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. This chapter includes plot elements from the novel The Stone Rose.
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Chapter 5: Intersection
The Doctor is in Rome. Ancient Rome to be exact and to be even more exact, he's actually a statue right now. At least, he was when he first came to ancient Rome with Rose. Currently, he's hiding behind a tree while looking at Rose as she makes her way out of the woods. Her face is grim, but it is expected considering that she's all alone right now due to a silly GENIE.
The Doctor secretly wishes he could run up to Rose and hug her and swing her about. But he knows he can't and wishes are especially dangerous when made near the GENIE. Luckily, he has taken some precaution to ensure that he's not detected by anyone or thing before coming here. Good ol' TARDIS key for it won't do if someone sees him. From the tree, the Doctor can watch Rose and just be near her for a few stolen moments.
He misses her. He misses her so much that he's willing to cross his own timeline to see her. He knows deep inside (and certainly the previous versions of himself are screaming at him right now) that he shouldn't be doing this. He also knows that his behavior borderlines a stalker of some sort, but he can't help it. This is the only way to be with Rose again. And so the Doctor follows Rose in the woods in ancient Rome.
After getting lost only a few times, Rose finally makes her way out of the woods. She gets near a cart and rather unceremoniously dumps something into the back of the cart. She straightens out her dress—not toga—and climbs up on the front. She will maneuver the donkey to town. Rose glances back towards the woods with a sad look in her eyes. Then she narrows them. Is that? No. It must be her imagination. The Doctor is gone, but she will get him back. She will figure it all out and see to it that he will not stay petrified and motionless forever. She promises. And with a flick of her wrist, she begins to guide the cart back to Gracilis's place.
The Doctor frowns. Did she see me? But that's impossible. He runs his hand and messes with his already tousled brown hair. He decides against following Rose although that's his originally intention. Instead, he turns away from her and walks in the opposite direction.
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In a parallel universe and some time in the future…
Rose stares at the orb as it changes colors from blue to gold. The object continually intensifies in heat until it's almost painful for Rose to hold it in her palm. The world (or worlds) shifts around her. Torchwood desk. A photo of her with her mum, dad, Mickey, and baby brother. Files on her desk. They all bleed into one another.
In the back of her mind, she knows she should drop the sphere. But instinct tells her to hold on, and she does so for her instinct always sounds like the Doctor. She holds on and her vision begins to falter. Desk, photo, files, light, lots of light. The kind of light that burns. Trees, flowers, grass, light, lots of light. The kind of light that heals. The next thing Rose sees in a blink of the eye is nothing.