Disclaimer: Again, Doctor Who is not mine. If you recognize it, I don't own it. On to the story.

Stardate: 4/Orange6-Omega2 Location: Cardiff, Earth

Jack shut his door behind him and limped over to the couch against the wall. Five Weevils in one day. Even with his brilliant team, that was an exhausting day. When he thought the day had finally been over, Myfwanny had decided to make a mess of her nest. Ianto and Gwen had already left for the day so he took it upon himself to clean it up. He hadn't been expecting to trip over the egg. How that had even happened, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Now, he was alone and it was quiet. His ankle would be fine in the morning and he'd get Ianto on research for that egg. He took a calming breath and let his eyes drift shut.

XXXXX

It was a fantastic dream. He was back on the TARDIS with Rose and the Doctor. They had just come back inside after spending an amazing afternoon on Woman Wept. The Doctor was making a lame joke and smiling large enough for all three of them. Rose was leaning against the console, huddled inside her large jacket, seeking warmth from the Rotor. It was a good day.

Suddenly, Rose stood up straight, like a Private being called to Attention. The Doctor didn't seem to notice this. Rose slowly turned to look at Jack. Her eyes were gold. "Jack." Her voice seemed to echo back on itself.

"Rosie? What's wrong?" He walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. She didn't respond. Jack turned to the Doctor to ask what was wrong with Rose, but he wasn't moving. Nothing was moving, the TARDIS wasn't even humming. It was eerily silent.

"Come to me, Jack. Listen." Rose was now looking him straight in the eyes. He could see the eddies of the Vortex and the dust rings of planets; suns being born and stars dying. He felt his age again.

"What is it, Rose? I'm listening."

Rose smiled that cheeky grin, tongue tucked between her teeth. "I need you, Jack. I need your help. Come."

Jack smirked. "Keep that smile up, luv, and that won't be a problem."

Rose's image started to shift, and the scene fell away to a new one. He was staring a damp, stone wall. The room was ridiculously cold and it reeked of sewer. "Rose?" He called out into the dark.

"Turn around, Jack." Rose. She sounded weak. Her voice was tired and she sounded as though she desperately needed water. He turned slowly, afraid of what he would find. His eyes fell on her and he sucked in a strangled breath.

Rose sat on the other side of the room on the unforgiving floor, barefoot. She was shackled at the wrists by chains that were polished silver. The chains were attached to two metal supports made of the same material. They seemed to be pulsing with some kind of energy. She wore a short silver dress that was shredded in several places. She was far too thin to be healthy; he could almost see ribs through a rip in the material. The muscles in her legs were twitching like they hadn't been used in quite some time. Her eyes, a lighter caramel than they were before, were dimmed slightly by the blue bruising under her eyes. A lack of restful sleep was apparent. Even her gorgeous hair, natural blonde and wavy somehow, hung limp and lifeless over her shoulders.

"What have these monsters done to you, Rosie?" Jack took a few steps toward her before he was pushed back. He looked around him and then stuck his hand back to the place he had just been pushed from. The image of Rose shifted for a moment before settling. Jack looked back to Rose, who had donned a tired smile. "I'm dreaming, aren't I? This is just cruel dream created by being alive for far too long."

Rose sighed and shifted her arms. The chains seemed to hum and the energy encased in them seemed to strengthen. Rose's smile fell. "It's almost the hour mark again. They're sending small bursts of electricity through them; just enough to keep me alive, to restart my hearts if they fail." Jack was about to question the plural when Rose shook her head. "No, Jack. I have no time for explanations now. I must be swift. A Merinian named Dorian is planning to sacrifice me to his deity at the eclipse tomorrow morning. He believes that doing so will grant he and his followers immortality. If he can't die, it'll be easier to overthrow the monarchy. Eventually he wants the Universe. If he gets my power, Jack, nothing in the 'Verse will stop him. He has Time Lord technology. I'm bound with some of it, now." She rattled her chains. They produced an almost musical sound with the links touched each other. "At first light, Jack, the Doctor will be on your doorstep. I need to you tell him what you've learned here. Show him if you have to. The TARDIS will confirm your story. I've already met with her. I'm bound to her even now. The Void, itself, couldn't separate us forever."

Jack took a deep breath. "Okay, but why not contact the Doctor? He said you were in an alternate universe. You were safe with your family."

Rose's eyes began to glow. "A lone wolf does not survive long, but a wolf in the proper pack can thrive." She waved off Jack's question with a wave of her hand. "That is a story for a later date. Before the War, the Doctor would have been easy for me to contact. Now, he has far too many barriers around his head. He would instinctively lash out at the first sign of unfamiliar contact. Even with my Sister protecting me, it'd be a strong enough attack to leave me damaged. Unprotected, he could probably make me a vegetable for a long while." She waved off another question. Then she tensed. "Look away, Jack."

Jack found himself turning his head involuntarily at the command. He felt the electricity as it poured through the chains. It was enough to make the hair on arms stand on end. It lasted but a moment. He heard Rose panting, and then turned back when she made a humming noise. She hadn't cried out at the pain, hadn't shown any signs of being hurt.

She took another breath, then met Jack's eyes again. "Time is short now. We have but minutes left. Tell him what you've seen, don't let him come without you. He'll need you, as well. The TARDIS can trace me. She's copied my DNA. Hurry Jack. My time is short, my energy fades." The scene before him shifted. "I'm sorry, Jack. The Universe still needs you, will need you for a long time yet. Good bye, Jack."

Jack awoke with a gasping breath, drenched in a cold sweat. He headed for the shower and dressed.

He walked back into his office to check the time. The sun would be rising in ten minutes, first light. Time to meet the Doctor.

Jack grabbed his coat and headed for the lift. "Keep an eye on the place, Myfwanny."