As the World Shatters

Chapter 2: a secret base

It was almost a week before Peri felt up to explaining what had really happened. The Doctor had left her alone most of the time, only asking once or twice, but there was plenty to occupy him and he was content to wait. Now the time had finally come and as they sat together on Peri's bed, she tried to get her emotions under control enough to explain. She started at the beginning, the Doctors regeneration on Androzani Minor and the place where everything changed. 

''So'' the Doctor said, trying to get his head around the information. ''After I... well, you know... regenerated, you travelled with another version of me for a time.'' 

Peri nodded. ''Th... that's right, for several years in fact'' she answered, trying to focus on her time traveling with the Doctor, rather than the recent past. 

His expression turned curious. ''What was he like this, other version of me?'' he asked, intrigued. ''Were we at all similar? Did I still like cricket?''

''Not exactly'' Peri replied with a slight smile, allowing herself to think back on the Doctors boisterous bonanza of a personality. He could not have been more different than the mild, nonabrasive time lord that sat in front of her. ''The doctor was.... well, the Doctor could be loud, brash, eccentric. In fact, he could be pretty impossible at times'' she admitted, remembering their many arguments and squabbles over the years. 

''Really?'' the Doctor asked with a frown of dismay. ''However did you stand it?''

Peri gave a faint laugh, the first since everything happened. For just a second her mind was simply on their travels together, not on how they ended. ''What? No, it wasn't like that, really.'' she explained. ''I... I mean he could be, sometimes, but underneath all that he was kind, generous, h... he always looked out for me.'' As she spoke Peri's smile faded, the bright, vivid memories giving way before the presents gloom. ''The Doctor was a good man, the best I've ever met, once you got to know him.''

''Oh'' was all the Doctor could think to say in reply, something about Peri's words making him a little disgruntled. After a moment though, he frowned. ''If I'm still around then he would never have existed, yes?'' he asked ''but you still remember.'' He thought for a second, working it out. ''That means you must have been near the heart of the disturbance, or perhaps you were protected by the TARDIS. Either way he should still exist as a temporal paradox... unless......'' his voice trailed off as he realised the obvious. 

''You spoke about him in the past tense. Why, what happened?'' 

 Peri's fragile composure started to crumble. ''W... we were trapped, there was no way out. H... h... he sacrificed his life to save mine. He....'' Her voice cracked and she found she could not hold back the tears any longer as she finally broke down. 

The Doctor seemed unsure what to do for a moment. ''Well don't worry, it's all finished now'' he assured her putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. ''In fact, as far as I can tell it never really happened at all.'' 

He may have been trying to help but the Doctors words did anything but. Telling her the time she spent with the Doctor never happened because it never happened for him. It was certainly painful for Peri to remember but the last thing she wanted to do was forget. Memories were the only thing she had. Her memories of their travels together were vivid and bright in her mind, compared to the grey, almost dreamlike world around her, and that was where she knew they would stay. Even her memories of their last adventure together......

As soon as they stepped out of the TARDIS, Peri and the Doctor were assaulted by a savage gust of biting wind and bitter cold. Before leaving, Peri had quickly changed out of her pink leotard and shorts into something more suitable for the weather, a dark blue jumpsuit and matching coat, but it still did little to ward off the chill. She pulled it tighter about herself miserably as the Doctor strode ahead a few paces, seemingly oblivious as he surveyed their surroundings.