Unto the Universe

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The End of Time: Last Moments

By Lumendea

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who or any spinoff material, and I gain no income from this story, just the satisfaction of playing with the characters.

AN: Look at this! I finished only two chapters over! I'm proud of myself. Thank you for all the kind words and support throughout the writing of this season. It was a big season, but I'm pretty pleased with it and so glad you were all along for the ride.

…

Rose's body still burned from Rassilon's attack, and her throat ached as she scrambled to her feet. With a glance around, she noted flickers of white and black energy sealing the open rips. That explained where White and Black had been and soothed something deep in her chest that she was too tired to try and analyze today. The others… well, they were being sealed in the past by the Doctor, Jack, and her. Sometimes Rose hated time travel. She almost understood why White didn't like his disciple doing it.

"Rose," the Doctor groaned.

He was on his feet now thanks to Jack. Rose wasn't sure which of them she was more worried about. Jack had been… he'd been dead again. This time for longer. With her power being stretched and under attack… Her gaze went to the Doctor. Jack was pale, but he was regaining colour, while the Doctor was looking worse with each passing moment. She stepped closer to him and sighed when he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm here," Rose promised softly. He kept her pressed tight against him. Rose was aware of only one heart beating in his chest. It felt wrong. When he held her, she was supposed to feel his double heartbeat. "We're alright. You stopped them."

"We stopped them," he corrected.

Rose snorted. "Hardly. The moment that Gallifrey…" Rose trailed off. "I was useless."

"Gallifrey is what contained the power in the past. It reappearing cause the chaining of the powers of your position," the Doctor explained gently. "You can't coexist with it."

Rose didn't want to think about that. She didn't want the Doctor to think about it. There was an absolute divide there that was cruel. His past and his present could not overlap. She could almost hear the Doctor's mind spinning.

"Doctor?"

"I wonder if that restriction is echoed by the alternate Gallifrey that the Time Lords made," the Doctor murmured into her hair. "Those burned too. All of the Gallifreys and all of the Time Lords in one brutal moment that trapped them forever as one."

"Doctor," Rose called. She didn't want him dwelling on those thoughts. "It's over. It's properly over."

He didn't answer her, and Rose glanced around at the wreckage of the Black Archive. To call it a mess was an understatement. She had no idea how dangerous the Master's cobbled-together machinery was, but that wasn't her highest priority. The rips were slowly vanishing. Rose thought she heard a shout from the Doctor through one of them from their past. It messed with the mind, but Rose kept herself from calling back. Forming a paradox was the last thing they needed.

Slowly, the Doctor released his grip on her. He was pale, but his blue eyes were bright as he studied her. Then he tried to step back only to sway. Jack and Rose lunged forward, both catching him though Jack took on most of the weight. Jack slung the Doctor's arm over his shoulder, taking on some of the Time Lord's weight. He was eying a nearby shrinking rip nervously.

"How worried should we be?" he asked softly.

"They'll be dealt with," Rose answered. Another vanished. "They're sealing up; we sealed them in our past."

"They were connecting to this point and the Time War," the Doctor added, his voice rough. "Rose was the one we heard…." He reached his hand towards her.

Rose took the Doctor's offered hand eagerly. Tears were stinging her eyes, but she was trying not to cry. Already she could see the shimmer of gold on his skin. It wouldn't be long. She wasn't ready.

But that didn't matter. Very few were ever ready, and she'd still have him after this. He wouldn't be dressed in that leather coat anymore, wouldn't have those blue eyes and that smile, but it would be him.

"Come on," Rose said. She forced a small smile. "Rassilon is stopped." Rose didn't know how to bring up what had happened to the Master. She hadn't really seen it. There'd been too much all at once, but she still had an impression. "Jack, are you okay?"

"Back from the dead." Jack gave her a smile. "And not wanting to clean up this mess."

He wasn't wrong. The Black Archive was in shambles. There was a crater off to their right, and the Master's collection of rigged-up machines were finally shutting down. Rose wasn't sure if the pressure waves during the confrontation had done damage or if the Master had linked them to him somehow. Either one seemed possible.

"Doctor," Rose said softly. She hated to add more to him. "The time machine?"

The machine that had been in Alice's museum was partially intact. Sections had been torn off, but it was still thrumming. Rose knew they couldn't spend time cleaning up this mess, but that piece of technology worried her more than most.

"You got him?" Jack asked Rose. "I can take a look at it."

"No," the Doctor said. He shook his head. "Let me look. Ideally… send it back."

"Okay." Jack didn't sound convinced. "Let me stay close. You're in bad shape."

"I'll regenerate soon," the Doctor said with a hint of resignation. "But not immediately."

Jack nodded slowly. Rose could tell that he had questions and was so grateful that he was putting them aside for the time being. Her head was a mess. Rose couldn't remember if she'd told him about regeneration. Had she? She slowly released the Doctor and lingered near the remaining rips just in case while Jack took the Doctor over to the machine.

Her screams could be heard still echoing through the rips. Low snarls and growls warned Rose that the connection to Gallifrey had ensured the connection to the Time War. She was too tired for this and hoped that no neverweres escaped today. Her head ached. Time was still shifting and convulsing.

Then it stopped. Time smoothed out, the storm that had been twisting it all up eased, and Rose breathed out in relief. The last rip shimmered and faded away. She turned towards the Doctor and found him smiling as he stepped back from the time machine. It thrummed and vanished a second later.

"Back to the Curator," the Doctor explained. "Hopefully, that will make up a little for the mess we left."

He had no idea. Rose almost laughed. He would someday. She wondered what body he'd be in when this all made sense. Given how he'd reacted to Astra, he'd trip over himself the moment he could go and support his daughter through her first regeneration. That thought made Rose feel a little better.

The Doctor leaned against what was left of a shelf and handed Jack the sonic screwdriver. They spent a few moments using the screwdriver and Rose's pen to rip apart some of the machines and deactivate a couple of items that worried the Doctor. Rose's eyes kept moving back to the Doctor. He was weak. He was dying, and he was having them spend time on this. She knew it was important in her mind, but her heart rebelled and screamed.

"That's enough," the Doctor decided. "UNIT's got to be getting twitchy. The time distortion is sorted, but they might not know that." The Doctor chuckled. "Though, Taylor might know and might be keeping that a secret."

Rose's lips twitched into a small smile at the idea. Malcolm probably had no idea if he should tell Kate or not. He'd be worried about sending troops into danger or getting in the Doctor's way. Of course, he'd also be worrying about if they needed help. The Doctor caught her gaze, and she could see amusement gleaming in his eyes. He reached for her, and Rose took his hand, squeezing it gratefully.

One of the staircases had collapsed, but thankfully the remaining one held their weight. Rose was grateful for that as she wasn't sure about the back way out, given the collapsed storage shelves in that direction. She tried to remember what had happened, but what came to her was more of a movie than a true memory which made her uncomfortable.

Two soldiers were slowly creeping their way in as they reached the entry. Jack eased his hold on the Doctor and grinned at the two men, stepping forward to greet them. Rose kept a tight grip on the Doctor's hand and shifted closer to him just in case.

"Hey there," Jack offered with a flirty smile. "Welcome to the mess. We've dealt with the most dangerous of it, but still… be careful if you're going in there." Jack gestured over his shoulder. "Start slow; work your way up."

The Doctor huffed and rolled his eyes while Rose chuckled. The pair of men didn't seem to get Jack's joke. Rose supposed that was far, given how stressful things likely were. They stepped to the side to let them pass out the main doors, and Rose heard them both on the radios, reporting in. A soft sigh of relief escaped her. It was UNIT's mess now. Given she'd worked with them in the past, that felt a little unkind, but Rose couldn't bring herself to care. She'd been tortured, and the Doctor was dying. Right now, that second one was more important, but she had a bad feeling that the first one would eventually make itself important.

Kate took a worried step towards them only to stop in her tracks. Her eyes widened, and she slowly nodded. Gesturing the soldiers back, Kate backed away herself. Rose was grateful for the consideration.

"Doctor," Kate called carefully. "The Master?"

"Gone." The Doctor's voice wavered. "He's gone. Attacked Rassilon to save me."

Kate didn't understand but slowly nodded. Rose didn't fully understand either. Bits and pieces of what had happened were swirling through her head. Rose both knew and didn't know what had happened. But the waver in the Doctor's voice screamed a very different kind of pain.

"Sorry about the mess," Rose said softly. "The most dangerous items are gone."

"That's…" Kate sighed and nodded again. She looked tired, and Rose knew it was only going to get worse. "We'll sort it out."

"Thank you," Rose replied.

"Thank you," Kate said firmly. "Can take care."

They walked to the TARDIS with Kate walking alongside them. She waved back the soldiers and Malcolm with a stern look. The Doctor wasn't steady on his feet, not really, but he smiled at Kate as they reached the familiar blue box. Rose glanced at the wreckage of the time tunnel. The metal had partially melted, and all of the circuits were fused or burned out.

"We'll try to keep Earth out of trouble, Doctor," Kate said.

"Say hello to your father," the Doctor said in parting.

"I will. And I'm sure he'll send him love."

Kate knew. Rose wasn't surprised. Regeneration wasn't a secret within UNIT. She offered Kate a small smile and stepped forward to unlock the TARDIS. The UNIT forces drew back and stayed silent. Rose pulled out her key and swiftly unlocked the door, letting Jack guide the Doctor inside. She said nothing to Malcolm but managed a small smile. He looked as upset as Rose felt. Under other circumstances, Rose would have stopped to talk to her pseudo-uncle. But not today.

Closing the door of the TARDIS behind her, Rose exhaled and swallowed back a fresh wave of tears. The TARDIS was singing softly, a gentle and reassuring tune. Her eyes stung with tears, but Rose wiped them away and hurried up to join the Doctor. He took her hand immediately, and Rose tried to memorize the exact feel of this hand against hers. It would be different soon.

"How have you got, Doctor?" Jack asked. "Before you regenerate?"

"A few hours." The Doctor gave them a weak smile. "Lots of time. You can do a lot in a couple of hours."

Rose had heard him say something like that before. During that vision on Karn before she stopped his regeneration and healed that form. Her fingers twitched, and Rose swallowed, wishing that she could tap into the power again. But the deep ache in her bones was too much. Plus… that had been on Karn, the planet touched by her predecessor. Maybe someday she'd be able to achieve feats like that.

"What would you like to do?" Rose asked gently.

"I know what my answer would be," Jack teased. His flirty response lacked the usual energy, and Rose and the Doctor both turned to look at him. "Okay, maybe not the time."

"You alright, Jack?" the Doctor asked. "Really?"

"Feeling a bit weak," Jack admitted. He glanced worriedly toward Rose. "But I think that's understandable. I'm not sure what happened."

"Rassilon was trying to take Rose's power," the Doctor answered.

"Yeah, I got that bit." Jack chuckled. "But what happened after I…."

"He attacked me again," Rose confessed. "Hit me. I screamed; it was always me screaming through the rips. When he pulled my power…" Rose frowned, trying to pull all the pieces together. "It ripped the universe. Time and space reacted to an attack of that magnitude on a Guardian." Then she smiled a little and looked at the Doctor. "The Doctor broke the connection between the Master and Gallifrey, pushing the planet back into the Time Lord and separating it from the fabric of the universe."

"Rassilon tried to kill me," the Doctor said. "To make sure I couldn't regenerate. The Master…" He shook his head and closed his eyes. "He attacked Rassilon. I'm pretty sure they were all pulled back to Gallifrey, including the Master."

"I'm sorry," Jack said gently. "I hated him, but I know that it was complicated."

"That's one word for it."

"So, back to Jack's question, what would you like to do, Doctor?" Rose asked tenderly.

The Doctor paused, staring at the screen in front of him. It still showed UNIT milling around outside and Kate casting worried looks at the TARDIS. In a burst of movement, the Doctor used his free hand to set the controls and barked orders to Rose and Jack. A few moments later, they were in flight.

"I want… to check on my companions," the Doctor said. He didn't look at either of them. "Rose, you gave me that drive with their messages. They told me about their lives." He swallowed. "I want to see that."

Rose nodded her understanding and forced down the flare of irritation. He was dying after saving her and wanted to see the others. But… he had been born out of the Time War and was dying from ending it again. Maybe a glimpse of the lives of the others he loved was the reassurance that he needed. Giving him a smile, Rose shifted closer and used her free hand to help him set the TARDIS controls.

She and Jack stayed close by as the TARDIS jumped around in time and space through Earth's history. At a distance, they watched Jo, a few years younger, sail down the Amazon in an old tea chest. They heard Tegan's first impassioned speech regarding Aboriginal rights only a few years after she left the TARDIS. The Doctor, Rose, and Jack quietly watched Victoria's wedding from the dark gallery of the church years in Rose's past before doing the same at Barbara and Ian's wedding. They witnessed Mel cheering at Ace's first fundraising event for A Charitable Earth. They intervened to keep a security guard from finding Sarah Jane during one of her little break-ins while searching for a scoop. Jumping to India, they saw Ben and Polly fixing up the house that would become their orphanage twenty years in the past. They left Earth to peek in on Turlough as he raised his younger brother and Nessa working on medical research in an alien hospital. Faces and names that Rose had never seen or heard of were quietly introduced to Rose in low tones by the Doctor.

Through it all, the Doctor grew weaker, but he smiled. Life. He'd fought in the Time War not just for the lives of the universe but the lives that he held closest to his chest. His friends and his companions, who he kept loving even after they left him. Rose gripped his hand tightly and tried not to stare at him. Tried not to be too obvious that she was memorizing this face.

They were at the edge of a park watching a woman named Dodo play with a pair of children when the Doctor hissed and clutched at his chest. Jack immediately drew him back towards the TARDIS while Rose cast a worried glance toward the woman. She hadn't noticed them, and they were parked around the corner, so the TARDIS was out of sight.

Once they were in the TARDIS, the Doctor nearly collapsed against the console and struggled to take in a deep breath. Golden light shimmered under the Doctor's skin or maybe over it. A sob choked Rose, but there was nothing she could do now. She knew what that glow meant. The Doctor was staring down at it with sad yet bewildered eyes. Jack carefully closed the TARDIS doors without a word and lingered on the ramp, giving Rose and the Doctor some space.

"Anyone else?" Rose asked softly. She cleared her throat. "Anyone else you'd like to see?"

"There isn't time," the Doctor answered. He studied his fingertips. "Can't hold off much longer. At least I am regenerating. With Rassilon, one can never be sure." He grinned in jest, but it didn't reach his eyes, and Rose reminded herself that he had to be in pain. "But we need to take the TARDIS someplace safe. I don't want to regenerate inside of her." He shook his head. "She's finally healing from the Time War, and I don't…." Words were getting harder. "I don't want to damage her."

His fingers moved across the console of his ship. Rose knew that the TARDIS changed. According to the Doctor, she'd started producing more of the parts she needed, but Rose could understand him not wanting to risk setting things back.

"It's possible that me regenerating inside would kickstart a regeneration for the TARDIS," the Doctor continued. "But I can't be sure yet. I'd like to give her a couple more years of healing first."

"Of course," Rose agreed softly. "I know you won't hurt her."

His body was hotter than it normally was, and Rose held back a frown. She glanced over at Jack. Despite them being in flight, he was lingering protectively, and a wave of affection hit Rose. He'd spend much of the confrontation dead. Jack had to be hurting too, and yet… She gave him a watery smile, and Jack offered her a soft and sorrowful expression in return. Then the TARDIS landed with a soft thump.

"This should be safe," the Doctor said. He pushed himself off the console only to grunt in pain and grabbed at his gut. "Kidneys just shut down. I need to get outside."

Rose and Jack grabbed him and hurried the Doctor down the ramp. Leaving the door open behind them, Rose only glanced around at the world the Doctor had brought them to. It was shockingly empty, with rocky soil mostly devoid of plant life stretching out as far as she could see. The atmosphere was thinner than Earth's, but not by much. The gravity was a little lighter, and the air was colder thanks to the smaller or perhaps more distant sun in the sky.

"Rose," the Doctor managed. "I'm sorry."

"Please don't say that."

Jack released the Doctor, staying nearby for a moment to make sure the Doctor wasn't going to topple over. Turning towards Jack, the Doctor smiled and chuckled.

"You've surprised me, Jack. Glad we brought you along."

Jack smiled, his eyes brightening at the remark. "It's been one hell of a ride, Doc. I'm looking forward to the next chapter." Reaching up to the Doctor's shoulder, Jack gave it a gentle squeeze before leaning in and kissing the Doctor quickly. "I'll give you two a moment."

Rose was grateful for Jack's understanding. For all of the man's wit and flirting, he was deeply compassionate, more than he'd ever admit to. Jack walked back to the TARDIS to give them a little space. Judging from the way he was toying with his key in his hands, Jack was just as uneasy as Rose.

"You saved me," Rose reminded the Doctor softly. "And I know about regeneration. I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere."

The Doctor stared at her in silence for a moment as he brought his hand up to touch her face. "Rose Tyler, I love you," he said softly. "I wanted more time with you."

"You'll have more time with me."

"Not with this daft old face."

"I love this face." Rose brought up her hand to touch his cheeks. "I'll miss this smile." Her fingers traced his lips as he smiled softly for her. "So please, no self-deprecation right now."

"Not good at that," the Doctor snorted. "Rose, it's just…" he trailed off. "There were a lot of places I wanted to go with you."

"We will."

"It'll take a long time to go through the whole list. It's likely to change and grow with whoever I'm gonna be."

"That's fine. Sounds fantastic." Her thumb rubbed his cheek, and Rose could feel the tears flowing down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I'm crying," she choked out. "I know it'll be you. I know that. I just wish it wasn't so soon that you didn't have to take that hit for me."

"Worth it. Couldn't lose another Gold Guardian." The joke fell flat, and the Doctor's eyes gleamed with too many emotions. "Rose, about wanting to see my old companions instead of-"

"If you want to try and explain, okay, but it's not necessary, Doctor. You don't have to justify everything to me." Leaning up, Rose kissed his cheek softly. "I am going to stay with you. I know you don't really believe that yet, and that's okay. You've got centuries of experience telling you something else. But someday, you will believe it."

"You need to step back," the Doctor said softly. "This isn't going to be a smooth one. The energy…. It's going to be violent this time."

She nodded but immediately leaned up and pressed her lips to his. They were chapped and a bit rough against hers, but perfect. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight and deepening the kiss. Maybe someday, in another crossing of the timelines, she'd kiss this him again, but Rose didn't know for her. She focused on his taste, his smell, and the feel of these hands clutching her.

"Love you," Rose gasped as she pulled away.

The golden light was getting stronger. Pain was written on the Doctor's features, in the tightness of his muscles and the way he was holding himself. Backing away, Rose offered the best smile she could manage. His sharp blue eyes watched her move away, measuring every step.

Golden light exploded around the Doctor. Rose stumbled back on reflect even as the energy brushed across her skin. It felt warm and familiar. She didn't know if that was because of the Doctor or because of its connection to the Gold Guardian. Keeping her eyes focused on the Doctor, Rose bit back a sob when the familiar, beloved face faded out of view as the golden energy grew too strong.

Then it was over. The Doctor gasped, sucking in a sharp breath as the golden glow vanished. The Doctor looked as Rose knew he would. A bit shorter with a slimmer build that made the leather coat too large on him. His brown hair was already wild, and his blue eyes had become brown. It was the Doctor, as she's known him while in university during their time loop of a relationship. The one who, in time, would believe that she truly wanted to stay with him and would marry her. The incarnation that would father Athena, Astra, Alistair, and Alice.

Part of her was grateful that she knew this face, that she'd known what was coming, but the knowledge that she wouldn't see his prior face again hit Rose hard in the gut. Those blue eyes… they weren't lost to her. Alice would have those eyes, at least in one life, and maybe they'd appear in some of the other children. Athena's eyes were blue and very similar to his last eyes.

But, the hourglass was now turned over. The countdown to whatever was coming to take her away from the Doctor had started. She'd be lost to him and the TARDIS. Rose tried not to think about it, had done her best to ignore it, but it was the harsh future knowledge looming over her. Still, Rose remembered her promise to be there and forced a smile. There were a few tears rolling down her cheeks, but she smiled and stepped forward.

The Doctor was studying his hands and inhaled deeply. A wide, familiar grin spread across his face. Jack was staring at the Doctor. Even the warning hadn't been enough to completely prevent the stunned expression on Jack's face. That was fair, Rose decided. Then the Doctor looked up at her, a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"Well, how do I look?"

…

Guardians of the Universe will return on December 10th with the holiday special The Feast of Fools. Doing a News Year's focus this year, new year, new Doctor. In the meantime, you can check out my blog at / that I'm trying to update more often to learn more about my original projects and review my ramblings about writing. Take care!