"I can see inside of her brain." Adam interrupted the brainstorming, looking a mixture of sickened, alarmed, and awed.

Able clicked his tongue, "Technically, you can see the outside of her brain... You going to get 'time sick' again?"

"No, this technology... It's... It's amazing." Adam spoke, and Able was quickly confirming his opinion on the guy. Clearly he wasn't to be trusted, he was almost too greedy. Of course, Able was much the same, he wanted to look at something like that and understand it. The sonic watch was proof enough of this, but the difference here was that Able didn't want money... Whereas Adam worked for Statten of all people.

The Doctor interrupted though, "The technology is wrong."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, looking at Adam instead of The Doctor.

Before The Doctor could explain though, Suki rocketed backward from the console as though she'd been zapped. The other people were forced to spot as well, looking around in confusion. The power went out, for whatever reason, and the beam of binary that was going through Cathica's brain stopped, the door closed soon after.

"Come off it Suki, we weren't even half way done, what was that for?" Cathica asked, perhaps harsher than was needed, but the 'Management' was present, not the best time to screw up.

"Sorry, must've been a glitch."

"Promotion!" The loudspeaker announced, and all of the reporters listened in rapt attention.

"I don't believe it... Floor 500." Suki muttered in awe as her name was called out, rather inattentive to her friends rage at the unfairness of it all, "I applied on the off chance that I might get it, and they've said yes!"

"That's so not fair; I have been applying there for three years." Cathica growled out.

...

...

...

The whole group of time travelers followed the two journalists toward the lift where a still slighted Cathica said goodbye to her friend. At least, Cathica put on a happy face for her friend, up until the point that the lift took off.

"Good riddance."

"You're talking like you'll never see her again. She's only going upstairs." The Doctor stated.

Able saw his chance for some of the questions that he'd been building up to for awhile now, "Why do all of you want to go to Floor 500 so much? You say that the walls are made of gold, that's great, what's that do for you? Why aren't there any non-human species here? Why is there only one news station? How many people do this news broadcasting thing?"

Able fired back to back questions toward Cathica relentlessly, his curiosity begging him to figure it all out, and as he spoke, he was bouncing on his toes excitedly, wanting more pieces of the puzzle.

"Once someone goes to Floor 500, they don't come back." Cathica answered The Doctor first, before turning toward Able with a strange look on her face upon seeing his current demeanor, "Because Floor 500 is a major promotion, everyone wants it! I suppose the immigration has tightened up a bit because of the current situation... And a few choice teams do most of the work."

"You don't even know what comes along with the promotion you want, do you?" Able asked, already knowing the answer.

Cathica seemed to be getting irritated with the questions though. Able was almost surprised when after a little sidebar with Adam, Rose came over and joined him and The Doctor. He would have expected her to avoid because of the awkwardness involved, but it would seem that she was pushing through that feeling stronger than he'd thought.

Not even a few moments later, The Doctor was scanning the walls with his sonic and following the wires down to a room full of circuits that seemed to connect the whole of the station. He quickly started to rummage through the room, messing with the equipment and rerouting and connecting wires using his sonic.

"We probably shouldn't be here, could you give it a rest?" Cathica said, looking around the room impatiently.

"You've never been to another floor? Not even one floor down?" The Doctor asked completely disregarding her question.

She shrugged, "I went to floor sixteen when I first arrived, that's medical. I got my head done there, then I came straight up here. At Satellite Five, you work, eat, and sleep on the same floor unless you get promoted. That's it..." She trailed off, "You're not management, are you?"

"At last, she has a clever thought." The Doctor jibbed.

"You don't think it's a bit weird Cathica? You never see people from other floors, you don't technically know what's on Floor 500 but you want it so damn bad. You've worked here for years, but presumably this is the first time you'd met someone from 'management'. You don't think something's a bit off about that?"

"That's just the way it's done." She snapped, looking frustrated.

Able narrowed his eyes at her, "Or maybe, that's just the way your brain has been molded to think. After all, you let them in there every day without much thought as to who is pushing knowledge through those synapses of yours."

"The Able is right, you're a journalist, where's the Muckraker-Attitude you're meant to have in regards to your job. In some aspects, I guess things have gone downhill since 1900." The Doctor said, blatantly insulting the dark-skinned woman, if her reaction of deep offense was any clue.

Able wrapped an arm about Rose's shoulder, "My Lover here is a better reporter than you'll ever be. She asks all the right questions, if The Doctor is to be believed."

Rose gave a smile, and turned toward Cathica, "You mentioned before the reason aliens weren't part of this, could you expand on that."

"See! Look at her, she's brilliant!"

Rose gave an even brighter smile at her friend, elbowing him in the side, before turning toward Cathica for her answer.

"I don't know really, there are a bunch of threats. Usual stuff that just built up. The price of space warp doubled, so that kept the visitors away. Then the government on Chavic Five collapsed, there was that dust storm, just things, that's all."

The Doctor looked mostly thoughtful, "All adding up to one great fact, and you hadn't even noticed..."

"Doctor, I think that if there was any kind of conspiracy, Satellite Five would have seen it. We see everything."

"That's almost as ridiculous as Statten's claim that he owned the internet. The sure arrogance in that claim is more than The Doctor's claim that Time Lords are superior to Humans. The Universe is far too great for one little satellite to know it all. Especially true because someone must be controlling the information, and 'someone' is always always bias." Able spoke, narrowing his eyes at Cathica, disliking the willful stupidity she displayed. So much for how open minded she'd seemed before, making excuses like that for the company she worked for.

The Doctor went on to add, "It's that kind of attitude that really clues us into what's going on here. The attitudes, the way people think, it's all stunted. Even this technology is held back by something like 100 years. So, Cathica, tell me. Humanity has been set back about ninety years, when did Satellite Five start to broadcast?"

"Ninety One years ago." She replied reluctantly.

Rose shook her head, "Someone had to have noticed. Ninety One years of corruption, and the entire Universe watching..."

"I'll bet you anything that money's involved. Makes the Satellite go around." Able alluded.

The Doctor went back to messing with the wires after that, both Rose and Able watching him work. Cathica was looking around anxiously, hoping that no one came into the room in that moment. She was clearly getting him and more agitated.

That is the sight of a working mind, Able thought to himself, allowing a grin to cross his face.

"This has nothing to do with me! I'm going back to work." Cathica said before promptly changing her mind, "I can't just leave can I..."

"Why is it so hot in here... You would think that year 200,000 we could get decent air conditioning." Rose mentioned, giving a significant look toward The Doctor, the two met eyes for a moment, and Rose quickly broke contact.

The Doctor quickly hide the sadness that action gave him, and went into a manic grin, "Exactly! Look at you Rose Tyler, asking all the right questions. Why is it so hot?"

Suddenly, there was a schematic on the screen of the station, detailing all the floors and passage ways. Immediately, Able's eyes caught something interesting.

"Ohhhh, I see it." Able mentioned, nodding his head toward the pad.

The Doctor pointed it over to Rose and the reporter, "There are Satellite Fives pipes, all the plumbing, look at the layout here."

"This is ridiculous. You've got access to the computer's core, you can look through the achieves, the news, the stock exchange, you could destroy the Empire with this, and you want to look at the pipes?" Cathica asked, her incredulousness clear.

"The ventilation system, cooling ducts, ice filters, all of it working to channel the air downward." Rose said, after looking at the diagram for awhile.

The Doctor practically jumped in the air, "Yes! That's what I'm saying! Why? Why would they do that, it doesn't make any sense. Something up there must be generating tons of heat though, so let's find out." The Doctor was bouncing on his toes, extremely similar to the way Able did, and that frenzied grin still upon his face.

"You can't, you need a key." Cathica pointed out stubbornly.

"The keys are just codes, and I have access to the codes right here. There we go, override two one five point nine, annnnnd opened." The Doctor said as things flashed along the screen in tandem, "A bit fast though, even for me. I suppose someone up there has a crush on me."

"Have you see you?" Able teased, keeping it friendly.

The Doctor gave Able a raised eyebrow, and turned toward the lift, "Right then, you lot."

"No way!" Cathica protested.

"Bye!" The Doctor said waving to her sarcastically.

Able clicked his tongue in thought, "I think it's probably best that we don't go together. Like you said, someone up there likes you. Not the best sign. I'll stick with Cathica just in case. Besides, maybe I can get through her thick head."

...

...

...

"You've started thinking. I can tell." Able said, looking directly at Cathica.

"It's all just, so insane. You've got to be making it up." The dark-skinned woman said defensively, "There's no way that we could have unintentionally fooled the entire Universe."

"You didn't, just the gullible beings. The clever ones, they know not to listen to news and take it as fact. I doubt that changed in the last 200,000 years." Able paused for a second, before pointing out logically, "What you need is to stop thinking with that weirdly fanatical devotion you have for this place. Nothing is perfect."

Cathica looked offended, but just a layer farther in, you could see the cogs in her mind turning.

"I'm going to go look for our missing team member, had to leave Rosie and The Doctor alone so that they could talk... Best get the 'Time Sick' Adam before be causes any issues. I'm sure that The Doctor wouldn't be opposed to someone like you going to help him figure it out, as long as she has more than mush behind pretty eyes." Able gave the woman a teasing smile, showing he hadn't meant anything by it, before walking off.

Smiling when he heard the lift start up again.

Typically in a new place, people don't wander that far from where they knew. So, Adam was most likely in one of the places that they'd already been too. First, Able checked the cafeteria like area, and when he didn't find Adam there, went toward the reporting room that they'd visited.

Upon opening the door, Able heard Adam's voice calling out, "Three... Two... One... Spike!"

...

...

...

The air in the lift was awkward, the two friends shifting uncomfortably. Rose looking around uncertainly, well The Doctor frantically kept his emotions under control.

"It's not that I don't like you." Rose stated suddenly, drawing The Doctor's eyes, "I just, I told Able that I wouldn't be able to look at you and not remember what you did... What you did was wrong. That's plain and simple, and I just..."

"Rose Tyler, you and that Lover of yours are amazing human beings with such capabilities in forgiveness." The Doctor added solemnly, in one of the few moments he wasn't showing the blonde his mask, "I just wanted to protect you."

"I won't forget." Rose stated simply, hoping The Doctor understood.

By the gravity of the sorrow in his eyes, he did.

"We'll be the best of friends, traveling the Universe, seeing the best most amazing things. Experiencing things that no one else has." Rose stated quickly after, giving The Doctor an almost sly smile, "Only after my apology trip, though."

"'I'm sure you'll think of something amazing." The Doctor stated, pushing his sadness down in favour of excitement, "Now, let's figure this thing out, shall we?"

The lift doors clicked open, and the heavy emotional atmosphere that was charged between the two of them diminished as they looked around the 500th floor. It was underwhelming, considering the walls weren't made of gold. Rose had actually believed Cathica's statement, how would she know otherwise, this was year 200,000 after all. A bit farther in, and the two were greeted with the sight of a white haired man with deep electric blue eyes pacing around.

"I started without you. This is fascinating really. Satellite Five contains every piece of information within the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. Birth certificates, shopping habits, bank statements, and you two, you don't exist! That's not even mentioning Able down there, if the reports are truth, he's almost a myth, a clever little tale, yet supposedly there he is." The man turned around suddenly and faced both The Doctor and Rose head on, "Not a trace of the two of you, not even the slightest kiss, and you travel with a myth. How to talk through life and not leave a single footprint..."

Rose caught someone familiar looking out of the corner of her eye and dashed forward, despite The Doctor warning her otherwise, "Suki! Suki!"

Suki, the girl who'd been promoted to Floor 500 not even an hour ago, frozen and her hands placed in the computer console, part of the network now, and nothing more.

"She's dead, Rose." The Doctor said as flatly as possible, walking over to stand next to Rose in case something happened, "They're using the chip in her head to make her brain work as a processor even after her body has given out."

"That's horrible..." Rose spoke breathlessly, staring at the body of the girl with horror in her eyes, unable to look away.

The Doctor wondered what he was doing. Here was Rose, who was so bright, the sun practically, and he drug her along with him. Now she was seeing all the great things, but all the horrible stuff that went along with it. How many times had this nineteen year old human seen someone die because The Doctor wanted to bring her along? The Able was a different story in quite a few ways. Able came to the TARDIS broken, but Rose was breaking with every trip just a little more, chipping away at the innocent soul that was within.

The Time Lord felt immeasurable guilt, no matter what he did, there always seemed to be some life on his hands.

The Able would understand though.

The Doctor felt wanton for his friend there, for their minds touching, for that comfort that he got. The comfort he was willing to ignore Able's growing feelings for, he was able to ignore his urge to run for, a feeling that he so needed now, especially with Rose being 'unable to forget'. Most of all though, he wanted to feel the touch on his mind that had been broken apart by the destruction of his planet, his mind that used to have billions of connections to his species, now empty aside from the TARDIS and occasionally The Able.

The white haired man had a smirk on his face, but it was empty, "Now, it's so rare for me not to know something. Who are you two?"

Rose was still looking at Suki, helplessly trying to wake her, leaving The Doctor to face their current enemy, "It doesn't matter, because we're off. Nice to meet you."

The Doctor reached down and grabbed Rose's arm, shocking her out of the mourning and trying to get her to stand up. To Rose's credit, she quickly came through with an understanding of the situation and looked to The Doctor for instructions as they tried to move –

They were grabbed by the 'computer' that was Suki and several other dead reporters, held there. Rose couldn't help the shocked and disgusted gasp that left her mouth as the cold hands wrapped around her.

"Tell me who you are!" The white haired man stated insistently.

The Doctor couldn't help but think the humans overall demeanor reminded him as a whole of The Master. The similarities were rather uncanny, and that just but The Doctor even more on edge, "Since that information is what's keeping us alive, I'm hardly going to go saying it, am I?"

"Well then, perhaps my Editor in Chief can convince you otherwise."

"Who is that exactly?" The Doctor stated.

The sort of calm back and forth between enemies, the nearly bantering way they were going back and forth. So much like The Master. The Time Lord could actually feel himself being rather nostalgic for his old enemy.

"It may interest you to know that this is not the Fourth Great and Bountiful Human Empire. In fact, it's not actually human at all. It's merely a place where humans happen to live."

The Doctor could hear the growling voice, swearing up a storm at the idea of humans being allowed to live their. The Doctor didn't doubt that the Old Girl hadn't translated that for Rose, darling that she was.

"Yeah, sorry, my client tells me that it's a place that humans are allowed to live by the kind permission of benefactor." His tone almost hitting an actually apologetic note.

Almost.

The white haired man snapped his fingers and pointed toward the ceiling. The Doctor would have recognized it as one of the Consciousness' had the language not been all wrong. Never mind the fact that the Time Lords had exterminated most of them in the early wars. Times when the Time Lords were warring with the remnants of the Universe before for supremacy. It had been a miracle to find that one on Earth.

"You mean they is what's in charge of Satellite Five?" The Doctor stated, a mix of amazement and disbelief.

"They are in charge of the entire human race." The white haired man spoke, with almost pride at that achievement, "For almost a hundred years mankind has been shaped, guided by my client. My client stifled their ambition, and turned himself into humanities guiding light! The Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy Hadrojassic Maxarodenfoe, or in simpler terms, your Lord and Master."

The Jagrafess roared out in arrogance, yet it's language was so dirty, The Doctor winced at it, wishing the TARDIS wasn't translating all of that.

"I call him Max." The white haired man spoke, with a small shrug and mad grin.

Cuffs were soon placed on them, despite The Doctor pleading for them to leave Rose alone. Rose had looked touched at this, and had responded in kind, both of them helplessly fighting against their attackers – Especially in the face of the other being put in danger.

"You can't possibly hide something on this scale, someone must have noticed." Rose stated, still pulling on the cuffs, trying to loosen them.

The Doctor sent an appraising look her way – Wishing in that moment he could shatter the rules of time and stop himself from making that mistake with the Dalek so that Rose Tyler could look at him as she had before. Brilliant she was, simply brilliant.

"From time to time, there is someone that speaks out against it. The computer systems allow me inside their brains, I can see what they think, see the smallest hints of doubt, and I can crush it." The man spoke, grinning madly, "And then they just carry on their little lives as though nothing happened. Strutting about downstairs and all over Earth without the slightest clue, thinking they are individuals. Really though, they are just cattle, they always have been. The Jagrafess hasn't changed anything in that respect."

The distaste was oh so familiar, The Doctor knew how to deal with The Master though, which meant this mimicry was nothing comparable, "What's his life span?"

"Three thousand years." The mimic spoke, catching onto The Doctor's meaning.

"That's one hell of a metabolism generating all that heat, which is why Satellite Five is so hot. You pump it out of the creature, channel it downstairs, the Jagrafess get's to stay cool and living with the Satellite acting as it's life support system." The Doctor gave the white haired man a manic grin, "I wonder though, they can't even move, this Jagrafess. Depended on you, it is. You don't think you'd make so much more money if you would just take over for yourself? Just pretending that the Jagrafess was still in charge?"

The white-haired man paused for a moment, angry roars in the background erupted, but The Doctor could tell that the seed had been planted.

"Yes Sir." The white-haired mimic spoke toward the ceiling before turning back toward The Doctor, "Max is getting quite frustrated. You're an unknown, and that's why you are so dangerous. Knowledge is power after all."

Suddenly, pain erupted through their bodies. The Doctor grimced and clenched his teeth. Rose on the other hand, screamed in pain, not at all as used to pain as the Time Lord was, and therefore had a lower tolerance. Maybe The Doctor could go through the torture for awhile, but he wouldn't allow Rose to go through it, nor would he allow Able if he'd been there.

"Stop! Leave her alone!" The Doctor screamed, and the pain faded, "I'm The Doctor and this is Rose Tyler, we're nothing, just wondering."

"Just wondering with a myth in your presence? I'd sooner believe in the Bad Wolf." The white-haired man grinned out.

"I'm telling the truth! I wouldn't risk my companions health because of something like that." The Doctor reasoned, keeping his tone level.

"Maybe, but who do you work for? Who sent you? What's your relation to The Able? Who knows about us? Who exactly –" The man paused for a moment, and gained a gleam to his eye, "Time Lord."

"What?" The Doctor gasped, wondering how he'd come about that knowledge? The Able? No, the ginger cared too much for his Lover and the Time Lord, so what?

"Oh yes! The last of the Time Lords in his traveling machine. Oh, with his little human girl and the mysterious The Able as well. Oh, the myth is a Time Traveler that certainly explains it..." The white-haired male spoke, reaching over toward Rose's cheek.

Rose spat at him, the spit hitting their jailer right on his left eye.

He wiped it from his eye and slapped her right across the face, The Doctor jerked at the action, wanting to defend the blonde, and the restrains strained for a moment, the Time Lords advanced strength almost doing them in.

"Now, where was I... Oh yes! Time Travel."

The Doctor gritted his teeth, and forced himself to stay calm, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Someone's been telling you lies."

"Young Mister Adam Mitchell?" The blue-eyed man asked, snapping his fingers causing a projection to appear on screen, showing Adam with his brain open withering in pain from the journalists' terminal.

Rose stared in disbelief, "Oh my god, how could he do this – I'm sorry, Doctor." Her gone coated in guilt, having been the one to insist Adam came.

"It's not your fault, it's his." The Doctor hissed, his eyes lighting in anger. This stupid, stupid human was putting the TARDIS in danger, the only thing that The Doctor had left of his people. The Time Lords oldest and most faithful companion –

Smugly, the mimic went on to state, "I now know everything about you. Every piece of information in his head is now mind. You have infinite knowledge, Doctor. The Human Empire is tiny compared to what you have seen in your T-A-R-D-I-S, TARDIS."

"You'll never get your hands on her, I'll die first." The Doctor spat.

"Die all you like, I don't need you, I've got the key."

"Well, this is interesting. Cathica didn't experience pain like this when she did it. I suppose that might mean the connection is going the other way. You've made a mistake dear Adam, and a phone as well. Planned on making a quick penny huh. Statten would be proud." A familiar voice could be heard, emanating from the screen, and the TARDIS key had floated upward, but was grabbed by thin fingers and a familiar figure, "What's this? Red's key... Oh dear Adam, you greedy little thing, you've put my Lover and The Doctor in danger, haven't you."

The Doctor let out a sigh of relief the second he'd heard the first syllable. The Able wouldn't let anything happen to the TARDIS, having someone that he could trust, knowing that The Able would take care of the situation, it felt good. That didn't help the situation all that much though, The Doctor knew he needed to get himself and Rose free.

But the TARDIS was safe, and it meant so much.

"You know Adam, I'm suddenly feeling really curious about what might happen to you if I just..." Able's voice said, before the ginger grabbed Adam's ankle and pulled him violently from the chair. The connection broke, and there was silence from the other side. Adam form was still, at least unconscious, at most... "You didn't quite deserve a gentle dismantling anyway, considering. Well then, let's get us back to Red. Not that you deserve to be on board her."

Rose yelped in alarm, watching her best friend treating Adam so roughly, ultimately unsure if it was anywhere near deserved. Nothing actually happened, only the potential had been there, and who knew would could have happened, if Adam was dead... She wasn't sure she could forgive Able. Rose tried to hide her anxiety and worry as she simply glared at their captor.

Everyone in the room watched as the ginger practically dragged Adam out of the room and toward the TARDIS.

The Doctor gained a toothy grin as his favourite ginger faded from sight, "You were saying, about having the key?"

"Well, I suppose all myths have bits of truth to them. I suppose we'll simply have to take care of you, then take the TARDIS by force."

The Time Lord just continued to grin, not at all worried about the apes getting into his TARDIS, the technology didn't exist here. Not for billions of years would they even come close. Suddenly an chirping alarm sounded, startling all of them to attention.

"What's happening?" The white-haired man spluttered, "Someone's disengaged the safety."

A snap later, Cathica was shown sitting in a chair with the compressed information flowing into her brain. The Doctor and Rose both looked relieved and happy to see the woman. Clearly Able had gotten through to her, or perhaps, she got through to herself.

"Who's that?" The man spoke frantically and in disbelief.

"That's Cathica!" Rose explained sarcastically, but looking utterly delighted.

The Doctor looked similarly inclined, "Look at her, the clever girl, using what she knows. She's tapped into the stuff we talked about, the pipes and filters, The life support system is about to crash, because of one clever little human."

The operators tried to stop her, but Cathica was far too determined. The computer exploded, and Cathica would live, and she had succeeded where billions of humans had failed. The Doctor loved that sort of thing, the little people having big impacts. He could literally feel the fixed point in time sliding into place as the human raced went back toward their true path of the Great and Bountiful Human Empire.

Rose got loose and dug around in The Doctor's pockets, not finding the time to be awkward as she pulled out the sonic screwdriver and pointed it toward the cuffs. Not a second later, they clicked open. Rose was glad that she'd learned to use the sonic in the months they'd been traveling together – Now it was bittersweet, like hours upon hours wasted in something that ended up being nothing.

Soon enough, they were off, intending on making their way toward the TARDIS, but The Doctor couldn't resist, "Oi, mate, wanna bank on a certainty? Angry, free Doctor, massive heat, massive body, and no one in the mood to save you... Massive bang! See you in the headlines!"

...

...

...

"You fantastic human!" The Doctor exclaimed the second he saw Able standing in front of him. The ginger was leaning against 'Red' waiting for the other time travelers to return. Before Able could even blink, he was held in an embrace, "Fantastic, The Able, thank you."

The heartwarming words were made heavier as The Doctor pressed into Able's mind gently, showing just how sincerely thankful he was for the ginger being there to protect the TARDIS. Able returned the feelings with a similar wave of emotions, and fell into the hug, squeezing The Doctor before pulling away.

He didn't want to distress Rose any – The blonde knew that Able had a thing for The Doctor. Able was sure of that. Which meant Able couldn't try anything even if he wanted to, not until the two of them had forgiven each other for the hurt caused, and only when those wounds healed... If even that.

Able kept the mental connection though, Rose wouldn't see it, so what harm could it do.

He sent across his feelings of worry for The Doctor and Rose when they had been captured, the spike of panic he had felt when he saw what Adam had been doing. The fiercely protective emotions that escaped along with the anger at what Adam had done.

"Is he okay?" Rose suddenly asked, breaking up the intimate sharing.

Able clicked his tongue, and said to Rose, "Sadly. Putting my Lover and our Doctor at risk, what was he thinking."

"What will you do with that friend of yours?" Cathica asked, jumping into the conversation.

"He's not my friend." The Doctor said, and anger swam through the connection, understandable anger that Able shared, though not to the same extent. Able's anger was less about the TARDIS and more about The Doctor and Rose.

Able quickly sent an apology to Red, who was only just faintly connected to the human Rift's mind.

"Actually, if it's any consolation, I think pulling him from that machine like I did fried quite a few brain cells. I doubt he's even capable of planning something like that again. A good enough punishment as any." There was a sense of vindication with that.

Rose winced, "Maybe we should just get him home as soon as possible and just leave him there."

"What do you mean? I want to come with you." Adam said, looking innocent.

The Doctor just grabbed the man by the shoulder and pushed him into the TARDIS none too gently, breaking the connection with Able as he did so. Rose and Able followed after without much pause other than a simple goodbye and thank you to Cathica.

The Doctor had never driven Red so smoothly and quickly as he had in that moment. Within five minutes, Adam was dropped off in his own century and The Doctor didn't look back, just scrambled the guys phone, clicked his fingers rather cruelly, and headed back into Red.

Rose looked a bit put off by it, but she also couldn't help but understand that someone stealing the TARDIS, The Doctor's home, was a big offense. She also got in the TARDIS without another word to Adam.

Able had never left when they dropped the guy off. He didn't deserve that courtesy.

"Tomorrow it's my pick." Rose suddenly chimed in as the TARDIS hit the vortex for the day.

The Doctor seemed suitably calmed at this point, "That it is, pick well Rose Tyler."

Rose graced the two of them with a small smile before heading toward her room. Able couldn't help but think that their friendship was starting to become more and more strained the longer they spent with The Doctor, at least on Rosie's side. What a helpless situation, since Able hadn't done anything but be himself. The trouble they got in just happened to display his more undesirable traits.

"You call my blue TARDIS Red, huh?" The Doctor suddenly asked, interrupting the light brooding.

This was more than likely purposeful. As Able had grown to know The Doctor well, The Doctor had grown to know the ginger.

Able gave The Doctor a teasing grin, "Well, I like being slightly contrary. Besides, I think she likes it."

"The Old Girl really has taken a liking to you. Helping you with your sonic, letting you call her Red of all things." The Doctor said, amusement clear.

"She's put a drivers manual on my bedside table. Think she's trying to tell me something?" Able spoke, alluding to The Doctor's driving skill.

"Oi! I'll have you know that manual is utter rubbish. Threw it into the nearest super nova and never looked back." The Time Lord spoke, looking honestly proud of himself.

Able shook his head with a chuckle, before giving The Doctor a friendly tease, "The Doctor, you really are something else. I'm off to bed, but if you want to join me..."

The Doctor gasped and put a hand to his heart as thought hurt, "You think I'm easy?! I'll have you know The Able, I don't put out like that."

The two went their separate ways after that. It struck Able just how hard it was to try not to go after The Doctor. The man was simply too brilliant for his own good. The Doctor couldn't help but frown down at his feet at just about the same time, wondering why it was that he didn't feel like running. Awkward and hurt as he was about Rose, he wanted to stay, wanted to continue, and for the first time in a good 700 years, he felt weirdly content just letting things play out.

R&R

Alright, so the changes in Rose's character making her stronger and more moral are due to her being friends with Able for years. As for Able and The Doctor, I'm having a few issues writing their relationship without accidentally fucking with Rose. I've worked hard on my Rose character to make her strong and likable, a big and important part of the story despite the fact there is an OC. Please let me know if I have still accomplished that.