A/N: Hihi! Its so kind of you to have taken the time to read my story up to this point, so thanks so much! Thank you especially to Dreamcatcher49, Dengirl, Angelic Toaster, LVD and Imitierte Identitat for your lovely reviews, it really means a lot and is so encouraging. There is a bit of shooting and blood in this chapter, so if you don't like that kind of stuff, give it a miss. I hope you like this next bit, and as always please tell me what you think! I hope you like this next bit.
Rose drew a deep shuddering breath as she stared at Alyona. The girl lifted her chin and folded her arms. She glared back, her eyes full of pride and anger. But there behind the strong façade Rose could make out the unmistakable flicker of fear. She recognised that look, from the countless of times she had done just that. Stood up straight and proud in the face of an alien threat, and clasped her hands together to mask the shaking that she couldn't control. She looked back at the girl and made her decision.
"It was me," she said, fighting desperately to keep the tremble out of her voice. "I lied. I burnt it all down." She saw Alyona's eyes widen in disbelief, heard the crowd mumble in surprise. She risked a glance at the officer. His mouth hung open in disbelief, and his eyes bulged out from his head. He quickly recovered, smoothing his startled features into his typical sneer. He raised his gun. Rose squeezed her eyes shut, and there was a loud bang, and the distinctive smell of burnt gunpowder. She waited for the pain, but to her surprise she felt nothing but the cold sinking through her skin. Just then Rose heard screams from the crowd. Her eyes shot open. Another woman lay sprawled on the snow, her hand clutched over her ribs. She raised her head, and Rose realised it was Darya. She turned to the officer.
"What the hell was that for?" she screamed. "I burnt it! Me!" The officer smiled sadistically.
"She lied," he retorted. "But don't worry. You'll have your turn." He turned suddenly, aiming the pistol her stomach and squeezing the trigger. Rose couldn't repress a scream as fire tore through her belly. She sunk to the snow as the world dissolved in a blur of colours and sounds. She was dimly aware someone barking orders, and hands coming up under her arms, pulling her across the snow. She felt something move next to her ear, then heard a voice from far away. It was Alyona.
"Bloody foreigner," she whispered. "Always getting people hurt. You try to protect me, following some childish logic, and it always ends in misery.? Darya was with child, and your stupid morality got them both killed. I hope you're happy now. Why won't you let me die"
"Don't want to," Rose muttered blearily.
"What?"
"Don't want to die. You… scared.. shoot Didn't want it." She felt Alyona pause, then drag her quicker across the icy ground.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Me too. Acting strong, being scared," she whispered, a wan smile passing over her face as she remembered the Sycorax's ship. She heard Alyona's breath catch in her throat, and forced her eyes open. Alyona stared down at her, and for a moment, she looked like a little girl, lost and scared. Then her gaze hardened.
"How dare you imply that I'm not strong? Bloody foreigner." She straightened and looked away, and with a small sigh Rose let her eyelids flutter shut, sinking into a warm black sea.
The Doctor burst through the TARDIS doors, his face set in a grim line. He could track Rose from his ship, should have from the start. Stupid, stupid Timelord. All he needed was a sample of her DNA, and the He shoved his fingers through his pockets, desperately searching for something Rose might have touched. His hand closed around an unfamiliar metal object, and he pulled it out. It was her TARDIS key.
"Yes!" he whooped. Shoving the key into the receiver, he hopped about impatiently as the lights blinked. Suddenly, they went a bright white and gave a dink, indicating that they had locked onto Rose's location. He gripped the console hard as the TARDIS began to dematerialize. One minute more, Rose, he thought desperately. Just hold on.
Rose woke up with the curious sensation of floating. She tried to sit up, but a burning pain in her chest stopped her. She stared in bemusement at the red blossoms that seemed to grow from a hole in her middle. Hole. Shot. The memories of the past few hours began to assemble in her heads. She had been at the camp. There was a fire. Alyona. Darya. Darya. Forcing herself into a sitting position, Rose looked around frantically. They were on a snowy bank deep in the forest. The only light came from the moon, which shone round and white against the sky. She caught sight of the other woman lying face-down in the snow a few meters away. She dragged herself over to her, and shook her gently.
"Darya?" she croaked. "Darya, wake up." She received no answer. She lifted trembling fingers to her neck and almost sobbed when she found a pulse. Shrugging off her jacket, she slipped it around Darya's shoulders, then proceeded to do the same with her gloves. She didn't need them anyway. She felt warm now. Hot, in fact. She pulled off her jumper and tore off the sleeves, wrapping one around her wound and the other around Darya. By the time she had tied the last knot, she felt exhausted. Flopping to the ground, she let her cheek rest against the blissfully cool snow. Belatedly, she remembered that in situations like this, you were meant to stay awake. Although, she reasoned, she would be no use tired. Just a short nap, then she would be back on her feet. Rationalising over, Rose let her eyelids flutter shut. Somewhere in the distance she heard the wind roaring. It sounded familiar, like an echo from another lifetime. She felt warm hands cupping her cheeks, and a gentle voice calling her name. For the first time in days, Rose felt completely safe, and as she slipped into a dreamless sleep she felt her lips tug upward in a smile.
A/N: That was super hard to write, cause I've never been shot or gotten hypothermia, so I can only imagine what they feel like. I hope it was alright though, and I would love to hear your feedback!