One Times Infinity 7/? (DW Post-DD AU D/R fic)
Title: One Times Infinity
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Anything up to Doomsday, There will occasionally be canon elements included from any aired episode of Torchwood of Doctor Who, however.
Pairings: Doc/Rose, Rose/Jack
Characters: 10, Rose
Warnings: Flippantly AU
Genre: Adventure, Romance
Beta: gwen_harkness
Summary: The walls between universes are more fragile than they seem. Once again it falls to the Doctor to save more than one universe...but can he fight what he wants the most? And who is this unseen enemy? A post-Doomsday reunion, of sorts.
Previous Chapters
Disclaimer: There are many things I'd do differently if I owned DW.
AN: A quick update! For once! I blame watching too much DW.
--
One Times Infinity
Chapter Seven: Volitionem
It had been a week, give or take, since he'd dropped off Rose... the cold, battle-hardened Rose from another universe. Of course, time didn't exactly pass the same way on the TARDIS, but it worked well enough as a generalisation. He didn't need simplifying himself - he was fully capable of comprehending every subtlety of time. After nearly a millennium simplifying it for those who couldn't, .it was a hard habit to break.
He needn't worry about breaking it, really. Sooner or later he'd find himself saddled with another human whether or not he really wanted it. Or perhaps not... there was always a K-9 mark 3 or even 4. Whatever, really. The point was that he could do with a change of pace. K-9 was always a good, faithful companion, without any ape-like human complications. If the worst came to the worst, he could always pack it away into storage, too. Couldn't exactly do that with a human, now, could you? Well you could, but there'd be those darn tricky complications coming up again
He sighed, turning away from the readings on the monitor, and flipping several switches on the console. The problem with having such an overwhelmingly superior brain was that it was so much more difficult to bury oneself in work than it would be for a human. Not that he was doing anything of the sort - he had no reason to. He would have just liked some simple, uncomplicated adventuring. Perhaps exploring a few remote outposts, uncovering a few corrupt systems, and running for his lives. Lots of good running.
Of course, it wasn't as much fun running without a familiar hand to hold, but he could deal with it. It wasn't the first time he'd travelled alone, and it would hardly be the last. That much was certain. In the end, he'd spent more time travelling alone than he had with anyone else - he'd accepted that a long time ago. It didn't bother him anymore. Not at all.
His thoughts were interrupted by the small phone ringing on the console. He frowned, and shifted the TARDIS to a neutral position in the Vortex before picking up the ringing, singing phone. A clear, familiar voice chimed in his ear.
"Thought I saw a mobile there." Rose's voice sounded smug, but the coldness from before was stronger than ever. "I wonder how long it's been for you. Hours? Minutes? Still pretending none of it happened?"
"What do you want?" He gritted his teeth in an effort not to hang up the phone. "How are you calling me?"
"You're not the only one with universal roaming, Doctor."
"The number."
"Not as easy as you might think. Especially in this time." The voice paused, before continuing. "I'm sure you have important things to do, so I won't waste your time. I just thought it'd be rude to hitch another ride without saying goodbye."
He gripped the console with his free hand. "What are you talking about?"
"You refuse to see the truth? Fine." Another pause and the sound of a passing automobile. "Y'know, London's got more non-functional blue police boxes than you'd think in 1967. Still...how many can fit three comfortably and have room to spare for a dematerialization circuit? Gotta say, though, suit jacket and tartan trousers really don't work for you."
"You can't." He ground his teeth in frustration. If he thought it were possible, he would assume she had made it up but it simply wasn't possible. Regardless of how unlikely it was for her to have actually found one of his past regenerations, it was even more unlikely for her to have guessed what one looked like. She was just stubborn enough for him to believe the first. "You travelled with me - or a version, at least. You know what comes from interfering with time lines!"
"I'm not a part of this time line, Doctor. Not this time, not this universe. I'm not even born yet."
"It doesn't matter. You are a part of it now and he - I am too."
"I've got nothin' to lose, Doctor. I have nothing! This isn't even my world - even if it were, no one I knew is even born yet."
"If you understand regeneration then you know no matter how different he looks, he's still me. The answer's still the same."
"Maybe. You really wanna test me? Whether or not it works, it'll do something yeah? Because I'll tell him everything Doctor."
His nails dug harshly into the console in front of him. "Don't you dare."
"I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
Her voice was smug but somehow broken, "So choose."
--
"That looks ridiculous." Rose shook her head in disbelief. The structure looked like some sort of satirical modern art sculpture.
He offered her a lop-sided smile. "I'll have you know vacuums look more ridiculous than this."
Adeola seemed to be torn between fascination and incredulousness. "But that's not possible."
"Oh no? And you're so sure?" The Doctor turned to give the woman a sceptical look, before grinning. "Wanna come with and see for yourself?"
"Oh no, I couldn't..."
"Awww, c'mon. It'll be fun. Completely different universe! No idea what could be out there."
"But Torchwood..."
"Oh, you'll be back before supper. Promise." He winked, glancing over toward Rose with a wry grin.
A small grin grew across Adeola's expression and she shifted her weight nervously. "Well... I suppose..."
He practically bounced up and down. If he had a tail, Rose would have called him Tigger, "All right then! Shall we, Jones and Tyler?"
Rose jumped suddenly "Mum!" She lifted a hand toward the suddenly confused Doctor, pulling her mobile out of her pocket. "Just... give us a minute. I can't leave without tellin' her..."
His expression grew sombre. "We can go see her, if you want."
"No... no." She bit her lip, flipping the phone open. "I made my choice before. She understands that. It'll just be that much harder."
He didn't say a word but he didn't need to. His expression conveyed how selfish she already knew she was being. She was glad for his silence, though. She wasn't certain she could have gone through with it if he'd spoken the words. She didn't belong here and he belonged with his Rose. If there were anything she could do, then she would.
She almost lost her voice when her mother's voice came over the line.
"Mum...?"
There was silence on the other side of the phone for a few moments. "Rose...? Rose, what's wrong? What's happened?"
She swallowed.
"It's... it's nothing Mum... I just... I love you, Mum. You know that, right?"
More silence. "Oh...God. It's him, isn't it? Rose, it's the Doctor - he's here, isn't he?"
"Mum... I'm sorry. I've got to go." He was still watching her, and she could feel Adeola's eyes on her as well. She willed just a bit of the strength in his eyes to absorb into her. "He needs me, Mum."
"You'll be back."
She smiled softly. "Course I will. Soon as we're done." She chewed her lip. "Won't even know I'm gone."
"Course not." Rose could hear the resignation in her voice through the phone.
"You'll tell Mickey?"
“I will, promise. Now get going, you."
"Love you, Mum." She snapped the phone shut and stared down at it for several long moments. She forced a bright smile, and turned back to where the Doctor was leaning against the machine. "We ready?"
He nodded after a moment, and flipped the switch near where his hand rested against the structure.
The machine vibrated loudly and pulsed with a bright white light for a few seconds as the Doctor backed away from it with a wide grin. This was magnificent.
"Oh, I love this part!" He turned his grin toward her, and offered her a hand.
She had no sooner reached out and took the rough hand in hers before the light exploded off of the awkward looking device in a sudden shockwave. Adeola gave a startled yelp, as they were knocked back into the nearby wall, and a brilliant slash of colour formed through the air, slowly broadening into a shimmering circle the size of the machine.
"So..." He glanced between Rose and Adeola with an excited smile. "Ready?"
CH End
----
AN: Canonically, I don't think I've ever seen him pause in the Vortex--likely it exists along the same line of hyperspace and warp; one must be moving somewhere to be in it--but its often an element I see in domestic fics, so I'm taking it as established fanon that its possible (and that we simply don't see it because it's not often all that interesting).
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Anything up to Doomsday, There will occasionally be canon elements included from any aired episode of Torchwood of Doctor Who, however.
Pairings: Doc/Rose, Rose/Jack
Characters: 10, Rose
Warnings: Flippantly AU
Genre: Adventure, Romance
Beta: gwen_harkness
Summary: The walls between universes are more fragile than they seem. Once again it falls to the Doctor to save more than one universe...but can he fight what he wants the most? And who is this unseen enemy? A post-Doomsday reunion, of sorts.
Previous Chapters
Disclaimer: There are many things I'd do differently if I owned DW.
AN: A quick update! For once! I blame watching too much DW.
--
One Times Infinity
Chapter Seven: Volitionem
It had been a week, give or take, since he'd dropped off Rose... the cold, battle-hardened Rose from another universe. Of course, time didn't exactly pass the same way on the TARDIS, but it worked well enough as a generalisation. He didn't need simplifying himself - he was fully capable of comprehending every subtlety of time. After nearly a millennium simplifying it for those who couldn't, .it was a hard habit to break.
He needn't worry about breaking it, really. Sooner or later he'd find himself saddled with another human whether or not he really wanted it. Or perhaps not... there was always a K-9 mark 3 or even 4. Whatever, really. The point was that he could do with a change of pace. K-9 was always a good, faithful companion, without any ape-like human complications. If the worst came to the worst, he could always pack it away into storage, too. Couldn't exactly do that with a human, now, could you? Well you could, but there'd be those darn tricky complications coming up again
He sighed, turning away from the readings on the monitor, and flipping several switches on the console. The problem with having such an overwhelmingly superior brain was that it was so much more difficult to bury oneself in work than it would be for a human. Not that he was doing anything of the sort - he had no reason to. He would have just liked some simple, uncomplicated adventuring. Perhaps exploring a few remote outposts, uncovering a few corrupt systems, and running for his lives. Lots of good running.
Of course, it wasn't as much fun running without a familiar hand to hold, but he could deal with it. It wasn't the first time he'd travelled alone, and it would hardly be the last. That much was certain. In the end, he'd spent more time travelling alone than he had with anyone else - he'd accepted that a long time ago. It didn't bother him anymore. Not at all.
His thoughts were interrupted by the small phone ringing on the console. He frowned, and shifted the TARDIS to a neutral position in the Vortex before picking up the ringing, singing phone. A clear, familiar voice chimed in his ear.
"Thought I saw a mobile there." Rose's voice sounded smug, but the coldness from before was stronger than ever. "I wonder how long it's been for you. Hours? Minutes? Still pretending none of it happened?"
"What do you want?" He gritted his teeth in an effort not to hang up the phone. "How are you calling me?"
"You're not the only one with universal roaming, Doctor."
"The number."
"Not as easy as you might think. Especially in this time." The voice paused, before continuing. "I'm sure you have important things to do, so I won't waste your time. I just thought it'd be rude to hitch another ride without saying goodbye."
He gripped the console with his free hand. "What are you talking about?"
"You refuse to see the truth? Fine." Another pause and the sound of a passing automobile. "Y'know, London's got more non-functional blue police boxes than you'd think in 1967. Still...how many can fit three comfortably and have room to spare for a dematerialization circuit? Gotta say, though, suit jacket and tartan trousers really don't work for you."
"You can't." He ground his teeth in frustration. If he thought it were possible, he would assume she had made it up but it simply wasn't possible. Regardless of how unlikely it was for her to have actually found one of his past regenerations, it was even more unlikely for her to have guessed what one looked like. She was just stubborn enough for him to believe the first. "You travelled with me - or a version, at least. You know what comes from interfering with time lines!"
"I'm not a part of this time line, Doctor. Not this time, not this universe. I'm not even born yet."
"It doesn't matter. You are a part of it now and he - I am too."
"I've got nothin' to lose, Doctor. I have nothing! This isn't even my world - even if it were, no one I knew is even born yet."
"If you understand regeneration then you know no matter how different he looks, he's still me. The answer's still the same."
"Maybe. You really wanna test me? Whether or not it works, it'll do something yeah? Because I'll tell him everything Doctor."
His nails dug harshly into the console in front of him. "Don't you dare."
"I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
Her voice was smug but somehow broken, "So choose."
--
"That looks ridiculous." Rose shook her head in disbelief. The structure looked like some sort of satirical modern art sculpture.
He offered her a lop-sided smile. "I'll have you know vacuums look more ridiculous than this."
Adeola seemed to be torn between fascination and incredulousness. "But that's not possible."
"Oh no? And you're so sure?" The Doctor turned to give the woman a sceptical look, before grinning. "Wanna come with and see for yourself?"
"Oh no, I couldn't..."
"Awww, c'mon. It'll be fun. Completely different universe! No idea what could be out there."
"But Torchwood..."
"Oh, you'll be back before supper. Promise." He winked, glancing over toward Rose with a wry grin.
A small grin grew across Adeola's expression and she shifted her weight nervously. "Well... I suppose..."
He practically bounced up and down. If he had a tail, Rose would have called him Tigger, "All right then! Shall we, Jones and Tyler?"
Rose jumped suddenly "Mum!" She lifted a hand toward the suddenly confused Doctor, pulling her mobile out of her pocket. "Just... give us a minute. I can't leave without tellin' her..."
His expression grew sombre. "We can go see her, if you want."
"No... no." She bit her lip, flipping the phone open. "I made my choice before. She understands that. It'll just be that much harder."
He didn't say a word but he didn't need to. His expression conveyed how selfish she already knew she was being. She was glad for his silence, though. She wasn't certain she could have gone through with it if he'd spoken the words. She didn't belong here and he belonged with his Rose. If there were anything she could do, then she would.
She almost lost her voice when her mother's voice came over the line.
"Mum...?"
There was silence on the other side of the phone for a few moments. "Rose...? Rose, what's wrong? What's happened?"
She swallowed.
"It's... it's nothing Mum... I just... I love you, Mum. You know that, right?"
More silence. "Oh...God. It's him, isn't it? Rose, it's the Doctor - he's here, isn't he?"
"Mum... I'm sorry. I've got to go." He was still watching her, and she could feel Adeola's eyes on her as well. She willed just a bit of the strength in his eyes to absorb into her. "He needs me, Mum."
"You'll be back."
She smiled softly. "Course I will. Soon as we're done." She chewed her lip. "Won't even know I'm gone."
"Course not." Rose could hear the resignation in her voice through the phone.
"You'll tell Mickey?"
“I will, promise. Now get going, you."
"Love you, Mum." She snapped the phone shut and stared down at it for several long moments. She forced a bright smile, and turned back to where the Doctor was leaning against the machine. "We ready?"
He nodded after a moment, and flipped the switch near where his hand rested against the structure.
The machine vibrated loudly and pulsed with a bright white light for a few seconds as the Doctor backed away from it with a wide grin. This was magnificent.
"Oh, I love this part!" He turned his grin toward her, and offered her a hand.
She had no sooner reached out and took the rough hand in hers before the light exploded off of the awkward looking device in a sudden shockwave. Adeola gave a startled yelp, as they were knocked back into the nearby wall, and a brilliant slash of colour formed through the air, slowly broadening into a shimmering circle the size of the machine.
"So..." He glanced between Rose and Adeola with an excited smile. "Ready?"
CH End
----
AN: Canonically, I don't think I've ever seen him pause in the Vortex--likely it exists along the same line of hyperspace and warp; one must be moving somewhere to be in it--but its often an element I see in domestic fics, so I'm taking it as established fanon that its possible (and that we simply don't see it because it's not often all that interesting).