I Promise
By the Alternative Source
Author's Note: This is set after Journey's End. Donna has gone back home. The "Actual" Doctor is all alone now. This happens before the Christmas Special. That's all that I'm going to say.
Also:
" " = Speaking out loud.
' '= This is Rose thinking.
And any italics are = John or Rose's version of the Doctor that is guiding her.
READ ME!!! READ ME!!! Go to Yahoo and type in "The Mark of Rani"!!!! Will help you understand this chapter. Please. It's this episode that I switched up!!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who.
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Previously on I Promise:
And then the light was gone. She was standing in a circular room by a console. Looking down at her hands she saw that the glow was gone. Reaching into her pocket she saw the fob watch pulse one more time before it lay dormant in her hand.
Good luck, my Rose.
Grasping it in her hand Rose raised her head. Turning around she surveyed the room. There was something familiar about it. It was a circular room with a main console in the middle. All around the console there were jars also. Taking a step towards them she gasped at what she saw. They were embryos. But not like she'd ever seen before. They were extremely large and looked like giant lizards.
"Are those dinosaurs?" Rose asked herself in shock as she examined the large head and small arms with talons on the end. Looking at the other jars she saw that they all held something similar to what was in the one in front of her, "That's strange. If I didn't know any better…"
Rose turned around and looked at the console. Touching it she felt the power. The energy flowing towards her was all wrong. She could feel the time vortex coming from this console but it was strange. It wasn't as pure as the Doctors Tardis console.
'I'm in another Tardis.' Rose pulled her hand back as if she was burned. Stepping away quickly she looked for an exit. She knew that she shouldn't be there. And she needed to take her Doctors advice. She needed to run. Without any problem she saw the door to her left. Quickly she rushed towards it. Ignoring the fact that the dull ache that she had in her chest was disappearing she opened the door and ran smack into someone.
"Owww," Rose said as she rubbed her head and looked up. It front of her was a man with oddly coloured clothes. He was also rubbing his head in pain. When he looked up at her they both gasped. "Blonde again?" she asked with a smile.
"Curls too."
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Now on with the story……..
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Chapter 10: Sixth Regeneration/Where It Changed
Rose smiled and stood there for a second watching him. He was blonde once again. With a bob of curls atop his head. He was wearing yellow trousers with a very colorful and bright jacket. It literally looked like a rainbow had exploded on him. Her smile grew as she saw a small black kitten pinned to his jacket.
"Kitten?"
"Is that all you can think about?" the Doctor said as he placed his hands on his hips.
She nodded before catching him by surprise and wrapping her arms around his waist, "It's good to see you."
The Doctor sighed and wrapped his arms around her too, "Likewise. Except that there's always trouble when you're around."
She pulled back and patted his shoulder, "Not always."
"No. Always."
They stood there for a couple seconds until they heard someone clear their throat behind them. The Doctor jumped away from her like he was burned and walked over to the console. Rose's eyes followed him in disbelief and saw that he had his back towards her. Turning back to the door she saw a young brunette girl standing there. She was fumbling with her big yellow dress and was looking like she swallowed a fish. Rose gave her a little wave but the girl didn't react.
Stepping closer to her she waved her hand in front of the girls face. The girl finally came out of her daze and gave a little shriek when she saw how close Rose was.
"He hugged you," the girl stated.
"Yes," Rose scratched her head in sudden confusion, "And?"
"He doesn't do that. Ever."
Rose looked back at the Doctor, "Oh, really?"
"Yes, yes. Enough of your chatter. I've got things to solve," the Doctor stated with his back towards her.
'He must be the rude one. Blonde and rude.'
Rose turned back to the girl and stuck out her hand. There was no way of avoiding the girl so she might as well introduce herself, "I'm Rose."
The girl shook her hand hesitantly, "I'm Peri."
"Latest companion?"
The girl gave her an even more confused look, "How did you…"
"You'll learn after a while to never ask questions when it comes to this one," he looked at Rose before moving around the console still mumbling to himself, "She'll never answer. Always tell you that she can't."
"So…" Peri began to ask as she stepped into the Tardis, "You two know each other?"
"For longer than you would think," the Doctor answered before Rose could speak. Rose gave him a small glare. This version of the Doctor was definitely different.
Stepping towards the console she watched as he stared at it with wonder and amazement in his eyes. And for a second he disappeared and her Doctor stood before her. Grinning at finding something new and exciting. Rose smiled at him.
"What are you smiling about at a time like this?" the Doctor asked and her Doctor disappeared and was replaced by the blonde and rude version of himself.
"You," she stated while keeping her eyes focused on his. Her answer seemed to surprise him and he stood stark still. "You're different." Rose then said.
"Different?"
"Compared to the other versions of yourself, this time you seem…"
"Better I presume. The best of all of them."
"No. I was going to say an unpredictable and petulant Time Lord with mood swings with even wilder outbursts."
Everything was quiet for a couple of seconds until Peri burst into laughter, "You couldn't have described him better."
The Doctor gave her a look and Peri became quiet. Then he turned his eyes back to her. He didn't say anything as he frowned slightly, "Don't forget unflappable wit."
Rose smiled at his response. It was definitely unexpected, "As always."
"See, something we can agree on," he said with a smile as he began looking around the room. He stopped in front of the jar she had seen earlier, "Hmmmm."
"Embryo of a T-Rex?" Rose asked as she stepped up next to him.
"Yeah. She must have popped back to the cretaceous age and picked up a few. Nasty creatures," he began walking around and stared into all the other jars. Peri shuffled her feet as she looked at the jars. She was obviously apprehensive of getting any closer, "Vicious teeth. Bite your leg. Chew it all up. Bone and all in one go. I wonder what she wants with them."
Rose saw this as an opportunity and asked, "Who's she?"
The Doctor grinned and looked at her, "Again, don't you know everything?"
He was baiting her and she fell for it, "I already told you. I might know all about you but I can't remember everything in one big bang. You've lived a long life and you will continue to do so."
"Ohhh, so I'll live long enough to meet you somewhere in my timeline?"
"What?" Rose asked confused.
"Don't think that I haven't stopped thinking about you all these years. Started piecing things together. Hence why I am the best of the lot," he said triumphantly as he started examining the console again.
She stood there and didn't say anything. She knew that this would happen. She knew that one day he would figure it out. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew despite her best efforts he would find out the truth.
From what she could gather from the other Doctors they had been researching her. They were trying to find out why she was there. Even though she told them to leave it alone. Sighing she looked at him and gave in, "And what have you found out?"
"I'll meet you somewhere or sometime in the future. Not this version of yourself. Another one. The first one."
"And how did you figure that out?"
"Isn't it obvious? I've known you since I was a young lad. You knew who I was before I even really introduced myself to you. At first I thought it was a coincidence but after a couple regenerations I realized that you would always come back and you always knew how things would occur before I did."
"What do you mean by that Doctor?" Peri asked.
"Just a little speculation about Rose here?" he said as he motioned to her.
She was standing there watching him in slight shock. A little more time and he would figure things out. She was certain of it.
"So? Am I right?" he asked as his eyes locked with her and she could see the mirth in his eyes.
Putting her hand to her head she sighed, "If I say no you'll…"
"Know that you're lying," he completed her sentence as he crouched down by the inner console. He was staring at the console's workings in confusion now.
"Exactly."
"Another reason why I am better than the whole lot," he said as he started examining the buttons and levers on the console panel boards, "So?"
Rose looked at Peri and saw that she was fully immersed in their conversation. Her eyes were watching the Doctor but every once in a while she would sneak glances at Rose.
'This one's different. More brash. And I knew that one of them would figure it out soon. And if he wants answers,' Rose straightened her back and began walking towards the Doctor with a new determination, 'I'll give him some. Not all. Only the ones that won't hurt him or change anything. But not in front of others.'
She stood next to him and turned her head so Peri wouldn't see her talking. Lowering her voice she inched closer to the Doctor, "Your right. But not here. Not now."
The Doctor turned and looked at her with surprise. He looked at her and then down at her body. Rose looked down and saw what caused the Doctor to look so surprised. She looked back up at him and smiled. His cheeks seemed to gain a rosy hue and his hands gripped the console.
"Is there something wrong?"
He looked back down at her body quickly before meeting her eyes again. Her proximity to him was still bothering him, "Absolutely not. What made you think that?"
Rose bit her tongue and smiled. Reaching up she pushed some of his stray curls out of his eyes and despite the look in them he leaned towards her hand while watching her. After moving the hairs she rested her hand on the side of his face. Her thumb stroked his cheek and his body tensed up more. She could feel his jaw clench under her hand, "Are you sure? Because from over here it looks like I'm making you a little nervous."
'I miss this.'
The Doctor's eyes widened and he quickly took a step back and walked around the console trying to put some distance between them, "We'll talk about it later."
The smile didn't disappear off her face as she saw the way that the Doctor quickly started pushing and prodding buttons on the console. He was still nervous. And this behavior warmed her heart right up. Now she understood what part of the Doctor this was.
He was the part that spoke his mind and didn't care what others thought. Or at least he tried to act like he didn't. He was also the part of the Doctor that held the mood swings and the erratic behavior. He was the part of the Doctor that would call you "Pink and yellow" or "Stupid ape" before saving you from some horrible creature. But what stuck out the most was his tentative attitude about being close to her.
'We sure had a hard time getting you over that.'
A small smile flitted over Rose's face, "What are you smiling at again?"
Rose's eyes focused and then landed on the Doctor who was watching her with curious eyes, "What?"
The Doctor shook his head and started fiddling with the console, "Only time that we spend together and you spend it with your head in the clouds."
Ignoring his comment Rose changed the topic, "So what's happening today?"
"The events that you seem to muck up even more?" the Doctor answered calmly.
Groaning, Rose nodded her head. There was no point in arguing with him.
"Well," the Doctor took in a deep breath and she knew that there was no stopping him now, "As you can see all around you, we are in a Tardis. Not my Tardis of course." He pointed up around the room at several points.
"Console's different. Surely I don't keep embryos laying about everywhere on display. But most importantly there's no 'Music of the Spheres'" he stopped and looked up at the bare roof of the Tardis, "All of them should have it you know."
"What is the 'Music of the Spheres'?" Peri asked as she looked up trying to see what the Doctor was focusing on.
He glanced at Rose before looking back at Peri, "Someone told me about it once. But anyway, back to the topic on hand. We are in 19th Century England in a mining village named Killingworth."
"Killingworth?" Rose asked confused. It was a strange name. And it didn't ring a bell about where she was.
"Don't interrupt. The miners are being gassed in the wash-house and transformed into thugs and vandals who attack men and machinery. After noticing a strange red mark on one of the miners that attacked us I went and quickly found out what the problem was."
"Quickly? That wasn't quickly. We got attacked. Then you got captured and then we were attacked again," Peri said in an innocent voice, clearly not seeing the glare that the Doctor was giving her.
Rose waved it off and tried to keep her face calm. At any moment she would burst out laughing. She liked Peri already, "Same thing happens all the time."
He glared at her and frowned at the same time. But this time his eyes didn't stray from her as he spoke, "Another time lord is here. Her name is 'The Rani'. She's been coming here for centuries to anaesthetize the miners and distill from them the neuro-chemicals that enable sleep in them. She most likely synthesizes them after to use back on Miasimia Goria, a planet she rules. Her experiments on the inhabitants have left them without the ability to rest. Hence why she comes here."
Rose was about to respond to what he just said when he spoke again in a hesitant manner, "And there is someone else here."
"Who?"
"The Master."
Shock and anger coursed through her as she remembered the Time Lord. The one person who had hurt the Doctor over and over again. And also the man who had shot her down without any remorse at all. And of course he was here. Again.
Biting her lip she calmed her nerves and replied, "Why?"
He hesitated for a moment as he watched her. The frown was gone from his face but his brow was still furrowed, "He's made a deal with the Rani. She will help him use the finest brains of the Industrial Revolution to take over Earth and use it as his powerbase. And he will allow her to return to Earth at any time to harvest the neuro-chemicals that she needs."
"Oh," Rose thought for a minute. She remembered something about this. John had told her about a Time Lord named 'The Rani.' She didn't remember much about her besides the fact that she was going to cause him to regenerate one day. One day in the future.
"So the only way to achieve that is?" he asked her.
"To destroy you. And that's exactly what their planning on doing," Rose replied as she began to remember some more details about their current adventure.
'Killingworth….Hmmm……The Rani…..The Master. I've got it!'
The memories rushed to her as she remembered the story that John had told her. She remembered how he jumped up and acted out the scenes for her with accuracy. For a moment she thought of the fun they had reenacting them. Then she remembered that they were happening now. Right before her eyes.
"Killingworth is the place that the inventor George Stephenson and other scientific and engineering geniuses with meet up in. The Master is trying to use them. And Rani just wants to finish her experiments. But the Master has something of hers. That is why she has agreed to help him."
The Doctor looked impressed. His eyebrows were raised and a grin was on his face. Rose's cheeks flushed with color. In her mind he shouldn't be impressed. After all, he taught her all of that.
You remembered.
Her Doctor's voice flourished through her mind for a second before it disappeared. He was proud of her. Instantly she relaxed and smiled at the Doctor, "Learned from the best."
"Yes you did," he said with the grin still plastered on his face, "Remember now?"
"Yes."
"And I don't suppose you won't tell me how it ends?"
"I don't know how it's going to end," Rose replied. She paled as she realized what she had let slip.
The Doctor nodded and didn't seem to notice her nervousness, "Changes every time you appear?"
Rose gave a chuckle and shook her head in disbelief, "You really are the most different one out of the lot?"
"I told you. I'm the best," he said in a certain tone.
Suddenly a whirling sound began emanating from the console. The Doctor and Rose stepped back in shock as the center piece of the console began to move. The buttons began flashing and the whirling sound became louder.
The Doctor flew into action and shouted, "Rose, Peri get out of here!"
"But you..?" Peri asked in a scared voice as she began walking towards the Tardis doors.
He waved her away and shouted again, "Don't argue. Move."
Peri lifted up the skirt of her long dress and ran out of the Tardis as fast as she could. The Doctor turned to her, "Get out of here."
The whirling became louder, "No."
"Rose," he said in a warning voice.
Rose took a couple steps toward him and stood her ground, "I'm not leaving. Now tell me what's going on?"
He placed his hands in his pockets and gave her an impressed look, "Incredible."
For a second she thought he was talking about her and then she saw that his eyes had moved to the center console, "Absolutely incredible. A Tardis linked to its owner by remote control."
"Never been done before?" Rose asked as she watched him. He had quickly moved around the console and was staring at it with awestruck eyes.
Without taking his eyes off of it he nodded, "No. Never before. The Rani is a genius. Shame I can't stand her."
'He is so rude sometimes.'
"You've met her before?"
He glanced at her in astonishment, "You remember?"
Rose tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
The Doctor contemplated what he was going to say and he leaned forward slightly, "You don't remember. Suppose you don't. That was a long time ago."
She walked over to his side and placed a hand on his arm. She was really confused, "What do you mean? I haven't met her before."
The Doctor glanced at her arm and swallowed. But he didn't step away from her or give any complaints so she didn't remove her hand, "Not when you were awake you haven't. She was….what do you people call it…my best friend."
"That's now trying to kill you?"
"She wasn't always trying to kill me. She was a good friend. "
"That's trying to kill you." Rose stated again.
"Don't you ever listen?" he said while pointing at her, "She was a different person back then. Still a gifted chemist but she was completely different. Believe it or not, this woman that is trying to kill me now was one of the first person's to help you when you had your fainting spell on Gallifrey. Made sure that you would be alright."
"So she's going to freak out when she sees me isn't she?"
The Doctor didn't hesitate, "Probably. You haven't changed a bit."
They both stopped as they felt the Tardis give one hard tremor before landing. The console stopped moving and the buttons stopped flashing. A door opened and shut and a pair of voices could be heard. Without hesitation he grabbed a hold of her hand and pulled her past the console and into an alcove on the far side of the room. He pushed her into the alcove first. As the voices grew louder Rose grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him flush against her.
"What…" he began. Rose quickly pulled him closer and placed a hand firmly over his mouth. Placing a finger over her lips she silently urged him to keep quiet.
"Do I detect a lack of enthusiasm?" a man's voice rung out through the Tardis. Without asking who it was Rose knew. The Master.
A woman's irritated voice answered shrewdly, "Our grand schemes of ruling the universe will mean nothing if that vigilante Doctor is still at large.
The Doctor looked surprised and mouthed to Rose, "Vigilante?"
Rose smiled and shook her head.
"Dreaded man," the woman who she now assumed was The Rani huffed as she clambered around the console.
"Don't tell me you blotched something. What did you do? Leave a trap for the Doctor? Is that why we couldn't use your Tardis earlier?"
Something heavy was being pushed around and then she heard The Master grunt as if carrying a heavy load, "No. Not yet. Take these. Be careful with these."
"What are these?"
"Well, let's say that they'll change the Doctors lifestyle." Rose's hands tightened and she gripped his lapels. They wanted to hurt him again.
'Why must they always hurt him?' She stared up into his eyes and saw that he was watching her. He didn't look nervous or irritated. He was just watching her. His eyes looked down at her fisted hands and then back at her. Her grip instantly slackened and she sweared that he glanced at the purple ring that Rassilon had given her.
Her thoughts and questions quickly disappeared as she saw the look in his eyes. She had no idea what was going through his mind at that moment. But she could tell that it was different. He was staring at her as if he had just realized something. Something important that only he could discover at that moment. He lifted a hand slowly and grazed her cheek. She leaned into the touch and a smile appeared on her face. He hadn't touched her like that in a while.
'My Doctor.'
She opened her eyes as his hand lowered. He was still staring at her with his intense eyes. The movement of The Master and Rani didn't seem to disturb him at all at that moment. And somehow he knew that they wouldn't come over and discover them.
His eyes gazed upon her and she sweared that he was inching closer to her. The Doctor placed a hand on her hip and then she realized that it was true. He was coming closer to her. Her chest tightened and her cheeks flushed like a school girl at the thought of what he was about to do.
When he was about an inch from her lips he stopped and rested his forehead against hers. Memories flooded through Rose of all the moments that she had shared with John that were like this. Holding hands. Laying together in bed. Or simply being near each other.
They stood there for a couple seconds without moving or speaking until he whispered to her, "You know I'm kind of glad that I met you. Whatever time that was or will be."
A smile etched itself across her face and she whispered back, "Me too."
They didn't move an inch from each other as the other inhabitants of the room moved about. For Rose, being this close to the Doctor was quite natural and she longed to be with him. And for the Doctor, this was a brand new experience for him. Something intimate that he had never experienced but somehow this one woman had done it. Had broken down some of his barriers and changed him. He knew it. And for once in his life in felt completely natural to be this close to her.
"How? Will he suffer?" the Master asked.
The Rani chuckled and replied in a cunning and delighted voice, "Well I can promise you he'll never be the same again."
"Excellent. Why not kill two birds with one stone?"
"What do you mean?"
"We can destroy the Doctor and use the minds of the Industrial Revolution to our advantage. We'll kill the Doctor finally and then rip all the information out of those troublesome humans. Should be able to succeed with anything after that. Hence," the Master laughed quietly as they made their way out the room with the Rani following behind him, "two birds with one stone."
The footsteps became more distant and a door was heard being slammed shut. After a minute the Doctor finally peeked his head over the edge of the alcove to confirm that they were gone. They were.
Without even mentioning what happened between them just a couple minutes ago the Doctor stepped away from her and pulled her out of the alcove, "How do I get myself into these things?"
"You're a magnet," Rose replied as she made her way over to the Tardis doors. The Doctor began to follow her.
"For what?" he asked as she stopped at the doorway.
Turning towards him she smiled, "For trouble. Now we have to do something about this Tardis."
"What do you mean? Disable it?" he asked as he peered at her and then walked over to the console.
Placing her hands on her hips she smirked as he began examining the console once again, "Exactly. We can't give the Rani a chance to escape with the Master."
The Doctor stopped analyzing the console and crouched down to reach under the Tardis. After fiddling about with some wires the Doctor stood up and walked briskly to Rose, "All done."
"You sure?" Rose asked as he walked past her.
"Positive," he said as he grabbed her elbow gently and lead her out of the Tardis. When they stepped out of the Rani's Tardis they realized that they were in a mine of some sort.
"Must be using it to hide her Tardis," the Doctor said as they quickly made their way out of the mine. Somehow he knew his way about the tunnels and in a few minutes they were out of the mine and on the tail of the Rani and the Master.
As they entered the forest surrounding the mine the Doctor asked, "Now about those answers that you were going to give me."
Rose narrowly ran into a tree at his sudden question, "What?"
"You said we would speak later. It's later."
"Do you think that this is really the time to be discussing this? You have a two rogue Time Lords causing havoc out there. And to make it even worse they know about me. I don't think it's supposed to be like that. I know that it's not supposed to be like that. What if I change things? And how are you going to concentrate and follow their trail if you're talking?"
They continued to make their way through the forest and made their way around and over many trees. Without stopping the Doctor replied, "Firstly, don't worry about the trail. The Master couldn't hide his tracks if he tried. Walks around like a horse galloping everywhere."
Rose jumped over a tree stump and laughed at his comment. He grinned and continued, "And secondly you won't have to worry about the memories. Somehow I think this ring will help you."
She glanced at him quickly but realized it was a mistake when she tripped over a root. The Doctor caught her just in time and pulled her to her feet, "What do you mean?"
The Doctor grabbed her hand and showed her the ring that Rassilon had given her.
'I was right. He did see it.'
"I've seen this ring before. In books and journals on Gallifrey. It's a memory crystal. Most powerful kind by the look of it. Besides restoring memories they are said to be able to hide them away too," he brought her hand closer to his face and examined the purple stone, "And I thought it was only nonsense. Where did you get this from?"
"From Rassilon," she whispered as she wrapped her fingers around his.
The Doctor's eyebrows raised in a questioning manner, "Rassilon? When?"
"During my last visit."
"But I was there. I didn't see Rassilon give you anything. The only ring I saw was Borusa's. And we all know how that developed," the Doctor said as he shook his head and remembered the late President Borusa.
"If you say he created this," Rose gestured to her hand, "Memory crystals that deal with memories then don't you think that he could have altered yours?"
Rose watched as he pursed his lips in mild annoyance, "Possibility."
She looked down at their joined hands, "He said that something inside of me would tell me how to use it when the time came. As it was destined to come about it will come to pass."
He lowered her hand but didn't let go of it, "I think you're meant to use it on me."
She was startled out of her thoughts by what he had said, "Excuse me?"
He laced his fingers with hers and they began to walk through the forest again quickly. For some reason it felt quite natural to be doing this with him. Just like the old days, "I think you're meant to use it on me. The entire time I've known you you've been skittish to let me know anything about you. Always hiding away information and even sometimes changing others memories so they wouldn't remember you. My theory is that you come from the future. The not so distant future probably. You know me there. And something has gone wrong. You're here to discover something. Or possibly fix something that happened to you and me. Have I got it right so far?"
Rose nodded and then realized that he wasn't looking her way. He was maneuvering them through the trees, "Yes. Something has happened."
"And you're here to fix it?"
"Kind of."
"I won't push any more information on that note but let's continue. How is it that you know so much about me?"
Rose smiled and remembered John. She remembered the hours they would sit outside in the gazebo talking about his life. He would tell her stories about the Daleks, Cyberman, and even about the Greatest Show in the Galaxy, "You told me."
"Told you?" he scoffed in disbelief, "All of it?"
"Everything."
"So….you know everything about me. All the little details."
"Well…not everything. You can't possibly know everything about a person. I just know all about your adventures and your life. I know about the way that you lived it and how you will live it. But it sometimes gets difficult in here," Rose touched her head with her free hand, "There's too much information sometimes and I need a little help remembering."
The Doctor nodded and narrowly ran into a tree, "Stupid tree. How long until I met you?"
"Two more regenerations to go. Then I met you," Rose said as she remembered a heartbroken man telling her to run with him for the first time.
"Use it then. The ring must be used then. I don't know how but it must be used then. Whatever happened and what is happening now can be altered and I might not meet you at all in the future. It might be changed," he glanced at her momentarily and she could see the seriousness in his eyes, "My future self, the one that you met first, did not know you. And because you are here now things have changed. We have to keep it the same."
"Might cause a paradox of some sort?"
"Exactly. I'll try to do some research to find out how to use it. Next time you meet me ask me about it."
"Ok," she said as she hopped over three roots quickly.
"So no more secrets, all right?"
Somehow Rose knew he was right. The ring was given to her by Rassilon for a reason. And now she understood it. It was to wipe his memory. To make it so he wouldn't remember anything at all. But how was she to do that.
The memory of Rassilon's voice rang through her head and she remembered his words, 'One day you will need this ring. And when the moment comes the Doctor will tell you how to use it. Not the one's around you but the one inside.'
She touched the pocket where the fob watch was resting in. Her Doctor was supposed to tell her. Not the one standing right in front of her leading her through the forest. The one inside of her was the one to reveal how to use the ring.
'John.'
So if she could tell him everything now then…..why was she hesitating?
'How am I supposed to tell him that I love him? That I have traveled through time to learn about him. Every piece of him. So I could better understand him and so I can be with him. How could I tell him all this?'
"I don't know where to begin."
"You can start from the beginning," he said as he slowed down and stopped behind a giant tree, "But not now. Look who's there. It's the Master and Rani. And they're…Peri?"
Rose peeked around the tree and saw that the Master and a woman were standing in a dense clearing a couple yards away from them. The woman was rather tall with her long brown hair pulled back and away from her eyes. She was wearing black leather pants with a dark short jacket.
They had just finished placing what looked like metal plates on the ground. And standing right in the middle was Peri, the Doctor's current companion.
"What is she doing there?" Rose asked. She had never seen her before but somehow she knew that she was the Rani.
Hearing no response she turned around. There was no one there. Turning her head again she saw that the Doctor was walking towards them. Gripping the bark she couldn't decide what to do. Should she get involved?
As the Doctor got closer to them the Master turned around and smiled, "Finally here."
"You both underestimate your opponents," the Doctor replied as he stopped a couple yards away from them, "Are you alright Peri?"
Peri nodded but stood still, "They've put something around me. Some sort of plates. They turn you into trees!"
"Trees?" the Doctor looked back at the Rani. (Author's Note: This happened. Seriously)
She smirked before raising an eyebrow, "What's happened? Animal matter has been converted into vegetable matter. So what?"
"You'll be telling me next that he's better off?" the Doctor replied in anger.
"As a matter of a fact he is. A tree has four times the life expectancy of a human being," she replied smoothly without a care in the world.
The Doctor stood silent, "They should have never exiled you. They should have locked you in a padded cell. Now move. Before I forget my abhorrence of violence."
Rose bit her lip and continued to watch them arguing. The Master was just standing there. He wasn't contributing to the conversation or arguing. He was just standing there. And simply because it was him she kept her eyes on him while the Doctor argued with the Rani. His eyes were looking at the Doctor and at Peri.
'He's planning something.'
Slowly she saw him move his hand from behind his back. Her eyes opened wide in shock as she saw the familiar black weapon that he had used against her and the Third Doctor. And the Doctor didn't see it. If she didn't do something now the Doctor or Peri would get hurt. Without hesitating she walked out from behind the tree and shouted, "Master!"
The Master effectively stopped and looked in her direction. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of her. His hand lowered and she began walking towards them.
"What is this?" the Rani asked as she surveyed her.
"Rose what are you doing? You should have stayed hidden," the Doctor said as she came to a stop next to him. She didn't reply. Her eyes were on the Master.
"We meet again," he replied as he met her glare, "still look as lovely as the first day I saw you."
The Rani was looking between them all, "What is going on here?....Someone answer me! It's not possible. How is it that she….still looks the same? Must be hundreds of years old? At least one regeneration should have occurred by now."
Rose felt the Rani's eyes on her, "Give me what you have behind your back."
The Master took a step towards her in a threatening manner, "I don't know what you're talking about Ms. Wolf or shall I call you Rose?"
"My name is none of your concern. Now hands in front of you!" Rose demanded.
"Still a spitfire I see. Not afraid of anything," the Master replied in a casual tone, "Rani this is Rose. The promising key to the Doctor's future. I see you recognize her. Still looks the same as the first day that I saw her on Gallifrey. Not a stitch of difference."
"She is the girl. The girl from the marketplace. The one that fainted," the Rani exclaimed.
"Yes she is Rani. But she is only a piece of my future…" the Doctor began.
The Master finished for him, "Not a piece. She is your future. Look at her. Look at her eyes. She's been waiting for a long time. And at the same time she's been with you for a long time. It makes no sense how she's here but the matter of the fact is that she is."
"Enough of this. Doctor. He has a weapon behind his back," Rose said as she glanced at him. All it took was one glance and the Master leaped at her with a scorn filled face. She didn't have enough time to block his attack as his fist connected with her cheek. She hit the ground harder than she expected.
"Rose!"
Looking up she saw the Doctor running towards her. But he was stopped by the Rani who tackled him to the ground.
'No.'
Rose ignored the pain in her jaw and tried pulling herself to her feet. A blow to her stomach sent her to the ground again and she gasped as all the air rushed out of her. Looking up she saw that the Master was standing above her with a menacing look on his face.
"You always ruin the plans don't you?"
She could here scuffling from behind him and she knew that the Rani was still trying to hold back the Doctor. And because of the Doctor's abhorrence for violence, she was winning.
His foot came down on her again and she winced as it slammed against her stomach, "What are you? Huh? Tell me. You must be here for a reason."
Rose gasped as she watched his legs, "Not for you. Not for her."
"Oh I know you're here for him. But you're always meddling around in my plans. You insolent girl. If I couldn't finish you off with a weapon then I will have to do it by force."
He moved to strike her again but quicker than anyone could expect Rose kicked his legs from underneath him as the Doctor tackled him. Quickly getting up Rose saw the Doctor punch the Master in his face over and over again. Slightly scared she looked over to the side and saw the Rani laying on the forest floor motionless."
Scurrying forward she stopped the Doctor as she saw the Master's eyes roll back into his head and blood sprout from his nose, "Stop!"
The Doctor stopped at her voice and turned to look at her. They were full of fury. Placing her hands on his cheeks she looked into his eyes, "It's alright. Look at me. I'm ok. Now enough."
She watched as his angry eyes relaxed. Helping him up she helped dust him off, "Look at you. A mess."
When no response came from the Doctor she looked up. He was staring at her face. Not just her face. But the side of her face that had been struck. He pursed his lips and stepped closer to her. Bringing up his hand he trailed his fingers over the quickly forming bruise, "He should have not hit you."
Rose placed a hand over his, "I've had worse."
"Yeah I know. From the same person if I recall right."
She sighed as she leaned into his hand, "I know."
"I'll never let them hurt you Rose. You do know that?"
Rose smiled and patted him off a little more, "I know. Always protecting me even though I can get a few in every once and again."
The Doctor's fury completely disappeared as he saw another opportunity to talk about their future together, "For how long?"
"For…" Rose began but was caught off guard by a meek 'Excuse me' from Peri. The Doctor seemed to be disappointed that they were distracted from their conversation and looked at Peri. She was standing in the middle of the clearing.
She gave them a small wave, "Kind of stuck here. She's put all those devices around me. Hoped that you would walk over and try to save me. Get yourself killed at the same time."
"I'm so sorry Peri. We kind of got a little distracted," Rose said as she stepped towards Peri.
Peri gave her a timid smile, "It's alright. Couldn't really hear what you two were saying but I saw the scuffle between all of you. I've never seen the Doctor move like that. I thought you hated violence Doctor?"
The Doctor began taking steps towards her while avoiding the dreaded devices, "I do."
"Then why did you all of a sudden turn into a man of action?" she asked as the Doctor reached her and led her out of the clearing.
The Doctor glanced at Rose and she saw his eyes momentarily fill with anger, "While she's here she's under my protection. I won't let anyone hurt her." And so no suspicion would spring from Peri he added, "Same thing goes for you."
"Well I think I can make her something at least to take away the bruising," Peri replied as she peered at Rose's cheek and then looked down at her stomach where the Master had kicked her.
"Don't worry. I'm a fast healer," Rose replied with a pained smile, "Now what are we going to do about these two."
They all turned to see where Rose was pointing and saw the Master and the Rani knocked unconscious on the ground.
"We have to get rid of them," the Doctor replied as he turned the Rani on her back.
"But Doctor we can't just make them disappear," Peri said in horror.
"I'm not going to get rid of them in that sense Peri. I thought you would have known better. Now where is that remote control?" the Doctor mumbled as he began searching through the Rani's pockets.
"What control?" Rose asked as she knelt by the Rani's body.
"Her control to the Tardis. Somehow she has linked the Tardis to a remote control. She can get it to come to her from any location. Now if I can just find it."
Not questioning him anymore Rose turned and looked at the Master. He was lying on his back not moving. Bruises were forming on his face and neck. The Doctor had really done a job on him.
'Imagine what he would have done to me if he didn't stop him.'
"Nothing, nothing," the Doctor mumbled as he kept on searching through the Rani's pockets. Chances were that they were as deep and endless as the Doctor's. It would take a while.
Suddenly it hit her that the Master could have it. He seemed like the type to rob and steal so she wouldn't put it past him. Quickly she made her way over to the Master. Kneeling close to him she checked if he was awake. He didn't seem to be moving.
'Best keep your guard up anyway.'
While keeping an eye on his face to see if he would wake up she began searching through his pockets. After a couple of minutes of finding odd things she pulled out what looked to be an over sized remote control for a car alarm.
'This has got to be it.'
Just as she was about to stand up she felt a hand clasp her wrist. Looking down she saw that the Masters eyes were open. They closed every couple of seconds as if he were trying to remain conscious but was having some difficulties.
"Rose."
Rose sat still and watched as he struggled. But she didn't say a word.
"No matter…how..how hard you try you won't always be there to save him. And when that happens I'll be there. And I'll make him suffer just for you."
His eyes closed and he slipped back into unconsciousness. A voice behind her startled her, "I doubt it. Now that you gave me the warning I'll make sure to keep an eye out. Come on Rose. You've found it."
The Doctor held out a hand for her. Taking it he pulled her up from the ground. But what surprised her when he took the remote control from her is that he didn't let go of her hand. Wrapping her fingers tightly around his she didn't let go either.
Even though he was the most different out of the entire Doctor's he seemed to be the one that wanted the most physical contact. He was the most aggressive Doctor that she had met to date. But he was still a part of the Doctor that she loved. And he was a part of the Doctor that she saw in her own Doctor.
She was brought out of her daze as the Doctor let go of her hand and began dragging the Master into the Rani's Tardis. Enlisting Peri's help she helped move the Rani inside the Tardis as well. After they were done placing them in the console room they started making their way back to town.
"You sure that they will leave? The Master looks like the type to come back for more," Rose said as she glanced back at the Rani's Tardis. It was slowly becoming smaller and smaller.
"Positive. Their plan has been thwarted. The Master might want to come back but the Rani will stop him. She'll want to get out of there as soon as possible."
"I hope."
"He won't come back. Not now at least," the Doctor said with a small smile as he led them into town, "Does your cheek still hurt?"
"Just a little," Rose said as she touched her cheek.
"And your side?"
Rose winced. Her side had begun to bruise. She knew it, "It doesn't hurt that much."
"We'll make sure that we put something on it when we get back to the Tardis," he replied as they began to make their way down a dirt road. From the look in his eyes she knew that he caught her lie. She also knew it was no use to argue with him so she just continued walking. Taking a chance she slipped her hand into his. He intertwined his fingers with hers without as much as a peep.
'Definitely doesn't mind this.'
After retrieving the Tardis from the mine shaft that the crazed men had thrown it in the Doctor had dragged her into the Tardis's infirmary. Currently she was sitting on a table as the Doctor made a balm for her and Peri made a drought for the men of the village that had been affected by Rani's schemes.
"Done," Peri chimed as she stood up and cleaned the mess she had made. Grabbing the drought she waved to them quickly as she exited the room. "See you two when I get back."
The Doctor finished the balm and made his way over to her. Pulling a stool in front of her he sat down on it. He pulled a tray over to him and placed the balm on it, "Fix you right up."
He smeared some of the balm on her cheek and she felt tingling all across her face. He began rubbing it.
"What is this stuff? It's tingling."
"Just a little thing I learned just in case."
"Just in case of what?" she asked as the balm started turning cold.
The Doctor finished rubbing the balm into her cheek, "Just in case you got hurt again. Can't have you bleeding all over my table again."
"I'm okay you know. Just a bruise."
His eyes darkened as rubbed the balm over her stomach. He said nothing as he stood up and put the balm away in a silver cabinet. He turned to her and put his hands in his pockets, "It shouldn't have happened. It won't happen. Not again."
"What do you mean?" Rose asked as she stood up. She started walking towards him but when she was a couple feet from him he held up his hands to stop her.
"I can't keep on letting you get hurt. We have to find a way to fix this. Use the ring somehow."
"Look it's okay. I heal pretty fast and…"
"No!"
Rose looked at him and kept silent. He was serious.
"I can't have you around anymore. When I'm around you it's… different and dangerous."
She wasn't going to be pushed away that easily though. Quickly she grabbed a hold of his face, "No."
"Rose."
"No," she repeated again forcefully.
"You don't understand. I..this doesn't happen to me. I don't care for people like I do for you. No one has ever stayed around so long for me to care for them. And I can't let you get hurt anymore."
This was hard for him. She knew it. He was the toughest and brashest of all the Doctors but he cared. Cared so much for her that he wanted her to go. He didn't want her to get hurt.
"It's too late," she said as she stroked his cheek and swallowed the lump in her throat. She had to convince him that she couldn't go. And that she wouldn't go.
He looked up at her in surprise, "What do you mean?"
"I can't go back. In my timeline you're…… gone."
"What happened?" he lowered his hands hesitantly and took a step forward into her warm hands.
Rose closed her eyes as they began to water. She remembered holding his withering hand. Watching the life disappear from his eyes, "You died."
Silence filled the infirmary. The Doctor said nothing and Rose kept her eyes closed. She didn't want to see the look in his eyes. She didn't want to see how he would react to the knowledge. Suddenly she felt him remove her hands from his cheeks.
"Rose?"
She didn't open her eyes. She had faced the Master, the Rani and other foes. But she couldn't face him. His hands moved to her face and she felt his thumb brush away a stray tear.
"Ok….ok, ok. I won't let you go…. I won't push you away. But you have to be more careful. No more getting hurt. Alright?"
Rose nodded and she heard the Doctor sigh. He pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back, "Come on Rose. Laugh for me. Smile. Do something. Anything. I don't like it when you're like this. Hit me if you want."
She smiled at this and she felt him chuckle, "That's it, smile."
Rose rested her head against his shoulder, "I miss you so much sometimes that…I don't know what to do."
'Your smile, your hugs, your laughter.'
"Are you talking about the future me?"
"Yeah."
"Am I the same in the future?" he asked hesitantly.
Rose pulled back a little and looked at his face, "Part of you is. But part of you isn't. Every single time I meet you you're different."
"And what about this regeneration?"
"What do you mean?" she asked him as she tilted her head in confusion, "Besides the curls and the kitten pin on your lapel?"
He gave her a small frown, "I like kittens. Is that a problem?"
"No it isn't. Just a little weird. Thought your love for bananas was a little extreme but this tops it," she said with a sad smile as she remembered how John would make her a banana smoothie every day at lunch.
'Loved those bananas.'
"Bananas? Well they are good but I don't think I would be obsessed with them."
Rose beamed, "Just wait. But this regeneration is a part of you that makes you the Doctor."
"Sure is the best one…. but sometimes I feel that this one is the most different out of all of them. Feel myself arguing with Peri more often than need it be every day."
"I like it," Rose said quickly.
He peered at her with an uncertain look, "Really?"
"Yeah. Your unpredictable and your somewhat a petulant egotist, and your multicoloured attire reflects your volatile personality. You have wild mood swings, maniac behavior, bombastic outbursts and glib, with an unflappable wit. You're supremely confident in your abilities and your arrogance and wit eventually subside to reveal that you have a strong moral sense and a heart of gold. You stand out. But that's what makes you the Doctor. It's a piece of you that I don't know what would happen if you lost. I…"
She was cut off as she felt his lips upon hers. Her eyes widened in surprise as she felt him pull her closer. Closing her eyes she sunk into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. She missed this. The warmth from his lips. The comfort.
'My Doctor.'
He pulled her closer and just when he deepened the kiss she felt it.
'No,' she gasped and pulled away. She had to make sure.
Pressing her hand to the pocket that had the watch she felt the warmth emanating from it.
"It's time?" he asked with his arms still around her.
Rose just nodded. Everything was going perfect. And just for a second she forgot that she had to go. She couldn't stay.
"So you've got a couple minutes?" he tilted her chin upwards and looked her in the eye. She nodded and he gave her a reassuring grin, "Thank you Rose. Whatever has happened or will happen, I just wanted to tell you thank you. I still have so many questions for you but I know you must go…. What's wrong?"
Her pocket began to glow and she could feel the warmth and power burst within her. She smiled gently, "I forgot for a second."
"Forgot what?" he asked as he touched a tendril of energy that was floating outwards from her skin. The energy wrapped itself around his finger as if it recognized him and he gave the energy a weird look.
"That I'm not done yet."
"Well at least that gives me some time to do some research about your ring. The energy began to glow brighter and brighter and she felt time pull at her, "How do you do this?"
She began to lose the feel of him in her arms and she could see that he was squinting as he looked at her. She didn't have much time left.
Rose.
'It's time?'
As always love.
'Did I mess everything up?'
No. Everything is going perfect. It's turning out just as planned.
'I'm not ready.'
Yes you are. You always are.
'I'm scared. It will be time soon. I'll meet you during your ninth regeneration.'
You'll be alright. I'll be right by your side.
"Rose?"
Rose looked up and saw that the Doctor's face was slowly disappearing. The warmth of the energy around her was too much and she knew she only had seconds to spare. This would be the last time she saw this version of her Doctor. Leaning forward she kissed him quickly before whispering, "I looked into the Tardis and the Tardis looked into me."
His eyes widened in disbelief and the last thing she heard before she was thrown into the vortex was, "What?!"
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To be continued? I don't think so! Let's do more!!!
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The ride was smooth as she pushed through the vortex. With her arms to her side she made her way to…
'Number 7.'
Out of all the Doctors this last one had been the hardest to leave behind. He was her Doctor. And as she went through his regenerations she realized that it would keep on getting harder as she pieced together his life.
'I fall in love with you every time.'
And so do I. You realize that right?
'What do you mean?'
That right there was the first time I realized I cared for you more than anyone in my lifetime. Maybe even loved you already.
'Really?'
You have no idea how much.
Rose could feel the vortex tighten around her and she prepared herself. It was getting easier and easier each time but she didn't want to blotch this. Landings that she messed up were landings that hurt.
Are you ready?
Rose nodded, 'I'm ready.'
Then let's go! Allonsy!
And then it hit her. Literally. A force from inside the vortex hit her in the side and sent her spiraling through time. She struggled to move but whatever had hit her was still there. It was heavy and the force of the vortex was pushing it down on her. As she panicked the vortex tightened to an unbearable pressure and then her back hit something hard and the weight that knocked her in the vortex slammed into her.
The wind was knocked out of her and she tried to pull off the weight that was on top of her. She could faintly feel cloth in her hands as she pushed at it but she still couldn't see it. The light all around her was still blinding her. Grasping the object in her hands she tried to keep it off of her but to no avail.
When the light finally disappeared in a flash she realized that what had crashed into her was a man. A man with tousled brown hair and sad brown eyes. A smile formed on his face as he lifted himself up so he could peer down at her. She knew this man.
Tears sprung to her eyes at the sight of him and a grin formed on her face. She had missed him.
"Rose?"he whispered as if she wasn't real.
At the sound of her name on his lips she threw her arms around him and happily cried, "Jack!"
"What are you doing here?" he mumbled amongst her hair.
"It's a long story," she said as she squeezed him tight, "I've missed you."
"Me too. I've missed you tons. How long has it been? A year? Two maybe?" he said as he stood up. Offering her a hand he lifted her up.
Dusting herself off Rose felt the tug in her chest. The Doctor was near, "It's been longer than that Jack. Much longer."
He gave her a confused look and then his eyes flickered behind her. His hand went up to his holster as he prepared himself.
'To fight?' she wondered instantly.
"What's wrong?" Rose said as she turned around and was faced with one of the most horrible things in the galaxy. She sighed and shook her head in astonishment.
'These things only happen to me.'
Looking up at the people around her she could see the gleam in their eyes. They weren't ordinary. They had a gleam in their eyes like they were ready to pounce at any moment.
"Now what's this? A pretty one?" a man, who she assumed was the leader, spoke out as he took a step forwards.
Rose felt Jack pull her behind him in a protective manner. But it was of no use as she realized that they were surrounded. The leader grinned madly and the paint on his face made him look even more frightening, "No use fighting."
Rose turned around and stood with her back to Jack's. She wasn't going to back down. She wasn't going to be captured. But she couldn't help the disbelief that ran through as she watched the men and women that surrounded her.
"Clowns? You've got to be kidding me." (Author's Note: Three guesses what the next episode is!!!)
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Author's Note: Seriously done now. Sorry that this took so long! Gosh I feel so bad. Work has been really crazy and I've been working as many hours as possible to save some money for my trip to England. So excited.
I think this is the most difficult chapter I've ever written. I just couldn't really handle the Doctor. Well the Seventh regeneration at least. A lot of people didn't really like him. But I tried to make you guys see that even though he's arrogant and crazy he really has a heart of gold. He's just the more rude side of the Doctor. If that makes any sense at all. I also tried to show you guys another side of him. A side we didn't see.
Also for the lucky people that I said have a nice surprise coming their way don't worry. I'll send it off tomorrow personally to every one of you. Maybe even everyone who reviews!!!
WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK OF ADDING JACK TO THE MIX? THIS JACK IS THE ONE AFTER "CHILDREN OF EARTH." SO HE'S SAD AND JUST LOST IANTO! But I just love him!
PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, MEATBALLS! REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!
Come on just press the little button and make my day. I need it.
Ciao.
P.S. Press it! Lol.