Chapter Eight

Finally Happy

The Doctor walked slowly through the high archway that led into the city, looking around in fascination. It was exactly the same as it had looked the last time he had seen it…

Of course it does, the VR machine is just showing me what I remember.

Even though he knew that, it felt so real. It was hard to believe that it was fake. But he had to remember it was fake, no matter how appealing it was. No matter how real it was…

He could still hear voices ahead, but there didn't seem to be anyone around. He walked down the path that the thought he would never walk down again, towards the looming Citadel. He was running on automatic pilot. Every rational inch of him was screaming not to fall for it, that none of it was real. None of it could be real. Gallifrey was gone and it was never coming back.

But yet here it was. The air was fresh and he could smell all the smells that sparked nostalgia in him. If it weren't real, he wouldn't be able to feel or smell. He wouldn't be able to taste the mild dampness in the air.

He approached the tall, golden doors and stood in front of them, his stomach twisted with nerves. Whoever the voices belonged to, they were on the other side of the door. The Doctor glanced down at himself and flattened the front of his suit. He couldn't possibly go inside dressed like this. Not after so long…

'Don't be stupid,' he muttered, annoyed with himself. 'This isn't real.'

He reached his hand out to open the door, but stopped, his fingertips brushing the golden handle. He swallowed hard. Why was he so nervous? There was absolutely no reason for him to be so nervous. He took in a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

There was no one on the other side. He frowned, stepping over the threshold, and looked around. He pushed his hands in his pockets.

'Hello?' he called.

He thought he heard whispering and strained to hear.

He's here…

Finally…

'Is there anyone here?' he called again. His foot trembled as he took a step and he scolded himself. 'Stop that right now.' he muttered.

'They're waiting for you.'

The Doctor whirled around on his heels, surprised to see a small person standing in the doorway through which he had just entered. The girl looked no older than four, with dark curly hair and vibrant green eyes. The Doctor took a step towards her.

'Who's waiting for me?'

The little girl smiled. 'Everyone.' She held out a small hand to him.

The Doctor hesitated. He knew she had been created by his subconscious. If he followed her, maybe he would never be able to get out of this place. He needed to get back and confront that Mr Cartwright for doing what he did…

'Are you coming?' the little girl giggled, still holding her hand out.

The Doctor hesitated, and then slowly he stepped forward. He took her hand. She beamed up at him, and led him down the corridor.

Ashley paced the floor, chewing her thumbnail anxiously. Mitchell was kneeling by the Doctor, still fixing various wires to his hands and head.

'Are all those really necessary?' Ashley snapped, irritated.

'If you want him to stay alive, yes.'

Ashley rolled her eyes and resumed pacing. 'How long has it been?'

'Twenty minutes.' Mitchell sighed. 'Look, Ashley. You're going to have to be patient. It's no good acting the way you are. We can't rush this.'

Ashley rubbed her face with both hands. 'I know I just… I can't believe this has happened. How the hell could it have happened?'

'By the way the Doctor was lying,' Mitchell shrugged. 'It looked like the plug was forced in his head. If he had plugged in himself he wouldn't have been in such an awkward position.'

'So it was that bastard!' Ashley hissed. 'I knew it. I'm going to kill him.' She shook her head, scowling. 'How did he manage that anyway? He was just an old man? How could he have overpowered the Doctor?'

'My guess is that he got him from behind.' Mitchell said.

Ashley growled audibly. He glanced to her curiously. She began pacing again.

'Why don't you go out and get some fresh air?' he told her. 'We still have twenty three and a half hours before we can actually do anything.'

Ashley shook her head. 'I'm not going anywhere.'

'What good are you doing?' Mitchell snapped suddenly, face reddening with anger. 'You're moaning and getting angry and you're not doing anything of use. Get out of here and cool down. Then maybe you can do something productive instead of just get on my nerves!'

Ashley stared at him in shock. She stood for what seemed like a full minute with her mouth ajar, staring at him. 'Excuse me?' she muttered finally.

Mitchell glowered at her. 'Don't make me repeat myself.'

She was too stunned to argue with him. She turned slowly, and walked to the door. Still processing the fact Mitchell had just blew his top at her like that; she opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. She closed it gently behind her.

'Well…' was the only word she could form. She moved to the top of the stairs and leaned against the banister, frowning in thought.

Why was she so worried? Twenty-four hours and the Doctor would probably unplug himself from inside the game. He wouldn't want to stay there. He was a clever man, and he would know that it was fake, and he would know that it was killing him. He wouldn't lie down and die just like that. It wasn't his style.

He would be fine.

Ashley gripped tighter onto the banister.

If he was going to be fine, why did she feel like something terrible was coming?

She noticed something then, and her eyes narrowed. A little along the corridor, in the opposite direction to the room where the Doctor lay, a door stood ajar. She frowned at it, trying to remember whether or not that door had been open before. She was pretty sure it hadn't. She walked towards it and didn't hesitate to push the door open and go inside. She was still running on anger. She gazed around, and then her eyes settled on the single bed in the corner.

Harrison Cartwright lay on it, black goggles on. The machine beside him beeped quietly. Ashley scowled. If anything happened to the Doctor, it was his fault.

Ashley moved across the room and stood by the bed. She watched his chest rising and falling. Her eyes fell upon the main plug in his temple. She slowly reached for the wire leading for it. She wrapped her fist around the wire, her lip curling slightly.

'If anything happens to him,' she whispered. 'I'll come back.'

Harrison Cartwright remained still and silent. Ashley let go of the wire and then headed out of the room, her fists clenched tightly by her sides.

The small girl led the Doctor along the corridors. The longer they walked, the louder the chattering became. The girl's hand was soft and warm. It was all so convincing. It was quite amazing really. The Doctor found himself agreeing with something Mitchell had said, that Cartwright could be a genius. Perhaps he was a genius.

Obviously not as genius as the Doctor though.

'It's not far.' The little girl turned and smiled at him. 'They're so excited.'

'Who is excited?' The Doctor asked with a frown.

'Well everyone, silly.' The little girl giggled.

The Doctor half nodded. 'I do know that none of this is real you know. It's in my own head.'

'Your consciousness is here,' the little girl replied. 'What does it matter where you physical body is?'

'Well seeing that my physical body tends to keep my consciousness alive, I'd say it matters quite a bit.'

The little girl giggled. 'You are silly.' She stopped and let go of his hand. 'We're here.'

The Doctor looked up at the elaborately decorated doors in front of him and swallowed. He had stood before these doors many times. He didn't think he would ever see them again. Voices murmured and chattered on the other side. He looked down to the little girl. She smiled and nodded towards the door. Tentatively, the Doctor moved forward. The doors swung open with just a nudge.

The murmuring stopped. He walked into the room, his eyes wide in disbelief. Every seat in the auditorium was full. Full of his family, his friends… full of everyone he thought he had lost. Full of everyone that he would give anything to see again.

'Doctor!'

He turned. That blonde hair. That smile.

'Rose?'

She wrapped her arms around him tightly and hugged him. The Doctor went rigid. He could smell her perfume. He felt a lump in his throat.

'I've missed you so much!' Rose told him, hugging him tighter.

The Doctor swallowed. He felt his eyes getting wet.

It's not real.

He hugged her back. 'I missed you too, Rose.'

I am so sorry to all the Rose haters (you wouldn't believe that I hate the whole Drose milarky) but I didn't want to make up my own Gallifreian because I know bot all about the Time Lords lol! It was either Rose or Martha and... well, to me the Doctor looked happy when Martha finally buggered off xD lol!

But thank yoooooooou for your lurvely comments. They're like catnip to me. (remembers that i'm not a cat) Um... yeah... you still all rock like Fraggle Rock xD