[Fanfiction] Time Bomb (3/3), by callieach
I don't know if I should be posting fic at 4:01 AM, but I also don't know if I'm going to have time during to-proper-day.
Title: "Time Bomb" (Part Three of Three: The Shocking Save)
Author: callieach
Fandoms: Doctor Who, Torchwood
Characters: Donna, The Doctor, Martha, Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Mickey, Sylvia, Wilfred
Rating: PG-13
Words: 2177
Disclaimer: If I owned either of these series, I would be not only British, but also not still-heartbroken over season finales.
Author's Notes: I've been working on this since "Journey's End" but it just kept getting bigger and more demanding. Especially this third part, which I could never seem to finish, which is why it's late on my personal schedual of wanting to get things posted. Feedback of any sort would be wonderful.
Summary: Donna's forgetting and remembering things she shouldn't. (Includes spoilers for the end of 4x13 - "Journey's End" and unverified speculation for season 3 of TW.)
Part One: An Interupted Vacation
Part Two: Ticking
---
Mickey’s the only one to notice the new sound in the Hub, the whirring of a familiar engine, and the short-lived wind that accompanies it. “Hey, guys…” he starts to call to the others, before Jack cuts him off with a sharp “Not now, Mickey.”
Mickey ignores the familiar jolt of Rose is home when he finally sees the police box materialize in front of him and shouts, “But it’s the -“
In the instant that followed, a chain of things happened: Mickey’s “Doctor!” was echoed by Jack, Martha, Ianto, Gwen, and - after the front doors of the TARDIS flew open with a bang that startled her eyes open - Donna. Then the Doctor was dashing across the Hub in his pinstripe suit and screaming, “What are you doing to her?”
“We were trying to save her,” Jack says coolly, but he moves out of the way so the Doctor can be at Donna’s side.
The Doctor crouches and grabs one of Donna’s hands in both his own. She’s alert now - sobbing, begging him to make it stop.
“Turn it off,” the Doctor commands, his eyes not leaving Donna. Jack complies. Donna’s sobbing doesn’t cease. The Doctor’s face crumples. “Oh, Donna, you weren’t supposed to have to go through this again. I’m so sorry.” Then he turns to Martha and Jack angrily. “Why did you do this?”
“To save -“ Jack starts.
“I know that,” the Doctor interrupts. “But why this?”
“She told us to,” Martha says quickly. “She told us that electromagnetism and a shock would work.”
“Well it would, but not the kind of shock you’re thinking off…” The Doctor trails off, then looks at Donna, who has quieted down to the occasional heaving sob. “Oh... oh, oh, oh. Donna Noble, you are much too clever as a Time Lord.” That’s when it begins to truly make sense to him; that’s when he knows what she needs.
When he kisses her, he can taste the salty tears on her lips. He can feel the electricity, the tension, the knowledge ravaging her body. It’s his fault, but maybe he can save her.
He pulls away when he feels it all leaving her, but he keeps his hands on her, one cradling her cheek and the other holding hers. Her eyes are closed, and for a long, terrifying moment, she doesn’t breathe. But then, slowly, she exhales a breath of air that seems to shimmer as it leaves her lips. Her eyes flicker open as her breathing begins a normal rhythm.
Donna looks at the Doctor blankly as seconds that seem like lightyears tick by. He drops his hand from her cheek, certain he’s lost her again. But when he goes to remove his hand from hers, she tightens her grip.
“Mr. Smith? Seriously? How many times have you used that on thick earthlings after you’ve erased the best memories of their lives? As if a man like you would ever have a name like Mr. Smith. Pfffft. And I fell for it? Oh, well of course I did because without you I’m just a dumb temp, aren’t I? Oi! Alien Boy! What are you smirking at? This isn’t funny. You made me save the universe and then wiped my memory and didn’t even tell my mum that I couldn’t go to Cardiff because if I ran into Torchwood, my head would explode.”
The Doctor is still sporting a grin, but his eyes are sincere. “You know I’m sorry, but there was nothing else I could do.”
“Obviously there was.” Donna tilts her head left, then right, getting the kinks out. “Though, really, Jack, you could’ve taken it a bit easier on the electricity.” When the captain starts to apologize, she smiles, and adds, “It’s fine. I’m fine now.”
“Are you?” the Doctor asks seriously.
“Yes.”
“What the name of the third moon of Asth’ka?”
“How the hell would I know? And why would I want to know? If I’m ever there I’ll just call it the third moon. No need to make things all complicated.”
“Oh, you’re definitely back,” he says, pulling her into a hug.
“And you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon,” Donna adds determinedly, squeezing him. Then she pulls away and fixes him with a steady glare. “Don’t even try.”
The Doctor laughs a bit, and then pops up. “Interesting place you’ve got here, Jack. Kind of a like a super-lair. What does it all do?”
“I’ll give you a tour,” Jack says, laughing and clapping the Doctor on the back, leading him away.
Donna stands up and gives Martha a quick hug.
“What was that for? We probably did you more harm than good.”
“But you tried. And you had a lot more faith in the Doctor than Jack or I did.”
“I’ve seen what he can do. I knew that it was hard for him to let you go and he wasn’t going to let you fry alone, not at least without saying goodbye. He gets attached to us companions, and I know for a fact he tends to be a little angsty over the ones he loses, so he wasn’t going to let you go without a fight, not really.”
“Still, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
In the silence that follows, Ianto clears his throat. “Excuse me, Ms. Noble, can I get you a drink of anything?”
“No, I’m good. And call me Donna, please. Once you’ve been so instrumental in saving my life we get to be on a first name basis.”
Ianto’s “Oh, alright” is muffled by Donna throwing her arms around him in a big hug. Donna steps back, all smiles, while Ianto runs a hand over the back of his neck, obviously in an awkward position.
Donna then turns to Gwen, who’s just about to make an exit. “Gwen, right? I never got to properly meet you,” she says, grabbing Gwen’s hand and shaking it vigorously. “Thank you for… things I’m sure you need thanking for.”
Gwen blushes. “All in a day’s work.”
Donna laughs, then suddenly stops and focuses again at Gwen. “Seriously?”
“More or less. That’s Torchwood for ya.”
Within a few seconds, Donna’s got her arms around Gwen, giving her a hug, too.
Gwen laughs. “What’s that for?”
“For having such an interesting job. Really, wow.”
Ianto is still looking vaguely uncomfortable about the whole situation. “I see you’re into the whole hugging thing, too. Must be a side-effect of traveling with the Doctor. At first I thought it was just Jack but it’s Martha and Mickey and you, too.”
“There is always lots of hugging in the TARDIS,” Martha admits. Her and Donna meet each other’s eyes and laugh.
“You know what I think it is, though? We just have a lot to be thankful for when we’re traveling with him,” Donna says, indicating where the Doctor bent over something or other, peering intently through his rectangular glasses, clearly fascinated.
Martha follows her line of sight, smiling. “I think you’re right.” She nods appreciatively for a minute, then says, “If you don’t mind, I’ve got an alien I’ve got to get back to examining.”
“Sure,” Donna replies, her smile faltering a bit. “I forgot I was kind of ruining your work day.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind staying a bit late if it means helping out the Doctor and his companions. Did you want to see what we caught today?”
“Uh, no thanks, I’ll pass.”
“Don’t blame you one bit. Gwen?”
Gwen gives a gap-toothed smile in response. “Right behind ya, Martha.” She nods to Donna as she passes her. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”
“You, too.”
Ianto excuses himself and Donna sits down in the nearest chair. She watches the Doctor continue his tour around the Hub, oftentimes seeming ahead of Jack.
The Doctor’s voice gets suddenly louder. “You better not be using this.” He’s holding a device in his hand and waving it in front of the ex-Time Agent’s face.
“Why would we ever want to use that?”
“Because it’s an alien-tracker and you lot catch aliens.”
“That’s not its technical name -“ Jack starts, but the Doctor cuts him off.
“Why make things complicated?”
“You do, all the time.”
“Yeah, well, I’m allowed, aren’t I?”
“Why?”
“I’m the Doctor.” He grins as if to prove some hidden point, then slips his glasses off his face and into his coat pocket. “Donna, you ready to go?” he asks, winding around a workbench to get to her.
Donna beams. “Always am.”
There’s a chorus of ‘thank you’s and ‘goodbye’s and a round of hugs before the Doctor and Donna board the TARDIS.
Torchwood Three watches the blue box disappear; the only noise in the Hub is the sound of fading engines. When it’s gone, they split back up to do their respective jobs, Ianto being the one cleaning up the papers strewn by the entry and exit of the TARDIS.
“Your friend’s an interesting fellow,” he says to Jack, who he can tell is still standing behind him.
“Oh, he’s definitely one of a kind.”
Ianto bends over to pick up a folder and return it to Gwen’s workbench. “Is he from… whenever you’re from?”
“No. He’s not even human.”
“And you are?” Ianto asks, now turning to look at Jack.
Jack smirks. “What do you think?”
“You can’t die -“
“Fluke.”
“And you have incredible stamina,” Ianto continues, turning away again.
Jack steps up behind Ianto, placing a hand low on his back. “That’s just a fifty-first century thing.”
---
Aboard the TARDIS, Donna leans against a railing, smiling softly. This is where she belongs - she can feel it.
“Where to first, Ms. Noble?”
“Home, I think.”
The Doctor gives her a strange look. “I rushed here from Ancient Rome to save you and you aren’t even going to travel with me anymore?”
Donna strides over to him to smack him across the arm. “No, you dunce, I want to tell my mum and gramps that I’m back with you.” She absently fiddles with a few of the TARDIS’s controls, while the Doctor watches her interestedly.
“Aha. Well, one of them will be pleased.”
“Which reminds me... you didn’t mess with my mother’s head, did you?”
The Doctor flips a lever and his ship’s engines whir a little bit louder. “I might have done some suggesting.”
“Of what type?”
“She could keep her daughter if, every once in a while, in honour of the Whole Sort of General Mish Mash, she reminded you how brilliant you really are.”
For a few long moments, Donna stares at the console beneath her hands. The Doctor moves away, around the control room, twisting a knob here and flicking a button there.
Just when he’s about to ask her what she’s thinking about - he can’t quite tell - the TARDIS lands and she grins at him.
“Well come on, then. Gramps’ll be happy to see you.”
The pair’s strides are in sync as they leave the TARDIS and walk across the dark, silent street. Donna, for a change, is prepared and pulls her house key from her jacket pocket as they reach the steps. The Doctor stays a step behind her as she opens the door and walks inside.
“Who’s there?” Sylvia calls from somewhere in the direction of the kitchen.
“It’s me,” Donna replies. The two women meet a little ways down the hallway and the mother immediately grasps her daughter in a hug.
“You had me worried after that phone call,” she says sternly, looking Donna squarely in the eye.
“I’m sorry. Metaphysical crisis,” Donna says with a wave of her hand. “I can tell you the long story or tell you I’m better now.”
By now Sylvia’s looking over her daughter’s shoulder, straight at the Doctor. “And was he the one that made you better?”
Simultaneously, the Doctor shrugs a shoulder and says, “Not really,” and Donna nods quickly, saying, “Yes.”
Sylvia looks between the two, then seems to decide something and says, “Well, I suppose I have to be hospitable and make tea now, don’t I?”
The Doctor gives a wide grin. “I’d hate to impose, but if you’re offering, it’d be incredibly rude of me to refuse.”
“Donna, go fetch your grandfather from out at the allotment,” Sylvia says, looking at the Doctor while speaking to Donna. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to miss out on tea, either.”
Donna can’t help but smile as she slips out the back door and begins trekking her way to her grandfather, a route she’s taken many a time before. She’s greeted with a happy hug and the invitation to gaze upon the particularly bright Jupiter.
After a while, Donna remembers her task and says, “Oh, I almost forgot. Mum’s making tea for the Doctor and figures you’d be interested in some as well.”
Even in the poor natural lighting, Donna can see her grandfather’s face pale. “Your Doctor?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“But he said...”
“He was wrong. We fixed it. I better.”
Wilfred nods. “Yes. Yes, you are better with him.”
---
Title: "Time Bomb" (Part Three of Three: The Shocking Save)
Author: callieach
Fandoms: Doctor Who, Torchwood
Characters: Donna, The Doctor, Martha, Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Mickey, Sylvia, Wilfred
Rating: PG-13
Words: 2177
Disclaimer: If I owned either of these series, I would be not only British, but also not still-heartbroken over season finales.
Author's Notes: I've been working on this since "Journey's End" but it just kept getting bigger and more demanding. Especially this third part, which I could never seem to finish, which is why it's late on my personal schedual of wanting to get things posted. Feedback of any sort would be wonderful.
Summary: Donna's forgetting and remembering things she shouldn't. (Includes spoilers for the end of 4x13 - "Journey's End" and unverified speculation for season 3 of TW.)
Part One: An Interupted Vacation
Part Two: Ticking
---
Mickey’s the only one to notice the new sound in the Hub, the whirring of a familiar engine, and the short-lived wind that accompanies it. “Hey, guys…” he starts to call to the others, before Jack cuts him off with a sharp “Not now, Mickey.”
Mickey ignores the familiar jolt of Rose is home when he finally sees the police box materialize in front of him and shouts, “But it’s the -“
In the instant that followed, a chain of things happened: Mickey’s “Doctor!” was echoed by Jack, Martha, Ianto, Gwen, and - after the front doors of the TARDIS flew open with a bang that startled her eyes open - Donna. Then the Doctor was dashing across the Hub in his pinstripe suit and screaming, “What are you doing to her?”
“We were trying to save her,” Jack says coolly, but he moves out of the way so the Doctor can be at Donna’s side.
The Doctor crouches and grabs one of Donna’s hands in both his own. She’s alert now - sobbing, begging him to make it stop.
“Turn it off,” the Doctor commands, his eyes not leaving Donna. Jack complies. Donna’s sobbing doesn’t cease. The Doctor’s face crumples. “Oh, Donna, you weren’t supposed to have to go through this again. I’m so sorry.” Then he turns to Martha and Jack angrily. “Why did you do this?”
“To save -“ Jack starts.
“I know that,” the Doctor interrupts. “But why this?”
“She told us to,” Martha says quickly. “She told us that electromagnetism and a shock would work.”
“Well it would, but not the kind of shock you’re thinking off…” The Doctor trails off, then looks at Donna, who has quieted down to the occasional heaving sob. “Oh... oh, oh, oh. Donna Noble, you are much too clever as a Time Lord.” That’s when it begins to truly make sense to him; that’s when he knows what she needs.
When he kisses her, he can taste the salty tears on her lips. He can feel the electricity, the tension, the knowledge ravaging her body. It’s his fault, but maybe he can save her.
He pulls away when he feels it all leaving her, but he keeps his hands on her, one cradling her cheek and the other holding hers. Her eyes are closed, and for a long, terrifying moment, she doesn’t breathe. But then, slowly, she exhales a breath of air that seems to shimmer as it leaves her lips. Her eyes flicker open as her breathing begins a normal rhythm.
Donna looks at the Doctor blankly as seconds that seem like lightyears tick by. He drops his hand from her cheek, certain he’s lost her again. But when he goes to remove his hand from hers, she tightens her grip.
“Mr. Smith? Seriously? How many times have you used that on thick earthlings after you’ve erased the best memories of their lives? As if a man like you would ever have a name like Mr. Smith. Pfffft. And I fell for it? Oh, well of course I did because without you I’m just a dumb temp, aren’t I? Oi! Alien Boy! What are you smirking at? This isn’t funny. You made me save the universe and then wiped my memory and didn’t even tell my mum that I couldn’t go to Cardiff because if I ran into Torchwood, my head would explode.”
The Doctor is still sporting a grin, but his eyes are sincere. “You know I’m sorry, but there was nothing else I could do.”
“Obviously there was.” Donna tilts her head left, then right, getting the kinks out. “Though, really, Jack, you could’ve taken it a bit easier on the electricity.” When the captain starts to apologize, she smiles, and adds, “It’s fine. I’m fine now.”
“Are you?” the Doctor asks seriously.
“Yes.”
“What the name of the third moon of Asth’ka?”
“How the hell would I know? And why would I want to know? If I’m ever there I’ll just call it the third moon. No need to make things all complicated.”
“Oh, you’re definitely back,” he says, pulling her into a hug.
“And you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon,” Donna adds determinedly, squeezing him. Then she pulls away and fixes him with a steady glare. “Don’t even try.”
The Doctor laughs a bit, and then pops up. “Interesting place you’ve got here, Jack. Kind of a like a super-lair. What does it all do?”
“I’ll give you a tour,” Jack says, laughing and clapping the Doctor on the back, leading him away.
Donna stands up and gives Martha a quick hug.
“What was that for? We probably did you more harm than good.”
“But you tried. And you had a lot more faith in the Doctor than Jack or I did.”
“I’ve seen what he can do. I knew that it was hard for him to let you go and he wasn’t going to let you fry alone, not at least without saying goodbye. He gets attached to us companions, and I know for a fact he tends to be a little angsty over the ones he loses, so he wasn’t going to let you go without a fight, not really.”
“Still, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
In the silence that follows, Ianto clears his throat. “Excuse me, Ms. Noble, can I get you a drink of anything?”
“No, I’m good. And call me Donna, please. Once you’ve been so instrumental in saving my life we get to be on a first name basis.”
Ianto’s “Oh, alright” is muffled by Donna throwing her arms around him in a big hug. Donna steps back, all smiles, while Ianto runs a hand over the back of his neck, obviously in an awkward position.
Donna then turns to Gwen, who’s just about to make an exit. “Gwen, right? I never got to properly meet you,” she says, grabbing Gwen’s hand and shaking it vigorously. “Thank you for… things I’m sure you need thanking for.”
Gwen blushes. “All in a day’s work.”
Donna laughs, then suddenly stops and focuses again at Gwen. “Seriously?”
“More or less. That’s Torchwood for ya.”
Within a few seconds, Donna’s got her arms around Gwen, giving her a hug, too.
Gwen laughs. “What’s that for?”
“For having such an interesting job. Really, wow.”
Ianto is still looking vaguely uncomfortable about the whole situation. “I see you’re into the whole hugging thing, too. Must be a side-effect of traveling with the Doctor. At first I thought it was just Jack but it’s Martha and Mickey and you, too.”
“There is always lots of hugging in the TARDIS,” Martha admits. Her and Donna meet each other’s eyes and laugh.
“You know what I think it is, though? We just have a lot to be thankful for when we’re traveling with him,” Donna says, indicating where the Doctor bent over something or other, peering intently through his rectangular glasses, clearly fascinated.
Martha follows her line of sight, smiling. “I think you’re right.” She nods appreciatively for a minute, then says, “If you don’t mind, I’ve got an alien I’ve got to get back to examining.”
“Sure,” Donna replies, her smile faltering a bit. “I forgot I was kind of ruining your work day.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind staying a bit late if it means helping out the Doctor and his companions. Did you want to see what we caught today?”
“Uh, no thanks, I’ll pass.”
“Don’t blame you one bit. Gwen?”
Gwen gives a gap-toothed smile in response. “Right behind ya, Martha.” She nods to Donna as she passes her. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”
“You, too.”
Ianto excuses himself and Donna sits down in the nearest chair. She watches the Doctor continue his tour around the Hub, oftentimes seeming ahead of Jack.
The Doctor’s voice gets suddenly louder. “You better not be using this.” He’s holding a device in his hand and waving it in front of the ex-Time Agent’s face.
“Why would we ever want to use that?”
“Because it’s an alien-tracker and you lot catch aliens.”
“That’s not its technical name -“ Jack starts, but the Doctor cuts him off.
“Why make things complicated?”
“You do, all the time.”
“Yeah, well, I’m allowed, aren’t I?”
“Why?”
“I’m the Doctor.” He grins as if to prove some hidden point, then slips his glasses off his face and into his coat pocket. “Donna, you ready to go?” he asks, winding around a workbench to get to her.
Donna beams. “Always am.”
There’s a chorus of ‘thank you’s and ‘goodbye’s and a round of hugs before the Doctor and Donna board the TARDIS.
Torchwood Three watches the blue box disappear; the only noise in the Hub is the sound of fading engines. When it’s gone, they split back up to do their respective jobs, Ianto being the one cleaning up the papers strewn by the entry and exit of the TARDIS.
“Your friend’s an interesting fellow,” he says to Jack, who he can tell is still standing behind him.
“Oh, he’s definitely one of a kind.”
Ianto bends over to pick up a folder and return it to Gwen’s workbench. “Is he from… whenever you’re from?”
“No. He’s not even human.”
“And you are?” Ianto asks, now turning to look at Jack.
Jack smirks. “What do you think?”
“You can’t die -“
“Fluke.”
“And you have incredible stamina,” Ianto continues, turning away again.
Jack steps up behind Ianto, placing a hand low on his back. “That’s just a fifty-first century thing.”
---
Aboard the TARDIS, Donna leans against a railing, smiling softly. This is where she belongs - she can feel it.
“Where to first, Ms. Noble?”
“Home, I think.”
The Doctor gives her a strange look. “I rushed here from Ancient Rome to save you and you aren’t even going to travel with me anymore?”
Donna strides over to him to smack him across the arm. “No, you dunce, I want to tell my mum and gramps that I’m back with you.” She absently fiddles with a few of the TARDIS’s controls, while the Doctor watches her interestedly.
“Aha. Well, one of them will be pleased.”
“Which reminds me... you didn’t mess with my mother’s head, did you?”
The Doctor flips a lever and his ship’s engines whir a little bit louder. “I might have done some suggesting.”
“Of what type?”
“She could keep her daughter if, every once in a while, in honour of the Whole Sort of General Mish Mash, she reminded you how brilliant you really are.”
For a few long moments, Donna stares at the console beneath her hands. The Doctor moves away, around the control room, twisting a knob here and flicking a button there.
Just when he’s about to ask her what she’s thinking about - he can’t quite tell - the TARDIS lands and she grins at him.
“Well come on, then. Gramps’ll be happy to see you.”
The pair’s strides are in sync as they leave the TARDIS and walk across the dark, silent street. Donna, for a change, is prepared and pulls her house key from her jacket pocket as they reach the steps. The Doctor stays a step behind her as she opens the door and walks inside.
“Who’s there?” Sylvia calls from somewhere in the direction of the kitchen.
“It’s me,” Donna replies. The two women meet a little ways down the hallway and the mother immediately grasps her daughter in a hug.
“You had me worried after that phone call,” she says sternly, looking Donna squarely in the eye.
“I’m sorry. Metaphysical crisis,” Donna says with a wave of her hand. “I can tell you the long story or tell you I’m better now.”
By now Sylvia’s looking over her daughter’s shoulder, straight at the Doctor. “And was he the one that made you better?”
Simultaneously, the Doctor shrugs a shoulder and says, “Not really,” and Donna nods quickly, saying, “Yes.”
Sylvia looks between the two, then seems to decide something and says, “Well, I suppose I have to be hospitable and make tea now, don’t I?”
The Doctor gives a wide grin. “I’d hate to impose, but if you’re offering, it’d be incredibly rude of me to refuse.”
“Donna, go fetch your grandfather from out at the allotment,” Sylvia says, looking at the Doctor while speaking to Donna. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to miss out on tea, either.”
Donna can’t help but smile as she slips out the back door and begins trekking her way to her grandfather, a route she’s taken many a time before. She’s greeted with a happy hug and the invitation to gaze upon the particularly bright Jupiter.
After a while, Donna remembers her task and says, “Oh, I almost forgot. Mum’s making tea for the Doctor and figures you’d be interested in some as well.”
Even in the poor natural lighting, Donna can see her grandfather’s face pale. “Your Doctor?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“But he said...”
“He was wrong. We fixed it. I better.”
Wilfred nods. “Yes. Yes, you are better with him.”
---