KITG:YAY….the last full chapter. Hope you have enjoyed the ride so far. And don't worry. This won't be the last we see of Galen. I already have the next 2 stories planned out in my head. So. But with my house move drawing near I may go quiet. I will probably go insane for the week I move will be the weekend of the first of the Two-part last Ep. I'll be off the Internet for at least 10 days. I'm going to have a lot of catching up to do. So pity me sob
Chapter 10A Time Lord walked with angered purpose. His black jacket catching the sunlight giving it a blood red hew. Some bowed before him, their champion, the oncoming storm that held the darkness at bay. Those that had been in the shadow of the council paid him no attention at all. The Guards opened the door to the Presidents main room. Inside sat Romana, the large window that took up most of the wall to the right showing the view of Gallifrey, the bright red son and the rivers of Mobius reaching towards the horizon.
Romana was sat at her desk; he robes pooling around her seat, the rich reds and gold's. She was looking though documents by the look of it, probably trying to set up the council again. She looked up at him, eyes afraid but resigned to what was about to pass.
"Doctor"
"Lady President" he replied coldly
"How is your young friend?" That my have not been the best way to open the conversation, but there was no other way this was going to go anyway.
"So you actually care? Well that is surprising as seen as you ordered her to be shot" He leaned against the wall in shadow, his voice sarcastic and sharp, only the cold blue of his eyes glinted in her direction.
"I had no choice, to destroy…."
"Oh please, you should hear yourself. You hold a piece of stone above life? You have fallen far Romana. Tell me, would you have put this stone above Adric? Or perhaps above the life of your friends in E-space?" Romana could not give answer to this. "Didn't think so. Tell me Romana, why would you Value Rose's life so low?"
"I had to weigh all options Doctor, I realise I acted rashly, and you were right. I have been in councils shadow too long." She admitted.
"Are you looking for forgiveness from me Romana? Because if you are I don't think you are going to get it."
"But surly Doctor, to have Gallifrey back.." Romana tried to appease him, tried to get a measure of this Doctor. He was so different, broken somehow.
"That it is better? That I should be thankful? Oh Romana, I hope to Rassilon you never have to go through what I did, what you yourself put on my shoulders. To press that button. To end life on such a scale"
"But you didn't Doctor, we are alive"
"You forget so soon. I have killed, it may not have been my planet but the blood of an entire race is on my hand" his voice dripped with distain. At himself and her. "Yes I can now again feel you in my mind, but others scream to be heard."
"The Guardians. I am sorry for them, for Galen. He talked with me, actually gave me compassion and vowed to continue his oath. I know it is more than we deserve" she walked to the window with a sigh.
"Your right, we don't. Galen is better than he knows" The Doctor said with a fond smile.
"Will you not stay Doctor? To help us?" Romana asked.
"Oh no. As always I have had enough of the looks and Judgments, I will go, and do what I always do before I think any lesser of my people than I already do. This has not been home for me for a long time." He looked over the landscape himself taking in all the beauty and ignoring the bad he knew it hid.
"Time I went to check on Rose and got back" he began to walk towards the exit not gazing at Romana, in all the time he had been in the room with her he had hardly gazed at her except in that moment in the shadows.
"And what about us Doctor?" she dared to ask, were they still friends. In an instant he was in front of her and she realised he had been keeping the anger in check. But now it was unleashed.
"Don't you dare ask me that, Rose does not blame you even says we are still friends. But with that order, to end her life you broke the ties. I used to have so much forgiveness. But all the forgiveness in the universe is not enough were she is concerned. Rule you little empire wisely Romana, for I will be watching and if I deem it wrong, I can end it with a word" Romana shrunk back from his rage. He looked at her a moment before he walked swiftly from his friend.
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Jack opened the door to the TARDIS as Galen carried Rose gently in his arms, by now she had rested her head on his shoulder, and snuggled into the crook of his neck her head now somewhat hidden by his hood. They passed the console, the TARDIS humming in welcome to them all and concern for Rose. They carried on through the ship to her room, Jack pealing back the light pink sheets so Galen could lay her softly in the center. Then Jack replaced the covers as Galen took a step back.
"Okay Rosie?" Jack asked as he sat beside her.
"Yeah thanks guys." She smiled at them.
"I'll go and make us a cup of tea. You stay and keep her company" Galen said as he walked from the room with a swish of his black robe like garment. Jack cuddled up beside Rose, the large bed easy able to hold him comfortable and still able to have another the other side of Rose. It was then, safe inside the TARDIS surrounded by the people she trusted with her soul that she finally broke down.
"Oh Jack, I was so scared.." Jack brought her close to him, hugging her tightly. As she sobbed against him, body wracking sobs that broke his heart and made his blood boil at the thought of those that had done this to her. He stroked her hair and rocked her, murmuring that he was here, that no one would hurt her here. The sobbing slowed and they looked over to see two cups of tea had appeared on the bedside table. One with a Rose upon it, and one with "I'm handsome, and I know it" on the side of it, they felt the engines of the TARDIS start up.
"Think the Doctor's back" Jack said casually. "From the fact that the cups of tea appeared, think Galen's gone to check on him."
"You think he's alright Jack?" Rose asked quietly, wiping her eyes on the sleeve on the gown she was wearing.
"Who the Doctor or Galen?"
"The Doctor"
"Yeah, let Galen have a little chat with him. Him and Galen have been friends for a long time, then enemies, and then friends again. Think he's the best to talk to him right now. I know…we need…ICE CREAM" with that Jack ran from the room, Rose giggling at his antics.
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Galen had been making the tea when the TARDIS gave him a mental prod and he looked over to see the Doctors cup had appeared with the other three. He must be back. So he put some tea in the cup, making it how the Doctor liked it from years of experience…..and complaints.
"TARDIS, take these two to Rose and Jack, please. No not that one!" he growled when his cup disappeared instead of Jacks. It promptly re-appeared while Jacks went. He picked up his and the Doctors cup, he headed to the console room. Inside the warm green light pulsed with life and welcome. The safest place in the universe……unless it was landing then it felt like a washing machine. The Doctor was by the console as normal, setting coordinates to get the great time craft to move.
Galen walked up; the Doctor wasn't paying any attention. So how best to get his attention? Galen thought for a moment…..then kicked him.
"Oi! What was that for?" he exclaimed hopping around with one leg brought up to his chest as he rubbed his shin.
"Tea" Galen just said as he held out the cup.
"You kicked me for that! Why couldn't you just say "Here great and fantastic Doctor is your Tea" instead of kicking me" he complained but took the tea nonetheless. Galen took a sip of his tea, and then sprayed it out across the room in disgust.
"Oh thanks TARDIS, yeah bring my cup back with his tea in it!" he snarled at the console, to which he got an indignant beep in return. He looked up at the Doctors confused face "never mind"
The Doctor walked over to the chair by the console and sat upon it, the chair dipped a little under the weight. He nursed his tea in his hand as he gazed at the console. Galen could see his mind was elsewhere. The dark thoughts playing across his blue eyes
"So, how did it go?" Galen asked finally, gold eyes watching the form of his old friend
"It could have gone better"
"What did you do?"
"Oh said a few home truths, I can't believe she expected me to forgive her so quickly" he said darkly, eyes swirling.
"She is used to the previous incarnations of you Doctor. But we are both growing old, and people change" Galen said in a dark voice of his own, he used to have compassion. But all he had now was given to his family, to Rose, Jack, The Doctor and Mizariah. He also knew now that the Sultarrvec was growing stronger. He was not so sure now that if someone pushed him, taunted him that he would be able to hold himself back from harming them.
"After what they did to Rose, they expect me to stay, to help.."
"Is that what she asked?" Galen seemed shocked that she had asked him that, even the old incarnations of the Doctor would have said no, their hearts out in space not on the home soil of his planet.
"Near enough." He downed the last of the tea, placing the cup on the console, it promptly disappeared. Most probably back to the kitchen. "It's good to be back in the Vortex"
"The TARDIS is happy, being linked back to the Matrix no doubt. Should have stayed" Galen said off hand, stroking the console and having the TARDIS version of a purr returned.
"Really?" the Doctor exclaimed, seeming shocked.
"Not permanently, but we both know the old girl could use a few parts only found there" The Doctor glared at him.
"You couldn't have told me before we moved?"
"Well I thought the great-fantastic-Doctor would know this. Obviously I was wrong" Galen tried not to laugh as he walked over to the fast return switch and pressed it. The TARDIS re-materialized on Gallifrey. "Tell you what, you go and see Rose. Me and Jack will get the parts"
"Why, what's wrong with Rose?" The Doctor asked shocked.
"Nothing, but I think she would rather have you near than Jack and me. Come on" Galen and the Doctor walked down the hallways of the TARDIS to Roses room. Inside Jack and Rose were sharing a tub of Ben&Jerry's Phish food Ice cream. It was a serene moment and not for the first time he thank the universe for Jack.
"You two enjoying my ice cream" he said casually, both seemed to jump in guilt.
"Don't see your name on it Doc" Jack replied smugly.
"Look on the back" Jack turned the tub round. There on the back was a note "the Doctors ice cream, hands or tentacles off"
"How did you miss that Jack?" Galen asked having a fair idea the TARDIS had just put it on there.
"I….I'm sure it wasn't the before.." he looked a little confused.
"Come on Jack, we're going shopping" Jack passed the tub to Rose, kissed her on the forehead he reached down to take a swig of his tea. Downing it in one go. He promptly gagged.
"What? Galen you know I like more sugar than that!"
"I know, I got yours. You sure that was tea? Not Sugar water pretending to be Tea?" The walked out into the hallways and out of earshot. The Doctor stood there grinning.
"What was that about?" Rose asked as he replaced Jack at her side.
"Oh, think the TARDIS swapped their tea round. And you know how many sugars Jacks has" he opened his arms and she went into his embrace.
"You okay Doctor?" Rose tilted her head to look in his eyes
"I should be asking you that" he replied, stroking her hair.
"I feel better. Jack and Galen looked after me." She replied with a smile "I think Galen is getting better too"
"You may be right"
"What now Doctor?"
"What do you mean?" the Doctor asked, confused by her tone. As if she was afraid.
"Are you going to have to take me home?"
"No! What made you think that?"
"Thought your people might make you. Galen told me what happened to your second self" She snuggled against him, now knowing that he wasn't going to leave her.
"Ah, that was a long time ago. They have had a few humans live on Gallifrey since then so don't worry Rose Tyler. You are not going anywhere." He tightened the hug. Then Rose yawned, the Doctor smiled "go to sleep Rose"
"Will you stay?" she asked she got more comfortable
"I won't go anywhere" he shrugged off his jacket, and then laid down beside her, she snuggled up to him. She rested her head on his cheat, comforted by his double pulse. Slowly she drifted off under the Doctors watchful gaze. Then to his surprise he felt tired himself. The worry finally taking the energy from his body, he sighed in contentment as his eyes closed and he joined her in sleep.
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Epilogue to follow…KITG: hehehe, there we go just the Epilogue to do now :)