Where Are You Roaming? (24/25)
Author: lorelaisquared
Titile: Where Are You Roaming?
Fandom: Doctor Who
Word Count: 1812
Characters: Rose, Donna, Ten, Viola (OC)
Pairings: Rose/TenII, Rose/Ten
Summary: Sequel to What’s To Come is Still Unsure. Rose and Viola struggle to adjust to being in Rose’s original universe while the Doctor deals with the ramifications of his actions at "Bowie Base One" on Mars.
Rating: PG
Beta(s): meremoon
Author’s Note:Special thanks once more to springhaze23”> who gave this chapter a once-over and made it much better.
Remember, if there are any Shakespeareverse stories you're dying to hear, you can leave me a prompt at http://lorelaisquared.livejournal.com/107509.html.
<a href=Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 24
The Doctor, Rose, and Donna were gathered in the kitchen on the morning of Viola’s eighth birthday, deliberating over what kind of breakfast food to surprise her with, when Viola walked in, a determined smile pursed to her lips.
“I want to look into the Time Vortex,” she announced without preamble.
Rose’s face went ashen. “Sweetie, we’ve already discussed this. You can’t; it’s far too dangerous.”
Viola crossed her arms and steadily met her mother’s gaze. “I know, but Daddy did it and he turned out just fine. So did he.” She thrust her pointer finger in the Doctor’s direction.
“That doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do.” Rose argued.
“I don’t care. I want to do it.”
Donna stepped forward and knelt down to Viola’s level. “Viola, I know you want to do this, but I really don’t think you should. None of us knows what could happen. The untempered schism is far too unpredictable.”
“So what? Mum looked into the heart of the TARDIS once. That’s equally unpredictable. And look at her now. It worked out for the best.” She looked pointedly at Donna and then the Doctor. “For all of you.”
Rose was starting to look desperate and frightened. The Doctor sighed. This was his fault, he never should have mentioned it to her the other day. He walked over to Viola, determined to fix this. “Viola, we can’t let you do it. What my people did to me when I was your age, it was wrong. It worked out fine for me, but there are others, like the Master, who went mad because of it. I’m not letting you take that risk.”
Viola’s eyes filled with fury. “It’s not your choice,” she said, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at the three adults before her. “It’s my life, I can do what I want.”
It was time for Rose’s eyes to darken. “Actually, young lady, I think you’ll find that your mother gets a very big say in this. You’re my daughter and I’m sorry, but I won’t let you do this.”
Tears spilled from Viola’s eyes. “But Mum, I really want to.”
Rose reached out, gently wiping the tears from Viola’s cheeks. “I know you do sweetheart, and if it were anything else I’d let you, but this is too dangerous. I love you too much, I can’t lose you, too.”
At the subtle reference to her father Viola’s shoulders sagged and the Doctor could see her desire to fight waning. He could tell she still wanted to see the Vortex, but he also knew that she didn’t want to hurt her mother. The constriction he’d felt in his chest since Viola had walked in began to lessen, and he breathed easier.
Donna, sensing a good time to distract everyone, brought up the topic of breakfast and the four of them embarked on an ultimately disastrous attempt at making pancakes with green flour from Gnominity. Through it all Viola put on a convincing pretense of happiness, but the Doctor could see that beneath the surface she was still incredibly disappointed that she hadn’t been allowed to look into the untempered schism.
#####
Viola sat alone in her room. She’d somehow managed to survive breakfast with everyone but right now she wanted to be by herself. She’d had high hopes for this day, even though she’d known it would be hard not having her dad around for it for the first time ever. In fact, that was the main reason she’d been so determined to look into the untempered schism. She felt like by doing that she’d be closer to her father in some way. It didn’t really make sense, she knew, but it was important to her and she’d really thought that her mother and the Doctor would understand.
Tears threatened to fall again as she recalled the scene in the kitchen. It just wasn’t fair. She wasn’t a baby anymore; she knew what she was doing. Her anger returned and Viola suddenly felt like screaming. She flung herself on the bed and, burying her face in her pillow, let out an ear-piercing scream.
Feeling a lot better, Viola sat up, folded her knees to her chest and leaned against the wall as she mulled an idea around. What if she looked into the schism on her own, without their help? It was risky, she knew, and she’d get in a lot of trouble if she was caught, but she was pretty sure she knew where to access the Vortex. If she did it quickly, no one would even have to know. She thought of her mum’s disapproval earlier and a tiny bit of guilt crept in. She didn’t want to hurt her mum, but this was important, and it was a risk she had to take.
Suddenly exhilarated from the adrenaline rush, Viola quickly devised a plan in her head and crept out into the hallway. She could hear all three adults in the console room, so she knew the coast was clear. As quietly as she could, Viola made her way through the maze of corridors to one at the very back where she thought the access point to the untempered schism was hidden.
She hesitated for a moment outside the door as doubts began to surface. Should she really do this?
The sound of someone was calling her name spurred her back into action and, shoving the doubts aside, Viola pulled out her sonic screwdriver and aimed it at the door. It took several attempts, but she managed to find the right frequency and pull open the door just as the sound of running footsteps descended upon her.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard the Doctor shouting, “Viola, stop!” but she tuned him out, her entire being focused on the whirl of energy that swirled before her.
She had a moment to marvel at its beauty before the pain came, vicious and searing. Suddenly her brain was filled with blinding images, thousands of years worth of suffering, pain, and sorrow. All the bad things that had ever happened or ever could happen flooded her consciousness and Viola stumbled backward, gasping. It stopped and she experienced a short reprieve before another wave of images came. She braced herself for the pain, but this time it didn’t hurt and what she saw was happiness mixed with so much knowledge and so much history. It was overwhelming, and by the time she managed to pull her gaze away from the untempered schism long enough for the Doctor to heft the door shut, she was exhausted.
She blinked, trying to make sense of the confusion of knowledge that was still in her mind. As her vision cleared, she saw her mother standing in the corridor, her face pale and her eyes anxious. Instantly Viola felt her guilt return. She’d hurt her mother. That was the last thing she’d wanted. But she was okay. It was going to be all right.
“I’m sorry,” Viola whispered, taking a step toward her before her knees sagged and she collapsed to the floor.
#####
Rose paced around Viola’s bedside, alternating between casting anxious glances at her daughter and glaring at the Doctor. A part of her knew it wasn’t his fault - Viola was a determined and strong-willed child after all - but another part of her couldn’t help blaming him just a little. Shouldn’t he have been able to sense what Viola was up to and stop her? Besides, she knew he had been the one to plant the idea in her head in the first place.
Sighing, Rose focused her full attention on her daughter. Seeing Viola laying on the bed so motionlessly reminded her of another time, three years earlier, when she’d held a similar vigil over her lifeless daughter’s bed. The difference was that time she’d had her husband by her side. She choked back a small sob, suddenly missing him terribly. She remembered how they’d stood together, terrified that they’d lost their daughter for good. Thankfully, Viola had regenerated and come out of the whole ordeal just as bright and cheerful as ever. Rose could only that this incident would have a similar outcome, though she hoped another regeneration wasn’t necessary.
There was a soft knock on the door and Donna slipped into the room. Rose acknowledged her with a brief nod then turned back to Viola. Donna came to stand by her side, placing a comforting hand on her back.
“She’ll be okay.” Donna whispered insistently. “That’s one hardy and resilient child you’ve got there. A gutsy one too. She just overwhelmed herself, is all. A little rest and she should be back to normal, talking circles around all of us.”
“You really think so?” Rose asked doubtfully.
“Oh, I know so.” She winked. “Look.”
Rose followed Donna’s gaze and her eyes widened. Viola was sitting up, wide awake and smiling at them.
“Viola!” Rose cried happily, surging forward enthusiastically, her heart thumping with immense relief. She hugged Viola tightly, not wanting to let go.
Viola began to squirm in her embrace and Rose was forced to pull away.
“You’re okay?”
Her daughter grinned. “‘Course I am. Nothing a little sleep couldn’t fix. Oh, Mum, it’s amazing. If only you could see the things I see.”
Rose studied Viola carefully. Vaguely she was aware of the Doctor and Donna standing beside her and doing the same. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Viola insisted, climbing out of bed and walking around the end of the bed. “See? Not even a wobble.”
Rose rolled her bottom lip between her teeth as she tried to decide whether she was relieved or angry. “I’m glad,“ she said finally. Then, after a measured pause her eyes narrowed and she said, in her sternest ‘mum voice’. “You’re grounded.”
“What?” Viola glared at her mum. “But groundings are for human children, I’m a Time Lord.”
“That may be so, but you are also my daughter and you directly disobeyed me.”
“Because you were being unreasonable,” Viola argued.
“Unreasonable? I was trying to keep you safe! You could have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t.”
“That’s not the point.”
Viola placed her hands on her hips. “What is the point then?”
“The point is that human or Time Lord, I’m your mother, and you are grounded.”
“That is so unfair.” She looked over to the Doctor who had edged his way to the door with Donna. “Doctor, please tell Mum how unreasonable she’s being.”
He shook his head vigorously. “I’m staying out of this one. Come on, Donna, I want to show you that thing.”
“What thing?” Donna asked.
“You know, that thingamajig that does that thingamawhatsit?”
Donna seemed to catch on. “Oh, that. Yes, we’d better go look at it right away.”
With that, they made a hasty exit leaving Rose to deal with her fuming daughter.
#####
TBC
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Titile: Where Are You Roaming?
Fandom: Doctor Who
Word Count: 1812
Characters: Rose, Donna, Ten, Viola (OC)
Pairings: Rose/TenII, Rose/Ten
Summary: Sequel to What’s To Come is Still Unsure. Rose and Viola struggle to adjust to being in Rose’s original universe while the Doctor deals with the ramifications of his actions at "Bowie Base One" on Mars.
Rating: PG
Beta(s): meremoon
Author’s Note:Special thanks once more to springhaze23”> who gave this chapter a once-over and made it much better.
Remember, if there are any Shakespeareverse stories you're dying to hear, you can leave me a prompt at http://lorelaisquared.livejournal.com/107509.html.
<a href=Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 24
The Doctor, Rose, and Donna were gathered in the kitchen on the morning of Viola’s eighth birthday, deliberating over what kind of breakfast food to surprise her with, when Viola walked in, a determined smile pursed to her lips.
“I want to look into the Time Vortex,” she announced without preamble.
Rose’s face went ashen. “Sweetie, we’ve already discussed this. You can’t; it’s far too dangerous.”
Viola crossed her arms and steadily met her mother’s gaze. “I know, but Daddy did it and he turned out just fine. So did he.” She thrust her pointer finger in the Doctor’s direction.
“That doesn’t mean it was the right thing to do.” Rose argued.
“I don’t care. I want to do it.”
Donna stepped forward and knelt down to Viola’s level. “Viola, I know you want to do this, but I really don’t think you should. None of us knows what could happen. The untempered schism is far too unpredictable.”
“So what? Mum looked into the heart of the TARDIS once. That’s equally unpredictable. And look at her now. It worked out for the best.” She looked pointedly at Donna and then the Doctor. “For all of you.”
Rose was starting to look desperate and frightened. The Doctor sighed. This was his fault, he never should have mentioned it to her the other day. He walked over to Viola, determined to fix this. “Viola, we can’t let you do it. What my people did to me when I was your age, it was wrong. It worked out fine for me, but there are others, like the Master, who went mad because of it. I’m not letting you take that risk.”
Viola’s eyes filled with fury. “It’s not your choice,” she said, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at the three adults before her. “It’s my life, I can do what I want.”
It was time for Rose’s eyes to darken. “Actually, young lady, I think you’ll find that your mother gets a very big say in this. You’re my daughter and I’m sorry, but I won’t let you do this.”
Tears spilled from Viola’s eyes. “But Mum, I really want to.”
Rose reached out, gently wiping the tears from Viola’s cheeks. “I know you do sweetheart, and if it were anything else I’d let you, but this is too dangerous. I love you too much, I can’t lose you, too.”
At the subtle reference to her father Viola’s shoulders sagged and the Doctor could see her desire to fight waning. He could tell she still wanted to see the Vortex, but he also knew that she didn’t want to hurt her mother. The constriction he’d felt in his chest since Viola had walked in began to lessen, and he breathed easier.
Donna, sensing a good time to distract everyone, brought up the topic of breakfast and the four of them embarked on an ultimately disastrous attempt at making pancakes with green flour from Gnominity. Through it all Viola put on a convincing pretense of happiness, but the Doctor could see that beneath the surface she was still incredibly disappointed that she hadn’t been allowed to look into the untempered schism.
#####
Viola sat alone in her room. She’d somehow managed to survive breakfast with everyone but right now she wanted to be by herself. She’d had high hopes for this day, even though she’d known it would be hard not having her dad around for it for the first time ever. In fact, that was the main reason she’d been so determined to look into the untempered schism. She felt like by doing that she’d be closer to her father in some way. It didn’t really make sense, she knew, but it was important to her and she’d really thought that her mother and the Doctor would understand.
Tears threatened to fall again as she recalled the scene in the kitchen. It just wasn’t fair. She wasn’t a baby anymore; she knew what she was doing. Her anger returned and Viola suddenly felt like screaming. She flung herself on the bed and, burying her face in her pillow, let out an ear-piercing scream.
Feeling a lot better, Viola sat up, folded her knees to her chest and leaned against the wall as she mulled an idea around. What if she looked into the schism on her own, without their help? It was risky, she knew, and she’d get in a lot of trouble if she was caught, but she was pretty sure she knew where to access the Vortex. If she did it quickly, no one would even have to know. She thought of her mum’s disapproval earlier and a tiny bit of guilt crept in. She didn’t want to hurt her mum, but this was important, and it was a risk she had to take.
Suddenly exhilarated from the adrenaline rush, Viola quickly devised a plan in her head and crept out into the hallway. She could hear all three adults in the console room, so she knew the coast was clear. As quietly as she could, Viola made her way through the maze of corridors to one at the very back where she thought the access point to the untempered schism was hidden.
She hesitated for a moment outside the door as doubts began to surface. Should she really do this?
The sound of someone was calling her name spurred her back into action and, shoving the doubts aside, Viola pulled out her sonic screwdriver and aimed it at the door. It took several attempts, but she managed to find the right frequency and pull open the door just as the sound of running footsteps descended upon her.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she heard the Doctor shouting, “Viola, stop!” but she tuned him out, her entire being focused on the whirl of energy that swirled before her.
She had a moment to marvel at its beauty before the pain came, vicious and searing. Suddenly her brain was filled with blinding images, thousands of years worth of suffering, pain, and sorrow. All the bad things that had ever happened or ever could happen flooded her consciousness and Viola stumbled backward, gasping. It stopped and she experienced a short reprieve before another wave of images came. She braced herself for the pain, but this time it didn’t hurt and what she saw was happiness mixed with so much knowledge and so much history. It was overwhelming, and by the time she managed to pull her gaze away from the untempered schism long enough for the Doctor to heft the door shut, she was exhausted.
She blinked, trying to make sense of the confusion of knowledge that was still in her mind. As her vision cleared, she saw her mother standing in the corridor, her face pale and her eyes anxious. Instantly Viola felt her guilt return. She’d hurt her mother. That was the last thing she’d wanted. But she was okay. It was going to be all right.
“I’m sorry,” Viola whispered, taking a step toward her before her knees sagged and she collapsed to the floor.
#####
Rose paced around Viola’s bedside, alternating between casting anxious glances at her daughter and glaring at the Doctor. A part of her knew it wasn’t his fault - Viola was a determined and strong-willed child after all - but another part of her couldn’t help blaming him just a little. Shouldn’t he have been able to sense what Viola was up to and stop her? Besides, she knew he had been the one to plant the idea in her head in the first place.
Sighing, Rose focused her full attention on her daughter. Seeing Viola laying on the bed so motionlessly reminded her of another time, three years earlier, when she’d held a similar vigil over her lifeless daughter’s bed. The difference was that time she’d had her husband by her side. She choked back a small sob, suddenly missing him terribly. She remembered how they’d stood together, terrified that they’d lost their daughter for good. Thankfully, Viola had regenerated and come out of the whole ordeal just as bright and cheerful as ever. Rose could only that this incident would have a similar outcome, though she hoped another regeneration wasn’t necessary.
There was a soft knock on the door and Donna slipped into the room. Rose acknowledged her with a brief nod then turned back to Viola. Donna came to stand by her side, placing a comforting hand on her back.
“She’ll be okay.” Donna whispered insistently. “That’s one hardy and resilient child you’ve got there. A gutsy one too. She just overwhelmed herself, is all. A little rest and she should be back to normal, talking circles around all of us.”
“You really think so?” Rose asked doubtfully.
“Oh, I know so.” She winked. “Look.”
Rose followed Donna’s gaze and her eyes widened. Viola was sitting up, wide awake and smiling at them.
“Viola!” Rose cried happily, surging forward enthusiastically, her heart thumping with immense relief. She hugged Viola tightly, not wanting to let go.
Viola began to squirm in her embrace and Rose was forced to pull away.
“You’re okay?”
Her daughter grinned. “‘Course I am. Nothing a little sleep couldn’t fix. Oh, Mum, it’s amazing. If only you could see the things I see.”
Rose studied Viola carefully. Vaguely she was aware of the Doctor and Donna standing beside her and doing the same. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Viola insisted, climbing out of bed and walking around the end of the bed. “See? Not even a wobble.”
Rose rolled her bottom lip between her teeth as she tried to decide whether she was relieved or angry. “I’m glad,“ she said finally. Then, after a measured pause her eyes narrowed and she said, in her sternest ‘mum voice’. “You’re grounded.”
“What?” Viola glared at her mum. “But groundings are for human children, I’m a Time Lord.”
“That may be so, but you are also my daughter and you directly disobeyed me.”
“Because you were being unreasonable,” Viola argued.
“Unreasonable? I was trying to keep you safe! You could have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t.”
“That’s not the point.”
Viola placed her hands on her hips. “What is the point then?”
“The point is that human or Time Lord, I’m your mother, and you are grounded.”
“That is so unfair.” She looked over to the Doctor who had edged his way to the door with Donna. “Doctor, please tell Mum how unreasonable she’s being.”
He shook his head vigorously. “I’m staying out of this one. Come on, Donna, I want to show you that thing.”
“What thing?” Donna asked.
“You know, that thingamajig that does that thingamawhatsit?”
Donna seemed to catch on. “Oh, that. Yes, we’d better go look at it right away.”
With that, they made a hasty exit leaving Rose to deal with her fuming daughter.
#####
TBC
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