"How are we going to find whoever made this?"

"It is my hypothesis that the chain itself can give us a clue where to find them."

"Is it sentient or something?"

"Nah... Since it is maintaining their time stream, it is also tied to their mind. I believe that they are trying to communicate with us through the arranging and rearranging Gallifreyan lettering. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the transmission is conscious, subconscious, or a pre-recorded message, I don't have any experience with these sort of devices... But for instance, right now the way the chain is coiled it reads: 'Find me, I am in dire need of your help.'"

"Cool!... Well, not cool that they are in trouble, but the way it works is cool. We should get a notebook and write down the messages as they come to us, then we can try to make sense of them."

"I don't need a notebook, I can remember them all verbatim." He was in one of his boastful moods again.

"Ugh... Yes, I'm sure you can, but I want to help too. Humor me."

"Are you sure you're feeling up to this right now? You still look pale."

"Doctor, they are in danger. Besides, aren't you curious?"

"How about I start looking into it, and you get some more rest. You have to humor me too sometimes." The way he took her hand and squeezed it, betrayed his residual anxiety regarding the whole hypothermia incident.

"Fine, but remember to take notes. I want to read your findings when I wake up."

"Let me take you to your room." After disconnecting the warm IV, he slid one hand under back and the other under her knees, and pulled her into his arms. For a moment, Rose thought about protesting, but walking wasn't nearly as desirable as being held close to the man she loved. The effortless way he carried her showed off the hidden strength in this lean body.

When he opened the door, Rose was puzzled. "Doctor, this is your room."

"Oh… Would you rather me take you to your other room? I just assumed that this was our room now. You haven't slept in the other room for more than a week." His eyes widened, worried that he had overstepped the bounds of their new relationship. Rose certainly didn't want him back pedaling.

"No! This is perfect. I just didn't know if you were ready to call this 'our' room yet." They both smiled sheepishly at eachother. As the Doctor placed her down on the wide navy comforter, he kissed her lips adoringly. Rose kissed back, with a bit more fervor. "You could take a 'nap' with me… if you want."

It was adorable, the way he still blushed when it came to intimacy. He tilted his head side to side as he contemplated her proposition. "Tempting, as always... You little minx… but that would negate the purpose of you resting. I'm still worried about you... Tell ya what, I'll work with the chain at my desk in this room. That way, I'll be right here when you wake back up."

"As long as you keep wearing those sexy glasses, we have a deal."

"As you wish."

Rose snuggled down into the comforter, while the Doctor set about gathering the supplies he thought he would need to translate the chain. Her eyelids were heavy, but she waited until he had retrieved the chain and microscope and settled down at his desk before she allowed herself to sleep. The last thing she felt was the Tardis humming with contentment.

…

There was a hollow rattling followed by the sound of metal on a solid surface. Then she heard the scratching of a pen on paper. The pattern continued… Rolling dice? Was she dreaming about playing craps? Rose pulled the blankets up over her head to block out the noise, and turned over.

"Yahtzee!" The Doctor cheered.

"What the heck are you doing over there?" The blonde sat up and rubbed yesterday's mascara from her eyes.

"Didn't mean to wake you. I got a bit carried away!" She watched as he put the chain into a small red plastic cup, covered the top with his hand and began to shake it. "Come on… Papa needs a new Atom Accelerator!" The chain spilled out on the desktop and he studied it before scribbling something on a notepad.

"How long was I out?"

"Six hours, ten minutes, and thirty two seconds. Do you feel better?" The silver chain was returned to the cup and shaken once more.

"Yep… Is that really working?"

"Seems to be. I noticed that I got a new verse each time I set the chain down."

"So you raided the Games Room for the Yahtzee cup?"

"This is expediting the process. Plus it's fun! You wanna try?" The Doctor offered her the red cup with a little shake.

"Nah, I'm good… Can I see what you have written down so far?"

He scribbled one more entry and brought the pad of paper over the edge of the bed. "I don't think the phrases are in order, but I think that I have them all written down. No more unique ones are coming up, only repeats. Maybe you can make sense of it."

a time ship it doesn't matter, situations but time, moments it is of, I have gotten myself into, a crevice normally, my clumsiness my partner, of this mess in mere, disinfecting ultraviolet light bulb, the utmost importance, before you come I would, is of the essence, as you arrive on time, a tight spot quite literally, when you leave so long, tell you to hurry, if it hadn't have been for, the top of the Tardis with a, would have been in and out, that you replace the light on, but since you are in, I would get myself out of these

"Ooooo fun, a word game!"

"Yep! The only thing that concerns me the mention of Mere… Mere is a very dangerous volcanic planet. Tribes of tough-skinned fire worshipers are the only inhabitants. If the Time Lord is there, they are in some very serious trouble."

"Since you already have all of these phrases memorized, or so you claim, can I hold onto the paper while we try to figure out the proper order? Hmmm... I wonder who will figure it out first."

They grinned mischievously at each other and the game had begun. Rose on the bed and the Doctor at his desk, the two companions attacked their challenge with renewed zeal. To have said that Rose was competitive when it came to games with the Doctor, would have been an understatement. There had been many hours aboard the Tardis consisting of competition, everything from chess to Mario Kart. The few times she had come close to beating him at something, they had been 'conveniently' interrupted: 'Turbulence in the Time Vortex' knocking their board game on the floor, his foot 'accidentally' unplugging her controller, an emergency landing... Etcetera.

This time, thought, she felt like she finally had him. He was struggling, working furiously, scratching things out and re-writing. Rose was confident in her answer, it flowed naturally, as if she had know what the chain was saying all along. She was going to win this, then she was going to gloat the way he always did.

"Time's up! Wha'did you come up with old man?"

After a final flick of his pen, he stood up and handed his paper to Rose as if he had completed an exam right at the buzzer. His paper was filled with corrections and editing, even the final product didn't make much sense.

Situations! (Salutations?) But time is of the essence. Would have been in and out of this mess in Mere, a tight spot quite literally, if it hadn't have been for a time ship. It doesn't matter. I have gotten myself into a crevice, normally that you (would use to) replace the light on the top of the Tardis with a disinfecting ultraviolet light bulb. I would get myself out of these moments, but since you are in, it is of the utmost importance as (that) you arrive on time. Before you come, I would tell you to hurry when you leave. So long, my clumsiness, my partner.

"Poorly worded letter, that. I think they meant to put 'salutations' instead of 'situations'. Does that mean that the other Time Lord has another Tardis that they are hiding in? Why would they need a disinfecting bulb? I feel like I am missing a segment... Maybe I just need more time to decode it."

"Mine is better!" She waved her paper at him mockingly.

"Rose, I've been playing word games for centuries. Plus, I'm a genius. You really think you came up with a better solution than I did?" He preened his lustrous brown hair. How could just one person house such a massive ego?

"Oi… You're not perfect!"

"Fine. I'll indulge you, but I don't really see the point." Grabbing the paper out of her hands, he adjusted his glasses and began to read.

I have gotten myself into a tight spot, quite literally, a crevice. Normally I would get myself out of these situations, but time is of the essence. If it hadn't have been for my clumsiness, my partner would have been in and out of this mess in mere moments. It is of the utmost importance that you replace the light on the top of the Tardis with a disinfecting ultraviolet light bulb, before you come. I would tell you to hurry, but since you are in a time ship it doesn't matter when you leave, so long as you arrive on time.

As he slumped down on the bed next to her, he sucked in a terse breath and mumbled something into the lapel of his jacket.

"What was that? I didnt hear you."

"Your solution is better." He mumbled begrudgingly... Deflated, defeated...

Rose was surprised by his admission, even tough she had seen it coming. "So I win for once? I beat the great and powerful Doctor in a word game?"

"Maybe… But don't get cocky, it wont happen again."

"Woo, I won! The master of time and space lost!" She said as she whooped and pumped her fists in the air.

"Be careful, Rose... You don't want to cross the Oncoming Storm..." Warned the Doctor, as he narrowed his eyes.

"I won, fair and square! What're you gonna do about it?" She stuck her pink tongue out at him through her teeth.

Suddenly, he growled and tackled her on the bed, pinning her arms and legs down beneath him. When she tried to pulled her hands free, he tightened his grip on her. "You've been a naughty girl Rose Tyler. It's not wise to taunt a Time Lord."

"Oh really?... You mean a Time Loser?"

With that, he nipped at her neck. "Oh yes... You're asking for it now..." A giggle escaped Rose's lips while he continued to nip and tease. He kissed her roughly and the two of them forgot all about the message, and the chain, and hypothermia for the rest of the morning.

...

Much, much later... The two of them returned to the console room with the chain and Rose's translation. She still glowed after every time they made love, and it baffled the Doctor to no end. Not knowing why was exceedingly irksome to him. He hoped that finding this mystery Time Lord would at least provide them with a couple answers.

Placed neatly on the jump seat in front of them was a bright green box wrapped in cellophane. On the label it read: Disinfecting Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb. Kills 99% of Germs Instantly! It was strange that this person had made such a bizarre request, but at least it appeared that the Tardis had the correct bulb in stock. Where ever they were going, there were sure to be excess germs. (Better than Mere at least.) Reading his mind, the ship placed a bottle of hand sanitizer and rubber gloves next to the new bulb. Changing out the bulb was quick and easy.

Once Rose had read her translation out loud, the chain began displaying different data in the twisting of its links: Precise coordinates in space and time. "Well... Allons-y!"