A/N: I wrote an entire note basically saying sorry, I'll never abandon you. And also, big changes are coming for this story while outlining what those were... and it was lost. So brevity it is. Basically, I started this story a long time ago and I'm not content to continue just working on it without at least giving a valiant effort towards bringing it up to par with my skills now. Not to say I'm particularly skilled or anything. Therefore, this story will be undergoing major construction. By the time I post a new chapter I would hope you could endeavor a reread to view all of the lovely modifications. For now though, enjoy this chapter. (:
p.S. Please feel free to flame me if my Spanish or Portuguese is horribly off. I haven't taken a class in years, so I did my best to mix things. If you don't speak Spanish and don't understand what's being said... that's kinda intended to be the point? Rose knows some, so she's hanging onto key words. Otherwise I tried to only repeated use recognizable words or context clues to help you all. I did so much research on the setting and area (Cut to images of me zooming as far in as possible so I could get accurate gages of width for every tributary and river mentioned) that my brain started to fry.
But seriously, I love you all. Each and every one.
Chapter 14
Loretta's Love
Lunasolaris Alpha, Present Day
Rose mounted the beautiful purple and gold weathered rectangle. She gave it a loving test stroke to see what would happen, and it rippled at the edges in response.
"Is it… alive?"
"Yes, Missus." Hans responded.
"Well… guess I'm off then." With that Rose patted lightly near the corner and the carpet lifted itself into the air. "I'm really hoping you're as sentient as you appear in the cartoon." There was a light rumbling from under her that gave the impression of either laughing… or the carpet was preparing for flight. Then it took off, zooming back down the hall of Hanstable's shop, right into the tapestry, and then through the beaded curtain up into the sky. Rose let out delighted peals of laughter at the sensation of flying on nothing but a rug, and a very comfy one at that. The smile didn't last long though as worry started to re-gurgle up in her stomach. The carpet seemed to sense this and kicked up the speed another few notches. "You're magnificent, ya know that?" Rose praised and she felt that slight rumbling among the waving feeling of the wind under her the same air tossing through her hair.
One hand still clutching the rug, she pulled out the tablet and used her hand to scan the signal into her body. Her hand glowed and then she felt the sensation pass through her, making her into a compass. Better than sat-nav. That information quickly passed down into the beautiful purple, gold, and red work of art that seriously needed a nickname. They rounded the corner of the hill the Doctor and her had been riding up and just on the other side she caught the glimmer of a silver black ship. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration… now that she had found him, she would need a plan. Her whole viscera seemed to toss with wary nerves and anticipation, sending her reeling into a memory that felt so long ago it was almost black and white in her mind's eye. But the feeling of it… the clarity of the pain was still sharp as any paring knife.
"Try to keep your mind clear. Don't focus on the pain." Rose winced when the voice sounded again from right next to her ear, deep from a painful memory. "And definitely don't dwell on 'the last time this happened' or whatever."
"You're not supposed to be here. You're half the reason I had to forget everything." Rose seethed through her teeth.
"Sorry babe. I'm unforgettable." Came the suave response.
"Please, just shut up!" She shouted, glancing to the side of her… but he wasn't there. He never had been. He'd been gone for centuries
Pete's World, Many Years Ago
The dull roar of engines and wind had long ago faded into the background, only the distinct feeling of pressure was left at the forefront of her mind. Ever since the change Rose could barely stand to fly any more, at least in conventional commercial sardine cans. But she was running this errand alone, without Pete's funds to help her, and although she could afford first class on her own, after all those Torchwood checks had accumulated, she'd only done it for the advantage of alcohol. Desperately hoping to dull her hypersensitive awareness.
Six vodka lemonades later had left her skin pleasantly numb but the over awareness hanging on her mind like a mauve alert behind her eyes throbbed every other second. She was only 6 hours into the 16 hour trip, and only 2 hours of that was going to be a layover. It took all her concentration not to… remember. All of those last few moments. The smiles, the kisses, the words… his body on the ground, the light gone out of his eyes, the police, the strangers, the hollow aching feeling in her chest. Like pneumonia of the circulatory system. Congested, weighed down, like a cold wet wind of Autumn sweeping through her system. Constant cold and distance. There was also warmth, she would boil over with such hot tears and red streaked cheeks. Her whole body would vibrate with a warm pain that was trying to sweat her out and char her to dark, hard pieces. She shook her head and downed her glass. It would probably take an entire liquor store at this point… but she'd be damned if she didn't at least try.
"More sweetheart?" The American stewardess asked. Rose nodded grimly. The woman disappeared and reappeared with the drink. Rose expected her to move on, but instead she hesitated. Clearly debating on saying something, mouth hanging open with the indecision.
"I'm sorry. Whoever you lost, they must have been special." She told Rose, then she was gone. A pang of appreciation went through her at the sentiment, some humans were just so perceptive. At the same time though, Rose couldn't decide if she dreaded being this see-through…. Or was so far gone she no longer cared. She reached no decision on that front as she turned her head to look out the window. Her world finally started to tilt as she watched the puffy white clouds and bright blue sky.
They started to melt together like a Van Gogh and suddenly before her eyes shades of grey and brown and bleak tan swirled in with while and blue. A grey beach, a brown suit, and a matching pair of brown eyes. Sad, wary, loving. Green and brown trees, wind in her face, happiness. Then utter despair. The pale body in the blue suit, crumpled on the ground. Dirt and pine needles caught in the folds of his suit. Mouth and nose pouring out crimson. Numbness bracketed by lightning bolts of grief. So sharp, so electric, every nerve ending ringing like sitting by the speaker at a house party.
Even before she got to him, before she could hold his body, she knew. There was no single heartbeat that should have been the promise of a lifetime. Denial never set in, she just screamed. Heat erupted over her whole body and extended outward, her eyeballs burned, her heart stuttered. She knew she wouldn't be able to wake him. The power receded, vibrating out of her body. Her throat aching as her scream finally stopped. She opened her eyes and saw that she had lain down the pines in a twenty foot radius.
Rose had all this power and it still wasn't enough to give her the one thing she truly wanted. It taunted her with the display of pure force that surrounded her. Strong but not strong enough. In those moments there was a part of her that wanted to die. Wanted to just cease her existence. Especially not knowing how long her life would be. Would there ever come a time when this moment wouldn't matter to her? She shuddered and pulled his body closer to her, rocking slightly.
And when a friendly country woman appeared a few moments later she let go as he was pulled away from her. She listened as the frantic woman called the authorities. But Rose couldn't muster much of a response when she was asked questions.
"He was sick." Was all she could manage. Time started to blur together. He was still laid in front of her, face up, eyes closed. She couldn't bring herself to hold him again. He was gone anyway. She simply nudged her fingers into his hand, rubbing the skin. The first and last thing she would ever touch.
Time passed as she felt every agonizing second, paramedics had arrived, a gurney, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and someone guiding her down the mountain. She pointedly ignored the person sized black bag traveling down behind them, but she knew it was there. Everything felt like swirls of color, not actual objects or movements or feelings. That is except for everytime she closed her eyes, all she could see was a pale face covered in blood. Her memories tormented her, showing him smiling and laughing and then blood would start to pour out from the gaps in his teeth, it spluttered out of his nose, ran out of his eyes like tears. That last night with him filled with blood, it stained the white bed sheets crimson. Rose wanted to scream, to yell for her mind to stop. For the images to leave her alone. But her heart was shattered further as the trauma crawled under her skin like evil vines. Wiggling into her cracks and prying her open.
Next thing she realized she was on a rock, staring out at the beach which was the hateful crux in her life. It filled her with pain and resentment. That was when she finally started to cry. The sound reached her ears and it didn't sound anything like herself. The painful sound ripping from her throat, coming out of her from some untapped well of sadness. The years of trying to get back to him had led to this, and she hated him for it. No one had ever filled her life with more wonder. But no one had ever filled her life with more pain. In that moment she hated the full Timelord for his stupid mistake that had cost her all of this. Why couldn't they have stayed? Just long enough for a medical check? Was there no logic anymore?
Rose wasn't sure she'd ever be able to forgive him. The man who thought of everything in a crisis, didn't think of this.
At some point her mother had arrived, but her crying couldn't be calmed despite Jackie's soothings. She could feel Pete's presence behind her. Soon enough Mickey joined on her other side. Sandwiched between her best friend and her mum, her crying slowed. They made her stand and guided her to the back of their black SUV, leaving the last vestiges of the life she wanted behind.
Back in the plane staring out the window with the hours only eating away slowly around her, she could estimate how many more times the imagery would repeat before landing. She didn't want to.
When Rose finally stepped out of the airport in São Paulo the warm air smacked into her whole body like a pillow. Smothering, suffocating. Clusters of people were everywhere, perspiring thoroughly, overwhelming Rose's senses. She slung her backpack onto her and adjusted the straps. She had no idea how long this would take… she suspected quite a while, so she would have to learn how to survive on her own. She saw a blue sign reading autobús and went to stand by it just as the number 44 bus rolled up. She dreaded another 5 hours trapped in any form of non-preferred transport, but she didn't want the responsibility of a rental car. So bus it was. Her sigh as she trudged up the narrow staircase was as thick as the air in the bus. No aircon then? Peachy. Anything to distract her from her mind. She found a seat two-thirds of the way back and settled next to the window.
An elder woman, with tanned skin that sagged around her eyes and chin, sat down next to Rose. She had dark hair streaked with grey pulled back into a knot near the nape of her neck. She gave Rose a long hard look that Rose pretended not to notice at first, but eventually as the minutes passed she turned to look back, a small smirk on her face.
"My name's Loretta. Where are you going dear?" The woman asked, watching Rose's face carefully.
"Antonina." Rose answered, seeing no harm in doing so. Loretta nodded.
"Thought so." The woman answered. Rose raised an eyebrow in response.
"Did you?" Rose almost chuckled. Leave it to her to stumble into an oracle… or rather one into her. "Are you psychic?" Loretta shook her head side to side.
"Just certain people, I get this… feeling. Like I'm meant to know them." Loretta said wistfully, glancing out the window as the bus pulled away from the airport. "Got on the bus out here this morning, got some lunch, decided I was being loco and to head home. But sure enough… here you are." Rose shook her head in mild disbelief.
"Have we… met?" Rose couldn't help but ask, Loretta shook her head again, a small downturn to her mouth.
"Are you meeting anyone in Antonina? Any friends?" Rose's expression clouded slightly, she could see the moment Loretta noticed. "That's what I thought. Have you got a place to stay?"
"You're an odd woman, Loretta." Rose mused aloud a slight smirk on her lips as she tipped her head against the window. Loretta chuckled.
"You'll be staying with me then." Rose sat up to refuse, but Loretta raised a single hand in placation. "Now I'll hear none of that. I'm lonely too, I know the look. Lost my partner a few years back. She was the most beautiful, brilliant woman. It's time for me to start listening to this… whatever it is." She made a flourish at the side of her head. Rose pursed her lips and nodded.
"Can you see colors?" Rose asked, trying to solve the puzzle… if she wasn't psychic or telepathic then…
"Everyone can do that-.. What is your name dear?"
"Rose. And I mean… around people. Like a fog around their person." Rose gestured around herself. Loretta's eyes lit up.
"I've never mentioned that to anyone." Rose smiled.
"They're called aura's. They let you see the heart of someone on the outside. Sometimes you can pick up other things like people who might be important to you or the world one day." Loretta's smile seemed calm, at peace as she turned just slightly to gaze past Rose out the window.
"Thank you, Rose. I just assumed everyone could…" She gestured vaguely.
"Compared to you, the rest of the world is colorblind." They both laughed softly.
"That makes these old eyes and this old heart feel special."
"Okay." Rose nodded, sticking out her hand. Loretta bypassed it and grasped Rose's forearm so Rose adjusted to mirror the action.
"You know you didn't have a choice right?"
"I'm starting to get that yeah." Rose laughed and squeezed her new friend's arm appreciatively then they both let go. They both gazed out the window, watching as the streets of the city turned into suburbs and eventually country. Palms and tall grasses. Rose realized for the first time in months she felt lighter. Only a feather's worth… but it was something. "What was her name?" Rose asked Loretta, breaking their comfortable silence. A soft smile played over her companions lips.
"Elena. Elena Rosada Cabrerra y Solánte." Rose smiled softly too.
" 's a beautiful name." Loretta nodded, still gazing out the window. Rose felt tears prick at her eyes, desperately holding back the imagery that was sure to plague her for the rest of her long life. She grasped Loretta's wrinkled but solid hand in her own pale one and felt the woman squeeze back. "Tell me about her?" She asked softly. Loretta turned, noticed Rose's expression and gave her a sympathetic expression.
"She was mi amiga mejor from the time we were young. She was my entire world and I got to have her as mine for 17 marvelous years." A tear slipped down Rose's cheek as Loretta wove the story of waking up just before it was too late to have the woman of her dreams. Somewhere, deep inside her, the voice of her first Doctor asking her to keep going even when he was gone floated across her mind.
"Have a good life. Do that for me, Rose. Have a fantastic life."
The memory dissipated as more tears spilled down her cheeks. Loretta's voice was calming and eventually Rose lost herself in the story of love in a small Brasilian village.
The trip went much faster than expected with Loretta by her side. She was an amazing storyteller and an even better person. She didn't press Rose for her own stories, and only took what she offered graciously. Loretta was full of twinkling eyes and knowing smiles, she kept Rose distracted. Beautiful greenery of palm trees and other tropical plants passed by in a calming blur outside. By the time they arrived in Antonina, Rose had begun to feel calm, which led to a sort of sleepy feeling she hadn't felt in months. Her eyelids were heavy and for once they felt heavier than the pain in her heart.
"How long has it been, Rose?" Loretta asked with a soft crinkled look to her eyes poised somewhere between sad and knowing. Rose gave a little smirk.
"Few months." Rose mumbled and rubbed a palm down her face.
"You haven't slept enough, have you?" Rose shook her head and looked back out the window. Loretta grabbed her hand again and squeezed. "We should be there in a few minutes. I'll get Manuel to drive us out toward mi casa. Then we'll have some tea and you'll sleep. You'll need your strength." Rose couldn't help but hear the ominous ending of Loretta's plans.
"Why do you say that?" Rose's brows were scrunched in confusion. Loretta reached up and smoothed a thumb over Rose's cheek, giving her a sad smirk.
"Healing always takes more strength than anything else in this world. Picking yourself up out of pain and choosing to move on with life, that's harder than anything. A lo hecho, pecho." The brakes of the bus came to a squeaking halt that signaled the end of their journey. Rose didn't want to comment on Loretta's words right then so she simply stood up to start moving off the bus together.
Antonina was a colorful small town and suburb combination. Weirdly domestic and tropical. The air was slightly more tolerable here, but Rose could still feel sweat forming a sticky sheen over her skin. She patted her shirt pocket to feel the coral piece that had been safely tucked away. It had been one of the only things to bring her comfort. The only other thing that truly didn't belong in this universe besides her. (Though she did wonder if Mickey also wished he could go back now that his nan was gone.) She reached inside her pocket to touch it for a moment and was rewarded with a comforting thrum, lower than a hum which was accompanied by a slightly warm feeling. Loretta was rambling on about the town and Manuel, whose house was just around the corner. Rose hoped the older woman didn't mind her lack of participation in the conversations, but she found her mind steadily growing more tired.
"We'll get there soon enough, niña." Loretta told her with a pat to her shoulder. "Knowing you being British I'll be able to get you to drink a cup of tea before you pass out." Rose chuckled at that. Tea did sound delicious and familiar. By that point they had reached the roughened white door and Loretta rapped her knuckles sharply on the surface. There was a bit of shouting inside, the sound of kids and laughter, then the door pulled open. A man opened the door, he had a full dark beard, he didn't seem at all surprised to see Rose or Loretta standing in front of him.
"Ahh. Ella regresa." The man said a bit sarcastically, but his eyes crinkled fondly.
"Siempre volveré a ti. Ahora, necesitamos un paseo por la carretera, por favor." Loretta answered. Rose knew enough spanish to know the two held a comfortable level of banter with each other.
"Si Señiorita. Anything for you." Then the man looked at Rose. "Quien es?"
"Mi amiga nueva. Manuel this is Rose, Rose this is Manuel." Loretta introduced them and Rose stuck out a hand.
"Encantado." Rose responded with a friendly smile.
"Tambien." Manuel responded after he finished shaking Rose's hand. The final final leg of her journey started to blur at the edges. She'd been too tired to really take in their descent into a thicker portion of forest, or even notice Loretta's cabin tucked away within. All she really remembered was Loretta's delicious chamomile tea that she only got half-way through before promptly dissolving into the couch, not even making it to the small spare room.
That night her dreams didn't bother her, they were mostly washes of color. Purples, blues, and pinks with gold twining through it, mixing it all together. It was comforting to feel time slip by, to lose track of it for the first time.
A gentle hand on her shoulder stirred her awake. Blearily Rose rubbed her eyes and tried to see who had woken her. Loretta's kind wrinkled face swam into view, she smiled slightly but Rose could detect the hint of worry around the edges.
"Niña, I know you needed the sleep, but after 16 hours the body needs movement and food again to continue healing." Loretta is light on her feet as she steps away from Rose, disappearing from Rose's vision as Rose rubs her whole face, trying to get the blood moving. Loretta appears again with a tray of food and more tea which she sits on the coffee table. "Plus you stopped glowing about 4 hours ago, so I figured it was time." Rose sat up at that, eyebrow raised watching Loretta carefully.
"That… didn't freak you out?" Rose asked but Loretta just shrugged.
"Un poco luz en maňana is never a bad thing at my age." Rose still looked concerned, but Loretta just waved a hand at her. "Eat some breakfast. You worry too much. The glow was already in your aura, I was just surprised it could get so bright." Rose nodded and slid forward to start eating breakfast. Homemade bread with jams and slices of mango, accompanied by a nice hot green tea.
"I don't know if I've ever… glowed in my sleep before." Rose admitted as she took a large swig of the hot drink and laid into the bread.
"I got the sense that it was a light of healing, niña." Loretta said as she moved back toward one of the windows where she had a medium sized easel set up. There were brushes and other materials set up on a small table next to her.
"What are you working on, Loretta?" Rose finished off the bread and dusted crumbs off her fingers to start in on the mangos. Loretta smirked at her from around the corner of her easel.
"The spirits of the forest are strong today. I suspect they know someone new is here." Rose glanced out the large window next to Loretta and saw only lush forest, no spirits. Occasionally there was a small movement indicating an animal or the wind rustling the leaves. Loretta had no tamed yard, just a few meters away from her walls the forest sprung up in full, almost as if the small cabin were a part of it all.
"It's beautiful out there." Rose said softly, her mango slices finished she held the warm mug in her hands and relished in feeling awake again as she breathed in the fruity scent of natural tea.
"Sí. You were dead on your feet last night, I don't think you saw any of it on the way in. Once you freshen up you should go explore. The forest wants to welcome you." Loretta said as started mixing the little jars of herbs with oils and other things to make her paints. Rose smiled at her. Loretta had been more than kind, she had been accepting. And immediately so. She brought Rose into her fold as if she had always been meant to end up here, in this cabin within the rain forests surrounding Antonina.
"Thank you, Loretta." Loretta gave Rose a soft answering smile.
"Kitchen is right through there." Loretta gestured just behind her to the right. "There's a door in there that leads to the bathroom, and the other leads out back. Your room is right off the front door. I put your stuff in there last night. Hopefully you'll be able to actually use it tonight." Loretta gave Rose a smirk, and Rose couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"I make no promises. Your couch was very comfy." Loretta laughed at that and turned back to her work. Rose made quick work of washing her dishes, followed by a brisk shower, and then she checked out her room. A small bed that only just qualified as a double, a desk, and some drawers under the bed. There was one small, high window that faced out front and another on the adjacent wall just over the desk that was bigger. Rose sighed, she had so much work ahead of her. She started to unpack all of her notes and the various electronics she had been able to fly over. Her few outfits and toiletries fit in the drawers with ease. At the bottom of her bag was her phone. She hadn't thought of it in days, even though she'd promised her mother, Mickey, and Pete that she would keep in touch. She didn't expect to have any signal, but one single bar greeted her, so she took the chance.
She pressed the smooth surface to her face and listened to it ring once, twice… in the middle of the third ring she heard the line click and Mickey's voice came through.
"Hello?"
"Hiya Mick. Don't have much bars. Just wanted to let you all know I made it. Probably won't be calling very often though. I don't have an easy way to charge this right now."
"Glad you're safe. You gonna tell us where you are?" Rose smiled sadly.
"Nah, don't think I will. I've got too much to do, and I don't want anyone coming to poke on me, asking how I'm coping or anything like that. Plus you know Pete would send people to keep an eye on me. Torchwood or other security people." She heard Mickey chuckle.
"How can you be sure he didn't send them to tail you at the airport?"
"Oh he did. But I ditched them before even going through security. Hopped the train at King's Cross and flew out of Gatwick instead of Heathrow. They didn't stand a chance."
"That was rather clever. They probably expected you to try and switch flights or loose them in the airport. Not just switch airports."
"I know."
"Oi! Cheeky too?" Rose laughed lightly, and it didn't feel forced. "You sound better already. You staying somewhere safe?" Rose nodded even though Mickey couldn't see her.
"Met a woman."
"Oh that was fast. Thought you could only get over me that quickly." Rose laughed at the teasing, some part of her thought a statement like that would hurt, but a larger part was grateful for Mickey not being so delicate.
"You know I'm not like that Micks."
"You're not fooling anyone, Rose. You'd love any pretty face that could sweep you off your feet and take you traveling." Rose rolled her eyes, but chose not to comment.
"Yes, I'm safe. So you can tell Mum and Pete that. And while you're at it, tell Pete to shove off if he's still searching for me. I'm gonna be fine. I'll try to check in once a week at the most, but at least once a month."
"Jackie is gonna hate that." Rose rolled her eyes.
"I went missing for a whole year. And I was universe hopping for longer than that. She can deal." Mickey laughed which left Rose smiling even as she ended the call. She didn't say goodbye anymore. That also drove her mum mad.
Outside in the humid air of midday Brazil, Rose started her search. She'd told Loretta she was going on a hike, and was exceptionally thankful when there was no fretting in return. Just a firm 'Volver a cenar'. She headed straight into the thick of it. Nothing about it was easy. More than an hour into her journey she was doused with sweat and relieved at the sight of water moving through the trees up ahead. The tributary was small, she knew that from when she studied maps before she came. All of it led into the bay which led out into the Atlantic Ocean. Although they were three named rivers as part of this tributary, none were quite as long as she would consider the word river to mean.
The ground got more marshy as Rose went on. The packed ground turned to gooey mud, almost like a swap. But this was a Rainforest, not a swamp, and at least she didn't go into this intending to stay clean. Another hour later and she was staring at the hundreds of metres between her and her destination. Three islands in the middle of the rivers. The very wide rivers, with water moving steadily enough and concealing just enough to make Rose wary. She knew the crocodile population in Brazil was thriving, and although she'd been pretty noisy during her Rainforest journey, she'd still spotted plenty of wildlife. Rose groaned to herself and ran a hand down her sweaty face. The island she wanted, Ilha Do Lessa, was the furthest one back. It was far enough away from the city, and contained a small mountain of its own. However, she had no easy way to get there. Or to make the trek everyday.
Rose thought of Loretta, her hospitality so easily offered to her. Having to leave some place that felt so warm and safe, just to live in lonely isolation, having to build her own dwelling and survive on her own with nothing but herself. It had a certain poetry to it, but Rose was still an estate girl. Traveling for the last few decades of her life had made her more other-worldly and knowledgeable about roughing it, but she still didn't like it. Her other options were building, or renting a boat. She was very reluctant to use these two options though. Growing the new Tardis was dangerous. Humans and other species presented a huge threat to the piece of coral as it developed. Under no circumstances did she want her work here to be traced. That's why she'd come here, to such dense forestry and isolation. Without the Doctor to watch her back, she had to make some tough decisions and the new Tardis' safety was the most important thing in the universe to her. Rose put a hand over the pocket containing the coral which hummed back at her, and stared longingly at Ilha Do Lessa.
The world around her rushed and blurred. All the greens blurred together for a second then all was still. Her stomach lurched and she dropped to the ground. What the hell? Rose thought to herself as she tried to hold in her breakfast. On her hands and knees she noticed the ground was considerably harder than it had been moments before. Her hands… they were glowing, slightly. She sat back on her heels and stared as the gold tendrils of power ebbed away, seemingly seeping beneath her skin again. Releasing a shaky breath Rose looked up and felt her face drop open in shock. She could see for miles. Mainly green of plants, then the greenish blue of the rivers, there were two on either side of her. In the distance she could make out a small clustering of dark shapes. Antonina? Rose thought to herself in shock. She stood up and whirled around, surveying the cliff face she now found herself on had she… done this?
All other potential possibilities seemed so improbable, so even the impossible seemed.. Likely. She had shifted through space. Her body was thrumming, adrenaline coursing. On reflex she put her hand to the little piece of coral and found it had grown. It poked slightly out of her pocket. Rose pulled it out for examination and smiled. Okay, this was weird. But it was also good. It was useful. If only she knew exactly what triggered it. She looked suspiciously down at the piece of coral, wondering if it could be partly to blame. Rose walked over to a chunk of rock jutting up out of the ground and placed the coral lightly on it, then stepped a few paces away.
"Alright… let's...try this again." She muttered to herself, shook out her hands and looked around. She spotted a outcropping on a ledge below. A few trees grew there, but there was plenty of space to stand. Rose shrugged, thinking it couldn't possibly be this easy. Nothing happened as she stared at the space which frustrated her. If she wanted to be there then why-... her train of thought cut off as the world brushed past her again. Her stomach lurched upon landing, but much less so than last time, and when she was able to look up she found it had worked. Rose let out an excited whoop. All she had to do was look at a place and want it, somehow it was that simple. Glancing back up she realized she couldn't exactly see where she wanted to be, so she tried something else. Closing her eyes she pictured where she'd stood when she placed the coral piece on the rock and just wanted to be there again. Around her the air felt tight, but with her eyes closed there was no rush of color. When she opened her eyes however, the result was the same. The rock was in front of her, the little piece of coral sitting just as she'd set it.
A smile spread over her face. Sure, when she'd stopped aging that had been interesting, but this?! This was actually cool. She'd have to be an idiot not to have noticed the other strange things around her. When the Doctor had stranded her on Bad Wolf Bay the first time, she'd still been mostly human. But with all the dimension hopping something had started. Rose picked up the coral piece and sat on the ground with her back to the rock. A whole new door had opened. How many more laid before her? What were her limits? It was daunting, exciting, and alienating all at once. No one in this universe could help her understand what was happening to her, and as a result she'd have to do it all on her own. At least she seemed indestructible since the changes began. She didn't dare to use the word immortal in reference to herself. She could still be hurt, she still bled… but each time she did the time she spent healing was shorter and shorter.
Would she become like Jack? Where death was only a blip in her day? But she couldn't be like Jack. She had created him. Perhaps he was only the preview of what was to come for her. Jack still aged, she didn't. Her head felt heavy with all the implications her future held. She turned her cheek into the rock her back was resting against and closed her eyes. Deep breaths could often hold back the panic that threatened to close her throat and arrest her eyes. A moment later she opened her eyes and startled slightly to see faint words carved into the cliff face.
Lobo Mau
Rose sighed, her breath blowing the moss and other vegetation around the words, then raised a tentative hand to trace her fingers over the carving. She didn't need to read or speak Portugeuse to know that these were her words. The same ones that would always lead her across the cosmos. She often wondered, in those short moments when she'd held infinite time and space in her brain, if she'd known. Had that Rose with the time vortex swirling inside her mind known just how far that decision would take her?
Later that evening, just as the sun crested behind the tall trees, Rose made her way back into Loretta's cabin. She was shooed immediately to the shower, as caked in sweat and mud as she was Rose hadn't complained. So when she sat down to eat with Loretta, clean and calm it wasn't a surprise Loretta noticed the change.
"You seem lighter." Loretta told her with a fork pointing in her direction. "But those shoulders are still so weighed down. Do you want to talk about it?" Rose sighed.
"I figured out some things today. It's gonna be a lot of hard work to finish what I need to do, but I know I'm in the right place." Rose scraped her fork across her plate, wondering what else she should even dare to try and share.
"There's something else though. Your colors… they keep shifting. They're brighter but they keep jumping around almost. Like they're… excited?" Rose smirked at that.
"You were right. The spirits of the forest were strong today." Rose quickly finished her last bite, leaving Loretta to ponder her words. The older women still looked at her so quizzically that Rose chuckled softly and gave it. "Did you finish your painting?" Loretta narrowed her eyes at Rose's change of topic.
"Sí."
"Can I look at it, please?" Rose asked with a smile, her eyes darted over to the easel, the canvas facing away from them. Loretta nodded and from one blink to the next Rose was across the room. Nothing signaled her disappearance from the table to the visible eye, just a faint glittering of gold visible only to the other woman. Rose smiled from across the room, watching as Loretta turned her head, her hand pressed to her lips in shock. "You do great work. 's beautiful Loretta." Rose told her as she examined the painting. The glows of colors coming from different spots in the foliage. Some far enough forward that the outlines of their true shapes could be seen. It was a beautiful way to see the world. Loretta stood and crossed the room, where she came to a stop in front of Rose and palace a hand on her cheek.
"Magia." Rose covered Loretta's hand with her hand and shook her head.
"Nah. Just a different type of science."
"No. Tú eres material de las fábulas." Loretta told her, and pulled Rose's head towards her enough to place a kiss on her forehead. "I know these things, niña. It is in the air all around you, as I suspect it always has been. Your story is one far past our reach. So much yet to come. And I suspect you know, with great power comes great responsibility." Loretta winked and made her way back to the table to clear away their cena. Rose realized she was smiling only when her cheeks began to ache. Surely she was in the right place if she'd found someone so beautiful and accepting like Loretta. Someone so clever and wise and-...
"Loretta, did you just quote Spiderman?" Rose asked in shocked confusion as she moved to help with the dishes. Loretta glanced up at her and gave her a wink.
"Some old proverbs aren't quite so old." Rose laughed at that, feeling the ease of Loretta's presence sink into her after just one day. Perhaps she could get through this. Even if everyday did hurt like a giant chasm kept clawing her back open, she could work to fill it. She just had to keep herself busy with the Tardis, spend time with Loretta, and let the rest come as it must. Out here, Rose didn't have to hide, or run, or distract herself from the grief. She simply had to live through the waves and not shut down. Maybe one day soon, or in a hundred years, once she had lived for herself, she might think of him out there in that other universe and what he did wouldn't hurt. Loving him, both of them, it had consumed everything she was. It had made her better, stronger, more who she was meant to be. The pain could do that too.
Lunasolaris Aplha's Orbit, Present Day
"Have we met before?" The suave American accent asked the Doctor who still had shock plastered over his face from where he was restrained by a living vinyl chair. The Doctor considered everything he could see, decidedly the lack of wrinkles or time in his former friend's eyes.
"Not yet, actually." The Doctor answered in his scottish lilt, watching the man across from him carefully. "Is this a Time Agency thing?" Jack's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I know you couldn't possibly want me, so what do you want with R-" The Doctor swallowed carefully. "Fable?" Jack narrowed his eyes and walked closer to the Doctor. He paused at the record player, turned away from the Doctor to open the cabinet and, presumably, select a record, though the Doctor can't see any of it.
"Bach or Rock?" Jack asks over his shoulder.
"Definitely Rock." The Doctor answers, Jack chuckled quietly and placed a record down. ACDC's Back in Black startled out into the quiet of the room, even at a low volume it changed the whole atmosphere. Jack turned around to face him and his coat rippled with the motion as he crossed his arms. Then he leaned back against the music player and crossed his ankles, giving off the epitome of a casual conversation despite one of them being restrained. "So what do you want? I was actually having a rather nice day, or working towards one, then you scoop me up with that H20 transport. Which is exceptionally dangerous to most humanoid lifeforms."
"It was the fastest way to grab you, and besides, you aren't human so..." Jack shrugged which made the Doctor narrow his eyes.
"How do you know that?"
"We did a scan. Two hearts kinda sets you in the not 'human' category." Jack tilted his head slightly. "So what are you?"
"Rare." The Doctor answered curtly. "Why are you using me as bait for Fable?"
"How do you know we don't want you?" The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Oh please. No one in this universe even knows who I am. I'm inconsequential. Unless someone thinks they can use me to get to her, and thus," The Doctor indicated his head towards his restraints, "Here we are."
"Here we are." Jack repeated with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"So… is it?" The Doctor asked again, quickly growing impatient.
"Is it what?" The Doctor sighed.
"A Time Agency thing?" Jack chuckled again.
"Oh that! Yes, it is." The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"And you couldn't just ask her like a civil being… because?"
"She doesn't like us." The Doctor scoffed at that as he gave Jack an up and down look.
"Funny, she always has before." He muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"What?" The Doctor repeated, mocking Jack who narrowed his eyes in return. "So why doesn't she like you lot?"
"Records say she has a grudge. Now usually that happens when something has happened to someone she cares about. But she hasn't been seen with anyone she cares about in a long time, so we didn't have anything to use as leverage to get her to talk to us." Jack explained and the Doctor scoffed.
"Well that won't work." The chair hissed behind the Doctor and he jumped a bit feeling the vinyl arms tighten on his body. "This thing is horrible, do I have to sit here? Couldn't you just tie me up somewhere else if you were so concerned." Jack actually laughed in response to that.
"Feels a bit violating doesn't it?" Then he stood up and walked next to the Doctor, he patted the top corner of the chair and it seemed to relax it's grip on the Doctor somewhat. "How long till you think she'll come for you?"
"Hmm depends. How long have I been here?" The Doctor asked as he feigned boredom.
"'Under an hour. Maybe 45 minutes, give or take a few." Jack answered with a tilt of his head.
"Oh any moment now then." The Doctor said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "In fact, you should really tell me what it is you want. That way I can help smooth things over for when she gets here." Jack seems to consider this.
"I could, you're right. But unless you know of some way to contain her that doesn't involve using you. Then there's nothing I can tell you. I don't know anything." Jack turned away from the Doctor and fiddled with the needle of the record player to jump onto another song. The Doctor's brain was racing while Jack rambled on. "I've always loved Old Earth music. Not that I've ever been to Earth, what with being born on Boeshane and the only way off was this." Jack turned and gestured around him. "Time Agency." Jack smiled. "They say I'll be able to go after this mission." The Doctor's brain was still reeling from the previous information.
"What do you mean contain her?" The Doctor asked for clarity and Jack just rolled her eyes.
"Look, she doesn't like talking with us. They sent me in because I'm charming, might be able to convince her to share some knowledge with us. They don't really care if she smites me, or whatever the stories say. But if you knew a way we could get her to stay somewhere-"
"You can't just trap her like you've done with me?" Jack laughed at that, then noticed the Doctor's incredulous face.
"Not when she can walk through walls." Jack told him but the Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Those are just stories, they aren't the real thing." The Doctor said like a scolding school teacher.
"All legends start somewhere, friend." Jack answered. "How old of a friend are you? Do you not know what she's capable of?" The Doctor was going to develop a headache if he kept rolling his eyes this frequently.
"I've never seen her smite anyone or walk through walls. It wouldn't even be poss-" Golden light appeared on the ceiling that was depicting stars, the projection fritzed. Jack must have noticed the Doctor looking past him because he also whirled around. A moment later Fable dropped through, the glittering glow of gold faded to nothing as she landed in a crouch and slowly stood to face the room. Jack's hand went to his hip, perhaps resting on a weapon.
"Bad move Time Agent." Fable said as she leveled her piercing blue eyes on Jack without even glancing at the Doctor. He could tell there was the slightest hint of surprise at seeing Jack there, but she smoothed it over well. Her voice came out closer to a snarl than actual words. "You know I don't respond to threats or kidnapping. And I won't be sharing info with you either." She stalked closer and the Doctor was impressed when Jack held his ground. Might be an alternate universe, but he was still brave as ever.
"Yeah I know. I didn't have a choice though. They want information from you, that's all." Jack placated.
"They want what they always have for the past 2 years. Knowledge of interdimensional travel. I've told them again and again it's not safe. They should be grateful they landed in a safe sector of the multiverse and get on with their lives." Suddenly a few pieces fit together in the Doctor's brain, something their version of this same Time Agent had once said. Jack was strained next to him with frustration.
"Is it such a crime to want to go home, Fabled Woman?" Jack seethed through his teeth. "Some of the oldest legends in this universe claim you're not even from this one originally." The Doctor watched as the Fable facade dropped and her eyes clouded over with something between surprise and shock.
"Jack, I have 3 questions for you, and please be honest with me." The Doctor spoke up and Jack glanced at him but quickly let his eyes go back to Fable. Though he didn't indicate he would answer, the Doctor continued on. "How old are you?" Jack glanced at him and surprise, a sly smirk appeared on his face.
"A bit younger than you I'd say, but I'm not opposed to a silver fox." Jack winked. "Though this really isn't the time."
"You implied you're not from this universe, but I need to know does The Time War mean anything to you?" Fable glanced at the Doctor with a look of concern in her eyes, but at the same time he watched the puzzles fit into place. Jack just shrugged and ignored their silent communication.
"Yeah, course it does. The Time War is the whole reason the agency exists. Something had to fill the vacuum left by the Time Lords." The word seemed to echo in the room around them, in the next moment Jack seemed to catch onto something. "Wait, how would you know about the time war unless…" Jack glanced between them, a knowing glint in his eye, excitement twinkled just beyond that. "You're also not from this universe!"
"Last question Jack." Now Fable spoke up and Jack whipped back to her, like he had almost forgotten she was standing in the room. "Have you ever heard of a Chula WarShip?" That last one seemed to confuse the poor guy, his mouth hung open for a moment before he found his words.
"Yeah, I mean, I know the Chula are in this sector. But back home they've pretty much gone extinct." Jack turned between the two of them. "That all? Because to be honest, bosses are still going to want to have a word. You can give me your questions all night if this is your flirting or whatever, but I'm telling you it won't do much."
"I can help you, Jack. But you need to let him go." Fable spoke up, coming a step closer to both of them but Jack put his body in the way and shook his head.
"I've been letting you both go on believing this whole 'Jack' thing, but that isn't my name. I'm Thane. Javic Thane. But whoever it is you think I am, I'd sure like to meet the handsome devil. You both seem sweet on him. Lucky guy." Fable gave with a sad smirk and kept her gaze trained on his face.
"He was a friend. Sorry for our mistake, Thane. My friend and I both travel a lot. Sometimes things just blur together. Time is funny like that." Thane narrowed his eyes at her.
"I can't let him go until you tell us what we need to know."
"I gathered. Go get whoever else 'we' consists of, and I'll decide if I can send you back." Fable told him as she circled around the Victrola, she seemed to be admiring it.
"Nice try. I have orders not to leave you alone with him or you'll just leave." Thane responded with a bit of snark. If the Doctor had so much as blinked he would have missed it. Fable had disappeared and then her voice came from just behind him.
"If I was going to leave I would have and this conversation never would have happened." The chair released the Doctor with a grunt and the Doctor shot up. He rubbed his arms self consciously and shook off the lingering sensation of fingers. Thane had whipped around, his hand no longer on his hip prepared to grab a weapon.
"So are all the legends true then? Walk through walls, teleportation, time travel-"
"Go get your friends, Thane. I need to talk to mine." Fable told him with narrowed eyes and a calm demeanor. When he didn't move right away she added, "Now." The other man scurried off, coat flapping behind him. Once the door had slid shut again, Fable turned to the Doctor and ran her hands down his arms.
"I'm fine, Rose."
"Did you look at his timelines? I don't know why I didn't right away. Out of the habit I guess." She asked him, not meeting his eyes as she stepped away and turned off the Victrola as it turned to static.
"Yes I did. He's our Jack." Rose let out an answering sigh as she turned back.
"Guess we know where those two years went. He always thought the Time Agency took the memories." She blew out a breath that ruffled the black pieces of hair that had fallen into her face. Still avoiding his gaze the Doctor jumped on his instinct to grab her hand.
"How much more can you do?" The Doctor asked and Rose finally met his eyes. Earlier she had been Fable, all powerful, not to be trifled with, a person woven in a thousand stories. Now she was just who she had always been.
"A lot. More than I ever wanted. But I haven't used these… powers since before I locked my memory away. Yet another reason as to why I did. No one needs this much power."
"But you never came back." Rose looked away at that, the Doctor couldn't stop the accusation in his voice. "You could have, couldn't you? You can jump through dimensions just like you jumped across this room."
"Not in so many words, but yes." Rose answered curtly, pulling her hand out of the Doctor's and turning back to the Victrola. She busied her hands putting the record away and leafing through the others. The Doctor couldn't help but feel hurt. All this time, she could have easily come through.
"Why?" He asked, and it echoed through the small space. Rose gripped the edge of the Victrola and the Doctor could feel the tightness in the air, the static electricity of barely restrained power. He heard her let out a breath and the feeling eased. Rose turned back to him, her eyes unfeeling and cold.
"You sent me away. And then you died. I decided to live for myself. Figured you would be fine on your own, and if you were managing to let the universe get destroyed I might step in." Rose laughed something bitter. "Then I figured, hey, maybe it's not worth it. Living my own life, I always got caught up in things and people. Started to see exactly what it was that made you keep me at arms length. I didn't want that. So I forgot it all to start over. I was fine. I was happy even! Now here you are. Crashing in again." She wasn't yelling at him, but she may as well have been for how sharp her tone was. It cut into him with her distance and calm. It mocked him. Rose turned away again in the silence, picked out a new record, and dropped the needle in place so that ambient music filled the room.
The door slid open and Thane walked back in followed by five other people.
"Didn't mean to interrupt the lovers spat." Chirped one who dripped with as much suave confidence as Jack usually did. "Name's Nix, Enderson Nix. But just call me Nix." Rose's whole demeanour changed, once again she became Fable, someone of legendary power.
"You the leader then?" Fable asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and rested a hip against the music table. The look she gave them must have been a mix between cross and intimidating because Nix only nodded. "Right then. You have 24 hours to settle your affairs then I'll boost you back across. Don't try to bring or do anything stupid." All occupants in the room were shocked in the silence that followed. Fable took their silence as acceptance and turned back to the Doctor. "We're going then."
"Just like that?" One of the crew spoke up, looking a bit alarmed at the abruptness of it all.
"Unless you do something stupid, then yes. Just like that." Fable put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder and said something only he could hear, "Bend your knees." Was all the warning he got.
A/N cont: TLDR of the above AN, next time I post be sure to check and see if i've finished updating this whole story into something better. Thank you so so so soooo much for reading. If you're feeling kind today, please leave a comment. (:
P.S. I'm always on the look out for a good beta. So If your down for bullying me a bit but also developing a life long friendship based on our mutual interests please message me! Or find me on socials. I'm on instagram, twitter, and tiktok as seralinalyn. My message boxes are always open! Stay safe, happy, and healthy. (: