Chapter Text
Disclaimer: Please, I don’t even want it. Not if they’re going to give it to Moffat. *walks away with her head held high. then slinks back.* I lied. I want it. Please, please! *breaks down sobbing*
Ch.1: Please Don’t Leave Me
“Quite right too. And I suppose, if it’s my last chance to say it. Rose Tyler-“
And that was it. He was out of power and out of time. He stood there in shock as the tears poured down his cheeks. She was gone and he was alone. Forever had ended all too soon.
He ran his hand over his face to wipe away the tears and started to pull himself together, if only long enough to put the TARDIS in the vortex. Then he could take all the time he needed to grieve by himself.
Suddenly there was a sound and when he turned, there was a young woman laying on the floor his ship. He started to move around the console to get a better look, when she suddenly sat up. She looked around and, spotting him, she quickly turned back around.
“Oh no you don’t you sonofabitch!” she screamed to no one as far as he could tell. “You bring me back! You bring me back right now!”
The Doctor was growing more and more confused by the moment.
“Who are you?” he asked. “How did you get on my ship?” But she just ignored him.
“I mean it.” she continued to yell. “Bring me back now!” She didn’t seem to notice him all. Suddenly a man appeared behind her. The Doctor almost fell in shock as he looked at his ninth self.
She didn’t seem to notice him at all, she just kept yelling for him to take her back.
“Lily.”
She went quiet as she heard her name. She turned to look at him and for the first time The Doctor saw the tears pouring down her face. She moved to touch him when he shook his head.
“I’m just a hologram.” he told her. “No touch.”
The Doctor cringed as the words he had used not 10 minutes earlier were used by this other version of himself.
“Please don’t do this.” she begged him. “Come through too. We can start over where they’ll never find us. We’ll be safe.”
“You know I can’t.” he told her sadly. “If I try to come through, the whole thing will collapse.” He shook his head. “No, you’re going to have to go on without me this time.” He held up a hand to stop her protests. “Please Lily, for once, do as I ask. I only have a few minutes before they find me.”
“What am I supposed to do without you?” she asked him, weakly.
He smiled, “Do what you always do. Be fantastic.”
She chuckled sadly. They stood in silence for a second before Nine turned his attention to The Doctor.
“I know I have no right to ask this and I know you don’t know us,” he said, “but I don‘t have another option. We’re in a war and we‘re losing. I want her safe where they can’t touch her and another universe is really my option. Please. I’m begging you. Protect her. Keep her safe. Help her to heal.” The Doctor, seeing no other option, nodded. All through this, the girl -Lily- never took her eyes off her doctor. Seeing that The Doctor was consenting, Nine turned his attention back to her.
“Lily…” he began, but trailed off, not really know what else to say.
She moved so she was standing right in front of him and raised her hand so, if he had been there, it would’ve been resting between his hearts. She looked up at him and saw tears that matched her own in his eyes.
“I love you.” she said, her voice thick with tears. “I always have and I always will. Stay safe, My Doctor.” Her voice broke on the last word, and his hand moved as if to touch her cheek, but he stopped himself just before he could complete the motion.
“Make sure to live.” he told her. “That’s all I can ask of you. My beautiful Lily.” His eyes never left hers. “And never doubt for a second that I loved you.”
And he was gone. She stood still for a moment and then her world dissolved around her.
The Doctor moved quickly to catch her as she fainted. Seeing that she seemed to be unharmed, just overwhelmed, he silently asked the TARDIS to move a room close to the control room so he could lay her down. He made sure she would be comfortable, than left her to sleep.
He slowly made his way down the corridors, thinking of what just happened, till he found himself in the corridor housing not only his room, but the one with the rose carving on the door. He thought briefly of entering, but quickly dismissed the notion. He once again asked the TARDIS to rearrange the rooms so Rose’s room was hidden away where he could find it, but not where he would have to see it all the time. The pain was just too deep and too fresh.
He realized that he would not have time enough to properly mourn her, not with his new arrival, and he didn’t want the reminder. He watched as the door disappeared and slowly continued the short distance to his room. His need for little sleep meant he spent little time here, but it was dark and it was quiet. He moved to his bed and curled up in the pillows. Maybe, if he tried, just for a little bit, he could forget. And then maybe, for that little bit, it wouldn’t hurt.