Hi everyone! A great big thank you to everyone who's taken the time to review, and a special thanks to Otter Child for her advice. Hope you all enjoy part seven xx

For Disclaimer See Chapter 2

Chapter 7: Dead of Night

Rose couldn't sleep. She could hear the Doctor tinkering in one of the adjoining rooms. She heard the whirr of the sonic screwdriver, followed by a curse. She smiled to herself. She knew he was bored, but she also knew that when he was determined to see something through, there was no stopping him.

Him. Ever since her dream, or vision or whatever it was, he was all she could think about. Him and the Dreamcaster's inexplicable and confusing words.

She had seen his memories of her. How was that possible? The Doctor had mentioned something about it being telepathic, but she'd never come across a psychic ability quite like this before. She'd decided as soon as she'd woken up from the dream that she wouldn't tell him what she'd seen. If the Dreamcaster was right about fear holding him back, telling him she'd just seen all his sneaky peeks and hidden glances wouldn't help the matter. No, she'd decided, definitely not telling him that.

The Dreamcaster. It was still in her mind somewhere. She could feel its presence, dormant at the moment, but still pulsing quietly at the back of her head. It was a little disturbing, but also rather comforting. She'd quickly found it to be like a living conscience, whispering to her at unexpected moments. Like now.

-Rose Tyler, you have a long way to go on your path to love-

Rose shook her head, and tried to drag the sound from her mind. The Doctor had said it was just using her, playing on her weakness so she would go back and it could drain more energy from her. Yet, this thing was telepathic. He had said its planet was in a rift in time, like Cardiff, so it could see the future. Supposedly. So it couldn't be lying to her. Could it? She was so confused.

-Rose-

Rose ignored it.

-Rose Tyler, I know you doubt me. But you have already seen the other's desire through his own eyes. You must want to know what to do next –

Rose arched an eyebrow.

-Come to me, Rose Tyler, come to my ship, and I will reveal for you the next steps you must take-

Rose tried. She really did. But she couldn't think straight. Maybe if she went to see this thing she could get some answers. After all, she was pretty intelligent; it wasn't like she'd let herself be taken over by some overgrown mood ring…

The Doctor continued his almost heroic attempts to make the music system in the spa find some decent lyrics, his sonic screwdriver doing most of the work for him. Humming along happily to 'Stayin' Alive,' he didn't even hear the door open and close as a blonde left the suite.

----

The station was different at night. Rose made her way through the darkened corridors, clad only in her pyjamas. Everything was quieter, and several puffs of steam jettisoning from under the metal grating of the floor gave everything a hazy, slightly foggy appearance. Two large armoured aliens discussed business in a bar, knocking back some powerful-looking black liquid. A small group of cleaners stood around gossiping about the day's events. Three tiny aliens no bigger than Chihuahuas strolled along casually, arm in arm, conversing in high-pitched tones. But Rose noticed none of this. All the life and the culture that usually drove her to love places like this were pushed aside. She focused only on the voice in her head.

-Go to my ship, Rose Tyler-

She didn't know how, but she found herself outside the museum doors. The museum was closed for the night shift; a sign showing opening hours confirmed it was shut for another five hours. Plenty of time, she thought to herself.

She wondered for a moment how she was going to get in. Then she saw the lock. It was digital, with the same card-swipe area as the door to their suite. 'The best room,' the hostess had said. Maybe it's a VIP pass…

To her relief, her card worked, and the lock flashed green. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure she hadn't been noticed, before slipping through the slightly ajar door.

Inside, the museum was cold and dark, but it didn't bother her at all. Her feet led her without thinking through the winding corridors, past exhibitions and information plaques to the forgotten room, in which stood…

"Dreamcaster," she whispered. "I'm here."

She stepped tentatively over to the ship, and rested her hand on the cool metal. It glowed under her touch, then shone sliver, just for a moment, before settling down again.

She looked at the ship with intensity. "What do I do now, then?"

Normally, she'd call herself insane for talking to any ship except the TARDIS, but at the moment she just couldn't seem to clear her head…

-Rose Tyler. Your other is concerned about you-

Rose nodded guiltily. "I know."

-There is no need for him to be concerned. But he is. He is always troubled. The lonely god, the saviour of so many and the destroyer. He is alone in his hearts, Rose Tyler. All the time, skipping from one place to another, meeting people, making friends, saving planets, but always alone. Do you want him to be alone, Rose?-

Rose shook her head, and clamped her eyes shut to stop the tears that had begun to form. "Of course not. I…"

-Yes?-­

"I love him."

­-Then maybe you need to prove yourself…-

----

The Doctor ran through the corridors of Gambit Junction, his battered converse pounding onto the metal with loud clanging noises. Several people looked up and frowned at the odd behaviour, but no one stopped him. No one dared, with his eyes of thunder and face set just as grim.

Where is she?

He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid as to leave her alone. With the Dreamcaster still around, he should have known she'd be susceptible to it again. The first thing that had come to his mind when he saw her empty bed was the purple booth. And that was where he was headed. Floor fourteen. He ran down all the stairs (the transport discs apparently snoozed at night, which freaked him out a little) til he eventually found the place. He stopped dead. No booth. No Rose. Nothing.

He began to think again, his brain whirring as he made the connections. The museum!

Back up the stairs, along a long, winding corridor to the museum. Sonicked the door, no problem. And he knew exactly where she would be.

"Doctor."

Rose didn't seem surprised to see him there. In fact, she didn't seem to be… anything. She seemed void.

"Rose, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Doctor," she said calmly. "I am going to prove myself."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Dreamcaster has spoken."

And what she did next made the Doctor's hearts freeze in fear.