She was running.
She couldn't remember why she was running, only that she needed to get away…needed to keep her safe from them. She clutched her precious cargo to her tighter as she tripped and slid down an embankment.
"Not much further…nearly there." She whispered soothingly as she regained her footing and forced her exhausted legs to continue on their path. "Nearly home."
She skidded to a stop as a van cut off her direct rout to the TARDIS. She knew they were behind her as well. Quickly glancing about she moved towards an abandoned building and prayed to find the way in unbarred. The door squeaked open on its rusty hinges and she slid into the dark interior. She moved quickly to a pile of boxes and set her bundle down before running back and sliding several items in front of the door.
Outside she could hear voices and knew it wouldn't be long before they figured out where she had disappeared too. She moved back over to the pile of boxes and kneeled down.
"I want you to stay here love, don't move." She wrapped the blanket securely around the child. "Don't make a sound. Like playing hide and seek." She clutched the child to her. "I love you."
"Mummy?"
"Stay their love," She slowly backed away hearing the door begin to groan as the assault from outside tore at the old metal. "Stay quiet. Stay safe. He'll find you."
"Mummy," the child reached out. "I'm scared."
"I know," She turned to look at the child over her shoulder. "You need to be brave." She turned back as the door screeched as it slid open. "Remember, he'll find you." She smiled sadly before turning and running out into the open.
"MUMMY!"
XYZ
The resounding scream pulled Rose from her restless sleep. She thought for a moment that it might have been her little brother, Quinn, calling out, but then it struck her that the voice was female and young. She struggled to try and remember the fading tendrils of the dream before it disappeared into nothing. With a frustrated sigh she tossed the blankets aside and swung her legs over the side of the bed before resting her face in the palm of her hands.
Ever night now for the last month, like clockwork the dreams came. Oh dreaming that she was used to, but until recently it had always been about him. Now some unseen torturer decided to add to her already torturous existence. Why did this child suddenly invade the small moments she was allowed with him? Why did she feel a connection to what was obviously an extension of her overactive imagination? And most importantly how did the Doctor fit into this?
Oh yes, she felt him in the dreams. She knew he was somehow involved, only how was that even possible? He was in another universe. He was forever out of her touch. So how was it that he was stomping around in her mind in the middle of the night cutting into her sleep? She made a mental note to kick him if she ever got the chance. Seven years and still she longed for nothing more then to see his brown eyes, his goofy grin, hell even hear him ramble on about nothing would be great.
"Rose?" Her mother's voice carried up from the base of the stairs, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Are you awake?"
"I'm up."
"Well breakfast is ready and getting cold."
She smiled at the tone in her Mum's voice. "I'll be down soon as I get cleaned up Mum." She swore no matter how old she got, her Mum would forever see her as a three-year-old needing to be reminded of everything.
She reached into her closet and dragged out what she had come to refer to as the 'glamorous prison uniform'. She hated the dress code at Torchwood, skirt suits were not high on her idea of the best thing to wear and be comfy in. Behind her she heard Quinn come running into her room. She turned and smiled as the six-year-old crawled up onto her bed.
"What can I do for you squirt?" She asked as she headed past him towards her bathroom.
"Mum told me 't come and hurry you up." He smiled impishly at her.
She rolled her eyes and picked the boy up off the bed. "Out and tell Mum, I'll be down when I'm down." She swung her door shut and just to make sure, flipped the lock. There were times she really missed the TARDIS.
A good twenty minutes later she wandered down to the kitchen and snatched up a slice of cold toast before scooting out the door ahead of her mother's call to get back inside and eat a proper meal. She tossed her bag on the passenger seat of her jeep and quickly started it and headed down the long drive.
Yup, the Doctor had rubbed off on her in the form of anti-domestics. Not that she didn't love her family, but at times she wished they would just all disappear and leave her in peace. In a matter of a year she had gone from having just her and The Doctor to a house full of Mum, Dad, brother, and Mickey, and no TARDIS to duck into when it got to be to much. Instead she had a great big corner office with a lovely view of the London cityscape. Given the choice she'd take the TARDIS in a heartbeat.
As was normal in her commute she hardly remembered the drive until she pulled up to the secure parking garage at Torchwood and slid into her spot. She could see Mickey standing waiting for the lift as she got out and slowly wandered over to him.
"Morning," He greeted cheerfully before handing her a takeout bag. "Your Mum called."
Rose sighed, "Thanks." She stepped into the lift with Mickey and hit the button for her floor. She half listened while Mickey rattled on about his current project in R&D apparently she nodded and smiled at the right moments cause he just kept on about it. Once the lift reached her floor she waved to Mickey and headed down the hall to her office. She unlocked the door and flipped on the light tossing the take out bag on the side with the one from yesterday. She reached her desk and tossed her purse into the bottom drawer before pulling the mail piled on top of the wooden surface to her.
"Good morning Miss. Tyler," Her assistant, Alyce, smiled cheerfully as she entered and set a cup of tea on the desk next to Rose's hand. She then settled onto the corner of Rose's desk and flipped open her PDA.
It had taken Rose sometime to even get used to the idea of having someone around to do things for her, let alone keep her on schedule. But Alyce had been a godsend when she had walked into Rose's office and before you could say sonic screwdriver had Rose organized and on schedule.
In a way Rose admired the pretty redhead, not to tall, not to short, average figure but with natural curls that Rose would kill for and the greenest eyes she had ever seen. Her native Irish accent was now mixed with a slight London blur and she always had a ready smile on her face, even before morning tea. It hadn't taken long before the relationship had gone from co-worker to friend and Rose often found herself wishing she could have half of the seemingly overabundance of good humor Alyce possessed in her little finger.
"Your first meeting is at ten with the board on the situation update on the alien artifacts located in New Mexico."
Rose nodded and took a sip of her tea. "I'll need the latest files on…"She paused as Alyce set a folder in front of her. "Thanks."
Alyce smiled and went to the next item on the daily agenda. "You have a lunch scheduled at one with the scientific team from Oxford."
"Great another exciting lunch." She sighed, "And how am I ending this wonderful day?"
"At two you have a meeting with R&D about a new artifact that arrived late last night." Alyce handed the appropriate file to her. "It was located in a archeological dig in Northern Mongolia three months ago and according to the date analysis it's not even close to the same time line as the other artifacts found."
"And let me guess, it's not terrestrial either." Rose grinned. "And they need someone to figure it out for them."
"And that's why I have you around love." Rose and Alyce both turned towards the door and watched as Peter Tyler entered the office. "Alyce."
"Mr. Tyler," Alyce greeted in return and closed her PDA. "Tea?"
"Please." He settled in the leather chair in front of Rose's desk. "I heard you left again this morning."
Rose sighed. "Does she call everyone to tell them my business?"
Peter grin faded. "She's just worried about you love."
"I know, now about this mystery." She changed the subject as Alyce returned with Pete's tea.
"It's got R&D snaggled, it dates at least 2,000 year older than anything else found at the site and it's in a language that isn't in the data base." He took a sip of his tea. "Which of course is driving Emma nuts since she thought she had that translation program finished."
"I can imagine." Rose leaned back in the chair. "So what's dragging me into this gonna change anything? I already gave Emma everything I know."
Pete leaned forward and flipped open the file revealing the photo of the object. "This might answer that question."
Rose glanced quickly at the photo then with a gasp took a closer look. "But that's impossible."
"And impossible is what you do best."
"Alyce," Rose stood and clutched the photo to her. "Cancel everything else this is top priority."
"Rose?"
"I recognize it. I know what it is Dad." She looked up at him her eyes dark with emotions.
"What?" He cams and stood beside her resting a hand on her shoulder. "What is it Rose?"
"I've seen this before," She ran a finger over the photo. "But theirs only person that can tell you what it says, and he's a bit out of reach."
"Who?" Alyce asked.
Rose turned and smiled sadly at her assistant, tears shinning in her eyes. "The Doctor."
XYZ
"Doctor?" Martha Jones came walking into the control room and glanced about trying to spot the familiar converses sticking out from under the TARDIS console. "Where's he got to now?" She frowned when her search failed to turn him up in his normal spot. "Don't suppose you'll give me a hint?" She asked the central column. The TARDIS hummed lightly and simply continued dancing her way through the vortex. "Yeah that's what I figured."
Martha turned and headed back down the corridor only to find a new door had appeared near the control room. She knew that the TARDIS could change her internal structure at will, but this was the first time she had experienced it firsthand. She pulled the door open and entered to find herself standing in the middle of a green field surrounded by plants in a multitude of containers that seemed to span into the never ending depths of the room. Above her she could feel sunlight and even a slight breeze ruffled her hair. Scents danced upon the wind, both alien and familiar. Some she could recognize from the gardens back home others she couldn't even place the images they called to mind.
And standing in the middle of the immense room looking for all the world like a deranged gardener was The Doctor. Gone was the normal pin stripped suit and in its place was a ratty pair of jeans, t-shirt, and flip-flops, all covered in what Martha assumed to be potting soil. His normally out-of-control hair looked even more unruly than ever. In truth he looked…well…human.
"You might as well come all the way in, you're letting the humidity out." The Doctor looked up and smiled at Martha as he rubbed his hands against his pant legs adding more dirt to the already covered fabric. "I wondered how long it would take you to find me."
Martha closed the door behind her and walked forward sending up a familiar fragrance as she walked across the grass. "Apples?" She inhaled deeply.
"Apple grass." His smile disappeared a fraction.
"Never pictured you the gardening type." Martha commented as she reached the spot the Doctor occupied. "Actually never pictured you the standing still type either."
"Oi!" He flung a hand full of soil at her. "More of that and you can get yourself out of trouble next time." He turned his attention back to the pot he had been working in when she entered.
"But then think how bored you'd be." She teased. "No one to keep out of trouble and then you'll have to get into it all on your own." She glanced over The Doctor's shoulder. "That's beautiful, what's it called?"
The Doctor gently trimmed the reddish-golden petals back, "You wouldn't be able to pronounce its name." He smiled up at her. "I just call it Fred."
"Fred?"
"Well its was that or Bob," He slid a hand through his hair mixing fresh dirt into the brown locks. "And every other person in the world is called Bob. I mean the name should be outlawed by now or something. How many Uncle Bob's can one family have before it's too many. Course John is just as bad…"
"Doctor.."
"Not to mention the fact that Bob is just a boring name, Hello I'm Bob. No pizzazz at all…"
"Doctor!""
"Course I didn't actually name it Fred, that's not a name I would choose, nope not me. I'd pick something like Supercalafragolisticexpialladoscious. But not Fred, no that was Rose's idea…" He froze mid-rant, shaking himself after a moment. "Did you want something?"
Martha blinked at the sudden change in topic, she was partially used to the Doctor doing this when it came to the mysterious Rose, but even for him this conversation was boarding on strange. I want to know who the hell this Rose is, she thought silently. "I wanted to ask you about something I found in the library." The Doctor turned quirking a dark eyebrow waiting for her to continue. "Well I found this old book and the TARDIS won't translate it for me. I don't recognize the language either from any of the other books you've shown me."
"Well then lets go have a peek shall we?" He slid past Martha and headed towards the door. " I'll just clean up and meet you there."
Martha sighed as he faded from sight. Part of her wanted to trek right after him and demand to know what had happened to Rose, another wanted to let it lie and hopefully be swept under the rug and forgotten. She knew in her heart that she loved him, but that he didn't or rather couldn't feel that same about her. Sure he treated her like a best mate, but beyond that he was closed up and locked away like a safe deposit box. And she knew it all had to do with Rose.
She exited the room and quickly jerked her hand back as the door disappeared when it clicked shut. Apparently the TARDIS decided she'd seen enough of that particular room. She shook her head and turned in the direction of the library.
XYZ
Rose hated R&D, loved the view from the top floor, but hated the room itself. It reminded her a bit too much of the Torchwood Tower from back home, and more importantly the circumstances that had brought her here. All around her at near little work areas employees happily prodded, scanned, poked, drilled, hammered, and just down right tore apart pieces of alien culture. She couldn't help but wonder what The Doctor would have to say about all this.
Oh she knew that he would rant and rave about the stupid apes mucking about in things that they knew and couldn't even begin to know anything about, then he would get distracted and start playing about with whatever had managed to catch his eye and in another flash he would be demanding to know how they had managed to get their hands on a Ithorian hairdryer.
God she missed him.
She spotted Mickey elbow deep in his latest project. She couldn't remember seeing him so happy back home. Sure he had a job he liked, fixing things, but it didn't challenge him. Torchwood on the other hand gave him a chance to spread his wings and let that clever mind she knew he had wander about a bit and not get into to much trouble. She wandered over smiling and gently kicked the pair of legs that were sticking out from under what everyone had affectionately taken to calling "the contraption"
"Don't tell me this things grown legs now." She teased
"Nah," Mickey joked back, "but it has got a northern accent that swears pretty good."
Rose stepped back as the legs suddenly grew a torso and head. "You think you're just so clever." Jake pulled himself to a sitting position and glared at the two of them. "Try it now Mickey that new soder should hold it." He brushed his hands on his coveralls as he got to his feet.
"Might want to step clear Rose, last time we tried this it nearly took the roof off."
She simply laughed and started to walk away. "You two play I have another priority to deal with." She made her way over to join her father and Alyce at a workstation set up in an out of the way corner when she heard the familiar sputtering of the contraption as it spun up to a start, and then just when you'd think the hunk of metal would actually do something the smell of burning ozone and flying sparks would put an end to that assumption.
"I told you the red wire not the blue one!" Mickey shouted over the sound of the fire suppression system.
"No you said blue!"
Rose shook her head, He would have loved this, she sighed. "How much longer you gonna let those two keep at it?"
Peter Tyler simply smiled. "Till they get it working, or they blow each other up. Either way it keeps 'em outta trouble." He turned his attention to the petite woman standing at the workstation. "Emma just finished running the last scan on the artifact."
"You really should not allow those two to continue to waste valuable time with that useless bit of junk."
Rose turned her attention to the woman standing impatiently before her. Emma Highland was a paper-pushing, humorless brainiac. Barely over five feet tall and with short brown hair, gray eyes, glasses that she constantly kept readjusting on her nose, a firm mouth and the temper of a porcupine, she had the ability to put anyone who ran afoul of her into a bad humor.
"Not now Emma," Peter chilled gently, "The scans?"
Emma harrumphed and adjusted her glasses on her nose. "Well as you are already aware the artifact dates 2,000 years older than anything else discovered at the site so far. Now the components of the object are even more peculiar at first glance you would assume that they were produced here on Earth, but under the scanner we found that its composed of completely unknown particles, and the writing on the cover, well I have the translation programming working on it now and will hopefully have it translated by the morning."
"Your program isn't going to do any good."
Emma flashed Rose a sharp look, "And just how would you know this Miss. Tyler?"
. "Did you bring me up here to listen to her go on all day about something she can't hope to figure out or am I going to get to see this artifact?"
"Now wait a moment, you just can not waltz into my department and demand to see things that you don't have the clearance to even know about Miss. Tyler." Emma reached up and again adjusted her glasses. "I'll have you banned from this floor if I have to…"
"Give it to her."
Se blinked and turned, "Mr. Tyler I protest this goes against every protocol…"
Peter Tyler locked Emma into his steal gaze. "Now Ms. Highland."
With a poisoned glare at Rose Emma turned and open the container sitting on the work surface. Rose leaned forward and with care removed the old tattered book from the padded surface of the box. The leather was wore and cracked in spots and covered in dust. The pages were yellowed with age and tattered along the edges. She ran her fingers over the cover as she attempted to memories the familiar spiral design that she had seen in only one other spot.
She carefully set the book on the table and with a deep breath opened to the first page.
"It won't do you any good Miss. Tyler, if the program can't translate it you have no chance of understanding the simplest marking within that book."
"Shut it," Rose shot back at the women. "It's Gallifreian." She lovingly shut the book and set it back into its box. "Alyce could you please make sure that makes it to my office in one piece."
"What?" Emma sputtered. "No absolutely not. No artifact may be removed from the lab without my permission and you do not have it Miss. Tyler."
"Mickey," Pete motioned the other man over. "Will you escort Ms. Brennan up to Rose's office."
Mickey shoved his way past Emma and hefted the box into his arms. "Lead the way." He flashed a charming smile at Alyce.
"Now if you will excuse me Ms. Highland I have other things to attend to." Pete excused himself with a smile to Rose.
Emma sputtered, adjusted her glasses, and sputtered again before calling after Pete. "I will take this to the board this breach in protocol is outrageous and completely uncalled for." She tuned her glare to Rose. "You have overstepped yourself this time Miss. Tyler. Running around like you know everything in the universe is one thing, but disrupting research on a valuable artifact that might hold to key to the Time Lords, well not even Daddy can help get you out of this."
"Is that a threat?" Rose's eyes narrowed. "Because if it is you better be able to follow through with it Ms. Highland." She turned, but glanced at the other women over her shoulder. "And as for the Time Lords, you couldn't even begin to understand."
Emma glared as Rose walked off towards the lift. "You we'll see Miss. Tyler, we will see."
XYZ
Rose nearly ran Mickey down when she entered her office; she flashed an apologetic smile at him before heading over to her desk. Alyce had already placed the reports from R&D on the object within easy reach and a fresh cup of tea Bless that women, Rose thought as she took a sip.
"Well you survived Emma I see." Alyce smiled as she wandered in and sat a plate of small sandwiches on Rose's desk.
"Barely," Rose absently picked up the small meal and nibbled. "I still haven't figured out if she's worth all the pain."
Alyce laughed, "No one has, but she does get the job done and her results are what keep the board happy and out of your Da's hair."
Rose nodded in thought. "Alyce how much does the board actually know about Time Lords?"
"Well, mostly what they know is from your accounts after you came here." She settled her hip on the corner of Rose's desk. "I can't speak for what information UNIT provided before they were disbanded in the late 90's. Your Da would know more about this then me, why not ask him?"
"I have a feeling that he knows even less than he thinks he does." She leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment. "Does Mickey still have that backdoor into the archive?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Rose shook her head. "In that case how about I just take a bit of a walk and see what I might be able to find."
"You are a gem Alyce."
She laughed, "save it till I actually get you some answers." She waved as she swept out of the room.
Rose took another sip of tea and set the nibbled sandwiches aside before reaching over and opening the box Alyce had brought down from R&D. She tenderly removed the book again running her hands over the aged leather. This was it her first link tactile to the Time Lords in this universe, and maybe a link to him.
"So that really from The Doctors world?"
She looked up startled to see Mickey standing in her doorway. "Well it's the same writing that I remember seeing on the TARDIS, and as far as I know his people are the only ones who use this."
Mickey slowly walked over to her and leaned a hip onto the desk. "So this might be a way back?"
She shook her head. "No, if it's anything it's just a piece of history." She carefully opened the book to the first page and frowned.
Mickey leaned forward. "It's blank," He flipped to the next page. "Well that's sort of strange." He stood up straight and scratched his head. "Why bury a blank book?"
Rose slowly closed the book, "I don't know."
"You all right? You look like you saw a ghost or something."
"Wha?" She blinked up at him, "Oh fine, just tired, think I'll just finish up here and head out for the day."
Mickey frowned, "You sure you're alright?" He knew Rose far better than she thought he did, and he knew something had spooked her.
"Honest I'm fine." She smiled softly at him. "You know how much dealing with Emma takes out of me."
"Right," he smiled back, far from convinced. "Look why don't I go grab Jake and we'll all head down to the pub for a drink. It'll do you good to get out for a bit away from your Mum."
"Mickey, I'd love to, but I'm really just looking forward to getting home and taking a hot bath."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, 'sides you and Jake can catch the match without me." She plastered her best "I'm fine smile" on her face.
He sighed. "Alright, but at least eat something today."
She rolled her eyes, "Yes Mum, now scat before Emma comes looking for you." She held the smile on her face until she was certain that he was gone before slowly opening the book to the first page again. The writing seemed to leap off the pages and into her mind. She shouldn't even be able to understand the basic structure of the words, let alone read them. Something wanted her to see this.
Why Mickey hadn't seen this she couldn't imagine, unless it had something to do with the book being from Gallifray and her spending so much time within the psychic influence of the TARDIS. Or maybe it was simply from traveling through the vortex. She shoved these thoughts to the back of her mind, making a note to come and untangle them later. Right now she had a greater mystery in front of her.
Time is in flux.
The universe expands. The universe collapses. All is reborn. All dies. The Reapers sleep. The Masters pass. The circle continues without the guardians. The break expands. The universes collide. The threads unravel. The tapestry falls. All things end. All things begin. With one moment everything collides. With one life all will be changed. With one death all will be saved. With one tear the gate will be made.
The way is shut. The key is lost. The Wander grieves. The Wolf howls. The Unborn pays. The Child cries. And only time can save them.
Across time they sing. Across space they walk. Forever apart. Forever together. Pulled apart by the darkness of the undying enemy. Bound by paths that are yet to cross. The Wander and the Wolf lost…alone…waiting. As the tapestry unwinds around them. As time moves in its dance. There is only one way. There is only one time. There is only one chance.
That which was healed, is now undone. The scare will crack, and the way will open. The Wolf will pass and all will be as it is meant.
The way is shut. The key is lost. The Wander grieves. The Wolf howls. The Unborn Pays. The Child cries. And only time can save them.
And only the Child can save time.
The book slipped from frozen hands, landing with a thud onto the desktop. Rose's mind raced as she attempted to make sense of the images that had flashed through her mind as she read the encrypted passages. In the moment of laying her eyes upon the script her nightmares of the past month had flashed through her minds eye. Something was coming; something that wanted the Wolf, and that frightened her more than anything.
XYZ
She was sitting in one of the overly large leather chairs when he entered the library. The dim lighting of the room added to the old world ambiance that one of his older incarnations had enjoyed so much. His Ninth self had enjoyed it since the dimness had fit into the moods he was so often embedded in. That is until Rose walked, or rather, ran into his life. After that the room had seemed oppressive in its magnificence and he had even had the TARDIS redesign it a bit to fit him more. Brighter colors, more comfy seating, and a more home feel to the room. Rose had loved it.
But now, now the room was returned to its former obviousness that tended to add to his more melancholy moods of late. He was actually surprised Martha hadn't gone off and smacked some sense into him yet. He had been surprised when the TARDIS had led her to the gardens, that was the one place he would allow himself to let down his mask and show the world what was truly inside, but maybe the TARDIS was right, maybe it was time to tell Martha about Rose.
"So where is this mystery you need my oh so clever brain to figure out for you?" He said as he swung down into the second chair by Martha. She rolled her eyes at him. "What?"
"You just think you're so clever."
"I am so clever." He pouted.
Martha just grinned and pulled a large old leather bound book onto her lap. "I found this buried in the very back section when I was looking for that book you mentioned on New Humans."
The Doctor reached over and plucked the book from Martha's grip. "Well, no wonder you can't read it, its in Gallifrayan the TARDIS won't translate that." He frowned.
"But I thought the TARDIS translated all languages?"
. "She doesn't need to translate this." He took a deep breath. "This is my language Martha, she doesn't need to translate what I already know."
"Alright, then what is it?"
"It's a book." He ducked the tossed lap pillow.
"You know what I mean." She leaned over the arm of her chair and tapped the cover. "What does it say?" With a smile he flipped open the cover and turned his attention to the familiar geometrical writings of his home. "It says…" He froze as his mind processed the words. "That's not possible."
"Doctor? What is it?" Martha leaned closer concern coloring her voice.
"Where did you say you found this?" He slammed the cover shut.
"The section in the back by all the Greek scrolls that you have piled back there." She gently touched his arm. "Is something wrong?"
He turned his face suddenly breaking into his familiar smile. "Wrong? No not at all. You just happened to find what would be considered a very dull and boring law book from Gallifray that's all."
She gave him a confused look. "Are you sure? I mean you were pretty tense there."
He laughed and tossed the book onto a table. "It was the shock of suddenly remembering why I always hated to follow the rules." He pulled her up to her feet. "Now I feel the need for a cup of tea, why don't you go put the kettle on and I'll put this daft old thing back where it belongs."
"You sure your alright?" She was still far from convinced.
The Doctor nodded and shooed her. "Go on, remember two sugars oh and get the marmalade out too I could do with some toast and marmalade."
She groaned. "You and your marmalade."
He waited until she was gone before throwing the book open again and felt his blood run cold.
That which was healed, is now undone. The scare will crack, and the way will open. The Wolf will pass and all will be as it is meant.
The Bad Wolf comes….
To Be Continued…