"Rose River" AU
'River Run'
Chapter Two
- Goodbyes and Hellos -


A/N: Just to let you all know, the plot was heading in this direction LONG before series six of the current even aired. Don't worry, that disclaimer will make sense later. On the flipside, if you are aware of the original show and the audio stories, some of this will make sense to you. The rest will just make you dizzy... possibly crazy too.

Allons-y!


Earth 2164

They had done it! The resistance, along with the help of the Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbara, finally broke the Dalek invasion. It was flawless, save for the new volcano in the middle of England. Nothing to help with that though. The whole affair was grizzly, what with the robomen and everything. Still, after everything was said and done, there was cause for a celebration. Too bad it was short lived.

Grandfather was gruff as usual, fretting over her worn out shoe. He entered the TARDIS, saying that he was going to mend it. Ian and Barbara had bade their farewells quietly to Tyler, and followed after the Doctor.

In the middle of all of this, David was asking her to stay. It was ripping her in half, and she turned away to lean against a column. Unable to bear it any more, she turned and told him she loved him in a fit of tears. She felt it before it happened, and heard the TARDIS whisper reassurances in her mind. Turning, she saw the TARDIS doors close with a bang of finality.

Stumbling over her bare right foot, Susan shouted in outright shock. "Grandfather!" Before she could say anything further, the external audio of the TARDIS could be heard switching on with a whining pop. Hearing her grandfather speak, Susan began to shake.

'Listen Susan, please. I've double locked the doors. You can't get in. Now move back child, so I can see you.'

Unable to say anything, she stepped back slowly. The only thing keeping her together was the TARDIS sending her waves of compassion and love, along with reassurances that everything was going to be all right.

'During all the years I've been taking care of you, you in return have been taking care of me.'

"But Grandfather, I belong with you!" she cried, taking her necklace off to hold the key to her home.

'Not any longer, Susan. You're still my grandchild, and always will be. But now, you're a woman too. I want you to belong somewhere, to have roots of your own. With David, you'll be able to find those roots and live normally, like any woman should do. Believe me my dear, your future lies with David, and not with a silly old buffer like me.'

Susan was shaking her head no, but couldn't say anything.

'One day, I shall come back,' he said. 'Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all of your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. Goodbye Susan. Goodbye my dear.'

There was a thunk as the TARDIS engines started, and Susan lowered her head in resignation. 'Find her,' she thought to him over his protests against telepathy. 'Find my grandmother. I love you.' Stepping forward hesitantly, she tested the air where the TARDIS had stood and felt completely lost. Turning about in place, she looked to the sky. 'Find her,' she said again. 'Find Grandmother Rose.'

David came up to her with a hand out, calling to her softly and mindful of her shock. "Susan?" She held her arm out and took his hand. "He knew," he said quietly. "He knew you could never leave him."

Looking to the ribbon that held her key, she felt it pulse once more before going cold. Knowing that it was now a useless piece of metal, she let it slip from her hand to clink on the broken concrete.

Pulling gently, David turned her away from where the TARDIS had just stood. Walking with their arms around each other made it a little easier, but not much. Unable to speak any more, Susan started sobbing. David turned and held her head to his chest. "It's all right, Susan. I'll take care of you, I promise."

She looked up at him, and he wiped her tear stained face. Smiling weakly, she reached up to kiss him. Not having to worry about Ian and Barbara's sixties mentality any more, she opened her mouth to give David a proper snog. He deserved it after all, and she did love him.

Time flared around her then, and she broke the kiss with a flinch of pain. Eyes open in shock, she could see two Davids. One that was kissing an after image of herself, and another one that was asking her what was wrong.

She couldn't speak, couldn't think, and her bypass kicked in when she forgot how to breathe. Her skin felt like it was on fire, but it wasn't an impending regeneration. The image of David kissing her faded, and the one that was holding and asking her if she was all right faded right after, much to her horror.

The universe convulsed, and she heard the death screams plainly in her mind. Gallifrey was burning; the Time Lords were dying; and she could hear her grandfather's mind screaming mournfully. Mercifully, she passed out in a dead faint, calling for him in a whisper. "Grandfather."


"You - - - - right?" she heard faintly. Someone was shaking her shoulder, and she felt cold concrete against her back. Opening her eyes, she saw a boy of around twelve bending over her. "Ma'am? Are you all right?" he asked again.

Sitting up, she had a sudden flash of memories and wobbled. Holding her hand out to feel the timelines, she realized that those memories were real. The lines were bunched in her current location, like a loop. No, that wasn't right. Scoop. Yes, like the time scoop. Time Scoop? "Rassilon," she whispered, remembering dealing with four versions of her grandfather in the Tower.

"Are you okay?" the boy asked again. "Need me to call for the hospital?"

Shaking her head, she let him help her up. "No, I'm all right." Looking around, she saw that the cracked ruin that she had been standing in was rather pristine in appearance. "But, maybe not," she conceded. "It is still twenty one sixty four, right?" At his confused nod, she looked about again.

If she were to guess, the place was more than pristine. There were new buildings in place that she hadn't seen before. Whipping her head to the south, she couldn't see the mound of the new volcano any more. Turning to the boy once more, she had to ask. "This will sound ridiculous, I know, but have you ever heard of the word 'Dalek'?"

The boy tilted his sandy blond head. "Is that a band name or something?"

Pursing her lips, she looked to the sky in search of air ships. Instead, she saw a flurry of shuttles whizzing about like automobiles in the sky. "No. It's all right. I'm all right. Thank you for checking on me."

"If you're sure?" he asked.

Looking back down at him, she smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. Thank you." He nodded and walked over to a light pole that lined the streets and pushed a button. Watching in fascination, Susan saw a small shuttle descend, and realized it was a Taxi. She waved at him. "What was your name?"

He turned and smiled. "David. David Campbell."

Her smile froze on her face. "Susan," she choked out." Susan Foreman. Thanks again." They waved at each other, and he entered the shuttle. Watching it leave, she blinked back the tears that were forming. I was going to marry you, she thought.

Wiping her eyes, she took a step and frowned. Glancing at her feet, she realized that she was a shoe short. She didn't have much time to think on that, when a small crackle of lightning got her attention.

Turning, her mouth dropped open in shock. "Daddy!" She didn't take any notice of the surprise on his face, as she ran over and hugged him tightly. "By all the stars, I missed you!"

Looking down, he was completely confused. "Sweetheart, I..."