The TARDIS had barely landed before he ran off of her, not bothering to look at the controls. He couldn't help the overwhelming happiness he felt as he looked out into the grassy red field and felt the twin suns heat radiating down on him. He let out a whoop of joy as he toed his shoes off to feel the grass beneath his feet. He had been wanting to go home for so long and even though this Gallifrey was in another universe, for just a moment he could pretend. He looked around at Koschei's families land. He knew the place well for as a child he would run here often, and eat the sweet breads that their maid would make as he laughed with his friend. Taking a deep breath he exhaled it slowly as he was surrounded by the familiarity of his home.
Behind him, his own family home was hidden by a small hill. He was tempted to run to it and see if the barn he had played in as a child was still there. That barn had kept him safe on the long nights were he cried from his fear of the dark and it had been the last place he saw when he ended the Time War. Still he wanted to go to it.
"We aren't going back to the other universe are we?" Martha asked from where she stood in the door way of the TARDIS. She knew where they were from the Doctor's description of the planet and the happiness in his eyes. There was also sadness still hidden behind them but he looked younger then ever before.
"I'm sorry Martha," He replied. She nodded and disappeared back into the TARDIS. He was going to have to take his companions home eventually but the thought that he no longer had to be alone was the one he held on to. Even now he could feel the psychic web that surrounded the planet and the other minds reaching out to him in a way that was familiar to him as breathing. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to join the web. He opened them again as he heard the Master arriving a moment later.
"I thought it would be safer to leave your TARDIS here for now and we can go to stand before the High Council of the Time Lords together," The Master explained. "Your companions are welcome to enter my home and rest if they wish."
"Is the Doctor's home still over that hill?" The Doctor asked hopefully. The Master shook his head no.
"This universe's Doctor burned down the house and the old barn when he was banned from setting foot on Gallifrey again, except for in her prison cells. The land still belongs to your family though and I am sure you could ask permission to build upon the land once your name has been cleared," The Master suggested. The Doctor smiled at him.
"What about his family?" The Doctor questioned, curious but also stalling from going. The Master though was understanding.
"He only had one brother who died during the Time War. Both of his parents are on the Council and live in Council housing. His brother had inherited the land but chose to live with his wife in her families home. The land itself had been vacant for years before the home was even burned," The Master explained. He put a comforting hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "I must warn you the Council is going to be weary of your story. They are going to insist that you are subjected to the Sacakurdi in order to verify your story."
"I'm not afraid," The Doctor lied. He knew exactly what the Sacakurdi was and how it worked. He had only seen it used a few times in his long life but he didn't often attend Council hearings. The Sacakurdi was reserved for liars and traitors to the Time Lords. The Time Lord on trial would be strapped down into a wooden chair and a circular device made of wires placed on his or her head. Once the device was switched on it would open all the doors in the psychic mind. It was impossible to hide anything from the Sacakurdi. The memories where then displayed on a screen that either proved or disproved your innocence. If you were innocent, the memories were wiped from the device and you would be free to go about your way. If you were found guilty though... The Doctor shuddered at the thought.
"As long as you come from the other universe as you have stated you have nothing to fear," The Master reassured him. "The Council is just and will see that you had no other choice when stopping your own people."
"I need to tell Jack we are going," The Doctor told the Master without commenting. All these years traveling alone in the universe he had only wanted forgiveness for the acts he had to commit during the Time War. Now he could finally have it and he could have his home. When he had first ran from Gallifrey it was because he didn't agree with the way the Time Lord's sat back and watched the universe unfold rather than interacting with it. Now he was seeing a whole other side to that where the Time Lords interacted with the other species. He went through the console room and to the medi-bay.
Emma was awake and curled in Jack's arms the best she could with her broken leg. Her small body was covered in sweat and the room had the faint sent of sick. Jack was stroking her head softly but he looked up at the Doctor as he entered the room.
"Martha tells me you want to stay in this universe." There was no accusation in Jack's voice. He could see the joy in the Doctor's eyes about being back on Gallifrey.
"I do. I will find a way to take Martha home but you are welcome to stay here with me if you would like Jack," The Doctor offered. He came to the side of the bed and began to check Emma's vitals. "We have moved to Gallifrey and I am going to go with the Master to inform the council on what happened on the Boeshane Peninsula. You are welcome to leave the TARDIS and the Master has offered his home for us to stay in.
"What about Emma?" Jack questioned.
"The Master looked for her family Jack. The survivors though were unwilling to speak to him. I believe it would be unwise to take her back before she has had a chance to heal some," the Doctor explained. He pushed the monitor away, happy with her progress.
"I'm not her father. I care about the child but I know she isn't my Emma. My Emma passed away long ago. I will still raise her, if that is what it comes to and love her as my own," Jack informed the Doctor. "These Time Lords can't replace the family you lost either. They can make it easier for you and honestly Doc, it is nice to see you happy. If you want to stay here, I will stay with you."
"Thank you Jack." The Doctor smiled as he bounded off the TARDIS and back into the warm air. The Master turned to look at him.
"Ready to go?" The Master questioned.
"Allons-y," The Doctor yelled, running towards the Master's TARDIS. The Master laughed as he took off after him.