Twists in Time

Chapter Thirty: Refugees of Time: Settling Down

By Lumendea

AN: Hello my lovely readers! The move went well even if it was stressful, but I'm settling into my new home well now that we've got most of the issues sorted. Shopping for a new cooktop today to finish the last repair so wish me luck!

…

Despite her curiosity, Martha did stay away from the books about the immediate future and coming medical advances in the TARDIS library. She wasn't going to stay on the TARDIS forever and there was a very real chance that having that knowledge would trip her up. Martha didn't want that despite how tempting it was at times to take a peek. If she was going to be a doctor then she needed to be able to achieve the best results based on what she had. Longing for a medical machine that wouldn't be invented for another century wouldn't help anyone.

Still, the library of the TARDIS made for an excellent study space. She'd found a desk in a far corner by the medical texts of the right era on Earth with a comfortable chair that had excellent back support. Rose had laughed when she mentioned it and commented that the TARDIS seemed to have accepted Martha. She didn't want to read too far into that. But the tea she brought with her for a review and study session while the others did their own things never went cold. The temperature in the corner was always perfect.

Usually the Doctor was working on the TARDIS or reading aloud while Rose painted, and Jack… well his activities seemed to change daily. The last two days, he'd been working on playing billiards and was determined to become a pool shark in his own words. Sometimes he swanned into the library while the Doctor was reading a classic and sat down to listen. From her corner, the sounds of the other three were a pleasant background hum.

She'd been pleased to find great supplemental material for her textbooks. The Doctor had thousands of medical journals that had been bound up into fancy looking leather books. Course, some of them had strange notes in the margins. Some she could read and mocked certain medical ideas while others were in a language that the TARDIS didn't translate.

Somehow, she'd settled very well into life on the ship. When Martha stopped to think about it, her mind would sputter, but when she allowed herself to just enjoy it then everything was fine. There was still some tension around Rose after that mess with Lazarus, but even that seemed to be finally starting to ease. Still, Martha's curiosity nagged at her. She wanted to know. Wanted to understand just who or maybe what Rose Tyler was and how the Doctor and Jack fit into it.

Martha shook her head and closed the book she'd been reviewing. Her mind was drifting towards her travel companions rather than staying in her studies. That was usually a sign that she needed to take a break. Picking up her mug, Martha finished the last of the strong tea and headed for the front of the library only to stop when she was almost to the door.

The Doctor was lingering in front of the fireplace where a fire was roaring. That was odd for the perceived time of day. Martha had already heard the Doctor insist that there was no real time of day on the TARDIS, but he indulged them all in a structure routine. Martha paused and watched him for a moment. She couldn't see his face from her position, but his shoulders were tense.

"Doctor?" Martha called softly. She crept forward to a table and set down her books as the alien turned to her. "What are you up to?" Martha tried to sound more cheerful than she felt. The Doctor's expression was pensive. "Where's Rose?" Martha settled for asking. She looked at the doorway, expecting to see Rose following.

"Oh, in her studio. She's working on something," the Doctor said dismissively. But he brightened a little. "She hasn't painted in a while."

"Things have been a little stressful for her lately." Martha was very unsure of how to navigate this conversation. "I don't want to pry, but is there someone she can talk to about her powers?"

"Rose doesn't…." the Doctor rubbed the back of his neck, frustration flashing over his features. "She was offered a chance to leave and learn how to use them, but declined it in order to stay."

Martha held back an ah of understanding. That wouldn't help. "That makes sense. I won't claim to know Rose really well yet, though I like her," Martha added in a rush as the Doctor frowned a little. He was so protective over even the idea of Rose Tyler. "But she strikes me as a social and very empathic person. She's so good with people. But with that kind of change in her life, I can understand her wanting to stay close to the people she loves most and who love her the most. Support over lessons."

The Doctor, thankfully, seemed to consider the words. He relaxed a little. Martha meant them. Rose Tyler didn't seem all that impressed by power or title or status which was a bit of a change for Martha after her mum and Tish. And if something so big like getting a cosmic title had happened to Martha, she would probably prefer to ride out the growing pains with the people who loved her most. And Rose was very deeply loved by the Doctor and Jack.

"If it were me, I think I'd want to stay with people who could ground me," Martha continued. "Where I could still feel like myself and have a chance to think everything over." She smiled a little at the Doctor. "She loves you. That's obvious to everyone who sees the two of you so it makes sense that she'd prefer to be with you over… the other Guardians."

She was still tripping over the terminology by the Doctor seemed pleased by the words. Martha considered just urging him to talk to Rose. Normally during a crisis, the pair communicated easily, but Martha knew sometimes that was hard. She'd watched her parent's marriage fall apart even when they tried to talk about things. And she'd definitely struggled with her family's communication ever since. But… well… it wasn't exactly the same thing was it.

"Maybe just ask that she's still okay," Martha offered. "If not, then maybe short lessons would work so she wouldn't be isolated for long."

A strange expression crossed the Doctor's face. Rather like he'd just tasted something that he hated, but there was also an air of resignation around him. It was a similar look to the one she'd seen on her mother's face whenever a family event meant her father being present. Clearly there was something about the potential teachers that the Doctor didn't like.

"Maybe," he said. He wasn't looking her now. Then he sighed. "Suppose we'll have to figure something out."

"Yeah." Martha nodded. "I can't even be a doctor in Rose and I's home era without a lot of studying and exams. Can't imagine the learning curve she's facing." Martha had meant the words more as a joke, but after saying them, she did shudder a little at the idea.

The Doctor chuckled and nodded a little before turning and wandering out of the library. That was a thing he did. Bit like a cat in a lot of ways in Martha's limited experience. Though, he was a bit more like an eager dog when he was with Rose. She smiled a little as his retreating back and went to put away her mug and find Jack. It was time to poke around for some answers.

Jack Harkness who the Doctor insisted wasn't actually a Captain wasn't in the kitchen or in his bedroom. So Martha trekked through the corridors until she found the billiard room.

"Jack?" Martha called into the room softly. Jack immediately stopped his game and looked up at her. Though he was still leaning artfully over the billiard table. Martha was certain that he did it on purpose. "Can I ask you some questions?"

"I was wondering how long it would take." Jack straightened up and nodded. "Yeah, come on in." He nodded to a pair of old fashioned plush chairs against the wall. "Have a seat. I'm assuming this is about the Guardian thing?"

"Yes." Martha exhaled in relief at his calm. "I've been getting some information from context clues, but the Doctor's uneasy and Rose seems a bit upset still. I don't want to make things worse."

Jack offered her a soft and supportive smile. "I doubt you could. You're better with people than you realize."

She smiled at the compliment and sank into the chair. "Okay, so, what exactly is a Guardian."

"They're cosmic scale beings," Jack said. He sat down beside her. "There are beings that are seen as gods across the planets due to their power and age, but the Guardians are more than that. They are probably the closest thing to true gods that there are. I'm not sure of the exact details on all of it, but their existences are bound up in the quantum fabric of the universe. They exist now and it echoed back to first create them, that sort of thing."

"And Rose is one of them. A woman from Earth?"

"Yeah." Jack laughed a little. "So, the original Guardian, the first one, was from the Doctor's homeworld. She was the first Gold Guardian, but she was killed. Guardians are very hard to kill, as you saw and the Gold Guardian is the Guardian of Life so probably even more so. That first Guardian made the Black and White Guardians to keep balance between order and chaos in the world before her death. So years later, they were able to agree on trying to oversee the ascension of a new Gold Guardian. That was Rose. She absorbed some power as part of a temporary thing and the universe judged her."

"Judged her?" Martha felt chilled at the words. It was mental.

"Yeah. It's hazy to Rose, but it's also part of a big self-fulfilling paradox. She knew she was going to become the Gold Guardian for years in advance and when the time came, she recognized a step she needed to take. She took on the power and, I guess, used it wisely before giving up some of it." Jack shrugged. "I was dead at the time. She used the power to bring me back and created a connection between us. Guardians are so powerful, ones that can easily use their powers at least, that they shouldn't be a part of some situation. So they have Disciples, beings with a bit of their power that they can send in their place."

"And that's what you are?" Martha asked. That made sense. At least some sense. "But why not the Doctor, no offense."

"None taken. He can regenerate. That's probably why. He's already carrying around extra life energy. Though now he's actual more fragile than Rose and I." Jack grinned and chuckled. "So, yeah, that's the basics. Rose is still working on figuring it all out."

"That's a lot," Martha said softly. "Really a lot."

"It is."

While glad she had asked and grateful that Jack had been straightforward, Martha wasn't sure that she was happier now. It was very big and she didn't have much clarity.

"Does Rose's mother know?"

"No." Jack shook his head. "I don't know when that shoe will drop. Rose doesn't age. At least, we don't think so. Guardians are supposed to live as long as the universe does. It isn't forever, but it is damn close."

Again, Martha was sent reeling. "Oh." Martha swallowed. "Yeah, that's a lot. I can't imagine… how is she not a mess all the time." Chuckling, Martha shook her head. "I think I would be. Knowing I'd outlive my siblings by that much…"

"Like I said, Rose knew deep down that this was coming. I think it helps knowing that she'll have me and the Doctor for a long time. And a time machine."

Nodding slowly, Martha exhaled. She was the only mortal on the ship. That was… she'd somewhat known that already, but the confirmation was strange. Here she was on a time ship with three very powerful beings, even if they didn't always see it that.

"I'm glad you three have each other," Martha replied. "And your friends on Earth." She smiled. "I rather liked Sarah Jane Smith. I hope I'll be able to get to know her better in the future."

"I'm sure you will, the Doctor has a lot of friends who used to travel with him on Earth. They have a bit of a club. Talk with each other, help each other when possible, and just be friendly. Good folks. They'll adore you when you decide you're ready to live back on Earth."

There was real fondness in Jack's voice and that soothed Martha. Yes, this situation was beyond strange. She was likely in over her head, but there was a future beyond this when she was ready to step away from their adventured in the TARDIS. Martha could already imagine bits of it, she'd finish medical school and maybe work with UNIT. There she'd have people she could talk to about the things she'd seen and they'd believe her. She'd get the contact information for the Doctor and Rose's other friends and have them. Martha would be able to have this brilliant break from school and make a difference without being isolated in the future. That thought made her smile.

….

The Doctor knew he wasn't the best at navigating his emotions. Historically he did alright despite the trauma, changing personalities, and living in a time ship that made it easy to slip away from issue. So maybe he didn't always do alright, but he was trying. Things had changed in a fundamental way. He had something of a family now. While Jack might not have been the companion he'd have chosen to become functionally immortal, there was something soothing about knowing the loyal man would be around in the universe. And Rose…. Well, Rose wouldn't stay forever. She couldn't. It just wasn't a rational hope to have even if it sometimes poked at him. The Doctor didn't know how to navigate the emotions that reality brought forth.

He sighed as his shoulders slumped. As tempting as it was to ignore things, Rose's pensive mood was filling up the TARDIS. The responsible partner thing to do was to talk with her and offer what reassurance he could. Even if the Doctor didn't want to talk about the Guardian thing. The immortality was brilliant, but everything else…

Rose was cleaning up her paints when he arrived in her studio. The cozy room was warm, but the deep blues and purples that Rose had been using on her latest piece betrayed her cooler moon. The Doctor gave himself a moment just to look at her. She was wearing one of his old jumpers and her hair was tied up in a bun. While he was searching for the right words to say from the billions of languages in his head, Rose noticed him and turned towards him.

"Hey," Rose whispered. She stepped closer to him and tentatively wrapped her arms about him. The Doctor immediately brought his arms up to hold her close and felt Rose relax against him. "I'm a bit… frustrated," she admitted. "But I'm learning. I don't regret staying with you. Not at all. Watching from a distance isn't my style and I don't want to be that kind of Guardian. Lazarus… how he felt and the nightmares after… weren't good, but not awful. It's just growing pains. Probably will be for a while yet."

"Is there anything I can do?" the Doctor asked. Guilt roared in his chest. She belonged with the other Guardians. They could help her in way that he couldn't. He's been so selfish in letting Rose stay with him. "Maybe you should-"

"No." Rose's tone was firm, almost sharp. Her grip on his back tightened. "I'm not leaving you. I won't leave you intentionally." That was an odd choice of words, but the Doctor didn't linger on it. "As for what you can do, you're doing it right now. Being there. Don't underestimate that."

The Doctor kissed the top of her head. It didn't feel like enough. Not after everything Rose had done for him. All the nights of keeping him company in the library as he avoided sleep. Pushing him in the right moments and holding his hands when he needed the comfort. Next to all of that, he felt like a clumsy newborn creature.

"I love you," he said firmly. "I just… is it enough?"

"Yes." Rose's grip around him tightened like she was afraid he was going to pull away. Never. That would never happen. Someday when it wasn't enough anymore, he'd be the one trying to cling to her. "I love you too."

The air was thick and the wiser part of the Doctor told him that they should talk more. There was something trying to grow here that wasn't good. But he was a coward every time. He kissed the top of Rose's head again and held her tightly. Then Rose's phone rang. He grumbled and Rose giggled in response. That sound made him brighten though he still didn't release her.

"I hate that superphone," the Doctor grumbled as Rose shifted to pull out the phone. "It's timing is always horrible!"

"Hush," Rose scolded with a grin. "The TARDIS wouldn't let the call through if she didn't think it was important." She lifted the phone and the Doctor watched her face brighten even further. "It's Eve."

The Doctor surrendered to that and dropped his arms. It had been awhile since Rose had spoken with Eve. Well… not by his standards, but he knew better than to argue. The connection between Rose and Eve was strong and not something he was going to poke at. Besides, he thought as Rose answered the phone, speaking with her friend did always make her happy.

"Hi, Eve!"

He shifted away from Rose, but wasn't ready to leave the room. Not with the awkward haze finally having lifted. Turning his attention to Rose's painting space, the Doctor kept himself busy by closing up the paint containers and putting them back onto the shelves. That was until Rose squealed and the Doctor spun around in a blend of alarm and worry.

"Really! Oh Guardians! That's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" Rose's smile was brilliant and she toyed with a bit of her hair before laughing. "Yes, yes, well I wasn't going to say anything about Ella, but you're not wrong."

"Rose?" the Doctor tried. "Everything alright?"

"Oh," Rose's gaze moved to him. "Eve is getting married! She wants me there! Can we pick up Sharon and Shareen?"

It was phrased as a question, but the Doctor was a smart enough man to know that it wasn't really a request. Nodding, he smiled and held out a hand to Rose. She was still listening to Eve on the phone, but grabbed his hand with a beaming grin. That was good. He preferred that to be sure.

"We're going to grab Sharon and Shareen so they can visit an old friend of Rose's with us," the Doctor explained with a slight smile. "The TARDIS being used as a taxi service."

"Could be worse," Rose laughed.

"What old friend?" Martha asked.

"Gavin?" Rose suggested with a cheeky smile.

The Doctor scowled. "No," he answered. "Why do you want to see him?"

"Curiosity about his planet mostly," Rose replied. She gave him that tongue touched smile. "I am titled there after all." Turning to Martha, Rose grinned at their new friend. "My friend Eve is getting married! Sharon, Shareen, and I knew her when she was younger and lived on Earth!"

The Doctor smiled as Rose started to give Martha a quick run down of her history with Eve. He didn't mind playing taxi driver to let the old friends see each other. It was definitely better than going to Gavin's planet at the very least. They didn't need to go to Gavin's planet and see how things were going. If his history was right, King Gavin was doing just fine and had strengthened the constitutional elements of his government by now. Still, he wasn't interested in taking Rose to meet him again.

"I haven't visited Eve in person in months!" Rose said brightly. "And the girls haven't seen her in person in forever!" She leaned up to kiss him quickly. "And Eve hasn't met this you yet!" Rose's smile shifted to a smirk. "And you really have no reason to be jealous of Gavin. That's ridiculous."

Jack snorted and laughed. The Doctor sent a glare his way, but he wasn't angry. Rose was happy. With a soft sound of realization, Rose pulled out her phone to call Sharon and Shareen for a date to grab them. They'd have a full TARDIS at the rate they were going. Eve getting married… that was interesting. He wondered if it was a member of her species or someone from off world. New Verlan didn't have a large population, though Rose had commented after her last call that more and more of the children who had been sent out beyond the Time Lock were arriving each year.