HP/DW: Clarke's First Law (15.2/15)
Titl Clarke's First Law
Summar Rose is stuck in Fred's World and the Doctor knows that getting her back is impossible. Then again, doesn't the universe just love to prove him wrong? Meanwhile, trouble is brewing for Rose on the other side of the wall. Sequel to Clarke's Third Law.
Disclaimer I don't own Doctor Who or Harry Potter. I just decided that it would be a good idea to combine them (and I wasn't the first to come up with that idea, either).Note Some minor liberties taken with Merope Gaunt's death. Nothing major. Promise! And thanks for sticking with the story all this way!
(Chapter 14 part 1 here)
Chapter 14 (part 2): How It Ends and Where It All Begins
When the Doctor had no other choice but to pull the glass away (“You’ll make yourself sick,” he warned), Rose asked, “What happened?”
His expression suddenly guarded, the Doctor asked, “What do you remember?”
“The Master was in the TARDIS,” Rose said, trying to recall. “He was hit with a book. Then it got all-- well, blurry.”
Rose grew nervous at the Doctor’s look. She tried to speak calmly. “Doctor. What happened?”
He seemed to struggle to find the words. Finally, he settled for, “The Bad Wolf.” When it became clear that Rose didn’t understand, he elaborated. “On the Game Station, I thought I had saved you-- taken out all traces from you of what you did. However, I failed to take into account your magic.”
If Rose was confused before, that was nothing compared to what she was feeling now. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Remember how I explained that magic is nothing more than a manifestation of psychic energy?” The Doctor asked. When Rose nodded, he continued. “The TARDIS needs Huon particles to work- you’ve heard of those already, I think? Good- and no doubt, when you looked into her heart, some of those particles made their way onto you. As I said, I had assumed that I had taken everything from you, but it seemed as though a few of those particles- and it would only have to be a few, mind you- bonded themselves to your magic and have been slowly using that psychic energy to bond to, well, you. And your magic.”
“I see,” Rose said, even though, no. She didn’t.
“Do you remember when you were little and used to do accidental magic?” The Doctor asked. Rose grinned fondly, thinking back to the time when she had made her bed fly.
“Of course, I do.”
“It’s like that. Upon entering the TARDIS, you were experiencing an emotional upheaval. Your magic- and the Huon particles- reacted.”
“So is that going to happen every time I try and use my magic?” Rose questioned, aghast.
“No, no, no!” The Doctor assured her frantically, having his hands. Then he stopped and considered the matter more thoroughly. “At least, I don’t think so. It might take a bit of practice, however. Like your magic did.”
“And that’s all it’s gonna be, then?” Rose made sure. “Just my magic being strange for a bit? No other effects?”
The Doctor pursed his lips. “The Huon particles have forged a connection between you and the TARDIS. Ianto mentioned that you’d been having head-aches, fainting, that sort of thing. It’s because you and the TARDIS was separated by universes. Now that you’re together, you should be fine.”
“Was it hurting her? The TARDIS, I mean.”
“She’s fine, too,” the Doctor assured her, touched by Rose’s concern for his ship. “Those particles coming in through the crack were a consequence of her trying to reach you. Makes sense, really. Finally explains those cracks in time.”
“Those were because of her- me- us?”
“Well,” the Doctor drawled, “The Master, too. The TARDIS made the cracks through the universe.”
“And through time,” Rose realized, “Because we move a bit faster, here.”
“Right. But if he hadn’t been taking the Huon particles from you, there never would’ve been more flowing through the crack-- think of it as air flowing from high pressure to low pressure. That’s what started creating more cracks. Although, to his credit, he was right when he said that he might’ve also been saving your life. Huon particles can do nasty things to humans.”
“I thought you said I’d be fine!” Rose panicked.
“You will be,” the Doctor argued. “You just- I mean, Rose.”
He turned the screen he had been looking at several minutes ago to Rose. She frowned at what she saw. According to the information listed, she was looking at her own DNA, but it looked strange to her. To be fair, she was hardly an expert in the sciences.
“Is it supposed to look like that?”
The Doctor pulled the screen back towards him and slowly shook his head. “There have been minute changes to your DNA, Rose.”
“Because of the Huon particles?”
“The Huon particles,” the Doctor said softly, “It looks like, were making you ill, despite the Master’s assistance. Your magic and these particles are closely linked, though, so together they sort of reworked your DNA a bit. Made you capable of holding the Huon energy within you.”
“So I’m not human anymore?” Rose’s voice rose a bit in pitch.
“Only on a molecular level. Nothing too fancy, really. You might experience a few minor changes. Less sleep, longer life span, stronger immune system-”
“What was that?” Rose swung her legs over the edge of the cot so she could more fully face the Doctor. He put on his best “innocent” face. Rose wasn’t buying it.
“Stronger immune system?”
“Before that,” Rose ordered crossly. He shifted, like a little boy being scolded by his mother.
His voice was far more higher pitched when he said, “Less sleep?”
“In the middle, Doctor.” Rose was getting impatient.
“Longer life span?” He said this all in one breath. If Rose wasn’t so used to decoding Doctor-speak, she might’ve missed it. Rose felt her palms grow clammy as she realized the implications of what the Doctor said.
“How much longer?”
“I can’t be certain,” the Doctor hedged. “It looks as though the decay of your cells has slowed to a rate that should stop your aging for at least a few hundred years.&rdquo
He looked at her gobsmacked expression. “I am so sorry, Rose.”
Rose’s shock and fear and everything else was replaced by two emotions in that instant: anger and a small bit of insecurity. She whacked the Doctor hard in the arm, hoping that might knock some sense into him.
ldquo;Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault and you saved me, like you always do. I’m not- I’m not mad, Doctor. Surprised, shocked, a bit confused. Not mad, especially not at you.”
“You should be mad,” the Doctor said bitterly. “Nobody deserves to live such a long life and watch their family die. Do you understand that, Rose? They’ll die and you’ll keep on living.”
“I won’t be alone,” Rose said, voice shaking. “Even after my mum and dad and Al and Hugo are gone. I’ll miss them, all of them, but I’ll have Jack and you.”
The Doctor looked at her strangely. She added, quickly, “Unless you don’t want me to stay.”
“Of course I want you to stay!” He protested. For a moment neither of them did anything. Looking back, Rose wouldn’t say who started it, but the next thing she knew, the Doctor’s lips were on hers and he was wrapping his arms firmly around her waist.
She shifted onto her knees on the cot, so she could be about the same height as he was and tangled her hands in hair. He let out a happy sigh and she giggled into the kiss. Eventually, though, Rose had to breathe (it seemed as though her respiratory system was not something that had changed) and she pulled back
“We’ve got an evil Time-Lord on the TARDIS,” Rose said panting. “Now is really not the time to be doing this, don’t you think?”
“Actually,” the Doctor said, “We’ve got a baby human on the TARDIS, so yes. This is the perfect time to being this.”
He leant in to kiss her again and she let him. After a moment, she pulled back
“What do you mean?” she demanded through narrow eyes.
“You turned the Master into a baby.”
Rose gaped. “Why would I do that?”
“Infinite knowledge of time and space,” the Doctor pointed out. “You probably knew something we didn’t.”
“Well, whatever it is, I’ve forgotten it now.”
The Doctor looked at her oddly for a moment. “Have you forgotten that day on the beach?”
“I don’t think I can ever forget that day,” Rose said softly.
“I never got to finish my sentence.”
“You don’t have to.”
“But I want to. For so long, Rose, I’ve been afraid of telling you because I could feel our time together growing shorter. It wasn’t until it ran out all together that I realized my mistake. But now, Rose, now we have all the time in the world. And I am not going to waste a second of it.”
Okay.” Rose said, smiling softly at him.
“Rose Weasley, I love you.
“Quite right, too.” Rose laughed with a watery grin on her face
The Doctor kissed her again. Rose hoped that this was some sort of indication about how the much of their time on the TARDIS would now be spent. Some voices from down the hall made them separate. Donna’s distinct screeching could be heard even through the almost soundproof walls of the TARDIS.
“Looks like the gang’s all here,” the Doctor said. He cleared his throat and helped Rose off of the cot. “Let’s go see what they’re up to, shall we?”
“Sounds good to me,” Rose said laughing and taking the Doctor’s hand.
When Rose and the Doctor entered the console room, Jack looked up at them from where he had been talking to a shell-shocked Ianto. He smirked when he saw their held hands. They had always held hands, of course, but there was something different about them now, which made Jack quite happy. The fact that the Doctor had let Rose out of the infirmary was also something that pleased him, since it meant that Rose was fine.
Jack watched as Rose noticed who else was on the ship: Al and Hugo; Jackie and Fred and their son; Ianto and Donna. She let go of the Doctor’s hand and headed straight for her cousin and brother and threw herself at them. Together they joined in a group hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she told them. Her words came out muffled against Hugo’s shirt. She felt, rather than heard, when Albus answered back. His chest rumbled, even if she couldn’t make out the words, as he most likely repeated her sentiments. She stepped back and turned to Ianto. He smiled at her and opened his arms and she went into them, hugging again tightly.
“Is Lisa alright?”
“She’s fine,” Ianto assured her. He let go and she straightened herself up. “Whatever your Doctor did, the cracks are gone. People are themselves again. We may not be alright now, but we will be.”
Rose blushed. “He’s not my Doctor.”
“Yes he is,” everybody chorused, all except for the Doctor who said, “Yes I am. Well- you and the TARDIS share me, I suppose.”
Captain Jack waggled his eyebrows. “Kinky.”
“What happens next?” Donna asked, once the silence descended.
The Doctor let out a whoosh of air as he mulled the matter over. “We need to get back to our own universe soon, I suppose. What happens in this universe is up to all of you.”
“Actually, Doctor,” Fred said, stepping forward, “I don’t think it is. Jackie and I have been talking and, if it’s alright, we’d like to head back with you. Our family is gone. Rose is leaving. There’s nothing here for us anymore.”
The Doctor seemed to consider the offer. Finally, he warned, “You’d be starting off with nothing-”
“George and I started off with nothing the last time,” Fred shrugged. “I’m sure Jackie and I can manage.”
“You won’t be able to contact George and in my universe,” the Doctor added. “He doesn’t know about any of this and, even if he did, he’s a different George. Not your brother. You’d have to stay somewhere remote, where nobody who knew The-Other-Fred could find you. Perhaps in a different century or planet-”
“Cardiff, in the 21st,” Jack said. Seeing the incredulous glances between shot his way, Jack said, “I hear they’re starting up a new Torchwood branch there. They could use somebody to make sure they don’t get into trouble.”
The Doctor nodded to show that this plan was acceptable to him and looked over at Fred to hear his answer. Fred and Jack exchanged glances and then looked down at their son. Fred finally nodded.
“That sounds good,” he breathed, relieved. Then he turned to Ianto with a proud look on his face. “They’ll need somebody to lead this branch of Torchwood, you know.”
Ianto’s face a picture, Rose thought. He pointed to himself. “Me? But I’m a muggle.”
“You’re brilliant!” Rose protested.
“And things are about to change here,” the Doctor pointed out. “Can’t you feel it?”
“Go on then,” Donna prodded. “Take it! Don’t be thick. That job’d be a piece of cake, I’d bet!”
“I am not thick,” he protested. “But if you think working at Torchwood is so easy, why don’t you come and see for yourself?”
“You don’t have the power to hire me,” Donna scoffed.
Ianto narrowed his eyes. “Yes, I do! I am hereby accepting Fred’s offer. First order of business: Donna Noble, come and work for Torchwood.”
“Fine,” Donna said smugly, “But I ain’t nobody’s assistant. I want a proper job.”
“Deal,” Ianto said. Then he paused. “Wait. What just happened?”
“I think you were just tricked,” Hugo snickered.
“I think that’s business settled then,” the Doctor said. He, like the others, seemed unwilling to break up this newfound friendship. Donna gave both the Doctor and Rose a large hug. For Jack, though, she had reserved a large smack on the lips. He laughed as she finished bidding goodbye to everybody else.
If her eyes were shining more than usual when she told Ianto that she’d be waiting for him outside, nobody mentioned it.
Ianto also went ahead and bid his goodbyes, saving Rose for last.
“This is it, then,” Rose said with a slight laugh. Ianto smiled at her.
“I guess so,” Ianto said.
“I’m gonna miss you,” she said. “Take care of Ianto Jr., yea?”
“Actually, it’s a girl,” Ianto said proudly. “The healers down at Diagon Alley told us only yesterday.”
“Congratulations,” Rose offered. “I wish I could be here to watch her grow up.”
“I wish she would get to meet her godmother,” Ianto said. Rose gasped and he grinned at her surprise. “You’ve helped us so much since you’ve been here. You deserve the title.”
Once again, Rose found herself throwing herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. He squeezed back and, after a minute, he was the one to let go. He gave her one last salute (a joke about their old positions, her as the head of the team and he as the assistant, but it had never been that way and he knew it) and left
(Chapter 14 part 3 here)