A/N: Hello all. A word of explanation of the timeline of this story.

Post-season four, without the Donna-mindswipe. Because Donna is awesome, and RTD is an idiot. Mickey went back to the parallel universe—again, because I say so. For Torchwood, Owen and Tosh are alive, because it's more fun that way.

Disclaimer: I own nothing…except Jessie. I sorta own her. Other than that…I just let my plot bunnies do bad things to them.

There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.

-Tennessee Williams

Prologue

The vault-like door opened, and a tall man ran inside, closely followed by a woman, a teenage girl, and finally another younger man. The two men pushed the door closed on the sounds of pounding and explosions from somewhere above and beyond them. The girl threw a tarp off of a mass on one side of the room, revealing a large, complex-looking machine. As she began to throw some switches, the older man joined her, and the blond woman and tall young man began gathering the backpacks in another part of the otherwise empty room.

The quartet worked in a thick silence, with the air of having a very limited amount of time. For several minutes, no one spoke—there were several things to do, but more importantly, there was an unspoken fear that once they began speaking, it would be to say goodbye. And none of them wanted to begin that process.

The air was filled with the sounds of whirling machinery as the monstrosity in the corner started up. The man and girl wore identical expressions of concentration as they moved around the various parts, typing things into keypads and reaching across each other to throw switches. As the woman and younger man finished their own tasks, she couldn't help but stare at the duo with a heartbreaking longing, drinking in the vision of them working together as if, if she just stared long enough, she could save them all from what was about to come.

Turning her attention back to the young man at her side, she smiled sadly at him, reaching up to adjust the straps on his backpack. He smiled down at her. "I'll look after her, sis. You know I will," he said in a low voice. The woman nodded, not quite able to meet his gaze. The man and girl stepped away from the machine to let it finish booting up, and they moved over to where the others were. The man began helping the girl with her own backpack, finally breaking the silence as he did.

"There's no real telling where you'll end up," he said. It was all information they knew, but that didn't matter. "Or when, for that matter. Taking into account the Rift, and all of the other variables…well, we just can't know for certain." As he finished settling her pack, he turned her to face him. The blond woman moved over to them, picking and adjusting the girl's jacket, more for the need to have physical contact with the younger girl than for any real need.

"Be careful of Torchwood," the woman said. "If Captain Jack isn't still in charge when you arrive, there could be trouble. Best to lay low until you know for certain." She stepped back, wiping away the first tear that was threatening to spill over. "Just…stick together, no matter what. Look after each other." The girl nodded.

"We will, Mum. You don't have to worry 'bout us." She put on a brave smile, gaze moving from her to the older man by her side. The young man with reddish hair stepped back and over to the machine, watching it intently to give the trio some semblance of privacy. Looking at her parents, the teenage girl's smile faltered.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this," she said. "It's not too late. And we should be here. With you."

The adults gave her sad, proud smiles. "You know what's going to happen, love," the woman said. "Someone has to survive this. Someone has to remember."

"Besides," the man added. "If there's any chance at all that the Raxons could spread beyond this universe…someone has to be able to warn them." The girl nodded, a sad resolute expression coming over her. She knew those were simply altruistic reasons to try and make them feel better. So that they wouldn't feel like cowards, running away at the end of the battle. So that her parents wouldn't have to say they were doing it simply to keep her and her uncle safe.

The young man turned away from the machine, tapping the screen with one finger. "I think it's ready," he said in a soft voice. In one motion, the girl and older man turned to face him. The dark haired man walked over to the machine, looking over the readings, finally nodding. It was time.

As they came together in the middle of the room, the girl hugged her mother tightly, just barely able to refrain from sobbing. She didn't want to leave, no matter what was coming. The two men looked at each other before exchanging a hug. They were nearly of equal height, and they hugged without reservation. Breaking apart the older man shook the younger's hand, giving him a proud nod. "Good man," he said softly.

Exchanging partners, the siblings exchanged their own hugs. The blond woman stood on her toes to wrap her arms around her brother, and they silently squeezed each other tight. Next to them, the girl looked up at her father, identical brown eyes locking into each other. They just stared at each other for a long moment, before he leaned in to wrap his long arms around her. There were no words between them, yet there was the sense of something deeper happening. Finally breaking apart, he held her at arms length, looking down on her proudly. "My Jessie," he said. "My brilliant girl. You are going to have such a fantastic life."

She tried to smile back at him. "Are you sure we couldn't try to all go?" she asked. "If we widen the parameters of the energy field…"

"We would blow out the power for the entire quadrant," he finished. "For at least twelve hours. And you know what that would lead too." With a disappointed sigh, she nodded and looked away, towards the machine. She knew it as well as he did. She had helped to build the thing after all.

"If there's any chance at all that we can follow…" he added. She looked at him again, sticking her hands in her pockets. They knew what the likelihood of that was too. But still…it helped that he said it.

The quartet exchanged glances as the noises from outside increased. With resolved, poignant expressions, they moved into their final positions. The two younger people moved to stand in front of the machine, while the older man walked over the controls, his wife beside him. They looked at each other across the short distance, barely restrained distress on their faces.

"Love you," the blond said, raising a hand in farewell. The man by her side was silent, one hand resting on a lever. The girl smiled sadly, mirroring her mother's movement.

"Love you," she responded softly. Tears glistening in their eyes, the older man pulled the lever in one sharp movement, face as stiff as a wall. A bright white light filled the room, causing them to avert their eyes. When it faded, the adults were alone.

John and Rose Tyler turned to each other, the façade beginning to break down. Rose descended into sobs, and John took her in his arms. "It's alright," he said softly. "They're safe now. That's all that matters. They're safe."