Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: The BBC owns all, I am merely borrowing.
Spoilers: Through The Satan Pit.
Author's Notes:Desperate to save Rose from a body snatching spirit, the Doctor resorted to establishing a forbidden bond between them. Now, he's just as desperate to keep them apart. When they visit a starlight festival for a little fun, he might very well get his wish. The much requested sequel to The Moonlit Cotillion.

Satisfied that the cupboard was secured, the Doctor wasted no time in pursuing his objective. He knew he'd be in for more than a slap should Rose realize he'd locked her in the cupboard, but he also knew exactly how long she could fuss after taking a shower. He'd shut down the facility and be back in time for tea.

Sauntering down a hallway, he noticed a door designated as leading to the laundry and slipped inside. He glanced over the racks and shelves of uniforms, but stopped short when he noticed the group of women ironing in the center of the room.

"Oh, don't tell us," said one of the women with a sigh. "One of the creatures ate it?"

"What?"

"Your uniform," supplied another, rolling her eyes.

"Oh." The Doctor glanced down at his suit and then back at them. "What's wrong with my suit?"

"Not regulation color, is it?"

"Although very dashing."

The other women giggled in agreement.

"Yes, that's...um..." he stuttered, backing away from them. "Don't suppose you have an extra my size?"

The Doctor sought a hasty exit from the laundry room, stammering his thanks to the women who had eagerly helped him into a jacket. It was a tight fit over his coat and he rolled his shoulders in discomfort. He'd yet to have a body that tolerated wearing something quite so pink, but it meant he could pass easily amongst the workers until he found the command center.

He trailed after a group of similarly attired employees, listening to their chatter for clues. They were avidly discussing that night's celebration, not for the jubilant festivities but for the extra pay it afforded them. It was the biggest festival of the year and that meant a booming business for latakar. Production was increasing hourly despite the warning he'd given and that meant more had perished.

He wasn't one for second chances.

His eyes narrowed as he noticed the tall brunette at the end of the hall. It appeared that Dorothy's day had not improved since he'd last seen her. Her once pristine pink lab coat was rumpled and her hair was in considerable disarray. She angrily motioned for two men to follow her and then disappeared around a corner. The Doctor followed.

Along the way, they passed several rooms like the one from which he'd rescued Rose. None of them were empty, but it was too late for him to make any difference. "I'm sorry," he whispered, pausing at the last one. It was the girl from the hot spring, the pallor of her complexion only increased by death. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

He tore his gaze away from the carnage, just in time to see Dorothy display an identification card and gain entry to a room at the end of the hall. Following her lead, he showed the psychic paper to the man beside the door and slipped in after them.

"I want every frequency tested! Every sound. Every noise," Dorothy demanded, gesturing at the electronics that filled the room. "The research department has had little success so far, but I have the highest hopes for you two. It is of the highest priority. Along with catching that meddlesome troublemaker."

"Oh, I'm not nearly as bad as all that," the Doctor interrupted, carelessly flicking several switches as he entered. "Am I?"

"You?!" Dorothy shrieked, whirling to face him.

He grinned and waggled his fingers in greeting. "Hello."

"But...how did you get back in here?" she demanded. "This facility is impenetrable! And I made sure to request extra guards."

"Clever, remember?" His smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. "You didn't do as I asked."

"Of course not," she scoffed. "Bliss Industries cannot stop production for the ridiculous sentiments of one man."

"But I'm not just any man, Dorothy Hart." He leaned back against a piece of equipment, turning a knob before folding his arms across his chest. "And I'm definitely not fond of giving second chances."

"Oh, really?" she sneered, but her threat was interrupted by the distant rumble of an explosion. "What was that?"

"I told you this would stop," the Doctor calmly reminded her. "I'm keeping that promise."

The floor shook as the sound of more explosions reached the room.

Panicking, Dorothy shouted, "Do something! Stop it! Reverse whatever he's done!"

The Doctor shook himself free of the pink lab coat and tossed it aside. "Bit too late for that." He peered over the shoulders of the frantic men as they fiddled with the controls. "Oh, I wouldn't. I really wouldn't."

As before, no one heeded his warning and they all tumbled to the floor as the room pitched drastically.

Only the Doctor managed to keep his balance, having plenty of practice from his years of TARDIS travel. He watched with amusement as Dorothy and her assistants scrambled to their feet. "Told you."

Dorothy was not amused. "Get him!"

Suddenly, the floor shook and a rumbling noise began, getting louder and louder as it gained in proximity. The controls lit up as every single warning light started flashing.

The Doctor frowned, putting on his glasses to better see the controls. "That's not supposed to happen."

Having thoroughly searched the cupboard for anything even resembling an exploding avocado, Rose had resorted to pacing the confined space. It certainly wasn't the first time the Doctor had left her behind and she suspected it wouldn't be the last. Despite this proclivity, he usually needed her assistance and the churning in her gut indicated that something terrible was happening in her absence.

In her distraction, she stumbled over a box, the contents of which spilled across the floor. Rose crouched to inspect them, discovering pages of diagrams and notations, conflicted accounts from when the company first started experimenting with the giant insects. If the other boxes held similar information it would be more than enough to topple the company. No wonder the door had been so securely locked.

Looking up at the towering pile of boxes, Rose noticed a metal grating mounted to the wall near the top. She might not be able to unlock the door, but she had plenty of experience navigating cooling systems. With newfound determination, she used her gymnastic skills to climb the boxes until she teetered at the very top. She tugged on the metal grating and gave a triumphant shout as it gave way. Carefully, she lifted herself into the metal corridor beyond. The passageway was a tight fit and she struggled to crawl through without banging her head and limbs.

She hadn't gotten very far when she heard a loud rumbling noise and the air duct shook violently. Desperately, she tried to hold onto the slick metal interior, but there was nothing to grab. Falling through an access hatch, she was airborne for only a moment before she landed on top of something hard.

With a groan, Rose lifted herself up, almost collapsing again when she realized what was beneath her. She scrambled to her feet, backing away from the giant beetle only to trip over another one. She froze, eyes wide as she took in the length of the hallway and the immobile beetles that covered the floor.

"I should have known you'd be causing trouble nearby."

Startled, Rose turned to face the woman who had so blithely killed in pursuit of a temporary bit of happiness.

"Not much of a Doctor, your friend. All he knows are death and destruction. He's ruined everything! Starting a stampede and then..." Dorothy waved her arms, gesturing to the floor littered with dead beetles.

Rose carefully skirted the fallen insects, approaching the woman. "Where is he? Where's the Doctor?"

"Oh, they've taken care of him!" Dorothy cackled. "Won't be long now, before it's too late. Everything falls apart and he'll be lost amidst the rubble."

"Where?" Rose demanded. "Tell me!"

"At the very center of things. I suspect he's used to that, isn't he?" she sneered. "You'd better run if you want to find him!"

The facility was a massive web of hallways and Rose had no idea where the Doctor might have ended up. As she ran, she trusted her instincts to lead her in the right direction. She touched the pendant, finding strength in the warm metal beneath her fingers. She didn't question how she knew which hallways to follow, anxious to locate the Doctor before it was too late.

After several minutes, she reached a dimly lit corridor and felt drawn to the doorway at the end. The room beyond was hazy with smoke and filled with electronics that had been ripped apart. Her heart lurched in her chest as she noticed a familiar white trainer amidst the debris.

"Doctor!" she shouted, sprinting the final distance.

The upper half of his body was obscured by a pile of twisted metal and she grabbed his legs to pull him free.

"Oh, god." Rose blanched at the dark stain that streaked the floor under his head. Her hands trembled as she unzipped her hoodie and carefully pressed it against the wound. She blinked rapidly, trying to dislodge the moisture that gathered as she noticed other signs of injury. His pale skin was blackened with soot and she brushed a hand across his cheek, wiping some of it away. "Doctor?"

He shuddered and mumbled what sounded like her name.

Encouraged, Rose took a deep breath, preparing herself for the long but necessary trek back to the TARDIS. She doubted it was safe to remain in the facility and the Doctor could be unconscious for hours. Slipping her arms under his shoulders, she carefully dragged him out of the room.