"Nineteen hours, six minutes and twelve seconds." Skynet interjected helpfully.
Chapter 09
The next several hours proved to only be a waiting game. They didn't leave the room but to obtain meals until near the appointed hour had arrived. For caution, the three emerged fifteen minutes prior to eight and hid amongst the tree line. So far the skies were clear although Sara pondered how the fatal injuries would take place. On the show, the TARDIS crashed, but the Doctor was mostly alright if a little disoriented from just regenerating. But then, in a parallel reality things could go all so slightly askew. For one example, she know Amelia Pond's aunt didn't have a bed and breakfast so that was one change. How could she with a crack in her wall taking random person out of existence? But she shrugged. She must be just trying to make a living during difficult times when the girl's own parents were gone.
They both saw the TARDIS at the same time rushing towards the earth, light pulsing around it as it burst through phone lines, knocking into trees and hit the ground hard. It was smoking but the TARDIS lights were on, if not dimmer. Small flames rippled around the area. But the other lodgers in the bed and breakfast were what was causing the problem. The two girls heard two or three men exclaim from inside at the noise. One made it to the porch staggering. Nova could tell he was intoxicated, muttering something about aliens and trespassers. That whoever landed was dangerous. Nova could only hold her breath as suddenly Amelia scurried past him in a dash towards the craft carrying a flashlight.
The Doctor suddenly climbed out, soaking wet as he laid eyes on Amelia. He stumbled briefly. "Could I have an apple?" He started. "All I can think about. Apples. I love-"
Two gunshots rang through the air, striking the Doctor squarely in the chest as both girls gasped and Amelia froze in sudden terror.
"Filthy, alien trespasser!" The drunken man exclaimed. "Go back to where you came from! We don't want your kind here!"
Nova immediately turned to Sara, horrified at what she saw but struggling to put it aside. "Okay, I'll deal with him." She would surely knock the man out and give him nightmares besides for his cowardly actions. "Skynet, you and Sara, get the Doctor back onboard the TARDIS and heal him."
"You'll be there too, right?" Sara asked desperately.
Nova nodded. "As soon as I'm done dealing with him."
"I could dispense with the human." Skynet said coldly.
Sara pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I need you to help me get him back on board. Please." She insisted. "For your mother's sake."
He finally nodded and proceeded with Sara to the Doctor's side where Amelia had fallen to her knees. The little girl's hands were covered with blood as the Doctor was there struggling to breathe.
"He'll be alright, won't he?" The child asked. "Santa sent him and someone sent by Santa can't die. He'll…." Tears came down her face.
"I'm going to help him, Amelia." Sara told her gently. "But I need you to be brave and wait just out here until we're done. Then, he'll be right there to talk to you about what you wished from Santa."
"You know about that?" The girl's eyes widen. "Did Santa send you too?"
"In a way, maybe he sent the three of us." She glanced at Nova who had glaringly rendered the man with the gun unconscious before her and was whispering things into his ear as she held onto his arm. "So, will you wait right here?"
Amelia nodded shakily as Skynet carried the Doctor bodily back inside the sparking console room of the TARDIS and Sara swallowed as she fell on her knees beside him, looking directly into the Doctor's green eyes as he looked blearily at hers. She started to summon her empathy as Nova stumbled through the entry way and Sara licked her lips as the glow went to the outside of her skin.
"If this still works and we are still here, I don't think I will be able to move for a few minutes." She warned.
"Understood," Skynet replied.
"We also don't know what will happen to you." Nova told him wearily. There was a possibility the TARDIS would protect the travelers from the paradox and the possibility they would all be reset. From here, they were in unknown territory. If Skynet remained, he would have to remain in the Doctor's custody for the foreseeable future. As a creation from an unstable A.I., he was far too dangerous.
He nodded briefly as he watched with calculated interest while Sara channeled time energy, transferring the glow from herself and pouring a vast quantity directly into the Doctor himself while his body became covered in diffuse light.
Nova at this point could only think of the time line that was about to cease to exist as new events were going to take place. "Forgive us." She whispered. Perhaps to the Doctor or to the universe itself. She couldn't stand to hear the TARDIS cry out in pain. Neither girl could bear the machine's utter agony and now they even doubly understood why. The Doctor had been gunned down as a result of human crime after saving the world. 'Humans kill what they don't understand.' She remembered Skynet's words.
The last of the time energy soaked in the Time Lord's body as the wounds disappeared, the Doctor's eyes cleared and he took a deep, lingering breath. Sara collapsed on the floor, her head spinning. For now, for her part, she had succeeded. What would happen next?
Nova moved quickly, knowing that Sara would have healed all major injuries, but the crash itself would have given the Doctor minor ones. "Stay still, Doctor." They hadn't disappeared either. She had actually expected it; just opening her eyes to be back in that car with Donna. Her head went up, but Skynet was nowhere to be found. Her heart went out to the A.I. Thank you, Skynet. You saved your mother. Sacrificing himself to save the TARDIS, as any good son would.
Her periwinkle eyes went back to the Doctor, who was looking at her curiously. "Who are you?"
She steeled her heart, hardening it for what she knew would occur. Once he found out what they had done, and it wouldn't take much longer she was certain, his reaction would be huge, angry, and hurtful. "I'm Nova, Doctor. Sara saved your life."
He slowly sat up, peering at the redhead kneeling beside him, and the unconscious brunette on the ground. His mind was filled with the sensation of a paradox so huge it would have collapsed several dimensions…but it was closing. In another two seconds, it was gone. He waited, watching that paradox carefully until it was no more. It was a good thing it was able to be fixed on its own, because he didn't have enough time to do it himself. That huge paradox was the reason he had crashed to begin with. The poor TARDIS had gone crazy with information and something had knocked loose. Then, his mind returned to the present and his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Forgive you for what?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "How do you know me?"
Nova bowed her head. She couldn't look in his eyes as she told him exactly what had occurred. "I've known you all my life, Doctor. I dream about you at night…" she explained everything, leaving nothing out. She knew any detail obscured would be detrimental. They were already in so much trouble. By Gallifreyan law, he had the rights to kill them both. Or worse. So, she explained how she had landed on the TARDIS, running into Sara. The Doctor forcibly adopting them and their mad run to get away. She explained about landing in the time travel room that only barely had time travel, watching his Eleventh face speak so oddly. Their conclusion that the TARDIS herself had gone mad with the pain of his death. Finally, their mission to fix it; to save his life. "We knew that you had to see Amelia first…God forbid you imprint on Skynet. So, we hid and waited until the last second." She took a deep stabilizing breath. "Little Amelia is waiting outside for you to fix the crack in her wall. I took care of the human that shot you…he won't do anything like that again, not to anyone."
The Doctor never interrupted her. He just let her speak; listening as her voice broke in certain spots with intense emotion. He gave no outward indication of his mental or emotional state. "While I take care of the crack, do I have to say for you and Sara to stay in the ship?" he asked calmly, no emotion in his voice at all. She rapidly shook her head negatively. "Good." He got to his feet, picking up Sara in his arms gently, and took both girls to the infirmary. He made sure that Sara was secure, since she was still unconscious, and healthy, before he left he turned to Nova. "I assume you know what will occur with this crack?" Nova nodded immediately. His lack of showing any emotion or indication of how he was going to react was making her very nervous. Did he imprint on Skynet anyway? Or is he just tightly reigning in his emotions so that he doesn't do anything he'll regret? Especially since he knows that there is a little 7 year old girl out there waiting for him… "Are you going to interfere?" Nova shook her head again. "Good. Stay with your sister while I sort this out. After which, the three of us will talk about what will happen. You are both too dangerous…you have made that abundantly clear." For a split-second, Nova could see the anger and rage in his eyes, in his voice when he had said 'abundantly'. The rage was so close to the surface…he was keeping a very tight leash on it. She flinched, looking down again. At least I know he didn't imprint on Skynet. "I'm going to lock you in the infirmary." She nodded again in acknowledgement. She didn't want to provoke him any further. "I will also transfer the adoption bond to myself as soon as I get back. Inform your sister when she wakes." And then he left.
Nova heard a distinct 'click' when the door closed and she collapsed into herself. "Oh God, Sara…I knew he would be angry…but this? I've never been afraid of his Eleven before…he scares me, the way he keeps all his real emotions hidden." She waited anxiously for Sara to waken.
Nova heard the klaxon clang and felt as the ship dematerialized not long after. She sent a warm feeling to the TARDIS and was surprised to feel deep emotional pleasure, reassurance, and caring back. Nova giggled softly. She saw Sara's eyes flutter open and spoke with a watery smile, "This TARDIS likes us a lot. I don't think she'll let the Doctor do anything major…but he's already said that he's going to transfer the adoption bond to him after he takes care of the crack in Amelia's wall. Probably to have a ready-access leash so that he always knows our emotional state and where we are. A mental GPS really. How do you feel, sweetie?"
Sara swallowed, still feeling a bit lethargic from the exertion but it was to be expected. Healing a Time Lord was no small feat but it was less of an exertion then bubbling the three through time. Tears came to her eyes. "I don't want to be bonded again." She said, her voice shaking. She knew the Doctor would be mad but she could feel how fragile that timeline was. Skynet had said he sent time travelers to the past to kill people. John Connor sent another. Oh, she would have the guilt for what she did for the rest of her life, however long that would be. But a part of her could sense it was faltering. Like her own reality that had been snuffed out of existence due to a paradox. That reality had fallen apart. What else could they do? The war would have continued if they had not interceded, more time travel might have been used…how many time lines would have been casualties from the devastation? She pushed herself up right. "Couldn't we just go?"
"Sara," Nova bit her lip. "He locked us inside the medbay while-" Her sentence was cut off, watching her friend as she panicked as she ran to the door, futilely pulling on it in desperation. She immediately put her arm around Sara in comfort even though she was very nervous herself. "I promised we would both stay here." She told her sister. "Please Sara, let's not make this any worse."
"Any worse?" Sara asked. "He's going to lock us up. Probably put us inside a room and throw away the key." She looked around the room. "Where's Skynet?"
"He's gone." Nova's voice tried to remain even. She knew the Doctor had every right to measure out the punishment her sister described although she hoped that wouldn't be the case. "We expected this. So did he." She licked her lips. "He knew what this could mean…" She glanced at her sister to see Sara's distinct pain in her expression.
"I thought…." Sara muttered. "It's silly but I guess I didn't mind him so much and I thought if I got him inside the TARDIS herself, since she was a paradox machine, it would protect him. I know he thinks like a machine and he's dangerous but….what are we if not then too? He's like the TARDIS. I mean, sort of like me but we can talk to him and I just…" She swallowed, tears filling her eyes. "It's so stupid."
"No, it's not." Nova said. "He was her son after all and the TARDIS understands. She knows what happened. Maybe I can help you connect with her better so you can feel her a little like how I can. That might…." She gave a brief shrug. It would be something to help as a buffer through this arduous time.
Suddenly, the door clicked and opened as the Doctor stood there, examining both girls grimly before proceeding inside.
Sara promptly backed away. "Doctor, please. I know you're mad after what we did….but don't, please don't force transfer our bond. Neither one of us consented in the first place. I lost my entire universe and he knocked me out. Did it against my will. Please…." Her voice started to crack. "If you're going to take our bond and lock us up, I would prefer you just exact the full penalty for what happened and kill me." She glanced at her sister. "I healed you, causing the paradox. I was able to buffer us through the time machine. It was my fault, not Nova's." She didn't know exactly what Nova had told the Doctor but she thought her bluff might be worthwhile. "I'm sorry. I'm ready to take the penalty for my crimes."
Nova let out an internal groan as the Doctor studied her expressionlessly. "An interesting argument but a lie nevertheless, isn't it Sara?" He asked. "I am fully aware that you both participated."
"Doctor…" Nova started. "Sara's tired…we are both responsible and…"
"You might be interested to know who I found outside." He said, his voice firm.
The girls looked at each other in askance before facing him. "Amelia?"
"Interesting guess. I assume by your response that she will become a companion?" They both nodded. "Hmmm…but no. It wasn't Amelia."
They shrugged in confusion and watched as a new person walked into the infirmary.
"Wait…." Sara looked at the man in confusion. "You look familiar." She paused. "The man in the portal." She looked at Nova with alarm. "Kyle Reese." She remembered John Connor saying his name. "What is he doing here?"
"The paradox that crashed my TARDIS also redirected his course direction into her path." He said. "Do you know what this means?"
"Our paradox crashed your TARDIS." Sara muttered in resolute horror. Had they been the cause of the Doctor's near death all along?
"No, lucky for you, you acted in time to seal the damage. But you two had no idea of what you were doing. Puncturing a hole into the fabric of reality. Deciding to travel back in time to knowingly end a timeline that could have resulted in the deaths of trillions." He looked at each girl firmly. "You were lucky that it was already in a state that was about to collapse with several timelines before it became sealed and-"
"So, you're angry at us likely saving a few other realities since the one we were in was already dying." Sara tried to keep her voice strong. "Because you didn't see it. The TARDIS there had devastated the planet and-"
"But Kyle Reese here has." The Doctor gestured to him. "Now he's lost his universe too." He grimaced as Sara cringed. "You two didn't know that would happen. You both know the rules of time and disregarded them purposefully. He's the only survivor of that reality. Do you understand what this means?" He stared at them. "I will transfer the bond. There is no choice on that matter so I suggest you prepare yourselves for that process." He took a deep breath. "And say hello to Kyle. He will be joining us since he has nowhere left to go."
He took a deep breath, hearing the protests behind him as he stepped out of the sickbay. Perhaps he was being very harsh but he had to be. The girls were in the process of becoming Time Lord. They could have wreaked devastation to multiple time lines with their carelessness. They put the needs of his TARDIS first before the universe. While Nova could certainly feel her pain and Sara had TARDIS energy running through her, that being a sentimental reaction was also a human one. He now had an additional passenger from another reality he didn't expect who told him exactly what it was like in the aborted time line he came from. He looked around his TARDIS in despair. All this because you lost me. He shook his head. Killing either girl was out of the question. They were all that he had of his kind. He just couldn't but they desperately needed instruction and guidance. He wanted to know more about the bond that was forced upon them. Perhaps part of their erratic behavior was due to how the bond was placed, given Sara's response to the idea.
Kyle Reese. A hardened soldier who was willing to die for a woman he never met and now never could. The situation was wholly problematic. From what he could garner, given Kyle Reese's account and the Doctor researching the TARDIS, a man named John Connor never existed. He was part of the paradox. One human's existence had also been part of the problem.
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