The Master stared right back at the three faces in front of him, time seeming to stop altogether, just for a split second.
"Mummy look, it's Uncle Harry!" David cried out. His cheerful, child-like voice was out of place in such a dark and grungy place.
"Fancy meeting you here." The Master spoke up.
"And where is 'here' exactly?" Rose asked to whoever would answer first.
John and the Master stared each other down before John decided to answer.
"The Master created a gap in time. It stayed open just long enough to let us through too." John noticed the doppelgangers of his friend around the vicinity. "Wait, hold on. Ugh, we stick out like a sore thumb by not looking like you. Let's talk inside the TARDIS."
"You're everyone." Rose exclaimed. "But…you said that everyone became you when you saved the Doctor. I thought you Time Lords couldn't go back on their own timelines."
"The Master always did have a certain disdain for the rules." John said.
"As did you. Or did we forget that Time Lords were never supposed to interfere with other planets, only observe?" The Master retorted.
"Fair enough. We're both renegades. Anyway, the-" the Master interrupted.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but I have a mansion to locate, and not that much time to waste." He said as he walked to the door.
"Well, we're coming with you!" Rose exclaimed.
"We are staying right here until everyone stops looking like him. Also, I have run a series of tests on the TARDIS to see if we can get back home safely." John replied.
The Master silently mouthed a "thanks" to John and walked out the door to the sound of Rose's impatient sigh.
*************************************************************************************
The Master finally arrived at the mansion. He was thinking of a way to sneak in without being noticed; sure, everyone might have the same face, but security is pretty tight, as he remembers. He ducked into a corner when a body ran past him. Suddenly, a mass of people were swarming toward him. People who didn't bear his face. His hearts raced when he realized that it was so close now, the final encounter, and all of his memories rushed back to him. He stayed focused, and slipped in the room with his former self and his kindred. He saw the old man in the chamber and knew instantly how the Doctor would meet his end. The Doctor always had to save people, especially Earth humans, because he saw 'potential' in them or something. And to be honest, from what he's seen, the Doctor wasn't wrong in that. The Master wouldn't admit it to his face, be he thought that the Doctor has chosen some great companions over the years. Lucy was…obedient…but that's all she was. Of course, until she tried to kill him. Twice.
It took all of the Master's strength not to run over to the Doctor right then and there.
"Get out of the way." The Master closed his eyes as he played the scene from his memory. A single tear shed from his eye as he was overwhelmed by the emotion of this situation. Once the commotion ended, and all that could be felt was an eerie silence, the Master decided that was his cue.
He started to walk towards that beautiful breathing body on the ground when he heard it.
"*knocknocknocknock* Doctor!" A muffled voice came from behind him. He watched as the Doctor sat up, realization upon his face. He couldn't take it any longer. He ran up to him, Wilf's knocks getting louder and more urgent, and just held him in his arms. "Oh Doctor."
"…Master." His voice trembled and everything was forgotten except the man in front of him. The knocks snapped him out of it.
Still in the Master's arms, he looked over to Wilf.
"What's happening? I-I saw you; you disappeared with the rest of them. Doctor, don't trust him!" His voice was still muffled from the Vinvocci glass that separated them.
"It's alright, Wilf. I'll be fine." The Doctor lied.
"Oh. Well, can you let me out then?" Wilf asked.
The Master and the Doctor shared a knowing look. A look of desperation, of sorrow. Nine hundred years worth of pain and anguish, heartache and turmoil.
"Of course." The Doctor mustered up all of the strength he had to get up but the Master stopped him.
"Let me do it." The Master went to walk to the chamber but the tables were turned. This time, the Doctor stopped him.
"I can't let you do that."
"What's the matter?" Wilf asked.
The Master couldn't bear to listen as the Doctor explained what was about to happen. He also wasn't going to give up this easily. He was brought out of his thoughts by Wilf's voice.
"Well, then make him do it. You and I can both live, and it's the least he can do for causing this mess."
The Master shot a smug look to the Doctor. The Doctor started to walk toward the chamber door. The Master followed him.
"I know that you are going to go into the chamber no matter what. But guess what, Doctor? So am I. We can save all the talk for later but right now is where we start our lives. Together."
The Doctor was paralyzed in shock for a brief moment when the Master opened the door to the chamber. The Doctor pushed inside the cramped space with him, and he pressed the button, releasing Wilf and locking them inside.
The radiation hurt, there was no denying that. The Master welcomed its sharp, quick pain as opposed to the dull constant pain he had with the sound of drums all of those years. Both of them slid down to the floor. They looked at each other one last time before holding on to each other through the pain, with so much intensity. They heard the chamber unlock and the pain stopped. They could only hear their breaths, and the sound of their hearts.
The Master was the first to rise. He opened the door and walked out, supporting the Doctor in his arms in the process.
"So, you're alright then? We can go home now?" Wilf asked, lightening the mood just a tad.
"Of course Wilf." The Doctor breathed out with the last of his strength. "Of course."