Author Note: Don't fall down. Yes I know. Two chapters in a year lol. Well I did promise I'd do more on this story. A little bit of a lull in the story here since its been so intense previously and will be so again after this chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks always to the wonderful jer832 for her fantastic beta skills and belief in me as a writer. I would also like to thank the readers who sent me words of encouragement regarding my mental health problems. I cannot express how much your support means to me so another thank you will have to suffice. xxx Em (AKA Marg)
From last chapter: The sound of the office door opening pulled him from his misery. A cry of "Doctor' echoed around the room before arms he knew so well wrapped themselves around his neck. Hot, wet tears were soaking into his jumper as the owner of them repeated his name over and over again. Fear gave way as it always did in her presence. How could it survive when his Rose was near? Rose! The Doctor pulled her tighter against him and cried tears of his own, breathing her in while his hearts rejoiced that she was in his arms and safe once more.
It was very clear to Griff and Darcia that Rose Tyler had only one thing on her mind the moment she was free of the dangerous nanites in her system. The Doctor! Barely waiting for directions, she had raced ahead of them, entirely deaf to their warnings to be careful. They followed as quickly as they could until they stopped, almost breathless, just outside the door to the room where they knew Rose and the Doctor were being reunited.
"Never knew anyone could run that fast," panted Griff.
Darcia drew in some deep breaths to try and calm her racing heart before replying, "Me neither, but can't say I'm all that surprised. Don't need to know much about those two to know that they are incomplete without each other. If I felt like that about someone, they'd be no stopping me either."
"Well, when you do I hope that person realises how lucky they are."
Darcia looked up at Griff in surprise. He gave her a brief smile and blushed furiously before turning his attention to the open door. "So, how long do we give them, you reckon?"
"There's no hurry," said Darcia. "Let them catch up a bit. There will be enough to do once we leave here anyway. We'll have to gather up all the files on anyone else who's missing and report it to the authorities. That'll be a huge job in itself and ..." Darcia stopped as she took in the sorrowful expression on Griff's face. Instantly her excitement changed to sadness. "Oh crap! I'm so sorry. I know what this is going to mean for you."
Griff shook his head. "No, don't feel sorry for me. I have to pay for what I did."
"But you helped us and don't forget the Doctor said he would do what he could for you."
"I know he did," Griff admitted, "but I've torn people away from their families," he said sadly. "Even if I help the authorities, they have every right to send me to the prison on the far side of the planet. Do you have any idea what it's like there?"
"No," said Darcia.
"A few years ago, I was a delivery person. I often delivered food for the prison kitchen," explained Griff, who was now visibly shaking. "The prisoners there are kept in solitary confinement and they are not allowed visits from family or friends. If I'm sent there I won't be able to see my daughter."
"How old is she," asked Darcia softly.
"She'll be seven in three weeks. I don't know how I'm going to tell her that I won't be around." As he finished speaking, he slumped to the floor, hiding his face in his hands. "She won't ever forgive me, but it's no more than I deserve." He jumped a little when Darcia placed her hand on his shoulder in a gentle manner. He hadn't realised that she had sat herself down next to him.
"Griff, I believe with all my heart that when the Doctor says he'll do something, he will. I admit I didn't think you could be trusted after our first encounter but it's difficult to like someone when they're trying to kidnap someone." She chuckled softly. "But, you kind of grew on me. Besides, it takes a brave man to admit that you've made wrong, even hurtful decisions and still find the courage to face up to the consequences. You proved that today and those are great qualities to have. I'm sure the authorities will take your recent actions into account, and don't forget you have all the information that will help locate and return other kidnapped victims."
Griff took his hands from his face and met Darcia's eyes. "You really think so," he asked, as a dash of hope returned.
"I do," replied Darcia. "And I'll do everything I can to help as well." When he looked surprised she said, "It's what you do for a ... friend." She reached over and took Griff's hand. "Friends," she repeated.
Griff looked down at their joined hands and then back at Darcia. He raised her hand to his lips and placed a reverent kiss on it. "Friends," he quietly acknowledged. "Thank you."
This time it was Darcia's turn to blush. Griff's action surprised her and yet it did not feel wrong. To hide her embarrassment, she gently withdrew her hand and stood up. "I think we should get moving." She patted the tiny brooch she wore that had doubled as a recording device during the whole situation. "I've got a fair bit of work to do before my deadlines. Let's see what the Doctor wants to do now." As Darcia finished speaking she walked over to the office door. She was about to knock when she saw Griff still sitting on the ground. "Come on," she beckoned softly.
Griff gathered what courage he could find within himself then took the few steps required to reach Darcia and the door. Despite only knowing this intriguing woman for a very short time, he was convinced that he'd follow her anywhere. He desperately hoped he'd be given the chance.
********************DWDWDWDWDWDWDW********************
Inside Van Statten's office, the Doctor and Rose were cocooned in their own little world. There was much to say but both of them were content to save questions for later. For now they stayed wrapped up in each other seeking comfort together.
For a Time Lord, however, the problems of the world would not stay away forever, even with one precious human in his arms. The Doctor was loath to let go of Rose. It meant feeling the loss of her heartbeat against him as well as the smell and softness of her skin. He smiled faintly knowing that Rose would disagree with him about how she smelt. After all she'd been through she would want a shower, but to his olfactory senses, there was so much more to her then the surface of sweaty skin and body odour. He tried very hard not to think about Rose's naked body. It was far easier when he'd had no tangible proof of how sweet and soft her skin felt, or how her lips tasted. Then again perhaps the divine torture she unwittingly inflicted on him would be easier to bear with the memory that he had known perfection for one brief moment in time.
"Doctor."
The sound of his name spoken in Rose's soft voice drew him back from his musings. "Mmm," he replied as he gently tried to move out of her personal space.
Rose, knowing what he was about to do, resisted his attempts to withdraw by moving forward, back into their shared embrace once more. She felt the Doctor stiffen momentarily before relaxing again. "I knew you'd find me," she said as she burrowed in against him. "Everything's going to be alright now, yeah?"
Her words brought back some of the fear that the Doctor had felt earlier. He quashed it down; knowing that now was not the time to think about his lost regenerations or what the effects of being stripped of them might mean. There would be time enough for that when he was back on the TARDIS. He tightened his hold on Rose and kissed her hair. "Yeah," he lied. "Everything will be okay."
Rose wasn't sure if she believed him or not but before she could say anything more there was a knock on the office door. As she and the Doctor looked up, Darcia appeared, wearing a hesitant smile.
"Um, I hope I'm not interrupting."
The Doctor squeezed Rose's hand and then bounded over to Darcia with his usual manic grin fixed in place. "Darcia Entillan! We did it." He reached out and pulled the surprised woman into a hug. She soon relaxed though and returned the gesture with enthusiasm. As the Doctor let her go his eyes fell to the camera brooch, she was wearing. His grin faded a little as he asked, "so do you think you have everything you need to go to the authorities?"
"Absolutely," Darcia replied seriously. "What I don't have-"
"I'll get for her from the records and sale dockets," injected Griff as he walked into the room to stand behind Darcia. He was rewarded by her smile and her hand which he took willingly.
The Doctor eyed their joined hands with interest before turning his piercing blue stare on Griff. "There was a time when I wouldn't have given you a second chance, but I've learnt that sometimes people deserve one." He glanced over to Rose only to find her standing next to him. With a smile he slipped his hand into hers, revelling in the joy that flashed through him. He turned back to Griff to address him once more. "You showed you're made of sterner stuff today. Rose and I appreciate what you did."
"I did what I could, but it helped that you put your faith in me." Griff looked at Rose and stumbled out an apology. "I'm deeply sorry, Rose for what Ert and I put you through. I understand that you must hate me but I can only hope that someday you'll think more kindly of me. I know I won't-"
"Stop!" demanded Rose in a tight yet not unkind tone. "What's done is done and for the record I don't hate you. Can't say we're going to be best buddies but the Doctor's right about second chances. Her voice changed as she felt some compassion for the man before her. "The Doctor believes that you can redeem yourself, then I believe it too. You did help us and for that I thank you. As to how you can say sorry, well do it by helping all those others out there that need to be found." She gave Griff a small but genuine smile. "Go out and do what's right. Do the hard and difficult things because by doing so you can change the world. I forgive you, Griff but now you need to go and make it better for others. Reckon you're up for that challenge?"
"I'll do my best, no, I'll do better than my best," replied Griff, with as much confidence as he could muster. As he said the words, he felt determination swelling in his heart. He would not abuse the trust his new-found friends had put in him and would see this through to the end.
"Okay, you lot. Enough talk," growled the Doctor with gentle affection. "Rose, take the sonic and do a scan for the signal Henry was sending out. The screwdriver will tell you when you've found it. Setting 484 will shut it down.
"Yes, Doctor."
"Griff will you show Darcia the way to the records office and collect all the information you need to find our missing persons and shut this slave thing down for good."
"What are you going to do, Doctor?" enquired Darcia.
"I'm going to go check Henry Van Statten's private rooms to make sure he isn't hiding any other Ti ... uh, terrible secrets like he did in Utah. Rose and I will meet you downstairs in 15 minutes. Should all be plain sailing from there on."
Rose could not help the snort that escaped her lips. "That's what you always say, Doctor," she sassed.
"Oi!" he groused, but then smiled as he caught the cheeky look in her eyes. A sense of relief filled him at Rose's teasing. If she could find her sense of humour so soon after her ordeal then it was likely she would recover quickly.
As it turned out, things did work out easily for the most part. Rose located the signal that had led them to Gwilgoloth in the first place. It was switched off permanently in mere seconds with the help of the sonic screwdriver, never again to lure unsuspecting beings into Henry and the Master's trap.
As Rose dealt with the signal, the Doctor did a quick sweep of Henry Van Statten's rooms but found nothing that looked like Time Lord Technology. He could not stop the fierce anger that flowed through him when he came up empty as he'd desperately hoped that there might have been something he could use to reverse what had happened to him. Deep down, he knew that it had been false hope. It was the box he needed. Only the return of it could undo the price he'd paid to save Rose. He let out a long sigh as he struggled to contain his emotions. It wouldn't do to let his warm hearted, little human suspect something was wrong especially since he couldn't conduct a complete scan on himself until they returned to the TARDIS. The Doctor pushed his dark mood to the far recesses of his mind as he left the room. He found an impatient Rose waiting for him, her hand outstretched. Without hesitation he took it as together they made their way downstairs to meet up with Griff and Darcia.
In the records area, things were not going so smoothly. The Judoon, though successful in their pursuit of Van Statten, had not been so careful about how they searched a room. Filing cabinets were broken open and lay face down on the floor. Paper and other documentation lay strewn everywhere, some trampled so badly by the boots of the Shadow Proclamation's brute squad, that they were unreadable. Griff and Darcia had not made much progress; however with two additional sets of eyes, the Doctor and Rose were able to help the other two make some headway. It was still four hours and several hundred curses from the Doctor later, before they all agreed they had enough evidence to back up the edited footage that Darcia would present to local authorities.
By the time they were done, the Doctor wanted nothing more than to take Rose back to the TARDIS and leave. In times past he would have done exactly that and left the clean-up for others but his promise to Griff reminded him why he could not go yet. He knew all too well what it was like to lose others that you loved. Too many families had been torn apart by the Master and Henry Van Statten's plan. Griff had been a pawn, one with responsibilities he must bear, but still a pawn all the same within a cruel game. The Master may have checkmated him, but the Doctor was determined that the lesser players like Griff and his daughter would not be sacrificed.
With this in mind he addressed Darcia, "how long will it take for you to splice the evidence together?"
The young reporter thought for a bit before replying, "I need a few things but I can get them from the place I was staying at. It'll only take me about ten minutes to go grab them. As to the time I need to put it all together ... well it will take a bit."
"A bit? What does that mean," said the Doctor somewhat irritably before quickly apologising. "I'm sorry. It's just Rose needs rest and I want to speak to the authorities about Griff. Get the whole mess over with. I'm generally not one to hang around long after the event, though you possibly guessed that about me."
Darcia gave him a small, sweet smile. "Its okay, Doctor. I don't know what happened to you but I'm guessing it wasn't all picnics and puppies. I'm just glad you found Rose and I'll do everything I can to hurry up the process of my editing."
"Thank you, Darcia."
"Doctor!"
"Yes."
"After I bring back the equipment I need, why don't Rose and I use one of the bedrooms. I can work on the film and Rose can get some sleep."
"Won't you need some rest too?" asked the Doctor with some concern.
"Nah. Too keyed up for that," admitted Darcia before giving a small chuckle. "Besides you already told me you need this as soon as possible. Such a hard task master, you are, but I'm ready for the challenge." The humour left her face as she spoke seriously, "After everything that's happened, I don't want to let you down."
"You won't," promised the Doctor. "I'm so grateful that we met, Darcia. You've had a huge part in saving the day, so try to remember that."
Darcia couldn't help herself. She gave a squeal of delight and hugged the Doctor with all her strength. Afterwards she raced to the door, calling out as she left, "just going to get my stuff. Be back soon." She could just make out the happy laughter of the others as she set course for her temporary quarters.
After Darcia's departure, the Doctor brought up the subject of taking a rest to Rose. He expected her to resist and argue with him, so it was no surprise when she said she didn't need to sleep.
"Rose, you've been nodding off over there for nearly an hour. It will take Darcia some time to organise and edit the film so there isn't much else we can do until it's ready."
"Fine," snapped Rose. "But only if you rest too. How long has it been since you slept anyway? You're always awake when we go to bed. I fall asleep but you don't and then you're always gone when I wake up in the morning."
"Rose! You know I don't need as much sleep as you humans. Time Lords are ..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah blah blah! Spare me the lecture, Doctor. This is the deal. If you want me to rest then you have to as well. No one's going to bother us or else you would want me to sleep back in the TARDIS." She looked up at him, daring him to contradict her statement.
He didn't. Truthfully, he was in need of some sleep. Emotional trauma really did take it out of a person and he had already admitted to Rose that Darcia would be working for some time. He capitulated but with little grace. "If it's the only way, Miss Tyler, then I'll take a kip to. He turned a full one hundred and eighty degrees to address Griff. "I'm going to take Rose upstairs to one of the rooms. Why don't you take the opportunity to get some rest as well?"
"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to keep searching in case we've missed anything. There'll be time enough to sleep later." Griff paused for a moment and looked the Doctor straight in the eyes. "I will still be here when you come back down," he vowed. "I swear to you on the name of my daughter."
The Doctor strode over to Griff and stood before him. "You don't need to swear on anything. I know you'll be here." He took the other man's hand and shook it warmly before moving back to Rose. Seeing how tired she was, the Doctor picked her up, ignoring her feeble protests, and carried her out of the room. She was asleep before he even reached the first of the hotel suites upstairs. Tenderly he laid her down on the bed, being careful not to wake her. He pulled a chair up next to the bed but did not sit down in it. He knew he wouldn't sleep so for now he'd watch over her until Darcia returned. As he observed Rose's breathing slow down into a natural rhythm of deep sleep, he wondered what the future would hold for them both. Please, don't leave me he thought as he placed a kiss on her forehead. Settling himself into the chair, he prepared to wait.