Ties Between Freedom and Love

✦19✦

Chapter Nineteen
Choices And Sacrifice

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Emma was running up the stairs, somewhere along the line of trying to find Rose she found the Dalek instead. She groaned when she heard the ringing of her phone, she took the steps two at a time as she grabbed it from her jean pocket.

"Really not the best time," she answered.

"Where are you?" the Doctor demanded, just as stressed as she felt.

"Uh..." Emma looked at the walls as she ran past them, "Level 48, Rose is just ahead of me."

"You've got to keep moving," he told her.

"No shit Sherlock! I have a Dalek on my ass!"

"The vault's being sealed off up at level 46. Get Rose and get there."

Emma caught herself before she tripped on the step and kept running, "Can't you stop them from closing?"

"I'm the one who's closing them," he replied. "I can't wait and I can't help you." Emma nervously swallowed as her heart pounded and she ran even faster. "Now, for God's sake run!"

The line went quiet as she spotted Rose and Adam just ahead of her, she sighed in relief before pushing herself even faster to catch up with them.

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"Done it!" Van Statten announced, "we've got power to the bulkheads."

"The Dalek's right behind them," Goddard added, biting her lip and hoping they made it.

"We're nearly there!" Emma said into the phone as she made sure to keep Rose and Adam in front of her, "give us two seconds!"

"Doctor, I can't sustain the power," Van Statten stressed. "The whole system is failing. Doctor, you've got to close the bulkheads."

The Doctor looked away from the screen and down to the keyboard before closing his eyes, "I'm sorry," he apologized and pressed enter.

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Rose looked in the distance as the bulkheads began to slide shut, "Come on!" Adam shouted at her and Emma as he skidded under it.

"Emma, hurry up!" Rose screamed.

"Rose run!" Emma yelled at her, "just run!"

Rose prepared herself to duck under the bulkhead but it slammed shut before she could even try, Emma ran up behind her and hit the door.

"The vault is sealed!" Van Statten announced through her phone.

"Emma, where are you?" the Doctor asked, "Em, did Rose make it? Where are you?" Rose quickly took the phone before Emma could throw it.

Emma banged on the door, punching it over and over until her knuckles started bleeding and healing. "Dammitt!" she yelled. Emma released a breath and took the phone from Rose as she leaned her forehead against the door. "Sorry," she breathed out, "we were a bit slow."

Rose backed up as the Dalek rounded the corner and Emma was quick to step in front of her, "I'll talk to you later," she whispered into the phone.

"Exterminate!"

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The Doctor heard the zap from the other end and ripped his comm off. He knew Emma couldn't die, he knew the worst that could happen was the Dalek could destroy her physical form. But Rose, how long could Emma protect her for, she was going to die. He'd lose a friend. He'd lose Emma.