Hi All!

Thanks again for all the great reviews, they make me happy! Sorry it's taken me so long to update, I've been swamped organising stuff for Children in Need this week. I work in a kids club, so it's kind of a big deal…

Anyway, for all you faithful readers here's chapter 9. Enjoy xx

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For Disclaimer see Chapter 2

Chapter 9: What Rose Did Next

The hatch of the space shuttle shut with a deafening clang, and the small craft whirred into life. The Doctor pounded on the metal, calling to his friend, who had locked herself inside in a moment of inexplicable speed.

"Rose! Rose, open the door now! Can't you see what's happening to you? You're being controlled!"

Rose didn't hear him. She understood that he was talking, but what he was saying was beyond her. Louder and louder the mysterious voice hummed inside her head, and everything was so clear…

"I can prove I love him."

-You know what you have to do-

Rose did know. The voice told her everything. She had seen life through the Doctor's eyes and was determined to ease his pain.

Outside the shuttle, the Doctor's throat was getting sore from yelling at Rose to come to her senses. He'd tried everything to get that door open: Sonic Screwdriver, card key, he even kicked it a few times. But there wasn't even a lock; Rose seemed to be keeping the door closed by sheer effort of will. And that frightened him. Whatever that thing was saying to her, it was making sense to Rose. It must be something important to her to keep him locked out like this…

"Rose, just come back out here. Whatever it is, we can work it out. We can go in the TARDIS and away from the Dreamcaster-"

"NO!" came the call from inside the shuttle. "The Dreamcaster knows what I need to do. It can help me prove myself."

"What? You don't need to prove anything. Rose!"

Suddenly, the shuttle shuddered, and seemingly vanished into thin air, although the Doctor knew it was probably a sub-space portal of some kind.

Even with his quick thinking, he was momentarily helpless. The thought that Rose, his best friend in the universe, had vanished in front of his eyes and had chosen to do so made him shudder. It was so unlike her…

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he ran out of the museum onto the balcony, and headed over to a comm panel on the wall. He clicked the button.

"I need to talk to the Hostess."

A machine's voice emanated from the speakers. 'Apologies, the Hostess is currently unavailable.'

"Okay, I need to speak to security."

'Apologies, security is currently unavailable.'

The Doctor sighed in frustration. "Fine, get me the Shadow Proclamation."

'Apologies, exterior communication systems are currently undergoing repair work-'

He banged the panel in anger. "That's too convenient to be a coincidence." He pressed a few more buttons on the panel and zapped it with the Sonic Screwdriver, before praying to any passing deity that he wouldn't be too late.

He ran over to the stairs, and began climbing, up several flights to the TARDIS. He hadn't seen her since early the day before, and he couldn't help smiling to himself when he felt her presence grow stronger in his mind. But as he turned the corner towards his beloved ship, he skidded to a halt in front of a small old woman with dark, creased features.

"Sir Doctor of TARDIS."

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The Doctor's face was set cold and determined. He folded his arms across his chest and stared at the shrivelled old woman, who seemed strong both mentally and physically in spite of her age.

"Telepathy won't impress me, I'm afraid. So you can start by telling me who you are and why you have a Dreamcaster on board Gambit Junction."

The old woman smiled wryly. "You are mistaken, my child."

The Doctor smirked in disbelief. "Tell me what the Dreamcaster wants with Rose. And if you're wise, you'll tell me now, because I'm no 'child,' and I have a very short temper with people who chose to violate my friend's mind. TELL ME!"

The woman seemed unaffected by the Doctor's speech. But as she stared into his eyes, his soul burning with anger of furious intensity, she had to look away.

"I am the Keeper."

"The keeper of what?"

"The Keeper of the Gateway."

The Doctor's eyes widened in horror. "The Gateway is dead. It perished, closed in on itself."

"It remains."

"But that's impossible."

"It remains."

The Doctor didn't have time to wait around for her to explain, so he tried to get past her to the TARDIS. But a barrier of psychic energy stopped him in his tracks. He turned back to the woman.

"Why has the Dreamcaster taken Rose?"

"Why?"

"Yeah, why?"

"She wants to go home."

"Rose?"

"The Dreamcaster."

He was getting more and more impatient with the Keeper's arrogance. There was something very sinister about this woman.

"So why does she need Rose to help her get home?"

"She needs someone to pilot her ship."

"Into the GATEWAY?!"

The Keeper nodded slowly, a little smile spreading across her face.

The Doctor frowned at her suspiciously. "So why couldn't you pilot it?"

"I have… other plans."

The Doctor's mind was whirring, trying to work out her riddles. Then it dawned on him.

"You're deceiving the Dreamcaster!"

She nodded with a smile of pure malice and malevolence. "And there's nothing you can do, Sir Doctor of TARDIS. I have disconnected all communications from this station."

Suddenly there was a flash of blinding light, and two large Judoon appeared behind the Doctor. The Keepers eyes widened in horror.

"Hold her," the Doctor ordered simply.

And before she could help herself, she found herself detained. "How…?" she growled angrily.

The Doctor just smiled charmingly, and took his Sonic Screwdriver from his pocket, twirling it triumphantly. "Oh, didn't I mention? I'm a genius."

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The Doctor ran into the TARDIS, flew over to the controls and hit the right levers to get her in flight. His face was set in rigid resolve as he turned the monitor to see it clearly. His hearts beat a ferocious march in his chest as he repeated the words he'd uttered to his dear friend only months before.

"Don't worry, Rose. I'm coming to get you."

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Hope you enjoyed. The next chapter will reveal more about the Keeper's plan, the Gateway, the Dreamcaster and what Rose wants to prove (Will be an exciting one!)

Please review! xx