Parallel
I don't own Doctor Who. This is just a random bit of something, that i'll one day expanded.
“Right, new plan.” A man said to his companion. His companion, a female teen no older than fourteen looked amused at the idea.
“Run?” She replied. He grinned at her in a manic way. The man pulled her in a direction of their ship, a blue police call box. “Dad!” The two made it to their ship, evading angry blue aliens from the planet Xyon.
The man circled the console pulling a lever that allowed them to take off. “Let's not mention this to your mother.”
The girl grinned, her father always said that. “It was supposed to be shopping dad. For a dress, for a school dance. I should have went with Aunt Tish.”
The Doctor pouted at his daughter over the console. “Really, I would have thought this would've been a fun experience.”
“You just wanted to make sure my dress isn't compromising and I still haven't got one.” The girl leveled a glare on him that reminded him of his lovely wife. “Because someone decided to annoy a security guard.”
The tall man in a blue suit, straightened his tie. “I wasn't annoying him. I was merely making an inquiry on why the surveillance system seemed to include the restroom stalls. How was I suppose to know that the public wasn't aware of it?”
“Dad, how did you even figure that out?” The teen with light brown skin, dark hair and brown eyes asked. Her hands were shoved in her jean pockets.
“Well Miranda, let's not talk about that? I know another place we can go.” This time the Doctor seemed even more excited. Miranda bit her lip, for some reason she was sure her father was about to drag her into even more trouble.
Miranda grabbed on to a nearby rail, “This is worst than usual.” She commented as the TARDIS experienced turbulence. The Doctor looked worried for a second before he started pulling more levers and examining the screen. The TARDIS gave one big shake before holding still. Pulling herself to a more steady stance, she moved towards her father. “What happened?”
“We were pulled into a rift.”
“A rift, like the one in Cardiff?”
“Well, no. Like the one in Norway.” The Doctor stared at the doors of his TARDIS wearily. “We can't stay, we shouldn't even be here.” Miranda knew her father was serious. She also knew he was curious and she would be lying if she said that she wasn't as well. “The rift looks like it'll be open for another few hours. Right then...” The Doctor clapped his hands and looked at his daughter.
She looked at him, her expression was obvious. “A bit of exploring?”
“As long as we don't take too long.” He replied before taking off for the door.
“Oi wait for me!” Miranda shouted a gleeful expression on her face. “Woah.” Her expression became serious as she looked at the damage around her. Her father's face held a frown. She walked over to him and clutched his hand. He gave her a reassuring squeeze before looking around.
“EXTERMINATE!”
“Why am I not surprised?” The Doctor muttered to himself as a dalek arrived on the scene destroying a car that had been driving by. “Go back to the TARDIS, now.”
“Dad?” Miranda asked, she didn't want to leave him.
“Now Miranda.” The Doctor wasn't sure how he'd get rid of the dalek nearby. The sonic had no affect on it and Ace wasn't around to blow them up. [He was thankful for that and yet he missed the girl.] His daughter released his hand, but didn't move. The lucky part for either of them was a blast destroying the dalek.
A familiar American face appeared. “Hey Doc!” The Doctor looked at him with shock. The last time he had seen Captain Jack Harkness, the young man had died in the Game Station. Why was he alive now? How had he survived?
“You're alive?” The Time Lord asked in bewilderment. Jack frowned at him before his eyes landed on Miranda.
“Funny. You know very well I'm alive.” The American retorted. “And you've got a younger companion.”
The Doctor didn't get to explain, before a familiar grinding sound was heard. Miranda glanced behind her, their TARDIS hadn't moved. “Is that-?” She asked. Jack frowned at them.
“Sounds like the TARDIS.” Jack concluded.
The Doctor nodded, “Too right. What's happening here? And how did the rift open this wide?”
"The Dalek's Crucible would be your best place for answers.” Jack replied. He looked over at them, but didn't get to ask anything as another familiar voice cried out “DOCTOR.”
Miranda glanced at her father and noticed he had gone pale. “Rose Tyler?” The Doctor ran around the corner, Jack and Miranda following.
Jack glanced at her, “How old are you?”
“Fourteen, give or take a few years. Dad likes to make it difficult to keep track of.” Miranda replied, only to stop short as she caught sight of her father- no her father of this world falling. Jack froze as well, but only to aim his gun and shot the offending dalek. Miranda ran forward only to be held back by her father. “Dad?”
“We need to get him to his TARDIS.”
“Will some kind of paradox be created considering there's two of you in one TARDIS?” Jack asked as he ran to the side of the other Doctor.
The Doctor scratched his head. “Not from this world, the TARDIS should be fine.”
“Doctor?” Rose asked as she looked up from her position beside him.
“Rose Tyler.” The Doctor replied, his eyes swept over her and the body of his counter part. “Its always a pleasure to meet myself. Jack grab his other side.” The Leader of Torchwood Three handed his gun to Rose. The blond had tears streaming down her face that she hastily wiped away, as she slung the gun over her shoulder. Rose followed Jack and the Doctor, only glancing at the other girl once. A redheaded woman looked over the group coming towards the TARDIS. Her hands covered her mouth as she stared in horror at the dying Doctor. “Right everyone inside, he needs to regenerate and I'd like an explanation on some things.”
The Doctor laid his self down and smacked himself awake. “Really, the Earth's being destroyed by Daleks and you get hit by one? How thick are you?”
“Where did you come from?” The other Doctor asked.
The Doctor grinned, “Pulled in by the TARDIS. You should get started regenerating. Its like spoiling myself. Think we'll be ginger this time?”
“What?” Rose asked as she kneeled next to the Doctor. She reached and grabbed the dying Doctor's hand. “He...you promised.” Jack held on to the distraught redhead. Miranda was staring at the blond as if she'd never seen blonds before. Jack reached out and placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. “You promised forever.”
Jack glanced away from Rose and the Doctors, and caught the sight of the girl's eyebrows raising. It reminded him of...of the Doctor actually. “Rose, you need to step back.” The Doctor placed a hand on the blond and nodded to himself.
“Forever? Funny concept with me.” The Doctor told Rose as he watched the golden energy of regeneration surround his counterpart.
Miranda tugged on Rose's shirt. “Were you telling him to not regenerate?”
“Don't.” Her father said flatly, before perking up. “Ooo...wonder what sort of face I'll have this time?”
“Why are there two of you?” The redhead woman asked.
As the light of regeneration died down, her Doctor's voice replied. “His TARDIS was pulled to our world. I'm assuming that was because of the Daleks.” He surprised everyone by still wearing the same face. In fact, he had shot the regeneration energy into a jar containing his hand. “Same genetic material, just took enough energy to heal myself.” He smiled charmingly at his companions.
“How did they manage to open a dimensional rift?” The Doctor asked himself. “Very clever. Where did you get the hand?”
“Lost it Christmas day in a sword fight.” The other Doctor replied. “Nothing should have been able to penetrate the walls. Rose, you mentioned Bad Wolf?”
The blond nodded. “The stars in my world started going out and then the dimension cannon started working.”
“I noticed a few planets were missing in my world as well.” The Doctor stated. He frowned, “What do you mean dimension cannon?”
Rose looked at both Doctors and grinned. “I promised forever and so I needed to get back to my Doctor.”
“Gag me.” Miranda retorted. “We get pulled here because you built...had built a cannon meant to destroy the walls between parallel universes? How many worlds did you destroy before ending up in this one? Better yet, dad and I got ripped from our world to this one.”
“Dad?” Rose repeated looking from the teen to the Doctor. Even the other Doctor, Jack and his redhead companion were looking at the teen in shock.
“Yes and I'm Miranda Jones-Smith. Apparently I don't exist here.”
Jack recovered first. “Captain Jack Harkness.” He smiled charmingly at her. Miranda blushed and glanced away.
“Honestly Jack, you never change.” The Doctor replied.
“Donna Noble.” The redhead introduced herself before looking at Miranda closely. “Your mum wouldn't be a Doctor Martha Jones would it?” Donna had a grin on her own face. She had liked the younger woman and thought she was mad to leave the Doctor.
Miranda grinned, “She exists here? I thought something happened and that's why dad's got a blond stalker.”
“Miranda Jones, what would your mother say?” The Doctor replied. “Honestly, you don't know any of these people and its not like we're in my TARDIS." He made a face at, "can't throw people out for trying to kill you. Your mother would have my head and I happen to like this face too.”
Miranda shrugged, “I swear dad, you've got the worst luck in the world. Dalek invasion, while shopping for a dress.” The girl hung her head. Donna patted Miranda's shoulder.
“Nothing will ever go right with him.”
“Mother mentioned that.”
“Did Martha warn you about going out with him?” Jack asked.
Miranda sighed, “She mentioned I'd end up in a cell and saving some planet.”
“Upside, you aren't in a cell.” The Doctor reminded her as he examined the hand in the jar. “And Martha would know, did we tell you about our trip to Scotland?” He inqured as he turned around and straighted up, shoving his hands into his pocket.
Rose was still in shock. “The one where she was arrested for wearing her jeans?” The other Doctor asked recovering.
“Happened here as well?”
“She thought it was hilarious.”
“She wanted a trip to a bar afterwards.”
“Took mine to the library, she read up on medical history.”
The Doctor patted himself on the shoulder. “Where is she?”
“With UNIT, when she left me I made sure they got her.” The other Doctor replied. “So I got with Martha Jones in your world? We've even got a daughter.” Something in his face showed longing as he glazed at Miranda. At least the Doctor figured that's what it was, he did know himself for the most part.
“Two.” The Doctor replied. “Jennifer Jones-Smith. Incident on Messaline...happened here as well?” The Doctor examined the face of his counterpart. “What happened to Jenny?” Miranda looked up at that point curious.
“Shot in her left heart. Martha was there. She died in my arms.”
The Doctor frowned. “B-but that doesn't make sense.” Whatever else he had to say was cut off as the TARDIS was apprehended by the Daleks. “Forgot about them. We'll continue this talk.”
“What happened to me?” Rose finally asked. “You replaced me? Or...or did I not exist in that world?”
The Doctor held on to the railing near the corridor. “You existed there Rose. We even traveled together.”
“You didn't love me?” The blond finally asked. Miranda looked ready to comment, but her father shot her a look.
“Rose, I love all my companions. Its just...I didn't love you in that way. In my previous body I cared for you a great deal. However, I couldn't keep you around. I realized that I was becoming the center of your very empty and unsatisfying life. It wasn't fair to Ricky and you needed to ground yourself. Don't get me wrong, Rose and I had great times, but Rose was more like a child to someone my age. Playing dress up, always wondering off and complaining when things don't go her way. Maybe you're different from my Rose, I don't know. But I do love my wife, Martha Jones.”
The power in the TARDIS cut off. The doors were forced open and the Dalek leader reigned supreme. After forcing the TARDIS occupants to leave, before Miranda or Donna could leave the doors slammed shut. Both Doctors tried to get to the daleks to open the door. Jack winced, as he looked at his Doctor. He may not have known either female long, but he knew both were about to be devastated. Then the floor opened up and the TARDIS dropped.
Neither Doctor spoke, before the Doctor (from the other universe) rounded on the Daleks. “What did either of them do to you? Nothing! You want to see me in pain. Fine.” The Doctor reached for his sonic, but was stopped when Jack decided to distract the Daleks.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“That's twice.” The Doctor replied.
“I know.” His counterpart replied. His counterpart squeezed Rose's hand in reassurance. “Martha will kill you.”
“I'd deserve it.” Neither Doctor spoke as they found themselves trapped in cells with Rose between them.
++__++
Miranda dug her fingers into the holes in the TARDIS floor as it was dropped down a hole. The smell of burning wood reached the pair trapped in the blue box. “Donna! Donna are you alright?”
“Can you hear it?” Donna mumbled, the redhead woman had landed near the knocked over hand in a jar.
Miranda, thankful for having a bi-vascular system like her father, looked puzzled. “Hear what?”
“A heart beating.”
Miranda shook her head. “No.” She glanced around looking for the fire extinguisher normally kept under the console.
“It's glowing! Don't tell me you don't see that space-girl!” Donna snapped in the dark console room.
The olive skinned girl coughed lightly before crawling towards the grating with a latch and pulling it up. “I don't. There's nothing special about that hand except it's full of regeneration energy. Don't touch it.” Miranda snapped back as she finally pulled out the extinguisher. Putting the fire out was her priority, figuring out why the redhead lady was going crazy was second. The lights in the TARDIS flickered on surprising the pair.
“What?” Donna asked as she blinked at sudden brightness.
Miranda hopped up, and rushed to the TARDIS console hitting a button when she was close enough. “Shields back up! Let me get rid of the fires old girl!” Donna turned away from the hand to watch Miranda move around just like her father. Quickly putting the fires out, Miranda ran over to the jumpseat and tossed the empty extinguisher in it. “Are you alright?” She asked Donna.
“Fine space-girl.” The redhead replied as she stood up careful not to touch the hand.
Miranda grinned, “Good. We've got an advantage. They think we're dead. Oh, this is going to be great.”
“What are you up to?” Donna asked as Miranda walked over to another part of the TARDIS and started typing away. The older woman approached the younger on from behind and frowned when she couldn't read the screen- as usual. “You can read that?”
Miranda didn't stop typing as she started hacking the Dalek's network. “It's all Old High Gallifreyian, dad taught me how. Aunt Addy taught me how to hack, dad just perfected what she taught me which is why we are now in the dalek's mainframe.”
“What are you going to do?” Donna asked with a raised eyebrow. She was used to the Doctor coming up with plans. Not to mention she was freaked out that stupid Pepper Pots just tried to kill her, along with that hand glowing and beating.
Miranda was surfing through stuff. “Well, I'm getting a floor plan and intercepting all communication. I fully expect that we'll be able to take the daleks off guard. The best way of doing that is to prepare to take them out. Or at least distract them long enough for me to free dad. So, if I'm right...which I hope I am, Ace should have some spare Nitro-9 cans left in her old room.” The olive skinned girl made a face. “Your Doctor won't appreciate me going through his TARDIS.”
“He'll get over it.” Donna reassured her. “So these Nitro-9 cans, what are you gonna do...blow them up?” She felt like she was talking to the Doctor when they had stopped Adipose Industries from taking human fat.
Miranda paused, she looked uncomfortable with the idea. “I don't exactly know any other way to keep them from killing either of us once we materialize. Though...” Miranda placed a hand on an empty place on the TARDIS console. Her eyes snapped open seconds later. “Oh ho, do you like baseball?”
Donna raised an eyebrow. “What space-girl?” A door on part of the TARDIS console opened and a handle stuck out of it. Miranda pulled out the bat similar to the one Ace used on daleks before. “Are you seriously suggesting hitting the Pepper Pots?”
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
“Just do what he says.” The other Doctor told his companions that had been threatening to destroy their planet (except Jackie, she had been looking for Rose). Beside him, Rose and the Doctor were watching the others. The Doctor looked over at Martha and frowned when he noticed her trying not to favor her side as she kneeled.
He wanted to call out to her, but he refrained. No need to give the Daleks another person to taunt. Rose had stood up to Darvos, but she really should have just shut up. Darvos wanted a reaction, any kind of reaction and he had refrained from giving them one. At least if he was going to die it would be with Martha, even if it wasn't his Martha.
Just as Darvos was starting to gloat about some prophecy made by Dalek Caan coming true, the TARDIS started materializing. Everyone looked at the blue box in surprise. Suddenly the doors were thrown open and Miranda stepped out.
She had a baseball bat in hand and she had a smile on her face. “Did anyone miss us?” She asked as she stepped out of the box. “You look surprised Darvos. Haven't you learned yet? We always defeat you because you think inside a box.”
Her expression changed, “And I really don't appreciate your attempt to kill Donna or myself.” Donna stepped out of the TARDIS, something in her hand hidden behind Miranda.
“I don't like it myself actually.” Donna said conversationally as she showed her right hand. “I was told you'd recognize this?” The redhead woman tossed the can which landed and exploded not far from where the other Children of Time had been kneeling.
“Watch it!” Sarah Jane cried out. As she and the others avoided getting hit by debris.
“Nitro-9!” Both Doctor's breathed out.
“EXTERIMENT THEM!” Darvos cried out. Miranda grinned as she ran towards the crucible’s unguarded controls. She swung fast and hard taking out the eye stocks on Daleks as she tried to reach her destination.
“No way.” Jack and Mickey said reasonably impressed.
The Doctor was in the middle of deciding if he was having a heart attack or if he was proud of his daughter. Apparently, the time she spent with Ace and his Seventh body had been very influential. “Miranda!” He cried out when she was finally shot from behind. The bat in her hand rolled towards his companions.
Martha grabbed the bat and then looked over at the down girl. “She's just a child!” The UNIT officer was angry, part of her wanted to run to the girl and check on her. Obviously the girl was important to one of the Doctors trapped in the cage.
“Martha get to the TARDIS, Mickey and I will...”
“All of you get to the TARDIS, she's got a trick up her sleeve.” Donna's voice informed them from behind them. Martha's grip on the bat was tight as she wanted to finish the job the girl had started, but she knew. She knew, she knew didn't have a clue on how to work the crucible's controls.
Miranda hopped up ignoring the blood on her arm. She completed her sprint to the crucible as the rest of the Daleks had been distracted by Donna and the other Children of Time. “That hurt like a motherfu-”
“Miranda!” Her father warned from where he stood trapped. He was definitely too old for this. He was thanking Rassilon she was still alive. If she had died, he swallowed hard deciding not to continue that train of thought.
“Mother fudge-cicle. Right let's see if I remember my lessons on Z-Neutron energy properly...” She finished as she disabled all the Dalek weapons and then played with one of the controls. To her delight the Daleks started bumping into each other. She reversed an energy feed. “Bumper cars Dalek style!” Miranda exclaimed as she opened the prisons. “Dad, I could use your help here.” Both Doctor's now free ran to the controls.
“What did you do?” Her father asked as he and his counterpart started to examine the controls.
Miranda nodded to the switches in front of her, “Messed with the triple-breaker circuit. I caused them to hone in on each other. I'm hoping it takes some of them out.”
“Brilliant job, you're bleeding though.” The other Doctor observed as he grabbed a wheel. “Did you re-route all the power?”
“Done.” The Doctor replied, “Let's send those planets home!”
Miranda winced as she turned the wheel in front of her. “Are we gonna have enough power for all of them?”
Neither Doctor answered as they sent planets home like nobody's business. “We're out of power, with one planet left.” Her father replied.
“We can take the last one.” The other Doctor said with a grin.
Miranda laughed as she realized Earth, her mother's home planet was the last one left.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
The Dalek Crucible was too dangerous to leave in its current pocket out of time. Yet neither Doctor could decided what to do with it. Miranda eyed the controls warily, it would be so easy to reverse the energy loop and destroy every Dalek created.
But that was genocide. Her father rarely talked about the Time War, where he'd destroyed the Time Lords and Daleks alike.
Could she live with herself if she destroyed them?
Could her father?
“We should get back to the TARDIS.” Miranda spoke quietly, both Doctors looked at her with identical expressions of confusion. “Someone needs to set up a temporary air shield over Earth and no one in the TARDIS knows how.”
The other Doctor nodded, “That's true.”
Her father was eying her as if he could read her thoughts. “Whatever you're thinking about forget it and you can go set that shield up.” Miranda smiled sadly at him, but pulled a lever that caused the Daleks around them to start blowing up.
“We couldn't leave them alive and...and you were taking too long to decide something.” The anger on her father's face hurt her. “I'm sorry, we need to leave.”
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
The three entered the TARDIS in stone silence. Donna and Martha could tell that Miranda was giving both Doctor's a wide-berth. “What happened with the Daleks? And what was that explosion?” Rose asked her Doctor as she rubbed on his arm.
“One would ASSUME the explosion was the Daleks.” Donna replied smiling sweetly, “But, that must be too hard of a conclusion to draw especially considering both Martians are angry.” Rose frowned and bristled at Donna's reply.
Martha bit her lip, she liked Donna Noble. Miranda smiled guiltily at Donna's conclusion. Jack and Mickey exchanged looks, this was going to be a long trip. “Jack, call up your team. We're gonna use the rift to help tow Earth home.” The other Doctor said as he shook Rose off him, to move about the console. “Sarah Jane, can you get Mr. Smith to lock on to the TARDIS. We're gonna need to lasso Earth properly.”
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Miranda looked around the crowded area and decided to go to the Medical Bay. She needed a moment to herself. Her side hurt, the blood clung to her top like a second skin. Her father was angry with her, would he ever forgive her? A hand landed on her shoulder when she tried to pass, it was a small dark skinned one. “You're bleeding.” The Martha Jones of this world said quietly. “I can patch it up for you.” Miranda nodded.
Martha followed the quiet girl down the halls of the TARDIS. She was curious about Miranda and the second Doctor on board the ship. Donna and Jack had explained that the two were from a parallel world and had been dragged there by accident.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Donna eyed the blonde and Martian as they moved around helping everyone drive the TARDIS properly. Jack Harkness, a very handsome man, had ended up beside her with Sarah Jane on her other side. “You know if you keep looking at Rose like that the Doc might take offense.” Jack offered.
“I expected someone special.” Donna replied snorting. “And the silly Martian could take offense all he wants, I'll slap him silly.”
Jack chuckled. “Really, violence?”
“Have you seen his ego?” Sarah Jane couldn't help, but laugh at that. Donna turned to the other woman about her age.
Sarah Jane grinned herself, “It's bigger than this whole ship.”
“I wouldn't mind if other parts of him were just as big.” Jack informed them.
Donna made a face, while Sarah Jane shook her head grinning. “He's like my brother. That's just...ew.” The redhead woman replied.
“Sarah Jane Smith.” The brunette woman introduced herself with a smile.
“Donna Noble.” The cheeky redhead woman replied as she continued to help pilot.
Jack grinned at them as well. “Captain Jack Harkness. Always a pleasure to meet two gorgeous women.”
“You're a smooth one aren't you?” Sarah Jane replied raising an eyebrow.
Donna smirked in reply, “He seems like he uses that line on just about every woman he meets.”
“Try every species with a pulse.” The Doctor supplied from behind them. His eyes weren't on them, instead he was examining the crowded console room. Rose's mother, Jackie, was next to Mickey, who was standing on Jack's other side. The older blond woman seemed to be enjoying herself despite how much she probably wanted to go home. Rose was off to the side with the Doctor of this dimension. He really hoped his counterpart would move passed his feelings for Rose.
The Doctor also hoped his counterpart hadn't screwed up his chances with Martha. Alas, knowing himself, the stupid version probably screwed up right and proper. Especially if the way Martha had reacted to seeing Rose back on the Crucible was any indication.
Speaking of the Crucible, his wayward daughter wasn't in the room. Neither was Martha. Belatedly, the Doctor remembered Miranda had been injured and Martha carefully not favoring her side.
Jack tried to look offended, “It hasn't worked with you.” He ended up grinning at that.
“Never will.” He replied.
“I'm still dead, in your world?”
The Doctor, who been attempting to ease away, paused. “Correct. Daleks, Game Station...it was a mess. How did you survive here?” His curiosity on the world he was in gave way to the desire to see his daughter just yet. Martha would take care of her, he could always count on that.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
“...so I blew them up.” Miranda finished telling the doctor her story as Martha moved around the medbay. The olive colored teen watch as the older woman cleaned, stitched and then properly bandage her side. “He hates me. My own dad...he probably hates me. And my mum...she always tries to teach us to value life...”
Martha placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. “I understand.” It was true, Martha remembered the first time she had killed. The pig slaves in the 1930s, fellow human beings transformed by Daleks. She remember being disgusted with herself. And despite her mask in front of the Doctor afterwards, she never forgot. It had given her the strength to fight on, but she always tried to save lives first. That year, that year caused her to think death followed her. That Hath and Owen deaths, she blamed on herself. “But, you can't let what he says or think get you down. You know why?”
“Why?” Miranda asked, her dark eyes staring in to very familiar dark eyes.
“Because you did the right thing, it's never easy.” Martha informed her, “It's never easy to just kill someone, even a race like the Daleks, but it has to be done. The universe has to be protected. You said it yourself, the Doctor hadn't known what to do.” The black Londoner took a seat next to the teen. “That man thinks too much. You may not forgive yourself now, but you know what?”
Miranda's glazed picked up from where she had averted it earlier. Martha offered her a small smile. “I forgive you. My planet, my friends, my family were saved by you. Think about that, alright?”
The teen nodded as she glanced at the bandage on her side. “I'm not a horrible person?”
“Nah, its just something that's shocking and traumatic. Don't be like him and bottle it up.” Martha hoped the girl would take her advice.
“You're just like my mum.” Miranda stated quietly. “She's really good at giving out advice like that.” Martha nodded, but blinked surprised when Miranda hugged her. “I want her. I want to go home.” This time UNIT's Medical Officer could only return the girl's embrace.
“You're a Jones aren't you?” The girl nodded. “Well, then cry now...but later show the world and your father that you're made of tough stuff. That's how us Jones are built.” Miranda couldn't help, but laugh at that.
“I wish I was born here.” It was such a random statement to Martha. She could only raise her eyebrow. “Then you'd be really, really happy and wouldn't live a normal human life.” The other girl continued as if she knew Martha's facial expression. “Oh, and you'd drive grandma insane because dad would be around.”
“Drive mum bonkers do you guys?” Martha finally spoke up. She was mentally registering the fact that the girl was warmer than the Doctor, but cooler than her. Her black UNIT jacket sat on a stand next to a labcoat she hadn't bothered to put on.
Miranda pulled away slightly to look at Martha with a grin. “All the time. Aunt Tish always tells us off, but then ends up betting with dad on other ways to make grandma angry.”
“Horrible.” The dark beauty replied laughing. She could see that, the Doctor and her sister working together. “I'm glad things worked out for your parents.” Martha was, she had no illusions of herself or the Doctor getting together. Too many things had happened, too many times had she been hurt by him. Martha knew part of her heart would always belong to the alien, but he would never claim it. She had let it go and she was engaged now. Tom and herself would be getting married soon in a few months. Then, they would settled down in America where her job stationed her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know a bit about Ace and her explosions. So, I came up with an excuse to use them...even if I probably made an error with the reference. Lol.
“Right, new plan.” A man said to his companion. His companion, a female teen no older than fourteen looked amused at the idea.
“Run?” She replied. He grinned at her in a manic way. The man pulled her in a direction of their ship, a blue police call box. “Dad!” The two made it to their ship, evading angry blue aliens from the planet Xyon.
The man circled the console pulling a lever that allowed them to take off. “Let's not mention this to your mother.”
The girl grinned, her father always said that. “It was supposed to be shopping dad. For a dress, for a school dance. I should have went with Aunt Tish.”
The Doctor pouted at his daughter over the console. “Really, I would have thought this would've been a fun experience.”
“You just wanted to make sure my dress isn't compromising and I still haven't got one.” The girl leveled a glare on him that reminded him of his lovely wife. “Because someone decided to annoy a security guard.”
The tall man in a blue suit, straightened his tie. “I wasn't annoying him. I was merely making an inquiry on why the surveillance system seemed to include the restroom stalls. How was I suppose to know that the public wasn't aware of it?”
“Dad, how did you even figure that out?” The teen with light brown skin, dark hair and brown eyes asked. Her hands were shoved in her jean pockets.
“Well Miranda, let's not talk about that? I know another place we can go.” This time the Doctor seemed even more excited. Miranda bit her lip, for some reason she was sure her father was about to drag her into even more trouble.
Miranda grabbed on to a nearby rail, “This is worst than usual.” She commented as the TARDIS experienced turbulence. The Doctor looked worried for a second before he started pulling more levers and examining the screen. The TARDIS gave one big shake before holding still. Pulling herself to a more steady stance, she moved towards her father. “What happened?”
“We were pulled into a rift.”
“A rift, like the one in Cardiff?”
“Well, no. Like the one in Norway.” The Doctor stared at the doors of his TARDIS wearily. “We can't stay, we shouldn't even be here.” Miranda knew her father was serious. She also knew he was curious and she would be lying if she said that she wasn't as well. “The rift looks like it'll be open for another few hours. Right then...” The Doctor clapped his hands and looked at his daughter.
She looked at him, her expression was obvious. “A bit of exploring?”
“As long as we don't take too long.” He replied before taking off for the door.
“Oi wait for me!” Miranda shouted a gleeful expression on her face. “Woah.” Her expression became serious as she looked at the damage around her. Her father's face held a frown. She walked over to him and clutched his hand. He gave her a reassuring squeeze before looking around.
“EXTERMINATE!”
“Why am I not surprised?” The Doctor muttered to himself as a dalek arrived on the scene destroying a car that had been driving by. “Go back to the TARDIS, now.”
“Dad?” Miranda asked, she didn't want to leave him.
“Now Miranda.” The Doctor wasn't sure how he'd get rid of the dalek nearby. The sonic had no affect on it and Ace wasn't around to blow them up. [He was thankful for that and yet he missed the girl.] His daughter released his hand, but didn't move. The lucky part for either of them was a blast destroying the dalek.
A familiar American face appeared. “Hey Doc!” The Doctor looked at him with shock. The last time he had seen Captain Jack Harkness, the young man had died in the Game Station. Why was he alive now? How had he survived?
“You're alive?” The Time Lord asked in bewilderment. Jack frowned at him before his eyes landed on Miranda.
“Funny. You know very well I'm alive.” The American retorted. “And you've got a younger companion.”
The Doctor didn't get to explain, before a familiar grinding sound was heard. Miranda glanced behind her, their TARDIS hadn't moved. “Is that-?” She asked. Jack frowned at them.
“Sounds like the TARDIS.” Jack concluded.
The Doctor nodded, “Too right. What's happening here? And how did the rift open this wide?”
"The Dalek's Crucible would be your best place for answers.” Jack replied. He looked over at them, but didn't get to ask anything as another familiar voice cried out “DOCTOR.”
Miranda glanced at her father and noticed he had gone pale. “Rose Tyler?” The Doctor ran around the corner, Jack and Miranda following.
Jack glanced at her, “How old are you?”
“Fourteen, give or take a few years. Dad likes to make it difficult to keep track of.” Miranda replied, only to stop short as she caught sight of her father- no her father of this world falling. Jack froze as well, but only to aim his gun and shot the offending dalek. Miranda ran forward only to be held back by her father. “Dad?”
“We need to get him to his TARDIS.”
“Will some kind of paradox be created considering there's two of you in one TARDIS?” Jack asked as he ran to the side of the other Doctor.
The Doctor scratched his head. “Not from this world, the TARDIS should be fine.”
“Doctor?” Rose asked as she looked up from her position beside him.
“Rose Tyler.” The Doctor replied, his eyes swept over her and the body of his counter part. “Its always a pleasure to meet myself. Jack grab his other side.” The Leader of Torchwood Three handed his gun to Rose. The blond had tears streaming down her face that she hastily wiped away, as she slung the gun over her shoulder. Rose followed Jack and the Doctor, only glancing at the other girl once. A redheaded woman looked over the group coming towards the TARDIS. Her hands covered her mouth as she stared in horror at the dying Doctor. “Right everyone inside, he needs to regenerate and I'd like an explanation on some things.”
The Doctor laid his self down and smacked himself awake. “Really, the Earth's being destroyed by Daleks and you get hit by one? How thick are you?”
“Where did you come from?” The other Doctor asked.
The Doctor grinned, “Pulled in by the TARDIS. You should get started regenerating. Its like spoiling myself. Think we'll be ginger this time?”
“What?” Rose asked as she kneeled next to the Doctor. She reached and grabbed the dying Doctor's hand. “He...you promised.” Jack held on to the distraught redhead. Miranda was staring at the blond as if she'd never seen blonds before. Jack reached out and placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. “You promised forever.”
Jack glanced away from Rose and the Doctors, and caught the sight of the girl's eyebrows raising. It reminded him of...of the Doctor actually. “Rose, you need to step back.” The Doctor placed a hand on the blond and nodded to himself.
“Forever? Funny concept with me.” The Doctor told Rose as he watched the golden energy of regeneration surround his counterpart.
Miranda tugged on Rose's shirt. “Were you telling him to not regenerate?”
“Don't.” Her father said flatly, before perking up. “Ooo...wonder what sort of face I'll have this time?”
“Why are there two of you?” The redhead woman asked.
As the light of regeneration died down, her Doctor's voice replied. “His TARDIS was pulled to our world. I'm assuming that was because of the Daleks.” He surprised everyone by still wearing the same face. In fact, he had shot the regeneration energy into a jar containing his hand. “Same genetic material, just took enough energy to heal myself.” He smiled charmingly at his companions.
“How did they manage to open a dimensional rift?” The Doctor asked himself. “Very clever. Where did you get the hand?”
“Lost it Christmas day in a sword fight.” The other Doctor replied. “Nothing should have been able to penetrate the walls. Rose, you mentioned Bad Wolf?”
The blond nodded. “The stars in my world started going out and then the dimension cannon started working.”
“I noticed a few planets were missing in my world as well.” The Doctor stated. He frowned, “What do you mean dimension cannon?”
Rose looked at both Doctors and grinned. “I promised forever and so I needed to get back to my Doctor.”
“Gag me.” Miranda retorted. “We get pulled here because you built...had built a cannon meant to destroy the walls between parallel universes? How many worlds did you destroy before ending up in this one? Better yet, dad and I got ripped from our world to this one.”
“Dad?” Rose repeated looking from the teen to the Doctor. Even the other Doctor, Jack and his redhead companion were looking at the teen in shock.
“Yes and I'm Miranda Jones-Smith. Apparently I don't exist here.”
Jack recovered first. “Captain Jack Harkness.” He smiled charmingly at her. Miranda blushed and glanced away.
“Honestly Jack, you never change.” The Doctor replied.
“Donna Noble.” The redhead introduced herself before looking at Miranda closely. “Your mum wouldn't be a Doctor Martha Jones would it?” Donna had a grin on her own face. She had liked the younger woman and thought she was mad to leave the Doctor.
Miranda grinned, “She exists here? I thought something happened and that's why dad's got a blond stalker.”
“Miranda Jones, what would your mother say?” The Doctor replied. “Honestly, you don't know any of these people and its not like we're in my TARDIS." He made a face at, "can't throw people out for trying to kill you. Your mother would have my head and I happen to like this face too.”
Miranda shrugged, “I swear dad, you've got the worst luck in the world. Dalek invasion, while shopping for a dress.” The girl hung her head. Donna patted Miranda's shoulder.
“Nothing will ever go right with him.”
“Mother mentioned that.”
“Did Martha warn you about going out with him?” Jack asked.
Miranda sighed, “She mentioned I'd end up in a cell and saving some planet.”
“Upside, you aren't in a cell.” The Doctor reminded her as he examined the hand in the jar. “And Martha would know, did we tell you about our trip to Scotland?” He inqured as he turned around and straighted up, shoving his hands into his pocket.
Rose was still in shock. “The one where she was arrested for wearing her jeans?” The other Doctor asked recovering.
“Happened here as well?”
“She thought it was hilarious.”
“She wanted a trip to a bar afterwards.”
“Took mine to the library, she read up on medical history.”
The Doctor patted himself on the shoulder. “Where is she?”
“With UNIT, when she left me I made sure they got her.” The other Doctor replied. “So I got with Martha Jones in your world? We've even got a daughter.” Something in his face showed longing as he glazed at Miranda. At least the Doctor figured that's what it was, he did know himself for the most part.
“Two.” The Doctor replied. “Jennifer Jones-Smith. Incident on Messaline...happened here as well?” The Doctor examined the face of his counterpart. “What happened to Jenny?” Miranda looked up at that point curious.
“Shot in her left heart. Martha was there. She died in my arms.”
The Doctor frowned. “B-but that doesn't make sense.” Whatever else he had to say was cut off as the TARDIS was apprehended by the Daleks. “Forgot about them. We'll continue this talk.”
“What happened to me?” Rose finally asked. “You replaced me? Or...or did I not exist in that world?”
The Doctor held on to the railing near the corridor. “You existed there Rose. We even traveled together.”
“You didn't love me?” The blond finally asked. Miranda looked ready to comment, but her father shot her a look.
“Rose, I love all my companions. Its just...I didn't love you in that way. In my previous body I cared for you a great deal. However, I couldn't keep you around. I realized that I was becoming the center of your very empty and unsatisfying life. It wasn't fair to Ricky and you needed to ground yourself. Don't get me wrong, Rose and I had great times, but Rose was more like a child to someone my age. Playing dress up, always wondering off and complaining when things don't go her way. Maybe you're different from my Rose, I don't know. But I do love my wife, Martha Jones.”
The power in the TARDIS cut off. The doors were forced open and the Dalek leader reigned supreme. After forcing the TARDIS occupants to leave, before Miranda or Donna could leave the doors slammed shut. Both Doctors tried to get to the daleks to open the door. Jack winced, as he looked at his Doctor. He may not have known either female long, but he knew both were about to be devastated. Then the floor opened up and the TARDIS dropped.
Neither Doctor spoke, before the Doctor (from the other universe) rounded on the Daleks. “What did either of them do to you? Nothing! You want to see me in pain. Fine.” The Doctor reached for his sonic, but was stopped when Jack decided to distract the Daleks.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“That's twice.” The Doctor replied.
“I know.” His counterpart replied. His counterpart squeezed Rose's hand in reassurance. “Martha will kill you.”
“I'd deserve it.” Neither Doctor spoke as they found themselves trapped in cells with Rose between them.
++__++
Miranda dug her fingers into the holes in the TARDIS floor as it was dropped down a hole. The smell of burning wood reached the pair trapped in the blue box. “Donna! Donna are you alright?”
“Can you hear it?” Donna mumbled, the redhead woman had landed near the knocked over hand in a jar.
Miranda, thankful for having a bi-vascular system like her father, looked puzzled. “Hear what?”
“A heart beating.”
Miranda shook her head. “No.” She glanced around looking for the fire extinguisher normally kept under the console.
“It's glowing! Don't tell me you don't see that space-girl!” Donna snapped in the dark console room.
The olive skinned girl coughed lightly before crawling towards the grating with a latch and pulling it up. “I don't. There's nothing special about that hand except it's full of regeneration energy. Don't touch it.” Miranda snapped back as she finally pulled out the extinguisher. Putting the fire out was her priority, figuring out why the redhead lady was going crazy was second. The lights in the TARDIS flickered on surprising the pair.
“What?” Donna asked as she blinked at sudden brightness.
Miranda hopped up, and rushed to the TARDIS console hitting a button when she was close enough. “Shields back up! Let me get rid of the fires old girl!” Donna turned away from the hand to watch Miranda move around just like her father. Quickly putting the fires out, Miranda ran over to the jumpseat and tossed the empty extinguisher in it. “Are you alright?” She asked Donna.
“Fine space-girl.” The redhead replied as she stood up careful not to touch the hand.
Miranda grinned, “Good. We've got an advantage. They think we're dead. Oh, this is going to be great.”
“What are you up to?” Donna asked as Miranda walked over to another part of the TARDIS and started typing away. The older woman approached the younger on from behind and frowned when she couldn't read the screen- as usual. “You can read that?”
Miranda didn't stop typing as she started hacking the Dalek's network. “It's all Old High Gallifreyian, dad taught me how. Aunt Addy taught me how to hack, dad just perfected what she taught me which is why we are now in the dalek's mainframe.”
“What are you going to do?” Donna asked with a raised eyebrow. She was used to the Doctor coming up with plans. Not to mention she was freaked out that stupid Pepper Pots just tried to kill her, along with that hand glowing and beating.
Miranda was surfing through stuff. “Well, I'm getting a floor plan and intercepting all communication. I fully expect that we'll be able to take the daleks off guard. The best way of doing that is to prepare to take them out. Or at least distract them long enough for me to free dad. So, if I'm right...which I hope I am, Ace should have some spare Nitro-9 cans left in her old room.” The olive skinned girl made a face. “Your Doctor won't appreciate me going through his TARDIS.”
“He'll get over it.” Donna reassured her. “So these Nitro-9 cans, what are you gonna do...blow them up?” She felt like she was talking to the Doctor when they had stopped Adipose Industries from taking human fat.
Miranda paused, she looked uncomfortable with the idea. “I don't exactly know any other way to keep them from killing either of us once we materialize. Though...” Miranda placed a hand on an empty place on the TARDIS console. Her eyes snapped open seconds later. “Oh ho, do you like baseball?”
Donna raised an eyebrow. “What space-girl?” A door on part of the TARDIS console opened and a handle stuck out of it. Miranda pulled out the bat similar to the one Ace used on daleks before. “Are you seriously suggesting hitting the Pepper Pots?”
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
“Just do what he says.” The other Doctor told his companions that had been threatening to destroy their planet (except Jackie, she had been looking for Rose). Beside him, Rose and the Doctor were watching the others. The Doctor looked over at Martha and frowned when he noticed her trying not to favor her side as she kneeled.
He wanted to call out to her, but he refrained. No need to give the Daleks another person to taunt. Rose had stood up to Darvos, but she really should have just shut up. Darvos wanted a reaction, any kind of reaction and he had refrained from giving them one. At least if he was going to die it would be with Martha, even if it wasn't his Martha.
Just as Darvos was starting to gloat about some prophecy made by Dalek Caan coming true, the TARDIS started materializing. Everyone looked at the blue box in surprise. Suddenly the doors were thrown open and Miranda stepped out.
She had a baseball bat in hand and she had a smile on her face. “Did anyone miss us?” She asked as she stepped out of the box. “You look surprised Darvos. Haven't you learned yet? We always defeat you because you think inside a box.”
Her expression changed, “And I really don't appreciate your attempt to kill Donna or myself.” Donna stepped out of the TARDIS, something in her hand hidden behind Miranda.
“I don't like it myself actually.” Donna said conversationally as she showed her right hand. “I was told you'd recognize this?” The redhead woman tossed the can which landed and exploded not far from where the other Children of Time had been kneeling.
“Watch it!” Sarah Jane cried out. As she and the others avoided getting hit by debris.
“Nitro-9!” Both Doctor's breathed out.
“EXTERIMENT THEM!” Darvos cried out. Miranda grinned as she ran towards the crucible’s unguarded controls. She swung fast and hard taking out the eye stocks on Daleks as she tried to reach her destination.
“No way.” Jack and Mickey said reasonably impressed.
The Doctor was in the middle of deciding if he was having a heart attack or if he was proud of his daughter. Apparently, the time she spent with Ace and his Seventh body had been very influential. “Miranda!” He cried out when she was finally shot from behind. The bat in her hand rolled towards his companions.
Martha grabbed the bat and then looked over at the down girl. “She's just a child!” The UNIT officer was angry, part of her wanted to run to the girl and check on her. Obviously the girl was important to one of the Doctors trapped in the cage.
“Martha get to the TARDIS, Mickey and I will...”
“All of you get to the TARDIS, she's got a trick up her sleeve.” Donna's voice informed them from behind them. Martha's grip on the bat was tight as she wanted to finish the job the girl had started, but she knew. She knew, she knew didn't have a clue on how to work the crucible's controls.
Miranda hopped up ignoring the blood on her arm. She completed her sprint to the crucible as the rest of the Daleks had been distracted by Donna and the other Children of Time. “That hurt like a motherfu-”
“Miranda!” Her father warned from where he stood trapped. He was definitely too old for this. He was thanking Rassilon she was still alive. If she had died, he swallowed hard deciding not to continue that train of thought.
“Mother fudge-cicle. Right let's see if I remember my lessons on Z-Neutron energy properly...” She finished as she disabled all the Dalek weapons and then played with one of the controls. To her delight the Daleks started bumping into each other. She reversed an energy feed. “Bumper cars Dalek style!” Miranda exclaimed as she opened the prisons. “Dad, I could use your help here.” Both Doctor's now free ran to the controls.
“What did you do?” Her father asked as he and his counterpart started to examine the controls.
Miranda nodded to the switches in front of her, “Messed with the triple-breaker circuit. I caused them to hone in on each other. I'm hoping it takes some of them out.”
“Brilliant job, you're bleeding though.” The other Doctor observed as he grabbed a wheel. “Did you re-route all the power?”
“Done.” The Doctor replied, “Let's send those planets home!”
Miranda winced as she turned the wheel in front of her. “Are we gonna have enough power for all of them?”
Neither Doctor answered as they sent planets home like nobody's business. “We're out of power, with one planet left.” Her father replied.
“We can take the last one.” The other Doctor said with a grin.
Miranda laughed as she realized Earth, her mother's home planet was the last one left.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
The Dalek Crucible was too dangerous to leave in its current pocket out of time. Yet neither Doctor could decided what to do with it. Miranda eyed the controls warily, it would be so easy to reverse the energy loop and destroy every Dalek created.
But that was genocide. Her father rarely talked about the Time War, where he'd destroyed the Time Lords and Daleks alike.
Could she live with herself if she destroyed them?
Could her father?
“We should get back to the TARDIS.” Miranda spoke quietly, both Doctors looked at her with identical expressions of confusion. “Someone needs to set up a temporary air shield over Earth and no one in the TARDIS knows how.”
The other Doctor nodded, “That's true.”
Her father was eying her as if he could read her thoughts. “Whatever you're thinking about forget it and you can go set that shield up.” Miranda smiled sadly at him, but pulled a lever that caused the Daleks around them to start blowing up.
“We couldn't leave them alive and...and you were taking too long to decide something.” The anger on her father's face hurt her. “I'm sorry, we need to leave.”
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
The three entered the TARDIS in stone silence. Donna and Martha could tell that Miranda was giving both Doctor's a wide-berth. “What happened with the Daleks? And what was that explosion?” Rose asked her Doctor as she rubbed on his arm.
“One would ASSUME the explosion was the Daleks.” Donna replied smiling sweetly, “But, that must be too hard of a conclusion to draw especially considering both Martians are angry.” Rose frowned and bristled at Donna's reply.
Martha bit her lip, she liked Donna Noble. Miranda smiled guiltily at Donna's conclusion. Jack and Mickey exchanged looks, this was going to be a long trip. “Jack, call up your team. We're gonna use the rift to help tow Earth home.” The other Doctor said as he shook Rose off him, to move about the console. “Sarah Jane, can you get Mr. Smith to lock on to the TARDIS. We're gonna need to lasso Earth properly.”
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Miranda looked around the crowded area and decided to go to the Medical Bay. She needed a moment to herself. Her side hurt, the blood clung to her top like a second skin. Her father was angry with her, would he ever forgive her? A hand landed on her shoulder when she tried to pass, it was a small dark skinned one. “You're bleeding.” The Martha Jones of this world said quietly. “I can patch it up for you.” Miranda nodded.
Martha followed the quiet girl down the halls of the TARDIS. She was curious about Miranda and the second Doctor on board the ship. Donna and Jack had explained that the two were from a parallel world and had been dragged there by accident.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Donna eyed the blonde and Martian as they moved around helping everyone drive the TARDIS properly. Jack Harkness, a very handsome man, had ended up beside her with Sarah Jane on her other side. “You know if you keep looking at Rose like that the Doc might take offense.” Jack offered.
“I expected someone special.” Donna replied snorting. “And the silly Martian could take offense all he wants, I'll slap him silly.”
Jack chuckled. “Really, violence?”
“Have you seen his ego?” Sarah Jane couldn't help, but laugh at that. Donna turned to the other woman about her age.
Sarah Jane grinned herself, “It's bigger than this whole ship.”
“I wouldn't mind if other parts of him were just as big.” Jack informed them.
Donna made a face, while Sarah Jane shook her head grinning. “He's like my brother. That's just...ew.” The redhead woman replied.
“Sarah Jane Smith.” The brunette woman introduced herself with a smile.
“Donna Noble.” The cheeky redhead woman replied as she continued to help pilot.
Jack grinned at them as well. “Captain Jack Harkness. Always a pleasure to meet two gorgeous women.”
“You're a smooth one aren't you?” Sarah Jane replied raising an eyebrow.
Donna smirked in reply, “He seems like he uses that line on just about every woman he meets.”
“Try every species with a pulse.” The Doctor supplied from behind them. His eyes weren't on them, instead he was examining the crowded console room. Rose's mother, Jackie, was next to Mickey, who was standing on Jack's other side. The older blond woman seemed to be enjoying herself despite how much she probably wanted to go home. Rose was off to the side with the Doctor of this dimension. He really hoped his counterpart would move passed his feelings for Rose.
The Doctor also hoped his counterpart hadn't screwed up his chances with Martha. Alas, knowing himself, the stupid version probably screwed up right and proper. Especially if the way Martha had reacted to seeing Rose back on the Crucible was any indication.
Speaking of the Crucible, his wayward daughter wasn't in the room. Neither was Martha. Belatedly, the Doctor remembered Miranda had been injured and Martha carefully not favoring her side.
Jack tried to look offended, “It hasn't worked with you.” He ended up grinning at that.
“Never will.” He replied.
“I'm still dead, in your world?”
The Doctor, who been attempting to ease away, paused. “Correct. Daleks, Game Station...it was a mess. How did you survive here?” His curiosity on the world he was in gave way to the desire to see his daughter just yet. Martha would take care of her, he could always count on that.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
“...so I blew them up.” Miranda finished telling the doctor her story as Martha moved around the medbay. The olive colored teen watch as the older woman cleaned, stitched and then properly bandage her side. “He hates me. My own dad...he probably hates me. And my mum...she always tries to teach us to value life...”
Martha placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. “I understand.” It was true, Martha remembered the first time she had killed. The pig slaves in the 1930s, fellow human beings transformed by Daleks. She remember being disgusted with herself. And despite her mask in front of the Doctor afterwards, she never forgot. It had given her the strength to fight on, but she always tried to save lives first. That year, that year caused her to think death followed her. That Hath and Owen deaths, she blamed on herself. “But, you can't let what he says or think get you down. You know why?”
“Why?” Miranda asked, her dark eyes staring in to very familiar dark eyes.
“Because you did the right thing, it's never easy.” Martha informed her, “It's never easy to just kill someone, even a race like the Daleks, but it has to be done. The universe has to be protected. You said it yourself, the Doctor hadn't known what to do.” The black Londoner took a seat next to the teen. “That man thinks too much. You may not forgive yourself now, but you know what?”
Miranda's glazed picked up from where she had averted it earlier. Martha offered her a small smile. “I forgive you. My planet, my friends, my family were saved by you. Think about that, alright?”
The teen nodded as she glanced at the bandage on her side. “I'm not a horrible person?”
“Nah, its just something that's shocking and traumatic. Don't be like him and bottle it up.” Martha hoped the girl would take her advice.
“You're just like my mum.” Miranda stated quietly. “She's really good at giving out advice like that.” Martha nodded, but blinked surprised when Miranda hugged her. “I want her. I want to go home.” This time UNIT's Medical Officer could only return the girl's embrace.
“You're a Jones aren't you?” The girl nodded. “Well, then cry now...but later show the world and your father that you're made of tough stuff. That's how us Jones are built.” Miranda couldn't help, but laugh at that.
“I wish I was born here.” It was such a random statement to Martha. She could only raise her eyebrow. “Then you'd be really, really happy and wouldn't live a normal human life.” The other girl continued as if she knew Martha's facial expression. “Oh, and you'd drive grandma insane because dad would be around.”
“Drive mum bonkers do you guys?” Martha finally spoke up. She was mentally registering the fact that the girl was warmer than the Doctor, but cooler than her. Her black UNIT jacket sat on a stand next to a labcoat she hadn't bothered to put on.
Miranda pulled away slightly to look at Martha with a grin. “All the time. Aunt Tish always tells us off, but then ends up betting with dad on other ways to make grandma angry.”
“Horrible.” The dark beauty replied laughing. She could see that, the Doctor and her sister working together. “I'm glad things worked out for your parents.” Martha was, she had no illusions of herself or the Doctor getting together. Too many things had happened, too many times had she been hurt by him. Martha knew part of her heart would always belong to the alien, but he would never claim it. She had let it go and she was engaged now. Tom and herself would be getting married soon in a few months. Then, they would settled down in America where her job stationed her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know a bit about Ace and her explosions. So, I came up with an excuse to use them...even if I probably made an error with the reference. Lol.