Wolf Pact

Chapter Eleven: Final Sanction

by Lumendea

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who.

AN: I know, I know, Guardians gets a weekly update. This story gets an annual update if it's lucky. I'm so sorry that I left you on the cliffhanger. I had such plans and dreams to get you this chapter quickly, but here it is now and there's only one chapter left in this story.

…..

It was the Master who spoke first as Rose Tyler, currently, the Bad Wolf stepped out of the TARDIS. Rassilon hissed and drew back. The Timelords around him did the same. The Doctor remained where he was, bracing himself for whatever Rose did next. But the Master took a step towards Rose.

"Oh, look at you." He giggled, actually giggled. "The Time Vortex inside of a human. I heard him talking about it, but to actually see it! Whoa!" He spun towards the Doctor. "I have to say, your taste in blondes is better than mine. I mean given how things worked out with my wife, I'd say that's pretty obvious. But wow, Doctor, well done!"

"Why are you here, Abomination?" Rassilon demanded.

Rose or the Bad Wolf did not answer him. Her eyes swept up into the sky, exposed to their eyes thanks to the broken glass ceiling. High above Gallifrey loomed above the Earth. It wouldn't be long before the gravity of the planet would begin ripping Earth apart. The Time Lords may have played with gravity, but the Doctor doubted they cared enough to protect Earth, at least not for long.

"The Final Sanction will not come to pass," Rose said. Her voice echoed around them, deeper and richer than normal as time itself reverberated in her words. "Turn back, Rassilon."

"I do not take orders from lesser beings," Rassilon sneered. But there was a hint of fear in his eyes. "This power will burn through you, child. The Final Sanction would be a mercy."

The reminder of the time hit the Doctor hard. He tried to remember how long Rose had held the Time Vortex before. Only a few minutes, she had to be approaching that.

"Rose!" he gasped. "If you won't stop then you need to hurry!"

He didn't know what he was hoping for. Didn't know if he should feel grateful or scared or enraged. Rose stepped forward, the light staying with her and he dared to look back at the TARDIS. Jenny was staring at Rose with a mixture of awe and fear. He'd never told her about this. Either Rose had or some instinct warned her of how dangerous this was.

Rassilon snarled and thrust his arm forward. Lightning arched off the gauntlet as the scent of ozone filled the air. Rose waved her hand lazily and the lightning retreated, returning to the gauntlet in a violent crash of thunder. Rassilon staggered, swaying on his feet as the lightning flared up his arm and past the protection of the gauntlet. The Time Lords beside him jumped in alarm and retreated a few steps. The Time Lord's founder swayed, glaring at Rose with raw hatred and now a little fear.

But Rose wasn't watching him anymore. Her raised hand glowed and the light shifted. Part of the Time Vortex seemed to pour out of her only to form another figure. Before her appeared a woman, a woman who looked like Rose but in tattered clothing full of rips and tears. A wedding ring glittered on her finger as she stepped forward. She was familiar in a way that was separate from Rose. Something tugged at his memory, but it did not unlock. The new version of Rose, of the Bad Wolf, stepped forward and held her hands out to Rose. His Rose gripped her hands and the brilliant gold light intensified. It curled around all of the Time Lords present, save the Doctor and the Master.

"Mercy will come," Rose said loudly. "But not for you, Rassilon." Her eyes flashed brilliant gold as more power swirled around the pair. Rassilon screamed. His body began to dissolve into golden dust, just like the Dalek Emperor. The leaders of both sides were destroyed the same way. "The Time War ends."

The light grew. The Doctor tried to watch, tried to keep his eyes on the Time Lords as the White Point Star shattered without anyone attacking it, and tried to understand what was happening. A rumble filled the air. The Master laughed, but golden light swirled around even him. It blinded the Doctor. He heard Jenny cry out in alarm and slammed his eyes shut.

Then it softened. The brilliant glow that was visible even through his eyelids faded. Opening his eyes, the Doctor exhaled and looked around. Gallifrey was gone from the sky. The Master and all the others had vanished. Rose was still standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by the shattered glass with the TARDIS behind her. Her twin was closer to her now and a large glowing sphere floated between them. The Doctor frowned. It looked familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"Beyond this universe," Rose's voice said softly. "No schisms, no Eye of Harmony, no power. A seed for a new universe."

Rose's twin grinned a sharp wolfish smile. Then she and the cube were gone. The Doctor had the feeling that she'd been something… else. Jenny was standing in the doorway of their ship looking relieved and confused. The Doctor understood the feeling but scrambled to his feet as panic overtook him. He couldn't lose Rose now, not like this.

But then Rose exhaled. The golden light eased, slowly fading away so that the Doctor could see what was happening. Rose was still standing, the golden light still haloing her. Tear tracks ran down her face before the glow flickered out. Rose stumbled for a moment before she started to slump to the ground.

Lunging forward, the Doctor caught her and his hand immediately went to her pulse. Already he was bracing himself for another regeneration by the power of the Time Vortex, but Rose's eyes fluttered open. They were clear and her pulse was strong. Relief crashed over him and tears pricked his eyes.

"Rose." He pulled her into a desperate hug, too aware of the shaking in his limbs. "You… you shouldn't have risked it," he whispered. "You could have died."

"If they managed their plan, it sounds like we all would have died."

He hated that she had a point. Being brave, he turned his face and caught her lips in a desperate kiss. Rose made a sound of surprise, but then she was returning the kiss, her fingertips caressing his face. The Doctor shook. He had so many questions, but the main burning one was how was he alive.

"What did you do, Mum?" Jenny asked. The Doctor pulled away from Rose and turned to his daughter. Jenny looked up into the empty sky. "It didn't sound like you put them back into the Timelock."

"I and…" Rose frowned, furrowing her brow. "There was another. A weapon."

"You have a twin," the Doctor said. He was trying to levity, but it fell flat. "That didn't happen last time."

"No." Confusion filled Rose's eyes. "I heard her. She heard you. She wanted to help."

"Rose, love, I don't understand."

Rose turned to look at him properly. "I don't either. I think part of that was in the future."

He didn't know what to say to that. It was possible. Very possible. His life had always been a bit confusing. Though he wanted to know what that sphere had been. Wrapping an arm around Rose, he kissed her forehead and began listing the lists that he wanted to run on her as soon as they were back in the TARDIS.

Then he heard the knock. Flinching the Doctor turned around toward the source of the sound. Wilf, poor Wilf, was in one of the control cells. The old man beamed as they noticed him. The Doctor's eyes widened. He remembered, noticing Wilf entering to free one of the terrified humans. It had been noble. He'd shouted out a warning, but it had been too late. Rose gasped softly, drawing his attention back to her.

"I'm sorry," Rose whispered. She looked towards Wilf and then at the Doctor, tears in her eyes. "It was too much. I couldn't-"

"No, no," the Doctor said softly. "It's not your fault." Wilf knocked again and the Doctor flinched. Jenny took a step towards the booth. "No," the Doctor said sharply. "Stay away from it, Jenny." He looked back at Rose and kissed her softly. "Thank you, love."

She smiled at him and the Doctor kissed her forehead. Giving himself another moment, he looked at his pink and yellow human or human plus and his daughter. His family, a family that after leaving Rose at Bad Wolf Bay with the meta-crisis he'd never thought he'd have again. Sarah Jane had told him that he had the biggest family in the world and he'd been so sure that it was a lie. So sure, that she had it all wrong.

He swallowed as Wilf knocked again, a bit softer and clearly not wanting to be forgotten while also trying not to disturb them too badly. That settled it. For a moment there was rage in the Doctor's hearts. It wasn't fair! They'd finally, he and Rose-

But Wilf was Donna's grandfather. He'd caused her more than enough pain without being reckless with her beloved grandfather's life. And… well, maybe a new face would be the last piece of the puzzle he and Rose were working on. He liked this face, knew she did too, but she'd been married to a man with this face. New Doctor, new life. He focused on Rose's face, feeling the same hopes for the future that he had when Big Ears had regenerated into this him.

'Let me still love her. Let me be someone that she can love.'

Rose's sad smile broke his hearts. He had the feeling she knew exactly what he was thinking. Jenny was looking between him and Wilf in confusion. Her eyes widened suddenly and the Doctor's hearts ached at the realization that she'd figured out the problem. She was learning so quickly. He wished that he'd had more time with her. Becoming a father again had been terrifying, but… well it had been worth it. And learning that Jenny had survived after all. That she'd gone out in the universe to run and explore had done wonders for healing some of the wounds inflicted by this life.

Rose stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the Doctor tightly, breathing in his smell as he returned the embrace. Then he kissed her cheek, then her jaw and Rose sighed softly, tilting her face. Their lips brushed and he heard Jenny make a small sound that was happy and sad all at once. He understood the sentiment. He wanted so many more kisses from Rose Tyler.

"We'll be right here," Rose promised. She touched the Doctor's face, taking in the familiar features of the Doctor she loved and the human clone that she'd spent a lifetime with. "And we'll sort things out. I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you."

The words were a desperate gasp and tears filled the Doctor's eyes. Rose nodded and kissed him again for good measure. This time the kiss wasn't soft. It was desperate and his arms tightened almost painfully around her. Then he let her go and stepped away. The Doctor opened his mouth only to stop and swallow. Rose offered him a gentle smile and nodded.

The Doctor turned to Jenny who threw herself into his arms. Chuckling gently, the Doctor kissed his daughter's forehead and whispered something to her. Jenny sniffed and tightened her hold on her dad. Rose reached out and touched the girl's shoulder, rubbing her back gently.

"It'll be alright, sweetheart," Rose whispered.

Jenny released him and stepped back. His daughter forced a smile for him that broke both of the Doctor's hearts. He dared not linger too long though the temptation to stay right her was strong. The TARDIS was only a few feet away, but… no, no he owed Wilf and Donna more than that. Giving his family a small smile, the Doctor nodded and turned on his heel.

"What's wrong, Doctor?" Wilf asked as the Doctor approached.

The Doctor hesitated. The old man was confused. Did he need to know? He was peering out at the Doctor in confusion. Smiling, the Doctor made a quick decision. Wilf didn't need to know. The Doctor knew too well the burden of guilt, the weight of it and there was no reason to put it on Wilf. Rose knew she'd be proud of him for this.

And… and it wasn't a bad way to start again. He wasn't happy exactly to go. This life, this body had started out so well. With Rose and mostly healed from the Time War, able to be happy once again with the woman he loved. It seemed that he was the unlucky body. Born with Rose only to lose her, then to be reunited only to lose her again to a man that looked like him. Now, he would die so that the next him could be the next lucky bloke to marry her. At least his next self better marry her, better bind them together and make each other happy. For however long they had.

"Just stay still, Wilf," the Doctor said. "Just need a moment to get you out."

"But what's wrong?"

"Oh," the Doctor laughed and gestured around. "That was an odd day even for me. Now, let's get you out of there."

He kept a small smile on his face as he worked. It was hard, but a far cry from the hardest thing he'd ever done. All the while, he felt the eyes of Jenny and Rose on him. Wilf left the booth with a cheerful spring in his step and the Doctor managed not to instantly collapse as the radiation flooded his body. He could keep it together. A little longer, just a little longer. He didn't want to go, but it wouldn't be all bad. Despite all of his mistakes and all of his missteps, he was leaving his next self in a good position.

Rose Tyler and Jenny, his love and his daughter would be there for the next him. That was something. More than something. His smile shifted to something more real as he clung to that fact. He hadn't done a horrible job. Rose took his hand the moment he was out of the booth and adjusted the position of her arm, taking some of his weight.

"I'm here," she whispered. "I'm here. I love you."

"Yes." The Doctor turned to look at her. "Rose Tyler, I love you."

"Into the TARDIS," Jenny suggested. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet, a picture of nervous energy even as she smiled at Wilf. "Come on Mum and Dad."

The Doctor stumbled. Wilf straightened in alarm. But Rose didn't let him fall. The pain was bad, but he could manage it. This wasn't going to be pretty. Radiation poisoning was a bad way to go.

"He's a bit ill," Rose said gently. Her hand shook as she kept a tight grip on his. "Absorbing that much radiation threw him off, but he'll be fine."

Jenny's eyes were wide and the Doctor gave her a sharp look. She nodded slowly and he nearly groaned with relief that she didn't say anything. Maybe it was wrong to lie to Wilf like this, but… but he was happier sending the man back to Donna with a spring in his step.

"He just needs some rest," Rose continued. "Then maybe some tea to wake up those free radicals."

The Doctor laughed at the reminder of his last regeneration. A lot had changed since then. So much, but somehow Rose was here again. Rose would be with him and Jenny and whoever he was next, wouldn't be alone. He reminded himself of that. Jealousy stirred in his chest, but he shoved it down. None of that would help.

They got him into the TARDIS and he swallowed down the pain. Thankfully, Jenny was able to help him fly Wilf home, manning half of the controls so he could keep his death grip on Rose's hand. He managed not to stare at her. He didn't want to scare her.

"Come then, Wilf," the Doctor said with forced cheer. "Let's get you back home for Christmas."

"Yes, Doctor," Wilf agreed with a smile. He nodded at Jenny and Rose. "And you've got your family for Christmas."

"Yes, I do," the Doctor agreed. His grip on Rose's hand tightened. He hoped it wasn't painful, but she merely squeezed his hand in return. "Jenny, set the coordinates, please."

His daughter nodded. Her eyes were shining a little, but she put on a brave face. Offering her a small smile, the Doctor began running calculations of how much longer this body would last. He had a few hours at least. That was enough time to make a few more memories with his girls with this face after they got Wilf back where he belonged. Maybe the Ood had been right and there was a reward waiting for him at the end of all of this.