Should have been, could have been Chapter 6: Trouble comes in threes
Jack's PoV
Noticing that all of us are shocked into silence because he actually has told us something about his lost race, the Doctor seizes the moment to tell us to look for anything out of the ordinary. Strange energy readings, signs that something alien has been here, rift activity, anything.
All of us are realizing one thing, though: he's hiding something.
Rose obviously has realized this too and walks up to him, confronting him. He pushes her away. Not physically of course but emotionally and she can tell. When she presses, he gives her his 'oncoming storm' look, warning her to leave the subject alone. She walks away, hurt and the look in the Doctor's eyes go from angry to sad.
I sigh. Even though they've kissed, finally, he's still struggling with his feelings for her. Still pushing her away even though he's the happiest when he's with her.
Forget hiding something, why didn't he tell us more? Why doesn't he do so now, instead of trying to distract us? I can understand he doesn't wish to tell us more about the Time War after seeing the horrifying images the TARDIS projected, but couldn't he have told us simple facts about all the species he mentioned?
True, the idea of having to fight the Doc's most powerful enemies, even more powerful than the Daleks scares me sh*tless. Then again, I do want to know what we're up against.
However, what if this hole in the universe wasn't caused by the Doc's enemies but by his fellow Timelords and ladies? He should be able to recognize who did this, shouldn't he? Am I wrong and is it really too early to tell who's damaging time and space, even for him or is he keeping the information away from us, in order to protect us?
I wonder what would happen if we would meet other Time Lords. Before the year that never was, I would have been thrilled but now I know how truly frightening a mad Time Lord is.
Never mind the psychopathic ones, how would normal Time Lords react to the Doctor? I knew he's always been a bit of a rebel and probably breaking a lot of rules in Galifreyan society, something which was always frowned upon by his strict long-lost species.
Perhaps, that's what he's hiding. Why he didn't even look into our eyes as he told us about the first law of the Lords and Ladies of Time: Don't interfere, especially not with human lives. Unfortunately, that's all he did. Is he not just fearing his old enemies reemerging but also the reaction he would receive from his peers, if he ever were reunited with them?
Martha, Micky, who seems to get along with Martha very well and Donna walk over to me.
"He's hiding something and I've got the idea you've got a theory why." I nod to answer Donna's question.
"Mickey, remember when we just met him? How he always used to call humans 'stupid apes?''
"He did? But he loves our species?!'' Martha exclaims as Mickey nods.
"He does love humans. However, before he met Rose, he also was a prime example of a PTSD patient because of the war and calling us apes was probably his defense meganism. Anyway, my point is that the Time Lords often looked down upon the 'lesser' species, especially during the Time War. All of us are nothing more than bothersome sentient apes who know too much, according to them."
"So, even though we're very heavily speculating, you're saying that all of us will be in trouble if we run into the Time Lords and Ladies because the Doctor 'lowered' himself by being friends with us?''
"Could be."
"Oh bloody hell, being friends with us humans is not all he does," Micky nods towards Rose. She's talking to Sarah-Jane, Professor River Song and her mother but gives the Doctor worried glances when he isn't looking.
"Well, if we're already in trouble because we're friends with the git, I doubt they'll be happy the moment they realize he has managed to fall in love with a human as well. Which they'll probably figure out within five minutes after arriving," Martha rolls her eyes.
"Exactly. Time to confront the old man, then?"
"For all the trouble we'll be in, the least he can do is tell her he loves her back," Micky mumbles and Donna's eyes grow big.
"He still hasn't told her?! Bloody typical. I met him just after he had said goodbye to Rose, you know. He kept referring to her as a 'friend' but even then I already could tell he felt and still feels a lot more for her than friendship. The bloke was in tears every time he saw a blond woman, really."
"About time he tells her . Let's confront him, then."
That moment, our conversation is interrupted by a scream.
Martha's PoV
The scream comes from Roses' mother as she stares at the spot where, just a moment before, Professor Song had stood. Now it's empty.
"Professor Song?" I nervously call out to the empty air, feeling foolish.
She appears again.
"Another hole, then?" Donna asks and she nods.
"Wait, how are you feeling?! Doesn't walking through these holes have influence on your heart?!"
I worriedly run towards her, followed by Mickey, just in time to catch her as she faints. I quickly check her heartbeat and my mouth drops as I hear a double beat.
"She's alive?"
"She has two hearts. Seriously, who is this woman?"
"A very loyal archeologist," the Doctor answers as everyone walks towards the hole. Jack, who of course experiences the least damage when in contact with the pit, makes sure no one gets too close.
"How do you know her Doctor?" Sarah-Jane asks as he crouches down to look at Professor Song.
''She's a time traveler and we apparently meet backwards. The first time I saw her, she offered her life in exchange for mine."
"In that case, she certainly is loyal." Rose offers a small smile but I notice a bit of jealousy creeping into her voice. Frankly, I don't blame her. Fortunately, my own crush on the Doctor had nearly disappeared by now. Of course, I still think he's handsome but I consider him just a friend now. Besides, Mickey is quite attractive and he at least knows what life can be like if you know the Doctor. Since I have traveled with him and occasionally work with the Torchwood team, questions regarding occupation and life experience have become surprisingly difficult to answer on every first date I've had lately.
Thankfully, the professor is quickly revived and Donna offers her a water bottle, which she gratefully accepts.
"So, there's another hole," Jack breaks the silence.
"Exactly, so this means we have to work quickly."
"Well, how bad is it Spaceman?"
The Doctor, who has been surprisingly tight-lipped throughout this adventure so far, briefly glances at Pete and Jackie before answering.
"These pits damage time and space. When there are too many of them, they can create a wound. In order to fix this wound, Reapers show up."
"Great winged beasts who eat the oldest thing available in their attempts to heal time," Rose adds, nodding at the Timelord, who of course, happens to be the oldest 'thing' around.
The Doctor's silence starts to annoy me. Not only can we possible face danger from either a Timelord enemy or the Timelords themselves, we can also die from randomly appearing holes and on top of everything, we now have to worry for great winged beasts.
Seriously, what the hell is going on? I voice these last thoughts.
"No offence but we don't even know what we're looking for," Donna adds.
Sensing the worry and unease in the group, the Doctor opens his mouth but before he says anything, a robotic voice speaks up.
"Analysis confirms an Army of Meanwhiles and Neverwheres are located here. Location of the his Majesty the Could-have-been-King is still unknown."
At those words, the Doctor grows pale.