Mars Ascendant 4/4
Story: Mars Ascendant
Author: wmr
wendymr
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler, others
Rated: Probably PG13
Spoilers: Up to VotD, AU from most of what we've heard about S4.
Disclaimer: Never gonna be mine, are they?
Summary: It's not the reality that's the worst, really; it's his perception of it. Of himself.
A pinch-hit fic for
sensiblecat in the OT3 ficathon - prompts are at the end of the fic. With grateful thanks to
dark_aegis for BRing.
Chapter 1: The Magician l Chapter 2: Bringer of War l Chapter 3: The Winged Messenger
Chapter 4: Bringer of Peace
“That’s what’s gonna happen to you?” Rose sounds close to tears. “Why didn’t you tell me? I did that to you...” Her voice trails off, and suddenly she’s scrambling to her feet. “There’s gotta be something... maybe if I look into the Heart of the TARDIS again -”
Damn it. Damn his stupid big mouth, and damn him for forgetting that it was Rose who made him immortal, not the Doctor. Even if the Doctor’s the one who’s appeared sublimely unconcerned about his fate.
“No!” He grabs her as she’s about to rush past the Doctor. “Rose, don’t.”
The Doctor’s twisted his body to reach for her too. “No, Rose! You almost died last time.” Right. And he died saving her - did Rose ever realise that?
They’ve both grabbed her, pulling her back, and she falls, landing on top of the two of them. “Now, this is where I like you,” Jack tells her, wrapping his arms around her.
It doesn’t escape his notice that the Doctor’s holding onto her as well. Good. While he’d rather he hadn’t reminded Rose about what she did to him - and he really doesn’t blame her; after all, he would be dead if not for her - he’s just as happy that the Doctor’s been distracted from his see what a bastard I am? moral lesson.
He’d just have preferred the distraction to come via any other means. He’s been struggling for decades with the knowledge of what his inability to die might mean, concluding that it most likely does imply exactly what he’s just said. But he never wanted Rose to know that, and never even intended to say it to the Doctor - after all, he was sure that the Doctor knew damn well what he’s facing, and that’s why he’s always avoided the issue. The Doctor’s never been good at dealing with things he can’t fix or change, has he?
“Jack, don’t joke about this.” Rose, tears now in her eyes, stares up at him. “I did this to you. I’ve gotta put it right, no matter what.”
“You can’t, Rose.” The Doctor’s voice is soft but compelling. “Jack, I’m sorry.”
“I know you are.” He doesn’t look up, focusing his attention on Rose and fighting the part of him that wants to say he’d have preferred to hear that a long time ago.
“Jack. Listen to me.” He frowns; the Doctor’s sounding very serious now. “I mean I’m sorry for how I reacted when you asked me for help. I acted as if you were just kidding around, joking about grey hairs and such. I’m not surprised you didn’t come with me then. I was a selfish, inconsiderate bastard.”
Yeah, that’s not an exaggeration, even if the admission’s completely unexpected. But this sounds like... “You mean you can help me?”
“I mean I’ll try. We’ll try. There has to be a way - without risking Rose’s life or the integrity of the TARDIS. And if there is, I promise I’ll find it. That’s not gonna happen to you. I swear it, Jack.”
He’s heard the Doctor sound sincere before. This, though... well, it’s taking him back - or forward - to the year two hundred one hundred and a promise the Doctor’s last incarnation made to Rose when she was imprisoned on a Dalek ship. And he kept that promise, too. Risked both their lives for it, a risk he was equally happy to take, and he succeeded.
It’s giving him reason to hope again, after having that hope crushed on that sunny morning out on the Plas.
He presses a hand to the Doctor’s shoulder. “Thank you.” Not his fault, really, if the words emerge a bit choked up. The Doctor’s hand covers his, and he gets a brief smile and a look that leaves him speechless.
Rose twists so that she’s less sprawled on top of the two of them and more sitting on the Doctor’s lap with her upper body in his arms. “You’re sure you can, Doctor?” The worry mingled with hope in her voice makes him hug her tighter.
“I told you once... ooh, a long time ago, wasn’t it? I can do anything,” the Doctor says, giving her a faint smile. “Maybe I exaggerated - but I do try to keep my promises.” A faint shadow crosses the Doctor’s face. Yes, he’s failed to keep a number of promises, hasn’t he? No doubt many more in his close to a millennium than either of them could have any idea of. But he tries. That’s what matters.
It seems to satisfy Rose; she nods. “All right. Wouldn’t wanna hurt the TARDIS,” she says, her tone rueful. She reaches to touch the Doctor’s face lightly. “Or make you kill yourself again to save me.”
“Good.” The Doctor hugs her, one-armed.
As he releases her, Rose pulls a face. “Sorry - should really get off you.”
“Ah, you might as well stay where you are.” The Doctor’s still got his arm resting on Rose’s lap. He’s acting as if he doesn’t mind, but Jack knows the signs by now. This Doctor’s every bit as needy in some ways as his earlier regeneration, despite his apparent sunnier disposition, and every bit as anxious to pretend that he’s not.
“Okay.” Rose smiles. “ ‘S nice.”
“Yeah,” the Doctor agrees. “It is.”
***
She’ll never be able to stop worrying about Jack until the Doctor tells them he’s found a solution. But if it stops the two of them worrying about her, then she’ll pretend. Anyway, there’s one good thing; the Doctor’s stopped pulling away from them, at least for now.
Though, yeah, there’s one thing they still need to get straight. “All right, I’ll leave Jack to you. But you’re gonna promise me something.” The Doctor holds her gaze and, though he’s looking wary, nods. “No more trying to scare us off with stories about how cruel you can be.”
“Yeah, doesn’t work,” Jack says, and she can hear the grin in his voice even without looking at him.
“And there I thought I was being subtle,” the Doctor comments dryly.
“Let me clue you in, Doctor - subtlety’s never been your strong point.” Jack’s still smiling. “You know, a while back I met a lovely lady called Donna Noble. She told me one of the reasons she worries about you is she thinks you sometimes need someone to stop you.”
“An’ I’m guessing you didn’t give Martha a chance,” she interjects; she’s really got to meet this Martha. “Did she know what you did to the Aubertides?”
The Doctor shakes his head. He’s looking uncomfortable again, but he’s not making any attempt to escape. Progress, maybe?
“Well, then, that’ll be our job, right? Anyway, won’t be so hard. The Doctor I know is all about savin’ worlds and people an’ the universe - an’ if you’re cruel it’s generally cause someone deserves it or you’ve been pushed too far.” The last Dalek, for example, or Harriet Jones going behind his back - and, yes, destroying Harriet Jones was a mistake, as Jack told her - her fall created the political vacuum which enabled the Master to get elected. But everyone makes mistakes. Everyone.
And that got put right, eventually. Jack admitted that he pulled some strings, influenced the right people in the right places, all of which enabled Harriet to put together a team and get re-elected. She’s been prime minister again for almost two years and is as popular as she ever was. And, Jack told her, the Doctor’s glad about it. Even went to see her, to tell her so.
“Rose is right,” Jack says, taking advantage of the Doctor’s rare silence. “You’re a force for good - and you’d know that if you weren’t wallowing in the effect of a few really bad days. Yeah, you can be a bit selfish occasionally - who’s not? - and maybe you’ve turned your back sometimes when you should’ve helped. Again, who’s not done that? Certainly can’t claim the right to throw the first stone there myself.”
Jack’s got the Doctor’s attention; the Time Lord’s leaning forward, his hand on her shoulder, watching him. Apart from holding her hand when they were out today, this is the closest he’s let them get to him since the three of them were reunited. Well, even since she found her way back to him.
“You just gotta pick yourself up and move on, because I have no idea where the universe would be without you. This planet - destroyed dozens of times over if you hadn’t been around. Besides, who else would reverse time to save a worthless conman?”
“Not worthless,” the Doctor says, and he’s smiling faintly. “Think you’ve proved that a few times, Captain.”
Jack looks down, and she knows that embarrassed smile. She leans in to kiss him. “You have.” Reaching out, wrapping her arms around both of them, she says, “You need us, Doctor. Maybe you need us to stop you doin’ stuff like what you did to the Family, but I think you need us more to remind you why you’re needed.”
She feels rather than hears the Doctor’s sigh. “Think you’re telling me I’m stuck with you, aren’t you?”
“You got it,” Jack says, laughing.
“I think...” Slowly, his arms come around the two of them, and he holds them tight. “I like the sound of that.”
***
Stuck with them? Lucky to have them, more like. Very lucky.
Especially given the last few minutes have shown what an insensitive bastard he’s been. And to think he was trying to show Jack how callous he can be. Jack’s experienced some of the worst of it. He’s actually lucky Jack didn’t lay him out flat with a punch to his face at the end of the universe, instead of hugging him.
And today Jack’s outright told him that he loves him. He can’t think of a single thing he’s done to deserve it, but he’s going to accept it anyway. Hold onto it, too - yes, trying to push them away was a very bad idea. Jack’s going to get into trouble whether he’s here or somewhere else, and he is immortal, after all. Impossible to kill... well, maybe if he gets disintegrated or dismembered or something like that. He shivers inwardly and holds the two of them closer still.
Rose... oh, yes, she’s in danger with him, all right, but she’d probably be in danger anywhere she went. Attracts trouble, she does. What’s it he called her, a long time ago? Jeopardy-friendly? Better here, where he and Jack can keep an eye on her, than being jeopardy-friendly somewhere else. At least with him, with them, if she does try sacrificing herself to save the world again they have a chance of stopping her.
Just as, if he’d had Jack on the Titanic... Well, can’t help that.
“So, the Family,” Rose says, interrupting his thoughts. Her voice is muffled by her face being buried in his shoulder; he pulls back a little to look at her. “They’re still there, right?”
Oh, he shouldn’t have looked at her. He glances down, but the sight of Jack and Rose’s joined hands resting against his hip doesn’t give him the distance he’s seeking. “Yep. Still there. Like I said, eternity.”
“So you can set them free, right?” she says, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do.
“Set them free? Rose, they murdered -”
“To get to you,” she says. “Not that that makes it better, yeah. An’ I’m not blamin’ you for what you did, Doctor. I remember you tellin’ me once - you’re the one who stands up an’ makes the decisions cause nobody else will, right? An’ you had to make that decision. But sometimes we make wrong decisions, yeah? An’ when that happens...”
“We try to put them right,” Jack says, his voice very close to the Doctor’s ear. Jack pulls back too, and in his eyes there’s an expression that says he understands very well the feeling of having to make the decisions that nobody else will - and the agony of wondering if they were the right decisions.
So many decisions over the centuries, and so many that he regrets. Too many that can’t be put right. He could tell Jack that; pour scorn on the notion that it’s really that simple. Because it isn’t.
But that would just be an excuse. Yes, it’s too late for far too many decisions, including some Jack himself has witnessed, and even been a victim of. This one, though... no, he can’t pretend that it’s too late, and perhaps it’s even symbolic.
Slowly, he nods. “Yes. We put them right.”
***
Rose yawns, a huge, face-splitting yawn that makes all three of them laugh, dissolving the faint tension that’s been there since the Doctor agreed to do something about the Family. Now, he shakes his head, as if signifying amused impatience at his human companions. “Bed for you, I think.”
Though what was that he just caught in the Doctor’s eyes? If he’s right... Well, it’s worth a try. Rubbing his arm lightly over the Doctor’s back, he says, “Come with us. That’s not a proposition,” he adds immediately, as instant alarm’s visible in the Doctor’s expression. “Not that I wouldn’t like it to be, just so you know, but you and I both know that’s not gonna happen. Just to rest. To sleep, if you feel like it.”
“Yeah.” Rose jumps in, adding encouragement. “Been nice here together, the three of us, hasn’t it? Cuddling an’ that?”
The Doctor’s going to refuse; he knows it. There’ll be excuses about needing to work on the TARDIS, an abrupt withdrawal - and then, tomorrow, the pretence that none of this ever happened.
And, as he expects, the Doctor does pull away. He stands, rocking on his heels a bit, hand behind his head, looking at the floor and seeming as if he’s struggling for words. Then he glances up and in his eyes... oh, Jack wasn’t wrong. There’s a loneliness that goes soul-deep, and it’s painful to see.
A movement by his side alerts him. Rose - she’s seen it too - is holding out her hand to the Doctor. Without words at all, it’s a powerful appeal, and he finds himself holding his breath.
The Doctor takes a long, slow breath... and reaches for Rose’s hand.
In the bedroom he and Rose share, mindful that the Doctor, hovering near the door, resembles a skittish colt right now, he strips down to his underwear but no further. Rose, with her back to the Doctor, is in underwear too, but she’s reaching behind her to unclip her bra. “Can’t sleep in it,” she says matter-of-factly. “Grab me a T-shirt, would you, Jack?”
He’s about to reach for one when the Doctor speaks for the first time since he ordered Rose to bed. “Don’t wear it just on my account. It’s not as if I haven’t seen you without a bra before, after all, is it?”
In the med-lab, no doubt, patching up injuries. And, of course, it’s certainly true that a life like this, frequently trapped in awkward, inconvenient and downright dangerous situations leaves little room for modesty or embarrassment.
And, without a trace of coyness, Rose drops her bra and walks to the bed, wearing only the La Senza black silk knickers that, with the bra, he bought her back in Cardiff. “Doctor?” Sitting up in the bed, she raises her eyebrow at him. “You gonna stay over there all night?”
Bad idea, Rose. Now he’s going to run.
The Doctor blinks. “Right! Nah, wouldn’t be very comfortable, would it?” He comes over to the bed and, with careful, deliberate movements, removes his shirt and T-shirt - the jacket went hours ago - and then his shoes, trousers and socks. Each item is folded carefully and laid on a chair.
He’s always known this Doctor’s thin, but clad only in briefs he’s almost painfully gaunt. Whipcord-strong, of course, but surely he should have more flesh on his bones than that. Has he ever really recovered from that year as the Master’s pet, treated worse than a dog?
He holds back the quilt; last chance for the Doctor to run, if he’s going to, but the Time Lord slides in beside Rose. Immediately, he joins them, tucking the quilt around the three of them.
Between them, he and Rose wrap themselves around the Doctor, holding his cooler frame between their warm ones. A quiet sigh, and then a whispered “Thank you,” before the Doctor’s breathing turns even and it’s apparent that he’s asleep. Rose snuggles in closer, and in seconds she’s sleeping too.
In slumber, the Doctor looks deceptively youthful; not much older than Rose. Lightly and with the greatest of care, so as to avoid waking him, Jack strokes his hand over his friend’s hair. “You’ve got us to take care of you now. And don’t say you don’t need it. Just so you know, I always know when you’re lying.”
Leaning across, he brushes a kiss against Rose’s cheek, then presses another to the Doctor’s untidy hair before settling down with his arms around the two of them and letting sleep claim him too.
***
She wakes to a sensation of being cocooned, and to warm lips nuzzling her neck. The body on the other side of her - she must have moved during the night - is cooler, and has an arm draped across her stomach. He’s sleeping. Good. Too many nights, even this Doctor claims he never needs to sleep, and even for a Time Lord that can’t be good for him.
Turning her head to smile at Jack, she murmurs a soft good morning. He grins, then shifts to lean over her, claiming her lips in a deep kiss. She slides her free hand into his hair, holding him to her. His body’s hard against hers, and she’s momentarily tempted to take advantage of the Doctor’s obliviousness to say good morning properly. Very tempted - but it’s not really fair.
Jack’s lips leave hers, and she murmurs a protest, but he resists and she realises that he’s looking past her, at the Doctor. She turns and is just in time, before he blinks and begins to turn away, to catch the expression on his face.
Lonely. Longing. Needing.
“Doctor.” Jack’s already leaning past her, towards the Doctor, and he slides his hand under the Doctor’s head, holding him steady, and presses a gentle, affectionate kiss to his lips.
With a murmur of protest, the Doctor pulls away. “No. Jack, don’t.”
“Relax.” Jack sounds offended as well as surprised. “That wasn’t a come-on, you know. Just me saying we love you too. As a friend - not like I don’t know that’s all you want.”
“No, Jack. You don’t have a clue what I want. Either of you.” The Doctor’s pulled himself to a sitting position and wrapped his arms around himself. He sounds like a man driven to the end of his tether. She aches to hug him, but right now it’s obvious that he’d push her away.
“What, then, Doctor?” Jack demands, impatient now. “Because right now I don’t have a clue. I thought we sorted out a whole bunch of stuff last night. We should’ve been okay today, and now this? Just because I kissed you, for fuck’s sake?”
“Yeah, you would see it like that. Both of you.” The Doctor’s impatient now too. “Just a kiss. It’s never just a kiss. A kiss is one of the most dangerous things in the world.”
“What, cause you think we’ll think it means more than it does?” Their irritation with each other’s catching; now she’s pissed off too. “Doctor, I am capable of separating out a kiss between friends from somethin’ that says I love you an’ want to marry you!”
“Oh, humans!” The Doctor sounds tearing-his-hair frustrated now. “Always thinking you know things when you don’t. You insist on reducing things to the explanation that fits your theory, when half the time it’s something completely different.”
Offended now for Jack’s sake as well as her own, she exclaims, “Well, why don’t you tell us, then! What’s so bloody dangerous about us kissin’ you?”
“I can’t!” The words explode out of him. But he hasn’t got up and stormed out of the room, which she knows is significant. If he were genuinely angry, if they’d really crossed one of his boundaries, he’d be long gone, disappeared into some part of the TARDIS where they’d never find him, not until he was ready to be found.
She rubs her hand gently up and down his arm. He shivers a little, but allows the caress. “Tell us, Doctor.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “You think I don’t like kissing, and that’s ridiculous, of course. Course I like it. It’s just dangerous. I kiss someone, and it might as well be a great big flashing arrow over their heads saying bad things happen now. I kissed you, Rose. You don’t remember it, but I did, and I died. You kissed me, Jack, on Satellite Five, and just look at what happened to you. Second time I kissed Rose - well, it was Cassandra, really - Cassandra died, and then I lost Rose. I kissed Reinette and she died. I kissed Martha - well, genetic transfer, that’s all it was, but look what happened. Kissed Joan... well, wasn’t me then, but still... And then there was Astrid... she died too.”
What?
She’s torn between shaking him and hugging him. When has she last heard anything so ridiculous? And yet it’s clear that he believes it, judging by the wild, almost frightened look in his eyes and the way he’s now clutching her hand.
She’s about to say something - anything - but Jack gets in first. “Never would’ve pegged you as superstitious, Doctor.”
Rose chokes, then has to hold her breath - this could go either way; but then the Doctor’s eyes widen and, abruptly, he laughs. “I never thought of it like that!”
“True, though,” Jack says. “Come on, how many times have you laughed at our silly human superstitions? That’s just as ridiculous as not stepping on a cracked paving-stone.”
“S’pose it is, really.” He’s looking thoughtful now. “Keeps happening, though.”
“Yeah?” Jack’s not letting up, and she silently applauds him. “You kiss everyone on board the Titanic, then? Or everyone else you’ve known that you’ve lost, or who’s been hurt? Shit happens, Doctor, and to good people as well as bad. And, hey, being kissed by you first...” He winks.
Leaning past her again, he catches the Doctor’s face between his palms again and kisses him, long and hard. The Doctor doesn’t resist, and after a moment he sighs against Jack’s mouth; a couple of seconds later, his hand’s in Jack’s hair and he’s clearly kissing back.
Breathless, Jack pulls away - and she’s breathless too, just from watching. Holding the Doctor’s gaze, he says, “Can’t promise that nothing’s ever gonna happen to me, Doctor, immortal or not. Or to Rose. But if anything does happen to either of us it won’t be your fault. You’re the last of the Time Lords, sure, but you’re not a god.”
“Yeah.” She head-butts the Doctor’s shoulder, sliding her hand into Jack’s. Tongue firmly in cheek, she says, “An’ your kisses don’t have... I dunno... special properties or anythin’. Jus’ plain, ordinary kisses, I’ll bet.”
“Oi!” He whirls around to look at her, indignation in his eyes. “Are you disparaging my kisses, Rose Tyler? And how would you know, anyway?” His eyes widen. “Oh, I know what you’re up to.”
“You do?” She grins at him. He’s giving in.
“Oh, yes.”
“Well, go on, then. Prove it!”
And he does. And... well, maybe his kisses do have some special properties, after all. Certainly enough to leave her dazed and wanting more.
***
He shakes the hand of the impressive Tom Milligan, then hugs Martha long and tight. He’s already promised to come to their wedding, and even means it, and he’s actually told Martha he’ll be bringing two guests. It’ll scandalise Francine, but Martha’s pleased and says she’s looking forward to meeting Rose properly. Jack and Rose, waiting for him at the pavement café opposite, will be proud.
It’s been a busy week. He and Jack found a way to send a message across the Void to Jackie, so Rose and her mum had the equivalent of a ten-minute phone conversation. Longer than the two of them had to say goodbye, anyway, so that’s an achievement. He spoke to Jackie too, reiterating his promise to keep Rose safe to the best of his ability, and promising too that he’ll keep trying to find a safe way for them to see each other again.
And they’ve dealt with the Family. After some brainstorming and a bit of imagination, he remembered a planet with a very unusual ecosystem. The Family is safe as long as they don’t attempt to consume other lifeforms; if they do try, the atmosphere will react against them in a hostile way. They can’t reproduce any further, so the Family will die with the four of them, but at least they can live out their lives in peace.
Hands stuffed deep in his coat pockets, he met their gazes for the last time. “I wasn’t being kind when I hid from you. I was a coward. And what I did before wasn’t justice; it was vengeance.” Rocking on his heels, he added, “Consider this parole.”
In unison, they nodded, but it was Son of Mine who said, “Thank you, Doctor. We will not meet again, I think.”
“No,” he agreed, holding their gazes for one long moment more before returning to the TARDIS and his companions.
Their next trip - well, apart from any other distractions that may arise in the meantime - will be back to Sto, this time with a nobler purpose. He has a journey to make, and stories to tell.
He’ll visit Banakaffalatta’s relatives and Morvin and Foon Van Hoff’s families, to make sure they know how their loved ones died, saving others on board the Titanic and helping to prevent an even greater disaster. With only Midshipman Frame and Rickston Slade left to tell the story, and Slade the only witness to their heroism, the three of them agreed that the families won’t have heard the truth of events. It’s the only thing he can do for Morvin and Foon and for Banakaffalatta, in their memory.
Astrid, of course, didn’t have a family, but he can, and will, tell her story too. She deserves no less.
Jack and Rose stand as he joins them, Jack blowing Martha a cheeky kiss as she and Tom walk away.
“I like her,” Rose says as she slides her hand into his.
“You haven’t even met her!” he points out, though naturally she likes Martha. He only takes the best.
He doesn’t trust the smile that spreads across her face. “Seen enough to know. An’ I can’t wait to get together with her an’ Donna for a proper girls’ natter.” He shudders inwardly, remembering Deffry Vale School. There’s only one way this can get worse. “Should give Sarah-Jane a call, too. Now that’d be fun.”
Oh. It just did.
“What, and I’m not invited?” Jack pouts visibly.
He slings his free arm around Jack’s shoulders as the perfect payback occurs. “Leaves us alone together, doesn’t it? And who says women are the only ones who can gossip, hmm?”
Jack laughs. “I could think of better ways to spend our time than gossiping, Doctor.”
A smile he suspects is charmingly bashful spreads over his face. “Yep. Me too.” With a quick kiss for each of his companions, he challenges, “Race you back to the TARDIS!”
- end
End-notes:
The title, and the chapter titles, are inspired by Gustav Holst’s Planets suite; appropriate enough for a time- and universe-travelling trio who visit planets aplenty. The Doctor, in this story, believes himself to be Mars, the Bringer of War, and the main challenge for Jack and Rose is to get him past that. Rose is the Magician, finding a way through the Void from a parallel universe. The Aubertide is, in a way, the Winged Messenger, leading to the pivotal disclosure from the Doctor that enables them to find a breakthrough, and Jack, ultimately, is the Bringer of Peace.
sensiblecat’s prompt was:
Preferred Doctor/timeline: Ten, post S3.
Three things I want: Musical theatre or movies, Ten alluding to something that happened to him in S3, rescuing someone who turns out to be a right pain in the ass.
Don't want: Long angsty analysis of why Jack got dumped after POTW. Been there, done that.
...and I hope I’ve fulfilled this satisfactorily.
Wendy
7 January 2008
Author: wmr
wendymr
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Jack Harkness, Rose Tyler, others
Rated: Probably PG13
Spoilers: Up to VotD, AU from most of what we've heard about S4.
Disclaimer: Never gonna be mine, are they?
Summary: It's not the reality that's the worst, really; it's his perception of it. Of himself.
A pinch-hit fic for
sensiblecat in the OT3 ficathon - prompts are at the end of the fic. With grateful thanks to
dark_aegis for BRing.
Chapter 1: The Magician l Chapter 2: Bringer of War l Chapter 3: The Winged Messenger
Chapter 4: Bringer of Peace
“That’s what’s gonna happen to you?” Rose sounds close to tears. “Why didn’t you tell me? I did that to you...” Her voice trails off, and suddenly she’s scrambling to her feet. “There’s gotta be something... maybe if I look into the Heart of the TARDIS again -”
Damn it. Damn his stupid big mouth, and damn him for forgetting that it was Rose who made him immortal, not the Doctor. Even if the Doctor’s the one who’s appeared sublimely unconcerned about his fate.
“No!” He grabs her as she’s about to rush past the Doctor. “Rose, don’t.”
The Doctor’s twisted his body to reach for her too. “No, Rose! You almost died last time.” Right. And he died saving her - did Rose ever realise that?
They’ve both grabbed her, pulling her back, and she falls, landing on top of the two of them. “Now, this is where I like you,” Jack tells her, wrapping his arms around her.
It doesn’t escape his notice that the Doctor’s holding onto her as well. Good. While he’d rather he hadn’t reminded Rose about what she did to him - and he really doesn’t blame her; after all, he would be dead if not for her - he’s just as happy that the Doctor’s been distracted from his see what a bastard I am? moral lesson.
He’d just have preferred the distraction to come via any other means. He’s been struggling for decades with the knowledge of what his inability to die might mean, concluding that it most likely does imply exactly what he’s just said. But he never wanted Rose to know that, and never even intended to say it to the Doctor - after all, he was sure that the Doctor knew damn well what he’s facing, and that’s why he’s always avoided the issue. The Doctor’s never been good at dealing with things he can’t fix or change, has he?
“Jack, don’t joke about this.” Rose, tears now in her eyes, stares up at him. “I did this to you. I’ve gotta put it right, no matter what.”
“You can’t, Rose.” The Doctor’s voice is soft but compelling. “Jack, I’m sorry.”
“I know you are.” He doesn’t look up, focusing his attention on Rose and fighting the part of him that wants to say he’d have preferred to hear that a long time ago.
“Jack. Listen to me.” He frowns; the Doctor’s sounding very serious now. “I mean I’m sorry for how I reacted when you asked me for help. I acted as if you were just kidding around, joking about grey hairs and such. I’m not surprised you didn’t come with me then. I was a selfish, inconsiderate bastard.”
Yeah, that’s not an exaggeration, even if the admission’s completely unexpected. But this sounds like... “You mean you can help me?”
“I mean I’ll try. We’ll try. There has to be a way - without risking Rose’s life or the integrity of the TARDIS. And if there is, I promise I’ll find it. That’s not gonna happen to you. I swear it, Jack.”
He’s heard the Doctor sound sincere before. This, though... well, it’s taking him back - or forward - to the year two hundred one hundred and a promise the Doctor’s last incarnation made to Rose when she was imprisoned on a Dalek ship. And he kept that promise, too. Risked both their lives for it, a risk he was equally happy to take, and he succeeded.
It’s giving him reason to hope again, after having that hope crushed on that sunny morning out on the Plas.
He presses a hand to the Doctor’s shoulder. “Thank you.” Not his fault, really, if the words emerge a bit choked up. The Doctor’s hand covers his, and he gets a brief smile and a look that leaves him speechless.
Rose twists so that she’s less sprawled on top of the two of them and more sitting on the Doctor’s lap with her upper body in his arms. “You’re sure you can, Doctor?” The worry mingled with hope in her voice makes him hug her tighter.
“I told you once... ooh, a long time ago, wasn’t it? I can do anything,” the Doctor says, giving her a faint smile. “Maybe I exaggerated - but I do try to keep my promises.” A faint shadow crosses the Doctor’s face. Yes, he’s failed to keep a number of promises, hasn’t he? No doubt many more in his close to a millennium than either of them could have any idea of. But he tries. That’s what matters.
It seems to satisfy Rose; she nods. “All right. Wouldn’t wanna hurt the TARDIS,” she says, her tone rueful. She reaches to touch the Doctor’s face lightly. “Or make you kill yourself again to save me.”
“Good.” The Doctor hugs her, one-armed.
As he releases her, Rose pulls a face. “Sorry - should really get off you.”
“Ah, you might as well stay where you are.” The Doctor’s still got his arm resting on Rose’s lap. He’s acting as if he doesn’t mind, but Jack knows the signs by now. This Doctor’s every bit as needy in some ways as his earlier regeneration, despite his apparent sunnier disposition, and every bit as anxious to pretend that he’s not.
“Okay.” Rose smiles. “ ‘S nice.”
“Yeah,” the Doctor agrees. “It is.”
***
She’ll never be able to stop worrying about Jack until the Doctor tells them he’s found a solution. But if it stops the two of them worrying about her, then she’ll pretend. Anyway, there’s one good thing; the Doctor’s stopped pulling away from them, at least for now.
Though, yeah, there’s one thing they still need to get straight. “All right, I’ll leave Jack to you. But you’re gonna promise me something.” The Doctor holds her gaze and, though he’s looking wary, nods. “No more trying to scare us off with stories about how cruel you can be.”
“Yeah, doesn’t work,” Jack says, and she can hear the grin in his voice even without looking at him.
“And there I thought I was being subtle,” the Doctor comments dryly.
“Let me clue you in, Doctor - subtlety’s never been your strong point.” Jack’s still smiling. “You know, a while back I met a lovely lady called Donna Noble. She told me one of the reasons she worries about you is she thinks you sometimes need someone to stop you.”
“An’ I’m guessing you didn’t give Martha a chance,” she interjects; she’s really got to meet this Martha. “Did she know what you did to the Aubertides?”
The Doctor shakes his head. He’s looking uncomfortable again, but he’s not making any attempt to escape. Progress, maybe?
“Well, then, that’ll be our job, right? Anyway, won’t be so hard. The Doctor I know is all about savin’ worlds and people an’ the universe - an’ if you’re cruel it’s generally cause someone deserves it or you’ve been pushed too far.” The last Dalek, for example, or Harriet Jones going behind his back - and, yes, destroying Harriet Jones was a mistake, as Jack told her - her fall created the political vacuum which enabled the Master to get elected. But everyone makes mistakes. Everyone.
And that got put right, eventually. Jack admitted that he pulled some strings, influenced the right people in the right places, all of which enabled Harriet to put together a team and get re-elected. She’s been prime minister again for almost two years and is as popular as she ever was. And, Jack told her, the Doctor’s glad about it. Even went to see her, to tell her so.
“Rose is right,” Jack says, taking advantage of the Doctor’s rare silence. “You’re a force for good - and you’d know that if you weren’t wallowing in the effect of a few really bad days. Yeah, you can be a bit selfish occasionally - who’s not? - and maybe you’ve turned your back sometimes when you should’ve helped. Again, who’s not done that? Certainly can’t claim the right to throw the first stone there myself.”
Jack’s got the Doctor’s attention; the Time Lord’s leaning forward, his hand on her shoulder, watching him. Apart from holding her hand when they were out today, this is the closest he’s let them get to him since the three of them were reunited. Well, even since she found her way back to him.
“You just gotta pick yourself up and move on, because I have no idea where the universe would be without you. This planet - destroyed dozens of times over if you hadn’t been around. Besides, who else would reverse time to save a worthless conman?”
“Not worthless,” the Doctor says, and he’s smiling faintly. “Think you’ve proved that a few times, Captain.”
Jack looks down, and she knows that embarrassed smile. She leans in to kiss him. “You have.” Reaching out, wrapping her arms around both of them, she says, “You need us, Doctor. Maybe you need us to stop you doin’ stuff like what you did to the Family, but I think you need us more to remind you why you’re needed.”
She feels rather than hears the Doctor’s sigh. “Think you’re telling me I’m stuck with you, aren’t you?”
“You got it,” Jack says, laughing.
“I think...” Slowly, his arms come around the two of them, and he holds them tight. “I like the sound of that.”
***
Stuck with them? Lucky to have them, more like. Very lucky.
Especially given the last few minutes have shown what an insensitive bastard he’s been. And to think he was trying to show Jack how callous he can be. Jack’s experienced some of the worst of it. He’s actually lucky Jack didn’t lay him out flat with a punch to his face at the end of the universe, instead of hugging him.
And today Jack’s outright told him that he loves him. He can’t think of a single thing he’s done to deserve it, but he’s going to accept it anyway. Hold onto it, too - yes, trying to push them away was a very bad idea. Jack’s going to get into trouble whether he’s here or somewhere else, and he is immortal, after all. Impossible to kill... well, maybe if he gets disintegrated or dismembered or something like that. He shivers inwardly and holds the two of them closer still.
Rose... oh, yes, she’s in danger with him, all right, but she’d probably be in danger anywhere she went. Attracts trouble, she does. What’s it he called her, a long time ago? Jeopardy-friendly? Better here, where he and Jack can keep an eye on her, than being jeopardy-friendly somewhere else. At least with him, with them, if she does try sacrificing herself to save the world again they have a chance of stopping her.
Just as, if he’d had Jack on the Titanic... Well, can’t help that.
“So, the Family,” Rose says, interrupting his thoughts. Her voice is muffled by her face being buried in his shoulder; he pulls back a little to look at her. “They’re still there, right?”
Oh, he shouldn’t have looked at her. He glances down, but the sight of Jack and Rose’s joined hands resting against his hip doesn’t give him the distance he’s seeking. “Yep. Still there. Like I said, eternity.”
“So you can set them free, right?” she says, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to do.
“Set them free? Rose, they murdered -”
“To get to you,” she says. “Not that that makes it better, yeah. An’ I’m not blamin’ you for what you did, Doctor. I remember you tellin’ me once - you’re the one who stands up an’ makes the decisions cause nobody else will, right? An’ you had to make that decision. But sometimes we make wrong decisions, yeah? An’ when that happens...”
“We try to put them right,” Jack says, his voice very close to the Doctor’s ear. Jack pulls back too, and in his eyes there’s an expression that says he understands very well the feeling of having to make the decisions that nobody else will - and the agony of wondering if they were the right decisions.
So many decisions over the centuries, and so many that he regrets. Too many that can’t be put right. He could tell Jack that; pour scorn on the notion that it’s really that simple. Because it isn’t.
But that would just be an excuse. Yes, it’s too late for far too many decisions, including some Jack himself has witnessed, and even been a victim of. This one, though... no, he can’t pretend that it’s too late, and perhaps it’s even symbolic.
Slowly, he nods. “Yes. We put them right.”
***
Rose yawns, a huge, face-splitting yawn that makes all three of them laugh, dissolving the faint tension that’s been there since the Doctor agreed to do something about the Family. Now, he shakes his head, as if signifying amused impatience at his human companions. “Bed for you, I think.”
Though what was that he just caught in the Doctor’s eyes? If he’s right... Well, it’s worth a try. Rubbing his arm lightly over the Doctor’s back, he says, “Come with us. That’s not a proposition,” he adds immediately, as instant alarm’s visible in the Doctor’s expression. “Not that I wouldn’t like it to be, just so you know, but you and I both know that’s not gonna happen. Just to rest. To sleep, if you feel like it.”
“Yeah.” Rose jumps in, adding encouragement. “Been nice here together, the three of us, hasn’t it? Cuddling an’ that?”
The Doctor’s going to refuse; he knows it. There’ll be excuses about needing to work on the TARDIS, an abrupt withdrawal - and then, tomorrow, the pretence that none of this ever happened.
And, as he expects, the Doctor does pull away. He stands, rocking on his heels a bit, hand behind his head, looking at the floor and seeming as if he’s struggling for words. Then he glances up and in his eyes... oh, Jack wasn’t wrong. There’s a loneliness that goes soul-deep, and it’s painful to see.
A movement by his side alerts him. Rose - she’s seen it too - is holding out her hand to the Doctor. Without words at all, it’s a powerful appeal, and he finds himself holding his breath.
The Doctor takes a long, slow breath... and reaches for Rose’s hand.
In the bedroom he and Rose share, mindful that the Doctor, hovering near the door, resembles a skittish colt right now, he strips down to his underwear but no further. Rose, with her back to the Doctor, is in underwear too, but she’s reaching behind her to unclip her bra. “Can’t sleep in it,” she says matter-of-factly. “Grab me a T-shirt, would you, Jack?”
He’s about to reach for one when the Doctor speaks for the first time since he ordered Rose to bed. “Don’t wear it just on my account. It’s not as if I haven’t seen you without a bra before, after all, is it?”
In the med-lab, no doubt, patching up injuries. And, of course, it’s certainly true that a life like this, frequently trapped in awkward, inconvenient and downright dangerous situations leaves little room for modesty or embarrassment.
And, without a trace of coyness, Rose drops her bra and walks to the bed, wearing only the La Senza black silk knickers that, with the bra, he bought her back in Cardiff. “Doctor?” Sitting up in the bed, she raises her eyebrow at him. “You gonna stay over there all night?”
Bad idea, Rose. Now he’s going to run.
The Doctor blinks. “Right! Nah, wouldn’t be very comfortable, would it?” He comes over to the bed and, with careful, deliberate movements, removes his shirt and T-shirt - the jacket went hours ago - and then his shoes, trousers and socks. Each item is folded carefully and laid on a chair.
He’s always known this Doctor’s thin, but clad only in briefs he’s almost painfully gaunt. Whipcord-strong, of course, but surely he should have more flesh on his bones than that. Has he ever really recovered from that year as the Master’s pet, treated worse than a dog?
He holds back the quilt; last chance for the Doctor to run, if he’s going to, but the Time Lord slides in beside Rose. Immediately, he joins them, tucking the quilt around the three of them.
Between them, he and Rose wrap themselves around the Doctor, holding his cooler frame between their warm ones. A quiet sigh, and then a whispered “Thank you,” before the Doctor’s breathing turns even and it’s apparent that he’s asleep. Rose snuggles in closer, and in seconds she’s sleeping too.
In slumber, the Doctor looks deceptively youthful; not much older than Rose. Lightly and with the greatest of care, so as to avoid waking him, Jack strokes his hand over his friend’s hair. “You’ve got us to take care of you now. And don’t say you don’t need it. Just so you know, I always know when you’re lying.”
Leaning across, he brushes a kiss against Rose’s cheek, then presses another to the Doctor’s untidy hair before settling down with his arms around the two of them and letting sleep claim him too.
***
She wakes to a sensation of being cocooned, and to warm lips nuzzling her neck. The body on the other side of her - she must have moved during the night - is cooler, and has an arm draped across her stomach. He’s sleeping. Good. Too many nights, even this Doctor claims he never needs to sleep, and even for a Time Lord that can’t be good for him.
Turning her head to smile at Jack, she murmurs a soft good morning. He grins, then shifts to lean over her, claiming her lips in a deep kiss. She slides her free hand into his hair, holding him to her. His body’s hard against hers, and she’s momentarily tempted to take advantage of the Doctor’s obliviousness to say good morning properly. Very tempted - but it’s not really fair.
Jack’s lips leave hers, and she murmurs a protest, but he resists and she realises that he’s looking past her, at the Doctor. She turns and is just in time, before he blinks and begins to turn away, to catch the expression on his face.
Lonely. Longing. Needing.
“Doctor.” Jack’s already leaning past her, towards the Doctor, and he slides his hand under the Doctor’s head, holding him steady, and presses a gentle, affectionate kiss to his lips.
With a murmur of protest, the Doctor pulls away. “No. Jack, don’t.”
“Relax.” Jack sounds offended as well as surprised. “That wasn’t a come-on, you know. Just me saying we love you too. As a friend - not like I don’t know that’s all you want.”
“No, Jack. You don’t have a clue what I want. Either of you.” The Doctor’s pulled himself to a sitting position and wrapped his arms around himself. He sounds like a man driven to the end of his tether. She aches to hug him, but right now it’s obvious that he’d push her away.
“What, then, Doctor?” Jack demands, impatient now. “Because right now I don’t have a clue. I thought we sorted out a whole bunch of stuff last night. We should’ve been okay today, and now this? Just because I kissed you, for fuck’s sake?”
“Yeah, you would see it like that. Both of you.” The Doctor’s impatient now too. “Just a kiss. It’s never just a kiss. A kiss is one of the most dangerous things in the world.”
“What, cause you think we’ll think it means more than it does?” Their irritation with each other’s catching; now she’s pissed off too. “Doctor, I am capable of separating out a kiss between friends from somethin’ that says I love you an’ want to marry you!”
“Oh, humans!” The Doctor sounds tearing-his-hair frustrated now. “Always thinking you know things when you don’t. You insist on reducing things to the explanation that fits your theory, when half the time it’s something completely different.”
Offended now for Jack’s sake as well as her own, she exclaims, “Well, why don’t you tell us, then! What’s so bloody dangerous about us kissin’ you?”
“I can’t!” The words explode out of him. But he hasn’t got up and stormed out of the room, which she knows is significant. If he were genuinely angry, if they’d really crossed one of his boundaries, he’d be long gone, disappeared into some part of the TARDIS where they’d never find him, not until he was ready to be found.
She rubs her hand gently up and down his arm. He shivers a little, but allows the caress. “Tell us, Doctor.”
He rakes a hand through his hair. “You think I don’t like kissing, and that’s ridiculous, of course. Course I like it. It’s just dangerous. I kiss someone, and it might as well be a great big flashing arrow over their heads saying bad things happen now. I kissed you, Rose. You don’t remember it, but I did, and I died. You kissed me, Jack, on Satellite Five, and just look at what happened to you. Second time I kissed Rose - well, it was Cassandra, really - Cassandra died, and then I lost Rose. I kissed Reinette and she died. I kissed Martha - well, genetic transfer, that’s all it was, but look what happened. Kissed Joan... well, wasn’t me then, but still... And then there was Astrid... she died too.”
What?
She’s torn between shaking him and hugging him. When has she last heard anything so ridiculous? And yet it’s clear that he believes it, judging by the wild, almost frightened look in his eyes and the way he’s now clutching her hand.
She’s about to say something - anything - but Jack gets in first. “Never would’ve pegged you as superstitious, Doctor.”
Rose chokes, then has to hold her breath - this could go either way; but then the Doctor’s eyes widen and, abruptly, he laughs. “I never thought of it like that!”
“True, though,” Jack says. “Come on, how many times have you laughed at our silly human superstitions? That’s just as ridiculous as not stepping on a cracked paving-stone.”
“S’pose it is, really.” He’s looking thoughtful now. “Keeps happening, though.”
“Yeah?” Jack’s not letting up, and she silently applauds him. “You kiss everyone on board the Titanic, then? Or everyone else you’ve known that you’ve lost, or who’s been hurt? Shit happens, Doctor, and to good people as well as bad. And, hey, being kissed by you first...” He winks.
Leaning past her again, he catches the Doctor’s face between his palms again and kisses him, long and hard. The Doctor doesn’t resist, and after a moment he sighs against Jack’s mouth; a couple of seconds later, his hand’s in Jack’s hair and he’s clearly kissing back.
Breathless, Jack pulls away - and she’s breathless too, just from watching. Holding the Doctor’s gaze, he says, “Can’t promise that nothing’s ever gonna happen to me, Doctor, immortal or not. Or to Rose. But if anything does happen to either of us it won’t be your fault. You’re the last of the Time Lords, sure, but you’re not a god.”
“Yeah.” She head-butts the Doctor’s shoulder, sliding her hand into Jack’s. Tongue firmly in cheek, she says, “An’ your kisses don’t have... I dunno... special properties or anythin’. Jus’ plain, ordinary kisses, I’ll bet.”
“Oi!” He whirls around to look at her, indignation in his eyes. “Are you disparaging my kisses, Rose Tyler? And how would you know, anyway?” His eyes widen. “Oh, I know what you’re up to.”
“You do?” She grins at him. He’s giving in.
“Oh, yes.”
“Well, go on, then. Prove it!”
And he does. And... well, maybe his kisses do have some special properties, after all. Certainly enough to leave her dazed and wanting more.
***
He shakes the hand of the impressive Tom Milligan, then hugs Martha long and tight. He’s already promised to come to their wedding, and even means it, and he’s actually told Martha he’ll be bringing two guests. It’ll scandalise Francine, but Martha’s pleased and says she’s looking forward to meeting Rose properly. Jack and Rose, waiting for him at the pavement café opposite, will be proud.
It’s been a busy week. He and Jack found a way to send a message across the Void to Jackie, so Rose and her mum had the equivalent of a ten-minute phone conversation. Longer than the two of them had to say goodbye, anyway, so that’s an achievement. He spoke to Jackie too, reiterating his promise to keep Rose safe to the best of his ability, and promising too that he’ll keep trying to find a safe way for them to see each other again.
And they’ve dealt with the Family. After some brainstorming and a bit of imagination, he remembered a planet with a very unusual ecosystem. The Family is safe as long as they don’t attempt to consume other lifeforms; if they do try, the atmosphere will react against them in a hostile way. They can’t reproduce any further, so the Family will die with the four of them, but at least they can live out their lives in peace.
Hands stuffed deep in his coat pockets, he met their gazes for the last time. “I wasn’t being kind when I hid from you. I was a coward. And what I did before wasn’t justice; it was vengeance.” Rocking on his heels, he added, “Consider this parole.”
In unison, they nodded, but it was Son of Mine who said, “Thank you, Doctor. We will not meet again, I think.”
“No,” he agreed, holding their gazes for one long moment more before returning to the TARDIS and his companions.
Their next trip - well, apart from any other distractions that may arise in the meantime - will be back to Sto, this time with a nobler purpose. He has a journey to make, and stories to tell.
He’ll visit Banakaffalatta’s relatives and Morvin and Foon Van Hoff’s families, to make sure they know how their loved ones died, saving others on board the Titanic and helping to prevent an even greater disaster. With only Midshipman Frame and Rickston Slade left to tell the story, and Slade the only witness to their heroism, the three of them agreed that the families won’t have heard the truth of events. It’s the only thing he can do for Morvin and Foon and for Banakaffalatta, in their memory.
Astrid, of course, didn’t have a family, but he can, and will, tell her story too. She deserves no less.
Jack and Rose stand as he joins them, Jack blowing Martha a cheeky kiss as she and Tom walk away.
“I like her,” Rose says as she slides her hand into his.
“You haven’t even met her!” he points out, though naturally she likes Martha. He only takes the best.
He doesn’t trust the smile that spreads across her face. “Seen enough to know. An’ I can’t wait to get together with her an’ Donna for a proper girls’ natter.” He shudders inwardly, remembering Deffry Vale School. There’s only one way this can get worse. “Should give Sarah-Jane a call, too. Now that’d be fun.”
Oh. It just did.
“What, and I’m not invited?” Jack pouts visibly.
He slings his free arm around Jack’s shoulders as the perfect payback occurs. “Leaves us alone together, doesn’t it? And who says women are the only ones who can gossip, hmm?”
Jack laughs. “I could think of better ways to spend our time than gossiping, Doctor.”
A smile he suspects is charmingly bashful spreads over his face. “Yep. Me too.” With a quick kiss for each of his companions, he challenges, “Race you back to the TARDIS!”
- end
End-notes:
The title, and the chapter titles, are inspired by Gustav Holst’s Planets suite; appropriate enough for a time- and universe-travelling trio who visit planets aplenty. The Doctor, in this story, believes himself to be Mars, the Bringer of War, and the main challenge for Jack and Rose is to get him past that. Rose is the Magician, finding a way through the Void from a parallel universe. The Aubertide is, in a way, the Winged Messenger, leading to the pivotal disclosure from the Doctor that enables them to find a breakthrough, and Jack, ultimately, is the Bringer of Peace.
sensiblecat’s prompt was:
Preferred Doctor/timeline: Ten, post S3.
Three things I want: Musical theatre or movies, Ten alluding to something that happened to him in S3, rescuing someone who turns out to be a right pain in the ass.
Don't want: Long angsty analysis of why Jack got dumped after POTW. Been there, done that.
...and I hope I’ve fulfilled this satisfactorily.
Wendy
7 January 2008