The storm starts to calm at least a little
As always big thanks to my grammar goddess veritascara and to Elensari for keeping me encouraged. Thank you so much guys for the great reviews, they keep me inspired!
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The Doctor balled up his hands, resisting the urge to growl at the meta-crisis. He already hated himself enough; he didn't need it coming from this copy. "I have no problem focusing on what is important," he replied with a clipped voice.
John shot him another dark look, but then Rose re-entered the room. His expression immediately softened into one of concern aimed at her. The Doctor resolutely shifted his gaze to the table, where it landed on the jar of marmalade, spoon still sticking out of it. He inhaled, releasing the breath quickly, allowing his anger to slip away.
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Jack watched the trio as they worked on the plans for Donna. Rose sat in the middle with the laptop, a Doctor to either side of her. Whatever tension existed between them had been momentarily pushed aside as they worked on the plan. The pair of men, besides looking alike, also moved alike. They started bouncing ideas off one another in a way that was difficult for anyone else to follow, except for Rose, forcing her to be the one who drew in Mickey, Martha, and even himself with the occasional explanation or question.
After a while, Martha got up, squeezing Mickey's shoulder before she walked over to join Jack. She busied herself putting together more snacks, Jack lending a hand. "You know, it used to annoy me how much he would talk about her. But I see it now. I mean, I've been seeing it with Rose and John."
"But you wondered if it was because John was a little different?" Jack quietly answered Martha's low-voiced comment. Both were acutely aware of how sensitive a Time Lord's hearing could be.
"Yes, but it is the same. She's sort of a catalyst for him, both versions of him," Martha replied thoughtfully.
"Any version of him–remember, I met the previous version, and it was the same." Jack moved around her, helping arrange food on the plates. "Martha, I'd like you to do something for me, and I'm asking not just as their friend, but as the head of Torchwood Three."
Martha gave him a sharp look and a small nod to indicate she was listening.
"Rosie has apparently been holding out on me a little. Long story short, the same incident that changed me, changed her. It just wasn't obvious at the time. Her changes have been gradual, but still, it would put stress on her body."
"You want me to watch her." Martha's reply wasn't a question.
"Yes. Rose will turn herself inside out to help those two. While they are both a bit overprotective of her, they both have a bit of a blind spot, as well. So I want you to keep an eye on her health."
Having heard Jack's request, Martha turned a critical eye to the blonde woman. "This whole situation is going to be stressful. I'll do my best. Here, you take the plate; I'm going to grab the laptop to take a turn typing."
With a conspiratorial look, both sauntered over to the table. Jack set the platter of finger foods down in the middle as Martha pulled the laptop away from Rose. "My turn for a bit, you two," Martha nodded at Rose and John, "missed out on your party earlier, so fuel up."
"Was everyone okay? Did they have a good time?" Rose's first concern, as a matter of course, was for everyone else.
"It was fine. I did confiscate Polly's baked goods, though. I thought I would save them for later." Jack winked at Rose, who burst out with a laugh. "You, Ms. Prentice, have class work to do tomorrow so you aren't getting any of them tonight."
Rose rolled her eyes as she responded, "Don't need them, anyways." John smirked next to her.
"Ms. Prentice? Class?" The Doctor's face suddenly appeared bright with interest.
"Well, I needed a new name since Rose Tyler is officially dead, so I just switched to my Mum's maiden name. An' I needed something to keep me busy while our baby TARDIS grows, so m'finishing up my degrees. Did some of it in Pete's World and, more or less, found a way to fake the records here. Though I was honest with what m'grades were." Rose gave a small shrug. "I just didn't want to have to take the same courses twice."
"Rose got a bit of an education helping build the dimensional cannon," Mickey chimed in.
"That's brilliant," the Doctor grinned. "What are you studying?"
"Mechanical engineering an' physics. My time on the TARDIS also gave me a bit of an education–had t'keep up after all."
"You, Rose Tyler, were always brilliant, always asking the right questions." John gave her a proud smile.
The light in the Doctor's eyes dimmed a little as he watched her give his counterpart a warm smile, but his pride still shone through, unable to be diminished.
"You fuel up while I work on this list." Martha looked between the two Doctors. "What do we need to get equipment-wise?"
"Weeeeeeelll, I have most of it on the TARDIS, but there may be a few things we still need to get." The Doctor rattled them off as John listened intently.
"We should be able to get most of that from the Torchwood archives. There are a number of things there we can salvage components from." John commented as he helped himself to the snacks, giving Rose a meaningful look. She dutifully started to take some for herself.
The Doctor's mood darkened, and he leveled a glare at John. "Is that safe? Leaving that kind of equipment lying around Torchwood?"
"Doctor," Martha's stern voice forced him to look in her direction. "Look around the table; do you think any of us would allow that stuff to be misused?"
He opened his mouth, and then looked at all the faces there. Letting a breath out, he visibly deflated. "No, I don't think you would." His admission allayed the tension which had risen at his earlier question.
"Everything is kept locked down. No one is getting their hands on it outside of Torchwood. I trust my team, Doctor; you should too," Jack declared.
Whatever retort the Doctor would have made stopped when John caught his eye. The human Time Lord tipped his head in Rose's direction. When the Doctor's gaze fastened on her face, he saw her tension and that she had stopped eating. He swallowed down his reply, giving a short nod.
"Anyways, Boss, I can take the list when we call it a night and bring some stuff back in the morning." At Mickey's statement, relaxation returned to all those around the table. The darker skinned man looked between Jack and John. The latter flashed a quick smile and got up to snag a pad of paper and a pen.
"I'll make that list for you. We should double check what we have in the TARDIS first." In an absentminded gesture, John pressed a kiss to the top of Rose's head. "You finish your snack, and then maybe get some rest." When she started to protest, he lifted an eyebrow, flashing her a keen glance. "Oi, don't tell me you are not tired, I can tell you are. Go on. I'll be there in a bit."
Rose rolled her eyes. "You know I did manage to take care of myself just fine."
Across the table, Mickey snorted. "No, you didn't. How many times did I have to haul you away from work to make sure you ate something, or slept? Right workaholic you became."
A blush tinged Rose's cheeks at finding herself the center of attention. "Like you were much better," she challenged.
"Hey, someone had to stick around and keep an eye on you." Mickey asserted, his expression completely unrepentant.
When she saw the rather intense look both Doctors were giving her at that point, she pushed back from the table. Filling up a plate with some snacks, she gathered her dignity around her. "I don't have to take this. An' since it's my house, I can take this with me." Her eyes flashed over to Jack, who wasn't bothering to hide his amusement. "Keep 'em in line for me, will you?"
Jack grinned and gave her a sketchy salute as she flounced off. "You got it, doll."
Once Rose left the room, Mickey found himself pinned down by multiple sets of eyes. Unperturbed, he just sat back in his seat. "If she wants to tell you more about it, she will."
Jack considered Mickey, and then rubbed his hands together. "Right. TARDIS now so we can send those two off for the night with the list?"
The group around the table got up and moved towards the TARDIS in the basement. Piling into the console room, the Doctor disappeared first into the corridors to search. John moved to the center console to give it a loving stroke. "Hello, Old Girl. I missed you." The lights brightened briefly, and a warm wash of welcome made him grin. "You are as beautiful as ever."
Martha watched him for a moment, her gaze flicking to the hallway. "You aren't going to go back there and help him?"
"No," John's answered, his voice quietly resolute. "He needs some space that is his, so I'm not going back there unless he invites me to."
"There's a change. Normally you'd just charge ahead. No concept of personal space, you," Martha gently teased.
"Yeah, well," John rubbed the back of his head, a faint flush across his cheeks. "Donna had a habit of throwing things."
"You can invade my personal space anytime, Doc," Jack smirked, as Mickey snorted a laugh.
John tried to sound stern, but amusement sparked in his voice. "Oh, stop it."
"You can't blame a guy for trying," Jack countered, without a trace of remorse.
The group teased and chattered for a few more minutes before the Time Lord Doctor walked back into the console room. "Good news is, we have everything here that I thought I did. I can get started right away. The bad news is we definitely need the components I am missing." He rattled off the list again, and John listened intently.
Cocking his head to the side, John mentally reviewed the list and nodded. "I think I know exactly what we can use to scavenge parts from." Bending over the console, he took the paper and pen and swiftly started writing. "Rose and I can make a shopping hop for anything we end up missing–may need a few more supplies for the baby TARDIS anyways."
The Doctor's lips thinned and he crossed his arms over his chest. Rocking back on his heels, his gaze dropped down to his converse trainers, before bouncing back up to look at John. "I could probably help you a bit with that, if you want."
John's head snapped up to look at the Doctor, astonishment clearly written on his features. As the Doctor gave him an impassive gaze in return, the astonishment on John's face faded away. "I'd like that, and I think Rose would like that too. Thanks."
"Well, it's not every day I get the chance to help grow a TARDIS, is it?" the Doctor shrugged, his voice carelessly nonchalant.
"I suppose not." John's lips curved into a smile as he looked out the door of the TARDIS, and then back to the fully Time Lord Doctor. "Rather remarkable, isn't she?" He asked, lifting his eyebrows a small amount in question.
"Oh, yes. Yes, she is," came the Doctor's quietly emphatic reply.
"Anyways," John turned to see their three friends watching the exchange and nearly bounced over to offer them the list. "There you go, Mr. Mickey. If you could bring those things over tomorrow morning, would be appreciated. Oh, and maybe you could bring some of those banana nut muffins from the bakery too?" John smiled, his expression entreating.
Mickey shook his head, amused, and took the list. "I'll see what I can do. You all have a good night now." Linking his hand with Martha's, the pair gave a round of goodbyes, and headed out.
"Well," John said brightly. "I should check on the baby TARDIS and Rose. I'll see you two in the morning." On his way out, he stopped at the exit of the TARDIS, looking back towards the fully Time Lord Doctor. Taking in a breath, a musical burble of words left his mouth before he flashed a quick smile and vanished out the door.
The Doctor stared for a moment at the space John had occupied before his legs folded under him and he collapsed in the jump seat with a thump. "Doctor, you okay?" Jack asked.
"Yeah," his voice came out rusty, and he swallowed before looking over at Jack. "Yeah, I'm fine, Jack." When the other man didn't move to head out the door, the Doctor lifted an eyebrow. "Aren't you going, as well?"
Jack gave a careless shrug. "I don't sleep much these days. I figured you could use an assistant to get started."
A shadow crossed the Doctor's face. "I don't need a babysitter," he said in a clipped voice.
"Doctor," Jack's voice was patient. "Ever consider your friends are worried about you and want to make sure you are okay? I'm not just staying here for you. I'm staying here for all of us too. They'll rest better knowing I'm here."
The Doctor stared at him for a moment, and then turned on his heel to head deeper into the TARDIS. Jack watched him go. It looked like it was going to be a long night. At least, he thought to himself, he could enjoy a bit of the view. With that cheerful thought, he followed the Time Lord.
The following morning the kitchen was full of the light and happy chatter of people moving about. Mickey and Martha had rejoined them, bringing the requested items, including the banana nut muffins. Rose and John floated about the kitchen, finishing up breakfast for everyone in a well-coordinated dance, one that spoke of practice and two people fluent in nonverbal communication. Jack leaned back against the counter, cracking jokes and chatting with everyone.
The pinstriped Doctor sat apart at the kitchen table, working to reduce one of the items from the Torchwood Archives into its basic components. With single-minded determination, he ignored the radiance and laughter swirling around him–the only things that caused him pause, a muffin set on the bits and bobs in front of him and a cup of tea at his elbow. With a softly muttered thanks, he made the muffin quickly vanish, and soon drained the cup. Then he immediately dived back into his work.
Jack left first, heading back to the Hub to check on things for the day. Mickey departed with him, leaving Martha there. The blue-jacketed part-human Doctor cheerfully packed up the Torchwood artifacts, and Martha helped him carry them down to the workshop. Only the pinstriped Doctor and Rose now remained in the kitchen. Determined, he kept his focus on tinkering with the object in front of him.
Then, next to him, came the sound of a chair scraping across the floor, and he could feel her warm presence. The scent of her shampoo, and underneath it, the scent that was uniquely hers, tickled his nose. He stayed still, never deviating from looking at the work in front of him, even when he heard her soft voice near his side. "It occurred to me, with all the excitement, we haven't had a proper hello."
Rose bit back a sigh when he didn't acknowledge her. She reached out to lay a hand over his. At her touch, his hands stilled. "M'not sorry for yelling at you. We have some stuff to work out, yeah? But I am sorry that you are hurting. I'm worried about you, Doctor."
He swallowed and kept his eyes fixed on the artifact in front of him. His reply came in a hoarse voice, barely more than a whisper, "How can I say hello to you when I'm just going to have to say goodbye again?"
"Oh, Doctor," Rose let her breath out in a whoosh. Her hand tightened over his. "M'not going to make you any promises, 'cause neither of us knows how this is going to work out, yeah? I can tell you that I love you, an' I always will. I would have followed you anywhere."
The sonic dropped from his hand at her words, and he closed his eyes.
"Just because I love John, doesn't mean I love you any less. You're just different versions of the same man, yeah? Like when you changed leather jacket and boots for pinstripes and converse. That didn't change who you were underneath. That's the man I will never stop loving, no matter what the casing."
He stopped breathing when she leaned over and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "What I can tell you is m'done following. I won't let anyone make decisions for me anymore, not you, an' not John. Kinda funny, I offered him a choice, and he followed me here."
The Doctor's hand twitched, but he forced himself to remain still, to remain there in his seat. He was too afraid that if he moved or said anything, he would do something he couldn't take back–that he would just make things worse. Finally, Rose pulled back, her warmth receding with her. "Enough for now, I think. I need to be at the university today, anyways. John an' Martha will be here for you. Just please, remember we do care about you, Doctor. I'll see you later."
It wasn't until he heard the murmur of voices in the doorway that he opened his eyes up so he could work again. He could tell it was Rose and his . . . brother talking just outside the kitchen. He really didn't want to know what they were saying, so he blocked them out in favor of dismantling more pieces in front of him. He was so successful that he didn't even realize that John had come up beside him until a box dropped on the table, making him jump.
John watched him briefly and then simply began to pick up the components and put them in the box to carry downstairs. His mind utterly blank on what to say, he kept his hands busy as he tried to think it through. The parts on the table were as scattered as his thoughts, so in an odd way, it felt like he was organizing both. Finally, when he had all the loose parts gathered up, John had collected his thoughts enough to talk. "Look, I can't see any way this will be easy on you, but we really do want to help you."
The Time Lord appeared to be ignoring him completely, not bothering to look up. With a small frown, John continued, "A lot of it you are going to have to work out on your own, but I'm here for you." He allowed a small bit of pleading to color his tone. "At least you are not alone. There are two of us. You are not all that is left anymore. I'd like to think of us as brothers."
At the continued silence, John reached up to rub the back of his neck. "Weeeeeeell, if there was going to be two of a Time Lord, we're the one that is amazing enough to pull it off."
The Doctor gave the tiniest of hesitations at that comment, before continuing his work as if nothing was going on. John's shoulders slumped a little, and he suddenly blurted out the rest. "The truth is, a part of me is absolutely terrified to have you here." That, finally, made the other man's hands still. "I may be a version of you, but you are still the one she ran after. You are the one with the fully grown TARDIS. You are the full Time Lord. You can give her so much that I can't."
When the seated man neither said anything, nor resumed his work, John sighed. Picking up the box, he started towards the kitchen exit. "Look, when you are ready, join us downstairs. I have the workshop set up. Or go in your TARDIS, whichever you like. We can just concentrate on getting this set to fix Donna."
His eyes fixed on the parts in front of him, the Doctor's voice finally emerged, and John stopped in the doorway. "You are the one that can tell her that you love her. You can give her the life I can't." The Doctor's voice rang out dully, resigned.
"That's where you are wrong," John quietly replied. "But you are going to have to figure out that one for yourself. Not that I'm just going to give her up, mind."
The Doctor managed a short humorless laugh, "Quite right. I don't expect you to."
"Weeeeell, when you are ready, come join us downstairs." John turned his back to the kitchen and left.
The Doctor sat back from the table, letting his arms fall down to his sides and dangle there. Eventually, he got up, picked up the remaining bits and bobs on the table, and made his way down to the workshop. He didn't say a single thing for the rest of the day.