How Could He Simply Say No?

by Greensleeves89

A continuation of my story 'Maybe She Knew and Maybe She Didn't.' This is now Series 4 with Rose, AU. Better summary to come.

3. The Fires of Pompeii

'Donna what do you have in these?'

'Everything, I told you, I wanted to be prepared. Don't you listen?' Donna asked as the Doctor picked up some of her luggage and then set it down again, marvelling at the weight.

'Tell you what, why don't I show Donna around, and she can pick a room and we can go from there.' Rose says and the Doctor nods a bit. Rose gives his hand a squeeze and she crosses the console room, smiling at Donna. Rose glances back at the Doctor and winks. He turns back to the TARDIS console and lets out a soft sigh. This is going to be very interesting. It's not that he didn't want Donna around, he really enjoyed her company last time, she's wonderful, trying to right the wrongs in the world by shouting at it, but it had just been him and Rose for so long now, and they had come so far in their relationship, that he worried they wouldn't be able to make the adjustment to having another person onboard.

Rose seems to be fine with it, she didn't protest Donna joining them. He just wondered how long they could keep the façade of their relationship secret, before Donna discovered it. Before she went looking for something and accidentally stumbled upon them, doing something that they were so used to flaunting around. They had to conceal their love now. He doesn't really want to, but sometimes sacrifices are needed. He is still confident that Rose would continue to stay in his room. But he wonders if she may leave earlier in the mornings, so as not to be caught leaving his room. Maybe they needed to talk about it.

He turns to look at the pile of luggage still scattered around the console room, he directed his attention to the hallway and noticed the lights blink and in the time they had cut to black, the rooms switched. Now he is staring at the bare corridor. At least he knew what was taking so long.

'Go easy on her, you'll like Donna.' The Doctor leaned against the console, but the lights dim quickly. He runs his hands through his hair, nothing he can do except wait for them to come back. He decides to pile the luggage at the mouth of the hallway and then starts to work on the console.

---

Rose is showing Donna the more important rooms, which she could access; but the TARDIS is already acting up. The next spot Rose wanted to show Donna was the kitchen, but there is no sight of it. They had just left the library and Donna stops. The hallway is bare, where had all the doors just disappeared to? Donna looks at Rose who has her eyes closed and is shaking her head.

'What's the matter?' Donna inquires. She can visually see Rose trying to form the proper response to her question.

'Donna, the TARDIS…well, she likes to play games with new people.' Rose leans against the wall and the lights begin to dim.

'What do you mean, play games?' Donna crosses her arms, not enjoying what Rose was saying.

'I mean, you're going to get lost. She likes to switch hallways around. So you come out of kitchen, and there's nothing around. The next time, there's door and doors in front of you. Finding the console room again is probably the trickiest part.'

'Great, that's just great.' Donna replied in a huff.

'Don't let it bother you, Donna, it doesn't last forever. It's kinda like initiation.'

'Initiation? It's a ship. How does a ship do that? What are we travelling on, a space maze?'

'She's special. She's living, it's like she has her own mind, and she wants to make sure she protects him. She's very protective of the Doctor.' Rose states and a spotlight shines on her. She looks up and smiles.

'Well, she sure likes you.' Donna looks up to the same light.

'It's taken a while to earn her trust. She did the same thing to me when I first joined him.'

'How long did it take you to learn the hallways?'

'Long enough, you remember the layout, all the shortcuts you can take to get to where you need to go. But she'll never try and keep you from your own room, she'll make it the easiest to find.'

'Where's your room?' Donna asked and watched as Rose hesitated for a moment. She raised her eyebrows in suspicion. Rose inhales deeply and points down the hall.

'It's down there.' Rose doesn't look at Donna as she points. It strikes Donna as odd, it's like she's hiding something, but she isn't sure what. It gnaws at her, and she wants to find out why.

'So, do we have to stand here, or can we try and make our way through this space maze?'

'Oh, right, of course. Sorry.' Rose offers a meek smile and she leads Donna down the hall, taking an abrupt right. Surprisingly, Rose found the hallway that had some of the rooms with them. Her room is amongst them and she turns back to Donna. She's studying the hallway intently and goes up to the first door on the right.

Donna opens it and finds a modest looking bedroom before her, waiting to be personalized. Donna steps in and looks around, a single bed off in the corner, a simple vanity, she stands in the middle of the room and begins to nod her head.

'This'll do.' Donna turns to Rose and smiles.

'You just need to make it yours that's all.' Rose motions Donna to follow her and she opens the door next to hers. Donna steps in and her eyes are drawn to the neatly made bed, the pink comforter adding the pop of colour the room needed. The vanity has make up bottles strewn about, but Donna notices that most of them are empty. There are various alien trinkets strewn about the room. On the vanity, the bedside table, some are hung on the walls and above the door to the washroom and the door she had just stepped in.

And there, on the bed, is the jacket; the jacket Donna had noticed the first time she met Spaceman. Oh, Donna remembers the look, so many emotions danced across his features in the blink of an eye. Fear, relief, anger even, sadness and worry. Rose had been injured, rather terribly, and to make him think of her injury or the events leading to her injury sparked an array of emotions for him. Some neutral, but she mostly saw the bad ones. Donna dismisses the memory from her mind and moves her gaze to the vanity as something catches her attention.

There are a lot of photographs that had been taken and collected. All pinned in a cluster close to the vanity mirror. Donna doesn't have a chance to really examine the photos, although she catches Rose in the majority of them, before Rose is speaking to her again.

'So, what do you think?' Rose is leaning in the doorway and has a small, rather humble smile on her face.

'How long did it take you to collect everything?' Donna asked, she notices that the room seems bare in a sense. Either Rose is very neat, or she doesn't own a lot of clothes. It's almost too clean, and she doesn't strike Donna as the type to need perfect order. Especially since the makeup bottles hadn't been cleared away.

'A while. We went to a lot of places, maybe we can go back to some of them so we can show you.' Rose smiles and Donna nods.

'Okay, so how do we get back to the console room? I have a lot of stuff to unpack.' Donna stands in the hall that has once again changed. There is only a solitary door, a side from Donna and Rose's room.

'Of course. We'll go this way, it'll be faster, I think.' Rose starts down the hallway with Donna close behind her. Donna believes that Rose may be hiding something, a secret. The way she talks about her room, it's like she no longer sleeps there. Well, where else would she sleep? Did she decide to change rooms? Unlikely, her room is still very personal; it still reflects who she is, with the personal touches she's added to it. Donna doesn't want to be nosy, but she just wants to find out, especially if she's going to be getting to know Rose, she doesn't want to intrude on her personal life, but she just wants to be cautious, just in case, for whatever reason.

It seems like Rose may have been lost as well, they've been through hallway after hallway with no sign of the console room. However, Rose seems determined as they round another corner. Donna wants to say something, when her notices a rather ornately decorated door. That's the only door in this hallway. Donna stops so she can study it better. There are ornate circles on the door, Donna tilts her head as she takes a step forward to try and really study them. She puts her index finger on one and traces the circle in its entirety. Simply amazing, she wonders what lies beyond the door.

'That's one room that you won't see often.' Rose has stopped a ways from Donna and has a small smile on her face.

'How do you mean?' Donna frowns and Rose shrugs her shoulders.

'The TARDIS usually keeps it hidden from us.' Rose motions for Donna to follow her again.

'Why does a ship hide rooms? Or hide that one?' Donna inquired as she starts towards Rose, but Rose's smile disappears as she tries to think of a plausible explanation.

'It's just one room she doesn't like people going to find. It's her job to keep it hidden away.'

Donna doesn't say anymore, but she deducts that it's probably the Doctor's room, and as such, no one has the right to be looking for that or going into it. He's a bit of an enigma, and Donna can only imagine what may lie beyond that door, Rose's response also has Donna thinking that maybe she had accidently been caught in there one time, maybe he had been cross. After all, she didn't know them that well, yet.

And yet, she does wonder just how long the two of them had been together. And, well, Donna hasn't said anything, but she catches the way he looks at Rose. They're always quick looks, moments stolen when he's sure he won't be caught. It's the same for Rose. There's something going on there, tension she guesses. Perhaps it's time they sort that out, perhaps Donna can help. Or maybe she's reading too much into it. Then again, it really isn't any of her business to be meddling in the affairs of the two of them. She is going to be travelling with them after all, if it doesn't work out, or she had made a mistake in reading their gestures, their stolen looks, there would be awkward and tense situations for the rest of the duration of their journeys. Even still, what if they did try to relieve the tension and the looks they are stealing from one another are the direct result of the botched attempt to end that tension.

'There you both are, get lost? Rose, I'm surprised at you…you've been here long enough, you should know your way around better than I do.' A voice rouses Donna from her thoughts and she glances up, blinking a few times at their location. One minute they were in the hallway, now they are in the console room. Rose is quite the guide. But she can't see the man who voice belongs to, where is he?

'Took the scenic route.' Rose smiles and Donna notices her gaze is on the floor.

'Think you can figure it out Donna? It won't be that hard.' The voice inquires and Donna frowns.

'Oi, what are you implying…' Donna crosses her arms and the Doctor pokes his head up from underneath the console, surprising her slightly, but she doesn't show it. He has a genuine look of surprise.

'I wasn't implying anything!' He responds defensively and gives a shake of his head. His gaze falls on Rose, who is starting to pick up some of Donna's luggage that is piled at the mouth of the hallway. Donna follows suit and picks up some as well. Rose turns back and gives him a quick wink before she starts down the hallway with Donna. The Doctor has no idea what's just happened, so he slowly descends back underneath the console and continues to work. This time, when he hears the footsteps returning on the grating, he doesn't see who it is. He noticed that it hadn't taken them long that time; maybe the TARDIS is finally cooperating, if ever so slightly.

Rose takes the last of the luggage to Donna's room where she has them all spread around her. And Rose marvels ever so slightly at the sheer volume of items Donna has brought. Rose loves her eagerness, and she can't wait to see how she does when they finally land somewhere.

'Donna, do you want some help unpacking?' Rose carefully sets the hatbox on the bed.

'No, that's okay. I can manage. Thanks though.' Donna lifts a suitcase and places it on her bed.

'Okay, well, I'll be in the console room if you need me. And if you get hungry, the kitchen is down the hall and the first right. Well, that's where it is for now.' Rose frowns a bit. Donna smiles.

'Sure, I'll figure this space maze out.' Donna assures her.

'Okay, but if you do get lost and find yourself getting frustrated, just ask her to bring your room closer. She always listens.'

'Wait, you want me…to talk…to a ship?' Donna questions and Rose nods.

'Sure, what's wrong with that? She'll listen.' Rose responds.

'A ship will listen to me…?' Donna doesn't sound convinced and Rose understands her hesitation, one step at a time. Rose only hopes that Donna will ask, if the situation calls for it.

'Okay, well, I'll leave you to it.' Rose smiles and heads out the room. She takes her time going back to the console room, wondering how exactly having Donna onboard would alter things, not that she's complaining, because she really enjoys Donna. The Doctor is right; maybe they need a change of pace.

---

Donna stretches slightly, arching her back and yawning. It feels like she's been doing this for hours, and she's only halfway done. Maybe she jumped the gun slightly on what she packed. At one point, it seemed utterly endless. She doesn't even know the time and goes to the vanity where she's taken off her watch. According to the time back home it's 2am. Donna doesn't even remember the time she started and another then thought dawned on her. She hadn't eaten since the incident at Adipose Industries, so she decides to head to the kitchen. Hopefully the ship would be kind to her, it is her first day onboard and she silently prays that the halls hadn't altered since Rose told her where the kitchen is.

Another thing, she hadn't even seen Rose go to her room, or walk by. Donna has her door wide open. Maybe she just wasn't paying attention. Donna steps out into the hall and looks beside her, to the room on her right. It is still Rose's room, but the door is open, so she peeks in. She isn't there, and the room remains undisturbed, as it had when Rose showed her previously in the day. Donna frowns and she continues along the hall. She takes the right that Rose had instructed her to do earlier in the day. But the hallway is bare. There is no sign of another door, just the dimly lit hallway. Donna lets out an exasperated sigh; this isn't what she wanted to deal with right now. She's tired and now that she's thought about not eating, she's starving.

She wanders aimlessly through the maze of hallways, spotting not the kitchen, or anything else familiar. Donna decides to take a sudden left and the hallway spits her out at the foot of the console room. Elated, she quickens her pace, hoping to get some guidance to the kitchen, but as she approaches, the console room is also dimly lit; there is no one, and nothing there. Save for the sweater Rose had been wearing beforehand. Odd, that she would leave it behind. Donna turns on her heel and starts back into the halls, she's sporting an unimpressed look on her face.

It's been awhile since she's seen anything familiar, she almost decides to do as Rose suggested, and ask for her room to be brought closer to her. She decides against it, she's already waved at fat today; she is not going to be talking to a ship. Determined, Donna continues to meander around, and yet, the halls remain bare. After a frustrated sigh, she rounds a corner and spots a door. A smile etches itself onto her face, and it gets bigger when she sees light pouring through. The door is slightly ajar and she gets excited, she even hears muffled sounds emanating from it.

She points her finger at the ceiling and grins. She's won this round with the ship, and, as she draws closer, something strikes her as odd. Donna stops and continues on tiptoe the rest of the way. She remains a quiet as she can as she reaches the door, doing her best not to be seen. This isn't the kitchen, she realises suddenly, because it's a bedroom. She can see the end of the bed in the corner. Who does it belong to? Certainly not Rose, although she can hear her voice. Donna positions herself so she can see a bit better and presses herself against the wall as she peers in. There is nothing out of the ordinary in the bedroom, and she can't see anyone. She studies what she can see, a desk, that's the closest to the door there are papers on it, scattered, and of course the bed. It's rather large, and she widens her eyes as she sees the shirt Rose had been wearing all day. Frowning, Donna attempts to reposition herself to see better and immediately her hand flies to her mouth, as she has to muffle her gasp.

She's found Rose; she's in the arms of the Doctor. Well, she has to rethink that, the Doctor is standing, and his left arm is ensuring that Rose doesn't slip off of him. She has her legs wrapped around his midsection and her arms intertwined around his neck. The Doctor's right arm moves from the desk he was steadying himself on, and turns slightly. So that technically, he's facing the door and, well, Donna, but his view has been obscured by Rose. Donna widens her eyes as she notices, for the first time, that Rose isn't wearing a shirt, she's prancing around in just her bra. Which, the Doctor has now removed. Donna slowly backs away from the door and tiptoes away from the room. She rounds the closest corner and oddly enough, comes face to face with the kitchen. Not even remembering why she wanted the kitchen in the first place, she trots by it, on the look out for her own room. She spots it as she clears the next left. Instantly she feels relieved and sprints in, shutting the door behind her.

What in the hell had she just witnessed? Were they…? Had they…? Since when…? Donna's mind is reeling, is that why he was quiet, when she was standing with the two of them by the TARDIS. He was afraid that having her join them would interrupt…that? Rose didn't seem concerned about it, now that Donna thought back. She encouraged it. Clearly, they are together though. Well, so much for the theories on the tension she had wanted to help relieve. She's happy for them both; he needs someone to ensure he doesn't go off the deep end. And look at the good she's done him. He's a different person since the last time she's seen him. The love of a good woman is all that he needed.

Donna smiles to herself as she draws the covers back from the bed and gets in. It's going to be a fun journey with them. Hopefully they'll keep it in that room and not flaunt it around the ship so she can run into them. Of course, knowing the Doctor, he'll ensure that she'll never find out. He's secretive like that. Denying everything, and a grin breaks out on Donna's face. It'd be interesting to see what the morning would bring.

---

Donna enters the console room, after what felt like hours trying to find it, and she saw Rose laying on her back, next to an open part of grating and she has her leg cross over the other one, moving it back and forth as she listens to the Doctor's story about something. Rose sits up as she hears Donna approaching and smiles.

'Morning Donna!' She replies cheerily.

'Spaceman, your ship has attitude, what's it got against new people, huh? Morning Rose.' Donna watches as the Doctor's head slowly comes into view; he's got a sheepish look on his face.

'Sorry Donna, that's just how she is. I can't control what she does.' The Doctor hoists himself out from underneath the console.

'Bit of a rough morning?' Rose inquires and offers a weak smile as Donna huffs.

'I think your ship sent me round circles for the better part of an hour. And don't tell me you can't tell her what to do.'

'She rarely listens to me anyway, she doesn't even take me to the places I want to go, most of the time.' The Doctor brushes his hands together.

'That's not true,' Rose interjects and they both turn to her. 'Anywhere she's taken us unexpectedly is always, exactly where we needed to be.'

'Well, if you want to look at it that way, sure.' The Doctor replied, and Donna shakes her head.

'We thought of a great place to take you, Donna.' Rose smiles and Donna tilts her head.

'Oh really?' She can't stop the smile she feels spread on her face.

'I haven't even been there yet.' Rose confirms and Donna raises her eyebrows in disbelief.

'Hold on Donna, we'll be there in no time!' The Doctor replies and Rose grips the console. Donna does the same, and ends up shuffling to ensure she doesn't lose her balance as the entire room starts to shake.

As suddenly as it had started, it stops and Rose reaches for her sweater she left on the console chair and tosses the Doctor his own brown coat. Donna marvels at their routine, the fluidity of it, and the ease in which they've become accustomed to each other. She inwardly grins as she finds them both standing on the ramp that leads down to the doors, but neither of them moves. She frowns as she approaches them and together, they step aside. The Doctor motions for her to be the first out and she grins, quickening her pace down the ramp and to the door. Not having any idea where they are. And she loves the suspense.

---

Donna steps out of the TARDIS and pushes aside a rough curtain; she hears the Doctor and Rose behind her as he locks the door. She has a wide grin on her face as the Doctor leads them out into a market area, stalls all set up with many people stopping to look.

'Ancient Rome,' The Doctor motions before them and grins before a thought passes in his mind. 'Well, not to them, obviously. To all intents and purposes right now, this is brand new Rome.'

'Oh, my god!' Donna cries enthusiastically. 'It's…it's so Roman. This is fantastic!' She suddenly hugs the Doctor. 'I'm here…in Rome. Donna Noble in Rome!' She leads them through the streets and Rose marvels at everything before them. Instinctively, she takes the Doctor's hand and holds it tightly as he offers her an affectionate smile, knowing full well what she's thinking. 'This is just weird. I mean, everyone here is dead.' Donna turns to face them.

'Well, don't go telling them that.' The Doctor informs her. Donna suddenly catches sight of something behind the Doctor's shoulder and instantly her face turns into a look that reflects dejectedness.

'Hold on a minute. That sign over there,' She motions and Rose and the Doctor turn to look at it. It states that you can get two amphoras for the price of a single one. 'It's in English. Are you having me on? Are we in Epcot?'

'Oh, no, no. That's just the TARDIS, she makes things like that appear to be in English.' Rose informs her.

'Speech as well, we're all talking Latin right now.' The Doctor replies and Donna widens her eyes.

'Seriously.'

'Yeah.' The Doctor looks around a bit.

'I just said 'seriously' in Latin!' Donna responds, her voice giddy.

'Oh yeah.' The Doctor smiles at her and enjoys seeing Donna so happy as she starts to laugh.

'Wait, what if I said something in actual Latin? Like 'veni, vidi, vici'?' Donna inquires and Rose wonders as well. The thought had never crossed her mind before now. 'My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said 'veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would it sound like?'

'I'm not sure,' The Doctor confessed and Rose beamed. 'You have to think of difficult questions, don't you Donna?'

'What number is that now, Doctor, I think it's four, isn't it.' She smirks and he tosses her a crooked smile.

'I don't hold all the answers, you know.'

'Does your ego know that?' Rose counters.

'I'm gonna try it. ' Donna announces to them and she strolls up to a man who is minding his stall. Rose readies herself for the answer while the Doctor crosses his arms.

'Hello, sweetheart. What can I get for you, my love?' The man smiles.

'Veni, vidi, vici.' Donna states and the man's face contorts into one of utter confusion and he shakes his head.

'Huh? Sorry?' He begins to gesture wildly. 'Me no speak Celtic. No can do, missy.' The man replies and turns his back to her, continuing to ignore her, hoping she'll go away.

Dejected, Donna returns to where Rose and the Doctor are waiting. 'Yeah. What does he mean, 'Celtic?'' Donna inquires and the Doctor shrugs.

'Welsh, you sound Welsh,' He turns to Rose who nods at their findings. 'There we are. That's something.' He takes Rose's hand as they follow Donna, who leads them deeper into the streets. The group is unaware that a young woman is following them.

Donna abruptly stops, as if a thought has just crossed her mind and she turns to them. 'Won't our clothes look a bit odd?' She asks.

'Nah, Ancient Rome, anything goes. It's like Soho, but bigger.' He emphasises.

'Well, Rose hasn't been here, I take it you have?'

'Hm, ages ago,' The Doctor goes off in thought. Rose turns to look over her shoulder, unable to shake the feeling they are being followed, but she sees no one out of the ordinary. 'And before either of you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me,' Rose begins to laugh. 'Well, a little bit, but I hadn't gotten the chance to look around properly.'

'So, where are the Pantheon and the Coliseum? I wanna see those.' Rose states; she'd love to see those in all their glory.

'And Circus Maximus,' The Doctor finishes and Rose frowns. 'You'd expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything?' The Doctor stops and tries to get his bearings in the narrow and compact street. 'Try this way.' He leads the group on, the young woman following them.

The street opens into a wider one and they all study their surroundings. Donna doesn't like what she sees. A towering mountain is looming over the town.

'I'm not an expert, but there are Seven Hills of Rome, aren't there? How come they only got one?' Donna questions and the Doctor and Rose's gaze is drawn to the large mountain off in the distance. Rose lets out a cry of surprise as the ground shakes violently and she turns to a man who has let out a frustrated sigh.

'Here we go again.' He states angrily and all the vendors hang on to their merchandise as best they can, trying to save their stalls.

'Wait a minute!' Donna cries out suddenly, as if she's remembered something. 'One mountain with smoke…' Rose is following her train of thought and covers her mouth. 'Which makes this…'

'Pompeii. We're in Pompeii, and it's volcano day!' The Doctor replies and he takes both Rose's and Donna's hands as they run back through the streets, winding and weaving their way through the densely thick crowds, until they arrive back at where they started. Except, there is something missing. Rose turns in a circle as she tries to place it; she quickly runs some of the street corners, trying to see if she can spot it. Donna has noticed it too.

'You're kidding. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone.' Donna states.

'Okay.' The Doctor rubs the back of his head and Rose goes up to him, shaking her head.

'Where is it then?' Donna demands.

'You told me not to tell you.' The Doctor reminds her and she points her finger at him.

'Don't get clever in Latin.' She warns, Rose sighs.

'Doctor, ask someone, maybe they saw who carted it off.' Rose tries and he nods quickly.

'Great idea,' The Doctor approaches the same man Donna talked to earlier. 'Excuse me!' He ignores the Doctor until he bangs on the crude stall ledge. 'Excuse me! There was a box, a big blue box. Big, blue, wooden box…just over there. Where's it gone?'

'Sold it, didn't I?' The man replied smugly and Rose feels her jaw drop.

'That wasn't your property to sell!' Rose calls over to them and the man shrugs.

'It was on my patch, wasn't it? I got fifteen sesterce for it. Lovely jubbly.' The man rubs his hands together.

'Well, who did you sell it to?' The Doctor inquired and the man scratched his head.

'Old Caecilius. Look, if you want to argue, why don't you take it up with him? He's on Foss Street. Big villa, can't miss it.' The man points them back into the right direction.

Rose leads the way, with Donna following close behind. The Doctor follows them, but then returns with a slightly bemused look on his face. 'What did he buy a big, blue wooden box for?' He vendor simply shrugs and the Doctor runs to catch up to Rose and Donna.

'Does this sort of thing happen often?' Donna asked and Rose nodded.

'Oh, so much more than you'd like to believe. Now, when the TARDIS goes missing, it's a minor inconvenience. I don't even worry…as much as I used to.' Rose replies and Donna shakes her head.

'Sounds like I should get used to this.'

'Oh, Rose, it doesn't happen that often.' The Doctor voice breaks through and she turns to him.

'What was the most recent time the TARIDS was nicked? Nicked not fall out of a space luxury liner.' Rose responds, and waits for her answer.

'Okay, fine, but, we still had the Manipulator.' The Doctor replied and Donna frowns at them both, utterly lost.

'Luckily, you knock Jack's Manipulator and it ends up saving us…' Rose states and Donna turns her attention to him.

'Yeah, well, he still shouldn't have had it.'

'Mm hum; you know I'm right. But that's fine, you don't have to admit it.' Rose grins. They quicken their pace as they look for Foss Street, and on the look out for the villa.

---

Caecilius stares joyfully at the wooden box, place in the corner of the main room, just by the entrance. He dismisses the servants and they quickly scurry away. He marvels at the box.

'Modern art! Out of the way! That's it!' He shoos the remaining servants out of the way. But he puts his hand on a servant that has just passed by him. 'Oh, Rombus, I'm a little bit peckish. Get me some an ants in honey, there's a good man. Oh, maybe a dormouse.' He turns to his wife who is staring intently at the box; she does not look impressed at all. 'What do you think?'

'You call it modern art. I call it, a bloody great waste of space.' She states and crosses her arms, narrowing her eyes at him.

'But we're going up in the world, my love. Lucius Dextrus himself is coming to the house this afternoon. What, with that and our Evelina about to be evaluated…' On cue the young Evelina enters, she rolls her eyes at her father's praises and shakes her head.

'Oh, don't go on about it, dad.' Evelina replies and he smiles proudly at her.

'If we had moved to Rome like I said, she could have been a Vestal Virgin.' Evelina turns to her mother who is shaking her head; her face is sporting an annoyed look.

'Someone mention Vestal Virgins?' A younger voice questions and the rest of the family turns to see a young man appear in the room. It appears as if he has just woken up from his night.

'Quintus, don't be so rude. You apologize to the household gods.' His mother points to the household alter.

'Get off.' He replies flatly.

'Apologize, right now. The gods are always watching.' She reminds him. The ground begins to quake under their feet and everyone freezes.

'Positions!' Caecilius orders. The family immediately runs to their positions around the villa, keeping valuables from falling over and breaking. When the rumbling ceases, Caecilius sighs and kisses the head of a male bust.

'There, now you've made the household gods angry. Just say sorry,' Again she points to the alter, Quintus sighs loudly, rolls his eyes and starts towards the alter. 'I tell you, Caecilius, that boy will come to no good.'

She narrows her eyes as she watches Quintus dip his fingers in the chalice provided and sprinkles the water on a marble frieze. 'Sorry household gods.' He states and turns to see his father staring intently at him.

'So, where were you last night? Down the thelopolium, I bet, cavorting with Etruscans, Christians and all sorts,' Caecilius begins to clap his hands near Quintus's ears and he winces. 'How's your head, sunshine? How's your head?'

'All right, dad. Give us a break.' Quintus gives him a slight shove.

'You want to smarten yourself us, Quintus, before Lucius Dextrus gets here. Look at your sister,' Quintus's mother motions to Evelina. 'She is giving us…' There is a slight pause as she searches for the right word. 'Status.'

'Oh, yeah, cause it's all about Evelina.' Quintus scoffs.

'She has the gift,' His mother holds up Evelina's hand, there is an eye painted on it. 'Be proud of you sister for once,' She turns to Evelina and smiles affectionately. 'Have you been consuming?'

'Not this morning.' Evelina admits and looks down. Her mother clicks her tongue.

'Well, come on, sweetheart. Practice. It's hot today,' She leads Evelina to the hypocaust that is located in the centre of the room. 'The hypocaust is on full blast,' Together, they sit on the ledge around it and her mother takes her hand. 'The mountain god must be happy. Breathe deeply. Remember what the sisterhood said.' Evelina gives a very meek smile and leans over the hypocaust and inhales deeply.

'It hurts.' She replies.

'Oh, my love, is it too hot?' Her mother inquires.

Evelina merely shakes her head. 'Sometimes in the smoke…I see the most terrible things.' She confesses.

'Like what?' Her mother questions intensely.

'A face. A face of stone.' Evelina states.

'It'll make sense…one day…' Her mother squeezes her shoulder affectionately. 'Sister Spurrina promised it,' Her mother reminded her. 'The veil will be parted and you'll be a seer.' Her mother smiled and gets up from the ledge and heads towards the foyer.

Evelina frowns and looks back to the hypocaust. She inhales deeply and stares down into the heat. She widens her eyes as she catches a glimpse of a creature made of stone. It looks up to her and it growls.

Evelina leans away rather startled, before she leans down and tilts her head. 'Who are you?' She whispers.

---

'Rose, Donna, it's this way! Ha, I've got it! This way!' The Doctor calls and Rose stops in her tracks, she turns around and heads back towards the Doctor, with Donna following behind her. Donna stops and shakes her head, causing both Rose and the Doctor to look at each other, confused.

'No, wait. I've found this big sort of amphitheatre, I think. Anyway, we can start there. We can get everyone together. Then maybe they've got a great, big bell or something we could ring. Have they invented bells yet?' Donna stops to ponder that question.

'What do you want a bell for?' The Doctor asks, rather puzzled.

'No.' Rose states, already knowing what Donna wants to do. The Doctor turns to look at Rose, not quite understanding.

'What do you mean no? We have to warn everyone! To start the evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt? What's it due?' Donna inquires and Rose shakes her head. What doesn't she get? They need to save these people. Donna widens her eyes as the Doctor's face suddenly becomes serious. It's like he's siding with Rose, of course he would. She should have known. Fat load of good she was doing him. Donna becomes angry.

'It's 79AD, twenty third of August which makes Volcano Day tomorrow.' The Doctor states flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.

'Plenty of time. We can get everyone out easy.' Donna counters and crosses her arms.

'We won't be doing that, Donna. I'm sorry. But we just can't.' Rose replies and Donna shakes her head in utter disbelief.

'No, no that doesn't make sense. Why aren't you making sense?!' Donna shouts and the Doctor takes her hands in his. She looks up to him, his face sombre. 'But that what you do…you're the Doctor. You save people…' Donna says quietly.

'But not this time, Donna.' The Doctor states and she steps away.

'Why not…?'

'Pompeii is a fixed point in human history. It can't be altered. No matter how much we wish differently.' Rose responds and Donna turns her attention to Rose. She's staring at the ground, like she wants to save them as well, but she knows she can't. And she's having a hard time accepting that. Yet she states it like she's been faced with this decision before. Like she's been at these crossroads previously…and the end result is not what she hoped for.

'Rose is right. What happens happens. There is no stopping it.' The Doctor takes Donna's hand, trying to get her to move, but she remains stationary, not moving. She presses her lips together and suddenly becomes angry.

'Says who?' Donna spat.

'Says me.' The Doctor responds and Rose steps back somewhat, giving this argument space. Donna narrows her eyes.

'What, and you're in charge?' She scoffs.

The Doctor ponders her question momentarily, staring off into space before he snaps his attention back to Donna. 'TARDIS, Time Lord…yeah.'

Undeterred, Donna shakes her head. 'Donna, human…no!' She shouts her response. 'I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself.'

'Donna, listen. Even if you do get their attention, they won't believe you.' Rose tries and Donna gapes at her. Since when did Rose become such a cynic? It is driving Donna to the brink of madness

'And what makes you so damn sure?' She declared.

'You're going to stand in the marketplace and announce the end of the world, they'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer,' The Doctor states. 'Now, come on. TARDIS, we are getting out of here.' He attempts to take her hand, but Donna storms off.

'Well, I just might have something to say about that, Spaceman!' Donna yells at him.

'Oh, I bet you will!' The Doctor shouts back and Rose places her hand on his shoulder. They quietly follow Donna and Rose rubs the Doctor's arm affectionately.

'It's hard to know that people will die, and we can save them…but we can't…' Rose tries, knowing where Donna is coming from.

'Oh, I know, Rose. I know…' He sighs and draws her closer.

'You've too much responsibility…' Rose says softly.

'I have to. Last Time Lord…it falls on me to ensure…' He trails off as he catches sight of the villa. Donna is waiting at the bottom of a set of stairs, her arms crossed. She still looks very annoyed.

'I like how she has a nickname for you.' Rose grins and the Doctor finds himself smiling as well.

'Only she can call me that, so don't get any ideas. No ideas.' The Doctor points his finger at Rose, and she playfully bats it away. As the two of the draw near, Donna starts up the stairs, a ways ahead of them. Rose and the Doctor exchange looks and nod. Clearly Donna is still annoyed; nevertheless, they follow her up the stairs.

---

'Positions!' Caecilius shouts and once more, the family runs to protect their valuables as the shaking commences. Caecilius is too far away from his statue and The Doctor makes a slight dive to catch a bust that has fallen off of a table.

'Whoa!' The Doctor catches and gives the bust's cheeks a slap. 'There you go.' He hands it off to the older man, who has a confused look on his face.

'Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor.' The man informs him, and the Doctor nods quickly.

'Oh, that's me. I'm a visitor,' The Doctor shakes the man's hand. 'Hello.'

'Who are you?' He inquires.

'I am…Spartacus.' The doctor replies and turns to Rose who has cleared her throat as she stifles a laugh.

'And so am I.' Donna cuts in and Rose and the Doctor stare at her, not believing she just said that. The Doctor raised his eyebrow.

'Ah, so Mr. and Mrs. Spartacus.' The man nods but the Doctor quickly shakes his head.

'Oh, no. No, no. We're not married.'

'Not together.' Donna reaffirms.

'Oh, then brother and sister? Yes, of course. You look very much alike.'

'Really?' Donna and the Doctor reply in unison.

'And your name, miss…?' The man inquires and turns his attention to Rose. She freezes, her brain unable to think of a Roman sounding name.

'Uh, um…my name…well, my name is…'

'Octavia. Her name is Octavia. She's also, uh, our sister.' The Doctor cuts in and the man nods.

'Ah, very good. Although I confess, she doesn't really resemble either of you.' The man states.

'Really?' All three of them say in unison.

'Indeed, however I am sorry to inform you, but I'm not open for trade.' The man reiterates.

'And that trade would be?' The Doctor presses for more information.

'Marble. Lucius Caecilius. Mining, polishing and design thereof. If you want marble, I'm your man.'

'That's good. That's good, cause I'm the marble inspector.' The Doctor holds up the Psychic Paper.

'By the gods of commerce, an inspection!' A woman cries frantically, as she enters the foyer and dashes back to a younger man, taking a cup from him and dumping the contents of it into a pool. 'I'm sorry, sir. I do apologise for my son.'

'Oi!' The boy calls.

'And this is my good wife, Metella. I…I must confess, we're not prepared for…'

'Nothing to worry about, I'm, I'm sure you've got nothing to hide,' The Doctor begins to wander as he catches sight of the TARDIS. 'Although, frankly,' He points to the TARDIS. 'That object looks rather like wood to me.'

'I told you to get rid of it.' Metella hisses to her husband.

'I only bought it today!' Caecilius tries to maintain his innocence.

'Ah, well…Caveat emptor.' The Doctor shrugs.

'Oh, you're Celtic. That's lovely.' Caecilius says.

'I'm sure it's fine, but I might have to take it off your hands, for a proper inspection.' The Doctor states firmly.

'Although while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?' Donna nudges the Doctor and he turns to her, his face expressionless.

'Don't know what you mean, Spartacus.' He informs her.

'Octavia, wouldn't you say this time of year is wonderful for a holiday?' Donna turns to face Rose.

'Well, Mr. Caecilius is a businessman, he can't just pack up and leave.' Rose replies and Donna shoots her an icy look.

'Come on now, Octavia…Spartacus, surely you agree with me. This lovely family. Mother, and father and son. Don't you think they should get out of town.' Donna stares the Doctor and Rose down.

'Why should we do that?' Caecilius inquired.

'Well, the volcano, for starters.' Donna states.

'What?' He voice is full of confusion.

'Volcano.' Donna enunciates.

'What-ano?' Caecilius scratches his head.

'That great big volcano right on your doorstep…'

'Oh, Spartacus, Octavia, for shame, we haven't even greeted the household gods yet. The Doctor takes Donna over to the alter by the arm and Rose smiles apologetically to Caecilius before she follows them.

'Donna, can't you see, they don't know what that is.' Rose whispers to Donna.

'Vesuvius is just a mountain to them; the top hasn't blown off yet. The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow.' The Doctor states, his voice subdued.

'Oh, great, they can learn a new word. As they die.' Donna whispers sarcastically.

'Donna, stop it.' The Doctor warns.

'Listen, I don't know what the two of you have been doing, flying around in space. You are not going to tell me to shut up. That boy, how old is he? Sixteen? And tomorrow, he burns to death.'

'But Donna, how is that the Doctor's fault? Fixed points can't be changed.' Rose interjects, trying to make her understand, and it hurts her just as much that they can't do anything. How these people would become frozen in time.

'Doesn't matter, he can change it and he won't. So yes, right now, it is his fault.' Donna whispers furiously.

'Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the City Government.' A servant's voice rings out, and temporarily ends the group's squabble. They all turn to see the guest. An older man, dressed in rich robs, although, they notice he keeps his right arm hidden, under his cloak.

'Lucius. My pleasure, as always.' Caecilius goes over to greet his guest.

'Quintus, stand up!' Metella hits the young man's shoulder and he does as he's instructed.

'A rare and great honour, sir, for you to come to my house…' Caecilius extends his hand in order to shake Lucius's hand, but he keeps it hidden, and makes no further effort.

'The birds are flying north, and the wind is in the west.' Lucius states and stares off slightly.

'Quite. Absolutely. That's good, is it?' Caecilius inquires.

'Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow.' Lucius replies.

'There now, Metella. Have you ever heard such wisdom?' Caecilius turns to his wife who has her hands folded in front of her.

'Never. It is an honour.' Metella smiles, but Lucius has directed his attention to the small little group standing off in distance.

'Pardon me, sir, I have guests, this is Octavia, Spartacus…and…Spartacus.' Caecilius motions to the group. They smile and wave.

'A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind.' Lucius states.

'But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark.' The Doctor responds and Lucius offers a slight smile.

'Ah,' He nods, accepting the challenge. 'But what is the dark, other than an omen of the sun?' He questions.

'I concede that every sun must set…' The Doctor pauses.

'Hah!' Lucius smirks.

'And yet the son of the father must also rise.' The Doctor finishes and grins.

'Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently, a man of learning.'

'Oh, yes. But don't mind me, don't want to disturb the status quo.'

'He's Celtic.' Caecilius interjects, as he whispers to Lucius.

'We'll be off in a minute.' The Doctor informs them.

'I'm not going.' Donna states, rather subdued.

'It's ready, sir.' Caecilius smiles and Lucius nods.

'Donna, you have to. We can't do anything.' Rose whispers to her.

'Well, I'm not.' Donna crosses her arms and the Doctor turns to Rose, his face pleading with her to make Donna understand, the consequences of why they can't change it.

'The moment of revelation,' Caecilius goes over to a table that has an object covered by a piece of cloth. In a swift motion he uncovers the object, it is a tile sized circuit board, made entirely out of marble. 'And here it is! Exactly as you've specified. It pleases you, sir?' Caecilius searches Lucius for praise.

'As the rain pleases the soil.'

'Oh, now that's…different. Who designed that, then?' The Doctor questions as he takes a step forward to investigate it.

'My Lord Lucius was very specific.' Caecilius states.

'Where did you get the pattern?' The Doctor frowns at the pattern.

'On the rain and mist and wind.' Is the mysterious answer that Lucius provides.

'Why does it look like a circuit board?' Rose tugs the Doctor's coat sleeve and he merely shakes his head.

'It's made of stone though…'

'Do you mean you just dreamt that thing up?' Donna asks Lucius and he turns to face her.

'That is my job. As City Augur.' He responds flatly.

'What's that then? Like the mayor?' Donna frowns; Lucius is eyeing her intently, looking her up and down.

'Oh! You must excuse my friend, she's from…Barcelona,' He turns to Donna who does not look impressed. 'No, but this is an age of superstition, of official superstition. The Augur is paid by the city to tell the future. 'The wind will blow from the west,' that's the equivalent of the Ten O'clock News.'

Rose's attention is drawn to a new figure who has entered the room. She is a beautiful young woman, yet she looks pale and sickly. Clearly she needs rest, or medical attention, whatever that entails for this time. She appears that she can't even stand on her feet. Rose notices that she has her gaze set firmly on the Doctor. She narrows her eyes and Rose doesn't like the looks she's giving him.

'They're laughing at us. The three of them, they use their words like tricksters, they're mocking us.' The young woman revealed. Rose widened her eyes and turns to the Doctor and Donna. He puts his hands up and shakes his head.

'No, no, no. I meant no offence.' The Doctor reassures her, and the rest of the group.

'I'm sorry, my daughter's been consuming the vapours.' Metella explained. Rose and the Doctor look at each other. What did she mean, vapours? The Doctor raised his eyebrow at Rose and she shrugged, unsure of what vapours they meant.

'Oh for gods, mother, what have you been doing to her?' Quintus demands and he starts towards his sister.

'Not now, Quintus.' Caecilius dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

'Yeah but she's sick! Just look at her!' Quintus states and he stands beside his sister, putting his arm around her shoulder, trying to steady her. Lucius is studying the young woman intently.

'I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift.' Lucius eyes the girl.

'Oh, she's been promised to the Sibylline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions.' Metella boasted, and a proud smile crosses her features. Lucius looks less than impressed.

'The prophecies of women are limited and dull, only the men folk have the capacity for true perception.' Lucius informs her.

'I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate.' Donna pointed out and Rose feels herself grin. She adores Donna and her feisty attitude.

Everyone turns to the window as the mountain gives another mighty roar. Rose looks over to Donna, but she's staring down the Doctor. He mouths the word no to her.

'The Mountain God marks your words. I'd be careful, if I were you.' Lucius warns and Metella offers a weak smile and a small nod.

'Consuming the vapours, you said?' The Doctor turns to the young woman and she gives a curt nod.

'They give me strength.' She informs him.

'It doesn't look like it to me.' The Doctor replied and the young woman gives a sly smile.

'It that your opinion…as a doctor?' She narrows her eyes at Rose who has gasped.

'I beg your pardon?' He says.

'Doctor, that's your name.' She states.

'How did you know that?' The Doctor asks, taken aback.

'And you two…' She points to Donna. 'You call yourself Noble,' Donna swallows nervously and Rose holds her breath as the young woman turns her attention to Rose, she tilts her head in confusion. 'And you…two names grace you…the strength of a wolf, but you are not bad, you harbour no ill will, no, quite the opposite. And, the flower of your home…Rose.'

Rose feels uneasy; she looks at the Doctor who hasn't taken his eyes off of the young woman, and then to Donna. She has her arms crossed. An uncomfortable silence sits heavily in the room.

'Now then, Evelina, don't be rude.' Metella informs her, trying to breathe life back into the room.

'No, no, no, no, let her talk.' The Doctor insists, and Evelina nods.

'You all have come so far away.' Evelina is staring off.

'The female soothsayer is inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries.' Lucius reminds them but the Doctor grins.

'Oh, not this time, Lucius. No, I reckon you've been out-soothsayed.'

'Is that so…man from Gallifrey?' Lucius smirks.

'What?' The Doctor is bewildered.

'Strangest of images. Your home is lost in a fire, is it not?'

'Doctor, how do they know that. How do they know all of that…' Rose bites her lip; Donna now appears to be just as uneasy.

'What are they doing…?' Donna inquires.

'Ah, and as for you two, both daughters of…London.'

'How do you know that?' Donna demands and Rose is at a loss for words.

'It is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth.' Lucius informed them.

'That's impossible.' Donna counters.

'You, Adolpha, soon you will see, that one line becomes two. The journey is ending.' Lucius points to Rose and feels her stomach do a flip.

'What do you mean, one line becomes two?' Rose pleads for information, but he ignores her and turns back to Donna.

'And you, daughter of London. There is something on your back.'

'What's that mean?' Donna whispers, there is fear evident in her voice.

'Even the word 'doctor' is false,' Everyone turns their attention back to Evelina, she continues to stare into nothingness, a small frown etches itself onto her face. 'Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself. You are a Lord, sir. A Lord…of Time.' Evelina collapses, her brother catches her and Metella, the Doctor and Rose all rush to her side. The Doctor notices that Rose's hands are shaking. This information has scared her. He takes her hands in his and squeezes them tightly; she turns to him and can only offer a weak smile. He sees that her breathing is still shaky and uneven. This incident has shaken her to her core, and he doesn't want her to feel scared or uneasy.

Together, Rose the Doctor and Quintus carry Evelina to a daybed, she still has not moved or made a sound. Donna joins them and the Doctor decides to join Quintus as he leaves.

---

'She didn't mean to be rude; she's ever such a good girl. But when the gods speak through her…' Metella unwraps the bandage that is on Evelina's arm, she reveals greying skin. Rose and Donna frown and go in for a closer look.

'What's wrong with her arm? Is she okay?' Rose inquires; Metella looks at it with a worried expression.

'Irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night.'

'What is it?' Donna looks up at Metella, but she doesn't answer the question.

'Evelina said you both came from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like…?' Metella pleads and Donna touches her arm. Donna pulls away in haste and looks at Rose.

'What is it? Donna?' Rose asks.

'It's…it's…Rose, it's stone.'

'What?' Rose touches Evelina's arm and draws back. 'How does that happen?' Rose shakes her head in disbelief.

---

The Doctor has found the hypocaust in the room and strolls over to it, he pulls off the grille and it reveals a chasm below. He looks down, and as steam comes up, he leans back. Caecilius joins him.

'Different sort of hypocaust.' The Doctor observes.

'Oh, yes. We've very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood burning furnaces. But we've got hot springs, leading from Vesuvius itself.' Caecilius explained.

'Who thought of that?' The Doctor wondered.

'The soothsayers. After the great earthquake, seventeen years ago. An awful lot of damage. But we rebuilt.' Caecilius stated.

'Did you think of moving away? No, then again, San Francisco.' The Doctor muses.

'That's a new restaurant in…Naples?' Caecilius questioned. A low howling that has erupted from the chasm interrupts the mood. The Doctor looks down it again.

'What's that noise?'

'Don't know. Happens all the time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring.' Caecilius responds, rather nervously.

'But after the earthquake, let me guess…is that when the soothsayers started making sense?' The Doctor questioned.

'Oh yes, very much so. I mean they'd always been, shall we say, imprecise? But then, the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex, all of them, they saw the truth, again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision.'

'Haven't they said anything about tomorrow?' The Doctor questioned, wondering why they haven't seen or mentioned the eruption of Vesuvius.

'No. Why, should they? Why do you ask?'

'No, no, no I'm just asking. But the soothsayers, they all consume the vapours, yeah?'

'That's how they see.' Caecilius nods.

'Ipso facto…' The Doctor responds as he slips on his glasses.

'Look, you…'

'They're all consuming this…' The Doctor runs his finger along the inside of the chasm walls and then rubs the material between his fingers, he sprinkles some of the material, undeterred he then tastes it.

'Dust?' Caecilius asks.

'Tiny particles of rock. They're breathing in Vesuvius.' The Doctor gets up from the hypocaust ledge and heads back to where Rose and Donna are. They are still sitting with Metella, and Evelina still has not awaked. Rose looks up as he comes in and she gets up from her seat.

'What's up?' Rose inquires and he leads Rose a ways away from the rest of the group.

'Going for bit of a stroll.'

'To where?'

'To see Lucius. Well, not really him, more his house. I'm visiting his house. Actually I suppose it's a villa.' The Doctor informs her and Rose crosses her arms.

'I'm coming too.' Rose states firmly but the Doctor shakes his head.

'I need you to stay here, watch out for everyone…everyone…' The Doctor emphasises. Rose relents, knowing that he meant Donna.

'Fine, all right. You win. Just be careful.' Rose embraces him tightly; he can feel the fear that still clings to her. He wraps his arms around her, offering some comfort for now, when they leave, he can do more. She just has to wait.

'Yeah, I won't be long.' He kisses her head quickly and walks into an adjacent doorway, Rose returns to Donna, Metella and Evelina. She rubs her arms as she sits, trying to get the words of Lucius out of her mind.

---

The Doctor spots Quintus, lounging and drinking wine; he appears to be rather bored. He strolls over to Quintus, but he doesn't look up.

'Quintus, me old son…this Lucius Petrus Dextrus, where does he live?'

'Nothing to do with me.' Quintus responds and takes another sip of wine. The Doctor frowns and walks up beside the lounge.

'This Lucius Petrus Dextrus…' The Doctor pulls a coin from behind Quintus' ear. 'Where does he live?' The Doctor waits, a wide grin breaks out on Quintus' face as he sits up.

---

Quintus leads the way, holding a torch out in front of him. They wind through the streets; the night is keeping many people in their homes. Which is good, makes it easier and less likely they'll get caught. Quintus eventually stops outside a villa and he turns to the Doctor.

'Don't tell my dad.' Quintus replies, rather sombrely.

The Doctor smiles as he leaps on to a barrel before he climbs onto the windowsill. 'Only if you don't tell mine.'

He enters the villa. It's dark on the interior; the only light that is lighting the room is coming from the hypocaust.

'Pass me the torch.' The Doctor reaches his hand out the window and Quintus does so.

The Doctor checks that no one is around, while Quintus waits outside, looking rather nervous. He hesitates for a moment before he climbs through the window. Quintus spots the Doctor peeking behind a curtain and he goes over to him. The Doctor hands the torch back to Quintus and now that both hands are free, he pulls the curtain down, revealing six more circuits. Much like the one that Caecilius has made for Lucius. Quintus becomes angry.

'The liar, he told my father it was the only one.'

'Well, plenty of marble merchants in this town,' The Doctor looks over to Quintus as he puts on his glasses. 'Tell them all the same things, get all the components from different places so no one can see what you're building.'

'Which is what?' Quintus asks.

'The future…Doctor,' Lucius states and it causes the Doctor and Quintus to freeze and slowly turn to face him. Lucius is standing in a doorway with two armed guards. 'We are building the future as dictated by the gods.'

---

Evelina and Rose are laughing as Donna tries to adjust the purple toga she has been talked into wearing.

'Oi, you two, you aren't supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What do you think?' Donna strikes a pose. 'The goddess Venus.'

'Oh, that's sacrilege.' Evelina gets out between laughs.

'It's nice to hear you laugh Evelina.' Rose comments and Donna joins them on the bed.

'What do you do in old Pompeii, then…girls your age? You got…mates? Do you go hanging about around the shops? T.K Maximus?' Donna inquires, but Evelina shakes her head.

'I'm promised to the Sisterhood for the rest of my life.'

'Did you get a choice in that matter, Evelina?' Rose asks.

'It's not my decision. I have the gift of sight. The Sisters were chosen for me.'

'Then…what can you see happening tomorrow?' Donna questions and Rose shoots her a look.

'Donna.' Rose warns.

'Is tomorrow special?'

'You tell us. What do you see.'

'Donna, that's enough.' Rose reiterates.

Evelina closes her eyes and she smiles. 'The sun will rise. The sun will set. Nothing special at all.' Evelina opens her eyes once more and offers a light shrug.

'Octavia…or is it Rose…could you help me with something? I can't seem to find my son, and I would prefer if Evelina continues to rest.' Metella's voice is heard and Rose quietly sighs.

'It's Rose, and sure I don't mind.' Rose gets up from the bed and walks towards the sound of Metella's voice.

Donna watches as Rose leaves and heads around a corner. She turns back to Evelina and Donna takes her hands. 'Look, don't tell the Doctor, or Rose I said anything, because they'll kill me, but I've got a prophecy too.'

Evelina becomes fearful and covers her eyes with her hands, since her hands carry symbol on them for the Sisterhood, she creates a link with them, so that they can hear what Donna is about to say.

'Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out. Evelina, can you hear me? Listen…'

'There is only one prophecy.' Evelina states nervously.

'But everything I'm about to say to you is true. I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is gonna explode. Evelina, please listen,' Donna pleads; Evelina hasn't removed her hands from her face. 'The air is gonna fill with ash and rocks, tons and tons of it, this whole town is gonna get buried.'

'That's not true.' Evelina replies, her voice shakes.

'I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. But everyone is gonna die,' Donna restates and she watches as Evelina shakes her head. She is unaware of the connection Evelina is holding with her Sisterhood. 'Even if you don't believe me, just…tell your family to get out of town. Just for one day, just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out. You've got to leave Pompeii!'

'This is false prophecy!' Evelina cries out in despair.

The connected Sisters have decided that the false prophet must be removed, because Pompeii will live forever.

---

The Doctor frowns as he looks at the marble slab in his hands. He moves one of the slabs on the shelf and carefully puts the one in his hands in the now vacant space.

'Put this one…there. This one…there,' He takes a slab from Quintus. 'Er, I'll keep that one upside down, and what have we got?'

'Enlighten me.' Lucius demands.

'What, the soothsayer doesn't know?' The Doctor smirks.

'A seed may float on the breeze in any direction.' Lucius responds.

'Yeah, I knew you would say that,' The Doctor rubs the back of his head and stretches. 'But it's an energy converter.'

'An energy converter of what?' Lucius questions.

'I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing. Keeps me on my toes,' The Doctor rocks back on his heels before an idea strikes him and he moves to stand beside Lucius. 'It must be awful being a prophet, waking up every morning, 'is it raining? Yes it is, I said so.' Takes all the fun out of life. But who designs this, Lucius,' The Doctor abruptly becomes serious. 'Who gave you these instructions?'

'I think you've babbled long enough.' Lucius states.

'Lucius, really, tell me honestly. I'm on your side, I can help.' The Doctor assures him.

'You insult the gods! There can be only one sentence. At arms!' Lucius yells.

The guards advance forward and the Doctor moves back, removing his glasses in the process.

'Oh, morituri te salutant.'

'Celtic prayers won't help you now.' Lucius spat.

'But it was him, sir. He made me do it. Sir Dextrus, please don't.' Quintus pleads and the Doctor rolls his eyes at the boy.

'Come on now, Quintus…dignity in death. I respect your victory, Lucius. Shake on it?' The Doctor extends his hand. 'Come on,' He wiggles his fingers and smiles. 'Dying man's wish?' Abruptly, the Doctor lunges forward and grabs Lucius' right hand and yanks on it. His entire forearm snaps off.

'But he's…' Quintus stumbles over his words as he stares wild eyed at Lucius, who remains rather calm.

'Show me.' The Doctor demands.

Lucius throws back his cloak to reveal the stump of a stone arm. 'The work of the gods.' He informs them proudly.

'He's stone!' Quintus states the obvious.

''Armless enough, though,' The Doctor grins at the joke, but no one else cracks even a smile. 'Nothing? Blimey, Rose would have laughed. Anyway, moving on…' The Doctor tosses the arm back to Lucius and runs. 'Quintus!' He shouts back.

Quintus throws the torch at one of the guards and he scrambles out the window and after the Doctor. He pokes his head back in through the window and aims the Sonic Screwdriver at the circuits. They begin to rattle and fall off the shelf.

'The carvings!' Lucius cries and runs over to them. They appear to be unharmed; he immediately turns his attention to the hypocaust.

---

The Doctor jumps back onto the street, where Quintus is waiting. 'Run!' The Doctor instructs and they take off running through the streets. Until they have to stop to catch their breaths, they hear nothing but the quiet of the night around them.

'No sign of them. Nice little bit of allons-y. I think we're all right.' The Doctor inhales.

'But his arm, Doctor. Is that what's happening to Evelina?' Quintus questions. The Doctor doesn't have time to voice his thoughts as a loud and deep bang is heard. It engulfs them.

'What was that?' The Doctor scans the area.

'The mountain?' Quintus offers a weak explanation.

The noise is repeated over and over again, shattering the ground, knocking baskets off of stalls, but there is no sign of any presence.

'They're footsteps.' The Doctor suddenly realises.

'It can't be.' Quintus denies the statement.

'Footsteps underground!' The Doctor restates.

'What is it? What is it?' Quintus turns around to try and find anything.

The Doctor grips Quintus by the shoulders and turns him back to face him. The Doctor nods and together, they start to run again. As they pass vents, steam blows up like geysers.

---

Rose rushes to where Donna and Evelina are, with Metella following close behind her.

'What in the hell is that?' Rose asks and Donna shakes her head.

'I don't know.' Donna replies.

'It doesn't even sound like Vesuvius.' Caecilius observes and Rose starts to look around, trying to see where it may be coming from. The Doctor rushes in and Rose stops in her tracks. He looks frantic, something is wrong.

'Caecilius! All of you, get out!' The Doctor orders and Rose runs over to him.

'What is it? What's going on?' Rose asks and Donna joins them.

'I think we're being followed,' The Doctor replied. The grille over the house's hypocaust is suddenly blown into the air. 'Just get out!' He repeats. But no one makes the effort to move.

He rushes forward and tries to herd everyone out of the door as the ground beneath the hypocaust cracks and a loud growling is heard. A massive creature composed of stone and magma forces its way through.

Evelina emerges and widens her eyes. 'The gods are with us.' She breathes.

'Water! We need water! Quintus, all of you, get water. Rose! Donna!' The Doctor shouts and Donna and Rose spring into action. They follow Quintus into a small portion of the house as they try to look for anything to transport water in.

Rose stops as she hears the Doctor shout at the creature.

'We need to hurry, what about these vases?' Rose picks some up.

'And the urns.' Donna motions and together, Rose, Donna, Quintus and the servant that joined them grab the largest ones they can find and start back to the Doctor. Donna finds a small fountain and stops to fill up her urn when she is suddenly taken from behind; a hand moves to cover her mouth.

'Rose! Rose!' Donna tries to call out, but her voice is muffled and she struggles to free herself. She watches as Rose and Quintus disappear around the corner. Her kidnapper hauls Donna out of a back door and Evelina bows her head, having witnessed everything.

Quintus and Rose re-enter in the main room just as the creature is about the breathe on the Doctor. Together, the three of them dip the vases and urns into the near by pool and turn to face the creature.

'Doctor! Down!' Rose calls and he ducks. They throw the water on creature and it stops in its tracks. It appears to freeze before crumbling into pieces.

'What was that, Doctor?' Rose takes a step towards the heap of rocks on the floor before them.

'Carapace of stone…held together by internal magma. Not too difficult to stop. But I reckon that's just a foot soldier.'

'Oh good, okay so where do we go now?' Rose kicks a piece of the rock, smoke emanates from it.

'Doctor…or whatever your name is…you bring bad luck in this house.' Metella moves to stand beside Caecilius, and she folds her arms.

'I thought your son was brilliant. Aren't you going to thank him?' The Doctor inquires, not looking over at Metella, but smiling at Quintus, who looks genuinely surprised. She doesn't move at first.

'Thanks Quintus, for your help!' Rose embraces him, hoping that Metella would take her hint. As Rose moves away, Metella hugs her son.

'Still…guess there are aliens at work in Pompeii and it's a good thing we stayed.' The Doctor turns to Rose and she nods.

'Donna was right,' She searches the room. Donna is nowhere in sight. 'Donna?'

The Doctor can't see her either. 'Donna? Donna?!' He calls, but there is no answer.

'She was right behind us, in the hall, where can she have gotten to? Rose returns from checking the hallway.

'I think I know…' Evelina steps forward and she looks down to the ground.

---

Donna slowly rouses for her slumber and blinks her eyes. She tries to rub her eyes but can't, her wrists are restrained. She attempts to focus on anything, but her head is throbbing. After a few minutes, she can see that is lying, tied up to a sacrificial alter. One of the sisters is looming over Donna, holding a dagger above her. The rest of the Sisters form a circle around them.

'You have got to be kidding me.'

'The false prophet will surrender both her blood and her breath.' The Sister states.

'I'll surrender you in a minute. Don't you dare!' Donna threatens.

'You will be silent.'

'You have eyes on the back of your hands, but you'll have eyes on the back of your head by the time I finish with you! Let me…go!' Donna shouts and struggles with her restraints.

'This prattling voice will cease forever!' She calls out and raises the dagger above her head.

'Oh, that'll be the day.' The Sisters turn their attention to where the Doctor is, leaning against the wall, and Rose, who waves at them, rather tauntingly. The Sisters are shocked.

'No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sibyl.' One states and she narrows her eyes.

'That's why I came with Rose. I'm her plus one,' The Doctor strolls over to the Sisters and Rose follows him. 'Do you know, I met the Sibyl once. Hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance a tarantella…Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me…' The Doctor looks down at Rose who had given him a shove. She has an unimpressed look on her face. 'But of course, I said it would never last. And then she said, 'I know.' Well, she would,' The Doctor and Rose stop in front of the alter and Donna flashes them a relieved smile. 'You all right there?'

'Oh, never better.' Donna replies sarcastically.

'Like the toga.' The Doctor smiles and reaches into his pocket and produces the Sonic Screwdriver.

'Thank you. And the ropes?' Donna inquires.

'Not really, clashes with the outfit. We can fix that, though.' Rose assures her and the Doctor points the screwdriver on the ropes, which loosen themselves.

'What magic is this?' The Sister holding the dagger demands and the Doctor flips the screwdriver in his hand before putting it away. He becomes serious.

'Let me tell you the Sibyl…the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. Is that how you spread the word, eh? On the blade of a knife?'

'Yes…a knife that now welcomes you!' The Sister raises the dagger but abruptly halts her motions.

'Show me this man.' A voice commands and all the Sisters turn to a shrouded pavilion. They immediately fall to their knees and Rose and the Doctor exchange looks, and Donna stands beside them. Turning back to look at the Sisters who have their eyes locked firmly on the ground.

'High Priestess, the stranger would defy us!'

'Let me see. They are different. They carry starlight in their wake, ah, the makings of a legend between the two.'

The little group starts towards the pavilion, the curtain still drawn.

'Quite perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?' The Doctor questions.

'The gods whisper to me.' Comes the soft reply.

'Oh they've done far more than that. Ah, might I beg audience, look upon the High Priestess?'

The curtains part and Rose gasps, Donna covers her mouth, unable to believe what she is seeing. The woman sits upon a bed; her body has very nearly been converted completely to stone.

'Oh, my god!' Donna cries.

'What's happened to you?' Rose tries to recover from the shock.

'The heavens have blessed me.' Her reply indicates no remorse, nor complaints.

'If I might…' The Doctor motions that he'd like to step closer and she lifts her arm to him. He kneels and carefully touches her arm. 'Does it hurt?'

'It is necessary.' She informs them, there is no hint of regret in her voice.

'Who said that to you…?' Rose wonders and the Priestess turns to her and then back to the Doctor.

'The voices.' She states.

'Is that what's happening to Evelina?' Rose asks.

'Is this what's gonna happen to all of you?' Donna turns to the Sisters and one by one they step forward, unravelling bandages and pulling up sleeves, which show grey patches of skin.

The Sister who had previously tried to sacrifice Donna steps towards them, her sleeve pulled back. 'The blessings are manifold.'

Donna touches the grey skin and draws her hand back. 'They're stone.'

'Exactly,' The Doctor walks back to where Rose and Donna are standing. 'The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts. But why?'

'This word…this image in your mind, this 'volcano,' what is that?' The Priestess inquires.

'More the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?' The Doctor wonders.

'High Priestess of the Sibyline.' She reiterates.

'No, no, no, no. I'm talking to the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust in the lungs…taking over the flesh and turning into…what?'

'Your knowledge is impossible.' The Priestess denies.

'Oh, but you can read my mind. You know it's not. I demand you tell me who you are!' The Doctor is raising his voice.

'We…are…awakening!' The Priestess's voice echoes around them.

'The voice of the gods!' The Sisters cry out.

'Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power.' The Sisters start to chant, over and over again.

'Name yourself! Planet of origin, galactic coordinates, species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation.' The Doctor demands, taking a step forward.

'We…are…rising!' The Priestess cries out.

'Tell me your name!' The Doctor shouts.

'Pyrovile!' The Priestess throws back her hood.

'Pyrovile, Pyrovile.' The Sisters begin to chant, repeating the name over and over.

'What is that?' Donna asks.

'Well, that's a Pyrovile…growing inside her. She's at the halfway stage.' The Doctor answers.

'She's going to become one of those things that was in the villa, won't she?' Rose surmises.

'Exactly.'

'And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you all!' The Priestess threatens.

'I warn you…I'm armed.' The Doctor reaches into his pocket and pulls out a water pistol. Rose feels her jaw drop. 'Rose, Donna, get that grille open.'

'What are…?' Donna starts but Rose takes her hand as the Doctor jerks his head and Rose takes her to the grille.

'What are the Pyrovile doing here?'

'We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast we were rendered into dust.'

'Right. Creatures of stone shatter on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?' The Doctor surmised.

'We have slept beneath for thousands of years.'

'Okay, so seventeen years ago woke you up and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourself, but why the psychic powers?'

'We opened their minds and found such gifts.' Is the simple reply to the Doctor's question.

'Yeah, okay, fine. You force yourself inside a human brain; use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that. I get that. Yeah, but…seeing the future, that is way beyond psychic, you can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?'

'We got it!' Rose calls over.

'Now get down.' The Doctor calls over and Rose does so as he moves towards them. He continues to aims the pistol at the Priestess.

'What, down there?' Donna questions.

'Yes, down there!' The Doctor replies. 'Why can't this lot predict the volcano? Why is it being hidden?'

'Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless!' Comes a voice and the Doctor shrugs at being caught.

'Yeah, but it's got a sting!' He shoots water at the Priestess who recoils and wails in agony. 'Get down there!' He instructs to Donna, and she drops down. The Doctor follows her. They're greeted by Rose, who has her arms crossed as he twirls the gun on his finger. Donna is beaming.

'You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you!' Donna exclaims.

'This way.' The Doctor just states, and he begins to lead them through the volcanic tunnels. Rose undoes her jacket, the heat becoming unbearable.

'Where are we going now?' Donna inquires from the back of the line.

'Into the volcano.' The Doctor looks back quickly.

'No way.' Donna replies.

'Yes way.' He grins and twirls the pistol on his finger again.

'It's a good thing we're in Ancient times, any earlier and they might have called your bluff. A children's toy.' Rose remarks.

'You never know when things that are given to you will come in handy.' The Doctor counters.

They group quiets down as they continue to walk through the tunnels towards Vesuvius. Donna suddenly has a thought, which leads into an idea. She smirks.

'But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it all right? For you to stop it?' Donna asks. Rose turns back.

'Donna, please, you have to drop it.'

'It's still a part of history.' The Doctor reminds her.

'Well, I'm history too. You saved me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?' Donna demands to know why they will not relent on this issue. It's human lives!

'That's different, that incident was in flux.' Rose tells her.

'What are you talking about?'

'Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed.' The Doctor informs her.

'Fixed points can't be changed, Donna. They just can't be.' Rose says.

'And how in the hell do you know which is which?' Donna demands. Already Rose senses the change in his demeanour, and she dreads the answer.

'Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was…what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the only one left.' Rose aches for him, and yet, still not believing that he can see it all, she forgets sometimes, just how wonderful he truly is.

'How many people died?' Donna questioned and Rose shakes her head, replacing the good thoughts with sorrow filled ones.

'Donna! Stop! Please!' Rose cries.

'Twenty thousand.' Came the Doctor's frank response. Donna throws her hands up in the air as if that statement just solidified her argument.

'Honestly, Rose I'm surprised you're going along with this! I never had you pegged as someone who viewed human life as so expendable. Who cares if it's fixed?! We're here, on Volcano Day, and we have a chance to change history. And you both won't do it! To save lives!' Donna cries. Rose can't stand it any longer. She stops, and that causes the Doctor to stop. Rose bites her lip, trying to stop her anger from flowing over. Donna just doesn't understand, that's all. She doesn't know about the detrimental after effect it will have.

'You want to know why? Really, do you?! I changed a fixed point in time once, I did. Me, and the Doctor warned me, warned me not to get involved, stay on the sidelines, and just let it happen. But no, I thought exactly like you, and I intervened anyway!'

'Oh really? Did you now, did you have a chance like this, to save thousands of lives?' Donna shouts back.

'No, my reason was much more selfish! I prevented my father from dying!' Rose yells back to her and she instantly sees Donna pale a bit. But now, Rose can't stop herself. 'All because I didn't know him! And you know what, preventing that one death altered the entire course of history. Time looped, reapers came. And…and you know something else, my father realised the impact his being alive had on time, and he stopped it! I had to watch him die!' Rose is brushing away tears. 'But the one good thing that came from that…was that he didn't have to die alone that time. I could be there with him…as he took his last breaths.'

Donna struggles to form some sort of a sentence, but she stops. And an awkward silence weighs heavily on the group. It's on the screech from the Pyrovile that the group snaps out of its daze.

'They know we're here! Come on!' The Doctor grips Rose's hand and she uses her free one to rub away the tearstains on her cheeks.

They run until they arrive at the foot of a great cavern. And they stop, observing the vastness of it.

'It's heart of Vesuvius,' The Doctor squints, there are Pyroviles walking freely. 'We're right inside the mountain.'

'How are we going to stop them all?' Rose looks up the Doctor.

'There's so many.' Donna replies.

'What's that thing…?' The Doctor pulls out a collapsible telescope and uses to see a round looking object in the middle of the cavern. There are similar carvings in the ship and on the marble slabs.

'Well you're better hurry up and think of something. Rocky IV's on its way.' Donna informs him.

'That's how they arrived,' The Doctor sees the interior of a ship. 'Or, well, what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?' He collapses the telescope.

'Yeah, so why do they need the volcano?' Rose asks.

'Maybe…it erupts and they launch themselves back in space…or something.' Donna guesses.

'No, it's worse than that.' The Doctor replies.

'How can it possibly get worse?' Rose questions, she is answered by the roar of a Pyrovile.

'Doctor, it's getting closer.' Donna reminds him.

'Heathens!' A voice bellows to them and they look up. Lucius is standing higher up in the cavern. 'Defilers! They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods!' He yells into the vastness of the volcano.

'Come on!' The Doctor takes Rose's hand and the three of them run across the cavern floor.

'We can't go in!' Donna cries.

'We can't go back!' The Doctor counters.

'Crush them! Burn them!' Lucius shouts.

They continue as fast as they can before the Doctor stops suddenly, Rose crashes into the back of him, and Donna into Rose. Rose peeks around his shoulder to see a Pyrovile has risen from the floor and looms in front of them. The Doctor takes out the water pistol and squirts the Pyrovile who shies away. He looks up to Lucius and smirks. Rose salutes and they continue to run.

'There is nowhere to run, Doctor…Adolpha and Daughter of London.'

The Doctor leads them to the pod he had observed and looks over to Lucius. 'Now then, Lucius. My lord Pyrovillian…don't get yourselves in a lava. In a lava…no?' He turns to Rose who is grinning but shaking her head. Donna crosses her arms, not very amused.

'Oh, Doctor. Time and place, remember?' Rose restates.

'And not the place. And definitely not the time.' Donna huffs.

'Okay, no. But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish…once this new race of creatures is complete…then what?'

A Pyrovile walks towards them, crushing boulders in its path.

'My masters will follow the example of Rome itself, an almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilization.'

'Why don't you just go home?' Rose inquires and Donna nods.

'Yeah, I mean you've got all the technology to.' She agrees.

'The Heaven of Pyrovillia is gone.' Lucius states.

'Gone? What do you mean gone? Where's it gone?' The Doctor asked.

'It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost,' Lucius replies. It strikes Rose as odd, that's another planet that has been taken…who is going around and snatching up planets. Or maybe it's another coincident. 'But there is heat enough in this world of a new species to rise.'

'Yeah, I should warn you, it's 70% water out there.' The Doctor informs him.

'Water can boil. And everything will burn, Doctor.'

'Then the whole planet is at stake,' The Doctor puts the water pistol away. 'Thank you. That's all I needed to know. Rose! Donna!' He pushes them into the pod and the Doctor seals the door with the screwdriver.

'You have them, my lords.' Lucius grins. A Pyrovile breathes flames at the pod.

---

'Could we be any more trapped?' Donna questioned.

'Huh, seemed to have turned up the heat a bit.' Rose comments and she goes over to where the Doctor is intently studying the controls. He glances up at her when she stops.

'See, the energy converted takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix, which wields Pyrovile to human. Now that it's complete they can convert millions.'

'Wonderful.' Rose sighs.

'Well, can you change it…with these controls?' Donna joins them.

'Course I can, but don't you see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyroviles are stealing all its power. They're gonna use it to take over the world.' The Doctor informs them.

'But you can change it back.' Donna frowns at his hesitation.

'Oh, my god!' Rose cries out, suddenly understanding. 'Why…'

'What? Rose, what is it?' Donna asks.

'Donna, don't you see. I can avert the system, so the volcano will blow them up, yes, but…that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world.' The Doctor looks up to her.

'Oh my god!' Donna gasps.

'If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen.'

'But the Pyrovile are made of rock. Maybe they can't be blown up.' Donna tries, already sensing where this is going.

The Doctor sets to work on the machinery, pointing to cables for Rose to get. 'Vesuvius explodes with the force of twenty-four nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it,' He looks at Rose, who offers the same understanding smile that he's come to rely on so heavily after all these years. She knows, connected the dots, knows what to expect. Next, he turns to Donna, who is still learning. 'Certainly not us.'

'Never mind us.' Donna replies and he turns away, a small smile. He places his hand on the lever and he looks to Rose.

'Push this lever and it's all over. Twenty thousand people.' He doesn't move, hesitating, unwilling to be responsible for so many deaths, even if it is for the greater good of the world. Rose places her hand on his and looks him in the eye. Placing her free hand on his cheek and meekly smiling. Rose looks up as Donna places her hand on theirs as well. They all exchange solemn looks before pressing down.

---

Evelina sense the change of the future with gasp, the choice had been made. And what a choice it was.

The Sister feel the shift as well, crying out as the new prophecy comes into effect, and they cry out in denial.

'The sky is falling!' Caecilius cries out as he looks out into the sky.

'Death, only death!' Evelina screams in tears.

---

'No! No!' Lucius bellows into the cavern and screams as the flames of the volcano burn him. The Pyroviles shriek.

The mountain erupts and sends ash, and the pod, into the air. The group is tossed about the interior of the pod.

As the shuddering of the pod ceases, the Doctor opens the door and climbs out, helping Rose and then Donna out as well.

'It was an escape pod.' The Doctor turns around and looks at the volcano. He swallows and grabs Rose and Donna's hand. They run back into the marketplace, pushing through the terrified people, and Rose tries to block out their terrified screams. The ash cloud covers the bright sunlight, plunging the town into darkness.

She begins to cough as the ash cloud descends and she turns back to Donna, who is trying her best to remain composed. She lets go of the Doctor's hand and tries to help anyone who will listen to her.

'Don't! Don't go to the beach! Don't go to the beach! Go to the hills! Listen to me! Don't go the beach, it's not safe! Listen to me!' She cries out.

Rose chokes back a sob as her tears start to fall again, she feels time crawl in front of her, as she sees mob mentality grip the people's minds. Chaos ensues and she closes her eyes. She has never experienced devastation like this…and all because it had to be set right. And now she is witness to history being set back to its originality. She feels arms embrace her and she turns around, he's just as devastated as she is. She sees it in his eyes. He wipes the tears from her eyes and hugs her tightly.

'We need to leave,' He goes over to Donna, who is standing in the market, staring off, as people continue to bump into her. He takes her hand and she turns around, tears flowing down her face. 'Come on.'

---

The three continue to run to Caecilius' villa. When they enter, the family is huddled in a corner, together.

'Gods save us, Doctor.' Caecilius pleads, and he hesitates, if every so briefly, before he presses on. Unlocking the TARDIS and going inside. But Rose, she can't…and Donna stands beside her.

'You can't! Doctor, you can't!' Donna cries back to him. Rose takes her hand and leads her to the TARDIS, doing her best to ensure she doesn't cry.

She sees him, at the console, bent over and he straightens up. He looks at Rose, her lip trembling, so she bites it, to stop. She's never experienced this before. And Donna, he regrets it all.

'You can't just leave them!' Donna yells at him, and that comment pushes him to his breaking point.

'Don't you think I've done enough?! History's back in place and everyone dies.' He states coldly. The TARDIS prepares to dematerialise.

'You've got to go back! Doctor, I am telling you, take this thing back!' Donna shouts, and takes a step forward.

Rose closes her eyes before she brings her hands to face, uncontrollable sobs wrack her body, her shoulders heaving. Unable to stand Rose in so much despair, the Doctor releases the break, the TARDIS responds and they start to dematerialise. He does his best to maintain his stoic exterior, but when he sees Rose fall to her knees, continuing to sob, her face still buried in her hands, it nearly breaks him. He looks at Donna who has tears streaming down her face.

'It's not fair…' Donna whispers.

'No, it's not.' He agrees.

'But your own planet, it burned…' Donna tries to get him to make the connection, willing him to have empathy. He had to understand.

'That's just it. Don't you see, Donna? Can't you understand? If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just…can't!' He walks towards Rose, kneels down in front of her and embraces her. It only makes her cry harder. He turns back to Donna. 'I…just can't…' His voice is barely audible.

Rose pulls away and looks at him in the eyes, so deeply. 'Someone…' She begs and intertwines her arms around his neck. 'Anyone…please…that's what we do…we help people. We save people.'

Donna is nodding furiously. 'Please…Doctor…please. Not the whole town. Just save someone. Anyone…'

The Doctor swallows and looks at Rose, her eyes red, bloodshot, black from the mascara she is wearing and then he turns to Donna. Standing there, unsure of what to do, she wipes away some of the tears and he stands up.

---

Caecilius draws his family closer to himself and press themselves tighter against the wall, the ashes enter the villa and they begin to cough. An odd sound pierces through the chaos and a bright light fills the room and a silhouette emerges against the white light. The figure reaches out his hand to Caecilius.

'Come with me.' The Doctor states and Caecilius reaches out and grips the Doctor's hand tightly.

---

A cloud of ash and smoke flows over the town. The Doctor, Rose, Donna, Caecilius and his family watch from the hills as the destruction of Pompeii continues with vigour. The Doctor holds Rose's hand tightly before he turns to Caecilius, as he continues to look down on the town in horror.

'It's never forgotten, Caecilius. Oh, time will pass, men will move on, and stories will fade. But one day, Pompeii will be found again. In thousands of years, and everyone will remember you.'

'What about you, Evelina? Can you see anything?' Donna asks and Evelina shakes her head.

'The visions have gone.'

'The explosion was so powerful, it just cracked open a rift in time. Just for a second. That's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative. But not anymore. You're free.' The Doctor explained.

'But tell me…who are you, Doctor? With your words…and your temple containing such size within?' Metella inquires and Rose smiles.

'Oh, I was never here. Don't tell anyone.' The Doctor informs them.

'The great god Vulcan must be enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort…of volcano,' Caecilius' voice breaks. 'All those people…' He hugs Metella to him and Quintus takes Evelina's hand.

Sensing that this is a good moment to leave, the Doctor, Rose and Donna slip into the TARDIS.

---

'Thank you.' Rose whispers to him, as she stands with him at the console, holding onto his arm. Donna lingers on the ramp before she joins them at the console.

'Thank you…thank you.' Donna smiles.

'Yeah…' The Doctor pauses. 'You're right. I do need someone, to help me. And sometimes, Rose will need help helping me. Welcome aboard.'

'Yeah.' Donna nods slightly. She smiles at the Doctor who returns it. The three of them stand in silence, their consciousnesses a bit eased, knowing they had done some good when it was all supposed to go wrong.

---

Hello!

I'm really sorry for the delay in updating. It's been a crazy week and a bit. I had a nasty cold and my boyfriend and I split after 3 years. So needless to say, I know this chapter won't be the greatest. I know that. It took me awhile to get back into the groove after I stopped.

I have a sneaky idea for the next chapter, maybe I'm still deciding. I hope I'm making the clues I'm leaving obvious as well. Thank you for your reviews, it's wonderful that you all have stuck around. It's also quite late in the morning when I'm posting this, so I'll edit it tomorrow at work, please disregard errors you may find. Thank you!