Chapter 13

The Doctor averted his eyes as Rose sighed again and shifted Jake closer. The baby had fallen asleep long ago and the frequent yawns from Rose said she was more than ready to find a bed yet she stubbornly remained seated on the jump seat.

"Um, Doctor?"

He scooted out from under the console and glanced at her before looking back at the Tardis circuits. "Yeah Rose?"

Her shoulders slumped. "Uh, Jake's asleep …" She drew a deep breath and slid off of the seat. A second later the Doctor jumped as her arm came around his waist, her fingers moving back and forth across the skin exposed where his shirt had come un-tucked.

He fought against the shivers of arousal her soft touch wrought and forced himself to scoot away and fiddle with the console. "Um hmm, you should put him to bed."

His hearts clenched as Rose sighed. "Yeah, I was gonna turn in too … just wonderin' if you were –"

"No!"

She flinched and guilt slammed through him. He took a deep breath and softened his tone.

"I mean, don't need much sleep, me." He waved a hand at the doors. "You don't need to stay; Jack and I can handle the repairs."

She sniffed and he squeezed his eyes closed. Please don't let her cry …

She sniffed again and sighed. "Right then, I'll ah … I'll see ya in the morning." She leaned over to kiss him but he moved too quickly, scooting around the console. "G'night, Doctor."

"Hmmm? Yes, good night, Rose. Tardis should be ready for travel so tell everyone we'll leave after breakfast."

She scooped up Jake and moved toward Jack. As she passed, a wave of sadness, disappointment, and confusion bombarded him. She was broadcasting a jumble of emotions so loudly that he could barely hear the hum of the Tardis.

He really needed to teach her how to build mental shields. He grit his teeth. Not that there would be time for that now and all too soon she wouldn't really need them...

He yelped as a spark shot out of the console.

What was that for?

The Tardis chimed what could clearly be interpreted as an indignant huff. An image of a medieval jester flashed before his mind's eye.

The Doctor snorted. I take it you are calling me a fool?

The lights on the console flashed and another spark zapped his hand.

"Oi! I'm trying to help you!"

Jack gave a bark of laughter from the other side of the console. "You're losing your touch, Doc. A ship as elegant and refined as the Tardis requires a delicate hand. Isn't that right, beautiful? "

The Tardis purred.

"Quit seducing my ship, Captain!"

Jack drew Rose into his arms and winked. "Well, you've made it clear I can't seduce Rose ..."

"Jack …"

Rose snorted and murmured under her breath. " … but he's makin' it clear he doesn't want me."

The Doctor stiffened at her words but didn't comment. His hearts were screaming at him to go to Rose and prove just how wrong she was but his brain was putting up a good fight against it, reminding him over and over of what he'd seen today in her mind.

He took a deep breath and forced his emotions under control; he'd do what needed to be done, his hearts be damned.

He made some unnecessary adjustments to the temporal chronometer and tried to ignore Rose saying good night to Jack. Honestly, did he have to hold her so close? He slammed the mallet down on a stubborn piece of metal and wished he didn't have superior hearing as Jack whispered to Rose.

"What's goin' on? Thought you and the Doc were …"

Rose sighed. "I thought so too but, you know him, guess he changed his mind?"

"Nah, I've seen the way he looks at you, sweetheart, he's probably just worried about the Tardis."

"Yeah, I guess so …"

The Doctor pretended to be absorbed in the Tardis fuel system gages as Jack walked Rose to the doors. "Well, I'm off then, good night Doctor."

He glanced up. "Yes, good night, Rose. Remember what I said about leaving …"

She nodded and offered a smile but the Doctor noticed that her lip trembled. "Sure Doctor, I'll make sure everyone is packed."

Rose turned to Jack and gave him a one armed hug. "G'night Jack."

"Night, Rosie." He pressed a kiss to hers and then Jake's foreheads and then winked. "If you get cold you know where to find me."

Rose laughed and whispered. "Oh Jack, thank you, you're always –"she ducked her head as her voice broke on a sob.

Jack tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and murmured. "Hey now, whatever insane notion has turned the Doc into even more of an idiot … you know I'll always be there, Rose, right?"

She sniffed and blinked back tears. "Yeah, yeah I do." She pressed a kiss to his lips and backed away. "I don't deserve you."

The Doctor applied every bit of control he'd honed over nine hundred years and refrained from following Rose as she walked out the doors. It had to be this way, it was necessary; for Rose and his son.

Taking several deep breaths he went back to working on the circuits until he heard Jack settle back at the fuel modulators. "So, Jack. Content on Earth in the twenty-first century, then?"

Jack stiffened but managed a casual tone to match the Doctor's when he replied. "I guess so. Until now I never really had much choice, what with the vortex manipulator being fried."

"And now?"

Jack chuckled. "Well, you could fix the thing, but I doubt you will, or I could get you to drop me off in my time but …"

The Doctor propped himself against the console and looked at Jack. "But?"

Jack shrugged, glanced at him and then continued to tighten the fittings. "Well, not sure I really belong there now. I mean, not that Cardiff is home but I'm needed there so –"

"So for now at least you're content to stay there. Run Torchwood?"

Jack's eyes narrowed. "You could say that. Look, Doc what's going on between –"

"And do you think there might be a place for Pete and Mickey, if they want that?"

Jack huffed. "Yeah, sure. Don't change the subject. What's with you and –"

"And Rose? Would there be a place for her … in your life?"

Jack threw the spanner down and spun to fully face the Doctor. "What are thinking?"

The Doctor tugged at his earlobe. "Ah, nothing really. Just wondered if you'd be available to, you know, help the Tyler clan get settled back in this universe."

Jack snorted. "I've already said that I would help Pete, Jackie, and Mickey but I don't need to do anything for Rose because she will be with you, right? Rose and your son will be here, on the Tardis, where you will look after them."

The Doctor rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away from the anger blazing from Jack's eyes. "Yeah, about that."

"Doc …"

The Doctor sighed. "I know I don't have any right to ask favors from you, Jack, not after what I did but …" he met Jack's eyes not bothering to hide the emotions he knew must be swirling in them. "For Rose? For Rose and –"he gulped and forced the words past his tight throat. "And my son? Would you do it for them?"

Jack stepped closer, dropping his hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "I would do anything for Rose and Jake, you know that."

The Doctor nodded. "Yep, never doubted it really." He dragged a hand through his hair and started to pace. "It's a lot though, what I'm asking –"

"Doc, please don't tell me you're –"

"I have to Jack! You know my life, it's no place for a baby, Time Tot or not. And Rose …" he looked down at his feet and sniffed. "Rose deserves a better life, Jack. A human life and I can't give her that."

The Doctor jumped as Jack's hand slammed down onto the console. "Damn! For such a genius you are a first class idiot! Rose doesn't want the house, dog, and two point four kids! You know that."

The Doctor glared at Jack. "Doesn't matter what Rose thinks she wants. This is best for her and she likes you, Jack. Loves you even. In time, when I'm gone, then …"

Jack snorted. "Christ! You are something else. Regeneration must really change you or else it fried some brain cells." Jack shook his finger. "Can you honestly stand there, look me in the eye and insinuate that you want me to be with Rose? To raise your son?"

The Doctor forced himself to meet Jack's furious gaze.

Jack rolled his eyes. "What happened to the man who threatened me with death by a thousand cuts if I so much as looked at Rose that way? What happened to 'hands off the blonde'?"

The Doctor's shoulders slumped as he lowered his head. "Same man, Jack, same man …" He glanced at Jack. "But this is best, for both of them. They'll be safe."

"Safe from what?" Jack narrowed his eyes. "What are you hiding? Is there a threat?"

The Doctor tugged on his earlobe. "I'm not hiding anything and there is always a threat, you know that!"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I do but I also know the Tardis is the safest place Rose and Jake could be so … what is coming for you?"

The Doctor huffed and tried to bluster away Jack's question but the former Time Agent just stared at him until he cracked. "Fine. What happened to Rose in the market? I suspected it was the work of a Guardian of Time and today on the beach …"

He licked his lips and blinked several times to get control of his emotions. "I went to wake her from her nap and somehow I was pulled into her mind."

He waved a hand at Jack as he began to question. "I don't know how Rose did it. She seems to be telepathic now, at least a bit. It's neither here nor there right now."

He paced around the console. "When I was pulled in … Jack, she wasn't dreaming, not properly." He met Jack's eyes and gulped. "She was in the Six-Fold Realm."

The Doctor sighed at Jack's confusion. "Humans call it Calabi-Yau Space, it's the six higher dimensions. All transcendental beings, except for chronovores, live there with the Council of the Guardians of Time being the six-fold god." He dragged a hand through his hair. "Any of this sounding familiar?"

Jack gulped. "Ah, yeah, but I always thought it was myth – Doc, are you telling me the legends about the Guardians are real?"

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Of course. Though I'm sure half of what you've probably heard has been exaggerated, much like the legends about Time Lords."

Jack gasped. "Doc, everything I've ever heard about the Guardians says they are bad, bad news."

The Doctor grimaced. "They are bad, Jack. Bad with a suitcase full of bad on top, although I should say I've only met two of them and White isn't too terrible. Sent me on a quest once, kept his word, I'll give him that."

He rounded on Jack and pointed his finger. "But Black? Oh he is the epitome of bad. Creates chaos," he snorted. "That's his job, to cause chaos in the universe while White is his counterpoint."

Jack shook his head. "Counterpoint?"

The Doctor sighed. "The Six-Fold god is actually six transcendental beings, each charged with a different aspect of the universe. Black is the Lord of chaos and darkness while White is the Lord of light and order."

He scrubbed a hand down his face. "They, they are equal in power but grow stronger or weaker depending on the state of their elements in the universes; they are each essential to keeping the universes in balance which is why they are co-equal and their positions are unambiguous."

He chuckled. "You know what to expect from the Black and White Guardians. The others? Well …" He scratched the back of his neck and paced around the console.

"I don't know much about the other Guardians, except that there are four of them and they each have responsibility over smaller aspects of the universe. The Red Guardian is responsible for Justice and Truth –"He cocked his head. "You know, I wonder if that is who Rose saw in the market?"

Jack frowned. "But I thought you said it was Black who attacked her?"

The Doctor waved a hand and nodded. "Yes, yes, it was. But! Rose said something red came to her defense and …" he tapped his finger against his bottom lip and frowned, trying to recall exactly what Rose had said.

"Ah … Rose said she felt like her defender wasn't helping her so much because of compassion as it was the right thing to do." He laughed. "I thought it odd at the time but … it makes sense if it was the Red Guardian."

He clapped his hands and met Jack's confused stare with a grin. "Never mind, it'll all make sense eventually. Anyway, Red seems to be pitting herself against Black, and I can't help but think that is a good thing. Hopefully the Gold Guardian will too."

"Gold? What does she do?"

"Hmmm? Oh, him. The Gold Guardian is male and he presides over life and death."

Jack chuckled. "Guess it would be nice to have him on our side."

The Doctor nodded. "Quite. Now, the Chrystal Guardian oversees dreams and fantasies and legend says she is fickle and flighty as is the Azure Guardian. He is in charge of equilibrium and balance –"

"Doc, when you say fickle …"

The Doctor quirked an eyebrow. "Like it sounds, Jack. White can be trusted to always insure that his domain is protected and it appears as if Red is putting herself on White's side but the loyalty of some of the others is more in question; from what I've heard they are amoral and not to be trusted."

Jack frowned. "So, you're saying these other Guardians might not side with the good guys?"

The Doctor smirked. "That's just it. They don't see it like that. They aren't human, Jack. There is no wrong or right, only balance and continuation of their particular aspects. They will do whatever is necessary to protect their realms. How that is achieved … well that's where the rumor of amoral comes in."

Jack whistled. "Are you telling me these things are after Rose?"

The Doctor spun around and frowned at Jack. "When did I say that?"

Jack huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Isn't that why you're talking about leaving Rose on Earth? Because the Guardians are after her?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Oh no, if they were after her she wouldn't be safe on Earth at all …" He shrugged. "Or anywhere really, though the Tardis should be able to keep them out."

"Should?"

"They're transcendental beings Jack! In charge of the universes. I don't really know if the Tardis shields could keep them out if they really wanted inside … and I'd rather not find out."

"If she isn't safe on Earth but you think she might be safe on the Tardis –"Jack rolled his eyes. "Doc, what the hell are we going to do to keep Rose and Jake safe?"

The Doctor frowned. "I just told you. Really Captain, keep up! Rose and Jake will be perfectly safe on Earth." He looked away and shrugged. "Like before, it's me they want. As long as Rose and my son are away from me …"

Jack shook his head and stepped away, wiping his hands on a rag. "So that's it? You're going to make this type of decision for Rose and your son without any input from her? You're not even going to tell her there are some creepy gods after you –"

He dragged a hand through his hair. "Ok, I get you wanting them safe while you go off and deal with the crazy gods but when you've sorted it … Doc, why the hell wouldn't you come back for them?"

"You're assuming that I can." The Doctor's shoulders drooped as he sighed. "Even if I can sort this mess, what then, Jack? Travel across time and space enjoying the scenery until we stumble upon the next threat?"

Jack shrugged. "It's what we've always done, Rose knows the risks –"

The Doctor slammed his hand against a strut. "And what about Jake? Does he know the risks too? Or should I leave him behind until I have to come back and say I've managed to get his mother killed!"

Jack held up a hand. "Woah Doc, take it easy. No one is going to get kill—"

"You can't say that, Captain, not everyone is immortal."

Jack flinched. "Yeah, ok I get it. But Doc, you expect me to take your place? And you somehow think Rose will just go along with this?"

The Doctor took a deep breath and forced the words that would shatter his hearts. "I've already made the decision and I think, given enough time and your considerable charms, not to mention the fact that she'll hate me … Rose will be just fine with it."

Jack laughed, though there was no humor in it. "Ok, leaving aside your apparent pimping of Rose –"

Jack held up his hands as the Doctor growled low in his throat. "It's accurate! But, putting that aside, just how are two humans supposed to raise a Time Lord child? I mean, Rose and I are far from stupid but we ain't on your level, Doc, and I understand Time but I can't explain your kind's extra senses …"

Jack snorted. "And there's the minor fact that we won't have a Tardis, or are you going to fix my vortex manipulator for him?"

The Doctor sighed. He was desperate to be alone to wallow in his misery but Jack had asked valid questions. He dragged a hand through his hair and took several deep breaths. "Raising a Time Tot is not much different from raising a human child, they need love, encouragement, and guidance too and you and Rose are more than capable on that score."

He snorted. "Much as I hate to admit it, Jackie Tyler will be a great help too; she raised Rose against incredible odds and turned out a brilliant and amazing woman."

He paced around the console, brow furrowed. "As to helping Jake learn to understand and use his Time Lord abilities … I can produce holos explaining them but most of it is instinct in the end. Education? Well, the Tardis library is well equipped on that score. When the time comes I can bring you what Jake needs."

He sighed and met Jack's eyes. "It's best if I stay away. I can shield myself so he doesn't feel the telepathic connection … just let Jake forget all about me. But that doesn't mean I won't be around. I can pop in when you need me …"

Jack huffed. "Are you even listening to yourself? You're just going to what, hide in the shadows? Skulk about and observe?"

The Doctor glared. "Why not? Observing is a Time Lord tradition, after all." He drew a deep breath and sighed. "Look Jack, the lifestyle I'm proposing for Jake isn't that unusual for a Time Lord. Very few of my kind ever left Gallifrey or even owned a Tardis! Most Time Lords worked in the Academy, government, or research; I was a rebel, my people never understood me or liked what I was doing."

The Doctor's lips twitched at Jack's confounded expression. "Is it so surprising that I was considered an oddity?"

Jack snorted and rolled his eyes. "No, not really, but I thought Time Lords were charged with policing Time, making sure it stayed on course and fixing things, like you've been doing."

The Doctor chuckled. "Weeell, Time Lords were overseers of the Web of Time and the technology of time travel but mostly that involved observing from afar; rarely if ever, did they interfere."

He blew out a breath. "Before the Time War, time flowed without many glitches. Oh, I still stepped in when issues of injustice and oppression occurred, just like now, but that wasn't because time was damaged. The impact from the Time War has caused much of what we've been fighting these last years because the loss of Gallifrey upset the balance in the universe. Do you understand?"

Jack shook his head. "A bit, but not really. I get what you're saying about the effects of the Time War but are you saying that, before the war, the rest of the Time Lords observed bad things happening on other planets but allowed them to occur?"

"Yep, that's it in a nutshell. As long as nothing was threatening the evolution of a planet or species in such a way that the Web of Time was endangered my people were content to let things run their course. Only if an action would stress the entirety of the time streams did they choose to act."

He snorted. "And when they did act, it wasn't with mercy or out of a sense of justice! Oh no, surgical strike, pluck the offenders out of time, untangle the knot in the web, and back to Gallifrey. Most species never knew anyone had interfered in the first place."

The Doctor looked at Jack. "So you see? Life on Earth wouldn't be so very different from life on Gallifrey. Jake can gain his education and then enter a field or fields of his liking and … live a life."

Jack snorted and shook his head. "And I suppose you've checked the time lines?"

The Doctor frowned. "What for?"

Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Really? You plan to drop a baby genius on Earth and let him live a life and you aren't concerned that he might change the course of Earth's history, might, I don't know, grow up and invent something that advances civilization quicker than it should?"

The Doctor grimaced. "It's possible but like I said, I'll be around. If that situation looks to be rising I'll step in …"

He sighed and turned to the console, fiddling with knobs and levers to avoid looking at Jack. "Look, the situation isn't ideal but I've made the decision, Jack."

He glanced at Jack and tried not to flinch at the fury roiling off of the man. "I'm assuming you'll do it so get some sleep. Full day tomorrow …"

Jack tossed the rag onto the floor and stomped to the doors. "You're a fool, Time Lord, an utter fool but I know I can't stop you. You'll leave her whether I do as you ask or not so, yeah, I'll do it."

He pushed the door open and then looked back. "Just so you know I'm not doing this because I agree with you I'm doing this for Rose because she really doesn't need a bastard like you in her life."

The Doctor slumped to the cold grating as the door slammed. He buried his head in his hands and let the enormity of what he'd done sink in. His stomach rolled as he thought of his golden girl and his precious son living without him but at least they'd be alive. In the end that was all that mattered.