3rd Person P.O.V.
Charls sighed and leaned their head against the wall, they'd locked themselves in a room for about a month. It wasn't really the best coping mechanism they could've thought of but there were worse options. The Doctor occasionally knocked on the door and asked if they were okay but Charls couldn't muster up a reply. For the most part, the Doctor let Charls curl up in their room and think.
"Good morning, Doctor." Charls yawned and stretched while walking into the console room.
The Doctor looked at them in surprise, they'd recovered quicker than he'd predicted. He was prepared to wait for years if necessary.
Charls looked at him sideways while climbing onto the side railing. Once they got comfortable they stretched again.
"What's with you?" They asked.
The Doctor stuttered to find the right words, "Well, it's just that - well - I thought you would've-"
Charls finished his sentence, "That I would've taken a few more months thinking about it?"
He nodded, "Well, yeah."
Charls gave a small smile then sighed, "I don't understand, Doctor. And for once, I don't think I want to."
The Doctor took a breath, "So what happens now?"
Charls tilted their head, "What do you mean?"
"Well, you've accomplished your goal. Learned about the Gray," the Doctor avoided Charl's face.
Charls frowned, "Doctor, are you asking me to leave?"
His head shot up with wide eyes, "No! No, no, no, no. I just wanted to know if you wanted to stay."
Charls stood themselves in front of the Doctor, "I want you to know, Doctor, that I have nothing else. I will not leave you and if you think - even for a moment - that one day I'll just find someone or someplace that I'll fit in - you're wrong. I, this me, was born on the TARDIS, this is my home." Charls looked right into his eyes, "What's our agreement?"
The Doctor was slightly speechless.
Charls huffed, "I will stop you from going too far and you'll do the same for me. But, that's not the only reason I am here. I am your companion and your friend, Doctor. I will not willingly leave your side until our lives are over. Do you understand?"
"It's dangerous," the Doctor murmured.
Charls took a step back and smirked, "It's a bit late for that warning."
"I suppose so," the Doctor met their eyes.
Charls took a breath, "I think I want to visit Martha, it's been a few months, hasn't it?" Charls hopped onto the railing.
The Doctor smiled, "Martha's place it is, then."
"Cardiff." The Doctor said with a grin.
"Cardiff?" Martha echoed in shock, "I think we're going to another planet and you bring me to Cardiff?"
"Ah, but the thing about Cardiff," the Doctor began to explain, "it's built on a rift in time and space, just like California and the San Andreas Fault, but the rift bleeds energy. Every now and then I need to open up the engines, soak up the energy and use it as fuel."
The Doctor ran around the console, opening the engines with clicks and whirrs from the TARDIS.
"Is there no other place that we could do a pit stop?" Charls asked from their seat on the railing.
"It should only take twenty seconds." The Doctor said in a quieter tone, "The rift's been active."
Martha walked around the console, "Wait a minute. They had an earthquake in Cardiff a couple years ago. Was that you?"
The Doctor thought about it, "Bit of trouble with the Slitheen. Long time ago...lifetimes...I was a different man back then." He took a breath and walked behind Martha, "Finito. All powered up."
Charls watched the TARDIS' console monitor as a vaguely familiar man ran towards them. He was carrying a giant rucksack and wore a very nice coat. Charls glanced at the Doctor as they both watched the man run towards the TARDIS. He faintly shouted for the Doctor. Charls wondered for a minute who the man was and saw the tiny spark of recognition on the Doctor's face as he launched the TARDIS. As the TARDIS took off, the Doctor smiled and watched the engine run.
That didn't last because next thing everyone knew a giant spark erupted on the console. The TARDIS rocketed and pushed everyone to the floor. Charls swung backwards on the railing, barely holding on and now upside down. The Doctor kicked himself to his feet and Martha propped herself up on the console.
"What's that?" Martha asked.
The Doctor scrambled to the console and grabbed the monitor, "We're accelerating into the future."
Charls managed to swing themselves back to upright position and bounded over to the console. The TARDIS shook again and more sparks flew off the console, the Doctor tried to wave them away with a frustrated face. The monitor displayed the year in rapidly changing Circular Gallifreyan.
"The year one billion. Five billion. Five trillion. Fifty trillion?" His voice went higher, "What? The year one hundred trillion? That's impossible."
Martha held onto the console, "Why? What happens then?"
Charls' eyes widened, "That's the end of the universe."
The TARDIS jolted slightly as the Doctor managed to land.
"Well, we've landed." He said quietly, looking up.
"So what's out there?" Martha asked in the same voice.
"I dunno." The Doctor shook his head a little.
"Oh," Martha briefly smiled, "Say that again. That's rare."
Charls walked over to the doors, "Ah, it's not actually that rare. He says that loads around me."
"Not even the Time Lords came this far." The Doctor looked down at Martha, his chin still raised, "We should leave. We should go. We should really...really...go" his face lowered and then broke out into a grin.
The two of them dashed to the open doors that Charls had already wandered out of. The air was different, not bad different but it was unlike any other planet. Though, the surrounding area looked like any other scenery in the middle of nowhere like any other planet. Charls was standing a few feet in front of the TARDIS, adjusting their coat. They'd also started wearing the Doctor's old scarf again.
"You finally made it!" Charls looked back at them and grinned, "Took you long enough. Also, there's a person on the floor." Charls pointed at the man on the floor, a few feet to the right.
"Oh my God!" Martha cried out and ran to the man's side.
She put her hand on his neck, "Can't get a pulse. Hold on. You've got that medical kit thing." She ran back into the TARDIS.
The Doctor stood over him, "Hello again. Oh, I'm sorry."
Charls strolled to the man, "Doctor, who is this man?"
Martha ran back with the messy medical kit and shoved the two out of the way, "Here we go. Get out of the way. It's a bit odd, though," Martha took out the stethoscope, "Not very hundred trillion. That coat's more like World War Two."
"I think he came with us." The Doctor's brow wrinkled.
"How'd you mean, from Earth?" Martha asked while checking his heart.
"He certainly feels very funny." Charls held their hand over the body.
"Must have been clinging to the outside of the TARDIS, all the way through the vortex," the Doctor speculated, "Well, that's very him."
"Do you know him?" Martha took off the stethoscope and turned to look at the Doctor.
"Friend on mine." The Doctor glanced at the surroundings, "Used to travel with me, back in the old days."
"But he's." Martha looked at the Doctor then at the body, "I'm sorry, there's no heartbeat. There's nothing. He's dead."
Charls smirked and shoved their hands in their pockets.
The man gasped and grabbed Martha. She screamed, like she usually did. Of course, anyone who didn't think something was strange about the man would assume that he would stay dead.
Martha gasped and grabbed him back, "Oh, so much for me. It's alright. Just breathe deep. I've got you."
Charls went to the Doctor's side and whispered, "I don't mean to be rude, well actually I don't care, but this is one strange companion that you used to travel with."
The Doctor hummed and kept watching.
Charls P.O.V.
When I had stepped out of the TARDIS, I felt the faintest of twinge in my head that there was something strange. I thought that it was a normal sort of strange, because no one had ever gone to the end of the universe, but now I was beginning to think that there was something or someone here that was messing with the timeline. Either it was far away or it was just starting.
The man was definitely strange, even if he wasn't a human. Though, by just looks and feel, he was completely human - just something in him was different compared to Martha or any other human. Like there's something in him. Like the sun, but not angry. Life? Does he have more life?
"Captain Jack Harkness." The man smiled and brushed his thumb on Martha's chin, "And who are you?"
Those words sounded so familiar, but if they were familiar that would mean I met this man before. I think I would remember meeting someone as strange as this. Well, actually if we met before the Doctor then I wouldn't remember. Those are the foggy memories. I was slightly aware of my mind registering the words he spoke and unlocking a door. Another room in the library, but I didn't have the time to go inside and leisurely read the books. The door creaked open, old memories then...who is Captain Jack Harkness and why is there a door that opens for you? I snapped out of my thoughts and went back to the moment at hand.
Jack chuckled, "Nice to meet you, Martha Jones."
"Oh, don't start." The Doctor said loud and annoyed.
Jack rolled his eyes, "I was only saying hello."
"I don't mind." Martha smiled and did that thing when humans scoff but it's happy. Like a light laugh.
Martha helped Jack to his feet.
"Doctor." Jack looked at the Doctor.
"Captain." The Doctor replied with a straight face.
"Good to see you."
"And you. Same as ever." The Doctor's face scrunched, "Although, had you had work done?"
Jack's face lowered, "You could talk."
The Doctor's face de-scrunched and he exclaimed, "Oh! Yes, the face. Regeneration. How did you know this was me?"
"The police box kind of gives it away. I've been following you for a long time." Jack stood with his left side to the Doctor, "You abandoned me."
The Doctor asked in a small voice, "Did I? Busy life, moving on."
Jack stared him in the eyes, "Just gotta ask. The Battle of Canary Wharf. I saw the list of the dead. It said Rose Tyler."
The Doctor perked up again, "Oh, no! Sorry, she's alive."
Jack shifted his weight, "You're kidding!"
"Parallel world," the Doctor said proudly, "safe and sound. And Mickey, and her mother."
I watched as the tension slowly faded away. The Doctor had told me about the Battle of Canary Wharf. Only once, but I remembered it because I thought it was important to him. I wondered if it hurt the Doctor's heart to see Jack and not have Rose be there too. Jack ran up to the Doctor and scooped him into a huge hug with a laugh. The hug broke as Jack saw me and smiled.
"Hello." I nodded.
He grinned, "Captain Jack Harkness. And who are you?"
I smiled back, still unsure how I knew this man, "Charlie Grey. Have I met you before?"
"I think I'd remember meeting you." Jack raised an eyebrow then placed his hands on his hips, "But the name does sound familiar."
"What about Kody Grey?" I asked. It was my father's name. I'd found out what it was a couple months ago after looking around in my library a bit more.
Jack's face lit up, "No way! You're Grey's kid? When I saw you last time you were like three years old! But that was ages ago, and I mean a really, really long...time..."
He knows me and he knows my parents. I really need to look at that library. Answers are right there and I don't have time to read them. I sighed and turned to the Doctor.
"I know him. I don't know how, but I do." I said quickly.
"You look different." Jack noted.
I glared at him, "Stop it."
"Just saying." Jack smiled.
"I changed, apparently more than once, but it's like regeneration but not really." I explained quickly, "I can explain more later but for now I really want to know who the hell are you."
Jack smirked and we began to walk around. The Doctor walked further ahead, Martha was by Jack's side and I kept in front of the Doctor. I normally went first, to see if there was anything strange.
"So there I was, in the year two hundred one hundred, ankle deep in Dalek dust, and he goes off without me. But I had this." Jack tapped his watch on his wrist, "I used to be a Time Agent. It's called a vortex manipulator. He's not the only one who can time travel." Jack pointed at the Doctor.
"Oh, excuse me," the Doctor turned around and pointed at the watch, "That is not time travel. It's like, I've got a sports car and you've got a space hopper."
"Oh ho." Martha exclaimed, "Boys and their toys."
I hummed, "Did you know my parents when you were a Time Agent?"
"Your parents were like off and on coworkers. Time Agent, Torchwood, regular old adventures. Somehow, they managed to be everywhere." Jack smiled then continued, "So I bounced. I thought 21st century, the best place to find the Doctor, except that I got it a little wrong. Arrived in 1869, this thing burnt out, so it was useless."
"Told you." The Doctor said quietly.
"I had to live through the entire twentieth century waiting for a version of you that would coincide with me. I got a part-time job as Charls' babysitter at one point, too." Jack complained.
"But that makes you more than one hundred years old," Martha realized, "And how old would that make Charls?"
"I'm still good looking, don't you think?" Jack giggled, "I'm not sure how old Charls is, though. But I went to the time rift, based myself there because I knew you'd come back to refuel. Until, finally, I get a signal on this detecting you and here we are."
"But the thing is, how come you left him behind, Doctor?" Martha asked.
"I was busy." He replied in the same quiet voice.
"Is that what happens, though, seriously?" Martha looked at his eyes, "Do you only need us when you're in trouble and then we're nothing?"
I felt a heat rise in my chest, anger, again. She doesn't know, she doesn't know. Calm the fuck down, seriously. I reminded myself and kept searching for anything out of place.
"The visiting thing was my idea," I reminded her.
"She was blonde." Jack whispered to Martha.
Martha's face raised, "Oh, she was blonde?"
"Martha!" I exclaimed.
"You three!" The Doctor faced Jack and Martha while I halted in my tracks, "We're at the end of the universe, alright? Right at the edge of knowledge itself and you're busy...blogging!" He headed off in another direction, "Come on."
I huffed and glared a little at Jack before hurrying after the Doctor. Even if I knew him before, I don't like him right now...then again I don't really know too much about him. Maybe that's just how he is.
We walked to a huge canyon, fog filled it in a way that made it feel never ending. There were slabs of rock and holes that made it look like a giant city.
"Is that a nest?" I asked.
"A city or a hive, or a nest, or a conglomeration. Like it was grown. But look there," the Doctor pointed at the small walkways, "That's like pathways, roads? Must have been some sort of life, long ago."
"What killed it?" Martha kept her eyes on the city.
"Time, probably. If this is the end of the universe, everything should be dying, now." I thought aloud, "All the great civilizations have gone. All the stars have faded away by now. It's just nothingness."
The Doctor observed the blank sky.
"They must have an atmospheric shell." Jack looked to the Doctor, "We should be frozen to death."
"Well, Martha, Charls, and I, maybe," he continued to watch the sky, "Not so sure about you, Jack."
The Doctor met Jack's eyes with his 'I'm so sorry' look. The one he uses whenever he thinks he could have stopped something from happening. I'd seen it a lot over the time I'd traveled with him.
"What about the people? Does no one survive?" Martha was still looking at the city.
"I suppose...we have to hope...life will find a way." The Doctor said quietly.
Jack pointed to a small figure running across the land in front of us, "Well, he's not doing too bad."
I frowned once I saw the giant mob chasing him with torches. There were cries of the word human and lots of yelling. I reached out my hand and searched for anything out of place. There was nothing. So in the future, at the very end, we regress back to monsters? I hummed.
"Is it me, or does that look like a hunt?" The Doctor started to bend his knees, "Come on!" He dashed away.
I rolled my eyes, "Doctor, what's happening is completely normal for this time!"
We ran down the hill, trying not to slip on the rocks and pebbles. I felt my heart start to pound as we ran towards danger, a constant thrill when you're around the Doctor. I wonder if everyone who travels with him feels like this?
"Oh, I've missed this." Jack laughed as we ran.