Disclaimer – Doctor Who is owned by the BBC, this is clearly fan fiction.

Chapter 4

The two Doctors were taking apart the TARDIS console, removing things like the wibbly lever and the springy button.

"So what regeneration is this?" asked the alternate Doctor.

"It's the eleventh body," responded the Doctor.

"Can I ask how it happened?" said the alternate Doctor.

"It was radiation poisoning, again" said the Doctor with a laugh as he continued to take apart the TARDIS.

The alternate Doctor laughed his hollow laugh before saying, "Radiation, what is with us and getting killed by radiation?"

"No idea," said the Doctor, "but we really have to start avoiding those situations. We only have a few lives left."

"Well," said the alternate Doctor, "If this all goes well I'll actually have a whole new set of regenerations."

"Lucky you, I'd still be careful around nuclear plants if I were you," replied the Doctor.
"I will be," the alternate Doctor declared. "Well if you look at that everything is undone, you might want to step back for this part."
As the Doctor began to walk up the stairs he turned and looked at his counterpart. He then said, "Doctor, if this doesn't work I just wanted you to know I'm sorry I abandoned you."

The counterpart responded, "You did what you thought was right, I had just killed and entire fleet of Daleks. All I've seen in the other universe has changed my mind about that day. I could have done something else; I could have given them another option before doing what I did. You were right to have abandoned me, I wasn't ready to be a Time Lord at that point, but I am now."

At that moment the alternate Doctor opened the console and stared into the heart of the TARDIS. A swirl of glowing yellow dust surrounded the man and then entered his body through his mouth and nose. "Well that wasn't so bad," said the alternate Doctor as he suddenly began to go into convulsions. He fell to the floor as his body shook uncontrollably.

Amy gasped at the sight of this and Rory rushed forward to go down the stairs to help the Doctor's counterpart who was writhing in pain. Instead the Doctor blocked him on the stairs and pulled him into a hug. He said, "Rory you can't help him, the TARDIS energy would kill you. We just have to wait and see what happens."

"But he's dying," shouted Rory, "You can't let him die!"

"He knew what he was getting into," responded the Doctor, "He knew! And I won't let you through your life away for him, for me. You have your wife and you can't let her lose you again."

"Fine," said Rory with a look of contempt on his face, as he walked back up the stairs to his wife. When he got there he grabbed her and held her in his arms as he whispered, "Amy, everything is going to be okay. The Doctor said he'll be fine."

Amelia Pond looked at her husband in the eyes before saying as tears streamed down her face, "You stupid face. I know you're lying, but thanks for trying to make me feel better."