A/N: So sorry that it's been so long. I've struggled with this chapter and I have been busy with other things...and it's also been bloody hot recently and me and heat do not mix. Plus, I'm back at work now, working mornings (I'm not a morning person), so sometimes come home feeling rather tired. Also, the second half of this chapter wasn't on the original plan for this story...it just seemed to work easier. It's those small details that are the hardest to make fit...
Hopefully, the next chapter won't take another four months...I hope not.
(I own nothing and apologies for any typos and that that I didn't spot while working on this chapter)
The Doctor laughed in pure delight as he pushed open the doors of his ship for the first time in three long years, and all but ran up the ramp towards the console.
As Rose followed him inside, her own face lit up with a bright smile, she noticed how the TARDIS's lights were dimmed is if the ship was saving power. However, it wasn't long before she heard the Doctor let out a gleeful laugh again as the lights brightened in the way that her mind had never forgot.
However, she didn't let herself walk any further than the top of the ramp. Jack hadn't yet followed them inside and Rose knew it was to let them celebrate this moment on their own. The fact that she hadn't moved an inch closer to the console was down to the same reasoning: she wanted to let the Doctor have this moment to himself. After all, it had been him who had lost the most that day at Canary Wharf – despite what he said. It brought tears to her eyes to see him back where he belonged.
The Doctor noticed her standing by the ramp and ran up to her before scooping her up in his arms. Letting out a surprised squeal, Rose let him spin her around before setting her down and pressing a kiss to her lips. Despite what was currently going on around him, the Doctor couldn't contain the happiness he was feeling to be back in his home with the woman he loved.
Of course, with their life the way it was, it just so happened that Jack decided on that moment to walk into the ship.
"Excuse me, but when did this happen?" He asked and both the Doctor and Rose pulled away from each other in shock. They had forgotten that he had been out there waiting for them.
"When did what happen?" The Doctor asked as if Jack hadn't witnessed that kiss.
"That," he said, gesturing towards them. He knew full well that the Doctor was trying to avoid telling him but there was no way that he was letting this go in a hurry – end of the world or not. "You two," he continued, "or do you kiss everyone in this regeneration when you've something to celebrate?"
The Doctor opened his mouth to speak, feeling incredibly embarrassed about having been caught out, but he didn't manage to say anything before Rose took it upon herself to answer for him. The Doctor couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
"Happened about three years ago, Jack," Rose explained. "New Year's Eve, a few months after we found ourselves trapped."
"That's brilliant!" Jack cried in genuine happiness. "And about time, too," he laughed. "Even when I was travelling with you I often wondered when I might stumble upon a sight like this."
"Well, there will be no more stumbling, that's for sure," the Doctor said, still clearly embarrassed by what had happened.
"You're no fun, you know that?"
The Doctor just smiled.
The moment was ruined when Rose chose to bring everyone back into their present situation.
"As much as I want to continue this reunion, we should probably get back to finding out what the hell has happened here," she told them. "I don't know about you, but I don't have a very good feeling about all this."
"You're right, nor me," the Doctor said. He moved so he was standing in front of the scanner. "However, now that I have my TARDIS back, we should be able to find out what's happening sooner rather than later."
"How're you gonna do that?" Rose asked.
"I'm setting the TARDIS up to scan for anything extra-terrestrial. As soon as she's found something, she'll let us know immediately."
"And if she doesn't find anything?" Jack wondered aloud.
"Then we'll cross that bridge if we come to it," the Doctor replied. "Though, I highly doubt that'll be the case."
As the Doctor finished setting up the TARDIS and awaited for some kind of result, Jack turned to Rose. "So," he said conversationally. "Three years, how did you cope?"
Rose thought for a moment before answering. "It wasn't easy – 'specially not at first," she started. "But as you can imagine it was harder for the Doctor than it was me. Eventually things seemed to fall into place and we just got on with it. Got jobs at Torchwood, lived a life like everyone else."
One part of that caught Jack's attention. "Hold on, you worked for Torchwood, too?" He looked at the Doctor. "So it's okay for you to work for an organisation you despise, but if someone else – someone like me does – suddenly that's wrong?"
It was a valid question, Rose thought, but, as ever, the Doctor had an answer:
"Different universe, different Torchwood. The one in that world wasn't set up in the same way as the one me and Rose visited in this – the one you took over from. That Torchwood wasn't responsible for the ghosts. That Torchwood wasn't responsible for me nearly losing Rose for good."
"What happened?" Jack asked.
The Doctor didn't reply.
A silence passed over the three of them for a moment before Rose spoke up, looking directly at Jack.
"What about you, what've you been doing?"
"Oh, this and that, rebuilding this place, saving the world," he replied. "Just because the Doctor hasn't been here doesn't mean that the rest of the universe has gone into hiding."
"I'm sorry Jack," Rose said, looking down.
"You've nothing to be sorry for," he told her, truthfully.
"If I had known that he'd left you, I would've made him go back," she glanced over at the Doctor for a second who was looking at the screen in front of him. She wasn't sure if he was actually looking at anything or just pretending to so he could listen in discreetly. She found she didn't really care.
"There must've been a reason he didn't tell you and, once this is all over, I'll find out what it is."
Rose was about to answer when a sudden beeping noise surrounding the console room. Both herself and Jack turned to face the Doctor who stood up straight and glanced back at the two of them.
"Seems like whoever did all this has a message for us," the Doctor announced, his voice slightly on the grim side.
"What is it?" Rose asked.
"Give it a mo, the TARDIS is just translating it."
A moment later, the beeps turned into something more language-recognisable. One constant English word replaced the high-pitched beeping. The word alone enough to root the three of them to their spots, all as still as statutes; looks for fear and horror evident on their faces as they looked at one another.
It was a word they had all heard before; a word they had never wanted to hear again. It was a fairly simple word, but the message was clear enough:
EXTERMINATE.
"No," Jack breathed.
"Doctor…" Rose said, her voice trembling as she looked over at him. He looked as though he had frozen; in fear or horror or hatred, it wasn't clear. His face was blank and held almost no emotion. It was a look that neither Rose nor Jack had seen for a long time; a look that only ever happened when Daleks were involved.
Eventually, the Doctor's eyes met Rose's and she could suddenly see the hidden fear within them.
Every time they fought them, defeated them, they just came back.
Not knowing what else she could do, Rose walked up to the Doctor and wrapped her arms around his neck bringing him into a tight hug. He responded and held her tight, burying his face in the space where her neck met her shoulder.
"We fought them before, we can do it again," she said gently into his hair. She felt him nod against her shoulder and Rose felt a pang of sorrow for the man in her arms. Yes, she had fought Daleks herself, she knew what they were capable of, but she wasn't the one who had sacrificed everything to rid the universe of them, only for them to have survived again and again. This wasn't the way she had envisaged their return to this universe, but it was what it was and now they had a job to do.
…
Having not yet come up with any sort of plan, the Doctor had long since turned off the speakers on the TARDIS, silencing the Daleks' tormenting battle-cry and engulfing the ship into an eerie silence that no one dared break.
By now, Ianto and Gwen also knew about the Daleks. A few times since they had first heard the Daleks' message, Jack had been out of the TARDIS checking to see that they were alright, that no Daleks had made their way into the hub. So far, thankfully, they had not. Jack couldn't help but wonder how long they might have in the safety of Torchwood Three. It may be hidden, but the Daleks weren't stupid; eventually they would discover them, he just hoped they were ready when they did.
It was torture, this; not knowing what to do, knowing that right now, there were probably people being killed worthlessly. Jack looked across at the Doctor, sat closely next to Rose on the jump seat, hoping that any moment now he would jump up, announcing a brilliant plan that he had been trying to work through in his head. However, the more seconds that ticked away, the less likely Jack thought it was going to happen.
Suddenly a ringing noise came from inside the TARDIS. Startled everyone came out of their daze, wondering what it was. It took a few moments before Rose realised that it was her mobile ringing in her pocket. It was the same phone she had had since before becoming trapped in the other universe. For some reason, she hadn't been able to part with it and had always kept it close. Who on Earth would be ringing her on it though? The walls may be breaking down, but no one in the other universe even rang her on it anymore. It only added to the mystery.
"That you?" Jack asked, looking towards Rose.
"Yeah…" Rose said, taking the phone out of her pocket and looking at the caller ID. "It's Sarah-Jane," she said.
At that the Doctor looked over at her. "What? How?"
"We exchanged numbers after the deal at the school," she explained before pressing the answer button and putting the receiver to her ear. "Hello?"
"Rose?! Is that you? Thank goodness. Are you with the Doctor? You need to come to Earth right away; there're Daleks here, taking people. I don't know where they're taking them, but I can only guess it's their ship."
"Sarah, calm down, we're on Earth. We know about the Daleks, we're at Torchwood in Cardiff, where're you?"
"Ealing, London."
"Alright, I'll let him know and we'll come and get you. Sounds like we're gonna need all the help we can get."
"Thank you! See you soon."
"And you," Rose then hung up and looked at the Doctor. "We need to go to London and find Sarah," she said.
The Doctor nodded and made his way to the console plugging in the co-ordinates and setting the TARDIS into motion. Rose wanted to make a joke about not landing in Aberdeen this time, but decided against it. The Doctor had barely said a full sentence in the last God-knows-many-minutes so she didn't think he would be in the mood for her teasing humour right now.
"What're we going to do once we're in London?" Jack piped up, but he received no answer.
"Doctor, you okay?" Rose asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. She didn't like his silence now. When the Doctor was this quiet, then you knew things were about as bad as they could get.
"I'm always okay," he said looking at her, smiling gently at her. He knew that they both knew he was lying, though.
…
The TARDIS landed with a small bump, and the Doctor led the way out of the ship, hoping that they had landed in the right place. When he found that they were a few streets away from where he had wanted to be, he inwardly groaned.
"Where is everyone?" Jack asked as he and Rose both stepped out of the TARDIS and onto the disserted street surrounding them.
"Sarah-Jane said that they were taking the people off the streets. She didn't know where, but she guessed it was their spaceship," Rose explained.
"You can bet your life they're not there to make the Daleks tea and biscuits," the Doctor said darkly. He then started to walk away from the TARDIS and further down the street.
"Where're you going?" Jack asked.
"I'm going to find Sarah," the Doctor answered. "Both of you stay here, I won't be long."
"No, we're coming with you," Rose said making her way towards him.
"Rose, no, stay here," he told her. "Please," he looked at her pleadingly. "You'll be safer in the TARDIS."
Rose looked at him, crossing her arms. "Since when has that worked? You trying to keep me away?"
"Please," he repeated. "Just this once, please. I'm coming back."
The Doctor knew that it was likely Rose would try and fight back again. However, much to his relief, he watched as he saw the fight go out of her eyes as she conceded, letting him win just this once.
"Alright, fine," she said. "But be careful. If you're not back in less than hour, then we're coming after you."
The Doctor gave her a mock salute and a "yessir" before making his way down the road.
Rose and Jack watched by the TARDIS as the Doctor walked away from them. Jack could tell that Rose was worried and trying to stop herself from going after him. It was nice to know that things hadn't changed all that much since he had been away. They were still both so fiercely protective of each other, never wanting to see the other in any form of danger. The care that they had for one another had always been a way of telling what their true feelings were. It was good to know that it was no longer just Jack and any other outsider that knew what they were now. There was something to be said for knowing you loved and were loved in return. It was a feeling Jack knew he might never have – not like he wanted. Not with his life the way it was.
He was content to let himself wander through the darker parts of his mind for a while, momentarily forgetting about the planet-wide crisis that was occurring and the fact that, on top of all that, there were Daleks involved.
However, reality always had a way of pulling you back. Within only a minute or so of watching the Doctor walk down the street, waiting for him to be out of sight before himself and Rose made their way back into the TARDIS, Jack heard a sound that made his blood run cold.
He glanced at Rose. She'd heard it, too. How could she not?
"EXTERMINATE."
Barely a fraction of a second later, a deathly laser shot out from inside an alley way.
It was heading straight for the Doctor.
"Doctor!" Rose yelled, but it was too late. He hadn't seen it in time; hadn't been able to move quickly enough away. Neither Rose nor Jack could see his face, but they both knew the look of horror that was clearly there as the Doctor realised his fate.
Powerless to do anything and rooted to the spot in fear, both Rose and Jack prayed that the unlikely would happen and that the Dalek's shot would miss the Doctor by millimetres. Luck, however, was clearly not on their side as, they watched, terrified at the scene unfolding before them, as the laser hit the Doctor, his skeleton showing for a brief second, before he collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Not caring that there was a Dalek just around the corner, Rose made a run for it; running towards the man she loved, praying that he wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be.
Jack had tried to stop her, but she was more than a match for him and had pulled away easily. Not knowing what else he could do, Jack ran after her, hoping that, if the Dalek shot again (an event that was more than likely now that it obviously knew they were here) it was hit him first. He would survive. Rose would not.
But occasionally miracles happen and just as Rose was about to reach the Doctor, the Dalek that had now started to come out of its hiding place was consumed in an explosion of fire, killing it instantly.
Rose fell to her knees beside the Doctor, ignoring the scene behind her. His body was twitching and twisting around in odd angles, clearly in a tremendous amount of pain, but he was definitely still alive – thank heavens.
"Doctor," she called, trying to get him to open his eyes and look at her. "Doctor, look at me." Tears formed in her eyes as all the Doctor could manage were pain groans. Rose took hold of his head, preventing him from hitting it on the ground any more than he had already done. It was the least she could do.
"Please don't die," she said through tears. "Oh my God, please don't die."
"Rose," was all the Doctor could grunt before he groaned again as the pain started to worsen.
"Oh my God," a new voice – a familiar voice – cried. The sound of something large and heavy fell to the ground and a second pair of hands came into Rose's view, helping her trying to keep the Doctor still as possible.
"Mum," Rose realised, looking up at her mother, not bothering to hide the tears that were falling down her cheeks.
"It'll be okay; he'll be okay," Jackie said, but, although they were the words she knew Rose needed to hear, she couldn't help but wonder if they were actually true.
"Get him into the TARDIS, now!" Jack ordered. He picked up what Jackie had dropped – a large gun, responsible for killing the Dalek that had shot the Doctor. He held it properly, looking around for any sign that they were not alone, as Rose and Jackie took hold of the Doctor, lifting him off of the ground as carefully as they could.
Together, they made their way back to the TARDIS. Thankfully, the Doctor hadn't gotten too far before he had been shot, but the walk was more than long enough considering the danger they were in. That, and with the added weight of having to half carry, half drag the Doctor back the way he had come, only slowed them down.
The TARDIS, knowing what was happening, had unlocked her doors, allowing them to push through without trouble. Once they were inside, Jackie and Rose dragged the Doctor up the ramp and put him down by the console. He was still grunting and groaning in pain, but it was quieter now and Rose knew that he was dying. The thought only made her cry harder.
"What do we do?" Jackie asked, almost hysterically, looking from the Doctor on the ground, Rose by his side, and Jack standing a little way away and back again.
"Just step back," Jack said, emotionlessly. Jackie did what she was told, but Rose held back, still holding on to the Doctor.
"No," Rose managed to choke.
Jack walked up to her, prepared to drag her away if necessary. "Rose, he's dying and you know what happens next."
"Please Doctor, no." Yes, she knew what was about to happen, but that didn't mean she had to like it. It wasn't really the fact that he was going to change that terrified her, not really. She had been through it before and she knew she could do it again. She didn't want him to change, however, and she knew he didn't want to, either. What she was really terrified about, though, was what would happen after. Last time, he had fallen into a type of coma, unable to do anything for the majority of the time. What if something worse happened this time? What if he didn't make it through the regeneration? How would they fight the Daleks then? Last time, they had fought Sycorax; compared to the Daleks, they were nothing – a mere annoyance. This was much bigger. They needed the Doctor.
"I'm sorry," the Doctor managed. For second, he stopped convulsing and looked Rose in the eye and a moment passed between them. He said nothing more, but the look he gave her said everything. Their relationship had never been about words, not really. He barely said the words 'I love you', but it was through the looks he gave her that Rose knew, had always known.
A second later, he groaned again and Jack took that as his cue to move Rose out of the way. She barely struggled, but Jack wasn't about to take his chances.
Once he knew everyone was safely out of the way, the Doctor began to hoist himself up. It wasn't an easy task considering the amount of pain he was in as he felt his body dying. Eventually, using the TARDIS as support, he managed to get himself almost upright.
By now he could feel the regeneration energy filling his veins. He couldn't hold back any longer. But he held back for a few more seconds, enough time to look at Rose directly one more time in his body. His eyes catching hers once more as he once again traded silent declarations with her.
"I'm sorry," he said again, still focussing on Rose. He saw her give him a small smile in return and that was when he felt his time run out. He stood up straight as his body was consumed by the energy within him.
The Doctor was regenerating.