7th November 1987 AD/CE
It's just an ordinary day for Kathy as she gazes outside the window of a taxi as it drives away from the airport and into South London. She's just been away in Italy again. She'd been before to Rome and Venice and had done some teaching there and decided to pick it up once more for a few years before returning to England.
She continues to look out of the window, thinking of visiting Carlyle and Ashildr later, when the whole world starts to feel strange. The air around Kathy makes her feel sort of… itchy. She had been noticing the sensation since she'd left the airport. But it is slowly intensifying. Kathy doesn't like it but she doesn't know why, but it is almost like some internal instinct.
She then hears a chittering noise that sounds horrible and frightening causing Kathy to tense further, gripping onto the door handle.
"You alright, love?" The driver asks her, glancing at her through his mirror.
"Do you hear that?" Kathy asks.
"Hear wha'?"
Kathy doesn't answer. The chittering is getting louder, almost as if it's right above her. Like something is watching her. Her eyes catch sight of the rave posters with smiley faces on them. One of them has 'Bad Wolf' written over it. Kathy turns her gaze up, seeing a materialising being of some kind. A Reaper. Its head is a sharp triangle shape with bright red eyes. There is some sort of long tail to it in the shape of a scythe at the end. Its shape keeps shifting, juddering, superimposed on itself like something out of Jacob's Ladder, shrieking its alien sound. The Reaper unfurled its large, leathery wings. It has two clawed hands around its chest and, as it hovers over her, it opens the claws wide for her to see in the centre of its chest there is a gaping mouth with rows of gleaming, sharp teeth. It gives an unsettling screech and swoops down to the taxi.
"Wha' the f—" The driver cries in alarm.
"Don't just sit there! Drive!" Kathy cries. The driver slams on the accelerator and they manage to avoid the Reaper.
Kathy now realises what day it is. This is the day Rose Tyler saves her father. But at the same time, unleashes the Reapers, creatures whose job is to remove paradoxes and fix time, upon the world. Creatures who will kill anyone and everyone in their path until whatever is done wrong is fixed. And all because of the terrible choice Rose makes at an already vulnerable point due to two lots of the Doctor and Rose being there.
Kathy wishes that maybe Pete could be saved and Rose would have the family she wants but something tells Kathy it wouldn't be possible even if Pete survives. It wouldn't be one big happy family. Jackie and Pete would constantly be fighting and their relationship strained through constant worriment over money and other factors of life. God knows what either of them would turn to cope plus the negative impact also this would have on Rose growing up in a broken home. At least being brought up by Jackie, even if it came with the pain of losing Pete, her mother's relationships and not high-paying jobs, Rose turned out as a good person and is making something of herself. If Pete survived, there's no guarantee that the Rose Tyler Kathy knows and loves would exist today and not be someone else entirely. And where will this all lead if Rose then never met the Doctor then Bad Wolf never exists. She can't let Rose save her father. No matter how much it pains Kathy to say or even think that. But this time his death won't be pointless and he won't be on his own that is a comfort at least.
Kathy thinks of what she needs to do next. She needs to get to the church where Sarah Clark's wedding to Stuart Hoskins will be, knowing she'll find the Ninth Doctor and Rose there. Time will be going wrong now. Songs playing on the radio 20 years early, the TARDIS is empty and telephones will be emitting the words of Alexander Graham Bell that we're pokes to his assistant Thomas Watson during the first phone call.
Just as she's about to ask the taxi driver to go to the church, she catches sight of a park up ahead that looks rather familiar. Mickey. Well, little Mickey.
"Wait!" Kathy cries.
"I'm not stopping!" The driver retorts. "Those bloody creatures are gonna get us!"
"Just drop me off, okay?!"
The driver reluctantly comes to a stop and Kathy jumps out. She sticks her head through the window before he can drive off again.
"You go to St Christopher's, alright? And get inside." Kathy instructs. She knows it's pointless as the timelines should be fixed by the end of the day and everyone who's been taken by the Reapers will come back but she's got to try.
"Why would I—"
"Just get in there!" Kathy retorts harshly before running into the park where she knows Mickey will be playing.
There stands a frightened Mickey, dressed for a wedding, by the swings, looking around for his friends who've vanished.
"Hello, honey." Kathy greets softly, crouching down to the boy's height. Smiling to herself as she realises she sounds like River. "My name's Kathy."
"My friends, my mum…" Mickey gasps fearfully.
Her heart breaks for the little boy. She has only seen him from a distance one other time and this he probably won't even remember but she wants to look after him.
"It'll be alright. We'll find them again. Okay?" Mickey nods. Kathy offers her hand. "Right, let's warn the others at the church shall we?"
Mickey grasps her hand and the two of them run to the church, the chittering following them in the distance.
—
Sarah Clarke, dressed in proper 1987 wedding regalia: big hair and shoulder pads with the extra ruffles, stands outside the church with her friends and bridesmaids Suzie and Bev. Jackie with the very 80s hairstyle with a pretty pink dress as the maid of honour for the wedding is a short distance away arguing with Pete while the baby carrier carrying baby Rose sits at their feet while Old Rose stands by Pete's car, staring at the couple in disbelief like her whole world has fallen apart.
The bride and bridesmaids group looks at Kathy and Mickey oddly as they run past them. Kathy bundles the boy into the church before turning to find Rose looking at her with a relieved smile.
"Kathy! The Doctor's a tight pain." Rose rolls her eyes. "He's being childish as ever, again but he'll get over it. I know he will." She looks at Kathy expectantly, as if she's expecting Kathy's future knowledge will back her up but Kathy ignores it, knowing how young Rose is and how she won't really understand the consequences of what she's done until much later.
"Look, I don't have time but we need to get everyone inside, now," Kathy tells her. Rose frowns in confusion, about to ask her what she means when Kathy feels that mental snap in her mind and the familiar presence of the Doctor settling in her mind. It's faint out the pull is there. Kathy turns her head just in time to see the Doctor, a little distance away, running towards them. "Seriously, now."
Just then, the Doctor manages a big bellow, "Rose!", gaining the blonde's attention. The girl turns with a big smile of relief but her smile vanishes when she appears to notice the urgent expressions on his face. "Get in the church!" The Doctor orders quickly, running even faster just as a Reaper materialises overhead. She stares and screams.
The creature lets out another screeching cry as it swoops down towards Rose and Kathy. The latter quickly tackles the girl to the floor, out of the Reaper's reach, just as the creature passes over and flies away.
"Get in the church!" The Doctor screams from beside them and rushes off to get the lingering people outside the church to go inside.
Kathy lets out a mildly annoyed huff as she gets back up quickly from the ground while helping Rose up too.
"Are you okay?" Kathy asks Rose immediately, seeing how Rose nods shakily and appears unharmed for the most part.
"Yeah," Rose replies shakily. "What was that thing?"
"A Reaper," Kathy explains quickly, seeing how more Reapers have appeared by the church. The Doctor is grabbing people, and shoving them towards the church, but people are running in all directions. The creatures kill the vicar and Sonny, the groom's father. Kathy's eyes go wide in horror at the sight. "Come on, quick! We've got to get inside."
"Get in the church!" The Doctor yells out towards the other wedding guests, running off to chase them all into the church.
The people, who had been frozen in fright at the sight of the gargoyle creature, scream and run inside as he shepherds them in. Kathy grabs Rose's hand, making sure the girl stays close beside her as they run into the old building. Once the last person makes it inside, a Reaper swoops after them just as the Doctor swiftly closes the heavy wooden doors to the entrance and bolts. There's a thud as it hits the doors.
The Doctor leans on the door and turns to face the traumatised wedding party, surveying their sanctuary. Glancing around at the mass of people within the church, Kathy can see them all shivering, muttering to one another as all are scared of what is happening. There are babbles in a panic as they listen to the loud screeches of the Reapers outside. There are many all around the church, flying around and casting ominous shadows into the church around them, circling the building for a way in to kill more. There is no escape for any of them.
Stuart, the groom is checking his father's phone. Pete's looking after Jackie and Baby Rose while Older Rose watches them. A strange shiver goes through her as she sees her Rose glance towards the baby. Her gut twists as her instincts warn her to be cautious.
"They can't get in." The Doctor realises. "Old walls and doors. If they're from outside time... ok, the older something is, the stronger it is. What else?"
"Making sure the building is secure?" Kathy prompts.
The Doctor snaps his fingers in her direction with a grin. "Right. Check the other doors. Move!" The Doctor orders the group of frightened humans. Some scuttle off immediately, doing as they were instructed. Others, like Jackie, are hesitant in confusion as the Doctor rushes over to a nearby door to check it over.
Kathy runs to the back, doing her own checkover of the back doorways. She double-checks them and the windows over, making certain all are locked as tightly as possibly. She wants to make certain no Reaper will be getting into the building any time soon. She hears the Doctor and Jackie having a small spat out in the centre of the church. Eventually, Jackie just leaves with a huff, storming off to do as the man instructed. As she walks back over to everyone else, Kathy watches as the groom, Stuart, tries to get the Doctor to use his dad's mobile to call the police. But she knows it'll be no use. Time is shifting around from the future to past. Everything has become corrupt.
"The police can't help you now, no one can." Everyone in the room sort of pauses, looking at the Doctor as he addresses the room fully. "Nothing in this universe can harm those things. Time's been damaged and they've come to sterilise the wound." He walks over towards Rose as Kathy comes to a stop beside her, staring steadily at her. "By consuming everything inside."
"I'm sorry." Rose apologises. "It's all my fault."
The Doctor clenches his jaw as he looks away from her.
"It's fine. You didn't know this would happen." Kathy replies, watching a shadow of a Reaper passing by a window.
"No, I didn't," Rose says. She frowns some, thinking things over. "But you could've been there. You could've warned us. You never seem to be there."
"Could I? Could I really?" Kathy retorts causing the companion to look down. "He's your dad and you wanted to save him. Nothing was going to stop you." Kathy knows Rose didn't mean to be hurtful but the words still stung.
"Sorry. Knowing everything as always."Rose smiles at the woman. "It's creepy but I'm glad to see you again."
"Glad to see you, too." Kathy smiles back. The Doctor grunts, seeming displeased with their causal behaviour. "What? Not even a hello?" She doesn't expect a hug, not yet.
He huffs. "Sorry. Hi Kathy." His expression softens slightly towards her which is a nice change from the anger and remorse she was faced with last time with the Gelth. He walks around them, going off to see what they have in the church that might help them. Kathy and Rose watch him go into a back room. The girl glances over at Kathy, still looking guilty.
—
At the back of the chair, the Doctor comes over by Kathy moments later, looking grave. "I saw the car." He murmurs quietly. "The same one that was supposed to kill Pete."
"I know," Kathy whispers equally grave. "It's on a loop."
"Yeah." He answers. They both glance up to the front of the church where Rose is. They can see how she stands leaning against a railing, staring up at a painted window with a sad expression. The Doctor shakes his head slightly. "There's one way to fix things."
"I know," Kathy says quietly, her voice heavy in remorse. She stares away from the girl, hating the fact that there is nothing that can be done for Pete. His death is practically a fixed point in time. Nothing can be changed about it. Kathy sighs heavily. "She's going to be devastated."
"I know, but you can't protect her from everything." The Doctor stares solemnly at Rose. "Like how it might not be your fault that you can't save everyone even with your pre-knowledge."
Kathy looks at him questioningly. Something tells her this is more than the conversation they had back with the Gelth and he blamed her for Gwyneth's death.
"I have a feeling this is about a conversation I haven't had yet but go on." She quips.
"Well, let's this be a pre-apology then." The Doctor grimaces, likely thinking about what he's apologising for. "We tend to say things when tempers flare. Things we don't really mean."
"True but some of us need to work on the temper." She teases, punching him lightly in the arm, grinning. She's not as close with this Doctor as she is with the others but she likes him and hates to think about how he's not around for long.
"On the subject of tempers and apologies, there might be another way." The Doctor suggests to Kathy. "We could try something. At least give Rose the family she wants."
Kathy chews her lip. "Would this really be better for her in the long run?" She prompts. Not wanting to say it.
The Doctor frowns. "What do you mean?"
"Pete and Jackie. They're at each other's throats constantly. Is that really a better future for Rose?" Kathy continues.
"I have to try." He declares resolutely.
"I know." Kathy smiles softly.
He gives a light pat on Kathy's shoulder as he walks away to go on to keep checking the doors.
Kathy continues to stand there at the back of the church for a moment, staring at Rose. She slowly makes her way over to the girl. Coming up beside Rose, Kathy leans against the railing with the girl and stares up at the painted glass.
"You probably thought nothing would best that Dalek, hey?" Kathy tries to say conventionally as they watch the as it clings onto the outside of the church, investigating the large stained glass window before realising it can't get through and flies off. Kathy tries to hold back the shiver going through her body.
Rose laughs wetly. "Yeah, that was…" she trails off, unable to have the words to explain it. "Are you—"
Kathy looks over to the girl to see her staring at her with a strange expression, almost one of worry. Different from the look of worry she's been having since being in the church.
"Am I what?" Rose stays silent. "Did something happen recently? I mean, other than usual." Kathy jokes.
"Um, yeah, that Dalek adventure it was or will be – for you I mean – a lot…"
Kathy blinks at the companion trying to work out what she means through the non-spoilery hints. She can't help but feel like something was different in the adventure than it was in the show.
There's a slight noise and they both glance over to see Pete coming around from the back of the church. He looks over at Rose, looking at her curiously as though he is just beginning to realise something. Kathy knows that Pete is realising who Rose really is and it will be an opportunity to give them a nice moment to sit down and talk. Just to be able to enjoy what little time they have together.
"Go tell him," Kathy tells Rose.
The companion looks at her wide-eyed, glancing over her shoulder. "You sure? What about the Doctor?"
"After everything, I think you're allowed to talk to your Dad properly."
"Maybe, it's just…" Rose trails off looking anxious.
"What? Not exactly the fairytale you dreamed of?" Kathy summarises.
"Yeah." Rose mumbles, gazing off distantly. "I mean, from the way mum always told me it always seemed… wonderful. Like they were the happiest people in the whole world and completely in love with each other. There were never any disagreements or doubts. Just… love. But… seeing them fight like that. It was like a slap in the face."
"Yeah, suppose it's like me with the show," Kathy responds. "That show of mine seemed to only show me what I wanted to see. Not really anything that went on behind the adventures. Particularly when certain people get grumpy." She glances in the direction of the Doctor who's chatting with Stuart and Sarah.
Rose sniggers slightly though it's not as light-hearted as it would've been before. "He just gets mad 'cause he doesn't know everything." The girl says. "He'll get over it."
"Mmm… anyway," Kathy nudges Rose's shoulder with hers and nods her head towards Pete. "Talk to him." She pats Rose's arm before leaving the daughter and father to talk.
It's then that Kathy spots a familiar small little figure hiding in a corner of the church. He crouched around some curtains, peeking out every few seconds in fright. Then the Reapers would swoop by a window, casting a nasty shadow within the chapel. He would then duck around the curtains again, making sure the shadows would not come anywhere close to him. Kathy smiled lightly, walking over to the young Mickey Smith.
"Hello again, honey," she said quietly, crouching down to make them somewhat eye level.
Little Mickey peeks around the curtain with wide eyes. The poor boy looks frightened by everything, especially as one of the Reapers outside screeches and flies past the window.
"Hello, Kathy." He mumbles. A Reaper screeches outside, making him jump from the startling noise. He quickly buries himself within the large curtain.
Kathy laughs quietly. "You don't have to keep doing that." She tells him. "They're not going to get you."
He peeks back around the curtain. "I know… but I'm scared," Mickey mumbles, looking embarrassed by his fear.
Kathy smiles and nods. "And that's perfectly normal. In fact, if you weren't scared I'd say there was something wrong with you."
He pouts, still seeming disgruntled by his fears. "But grown-ups aren't scared. So I don't need to be, too."
"Now, who told you grown-ups don't get scared? We grown-ups get scared loads of times."
"But… they never seem scared." He frowns heavily, looking confused. "You don't seem scared either."
She smiles kindly at him. "Nope, I get scared loads of times. We all do. And don't let anyone tell you that it's a bad thing, either."
"Still… I don't want to be scared." Mickey shifts around the curtains, looking nervous to be away from them.
"Come here. I've told you I give great hugs." Kathy opens her arms and Mickey shuffles into them, clinging to her.
Oh, Mickey…
—
After handing over Younger Mickey to a startled Rose, Kathy finds herself with the Doctor once more.
"Oh, I need to use the loo. Can anyone watch Rose for me?" Jackie is heard saying behind them. They look over, seeing the mom looking around for someone while she dances edgily on her feet, obviously really needing to go.
"I can." Kathy offers, walking over and smiling kindly at the woman. She holds out her arms for the baby carrier, ready to watch over little Rose.
Jackie seems hesitant at first, but when seeing everyone else is busy elsewhere, she sighs and hands the child over. "Thanks. Be back in a minute." The mom says before rushing off towards the back of the church.
Kathy brings the baby carrier back over to where she and the Doctor had been sitting, holding the carrier in her lap as she smiles down at the baby. Little Rose blinks at her sleepily, appearing ready for a nap soon.
"Ooh, aren't you cute?" Kathy says softly. "Hello, little Rose." The baby blinks at her before starting to smile slightly. She holds out a finger to the child. Baby Rose coos some, grabbing onto Kathy's finger and babbling away happily as she holds onto the digit. Kathy laughs. "Awww, aren't you just the cutest thing."
"Very cute." The Doctor remarks, tickling the baby's cheek lightly. "Now Rose, you're not going to bring about the end of the world, are you?" He says to the babe, reaching over to tickle her. "Are you?" Little Rose blinks and stares at him in bewilderment.
"But you are going to drive the Doctor mad in the future, aren't you?" Kathy speaks cheerfully to the child. Baby Rose turns her eyes to Kathy, starting to giggle and babble in merriment. Kathy chuckles at the Doctor's pout at the baby's response. "Good girl. You drive him bonkers."
"Oi, don't get her started on a bad habit." The Doctor scolds Kathy lightly
Both of them glance over their shoulders as they hear someone coming over to them. It is Rose slowly walking up towards them.
The Doctor looks at her awkwardly.
"Jackie gave her to us to look after. How times change." The Doctor explains when seeing the puzzled glance the girl gives the small baby. "Funny to think that in years to come she'll slap me for even suggesting you being around me." The Doctor grins as Rose laughs lightly.
Kathy beams at Rose. "You are just the cutest baby ever." She tells the girl brightly.
Rose laughs lightly, smiling at baby her. "I better be careful. I think I just imprinted myself on Mickey like a mother chicken." She comments, nodding her head over her shoulder towards the small little boy who is being held by one of the women in the room.
"That you have." Kathy nods, smiling at baby Rose and waving her little hand. "You're going to be the best of mates with him, you are. Don't ever stop hugging him." Baby Rose coos more, some spit dribbling down her face. Older Rose goes to wipe the spit away but both the Doctor and Kathy grab her hand and push the arm away quickly. The Reapers outside screech loudly for a moment before the sounds die down again.
"No. Don't touch the baby." The Doctor instructs Rose firmly. "You're both the same person, that's a paradox. And we don't want a paradox, not with those things outside. Anything new, any sort of time disturbance, makes them stronger. A paradox might let them in."
"So, in other words, young you is off limits," Kathy says to Rose, patting the girl's arm. "No touching yourself."
The Doctor gives her a disappointed look. "Really?"
Kathy shrugs with a smirk. "I had to. It was right there!"
Rose looks dejectedly at her young self. "Can't do anything right, can I?" She mumbles.
"Since you ask – no." The Doctor retorts. Rose's eyes water as she tries to blink them away.
Kathy gives him a sharp smack, making him wince. "Rude." She scolds, shaking her head in disapproval as he glances at her. She understands he still feels frustrated with the companion, but there is no reason to be so unreasonably rude.
"No, he's right," Rose argues. She looks up guilty to the Doctor. "I'm sorry. I should have never done this. I should have listened to you. I was being stupid."
"I know that." The Doctor pauses then, calmer, feeling guilty, he says, "All right, look. Sorry. I wasn't really going to leave you."
"I know."
"Between us three. I haven't got a plan. No idea. No way out." The Doctor tells her remorsefully. Kathy presses her lips together, not saying anything as she knows the two of them need to finish their making-up first.
"You'll think of something," Rose says in encouragement to the Doctor, giving a small smile and nod.
"The entire Earth's been sterilised. This, and other places like it, are all that's left of the human race." The Doctor explains bluntly. He glances up, watching a passing shadowy outline of a Reaper flying by a window. "We might hold out for a while, but nothing can stop those creatures. They'll get through in the end. The walls aren't that old. And there's nothing I can do to stop them. There used to be laws stopping this kind of thing from happening. My people would have stopped this. But they're all gone." He is sad again, staring away with a distant look. "And now I'm going the same way."
Kathy reaches over and squeezes his hand, her hearts going out to him. She wishes she could give him words of comfort, but no words feel good enough. She can't tell him the truth. So she brushes her mind against his softly, wanting him to convey that she will be there for him. She watches as he stiffens for a moment before slowly relaxing. She feels his mind briefly connect with hers, allowing her to feel the light feather touch of his thoughts. It feels like a gloomy rain steadily falling around him. She stays there letting him feel the gentle rock of her mind. She feels him relax even more and sees the gentle blue of his eyes gaze at her again.
"If I'd realised…" Rose says, interrupting their thoughts and making them look at the girl again. Kathy can see the gravity of everything and what she had caused finally settling in for the girl. Rose bites her lip, gazing at them as though pleading for them to forgive her.
"Just… tell me you're sorry." The Doctor says, levelling his eyes and looking stern again.
"I am. I'm sorry." She means it now, all the anger gone.
He puts his hand on her face and breaks into the most wonderful smile, accepting that honest regret completely. "Okay."
Rose is bowled over by that and she smiles back. The Doctor closes his eyes and takes her in his arms. Rose is very happy for a moment to be held.
"Glad you two kids decided to play nice again." She teases them after they pull away from each other. She grins cheekily as they both pouted at her. "And you're wrong, Doctor. There's always a way out." Kathy states. "Just gotta check your pockets sometimes. Never know what you might find in them." The Doctor stares questionably at her, seeming lost to what she is hinting at. Kathy rolls her eyes. "Check your pocket, idiot. Inside pocket, left side. And be careful, it's hot."
The Doctor frowns, digging through the pocket of which she indicated. He pulls back with a small yelp. His TARDIS comes flying out, It skitters across the floor and lands in a corner at their feet, glowing red hot. It glows brightly, shining light at their feet. The Doctor stares at it in amazement.
"It's the TARDIS key!" He exclaims. He quickly pulls off his leather jacket, using its sleeve to pick up the key. He smiles at it as it glows in his hands. "It's telling me it's still connected to the TARDIS."
"She always comes through in the end. She never lets you down." Kathy states brightly.
The Doctor turns his gaze at her, frowning heavily. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" He asks, sounding rather cross.
"She wasn't ready to come back until now," Kathy explains. "I had to wait until she was."
The Doctor still seems irritated, but he lets it slide. He stands up then, gazing around the others in the room. "Think everyone will believe that I've got a spaceship stuck in the time-disruption atrophy of void space and the Time Vortex?" Kathy laughs lightly while Rose shakes her head in disbelief.
"Maybe break it to them slowly." Kathy offers in support, patting the Doctor's arm a bit.
—
The Doctor walks up to the front of the church, gathering everyone up. He is pacing up and down in front of the crowd, holding the key in a piece of cloth as he explains how he is going to save them. Kathy listens from where she sits just a couple of rows away. Surprisingly, as the Doctor explains everything to everyone, most of the people there just seem to accept it as it is and don't question it too much. So there are spaceships and time travel. Not the worst thing compared to what lay in wait for them outside the church. Though the look on Jackie's face as the Doctor talks about the details of the TARDIS and time is too priceless. Kathy can't help but giggle after seeing the woman's expression. Even during the moment of watching the Doctor gathers a large mobile phone battery from the groom and uses it to work on his key.
Kathy knows this won't go anywhere but it can't hurt particularly as it pushes everything along. She tenses though as she thinks about the Doctor vanishing as she recalls what happened to her on Trenzalore when his timeline was being rewritten. She disappeared…
She startles as she hears the Reapers continue to relentlessly pound on the church doors. That's when her ears perk as she hears the slow version of the TARDIS materialisation sound. She watches, along with the others, to where the Doctor is now standing holding the key, at the height where the TARDIS lock would be. The TARDIS interior, and then its exterior, start to form. He lets go and the key hangs there in mid-air, supported by the slowly materialising TARDIS. Around it, there appeared a fuzzy outline of something before slowly the outline grew into a glowing haze of a police box.
The Doctor rushes around to the podium then, beaming away as he faces everyone, warning everyone not to touch the key.
The TARDIS is taking her time materialising. It is a great struggle and will take a lot of energy for the old girl to be able to make it back into the world. Once she has, then the Doctor can begin to mend time. But Kathy knows it will not matter. Things will not turn out well either way. She glances back over her shoulder at a sombre-looking Pete. He's figured out that he had been the thing that Rose had changed today. He had meant to die. Kathy knows it must be an awful realisation, knowing that one is meant to be dead and gone to the universe. It must be the worst feeling to know that truth. She wishes there is something she could do for the father to make him feel better. It is the least she could do since nothing could be done to save him.
But seeing bride and groom beaming away at each other, merrily giving each other a kiss in joy along with the others began muttering away, Kathy can't help but feel her spirits lift slightly at their hope. Kathy smiles as she watches the Doctor bounce away from the front of the church and heads back to where Rose and Pete sit with a 'come along' gesture in Kathy's direction.
—
The Doctor, Kathy and Rose are sitting on chairs with a bottle of communion wine and three glasses, waiting, watching the TARDIS forming. Pete waits also, troubled, with a glass of his own. Jackie looks back, shooting Rose a withering look as she cradles the younger version.
"When time gets sorted out…" Rose begins to say.
The Doctor knows Pete can hear, so answers carefully. "Everyone will forget this happened." He explains. "And don't worry… thing you changed will stay... changed."
"You mean I'll still be alive… though I'm meant to be dead." He speaks up gruffly, getting their attention. Glancing at him, Kathy can see his forlorn gaze as he stares off into the church. His lips are pressed into a thin line, clearly troubled after realising the truth. She stares at him sadly, feeling terrible that he had found out what had happened. "That's why I haven't done anything with my life." Pete grimaces as he chortles humourlessly at himself. "Why it didn't mean anything."
"No, don't say that," Kathy tells him sternly. She reaches over, grabbing his hand. "You made Rose Tyler, the greatest friend and companion. A wonderful daughter. Don't say you haven't done anything when you've given the world the most wonderful gift." She smiles at him, patting his hand gently.
Pete seems to consider this, nodding some and seeming to believe the same thing. "But what else?" He asks. He stares questionably at her. "Am I meant for anything else or is that it? Am I meant to be dead 'cause I've already done what I'm meant to do?" Kathy lets go of his hand as a grave expression appears on her face. She can't lie to him, but she can't tell him the truth either. So she remains silent. Pete nods, seeing the answer in her eyes. "I thought so. Now it's my fault all of this has happened."
"This is my fault," Rose tells him, quickly grabbing onto the same hand Kathy had held.
The expression on her face brings Pete up short. "No, love. I'm your Dad. It's my job for it to be my fault."
"Her dad?"
Kathy startles, eyes going wide as she looks up with everyone else and sees Jackie standing there in the aisle next to where they sit. Jesus Christ. How did she forget?
Jackie stares at Pete, looking disgusted and revolted by Pete's words. Her mouth opens wide as she looks as though she wants to gag. But also a great pain sliced through her eyes. Hurt that Pete could have done something like that to her. She holds baby Rose tightly in her arms. Kathy can see almost every thought that is running through Jackie's mind, none of which are pretty.
"How are you her dad?" Jackie asks Pete angrily. "How old were you, twelve? Oh, that's disgusting."
Pete stands up, going over to Jackie, already trying to ease the woman from being hysterically angry. "Jacks, listen." He says quickly, already trying to break it to Jackie on the news about who Rose really is. The one sitting beside Kathy, that is. He points at the older Rose as he speaks, "This is Rose."
"Rose? How sick is that?" Jackie bites out as her voice shakes from betrayal. "Did you give my daughter a secondhand name? How many are there? Do you call them all Rose?" Jackie is both on the verge of tears and screaming at the same time.
"Oh, for God's sake, look!" Pete exclaims in frustration. The man acts so quickly then that Kathy doesn't register what he is doing until it is too late. He plucks baby Rose out of Jackie's arms and hurriedly pushes her into old Rose's arms. "It's the same Rose."
Kathy gasps and shouts for him to stop just as he pushes the babe into Rose's arms. The Doctor shouts as well, rushing around her and towards Rose, yanking the baby away from the blonde girl. The Doctor yelling this because of an overwhelming fear to the paradox. Kathy screamed 'no' because, even though she knew it is meant to happen; she still does not want Pete to die. For Rose to lose her father, again.
It is too late, however, as, at that moment, a Reaper suddenly appears within the church out of thin air. The people in the church begin to scream and panic, getting up from the benches they were sitting at and rushing to get away from the monster. The Reaper starts to descend on them, ready to kill. Kathy's mind races quickly. Upon instinct, she wants to hurriedly throw herself in front of the group and let the Reaper eat her. To save the Doctor from being taken then her… well not existing as she's found out happens upon the Doctor's death. Only one of them gone instead of both would be better for Rose.
"Everyone get behind me!" The Doctor shouts, stepping forward to make certain that everyone rushing will be behind him. He holds out his arms wide, staring down at the creature that hovers in the air before them.
The Reaper unfurls its leathery wings, screeching with its large mouth at them all so loudly that it reverberates off the walls of the church as it looks down at them with its piercing red eyes.
"I'm the oldest thing in here!" The Doctor cries.
Rose looks confused, glancing at Kathy. And in Rose's mind (and the Doctor's) that's not true but Kathy knows better. However, she knows she can't tell them about all the Doctor's forgotten lives.
The Reaper makes a strange sound that reminds Kathy of a dolphin, though more guttural and twisted. The Reaper fixes on the Doctor as he steps closer to it. It is then that the creature finally acts, screeching and swooping down towards the Doctor. Kathy's eyes widened in horror. This can't be happening.
"No!" She screams as she runs forward, leaping towards the Time Lord but the Reaper gets there first, enveloping him and eating him whole. Killing him in an instant. Everyone around her screams in terror as the Reaper swoops around the room to finish off more victims. Only Kathy remains in the same spot, glued to the floor. The Reaper envelops him and he's gone.
She hears Rose screaming and crying next to her, and Pete trying to comfort her but time around her almost seems to stand still. Kathy stares blankly at where the Doctor had vanished. It's then that she feels a familiar searing pain go through her. She grimaces, clutching her stomach. Oh God, not yet. She needs to make sure Rose is okay.
"This is all my fault." Rose cries, her voice breaking through. She holds out the cold TARDIS key to Kathy. "The key's cold. The Reaper made it go away. Kathy… what do we do?"
Kathy grabs the key with a shaking hand. She holds it close to her chest as she tries to breathe through the pain.
"No, no, no…" She mutters to herself.
"It's okay, right? You can bring him back?" Rose brushes at Kathy's face, wiping away the pouring tears. Funny. Kathy had not noticed when she had begun to cry.
"No, no, Rose. You don't understand, that's not the point." Kathy replies urgently. "Ah…" she gasps out as another wave of pain passes through her. How has her skull not split open?
"Than what?!" Rose frantically asks.
"I—" She can't tell Rose, not now.
Rose sobs hugging her tightly. "We– we'll get him back, y–yeah? He… he can't be gone. Right?"
Kathy grits her teeth as she tries to stop herself yelping in pain. She needs to keep her mind straight and focus on saving everyone around her. The Doctor is gone but she needs to push on. Push on until her last breath. To get him back. She struggles through her dying body. Fighting against her body dying. It keeps wanting to fade away. Wanting to just die off and be wiped from existence. But she needs to save Rose first. She forces her body up, internally pleading for her body to keep fighting until she's fixed today's events. It is a hard battle for her, but she manages. She stumbles down the aisle. Her feet slip around as they become numb. She can hardly feel her legs. Rose holds her up, looking concerned.
"Pete… we need… Pete." Kathy struggles out in a breath. She grips onto Rose, pointing to where the father had gone off in the back. Rose nods, walking Kathy over to where her father had gone.
Kathy looks down and sees her hand, the one on the other side to where Rose is almost looks translucent and is clearly crawling up her arm. Kathy hurriedly pushes it inside her jacket.
—
They see him staring out a window, looking to the street just outside. He holds a glum gaze as he watches something closely. Kathy knows he is seeing the car repeating itself over and over again outside. The tool to his death.
"Pete… I'm sorry." Kathy says when they come up to him. "I'm so, so sorry." She grips his arm, more tears leaking out as she stares at him. Feeling a mixture of the pain over the Doctor, her dying and the knowing of what Pete must do. Kathy can feel her hidden arm fading, the rest of her barely holding on but she needs to do this.
"You and the Doctor both worked it out way back, didn't you?" He asks rhetorically.
"Yes." Kathy breathes out hoarsely.
"What? Worked what out?" Rose asks, looking between the two of them in confusion as to what exactly they are talking about.
"It's the only way now. I'm so… sorry." Kathy whispers with a few more tears falling down her face as she stares solemnly at Pete. She then turns her gaze to Rose. "Neither one of us… wanted you to go through it again. We didn't want… want you to be sad. We wanted… to protect Pete."
"What is it?" Rose questions, looking even more bewildered. Though, a hint of comprehension flashes through her eyes as it begins to slowly dawn on her.
"The car that should've killed me, love. It's here." Pete says gently. He gives Kathy a forlorn and sad gaze. "It's the only way now, isn't it?"
"Yes," Kathy whispers. He nods, patting her shoulder before walking out of the back room determinedly. Rose gasps, looking horrified and stricken. Kathy gives the girl a sad gaze. "Go to him."
Once Rose is gone, sprinting off after her father, leaving to give him their last goodbyes. Kathy in a sharp shaky breath as she staggers with no one and nothing holding her up anymore. She slumps against the wall, curling up in a ball as the pain in her head becomes unbearable, tears streaming down her face. Her jaw aches as she desperately tries not to scream, to not give away what's happening and ruin Rose's last moments with her dad.
She had done it. Kathy made sure that Pete would fix time. Just as he was meant to do. Die, not as a victim, but as a saviour. Not only to fix time but to save Rose's life and all the lives held on planet Earth. But also, in some ways, making certain that Rose's life would be a good one.
And with that, Kathy fades from existence.
—
There was immense pain followed by utter darkness and… nothingness. Then, the next moment, Kathy is blinking as sunlight from a painted window hits her face. She squints, blocking the sunlight from her face as she hurriedly glances around to see where she is. She realises she's still in the back room of the church where Pete and Rose had left her. Her body sags with relief. It worked. Everything had worked out.
Kathy stands up sluggishly. She stumbles around some as she walks out from the back, looking around the church. Then she spots the Doctor's back at the open doors of the church, she lets out a gasp of relief at the sight of him. The confirmation that everything had worked out like it should. He is okay. She gives out a cry of joy and runs up to him, grabbing ahold of him and spinning him around to face her. He blinks in shock to see the tears in her eyes and on her face. Kathy beams at him before throwing her arms around him and hugging him.
"You… you all right there, Kathy?" The Doctor asks, patting her back awkwardly.
"You had died. You were dead." Kathy cries onto his shoulder.
"Well… I'm alive now, aren't I." He states, sounding baffled by her actions. "You're just being silly. You knew that everything was going to turn out all right, so why worry about me dying?"
She felt angry that he would just brush off something as simple as him dying. As well as the fact that he had been so foolish enough as to let himself die in the first place. But it would be hypocritical for her to become angry when she herself would have done the same thing but that doesn't stop her from whacking his arm.
"Knowing and seeing are two different things. God, seeing you go like that was horrific." She retorts as the Doctor pouts rubbing his arm. They catch each other's then and can't help but let out slightly deletions sniggers. Then Kathy startles, another thought hitting her. "Pete!"
—
As they step out into the daylight, there's a noticeable lack of screeching from the Reapers. Kathy can see Rose standing there by the doorway, eyes closed tightly as though not wishing to see anything around her. Not wishing to experience what may follow if she dare opens her eyes. Kathy walks over to the girl immediately, touching the girl gently on the shoulder. Rose opens her eyes, staring at Kathy gratefully and looking at the Doctor in shock briefly before looking relieved to see him again.
"Go to him. Quick." The Doctor says, nodding towards the end of the street from the church. Around the corner of the way where a tan car has now stopped. The scene is similar to before in the original timeline but this time in a different location and instead of a hit and run, the young driver, Matt, is standing there looking down at the ground in horror.
Rose bites her lip before nodding, seeming to gather her resolve as she takes off and runs down the street. The Doctor and Kathy cross the street, going towards where she can see the TARDIS is now parked on the pavement. She lets herself feel brief elation as the ship's presence enters her mind once again before she tears her gaze away to look towards the street. There she can see Rose, kneeling beside her father, holding up his head and gripping onto his hand. He lies dying beside her, giving his daughter a look of recognition for a moment and one last tentative smile before his eyes slip close and his chest slowly falls one last time. He's gone.
Rose bows her head as she lies the man's head back down on the ground and lets go of his hand. The tears are evident on her face as she softly cries, a hand on her mouth as she shakes. The absolute full moment of grief, as never felt before. Pete had what no father could've ever wished for. To see the daughter who he will never get to watch grow up be there for him. Even though Kathy never wished for Rose to experience something so dreadful… at least the girl is able to be there for her father when he needs it most. That is something that can never be forgotten.
Kathy feels her eyes grow hot as tears come forward and fall down her face. She tries holding it in but… watching the scene unfold, it makes Kathy think of the parents she's lost. Her mother in this life and her last along with her father in her last life and the one she's never known in this one.
People are coming out of the church now, looking at the accident from a distance. They include Sonny and many of the others who were taken by the Reapers. Kathy sees Jackie coming out of the church, looking puzzled, just starting to question people about what's going on. Rose bends down to her Dad's body and kisses his forehead. She looks up to Kathy and the Doctor, her eyes wavering but holding herself steady as she walks over to them. Rose takes the Doctor's hand and links her other arm with Kathy. The three of them walk towards the TARDIS.
Kathy glances back towards where Pete lies and sends a quick mental thank you to him. Pete Tyler died to save the world. No… better than that. He died to save his world. He died to save Jackie and Rose. Those most important to him out of all time and space. A true husband and a true father to the very end.
—
1994 AD/CE
Katherine Davis aged 1,464 stands in a cemetery in New York, gazing upon a headstone that reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY RORY ARTHUR WILLIAMS AGED 82
AND HIS LOVING WIFE AMELIA WILLIAMS AGED 87
Kathy lets out a quiet sniffle as she places a bouquet of flowers in front of their grave. She feels an arm wrap around her and she looks up to see it's Carlyle. Vastra, River and Ashildr stand next to him.
Rory had gone first then Amy had followed five years later. Kathy had guessed, based on their ages when they were sent back to 1938 and the years that they died that it would be some point around now but that doesn't make it any easier.
Kathy looks solemnly at the Silurian, knowing that after Jenny died of old age, Vastra still mourns her wife and will do so for a few more decades yet. The pain is like a scar that aches. And there's River too, who's been able to spend more time with her parents in the more linear sense since they've been sent to the past and finished travelling with the Doctor. There's a chance she won't see them again.
Kathy reaches over to River, taking her hand. Carlyle, Ashildr and Vastra walk away to leave them be.
The two of them stand quietly together in front of the grave for a few moments before Kathy speaks, "The Doctor, their Doctor," she gestures to Amy and Rory's names, "called me yesterday."
River lets out a wet chuckle. "What did that idiot want?"
"Something about the Skelsdale Nuclear power station, England and the Mykuootni. A hyper-advanced race of insects who invade and swarm across planets." They laugh at the Doctor's ramblings before Kathy sobers. "I might've joined him, maybe invited you along, but he's still at that point in his timeline where he's still travelling with Amy and Rory. And I couldn't…"
River pats her arm gently. "Neither could I. Not yet."
"Not yet."
Kathy looks to where the TARDIS will stand on the day they get sent back in nearly 20 years time. She can't help but smile slightly. She will see them again. And all of time and space will watch them run.
—
A/N: Bit of a sad ending but I tried to make it a but uplifting at the end.
Next chapter we will officially be in the 21st century properly!