-1Title: The Age of Solitude
Rated: PG-13
Summary: Jack's little impromptu trip clinging to the side of the TARDIS caused a major malfunction which landed the him, the Doctor, and Martha in the one place they never thought they ever see again. Dark reunion fic.
Characters: Ten, Jack, Martha, Rose, O.C.s
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Davis own all.
AN: Just a weird idea that's been bouncing around in my head. I blame my fascination with dystopias and post-end-of-the-world fiction. And V for Vendetta and BSG. Mainly those last two. And, hey, who doesn't want to do a reunion fic, right? Right? Where's everyone going? Come back!
Um, yeah. Anyway, hope someone likes.
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Prologue
The Doctor knew something had gone wrong the moment he reentered the vortex. He could feel it, deep within himself. Deep within his mind and through his connection with his ship. Whatever was clinging to the TARDIS wasn't right and he could tell she did not like it one bit.
The fact that that bell was ringing and the TARDIS was jerking about like a rollercoaster at a fun fair was kind of a big clue as well. But who was he to nitpick?
It was a rough ride. She was trying everything she could to get ride of it - him - and there was nothing the Doctor could do except watch as she raced through time and space. He clung to railing when she jerked, covered his eyes when the sparks flew from console, and watched as the readouts on the computer flashed by faster than even he could read it all. He tried to help, tried to gain some kind of control, but it was no good. She was doing everything she could, his beautiful ship, to shake it - him, because the Doctor knew who it had to be, even if he wouldn't admit it just yet - off, but it wasn't enough.
She was getting desperate.
Martha yelled at him for answers, but he was busy at the moment. He might have answered some of them, or he might not have. In all honesty, he couldn't remember because things got a bit blurry right about then.
The Doctor did remember the tight knot that settle in his stomach when he realized what the TARDIS was about to do. It could destroy everything, everyone, and it should be impossible, but nothing really was to a desperate TARDIS.
He remembered staring up at the central column and begging her not to do. By all rights, she would be tearing apart the very fabric of time and space. If done incorrectly, the universe and every other would collapse in on themselves, and, even with the faith that he had in her, the Doctor couldn't see how a single TARDIS would be able to pull off what she planned. Worse yet, if she did…
He was so lonely now. How could he ever survive if…?
Amidst the chaos, she hummed to him reassuringly like a mother does to their child when they cry in the night because of the monsters that lurked in the dark. It would be alright, but her mind was made up.
"Martha," he remembered saying, staring at the comforting green light a moment longer before shifting his gaze to his companion. She was frightened and rightfully so.
"Yes, Doctor," she said.
"Hang on."
Those two words had barely escaped from between his lips when his ship, his TARDIS, his oldest and most faithful companion and friend, dropped, jerked, and bucked all at once. There was an explosion, the largest yet. His hands were badly burned and he was thrown heavily against a strut with a resounding smack. Martha's screams ushered him into darkness.
After that, the Doctor didn't remember anything.
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