"Well, this wasn't what I was expecting," Rose said as she and the Doctor exited the TARDIS.

"What you were expecting?"

"I don't know exactly. Just… not this."

The TARDIS had landed on a small stone porch hanging off the second story of a large old fashioned house. The sun was shining bright and warm and the sky was blue and clear above them. Below and beyond them were fields of green grass and full trees as far as her eye could see. It was beautiful and peaceful.

And yet… This was not a place of solitude like the planet the Doctor had taken her to for their bonding. This was isolation and, though it was a pleasant enough setting, she could practically feel the bitter difference.

Beside the TARDIS was an open set of French doors leading into the house. The Doctor and Rose silently made their way through them and found themselves in a room that could be described as a study or small personal library. There was a large desk near the doors, which was overflowing with papers and books. The walls of the room were lined with built in bookshelves which were all packed to overflowing except for the small stretch of wall that had a fireplace in it. There wasn't a fire burning in it at the moment and the two chairs on either side of the place were empty. The room, though aged, was well taken care of. It was devoid of dust and grime, making it obvious that someone was staying here. They both listened for the sound of the occupant but the only sound they could hear was the gentle rustling of papers on the desk as the wind slowly blew through the doors.

"This just doesn't feel right," Rose finally remarked quietly.

"Well, considering how completely not right this whole situation is, I suppose that is to be expected," the Doctor said, his voice tinted with concern.

But she hadn't expected it. She had thought this place would be as cold and sinister looking as the mind of the person they knew lived here. She knew it was probably silly to expect such a predictable setting but she had. The feel of that intruder's mind was unforgettable and difficult to get past and she couldn't seem to reconcile the comfortable setting she was seeing with the memories of the darkness and evil she had felt. It was so terrible and it had been inside their heads with them...

At that moment she felt a warm familiar brush on her mind. She looked over at the Doctor and he was looking at her. She smiled. "Thanks."

"Of course," he said smiling back at her.

The near silence of the room was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming through the door. The Doctor and Rose turned to find a man walking from the hallway through the door into the room, an open book in his hand and a look of surprise on his face when he spotted them.

Hello, Doctor, the man greeted after a pause.

Both the Doctor and Rose heard the voice of the man in their minds. Rose almost jumped at the sound of it in her head and she was glad she was able to stop herself before she did. The sound of anyone's voice beside the Doctor's inside of her head was completely foreign to her. The sound of anyone's voice in her head who had not been invited there would be unwelcome. But the sound of this particular man's voice in her head made her mind crawl. This was their enemy.

She watched as the man approached them and she couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions not all of which she was proud of. She had never felt such fury and loathing against any person in her whole life. This was the man who had gone into the Doctor's mind and took it without any regard for his life. He was the one who had almost stolen the Doctor from her just as she had gotten him back. If this man would have had his way he would now be in possession of all the Doctor's thoughts and memories and the Doctor would be dead.

She'd been angry before but she hadn't realized how small those feelings of anger had been until this moment when they flared tenfold. Actually seeing the face of the person who had almost taken everything away from her made her anger grow to new heights. Before, she'd been so focused on the Doctor and saving him and healing him. Things had been too dire to dwell on fury. But now, she had the time to feel it and she did. She felt it growing and moving into hatred for this man who had no regard for anyone else's life.

She felt the Doctor squeeze her hand and she knew what he was saying. He could feel what she was feeling and he was encouraging her to calm it. She knew her anger could get to a dangerous level if she let in continue to grow and she knew she needed to keep from getting too emotional over this. She was glad for the reminder and the grounding he gave her. He had certainly been in the company of murderous enemies many times and he of all people knew the consequences of unchecked anger.

Their enemy approached them but stopped standing several feet away from them. Obviously, his personal bubble was much larger than that of humans but Rose was fine with that. Having this man's voice in her head and his eyes focused on them was more than enough contact for her to feel comfortable with. Besides, he didn't have to get physically close to them to cause any damage and remembering that made Rose feel anxious again.

His eyes were silver and incredibly piercing as they stared at her and the Doctor. Though hidden behind a set of round spectacles, they bore into her so much she half expected them to slice right into her. It felt as if he could read her very soul. Maybe he could. His hair was a light blonde, so light that it was almost white and his skin was very pale. He looked old in some way but there was not a wrinkle or blemish on his face, making it difficult for her to guess at his age. It looked that time had left its mark on his expression but not on his body.

She felt unnerved by his look but it soon seemed to her as if he didn't even recognize her presence there. He was looking at them both but it was the Doctor's mind she felt him reach out to. Rose could feel as their adversary reached his mind to the Doctor's searching it out. She was terribly alarmed by this but the Doctor didn't seem to be. At least he wasn't yet. She could feel the strained patience the Doctor was exercising as the man acquainted himself with the his mind. Rose was sure this was probably normal for telepaths, like a kind of greeting, but she didn't like it. If the person involved hadn't been a known enemy then she didn't think it would bother her that much. She was possessive of the Doctor's mind as her own but she wasn't selfish. But the person involved had proved himself to be a danger, to have no regard for the safety or care of the Doctor's mind and that made this feel completely wrong.

The Doctor was diplomatic and tried to handle things in the most peaceable way he could. So, he was willing to accommodate their enemy even though a proper greeting was not what he deserved. But it was Rose who could not stand for it to go on any longer. She didn't trust him, obviously, and everything she felt from him now made her sick. There was only evil and bad intention and she didn't trust where this was going to go.

Finally, she was the one to send him away. She pushed him out and away from the Doctor's mind and wrapped her own around him. She pulled on all of her own strength to make her mind a strong wall to keep their enemy out. She surprised herself with the action, having never done anything of the sort. But just like all her abilities before, when she needed it she found herself capable of it. The Doctor was also surprised. She worried for a moment that he wouldn't like that she had stepped in and she wondered if she had possibly made the situation worse. But then she felt that he was impressed and not at all angry by her possessiveness. Though he was composed on the outside she could feel the inner smile he was giving her because of her actions.

Their thief still didn't acknowledge Rose's presence. He didn't appear to realize her abilities. He seemed to think it was the Doctor who had sent him away. Rose figured this was a good thing. He underestimated her and she felt that could probably work in their favor. She kept silent for the moment and let him believe that the Doctor was the only one with skill in this area. The Doctor didn't feel the need to dispute this assumption either.

The man smiled at the subtle but clear brush off but there was something evil underneath it. It was a slight feeling but it was clearly there and Rose was glad her hand was already safely in the Doctor's; if it hadn't she would have had to reach for it now even though doing so would have betrayed the nervousness she felt. It had always been her experience that silent enemies were the most dangerous and this man was completely silent for several seconds after he'd been cast out of the Doctor's mind.

He had greeted the Doctor so casually but when the Doctor spoke his voice was strained. "Ira."

Aw, I see you've changed to calling me by name, Ira said, continuing to speak telepathically as if vocal words were below him. I rather liked 'The Thief.' It was a bit simplistic, the Time Lords always were so fond of little titles, but I liked it.

Ira casually walked into the room and sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace. He pointed towards the chair opposite of him offering it to the Doctor. He gave Ira an incredulous look, obviously refusing the offer, to which Ira only shrugged his shoulders. He then opened the book in his hands, looked down at it and began reading as if they weren't there at all.

The Doctor and Rose exchanged a brief, confused look. They were both unsure of what to do for a moment. They were surprised by Ira's clear indifference at their presence here. Finally, the Doctor cleared his throat loudly and said "Excuse me," annoyance clearly in his voice at being ignored.

I hope this isn't the part where you hoped we would have some sort of show down or something, Ira said casually while still skimming over the pages of the book in front of him, where I reveal some evil plot and you tell me I have to stop. That would be disappointingly predictable

Rose knew that actually was what the Doctor had been expecting, at least in some part. Neither had expected their enemy to be so disinterested that he didn't even seem to want to speak with them. But the Doctor ignored the taunt in Ira's words and pressed on to what he had come here to say. "People have died, been murdered by you. You have killed at least five humans and who only knows how many other people from different planets and that is something you are going to answer for."

Ira didn't even try and deny the Doctor's accusation. His own actions and being found out about them didn't seem to bother him in the least. Instead, he looked up surprise on his face. You're not really here about that are you? You're not really going to bother yourself so much for a few humans?

"I would bother myself with any single life that was preyed upon and attacked by another," the Doctor said fervently.

Oh yeah, that's right. You're the 'defender of the universe and the people' and all that nonsense, he said with sarcasm. You're the judge, getting to hand out justice as you see fit. And I suppose that's why you've come here isn't it? To explain the rules and how I broke them and make me stop, Ira mocked.

"That is exactly why I'm here," the Doctor answered seriously.

In case you haven't noticed Doctor, the Time Lords aren't in charge anymore. Of course, they were never really in charge in my opinion. So, you're free to say whatever you like but you're alone.

Rose's emotional and impulsive human nature blazed within her. She wanted to tell Ira that even if the Time Lords were gone the Doctor was not alone. He had practically an army of friends and supporters who would stand with him whenever he would need them. Not to mention, he had her completely. But the Doctor sensed this starting up in her and gave her an internal nudge not to speak it. Ira's attention was still not on Rose and he wanted to keep it that way.

The Doctor already knew what he was going to say, his words a surprise. "So are you."

The Crecelians are alive and well, Ira replied pleasantly with a shake of his head.

"Yes, but they're not here. Hmm, why is that?"

I don't need a traveling companion as you do. I'm free to come and go wherever I please

"Yes, but you shouldn't want to. I've never known a Crecelian to think a planet or people good enough to trouble themselves with leaving their own. Why should you decide to leave when no one else among your people does?"

You might not want to talk in such a haughty tone as if you know everything about us. It may interest you and that large ego of yours to know that it was a collective decision to leave for a time. We decided on it out of a temporary necessity

"Oh and I suppose that the murders were a collective decision as well? Made out of necessity, of course," the Doctor said, his words with heavy sarcasm.

Actually, the acquiring of information was decided upon by many as necessary, Ira said with far too much pleasure.

"'Acquire information'? I like how you've manipulated the words around to try and make it like it wasn't murder," he mocked. "No, I don't believe that. I've never known a Crecelian to be a murderer. A bit stuck-up and full of themselves, yes. But a murderer? No."

Well, that's where you would be wrong, not surprisingly. We had to turn to these means in order to preserve our species

"Oh, really?" the Doctor asked skeptically. "Well, I've certainly heard that one before but I suppose this time it's actually 'true.'"

Yes, as a matter of fact it is. We had a terrible epidemic on Crecelea. Within two weeks a fourth of our population was dead. We had no idea what was causing it or how to cure it

"And so you just stole the information you needed?"

Don't aim your judgment at me, Doctor. There was no time for research. At that rate our entire population would have been gone in a matter of two months

"You can almost explain away any action in the name of self-preservation," the Doctor said with a disgusted shake of his head. "But that doesn't make it right. But because you deemed it 'justifiable' I suppose you have no guilt about what you did?"

No, I don't. We did what we had to in order to solve our problem. Just because you were willing to sacrifice your own people doesn't mean that others feel the same way. It saved us so I believe that it was worth whatever steps we had to take. Everyone agreed our actions were necessary

Rose could feel the anger burning in the Doctor, could even see hints of it on the outside now. There was a storm within but somehow he managed to calm it and keep it mostly contained. There were so many things wrong with what Ira had said and Rose knew there was so much the Doctor wanted to argue against him. But he voiced a different thought instead. "If all of that is true, and you will forgive me if I have my doubts, then where are they?"

What do you mean?

"You said everyone agreed to your actions and deemed them necessary. And yet, they isolated you here. So, something must have changed."

They haven't isolated me here. I chose to come

"But they did take action against you didn't they? Your people just don't choose to relocate. So, you must have had a very good reason for 'choosing' it." The Doctor's emphasis on the word showed he did not believe that leaving had been Ira's desire at all.

"The way I see it," he said continuing on, "you decided you didn't want to stop even after the epidemic had passed. The desire for information was too great. They all agreed to stop stealing thoughts but you refused. You got greedy."

You're wrong again. But even if you weren't it's no concern of yours

He said it indifferently but Rose could feel a bit of anger from Ira. The Doctor was on the right track and Ira didn't like it.

"You came to my Earth and you threatened the people I like. You tried to steal my mind and all that I am. So, it is every concern of mine."

I grow tired of this conversation, Ira said with a sigh.

"Yeah, me too," the Doctor replied, no longer trying to hide his anger or irritation anymore. "So here is what it all comes down to: you will stop your attacks."

Ira laughed which only made the Doctor angrier by the moment. This man killed people without even thinking about it and now he treated it all as if it were a joke. Doctor, it's been fun talking to you and all but I have better things to do than argue with a washed up Time Lord

"The killing will stop."

You get no say in how I will conduct myself and you don't have the power enough stop me. Even at their best, the Time Lords were no competition for us. And you are far from being even at peak ability for your own species

"You know what? You're right; I can't stop you," the Doctor said with a casual shrug of his shoulders. "But what you aren't taking into account is that I'm not alone."

Rose had been confused about where the Doctor was going but as he finished his statement she felt a burst of nerves. If he thought he couldn't defeat this man on his own he surely didn't think she was capable of it. But she felt him reach out and give her heart a touch of reassurance and she felt herself stand a little taller and feel more confident.

Ira gave the Doctor a questioning look. What? You aren't talking about her? he said, nodding his head towards Rose.

"That is exactly what I'm talking about."

If I'm not intimidated by you, Doctor, then what makes you think I would ever be intimidated by her? She's only human, Ira said, his tone making it quite clear how little respect he had for her species.

The Doctor smiled. "Is she? Is she really only human?" he teased.

The next second Rose felt an invasion on her mind as Ira reached out to touch her. He was only just on the surface of her mind, just looking at the appearance of it, but she didn't like it one bit. This was a place she only wanted the Doctor to be, where she would only ever invite those she loved the most. Even though it was only a glance, no one but the Doctor had seen her mind and Ira was the last person she wanted to see any part of her. But she forced herself to stand her ground and allow it as the Doctor had done. But she also prepared to fight back at any moment if the need arose.

Finally, to her great relief, Ira pulled back and looked at her curiously. She is human…but not entirely, he said smiling. That is interesting, I'll admit. But she still is human, a race with untrained telepathic abilities so she is of no threat to me

"She may have started out that way but she is as far from being untrained as you can be, I'm sure you'll have to admit."

You two put on a good show I'll give you that, he said smiling deviously. But just because you've trained her to be your little play thing doesn't mean she has any real skill. Anyone can be led along

Rose blushed and burned with anger. She couldn't believe that their private time had been invaded like this. She hadn't known that her and the Doctor weren't alone in their minds until the very end, right before Ira had tried to take the Doctor's mind for the second time. But now she knew he had been there for much longer than either of them had realized. Quite possibly, he had been there during their entire time of reuniting. She had thought the Doctor had escaped him when he'd awoken from the dream but maybe Ira had just been lying in wait the whole time. Thinking of all that had passed between her and the Doctor made her angry because that was their time. It was sacred and meant only for them; no one else should ever have been a part of it in any way.

She had thought that Ira assumed she had no telepathic abilities but he had known it all along. He just hadn't spoken to her because he thought she held no skill, that even though she could do telepathy that she was still beneath him. She was not affronted at his insult, knowing it was completely unfounded, but she took great offense at their intimate time being intruded upon as it had.

The Doctor, however, took issue with the insults as well. Rose could feel that he was angry about both the invasion on their bonding and the degrading way Ira looked at Rose. When he spoke again there was anger in his voice. He was still more contained on the outside than he felt on the inside but there was now a hint of the storm within.

"You say she's no threat to you but she's already defeated you twice."

In what way? Ira asked with a laugh.

"She's the one who woke me from that dream you trapped me in and she's the one who revived me when your second attempt nearly ended my life. So, before you underestimate her so much you might want to stop and realize that she has done what no one has ever been able to do to you."

Now Ira looked at them with his own anger. This was obviously news to him and unwelcome news at that. He hadn't expected the Doctor to say that and he didn't like it either. Rose could see that it bothered him greatly, the idea that a human could overcome him but he was doing his best not to let on to it.

I highly doubt that

"Well, maybe you won't after I tell you a story," the Doctor said letting go of Rose's hand and walking around slowly. He was gaining speed and energy for whatever it was he was about to say.

"You want to hear a story?" he continued. "Yeah, of course you do. Right! Soooo, you were wondering how she got to be the way that she is, completely human and yet something else too. Well, I'll tell you." The Doctor had been babbling along in his happy and carefree manner but here he paused and looked with intention at their enemy. "She looked into the time vortex. Even better-she took it into her head…and she survived."

It was only slightly seen on the outside but the Doctor's words had an effect. Ira took a moment as they sank in and composed himself before he smiled at Rose. Well, that is impressive. Seems I'm not the only one who likes a bit of power.

Rose smiled. He'd like to think they were the same. He thought that here he could find a weakness in their defense by making it seem like what they had done was same. But she hadn't taken the time vortex for power. She hadn't even realized what she was doing.

The Doctor also found it humorous. "See, that's where you're wrong. She didn't seek it for her own personal gain or from her own greed, no. It wasn't for herself at all. She had all the power that a person could ever hope for at her fingertips and the only reason she wanted it was to save someone she loved."

The Doctor paused here and looked over at Rose taking her hand again. "Because you see that's humanity. That's the race that you've been destroying without any regard," he spat out at Ira his anger building. "You may have stolen the facts from their minds but you know nothing about them. They aren't a species that survives on cold reason and knowledge; they are a species guided by their hearts."

Ira looked at the Doctor and sneered. That's all very touching, Doctor, but I'm not guided by romantics like you are. Look at how far you've come. I can't imagine what the Time Lords would say to see the bleeding heart you've become. You're practically human

"I'll take that as a compliment."

You shouldn't. Those emotions nearly killed you

"Those emotions are the only reason I've alive."

They made it so easy to conquer you. You were so heartsick and broken; it was pathetic. You are completely ruled by those disgusting emotions

The Doctor paused for one heavy long moment before he spoke. "A scenario that you yourself are quite familiar with."

This was not what Rose had expected the Doctor to say. It surprised her and she wasn't sure where this was going now.

How could I possibly? Ira asked, but there was something in the way he said it that made Rose think he knew exactly what the Doctor was speaking of.

"See none of this quite makes sense."

I'm not surprised that you're so confused, Ira said, losing interest again and trying to turn back to his book.

"Oh, I'm not confused. I understand it all perfectly. And you know what I think?" the Doctor asked.

I don't really care, Ira said in a tired voice.

The Doctor ignored the comment and went on. "I think all of this wasn't about information at all. I had assumed that this was about knowledge or power. But I think it was about something else entirely."

Think what you will, Ira said with an air of indifference like the subject didn't interest him in the least. But there was a hint of something in his eye that told Rose the Doctor had definitely struck a nerve.

Ira didn't ask why the Doctor thought that; he didn't want the Doctor to explain. But regardless of what he wanted the Doctor was going to anyway. He smiled as he said, "I think you liked it. I think you enjoyed being inside of someone else's head. You liked experiencing them; how they felt, what they felt. It was personal to you. It was emotional," the Doctor sneered, emphasis on the last word because he knew the negative connotation it carried for Crecelians.

Ira stood up and with sudden speed came over to stand in front of them. Rose braced herself against the distinct feelings of anger rising inside of him. She prepared for the revenge and the fight she felt coming. In a calm tone, that was so still it imparted fear he replied, How could you possibly have such a stupid idea?

"Because of the humans," the Doctor answered with more ease than Rose knew he felt at the moment. He felt the danger too but he would not show it. "Why else would you pick them? Not for information. No. Your people wouldn't consider even the smartest among them to come close to the dumbest among you. But emotional? That they definitely are."

Now that the Doctor had said it Rose could so clearly see it. She could feel strong residual emotions from Ira as his past was surely replaying itself in his mind. He hid the images from them but his feelings he took for granted and guarded much less. In this area she had an advantage. She was the master of the heart and what she felt in his was more than enough to help her understand what had happened.

Just as Ira was about to speak, the Doctor rushed in and cut him off. He knew he had a lead and he was taking advantage of it. "You must admit it's intoxicating," he said, grinning larger than ever. "To walk among someone's mind, to touch their heart, to lose yourself in them. It feels great. It would be hard to turn away from that."

The Doctor spoke from a place of understanding. He knew what it was to have to walk away from telepathic touch. He would admit that the struggle was a difficult one. But as hard as it had been he had done it. There was understanding in his words but there was judgment as well. He had denied himself in order to do what was right. Even when he had pursued it again it wasn't without much thought and consideration and it certainly hadn't been without permission and relationship.

That was not what it was about for us, Ira replied with such coolness it almost made Rose shiver.

"Oh, I know that," the Doctor said, nodding his head in agreement. "No, that isn't what it is about for Crecelians. But that is exactly what it is about for you."

Rose knew, she felt, how right the Doctor was. Ira had once been a sensitive person, more emotional and feeling than others of his kind. More than it was acceptable to be. Maybe he hadn't even known it until the plague. Or maybe he'd known but had been in denial of his true self. Whatever the case, the plague and their answer for solving it had been the event to send him over the edge to a place from which he couldn't return.

For the Crecelians, telepathy was for communication, for relaying information. It wasn't emotional or personal. There was no intimacy of relationship to be gained from it. It was tragic. Theirs was a cold and rational society and an especially hard one for someone like Ira to find himself in.

Surely, as he glimpsed into the minds and in turn the hearts of different species he'd found much different kinds of spirits than the ones he had been around his whole life. The Crecelians had always isolated themselves from other species but their dire situation had not only put them in contact with other peoples but also into the deepest part of them. It must have been an eye opener to see other species who had been made for relationships. This was what he had always desired but couldn't have among his own people. It was a temptation and he hadn't resisted it.

He also couldn't give it up. Coming back to his own people he would find no sympathy or understanding or any acceptable outlet for such desires. It was truly a dreadful place to find oneself in. What a terrible longing to have with no hope of satisfying. Rose could easily imagine what that would feel like. Especially with her and the Doctor's recent separation so fresh in her mind, Rose could see how both she and the Doctor might have found themselves in such a lonely place.

The strangest thing was, Rose could actually understand Ira, for a moment at least. Her and the Doctor had a sort of forbidden connection themselves. Rose was a human, a race that didn't practice telepathy at all. And even the Doctor whose people did share in telepathic relationships hadn't shared them to the deeply emotional extent that he and Rose shared. They had created what they had wanted and longed for. The melding of their differences had created a kind of relationship that was completely new.

It was all too easy to imagine how they might have ended up in a position similar to Ira's if they hadn't been reunited. Rose began to really wonder what would have happened to her and the Doctor if they had spent the rest of their lives apart. Eight months away from each other had felt like forever but it wasn't that long in the grand scheme of things. Would she have become cold and hard in an effort to protect herself from all she felt? Would she have found the longings of her mind too tempting to ignore and taken action to relieve them? If she had, she could have ended up exactly like him and the idea terrified her. It was a thought she knew she'd never be able to forget.

But she could feel no sympathy for Ira and what he'd gone through. He'd allowed his temptation to control him, his sadness to transform him. He selfishly took what he wanted without consent, without the forming of relationship. He'd become hard and unfeeling about anyone but himself. He'd isolated himself from a world that didn't care for him and allowed any good or redeemable parts of him to die away. Rose could not understand or tolerate that. While she could imagine how painful a situation it had been, she knew she could never, would never, become what he had.

There was a no hope for him. He was beyond the point of no return. She could sense the sickening feeling of insincerity in his words and knew that there was only one reason he was even still talking to them: He intended on finishing what he'd started. He meant to have the Doctor for good this time. He would not be interrupted or stopped. Of all the possible outcomes she could see that lay in front of them none of them included a scenario where all three of them walked away from this.

She realized what was going to occur exactly one second before it happened. With lightening quick reflexes she threw up a mental shield around her and the Doctor just as Ira attempted to strike them. Rose was surprised at her own action, not even realizing what she was doing until it had been done. It must have been a defense mechanism from that not completely human part of her. Someone with telepathic abilities would need to be able to protect themselves in this way and she found herself doing this on instinct.

She may have just barely beaten the Doctor in realizing what Ira would do and protecting them from it but she was grateful when he joined her, both of them using their combined power to protect their minds. Ira's hit was so powerful she knew she wouldn't have been able to protect them both for very long. He was very strong but against the two of them combined he really would be no match.

Ira smiled deviously at them but she could feel the hatred in the undercurrent of what he was feeling. For him, and everything he had faced in his past, they were nothing more than a vivid representation of everything he had wanted and yet had been deprived of. She could feel how much he despised them.

Well, Doctor, you were right about one thing; she is good, he smirked, his gaze focused on Rose, feelings of malice and dark intention in his tone.

Rose understood now that Ira wouldn't just try to finish what he had started with the Doctor; he was going to try and have her mind too.

The Doctor also knew it and that was the moment he had had enough. He didn't mind trying to reason with Ira, even going so far as to taunt and tease him, when he had been threatening the Doctor alone. But the second he even suggested that he would try to do the same to Rose, the Doctor was through with reason. She felt as a deep protectiveness and possessiveness filled the Doctor and a determination that nothing like that would ever happen.

It didn't even matter whether the Doctor had wanted to reason with Ira or not; it was clear that he was already too far gone. Rose got a flash of terrible things. She saw a desire that would never be satisfied and a growing disregard for life. She saw Ira taking and taking. She saw many more people who would suffer because of him. She saw him steal their minds away and she saw their loved ones devastated by grief and loss. She didn't know how many casualties she witnessed but it spanned the sky, affecting many planets.

Rose was new to witnessing the future. It was something she'd not had a lot of practice at but she did not need a lot experience to know that these events were fixed. She wasn't sure how she knew it for certain but she knew that, unless there was a drastic intervention, these things would happen. Ira would not stop and there would be a great loss of life. And he planned on starting with them. The Doctor had wanted to reason with him and give him a chance, just as the Doctor always wanted. But Ira didn't want that chance. He wasn't going to change his mind and he wasn't going to give up on the Doctor either.

His mind was so desensitized, so hard and unmovable. Rose could feel how much that grieved the Doctor. This was so much like what he'd been through with his own people it was painful to him. This man had so much power but no respect for it. Someone who had this much power but no filter on it couldn't be left to their own devices. They had to be stopped. As long as there was a hope of persuasion it wouldn't come to this but they were both quite aware that that hope was gone.

Rose glanced over at the Doctor and she found him already looking gravely at her. In one look she knew he knew all of that too. She could see from the sadness in his eyes that he saw everything she did and he felt a slight feeling of failure; he didn't want it to come to this and he regretted that this was their only option. He was sorrowful but he also looked resolute and sure of what must happen next. Without a word or exchange of thought they both knew what they had to do and they were both in agreement about it.

His hand tightened around hers and held on securely as he always did and she was grateful for it. She took comfort in it as they joined their minds together and prepared for what they had to do.