Note: This story came about after I watched End of Time for the umpteenth time. I don't think I've seen much fics on alternative endings to this particular episode, or maybe I've just missed them. Woops!

This is my own interpretation of what would happen if The Master actually survived in End of Time.

Argh! Enough of my babbling! Enjoy my fic! :"D

Prologue

"The Link has been broken! Back into the Time War, Rassilon!" The Doctor shouted. "Back into Hell!"

As the Time Lords were being dragged back into the Time War itself, Rassilon stretched out his left arm, the gauntlet emitting a deadly white glow. "You'll die with me, Doctor!"

"I know…" The Doctor trailed off. He accepted death and closed his eyes. "Lived too long…" He thought.

"Get out of the way." The Doctor turned around.

The Master clambered to his feet. He shot a blast of energy from his hand towards Rassilon. "You did this to me!" He screamed. One by one, memories of what really happened to him seeped into his mind. "All my life!" He shot another beam from his other hand as Rassilon staggered. "You made me," another beam was shot, "One!" He threw his other hand out to shoot more. The Doctor staggered backwards, completely shocked at what was happening. "Two!" A second blast was shot. "Three!" A third, "FOUR!" An almighty fourth blast was enough to put Rassilon on his knees.

Before The Master stepped forward to push Rassilon back into the Time Lock with him, The Doctor lunged towards him and they fell to the ground, just as the Time Lock was sealed again.

~DW~

The Doctor awoke from unconsciousness and pushed himself upwards, oblivious to the shards of glass around him. "I'm alive…" He laughed, "I'm alive…"

"Theta…" Only one person would call him that through telepathy. The Doctor turned his head to meet The Master's. He was lying on the broken glass covered floor. "What happened?" He asked.

"I dragged you away just in time for the Time Lock to close…"

"You saved me… Why?"

"Because I knew about the mental torture they did to you. For starters, they blocked your ability to directly emit and receive a telepathic call as Rassilon thought it would drive you more insane every time you would hear someone die in battle from afar. For you to call my nickname through telepathy proves that you're back to normal." There was a brief pause. "Should I give you a list of more reasons why I saved you?"

In a very long time, The Master smiled. Not an evil smile, but a genuine and proper smile.

Knock, knock, knock!

Both Time Lords turned their heads to the Immortality Gate. Wilfred Mott stood there and sighed.

"You don't suppose you could get me out of here?" The feeble old man said.

The Doctor was the first to get up. "Yeah…"

He helped The Master to his feet.

"You're the one who knows how to work this thing, I trust you can do it?" The Doctor asked.

"Yeah…" The Master simply replied.

~DW~

"Wow! I couldn't believe what just happened!" Wilfred exclaimed. "Seeing all that, whilst being trapped inside this glass box is too much for me… I don't see how we look like giants to you after my uselessness back there" he indicated the Immortality Gate.

"You were lucky The Master knew how the Gate works." The Doctor turned to The Master. "You're really brilliant, you are! Using silicon microchips to absorb the radiation! Who would have known?"

"Theta…" The Doctor heard The Master's telepathic call.

The Master gave The Doctor a concerned look. At once he understood and turned to Wilfred. "Wilf, you should get to the TARDIS. Officers would be coming here right now and we can come up with a statement. I don't want others to suspect you."

At once, Wilfred nodded and left the room.

"The drumming" The Master said. "It's stopped," He laughed in utter relief. "Finally!" He cried. The Doctor swore he saw a tear in The Master's eye.

Note: Oh! almost forgot!

DISCLAIMER

This story is in no way associated with the BBC in any way.

I do not own 'Doctor Who' or any of the characters involved in this story.

They respectfully belong to the BBC.