Hi everyone! Sorry for taking so long (over a year!) with this chapter. The last year has been hard, i had relationship problems and started to struggle with depression again. But i'm okay now :) I'm hoping to get back to the at least 1 chapter a month thing but i'm working again so we'll see how things go.
NOTE: I have made some changes to the previous chapters so you may want to go back and re-read the other chapters before this one, but its up to you.
Hope you enjoy this new chapter. As always, please follow & favourite, and reviews are appreciated too.
Outfit: Outfits can be found on my Pinterest profile – Account on Profile (Click on the image to enlarge it)
Previously
Charlie looked up from her bowl of pasta when there was a knock at the door.
"Yeah?" she called quietly, the door opened slightly, and the Doctor's head popped through the gap.
"Alright?" he asked as he entered the room, his leather jacket and jumper gone leaving him in a t-shirt and jeans. He crossed the room and sat beside her on the bed.
"I'm okay," Charlie smiled tensely, taking a bite of cheesy pasta, "Well, I'm better." She corrected at knowing look he gave her.
"I'm always here you know," the Time Lord said softly.
"I know," Charlie smiled and finished off her pasta. She placed the bowl on her bedside table before snuggling down into her covers. She shifted over to the man and wiggled under his arm.
The Doctor grinned down at the redhead who was making herself comfy on his chest. He loved their nights in front of the telly, of course it was usually in the lounge and not her bedroom. Being in her bedroom and laying next to her on her bed, gave him unclean thoughts. he knew he most definitely shouldn't not be thinking about her undressed and under him whilst she was laying beside him. His senses filled with the mango hair products she uses. He wrapped an arm around her as they watched the cast of Taggart run around Glasgow chasing murderers. Charlie, not removing her eyes from the tv, lifted her hand and rested on his chest above his heart. She bit her lip to hide a smile as he placed his own hand above hers.
Wolf Whispers
"So, how's your dad?" the Doctor asked Charlie as he carried her bag back to the TARDIS.
"Good," Charlie beamed, "I'm getting wedding vibes off him and Michael. They're all loved up."
Charlie spent two weeks with her dad and Michael. It was strange not seeing the Doctor or Rose in that time, but she loved being able to see her family again. James and Michael decided to redecorate the loft, turning it into an art room for Michael to paint in. Charlie felt rather jealous watching the pair tease each other and snuggle in between painting sessions. Several times during her visit she found herself wondering if The Doctor would hold her like that or chase her and kiss her when he caught her. This was getting ridiculous, it felt like every second thought was about the Doctor.
"How long have they been together?" the Time Lord asked as he opened the TARDIS door.
"Since I left for the Academy. So quite a while." Charlie replied as they dropped into the polit seats, dumping her bag on the floor for now. "Where's Rose?"
"Tv room I think." The older man shrugged, "She's been rather down since you left,"
"Oh?" Charlie frowned trying to think of why Rose would be sad, "She knows I was just going to visit…my dad. Has Rose ever mentioned her dad?" she leaned in and whispered.
"Don't think so," the Doctor frowned, "She talks about her mum a lot, but never about her dad."
"Yeah, she's never said anything about her dad to me either. Now that I think about it anytime I mention my dad she gets, I don't know," she trailed off.
"Withdrawn," the Doctor helped, and he agreed. He had seen Rose's face when Charlie spoke about her dad, she often tried changing the subject or even finding an excuse to leave the room.
"Mm," the redhead hummed, biting her lip, "Do you think I should say something?"
"Bit of a touchy subject," the Doctor told her, "Best not to upset her, we have to live with her you know,"
"Yeah, you're right." Charlie sighed, "Oh well, good to be back." She stood and quickly hugged the Doctor before grabbing her bag and going to her room.
After dumping her bag, Charlie went in search of Rose. She found the blonde in the tv room just like the Time Lord said and she was watching Raiders of the Lost Ark.
"Didn't know you liked a bit of the hat and whip?" Charlie joked, startling the younger girl that was curled up under a blanket on the couch.
"Was dads' favourite film," Rose muttered, her gaze firmly on the tv, not looking up at the redheaded girl.
"Your dad?" Charlie questioned softly, but Rose just hummed to herself, not taking her eyes from the film. Charlie bit her lip, unsure what to do. Should she push Rose for answers or leave her be? Deciding on the latter, the redhead stood and tried to tell Rose she was leaving but was once again ignored.
Frowning, Charlie made her way back to the Doctor an told him about Rose. They both agreed to leave the blonde alone for now, she will come to them if she needs them. The two spent the rest of the day together, either watching films or chatting while the Doctor tinkered with the TARDIS.
Wolf Whispers
The next morning, Charlie and the Doctor were in the kitchen having some breakfast and chatting about where to go next. Charlie wanted something simple; a sandy beach under an alien sun, but the Doctor wanted to visit some museum in the 29th Century. The two continued to argue about where they should go when Rose walked in. the blonde was silent which was strange as she usually bounced in with more energy than most in the morning.
"Rose!" Charlie exclaimed seeing the blonde, "Rose, break this tie for us, will you? A sunny sandy beach where we can relax and tan or a boring museum filled with boring people talking about boring things." She shot a look at the Doctor who narrowed his eyes at the redhead.
When the blonde said nothing, Charlie frowned and looked up at her still standing in the doorway. "Rose?" Charlie asked concerned. She made to get up, but Rose beat her to it and quickly pulled out a chair to sit down across from the two.
"Peter Alan Tyler," the Blonde began, her voice slightly rough, "My dad." Charlie and The Doctor shared a look. They wondered when Rose would come talk to them, "The most wonderful man in the world. Born 15th September 1954. I wasn't old enough to remember when he died. 1987, 7th of November. It happened at one of their friends' weddings. "Rose looked down at her hands, "So I was thinking, could we, could we go and see my dad when he was still alive?"
"Where's this come from, all of a sudden?" the Doctor frowned concerned. He knew Rose had been sitting on this for a while. Even before Charlie had gone to visit her dad.
"All right then," Rose bit her lip and wrung her hands, "if we can't, if it goes against the laws of times or something, then never mind, just leave it," she stood quickly, wanting to escape the room.
"No," The Doctor exclaimed, stopping her from leaving, "I can do anything. I'm just more worried about you," he told her. He did not want to do anything that was going to cause Rose any pain.
"I want to see him," Rose said firmly, her eyes locked on his.
Sharing a quick look with the redhead, Charlie shrugged her shoulders at the Time Lord as if telling him it is Rose's decision.
"Your wish is my command," the Doctor smiled tightly still not too comfortable with it, but he'll put his feelings aside for Rose's sake, "But be careful what you wish for," he mumbled to Charlie who nodded.
She wasn't sure how Rose would react seeing the father she never had, but Charlie would try to be there for her whatever happens.
Wolf Whispers
Sometime later Charlie exited her room and ran into the Doctor who was dressed in his usual attire. The man glanced at the redhead's outfit with a smile.
"Dressing for the occasion, are we?" he smirked and offered his arm as they walked through the TARDIS.
"Hardly," Charlie scoffed, flipping her curled hair out her face. "I wouldn't wear this to a wedding, also I wear outfits like this all the time," she raised an eyebrow at the older man who avoided her eyes.
"Hadn't noticed," the Doctor shrugged, his voice void of emotion as he looked everywhere but at her.
"Hmm" Charlie hummed not believing it for a second.
Charlie wore khaki-coloured high waisted skinny trousers with a white tank top tucked in, caramel suede peep toe high heels that tie in the front and a cream-coloured high length wool cardigan with the long sleeves rolled up to her elbows.
She knew the way she dressed was a little strange for someone who spend most of her days running away from or sometimes towards danger. The difference in styles between her and Rose were night and day. Rose was very early 2000s fashion (obviously because that was her time), she was more baggy denim jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies with trainers. Whilst Charlie was more into high heels, tight trousers, and cute tops (with the occasional dress down day of skinny jeans, a top and trainers). When the girls stood beside each other, the different fashion cultures were obvious.
"Ready for this?" the Doctor questioned as they stopped outside the console room.
"Ready for whatever this is will turn into," Charlie muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What do you mean?" the Doctor frowned. He was only taking Rose to see her father; nothing will go wrong.
"Rose is about to see the father she never knew," Charlie sighed, as smart as the Doctor is, when it comes to people, he's really ignorant "We have no idea how this is going to affect her mental state." She walked into the console room leaving the Doctor to follow her in after a few moments.
Wolf Whispers
At the Registrar's office where the wedding of Peter Tyler and Jacqueline Prentice was happening, the time travelling trio sat in the back and watched the wedding take place. The Doctor sat on the right, his arms crossed over his broad chest, Charlie sat beside him; her legs crossed, and her hands folded in her lap, Rose sat beside the redhead; her legs pressed tightly together to stop them shaking as she bit her nails.
"I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline Angela Suzette Prentice..."
"I, Peter Alan Tyler, take you, Jacqueline Suzanne...Suzette...Anita..." The Doctor smirked and Charlie shook her head with a sigh at Pete's stumble over Jackie's name whilst Rose's eyes just widened hearing her father's voice.
Jackie didn't seem to find it funny either as she narrowed her eyes but soon smiled "Oh, just carry on. It's good enough for Lady Di" she laughed.
"I thought he'd be taller", Rose remarked quietly, not really speaking to anyone as she gazed at her dad.
"To be my lawful wedded wife, to love and behold till death us do part."
Wolf Whispers
"It was a hit and run. Right outside the church where Stewart and Sarah were getting married. Mum said..." Rose swallowed fighting back tears as she spoke about how her father died "mum said that he was dead when the ambulance got there. He died alone".
"And you want to be there, so he doesn't," Charlie said quietly as she leaned her hip against the console. Rose sniffed and nodded silently.
"November 7th?" the Doctor asked, he was not sure how he felt about this. He knew Charlie was feeling apprehensive as well. It was one thing to let Rose see her parents wedding, but it was another to let her witness the accident that killed him and sit with him as he's dying.
"1987", Rose confirmed.
The Doctor shared one last look with Charlie before starting the engines up again.
Wolf Whispers
"It's so weird", Rose said stepping out of the TARDIS with Charlie and the Doctor behind her, "The day my father died...I thought it'd be all sort of grim and stormy. It's just an ordinary day".
"They usually are," Charlie told her as they began walking toward the street where Pete was killed.
"The past is another country. 1987's just the Isle of Wight" the Doctor said, "Are you sure about this?" he asked Rose who had a sad expression on her face as they walked.
"Yeah" Rose replied not looking at the man, Charlie placed her hand on Rose's shoulder for a moment before dropping it and linking arms with the blonde.
When they arrived at the street the trio stood side by side on the pavement waiting. "This is it. Jordan Road. He was late. He had been to get a wedding present, a vase. Mum always said that stupid vase" Pete's car came around the corner "He got out of his car..." the car pulled up "...and crossed the road" and stopped "Oh, God. This is it"
As they watched Pete pick up the vase from the passenger seat and get out of the car, Charlie took Rose's hand as a sign of support for the blonde girl who seemed to be shaking. Rose flinched and hid her face in Charlie's shoulder as she saw the beige vehicle speed around the corner and Pete stepped out onto the road. Charlie brought her other hand up and placed it on Rose's head; the Doctor placed one of his hands on the blonde's shoulder giving his support as well.
Charlie and the Doctor looked sadly at each other as they heard a smash of the vase hitting the floor and the thud of Pete following it. Rose glanced at her father laying in the middle of the road, the car nowhere in sight.
"Go to him," the Doctor nudged Rose, that was the reason she wanted to do this after all.
The blonde stayed where she was, seemingly unable to remove her eyes from her dad's still twitching body.
"Rose?"" Charlie whispered, removing her friends head from her shoulder to look at her properly, but Rose's eyes remained firmly on Pete's body.
"Rose," the Doctor said firmly, beginning to worry. He knew he shouldn't have brought her here. He looked at Charlie over the blonde's head and raised his brow getting a shrug from the redhead in return.
Suddenly the blonde took off like a bullet, rushing down the street a little and round a corner. The two left looked at each other in surprise before chasing after her.
"Wait!" Charlie exclaimed, stopping, and turning to look back at Pete. She bit her lip sadly and began moving in Pete's direction.
"What you doing?" The Doctor hissed, grabbing her arm. "Rose needs us,"
"Someone should be with him," Charlie hissed back, she yanked her arm from his grip and ran over to Pete who was still laying there. She kneeled beside him and hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. The man was unconscious, and she could not see blood coming from anywhere but that didn't mean he wasn't bleeding internally.
"Charlie!" the Doctor called, he watched with a sad look as Charlie kneeled beside their friend's dad.
Charlie looked up at her friend standing over the road and sighed. Looking back down at Pete she whispered, "I'm sorry, I have to go make sure Rose is okay," she stood straight and took a deep breath. She had been around dead bodies before, either adventures with the Doctor or during her time at the Academy, but this was different. This was the dad of her close friend.
She could remember the first time since being taken that she seen a dead person. One of the other girls, Sandra her name was, was known for being weaker than the other girls. They tried everything to make her stronger, injecting her with enhancements after enhancements. Of course, there is only so much the human body could take. During weapons training, Charlie was fighting with Sandra in the arena when the other girl's body suddenly froze and shook as if having a seizure. Charlie yelled for someone to help her, but the guards stood by and watched as the girl writhed on the floor unable to breathe. It took 2 minutes 24 seconds for her to die. Unfortunately, Sandra was not the first nor the last girl to die in that place. Charlie couldn't tell whether if it was sheer luck that the Doctor found her alive or a curse that she was the only one left out of all those students.
Walking back to her friend, The Doctor and Charlie made their way down the street to find Rose. They found her curled against a wall, arms crossed over her chest with tear marks on her face. They stood in silent comfort for a few moments before the sound of sirens could be heard nearing them,
"It's too late now," Rose sniffed, rubbing her nose; turning to face them, "By the time the ambulance got there, he was dead, He can't die on his own. Can I try again?" she pleaded, her face red and tear-stained.
Charlie looked away knowing it was a bad idea, but what could she say? That Rose couldn't get another chance to comfort her father in his last moments?
The Doctor also wasn't too keen on this idea. For starters so much could go wrong if their seen by themselves, but like Charlie he couldn't deny his friend that chance. So once again he put aside his feelings on the matter and nodded.
Wolf Whispers
Roughly ten minutes later, the trio found themselves peaking around the corner of a wall at their past selves.
"Right, that's us from before," the Doctor glanced about keeping his eye on everything to make sure nothing would go wrong, "It's a very bad idea, two sets of us being here at the same time. Just be careful they don't see us. Wait till Charlie is finished and the other us run off to find other you, then go to your dad." He told Rose sternly who nodded but she seemed to be in her own world again.
Charlie grabbed the Doctor's hand as Pete once again parked his car. She leaned into him and turned her head into his shoulder to whisper to him without Rose overhearing,
"I don't know about this," she whispered into his ear, keeping one eye on the blonde that seemed more fidgety than she did earlier, it was almost like watching a child who was about to do something they shouldn't.
"It'll be fine," the Doctor brushed off, Rose was a smart girl. She understood not to do anything to jeopardise the timeline.
"Oh, God. This is it," Past Rose said, her voice shaking.
"I can't do this," Rose muttered, glancing between Pete and their past selves.
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, but this is the last time we can be here," the Doctor told her, not paying any attention to Rose at all; too busy watching the road.
As the beige car sped around the corner once again, Charlie averted her eyes, not really wanting to see it happen again. She leaned against the wall and turned her head just as Rose pushed away from the wall and shot off in Pete's direction as he's getting out his car.
"Rose! No!" the Doctor exclaimed; his voice full of panic.
Charlie's head spun round so fast she was lucky not to get whiplash. The redhead made to chase the blonde and stop her doing anything stupid, but the Doctor caught her arm. He was not going to let Charlie rush out after Rose and get hurt in the process.
They watched as Rose dashed past their past selves and just manage to push Pete out the way of the oncoming vehicle. The father-daughter duo fell to the floor and the vase Pete carried rolled away unbroken. Charlie and the Doctor stood in shock at watch just happened; they could not believe Rose just saved her dad's life. Her father that should be dead.
"I did it," Rose exclaimed, joyfully and out of breath, "I saved your life."
"Blimey, did you see the speed of it? Did you get his number?" Pete rambled as he glanced down the road after the vehicle that almost hit him.
"I really did it. Oh, my God, look at you," Rose breathed, unable to stop herself from gazing at her now alive father, "You're alive! That car was going to kill you,"
"Give me some credit, I did see it coming," Pete scoffed and stood up straight before helping Rose do the same, "I wasn't going to walk under it, was I,"
"I'm Rose," Rose grinned, her eyes so wide she was lucky they were till in her skull.
"That's a coincidence. That is my daughter's name," Pete laughed, beaming thinking about his baby girl.
"That's a great name," Rose smirked, "Good choice. Well done,"
"Right, I'd better shift. I've got a wedding to go to," Pete checked his watch and lifted the vase from the floor.
"Is that Sarah Clarke's wedding?" Rose questioned, either not noticing or just not caring about the looks she was getting from her friends over the road.
"Yeah, are you going?" the man asked.
"Yeah," Rose nodded immediately, not really thinking about what she was saying; she was just too in awe that her dad – the man that had been missing from her life, was standing in front of her.
"Do you, your friend and her boyfriend need a lift?" Pete jerked his head over to the Doctor the Charlie, who stood hand and hand over the road. Charlie closed her eyes in disbelief while the Doctor narrowed his as he stared at Rose with a dark look on his face. He never should have let her try again.
Wolf Whispers
Pete enters the flat followed by the trio. "Right, there we go", Pete said setting down the vase "Sorry about the mess. If you want a cup of tea, the kitchens just down there, milks in the fridge...well, it would be, wouldn't it? Where else would you put the milk? Mind you, there is always the window sill outside. I always thought if someone invented a window sill with special compartments, you know, one for milk, one for yogurt...make a lot of money out of that".
Rose smiles in happily as she listens to him ramble on about his ideas. The Doctor stood by the door, his arms crossed over his chest and eyes narrowed with Charlie standing beside him, her eyes filled with disappointment as they watched the blonde"...Sell it to students and things. I should write that down. Anyway, never mind that, excuse me for a minute" and with that Pete pushes past them and disappears through a door.
Ignoring her friends for a moment, Rose started to look around at all her dad's belongings "All the stuff mum kept. His stuff. She kept it all packed away in boxes in the cupboard. She used to show me when she'd had a bit to drink".
The Doctor remained silent; his dark gaze firmly planted on the blonde. Charlie was in danger because of Rose. The reapers would be surely closing in after what she did. He could not believe she disobeyed him. Never again. He should just grab Charlie and get back to the TARDIS before it's too late for them. Speaking of the redhead, she was rather quiet. Although he supposed she didn't quite know what to say to Rose.
"Here it is, on display. Where it should be", Rose said completely oblivious to the angry Time Lord and disappointed redhead behind her. She picked up a bowling trophy examining for a moment before setting it down. Then several bottles in the room caught her eye "He made his money selling this Vitex stuff. He had all sorts of jobs. He was so clever". Rose looks around and spotted some plans on a table "Solar power. Mum said he was going to do this. Now he can", she said happily. She turned to the Doctor and Charlie smiling but neither of them smiled back.
"When we met, I said 'travel with me in space'. You said no. Then I said time machine" the Doctor said lowly.
"It wasn't some big plan", Rose defensively "I just saw it happening and I thought...I can stop it".
The Doctor shook his head "I did it again. I picked another stupid ape." He ignored Rose's offended look; Charlie just averted her eyes.
She had nothing to say at that moment. If she was being honest didn't know what to say. It is strange, ever since Rose knocked Pete out of the way Charlie could feel her skin itch like something bad was going to happen. Rose was her friend and there were times when the blonde had smart ideas and then there were times when she had stupid ideas; This was one of them. Honestly had the girl never seen a single time-travelling film? Did she know nothing of the butterfly effect? If in the past you do something that would alter the present, then when you arrive back to the 'present' there could be changes. Maybe small ones like donuts don't exist or maybe big ones like Nazis won the war.
"I should've known," the Doctor said through gritted teeth, "It's not about showing you the universe. It never is. It's about the universe doing something for you".
Rose glared at him "So it's okay when you go to other times, and you save people's lives, but not when it's me saving my dad", she said getting angry.
"I know what I'm doing, you don't. Two sets of us being there made that a vulnerable point", the Doctor explained.
"But he's alive!" Rose exclaimed, her voice a mix of joy and irritation, "If it was Charlie that did this, you wouldn't be having a go at her."
Charlie's head darted up, her eyes narrowed into slits, she opened her mouth to speak when the Doctor beat her to it.
"That's because Charlie's not a stupid little girl like you," he growled. How dare she bring Charlie into this! Charlie was not the one that just put all of time in danger.
"Oh no I forgot," Rose scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest, "Your precious Charlie could never do anything wrong!"
"Enough!" Charlie hissed, stopping the Time Lord from retorting, "This isn't about me, Rose. This is about you, and the fact that you did something to jeopardise time itself," she shook her head in annoyance, "I'll be outside," she told the Doctor before spinning on her heal and storming out the flat.
Rose stood there in silence for a few moments, "But it's not like I've changed history that much", Rose said quietly "I mean he's never going to be a world leader. He's not going to start World War Three or anything..."
"Rose, there's a man alive in the world who wasn't alive before. An ordinary man. That's the most important thing in creation. The whole world's different because he's alive", the Doctor told her.
"What, would you rather him dead?" Rose demanded; her hands clenched into fists by her side.
"I'm not saying that..." the Doctor said exasperated.
"No, I get it!" Rose said angrily "For once, you're not the most important man in my life".
"Let's see how you get on without me, then. Give me the key" the Doctor held out his hand and Rose stared at him in disbelief, surely he wasn't serious "The TARDIS key. If I'm so insignificant, give it back to me".
Rose got the key out of her pocket "All right then, I will" she all but through the key at the man in front of her.
"You've got what you wanted, so that's goodbye, then" the Doctor turned and walked away. Rose quickly went after him.
"You don't scare me", she said firmly, despite her voice being filled with doubt "I've seen how sad you get when you're on your own."
"I'm not own my own," the Doctor rolled his eyes, "In case you've forgotten, I've got Charlie. I'm very rarely on my own. And as for being sad, well yeah, I am sad. I'm the last of my kind, but I'll never be alone when I have her." He finished strongly before pushing passed the blonde and walking out the door ignoring her shouting behind him.
"Yeah, but you wouldn't leave me here, you'll just hang around the TARDIS waiting for me. And I'll make you wait a long time!" Rose shouted before slamming the front door.
Wolf Whispers
The Doctor muttered to himself angrily as he stormed out the building gaining the attention of his redheaded companion who was leaning against the wall.
"Let's get out of here," the Time Lord said as he began to walk back down the street.
"What about Rose?" Charlie asked catching up with him.
"She's staying,"
"Staying? What about her mum? She can't just stay in the 80s, she has no one here." The redhead exclaimed confused.
"It's her choice," the Doctor shrugged, "And quite frankly, I don't care right now."
Charlie bit her lip as they made there way back to the TARDIS. She knew he was angry, so was she, but they could not just leave Rose here. She was their friend, even if she was behaving like a selfish cow at the moment.
As they got closer to the TARDIS, Charlie started to get chills down her spine as if someone were watching her. Jerking her head around, she searched for anyone near them, but they were alone.
"What's wrong?" the Doctor frowned at her strange behaviour.
"Nothing. It's…nothing." She smiled tensely and wrapped her arm around his as they walked towards the TARDIS that sat alone on the pavement.
The Doctor had just taken his key out when Charlie's hand tightened on his. He turned to face the redhead who had screwed her face up as if she were in pain. Immediately turning his full attention to her, he asked.
"Charlie? What's wrong?" he cupped her face in his hands and frowned.
"I don't understand-" Charlie gasped, her eyes closed tightly as her dug her nails into the Doctor's leather clad arms, "Somethings wrong," she gasped out, overwhelmed as her senses seemed to be going haywire. Her eyes opening so quickly that it startled the Doctor. Although nothing startled him more than glowing around her iris. Her usually emerald, green eyes were a startling lime green with a bright glow making then even brighter.
"Let's get you to the med-bay," the Doctor said hurriedly. He kept a hand on Charlie's shoulders and opened the TARDIS doors.
This time it was the Doctor's turn for his eyes to widen, although his was in shock, as he took in the empty TARDIS. The "bigger on the inside" interior was gone, and the TARDIS was now just an empty police box.
Charlie brought a hand up to her hand, wincing at the pain in her head. She had never experienced this before. Sure, she had headaches every now and then but nothing that extreme. It felt as though her brain was trying to escape her mind.
She watched as the Doctor frantically patted and pushed on the interior walls of the now normal police box for a few moments before he stopped and spun around: his face full of anger.
"Rose!" he growled and ran past Charlie who was still clutching her head.
"Doctor!" she called after him frowning as she watched him shoot down the street. She rolled her eyes and closed the TARDIS doors before rushing after him, ignoring the throbbing pain at the base of her skull.
Wolf Whispers
As they neared the Church where the wedding was taking place, Charlie saw several people ambling around the Church exterior, including the blonde girl they were searching for.
"Rose!" the Doctor shouted as they drew closer to the building. The blonde turned to them with this smile on her face "Get in the church!"
Rose smile faded as she heard the urgency in his voice. The Doctor looked to her left, Rose following his gaze and before her eyes a large black creature appeared. The blonde teen screamed at it bared down on her. Fortunately, Charlie was quicker and manged to knock Rose to the ground just in time to avoid the creatures' clutches.
Charlie accepted the hand the Doctor offered to help her up before helping the blonde to her feet as well. The Doctor then quickly ushered the girls along with the other guests into the Church, he spun around and with help he slammed the large doors shut just as the Reaper swooped down at them.
"They can't get in. Old windows and doors. Okay. The older something is, the stronger it is", the Doctor said looking around at the shadows of the Reapers outside the windows.
"What do we do?" Charlie asked, watching the shadows as well. Her headache had not left her and being near those creatures set off her senses like none other. It felt as though there was a constant alarm ringing in her ears.
"We need to check the other doors, make sure they're secure", the Doctor replied. Charlie nodded firmly, glancing at what could only be a younger Jackie Tyler who was storming over her youthful face full of fear and confusion.
"Good luck," she smirked at the Time Lord who was already rolling his eyes at the older blonde and headed off to check the nearest door.
The Doctor turned his back to the approaching mother of his friend. He really didn't have the time nor the patience to deal with her today.
"What's happening? What are they?" Jackie spat out panicked as she grabbed at his leather jacket to get his attention whilst he was securing one of the doors.
"There's been an accident in time. A wound in time. They're like bacteria, taking advantage", the Doctor rambled as he went about securing another door.
"What do you mean, time? What're you jabbering on about, time?" Jackie demanded.
"Oh, I might've known you'd argue", the Doctor said irritated "Jackie, I'm sick of you complaining..."
"How do you know my name?" Jackie asked.
"I haven't got time for this..." the Doctor began when the woman continued talking.
"I've never met you in my life!"
"No, and you never will unless I sort this out. Now, if you don't mind, I've waited a long time to say this. Jackie Tyler, do as I say. Go, and, check, the, doors", he ordered pointing in the direction of the doors.
"Yes, sir", Jackie said after staring at him for a moment.
"Oooo 'Yes Sir'," Charlie cooed teasingly alerting the Time Lord to her presence. The redhead smirked at the faint flush that crept up on his neck.
"You-," he stuttered, "Go over there," he ordered and pointed to the far back of the Church.
"Oh, come on," Charlie laughed, "I'm only playing,"
"My dad was out there," a man that was clearly the groom butted in, his eyes wide and he was slightly shaking.
"I'm sorry," Charlie said sympathetically, before going over to join Rose.
"You can mourn him later. Right now, we've got to concentrate on keeping ourselves alive", the Doctor told him.
"My dad had..."
"There's nothing I can do for him", the Doctor cut in.
"No, but he had this phone thing. I can't get it to work. I keep getting this voice..." Stuart handed the phone over to the Doctor. He put it to his ear and heard,
"Watson, come here. We need you. Watson, come here. We need you".
"That's the very first phone call. Alexander Graham Bell", the Doctor handed the phone back "I don't think the telephone's going to be much use".
"But someone must have called the police", Stuart called after him as he ran off. The Doctor turned to him and the other guests.
"Police can't help you now. No one can. Nothing in this universe can harm those things. Time's been damaged and they've come to sterilise the wound" the Doctor made eye contact with Rose "By consuming everything in sight".
"Is this because..." Rose began shakily "Is this my fault?"
Charlie put a hand on Rose's shoulder but frowned the blonde shrugged it off. Since the argument Pete's flat, Rose had been rather short with her; Even ignoring her concern then they first entered the Church after almost being attacked.
The Doctor didn't say anything, just gave her a simple look. A look that said yes, it was her fault. Charlie moved around the now solemn blonde and began to make her way towards the older man when she was interrupted by Jackie Tyler stepping in her path whilst holding a baby carrier.
"You couldn't look after my daughter a while, could you?" the older blonde asked, already shoving the carrier in her arms before walking off.
"I-I," Charlie stuttered in surprise, she gazed down at baby Rose and smiled, "Look at you, little cutie," she cooed and went to sit down in an empty pew.
Wolf Whispers
"I wanted a little sister when I was younger you know?" Charlie whispered sweetly to the baby in her arms. She had removed baby Rose from her carrier when she started to fuss and was now sitting the small girl on her lap letting her play with her hands.
It was true; when Charlie was younger, she used to beg her dad to bring back a little sister when ever he would go shopping. She would play pretend sisters with her dolls and would draw an extra little girl whenever she would draw a picture of her family. When Charlie was 9 years old, her father finally told her the reason he could not give her a sister was because he liked men and he didn't feel he could cope with adopting a child when Charlie was so young.
Charlie winced as a Reaper shrieked outside the Church, she was really over the monster headache the creatures seemed to be giving her. She only hoped they would fix this mess and be back in the TARDIS soon before it got any worse.
"She's a cutie," Charlie heard from behind her, she turned her head to see the Doctor sliding into the pew beside her and smiling at the baby.
"Yeah, she is," Charlie's grin turned into a grimace, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
"You, okay?" the Time Lord asked concerned for his friend, "Any more headaches?"
"Only every few minutes," Charlie quipped, smiling softly at the Doctor's look of worry, "I'm fine. Well apart from the headaches and the…. ya know," she glanced pointedly around the room.
"Ah," The older man nodded and glanced around as well. He could only imagine the stress all the high emotions were putting on Charlie. He turned to the baby that was now placed comfily back in her carrier "Now, Rose you're not going to bring about the end of the world, are you? Are you?" he raised a stern brow that faltered at the baby's giggle.
"Hey," Charlie smiled up at Rose who has walked over them, "Jackie gave her to me to look after," she smiled at the baby and the Time Lord who had not taken their eyes off each other.
"I'd better be careful. I think I just imprinted myself on Mickey like a mother chicken," Rose rolled her eyes with a smile. She reached out to stroke her baby-self's cheek when the Doctor swiftly grabbed her wrist tightly, making the Blonde jerk her head to him in surprise and hurt. Charlie's eyes also widened as she watched the exchange, ready to remove the baby from the situation should it escalate.
"No. Don't touch the baby," he said fixedly, his blue eyes boring into hers, "You're both the same person. That's a paradox, and we don't want a paradox happening, not with these things outside. Anything new, any disturbance in time makes them stronger. The paradox might let them in," he rushed before removing his hand from the young woman.
"Can't do anything right, can I?" Rose asked sheepishly as she rubbed her wrist avoiding the Time Lord eyes.
"Since you ask, no. So, don't touch the baby," he stated slowly as if speaking to a child.
"Doctor," Charlie said firmly, seeing Rose's face scrunch up.
"I'm not stupid," Rose glared, her face beginning to redden whether it was with fury or upset, Charlie was unsure.
"You could have fooled me," he berated before he sighed deeply, "All right, I'm sorry. I wasn't really going to leave you on your own," he confessed, missing the Redhead's smile as she watched her best friends make up.
"I know," Rose smiled brightly, she was very much aware that her friends would never leave her behind.
"But between us three, I haven't got a plan. No idea. No way out," the Doctor muttered.
"You'll think of something," Charlie grabbed his hand and smiled up at him, getting a smile in return, "You always do,"
"The entire Earth's been sterilised. This, and other place like it, are all that's left of the human race," The Doctor explained "We might hold out for a while, but nothing can stop those creatures. They'll get through in the end. The walls aren't that old. And there's nothing I can do to stop them. There used to be laws stopping this kind of thing from happening. My people would have stopped this. But they're all gone. And now I'm going the same way," he looked down sadly, his thumb making circles on the back of Charlie's hand which he held tightly.
Charlie bit her lip and leaned her head on his shoulder. She did not want to think about the Doctor dying. The thought made her heart hurt worse than her head. They would figure a way out of this; she knew it. They were a team.
"If I'd realised," Rose started, her eyes tearing up.
"Just tell me you're sorry," The Doctor smiled at the young woman.
"I am. I am sorry. And Charlie I'm sorry for what I said back at my dad's flat; I didn't mean to drag you into the argument," Rose sniffed and was pulled into a three-way hug with her best friends.
"It's okay," Charlie said, her voice slightly muffled by the Doctor's jacket, "I forgive you,"
"Erm," Charlie muttered "Doctor you're hot,"
The time Lord's eyes widened as he choked and blushed at her abrupt statement. Rose giggled as Charlie too flushed red.
"Not like that," she exclaimed before reaching out and pulling out a TARDIS key from his leather jacket pocket. She gasped in shock as her fingers touched the burning metal causing her to drop the key on the floor.
"It's the Tardis key!" the Doctor exclaimed excitedly, ripped off his leather jacket in a hurry and bent down to pick the key up, making sure to keep his fingers covered. "It's telling me it's still connected to the Tardis," he grinned and ran up to the pulpit, gaining everybody's attention.
"The inside of my ship was thrown out of the wound, but we can use this to bring it back. And once I've got my ship back, then I can mend everything," The Doctor spoke confidently, causing a smile to appear on his redhead's face. She knew they'd make it out of this mess, "Now, I just need a bit of power. Has anybody got a battery?" he asked looking around.
"This one big enough?" Stuart, the groom, asked holding up a mobile phone.
"Fantastic," the Time Lord grinned largely.
"Good old dad. There you go," Stuart hand the mobile over before going back to his wife.
"Just need to do a bit of charging up and then we can bring everyone back,"
Charlie watched as the Doctor used his sonic on the phone. She closed her eyes tightly as more creatures seemed to converge on the Church; a few of them slamming into the doors. She only hoped everything went to plan.
"Right, no one touches that key. Have you got that? Don't touch it. Anyone touches that key, it'll be, well, zap. Just leave it be and everything will be fine. We'll get out of here. All of us. Stuart, Sarah you're going to get married, just like I said." The other guests began to chat excitedly amongst themselves as the Doctor joined Rose in a pew.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie stood by a church window, watching the Reapers swarm the outside. She brought a hand to her head; the headaches were getting worse with each passing moment. She could see how pale she was through the window reflection; her once olive skin was now ghostly white though her eyes seemed to get brighter.
She could hear the Doctor and Pete speaking but she tuned them out. Although she was still being overwhelmed by her senses, they seemed to be muting themselves slightly. She still had her enhanced hearing, but the rest seemed to shrink back into her head. Charlie flinched slightly as a Reaper threw itself at the window not quite breaking it but no doing no damage either.
"Rose! No!" Charlie heard the Doctor yell from behind her.
The redhead spun around to see the Doctor snatching baby Rose away from her adult self.
"No," Charlie breathed panicked as the Reapers seemed to screech in excitement just before one of them burst through the church roof.
"Everyone, behind me! I'm the oldest thing in here," The Doctor called out sternly, glaring at the creature observing them.
"Doctor," Charlie shouted in alarm as she raced over to the Time Lord, ready to shove him out the way just like she did Rose, when she was too late.
The creature swooped down onto the oldest thing in the room before flying into the TARDIS making them both vanish into thin air.
Charlie felt like she couldn't breathe. She had just watched as her best friend was eaten by an alien and she was too slow to save him. It should have been her, if only she was quicker. She shakily made her way to the where The Doctor was last standing and kneeled to touch the place his feet were; there was still a lingering scent of spicy cinnamon In the air, but it was fading rapidly. Blinking the tears out her eyes, she ignored Rose's attempts to speak to her through her own tears and walked over to the TARDIS key that was now laying on the floor.
"It's cold," Charlie said whispered, picking it up from the ground. She cradled the key in her hands.
"Oh my God, he's dead. This is all my fault" Rose whimpered, watching her friend cradle the key as if it were the most precious thing on Earth.
"You're right," Charlie muttered, her sadness quickly morphing into anger. She jerked her head in the blonde's direction, "This is your fault! This whole mess was created by you" Charlie snarled.
"I'm so sorry," Rose cried, she couldn't disagree with the redhead. It was her fault. She saved her dad from his death causing this whole mess; and now the Doctor was dead.
"It's a bit late for that," Charlie sniffed, anger and sadness were battling inside her. Her emotions were understandably out of place after watching the man she was sure she had feelings for get devoured in front of her. Charlie walked away still clutching the key and sat in an empty pew, ignoring the world around her. She unlocked her phone to see the picture of her and the Doctor smiling (or in the Doctor's case, grinning goofily). She smiled tearfully at the picture as she felt Rose and Pete walk over and sit down near her.
" The Doctor really cared about you. He didn't want you to go through it again, not if there was another way. Now there isn't" Pete pointed out to girls.
"What are you talking about?" Rose asked.
"The car that should have killed me, love. It's here. The Doctor worked it out way back, but he, er, he tried to protect me. Still, he's not in charge anymore. I am" Pete replied.
"But you can't" Rose said to Pete almost in tears.
"Who am I, love? " Pete asked, taking her by the face just as Jackie came walking over.
"My daddy" Rose sobbed as Pete turned to Jackie. Charlie looked away from the scene feeling a little out of place in the small family reunion that was happening front of her.
" Jackie, look at her. She's ours" Pete said.
"Oh, god," Jackie gasped before hugging her daughter.
" I'm meant to be dead, Jackie. You're going to get rid of me at last" Pete told her.
" Don't say that" Jackie sobbed.
"For once in your life, trust me. It's got be done. You've got to survive, because you've got to bring up our daughter" he said before turning to Rose " I never read you those bedtime stories. I never took you on those picnics. I was never there for you. "
"You would have been" Rose sobbed. Charlie felt tears well up in her eyes, so many feelings of sadness between hers and the scent of the others it was just too much.
"But I can do this for you. I can be a proper dad to you now" Pete told her.
"But it's not fair" Rose sobbed.
" I've had all these extra hours. No one else in the world has ever had that. And on top of that, I got to see you. And you're beautiful. How lucky am I, eh? So, come on, do as your dad says. You going to be there for me, love? Thanks for saving me" he told her before picking up the vase and walking outside.
Charlie stayed sitting in the pew as Rose tearfully followed her dad, not wanting to leave the last place her Doctor stood. She looked through the pictures of the two of them on her phone, tears dropping onto the lit screen when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her head jerked up as the familiar spicy scent caught her nose. She spun her head around to see her leather clad Doctor standing behind her with a gentle smile.
"Miss me?" he asked, smiling at the stunned expression on his friend's face. Her face was the last thing he saw before he was scooped up by the Reaper; and he was glad for it. He was just sorry for the obvious trauma she went through watching him die.
Charlie stood and made her way out the pew and over to the Doctor who opened his arms for a hug but was quickly shot down when the redhead reached out and shoved him, not with all her strength because, she did not want to break him, but she certainly put some force behind it.
"You. Complete. ARSE!" she grunted, "Do you have any idea how it felt watching you die? Literally feeling you die; hearing your heartbeats fade away?"
"I'm sorry," The Doctor whispered solemnly, "But I couldn't let it kill everyone else,"
"I know that! I just- "Charlie breathed deeply, bringing a hand up to rub her head. It then that she noticed her constant headache was gone and her senses were back to normal.
"Pete…is he?" she asked hesitantly, knowing that if her was feeling better, than the Reapers must have disappeared. It never occurred to her why the Doctor was standing in front of her instead of dead as he should have been.
"Yeah, Pete sacrificed himself to save the world" the Doctor explained.
"Good man," Charlie muttered. Her heart went to Rose, even though Charlie was still very irritated with the blonde about everything that happened.
"And are you ok?" the Doctor asked her.
"What do you think?" Charlie smirked and gave him the long hug he was waiting for, "Never do that to me again," Charlie half warned half pleaded.
"You know I can't promise that" the Doctor pulled away to look down her down seriously.
"I know," Charlie reached up and stroked his cheek before kissing it quickly and pulling back blushing, "But you can at least try not to get caught up in these types of situations," she hugged him again missing the emotion in the Doctor's eyes as he gazed at her; his cheek tingling slightly from where she kissed it.
The duo was interrupted when Rose crept back into the church hugging herself,
"He's gone" she whispered.
"I'm sorry" the Doctor replied.
"Me too" Charlie said, letting go of the Doctor to pull her friend into a much-needed hug. Rose grabbed Charlie's and the Doctor's hands and together they walked back to the TARDIS to pick up where they left off – adventuring amongst the stars.