You guys are awesome, just thought I'd throw that out there :) Thank you all SO much for the amazing support!
This story has not been an easy write! Lots of characters involved and many choices that I had to make along the way. Oh, and I'll just randomly say this, but I am currently addicted to Imagine Dragons' song 'Ready, Aim, Fire'! Haha ok, on with the story at hand!
Period Twelve - Grief and Flames
I watch the guard's backs as they take Donna and Wilfred away. I wish all my friends had been set free as well, but I'm just thankful that two have made it out. I don't think Atisha will harm them now. After living as long as I have you learn to tell when someone is lying or telling the truth. My captor may be crazy, but I saw her as she made the decision to let Donna and her Grandfather go. Now I have to get everyone else out unharmed as well.
In the doorway Atisha turns back to survey those still in the room. She stops, hesitates, and then looks again. I groan on the inside. She's noticed Jenny's absence. Sure enough, the General comes marching over to me.
"Where is she?"
"Who?" I ask coyly, meriting a slap to the face.
"Where is Jenny? Where did she go?" Atisha demands, remorse seemingly forgotten.
"She's been gone for a while now. She escaped."
"Where is she?" The alien screeches.
"I don't know, and even if I did I wouldn't tell you."
"Spit it out, or so help me - I'll...I'll-"
"You'll what?" I ask, voice slightly dangerous. "What else could you possibly do to me, General?"
"General Atisha!" An unfamiliar voice calls from the doorway. "The process is complete!"
Atisha's face completely changes in an instant as a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.
I'm outside of my prison for the first time in who knows how long. I'm not restrained either, which is a little surprising. I suppose I've proven to be unthreatening. Ahead of me is Atisha, and on either of my sides is a Kwanian guard. My friends are still in the prison room. I was taken alone.
We turn a corner and enter a room that appears to be some sort of lab, due to all the lighted thingy-ma-bobs everywhere.
And then I see her.
Rose.
All I can do is stare. She's frightened. Rightfully so.
She looks up at the sound of our entrance and her eyes lock onto me. Not onto the aliens around me. No, she only seems to see me. I catch my breath.
"Doctor...?" She whispers, mouth hanging open slightly in that way it always does. Her eyes are wide in recognition and her lip trembles.
"How can you tell...?"
"Oh shut up. I'd know you anywhere."
"How is this possible? How are you here?" I ask, shaking my head. It doesn't make sense. It should be impossible for her to be here.
"Ask them." Rose says, anger entering her tone as she looks to two Kwana's observing us from their spot at a panel.
I turn to Atisha, who has been watching in silence as well. "Let. Her. Go." I seethe.
"After all the hard work it took to get her here?" She says, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think so."
"Please."
"No." Atisha says, in a way that implies that the conversation is over. "Now, what will it take for you to tell us where your daughter is?"
"Daughter?" Rose asks, seemingly startled. I glance over at her.
"No, no. Not like that." I say quickly, trying to clear the matter up.
"In what way then?" She pesters.
"Long story." I dismiss.
"I'll bet it is..."
"Answer the question, Doctor!" Atisha shouts, a clearly annoyed look on her face.
"I already have!" I insist angrily. "I don't know where she is!"
"Tell me," Atisha says in a dangerous voice. "And no one gets hurt."
"I highly doubt that, especially considering I don't have the information you want."
There's a loud bang! And one of the aliens in the room falls down, dead. We all look around frantically, searching for the person responsible. Another shot rings out, and another alien goes down. My mind snaps into action and I grab Rose's hand.
"Run!" I shout to her. She doesn't hesitate to obey, and we shove past Atisha and into the long hallway.
"Where are we going?" Rose asks, matching my hurried pace.
"You're not the first friend that's been taken here!" I shout, running along with her hand in mine. It's achingly familiar, but I don't have time to reminisce right now. More gunshots - for I'm sure that's what they are - echo behind us, along with the sounds of hurried footsteps and urgent cries.
We reach the door to the prison room, and my heart sinks as I look at the password panel next to it.
"I don't know the password!" I mutter loudly, frustration and fear making an unpleasant combination inside of my hearts.
"How about this?" An excited voice calls. I turn to see Jenny running through the hallway over to us and in her outstretched hand is my sonic screwdriver.
"Jenny!" I exclaim, a goofy grin beginning on my face. "How'd you get in?"
"Had some help. I'll explain later. Now are you going to get them out or not?" She shakes her head at me, forcing the sonic into my hand.
"Oh, right, yeah!" I say, snapping back into action. I point the screwdriver at the large metal door and press the appropriate button. The entrance begins to open slowly, and I push it hastily the rest of the way until it disappears into the wall.
"Doctor!" My friends shout, excited and stunned.
"Come on, we've got to make a run for it!" I urge, ushering them out. They rush into the hallway, looking around.
"Rose?" Mickey asks incredulously, staring at her in surprise. "How'd they get you here? I thought you were stuck in the parallel world!"
"No idea!" Rose says, embracing her old boyfriend. "But boy am I glad to see you again!"
"There's no time for that!" Jenny protests, pulling on my arm. "We've got to get out! Jack can't hold up for much longer!"
"Jack?" I ask, surprised; although maybe I shouldn't be. "Jack Harkness?"
"Yes, you idiot! Now let's get out of here!"
"Which way?" Clara asks, coming up next to me.
"Follow me!" Jenny orders, running back the way we came. We all follow hastily, the excitement of making it out giving us extra energy. We run back into the room which we were in earlier to find it empty of life, the only bodies that of dead aliens.
"Hey, up here!" A familiar voice calls. We look up and see Jack Harkness's head peeping out from a hole in the ceiling where a ventilation covering was earlier. "Need a lift?" He says, winking at Amy, who raises a surprised eyebrow.
"Don't!" I groan.
"Just trying to help, Doctor!" Jack protests in a fake innocent voice.
"We'll have time for flirting later!" Martha exclaims in a high-pitched voice. "Just hurry up!"
"Right!" I say hurriedly, "Someone get up there!"
Mickey grabs Martha's hand and pulls her forward so she's under the ventilation hole. "I'll give you a foot up." Martha nods and steps onto Mickey's readily outstretched hands. Mickey pushes her up while she grasps onto Jack's supporting arm. In that way they haul her up through the hole and into the ceiling, where she disappears out of sight from my angle.
"Once you're in, keep on going straight until you reach an open shaft!" Jack orders. "Go through it into the room and out the open window, I've got people outside who will help you from there!"
"Got it!" Martha's voice responds from in the vent, and I hear some thumping as she follows orders.
"Clara, you're next." I say, leaving no room for argument. She comes forward and is helped up in the same way as Martha was. "Now you, Rose!"
"I'm not going with you..." Rose says quietly.
"What?" I ask, suddenly breathless. "But we have to get out of here."
"However these aliens got me here, they used that machine." She says, pointing to a metal plate on the ground with a large control panel next to it.
"So?"
"My Mum is in the parallel world. And my Dad." Rose says, a tear rolling down her cheek. "And my little brother. And..." I feel myself begin to cry as well. I just got Rose back...I don't want to relive our last goodbye. "And...Doctor..." Rose holds up her hand, and I notice for the first time that she has a ring on her marriage finger. "I'm married."
"Oh..." Is all I can think to say. "Who's the lucky man?"
"You're other you. Except he's decided to be called John now. John Smith."
"Course he has." I say, shaking my head. "He is me, after all."
"Do you understand?" Rose asks hopefully. "I can't just leave them..."
"Yeah, of course." I say briskly, wiping the tears from my face. "We had better get you home, Rose Tyler."
"Smith." She corrects gently.
"Nah," I dismiss. "You'll always be Rose Tyler to me."
"We'd better hurry then." Mickey says in a slightly unleveled voice.
"Right..." I breathe. "Go and stand there, then." I say, waving a hand distractedly at the plate on the floor. Rose gives me a tight hug, and the tension in my shoulders melts as I hug back. Too soon Rose pulls away and moves to the machine that will send her home.
"Do it." She chokes out through a sob. I nod slowly and point the sonic at the panel, which lights up at the new energy. Purple rings surround Rose, but she doesn't take her eyes from mine.
"Wait, Rose." I say hurriedly, but she is gone. Just like that. Out of this universe and into her own. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Upon opening them she is still gone. Like a memory. Like she was never there. But I know better.
I turn to my friends that still remain in the room. "River, you're next." I say flatly. River looks at me sadly, but obeys all the same, going over to where Mickey and Jack are waiting.
"Not so fast!" A crazed voice rings out. I whip around to find the speaker, and my hearts drop when I see her beside Amy, gun pointed at her head. Rory has a panicked look on his face, but doesn't dare try to move for Atisha for fear of harm to his wife. Atisha looks dreadful, blood spattered on her face and an awful glint in her eyes.
"Get away from my wife." Rory says coldly, eyes not moving from Amy's scared face.
Atisha laughs, sending chills down my spine. "Come along then, Rory." She taunts, pulling Amy with her. Rory follows her slowly, sending me a desperate look. "That's right. Stand here in front of me now. Don't want Mr. Harkness up there to get any ideas."
"Atisha..." I say slowly, putting my hand up reassuringly. "Please, just let us go."
Atisha shakes her head, a creepy grin on her face. With her free hand she grabs the back of Rory's shirt and pulls him in front of her, creating a shield for herself. "I can end her life, Doctor." The General purrs. "It'd be so easy..."
I feel River come up behind me, and then her hand slowly, carefully inches behind my back and towards the hand holding the sonic screwdriver at my side. I understand quickly and slide my hand inch by inch to meet hers. While the exchange is going on I try to reason with Atisha. "Please, I can help you."
"You can't do anything for me!" Atisha shrieks. "You low-life, good for nothing fool!"
River has made it away from me and to the right, apparently unnoticed by Atisha. Rory's eyes follow his daughter's every move intently, ready to spring into action. He jumps when the alien pulls back the safety on the gun. "Don't you dare!" He snaps, trying to twist around to look at her without making any sudden movements that could set the insane General off.
Atisha laughs again. "Are you going to stop me, pretty boy?" I can hear the insanity clearly in her voice. She seems to have been driven over the edge. Rory gives a meaningful glance to River, urging her to hurry.
Amy speaks up for the first time. "You said that the Doctor killed your family." Rory shoots her a 'shut up!' look, but she doesn't acknowledge him.
"Tread carefully, human." Atisha hisses.
"I'm a mother." Amy continues. "Yours died, yeah?"
"Thanks to The Doctor!" Guilt twitches in my heart at the alien's cold reply.
"Knowing what it's like to lose your mum...Would you really put my daughter through that?" Atisha falters, just a fraction. Hope rises in me, but then the vengeful creature straightens, confidence back.
"To help avenge my mother, yes."
The loud sound of the sonic on high frequency rings throughout the room, and I glance at River to see the screwdriver outstretched in her hand, pointed at Atisha's gun. The alien yelps as her weapon gives out sparks, and jumps away from it quickly. She hits the control panel to the machine that was used to bring Rose here, hand flipping switches at random in her haste to move. The machine starts up, and I can only watch in horror as purple rings surround Amy, who stepped backwards onto the plate.
"Amy!" Rory cries, grabbing Amy's arm to pull her out. She screams in protest as the rings continue, not allowing her to go any further. "Amy get out!"
"I can't!" She cries desperately, pulling back into the circle. Rory breaks through the purple rings and onto the plate with his wife.
"Together!" He shouts over Amy's loud sobbing.
"Or not at all." Amy chokes out.
I run to the control panel, pushing Atisha ruthlessly out of the way, causing her to fall to the ground. My hands hover desperately over the switches and buttons, unsure of what to do. River rushes over and points to sonic at it, pushing the little main switch. I snatch it out of her hand and try myself, but the machine keeps on working, unwilling to stop what it's already begun. "No!" I scream, the word catching in my throat as I pound on the unrelenting keyboard. I look to Amy and Rory, who have calmed now and are in a tight embrace. Amy is facing me, silent tears running down her face.
"I'll be fine, Doctor." She reassures. And then just like that they disappear. Just like Rose before them. Gone. Back into their spot in time that I cannot reach. An idea comes to me, and I turn to Atisha, who is still on the floor, wild eyes looking at me triumphantly.
"Get them back!" I bellow, stalking towards her. "You've done it before, do it again!"
"We're lucky it worked the first time." She says coolly. "It won't work again."
"Make it work!" I say darkly, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. "Now!" She wrenches her arm out of my grip and goes to the panel and types a code into the keyboard. There's a small click and she lifts it to reveal a hidden switch, which she instantly flips.
"Doctor-" River begins warningly. But it's too late. The machine starts to flame, and I take a few steps back to avoid the sudden, strong smoke. Atisha stands by the destroyed console, smirking.
"What have you done?" I bellow, realization hitting me.
"Putting an end to it!" She cries. And then without warning the machine blows up, sending me flying back. A quick scream from where Atisha was standing. Smoke everywhere.
"Jack! Get out of that vent!" Mickey shouts, cut off by a violent coughing fit.
"River!" I call desperately, trying to see through the smoke. "River!"
"I'm here!" She coughs in return, and I feel a hand entwine with mine. "I'm fine!"
"We have to get out of here!" Jenny screams, and I see her figure crawling towards the open door. "Come on!"
"Mickey, where are you?" I cough, looking at where I think the entrance to the ventilation shaft is.
"Right behind you!" He shouts back, and sure enough there he is, pulling himself flat on the floor to avoid the mass of smoke above our heads. River's hand pulls on mine, and I give her a little push to get her going. I emerge from the room and out of most of the danger, but the smoke is spreading fast. Mickey crawls out right behind me. "Close the door!" He urges, thrown into another coughing fit. I point the sonic at the password panel next to the entrance, forcing it closed.
River and Mickey stagger to their feet and follow Jenny and I through the hallway, and out of our burning prison.
I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry...
Yes, I sent Rose and the Ponds away. I'm an awful person. But I couldn't just let them alone in the wrong universe could I? I suppose I could have...But still. I do realize that what I did what very Steven Moffat of me...I don't know if I should be proud or horrified.
I'm also sorry that you didn't get much of Rose. I intended for her to make it into the story more but this is just the way it worked out.