A jolt of pain broke Rose's concentration. She screamed, half in pain, half in frustration at having the link between her and Cavin severed. Strong hands forced her back into the chair. She struggled, reaching out with her mind, but before she could something was clamped over her wrist.

"Let me go!" she screamed.

"I told you," Cavin growled, she could hear the anger and exhaustion in his voice, "That's never going to happen."

She closed her eyes and focused, reaching out to his mind.

"The ship's systems might be knocked out for the moment, but I've got other ways to keep you from doing that again," he continued.

The device on her wrist. She opened her eyes and looked at it. Similar to the one the Master made her wear, but bulkier. She sighed, fear mingling with sorrow. She wasted her chance. She should've run when she had the chance. Now, she was stuck, trapped. She botched her only opportunity to save herself and no one was coming. The Doctor was back in his universe with no idea what was happening to her, Jack had managed to come through once, but she wasn't in that building anymore so even if he made a return trip he'd have no idea where she was. Cavin would fix the ship and sell her and there wasn't anything she could do…she heard a sound. One she recognized. It wasn't the Doctor, couldn't be the Doctor, which meant it was the Master. Even knowing that, she couldn't help the bit of hope that crept into her heart. She'd take the devil she knew over the one she didn't.

-0-

"We're here," the Doctor said.

Jack brandished his blasters.

"I'm ready," the man replied.

"I need you to stay here."

"No. No, way, Doc. You have no idea what's out there."

"We can't leave him alone," he gestured at the Master. "If he got away. Jack, she wouldn't be safe, not in any universe. You know that."

Jack glanced from the Doctor to the Master and he could see that the man wanted to fight him on it. There wasn't time for that. He needed to get to her before anything else happened. He walked over and put his hand on Jack's shoulder, catching the other man's eye.

"I'll get her back. I promise," he said.

Jack hesitated for a moment and then, reluctantly, nodded. The Doctor walked over to the Master and reached into the other Time Lord's pocket.

"What're you doing?" the Master demanded.

"Just going to need…" He pulled out the Master's sonic. "…this." He flipped it in the air, catching it with his other hand and then gave the other Time Lord a smile. "Wouldn't want you to slip out of those cuffs while I'm gone."

He pocketed the other sonic. The Master began pulling on his cuffs, as if he was trying to break free.

"Un-cuff me. You don't have to leave me here. I won't run. I swear. I just want to help."

"And then run off with her the first chance you get, no thanks," Jack snapped.

"I won't. Really. I can help. Come on. Two Time Lords against whoever's out there?"

"I already told you. I don't need your help."

The Doctor turned around and walked toward the TARDIS doors. He didn't believe the Master anymore than Jack did, but there was another reason he didn't want the other Time Lord anywhere near Rose. There was something about the Master, something different, and that something had to do with Rose and that…unsettled him.

"Doc," Jack called as he reached for the door handle. He turned back. "Here." The man tossed him one of the blasters. "Before you argue about how you don't want anything to do with guns remember who's on the other side of that door."

The Doctor took the blaster. He used to have an aversion to guns and, although, he liked to try working things out peacefully he learned that sometimes guns were necessary. He opened the door and stepped out.

There were three men in the middle of the room gathered around a metal chair that was bolted to the floor. She was in the chair. He could see her blonde hair from where he stood.

"Who the hell are you?" one of them demanded.

The trader no doubt. He eyed the man.

"Rose?" he asked.

"Doctor?" she inquired. "Doctor, is that you?"

He could hear the disbelief in her voice. She was alive. That's all he needed to know. The trader nodded at the two men. They ran toward him. He lifted the blaster, aimed and took out one and then the other, stunning them. Then he pointed the gun at the trader.

"What do you want?" the man asked.

"I've come for her," he said.

"No," the trader snapped.

The Doctor laughed.

"You really think you're in any position to stop me?"

"I'll give you anything you want, just leave her."

"I made that mistake once. I won't do it again," he replied, crossing the room.

The man put his hands up and backed off a couple steps. When he reached the side of the chair the Doctor glanced at her. She was strapped in and there was a bit of a hollow look around her eyes, one that he very much didn't like. Was that due to the trader or the Master? He wasn't sure, but they would pay. Both of them. For their part in this.

"All right?" he asked.

She smiled, a few tears escaping her eyes.

"Yeah," she choked out.

The man pulled a gun while the Doctor's eyes were on Rose. He pointed it at the Time Lord.

"I don't know who the hell you are, but I won't let you take her," the man insisted.

He turned a withering glare on the trader. The man had no idea who he was, but he would find out.

"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm over a thousand years old and right now you're the only thing standing between me and the woman I love, so what you've got to ask yourself is, do you really want to be standing that close?"

He saw the man's muscles contract, but before the trader could squeeze off a shot he fired the blaster. The man fell back, firing at the ceiling as he landed.

"Doctor, did you-" she began.

"No, he's just stunned, but," He bent down and placed his hands on the man's temples as he closed his eyes, "I won't have him doing this again." He reached into the man's mind and wiped all of his memories. "There now." He opened his eyes and stood up. "He won't be bothering anyone ever again."

He walked over to the chair and bent down, un-strapping her ankles first and then her wrists. The moment she was free she launched herself into his arms and for the first time, in such a very long time, the universe was felt right. He wrapped one arm around her and cradled the back of her head with the other. She was crying and a moment later he realized that she wasn't the only one. Crying because he was happy. That was so…human, but that's what she did. She made him feel human.

"How?" she asked, pulling away a bit.

"I'll tell you everything, but we need to get back onboard the TARDIS before they wake up," he said, cupping her cheeks and brushing the tears away with his thumbs. She was so beautiful, even after everything she'd been through.

He kissed her forehead and for some reason that made her laugh and his hearts ached at the sound. A sound he'd missed more than he ever knew. He smiled then took her hand, marveling for a moment at the way it still fit perfectly in his, then he ran toward the TARDIS with her by his side.

Standard Disclaimer.

Thank you to all my brilliant readers!

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