Timelines
by Chomper318
Disclaimer: BBC owns all.
Author's Note: This short fic has expanded due to the muse singing to me. Reviews are always welcome.
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Chapter 3: Choices
There are times when one stands before a fork in the road. Does one turn left or does one turn right? And does it really matter? The Doctor knows that it matters because that's how all parallel universes are created. One turns left here and the world goes spliiitttt. Well, maybe without that particular sound effect, but it's true none-ever-the-less. A new co-existing universe now occurs side-by-side along with the original one. And so it goes with each decision and each action. There are consequences in the worlds. Traveling between parallel universes use to be easy when the Eye of Harmony existed—when Time Lords and Time Ladies existed. But with the Time War, that too has ended. Decision, action, consequence.
He has gone back and crossed his own timeline multiple times already. All just to see Rose. His Rose. Left or right, which way should he go? He goes towards Rose.
The Tardis travels until she gets to where she wanted to go. The Doctor does not specify the time or location; he just wants to see Rose. Since the Tardis misses her link as well, she obliges. She sets a course and goes about it until it's time to slowly pull out of the vortex and materializes not too far from a church. The Doctor steps past the wooden doors and sees her kneeling next to her dying father.
November 7, 1987. The day Rose saves her father and unleashes the Reapers onto the world. She says she's sorry, and he believes her. He can see his old self—his ninth self with the daft face, dumbo ears, and leather jacket—with Rose. They leave, hand in hand, walking towards the Tardis. He looks after them, remembering how her hand fits perfectly into his. How sad she is right now and how he comforts her at this moment.
They are in front of the Tardis now. Rose enters and at this moment, his old self looks back, scans a bit, and then looks straight at him. The Doctor simply smiles at his old self, waves a bit, and starts to back away. He eventually turns and heads back to the Tardis. As he walks towards his Tardis alone, the previous Doctor continues to stare at him, noting that Rose is gone.