Timeless (13th Doctor x Reader)

Chapter 4 - Perception

End of Chapter 3-

"So, he looked at the time vortex and went insane?" You clarify.

"Pretty much, although when he was brought back to life for a war, the insanity only grew stronger. He claims to hear a drumbeat in his head, a rhythm of four. The heartbeat of a Time Lord."

"Wait, so that means... you have two hearts? Oh my God, that is so cool!" You smile, and the Doctor laughs. Jack looks up from the laptop, and also laughs at you both.

Martha returns, bringing fish and chips for the four of you. "What have you guys been up to?"

***

"Telling stories of Gallifrey and I've discovered that me having two hearts is somewhat cool. Well, according to Y/N, that is. I think it's pretty normal." The Doctor answers, "you humans are weird."

"What about Jack? Is he human too?"

"Yes, but he's an ex-time agent turned con-man. He now owns the organisation, Torchwood." Martha explains, whilst eating a chip. "They deal in alien technology that somehow makes its way to Earth."

"I'm from the Boeshane Peninsula. I am human, but not completely. If you get me? I died not long ago, when the Doctor had a different face."

"Different face?" You ask, looking up at the Doctor.

"When he is dying, he has the ability to literally bring himself back to life."

"So, like regeneration?" You suggest.

"That's what it's actually called!" The Doctor says, excited.

"Anyway, back to me. I died by being shot by a Dalek, stung like a bitch. One of the Doctor's other companions, Rose Tyler, brought me back to life. But, then he left me there. 200,000 years into the future. I used my vortex manipulator to come back to Earth at roughly the same time as the Doctor, however I was 200 years early."

"Did it feel like more than 200 years, waiting for the Doctor to come back?"

"Felt like so much longer. I missed him, Rose, and dare I say it... Mickey the Idiot. When I saw her pronounced dead on the certificate of the Battle of Canary Wharf, I was so upset and angry with myself. I could have helped out, but I didn't." Jack recites, the thought still distressing him.

"Oh God, I'm sorry." You rush out, holding your hand over your mouth out of shock.

"Oh, she's fine! She's trapped in a parallel universe, she's not dead." The Doctor explains, but sorrow laces his voice. He looks down at the floor, "I can never see her again."

Martha lays her head on his shoulder and holds one of his hands, to console him. She then looks over to you, and asks you for a quick chat in private. You agree, and walk over to the farthest corner of the warehouse. "He loved Rose, I can tell by the sadness on his face whenever she gets mentioned. He told me that parallel universes are sealed off from any other reality, and the only way to get into them is for the universe to be in peril. He can't enter, and she can't exit. It's really upsetting." Martha explains.

"I thought he loved her, by the look on his face when Jack brought her up in conversation. Is there really no way for him to see her again?"

"No."

"That's heartbreaking!" You say, a tear making it's way from your eye.

"It's the pain he must live with, as much as it upsets me to say. But, for now, he has us. Jack, you and me."

***

You and Martha walk back to the Doctor and Jack, who are planning battle strategies (well, from what you could understand).

"Doctor, is there a way we can hide ourselves from him?" You ask.

"Y/N, brilliant! We can use perception filters! I have four TARDIS keys on me, we can use them to trick the Master into thinking we aren't observing him. I'll make them right away! Does anyone know where he could be?" The Doctor enquires.

"He'll be in one of two places, on board the Valiant or at 10 Downing Street." Jack says, as the Doctor nods whilst crafting the perception filters. "The Valiant is a ship of the 21st Century, a ship of the skies." Jack explains to you, as you listen to him, taking in every word he is saying. You need all the intel you can muster in order to trick Harold into listening to you.

Martha wanders over to you, "they're both brilliant, aren't they? But, they're missing one tiny detail. How is the Master going to notice you when you have a perception filter on?"

"Martha, you genius!" You exclaim and turn to the Doctor. "Doctor, how is Harold going to notice me with the filter on? Martha just pointed it out to me."

"Martha, Martha, Martha. What would I do without you? Right, Y/N, as you approach the Master you need to take the filter off and put it round his neck. This will cancel out whatever it is he is planning. If you do not do this, he will succeed. Do you understand?" The Doctor asks, whilst holding out a key attached to a rope. You nod, taking the key. The Doctor hands one to Martha and one to Jack too.

The Doctor puts the key around his neck and tells you and Martha to look at him. However, you can't find the strength to. You look to the side of him, but never directly at him. "It's like I know you're there, but I don't wanna know." Martha says, as Jack laughs. You still can't wrap your head around it.

"Perception filters adjust your vision slightly, Y/N. You'll see someone, but not focus on them. Understand? We should be able to get close to the Master like this, without him noticing us." The Doctor explains. "It's like, you know when you fancy someone, and they don't know you exist."

The Doctor walks away, leading you all out the warehouse. Jack turns to Martha, "you too, huh?"

***

You exit the warehouse, each of you with the perception filters around your necks. You see someone walking directly towards you, so you move out of the way. They don't seem phased by your existence.

"Doctor?"

"Yes, Y/N?"

"Is this a normal day for you? I mean... do you do this everyday? All three of you?"

"Pretty much, but you'll fit in just fine. I think you're a real asset to our team!"

"You think?"

"I know you are."