Title: Animal I have become.
Number of parts: 2/3.
Pairing: Ninth Doctor/Rose Tyler/Martha Jones.
Synopsis: Saving her from the danger was the first step, but when he's the one threatening her life, everything changed.
A/N: The characters and the universe don't belong to me. All rights goes to Russell T. Davies, Phil Collinson, Susie Liggat, Steven Moffat and to the BBC. Everything else belongs to my imagination. The original idea is from (dxctors).(queen) on Instagram.
Rose slowly dozed off, never leaving his side. When the Doctor woke up again, the sun was rising. There wan't much light in the room. He felt so much better than earlier. He had been in a haze because of the pain, the medicine and the fatigue. He wasn't sure if the talk with Rose was true but when he saw her sleeping right next to him in a position that couldn't be comfy, still holding his hand, he knew it had been real.
"My beautiful pink and yellow girl." He whispered.
He made a move to kiss her softly and almost cried out in pain when he felt the burn in his chest coming back but just winced, not wanting to wake her up. She needed to sleep. He tried to place her in a better position, but just managed to rip the stitches of his chest out. The move slowly woke up Rose.
"Sir?"
The Doctor cursed himself under his breath and tore all the stupid electrodes the doctors had put on his chest off. He sat. He wanted to go back home. Nothing could force him to stay there. Except for the wound in his chest that was bleeding again. Rose panicked and called in nurses to help fix it. She couldn't lose him after all that effort. The Doctor groaned as the nurses forced him to lay back down again. He didn't want to obey them. The monster in him chose to be back.
"Fuck this shit! I'm a Doctor and I do suture better than all those incompetent people!"
"Sir, please, let them help you." Rose whimpered softly.
He turned his head to look at her. When he saw the fear on her face, he sighed and laid back down, mumbling. It was very unusual of him to act so obediently.
"You heard my girl: get this right. And I wanna go home right after. I don't care what you're thinking. I have my own doctor. She'll keep me alive better than you all."
He wasn't talking about Rose but about Jones. However, Rose took it for herself since she had promised to take care of him and smiled weakly, her eyes closed.
"I suppose I shall do my best, sir."
The nurse who was suturing his wound protested, saying he would need some reeducation for his wounded leg. He winced because she hadn't anesthetised the bleeding wound.
"I'm pretty sure you will treat me better than all those stupid people. Ouch!"
The nurse apologized quickly but he noticed she didn't mean a word of what she was saying. Of course, they knew him. It was all fun to see the monster in pain for once. The nurse did it on purpose. No doubt on that. Rose sighed and gently squeezed his hand.
"If you were nice, they wouldn't hurt you. Leave the darkness for at home."
"They didn't drug me enough for me to be a nice guy. Ouch! Do that once again and I'll break your hand. Is that clear?" He threatened the nurse who didn't seem to care.
"Shh." Said Rose swallowing and squeezing his hand.
"Don't 'shh' me. She's doing it on purpose."
If it hadn't been for Rose, he would have smashed that damn woman against the wall. But he was controlling himself, just for Rose. Finally, he had given her power on him and pretty much didn't like it.
"The big bad boy is actually a whiner." Mocked the nurse.
"How dare you?" Replied the Doctor, boiling with rage.
His voice was quiet and that was the most frightening thing because inside down, he was about to kill her. Rose could sense that rage inside of him and bit down her lip.
"Sir, I'm begging you to calm down."
When the nurse finished suturing him, he caught her wrist and held it really tight. He asked her colleague to take care of the bandage. The other one would never touch him again.
"You don't touch me anymore."
"Little whiner is afraid? Guess what? I'm not getting into your game."
He gripped her wrist tighter. That woman was reckless. She was playing with fire. She couldn't win against him. He would crash her. He would ruin her life. Rose was looking at him sadly and hugging herself.
"You are dead." He whispered angrily.
"I'm not the one you should be afraid of. This girl was a victim of yours before working here. And she hates you more than I do. I didn't see anything."
The nurse had taken him by surprise. He looked down at the girl who had done his bandage. He saw the scar behind her ear. And the empty syringe in her hand. She hadn't given him a sedative. It was something else.
"What have you done you poor creature?"
"Please…" Begged Rose who was panicking. "Don't hurt him. I'm begging you."
The old nurse looked at the Doctor as his grip slowly loosened on her wrist. He had no choice but to let her go. His hand fell back on the bed.
"You know what he did to her? You know that he used her in his house? That he raped her? And when she tried to protest, he just cut her tongue. You should run away while you can, girl."
The Doctor looked at Rose in terror. That was a feeling he hadn't felt for a very long time. Something wasn't right. Whatever was in his blood, if it reached his brain, it would be over.
"I-I didn't…" He tried to say.
"I love him." Insisted Rose. "And if you don't fix him right now, I will make sure you'll never hear the end of it."
"No one can love that." Said the nurse with scorn. "Open your eyes. He's using you. He can make you do anything with his chip."
The nurse looked down at the Doctor who was struggling against the poison spreading in his veins. He wanted to yell, to kill that damn woman, to cut her throat and watch her bleed out. But he couldn't do anything. Not even speak.
"He won't die. But he will never be the same. When the fluid will reach his brain, he'll be powerless, dependent, at the mercy of anyone. He won't be able to move, to speak or anything. He will just watch. And that will just be an incident. Is there any better way to get revenge?"
"How cruel can you be?" Rose whimpered sadly. "He was starting to change and you ruined it!"
"Change? That guy could never change! He's just the same as his father!"
The words he never wanted to hear. He had tried so hard not to become like him and he became even worse. He looked at Rose to tell her how much terrified and sorry he was. He had only enemies out there. And they had won. The old nurse had no regrets. The young one was looking at him, hesitant. She hated him for sure but she obviously was wondering if he deserved such a treatment.
"He was the best man in the world. And you've ruined him." Rose looked at the two nurses, hurt. "How would you like to know your actions have led to death?"
He didn't feel Rose's hand in his anymore. He could barely move a finger. He could feel his heart, racing as he was panicking. He didn't want to leave that way. Not again. Those women didn't know what they were doing. He had never killed anyone and hadn't even touched that girl. It was his father. But he had been a witness and had done nothing to help her. His father had him under control. He hadn't been able to do anything. He tried to make the young nurse notice his little scar, to make her understand that he had never helped her because his father hadn't allowed him to. A single tear ran down his cheek as he felt his end coming.
"He's just like us." Rose whispered, moving to leave. "He was controlled and hurt and you let it get to you."
He was internally screaming for her to stay. He couldn't watch her leave. He couldn't stay alone forever in that room. The young nurse took his wrist in her hand and stroked his scar with her finger. She looked at him in the eyes. She was sorry for him but she now understood. It had been so hard for him to watch his father act like a psychopath without being able to move because he had ordered him not to.
Rose ran from the room, tears pouring down her cheeks. The Doctor felt his heart fall into his burning chest as Rose left the room, totally devastated. He knew she would put herself in danger now that he was on the edge of being stuck in that bed forever and he couldn't let that happen. He tried to scream, to move, to do anything to bring her back but only a little sound came out of his mouth. The old nurse went away and the young one was still looking at his scar. She suddenly ran away and came back with another needle. He was afraid for his life when she put that new fluid in his drip. What was she doing to him? He felt relieved when the poison went away from his body before his brain was touched. Now, he had to find Rose. He wasn't able to walk, nor to run after her. He had to go though. He started getting up, groaning because of the pain but not taking care of it.
The nurses, the doctors and the pain all tried to stop him. But he was only listening to his instinct. He had to find her. He stole a car on the parking and started to look for her before she hurt herself. He drove around, wondering where she could have gone. He supposed not so far, but who knew? He stopped the car next to a park to think. He hated feeling so lost. That made him angry. He punched the wheel and almost had a heart attack when he heard the klaxon. Someone suddenly threw him out of the car and tried to hit him. The Doctor just ran away as fast as he could instead of killing those bastards throwing him rocks. He was running, forgetting the pain in his leg and in his chest. The guys were following him, yelling insults and throwing rocks. One of those rocks hit his head and he tripped. He brutally fell to the ground. The pain paralysed him for a while.
In the meantime, Rose was quietly running down the streets and wasn't paying a drop of attention to anything. She ended up slumping in the middle of a park. She was shaking and felt desperate. She had managed to get the Doctor know about her feelings. She had managed to get him close to her. She was almost sure he was feeling something for her. After all, he almost died for her. But now, they had destroyed him for a stupid revenge. She sat there, on a bench, losing all her emotions when she thought about her troubles. She curled up her knees to her chest, bitterly ignoring everyone. She bursted into tears, sitting alone. She didn't notice what was going on almost at her feet.
"The monster's finally in town. Looks like someone already beat you up."
"Please" was the only thing he could whisper. He only wanted to find Rose, ignoring she was crying just a few steps from him, and get back to his estate. Too many people wanted his death out there. Rose glanced up when she heard the struggle. One of the guys put his feet on the Doctor's wounded thigh. He cried out in pain. Another guy said something about a blonde girl he wanted to have fun with. The Doctor's heart skipped a beat when he thought they were maybe talking about Rose but that was over for him. He was giving up. Someone kicked him in the ribs, leaving him breathless.
"Please." He said again.
Rose slowly got up, stumbling forward. She shoved everyone away and her heart hurt when she saw they were beating her Doctor up. He wasn't even trying to fight back. He knew he had no chance in that situation. He was just protecting his head as they were mocking and kicking him.
"After all I've done, I deserve this." He said for himself.
"Stop it!"
Hope filled his heart as he heard Rose's voice and footsteps coming near. He tried to catch his breath and closed his eyes. Last time he came in town, they were too afraid of him to do anything. But now, he was totally broken on the ground, almost begging for his life. They took every chance they had to kill him.
"Wanna play little girl?" Said one of the guys, spitting on the Doctor. "It's called 'kill the monster'. The whole town is playing." He added with a smile.
"No! Nobody is killing him!" She quietly threw herself over him, shielding the Doctor with her body. "He is not going to die."
"Oh come on!"
It felt strange having Rose protecting him with her body against a whole town. He was tempted to tell her to let them do. But he couldn't do such a thing because if they killed him, she would kill herself right after and he didn't want that to happen. And if he didn't die, they would play with her just to torture him because he wouldn't be able to move to protect her and he couldn't let that happen either.
"You wanna play that way? Doesn't bother me." Said another one, grupping her arm to move her off.
The Doctor groaned. The look in his eyes was very clear about the game he wanted to play with her. Rose grunted weakly, clinging onto the Doctor tighter.
"Leave us alone!"
The Doctor really didn't like the way they were looking at Rose. He passed his right arm around her waist and held her tight. He wouldn't let them touch her in any way. He grabbed the leg of the closest guy with his left hand.
"Don't you dare touching her!"
"And what are you gonna do monster?" Replied the guy kicking him in the face.
"Please!" She whimpered, clinging onto the Doctor tighter.
The Doctor was tired of being treated that way. No matter how broken his body was, he forced himself to get up, still holding Rose. One of the guys pulled out a knife but the Doctor was faster than him. He caught his hand, broke it and took the knife. They were all so sure they could beat him but he proved them he could keep them away from Rose with just one hand. He could not get rid of them though. He was starting to be really tired. Rose took the knife from him, unable to help her sudden wage to hurt everyone in front of her. The Doctor looked at her, surprised by her move and worried about what she was about to do. He was in a very bad state. His body was slowly giving up on him. He needed rest, calm and his very own doctor.
"Don't do anything stupid." He said to her under his breath.
Rose attacked anyone who got too close to them, unable to think about anything but keeping them away. The Doctor didn't want her to do something she would regret all her life. He had to protect his pure Rose. He tried to get the knife back. The guys were around them like a wolf pack around its prey.
"Let me take care of them."
He knew he clearly wasn't able to but couldn't let her do that. He couldn't let her hurt someone. She would regret it afterwards. He didn't want her to become just like him, to become a monster with blood on her hands.
"I can do it just fine."
She growled and hit one of the guys in the shoulder and another one in his side. They both cried out in pain and started to step backwards. They started to realise she was not kidding and that she really wanted to protect him. Rose had to keep him safe from the real monsters and that's why she was acting that way. She'd never been so violent before. She'd never been so eager to protect someone she loved either.
"Don't. Please. Don't become like me. Give me that knife."
"They're going to kill us!" She scowled, violently attacking a few more before they definitely backed away.
"They want ME dead! Not you!" He said, afraid of what he had done to her.
"Let's go."
Rose pulled him up. He had no choice but to follow her. His leg was hurting so much he was limping badly. If she hadn't been there, he would have collapsed on the ground. Rose took him home, holding him all the time so he wouldn't fall. As if they felt it, Jones and two other women came to help them. The Doctor wasn't doing much effort to walk. He was about to pass out.
"Seems like even the monsters have their limits." He said weakly.
"It'll be okay." She replied weakly, stepping back as the women were helping him.
"I'm more worried about you." He told her as he remembered the blood on her hands and what she had done to protect him.
"I'm fine." She quietly said to him.
"I'm not." He admitted, finally letting go.
Rose swallowed thickly. She saw him passing out and started to panic. She was terrifying at the idea of losing him. She couldn't lose him. Not now.
"He's gonna be fine. Trust me. He had seen worse with his father." Said one of the women to reassure her.
"I need him." She replied, smiling sadly.
"And he obviously needs you too. I've never seen him act that way. His father had forced me to save him when he was younger. The poor boy just wanted to end his pain." She explained as they laid the Doctor down in his bed. "Go take a shower and have some rest. You need it."
Rose nodded weakly and closed her eyes. She left the Doctor's room and went to hers. She sat down on her bed and stayed on her own. She was trembling and her panic was still there. She didn't manage to calm herself down. She wanted to be with him but she couldn't right now because the women needed time to fix him. She didn't move, didn't rest nor take a shower. She just stayed there, waiting for them to tell her she could see him.
The Doctor spent the next few hours in the dark while three of his women were taking care of him. When they were done, he was almost a brand new man. However, in the darkness of his mind, he knew he was missing something. Someone. His mind kept on reminding him how brave Rose had been to protect him. His pure and innocent little girl had become a brave and dangerous woman to keep him safe from his enemies and he was afraid of what he had done to her. He knew she could not be fine after a day like that. He was suddenly restless. A whisper escaped from his lips.
"Rose."
Rose went to his library and sat there, trying to forget the horrible thing she'd done. She had almost killed to protect him and the blood on her hands was reminding her of the men she had hurt. In the meanwhile, the Doctor's body was unconsciously looking for her. He could feel her anxiety but couldn't explain how it was possible.
"Rose." He called out again in his sleep.
Rose burst into tears and curled up. How could she have done something like that? How could have she become so violent? Did she end up becoming like him? Did his darkness contamine her? She shut her eyes and mentally told herself she had screwed up. She was trembling and didn't know what was going on in the Doctor's mind. She had enough to do with hers at the moment. Jones, the Doctor's personal doctor, kinda knew. She was watching over him. She noticed how agitated he was. It was unusual. She frowned deeply as he kept calling a name. Her name.
"Sir?"
His master had never been in such a state. She could see how much he had endured in the last few days. He had broken his hand to force Rose to go away – something he had never done before, letting a girl go – and suddenly she brought him back home with two bullets in his body and bruises and cuts all over his skin. What had she done to him? No one ever managed to get power on him before.
"Sir?"
Jones could have ran away but she didn't. She was getting a bit jealous as the Doctor kept calling Rose's name. His face showed he was worried to death.
"She'll be back soon, sir. We told her to get some rest."
However, the Doctor knew. He knew Rose hadn't listened to them and was somewhere in the house, torturing herself with thoughts of what had happened earlier. And he wanted her to be there. He wanted to hold her against him and to comfort her, to tell her she'd be fine. He didn't know she was stumbling from the library to his room. He didn't know she immediately rushed to his side soon as she came into the room.
"Ma'am!" Exclaimed Jones, forgetting Rose was one of them.
As soon as the Doctor felt Rose by his side, he felt the need to hold her in his arms, to feel her head on his burning chest. He called her name once again. Rose raced forward and held him gently.
"I love you."
His arms automatically wrapped themselves around her waist to pull her close to him. The fear that was marking his face disappeared and was replaced by a simple concern.
"My beautiful Rose." He whispered.
"Shh. It's okay."
Rose snuggled peacefully into his arms. Having her in his embrace reassured him and he could finally rest. He was safe there in his house. Rose kissed his cheek and smiled a bit wiping her tears away. The Doctor slept so deeply nothing would have been able to wake him, except someone taking his Rose away from him but he was holding her too tight in his arms. At the thought though, his body strengthened his embrace. He placed his head in the crook of her neck as if he had always done that. Rose held him protectively, whispering soothingly. Jones ended up leaving, knowing that Rose would call her if the Doctor needed anything.
The Doctor woke up the next day, fully relaxed and very hungry. He smiled when he found himself holding Rose against him, his head in her shoulder. She had fallen fast asleep burrowed into him when she joined him in the bed. All those emotions had left her exhausted, the Doctor knew it. He softly kissed her shoulder, no wanting to wake her up or to move though he was starving. He frowned deeply when he saw the dry blood on her hands. She hadn't left his side, not even to take a shower or to wash her hands. Rose nuzzled him gently in return, her eyes slowly fluttering open.
"Morning." He simply said though he wasn't sure it was actually morning.
"Mmf." She replied in greeting, smiling sleepily.
"Keep sleeping if you want to. I'm not moving."
He was only half-joking. It was the first in his life that he ever joked. He would not be able to move for a while. He kissed her softly on the nose.
"I'm okay." She murmured, nuzzling him.
"Sure?"
The Doctor was worried about her, about what had happened, about the blood on her pale hands. Rose nodded quietly but he knew she was lying.
"I can't sleep anymore."
"Well, I can't move out of my bed. Jones seemed to have taken care of my bandages while I was asleep. But no one brought me a breakfast."
His stomach protested at that sentence. He was really hungry and frustrated because no one had thought about giving him a breakfast.
"I can go get something, sir." She said softly.
"You know, I do have a name. And people for my breakfast."
Rose nodded and cuddled. She was glad he didn't send her away to get some breakfast. She didn't want to get away from him. Never.
"I like calling you sir."
"I began calling myself 'Doctor' when my father left. I never wanted people to call me with my real name ever since." He tried to reach something that looked like a phone. "Could you press the green button of that thing? It's for room service."
She gently moved and pressed the button. Then, curled up into him again sweetly. She was trying not to hurt him but he seemed fine since he hadn't let her go from his arms even for one second.
"Thanks. I don't think I would be able to hold on one more minute before eating something. I don't even remember the last time I ate!"
Probably two days ago, before he threw her out, before he escaped from death three times for her. His face darkened while she smiled weakly and hugged him. His mood darkned more and more as the memories of the past two days fully came back to his mind. Rose curled up into him and sighed.
"We've got to talk." He finally said after an hesitation.
It would not be an easy talk but they had to have it. If they didn't, Rose would slowly fall into the darkness or become crazy because of what she did for him and that couldn't happen. Rose nodded shyly.
"Of course, sir."
"I'm used to all that hate. Even though it's the first time they ever tried to kill me. Don't know how I survived to those attempts of murder. I'm a very bad guy, a monster. And I know it as well as them. But you, that was the first time you've been a witness of so much violence, right?"
"Mhm." She mumbled, nodding slowly.
"How do you feel about what happened?" He asked softly but frankly.
"Scared." She admitted, curling up against him once again. "Of myself, of them."
"They're not gonna change." He said, holding her tighter. "And now they've seen me vulnerable", he almost spat the word out, "it's gonna be even worse." He sighed. "Why didn't you let me push them away?"
"I had to protect you." She mumbled softly. "They were hurting you bad."
"I've seen worse than those little bastards. They're gonna regret it anyway. That was my job to protect us, to protect you."
Rose swallowed and hugged him tight. She should have known that he would try to get revenge on those people and they would suffer because the Doctor was a very proud man and that he wouldn't let such a thing unpunished.
"I would have killed them all. I will kill all of them." He said angrily.
"No, sir. Please, don't do it."
"I have to. I can't let any of them get away with what they have done to me, to you."
"We'll be safe there." She said, sniffling.
"I thought my reputation would keep me safe. That wasn't enough. I can't let them think they can come and break me. Now that I have you, I can't take any risk. What if they come here?"
"They wouldn't dare."
"It happened. Once. But my father… He did as usual." He said bitterly. "My first time ever."
Rose swallowed softly. The Doctor clenched his fists to forget about that awful day. No one knew for that day. No one except the people who were there. Two of them were still alive today. He tried to change the subject.
"I think breakfast is coming. What about washing these dirty hands to eat with me?"
"I think I'll pass on eating this morning, sir." She whispered.
The Doctor frowned deeply. He was sure she hadn't eaten for days either. She had to eat as much as he did. He couldn't let her starving.
"You gotta eat something, Rose."
"Later, sir." She promised, quietly tucking her head into the crook of his neck. "I promise."
"I won't forget that promise."
A maid came in and gave him a tray on which were a cup of coffee and a full plate of eggs, bacon and pancakes. Rose nodded and closed her eyes, staying silent. He ate everything that was on the tray. He didn't talk but he was worried. Rose wasn't fine and he didn't know how to help her.
"I'm sorry." He simply said. "That's all my fault."
"No, it's okay." She replied, shrugging weakly and curled up into him when he put the tray away.
"No, it's not okay. I can feel it's not."
"It's fine, sir." She sighed softly. " I swear."
"She said she was fine, son. Why do you care anyway?"
The Doctor froze. He knew that voice very well. That couldn't happen. That couldn't be true. Not now. Rose bit her lip and nuzzled him, unaware of what was going on.
"I've seen the news. Couldn't believe it. I had to see it with my own eyes. And here's what I see: my impotent son in bed with a stupid ape. You've always been so weak."
"I'm. Not. Weak." Said the Doctor, holding back his anger and protecting Rose from the danger by wrapping her in his arms.
She finally noticed something was wrong and that the Doctor was all tensed up. She preferred not looking at the other man though. She swallowed at the Doctor's tone and curled into him weakly.
"Sir…"
The newcomer walked into the room and gave a look full of despise for Rose. The Doctor's anger went up. No one was allowed to look at his girl that way.
"Get out Blondie. None of this is your business."
"Don't talk to her that way." Spat out the Doctor.
"Or what?"
The newcomer pressed the wound on the Doctor's thigh with a nasty smile. The Doctor let out a small cry of pain. Rose immediately chose to attack and pointed the knife she had kept at the man. She scowled.
"Get out."
The Doctor clenched his teeth to control the pain and put his hand on Rose's one. Threatening his father was useless. The man was cruel. He would only laugh at her.
"Don't. It's not gonna work with him."
"He can't do this to us!"
"He can make me do anything."
"Glad you didn't forget that part of the story, son."
"But he can't make me." She replied stubbornly.
"You've been spared little girl? He must really love you then."
"I don't know what love is, remember?"
It was a sad statement but it was true. The Doctor never knew what love was before Rose. His father had never loved him. He had always used him for his experiments. He held Rose tighter when he noticed how bad he had hurt her with those words and how good she was to keep it for herself.
"He just couldn't do it. I fough too much."
"I have something for you. Get up." Said the Doctor's father. "And you better go back to your quarters, he added to Rose. He had been good enough to save your life. He should have let you die like the trash you are."
"He's not going anywhere with you."
Rose was right. He couldn't go anywhere. His leg was hurting a lot now and he really couldn't walk. Nevertheless, he knew that if he didn't obey that would be worse. For him and for Rose.
"You seem to be a clever girl. And clever girls just shut up."
"No! No, you shut up and you get out of that house. I don't want to do anything for you anymore, father."
The Doctor was absolutely mad. He was tired of being treated like shit by that man. A man that had abandoned him there after he had done all possible experiments on his brain. Rose hugged him closer. She wouldn't let him go anywhere.
"We stay together. That's how it works now."
"That girl loves you. No doubt there. I'm pretty sure you don't want to hurt her."
There was a threat in his words and the Doctor knew exactly what he was talking about. He looked hurt. He had to obey. He slowly tried to get up from his bed but Rose pushed him back down. She swallowed.
"Lie down. Please."
The Doctor avoided her look. He didn't want her to see how hurt he was. He had no choice. He had to obey him or he would force him to. And the Doctor would have no control on what was going to happen if he didn't do what his father ask.
"Rose, I never managed to disable his chip. If I don't obey…"
He swallowed and didn't end his sentence. His father had truly decided to ruin his life until the very end. Rose whimpered. She didn't want his father to hurt her beloved Doctor.
"You're not well."
She was right, once again. He could barely sit up without a small groan of pain. Every move was painful. Thanks God, he didn't get shot every day!
"It's gonna take ages."
The Doctor's father got fed up. He pushed Rose away and grabbed his son's arm. He forced him to get up, not caring a bit for his pain. Rose growled in anger. She lunged to attack the man but he only laughed at her attempt. The Doctor was terrified, a feeling he hadn't felt in ages. He had become the little boy afraid of his father again. The latter pulled out something that looked like a phone but wasn't one. The Doctor swallowed.
"No", he weakly said, "No. Please, father." He begged.
The father ignored his son while Rose was still trying to attack him. She was desperate to free her beloved Doctor from thay dangerous man.
"Do you know what this is?" He asked Rose, trying to keep the knife and the girl away from him.
"Please, don't." Kept begging the Doctor.
Rose shook her head weakly. No matter how hard he was pushing her away, she was trying to attack him again and again. He would not hurt the Doctor.
"My son had the honor to be my first Guina pig." He said as the Doctor weakly struggled against his grip. "I suppose he didn't tell you he had that little chip too. Actually, he had two. I put the second one straight in his brain. And this" he showed the fake phone "is a remote. If I push that red button, he'll do anything I'll ask him to. Even killing you."
"He would never kill me." She growled.
"Wanna bet on your life?"
The father quickly kicked his son in the leg to force him to stop struggling. The Doctor was in pain and torn, about to break down, but he stopped immediately.
"He won't do it."
"Well. Let's see."
The Doctor looked at his father pressing the red button with horror. He felt the normal buzzing of the chip as the order was given to his brain and body. An order to kill. He looked at Rose and silently told her that he was sorry and that she should run away. Then, his mind was totally full with the order. Nothing else mattered. He had to kill now. His face and look changed, darknened. His father let him go and the Doctor went straight to Rose. She swallowed and stumbled backwards.
"No… Sir, I'm begging you."
The Doctor raised his hand and slowly stroked her face and neck. He didn't hear her. He wasn't even watching her. It was as if she was nothing more than just a stranger. No, a prey. A prey he had to kill. Rose whimpered sadly but did nothing against him. She was just watching him and begging him.
"Please, don't kill me."
His broken hand reached for the knife she was still holding. His left hand slowly caught her throat. There was no compassion in his eyes. However, something in his mind was telling him it was wrong, that he shouldn't do that. He put the knife she was holding on her throat, right where he could feel her blood rushing. Rose swallowed thickly.
"Kiss me while you do it." She whispered. "I'll die easier that way."
The words seemed to hit something inside of him but he showed no reaction. He just smirked and slowly kissed her as if no one was watching. While kissing her with passion, he led the knife against his own throat. She kissed him back desperatly, shakily trying to make him lower the knife. The kiss broke something deep inside and made him doubt about the order. His mind was struggling against the paradox. He was trying to resist and that was asking a lot of efforts. He was shaking, but the knife never left his throat. "If you die, I die too. That's how it works." "As soon as your heart stops beating, I jump over that ledge." The confusion filled his mind. What was he supposed to do?
"Please, drop the knife." She whispered against his lips. "Please, sir."
"I love you." And she trusted him. Images of her desperate to get his attention, begging him to keep her close to him, to stay alive, of her protecting him crossed his mind. Her proving him how much she loved and trusted him. He couldn't do such a thing. He lowered the knife. Rose smiled happily, relieved, and hugged him. He was still struggling and it became harder for him. His head was about to explode and his nose was bleeding.
"Please." He begged with a very low voice. "I can't… Anymore.. Do it… Or let me do it."
The Doctor pressed the knife against his heart. Tears were falling down his cheeks. He wouldn't be able to resist much longer. Rose shook her head weakly.
"Together or not at all. That's my deal, remember?"
"Free me." He simply begged.
The Doctor had reached his limits. Rose kissed him again and he kissed her back. He lost the control again, the knife still against his heart, his father still waiting for him to kill Rose, but he would rather die than hurt her. He now knew what love was. And he loved her, madly, deeply. Rose pulled him close and tried to push the knife away. Tired of waiting, the father grabbed his son and pushed him away.
"You used to be faster. I'll do it myself."
The move made the Doctor go mad. He held the knife tighter as the anger increased. That man was responsible for all the bad things that had happened to him. He had to pay. The Doctor was trembling and, too suddenly for him to realise, he stabbed his father.
"You don't touch her."
– To be continued –