Glimpse of Truth (chapter 3) Leaving Time Again
Title: Glimpse of Truth (3/?)
Author: sinecure - My master fic list
Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: Teen
Genre: Angst
Summary: Rose makes her own choices.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.
Author's Notes: to momdaegmorgan for the beta and the prompt that led to this chapter... sort of. I went a bit off-prompt.
Chapter 1 - Glimpse of Truth
Chapter 2 - Reality Intrudes
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more. -- Erica Jong 1942; American Author
Rose closed the TARDIS door behind her, then gently placed the palm of her hand on the peeling blue surface one last time. Its warm hum called to her, making her feel lonelier even than the day she'd been left, without choice, in Pete's world.
The day her heart solidified. Day by day, little bits crumbled, fell, and splintered off. Until she finally found the Doctor again, until she was once more back in the TARDIS--back home--and she felt whole again, felt complete. And her broken heart was rejuvenated.
But, once again, it was time for her to go. The difference being, this time, the decision was hers, and hers alone.
The thought--the realization--that she was willingly making the choice to never see him again, had her turning briskly around, only to come face to face with the Doctor. Well. A Doctor.
"You're running away," he accused as he stood there, hands in his pockets, back straight, eyes steady on hers. The stance was so familiar, so much like her proper Doctor, that it made her heart ache with loss.
She shrugged and walked past him, needing to put some distance between them. "Better than getting left behind in a universe that I don't belong in." Risking a glance in his direction as he joined her, she added, "I'm sure you'll be happy there."
He grabbed her arm, yanking her to a stop. "I have no intention of going anywhere without you."
Afraid he'd drag her back to the TARDIS and force her to go with him, she jerked free of his grip, glaring at him as she backed away. "Guess you're stuck here then. I already said my goodbyes, and I'm staying."
"Where will you go?" he called out, and she was sure she heard exasperation in his voice.
She shrugged again and turned around, quickening her pace. "Dunno! Henriks? Powell Estates?"
As she walked away from the only life she'd ever wanted, as she put as much distance as she could between herself and the only man she'd really loved, she heard familiar footsteps following her, matching her stride for stride.
"He knows," the Doctor said, tapping the side of his head as he caught up to her.
Telepathy, of course. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he knew she'd slept with the Doctor--the real Doctor--but she kept her mouth shut. Lengthening her gait and ignoring the ache that was working its way back inside her heart, she looked ahead to her new life.
****
Hearing someone step up behind him, the Doctor quickly tapped a few keys, closing out the image of Rose and the other him walking away. He straightened up and sniffed sharply, glancing briefly over his shoulder to see Jackie watching him.
"Did you expect her to go meekly along back to the other universe?"
He didn't say anything, just moved around the console, starting the dematerialization sequence, ignoring her. Rose had made her choice and he wasn't going to interfere.
Jackie followed him, undaunted. "God knows why, but she loves you."
His eyes flicked around the room, looking for Donna. She wasn't here, but he felt her presence in the back of his mind. He felt the other him as well, felt his hope and his jealousy and his love for Rose.
And he felt the ache of his own hearts begin to throb in his chest.
Chapter 4 - All ages version.
Chapter 4 - Adult version.
Author: sinecure - My master fic list
Character/Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: Teen
Genre: Angst
Summary: Rose makes her own choices.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who.
Author's Notes: to momdaegmorgan for the beta and the prompt that led to this chapter... sort of. I went a bit off-prompt.
Chapter 1 - Glimpse of Truth
Chapter 2 - Reality Intrudes
Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more. -- Erica Jong 1942; American Author
Rose closed the TARDIS door behind her, then gently placed the palm of her hand on the peeling blue surface one last time. Its warm hum called to her, making her feel lonelier even than the day she'd been left, without choice, in Pete's world.
The day her heart solidified. Day by day, little bits crumbled, fell, and splintered off. Until she finally found the Doctor again, until she was once more back in the TARDIS--back home--and she felt whole again, felt complete. And her broken heart was rejuvenated.
But, once again, it was time for her to go. The difference being, this time, the decision was hers, and hers alone.
The thought--the realization--that she was willingly making the choice to never see him again, had her turning briskly around, only to come face to face with the Doctor. Well. A Doctor.
"You're running away," he accused as he stood there, hands in his pockets, back straight, eyes steady on hers. The stance was so familiar, so much like her proper Doctor, that it made her heart ache with loss.
She shrugged and walked past him, needing to put some distance between them. "Better than getting left behind in a universe that I don't belong in." Risking a glance in his direction as he joined her, she added, "I'm sure you'll be happy there."
He grabbed her arm, yanking her to a stop. "I have no intention of going anywhere without you."
Afraid he'd drag her back to the TARDIS and force her to go with him, she jerked free of his grip, glaring at him as she backed away. "Guess you're stuck here then. I already said my goodbyes, and I'm staying."
"Where will you go?" he called out, and she was sure she heard exasperation in his voice.
She shrugged again and turned around, quickening her pace. "Dunno! Henriks? Powell Estates?"
As she walked away from the only life she'd ever wanted, as she put as much distance as she could between herself and the only man she'd really loved, she heard familiar footsteps following her, matching her stride for stride.
"He knows," the Doctor said, tapping the side of his head as he caught up to her.
Telepathy, of course. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him if he knew she'd slept with the Doctor--the real Doctor--but she kept her mouth shut. Lengthening her gait and ignoring the ache that was working its way back inside her heart, she looked ahead to her new life.
****
Hearing someone step up behind him, the Doctor quickly tapped a few keys, closing out the image of Rose and the other him walking away. He straightened up and sniffed sharply, glancing briefly over his shoulder to see Jackie watching him.
"Did you expect her to go meekly along back to the other universe?"
He didn't say anything, just moved around the console, starting the dematerialization sequence, ignoring her. Rose had made her choice and he wasn't going to interfere.
Jackie followed him, undaunted. "God knows why, but she loves you."
His eyes flicked around the room, looking for Donna. She wasn't here, but he felt her presence in the back of his mind. He felt the other him as well, felt his hope and his jealousy and his love for Rose.
And he felt the ache of his own hearts begin to throb in his chest.
Chapter 4 - All ages version.
Chapter 4 - Adult version.