D

Inside John's lab, he and the Doctor worked at his computer station trying to pin down the correlation between the atmospheric disturbances, the space-time disturbances in the other universe and the blackouts. When they had arrived, the Doctor immediately recognized the design of the room, even noting the smaller entrance that created the illusion that the room was larger on the inside than out. The pair had spent hours moving between the TARDIS and the lab running the larger equations through the ancient ship's more advanced computer but doing the majority of the brainstorming inside John's intellectual sanctum.

"There has to be some level of disturbance on this side," the Doctor said. "The walls between our universes have weakened which is how we were able to get back here. There's also been some leeching of energies which explains why my TARDIS and the Executor's still function."

"Yes, the first time we came here we were almost stuck," John said. He turned from his computer. "I've finished my calculations and there have been blackouts before every atmospheric disturbance. That's more than a coincidence."

The Doctor thought about it. "Can we trace the losses of power to one area or is it widespread?"

John headed for the TARDIS. "I'll crunch the numbers and see what I come up with."

Staring at his screen, the Doctor turned slightly. "Also test the theory of a planetary shift." He pointed at the screen. "After Davros stole the Earth and we replaced it there were notable atmospheric disturbances for some time."

"The constellations still match up, remember?" John said. His eyebrows rose as he raised a finger, "But even the slightest shift could cause what we've seen. I was only able to get my equations down to a few million miles."

"The TARDIS can test to below the angstrom," the Doctor finished.

John rushed inside the TARDIS and marched around to one of the control panels. He began inputting information, testing the possibility of even the slightest shift in the position of the Earth. He pulled the viewing screen around to face him and moved through the TARDIS' data core accessing its computation center. There he found an on-going algorithm being equated. As his numbers were run, he studied it, a frown creasing his face.

"Why would he need to shuttle an entire planet into another universe?" He shrugged it off as his calculations were completed. He read the result and sprinted from the TARDIS back into his lab. "It is planetary shift. The Earth is moving. Well, parts of it. Well parts of parts."

"What do you mean?" the Doctor asked.

John gesticulated, "Particles of this universe are moving into yours and taking particles of the Earth with them. The atmospheric disturbances are in response."

The Doctor turned back to his screen typing furiously, "But they're escalating in intensity and frequency which means the number of particles crossing is likely increasing exponentially."

"Exactly," John said. "So far we've only lost a few atoms, maybe a molecule here and there but it won't be long before we start losing physical objects."

"The space-time disturbances have to have a focal point," the Doctor said. "What do you want to bet that the blackouts are the key?"

"That's a lot of math to work through. It's going to be a long night, I should probably call Rose and…" He winced. "Oh, I'm thick! I'm so thick!" He looked at his watch and his wince became a grimace. "Damn it!"

"What?" asked the Doctor, "what is it?"

"I need a lift," John said.

Ever After

"All right I want plates in the sink and children getting ready for bed," Rose called as she entered her kitchen. Though dressed in fuzzy pajamas and an apron, her hair up in a haphazard bun, her face was still made up for the recital earlier in the evening. The recital her husband had missed. As she started filling the basin to prep for the incoming dirty dishes she looked at her dormant cell phone. He still had not called.

The rear door burst open and John hurried inside, apology all over his face, hands up in surrender. "I know, I know," he said.

"Oh do you?" Rose asked turning and leaning against the counter. "You know? You know how worried I was when all I got from you was a frantic message and then nothing? You know how hard it was for me to keep a brave face when I picked up our panicked children from school and they kept asking about their daddy; whether or not you got caught in the storm? You know how your daughter could barely keep her eyes on her sheet music because she was constantly looking for you in the audience? You know?"

"Rose, listen," John began.

"No, you listen," Rose said. "I understand that your work is important and what happened today is probably the first thing on your desk but you could've bloody called!"

"You're right," John said. "You're absolutely right but something came up."

"What could be more important than your family?" asked Rose, angrier.

"Not more important," John said. He took her by the arms. "Never more important," He stepped aside so that she could see through the door leading to their backyard, "but, even you will admit, it is a bit distracting."

Rose turned her gaze from her husband. Beside her children's swing-set and slide was the box that had changed her life. Everything she was, everything she had, all of it began with that blue box. She passed John forgetting her anger, forgetting all the events of the day. Leaving the house, she walked barefoot through the cold wet grass but feeling nothing. She saw only the box.

It looked newer not as ramshackle as she remembered. To the touch, it still felt like wood but different somehow. She put her hand on the handle and pushed, the door opening; the creak still there. The inside was different. It was brighter, grander; the blue and the lights, the flowing arches, the roundels on the walls, the writing. The console was still in the center and so was he. He was there, standing at the controls, his back to her.

She could tell he was different, lean and tall. His clothing foreign; dated but somehow still relevant. His hair was not the same. The way he stood, everything was different; different but still the same; still the Doctor.

"Has the dust settled?" he asked in a new voice. "Is it safe?"

"Oh he'll be in the doghouse for some time I think," Rose said.

The Doctor straightened. Spinning, his hands held close to his chest, thumbs rubbing against his fingers. There was a moment of awkward silence before he nodded, "Pleasure to meet you Mrs. Smith." He went for a handshake. Rose surprised him with a hug.

"God I've missed you," Rose said into his shoulder. She stepped back and looked him over, "All right, let's see. Like the height. Hair is a bit much, so's the chin." She flicked his collar. "Like the bowtie; grown-up and kid-ish at the same time."

The Doctor smiled, "Don't forget cool."

"Not remotely," Rose said with a grin.

The Doctor laughed. "Okay your turn. You look exactly the same, love the jammies and the apron, but do you always go to bed made up?"

Rose ran a hand over her hair and looked down at her clothes, suddenly self-conscious. "Blimey, I'm not dressed. Um, come in. I'll put the kettle on while John puts the kids to bed. We can catch up." She turned and headed for the door.

The Doctor frowned, "Kids?"

Rose turned and smiled, biting her lower lip, "Yeah, two of 'em."

Ever After

Later, the Doctor was admiring a picture of the Smiths including their two beaming children. He dropped a lump of sugar into his tea and gave the steaming brew a swirl before taking a sip, smiling at the image. "Imagine that. Marriage, a home and a family," he mused. "They're beautiful."

"Thanks," Rose said. "They're a lot like you," she shook her head with a mirthful frown, "or him, or the both of you. Sarah Jane is always getting into trouble."

The Doctor looked up at her. "Sarah Jane?"

Rose smiled, "Yeah, Sarah Jane and Adric."

The Doctor looked down at the picture at the black-haired boy with sporting a mischievous grin, "Adric."

"Yes," John said as he entered the room. He looked to his wife. "They're down for now." He took a seat next to Rose who handed him a cup of tea. "The universe wouldn't be complete without them."

The Doctor smiled, "No, no it would not."

"So there are breaches opening up again?" asked Rose. "Are we in danger like before?"

"Not yet," John answered. "But it won't be like before. It will be worse. The data suggests we're running out of time."

"Oh," Rose said. "This seems eerily familiar, imminent doom and the Doctor, or Doctors. Have either of you a plan?"

"Still working out the specifics," the Doctor said.

"Very familiar," Rose joked as she took a drink.

"There's some information we're waiting for," John said.

"How long d'you think that'll take?" Rose asked.

There was a knock at the back door. John set down his cup and went into the kitchen. He returned with the Executor and the Samaritan in tow. The Doctor stood with a smile. The Samaritan stepped into his arms and gave him a hug.

"Dad, you won't believe what we found," she said.

"Dad?" asked Rose.

The Samaritan looked to John, "And you too, Dad, you need to have a look as well."

Rose gave her husband a surprised and dangerous look, "Dad?"

"Looks like you're never getting out of that doghouse," the Doctor joked.

The Doctor and Doctor Smith examined the Executor and the Samaritan's trophy while the Samaritan explained her origins to Rose. The two women bonded almost immediately and began sharing stories of the Doctor from when he was one man and then two. The Executor stood off to the side, looming in a corner, staring at the men poring over the metal head. Rose eyed him up noting the intensity of his scowl.

"So who's that then? He a product of Progenation like you?" she asked.

"No he's good old-fashioned Time Lord," the Samaritan answered. "Dad pulled him out before the fall of Gallifrey and turned him human. He was a warrior then although not the heroic type."

Rose looked to the Samaritan, "But he's better right? He's not like he was?"

"He's getting there," the Samaritan said. "There are times when I see it, the old fire. He tries to hide it but, I've been around him too long."

"And you love him," Rose said. She found the Samaritan staring at her. She shrugged. "Well it's obvious, isn't it? We are capable of seeing all aspects of the people we love, even the scary parts."

"Right so it's not a true Cyberman," the Doctor said.

"No," John agreed. He squinted through his glasses and turned the head on its side. Peering up through its neck he thought he saw something. Reaching into the pocket of his suit he took out a small object the size of a pen. Pressing a button the end lit blue and the device began to buzz.

The Doctor smiled and pointed, "Hey you managed to build a sonic."

John bobbed his head to one side, "Not…really, no." He held up his tool. "It's just a torch."

The Doctor frowned and pointed, "The fzzz?"

Rose piped up, "He misses the noise."

The Doctor nodded. He reached into his pocket and drew his sonic screwdriver. "Let me."

John held up a hand, "No, don't need it." His squint turned into a scowl. "I think I know what this is." He picked up the head and shined the light around the inside. "We need to go back to the lab."

"We can run the diagnostics in the TARDIS," the Doctor said.

"Don't have to," John said. "If it is what I think it is, everything we need will be at UNIT."

"Let's go then," the Executor said finally stirring.

John pulled up. "Oh well, you should uh, you should really hang back."

The Executor arched an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"Well, you…you don't quite fit in," John said. He pointed at the Samaritan. "Jenny would do fine. The jacket might turn some heads but that's it. You look like a soldier of Gallifrey."

"I am a soldier of Gallifrey," the Executor said.

"What my husband is failing at saying," Rose interjected, "is that, on this Earth, anything extraterrestrial sticks out. Lumic, the Cybermen, the reality breaches, all of it had an effect. People are still getting over their fears. Fear makes them vigilant…and dangerous."

"So?" the Executor asked.

"So you need a wardrobe change," Rose said.

"And Professor Bowtie the Antique doesn't?" the Executor asked.

"Oi," the Doctor bristled, adjusting his tie. "Who are you calling 'antique'? Your clothes are how old?"

"You two go to UNIT and get started," said the Samaritan, ending the debate before it could begin.

"We ladies will help this gentleman soldier find appropriate camouflage," Rose finished.

John swooped in giving Rose a kiss. "You're the best."

"And don't you forget it," Rose said. She watched her husband run into the garden.

The Doctor put a hand on her shoulder. "We won't be long."

"Hey," Rose said, stopping him. "You gave him to me. Don't take him away."

The Doctor backed toward the garden with a reassuring smile. He gave her a salute and disappeared through the door. He rushed through the garden and into the TARDIS, the doors closing behind him. John was at the console, giving it a quick study. The Doctor gestured. "The controls are basically the same."

John grinned and entered the coordinates for his lab. He put a hand on the main control lever. Looking to the Doctor, he got the go-ahead. He yanked on the lever. "Let's go!"