Awhile ago, this was a chapter in "A TARDIS Family Reunion", a story that I have since rewritten as "TARDIS Reunion". Unfortunately, this chapter was cut from the rewrite because I'm taking the story in a completely different direction than I was originally. But, I still liked this chapter, and would like to post it as a stand alone story.

Here's what you need to know: this is a multiple Doctor story. Nine, Ten, Eleven, and all of their companions have found themselves all one the TARDIS at the same time. Just before this chapter, the meta crisis Doctor (Tentoo, though he is not referred to as that in this chapter, as you'll see why) was kidnapped off of the TARDIS by a giant three headed dog. The time lord Doctors tried in vain to save him. Meanwhile, Tentoo had been rescued by the cat nuns in New New York where he recovered from the dog bite, and it was revealed that his human DNA was helping to fix the dog and restore him to normal. He also had an epiphany of sorts, realizing who he truly was. The TARDIS materialized at the very time he and his new dog were released. We now return to your regularly scheduled program. Tissues are advised. (Sorry, not sorry)

If you are at all confused by this, I recommend watching (or re-watching) Season 3, episodes 8 and 9, "Human Nature" and "Family of Blood".

I do not own Doctor Who.

TIME LORD OR HUMAN?

Everyone was surprised when Ten's duplicate sauntered on board as if nothing had happened, carrying an oddly familiar looking dog and whistling, but no one more so than Rose. She welcomed him back with a patented Tyler slap that put her mother's slaps to shame.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" She yelled at him. "Do you know what I went through? How worried I was about you? And here you are, happy as a clown, with no sign that there was ever anything wrong!"

"Well... I..." He stammered. She slapped him again. "Ow! Hey, cut it out, will you? Everything was just a big misunderstanding."

He proceeded to tell those assembled about the cats and the radioactive vat and the amazing shrinking dog who was now his pet. "This is Buddy. Say hello Buddy!" He started talking baby talk as he held the dog in the air and spoke on behalf of the dog. "Hello everyone! So very sorry for all the trouble I caused, but I'm hoping that you'll forgive me because I'm so cute!" Buddy started licking his new master in the face.

As the Doctors and the companions (especially the women and Jack) fawned over Buddy, Rose took his owner aside. "Who are you, really, and what have you done with my husband?"

He just looked at her, his face solemn. "It's me, Rose. Really it is. But you are right to notice that I am different. For the first time since I was created, I finally know who I am. And that makes me ridiculously happy! But, I'm afraid that you probably won't like it very much."

"What do you mean, that you finally know who you are? You're the Doctor! You're MY Doctor!"

"See, Rose, that's just it. I'm not the Doctor. I may have been at one time, but when I was created, I was no longer the Doctor, and I will never be him again."

"I'm not sure I follow."

"Well, it's like this: the Doctor is a time lord. I am a human."

"Only half. The other half is time lord!"

"That's besides the point. The Doctor flys around in a TARDIS saving planets, I am a humble teacher. The Doctor regenerates, I was created out of a spare hand. No one on this TARDIS truly recognizes me as a version of the Doctor - not even the TARDIS herself acknowledges me as such! I came on board as a companion, not as a Doctor. The only person who still believes that I am the Doctor is YOU!"

His voice had escalated, and the others were staring at them. They ducked into their bedroom to continue their "discussion".

Jack whistled. "Looks like trouble in paradise."

Some time later, it was a somber couple who addressed the group. The rest of the occupants of the TARDIS had busied themselves by watching the DVDs that Jack had bought when he had accidentally landed in that strange universe where they were all fictional characters whose lives people watched on the telly or wrote fan fiction about. They unsuccessfully tried to pretend that they were not curious as to what was going on. They had just finished watching the episode where Rose and Nine met Charles Dickens when Rose and her husband returned. Rose addressed the group.

"Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to John Smith." She had to blink back tears and tried to keep her voice steady. "He is a teacher at a school outside London in 1913. He enjoys reading, writing, and long walks with the woman he loves. Unfortunately..." and here her voice broke. "Unfortunately, that woman is not me." John just stood there, unable to make eye contact with anyone. He hated to see Rose in pain. Despite everything, she was still his wife, and that counted for something. He did care about her. But they were never truly happy together. Rose was even able to finally admit it.

Martha gasped. She had immediately understood. Turning to John she said, "This woman you love, her name is Joan Redfern, isn't it?"

John just nodded, biting back tears. This was more difficult than he'd thought it would be.

Ten walked over and embraced his double. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." His eyes locked with Rose's for a moment. Volumes could be written about what was communicated in that gaze. There was no longer a dry eye in the room. Even Nine had tears.

Ten silently walked over to the console and began turning knobs and flipping switches. "Well, John, you'd better go get changed. Your current attire is not really appropriate for early twentieth century England, is it?"

John quickly left to change. When he returned, tears were streaming down his cheeks. "I'll never forget you Rose Tyler" he said, taking off his ring and placing it in her palm. "Thanks for giving me a good life." As he turned to leave, he raised his hand in farewell to all present. They returned it. "Never forget me" he said, taking his dog with him. "Farewell." And with that, he was gone.

Eleven turned on the monitor and all witnessed the reunion of Prof. John Smith with his Joan. He ran to her, and she to him, each disbelieving that the other was real. He got down on one knee and didn't even need to speak as she just nodded and embraced him with a tender kiss.

As they dematerialized, Ten's psychic paper rang. He opened it. It was an obituary from 1915. "Lt. John Tyler Smith was lost in battle in the fields of France. He leaves behind his wife, Joan, and twin daughters, Martha and Donna, age 1. A good man, lost too soon." No one dared speak.