Chapter Text
The Doctor needed a break. A lot has happened– Fine time, Rogue, Sutekh, Ruby’s departure, the Star Seed, Joy, Anita-- It was overwhelming to say the least. He was tired. It’s funny. He’s supposed to be fixed, he fixed himself as Sandshoes, now all that fixing’s been undone. He needed a distraction. He leaned on the console, lost in thought. Somehow, a question Anita asked kept on echoing in his mind.
‘Anita, I... I... have a... slightly complicated life.’
‘Oh God, you're married, aren't you?’
‘No! No, it's not that’ , he lied.
Well, sort of a lie? Is it a lie if he’s widowed? But still. His mind returned to River. No. She’s gone . He sighed as he turned to the console, leaning his hands on it. He paused for a moment before pulling a lever. The Tardis jolted in the vortex. He let his trusty old ship choose his destination. He leaned on the railings and sighed.
The ship landed with a loud thump and he exited the box. Okay. Not what I expected. He looked around. It was quite dark, but the surroundings looked familiar. He looked around. No… His hearts dropped. He turned back round, heading back to the blue box but it was locked.
“This is not funny! Let me in now. You know I can’t be here!”
He was in the Library. THE Library. He banged on the box’s doors, pleading with her to let him in but she wouldn’t budge. ‘Why? You know I can’t be here. Just let me in!’ A thump could be heard then the Tardis made the familiar wheezing sound. ‘No! What are you doing? No, girl, stop! Don’t-!’ But the Tardis had already vanished. No, no, no. This can’t be happening right now. I can’t be here. No, no no. Okay, honey, relax. Maybe it’s not so bad. She’ll probably come back. He exhaled sharply. He still wasn’t sure when he was. Maybe he could talk to River? Maybe that’s why he was here? To visit his wife?
BANG
BANG
BANG
He heard from a distance. It sounded like someone banging on a door. He heard the door kicked open as what sounded like two people barged in and closed the door shut again. Wait, wait, wait, no.
“Oh! Hello! Sorry to burst in on you like this. Okay if we stop here for a bit?” He heard one of them ask.
Oh, hell, no! He peaked from one of the shelves. It was him and Donna.
“What is it?” Donna asked.
“Security camera. Switched itself off.” Sandshoes responded.
No, no, no. Why did she bring me back here? Why?
“Nice door skills, Donna.” He heard his younger self say.
He zoned out, trying to stay hidden and figure out why. WHY?? Just why?? His past self and Donna continued talking in the background. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be here. Why? She knows I can’t interfere. Even just being here might damage the timeline.
“OH! I’M THICK!” His younger self shouted, causing him to jump, accidentally knocking something over.
Crap.
“Who’s there?” Sandshoes shouted.
The Doctor just sighed. Welp. The damage is done. Screw it. He slowly revealed himself. Raising his hands to show he’s unarmed. “Alright. Hi. Sorry.”
“Who are you?” Donna asked.
“I’m…” Damn, what should I say? Not ‘John Smith’. They’ll know something’s up. “...Pond. Arthur Pond.” Okay. Good save. Using Rory’s name.
“Hello, I’m the Doctor. This is Donna Noble. How did you get in here, Arthur? More to the point, why are you here? Were you the one that sent that message?” His younger self questioned him.
“No. I didn’t send any message. Sorry. I really don’t mean to be here.”
Sandshoes eyed him doubtfully. “How did you get here? The computer said Donna and I were the only two humanoid lifeforms in the whole planet. So how did you get here?”
“I… I had a device- a vortex manipulator. It was broken and I tried to fix it… But I lost it in the shadows. Somehow, my instincts tell me the shadows aren’t safe.”
Skinny hummed. “You have good instincts then, Arthur.”
“Doctor? That shadow. It’s gone.” Donna interrupted.
Skinny and the current Doctor took a look at what Donna was referring to.
“We need to get back to the Tardis.” Skinny said
“Why?”
“Because that shadow hasn't gone. It's moved.”
The Nodes interrupted them “Reminder: The Library has been breached” It repeated over and over again.
The Doctor felt his hearts race. No, no, no. Not now. Not her. I can’t do this right now.
A door is blown open, as a flash of bright light and smoke filled the entrance. Six space-suited figures enter. One of the space suited figures approached Skinny.
No! NO! NO!!
The space woman untinted her visor. “Hello, sweetie.” River smiled.