Jack stood in the abandoned building wiping the tears from his eyes with the palm of his free hand. He gazed down at the still sleeping baby and smiled sadly. She looked so much like Rosie. Violet, her daughter.

"Did it work Jack? Did you find her?" Gwen asked rushing into the building. She drew to a halt as her eyes fell on the baby.

"It worked. I found her," Jack confirmed.

"But…" Gwen gestured at the baby. "…what happened?"

Ianto entered the building, looking from Gwen to Jack and then the baby.

"She's Rosie's daughter."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know. I was surprised too."

"Did you find out why they were holding her?" Ianto asked.

"No, there wasn't enough time. I…I had to leave her," Jack's voice broke.

Gwen crossed the room and took the baby.

"We'll try again."

"We can't," Ianto said.

Gwen shot him a glare and then nodded at Jack, but Jack knew that setting everything up again would be nearly impossible.

"I know. We'll just have to keep trying the Doc. He has to answer eventually," Jack conceded.

"What about that woman? The one who helped us," Gwen asked.

"I don't even know if we'll see her again."

"What are we going to do with her?" Gwen asked as she nodded at the still sleeping baby.

"I promised Rosie we'd find her a good home."

"Where?"

"I've been thinking about that. There's an older couple I know. Helped them out a while ago. They've got a cottage in the country. I think it'd be nice for her."

"An older couple?" Gwen asked. "Wouldn't she be better off-"

"I trust them and I promised Rosie. If by some miracle she does make it back she'll want her daughter. These people will understand. Plus if I ever do get in touch with the Doc they won't be shocked to find a blue police box materializing in the front yard."

"You think he'd want to see her?"

"Maybe, she is Rosie's daughter. Rose will always mean a lot to the Doc, even if he won't admit it himself. Also, some things Rosie said. I want to check something when we get back to Torchwood."

"Check what?"

"I'll fill you in on the way."

He knew there was only one reason Rosie would tell him not to ever take her daughter to a doctor. He didn't know much about the Meta-Crisis and if this was even possible, but Jack had to know the truth. He wished the Doc was there since he was the only one who'd really know. If the Time Lord didn't answer the phone he really hoped that woman would return. He wished she'd given him her name, but when he asked she'd just smiled and said, Spoilers.

River watched from her vantage point behind another building as Jack, Ianto, Gwen, and the baby piled into the van. She wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.

The TARDIS directed her to the small crack a few months ago and she was able to listen in on the phone call between Jack and Rose's dad. After that she kept a close eye on Jack's progress with his team and when she realized they wouldn't be able to pull crossing the Void off themselves she'd stepped in to help.

Of course she couldn't give Jack her name, just in case he was able to connect her with the Doctor. She couldn't let the Time Lord find out about Rose or the baby yet. It was too early in his timeline. There were events that needed to play out first.

So, she'd explained about traveling through the crack using his Vortex Manipulator after some adjustments. She told him he'd only have a few minutes and could only take one passenger or it wouldn't work, which wasn't entirely true, but it was a necessary lie because if Rose came through too soon she'd be lost. Her and her child and there would be nothing River could do to save them.

The baby had to come through first. That's how the TARDIS had known. It was a time loop. River had to save Rose's child so the TARDIS would find out about her child and send River to save her child. If Rose came through at the same time the whole thing would shatter.

That was also the reason the TARDIS wasn't taking Jack's calls. He'd been trying to call the Doctor nearly every day and River was sure he'd keep at it for a while, but eventually he'd give up, at least she hoped so because one slip and everything could fall apart.

Rose sat on the jump seat as they flew further and further away from her only hope of being rescued. Her only consolation was knowing that now he couldn't make her torture anyone. They were too far away from the compound's employees for that to work.

She might be stuck with an insane Time Lord, but at least her daughter was safe. That's the only thing that kept her from breaking down. That and the fact that she wouldn't let him see how much he hurt her.

She tried not to wonder at things. Tried not to make conversation with the man who'd made her life a living hell, but curiosity got the better of her. She couldn't change who she was, after all and she'd always been a curious sort.

"How are we moving?" she asked.

The Master glanced at her with a look similar to the one the Doctor got that made her feel like she'd dribbled on her chin.

"This…is…a…TARDIS…Rose," he said, enunciating each word and leaving off the pet name he teased her with.

She rolled her eyes.

"I know that, yeah?" she said, standing up in her annoyance. "But this TARDIS isn't from this universe. When I crashed here with the Doctor his TARDIS stopped working. It went all dark. He said the TARDIS feeds off the energy in the universe and this is a different universe so it's like diesel in a petrol engine. So, how come your TARDIS works?"

She didn't join him at the console because she wanted to keep her distance from him.

"Diesel in a petrol engine?" he mused, giving her a smile. "That's about right. I made a…I suppose converter is the right word."

"Converter?"

"It converts the energy in this universe into something the TARDIS can run on. It's still not the same as being in the proper universe," the TARDIS jumped, bouncing them around as if proving his statement true, "…but it works."

"Yeah, works great," she said, pulling herself up with the help of the railing.

"We could always go back to our universe. Find Jack. Find our little girl."

She balked. He was staring at her, waiting for a reaction. She caught his eye, trying to determine the truth of his words. He couldn't take them back…could he? The only reprieve in the heartache she felt after giving up her daughter was knowing he couldn't follow Jack. He couldn't find her baby.

"You're stuck here…like me. You can't…you can't get back."

The Master smiled at the fear in her eyes. Yes, he could get back. Take them both back, find Jack, kill him…a couple times, and then retrieve Rose's baby. He wouldn't, of course. Not yet. He couldn't chance running into the Doctor until he was ready, but she didn't know that and he liked teasing her. It was so much fun.

"That was true…before I found the cracks." Her eyes widened. Oh, yes, she knew about the cracks. "But you already knew about them, didn't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

When was she going to learn not to lie to him? Today. Now. Yes, that's when she'd learn. He'd teach her. He flipped a few levers and then the TARDIS threw them to the floor as she launched into the Time Vortex.

"Where are we going?" Rose demanded.

He pulled himself up with the console and looked at the monitor to make sure they were headed where he intended. They were.

"New Earth," he said, and smiled at the surprised look on her face. "It's a bit different in this universe. No cat nuns I'm afraid, but there's still apple-grass."

Her eyes widened and he thought if they grew any wider they might pop out of her head. He laughed.

"Why…why are you taking me there?"

He watched her pull herself up with the railing.

"To teach you, Rosie."

"Teach me?"

He crossed the room until he was standing inches from her. He leaned close, locking eyes with her.

"Teach you not to lie to me." Then he stepped back, smiling. "I don't blame you. Not really. How can you be expected to tell the truth when you traveled with him? All he does is lie," he reached out and took her cheeks in his hands, tilting her head up to look in his eyes. He could see the fear and revulsion she felt at his touch, but that would change. Oh, that would definitely change. "…but you're with me now, Rosie, and I can't have you lying to me."

"What are you going to do?"

He released her, spinning around as he danced over to the console.

"Oh, I don't know…Kill a few people? Would that get you to tell me the truth? Or how about…" he flipped another lever and then pushed a button, "…I destroy the whole planet. Would you tell me the truth then?"

He was watching the monitor and didn't notice as she crossed the room. He grabbed another lever, intent on pulling it, when he felt her hand on his. He paused and looked at her. Her eyes were misted over and he swallowed, wondering why he was suddenly feeling…

"I'll tell you, yeah? Just…just stop, please?"

Tell me…the truth. Yes, that's what he wanted to hear. The truth. He pulled his hand away from hers and absentmindedly rubbed the back of it before catching her gaze again. He was a little put out at not destroying the planet or killing anyone, but he was trying to teach her and it seemed she learned, but then she was quick like that. Brilliant!

"Jack…" She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them the fear was gone. She was getting good at that. She was changing and she didn't even know it. His smiled grew wider. "Jack told me he got through a crack."

"What else did he tell you?"

"Nothing," he eyed her, so she continued, "…Really."

"Anything about the Doctor? Did he say anything about the Doctor?"

"No."

He held her gaze for another moment before backing down. She was telling the truth. Did that mean Jack wasn't with the Doctor? Maybe, but he couldn't be sure.

"Brilliant!" he exclaimed, turning back to the console to flip levers.

The TARDIS launched back into the Time Vortex. He grabbed the console to keep from falling and noticed Rose do the same.

Standard Disclaimer.

Thank you to all my readers! You guys are brilliant! If anyone has time reviews are always welcome. :)