Chapter Text
The lights blinked as they came on, highlighting the particles that hung hazily in the air. The old workbench stood vacant next to the sheet-covered ghosts of shop machines and shelves housing nothing but dust. The sun-faded shadows of tools lining the walls were the only sign that the room had once been a haven for promising new ideas.
Rose closed the door behind her as she came in, pausing by the entrance. Memories gathered here as thick as the dust and cobwebs, stifling and unwelcome. They weren’t bad memories. On the contrary, they were some of her happiest, but they hurt all the more for it.
Rose walked towards the metal cabinet that stood next to the workbench. It was empty save for a black metal briefcase that was tucked away on the top shelf. She stood on her toes to reach it and placed it down on the workbench. The silver latches popped open with a satisfying click. Inside were six silver discs, each with a yellow button in the centre. Rose stared down at them, chewing her lip. She cautiously picked one up.
The dimension cannon project had been discontinued shortly after they’d returned to Pete’s World, leaving the discs nothing more than a hunk of metal. The walls between universes were closed now, sealed off for good. UNIT had taken all the files, trial reports and mission logs. Whether from an obligation to keep the technology out of the wrong hands, simple sentimentality, or some combination of the two, the discs had ended up in Pete’s workshop. The one that had later become the Doctor’s.
Rose placed the disc on the workbench, closed the briefcase, and tucked it back into the cabinet. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she pulled out a photograph. It was faded and creased, but still held the image of a couple standing in front of a trellis lush with red and white roses. The Doctor, in a black tuxedo, and Rose in a white gown, held hands. They gazed at each other as if there was nobody else in the universe they’d rather be looking at. Rose ran her thumb across the photo, a sad smile on her lips.
Rose took a shuddering breath as she folded the photo and put it back in her pocket. She picked up the disc. Slowing her breathing and closing her eyes, she placed her palm over the yellow button. When her eyes reopened they were swirling with a golden light, and the disc in her hands began a faint mechanical hum. Rose looked around the room one final time, shut her eyes tightly, held her breath, and pressed the button.
At first, she felt nothing. Then, a weight pressed in on her body, accompanied by a rushing noise in her ears. The sensations intensified, a vice grip constricted her lungs and the thundering sound rattled her skull. Just when Rose was sure her head would burst, it stopped, replaced by the sounds of nearby traffic and a faint ringing in her ears. The disc in her hand burned red-hot and she let it clatter to the ground. Stumbling to catch her footing and gasping for breath, Rose slowly opened her eyes.
It was bright, though cloudy, and the air was cool. She was standing in a graffiti-covered alleyway behind a pair of flats. As her head cleared Rose realised where she was. The Powell Estate. She was standing exactly where the TARDIS always landed. She half expected to see Mickey and her mum come tearing around the corner to welcome her back.
Rose shook her head, trying to remember protocol. Step one, date. Step two, Earth history. This could be a Powell Estate on a parallel Earth, she’d done that before. Seeing the burnt-out metal disc at her feet, Rose knew this was her last stop. Wherever she’d ended up was where she would stay. She hoped with every fibre of her being that it was a universe with the Doctor in it.
Rose walked out of the alley and towards the small park that sat behind the flats. It was empty save for an old man on a bench, reading a newspaper.
“Hello,” said Rose, “D’you mind if I borrow your paper for a sec? Had a bet with one of my mates about today’s headline.”
“Alright,” said the man. He handed her the paper.
Rose quickly scanned the top of the page. It was 22 October 2018. By the planet’s time, a decade since she’d last been there.
“Well?” said the old man.
“Sorry?”
“Did you win?”
“Oh, er,” she said, handing him the paper. “D’you remember that day, about ten years ago it would have been, when there were all those planets in the sky?”
“This part of your bet?”
“Sure.”
“Well, ‘course I do. How could anyone forget that?” the man responded, gesturing at the sky, “Thought it was the end times. This city can’t catch a break and if you ask me the prime minister has no idea what he’s doing. I don’t envy the bloke.”
“Brilliant,” said Rose, a smile on her face, “Thank you!”
“Don’t see what’s so brilliant about that,” the man grumbled to Rose’s back as she walked towards the street.
She’d done it, she’d really done it! This was her Earth! Comparatively, getting here was the hard part. The Doctor was bound to show up sooner or later, she just had to keep an eye out for trouble. Now that she had confirmed her location and the adrenaline rush had subsided, a wave of exhaustion crashed over her. Dimension jumping was already rough, but the Bad Wolf always left her knackered. She was lucky to be doing as well as she was.
Rose watched the flow of activity around her. Cars drove past, people rushed in and out of shops. The longer she looked the more familiar her surroundings became. The corner shop had a different sign out front but was still selling the same sweets and trashy magazines. A medley of R&B, laughter, and hammering metal spilled out from the garage where Mickey had worked. Down the street was an old pub that seemed to be as permanent a part of the neighbourhood as the graffiti. Lured by the smell of chips and the promise of a comfy seat, Rose headed towards the pub.