"He did what heroes do after their work is accomplished; he died." -Leo Tolstoy

Fifth Doctor's TARDIS

He walked straight into his TARDIS and dared not look back. He could hear her, calling his name, pleading with him to stop and yelling and cursing at Eleven for restraining her. He felt his stomach drop at the sound of her despair. But still he did not turn around.

The Doctor was not afraid to die. Was not terribly troubled at the prospect of throwing himself into the middle of some epic explosion. But somehow, he found he couldn't bear to see Sienna's heart being broken.

He immediately closed the doors and set the coordinates for a time jump to March 13, 2012. The TARDIS dematerialized normally but began to shudder and resist when the rematerialization sequence began.

"Come on now." he encouraged his ship. "Now's not the time to get skittish. One last trip Old Girl."

The engines stuttered repeatedly before the familiar sound of the TARDIS materializing filled the control room.

He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled up the scanner. If he had timed this right, the Zygon Arc would have just caused a neutron star collision. That meant that all lifeforms in the Malum System should already be dead, the atmosphere on Salutaris and the other planets now completely unfavorable for any living being.

The scanner showed him absolutely nothing different than what he'd seen here over thirty years before, yet just a few moments ago. Nirais Park looked unchanged, down to a bench directly across the path from where his TARDIS stood.

He narrowed his eyes. Was he too early? He punched some keys on the computer and the TARDIS began an atmospheric assessment. It didn't take long for the radiation alarm began to sound. He nodded grimly. The planet, the entire solar system, was effectively dead.

He left Salutaris behind and navigated his ship to the sector of the star system where the black hole had been located. The Doctor was relieved to find it was just where it should be.

He exhaled nervously. He only had one shot at this and a lot had to take place all within the same explosion. He allowed the TARDIS to drift safely just outside the event horizon as he readied his equipment. He and Eleven had modified the timeline analyzer to act as a conductor for the singularity reaction he intended to trigger. He switched it on and immediately felt an eerie force present in the control room. The life and death of Sienna Woods existing simultaneously. The timeline fluctuating between order and disorder. He could feel it. He closed his eyes. He hoped to hell he didn't screw this up.

He checked all his instruments one more time, but then all he could do was stand by. Because there was one more guest invited to this party. On board were both the stellar manipulator he needed and the Anti-Time Sphere from Eleven's universe. When his TARDIS was destroyed, the anti-time would be released. But there was one more ingredient needed for this recipe. The singularity reaction also required the detonation of the Anti-Time Sphere on board Arc's ship. It wasn't long before the small Tregannon craft appeared on his scanner.

The Doctor chuckled mirthlessly. The Arc from this universe had destroyed an entire star system without any solid understanding of how to even use the black hole to achieve his ends. The Doctor couldn't help but wonder if the rogue Zygon actually thought he could just fly right in to the black hole without being completely annihilated. The Arc in the other universe had at least prepared a successful plan, had a working understanding of Time Lord science in relation to black holes. There was no telling what this ignorant lifeform hoped to accomplish but, regardless, Arc was in for quite a rude awakening.

There would be no escape for the creature who had just casually committed genocide. Genocide that the Doctor would be blamed for posthumously. He set his jaw.

He got a lock on the Tregannon vessel's heading and rapidly entered coordinates. He threw the lever and was gratified when the TARDIS materialized right around Arc's ship. Accuracy, after all wasn't always his strong suit. The Doctor was pleased to note that the craft fit quite neatly inside his control room. He crossed his arms and leaned against the console, awaiting his guest.

Arc exited the craft looking more confused than any creature the Doctor had seen. The Doctor smirked, pleased he could be of service.

"Greetings." he offered pleasantly.

"What is the meaning of this? This is impossible!" the Zygon hissed, his eyes wide, taking in the expanse of the control room. "Where am I?"

"You are on board my TARDIS. Oh, you're still in the same quadrant of space. In the very same solar system you just carelessly destroyed." The Doctor's nostrils flared, his blue eyes cold as ice. "I thought I might give you a lift through the black hole. After all, a TARDIS is the only way to go." He smiled tightly, studying the creature.

"Time Lord?" Arc growled, clearly panicking, understanding he was trapped.

"Call me the Doctor." he suggested congenially, consulting the scanner.

"Doctor..." the Zygon hissed in recognition, his eyes narrowing. "I demand you release me before I cause you great bodily harm." Arc produced an impressive blade from a sheath at his waist and advanced on him.

The Doctor laughed as he knelt and picked up the stellar manipulator. "You know, I was afraid this device might be a bit complicated to figure out. But since you were able to operate one, they're clearly idiot proof." He pressed the button on the top and it whirred to life.

The Zygon's eyes got even wider. He froze. "What are you doing with that?"

"Well you see Arc," the Doctor continued casually, squinting at the small screen as he programmed the device. "I've come here today to take advantage of this lovely black hole you've created. Before the singularity becomes fixed, I intend to merge it with another." He waved a hand dismissively. "It's just some complicated Time Lord science really. I'm sure you'd find it all very boring." He grinned and rested one hand on the console's instrument panel.

Arc was at a loss for what to do. "Please." he whispered, dropping his large knife to the floor where it clattered loudly. He held his hands up in surrender. "There's no cause for hostility between us. I have no fight with the Time Lords. All I wish to do is leave this universe." The Doctor reckoned the Zygon must be experiencing the five stages of grief because he'd just gone through denial and anger and here he was at bargaining.

The Doctor chuckled. "Interesting. You murder an entire star system of peaceful and innocent beings and yet you grieve for yourself." He shook his head and reached behind him to tap a few buttons on the console, his eyes never leaving the evil creature. The TARDIS began spinning slowly through the stellar dust toward the event horizon, all of its defenses completely disabled. The cloister bell bonged hopelessly.

"You must have a death wish." Arc sputtered, sounding desperate. "If you create another black hole right here, don't you realize you will die as well?" The creature's fear was nearly as palpable as the Doctor's calm.

"Indeed." The Doctor assured him. "This is the end of my story and I don't expect a happy ending."

The Doctor peeked at the scanner and saw they were very nearly at the point of no return. He entered one more command on the stellar manipulator while Arc eyed him nervously. He had commanded the course of two neutron stars with the push of a button. His eyes narrowed at how easy it had been to create such destruction. Fearsome power, particularly in the wrong hands.

"You are prepared to die?" Arc asked incredulously. "Who then will be the champion of this universe? There are many beings, monsters even, who will rejoice at your demise." The Zygon studied him, clearly hoping his words would have some affect.

The Doctor met the Zygon's eyes once more. "Not to worry. I have it on good authority that a certain fellow I know from across the street will pop over from time to time. He has quite a way with the monsters as well." The Doctor crossed his arms and leveled a piercing look at Arc. "But you see, you are the monster at the end of my story. And at least I get to go out playing the role I'm best at." He gave Arc a cold smile, his blue eyes like chips of ice. "The man that stops the monsters."

Arc stood frozen for only a moment before he suddenly pivoted and broke for his ship. He dove inside and came back up with a Tregannon impulse laser gun.

He pointed it at the Doctor and roared. "Take us out of here now."

The Doctor rolled his eyes and watched the scanner as the neutron stars drifted closer and closer. It didn't exactly matter if Arc killed him at this point. Everything was already set in motion and Arc's death was just as inevitable as his own. The Doctor only hoped he'd timed it right.

As the TARDIS reached the event horizon, it started being pulled inward violently. The resulting shudder knocked Arc off his feet. His head hit the frame of the Tregannon ship rather hard and he lost consciousness as well as his grip on the gun. The Doctor managed to grab the console firmly and the stellar manipulator clattered noisily to the floor. It had already served its purpose.

An alarm on the console began to sound, telling him a collision was imminent. He sighed in relief. He had done it.

The Doctor sat in one of the jump seats and took a deep breath in, then exhaled slowly, calming himself. He was glad not to have to deal with Arc anymore.

"No need to end things on an unpleasant note." he exclaimed over the sound of the cloister bell, the collision alarm, and the TARDIS shuddering violently.

He closed his eyes and his mind went back to that fateful parking lot in Kirkmore. After he'd saved Sienna from the brutal attack by her ex boyfriend, his knuckles had been bruised and bloodied.

She took his hand, held it up, and touched the injuries gently. She closed her eyes and felt that current course through her. She breathed in the pain and exhaled it away. And the Doctor's hand was as good as new.

When she opened her eyes, she saw he was looking at her with a mixture of awe and something else she couldn't quite place. She smiled at him, and kissed his hand where the injury had been.

He saw her brown eyes, full of gratitude and wonder.

"Thank you Guardian Angel."

And the Doctor smiled.

Kirkmore, OH October 23, 2017 7:53 pm

Sienna Woods had finished pumping gas into her Chevy Cruze and had headed inside to pay and to buy a pack of smokes.

Her mind was preoccupied. Since her dad picked her up at rehab earlier today, he'd been acting like a total dick, like he had zero faith in her whatsoever. Her mom had been acting as if everything were perfectly normal, making plans for upcoming social engagements. So, pretty much, just a typical day in the Woods' household. She felt so determined to keep herself together, she was already starting to wonder if it might be better to find someplace else to stay. Some place where the dysfunction wasn't so familiar and so associated with her failure and their disappointment.

So she was pretty distracted when she walked out of the station lighting a cigarette and all but ran right into her ex boyfriend Chris Bantree.

"Hey beautiful. Long time no see." he was grinning in his charming way and looking her over from head to toe. Sienna's heart was in her throat.

Fuck. She had not prepared herself for this encounter. She should have been paying more attention, been keeping an eye out for people like him. People that would happily destroy her chances at sobriety. She should have went someplace else. Chris always came to this Marathon station on Duncan.

"Chris." she acknowledged politely as she tried to walk around him back to her car. Her blood was boiling at his nerve. She jumped when she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. Don't be like that. You're not the only one who's turned over a new leaf you know." His voice deceptively kind. She sighed and turned back to him. His expression was one of feigned innocence. And also... strangely familiar.

Sienna blinked. She had this eerie feeling in the very back of her mind. Like this had all happened once before. She shook her head.

"Chris, after the way you treated me, you don't deserve to breathe my air. From now on, I'm only moving forward in my life. I'm sure as shit not backsliding for your bullshit." She narrowed her eyes and started to back away from him. "No fuckin way."

She turned her back on him, feeling proud of how she'd conducted herself. Her happiness was short lived when he breezed on past her, headed straight for her car. Where he leaned, waiting.

She sighed in frustration as she reached him, taking in his angry, stubborn face.

"Chris, take a hint bro. There comes a point when persistence just becomes a bit pathetic." She crossed her arms and faced him, ready for the name calling to commence. He never had handled rejection well. But Sienna felt surprisingly strong. Somehow she knew she'd never fall for his shit again.

"You stuck up cunt." he sputtered. Sienna raised her eyebrows. Clearly his new leaf had not improved his manners. "You think you're fucking better than me because you been to rehab? Bitch please. You'll be lucky to..."

He had trailed off abruptly and was staring across Duncan street at something, his face incredulous.

Sienna's curiosity got the better of her and she followed his gaze to the empty parking lot where Chris had apparently parked his green Taurus. In the dimness of the street lights, Sienna saw a tall blue box, kind of like a porta potty standing right next to where he was parked. An odd looking man was leaning against the box, conspicuously watching them.

"What the fuck?" Chris whispered. He took two steps away from Sienna toward the road. "That box was not there when I parked my car. And who the hell is that motherfucker?"

Sienna squinted across the road, trying to make out more details. She'd never seen the man before in her life so she was a bit freaked out when she was overtaken once more by that sense of deja vu. Goosebumps broke out along her arms as she watched Chris cross the street to confront the stranger.

She knew she should probably leave now that Chris was out of her way. That she should just get in her car and drive off. But the creeping sense that this had all happened before plagued her. She was drawn across the street. Like she never had a choice.

She was quiet as she approached the dimly lit parking lot. As she sneaked up on them, she could hear Chris shouting profanities at the pleasant looking young man with the bow tie. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Do you know my girl? Is that why you're spying on us like some fuckin creeper?"

The stranger was looking at Chris with a combination of amusement and disgust as Chris verbally assaulted him.

Sienna kept the car between herself and the altercation. One never knew when Chris's tirades would turn physically violent. She was stunned when the stranger finally replied in a calm voice with what sounded like a British accent.

"I believe it's long past time you headed home." The man stepped away from the box and advanced on Chris slowly, looking not even half intimidated. Sienna's eyes widened. Holy shit.

Chris was clearly not expecting this reaction. He actually took a step back. "Is that supposed to be funny or something?" he demanded, sounding uncertain now, despite his bluster.

The man advanced on Chris until he had him pinned against the Taurus. "You're name is Chris, am I correct?" the British guy inquired coldly.

Chris could only blink. "Yeah so?"

"Right, so you need to be heading off now to begin work on your new mission in life." The man's eyes were practically black and he was purposely putting himself all up in Chris's personal space. "Staying the hell away from Sienna Woods."

Sienna felt her stomach drop. What the hell...?

Chris seemed to have finally gotten over any shock he'd experienced and shoved the stranger back with all his might. "So you're fuckin her, is that it? You must be new in town. Because everyone in Kirkmore knows that pussy belongs to me."

With all that was happening what with the curious blue box and the strange British dude who seemed to be threatening Chris if he didn't stay away from her, she was going through a range of emotions. Confusion, shock, anxiety, amusement.

But that last thing Chris said. Regarding his ownership of a particular part of her body. Now she was just good and fucking mad.

She noticed that the stranger seemed unfazed by Chris pushing him and had resumed his position of standing just a bit inside Chris's personal space. Honestly, the British guy looked ready to punch Chris in the face.

Sienna knew the feeling. She stomped around to the other side of the Taurus and stood facing the two men who both looked surprised to find her standing there.

"Excuse me." She growled at Chris, hands on her hips. "I know you can't be fucking serious right now."

Chris looked a bit surprised to see she'd overheard the exchange but he quickly managed to recover his own sense of self importance. "So are you or are you not bangin this asshole?" he demanded.

"I've never even seen him before you dickhead." she shrieked. "Who the hell are you to question me anyway? I am most definitely not your girl and there isn't a single molecule on my body that belongs to you." Chris looked furious at her words. Sienna noticed the British man was smiling at her, looking almost astonished by her outburst and oddly proud.

"That is exactly what I was hoping you'd say." The stranger exclaimed. He now seemed to decide that Chris simply didn't exist. He turned his back on the angry young man and placed an arm around Sienna's shoulders, walking her away from the Taurus a bit.

Sienna looked over at the odd dude, her eyes narrowed. She didn't feel the least bit threatened by him but she was definitely unnerved that he seemed to know her so well. She started to question him.

Suddenly she felt Chris approach from behind and spin her around roughly by the arm, pulling her in toward him.

"You aren't leaving with him you goddamn bitch, so get that out of your head." Chris gripped her arm even tighter.

"Ouch! You're hurting me." she shouted, trying to pull her arm from his grasp.

"Yeah and it'll get a lot worse if you don't stop being such a dumb cunt. I'm not gonna just-"

Chris's tirade was abruptly cut off when the British dude punched him right in the face. Knocked him out cold.

Chris hit the ground hard and the stranger hopped around a bit, holding his injured hand like a little kid. "I'd apologize but there are some words you just don't say to a lady. OUCH!"

Sienna stared at him in amazement. "Dude. Who the hell are you?"

The man stopped the hopping but still had that look about him of a little boy with a boo boo. "I know you probably don't remember, but we have met before. I am the Doctor."

He leaned over Chris's prone body and seemed to place his fingertips against the unconscious man's temples. "There." he muttered to himself before dusting off his hands and standing up straight once more.

Sienna's eyes narrowed. "The Doctor? I'm quite sure I would remember..." Her words trailed off as the feeling of de javu hit her stronger than ever. She put her hand to her head, feeling slightly dizzy.

"Are you okay?" The Doctor asked, his kind eyes studying her.

Sienna shook her head. "I... don't know." She looked at him, taking in the details of his face. Trying to figure out how someone she couldn't recall ever meeting was someone she felt she knew quite well. And even trusted.

"Well." he clapped his hands together excitedly. "I have it on good authority that this young man won't be bothering you anymore. And what's more, there is a lovely woman named Dayle Moss who would love to meet you. And I'd be more than happy to take you to see her if you're free for the rest of the evening."

He could have knocked her over with a feather. Dayle Moss? How did he know about Dayle Moss? Her biological mother...

"Hold up... you know her...?" Sienna stammered, her eyes looking like she'd just seen a ghost. "But... how?"

The Doctor gently took Sienna's hand in his and led her toward the blue box that was marked "Police Public Call Box".

When they reached the doors, she pulled her hand away, finally losing patience with this strange guy. The Doctor.

"Okay... time out. Why are you here? Why were you watching us to begin with?" She crossed her arms, fixing him with a stern look.

The Doctor sighed heavily and looked her directly in the eye. "I was watching out for you, okay? To make sure you were safe tonight."

Sienna raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell died and made you my guardian angel?" she demanded. Her own words sent an inexplicable icy blast down her spine and she shivered.

The Doctor blinked at her in response before straightening his bow tie and shrugging. "Not sure how best to answer that. But I do have a duty of care. And you were about to make a bad decision when you ran into Chris tonight. I intended to keep that from happening."

"Wait... you mean you think I was about to go anywhere with that douchebag?" She laughed. "That was not going to happen. And he knew it too." She looked down at Chris's still form and shook her head. "Even he knows I deserve better than that."

Some unidentifiable emotion seemed to cross the Doctor's face as he watched her. Then he smiled at her knowingly. "Yes, it would seem I was worried for nothing. It seems you're strong enough on your own."

He snapped his fingers then and the doors to the blue box squeaked open. Sienna gasped.

"So. About that trip to Dayle's place... are you in?" The Doctor leaned against the doorway of the blue box and grinned at her.

Epilogue

Eleventh Doctor's TARDIS

Dayle was pacing the length of the control room, irritated and confused. They had just returned to their own universe after dropping Sienna off to spend time with Dayle B, Jesse and Gabe.

It had been quite a lot for Sienna to take in. The bigger on the inside TARDIS. Two Dayles. A step dad and a baby brother. But she had taken it in stride and even looked content, deep in conversation with Dayle B when the Doctor and Dayle A had taken off. It seemed as good a place as any to leave her to get on with her life. They promised they would return soon to check on things.

The Doctor leaned against the console and chuckled. "I see you're still not quite over the fact that Sienna had intended to make the correct decision without my intervention."

She stopped pacing and walked over to him, gesturing in exasperation. "It doesn't make sense. You said everything would be the same as what was supposed to happen in the original timeline. That was why you insisted on being on hand to change her mind. If nothing is different, well, Sienna should have gone with Chris and used tonight, right?"

"You really don't get it, do you?" the Doctor squinted at her in surprise, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I didn't have to change her mind. He changed her mind."

"He?" Dayle asked. "You mean Chris?". She looked at him like he was crazy.

"The Doctor. Sienna's Doctor." Eleven said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He raised his eyebrows and turned his attention back to the console. They had their own little adventure they intended to take together before he returned her to her life and he wanted to check through his database for an idea of where to take her. He glanced back after a moment of silence to find Dayle was now staring at him like he'd grown a third head.

"How would that be even remotely possible? She doesn't remember him." She narrowed her eyes. "You did wipe him completely from her memory, didn't you?"

He scoffed. "Seriously? Do you think I'm so heartless that I would eradicate everything? Please." He continued looking through his computer for ideas on destinations as if the subject were closed.

"What do you mean?" Dayle insisted.

He spoke without looking up. "Well you see, I wiped all of her memories pertaining to him except what he wanted her to remember." He glanced up once to gauge her reaction to this before returning his attention to the controls. "That he loved everything about her. That even her faults and her quirks are worthy of love. No, she may never remember the way he looked. And she can't recall conversations or private moments they shared. But she will never forget the way his love made her feel." He finally turned back to Dayle, his grin slightly smug.

"So... his love is just...still with her? And somehow it...it bolsters her." Dayle whispered, her blue eyes staring off into space in wonder.

The Doctor nodded. "That's extraordinary, isn't it?"

She looked at him, puzzled. "So explain how you justify leaving that part in tact." Dayle looked up at him, squinting. "Why?"

The Doctor scratched his head. He shrugged. "It belonged to her. It wasn't my right to take-"

"One could argue that it wasn't really your right to take any of her memories." Dayle pointed out harshly.

"Look. I was keeping a promise I made." the Doctor insisted, his voice rising slightly. "And in the end, those memories would have only served to hurt her." He avoided her eyes, because he would never be 100% certain that he'd done the right thing.

Dayle was studying him, her lips pressed together. After a moment she asked. "If you really believed that, then why keep anything of him at all? Why didn't you just wipe it out altogether? It would have been the scientific way to handle things."

He threw his hands up in the air after a moment and exclaimed. "Because as I once told him, even if it seems easier, it's far worse to walk away without letting someone know how deeply they've affected you. And Sienna deserves to know that, even if only subconsciously."

Dayle was quiet for a moment. "Did you think it would even matter?"

He gave her a half smile and walked toward her. "Of course I knew it would matter. A person with love in their heart is always stronger for it. When all else ends and goes away, love still hangs about somehow, a force to be reckoned with. It doesn't die with you. And that is a bit of a miracle in itself, is it not?"

The anger left Dayle's eyes and she nodded earnestly.

He thought of Five and smiled in admiration. He thought of his selfless bravery and the fact that as color blind as he'd been, he'd finally seen the color blue. "You know I'm a sucker for miracles, don't you?" he asked Dayle softly as he put his arms around her and kissed her forehead.

The End

Be on the lookout for the final part of this story, Made of Stars. First five chapters should be up this next week. -Ruinous79