She is standing on a beach. It's a bleak beach, cold, uninviting. Like there hasn't been a soul on its surface in some time. Devoid of any hospitable nature, she wonders why she's standing there at all. The wind is blowing wickedly, and there is a touch of coldness in it. It bites into her cheeks, reddening them.

When she turns to look over her shoulder, trying to place where she might be, she catches sight of three distant figures standing beside a Jeep. But she can't make out whom they are. Yet they are huddled together in an obvious attempt to reclaim some warmth.

She rubs her arms, trying to warm herself up as she turns back to desolate beach. She walks a few more steps, her feet sinking in to the softened sand as she tries to think of why she might be here. Nothing comes to mind. Is she waiting for something to happen? Someone she's supposed to meet here? She bites her lip. And who are those people in the background? Does she know them?

Oddly she doesn't even recall how she came to be standing on this beach in the first place. She can't recall anything except for this moment. She's growing cold as she waits here, even though she's unsure as to why. She attempts to turn to leave, but somewhere deep within her tells her to remain put, to be patient. The occurrence will happen, but it will need time.

And with that thought, she does wait. But for what? Oh, if only she could know why she's here, what circumstances led her here?

That's when she hears it.

'Rose…'

Softly. Like a whisper in her ear. She hears her name being called. But she can't find the origin. It surrounds her and she studies the beach, trying to see to whom it belongs to.

It beckons her forward, and so she gingerly takes small steps, walking towards the unknown, but oddly she isn't scared. She continues to walk a few more steps, brushing her wild hair out of her face, when she faintly sees something appear before her.

The figure is distant, and she quickens her pace. She gasps as she finally can identify who it is that has been calling her name. She widens her eyes. Covering her mouth.

'Where are you?' The reason she asks is because he's translucent, it unnerves her. He looks around quickly and then sets his sights on her.

'Inside the TARDIS,' She watches as he shoves his hands into his pockets. 'There's on tiny little gap in the universe left, just about to close. And it takes a lot of power to send this projection, I'm in orbit around a super nova,' A small laugh escapes him, she smiles faintly. 'I'm burning up a sun, just to say goodbye.'

Rose doesn't understand the meaning of his words. She doesn't remember what happened that separated them in the first place. All she knows is, that this is the end. She can hear that voice over and over again in her mind telling her so. But why? What happened?!

She shakes her head as she studies him. 'You look like a ghost.' She whispers to him and he frowns.

'Hold on…' He takes the sonic out of pocket and points it straight ahead. She assumes he's aiming it at the console. He manages to strengthen the projection. It's as if he's really there with her.

Hesitantly, she reaches to place her hand on his cheek. 'Can I t…?'

But he cuts her off. 'I'm still just an image. No touch.' His voice is full of regret and she lets her arm fall down to her side.

'Can't you come through properly?' She questions desperately, but her voice shakes and she knows that she's trying her hardest not to fall into tears.

'The whole thing would fracture. Two universes would collapse.' He explains to her and she offers a shrug.

'So?' She smiles ruefully. He can tell she's only half joking. He smiles at her and they continue to watch each other before he looks around at the beach.

'Where are we? Where did the gap come out?' He wonders and she hardly has any idea about what he's talking about. And yet…her mind already knows the answer.

'We're in Norway.' She informs him, surprised that she knew that. It's like half of her mind is in the dark while the remaining half is in the light. But the light won't shine on the dark, and so she is left in the mystery, wondering how her mind knows the answers to his questions.

'Norway. Right.' He repeats, and she apparently has more specific details ready.

'About fifty miles out of Bergen. It's called 'Darlig Ulv Stranden.''

'Dalek?!' He echoes surprised and she shakes her head at him. Why would he mishear that? Why did he say Dalek?

'Darl-ig. It's Norwegian for 'bad,'' She corrects and he breathes a sigh of relief. But he continues to stare at her, frowning. 'This translates as 'Bad Wolf Bay,'' Together they share a laugh before immediately sobering up. 'How long have we got?' She wonders, and she can't stop her voice from cracking, nor her eyes from tearing up.

'About two minutes…' He replies and her breathing becomes shallow.

'I can't think of what to say!' She laughs at the absurdity of this and he begins to laugh a bit too. He notices something over her shoulder and tilts his head.

'You've still got Mr. Mickey, then?' He offers and Rose turns over her shoulder briefly. She doesn't want him. But is that who is there waiting for her? Her mind has the answers prepared for her. Why can't she be privy to everything instead of bits and pieces she doesn't even remember? It's beyond frustrating.

'There's five of us now. Mum, dad, Mickey…and the baby.' Rose smiles and he stares at her in shock.

'You're not…?' He questions, slightly taken back.

'No!' She laughs, and motions over her shoulder with her thumb. 'It's mum,' She smiles as he laughs relieved, and then watches Jackie. 'She's three months gone. More Tylers on the way.'

'And what about you? Are you…?' He hesitates finishing his sentence.

'Yeah, I'm…I'm backing working in the shop.'

'Oh, good for you.' He nods and she gives him an unimpressed look, they fall into familiar banter.

'Shut up,' She grins playfully at him. 'No, I'm not. There's still a Torchwood on this planet, it's open for business,' She finds herself tearing up again, unable to stop. 'I think I know a thing or two about aliens.'

'Rose Tyler. Defender of the Earth,' He compliments and she can hear the proud tone in his voice. It causes her tears to start to fall. 'You're dead, officially, back home. So many people died that day and you've gone missing. You're on the list of the dead,' She begins to cry, trying to keep it as silent as she can. 'Here you are,' He smiles at her. 'Living a life day after day. The one adventure I can never have.' He adds and that comment causes her cover her mouth and muffle a sob.

'Am…am I ever gonna see you again?' She wonders and doesn't wipe away the tears that fall. She can't even steady her voice.

'You can't.' He replies and she closes her eyes, unable to stop from crying at that. He's devastated her.

'What're you gonna do?' But, she already knows the answer to that, doesn't she?

'Oh, I've got the TARDIS. Same old life. Last of the Time Lords.'

'On your own?' She wonders and she watches as he nods silently, watching her with the same devastation she is currently experiencing. She studies him as well. And then decides to say something her mind has been wanting her to say to him for sometime. She swallows and gathers her courage through her tears. 'I lo…' She chokes back her sob and more tears fall. She tries to recompose herself, but it takes a few attempts. Finally she manages. 'I love you.' She collapses into sobs again.

'Quite right, too…' He replies softly, and he smiles slightly when he sees that she has smiled at him, even through her tears. 'And I suppose…if it's one last chance to say it…' He pauses and locks his eyes with hers. Her gaze is so heart wrenchingly sad, it's nearly causes him to stumble over his words. 'Rose Tyler…'

She widens her eyes as she is now standing alone. Alone again on a beach in Norway. Immediately she crinkles her face against the pain, feeling her heart ache in her chest, she sobs uncontrollably into her hands as she falls to her knees. Sobs wrack her body.

What events led them to this very moment in their lives? The harder she tries to recall, the more her head hurts at the strain of trying to remember. It's as if her mind has purposefully denied her access.

Her constant, hard sobbing has begun to give her a headache and yet she can't stop. Too many questions have revealed themselves and strangely there are no answers that she can think of.

The harder she thinks, the more it feels like her head it splitting. Her vision fades to black.

She awakens with a scream, covered in a cold sweat and hastily throws back the covers. She sits up and feels her cheeks, they are wet with tears she doesn't remember falling. She feels sick, her head is on fire, and when she glances up to see where exactly she is, she recoils from the light. She's too sensitive to it.

Confused, she swings her legs over the side of the bed and tries to stand, but she becomes disorientated by the haste in which she's stood, that she falls to the ground.

It's a pulsating, throbbing pain that seems to reverberate in her head that she presses the palms of her hands to the sides of her head hoping that it would mute or lessen the throbbing. It does nothing but exacerbate it.

Tears force themselves from her eyes and she shakily tries to wipe them away, keeping her eyes closed. The pain is causing her to want to be sick. She's never experienced anything like this. She wants to remain put, but not wanting to risk it, she opens her eyes, keeping them half shut and pulls herself to her feet.

She doesn't even remember what she dreamed about, not that she can concentrate on anything other than her pain, she takes a few steps and stops, needing a moment to recover from the brightness of the room.

She lets out a soft whimper, because she doesn't understand what exactly is going on with her. Feeling the bile rise up in her stomach, she snaps her eyes open and begins to attempt to quicken her pace. The harder her footsteps are on the ground, it seems to add to her pain and she cries out.

Her body has seemingly given in to the pain and her legs buckle under her and she starts to fall to the floor. She anticipates that the connection will send jolts to her head and she desperately wishes there was another way.

Only…the impact never comes. She's grateful and turns her attention to the arms that have caught her.

'Thanks…' She manages to get out and presses her hand to her head again.

'What the hell happened? Rose, what's going on?'

'Migraine…I think…' She replies, she closes her eyes and feels the tears on her cheeks again. He scoops her up into his arms and takes her back to the bed.

She's a terrible mess. He is grateful that the TARDIS alerted him when she did. Thankfully he hadn't been far away, he just remembered the TARDIS frantically alerting him, telling him he needed to get back to their room. It was a good thing he had. Seeing her like that scared him.

He gingerly sets her down, back in the bed. Her body is cool, but when he places the back of his hand on her forehead, he draws it back in haste. It's on fire. But she doesn't appear to have any symptoms related to a fever. What is going on with her? He sits on the ground by the bed and takes her hand in his.

'Rose…? What's going on?' He questions again and she turns over to him. Her eyes are still half closed and he looks to the ceiling. Immediately the lights blacken and he turns back to Rose.

'Thank you…' She murmurs, her head is still on fire. She watches him; he's worried she can see it in his eyes. 'Bad dream…' She offers. But is still unsure if that's what actually caused the migraine. She doesn't remember what exactly the dream had been about.

'There's more to it than that,' He replies and Rose inwardly sighs. 'What did you dream about?'

'It…it's hard to explain, because I don't remember…' She trails off. 'It was about us.'

He frowns at that and feels her grip his hand tighter. 'What about us?'

'I was on a beach…in Norway. My family was there, too…but you…you weren't. And I was alone. It was cold…' She trails off; she's trying to make sense of everything. She grits her teeth against the pain in her head and presses onward. 'And then you kinda appeared out of nowhere. You looked like a ghost, but you were inside the TARDIS, somewhere in space, and I was stuck on a beach in Norway. Without you. You told me you were orbiting around a super nova, because sending the projection of yourself takes a lot of power. Because you and I…were say goodbye. But in the dream I didn't know why. I still don't…' She feels her cheeks with her right hand, they're wet again. She's crying. Why is doing that? Is she sad? But why would she be sad?

'I wasn't there…with you?' He repeats and looks over to her. Rose is staring off, not really looking at anything in particular. He can sense she's trying to piece it all together, trying to remember everything.

'Yeah…but I can't remember why. Even in the dream. The harder I tried to remember, the more my head hurt.'

He pondered her statement thoroughly. Such an odd thing to dream, and so vividly at that. He gets in to a kneeling position and Rose sits up a bit. She doesn't know what to think.

'Let me see.' He informs her and Rose frowns. She lets go of his hand.

'Will you be able to? I mean…can you? Doesn't it usually disappear?' Rose leans forward, shifting so she can be face to face with him.

'I should be able to piece it together.' He assures her and she nods her head. Hoping that maybe if he did, she could get some answers as well.

She looks awful, in his opinion. Her face is flushed, and she's only looking at him with half open eyes. She places his hand on her cheek and she covers it with her own. Having him here with her…it's so comforting. She's never dreamed anything like that before. She physically felt the pain after the dream. And now, to physically feel his touch, it reassured her so much.

'Are you ready?' He questioned and Rose nodded her head. 'Remember, picture the door.'

'All right.' Rose closed her eyes when she felt his fingertips touch her temples. She squeezes her eyes shut tightly, picturing the door. Shoving everything she could remember about their separation. Concentrating is causing the pain to magnify, and she hopes he'll find something else out soon.

Her head is a mess of chaotic thoughts and feelings. Feelings that are both tangible and intangible. He can physically feel her anguish, the pain she's experiencing, the dull ache in her heart…he can sense it all. But he is having problems attempting to sort through her thoughts, hoping to make them more coherent. He just keeps encountering a door. It's as if she's purposefully trying to send him around in circles. Trying to distract him from the truth.

Catching the small thought of a beach, he quickly grasps a hold of it, hoping that it will lead him to more. There are more. It's true; she has been standing on a beach alone, her family standing back a ways away. He feels the cold of her surroundings, as she looks on confused. Faintly, he can hear Rose whimper at the memory.

She turns suddenly, like someone has called her name, or has tried to get her attention and she frowns. As she starts to walk towards the origin, she widens her eyes as something appears in front of her.

He doesn't get a chance to see what it was, immediately those thoughts are engulfed by a brilliant golden light and it expels him from the depths of her mind.

'Not now. Learn patience. All will be revealed in time. The time is closer than you would think.'

The shock of the expulsion from her mind sends him falling backward, staring up at her in shock. She's clutching her head again and after some time, finally looks over to him.

'What…what happened?' She wonders and he just continues to stare at her. That voice…it couldn't be… 'Doctor?'

If she didn't remember, maybe it was best not to push it. Clearly it had to be another message. But why? 'I don't know…looks like you didn't want me in there poking around.'

She tilts her head confused by that statement. 'But…I said you could…'

'Well, yes. But subconsciously you must not have wanted that.' He explained, trying to piece together what exactly just happened. Was it truly more than just a dream? He doesn't know what to make of it. And that voice. There was only one time he had heard that voice. He just takes her hand in his and attempted to show that he wasn't really as concerned as he inwardly was.

She seemed to buy into that and a tidal wave of relief washed over her. It was nothing more than a vivid nightmare. All of the emotions, thoughts and feelings she is currently experiencing from it, is nothing more than the after effect. It has to be. She'll feel better once she's gotten some rest, and hopefully the migraine will have dissipated by the time she awoke next.

'I think what you need is just a good sleep.' He informs her, and Rose nods her head deeply.

'I'm exhausted.'

'That tends to happen when you dream of something as lucidly as you did. You're physically exhausted because it was as if you were there.'

She smiles and nods, leaning forward to place a small kiss on his head. He can still feel the warmth of her forehead. It's happening. She's coming back. But for what reason? He doesn't understand it. The dream had been no help to him. He only saw her, he only caught glimpses, fractions, and it wasn't for very long. But he understood where she was coming from in terms of the authenticity of it. He physically felt the cold of the wind, where he was standing, off to the side, he felt the sand. All of this is worrisome. A precursor to something much larger.

Rose attempts to get comfortable again, drawing the covers around her and she watches the Doctor stand, getting ready to leave. The fear of losing him eats away at her again, she reaches out and grabs a hold of his hand and he turns to her.

'Could you stay? Please? Just for a bit…?' She wonders and he silently nods his head. He sits by the side of the bed again, on the floor and waits. Rose ensures that her hand is tightly in his.

It doesn't take her long to fall asleep, and, after some time has passed, Rose turns away from him, so she can sleep on her side. He stands and lingers beside the bed, watching her. She seems to be sleeping peacefully now. He wonders if he would have stayed in the first place, if all of this could have been avoided.

He reaches down and brushes some of her hair out of her face. She sighs softly and draws her knees closer to her chest. He tilts his head and straightens up.

'Why have you come back?' He whispers to her, knowing he'd receive no reply. 'Why now? What are you preparing her for…?' He wonders and the room is caught in a stillness. It's almost a stifling silence; it clings to the air heavily.

He remains still for a few more moments before he walks towards the door, needing a place to think.

Without really paying attention to the direction in which he had been heading, he appeared at the mouth of the console room. He tore his gaze away from the floor and blinked a few times. He was surprised to see Donna sitting there, intrigued, he walks towards her and she opens her eyes.

'Well, finally!' She informs him and he gives her a funny look. He drops down beside her.

'What do you mean, 'finally?'' He echoes as he studies her. Donna eyes him and crosses her arms.

'I mean, finally you're here. Is she okay?' Donna wonders and the Doctor stretches his legs out on the console. He wasn't aware that Donna had heard her. Of course once he actually looks at her, he realises that Donna is still dressed in her pyjamas.

'I didn't know you had heard her…' The Doctor admits and Donna shoots him an unimpressed look.

'It was loud. I was in the kitchen when I heard her.' Donna tells him and remembers the sound fill the room. She immediately stopped what she was doing, ignoring the whistling of the kettle, and ran into the halls. Searching for the best way to go.

She had arbitrarily chosen a hall and began to run down it, hoping she wasn't in any serious danger.

But when she had caught sight of the Doctor sprinting down an opposite corridor, she decided to hang back. It would be better if he helped her. And so, knowing that one or both of them would come into the console room, she decided to wait for some news.

She hoped it wasn't anything too bad. She just wanted to know if she was going to be okay. It was a rather terrible scream.

'She's okay…just a bad dream.' The Doctor replies after awhile. He doesn't look at Donna, but rather stares off at the console. Donna notices this and gives him a bit of a nudge.

'I know that isn't it. What's bugging you?' Donna questions and the Doctor frowns slightly. Wondering if he should really be mentioning this subject to Donna. But he wants someone to talk to. There really isn't anyone else.

'It's just…' He trailed off, wondering how to phrase it properly. 'I don't know how to explain it.' He admitted and it got an odd reaction from Donna.

'You? You can't explain something? Well that's a first.' Donna smiles a bit and the Doctor returns it, finally breaking contact with the console.

'A long time ago…Rose saved my life. But to do it, she looked into the heart of the TARDIS and absorbed the Time Vortex,' The Doctor tells Donna, his mind wandering in to those memories. He turns to Donna, who has a very confused look on her face. Obviously confused by the terms he's just told her. Not really wanting to divulge into those memories he just turns back to the console. 'Long story short, no one can look into the heart of the TARDIS, not Time Lords and certainly not humans.'

'Why?'

'If a Time Lord did it, he'd become a god, but a vengeful one. Rose…she was just so…human. But she couldn't control the power. When I took it from her, she didn't remember anything. Which is good. If she did, it could be trouble. Big trouble…'

'So…why are you so worried then? Do you think she's remembering?' Donna wondered, still confused by all this new information. She wondered if she could maybe clarify some things with Rose. But then again she speculated if she should mention anything to Rose at all. Is this one of those times where things ought to remain between the two of them?

'Bad Wolf might have returned,' The Doctor frowned, pondering that thought intensely. 'But why?' He wonders aloud.

'What's Bad Wolf?' Donna wondered and noticed how the Doctor hadn't stopped staring at the console since he sat beside her.

'The entity that Rose became. That's what she called herself.' The Doctor recalled and inhaled deeply. Could he be reading too much into these symptoms? But how does he explain away the voice he heard, the forcible nature in which he was expelled from her mind.

'What makes you think that Rose is becoming her again?' Donna wondered and the Doctor leaned back in the chair, trying think of the evidence he did have.

'It's all be recent…she's been suffering from migraines and the dream she described…' He paused and tried to sound sure of himself, but he couldn't. 'When I looked into her mind…when I tried to see the dream, I was kicked out of her mind. Forcibly. And told to wait.'

'So? Maybe it was Rose. And she didn't want you poking around.' Donna offers and the Doctor makes a bit of a face.

'Maybe…' He doesn't believe it though; something in him doesn't want to acknowledge the possibility of her return. If her return in imminent, what could possibly happen? Those words have not followed them around like last time. But what if it's more personal. What if the only messages that have been received were by Rose? And she's been keeping them secret. He ponders that heavily. What is she keeping behind that door, anyway?

'I think you're reading too much into this. It was just a bad dream.' Donna informs him and the Doctor shrugs, still not totally convinced.

'I guess we'll see.' He replies and sighs a bit. Something like this he really doesn't want to leave alone, he wants answers.

'It'll be okay; we'll keep an eye on her. Just in case,' Donna nudges him and gives a small smile. 'If she can become as powerful as you say she can, she could be in danger.'

'Trust me, I know.' He agrees and Donna nods her head. They fall into a silence as they each go over the new information.

Unable to take the silence any longer, Donna turns back to the Doctor, hoping that they can talk about something else. They both need to be more light hearted.

After Donna had left to get ready, he remained in the console room for a bit longer before deciding to check on Rose. There is so much uncertainty surrounding her that he really doesn't know where to start.

Was what she saw, or rather, what she dreamed, really just that? No underlying messages, nothing cryptic about it, no hidden meanings, just simply a horrible nightmare? It was quite a nightmare, according to her. He hadn't been able to see everything. But he felt everything, as if he had been there beside her. Especially her emotions. He just assumed that it was because their minds were connected, not because he was in her dream.

He wonders when this would have started. And how long after he'd taken the power out of her, did it start to resurface. Had it always been buried within her for sometime until something awoken it? Or had he simply not taken it all from her in the first place? There are so many questions he has and sadly not enough answers. It must be just as confusing for Rose as well. He wonders if that door in her mind has anything to do with these occurrences. Does she know more than she's letting on? The first dream she had shared with him, well the one that he had stumbled into by accident.

She had been chased by a wolf in a forest that erupted into a golden blaze. He had been right, it was steeped in symbolism. That should have been his first clue. He shouldn't have so readily dismissed it as he had. But she had convinced him that it was nothing serious. She truly believed that there was something residual left in her and that they were simply a part of one another now.

However this new one…it was like a glimpse into something. She told him that she could see everything that could be and what should never be. Was Rose dreaming something that should have never been? Or something that could have been?

He pauses as he reaches the door and sighs softly. What is he going to do? He pushes the door open and frowns. Rose is no longer in the bed. Shutting the door behind him, he studies the room, but doesn't catch sight of her until she pokes her head up from the side of the bed he couldn't have seen.

'Hey.' She smiles at him and disappears as she tries to fish something out.

'What are you doing?' He inquires and he remains put for a moment before walking towards her.

'I'm trying to get my other flat,' She gets out. He stops and watches her as she is sprawled on the floor. He notices that she does indeed have only one on her foot and is struggling to reclaim the other one. 'Don't know how it got under here.'

After a few moments, she shuffles herself out of her position and her arm reveals a black ballerina flat in her hand. She stands and smiles at him, holding the shoe in her hand.

'How are you feeling?' He wondered and Rose smiled a bit.

'Much better.' She lied. In reality there is still a throb in her head. But she doesn't want to lie about a bed all day. She wants to be up and moving. And besides, the pain has dulled now. It's certainly manageable.

'Are you sure?' He questions. She certainly appears to look much better than when he left her earlier. He had lost track of time when he had been with Donna. He doesn't remember how long Rose had been asleep for.

She walks towards him and embraces him tightly, still unable to forget that portion of the dream. When she pulls away, she smiles at him. 'I promise.'

He pulls closer again, placing a kiss on her head. It still worries him. 'All right.'

Rose nods her head and takes his hand tightly, leading him out into the hallway once more. 'I assume you were coming to check on me?'

'Yeah, I was,' He admits. 'I was worried.'

'I'm all right now.' She smiles and together they walk into the console room.

Donna is already there, reading the book that Rose had left with her a while ago. When she hears them approaching she turns her gaze up and smiles at them. Rose looks good, not that she'd know how she looked earlier, but she seems bright and cheery.

'Where's your other shoe?' Donna notices and Rose and the Doctor look down to her right foot. She turns her attention to her hand.

'Oops…' Rose hadn't realised that she forgot to put her shoe on. Quickly she slips it on and smiles.

'So, Shan Shen!' Donna cries excitedly and the Doctor goes over to the controls while Rose sits beside Donna.

'Shan Shen?' Rose echoes and Donna nods.

'It's gonna be great!'

'What's there?' Rose wonders and the Doctor turns to her, still fiddling with the controls. The TARDIS begins to shake.

'A planet that's inhabited by humans during the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire.'

Rose smiled at that. 'Just a wander?' He nods his head.

'Just a wander. What could happen?'

When everyone steps out, they crinkle their noses at the smell of the dirty alleyway in which they have landed. Rose looks up to the white sky, it's hazy but there are pagodas and kites being flown in the sky.

Donna has already decided to take the lead as she heads down the alleyway. The Doctor takes Rose's hand and they follow behind her. She looks at the buildings they walk by and see ornate banners fluttering in the light breeze. There is a stylised form of Chinese writing on it.

Donna is waiting for them at the mouth of the alleyway, when they join her; they see a tatty street market. There are a bunch of wooden stalls, some have crates and barrels, and others have cages full of chickens.

She smiles at them and together they begin to wander the crowded market streets. It is a tightly compacted area, as many of the passers by appear to be mainly Chinese in a peasant's clothes. They are continuously bumped into and Rose can see Donna's unimpressed features.

She continues to observes the stalls, seeing the wares that the stall keepers are peddling and Rose watches as one man takes out a chicken from the cage and lay it on what she assumes is a wooden block. She widens her eyes as she sees the stall owner picks up a rusty cleaver. The chicken is squirming around widely and then suddenly, it's still flapping its wings, but it no long has a head.

Rose turns her attention somewhere else. Never again. She makes a bit of a face.

'Rose what is it?' Donna turns back and Rose motions to the chickens and then draws a line across her neck. 'Oh. Ew.'

They continue to walk around, until they pass by a large amount of crates and there is a brief pause in their step. Rose covers her nose and motions to the crates. The smell is horrific. She notices that Donna has done the same, but the Doctor remains unaffected.

'I think it's that!' She taps one and it begins to hoot. She jumps and Donna begins to push her back, indicating her to move forward. They seem to set off a chain reaction as all the crates begin to hoot, following them until they leave that section.

Donna looks over her shoulder at the Doctor and Rose who are drinking something out of a wooden bowl. It was foamy and Donna hadn't understood what the purveyor described it as, and she hadn't wanted to find out. She smiles a bit when she notices that they're both taking a drink and the Doctor lifts Rose's bowl up higher. It causes her swallow a large amount and to swallow it funny. She hastily lowers it and coughs a bit, giving him a dirty look. He lowers his own drink and smiles playfully at her.

Donna shakes her head at their antics and wanders slightly. She passes by a rough looking doorway with a woman sitting on a stool just outside it. She is heavily dressed in Chinese robes, but there also seems to be something Romany about her garb as well.

While Donna gives her a passing glance, this woman has clever, sharp eyes and immediately takes note of Donna. She smiles darkly.

'Tell your fortune, lady? The future predicted. Your life foretold.' She tries to entice her and Donna turns around.

'No thanks.' She shakes her head and turns around to leave. The woman, undeterred attempts another method.

'Don't you want to know? If you're going to be happy?' She smiles when Donna turns to face her again.

'I'm happy right now, thanks.' Donna replies simply and takes another step forward to leave the woman. She starts to become desperate and fishes for anything.

'You've got red hair. The reading's free, for red hair.' The woman offers and that causes Donna to turn around again. She debates and then shrugs.

'All right then…' Donna follows the woman into the room.

The room is dark and shrouded with many different types of drapery. The air is heavy with the thick scent of incense. But oddly, the walls are just broken concrete, giving the impression that this entire downtown society has constructed itself into abandoned warehouses and tenements.

Donna has a seat on the chair and the fortune-teller scuttles off to in her own. She grasps Donna's hand tightly in her own. She is breathing very deeply and staring at Donna intensely.

'Ohh, you're fascinating. No, but you're good. I can see…a man. The most remarkable man. How did you meet him?' She wonders and Donna smirks.

'You're supposed to tell me.'

'I see the future. Tell me the past. When did your lives cross?'

'It's kind of complicated. I ended up in his spaceship on my wedding day. Long story.' Donna has a bit of a sigh in her voice.

Donna doesn't know that there is a parting in the drapery and something is staring at her, with hunger in its eyes. It tics a bit, waiting.

'But what led you to that meeting?' The fortune-teller inquires and Donna frowns, trying to pinpoint an exact time.

'Well…all sorts of things, but…my job, I suppose. It was on Earth, this planet called Earth. Miles away. But I had this job, as a temp, I was a secretary, in a place called H.C Clements,' Donna widens her eyes as the images of her at her desk in her old building force themselves to her mind. She physically felt those images and she blinks. 'Whoa…sorry.'

'It's the incense. Betters the memory. Just breathe deep.' The fortune-teller instructs and Donna does so.

The creature scuttles across the floor, eyeing Donna up. The fortune-teller eyes the creature and smiles softly. What a perfect victim for this little event to take place. But she can't go too fast, for risk of scaring her away. Patience. That is what it will require.

Rose is sitting on a large crate, waiting for the Doctor who is examining a shopkeeper's sea urchins when she feels the dull throb in her head magnify. She squeezes her eyes shut and tries to steady her breathing. Oh, why now?

'The time is coming…'

She hears something in her mind and she snaps her eyes open, looking around for the source. She sees nothing odd and shakes her head. She must be losing it. She lets out a shaky breath and inhales deeply. What is coming though?

'Do you ever think…? What if you'd never met this man? If your life had taken a different path?' She inquires and it causes Donna to nod her head deeply.

'Yeah. I got lucky.' To be honest, Donna wasn't sure if lucky was the right word. She can't imagine her life without the Doctor and Rose now.

'But was there ever a choice?' The fortune-teller inquires, fishing for more detail. 'This job of yours. What choices led you there?'

Donna flinches and remembers the event. She is sitting with her mum in their little blue car. She blinks and is staring at the fortune-teller.

'There was a choice,' Donna remembers and she widens her eyes. 'Six months before. Cause the agency offered me a contract at H.C Clements…' Donna stares off as she remembers that morning again. 'But there was this other job, my mother knew this man…'

Donna adjusts her rear-view mirror and watches as her mother buckles up her seatbelt, she twists so she can see the back seat and places her purse on the floor.

'Jival, he's called, Jival Chowdry, he runs that little photocopy business on Merchant Street, and he needs a secretary…' Sylvia begins before Donna abruptly cuts her off.

'I've got a job!' Donna insists and her mother scoffs.

'As a temp! This is permanent! It's 20,000 a year, Donna…' Again Sylvia tries to get her point across, Donna will hear none of it.

'H.C Clements is in the city, it's nice, it's posh, so stop it!' Donna replies, annoyed and she turns the ignition key, the engine starts…

Donna continues to stare deeply into the fortune-teller's eyes, transfixed. But she is scared, it's as if she's really living these flashbacks she's having.

'Your life could have gone one way or the other. What made you decide?' The fortune-teller wonders and Donna continues to stare into her eyes.

'I just did…' Donna responds and the creature moves forward again. It's getting so close to Donna, staring at her back. It's ticing wildly, but it goes unnoticed by Donna.

'But when was that moment, the precise moment? When did you choose?' The fortune-teller demands, she's starting to appear desperate and reigns herself back in.

Donna and her mum are sitting a T-junction in the road. Donna doesn't know what to do. Should she go left or right? She stops the car because of traffic, but also because of her mum's incessant nagging. She flicks the car's indicator left.

She watches a lorry thunder down the road ahead of them. Donna doesn't know what to do after it passes them.

'It won't take long, just turn right, we'll pop in and meet Mr. Chowdry, Suzette can introduce you…' Sylvia explains and Donna shakes her head.

'I'm going left, if you don't like it, get out and walk!' Donna replies curtly and Sylvia seems unfazed by Donna's reaction.

'If you go right, you'll have a career,' Sylvia dangles that opportunity in front of Donna. 'Not just filling in.'

'You think I'm so useless.' Donna informs her mother and Sylvia rolls her eyes.

'I know why you want a job with H.C Clements, lady,' Her mother points her finger at her. 'Cause you think you'll meet a man, with money, and your whole life will change,' She inhales sharply. 'Well let me tell you, sweetheart, City Executives don't need temps. Except for practice.'

'Yeah, well, they haven't met me!' Donna counters and her hands begins to motion the car left…

Rose slips from the crate and she presses her hands to her head, trying to stop the pain. She starts to walk a few steps, hoping that will relieve the pain.

'Our time draws near. Prepare…'

The Doctor turns when he hears Rose slip down off the crate. She has her hands pressed to her head and he frowns.

'Rose?'

The fortune-teller tightens her grip on Donna's hand, her eyes are blazing. She's scaring Donna, but she's in thrall of the fortune-teller, the haze from the incense is slowly building, becoming thicker.

'You turned left. But what if you'd turned right? What then?' The fortune-teller wonders and Donna frowns at her.

'Let go of my hand…' Donna instructs and she tries to tug it free. The creature edges closer and it hisses now, ticing as it bides its time.

'What if it changes? What if you go right? What if you could still go right?' The fortune-teller entices and Donna widens her eyes as she sees herself in the car, directing it right.

'Stop it!' Donna cries and she immediately freezes, she can't look around. 'What's that?! What's on my back? What is it? What's on my back?!' Donna screams and she can feel her shirt being dragged back, at the shoulder, like something is trying to pull itself up onto her back from behind.

'Make the choice again, Donna Noble, and change your mind, turn right!' The fortune-teller demands and she stares at the black insect that has now attached itself to Donna.

Donna stares at the fortune-teller hypnotised. 'I'm turning…'

'Turn right. Turn right! Turn right!' The fortune-teller demands loudly and Donna stares off.

'Let me tell you, sweetheart, City Executives don't need temps. Except for practice.' Sylvia reminds her and Donna pauses, as if considering her mother's words carefully.

'Yeah. Suppose you're right…' Donna sighs defeated and flicks the car's indicator from left to right. Deciding that her mother knows best, Donna steps on the gas and directs the right as she pulls out of the stop.

Rose abruptly pauses in her little steps and she turns to the direction the Doctor is as he carefully approaches her. Her gaze is locked firmly with the ground.

'Rose? Is everything okay?' The Doctor questions nervously and he receives no reply from her.

Rose is still staring at the ground when she widens her eyes. 'Now…the time is now.' She whispers.

'I'm sorry?' The Doctor wonders and her head snaps up. He grows apprehensive when he notices the colour drain from her face.

'The time is now. She needs us.' Rose repeats. Her eyes glass over from unshed tears, and she inhales deeply.

Suddenly the Doctor widens his eyes as a trail of blood runs from her nose and her eyes roll back into her head as her legs give out and she starts to fall to the floor. The Doctor springs forward and manages to catch her, both of them falling to the ground.

Rose appears to have fainted and when he can't rouse her, the Doctor begins to panic. He wipes the blood from her nose and doesn't know what to do. Where's Donna? He could really use her help right about now.

Another trail of blood has followed in its predecessor's path. 'Rose? Rose?! Rose?!'

Donna makes her way through a crowded pub as she carries a tray of drinks. It's so noisy and crowded in here; she has to knock into multiple people as she tries to pass through them.

She smiles as she quickly looks around the pub. Everyone seems to be in the Christmas spirit, there are people wearing reindeer antlers, the paper hats from Christmas crackers and there is tinsel everywhere.

There is a bottleneck of people gathered close to where Donna is trying to deliver the tray of drinks. She narrows her eyes and starts towards them.

'Scuse me, there you go…careful. Oi! Buster! Shift! Thank you!' Donna calls and gives the man who she had to get to move a satisfied smile.

Donna finally makes it to the table where her friends are waiting. She grins at them and they look happy to see her.

'Here we are! Feed at the trough!' Donna sets down the tray of drinks and everyone grabs one.

'Mooky says, let's go to the Boardwalk, it's two for the price of one.' Veena informs the group and Donna frowns.

'Christmas Eve? It'll be heaving!' Donna complains and Mooky grins.

'Exactly! Get in and grab 'em!'

'That's the second round of drinks you've bought, it was my turn.' Veena turns to Donna and she shrugs. Not really minding.

'I can afford it. Promotion! You're talking to Jival Chowdry's Personal Assistant, I'll have you know, capital P, capital A, 23,000 per annum, merci beaucoup!' Donna announces and holds up her drink in jubilation.

Veena follows suit and grins. 'Here's to Mr. Chowdry!'

Donna drinks deeply from her glass and then glances towards Alice. She seems quiet, even for her. Maybe even disturbed. Donna frowns when she notices that Alice keeps stealing glances at Donna's back.

'What is it?' Donna questions. It seems to snap Alice from her little trance and her attention turns to Donna.

'Sorry?' Alice says.

'Did someone spill a drink on me?' Donna questions and Alice shakes her head quickly.

'No.'

'You keep on looking at my shoulder, what is it? What's wrong?'

'I don't know…' Alice admits, but she steals another glance at her shoulder.

'Don't tell me you're getting all spooky again. It was bad enough when you saw the ghost of Earl Mountbatten at the boat show, why do you keep looking, what is it?' Donna questions and watches Alice grow fearful.

'It's like…it's like there's something I can't see.' Alice replies and Donna holds her gaze. Donna is slightly put off by that.

A man runs into the pub, shouting loudly and everyone has quieted down so that they can hear what he has to say.

'I'm telling you; it's in the sky! And it's massive! It's the star! It's the Christmas star!' He yells frantically. Everyone looks at each other around the room.

She is running frantically. Where is he? Where is he?! She knows he's here, this is her world, her original world and there are Racnoss destroying the Earth. She knew he had to be here.

She pauses, trying to catch her breath and inhales deeply, placing her hand on the wall to steady herself as she straightens up her posture. Her head is aching; it's a constant throbbing pain. She doesn't get why.

Sometimes she sees different images in her head. Almost like another timeline. She presses her hand to her head as she feels another onslaught of images in her mind. In this memory, she had survived the Battle of Canary Wharf. She closed her eyes and saw herself hitting the wall. Pete didn't save her. She and the Doctor weren't separated; it warmed her heart to think that it was possible.

She sees her life, in pieces, as it comes to her mind. They meet so many new people and they go to so many different places. Rose smiles a bit. What a life that must have been. But now she's here. And she can reclaim everything that had been stolen from her. She just needs to get to him. She can already see his face. She smiles at that thought. She has so much to tell him about. Ever since they were separated and he left her on that beach.

Another memory resurfaces in her mind. In this odd timeline…their relationship has drastically changed. For the better…maybe when she sees him…

Rose smiles and inhales deeply. But first…she has to find him.

The Doctor frantically tries to rouse Rose from her current state, but it's of no use. She simply will not wake. It's almost as if she's in some sort of stasis, like a trance or hypnosis. He takes off his jacket and bunches it up, slipping it under Rose's head, she doesn't even make a slight move.

Starting to panic, the Doctor rises from her side and starts to pace. Deciding it'd be better if he moved her; he kneels down again and tries to shift her so he can get a better grip. And yet…he can't. It's like trying to move dead weight, she simply will not move. It's as if something is ensuring she remains where she is. Some unseen force.

He gets up and lets out a yell of frustration, kicking over piled up crates as a crowd has begun to gather around Rose.

'Donna?! Donna?!' He yells as loud as he can, hoping to hear some sort of response. What a time to go for a wander. The Doctor notices the growing crowd and he becomes enraged.

'Back off!' He shouts at them, but receives empty stares, and so he pushes his way forward and kneels beside her again. 'Give me some room!'

Donna and the rest of the pub patrons pile out into the crowded street as the Racnoss Star begins to descend over the street and it opens fire. Everyone starts to run to find cover, screaming.

Donna and her group begin to run away with the rest of the panicked people and she pauses as she stops to watch the destruction, Alice stops with her. The Star moving rapidly across the night sky, Donna stares at it intensely, as if she's remembered something that has never happened. She blinks rapidly and shrugs that thought off. She watches everyone run around her but then sees Alice staring at her.

'Alice, there's a great big web star thing shooting at people and you're looking at me.' Donna tilts her head at the confusion she's going through.

'There's something on your back!' Alice replies terrified and is frantically pointing at Donna's back. She turns around and runs away.

Donna looks back towards the direction of the Webstar. Something is propelling her to go there. Something deep within her. She can't explain why, she just needs to go in that direction.

She takes a deep breath and then starts to run towards it. Venna calls out to her in utter shock.

'Donna! Where are you going?! You'll get yourself killed! Donna!'

But she ignores Veena's frantic shouting. Instinct is pushing her forward, telling her to run, just keep running. She runs down the street, with the Racnoss Star far off in the distance, raining down fire. Until the tanks fire and destroy the Star. Donna pauses as she stares at the blast, raining down parts.

She starts to run again.

Donna runs until she reaches a barricade set up in the street. The street is sealed off, there is a large crowd gathered at the barriers, along with ambulances, police cars and army jeeps. She stops at the back end of the crowd and begins to push her way forward.

She struggles to see what's going on, but that instinct compels her forward. She needs to see what's going on. She places her hands on her hips as she tries to figure how she's going to go about seeing the commotion.

A thought presents itself and so she goes around to the side. She creeps around the back of an army jeep and notices there is no crowd. There is slight gap between the barriers and Donna smirks, she easily slips through it.

She stops and lingers in the shadows, just watching the scene unfold before her.

There is a second ambulance parked there with the doors to the back opened. There are army men around it, but Donna has never heard of UNIT before, and wonders if they are a specialty unit in the army itself. The men are quiet, as if shocked by this event. One man has his back to Donna as he communicates over a radio, she then notices that paramedics are rolling a gurney towards the ambulance. But the body is covered. Donna feels bad.

'From the evidence, I'd say he managed to stop the creature. Some sort of red spider. He blew up the base underneath the Barrier, flooded the who thing, over.'

'And where is he now? Over.'

'We've found a body, sir. Over.'

'Is it him?'

'I think so. He didn't get out in time. Sorry to report, sir. But the Doctor is dead. Over.'

Donna turns back to the gurney as she notices an arm slip out, an arm in a brown suit. Something falls from the hand. Donna stares at the odd device, it means nothing to her. She suddenly feels like she's intruding, and so she turns away, walking back the way she came.

Donna stares off in thought as she continues to walk away from the scene she just witnessed. She doesn't notice the woman that is running towards her. She runs right by Donna and, having noticed where Donna was coming from, she stops and turns towards her.

Breathless, she manages to get out in a rush, 'Excuse me! What happened, what did they find? I'm sorry, but…did they find someone?'

Donna turns to this petite, blonde woman, breathless and frantic. 'I don't know. Bloke called the Doctor or something.' Donna offers and she watches the woman widen her eyes.

'Where is he?' She questions and Donna notices the unevenness in her voice.

'They took him away, he's dead.' Donna informs her and her hands fly to her mouth.

Rose's mind is screaming, cursing and frantically trying to deny it. In her mind, there is a voice telling her this is wrong. This isn't supposed to happen. Their lives were supposed to be so different than what is currently happening. They were lovers in this alternate life. Her real life. A life where they are together.

'He's just a man who I happen to love!' Rose stares off as her mind shows her that she is being held by a woman and a young boy is in her face.

'What he felt…I'm capable of that…' Rose bites her lip as her mind shows her the two of them in his bed, discussing something she doesn't remember.

'Sorry. Did you know him? I mean, they didn't say his name, it could be any doctor.' Donna's voice rouses Rose from her thoughts. Those thoughts…are they memories, from her real life. Not this one? Rose turns to Donna, her eyes are glassy, but she refuses to cry. She knows what she has to do. Her mind tells her so. But it's like it's split. Why is that?

'I came so far…' Rose whispers angrily. How could she miss him? She fought like hell to see him again. Like hell! She'll be damned if this will stop her now.

'Could be anyone.' Donna repeats and Rose pauses, really taking a good look at Donna.

'What's your name?' Rose wonders. Could it be?

'Donna. And you?' Donna watches the woman shake her head.

'I'm just…passing by, I'm not…I shouldn't even be here…this is wrong. This is so wrong. What was it, sorry, Donna what?' Rose stares past her, to Donna's back.

'Why do you keep looking at my back?' Donna questions and folds her arm, her tone becoming cold.

'I'm not.' Rose lies and steals another look, wanting to be sure.

'Yes you are, you keep looking behind me,' Donna replies annoyed. Rose does it again. 'You're doing it now,' Donna attempts to look over her shoulder, first the right and then left. 'What is it, what's there? Has someone put something on my back?'

In the commotion, Rose quietly activates her device and slips away, her mind tells her so. Leaving Donna alone. Donna attempts to reach her back, but can't. There is a quiet hiss and a tic. When she does look up, Donna notices that the blonde woman is gone. There isn't anyone near her as she looks around. Donna swallows and becomes uneasy; she walks away, down the dark street. Wondering whom exactly that woman was.

Donna storms into Chowdry's office fuming, a piece of paper clutched firmly in her hand as she stares at her boss. The open type of office also houses four other desks and four other staff members keeping their heads down.

'You can't sack me! I'm your Personal Assistant!' Donna shouts and waves the paper in his face.

'Now, we don't have to make a scene, just come downstairs, and we can have a little talk…' Chowdry attempts to calm her down but Donna won't have any of it.

'Oh, I'll make a scene, right in front of a tribunal. First thing I'm gonna say is 'wandering hands!''

'Come on, Donna,' Chowdry attempts to talk sense into her. 'You know what it's been like, the past few months, ever since that Christmas thing. Half my contracts were on the other side of the river, and the Thames is still closed off, I can't deliver, I'm losing a fortune…'

Donna abruptly cuts him off. 'Well sack one of this lot! Sack Cliff! He just sits there; I don't know what he does all day. Sorry Cliff,' Donna motions to him apologetically, but then she narrows her eyes. 'Actually, I'm not sorry, what do you do all day?' Donna questions.

Suddenly, the whole room shakes with one big shudder, but then as soon as it started, it stopped.

'What the hell…?' Chowdry says. He, Donna and few other staff member run towards the window.

Far off in the distance, over the rooftops, there are strange rain clouds forming, and swirling away, disappearing as fast as they came.

'Like an earthquake. That's weird. Funny sort of clouds.' Chowdry remarks with the rest of the staff.

Donna is still more concerned with the letter in her hand. 'Who typed this? I'm your PA, did you get someone else to type this?' Donna widens her eyes as the realisation hits her. 'Beatrice!'

Chowdry and the rest of his staff have turned on a TV to watch the news unfolding of Royal Hope Hospital that has seemingly vanished into thin air. There is a stillness in the air as they wait for updates about the people who have been taken. Donna, who is continuously packing up her desk, obviously unfazed by this story, mars the silence.

'It sounds impossible, but the entire hospital has disappeared. The Royal Hope Hospital no longer exists. It's not been destroyed, there's no wreckage, it's simply gone. Reports from bystanders say that the rain lifted up around the hospital, that the rain actually went up, into the air. This was followed by a flash of lightening. And when it cleared…the Hospital was gone. Literally, lifted out of its foundations. To repeat: no wreckage, no rubble, no debris. Simply, gone. And we're being told that CCTV footage from surrounding buildings has confirmed this. An entire hospital has vanished into thin air.'

The news report camera moves to show the gaping hole where the hospital used to be. There are gasps from the little group around the TV and everyone exchanges little looks of concern.

Donna places an empty cardboard box on her desk and begins to sort through the various items on her desk.

'Hole punch. Having that. Stapler. Mine. Toy cactus, you can have that, Beatrice, catch!' Donna throws the cactus to Beatrice; it lands on the floor by her. But she doesn't retrieve it. 'Cliff, I'd give you my mousemat, but I'm worried you'd cut yourself.'

'All right, Donna, have some respect. There's two thousand people in that hospital. And it's vanished!' Chowdry remarks and Donna gives him a look as she picks up her box and strides towards the door.

'Yeah well, I'll show you vanishing, thanks for nothing! Oh, and you know when that money went missing from the kitty? Anne Marie. That's all I'm saying. Anne Marie!' Donna positions her hand to open the door when the whole room shakes violently again. 'Oh don't tell me, the hospital's back! Well isn't that wizard?!'

Donna pushes the door open and disappears into the daylight, keeping her head held high.

Donna sits on the couch in front of the telly as she shifts a pillow and holds it tightly in her lap. The living room is quiet and Donna steals a quick glance to her grandfather, who is watching the TV intensely.

'To confirm…' The news reporter looks subdued and distant. 'The Royal Hope Hospital was returned to its original position. But with only one survivor. Everyone else inside the hospital is dead. The only person left alive, is medical student Oliver Morgenstern.' The camera turns to Oliver who is wrapped in a paramedic's blanket, clearly very upset.

'There were these creatures. Like rhinos. Talking rhinos, in this…black leather. Called the Judoon. Hundreds of them. And the air was running out, we couldn't breathe. A colleague of mine gave me the last oxygen tank. Martha. Martha Jones. And…she died…'

The camera pans up to the reporter once more. 'The final count has yet to be confirmed, thought it's being estimated that one thousand two hundred people lost their lives. The police, and the army, are investigating reports of a battle, within the hospital, centred around the Magnetic Resonance scanner. This is a standard piece of NHS equipment, but it's being said the device was converted into some sort of weapon. Apparently a member of the public intervened, to stop it being used. More now, from the only survivor, Oliver Morgenstern.'

Donna watches her mum come into the room and sit beside Donna; they remain quiet as the camera pans down to Oliver again.

'Rhinos?' Donna frowns and rolls her eyes.

'Rhinos could be aliens.' Wilf informs them and Donna crosses her arms at that ridiculous statement.

'Hush.' She replies and Sylvia sighs, she's clearly tired and turns to Donna, a sad smile on her face.

'Least you've got a hole punch. And a raffle ticket.' Sylvia offers and Donna shrugs a bit.

'Yeah, well they can keep the raffle, I wouldn't take a dead cent off that man.' Donna informs her haughtily.

'You two!' Wilf turns to them and shakes his head. 'There's aliens on the news! They took that hospital all the way to the moon, and you're banging on about raffle tickets!'

'Don't be daft, Gramps, it wasn't the moon, it couldn't be.' Donna replies and Wilf disagrees, pointing to the TV again.

'I'm telling you, it's getting worse, these past few years,' Wilf recalls and begins to think of something odd. 'Those aliens. It's like all of a sudden, they've noticed us. Keen eyes are watching. Up there. And they're not friendly.'

'You'll fight them off.' Donna smiles warmly at Wilf and he nods his head vigorously.

'For you, my love. Anything!' He declares and turns to Sylvia as she shuffles through the box Donna brought home with her.

'This stapler says 'Bea.'' Sylvia comments and Donna suddenly realises something about her mother's attitude towards this whole mess.

'Can't believe you're taking it so well, me being sacked. Thought you'd hit the roof.' Donna admits and her mother sighs slightly.

'I'm just tired, Donna. What with your father and everything. To be honest…I've given up on you.'

Donna is crushed by those words and looks to the TV again, trying to push everything into a ball and bury it. She concentrates on Oliver's words.

'There was this woman, she took control. Said she knew what to do, said she could stop the MRI or something. Sarah Jane, her name was. Sarah Jane Smith.'

The new cuts to various photos of Sarah Jane, Donna shifts in her seat a bit as she watches the photo compilation.

'Sarah Jane Smith was a freelance investigative journalist, formally of Metropolitan Magazine. Her body was recovered from the hospital, late this afternoon.'

'What's for tea?' Donna questions and her mother only shakes her head.

'I've got nothing in.' Sylvia admits and Donna smiles slightly.

'I'll get us chips. Last of my wages. Pie and chips, yeah?' Donna offers and her mum smiles wistfully.

'Yeah, that sounds good.'

Donna gets up from the couch and collects her jacket shutting the door softly behind her.

The street where the shops are is strangely deserted. It isn't terribly late at night and Donna wonders where all the people are. She continues to walk along the lonely street when she freezes, catching sight of something in the distance.

In an alleyway, there is a blinding, flashing white light coupled with a sizzling sound. Donna watches the alleyway intensely, all the sounds seem to be magnifying, as they appear to be getting stronger.

She walks a bit closer to the alleyway, curiosity gnawing at her. There is a loud bang of light and a woman comes sprinting out of the alleyway, like she's been hurled from something. She stops when she's on the road and looks around, breathing heavily.

Donna frowns. 'Blimey, you all right? What was that, fireworks, or…?' Donna wonders and she peers down the alleyway. There is nothing there anymore.

Rose takes a deep breath and looks around as she recovers. 'Whoa. I dunno. I was just walking along. Weird!' She shrugs and inhales deeply.

Going back to the parallel world had been hard. Telling her family about the Doctor. It was the hardest thing she's ever done. But there is still time to right this wrong and get back to her real life.

Since she's been gone, she's written everything down from the dual timeline she experiences. It isn't often, but when the memories do come back, they are amazing. The life she has. Or had.

She presses her hand to her head. Another headache. She has so much work to do here.

'You're the one…who…Christmas Eve, I met you, in town.' Donna remembers, she's dressed in the same clothing she met her in. But she looks saddened. She looks tired, beaten and worn down.

Rose smiles at the recollection of her. 'That's right, Donna, isn't it?' Rose questions and Donna nods.

'What was your name?' Donna wonders and Rose looks to her back, she tries to make it less obvious.

'Bit of a coincidence. Small world!' Rose smiles and tilts her head at Donna's back. 'How are you? You're looking good. It's been ages. How's things? What you been up to?' The words tumble out of Rose's mouth, and she doesn't think of them until they're out of her mouth. She's trying to change the subject.

Donna crosses her arms. 'You're doing it again.' She states flatly and Rose blinks.

'What?'

'Looking behind me. People keep on doing that. Looking at my back.'

'What sort of people?' Rose wonders and Donna gives her an odd look. She's disturbed by this woman's question.

There is a hiss and a tic that has creeped in to their conversation. The creature pulls the fabric back from her shoulder.

'People in the street. Strangers. I just catch them, sometimes. Staring at me. Like they can see something. And I get home and I look and there's nothing there…' Donna widens her eyes. She's felt something, and hastily looks around. But there isn't anything there. 'Do you see? Now I'm doing it!'

Rose is quiet as she suddenly remembers something. The Racnoss may be gone, but she knows what comes next. He isn't there to stop it. She isn't there to help him. Facing the fact that he's dead hasn't been easy for her. Now that he isn't here…the world is in shambles. Who would have thought just how important to Earth he was. She knew. She always did. But what she needs to find now…is where he's left her. The task just seems daunting. She'll need some resources from home before she sets to her task.

'What are you doing for Christmas?' Rose suddenly asks and Donna gapes at her.

'What am I what?' Donna frowns at Rose and she shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly.

'Next Christmas. Any plans?' Rose wonders and Donna blinks.

'I dunno, that's ages away! Nothing much, I suppose, why?' Donna questions and Rose stares to the sky. It's wonderful to see the stars again. She's missed them.

'You should get out of town. Don't stay in London. You and your family, just leave the city.' Rose informs her and Donna gives her a funny look.

'What for?'

'Nice hotel. Christmas holiday.' Rose offers and Donna shakes her head ruefully.

'Can't afford it.'

'You've got that raffle ticket.' Rose reminds her and Donna stares blankly at her.

'How did you know about that…?'

'First prize,' Rose smiles a bit. 'Luxury weekend break. Use it, Donna Noble.'

Donna is stunned into silence by this woman, she's so disturbed. Donna lowers her voice and her tone becomes cold. 'Why won't you tell me your name?' She doesn't receive a reply. 'I think you should leave me alone.' She turns to leave, walking on, clearly upset.

Rose just turns on her heel, heading back into the alleyway. A quick stop home, and then she'll get to work here. She's almost positive she knows what's going on. And she will fix this. She will not let this world be the way it has to be. Because this is wrong.

Their minds have melded in a sense, she sees two different timelines in her head and she refuses to bow down to this one. A world where her lover is gone. She refuses to accept that. As soon as she sets this right she can return to him. But she must deliver her warning to him as well.

When this is set right…another adventure will unfold before them. The outcome…Rose isn't sure of. Surely now that they are one again she could reveal it to her…

Rose knows she won't. Some things, she isn't meant to know. And that worries her a bit.

Donna hears the loud bang and sizzling sound, only this time, she doesn't turn around. She hopes she never has to see that woman again.

Donna watches out the window as the car pulls into a drive. It is a country styled house, placed in the middle of a meticulously manicured lawn. A stately Christmas tree is placed by the entrance, it is ornately decorated and perhaps a bit gaudy. Sylvia stops the car and everyone piles out as porters approach them to handle their luggage. Donna and Wilf survey their surroundings and Wilf grins.

'Cor blimey, that's what I call posh. We're going up in the world!' Wilf turns to Donna, still very excited. 'I said you were lucky! Didn't I always say, my lucky star!' Wilf hugs Donna tightly and Donna beams, staring up at Wilf's Christmas antlers.

'For god's sake, don't tell them we won it in a raffle. Be classy! Dad, take those things off.'

'No, I shan't, it's Christmas!' Wilf declares stubbornly and notices a porter carrying a particular suitcase. 'Oi! I'll carry that, it's got my linament…' Wilf chases after the porter, leaving Donna and her mother standing in an awkward silence.

'Reckon we deserve this. It's been a hell of a year.' Donna finally speaks, unable to take the silence any longer.

'Your dad would've loved this.' Sylvia responds, still staring at the landscape.

'Yeah. He would've, yeah.' Donna agrees and puts her arm around her mother's shoulders, steering her into the house.

Wilf is startled awake by a loud knocking on the door. He groans and rubs his back. What a terrible sleep! He'll be feeling this for weeks. He turns towards the bedroom as he hears Donna's voice.

'Oi! Gramps! Get the door, that'll be breakfast! We've got croissants!' Donna announces and Wilf gets up to get the door.

He passes Sylvia sitting up in the bed, still in her silky nightie, the remote in her hand as she flips through the channels. He doesn't see Donna and assumes she must be getting ready. He frowns at Sylvia.

'Why can't you get it? Lady muck?' Wilf questions and Sylvia tosses him an unimpressed look. Like he should know why she isn't moving.

'It's Christmas Day; I never get up before ten. Only madam there was up with the dawn chorus. Like when she was six years old.'

'I'm not wasting one second in this place!' Donna announces and pokes her head out from the bathroom. She smiles at Wilf. 'How was the settee?'

'Terrible!' He rubs his back again. 'We could've paid for a second room. Hey,' He calls when Donna disappears behind the door again. She pops her head back out. 'Merry Christmas.

'Merry Christmas.' Donna smiles and Sylvia turns to her dad.

'Merry Christmas, Dad.'

The sharp knock on the door is heard again and Wilf goes to the door to answer it. 'Hold on! I'm there!' He announces and opens it. A young Hispanic woman smiles at him and rolls a trolley in. 'In you come, my darling. Grub's up! Merry Christmas!' He smiles at the woman and she returns it.

'Merry Christmas, sir.'

Sylvia stares wide eyed at the television and covers her mouth from the shock. 'Have you seen this…?' But she's too quiet and her question goes unnoticed as Donna comes out of the bathroom.

'Cause I thought, nice early breakfast, then we'll go for a walk. People always say that at Christmas, 'Oh we all went for a walk,' I've always wanted to do that. Very refined. Walk first, presents later, yeah?' Donna makes known her plans and she looks into the bedroom.

Her mum is staring at the TV so intensely and so is the maid. She's staring at Donna's back, rather terrified. They both speak in a rush.

'Donna, come and see.' Her mother says.

'Tienes algo en tu espalda.' The maid points, Donna blinks.

'What?' She questions, more to the maid than to her mother.

'Look at the telly.' Sylvia motions her forward.

'Tienes algo en tu espalda.' The maid repeats and Donna shakes her head, staring at the maid.

'What does that mean? I don't know what you're saying…' Donna is abruptly cut off by her mother.

'Donna, look at the TV!' Her mother calls annoyed and the maid points fiercely at Donna's back.

'Tienes algo en tu espalda!'

Frowning, Donna turns around but misses the hiss that follows. Then she widens her eyes. There is something black on her back! It's clinging to her! Donna beings to whirl around as she tries to see what's stuck to her. She catches a glimpse of insect legs and chokes back a scream. She keeps turning back frantically, trying to see both ways and she becomes more terrified.

But suddenly…the creature is gone and she stares at herself in the mirror, breathing heavily. What in the hell was that? She turns back to the bedroom watching the maid run out and Sylvia is yelling at her, Wilf standing beside her, horrified.

'For goodness sake, Donna, don't just stand there, come and look!'

Donna does as she's told and rushes into the bedroom, staring at the TV in shock.

'The Royal Air Force has declared an emergency. We're getting this footage from the Guinevere range of Satellites, it sounds incredible, but the object seems to be a replica of the RMS Titanic. It seems to be falling from out of control from the upper atmosphere. No one's quite sure how this is possible, but this footage is live and genuine. The object is falling on Central London, I repeat, this is not a hoax, a replica of the Titanic is falling out of the sky, and it's heading for Buckingham Palace.'

Donna, Wilf and Sylvia are staring wide eyed with their mouths open at the footage being shown on the telly.

'Is this a film or something…?' Donna whispers, unable to believe what she is seeing.

It switches to the Titanic arcing down behind Buckingham Palace, edging itself ever closer. Closer. Closer…

A loud explosion is heard and the entire room shakes violently. Wilf rushes to the window to see and Sylvia clicks the remote, all of the channels are simply showing static. She lowers the remote in shock.

'It's gone dead. All of them.'

'No, but the Titanic? Don't be daft. Is that like a sequel?' Donna attempts to explain it away but Wilf continues to stare at the mushroom cloud as it blooms over the remains.

'Oh, god rest their souls…' He whispers quietly and shuts his eyes.

Everyone has quickly piled out onto the lawn watching from a distance the destruction that is still clearly visible. Porters and various other guests, some still dressed in nightclothes are gaping at the direction of London. Or what used to be London. Donna, Sylvia and Wilf continue to walk forward before finally stopping to witness the aftermath.

Donna turns to one woman who is screaming, she just won't stop screaming.

The mushroom cloud still blooming over the hole where London used to be.

'That's our home…' Sylvia whispers quietly, rather dazed.

'I was supposed to be out, selling papers. I should have been there. We all should. We'd be dead.' Wilf realises. And Sylvia covers her mouth.

'That's everyone. Every single person we know. The whole city.'

'Can't be…' Donna's frivolous attempts to explain it away do nothing to console her mum or granddad.

'But it is. It's gone. London's gone…' Sylvia responds and Donna continues to stare off.

'If you hadn't won that raffle…' Wilf says in shock and Donna widens her eyes.

She stares at them stunned. The blonde woman told her to leave. How did she know this was going to happen?

She studies her surroundings, the woman is still screaming, she turns to the hotel and in one of the windows the maid is staring at her intensely, her eyes burning with fury and her arm is extended, pointing rigidly at Donna. Like she's accusing her of something. Terror grips Donna and she stares off…

Oh, finally she's found her! She honestly thought she would have never found her. She places her hand on the exterior and feels a connection, it's so faint, but she can tell that she's glad to feel someone familiar. She runs her hands down the familiar wet wood, to see her again…Rose feels so much hope restored.

They can get through this. But sadly…it's only going to get worse before it gets better. So much worse. How could this be happening in the other universes and they didn't even know about it? Maybe that's what she was chosen to go on this journey with Donna…her guide in a sense. Rose has been privy to both lives she could have lived if she wasn't caught by Pete and obviously now, the life she is privy to if she had been. Well, at least she would have been keeping busy…

It isn't time yet…not for Donna, but that doesn't mean that Rose can't start to learn everything she can about her, so that when the time comes, it will be as smooth as it can possibly be.

Rose takes the key from around her neck and carefully slides it into the lock. Still fits and the tumblers still disengage. A sad smile crosses her features. She pushes the door open and covers her mouth. She hears shuffling behind her and notices the UNIT soldiers growing impatient.

'Give me a moment please,' Rose directs and they salute to her. 'Oh, don't do that.'

Rose steps inside and carefully shuts the door behind her. It's so eerie to be in here now. There is only partial lighting coming from the emergency power. That won't last forever. Small puddles of water still pool in certain spots.

Gingerly, Rose pads up the ramp, taking in all she can. She catches sight of the brown jacket carelessly tossed over the coral strut, waiting to be donned again. It brings a tear to her eye as she continues forward. There is an opening in the grating and she kneels down to peer inside. She half expects to see him lean back and greet her, and when that doesn't happen, Rose chokes back her sob.

She stands up and stares at the console, placing her hand on it. She remembers things from her time here, both from this unreal time and her true time. 1969 has creeped into her mind as she remembers being stuck there, but also seeing him, a future version of him. She blushes slightly.

She faintly hears a familiar humming and Rose smiles widely through her unshed tears.

'Hey…oh, you have no idea how happy I am to see you,' Rose sits on the console chair and stares at the room. 'I'm sorry…I'm so sorry for your loss, I know you cared for him, even more than me…'

The humming is slightly louder, and Rose knows that it's taking a lot for the TARDIS to let her know she's still with her.

'What's going to happen…won't be pretty. I know you can sense that this reality is wrong, how warped it is…but I'm here. And I'm going to fix it. But I am going to need your help, okay? And Donna…she's going to be the catalyst to fixing this whole mess. We can fix everything…' Rose repeats and feels her tears finally falling. 'We just have to be patient, she still needs more time. More events have to unfold. And I'll be bouncing back between this universe and another. But I'll never abandon you. That I swear to you.'

A lone light shines down on Rose and she looks up to it, smiling, trying to be brave. She hastily wipes the tears away and clears her throat.

'I'm sorry. It's just…I know things are supposed to be different. And I want to right them. But with two different timelines going through my head…I just see so many things,' Rose bites her lip and looks up to the light again. 'Enough about me, though. We're going to have to move you, though, okay? We have to get you somewhere safe. So we can protect you.'

Rose swears she can hear the TARDIS giving her consent, willing her to hurry and fix this mess. 'Well, I just wanted to give you the heads up.'

She gets up from the chair and heads back down the ramp, stealing another look at the brown coat, Rose swallows a lump and wipes her eyes, she turns back to the TARDIS. 'I know…I miss him too…'

She gathers her strength and steps out where the soldiers are waiting for her. 'All right men, let's get started. But be gentle, am I understood?'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'Good. Let's move out.'

'Leeds?! I'm not moving to Leeds!' Donna announces to the female Housing Officer in charge of the shanty appearing office.

It's so tiny and cramped, messy. There are papers everywhere, in stacks, pinned to the walls, on the ground. Donna makes a face. Sylvia and Wilf inwardly sigh. They're dirty, they want a shower and their luggage looks like it could disintegrate at any moment.

The Housing Office returns Donna's impatient look. She's just as tired as they are. 'I'm afraid it's Leeds or wait in the hostel for another three months.' She informs them and Sylvia presses a hand to her forehead.

'All I want is a washing machine.' Sylvia states defeated.

'What about Glasgow, I heard there's jobs going in Glasgow.' Donna recalls and the woman snaps at her.

'You can't pick and choose!' She declares impatiently. Donna narrows her eyes at the woman. 'We've got the whole of Southern England flooded with radiation, seven million people in need of relocation, and now France has closed its borders, it's Leeds or nothing. Next!' She shouts and as she does so, she stamps a form. The big red letters taunt Donna. Leeds. It's burned into her mind.

Donna watches the world go by her as the coach rattles along. Sylvia and Wilf sit close to her, their luggage piled high with other travellers as well. They steal looks from the other passengers. Only Donna doesn't. She just watches the world sliding by her, wondering, wondering so desperately what is going on with her life. What changed? What god has she angered that karma would come back this terribly? And what about those odd dreams that have begun to plague her. She dreams of a life with that odd man she saw on the gurney last year. Oddly enough, the blonde woman was with them too. But why?

Her mind wanders to the blonde woman and how she knew this would happen. Who is she? Why does Donna get the feeling that his won't be the last time they will encounter each other?

The coach has dropped them off in Leeds in front of ordinary terraced housing. Aside from Donna, Sylvia and Wilf, there are about ten others waiting with them, all with luggage piled high. Donna can't get over the feeling that they look like evacuees or refugees. She becomes embittered. Why this fate? She's been asking that a lot lately.

Others that live in the house all stare at the group of them with hostile looks in their eyes. They don't welcome them. They're tired of being forced to accommodate these people. Nothing is ever set in stone.

A soldier stands at the back of an open and yet dirty truck in the middle of the street using a portable mike. A few more soldiers and women patrol the area with clipboards.

'The Daniels Family, billeted at number 15, Mr. and Mrs. Obego, billeted at number 31, Miss Coltrane, you're in number 8, the Noble family, billeted at number 29…'

'That's us! Off we go!' Wilf announces cheerily and Donna makes a bit of a face as she picks up her stuff and a bitter woman calls to them from her doorway.

'Used to be a nice little family, number 29. They missed one mortgage payment, just one, they got booted out, all for you lot.' She spat and Donna narrows her eyes at the woman. She's got so much pent up anger, she's just itching for a fight.

'Don't get all chippy with me, Vera Duckworth. Pop your clogs on and go feed the whippets.' Donna shouts at her and Wilf places his free hand on Donna's shoulder.

'Sweetheart. Come on,' Wilf gently coaxes. 'You're not gonna make the world any better by shouting at it.' Wilf smiles and Donna shrugs a bit.

'I can try.' She says with determination in her voice as they approach number 29.

'What happens, do we get keys? Who do we ask, the soldiers?' Sylvia suddenly wonders but before they have a chance to answer, the door is thrown open by a big, smiling man. He appears to be Italian and middle aged.

'Is big house! Is room for all!' He announces happily. 'Welcome, all! In you come, in, in…'

'I thought this was our house…' Donna replies confused and turns around to stare at the street. Is it like this for everyone?

'Is many people's house! Is wonderful! In!' The man attempts to console them and the three of them pile in apprehensively.

The man leads them through the halls and there are three Asian children sitting on the stairs, watching them intensely.

'Upstairs, we have the Merchandani family, seven of them, good family, good kids, except that one, be careful of him,' The man ruffles the youngest boy's hair. 'Joking, where's that smile? Rocco Colasanto, here with my wife and her sister, and her husband, and their kids, and her daughter's kids, we've got the front room, and my mother, she's got the back room all to herself, she's old, you forgive, and this, this is you, this is your place!' Colasanto pauses and gestures to the kitchen he's led them to.

Donna widens her eyes at the cramped quarters and then frowns. Her mother doesn't seem to fair much better as she gives the kitchen another look and turns back to Colasanto.

'What do you mean, this is us?' Sylvia questions and Colasanto grins, gesturing to the beds compacted tightly in the small quarters.

'You got camp beds! You got the cooker, you keep warm, you got the fridge, you keep cool! Is good!'

'What about the bathroom?' Sylvia wonders a bit nervously.

'Nobody lives in the bathroom!' Colasanto lets out a loud laugh. Donna exchanges looks with her mother.

'I mean, is there a rota?' Sylvia clarifies and Colasanto shakes his head.

'Is potluck! Is fun! I go wake mama, she likes new people,' Colasanto announces. 'Mama!' He bellows loudly. 'Is people! Nice people!' And with that last sentence he is gone, leaving Donna, Sylvia and Wilf standing there in the kitchen feeling ever more defeated.

Wilf does his best to remain optimistic and nudges Donna with a smile on his face. 'We'll settle in. Make do. Bit of wartime spirit, eh?'

'But there isn't a war. There's no fight, there's just…this…' Donna counters and can't take her eyes off of the cramped kitchen.

'America!' Wilf suddenly remembers ad Donna turns to him. 'They'll save us. Said on the news, they're sending Great Britain fifty billion quid in financial aid! God bless America!'

Donna, Sylvia, Wilf and a couple of the Merchandani kids are sitting at the kitchen table, cramped, shoulder to shoulder, eating food from unlabelled tins. It's amazing how easy they were able to adapt to this life. And while still not fully accepting of it, they've done their best not to complain. It was better than the hostel. Donna would take this over that any day.

They continue to stare at the telly, listening to the breaking news, but not fully hearing it. They are becoming ever more jaded to the ills of the world, ever more numb.

'America is in crisis with over sixty million reported dead. Sixty million people have dissolved, into fat. And the fat is walking. People's fat has come to life and is walking through the streets.'

Donna watches the little marshmallow creatures march along the empty streets and she eats another spoonful of food.

'And there are spaceships! There are reports of spaceships over every major US city, and the fat is flying, it's leaving, the fat creatures are being raised up into the air.'

Wilf continues to stare at the telly and flatly states, 'Aliens.'

'Yeah.' Donna agrees and pushes the tin forward on the table; she's not even hungry anymore.

Donna brings the thin blanket closer to her body in her attempt to keep warm. Wearing her clothes to bed now hasn't even been able to help her stay warm. She lets out a soft sigh and turns over to her mother who is in the opposite camp bed. The only light comes from the gas lamp; the rest of the kitchen is cramped and shrouded in shadows. Sylvia turns to face Donna drops her voice to a whisper.

'Mary McGinty, do you remember her?' Sylvia wonders and Donna shakes her head.

'Who was she?'

'Worked in the newsagents stand on a Sunday. Little woman, black hair.'

'Never really spoke to her.' Donna informs her and Sylvia looks down. Sadness overwhelms her.

'She'll be dead. Every day, I think of someone else. All dead.'

'Maybe she went away for Christmas.' Donna feebly tries to explain it away. She doesn't want to admit that she's thought of everyone she used to know there as well. And they've all died too.

'Maybe.' Sylvia whispers.

'I'll go out tomorrow; I'll walk into town. There's got to be work. Everyone needs secretaries. Soon as I'm earning, we can get a proper place. Just you wait, mum.' Donna declares.

'What if it never gets better?' Sylvia wonders and Donna takes her hand.

'Course it will.' She smiles at her mum, trying to be brave for her.

'Even the bees are disappearing. You don't see bumble bees anymore.' Sylvia suddenly recalls and frowns a bit.

'They'll sort us out, the Emergency Government. They'll do something.' Donna reminds her and Sylvia simply shrugs.

'What if they don't?'

'Then…we'll complain.' Donna states firmly and that doesn't sit well with Sylvia.

'Who's gonna listen to us? Refugees. We haven't even got a vote. We're just no one, Donna. We don't exist.'

There is a heavy silence in the room. That is shattered when loud singing floats into the room. It's coming from the front room, at first they hear Colasanto's voice, but quickly falling into pace is a whole bunch of people.

Donna becomes furious. 'I'm gonna kill that man!'

She stomps down the hall into the front room, throwing the door open. The room is filled with camp beds and clotheslines, but the room packed tightly with people. Colasanto is standing in the centre, leading the singing, but abruptly stops when Donna balls her fists and shouts to him.

'Listen, Mussolini! I'm telling you, for the last time, button it! If I hear one more sea shanty…!' Donna falls silent when Colasanto takes a step back and reveals Wilf sitting behind him. He's got a beer in his hand and sheepish smile.

'Always liked a sing song…'

Ten minutes later Donna has retrieved her mother and they sit together with everyone else, Colasanto and his family, as they all belt out a very off key version of Bohemian Rhapsody. Everyone is trying to make the song their own and it's certainly led to some clashing. But it gets laughs from everyone and they take this little pocket of joy that seems to come at just the right moment.

The fun is suddenly halted when the sound of gunshots fill the room. Everyone turns to the window, scared.

'You stay here! Everyone, stay!' Colasanto instructs and receives nods from his family.

He goes to the door with Donna, Wilf and Sylvia following him. She remains in the doorway as the others head outside into the street.

Two soldiers are with their jeeps, but thick smoke is pouring from the exhaust, another soldier fires another round of bullets to the ATMOS device, but it only does nothing. Everyone begins to cough, the gas is toxic.

'Firing at car, not so good, you stupid or what?' Colasanto demands and the soldier shakes his head.

'It's this ATMOS thing, it won't stop, it's like gas, it's toxic.'

'Then turn it off!' Wilf shouts to him and the soldier turns to Donna and Wilf.

'I have done! It's still going! It's all the cars, every single ATMOS car! They've gone mad…' The soldier trails off and notices something off about the red head. He rises his gun. 'Turn around!'

'You gone crazy, boy?' Colasanto demands.

'I said turn around!' The soldier orders, still pointing his gun at Donna.

'Put that down!' Wilf cries and Sylvia rushes forward.

'Donna, do what he says!'

'Turn around, now!' The soldier calls to her.

'Put the gun down!' Colasanto orders him.

'She's a civilian!' Wilf shouts to him, hoping to remind him.

'Just turn around!' Sylvia commands Donna.

'Show me your back!' The soldier shouts to her.

'She's done nothing!' Colasanto yells to him.

But Donna, scared now, has shoved her hands into the air and turns around, revealing her back to the soldier. There is nothing there.

Frowning, the soldier is shaken and lowers his gun. Donna turns to look over to him and sees that he is clearly disturbed.

'I'm sorry…I thought I saw…' The soldier attempts to explain before Wilf angrily cuts him off.

'Call yourself a soldier?! Pulling guns on innocent women! It's a disgrace! In my day, we'd have you court martialled for that!'

Donna looks to the end of the road, not really scared by the soldier's attempt at her life. There is something odd going on here. She frowns when she notices at the end of the road, where it turns; there is bright white light, followed by the familiar pop sound.

Knowing who is on the other side of that white light, Donna calmly turns to it and begins to head down to the woman. She ignores her mother's pleas.

'Donna, where are you going? It's not safe at night! Donna!'

Donna walks around the corner and sees the lone woman standing the street. A slight smile on her face. 'Hello.'

'Hi.' She answers and motions Donna forward.

Together, they walk a bit until they've reached a park and the blonde sits down on the closest bench, she seems so defeated and sad. Donna attempts to bundle herself from the cold.

Faintly they can see drifts of smoke, and Donna watches it, unsure of what could be causing it. Surely it can't be the ATMOS, why would they do that? Sirens from the city fill the night air, Rose turns to the hazy sky. There are still stars…but it won't be long now.

'It's the ATMOS devices,' Rose turns to Donna, speaking quietly to her. 'You're lucky, it's not so bad here, Britain hasn't got much petrol. But all over Europe. China. South Africa. They're getting choked by gas.'

'Can't anyone stop it?' Donna wonders and the blonde nods.

'They're trying. Right now. This little band of fighters, on board the Sontaran ship. Any second now…' Rose looks up to the sky and instantly fire rips across it. Donna gasps, it's turned the sky red.

But just as quickly as it started it, it stopped. The fire dissipates into nothing and reveals a normal looking sky once more.

'And that was…?' Donna questions and watches the blonde's eyes grow sadder.

'The Torchwood team. Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones, they gave their lives. And Captain Jack Harkness has been transported to the Sontaran homeworld. The last of the heroes, are gone. There's no one left…' Rose grows depressed and remembered how she found him.

'And you are?' The dark haired woman questioned and Rose just smiled a bit.

'An old friend of Jack's.' She replies and the dark haired woman crosses her arms, unsure if she could trust this woman.

'He's out at an appointment.' She informs Rose and she nods.

'All right. Well, I'll try again later.' Rose smiles and turns to the door, heading out. She takes a look around and catches sight of a blue grey overcoat and feels immensely happy to see him. Finally someone she can hug, embrace, maybe cry on. She's missed that.

Rose casually walks towards him, as he stops to chat to a young woman. Rose rolls her eyes and quickens her step so she doesn't miss him. The young woman leaves with a noticeable blush on her cheeks. He stands there and waves to her until she is out of sight and Rose crosses her arms.

'Another one?' She questions and Jack turns around.

'Rose?'

'Yeah, it's me.'

Together they fiercely embrace each other, knowing full well what this means, and Rose blinks back her tears. She's so glad to see him.

'I'm sorry, for your loss…' Jack replies sadly and Rose turns up to him. They have found a bench to sit on and while she wants to get to Torchwood, to reveal why she's really here, she misses this time to catch up with him. In her real life, she hasn't seen Jack since that run in with the Master. In this timeline, it's been even longer.

'Thank you…'

'It's been hell without him.' Jack admits and stretches a bit. He stares off.

'I can imagine…' Rose replies and gives him a sad smile.

'Well, I mean…it's keeping us busy…we just don't seem to be able to keep up. Who'd have thought how much Earth needed him. What a mess…'

'I know. Trust me. Living in a parallel world isn't a cakewalk. He doesn't exist there. We try and stay as diligent as possible.'

'I don't want to seem rude, because it's great that you're here and all, but why are you here? I thought you were dead? It said that on the list of the dead after Canary Wharf, you were on it.' Jack wonders, his arm around her shoulders.

'It's so complicated Jack. In this world, I was locked away in a parallel universe, and I'm bouncing around right now between this world and the parallel one.'

'What's going on…?' Jack questioned and Rose hesitates to tell him anything. It could so alter this timeline.

'I don't know if I can say. I could jeopardise everything.'

'Remember who you're talking to…' Jack attempts to get a smile from Rose and she does. 'Ah, there we go. God, Rose, you're so worn down.'

'You're one to talk.'

'Well, that may be true, but I try not to let it show. I have to keep this face looking good.' Jack counters and Rose gives him a shove.

'All right. I'll tell you, but take me to your associates. What's the brunette's name?'

'Gwen.' Jack replies and stands up, helping Rose to her feet. Rose links arms with him and they start towards Torchwood.

'Really? How do you know all this?' Gwen wonders and Ianto studies Rose intensely.

'It's complicated, I can't really say. But you have to trust me.' Rose replies and Gwen turns to Jack.

'You know I trust you, Rose.' Jack informs her and she smiles at him.

'Great, I'll give you the specs…but this won't be easy…' Rose turns to them and Jack frowns at Rose's concern in her eyes.

Immediately he knows. They won't survive this little endeavour. What happens when they're gone? Who will be left? Jack watches Ianto and Gwen who still have no idea the outcome. He wonders if he should tell them up front…or wait until they discover it on their own. Rose reaches for his hand, understanding the thoughts that had been going through his head.

What a mess the world had become…

'I'm sorry?' Rose questions, she blinks a few times to focus.

'I said you're always wearing the same clothes,' Donna repeats and she pauses as Rose stares at her attire. 'Why won't you tell me your name?'

Rose stares to the sky and closes her eyes briefly. 'None of this was meant to happen. There was a man. This wonderful man,' Rose has to stop and steady herself. She still hasn't recovered from his death. 'And he stopped them. The Titanic, the Adipose, the ATMOS, he stopped them all from happening. I should know. I was with him.'

Donna watches the blonde as her face softens at the mention of that man. 'That…Doctor?'

'Yeah.'

'Who was he?' Donna wonders and Rose smiles at her.

'You knew him. So did I.'

'Did I? When?' Donna doesn't ever remember meeting a man like that. She thinks she would have remembered that though.

'I think you dream about him, sometimes. A man in a suit. Tall, thin man,' She pauses and smiles. 'Great hair. He had this really great hair.'

Donna recoils from the familiarity that this woman shows her. How did she know about those dreams? 'Who are you?'

'I am you. I travelled with him. Once, a long time ago. Together we travelled with him. But that was in a different world.' Rose informs her but Donna doesn't believe her.

'But I never met him. And he's dead.' Donna recalls and Rose nods sadly, feeling her chest tighten.

'He died underneath the Thames on Christmas Eve. But you were meant to be there. He needed someone to stop him, and that was you. You made him leave, you saved his life.'

Donna stares off as she hit with fierce images, she feels them. The water constantly splashing on her, the heat from the fire. And that man in the suit staring off to something, intense determination in his eyes. 'You can stop now…'

Donna abruptly stands up, clearly upset. 'Stop it! I don't know what you're talking about, leave me alone!' Donna heads off down towards the road, but Rose stands as well. She calls after her with her strong voice.

'Something is coming, Donna. Something worse.' Rose watches as Donna stops and turns back to her. She can see the hesitation in Donna's eyes but she presses her lips together.

'The world is stinking. How could anything be worse than this?'

'Trust me. We need the Doctor, more than ever. I've been chosen to go on this journey with you. I've seen the devastation first hand to every single universe. Danger is coming to them. It's coming, Donna. It's coming from across the stars, and nothing can stop it.'

'What is?' Donna questions quietly and Rose turns to the sky briefly before turning her attention back to Donna.

'The darkness.'

'Well what do you keep telling me for? What am I supposed to do?!' Donna cries desperately. 'I'm not…I mean…I'm nothing special. I'm a temp! I'm not even that! I'm nothing.' Donna finishes defeated and Rose takes a few more steps forward.

'Donna Noble, you're the most important woman in the whole of creation.' Rose informs her; she's telling Rose that. But she won't tell Rose why. Even though their minds have come together, there are still some things that she refuses to tell her.

'Don't. Just…don't. I'm tired. I'm so tired.'

'I need you to come with me.' Rose tells her and Donna straightens up, her snarky nature making a comeback.

'Yeah, well blonde hair might work on the men, but you're not shifting me, lady!' Donna points her finger at her and Rose grins.

'That's more like it.'

Donna smirks back. 'I've got plenty more.'

'You'll come with me,' Rose informs her confidently. 'But only when you want to.'

'You'll have a long wait, then.' Donna folds her arms but it doesn't seem to deter this woman.

'No. Just three weeks,' Rose shrugs and then remembers something. 'Tell me, has your grandfather still got that telescope?'

'Never lets go of it, why?' Donna frowns at the shift of subjects.

'Three weeks time. But you've got to be certain. Cause when you come with me…I'm sorry, Donna. I'm so sorry. But you're going to die.' Rose takes a final look at the sky and simply fades away.

Donna widens her eyes and is bewildered. She starts to cry a bit, she's so upset and so tired of this. And that woman is confident that she was going to follow her. She highly doubted that.

Donna smiles sadly as Colasanto embraces her tightly and has a wide smile on his face. As if laughter will mask the fear that she's sure he's experiencing.

'And you! I'll miss you, most of all! Flame haired and fiery!'

Donna glances to the open army truck on the street with two soldiers standing by. All of Colasanto's family is piled in the back waiting for him. They are scared and quiet. Wilf is watching the scene unfold, his face is grim.

'Oh, but why do you have to go?' Donna wonders sadly, but Colasanto brushes off her concern.

'Is the new law!' He reminds them and shrugs. 'England for the English, etcetera. They can't send us home, the oceans are closed, they build labour camps!'

'I know, but labour doing what? There aren't any jobs.' Donna reminds him and Colasanto brushes her off again with the wave of his hand.

'Sewing, digging, is good! Now stop it before I kiss you too much,' He embraces Donna again and turns to Wilf, his expression becomes grave. 'Wilfred! My capitano!' Colasanto salutes Wilf, who returns it. Their expressions match and he heads for the truck where the rest of his family waits for him.

Donna moves back to stand beside Wilf. 'It's gonna be quiet without him. Still, we've got more room.' Donna tries to remain positive and bury the nervousness she's feeling within her.

'Labour camps. That's what they called them last time.' Wilf recalls and begins to feel sick.

'What do you mean?' Donna frowns.

'It's happening again.' Wilf realises and shakes his head sadly.

'What is?' Donna wonders and turns to the truck. Colasanto is hugging his wife tightly. His jovial attitude has crumbled away and they are both quietly sobbing.

The soldiers begin to climb into the driver's cab and Donna rushes forward.

'Excuse me. Where are you taking them? Where exactly are you going? Rocco? Where are you going?' Donna is ignored by the soldiers and the truck starts, pulling away slowly.

The Colasantos are staring grimly at Donna, but undeterred, she chases after the truck. She knows it's useless, but she continues anyway, finally giving up, she stands in the middle of the empty street.

'Where are you going? Where are you going?' Donna shouts frantically, but receives no reply. She pales as she acknowledges the deadly truth. What is the world coming to?

In the kitchen, Donna pokes her head in to see her mother sitting at the table; she's alone and staring off. She looks thinner and defeated. Donna swallows and ventures closer.

'I asked about jobs. With the army. They said I wasn't qualified,' Donna is met with silence. 'You were right. You said I should work harder at school,' Again silence. 'Suppose I've always been a disappointment.'

'Yeah.' Sylvia answers quietly and Donna directs her gaze to the floor. Donna doesn't reply but feels defeated. They hold the silence.

Wilf has set up his telescope, the one true freedom he has left. The sky seems darker than normal and he wonders why that might be. He sighs and cleans the lens for the umpteenth time. He sighs softly and notices movement. He catches sight of Donna as she climbs up to where he's stationed himself.

She's got an old thermos in her hand and a bit of a smile on her face. 'I stole some soup!'

'Good girl!' Wilf compliments and Donna pulls up a chair beside him. He stares off a bit and then turns his attention to his telescope. What had the world come to? When did it all go so wrong?

'We'd get a bit of cash, if we sold this thing.' Wilf says suddenly and Donna turns to him, frowning.

'Don't you dare,' Donna informs him firmly and Wilf twinges a bit with pain, but he quickly recovers. 'How's your stomach?' Donna wonders fearfully. She can't bear to lose him.

'Not so good. I'm like a farmer attacking a bank.' He admits and it only further solidifies things for Donna.

'Ruth said, last week, there's a nurse, just outside town, in Wetherby, doesn't charge.' Donna attempts to entice him but Wilf brushes off her concern.

'I'll be all right.' He attempts to reassure her, but Donna shakes her head.

'What if you're not?' She wonders and Wilf takes her hand into his own. He smiles at her.

'I'm not going anywhere. I promised your dad, I'd look after you.'

Donna smiles sadly at him, but Wilf has directed his attention back to his telescope. 'Should be the other way round. Always imagined, your old age, I'd set a bit of money aside. Make you comfy. Never did. I'm just useless,' Donna pauses but receives no reply. 'You're supposed to say, no you're not.'

But Wilf still isn't listening; he's too busy fiddling with his telescope, puzzled. 'Must be the alignment.' He states quietly, he frowns and adjusts it again.

'What's wrong?' Donna wonders.

'I dunno, can't be the lens…' Wilf double checks, just in case, but the eyepiece reveals nothing. 'I was looking at Orion. Up there, the constellation of Orion. Have a look, what can you see?'

'Where…?' Donna shifts a bit, getting closer to the telescope.

'There…in the sky…' Wilf points and Donna looks into the eyepiece. She draws back after some time, shaking her head.

'Can't see anything. Just black.' Donna confirms, but she looks into the eyepiece again.

'But it's working. The telescope's working.' Wilf insists and frowns.

'Must be clouds.' Donna offers and continues to scan the sky.

'There's no clouds.' Wilf replies and there's a bit of a huff in his voice. Donna shrugs, still looking.

'Well there must be.'

'There's not.' Wilf adamantly insists and stands up, just staring into the sky as Donna still continues to stare into the telescope. After a moment, Donna joins him and together they just stare into the inky black sky.

It was there, an entire constellation, but…look!' Wilf frantically points to the sky, Donna squints and frowns.

'What?'

'There…look there!' Wilf points and Donna follows his arm. He's pointing to a cluster of stars that all of a sudden…simply blink out of existence. 'They're going out. Oh my god. Donna, the stars are going out.'

They continue to stare as one, two, three more stares simply disappear, never to return. Wilf is gaping at the sky, horrified.

But Donna…she's terrified. Suddenly she sets her jaw and straightens up. She turns around to see the blonde woman standing there. She had made her decision.

'I'm ready.'

Rose nods. The time is now. Time to fix everything.

Rose and Donna run to the main strip of road where an army jeep pulls up and screeches to a halt. Rose hurries Donna to the back where a soldier extends his hand and helps Donna into the back. Another soldier offers Rose his hand and she takes it, lifting her up off the ground and hauling her inside.

Donna is thrown to the side as the driver of the jeep steps on the accelerator and they are gone. Each aggressive turn tosses her into the soldiers, but she doesn't mind. The soldiers have grim expressions on their faces, while the blonde…she just seems ready, like she's anticipating something.

After what seems like seconds the jeep abruptly stops, the driver having slammed the breaks on. The soldiers disembark and offer their hands to Rose and Donna, helping them down.

They appear to be in front of an abandoned industrial warehouse. It's been abandoned for a long time, Donna realises, and there are thick layers of rust and holes where the rust has eaten through the metal. Just dilapidated looking.

The diver peels away and Rose turns to the warehouse. She inwardly smiles. She remembers this place. In another life, she and Martha brought chips to the Doctor and Jack while they tried to figure out how to stop the Master, who, ironically, doesn't exist now.

Rose sets her jaw and begins to march towards the warehouse, Donna follows her, still utterly lost, but the soldiers remain on active duty. Donna doesn't know why.

Rose leads Donna into very battered, dimly lit corridor that lines the warehouse's central space. Donna watches as they pass various scientists in grubby white coats, and more soldiers, that's refreshing.

They all watch as Rose leads on, but she doesn't seem to notice their stares. Donna does. And they seem wary as they continue along their path. Then she realises something and looks over her shoulder.

'Why do they keep looking at me?' Donna wonders as she turns back to Rose.

'There's something on your back.' Is the only reply Donna gets.

Donna looks around as the blonde woman leads into a massive, empty space. The only thing in the building is equipment; more scientists and soldiers are located in the centre, as they pour over the equipment. Donna nearly trips on the mounds of loose wiring and steadies herself.

When she looks up she sees a circle of mirrors, frowning she notices a blue, wooden box placed in the centre of it. An arc of light engulfs it and Donna notices that the exterior of the box has a vast amount of wires clipped to it, and they all seem to lead back to the computer.

A woman in an army type uniform steps forward and salutes to Rose, but she doesn't return it. If anything, Donna notices that it frustrates her.

'Ma'am' The woman states formally.

'I've told you, don't salute.' Rose replies briskly and she turns her chin up. Donna can clearly see that this blonde woman is in charge of this…outfit. Whatever that is.

'Well, if you're not going to tell us your name…' The woman counters and Donna frowns as she looks between the blonde and the army woman.

'What, you don't know either?' Donna questions, a bit taken back. Rose brushes off their comments with a simple explanation.

'What you both don't understand is that I've crossed many different realities, as I've searched through everything. Trying to understand. If I utter the wrong word in the wrong place, it can change the entire causal nexus.'

The army woman turns to Donna and shrugs. 'She talks like that. A lot,' But Donna can't help notice the wary look she gives her. 'And you must be…Miss Noble.'

'Donna.'

'Captain Erisa Magambo. Thank you for this.' She replies and Donna just shrugs awkwardly.

'I don't even know what I'm doing.' She admits and turns to see the blonde surveying the old wooden box.

'Is she awake?' She turns to Magambo.

'Seems to be quiet, today. Ticking over. Like it's waiting.'

'Do you want to see?' Rose questions and a playful smile appears on her features as she leads Donna towards it.

'What's a 'police box?'' Donna questions and Rose evades the question at first. Donna watches as she places her hand on the exterior, a sad, pensive look clouds her features.

'We salvaged it, from underneath the Thames. Just go inside.' Rose pushes open the door, but Donna hesitates and so the blonde stops, the door shuts again. It's just a box, what's so special about a box?

'What for?' Donna questions, but the blonde on motions her to go in.

'Just go in.' She repeats and Donna continues to walk towards the door and pushes it open.

She peers in and frowns, the interior is darkly lit; only shafts of light are shining through the roof section. The centrepiece, which reminds Donna of some sort of console, is opened. There are wires and junk everywhere around it.

'No way!' Donna cries and she steps out, back into the warehouse. She looks around, a smile on her face. She steps back inside the box, and studies it absolutely stunned. A laugh escapes her and it causes Rose to smile as well. Donna comes back out of the box and looks to either side of the box's walls, and then she turns back inside again. This time, she goes up the ramp a few steps but stops and turns around, running back out. There is still a smile on her face.

'What do you think?' Rose wonders, she folds her arms across her chest.

'Can I have a coffee?' Donna questions and Rose nods. She motions for some to be made and when it's ready, Rose goes into the box, following Donna.

Rose passes off the coffee and Donna quickly begins to drink it. Needing to hold on to something familiar, she is just too incredulous at this moment.

She watches the blonde stand close to the centre portion of the console and looking on mournfully. She turns to Donna. There is stark light pouring on to them.

'This is the TARDIS. It stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space,' Rose feels the ache in her heart as her memories assault her. They had so many amazing times here together. She craves it now. 'Oh, this room used to shine with light,' But Rose extends her hand slightly. 'But…I think she's dying…' Rose places her hand on the rotor. As if in response, the machine groans and Rose smiles. 'She still wants to help, though…'

'And it belonged to the Doctor?' Donna questions and Rose nods.

'He was a Time Lord. The last of his kind.' Rose informs her.

'But if he was so special, what was he doing with me?' Donna wonders and Rose smiles warmly at her.

'He thought you were brilliant. Like I do.'

'Don't be stupid.' Donna replies sadly. She's useless, these past few years have shown her that.

'Oh, Donna, you are. It just took the Doctor to show you that. Simply by being with him. He did the same to me when we first met. He does it to everyone he touches.' Rose replies and Donna notices the intimate tone in her voice.

'Were you and him…?'

Rose hesitates and turns her attention back to the TARDIS. She's so tantalizingly close now. Just a bit more. 'In another life…yes. Yes we were.' Rose walks to where Donna has sat on the console chair and reaches her hand out to touch her back. Donna immediately tenses, becoming scared again.

But she relaxes, ever so slightly at the blonde's touch. She's so gentle as she smoothes one hand across Donna's back.

'Do you want to see it?' Rose wonders and Donna shakes her head.

'No,' But there is a pause. 'Go on then.'

Rose nods solemnly and begins to walk down the ramp, motioning Donna to follow her.

Once they exit, Rose leads Donna into the circle of mirrors. They are rectangle in shape and they too have wiring that leads back to other types of machines. Donna notices that Captain Magambo stands on the edge.

'We don't know how the TARDIS words, but we've managed to scrape off the surface technology. Enough to show you the creature.' Rose informs Donna and she pales a bit at that statement.

'It's a creature?' Donna echoes.

'Just stand there.' Rose instructs and Donna does so.

'Out of the circle, please.' Captain Magambo instructs and Rose nods.

'Yes ma'am.' Rose begins to head to edge and Donna frantically turns to her.

'Can't you stay with me?' She begs but Rose continues to walk and stand at the edge.

'I'm sorry.'

'Ready?' Captain Magambo questions and the room nods collectively. 'And, activate.'

Simple lights shine on, in the spaces between the mirrors, there is a deep thrum of power being awoken as well.

Donna has welded her eyes shut, but she faintly hears a hissing sound and a tic, being repeated. But she doesn't dare open her eyes.

'Donna? Open your eyes.' The blonde calls to her and Donna shakes her head a bit.

'Is it there…?'

'Open your eyes. Look at it.' The blonde's voice becomes very firm but again Donna shakes her head. Rose closes her eyes at her stubbornness. Then again, she should have known. She knows Donna.

'I can't.'

'It's a part of you, Donna. Look.'

Donna does so, and slowly opens her eyes. She widens them, she can see it! She stunned, shocked as she spins around trying getting a better shot of the creature, she stares at the mirrors, that thing is there!

Rose can see that Donna is falling to hysterics and she calls over to her. 'It's all right, calm down, just listen to my voice, Donna,' Rose can see that Donna is still panicking and unable to focus. 'Donna! I'm still here. It's okay.'

Donna stops and breathes heavily, doing her best to control her panic. She swallows and takes a good look at the creature.

It looks like a massive beetle, clinging to her back. It has a shiny carapace; long, spindly black legs that are constantly moving and flexing. Its mandibles clacking together menacingly as the familiar hiss and tic are heard.

Donna is trying to keep it together, but she wants to scream out so badly, doing as the blonde said and controls her panic, she quietly turns to them. 'What is it?'

'We don't know.' Rose admits and Donna narrows her eyes.

'Oh, thanks!' She replies sarcastically.

'It feeds off time. By changing time, making someone's life take a different turn. The meetings never made. The children never born. A life never loved. But with you…' Rose trails off and Donna takes a moment to jump in.

'I never did anything important.' She reiterates and Rose shakes her head.

'Yes you did. Cause one day, that thing made you turn right, instead of left.' Rose informs her and Donna frowns. That doesn't really narrow it down; she's made lots of left and right turns. When what is specifically?

'When was that…?' Donna questions and Rose folds her arms.

'You wouldn't remember. It was the most ordinary day in the world. But turning right meant you never met the Doctor. Meant you and I never met. And then the whole world changed around you.'

'Can you get rid of it?' Donna questions worriedly, but notices that the blonde's expression becomes emotionless.

'Can't even touch it. Seems to be in a state of flux.' Rose ponders and that statement angers Donna.

'What does that mean?' She questions and Rose shrugs.

'Don't know,' She smiles. 'Sort of thing the Doctor says.'

'You liar! You said I was special. But it's not me, it's this thing, I'm just a host.' Donna spat and Rose shakes her head.

'No, there's more than that…the readings are strange. It's like reality is bending around you.' Rose informs her and Donna gapes at her.

'Because of this thing!' Donna cries out and, undeterred, Rose presses on.

'No, we're getting separate readings. From you. And they've always been there, since the day you were born.' Rose states firmly.

'This isn't relevant to the mission.' Captain Magambo interjects but Rose simply ignores her.

'I thought we just needed the Doctor, but it's both of you. The Doctor and Donna Noble. While I'm there too, it isn't anything to do with me. Together. The two of you will stop the stars from going out.' Rose recalls and feels a twang of longing. So close now…

'Why…? What can I do?' Donna replies, she seems defeated now. This is all too much for her.

'I don't know.' Rose admits and watches as the beetle stirs, flexing its legs.

'Turn it off. Please.' Donna whispers and Rose nods.

'Captain.'

'Power down!' She orders and the room springs back to life, the power down the equipment and the thrum dies, the lights switch off.

Donna is alone again, and she can no longer see the creature. Rose begins to approach her, but Donna looks over her shoulder.

'It's still there, though. What do I do? To get rid of it?' Donna watches the blonde's features erupt into a smile.

'You're going to travel in time!'

With those uttered words, the room kicks into high gear, as if everyone had been anticipating this moment. Rose beckons Donna forward as the rest of the room prepares itself.

'The TARDIS has pinpointed the moment of intervention, Monday the 25th, one minute past ten in the morning, your car was on Little Sutton Street, leading on to Ealing Road, but you turned right, heading for Griffin's Parade, you need to turn left, that's the most important thing, you've got to go back and make sure the car turns left, Donna, have you got that? One minute past ten, you've got to make yourself turn left, heading for Chiswick High Road.' Rose's speech is rushed, the words falling out of her mouth at a fast rate. Donna attempts to concentrate on them but she's caught watching the rest of the room.

A scientist steps forward and ushers Donna into an old and rough looking army jacket, lined with wires and fuses.

'Keep this on, at all times, it's insulation against temporal feedback,' Captain Magambo instructs and another scientist gives her a very chunky looking watch. 'This will correspond to local time, wherever you land,' She hands Donna a glass of watch and instructs her to drink it. Which she does. 'That's to combat dehydration.'

'I remember travelling in time without the TARDIS, rough business.' Rose quips and earns stares from the room. She simply shrugs.

'Always talking like that.' Captain Magambo shakes her head at Rose's quirkiness.

The room stops as the time has come. Donna walks into the circle of mirrors and inhales as she walks into the empty space. Rose, Captain Magambo and two other soldiers stand at the edge.

Everyone is tense; Donna is terrified as she stares at all the scientists and their machines poised, ready to go. She lets out a shaky breath and holds her head high as she completes the last few steps of the walk, standing on the edge.

'This is where we leave you.' Rose places a hand on Donna's shoulder and gives her an encouraging smile.

'I don't want to see that thing on my back.' Donna states firmly.

'No, the mirrors are just incidental. But they bounce Chronon Energy back into the centre. Which we control, and decide the destination.'

'It's a time machine.' Donna replies, amazed.

'It's a time machine.' Rose echoes and Donna turns to her.

'I can see why he likes you.'

'If you could.' Captain Magambo states, breaking their moment. Donna walks centre, but feels her bravery falter a bit. Rose stands on the edge as Captain Magambo busies herself with the other scientists.

'Powering up.' Captain Magambo states and a low thrum of power is heard again, it echoes off the walls of the warehouse.

'How do you know it's gonna work?' Donna wonders.

'We don't.' Rose informs her and Donna gapes at her.

'Oh, brilliant!' She replies sarcastically.

'Just remember. Get to the junction and change the car's direction, by one minute pas ten.' Rose reiterates and Donna frowns.

'How do I do that?'

'That's up to you.' Rose says enigmatically.

'Well! I'll just run up to myself, and have a good argument.' Donna declares.

'I'd love to see that.' Rose replies cheekily and Donna smiles despite herself and her situation.

'Activate lodestone.' Captain Magambo instructs and another loud thrum is heard. The TARDIS windows flicker with light. And the lights surrounding Donna light up once more, they are low level this time around.

Donna is wide range of emotions from terrified to excited, she wants to do this. This means this world now doesn't have to be hers. Her real one sounds so much better. And not just because the blonde keeps insisting that she's so important, but because she's finally doing something with her life. She's finally helping people.

'Good luck.' Rose calls to her and Donna gives her a thumbs up.

'Oh, I'm ready.' She declares. She's ready to set this right. Right the wrong.

'One minute past ten.' Rose restates and Donna nods.

The lights begin to increase, showing their strength as they power up. Donna stares right at Rose. She may not know her name, but she trusts her with everything she had.

'Least I'm not gonna die. Cause I understand it now! You said I was gonna die, but you mean this whole world, it's gonna blink out of existence, but that's not dying, cause a better world takes its place. The Doctor's world! And I'm still alive!' Donna grins widely, but notices that the blonde hasn't smiled at all. She's just staring at her, it disturbs Donna. 'That's right, isn't it? I don't die. If I change things, I don't die. Is that right?'

'I'm sorry.' Rose replies and watches the lights flashing, the power has nearly peaked.

'But I can't die. I've got a future. With the Doctor, and with you. You told me. How can I die?' Donna's mind reels but she doesn't have time to answer her as she watches the blonde staring at her, she looks so sad. 'Tell me. Am I gonna die?'

'And, activate!' Captain Magambo instructs and there are explosions all around the TARDIS.

Rose watches with hope, knowing that she's giving everything to help them. 'Come on…you can do it…I know it…' Rose whispers.

Donna is engulfed by the white light and glimpses her reflection is all the mirrors. She sees that damned beetle too, she feels suddenly catapulted, hard and fast as her vision becomes white.

Rose places her hand on the TARDIS once Donna has disappeared. 'Thank you…thank you…'

Donna lands with the bit of a thud on all fours as the light slowly dissipates away. She is heaving for air, drinking it in as she can't seem to get enough of it. Slowly she stands up and notices where exactly she is. It's like being in the old days. She's completely stunned as she stares at her surroundings. There are people, and cars…familiar noise! There are children playing and others on bikes…there are shops!

It's the ordinary world, as it was, before the shift of time. It's so bright, colourful, loud and so, so wonderful. Donna can't get enough of it. All of her sense are working to catalogue everything and are quickly becoming overwhelmed.

But she's suddenly hit with the realisation. She doesn't know where she is.

'But this is…I'm not…' Donna looks at the shops carefully. 'This is Court Village…' She widens her eyes are the realisation fully hits her. 'I'm half a mile away. I'm half a mile away!' Donna shouts into the air and then looks to her watch.

09:57.

'Four minutes. Oh my god…' Donna whispers and she takes off running, as fast as she possibly can. Down the street she goes, running like she's being chased by something mad. Her lungs crave, and burn for air, but she ignores those feelings, pressing onward.

Donna pauses as a street that looks familiar, like the T-junction in the same area, but it's still so far away. Undeterred, Donna continues to run again, but she's becoming desperate. Her mind is telling her that it's too far. She doesn't want to acknowledge that. So far away.

Unable to continue, she stops and drinks in the air. She looks down to her watch.

09:59.

Widening her eyes, she takes off once more, running and running wanting to make it. Wanting to ignore that voice in her head that says give up, it's too far. The voice wins out and Donna halts herself, she's wretched and begins to cry. She can't make it. She simply can't.

'Not gonna get there…'

Now exhausted, Donna looks ahead, hoping that maybe seeing the junction would inspire her to try harder. But it's not even in sight. Then she notices something. And then she realises something else.

There is brightly coloured lorry heading her way, merely yards away from her. She watches it and is strangely calm and still. The blonde's words echo in her mind.

'You're going to die.'

Donna becomes sad as she understands what must be done of her and watches the lorry come thundering down the road, closer to her. Not caring about her well being, not even for a second, Donna closes her eyes. She wants to save the world, and so she utters only one word quietly.

'Please.'

She runs at full speed, taking a hard left and runs right into the path of the lorry. The driver slams the breaks on, the sound of tires screeching and woman screams off in the distance, having heard the most terrible thump as she witnesses everything.

Donna inwardly sighs, defeated as her mother makes a very good point.

'Well let me tell you, sweetheart, City Executives don't need temps. Except for practice.' Sylvia informs her and Donna stares off.

'Yeah. Suppose you're right.' Donna agrees and flicks the car's indicator from left to right. Donna begins to rev the car and propel the car right when Sylvia frowns.

'Can you hear that?' She wonders.

Donna strains to hear and places her foot on the break. It almost seems to be a woman screaming.

When the woman finally does stop, she's just crying. The lorry driver gets out of the driver's cab and stands on the road completely dazed as to what just happened. His mind can't process it.

Donna's lying in the middle of the road, staring up into nothing as pain slowly takes over her body. She's beginning to lose consciousness and faintly hears the sound of beeping cars.

'Traffic's stopping.' Donna points out as one after another, cars begins to pile up behind the lorry. Turning right seems to be completely jammed.

'Something must've happened.' Sylvia responds and they continue to watch the scene in the distance.

A figure appears before her. Rose is no stranger to being beside someone as they die. She is sober but so very kind. She kneels down to Donna and smiles at her.

'Thank you Donna. I'll see you soon. Your work isn't done yet.'

Rose stands up and moves back. Donna shuts her eyes.

'Well that decides it; I'm not sitting in a traffic jam. We're going left!' Donna declares and flicks the indicator back to left. Sylvia turns to Donna and nods her head in earnest, completely agreeing with her.

Donna revs the car and moves it forward, her hand turning the wheel left…

Rose gasps as she sits up, the Doctor catching her as she turns around confused as to where she is at first. She is breathing heavily, trying to steady herself.

'Rose! Rose…what happened?!' The Doctor asks frantically and she clutches his arm.

'I did it. I did it. But it's not over yet…I have to tell you…everything I saw…but first we have to get Donna.' Rose attempts to get to her feet, the Doctor helps her and she wobbly heads off into the direction of the fortune-teller, the Doctor tailing her. But she abruptly stops and turns to him, he watches her confused until she flings herself into his embrace.

'Never go where I can't follow…' Rose warns him, gripping him tightly and she finally allows her tears to fall.

'Never…I never will.' He assures her, still completely staggered as to what's going on. She pulls away and passionately kisses him.

She's waited a long time for that.

Donna screams as she shakes herself out of her daze and hears an audible thud as something heavy drops to the ground, withering.

Donna stands quickly and notices the creature attempting to cling to life. She stares at it completely shocked.

'What the hell is that?!' She demands and spins around the other way to see the fortune-teller on the floor, curled up in a corner, terrified. Donna doesn't understand, it's like she has been experiencing something horrific and she wasn't prepared for what she encountered.

She stares up at Donna, petrified. 'You were so strong. What are you? What will you be?!'

After she utters those words, the fortune-teller scrambles away, disappearing into the shadows in the drapery, deeper into her den. Donna doesn't see or hear her movements.

Donna continues to pant as she stares at the beetle, confused until she hears her name being called.

'Donna!' She turns to see Rose appearing in the doorway. Together they run towards one another and embrace each other fiercely. Each of them choking back sobs as they finally understand what happened.

Donna notices the other figure and then flings herself at him. Catching him off guard he takes a moment to respond to her.

'What's going on?' He wonders and Rose places a hand to her head, needing to sit down.

'How strong was that stuff you and Rose had earlier?' Donna questions and the Doctor ponders that.

'Pretty strong…why?'

'I'm gonna need one.'

The Doctor continues to poke and prod the dead beetle on the table, wholly fascinated with it. Rose and Donna sit together on a pair of chairs, trying to recover from their own separate events. Donna holds one of the wooden bowls in her grasp, taking a small sip of it.

'Everything's slipping away…like a dream…' Donna confesses and for Rose…she wishes it were for her as well.

'Just got lucky, this thing. It's one of the Trickster's Brigade. Changes a life in tiny little ways. Most times, the universe just compensates around it, but with you…great big parallel world!'

'I thought you said parallel worlds are sealed off.' Donna remembers and Rose turns to her, her head has a dull throb, but she can tell it's going away. Those migraines must have been leading up this moment.

'Usually they are, Donna.' Rose agrees and she remembers the devastation to the world her mum and Mickey are living in. The implications of her travelling there…she got to see everything.

'Right. But you had one created around you. Funny thing is…keeps happening a lot. To you.' The Doctor recalls and a chill sets itself in the air.

'How do you mean?' Donna wonders and Rose stares off.

'The Library. Then this.' The Doctor reminds her, but Donna doesn't seem to be convinced.

'Goes with the job, I suppose.' Donna replies, but the Doctor shakes his head.

'Sometimes I think there's way too much coincidence around you, Donna. I met you once. Then Rose and I met your grandfather. Then we meet you again. In the whole, wide universe, I met you for a second time. Like…something's binding us all together.'

'Don't be so daft. I'm nothing special.' Donna replies dismissively.

'Yes you are, you're brilliant.' The Doctor smiles and Rose widens her eyes.

'The stars…Doctor…the stars are going out.' Rose calls to him and he frowns.

'What do you mean, going out?'

'All worlds. Darkness is coming. I saw it. I was there. Every world is plunged into darkness. It's coming here.' Rose repeats and she sees the Doctor grow concerned.

'Rose, what are you talking about.' He kneels in front of her, placing his hands on her knees as she tries to remember.

'Rose was there with me,' Donna suddenly remembers small fragments. 'Only…I didn't know who she was. She kept appearing at important catastrophes. When we stopped the Racnoss together…only it didn't go that way. You were…alone…' Donna pauses as she tries to remember more. 'When the Titanic hit Earth…Rose was there…alone. The Adipose…the ATMOS…it wasn't you…' Donna states quietly and the Doctor understands what she's alluding to. It's unsettling.

'I bounced…between that world and the parallel one. The one where I would have been locked away in, if the breech hadn't have closed when it did. I saw everything. I have two timelines in my head. One real and one false. The false one helped me to understand the implications of the world built around Donna.' Rose states firmly, but she stares off into nothing.

That worries the Doctor, he rubs her knees trying to snap her back to reality, but she just stares off. 'Rose?'

'There was just darkness…and it's coming here.' Rose reiterates and she snaps her head up. 'Do I have to say it?'

'Say what?' Donna wonders and the Doctor widens his eyes, realising what she's talking about.

'Don't…' He warns Rose.

'How else will it happen if I don't…?'

'Events will still happen even if you don't say it.'

'You won't understand how big this is until I do.'

'I will. I can see it in your eyes.'

'You need to feel it.' Rose whispers to him.

'Don't.'

'What? Say what?' Donna wonders, completely lost in their little argument.

'But we're one again. I need to say it.'

'You can tell me everything you remember when we get back to the TARDIS.' The Doctor replies adamantly, but Rose merely shakes her head.

'Don't you see? It happens now, there won't be time. I have to.'

'Rose you know what happens if you do.' The Doctor remembers and she just offers a defeated smile.

'But what choice do I have?' Rose wonders and he opens his mouth to refute her, but doesn't have time. Rose stares into the room and closes her eyes. 'Bad wolf…'

Immediately after the words leave her mouth, Rose takes off out of the room, with the Doctor following close behind her. Perplexed, Donna follows them, catching sight of them as they pause dead, staring up. Bad wolf…the Doctor explained it to her earlier…is Rose becoming an entity again? She doesn't understand everything…what will happen?

Donna doesn't understand until she looks up as well.

All of the vertical banners that they had seen as they first came down the alleyway continue to flutter in the breeze, but they're vastly different now. Every single one of them now says, in thick, black Chinese lettering…

Bad Wolf.

Everyone looks around and Rose and the Doctor take off running once more, Donna trailing behind them. They run towards the TARDIS, Donna desperately tries to follow them, but they're running like mad things down the alleyway until they spot the TARDIS…

The sign that used to say Police Box has now changed to Bad Wolf. The Doctor shoves Rose aside and quickly unlocks the door. He pushes his way inside and Rose steps in after him, Donna following behind her. Donna slams the door shut behind her and gasps.

The interior is lit by red lights, they rise and fall. They hear an awful warning of a cloister bell as it continues tolling.

'What do those words mean? Rose…what's bad wolf mean when you say it?' Donna questions, her mind reeling as she tries to comprehend how Rose had the power to breathe two words and this is the result. What has she done? Rose doesn't reply as she stares off, the Doctor frantically turns to Donna, terrified.

'The end of the universe.'

'What?' Donna breathes.

'Please don't be mad at me…' Rose suddenly says and the Doctor goes down to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, staring at her. She's paled again and he realises that she was right. Had she told him, sat him down and explained her time in these other universes, there wouldn't have been time.

If the reaction time was this quick, after the declaration of those words…trouble is truly around the corner. And it's massive trouble.

He instantly embraces her. She's shaking in his embrace. 'We'll get through this. We will. It'll be okay. We can figure this out…'

Donna watches as they keep each other tight in an embrace. What exactly is going to happen to them? Stars are going out, darkness is coming…what does it all mean…what's coming? What's on the horizon for them?

Ohh wow, you guys...

I tried really hard when writing this and I'm still not 100%. Certain parts I wrote on a whim, let my imagination sorta go for a wander. So, I hope you all enjoy this. I'm anxious to see what you guys think. I'm still unsure about the ending...

Did I scare you all with the dream, in the first part? Haha...sorry bout that.

1/4 down. Here we go.