Times Change
AN: Thank-you to Kie1993 for reviewing the last chapter.
AN2: Tiny bit of a rant, won't take up too much time. So far, this story has fifteen alerts and seven favourites. I won't name and shame but I wonder, whether some more of you could possibly review? Just a couple of words will be fine. I really do love to hear what you guys have thought of this whole fic. This is the last chapter after all.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Doctor Who.
Chapter 26-
"The car's gone." Gwen states, jogging towards us.
The Doctor hauls me off of the ground.
"You really thought it would still be here?" Jack asks, "We've been gone for weeks."
He bends down to inspect the body of the Rakoli at his feet before looking up at The Doctor and I.
"We can't leave this here." He gestures to the corpse.
"Doesn't look like we'll have to." The Doctor answers simply.
I give him a questioning glance before following his gaze; the body is crumbling, falling, like ash, to the ground. For a moment I just stare, utterly mesmerised, completely confused as to what is happening, as to how the body is just melting away. It disintegrates until it looks like nothing more than a thicker layer of dry soil on top of the slightly damp mud that already layers the ground.
My mouth opens in surprise, of its own accord as I stare at the spot that was once a dead Rakoli. How is that possible? How could it just disappear like that?
I am drawn from my thoughts as someone closes my mouth for me. The Doctor pushes my chin upwards and, once again, inspects my throat. He clearly feels guilty for what happened and I smile gently as I peel him off of me before gesturing to the ground again.
"How does that work?" I ask, my surprise evident.
"Clearly they didn't want the body to be found." He states as though that one sentence explains everything.
"They?" I ask.
He merely strolls away, calling over his shoulder—
"C'mon, TARDIS!" He turns, speaking to both Jack and Gwen, "I suppose you two want a lift?"
Jack doesn't answer, he just continues to walk in the same direction as the Timelord, Gwen follows him, jogging to catch up. I hold back, just for a meagre minute, staring at the brown pile of dust on the floor. For a moment, I run through the whole story in my mind, coming back here seems to be closer for the whole thing, everything was back to normal. As normal as it could be, traveling with The Doctor and all that. I can't help but let the grin grace my lips. Everything was good.
I momentarily forget the rhythm that seems to haunt my mind like a parasite.
A distant "Adelaide!" wakes me from my thoughts and jog to catch up with the trio, which are now heading down a slight decline. I call back to say that I am following and after a brief hesitation, I do just that.
I fail to spot the hooded being near the trees edge.
)()()()()()()()()(
"So, how does it actually work?" I ask, staring around the TARDIS.
Even in this deteriorating state, the ship has a great homely feel to it. I walk forward and lean against the console, my palms flat against the cold glass. Grinning, I watch as Gwen wanders the vast control room, she's completely amazed, just as anyone else is when they wander through those doors.
"But that's…" She mutters, "That's completely impossible."
"Why?" The Doctor asks, grinning like a school boy.
It's blatant as to what he is after.
"Well… it's-"
"Bigger on the inside." I mouth the words along with the welsh woman and The Doctor chuckles before beckoning the American beside me—
"Jack? Need your help."
With that the two of them wandered down the glass stairs under the floor of the console.
After they are gone, Gwen turns to me, an unreadable glint in her eyes as she stares at me. I shift uncomfortably.
"What?"
She shakes her head but continues to stare. I let out a nervous laugh—
"Seriously, what?"
She opens her mouth to speak but changes her mind. For a few seconds, she stays silent but soon she shakes her head.
"You look tired." She states softly.
Shrugging, I speak—
"I am, a little bit." I try hard to avoid her eyes; I've never been a good liar.
"Go to bed?" She suggests.
I make to answer but rattling stops me. I frown; the noise is familiar, I've heard it before but I am unsure as to where. Gwen seems completely un-phased by the sound; as though she can't even hear it. I can, however, and it's getting louder.
Frowning, I step forward; completely enticed by the sound. What on earth is it?
"Doctor?" I speak slowly, glancing around the vast room.
"Yeah?" He speaks over the racket.
"What are you doing?"
Jack speaks next—
"Uhh, re-booting the TARDIS."
"Yeah, okay, I get that." I say, "But do you have to be so loud whilst doing it?"
I turn to laugh lightly, facing Gwen. My face straightens, however, as I withhold the blank look on her features; clearly she has no idea as to what I am talking about.
"Uh, Addie?" Jack again, "I think you should get some rest."
"I'm fine." I mumble. Although, it's probably not comprehensible.
The sound is still there; that rattling, as though something is trying desperately to get out of a cage, rattling the door. It is now coming from the corridor up the stairs, it echoes through the empty halls, the sound rebounding from the walls. I begin to walk towards the stairs slowly. Gwen's voice is dull in my ear as she speaks—
"Where are you going?"
My voice is barely even a whisper as I reply—
"I'm going upstairs. Be back in a minute."
"What?"
I don't reply and so she calls for The Doctor, her eyes never leave my wandering form.
"Doctor? Something's up!"
I'm half way up the glass stairs when The Doctor calls for me—
"Everything alright?"
"I already said; I'm fine." I pause for a little while, "I'm going upstairs."
"You're sure that nothing's wrong?"
"Positive." I reply, "I'm just tired."
By the end of the sentence, I have rounded the corner. The Doctor's voice drifts through the ship but for some reason, I have no desire to actually listen and take in what is said, instead, I take several slow paces forward. The sound becomes louder, as though I am getting closer to the source. I become more and more frustrated the deeper I go into the ship; suddenly I don't seem to be getting any closer.
This isn't fair in any way.
Upon realising that I, in fact, am not going to find the source of the noise, my senses come back to me suddenly and I glance around quickly; trying to figure out my destination. I'm much further into the maze of hallways and odd room's than I think I have ever been. How long have I been walking? It only seems like a few minutes but in truth, I must have passed my room about half an hour back.
I spin on my heels, I can't remember the way back. That is more than frustrating.
"Take a left and then follow the right wall. That'll take you to your room. I assume you know the way back from there."
I jump as a new voice falls through the once empty air of the hall. I frown; that was my voice. I'm pretty sure that I haven't begun to talk to myself.
"Did you hear me, Adelaide?"
This is when I turn to see… me, standing there.
Yes. I am standing in front of me.
Does that even make sense?
I quickly pick out the things that are different. Her eyes, for example; they are a deeper green, more piercing. That and she is wearing something that I never would; a long violet dress with a corset is covered by a long, black velvet cloak. Her hair is down, her bangs pinned back, this only shows her eyes off in the dark all the more.
Shocked to the core, I gulp. My chin moves up and down but no words sound. She laughs lightly.
"Confused?"
I nod, unable to do much more.
"I can assure you; this is as strange for me as it is for you. Not every day you meet your double ganger." A playful smirk quirks the edge of her lips and her eyes sparkle slightly in the gloom, "Now," she nods over my shoulder; the way I have come, "Take a left there and follow the right hand wall."
The lights in the corridor suddenly flicker as the floor seems to fall from under me for a second; I fall to my knees as the ship jolts. Everything stays still for about three and a half seconds before the lights suddenly shine around me. Looks as though the power is back. I sit back up on my haunches and blink several times. The woman –me, as it were- is gone.
Or, so I thought.
A cloth is placed over my mouth and a muffled, shocked cry escapes my lips. My, very recognisable voice sounds in my ears—
"Hush now." Her lips brush my ears as she speaks quietly, "He'll find you here, he will, I'll make sure of that. Everything is going to be fine. Forgive me, dear."
I blink lazily a few more times before the lights disappear and I fall into the darkness.
()()()()()()()()
My head doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would when I come to in my room. I lay on top of the dark violet quilt, my shoes are placed neatly on the floor by the bottom of the bed and the lights are dimmed. So, The Doctor did find me, just as she had said.
Wait. She? Who am I talking about?
My head suddenly feels heavy and it loll slowly forward. My eyes begin to sting and I move a hand up to my face in order to rub the left eye as I sit up.
"You're awake."
I turn to see The Doctor standing in the doorway. I nod in answer to his question as he comes closer. He comes to sit on the end of my bed. He holds my face gently with his left hand and sonics near my eyes. After a moment he pulls back.
"No concussion, you're fine."
I smile slightly, "Good."
"What can you remember?" He asks gently, "I mean, I assume that you fell and hit your head but, is there something else. Something I'm missing?"
I think and I mean, I really think; trying to remember anything that had happened before waking up. Was there something? I feel as though there was; there is a gap in my memory that I just can't quite fill.
"Uhh, no. No, I don't think so." I say.
He nods and makes to get up but stops short and sits back down again before fishing into an inner breast pocket of his tweed jacket. He hands over a folded piece of paper.
"A note from Gwen."
"They're gone?"
He nods, "She wanted to get back to her family."
I shrug, "Fair."
He stands once again.
"I'll leave you to read it. After you're done, get some rest; you're tired still."
I yawn, proving his point before unfolding the paper as he leaves.
Adelaide,
I'll be back home by the time you read this, I can't begin to tell you how much I have missed the family, but I do hope that I see you soon. There is something that I need to get out of you.
I have no idea what you are hiding, and I know that it is not my place to be nosy in any way. I hope that you will see me as a friend and come and talk to me if you don't want to speak to The Doctor; there are some things that you just can't tell a nine hundred year old Timelord, right?
I smile and yawn once more before continuing—
I think I realise just how close to your heart traveling through time and space can be but I want you to know; if you ever need to leave, for any reason, my door is always open and Jack wouldn't have a problem with a new addition to the Torchwood team, he said so himself.
It was great meeting you and I hope that your head doesn't hurt too much when you wake up.
The Doctor has my number if you ever need to talk.
Gwen x
The last sentence was a hint, I know it. I also know that –and it pains me to realise this, but- I probably won't call her to tell her what I am keeping to myself.
Either way, her friendliness warms me and I smile before pulling the bedside cabinet drawer open and placing the letter neatly inside.
Laying my head back against the pillow, I fall asleep. Calm at last.
So, 'Times Change' is now finished! And there are still some massive mysteries that have yet to be solved. This isn't the end of Addie Q's reign as a companion; I have so many other plot lines planned out. Would you continue to read them?
A large thank-you to all that have reviewed this story—
Kie1993, animemonkey13, Shadows in the moon, SarBrook, TheGirlWithTheOnyxRose, stargazer 0909 as wells as the odd anonymous reviewer. (Apologies if I have missed anyone)
Also, I'd like to thank those who reviewed the first draft of this story. I wonder, are you still reading?
Kie1993, Shadows in the moon, Flowerchild27 and MerlinDoctorTorchwood
Every single one of your reviews have meant a lot to me, they keep me writing and I'd love to hear what you thought on the whole fic.
The first chapter of the Christmas Special will be up the day before Christmas Eve.
Note: It doesn't have a title as of yet so, if you'd like to read it, it may be helpful to put me on alert.
Apologies for the massive AN, here. I'm going to go now. See you soon!