Hey, everyone, I'm back! Hope your holidays were all amazing. This chapter here is an interlude, so it's shorter than usual. But don't worry, next chapter will be longer.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.

Chapter 6: Interlude- Message 1

In the 900 or so years that the Doctor has been alive, he had seen many things. He had met many civilizations. Seen many species, though not all of them friendly. In fact, some of them were downright hostile and dangerous. The Nestene Consciousness, Zygons, Sontarans, Cybermen, and those blasted Daleks came to mind. And he would be lying if he said he didn't fear for his chances of survival when he was facing off against them one time or another. (Well, okay, he was 93.71% sure he would live through them, but that's neither here nor there.)

So why was it that he simultaneously felt chills, warmth, and a near-overwhelming curiosity for one Captain Jack and his (their?) mysterious Rosie? He recalled that night when everybody lived, how he did not hesitate to save the young Captain from the missile that he intercepted. He also allowed the Captain room aboard the TARDIS, something that surprised him. He did have a sort of grudging respect for the man; not many would intercept a bomb, knowing that it would explode any moment.

But it wasn't Captain Jack Harkness that puzzled him. It was the strange and mysterious Rosie. Rosie, who always seemed to be there when he needed a solution. Rosie, who had no voice, but could say many things. Rosie, who made him feel warm and content at times. Rosie, who was starting to feel oddly familiar to him. And then, there was that thing he said that night.

"You want moves, Rose? I'll give you moves!" he said without thinking, and sent the nanogenes forward toward the rest of the gas-masked zombies.

"Everybody lives, Rose. Just this once! Everybody lives!" he shouted happily, grinning wider than ever.

What had made him say that? It was like his mouth had spoken of its own accord, like he was supposed to say it. And it felt right, calling her Rose. It scared him to no end. Who was this girl? Why did she have such a hold on him without even trying? When did he let her? More importantly, why?

Speaking of which...the Doctor slid out from under the console where he had been working on non-existent repairs and looked around the TARDIS. It was unusually quiet. Where was the girl in question? No doubt with the young Captain, but where were they? It wasn't until he had stood up and straightened himself that he noticed the gold light coming from somewhere above. The Doctor narrowed his eyes; the light seemed to be coming from the room that the TARDIS had set up for Rosie.

He went upstairs slowly, almost wary of what he might discover. The light grew brighter still as he walked toward the door to Rosie's room, which was left slightly ajar. He nudged it open...and couldn't believe his eyes. Jack and Rosie were both asleep on the bed, the young girl tucked away in his arms. The source of the golden glow, however, was coming from the figure standing at the foot of the bed, as if it was watching over the two.

The Doctor could only stare with wide eyes, voice temporarily gone, as the figure turned to him and he saw that it was a young woman with blonde hair. She was wearing a white jumper and pale jeans, he noticed. She smiled at him.

"It's almost here. Just a little longer," she said with a voice that echoed.

"What's almost here?" asked the Doctor, finally finding his voice.

She walked up to him and stared at his face as she raised a glowing hand to touch his cheek.

"The day when everything comes to dust. The parting of ways, and the beginning of the return. It's almost here," she said with a hint of warning in her voice.

"Parting of ways? The beginning of the return? Return of what?" asked the Doctor.

The young woman leaned into him and he felt the ghost of her lips touch his ear.

"The return of what's meant to be...my Doctor..."

The gold light grew painfully bright before suddenly disappearing again. The Doctor blinked in confusion, before his eyes landed on the pair sleeping on Rosie's bed. What in the name of Gallifrey had brought him up here, he wondered. Shrugging mentally, he walked over to the bed and pulled the covers up around the girl before he left. Vaguely, he wondered if Rosie and Jack would enjoy a trip to feudal-era Japan as he went back to the console room.

Yup, you guys know what the next chapter's gonna be!