First, I'd like to apologise that I didn't update this story on Monday. The simple reason was, was that this chapter wasn't completed. I had planned to finish it on Tuesday and post it that evening but I was called to go up to London to go to hospital in the evening, as an operation I was due to have on Wednesday afternoon had been moved to the morning. It turned out I didn't have the operation until late Wednesday night anyway, but still, I'm back now, and have got the next chapter here for you to read.

Sorry for the delay.

Red Dragon

Chapter Nineteen

The Doctor's Pleas

A bright light shining in her eyes made her groan. Blinking Martha opened her eyes once more, struggling to keep them open. The light hurt them. Raising a hand she rubbed her forehead, while with the other pushed herself up. Carefully she turned her head to glance at Mickey. He was still out-cold.

"Mickey," she whispered.

He whimpered. At least he was showing signs of being alive.

"Mickey." She repeated his name several times until his eyes opened. She watched as he slowly rose from his position on the floor. Finally he turned his head towards her, his eyes asking what had happened.

So she answered.

"Rose."

What the hell am I going to do?

Derol paced the lab. He was not angry - well, truth be told he was, but he had no time to be angry - more or less he was panicky. His entire security team were dead. That human was evil - she's the spawn of the devil - and nothing could stop her. She seemed to sense the traps that he had installed throughout the base and what worried him the most was that Derol realised that she was on a mission on revenge.

I'm going to die…

Glancing at the Doctor who was slowly stirring in his cage, Derol contemplated ending it all, but could not being himself to.

I haven't done anything wrong anyway…

No matter how many times Derol thought that he knew he had committed a crime, and he was ashamed of it.

And now I'm going to die…

And he had no desire to leave the life he had crafted for himself.

He wasn't ready to.

Not yet.

So they ran, ignoring the pain their injuries provided. They held hands, steadying each other, helping one another when one fell.

Together they sped towards their goal of Rose Tyler.

Rose strode purposefully into the lab, smirking as she saw Derol let out a wimper as he dived behind the desk. In front of her was the glass cage, in which the Doctor stood, chained. He was limp and white. He was half-conscious, slowly coming into his surroundings.

Almost dead, a voice nagged. But the anger did not abate. Rose stretched out a hand, summoning the power she held, getting ready to cast it out.

Revenge would be sweet.

His eyes were blurred and his head hurt.

Why do I feel like I'm dying? he wondered. Gently he shook his head as much as he dared, ignoring the thumping inside his skull. He groaned as his vision returned. And with his visibility restored, the Doctor felt himself lose all hope.

She had left a trial of destruction in her wake. Rushing along the corridor, Mickey and Martha ran as fast they dared. Both their heads pounded with head-aches but there was no time. They had to find Rose. Had to.

All would be lost otherwise.

"How far do you think?" Martha asked, panting.

"Not far." Mickey answered. He flashed her a grin, even though it was not free of pain. "Just a feeling I have."

"Good. I don't know how much farther I can go before I collapse." She retorted.

"I suppose you think that I am just going to take the Doctor and leave you to continue your work?" Rose asked, flexing her fingers.

"It would be nice, yes." Derol replied, shaking. His face was white as if he couldn't believe that she was standing there in front of him.

He knows his death is near…oh yes…this will be fun.

And summoning her power, Rose unleashed her fury.

"ROSE!" Mickey yelled, rushing into the lab with Martha a few steps behind him. Rose stood in front of him, power issuing from her fingertips, bearing down upon the man crouched on the floor, fear spread across his features. He was shaking. To the side, held in a glass cage was the Doctor, chained, deathly white and looking like he had lost all hope.

This shouldn't be happening…it's not meant to…Mickey thought.

Despite his injuries, Mickey took a risk and leapt at Rose's back, breaking her concentration. The red power that had begun to form a shape faded, but Rose was too strong. He could feel her body convulsing, as if she was fighting against the thought of harming him.

He held on for dear life, trying to make her fall into darkness - but he could not. His fingers were latched round her throat but his grip was doing no damage. She struggled and still she was stronger. With a shove and a burst of energy, Mickey felt himself flying, his back slamming into the wall.

Opening his eyes he focused upon Rose who's eyes were glaring hatred at them. With a wave of her hand, both he and Martha were trapped, still as statues. Something invisible wormed around them, pinning their arms to their sides, preventing them from doing anything. He tried to move his feet but they were stuck firmly into the floor.

All they could do was watch.

Watch as Rose lost herself.

Rose turned back to her prey. Derol Flynn cowered on the floor. A playful grin spread across her face and once more she unleashed the hatred she had of this man. From her fingertips came a Red Dragon, fully formed and breathing red flames of fury.

Directing it towards the cringing piece of filth on the floor, Rose made herself ready to enjoy the feast that would commence.

But something stopped her in her tracks.

A voice.

One of pleading.

"Please Rose, don't do this. Remember who you are…" the shattered voice of the Doctor spoke. He watched as Rose turned her face towards him, the red in her eyes dimming slightly, but the Red Dragon remained, hovering between Flynn and Rose. He moved forward as best he could, his eyes pleading with her.

She has to be there…somewhere…

"How can I love someone that causes me pain and my friends agony?" he whispered, "Rose, I do love you, but not like this…not like this."

To Be Continued...

Okay, evil cliffy….heheh. Please let me know what you think!

Not sure if I'll get another chapter up by Christmas. I'll see if I can, but I won't update on Monday as it's Christmas Day, therefore I'll probably update on Tuesday 26th December. I think there are about three - possibly two - chapters left till the end of this story.

Until next time,

Happy Christmas!

Leila-Rose-Bell