Her feet felt heavy as she stepped through the door onto the bridge.
She didn't want to be there.
Anxiety fluttered around her chest persistently, she kept her eyes locked on The Master as she traversed across the room. Armitage close at her back. There was a moment, the moment when she fell into line beside the others. Jack, The Doctor, Martha, Lucy, Martha's family, all of them stood in a line facing the upper bridge. Witnesses to the beginnings of war. There was a singular moment when she stepped into line beside them. Then her feet continued her forward and she stepped out from the line. In front of them. She could feel the eyes burning into the back of her skull. The questions, the betrayal. She couldn't look at it.
She ascended the stairs up to the upper bridge, where The Master stood waiting for her. He shot her a small comforting smile, one that said 'I know. This will be over soon'.
That it would. She was hoping it wouldn't take longer than 20 minutes. The countdown clock to her right was ticking away. 00:00:07:43.
She placed herself behind the balcony railing, eyes glued only on The Master. There was an urge, like when you get an impulse to peek over the edge of a tall building, the urge to look at Martha or The Doctor. But she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She was a coward and she knew it.
She wanted this to be over. Just take him and go. That was the plan. She took in a shaky breath, squashing the desire to vomit and clenched her hands around the railing. Armitage shifted behind her. She didn't blame his suspicion. She was barely holding it together. Being up here, looking down on her friends, her family. It made it crystal clear what it meant to choose The Master. It would always be us and them.
The Master addressed the room, she zoned in on just him and his voice.
"Down below, the fleet is ready to launch. Two hundred thousand ships set to burn across the universe." His face was impassive, cold. "Are we ready?"
"The fleet awaits your signal. Rejoice!" A voice echoed across the comm system, over the bridge speakers.
The Master took in a deep breath. "Three minutes to align the black hole converters. Counting down." His mouth pulled into a small smirk as the clock behind her began to tick.
00:00:03:00
"I never could resist a ticking clock." He grinned impishly. "My children, are you ready?"
Hally sucked in her cheeks and before she could stop herself, her eyes flicked towards Martha. Any relief Hally felt for seeing her friend, alive, was immediately swallowed by dread. Martha's eyes were dropped to the floor, a small amused smile playing at her mouth.
Something was wrong.
Fear jolted through her body, freezing cold.
She could still get them out of here.
She had to get them out of there.
Now.
She looked back to The Master, taking a step towards him, cutting him off mid-sentence.
"Take it off…" She whispered, only loud enough for him to hear. Her eyes were wide with panic, begging him to listen to her.
He frowned, scanning her face before his eyes flicked down to the band around her neck. She gave him a nod, a plea. "Please…take it off."
Confusion crossed over his face. He didn't understand why she was so desperate. "It's alright. Two minutes."
She touched his arm, squeezing it hard. "I know… but I need you to take it off now."
He frowned, taking a step towards her, perhaps to comfort her or perhaps to do as she'd asked, but his attention was drawn away when Martha Jones let out a stifled short laugh.
The Master's eyes narrowed. "What is it?" He shot at the human, dangerous challenge edging into his voice.
Martha didn't bother to stifle the sound the second time, she chuckled, raising her gaze to meet his.
"What's so funny?" He snapped, face contorting into one of impatience and disgust.
Martha cocked her head to one side. "A weapon?"
He frowned. "What?"
"A weapon, to kill a Time Lord, scattered across the world? I mean, come on, did you really believe that?" A small smile was playing in the corner of Martha's mouth. There had been a time when Hally would have rejoiced at seeing the human. Her friend. But now was not that time. The more Martha spoke, the heavier the dread settling in her stomach seemed to grow.
"What do you mean?" The Master cut back, patience wearing thin.
Hally looked quickly to her left.
00:00:01:44
"As if I would ask her to kill." The Doctor breathed. His eyes also tracked upwards, meeting The Master's. Hally shifted uncomfortably. They were all looking at them.
Us and them.
"Oh well, it doesn't matter. I've already won." The Master spat back at him, he turned his attention back to Hally, reassurance flashing behind his eyes.
One more minute.
But Martha Jones had other ideas. "Don't you want to know what I was doing, travelling the world?" She cocked an eyebrow, in contest. Knowing The Master wasn't one to back down from an open challenge.
He rolled his eyes. "Well go on. Monologue away."
Hally frowned, checking the timer once more. Was Martha stalling?
"I told a story, that's all. No weapons, just words. I did just what The Doctor said. I went across the continents all on my own. And everywhere I went, I found the people, and I told them my story." Martha explained, confidence radiating from her.
They had a plan.
Something.
Something was going to happen and she couldn't let herself remain powerless.
"Master…" Hally cut across Martha, but the human kept talking.
"I told them about The Doctor. And I told them to pass it on, to spread the word so that everyone would know about The Doctor."
Hally frowned. It wasn't making sense. How was that their plan?
"Faith and hope? Is that all?" The Master voiced their scepticism, a small laugh bubbling up his throat.
"No, because I gave them an instruction, just as The Doctor said. I told them that if everyone thinks of one word, at one specific time…"
The Master cut her off, irritation flaring behind his eyes. "Nothing will happen. Is that your weapon? Prayer?"
Martha was practically beaming at him, her eyes alight. Hally could feel herself shaking. Her body was kicking into fight or flight mode and she didn't even know why. Isn't this what she wanted? What she'd wanted all along. For his universal domination to stop. Surely, it didn't matter if they stopped his plan. They could save the Earth. None of it mattered, just so long as she could take him out of there.
"Right across the world, one word, just one thought at one moment but with fifteen satellites."
Hally's eyes widened. Oh fuck.
To her surprise, The Master laughed, a smug smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, but the Archangel Network is locked. Absolutely nothing can get in." He shot the human a self-assured smile.
The Doctor looked sadly at The Master. "Almost…"
The Master's jaw clenched as his attention moved to her father, standing in between Martha and Jack. His eyes deep and sad.
A sad smile of regret pulled at the side of The Doctor's mouth. "Connecting it to her… it was genius." He nodded, appreciation flashing over his face. "Using the Biodampener to lock the network. Impenetrable." The Doctor's eyes flicked to his daughter. Cold terror washed over her. Like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water on her.
"And it was." The Doctor looked back to The Master, his eyebrows pulled together. Beside her The Master was breathing heavily, unease had crawled into his body. The Doctor continued calmly. "So I waited." He muttered. "Because I knew… eventually. That you'd take it off her. Just once. Because you had to." He looked from her husband, back to her once more. Sorrowful understanding pooled in his eyes. "Because you wanted to."
Time stood still.
Everything was silent apart from the condescending ticking of the countdown.
He knew.
He had known.
For a while.
The Doctor had played his ace against The Master. His greatest weakness. Her. The Master had taken off the Biodampener and it had allowed The Doctor into the Archangel mainframe. All The Doctor had to do was wait.
Realisation crossed over The Master's face. "No…"
The Doctor smiled at his old friend. It wasn't full of malice or victory like you might imagine, instead, it was gentle and understanding. A hint of regret.
Checkmate.
Martha let out a shaky breath. "An amplified telepathic field binding the whole human race together, with all of them, every single person on Earth, thinking the same thing at the same time. And that word is Doctor."
The ticking stopped and the countdown hit zero. Hally froze in place, she had no idea what to do. She wanted this, to save the Earth and yet she didn't want The Master to get hurt. The Doctor started to glow, a haze of gold enveloping him.
The Master's face contorted with rage and panic, he advanced on The Doctor, moving away from her. "Stop it. No, no, no, no, you don't!"
She could hear the humans in the room, saying his name.
Jack closed his eyes. "Doctor. Doctor."
Francine Jones held onto her daughter's hand tightly. "Doctor."
"Stop this right now. Stop it!" The Master screamed.
It would be ok. The Doctor wouldn't hurt him. But he wouldn't let them go either…
She needed a plan.
But it was as if her brain had decided to go on holiday. A plan wouldn't come. All she could focus on was the glowing form of her father.
He had known.
The energy lifted him up off the floor, surrounding him. It was her energy. It swirled and buzzed in familiar patterns around him. Somehow, the link inside the network, it was allowing the humans to manifest her energy around The Doctor.
How ironic.
How completely unfair.
Lucy Saxon clutched her hands together. "Doctor."
The Doctor considered The Master. "The one thing you can't do. Stop them thinking."
The energy whirled around him and before their eyes he transformed, the ageing process reversing, bringing him back to how he had been. Her father.
"Tell me the human race is degenerate now, when they can do this."
Martha ran to her family, pulling them all into a tight hug.
"No!" The Master drew the Laser Screwdriver from his jacket, aiming it at The Doctor. The energy carried The Doctor towards him, he waved his hand and the device was pulled from The Master's grip, hitting the floor. Fear flashed onto her husband's face.
He was so scared.
Her body moved towards him, on autopilot, she needed to get to him. Protect him. She got halfway down the steps when The Doctor held out his arm and she halted. Not out of choice. She couldn't physically move.
The energy around The Doctor glimmered and pulsed, holding her still as he advanced on The Master.
"You can't do this. You can't do it. It's not fair!" The Master cried, backing himself up against the wall.
"And you know what happens now..." The Doctor never took his eyes off The Master. Her husband frantically searched for an escape, a way around her father but there was none. He had him trapped. "You wouldn't listen."
Her breath was stuck in her throat. She tried her hardest to force her muscles to move forward. But they wouldn't. She didn't want to stop The Doctor. She just wanted to get to The Master. To hold him. Protect him.
"Because you know what I'm going to say…" The Doctor's feet touched the ground.
"No…" The Master shook his head desperately. The golden haze around The Doctor disappeared and he wrapped his arms around The Master. Koschei shrank from him, curling up away from The Doctor's embrace.
As the energy dissolved, she felt the invisible force holding her disappear. She took the remaining few steps into the lower bridge.
"I forgive you." The Doctor whispered against the top of The Master's head.
The Master ripped himself out of The Doctor's grasp with a cry of anger. Pain flashed behind his eyes.
A blur moved past her as Martha ran to the upper bridge, checking the control desk. "We've all six billion spheres heading right for us!"
A flicker of hope passed over The Master's face.
Jack called loudly over to The Doctor. Everything seemed to be happening so quickly. "Doctor, the paradox machine, how do we destroy it?!"
Her father looked to the Captain, his face grim, before he fixed The Master with a firm look.
The Master's face split into a grin. "Oh… you don't know how, do you?"
The Doctor shook his head, letting out a long disappointed exhale. He knew The Master would never give up on his plan. "No." He admitted resolutely. Jack and Martha exchanged a look of concern, the glittering of hope fizzling out in their eyes. Hally's hearts stopped when her father turned his gaze towards her. The knowing glint sent a wave of cold dread through her. "But she does."
Hally felt all eyes in the room swivel to focus on her. Her expression cracked, breaking with desperation. Her head twitched, an involuntary shake of the head. Begging The Doctor. She didn't want to do this. "Don't…"
But the look her father returned to her was unyielding. Because he was right. She did know how to destroy the paradox. She'd known since The Master had removed the Biodampener in Yosemite. She had searched it out inside The Master's mind. Not on purpose. Not to use it. She had just wanted to know. An option. He hadn't hidden it from her.
"I'm sorry." The Doctor whispered.
The Master glared at her. "You looked…"
She exhaled shakily. "You already know that I did."
Pain flickered across his face. A betrayal. His face darkened. "Go on then." His face contorted, anger flashing across it. "Crawl back to him." He sneered unkindly.
"That's not what this is." She shot back. Anger fizzled behind her eyes. "I never wanted any of this." Her face softened. She wasn't betraying him. She was getting what she wanted. They could save the Earth and she could save him. "I'm not doing this for him." Her eyes blazed. "I'm doing it for them. For me."
She had to do this.
She wanted to.
Save the earth.
Take her husband.
She could have both.
Hally tore her eyes away from The Master's burning irises. She swallowed, looking to Jack. "The cage around the machine. If the barrier is broken the paradox will collapse."
Jack nodded at her in swift understanding. He took two of the guards and exited the bridge. Hurrying to destroy the paradox machine.
The Doctor ascended the stairs to the upper bridge to check on the advancement of the Toclafane. They were almost upon them.
There was a moment, a moment of quiet. No one was looking at them, she realised. The Doctor was concentrating on the Toclafane and Martha moved back to the lower bridge to comfort her family. She looked at The Master. Even though his plan had gone to shit, this wasn't over yet. His gaze met hers. Anger still lingered under the surface, the sharp stab of betrayal. She ignored the immediate guilt that tried to wash over her and mouthed a single word at him silently.
'Petrichor.'
His face twitched with a frown and his eyes flicked down to her neck. Understanding passed over his face and his eyes softened. He understood. She still wanted to leave with him. They could still escape this.
Release her from the Biodampener.
They could run.
His head bowed ever so slightly, a nod.
She glanced up at The Doctor, he was discussing something with one of the guards. Paying them no attention. She took a tentative step towards The Master. Not wanting to alert anyone to their plan.
The ship lurched violently and everything tipped sideways. Hally found herself thrown to the floor, out of the corner of her eye she saw The Master grab hold of the railing.
The Doctor steadied himself, descending the stairs and grabbing Martha. "Everyone get down! Time is reversing!"
The ship was shaking unpredictably. The Doctor helped Martha and her family to the floor, the safest place being as close to the ground as possible. She kept an eye on her husband. He was ok. The ship would stop shaking eventually. It would be the perfect distraction. He was only a short distance away. She could grab him once she could move.
It almost felt as if the whole ship was spinning, gravity tugged at her stomach. The feeling you get just before you fall.
Then.
It stopped.
She could hear her own breath. Hally looked up. Everything was still and quiet.
A male voice clicked over the comm. "This is UNIT Central. What's happened up there? We just saw the President assassinated."
The Doctor rose to his feet, helping Martha's mother up. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He opened his mouth to speak.
Behind her, she heard the door slide open. Jack had re-entered. Evidently, his mission to destroy the paradox had been a success.
Now.
Hally pounced to her feet and threw herself towards where The Master was righting himself. She could practically see it in her mind. Her hand would connect with his shoulder, his hand would go straight to her neck. The band around her neck would fall to the floor. A useless golden worm.
She would be free.
But The Doctor was faster.
He moved just a split second after she had. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into his chest. The Master's face flashed with anger and he lunged at them. All he had to do was touch the Biodampener. He could still do that while The Doctor was restraining her.
Her father twisted and threw her backwards, away from The Master. She would have hit the floor if not for Jack's hands catching her. He gathered her up, holding her shoulders firmly.
The Doctor stood, a barricade between them. Two guards grabbed The Master by the arms, dragging him further away from her.
Hally struggled against Jack's grip, his hands slipping.
"Jack, hold her!" The Doctor shot over his shoulder at him. Jack didn't need telling twice. His arms wrapped underneath hers, locking her against him. She let out a cry of frustration, but she was in no way going to make it easy for him. She kept wriggling against his grip.
Martha was looking between them both, a concerned frown pinching her face. Francine looked around. The male voice on the comm was still asking questions, asking for a status report.
"What happened…?" Letitia Jones voiced the obvious question.
The Doctor swallowed, his gaze flicked between Hally and The Master, when he was sure they were both far enough away, he turned to the small gaggle of humans. "The paradox is broken. We've reverted back, one year and one day. Two minutes past eight in the morning." Martha's eyebrows raised. He continued, explaining quickly for them. "Just after the President was killed, but just before the spheres arrived. Everything back to normal. Planet Earth restored. None of it happened. The rockets, the terror. It never was."
Her eyes met Koschei's. Pain flashed behind them, before settling into hard determination.
"What about the spheres?"
"Trapped at the end of the universe."
"But I can remember it."
Jack had to shift his grip on her. She jolted forwards, trying and again failing to force his hands from her.
"We're at the eye of the storm. The only ones who'll ever know." The Doctor explained, his eyes glinting with sorrow for Martha and her family.
She kicked backwards, striking Jack in the shin. He grunted. "Doctor…" The effort of keeping her held back obvious in his voice. "… what are we doing with him?"
Martha's father spoke up straight away. "We kill him."
Letitia wasn't far behind. "We execute him."
"No!" Hally cried.
The Doctor's voice was firm. "No, that's not the solution." He sent his daughter a reassuring glance.
Francine Jones stepped away from her family. "Oh, I think so. Because all those things, they still happened because of him. I saw them." Her eyes focused on the jet-black gun in the human's hand. Trained on The Master.
Hally stilled, panic shooting through her. The Master's face hardened as he stared at Francine. His lips curled into a snarl. "Go on. Do it."
The Doctor cut over him. "Francine, you're better than him."
She could feel her breath, sticking in her throat. Short fearful pants. The gun shook in the woman's hand. Lucy, who was standing slightly behind the Jones family, watched the interaction with intrigue. The Doctor edged closer towards her, his hands out, movements slow. Francine broke, The Doctor was there immediately to wrap her up in his arms. Martha took the gun away from her mother, passing it back in order to take Francine's sobbing form from The Doctor.
Finally, The Master spoke. His eyes burned as he addressed The Doctor. "You still haven't answered the question. What happens to me?"
"You're my responsibility from now on." The Doctor admitted lowly. He looked over his shoulder, eyes meeting Hally's.
Jack's voice rumbled from his chest. "Yeah, but you can't trust him."
"No." The Doctor shook his head. "The only safe place for him is the TARDIS."
Jack huffed. "You can't keep them together."
Hally tried to shrug him off again. "Get. Off. Me." She shot The Doctor a look of heated desperation. "He's not your responsibility. Neither of us are."
Tears stung her eyes and she felt her face crack with emotion. "Just let me go. I can take him, so, so far from here." She pleaded.
The Doctor took a step towards her, his eyes round with concern. "He hurt you."
She let out a pained cry, shaking her head. "Doctor, please. I know you don't understand. But please… Dad. If I mean anything to you. Anything at all… I'm begging you to let me go." She stared at him, willing for him to understand. Willing for him to trust her. The Earth was back. Everything could go back to normal. He just had to let her take him.
She saw the conflict raging inside him. He let out a pained exhale.
"Doc…?" Jack's tone was one of warning. He didn't think The Doctor should even be considering her plea.
"I love him…" She whispered. Her father stared at her. The look that passed between them was complicated. A deeper understanding of one another than she'd believed they had. He didn't want to hurt her. Her father wanted to protect her. But he knew, he knew that by denying her he would hurt her more than anything.
"Doctor if you let them go… anything he ever does is on you." Jack growled.
Doubt sparked behind his eyes as he considered Jack's words. She couldn't let him think this through. He would never agree if he actually thought about it.
"What would Rose do…?" She breathed.
It was a low blow and she knew it.
Something passed over The Doctor's face and he deflated. He tilted his head up, giving Jack a look. He sighed in disbelief over the top of her head, but he released his hold on her.
"If this is what you really want…?" The Doctor checked with her, his eyes flashing. A moment of finality. She couldn't come back from this.
She nodded.
He turned to The Master, a silent question. The Master's face was set, he nodded. A look of sincerity passed across his features. "If you let me go, I will go with her. You'll never see me again."
The Doctor looked to the floor, his eyes closing. He took in a sharp breath and when he looked back at her, tears glistened in his eyes. He didn't want this. But she had given him no choice. She had appealed to his guilt and now she could truly see the weight of it.
He swallowed and stepped out of her way. The path to The Master now clear.
She took a step forward.
The sound of the gunshot was so loud against the heavy silence of the room. She flinched and staggered backwards. For a moment, panic sliced through her. Someone had shot The Master. But as she watched, she realised that nothing had hit him. He was fine. He was looking at her. Something passed onto his face that she hadn't seen before. That was strange.
Someone's hands caught her. Jack. She coughed on something.
Suddenly Hally became hyper-aware of the fact that she wasn't breathing. She pulled in a deep breath and then the pain hit her. The left side of her chest. Above her heart.
Pain.
She let out a weak cry. Jack had already lowered her to the floor. The Master was shouting. Struggling. There was a commotion. All she could feel were Jack's hands. Cradling her. He was telling her to breathe. So she did that.
It hurt.
Then she saw her.
Lucy.
Lucy turned, eyes still trained on Hally and aimed the recently fired gun at The Master. He stilled, his face draining of any colour.
"Lucy stop! Put the gun down!" The Doctor tried to reason with her, his eyes wide. Panicked.
Lucy shook her head. "I'm sorry Doctor. But, he cannot be allowed to go free and without her, he can't." She never once took her eyes off of Hally's chest.
Hally choked on a laugh.
Lucy.
Clever Lucy.
Kill The Master and Hally would heal him, and then they'd run. But kill her…
The stupid human had finally caught onto the game.
The game of chess.
How do you take out the King? You target the Queen.
The Master pulled at the guards, still holding him back. "No!"
Hally could feel her muscles shaking. It was cold. A shadow joined Jack above her. Armitage. Armitage was above her. His hands were on her. Roughly pulling at her clothing.
The Master was trying to reason with The Doctor. Trying to get to her. "I'll just heal her! I swear! Please! Doctor!" His voice cracked with terror.
The Doctor looked between the three of them but it was Lucy with the power. She still had the gun. The gun trained on The Master. But she wouldn't need to kill him. Not if his only ticket out of here died in front of him.
Oh, Lucy.
Touché Lucy.
The Doctor was babbling quickly at the human. Asking her to stop. He was begging her.
Armitage was speaking to Jack above her, hushed. "It missed the artery..." His finger pressed into the wound. She screamed in pain. "It's just a flesh wound." Armitage's eyes connected with Jack's. Jack looked up.
"Doctor! She's going to be fine."
Relief flashed across her father's face. Followed by a sudden thought, his eyes widened and he turned to Lucy. But she'd removed her gaze from Hally and was now firmly aiming at The Master.
"Lucy, don't!" The Doctor lunged for her.
Because if Hally survived. There was a chance The Master would eventually go free. But right now...
Right now, she couldn't save him.
The gunshot rang out.
Followed by another.
The Doctor pulled the gun from Lucy's hands, throwing it to Martha. He caught The Master as he fell. Blood blossomed across his chest and abdomen from where the two bullets had made contact.
A scream ripped from Hally's throat. The pain disappeared as adrenaline shot through her. She fought against the hands holding her. Lurching forward. She needed to get to him. Jack's hands wrapped around her, stopping her. She slipped from his grip, her blood loosening his hands. Familiar hands grabbed her. Wrapping around her body. Armitage. She screamed in anger as Jack's hands joined his.
The Master choked on his own blood.
"No! Let me go! Please!" The words ripped up her throat but neither man listened. Neither let up their struggle to keep her down.
Koschei looked at her, his eyes connecting with hers. Something flashed in the deep brown, something she couldn't read. It wasn't final. It wasn't a goodbye. Then he looked up at the man cradling him. Her father. The Master took in a breath, choking on the words. "Let's see if she forgives you for this…"
"No!" The Doctor shook him, his eyes wide and frantic.
The Master's eyes flickered closed and his body went limp in her father's arms. The Doctor buried his face, hiding his tears.
The only sound in the room was the sound of her screaming.
She couldn't form any words. Hally hadn't stopped fighting the two men behind her. If she could just get to him.
Her brain was starting to feel fuzzy. She was bleeding heavily.
Armitage grunted. Muttered something to Jack. Then, there was a hand in her hair, it yanked her head to one side. A scratch at her neck. Everything faded out of focus.
Black.
Above her was bright. She tried to cover her eyes with her hand. But her hand wouldn't come. Something metallic clinked.
She blinked as her eyes opened. The ceiling came slowly into focus.
She was in the med bay.
On the Valiant.
She lifted her head away from the bed.
Pain scorched through her chest and shoulder.
Hally looked down at herself. She was still covered in blood. Someone had strapped her left arm across her chest, protecting her injury. Hally tried to move her right hand again. It pulled and the handcuff that attached her to the side of the bed clanked. She stared at it for a moment.
The person sitting by the side of her bed turned at the sound. Jack's eyes focused on hers, a flash of uncertainty at seeing her awake. She moved her gaze over towards the second shadow in the room. Armitage, still covered in her blood, was leaning against the wall next to the door.
Watching her.
Still.
Why was he still even here?
His boss was dead.
The Master was dead.
Pain, which had nothing to do with the gunshot wound, wracked through her.
No.
It pressed, suffocating and heavy over her chest. No noise came from her. She wasn't sure she could make any. Tears came. They streamed down her face as silent sobs shook her.
Jack stood up from his chair. He hovered by her for a moment, considering whether to try and comfort her. She deflated, lying back into the bed, her eyes staring up at the burning white ceiling. Jack moved away, standing over by the door.
They had been so fucking close.
It was over.
She was done.
She wanted to be dead.
If only Lucy had aimed just a little bit lower.
The only sounds in the med bay were the tiny choked gasps of air as Hally let the tears stream down the sides of her face and onto the pillow beneath her.
She was secretly glad that neither man tried to say anything.
After a while, her body stopped shaking. She stared at the ceiling. A numbness crept into her limbs and washed over her.
She welcomed it, letting the feeling of nothingness drown her.
She didn't know how long they were in that room. It felt like a while. The door opened eventually. Martha's voice carried through the room, despite her hushed tone. She was speaking with Jack. Hally didn't move. Eyes staring at the ceiling.
"The TARDIS is ready…" Martha's eyes must have settled on Hally because there was an awkward pause. "He's going to drop my family home… first."
Jack cleared his throat. "Sure. We'll be ready for when he comes back."
Martha left soon after.
Silence descended onto the room once more. Jack shifted. She heard him swallow. "Is… is there anything you need to take with you?"
It took her a moment to realise that he was talking to her. They were leaving the Valiant.
Of course, they were.
Was there anything she needed to take with her?
The question floated around her mind. Not quite making sense. Eventually, it settled and she understood. "Where is his body?" Her voice was quiet. Barely a whisper. Her throat protested angrily at the sound.
"It's on the TARDIS." Jack answered, there wasn't any judgement in his voice. She had expected judgement.
She tried to think.
It was difficult. Her mind refused to move very quickly.
They were leaving the Valiant.
Was there anything important on the Valiant?
She didn't think so. Although…
Her voice was weak and raspy. "In the library. There are a few books from the TARDIS in there…"
"Ok…" Jack nodded, he turned to Armitage and after a few short words, Armitage left to retrieve the 'borrowed' books.
She exhaled softly.
How was she supposed to exist like this?
"Hal…" Jack's voice was quiet.
She squeezed her eyes shut. "Don't…"
"I'm sorry…" She could feel his eyes on her. His words. He meant them. He was sorry. He was sorry for her.
The pain she had buried not moments before broke to the surface, a sob escaped her. Jack stepped in towards her, his hands went to the cuff chaining her to the bed and he undid it quickly. He took her arm, guiding her gently so she was sitting on the side of the bed. Feet dangling over the edge. He joined her. Perching next to her. Just close enough that she could feel his warmth, but not too close. Not touching.
Rage festered inside her.
She wanted to scream at him.
She wanted to kill him.
He had stopped her.
He could have stopped this.
But he'd held onto her.
She wanted to blame him.
But she just couldn't find the energy.
What good would it do now?
The Master was gone.
Hally sat on the edge of the bed, trying her best to focus on pulling air in and pushing it out of her lungs. It was hard. Her breath kept getting stuck in her chest. Tripping over the build-up of emotion.
What was she going to do…?
The Master was gone.
Where was she going to go?
The door opened and Armitage returned.
"The Doctor is ready." He commented.
Jack rose from the bed, watching her carefully as she slipped off the edge. Her legs felt numb. But they were working. Armitage approached her, there was something dark in his arms. He unfolded it and draped it around her shoulders. It was a long, black coat. The soft lining was cool against her skin. The smell hit her. It was his coat. The Master's coat. She looked up and met Armitage's gaze. He looked back, expressionless.
Jack led the way.
Neither of them touched her.
She followed Jack to the TARDIS. Hally stared at the blue box. She should have been happy to see her.
But she wasn't.
She would rather still have him.
She would rather Earth still be his.
Than this.
Emptiness.
The Doctor and Martha were waiting for them outside the TARDIS. Hally didn't look at either of them, she kept her eyes staring forward. She felt their gaze trail over her. The Doctor turned to Armitage and cleared his throat.
"I can drop you back on Earth. Wherever you need to go." The Doctor offered.
Her guard, or her ex-guard, she still wasn't sure why he was still here, shook his head and cleared his throat. "No, thank you. I'll take one of the shuttles they're sending."
There was a pause.
She didn't look at him. It felt like one of them should say something.
Goodbye.
Something.
But what would she say? Would could he say? He'd just been doing his job.
Armitage exhaled, then he turned and walked away.
Hally was suddenly, very aware that she was alone. Alone with The Doctor, Jack and Martha.
It had been almost a year and a half. Her shadow. Now he was gone. They were gone.
The Master was gone.
She closed her eyes, a tear dropped down her cheek.
"Let's get off this ship…" The Doctor murmured gently.
Hally sat on the end of the bed in the TARDIS med bay. The Doctor had insisted. All she wanted to do was shower. Scrub the dried blood off her body and then curl up into a ball and preferably die. But no. The Doctor wanted to check her over.
She had been shot.
He had removed the sling gently, scanning across her chest and shoulder with a handheld medical device. He was murmuring to himself. The Doctor told her that one of the doctors on the Valiant had cut the bullet out of her while she'd been asleep.
"Not bad…" He mumbled, checking the stitching. Then he scanned the rest of her, checking for any signs of other injuries. She had tried to tell him she was fine. But he wouldn't listen.
Then, he'd removed his Sonic Screwdriver from his jacket pocket and had begun working on the device around her neck. The screwdriver whirred and clicked irritably as he continued to fail to remove it. The Doctor clicked his teeth, trying the other side. She let him try for a good 20 minutes.
Finally, he sighed loudly, running a hand through his hair. "I…" He looked at the floor, shaking his head. "It's isomorphically linked to him. Deadlocked. I can't bypass it…"
She nodded, she hadn't expected he'd be able to remove it. Her husband wasn't an idiot.
Although.
He was dead.
So maybe.
She slipped off the bed, her feet touching the floor. She could feel her father's eyes on her. Full of concern.
She hated it.
"Can I see his body?" Her voice was small.
He paused. "I don't think that's a good idea…"
Water pooled inside her eyes.
He was probably right. She didn't want to see that. But…
She swallowed and took in a ragged breath. "His ring. Can you get me…" The words got stuck, the breath burning her lungs. "The gold band… black point stars."
The Doctor nodded. "Of course."
They fell into an uncomfortable silence. She could feel him, he wanted to say something. But he didn't have the words.
Then he reached back into his pocket, fumbling. "Umm… there's also this." He held the Laser Screwdriver out towards her. "It's locked… isomorphic, again... It won't work. But if you wanted it. It's his … I know it's not… just if you wanted it." Hally stared at it. She'd rather have it with her than it get lost in one of The Doctor's drawers. So, she nodded and he placed the device in the palm of her hand. It was cool against her skin. The screwdriver hummed gently.
"Where…? We need to..." He cleared his throat. "The body."
She nodded again, she could fill in the gaps.
"Is there anywhere, in particular, you'd like to go?" He asked.
She thought for a moment. "Yeah."
"Alright… Umm… if you wait for me in the console room. You can put the coordinates in the nav system. I'll… sort everything."
Hally simply nodded, not looking at him. She let The Doctor help her back into the sling, holding her arm in place so she didn't reopen the wound. Then she picked up The Master's coat, placing back over her shoulders with his help. Then, she slipped away, heading to the console room. She clicked the coordinates into the console before sitting, alone, watching the blue lights of the central column thrum.
The numbness was creeping back.
She wrapped the coat further around her, letting the smell of him wash over her. She was still holding the screwdriver, with difficulty she managed to push her hand into one of the pockets lining the inside of her coat. Letting the screwdriver slip inside. It dropped with a clunk. It had hit something. Hally frowned and pushed her hand into the pocket, she wriggled her fingers around the screwdriver, wrapping her hand around the item. She pulled it out and looked at it.
It was The Master's phone.
Confusion passed over her face as she noticed the smear of dark red in the top left corner of the screen.
Blood.
His blood.
He'd had his phone on him when he'd been shot.
But he hadn't been wearing this coat.
Her eyebrows twitched upwards.
Armitage.
Hally looked up, the console room was still empty. Silence.
She opened up the screen. Flicking through. She could see all the communication he'd ever had via the phone. Pages and pages of texts to Armitage. Alina. Everything. She hovered over a contact she didn't recognise. 'DoS'.
She cocked her head to one side. All other contacts had names. First and last.
He had only ever received two texts from them, whoever they were. Exactly one year ago.
The books are acquired.
Everything is in place.
Her frown deepened. What the hell did that mean?
Footsteps were approaching the console room, she quickly pocketed the phone.
The Doctor silently piloted the TARDIS to the location she'd pre-programmed. Martha and Jack hovered by the console, they exchanged a look.
The TARDIS landed and The Doctor surveyed them. "Hal… go shower. I'll let you know when we're ready."
She got to her feet and turned to head to her bedroom. It had been so long since she'd been on the TARDIS that it took her a second to remember which way her bedroom was. Footsteps fell in behind her. Heavy. Jack. She got to her door and shot him a look over her shoulder, he was following her.
"I'm just showering…" She mumbled, eyes narrowing.
He gave her a small smile. "I know. Just keeping an eye. Doctor's orders."
She rolled her eyes at that but didn't protest as he followed her into her room. He helped her remove the sling, followed by her blood-soaked top. She'd never tell him, but she was thankful for his presence. She would have never have been able to remove her clothing without him. She stepped into the shower and Jack leaned against the wall, keeping his eyes away from her. The water stung as it hit her skin. Swirling down the plug, pulling red with it.
Hally gently washed the blood from her skin. Her eyes paused on her hand. She pulled the wedding ring from her middle finger, washing it under the steady stream of water, then she pushed it back onto her hand. On her ring finger. She looked at it. Sat where it always should have been. Where it would never not be, again.
How ironic.
She watched her blood drain across the base of the shower and down the plug.
If only.
If only Lucy had aimed a little bit lower…
Jack's eyes flicked over to her. He let out a soft exhale. "I'm sorry it happened like this, Hal."
"Mmhmm." She hummed numbly.
"If…" He sighed. "Just, if you don't want to be on the TARDIS… just know… there's always a place for you… with my team. Or whatever you need. A place to stay. I'm offering."
She looked across at him.
She hadn't really thought about it.
But he was right.
She didn't think she could stay on the TARDIS.
Even if The Doctor would let her. Perhaps he was going to leave her somewhere anyway.
No.
He wouldn't.
But she couldn't stay with him.
It wasn't The Doctor's fault.
She knew that.
But she just couldn't be with him.
She needed a break.
Perhaps Jack's offer wasn't so absurd.
She nodded slightly. "I'll think about it."
When she'd finally washed away all the blood, she stepped out from the shower. Jack wrapped her in a towel, helping her dress and dry her hair.
The Doctor knocked on her door. "Ok, it's ready."
Hally closed her eyes, a deep sigh falling from her. Jack gave her a small nod, moving past The Doctor to head outside. She got to her feet, wrapping the black coat around herself. She knew it was stupid. The more she touched it, the less it would smell like him.
The Doctor hung by her door, as she approached he held out his hand. The Master's wedding ring sat in his palm. She took it from him, muttering a quiet thanks, and pushed it onto the thumb of her left hand. Sitting just a few fingers from her own ring. It felt cold on her skin. Heavy. But she needed to keep them together. Keep them both close.
Then she followed her father, out of the TARDIS and through the grass to the small clearing. It was nighttime, but she could still see the giant shadows of the two mountains that guarded the valley. The lake shone with the reflection of the moon. It was still beautiful. They had only been here for a day. But there was nowhere else she would leave him. In the centre of the clearing was a pyre and on top of that, the wrapped body of The Master. The Doctor had been right. She wouldn't have wanted to see him. His body. She could barely bring herself to look at it now.
The Doctor took the lead, she was thankful. No one said anything as he set fire to the pyre. They just watched. After a few minutes, Martha and Jack gave them some space and retreated back into the TARDIS.
She watched as the flames fanned over his body, licking hungrily. Burning. The heat scorched her face.
After some time, she felt The Doctor leave her side too. His footsteps fell quieter and quieter as he joined the others on the ship.
The flames danced, almost happily, their destruction inevitable.
Perhaps.
Somewhere out there. In a parallel universe. Perhaps things had been different. In an alternate reality, The Master had managed to release her and she'd taken them away. They would have stolen the TARDIS, or even Jack's Vortex Manipulator and ran. Just them.
Perhaps.
But not here.
Because here and now, The Master was dead.
Hally shivered, despite the heat from the fire and nestled further into his coat. The Master's phone knocked against her and a wave of realisation washed over her.
The look he gave her. It wasn't goodbye.
He hadn't said goodbye.
So this. Would not be goodbye.
She had given up on him before and she had made a promise that she never would again.
This would not be the end.
The Time Lords had resurrected him once.
She could do it again.
Everything The Master had created was here on Earth. If there was a way to bring him back. He would have left it here for her.
She'd promised him. She wouldn't abandon him again.
She would keep that promise.
The fire crackled in front of her. The flames held a new meaning. A promise. A burning fire within her.
A newfound purpose.
She glared at the flames.
Because the truth was.
Her husband wasn't an idiot.
There was no way he wouldn't have planned for this.
If there was a way.
She would find it.
"You're coming back." She commanded, towards the blaze.
Then she turned on her heel and walked away.
The TARDIS was parked next to the rift in Cardiff. She recognised it as the place The Doctor had dropped her off to 'get chips'. He was dropping Jack back with his team.
She had a plan now.
Martha was talking, Jack shot the human a smile before slipping under the barrier, turning to them. "Back to work, then."
The Doctor smiled sadly. "You could come with me?"
Jack shook his head. "I had plenty of time to think that past year, the year that never was, and I kept thinking about that team of mine. Like you said, Doctor, responsibility."
"Defending the Earth. Can't argue with that." The Doctor gave him a respectful nod.
Jack turned to her, a silent question. Hally sighed softly and followed him under the barrier, she looked back at The Doctor. Sadness shone in his eyes but she could see that he understood.
"It's not forever…" She winced.
He nodded, a sad smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "I know."
She opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat.
He cut in for her. "I love you too."
Her mouth closed and she swallowed. She took in a deep breath and nodded. It was complicated. Something between them had shattered. Whatever they had been before. It wasn't broken beyond repair. He was still her father and she loved him. But they both needed time.
Plus… she wouldn't be able to bring back The Master and travel with The Doctor.
She had made her choice.
The Doctor hummed and turned back to Jack, he took his hand and pulled back his coat, exposing the Vortex Manipulator, newly returned to his wrist.
"Hey, I need that." Jack grumbled.
The Doctor pointed his screwdriver at it, tutting. "I can't have you walking around with a time travelling teleport. You could go anywhere, twice. The second time to apologise." He raised an eyebrow towards the Captain.
Jack chuckled lowly. "And what about me? Can you fix that? Will I ever be able to die?"
The Doctor sighed and shook his head. "Nothing I can do." Her father's eyes flicked to the band around her neck and back up to Jack. "You're an impossible thing, Jack."
Jack laughed. "Been called that before. But I keep wondering. What about ageing? Because I can't die but I keep getting older. The odd little grey hair, you know? What happens if I live for a million years?"
A small breath of laughter left her and she shook her head. "Welcome to the club."
The Doctor smiled at his friend, giving him a shrug. "I really don't know."
"Okay, vanity. Sorry. Yeah, can't help it. Used to be a poster boy when I was a kid living on the Boeshane Peninsula. Tiny little place. I was the first one ever to be signed up for the Time Agency. They were so proud of me. The Face of Boe, they called me." He gave The Doctor a wink. Turning to head off. "Hmm. I'll see you." He called back to them.
Hally raised her eyebrows, shooting a look between Martha and The Doctor.
Martha's mouth dropped open. "No…"
Hally's mouth curved into a small smile. She stepped back to follow Jack. Then she paused and looked back at Martha. There was so much she wanted to say. So much she should say. But none of it could possibly be enough. Martha's eyes softened.
Hally opened her mouth and took a moment to consider her words. "… No one else could have done what you did." Looking at Martha was difficult, but she owed the human more than she could ever give. "You're the bravest person I've ever met."
Martha offered her a small smile.
Hally sent one last look to The Doctor, before she turned and followed Jack.