Universe is cruel, part 10
Title: Universe is cruel, part 10
Characters: Jackie Tyler, Rose Tyler, The Doctor (10th), The Doctor (Duplicate 10th) and many others
Raiting: All
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. They belong to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: up till JE
Summary: The Doctor and Rose live a fantastic life on Pete's World until one drunk driver shatters it all.
Previous
Rose leans on the closed door listening to the noises from the room. Her heart is pounding and she is quite sure he can hear her. Cathie is wide awake and watching her with her big brown eyes. It takes all Rose’s strength to clam the baby. She knows the little girl is scared and hungry. She also knows she’ll keep quiet. At least for now. She caresses her daughter’s back afraid to move or to whisper anything and being heard. She listens to the hesitant steps in the room. He must be pacing. Probably now he runs his hand through his hair. He’s nervous. Suddenly she is very much aware, that right there, outside this door is the man she loves so much. The man, she fought so hard to get to; the man, she’s lost not so long ago. She hears him stop abruptly for a few seconds and then run to the door. She remembers that she’s left her bag right there and for a moment she’s afraid he’s seen it. But then, less then a second later she hears him going, no, running away and a quiet crack of the closed door marks his departure. Rose slides to the floor tears running down her cheeks. She remembers now. She was walking to the control room after changing and taking a quick shower. She stumbled into him in a corridor and he wrapped her in the tightest embrace they’d shared. At the time she was just thankful for the comfort he was trying to give her, but now… now she thinks how terrified he was back then. She feels the ship materialize and thinks of her mum standing right there in front of the TARDIS. She fights the urge to run down there and… and… at least see her. She knows she can’t.
“Let’s feed you, luv and then go and meet the Doctor.” She wipes her eyes and with a sigh settles for the nursing.
A few minutes later Rose is coming down the stairs. She has no idea what to tell him. She’s not even sure she’ll be able to tell him anything without crying. She’s grateful her Doctor left her a letter of a kind to his younger self. She couldn’t read it. All those circles… She’s not really interested. She walks through the corridors to the console room. From the door she sees him fidgeting with the controls. He doesn’t see her and she enjoys this tiny little moment of watching him. How she loved them while… while she still had them. He’s muttering something unrecognizably quiet. He’s tense and concerned, like something’s wrong and he doesn’t understand what it is. She turns a bit to let Cathy see him and just as she does the man straightens and turns around.
***
They are in the right Universe now so what is it? That niggling feeling that something’s wrong has been bothering him since they got back to the TARDIS. At first he thought it was just the parallel world but now… There couldn’t be any intruders on the ship. He’s checked. But the way the TARDIS behaved. The Doctor was used to the solid presence of his ship in his mind. They’ve been together for such a long time that he even managed to pick up her moods… or whatever you call moods when talking about the sentient time ship. But this time it is like she’s gone mad. There is a little flicker of emotions, a bit different from the solid TARDIS ones. But there is no one else and the Doctor is really worried now. Suddenly he feels this little odd presence boost to an overwhelming sensation of curiosity, wonder, worry… every possible emotion actually. He turns around in a flash to see a woman holding a baby at the inner doors.
“Hello,” says Rose, and it is definitely her.
“Hello,” answers the Doctor, his mind racing at a speed of light. It is Rose. But Why? How? When? She comes closer and gives him a note. He watches the woman out of the corner of his eye while reading the note. Somehow he isn’t surprised to get a letter in Gallifreyan from her, but he is disappointed to get no real answers. Yeah, this is his Rose, but from the future. And she certainly came from that parallel world. And she has a note in the language no one can speak except for him. Does that mean he was there with her? Or else…will he somehow lose her? And a child? Those huge eyes never left him.
“Doctor,” she starts and the Doctor doesn’t fail to notice her trembling voice. “Can you take me to Sarah Jane 10 years in the future?”
So it is 10 years then. He watches this skinny woman in front of him. Her hair is gathered in a knot, a bit darker then he is used to. Long roots of her own color. This Rose wears no make up. He notices dark circles around her eyes… her red eyes. She must’ve been crying. A lot.
“Sure,” he answers and turns to the control panel. He doesn’t flip a switch though. He hears the sound of something heavy thrown to the floor. It must be her backpack. That little odd presence turns to distress and he’s surprised to feel it calming down along with soothing sounds coming from Rose.
“Shhh, luv. It’s okay. It’s just a backpack, see?” The Doctor turns to Rose talking to the baby. All of a sudden he realizes that this presence is this child. This child broadcasting her emotions. No human could do that.
“How old is she?” he asks a bit sharper then he intended to. Rose looks at him.
“Eight months. Four more to find your future self before it’s too late.”
“He wasn’t with you then?” he asks sadly.
Rose watches him closely. “I thought you shouldn’t ask so much about your future. Paradox and all.”
“I can hide memories, but I guess you’re right.” He pauses nervously. “Right. London, 2017?”
“Yeah, right.” Rose replies with a smallest smile. She’s never seen any Doctor at such a loss of words. She walks to the jump seat and settles there watching him.
***
It’s only a few seconds and they are there. Well, they are still in the street just around the corner from her old flat, but it’s London. They walk outside the TARDIS and stay there, not sure what to say.
“I’m sorry,” the Doctor says and she turnes to him surprised.
“What for?”
“For what I’ve done to you. I have no idea what it is, but…” he trails off.
“No Doctor, don’t. I’ve had the most fantastic time with you… with every one of you. It’s just… Some things just happen and… and it’s not your fault anyway. Sometimes I wish it all turned out differently… are you sure you can forget all this ever happened?”
“Well, yeah. No shocks though.”
“Yeah, I know that. Just checking. In a few months for you we’ll get separated. I mean younger me and you. I know that probably you already feel it. It’ll take me 4 years to get back to you but then… I’ll stay with one of you but the other you’ll leave. Sixteen months ago that you that stayed died in a car accident. Together with our son. I survived with our daughter. She’s Gallifreyan. She’s regenerated in my womb before she was born. I had to leave my mum and dad to come here to find the older you. So yes, I do wish it could turn out differently, but I had the best 2 years with you here and 4 and a half years there I could possibly have. So… don’t be sorry. Universe is an unfair place. Or maybe it’s too fair. For every good thing we get and equally bad one. And vice versa. I just wish that the you I’ll be looking for now won’t reject me at least.”
“I’d never do that,” the Doctor says quietly. It is much to comprehend and he isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to forget all Rose’s just told him. He’ll loose her. Yes, she’s right. He feels the storm already but a few months. Two of him then? One will settle down? Him settles down? Have a family? This girl is his daughter, trying to reach him.
“I can’t establish the connection with her now cause I’m not the Doctor you’re looking for. Do you have a mobile? I think I can tune it to the older TARDIS.” She slips her phone into his hand and watches him doing something with his screwdriver.
”Thank you,” Rose whispers when he handles it back to her. She gazes into his sad eyes. This can very much be the last time she looks into these caring eyes. This can be the last time she found that emotion there. She swallows to fight back tears and looks down. She feels him pulling her into a gentle embrace.
“Oh Rose, you’d better go now. Hope I’ll manage to get back in time to say I was only moving the TARDIS out of the living room.” He manages a smile and Rose mirrors it with her own. “Take care of this little one and find me as soon as you’re ready.” She watches him plant a soft kiss on Cathie’s forehead and nods sadly.
“See you soon then,” she manages with a false lightness, which hasn’t fooled him for a moment.
“Yeah, It’s a pity I won’t remember any of it.”
“Yes, it is.” Rose comes and plants a light kiss on his cheek. Old habits die hard. She pulls the backpack on and walks away leaving him standing there alone in the street next to the TARDIS. She walks along the familiar streets tears welling in her eyes. Cathie is asleep again and Rose is glad. She passes the playground and sees that same graffiti on the brick wall she’s seen so long ago. Bad Wolf is still written there in all possible shapes and colors. It’s warm and sunny. It must be summer or something but she’s too tired and torn to enjoy it. Rose picks a cab and gets a ring from her secret pocket.
“Will it do to got o Bannerman road, 13?” she asks the driver. As he nods in agreement she gets inside, relaxes into the seat and closes her eyes.
Next
Characters: Jackie Tyler, Rose Tyler, The Doctor (10th), The Doctor (Duplicate 10th) and many others
Raiting: All
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me. They belong to RTD and the BBC.
Spoilers: up till JE
Summary: The Doctor and Rose live a fantastic life on Pete's World until one drunk driver shatters it all.
Previous
Rose leans on the closed door listening to the noises from the room. Her heart is pounding and she is quite sure he can hear her. Cathie is wide awake and watching her with her big brown eyes. It takes all Rose’s strength to clam the baby. She knows the little girl is scared and hungry. She also knows she’ll keep quiet. At least for now. She caresses her daughter’s back afraid to move or to whisper anything and being heard. She listens to the hesitant steps in the room. He must be pacing. Probably now he runs his hand through his hair. He’s nervous. Suddenly she is very much aware, that right there, outside this door is the man she loves so much. The man, she fought so hard to get to; the man, she’s lost not so long ago. She hears him stop abruptly for a few seconds and then run to the door. She remembers that she’s left her bag right there and for a moment she’s afraid he’s seen it. But then, less then a second later she hears him going, no, running away and a quiet crack of the closed door marks his departure. Rose slides to the floor tears running down her cheeks. She remembers now. She was walking to the control room after changing and taking a quick shower. She stumbled into him in a corridor and he wrapped her in the tightest embrace they’d shared. At the time she was just thankful for the comfort he was trying to give her, but now… now she thinks how terrified he was back then. She feels the ship materialize and thinks of her mum standing right there in front of the TARDIS. She fights the urge to run down there and… and… at least see her. She knows she can’t.
“Let’s feed you, luv and then go and meet the Doctor.” She wipes her eyes and with a sigh settles for the nursing.
A few minutes later Rose is coming down the stairs. She has no idea what to tell him. She’s not even sure she’ll be able to tell him anything without crying. She’s grateful her Doctor left her a letter of a kind to his younger self. She couldn’t read it. All those circles… She’s not really interested. She walks through the corridors to the console room. From the door she sees him fidgeting with the controls. He doesn’t see her and she enjoys this tiny little moment of watching him. How she loved them while… while she still had them. He’s muttering something unrecognizably quiet. He’s tense and concerned, like something’s wrong and he doesn’t understand what it is. She turns a bit to let Cathy see him and just as she does the man straightens and turns around.
***
They are in the right Universe now so what is it? That niggling feeling that something’s wrong has been bothering him since they got back to the TARDIS. At first he thought it was just the parallel world but now… There couldn’t be any intruders on the ship. He’s checked. But the way the TARDIS behaved. The Doctor was used to the solid presence of his ship in his mind. They’ve been together for such a long time that he even managed to pick up her moods… or whatever you call moods when talking about the sentient time ship. But this time it is like she’s gone mad. There is a little flicker of emotions, a bit different from the solid TARDIS ones. But there is no one else and the Doctor is really worried now. Suddenly he feels this little odd presence boost to an overwhelming sensation of curiosity, wonder, worry… every possible emotion actually. He turns around in a flash to see a woman holding a baby at the inner doors.
“Hello,” says Rose, and it is definitely her.
“Hello,” answers the Doctor, his mind racing at a speed of light. It is Rose. But Why? How? When? She comes closer and gives him a note. He watches the woman out of the corner of his eye while reading the note. Somehow he isn’t surprised to get a letter in Gallifreyan from her, but he is disappointed to get no real answers. Yeah, this is his Rose, but from the future. And she certainly came from that parallel world. And she has a note in the language no one can speak except for him. Does that mean he was there with her? Or else…will he somehow lose her? And a child? Those huge eyes never left him.
“Doctor,” she starts and the Doctor doesn’t fail to notice her trembling voice. “Can you take me to Sarah Jane 10 years in the future?”
So it is 10 years then. He watches this skinny woman in front of him. Her hair is gathered in a knot, a bit darker then he is used to. Long roots of her own color. This Rose wears no make up. He notices dark circles around her eyes… her red eyes. She must’ve been crying. A lot.
“Sure,” he answers and turns to the control panel. He doesn’t flip a switch though. He hears the sound of something heavy thrown to the floor. It must be her backpack. That little odd presence turns to distress and he’s surprised to feel it calming down along with soothing sounds coming from Rose.
“Shhh, luv. It’s okay. It’s just a backpack, see?” The Doctor turns to Rose talking to the baby. All of a sudden he realizes that this presence is this child. This child broadcasting her emotions. No human could do that.
“How old is she?” he asks a bit sharper then he intended to. Rose looks at him.
“Eight months. Four more to find your future self before it’s too late.”
“He wasn’t with you then?” he asks sadly.
Rose watches him closely. “I thought you shouldn’t ask so much about your future. Paradox and all.”
“I can hide memories, but I guess you’re right.” He pauses nervously. “Right. London, 2017?”
“Yeah, right.” Rose replies with a smallest smile. She’s never seen any Doctor at such a loss of words. She walks to the jump seat and settles there watching him.
***
It’s only a few seconds and they are there. Well, they are still in the street just around the corner from her old flat, but it’s London. They walk outside the TARDIS and stay there, not sure what to say.
“I’m sorry,” the Doctor says and she turnes to him surprised.
“What for?”
“For what I’ve done to you. I have no idea what it is, but…” he trails off.
“No Doctor, don’t. I’ve had the most fantastic time with you… with every one of you. It’s just… Some things just happen and… and it’s not your fault anyway. Sometimes I wish it all turned out differently… are you sure you can forget all this ever happened?”
“Well, yeah. No shocks though.”
“Yeah, I know that. Just checking. In a few months for you we’ll get separated. I mean younger me and you. I know that probably you already feel it. It’ll take me 4 years to get back to you but then… I’ll stay with one of you but the other you’ll leave. Sixteen months ago that you that stayed died in a car accident. Together with our son. I survived with our daughter. She’s Gallifreyan. She’s regenerated in my womb before she was born. I had to leave my mum and dad to come here to find the older you. So yes, I do wish it could turn out differently, but I had the best 2 years with you here and 4 and a half years there I could possibly have. So… don’t be sorry. Universe is an unfair place. Or maybe it’s too fair. For every good thing we get and equally bad one. And vice versa. I just wish that the you I’ll be looking for now won’t reject me at least.”
“I’d never do that,” the Doctor says quietly. It is much to comprehend and he isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to forget all Rose’s just told him. He’ll loose her. Yes, she’s right. He feels the storm already but a few months. Two of him then? One will settle down? Him settles down? Have a family? This girl is his daughter, trying to reach him.
“I can’t establish the connection with her now cause I’m not the Doctor you’re looking for. Do you have a mobile? I think I can tune it to the older TARDIS.” She slips her phone into his hand and watches him doing something with his screwdriver.
”Thank you,” Rose whispers when he handles it back to her. She gazes into his sad eyes. This can very much be the last time she looks into these caring eyes. This can be the last time she found that emotion there. She swallows to fight back tears and looks down. She feels him pulling her into a gentle embrace.
“Oh Rose, you’d better go now. Hope I’ll manage to get back in time to say I was only moving the TARDIS out of the living room.” He manages a smile and Rose mirrors it with her own. “Take care of this little one and find me as soon as you’re ready.” She watches him plant a soft kiss on Cathie’s forehead and nods sadly.
“See you soon then,” she manages with a false lightness, which hasn’t fooled him for a moment.
“Yeah, It’s a pity I won’t remember any of it.”
“Yes, it is.” Rose comes and plants a light kiss on his cheek. Old habits die hard. She pulls the backpack on and walks away leaving him standing there alone in the street next to the TARDIS. She walks along the familiar streets tears welling in her eyes. Cathie is asleep again and Rose is glad. She passes the playground and sees that same graffiti on the brick wall she’s seen so long ago. Bad Wolf is still written there in all possible shapes and colors. It’s warm and sunny. It must be summer or something but she’s too tired and torn to enjoy it. Rose picks a cab and gets a ring from her secret pocket.
“Will it do to got o Bannerman road, 13?” she asks the driver. As he nods in agreement she gets inside, relaxes into the seat and closes her eyes.
Next