Gallifrey

Romana watched the Doctor through the Infirmary window. Her friend hadn't left this woman's side since he had brought her here. She was an enigma. The Doctor wouldn't tell her how he'd run across such a creature. He was keeping everything close to his chest, which was nothing new. Romana was used to it by now, having known him for centuries. But he was acting differently than she'd ever seen. He sat by this woman's bed, his hand clasped in hers, and had refused to move.

He also hadn't let anyone but Romana near her. He hadn't the technology in his TARDIS to tend to her, not that he really knew what was wrong. As far as Romana could tell, her vitals were fine. Well, they were fine if she were a Time Lord in her first Regeneration. But Romana couldn't tell for sure what her actual lineage was. Her Time Line was completely obscured, which was another strange thing about her.

Romana worried her lip, not wanting to disturb her friend. There was a meeting going in the High Council, as to whether or not they would be resurrecting Rassilon. They were getting desperate in this War, and were willing to do almost anything. They'd already resurrected and lost the Master. They'd lost so many and whether anyone would admit it, they were afraid. They figured having Rassilon, the creator of their culture and the most accomplished leader they had ever had, would be what pulled them out of the War. Romana wasn't so sure, but she didn't have much of a say any more.

She steeled herself before walking into the room. The Doctor barely registered her existence, his eyes only for the girl in front of him. He still didn't understand why she'd fainted when she entered his ship. He understood even less the TARDIS' reaction to her. Elation as soon as she entered, and faint concern when she fainted. His own infirmary hadn't shown anything out of the ordinary. Physically, she was fine. Mentally, he couldn't be sure. He didn't have permission to delve into her mind to check. He wasn't even sure what he would be looking for if he tried.

He tensed when Romana bent down to talk to him. Her message was clear. They would have to leave before the decision was made. He'd dealt with Rassilon in his past. It wasn't pretty. And he knew, if he caught wind of Rose, he would try to manipulate her to his own designs. The Doctor nodded his head, thankful for the heads up. He glanced at the Wolf before starting to unhook her from the various machines.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

She floated on a sea of clouds. She was weightless, drifting through the fine mists. It was different from the fall she remembered so long ago. This was soft and peaceful. She lay content, wanting nothing more than to stay here, relaxed, forever.

A soft, peeling music drifted into her senses. She felt it more than she heard it. It was the same song she had been following for as long as she could remember. Curious, she swam towards it. It surrounded her, yet pulled her a certain direction at the same time. She floated down the river of Time before coming to a stop. A bright blue light beckoned her and closing her eyes, she fell through.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

Her head felt like jello. She hadn't felt this hung over since drinking herself into a stupor after Joshua's death. That name fluttered against her skull, and she realized with a start that she was in an infirmary. She woke fully, alert, taking in her surroundings. The room was nondescript, as were most hospital rooms. She wasn't tied down, which she took as a good sign. She didn't spot any instruments around her and certainly none that she knew could do damage. That was a small consolation.

She tested the door. It wasn't locked. More surprises. She crept down the corridor, her bare feet not making a sound. The halls seemed to go on forever but she had the distinct impression that she was being led somewhere. A soft music played in her skull and if she'd stopped to listen, she would have known what it was. Instead, it put her on alert. Obviously, wherever she was had telepaths, or at least some sort of technology that was similar to telepathy. But she followed the corridor. Eventually, it would deposit her where she could figure out where she was.

It didn't take much longer before she was deposited into a room. In the center, pulsing slightly, was a column. If she didn't know any better, she would think she were in the Doctor's TARDIS. But that was impossible. She was dead, wasn't she?

A figure stood on the other side. He had on, what appeared to be, a military uniform. It wasn't familiar to her at all. Her eyes drifted back to the pulsing column, like it was calling to her. Was this some sort of trick? Her mind was too fuzzy to make sense of it all. Still, she watched the man, wary, but he never moved. He just stood there, staring at the display screen, frowning slightly to himself.

She took a breath, and edged closer. She was still wary, but something about him seemed comforting and familiar. She decided to go with her instincts. Quietly, almost hoping he wouldn't hear her, she whispered.

"Hello."

He froze. He turned towards her slowly. He was truly a beautiful man, if she were to admit it to herself. He stared at her a moment, disbelief on his face. Then relief flowed over his features and he smiled at her.

"Hello."

"Where am I?" He looked at her, confusion flitting across his face.

"Don't you remember?" She stepped forward, staring at him. She lost her footing and placed her hands on the first thing she could grab. As she touched the console, memories began flooding back to her.

"Run!"

"There's me."

"I'm so glad I met you."

"Fantastic!"

"You'll find your feet at the end of your legs. You may wish to move them."

"Have a fantastic life for me, Rose."

"Allons-y!"

"Which one's Shiver?"

"Rose Tyler, I-"

"I only have one life. I could spend it with you, if you like."

"I love you, Rose Tyler."

"Get back to him, Rose. Find a way. He still...we will always love you. Remember that."

Only seconds had passed, but she had several lifetimes worth of memories shoved back into her head. She closed her eyes against the onslaught and swayed. The man scrambled over to help her but she put a hand up. She opened her eyes, her vision clear for the first time in ages. She knew who she was, and why she was here. She looked at the man again, seeing him with her mind as well as her eyes. The Doctor, ancient and new, stared back at her, concern on his face. It wasn't the one she knew. This was before her, before the War. Or during it, if her recent memories were correct. Time was changing. Things had already changed and were set in motion. She felt it as surely as she felt the TARDIS underneath her fingers.

"Are you alright?" The Doctor still held his hands out, afraid she might run from him. Instead, she did the last thing he expected. She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around him. It took him only a moment to return the gesture. A sense of welcoming and of home enveloped her as she held him. She stepped back, taking in the Console Room. It was more utilitarian than she remembered. The coral struts she remembered so well were hidden behind paneling and glass. Finally, she touched the glass column.

"Oh, you are beautiful. Brighter than I remember, but much colder. Much more...militaristic. Efficient. I guess you had to adapt to the times, didn't you?" The column pulsed and the lights dimmed slightly, answering her. She brushed her hands against the console, happy for the first time in a long, long time. The ship pulsed around her, sharing her sentiment. Without warning, she started flipping switches and turning knobs, placing the TARDIS in flight. The Doctor moved to stop her but as soon as he touched the console, he was shocked. He placed his fingers in his mouth and watched the woman pilot his ship like an expert. They landed with a dull thud. She shuffled around, glancing at the monitor before squaring her shoulders and heading towards the door.

"Wait, where are we?"

"Gallifrey. As much as I know you don't want to be here, I have some business to attend to. So you have to either come with me, or wait here and follow me later."

"What do you mean, follow you later?"

"They've just resurrected Rassilon. This signals the downfall for your people. He'll started searching for a weapon to end this War and as soon as he sense me, he will come after me and there is nothing you can do to stop it. It's better for all if I volunteer for this bit. He'll send me somewhere, try to break me down and bend me to his will. The Travesties will be used and all Hell will break loose above Gallifrey. The Nightmare Child will cast a dark shadow over all and there isn't much that can stop him. If I don't act now, it will be too late."

"How do you know all of this?" She smiled sadly at him.

"I see all that is, was, could be and what can never be. Rassilon will try to initiate the Final Sanction and that cannot be allowed. I've seen the Time Lines where he succeeds, and where he is stopped and trust me when I say that this is the most painless way. This is my task, Doctor. For the sake of the Universe, let me go."

"I don't even know you, but I can't let you do this alone." The Wolf laughed, although it was more a bark than anything. Quite reminiscent of her name, really.

"Oh, I won't be alone. Besides, if I know you, as soon as I step out of those doors, you'll start trying to find me again. I am too much of an enigma for your curiosity to let go. But find me, Doctor. She's programmed to leave as soon as I close the door. Start your search." She stepped out and closed the doors before he could answer.

~DW~~DW~~DW~

She was grabbed as soon as the TARDIS dematerialized. Her hands were bound behind her and a bag thrown over her head. She was maneuvered roughly through the abandoned streets. The populace, those not fighting at least, had abandoned the city and were in shelters deep beneath the surface. It wouldn't help them, she knew, but there was no sense in shattering their fragile hope.

They eventually boarded a type of shuttle. She was shoved into a corner for the duration of the trip. She offered no resistance. Her captors would have found it odd had they been paying attention. They were in flight for a short amount of time before they stopped. She was pulled back to her feet and maneuvered through a maze of corridors. They finally entered a room and sat her in a chair. They secured her hands to the arms and her feet to the legs. For anyone else, it would have been a hindrance. The bag was pulled from her head. In front of her, sat a man she hadn't seen for centuries. His eyes were wild. She could feel the insanity gripping him tightly.

"Hello, Koschei." He didn't reply back. He merely reached towards her temples with his hands. As soon as he touched her, he delved into her mind.