The Girl Who Waited

By The Alternative Source

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Author's Note: I wasn't really planning on doing a sequel to "An Ancient Creature" but so many of you liked it that I have this crazy plot already set up. Enjoy.

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CHAPTER 2

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Holding her hand a couple inches from the door she hesitated. She had never done this before. Closing her eyes she brought her hand to her side. She had fought the others to do this. To be the one to bring the news. And here she was…hesitating. Hesitating to do what she had promised the High Council. 'Her' face flashed before her eyes and her eyes flew open. She had to do this.

Knocking gently she waited for an answer.

"Come in," a deep voice answered from inside.

Making her way inside she took in the familiar sight. Lying in a bed with wires and tubes hooked to his body was Amy's father. Tiberius. For the last couple months he had been bed ridden as the war had taken a great toll to his body. And after all that time he had finally woken up. She had visited him every day in hopes of his awakening to no such luck. And now his hazel eyes were locked on hers.

'Amy's eyes.'

"Hello Tiberius. It's good to see you awake," she said in a calm tone.

"It's good to see you as well my dear," he wheezed out. His throat obviously sore from the months of lack of use. He lifted his hand in her direction and she stepped forward. When she got to his bed she grasped his hand in hers.

Rose's eyes traced his worn face, "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy if you believe it. Can't wait to get out of here."

Biting her lip she delayed the inevitable, "Can't wait to get home and blow something up in your lab most likely."

He gave her a sleepy smile, "That only happened three times. You and Amy could never let that go."

"Never," she quickly replied. As much as she had tried to hide her wince at Amy's name Tiberius had noticed.

"Rose? What's…what's wrong?" Bowing her head she held his hand more tightly. He tugged on her hand when she didn't respond, "Rose. Tell me what's wrong."

Her vision became blurred as she looked up at him, "I tried so hard to stop her Tiberius. But she didn't….she didn't stop."

"Rose dear. You're scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."

"It's Amy. She's gone Tiberius."

"Gone? Gone where?"

Looking up at the Time Lord she spoke, "Amy's dead. She died. And…and…"

His mouth turned down and his eyes became confused, "But…but how? She was ok. She was in hiding."

"She followed me. Amy followed me into war."

His grip became tight and he looked away from her. Tears welled up in his eyes and slipped down his cheeks. Not a noise came from him as he silently wept. Her guilt grew as she watched him. She had taken what belonged to this Time Lord. Taken what was his since Amy was brought into this world and led it to its death. Leaning forward she rested her forehead on their joined hands as guilt and shame tore through her.

"I'm sorry. She wouldn't listen. Wouldn't stop and look at what she was following me into. She was my responsibility…"

"Stop," his firm voice penetrated the room. He placed his other hand on her head gently as she peered up at him, "that girl would have followed you to the ends of the universe. You have nothing to apologize for." He wiped the stray tears off her cheeks and continued, "When Amy was little she dreamt of the stars. Dreamt of all the adventures that she would one day have. And you gave her that."

She shook her head, "No. No I didn't."

He patted her hand, "You brought the stars to her by allowing her to be part of your life. My dear you were her guiding light. And no matter how much you try to deny it I knew from the moment that she first saw you. You gave her something that I could never give her. You gave her a mother. And for that I am grateful Rose."

The word 'mother' hit her full force and she buried her face in their joined hands. Sobs tore through her as Amy's final moments flashed before her eyes.

'…..the only honor I ever had was that you let me…that you let me…become part of your life. Almost as if I was your daughter.'

'The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter.'

Sitting down on the bed he mumbled in a chocked voice, "I was her father."

Settling herself she spoke through her tears, "And I…I was her mother."

And there they stayed. For the rest of the night they sat together there. Mourning the loss of their child. Amelia.

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Here we go….

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Her Tardis had landed in a strange room filled with, what one could only describe as, alien pieces of art. Literally. One was actually oozing some sort of purple puss. And everything was white. The walls, the floors, the doors. Everything except symbols that looked like red waterfalls in red circles on each side of a door way. It was a museum. Every sensibility told her it was. But somehow the room that was filled with odd paintings and sculptures didn't fit.

Standing a couple feet from the Tardis she took a small scanner out of her pocket. Pressing some buttons she scanned the room quickly.

The machine peeped twice in her hand and Rose took a step back in shock as she read the results. Time was layered here. Thousands of people had their time streams bent in a manner where they would repel each other while still being in the same location. Even though Rose couldn't see them she knew that there were people all around her. She was in a hospital. Not just any kind of hospital. She suddenly realized she was in the death ward of Apalapucia. She had heard of these so called 'death wards' during her travels but she had never been to one. From what she knew they were automated hospitals that ran thousands of time streams. And each time stream held one person. One person to make comfortable during their last days of life.

"The question is whose time stream am I in?"

Putting away the scanner she crossed the room and came upon a wall. When she turned to check if there was another exit she realized that she had passed through a door-way that seemed to stand parallel to the wall. Touching the arch it lit up and formed a white glow.

'Portal doorways.'

Walking forward she stepped through the doorway, "Well here we go."

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The halls were empty. No matter what door way she went through there was no sign of whose time stream she was in or any hospital staff. It was as if the hospital had been abandoned and there were no signs of life. That was until now. She had reached two white doors in between air ventilation screens that had some sort of red writing on it. Retrieving the scanner in her pocket she scanned the doors.

"Doctor…I'm waiting."

Eyes widening in astonishment she pushed the doors open and entered a room unlike any other. There were giant grey turbines that spanned the entire room and the inner workings of an engine room. Her voice caught in her throat as she started walking down the length of the room. The Doctor was somehow involved in this. And the more she thought of the possibilities that he was involved the quicker her stride became. No longer would she be afraid of him. Of what possible change he could bring to her lonely existence.

As she continued walking she almost missed the room that stood in between two old turbines. This small section was covered off with a barrier of various metal pieces that formed a curtain. Listening for any movement she edged closer. In a building where everything was perfect and clean, this was an oddity. And oddities were what she was here for.

Pulling back the curtain of metal she walked in. It was a metal room with various bits of metal put together to look like furniture. Scanning the cluttered room she relaxed as she realized there was no one there. But someone had definitely lived there recently. Made a life for themselves in this room.

'But why make a life in an old turbine room? This person must have been hiding.'

She stepped closer to a white robot that sat in a corner motionless. It had a face drawn on his blank head. Looking down she realized that its hands were cut off.

'So the anaesthetic rumours are true. Death ward drones to keep the dying calm. Whoever you are...you knew what was happening to you. And you were hiding from creatures just like this.'

As her concentration became fully centred on this odd robot she failed to hear the curtain open behind her. A clatter from behind her had her swivelling around.

Standing in the way of her only exit were three drones with their palms still up.

"This is a kindness," they spoke in a robotic voice as they came nearer.

Looking around for a weapon Rose spotted a broken off piece of pipe. Grabbing it she readied herself for the closest one to come nearer. Just as she was about to knock its head off the metal doorway was parted and a man walked through.

"Pause."

The androids hands fell to their sides and their heads dropped forward.

Not lowering the pipe Rose growled, "Who are you?"

The man grinned and put his hands in his pockets, "Hello Rose Tyler."

Rose took a step forward and repeated, "I said, who the hell are you?"

The man had short blonde hair and defined features. Dressed in a grey suit with a white crisp shirt he looked like a model out of a catalogue. He took a step forward, "No need to get testy Miss Tyler."

"Don't call me that," Rose gritted out. No one had called her by that name for a very long time. And she would rather avoid the memories attached to that name at the moment. Pointing the pipe at the man she said, "Now tell me. Who are you? What's going on here?"

The man walked forward a couple steps and ignored her question, "Then what should I call you?"

"Nothing. Names have power and I wish not to tell you," Rose said as she watched him carefully. His clothes did not look like hospital regulated garments and his way of manner unnerved her.

"We're not here to frighten you. You are exactly where you should be."

"We? Who else is here?"

The man gave a laugh and then stopped suddenly. His face froze and he didn't move an inch. His face twitched and he grunted. As she watched him she realized there was something wrong in his eyes. A vacant look had filled them before he twitched again and stood up straight.

Suddenly his body began changing and shifting. And in a matter of seconds before her stood the man that had given her the greatest gift anyone could ask for. Tiberius. His demeanor had changed completely in this new body as he stood stock still.

"I believe this form is more acceptable. We are the Teselecta. And we have a message. A message for Rose Tyler."

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Rose lowered the pipe in shock. She had not seen this Time Lord for decades, "You can't be here. You died."

"He has died. This form is more acceptable. We are the Teselecta."

The memories hit her full force. The pain of losing Amy. The shame of not being able to protect her. The betrayal she felt she had committed to this man. Looking up she ignored his penetrating old eyes. This wasn't him. It might look like him don't to the last inch but it wasn't him, "What are you?"

"We are the Teselecta. We travel through space and time correcting events and assuring that proceedings occur in the proper order. There is a bigger picture here that you are part of," he paused and didn't speak for a couple moments.

This had to be some sort of robot. Its ability to shift its form in a pixelated manner gave it away. She came to the only conclusion that fit, "You're from the future."

"Yes Rose. We know everything that you have done and everything you must do."

"Prove it," she spat out in disbelief. Time had taught her to be wary of the kind of people or creatures who knew too much.

"You lost her. You lost Amy. She followed you into war because she loved you. And according to Nelin your greatest honour was having her as a daughter."

The pipe dropped to her side in shock. In her time of great sorrow and before she had disappeared into the stars Rose had confided in Nelin. Poured her heart out. And somehow coming from this thing with Amy's father's face made her heart break.

He continued without pause, "Nelin worked for a higher purpose. A bigger picture. And that picture is being threatened. Someone is trying to change the Doctor's future. Trying to change what must happen to him. What must happen to you. And your cooperation is of the upmost importance."

"Why?" her voice trembled. Whoever this being was had known of Nelin and the Doctor.

"You remember how he told you that the Doctor would need you?"

Her brow furrowed, "Yes."

He took the final steps towards her and touched her arm, "Rose Tyler...you are going to help him die."

She took a step back and looked up at him in shock, "Die? I thought, I thought Nelin meant that he would need me in this life. In this regeneration I would help him...I would help him stop the loneliness." She stopped speaking as she tried to piece his words together. It made no sense. Nelin had mentioned that the Doctor would die but what part had she in it. She couldn't help him die. The world needed him. And somewhere in that moment she realized that she needed him too, "You want me to help him die."

"Yes Rose. His song is ending. Nothing can change that. You must stop her."

"Stop who?"

"Stop the River."

She sighed and looked away, "I'm so tired of the vagueness. I'm supposed to stop the river? Just tell me. You're not making any sense."

"I'm making perfect sense. You just aren't listening. You must find her. River Song. And stop her from changing what has already been set in stone."

"I can feel time shifting. There is no denying that. But you expect me to just take your advice and run with it? You might have known Nelin but I don't know you. You might have Tiberius's face but you are not him. You're telling me the Doctor is meant to die and I'm to help him. No. No. I won't. The universe needs him."

'I need him.'

He pursed his lips and enunciated each word, "Nelin always said you were quite difficult. This woman has been cheated out of a life she was dealt and wishes to change things. She does not understand the flow of time. I'm sorry Ms. Tyler but this is what must happen. Nelin promised you that your loneliness would end. And this is how it's going to happen."

A flaw in his plan emerged, "If he's dead then how will my loneliness be gone? Explain that to me."

"Because you're going with him. Your song will continue with him. You're an ancient creature. Both of you. Drenched in the blood of the innocent. Drifting in space through an endless maze. Such creatures...death would be a gift. And together you will end the loneliness and be together forever."

Her breathe caught in her throat as he spoke Nelin's words, "And where would we go?"

"Somewhere new. Another plane of existence that both of you have never experienced before. You'll turn the page in your new life. This world isn't the only one. Trust me on that. And once you're gone from your body you go there."

"To heaven?"

He shrugged, "Eh...not quite. But close enough."

Keeping an eye on him she began to think about the words spoken by this weird being. The Teselecta. As much as she tried to deny it, his words fit. They fit together with what Nelin had told her. She had hoped, a silly hope really, that their loneliness would end together in this life. But apparently they weren't being allowed this. They would end their loneliness in another life.

The time is coming. I will soon leave this place. But your time is coming as well. The time where your song ends…and another begins. With him.

"He knew."

He had known the entire time when he was dying that Rose wouldn't be able to spend the remaining years of her life with him in this universe. And her Tardis had brought her here. It had taken her where she needed to be. Not where she wanted to be. She was brought out of her thoughts when the Teselecta spoke, "Our time is up Rose Tyler and now you must go."

"What? I need more information. It fits. I won't deny it. But if you know Nelin as well as I do you know that I followed his first set of instructions. I have been letting my Tardis lead me to where I'm supposed to be. The Tardis wants me here. I understand that now. But I don't understand who River Song is and how you know this."

"How I know this is irrelevant. We have guided you here to tell you to stop her."

Rose shook her head in question, "So the Doctor can die? And what do you gain from this?"

There was an awkward pause and both creatures stared each other down, "Nothing. It is just how his time stream comes to an end. And so does yours. Do you now believe my words to be true Rose Tyler of Gallifrey?"

Placing the pipe down she could no longer deny what was happening, "I do."

"Then there is no more that we can tell you. You have always been able to guide him and take care of him when he needed someone the most. Two creatures...brought together to end their loneliness. Now the time has come where we will no longer see each other."

"Where are you going?" she peered up at him in confusion. The pieces were just beginning to fall into place and the Teselecta were leaving? No. She needed more time to work this out.

The Teselecta/Tiberius shook his head, "I'm not going anywhere. You are. She's here."

"She?" her brow furrowed and she took a step forward, "Who's here?"

"Amy's here."

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TO BE CONTINUED...

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Author's Note: I really want to thank everyone for reading. I've been a little overwhelmed with school work and had to put this on hold. Also...this is my SECOND draft. I didn't like the first one and had to revamp it.

So tell me what you think! REVIEW, REVIEW, AND HIT THAT MAGIC BUTTON!

P.S. BETA readers needed! Help me spot mistakes!