A/N: So, hello all. This is my first ever Doctor Who story. I hope you're all enjoying it. I apologize for how long it may take me to push out some updates, but I work and go to school full time, and I got a bit overwhelmed by exams last week.
Also, this will NOT be one of those stories that is basically a rewrite of the show where it's essentially just the script. That's annoying. If I wanted to read that, I'd turn on the subtitles while I watch my DVDs. So, that being said, I keep changing timelines, and it takes me a while to figure out what exactly I'm going to change. That being said, I've taken some things into my own hands. As you read, you may be saying to yourself, "BUT THAT'S WRONG!" Yes, I know. I'm changing timelines and taking things into my own hands. So bear with me here.
Last note before I continue on with the story, chapter title on this one comes from the Katy Perry song. Just because every time I hear that song, I think of Bad Wolf. I think it's a really fitting Bad Wolf song.
Chapter 3
Dark Horse
"Dr. River Song," Bad Wolf mused. "Or Professor? Are you Professor River Song at this point? Forgive me, all these timelines I've just changed, it's hard to keep up."
"Who are you?" River repeated, not taking the bait. But rather than answer, Bad Wolf, once again, just collapsed. River blinked, shocked, and stepped forward, unsure how to react.
"Don't touch her!" Jack called out. "Honestly, she's fine. She'll be up in just a moment."
Just as he had said, a moment later, she stood back up, clutching at her covered head and groaning. "Oh, sure, I'm left to do all the explaining. You, just… hold on a minute," she said, pointing to River. She walked back over to Jack and took Melody from his arms.
"Amelia, Rory, would you like to hold your baby girl?" Rose asked, turning towards them. She gently handed Melody to her mother, and although no one could see it, she smiled as Rory and Amy cooed at their daughter. She took a look around the room, and stopped once she was facing Jack again. "Made a bit of a mess, didn't I?" she giggled. She took a step towards him, but stumbled a bit. He reached out and grabbed ahold of her waist to steady her.
"You alright, there?"
"Splitting headache," she muttered. "And I have explanations." She raised her voice so the others could hear. "You'll have to be patient with me here. Altering all of time and space gives me such a headache." Jack chuckled at how careless she sounded.
"So let's start with Dr. Professor River Song." She turned towards the woman, keeping one hand gripping onto Jack's arm for support. "You're supposed to kill the Doctor." Everyone in the room gasped. "Don't get yourselves all worked up. I don't want her to kill the Doctor any more than she actually wants to kill the Doctor. However, unfortunately, somehow, the Doctor's death became a fixed point in time. And yet you didn't do what you were supposed to, and it was all very paradox-y, confusing, end-of-the-world, calling out to the universe for help type… stuff," Rose explained, grinning to herself as she realized how much she was beginning to sound like her Doctor. Her voice began to take on a wistful tone. "And your plea 'The Doctor is dying. Please, please help.' This universe is not the only one that heard." She shook her head as if to clear away the memory. "Lucky for you, my universe heard as well. Very lucky for you, as I'm the only one that could help."
"Oh yeah, you're so wonderful," River said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Clearly, just, the goddess of time."
Rose turned her head to look up at Jack. "Oh, goddess of time – I like that one. Goddess of Time." She paused and then let out a laugh. "Much better than Time Lord. Oh yes, I like it."
"Who are you?" the Time Lord repeated, taking a threatening step towards her.
"The Goddess of Time," Rose responded, laughing. The Doctor threw her a hard look. "Sorry. Look, all I think I should say at this point is that you were going to die, River sent signals calling throughout the universe to help, and I answered. However, the only way I could help was to essentially go back to where it all started, which was here, and rewrite time. Now, River?"
River said nothing, but merely raised her eyebrows at the mysterious woman.
"Since you're still obviously… well… you, which is in and of itself a huge paradox, I'm going to give you an option here. It's an option that I know the Doctor won't approve of, however, I know you also don't really give a damn about whether or not the Doctor approves."
Everyone in the room snorted as the Doctor gave an indignant cry.
"What is my option?" River asked condescendingly, still not quite grasping who the woman was.
"In what is now becoming an alternate timeline, this woman destroyed your life. She took you away from your parents. She turned you into a psychopath. And when you finally healed from that, she still took control of your body, and used it against you to kill the man that you love. She's hurt you more than anyone else in this room." She reached into her boot to withdraw her gun, and held it out to River without hesitation. "Which is why it's up to you what happens to her."
"You can't do this!" Madam Kovarian cried. "You're supposed to be the one that keeps him under control. You don't kill."
"Oh, darling," Rose began, contempt dripping from her voice. "You need to update your records. I'm so old now. I used to have so much mercy."
Begging for her life, Madam Kovarian locked eyes with the Doctor. "You can't let her do this. How can you just stand there and let her do this? I'm not saying I don't deserve it, but you two are supposed to be above this!" At the Doctor's bewildered look, a grin broke across her face. "Oh, but you don't know, do you?" She leaned forward and with an eerie smile, said, "Tell me, Doctor, how long has it been since you've seen the big Bad Wolf?"
Rose froze as the Doctor spun to stare at her, and the gun she had been holding out to River fell to the ground. Jack wrapped at arm around her waist for support as he felt her grip on his arm tighten to the point of discomfort.
The Doctor took a step towards her, eyes squinting at her as if trying to see under her hood, but she refused to lower it. "Rose?" he asked in disbelief.
"I prefer Goddess of Time, actually."
Jack snorted, but upon seeing the Time Lord's glare, covered it up with a cough. The Doctor walked forward until there was practically no space between them. He lifted his hand, almost nervously, to the edge of her hood and slowly pushed it back away from her head.
He inhaled sharply the moment her face came into view. There was a tense moment of silence as he reached out to touch her, as though he was still unconvinced that she was real. The spell was soon broken, however, and she didn't expect what followed.
"How could you be so irresponsible?!" he shouted at her, taking a step back and glaring at her.
She flinched as though she had been slapped. "Excuse me?"
"It's supposed to be impossible to travel between the parallel worlds!" he screamed, waving his arms around. "Do you have any idea the damage you may have caused? Why would you take that risk?!"
"Because you were going to die," Rose shouted back. "I'm not a child anymore, Doctor. I've lived a very long time without you, and I don't have to explain myself to you anymore." She turned to River. "Do whatever you want to Madam Kovarian. You will continue to exist in this form, but as soon as you leave here your memories are going to start rewriting themselves, because you are finally going to get to grow up with your parents. If you have any questions, you can come find me."
She gave Jack a meaningful look, and in the next moment, Rose and the Torchwood team activated their vortex manipulators and disappeared.
The room was silent, it's remaining occupants all staring at the Doctor. "So… that was Rose Tyler," he said slowly. "She's not supposed to be here."