A/N. Unexpectedly, but it has just happened. Even if with the help of a character only present for this final chappie.

Previously…

"Long time no see, Doctor," a familiar female voice cooed into his ear. The face… it was all too familiar. So familiar…

Rose, he remembered, right before blacking out.

Stuck: Chapter Seventeen (or Cassandra Interlude, or The End)

"Oooh… ooh, now that's lovely! I am almost jealous! What have you done to him to make him worship you so?"

The girl has had enough experience with the creature by the point to know exactly who she was. But hurting her bond-mate was a very, very foolish step to have taken. If this continued, she would show her exactly what infuriating his bond-mate was like…

"Cassandra. What have you done to him?" It was somewhat easier to push the atrocious thing away from overtaking her mind now that the Doctor and she have formed a bond.

"Oh, the usual. Always carry a spare spray bottle, that's me. Works on every species."

Rose was glad everybody seemed to be soundly asleep at this time of night. She would not fancy being locked up inside an asylum for this.

"Never mind that. Don't you want to know how have I got the two of you back to the precious New Earth? With all the cats, remember?" She was clearly enjoying herself. Apparently, a body was better than none.

Rose was unsure if she wanted to know. The only thing that mattered was having the Doctor back to her.

"How are you even alive, Cassandra?! We saw you die!" While fighting the entity – trampoline, she reminded herself – was easier now, it still did not keep away the headache caused by this brutal invasion into her mind.

"Not so easy to get rid of the last human," she eyed the girl smugly.

Rose sighed. Or was it Cassandra?

"Never leave one so persistent to be alive with a bunch of plain, ordinary new humans. Or ones daft, such as yourself, Rose Tyler," Cassandra mewed, almost annoyed she got no reaction from the girl.

Kneeling down to the Doctor on the damp ground, she grimaced. "This is so disgusting," Rose-Cassandra whined. "So dirty. So wet."

"Wake up already, sugar," she whispered. "Being inside your Rose is nowhere as exciting as inside you, Time Lord!"

Right then, the Doctor came about. Only this time, he knew just what has happened to Rose. Lack of telepathic communication suddenly reminded about itself. "My head… Why- how-" The Doctor was unaware of his surroundings for a long minute. "Is it raining? Where is-" As soon as the memories hit him he was on his feet. "Why won't you leave us alone, Cassandra?" He growled. "Don't you dare hurt her!"

The 'last human' grimaced. "You know very well all I need is a body, Doctor. And no body is better than one of a time traveller. So much memories, so much experience, so much fun, for free!"

"I can certainly get you one thing for free, Cassandra. Only you would not be alive to experience it if all but one hair falls off her head!"

"You don't mean it, Doctor," the possessed Rose licked her lips. "We could do so much, you and I, Time Lord. I could take your Rosie over completely… not that much effort would be required, I am certain. I could be by your side, as Rose Tyler, forever!" Her sudden excitement was sickening. He knew forming a bond with a human was not enough to protect her from ones invading her mind. Knew he should have taught her to strengthen her mental walls first thing…

"I mean it. Leave her, leave her now!"

"You asked for it!" Cassandra O'Brien took no time in entering his body. This time, the Time Lord hasn't even tried to stop her or make it harder for her, which she knew he was able to do… "So, you two are married. Have you really thought this would protect you from someone as clever as I, darlings?"

The Doctor was listening to her rambling thoughtlessly. All he needed was Rose to be fine and ready to test the depth of their connection one more time.

Funny how the fact their bond was formed at night was actually going to do them both a favour. Cassandra seemed to be full of her self-proclaimed perfection and was hardly going to be an obstacle when the time was right.

The TARDIS owed them a favour. While having been stuck on board the ship was in no way a bad thing… there were things which the old girl both should have and should not have done that the Time Lord was willing to remind her… no matter how furious the old girl might have become at him afterwards.

"Rose," he cooed, fighting Cassandra's treacherous mind just enough to make it think this has been her idea. "Could you help?"

She opened her eyes and shook her head, on her feet in a moment. "Get out of him, you, you-"

The Doctor… Cassandra? eyed Rose meaningfully. "The night, you thought it was romantic, remember? Can't give you the stars at the moment, but-"

Rose understood. Only the Doctor knew of that silly conversation. "What do you want me to do?" She asked him quietly.

"I'm still here," Cassandra – or the Time Lord glared at Rose.

"He is still here to finish your pitiful existence for good," she reminded, confident. Cassandra was supposed to be dead already. Just how many poor bodies has she inhabited up to this point?

"Don't tease me," she threatened.

"Or what? Do you have more of your friendly metal spiders to help you get rid of me?" Rose could not stop teasing her.

"Stop it," the Doctor whispered. This bickering was completely useless in this situation. "Bad Wolf?"

The fair-haired human knew what he was asking of her… and of the TARDIS. The girl has addressed the ship, Please? Help? You could keep us locked up for a month, okay? She bargained, as the Doctor was still more or less a victim of the creature who has refused to leave them in peace.

It took Rose some more nagging. Some more demanding. Even pleading, which has only made Cassandra grimace disdainfully at her – how low could one fall?

Then, the girl was overtaken by the golden light… and she suddenly knew everything. Knew how to expel Cassandra out of him painlessly… and how much power the nightly bond has actually given her or how to connect them both back to the clever ship which, no matter their occasional disagreements, was their most helpful friend… for good, or for as long as they lived.

But first, the agreed-to monthly locking on board had to be dealt with.

The End

This is it. Thank you for having survived the story in its entirety. Some goodbye-reviews wouldn't hurt. :P Usually, Bad Wolf leads to Time Lady!Rose in my fics, but this is entirely up to you now, lovely people. My job is done here. ;)