Okay, it might just be useful to repeat that Rose is now only part human, because of bad wolf. She is still Rose, but bad wolf gives her a much longer life span, makes her brain absorb information very quickly and lets her heal from injury quickly. Small references to bad wolf will be appearing.

Rose sighed to herself as she walked across the interconnecting sector corridors, her black shoes rapping loudly against the white floors and the empty sound echoing through the space. She was currently on her way to talk to her father about the dimension cannon but also about what to do with Max. She was meeting the Doctor in Pete's office, he should have a say about what they should do with dimension cannon.

She inserted her electronic key card into the lock and stepped into the large office. As the director, Pete Tyler had a small lab to himself, along with a study and computer area with access to all files, results and sample information ever collected or written down.

The Doctor was already there, sitting on one of the larger armchairs. Pete Tyler hated bare and business like studies, and he had converted his own to a more living room like area, complete with a coffee table, sofa and fireplace. He was currently sitting on the sofa; frowning over a report the Doctor had given him. He looked up when he saw Rose and smiled at her. "Hello Rose" he greeted and motioned for her to sit down. The Doctor sprang up from his place to hug her, less than an hour without her and he already felt edgy. Rose went to sit down with the Doctor in the armchair, making herself perfectly comfortable on his lap. Pete raised an eyebrow and concealed a smile at their behaviour, the two of them acted like teenage lovers. The Doctor's hand was already entwined with Rose's.

He quickly finished reading the report and passed it to Rose, who had it read in less than half a minute.

"I want to know your views on it" Pete said.

"You want to know whether we should take it apart or keep it." Rose clarified. Pete nodded.

"From what the Doctor and the tech department say, the dimension cannon could prove dangerous now that the walls between the universes are closing. One accidental press of a button and we may have a universe torn apart."

Rose nodded. "But there is no guarantee that we can make one again", she said. "Years of hard work and research went into this, and although the process was described in absolute detail, it might not be possible to make a new one."

"And a new one might be necessary one day" The Doctor added. "Anything out there could try something similar to what the Daleks did, possibly even on a larger scale. The dimension cannon could prove very helpful."

Pete considered this. The dimension cannon was an extremely advanced piece of technology, which made it incredibly helpful, but also extremely dangerous. And he was unwilling to take chances.

"I think we should keep one" Rose voiced, guessing Pete's thoughts.

"I know it's a dangerous piece of tech to have" the Doctor filled in. "But if we have a sample piece it would be a lot easier to make another in case the need arises."

Pete nodded thoughtfully. "We would have to store it somewhere safe though" he said. "If an alien gets his or hers hands on this, then we would be in big trouble."

"Perhaps we could store it in the vaults?" Rose asked. "If we put it in a top security but unsuspicious vault no one will think of looking for it there-the vaults are full of old files and documents-stuff that's been here for almost two hundred years."

"I have a better idea" the Doctor said. "I know the new TARDIS isn't done yet, and won't be for at least another 11 years, but I can still figure out a way to make a perception filter. That way we can hide the dimension cannon".

"A perception filter is what's used on the TARDIS" Rose quickly added so that Pete would get what they were talking about. "When you saw it the first time it was a blue police box yeah? But you didn't notice it till we pointed it out right?"

Pete nodded.

"That's what perception filter does-literally shifts your perception away from an object…or a person" the Doctor explained, thinking of the year that never was.

"And you think you can design one for the dimension cannon?" Pete asked. This solution was exactly what they needed.

"I am almost certain of it" the Doctor responded confidently. He frowned slightly in thought.

"How many people should know about this?" he asked.

"The three of us, Mickey and Jake." Pete responded without missing a beat. "The less the better".

"In that case I might need a separate lab station" the Doctor said thoughtfully, shifting Rose on his lap slightly and putting one arm around her waist. She leant into him, smiling at the comfort and closeness.

"Or we would need to clear a whole lab…and possibly the sector around it, just to keep somewhat confidential. But that would be a lot of work, and there would be a lot of questions." Rose added. "It would be so much easier if we use one of the private labs near our office, and lift the clearance level."

Pete nodded. "I'll get Mickey and Jake on it. Mickey will install the entrance recognition system codes so that only we will be able to enter."

He took the report from the table and put it in a folder on his shelf. "Now" he said in a slightly lighter tone, walking back to the coffee table. "I heard there have been some problems with Max.

Both Rose and the Doctor sighed. "Pleasant fellow" the Doctor said, but seeing both Pete's and Rose's disbelieving looks he grimaced. "Okay no, not very pleasant at all, rather annoying actually and really needs to tackle his xenophobia and respect other people's privacy. But you know…".

Pete smiled slightly. "You said something about lunch today?..."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "Lunch?" she asked surprised. "Don't tell me he tried to turn the lunch ladies against you?"

Pete snorted with laughter, thinking of how, a year ago, Rose would never ever have made these kind of jokes.

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Actually, the lunch ladies are very pleasant people…unless they're Kriillitanes. That would just be stupid, not to mention extremely inconvenient. But still…wouldn't hurt to do a background check….no?" he trailed off, seeing both Rose and Pete's raised eyebrows. Both of them were holding in laughter.

Rose sighed theatrically, but immediately squealed as the Doctor began tickling her. "Stop!" she cried, trying to grab hold of his hands.

Pete cleared his throat, smiling inwardly. "The point here is…."

"Right, the point!" the Doctor said. "Basically he's just being extremely annoying and such. He keeps thinking I'm brainwashing or manipulating Rose and basically shouting it in front of everyone. And this would be the second time he's almost pulled out a gun on me".

Pete nodded. "Max is a god agent, but I understand the problem. He is very determined and can be rather headstrong. But I'm not sure what to do about it."

"I should talk to him" Rose spoke up. "This situation is my fault".

The Doctor was about to interrupt, but she held a hand up. "I let him get closer to me than I did other agents, and I think that's what caused it. He thought he knew me, but he doesn't. If I explain it to him, maybe he'll believe me".

"I suppose that would be the best way to go." Pete agreed.

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Max was sitting in his office (only 3 rooms away from Rose's) trying to concentrate on paperwork. He had just been in the archive room, trying to find any information on Time Lords and mind control, but had so far been unsuccessful. It didn't matter.

He wanted his Rose back, and he would manage it.

There was a soft knock at the door. "Come in!" Max called, sounding rather annoyed, he wanted to be left alone with his thoughts. The second he saw Rose in the doorway however, he smiled.

"Max" Rose greeted, slightly reserved, but with warmth in her voice. It sounded like the Rose he knew.

"I need to talk to you for a sec" she said. "Do you mind?"

"I am always here to listen Rose" Max said, taking down the small bed in his office and sitting on it, patting the place next to him. Rose sat down gingerly, a little further away than he would have liked, but still within a friendly distance.

"It's about the Doctor" she said.

Max curled a hand into a fist, but his voice was gentle. "What's he doing to you Rose?"

Rose looked surprised. "He's not doing anything" she said, with a trace of anger in her tone.

"Oh don't give me that crap!" Max said impatiently. "Tell me Rose, you can trust me".

Rose sighed again, but looked at Max steadily. "Max…you have to believe me. He's not doing anything to me, no mind control, no brainwashing, and no manipulation. He's just making me happier than I've been in years".

"See, he obviously made you say that" Max retorted. "You're different Rose, completely different, and have been since he set foot in this place. Every time you're close to him you act this way-like a giggly and silly teenager." Rose groaned in frustration.

"No Max. I admit I'm gigglier than usual, but how do you think I behaved before all this? Before the whole parallel universe mess? Do you think I was so serious, always hiding my emotions behind a mask like I used to?" She shook her head sadly. "I was a teenager Max, silly and giggly like the rest".

"But…" Max began. "I know you Rose. This isn't you".

"That's just it Max" Rose said. "This is me." She took a deep breath.

"When I came here I refused to talk to anyone. Do you know why? Because I was grieving. Every time I would open my mouth, try to make myself smile or show emotion, tears would spill over. To keep that in check I would be all strict and silent. It was a mask, a defence mechanism."

"You're saying that you've been lying to me the whole time?" Max asked, suddenly angry. "Everything you talked about, the way you acted, the things you said, that was all a lie? A mask as you put it?"

"No!" Rose cried, he wasn't getting it. "It was still me Max, especially with you, but not the whole me. Even after six years, I was still so unhappy. I never moved on, I never managed what you managed."

Seeing that Max was still furious she continued. "I love the Doctor Max. And it's not just friendship, it's complete, utter and romantic love. And before we got separated, the two of us were always holding it back, scared in case it ruined our friendship. And now we're here, with no universe separating us and we finally gave in. And I'm happier than I've ever been Max."

She saw the hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry if I led you on" she said heavily. "You're one of my best friends Max, and I love you, but not like I love the Doctor. "

"But he hurt you!" Max nearly yelled. "I saw Rose, I saw just how much you suffered because of him! In the white room, crying your heart out! Practically going on suicide missions, always because of him!"

Rose closed her eyes. So Max had seen her in the white room that evening, seen and heard everything.

"He did that to you Rose, and now you expect me to be best friends with him after nearly killing the woman I love?"

Rose closed her eyes, tears almost threatening to spill. She had been so sure she could make it through this talk with a calm composure.

Max loved her.

But she could never love him back. Not the way he wanted her to, not the way he thought she would.

"Mickey did" she said quietly after a while.

"What?" spat Max, confused.

"Mickey and I dated for over two years" Rose said. "And he sees the Doctor as part of the family."

Max eyes went wide as he processed this information. Mickey and Rose had been together.

"I'm sorry Max" Rose said. "I'm sorry that I hurt you that way, and that I never told you. But you have to stop this behaviour towards the Doctor. You have to accept that the feelings between me and him won't weaken or change."

"How do you know that?" Max said, ice in his voice. But it was mixed with hopefulness and that just broke Rose's heart.

Rose shook her head, not bothering to answer. "You're still my best friend" she told him with a small smile. "But you can't behave like this towards the Doctor. Pulling your gun out on him? Threatening him and taunting him? It's not going to work Max. It will only get you in a worse position." With that she left the office.

The Doctor was waiting in hers, not sure what reaction to expect. He certainly didn't think she would come in with tears streaming down her face. Ignoring the knot in his stomach (he hoped to god Max hadn't hurt her, and he couldn't help feeling a little jealous, wondering if Rose just how much Rose loved him) he held open his arms, and pulled her down on the sofa, holding her as she cried.

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Okay.

Right.

Phew.

That was a really really difficult part to write. I am not sure whether I got the chemistry between max and Rose right, but I hope I didn't disappoint anyone.

Please drop a review xxx