Doctor Who fic: The Other Side of the World (26/31)
Title: The Other Side of the World (26/31)
Rating: PG
Characters: Rose, Martha
Timeline: Season three
Summary: Season three AU; After a fateful visit to Royal Hope Hospital, Rose finds herself lost in time and space with medical student Martha Jones. As they struggle to find a way home, they meet old friends, and old enemies, along the way...
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. Any borrowed dialogue belongs to Russell T Davies and the BBC.
A/N: A sequel to "The Other Side". It's not necessary reading; it just sets up the premise that it was the Doctor who was trapped in Pete's World, not Rose. And a shout-out to my awesome betas: joking and quean_of_swords. This story wouldn't have been posted without you guys.
Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven. Chapter Twelve. Chapter Thirteen. Chapter Fourteen. Chapter Fifteen. Chapter Sixteen. Chapter Seventeen. Chapter Eighteen. Chapter Nineteen. Chapter Twenty. Chapter Twenty-One. Chapter Twenty-Two. Chapter Twenty-Three. Chapter Twenty-Four. Chapter Twenty-Five.
Even with the sun overhead, Martha felt cold. It was a bone chilling cold that couldn’t be cured with a hot cup of tea or a cozy blanket. Sitting outside on the back porch of the farmhouse, she was convinced she would never feel warm again.
But her hatred for the Master raged within her and it burned so greatly she thought it might consume her. In her grief, it would have been so easy to give in to that hatred, but she couldn’t be guided by her heart. She needed to think with her head or else she would fail more than just her family. If the Master continued on his present course, the entire universe was at stake. Right now, she needed to be the Famous Martha Jones, the world’s saviour; when everything was back to normal, then she could indulge herself.
It didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting, though. She had seen people die before, but this was completely different. Martha dreaded falling asleep; she couldn’t imagine the nightmares her mind had in store for her.
The back porch steps creaked as Sarah Jane quietly sat down next to Martha. The woman looked over at her but Martha didn’t give her a chance to say anything. She wasn’t looking for words of comfort right now. “I’m still going, if you’re here to talk me out of it.”
Sarah Jane was silent for a second more as she thought this over. “Do you know what I’ve learned, Martha? Sometimes you need to make the tough decisions because no one else will. It’s hard to turn your back to a cause, but it’s even harder to take one on. You made a tough decision and you’re paying the consequences, but it’s not up to me to tell you what to do.”
As often as they had talked over the radio exchanging information, Martha realized then that she knew very little about who Sarah Jane Smith was. Her initial impression that the woman had seen far too much seemed sadly accurate. “I didn’t even think,” admitted Martha. “I just started to walk and didn’t look back.”
“At least you had a destination in mind.”
A bitter smile pulled at Martha’s lips. “Everyone thinks I walked the Earth to find a way to kill the Master, but it was never about killing.” She finally looked over at Sarah Jane. “Rose promised she’d get me home and she did. I need to return the favour.” It was difficult for Martha to accurately put into words how she felt. A deep friendship bound her and Rose. They hadn’t just travelled together; they had survived together. They had a connection she probably wouldn’t form with anyone else.
Inadequate though her words were, there was something in Sarah Jane’s expression that gave Martha the impression the woman understood completely; a slight upturn of the lips and a far-off look in her eyes. For that brief moment, she seemed to be reliving a long forgotten life.
It only lasted for a second and Sarah Jane quickly donned an air of seriousness. “I’ll call Dr. Milligan then. If all goes well, you’ll be in London by nightfall.”
Martha tightened her hands into fists, the mention of London dragging other thoughts to the surface of her mind. She was eager to leave now, but an early departure would have completely thrown off the rhythm of the plan and like a heart, it would take a considerable amount of effort to get it back on track. It was going against every emotion raging through her, but she would wait a few hours more.
Rose sat on the bed, barefoot, her legs curled up beneath her the best she could within the confines of her dress. The video feed from the security cameras had been shut off and all she had to stare at was blank screens. She half expected the Master to clear out the bedroom of any potential weapons after he had thrown her in, but instead he melted the lock on the door. When he left, she heard him engage the lock with the laser screwdriver and she knew she wasn’t getting out anytime soon.
A few hours had passed since her failed escape attempt, giving her plenty of time to think things over. Had she gone straight to the TARDIS instead of freeing Jack she might have made it, but she would have run the risk of completely destroying the time machine. The Master’s use of it as a paradox machine was way beyond her. Hitting the wrong button could have made the galaxy implode for all she knew. At the same time, escaping by herself would have meant leaving the others behind and that would have been unforgivable.
But she had to wonder if she had doomed them all now. Were Gwen and Ianto next in line to be shot if she stepped out of line? The Master clearly had no qualms about killing innocent people to punish those that were the true target of his rage.
Not for the first time, Rose wished the Doctor was here.
The door to the bedroom opened, but she didn’t turn her head to see who it was. She could already picture the wicked grin on the Master’s face. He was here to gloat.
She felt a hand tentatively touch the crown her of head. It was the last thing she expected from the Master and she turned. Any words she wanted to hurl at him became stuck in her throat.
She was greeted by a smile she hadn’t seen in ages. “Hello, Rose.”
“Doctor?” Her voice came out as a croak as her mind tried to comprehend what was happening. The Doctor sat on the edge of the bed, only an arm’s length away. He wore the same brown suit and his hair was styled in his usual chaotic fashion. He looked exactly as she remembered.
She crossed the space separating them and pulled him into a tight hug, her arms finding their familiar spot around his neck. The Doctor felt whole within her arms, not like some apparition. He embraced her just as tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder.
Rose could have stayed like this forever, but she reluctantly pulled back. The Doctor cupped the side of her face, his fingers weaved through her hair, and he stared intently into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She could feel tears forming and her heart threatened to explode it was beating so fast. Unable to hold his gaze, Rose looked away. “You’re here.”
“That’s bad?” the Doctor said with a laugh.
The sound of his laughter stirred a mountain of memories, making her next words more difficult. “You shouldn’t be. The walls are closed.” Their good-bye in the TARDIS played out in her mind’s eye, every word and emotion engrained into her memory.
“I found a way back, Rose. I came back for you.” The Doctor’s claim made her look up. Before she could question him further, he leaned in and kissed her.
Rose automatically pulled the Doctor closer, her fingers running through the soft hairs at the base of his neck. For that moment, she let herself forget everything. The Master, the Valiant, Jack chained like an animal, Martha wandering the globe, the countless deaths that she had witnessed. It was just her and the Doctor, as it was before.
She sighed when they parted, her hand trailing over the Doctor’s shoulder and then down to his chest. “How did you get back?” she asked, opening her eyes.
Rose recoiled. “Did I ever really leave?” replied the Master with a smirk.
She pushed him back as hard as she could and she succeeded in knocking him off the edge of the bed. Her lips were still raw from the kiss and while the urge was there, she resisted wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. Rose tried to breathe slowly but her breaths were unsteady and her blood pumped madly in her eardrums.
The Master picked himself up off the floor. He seemed to have enough sense not to attempt sitting on the bed. “What? Not happy to see your beloved Doctor?”
“Get out,” muttered Rose, her voice choked with emotion.
“Can you really miss him that much?” The Master chuckled to himself. “We’re not that different, you know. I can show you the universe, too, Rose. Once I’m in control, we can go anywhere, do anything.”
She shuddered to think that the Master was trying to woo her. This was just another mind game, another way to wear her down. He was using the one thing she held dear against her. “Why would I willing go anywhere with you?”
The Master put the tip of the laser screwdriver to the lock of the door. It unlocked with a soft click. “Because you have no other choice,” he said simply.
The Time Lord’s exit was much more subdued than his entrance. Rose listened to the door lock, glad to have the barrier between them once more. Lying back on the bed, she closed her eyes and willed her heart to calm.
Rating: PG
Characters: Rose, Martha
Timeline: Season three
Summary: Season three AU; After a fateful visit to Royal Hope Hospital, Rose finds herself lost in time and space with medical student Martha Jones. As they struggle to find a way home, they meet old friends, and old enemies, along the way...
Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. Any borrowed dialogue belongs to Russell T Davies and the BBC.
A/N: A sequel to "The Other Side". It's not necessary reading; it just sets up the premise that it was the Doctor who was trapped in Pete's World, not Rose. And a shout-out to my awesome betas: joking and quean_of_swords. This story wouldn't have been posted without you guys.
Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Five. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Ten. Chapter Eleven. Chapter Twelve. Chapter Thirteen. Chapter Fourteen. Chapter Fifteen. Chapter Sixteen. Chapter Seventeen. Chapter Eighteen. Chapter Nineteen. Chapter Twenty. Chapter Twenty-One. Chapter Twenty-Two. Chapter Twenty-Three. Chapter Twenty-Four. Chapter Twenty-Five.
Even with the sun overhead, Martha felt cold. It was a bone chilling cold that couldn’t be cured with a hot cup of tea or a cozy blanket. Sitting outside on the back porch of the farmhouse, she was convinced she would never feel warm again.
But her hatred for the Master raged within her and it burned so greatly she thought it might consume her. In her grief, it would have been so easy to give in to that hatred, but she couldn’t be guided by her heart. She needed to think with her head or else she would fail more than just her family. If the Master continued on his present course, the entire universe was at stake. Right now, she needed to be the Famous Martha Jones, the world’s saviour; when everything was back to normal, then she could indulge herself.
It didn’t mean she wasn’t hurting, though. She had seen people die before, but this was completely different. Martha dreaded falling asleep; she couldn’t imagine the nightmares her mind had in store for her.
The back porch steps creaked as Sarah Jane quietly sat down next to Martha. The woman looked over at her but Martha didn’t give her a chance to say anything. She wasn’t looking for words of comfort right now. “I’m still going, if you’re here to talk me out of it.”
Sarah Jane was silent for a second more as she thought this over. “Do you know what I’ve learned, Martha? Sometimes you need to make the tough decisions because no one else will. It’s hard to turn your back to a cause, but it’s even harder to take one on. You made a tough decision and you’re paying the consequences, but it’s not up to me to tell you what to do.”
As often as they had talked over the radio exchanging information, Martha realized then that she knew very little about who Sarah Jane Smith was. Her initial impression that the woman had seen far too much seemed sadly accurate. “I didn’t even think,” admitted Martha. “I just started to walk and didn’t look back.”
“At least you had a destination in mind.”
A bitter smile pulled at Martha’s lips. “Everyone thinks I walked the Earth to find a way to kill the Master, but it was never about killing.” She finally looked over at Sarah Jane. “Rose promised she’d get me home and she did. I need to return the favour.” It was difficult for Martha to accurately put into words how she felt. A deep friendship bound her and Rose. They hadn’t just travelled together; they had survived together. They had a connection she probably wouldn’t form with anyone else.
Inadequate though her words were, there was something in Sarah Jane’s expression that gave Martha the impression the woman understood completely; a slight upturn of the lips and a far-off look in her eyes. For that brief moment, she seemed to be reliving a long forgotten life.
It only lasted for a second and Sarah Jane quickly donned an air of seriousness. “I’ll call Dr. Milligan then. If all goes well, you’ll be in London by nightfall.”
Martha tightened her hands into fists, the mention of London dragging other thoughts to the surface of her mind. She was eager to leave now, but an early departure would have completely thrown off the rhythm of the plan and like a heart, it would take a considerable amount of effort to get it back on track. It was going against every emotion raging through her, but she would wait a few hours more.
Rose sat on the bed, barefoot, her legs curled up beneath her the best she could within the confines of her dress. The video feed from the security cameras had been shut off and all she had to stare at was blank screens. She half expected the Master to clear out the bedroom of any potential weapons after he had thrown her in, but instead he melted the lock on the door. When he left, she heard him engage the lock with the laser screwdriver and she knew she wasn’t getting out anytime soon.
A few hours had passed since her failed escape attempt, giving her plenty of time to think things over. Had she gone straight to the TARDIS instead of freeing Jack she might have made it, but she would have run the risk of completely destroying the time machine. The Master’s use of it as a paradox machine was way beyond her. Hitting the wrong button could have made the galaxy implode for all she knew. At the same time, escaping by herself would have meant leaving the others behind and that would have been unforgivable.
But she had to wonder if she had doomed them all now. Were Gwen and Ianto next in line to be shot if she stepped out of line? The Master clearly had no qualms about killing innocent people to punish those that were the true target of his rage.
Not for the first time, Rose wished the Doctor was here.
The door to the bedroom opened, but she didn’t turn her head to see who it was. She could already picture the wicked grin on the Master’s face. He was here to gloat.
She felt a hand tentatively touch the crown her of head. It was the last thing she expected from the Master and she turned. Any words she wanted to hurl at him became stuck in her throat.
She was greeted by a smile she hadn’t seen in ages. “Hello, Rose.”
“Doctor?” Her voice came out as a croak as her mind tried to comprehend what was happening. The Doctor sat on the edge of the bed, only an arm’s length away. He wore the same brown suit and his hair was styled in his usual chaotic fashion. He looked exactly as she remembered.
She crossed the space separating them and pulled him into a tight hug, her arms finding their familiar spot around his neck. The Doctor felt whole within her arms, not like some apparition. He embraced her just as tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder.
Rose could have stayed like this forever, but she reluctantly pulled back. The Doctor cupped the side of her face, his fingers weaved through her hair, and he stared intently into her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She could feel tears forming and her heart threatened to explode it was beating so fast. Unable to hold his gaze, Rose looked away. “You’re here.”
“That’s bad?” the Doctor said with a laugh.
The sound of his laughter stirred a mountain of memories, making her next words more difficult. “You shouldn’t be. The walls are closed.” Their good-bye in the TARDIS played out in her mind’s eye, every word and emotion engrained into her memory.
“I found a way back, Rose. I came back for you.” The Doctor’s claim made her look up. Before she could question him further, he leaned in and kissed her.
Rose automatically pulled the Doctor closer, her fingers running through the soft hairs at the base of his neck. For that moment, she let herself forget everything. The Master, the Valiant, Jack chained like an animal, Martha wandering the globe, the countless deaths that she had witnessed. It was just her and the Doctor, as it was before.
She sighed when they parted, her hand trailing over the Doctor’s shoulder and then down to his chest. “How did you get back?” she asked, opening her eyes.
Rose recoiled. “Did I ever really leave?” replied the Master with a smirk.
She pushed him back as hard as she could and she succeeded in knocking him off the edge of the bed. Her lips were still raw from the kiss and while the urge was there, she resisted wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. Rose tried to breathe slowly but her breaths were unsteady and her blood pumped madly in her eardrums.
The Master picked himself up off the floor. He seemed to have enough sense not to attempt sitting on the bed. “What? Not happy to see your beloved Doctor?”
“Get out,” muttered Rose, her voice choked with emotion.
“Can you really miss him that much?” The Master chuckled to himself. “We’re not that different, you know. I can show you the universe, too, Rose. Once I’m in control, we can go anywhere, do anything.”
She shuddered to think that the Master was trying to woo her. This was just another mind game, another way to wear her down. He was using the one thing she held dear against her. “Why would I willing go anywhere with you?”
The Master put the tip of the laser screwdriver to the lock of the door. It unlocked with a soft click. “Because you have no other choice,” he said simply.
The Time Lord’s exit was much more subdued than his entrance. Rose listened to the door lock, glad to have the barrier between them once more. Lying back on the bed, she closed her eyes and willed her heart to calm.