SUMMARY: In the Alternate Universe, the MetaCrisis didn't survive so much as two minutes, once the TARDIS had left and had instead simply crumbled into fine dust which had blown away in the light seabreeze. While Rose stood there in shocked horror, another, similar TARDIS settled down on the beach a few feet from where Tenth's had stood...and the alien that exited it was blonde, wore cricket whites and had a decorative vegetable on his left lapel.

MADE FOR ME

She stared at him, trembling as he approached her, his eyes behind her at the swirl of dust that had been the metacrisis. As he drew near to her, one of his hands was already reaching for the traumatized blonde and he put himself between her and the remains of the man that had stood there.

The Fifth Doctor was of this universe, he'd caught most of the sequence that had begun with the version of his TARDIS that didn't belong here entering his universe, not for the first time...and ended with the clone of that him's turning to dust when the other TARDIS removed itself from him. He'd never had a chance, really. He had heard what his other self had told Rose Tyler, the promise that had been made and he wasn't in the least surprised when both her hands reached around his waist and she let him pull her into his arms.

"Come along, Rose Tyler. I had intended to approach you about that hopper, but my TARDIS told me that the Silence had to be stopped in your universe of origin...and that I would be needed later." He spoke gently, urging her into his own 'old girl'. "And so I am. It'll be okay, see a clone of me...this me, the me who belongs in this universe, could survive here just fine. But not the other me's clone...because I exist here, see? That clone's body could not be sustained, but he felt this me coming as his body turned to dust and gave me his memories. So, he lives in that sense and I have all your Tenth's memories also, as a result."

He turned to close the doors and settled her in a seat that had appeared, just for Rose, it seemed. He paid no mind to Jackie's protests and just closed and locked the outer door before she could slap him...those new memories provided the warning...and turned her tear filled eyes to meet his own.

"You'll be fine. You gave up homeworld and species...you're no longer fully human, not even close actually, for my sake. Unlike my counterpart, I will not forsake you. You remade yourself for me into someone who will match my lifespan and I will be your Doctor."

"Which..."

"Five. I am in my fifth body...but the history here is different and what is already in your past will not be repeated. Cannot, for it would be a massive paradox, which means it's already been averted. I'm safe, okay? we will have to figure out which body to settle you with, though. okay?"

"Okay."

"Now, let's see about putting you back together, heart and soul."

"Is that even possible for me at this point?"

"Of course. This form is a true healer, not just 'Doctor'. Unless you know of another body that might work better?"

"I can pick?"

"Yeah."

"Eight. You're a really strong empath in that body and the only one I know of that I won't bother trying to hide from." She looked at her feet. "I really, really just want to hide right now."

"Ah." Five studied her. "Oh, I see. Good at keeping things from me, are you?"

"Yeah, rather. If this is going to work I can't be able to do that and I've come across his Fifth before. You're unlikely to catch me at it, since this is about honesty."

Five studied Rose for a moment and noticed the way she had to work at not flinching when he touched her. He noted the little flakes of clone on her and sighed. Anyone would be flinching for a while after something like that.

"Very well, yes, honesty is something we will need to get you put back together and if you can hide from me, I can't help as much as I should. Eight it is." He simply looked up, both feeling the TARDIS' acknowledgement of the request and then he left it to his timeship to call her elder self. Shortly afterward he heard and saw the older ship materialize inside his console room.

"Best we do this in your version of her..." The Eighth told him, then paused as Five passed him what he needed to know in rapid Gallifreyan, ending with, "And Rose told me point blank she could hide from most versions of us...not you though."

"Empath." He nodded. "Among other powers of the mind all of which are very strong in this body, I am an empath...she knows she can't hide from me for long, if at all. Let me show you the first thing she needs, though. Should've been able to figure out this much on your own."

"No real time, just barely got her in the ship and sat down." Fifth returned calmly. "Thought we'd start as we meant to go on. The other universe's Doctor really screwed her up. Lifebondeds were never meant to be abandoned in another universe...and I could feel that bond trying to reconnect with me as focus...now it's aimed straight at you...and I'm encouraging it to do so."

"Wise...and..also wise, so she hides nothing. She...hurts...so much."

"Our alter-self's Tenth form has abandoned her several times after the bond was made. That's just wrong. I'll forward the memories I got from the Clone."

His elder self nodded, moving Rose for a moment to seat himself and the drew the girl back down and onto his lap, got a good grip and as soon as he had her positioned the way he wanted her, he stood. "Let's move this to the big couch in the library for now, she just needs contact with us. I've asked for a large, overstuffed, rocking recliner. Amazingly comfortable, those things." Neither version of this universe's doctor missed the way she curled into the Eighth's embrace, trying hard to get as close as she could. She couldn't hide from him, no...but then he wouldn't hurt her, either, and she was well aware of that.

Five's blue eyes met Eight's aquamarines over Rose's head as the girl began to shake.

Reaction. The clone turn to dust in her arms, after all. Five told his elder-self silently, receiving a small nod as the Eighth Doctor gathered Rose Tyler closer and just hugged her tightly.

"I'm going to go have a little 'chat' with Ten. Her Ten. He's not getting her back, no way. He doesn't deserve to have her and she doesn't deserve to have him betray her like he has."

"What kind of chat?"

"The kind that tells him that his universe's Tenth Body is unworthy to be called The Doctor...and why."

"Ah. Yes, someone should, rather."

"Will she need our's?"

"I don't know. Nine maybe and definitely me. But I don't know if she can handle Ten so soon after what her's put her through. I don't really want to chance it. No. Don't call him. I've got her."

"Are you going to leave her with me?"

"No. Can't. She needs me."

"Okay." Five nodded, turning tight lipped toward a small room near the console room where he had Gallifrey assisted communications gear and made the call. Five was furious. He had made the rescue but he knew Eighth was correct. Rose Tyler needed his Eighth form more than himself...and there was enough damage there she might need him longer than first thought as she showed absolutely no sign of releasing Eight. A few moments later he heard the other TARDIS leave...just as he saw the startled face of Rose's first Tenth Doctor in the viewscreen.

"Oh, you've really screwed up, old boy."

*T*B*C*