Chapter 25
"We're officially done, right?" Donna asked.
"Yes..."
"So everyone is going to be dead in the morning?" Martha took a step back.
"I never said that..."
"But the acid's obviously back! We're going to die tonight and you're not-"
"Calm down and let me explai-"
"No! Why the hell aren't you-?"
"Shut up, Martha! This is why the Doctor didn't like you!"
Her jaw dropped. Ten didn't look like he wanted to risk taking sides. "Doctor...?" she asked.
He used my tactic. "Anyway, there's a room we can put all full humans in, to try to keep you alive."
"Yeah, it's the only room the acid can't leak into," Twelve put his hands in his trouser pockets. "And that's the only physical thing that can get into the TARDIS."
"Better than nothing," Rose said.
I knew the way to the room, so I planned to go with everyone to say goodbye. Eleven, Five, and Four stepped away from the console with me. Slowly, Rory, Amy, Rose, Martha, Sarah Jane, Harry, and Tegan followed us.
The room was fairly close, but the walk seemed so long, shame hanging on the Doctors' and my minds. I pushed open the door. There were eight beds, eight chairs, and a closet that had possibly all that they needed.
Rory nodded to the four of us and went in. Amy hugged Eleven, hugged me, and followed him. Rose nodded to the three Doctors and put her arms around me. "Thank you so much for this."
"Thank you..."
She walked away. Martha walked right past the four of us. Harry gestured for Sarah Jane and Tegan to go in before him. The Australian hugged each of us. As she stepped away, Five called out, "Brave heart, Tegan."
She looked back at him. He nodded to her. Sarah Jane came to all of the Doctors, but stopped at me. "I think you'd be a good assistant for the Doctor."
"Well, we did have one or two journeys together..."
"But permanently, or at least for a while. You take care of and look after him and you know about him more than any of us. You'd be perfect together."
"I'll see if I can talk him into it."
She smiled and walked away. Harry nodded to the four of us.
"Alright," I said. "If you need anything, knock as hard as possible on the door. I'll come in. I'm sorry, but this is the best chance we have. Good luck."
We stepped out of the room. Eleven closed the door and the rest of us sighed.
"Can't guarantee anything," I shook my head. "We just check and see if they're still there tomorrow."
We didn't rush to get back. I don't think any of us wanted to get back. Maybe we wanted to see if there'd be any problems immediately. But there were none.
Everyone was crowded around the console when we got back. The Doctors who were there stepped away. Everyone looked at them, asking why.
"I think the usual is a good tactic now, am I right, boys?"
Twelve asked.
The seven other Doctors nodded. "What are you even doing?" Josh went over to the twelfth, impatient.
He stepped towards the console, starting to press a few buttons. "I stay calm and look hot while my lady friends- and sometimes male friends- freak out that Earth is being destroyed and then I save it at the last minute by myself with no help, except for my sister and other regenerations this time. I think you know the drill, Nigel."
"My name isn't Nigel," he brought his head back a bit like Donna would.
He bounced his finger off of one more button and looked at him. "It is now."
"You give nicknames to your companions?" Ten asked.
"Of course. It's fun. He has a ton."
"Can we please focus on this?" Two asked, serious.
"Right..." Twelve seemed disappointed.
"If I'm right," Eight told us. "There's a way to dispense the mineral upwards from the top of the TARDIS."
Eleven shook his head. "But what use would that be?"
Eight pointed at Ella. "You said that it's able to cure its owner."
"Yeah, but..."
He pointed at Nyssa. "And you said it's manufactured with Huon, which is made on Earth."
"Yes..."
"Therefore Earth is its owner! It can help fix it!"
Ten extended his arms. "Brilliant, me!"
"And of course, Murphy's Law strikes me," Twelve said through his teeth. "The bloody Time Lords were smart enough to make a wooden lock."
I walked over to see what he was talking about. A wooden box had "RELEASE" painted on it. A small lock was under the word. "Um... Anyone have a key about five centimeters tall...?"
"Like this?" Five held a gold key up.
"Brilliant!" I held out my hands, ready to catch it.
He threw it directly to me. I caught it perfectly. I slipped over, placed it in, and turned. Click!
Twelve pushed it up. The gold button had the same writing on it. "Please, push it," he instructed.
I kept my sight on it, but shook my head. "No. You do it, Doctor. All of you."
I walked away and the eleven Doctors stepped to it. Each of the placed their index finger on the button. "Countdown, please?" Four asked.
All the rest of us started at the same time. "Five... Four... Three... Two... One..."
They all pushed down. A blue light shot through the center of the TARDIS. After about a minute, it calmed down. Nothing was said after that.
Knocking came from a distance. We all looked to each other.
"Who d'you think's gone?" I asked.
"No one, at best," Eight grabbed his hair.
"And if they are dead, you're going to save them," Donna told me.
"Donna, I can't..."
"You can, though."
I bit my lower lip and walked away to the room. I tried to walk quickly, but I didn't want to get there. Soon, though, I was at the door. Slowly, I opened it.
Everyone was there, appearing to be well. Hopeful expressions were on their faces. "We're still alive," Rose said.
"It's not an either or thing. Both you all being alive and the rain needed to happen."
"And did it rain?" Sarah Jane asked.
I shrugged. "We don't know yet. Come on, we'll check."
I lead them back into the console room. Everyone else looked relieved to see all of them. Twelve gestured to the door. "I'll go check..."
No one tried to stop him. He slowly walked over, waited a few seconds, and then opened the door. We heard tiny patters, but I wasn't sure what it was. He stepped out.
I couldn't see his face, but I knew that the news had to be when I heard: "All of you get out here!"