Hello there!
And welcome, welcome to the first, the amazing 'Intertwined', the first (and hopefully not last!) co-write between my good self, FireOpal, and the astounding EbonyBeach! Everyone, applause for this woman as this is her first Doctor Who fic, and she has only ever seen 4 episodes (something I'm trying desperately to remedy). So, without further ado, I give you... Intertwined.

Summary: What if the Doctor hadn't regenerated at the end of the PotW? What if he'd been able to transfer all the power back into the TARDIS? Imagine what adventures they would have together... 9thDr/Rose.

Clutching Rose's limp form in his arms, the Doctor practically fell through the door into the TARDIS, her safety his only thought. Soon the massive light that was the heart of the TARDIS, the raw power running through his veins and beating through his double hearts like blood would be choking him, destroying single cells through its sheer energy.

For now though, he carefully lay Rose on the metal floor, her blonde hair spilling out to frame her calm face. That look, that cold power that they had held was gone now, but he still shuddered at the memory. He didn't know whether it was because of what they had shared or if he was just imagining it, but he could sense her somewhere in the back of his mind, her life force seemingly intertwined with his. Reaching out a pale hand, he traced her cheek lightly and a sad smile formed on his lips as, not for the first time, he began to lose himself in her. She was so beautiful, so pure: she was everything he had ever-

Something snapped inside him and he immediately withdrew his hand. Now was not the time. They needed to get away, away from this dead place. Straightening forcibly, he made his way over to the console, pulling levers, pressing buttons and flicking switches. He could feel it ghosting over his fingertips as he reached for the bicycle pump - death was coming for him. He knew its feel by now; after all, he had already died nine times. But he would be leaving Rose, and that hurt more than the spasms of pain creeping through his muscles. His Rose.

Eventually the central column started to move, grinding and whirring its way out of the time stream. Relief shining in his blue eyes, he sank against the controls as his legs gave way, sliding bonelessly to the floor. He lay there, his eyes creeping closed for what would be the last time, his senses going into overdrive despite the intense agony that flowed through him. Such power, such pain…

The metallic, electronic smell of the console room, the feel of the hard floor beneath him, the hum and vibration of the ship, his ship, dematerialising from space and time, all flooded into his mind. Then something else, something that felt smooth, cool, yet strong and gentle all at once. A voice.

So long together, and only now you see me, Theta.

Dredging his eyes open in surprise, he looked wearily around. No-one. Well, this had never happened during regeneration before…

That is because you could not hear me, my Theta. But now you can, yet at such great cost…

"W-who are you?" he called out, stumbling slightly over the words.

I am what was, what is, and what yet shall be. I am Time, I am Space. I am the TARDIS.

A silver chuckle. Such an odd name, though it serves its purpose. Your granddaughter was an intelligent woman.

"The TARDIS?" he whispered disbelievingly, although he already knew the answer.

For one so usually full of answers, you are surprisingly quiet.

Somehow in that remark there was a small smirk. However, I can feel your pain, so I will explain. I am the TARDIS, and you have my heart. She, the young human opened me and looked deep within, something no-one has done before. And so I entered her, created the person, the entity Bad Wolf. She used me to do what Time Lords could not - to end the Time War.

But she is but a human, and you know that no mind can withstand all that is me, all that is Time. I tried to withdraw, but I could not. I- I am sorry.

"I told her she shouldn't have done it… She was safe!" The Doctor's gaze was fixed upon her, lying so silently, so still.

She was away from you, and she would not have stayed while you were in danger; while you were apart. Neither would you. You kissed her to save her.

"She would have died, she can't regenerate like me…" the Doctor said, falling into her once again, knowing that the TARDIS saw straight through his attempt to hide what he was almost too afraid to admit.

But she cannot stand to see you die either. Even if you are alive, you will not be him. You will exist, but you will not be the man she loves, and your very presence will destroy her.

A tear slipped down his pale cheek as he watched her sleeping. He wanted so desperately to go to her, to hold her hand and stroke her golden hair, but something held him back. Fear. He was scared of what might happen, afraid of what he would become confronting a situation that was completely unknown to him. The words of the TARDIS ran through his mind, and another tear followed the first. "I couldn't... I- I can't- "

I know.

The gentle, feminine voice was almost sympathetic, sorrowful. You cannot do a thing to stop this now. But I can.

A sudden, new noise came from far within the sentient ship which tore his gaze from Rose, a deep throbbing, getting louder and louder, echoing around the room, beating in time with his hearts. A familiar ghostly golden tendril snaked out of the very air, trailing its way down to his awed face. It stopped, coiled in on itself, and unravelled, weaving its way through the air like a dance.

You care about this one, more than all the others, and she cares about you too. I saw it in her. Her human mind is small yet so full of emotion, compassion, love. Take care of her, my Theta. Take care of your Rose.

Reaching out a shaking hand, the Doctor raised a finger, and brushed the tip

of the ribbon gently. It felt warm, like mild electricity, but also soft as it

caressed his finger. There was the strangest sensation, as if he was floating and falling at once, and he closed his eyes. Somehow, inexplicably, the TARDIS was removing itself from him, taking back its heart and carefully healing him as it left. All this happened in a space of a few short seconds, before he felt a soft touch breathe across his mind, talking to him as his people had once been able to.

Heal now Theta.

The tendril wove back through the air and disappeared, somehow returning itself to the great mind that was the TARDIS. Blinking, the Doctor reached out and pulled himself up, using the console as his support. Where there had been pain, torturous pain, was just a dull ache, and his mind was clear again.

Looking at the central column with new eyes, he half-smiled. "Thank you." There was no reply, and the smile faded when he looked around.

Rose, blonde hair spilling out onto the hard floor, her soft brown eyes shut and her features slack and pale, lay like death. He hesitated.

Go to her.

Obeying the last command of his old companion, he walked quickly across the room and knelt beside her. Stroking her soft hair with one hand, he looked up again, his eyes roving as he spoke.

"Thank you."

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