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Old Friends

And A

New Life

Disclaimer: I own nothing but what you see here and this is a little something I thought of where the War Doctor was concerned! In this, only the Daleks ended up defeated and Gallifrey lives on and is re-building.


Amidst all the celebrating that was occurring on the planet of Gallifrey was an old man who was not quite as willing to celebrate. For centuries now, he and his people had been at war with the race known as the Daleks in what was known as the 'Last Great Time War'. A war that had seen the extinction of quite a few other races in the universe before they managed to find a way to prevent the war from spreading any further. The man had long forgotten how old he was and after seeing a group of children die in front of him thanks to a few Daleks, he'd finally had enough and decreed 'No More' and set out to finally end the war. Using the Moment and gaining the idea to combine Ace's old Nitro 9 with a specialized virus that would infect every single Dalek and then blow them up. A feat that took a considerable amount of time for the man once known as the Doctor and wearing him down even more. The act was a terrible one as it was genocide but he had seen no other way to end the war and he hadn't wanted to see his own people burn thanks to one possibility the Moment had shown him.

No one, not even Romana or the others he called friend or those he served with on his own planet were willing enough to get in his way as they all knew this had had a heavy toll on him. Knowing that his need to leave was greatly needed and that one day, he would be back when his actions weren't so heavy on him. They would re-build without him and hopefully not need him for anything as well even though they knew he would probably come to help without a moment's thought given all they'd been through since the war's beginning. The old man formerly known as 'The Doctor' and for several centuries as 'The Warrior' until he grew tired of the name and insisted on being called 'Theta' trudged wearily into his beaten up old Tardis, who gave him a comforting hum that eased his hearts and soul some as the door closed behind him. "Old Girl… I leave where we go in your hands." He declared in a tired voice.

A hum was his response as the levers and the like on the console in front of him began to move of their own accord, giving off a sound as they disappeared that meant hope to many through out Time and Space. Along with something a bit darker to others as well who weren't particularly interested in hope.

March 12th, 2005, Somewhere in Britain

At the home of the semi-retired Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, was something of a party going on. Albeit, a small of old friends. All of whom had a special connection with the Time Lord known as the Doctor. Those in attendance at the Brigadier's home were Sarah Jane Smith, Ian and Barbara Wright-Chesterton, The Brig's wife Doris, Harry Sullivan, Jo Jones, Grace Holloway, John Benton, Mike Yates, and Ace McShane. This hadn't been the first time they'd gathered in the past and it had become a regular thing when possible for them. Along with others of the Doctor's Companions if they were in the same time zone as them or alive. For Grace, this had been her third time amongst the group sometime after Sarah Jane had come in search of her and she was still quite heavily amazed by the history the man had with all of them. Even wishing yet again she had gone with him when he offered a second time after her attempts to combine Human and Time Lord DNA had failed horrifically. "I say, its good to be amongst you all once more." Declared Harry Sullivan quite happily.

"Hear hear!" Said both Benton and Yates at the same time and clinked their glasses together.

As it was truly great to be amongst old friends who you could speak openly with on some things and not have to hide. "I'm surprised Kate's not here, Brigadier." Remarked Sarah Jane curiously.

"Ah, well, she had business to attend too at UNIT I'm afraid."

"Oh, perhaps next time she will be able to attend. I'm sure Osgood would love that." Replied Sarah Jane with an amused smile on her lips.

Knowing that the girl was quite the fan of the Doctor and even wore several things on her that were a shout out of sorts to several of the Doctor's incarnations. The Brig was going to say something about that when a noise caused him to stop. A noise he hadn't heard in years, causing him to look in the direction it was coming from and he wasn't the only one. Alistair and the others watched in shock as the Tardis herself appeared before them and looking like she'd seen better days! "Huh, she looks to have seen better days." Jo observed with some worry to her voice.

"This is ACE!" Screamed out Ace excitedly as she had rather missed the Professor a great deal!

And even began to walk towards the doors of the Tardis when they opened, revealing a tired looking old man in an outfit that looked quite suited to battle rather then adventures and the like. "Hah, I should have known the Old Girl would do something like this. But I am not displeased by it..." Said the old man in a weary, tired sounding voice as he came out of the Tardis.

The others watched on, curious and concerned about the old man who was clearly the Doctor and the state the Tardis was in. "Pr-Professor?" Ace asked uncertainly.

"That… Is a name I've not heard in centuries my girl."

One that made him think of years past with a great fondness in his hearts of those days when it came to traveling about Time and Space with Ace. An excited squeal left the older Ace's mouth and she ran towards him and hugged him. Earning a laugh from the old Doctor as he hugged her back. "I'm quite happy to see you too!"

Those watching the scene wondered how long exactly the centuries had been for the much older looking Doctor. Grace herself knew this couldn't be the one she had met back in America in the 90's, which gave a slight pang in her chest. They all watched as the two pulled apart and the Doctor stared at Ace with a happy expression on his worn face. "It does my hearts good to see you, Ace."

"And mine, Professor! Oh this is just ace that you came here of all days!"

"Suppose you should thank the Tardis for that one since I let her decide where to go this time around."

Ace smiled at that, long used to her Professor's eccentricities even years later. "Will do!"

Alistair walked up to the two with a happy smile on his face at the sight of his old friend. "Doctor! A wonderful surprise to see you here my old friend." Greeted the man as he extended his hand for his old friend to shake.

One the Doctor took and shook with a wince. "That… Is also a name I've not heard in centuries… Not since I began to take part in the war..."

"War? What war?" Wondered Yates in concern.

Concern the others were feeling as well in great amounts and both Ian and Barbara were thankful they knew of their old friend's ability to Regenerate or they would be pretty confused right now. The Doctor looked towards him. "The one between my people and the Daleks. The one that lasted nearly ten centuries for me. The one where I broke the promise of the Doctor and can no longer rightfully call myself that name any longer. Especially after I took a horrible action to end the war that saw every Dalek die." Informed the tired old man in sadness and self loathing.

"Good Lord." Breathed out Ian as Barbara clutched to him with glistening eyes. Doris stared on sadly at her husband's oldest friend.

There was no warning for it, but Sarah Jane, Grace, Jo, Barbara, and Ace all ended up hugging the Doctor tightly to provide him comfort in his moment while the men bowed their heads in respect for their friend and the actions he had taken to end his people's war. "I am so very tired..." Murmured the man they all knew and respected and even loved.

"You can rest in our guest room, old friend. For as long as you want." Alistair told him and he nodded.

The ladies helped guide him to the house but before he went in, he turned to look at the Brigadier and the others. "As I am no longer the Doctor due to my having no right to the name, you may refer to me as Theta. Or the Professor if all of you wish." He told them tiredly before allowing the ladies to lead him off.

Those remaining looked at one another, wondering how they would help their old friend in his greatest time of need. "No matter what he's done… He still is and always will be the Doctor to me." Declared Benton strongly.

"Hear hear!" Called out the other men.


Author's Notes: Depending on feedback and the like, this could be a full on story featuring the War Doctor as he goes forward after the war.