A Place in Time (19/30)

[amberfocus]

                                                                                                    Banner by Megz33

Chapter Nineteen:  Future Echoes

“I don’t feel sick,” Rose insisted. “I feel fine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me.”

“You’re glowing yellow, Rose and that’s not normal.”  He put on his glasses and stared at her intently.

“Maybe this is what happens when a Time Lord and a human have sex,” she said hopefully.

“Trust me, it’s not.”

“Got a lot of proof in that arena?” Rose said trying not to sound jealous.

“No,” he said. “Just twice and several bodies ago. And nobody turned colors. I’m calling Martha.” He got up out of bed and dug around in the pocket of his suit jacket. Quickly he pushed a button. “Got her on speed dial,” he said.

"Really?" mumbled Rose.

“Martha, I need to see you. I need you to meet me at Torchwood. It’s urgent. Could be a matter of life or death.” He hung up. “Voice mail,” he said tersely.

She got up out of bed and went over to where he was standing. “I’m fine. Honestly, I’m fine.”  She put her arms around him, pushed her body into his, held him and stroked the skin on his back.  He kissed her hair.

“I hope so, Rose. But I’m not taking any chances with you. I lost you once and I’ll tear the universe apart before I let anything take you from me again. I’m going to go set coordinates for Cardiff." He pulled on his clothes and left the room. With a sigh Rose went down the hall to the closest shower. It was in the Doctor’s room.

Quickly she washed and on her way out of the bathroom she paused, her eyes drawn to a bit of golden glow from the little night table that would have been next to his bed had the TARDIS put it back where it belonged. She frowned. The little book on it looked like something she might have bought at some point in the past with its pink and purple hearts and flowers. Only she knew she hadn’t. She sat down on the little sofa that had replaced the Doctor’s bed.

Carefully she opened the book. It was a photo album. A photo album with pictures of her in it. Pictures the Doctor couldn’t possibly have had. The first one was from the day she had gotten her A-levels. There were a few pictures of her with her mum, Pete, and Johnny as a baby. As she turned the pages she was surprised to see herself standing with a man she recognized but she knew this picture could never have been taken. It was a wedding portrait of her and Nick Daniels, her friend and study partner from the alternate universe.

She paged ahead seeing children with features very like her own, a girl, a boy who aged as the pages turned. Then the children married as well. As she turned the last page she saw the letter addressed to the Doctor in her own handwriting. She froze unable to think for one long moment. Then with shaking fingers she opened the letter and began to read.

My Doctor–

It has been too many years since I last saw you and I hoped for the rest of my life that I would get the chance to see you again and say thank you to you for the two marvelous years that you gave me.

I don’t know if you ever really knew how I felt about you. I know I told you that one day on the beach when you burned up a star to say good-bye to me. It was the truth, though, that I loved you. And the truth is that I still do. I want you to know, dear Doctor, that even though we were cut off that day; I know that you loved me, too. I know you never got the chance to say it, but I always knew.

Rose broke off reading for a moment. How could these words so echo her thoughts of that moment? Unless they were her own thoughts. Unless somehow she had written this letter. The golden glow on her arm became stronger. She looked back down at the letter.

I had a good life. It took me awhile to get past you. I can’t say get over because there never was a getting over. But I moved around it. I found a good man. I think you would have liked Nick in better circumstances. He treated me well and we had two marvelous children.”

She stopped again, tears forming in her eyes. She didn’t understand. She never could have moved around her love for the Doctor. Nick might have been a good man, a great man even, but he had always told her he was gay. Was it possible he wasn’t; that he’d hid his feelings for her in that way? She resumed reading.

My daughter was born first and I named her after your friend Sarah Jane. She grew into that name well, and definitely had Sarah’s feisty spirit. My boy Jack grew into his name a little too well, but I think you would have loved him despite that.

She very well could have named her children after Jack and Sarah Jane. She’d always liked the name Sarah, even before she’d met the Doctor’s friend. This was striking too close to home for her.

I’ve sent along a photo album so you could see what became of me. I am so sorry, my Doctor that this comes to you too late. But please look at it and know that I did as you once asked me to do, and I had a fantastic life.

Love,
Your Rose
Always Remember Us


She looked up in shock. Had he altered her time line? Changed everything that ever happened to her just to get her back? Had something gone wrong with it? Is that why she was glowing golden even as she thought the words? Had he done this to her, whatever it was? Was he responsible?  No wonder he was so panicked.  And what had happened to the alternate universe if he'd done all this?  Was her family okay?

Slowly she walked to the TARDIS control room, every step leaving a residue of golden light behind her. She looked up at the Doctor, then across the room, then back at the Doctor, her eyes filled with fear, and handed him the book and the letter. She whispered her question to him. “What did you do, Doctor? What did you do?” Then she collapsed onto the deck in a shimmering golden pool.

Ch. 20:  http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/54015.html