Chapter 23

Author's Note: Phew! I can't believe this has taken so long! thanks for sticking with this! Lemme know what you guys think I love feedback! Thanks!

The Doctor was staring at Rose's back as she left the room. She was hurrying, but her strides were hesitant and uneven; he momentarily contemplated kicking everyone out of the TARDIS to just sit and hold her, but Donna was staring at him, silently reminding him that they still had work to do. Jack had slipped his hands in his pockets and and cautiously took several steps toward him.
"Look," Jack said, drawing the Doctor's attention away from the hall door. "It appeared out of nowhere, I couldn't stop it..." he purposefully avoided meeting the Doctor's gaze. The Doctor nodded, laying a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"I know." he nodded faintly at him, then whirled around and yanked a switch on the console. "We need Martha for this. I've got some good news for you Jack, you're about to get two years of your life back." Jack's jaw dropped as the TARDIS jerked into motion. Gwen looked over at Owen questioningly and he shrugged.

"How?" Jack managed to get out, following the Doctor's erratic dance around the console. The Doctor turned and grinned at him.
"OH...let's just say we ran into an old friend..." he said. Rose stepped out just then, her hair and face washed and devoid of any evidence of a wound. Owen stared open mouthed at her, and she grinned at him in response. He squinted back at her and pouted, his curiosity burning. After all the madness they'd seen over the past two days, somehow the Doctor and his companions were still surprising him.
"Never a dull moment then eh?" Gwen commented, coming to stand beside him. He nodded and she gestured to Rose. "D'you think she's an alien?" she joked. Owen shrugged and crossed his arms.
"I think, with this lot, anything can happen." he said, winking at her. Her eyes widened and she smirked at him.
"Alright...team, gang? Allons-y!." the TARDIS shuddered to a halt and the Doctor looked up, searching for Rose. He relaxed as he saw her standing nearby, and held out his hand for her. She rolled her eyes good naturedly but slipped her hand in his. He was still worried about her and she leaned into him, partly out of exhaustion and to reassure him she was ok. The Doctor tightened his hold on her hand as they left the TARDIS, chaos erupting before them. People were rushing in and out of the lab, exchanging directions and files quicker than they could blink. Martha stood at the end of the lab, staring solemnly up at the security screens overhead.

The Doctor wove his way through the crowd of people to her. He watched the group carefully, trying to pick up on snatches of conversation.
"What's going on?" Rose asked Martha as soon as they were in earshot.
"Oh my gosh are you ok?!" Martha whirled around to her. Her jaw dropped as she surveyed Rose's healed face. "What the..."
"Long story, Martha what's happened?" the Doctor pointed to the security screens. They showed several surrounding streets that were devastated and completely empty.
"At first it was just riots, aliens wreaking havoc throughout the town." she handed him her clipboard and he took it, his eyebrow shooting up. "But now whole streets are just disappearing and the readings have spiked, what about you?"
"The Time Agency won't budge, they think that they can improve the human race." he replied bitterly. Rose groaned and rolled her eyes.
"We all know how well that goes."
"The good news is we have someone on the inside." the Doctor grinned slightly as the rest of the group sat at the table.
"Who?" Martha put a hand on her hip and stared at him incredulously.
"Someone we can trust." he answered, his grin widening. "I don't know why I never thought about this before, it's quite brilliant actually. I suppose we were just busy, had more important things to deal with..."

"Doctor..." Rose interrupted him. He looked down to see her staring at him with that look, the one that told him he had begun to ramble without making a point. Oh he loved that look, yes he loved it, and it looked like he was going to be able to love it for much longer than he could have wished for. Staring back at her he stepped closer, suddenly wanted to rest his forehead against hers and delve into her mind.
"Oi Romeo...up here..." Donna's sharp voice brought him out of his thoughts and he hid a grimace. How did she manage to single-handedly make him forget anyone else existed? He turned to the table and looked at Jack.
"When we first met, you said that the Time Agency took two years of your life...how'd you like to have that back?" he asked. Jack laughed at him.
"You're not saying that I'm your inside man are you?" he sounded incredulous. River was leaning in her chair and grinning.
"That is is something to be said for all this timey wimey ness." Gwen leaned forward across the table.
"How does that even work?If his memories have been erased,wouldn't they be gone?" she asked.
"Not necessarily," the Doctor rocked on his heels. "A memory can never be truly erased, they're just repressed or locked away. I should be able to go into Jack's mind and find them."

"And what if you can't unlock them?" Owen asked. The Doctor stopped rocking and frowned.
"Then we formulate a plan B." he said. Rose looked between Jack and the Doctor.
"How come you didn't do this before?" she asked quietly. The Doctor shrugged.
"I didn't think about it, we were so busy with zombies and slitheen it didn't even cross my mind." he said casually. Jack chuckled.
"I think you were jealous." the Doctor scowled at him and Rose burst into giggles. River's eyes widened in shock and she smiled.
"This I have to see..." River shared a glance with Donna and Martha, the three sharing a knowing look.
"Can we focus please?" the Doctor whined, quieting the group down. He looked to Jack.
"You ready?"
"As I'll ever be!" Jack grinned disarmingly and waited as the Doctor put his hands on his temples.