Two Broken Hearts Make One Whole Heart
Chapter 1:
A Half Life/The End of the World
By: Izzy
Fire. Everywhere. Fire the element of rebirth and purification. But fire cleansed everything from Rhiannon. She now hated fire, because it reminded her of everything she lost. Her daughter. Her husband. Her happiness. She felt like an empty shell, just surviving not reallying living. After the accident that took her happiness, she moved back in with her parents for six months. In those six months she didn't eat much, sleep often, or speak unless spoken to. After the six months her sister, Jessica, convinced her to move in with her, her husband, Steven, and their children.
Rhiannon recovered some of her former self in the time she was with her sister. She was eating, sleeping, and helping her sister with her two little ones. She still felt as if she was still missing half her life, like she was only living a half life. But one fateful Saturday, on the 2nd anniversary of the accident, she was jogging, as she did every morning, suddenly a rift appeared right in her way and she couldn't avoid it no matter how hard she tried.
When Rhiannon awoke she found herself in a familiar hallway, that she at first look couldn't place. She stood up trying to truly take in where she was. Then it accrued on her, she was on Platform One from her one of her favorite British TV show, Doctor Who. She felt slightly giddy, and that was something she hadn't felt in two years. She looked down and noticed she was still in her red support top with a black sports bra underneath not quite lining up with her support top, a pair of long black basketball shorts that came to her knees, and a pair of black with red trim and red shoe strings Chucks plus her elbow length black gloves. Her glasses still sat on her face a little off as they always had.
She patted her pockets in her shorts, finding her phone that she had brought, and her key which she knew she wouldn't need, but there was something she didn't bring. She pulled the item out of her pocket, it was a thin black leather wallet with a piece of paper inside. Oh, she knew what it was but she didn't know how she came to own it. Nor, how she got to Platform One.
"We have in attends, the Doctor and Rose Tyler." she heard the steward announce over the PA. She knew she needed to get in the line that was forming near by. She looked for an opening, but didn't find one.
Rhee, the Face of Boe's voice resounded in her head. She saw him toward the back of the line and smiled. Think to me, don't speak aloud.
Hey Jack, she thought to him. Or do you prefer the Face of Boe?
Between us Jack is fine, he smiled. You can stand beside me, my plus one. So just meeting the Doctor?
Yeah, she moved to his side. But can you really call it the first time meeting someone when you know most of their life?
I suppose not, he laughed. So let me rephrase that. This is where the Doctor meets you for the first time?
Yup, she popped the 'p' just like the Doctor's next incarnation, which made the Face of Boe laugh in her head.
"From the Silver Devastation, the sponsor of the main event, please welcome the Face of Boe and his companion, the Lady Rhiannon Riwitis." the steward announced as the Face of Boe entered with Rhiannon trailing not too far behind.
Rhee, one of the attendants have the bag with the gift you can give the Doctor to work your way in. the Face of Boe spoke in her head. The said attendant was not to far away and Rhiannon walked over to him and gestured for him to hand her the bag. He gave her the bag with limited flack. Once she had the bag her curiosity got the best of her so she opened the bag. It's a...
Stabilizer, she finished his statement. It's a Type-40 stabilizer. Wow, how 'd you get this? I mean I know you can time travel and all but Type-40s haven't been around for a long time. And it's not like there are any other Time Lord to make them. Plus Gallifrey is time locked. The Face of Boe only smiled in response, because she was just as he remembered her in the beginning, brilliant, beautiful, and hurt. The hurt was not in her motions or her speech it was there in her eyes, eating away at her soul.
Go to him, now, he said. Just remember to trust him, with all your problems. And I mean that Rhiannon Jane Riwitis. ALL your problems, including their deaths. He didn't have to tell her who he had meant she already knew that he meant the deaths of her husband and her daughter. The steward announced Cassandra but Rhiannon and the Face of Boe paid no mind to the 'last human.'
I make no promises, was the last thing she said to the Face of Boe as she walked over to where the Doctor and Rose stood. She forced a smile and he gave her his goofy grin. She couldn't help but smile for real at that goofy grin, it had always made her smile when she saw it on the TV. She approached them and handed the Doctor the stabilizer. "I give this gift in hopes that it may foster a friendship with you both." she said aloud as he took the stabilizer from her.
"A friendship?" he said with a questioning look on his face as he examined the part that she had handed him. "This is a part for my ship. How could you have gotten this?"
"The Face of Boe gave it to me to give you to." she said simply. "I asked him how this simple part would help me foster friendship with someone, but he didn't tell me anymore than I should give it to you." She knew she was lying a bit but if she was going to find out how and why she was there she would need the Doctor. Though she also knew that if she could use her knowledge of his time line to save some of the people that he lost that plague him, she would tell him anything.
"Why do you want to 'foster' a friendship with us?" Rose asked. Good old Rose always asking the right questions.
"Well as I see it that you are the only human aboard, I mean I know that they call the trampoline the 'last human' but look at her she has not humanity left," Rhiannon said using air quotes when saying last human. Rose smiled at Rhiannon.
"I'm Rose Tyler." Rose said as she offered her hand to Rhiannon. She shook Rose's hand and returned the smile.
"I know, I heard the announcement, and you may know but I am Rhiannon Jane Riwitis." Rhiannon said, after meeting Rose, Rhiannon felt she had to protect Rose. Rhiannon had already intended on protecting Rose from most things that happened however the feeling intensified after they meeting. Tainted Love started to play on the jukebox. Rose grabbed Rhiannon by the wrist and pulled her to the room that Rose and the Doctor had arrived in. "You alright Rose?"
"They are just so alien," Rose started. "I mean you look at them and they're alien."
"Be happy he didn't take you to the deep south." Rhiannon smiled.
"Where are you from 'cause you sound American?" Rose said.
"I am from Muncie, Indiana. March 25th of 2017." Rhiannon said with a little bit of sadness in her voice. "You?"
"London, England, 2005." Rose said. "Wait your from the 21st century and you're not phased my any of this?"
"I have an open mind about these kind of things." Rhiannon said with a small laugh. She felt bad for lying but she knew telling them the truth was more dangerous than the lie.
"Would the owner of the blue box in private gallery fifteen please report to the Steward's office immediately. Guests are reminded that use of teleportation devices is strictly forbidden under Peace Treaty five point four slash cup slash sixteen. Thank you." the steward said over the PA, making Rhiannon laugh.
"He's talking about the TARDIS right?" Rose asked.
"I think he is." Rhiannon said. "Are you OK?"
"I think I will be." Rose said. "But I thought they would be speaking alien languages but I hear English."
"I think that is something that you should talk to the Doctor about." Rhiannon said.
"Talk to me about what?" The Doctor said.
"I think I'm let you guys talk." Rhiannon said, not giving either of them the chance to stop her she rushed out the room. She walked down to the corridor where she knew she would find Raffalo's tools. She found the discarded tools she was looking for. She bend down and pulled out a flat pry-bar, she took the pry-bar back to the room where the Doctor and Rose were.
"Tell you what." she heard the Doctor as she reentered the room. "With a little bit of jiggery pokery."
"Is that a technical term, jiggery pokery?" Rose teased.
"Yeah, I came first in jiggery pokery. What about you?" the Doctor smiled.
"No, I failed hullabaloo." Rose giggled.
"Gods," Rhiannon said. "You two are so cute." She giggled as Rose's face turned beet red.
"Oh. There you go." the Doctor said handing Rose's phone back to her. Rose called her mother but Rhiannon paid no mind to it. "So what's your story?"
"Just appeared here." Rhiannon shrugged. "I don't know why I'm here or how I got here. Just luckily the Face of Boe knows future me."
"So did he tell you why your here?" he asked.
"No," she said sadly. "Though he is known to be rather cryptic." She stiffened her stance, knowing what is to happen next.
"No. I'm fine. Top of the world." Rose said to her mother before she hung up. Rose stood there astonished for a moment, then turned to look at the Doctor and Rhiannon.
"Think that's amazing, you want to see the bill." the Doctor smiled.
"That was five billion years ago. So, she's dead now. Five billion years later, my mum's dead." Rose said still in a bit of shock.
"Bundle of laughs, you are." the Doctor said. The hull of Platform One shook. "That's not supposed to happen."
"Nope, that is definitely not normal, nor a gravity pocket." Rhiannon said quietly.
"Honored guests may be reassured that gravity pockets may cause slight turbulence, thanking you." the steward said over the PA. Rhiannon dropped the pry-bar near the door.
"How 'd you know he was going to blame it on a gravity pocket?" Rose asked as the girls followed the Doctor back to the observation deck.
"I just knew." Rhiannon said. "I can't really say how."
That wasn't a gravity pocket. I know gravity pockets and they don't feel like that. What do you think, Jabe? Listened to the engines. They've pitched up about thirty Hertz. That dodgy or what?
"It's the sound of metal. It doesn't make any sense to me." the tree from Cheam, named Jabe said as she came up to them.
"Yeah, they sound odd. I can't place it but they sound stranded like they are trying much harder than necessary."
"Fantastic," he smiled at Rhiannon but then turned back to Jabe. "Where's the engine room?"
"I don't know, but the maintenance duct is just behind our guest suite, I could show you and your wife and her sister." Gesturing to Rhiannon then to Rose.
"She's not my wife." the Doctor said.
"Partner?"
"No."
"Concubine?"
"Nope."
"Prostitute?"
"Whatever we are, it must be invisible. Do you mind? Tell you what, you two go and pollinate. We'll going to catch up with family. Quick word with Michael Jackson." Rose said rather snidely.
"Rose, I think you should go with him." Rhiannon said.
"Why's that?" Rose asked.
"Keep him out of trouble." Rhiannon winked at Rose. "I'll go speak with Cindy Jackson."
"OK," Rose said. Rhiannon turned around and walked straight to Cassandra, fully prepared to give her a piece of her mind. Anger began to radiate from Rhiannon as she approached Cassandra. Rhiannon tried hard to calm herself before fully approaching Cassandra. She thought about the Doctor in the vent with Rose and Jabe. Knowing that she was doing all she could to save Jabe, because she also knew that if she saved Jabe then Rose might have died instead. The universe is all about balance, and saving people would upset the balance a bit but not enough to cause a paradox.
"Can I help you?" Cassandra asked snidely. All her anger she had just put off, started to boil inside her again. Taking a deep breath she smiled again.
"How are you Lady Cassandra?" Rhiannon asked sweetly. So sweetly that she saw Cassandra's surgeons shutter.
"I am well," Cassandra said. "Soon, the sun will blossom into a red giant, and my home will die. That's where I used to live, when I was a little girl, down there. Mummy and Daddy had a little house built into the side of the Los Angeles Crevice. I'd have such fun."
"So the last human, how come you call yourself that?" Rhiannon said sweetly but not like the greeting. "Where did all the other humans go?"
"They say mankind has touched every star in the sky." Cassandra said.
"So you have no right to call yourself the last human." Rhiannon said sweetly, she watched the surgeons shutter again.
"I am the last pure human. The others mingled." Cassandra said bitterly. "Oh, they call themselves New humans and Proto-humans and Digi-humans, even 'Humanish, but you know what I call them?" Rhiannon shook her head, not to answer her question but to keep from screaming a the thing in front of her. "Mongrels."
"Right. And you stayed behind." Rhiannon's smile faded.
"I kept myself pure." Cassandra said.
"How many operations have you had, in order to stay pure?" Rhiannon asked bitterly.
"Seven hundred and eight." Cassandra responded as if she was proud that she had be nipped and tucked until she was just lips and skin. "Next week, it's seven hundred and nine. I'm having my blood bleached. Is that why you wanted a word? You could be flatter, Rhiannon. You've got a little bit of a chin poking out."
"I'd rather die." Rhiannon said.
"Honestly, it doesn't hurt." Cassandra said.
"No, I mean it. I would rather die. It's better to die than live like you, a bitchy trampoline." Rhiannon said her anger showing in her voice.
"Oh, well. What do you know." Cassandra said with a great deal of disgust.
"I know that you are an irritating Humanish being, 'cause as far as I see if there are only two humans aboard this Platform One that is Rose Tyler and I!" Rhiannon couldn't help but yell at Cassandra. "All that made you human you threw away like it was inhuman! So you stand there and talk about the evolution of man, like it is wrong, when you aren't even human anymore! The only thing here that is wrong is you so good day!" Rhiannon walked toward the hallway knowing what was next, because she had made Cassandra angrier than Rose did in the original time line from the show, which kind of made Rhiannon happy.
Just as she thought the Adherents of the Repeated Meme knocked her out from behind so she never saw them but she knew what happened once she passed out. She woke up just as the computer said; "Sun filter descending"
"Ahh.. Fiddle sticks!" Rhiannon shouted as she ran up to the door and then banged on it. "Help me!" She banged harder on the door. "Let me out, please!"
"Anyone in there?" she heard the Doctor ask.
"Yeah, it's Rhiannon!" she shouted. "Please open the door."
"Hold on," he said. "Give us two ticks."
"Sun filter rising," the computer said.
"Thanks Doctor," Rhiannon sighed.
"Sun filter descending." the computer said.
"Just what we need." he said. Rhiannon heard the sarcasm in his voice. "The computer's getting clever."
"Stop mucking about!" Rose shouted.
"I'm not mucking about. It's fighting back." he said,
"Open the door!" Rose shouted at him. "It's gonna kill her."
"I know!" he shouted back. Just then Rhiannon heard the control panel zap and fizzle out.
"Sun filter rising." the computer announced.
"Thanks again." Rhiannon said.
"The whole thing's jammed. I can't open the doors. " he said as she heard him hit the door. "Stay there!"
"No worries." she said as she walked back down the stair and sat on the bottom step. She heard Rose and Doctor's foot steps fading away. She was left to her own thoughts which were dangerous. She smiled as she let is soak in that she had met THE DOCTOR from Doctor Who. She giggled at the thought. She had even surprised herself with her acting, it was a little overwhelming that she was in his presence, and in the presence of all the aliens. She wanted to squeal like a true fan girl, but she knew that if she gave pause to do so then people would die.
Time passed and the exo-glass began to crack and show the hot sun light through so she moved to avoid the light, knowing the light would kill her. A countdown to Earth death began to run out. Rhiannon didn't panic because she knew that once the forcefield was up then the exo-glass would repair and she would be free. Though she would lie to say she wasn't a little scared. She climbed back up the stairs and curled up at the bottom of the door. She prayed that she had chosen right. The count got to 1 and then the computer said; "Exo-glass repaired, exo-glass repaired."
Rhiannon let out a loud sigh, then the door she was leaning on flew open so she fell back and laughed. Quickly she stood up and headed to the Manchester Suite knowing who did this and getting very cross at them. Cassandra. And having seen the Doctor reverse of teleport before she was confident that she could do it. When she entered the Suite she saw that the Moxx of Balhoon lived and so did Jabe which made her smile slightly but she was still so angry it must have shown on her face because the Face of Boe asked; "Are you OK, Rhiannon?" She knew that he had made it where everyone heard what he said, because everyone then looked to her with concern.
"Just PEACHY," she said with a great deal of sarcasm and anger. "I'm just full of ideas, so many ideas!" She ran to the ostrich egg that Cassandra had brought. Without saying anything busted the egg open and every gasp, as a devise was revealed. She picked up the devise and twisted the dial just as the Doctor had, and Cassandra reappeared.
"You should have seen the looks on their-" Cassandra said but noticed that she had been teleported back. "Oh."
"Hello, thing." Rhiannon said, her anger was seething at this point she knew that the Doctor would see this and tried to calm down.
"Oh, Rhiannon," Cassandra said in fear. "You passed my little test. Bravo. This makes you eligible to join, er, the Human Club."
"You killed the Steward," Rhiannon bit out. She didn't even see the Doctor and Rose enter the Suite as she continued. "And you threatened people that I care about and that with me, is the worst thing you could every do!"
"It depends on your definition of people, and that's enough of a technicality to keep your lawyers dizzy for centuries." Cassandra said. "Take me to court, then and watch me smile and cry and flutter."
"And creak?" Rhiannon said her anger still not subsiding.
"What?" Cassandra said.
"Your drying out." Rhiannon stated simply.
"What? Ah!" Cassandra said with a great deal of panic. "Oh, sweet heavens. Moisturize me, moisturize me! Where are my surgeons? My lovely boys! It's too hot!"
"You raised the temperature." the Doctor said coldly. That is when Rhiannon knew he was on her side with this. He even walked over to be as her side, then Rose followed him.
"Have pity!" Cassandra pleaded. "Moisturize me! Oh, oh, Doctor Rhiannon. I'm sorry. I'll do anything."
"I am out of pity," Rhiannon said this time without anger but with a great deal of hurt in her voice. And the Doctor didn't miss the hurt in her voice or the anger and hurt that rolled off her in waves. He was shocked her could feel her pain and anger in his head, just as he used to feel Time Lords. He decided to dismiss the thought until later.
"Doctor help her." Rose said with pity in her voice.
"Everything has its time." he said.
"And everything dies." Rhiannon said. The pain coming off her by this point was so strong that Rose was feeling it.
"I'm too young!" Cassandra exclaimed as she was riped apart with only the Doctor and Rhiannon watching the whole time.
The Doctor and Rhiannon helped everyone out. Until it was just Rose, the Doctor, Rhiannon and the Face of Boe. Rhiannon walked up to the Face of Boe. How are you Rhee? He said in her mind. You got far angrier than I have ever seen you.
Be thankful. She replied. I only get that angry if someone is threatening someone I care for without probable cause.
Ahh.. He said sadly. So you have been this angry in my presence before but I just never knew.
Probably but I don't like to show my angry to many people but sometimes it's unavoidable. She replied sadly.
Stay with the Doctor. He said sternly. He will help you and you will help him.
Yeah right like the Doctor is going to waltz in here and just say; She started
"Rhiannon, do you want to come with me?" The Doctor asked as he came into the room a smiled plastered on his face. She just looked at him in shock, which made him frown. "That is unless Boe, has something he needs you for."
"I have no need of her at this time." the Face of Boe said.
"Yes I will go with you." Rhiannon said finally finding her voice. The Doctor widely smiled at her which made her smile widely at him. She walked up to him so he offered her an arm.
"Shall we?" he asked still grinning.
"We shall," she nodded to him then took his arm. They walked together until they came upon Rose then he let go of Rhiannon. She noticed that Rose was looking out at the destroyed Earth sadly. "Are you OK, Rose?"
"The end of the Earth. It's gone. We were too busy saving ourselves. No one saw it go. All those years, all that history, and no one was even looking. It's just-" Rose said.
"Come with me, both of you," he said, offering Rose a hand. They walked hand in hand to the TARDIS, with Rhiannon following behind. Once they are all in the TARDIS, Rhiannon feels a buzzing in her mind so she smiled knowing that it was the TARDIS greeting her. The Doctor let go of Rose to flip switches and pull levers. The TARDIS engines wheezed and then stopped as quick as they started. Rhiannon smiled at the sound remembering the words of the Moment from the Doctor Who episode 'Day of the Doctor.'
"You know the sound the TARDIS makes? That wheezing, groaning. That sound brings hope wherever it goes."
"Yes. Yes, I like to think it does."
"To anyone who hears it, Doctor. Anyone, however lost. Even you."
It wasn't he favorite line from that episode but it was so true that she loved it all the same. She smiled brightly, brighter than she had smiled in two years. This was going to be one of the best birthday she had in a long time. Cause the sound of the TARDIS did just that it brought her some hope. She hadn't noticed that Rose and the Doctor were walking to the door until the Doctor was getting ready to pass her. "Are you coming?" he asked bluntly. "Or are you going to stare at her all day?"
"Oh, I am coming," Rhiannon said with a grin. "Just admiring your magnificent ship." He grinned at her and offered her a hand. She took his hand and let him led her out to a sea of people.
"You think it'll last forever, people and cars and concrete, but it won't." he said solemnly as they joined Rose once they were near Rose he let go of Rhiannon. "One day it's all gone. Even the sky." He paused and Rhiannon knew what he was to say next was hurting him to say. "My planet's gone. It's dead. It burned like the Earth. It's just rocks and dust before it's time."
"What happened?" Rose asked.
"There was a war and we lost." he said sadly.
"A war with who?" she asked but reseved no answer. "What about your people?"
"I'm a Time Lord." he said. "I'm the last of the Time Lords. They're all gone. I'm the only survivor. I'm left traveling on my own 'cos there's no one else."
"There's us." she said as she moved between Rhiannon and the Doctor. She grabbed both their hands.
"You've seen how dangerous it is. Do you want to go home?" he said looking down at Rose.
"I don't know." she said quietly. "I want. Oh, can you smell chips?"
"Yeah!" he laughed. "Yeah."
"I smell fries," Rhiannon teased.
"Fries?" Rose asked.
"Fries are what Americans call chips." Rhiannon replied laughing, Rose shook her had at the older woman.
"I want chips." Rose said.
"Me too." he said with a smile.
"Why not?" Rhiannon said. "I haven't had anything to eat today."
"Right then, before you get me back in that box, chips it is, and you can pay." Rose said to the Doctor.
"No money."
"What sort of man are you? Come on then, tightwad, chips are on me." she teased. "We've only got five billion years till the shops close." She then pulled them both to the nearest chip shop. Rhiannon laughed because Rose was reminding Rhiannon of her little sister which made her frown. The Doctor took notice of the changed in Rhiannon's mood.
The chip shop that Rose led them to had outside eating, and once Rose let go of Rhiannon she sat down at a table not too far from the building. The Doctor joined her but Rose went inside to get their chips. He looked at Rhiannon really taking her in. "You're human right?" he said.
"Yeah, at least last I checked." she laughed. "Though with my family, it wouldn't surprise me to find out I was only part human." He laughed with her.
"You said you appeared at Platform One?" he asked trying to understand not only the woman before him but also the reason he felt like he knew her but that was impossible. Not to mention he couldn't see her time line like he could with others.
"Yes," she replied. "I was running, like I do every morning. Then suddenly, what only could be compared to a rip in space and time. Because I was strange, I tried to stop but it was like the rip was pulling me in." The Doctor sat there for a bit thinking.
"Must've been a rift, but there aren't any in America that I know of." he mumbled to himself. Rhiannon knew she lost him to his own thought so she figured she would get lost in her own. She knew there was no way that she was in her universe. Which meant that the rift took her to another universe entirely. "Rhiannon, hey Rhiannon!"
"Sorry, what?" she said. The Doctor and Rose who had set down with the chips.
"What do you want with your chips?" Rose asked. "I like salt and vinegar."
"Ketchup will be fine." Rhiannon replied.
"So, what's got you so worked up that you didn't hear us?" Rose asked.
"Oh," Rhiannon said, the thought of telling them about her family crossed her mind, but fear arose with it. "Um.." The Face of Boe had told her to tell him but she was afraid of braking down. She hated to cry in front of others. But she shallowed hard. "Doctor." He looked her in the eyes and she did in turn. "You know how you said, that your planet had burned?" All he did was nod and so did Rose. "My world burned. Not in a literal sense." Rhiannon sighed. "Two years ago, my apartment burned down." She began to shake as she fought the tears that were dangerously close to spilling from her eyes. "My husband and my daughter were inside when it burned." Saying it aloud was all it took for her to start crying.
Rose moved to sit closer and hold on Rhiannon as she lowered her head to the table and let lose the tsunami of tears. The Doctor looked on as the hurt from her almost matched his on. He knew her pain even felt it some himself. She felt alone and lost. He felt alone. He didn't believe in destiny but this meeting was almost as if someone was controlling his life. He didn't like that feeling. He still intended on helping Rhiannon find her way home or at the very least find her a new one.
"Rhiannon," he said her name so softly she feel her heart flutter. "I will help you find where you belong." The tsunami of tears subsided and she gave him a nod in understanding. "Come on let's go." Rose let go of Rhiannon, so they could get up and follow the Doctor who was already almost to the TARDIS.