"I'm offering my name."
"Somehow I don't think that'll outbid an entire soul," Dean said after a few moments silence.
"What, the name of the creature that burned the Medusa Cascade? That annihilated the races of Time Lord and Dalek?" the Doctor asked. "Canton – I mean, Crowley – you recall the Silence, yes? Or, their mantra at least."
Crowley frowned. "Silence will fall when the question is asked," he said. "You're telling me the question is your name?"
"The question I've been running from my entire life," the Doctor confirmed. "Doctor who?"
"Is he being serious? Or is he just that full of himself?" Dean asked.
To their surprise, it was Samandriel who spoke next: "'On the fields of Trenzalore, at the fall of the Eleventh, when no creature can speak falsely or fail to answer, a question that must never be answered will be asked: the first question, hidden in plain sight. Doctor who?' An old prophecy, but always with the same outcome: Silence will fall."
"Exactly," the Doctor said. "My name is something that will apparently cause the fall of a race of aliens. Another one," he added. "And for one time only I am offering it and my final regeneration."
"Why?" Sam suddenly asked.
"I was wondering the same thing," Vili added. "Why not just kill everyone here and be done with the matter? It never stopped you before."
A sudden stillness fell over the Doctor, and he turned to face Vili.
"How much do you know of the Time Wars?" he asked Vili. "The Last Great Time War, to be exact?"
Vili shifted uncomfortably under the Time Lord's gaze. "It was a great war, between the Daleks and Time Lords. And you, Doctor, killed them all."
"I did many things during the War," the Doctor said. "I led a platoon of battle-TARDISes against a Dalek fleet. I saw Arcadia fall; I saw the Dalek command ship fall into the jaws of the Nightmare Child. I saw the Could've-Been King, with his army of Meanwhiles and Neverweres. I saw hell, during that war, where people died and came back to life within seconds, to fight again. Because that was the nature of the Time War. It was fought everywhere, there was no escape. And in the Time War, I saw what would happen if someone didn't end it. And who was there to end it? Another Time Lord? The Daleks? An outside party?" – The Doctor laughed briefly, bitterly – "No. There was nobody else who could end it. So I did. I destroyed my race, my people, and my children. For you. For creation. Because I saw this war would never end, not until the destruction was complete and the universe lay in ruins."
The Doctor took a breath, his voice verging on breaking. "I had to stand and watch while my planet was ripped apart in an explosion. The explosion ruptured through Time itself, obliterating Gallifrey completely. I can never go back. I have no home, no kin, just the vast, empty universe – a universe that convulsed when I ended the War. My people are all-but forgotten, but I can still see the War, I can still hear my people, everywhere I go."
The Doctor turned back to Vili. "I am not that creature anymore, bathed in the blood of my enemies. I'm just the Doctor. The man who fixes things. So, in answer to your questions, I'm a person who has given everything for people who know nothing of his existence. This sacrifice is nothing in comparison."
Suddenly, the Doctor's sadness and pain was gone, and he snapped back into a (somewhat) cheerful mood. "But I can't give you that, so I'll give you the next best thing."
"The secret of who ended the Time Wars," Plutus said, finally speaking up. "It means a lot to you," he added, "and considering the prophecy related to it is mentioned by the host of heaven itself, it means a lot to someone else as well."
Plutus nodded. "The bid is accepted. Congratulations, Doctor. The tablet is yours."
"Thank you," Linda Tran whispered, shocked by the sudden turn of events - this complete stranger offering everything for her son.
The only one who wasn't impressed by the Doctor's actions was Crowley. "Bollocks," he muttered to himself, before standing. "Looks like you save the day again, Doc. Maybe I should have let Nixon and the Secret Service shoot you."
"You wouldn't," the Doctor said assuredly. "You were too enthralled in the mystery presented to you."
Crowley smirked. "Suppose you're right."
The evening had drawn in, darkness was falling outside. The auction had closed; those who had not bought anything left. In the main room were the Doctor, Sam, Dean, and Linda Tran. Kevin hadn't been returned to them, due to the fact he was part of the sale.
The Doctor was sat, head bowed, forearms resting on his legs. He idly toyed with the manacles still encircling his wrists – since the auction wasn't officially over, they remained on his hands. Sam noticed the Doctor's movement, and spoke up.
"How did they capture you?" he asked, causing the Doctor to look up.
"A trick," the Doctor said. "A simple one, really, one I should have seen. I was- I was visiting friends, I suppose you could say. My best friends. And while there, they lured me into a trap."
He span on his seat, directly facing Sam and Dean. "My people had this power. The elders had this ability to summon a Time Lord's transport at will. Well, in your terms it's like using your mind to hail a cab but the point stands that if I were anywhere in the universe, I could be taken back to Gallifrey. It seems that this technology is no longer exclusive to my people. In fact, I thought it so similar that I even hoped that they'd survived. Again."
He sighed. "Just an old man's hope, though. And now, here I am. Bidding my soul and my name for you lot. What does this tablet mean to you anyway?"
While Sam and Dean gave a brief explanation of the tablet – and basically their lives – Linda Tran found herself next to Samandriel. He offered her a smile, before speaking.
"My name is Samandr- Alfie. I'm an angel."
"Who works at Weiner Hut?" Linda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, this is uh-" the angel began, but stopped himself short. "It doesn't matter. What you were prepared to do here, what the Doctor did, was amazing. I want you to know that my friends and I can protect your son. The Winchesters are exceptional men, but... they're just men. If Kevin comes with us-"
"Oh, no," Linda interrupted. "The last time the angels tried to help my son, I watched them die, and Kevin went missing for a year. So, no offense, but I'm gonna take my chances with them."
Samandriel nodded in response, offering her a sad smile. They turned back to the others, where Sam and Dean were finishing their explanation to the Doctor, who looked very interested in their motives for wanting the tablet.
"So, it can close hell's gates?" the Doctor asked thoughtfully. "Are you even sure it's hell?"
"Trust me," Dean said. "It is."
The look in his face made the Doctor stop questioning further. Instead, he nodded, standing. "Well, as long as your motives are pure..."
"You didn't know that earlier," Linda Tran said. "How come you did what you did with no idea what you were doing it for?"
"When I saw the tablet, in the other room, it gave me a headache. I can read and speak every language in the cosmos. I've only ever encountered one which I couldn't, and that one spelt bad news. Now, this tablet is bad, there's no doubt about it, but here you are, humans, going against things that are most certainly not human for it. And you're certainly not going for power – no person in their right mind sacrifices a soul for something that gives power. What's power to someone who can't enjoy it?" he asked. "Of course, the best thing would be for you lot to destroy it, but I know that won't happen. So, I go for the next best thing," he said simply. "Those who do not wish for power."
"How do you know we aren't after power?" Sam asked, curious.
"'I have both held and beheld unlimited power and of it I know but one thing: it drives men mad.'" The Doctor said.
"Alexander the Great," Sam supplied, when Dean frowned.
"I know you're not after power simply because you both have held and beheld it. Look at the power you held when you used that amulet," the Doctor said to Sam. "The people here didn't give me an ounce of respect, but you, a human, someone completely beneath them, did. More than that, you have the respect of Samandriel there, and you've certainly put a quake in Crowley's boots. Power is something that we all experience, either on the receiving or giving end. You two have clearly been on both, otherwise you would seek the tablet for other reasons; you would seek to use it to barter, like the people here. But no, you seek to use it for the good of humanity, as far as I can tell. Look at the extent Crowley and Samandriel went to bid on it. You bid on it so they wouldn't get their hands on it – no offense – " he added to the angel – "and you were willing to sacrifice everything for it. Clearly you weren't doing it for power, at least in the sense that usually means a bad ending."
The Doctor smiled for a moment. "Just call me Sherlock Holmes."
Dean rolled his eyes, before standing also when Beau entered the room. "You can go collect your items now," he said. "Oh, and Doctor, you'll need to stay a moment so I can remove your cuffs. They're designed so your soul stays where it should, but seeing as we don't know how much of you'll be left after your donation, we'll have to remove them."
"'Donation'," the Doctor quoted quietly, smirking. He nodded to the Winchesters and Linda. "I'll catch up," he said. Samandriel nodded silently to the Doctor, before disappearing, the sounds of wings being the only hint at his true nature. The Doctor stared for a second, a disbelieving smile on his face, before his attention was drawn back to Beau.
"Mjolnir, I've missed you," Mr Vili said, lovingly holding the hammer in his arms. Sam raised his eyebrows, eyes following the man as he moved to the other side of the room. Behind them, the Doctor and Beau entered the room.
"Where's the kid?" Dean asked, addressing Plutus. The man sighed, slightly in annoyance, before snapping his fingers. Kevin, looking a little surprised at the sudden teleportation, appeared next to them, where he was enveloped in his mother's arms.
"What're you gonna do with his-" Sam gestured to the Doctor, "-soul?" he eventually settled on.
"Whatever I want," was the reply. "I might sell it, or maybe I'll just tuck it away with my other precious objects, let them keep me warm at night." He laughed softly. The Doctor didn't even bat an eyelid; he straightened his shoulders and held Plutus' gaze.
"What will you give first?" he asked. "Name or regeneration?"
The Doctor thought for a moment. "Name," he said eventually. "Don't really know what happens once I lose my regenerations..."
"Whenever you're ready," Plutus said, somewhat graciously.
The Doctor was silent for a good while.
"I'm waiting..." Plutus said, slightly annoyed.
"Bollocks," the Doctor muttered, causing those around him to frown. "You had to go and do that, didn't you?"
It wasn't clear who the Doctor was talking to, when suddenlyhe stepped back, body convulsing like it had received an electric shock. Then, suddenly, he slapped himself on the cheek.
"Oh, now that's not fair, Doctor, I told you to play nice," he said aloud.
Dean had recognised the swear word, however, and the tone in which it had been said.
"Doctor?" he questioned, already moving into a defensive position.
In response, the Doctor looked up, eyes turning a deep, dark red. He spoke in a voice that wasn't the voice of the Doctor. "Hello boys."
He snapped his hands out, sending the Winchesters flying to nearby walls, while Plutus gaped.
"No," he said. "You can't. My warding spells."
"Your girl Friday showed me a few loopholes," the Doctor/Crowley said, causing Plutus' gaze to fall on Beau, who smiled and shrugged. "And all it cost me was an island in the South Pacific. I love a bargain."
It was at that point that Beau decided to act, and stabbed Plutus from behind with a stake. As soon as Plutus fell, the Doctor was there, pulling the stake from Plutus' heart and throwing at Kevin's guard.
"Can't do all my tricks, but I can do-" he was cut off, as the Doctor's body convulsed again. This time, his manner changed completely.
"I will not permit this to go on Crowley," he said, almost as if he were reprimanding himself. As Dean picked himself up from the floor, he saw the look on the Doctor's face. And it was pained, like he was trying to hold back some sort of mental force.
Was he... was he fighting possession?
"Get. Out. Of. Me." The Doctor intoned, before his body convulsed again, and he reverted back to his original tone and mannerisms. Crowley was back.
"If I had a penny for every time I'd heard that," he said, stooping to pick up the Word of God, which had fallen to the floor in the ensuing chaos. "Now Doctor, stay put this time. Stop trying to ferret your way out."
He threw out his hand again, sending the Winchesters – and this time, the Trans too – skidding across the floor again.
"I could do this all day," he said, a grin sitting uncomfortably on his features. "But alas, places to be, people to kill. And one out of two ain't bad. Catch you later, Kevin!"
With that, he fled the room. Dean was the first to pick himself up, and he made a grab for the demon-killing knife he'd been forced to surrender. He bolted after Crowley, who was extremely quick on the Doctor's long-limbs.
Or, he would have been, if it were not for the Doctor fighting the possession every inch of the way.
A/N: So, yes, here's the latest update!
To the reviewer who asked about Stull (and then I guess "Swan Song") being a fixed point, in my opinion, the meeting at the cemetery was fixed. What happened in the course of said meeting was not. Sam's ability to overcome Lucifer etc was all part of a flux moment. In my opinion anyway. I hope that makes sense.
Also the bit where the Doctor slaps himself is because Crowley swore and the Doctor managed to fight back enough to counter that. Because he's such an innocent soul, I think a basic swearword like that would probably make him do something like that. The reason for his swearing was because the Doctor 'blocked' him, like he did with Cassandra in "New Earth".
To the reviewer who asked why Clara wasn't in this fic, she's not here simply because I couldn't see a plausible way to fit her in, and at the end of "The Rings of Akhaten" you were given the impression that she'd gone home for a bit - maybe a night or something.
I couldn't resist the speech about the Time War, I even researched all of that stuff for it, so the information in the speech is within Doctor Who canon.
As for the whole "Beheld power" speech, I'm not as sold on it, but I felt there needed to be a reason for the Doctor's help. And to use Alexander The Great's words, the Doctor is indeed a man who has both "held and beheld unlimited power". As have the Winchesters. And each of them saw the way it drove people mad. So yes.
I hope you all enjoyed the update!
The question is, can we work out how the Doctor's gonna force Crowley out...?
