Either the time for people to venture out into village had come or the few people that had spotted the Doctor earlier had spread word about him. Either way, the streets were busier and he was getting a lot of unwanted attention. Before long, a crowd started to form, tailing after him and Cassaun. Most were muttering amongst themselves, some were trying to sidle up to Cassaun to make private inquiries, to which a troubled and twitchy Cassaun kept replying 'yes, the man from the stars' and 'I don't know.' Others in the crowd, people that had pushed to the front, started loudly calling out questions.

The Doctor stopped and turned suddenly to face them. "Yes, I'm the one that saved you from the bloody falling stars. If you don't want me bringin' them back down on ya, then leave me to my business!"

The crowd looked uncertain and then appeared to have different opinions regarding what to do. There was hesitation, but some of the bolder individuals quickly started after the Doctor again.

"Father, is there trouble? Are we in danger?" one man called out, coming up close to Cassaun. Unable to help his curiosity, the Doctor took a look at the young man, apparently Cassaun's son. Handsome, he'd admit, with dark hair and eyes that Rose had supposedly been born with. He looked to be in his early to mid-twenties, making him Rose's younger brother.

"I don't know, Rolan. He only wishes to meet with Bad Wolf," Cassaun hissed over his shoulder.

"He is here about the light then? Does he know what it means?" Rolan probed.

That got the Doctor's attention. "What light?"

"The one from Bad Wolf, just like in the accounts four centuries ago. It lit up the whole night sky like daylight. I mean it happens every few years and nothing comes of it, but it worries everyone still," Rolan explained.

"You failed to mention that," the Doctor told Cassaun.

"Begging your pardon, er... Sir... Sir Hero," Cassaun replied uncertainly, "but you did say you'd heard enough."

"The Doctor. That's me. Just the Doctor. And I suppose you're right; I did say 'enough.' Changed my mind. What's this light?"

"Well… it has happened every few years since you were here," Cassaun explained. "Before that, there was only record of it four centuries ago. We've prayed for explanation from Bad Wolf, be it assurance or warning, anything, but the Bad Wolf has been silent since the Bad Wolf Child's blessing. No whispers or visions at all."

The Doctor turned this information over in his mind. "Every few years, you said? Let's see if I can guess. I'd say the first time was probably about a year and a half after I left – two flashes just hours apart. Then two years later, six years later, then five, and five. Am I right?"

Cassaun and Rolan exchanged looks, Rolan seeking confirmation from his father. "Yes, the last was seven years ago, except that four days ago it happened again, much brighter than any of the rest. You have an understanding of what that means?" Cassaun asked hopefully.

"Yes. I do." The Doctor's tone was severe, his posture straight, and fists clenched at his sides. "That was the moment that Bad Wolf killed your daughter. Filled her with that golden light and wouldn't let her go. She burned alive from the inside out. There weren't even ashes left when the Bad Wolf was done with her."

Cassaun and Rolan looked horrified.

"B-but why?" Rolan asked in confusion. "If she was the chosen one, then-"

"The chosen one?" the Doctor scoffed. "Every time you saw that light, she was thrown across the universe, ending up on a planet she didn't know. She'd get to know people for five or six years, then they'd all die and she'd end up somewhere else. She saw people she'd grown to love get slaughtered in war and crushed or drowned in natural disasters. That was her blessing. And for what? It was so the Bad Wolf could turn her into a weapon. That's what the Bad Wolf wanted. She wanted a weapon to destroy an entire army. That was the chosen one's fate. When Bad Wolf was done with her, it didn't let her go; it killed her. Bad Wolf killed her."

"But where were you?" Rolan wondered aloud. "Wasn't she supposed to be with you all this time?"

The Doctor turned and seized Rolan by the shirt. "I didn't know what the hell was going on! A baby was smuggled aboard my ship and I was expected to keep it? You don't know me. None of you have a clue who I am. My life is dangerous. Those 'falling stars' of yours was an easy day for me. My life has no place for a baby and I knew nothing about Bad Wolf. I gave the baby to a family that would keep her safe, not shove her into the hands of a mad man. She didn't start traveling with me until last year. It was not my fault for the suffering she went through. Bad Wolf had planned this whole thing, knowing that I would give the baby to someone else. You want to blame someone? Then blame your merciless, inexorable god."

The Doctor released Rolan who staggered back in shock. But the young man was relentless and jogged to catch back up. "So if you know what happened, that it was because… Well, the light was because of the Bad Wolf Child's death… what are you here for?"

The Doctor didn't stop walking, but fixed his eyes on Cassaun. Cassaun had felt it already, but this was confirmation.

"I'm here to kill the Bad Wolf."

"What?!" Rolan exclaimed. He looked around wildly. Though they still had a couple dozen people following them, none of them were close enough to hear what the Doctor had said. "But… but…"

Rolan looked at his father, wondering his opinion on the matter. Though Cassaun was still obviously frightened, his expression was hard. "Can you? Will we suffer for your attempt?"

"Won't be an attempt and you won't be any worse off once it's gone," the Doctor declared.

"You can't know that!" Rolan argued. The Doctor didn't respond and Rolan became even more frantic. "I could stop you!"

The Doctor remained silent, and paused when they rounded a copse of trees and the wolf-shaped rocks came into view, not but twenty meters away. The Doctor strode toward it with purpose. He still didn't know what he was facing, but he didn't care. He had no way to prepare, so he wasn't going to try. It was reckless, but he had no patience for caution. He just had to hope he was clever enough when it counted.

Cassaun and Rolan followed the Doctor closely and silently, not sure what they should do or say. The rest of those that followed kept a respectable distance.

The Doctor nudged a small but weighty boulder with his boot. "This it then? This rock covering the opening?"

"That rock hides the covering," Cassaun corrected. "I told you that people who touched the covering were injured. We cover that with the stone in effort to prevent more injuries."

"Alright, help me move it then."

Rolan was shocked when his father moved to obey. "This is suicide!" he protested.

"If this is suicide, what's it matter to you? You don't like me anyway," the Doctor pointed out.

"I didn't say that. It's just that… you're provoking a god."

"You know how many places I'm worshipped as a god? The title's overrated. Alright, Cassaun, on three…"

The Doctor started counting and Rolan looked helplessly at Cassaun. "Father, do you really trust him?"

Cassaun waited to reply until he and the Doctor paused in their efforts. He was panting from exertion when he responded. "For twenty-seven years, I have asked why it had to be my daughter. For twenty-seven years, I have wondered about her, hoping her well and happy. People tell me I must be so honored, and I have been, but I have never lost the wish that it was someone else's child. Imagine if it had been you that suffered all these things that Seshalin did, or imagine your unborn child being destined for such things. All this time, I have worried about how the 'mad man' was treating her, but it turns out I should have feared the Bad Wolf all along."

"You believe him then?" Rolan's question was sincere.

"A man does not stare down an enemy with wrath such as his unless he has truly been wronged. He sought to protect your sister. He fights to avenge her. I have lost my faith in Bad Wolf. I place my trust in the Doctor," Cassaun declared. "Now gives us a hand with this boulder or be on your way."

Rolan was conflicted for only a moment longer and then rolled up his sleeves. The Doctor gave Cassaun a lopsided smile and then gave his count again. It took a few more good pushes, but they managed to fully reveal the 'covering' which the Doctor thought would be better defined as an 'access hatch.' It was thick, circular, shiny metal hatch that looked much like a sewer covering, except for the inset hinge and inset handle.

"Right then." The Doctor pulled his sonic screwdriver out of his jacket pocket and pointed it at the hatch. "As I thought," he said as he looked at the reading, "no danger to touch. The Bad Wolf's been expecting me."

"And it's not fighting you?" Rolan asked, his fear returning. "What if it's luring you in?"

"Might be. Won't stop me." With one strong jerk, the Doctor pulled open the hatch. It was no surprise to find it dark, but the Doctor had expected the air to be stale. Instead, cool, clean air wafted up from the darkness, carrying the light scent of… toasted almonds? Perhaps not, but still not what was expected. Though really, he wasn't sure what to expect.

"Right… probably should have thought of a rope," the Doctor realized. He didn't usually do much in the way of planning, but he should have at least thought of that. He followed Cassaun's line of sight when the man beckoned to someone in the crowd. It turned out to be his wife who just so happened to have a long line of rope with her.

"How did y-?"

"It was not hard to guess that you would want to enter the belly of the Wolf, Doctor," Cassaun told him with a weak smile. "I was not sure what to think of you or whether I approved, but I knew there would be no stopping you. I mentioned a rope to my wife as we were leaving the house."

The Doctor gave a small smile and nodded his head. "Good man."

As the Doctor and Rolan went about securing the rope, a handful of people from the crowd became concerned enough to approach and question. Cassaun told them that obviously, the Bad Wolf was allowing him entrance. Everyone, including Cassaun and Rolan, were anxious about the Doctor's intrusion, but nobody moved to stop him. Apprehensively, Cassaun assisted the Doctor as he readied to enter.

"I still doubt whether this it wise, Doctor, but I wish you safety and success," Cassaun offered. "I give my word, so long as the Bad Wolf does not strike me down, I will wait for you to emerge. You can trust that you will have assistance in returning to the surface."

"Er, thank you." While the Doctor genuinely appreciated the man's faithful assistance, the mention of the Bad Wolf possibly striking him down unsettled him. It sounded like the same religious nonsense in the shrine about the Bad Wolf blessing or cursing them with prosperity or plague, but there might actually be something to this fear. The Doctor cared nothing for his own safety, but what if something did happen while facing this 'Wolf' that might affect them? The Bad Wolf's light bathed the whole sky at times. If he provoked it and things went wrong, would the people be in danger? He didn't like that idea, but the Bad Wolf was too powerful to be left to its own devices.

"Right then. Down I go." It was tricky maneuvering down into the hole and even more difficult once the Doctor was hanging down inside. As he'd feared, there was no wall to repel down. He was forced to climb down hand over hand. Still, it felt safer than allowing anyone to lower him. He preferred to manage his own descent. Cassaun claimed it was only twenty-six feet to the bottom, and the Doctor trusted that, but twenty-six feet felt a lot deeper than it sounded. There was complete darkness on all sides and the light and sounds of voices seemed to dim before they should as the oppressive darkness and silence pressed in on him. Only halfway down, the voices above became too muffled to understand and the opening to the outside appeared much smaller and light rather faint. The Doctor wondered if he'd be able to see anything at all when he got to the bottom. His sonic screwdriver didn't make the best torch. He paused at the halfway point and strained his ears for any sounds from within the cavern… or whatever it was. Nothing. Not a sound.

When the Doctor neared the bottom, he felt around for the floor with the tip of his boot. When he came into contact with it, he dropped the last few inches. The soles of his boots made a 'thunk' sound rather than the 'crunch' of rocks that one might expect in a cavern beneath a rock formation. But neither would one expect to find a metal hatch leading into it. The Doctor had had suspicions and this confirmed it. The floor was flat and smooth, though a bit slanted. It was a solid, proper floor and he could sense without seeing that the walls were just as sturdy and uniform. He took out his sonic screwdriver to inspect further.

The small blue light did little to illuminate the Doctor's surroundings. He had to bend over to shine it closer to the floor. It was smooth and solid as he'd thought, an epoxy resin coating over what he suspected was thick metal floor. It was likely a spaceship then, and judging by the slight tilt of the floor, likely a crashed one. The Doctor straightened and held out his sonic screwdriver again. If this Bad Wolf, whatever it might be, was as powerful as it had demonstrated, what was it doing residing here? And if Bad Wolf was expecting him, just where was his greeting? He was about to call out, but another voice beat him to it, the soft sound of its approach accompanying.

"Wouldn't happen to have a banana, would you?"

The Doctor's breath caught and he froze on spot. Tentatively, he replied, "Rose?"

"What took you so long? It's been four days. You kinda had me worried." Her voice had a sort of forced lightness, attempting to hide the depth of her concern. She took another step forward, but the Doctor retreated a step. His sonic screwdriver was still whirring, providing a small measure of light. The Doctor's company was just outside its reach. Only a quick flash of colored fabric, red top and black bottoms, were revealed in the split second it took for the Doctor to maintain distance.

"Who are you?" the Doctor demanded. "Are you the Bad Wolf?"

"W-what?" the worried voice questioned. "Doctor, it's me. Rose. Wh-"

"Rose is dead," he declared coldly. "The Bad Wolf killed her. That'd be you then, wouldn't it?"

"The Bad Wolf didn't kill me," Rose stated in confusion.

"I was there!" the Doctor bellowed. "I held her as she burned!"

"Not burned," Rose answered quietly. "Well, might've hurt a bit, but not really burned. Displaced. I didn't die; I was brought here. Been here waiting… You said if I was ever displaced again, you'd come for me. I wouldn't even have time for a snack before you came for me, you said."

"Rose?" the Doctor asked in a broken, hopeful voice.

"Yes, Doctor." Rose took a tentative step forward into the light of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver. She looked exactly like she had on the Game Station, although, perhaps in need of a shower and some rest.

The Doctor was desperately hopeful, but still wary. "What about this Bad Wolf then? Where is it?"

"You're standing in her. This is the Bad Wolf – a TARDIS," Rose answered. "A crashed TARDIS."

The Doctor was utterly bewildered. "What?"

Rose slowly and cautiously reached out to him. The Doctor was just as wary as he let her place her hand on his forearm. She turned his direction a little to the right and then pointed ahead. "Bad Wolf is a TARDIS. She's been here for quite some time, a bit over 400 years. Been dying for over 400 years…"

The Doctor walked forward in the direction Rose had pointed him in and the light of his sonic revealed a broken console much like his TARDIS's first design. "A war TARDIS," he stated.

"Yeah, that's what she said. She somehow got past the time lock. Her pilots started to regenerate and died during the process because of the TARDIS's energy that exploded," Rose explained. "She let me remember some stuff this time, but that doesn't mean I understand it all."

"Rose!"

She was startled by the Doctor's sudden change and the fierce embrace he pulled her into. All doubts were gone. This was Rose, his Rose, still alive. He was completely overcome with emotion. There was intense relief, but it came with all the feelings he'd needed relief from. All the pain and grief, but here she was. He shook as a few tears slipped free, completely without permission. He held Rose tightly to him, his face buried against her neck. Rose was stunned, but slid her hands beneath his jacket and wrapped her arms around him, offering all the comfort and assurance she could. "It's okay, Doctor. I'm here."

"I thought you were dead," he whispered.

"Can't get rid of me that easily," she teased.

The Doctor snorted a watery chuckle and finally released her. "A TARDIS… so you had already been exposed to the energy of the Time Vortex as a baby. That's where all that time energy in your system came from."

"Yeah, Bad Wolf locked it all away in my mind, locked a bit of herself in there."

"What do you mean?" the Doctor asked in a disapproving voice.

"I was just a baby. Best I didn't remember anything until the proper time anyway. It had all been planned out so I couldn't change it anyway."

"Couldn't change what? What the Bad Wolf did to you?"

"Best explain it right," Rose decided. "Not that I really know or understand it all. This TARDIS came from the time war and crashed. Whatever was damaged in the crash caused her to be connected to the Time Vortex in a different way. It was constant exposure and rather unstable. She looked for other Time Lords and other TARDISs, but there was only one of each left. She knew how it all ended. TARDISs are more alive than I think you believe. Bad Wolf felt loss and she felt anger, too. All that was lost was because of the Daleks. She could see them at the Game Station, another Dalek fleet, and could see the potential destruction. She took it upon herself to stop them. Except she couldn't do it on her own.

"TARDISs have unimaginable power, but there is very little they can do on their own. They need pilots, someone to guide them and control their power."

"And she chose you."

It was clear that the Doctor was extremely upset by that, but Rose continued as though she was unaware. "She chose me because I chose her… or something like that. Circular paradoxes seriously do my head in. 'A' happens because of 'B', but 'B' happens because of 'A'… so there's no start to it? When I connected with her here as a baby, I told her to choose me for this, so a few centuries before that, we whispered to people and left clues for who should be chosen. So when they saw I was the chosen one, I connected with the Bad Wolf and told her to choose me. There's loads of those things in my life."

"Do you remember what happened when you 'connected' with Bad Wolf?"

"I'm not sure if it's a memory exactly or just understanding that the Bad Wolf gave me. An infant's mind shouldn't be able to process all the information that ran through my head, but the Bad Wolf protected me and guided me and gave me understanding. I saw everything. All that was and all future possibilities. She showed me, guided me, protected me, but I was the one that had to make it happen. A four-month-old baby with the power of a god, able to change anything to how I wanted it to be. Bad Wolf showed me what she wanted, requested it. It was a discussion, a path chosen by both of us. Using your TARDIS to expose me to the Time Vortex again so I could face the Daleks was one possibility, but not the only one. I know that's something that bothers you. I'm sure you feel used for your TARDIS, but that's not it," Rose ardently assured him. Her expression turned a bit guilty and bashful before she continued. "I saw you. That bit was me. I wanted to know you… go with you... I knew you wouldn't take me as a baby. I saw what it would mean, all the places I'd go, the displacement, the waiting… I thought it would be worth it. So the Bad Wolf helped guide that path, found places we knew you'd go and put me your path. Then we placed messages that would help you and me figure it out. She helped change my physiology to protect me from the time energy, which I needed anyway if I was going to survive that first encounter. But… well… I didn't know how things would go between you and me, the possibilities were too numerous to count, but if maybe I might be able to stay with you… We tweaked my DNA a bit so that I might be able to stay with you a bit longer. Also, for my traveling, she filled my head with languages. It was the only knowledge I was allowed to remember."

The Doctor's expression was unreadable, making Rose rather anxious. His tone was even when he sought further explanation. "You said she locked a bit of herself in your mind. In what way?"

"The TARDIS is alive. You mentioned her heart, her soul. It's not the time energy that you saw streaming out of the console. A TARDIS's soul is hidden inside that, a spark of life. That 'trigger' we talked about, that was the Bad Wolf herself. I carried her with me all that time. This box we're standing in now, functioned as a machine without conscious during that time. The Bad Wolf was with me, sustaining us both with time energy and striking us with a spike of it to displace me whenever it was time."

"That's what I saw locked in your mind. That's what's protecting your mind," the Doctor stated with certainty.

"Was. She was in my mind and protecting it. But like I said, she's done with me now. What we set out to do has been done. She's been dying for a very, very long time. She's managed to sustain life support and a few necessities for me while we waited for you to come for me, but once we leave… she's ready to let go." Rose was a little choked up at the thought.

"It's done? Not in your head anymore? No more influence?"

"No more," she affirmed. Still unsure of what the Doctor was thinking, she quietly offered, "You can check if you'd like. No wolf, no storm. Just me."

The Doctor could be hard to read at the best of times. Now, after stumbling upon her when he'd thought she was dead, after so many unexpected and profound revelations, and with his facial expression difficult to make out in the sonic screwdriver's faint light, Rose had never been more uncertain. His silence only worried her more. He'd been hugging the life out of her a few minutes ago. Could what she had told him changed things between them?

"If you're upset, I'm sorry," Rose quickly offered. "I really didn't know. It might have been me that did it, but I really didn't know. And what I chose… I was a baby. The Bad Wolf helped me understand what events could occur, but I had no idea what I might feel through all of it. Or what you'd feel about it. Not much life experience at that age, you know. I can't say it wasn't manipulative 'cos it definitely was, but I didn't know 'til now. All the time you've known me, I've had no ulterior motives. I just wanted to be with you. I love you. If I had known a-" Rose's rapid speech halted instantly when the Doctor took a step toward her. Her breath caught as she waited for him to reply.

The Doctor stepped up directly in front of her and cupped her cheek. His head tipped down until it touched hers. His warm tone of voice was comfort enough, but his words were the assurance she needed. "Do you really think I'd doubt you?"

"I, uh…"

"I don't need convincing that you're not malicious or manipulative. Never even crossed my mind."

"Oh… It's, you know… kinda hard to guess what you're thinkin' when you get all quiet like that. Makes a girl nervous, you know? Especially after all that." Rose bit her lip in embarrassment. She tried to glance up into the Doctor's eyes, but it was hard with their foreheads still touching and the Doctor's eyes were closed anyway. He felt her motion though and pulled back slightly.

"I might hafta work a bit harder to make sure things are clear then because I don't want you doubting me either." The Doctor leaned forward again and pressed her lips with a soft, lingering kiss. "I love you, Rose, and I thought I lost you. I'm only glad I have you back."

Rose gave him a small smile and added, "and that you won't have to worry about Bad Wolf anymore."

The Doctor's brow creased. "Not sure I like it being put that way. I understand what she was doing and it worked out for everyone in the end, but it was still dangerous and I don't like that she used you."

"She's no more malicious or manipulative than me. She only wanted to stop the Daleks, which was exactly what we were trying to do," Rose pointed out.

"I just told you that I understand. That doesn't mean I'm happy with her though. And being unhappy with her, being glad we don't have to worry about her influence anymore doesn't mean that I'm glad she's dying or anything. If I wanted people to die just because they upset me, this universe would be a lot smaller."

Rose shook with laughter and the Doctor smiled brightly for the first time in over two weeks. Both their smiles vanished and they whipped around suddenly when they heard something hit the floor. They stared into the darkness in the direction the noise had come from and then both looked up at the dot of light high above them. The Doctor, with his overworked sonic screwdriver, started searching the floor.

"Just a stone," the Doctor assured Rose, holding it next to the sonic's light for her to see. "Cassaun must be worried about how long I'm taking. Probably still worried he might be struck down by his angry god."

"Got friends up there?"

"One, maybe. Not sure friend's the right word. 'Accomplice' might be better. A much more reluctant accomplice beside him."

"Yeah, I can't imagine many would appreciate you setting out to kill their god," Rose teased. He hadn't actually said that's what he was planning to do, but it went without saying that that had been his purpose.

"I didn't exactly tell anyone but my accomplices. A crowd followed, but no one has ever gone into the belly of the Wolf apart from you. No one could even touch the entrance without injury. They likely think it's destiny or that I'm here to parley."

"Well, let's not leave them waiting. I'm ready to get out of here," Rose said eagerly.

The Doctor stopped his experimental tug on the rope and looked back at her remorsefully. "Yeah, I suppose you would. Four days trapped alone in the dark? I'm sorry, Rose. I really didn't kn-"

"You didn't know," Rose cut in to hastily offer reassurance. "I realize that. Pretty lucky it was just four days, and I wasn't sitting in the dark. The lights were on before you opened that hole, or whatever it is. When the lights went out, I didn't know what was happening. I heard movement, but I didn't know it was you until I heard the sonic. Like I said before, Bad Wolf has been holding life support and providing some necessities, like a water, meal substitute tablets, a toilet. Not torture, but boring and uncomfortable and I'm dying to get out of here. So…?"

"Onwards and upwards! In literal direction. How confident are you at rope climbing?"

"Well, I've proven that I can cling to one for an extended period, but just how high are you talkin'?" Rose worried as she squinted up at the light.

"Twenty-six feet. If you're not sure you can make it-" The Doctor jumped back when another stone fell just beside his foot. "Blimey. I guess tuggin' the rope has made 'em more nervous."

"Why don't they call down? Or you call up?"

"They might be. This place swallows outside sound and light. They might be afraid to anyway. I'll holler up in a second in hope that they'll stop tossing things down on us, but back to my question: Can you climb it?"

"I'm really not sure…"

"Not to worry. I'll climb out first and then pull you up." As he spoke, the Doctor picked up the end of the rope and began tying. "Probably best I go first anyway. Cassaun could use the warning. Might have a heart attack if you popped up without warning. I told him the Bad Wolf killed you and that's a large part of why he's been helping. Suppose I should probably warn you, too, in case you don't remember. Cassaun's your biological father. Anyway, this knot I've made is secure. Just put your foot in the little loop, give the rope three good tugs, and then put your rope clinging skills to good use."

Rose could see the Doctor's smile in the glow of the small light and she could only nod in response. He'd said it all casually, like it was all trivial, but to her it was startling. Her father, her birth father, was up there. She couldn't remember him at all. She hadn't known what to think of him after the Doctor had divulged that her father had thrust her into the care of a stranger. By the sound of it, the man had done it because he thought it was right and safest for everyone, but it had still been a bit hurtful that he was so adamant to shove her off. But now, when he believed the Bad Wolf killed her, he was denouncing his god and assisting the Doctor as he went to avenge her? Which was just another thing she was trying to wrap her head around – the Doctor going to avenge her. With as mad as her life was, Rose felt she should really stop being so surprised.

Rose was sure that more than one person had been pulling her up, but when she got up to the open hatch, only the Doctor was there helping her out. She replied with quiet affirmation when the Doctor checked to see if she was alright. Her voice was distant as she was much more focused on taking in her surroundings. She was still squinting as her eyes adjusted to the bright morning light. She was able to focus first on a small group of two men and two women. She didn't remember them, not at all, but somehow she knew that they were her mother, father, older sister, and a younger brother that she'd never met. It was both exciting and uncomfortable to see them. The discomfort and uncertainty increased when a large roar of cheers suddenly broke out. With her vision back to normal, Rose looked out at an enormous crowd that was looking directly at her and cheering. She felt the Doctor sidle up next to her and waited for an explanation.

"The Bad Wolf hasn't spoken to them since you left. They think Bad Wolf has sent you back to speak to them on her behalf."

"Oh, brilliant," Rose deadpanned. Hitching on a pleasant smile, she gave a small wave to the crowd. "And what did you tell your accomplices."

"Small misjudgment and you were following me up."

"Small misjudgment," she muttered. "So what exactly am I supposed to say to these people? That-"

Rose stopped mid-speech and whipped around to face the wolf-shaped rock. At the look of horror on her face, the Doctor was immediately on guard and began to inquire. Before he could finish asking, the ground gave a great sudden lurch, causing many to stumble. Though not as violent as the initial shock, the ground continued to quake. Some people fled, but the majority of the villagers stayed where they were, shaking with fear, but too dedicated to their god to flee. Blessing or punishment, they would stand steadfast before their god.

Rose took the other approach and raced to the closed hatch, pressing her hands to it and bowing her head against it. The Doctor seized her arm and tried to tug her away, insisting with urgency, but when she didn't listen, he removed her with force, yanking her away from the collapsing monument.

Once a short but safe distance from it, Rose turned to watch again. The large rocks that had fit together as one were pulling apart and breaking, the wolf's great head falling to the ground. The rocks had formed during the TARDIS's original crash and she had taken her name from the formation. But without her beneath to support it, it fell to pieces. Rose had known that Bad Wolf was going to die, but she hadn't realized how it would affect her. She felt as though she was crumbling, too. As soon as the rumbling stopped, she ran back to the broken monument and fell to her knees again. The hatch was completely buried and so she knelt at the larger boulder blocking it, pressing her forehead to the ground. To anyone watching, she looked as though she was worshipping, but the Doctor suspected what was happening.

"She's gone," Rose wept, feeling the Doctor by her side. "She'd left, but now she's really gone."

"And it's quiet?" the Doctor asked softly. Rose had spent her entire life with the Bad Wolf in her mind and hadn't even known. It was just a part of her. He was sure there had been a lot of tears and adjusting when the Bad Wolf had left Rose's mind and returned properly to the TARDIS, but the presence hadn't fully left until now. It had still been a comforting presence in her mind as his TARDIS was in his mind. Now Bad Wolf was gone completely. Rose had lost something that had always been with her, leaving silence and emptiness. She knew she couldn't get it back, but her head was still pressed to the ground where the Bad Wolf once was, desperately seeking what she knew was lost forever.

Gently, the Doctor coaxed her up enough embrace her, holding her to his chest. He wanted to comfort her, let her know that he understood, to give her assurances, but words, in these types of situations, often failed him. Instead, he used hers. When he had explained to her the condolences of the Deitisans, condolences for the silence in his mind, her words, while not enough to heal, were enough to console. "You might not have what you did before - Bad Wolf, that connection - but that doesn't mean you're alone… There's me."

Rose did recognize the words and lifted her head to look up into his eyes. Unsure what to say, she put her love and gratitude into a soft kiss. The Doctor smiled warmly and rested his forehead to hers. She was always enough for him; he would try his best to be what she needed. An odd, powerful sensation swept over him and he pulled back to look at her. Rose looked just as startled.

"I didn't mean to," she said hurriedly. "I didn't know. I've never… I'm sorry."

"No more mental barrier. You're seeking," the Doctor acknowledged, rubbing his forehead. It was a bit more invasive than a friendly, mental greeting. Neither of them knew what her telepathic abilities were, considering she'd never been able to try them, but if that was a sample, accidentally breaching his mental defenses… they had things to work on. Or… maybe something to work with. Maybe they could have each other to fill the silence. A bond. The Doctor shook his head. Ludicrous idea, that. Still, he might tuck it away for another time.

Climbing to his feet, he helped Rose to hers. Once standing, they finally returned their attention to the crowd. Nearly a hundred people, including her family, were all on their knees with their heads bowed to the ground as Rose's had been.

"Right…" said Rose. "Now what?"

Neither Rose nor the Doctor particularly wanted to stay on Ahnier, preferring to get back to the TARDIS after that emotional mess, but Rose felt it was necessary. She told the people that Bad Wolf had taken care of her and called her back because the Bad Wolf was dying. She had never had a religion herself, but she understood that it was important to some. She wasn't sure how the Doctor felt about her statement, but it felt right, and it wasn't a lie. She told them that the Bad Wolf might no longer be there, but she had had the ability to see everything, from the beginning to the end of time, and she could touch any point. She didn't tell them that the Bad Wolf would always watch over them, but would let them think what they wanted about that statement.

After the speech, again, she wanted to leave… but a part of her needed to stay just a bit longer. This was her birth family and the place where her life began. This family was even willing to act against their God to help the Doctor avenge her. She couldn't help her curiosity. The Doctor definitely made them feel a bit uneasy at times, but he stayed for the family meal, not willing to leave Rose's side.

When lunch was through, it was finally time to head back to the TARDIS.

"The TARDIS hasn't been the same without you, you know." The Doctor said it casually, but they both knew it was more. Beneath that, he was telling her it was miserably lonely and he was so glad to have her back. He just felt he'd been sappy enough for awhile and wanted to get back to normal. Rose could use that, too.

"Does that mean she's been shocking you a lot?"

"Some, yeah," he chuckled.

"Good. You probably deserved it," Rose teased.

"Oi!"

"Just joking. Although you two can be pretty rough on each other when you're moody," she said thoughtfully. "I just can't wait to be home."

"Not far, now," the Doctor assured her. "Only about-"

"One fifth a mile," they spoke together.

"I know," Rose reminded him.

"You still feel the TARDIS? Constant awareness?" the Doctor asked. He never really knew why she'd had constant awareness, but he had assumed it was because his TARDIS was always brushing along that fierce mental barrier she had.

"It's different now. Maybe not constant awareness, but constant comfort? If we use clothes analogies again… Wearin' clothes is just normal and comfortable. It's goin' around starkers that you're off, like you're constantly aware of what's missing. Just because it's not constant awareness doesn't mean I can't sense her as strongly if I want to. We, er, can communicate a bit better now, actually. Bad Wolf didn't want to let your TARDIS in until the right time. When permission was granted… Well, I was conditioned to have a TARDIS in my head. You call her semi-sentient, but I promise you, you can drop the 'semi' part."

"So… you're saying you can communicate… in what way?" the Doctor asked uncertainly.

"I'm sayin' you better watch how you act when I'm not around because the TARDIS can tell tales on you." Rose flashed him a mischievous smile with her teasing tongue poking between her teeth. "Joking. Sort of. I'm really not sure what it's like, yet. Still new. Not like talking between us, but stronger than what it was before. I can definitely tell where she is and she's already welcoming me home. Oh! You bought pastries with tzinshim filling!"

"Joking about her telling tales?" the Doctor muttered under his breath as he unlocked the TARDIS door. "What are you doing thinking about food anyway? We just finished lunch."

"Lunch was just alright, but even if it was fantastic, it's not dessert."

"Need dessert then? I know just the place. Better than just dessert. You and me, Rose, are in need of celebration." The Doctor was positively beaming as he moved about the console, readying them for their next destination. It was just like after the gas mask people – everybody lives!

"I wholeheartedly agree," she told him. "Dessert?"

"Yep!"

"Wine?"

"Yep!"

"Dancing?"

"Yep!"

"A private dance once we return home maybe?"

The Doctor looked up at her with a smoldering look. "Oh, yes."

"And then…"

"And then wherever and whenever you like. Your wish, Rose Tyler, is my command."

"Then we go find Jack."

The Doctor looked up again and his smile had fallen away. His brow was creased and he looked like he wasn't sure what to tell her.

Rose let loose a mirthful laugh. "He'd not dead. You really think I'd let that happen to him? Let him sacrifice himself to stop the Daleks? If you and I were getting out of there, so was Jack."

"Displaced by Bad Wolf? Are you sure?" the Doctor asked hopefully.

"Yep. Might take a bit of work to find where I put him… but you're clever, I'm a bit clever, and the TARDIS is extremely clever. We'll find him and have even more to celebrate."

"Then let's celebrate." The Doctor swooped Rose up, spun her around, and kissed her passionately.

Rose pulled back and stared into his bright blue eyes, searching him and giving him everything in that one look. "Thank you."

"For a kiss?" he asked, though he was sure she meant more.

"For everything. Keeping me, wanting me… loving me."

"I couldn't stop if I tried," he told her, stepping away to tend to the quivering and then quaking TARDIS. "If anyone's doing the thanking, it should be me. Not so easy to love, me. Though I would like to point out, the loving you and keeping you is much easier when you're around. Rule Number One is a very good rule."

Rose grinned. "No wandering off?"

With the TARDIS firmly settled at their destination, the Doctor returned to Rose and wrapped his arms around her waist. In answer to her question, he shook his head. "You never did understand. 'No wandering off' means 'stay with me.'"

"You should have said from the start."

And there's the legend of the wolf child.

Thank you for taking the time to read it and even more to everyone that reviewed. I really would love to hear what you thought of the conclusion if you wouldn't mind leaving a note.