Notes: And Rose finally figures out what everyone else probably knew first chapter. Well, in her defense, she's had a bad few weeks.
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There were voices down the corridor
"I can't believe we have to search the whole ship," Rose complained. "Can't you come up with anything more specific?"
"'Fraid not. You may want to tie a bell around my neck in the future."
"I bet you think I won't, too." She stood cautiously behind him as he opened a door. "Hang on, we have a quilting frame? Why do you have a quilting frame?"
"Someone gave it to me for safekeeping. And how did you know it was a quilting frame, anyway?"
"Seen it in books. Teacher one year. Went to a museum. Giant quilts on the walls. Just a lucky guess, really."
"Thought so."
"Seriously. How big is the TARDIS, anyway?"
"Well, it used to be bigger than it is now. Had to jettison a fair portion of it a while back... long story, really, but I still miss the great ballroom."
"...You are so having me on."
"No, really."
"Seriously. How big is it?"
"...Let's just say this is going to take a while."
"Great." Rose sighed and leaned against the wall. The damn music was back again, and getting louder.
"C'mon. Left-hand corridor, this time."
"Right." Rose straightened up and followed him. Stupid music. She'd never be able to listen to this damn song again. And why was it getting louder? What had she done now?
"...Hang on a second." Rose turned around. The music immediately quieted, encouragingly.
"What is it?"
"Your bloody ship says we go this way." She started down the right-hand corridor.
"How did you-- oh. I see." He hurried to keep up with her. "It's better than wanderin' aimlessly through the whole ship, don't you think?"
"Do you have any idea how many times I have heard this damned song? It's driving me insane!" She stopped, doubled back, and headed down a side corridor. "She's been bloody waking me UP at night, just to hear more of this stupid song! Over and over and over and over, every second I'm awake, and if she didn't have a really, REALLY good reason...!"
Rose decided to leave the rest of her thought, which involved reprogramming the TARDIS's computer banks with a hatchet, unvoiced. "Don't get any peace when I'm asleep, either," she muttered.
"What, it's in your dreams, too?"
"No. There are nightmares. I don't want to talk about it."
"...You do realize that probably means it's very important, don't you?"
Black smoke against a blood-red sky. Sapphire skyscrapers turned into rubble. Screaming and Dalek guns and everyone screaming her name like a curse, like a prayer, like an indictment, like an arrow through her ears.
Not her name. His.
She skidded to a halt. "Oh, shit."
"What?"
"Trouble."
"I noticed."
"Big, big trouble. I think I'm starting to get it now. I think I know what she's trying to tell me. I have no idea how the hell it could've happened, but..."
"What?"
"We have to find him." She began to run.
Screams that vibrated through an atmosphere clogged with smoke. The stab of something-like-light a consciousness made when it died. The not-quite-sound of a heart's electricity frazzling into chaos.
TARDIS, I'm so sorry I doubted you. I forgive you.
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