Fic: The Wolf in Time - 25/30 + Epilogue
Title: The Wolf in Time
Rating: M
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Overall Doctor/Rose, Jack/Ianto. Other pairings variable.
Spoilers: Set post-series 2 Torchwood so spoilers for all of Torchwood so far, and during series 4 Doctor Who but canonically only ‘Partners in Crime’.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Duh. I don’t think I can even claim the concept as original, lol.
Length: 56,000 words, 30 chapters + epilogue
Notes: I started this immediately post ‘Partners in Crime’, which means it’s AU from there but incorporates some things that we found out about later in the series. Beta'd by steviesun
Summary: Crossing dimensions didn't sit well with Bad Wolf. Now, unstable and badly scared, Rose Tyler must find a way to deal with the power within her and the problems she faces with only the support of the organisation who were responsible for her parting with the Doctor…
Chapter 01 - Chapter 02 - Chapter 03 - Chapter 04 - Chapter 05 - Chapter 06 - Chapter 07 - Interlude 01 - Chapter 08 - Chapter 09 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Interlude 02 - 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
“The darkness is the complete and total absence of life,” the Doctor said to the group gathered in a small cabin on board the Valiant. He stood, leaning against one wall, and tried not to look at Rose. Around a small table sat Jack, Ianto, Rose, Donna and Martha. The four people he trusted most in the universe, and Ianto who was rapidly being included in that group.
“Not death,” he went on. “Not the removal of life. It’s the antithesis of life, it is the opposite of every single natural law in every single universe. Matter universes, anti-matter universes, parallel dimensions, even the Void - they’re all created along the same basic principles. Life. There is life everywhere, the multi-verse is teeming with it. But not in the darkness. The darkness isn’t just destroying the life of the universe - it’s destroying the universe itself. All the universes. It’s demolishing everything contrary to itself.”
He let them think about that for a moment. Ianto looked sick, and the Doctor guessed that he was still feeling the effects of being close to the darkness. Martha looked worried, but determined, and he allowed himself a brief second to think about how much she had already been through for him. Next to her, Donna’s eyes were wide as she contemplated what the Doctor was saying.
“Doctor,” said Jack slowly, “if the darkness is the absence of life…” He glanced almost involuntarily at Rose. The Doctor gave a minute nod, just enough to let Jack know that his suspicions were confirmed. “How can we fight that?” Jack asked then, changing tack. “We’ve got a plan for the evacuees - not a great plan, at this point I’ll take anything. But the darkness…”
“Tell me,” said Rose. She was staring down at her hands, refusing to look at anyone. She would not even look at the Doctor. “Tell me what it is, Doctor.”
”Rose,” sighed the Doctor. It was obvious to them all that he didn’t want to answer.
“I need to know,” she said, keeping her eyes downcast. “Because it’s my fault. Isn’t it?”
“How could it be your fault?” Donna asked her gently, leaning forwards and touching her arm. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Rose glanced up at her, and Donna had to pull back at the sheer agony on Rose’s face. Donna turned uncertainly to the Doctor. “Doctor? It’s not Rose’s fault, right? How can it be?”
“It’s Bad Wolf,” said Rose, voice very small. “Isn’t it? Because I remember. Remember what happened on the Game Station. I said…I said that I bring life. I destroyed the Daleks, killed all of them, but that’s not all I did.” She looked at Jack then, eyes filling with tears. “I bring life,” she repeated. “I brought you back to life for ever. Bad Wolf. That’s what it is. It’s life. Isn’t it?” She blinked away tears and lifted her gaze to the Doctor. “All of creation inside of me,” she said. “Bad Wolf is life. And if the darkness is absence of life, then it has to be my fault.”
“Rose, it is not your fault,” said the Doctor, crossing the room and crouching in front of her. He took her hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Don’t say that, Rose. Because it isn’t. You are not to blame, do you hear me?”
“I felt it, Doctor,” she whispered. “I recognised it. It knew me. Something inside me knew it. Didn’t want to, couldn’t think it was because of me. But it is.”
“No,” said the Doctor fiercely. “It’s my fault. I should have checked that the vortex was gone from you in the first place. There were tests I could have run, but I didn’t. I was so busy enjoying myself that I pushed it from my mind. Even when I knew something bad was approaching. Do you remember? The Olympics in 2012, after you saved the day? I knew a storm was coming, but even then I didn’t bother to check.”
“But I -“
“No,” he said, squeezing her hands gently. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, just stop it.” He waited for a moment, until she nodded, and then he rose and began pacing.
“So,” he said, “we just have to work out how to stop it. If it’s devouring life, there has to be a way to choke it. It’s like anything, everything’s allergic to something, everything has its poison. We just have to work out what the darkness’ poison is.”
“Oh yeah, and let’s produce a couple dozen planets out of thin air while we’re about it,” Donna muttered.
“Not helpful,” the Doctor said, rolling his eyes at her. “The refugees aren’t the important issue. The Delta wave should take care of the Cybermen, and a number of species will just move on when they see I’m here. The darkness is the important thing.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Something to stop an all-devouring nothingness! There’s the TARDIS, I suppose - plenty of life left in her - and plenty in me, I could -“
“No,” Jack snapped. “You’re not indispensable, Doc, whatever you might try to fool yourself into thinking. You and the TARDIS are the last of your kind.” He paused. “Besides, we all know I’ve got a hell of a lot more life left than you do.”
“Jack,” said the Doctor warningly.
“If it feeds on life,” Jack went on in determination, “we could always try giving it a surfeit. You said it yourself, Doctor. I may well live forever.” Ianto flinched, but even he wasn’t sure if it was at the thought of Jack living forever, or the thought of Jack dying to stop the darkness.
“No,” said Rose, very quietly. “There’s a way. A way to stop the darkness.”
“You said nothing could stop it,” Donna pointed out. “What’s changed?”
“I know what it is. Faced up to it. S’different now,” Rose shrugged. She glanced up at the Doctor, almost in trepidation.
“What is it about my friends and wanting to throw themselves head first into danger?” the Doctor demanded, exasperated. “Honestly, I was better off with a tin dog. Rose, no. Just no.”
“You know it would work,” Rose said, pointing at him. “Said it yourself, Doctor. Stopped the Daleks before. Became Bad Wolf.” Her voice echoed momentarily with power.
“You are not going to do it,” he said, whirling to glare at her. “I won’t let you. It’s not happening, Rose.”
“Don’t have a choice,” Rose snapped. She stood up, folding her arms and looking for a moment like the nineteen-year-old shop girl who had once demanded to be told who he was. “I can stop the darkness,” she said. “Bad Wolf creates life. Darkness eradicates the possibility. I’m the poison.”
“What are you saying, Rose?” Jack asked quickly, before the Doctor could launch into a rant. “What do you think you can do?”
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks, because she’s not doing it!” the Doctor practically yelled. “I am not losing you, not again, Rose Tyler! There has to be another way!” They stared at each other, one angry and scared, the other terrified but confident.
“If I open the TARDIS,” Rose said at last, struggling to form proper sentences, “I will multiply. Bad Wolf will be stronger than ever. The power of time and life. Bad Wolf. The darkness is timeless and lifeless and creationless. It won’t know what to do with me.”
“Rose, it almost killed you last time,” Jack said, appalled. “No, the Doctor’s right, you’re not doing it.”
“What’s the choice?” she asked, turning to look at him. Golden tears streaked down her cheeks. “Hours. Minutes left. You will die. You will all die. So much better for just one, just one death to stop all deaths.”
“Rose,” Ianto breathed. “You can’t.”
“I have to,” she said stubbornly, tilting her head. “No other choice. No other way.”
“You will not,” said the Doctor, all cold fury now. “We won’t let you do it, Rose.” She opened her mouth to argue, but the door opened and Gwen entered.
“Sorry,” she said apologetically. “Sir Alistair thought you should know - the fleet has reached the outer edges of the Milky Way. And the Andromeda galaxy seems to have been taken.”
“That’s moving insanely fast,” Jack muttered, standing up. “Has any contact been made?” he asked her. “With any of the ships?”
“Some - a number of peaceful contacts, a lot of languages we have no idea about, and…well, there’s been quite a number of aliens demanding we let them use Earth as a new home,” Gwen said, sounding faintly apologetic. “We don’t have any way of contacting them back, our technology isn’t that advanced.”
“We’ll see about that,” said the Doctor, with a manic grin that betrayed no hint of his earlier rage and anguish. “I can boost the transmitters.”
“There’s - well, there’s one group of ships in particular that we’re worried about,” Gwen admitted, looking at Ianto.
“Cybermen,” he guessed, and stood up with a sigh. He buttoned his suit jacket. “Of course.”
“They’re not the same, remember that,” Jack said, pulling the younger man close and kissing his temple. “And the Delta wave’s already under construction, we’ve got plenty of time to refine it.” He looked over at the Doctor. “Right?”
“Of course,” the Doctor nodded. “But let’s see about these communications first, shall we?” He brushed past Gwen, who turned to follow him. Donna put her arm around Rose and gently led her out, and the others trailed after them.
* * *
Chapter 26
Comments are love.
Now, a decision. I'm off to the Hub on Friday, won't be back until Monday. I can post another chapter for you tomorrow evening, but the end is...well, let's just say it's a Big Cliffhanger. Sooooo...do you want me to leave it here until Monday, or post a chapter tomorrow and leave you on a worse cliffhanger? Entirely up to you lot.
On a related note, anyone going to the Hub? I'd love to meet up *grins*
Rating: M
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Overall Doctor/Rose, Jack/Ianto. Other pairings variable.
Spoilers: Set post-series 2 Torchwood so spoilers for all of Torchwood so far, and during series 4 Doctor Who but canonically only ‘Partners in Crime’.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Duh. I don’t think I can even claim the concept as original, lol.
Length: 56,000 words, 30 chapters + epilogue
Notes: I started this immediately post ‘Partners in Crime’, which means it’s AU from there but incorporates some things that we found out about later in the series. Beta'd by steviesun
Summary: Crossing dimensions didn't sit well with Bad Wolf. Now, unstable and badly scared, Rose Tyler must find a way to deal with the power within her and the problems she faces with only the support of the organisation who were responsible for her parting with the Doctor…
Chapter 01 - Chapter 02 - Chapter 03 - Chapter 04 - Chapter 05 - Chapter 06 - Chapter 07 - Interlude 01 - Chapter 08 - Chapter 09 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Interlude 02 - 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
“The darkness is the complete and total absence of life,” the Doctor said to the group gathered in a small cabin on board the Valiant. He stood, leaning against one wall, and tried not to look at Rose. Around a small table sat Jack, Ianto, Rose, Donna and Martha. The four people he trusted most in the universe, and Ianto who was rapidly being included in that group.
“Not death,” he went on. “Not the removal of life. It’s the antithesis of life, it is the opposite of every single natural law in every single universe. Matter universes, anti-matter universes, parallel dimensions, even the Void - they’re all created along the same basic principles. Life. There is life everywhere, the multi-verse is teeming with it. But not in the darkness. The darkness isn’t just destroying the life of the universe - it’s destroying the universe itself. All the universes. It’s demolishing everything contrary to itself.”
He let them think about that for a moment. Ianto looked sick, and the Doctor guessed that he was still feeling the effects of being close to the darkness. Martha looked worried, but determined, and he allowed himself a brief second to think about how much she had already been through for him. Next to her, Donna’s eyes were wide as she contemplated what the Doctor was saying.
“Doctor,” said Jack slowly, “if the darkness is the absence of life…” He glanced almost involuntarily at Rose. The Doctor gave a minute nod, just enough to let Jack know that his suspicions were confirmed. “How can we fight that?” Jack asked then, changing tack. “We’ve got a plan for the evacuees - not a great plan, at this point I’ll take anything. But the darkness…”
“Tell me,” said Rose. She was staring down at her hands, refusing to look at anyone. She would not even look at the Doctor. “Tell me what it is, Doctor.”
”Rose,” sighed the Doctor. It was obvious to them all that he didn’t want to answer.
“I need to know,” she said, keeping her eyes downcast. “Because it’s my fault. Isn’t it?”
“How could it be your fault?” Donna asked her gently, leaning forwards and touching her arm. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Rose glanced up at her, and Donna had to pull back at the sheer agony on Rose’s face. Donna turned uncertainly to the Doctor. “Doctor? It’s not Rose’s fault, right? How can it be?”
“It’s Bad Wolf,” said Rose, voice very small. “Isn’t it? Because I remember. Remember what happened on the Game Station. I said…I said that I bring life. I destroyed the Daleks, killed all of them, but that’s not all I did.” She looked at Jack then, eyes filling with tears. “I bring life,” she repeated. “I brought you back to life for ever. Bad Wolf. That’s what it is. It’s life. Isn’t it?” She blinked away tears and lifted her gaze to the Doctor. “All of creation inside of me,” she said. “Bad Wolf is life. And if the darkness is absence of life, then it has to be my fault.”
“Rose, it is not your fault,” said the Doctor, crossing the room and crouching in front of her. He took her hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Don’t say that, Rose. Because it isn’t. You are not to blame, do you hear me?”
“I felt it, Doctor,” she whispered. “I recognised it. It knew me. Something inside me knew it. Didn’t want to, couldn’t think it was because of me. But it is.”
“No,” said the Doctor fiercely. “It’s my fault. I should have checked that the vortex was gone from you in the first place. There were tests I could have run, but I didn’t. I was so busy enjoying myself that I pushed it from my mind. Even when I knew something bad was approaching. Do you remember? The Olympics in 2012, after you saved the day? I knew a storm was coming, but even then I didn’t bother to check.”
“But I -“
“No,” he said, squeezing her hands gently. “Whatever it is you’re thinking, just stop it.” He waited for a moment, until she nodded, and then he rose and began pacing.
“So,” he said, “we just have to work out how to stop it. If it’s devouring life, there has to be a way to choke it. It’s like anything, everything’s allergic to something, everything has its poison. We just have to work out what the darkness’ poison is.”
“Oh yeah, and let’s produce a couple dozen planets out of thin air while we’re about it,” Donna muttered.
“Not helpful,” the Doctor said, rolling his eyes at her. “The refugees aren’t the important issue. The Delta wave should take care of the Cybermen, and a number of species will just move on when they see I’m here. The darkness is the important thing.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Something to stop an all-devouring nothingness! There’s the TARDIS, I suppose - plenty of life left in her - and plenty in me, I could -“
“No,” Jack snapped. “You’re not indispensable, Doc, whatever you might try to fool yourself into thinking. You and the TARDIS are the last of your kind.” He paused. “Besides, we all know I’ve got a hell of a lot more life left than you do.”
“Jack,” said the Doctor warningly.
“If it feeds on life,” Jack went on in determination, “we could always try giving it a surfeit. You said it yourself, Doctor. I may well live forever.” Ianto flinched, but even he wasn’t sure if it was at the thought of Jack living forever, or the thought of Jack dying to stop the darkness.
“No,” said Rose, very quietly. “There’s a way. A way to stop the darkness.”
“You said nothing could stop it,” Donna pointed out. “What’s changed?”
“I know what it is. Faced up to it. S’different now,” Rose shrugged. She glanced up at the Doctor, almost in trepidation.
“What is it about my friends and wanting to throw themselves head first into danger?” the Doctor demanded, exasperated. “Honestly, I was better off with a tin dog. Rose, no. Just no.”
“You know it would work,” Rose said, pointing at him. “Said it yourself, Doctor. Stopped the Daleks before. Became Bad Wolf.” Her voice echoed momentarily with power.
“You are not going to do it,” he said, whirling to glare at her. “I won’t let you. It’s not happening, Rose.”
“Don’t have a choice,” Rose snapped. She stood up, folding her arms and looking for a moment like the nineteen-year-old shop girl who had once demanded to be told who he was. “I can stop the darkness,” she said. “Bad Wolf creates life. Darkness eradicates the possibility. I’m the poison.”
“What are you saying, Rose?” Jack asked quickly, before the Doctor could launch into a rant. “What do you think you can do?”
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks, because she’s not doing it!” the Doctor practically yelled. “I am not losing you, not again, Rose Tyler! There has to be another way!” They stared at each other, one angry and scared, the other terrified but confident.
“If I open the TARDIS,” Rose said at last, struggling to form proper sentences, “I will multiply. Bad Wolf will be stronger than ever. The power of time and life. Bad Wolf. The darkness is timeless and lifeless and creationless. It won’t know what to do with me.”
“Rose, it almost killed you last time,” Jack said, appalled. “No, the Doctor’s right, you’re not doing it.”
“What’s the choice?” she asked, turning to look at him. Golden tears streaked down her cheeks. “Hours. Minutes left. You will die. You will all die. So much better for just one, just one death to stop all deaths.”
“Rose,” Ianto breathed. “You can’t.”
“I have to,” she said stubbornly, tilting her head. “No other choice. No other way.”
“You will not,” said the Doctor, all cold fury now. “We won’t let you do it, Rose.” She opened her mouth to argue, but the door opened and Gwen entered.
“Sorry,” she said apologetically. “Sir Alistair thought you should know - the fleet has reached the outer edges of the Milky Way. And the Andromeda galaxy seems to have been taken.”
“That’s moving insanely fast,” Jack muttered, standing up. “Has any contact been made?” he asked her. “With any of the ships?”
“Some - a number of peaceful contacts, a lot of languages we have no idea about, and…well, there’s been quite a number of aliens demanding we let them use Earth as a new home,” Gwen said, sounding faintly apologetic. “We don’t have any way of contacting them back, our technology isn’t that advanced.”
“We’ll see about that,” said the Doctor, with a manic grin that betrayed no hint of his earlier rage and anguish. “I can boost the transmitters.”
“There’s - well, there’s one group of ships in particular that we’re worried about,” Gwen admitted, looking at Ianto.
“Cybermen,” he guessed, and stood up with a sigh. He buttoned his suit jacket. “Of course.”
“They’re not the same, remember that,” Jack said, pulling the younger man close and kissing his temple. “And the Delta wave’s already under construction, we’ve got plenty of time to refine it.” He looked over at the Doctor. “Right?”
“Of course,” the Doctor nodded. “But let’s see about these communications first, shall we?” He brushed past Gwen, who turned to follow him. Donna put her arm around Rose and gently led her out, and the others trailed after them.
* * *
Chapter 26
Comments are love.
Now, a decision. I'm off to the Hub on Friday, won't be back until Monday. I can post another chapter for you tomorrow evening, but the end is...well, let's just say it's a Big Cliffhanger. Sooooo...do you want me to leave it here until Monday, or post a chapter tomorrow and leave you on a worse cliffhanger? Entirely up to you lot.
On a related note, anyone going to the Hub? I'd love to meet up *grins*