Chapter 33: Gridlock

A slightly static image of a woman is on the monitor next to a logo of the Statue of Liberty. She says she is Sally Calypso with traffic news. She gives the news report. The car shakes. The camera zooms out to see a man and a woman. The woman says they are going to get in, there is no stopping them.

"Well that looks fun." Jack mutters.

"Most definitely not fun." Martha groans.

The man says the police are on their way, he tries to sound the alarm again. The computer says he has been placed on hold. The woman tells him it's all his fault as he lied to the computer and said there were three of them. The man calls for assistance again. There is a big bang. Sparks fly. Smoke starts to fill the car. Our last view of the screaming occupants is a hand sliding down the monitor. Sally on the monitor is still talking.

"Definitely not good." Sarah-Jane grimaces.

"And no clue what could possibly have attacked them." Rose notes.

"I wonder why they needed three people?" Mickey frowns, looking over at Martha who was shuddering slightly. She says nothing in response to his question.

On the TARDIS, the Doctor says he said just one trip but perhaps they can stretch that definition to one trip in the past and one in the future.

"See, even you know you need somebody." Donna points out.

"As you keep saying, showing off is a little fun." Nine smirks at her.

Martha states there are no complaints from her. The Doctor asks if she wants to go to a different planet and she immediately asks if they can go to his.

Everyone winces.

"Sorry Doctor." Martha mutters.

"You didn't know." Ten sighs heavily.

The Doctor pauses before saying there are plenty of other places. Martha keeps going saying the planet of Time Lords must be worth a look and then she asks what it's like. The Doctor busies himself with the console before saying it is beautiful. She asks if there are outer space cities with spires and stuff. He quietly says he supposes it is.

"Take a hint, woman, he doesn't want to talk about it." Jack groans. "He isn't exactly subtle about this."

"I was just curious." Martha defends herself.

"I get that, we all wanted to know when we met him but pushing him and pushing him isn't going to help. He said no, you need to learn to accept it. You won't always get the answers you want." He replies. "If you're that desperate just try again later, slow and steady, don't demand it all at once."

She keeps going, asking about temples and cathedrals. He quietly agrees and she asks about planets in the sky. Suddenly he tells her the sky is burnt orange with the citadel enclosed in a glass dome with twin suns in the sky. Mountains go on forever and the grass is red, capped with snow.

"It sounds beautiful Doctor." Sarah-Jane smiles.

"It was." Nine tells her, choking slightly on a stifled sob.

"Red grass? Cool." Mickey grins.

Martha asks if they can go there. He looks at her before saying where is the fun for him, he doesn't want to go home.

Rose squeezes Nine's hand as Ten tightens his grip on her, knowing that is one of the biggest lies he has told.

He starts energetically moving around the console and tells her the year and that they are on New Earth.

"Oh, awesome." Rose laughs. "That's only thirty years after we were there."

"Not so much." Ten mutters.

"A lot can happen in thirty years." Martha nods.

He continues that they are in the middle of New New York, and then saying it is actually the fifteenth New York from the original and proceeds to say all of the 'New's.

"We really aren't a creative bunch." Mickey shakes his head.

"Just had a sense of deja vu." Nine laughs. "I think I've said that once or twice before."

"I didn't get to finish all the 'New's' last time." Ten smirks.

He announces it as one of the most dazzling cities ever built as he ushers Martha outside the TARDIS. It is raining.

"Oh lovely. Might as well be proper Earth." Mickey complains.

The TARDIS is blocking a narrow alleyway. They walk out into rain. Martha calls it the Time Lord version of dazzling. He tells her a bit of rain never hurt anyone.

"Not entirely true." Nine looks at his future self.

"I wasn't going to tell her that." Ten defends himself.

He suggests they get under cover. A large face in a tank is beside a kneeling cat attendant.

Jack goes pale. He doesn't particularly like to be reminded that is his future. Donna watches him and then elbows him lightly in the side. He flinches and looks down at her.

"Ow, woman! What was that for?" He complains.

"You were looking broody. We've got enough of that from him." She nods her head towards Ten and then grins back at Jack. He shakes his head and smiles in amusement.

Boe says he has arrived. The nun asks what she should do and Boe tells her to find him before it is too late. Novice Hame gets up.

"Isn't that one of the ones we met?" Rose asks, frowning at the screen. "I thought they all went to jail."

"That's Novice Hame, yes. Circumstances changed. She's been looking after him." Ten explains.

"Well, someone has to." Rose laughs, winking over at Jack.

"That's a bit rich, coming from Miss Jeopardy Friendly." Jack retorts with a grin.

She checks her machine gun. It lights up green. The Doctor and Martha run down an alley. Martha comments it looks like the same old Earth on a wednesday afternoon.

"It kinda does." Mickey agrees.

The Doctor tells her to hold on. He uses his sonic screwdriver to get a monitor working. Sally talks about fifteen new lanes being opened. Then there is a picture of a high-tec Manhattan and flying cars. He says that is the view they had last time. He guesses they must be in some sort of under-city.

"Definitely possible, given your landing abilities." Donna snickers.

Martha asks if he brought her to the slums. He says it is much more interesting as it is all cocktails and glitter up there.

"See, the only cocktail I remember was the medical one we needed to save our lives." Rose tells him casually.

"I don't recall any glitter." Jack adds with a smug smirk.

"You lot are so picky." Ten grumbles.

She tells him he would enjoy anything and he agrees. He then notes the rain is stopping. She stops him and asks if he brought Rose to the planet and he agrees he did. She asks if he is taking her to the same planets he took Rose. He asks what is wrong with that and she sarcastically mutters 'nothing' before asking if he's ever heard the word rebound.

"You are nothing like a rebound. I don't want you in any way I want Rose, you're just another ape that I can show around the universe." Nine bursts out, ignoring Rose's warning look. He's had enough of her behaviour on the screen.

"Doctor!" Mickey glares at Nine. "She has a point. No one wants to be dragged around planets you took your last companion to. It would make anyone feel like a cheap replacement."

"To be fair, Martha is the one acting hurt when he has shown no interest in her in that way whatsoever. He explained that the kiss meant nothing and she was the one telling him she only goes for human blokes." Jack breaks in. "You don't get to act like a jealous lover when he clearly isn't interested in you as more than a friend."

"I understand how hard it is to love him and know he doesn't love you back but if you keep pushing him and sulking about it, you will only make yourself miserable." Sarah-Jane tells Martha gently. "I also understand better, part of the reason he never talks about previous companions now." She adds, looking over at Ten. Not only does he not want to be reminded of people he has lost but this sort of thing happens. At least she and Rose got themselves sorted out.

"It's no use getting mad at Martha in here, she can't do anything about it now." Mickey tells them all, firmly. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and glares at everyone until they look back at the screen.

A man opens the front of his stall. He asks if they want happy. More hatches open. The next two are women. All the shop owners are talking over each other. The first one offers the Doctor happy again but he says no. Martha asks if they are selling drugs and the Doctor tells her they are selling moods.

"Kinda the same thing." Donna shrugs.

Martha asks if that is the same thing.

Donna and Martha exchange a smile.

More people start to enter the area, listless and dressed in rags. All the shopkeepers start calling out to her. A woman wanders over to one vendor and states she wants to buy forget.

"Forget isn't really a mood." Jack points out.

"No but I guess they make whatever they can." Nine shrugs.

The pharmacist says she has Forget, and asks what strength. The woman says her parents went on the motorway.

"So?" Mickey frowns.

"Not quite our idea of a motorway." Martha tells him.

"Still, surely they would come back at some point." Rose says.

"They might do when the Doctor fixes things, but until then probably not." Martha informs her.

The pharmacist sympathises and offers forget forty three. The woman pays as the Doctor wanders over and asks what happened to her parents. The woman explains they drove off. Confused, he states they might drive back. She tells him that everyone goes to the motorway in the end and she has lost them. He pleads with her not to put the patch on but she does. Then she asks what he was saying.

"I wonder how that works." Nine frowns. "Messing with memories is dangerous. Plus forgetting her parents without forgetting her whole life is especially tricky. I'm guessing selective memory loss but that's gotta be a serious chunk of memory gone."

"Unless they made her forget why the motorway is bad?" Suggests Donna.

"Unlikely, it seems pretty common knowledge, someone would tell her again and then that would be pointless." Ten argues.

He tells her that her parents have gone to the motorway. She states that is nice and then leaves.

"So she did also forget about the motorway and why it's so terrible." Sarah-Jane points out.

"Like I said, common knowledge though, can't be the only thing she has forgotten." Ten points out.

"She didn't say she doesn't have parents or anything so has she just forgotten why them leaving is so bad, or does she just not care anymore?" Rose asks. "This is so weird."

Martha scornfully says that this is the human race in the future, all on chemicals.

"Nope. They aren't supposed to be anyway." Nine tells her.

"I know that now." She reminds him.

A man grabs Martha from behind, and a woman points a gun at the Doctor. The stalls all close their hatches.

"What the hell?" Jack exclaims.

"Get off her!" Mickey scowls at the screen.

The man says he is really sorry but they need three.

"The people at the start said something about three people. They had lied about having three people and it killed them." Sarah-Jane remembers.

"And just because they think they need three people, does not mean they can go around kidnapping people!" Rose huffs indignantly.

The Doctor tells him to let her go, offering to help. The woman apologises again. The man drags Martha through a green door, and Cheen locks it behind them. They run along a passageway while the Doctor tries to get it open. In a back street, a car is parked here. Martha tells them the Doctor is going to kill them and then changes her mind saying she will kill them herself.

"Good try but I doubt that." Jack tells her. "They've probably got a drug for that."

The man says to give her some sleep. Martha yells at them not to put that stuff in her but the woman puts a patch on her neck and she falls asleep. They put her in the car. He releases the handbrake and the car takes off.

"You're taking your time!" Mickey yells at Ten.

"I was going as quickly as possible." Ten tells him.

The Doctor yells for Martha as it leaves. In the car, the woman checks on Martha, saying she is ok as the man requests access to the fast lane which is granted.

"They kidnapped someone and drugged them just to get in the fast lane!?" Donna yells angrily.

"Bastards." Mickey scowls.

They kiss. Back in the street with the vendors, the Doctor hammers on one of the closed hatches. It opens and the shopkeeper offers him happy. The Doctor demands to know who the people were and where they took Martha. The shopkeeper explains they've taken her to the motorway. She adds that they looked like carjackers.

"Why take this motorway when that picture on screen showed flying up above in the proper city? Considering people think you're never coming back from the motorway, an alternative route seems appropriate." Jack mutters.

"Pictures can lie." Nine tells him gloomily. This is looking more and more like a mess he created by solving a different mess and leaving the stupid apes to clean up by themselves.

Another vendor opens and tells him to give up. The third one informs him it used to be thriving there but they all go to the motorway in the end.

"This is one seriously big motorway." Rose frowns.

"Underground I guess. They dug too deep and woke something up that was living down there." Donna shrugs.

"Wonderful." Mickey sighs.

The Doctor asks about needing three and the vendor tells him they get special access if they have three adults to save fuel. He asks how to get to the motorway. She gives him directions. As he sets off, she calls him back to ask if he wants some happy.

"She's persistent I'll give her that. It's pretty obvious by now he doesn't want anything." Jack comments.

He tells them all to close up and pack their bags. She asks why and he states that as soon as he has found her he will be coming back and closing the street. Back in the car, Martha slowly wakes up and takes the patch from her neck. She grabs the gun and demands they take her back. The woman tells her it isn't a real gun.

"Of course." Jack groans.

"If it were, I'm assuming they wouldn't have left it lying around where their prisoner could reach it." Donna sighs.

"Martha wouldn't really shoot them anyway." Mickey tells them.

"Well we know that, they don't." Jack shrugs.

Martha retorts that she would say that. The woman asks where you would get a real gun these days and she wouldn't even know how to fire. Martha puts it down saying she wouldn't either.

"Good." Nine mutters quietly.

She then asks Martha for her name and she tells her. Then the couple are introduced as Cheen and Milo. Cheen apologises and explains they needed access to the fast last. She promises to drop her off as soon as they arrive. Martha doesn't seem to believe her but Cheen swears and shows an honesty patch.

"Why would you wear one of those? I sort of get wanting to be happy or forget the sad things but why would you force yourself to be honest all the time?" Rose frowns.

Martha points out it is still kidnapping and asks where they are. Mile tells her it's the motorway. She asks about the fog and Cheen tells her it is exhaust fumes.

"No extraction system? That's a lot of fumes to be confused as fog." Mickey points out.

"Also, why are cars that far in the future producing exhaust fumes. Shouldn't they be all electrical or something?" Rose asks. Everyone shrugs.

Milo tells her they are going to Brooklyn as they couldn't stay in Pharmacy Town. Cheen states she is pregnant.

Everyone smiles slightly.

"Still no excuse for kidnapping people." Mickey states, less angrily than a few minutes ago.

Martha asks if she should congratulate her kidnappers. Cheen says they aren't kidnappers, not really.

"Er, yeah, you really are." Donna snorts.

Martha calls them idiots, saying she is having a baby wearing the honesty patch. Then she rips it off and says not anymore.

"You tell them." Sarah-Jane laughs lightly.

Milo says it will be as fast as they can. It'll be slower after the Brooklyn flyover as there is no fast lane but it is only ten miles. Martha asks how long it will take. Cheen states six years.

"Six years?" Everyone except Ten and Martha state, looking horrified.

"To do ten miles?" Rose asks in astonishment.

"No wonder they keep saying nobody comes back from the motorway. It'll take their entire lifetime to get anywhere further than arms reach." Donna adds.

Martha asks what but Cheen says it'll be just in time for the baby to start school. Martha then asks why ten miles in six years.

"And how can they say they aren't really kidnappers? They want to keep you for six years?" Mickey protests.

The Doctor unlocks a metal door and steps out onto a small balcony, coughing in the exhaust fumes. The stationary traffic is stacked in all directions, including up and down. The car nearest the balcony opens its door and a figure in WW2 flying jacket and helmet, goggles and a white scarf across its face looks out. The figure call him a daft street strut.

"I like him." Donna giggles.

"He was a decent fellow." Ten smiles slightly.

Then he tells him to get out or get in their car. The Doctor gets in and gasps for breath. A dark haired woman puts an oxygen mask on the Doctor. The man is still complaining about the Doctor just standing there breathing in the fumes. He then removes his scarf and goggles.

"More cat people." Rose groans.

"Hey, Brannigan isn't like those nuns." Ten assures her. "He was a great help to me."

"It was nice of him to take a random stranger on board...without kidnapping them." Jack agrees.

Brannigan tells them an old story. The woman tells him he is making it up and he retorts, imagine picking the nose of a fifty foot head.

"Yuck!" Martha cringes.

The woman tells him to stop it. He asks if she never picked her nose but she tells him they are moving. He jumps into the driving seat. With a cloud of white smoke from the exhaust pipe, all the cars move forward a short distance. Brannigan states they moved twenty yards so it is a good day.

"Wow, I wonder how long it's been like this that they have all accepted moving twenty yards a day." Sarah-Jane wonders.

"Too long." Nine states.

Brannigan then asks who the Doctor is, noting he is well dressed for a hitchhiker. The Doctor introduces himself. Brannigan then introduces himself and Valerie.

"Sounds like a good introduction for you." Nine snickers down at Rose. "The bane of my life, the lovely Miss Jeopardy Friendly Rose Tyler."

"Far too much of a mouthful." Rose tells him while also poking him in the side.

Valerie says nice to meet you and Brannigan says the rest of the family is behind the Doctor. The Doctor draws back a curtain to reveal a litter of kittens in a basket.

"Awww!" Rose and Martha say together.

"They are so cute." Rose continues.

The Doctor says hello, picking up one of the kittens and asking how old they are. Valerie tells him they are two months old. Brannigan states they've never known the ground beneath their paws as they are children of the motorway. The Doctor asks if they were born in the car.

"Well, sounds like they have been driving a while." Mickey points out.

"Everyone on there seems to have been driving a while." Jack reminds him.

Valerie says they couldn't stop as they heard jobs were going on Fire Island. The Doctor asks if they have been driving for two months. Brannigan asks if he looks like a teenager. Then states they have been driving twelve years.

"Wow!" Sarah-Jane lets out a whistle.

"So things have been at a standstill for over twelve years? Sounds like you got lucky Martha, a journey that only takes six." Jack laughs slightly.

"Yes, so lucky." She agrees sarcastically.

The Doctor doesn't seem to understand and Brannigan tells him they started as newlyweds and it felt like yesterday. Valerie says it feels like twelve years to her.

Everyone laughs.

Brannigan tells her she still loves him as he tickles her. The Doctor asks how far they have come in twelve years. Brannigan states they have done five miles.

"What?"

"Well, I almost get why they kidnapped someone to get in the fast lane." Mickey winces.

The Doctor states they have done five miles in twelve years. Brannigan says he thinks he is a bit slow.

Everybody except the Doctors laugh again.

Valerie asks where he is from. He dismisses this, saying he has to get out as his friend is in one of the cars, he opens the door again and immediately starts coughing. Brannigan says he is too late for that as they have passed the lay-by, so he closes the door again. He asks when the next one is and Brannigan tells him it isn't for six months.

"Bloody hell."

"Six months? Can't be that far in actual distance then." Rose snorts.

There is a shot of the traffic jam with one car dropping down. Martha asks how many cars are out there and Cheen says nobody knows. She offers Martha a biscuit of some kind which she accepts. Martha then asks how far down the fast lane is. Milo tells her it is right at the bottom. He continues that not many people can afford three people so you can get up to thirty miles an hour.

"Practically Speedy Gonzales." Donna rolls her eyes.

"To them is it. Thirty miles an hour as opposed to not even half a mile a year." Nine points out.

Martha sarcastically states that is crazy. Then she asks how they live in such a tiny car. Cheen explains how it all works.

Everyone cringes at the food part. Martha wipes her mouth again.

Martha dumps her large dry biscuit. Milo keeps driving down. Up in Brannigan's car, the Doctor uses the sonic on the computer and tries to reach the police. The computer tells him he has been placed on hold.

"I'm not sure the police can really do much. Even if there is a crime, how do they get anywhere?" Sarah-Jane frowns.

"I had to try." Ten shrugs.

The Doctor protests they are the police but it repeats he has been put on hold. He turns to Brannigan and says he met the Duke of Manhattan, can he get through to him. Brannigan comments he is lordly. The Doctor tells him he has to find his friend. Valerie explains the motorway is cut off, no outside calls.

"That sucks." Rose scowls.

"So it's completely self contained?" Jack wonders.

The Doctor asks about other cars. Brannigan calls another car and they have a joking exchange.

They all smile.

"Definitely liking him." Rose grins.

"He's a right laugh." Jack agrees.

Brannigan then introduces the Doctor, who takes the radio and tells them he is looking for his friend who is in one of the cars. May puts down her knitting and picks up a large book. She asks what entrance they used. The Doctor asks Brannigan and then repeats the answer. He adds it was about twenty minutes ago. May states that in the last half an hour fifty three new cars joined at that junction.

"That's a lot of cars." Donna groans.

"Still narrows it down by a lot." Nine tells her.

"And I bet most of them aren't heading to the fast lane." Mickey adds.

The Doctor asks for anything more specific. Then May asks if she was car-jacked by two people and he agrees. She says just one car was destined for the fast lane and gives him the car number.

"Handy." Rose smiles.

"That was quick." Sarah-Jane says.

The Doctor asks how they find them and May says she can't help there. The Doctor asks Brannigan if they can call them with their car number. He tells him they can't if they are designated fast lane as it is a different class. May suggests they try the police and the Doctor tells her they put him on hold.

"I suppose they could deny them access to the fast lane but then they are still way below the Doctor." Mickey frowns.

Alice tells him he will have to keep trying as there is nobody else.

"I wonder why they are putting him on hold? If the motorway can't make outside calls they can only be down there. There can't be that much crime going on when people are restricted to their cars." Rose points out.

"Unless there isn't any police down there and because they can't make outside calls it puts them on hold." Donna suggests.

"That sounds more likely." Nine agrees.

The Doctor thanks them. Milo's car is still heading down.

"That's almost half an hours worth of lanes vertically." Jack notes with a frown. "It seems like the whole planet must be down there."

Milo says they have another ten layers to go. There is a distant growling sound. Martha asks what that is. Cheen says the stories are true. Martha asks what stories and Milo tells her it is just the air vents.

"They actually have air vents? Can't be doing a lot with those fumes." Mickey points out.

"Whatever is down there probably broke them." Nine tells him.

Cheen states the stories are better and tells one of them about people going missing. As she finishes there is a distant roar. Milo tells them it is the air vents, less firmly than before. Martha points out the window asking if it looks like the air vents are working. Cheen says no. Another roar and Martha asks what that is then. Milo says it is kids stuff and they descend again.

"Yeah, just stories." Jack mutters sarcastically.

The Doctor asks Brannigan to go to the fast lane. He refuses. The Doctor points out they have three passengers. He refuses again. The Doctor keeps trying and Valerie says no this time.

"I wanted to come. It's not your fault I got kidnapped." Martha tells him.

"Happens to us all." Rose agrees.

She adds she is not risking the children down there. The Doctor asks what the risk is but she says the conversation is closed. He asks if they keep on driving and Brannigan agrees. He asks how long and Brannigan says until the journey's end.

"So forever then." Mickey mutters sourly.

The Doctor grabs the radio handset. He asks the women how long they have been driving. Alice tells him it's been twenty three years. He asks if they have ever seen a police car. May says she isn't sure.

"That's a no then." Jack sighs.

He tells her to check her notes and she says not as such. He asks about an ambulance or anything official. May says she can't keep a note of everything.

"But she does." Jack points out.

The Doctor points out there might not be anybody out there. Brannigan snatches the handset back. He tells him to stop it as they were doing him a favour. The Doctor tells him that someone has to ask. He asks what if the traffic jam never stops. Brannigan argues there is a whole city above them and they wouldn't just leave them.

"I think most, if not all, of them are on the motorway." Nine mutters.

"Boe and that cat nun were up there." Mickey points out.

Valerie tells him to shut up. Sally comes back on the monitor and gives the weather. Brannigan tells the Doctor they are not abandoned while they have each other.

"That is sweet and true but not very helpful in that situation." Rose says.

A choir sings and everyone on the motorway joins in, including Martha but not the Doctor. Martha and Valerie are both crying. Milo's car finally have access to the fast lane. They head down and along the empty fast lane, level 50.

"Oh joy. Monster time. It's been a bit quiet on that front so far." Mickey sighs.

In Brannigan's car the Doctor says he will go down on his own. Brannigan asks what he is doing and he replied finding his own way as he usually does. The Doctor sonics open a trapdoor in the floor of the car. A car stops directly beneath them. He throws his coat at Valerie telling her to look after this. He adds he loves that coat and it was given to him by Janis Joplin. She tells him he can't jump.

"He can and he will." Donna laughs.

"Nobody else will do anything." Jack reminds her.

He tells her that if it is any consolation he is having kittens.

Everyone sniggers.

Brannigan states that Martha must mean an awful lot to him. He replied he hardly knew her. He adds that he was too busy showing off and that he lied to her. He says bye and drops onto the car below. Valerie says he is completely insane. Brannigan adds he is that and a bit magnificent.

"That is the Doctor in a nutshell." Donna laughs.

"Definitely." Rose agrees, grinning at both Doctors.

The Doctor sonics open the roof hatch and drops in on a man with very pale skin, wearing a white suit. The man asks who the hells he is and the Doctor says he is motorway patrol. He asks how he is enjoying the motorway. The man replied not very well as junction five has been closed for three years. The Doctor thanks him and wishes him a nice day. He opens the floor hatch and hangs there until the next car stops underneath him.

"Even your superior lungs aren't going to be able to keep that up too long." Donna winces.

"Gotta do what I gotta do." Ten tells her.

This one has two young Asian women in it. He passes straight through. He thanks them for their cooperation and states their comments have been noted.

"They didn't make any comments." Jack laughs.

He asks if he can borrow this. picking up a small blue headscarf and uses it as a mask. He adds it isn't his colour but thanks them. He keeps dropping through cars one by one.

"Problem is, you aren't going to be able to get into the fast lane. They won't be at a standstill for you to just drop into a car." Sarah-Jane points out.

"That many cars, maybe he can convince someone else to go down now they have three people." Mickey suggests.

In Milo's car, Cheen tells him to try again so he taps the monitor which states that Brooklyn turnoff 1 is closed. The next exit is also closed.

"That's crazy. Most of the planet are trapped on a motorway and the exits are all shut. Maybe something is wrong with the planet above ground?" Donna offers.

"The mood suppliers seemed alright." Rose points out.

Cheen asks what they should do. Milo suggests they go around the whole loop and hopefully the exits wil be open by the time they get back.

"It's pretty much their only option anyway." Nine mutters.

There are more growls from outside and Martha asks if they are still calling that air vents. MIlo asks what else is could be and then they hear more noises causing Cheen to ask what the hell it is.

"Definitely not air vents." Donna states.

Milo tells them it's the hydraulics but Martha tells him it sounds like it is alive. He assures her nothing could breathe out in all the exhaust fumes.

"Given there are that many exhaust fumes, I'm pretty sure the air vents are not working." Jack points out.

Someone calls the car, Milo asks who it is. In another car, three people are being shaken about as a woman looking like a black poodle says she is in the fast lane behind them. She tells them to get back off the fast lane. Milo tells them they only have permission to go down.

"I think they'll forgive you if you go up to avoid being eaten." Mickey says.

"Not that there is any police to notice anyway." Rose reminds him.

He continues that they need the Brooklyn Flyover. She tells him it is closed and to go back up as the car keeps getting hit and shaken about. Milo says they can't so they will just go round. She asks if he understands before pointing out they are always closed. She tells him they are stuck down there and something else is in the fog. She asks if he can hear it.

"You'd have to be deaf not to hear that thing." Nine mutters.

There is another loud roar. Milo tells her it's the air vents.

"Wow, he really is either very deep in denial or plain stupid." Jack rolls his eyes.

"Both." Nine states.

The woman asks if he is some stupid kid and tells him to get out of there. Big thump, the car tilts sideways. Milo asks what that was. She yells that she can't move and that something has them. Milo asks what is happening then Martha steps in and asks what has them.

"Finally, someone asking the important questions." Ten sighs.

She tells them to just get out of there. Milo keeps trying to talk to them but no response. Martha yells at him to just drive and get them out of there. He asks where to. She suggests straight ahead and fast. Cheen asks what is out there. The screen cuts to a bored looking man in a bowler hat and pinstripe suit.

"Still no clue what the monster could be except it's big and can breathe in exhaust fumes." Sarah-Jane frowns.

"That doesn't narrow it down much." Nine tells her.

The computer says the capsule is open and he looks round to see the Doctor dropping in. The Doctor coughs as the man asks if that is legal. The Doctor starts saying he is motorway foot patrol but then asks if he has any water. The man gets him a cup saying he doesn't want it said he has lost his manners.

"Your comments have been noted." Donna snickers.

The Doctor asks if it is the last layer and the man agrees. He asks if they can drive down but the man says there is only two of them. The Doctor asks if they can cheat and he replied that it is an automatic system and the steering wheel would lock.

"That couple at the start managed to lie." Martha remembers.

"Maybe once you're on the motorway you can't then get access as it will register the car with less than three and you probably aren't supposed to be car hopping like he is." Rose suggests, nodding towards Ten.

The Doctor starts to open the floor hatch and the man protests that he can't jump as it is a thousand feet down.

"Really? Why that deep and how does he know that?" Jack asks curiously.

The Doctor says he just wants to look. He asks about the noise and the man says he tries not to think about it. He asks about the lights down there and states he needs to see. He sonics the computer saying there must be some ventilation. Up in Brannigan's car someone is cutting through the roof hatch.

"They are having all kinds of visitors today." Rose laughs.

"Makes the day less boring." Ten agrees.

Valerie calls out she is calling the police. Hame hangs upside down through the hatch. She asks where the Doctor is.

"Cutting their roof was a little unnecessary, now they will get fumes coming in." Sarah-Jane frowns.

In the Doctor's car he connects some wires and then they both look over the hatch. The man asks what the shapes are. The Doctor says they are alive as giant claws snap up at them. The man asks what the hell they are and he calls them Macra.

"Well that explains why they are fine in the fumes." Nine sighs heavily. "They feed on it."

"What exactly are Macra?" Mickey asks.

"They feed off gas, filthier the better. They used to use humans as slaves to mine gas for them but that's billions of years ago. Now they have devolved to simple beasts." Ten explains. "Still deadly beasts though."

Something hits Milo's car. Cheen yells at him to go faster and he tells her he is at top speed. The car weaves through grabbing claws and the computer says there is no access above. Milo states it is an emergency and the computer says they have been placed on hold. Martha tells him to turn everything off.

"Nice thinking." Nine nods approvingly.

Milo tells her she must be joking. Martha explains that they probably can't see them with all the fog so it must be the engine or heat or something. She tells him to turn everything off and they might not be able to find them. Milo asks what happens if she is wrong.

"Then they will catch you a little bit sooner but you can't avoid them forever by driving." Rose points out.

"It makes sense that they wouldn't be able to see through the fog so definitely the best option." Jack agrees.

Martha points out it can't be worse than it is already. Mile presses a few buttons and the car goes dark. Outside it goes quiet. Cheen says they have stopped. Milo points out they are still out there. She asks how Martha thought of that and she says she saw it in a film. She adds that she can't remember what they did next. Mile tells her she'd better think of something quick as they have lost aircon.

"Oi! Why does Martha have to do all the thinking? Don't you two have brains as well?" Donna asks indignantly.

Martha asks how long they have and he tells her eight minutes. In the other car, the Doctor is explaining about the Macra to the man. He comments they don't look like empire builders to him and the Doctor tells him that was billions of years ago. He adds that they are still hungry and his friend is down there.

"Still no way to get down though." Rose points out with a frown.

"Maybe that cat nun will have a way, she's coming after the Doctor." Sarah-Jane suggests.

There is a clang on the roof. The man complains it is like New Times Square in there. Hame drops in and the Doctor comments he has invented a new sport.

"I don't see that catching on too much." Jack laughs. "Not many people are as crazy as you."

"They are missing out." Ten says haughtily.

Hame tells the Doctor he is a hard man to find. The man points to her gun saying he is not having guns.

"I like him." Nine nods.

Hame tells him she only brought it in case of pirates. She then says the Doctor must go with her. He asks if he knows her. She tells him he hasn't aged a day whereas time has been less kind to her. He recognises her as Novice Hame. He gives her a hug before telling her to get off as last time he saw her she was breeding humans for experimentation.

"Yeah, I wonder how she got away with not going to jail?" Rose frowns.

"Maybe looking after Boe was her penance. I mean, it's gotta be hard work." Donna snickers, elbowing Jack who mock scowled at her.

"She's lucky to have such wonderful company." He says, sticking his nose up in the air.

"Keep telling yourself that." Nine laughs.

The man goes wide eyed in the background. Hame tells him she sought forgiveness under his guidance and if he goes with her she might finally be able to redeem herself. The Doctor tells her he isn't going anywhere. He informs her about the Macra and that his friend is stuck down there.

"You guys have three passengers now." Sarah-Jane points out.

"It's never that easy. Besides, obviously saving Martha is important but they have no way of getting people off of the motorway, they are still stuck there." Jack reminds her.

"Save Martha first, planet second." Mickey states firmly.

Hame says he has to go with her. He refuses saying he is coming with him as they now have three passengers. She apologises saying the situation is worse than he can imagine. She grabs his wrist and says transport.

"Seriously? You're taking the one person who can help out of there?" Rose complains.

"Maybe she can take him to the city above. He can probably help better from up there." Jack suggests.

He yells at her not to dare but they beam away. The City gent is left alone. Hame and the Doctor pick themselves up from the rubbish-strewn floor.

"Or not. Not exactly the sparkling city is it?" Nine frowns.

The Doctor says that was a rough teleport and demands she goes back down to start teleporting people out. She tells him she only had the power for one trip. He tells her to get more power and then asks where they are. She tells him they are in the over-city.

"That's not good." Donna mutters eyeing all the rubbish around.

He says good because he wants a word with the Senate. Hame tells him he is inside the Senate. Hame uses her teleport bracelet to turn on the lights. The senate is populated by skeletons.

"Oh my god!" Rose gasps.

"I guess that is what she meant by the situation being worse. The Senate can't help because there isn't a Senate anymore." Sarah-Jane says sadly.

Hame tells him they died. He asks how long it has been like this and she tells him twenty four years. He asks what happened and she explains a new mood called Bliss was created and it mutated, killing the world in seven minutes flat.

"Bloody hell." Jack whispers.

"I knew those drugs were no good." Martha scowls.

"Seven minutes? That's one hell of a virus." Nine frowns.

She continues that there was enough time to close off the undercity, saving the people on the motorway. He guesses the whole system is running on automatic. She tells him that there isn't enough power to get them out and they did all they could to stop the system from choking.

"How the heck did she survive?" Mickey wonders.

"And where has the power come from to keep the whole undercity running for twenty four years?" Sarah-Jane adds.

He asks who she means by 'we' and how she survived. She tells him that he protected her and he has waited for the Doctor. Boe's voice calls for the Doctor. The Doctor runs round the corner and finds the Face of Boe.

Jack goes pale again. He unconsciously tightens an arm around Donna, wishing it would be over and he could stop seeing reminders of his unpleasant future.

Boe says he knew the Doctor would come. Hame states she was made his nurse as penance.

"Even she thinks it's a penance." Rose smirks over at Jack. He forces a light laugh.

"She's a nun, of course she wouldn't appreciate my company properly."

The Doctor asks what happened to him and Boe says failing. Hame explains that he protected her from the virus. She adds that the city's power died and the under city would have fallen into the sea. The Doctor realises Boe saved them.

"Wow Jack." Rose beams at him. "You saved all those people." Jack finally gives a real smile back. Being a giant head will suck but at least he can still do good.

Hame tells him that Boe wired himself into the mainframe and is giving his life force to keep things running.

"Literally giving your life to keep them alive." Donna nudges him and gives a proud smile.

"I have enough to spare." He tells her.

The Doctor says they could have called for help. Hame tells him the last act of the Senate was to declare the planet unsafe and the quarantine lasts for one hundred years.

"So their last act was to make sure the rest of the people were unable to get help?" Mickey scowls.

"To stop the virus spreading to more planets." Martha reminds him.

The Doctor says the two of them stayed on their own for all the years. Hame said they had no choice and he replied that they did. Boe tells the Doctor to save them. In Milo's car, Cheen asks how much air is left and he tells her two minutes. Martha says there is the Doctor who might think of something.

"Well turns out it was definitely a good job Hame took him up to the Senate building. He wouldn't be able to do anything from that bloke's car." Donna grins.

"She's definitely redeemed herself." Rose agrees.

"Still, how do you get rid of the Macra?" Sarah-Jane asks.

"You don't." Nine tells her. "That Bliss virus is gone, I just need to open the undercity again and then everyone can fly up. The Macra won't be able to get them."

"There's no power to open the undercity." Jack points out. Nine simply shrugs.

Milo tells her nobody is coming. Cheen says he looked kind of nice. Martha tells her he is a bit more than that. She asks if he and Martha were and Martha states that sometimes she thinks he likes her and other times he just needs someone.

"I just need someone." Nine mutters. "No liking."

Cheen then asks where Martha is from and she just says a long way away. She adds that she didn't really think, just followed the Doctor. Martha says that if she died there her parents would never know.

"Oh yeah, the whole 'I ran away with a stranger' realisation." Sarah-Jane laughs slightly. "We all go through it at some point."

Milo asks who the Doctor is and Martha says she doesn't really know. Cheen realises that means their only hope is a stranger. Martha assures them that they have to trust her because she has faith in the Doctor. They all look at each other and then Milo turns the car back on.

"Oh dear. Hurry up Doctor." Mickey winces.

"I'm trying." Ten rolls his eyes.

Milo and Martha wish each other good luck and they fly off again through the grabbing claws. In the Senate the Doctor has got a computer working. He spots the car Martha is in. Then he tells Hame to hold something while talking to himself about how to fix it. Hame tells him there isn't enough power. He tells her they have power as they have him. He tells her to put every switch up to maximum as he says that he can't power a city but it needs people. She asks what he is going to do and he says this. Then he flicks a switch and the lights go out.

"Brilliant plan." Rose teases.

"Taking the power from the lights to use for your plan?" Jack suggests with a smug laugh.

"Oh shut it." Ten tells them, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

He mutters a lot of no's. Milo's car is grabbed by a claw. Another one knocks it free again.

"That was way too close." Mickey breathes out heavily.

The Doctor states the transformers are blocked so the signal can't get through. Boe calls his name. He tells him not now.

"Oi!" Jack protests. "I'm trying to help."

Boe says he gives him his last and then closes his eyes. The power comes back to the computers.

"Oh Jack, no." Rose looks at him sadly. He shrugs, glad to be able to help the Doctor again.

The Doctor yells at Hame to look after him, telling him not to go dying on him as he has to see this. He flicks the switch again. In Brannigan's car there are loud clanging sounds. Valerie points out it is coming from above. He asks what is happening. Alice tells May to hold on. Brannigan looks out through the roof hatch. The roof of the motorway starts to open.

"Brilliant." Donna grins.

Valerie asks what it is as sunlight streams in. All the travellers start to laugh. Valerie opens the blanket to let the kittens see the sun. The Doctor appears on the monitor saying his name. Brannigan calls him a magician. The Doctor tells everyone to drive up. Brannigan asks if he is serious and the monitor says he has opened the roof and everyone should throttle those engines to drive up. Brannigan gets ready and all the cars start heading up.

"It's kinda sad they are all so surprised and pleased to see sunshine." Sarah-Jane notes a little sadly.

"They might have been saved but it wasn't really much of a life sitting in a car for twenty odd years." Mickey agrees.

"But they are free now and can live properly." Donna reminds them both.

The Doctor continues that they need to clear the fast lane. In Milo's car he appears telling Martha to drive up. She announces that he is the Doctor but Milo protests they can't go up or they will hit the layer. She tells him to just do as he says. The Doctor tells them they have access above. Milo steers the car up out of the reach of the Macra.

"Yes!" Everyone cheers.

Cheen says it is daylight and the real sky. Martha cheers that he did it, she told them he would. Brannigan tells the Doctor he is not bad at all. Hame is tending to Boe as the Doctor tells Brannigan to keep driving and that he wants his coat back. Brannigan tells him that is a fair bargain. The Doctor then tells Milo's car to come to the Senate. Martha says she is on her way. He says it's been a while since he saw her. Hame calls for the Doctor. A big crack is spreading across Boe's tank. A little later, Martha runs in and sees all the skeletons. When she finds the Doctor Boe's face is out of the tank on the floor.

"Jack!" Rose cries. Jack covers his eyes.

"Oh Martha, look away. A pretty lady and the first time she sees me is like that." Jack shudders theatrically.

Martha asks what that is.

"That?" Jack yelps. "Ouch."

"Sorry." Martha winces but Jack grins at her.

"Just kidding."

The Doctor tells her it is the Face of Boe.

"It? You as well Doctor?" Jack complains.

"Sorry Jack." Ten tells him, not sounding sorry at all and wearing an amused smirk.

He tells Martha to come and say hello. He then introduces Hame, saying she is a cat. Then he tells her Boe saved them, not him.

"I think we can call that a team effort." Jack grins.

Hame adds that her lord gave his life to save the city and is now dying.

"My lord? I like her." Jack laughs.

"Oh dear, you really don't need an even bigger head, it's large enough as it is." Rose chuckles.

The Doctor tells her not to say that as Boe has plenty of life left.

"I think I've lived enough by now Doc." Jack says quietly.

Boe states it is good to breathe the air once more and Martha asks who he is. The Doctor says he doesn't even know. He tells her legend says Boe has lived for billions of years and he isn't about to give up now.

"Billions is quite enough for me. It's actually kind of a relief to know I definitely won't be immortal." Jack tells the room at large, his voice a tiny bit thicker than usual which he would deny if asked about. Donna hugs him tighter and Rose gets up to sit on his other side, both of them crying silently.

Boe tells him that everything has its time which the Doctor knows better than most, calling the Doctor an old friend.

"Friend? Might be stretching it a bit, I never even got that drink." Nine smirks.

"I sponsored the event that was your first date with Rose, that's better than a drink surely?" Jack argues. Nine considers for a second.

"Oh alright then. Friend it is."

Hame states that the legend says more. The Doctor gives her a warning look, saying there is no need for that. Hame continues anyway that the Face of Boe will speak his final secret to a traveller. The Doctor says not yet, asking who needs secrets. Boe states he has seen much, perhaps too much but he is the last of his kind as the Doctor is the last of his. The Doctor tells him that is why they both have to survive. He asks him not to go. Boe says he must and then tells the Doctor you are not alone.

"What?" Nine rears back like he has been slapped and even Jack frowns at the screen in confusion. Ten things back on that dreadful year and realises for the first time exactly how long Jack had kept that secret and he hadn't even realised in time what it meant.

"What does that mean?" Rose asks tentatively.

"You'll find out, I'm sure." Ten states firmly, gesturing to the screen.

Boe breathes out for one last time, and closes his eyes. Hame weeps.

Rose, Donna and Martha all do the same. Jack hugs both Donna and Rose tightly.

"If I'm going to go, saving a planet seems a pretty good way to do it." Jack tells them both. "Besides, I should have died on Satellite 5, think how much extra time you bought me Rosie, a few billion years. But I'm glad it wasn't forever. Being just a head would get rather boring after a while."

"Even if it is a more appropriate size." Donna hiccups out a laugh. Jack pokes her in the side.

"Not a bad life for an ex con man." Ten smiles.

The Doctor hugs Martha. In Pharmacy town everything is closed down. Martha asks if he is happy and he says happy happy. He adds that New New York can start again.

"If the apes don't mess it up...again." Nine rolls his eyes.

He continues that they have Novice Hame. He sarcastically adds that is what every city needs, cats in charge. He then says it is time they were off. Martha asks what the Face of Boe meant. The Doctor says he doesn't know and she asks if he meant the Doctor had her. He tells her he doesn't think so. She asks what it means then and he says it doesn't matter.

"Not only that but I genuinely didn't know what he meant at the time. I had the obvious guess but couldn't see how it would be physically possible. There was nothing to tell you." Ten tells her sternly.

Martha straightens up a chair and sits down, arms and legs crossed. He asks if she is staying. She agrees she is until he talks to her properly. She asks what Boe meant by the last of his kind.

"I thought that was fairly obvious." Nine groans.

He tells her it really doesn't matter. He presses that he never talks and never says and asks why not. Then the singing starts again and she realises it is the city that is singing. The Doctor finally says that he lied to her because he liked to pretend just for a bit. He explains he is the last of the Time Lords and that Boe was wrong, there is nobody else. She asks what happened as the singing keeps going. The Doctor picks up another chair and sits down.

Rose kisses Jack on the cheek and hugs him before getting back up and sitting back between the Doctors. Taking Ten's hand in hers and snuggling into Nine's side. Nine buried his face in her hair.

He explains about the Time War and how everyone is gone including his family. He describes how stunning the planet was. Then the singing grows louder and the screen moves to show cars flying about New New York. Then the screen goes black.

"Well, nothing like a cheerful ending." Mickey mutters.

"I think we could all use a quick break." Donna announces and nobody dares argue with her. Ten stood up and motioned for Martha to join him. They both made their way to the snack table and had a chat. Donna turned to Jack and hugged him tightly. Then Mickey made his way over to them and they had an animated discussion about the monsters they had all seen in their time with the Doctor. Sarah-Jane came over to Nine and Rose, who hadn't moved. She perched on the arm of the sofa next to Nine and placed her hand on his arm. Then she and Rose struck up a conversation about K9 which soon drew the Doctor out and back to roughly his normal self.

Soon they were all feeling much lighter and ready to watch another episode. Everyone resumed their usual seating arrangements and Jack took the remote.