Earthbound, Chapter 20
Chapter Title: You Can Never Go Home Again
Author: stormwolf10
Summary: The Doctors and their companions reach the Capitol of Gallifrey.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Doctor Who canon character.
"A bit...clinical in here, isn't it, Doctor?" Jack asked casually as everyone filed into the TARDIS.
Five clapped his hands together and smiled. "Oh, good, my TARDIS! And I quite like it this way thank you. Much better than that coral setup you lot have," he said, flicking a few switches on the console to get the ship moving.
Nine furrowed his brow in confusion and looked over to Ten, "How'd he know that?"
"Uh, long story, really," Ten shrugged, "Bit of butterfingers on my part." He gave his previous self a self-deprecating grin, and Nine rolled his eyes.
"Now," Four said, turning to Eight, "Do you have any idea who lured you into the Tomb? What happened to make you go there?"
Eight paced the room as he spoke, rubbing his face wearily. "The Daleks had just broken through our front lines and I was about to fall back and regroup with whoever was left, but then I retrieved a transmission that the Inner Council was under attack, had retreated to the Tomb as the only safe place, and that I was being called back to join them. I landed just outside, but when I went inside, it was deserted. When I tried to leave, it had been sealed."
"But did you see who did it?" Three asked him, and he shook his head.
"No, I didn't see anyone."
"Grandfather," Susan asked, turning to the First Doctor, "You don't think someone on the Council would have done this, do you?"
The old man frowned deeply, but patted his granddaughter's shoulder reassuringly. "I don't think they would ever think of such a thing, Susan."
"Oh, I think it's perfectly possible," snorted Six.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Five agreed, nodding his head solemnly.
"Well," Eight sighed, "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
===============================================
They had all gathered in what looked like a sitting room with the same hospital-like spartan cleanliness as the Doctors continued to discuss a plan of action, every now and then lapsing into a minor argument. The companions chatted amongst themselves as they had a bit of tea, occupying themselves as the Doctors worked. As Rose lifted her gaze from her teacup, she noticed that all eyes were on her.
"What?" she asked, shifting uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"Well," grinned Ace, "I reckon it's 'cause you and the Professor showed up mid-snog. You two are awfully friendly, eh?"
Warmth flooded Rose's cheeks and she cleared her throat. "Oh, that. Yeah, we are."
"I knew it!" Jack said with a laugh, "Took you two long enough. I just knew you two loved each other, as hard as you both tried not to admit it."
Rose smiled at Jack, nodding.
"Well, I think it's nice," Mel said, her sweet face lighting up in a happy smile, "The Doctor needs someone to love, I think."
"I dinna think th' Doctor was capable o' it, m'self," Jamie shrugged.
"It's just too bad he took so long," Sarah Jane murmured, her eyes fixed on her teacup, and Rose frowned slightly, feeling a pang of pity for the poor woman.
"So, we're on the Doctor's home planet," Peri said suddenly, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "I've always wondered what it'd be like."
Ace slumped back in her chair and shrugged, glancing impatiently over at the Doctors. "Well, we're not gonna find out just sittin' in here."
"You're in luck, then, Ace," Eight said as he approached the group of companions, "We're leaving the TARDIS. Please, be careful, though. Humans aren't allowed on Gallifrey without special dispensation even in peace time, but we're in the middle of a war. Do not wander out of our sight."
=========================================
"If the Inner Council weren't actually retreating to the Tomb of Rassilon, then they're likely still in the Council chambers," Four said as they stepped out of the TARDIS once it landed in the domed Capitol.
"I suppose it isn't a stretch to assume the Master is behind this, is it?" Three mused, straightening his driving jacket.
Ten shook his head. "No, it isn't him."
"How would you know?" Six asked.
"Look, lets just say I know. There's been enough meddling in the time lines as it is, I don't need to be giving myself information I shouldn't have yet. Alright?"
Nine lifted his head to look into the burnt orange sky, his hearts contracting in his chest. There it was. The sky he never thought he'd see again. That he shouldn't be seeing again. He turned his head as he felt a soft hand slip into his, looking down at Rose with damp eyes.
"So, this is home?" Rose asked quietly.
"Yep..."
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah, it is."
"Isn't it nice to get a chance to see it again, though?"
Nine lifted his head again, looking out over the horizon. "Knowing that I have to lose it all again? It's a nightmare."
Author: stormwolf10
Summary: The Doctors and their companions reach the Capitol of Gallifrey.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Doctor Who canon character.
"A bit...clinical in here, isn't it, Doctor?" Jack asked casually as everyone filed into the TARDIS.
Five clapped his hands together and smiled. "Oh, good, my TARDIS! And I quite like it this way thank you. Much better than that coral setup you lot have," he said, flicking a few switches on the console to get the ship moving.
Nine furrowed his brow in confusion and looked over to Ten, "How'd he know that?"
"Uh, long story, really," Ten shrugged, "Bit of butterfingers on my part." He gave his previous self a self-deprecating grin, and Nine rolled his eyes.
"Now," Four said, turning to Eight, "Do you have any idea who lured you into the Tomb? What happened to make you go there?"
Eight paced the room as he spoke, rubbing his face wearily. "The Daleks had just broken through our front lines and I was about to fall back and regroup with whoever was left, but then I retrieved a transmission that the Inner Council was under attack, had retreated to the Tomb as the only safe place, and that I was being called back to join them. I landed just outside, but when I went inside, it was deserted. When I tried to leave, it had been sealed."
"But did you see who did it?" Three asked him, and he shook his head.
"No, I didn't see anyone."
"Grandfather," Susan asked, turning to the First Doctor, "You don't think someone on the Council would have done this, do you?"
The old man frowned deeply, but patted his granddaughter's shoulder reassuringly. "I don't think they would ever think of such a thing, Susan."
"Oh, I think it's perfectly possible," snorted Six.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Five agreed, nodding his head solemnly.
"Well," Eight sighed, "I'm sure we'll find out soon enough."
===============================================
They had all gathered in what looked like a sitting room with the same hospital-like spartan cleanliness as the Doctors continued to discuss a plan of action, every now and then lapsing into a minor argument. The companions chatted amongst themselves as they had a bit of tea, occupying themselves as the Doctors worked. As Rose lifted her gaze from her teacup, she noticed that all eyes were on her.
"What?" she asked, shifting uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"Well," grinned Ace, "I reckon it's 'cause you and the Professor showed up mid-snog. You two are awfully friendly, eh?"
Warmth flooded Rose's cheeks and she cleared her throat. "Oh, that. Yeah, we are."
"I knew it!" Jack said with a laugh, "Took you two long enough. I just knew you two loved each other, as hard as you both tried not to admit it."
Rose smiled at Jack, nodding.
"Well, I think it's nice," Mel said, her sweet face lighting up in a happy smile, "The Doctor needs someone to love, I think."
"I dinna think th' Doctor was capable o' it, m'self," Jamie shrugged.
"It's just too bad he took so long," Sarah Jane murmured, her eyes fixed on her teacup, and Rose frowned slightly, feeling a pang of pity for the poor woman.
"So, we're on the Doctor's home planet," Peri said suddenly, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "I've always wondered what it'd be like."
Ace slumped back in her chair and shrugged, glancing impatiently over at the Doctors. "Well, we're not gonna find out just sittin' in here."
"You're in luck, then, Ace," Eight said as he approached the group of companions, "We're leaving the TARDIS. Please, be careful, though. Humans aren't allowed on Gallifrey without special dispensation even in peace time, but we're in the middle of a war. Do not wander out of our sight."
=========================================
"If the Inner Council weren't actually retreating to the Tomb of Rassilon, then they're likely still in the Council chambers," Four said as they stepped out of the TARDIS once it landed in the domed Capitol.
"I suppose it isn't a stretch to assume the Master is behind this, is it?" Three mused, straightening his driving jacket.
Ten shook his head. "No, it isn't him."
"How would you know?" Six asked.
"Look, lets just say I know. There's been enough meddling in the time lines as it is, I don't need to be giving myself information I shouldn't have yet. Alright?"
Nine lifted his head to look into the burnt orange sky, his hearts contracting in his chest. There it was. The sky he never thought he'd see again. That he shouldn't be seeing again. He turned his head as he felt a soft hand slip into his, looking down at Rose with damp eyes.
"So, this is home?" Rose asked quietly.
"Yep..."
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah, it is."
"Isn't it nice to get a chance to see it again, though?"
Nine lifted his head again, looking out over the horizon. "Knowing that I have to lose it all again? It's a nightmare."