Doctor 10.5 and Rose find a rift in the universe and time is about to collapse. What happens when they travel back to their own universe, only to bump into a new Doctor and the Ponds? I don't own DW. If I did, Donna would still be around. I do, however, have the Doctor Who theme (series 1-2) as my ring tone, so I feel ridiculously cool whenever I get a call.

Choices

Coordinates were set. The Doctor was manning the console, Jack, Mickey, Martha, and River helping him steer. Rory took hold of a lever, helping as much as he could. The TARDIS really wasn't meant to be steered by only one person. The group hit various buttons and chatted quietly, enjoying the company. Yet, danger was looming, so none could smile as genuinely as they liked.

"Not the wobbly lever!" the Doctor shouted at him, terse, as Rory reached for the wrong lever.

"Ah, use the timey one," John offered his expertise from the corner.

"Geronimo!" the Doctor shouted as he hit the vortex manipulator.

"What?" John looked up at the Doctor, shocked.

"I say 'geronimo' now. 'Geronimo' is cool," he defended himself.

"Allons-y is a classic. And so much better," John began what would be a rant, "not only has your sense of style digressed-I mean, we looked so spiffy. First the leather jacket, then the brown coat and trainers. Something must have gone wrong in your regeneration, I mean, suspenders, tweed? And on top of it all, you've gone bonkers! Absolutely bonkers. 'Geronimo' is so not cool-"

The Doctor rolled his eyes. Of course, being part Donna, John was bound to be even more verbose than originally, and even more insulting. John let out a chuckle, remembering when Donna had called him bonkers. "Is that what you do then? Lop a bit off and grow another one? You're like worms!"

"Doctor," Rose's soft voice interrupted him. John looked at her, smiling slightly at the name she called him by.

"Yes?"

"Allons-y," she murmured.

"Quite right," John kissed the top of her head.

The Doctor cleared his throat, looking back down at the console. He shouldn't have been surprised that she called him 'Doctor'. Just because he expected it, didn't mean that the reality of it didn't hurt, though. Jack clapped a hand on his shoulder, only for the Doctor to shrug him off. River raised a brow but said nothing. Though the Doctor's actions were devoted to the console, his gaze was trained on Rose.

A weak Rose rested in John's arms. He brushed his hands through her hair slowly, trying to calm them both. She was so small. Her head was propped up against his chest, her hands curled into fists. Her breathing had steadied, but her pulse was still rapid.

Amy watched on, feeling quite useless. She wanted to help with something, anything! The console was manned. She was the odd-man (woman) out. She tried to say something but the concentrated, devasting look on the Doctor's face made her stop before she even started. It had dawned on her that she was wasn't as special as she thought she was. Here were all these people who loved the Doctor, and who he loved back. She wasn't the first to travel with the Doctor, and she surely wouldn't be the last. She sent a glance to Rose and John, huddled together in the corner. A smile tugged at her lips before she remembered how angry the Doctor had been moments before, how sad and lost he had seemed. She didn't hate Rose. She couldn't. She had done nothing wrong. She couldn't hate John, either. It wasn't his fault he was created. Wasn't his fault the Doctor abandoned him.

She returned her attention back to the console, grinning to see Rory and Mickey exchanging advice, aiding in the manning of the TARDIS. He had relaxed a lot after the wedding. No longer did he feel tense talking to the Doctor. In fact, the two goofed off quite a bit. Amy bit her lip. Amy's choice, Rory. She chose Rory. No longer were he and the Doctor competing, the never really were. She stopped suddenly. She chose Rory. Jack chose Torchwood. Martha and Mickey chose each other. And Rose chose John. That just left the Doctor, alone, just as he started. Behind the bouncing energy and quirkiness, there was lonely man hiding behind the facade.

The TARDIS came to a screeching halt.

"Donna Noble, here we come," the Doctor gave a watery smile.

The hospital. The TARDIS had them end up at the hospital. The Doctor looked confused, before John suggested that the TARDIS knew inherently where Donna was. Martha snorted. This was the very hospital she met the Doctor in. The very hospital that ended up on the moon. She had been assigned the task of asking for Donna, as she was an actual doctor. The Doctor handed her the psychic paper, as she didn't have her old badge with her. She just hoped no one would recognise her.

Ten minutes and a few ducks into a janitor's closet later, Martha rushed back to the TARDIS.

"Second floor, third door on the left. She's had a breakdown!" she shouted.

The Doctor leapt to the door, holding it open for John, who helped Rose steady herself. The three made their way into the building, Martha following them. The rest decided to stay behind, as not to attract unnecessary attention. Mickey tossed a walkie-talkie to Martha, nodding to her as she took off behind them.

"Good luck, Rose," he said quietly.

All that was left for them to do was wait. None of them were particularly fond of waiting.

Wilf couldn't bear to see Donna tied up to so many tubes and machines. She was awake, but unable to say anything after her outburst. Her eyes cried out for help, panic evident on her face.

The door burst open loudly, startling the old man. He looked up, surprise etching his weathered features as he saw John and Rose.

"Doctor!" he shouted, standing.

"Wilf, I am not the same Doctor. There's no time to explain now," John said hurriedly.

Donna let out a cry of pain.

"Doctor, she's burning," Rose said gravely, moving towards the bedside. She blinked back tears. Oh, Donna Noble, how the universe needed her. She was the most important woman on the planet, and she was forced to forget all of that.

Martha and the Doctor stood at the entry way.

"I remember you," Wilf told Rose. She acknowledged him with a nod.

"Donna, it's Rose. I'm going to help you, alright?" she asked.

Donna blinked, nodding and trembling.

Rose placed her hands on either side of Donna's head, absorbing all of the Doctor's knowledge. She glowed brightly, pupils dilating and glowing an amber colour. The Doctor wanted to stop her, but Martha was physically restraining him. Her stern look said everything. This was Rose's choice.

Donna slowly say up, golden dust leaving her eyes, entering Rose's. All of the pain of the knowledge of the universe was leaving her, alleviating her head. Images of the Doctor, the Ood, the Daleks, the thing on her back, the TARDIS, it all came back to her. It was clear. No longer was everything a blur. The decisions she made throughout her life led her to this very point. She had her memory back, and it didn't hurt.

Rose's eyes grew wider, the bright yellow light emmanating from her body. Her hair whirled behind her, though there was no wind. It hurt. The Time War flashed before her eyes. She never wanted to see anything so terrible, yet in her short life, she had. Whole species being wiped out. The Doctor losing his family. Oh, his wife. His children. Grandchildren. Wholes of towns. Tears streaked down her cheeks, the glow fading. She removed her hands from Donna's head, offering a weak smile.

"It's you!" Donna beamed at the blonde, hugging her gently.

"It's me," Rose mumbled.

"How'd you do it?"

"Bad Wolf, at your service."

Donna got out of the bed, wobbly on her legs. She launched herself at John, hugging him tightly. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to cry. No way would she be a bubblering mess during their reunion.

"It's you," she breathed.

"Oh, yes," he chuckled, glad to have his friend back.

"Partners in crime, us two," she nearly crushed him, "still a tall stick of nothing, space man."

"Oi. Can it, earth girl," John answered.

Donna pulled away, brow raised, "You're..." she looked to Rose.

"Yep. I'm Handy," he waved his hand.

She snorted, giving him another hug, "I'm glad to see you two together. But where's the Doctor, the alien one?"

"Right here," the Doctor piped up, stepping into the room.

Donna gave him a once-over. Younger. Bloody wanker, he got younger. And thinner.

"This innit fair! You've gotten even skinnier," she pouted.

The Doctor chuckled, completely caught off-guard when she gave him a hug just as bone-crushing as the one she gave John. The Doctor smiled broadly.

"You're still the Doctor," she whispered.

She pulled away from him, hands on his elbows.

"And your hair is still just an awful mess."

Oh yes, Donna Noble was back.

Donna grinned broadly, hugging Jack. He pulled away from her so she could give Martha and Mickey a proper hug before being introduced to Amy, Rory, and River.

"Nope. Come back," she tugged on his arm.

Jack laughed, shaking his head. At least this time she didn't shove an unsuspecting person like Sarah Jane out of the way.

"You can hug me. Later," she said.

"Donna, you're a married woman," Wilf admonished his granddaughter. He was still trying to wrap around his mind what had just happened. Needless to say, despite the confusion, he was overjoyed.

"Fat load of good, always bein' at work," she grumbled.

"Doctor?" Wilf asked, raising a finger.

"Yes?" John and the Doctor chorused, before sending each other a heated look.

"Why's the TARDIS different?" Wilf queried.

"He blew it up," John pointed to the Doctor.

"Only because your self-pitying, over-dramatic body didn't want to leave!" the Doctor replied snappishly.

"Oh, don't get your bowtie in a twist," John waved him off.

The Doctor muttured something underneath his breath before stalking off, sulking in the corner. In two seconds flat, Donna was by his side.

"It suits you, the jacket and bowtie," she complimented.

"Thanks," he replied tersely.

"Even though you don't look like the Doctor we all know and love, we know that you're the same. Same feelings, same person, same face. Younger, which I don't understand and envy, but the same," Donna smiled, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. The Doctor and Donna, as it should be. Best of friends.

He offered a half-smile, "Did you meet Amy and Rory?"

"You just love us gingers, don't you?" she jibed.

"I'm disappointed he's not ginger," John joked as a sort of peace-offering. Rose lightly socked him in the arm. The 'blew it up' thing was a friendly joke. Apparently, this was lost on the Doctor. Too early to make jokes. Duly noted.

"I hate to be a downer, but aren't there more pressing matters at hand?" Amy piped up.

"Right. What's going on?" Donna asked.

"There's a rift in the universe. What else is new?" Rose deadpanned.

"Oi!" Donna groaned, causing Rose to laugh.

Mid-chuckle, Rose's shoulders began to shake. John's eyes widened as she began to glow. Oh dear God, it hurt. Her head. She was fine a moment ago, but it hurt. She clutched her head, the knowledge of the Timelords searing her brain, burning it from inside out.

"Doctor," she whispered, face wet with tears.

"Oh, you're not leaving me again, Rose Tyler," John cradled her head gently. The two slid to the TARDIS floor, the humming noise deafening.

"Doctor, I love you," she looked at John, wincing in pain. She knew, it was her time to go.

"Rose, you're going to be fine. You're going to be fine," he whispered over and over again.

He looked around the room madly, "Do something!" he demanded.

The Doctor whispered into his ear.

"The Med-Bay will do nothing. You know as well as I do what'll happen," John seethed, angered that the Doctor could even suggest something like that.

The Doctor ran his hand through his hair, heart breaking at the sight of a dying Rose Tyler. Regeneration be damned. Before he could intervene, John pushed him away.

"Fine. If you won't do anything, I will," he spat.

John looked to Rose, features softening.

"Doctor," her voice cracked when she realised what was happening. He couldn't. He couldn't leave her again. Tears welled in her eyes not from the pain, but from the knowledge that John may not wake up next to her in the morning.

"I love you. More than anything. It's been an adventure, Rose Tyler," he whispered as he leaned in to kiss her lips, to draw out the Bad Wolf once more.

Rose looked at John helplessly, shaking her head. His lips were mere millimeters away from hers.

"Stop!" the Doctor pushed John away, enraged.

"What are you doing?" John roared, "I can't let her die!"

"You keep forgetting you're human. You won't regenerate! You'll die. You'll die, leaving her alone and miserable for the rest of her life!" the Doctor shouted, red-faced, "Who knows if it'd even work? You're a bleedin' human. You may have the knowledge, but your powers..." he trailed hopelessly.

"You won't do anything to help her, so I will. My life means nothing if she's not alive. It's worth a shot," he looked worriedly at Rose, concern and panic mounting.

"I think you need a doctor," John whispered, "I love you."

"No. Please," she shook, nearly spastic. Her eyes glowed as the Bad Wolf tried to take control.

The Doctor felt like he would vomit. He stood there, powerless. Donna's hands were clapped over her mouth while she watched in horror. Amy hid her face in Rory's shoulder, crying silently. Mickey reached out to grab John's shoulder, only for him to slap it away. Martha wracked her brain for possible ways to help her all the while she cried. Jack slumped onto the ground, next to the Doctor. River lingered by the TARDIS door, not able to watch the scene before her. Self-sacrificing, always. Even as a human, the Doctor was selfless to a 'T'. She slipped out of the TARDIS unnoticed, and determined. That note meant Rose Tyler had lived. It was in her handwriting, after all. Parallel Earth, 2013, here she comes.

Before the Doctor could stop him, John pressed his lips to Rose's, kissing her. Rose's Doctor, John Noble Smith, had made his choice.

I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed and added the story to their alerts and favorites. Please review, I like feedback.

Woot, Donna is back in the TARDIS! I do think it's getting a little crowded in there, but the more the merrier.

I tried to get this up earlier to make up for the long wait last chapter.

Added note: Anyone else think that the markings on Amy's face in the new series trailer look like the markings from "Satan's Pit"? I wonder if there's a connection...