Fic: The Wolf in Time - 23/30 + Epilogue
Title: The Wolf in Time
Rating: M
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Overall Doctor/Rose, Jack/Ianto. Other pairings variable.
Spoilers: Set post-series 2 Torchwood so spoilers for all of Torchwood so far, and during series 4 Doctor Who but canonically only ‘Partners in Crime’.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Duh. I don’t think I can even claim the concept as original, lol.
Length: 56,000 words, 30 chapters + epilogue
Notes: I started this immediately post ‘Partners in Crime’, which means it’s AU from there but incorporates some things that we found out about later in the series. Beta'd by steviesun
Summary: Crossing dimensions didn't sit well with Bad Wolf. Now, unstable and badly scared, Rose Tyler must find a way to deal with the power within her and the problems she faces with only the support of the organisation who were responsible for her parting with the Doctor…
Chapter 01 - Chapter 02 - Chapter 03 - Chapter 04 - Chapter 05 - Chapter 06 - Chapter 07 - Interlude 01 - Chapter 08 - Chapter 09 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Interlude 02 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21 - Chapter 22
“Is it always like this?” Rose murmured to Ianto.
“Nothing like this has happened since I joined Torchwood,” Ianto returned, equally quiet. They were standing at the back of the room watching as UNIT, Torchwood and the army all argued and debated about what was going on. Jack and the Doctor were at the front of the room, trying to get everyone’s attention. For once, they weren’t succeeding. Rose and Ianto had elected to stay out of it - Rose by choice, Ianto mostly because both Jack and the Doctor had given him explicit instructions to not let Rose out of his sight.
“But I mean - fleets of ships, unimaginable darkness, end of the universe, and they’re arguing about who has jurisdiction!” Rose said, frowning.
“Well, the smart ones aren’t,” Ianto felt obliged to point out. He slipped an arm around Rose’s waist as she fretted, determined that she would go nowhere without him. “Jack will sort them out, if the Doctor doesn’t.”
“They’re not gonna listen,” said Rose, twisting her hands together. “Ianto…”
“Hush, cariad, the Doctor and Jack won’t let this continue,” he tried to soothe her. “You know that.”
“Yeah. I know.” Rose didn’t look convinced, and Ianto turned her so she was facing him. “I know,” she said again.
“Do you?” he asked. “You don’t look very sure.” He pulled her close and winced as a particularly opinionated general loudly questioned Jack’s qualifications.
“I just…it…I wish I knew what I could do,” she mumbled against him. “Don’t like being here, either. On the Valiant. So many…echoes.”
“It was the safest place for everyone to meet,” Ianto said. Someone else yelled, loudly, and Rose jerked away from him. “Rose, stay calm,” he entreated.
“They’re not listening,” she said, voice rising. She lifted her hands to her head, clutching at her hair. “They’re not LISTENING!” Golden light shone from her eyes and her fingers as she screamed, and Ianto couldn’t help taking a step away. The raised voices around the room fell silent as all eyes turned to the back. Ianto looked to Jack desperately, but even as the immortal pushed his way through the crowds towards them, Rose lowered her hands. She was not calm, but she was filled with purpose.
“Rose,” said the Doctor quietly from the raised platform at the other end of the conference room, “Rose, calm down.”
“No,” she said, the golden energy of Bad Wolf leaking from her eyes, burrowing under her skin to make her glow. “They’re not listening, Doctor.”
“They will,” the Doctor said earnestly, “they will, I promise, but you have to keep calm. You’re in control, Rose.” She stared up at him and shook her head.
“What is this?” demanded the man from Torchwood Glasgow. “What is she?”
“I am power,” said Rose, not looking away from the Doctor. “I am the only reason you know this planet is in danger.” Jack tried to reach for her, but she lifted a hand and he was shoved backwards into a pair of UNIT soldiers, sending all three crashing to the ground. Rose took a step forwards, and the scientists and soldiers all drew away from her as she took another step, walking deliberately towards the Doctor. She reached him, and offered a serene smile. He shook his head, silently asking her to stop, but she turned to face the amazed crowd below.
“You are all so tiny,” she said, voice echoing with the power contained within her. “You have no idea what is out there.”
“So tell us, Miss Tyler,” said Alistair from his seat near the head of the table. “Explain to us.”
“It is coming,” said Rose, biting off the words. “It is coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it. All you can do is fight. The darkness is coming and it will devour you.” She lifted a brightly-glowing hand, but the Doctor caught it before she could do anything.
“Rose, stop it,” he hissed. “You can’t do any good by this.” They stared at each other for a long moment, and then at last Rose’s arm slackened and he released it. “Alright,” he said slowly. “Just…calm down, Rose.”
“I can’t,” she said with a strange choked sigh. “I’m sorry. My Doctor. It hurts too much.”
“I know, I know it hurts, but Rose you can’t do this.”
“I’m doing nothing,” Rose whispered. “And that’s the problem.” She closed her eyes and disappeared, leaving only a fading glow to tell where she had been.
“Rose!” the Doctor said, reaching out futilely to grab her. It was too late, and he turned away in distress. Jack snarled, joining the Doctor on the platform again.
“She’s right,” he said the others. “She’s right, they’re coming and you’ve got no idea what you’re up against! This isn’t about whose job it is!” He glared down at them, and more than one hardened soldier had to look away rather than meet his stormy gaze. “We’re facing the destruction of this entire planet - the entire universe. Grow up.”
“He’s right,” said Alistair, standing up. “I’m ashamed to be part of this mob. We have been trained to defend this planet, not to squabble like children. The Doctor and Captain Harkness are the experts here, not us.”
There was an ashamed silence. Finally the Doctor spoke.
“You need to focus every telescope you’ve got on outer space,” he said. “Find out how close the darkness is. You need to alert every military authority to expect alien incursions within the next few days. UNIT has files on some of what’s coming - distribute them. Make sure everyone knows what is coming and how to fight it.” He nodded at Sir Alistair. “You’re in charge. I trust you.” He looked at the members of Torchwood. “You’ve got alien technology - I need to know what,” he told them. “We might be able to use it. Jack can coordinate that.”
“Already on it,” Jack said.
“Rose is right,” the Doctor went on bleakly. “The darkness is coming. The stars are being blacked out.” He looked suddenly very old. “I will not let it take this planet fall. Not this time. Not ever again. If you won’t help me, get out.” Nobody moved, and after a long moment the Doctor nodded. “Right. Go.”
Jack and Alistair started issuing orders, and the Doctor turned away to find Donna and Martha. They were waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, both looking grave.
“How can we fight something we know nothing about?” Martha asked, hint of desperation in her voice. “This darkness - what is it, Doctor? Aliens are one thing, but…”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Donna, shaking her head. “Whatever it is, we’ll stop it.” She reached out and took the Doctor’s hand, squeezing it gently. “That’s what we do, right? Save the world.”
“I…” The Doctor shook his head. “Even if we do stop it, stop the darkness from consuming the Earth, the evacuees will still be coming, Donna. Countless thousands of people needing a home, and a lot of them won’t care who they hurt to get one.”
“That’s what UNIT’s for,” said Martha, trying to reassure him.
“You have no idea,” the Doctor said, running his hands through his hair in agitation. “Whole galaxies, just gone! The universe has become infinitely smaller, and I have no idea how that will affect anything. I can already feel timelines twisting and shifting, cutting off things that I know are supposed to happen in the future.” He sighed and looked at his two friends. “I’m sorry,” he began.
“Don’t say it,” Donna said quickly, shaking her head. “Just don’t.”
“I should never have dragged you into all this,” the Doctor said anyway. “Either of you. I should have just stayed away. I ruin the people who travel with me.”
“Doctor, we’re better for it,” said Martha quietly. “Yeah, it’s scary. Of course it is. But we wouldn’t miss it. Any of it.”
“Not for the world,” Donna agreed. “Doctor, I’ve seen things I never could have imagined. The Library, and Pompeii, and giant wasps. I’ve been scared and threatened and terrified out of my wits. But I wouldn’t swap that for a nine-to-five and security. And neither would Martha.”
“Donna Noble and Martha Jones,” said the Doctor softly. “Defenders of the universe.” He wrapped an arm around them both and hugged them tight, only releasing them as Jack approached.
“You alright?” Donna asked, taking in his expression.
“Ianto’s missing,” said Jack, with eyes only for the Doctor. “Gwen says he vanished the same time Rose did.” The Doctor muttered something about wandering off. “Well, hopefully Rose will keep him safe,” Jack nodded. “Listen, Archie says he’s got something that sounds like the making of a Delta wave. He’s got a helicopter bringing it down.”
“I’m not about to just aim a Delta wave out into space and let it kill everything that’s coming,” the Doctor retorted.
“And I’m not suggesting you do,” said Jack, an edge to his voice now. “But you’ve got enough time to refine it to take out the Cybermen.” The Doctor grimaced. “You know as well as I do that Cybermen don’t negotiate,” Jack pressed. “If it’ll take them out of the equation, it’s got to be a good thing.”
“Yeah, I suppose,” the Doctor nodded at last. “No, you’re right, and I will have time to refine it. It won’t stop the darkness, though.”
“What’s a Delta wave?” asked Donna.
”Wave of energy that fries your brain if you get in the way,” said Jack with a grim smile. “Very useful for situations like this when there’s a mixed group. When I was travelling with the Doctor and we faced the Daleks, he was building one.”
“But I didn’t have the time to refine it,” the Doctor added.
“So it would’ve killed everyone?” Martha said, horrified. “But - you can change it, yeah? So it just goes after the Cybermen. Right?” The Doctor nodded, and she subsided a little, relieved.
“But this darkness thing - Rose and Ianto said it was like…the absence of anything,” said Donna slowly. “No life, no death, no choices or decisions or anything. So it can’t have a brain. So how do we stop that?”
“Smart,” said Jack approvingly. “I can see why he likes you.”
“Stop it,” said the Doctor with a roll of his eyes. “And I really have no idea, Donna.” He frowned. “I was hoping Rose would be able to take me closer, but I’ve no idea where she’s gone.”
“Well, wherever she is, she’s taken Ianto,” Jack reminded him. Alistair joined them, and Jack gave a grimace. “I was about to come find you,” he apologised.
“Quite alright, I’ve been talking to your second,” Alistair said dismissively. “Doctor, we’ve just had word. In the past three hours, Messier sixty-four and Messier ninety-four have disappeared off our scopes. They’re the closest so far.”
“That’s only twelve million light years,” said the Doctor, appalled. “That’s - that’s -“
“It’s moving fast,” Alistair nodded. “Now would be an appropriate time for one of your miraculous solutions, Doctor.”
“If Rose -“ Jack began, but cut himself off, shaking his head. “We don’t have enough information,” he muttered. “Dammit.” He swung away from them, watching as the conference room continued to empty.
“We’ll figure it out,” said Donna, aiming for confidence but missing it. “We will.”
* * *
Chapter 24
Comments are looooove. Seriously.
Rating: M
Fandom: Torchwood/Doctor Who
Characters/Pairings: Overall Doctor/Rose, Jack/Ianto. Other pairings variable.
Spoilers: Set post-series 2 Torchwood so spoilers for all of Torchwood so far, and during series 4 Doctor Who but canonically only ‘Partners in Crime’.
Disclaimer: Not mine. Duh. I don’t think I can even claim the concept as original, lol.
Length: 56,000 words, 30 chapters + epilogue
Notes: I started this immediately post ‘Partners in Crime’, which means it’s AU from there but incorporates some things that we found out about later in the series. Beta'd by steviesun
Summary: Crossing dimensions didn't sit well with Bad Wolf. Now, unstable and badly scared, Rose Tyler must find a way to deal with the power within her and the problems she faces with only the support of the organisation who were responsible for her parting with the Doctor…
Chapter 01 - Chapter 02 - Chapter 03 - Chapter 04 - Chapter 05 - Chapter 06 - Chapter 07 - Interlude 01 - Chapter 08 - Chapter 09 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Interlude 02 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21 - Chapter 22
“Is it always like this?” Rose murmured to Ianto.
“Nothing like this has happened since I joined Torchwood,” Ianto returned, equally quiet. They were standing at the back of the room watching as UNIT, Torchwood and the army all argued and debated about what was going on. Jack and the Doctor were at the front of the room, trying to get everyone’s attention. For once, they weren’t succeeding. Rose and Ianto had elected to stay out of it - Rose by choice, Ianto mostly because both Jack and the Doctor had given him explicit instructions to not let Rose out of his sight.
“But I mean - fleets of ships, unimaginable darkness, end of the universe, and they’re arguing about who has jurisdiction!” Rose said, frowning.
“Well, the smart ones aren’t,” Ianto felt obliged to point out. He slipped an arm around Rose’s waist as she fretted, determined that she would go nowhere without him. “Jack will sort them out, if the Doctor doesn’t.”
“They’re not gonna listen,” said Rose, twisting her hands together. “Ianto…”
“Hush, cariad, the Doctor and Jack won’t let this continue,” he tried to soothe her. “You know that.”
“Yeah. I know.” Rose didn’t look convinced, and Ianto turned her so she was facing him. “I know,” she said again.
“Do you?” he asked. “You don’t look very sure.” He pulled her close and winced as a particularly opinionated general loudly questioned Jack’s qualifications.
“I just…it…I wish I knew what I could do,” she mumbled against him. “Don’t like being here, either. On the Valiant. So many…echoes.”
“It was the safest place for everyone to meet,” Ianto said. Someone else yelled, loudly, and Rose jerked away from him. “Rose, stay calm,” he entreated.
“They’re not listening,” she said, voice rising. She lifted her hands to her head, clutching at her hair. “They’re not LISTENING!” Golden light shone from her eyes and her fingers as she screamed, and Ianto couldn’t help taking a step away. The raised voices around the room fell silent as all eyes turned to the back. Ianto looked to Jack desperately, but even as the immortal pushed his way through the crowds towards them, Rose lowered her hands. She was not calm, but she was filled with purpose.
“Rose,” said the Doctor quietly from the raised platform at the other end of the conference room, “Rose, calm down.”
“No,” she said, the golden energy of Bad Wolf leaking from her eyes, burrowing under her skin to make her glow. “They’re not listening, Doctor.”
“They will,” the Doctor said earnestly, “they will, I promise, but you have to keep calm. You’re in control, Rose.” She stared up at him and shook her head.
“What is this?” demanded the man from Torchwood Glasgow. “What is she?”
“I am power,” said Rose, not looking away from the Doctor. “I am the only reason you know this planet is in danger.” Jack tried to reach for her, but she lifted a hand and he was shoved backwards into a pair of UNIT soldiers, sending all three crashing to the ground. Rose took a step forwards, and the scientists and soldiers all drew away from her as she took another step, walking deliberately towards the Doctor. She reached him, and offered a serene smile. He shook his head, silently asking her to stop, but she turned to face the amazed crowd below.
“You are all so tiny,” she said, voice echoing with the power contained within her. “You have no idea what is out there.”
“So tell us, Miss Tyler,” said Alistair from his seat near the head of the table. “Explain to us.”
“It is coming,” said Rose, biting off the words. “It is coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it. All you can do is fight. The darkness is coming and it will devour you.” She lifted a brightly-glowing hand, but the Doctor caught it before she could do anything.
“Rose, stop it,” he hissed. “You can’t do any good by this.” They stared at each other for a long moment, and then at last Rose’s arm slackened and he released it. “Alright,” he said slowly. “Just…calm down, Rose.”
“I can’t,” she said with a strange choked sigh. “I’m sorry. My Doctor. It hurts too much.”
“I know, I know it hurts, but Rose you can’t do this.”
“I’m doing nothing,” Rose whispered. “And that’s the problem.” She closed her eyes and disappeared, leaving only a fading glow to tell where she had been.
“Rose!” the Doctor said, reaching out futilely to grab her. It was too late, and he turned away in distress. Jack snarled, joining the Doctor on the platform again.
“She’s right,” he said the others. “She’s right, they’re coming and you’ve got no idea what you’re up against! This isn’t about whose job it is!” He glared down at them, and more than one hardened soldier had to look away rather than meet his stormy gaze. “We’re facing the destruction of this entire planet - the entire universe. Grow up.”
“He’s right,” said Alistair, standing up. “I’m ashamed to be part of this mob. We have been trained to defend this planet, not to squabble like children. The Doctor and Captain Harkness are the experts here, not us.”
There was an ashamed silence. Finally the Doctor spoke.
“You need to focus every telescope you’ve got on outer space,” he said. “Find out how close the darkness is. You need to alert every military authority to expect alien incursions within the next few days. UNIT has files on some of what’s coming - distribute them. Make sure everyone knows what is coming and how to fight it.” He nodded at Sir Alistair. “You’re in charge. I trust you.” He looked at the members of Torchwood. “You’ve got alien technology - I need to know what,” he told them. “We might be able to use it. Jack can coordinate that.”
“Already on it,” Jack said.
“Rose is right,” the Doctor went on bleakly. “The darkness is coming. The stars are being blacked out.” He looked suddenly very old. “I will not let it take this planet fall. Not this time. Not ever again. If you won’t help me, get out.” Nobody moved, and after a long moment the Doctor nodded. “Right. Go.”
Jack and Alistair started issuing orders, and the Doctor turned away to find Donna and Martha. They were waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, both looking grave.
“How can we fight something we know nothing about?” Martha asked, hint of desperation in her voice. “This darkness - what is it, Doctor? Aliens are one thing, but…”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Donna, shaking her head. “Whatever it is, we’ll stop it.” She reached out and took the Doctor’s hand, squeezing it gently. “That’s what we do, right? Save the world.”
“I…” The Doctor shook his head. “Even if we do stop it, stop the darkness from consuming the Earth, the evacuees will still be coming, Donna. Countless thousands of people needing a home, and a lot of them won’t care who they hurt to get one.”
“That’s what UNIT’s for,” said Martha, trying to reassure him.
“You have no idea,” the Doctor said, running his hands through his hair in agitation. “Whole galaxies, just gone! The universe has become infinitely smaller, and I have no idea how that will affect anything. I can already feel timelines twisting and shifting, cutting off things that I know are supposed to happen in the future.” He sighed and looked at his two friends. “I’m sorry,” he began.
“Don’t say it,” Donna said quickly, shaking her head. “Just don’t.”
“I should never have dragged you into all this,” the Doctor said anyway. “Either of you. I should have just stayed away. I ruin the people who travel with me.”
“Doctor, we’re better for it,” said Martha quietly. “Yeah, it’s scary. Of course it is. But we wouldn’t miss it. Any of it.”
“Not for the world,” Donna agreed. “Doctor, I’ve seen things I never could have imagined. The Library, and Pompeii, and giant wasps. I’ve been scared and threatened and terrified out of my wits. But I wouldn’t swap that for a nine-to-five and security. And neither would Martha.”
“Donna Noble and Martha Jones,” said the Doctor softly. “Defenders of the universe.” He wrapped an arm around them both and hugged them tight, only releasing them as Jack approached.
“You alright?” Donna asked, taking in his expression.
“Ianto’s missing,” said Jack, with eyes only for the Doctor. “Gwen says he vanished the same time Rose did.” The Doctor muttered something about wandering off. “Well, hopefully Rose will keep him safe,” Jack nodded. “Listen, Archie says he’s got something that sounds like the making of a Delta wave. He’s got a helicopter bringing it down.”
“I’m not about to just aim a Delta wave out into space and let it kill everything that’s coming,” the Doctor retorted.
“And I’m not suggesting you do,” said Jack, an edge to his voice now. “But you’ve got enough time to refine it to take out the Cybermen.” The Doctor grimaced. “You know as well as I do that Cybermen don’t negotiate,” Jack pressed. “If it’ll take them out of the equation, it’s got to be a good thing.”
“Yeah, I suppose,” the Doctor nodded at last. “No, you’re right, and I will have time to refine it. It won’t stop the darkness, though.”
“What’s a Delta wave?” asked Donna.
”Wave of energy that fries your brain if you get in the way,” said Jack with a grim smile. “Very useful for situations like this when there’s a mixed group. When I was travelling with the Doctor and we faced the Daleks, he was building one.”
“But I didn’t have the time to refine it,” the Doctor added.
“So it would’ve killed everyone?” Martha said, horrified. “But - you can change it, yeah? So it just goes after the Cybermen. Right?” The Doctor nodded, and she subsided a little, relieved.
“But this darkness thing - Rose and Ianto said it was like…the absence of anything,” said Donna slowly. “No life, no death, no choices or decisions or anything. So it can’t have a brain. So how do we stop that?”
“Smart,” said Jack approvingly. “I can see why he likes you.”
“Stop it,” said the Doctor with a roll of his eyes. “And I really have no idea, Donna.” He frowned. “I was hoping Rose would be able to take me closer, but I’ve no idea where she’s gone.”
“Well, wherever she is, she’s taken Ianto,” Jack reminded him. Alistair joined them, and Jack gave a grimace. “I was about to come find you,” he apologised.
“Quite alright, I’ve been talking to your second,” Alistair said dismissively. “Doctor, we’ve just had word. In the past three hours, Messier sixty-four and Messier ninety-four have disappeared off our scopes. They’re the closest so far.”
“That’s only twelve million light years,” said the Doctor, appalled. “That’s - that’s -“
“It’s moving fast,” Alistair nodded. “Now would be an appropriate time for one of your miraculous solutions, Doctor.”
“If Rose -“ Jack began, but cut himself off, shaking his head. “We don’t have enough information,” he muttered. “Dammit.” He swung away from them, watching as the conference room continued to empty.
“We’ll figure it out,” said Donna, aiming for confidence but missing it. “We will.”
* * *
Chapter 24
Comments are looooove. Seriously.