Chapter 6 – The Doctor's Choice

'Ok. So let me get this straight: you have both the abilities and the equipment to defeat this dude, and yet you refuse to because it goes against your personal guidelines?'

Daisy was strutting back and forth, getting gradually more anxious and irritable. Simmons was trying desperately to calm her down, however it was clear how distressed she was herself. The Doctor put his head in his hands and groaned. Daisy attacked him again.

'You realise how selfish you're being right now? This is everyone. Half the universe.'

'It's not like you have to hold a fifth of the universe's power in your hand and then use it to control someone's mind!' He shouted. 'What do you expect me to do?!'

'Oh, I don't know – compromise your morals! Don't tell me you never have before.'

'Ok, ok,' Simmons got between them and pushed Daisy to the side, 'look do you mind if I have a go. I've got a slightly different approach. You know, I'm the carrot approach and you're the approach where you just yell-until-they-drop.'

Daisy sighed.

'Yeah, ok. Sorry, I'm just really frustrated.'

'I can tell! But you need to focus – we've been in life-or-death situations before. And we've figured it out… like 62% of the time… Ok I'm going to go and talk to him. You stay here.'

Simmons walked timidly over to where the Doctor was sitting with his head in his hands. He looked up at her and smiled solemnly.

'If Amy were here right now she'd be as angry as Daisy. I don't blame you if you're here to try and persuade me.'

'I'm not going to try and persuade you.' Simmons lied. 'I just thought you might need some help coming up with an alternative solution. I bet you started planning one as soon as Thanos started talking.'

The Doctor smiled in reminiscence.

'Those were the days. But no… I hate to disappoint you but I've got nothing. I genuinely think this is our only choice. I always knew this day would come. It's like the universe is taunting me: "It's either you or everyone else. Make your choice."' He paused for a moment and rubbed between his eyes. 'The problem is, just as Thanos does, I know myself.' He looked at Simmons and sighed. 'I know that if I hold that Stone I may never be able to recover from its power. I'll keep trying to fix everything in my life, keep trying to be a god. And there'll be no one there to stop me.'

Simmons bit her lip and thought for a second. She knew that perhaps she was crossing the line, as they were treading on dangerous territory, but for whatever reason, she believed in this man.

'You're wrong.' She uttered seriously. The Doctor looked surprised. 'There will be people there to stop you. There will Daisy and I. And before you say anything, I know you think that we aren't capable, but just like you we've been through an awful lot, and we have succeeded. There's a reason Thanos brought us together. It's because we can succeed.' The Doctor still looked slightly unsure, but he nodded nonetheless. 'After all, what are our other options?'

The Doctor stood up and walked closer to Simmons, so that he was only a foot away.

'Can I be sure that I can trust you?'

'Yes.' Simmons announced immediately. She gave the impression that she was very sure of herself.

'Ok then… I'm going to tell you something I haven't told anyone in a very long time. But you have to make sure you keep it a secret, and never utter it aloud. If you're sure this will work then I'm going to tell you something that, in a way, will let you control me…'

The Doctor whispered something in Simmons ear and her eyes widened. She didn't fully understand what the Doctor had said, but somehow it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard. A tear rolled down the Doctor's cheek, and he walked towards Thanos.

'Ok you purple bozo… Bring it on.'

Thanos glared at him, both resentful and grateful. He pulled the Mind stone from his gauntlet and reached out to give it to the Doctor. As it fell into his hand, the whole world seemed to light up. Golden fire burned around the Doctor in a dazzling circle, stopping Simmons and Daisy from being able to see him. Suddenly the light exploded from every angle, knocking them to the ground. The Doctor's words boomed thorough their bodies and blasted their ears.

'Release the souls you have taken, and release yourself from the Stones' hold of you.' He pointed at Thanos with the intensity of a million furious schoolteachers, all pointing a one child.

Thanos put his hands to his head and screamed. The sound was like a low rasping foghorn, which pierced through their skulls. He ripped the gauntlet from his hand and the Stones went flying through the air, scattered to different sides of the universe. Thanos was defeated.

The light around the Doctor continued to grow brighter, as he started to float three meters into the air. Simmons remembered what she had to do, and ran towards him. The world around her seemed to go silent as she breathed in slowly, ready to call out a word that had the power to change her forever.

She opened her mouth to speak but then there was no need. As Simmons looked in his eyes, the light faded and the Doctor collapsed to the floor. The Stone rolled from his hand, and lay to rest by Simmons' foot. She didn't touch it, or even take a double glance. Moving towards the Doctor she knelt down next to him and rested her hand on his shoulder.

'Thank you,' he said, 'thank you so much.'

After a few hours of walking, thinking and conferring the group arrived back at the TARDIS and the Doctor explained everything to a very confused Fitz.

'But where's Thanos now? Won't he just go and seek out the Stone's again?' Fitz asked.

'No. Thanos is dead.' The Doctor informed. 'When he ripped the gauntlet off it must have been too much for his body to cope with – all of the Stones disappearing so suddenly. And he won't be coming back any time soon. Users of the Soul Stone are imprisoned in it once they die. It's their curse I suppose.'

'But what about the Mind Stone?' Fitz pushed.

The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out the small stone.

'I'm pretty sure I can control it now,' he smiled, throwing it into the air and catching it, 'but nonetheless I'm going to hide it… Somewhere in my TARDIS. After all, it is a whole dimension.'

'Ah you see, it is a dimension!' Fitz whooped.

Simmons giggled and reached out to embrace Fitz for the third time since they had arrived back at the TARDIS.

'I missed you.' She teased, pecking him on the cheek.

The Doctor smiled to himself and Daisy rolled her eyes.

'Ugh, get a room.'

Simmons laughed and freed Fitz who looked as though he had been ever-so-slightly suffocated by her hug.

'You know, while you were gone I kind of got used to this place. I think I might miss it…' Fitz sighed. The Doctor grinned and patted him on the shoulder.

'Well you're welcome back any time you like.'

'Yeah that's if we can find you.' Daisy laughed. 'Which will never happen.'

The Doctor pulled a lever and the TARDIS zoomed into the sky. Daisy gave the Doctor the coordinates for the Quinjet they'd been on when people disappeared, and within minutes they were reunited. The other agents were confused by the Doctor's presence, but Simmons shrugged it off, saying it was a long story.

'Sometimes it's better not to say anything.' She winked at the Doctor and he saluted goofily.

'Well, I better be off,' he said, 'Amy and Rory will be wondering where I am. I left them stranded at a spice shop in Canada!'

'It was great meeting you Doc.' Daisy smiled, waving.

'Yeah and remember to warn people in the future before giving them multi-coloured liquid!' Fitz added sarcastically, rolling his eyes. The Doctor pulled a slightly embarrassed face.

'It was great to meet you all. Please try not to die. Agents always seem to die, and it's really rather annoying. And I'm quite fond of you guys!'

Simmons rolled her eyes and they all waved. Within seconds the TARDIS had faded into small specs of existence. It was as though nothing had ever happened.

'Saving the world again,' Daisy grinned, looking at the empty spot where the TARDIS had been, 'just another day at the office.'