The Green Soul

Chapter 27

This is the second to last chapter, you guys!!!!!!!! I've already got the first chapter of the next fic planned, so don't plan on a hiatus from me anytime soon.  *Mushy post will be on the last chapter don't worry*

The little party made their way into the parlor, where Ben and Marie turned around to watch the Doctor and Rose closely.  The Doctor ushered Rose in before him.  "I want you sitting for this," he said firmly, and helped her to sit on one of the couches before perching himself next to her. 

"When you were... Out, yesterday, did you find anything, Doctor Smith?" Marie asked tactfully as the Doctor fiddled with the sonic screwdriver.

The Doctor looked up at her, as though he had absolutely no idea that she had any intention of speaking.  "Oh, yes."  He reached for his pocket and then watched the two of them carefully.  "This isn't something you can tell your friends about after we leave," he warned them.  "This is technology way beyond its time, and for your eyes only.  Is that understood?"

Marie and Ben nodded firmly, seeming to understand the gravity of the situation.  The Doctor pulled a circular metal device from his pocket and laid it down on the table in front of the couch Rose sat on.  It was the same color and texture as the sonic screwdriver, with a large blue light in the center of it.  Rose thought it looked rather like an inner tube that had a very small hole instead of a large one, with a light in it.

"This is a more powerful version of this tool," The Doctor told them, holding up the sonic screwdriver.  "This won't break when the Entity enters it.  It won't be able to get out without me letting it out, either.  So, here we go."  He threw them a disarming smile.  "Go ahead, sit down, we may be here awhile."

As Marie and Ben took their seats, the Doctor handed Rose the sonic.  "You need to hold this until the Entity gets in your head.  After that, you should hold onto it by yourself, but I need these lovely fingers right around it, okay?"

He sounded nervous, so Rose smiled and nodded, tightening her fingers around the tool for his own reassurance.  "Got it," She said.

He returned her grin and pressed a quick kiss to her temple before backing up from her, knowing he'd have to get away from her.  No skin to skin contact was quite difficult now that it was explicitly (in both senses of the word) allowed.  He folded his hands in his lap to keep himself from reaching out to touch her in any way, his back against the corner of the small couch.

"Ready?" Ben asked anxiously from where he was leaning forwards in his seat.  All eyes went to him, as though no one was expecting anyone else to speak.

"Ready when you are, Rose," The Doctor said.  "Tell it this is the last time we have to do this, that might help get things through faster.  Okay?"

She levelled her gaze with him and nodded.  "Okay."

She turned to look down at the Doctor 's new device.  "Do you see this?" She asked, and it was obvious to everyone in the room hat she wasn't talking to anyone who was currently seated in the room with her.  "We've got this thing.  It's gonna be like... A carriage of sorts, to take you home.  But you've got to get into me first, I can get you to it.  Sound good?  Do you want to go home?"

Rose's eyes fell shut and when they opened again, it was clear who was in control.  The Doctor had to fist his hands at his sides so that he didn't reach out for her and bring her back.  Oh, how he hated this. 

"Home," Rose's voice said wistfully, a soft tone echoing through the room.  Her hand raised and she looked at the sonic screwdriver.  "Home."

"Okay, you've got to listen to me now," The Doctor said quietly, so he wouldn't scare the Entity.  It slowly turned Rose's head to look at him and watched him attentively.

"She is so happy," The Entity whispered.  "I want to be as happy as Rose."

"You will be.  I'm going to take you home."

The Entity grinned widely.  "Yes, yes!  What must I do?"

The Doctor smiled and pointed at the wheel shape on the table.  "Do you see the sonic tool in Rose's hand?"  He waited until the Entity looked at it and he smiled.  "Yes, that's the one!  I need you to point at the big one with it, and then press the button.  That will transport you and then you can go home."

The Entity made an odd little humming sound.  "Home!"

The sound of the sonic screwdriver filled the room.  Green mist poured from Rose's mouth and travelled down her arm and into the sonic screwdriver.  For a moment the Doctor had the horrible feeling that it wouldn't work, that he'd made an awful mistake, but after a few seconds the green soul poured from the sonic screwdriver into the larger device onto the table, where it was then at rest.

The Doctor blew out a sigh of relief as Rose fell limp, the screwdriver falling form her fingertips.  He gathered her into his side to keep her as warm as possible and smiled at Marie and Ben.  "You know, we've just done it."

"I've never seen anything like that!" Ben burst out.  "That was... That was remarkable!"

Marie blinked a few times and turned her attention to the shaking woman in the Doctor's arms.  "Rose?" she asked quietly. 

"I'm okay," She assured them, "I'm just going to try to warm up."

"The sooner we take the Entity the better," the Doctor said, gently, so as not to break their hearts.  "We should be getting our suitcases and going.  It might be a long journey to find this little one's home."

He didn't miss Marie's face fall, but she nodded.  "Yes, of course, I'll have Matthew fetch them for you." 

"I want to thank you," The Doctor said hurriedly, before she could stand, "For everything you've done to help us, and for being our friends as well.  You have been so hospitable to us."

"It is our pleasure," Ben smiled.  "I suppose you will not be returning?"

"We don't stay in one place long," Rose admitted, trying to subtly cuddle closer to the Doctor.  "But if we head this way again, you'll be our first stop."

"We promise," The Doctor agreed, and Rose grinned.

After long and semi-tearful goodbyes that did wonders for warming Rose up, Ben and Marie led the Doctor and Rose out of the house.  The Doctor slid both sonic tools into his pocket, securing them there, and smiled at the other couple. 

"Thank you again," Rose said, her voice genuine and her gratefulness written all over her face.  "I'm glad we could help you."

"You're both so odd," Marie laughed, shaking her head.  "Go with God, Doctor and Mrs. Tyler.  We hope to see you again."

"Go with God," The Doctor and Rose said in reply.

With that and a smile, the Doctor and Rose headed off, arm in arm, back towards the TARDIS.