Authors Note: The Doctor waits for Darcia to return. A surprising fact about Griff comes to light and decisions are made. Thank you again to everyone who has stayed with me on this. I'll do my best to have another chapter up as soon as I can. Thank you to my beta Jer832. xxx

From last chapter: 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 mehe thought as he placed a kiss on her forehead. Settling himself into the chair, he prepared to wait.

Ten minutes, Darcia had said. The Doctor knew it was a short period of time for her species. Except for a few, most lived their lives according to a linear time line. Sixty seconds in a minute. Sixty minutes in one hour and 24 hours in one standard day. In ten minutes you could make a cup of tea, have a short phone call with a friend, or skim the daily headlines. Six hundred seconds that many never realised had even passed until they ran out of time, or headed on to their next task.

For the Doctor however, those spaces between the hands of the clock were filled with calculations and possibilities that ran into infinity. In ten minutes, time twisted and turned, (he refused to call it wibbly wobbly), worlds exploded and new planets formed. Millions of stars burnt out and new ones were born in this one sixth of an hour. And in these moments, in the spaces between one tick of the clock to another, a Time Lord can think about many things.

It was the last thing he wanted to do but as he watched over his sweet Rose, the Doctor could not help thinking of all they had been through together. No companion had ever buried their way between his hearts like Rose had. She was everything that the Time Lords weren't. Those lost members of his race had been so stuffy and lacked compassion. It was no wonder he'd run away from them. Still he'd never wanted to lose them completely. The loneliness that consumed him after the Time War was a far worse punishment then anything his brethren had inflicted upon him.

His name dropping softly from Rose's mouth brought his thoughts back to the here and now. He smiled briefly. Even in her sleep, she seemed to have the knack of bringing him back from the pain that always lurked in the recesses of his mind.

He recalled the day of their meeting. He'd left the TARDIS to follow a strange signal. Angry and lost, with no knowledge of who he was in this new regeneration, he found his way to the basement of Henricks. He never counted on meeting a young, inquisitive, street smart Rose. "Run!" he'd said and she did; both of them together. It was something that they never stopped doing.

The Doctor reached out to smooth back a lock of Rose's hair that had fallen over her lovely face. Through all his past regenerations no-one had intrigued or challenged him more than Rose. Maybe it was because he was lonely. No, that isn't the whole truth. There was something about Rose that made him want to embrace adventure and life. He couldn't change the past or replace the race of Gallifrey but neither did he have to be alone. The simple action of her hand in his brought instant joy to the cold and darkness that had surrounded his hearts. Her words of "there's me," and "good thing I'm not going anywhere," were not just mere phrases spoken to placate him. Rose's words had far deeper meaning, like she understood the hell he was in, even though it would be impossible for a human to comprehend. None of that mattered to Rose. She saw his pain and gave him everything in her power to help him heal. How could I not fall in love with her?

The Doctor understood love. He'd felt love and affection for his mother, his family; even his best friend Koschei from so long ago. Companions of course had come and gone. Some had been more special than others but the Doctor had loved them all in his own remarkable way. But Rose; Rose was so very different. Love took on new meaning. A smile from her would make him feel like he was flying without the help of the TARDIS. Exploding stars paled into comparison when Rose's face lit up with excitement or understanding. He could never feel alone when she buried herself into his side or looked at him with such trust in her eyes.

Like a lesser species he'd lost his hearts. Loving a human. Oh how the Council on Gallifrey would have sneered at that. He liked to blame the Time Lords and their stupid traditions as the reason that kept him from giving in to the passion that stormed through him when it came to Rose. Truthfully though, he felt he didn't deserve the love of this exceptional woman, broken and cynical as he was. How could I taint her innocence with the blood and guilt that could consume me at any instance? Another man, (alien or not,) would have taken her by now. Another man would have claimed her, branded ... No she deserves better than that. She deserves ... well everything. As a Time Lord I can give her the whole of time and space but...

His thoughts trailed off abruptly. Rassilon! Am I even a Time Lord still? If the Master had been capable of stealing his regenerations, what other perverted uses could he have manipulated the box to carry out. There were many different pieces of Time Lord Technology out there, including one that could turn a Time Lord into a human.

It was a fleeting thought but it was quashed in an instant. Perhaps I do need some sleep. I still have two hearts and my time sense.Yet try as he might the idea of being human would not go away. Despite knowing it was a senseless exercise the Doctor allowed himself to fall into this impossible fantasy.

He was human. No more regenerations, only the gift of perhaps three or four decades, if he was lucky. He could woo Rose like a proper mortal man and while he could not give her Time and Space, he could give her everything else. He would love her, both in body and mind, but most of all he would commit this one existence to her. There would no longer be any need to hold back the passion that consumed him. He would make her his in every blessed carnal way that he could but he would also claim her under the laws of Earth or any other planet she wanted. In fact he'd bind her to him with all of them if it meant that she was irrevocably his and he was hers and they were together.

"Doctor."

"Rose," he replied dreamily. He was so caught up in his daydream that he did not immediately recognise Darcia's voice until she tapped him on the shoulder, forcing him to back into harsh reality. Inwardly he cursed for allowing himself to succumb to his own version of a 'fool's paradise.'

"Away with the space sprites there, Doctor?"

"Not at all," he replied as he stood up from the chair. "Just thinking is all."

"It's a dangerous thing, thinking. I'm not surprised though. I didn't think you'd sleep just yet."

"No need for it. Don't sleep as much as the rest of you."

Darcia chuckled softly. "Is that right? And here I thought it was because you were Rose's knight in shining armour, ever at the ready to protect her." She chuckled again when the Doctor just glared at her and changed the subject.

"Did you get what you needed?"

"Yes, I think so." Darcia pointed to a box that she'd set down on one of the padded arm chairs. "I don't need a great deal of space. That table over there should do nicely."

The Doctor glanced at the piece of furniture that Darcia mentioned. It was the same shape and model as the one which had been in the room that Rose had been held prisoner in. The same room that he had seen his beloved Rose in all her naked glory. No! I can't think about that, he thought and vehemently pushed the images back behind a door in his mind. That done, he helped Darcia set up her equipment before heading for the door.

"Darcia, let Rose sleep as long as she needs to," he instructed.

"No problem, Doctor. The equipment doesn't make much noise apart from a few clicks and soft buzzes. Certainly not enough to wake her."

"Fantastic. I'm going down to talk with Griff. If Rose does wake, just send her down or come and get me."

"I'll take care of it, Doctor. Now go, and stop acting a mother kipsor with a brood of newborn felines."

"I'm not ..." began the Doctor indignantly but then he gave a low chuckle at Darcia's sassy accusation. "Darcia Entillan, did you just dare to compare me to an alien mother kitty cat worryin' over her little 'uns?"

"Gotcha," teased Darcia. Make the Doctor smile. Mission accomplishedshe thought. "Go on. I'll take care of her."

"Thank you." The Doctor cast one last look at his sleeping love then disappeared through the door.

At his departure Darcia sat down at the table and began to run through the images she had captured on her camera brooch. Never would she have guessed that her day would turn out like this. Okay now, Darcia. You've got to focus. The sooner this is done, the better. Who knows, you might just win yourself the Best Newcomer to Journalism award. It was a dream that Darcia wanted to come true, but even if she didn't win, she'd still have this adventure and new friendships to treasure. She wouldn't have missed this for anything.

Downstairs in the office, Griff was busy organising the files by the victims kidnap date. He took great care to read each and everyone and tried to commit to memory the likeness of each person. The one good thing in all of this was that the buyers at the auctions were checked out thoroughly before any sales were settled. Griff had never been told why but it seemed now that his employer had been waiting for one particular buyer the whole time; The Doctor. With a sad sigh, Griff opened the next file and gazed at the victim's picture. "I'm so sorry," he murmured. "I'll do everything I can to get you back to your family." He looked at the other open files around him. "We'll get all of you back. I promise."

"I know you will."

Startled, Griff looked up to see the Doctor standing in front of him. When had he come back?

"Sorry to give you a fright there," said the Doctor by way of an apology. "How goes it with all the files?"

Griff started to close up all the open files and gather them in one pile. "I'm certain we have all we need. At least I hope we do. This won't be over until all these beings are reunited with their loved ones and me doing my time ..." He trailed off and went quiet.

It wasn't hard for the Doctor to guess that Griff was thinking about his daughter.

"What's her name?" When Griff looked up in surprise he elaborated, "Your daughter. What's she called?"

"It's Niamh. It means brightness and beauty."

"It's lovely. Is that her only name?"

Griff's features softened as he thought about his precious daughter. "No. Niamh was her mother's name but she and I never married. My daughter's other name is the same as mine. It's Alexandru. That means warrior." He laughed bitterly. "Some warrior I turned out to be."

"Alexandru! Why does that name sound familiar?"

"Can't see why it should. I mean there's some old legend about one of my ancestors who fought in a huge war. Apparently he saved many lives by putting his own life on the line. The story says he would have died except by some miracle he was saved by a crazy man in a blue box. "I wouldn't expect you to know the story but if you do then I wouldn't put much faith in it."

The Doctor however didn't appear to agree. "Alexandru- ... Alexandru- ... Ah, yes got it. Give the man a medal."

"What? Give who a medal?"

The Doctor grinned madly. "Why to me of course. Griff Alexandru you are the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandson of Arya Alexandru. A man who was a particularly smart and humane general during the Rabbatha Consicular wars. Oh and for the record, he did save thousands with his tactics. There would have been much more fighting if not for his radical suggestions and plans."

Griff stared at the Doctor like he had grown a second head. Utterly confused he said, "I don't understand. How can you know this?"

"Because, I was the man with the box. Well not quite this me, but a version of me and definitely not crazy. But there's more. Here's another fact. Your legend says I saved your ancestor. In truth he saved me. Captured by rebels I was. They thought I was a spy. It wasn't true of course. I mean I wasn't on any side. Just wanted to take a stroll and stretch my legs, so to speak but for some reason they thought otherwise. Guess your grandfather; eight times removed; thought I was one of his men. He practically single-handedly got me out of that mess. Later on when he received a near-fatal wound, I returned the favour. I patched him up so he'd live. He became a famous hero for his part in stopping the war and I went about my merry way.

After finishing his story, the Doctor glanced at Griff and was surprised to find him sitting in a chair, rubbing his temples with his fingers.

"Holy Aldeara! That's a lot to take in, Doctor. I don't understand what you mean when you say you met my ancestor but not this version of you. That makes no sense."

"Griff, I find a lot of things often don't."

"Will you explain it to me?"

The Doctor hesitated before answering. "Tell you what. How about we discuss it over a glaxon of beer when this is all finished?"

"What?" Griff was looking more and more confused by the second. "Doctor, I'm going to the authorities remember? I have to turn myself in."

While they had been talking, the Doctor had been mentally recalling his memories of the events with Arya Alexandru. There was a lot more to it then he had told Griff but the basic truth was that Arya had indeed saved his life. At the time he was as near his next regeneration as a Time Lord could be. It was only because of Griff's ancestor's bravery and knowledge of healing that the Doctor did not change. He had been grateful then and here centuries later, he felt that same gratitude. In that moment the Doctor decided to help Griff and his daughter. Griff deserved the chance to prove that he was bigger on the inside. The Doctor knew Arya would approve.

"Doctor?"

"Griff, I changed my mind."

At his words, the other man leapt out of his chair, then fell to his knees in front of the Doctor. In desperation he pleaded. "Changed your mind. I don't understand. You said you'd to help me. Please, please don't let them send me to prison. I'll never get out and I'll lose my daughter. Please, Doctor. I beg of you."

The Doctor held out his hand to the man. "Griff stand up. I'm not going to have the authorities lock you up away from your family." As Griff took the Time Lord's hand and stood, the Doctor continued. "In fact I'm not going to turn you in at all. Your ancestor saved my life so I'd like to repay him by looking after his descendants."

"How?" asked Griff, though he could barely get the word out.

"I haven't got the fine details yet, but I think I can convince the authorities that you were working undercover for a secret agency. I've got the psychic paper here so that would take care of your credentials. I think this will allow you to be free as long as you keep your promise to help track down the other kidnap victims. Henry Van Statten's in the hands of the Shadow Proclamation so I think the local authorities will be only too happy to take the credit for reuniting those people sold with their families."

"So I can be with my daughter?" Griff could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"If all goes to plan, then yes."

A sob of relief escaped Griff's lips as tears tracked down his face. He made no effort to remove them; just let them fall as he tried to stammer out his thanks to the Doctor.

"Don't thank me yet. It's not going to be easy and there's a lot of work to do, but you'll get there in the end. Besides you're an Alexandru, a warrior. Arya would be proud of you and so am I."

Griff wiped away his tears and stood steadfast in front of the Doctor. "I'm here to see this through. I guess we'll just have to wait now until Darcia is finished." Griff glanced down at his time piece. "I don't know about you but I could do with some food. There's a little shop downstairs that sells snacks. Guess it will be empty now but I can head on down there and grab us all something to eat? I'm sure the ladies could do with some sustenance after this ordeal."

The Doctor agreed. Despite his superior biology he was feeling somewhat hungry and he suspected Rose had not eaten since their visit to the cafe to get the milkshakes. "Yeah, that's a fantastic idea, Griff. I'll be here when you get back."

"Okay. See you in a bit." Griff walked out of the office, intent on fulfilling his mission and feeling that his life had at last taken a turn for the better since meeting the Doctor.

The Doctor felt a certain amount of satisfaction as he watched Griff leave. His time sense hinted at something important in the man's future and whatever it was would be linked to Darcia. That much had been clear when the Doctor saw them join hands earlier and it had contributed to his decision not to turn Griff in. Time deemed that Griff and Darcia should be together. How I wish it could be that way for me and Rose.

He couldn't think about that now. Right now he needed to inform Darcia of his plan to help Griff in case there were any changes she needed to make to her story. Hastily he strode from the office and headed to the room where the two ladies were. He opened the door quietly, so as not to disturb Rose, and found Darcia hard at work. After a quiet greeting, he related his recent conversation with Griff to her and his plan to help. He hoped Darcia would be okay with it all. To his great relief she approved.

"Will you need to change much?"

"Actually, I won't have to change a great deal at all. As a reporter I want to keep to the truth but then again the truth is open to interpretation isn't it?"

"It can be," agreed the Doctor. "What are you planning to do?"

"I've given it a fair amount of thought. You said in the cafe that you didn't want to be mentioned and I think I can manage that. Using my gift made things easier. By the time we saw Henry you looked totally different. I can use that and I believe that people will think its all part of an undercover sting. It's not quite what happened but we're trying to show what's been going on and that's the real truth of it."

"It sounds like it's going to be fantastic," said the Doctor. "You're going to make an incredible reporter."

Darcia blushed at the compliment. "Let's wait till I'm finished. I'm going to be another three or four hours yet though."

The Doctor had hoped it would be sooner than that but he kept his opinion to himself. Darcia had done and was still doing a brilliant job. "Griff's gone to get some food for us all. I'll send him up when he returns. Give us all a break," he said kindly.

"What about Rose?"

The Doctor looked over at his sleeping beauty. Oh how he'd love to wake her with a kiss, but this was no fairy story and he was certainly no prince. "We can keep some food for her. Right now she needs rest."

She needs you thought Darcia. She longed to say it out loud, but it was neither the time nor the place for such a conversation. Instead she said, "Well, I'll keep working then. Let me know when it's time to eat." She gave him a smile and turned back to her camera so she could refocus on editing the film.

"Okay. See you soon."

Without looking up from her work, Darcia replied, "Yeah later."

The Doctor returned to the office where he took up the kidnap victims files and proceeded to look through them while he waited for Griff to return.

Soon, very soon, this will all be over and Rose and I can go back to the TARDIS and continue on like we always have.

Even as the thought ran through his head he knew it to be false. Nothing would ever be the same again.