Unwritten
By: Jecir
Chapter Three: The Impossible Gathering
"There," the Doctor said as he pulled the lever that would send them into the Vortex. "We're in the TARDIS. Now," He clapped his hands and turned to the impossible gathering. "Explain. What are you—" He looked pointedly at Rose for a moment. Her sharp brown eyes were still cold but the defensive air was greatly lessened. Maybe it was the lack of close proximity; maybe it was the TARDIS; whichever, she was slightly—emphasize slightly—less hostile at the moment. The Doctor was grateful for this. Angry Rose Tyler was never a good thing, but cold and distant Rose Tyler was worse. Much worse. He broke her gaze and continued. "What are all of you doing here?"
The Ponds exchanged a rather curious look with River. The elusive prisoner hesitated—something she never did—and glanced at Jack. The time-stopped Captain nodded to her. River squared her shoulders and stepped up to the task of explanation. "We were recruited, same as you," she said as if that should be enough.
"Recruited?" the Doctor asked with a pensive frown. "By who? And why for that matter."
"By someone who trusts you more than anyone else in the universe."
The Doctor's frown deepened. "And who would that be?"
River shrugged. "Spoilers."
"Yes," the Doctor drawled with a touch of contempt. He hated that word. "But why?"
"We don't know," River admitted. "All we have are these envelopes and three clues."
"Clues?"
"Space," Rory said in a valiant effort to pull the Doctor's probing attention away from the faltering Dr. Song; another strange thing, the Doctor noted in what was becoming an increasingly long mental list. River Song never faltered, but today, at this moment in time, she was off her game, whatever game it was.
"Space!" the Doctor repeated in mock joviality. Space made everything easier.
"And 1969," Rory added flatly, having caught, noted, and assimilated the Doctor's displeasure and showed the proper amount of humility to stave off any more mocking.
"And a man named Canton Delaware," River finished, saving the young man from further interrogation. Faltering or not, River could take the Doctor's questions without endangering whatever secret they were keeping; Rory and his dear Amy were not so skilled. The Doctor would make sure that never changed.
"Yes," the Doctor said again, frustrated in his musing as he began to pace about the TARDIS. "But why? What is so important about those three things to risk….you?" He pointed to Rose.
Rose Tyler, an eternal mystery, the human who defied impossible. No one should tempt fate like that. Never. Not once. But she had. More than once. Several times, in fact. And here she was, doing it all again. It made the Doctor angry. He did not know how to cope with being angry. It was new to him; surfaced solely in this life; and what was worse, he knew not how to be angry with Rose Tyler. But he was. And he would face it head on. Closing the gap between them, he leveled his ancient eyes on hers. Tension filled the air, demanding all to silence. Only the Doctor and his prey were granted permission to speak. "How," he demanded. "Are you here."
Rose did not cowering under his authority. She never had to and proved now she never would. A single eyebrow perked and a mocking little smirk twisted her lips as she said, "Jack's vortex manipulator. Though," She turned her smirk to Jack. "We were a few minutes late."
"That's not what I meant," the Doctor said.
Rose leaned forward a bit. "Irrelevant."
"Two universes poised to break." The Doctor raised his brown to match hers. "Irrelevant?" He crossed his arms. "I do not remember you being this cold."
"I don't remember you wearing bow ties," she countered.
The Doctor instinctively fixed his tie. "Bowties are cool."
"Doctor."
"What happened to you?"
Something shifted in her eyes. For the first time, her cool exterior metaphorically blinked. "You're getting off the subject."
"I like being off the subject," he said. He was determined now that he had the advantage.
She glanced away. "Doctor, please."
"Don't keep secrets from me." To the outside world, it was a demand; in truth, it was a plea.
"Space." Her voice was beginning to waver. Just slightly, lost to the undiscerning.
The Doctor was extremely discerning. He dropped his voice to an intimate whisper, "You never kept secrets from me."
"1969."
"I will find out," he promised.
Rose met his promise with a challenge. "Canton. Delaware."
The game was over. It was a draw.
Time and all reality could breathe again.
The Doctor stepped back. "Canton Delaware. Well, that could be anyone." He turned away; he never saw the flash of relief in her eyes. "How many of those running about, 1969 or not. There was a war before then and lots and lots of babies afterwards. I need more than that. And no, space will not narrow it down, Rory, thank you."
Rory stepped back and frowned.
"Everett," Jack supplied. "His full name is Canton Everett Delaware the third."
The Doctor smiled. "There!" He pointed to Jack. "That I can use. Thank you, Jack, for being useful, unlike the rest of you lot." He waved his hand about, dismissing them entirely as he turned to the momentary task at hand.
In that moment, two things happened.
Amy nearly ran past the Doctor to disappear down the stairs leading below the TARDIS consul with River following swiftly.
Rose, for her part, exited with more decorum and grace. Shoulders squared and head thrown back with every ounce of Tyler pride, she marched up the stairs to the honey-comb corridors beyond.
Silence once again descended upon the TARDIS control room.
The Doctor leaned heavily on the consul. His words, though containing a mild level of contemplation, were designed to lighten the mood. Rory saw it at face value. Jack knew better. "Why is every female here cross with me?"
"I don't know. I'll go check." Rory followed his wife to the lower decks.
Jack sauntered toward the stairs.
"Jack."
The Captain halted on the top step.
The Doctor did not look at him. "Are you going to tell me?"
Jack smirked. "Of course not." He continued upward and onward after Rose.
In the solitude that now embraced him, the Doctor allowed himself a moment's weakness. He hung his head and closed his eyes; years of regret reflected in the lines of his age. Then, it was gone, pushed back into the past where it belonged. The Doctor looked up and moved forward.
THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE! THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE! THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE!
"Well," she whispered as she ran her fingertips along the unfamiliar and yet so very familiar walls of the TARDIS. "That could have gone better."
She didn't expect an answer. She never did.
She ignored the ache of her heart when no answer came.
"It's alright now," she continued, talking to no one. It was a habit she had developed. Those in authority rarely had a safe confidant. Solitude was the companion of power, thus speaking out loud became her solace. "You survived. You always survive. And you will survive this."
She leaned back against the hexagonal hallway and released all her pent up frustration in one heavy sigh. Everything had changed. She had accepted—no, expected that. It should not bother her now that the truth was revealed. She had been gone a long, long time. And things had changed.
She would do what she learned to do best.
She would move on.
"It won't be hard," she counseled herself as she ran her hands over her face. "You prepared for this. It is all as you expected."
"And what was expected?"
Rose turned to face her sole companion and friend. Through all of the time and change, Jack remained. He was not immune to the effects—none of them were—yet he had succeeded in regaining his place in her heart. He would be the only one. "Everything's changed," Rose said in a tone reminiscent of one commenting on the weather. "The Doctor, the TARDIS. Even new companions. Did you see? A married couple."
"Rose."
"Very sweet. I must congratulate them. Rory especially, keeping his girl loyal with the…" She trailed off. "Time and change."
Jack rolled his eyes.
"What?" she asked. Jack crossed his arms and shook his head. Rose frowned. "Don't start. We knew what we were getting into when we got our summons."
"I don't think we did."
Rose paused to recall the events of the day. "Well, yes, the Doctor's death was a bit of a shock."
"Don't you think it's strange that he invited us to his death."
"No," Rose dismissed with a wave of her hand. "That's exactly like him."
Jack smirked. "That's not what I meant."
"Then please," she said as she turned to face him fully, one hand on her hip. "Enlighten me."
"The Doctor," Jack began.
"A future version of that Doctor," Rose supplied.
"Sends us, two people he has not seen for a long time,"
"Very long time," Rose reminds herself.
"To his death. That's not strange?"
"No," Rose said. "He had to invite us because he remembered us being there."
"At his death, which he invited us to attend in the first place."
"Exactly," Rose confirmed. "Time travel. Paradox. Easy. You should know that already."
Jack shook his head. She was being stubborn. "So, Commander, what now?"
"We wait," she said simply. "Our timelines are now part of the unfolding events. Once it plays out, we leave."
"We leave?" Jack asked skeptically. "Just like that?"
From down the hall came the Doctor's belligerent declaration of "I'm being extremely clever up here and no one is standing around looking impressed. What's the point of having you all?"
Jack grinned.
Rose closed her eyes. The pain that crossed her face was not lost to her friend, but she knew he would have the decency to pretend otherwise. This was not her Doctor. She had no reason to stay. Looking Jack firmly in the eyes, she said, "Just like that."
THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE! THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE! THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE!
Things were quickly deteriorating in the control room. Not only had the Doctor determined that Space, 1969, and Canton Everett Delaware III were indeed important—"Big temporal tipping points where anything's possible!"—but also that they were most certainly not going until he got some answers. Sitting back in his chair, the Doctor fixed an almost condemning stare upon his three current companions. Rose watched from the safety of the stairs as the drama continued to unfold.
"Don't play games with me," he said, his eyes flickering for a moment to the blond that was currently the root of his foul mood. "Don't ever EVER think you're capable of that."
River, the brave woman who had taken the Doctor's abuse almost singlehandedly, stood once more in his path. "You're gonna have to trust us this time."
"Trust you?" the Doctor asked, almost laughed, as he stood. "Sure. But, first of all, Doctor Song." He closed the distance between them. Rose felt Jack stiffen next to her as the Doctor bore down upon River Song. "Tell me something. Who are you?"
Rose narrowed her eyes. What sort of questions was that?
"You're someone from my future, guessing that, but whom?"
Oh, Rose thought. So, River has her secrets too.
River gave no reply.
"Ok." The Doctor tried again. "Why are you in prison? Who did you kill, hm?"
"Prison?" Jack whispered, confused.
River flushed in shame and looked once more to Jack. Her eyes swam momentarily with regret. She did not look away until the Doctor spoke again.
"Now, I love a bad girl, me, but trust you?"
River met his gaze.
The Doctor scoffed. "Seriously?"
"Trust me."
Rose straightened from the railing, intrigued, as Amy stepped forward. This was a twist. She was almost certain it was River who was the new companion and that Amy and Rory were along for the ride. But now, as she watched the Doctor and the young red-head and the shaken River Song, she began to reevaluate her theory.
"You have to do this and you can't ask why," Amy nearly pleaded.
"Are you being threatened?" the Doctor asked with genuine concern. "Is someone making you say that?"
"No," Amy deflected.
"You're lying."
"I'm not lying."
Yes, she is. Rose thought.
"Sweat to me," the Doctor said. "Swear to me on something that matters."
Rose leaned on the railing, anxious for the answer. What mattered to this Doctor?
"Fish fingers and custard."
The answer was surprising, yet, as the Doctor sagged back in what Rose could only interpret as relief, she wondered at her surprise. This may not be her Doctor, but it was still the Doctor. And sometime the simplest things had the most meaning for him. The minor similarity was a small comfort, one she stored in her heart for future reflection. For now, she needed to focus. They were heading into something dangerous. She would be ready.
"My life in your hands, Amelia Pond."
Amy relaxed, relieved. "Thank you."
"So," the Doctor clapped again and turned to address the gathering. "Canton Everett Delaware III. Who is he? Come on, you lot, let's find out. You two!" He pointed to Rose and Jack. "You're a part of things, so you might as well help." He performed his dance about the TARDIS, and they were off again.
Jack broke from Rose's side to speak to River. Rose watched the Captain steer the willing doctor into a corner. Once upon a time, Rose would have laughed at the Captain's antics. He would have seen the pretty professor and slid in for an introduction, followed by the Doctor's groan and command to "Stop it!" with which Jack would have countered with "I am just saying hello!" and the banter would move on. However, that was a side of Jack she had not seen, well, since before she found him in that bar, centuries older and equally surprised to see her as she was to see him.
Even now, it was not oily charm that dripped from Captain Jack Harkness. No, as he and River conversed in low tones away from the world, she saw genuine concern in his eyes. Indeed, the pretty professor had caught his eye, but not in any way Rose had ever seen. And she did not like it. She had warned him that they were leaving once this was over. Attachments would make that harder.
But, for now, she would let it lie.
Amy and Rory stayed back as well, letting the Doctor do his work. Rose would have to congratulate the young man. Not only had he kept his wife from the allure of the Doctor—a feat that would test any man and best most—but he had won a fiery, strong-willed woman who stood as the true companion. That was an accomplishment. Rose promised herself that, while here, she would protect those two, no matter the cost.
Rose turned to the TARDIS consul and began to search for any information on Canton Everett Delaware III. A portion of the work was already done. He had been found. Now, to go deeper. She typed away at the TARDIS keyboard, reading the information coming up with a trained eye, discarding the unnecessary and pulling out the relevant. She was so caught up in her search that she failed to notice him.
"You don't trust me."
It was not a question. It was not meant to be.
Rose paused in her search. She would not lie. Not about this. "What gave me away?"
The Doctor turned to the readouts on the screen. "You never used to keep secrets from me. But now, I can't get a straight answer."
"Well observed." She continued her work.
"What happened, Rose?"
The softness of his tone caused her to stop. She resisted the urge to bite her lip, to turn away, or even just look at him. She would remain steadfast. She would survive. Adopting the mantel that had kept her safe all these long years, she said, "Time and change."
The answer must have baffled him, for he repeated it with a mix of confusion and disbelief. She could not blame him. After all, once upon a time, she had stood in defiance against the impossible. To say such a submissive thing now was quite the change.
Wanting to return to her work and away from dangerous subjects, she allowed an explanation. "Time passes and things change. You of all creatures should understand that one."
"Yes, but," The confusion was still evident. She felt his eyes upon her face. She heard the near desperation that he was trying to hide in his words. "Not you," he said. "Never you."
She could not stop the short, bitter laugh that escaped her. Perhaps she had allowed it to pass. Let him hear it. Let him suffer. Just a little bit. Perhaps. Maybe Fate would punish him just a little bit, for it had given out its fair share of punishment to her. But she survived. She always survived. "Yes me." Anger and bitterness bubbled up in her heart. Not toward him—it was not his fault—but she pointed it at him none the less. Why couldn't he just let it go? "I am not your Rose Tyler anymore," she said, finally facing him with an honest, open soul. "And you…" She trailed off. The shock on his face stole the heat from her words. She turned back to the screen and resumed her work, the mantel falling over her soul, blocking him again. "You are not my Doctor."
The TARDIS beeped. "Here we go," Rose said, forcing them back to the moment. "Canton Everett Delaware III. Got kicked out of the FBI."
The Doctor watched her for a lingering moment then shook his head. He was not finished. She knew that. But for now, he turned to the screen. "Why?"
"Seems he had a problem with authority. The details are unknown. But," She pulled up a new set of information. "Six weeks after he left, the President contacted him for a secret meeting."
"1969," the Doctor mused. "Who's President?"
A few commands typed in and… "Richard Millhouse Nixon. Vietnam. Watergate. Not the best leader."
"Not the worst but close."
"A bit harsh."
"Says the pot to the kettle."
Rose let that slide. "Oh well, Allons-y."
The Doctor snapped his head around. Rose flushed at the slip but refused to acknowledge it. The Doctor grinned. "Geronimo."
AN: Many of you have commented on Rose's un-Rose-like portrayal. I hope this chapter has eased some of your fears. Much has happened to Rose Tyler, and, if you stay with me through this journey, I promise, you'll find out. Thank you so much for the reviews. The next chapter is going to be less emotion-ladden and more like the Doctor Who we all love. Get ready, because the adventure is about to begin. Allons-y!