Disclaimer: I don't own anything that I've written. Yep, that's right, I own not even one iota of the below work.
Summary: Able is an actual doctor, and so, so much more. We all know 'The Doctor' does have a pendent for running into impossible things - and if Able was anything, he was an impossible thing. (A twist on the usual OC and The Doctor formula has original ideas and later on, canon divergence. M/M)
Warnings: This is a Doctor Who fic, so I doubt any of the readers will turn down reading this just because it's slash. After all, we have the canon Jack Harkness. (Who deserves a warning all on his own.) Canon typical violence, language, and later on there will probably be more explicit sexual content.
Authour Note: I've noticed that a lot of OC stories tend to avoid doing this episode in particular. So, obviously, I have to attempt to tackle the episode and show it who's boss. I'm wondering if I rushed the ending a bit too much. Probably could have been better flushed out, but what can you do?
I choose the spelling of Able's name purposely, but not being able to use the word able because Able's name is Able has been an interesting challenge because I really like the word able. See what I did there? It was adorable, wasn't it?
Chapter Eight: Father's Day
...
The Doctor had never driven Red so smoothly and quickly as he had in that moment. Within five minutes, Adam was dropped off in his own century and The Doctor didn't look back, just scrambled the guys phone, clicked his fingers rather cruelly to open his brain, and headed back into Red.
Rose looked a bit put off by it, but she also couldn't help but understand that someone stealing the TARDIS, The Doctor's home, was a big offense. She also got in the TARDIS without another word to Adam.
Able had never left when they dropped the guy off. He didn't deserve that courtesy.
"Tomorrow it's my pick." Rose suddenly chimed in as the TARDIS hit the vortex for the day.
The Doctor seemed suitably calmed at this point, "That it is, pick well Rose Tyler."
...
Able took the few days break after the Satellite Five situation to work on his sonic and bond farther with the Alereros.
Adding things into the sonic took Able a lot of time – The technology was at its base, far too advanced for the ginger to be comfortable. He had to carefully research everything he did for hours to make sure he wouldn't accidently blow up his wrist. The setting he was currently working on was incredibly intensive because it was basically going through the technology advances in computers and bringing the sonics level up toward that, programming in the 'work around'.
Thinking of all the work it would take gave Able a headache, but he was determined to at least get to the 200,000 this month.
Able also took a smaller amount of time to program a setting to check A.I for life, in other words – Able made a setting to check for technology which could pass the Turing Test or equivalent. He'd thought it up when in Statten's museum and only just a few hours ago got around to making it.
When working, Able connected his mind to his Alereros, who played a soft music corresponding to Able's mood.
"You're looking hard at work."
Able turned quickly, facing The Doctor who was leaning against the door way with his leather clad arms crossed, his expression rather even. The music halted as well, the shock breaking the ginger from the empathic bond.
"The Doctor! Come into my room in the dead of night, I wonder what he could want..." Able thought out-loud, grinning and making the underlying meaning extremely apparent.
"Did you guess that I came here because I get enjoyment out of your little ape mind struggling with concepts far beyond his understanding?" The Doctor asked, but he was grinning.
"You know, if I was decent from any ape, it would be Bonobo's." Able gave a little smirk.
Bonobo were a species of Great Ape that, although endangered, where known for having a large amount of sex. This, as well as their loose habits as far as what gender they choose to do sexual acts with. Whether or not that was scientifically proven was a different matter, it was the reputation that mattered most for the joke.
The Doctor snorted, "I could have guessed, it is you we are talking about, The Enabler."
"Could you stop bringing up my title?" Able grit out, feeling a flush of shame rise to his cheeks.
Heat in the moment pick that it had been, pretending to be the same species as The Doctor, Able couldn't bring himself to not claim the title now. It just clicked into place in Able's mind, because it was him. He literally was The Enabler. It wasn't something he could quite explain, but it was just as good as Able's name. Of course, the ginger hadn't had thought of what his full name had been in years, instead told everyone that he only had one of the human typical two through five names typical for humans. That might have had something to do with it as well.
"You're the one that picked it." The Doctor stated, almost harshly, probably unhappy about remembering Able putting himself in danger by doing so.
Able grimaced, "That's because it fits me well, too well. I don't mind you using it all that much... Just - actually you know what, help yourself. What do I care about what strangers think of the title."
Better to get used to it, considering that trait wasn't leaving Able anytime soon.
The Doctor searched Able for any hesitation or remaining discouragement. When he found none, The Doctor grinned that manic grin of his, "You know... It doesn't have to be all about encouraging bad behaviors. The word enabler has more than one definition, the other being a person who makes something possible."
"Compliments will get you anywhere you want to go. I won't even make you beg." Able shot back, but the grateful smile softened the almost reproach.
The Time Lord clapped his hands together as though to draw attention, "Alright then, The Able, it has occurred to me that we haven't looked into your... Situation thoroughly enough for my liking. We need more comprehensive tests."
"Situation, huh?" Able repeated to himself, but agreed wholeheartedly with The Doctor, "Alright, after Rosie's little adventure then. I have a question for you though, The Doctor, how does telepathy and empathy work? How can I have a sort of... Advantage in it, when Rose can't even feel Red?"
"You apes usually aren't apt in things like telepathy – Takes brain power your race typically isn't capable of. Some individuals who have the brain power for it or are shown telepathy at a young age grow accustomed to it and are able to use it proficiently... On a human level." The Doctor explained, his tone rather even, despite the fact he'd said quite a few disparaging things.
If anything through, Able looked interested, almost excited, "Your brain is different from a typical human brain? Is it kept somewhere else? Does it have the same make up? Are you like a leech, got 32 brains stuffed in that body of yours somewhere? Neurons, hemispheres, the like? Oh and that relates back to something I was curious about since I first got on Red, how are our races so outwardly similar considering the different planets. The chances are... So small taking them into account would be the mark of an idiot."
"A leech?" The Doctor said, looking incredulous and almost amused, "Never change The Enabler, you are something else. Well, Rose will be getting up soon so we don't have time to answer all of your questions."
"If you didn't want to answer you could have just said that." Able spoke his tone rather blunt, "Rosie won't wake up for at least another hour, I know my Lover well."
"No need to talk about Time Lord biology, it has weight beyond your human understanding." The Doctor stated harshly before stalking out of the room.
Able accepted it.
Of course, after that, he rationalized it.
The Doctor wouldn't want to talk about his race, the man himself had stated that he was the only one left. This was something that probably should have occurred to Able when he'd asked the Time Lord.
...
...
...
"I'm hoping you can take me to go see my father, you know, when he was still alive... He died 1987, 7th of November, that is." Rose requested, looking awkward, almost melancholy as she did so. A stark contrast to her usually bright, sunny self.
The Doctor was sitting down in the chairs near the console, looking at Rose with clear surprise on his face, "Where's this come from, all of the sudden?"
"It's really the only place I would want to request. Everything is amazing, but there is nothing else that will have a personal impact on me... " Rose shared, turning her honest, wide-eyes toward both The Doctor and Able, "If it goes against laws of time or something, I'll leave it alone, and I will still forgive you, it's just..."
Able was slightly worried about the idea. He almost hoped that The Doctor would state that it was against the laws of time, even though the ginger was almost certain it wasn't. This was because the blue-eyed male knew Rose, and if she saw her father, could talk to him, give him a sign, she would take that chance. She would do that for anybody she knew was going to die – It wasn't completely about personal interest – somehow though, that didn't make the situation better. Time was usually in flux, but if Rose changed something so fundamental about herself... Able might not have ever become her friend and lover.
What would have become of the ginger, if not for that bright presence in his life?
"No, I can do anything... I'm more worried about you." The Doctor stated giving Rose an almost soft look, full of his emotions for the girl, before it was placed under that manic grin, "Your wish is my command, but be careful what you wish for."
"I want to see him." She said, and her face glowed. Able wouldn't have been willing to resist that look, so he couldn't expect The Doctor too either.
The Doctor got up and adjusted the dials on the console, and they were off. The trip was smoother than it usually was, probably because it wasn't a big trip, going only a few years before both Rose and Able's linear time. When they got out of the TARDIS, they could all see the church in the distance. It only took a few minutes to walk there. Once they arrived, you could see Rose's parents, Pete and Jackie, and they were getting married. Able had never seen Jackie look that happy before, and couldn't resist the small smile that rose to his lips. The marriage seemed like a smaller, intimate ceremony, and despite the fact Able didn't typically believe in marriage, he couldn't help but find the whole thing adorable.
"They are adorable, Lover." Able admitted, his tone bordering on amused.
Rose looked on the edge of tears, "Look at how happy mum is..."
"She's just as happy with you." Able stated firmly, really not wanting her to get any ideas that erased her from his timeline.
The Doctor just watched on out of the corner of his eye. He had been sort of avoiding looking at Able after he'd needlessly snapped at the ginger. Plus, this situation was far too... Domestic for his liking. All that aside, he was also worried about Rose and what this trip could mean for her – only hoping that it came out all right with time still intact.
The danger was worth her forgiveness, even if they couldn't go back to what they were. The Doctor liked his companions and their forgiving and accepting qualities. But even to himself, he wouldn't dare to say that he needed them after what happened in the past few hundred years of his life.
"I want to be there for him." Rose suddenly stated, "I don't want him to die alone."
Able closed his eyes briefly, "Lover, I'm not so sure it's a good idea for you to do this." No matter what it was she was planning on doing.
The Doctor looked at his companions, and seeing the determined glow in Rose's eyes, conceded, "November 7th 1987 you said?"
The smile he got back was heartbreaking, but worth it. They all jogged back to the TARDIS, and the Time Lord started to activate the TARDIS without another thought, bringing them to the desired location with a few clicks of the finger. Rose was the one to walk out the doors first, hesitantly as it was. It was a sunny day, just normal all things considered, blue sky, nice weather...
"That's so weird. The day my father died... I thought it'd be all sort of grim and story, it's just an ordinary day." Rose commented, her tone was melancholy.
"Someone dies every seven or so seconds of everyday." Able interjected, getting a glare from his blonde.
"That's not something I need to hear right now." Rose hissed out.
"Are you sure about this?" The Doctor asked, before his companions could start an argument.
"Yes." The raw and pure determination she was expressing was enough to make either The Doctor or Able want to move mountains. So, they made their way down the street toward the area that Peter Tyler let his unfortunate end. They stood there, watching as Peter got out of his car, not thinking anything of what would happen to him next. Not even thinking anything could go wrong – He was just married, he was happy, and why would he even think of the possibilities?
"Oh god, this is it." Rose said, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes misting over.
Able watched the whole thing, watched the body collide with the car, and he could see the mathematics at work which would case Peter Tyler's death. A cold approach to look at something like this, especially since it was Rosie Tyler's father.
"Go to him, quickly now." The Doctor said to Rose, but she was frozen, staring ahead with silent tears running down her face.
Five minutes later, tears were dried, but the mistake had been made, "It's too late now, be the time the ambulance got here, he was already dead..."
The Doctor just watched her quietly, not really knowing what to say.
"Can we do it again? Properly this time?"
Able could feel himself in that moment, and he knew what choice The Doctor would make, because it was already happening. Two different Human Rift's in one place, but the same Rift, the same person. It was like looking through two different sets of eyes at once, and Able could see himself standing with Rose and The Doctor as the care approached, even as the first group of them were doing what had already happened.
If it sounded confusing, it's because time really wasn't meant to be understood by human minds. Even Able, experiencing it, couldn't fully understand it. That was coming from Able probably the most likely in the Universe to fully understand time as a human.
"Right, that is our first sets of ourselves." The Doctor said.
Able switched between eyes again and again, flickering through the different perspectives between seconds, milliseconds, and it was far too distracting. The Doctor was a presence which helped to ground Able but there were two Doctor's, and it wasn't much of a help.
"You don't have to do anything, but I won't risk a third set of ourselves here." The Doctor stated sternly, finally putting his foot down, "The Able, are you okay?"
Of course The Doctor would notice, but which Doctor was it?
"Rift is time, I'm literally in both places right now." Able tried to explain, but ultimately fell short. The Doctor however, understood perfectly, and just nodded as though he'd perfectly understood the inaccurate and human explanation of time.
Then, Rose was running.
The Doctor was yelling.
Able had a headache that wouldn't go away, he couldn't move even if he wanted to, he kept switching between 'bodies' every millisecond, it was a miracle he'd been able to explain what was going on to The Doctor. Then, time snapped and Able could feel it, he was in one body again, and the ginger frantically looked around, wondering what he missed – Feeling a sense of urgency.
Especially when The Doctor was watching what happened with flat horror.
Memories flooded into Able's mind, and there were two timelines instead of the one he'd lived. One with Pete Tyler living, and a distinctive lack of Rose Tyler in Able's life. When the Rift was Able's only bond, and when that was no longer there... There was no Doctor, there was nothing to hold him down to life. He'd gone through several attempts to kill himself, so many different, painful ways.
It never worked.
Rose Tyler, the girl who was so selfless and selfish all at once.
Did she even think of the possibilities when she saved her father? Did she even think about the person who was meant to be her best friend? Then again, she was perfectly alright with sacrificing him for someone she'd met only a few hours ago. Sure, Able had forgiven her for the Gwyneth situation, but here Rosie was, repeating the same mistake.
No, not Able, being Able hurt, he was The Enabler for now, a way to distance himself.
The Enabler smiled, and pushed down his feelings. At least Rosie was happy, and he was outside of time, just the same as he was time, and remembered what happened in both times. The danger was superficial to him, and Rosie would be happier.
The ginger could feel The Doctor's mind pressing gently against his, and Enabler curled up around the presence, sending his emotions to the Time Lord, knowing well that The Doctor could handle them. He had when Able lost the Original Rift, so he could this time.
As expected, he received warm feelings back, but they were hesitant, and beneath it all was the sense of horror and worry.
Able knew that what was changed was a fixed point just from the way he felt time snap around him, but somehow The Doctor was so worried, the ginger was starting to believe this would be a bigger issue than he'd thought.
...
...
...
All of them went with the living Peter Tyler, both The Doctor and The Enabler silently, almost passively following Rose's lead for the timing being. The connection between The Doctor and The Enabler allowed the ginger to know that the Time Lord was slowly switching form horrified and worried to angry. If the blue-eyed male had been anyone else, he probably would have as well.
Instead he just accepted, and he could feel The Doctor's amazement at the fact.
"All the stuff of his that mum kept. She'd put it all in the cupboard, and here it is, on display, where it should be." Rose said, walking around the small apartment. Rose continued to point things out, "Tonics mum used to call them. He made his money selling this stuff, he had all sorts of jobs, clever as he is. Solar power stuff as well, mum said he was going to do this – Now he can."
There was silence, and Rose looked toward both the ginger, and The Doctor. Her eyes told you she knew she'd done something wrong, but there wasn't even a hint of regret.
The Enabler felt a pang of hurt at this, but once again, just accepted it – Ignoring the look The Doctor gave him.
The connection broke between them, and The Enabler was the one to pull away, rare as that was between them.
"When we met, I said 'travel with me in space' and you, unlike The Able, said no." The Doctor theorized practically spitting, "Then I said she was a time machine. I've gone and done it again, haven't I. I picked another moronic ape when I should have known. For you, it's not ever about showing you the Universe – It's all about what the Universe can do for you."
"It's not like that, it wasn't some big plan." Rose tried to explain before getting a bit angry as well, "Besides, how is it okay for you to go around saving people's lives, doing amazing things, but it's not okay for me to save one person. One person who matters to me so much, my dad..."
"Don't be an idiot Rosie." The Enabler cut in, feeling tired, "You are a nineteen year old that knows nothing about time, whereas The Doctor is a Time Lord. Even knowing that some things were fixed points, that some things couldn't be changed, you still tried to do it. You still tried to change time, and you didn't think of the consequences. We aren't friends anymore Rose, with your father alive, and that is just one of the changes."
"One human being, one human that is alive when they weren't meant to be, that's all it takes." The Doctor explained, as he would to an idiot that he at the moment viewed Rose to be, "Two sets of us being here created a vulnerable point in time, and you decided to poke a hole in it. Maybe even worse, you didn't even think about The Able! He's not a regular human anymore, this could have completely destroyed him!"
"But my dad's alive!" Rose explained, and The Enabler knew, understood that she just wouldn't be able to get it. The danger to the Universe didn't matter to her in the face of someone she cared about. She'd shown that time and time again, willing to risk the needs of the many for the needs of the one she cared about.
Somehow that individual was never The Enabler.
"My whole planet is dead, my entire family, do you think it never occurred to me to go back and save them?" The Doctor tried to reason.
"It's not like it changed much. Able doesn't have me a friend, but that's okay because he's here and he remembers before." Rose reasoned, "Besides, my dad is not a world leader, isn't going to start World War III or anything."
The Doctor actually softened a bit when he saw she was getting frantic to explain, to reason why she'd done the right thing, and he turned toward The Enabler, who was staring at her rather blankly. Seeing The Doctor's look, the ginger walked over to Rose.
"Listen Lover, there is a man alive in the world that wasn't before. From now on, as long as he's alive, he will take up a spot in line, a spot in traffic, he'll make people late, make them earlier, and that causes a chain reaction that effects the whole world and it might just be by seconds, but those seconds, they matter." The Enabler tried to explain, keeping it simple as possible.
"What, would you rather him dead?" Rose said, getting offended by the gang up.
"I'd never say that Rosie it's just –"
"No, I get it. For once, the two of you aren't the most important people in my life." Rose yelled.
The Enabler took her anger without complaint. Inaccurate as it was, because after the past few times, he knew with one hundred percent certainty that he was nowhere near important to Rose's life as she just made him out to be. Nowhere near as important as she was to him anyway.
"Give me the key." The Doctor stated, hurt by her anger and accusations, "If I'm so insignificant, give it back."
"Alright then, I will." Rose stated defiantly, reaching into her pocket and handing him the key.
"Right then, you got what you wanted. This is goodbye then..." The Doctor muttered, looking a mixture of hurt and angered, "The Able...?"
The Enabler closed his eyes for a moment. Between the two hurt parties, he cared for them equally. Both had hurt him recently, but only one of them had thrown his friendship away like it meant nothing in the face of changing history. If he had to choose between the two of them, it would be The Doctor, and that wasn't even taking into account the fact that the Time Lord had access to the Universe.
Able shot a sorrowful look toward Rose, but stood next to The Doctor as they both walked out of the apartment.
Rose didn't say anything, just watched heartbroken as both of them left. The gravity of the situation finally appearing, when for the first time, Able choose someone other than her.
...
...
...
"The most dangerous thing in the Universe, pure innocence." The Enabler spoke as they walked along toward the TARDIS.
The Doctor didn't reply, he was practically stalking his way toward the TARDIS with single mindedness that Able hadn't seen in him since the Dalek situation. The ginger was worried for him, the man had been through so much, and he'd just had his trust broken by a girl. This girl that The Enabler was sure that The Doctor had been coming to trust and love.
Able, grabbed The Doctor's hand and created a connection between them. The two stopped moving right in the middle of the street.
'I wanted the Universe.' Able spoke in his mind, sending his feelings of awe, admiration, terror, everything that he'd seen and done and hoped to do.
The Doctor forced himself to calm down as Able's voice rang through his mind, 'I know, you weren't like her, you didn't need time, all you wanted was what I offered... You are fantastic, The Enabler.' The Doctor replied, sending back gratitude at the comfort he was offered.
'You know that she didn't mean for this to happen.' Able sent back, almost hesitantly, tightening his hold on The Doctor's hand.
The Doctor winced and interlocked his fingers with Able absently, 'That doesn't change anything.' With those words, he showed Able the full extent of his hurt. The pure being that was Rose Tyler, someone he looked to for some sort of... Absolution, and she did something like this, taking advantage of his want to be forgiven and turned it into something... ugly.
Able couldn't accept that.
He could take Rosie hurting him, wanting to sacrifice him, not thinking of their friendship, but her hurting The Doctor so much was not something he thought he could forgive unless the Time Lord himself did.
The ginger sent The Doctor his anger toward Rose, and The Doctor was surprised and almost... Touched? By the force in which the emotion had been felt, 'Thank you...'
They just stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, holding hands and trading comforting feelings for an inexpiable amount of time, before they started to jog toward the TARDIS hand in hand, connection strong as ever. Fear twanged through the bond, and neither were sure who it came from, but just as they reached the TARDIS, it reached it's crescendo, forcing the two men to look around in search of what was causing in.
They didn't find anything, and The Doctor turned his key in Red's lock, opened the door, and panic.
The Doctor reached for his bond with the TARDIS, how had he not noticed her being gone from his mind? Too connected to The Able? It didn't make sense, considering how deeply connected Time Lord's were with their TARDIS' if the sentence was allowed to grow. The Doctor ran his hands searchingly around the edges of the now ordinary police box almost desperately.
Able felt heartbroken.
Or was that The Doctor?
The Time Lord stood in the box with shock pained all over his face – It wasn't possible. The Enabler stepped forward and enveloped the man in a light embrace, throwing his arms around the mans shoulders and pushing close, pressing their minds together even closer, 'We'll figure it out, The Doctor, Red must be around, and if she isn't, then we'll get her back.'
The Doctor could feel his shock fading somewhat as he felt the solid presence of Able by his side, and just around him, holding him, trying to comfort him. He subconsciously started to life his arms to complete the embrace, but stopped when something else occurred to him.
"Rose!"
It rang through both of their minds and they sprang apart and started to run, the connection breaking. If something happened to the TARDIS, then Rose might be the next target. No matter what Rose had done, neither male wanted a scratch on her.
...
...
...
"Rose! Get in the church!" The Doctor cried out the second both males dashed close enough for her to hear. Then, something appeared right in front of her, and Able stopped and stared for a second.
Because it appeared out of nowhere, just showed up with a scythe of all things, and Able knew exactly what it looked like. Was that where the theory of grim reapers came from? It flew, and how did it do that? There wasn't any aerodynamic movements –
Able felt his hand being grabbed and felt himself being jerked forward, causing the blue eyes to swirl over. The Doctor was pulling him toward the church as everyone else was pushing their way inside at the sight of the creature. More of them appeared and attacked various people in front of the church, but the second they came in, the attack stopped – The reaper like creatures didn't try to get in.
The Doctor released his hold on me and started to check the doors, taking the chance to speak down to Jackie with the borderline hilarity it deserved.
"Rosie..." Able muttered, shaking his curiosity and taking her hand. She looked shaken by what had happened.
"Nothing in the this Universe can harm those creatures. Time's been damaged beyond its ability to clean itself, so they've come to sterilize the wound." The Doctor started to explain, walking toward his companions, "They'll do that by cleaning this time line completely."
"Is this because... Is this my fault?" Rose asked haltingly.
The Time Lord didn't say anything, just looked at her sharply, and that look said it all. Rose looked away full of guilt and Able just wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tried to be a comforting presence.
"Able... I'm sorry."
Yes Rosie, you always seem to be sorry after the fact, Able thought to himself. Yet, he cared too much for his blonde to not accept it, "Lover, I would always forgive you."
Yet, the exception to the rule might be The Doctor... Able hoped that she didn't push that, because Able didn't want to have to make that choice.
Rose pulled the ginger into a hug and buried her face into Able's neck as tears silently escaped her eyes. Able could tell that Peter was starting to put the pieces together – Rosie was right, he was rather clever. When one of the 'reapers' attached itself to the church momentarily, both time travelers walked over and looked. Something about the church repealed it away. The Doctor had mentioned something about age being an aspect – Churches, as moronic as Able found them as a practice, certainly fulfilled that quality.
So Able was a hypocrite. He liked to think himself open minded, but when it came to religion, usually he found the idea of people believing in an unprovable god to be... Just... Moronic. The ginger tried his best not to allow those thoughts to bias him – Usually he found himself capable of doing so.
Able shook himself from that line of thought, it really wasn't productive to what was currently going on.
"That mate of yours, what he mean when he said this was your fault?" Pete said, coming up from the corner of the human time travelers eyes.
Rose's eyes were still wet, "Dunno... Just... Everything."
"You didn't know, Lover. The Doctor should have said something so that you knew what you could or couldn't do. Doesn't mean you were in the right, because you weren't." Able stated harshly, probably because of the lonely memories or Able killing himself rising to mind, "It also doesn't mean you were completely at fault. Some of the fault does lie with The Doctor."
"What kind of name is The Doctor?" Peter asked, looking completely confused, "Doctor who?"
Able smiled a bit to himself, recalling all the times someone had asked him, Able who? When it came to his own singular name, "He's just The Doctor, first name The, last name Doctor. If it's weird, well, so is the situation we're in."
"Weird, but I suppose it is beside the point. You, I gave you my keys, my car keys, and you don't give your keys to a complete stranger." Pete started, and you could practically see the wheels turning in his mind.
"It's like I trusted you, from the moment I saw you. The Doctor, he calls what happened a wound in time, and you, you called me Dad. I can see it though, you have my eyes, Jackie's attitude, you sound like her when you shout..." Peter leaned forward and touched Rose's cheek with an expression of clear awe, he went to put always, but Rose practically pushed into his hand like a kitten seeking contact.
"You are, you're my Rosie... My girl, all grown up." Peter confirmed, a joyous smile lighting his face.
"You clever man, if you weren't my Rosie's father, I would be so hot right now." Able grinned out, breaking the atmosphere effectively, and getting a snort from Rose. She slapped his arm as she usually did when her friend made a comment like that, but she looked thankful as well.
"I'm also married." Pete said deadpan.
"That's not an issue for me, I assure you."
"Your choice in friends seems nice, Rose." Peter commented, turning back toward his daughter and his eyes which were sparkling with humour switched over to sparkling with love, "My daughter... my beautiful girl, and I get to see you here, like this..."
"Dad..." Rose spoke, her eyes spilling over once again as she pulled the man in for a hug.
Able felt out of place in that moment, so he took that chance to move away from the emotional duo and look for The Doctor. He found him, and it was adorable, but also somewhat hilarious.
"Now little Rose, I should have said this to the older one, but she's too stupid now to get it. You though, you're not going to bring about the end of the world, are you?" He said, in a cooing sort of tone that people typically used for babies.
Able never would have thought he'd hear The Doctor use that sort of tone in regards to an actual child.
"Well that's just adorable, The Doctor. Good with kids?" Able asked, sitting on the opposite side of the baby carriage.
The Doctor looked up at Able for a minute, as though in thought before giving a manic grin, "Babies... All that potential in those small little bodies and innocent eyes. Each of them has the potential to grow up and be great if they have the right parents and upbringing. Sometimes, even in spite of that."
"What are those things?" Able abruptly changed the subject to something more pressing than children.
"Reapers, in your language I suppose, they are temporal predators from the Time Vortex. When time weakens enough, they come out and feed. This also happens to fix time, but that isn't what the Reapers are concerned about. What they want is their fill, because it doesn't happen very often that someone makes a mistake big enough to let them through. The older something is, the longer it takes a Reaper to absorb and feed on it, which is why this church is perfect. Before the war... My people might have been able to stop them, but that's not possible now..." The Doctor paused, looking guilty for a moment.
"So, no way to stop them, no TARDIS to run to, seems like the end." Able mentioned bleakly, "You know, in the timeline that Rose created, I discovered I can't die, at least, not in any usual way. Maybe these Reapers want nothing to do with me."
"Maybe... You are a part of time, not the issue itself. It's plausible that they would completely ignore you even being here. It's also possible that they look at you like a cat looks at cat nip. We won't know until it becomes a problem... Having said that, even if you were ignored, it might not be the best thing." The Doctor spoke, matching Able's tone with his own grim intonation, "If they do ignore you, they will still consume everything around you, until all that is left is the vortex consuming that is left of this time line after the Reapers finish their meal."
"Well, how about one last go at it before the world ends then?" Able grinned toward The Doctor, raising a suggestive eyebrow.
"Humans, the only race in the world that thinks of sex during the end of the world."
"Somehow I doubt that." Able theorized, just as the older Rose started to make her way toward them.
"Lover, I'm assuming you and Peter talked it out then?" Able asked as she stood next to herself as a baby and looked down, almost mesmerized, and her hand started to reach out. The Doctor literally threw himself over the child to stop her.
"Don't touch the baby!"
"Lover, please use that wonderful brain of yours for a moment. Considering what happened last time you changed the past, why would you think touching yourself is a good idea?" Able asked wearily, watching Rose's hands as though scared she might try something again.
Rose just looked down, feeling guilty once again.
"If you were to touch her, you would create another paradox, but this time inside of the church, basically just inviting the Reapers in. Don't want that, because at this point, or at least soon enough, there won't be anywhere safe to go." The Doctor explained, slowly leaning back as Rose took a step back, understanding the situation
"I can't do anything right, can I?" Rose asked rhetorically.
"Since you asked, no. So don't touch the baby." The Doctor emphasized.
Rose's hurt feelings came to the surface once again, and turned to anger, "I'm not stupid."
"You could have fooled me." The Doctor stated harshly, as Able had just pointed out to him moments ago. No TARDIS, no way to defeat the Reapers, and they were facing near certain death. Rose didn't know what she was doing, The Doctor knew that, could forgive that, but not now. Not here, where the situation was still going on and had started because of her.
The TARDIS was gone because of Rose Tyler.
The leather clad 'alien' looked about ready to blow up at her again, but Able grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze. The attempt at comfort had the anger drain out of the Time Lord for the time being, but he still pulled away from the contact deliberately.
"Alright, I'm sorry. I wasn't really going to leave you here." The Doctor explained after taking a breath, "This is serious though, between the three, no, four of us counting this little one here, I haven't got a plan. No idea how to get us out of this... It's bad out there, I can feel it. Places like this, old buildings and such, are the only things left of the human race. These walls won't hold forever, they aren't that old, and what started the paradox is in here. There's nothing I can do to stop them."
"You'll think of something, you always do." Rose stated, and she had a surety about her that could convince the gods, "If I'd known, if I'd realized..."
"I know." The Doctor interrupted, "Just tell me your sorry."
"I'm sorry." Rose stated simply, and The Doctor gave her a soft look, and reached over and caressed her cheek. He did so like he was memorizing her, like it was the last time he'd get to see her. It seemed that all was right between those two, Able was grinning as he watched them. Perhaps there was even that familiar pang of jealousy – Despite the fact that the ginger knew nothing romantic was going to continue between them.
The two hugged and Able couldn't resist, "Come on you two, let me in the middle of this."
"Never turn down a hug!" The Doctor stated, keeping one arm wrapped around Rose, but the other opened up to Able, Rose following suit. Within seconds the three where in a lingering group hug.
"Now, if we could just lose our clothing..."
Rose promptly smacked his shoulder in a scolding manner, but her laughter gave it away. Then, Able felt something hot against him, not a contact warmth, but something else entirely, "The Doctor, are you always this hot under the collar when you're with us?"
As Able spoke the tease, he reached into the man's jacket and promptly dropped what he'd pulled out, and reached for his own key, which was also heating up against his skin. The Doctor looked at the key on the floor with so much joy the ginger thought the man might burst. He pulled off his jacket and used it to pick up the key, "It's the TARDIS, she's using the keys to tell us she's still around!"
He turned toward this companions with a toothy smile, "She's fighting back against the Reapers to save us."
...
...
...
Everyone sat down as The Doctor went to the alter and spoke into the microphone, "Alright, so this key here, it's the key to my ship. If we charge it up, we can summon her and all get out of here. With my ship back I can bend everything back to the way it used to be, no more Reapers. So, has anybody got a battery?"
The man who was to get married stood, holding what might have been a brick, either that or one of the first cell phones, "This one big enough?"
"Fantastic!" The Doctor exclaimed, jogging over to him and grabbing the battery, "Now, The Able, could I borrow your sonic? Might hike up the settings to make it go faster."
Without a word, Able was tossing his watch over toward The Doctor, who caught it, and started to put a setting on it with speed that Able knew he'd never be able to match, "Only that one setting, The Doctor, I want to do the programming myself. Extenuating circumstances aside."
"Of course." The Doctor spoke absently, concentrating on his task. Able stood next to him, watching the Time Lord with a keen eye. Noticing, The Doctor started to explain out loud what he was doing as he did it, "Really, it could be any kind of energy, in fact, this battery is not at all effective. Normally the TARDIS uses the Rift to charge herself, but that's not exactly an option anymore."
Then, the TARDIS started to materialize, causing everyone in the room to stare in shock. He went back to the microphone, "Right, there we go, no one touches that key. If anyone touches it, well, ZAP!" The Doctor finished, giving an over the top hand movement.
Both Able and The Doctor started to head back toward Rose and her father, Able notwithstanding the urge to lighten the atmosphere somewhat, "You know, if you dislike domestics so much, you're not avoiding them very efficiently."
The Doctor pointing his finger toward Able's face, "Quiet you."
The ginger just chuckled and followed after the man, "Seriously though, you've got to tell me. How's Red materializing like that, why was she gone in the first place? Did the Reapers consume her energy or something?"
The Doctor almost opened his mouth to tell the human that he wouldn't understand – He would for the majority of his companions because it was true. This time however, it wasn't, not really.
"She lives on a plane where time doesn't exist, or in a way, she is one with time. She knows the past, present, and future in a way that even a Time Lord can't truly understand. In all likelihood, the TARDIS knew that this was going to happen, allowed the Reaper to consume her 'present' self, and then from only a second before that happened, she was already headed here, just waiting for us to make a connection and pull her away from the Reaper that was sucking her up. That's why she is materializing so slow – Even as we pull her closer, she's still being consumed by that Reaper on the other side of time." The Doctor tried to explain, keeping his explanation as simple as possible.
Able looked at The Doctor with blind admiration and awe, "Amazing... She truly is amazing, Red."
"Yes she is..."
Able and The Doctor only then realized that they'd stopped walking – Snapped to attention when Peter and Jackie started fighting, Peter handed Rose the baby version of herself. Rose, knowing she couldn't take the child, nor could she drop the child, just staked shock still.
The ginger was wondering if perhaps he should take back his assumption that Peter was clever.
"Rose! No!" The Doctor dashed forward and grabbed the child from Rose, but it was too late.
A Reaper appeared right in the middle of the church, unfolding it's wings and flicking around it's scythe like tail in an aggressive manner. Able, not willing to chance the idea of himself being cat nip to the Reaper, jogged over to The Doctor's side as he instructed everyone to get behind him. The Time Lord spread his arms out, as though blocking the Reapers view of the humans.
"I'm the oldest thing in here." The Doctor stated, getting the Reapers attention focused on him.
The Reaper flashed in front of The Doctor and ruthlessly ate him.
Able felt shocked, unable to move, just stared at the now empty space that had once held The Doctor even as the Reaper flew into the TARDIS and got destroyed. Even when Rose came over, tears in her eyes, and tried to comfort her best friend as she was crying herself. Nothing would change it though, The Doctor was gone, and Able was now stuck in a time not his own as the world was ending because of Rosie Tyler's innocence.
...
...
...
"The key, it's cold." Rose stated as she picked up her TARDIS key, and it felt like her last hope had fallen.
The Enabler still stood in the middle of the isle, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. This prompted him to reach up toward his own key. Immediately, Able jerked his hand away with a wince of pain which brought him back to the present.
His key was still hot.
Idea's ran through The Enabler's mind quickly, of course, his sonic was behind held by The Doctor when the man had been eaten, so was the battery. However, there was something that could power the TARDIS that had been there the whole time.
The only Human Time Rift in existence.
Despondent thought processes left Able as he pulled himself together on pure hope. Turning to face Rose, "I have a plan. Well, sort of a plan, more like an idea."
Hope started to flood into her eyes as well, before she could ask though, Peter suddenly came forward.
"The car, it's out there. The Doctor figured it out of course, but he was fighting to protect me. If I were too..."
"I thought you were clever Peter, but now I'm not too sure. First you caused a second paradox that erased The Doctor, and now you want to bet on the cheap shot that maybe, just maybe, The Doctor cared about Rose's feelings more than the Universe – When, for all you know, this could make it worse." Able spat out, not wanting to look at the man who was causing all of this to happen.
Rose glared at him for it, but Able just steamed forward, "I'm going to use myself to power my TARDIS key, then I'm going to take the TARDIS, fix this whole mess, and wish for the best. My plan also has the better chance of working correctly, just for the record."
"Who died and made you boss?" Rose said, still glaring at Able for the moment.
"The Doctor, and I don't feel like wasting time talking this over when the Universe is being devoured. Soo..." Able placed his hand around the key, ignoring the burning, even as his cells reverted themselves in time to stop from dying off, "I'm not phone battery, this should be quicker."
A headache formed as The Enabler brought back memories of the Original Rift and some of the things the ginger had experienced through them, one of which was their friendship with the TARDIS – A friendship where the Original Rift had given energy
A friendship that was going to be rewritten today.
Less than thirty seconds later, The Enabler felt faint, leaning against a newly regenerated door.
"I can't believe it worked." Rose breathed out, running a hand across the TARDIS' blue doors and made to pull the door open, but Able reached over and stopped her.
"Stay here with your dad, I'm going to take the TARDIS back and fix this."
Adding another double into the mix by bringing Rose would likely make the situation worse. However, Able was time, and when three similar versions of himself where in one place, they started to pull together. That was exactly what Able was banking on to fix this, Rose being there was a liability that they couldn't currently afford.
The Enabler made sure she was listening. Rose had frozen herself in place, not because she was listening, but in shock. Able was almost always giving to his best friend, always accepting what she wanted. The moments when he didn't where shocking in nature.
The doors to the TARDIS closed with a snap, a blurry eyed Enabler having shut them behind him.
"So Red, considering what The Doctor told me earlier, I'm assuming you know my plan."
The ship immediately connected to The Enabler's mind and sent something that felt like approval.
"Right then, I've seen The Doctor pilot this thing plenty, and the books by my bed side, preparing me for this moment where you?" Able stumbled over to the console, "Red you clever girl. Right then, and would you look at that, the time is already set correctly. Which means all that's left is..."
The Enabler carefully switched a few things on, engines, auxiliaries, and flipped the handled switch. A jerk later, and the TARDIS landed, "If you know the plan, then you know I need you to stabilize me. Last time I experienced this I couldn't so much as move, I needed a stabilizing factor. The Doctor came close, but he was with both of me, almost made matters worse..."
With a deep, determined breath, Able forced his weakened body to pull Red's door open.
His mind was immediately flooded.
Instead of being overwhelmed, Able forced himself to concentrate on what he wanted, the mind that he wanted to be in, and the TARDIS was only present in one of those bodies. The second group, the one which had the Rose who would run forward.
Except now she wouldn't, because The Enabler was very firmly holding her arm the entire time, even as she squirmed and tried to pull away. It hurt The Enabler to force his friend to witness this without saving him, but there was no way the ginger could risk the situation worsening.
As Peter Tyler was hit, Able let Rose go.
Time snapped back into place, and all was right again.
"Was that you?" The Doctor asked, looking at Able closely, just as The Enabler left the other two versions of himself fade away, one of them from being in a timeline that no longer existed, the other going back to the TARDIS to do it all over.
"Do you remember?"
"Time Lord."
"Ah, it must be the 21st brain at work then." Able commented, feeling numb, watching Rose crying next to her father.
"Time Lord's are not lynches –"
Whatever reply The Doctor had, it was cut off by Able grabbing the man in a hug and holding onto him like he'd never let the man go. For one of the first times in his life, The Enabler could feel his eyes wetting, preparing for a cry. With no finesse at all, Able battery rammed his way into The Doctor's head and flooded himself with that beautiful mind.
'Don't you dare do that, not ever again.' Able sent toward the man, practically spitting, but the emotions, the grief, all of that softened the tone to the point where the words didn't even matter.
Able could feel the hug being returned, "No promises."
The ginger knew why as well, could feel it. The Doctor would sacrifice himself again if it meant that his companions would live.
Which just meant that Able would have to sacrifice himself first, because there was no way in hell he was going through something like that again. The determination from that thought was sent over to The Doctor, and Able could feel the emotions behind that manic smile he just knew was now on the Time Lord's face.
What felt like forever passed before the two pulled apart, and one of them started to make their way toward the sobbing Rose.
"That's my dad, the most amazing man in the world, and now he's dead." She said as the two approached, almost as though in shock.
The Doctor and Able broke contact, their minds separating, and Able pulled Rose in for a hug. In that moment, he wished that Rosie had the same abilities with empathy so he could more accurately comfort her. The Enabler left lacking in that department without the ability now, but he pushed that feeling aside and just held her for a moment, just like he and The Doctor had been holding each other only moments before. When they split apart, Rose's hands were being held. One by The Doctor, and the other one by Able, as they walked back to the TARDIS.
A united image, hand and hand, The Doctor, Rose Tyler, and Able in the TARDIS, like it should be.
R&R
Alright! So, vastly different in the ending bit there.
How are you guys feeling about the relationships between the trio? I think they are adorable, if not troubled together.
I want to know your opinion though.