Author : SydneyCarter/ Ophelia_Hamlet
Summary : " Open it "
Disclaimer : Not mine, Too bad.
N/A : Still French, be gentle ^^
Like a Damocles Sword
_Open it.
He was holding the little device in the palm of his hand, presenting it to her. Like a threat. Like a promise.
Thoughts were succeding themselves into her mind. Thousands of them. Billions of them. His hand was almost shaking. He was struggling to restrain the mark of his impatience. Doubt. Fear. Knowledge.
_No.
She was facing him. He is taller than her and yet, she feels everything is under her control. She cannot be hurt by him. Lies ! Foolishness ! Naïve girl ! She is trembling too. She doesn't know why. She tries to take a step back but he grabs her wrist. Not forcefully, not as if he wants to impose himself on her. No, he wants her near. Like he is afraid of loosing her.
_Why ?
He insists. he can't give up now. Not so near the end. Not when he needs her the most. He just cannot abandon her. Nor let her go.
" I can't live without you " he could say. So many things he could say. So many words. " I love you "; " Did I mention it also travels in time ? " " Run ! " ...
None of them come out. They never make it to the surface, to the reality. Just a wild fantasy... Coward ! Me ? Anyday !
_Because it's broken.
His thumb is caressing her wrist now. Litlle circles.
He does not seem to notice. She does not seem to mind.
Why ? Because you love him ! Don't be stupid !
And yet .. It might be the most sensed idea she's ever had.
Nonsense .. Quiet !
He is looking at her like the mad man he is. Desperate to hold her near. Afraid to say the wrong word. Frightened of those she may pronounce. This is one of these moments, she thinks. But this watch is broken ! But how does she know it is ?
_How can you be so certain ? You've never seen it before.
He knos he is getting closer. He is also aware that he is frightening her. He just can't help it. She has to know. She has to choose. " What sort of choice is that? " he thinks. Knowing the truth is a lie ? Knowing it's an act ? They could have believe it. If she would have believe, he'd follow her anywhere. Everywhere. Rose Tyler and John Smith. They could have make it work. He could have try. For her. She deserved that. She earned that ..
_I .. I just do. There is no point opening it.
Maybe.. Maybe they could still try.. Maybe..
_ Are you sure ? Is it really what you want ? All of this ?
_I .. I think so...
He begins to close his fingers and retrieves the watch when..
_NO !
The boy pushes him. The watch falls and opens itself as it hits the floor.
He looks at her. She looks at him.
One second.
On a boat, going to America. They're dancing on the front deck.
In New-York, running in the streets, on Broadway. She is wearing a red dress and he is in a tux. They're laughing together.
In a car, in the middle of the desert, her hair in the wind. He is driving. One hand on the wheel, the other on her soon-to-be-bumpy belly.
In the garden of a blue house playing with their children.
Decades later, laying on the grass, holding their hands, stargazing and so very happy.
A feeling of utter contentment.
One second.
The light strikes her. She screams.
No more blissful ignorance.
Just the coldness of knowledge. And all is black again.
The war with The Family is over.
Rose is safe. She remembers everything.
No more Bad Wolf. No more pretending. Just herself.
On her bed, she cries softly over some " what if.."
Over her own selfishness. her own foolishness.
In the Console Room, the Doctor is sending Mother into a black hole.
And with her, dreams of another life.
He closes the doors. He goes on...
This is the Curse of the Time Lords.
FIN.
N/A : This entry was originally written for Then_Theres_Us Challenge 91 but I wrote it too late and anyway, it didn't go as I expected. Reviews are still love !