Rose was carefully and deliberately dragging her feet with each step. Sure, she was cold and exhausted and her ribs were sore, but she was nowhere near her breaking point. She didn't think it would do well for her captors to know that though. Shortly after they had started their arduous trek through some seriously challenging landscape she had slowly and steadily feigned signs of advanced fatigue. Maybe if she stumbled enough times or her pace slowed enough they would stop for a break and she could get in some hurried whispers with the Doctor. She was sure he had thought of something by now and perhaps was just waiting to communicate the plan to her.
As one hour turned into three and the threat of a storm built on the horizon, the hope of their captors allowing them a rest break dwindled. Pretty soon she was going to need one for it's intended purpose and not just to touch base with the Doctor. As miserable as she was, the worst of it was that she could neither see nor touch the Doctor. The hand that would usually contain his was instead shoved into her pocket to prevent her fingers from freezing. The monotony of their pace was even more oppressing without his deep voice teaching her about the planet and sharing a well-timed joke to lighten the mood. She only knew that he was still there, a comforting presence behind her, by the sound of his footsteps she could occasionally hear over the tromping of the aliens. She missed him. He was two bloody feet behind her and she missed him. She wasn't sure if the dominating emotion floating through her thoughts was exasperation of how far gone she already was over the bloody Time Lord or the anger at those keeping them apart.
After a particularly jarring stumble that was not quite so feigned, the Doctor finally broke the oppressive silence with a violent coughing fit. Or at least that's what it started out as. Rose turned toward him heedless of the crossbow wielding aliens flanking her to make sure he was ok. Superior Time Lord biology and all, he wasn't one to usually beak into coughing fits unprovoked. As they made eye contact Rose felt a strange wave of…something wash over her and he spoke in a rough voice.
"Rose, don't say anything. To them it just sounds like I'm coughing, but the TARDIS is selectively translating for you. Wince like you are in pain if you understand."
It wasn't hard for Rose to wince, though it was more out of grumpiness at the situation rather than pain.
"Good. We need to get away from them. Now. There's an outcropping of boulders up ahead. When I cough again that's the signal. Run towards the rocks as fast as you can. Try to change direction and zig zag so you're a harder shot, understand?"
Rose winced.
"Ok I'll explain the rest as we're running. Business as usual, yeah?"
Rose winced and tried to control the shivering now that she was still and the icy wind was whipping right through her heavy jacket.
The Doctor made a show of clearing his throat and then nodded at the aliens to let them know he was ok. They started forward again, the whole thing having taken no more than a few seconds.
Adrenaline flooded Rose's system as they drew closer to the towering pile of rocks she figured was the one the Doctor spoke of. She could see it's merits as a base point for escape with it's many hiding spots and loose rocks she reckons they could manage to push off onto their pursuers once the gained higher ground. Mind focused on the impending sprint of her life, Rose's steps became stronger and more sure. When she thought she may snap from how tightly she was wound in anticipation, the Doctor let out a loud cough and she was off.
Rose's world narrowed to the pounding of her feet as she darted towards their goal. There were no arrows whooshing by her so she figured that the weapons either took a while to load or the Doctor had done something to distract them. Probably the later. She hoped he didn't get himself shot or clobbered. When she was halfway to the rocky outcropping, a large hand grabbed hers and she twined their fingers together, gripping for all she was worth. He let out a whoop which she didn't have the breath to parrot, but a wide smile spread across her face. Her discomfort and her fear were pushed to the background with the exhilaration of escape. Not constrained by the same need for oxygen intake as her, the Doctor wasted no time in catching her up on their plan as they sprinted towards their goal.
"Oh Rose Tyler, you are brilliant! And so am I! They're Xythiers! A warrior race from the Haschire Galaxy! And would you believe they are just a little bit telepathic! Enough for me to send a bit of Oncoming Storm their way. More like Oncoming Headache for them! Ha! Should give us a nice head start and then, Rose Tyler, when we're back at the TARDIS you can tell me how impressive I am over a nice cuppa, after we see to your ribs, of course. How's that sound?" The Doctor shouted gleefully.
"Brilliant!" Rose managed to gasp out.
They reached the safety of the rocky tower right as the first arrows whizzed by them. The Doctor darted behind the first boulder, pulling her along to relative, if temporary safety.
"Right up we go!" The Doctor, annoyingly still breathing almost evenly chirped at her.
Rose just squeezed his hand before letting go and climbing up after him. She didn't dare look back in case she lost her footing or momentum, but she could hear the evidence of their pursuers gaining on them. Bloody hell but they were fast!
The Doctor scrambled over the top of the rocks and pulled her up to a rather flat plateau. Grabbing her hand again they took off at a sprint, or rather at the fastest pace Rose could manage in her exhausted state. Too soon they came to the other edge and the Doctor pulled Rose back just in time before her momentum carried her over the edge.
The Doctor swore in his native tongue as they gazed down at the churning river several meters below them. "Damn!" He muttered to himself. "Far too cold for a dip, not to mention those rocks look rather sharp. Think think think!" he smacked his forehead repeatedly. Rose left him to his muttering and turned to face their rapidly approaching attackers. Her heart leapt to her throat when she saw one of the larger Xyth-y-whatevers aim a very functional looking crossbow at the Doctor's left heart. Guess the two of them were going for a swim after all. She wasn't excited about the prospect.
The Doctor was caught by surprise as she leapt into him, pushing the both of them over the side of the cliff just as the zing of the discharged weapon sliced through the air.
"What Rose no!" the oblivious Time Lord yelled as he tried to regain their balance. But it was much too late for that. Rose felt him stiffen abruptly against her and with a shock of dread she wondered if the arrow had hit him. She griped him to her tightly and had no time to worry further before they plunged into the icy rapids.
The water felt like knives cutting into Rose's skin and any previous discomforts were drowned out by the agony that was assaulting every inch of her body. Still, she clung to the Doctor knowing that if he were injured, he would be relying on her to keep them afloat. She kicked desperately towards what she thought was the surface and was relieved that she felt the Doctor helping her. As her lungs began to burn in earnest and the pair were tossed around in the swirling rapids, she wondered if even their combined efforts would be enough.
She distantly felt her grip slipping from around the Doctor but that was ok, really. Blackness dimmed the already murky water that pressed in around her and she her thoughts became only weak whispers in her mind. Just like going to sleep, she mused. And distantly wondered why that thought was laced with regret.
Then her world erupted back into a whirl of sensation as her head broke the surface of the water. With oxygen, reality came screaming back to her. Oh god! Had she let go of the Doctor!?
She had, but the tugging on her upper arm told her that he had her in a tight grip. The two of them now bobbed at the surface of the water, taking in much needed air. Rose tried to muster up enough breath to ask if he was ok, but they were thrust into a bolder by the strong current and she found herself back under water. Over an over they were part of this erratic dance of struggling for the surface, breaking through to take in gulps of air, and then plunging back under the rapids. Each time Rose felt a little more strength and awareness leave her. She didn't even feel cold anymore. Everything was about staying in the Doctor's strong embrace, avoiding the boulders jutting out of the riverbed, and taking in as much air as possible when she could.
Rose didn't know how long they kept this up, but eventually she felt the rapids calm slightly and the Doctor's movements became more purposeful as he dragged them towards the far river bank. Too weak to match his movements, Rose clung to him and just tried to keep her head above the water. Finally, she felt the muddy shore under her body as the Doctor dragged them both out of the water. He collapsed down beside her, their feet still dangling in the shallows and they coughed up what felt like half a lung of river water. She wanted to turn to him, to make sure that he was ok, but the blackness from earlier was clouding her vision. Before she could utter more than his name, it had overtaken her.