The Last Time 50th Anniversary continued 29

                                       
The death of reality

I opened my eyes, I lay on the floor everyone was surrounding me. I smile brightly as River looked at me. The older me looked at me. He wasn't smiling. He looked guilty, "I can't believe it!"

I frown feeling confused and unaware. It was good to be back and in the safety of the TARDIS. That was one thing. But something didn't feel normal. Everything seemed to be really slow paced and I didn't like it.

River reached out her hand to me, I inhaled as though she was going to touch my chest. I didn't know why. But then I didn't feel anything but a chill down my back. I look down. Her hand went straight through me! I started to freak. I turn around to where her hand had gone through me to.

Slow motion, River fell to the floor next to a body. She knelt down next to someone familiar. The body was lifeless, flopped against the cold floor of the TARDIS. His hand on his stomach and the other to his side. His head was tilted to one side. The side River was kneeling beside.

The body was quiet and still, no movement and his clothes were worn and torn. I didn't understand. It wasn't all celar, like I'd forgotten. Brown pinstrip suit with purple shirt, creased with his red converse. Dirty. I remembered.

The eyes of the man, dark lines underneath his lids. There's only one person in the entire universe who could have so tired eyes, even if he looked so young.

Nothing made sense. It was me.

I stepped back in fear, there was nothing worse than seeing yourself dead. Apart from one other thing. Always facing death until my time was over. I ran to the TARDIS doors to escape. I walked straight through the door, looking around. I heard a voice.

"Doc, what's going on?" It was Jack! The same old trench coat. He looked worried.

I sprinted to him and held his shoulders. "You can see me?!" I asked happily in disbelief.

Jack nodded frantically, he pulled what looked like a fake smile. He hugged me and then let go after a while. I frown looking around. "Something doesn't feel right. I can't.... feel" I added, biting my lip and then realised. Letting out an 'oh'. I took a few steps back from Jack pointing at him. "You. I thought you died!"

Jack and I turned back to the TARDIS as we heard echoes of River and The future Doctor. I drew my attention back to Jack.

"I.. I dunno, I heard the Master shouting and there was a female voice and then I was here. I wondered around for a bit and there you were" Explained Jack.

Jack gestured for me to follow him. I did, running with him back to the basement where Jacks body was. Still lying there just as mine was.

Jack had never died before. It must have been hard for him. He never died properly anyway. He was always scared of death. He looked at me with big eyes. "So.. are we... are we dead?"

I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say

Jack continued anyway, "I'm scared Doctor.. I always wondered what it was like to die but if this is what happens then what's the point?"

I stared down at the floor, my eyes closed closely and opened again after a few seconds. "I'm scared too Jack" I confessed. I cleared my throat and then clapped my hands together making Jack jump out of his skin.

"What do we do now Doc?" Asked Jack.

I shushed him. Putting a finger to my lips, face all serious with my eyebrows going crazy. Everything went silent and then something could be heard. I shushed Jack again even though he wasn't speaking. Just breathing ever so loudly. (Hardly)

"I'm going to see what it is" I announced. I crept to the door behind the TARDIS, I walked straight through the basement exit and crept up the stairs. Hopefully wouldn't needing to be quiet as we were apparently dead. I peered over the side of the doorframe as I got to the other door up the stairs.

I tried making out what the noises were. I could hear sniffing, shuffling. I couldn't see who. I could open the door but something was holding me back. My feelings of anxiety were getting to me. I heard Jack come up the stairs behind me, I should've known he wouldn't miss the party.

I stepped forward going through the door finally. But Jack had stepped forward a bit too much causing me and him to fall over. I saw two figures on my way down to hit the floor. Luckily they couldn't see us, we were hiding behind a wall opposite them. It was Rose and John. They were dead too of course but why were they here?

I listened hard, my ears burning for some reason.

"John, what is wrong with you?!" Rose asked, it sounded like she was really annoyed or irratated. At least now I could know what truly happened before she died.

Jack winced at Roses reaction, he never seen her like this. You notice Rose and John were at least two metres apart from each other. He could feel John and how he wanted to be closer. They still had some kind of connection.

John looked angry. He didn't want to boil his blood again, I knew that. I just didn't trust his rage with her. He wasn't like me. He was too much human. "Wrong with me? You think you're the only one who was effected that day!?" He answered back with the same anticipation as she did.

Rose hesitated to move back. She looked down at the floor. Or anywhere put Johns eyes. She was flustered and slightly scared. She wished it would go back to normal. How they used to be. "I lied to you" She announced, soundly like she had something in her throat.

I felt more upset for her. John looked exactly like me, that must not be easy for her to think of me in that way. John wondered what Rose meant.

"Did you ever wonder why I loved the Doctor so much?" Rose asked with a slight angered tone to her voice. I could feel Johns pain, it wasn't anger anymore. It was sadness.

I could feel Jack looking at me but I was focused on Rose. I was annoyed I'd have to replay this, I didn't want to see them like this.

I wanted Rose but she had grown up since we were together. She was older but looked even prettier now. John moved closer to Rose but then turned away from her, half of his body turned to her and his head and posture turned the other way.

"The Doctor was never the type to want anything else but me.. I can never give you what you wanted. But he didn't want any domestic stuff... and I guess I was just running away from all that with him" Rose explained further.

 He shut his eyes tightly and then looked back at her, she looked belittled and unwanted, "Rose.. I'm-"

Rose pulled him closer by his clothes and hugged him. "I'm sorry" She said muffled into his chest. John slightly smiled and cuddled her tightly, rocking her.

I felt my expression soften as John said; "We can get this sorted" I was happier now Rose was happy, I couldn't bare to let her go again. Jack pushed me into their view and I nearly topppled over. Getting my balance, I gave Jack a dirty look and then turned back to Rose and John who still had each other in their embrace but both looking over at Jack and me.

Rose frowned, now letting go of Johns embrace and stepping cauciously in my direction. "What's going on, are you dead too?"

I felt myself glow inside. She was finally talking to me again. It seemed like a long shot but it had felt like forever. I had to let go what John had done in the past, "I didn't get to regenerate, so I'm here with Jack"

Rose looked over at Jack who waved over at her. "And you? I thought you were immortal" She asked.

Jack cleared his throat. "Me too but I had my blood drained from me and I was drugged with Aspirin. Not the best mixed together. Apparently I have something in my blood which has is connected to what you did to me back at satalite five"

Jack looked at me, I looked back. "What now?" He asked. I was always in charge as usual.

"I dunno but none of this seems real. I don't believe it" I announced, my hearts felt heavier. I regretted every word as Rose got closer to me.

"But I'm real, right John?" She turned back to John, he smiled at her and joined her side. He looked at me stubbornly. "Yeah. We both are real"

I didn't understand his problem. Maybe he was jealous? I stood closer to John. He lifted his head up with pride as I did. We were standing converse-to-converse. Examining each other. Rose stood back with Jack, unsure of what to make of what was happening.

I felt a bit of jealousy myself, I notice John was leaning into me getting in my face. "What is your problem?" John whispered.

I chuckled, flicking his spiky hair and slapping his stubble playfully. "Maybe keep in mind who I am and what you'll be dealing with if you hurt her again" I grin widely, "Glad you two sorting things out"

John scoffed, feeling the touch of my hand grazing his stuble.

I heard Jack clear his throat as though he was enjoying it, we both laugh and then silenced each other as we stare into each other.

"Nice seeing you again Doc. Glad we sorted things out" John said, scratching the back of his head as he backed away. I nodded agreeing.

Rose pointed a finger, pointing it at both me and John. "What was that all about?" She asked.

Me and John shrugged. All of a sudden, I felt a pain in my chest. I hold my breath, letting out a slight hitch of a breath, my one hand now clutching my chest, beating it with a fist. My one side falls as though I was going to fall. I straighten up when John looks at me, the only one noticing as Rose and Jack were having their own little chinwag.

John nodded, understanding, coughing. "So what happened to the Master?" He asked. Rose and Jack turned back into the bigger conversation.

I fisted my chest again but this time all three of them notice as I grunt in pain. Jack and John hold me up, I grit my teeth. Arms tensing as they find a comfortable position to keep me up right. Rose looked startled a hand over her mouth. "Doctor?!"

Surely if we were all dead we couldn't feel pain. This was different.

"I hope you and John get what you look for" I said under concentrated breathed. Feeling John and Jack tug my suit up to keep me up.

I wink at Jack and him and John lower me to the floor. Jack stands up and salutes me as I lay on my knees.

"See you after eh Doc?"

I close me eyes, feeling my body fall back into the position from when I was in the TARDIS. My hand rested on my stomach, the other by my side as my head tilted to the side. It turned very dark, I didn't know where I was. Was this real or was it just a dream?

End of this part~Laurenthebumblebee.