DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by the BBC. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

3. For story notes, see Part 1.


PART 50

"OK, I think we're here."

The Doctor took a moment to gather her thoughts. This was it. This was what everything was building to. She was back where she really, really hoped she would never have to go to again… yet here they were.

She turned away from the control console at her gang, her fam. Yaz was hovering over the still-unconscious Delgado, while Graham and Ryan were standing by the prone form of Mels.

The Doctor's hearts bled at the young woman's sacrifice. She gave her very life force to enable them to break the time loop Delgado created, and reach the original iteration of Missy and Clara's son - the Delgado who escaped the Time War and set all this in motion. And now it was time to return him… to set the timeline back on its correct path.

Deep down, the Time Lady knew this was the right thing to do - but she had a history of messing things up while doing the right thing. She just hoped, this time, the fallout would be minimal. She hoped it would all be like none of this happened.

But she also knew the danger if that happened…

A groan from the floor gained everyone's attention, as Delgado began to stir. The Doctor glanced at Mels. "Graham, Ryan, could you get Mels to the medibay? If this doesn't work, I want to make sure she hasn't sacrificed herself… plus, I don't want Delgado to see her."

Step-grandad and step-grandson shared a look, then agreed. "Sure thing, Doc," Graham said, and he and Ryan picked up Mels' limp body and left the control room.

"If this doesn't work… ?" Yaz asked.

The Doctor sighed. "Just a precaution. Now come on, before he fully wakes." With that, she pressed a couple more buttons on the console and braced herself. "Time to go back to the Time War."

The doors opened. As it had many times in the past, the TARDIS was floating freely in space, her shielding protecting her occupants. Yaz slowly stepped to the exit, her eyes wide. "I… I don't understand… " she breathed, trying to take in the sight outside. "It's… just a wall."

The Doctor reached her side and took in the sight. Beyond them, before them, was a giant, blood red barrier, literally a wall of energy. It seemed to go on forever. "No… this is the Time War."

Yaz frowned. "What… ?"

"This is all that's left," the Doctor whispered. "You're not even seeing it properly. Your mind can't comprehend its true form. This… this is just your mind trying to visualise something it can't fully fathom. So all you're seein' is a wall. A huge, blocky wall."

"Incredible… " Yaz could not take her eyes off the phenomenon. "So… what d'we do know? How do we get 'im back in?"

The Doctor grit her teeth. "I don't know."

"You… you won't… " came a weak voice from behind. The two women turned to see Delgado on his knees. "You can't. I won't be stopped… "

"How'd you do it, Delgado?" the Doctor demanded. "How'd you escape? How do we get you back in the time lock?"

He looked up at them. "Go to hell."

"Apparently that's where the universe goes 'cos of you, boy!" exclaimed the Time Lady. "Obviously the universe doesn't like someone who messes around with history."

"Like you?" Delgado sneered.

"No - like you. Your timeline was erased, Delgado. Like countless others. The Time War was locked off for a reason. You're not the first to escape it, but you've done the worst damage by far. By removin' Amy and Clara's family, you've doomed the universe."

Delgado staggered to his feet. "Even if I knew what the hell you were talking about… I won't let you stop me. I have to get back… complete the process… "

The Doctor threw up her hands. "I'm not 'avin' this argument with you again - even if it was with a different you! We put you back beyond that wall, and you never create the loop which guarantees your birth and Missy and Clara gettin' together."

"So you'll condemn my family… my brothers and sisters… from ever existing?" Delgado looked into the Doctor's eyes. "Can you do that, Doctor? Can you knowingly wipe out children?"

The Time Lady gulped. When she spoke, her voice was uneven. "For what's worth, Delgado, I am sorry. But yes… yes I can. And I will." May Gallifrey forgive her. "For the good of the universe, your family has to be erased."

Delgado's face became one of pure fury. "NEVER AGAIN!" With that, he lunged at the Doctor…

… and was stopped by another cross armlock by PC Khan. Yaz twisted his limb and came down with all her weight once more on the wanderer.

The Doctor struggled to catch her breath. "Yasmin Khan… you are… "

Suddenly, the TARDIS was rocked, and her shields were breached, resulting in a massive vacuum being created. Within seconds everyone in the control room was in danger of being blown out into space.

"What'swhat's happening?!" screamed Yaz over the deafening "wind" as she clung onto one of the crystal pillars.

The Doctor, gripping the console tight, managed to crane her neck and look outside. An area of the Time War wall was glowing, and energy tendrils were swirling out. The vacuum was originating from a part of the wall itself. "The time lock wants its property back!" she yelled. "It's tryin' to reabsorb himand anythin' else it can get its mitts on!"

Delgado was struggling to hold on, grasping the inner "porch" of the TARDIS for dear life. "No! I won't go back! I have to live! My family… my FAMILY!… has to… " Before he could finish, an energy tendril licked at his ankle, wrapping itself around and pulling him out until he was holding the very police doors themselves.

At the same moment, Yaz lost her grip and she flew out towards the exit. The Doctor's hearts skipped as she reached out and grabbed her best friend's hand just in time. "I've got you, Yaz! I WON'T let you go!" She strained to pull Yaz to her…

Meanwhile, Delgado finally lost his hold… and he was both blown and pulled away at an unforgiving speed. His screams of defiance were lost in the vacuum.

With Yaz now holding onto the console herself, the Doctor managed to reach the all-important button, and the TARDIS doors were slammed shut. The two women fell to the floor with a thud and groans.

No time to rest though: after making sure Yaz was alright, the Doctor shot to her feet and spied a monitor. Most of what she saw was static, but she knew what was happening. "It's over… it's finally over… "

Yaz groggily got to her feet. "Can… can we go now?"

With those words, the danger the Doctor knew was a possibility… the one thing she feared, perhaps above all, would happen if this succeeded… might come to pass. Slowly, she turned to face her friend. "I… don't know if we can."

The policewoman frowned. "Wot? What d'you mean?"

Meanwhile, Delgado neared the Time War wall…

The Doctor gulped once more. "We've stopped Delgado… so none of this will happen. Amy and Clara will be together again. And we… "

Yaz tilted her head. "What? Doctor, what are you tryin' to say?"

"Everythin' from when Missy stole Clara wasn't meant to happen," the Doctor said. "There's no tellin' what might change as a result of the original timeline comin' back." When Yaz questioned her wordlessly, the Doctor struggled to find her voice. "We might never even meet."

Yaz just glared at her, utter disbelief on her face. "W… what… ?"

"With Missy never marryin' Clara… with my memories never bein' erased… " The Time Lady felt numb. "I have no idea how my life goes. I might never meet Bill… Nardole… I might never regenerate above Sheffield… and I might never meet you, Graham and Ryan."

Delgado continued towards the wall…

"Then… " Yaz's lip wobbled. "… what would happen to us?"

The Doctor struggled to hold back tears. "You'd go back to your lives. You… you won't ever get caught up with me. You'll carry on and live your lives on Earth. Normal lives." She cleared her throat. "Gr… Grace will probably live too… and you'll become the best officer in the Sheffield force." She managed a pained smile. "I… I know you will."

Yaz shook her head vehemently. "No. No no no. That can't happen. That can't. It won't. I know we'll still be with you."

"There's no way to know," the Doctor breathed.

"We need you," interrupted Yaz, crying profusely. "I need you!" Utter desperation was written on her face.

Delgado tried in vain to break free…

The Doctor bit her lip. "Yasmin Khan… "

"I'm in love with you!"

There it was, finally said.

The Doctor could not help the tear trickling down her cheek. "Quite right t'be." The two stared into eachothers' eyes, the Doctor's heartbroken at the agony in Yaz's. "And I guess... there won't be much cha... "

She stopped. No - she would not make the same mistake. Not again - not this time.

The Doctor grabbed Yaz's face and dove her head forward, pressing their lips together in a searing kiss. Instinctively, Yaz wrapped her arms around the Time Lady's neck.

The kiss intensified, both trying desperately to release all their pent-up frustration, desire and need.

Delgado hurtled ever closer to the wall.

The Doctor and Yaz pulled themselves against eachother, their kiss never breaking.

Delgado screamed as he hit the barrier...

Graham and Ryan dashed back into the control room, only to stop at the sight meeting them…

Still the Doctor and Yaz remained connected...

Delgado was fully enveloped into the wall...

And then…

TO BE CONTINUED