Hey everyone, and welcome to the 20th chapter of The Universe Challenge! This is a very... interesting chapter, I will have to give you that. I can say it is based mostly around Rose, though it isn't in her POV. And it's rather short as well, but I felt as if that was necessary. Now, before you get reading, I have to say something

This story involves a slight slight slight slight Martha bashing (It's like half a sentence; and I don't really mean it that way. I do like Martha, but this is her one bad side.) and also some Lesbian themes. Okay quite a few Lesbian themes. And maybe mentioned sex. :)

Anyways, if you are uncomfortable with any of that, you might want to not read the chapter. Or the story. Especially the Lesbian themes thing, because it's going to be an ongoing occurrence if you guys are okay enough with it... Oh god, I hope you are, because I rather like it. It adds a gay vibe without the constant presence of Jack... Because he is over the top.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy, and all of that...

(Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor who or anything associated with it, though I wish I did.)

Phoenix stood in the corner of the console room, watching as the Doctor silently worked on getting the hologram to Dårlig Ulv Stranden, or Bad Wolf Bay. Tears were still running down her cheeks as she stared at the wall, too held up in her own feelings to actually do much of anything. She didn't even know why she was reacting this way. She had known that Rose was going to die in the end. Hell, she didn't even know Rose that well. But she felt some sort of connection with her originally while watching the TV show. It was weird, but she couldn't help but feel even worse about Rose's death, almost like she had lost part of herself.

She had even tried to save her; though that obviously didn't turn out too well. She wasn't even sure what she had actually done to save Rose, it was all fuzzy. Her brain was hardly functioning, the only thing that was really present was the thought that she had killed Rose, and the drums. Both together, well, were basically crashing her mind. It was like the blue screen of death had appeared.

She sank down to the ground, bringing her knees close to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She sniffled, and stared at the metal flooring. What was she going to do now? She couldn't really function, and she knew she would probably disappear soon. Then she would be sent off to act happy for the other companions. She was hoping it wouldn't be Martha though, because she didn't think she could handle that. Not that she hated Martha, no, she actually loved her. But Phoenix wasn't sure she could handle the lovesick puppy thing at the moment.

Which reminded her of her own little lovesick puppy moment. Why had she done that? She had just…. Disappeared on the situation, and then snogged the Doctor. What was wrong with her? She couldn't begin to process what had been going through her mind at the moment she had done that. She wasn't going to deny that she had feelings for the Doctor, that was stupid and stereotypical, but it still felt wrong. Like she wasn't meant to be kissing him. Almost like she was meant to kiss someone else. It sounded stupid, but it really was what she felt like. Her first theory was that she kissed another guy somewhere in another timeline, or some other point in time. It would make sense, though why she would sense it was beyond her.

Phoenix finally broke out of her trance when the Doctor called her name. She looked up, and noticed the Doctor had opened the projection. She stood up slowly, and walked over there, wiping her eyes in an attempt to look almost happy. Her eyes were probably still puffy and red, but it was the best that she could do. She promised herself that she wouldn't cry, not in front of Rose.

But as soon as she saw Rose's face, her eyes started to water up again. She was standing there, alive, though she knew that in this universe, Rose was considered dead. And it broke her heart all over again. Not like it wasn't already broken.

"You two look like ghosts." Rose said softly, chuckling a little bit. Phoenix glanced over to the Doctor, who stayed silent as he fixed the projection, making it seem like they were actually on Bad Wolf Bay. Phoenix almost wished she actually was.

"Can I…?" Rose questioned, reaching out to try and touch Phoenix. The Doctor shook his head sadly.

"Only touch."

Rose's eyes started to tear up. "Can't you two come through properly?" She asked, her eyes begging for one of them to say yes.

"The whole thing would fracture. Two universes would collapse." Phoenix said softly, her eyes full of tears. She couldn't help but think that would be worth it. But then, remembering all of the other humans and aliens, she decided against it. She couldn't do that to every single living creature in the universe.

"So?" Rose humorously said, scoffing slightly. Phoenix smiled softly, squeezing her hand tightly at her side. Her self-control was being tested, and she wasn't sure exactly how she would react if it collapsed.

"Where are we? Where did the gap come out?" The Doctor asked, glancing around as if he could get a view of the place Rose was in. Though they could only actually see the bit the Rose was standing. You could see the sand, and the sky, but that was about it.

"Bad Wolf Bay." Phoenix said quietly, chuckling slightly to herself. It always led down to Bad Wolf, didn't it?

Both Rose and the Doctor smiled a bit, before Rose went back to her sad demeanor. "How long have we got?"

"Two minutes." Phoenix replied, her eyes watering up more than before. Her tears threatened to break loose. She wanted hours, not minutes.

"Am I ever going to see you two again?" Rose asked, staring mostly at Phoenix. She was slightly confused about that. Wouldn't Rose be more concerned about seeing the Doctor than her?

Phoenix opened her mouth, but closed it again. She couldn't tell Rose about the cannon. She couldn't tell Rose about any of the future events. If she did, she couldn't change it, now could she? An almost devious smirk appeared on her face, which looked odd along with her teary eyes. But, she did have to reply. "Probably not. I'm sorry." She said, putting on a frown to make it seem like she was truthful. But in reality, a plan was already forming inside of her head.

"What're you gonna do without me?" Rose sniffled, smiling slightly as she wiped her eyes. Phoenix chuckled, smiling slightly as well.

"Well, the Doctor is going to continue being the idiot spaceman he is. And me? Well, I suppose I'll continue jumping…" Phoenix said, actually thinking about it for once. Was she going to continue jumping forever? She was pretty sure there weren't that many episodes, even if she delved into the classics, so what was going to happen after that? She couldn't exactly return home, she had actually completely written that off as impossible. So what was going to happen? Rose interrupted her thoughts soon after though.

"I love you." She said, her voice breaking as she began to sob slightly. Phoenix expected that to be directed at the Doctor, but when she looked at Rose, she was looking right at her!

"…So do I. And if it's the last chance to say it, Rose, I…" Phoenix said, but the projection cut off right as she had said it. She stood there, her mouth open, the last words hanging on her mouth. Why had she started saying that in the first place? What the hell was going on? Phoenix's mind had become even more jumbled than before. She crumpled onto the floor, tears streaming down her face faster than they had since… well, since her attempt at suicide.

A warm tingling feeling began to spread throughout her body, and knew she had to go. But she hadn't had time to properly fix herself up yet! She could barely stand! But, she knew time would never stop for her, so she had to just deal with it. Taking a deep breath, Phoenix let out a weak "goodbye" before disappearing to who knows when, to try and deal with whatever was going on there.

Phoenix landed atop something very soft, assumingly a bed. Some song was blasting on full volume, and someone was singing along to it. Rather atrociously, of course. But it suddenly turned off, and the sound of shattering glass echoed through the room. She heard footsteps running toward her, and suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder. Phoenix took a deep breath before wiping her eyes and turning to face whoever had ahold on her shoulder.

And, of course, just her luck, it happened to be Rose. Memories of the very recent events flashed through her eyes, and tears threatened to make an appearance yet again. She sucked it up though, not wanting to have to explain why she seemed sad.

But, of course, Rose asked anyways. "What's wrong? You seem sad." She questioned, pulling Phoenix up to a sitting position, wrapping her arms around Phoenix's waist as well. It was rather questionable, but Phoenix just shook it off, thinking it was just that they were really close friends.

"I'm fine, don't worry." Phoenix said, shaking her head slightly. She couldn't exactly tell Rose that she had just watched her die! That would do something to the time stream and… Oh god, her life was a complicated mess.

"Come on, we promised each other we wouldn't keep secrets." Rose said softly, resting her head on Phoenix's shoulder. Phoenix looked at Rose with a confused expression. It was starting to get to the point of almost past friendship. But she had to admit, it was rather comforting… and she did like it.

Phoenix sighed. She also wasn't going to be able to leave without telling Rose something related to it, would she? Phoenix took a deep breath, before saying the closest thing she could to the truth. "I just watched someone die."

Rose's gasp almost shocked Phoenix, not expecting her to react so violently to it. They both watched people and aliens die every day, was it that much of a difference? Plus, she didn't know who she had watched die. It could have been a ladybug for all she knew. But, by the tight squeezing around her lower abdomen, she assumed that Rose thought it was very serious. It was, of course, but she didn't expect Rose to know that.

"I'm sorry. I hope you're okay." Rose said, squeezing Phoenix even tighter. Phoenix, at the moment, was suffocating, and possibly dying of confusion. Rose was acting oddly, very oddly. She was being much more… sentimental and kind than she normally was. Not saying she wasn't kind, but it was kind of like an overdose.

"…I'm fine." Phoenix said, slowly hugging Rose back. Comfort was always welcome in her life, seeing as she didn't get it all that much. Really though, her life was constant action, she hardly ever got the time to just sit down and relax.

"You sure?" Rose questioned, scooching even closer than Phoenix thought was humanly possible. Rose was basically on her lap. Phoenix has to grab Rose's waist tightly just to keep her from tipping over. Rose's shirt rose slightly, making Phoenix's fingers brush over Rose's skin just slightly.

Phoenix nodded, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. She wasn't exactly sure why she was blushing, but she couldn't help but feel as if she wanted to get closer to Rose. It was exactly like she had felt with the Doctor a few hours before. Whom she had kissed.

Rose's worried look quickly turned into one of almost… lust. She leaned in and began kissing Phoenix passionately. Phoenix froze for a moment, unsure of what to do, before slowly kissing back. Their lips molded perfectly, moving in perfect sync. When they finally broke for air, Rose pushed Phoenix back onto the bed before linking their lips back together.

They continued snogging, until Rose's hand found its way underneath Phoenix's shirt. Phoenix quickly broke the kiss, looking up into Rose's eyes. Rose looked confused. Phoenix took a deep breath, before quickly saying what she probably should have said before. "Rose… this is the first time I've really…"

Rose chuckled, interrupting her. Phoenix frowned, not liking being interrupted. But the expression melted away as Rose's hand slid up slightly further. "I understand. You trust me, don't you? We could quit if…" Rose said, uncertainty suddenly showing in her eyes. Phoenix shook her head.

"It's okay. Keep going." Phoenix said softly. She was too caught up in the moment to stop at that point. Plus, she did rather want it…

"You sure?" Rose asked a final time. Phoenix nodded slightly, before they both leaned in and started kissing again, their lips melding together nicely. Phoenix had found herself almost glad that she had ended up in Rose's room. Maybe she could forget about Rose's death, if only for a little while.

Phoenix groggily opened her eyes, yawning as she did. She glanced around, noticing the pink walls and the white furniture. When had she changed her room to that? She hadn't remembered that ever happening…

She suddenly became aware of the arms wrapped around her hips, pulling her towards the owner of said arms. She panicked, before remembering everything that had happened the previous night. Which then made her panic more. Did she just really do that? Did she actually just have sex with bloody Rose Tyler?

Calming down, Phoenix glanced over towards Rose, who was sleeping quite peacefully. Phoenix smiled, before retaining a serious look on her face. She would have to figure out what the hell she was supposed to do, fast, before this all came crashing down in front of her

Yes. That did just happen. That is part of the story. And I am sorry if I made any of you uncomfortable... But seriously, that was so much fun to write. I was basically screaming the whole time, yes, but still. I am rather a fan of Rose, she's one of my favorite characters so I thought "Why not." You have to admit, it's a big bloody turn in the plot.

So yeah. Doctor or Rose? You decide. Who would you rather see with Phoenix? I mean, I already have it planned out, but if you guys like the Phoenix-Rose relationship I might delve into it deeper than if you guys don't like it as much...