Mental

Conundrum

Disclaimer: I own nothing! ...Which is why I'm sitting here naked in the middle of an internet cafe.....And getting some odd looks, too...

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Ears: -sings along to Sweeney Todd soundtrack- "She was his reason and his life...and she was beautiful..."

The Doctor reluctantly allowed the TARDIS to slingshot them back through the Void through the bit of Rift they'd found connecting the two universes. She claimed they had to leave before something bad happened, but seeing Rose...what could have been worse? Just a few hours ago, he wouldn't have thought that, never would have allowed himself to.

But now he was.

Hearts feeling like they were shrinking in on themselves, he sank down in the captains chair by the console. The TARDIS hummed at him, but he simply ank further, ignoring her. And was promptly shocked for it this time. "What was that for!?"

There was a low, rumbling noise.

He hung his head. "I know, I know; it's all wrong, and all my fault, and all terrible, an-"

She interrupted his lamentations. "No, Theta, something was wrong with Rose."

He paused. "What?"

"Her mind. Could you feel it?" She demanded, prodding him mentally.

"N-no, I couldn't." The Doctor blinked confusedly at the time rotor. "What's it m-"

"You have always been able to sense her mind!" The thought-voice was shouting, and he winced. "The Link, it was gone!"

He shook his head. "How's that possible? And...what Link, I didn't set up a Link!"

She ignored the last question. "Something has happened to her mind."

"What? Who? How?" His voice got a bit higher with each question, then he froze. "Oh. You mean..." The Doctor's eyes widened as his face went from understanding to horror to anger. "He...he altered her mind...."

There was a feeling of affirmation.

He shot out of the seat and started to pace. "Her mind! He- How could he have done that?" The Doctor ran a hand through his hair. "He altered her mind!"

She nudged his mind sharply. "Rose is in danger."

He stopped and seemed to fold in on himself. "I know. But...she won't let me help her! You were there! And who knows how much more of her he'll erase before we can find another opening?!" He threw himself back into the chair. "How long till then?"

The lights dimmed and the space/time ship hummed sadly as the answer bubbled to the surface of his mind. He sighed heavily. "But she may not have that long! That universe goes faster than this one; by that time he could have thrown her into a supernova or...something!" He was up again, waving his arms around as if flapping like a disabled bird would solve the problem. "We need another option!"

There was something like a sigh from the console, and she reminded him that this had been the only option, despite over six years of trying.

The Doctor glared up at the ceiling. "So, you're just going to...give up?" His voice went low, dangerous. "Just like that?"

The TARDIS' answer was a wave that crashed into his mind roughly and made him nearly cry out. It continued a moment, then slow eased, though it still hurt.

He rubbed his temples and leaned against the console. "What do you think then?"

There was a hesitant sort of creaking noise.

"Neither can I." The Doctor smiled humourlessly and hung his head. "We'll figure something out."

He patted the console absently as they rested in the vortex of their proper universe.

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Ears: -still singing- "Nothing's gonna harm you....not while I'm around..." And everyone should go type 'that guy with the glasses' into the search bar...now! It's all far too fun to be ignored...