The Master blinked. "But...you couldn't...not after he...the damage."
"I healed," the Doctor said.
"But we...manipulation...males can't."
"So they said. Ever wonder why they said it was taboo?" the Doctor said, still pressed against the Master.
"Because they knew it was possible. But you hate me, you're sane now...are you going to terminate it?"
He wanted the answer to be no and the look he got gave him his answer...and there was something else.
"Never...I...oh for Rasillon's sake!" the Doctor said and grabbed the Master's shirt and kissed him. "And it's twins, a boy and a girl," he whispered in his ear.
The Master's breath caught...twins; they were a rare as a five point white star diamond. But his male prowess would have to wait.
"I take it you have a way out of here?"
"The TARDIS and don't worry, she won't hurt you. But we have to go, they're giving you to UNIT."
"Then let's go," the Master said.
The Doctor smiled that smile and they walked out of the cell.
Ianto had finished stacking a pile of paperwork and decided he should check the monitors. He grabbed a coffee and went back to the bank of monitors. He never even sat down as he saw the Master...and the Doctor walk out of the Master's cell.
"Shit...Jack!"
This brought Jack out of his office and down the stairs at speed
"The Master's out and the Doctor's with him!"
"Lock us down!" he yelled and ran for the stairs, grabbing his holster as he did.
Jack was down the stairs in seconds but found the doors to the storage area and the cells already locked.
"Ianto, open door two!" he bellowed and it seemed like forever before the door swung open and he squeezed through and sprinted down to the lowest level, but they were empty, he was too late.
"Ianto, close and seal the door and start locking down the levels from six upwards."
He flicked off his com and as the level started to darken he moved onto the next.
Why was the Doctor helping the Master, unless he'd slipped back into madness, but he'd been sane when he was talking with him; he was sure of it.
So, what was he doing?
A sound from above caught his attention...no, the storage area...the TARDIS!
The Doctor pulled the Master towards the TARDIS but he baulked at the door.
"It's all right, really it is. Ask her yourself," he said and took the Master's hand and placed in on the blue wood.
The Master expected to receive a shock and angry words from the TARDIS, but what he got wasn't exactly a wave of love but tolerance.
"See, so come on," the Doctor said and pulled the Master in and closed the door. "I just have a few adjustments to do. She's been still for too long, so get comfortable."
The Master leant against the railings and watched the Doctor...the turn of events were bewildering.
His nemesis was he wasn't going to say was in love with him, nothing as soppy as that; that was too human. But the thought that he was carrying his children and had chosen him over the freak had made his century, and when they were free of this place he would make sure the freak knew it.
Oh, how he wished those dusty old senators could see this, the breaking of a long held taboo and he and the Doctor both exiles were the ones to do it.
Then an idea began to form in his head.
His attention was caught by movement on the TARDIS screen and he let out a growl.
That caught the Doctor's attention and he looked at the screen
"Let me deal with him," he said and walked down the ramp and out of the door.
Jack was standing there, his hand hovering over his holster.
"Jack," he said.
Jack had barrelled through the storage room doors and could see the lights on inside the TARDIS.
The door opened and the Doctor stepped out.
"Jack," he said.
Jack said nothing at first, waiting until his anger was in check.
"What are you doing?" he said levelly.
"What I have to," the Doctor replied.
"That's not an answer," Jack said.
"It's the one you're getting."
"Whatever he's said to you, it's a lie."
"Who said he's said anything," the Doctor said and shifted back towards the TARDIS door.
"I get you want to believe anything he says, then you won't be alone anymore, but you can't trust him."
It was then that Master chose to appear at the door and Jack tensed.
The Doctor glanced behind him and sighed. "I have to, please just let us go."
"I don't think so," Jack said.
The Doctor looked at Jack and took another step towards the TARDIS and the Master.
"Doctor, please," Jack said.
"I'm sorry Jack," he said and stepped into the TARDIS, past the Master.
"I win," the Master snarled and shut the door.
The Doctor deliberately ignored the screen and the banging on the door of the TARDIS and the desperate sound of a key trying to open it.
He leant his head against a coral strut.
The Master stepped towards him and wrapped his arms around him.
"It's better this way. You have to severe the chord and leave this behind. We have a new life...infinite possibilities."
The Doctor let out a long breath. "Yeah...let's find a new home...the TARDIS is no place for children."
He extricated himself from the Master and returned to the console and set the TARDIS in motion.
The banging on the door stopped and he looked at the screen.
Jack had fallen back when the TARDIS had powered up and the look on his face made the Doctor's hearts ache.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and sent the TARDIS into the Vortex
TBC in 'Infinite Possibilities (An Empire Rebuilt?)