The Butterfly Effect, Chapter 1
As promised, although later than I intended, one of my newly started fics. More to follow.
Title: The Butterfly Effect
Author: wbearsmom
Characters: Just about everyone
Rating: Varies with chapter - through Adult
Summary: Stories of life, love and loss
Warnings: none for this chapter
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the BBC. I’m just borrowing them for a bit.
THUMP
A string of unintelligible curse words came from under the TARDIS console. The Doctor emerged from a hole in the floor grating, rubbing the lump that was forming on his head. He looked at his cell phone, which was blaring out his current ring tone - On My Way by the Proclaimers. The unexpected noise had caused him to jump and bang his head on one of the floor’s support struts. He was a bit nervous about answering; receiving a call usually meant trouble. But he couldn’t not answer.
“Hello,” he said cautiously.
“Doctor.”
‘Yep, trouble,’ he thought to himself. “Jack,” he responded. “I didn’t know you had my number. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Jack hesitated a moment before answering, debating whether he should make small talk or jump right into it. He chose the latter. “I need you to come here as soon as possible. In fact, now would be good.”
“What’s wrong?” The Doctor could hear the tension in Jack’s voice.
“I can’t tell you over the phone. You just need to get here.”
The Doctor sighed. He knew Jack wouldn’t have called, wouldn’t be asking for his presence unless it was a true emergency. “Alright.”
“Good.” Jack responded. “I’ll be waiting by the fountain.” The line went quiet.
Finishing up his minor repair, the Doctor set course and within a matter of minutes (Earth time) had landed the TARDIS in his favorite spot over the rift in Cardiff. He stepped out onto the plaza and took a deep breath before seeking the familiar figure standing in front of the cascading waters. He strode over to his friend and the two men embraced. “What’s going on?” the Doctor asked.
Jack shook his head. “I can’t just tell you. I need to show you. Come with me.” They walked in silence to the entrance of Jack’s home base, Torchwood. The Doctor followed Jack through the corridors and into the hub, marveling at the equipment and smiling at Myfanwy as she flew overhead, although his smile didn’t last long. He and Jack ascended a flight of stairs to a closed door.
Jack glanced at the Doctor and started to speak, but thought the better of it. He opened the door and ushered the Doctor through.
There were a number of people in the room. Gwen, Ianto and Mickey, of course. The Doctor had expected to see them since they worked for Torchwood. He was surprised to see that Sarah Jane and Martha were also there. But the people that caught his attention - and caused a feeling of cold dread to wash through him - shouldn’t have been there at all. It was simply impossible. Yet there was no mistake.
Jackie, Pete and Tony Tyler. Jake Simmonds. And his twin, the human Doctor.
The Doctor stared hard at the unexpected visitors. Their faces reflected exhaustion, fear and shock. But it was the grief that they radiated which caused him to look frantically around the room, realizing that there was someone missing who should have been with them. It hit him hard and he dropped into a nearby chair, feeling lightheaded as he fought to control his emotions. It was several long minutes before he trusted himself to speak. He looked his double in the eyes and tried to ask the questions that were racing through his head, but could only manage one word around the lump that had formed in his throat.
“How?”
Title: The Butterfly Effect
Author: wbearsmom
Characters: Just about everyone
Rating: Varies with chapter - through Adult
Summary: Stories of life, love and loss
Warnings: none for this chapter
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the BBC. I’m just borrowing them for a bit.
THUMP
A string of unintelligible curse words came from under the TARDIS console. The Doctor emerged from a hole in the floor grating, rubbing the lump that was forming on his head. He looked at his cell phone, which was blaring out his current ring tone - On My Way by the Proclaimers. The unexpected noise had caused him to jump and bang his head on one of the floor’s support struts. He was a bit nervous about answering; receiving a call usually meant trouble. But he couldn’t not answer.
“Hello,” he said cautiously.
“Doctor.”
‘Yep, trouble,’ he thought to himself. “Jack,” he responded. “I didn’t know you had my number. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Jack hesitated a moment before answering, debating whether he should make small talk or jump right into it. He chose the latter. “I need you to come here as soon as possible. In fact, now would be good.”
“What’s wrong?” The Doctor could hear the tension in Jack’s voice.
“I can’t tell you over the phone. You just need to get here.”
The Doctor sighed. He knew Jack wouldn’t have called, wouldn’t be asking for his presence unless it was a true emergency. “Alright.”
“Good.” Jack responded. “I’ll be waiting by the fountain.” The line went quiet.
Finishing up his minor repair, the Doctor set course and within a matter of minutes (Earth time) had landed the TARDIS in his favorite spot over the rift in Cardiff. He stepped out onto the plaza and took a deep breath before seeking the familiar figure standing in front of the cascading waters. He strode over to his friend and the two men embraced. “What’s going on?” the Doctor asked.
Jack shook his head. “I can’t just tell you. I need to show you. Come with me.” They walked in silence to the entrance of Jack’s home base, Torchwood. The Doctor followed Jack through the corridors and into the hub, marveling at the equipment and smiling at Myfanwy as she flew overhead, although his smile didn’t last long. He and Jack ascended a flight of stairs to a closed door.
Jack glanced at the Doctor and started to speak, but thought the better of it. He opened the door and ushered the Doctor through.
There were a number of people in the room. Gwen, Ianto and Mickey, of course. The Doctor had expected to see them since they worked for Torchwood. He was surprised to see that Sarah Jane and Martha were also there. But the people that caught his attention - and caused a feeling of cold dread to wash through him - shouldn’t have been there at all. It was simply impossible. Yet there was no mistake.
Jackie, Pete and Tony Tyler. Jake Simmonds. And his twin, the human Doctor.
The Doctor stared hard at the unexpected visitors. Their faces reflected exhaustion, fear and shock. But it was the grief that they radiated which caused him to look frantically around the room, realizing that there was someone missing who should have been with them. It hit him hard and he dropped into a nearby chair, feeling lightheaded as he fought to control his emotions. It was several long minutes before he trusted himself to speak. He looked his double in the eyes and tried to ask the questions that were racing through his head, but could only manage one word around the lump that had formed in his throat.
“How?”