Previously, from Chapter Two...
The Doctor stood stock still for a moment, then took a step back from Rose, noticing her eyes did not follow him. He waved a hand in front of her face, but she wasn't seeing. She was entranced; possessed by the only other living thing there besides herself and the Doctor, and he knew it immediately. "What has been wronged? What must be fixed before we can go further?"
"We must go back to Scroibrulla, before the damage is too severe," she answered simply.
"What damage - to whom?" he asked, totally focussed on the TARDIS's possession of Rose.
Rose's eyes met his, and he couldn't believe all the emotion he saw in them - adoration, fear, sadness, and the need to protect - like a mother for her child. For the first time in all his regenerations, he was seeing the TARDIS. Her hand rose to his face, cupping his cheek gently. "To us all."
The Doctor watched as the golden light within Rose began leaving her, swirling around them both like a waft of smoke, graceful as it lifted above them. Then it seemed to pull apart into a thousand hues of color; a brilliant light show that diminished piece by piece into the walls of the ship.
It was Rose's scream that tore him away from the beautiful display. She screamed in pain as he wrapped his arms around her; fear of what was causing her agony clear in his panicked eyes. Before he could ask her what was wrong, she was unconscious. He fell with her to the ground, desperately feeling for the pulse he could not find.
A/N: This next chapter goes to Adia, who loves Rose dearly and whom I'd hate to disappoint. (She makes great coffee!) g ... And Sara - I want my cookies!
Chapter Three
Rose wasn't breathing. No blood was pumping through her veins. Dead. The strain of the TARDIS's possession on her fragile, human body too much to bear. Leaning over her still form, the Doctor wished for his own death at the mere thought of Rose not living. He had to do something - anything. TARDIS be damned. He'd take them back in time if he had to, breaking all the laws of himself; the last Time Lord. Whatever he had to do to get his Rose back.
The Doctor choked back his anguish long enough to stare at her, a million thoughts rushing through his mind, running through him with pain and guilt and the absolute need to bring her back. Taking a deep breath, he held her face gently but firmly as he leaned down, touching his lips to hers as he forcefully exhaled into her. He would give her his essence - his last breath if he had to; his soul if only he could. He leaned back, willing her with his mind to breathe. Seconds ticked by like hours upon hours in his mind. He was frozen in place. Waiting.
Suddenly Rose's body shook with such force it was hard to believe there was no one jostling her. Her body convulsed again, then remained still - the silence deafening to him. The Doctor was holding his breath and didn't even know it. And then out of the clear blue, she inhaled deeply - a full and long breath, holding it for a moment as if to savor it before letting it go. Another breath, and the Doctor began laughing hysterically between sobs of relief.
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The Doctor sat with Rose in the Med Bay, his hip resting beside hers on the gurney. To read the emotions on his face was to know his inner torment, stricken with guilt and pain and longing, and finally, hope.
The TARDIS had reached out to him on a level he hadn't thought possible. She must've been desperate to have come forward in the way she had, using Rose's body as a conduit. Of course, she'd had to use Rose, didn't she? Couldn't very well have used him, the mind of a Time Lord too complex for her to get through. His subconscious would never have let the TARDIS get that far. But even their connection, where she actually could read his thoughts now and then and once in a while could whisper a thought to him, was lost. Probably due to whatever was ailing her. She no longer was able to connect with his mind, and had felt such hopelessness that she endangered the life of that fragile human child. It was a desperate last attempt; a last chance. One he knew the TARDIS wouldn't have taken if she'd had any other choice, which meant she'd done it to save herself and the lives of her occupants. But why? What was so urgent - so all-powerful - that it endangered his Rose, his TARDIS, and himself?
Rose had been unconscious for over twelve hours, and the Doctor was truly worried. The strain of carrying the soul of the TARDIS had taken it's toll on her tired body. He remembered carrying her into the Med Bay; her face so pale and breath so faint. He'd never recalled being so scared in his many, many years.
He'd talked to Rose, pacing around the gurney with quick feet and a faster tongue as he rambled on and on, speaking of nothing and everything in the hopes that she'd respond to him. He'd rubbed her arm, held her hand, and stroked his fingers through her hair, wishing all-too-much that she'd open her eyes and welcome his touch. But nothing was working. And his concern was becoming unbearable.
He needed to give her something - coax her body into awakening, but had held off, hoping against hope that Rose would come back to him on her own. She'd all ready been put through so much without his knowledge. There she was passing out - several times no less, and it took him forever to figure out what was happening to her. And then what had he done but taken away the TARDIS's only way to make him pay notice, by fixing the low level emitters. His ship had become desperate after that - and he blamed himself.
"Return to Scroibrulla," she had said. But why? Regardless of his endless questions, he had run and set the coordinates as soon as he'd had Rose stabilized and hooked up to the monitors in the infirmary. And that's where they were now. Because that's what the TARDIS had asked of him. The only thing she'd ever asked of him.
He leaned forward and brushed a chaste kiss to Rose's lips before standing up, looking down upon her and gently cupping her face in his palm. He pulled her hair back away from her forehead and continued to pet it back in a soothing motion.
"Rose," he sighed her name, knowing she wouldn't awaken. Glancing at the monitors discretely placed around the gurney, he noted that none of her readings had changed. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver, running it up and down her prone form, studying it as if it would tell him something different. It did not. Cutting it off, he closed his eyes for a moment, then put it back in his pocket. His hand rose to squeeze the bridge of his nose as if trying to quell a headache, then he turned himself around and stepped to a cabinet on the opposite wall. He reached down and carefully opened a drawer beneath it, pulling out what looked to be a modified syringe, and then a Band-Aid from the drawer beneath that one. Pulling his glasses out next from his jacket pocket, he put them on then adjusted the syringe carefully. Turning back to Rose, he stepped the few steps there were to reach her, sitting himself beside her again. Setting the syringe on her stomach, he picked up Rose's left arm and pushed up the sleeve of her tunic. His fingers lingered across her smooth skin, enjoying the touch, but too soon guilt brought him back to the task at hand. After getting the bandage ready and setting it down, he grabbed the syringe, inserted the needle, and watched as it's contents disappeared into her vein. The Doctor removed the needle from her skin and tossed the syringe towards the refuge basket in the corner - his aim dead-on, then delicately placed the Band-Aid over the injection sight. He slowly pulled her sleeve back down, letting his hand linger on hers for a moment as he waited.
What seemed like eons, but was actually only about half a minute later, Rose's eyes fluttered open. As consciousness grew closer, she moaned, blinking repeatedly as she raised her right hand to her head, which the Doctor was sure was hurting her. He took her hand and held it, bringing it back down to her side. His calming effect was instant, and her eyes began closing.
"Rose? Rose, it's time to wake up now," he spoke, his voice smooth as silk to her aching head. When her eyes opened in response to him, he couldn't help the smile that graced his lips. "Well hello there, Sleeping Beauty."
"Doctor?" she asked weakly.
"I'm right here. And so are you, thank goodness."
"Oh God, my head," Rose whispered, bringing her hand back to the side of her head.
The Doctor gently grasped the hand she held to her head and brought it down to rest on her stomach, then brought his hand to her face, bringing his other up to join it on the opposite side, soothing his fingertips across her temples. "Is the pain severe?" he asked, noting the distress written clearly across her face.
"Yeah. Pretty much," she answered, her voice stronger, becoming more aware of her surroundings.
He began making slow, circling motions around her temples and stared into her eyes. The stress lines across her face began to melt away as she closed her eyes with the bliss of relief. "Better?"
"Much."
"Good." The Doctor slowly removed his hands from her face, bringing one to his knee while the other moved to her hand. Their fingers interlaced. "Do you remember what happened?" he asked gently.
Her eyes searched the ceiling then the walls that surrounded her before returning to his. "No - nothing."
Rose watched him patiently, waiting for him to tell her what had happened this time, and was alarmed by the pain and anguish she watched flit across his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them, looking at her without a trace of the torment she'd just seen.
"Doctor?"
"You were possessed."
"What?" she asked, sitting up so quickly that she and the Doctor were suddenly face to face, feeling each other's breath. He grabbed her shoulders, steadying her.
"No sudden moves, Rose - you're body has been through an extensive trauma."
"So, tell me about it. What do ya mean, 'possessed'?"
His hands slipped down her arms from her shoulders, completing their journey when they landed on top of hers. He grasped them firmly in his hold. "The TARDIS. She was speaking through you - warning me."
" 'Bout what?"
"Well, in her own cryptic way, I believe she was telling me that all our recent dilemmas are revolving around our trip to Scroibrulla, and she wanted us to return. I think something infected her there; maybe you as well. Something I've never, ever come across before in my travels, let me tell you. And whatever it is, we've had to go back."
"We're there now? Yeah?"
"Yeah," he paused, looking away from her for a moment to take a deep breath. His brows furrowed for just an instant, then his features softened and he met her eyes again with his own. "Listen, how are you feeling Rose, really?"
"I'm fine. Headache's gone. I'm good," she smiled at him. "How long was I out this time?"
"About thirteen hours," the Doctor said quietly.
"What? No, no - that can't be right," she said, looking around.
"Rose," he began, removing a hand from hers to cup her cheek, drawing her attention back to him. "You didn't just faint this time. You've practically been in a coma. Your body hasn't been healing itself naturally the way it's supposed to." He dropped his hand back down.
"But I've always felt all right - like normal, after I've come 'round from this fainting stuff - well, all except for this time."
"Better, yes, but not quite all the way, am I right?" he asked, making sure to hold both her hands again, giving them a squeeze.
"I s'pose, yeah."
"That's because there's the probability that some sort of virus is making itself at home within you. And whatever it is, it's affecting the TARDIS as well."
"Because she's a living thing like me - not like a computer virus, right?"
"Exactly. And when the TARDIS possessed you, it put such a strain on your body ..." he paused, pain flashing across his features. He controlled it, then stared into her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry? What've you got to be sorry for? You've been taking care of me."
The Doctor snorted. "If I'd've been taking care of you like I was supposed to then you wouldn't be in this predicament to begin with," he said scowling as he looked away from her.
"Doctor - you know yourself you couldn't have known what was happening," she said, her eyes and words drawing him to look at her once more. She smiled. "Besides, we need to concentrate on getting out there and finding out what's infected us and fix it."
"Oh no. No, no, no," he shook his head back and forth. "No. WE are not going anywhere. Now that you've regained consciousness, I'LL be heading out and getting to the bottom of this. You will be nicely tucked into your bed - resting." His eyes were just like her Mum's were when Rose knew she wouldn't get her way - it was rather frustrating, really, that they could both have that same look.
"But Doctor," Rose began, "I'm part of the problem, ..."
"Not the solution," he interrupted, "not this time. You need to recuperate. Besides, remember how the natives felt about us the last time we were here? You're not strong enough to be out and about, running for your life."
"But I feel fine!" she practically whined.
He gave her a gentle grin and squeezed her hands within his. "You feel good because that's what your mind believes at the moment - blocking the migraine from your possession and the aches you should be feeling from fatigue. The human body just doesn't simply heal itself that quickly, Rose. It's going to take time."
"But you healed me," she replied just as calmly, her voice filled with confidence.
"I didn't heal the pain Rose, I just helped your mind to block it so you'd be comfortable."
She stared at him, assessing her body as she did so. Then suddenly she pushed off the gurney, startling the Doctor. She smiled brightly as she stood tall, determination clear in her eyes. "I'm going with you," she began, straightening her shoulders, "And I'll be strong, don't you worry," she added, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I won't let you down," she vowed, kissing his cheek quickly before she made her exit, mad-dashing it out of the Med Bay.
He watched her retreat through the doorway. "And I won't let you down, either," he whispered.
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Rose made it to her room steadily, but once she got the door closed, she leaned heavily against it. She took deep breaths as she tried to calm the slight tremble of her legs, a result of the strain she'd placed upon them from simply walking to her room. It took a few minutes to calm herself down, but once she did, her resolve and determination returned tenfold. She walked to the bathroom and washed her face, then went to her closet to change clothes. By the time she was finished there was a knock on her bedroom door.
"Rose? You decent?" the Doctor asked, tapping lightly.
"Sure, c'mon in," she answered.
The Doctor walked in and looked at Rose, who in turn smiled then twirled around, showing him the clothes she had chosen. "Nice," he offered, grinning as he stood himself across from her beside her bed.
"Yeah, figured I should dress more for the rain than the glamour this time out, you know? Thanks for the Band-Aid, by the way."
"The what?" he asked, obviously lost.
"The Band-Aid on my arm," she showed him, pointing out the bandage he'd used to cover where he'd inserted the needle. "Barney. The natives should just love a purple carton dinosaur, eh?" she smiled.
He nodded his agreement, clearly distracted.. "Rose, how are you feeling now?" he asked, looking at her closely.
"I feel fine - all ready told you that - many times as I recall," she answered, smirking at him.
"I know, I know. I'm just worried a bit, that's all." He paused for a moment, tilting his head. "Are you sure I can't talk you out of going with me?" he asked, giving her his best puppy-dog eyes as he reached out his hand to her.
"I'm sure." she replied, taking his hand as she stepped closer to him beside the bed, letting him see how sure she was in her eyes. She was more than determined, he had to give her that.
"Positive?" he asked, hoping she'd rethink this need to go out there with him.
"Yep. Absolutely positively."
"Nothing I can say to change your mind?"
"Nope," she replied cheekily.
"I was afraid of that," he answered, looking down at their joined hands. He released her hand then looked sharply back into her eyes.
Before Rose knew what was happening, the Doctor had his hands to her temples as his intense stare held her captive. Then her eyes rolled to the back of her head and her eyelids closed.
"There you go," he whispered. He relinquished his fingertips from her face and wrapped his arms around her body as it collapsed into his, then he easily swung them around, lifting her up and placing her on the bed. "I'm sorry. But in all honesty, I did offer you an out. I just can't risk you going out there again," his tone was gentle and hypnotic as his fingertips returned to her temples. "Sleep. Sleep, Rose Tyler. And when you awaken, I'll be here."
End Chapter Three
Sooo, again, what do you think???
Only one more chapter to go...