FIC: The Fire Within the TARDIS (1/1)
Title: The Fire Within the TARDIS
Series: There's The Door
Rating: T (feeling paranoid)
Author: tkel_paris
Summary: The TARDIS doesn't take Rose ripping her open lightly, and makes Rose pay a heavy price.
Disclaimer: Yet another so-could-have-been moment.
Dedication: tardis_mole. This is his fault. I have the emails to prove it. :)
Author's Note: Rose fans, turn back now. I mean it. You don't want to read any further. If you're not happy with Rose, then let me know what you think of this.
The Fire Within the TARDIS
Started May 3, 2012
Finished February 7, 2013
The TARDIS knew her panel couldn't hold out much longer against the truck that Jackie Tyler had found, and Mickey Smith was using to carry out Rose Tyler's plans. The ship had seen many types of people, but none so foolishly determined or inattentive to the consequences as her Thief's current companion. Or rather, ex. He's already dumped her, and she hadn't accepted that.
Rose would find the power addictive, and not let go. It would force the Doctor to give up this life - he couldn't let a companion die, not after living through the Last Great Time War.
Not if she acted fast, though. If she acted at just the right moment...
The Doctor listened in horror as Rose announced, “I bring life.” He knew that she couldn't control what it would do to Jack Harkness, and he sensed the over-abundance of life-force now within the Boe-Kind. She had cursed him with immortality. Did she have no idea what a burden that would be on the man?!
Never mind how wrong he would seem to the Doctor now. This was a violation of the laws of space and time!
Then he saw her flinch, and cry out, closing her eyes. It was burning her, but it was taking a lot more time than it should be. Suddenly, he realized that it was more directed than not. Idris, he called to his ship again, what's happening?!
She must be punished, and you would foolishly protect her. I am doing what needs to be done: stop her without harming Earth or her family.
You're not killing her?!
No. She would've killed you needlessly. I found an alternative to killing her that saves you.
He knew what she meant. And he knew better than to interfere. Not that he could.
He watched as the energy built within Rose, overcoming her control. She cried further as the TARDIS recovered full control over the energy and drew it back out of Rose. The girl collapsed in front of the TARDIS doors as the panel slammed shut.
The Doctor stood stock still, thinking about what he could have done differently to prevent this and yet protect the planet below. His huge mind drew a blank. Even when Jack rushed over, asking what happened, he was silent.
Jackie and Mickey had taken the truck back, and sat down in her flat. She was preparing dinner, needing to do something and grateful she had someone who wanted her around. Rose hardly bothered calling, so who knew when they'd next see her?
She had just plated the simple meal when they heard a knock on the door. Jackie sighed. “Probably one of the neighbours, asking about the noise from earlier.” She went and opened it.
Her jaw dropped at the sight of the Doctor carrying Rose and Jack behind him, in silence.
“She's alive,” he said quietly, gently pushing past her and heading straight for the couch, “and she's back with you.” He put Rose down with a stiff grace. Jack followed, but kept a distance.
Mickey stood as soon as he heard the Doctor's voice, but froze at the sight of Rose's unconscious form. He noted Jack looking at Rose with disappointment. “What happened?”
“No person is meant to have Vortex energy in them.” He turned a hard look on Mickey. “She couldn't have done it without your help. The TARDIS didn't consent to it.”
Mickey blinked. “You mean...we hurt your ship?”
“It's called rape. And she made you two help her.”
“No,” Jackie interjected numbly, “I chose to help her because it's the sort of the thing her father would've done. He couldn't leave behind someone he called a friend.”
“Well,” the Doctor interrupted, “her motives were far less pure. She had the ability to simply stop the Daleks, make them unable to hurt anyone. Instead she killed them. That's genocide. And she saved Jack from death, but made him immortal. Unnaturally. By the laws of the universe, enforced by the Shadow Proclamation, she ought to be executed for her crimes.”
Jackie gasped. Mickey sucked in a breath.
“But my ship showed an act of mercy.” He saw no point in admitting to Time Lord biology under the circumstances. “She wiped Rose's mind of everything that has happened since before she met me. If she doesn't remember, she can't be found by the Shadow Proclamation - they won't know where to look.”
“So it's like everything from the day those mannequins walked on their own didn't happen to her?” Jackie exclaimed in shock. “How am I going to explain her lost job?!”
“She won't be able to remember it. Ever. She's sort of endured some brain damage. She'll be like an amnesiac. It's like she fell off the face of the Earth and suddenly reappeared with no new memories.”
“She won't be able to explain what happened at the shop,” Mickey realized, noticing Jack flinch at the Doctor's words. “Or the times she was back here. That could hurt her chances of getting a new job.”
“She has a good brain,” the Doctor retorted, “and it's not like this could kill her. Push her to make something of herself. I'm sure you can figure something out. You both have good brains, too. Although, Mickey, you might want to get yourself a new girlfriend. I saw how she treated you, and the TARDIS has enlightened me on some of what Rose thought. You have grown these past months. She hasn't.”
Jackie collapsed into a chair. “Should we have said no to her? What then?”
He sighed. “The problem is that she was holding the TARDIS prisoner. She wouldn't have let her go until she found a way, and she might have caused more trouble if you hadn't helped. You two are not to blame. You may have helped prevent additional harm.”
Mickey swallowed. “What are you going to do?”
The Doctor looked at him a long moment, contemplating. “I'll see. Anything, even being alone, is better than keeping her with me. Not that that's possible now.” He walked to the door. “If we can find something that will help you, we know where to find you. But neither Jack nor I will bother you further.” He opened the door. “We wish both of you well, and that she can mature.”
Jack closed the door behind them, not wanting to face the situation any longer. Neither did the Doctor.
Moments later, Rose groaned, released from the TARDIS's hold as the ship left silently. The Doctor made sure the brakes were completely off, and the Old Girl ensured she made no sound.
Mickey thought quickly. He had to remove more of his things from the Internet, but Rose rarely had the patience to handle computers. Still... it gave him an idea. “Where the hell have you been?!”
Rose looked up, blinking. “But I was just here...and - Oh, I need to be at the shop, don't I?!”
Jackie rushed forward to keep her on the couch. “The shop blew up, Rose! You've been missing ever since! How do you explain yourself?!”
The former shop girl stared at her mother and boyfriend in horror. She searched her memories, but... “I don't know! I don't know!” she cried.
Jackie and Mickey braced themselves for a very difficult task. Still, she might be persuaded to try harder if she saw that she had to figure out something new.
They prayed.
THE END