Doctor Who fic: The Trial of Ten, 10/20
Banner made by 'D', my talented RL artist friend.
Characters: Eleventh Doctor, Metacrisis Doctor, Rose (Also: Martha, Jack, Amy, Rory, Gwen, John Hart)
Genre: Drama; some action and h/c
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Up to/including A Christmas Carol
Summary: When the Metacrisis Doctor returns with Rose from the other universe, he is captured and put on trial for various crimes including genocide. Can Rose and Eleven save him? How does the case affect Eleven who is also, in effect, on trial? How does the unexpected return to the Tardis and to the original Doctor affect Rose?
Chapter 10 Summary: A new contact is made, some healing is attempted, and the time arrives to turn reaction into action.
Disclaimer: This story takes place within the Doctor Who universe. This story is a way of re-interpreting concepts and ideas already present in Doctor Who. All characters within belong to the BBC. This story is for fun and for sharing, but not for profit.
The Trial of Ten
Chapter 10: A Meeting of Minds
Martha was the first one to break the hug.
'I'm sorry,' she said, 'but they told me yesterday that I could visit him again after court. I need to know if there's anything I can do for him, especially after what just happened.'
Eleven straightened and nodded. Rose sat back.
'Right. Thanks. Yeah. But there's not anything you can do beyond what you're doing. If this had happened on Gallifrey, it would be different. But here... no-one can help him. I could, maybe, but I can't get near him.'
'I'm sorry,' said Martha. 'I'll do what I can.'
But as soon as Martha had left the console room, Eleven stood up. 'Did you hear something,' he asked. 'Is someone at the door?'
But before Rose could reply, a loud knocking sounded through the room.
'I thought so,' he said. He bounded down the steps, ran to the door and yanked it open. It was the Woman.
Rose joined him and stood looking at the Defence Counsel. Behind her, the crowd still roared its disapproval. No-one spoke for a moment, and Rose could sense that Eleven was restraining himself.
At last the Woman stirred. 'I need your help,' she said simply.
Eleven said nothing, but he brought up his arm and pointed the sonic screwdriver at her. She waited patiently while it whirred. Finally Eleven stopped the scan and lowered his arm.
'All right,' he said, shortly. 'Come in.'
They shut the door on the noise outside. Eleven promptly sat down on the top step of the stairs in front of the console platform. Rose looked at him and then at the Woman. She moved to the railing and leaned against it.
'It went badly today,' the Woman said.
Eleven merely looked at her.
'I didn't realize that the scan would harm him. I'm sorry.'
He didn't move a muscle.
'After what happened today, I don't know how he can avoid the death penalty,' she said, her voice beginning to rise.
'Doctor,' whispered Rose.
The Woman looked at her sharply and then back at Eleven.
'Why do you persist in this charade?' she demanded.
Eleven rose to his feet and, in one smooth jump, landed at the bottom of the steps. 'Because I am the Doctor. However, since you persist in not believing me, you may call me Eleven.' He stood directly in front of her. She took a step back. 'Now, what you hope to achieve by coming here?'
She looked at Rose and then back at him. 'If you truly are the Doctor, then exactly who is in our prison?'
Eleven shook his head. 'You don't need to know. You don't believe me anyway. So!' He clapped his hands and rubbed them together briskly. 'What can we do for you?'
The Woman scowled. 'The Doctor... All right, what do you call him?'
'Ten,' said Eleven. 'Go on.'
She took a deep breath. 'The Doctor... Ten... has all but already earned the death penalty. The rest of the charges are hardly necessary, but must be completed for the victims' justice. I have been appointed to serve him to the best of my ability, but after today, I cannot do that alone. The mind scans damaged his case too much. He has not offered me anything to use as counter-evidence. In fact, he has not offered me anything at all. It is almost as if he does not care if he is found guilty.'
'I told the court he was ill,' said Eleven. 'And after what happened today, you'll find him in worse condition. He's a victim of your court, Madam Counsel.'
The Woman nodded. 'I am inclined to agree with you.' She stood a little straighter. 'Nevertheless, that will not change anything. The sessions will not be stopped or delayed. So I say again, I need your help. Strictly speaking, I should not ask this of someone who has claimed the identity of the accused. However, I see no alternative, and I can see that you care about him deeply.'
Rose looked at Eleven. 'Yes, he does,' she mused. 'He didn't before.'
Both Eleven and the Woman stared at her. 'Before?' asked the Woman.
'A year ago,' said Rose. 'But now... he's changed. But he did that before your goons kidnapped the Doctor, so don't go thinking this is some strategic thing. It's real.'
'Anyway,' said Eleven loudly, 'if you really want help, I need to see him. As I told you before, I'm a Time Lord and am the only one who can do anything for him right now.'
'But you want help for legal stuff too, yeah?' said Rose.
The Woman nodded.
'Then we will need to come and go in the Tardis as we please,' said Eleven.
'I will try to arrange it,' she said. 'In the meantime, the court telepath confirmed what you said. The Doctor does need help. I have managed to gain permission for you to visit him just this once, as an emergency measure, but that would be all.'
'It won't be enough,' said Eleven. 'Not anywhere near enough.'
'Can I come?' burst out Rose.
The Woman hesitated.
'She's his life partner,' said Eleven.
'We can try,' said the Woman. 'Come then. Where is your physician?'
'She is getting ready for her own visit to see him,' said Eleven.
'I'll get her,' said Rose.
But as she started up the steps, Martha appeared. 'I heard voi--oh!' She scurried down the steps. 'I can still visit him, right?' she asked.
'We're all going, it seems,' Eleven informed her.
'That's more like it!' said Martha. 'I've got what I need.' She patted the bag she carried.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Once they had completed the scans and searches, the Shadow Proclamation allowed them all through. Rose found the journey there to be exactly as Martha described. The sterile corridors stretched in all directions, and she could not see any identifying markers. Even what looked like computer screens in the walls only flickered to life with a directional arrow as they passed. She could also see the illumination brighten in the section of corridor they currently passed through and dim again. It was as if they travelled in a bubble of light, and all else was dark around them. She lost all sense of direction and found herself pressing close to Eleven. She didn't want to think of what would happen if she got separated from the group.
Finally they arrived at the room where they held Ten. Although the guards did not follow them in, Rose knew that the courtesy was deceptive. All the walls were transparent and there were many people watching--guards, officials, and other doctors, she thought. The floors and ceilings were white, and all was pristine, sterile. Her stomach clenched. She could see Ten lying on a simple, low bed. She could not tell what condition he was in.
'I'm sorry that we cannot give you more privacy,' said the Woman. 'Allowing the three of you in at the same time means some concessions must be made.'
'It will do,' said Eleven. He approached the bed. Martha stayed back.
Rose followed with trepidation and made her way around the other side. Ten's eyes were closed, and it seemed to her at first as if he were sleeping peacefully. But then she saw the furrow between his eyebrows and the clenching of his teeth. As she knelt, she placed a hand on the bed to steady herself and she felt a thin, flexible metal cable beneath her fingers. Startled, she looked down and saw that restraints were attached to Ten's wrists and ankles.
'Doctor,' she murmured. 'I'm here.'
He opened his eyes and saw her.
'Rose,' he whispered.
Rose caressed his cheek with the back of her fingers. 'They're letting me visit for a bit. Just a bit.'
Ten seized her hand in both of his and pressed it to his lips. 'Oh, Rose,' he said.
She sat on the edge of the bed. 'You all right?'
He said nothing.
Eleven too sat on his side of the bed. 'They are going to let me help you, if you want it. Can you sit up?'
For just a moment, a look of anger crossed Ten's face, but it was gone so fast that Rose wondered if she had imagined it. He nodded and, letting go of Rose's hand, he pushed himself up to face Eleven and swung his legs down so his feet rested on the floor. As he did so, the restraints lengthened, clearly just enough to allow him some movement but no more than was necessary.
Hesitantly, Rose gently laid her hands on his shoulders from behind, ready to draw them back if they weren't welcome. Her caution wasn't needed. Ten immediately reached up, took both her hands, drew them down and clasped them hard to his chest. She scrambled to kneel on the bed behind him, her chest against his back and her knees on either side of him. He was too tall for her to keep her arms comfortably over his shoulders and so, with her hands still clasped in front, she brought her arms down around him. He murmured something unintelligible and leaned back into her embrace. She lightly rested her chin on his shoulder.
'Good,' said Eleven. 'Good. Yes, that's good.' He knelt down in front of Ten. He raised his hands. 'May I?'
Rose could feel Ten swallow and then nod. She felt the bristle of his sideburn against her cheek.
Eleven slowly, ever so slowly, touched his fingertips to Ten's temples. His knuckles brushed against Rose's forehead and she began to move away. But Eleven shook his head and mouthed, 'It's okay.'
She relaxed. Behind Eleven, she could see all the people silently staring. She shut her eyes.
'That's it,' she heard Eleven say. 'You know what I'm going to do. Relax. I won't do anything you don't want me to do.'
She felt Ten's breathing quicken. She tightened her embrace, hoping it was encouraging and not restraining.
'That's it,' Eleven murmured. 'Let me in. Just relax. Open.'
Rose felt Ten shudder once, a tiny movement. Unlike in the courtroom, he made no sound.
'Yes,' Eleven said. 'Good. Good. There we are.'
Ten's body relaxed. His head rested against hers, trapping Eleven's fingertips between them. Eleven didn't seem to mind.
They stayed like that for some time. Eleven no longer spoke, but Rose knew that there was no need now. Somewhere in Ten's mind, the two Time Lords were in some communication that she couldn't possibly understand. A sudden intense feeling of loneliness swept over her. She opened her eyes and, amongst the crowd, she saw Martha watching her. Even though she looked worried, Martha smiled at Rose and nodded. Rose smiled back and closed her eyes once more. Ten's cheek was warm against hers and his hands still clasped hers as if he would never let go.
Then Ten slumped and his hands fell to his lap. His body was heavy in Rose's arms. Eleven's fingers withdrew, and Rose shifted to hold Ten up.
'It's okay,' Eleven said. 'Let him sleep.'
Between them, they laid Ten back down, Rose cradling his head, and Eleven lifted his legs up onto the bed. Rose leaned down and kissed his forehead.
'He'll sleep for a good while if none of you disturb him,' Eleven said to the Woman, and behind her, the watchers. 'If you make any claim to taking care of your prisoners, you'll do that for him.'
The Woman nodded. 'He won't be disturbed.'
'Martha,' said Eleven, 'he's all yours.' But before he moved aside, he brushed back Ten's hair from his forehead.
Rose watched as Martha took Eleven's spot and took things out of her bag. Martha was so deft and quick that although she checked Ten's vital signs, drew another sample of his blood and gave him an injection, there was no reaction whatsoever.
Rose gazed at Ten's face. It was utterly relaxed with no sign of strain. She longed to touch him again, to trace the long, sweeping eyebrows, or stroke the curving bridge of his nose. She felt starved for his touch, but she knew that his one chance for peaceful sleep was vital.
'Come on, Rose,' said Eleven. She started. He was leaning over her. Martha was standing, her bag repacked. 'We've got to go.'
She stood slowly, never taking her gaze from Ten. 'How long will he sleep?' she asked.
'A few hours at least,' said Eleven. 'All night as well if we're lucky.' He put an arm around her shoulders and gently steered her away. She let him guide her forward, but she looked back as long as she could.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
'All right,' said Eleven. 'Enough reacting. Time for action. Let's see if she is true to her word.' He spun a dial, pounded a button with his fist and finally pulled on a lever.
The time rotor rose and fell and the Tardis wheezed.
'So far, so good,' he said. 'We've cleared their shields. Right then. Jump into action. Ideas?'
'I want to return to London,' said Martha. 'See if I can see my mum and find out what's going on. I also need to report back to UNIT. They also might have some information that can help.'
'I doubt they'll let you near your mother during the trial,' said Eleven. 'Ten to one, she's being kept on the base.'
'All right,' she said. 'See my family, then. Maybe they can tell me something. Anything.'
'London it is.' Eleven twisted the monitor to face him and he tapped a control. 'Do me a favour, would you?'
'Anything.' She looked at him questioningly.
'Look up Donna. See if she's all right,' he said. 'I can't see her being useful to the people pulling the strings, but I'd like to make sure.'
'You bet,' Martha said firmly. 'I'll call you if there is any problem.'
'What about us,' asked Rose. 'What can we do?'
'We,' said Eleven, 'are going to find Jack, and perhaps, through him, maybe this John Hart fellow. It sounds like he has access to some information about who's behind this whole charade.'
He reached over, pulled the pinball trigger, and whacked another control with his mallet.
'Off we go!'
To be continued
Chapter 11: Looking for Jack
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9