A HORRIBLE CHOICE

Chapter One

"Morning, Grandad," Donna said as she came into the kitchen.

Wilf looked up from reading the morning newspaper and smiled warmly at her.

"Hello, love, get plenty of sleep last night?" he asked her.

"Yeah, for once, I didn't have the usual dream last night. At least I don't remember having the dream," Donna said, kissing his cheek before she walked to the refrigerator.

Wilf sighed. Ever since the Doctor brought her back home, she had been having dreams about him and her adventures in the TARDIS. Wilf knew that's what they were after hearing Donna describe the dreams but Donna had no idea why she kept dreaming about a mysterious man in a blue police box. Wilf noticed that it wasn't affecting her and he figured the perhaps they were remnants of memories the Doctor didn't get when he erased himself from her mind. Since learning that she still had dreams of the Doctor, both Wilf and Sylvia constantly monitored her, scared that one day the memories might return to her conscious mind and kill her. Which was why Wilf usually asked if she slept well. He knew it annoyed her sometimes, his constant pestering about the dream but he would rather have her irritated at him and be alive than be dead from random left over memories of his friend, the Doctor.

Donna was pulling a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator when she heard a knock at the door.

"I'll get it, don't get up," Donna said to Wilf.

She sat the carton on the counter, closed the door and walked towards the front door. Wilf turned to the sports section and was perusing it when suddenly he heard Donna's terrified scream. He called her name, leapt up and rant to the front door but by the time he got there, the door was standing wide open and Donna was gone. Wilf ran out the door, looking everywhere for his granddaughter and calling for her but there was no answer and Wilf ran back in the house to get Sylvia.

"Ah," River said, rising from the bed in her cell when she saw her favorite guard, "Algernon, there you are, come to give me my meal?"

Algernon was young with slightly long brown hair and blue eyes. He had a baby face and a charming smile. He reminded River of the Doctor which was why she adored him so much. She loved flirting with him but her heart belonged to only one man and it would stay that way. But her sweetie wasn't here and she was bored and in need of some company. She walked over to the bars of her cell and peered down at the tray in Algernon's hands.

"Spaghetti again?" she said, making a face when she saw a plate filled with it and a side of garlic bread and glass of milk. "Can't we have filet mignon for a change?"

"Sorry, Miss Song, I don't make the rules and I'm not in charge of the kitchen," Algernon said, unlocking the door.

"Yes, but surely a man as influential as you would be able to ask the chef to prepare me something decent that doesn't involve noodles or tomato sauce?" River said sweetly.

She smiled when Algernon blushed at that and took the tray from his hands, giving him a small peck on the cheek as thanks for bringing her meal to her. She set the tray down on a table by the bed and turned back to her friend. She chatted with him for a few minutes until Algernon told her that he needed to get back to work. River gave him another friendly peck on the cheek and Algernon locked her cell door. He waved to her, told her he'd be back to give her dinner and walked on. He got halfway down the corridor when he suddenly heard River yelling for help. He spun around and raced back to the cell but by the time he got there, River had vanished. Algernon tested the door, found it was still locked and looked around for a moment before he raced off to tell his superiors that River was missing again.

(Meanwhile, in the parallel universe…)

Rose came downstairs and found her mother in the kitchen cooking breakfast for everyone. She gave her a good morning kiss before she went off in search of the rest of her family. She found her father and brother in the living room, watching the TV while they waited for breakfast to be served. She gave them pecks on the cheek and wished them good morning before going off in search of the last member of the household.

She found him outside, sitting by the fountain while he meditated. Her fiancé loved to wake up early and watch the sunrise before sitting on the grass near the fountain and meditating. It was his way of getting himself focused for the day. She crept up to him, bent down and studied his face. His eyes were closed and he looked serene. She admired his handsome face before she settled down in the grass beside him.

"You finally found me?" the Doctor said, keeping his eyes closed.

"Of course, you're always out here," Rose said.

"Hmmm, wonder if Torchwood has a Harry Potter invisibility cloak for me to use?"

"Why? You hate that I'm here?"

"No, I just like the idea of having an invisibility cloak," he said, opening his eyes and gazing at her. "Is mummy making eggs?"

"Among other things."

"Groovy, I'll be out here doing the Buddhist thing until she's finished and I can eat."

Rose smiled and kissed him. He deepened the kiss and they snogged for a few minutes until Rose finally got up and with a tousle of his hair, walked back to the house. The Doctor watched her go and then with a contented sigh, turned his attention back to his mediation and closed his eyes. He heard Rose go inside and shut the door, then his eyes snapped open when he heard her scream. He leapt to his feet and bolted to the house. He threw open the door and looked around for Rose, frantically calling her name when he didn't see her anywhere.

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