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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 13, 2007 10:53:23 GMT
Chapter 18 - What’s eating Gabriel Gray?
Ready to fight with a whole arsenal it felt on her back, Martha climbed up to the main level of the Tardis to find Sylar there, the Doctor holding his head. Gabriel blinked open his eyes. A blurry grinning man looked down at him. "Hello" Said the grinning man warmly. "Back away Doctor!" Martha broke off a broom handle and ran towards Sylar, ready to plunge it through his heart. "Whoa, now, Martha." The Doctor blocked her arm. "He's okay now. Put the weapon down." "But he tried to kill Pete! He tried to kill all of us!!" Martha struggled against the Doctor who wouldn't let up. "Martha, relax. I'm brilliant, remember?" The Doctor flashed her a grin. "You mean," She dropped the stick. "You fixed him?" "Yep!" The Doctor nodded and plunged his hands into his pockets, rolling back onto his heels. "Oh sure, make me search this blasted ship for anything to kill him with and you just up and fixed him. Mind tellin' the rest of us when you're gonna do something like that again? I don't very much like going through your knickers." "Wha -- How did you -- Martha -- " "It's where you keep all your sonics." She smiled cheekily at him. Gabriel paniced. He pulled himself to his feet and backed down the staircase to the door and tried at the lock. He had clearly been drugged, he thought, got to get away! He flicked the Yale lock, opened the door and ran out into the clearing breathlessly. All around him the sky was crumbling...what have they given him, why, why him?
Because you're special, said a dark voice in his head. For one second he considered retuning to the man who said he would take him home...but only for a second. Desperate for his sanity he ran towards noise of people. Out of breath and unable to speak Gabriel ploughed through the trees. He could hear laughter...voices. Hope.
The Doctor and Martha watched Sylar run out of the TARDIS. "Oh, sod it," Martha readjusted her backpack and went to follow him. "Wait, he'll just run to the others." "And that's good because ... " "When was the last time we had a nice chat? We never get to talk anymore, what with saving the universe and all." The Doctor smiled again. "Waddya say we have a nice bit o' tea and some cake and you tell me all about this Petey Pete of yours?" "You're not serious, are you?" "Weeelll, Sylar's okay, it's not like he's killed anyone, and I'm so far behind on my gossip lately. Now is it Claude and Tosh or Claude and Oona? I don't understand why anyone would get on with the hairy beast anyway. Probably infested with God knows what ... " "Doctor! You don't know that! The universe could still be collapsing, we don't have a way home, we don't even know why we're here! You just gonna sit there having afternoon tea while the others need our help?" "No, no, I suppose your right. Off to save the world again, Martha?" The Doctor hopped out of the Tardis and rexamined his surroundings. "You're insane, Doctor." "Wouldn't have me any other way."
Claude watched them from a safe distance. His hands were shaking. He didn’t look down at them, he knew there was blood on them. There was always blood on his hands, however hard he tried it never worked out right. He shook his head as he watched Oona collapse. He should be there, helping her and supporting her. What was the point? All it would do was remind her what she had done, what he had made her do. They were better off without him. He turned and moved away, fading into the trees. Oona moaned softly and was aware of the world around her. Hard ground, the smell of grass and trees, and blood. Air on her face. She opened her eyes and looked up at the sky, and a stray tree limb full of leaves. She managed to raise herself up on her elbows with shaking arms. She could see Jack and Gwen, poor Owen, and oh... her victim. He looked at her with no little fear in his eyes and she felt her arms give out as she fell back, tears falling from her eyes. She could never take back what she had done. Never. It disgusted her. It would haunt her for the rest of her life, as it no doubt would haunt him. But there was a relief as well. He was alive. Her healing had worked. In the end, when she was at the end of her strength and felt there was not enough to save him, she had acted out of her guilt and grief. She had used energy no one was ever supposed to touch. She had given him a portion of her soul. "I'm sorry can never be enough." The words were rough in her tight throat. Peter turned quickly, he could hear him running through the trees. He could hear his desperate breaths. His eyes widened as he realised his friends were in no state to deal with what was on its way. He turned, met the face of Sylar. The man stopped when he saw Peter. Peter wasn't going to give him the chance to get the upper hand or the chance to fool him again. His top lip crenulated into a grim scowl, he stuck out his hand and in a manner that reminded him pleasantly of how Sylar had grabbed him that night in Kirby Plaza, and held a tight grip around his throat with his mind. Jack grabbed his gun and aimed it. Gwen reached to her jeans for hers but realised she gave it to Owen. “S**t” thought Gwen. Slowly backing away, she moved to Owen's body. She saw the gun lying next to him, where it had been moved after she had shot Peter, and with a gasp realised it was the gun that he used. She didn't know why, but it hadn't occured to her that he used a gun. It was mad not to think that, but with everything that had been going on, her mind had skipped over that fact. Her only thoughts were that he was dead. She left the gun. Her gun, the gun she had given Owen, the gun that he used, if he hadn't had a gun. Gwen stood in front of Owen’s body almost protecting him from Sylar. They all stared as Sylar grasped at his throat, as panic bubbled up in his eyes. It all seemed too easy. "WHERE'S THE DOCTOR!" Peter bellowed at the man. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?" Gabriel felt the pressure in his throat and could not reply, what was he supposed to say? He didn't know what he was taking about. Peter, with a furrowed brow, shouts and screams...Now Sylar’s feet began to lift from the ground, and he knew that the young man is picking him up, but with what? He knew he had to stop him. He delved inside. Somthing was telling him he could stop him if he had wanted. He could feel his asophagus being crushed. He needs to push this man away...everything started to go black...lights and stars popped before his eyes...he couldn’t breathe...push Gabriel says a voice inside... push With his last stength he tried to push the man away. Gabriel landed on his feet. The man with dark hair who had been throttling him, flew backwards through the air and landed on his ass. Gabriel coughed and spluttered and tried to stand. He tried to say that he didn’t know any Doctors...but he couldn’t get the words out, his mouth was dry, his throat was bruised. He was surrounded by people with vicious faces, pointing guns at him, and the dark haired man was getting up. There was a dead body in the corner and a silent man upon the ground who seemed to stare at him with fear in his eyes. "Wait!" Gwen called "Why isn't he trying to kill us? It must be another illusion!" Gwen looked around frantically. Tosh was cradling Ianto and Peter was now standing. Jack seemed to agree bacause he hadn’t yet fired, nevertheless his gun remained trained on him. "Well?!" Jack asked Sylar harshly. Sylar tried to back away from them, but he fell over his own feet. He pulled himself up. He raised his arms, well one of them, the other one was nursing his throat. “No illusion. It's him." Peter said sternly. "No one else could throw me off like that. He's messing with us again." Peter shouted at Jack, "SHOOT HIM." He ordered, but Jack wasn't budging. Peter decided, if this man wasn't going to fight back he should at least get a few rounds in before he tried to kill him again. He dusted himself up and walked over to the man. He took a lot of pleasure thumping him soundly. "WHERE'S MARTHA!" He demanded. Sylar shook his head. "WHERE'S THE DOCTOR!" He demanded. Sylar again shook his head. "Peter!" Gwen jogged away from Owen and tried to pull Peter off Sylar. "Peter! He's not fighting back! Something's different!" Peter punched Sylar again "Peter will you wait!" Peter hesitated for a moment. "Let him speak! If I'm wrong then you can kill him. Or Jack can shoot him. Whatever, just wait." Peter lets Gwen pull him off, he fights to thump him again, but stops himself. "He killed my family Gwen! He's killed Owen. Ianto. He tried to make you and Tosh kill everyone else! This is what he does; he messes with your head. It's a trick. I don't care what you say. It's kill or be killed." Gwen slapped him. "Are YOU going to kill him? Because, sorry, don't think that's your thing Peter, you're not a killer." Peter shook his head. If Sylar had hurt Martha he could make an exception. But the man was still grounded, bleeding. And NOT DOING ANYTHING. "Game Over Sylar, this is NOT Funny!" He said bitterly. Gwen sighed. She was right, Peter wasn't a killer. She glared down at Sylar. "You killed Owen." She said, her voice unwavering. "You killed Peter's family, you hurt Ianto and you tried to turn me and Toshiko into murders." Her voice had no emotion. "I want to know why?" She said quietly. "Why did you do that?" A tear fell down her cheek as she began to break all over again. "All off them, you killed all of them! WHY!?!" She finally screamed at him, using every fibre in her body to stop herself from hitting him. She took a breath and angrily wiped away tears. She waited for an answer. He looked up at the woman, she seemed to think he was somebody else...he would never do that. They know you're special, said the dark voice in his head. He tried to reply but his words came out in almost a whisper. He shook his head. "My name..." He said, coughing, "Is Gabriel Grey."
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 13, 2007 10:54:13 GMT
[Chp 18 - Pt 2]
"What?" Gwen exclaimed. Of all the answers he could have given, she did not expect that. "You're Sylar! You killed Owen! You killed him!" She went to slap him, but this time it was Peter who held her back. She looked up him. "He doesn't remember." Peter said. When he had stopped trying to throttle him. Stopped trying to knock him out his natural power took over. Empathy, Claude called it. Sylar...whoever he was...needed to be heard, and thanks to Peter he couldn't speak. So Peter's empathy triggered his telepathy, and he heard the confusion with which Sylar reacted to Gwen's words. "He..." He looked at the man who had done them such harm. "He doesn't know what he is." Gabriel nodded. That kind of summed it up. The name Sylar seemed familiar to him, though he couldn't think of where from. You're special, that's what you are said the voice. He wouldn't tell them that, he had a feeling the dark haired man might try and kill him again. And that the woman may start crying again. "He seemed pretty sure who he was when he was causing chaos!" Gwen looked down at Gabriel lying in a heap on the floor, rubbing his neck and looking scared. She suddenly felt sorry for him. "What do you mean?" Gwen was confused and wanted answers. Gabriel tried to stand, but he was feeling incredibly dizzy. Standing, he pointed back to the clearing, to the place he had run from, maybe they knew he had been drugged? Then he fell over again. Gwen watched him fall, under usual circumstances she would have tried to catch him, to soften the blow. But he was evil. Well, he was, but now.... "He pointed towards the TARDIS. Do you think the Doctor done something to him?" Gwen asked Peter. "As long as he didn't do anything to the Doctor...or Martha " He leant down to Gabriel and, reluctantly (with a slight bilious feeling), offered him his hand to help him up. "Try anything, hear me, ANYTHING, that's even remotely like yourself... and Jack will shoot you, understand?" Gabriel let the man help him up. How degrading said the voice in his head. Ignore it Gabriel, he thought. He had ignored the voice all his life. He touched his face where he had been bleeding, no blood. And though he had thought his face was going to explode from the pain of where he had been hit, he now began to feel fine. And where his throat had been bruised, now...it seemed to be healing. See...special said the voice. "I..." He wanted to explain. "Didn't kill...anything." He spluttered. "I wouldn't, what would make me do that?" He asked the dark haired woman, who looked at him with bile in her eyes. "I'm just...just a watchmaker. An insignificant..."Special"...watchmaker." "I don't know what would make you do that, but you did." Gwen said firmly. "And if you don't belive me, then look!" Gwen pointed at Owen "That was Owen Harper. Doctor Owen Harper." She corrected herself "and you killed him." No matter how sorry Gwen felt for this man, she could never forgive him, and she wanted him to feel bad for what he did. And she wanted to know why he did it. "We should find the others." Gwen stated. She looked around and wasn't quite sure how they would manage that. Ianto and Oona were very weak, Tosh looked a little shell-shocked and Owen was…Gwen sighed. Gabriel pulled himself free, able to stand he walked over to the dead body. "This man clearly shot himself." He said, "You can't tell me I did this. I just wouldn't...that's not what I am." He said. "You..." He looked at the man trailing a gun on him, "...you've all done something to me. You people. You...you can't make me believe I'd do something like that. I just wouldn't!" Peter took an ominous step towards him, Gabriel held out his hands in protest, he wasn't going to get hit again. He backed away into the darkness. He had to get away from these people. "That's not what I am." He said to himself. "Then WHAT are you?" Asked Peter threatening him with the incredible right hook. "Nothing special." He tried to tell them. "Just a watchmaker, that's all." Jack shot him in the leg. "Watch that heal," said Jack, "And tell me you're not special." He said. "I wouldn't try and run Sylar." Peter said, following Jack's lead. "You might not know what you are, but we do. But if you want to go ahead and get yourself stuck on the last collapsing world in the Universe, be my guest. I won't mourn you." It probably still wasn't the best idea to let the man run free, although Peter knew his brain had been unalterably played with he could still hear the voice of Sylar in his head, and it was quite clear that he could slip back into his old clothes quite easily if not properly looked after. Sylar was, after all, still Peter's responsibility. After the initial panic, a sort of calm set in, Gabriel put pressure upon the wound to stem the flow of blood. Yet when he moved his hand to inspect the wound, only his hand and his trouser leg were bloody, the flesh beneath was fine. Hairy, in a very manly type way, but fine. He looked up at Jack unable to understand. He looked at the people surrounding him, and the strangest thing happened, it was almost as if he could see inside their souls. The one who hit him, is incredibly powerful, but quite unstable, and not a little broken inside. The one who shot him was...empty. Just empty. The dark haired woman, had tremendous heart and latent clairvoyance. The Japanese girl who stared at him open mouthed, has incredible skills with machinery. And the white faced woman...too terrifying for words what she was capable of. "You're all..." He looked at them stunned, "...all of you..." "What?" Asked Gwen. "Broken." He elucidated with a smile. Tosh was rooted to the spot when Sylar returned. She stared open mouthed wit an arm around a very confused Ianto as the beast related that they were all broken. How dare he imply that? If they were broken what did that make him? Tosh was bitter. Sylar had forced Owen to shoot himself. He had manipulated Gwen and herself to nearly kill their friends. Tosh’s guts ached and her heart was pounding as she remembered how she thrust herself away from the safe arms of Claude. Sylar had a lot to answer too and if he changed his name that meant diddly squat with her. He could change his name but it still wouldn’t stop her remembering the horrific acts he had committed. "Broken?" Gwen asked. Now what was he talking about? Gwen could see that he was confused by the way he had healed, but she couldn't understand why he had called her broken. It was as if he had looked right into her. Seen everything. "We need to find the Doctor and Martha." Gwen whispered. The mention of Martha's name seemed to snap Peter out of his trance and he began to give orders. Gwen wasn't sure about Gabriel. It was like he was Sylar but he wasn't. She could almost see Sylar trying to break out and kill them. She took a step backwards. Peter looked at Gabriel. He was pathetic. It was sad to see him so reduced, yet the man still had a gleam in his eye, enough that Peter didn't trust him. "Jack, tie him up!" He ordered, "And don't shoot him again." He didn't want Sylar working out exactly how powerful he still was. "I'm not risking him hurting anyone, even if he says he's changed. Don't argue..." He interrupted Gabriel. "I need to find out if Martha and the Doctor are alright." Gwen slowly walked towards Tosh and Ianto, making sure she kept Gabriel in sight. Crouching down next to Tosh, she took Ianto's hand. "How are you feeling?" She asked quietly. "A bit better." He tried to smile. "They're tying him up. I still don't trust him. But we're going to find The Doctor and Martha soon, if they don't find us first." She sighed "I just want to go home..." She rubbed her temple, and groaned. "We're going to have to tell Owen's family...." She looked up at Tosh and Ianto. "What do we do about Owen?" She asked desperately "The glove! We could use the glove!" Gwen realised "Jack could work it! All you can eat buffet he said, we could get Owen back and..." Tosh gently put a hand on Gwen's arm. "The glove was destroyed Gwen..." She said carefully. "But... pairs! Gloves come in pairs, if we could find the other then-" She stopped talking and realised how much she was clutching at straws. There was a time for mourning and it wasn't now. She sighed again and focused on getting home. Ianto looked around him and shuddered. He wanted to go home too. He needed rest, coffee and bed. Not necessarily in that order. “Gwen,” Tosh said, “I’m going to look for Claude . We had a sort of falling out…” Gwen smiled and rolled her eyes. “What is it with you and rogues?” “Who’s Claude?” Asked Ianto. Tosh blushed and jogged off to find her friend hoping he would be in a mood to accept her apology. She thought it wasn’t going to be an easy task – that is if she found him. She’d have to put him in the picture about Sylar and finding Ianto. Gwen took Tosh's place propping up Ianto. "What happened to you? We found everyone but you." Gwen said sadly. "I…don't know. Don't really remember. I woke up in a forest, wandered around for a bit, next thing I know I'm being whacked around the back of the head. I can't remember anything after that. Then of course I woke up here." "Ianto, we're sorry for attacking you. We really are. We thought you were him." Gwen needed to get across the message that they didn't mean to hurt him. "Sylar had us all under some sort of a spell." He smiled silently and Gwen smiled to. Ianto looked around again and he's gaze settled on Owen. He quickly looked up and took a shaky breath. "So.... Who's this Claude bloke then?"
Peter let Toshiko go off, he had a feeling she was looking for Claude, someone should - he didn't want to lose that guy. He let jack tie Sylar up, or Gabriel, or whatever he was calling himself, and surprisingly Sylar (or Gabriel, or whatever he was calling himself) seemed to let it happen. Older Rose came up to speak to him. "Gabriel Grey was in Torchwood." She said bluntly, "He came through the rift, he couldn't do anything 'special'..." She said, "But he was still a bit...you know...loopy." She smiled, Peter unpleasantly remembered the man he thought was Sylar slicing him into little bits. "Loopy is an understatement." He pointed out trying not to feel queezy. "Yeah, maybe." Shrugged Rose, "What I'm trying to say is, Sylar or no Sylar, Gabriel Grey is not normal." Peter oversaw the binding of the beast. He smiled. "I've got my eye on him." He told Rose, "Trust me, I'd rather die than let him hurt anyone. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let him out of my sight and right now there's only one person I care about, and I'm going to find her." He gave Sylar a push in the back, leading him in front and headed (with Jack) in the direction of the Tardis. He just hoped the others had the sense to follow. Sylar had been eerily quiet since Jack had shot him. It set Peter's teeth on edge. He was waiting for the man to turn around and try and hurt him, but he did not. He walked quietly beside him and seemed resigned, Peter's hand gripping tight to his shoulder. He didn't like the look of the Tardis it seemed, which was one thing. Jack had his eye on him too. "He can't have done anything." He kept saying, "Otherwise we can't get home, and I have to get home..." Peter looked up and asked why. "A Paradox is a very nasty friend, and I seemed to be prone to them, they always turn up when I'm around, like a bad rash." He smiled. And as he said those very words there was an almighty crack above them, a biblical, eardrum tearing, apocalyptic rip which threw them all to their knees. Peter looked up into the sky. What had been the sky, towards the rising sun, and saw as the sun which had been circling them was not destroyed, it remained hanging there like the orb on one of the Solar System models he made for science fair when he was a kid. Except this one was being swallowed by an undescribable darkness. It folded around the climbing globe like mollasses.
And everything, absolutely everything, went black. It was only then that Sylar said something, but not something anyone could hear, it was just a latent thought, something floating around in Sylar's head like the rememberence of a bad dream. And is sent a shiver down Peter's spine. "You and me at the end of the Universe Peter." Gabriel looked up as the sun is extinguished. Like one of his father's old cigarettes, he waits for the fizz, there wasn't one. He struggled at the binds these other mad men have him in, but it was futile. He had to get away. He has to sober up, to sit in the dark and wait for the hallucinations to end, wait for the drugs they had put in his system to evaporate ... they made the voice harder to ignore. Ignore it Gabriel, he tells himself. "You're Peter Petrelli." He said to the man holding tightly to him, it was not a question. He could hear the breath in the back of the man's throat tighten, the heart beating in his chest quicken. "You know what they've done to me!" He held onto the urge to put his hands around the man's neck and wring it out of him, he wanted to beat it out of him. You know you can hurt him, said the voice, concentrate "Gabey Baby!" Came a chirupy voice from the darkness, "See you've come to your senses old mate" a hand slapped him on the back in a friendly manner. A man with a flaming torch, a chirpy, happy...the oh so sprightly man who said he could take him home. Gabriel looked inside him. And it terrified him. Peter jumped to his feet, deafened a little, and intensely dizzy from the noise he looked up at the Doctor...he was alive! He was safe! He was smiling? "Doctor? Where's Martha?" He asked him desperately. "I don't know, gird your loins old chap, she's around here somewhere." "She's safe?" He asked breathlessly.
"Safe as houses. Having said that I was in this one house once where the walls were almost entirely infested with body stealing gas people...not a very safe house that was as it turned out." He laughed. Clearly unpeturbed by what going on about their ears. "So you found our new friend! Not very hospitable are we Petey Pete Pete?" He helped Sylar to his feet along with the rest and turned to Jack "Sooooo....Where's the rest of your merry gang?" Gabriel shook off the friendly arm of the Doctor. He stood alone in the darkness. He could run. He thought. He could run and run, and keep running in the darkness until his legs sould carry him no further, he could sweat the madness out. He backed further into the darkness, they could see him now, he was hidden. Alone. Alone except for the voice that never left his side. He did not have time to conclude his train of thought, a gun was at his head, Jack’s pistol cold against his scalp. "Think you'll survive a point blank bullet through the head Sylar, be my guest and run?" He said quietly in his ear. "I'm just desperate for a reason to kill you." As Jack spoke he kept his gun pressed firmly against the Sylar's temple and brought him back into the group. Peter took hold of him again. Jack turned to the Doctor. "Owen's dead." Jack reported bluntly. "This thing tortured Ianto. And Gwen and Tosh nearly killed each other. My gang's just dandy, Doctor." He said snidely. "Where the hell have you been?" Something inside Gabriel smiled.
Gwen looked up as Peter, Jack and Sylar walked in the direction of the Tardis. She quickly looked down at Ianto. "You alright to walk?" She asked, and Ianto nodded in reply. Gwen helped him off the ground and beckoned younger Rose over. "Can you help Ianto?" Rose nodded and supported Ianto as they walked away. Gwen turned and looked behind her. Rose stepped neatly beside her. In an unspoken agreement, Rose helped Oona hobble away. Gwen was left alone in the clearing with Owen. The sun was fading and they last light was filtering through the trees. Owen was lying in on the ground, bathed in light. He even looked a bit Godly. Gwen smiled slightly. "You had to be Godly sometime, huh?" Gwen slowly walked over and considered picking him up, before dissmissing it as a stupid idea. She would have to drag him. Gwen looked down at the gun in disgust. With a scream of frustration she picked up the gun and threw it as far as she could, through the trees. Gwen softly stroked Owen's hair. "Sorry about this Owen." Hooking her arms under his, she slowly started to drag him out of the clearing. "Jesus Owen! You ate way too many pizza's back in Cardiff!" Gwen said, then she realised she must sound mad, talking to a dead man. By the time she appeared about ten meters away from the Tardis Gwen was practically dead. With the others in sight, she stopped dragging Owen's body and called out to them. "Oh don't worry, I'm fine! No need to get up!" She yelled sarcastically. Jack jogged over and grinned at Gwen. "Sorry." He said, though he didn't sound very sorry. He picked up Owen and they walked over to the rest of the group. "Where's Tosh?" Gwen asked "She went to find Claude. Isn't she back yet?" They all looked around in confusion. As Gwen entered the small pool of light generated from the Doctor's torch Peter kept a close eye trained on Sylar, he watched him for any feeling of remoarse or recognition; no emotion flickered accross his stern features. "Where any of us have been doesn't really matter does it Jack." He indicated the dead body now borne in on their arms, "The damage is done isn't it." The amount of times he had died, he forgot what it was like to not come back. The terrible truth of the matter was that he was lucky; lucky that the first time Sylar had killed him that Claire had been there; lucky that when he exploded the worst loss was his clothes; lucky that the second time Martha had been there to pick up the pieces. Owen hadn't been so lucky. "The question is, how can we fix this?" He turned to the Roses, who had joined them, bearing Oona between them. Oona seemed to have no words left in her. "Rose." Both looked up. "Torchwood Rose," He clarified. "You must know how we all got here, what brought us. If there's a possiblity we can get back..." He looked Gwen in the eyes. "I think I get it..." He looked at the Doctor, not wanting to rain on the man's parade, "He's alive, sometime in the past, Owen is alive." He hoped she would understand. Alive, thought Gwen, he was alive. Words rushed past her and all she caught was that he was alive. In the past, somewhere Owen was alive. She needed Owen back, and was willing to do anything. "What do we need to do?" She asked. Peter shrugged, "I'm no Time Lord." He said. Looking at the Doctor who was regarding Sylar with a concerned eye. "But it seems to me..." He smiled as he thought of what Hiro would say if he could hear him, and wondered for a moment whether his nice Samurai sword had been destroyed in the Torchwood explosion. "...Time and Space are folding in on themselves, we're in the middle of it all. Sylar here is from a timeline that shouldn't exist anymore, if I did my job properly, and there are at least two Rose's that I can count." The Doctor was smiling at him now, a huge wide grin on his face, like a proud father. "Somewhere in all this mess...in all this collapse and renewal...there might be another Owen, right? An Owen that didn't get dragged here by Torchwood" Peter's head hurt. He looked at the Doctor. "Doc, what the hell did you do to my head when you last went in there." He smiled. In a valley a few miles from the others Claude sat throwing stones into a pond He’d found this beautiful spot in this harsh land. He felt a proper Ba**** for running off the way he had. "Well how do we find him again?" Gwen asked looking down at Owen. "I'm guessing because time and space are folding in on themselves, we don't have much time." “All this fuss over a dead body, you people really are all insane. He's dead." Gabriel said, "Dead's dead." "Because you killed him!" Gwen quickly replied. "I don't know how you feel about people you work with, your friends, but where I'm from, people care about that kind of thing. I'll do anything for Owen to be alive again. Anything." "I didn't kill him." Gabriel said under his breath. But he was reeling at the 'friends' comment. He never really hadany friends. Just his mom, and his watches. "It's not just time and space." Oona struggled to talk while placing one foot in front of the other. She was wrung out, a limp rag with little left to offer or give. Emotionally or physically. "The multiverse. I can feel it. The paths are twisting. People are becoming lost if they are caught. The void is looming." Her voice was soft, her tone defeated. "Realities are bleeding into one another, here, but because it affects time, it is pulling them into one another throughout time. Placing time, space and realities into a... a blender. Soon they will be nothing but fragments." She looked to the Doctor. "Puree." "She's fun." Said Gabriel about the weak looking Oona. The Doctor laughed. Gwen ignored Gabriel's comment and turned to Oona. "So what do we do to fix it? And how do we find Owen?" Time, realities? Gwen's head was starting to hurt. “Weellll...as cheery as Oona's summary is, it's still fairly accurate. But Two Time Lords, Two Tardis, and a little jiggery pokery...jiggery pokery - must say that more often, feels so good on the tongue, like pop rocks and coke...ever had pop rocks and coke...?"
"Doctor." The Roses said in unison. "Where was I...yes, some jiggery pokery. Might just be able to poke the right hole. After all...I am brilliant." He smiled and handed Peter his torch. He leant in close to Peter. "I need you to take Rose back to her Doctor..." He smiled sweetly. "We need to leave here sharpish, and I don't want to risk keeping them separate any longer." Peter nodded. He understood. "Oh...and the whole Time and Space thing inside your head should wear off...I hope." He slapped him on the back. "If it doesn't...you might find a lot of vodka kills those naughty little gray cells." He winked. "Rose..." He took older Rose's hand and smiled at her softly. "I need your void stuff!" He leant down to younger Rose and held her in a half hug. "Remember what I said about the Gina Davis movie." He said and slipped the vial of Retcon into her hand. "You were fantastic." And with that he and Torchwood Rose ran into the blackness.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 13, 2007 10:55:07 GMT
[Chp 18 - Pt 3]
As the Doctor vanished with a laugh Peter looked amongst the darkness. All he cared about was finding Martha. He called out for her, there was no reply. He couldn't look for her while babysitting Sylar. He needed to make sure he wasn't dangerous. "Oona." He asked softly. "You need power right?" She nodded solemnly. "What you did to me earlier...fancy another hit?" She looked up at him with soft, weakened eyes. "Right." He smiled, grabbed hold of Sylar. "You're not going to enjoy this one bit ‘Gabriel’. But then again, it's about time you were good for something." He untied the rope around his wrists took a firm hold of his hand and held it out to Oona. "He's yours -" He said, "Drain him dry Oona, be my guest." Oona took a firm hold of Gabriel's hand. At first he wondered what was the point. Then she starts muttering something under her breath. He couldn't understand the words, but he could feel them, every whisper was like a barb through his flesh. It felt as if hundreds of insects were bubbling up round his feet, crawling up underneath his flesh, up over his back and consuming him. His stomach back flips, his brain turned itself inside and out repeatedly. His eyes burnt. His bones crumbled. His heart thrumed like a hive had made its nest in his chest. She seemed to be enjoying it. For a time the voice goes quiet, then it started screaming at him.
Gwen watched as Sylar fell to the ground and Oona became refreshed. Now Gwen had, had enough of waiting around. "I'm going to find Tosh and Claude. They haven't got back yet and I'm worried." Gwen turned to Peter. "Who's going where, to look for who?" As an after thought Gwen added: "Oh yeah, and what do we do with Sylar now?" Peter looked at the weakened Sylar, he wasn't going anywhere any time soon. "We need to find the other Tardis, get Rose back to her Doctor, and find Tosh and Claude. I need to find Martha. And he..." He looked at the monster in pain on the ground. "...shouldn't be able to hurt anyone any time soon. But we shouldn't loose him, I don't know about you but I don't like the idea of him wandering around in the dark. Never know where he might pop up." "Oona, Martha has your crystal in her pocket. Can you find her?" "Soon, Peter." Said Oona, still working hard to drain what power she could from Sylar. "Right, then" Peter said, handing Rose the torch. "Then let's take you to find your friend Rose." He smiled. He held out his hand to Gwen. "I'll carry Owen, I owe him." He said. "Oona, when you find Martha find some way to let me know, I'll come back as soon as I can. And as for Sylar." He smiled, "He's yours to do with as you please. Jack you coming?" "Course I'm coming!" Jack replied chearily. Gwen wasn't so happy. Owen was still dead and Tosh and Claude were still missing. Though hopefully the latter should be solved soon. As soon as they got Rose with her Doctor, they could get Tosh back and hopefully focus on doing something about Owen. They set off in one direction and Oona in another.
Oona pulled Gabriel along in the darkness by the hand. It felt as if they had been fused together, that even if he had the strength to he would not have been able to pull himself free from her. When he fell she picked him up like a disobedient pet and dragged him a little further. Every time she calls for Martha in the darkness it is like she draws a little from him in order to voice her call. He hated the darkness, such unforgivable pitch. Yet his captor glows in the dark like a beacon. The voice within, which had begun to grow powerful again despite the pain of whatever she took from him, whispered in his ear. You could be as powerful and as terrible as her, you could be better He shouted it down in the darkness, "Leave me alone!" He told it. The woman looked at him sternly, and continued to pull him through the black. Oona was almost dragging him along the ground now. She seemed loath to touch him, but would not let go. And he was almost at the brink of beggery when another arm catches him in the darkness. "Thought I'd give you a hand." Said a soft man's voice. He looped Gabriel's arm over his shoulder. Oona cautiously thanks him. She seemed unerved around him. "Thanks." Gabriel tried to say, but the man leant into him and whispered quietly in his ear. "When she's done with you I'm going to shoot you in the head." He said, "For what you did to me. It's the least you deserve. So I wouldn't pray she lets you go too soon." Gabriel no longer had the strength to argue that he wasn't the kind of person that they thought he was. Resigned, he realizes, he must be. Somewhere inside a little voice did a little dance. Oona had stopped draining Gabriel. She had needed the power to actually be able to walk and to track Martha. No matter what anyone said, she was not going to chuck him into the void. She was no longer certain she could kill him, either. Keeping his power low, he was helpless. He also seemed to be suffering Dissasociative Identity Disorder, and she could not harm another innocent. Even if they were sharing a body with a monster. Perhaps there was a way to keep the power from them. Keep the men, both Sylar and Gabriel, from accessing his abilities, so he would just be one more human in the masses. Oona felt a tug behind her navel. To the left and ahead. "This way,” She told Ianto, “Our friend Martha is this way. Not very far. Martha!" She called into the darkness. They walked a little way in the darkness, it is as if Oona holding tightly to him is able to see in the darkness - or more accurately - smell her way. Ianto, who hides a murderous intent behind his soft voice, limped alongside them supporting Gabriel when he could not walk. He recovering slowly was from what the woman had been doing to him, but every time he felt he was strong enough to walk on his own she squeezed his hand and he suffered another bout of stomach cramps. Though each time they seem to be getting weaker and weaker, as if his body is learning to deal with them. There were some horrible noises in the darkness, and when Gabriel’s hearing repaired enough to catch the noises they creep him out like crazy. Strange clicks and whirs and slops and grumbles. Soon Oona stopped…”Ahead,” she said, “Martha?” There was no reply. Reluctantly the woman released Gabriel’s hand and walked forward with her torch held ahead. Ianto pulled Gabriel upright and whispered, “They always think I’m just the guy who makes the coffee they forget the things I have done. Killing you is pest control, I do it all the time, it’s not hard to do.” He dropped Gabriel on the floor. “Hawdd” He shrugged, “Easy.” And aimed a gun at Gabriel’s head. There was a scream in the darkness, Gabriel and his would-be murderer looked around abruptly. In the distant torch light Gabriel could just about make out Oona pointing a bow an arrow at what look like four men – but they’re not men – not quite – in Gabriel’s drug addled mind he could swear these men have tentacles…for arms. Ianto was clearly contemplating leaving Gabriel in the darkness, but only for a moment. He returned the gun into his belt and picks Gabriel off the floor. Take it, he won't notice says the voice. Gabriel hadn't the strength, but he has the inclination. Then again...If this man wanted him dead, so be it, maybe he'll wake up in some hospital wing and this madness would cease. The man pulled him towards the gang of squidy things, who are growling at Oona. Ianto aimed his gun at one of them, just before Gabriel could make a grab for it. "Let her go." Ianto ordered. The squiddy men make a noise like laughter. And one of them points (at least Gabriel thought he was pointing, it was not easy to tell) at Gabriel. Apparently indicating a swap. Gabriel shook his head and pulled himself free from the man's hands. "I'm not going anywhere with those things!" He insisted. The men with the tentacles bore down upon Oona and Ianto, shouting incomprehensible words and clearly eager to separate Gabriel from the party he was with. Ianto, who wasn’t going to let anyone else get away with separating Gabriel from his mortal coil, was not going to let the things take him away easy, and neither it seemed was Oona. They both grabbed a firm hold of his arms. Leaving the girl behind the men wrapped their squiddy appendages around Gabriel’s ankles and tried desperately to pull him into the brush; Oona and Ianto tried to pull him back, as does Martha now that she had been rescued from the mortal onslaught. Gabriel didn’t really know which group he’d rather be saved by, but right at that moment neither option seemed preferable, it felt as if they were tearing him in half. He desperately wanted them to let go of him, all of them. Concentrating hard, as the voice in his head orders him to do, he pushes. Pushes hard, outwards. He felt a wave of power flow from him, a tidal wave of telekenesis. The people and things grasping hold of him flew backwards, dropping Gabriel on the floor. Shaking his head and pulling himself to his feet Gabriel looked at the people on the floor around him who were slowly regaining their senses. He held out his hand, concentrated hard on the gun that the soft voiced man had been carrying and tried to pull it toward him. The gun shivered at his first try. He tried again, now the thing positively rolled towards him, like one of those old joke jelly beans with ball bearings in them. With the third attempt he made the thing fly straight into his hand. He has never held a gun before. Oh, they used to carry a rifle behind the couter at the family store - but never an automatic. It felt incredible...for the first time since he opened his eyes he feels in control. Without the rest of them noting it, Gabriel slipped the gun into the deep pockets of his coat. And moved to help Martha up onto her feet. The things that had been grabbing at Gabriel's legs scuttled into the undergrowth, apparently. Though no one could see them, Gabriel could hear them...clearly, scuttling. "I think we should probably move before those things come back." Gabriel said, looking down at Martha, who was the one who had earlier pointed a very sharp stick at him (maybe she thought he was a vampire). She shook him off. Gabriel had to admit, he didn’t really want to return anywhere near Oona and Ianto. But he did, and pulled Martha along side of him. “Where's Pete?” Martha asked Gabriel, “What have you done to him?" It was dark, Martha was hungry, she had just gotten attacked by some creatures with tentacles she swore she saw in Torchwood, and now she was being dragged by Sylar. Not a good situation. ”What is it with people accusing me of everything?” Gabriel asked her. He was just a watchmaker who woke up in a strange ship that was mysteriously bigger on the inside than on the outside. He was normal. He knew nothing. Why couldn't they figure that out? Because you're special, a voice inside him whispered. "Oona! Wake up! We need to find Pete!" Martha was franticaly shaking Oona. "She's not going to wake up for a while," Gabriel offered. "Shaking her won't do any good, I think." Martha sighed and pulled her knees up to her chin. "I just want to go home. I just want Pete. I just…” She closed her eyes and tried putting her thoughts elsewhere. Oona felt herself being shaken again, and heard a voice in the distance. She climbed towards the voice and sensation, then found herself gasping as wakefulness flooded her once more. Martha was looking down at her, speaking of wanting to return to Peter. "You can tell the worlds are falling in on themselves. The muilt-verse has clearly gone mad." Ianto had ever reason to want to see her sliced into little pieces, and she wouldn't blame him. She'd hand him the knife to do it, at this point. She certainly never wanted to wield another knife again. So his demanding the Chaos things return her was a shock. That Gabriel was here as well? Madness. "We should return to the Doctor and your friends." She spoke to Ianto directly for the first time, yet she was still unable to meet his eyes. "And I still have a debt to repay you." She could feel the tug in her heart and mind. She would always know where he was. By Darkness, she was half wed to him. He also had power over her now. The problem of the moment was, while Martha had one of her crystals, no one back where they had started did. So finding their way back was going to be interesting. Moreover she had to make sure Gabriel remained weak enough for his alter ego to be without power should he move back in. "Anyone remember where we parked?" She asked with only a tinge of humor. "Have we done what we came to do?" He asked her. She nodded. Gabriel held his hand out to the Oona, something held him back but he pushed his arm forward. She took it and he felt the ache inside his stomach as she did. Never mind, she might drain him, but he could kill her in an instant, he thought. He considered apologising for throwing her off with whatever power he realised he had here, but the urge quickly dissipated. "Then let's go back," he said, "You need to tell Peter we've found his girl..." He told Oona. If that's what it took to get him home, then fine. Oona lit them another clutch of torches and handed them around. They walked in the darkness for a while, though it took time to retrace their steps through the undergrowth. Ianto finally opened his mouth to say something. “We’re lost.” He said bluntly. He turned to Gabriel, “This is all your fault.” “Probably.” Gabriel admitted wryly, and wondered quietly what Oona would do to him if he took the gun he had and shot Ianto in the face. There was a rushing noise in the darkness. A grinding rushing noise that hurt Gabriel’s ears. Ahead of them a door opened, beyond it a clean yellow light and a face with a big smile and a heck of a pair of ears on him. “I’m looking for someone called Oona.” He said, “Seen anyone matching that description around these parts?” Rose then threw herself out of the door and ran to Martha, she gave her a hug. "There's someone here you should meet..." She whispered to her.
“Peter needs you.” She told Oona, “And we need Peter.” She dragged the women through the doorway explaining things as she ushered them along.
Ianto looked sideways at Gabriel. Gabriel looked sideways at Ianto.
Peter, Peter, Peter, Peter. Who is this guy…what makes him so special? Thought Gabriel. And followed the others through the strange doorway.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 15, 2007 18:38:19 GMT
Chapter 19- Lost and found
[Chp 19 - Pt 1] - Jo thanks for the input
He was a coward at heart he thought and only interested in preserving his own skin. He was angry with himself for acting the way he had and regretted leaving Tosh. He had recognized instantly that Sylar must have done something to Owen to make him kill himself, and had then set to work on Gwen and Tosh. He wondered solemnly if the Japanese woman dead like Owen, and it sent him into a surprising torment. Thrusting the last stone in his hand brutally into the water, he stood up and paced backwards and forwards in the grass, contemplating what he should do. Unhappily he tugged at his hair in frustration and, letting loose his anger, he swore out loud.
The light was changing and Toshiko wondered if she was walking in the same direction Claude had taken. A little man dressed in green scurried past her, he smiled and waved, Toshiko jumped back in shock.
“Evenin’ Ma’am,” he said as he scooted by. Toshiko ran after him, begging him to stop. “S`cuse me Sir…em…don’t suppose….” this little man could be no threat, she thought, she had heard of Gwen and Martha’s antics with little people, and wondered if this little man was of the same tribe of gnomes. “You lookin’ for a big feller, scruffy and a mouth that needs washing out with soap?” He asked even before Toshiko could open her mouth. She smiled and squatted down to be nearer to his eye level, surprise, she wondered if he could read minds! “Betchya think I can read minds…right?” The little person chuckled and smiled. Tosh nodded and said, “Yes, I did think that… so can you?” “Me, lady? Oh no!… I’m not gifted with that art, but I can find whatchmaflips,” He smiled again and added full of importance, “I know the best places to find them - they make the best beer,” he tapped his nose and winked, “But I ain’t gonna tell you. Even if you are pretty.” Tosh laughed and shook her head modestly. “No? Well my name’s Toshiko, and I don’t want to find your secret places for whatchmaflips.” “Oh that’s a relief! I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Toshiko, my name is Bert.” “Hello Bert.” They shook hands and Tosh asked him for directions to find Claude. “Oh is that the potty mouth’s name?” Bert asked with a wink. “Yes,” Tosh chuckled at the remark, leaned across to Bert and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “Thank you Bert, for your help.” “My pleasure,” Bert blushed to the tips of his pointy ears, rolling his eyes with embarrassment, “Oh that was nice… better not tell my girlfriend Natalie!” Toshiko crossed her heart, promising to keep it a secret, then trotted off. Bert scurried off to finish his errands. Laughing, for the first time in ages- or so it seemed, Toshiko headed in the direction he had pointed her.
The light was failing when she heard someone up ahead, they were swearing like a trooper! She slowed her pace and stopped to listen to the man’s tirade. Claude sat hunched up, leaning against a tree. He rubbed his thumb across the palm of his hand, his eyes were troubled. Suddenly aware that someone was standing looking down at him, he looked up. It was Tosh.
He bit the inside of his cheek and went back to concentrating on his hand. Neither said anything. "Next time it might not wash off," He said to no one in particular. Tosh looked baffled, "Pardon?" He held his hands, out palm up for her to see, "I could end up like Lady Macbeth… the blood might not wash off next time." Tosh laughed, then realized by the expression on his face that he meant it. Kneeling down in front of him, she look hold of one of his hands, looking into his eyes she said quietly, “She was responsible for murders that benefited her, you’re not, don’t start thinking you are." Claude avoided her eyes, "How do you know? You don’t know me, what I’ve done before..." Tosh interrupted him, "I know murderers don’t worry about their consciences very much." He stared at her, and Tosh suddenly realized he had the most beautiful blue eyes. She blushed. How the hell had she missed noticing those before? She stood up suddenly, anything to avoid those eyes. “Um... we should go back to the others," seeing him look like he was about to argue, she quickly added,” Oona will be wondering where you are." Damn, she cursed herself, why had she said that?
Seeing him brighten up she bit her lip, turned quickly in an attempt to hide any sign that she was jealous, she started to walk back the way she had come, shouting back to him, "well come on then...hurry up haven’t got all day." Claude almost laughed, the depression was lifting, he bounced to his feet and followed, "Well you could slow down a bit, I’m not bloody jet propelled!" Claude knew something was up and caught at her elbow, then hauled her back to him. “Give… something is wrong. What happened after I left?” He looked down at her, but she was avoiding his eyes. He caught hold of her chin and turned her head to face him, she struggled, but he held her firmly.
“I didn’t mean too…” She protested, “I don’t know what came over me…I…I tried to kill my friends…” Toshiko admitted, angry with herself- and angry at him for acting as if he didn’t care about her coming to find him. Then she added, as if to draw a veil over the surreal feeling of murderous intent that seemed to have tied a knot in a stomach, “ And now Sylar is calling himself by another name, and acting as if he didn’t do anything wrong.” Toshiko caught at his hand holding her chin. “How’s the hand?” She asked, blinking rapidly to avoid crying like a kid- she didn’t want to make a fool of herself again.
Claude relaxed his grip on her chin, and smiled gently, “fine, no blood...thanks to you.” Tosh turned her head away from him, and he sighed, "I’m not very ... I lost the knack of living close to people a long time ago." She didn’t look at him, Claude shrugged, "Mind you, even before I wasn’t exactly Mr. Conviviality... at least that’s what me ten ex-wives said, and all the kids weren’t exactly enamoured of their Dad either." Tosh stared at him stunned, he laughed and shook his head, "Joke" He explained. She laughed, and Claude added, "I hope." Tosh hit him hard on the arm, and they both laughed. "Well come on then, I thought you were in a hurry... mush... mush," and ducked as she threw a punch at him, "now, now.... that’s my department not yours," he grinned at her, "ask Peter." Both sets of eyes were staring ahead as a shape appeared out of the shadows. Claude and Tosh stared as they saw a blue box materialise in front of them. It was a Tardis, they both knew that instantly.
“Bugger.” said Claude. Toshiko was intent on knocking on the door but Claude made use of the available cover he pulled Toshiko in the other direction and made off at a run, the terrain meant that his invisibility wouldn’t help a great deal.
When they had covered a good deal of ground and the light had almost utterly failed they slowed to a stroll, being careful not to fall over trees an rosk, Claude held his arm out to Toshiko and let her know where it was safe to climb, she followed his voice willingly.
“Ten Wives… “ Tosh laughed when they had clambered under a particularly hefty tree trunk. “You caught me with that line…” As they strolled in the darkness. Claude grinned, his blue eyes flashed with amusement, “Got your attention - Right?” He winked back at her, tugging on her hand to move along faster.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Tosh asked, “So… do you have a wife…girlfriend?” “What…with this daft old face?” He chuckled as he saw Tosh’s blush, well aware that she was interested in him- he suspected that possibly Oona was too. He had no idea why. He had tried to put her off, but she had come looking for him- and ended up apologizing for her behaviour. They had walked along together, hand in hand, they seemed to be making good time, when Claude suddenly stopped, listening. Moving carefully forward again, Tosh knew to keep silent and Claude pressed her hand quickly twice, to indicate it was safe to move, then squeezed it hard when he wanted her to stop. Neither thought to loose their hold of the other. Suddenly there was a lot of movement, and he couldn’t tell if it was friend or foe. He was not in the mood to be discovered.
Tosh pulled her hand from Claude’s and suddenly ran past him, her arms outstretched "Gwen, thank God!" So much for keeping out of trouble, Claude shrugged to himself and shirked into the shadows.
Their group had been walking for a good thirty minutes, the only light from the six torches that they carried with them, then Toshiko flung herself out of the shadows and into Gwen's arms. Peter struggled to a nearby tree, resting Owen's body on the ground, he needed a break. Jack volunteered to take over carrying Owen , Peter thanked him, and stood up. He wondered when was the last time he ate? It felt like forever ago.
"Toshiko, is Claude okay?" Peter asked, aware Claude probably wouldn't emerge from the wood off his own volition, "We're going to find a way home- we don't want to leave anyone behind to get... blended."
Claude appeared out of the darkness, he nodded at Pete, then glanced at Owen’s body, “I’ll carry him." Jack looked at Claude, he didn’t look in the best of shape, "You sure?" Claude nodded, annoyed at Jack’s unwillingness to let him help, "Yeah, I said I’ll carry him, alright?" Peter made Jack step back, if Claude wanted to help then he should. "Rose needs to get back to her Doctor," he explained. "And... wait... where did Ianto go? Damnit” He thought, he wasn't built to be a leader.
Tosh turned after greeting Gwen, to see Peter and Claude talking, she caught her breath as she over heard Claude announce that he would carry Owens’s body. “Claude, that was a kind thing to do,” Surprising even herself Tosh stood on her toes and kissed him warmly on the lips. Blue eyes met brown as Toshiko added, “I’m proud of you- and pleased to name you as a friend.”
Claude looked down to try and hide his surprise, and his blushing cheeks. Not one of them had expected Toshiko`s sudden actions. Gwen stared, watching the two interact she wondered what she had missed, she really needed to catch up with all the gossip! Claude went over to Owen, moving his position, Jack helped him lift Owen up and he balanced him across his shoulder and straightened up. He thanked him for his help then turned back to Peter, "Ready when you are friend."
Jack intercepted Tosh as she walked back towards Gwen. They faced each other without a word. Tosh still hadn’t forgiven herself for trying to kill her boss more than once. Jack saw the pain in her eyes and shook his head, he smirked, and flashed that smile. He knew it turned female’s legs to jelly- and a good few men as well. He opened his arms and said, “Come here!” Tosh was embraced in a bear hug, and she clung to her boss as she apologised once more for her actions. “It’s over Tosh, let it go!” He ordered, releasing her, he just wanted his team back together.
"Where did Ianto wander off too?" Tosh asked, hoping that he was alright. "Wasn't anyone looking after him?" Tosh inquired guiltily, she had left her work mates to go on the hunt for Claude, but she hoped they would have forgotten about that.
"He was with us when we caught up with the Doctor," Peter said, he looked to Gwen. "I'll go and look for him." Peter said, "You need to get Rose to the other Tardis- it must be round here somewhere Rose said she heard it." He looked around him, it was almost impossible to discern shapes in the darkness.
"We saw it!" Piped up Toshiko, Rose's face lit up. Claude grimaced. "Great!" Peter said, "I'll catch you up." He turned into the darkness, he tried his best to retrace their steps. Toshiko hoped that Peter would find Ianto, Rose, on the other hand, had brightened up at the thought of her Doctor being nearby.
“Tosh… did you see him?” Rose whispered, her eyes widening and betraying a luminous light in the darkness, as she skipped across and hooked her hand through Tosh’s arm.
“See the Doctor?” Tosh said, in a low tone to match Rose. Rose nodded, hope shining in her eyes.
“No, sorry. I didn’t see your one… not this time,” Tosh confided, not wishing to be overheard. They let Claude get in front, “I remember seeing your Doctor, in London- that was where we first met” “Really, you met my Doctor?” Rose brightened at the thought that someone here knew her Doctor. “Yes, in Albion hospital, he was chasing what I thought was an alien, it was brought in from a crashed spaceship…turned out to be a false trail.” “Oh, that was the Slitheen!” said Rose with a chuckle, “The Doctor said they used that whole incident as a distraction tactic.” “Didn’t work in the end did it?” Tosh asked, half knowing the answer. “No, he’s brilliant isn’t he?” Rose beamed, sadly she said, and sadly sighed. “I really miss him – that other one - he’s the same but … not… I’m a little confused about it all,” Rose rubbed at her head as if it was hurting,” Just missing him.” Tosh gave her a hug, reassuring her that she would be with her Doctor soon.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 15, 2007 18:39:37 GMT
[Chp 19 - Pt 2]
The group were sluggish as they walked along, tired, hungry, and just wanting to get home. Claude had carried Owen for the last few hours, reluctantly stopping for a rest at Jack’s insistence, the whole group needed to rest, they each searched through pockets and bags for any sustenance- no one had much to offer.
“I’ve a squished toffee or two in my pocket,” said Rose, taking the little flattened gold sweets out for inspection. “I have a fluffy stick of something I got in the village,” said Tosh, as she brushed the lint from it, “Think it’s a form of dried meat.” “What a feast,” commented Claude, tartly, and got a slap on the shoulder from Tosh, as she mouthed at him to behave. Jack searched his profusion of pockets, a little pile of bits and pieces grew at his feet, no one reached out to inspect the pile, Jack stood upright with a cocky smile. “Hey!” Gwen barked, “It was you who took my favourite pen after all,” she reached out, recognising the little green dragon pen- scooping it up into her hands for safekeeping. Gwen glared around as the others broke out into uncontrollable laughter. “I like this pen, and it always brought me luck!” Gwen harrumphed, and sat down. “Can’t say it did the same for me,” mumbled Jack, as he searched through his finds, just in case something was edible.
Finally in the distance a blue box materialised. Rose was up on her feet, as was Jack. “The Tardis!” they both cried in unison. “Come on, hurry follow me!” Jack yelled, helping Claude with Owens’s body , they all ran towards the sound that they had heard in the shadows. “It’s him!” cried Rose, tears falling. “I can feel it, it’s my Doctor,” Rose ran forward, calling for him. Claude stopped to allow the others to pass him, he eased Owen’s body down to the ground, only then did he look to see what everyone seemed so delighted about. He shook his head, this place had a lot to answer for, now everyone was getting ecstatic about an old police shelter, it wasn’t exactly designed for multiple occupancy. Unless some absent minded policeman had left his lunch in it, it was hardly going to be the answer to anything! Claude closed his eyes, another hysterical woman he thought, as Rose ran towards the Tardis, the place was full of them. What had he done to deserve this? All he’d ever wanted was a peaceful life. Tosh had attached herself to him like a limpet, he had hoped that carrying Owen would have encouraged her to keep her distance a bit, but it seemed to have made her even worse! How come he’d managed to find the only two women who seemed determined not to let him annoy them, and both at the same time and in the same place? What was worse, he knew he was losing the knack of putting peoples backs up. Claude sat down on a tree stump, glanced at Owen and sighed. He watched the others, milling around the police box. One of the ironies of life he thought, he finally found somewhere there was no need to use his invisibility, he could live quite normally here, without ever using it once, and what did he find himself wanting to do? Vanish, just fade out and wander off, with no one to bother about but himself. He winced as Jack got progressively louder, fantastic, he thought, all he needed now was the Doctor to come back, and his life would be complete!
Rose bounced up and down and shrieked, Claude groaned and closed his eyes, "Deep Joy," he murmured to himself. ‘Still,’ he thought to himself, ‘Claude me old mate, it can’t possibly get any worse.’ Claude wondered around the outside of the Tardis, giving it an exploratory kick. The other Doctor came out to look, "Oy, do you mind?" He pointed. Claude ignored him and prodded one of the panels with his finger, turned and looked the Doctor up and down, well anything was an improvement on trainers and a suit! Sniffing dismissively he went back to wondering around the outside walls of the Tardis. The Doctor followed him, trying to get him to talk to him. "You from up North somewhere?" he enquired. Claude mumbled something and kept walking. Finally getting fed up of following Claude, the Doctor stopped, waiting until he came around again. As he passed for a second time, the Doctor commented, "You sound like your Northern."
Claude kept walking, but shouted back, "So do you friend." On Claude’s next circuit the Doctor added proudly, "I’m a Time Lord." "Good for you, but you still sound Northern," yelled back Claude. The Doctor dodged in front of Claude, stopping him in his tracks, "Lots of planets have a North." "Fascinating," Claude replied sarcastically, he elbowed him out of the way and went back to walking round the Tardis.
Rose watched them, she shook her head, they were obviously trying to annoy each other- testing each other out to see who cracked first. "Doctor, leave Claude alone will you?" The Doctor huffed, making Rose giggle. “Claude,” Toshiko added, “Leave him alone.” Claude huffed and gave the Tardis a crafty sideways kick, and moved quickly away from it, "Nice jacket, let me know if you don’t want it, I’ll give a new home." The Doctor brushed the jacket down with his hand, then attempted to check out the back , "Why what’s wrong with it?" "Nothing," responded Claude, his tone suggesting that there could be. Rose and Toshiko rolled her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with your jacket, Doctor." Said Rose. The Doctor turned to face her. "But he's implying that there is!" He turned to Claude, glaring at him. "Oh for the love of mike!" Rose sighed, shaking her head at him.
Toshiko had enjoyed the barbs flying back and forth from Claude and the Doctor she chuckled as she watched the Doctor attempting to inspect the back of his black leather jacket, worrying about Claude’s comments.
“Will you leave him be,” Toshiko ordered with a giggle, and led Claude away from the Tardis, “You know he looks good in that jacket, so stop the teasing.” “Who’s teasing?” Claude said with a straight face, scratching his beard innocently, but Tosh just smiled back at him. “You like to clash with folk, don’t you?” “Don’t.” Claude said folding his arms. “Do so,” said Tosh, she could see where this was heading. “Don’t.” Claude said with a smirk. Tosh stretched up, and whispered in Claude’s ear. His blue eyes widened, and he stared open mouthed down at her. “You wouldn’t do that?” He whispered with a slight croak. Toshiko walked away with a skip in her step, “Don’t bet on that … you know what I’ll do, so behave!” She knew how to push his buttons - right enough! Claude was worried, he knew he’d have to get away from Tosh and Oona, or he could see the pair of them ganging up on him. "I hate to be the party pooper, but you lot need to get going," Gwen spoke up, interrupting the Doctor's and Claude's banter. The sooner they got this over with, the sooner they could get Owen back, she felt selfish for pushing the group, especially when it was for her benefit, but at the moment her thoughts were taken up only by Owen. Claude nodded, and looked to Jack, "What’s the plan?"
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 16, 2007 10:37:36 GMT
Chapter 20 - Nightmares
[Chp 20- pt 1]
Plagued with hunger and exhaustion Peter wandered through the darkness looking for their lost friend. Whatever energy Jack had given him was wearing thin. He couldn't see where he was going, and there was no sign of Ianto evern though he kept calling for him.
He heard the Tardis far in the distance, and felt good that the others had found what they needed, hopefully with both Doctors working to pierce the void and find another Owen they could do it. They could take everyone home. His head ached like crazy, so much had happened in such little time. The last time he had felt like this he had dropped into a coma. He stumbled into a tree. "Ianto!" He called weakly, still no reply. The trees parted, he was in a clearing - was it the clearing they had earlier left, he had no way of telling. Exhausted, starving hungry, and lost in the darkness, Peter collapsed. This time his brother was not there to catch him as he fell. They always said he was a dreamer. “Peter – always has his head in the clouds.” His mother used to say with a raised eyebrow. But it had come true…all of it…sort of. His dreams fuelled him. When he was at his weakest, his most lost.
Peter wakes, he stands, walks through an empty wood, the sun burning high in the sky. It warms his face. He steps into a clearing, the grass brushes his legs in a soft breeze. Walking into the heart of the clearing he sits, lies on his back. Stares up at the cloudless sky and smiles.
Turning his head he sees Martha lying beside him, her hands behind her head, there is a blade of grass in her hair, he leans over to take it from her. But he can’t quite reach her, she is too far away. When he leans closer, and reaches, again she seems too far.
She smiles at him sweetly. Stands and wades through the grass away from him, beckoning to him. He follows her through the grass.
In the distance he sees the Doctor plaiting younger Rose’s hair, they are laughing, while the Older Rose seems to glow and shimmer nearby watching, the wolf-cat purring around her ankles.
He sees Sylar looming over his alter ego, pressing down on him like a vulture, and every time Gabriel pulls himself to his feet and tries to run away he sees Sylar drag him back through the grass. Sylar turns, sees Peter and waves in a brotherly way.
Nearby Jack, Toshiko, Gwen, Ianto and a Zombie Owen are playing a game of twister. Jack falls over, they all pick him up.
Still Peter follows Martha as she beckons to him.
They reach the Tardis and Martha opens the door.
Walking inside he realises he is in his apartment, Martha takes his hand and pulls him close. She smiles softly and kisses him.
The blue sky outside his window darkens. Claude is laughing (why is he always laughing in his dreams, he never remembers him laughing in real life). The heavens open, tearing a slice through the very world he is familiar with. Smiling, Martha melts away from him in his hands; the apartment he stands in too seems to melt and bubble away, blending into the floor below, the floor below that. The air, the birds in the sky, they all stretch and merge together…he turns and runs for the door, seeing the soft grass and the sweet blue sky beyond – but the door shuts. And he is stuck in the melting world.
He stands alone in the darkness now, and empty space, a place that is nothing, has always been nothing.
But it’s just a dream.
A terrible, powerful dream.
He was always a dreamer, he knows that.
But this one he is not waking up from.
Peter wakes, he stands, walks through an empty wood, the sun burning high in the sky. It warms his face. He steps into a clearing, the grass brushes his legs in a soft breeze. Walking into the heart of the clearing he sits, lies on his back. Stares up at the cloudless sky and smiles…
Gwen smiled at the scene around her. Younger Rose was practially jumping for joy now she had found her Doctor again, Jack was acting like a five year old on a suger high and Tosh had now sat herself next to Claude. They really seemed to be getting on. A gossip session was in order as soon as they got back home. Although everyone was happy Gwen still felt just a little sad. She needed Owen back, and was clinging onto the hope that the Doctor, the other Doctor could find him again. Peter and Ianto were still missing.
"Guys!" Gwen called loudly and they all turned to face her. "Can we please save the celebrations for later? We need to find Peter and Ianto. If we find Peter first then he can lead us to Ianto." Gwen wondered if they could all hitch a lift in the Tardis, and turned expectantly to the Doctor.
Rose turned to her Doctor. "We can help them. Can't we? They've looked after me since I got lost! We have to help them." The Doctor nodded and sighed. "Fine. Do you have any idea where you last saw him?" The Doctor let all of them into the Tardis. After the ooo-ing and the ahh-ing, they set off. The Doctor was complaining about how difficult it was to find one particular person on one planet, but he managed it. The man they were looking for, Rose told him, gave off a discrete and unique radioactive signal. He smiled, searched, locked on, pulled a lever, hit a switch and clapped his hands with finality. Like Rose said, he was brilliant. The Tardis landed and they all rushed out to find Peter collapsed on the ground. "Peter!" Gwen and Tosh exclaimed running over to him. With Owen dead and Martha missing, it was up to Toshiko and the other Doctor to fix Peter up. The other Doctor barked out orders and Rose and Gwen ran back and forth from the Tardis carrying out these tasks. The Doctor sighed. "It's no good, ‘e's not gonna to wake up." The Doctor stood up. "What? But he can't die!" Gwen exclaimed. She slipped his hand onto his neck and sighed as she felt his pulse, it was weak, but his heart was still beating. "No?” The Doctor scratched his head, “that’s cool.” He regarded Peter with the same kind of curiosity his otherself had done, “Straightforward coma I’d say. But it seems part of something else too. He’ll probably needs some kind of power to wake up. Like a jump start! Do you have any idea what that could be? I’m flyin’ blind here." The Doctor asked the whole group. They all looked at each other as best they could, the light from the Tardis bathing them al land the ground upon which Peter lay in an eerie orange glow, before Claude spoke up; "Oona?" "Oona?" The Doctor asked in confusion. "Oona." Gwen replied, "We need to find her. She took Sylar with her, and by now she must have found Martha!" The Doctor looked at Rose and shrugged, Rose smiled and slipped her arms in his to let him know it was okay, she had no clue what was going on either, but that had never stopped them before. "Perhaps Ianto's with her?" Tosh suggested. "Who's Oona?" The other Doctor asked. "No time to explain!" Rose said grabbing the Doctor's hand and dragging him into the Tardis. "She should be easy enough to find." She turned around again and addressed the group. "You stay here we'll be back in ten seconds!" "Wait!" Jack yelled. He quickly ran into the Tardis and reappeared a moment later carrying Owen. Placing him down on the ground he turned to the Doctor and Rose. "Off you go then!" Jack made a shooing gesture and grinned.
After he led them inside the other Doctor shut the door behind Oona, Ianto and Gabriel. Gabriel smiled, the ship was the same as the one he woke up in, exactly the same... and every inch was wonderful. Every time he moved to touch it the man with the big ears and the leather jacket glared at him and slaps his hand away. "Rose will you tell your friend to stop touching my stuff." He said and darted around for another control. “He’s not my friend.” Rose pointed out, careful to keep a fair distance away from the creepy man. Easy. I could kill you easy thought Gabriel and made to lay his hand upon the weapon he was now carrying but Oona took his arm and pulled him away from the consol.
Martha was staring at the other Doctor. She seemed astounded by him, driven speechless. Oona was waiting at the door while Ianto continued to linger around Gabriel, seemingly waiting for them to be alone again, he had a very piercing stare. Again Gabriel's thoughts turned to the weapon he has concealed. Perhaps there is a better way, he thought. Then the U-boat captain darted forward. His feet heavy upon the metal floor he opened the door. A blast of cold air filled the room. Big ears then wandered into the cold, past the albino, Rose ran along behind, closely followed by Martha. At first Gabriel tried to hang back to get a proper look at the amazing machine. But Ianto grabbed him and practically shoved him out the door. Oona, the red-eyed albino, and Martha ran over to the shivering Peter. Ready to nurse his pretty head. Gabriel rolled his eyes.
again...The blue sky outside his window darkens. Claude is laughing (why is he always laughing in his dreams, he never remembers him laughing in real life). The heavens open, tearing a slice through the very world he is familiar with. Smiling, Martha melts away from him in his hands; the apartment he stands in too seems to melt and bubble away, blending into the floor below, the floor below that. The air, the birds in the sky, they all stretch and merge together…he turns and runs for the door, seeing the soft grass and the sweet blue sky beyond – but the door shuts. And he is stuck in the melting world.
He stands alone in the darkness now, and empty space, a place that is nothing, has always been nothing...except...he can feel something moving in the darkness...something holding onto him tightly...and it was coming...
Gwen was holding Peter in her arms. Claude wandered over. Toshiko following not far behind like a happy puppy. "Maybe I hit him round the head a few too many times than I should 'ave." He said with a smile. Gwen blinked up at him. It was getting cold, terribly cold and Peter was shivering in her arms. "He'll wake up pissed off at me and try on some holier-than-thou-speech about all the terrible things he's got to do to save people from themselves. Never stops whining...I've told 'im, he gets too caught up in people..." "Might be nice if you could lend him your coat mate." Gwen interrupted bluntly, "Smelly or not he's going to get hypothermia at this rate." Claude gave her a hurt look. "Why does everyone insist I smell?" he mumbled to himself as he struggled out of his coat, it swung towards Gwen, she wrinkled her nose up and looked away. Claude dropped the coat in a heap on top of Peter, "Never heard of smellin’ salts," he said brightly, “If he stays unconscious after that you might as well give up and bury him.” Claude watched as Oona knelt down next to Peter and silently moved out of the way as everyone crowded around the unconscious empath. Tosh was standing watching, her back to him. Claude was relieved; every time he turned around she was always there, smiling up at him. He had quite liked it at first, novelty value he supposed, but now it was beginning to irritate him. What irritated him even more was that he felt that he couldn’t be rude to her, he’d tried, but for some reason she thought he was being funny and laughed. he was losing his edge, what he needed was a legitimate target he knew he could annoy. The sound of a door closing made him look round, Claude smiled to himself, fantasic! Target at two o’clock. "Alright mate?" he walked rapidly up to the other Doctor, smiled winningly, and patted the edge of the Tardis. Passing the other Doctor, he nodded and said "if I were you I’d get that thing checked out...sounds like the big end’s gone." The Doctor eyed Claude nervously, he was still not sure how to take what he said, it sounded like he meant it, but he got the impression from Rose’s reaction that he was trying to annoy him for some reason. He put his hands in his pockets and pulled his jacket close to him. "Nice bit of..." Claude paused, and peered closely at one of the panels, "... whatever it is, very authentic, right down to the woodworm." he tapped it absently and wondered around the other side, "Are all the panels the same as that one?" The Doctor was peering at the panel looking for the suggested woodworm, "yep," he said absently. Claude answered with, "Oh yeh so it is.... even got those little worm holes - I love attention to to detail." then moved quickly away as the Doctor arrived rapidly to inspect what he had been looking at. The Doctor stepped back, what was he doing? The Tardis wasn’t made of wood, why would he believe that it had... He closed his eyes, he’d done it again! The Doctor walked rapidly up to him, and poked him in the chest, "Look..." he started. Claude gave him a huffy look, moved his finger and said, " Don’t point its rude." The Doctor glared at him and was just about to say something when joyful yelling coming from the others made them both look round. Gabriel watched as Ianto talked Jack, who earlier shot him in the leg...miraculous how that healed. They seemed to have a very 'personal' raport. Gabriel tried to ignore the things they are saying to each other...Something about a stopwatch. As the Doctor shuts the doors to his ship, he was very protective of it and seemingly didn’t appreciate the Tramp's snide comments, Gabriel smiled. They were all shivering, they were all cold, but not Gabriel. The icy air didn’t seem to bother his flesh...strange. Slowly, but surely, Gabriel was realising...they have all helped him realise. He has amazing potential. While the merry gang seemed distracted by the irksome Peter Petrelli and his poor broken mind. Gabriel backed into the darkness. He walked toward Ianto smiling. Ianto looked unerved and Jack raised his gun almost automatically. Gabriel raises his hands, "I think you dropped something." He said to Ianto...He made a move toward his belt. Jack moved to shoot him. Fine, thought Gabriel, let him try. Taking the gun from his belt he held it out to Ianto. "I don't think I need it.” He said with a smile “You'll find it far more useful I'm sure." He handed the weapon to the man, and walked away leaving them confused. Moving to the body of Owen Gabriel mused. They say I killed him...I suppose I must've, though I can't think why...he must've deserved it. I wouldn't kill anyone that didn't. Even though I could. I could quite easily. Wonder what made him so important that everyone wants him back? Doesn't look that special to me. Not like...not like this Sylar they keep mentioning. It's a nice name. I always wanted a new name. Gabriel always felt so...unessecarily grandiose...so fundamentally insulting for what I have been. Reminding me how insignificant I was...was. If I am this person they all seem to want me to be...that I clearly can be...that I have the potential to be... He held out his hands in the dark, hands that were capable of so much. He could not hear the voice anymore, he only heard his own voice. I can be so much more he told himself. He turned and looked at the man they were all so desperate to wake up. I can be as special as Peter Petrelli
He just had to get Peter on his own, decided Gabriel, while he was sleeping was better. He just wanted, needed, see what made him...tick. That was all, no one could blame him for being curious.
again... Martha melts away from him in his hands; the apartment he stands in too seems to melt and bubble away, blending into the floor below, the floor below that. The air, the birds in the sky, they all stretch and merge together…he turns and runs for the door, seeing the soft grass and the sweet blue sky beyond – but the door shuts. And he is stuck in the melting world.
He stands alone in the darkness now, and empty space, a place that is nothing, has always been nothing...
A hand reaches out to him in the darkness...he stretches out for it...he can smell fresh cold air...he takes the hand and it pulls so hard...
...something in the darkness holds on tight.
Oona lay herself down next to Peter. "I'm going to be asleep as well. Do not wake either of us up. I'll bring us out of it when I have reached him." She got as comfortable as she could and pushed herself into the dream state. Since he was beside her, Oona slipped into Peter's dream easily enough. She found him surrounded by darkness, his hand dissapearing into it, as if he were reaching into a wall of black.
"Hello Peter." She gave a lopsided smile. "You don't want to be doing that." She placed a pale hand on his shoulder. The other side of that is a deeper unconsciousness. You're in the Dreaming right now. But through there... is basically a coma." Oona took his wrist with her free hand and started to pull his hand back, but met with some resistance. "Peter. It's a symbol, a construct. You have to let go."
...the hand that holds him has dark soft skin, it is a familiar hand. It could be Martha's...could be Simone's...either way it holds him lovingly and pulls him towards it. He can smell perfume, bewitching perfume...
Behind him a voice calls for him. It is ethereal and distant. It pulls him back.
He cannot let go of the hand he is holding...it promises blue skies, watching the clouds pass on a summer day. A break from the endless dream of melting promises.
"Peter. It's a symbol, a construct." Said the voice..."You have to let go."
For one moment he tries to turn his gaze from the soft skin, the sweet promise, he sees the ruby eyes of Oona calling for him...she hasn't been here before. "You're in the Dreaming, Peter. It's most likely been very pleasant. Dreams can be. Until they turn. But reality has it's own pleasures. Martha is waiting for you. She's very worried. Wouldn't you rather that reality than any dream?" Oona looked earnestly at Peter. "You can get lost in dreams. You can prefer them. But it never ends well. Because your body is in the waking world. Don't make Martha watch you fade." ...the hand he holds paws at him desperately...calling out to him in the darkness. "Oona..." He said, "...the world is melting. You have to get out." She smiled at him sweetly.
"Not this world Peter. Only in your mind."
"But you don't understand. My dreams come true...all of them." The hand tugs him deeper. Oona pulls him close. It hurts more than his can imagine, and he can only hope he is not being fooled by Oona...he lets her pull him free.
Peter sat up like a rocket - as if a great bellow of air has just been blown into his lungs - to find the entire world and his wife surrounding him. His eyes were wide in the darkness, he looked around, Oona too was pulling her eyes open, but the first face he saw was Martha's. Without seeking a moment’s forgiveness for his exuberance he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I thought I'd never see you again!" he said.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 16, 2007 10:39:00 GMT
[Chp 20 - Pt 2]
The Doctor and older Rose walked slowly. He was not at all perplexed by the darkness or the destruction of the multiverse. This was the central point, the eye of the storm, this place was always here and would always be here, a utopia, so aptly named by Rose, his Rose. He smiled at her and grabbed her hand. "Are you really going to go back in time and get another Owen?" She asked after a while of walking in silence. He grinned at her, "What do you think?" "I think we try to bring someone back from the dead once before, and it didn't turn out so well." His smile faded, and he gave her hand a squeeze, "Yeh, I know. An Owen from a different point in the time line would not work, true, all hell would break loose. But and this is a big but, really really really bit but, gigantamous but... a bit like you're mums butt really." He grinned and nudged her elbow, she returned with a mock glare and shoving him back. "What about a future Owen?" "But[/n] future Owen is dead." Rose frowned, she was obviously confused. "No, not really,” He said, putting his expsotition hat on, “you pulled Owen out of his time line, but there is a whole time line where that didn't happen. Think about it, before you jumped forward in time, Owen was going to have a boring, probably miserable, but very long life. Then, you lot whip him out, result; dead Owen. But if we can find an almost identical Universe where he was never taken, the universe which split off at that point because of your desision, we have our very own, living Owen." Rose nodded, "But won't that time line miss his Owen?" "Good question..." He was impressed, Rose always came up with good questions, but she rarely fully understood his explanation. Rose didn't look that much older, but how long had they really been apart? “Short answer is yes.” "I guess, it makes little difference in the end." She answered her own question. The Doctor smiled, he took a deep breath which he hoped she didn’t notice and tried to ask the question that is on his mind. How old are you? How are you so wise? What happened to you? How long have you been searching? Was there anyone else? Did she ever get over him? "How long have you been away?" She stops, "Too long." They walked in silence for a little while longer. Eventually the Doctor said, "It was too long for me too." They stopped, turning to look at each other. Time for the talk then. He pulled her into a hug, "I'm so glad I found you." She snuggled her nose into his neck and smiled, "You said that once before." "No zombies this time." They stood for a while until eventually she giggled, "I'd love to stand here all day but don't we need to go?" He released her slightly to look her in the eye, smiling. "Time machine." She stepped back into him and sighed.
"There was no one else you know. All I thought about was getting back to you. That's why I ended up here, that’s why I did what I did because all I could think about was getting back to you." He held her closer, tighter, "I thought about it too, all the time. I'm never letting you out of my sight again you know that don't you?" "Wouldn't have it any other way." She kissed him, he kissed her back. The Doctor broke away from Rose after a time, not long enough he mused, but mentally he scolded himself. Human plus Time Lord, he reminded himself, not going to work. He took a step back, smiled, blushed, and rubbed the back of his neck. He notices his nervous tick and stuffs his hand into his pockets.
"Right…Tardis!" He ordered after what could only be described as an awkward silence. They walk in more silence, not touching, both glancing at each other and turning away. One time their eyes meet and they both look away quickly, both blushing again. As they approached the Tardis Rose started to laugh. "What?" he asked, sounding like a small child being kecpt out of a big exciting secret, "Whaaaat?" She grabbed his arm, looping hers through his, leaning her head on his shoulder and they walk like that, him studying the top of her head like it held all the answers. "Whaaaat?" he said again, spinning her to look at him when he stopped to unlock the Tardis. "It's just, you, you're what 900 years old, or were last time I saw you. And I'm twenty plus… blah de blah..."
"twenty blah de blah?" "Yes." She scowled at him, "And yet we're acting like a couple of teenagers." He smiled, and pulled her into a hug. "I honestly never thought I'd see you again. I hoped, but I never believed. I imagined what it would be like so mant times, all the things I could do, or say. It just... I mean I'm just..." he laughed, "Yep, acting like a teenager." He pulled her into the Tardis. "We'll meet up with the others, sort this Owen thing out with the help of the other Doctor, and then have a proper reunion. Ok?" "As long as there's chips. There's no chips on this planet and I missed them." He laughed, holding her again the consol as the Tardis dematerialised. "Anything you want."
"I thought I'd never see you!" Martha said as she squeezed Pete tightly, her heart pounding in her chest uncontrollably, emphasizing how much she missed him. The police box materialised right next to another in a strange wooded area. A group of people too busy watching a sleeping man and albino woman to notice the doctor in a pin stripe suit step out, leading a blond girl by the hand. "So…whats’ going on?" The Doctor asked all smiles and exhuberance. Everyone spun around to look at him. "I see I'm just in time for THE AWAKENING" he said putting on a silly manly voice. He dropped down to sit next to Pete, "how you doing Petey Pete Pete?" He asked, he looked pale and rather sick. He wanted to take another look inside his head. It was fasinating in there, not to mention needed some serious work. He felt a little like an achitect or a decorator... he'd look good in white overalls. Sylar too was looking at him strangly, a little tinge of fear. He really ought to look in his head too. He should follow up on his work, make sure he had done a good job. Maybe make them answer a questionare? By the slightly murderous look in Sylar's eyes he thought maybe this time he hadn't done so great. Some people were just evil, he hated to believe it, but it was true. He held out his hand to older Rose who pulled him to his feet. He went to say something distinctly clever, but noticed her noticing the other Doctor, and he noticed him noticing her too. He slipped an arm around her shoulders. His body language shrieked 'mine'. He almost laughed at the absurdety. He was jealous of himself, and acting so much like the man in front of him. He really ought to check on Pete, and fix Sylar, and whilst at it, save Owen, and then maybe, just maybe, then he could go home to the Tardis and have a nice cup of tea. Martha broke the embrace and stood up, walking over to her Doctor. "He needs to get home, we all need to get home. It's obvious that this adventure is taking a lot out of all of us and ... I just need some familiarity. London, you know? My flat, my friends. Even the Tardis is a welcome sight at this point! I'll help as much as I can, but we need to get back." The Doctor nodded, all seriousness now. "This place is dangerous, it's almost like it sucks the life force out of us..." He stopped, that was a bit too dark and depressing. Gwen glared at him, "What about Owen? We can't just..." The Doctor nodded again. He shouldn't be encouraging her. Owen was dead, she should mourn and move on. And yet, he felt as if all this was wrong. Like they should never have been here, Owen should not be dead, and therefore being a Time Lord he should do something to right the timeline. He looked his younger self. He didn't know any of these people, and yet he was still him, and he nodded too understanding his own thoughts. He knew neither of them wanted to let go of the comfort of the drums in their heads. Not just yet. Owen would have to be saved, and the villagers the should have a chance to go home. Though he kind of supposed that none of them would. Not now they had their homes here. He started to walk towards the Tardis, still holding onto his Rose, still maintaining eye contact with the other Doctor, who took hold of his Rose and headed towards the older Tardis (if anything happened to the younger one lord knows what would happen – they’d probably all implode in a puff of Paradoxical energy). In there they could formulate a plan, keep an eye on everyone, and hopefully no one would die. No one seemed to be following him – he should really stop soliloquising, he thought. "Oi! Chop chop! Or don't you want to save Owen?"
Gabriel kept one eye on the recently arrived monkey who seemed to look at him like he was some sort of potted science project, it unerved him. He resolved if the man came even an inch closer he'd snap his neck and moved to help Oona to her feet. Look how helpful he could be, he thought, as he moved closer to Peter. Just that little bit closer. Oona sat up shaking the dream from her shoulders. Martha stood up and ran to the monkey. If there was a moment to take advantage...this was it. He just wanted to see how he worked...that was all. He was just curious, that had always been his problem. He had to work quickly. As quick as possible. He placed his hand upon the weakened Peter's shoulder. While everyone was distracted by the ‘oh so important’ formulation of probably very cunning plan, Peter turned, smiled automatically, but then the smile melted away. Gabriel hooked his mind under the man's arms...he ran into the dark and dragged Peter behind him. He knows he couldn’t be hurt. Let the others come he thought. "You're like me." He said..."I just want to see how that works."
Peter had very little energy, but he wasn't about to be the damsel in distress again and stop everyone from getting home. He was more powerful than Sylar and had full use of his abilities - even if he was exhausted and recently dragged out of a coma - whatever he tried Sylar was going to come off worse. Peter desperately grabbed hold of the first thing he could. A thick tree trunk. Drag that, he thought. Gabriel tried to pull as much as he could. No use. His power was not strong enough yet. He might have to use his hands, he was taller, but had experienced Peter's incredible right hook. A different tactic maybe? He ran back and this time, with a quick change of focus of his thoughts, took a firm grasp around Peter's arms, pulled them free from the tree, lifted him up so that his feet were inches from the earth and pinned him against the very tree he had grasped hold of. "I don't want to hurt you..." He shrugged, "I just..." He hadn't got a knife, how was he going to get a good look inside with out a...He raises his hand. Maybe he didn’t need a knife. Drawing his fingers across the empty air he began to split Peter from his scalp. Peter started screaming. Drawing every mote of energy he had left in him, it was not much...he threw Sylar off. He had done it before, the second time was easier. Sylar hit his head. Peter took the chance, and healed himself as quick as he could. Worryingly it wasn’t quick enough. Sylar ran at him again. He tried to thrown him off, but instead of using any powers to hurt him this time he was just trying to hit him. Peter slapped him back. He felt the crunch of cartilage as he broke his nose. That really pissed Sylar off. He liked his nose. It was a very nice shape. Noting that Peter could also heal, but not that quickly. He took another smooth swipe, this time missing his scalp but entirely slicing through his nose and cheek. He laughed through the blood pouring down from his nose. "That's going to scar!" He said and pinned Peter a second time against the tree. His hand was cold...involuntarily, very very very cold. He looked down, it was glowing blue. And smiled as he realised what he could do. Placing it firmly on Peter's shoulder. "Counteract this Petrelli." He smiled, spitting blood as Peter’s flesh began to freeze. Peter’s face wasn't healing, and now he was very cold...Sylar was right. That was going to scar. It was deep. But he hadn't got time to think about healing...he had to heat himself up and quickly. Good thing the Doctor had helped him get that nuclear-fison thing off pat. He just hoped he could keep it under control in his weakened state. He could taste his own blood on his teeth. He starts to counteract the ice, letting the warmth melt the cold. Gabriel backed away, as suddenly touching Peter's flesh burnt his hand. He shook away the pain and in the glow of Peter’s body watched it heal in front of him. Peter seemed to be having trouble controlling the heat, and the blood he was losing from the gash across his pretty face wasn't helping matters. Okay, thought Gabriel, so he couldn't touch him, and he doubted he could produce enough ice to freeze him. But he just had to see...he just had to. Peter fell to his knees. His body shaking as he lost control. Gabriel didn't want to damage his brain but he guessed he had no choice, he pulled a large branch free and ran at him. Drilling the wood into his skull with surprising ease. Peter felt the wood go through his skull, and then it all went dark, he stopped glowing and fell face first in the mud like a wet doll.
Gabriel walked up to the lifeless body in the mud. It seemed such a shame. That something with such power could be ended with something as pathetic as branch. He took hold of Peter's shoulder, wiped his hand on his trouser leg, took a firm grasp of the branch and pulled it out with a squelch. He wiped the blood away from Peter's face, the unhealed gash accross his face. He leant back to admire his work. It seemed sad somehow. "It feels like I've waited a lifetime for this." He laughed. "Funny isn't it." Drawing his fingers across the dakness, he could hear Peter's skull bone cracking. Which was strange, considering Peter had opened his eyes. "Nice to see you again Sylar." said Peter, taking a well-earned breath. He lifted up his knees and kicked out. Sylar flew ten feet backwards into a tree and cracked his skull against the trunk. Good old-fashioned unconsciousness took him over. Peter knew well it was the most effective full stop to a good fight. He was healing now, but healing too slow, he touched his hand to his skull. He had just enough energy to heal that... not enough for his face. His cheek tingled like crazy. He knew the reflection he would see in the next mirror would be very different one. He just hoped Martha didn't care. He concentrated hard on his memories Clare, her sweet face, her soft smile, her endurance and her bravery. She would be so proud of him. He pulled himself to his feet dizzily. He pushed his hair back out of his eyes, he really should get it cut, he thought. His face was still bleeding, he wiped the blood from his eyes, and it stung like hell. That can't be good. He wondered if he would need stitches until he was fully well. At least the hole in his head had closed. He walked over to Sylar, and lifted him onto his shoulders with a groan. They're going to love this, he thought, 'bloody Peter, can't leave him on his own for five minutes and he gets himself killed', they'll say. Oh well...he'd learnt his lesson. When he and Martha got home he's going to do nothing but sit down, eat cookies, and kiss her all over. If she'll still have him. Maybe then she'll forgive him for being such a liability.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 16, 2007 10:39:50 GMT
[Chp 20 - Pt 3]
The Doctor didn't notice Pete being dragged off, he was too busy talking to the other Doctor, too busy winking and sharing quick smiles with Rose, too busy acting all impressive to show off to the Torchwood folk, and younger Rose if he was honest. She would like him best. Martha noticed however, and as soon as she did, he was made to, because according to her, it was all his fault. "Oi! Leave Pete alone!" Younger Rose began to run over, but was dragged back by her Doctor. "Don't you get involved!" He scolded. Rose glared at him, but stuck by his side. She looked from her Doctor to the new one she met just days before. It was like she was pleading him. He looked sad. "Sylar would chop us to pieces if we ran out there. And I don't fancy being soup to you? Not unless it was chicken soup... that’s good soup." He paused for a moment. "Petey boy is more powerful than us, and has a more control on his powers than Sylar. I'm sure he'll be just fine." "He's weak though, isn't he?" So now his Rose was siding with Young Rose. Perfect. "We should help him." He looked from Rose to Rose and then to Martha. Lastly he focused on the Doctor who rolled his eyes and nodded. "Time for a good old fashioned rescue mission then." "Oh I don't know... do we always have to plan? What happened to charging in aye?" He grinned and leapt at her picking her up and spinning her around. He winked at the other Doctor whilst in the process. "Let’s be spontaneous! Rush in, save the day and run run run away!" Martha took off her backpack and unzipped it, doling out the goods she had earlier taken from the Tardis to the Roses. Martha felt the Doctor's eyes trained on her and turned back to look at him. "He not innocent and you know that. Sylar already killed Owen and tried to kill everyone else. He needs to be stopped. There isn't another way." "I could rewrite his brain paths! Cut off the neurons to certain parts of his brain!" "You did that and it failed!" Martha slapped a laser gun into the Doctor's hand. "Use it only if you must." The older Rose crept up behind him and enveloped him in a bear hug. The meat in a Rose sandwhich, it was a nice place to be. He twisted round somehow planting a kiss in her hair. "Remember the fun we used to have. Just spin the wheel and see where we ended up. Saving the universe with a satsuma." "Or a banana." The other Doctor pipped in. His eyes were positivly glittering with the anticipation of a good old fashioned 'barge in and save the day' type rescue. "Once more into the breach!" The Doctor yelled, running towards the door, a Rose in either hand. The younger Doctor shook his head with a laugh and followed, turning to the ones left behind. "Don't touch anything, don't wander off and make sure you BEHAVE!" Martha hesitated, "Come oooon, wheres the sense of adventure? Rushing in for the man you love!" She smiled and joins the group of 2 Doctors and 2 Rose's. The Doctor refused to take any of the weaponry she had offered so now she had two guns. If a bullet didn't kill Sylar, at least she had back up. A whole knapsack of back up. The Doctor would never ask her to kill, and neither would Peter, but she’ll be damned if she wasn’t goin to defend herself and the others the best she could. Martha stuck the laser gun underneath her jacket, opting to hold the hand gun. "We need light, Doctor!" She yelled out of the as they scampered into the darkness. "Righto!" He said, turned on his heals and disappeared into the depths of his ship, muttering about God knows what and reappeared holding a flashlight. "Happy now?" He touched the plastic to his head and headed out once more.
The trees and brush seemed even thicker in the darkness, the short path of light cut even shorter by various leaves and branches. "I feel like I'm in the bloody Blair Witch Project." Martha said to no one in particular. The Doctor turned and held the flashlight under his face, "I am ... so ... scared!" Martha would've punched him in the shoulder if Rose hadn't first. They continued walking, Martha concentrating on the ground in front of her, her Doctor and his Rose playfully pinching each other, and the other Doctor deep in explanation of their surroundings with the other Rose. "Ahh!!!" The older Rose screamed, crashing into something. Or someone.
"Hey! Watch it!" Came a heavy voice, in the dark. Martha recognised it immediately and felt her heart explode. It was Peter! Martha excitedly grabbed the flashlight out of the Doctor's hands and shone it on Peter's face. "You ... " Her voice trembled. This wasn't her Peter, was it? "You're ... " Martha traced the still raw scar, Peter closed his eyes and breathed in. Her touch, so gentle. "What happened?" "We'll talk later, alright?" He squeezed her hand and kissed it. "Quite the battle wound, eh Petey Pete Pete? Sylar give you much trouble? Sorry we didn't get here sooner." The Doctor redirected his attention to Martha and Rose, grabbing the blonde around the shoulders, "See? This is why we don't make plans. Spend so much time makin' 'em we miss the best part! And we wouldn't want that now, would we?" He grinned broadly at Rose, "Always swooping in two minutes too late, no use because it's all over. Imagine if we did that with the end of the universe! Although, it doesn't much matter now, does it, seeing as we're back here anyway ..." "Doc, uh, mind helping me? It's not exactly a light load." The Doctor was about to say something witty, a retort and an excuss not to help with carrying Sylar, he was just about to open his mouth when he got barged by the older looking younger him with a "Give 'im here..." Obviously he had seen the hesitation was using the opportunity to look manly in front of his Rose. It was always the way. He looked at the older Rose, "I would have helped you know." He whinned. "Suuuure you would..."
Oona pulled herself upright and smiled at the gathered throng. "You know, I'm gettting rather tired of being weakened and everyone running off." Oona looked around her. They were not in the same place. Not directly on the world they had been in. No, they were... in a pocket. She felt life around her, and awareness. She projected a greeting outward. It wasn't so much words, as a feeling. She felt aknowledgement, but not a direct answer.
"Peter was dreaming the world was melting. He said his dreams come true. It seems simalar to what is happening. The blending. Everything being pulled in, almost a reverse big bang, on a much larger scale. This is over many realities."
Returning to the others, Sylar being transported on the other Doctor's back like some sort of escaped pig, Martha helped Peter limp along. He was still weak, and bloody and...What was that smell? Ugh, no, she could never love him like this, and certainly not when he smelt like Claude. When they reached the light, the Doctor dropped Sylar near Oona and ordered her to keep him 'under' for the meantime. They fussed about him, but he pulled away, he didn't want fuss. He wanted a bath, and food, and...well a new set of clothes would be nice...oh and stitches, he thought as he felt a fresh wave of nausea from the gash. As if Martha knew she pulled him towards her Doctor's Tardis. The Doctor looked as if he was about to protest, but she glared at him in quite an impressive way and he let her take Peter inside. Peter didn't like being in there, it still made his head scream, but since the Doctor had taken it upon himself to do a little bit of makeshift interior design in his head it wasn't nearly so bad. In fact he felt safe. Martha pulled him down past the corridor room to a bathroom. "You have a bathroom?" He tried to slur. "Even space travellers have to go to the loo you know." She said tenderly, "And try not to speak you'll make it worse. The wardrobe is to the left. I'll be back in a bit." He walked inside and stepped out the coat and trousers, the heavy shoes. It felt good. He tried not to look in the mirror, afraid of what he might see. He turned on the shower and stepped inside. The water was fresh and warm. It ran red and black with mud and blood for a while. But eventually it ran clean. You're not Peter she had thought when she had seen him. He guessed he wasn't anymore, not the Peter that had landed here anyway.
Grabbing a towel he walked outside, straight into Martha. He tried not to laugh, Doctor's orders. She handed him something in a plastic pot. "Pot Noodle." She said, "British Delicacy. All major food groups don't you know. The Doctor says it's got another one too but he won't tell me what it is." She had a tray with pots for the others, and a bag of Satsumas from 'Sainsbury's'. "I'll give these to the others, then I'm coming back to stitch you up." She said, stepped on her tiptoes and kissed him on his - uncut - cheek. In the (vast) wardrobe Peter grabbed himself something that fitted, a vest shirt (very John Maclane), a pain or jeans, and a really nice black coat. Since it was so cold he thought almost of taking one of a huge array of scarves...no, he wasn't really a scarf person. He pushed his hair out of his face and looked in the mirror. Yep. A very different Peter looked back. Martha walked in with a box of medical supplies. She laughed. "Very Thomas Anderson!" She said, he would have blushed if he hadn’t lost so much blood. "Sit down, lets sort out that wound." "There you go. No one will notice." Peter tried to raise his eyebrow wryly. It didn't move. He guessed he'd had a nerve severed. "I look like one of the Biker Mice from Mars." He suggested. That made her laugh. At least he can still make her laugh, he smiled. "There's my Peter." She said. And kissed him. Amongst the piles of clothes they held each other for a while. Just breathing each other in. "You smell of soap." She said. "It's nice. I don't think you've smelled of soap since I met you." "Thanks." He jested. "At the risk of spoiling things though..." "Yeah, yeah...back to the others, back to 'Saving the Universe'." "In my day all I had to worry about was the world." "You don't need to worry about that Peter, the Doctor's got the world covered." She sighed. "I could do with a rest. I need my family. London before New York eh?"
Peter nodded. Of course, he would do anything for her. "Your family are going to think you're dating Captain Danger when they see me." Again she laughed. "You know what, for everything you get into, they'll still think you're safer to be around than the Doctor." She pulled him to his feet and they walked outside to meet with the others.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 21, 2007 13:37:51 GMT
Chapter 21 Dreamscapes [CHp 21 - Pt 1]- Edited by Jocose
Claude sat watching quietly in the shadows, the singing had stopped, just the crackling from the fire, and shower sparks when a piece of wood shifted its position. The voices of the others were muffled, he was lost in thought. He got the feeling that everyone was thinking about home, and what they were going back to, he found himself wondering where (or if) he should go back.
His gaze wondered towards Toshiko, whatever happened he would owe her some kind of explaination. He wasn’t much good at those, they always asked him why… trouble was he never knew why, always found himself answering the same way, "because," because what? He never had known the answer to that.
Then there was Oona, he’d been avoiding her, but he knew that she could slip into his dreams, so he couldn’t hide anything from her, and when she knew everything they would either know nothing or everything, and he would end up damned on both counts.
He could survive here as well as anywhere… perhaps better than anywhere else.
Martha and Peter appeared, Claude smiled to himself, reminding himself to tell Peter his real name- just in case they were short of a name or two sometime.
Peter pulled Martha close to him as they sat down by the fire, he wasn't going to let her go- not even for one minute, she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
The Doctor, though waxing lyrical about many and various adventures, seemed to keep glancing at the unconscious Sylar, almost as if he didn't know what to do with him. Peter overheard Jack offer to shoot the man, but the Doctor shook his head. Oona held tight to her prisoner, hopefully draining him of whatever power he had managed to gain control of.
Lapsing into silence, the Doctor glanced across at young Rose who was now fast asleep, her head tucked under the ninth Doctor's chin, one of his arms rested over her shoulder. They seemed comfortable together, since his other self had showed up, young Rose had gone straight back to the old him, and had barely offered him a second glance, maybe she really had liked the other him better! Looking down at his own Rose he thought better of it, she loved both of him, he was different… but the same, and somehow she had come to understand that. He had been worried that when his other self showed up, his Rose would go running to him, gobsmacked to see him again, true she had hesitated slightly, but she had kept her distance, and stuck with him, he figured that like him, she only wanted to be forever moving forward.
He gazed at the sky, then over at Sylar again, if he was going to take an Owen from another reality, then he would have to leave someone- or something, in his place to keep the balance. Dumping the body was his initial reaction, but with no explaination of how he had died, the universe may just collapse. He would have to abandon Sylar to take the blame, inevitably he would end up going to prison (where hopefully he would never relearn how to use his powers), that would leave no mystery around Owen's death, and thus no real ripples through time, it could work, should work, hopefully an alternative Owen wouldn’t mind being dropped into their reality-when they found one!
Rose shifted and sat up, smiling at him, "What's wrong?"
He grinned, "Oh nothing's wrong, just plotting and scheming. We do so love a good scheme," he laughed, evily opening his eyes ridiculously wide, in mock insanity, before roughly dragging her to his chest for a hug, she laughed, it was so good to hear her laugh again.
"Dunno why we're all sat out here, the Tardis has showers, food and bedrooms."
Everyone glared at him, he grinned and shrugged, "So I forgot!"
"Bloody 'ell a shower, I haven't had one of them in a while," commented Claude.
A full chorus of, "We know," echoed around the camp site, Claude gave them a fake sulky look and then laughed, "I'll have you know I've had showers in some very interesting places..." his smile widened to a grin, "and as for baths!"
Hesitating, Claude looked over at the Doctor, "Which one?" he asked, waving vaguely in the direction of the Tardises.
The Doctor smiled, bounced to his feet and jogged over to him, "No problem...I’ll show ya, Claude me old mukker...thought about what your going to do when you get back?" he asked cheerfully whacking him on the back.
Claude looked surprised, "Well I was thinking I might stay here," he said vaguely, "Why?"
The Doctor looked at him slightly aghast, a man from the 21st Century, a time of gadgets and fancy machines, wanting to stay in a world where the inhabitants existed in a habitat of pre-industrial revolution, it was somewhat brilliant, it made him smile.
"Keeping everyone at arm's length, existing day to day, only ever relying on yourself," the Doctor glanced briefly at him, “Don't you ever wish things were different?”
Claude shrugged, “Just is,” then attempting to turn the tables, said, “What about you?”
The Doctor darkened, "I live forever, the people I care about age and die, and I'm left to walk alone." He could almost see pity in the other mans eyes, “I’m this way because I have to be, not by choice."
Suddenly realising they had reached the most suitable place in the Tardis, the Doctor stopped, turning to Claude, his arms windmilling around in all directions, he said, "Showers there, baths there, clean clothes in there, and kitchen is down the corridor on the left, need anything or get lost, just holla," the Doctor grinned his 1000watt grin, and turned away.
"Maybe you should make the most of what you have, whilst you have it," Claude called after him, the Doctor span round, eyeing him up, pain was etched on the other mans features, maybe he was like him out of necessity as well, "Don't eat me out of house and home, I'm not made of money, oh and don't break anything!" He left him to it.
Wandering around the bathroom Claude tested various bottles, most didn’t smell too bad, turned on the water, and began to strip. he stopped and yelled, " Have you got a..." he stopped, shrugged, put his clothes back on and got in the shower. Each layer of clothing was washed then dumped, he pushed the soggy heap with his foot, trying to stop the plug hole from blocking, finally giving himself a good wash down, then peering out of the shower, a towel was hanging over the corner of the bath, not exactly luxury size, he thought struggling to get it to cover his embarrassment, luckily if anyone came into view he would be able to disappear! The wet clothing was plonked unceremoniously into the sink.
Padding down the corridor, leaving wet footprints behind him, Claude wandered past the kitchen, then spotted the wardrobe, suddenly changing his mind he reversed rapidly back the way he had come. Entering the kitchen, he made a beeline for the fridge, he opened the door and rummaged around, he wasn’t sure what most of it was. One interesting packet opened up to reveal something sticky and purple, didn’t seem to smell of anything in particular, he couldn’t read the writing on the packet, and not being sure if this Doctor had a habit of leaving things in the fridge he shouldn’t, he decided to err on the side of caution and grabbed a bottle of milk, unscrewed the top, and paddled off back to the wardrobe. Taking a swig of the milk, he glanced around, no wonder the Doctor dressed the way he did; looking at this lot he wondered how long it had taken him to put together what he was wearing now. Moving forward he tripped over something, it was the end of a long stripy scarf, Claude closed his eyes and winced, he really didn’t want to know what he’d looked like when he last wore that!
Finally he found a pair of basic trousers and a v-necked jumper, he rummaged a bit further, and found a jacket. He liberated a pair of trainers from a pile of shoes, and pulled out a plastic bag from under them. He pulled on the new found clothes, pushed the bag in his pocket and left.
When Claude had returned to the bathroom he rung out his clothes, dumped them into the bag and made his way outside.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 21, 2007 13:44:00 GMT
[Chp 21- Pt 2] Everyone seemed cheery around the camp fire- except Gwen. She couldn't help but think of Owen, and the last time they were around a camp fire, she closed her eyes, drifting away to happier times, the sounds of the past echoing around her.
"Gwen! They make soup out of really strong beer!" Owen giggled. "I know! I've already drunk it!" Gwen slurred.
Gwen smiled at the memory, she couldn't help but feel left out, everyone had paired off, the Doctor and Rose, the Doctor and younger Rose, Jack and Ianto, Tosh and Claude, Martha and Peter.
Peter could hear Gwen's thoughts racing, he was surprised she cared about Owen so much ( she had a boyfriend to go back to, after all) but then again, she was the kind that worried about people, as was he. They had a lot in common - though it felt rude to suggest that they did. Careful not to wake Martha, who had fallen asleep against his shoulder, he leant towards Gwen, “You know what?" he said, "I bet you a round of drinks on me, in Cardiff, that the Doctor has a plan," he smiled, "and I bet you a round of drinks on Owen, that it's a really damn great one, Okay? So you’d better start planning the night out to end all nights out... I plan to see a whole lot of my crazy assed drinking-buddies when we get home."
Gwen chuckled, of course Peter was right, the Doctor had a plan (although he was constantly protesting that he didn't like plans), he probably had one, she just couldn't help worrying. "Yeah," Gwen said softly, not wanting to wake anyone, "It's just... me and Owen, we were good friends," she paused, " and I was thinking… how about, we all go out in Cardiff- when all this is over, raise some chaos over there?" She grinned.
"I could use a good night out," Peter smiled, he imagined taking Martha out for a meal, prancing around a bar like an idiot - spilling drinks on strangers, pretending he was just an ordinary Joe, being an ordinary Joe, getting drunk with friends, and waking up with Martha asleep next to him. No world saving, no Destiny… no Sylar!
"I bet you could drink me under a table," he laughed quietly, his face still stinging, "Hell, you even came closer to killing me than Sylar did... I bet you're scary, with a coupla glasses of wine in you?"
Gwen grinned, "Nah, I can handle my drink, it'll take more than a couple of glasses of wine to get me drunk, I've lost count of the number of times us lot, " she indicated some of the Torchwood group, "have walked into work while drunk, it makes it seem easier sometimes, we should get paid danger money! Seriously, I'll definately give you a drinking match, when we get back- deal?" Gwen held out her hand, Peter shook it and sealed the plan.
The Doctor came out of the Tardis, dropped down to the ground, sitting crossed legged, grinned, "Oh I could drink you all under the table!"
"Using Time Lord physiology is cheating," Rose grinned, sitting down next to him, she had got increasingly clingy since they found her, and he was worried she might suddenly try and lock him up. He poked out his tongue despite his concerns, and prodded her in the side for good measure.
"For your information, I happen to be a serious heavy weight, even for a Time Lord."
"Sure you are," she poked out her tongue this time, and prodded him back, attempting to stop it turning into a competition, Peter laughed and put a hand on the Doctor’s shoulder, "So you have a plan?"
"I don't do plans, no, though I am working the kinks out of a scheme," he grinned, "Should be a weel oiled machine by tomorrow morning, I suggest folks get some sleep, there are some spare rooms in the Tardis- if you don't feel like camping, nasty bitey bugs and things out here."
Peter nodded in the direction of Sylar, "And what are we going to do with him in the mean time? Tuck him in and read him a bed time story? Personally, as much as bed..." the Doctor raised an eyebrow heavenward, as if to suggest no hanky panky was allowed, he smiled, "...sleep and rest appeal to me, I don't fancy sharing bunk space with a man whose tried to kill me three times in one day... and succeeded. Twice." He looked at Martha, "And I'll be damned if I'm letting him near her when my guard is down either, not after last time."
The Doctor grinned, jumping to his feet in one swift motion, "Oh not to worry Petey boy, I'm sure I've already thought of something!" Strolling over to Syler, he grabbed him by the upper arm, dragging him to his feet, the man was still out of it, but strong enough to walk, the Doctor led him towards the Tardis, and they disappeared inside.
Peter and Tosh looked at each other as the Doctor dragged Sylar away from Oona, and into the depths of the Tardis, pushing past Claude, who was on his way out.
"Claude! " yelled Toshiko, running towards him, she was thrilled by the improvement in him, he looked like he was about to dive back into the Tardis. Claude moved the bag behind him and tried to keep it out of sight, Toshiko followed it around trying to see what he was carrying, but Claude kept turning away from her.
"What is it? what’ve you got," she giggled, Claude sighed and stopped, held the bag out and said, " me washing."
Tosh peered into the bag and fished out the top item- it was his underpants! Claude jumped, grabbed them back, stuffing them quickly into the bag, mumbled something about doing his own washing, and sprinted for the safety of the trees.
The Doctor half dragged, half carried Syler down the long winding corridors of the Tardis. Eventually, he found what he was looking for, it was what could only be described as a holding room, not really a prison cell, the room was comfortable after all, with a bed and a sofa and a book case, which boasted a few classic novels. The door was solid, and could be securely locked, he shoved Syler in, locking the door behind him, turning quickly, he found himself nose to nose with his Rose.
"The Doctor and other Rose have gone back to their Tardis, oh and someone’s finished off the milk... and why are you locking him up?"
The Doctor tried to push past her, but she scowled and blocked him. "Why are you locking him up?" she repeated. "He killed Owen, he deserves it," he said attempting to get past her, sighed and added, "You know this storming off thing only works if you let me go!"
She just starred at him, "Isn't this sort of thing up to the police? Who made you a god?" She hated her choice of words, the second they were out of her mouth she regretted them, the hurt look that crossed his face, it was quickly covered by a fake smile, but not quick enough to fool her, then his expression darkened, and he stepped ever so close, for a moment she could almost believe his eyes were blue, “I used to have so much mercy,” he said sadly, she touched his face gently, and his resistance broke, stepping into the comfort of her embrace, he said, "He killed Rose, I was in his head and saw everything. I felt sorry for him, when I knew what they did to him, I thought perhaps I could help him, then I realised that that is just who he is, he did it to himself, he can't be helped, and now I will make him pay for what he's done, and I'll get Owen back."
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 21, 2007 13:48:22 GMT
[Chp 21 - Pt 3]
Gwen yawned, she hadn't realised how tired she was, she needed sleep- and food!
Toshiko stood smiling at Claude’s retreating back, "Tosh, I'm going to get some rest, you coming inside the Tardis?" Gwen asked her. "I'll be in, in a bit," Tosh replied and smiled, then wished her goodnight.
Gwen entered the box, for the first time she realised the sheer size of it! She had been in it before, but they had been in a rush, and she had things on her mind, walking down the corridor, she opened the first door she came to, thankfully it was a bedroom, walking over to the bed, not bothering to remove any clothes, she just collapsed on top of the duvet, She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Owen picked up the gun and raised it to his head....
Gwen awoke with a scream, breathing heavily, she sat up and held her head, her whole body was shaking, she felt that she would never be able to sleep again. Desperate to escape the memory of her nightmare, she got quickly out of bed, and wondered out into the corridor, peering into each room as she passed. Bedroom, living room, gadget-y room, bathroom, Gwen stopped, just what she needed, a shower, after a good scrub, she stood in the middle of the bathroom, suddenly realising she didn't have a change of clothes.
"S**t," she murmured, grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her and running down the corridor. Clutching the towel to make sure it didn't fall away, grabbing the frames of the doors as she passed them in an attampt to slow herself down, she checked each room until she found the wardrobe. Calling it at wardrobe was an understatement, she thought, she would have gladly spent hours in here, trying on all the different clothes, but knew she couldn't, it was packed full of clothes from every possible era, reluctantly passing on a gorgeous Edwardian dress, she settled for something more practical, a pair of high waisted 70's jeans, which she loved, and a plain t-shirt, with green beading. It was so tempting to pick up a pair of knee high boots and strut out in them, but she knew she couldn't in case she needed to run for her life again, two cardboard boxes full of converses in all different colours and sizes fitted the bill, the Doctor seemed very partial to this particular type of trainer, she thought, selecting a green pair, she then set off in search of food.
Oona was sitting alone when Claude re-appeared, he watched her, unsure what to do. Just as he was about to slip away she smiled at him. He smiled back and went over to her.
"Alright?" he asked, not knowing what to say, suddenly he blurted out, "It looks like the Doctor’s found a way to sort this out, get you all home."
Oona gave him an enquiring look, "Get us home...not you?"
Claude bit the inside of his cheek and shrugged, " I like it here, now I’ve got used to it... sort of."
Claude shuffled uncomfortably, "I’d better go and see if the Doctor needs anything doing." He forced a smile and walked away.
The Doctor had left Rose settling into her old room, and gone to make some tea, but when he returned she had already dozed off, he had tucked her in, and stood guard. He loved to watch Rose sleeping, he had done it in both incarnations, he leant in the doorway watching the rise and fall of her chest, listening to each and every sigh as she dreamed, he had missed this. He had seen how tired she was as they talked, and had ushered her to her bedroom, her obvious surprise, and pleasure, that he had kept her room as it had always been, even though so many of the other rooms in the Tardis were now empty, had made her smile, he loved to see her smile.
When Claude touched his shoulder he span round with a start, he grinned at him, definitely not doing something he shouldn’t be. "So how’s the err... scheme coming?" Claude enquired.
The Doctor gave a quiet laugh, "Good, pretty much ready to go once everyone is rested, are you erm... coming with us?"
Claude nodded, if he could help put things right for Owen, then he felt he should, "So if we're not doing `owt tonight, mind if I get some kip?"
The Doctor smiled, "Go for it, most the rooms are free... except this one," he added protectively. Claude left in search of a room, and the Doctor slipped quietly into Rose's room, shutting the door behind him, no one else would disturb him tonight.
Had it been mere years ago the Doctor would have kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed with Rose? He had often accompanied her to her room after an adventure, turning his back whilst she changed, then crawling into her warm bed, all the while still talking. He found her company soothing, but missed her when she fell asleep, often talking quietly to her even though she was dreaming! Other nights they would sit on the end of the bed, laughing, he would braid her hair, and she would show him her glossy magazines, or do a fashion show of some new outfit- bought from yet another intergalactic shopping mall he had taken her to.
But now he did what he imagined his ninth self was doing right now, back then he would sit in the chair at the foot of her bed, her presence keeping his nightmares at bay, helping him to sleep- if only briefly, then he would wake, and start tinkered with something (anything), just so he didn't have to leave. She had never complained about her lack of privacy, somehow he felt that they helped each other, she often said as much.
Wandering the corridors the night her father had died a second time, still feeling the horror of his own death, when he finally returned to his room he found her asleep there, mascara tracks down her cheeks, seeking him for comfort as he so often sought her.
He didn't know quite where he stood with her now, so much time apart, and then the change in the dynamics of their relationship, one he wasn’t sure he was suited for. So he sat and watched her, and eventually dreamt of her falling through the void and turning to ashes.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 21, 2007 13:55:48 GMT
[Chp 21 - Pt 4]
Stay here? Oona poked a few more times at the fire, she never stayed anywhere for long, she couldn't, she hadn't been born in any of the realities, so they had no room for her. If she stayed in any for more than a month... things started to warp, memories changed, as the new world tried, and failed to adjust.
She was a traveller, a warrior for balance, and a dreamthief, she was fated to be nothing else. No matter what she may wish… she could revisit places, she could have friends all over the multiverse, but a home, a place to go back to... impossible!
She understood the Time Lord only too well.
Finally she left the fire, embers dying now, stepping inside the welcoming atmosphere of the living ship, she sent another pulse of greeting and sensed acknowledgment. Seeking out the kitchen first, and finding doughnuts, even if they were almost stale, no milk though, doughnuts would do for dessert, after a ham and swiss sandwich, bread meat and cheese were all good-there was even mustard!
As she ate she thought about finding some fresh clothing, and she really did need a shower, and somewhere to sleep, then perhaps when the Doctor slept, she would collect the promised dream… No... nightmare, he deserved what dreams he could get, nightmares he had in abundance, and could spare a few.
Gwen walked into the kitchen, just as Oona was leaving, she smiled, "Any food around here?" She asked, opening the fridge.
"Sure, there's a few doughnuts left, and some bread in the cupboard, and a few other bits, but there's no milk.”
"I'm going to get some rest now, do you know where the bedrooms are?" Oona asked.
"Yeah, there are some up the stairs at the end on this corridor, or there are some if you walk to the right and the fourth... no fifth door on your left, there's a corridor full of them," Gwen took a bite from the doughnut.
"Thank you. Goodnight," Oona smiled.
"Night Oona," Gwen rummaged around , managed to find some teabags, then made herself a cup of black tea, and there was just enough cheese for a sandwich, it was only then that she realised how tired she still was. Unfortunately Gwen’s first choice of bedroom wasn’t the best, the noise of Claude snoring had even made it through the wall! Gwen got up, moving two rooms down, where hopefully she would get some peace, with no Claude within earshot, she quickly fell into a deep sleep...
Fog surrounded her feet, and wisped up her legs, she was cold, shivering, and without a coat. "Gwen?" Gwen turned to see the pale face of Owen, "Hi," he said quietly, "You look cold, I'd give you my coat, but I'm not sure where it is," there was no emotion in his voice, it was as if he was in a trance. "Owen...." Gwen didn't know what to say, when she tried to move it felt as if her feet were glued to the ground.
"What's the matter Gwen? You look a bit peaky, " he said. Gwen looked down, there was a gun in his hand., a shiver went down her spine, somehow she managed to hold out her hand, "Owen.... give me the gun," she said quietly. Owen looked down in confusion, "But Gwen, you gave me this gun, you said I can have it, what with Claude taking my gun, you gave me yours," he said, she felt tears falling down her cheeks, "Owen, please, just give me the gun, then everything will be alright." "Don't worry Gwen, I know how to use a gun," he smiled. "Owen please," she begged him. "Gwen?" he asked, then a loud BANG! Gwen screamed.
Their party was slowly breaking up, as one by one they gradually decamped to the shelter of the Tarids. Jack raised an eyebrow in Peter`s direction, he drew his finger along his face and stuck up his thumb with a grin, suggesting the scar was pretty cool. Peter shrugged, Jack laughed and whispered something to Ianto, which merely made the man crack a gentle smile.
"You should go inside," Jack whispered with a smile, "I'm sure you and I can hack the cold; thoroughbred Yanks that we are...but the Brits will, sorry, the Brit and the Welshman might loose some valuable fingers...lack of sun an' all."
Peter nodded. He didn't want to wake Martha, carefully he lifted her into his arms, she clung around his neck, Jack walked in front of them, holding open the Tardis door for him, "Seriously man, chicks dig scars," he said as he passed, "Just ask Harry Potter." Peter cracked a small smile, and left Ianto and Jack to make small talk in the console room. The corridors were all silent, then suddenly a faint sound caught his attention, it was vaguely familiar, he laughed, suddenly realising what it was, snoring, cacophonous snoring...Claude! The next door was slightly ajar, he pushed it with his foot, the door swung open, only a single bed, but it would do, he lay Martha down, carefully took off her shoes, unzipped her jacket and tucked her in, after a moment he crawled in with her, wrapped his arms around her, and closed his eyes, he would not let himself sleep - exhausted or not - he had dreamt enough for one lifetime, but he wanted to hold her, protect her while she slept, like a human shield. In the morning... not that they knew whether it was night or day... he would tell her he loved her.
Oona had found the wardrobe, selecting a set of clothing and night things that seemed as if it would fit, which was unusual, she then sought a bathroom, tracking the wet footprints backwards seemed to work perfectly. Once clean and smelling of lavender and lilac, dressed in a plain, sleeveless cotton nightdress, she sought out a bedroom. Oona found a small, utilitarian one.
Closing her eyes, she found sleep, and a path to the nearest dreams, watching the nightmare with a kind of morbid fascination, she drew in the dream energy, and a small ruby formed in her hand, inhaling deeply, she took in the nightmare, drawing it into herself, then directing it into the crystal.
None would remember their nightmares, it would be as if it had never been dreamt.
Gwen slept soundly for a long while, then suddenly woke, startled, looking around, she slowly remembered where she was, surprised at her dreamless sleep, and for once was thankful that she had been so exhausted.
The Doctor's nightmare faded away as Oona's eyes appear in front of him, everything turns to grey, and he finds himself in the fields of New Earth, walking with Rose across the apple grass, the sun high and warm. Oona stood observing them in the shade of a near by tree, he catches her out of the corner of his eye, but when he turns to look she is gone. "You keep your dreams, you have so few," echoed her voice inside his head.
Rose was in a wedding dress, and he held both her hands, smiling, the reverend announced them man and wife, there on the cliff over looking the glistening city, he closes his eyes to lean forward and kiss his bride, but meets nothing but air, his eyes snap open, just in time to see a Rose shaped pile of ash fall to the ground, he shrieks, he cries, he drops to his knees beating the earth beneath him.
"You can spend the rest of your life with me, but I can't with you..."
He awoke to find her face so very close to his, Rose wiped away his tears, tears he didn’t know he had wept, pulled him close to her, and rocked him like a child, clinging to her, he vowed never to let her go again, however long their forever could be. He would accept it, and hope for a little more besides. Oona could take his nightmares, all of them, 50 years was a blink of an eye to a Time Lord, then his nighmares would be reality.
The next morning he awoke to find Rose curled up around him, her face buried under his arm, but he knew she was awake. "It can't smell good under there," he said, trying to make it sound like a joke.
"Don't care, smells of you... I almost forgot what you smell like." "I hope you're not trying to imply I usually smell this bad?"
Leaning away from him, slightly flushed, their eyes met and silence reigned, they just stared at each other, smiles slowly growing, tension building. He could feel the tears welling up inside him, a moment longer and he would finally confess everything he feels, his body aching and raw, then he would carry her away in his magnificent time ship, to some deserted planet, and they could live happily, together, forever.
"Shouldn't we be saving the universe or something," she asked, "I remember we used to do that a lot, or are you a slacker now?"
Silently thankful that she broke the silence, he kissed her on the nose and said, "Yep!" and grinned inanely.
"Which one? It wasn't a yes- no answer," she frowned slightly, but he was out of bed already, pulling the duvet away and dragging her from her bed.
"Time to get up! Time to put all wrongs to right!"
The Tardis and her travellers were stirring, all except one, locked up safely, but still free to dream, Gabriel drifted around in his own world.
Sitting at a beautiful, ornate, mahogany table, richly inlaid, and obviously very expensive, Gabriel scribes the final few words, in exquisite handwriting upon the page. ‘Fin’; and closes the manuscript. Sitting back in his comfortable chair he regards the title:
“How I cured the world and became a really nice guy” By Gabriel Sylar Grey (45th President of the United States of America)
Forward by Doctor Mohinder Suresh.
Yes, a very satisfying read… mellow in parts- some hilarious anecdotes about Stallone and Schwarzenegger – ah, those were the days!
He turns in his chair, he is wearing a very comfortable satin red dressing gown, he slips it from his shoulders and regards himself in the mirror, yes, very presidential – his mother would be so proud.
Walking from the Oval Office he steps into his car – an open topped vehicle, no one has the nerve to try anything, nor – as it happens – the inclination.
His dream shifts, he is in New York now, a great parade of cars and floats ahead of him, moving slowly, music playing, people everywhere, waving flags that all bear his likeness or his name, New York streets are lined with the American people, and people from all around the world, come to sing his praises! Ticker tape floats from the sky, he stands in his car, waves. Oh – how they love him!
Behind them, shackled and dishevelled, they pull what may have once looked like Peter Petrelli, though no one says that name. The most wanted terrorist – a very dangerous creature, reduced by the might of the American state.
People throw rotten fruit at him, and old meat.
At the end of the cortege stands a man, dressed in black, he looks just like Gabriel, only he has a more controlled smile, and better hair.
The procession stops, Gabriel walks up to the man, who is holding out his hand.
“Well done Gabriel,” says the man, “An excellent job,” he claps him on the back, Gabriel turns to wave at the crowds, and as he does, the man in black , who looks just like him, plunges a great Samurai sword through his middle.
He falls to the floor dead.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 24, 2007 11:36:50 GMT
[Chp 21 - Pt 5]
Martha stirred in her sleep, enough to wake her from her dreams. She blinked a few times, getting used to the darkness, and yawned. Despite being tired, her body wouldn't let her rest. She looked up at Peter who had his eyes closed and nuzzled his clothed shoulder, resting her head against his neck, breathing in his scent. Soap and something a bit more ... homey. Familiar. Like an old car. Not bad, just lived in. Martha's stomach rumbled and Peter's eyes fluttered open. "You okay?" "Yeah, just hungry. I could murder a bag of chips right now. You want anything?" "Pizza." He said half sleepily, "If you can track me down some Pizza it'll cure all ills." He had been craving Pizza all day...oh, that's why - he remembered the Pizza discussions back in Torchwood. "Scratch that." He said, having automatically lost his taste for the food. "A cup of coffee will do." Martha grabbed a sweater from her closet (how strange but nice that Pete had laid them down in the right room!) and headed towards the kitchen where she found a sombre Gwen staring into her cup of tea. Martha flipped on the coffee maker, opened her bag of crisps and offered some to Gwen. "You miss him, don't you?" Gwen simply nodded and grabbed a handful of Burts Salt & Vinegar. "The Doctor'll bring 'im back." Martha placed her hand on the woman's. "He always has this way of fixing things, even if they seem unfixable." "But what about the meantime? I don't have a Peter or a Doctor or even a Claude to run to! I'm alone, Martha." "Don't be daft, you've got a whole Tardis full of friends!" Gwen pulled back and wrapped herself around her cup of tea. "Gwen, Owen's out there. Another Owen, full of life. This wasn't what our lives were meant to be." "Then how can we go back?" The hurt inside Gwen was boiling toward anger. "If my timeline or whatever was never supposed to include these past few days, how can I go back? How can I be with my Owen, alive, when I know what he looks like dead? What if I can't go back to my old life because I can't stop thinking about this one?" She rubbed her forehead and nervously laughed. "I know why we use the Retcon now." Martha smiled, but only out of courtesy. What Gwen had said had struck her. How could they go back? The Doctor had said before that messing with pre-established events was out of the question, but what were the consequences? Were they never to escape the end of the universe? Would she lose her Pete ... again? The coffee maker flicked off, startling Martha out of her thoughts. She poured a cup for her and Pete (and Gwen who said she had had enough of milk-less tea) and carried the mugs down the hall.
She handed one to Peter who kissed her as thanks. "I love you, Martha." He said, and though it caught her by surprise his sincerity tugged at her heartstrings. She was not going to letting go of him after all they had been through. Not again, not ever. She knew him inside and out, more than any other person on earth. "I have to find the Doctor." She said. Peter sipped at the coffee - it was perfect, warm, black, sweet; she knew how to make a good cup, definitely a keeper - as he watched her get dressed. He suppressed the urge to pull her back into bed with him. With the coffee swirling in his senses it was amazing how tired he felt. He leant back against the wall, nursed the cup in his hands as Martha kept on babbling about timelines and ...
...wading through New York's streets. Smells like it's Fall. It's dark, smoky. The air crackles. People see him in the street and they run the other way, like rats caught in the corner. There is no bustle and life in the place. The buildings are gutted. Giant cranes fly overhead, rebuilding. This isn't the city he knows.
He turns a corner. Trees are growing up through the buildings, familiar trees. He has to step over them in order to climb the stairs.
On the floor dead men lie, dead men in security uniforms. He steps into the elevator. Pushes all the buttons.
Each floor is empty of people, except one. When he gets there the lift begins to shake, as if there is a war being waged on the other side of the door. Pete has to pry the doors open with his hands.
He steps into the corridor and shields his eyes. Two men are fighting, one throws ice. The other, fire.
Then in an instant the fight is over. The other man has vanished.
"Come back!" Screams the man with fire in his eyes. "Come back here, right now Sylar!"
Peter, stumbles backwards, towards the elevator doors. But the man hears him, and turns. Peter is speechless. It's himself. But different, older, darker.
His other self runs at him at incredible pace and takes firm hold of his shirt.
"You don't fool me!" He growls.
"Wh..."
"YOU DON'T FOOL ME!" He yells in his face.
"Come on sleepy head." Peter looked up. He had spilled hot coffee on her bed sheets. "Who knew you were such a wriggler." Martha smiled. "I need to find the Doctor. Something's happened." He said. Damn, he thought, he knew he shouldn't have slept. That wasn't a dream.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 24, 2007 11:38:43 GMT
Chapter 22 - Timepieces and Chips
[Chp 22 - Pt 1]
Claude woke with a jump, he could have sworn he heard a loud noise, but now he was awake it seemed to have vanished, he shrugged, must have been dreaming.
Getting up was a rapid affair for him - he slept in his clothes. The plastic bag was leaning up against a chair leg, he picked up the bag and sniffed, wrinkled his nose at the unmistakable aroma of damp washing, he peered around the room, looking for somewhere to hang it up and let it dry.
Changing his mind he dumped the bag back on the floor. “Breakfast” he mumbled, and stuck his head around the door, he could hear movement and people talking, that sounded hopeful. The voices led Claude to the kitchen, he paused then disappeared from sight. He walked quietly around the others, peering into various packets, everyone seemed to be complaining about the lack of milk. He pilfered a piece of toast, then spotted a bowl of cornflakes left unattended, the first mouthful almost made him retch, what the hell had somebody put on them! He tested his lips with his tongue,..salt? and...orange! Who on earth would put... Claude jumped, narrowly missing colliding with Gwen when she moved away from the table. Nothing worth eating, he might as well go and see if the others were moving around, he left the kitchen and blinked back to visibility.
He was off on his bounding excursions again, dragging Rose despite her not finishing her toast yet. He was explaining his plan, no - ‘scheme’, at a million miles per hour, in detail, including techno-babble. "I swear you make half of this up." She said. He gapped at her for a moment not breaking his stride, out of the Tardis and into the next, walking purposefully to Young Rose's room. He hammered on the door. "Wakey wakey! Rise and shine! The birds are swaying, the trees are singing! It's a beautiful day!" A bleary eyed 9th Doctor appeared at the door, followed by a roughened looking Young Rose. Both the current Doctor and Rose raised an eyebrow. Their younger versions both frowned. The Doctor knew they hadn't been up to anything, he would definitely remember if they had, but it was fun to annoy this other Doctor. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and the other Doctor tried to defend his and his Rose's innocence. "The doth protest too much." He whispered to his Rose, and grinned. She gave him a strange look. Before reaching the other Tardis's control room the Doctor veered off, took a left and then a right all the way to the kitchen. He popped open the fridge and 'rescued' half a 6 pint container of milk. He opened it up and sniffed it then, cautiously, took a small taste from the bottle. Rose made an eeeew face but the Doctor just winked at her. "This will save the lives of thousands." He said with a grin, "Well it will stop the visitors from killing me when they try and have breakfast without milk. Thus leaving entire worlds to their fate." She laughed grabbed the container off him as he tried to take another drink and screwed on the top. "They won't be thankful when they get a mouthful of your backwash." She said. He rolled his eyes, and dragged her towards the door, grabbing a box of cornflakes left on the side in their exit. They hurried to their own kitchen, dropping the awards of their raid onto the table with a whoop of glee. Everyone just starred at him. "Could say thank you." He mumbled before leaping into his explanation of his scheme.
The Doctor was suddenly aware that the milk was moving by its self, he made a grab for it before it disappeared. "Ok Claude, we know you’re here." Claude appeared next to him grinning, "Ooh milk." and made another grab for the bottle. The Doctor was slightly nearer and moved it out of the way, "You had most of the last lot," he complained blocking his arm from reaching across. Claude puffed and put on a hurt expression, "No I didn’t ." A large chorus of "Oh yes you did," from everyone else made him shrug, "how come no one ever believes me," he grumbled, giving the Doctor a forlorn look, blue eyes on full doleful setting. The Doctor laughed, "I’m immune to looks like that... I used to make use of a pair just like ‘em." The Doctor puffed and sighed, "Had you been listening instead of trying to pilfer the milk..." He went back into intense explanation of his plan, which obviously no one understood. "We're gonna kidnap an Owen from an alternate dimension similar to this one." Came the northern voice from behind him. The Doctor spun round to come face to face with his former self. "Well if you insist on taking all the magic out of it..." The other Doctor grinned, "Had to be done. You stole my milk." And he removed the carton of milk and handed it to the Rose behind him, who was carrying two tea mugs in one hand. "But, but..." He had always liked to explain things in a way no one understood him, it was just what he did, and yet he here was, the other he, starting an explanation in layman’s terms. "You're just trying to annoy me aren't you?" "Yep." The other grinned, he rolled his brown eyes. Typical. Claude looked baffled, what on earth was he going on about, the Doctors eyes were brown, at least they had been the last time he’d noticed, he checked, yep brown. "So what’s this plan of yours then," he said, trying to manoeuvre into a better position to get a hold of the milk.
"What's wrong?" Martha asked, mopping up coffee from her sheets. "I don't know...I?" He was trying to form words but his head felt full. "I think...I'm sort of ...merging." "Merging?" She sat beside him. "Blending." He clarified, using Oona's terms. "Would you think I was crazy if I told you that I think I just met…myself." He laughed awkwardly. "And now my head is full of..." He closed his eyes, he could remember fights he had never had. He remembered people he had never met. Wars which had not yet been waged...and...the explosion. He stared dead ahead. "It happened." He said, though he wasn't aware he had said it out loud. "What happened?" "The explosion." He said. He turned and looked her in the eye. "I killed 0.7% of the population." He said, trying to hold back tears in his head. "I'm the villain." Martha looked at him, not the least bit amused. "No you're not. Don't talk daft. Come on. Doctor will know what to do." She pulled him to his feet and they set off for the (very crowded) kitchen, grabbing Toshiko (who was brushing her teeth) on the way.
Both Doctor's spun around to meet the new arrivals. Peter explained what had happened and Martha filled in some gaps. "I think it's safe to say it's time to get out of here." Both Doctor's said in unison. They glared at each other, whilst sniggers arose from the room. The plan was to get away from this planet and area in time. That way things would stop 'blending'. Two Time Lords, possibly with Oona's help, could open up the doorway into the correct Alternate Dimension. Owen would be retrieved and they would go on their merry way. He left out the part where he would be leaving Sylar behind. "Erm Doc, not wanting to burst your bubble," said Jack from the doorway, "but how do we ‘retrieve’ Owen exactly? He wasn’t exactly that co-operative when her was alive." "Oh I don't know. You could use that American charm of yours. Offer him a latte and a bagel. Get him drunk and entice him back here. I'm sure you can think of something Jack."
"Me?" "Well he won't trust me. A complete stranger. Well he might do, I am positively charming and practically perfect in every way." He grinned, Rose smacked him. The other Doctor groaned. "Shouldn't we all help?" Gwen piped up from the corner. Of course she wanted to go, of course she wanted to help him. But she was emotional and this could cause problems. He looked as Jack for help, but he had strode over to her already and taken her hand. "We'll all pitch in Gwen, of course we will." The Doctor nodded, backing out of the room closely followed by his other self. Time to put this show on the road. His head popped back around the corner. "Oh and guys, team, comrades... No I don't like comrades... squad... ooooo I like that. Yes squad, this could be bumpy so hold on to something... solid." He was gone again. Martha pulled Peter along up the corridor. "You HAVE to see this!" She glowed. He followed along behind, trying to hold onto the real memories in his head and push the new one's to the back of his head, but it wasn't easy, especially with Claude was following along behind...since now he knew, his other self knew, exactly who Claude was it was difficult to concentrate on current events. His head was filling up, like someone pouring five years of memories into his head through a funnel. They arrived in the consol room. Both Doctors moved quickly around the consol, full of energy and shouting commands, crossing over and pulling levers, like it was a choreographed dance. The lights began to flicker, the engines started to rev, the dematerialisation sequence began. The 10th Doctor gave out a whoop of joy and the 9th grinned both holding on for dear life. The Tardis shook like it never had before. A strange crunching sound made both doctors stop, they exchanged worried glances, not one of her usual sounds. Both turned, to see Claude standing watching them, happily crunching his way through a box of cornflakes. Seeing them look at him, he said a rather muffled, "What," as cornflakes fell out of his mouth, he moved the box quickly and caught them in it. Everyone in the control room thought exactly the same thing at the same time – no have cornflakes tomorrow for breakfast. The Doctor glared at Claude. "You better not drop any of those through the grating!" But he was on another merry jig around the console before anyone could answer. Peter wrapped his arms around the nearest pillar; Martha wrapped her arms around him. The whole room juddered and vibrated. Steam came out of somewhere. There was a rushing, grating noise, which Peter shouted against..."What about the other Tardis?" Would they be able to get back - would they want to? But no one was really listening. The Doctors were dancing, and the others were being slowly spat (many with bruises) from the internal corridor, as they tried to get to the console room to see the spectacle. Claude was nearby, Peter watched him warily. Gwen was fired into the console room with Tosh. Crashing against Claude and yelling sorry behind her shoulder, she grabbed onto the railings. The Doctor (in the suit) was yelling and whooping and The Doctor (in the leather jacket) was grinning like an idiot. Although Gwen was obviously upset she couldn't help but grin too. They were going to get Owen back! She glanced around and saw Tosh and Ianto grinning too. Jack jumped up beside her and with one hand grabbed the railing and he put his free arm around her shoulders. When the Tardis tilted alarmingly to the left, Jack let out a hearty laugh and soon enough the console room was filled with laughs and giggles. The Tardis turned upside down and everyone fell to the ceiling... then it righted itself and everyone fell back to the ground.
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Post by whodovoodoo on Aug 24, 2007 11:40:06 GMT
[Chp 22 - Pt 2]
The minute the things started flipping Peter let go of the pillar and grabbed hold of Martha, rising them both from the floor so that the machine rotated around them. "You can fly again?" She said happily. "Shiny and new. Amazing what having five years extra practice shoved in your head will do for a man." He said. Then the ship landed, or rather crash-landed. Peter returned himself and Martha to the floor, Martha was being a Doctor again...she pushed the others out of the way, making sure they stood back, she even managed to hold back both Roses, which took more than a little effort. The laughs stopped as soon as they were in the air. The Doctor landed half on the console and slid to the ground unconscious. After coming to the ground with a rather loud thump, Gwen realised she had landed on top of Jack. "Sorry, Jack! You okay?" She asked hastily crawling off. "Yeah, I'm fine..." Jack groaned. "Hey, it won't exactly kill me..." "Is everyone alright?" Gwen called out, attempting to stand. "The Doctor!" cried Older Rose as she ran to the console. The other Doctor stood with his arms folded nearby, "I can't believe I become such a pansy, leave him he'll get up soon enough." He said bluntly, both Roses and Martha glared at him. As did Jack from a distance. Claude came over near Peter, "Not just you that gets attention when unconscious then friend." He tried to jape. Peter moved away. The other Doctor returned to the console, clearly happier driving solo. Gwen had moved out of the way. Martha, Rose and Rose were fussing over the Doctor. "Martha, I've seen this before. He's regenerating, I know it!" The older Rose knelt by the unconscious Doctor and brushed the sweat off his brow. "He's not dead, you twat. He's still got a pulse." Martha pushed Rose away and held her ear against his chest, checking both hearts. "He just needs air." Martha performed CPR and the Doctor awoke, coughing and gasping for breath. The other Doctor was moaning about him becoming a wimp. That was strange, but Gwen didn't bother to ask. She slowly walked over to Tosh. "You okay?" She asked. "Yeah, just bruised." Tosh smiled "I've had worse." "Mmmm." Gwen mumbled. "Do you think it worked?" Gwen eyed the doors and considered going outside. The Tardis juddered into life and Gwen and Tosh grabbed each other for support. "I don't think we've landed yet!" Tosh yelled. Slowly the Doctor came round, a Rose (which one was yet to be determined as she was more of a fuzzy blond blob than a Rose) was stroking his hair and asking him to wake up. The Tardis was still moving, and from the feel of the time vortex heading the right way. It seems once through the barriers into the other dimension only one time lord was required. He reached out and touched the face of the Rose nursing him and blinked several times until she became clear. It was young Rose. As he sat up he became aware of Old Rose sat on his other side with a damn cloth. His former self was piloting the Tardis. "Have a nice nap?" He called out to him, sarcastic and cynical. Always the way. "Well, that's never happened before!" He smiled and petted the Tardis console. "Not used to the extra passengers now, are we love?" Martha glanced at Claude, "Give me your jacket." Claude shrugged, "Why?" Martha lost her temper, " Because I need to keep him warm in case he goes into shock you pillock!" Claude glared back and opened his mouth to protest, Martha leaned across and grabbed the bottom of the jacket, pulling him towards her, "Give me the bloody..." the jacket pinged open and she narrowly avoided being hit on the head with a cornflake packet, its contents showered down over the Doctor, still in a slightly fuddled state he asked if it was snowing. Gwen watched the cornflakes fall to the ground. "Ha! Look at that! Snow! Snow in the Tardis!" The Doctor commented grinning. Gwen sighed, this was going to take a while. Having cornflakes breathed into ones lungs is wake up call enough for anyone, especially for the Doctor, who sat up with a jerk, choking and trying to yell at Claude simultaneously, which oddly enough wasn't the greatest idea. "He's turning purple!" His Rose called from somewhere near his right elbow. Young Rose was behind him in a heartbeat whacking his back with all her might. Eventually he stopped choking and turned a sad face to young Rose. "Ow that hurt." He whined. He brushed Martha off who was trying to listen to his chest and leapt to his feet, swaying slightly and being caught by older Rose. "Time for adventure!" He yelled hot-footing it towards the door. He tripped and landed face first, not even getting a chance to shoot his hands out in front of him to save himself, and promptly passed out again. Neither Rose could help it. They both began to giggle. The other Doctor rolled his eyes, and hefted him up onto his shoulder and takes him to the control room chair. "Does he get himself knocked out a lot?" Rose shook her head, but Martha nodded. She gave her a strange look. It seemed the new-new Doctor developed his death wish after Rose left. The other Doctor rolled his eyes again. "No wonder he's such a nut case. Killed too many brain cells smacking his head like that. I'm surprised he's not a vegetable dribbling on his shoe..." Gwen was getting impatient now. She was mere moments away from getting Owen back, and yet she had to wait for the Doctor to wake up. It wasn't his fault she knew that. He was awake now, just a little groggy. The other Doctor was dancing around the console again. Gwen quickly walked over to Jack. "What do we say to him when he gets here?" Jack paused for a moment. "I dunno, it depends what he says to us." Gwen sighed. That wasn't an answer! "We're here!" The northern Doctor announced. Everyone looked around, waiting for someone to give orders. Gwen looked at the door again. He was out there. Somewhere outside, Owen was alive. Why did she constantly think of Owen? She was with Rhys, being with Owen was a mistake... wasn't it? She hadn't thought about Rhys in two days. At all. Her thoughts were taken up with Owen. Gwen stood confused for a moment before shaking her head, as if trying to clear her thoughts. Now was definitely not the time to be questioning her boyfriend choices. "Right. Are we going?" Gwen made to walk to the door, but she was stopped by Jack grabbing her arm. "Oh no you don't!" He said. Rose rolled her eyes and hit her Doctor lightly. "Leave him alone! He's...well...you." Rose still didn't understand what was going on. Everything was just getting too complicated. Her Doctor sighed. "Well, you've got to admit. He's a bit of an idiot." Rose giggled. "You're just jealous 'cause he's a 'pretty boy' as you call them!" Her Doctor glared at her. "I am not!" he replied, moving back to the console in a huff. Rose smiled as he did, and knelt down in front of the other Doctor. She grinned. He was rather gorgeous. She kissed his forehead, where a slight bruise was beginning to form, and began to stroke his hair lightly, loving the feel of it in between her fingers. The Doctor once again began to come round. "I could get used to this." He murmured, entwining his fingers with the ones in his hair. “They better not be Jacks!” He said, "I think this is a new record, twice it 2 minutes..." The Rose above him giggled slightly and he smiled. He pulled himself into a sitting position. "Torchwood... shouldn't you be... erm retrieving something." He grins, he winks at young Rose. Yes he could steal her away, have two Rose's all to himself. He dismisses the thought almost immediately, two Jackie Tylers. Rose grinned at him, reaching her free hand up to his bruise, brushing it slightly. "Are you okay now? Not sore?" He gulped a little and laughed. "Sore yes, but nothing a manly man such as myself can't handle. I don't read instruction manuals, don't ask for directions and I definitely don't pass out when I knock my head. I'm fine. Was faking it. Honest." Rose giggled. "You're such an idiot, honestly! You passed out! Admit it!" she grinned at him, poking her tongue out slightly. "I was merely resting my eyes." he grinned, sitting so his face was mere centimetres from hers, "Time Lords are above such things." His eyes were twinkling mischievously and he was about to lean forward and say something witty into her ear when the other Time Lord on board came over. "You were knocked out cold. You, me, we turned into a right wuss didn't we?" he turned shaking his head holding out his hand for Rose.
"I say we go and explore a bit whilst these Torchwood folks sort out their business." Older Rose was on her feet in a jiffy, "And me and me!" She sing-songed. The Doctor shook his head slightly and rolled his eyes. "Rose Tyler I'm not letting you out of my sight." "You'll have to come with us then." She poked her tongue out at him and followed the big-eared freak and the younger Rose out of the door. He sighed, "What is it with Tyler women..." He grabbed his coat from the railing and followed on. "Wait I'm coming I'm coming." Rose leaned into her Doctor as she turned to look at the elder version of herself with the other Doctor. "God, do you think we act like that just now?" The Doctor laughed. "Of course not!" She had hold of his right hand with both of hers in such a way it had turned into an arm cuddle. Not that he was complaining. They chattered for a while, just like old times, slowly making their way down the street in alternate Cardiff, the other Doctor and Rose ahead of them. Eventually they caught up just outside a little cafe. "They do chips!" Young Rose said with enthusiasm, and in the usual, I can't deny you anything, the former Doctor lead them inside. His Rose grinned and nuzzled his arm. "Remember we came here with Jack and Mickey before you regenerated." He grinned, "Yeah it was cheaper then too. I hope you're paying." She laughed, "Of course, who else would be?" Rose sat down at the table with her Doctor, staring at the other versions of them. "It's still so odd." she muttered to him. He smiled slightly, wrapping an arm around her. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Darkness was quickly arriving and they were still sat in the cafe exchanging stories and topping up coffee mugs. The waitress had removed the sign 'free refills' from their view and yet they still never paid for it. When they finally got asked to leave, both versions of the Doctor and Rose walked hand in hand down the street, both lost to their partner. The brown-eyed Doctor whispered in Roses ear that they should lose the chaperone and she laughed. "Run!" He whispered in her ear, and they shot off in the opposite direction and ducked into an alleyway. The other pair didn't seem to notice, or if they did, they didn't seem to care.
"Fancy a bit of sight seeing?" Martha asked Pete as she sat on the floor of the Tardis. "I've never really been to Cardiff before. I think we went to Bristol once for school and the Doctor's stopped here for refuelling a few times ... " "I really think it's better if we just stay inside. Don't want to get lost out there." Martha frowned and Peter caved. "Oh fine, just for a bit of fresh air." Peter stepped out with Martha, his girl on his arm - it was like a fairytale, they walked by the harbour and watched kids kicking a ball around. Martha brought him an ice cream with a chocolate stick in it and they sat and watched the seagulls. At first it seemed odd, Zeppelins overhead, A clear, cloudless sky, the bright sunshine - he had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a warm wind in his face, to stroll in the streets. He wondered if he existed in this universe, if his family existed, was he even the same guy? He contemplated calling, but knew that would be foolish. Still there was one person he needed to call. Just one. Just to make sure they were all right, then he could let himself keep going. "It's my first time in England." He smiled strangely. "I wonder when it is?" "I don't care." Martha said. "In the end, it doesn't really matter. That's what you learn when you're with the Doctor. When isn't important." "What is?" He says, dropping ice cream on his nice new coat, he frowns. His face doesn't seem to sting so much when he frowns. Martha laughed. "Who." She says. "That's what's important. Who."
He smiles, he didn't care if it hurt, and wiped the cream from his coat. "You're such a clutz." Martha jokes. He wipes the ice cream on her nose, and they fell about laughing. They sat in each others arm for a time talking about ordinary stuff like kids cartoons and worst holidays, the kinda thing ordinary people talked about; it was the best medicine. Peter watched some kids in hooded tops pick on an old guy with his dog, Martha encouraged him to knock one from their skateboards. He said he wouldn't, but when she wasn't looking he waved his hand just a little and the biggest of the gang fell into the harbour. She turned around. "Did you do that?" "What?" He said innocently. He shrugged. "I think you're a bad influence on me." He said, "That's the last time. What shall we do now?" He asked, it was getting dark and his sleep patterns were all askew, he felt as if he had only just woken up. Martha checked her phone for messages from the Doctor, she smiled to see there were none, then took Peter's hand and pulled him to his feet. "Owen must be taking a lot of convincing. Looks like we'll have to get a hotel room." She winked. Yep, definitely a bad influence.
Back at the Tardis, Jack had decided the whole Torchwood team would head off to Owen's home, and try and convince him the phones had died. They left the others behind.
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