Jack entered the consol room to see Martha sitting staring at the mushroom shaped controls.
"Hey." Jack greeted, sitting next to her but remaining a respectable distance.
"Is he always like this? Does he always pick up people then drop them off after one trip?" Jack shook his head.
"He's a bit…temperamental. He dropped me off only to come back for me something to do with his regeneration he forgot me."
"Regeneration?"
"Never mind." He waved her off.
"Was Rose originally a one trip person too?" Jack opened his mouth to speak. "You can tell me the truth."
"No." He sighed. "When the Doctor and Rose met he was a different person, but they just clicked, they travelled as friends never wanting to cross the line. I think that's why the kept on travelling together. It wasn't until he changed that they decided to see each other and before they knew it they had a new family member."
"Seems a bit sudden." Martha told him honestly, but not in a nasty manner.
"If you knew the Doctor he never does anything sudden but Rose is the exception to the rule."
"Why did he offer me this trip then?"
"He wanted to say thank you."
"I thought that he might've…could've…" She trailed off. "Doesn't matter now, he's happy. Besides after what happened I can safely say I feel absolutely nothing for him." She smiled genuinely at him. Jack smiled and nodded.
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Rose stepped out of the shower wrapping the towel round her tightly. She slowly made her way into her room and pulled out what clothes she planned on wearing. Abruptly the door banged open and she whirled round to face her intruder.
"What happened?" She asked as she saw the blood over her husband's shirt and tie before seeing that it was coming from her husband's nose.
"Feb oner."
"What?" She walked towards him pulling his jacket off, with some difficulty.
"I fell over!" He told her letting go of his nose allowing a fresh spurt of blood out of his nose; Rose grabbed his hand and put it back on his nose. She slowly removed his tie and shirt.
"Lean back." She told him, he did as he was told as she set about cleaning his face. "How did you fall over?"
"I tripped over one of Tala's toys, no need to guess which one although I'll give a clue it's black says exterminate." Rose shook her head slightly.
"You're lucky you didn't break your nose." He leaned forward but she shoved his head back. After a few minutes the blood flow seemed to ebb right down to nothing. "I think you can lean forward now."
"Thanks." He told her.
"You're welcome." She pressed a kiss to his cheek; he wrapped her into a hug.
"I love you."
"I love you too." He held onto her. "although this is nice." She told him, his face buried in the crook of her neck, "I really need to get changed, I'm dripping." He snorted before releasing her and standing up. Rose started to laugh as she saw his shirt was all wet. "You needed to get changed anyway." She laughed, his only reply was the thrown tie that narrowly missed her head.
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"Just one trip. That's what I said. One trip, in the TARDIS, and then home. Although – I suppose we could – stretch the definition. Try one trip to the past, one trip to the future. How do you fancy that?" The Doctor asked, after Jack whispered something to him.
"No complaints from me!"
"How about a different planet?"
"Can we go to yours?" Jack and Rose froze as soon as the words slipped out of her mouth. They shared a worried glance.
"Ahh, there's plenty of other places!" Rose sighed in relief and continued to fasten Tala into her pram. Martha obviously hadn't seen their reactions as she continued.
"Come on, though! I mean, Planet of the Time Lords, that's got to be worth a look! What's it like?"
"Well, it's beautiful, yeah."
"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?" Martha pressed.
"Suppose it is."
"Great big temples and cathedrals!"
"Yeah."
"Lots of planets in the sky?"
"The sky's a burnt orange, with the Citadel enclosed in a mighty glass dome, shining under the twin suns. Beyond that, the mountains go on forever – slopes of deep red grass, capped with snow." Rose knew that talking about his planet was difficult for him.
"Can we go there?" Rose decided to relieve him.
"We don't want to go home." She told Martha. "There's no fun when you have to go home."
"This is much better. Year five billion and fifty-three, planet New Earth! Second hope of mankind! Fifty thousand light years from your old world, and we're slap bang in the middle of New, New York. Although, technically it's the fifteenth New York from the original, so it's New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New, New York. One of the most dazzling cities ever built."
"It's raining!" Rose cried as they stepped out of the TARDIS, pushing the pram. "Why have we come here again?"
"Again?" Martha asked.
"You dare Rose, you dare!" He warned as he saw the grin spread across her face, pointing a finger at her he watched Rose closely making sure she wasn't going to say anything, unfortunately he'd forgotten that Rose had told someone else.
"Ooh baby, I'm beating out a samba!" Theta shook his head in absolute despair as Jack did the dance as well.
"You did that?" Martha asked as she laughed at Jack.
"I was possessed, please don't ask." The group jumped as stalls opened up selling what to Martha looked like plastic disks.
"Happy, Happy, lovely happy Happy!"
"Anger! Buy some Anger!"
"Are they selling drugs?" Rose asked suddenly.
"I think they're selling moods."
"Same thing, isn't it?" Martha said. "So that's the human race five billion years in the future. Off their heads on chemicals."
"You didn't mention this last time." Rose told him accusingly. Suddenly Tala's pram rolled forward into Jack as someone grabbed Rose from behind. "THETA!" She screamed. A man threw his arm around her neck, while the woman pointed her gun at the Doctor, Rose struggled but couldn't break his hold on her, they began to pull her backwards.
"I'm sorry, I'm really, really sorry. We just need three, that's all." The man cried.
"No, let her go! I'm warning you, let her go! Whatever you want, I can help. Both of us, we can help. But first you've got to let her go! Give my wife back to me!"
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Sorry." The Doctor growled in frustration at the couple running after them.
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"If you don't let go of me I swear you'll regret it!"
"Shut up!"
"Have you ever heard of the Oncoming Storm?" She saw a faint glimmer of recognition in their eyes. "How about my name? The Bad Wolf." The man's grip loosened as her recoiled in shock but he quickly grabbed her again.
"Give her some Sleep." He told the woman trembling.
"Don't put that stuff on me! Don't! It could kill me!" She panicked, who knew what medicines she couldn't have.
"It's just Sleep Fourteen."
"Don't!" The woman reached into the car behind her and pulled out a small disc, she pressed it into her neck. Immediately Rose succumbed to the sleep.
"Get on board." The pair began to load Rose into the car.
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The Doctor ran back towards Martha and Jack.
"Those people – who were they? Where did they take her?"
"They've taken her to the motorway. I'd give up now, darling. You won't see her again." The Doctor let out a cry of frustration
"He kept on saying three, we need three. What did he mean, three?"
"It's the car-sharing policy, to save fuel. You get special access if you're carrying three adults."
"This motorway – how do I get there?"
"Straight down the alley, keep going to the end. You can't miss it." He began to walk off in the direction the stallholder pointed. "Jack take Martha and Tala back to the TARDIS."
"What are you going to do?" Jack asked quietly.
"I'm going to find my wife and when I've found her, alive and well – and I will find her, alive and well – then I'm coming back. And this street is closing. Tonight!" He yelled. Jack watched the power crackle in his eyes, growing fiercer by the second.
"Doc, Good luck." Jack told him, before running towards the TARDIS with Martha and Tala.
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Rose slowly ripped the patch from her neck, wincing as it pulled at some hair. She saw the gun lying on the consol and grimaced in disgust – she was becoming more and more like the Doctor all the time.
"What do you want with me?" She asked startling her kidnappers, trying to shake of the nauseous feeling that was washing over her.
"What's your name?" The woman asked.
"Bad Wolf." Rose told them. These people didn't deserve to know her real name; she felt a ripple of pleasure, as they looked at her frightened. She realised that the feeling must be the same for the Doctor when he chose to release the Oncoming Storm, which is probably why he didn't release it; she quickly curbed it. "Call me Joan." Rose told them. They nodded slightly.
"Well, I'm Cheen, and this is Milo. And I swear we're sorry. We're really, really sorry. We just needed access to the fast line, but I promise, as soon as we arrive, we'll drop you off and you can go back and find your friend, and that thing you were pushing."
"He's my husband actually, and that 'thing' I was pushing and you shoved into my friend is my daughter!" She closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. "You're going to let me go." She laughed sharply. "Its still the same as kidnapping! TAKE ME BACK NOW!" She shouted, the couple looked at her in fear as her eyes glowed and a consol to her left exploded. The energy seemed to drain her, she felt weak for the first time in months.
"We can't we're on the motorway." Cheen told her. "It's one way."
"Is that fog?" Rose asked, realising she couldn't see anything outside.
"That's exhaust fumes."
"We're going out to Brooklyn. Everyone says the air's so much cleaner, and we couldn't stay in Pharmacy Town, 'cause …"
"Well, 'cause of me. I'm pregnant. We only discovered it last week. Scan says it's going to be a boy."
"Oh you're allowed to have a child but you take me from my daughter? When can you drop me off?" She asked sharply.
"In about six years."
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Rose physically managed to calm herself down, but it didn't stop the pain she was experiencing throughout her body.
Rose suddenly sensed something coming and grabbed onto the seat as hard as she could. Normally her husband could sense things like that, she wasn't used to the sensation.
"What's that? Air vents?" Rose asked as a loud rumble filled the car. The sound came again. "I know I may be a blonde to you but that sounds like something's alive to me."
"It's just – the hydraulics." Milo told her. "It's all exhaust fumes out there. Nothing could breathe in that."
"Calling Car Four Six Five Diamond Six. Repeat, calling Car Four Six Five Diamond Six." Rose closed her eyes and breathed deeply trying to establish a connection to her husband. Every time she felt close she became disorientated.
"Rose?" A voice whispered in her head.
"Yeah." She felt a wave of concern flood their link.
"You don't sound well and I'm guessing you don't feel well. I can feel it."
"I can't concentrate on you." She told him, as their link weakened.
"Don't try to contact me then. I can sense you without our link." He assured her. He chose to cut the link there to stop Rose from weakening further. She looked up at the passengers as Cheen began to scream.
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"Can you hurry it up?" Rose asked, as the car seemed to close in on her. She wanted fresh air.
"I'm at top speed!" Milo screamed.
"I'm sure a snail just whizzed past." Rose muttered. With all the fog the creatures couldn't see them so that must mean they could sense them. "Turn the engine off!"
"What?"
"Look these things can't see us so they can sense us. I'm in no hurry to be their next meal, so do as I say. Turn the engine off." The pair looked at her. "Its times like these I actually understand how my husband feels." The pair switched the engine off. Immediately the shaking and rumbling stopped.
"Joan, how did you know to do that?" Rose shrugged slightly.
"I'm used to getting into trouble. But usually I'm not the one who gets us out of it."
"Well, you better think of something, because we've lost the aircon. If we don't switch the engines back on, we won't be able to breathe."
"It just keeps getting better and better, how long?"
"Eight minutes."
"Fantastic." She muttered sarcastically.
"How are you feeling?" A voice came into her head.
"Oh the same old, you know stuck on the motorway, cramped up, eight minutes of air left, stomach pains, monsters attacking…"
"Eight minutes of air left?" The Doctor cried, making Rose wince.
"Long story," She sent a small laugh down her link. "You couldn't have taken us somewhere else? Cardiff? Barcelona? Atlantis? Tinlium?"
"It isn't that bad…""Theta, the Game Station was a picnic compared to here." She felt him smiling.
"Including the regeneration?""Including the regeneration. Where are you?""The city – well ghost city."
"Hang on – that's where everyone is going…"
"I know." Rose didn't press further, he'd tell her later. Suddenly her stomach began to cramp again. "Sit down Rose."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. I can feel it." Rose sat down. "What's your car number?" Rose looked around.
"Four – six – four - diamond – six."
"Just wait, I'll get you out of there.""I'll hold you to that."YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL
"OI! Car Oy! Car Four Six Five Diamond Six! Rose! Drive up!"
"I'm
here!"
"We can't go up! We'll hit the layer!" The Doctor and Rose rolled their eyes at the comment.
"Do as he says! Fly up."
"You've got access above! Now go!"
"It's daylight. Oh my God! That's the sky!"
"That my husband for you!" Rose smiled. "Never say never ever."
"And Car Four Six Five Diamond Six, I've sent you a flight path. Come to the Senate."
"See you soon." Rose called down the transmitter.
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"Thet.." Before Rose could even finish her statement the Doctor had wrapped his arms around her waist, desperately kissing her. Rose gladly responded, she sighed as his tongue met hers. Reluctantly he pulled back, resting his forehead on hers.
"Come on, there's someone I want you to see." He pulled her passed the skeletons.
"The Face of Boe?" Rose looked closer at the figure in the corner. "Novice Hame?" The former nun nodded.
"You have not aged either." Rose smiled. "You are as young as the day we met. Although your soul is a little older." Rose smiled.
"Unpossessed this time," She joked. Novice Hame didn't understand. The Doctor wrapped an arm around his wife's waist.
"He's the one that saved you, not me." The Doctor explained to her, kneeling down with her.
"My lord gave his life to save the city. And now he's dying."
"No, don't say that. Not old Boe. Plenty of life left." The Doctor half – pleaded.
"It's good to breathe the air once more." Boe told them, Rose smiled and gently touched the Face of Boe.
"I thought legend say that he's lived for billions of years. You're not going to give up now." Rose said voicing the Doctor's thoughts for him.
"Everything has its time. You know that, old friend, better than most." Boe told him.
"The legend says more."
"Don't. There's no need for that."
"It says that the Face of Boe will speak his final secret to a traveller."
"Yeah, but not yet. Who needs secrets, eh?" He looked at Rose and smiled, telling Rose his secrets had lifted a heavy weight from his chest.
"I have seen so much. Perhaps too much. I am the last of my kind — as you are the last of yours, Doctor." Rose didn't want to contradict the Face of Boe so she stayed quiet.
"That's why we have to survive. Both of us. Don't go." The Doctor's eyes began to tear, but neither of them were prepared for the Face of Boe's final words.
"I must. But know this, Time Lord. You are not alone."
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The Doctor moved away as Novice Hame began to weep. Rose watched as the Doctor sat down with his head in his hands. She slowly stood and made her way towards him. Rose gently ran her hand up and down his back trying to sooth him.
"He didn't know." He muttered.
"It's not your fault." Rose whispered into his ear.
"But his last words told me something I already knew."
"He didn't know that you knew already. You're don't really pay attention…I mean that…well it's just…" He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're not exactly the most observant person I know." He grinned at her, not even wanting to contradict his wife when he knew she was right.
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As the pair reached the edge of the city, the Doctor noticed Rose was growing paler. He stopped and pulled out his phone.
"You found it then." Rose asked a little breathless.
"Yeah, thought I might need it." After a short conversation with Jack the TARDIS materialised in front of them. He reached out to wrap an arm around her waist to help her inside. "Come on." Slowly he guided her inside.
"I'm perfectly fine." Rose told him as they neared the consol.
"You're gasping, pale, sweat…"
"It's just my time of the month." She told him. He paused looking her in the eyes.
"Rose, I've been through the 'time of the month' many times with you and I know for a fact this isn't it."
"Some are more painful than others." She tried.
"Do you want me to take a look?" Martha piped up suddenly. Rose realised she wasn't going to win when she saw Jack standing with his arms crossed.
"Okay, I'll be examined."
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Jack helped Rose onto the table as the Doctor had gone to send the TARDIS into the time vortex. Martha washed her hands in the corner of the room and grabbed a nearby stethoscope.
"Lift your shirt for me." Rose gingerly lifted it, when it was high enough Martha probed around her abdomen, Rose writhed slightly. "Does this hurt?" Rose nodded. "Here?" She nodded again. "Here?" Rose nodded. "I don't think its appendicitis." Martha probed a little lower and Rose tried to draw as far as she could away from her fingers.
"That hurts." Rose gasped.
"Do you suffer from IBS?"
"No." Rose winced as Martha continued to probe.
"You're not pregnant are you?" She asked, Rose choked out a laugh.
"No, not yet." She joked. Martha nodded, she moved towards Rose's chest and placed the cold metal of the stethoscope over her chest.
"Your heart beat…beats are rapid. Is that normal for a Time Lady?"
"They should beat at around the same pace as a human heart." Jack told her. Martha placed the stethoscope over Rose's hearts again.
"I need to perform some tests to establish what's wrong." She looked round the room. "Do you have a scanner?" Jack nodded and passed Martha a small object.
"There you go."
"This is a scanner?" She asked sceptical. "Shouldn't it take up at least half the room?"
"Some do, but that does the same job and can be taken anywhere." Martha looked at the device. "Press the yellow button." Martha did as she was told, the display easily lit up. "Now press the degree of scan – you want a full scan so that should be the third blue dot." Martha pressed it. "Now you can scan. When you've finished press the orange button." Martha slowly ran the scanner down Rose's body, guided by the green light being emitted from the device. As she reached her feet she pressed the orange button. She looked at the device and motioned for Jack join her at a computer in the room.
Rose looked up to the ceiling watching as Jack connected the device to the computer; the pair discussed the readings every now and then looking back at her.
"What's wrong?" The pair didn't answer. "It can't be that bad." As Jack's face suddenly fell, that dread kept building even further. After what seemed like hours he turned to face her.
"I think we'd better get the Doctor in here."
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Rose had never known the Doctor to run so fast, he was athletic but even by his standards he as faster than usual. Before Jack had even finished contacting the Doctor, her husband was by her side.
"Rose…" Theta whispered seeing the worry in her face. She gripped his hand with force.
"Theta I…" Theta nodded for Jack to go on. Jack looked at Martha silently asking if he could explain the situation to them, she nodded.
"According to the scans…" Jack paused, changing his tactic. "On the planet there were a lot of fumes that you were exposed to Rose, and that sleep patch they gave you sent your whole body to sleep, including your immune system. That meant that you couldn't fight off the toxics elements as that came into contact with your body."
"She's not going to die is she Jack." Jack allowed a small smile to grace his features, he had a feeling that the next piece of news he delivered would be almost as bad, if not worse for Rose.
"No, but…" Jack didn't want to deliver this news to the people who meant so much to him. "The fumes did a lot of damage Rose, your body has healed your vital organs but it couldn't heal one thing." Rose shook her head as she realised what Jack meant.
"No, no, please don't tell me…" Tears began to fall down her face.
"The damage it did to you womb was extremely severe Rose." The tears came thick and fast, as did the Doctor's. "I can't repair the damage. You may never be able to have any more children."
TBC