Fic: Memories of a Time Lord (5/5)
Aug. 9th, 2008 12:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measiAuthor’s Notes: Obligatory I don't own Doctor Who, the BBC does disclaimers apply. The rest of the headers/prompts/etc. can be found on part one.
[chapter one] [chapter two] [chapter three] [chapter four] [chapter five]
CHAPTER FIVE
A few days later, the Doctor was finally mobile enough to discuss the procedure Somilo and Rose had used to heal him. He went over his own medical charts, making notations on his own experiences, expanding his prior notes whilst still recovering in the infirmary. The virus fed on the most painful of memories, and the Doctor’s case, unlike the Metaxians, had been the full extent of the disease thanks to his genetics. The Metaxians had been fortunate – their species prevented a full onslaught of the disease.
Somilo had been extraordinarily pleased, armed with the information to spread to the hospitals. Once he was sure the Doctor had recovered enough to be transferred to his own bedroom and left on his own, he bid farewell to both the Time Lord and Rose. Within a couple more days, the first reports of recovery returned. The virus had been beaten, and the Metaxians slowly began the process of healing all of the afflicted. Metax was saved.
“You can still feel her, can’t you?” he asked.
They’d retired to the media room, Rose having claimed a dire need for some couch potato R&R. Two viewings of The Muppet Movie, complete with sing-a-long, had relaxed both of them. She lay stretched out on the couch, her knees draped over his lap.
“Yeah, but it feels like it’s fading,” she replied, sleepily.
He rubbed her knees, smirking when she twitched instinctively from the tickling. “How do you know?”
She pushed herself up to a sitting position. “The connection was so strong – almost as if she were sharing my mind with me fifty-fifty. Now she’s much quieter, sitting in the back. It’s weird, but a good weird – I keep finding myself checking to see if she’s still there.”
He nodded. “I’ve been doing the same thing. Funny how you take things for granted until they’re almost gone, and then you’re overly paranoid that you’ll lose them again.”
“Yeah.”
Leaning forward, he cupped her cheek in his hand. “I think she’ll always be there from now on, Rose.” He stopped, tipping his head to one side. “Well, technically she’s always been there, translation circuit and all that. But you’re aware of her now. Are you okay with that?”
“I think so. It’ll take some getting used to, but I sort of like it.”
“Good.”
“Do you think I’ll still be able to talk with her?”
“Don’t know, actually. She doesn’t generally converse with me. Just moods, feelings, sensations – no real words.”
“Ah.”
They drifted off into silence for a while, not really paying attention to the mind-numbing drivel on the telly.
“I’m sorry for invading your privacy like that, Doctor.” Rose said, finally. “I know you don’t want to talk about the Time War… and I feel awful for having to pry…”
“Rose, you saved my life. You saved the TARDIS’ life. You don’t need to apologize for that.”
“How can you say that? I mean, those were some of your worst memories. I went trampling through them.”
“That hardly was trampling, Rose. Under the circumstances, I think you were exceptionally careful.” His eyes were sympathetic. “In fact, I recall you being more than willing to not look at the memories I wanted to close away but couldn’t.”
“But…”
“Rose, honestly. While yes, having someone inside your innermost thoughts and darkest memories was a bit… painful, I wouldn’t have had anyone else in there. Yes, I kept forgetting who you were, but somewhere deep down I know I recognized you the entire time. If I’d absolutely wanted to refuse you access, you wouldn’t have gotten it,” he said. He knew that was a lie – he’d been far too weak to refuse anyone. He was thankful it had been Rose.
“When we’re both feeling better, can you tell me more about Gallifrey? It was lovely. I meant it – I wish you could have taken me there.”
He chuckled. “Of course. Better yet, I will take you there.”
“I thought you said it burnt?”
“It did. But your connection with the TARDIS should allow me to take you there through memories – you can see Gallifrey as it once was, without all of the political nonsense that made me leave in the first place.” He scooped her into his arms, balancing her carefully on his lap. “Care for a lazy afternoon back on Mount Lung sometime? We could do a picnic. Cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and orange marmalade. How about it?”
She hugged him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Absolutely. Let’s do the happy memories from now on. Deal?”
“Deal.”
- End -
[chapter one] [chapter two] [chapter three] [chapter four] [chapter five]
CHAPTER FIVE
A few days later, the Doctor was finally mobile enough to discuss the procedure Somilo and Rose had used to heal him. He went over his own medical charts, making notations on his own experiences, expanding his prior notes whilst still recovering in the infirmary. The virus fed on the most painful of memories, and the Doctor’s case, unlike the Metaxians, had been the full extent of the disease thanks to his genetics. The Metaxians had been fortunate – their species prevented a full onslaught of the disease.
Somilo had been extraordinarily pleased, armed with the information to spread to the hospitals. Once he was sure the Doctor had recovered enough to be transferred to his own bedroom and left on his own, he bid farewell to both the Time Lord and Rose. Within a couple more days, the first reports of recovery returned. The virus had been beaten, and the Metaxians slowly began the process of healing all of the afflicted. Metax was saved.
“You can still feel her, can’t you?” he asked.
They’d retired to the media room, Rose having claimed a dire need for some couch potato R&R. Two viewings of The Muppet Movie, complete with sing-a-long, had relaxed both of them. She lay stretched out on the couch, her knees draped over his lap.
“Yeah, but it feels like it’s fading,” she replied, sleepily.
He rubbed her knees, smirking when she twitched instinctively from the tickling. “How do you know?”
She pushed herself up to a sitting position. “The connection was so strong – almost as if she were sharing my mind with me fifty-fifty. Now she’s much quieter, sitting in the back. It’s weird, but a good weird – I keep finding myself checking to see if she’s still there.”
He nodded. “I’ve been doing the same thing. Funny how you take things for granted until they’re almost gone, and then you’re overly paranoid that you’ll lose them again.”
“Yeah.”
Leaning forward, he cupped her cheek in his hand. “I think she’ll always be there from now on, Rose.” He stopped, tipping his head to one side. “Well, technically she’s always been there, translation circuit and all that. But you’re aware of her now. Are you okay with that?”
“I think so. It’ll take some getting used to, but I sort of like it.”
“Good.”
“Do you think I’ll still be able to talk with her?”
“Don’t know, actually. She doesn’t generally converse with me. Just moods, feelings, sensations – no real words.”
“Ah.”
They drifted off into silence for a while, not really paying attention to the mind-numbing drivel on the telly.
“I’m sorry for invading your privacy like that, Doctor.” Rose said, finally. “I know you don’t want to talk about the Time War… and I feel awful for having to pry…”
“Rose, you saved my life. You saved the TARDIS’ life. You don’t need to apologize for that.”
“How can you say that? I mean, those were some of your worst memories. I went trampling through them.”
“That hardly was trampling, Rose. Under the circumstances, I think you were exceptionally careful.” His eyes were sympathetic. “In fact, I recall you being more than willing to not look at the memories I wanted to close away but couldn’t.”
“But…”
“Rose, honestly. While yes, having someone inside your innermost thoughts and darkest memories was a bit… painful, I wouldn’t have had anyone else in there. Yes, I kept forgetting who you were, but somewhere deep down I know I recognized you the entire time. If I’d absolutely wanted to refuse you access, you wouldn’t have gotten it,” he said. He knew that was a lie – he’d been far too weak to refuse anyone. He was thankful it had been Rose.
“When we’re both feeling better, can you tell me more about Gallifrey? It was lovely. I meant it – I wish you could have taken me there.”
He chuckled. “Of course. Better yet, I will take you there.”
“I thought you said it burnt?”
“It did. But your connection with the TARDIS should allow me to take you there through memories – you can see Gallifrey as it once was, without all of the political nonsense that made me leave in the first place.” He scooped her into his arms, balancing her carefully on his lap. “Care for a lazy afternoon back on Mount Lung sometime? We could do a picnic. Cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and orange marmalade. How about it?”
She hugged him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Absolutely. Let’s do the happy memories from now on. Deal?”
“Deal.”
- End -
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Date: 2008-08-09 06:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2008-08-27 06:16 pm (UTC)I think that my original idea for it didn't quite translate to the page - it was originally a bit darker. I just chickened out, I suppose!
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