Unto the Universe

Chapter Twenty-Five: 42: Restoration

By Lumendea

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

AN: Super long chapter. There wasn't enough to split it into two chapters though it was close. Posting early because I have a family thing all weekend. Enjoy. I've been doing serious plotting work this week, trying to nail down the episodes of next season with another season trying to shove its way into the plan. Martha's entry keeps being shifted based on the character arcs of the current characters, but I promise she'll be here someday. (hides head in exasperation with myself)

….

The Doctor struggled to focus. Ashton, Scannell, and Erina were working on the engine boost, but McDonnell was starting to fall apart. Korwin was still in the ship, minus one arm, but the Doctor didn't doubt he or rather it could still do damage. It had Rose. Rose was being consumed.

"Progress, Jack?" the Doctor demanded into the intercom.

"Section nine," Jack replied a moment later. "Almost there. We'll make it!"

"Impact in eleven fifteen. Heatshield failing. At ten percent."

The Doctor swallowed. Jack and Riley had only a little over a minute per section, and Rose had to hold on. He glanced over at the three crewmen and the jump system. It was coming along. There were four of them, if he counted McDonnell, who was watching the corridors. Korwin, or rather the sun, had so far targeted people who were alone or in pairs. They should be safe.

"Keep working," the Doctor barked.

Then he did what he'd wanted to do since he heard from Rose. He ran. The Doctor dashed through the ship, listening to the countdown with guilt as Rose's plea to save the sun rang in his mind. He reached the security area, glancing at the numbers as he ran until he found Rose.

His precious girl was curled up in the corner of the tiny room below the intercom, shaking and holding herself tightly. Immediately, he dropped beside her and pulled her into his arms. She didn't fight him and buried her face against his neck.

"The sun," Rose whispered.

"Jack and Riley are almost there," the Doctor told her. "Rose, keep your shields up. Hold on, please. Hold on." If his voice shook the end of his plea, he ignored it. "The jump system is almost ready. We'll dump the fuel to save the sun and use the jump system and auxillary to get away. It's going to be fine."

"You should be helping the others," Rose said. Her voice was so raw. Despite her words, her fingers clutched the Doctor's leather coat.

"Jack can handle it," the Doctor said. He started to move. "If we can get you into the stasis chamber-"

"Won't help," Rose told him. She was right, of course. If it had been him, they could lower the temperature enough to slow down the sun, but with Rose, it wasn't an option.

"Hold on," he pleaded. "Hold on for me."

…..

McDonnell did what she could to help the others. Her hands were stained with grease, and her old callouses served her well, but she kept looking up and around. There was no sign of the Doctor or Korwin. Every so often, Jack and Riley were shouting an update. They were close. So close. But the Doctor's words about Korwin haunted her. Even if they got away, even if the crew survived, minus dear Abi, there was still no saving Korwin.

"Power's been cut!" Scannell hissed, dropping the welder he'd been using.

"Keep working," McDonnell ordered. "I'll check it out."

"You shouldn't go alone," Ashton said. He started to stand.

"Keep working," McDonnell ordered again. She met his eyes and then looked to Scannell. McDonnell didn't dare look at Erina. "We need all of you on this," she said more lightly.

Then she turned and hurried down the long corridor and to the ladder leading to the power system. Her stomach turned; she was already certain of what or rather who she would find. Oddly, that didn't scare her; it just filled her with regret. She could hear Korwin, who he had been in her head, telling her to run. To hide, but her crew… she had to protect them. Power was needed so she would get the power.

Korwin was waiting, looking out one of the small windows towards the sun. The missing arm had been cauterized, likely by the terrible heat burning through his body, and McDonnell hated the reminder.

"Korwin?" she called. Korwin turned and started to walk towards her. McDonnell's throat tightened. "Why did you take my husband?" The figure stopped, and McDonnell gasped softly. "You recognise me. Korwin, you know me. It's Kath. Your wife."

"My wife." His voice was distorted, but it was him.

Tears in her eyes, McDonnell nodded. "That's right. You're still in there. I'm your wife."

"It's your fault," Korwin growled.

She stumbled back. As she did so, McDonnell caught sight of the power switches beyond Korwin. They hadn't been destroyed, just switched off. Lunging around him, she dove for them, flipping them on with shaking, frantic fingers. Korwin turned and grabbed her with his remaining arm, pulling her away.

"You're right," McDonnell said. She started to back away. Korwin focused on her, not touching the switches. "It is my fault. I didn't upgrade the system, and I didn't scan. I knew we were in violation of the law, and I didn't think about why they made the law. I'm sorry."

Korwin stepped forward and started to raise the filter on his helmet. Turning, McDonnell started to run in the opposite direction. Korwin followed. Her own words, her own admission of guilt, choked her. She'd been worried about profits after the lean last two years while Korwin had pushed for them to upgrade. She'd convinced him that they could handle a couple of runs, a few more to even out the books first. The memory of reaching the sun and scooping quickly so they wouldn't be caught taunted her. A few minutes and maybe, maybe-

She ducked into an airlock, pressing her body against the wall. Outside the airlock, the sun churned and burned. Letting her head fall back against the wall, McDonnell wasn't sure if she wanted him to find her or not. It didn't matter a moment later as Korwin stepped inside.

"I didn't know. I really didn't know. Korwin, please stop."

"Everyone must burn!"

The words hardened her resolve. Leaning forward, she pressed the button for the airlock door, sealing her and Korwin in the small chamber. The sequence activated. The airlock would open, dumping them into space. She turned on the intercom, "Riley, Ashton, Erina, Scannell, I'm sorry."

Scannell and Ashton shouted her name in response, but she focused on Korwin. What was left of her husband was just watching her. It made no move to open the filter. Perhaps it knew. Perhaps it could feel some of what had made Korwin who he was. With tears in her eyes, she stepped closer and put her arms around his neck.

"I love you," she said, clear and firm.

McDonnell pulled the sun creature close. The airlock opened, and they were pulled outside. There was only a moment of consciousness for her as they drift before the heat overwhelmed her. She could only regret her choices. Regret not upgrading when she'd had the chance. And strangely, relief that this was how it would end for her, that she wouldn't need to wake up tomorrow without Korwin. Her last words lingered in her ears before the world went black.

…

"Jack, help them!" the Doctor shouted as he gathered Rose close. "I'm here," he said softly. Her skin was hot to the touch. With his lower body heat, Rose was always warm, but this was too much. Her eyes were still closed tightly. "I'm here."

"It hurts," Rose whimpered. "So much pain!" She shook her head. "Should have known sooner."

"You couldn't have," the Doctor said. His grip tightened, and he feared he was bruising her arms but couldn't bring himself to let go. "You noticed that something was wrong before I did."

"They thought we were the police," Rose reminded him, her voice rough and pained. "When we arrived. They were more worried about that than falling into the sun. Should have known then."

"Shush," the Doctor whispered. "Save your strength."

"I don't want to kill it," Rose cried. Despite how tightly closed she was keeping her eyes, tear tracks stained her cheeks. "It's cornered and hurt, just trying to survive. I don't want to-"

The computer kept counting down. The Doctor strained his ears, trying to hear what was happening. In the distance, he could hear shouting and hoped it was a good sign. Rocking Rose against his chest, the Doctor fought the warring urges to go and make sure Jack and the crew dumped the fuel and being unwilling to leave Rose. Staying with Rose won. He trusted Jack.

…

The auxiliary control room was tight and tiny, reminding Jack of the submarines he'd visited during his time in World War II. Riley lunged for some of the controls, and Jack followed. Everything was labeled, allowing Jack to join in with Riley to dump the fuel. The heat was getting worse, and a dark worry that it wasn't going to be enough crept up on Jack.

"Fuel dump's almost done," Riley shouted into the intercom.

"We've got the jump start system ready," Scannell called back. "Won't last long, but it'll help get us away!"

Suddenly the whole ship jolted, sending Jack and Riley off their feet. Grabbing onto a pipe, Jack grit his teeth and stretched out his arm to hit the last of the buttons to finish releasing the fuel as the auxiliary engines kicked on. The ship shuddered. There was a moment, a long, long moment where Jack braced himself.

But they were moving. The ship's position stabilized, and they began to move rather than fall. He heard the computer announce that the collusion had been averted and exhaled as a heady rush of endorphins hit his brain.

"Well, that was fun," Jack laughed.

"We've got enough power to get away from the sun," Riley said brightly. He grinned at Jack. "We're alive."

"Yes, Jack agreed. Yes, we are." Then his eyes widened, and he lunged towards the intercom. "Doctor, how is Rose?"

"She's fine," the Doctor answered, relief filling his voice. "Tired, but she's alright. The sun left her as soon as the fuel dump started. It understood what you were doing."

"A living sun," Riley breathed. He shook his head. "Never seen anything like that before."

"Hopefully, you never will again," Jack sighed.

He allowed himself to slump against the wall for a moment to catch his breath. Riley was already speaking with Ashton and Scannell about how far the jury-rigged system could get them. Taking in another breath, Jack pushed himself off the wall and began to run down the long corridor back towards Rose and the Doctor.

Rose's eyes were open, and she smiled as he came into view. She and the Doctor were still on the floor with Rose curled up against the Doctor. Jack swallowed as he took them in. The Doctor's fingers were tangled in Rose's blonde hair, still holding her tightly, and he didn't even glance up when Jack entered the room.

"The sun is gone," Rose assured him.

She shifted only a little in the Doctor's arms while the conversation continued through the intercoms. The Doctor moved his arm and pointed the sonic screwdriver at the intercom, turning it off. That explained how the Doctor had answered him without leaving Rose.

"The fuel dump worked then," Jack said. He shifted over to the window and glanced outside. "It's been reunited."

"Yeah," Rose replied. Her gaze was distant for a moment. "It was peaceful. I felt… it's disgust at what it was doing under the pain."

The Doctor kissed her forehead and finally eased his death grip on Rose. Jack hurried forward and extended a hand to help Rose to her feet. To his surprise, the Doctor accepted his hand a moment for help in standing. They stayed close to Rose, Jack not liking the way Rose swayed in place.

"I'm okay," Rose said. "I'd just really like to leave."

…..

The Doctor was itching to leave himself. The small crew of only four survivors had joined them at the TARDIS. Scannell and Ashton were both confused and in awe of its size. Erina and Riley both had distant and exhausted expressions. The Doctor didn't know what to say to them. He knew he should be compassionate about their losses, but the fear from before clung to him.

"Will you be alright?" Jack asked Scannell. "You haven't got any fuel now."

"That jump system plus auxillary got us far enough away we aren't in danger," Ashton answered. He stepped away from the TARDIS with a shake of his head.

"We've sent out an official mayday," Riley added. "The authorities'll pick us up soon enough."

"Though how we explain what happened," Scannell sighed.

"Tell them the truth," Rose answered, speaking to them for the first time. She managed a sad smile. "That sun is alive and needs protection, just like any other living thing in the universe. They need to know, so no one makes the same mistake."

The reminder of the mistake, of how unnecessary it had been hung amongst the crew. Erina touched Scannell's shoulder, and the man nodded. Rose hoped they'd be okay. She didn't know how much trouble they'd be in, but at least they were alive. Four out of seven, hardly their best day.

The TARDIS hummed in greeting, and the Doctor noted with relief that she was no worse for wear. Keeping a tight hold on Rose's hand, the Doctor watched her movements carefully in case she started to fall. Jack looked at them both, and the Doctor braced himself for a joke and teasing. But instead, the man simply smiled at them and then yawned very loudly.

"I'm going to grab some food and get some sleep," Jack said. "Probably sleep in, so please, Doc, no rush in the morning."

"Thank you, Jack," Rose said softly, voicing what the Doctor was thinking as well.

"Get some rest, Rosie," Jack replied. He kissed the top of her head and gave her a hug. "You scared us a today." He kissed the top of her head again before releasing her.

Then Jack offered the Doctor a soft look before vanishing down the corridor. The Doctor almost smiled. Rose was right, shocking that, Jack while loud and flashy, was a good man. And a good friend. But he turned his attention back to Rose once Jack had vanished into the shadows of the corridor.

Rose stepped forward as the Doctor opened his arms, bringing their bodies together and holding her close. He inhaled her scent of lilacs, vanilla, and sunshine, the vanilla of her shampoo lingered, but the smell of her sweat from the heat and stress dominated. He needed to take her to medical, he told himself, but that would mean letting her go, and he wasn't ready for that just yet.

"I can't lose you," the Doctor said into her hair. His grip on her was just shy of painful, and Rose was too aware of the slight tremble in his hands. "I love you, Rose. I can't lose you. Not yet, not so soon."

"I'm alright," Rose promised. That was all she could promise him. "I love you, too. I'm home, Doctor. We're all okay."

"I'm sure you're tired, but I need to check you over in medical," the Doctor managed. "Just, just to make sure."

"Of course," Rose agreed softly.

She let him led her to the medical wing and quickly took her place on the exam table. Exhaustion hung around Rose, making her eyes glassy, and the Doctor did what he could to hurry through the bio scans. The TARDIS seemed aware of his urgency and finished the scans quickly.

"No changes from your last exam," the Doctor declared a few minutes later. "No lingering signs of the sun." He finally exhaled and relaxed. "It left you when the fuel was dumped and no signs of damage." The Doctor knew that it shouldn't be that easy, not for a human, but he was just going to be grateful. "Whatever stopped it…" He trailed off, not sure how to finish the sentence.

"Yeah," Rose agreed weakly.

"Rose," the Doctor sighed and closed his eyes. "Do you know? Can you tell me?"

"I…" Rose hesitated. "I think I know, but I don't think it's safe to say. Not yet." She grabbed his hand and held on with a tight grip. "Does the future ever scare you?"

"Yes. Often." What being in love with a human would mean terrified him every day.

"Me too," Rose admitted. "It's good, I think. Just big. Bigger than me."

He waited for her to share more, but it seemed that was all she was going to reveal today. The Doctor tried not to be angry or worried. Rose's respect for timelines was good. Great, even given some of the messes he'd gotten into over the years. But right, he hated it. He hoped Rose was right and that it was good, but the Doctor knew it would scare him until he knew what it was.

"You need sleep," he said gently, letting the topic go.

Rose offered him a soft, grateful smile that made him feel guilty more than relieved. "Stay with me tonight? At least for a bit?"

"If you'd like."

The TARDIS had moved Rose's room across from the medbay, which was just as well. Despite being uninjured, Rose was walking slowly and sluggishly. Still, they made it into her room safe and sound. He helped Rose into her nightclothes and shrugged off his coat, and kicked off his boots. Rose smiled in amusement at him.

They were silent as they stretched out on the bed, and Rose rolled closer to him. Without a word, the Doctor shifted, so they were curled around one another. The smell of the lilacs the TARDIS kept fresh in her room drove away the lingering foul smells of metal and stress. Rose sighed against him, and the Doctor felt her body finally relaxing.

"Can you…" Rose stumbled for a moment, closing her eyes and gathering courage. He hated that she needed to. He'd do anything she asked because Rose was still with him. "Can you come into my mind?" she asked softly. "I-I want to feel you."

"Of course," the Doctor breathed. "If you're sure. That's very intimate."

"We've been intimate," Rose pointed out, a slight smile returning to her face. "And it's wonderful, but having you in my mind is… you're comforting. I feel how you feel about me, and your presence lets me feel safe."

He didn't go deep, keeping the contact light after a quick look around to make sure that the sun really was all gone. There was no need to go searching for any information, and Rose was too tired to be expected to hide memories he shouldn't see. Yet, it was enough that Rose's essence flowed into him, filling the empty spaces where other connections had once been, soothing the dark silence left by the Time War.

It was only when Rose's exhaustion became the dominant emotion that the Doctor withdrew. Immediately, he was aware of Rose's displeasure and knew it was echoed in his own mind, but remaining connected while sleeping was dangerous. His nightmares were bad enough without directly subjecting Rose's mind to them.

"Thank you," Rose whispered in the dark room. "I love you."

"Maybe we should combine rooms," the Doctor offered softly. He almost regretted the words at once. Letting his life entwine so much with Rose's was dangerous; no matter how much he felt for her, she was still human. But it was foolish to worry about such things after he'd just been entwined with her mind. "If you want."

"I'd like that," Rose murmured. She was falling asleep. "Stay for a while, please, my love."

Her endearment might have been lost to human ears, but the Doctor heard it loud and clear. His hearts ached as Rose drifted off to sleep. Pulling her close to him, the Doctor held her tight, trying to keep his fears and urge to run at bay. He was already in too deep. Running would only lead to regret, but there was nothing he could tell himself to stop the fear in his hearts. He loved this woman, and she was human. Even if he turned to the biological aging freezing tech of the future, it was so likely that he'd lose her. And that was if Rose was even willing to consider undergoing such a procedure with all of the risks.

Maybe, he thought, maybe she would. Rose had been alright changing into a telepath; maybe she'd accept such a proposal. Maybe he'd be able to find a way to keep her with him. Maybe he could find a way to keep their story from becoming a tragedy. He hoped so; he wanted to be able to keep Rose Tyler.

…. Up Next: The Sacred Flame…...