Jack decided he wanted to explore Earth 2007 and Mickey wanted to figure out his life. Honestly I think they were just letting the Doctor and I have some alone time.

"So where are we going?"

"Just wait Rose, the sights you are going to see."

I smiled at him, only to see him glance at me and then his screen.

His brow furrowed.

"Better not be too nosy."

"Can't help it."

I let out a sigh, "I'll tell you."

"When?"

I looked at him, "You didn't seem to know when I last saw future you so at least until after you save me then."

"Told him to ask his Rose?"

"I'm one and the same, but basically."

I came up to his side leaning my head against his shoulder as he piloted the TARDIS.

I felt as his nose drifted over the top of my hair.

"I like the new haircut."

"Thanks, its different, lighter." I ran my hand through my pixie cut with a smile. "No more Rapunzel."

"How's your shoulders?"

I didn't need to look up to know he was frowning in worry.

"Sexy's med bay fixed me right up, along with a dip in the jacuzzi."

"Good," he nodded, "Did I tell you that I'm glad you are safe?"

I shook my head.

"I'm glad you…I'm glad you are still here." I felt his chest rise along with his shoulders, "I'm…" He cleared his throat, and there was a beat of silence.

I kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

"I didn't say it."

I smiled, "I felt it."

"Oh Rose…"

I looked up to find him gazing at me already.

"What would I do without you?"

"I suppose you already found out."

He nodded and said no more until the TARDIS landed.

"It's the year five billion and twenty three."

He offered his hand, his big grin appeared as I slipped my hand into his.

As we stepped outside, I felt an encouraging nudge from Sexy before her doors closed behind us.

"Galaxy M87 and this is New Earth."

We stood upon a hill overlooking a silver city, bustling with life.

"Everything a sci-fi city should look like."

"What's that?"

"Gleaming, shiny, interesting architecture and of course flying cars."

"Well of course."

I smiled and hummed beneath my breath. There was a subtle sweet smell upon the slight breeze that rustled our clothing. I looked around only to see grass, Granny Smith green.

"It smells good."

We both kneeled and laughed as our noses followed the scent to the grass.

"Apple grass."

"Well of course." I mimicked the Doctor and he let out a laugh that felt almost like old times.

There was still a tension there, but I hoped that once we were adventuring we'd fall into old habits and get rid of the awkwardness.

We stood and leaned against the TARDIS.

"So the Earth got burnt in the year five billion, then what happened?"

The Doctor looked at me, "We had chips."

I laughed, "Quite the date you were, I paid."

His goofy grin matched with his intense gaze had me blushing.

"I'll just have to make it up to you then."

"You still owe me a TARDIS cooked meal."

He shrugged, "I'm not sure I can make as good as that first."

I looked into his eyes, "Whatever you make I'll eat it, even if its just salad."

"I know better than that."

"Then I guess I'll just have to wait and see."

An almost bashful look appeared upon the Doctor's face before he turned his head and cleared his throat.

"The planet may have been gone but the human race had spread out to the stars. As soon as the Earth was gone, they got nostalgic. So, they found this place. Same size, same air, same orbit. Absolutely fantastic! They send out the call and the humans come."

"Which city is this?" I waved toward the silver city.

"New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York." He gave a little dance swaying side to side as he said all the 'new's.

I let out a laugh, "And they call it that in casual conversation."

"Oh no, New New York for short."

"Well then are we going to explore New New York?"

The Doctor nodded to two wide towers each with a green circular logo at their top tiers.

"Smell trouble already?"

"Can't you?"

I let out a sigh, "What fun would it be if I spoiled every mystery? I could but I won't."

"How can you not?" His serious face was back.

"I have set my subconscious to only open the door holding the clues if lives can be saved. Knowing earlier doesn't prevent tragedy though as I learned when you were gone."

Guilt came across his features.

"I'll tell you if I can offer practical advice. Otherwise some things have to happen naturally. You of all people know how sensitive Time is."

He looked back at the towers, before he flashed his psychic paper.

Still it glowed with the circular language ('Galifreyan' my mind whispered) this time in blue.

"Ward 26, please come."

He had his adventure face on. I suppose I'd tell him later about the psychic paper.

The doctor shivered as we walked through the glass doors of the hospital.

"Don't like hospitals, Doctor?"

He shook his head.

I looked around, "I always had a voice telling me to stay away from them myself."

I could feel his look even if I couldn't see it.

A cat-like being passed by in a white whimple and nun-like clothes with a large nurse cap on their head.

My eyes widened but I tried not to stare.

The interior of the hospital was stark white and polished, from floors, ceilings to countertops.

"It's all very clean looking isn't it? At least it doesn't smell like disinfectant."

I followed the Doctor into a pristine elevator.

"Ward 26, please."

As the elevator moved, the Doctor said, "Close your eyes and mouth. Prepare yourself."

"For what?"

The PA announced, "Commence stage 1 disinfection."

An alert sounded a green light flashed, the only other warning we received before we were doused with sickly sweet smelling disinfectant.

I only let out a little squeak of surprise.

Thankfully I listened and kept my eyes and mouth closed.

Once the wet disinfectant stopped, a puff of air came from the sides of the elevator coating us with what felt like a fine powder. A strong wind blew us dry. I was suddenly glad my hair was so short and that I wasn't wearing too many layers today.

As soon as the elevators opened one of the nurses was there waiting to escort us to the correct ward.

"Is this your first time at our establishment?"

Both the Doctor and I gave a small nod.

The nurse removed her veil, "The Sisters of Plenitude take a lifelong vow to help and to mend."

I could see the Doctor's thinking face as we passed numerous patients, one in particular looked as if he were turning to stone.

"That's petrifold regression."

The man on the med cot groaned, "I'm dying. A lifetime of charity and abstinence and it ends like this."

His assistant glared at us and the nurse, "Sister Jatt, a little privacy please."

We moved on but Sister Jatt spoke up, "He'll be up and about in no time."

"Not possible. There won't be a cure for at least one thousand years."

The Doctor shook his head.

The cat nurse smiled, "Have faith in the Sisterhood."

That's when the bad feeling started and I just knew that there was a door in my Mind Palace just for this place.

"Is there no one you recognize? It's odd to visit and not to know who."

My eyes roamed the space before seeing a familiar encasement by the tall floor-to-ceiling windows at the far side of the room.

I tapped the Doctor's shoulder and pointed to our old friend, except now I knew who he was, even if the Doctor was unaware.

"We found him, thank you."

The nurse brought us before the Face of Boe and talked to the nurse sitting beside him, "Sister Hame, I'll leave these two in your care."

Sister Hame had a kind face and she looked apologetically at the two of us.

"I'm afraid the Face of Boe is asleep. That is all he does these days. Are you friends or…?"

I nodded, "He's a dear friend."

I could feel the Doctor's look, "You'll figure it out, Doctor."

"What's wrong with him?"

Sister Hame's features fell, "I'm sorry I thought you knew. The Face of Boe is dying."

I frowned as I went up to where the head of my dear friend rested, what an odd thought that was.

I placed my hand on the glass and closed my eyes, sending the thought, 'I'm here CJ. When you are ready.'

"He's thousands of years old, some people say millions, although that's quite impossible."

"You'd be surprised what's possible," I whispered. My gaze upon the sleeping Jack.

The Doctor knelt by my side, placing his hand on the other side of the tank.

"I'm here. It's the Doctor."

Jack let out a long sigh-like groan but kept sleeping.

The PA kept entoning their motto above our heads, "Hope, harmony and health."

It was giving me the heebies.

I was thirsty but something bugged me about this place and I wasn't about to trust it.

The Doctor placed a hand on my shoulder, "You don't look so good, I'll get you some water. Sister Hame, would you like some?"

"I wouldn't want to trouble you."

"No trouble." I stood from where I was kneeling and made my way to the water dispenser getting two water cups filled. The Doctor gave the one in his hand to Boe's caretaker and handed one of mine to him. I eyed the nurse waiting to take a sip until she did.

"That's very kind." Sister Hame sipped her cup, looking longingly at the Face of Boe.

I said, "You are the one taking care of him."

A sad smile came upon the nurse's lips, "I don't do much. I just maintain his smoke and I suppose I'm company. He'll sing songs in my head, such ancient songs."

I watched as she looked upon Jack in admiration, "Does he get many visitors?"

"All of Boekind have already gone. Legend says the Face of Boe has watched the universe grow old. One story about him is that just before his death he will impart his great secret. Some say it will only be to one such as himself, others say to the one that came before."

I knew either could be for the Doctor or I.

"I wonder what it means," The Doctor gazed at the face of Boe, unknowing of who he was.

"It's just a story."

"What's the rest?" I was curious to find out if it was similar to the whispers behind the door.

"It says he will speak to a wanderer, a Starling. There's been many theories on what the term means but no one has received an answer from him."

My eyes widened and I looked away, so it was for me.

I could feel my Doctor's gaze as I sat down on the floor by CJ.

"Rose?"

Laughter filled the ward and the Doctor's attention was pulled elsewhere. I glanced behind me to see the Doctor speaking to the cured man that before was turning to stone.

I whispered to Boe, "I'm here. The Doctor is busy, investigating as he does."

I glanced at the nurse to see her gaze elsewhere but I sensed she was still paying attention probably would be best if I only made mental comments.

'Marion Rose, I've missed you.'

'I've missed you too CJ, even if it's only been a little over a day for me. You probably can't tell me how long its been for you but…'

A chuckle resounded in my head, so very familiar.

'I had forgotten how worried you were at the start. So afraid of making ripples when you were always meant to make a splash.'

I giggled, 'Talking in riddles in your old age'

'What use is there in being ancient if I can't be mysterious sometimes.

He's coming back. Look serious…or not your choice, Marion Rose.'

"Rose, come and look at this patient."

I stood and wandered to the Doctor's side.

"Marconi's disease. Should have taken years to recover and yet here its only taken 2 days."

I looked upon a hovering patient with crimson skin.

"I've never seen anything like this. Somehow they've invented a cell-washing cascade. It's brilliant."

"Too advanced?"

I looked at the Doctor who nodded.

"This one as well Palladone pancrosis. Kills you in 10 minutes, and he's fine."

I looked over at a very pale man that viewed us tiredly.

"I need to find out how they are doing this." He looked at me, his gaze pointedly looking at my forehead as if trying to look into my brain, "Anything?"

"Just a bad feeling."

He hummed beneath his breath, "Somehow they have the best medicine in the world and yet they are so secretive."

"Protecting their profits?"

"I think its much darker than greed."

I sighed, "That's what I'm afraid of."

He turned suddenly and peered deeply into my eyes, "What did you and the Face of Boe talk about?"

I sighed, the Doctor had his determined face on and I knew I had to give him some sort of answer.

"Essentially he said I was too afraid of making ripples, when I should be making waves."

"Dangerous advice."

"Indeed." I felt like I was sighing far too much lately.

The Doctor scanned the nearby computer but nothing unusual came up. I took a deep breath before pushing a door open letting some wisp of hints something warning me to be careful. It sounded like my own voice, not Sexy's.

I opened my eyes to see the Doctor staring at me.

"Intensive care, why hide it?"

The Doctor scanned the system, "You are right, its suspicious."

"Installation protocol that's how we get in." I looked at him, "Can't make a wave yet but trying for a big ripple."

The whoosh sounded as the wall slid down.

I looked down the dark corridor, "Intensive care, here we come."

We walked down a couple flights of stairs until we reached what looked like the inside of one of the towers. Each level had a green pod with humanoid shadow within.

"Oh no…" I looked up and it seemed to have no end.

The Doctor soniced open one of the doors and inside was a man sitting in a hospital gown covered with boil and all sorts of rashes.

I backed away as the dots connected and I hated it.

The Doctor and I looked at each other. My eyes sad and his growing angry.

Each pod opened was the same, different ailments and reactions on each person but all sick; their eyes filled with pain.

"Are they…?" I drifted off not sure what I meant to say.

"They are infected with every disease in the galaxy, everything."

"There are so many."

We looked down and up so many green lights.

"All born sick. Made to be sick. No wonder the Sisterhood has a cure for everything. They've built the ultimate laboratory."

In one of the pods the woman reached out a voice speaking in a hoarse whisper, "Please…"

I looked at her, "We'll find a way, I promise."

The Doctor closed the door whispering an apology to the woman.

"You can't let them touch you."

"How long do they live like this?"

The Doctor shook his head, "Carriers of a plague are always last to go."

A familiar, soft voice spoke from down the corridor, "It's for the greater cause."

The Doctor turned a hard gaze upon the nurse who had followed us, "Novice Hame, is this what you vow to?"

"The Sisterhood has sworn to help."

I stepped forward, "By torturing and killing?"

She shook her head.

Now I realised why my door hadn't opened, it would have been too much to take in all at once.

"They are not real people," She tried to reason with us.

"How can you think that when they feel pain?"

The Doctor's brow was a hard ridge over heavy set eyes, "How many have died?"

Sister Hame's face looked so earnest, "Mankind needed us. They came with so many illnesses, we couldn't cope. We did try. We tried everything before this, but it was no use. The results were too slow. So the Sisterhood grew its own flesh. That's all they are."

The Doctor nearly growled, his voice so low and dangerous.

"They are people, they are alive."

"But you forget Doctor, of all the humans we've saved. They are out here healthy and happy because of us."

The Doctor's voice raised, "If they live to suffer others suffering, then that is worthless."

Sister Hame shook her head, "But who are you to decide that?"

I stepped in front of the Doctor, I had a feeling the storm wasn't what was needed right now.

"Sister Hame, the Face of Boe doesn't approve of this. Why do you think we are here? It's because he sent for us. He might have been a selfish git once but all that life and he's learned to be kind. He knows the Doctor well, do you think he'd call him here if he didn't think it was time to end this?"

"My vow…"

"To help and mend, and you've already broken it." I came up to her and pulled her hand forward. I gestured to the Doctor to open one of the encasements. It was the woman who'd pleaded for help earlier. "Look at her, into her eyes and tell me that what you've done is right again."

Sister Hame looked into the woman's eyes, her eyes filling with tears as she stepped back. "What can I do? I have a responsibility."

I looked at the Doctor, "If we get all the cures and replace the tanks of sickness with them and maybe disinfectant, would that do it?"

His serious features melted into a smile, "Brilliant! Some tweaking…" he mumbled as his mind began running a thousand miles an hour with how to complete the task.

"Can't take the credit."

"Still." He looked at Novice Hame, "Let's cook up a cocktail."

The Face of Boe had contacts and when we informed him of the atrocities it didn't take long for the authorities to swarm the hospital arresting the Sisterhood.

A humanitarian group that the Face of Boe gave us the name of and we investigated turned up to help rehabilitate the new subspecies of humans.

At the end of a very long day we stood in an empty ward beside the Face of Boe looking at the skyline of New New York.

Big familiar blue eyes were open gazing at us.

The Doctor spoke first, "They said you were dying."

'There were better things to do today.' Boe's large lips lifted, 'A new subspecies of humans to protect. Dying can wait. I had grown tired of the universe, but you two never fail to help me look at it anew.'

The Doctor knelt by Boe's tank, "Was there something you wished to tell me?"

'We shall meet again, Doctor, the truth shall be told that day. Until then, good-bye.' Then a teleport beam surrounded him and he was gone, very much like his old-self had done on numerous occasions.

"CJ always loves the dramatics."

I walked out of the ward with a smile on my face as the Doctor raced after me.

"What?"

He looked so confused that I couldn't help the boisterous laughter that escaped me that quickly descended into a fit of giggles.