Chapter Text
Finally here. I need to find the entrance to the hotel…my dad kept saying something about extonic sunlight and how much safer it is inside of the hotel…whatever the hell that means.
Okay, breathe breathe.
—————————————————————————————————————
“Hi um yes, I’m checking in. Oh and, I’m meeting my friend here. He should be checked in already.”
“Welcome, miss! Alrighty, what’s your friend’s name? Oh, and would you like to purchase tickets for the Diamond Tours? There’s one leaving soon!”
Would the Doctor be going on that? Probably not, it’s early and he’s never been much of a morning person. He’s probably still in bed.
“Uh…no thanks. My friend usually goes by the Doctor?”
“Okay! Let me see…” The host types some things into his computer, “Sorry miss, I don’t see any doctors checked in for today.”
“Oh alright.” I sigh and get ready to tell the host my name and get on with it. How is this possible? Dad told me he would be here and he’s almost never wrong. I look back up,
“Wait sorry uh, this is a little awkward. He uses a different name, that’s his, uhh…nickname?”
God, do I even sound convincing?
What is that stupid, obviously fake name?
“John..erm…Doe?”
Dumb.
“You’re looking for a…John Doe?” The host gives me a weird look.
I am so stupid. Oh. My. God.
“Yes?” I smile, trying to act convincing. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and bat my eyelashes.
“I’m sorry, do you think this is some sort of joke establishment? We take ourselves very seriously here at the Leisure Palace!”
“Listen mate, can you just check?” I glare at him, tired of acting dumb…
…even though I am being a little dumb and should have planned this mission out a little bit more beforehand.
The host types a few words into his desk computer. He sighs.
“Miss, there are no John Doe’s checked in. Are you sure that is his name?”
What is that idiotic name? Jones? Brown?
What if he went by John Tyler? I think, almost laughing out loud. Wait-
“SMITH!” I yell out, a little too loud - the family next to me glares. I think I hear the mom whisper to her child to stop staring at me.
“Sorry ha, Smith. John Smith is his name.”
I nod enthusiastically, my smile gleaming with pride.
“A little weird it took you so long to remember your friend’s name but uh…”, more typing on the computer,
“Yes, there is a John Smith checked in for three nights with a guest.”
“Guest?”
“Yes? This is a hotel ma’am. I think it would be weird if someone was staying alone…that reminds me, lets get you all checked in!”
“Two nights for Rose Tyler”, I sigh.
It’s a cover. I know I can’t stay for more than a few hours at a time, I don’t have a very good dimension hopper. I don’t know what I expected, it was only 100 Canans and I bought it on some sketchy trading planet. At least I know my dad is waiting for me on the other side, waiting to help me if I need it.
“Oh, I see you only have one room with one bed. Staying alone I see.”
I roll my eyes.
“Can I just get the damn key, please?”
———————————————————————————————————————
I put my stuff in my room and have come back downstairs to take a look around. I can’t let the Doctor’s “guest” see me until I see him. I don’t want to mess anything up. What if I’m too early? Or what if the incarnation that’s here now is from five lives in the future? Maybe it's the blonde female version of him...she's pretty cute. I know that he’s been using the John Smith as a pseudonym for a long time. I still can’t believe it’s worked for him for so long, it’s the fakest sounding fake name ever.
“No no no…” I mutter to myself out loud, “Can’t get ahead of myself just yet.”
And that’s when I hear him, towards the tram tours. His voice echoing off the high ceilings made of thick glass…
“I’ll be back for dinner. We’ll try that antigravity restaurant, with bibs.”
I gasp, finally! FINALLY! After all those failed trips….
I begin to make my way toward the trams. I’m walking faster now, almost running. There’s a ticket booth. Maybe if I just run right past the woman working there won’t notice. I’ll just be someone who’s late to the tour.
“Excuse me, miss? Do you have a ticket?”
She quite literally stops me in my tracks.
Maybe I should have purchased a ticket for the tour. Ugh.
“A what? Uh, no sorry, my friend is just over there and uh…”
Quick! What’s a believable lie that I can tell this woman?
“He left something in my room."
I pull out my TARDIS key and smile. It’s still attached to the twine all the way back from 2005. That reminds me…
What year even is this?
“I’m sorry miss, you’ll have to wait until your friend gets back. The trams are boarding now and it’s not safe for anyone without a ticket to be on the platform. Just for security is all!” She smiles and it looks like she’s getting ready to leave too.
“What? That’s ridiculous! Please, I just have to talk to him for a few seconds! I really need to tell him something.”
“What about the…whatever. He’ll be back in around eight hours, miss. So sorry for the inconvenience.”
“Wait! Ple-“
A teenager with black hair and weird bracelets runs right into me and doesn’t even stop to see if I’m okay.
“Watch it!”
“Sorry!”, he yells back.
What an ass.
I’m too late and, apparently, he is as well. His parents are yelling at him as he gets on the tram. The woman who was talking to me is getting on too and greeting people. I even see her talk to the Doctor!
I won’t be able to see him. The hostess just said it’s an eight hour trip and I only have two more hours here. I won’t be able to warn him about what’s coming…the Darkness. Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine.
Might as well check out the hotel since I’m here now.
———————————————————————————————————————
I sigh as I sadly sit down by the pool. I feel like crying. He’s here and so am I. It’s the right universe! It’s the right time! The most frustrating missions are those when he’s just left. But I’ve failed again and it’s too late now. I’ve been so many places, seen so much death and destruction, wars and chaos. I’ve seen my own friends and family die, over and over again. I shudder as I think about the countless versions of myself I’ve bumped into. They were so clueless. The ones that knew the Doctor were the worst ones, especially if they were still traveling with him. They didn’t know what was coming, that me and him really weren’t meant to spend forever together.
“Are you okay?”, a friendly voice calls to me from across the room.
“Oh yeah,” I wipe a tear from my cheek, “I’m fine.” I try to smile even though the person can’t see my face.
“Do you want anything to drink? They’ve got bottomless margaritas, they’re to die for!”
“Well, now you’ve caught my attention…”, I joke and turn around.
My eyes widen as I look over at the woman. She has long red hair tied in a pony tail and she’s wearing a robe. I know exactly who she is, the most important woman in the universe:
Donna Noble!
But I’m not supposed to meet her yet, not here. The Daleks aren’t supposed to take Earth for a few more months (well according to Dad). This is exactly what I was afraid of. At least I know it’s a platonic thing between her and the Doctor. She always seemed a little fruity to me, anyway.
“Why don’t you sit over here? You look like you could use some company.”
I know I shouldn’t. I know everyone, including the Doctor, would probably tell me not to (even though he did let me see my parents in that one parallel universe…), but something pushes me her way. She can tell me what he’s been up to, if he’s okay.
“What’s your name?” I ask her, just to be sure.
“Donna. Donna Noble. What about you?”
So it really is Donna….do I lie? Should I lie?
“Jackie.” I say with a slight grin.
I think mum would kill me if she learned I was impersonating her.
“So…what are you doing here?” I ask, even though it’s obvious they’re just on vacation. Or maybe the TARDIS knew something was up and took them here. It doesn’t seem bad here though, it’s a nice hotel.
“Oh you know…traveling with a friend. He has this….this ship. It’s amazing, traveling with him.”
Her eyes almost sparkle when she talks about the TARDIS and the Doctor.
Oh Donna, I wish I could stop what’s going to happen to you.
“Is your friend here?”
“Oh no, he went on one of those Diamond Tours. Just didn’t appeal to me. Eight hour all together?! It’s like a school trip! I never want to re-live those days again!”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes as I laugh.
“Yeah, you have to be pretty crazy to want to go on one of those!” I say as my cheeks turn the slightest bit pink.
“So, why are you here?”
“Oh you know, I had to get away for a few days. My family’s driving me crazy.” Which is technically true! My parents and Mickey won’t stop bothering me about finding the Doctor. We all know that time is running out and our dimension hopper is, frankly, shit. None of us know how many trips I have left.
“Well,” she says, “maybe you could join my friend and I for dinner tonight. We’re going to this awesome antigravity restaurant! Plus, he’s into blondes!” She says the last part all singsongy. My eyes widen and she laughs. I stumble and try to let out a laugh too. If only I didn’t have to get back so soon. I could have dinner with the Doctor and Donna!
“I’d love to,” I smile, “I just don’t know if I’ll be around tonight.”
She frowns,
“Well, the offer still stands, whenever you are free.”
“Thanks so much, Donna.”
We talk for a little while longer. She tells me about her traveling companion, says he’s called the Doctor.
“What a weird name.” I say, trying not to sound suspicious.
I hope she didn’t hear me asking the host about him earlier.
“I’ve always thought it was fake!” She half-whispers to me and then she winks.
Oh Donna, never change.
Apparently they met on her wedding day and the man she was supposed to marry was in cahoots with a giant spider lady, an alien! I don’t tell her this, but she’s definitely going to see worse. In fact, maybe she already has. I ask her about their adventures together. She says that his ship travels in time and space. I act excited and surprised. I’m already risking so much just talking to her! Maybe I do ask a few too many questions about him but I can’t resist, I’ve been so worried about him all these months. I can’t just tell her:
“Oh yeah, by the way, I’m that girl that he misses. I destroyed the Dalek Emperor! You’re the most important woman in the universe!”
She tells me all about the places they’ve gone and where she still wants to go. It’s almost like she knows I know, maybe she can sense my pain, my grief, my time cut short. I want to talk to Donna for hours but I realize I’ve gotta jump through the portal soon.
“I’m really sorry, Donna but I have to go back up to my room. My dad wants to video call and I can’t say no again. Hopefully our paths will cross again.” I stand up, even though I don’t want to go.
“Aw, alright. It was very nice talking to you, Jackie. If I ever do see you again I’m holding you to the dinner plan! Oh and, setting you up with my friend. He’s always seemed a bit lonely. I think he needs someone more than me.” She frowns for a second then looks back up at smiles at me.
I look at her sadly, tears almost forming in my eyes. He’s so lonely Donna can tell? It’s that bad? Is it because of me? Is it because of that stupid decision I made in Canary Wharf? Is it all my fault he’s so…so….sad? Oh god, will I really ever see him again? Are these missions even worth it? This is all my fault.
I’ve been staring sadly at her for a little bit too long -
“I’m sorry to hear that, Donna.”
I smile and wave then head for my room.
I hope that wasn’t too obvious. Fuck.
———————————————————————————————————————
I’m about to step into the elevator when I hear some commotion by the tram tour desk.
They can’t be back so soon, could the Doctor have stayed behind?
I make my way over there. Since there’s not another tour today, the man working at the desk doesn’t stop me, in fact, he’s on the phone.
“What do you mean? It can’t stop, they’re not meant to stop while out on a tour! The sun…”
The Doctor, he was on that tram. I turn to look at the host.
“Yes, I’ll send a shuttle. What are your coordinates? Okay, uh huh. And you said twenty-three? Okay, okay, stay safe. See you soon.”
He hangs up the phone looking incredibly worried.
“Excuse me,” I ask “is something wrong?”
“No no, just a little bit of a problem with the tour that went out earlier today. The passengers will be back soon.” He tries to fake a smile but it turns into more of a pained grimace.
I can tell he’s lying. I take a leap of faith, maybe I can warn the Doctor another way.
“I have a friend on that tram, is there any way I could talk to him? Make sure he’s okay? Sometimes he gets claustrophobic.”
“Uh…”
He takes a glance at his computer, looking more worried than before,
“All communications with the tram are down. This isn’t good, this really isn’t good!”
“What? Is everyone okay?”
“I don’t know. Let me see if I can get in contact with the tram. There are TV screens above the seats. Some of them have cameras and microphones so that people at the hotel can talk to the people on the tram since it’s an all-day thing. It’s mostly for kids. Come over here.”
I walk over and behind the desk. He points to a screen and pulls the microphone up. Apparently I might be able to talk to the Doctor. It’s been so long, what do I even say to him? The last time we talked I was confessing my love to him (which is kinda embarrassing btw!) I know I have to warn him but I don’t know how he’ll react to seeing me. And what will I think when I see him? Will we be so lost in the moment I’ll forget to warn him and then run out of time?
Just then I hear someone else coming down the hall. I think they’re…running?
“Excuse me! Ma’am?”
The person talking sounds angry.
Wait, it’s not…
I turn around.
Donna.
Oh god.
“Is there something happening that I don’t know about? Why are you so worried about the tram?”
Her voice is raised and she seems angry.
What is going on? We were just friends a few minutes ago!
“Donna, please calm down! I just…got worried, nothing else. I know the trams go right on through until the diamond waterfall…brochures and all.” I try to smile but I don’t realize my eyes are tearing up.
“No no no. I can tell you’re lying! You know, now that I think about it, you were asking so many questions about my friend. Are you after him? Do you know something I don’t? If anything, I should be the one behind that desk not you!”
She’s yelling now.
“Donna really, it’s nothing. I had never heard of him until today!”
“No, no! That isn’t true! I can sense it!”
The host glances at me and seems suspicious. He sighs and goes back to his computer. I’m pretty sure his problems are bigger than the two bickering women next to him.
Where did I go wrong?
“I know you’re lying, Jackie! Or is that even your name?!”
I can’t let her know who I am but what other option do I have? She knows I’m not who I say I am and I feel such a connection to her, it must be the Doctor. I felt this too when I met Sarah Jane. I’m sorry, Dad…
“Fine. Fine! My name isn’t Jackie…it’s…” I sigh, “….it’s Rose.”
Donna looks at me
“No….no…it—it can’t be.”
“Donna,” I grab her shoulders, “you can’t tell him I was here. It’s true I was looking for him and that there’s something I have to tell him but my dimension hopper…I have to get back soon is my point.”
“But you and him…I mean….”
“Yes, I used to travel with him but that was a long time ago, at least it seems like it. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that again. If this is my only chance to warn him then I have to talk to him. Now.”
Donna is almost crying now,
“He’s in love with you, Rose.”
I look at her, wide eyed. I’m practically crying too. When did I start crying?
“What? Did he…I…”
I have to stay focused. I can’t let this get me distracted, right now might be my only chance.
“…All that aside,” I wipe my cheeks with my hands, “you can’t tell him I was here. Promise? It could lead to something bad…something worse. I can’t have him distracted, especially when he’s supposed to be taking you on all these fun vacations.”
She smiles at me,
“I promise…as long as you promise to come back.”
I let out a slight chuckle,
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Donna gestures towards the man at the computer.
I almost forgot about him.
“Here, I’m gaining contact now. Something is definitely wrong.” He sighs, “Sound’s coming through now…”
I can hear screaming and tumbling.
Is the tram rolling around?
Then I hear him, oh my god I hear him!
“Arms, legs, neck, head, nose. I’m fine…Everyone else?”
Oh thank god he’s okay!
Donna looks at me and smiles bittersweetly. We share a sigh of relief.
“Picture is coming in now. He’ll be able to see you in about 10 seconds. Get ready.”
I nod.
“I don’t know long you’ll be able to speak to him. The system is super fragile in the state it’s in.”
“That’s fine,” I say, “I just need a few moments.”
And then he appears on the screen…but he can’t see me yet. His hair is longer, and it has more product in it. There is something about him that doesn’t seem right, maybe like what Donna sensed. He looks scared and almost…empty.
I wonder if he misses me as much as I miss him. Is what Donna said true? Does he really love me? And how does she know that? Did he tell her or does he just mention me enough for her to just…know?
Rose!
Focus!
He’s looking right at the TV, right into the camera, like he knows I’m on the other side. Oh Doctor, my Doctor, please keep looking at the screen. But no! He’s turning around! Right as the host is telling me he can see me, he’s no longer looking.
“Doctor!”, I scream, “DOCTOR!”
Please…
But he’s not turning around. All I see is his hair, oh that hair! I’ve always loved that hair, but right now, not so much. The screen is static again as I look over at the host worried and, honestly, angry.
“I’m sorry miss, the signal cut out and it seems like the microphone isn’t working. But there’s a rescue team on the way. Your friend will be back in about two hours.”
But I don’t have that kind of time. I only have a few minutes left here. Donna looks at me sadly.
“I’m so sorry, Rose.” She whispers.
“Thanks anyway.” I say as I walk away, tears streaming down my face. Donna follows after me.
———————————————————————————————————————
I’m back in my room waiting for the portal to open back up. Donna is sitting on my bed with me. She offered to come up with me and I was too weak to say no.
“You know, you probably already have it but I could give you the TARDIS’s phone number, Rose.”
I look up at her, my eyes sting from crying. I sigh, I really shouldn’t but my phone got completely burned up on a mission and I lost everything. I've already caused enough damage, what more could this do? I don't have to use it but it will be nice to have.
“Okay.”
Donna writes the number down on a piece of paper that says The Leisure Palace On Midnight at the bottom and I slip it into one of my jacket pockets.
Dad is gonna be so pissed at me.
Then I see them, my mum, dad and Mickey. They look worried…and sad. Maybe my dad told mum and Mickey what my next mission is.
“Rose I- wait. What is she doing here?!” my dad asks as she points to my new friend. I can already tell he’s angry.
“I’m sorry, I had no other choice!”
“Do you know the repercussions this could have?! You have done some stupid stuff but never like this! Did you even warn the Doctor? Did you even get to him in time?”
I look at my father, shocked and speechless.
Why is he yelling at me like this? And in front of Donna?
“Excuse me, if I may interject…,” it’s Donna, “I do not appreciate the way you’re talking to your daughter. She already explained everything to me and I understand the situation. I’m not some sort of idiot! Of course I won’t tell him if you guys don’t want me to, although, I think it would be quite the pick-me-up for him.”
I smile at her, “Thanks, Donna.”
My dad sighs and nods towards her.
I look to my dad again, crying and shaking my head.
I gesture to the door to the lobby, to the pool, to the tram tours and to….to him.
“I need more time! He is here! I mean obviously…” I look up at Donna.
“You’ll get stuck here, there is somewhere more important you have to go now! It’s the most important trip yet!”
I know what my father is talking about. I have to see Donna. I have to save Donna and her universe (which I’m hoping is the one we’re all originally from). I don’t know how he knows but we’ve been preparing for it for weeks. We already have connections with UNIT there.
“I can see the tram he’s in from my hotel window!”
Well, the glass is 15 feet thick, but I’m pretty sure I can make out a shape way out in the diamonds. It’s moving at least?
I’m still crying, my hands covering my face. Donna rubs my back. My mum sighs as she looks at me,
“Oh sweetie…”
She crosses through and gives me a hug.
“Come on.”
She puts an arm around my shoulder and we both walk into the portal that leads right into my bedroom. My dad then goes through to thank Donna.
“I’m sorry it turned out like this. It was supposed to be cleaner. I don’t even know why she started talking to you…some of the things that girl does…” my dad says.
Donna smiles,
“Traveling with that man is funny. You know, funny things happen to me sometimes, it really comes with the job. Please don’t worry about it. I just hope she feels better. This must be so hard on her. I can tell how much they care about each other.”
My dad and her shake hands and he’s coming back on through. I wave to Donna one last time and she blows me a kiss.
I catch it.
The portal closes.
“Get some sleep,” my father says, “then in the morning, you know what to do”.
I nod, wiping my face with a warm towel.
“I love you”, my dad says before he turns off the light.
“Love you too.”
I hear my dad saying something to Mickey about how we really need a new dimension hopper.
———————————————————————————————————————
Suddenly it’s morning and I’m putting on the same top I wore at the Leisure Palace, a blue leather jacket type thing. If everything is right and where I’m going is further in the future, maybe Donna will recognize me! Dad hasn’t told me everything he knows, just that it involves Donna and the Doctor. I smile as I think about seeing the both of them again. Maybe after we do what needs to be done we can finally have that dinner.
I hug my dad and Mickey then give mum a kiss on the cheek.
“Good luck!” they all say as I’m running through the portal.
———————————————————————————————————————
I’m thrown right into a crowd. Screams, explosions…bits of something are falling out of the sky. That ship…it seems familiar. There are tanks in the street. I stumble, trying to get a sense of where I am. London, Earth. That’s a good start, but what year is it? Is this my universe? My home universe, I mean. The one where I met the Doctor. And there’s a woman standing down the street, watching everything happening. She looks like Donna.
It can’t be this easy, can it?
I want to say her name but I don’t know where this is in her time stream. For all I know, the Leisure Palace could have been ten years ago. Or maybe she doesn’t even know the Doctor exists yet. This must be my universe though since the thing in the sky is the ship that Donna described to me at the Leisure Palace. The one that flew around the night she and the Doctor met….right after he and I…
———————————————————————————————————————
I’m running now, running towards Donna. It looks like shit just went DOWN. But what do I say to her? I’ve gotta make sure the Doctor and her are okay because this is the night they met. But wait, why isn’t she in a wedding dress? And why isn’t the Doctor with her?
“Did they find someone?! Is someone dead?!” I yell towards her.
“I don’t know. They said he’s a doctor…or something…” She shrugs.
Wait, what? Is the Doctor dead? It can’t be….but why doesn’t she care? What is wrong with Donna? I know that a literal war zone surrounds her but she doesn’t seem like her normal self. She is a strong woman and she’s seen so much with the Doctor. Isn’t she kind of used to this? I know I sure am, anyway. I’ve come all this way and we have big problems now.
What am I supposed to do?
I look at her, tears in my eyes. She must assume I know who they’re taking away in a body bag. Of course I’m crying for him but also for Donna. Why didn’t my dad tell me this wasn’t our Donna? That this isn’t our universe? He usually does…
There must be a part of her that knows, knows everything, because then she says,
“It could be anyone. Lots of people are doctors." I look down and say sadly,
“I’ve come so far…”