A/N: Sorry about the short chapter, just thought it was a good place to end it. I really didn't want to drag it out, there wasn't much more to put into this chapter. To make it up, I'll make the next chapter a little longer. I hope everyone is enjoying this as much as I enjoy writing it. Plus I got this up a lot earlier than I expected as well. Yaaay me! Here you gooo. Thank-you again to those who have favourited and reviewed! Means a lot!
Anything you recongize doesn't belong to me, but to BBC Doctor Who.
Chapter Twenty - Reunion
No more had to die.
We finally reached the first level, in silence of course. I couldn't get what the Dalek said out of my mind. I love the Doctor? No. I...I don't love him. But. Well. No. And he didn't love me! We all know that. I fought with myself, the sudden hope that he did care for me battling my rational mind. The Dalek stopped half way down the hallway, turning its eyestalk to me. I stepped beside it watching it, as it pointed its eyestalk up, and then fired a laser at the roof. I ducked out of the way from the fall pieces of cement that hit the floor, and smiled. Coming through the hole was the bright sunlight, a warmth that I thought I never feel, I stepped into the light, letting the warmth of the sun wash over me. I didn't realize how cold I was until that moment, but I continued to smile. I turned back to the Dalek with a smile on my face. We did it. We made it.
"You're out. Look, you made it." I smiled, glancing up at the hole. "I never thought I'd feel the sunlight again." I said, wrapping my arms around myself, enjoying the warmth. The Dalek moved closer to me, its eyestalk trained on my face, studying me again. I looked down at it with a smile.
"HOW DOES IT FEEL?" It asked? I blinked, before glancing back at the blue sky and sun. I didn't know how to explain it, I was at a loss for words.
"I don't know how to explain it." I said, turning to face the Dalek. It didn't say anything, but move slightly back from me. I watched in confusion as I heard noises coming from within the Dalek. Its middle parted, showing the inside of the pepper pot, wires and lights were everywhere and in the middle was this blue mutated thing. It opened one eye, its iris a pale pink colour, like it has never seen the light of day before. I blinked, my heart clenched, pity washed over me as I stared at the creature inside the machine. It remained silent as it reached one single tentacle towards the sky. I watched in amazement as it did that.
"Anna! Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Anna! Now!" The Doctor's voice shouted, making me jump. I didn't realize how silent it was, until he showed up. I turned to face the Doctor and gasped. He held in his hands a gigantic weapon in his hands. His face was hard, his eyes cold and dark, I was shocked to see how much darkness swirled in his iris, making him look so much older. I shook my head.
"No. I won't let you do this." I said, watching him. He met my eyes and we stared at each other. I couldn't let him do this, I couldn't let him kill this poor creature. My heart broke as I thought of what the Dalek went through. Couldn't he let this one live?
"That thing killed hundreds of people." The Doctor stated coldly. I arched an eyebrow watching him. I shook my head once more.
"It's not the one pointing the gun at me." I snapped, my eyes narrowing at the Doctor, who looked slightly shocked.
"I've got to do this. Anna, I've got to end it." The Doctor said, raising the gun, pointing it at the Dalek, but I got in the way once more, shaking my head. "The Daleks destroyed my home, my people!" He shouted, his eyes wide, desperation covering his voice. My heart broke for him, but I remained silent. "I've got nothing left." He said sadly, staring at me. My heart went out to the Time Lord, as well as the Dalek behind me. I understood what the Doctor felt, I got it. I did. I would be just as upset and angry at the person who destroyed my home. But I couldn't let him do it. Not when the Dalek was changing.
"Doctor, look at it." I said, stepping a side, giving the Doctor a better view of the silent mutant staring at the sky, with its tentacle raised in the are. "Look at what it's doing." I said softly.
"What's it doing?" The Doctor asked, shocked, staring at his greatest enemy. I looked at him, meeting his eyes, he was confused.
"It's the sunlight, that's all it wants." I replied. The Doctor sucked in his breathe, glancing between me and the Dalek.
"But...it can't." He stated, anger taking over him. I felt my own anger rise, as I turned an icy look at the Doctor.
"It couldn't kill Van Statten." I snapped, the Doctor's eyes widened slightly. "It couldn't kill me. It's changing!" I said, turning fully to him, my eyes burning into his. My anger winning out. "What about you, Doctor? What the hell are you changing into?" I snapped, pointing to the gun he had trained at me and the Dalek, to the anger that was raging in him. He glanced down at his weapon, before lowering it, his eyes wide with shock and something else. Desperation, and guilt.
"I couldn't. I wasn't...oh Anna. They're all dead." He said, the darkness leaving his features and eyes, only to be replaced with sadness and loneliness. I smiled sadly at the Doctor, shaking my head. I wish I knew what I could say. I wish I knew how I could comfort him, what to say to make his pain go away.
"I know." I whispered, I felt tears in my eyes, seeing how much pain the Doctor was in. He let his armour slip, showing how much misery he was in, how lonely he really was. I wanted nothing but to hug him, hold him close and tell him it was going to be alright.
"WHY DO WE SURVIVE?" The Dalek said at that moment, making me jump. I had forgotten it was there, I turned to look at it, it was still reaching for the sunlight.
"I don't know." The Doctor replied to it. I glanced between the two Aliens, sadness filling me.
"I AM THE LAST OF THE DALEKS." It said, sadly, the first real emotion I heard since it woke up. My heart went out to it.
"You're not even that. Anna. Anna did more than regenerate you. You've absorbed her DNA. You're mutating." The Doctor said sadly, dropping the gun to the ground, staring at the Dalek. I felt the guilt stab at me once more. So it was my fault. Everything that happened today was my fault. I stared at the Dalek, tears in my eyes once more, but I refused to cry. It did kill a bunch of people.
"INTO WHAT?" The Dalek asked, turning its pale eye to the Doctor. The Doctor wouldn't meet the Dalek's gaze for a few moments, but when he did, he looked so sad. I blinked. Why would the Doctor be sad?
"Something new. I'm sorry." He said, glancing at me then back at the Dalek.
"Wait. Isn't that a good thing?" I asked, staring at the Doctor in disbelief. It was a good thing wasn't it? He shook his head.
"Not for a Dalek." He replied, looking at me. My eyes were wide as I looked back at forth between the two aliens. Not for a Dalek? What?
"I FEEL SO MANY IDEAS." The Dalek said turning to stare at it. I smiled, kneeling down to its level.
"That's a good thing." I whispered, smiling.
"SO MUCH DARKNESS. ANNA, GIVE ME ORDERS. ORDER ME TO DIE!" It shouted at me, making me jump back. I started shaking my head.
"No. I can't do that." I replied to it, the Doctor watched sadly as the Dalek turned to face me completely. "I can't." I said weakly.
"THIS IS NOT LIFE. THIS IS SICKNESS. I SHALL NOT BE LIKE YOU. ORDER MY DESTRUCTION. OBEY! OBEY! OBEY!" It cried out, I closed my eyes as it yelled, shaking my head. No. There has to be another way.
"Adrianna. Let it die. Give it the order." The Doctor said softly, kindly from where he stood. I turned to stare at him, my eyes wide. He looked at me sadly, his eyes full of pain, I took a deep breath, before turning to the Dalek. It looked so pathetic, so sad. Maybe it was right. Maybe the Doctor was right. Maybe it should die.
"Fine. Do it." I said to it softly.
"ARE YOU FRIGHTENED, ADRIANNA MCDONALD?" It asked me. I looked at it, nodding slowly.
"Yes. I'm frightened."
"SO AM I." It stared at me, "EXTERMINATE." I felt the Doctor's hand on my arm pulling me away, allowing the Dalek to close it's metal casing. The golden balls that were on its lower body lifted from the Dalek, surrounding it in a force field. The Doctor wrapped his arm around me, as I turned my face into his chest. I couldn't watch the Dalek destroy itself, but I heard the explosion, only to glance back at nothing. The Dalek was gone. I didn't realize I was holding my breathe, until I let out a shaky one. I glanced at the Doctor, I saw the same pain and sadness in his eyes as what I was feeling. He reached a hand wiping my cheek, which tears had been silently falling. I didn't realize I was crying. I stepped away from the Doctor, turning to wipe my face, I fought my emotions to get in control. I couldn't believe this all happened, I couldn't believe the Dalek wanted to die because it was changing.
"You okay Anna?" The Doctor asked after a minute, I turned to look at him and just nodded. At this moment I didn't trust myself to speak. The Doctor wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. "Come on, let's get you back to Rose and Matt, they're probably freaking out by now." He said with a light smile, which I just nodded. My mind was on the Dalek, on this whole situation. It got to me. It did, I felt so bad for it, I felt like everything that happened that day was my fault. I'm sure everyone would tell me other wise, but I couldn't stop the guilt that kept stabbing me, I couldn't help but feel that hundreds of people would still be alive if it wasn't for me and wanting to help. I didn't pay attention to where we were going, or where we were, the Doctor had his arm firmly wrapped around me, leading me away. I didn't trust to speak, tears fell down my cheek, as much as I tried to stop from crying, I couldn't stop the flow of tears. My heart broke when I thought of the Dalek, but it shattered when I thought of the Doctor.
I saw the pain in the Doctor's eyes, I saw the pain that he carried. His people were gone, his home was gone, he had no where. I saw it there, weather he wanted me too or not, I saw. I glanced at the Doctor, seeing his mask was in place. There was no pain there, there was no despair, or anger, just bright eyes and a smile. How could he act like he was okay? I was a wreck, I felt all the emotions I try to keep aside until I was ready to deal with it, fight to control me. I wanted to scream in anger at Van Statten, I wanted to cry out loud for everyone who died today, I wanted to cry for the Dalek and the Doctor. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to just find a spot in the TARDIS and just hide there, cry over the guilt I felt for the day.
"Anna! Oh thank-god Anna!" I blinked when I felt strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close. It took me a moment to notice that it was Matt. I smiled, burying my face in his shoulder, hugging my friend back. My best friend. "Don't scare me like that again." He growled in my ear, holding me tight. I laughed slightly, pushing all upsetting thoughts aside. Later. I'll deal with it later. He pulled back to stare at me, he had tears in his eyes, and a bright smile on his face. "Oh god Anna, I thought I lost you." He whispered. I could only smile, I didn't trust myself to speak. I looked passed him and saw Rose and Adam standing by the TARDIS. Rose looked like how I felt, a mess. She smiled widely at me, her eyes red. Was she crying? I let go of Matt, who stepped aside, allowing the blonde to run into my hug.
"Oh Anna. I'm so sorry. I didn't want to leave you done there. Oh god. I'm sorry." Rose cried, hugging me. I just smiled.
"Oh Rose. I wouldn't change it for the world. You got away that's all that mattered." I said, pulling away to look at the blonde's smiling face. "Besides, we did promise your mom that we'd keep you safe and that's what I intend on continuing to do. Keep you safe." I said to her, before hugging her tightly. Rose laughed, as she hugged back. I noticed Adam standing awkwardly beside the TARDIS, I was so happy to see that big blue box. I let go of Rose, allowing her to get wrapped up in a conversation with Matt and Adam, Adam continued to flirt away with Rose, which from the look of Matt and the Doctor, they didn't quite like it. I smiled to myself, taking a deep breath, I had to calm myself down. Later. I'll deal with it later. I placed a hand on the blue wood, smiling as a warm comforting hum sounded through my mind. It was happy to see us, to know I was okay, it knew the emotions I was feeling and the battle that was raging on, it humed comforting.
"A little peice of home. Better than nothing." The Doctor's voice broke me out of my thought, he turned to look at me leaning on the door. I looked back, glancing between the TARDIS and the Doctor.
"Is that the end of it then? The Time War?" I asked, not really looking at the Doctor, I couldn't see his pain. "Is it all over?" I asked quietly, I glanced over at the other three, who were standing around one of the display cases, Adam trying to show off.
"I'm the only one left. I win. How about that?" The Doctor replied, I glanced at him, his eyes full of pain, but it was gone within a moment. I smiled sadly.
"Well, the Dalek survived. Maybe some of your people did too." I said, smiling at him. There has to be hope right? The Doctor met my eyes, staring at me sadly.
"I'd know. In here." He tapped his head. "Feels like there's no one." He said. Right. Telepathic race. I forgot about that. I turned to the Doctor, smiling brightly.
"Well then, it's a good thing I'm not going anywhere." I smiled, which earned me a smile in return. His eyes lit up.
"Yeah?" He asked, arching an eyebrow.
"I don't think the three of us are going to leave. Not by choice." I laughed.
"We'd better get out. Van Statten's disappeared. They're closing down the base." Adam spoke up suddenly, turning to us, glancing around. "Goddard says they're going to fill it full of cement, like it never existed." He said, turning from Rose, to Matt, to the Doctor and then to me. I arched an eyebrow. Did no one tell him about the TARDIS?
"About time." Rose said, smiling glancing between us again. She walked over to where the Doctor and I stood by the TARDIS. She smiled at it, Matt walking beside her.
"I'll have to go back home." Adam sighed. I arched an eyebrow at him.
"Better hurry up then. Next flight to Heathrow leaves at fifteen hundred hours." The Doctor said, eyeing the young man in distaste. I rolled my eyes.
"Adam was saying that all his life he wanted to see the stars." Rose said, looking pleading at the Doctor. I shook my head, I almost laughed out loud seeing Matt's look of disgust.
"Tell him to go and stand outside, then." The Doctor replied, crossing his arms, staring at Rose. She looked at him for a moment before sighing.
"He's all on his own, Doctor, and he did help." I glanced at Adam who looked extremely confused as to what was going on.
"He left Anna down there!" The Doctor said, pointing at me. I raised my hands, shaking my head.
"Leave me out of it." I said, which got a laugh from Matt.
"So did you." Rose snapped, crossing her arms against her chest. I saw the flicker of pain and guilt in the Doctor's eyes.
"Rose." I warned, she looked at me desperately. I shook my head. She sighed.
"What're you talking about? We've got to leave." Adam spoke up then, glancing between us all. I smirked, rolling my eyes. If only he knew.
"We are going to leave." Matt said, smirking.
"Plus, he's a bit pretty." The Doctor snapped at Rose, who just shrugged.
"I hadn't noticed." She replied, smiling with her tongue sticking out slightly. I laughed out loud, shaking my head, which earned a glare from the blonde. Oh boy.
"On your own head." The Doctor said, turning to unlock the TARDIS's door. I smiled, excited to finally get inside. The Doctor lead the way in the TARDIS, Matt followed right after, Rose went next. I glanced at Adam who looked completely lost as to why we were all going into a blue box. I smiled, before walking it. Happiness washed over me as I walked into the TARDIS. I smiled brightly.
Home Sweet Home.