Update: Alternates:(13/26?)
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walkwithheroesTitle: Alternates (13/26?)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
walkwithheroes
Rated: PG (for curse words)
Spoilers: Up to Doomsday
Word Count: 3804
Disclaimer: The Doctor, Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Jack Harkness, Jackie and Pete Tyler, Torchwood, etc, aren’t owned by me. any "pop culture" refs are also not mine.
Pairings: Ten/Rose, Alt!Eleven/Tess. Alt! 12/Leven. Hints at others.
Summary: Rose and Levi met up with someone from Cardiff. Secrets are shared.
Author's Note: Thanks to my beta,nemesis_cry
All other parts can be found here: Alternates 1-12
Rose Tyler's Earth
June 4, 2010
Long ago, or just two years ago, depending on how you looked at time, Levi had picked up a beautiful red-head in Cardiff. Originally from Glasgow, the red-head had been in Cardiff on holiday. Levi knew that that tiny, stupid, human had been someone he could have been in love with. That was why he disliked Cardiff. Even if he told everyone it was because of a thousand other silly and shallow reasons.
At that moment, Levi walked alongside Rose Tyler on the busy Cardiff streets. Rose Tyler, who was and wasn't his mother. Levi was adding “Got stuck on an alternate Earth/Cardiff with an alternate version of my dead mother” to his: 'Why I hate Cardiff' list. He was sure Lily would get a kick out of it. If he ever saw her again...
Stealing a glance, Levi took Rose in. She looked calm and at peace, as they walked along the street. She, Levi knew, had done this kind of thing before. Rose wasn't scared or worried, because she knew everything would work out in her favor. The Fates owed her that much. Levi could image Rose, small in her bed, sobbing and screaming, all because of a lost love. He had done that himself, and he was sure others had done that because of him.
Briefly, he imaged Lily – the old Lily - sobbing loudly, screaming, and beating her pillow in some crabby flat in London. 'Why won't he come back for me?' But, Levi hadn't come right back for her, had he? Silently, Levi wished he had gone back for Lily sooner. It would have saved them both a lot of human heart-ache.
“I hate the early twenty-first century.”
Rose, who had been deep in her own thoughts, looked closely at Levi. “I'd ask why, but you wouldn't tell me, would you?”
“No.” Levi smiled softly, before walking ahead of her.
Rose jogged to catch up with the strange man. “Levi...could I just...you don't even know where you're going.”
That got Levi's attention. He halted to a stop and turned on his heels to look at Rose. “Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me, Rose.” A tiny grin began to slyly spread across his face. “But wait, I'm not an idiot. I do know where things are in Cardiff.” He rolled his eyes in annoyance.
“I always seem to end up in bloody Cardiff.” He turned on his heels and began walking while talking to himself: “And, running through endless hallways and those gravel pits...those endless gravel pits. Holding someone's hand...sweaty hand.”
Rose just stared at Levi's back as he muttered to himself. She still wasn't sure what to make of the guy. He and Lily had claimed that he was the Doctor, but he certainly didn't give off the right vibes. The Doctor - even the two alternate Doctors - gave off a certain something, something that let people know they were different, special. Levi just gave off an...indescribable vibe, like he was of the world but wasn't.
“The Millennium Centre.”
Rose was shaken from her thoughts by the sound of Levi's voice. She hadn't noticed that they had made it to the Centre, nor that Levi was standing in front of it. He stood, arms folded over his chest, staring at the large tourist attraction before them.
“Now that,” Levi went on, “is something. And, you say there's a Rift running right through it?” He nodded appreciatively to himself. “That's very nice.”
Rose stood just behind him and just stared up at the Millennium Centre. It looked the same to her, even if there was a branch of Torchwood hiding under it. She briefly wondered if Torchwood Three had been hiding there when she, the Doctor and Jack had made a visit to Cardiff. She made a mental note to ask Jack about it later.
“Should we...go in?” Rose asked, all business.
Levi shrugged. “I see no reason why not. Well, except for the fact that I don't think anyone's home. Likely to all be out, you know.”
“Why? Levi...”
“Rose.” He held up a hand. “Please, I'm trying to listen.”
“For what?” Her voice dripped with annoyance. Just who did this so-called “Doctor” think he was? They should have gone inside the Hub. They should have...
Levi was staring intently at a spot on the walkway. He was just...staring, like he expected something to happen in the empty space. “Was a TARDIS parked here at one point?”
Rose took in the surrounding area for a moment, before answering. “Yeah, I think so. What's that got to do with anything?”
“Well,” Levi stepped closer to the stop that he had been watching. “I think the TARDIS rubbed off on this spot.”
“How...?”
Levi glanced over his shoulder to give Rose a charming grin. “Didn't you know? I'm magic!” He wasn't really magic, of course. Levi just knew where the 'right spot' was. After all, there was one just like it on his Earth. But why not amuse himself and freak out the locals? “Alright, enough play. You there...move off, and let's have a word, yeah?” Rose stared at whatever Levi was looking at, but nothing happened. “Come on, we haven't got all day. Don't you know that it's important?” Rolling his eyes upward, Levi sighed heavily. “Okay, I get it now. I'm the Doctor. That,” he gestured behind him, “is Rose. Rose is an old friend of Captain Jack Harkness. The idiot known as Captain Jack would want you to talk to us...ya git.”
Rose looked from Levi to the spot he was looking at, and back to Levi. This wasn't...what was he doing? Had she really gotten stuck with some crazed Doctor, who wasn't the Doctor? “Levi...” She trailed off, when a man seemingly stepped out of nowhere. The man, dressed in a suit, was slightly older than her...though he looked completely helpless and lost. “Oh, wow.”
Glancing back to Rose, Levi grinned madly. “Fairly cool, yeah?” Just as suddenly as his mad grin had appeared, it disappeared and was replaced with a grim look. He turned back to the man. “You. Who are you, then?”
“Jones. Ianto Jones.” Ianto replied softly. He was standing tall, trying hard to appear tougher and more important than he really was. “Where's Jack?”
Rose opened her mouth to speak, but Levi beat her to the punch. “No idea, actually. Could be anywhere or any when. Could be on the moon for all we know.” He shrugged. “Doesn't matter. Anyone else at home, or did mummy and daddy leave you alone for the day?”
“Doctor,” Rose began, wanting to stick up for Ianto, “leave it. Ianto,” she moved slightly forward. “I'm Rose Tyler. Jack's told me a lot about you.” She smiled softly. “He says he has the handcuffs and he speaks very highly of you, Gwen, and the others.”
“Gwen and the others were called away.” Ianto explained to Rose. He didn't seem annoyed or insulted by Levi, but Rose could tell he was...under the surface. “Things are terribly wrong and...”
“They just left you?” Rose asked gently. “Weren't you needed?”
“Of course he wasn't.”
“I asked to stay.” Ianto cut-in. “In case Jack came back.”
Rose regarded the older man for a moment. The way he blushed just a bit when he talked of Jack...oh, it was a bit sweet, really. Ianto...
“Your shag-buddy isn't here.” Levi's eyes narrowed on Ianto, as he looked the man up and down. “But, if it makes you feel better, I'm sure he's okay.” Then, he added: “I just hope he's not with anyone he'd shag. So, it would be best if he's alone.”
“Levi!”
“We're...”
“Yes, yes. I've heard it all before.” Levi waved a dismissive hand. “There's no time for idle gossip and silly declarations of love. Ianto, be a good lad and take us to where your Jack keeps all the weapons and alien tech.”
Ianto glanced to Rose, hoping for some help, or at least more info about Jack. All he got was a polite and warm smile. She reached her hand for his, and Ianto took it gratefully. Together, they walked behind Levi, as he led them back onto the patch of walk that would bring them down to the Hub.
______________________________________________________________________
“Broken. Broken. Crap. Useless.”
Sipping on a cup of coffee, Rose intensely watched Levi dig through a box of alien weapons. They were deep in the heart of the Hub, and Ianto was off getting more coffee. Poor Ianto, he was so nervous about the whole thing. Rose wanted to take him aside and tell him that everything would be alright; she knew Ianto wouldn't listen, even if she did try and tell him those things. After all, she hadn't listened once when Mickey or Jackie had tried to comfort her in her time away from her Doctor. And, where was her Doctor anyway?
“Is this...” Levi shrugged and tossed a large, metal, rob with spikes over his shoulder. “Oh! sex toy.” He seemed to notice Rose then. “Still here, then?” He briefly glanced around him, pursed his lips, and sighed. “Where'd, uh...Ando go?”
“Ianto.” Rose corrected lightly. “He's nervous around you. So, he's gone to get you a cuppa.” She smiled, her tongue sticking out of her mouth just a bit. “He'll be back soon.”
Levi shrugged. “Let him be, I suppose. Dead weight.” He looked back down at the ever shirking pile of weapons. “Broken. Beyond shitty,”
Rose sighed heavily. “Can't I help or anything?” She was not used to sitting on the sidelines and it really was starting to get to her. “I've...”
“Done this before?” Ianto asked from the doorway. He walked over to Rose and handed her another warm cup of coffee. “Me, too.” Looking Levi over, Ianto clicked his tongue. “But,”
“It doesn't seem like Levi plays well with others.” Rose finished.
The two young people stood in a somewhat awkward silence for a while, before...
“Got it!” Both Ianto and Rose jumped ; Levi had finally found something useful. He proudly held up a large Star Wars-like gun for them to admire. “This, ladies...kills stuff.”
“What?”
“It kills stuff.” Levi stated again, this time in a more condescending tone. “Aliens. Stuff that tends to hang about in the Void. Kills 'em.” he shrugged. “Usually. Ianto, be a good lad!” Lightly, Levi tossed the gun to Ianto, who only stumbled to catch it once. “Rose,” Levi turned his full attention to his alternate-mother. “You do guns?” He didn't even wait for an answer. “No. No, I don't suppose you do. S'alright. You can make the coffee. Ianto's moving up to the big leagues, now.”
Ianto held the gun awkwardly. It was too big and he wasn't even sure where the bullets – if there were bullets – came out. “Shouldn't you hold the gun, Doctor?”
Levi scoffed. “Don't be an idiot. I don't use guns. I'm the Doctor, not...you people.” He waved a hand around the Hub. “Torchwood uses guns, not Doctors.”
“Doctors?”
Rose's question was all but ignored by Levi and Ianto. “We need to go.” Ianto told them. “I checked the readings, and the rips are getting worse.”
The Doctor nodded, apparently impressed that Ianto had taken the time to check up on things. “Right. Ianto...you got a car?”
_____________________________________________________________________
Hours later, the trio was back in London. They were back inside Torchwood, and there was a light blanket of snow falling outside. Only, it was the middle of summer.
“It's not snow.” Levi classified. Ianto and Rose were both standing in front of a large window, watching the scene in wonderment.
“It's a weather...because of the rips.” Ianto stated, more to himself than to the others. “We've been seeing things like this all over the world for the past three months.”
Rose glanced back to Levi, who was casually leaning in the doorway of the office. “Is it...it's ash, yeah?”
Ianto gave Rose a look. “Why would you think that?”
“I've seen it before. Christmas Day, few years back.”
With purpose, Levi joined the others at the window. He peered closely into the already darkening streets of London. He placed his hands on either side of his face, trying to make the odd and broken lights from inside Torchwood disappear. That wasn't ash. His face twisted and one thought entered his mind: Not now.
“Levi?” Rose had place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Her voice was even and calm, but he knew she was getting worried.
“That's not ash.” Levi stated simply. “That's from the Void.” He cleared his throat, smiled wide and insanely, and said: “It's not a problem. Not right now. Let's just focus on that.” He pointed to the wall outside the office. “I know how it worked, but there's no power now.”
“So, are you suggesting we sit around and, what, wait?” Rose questioned, just a little shocked that Levi was being so relaxed about everything. “We can't just sit and wait!”
“Rose is right.” Ianto piped up. “The world's ending. We can't - ”
“Be quiet!” With a start, Ianto and Rose both shut up and turned their full attentions to Levi. “Is this Earth in trouble? Yes. Can the problem be solved? 'Course. Do I have a plan?” His smile lit up the room. “Always. Rose, you worked the levers with your Doctor before. So, you're in charge of making sure I get how to work it. Ianto, anything and I mean anything comes out of that wall – shoot to kill.”
“Things will be happening around us. Only natural with the rips getting larger by the moment. But, unless it's threatening to us or what we're trying to do...we have to let it ride its course.”
“What kind of things...?”
Levi swallowed. Somehow this wasn't so fun anymore. “Anything and everything that's in the Void. We might also get a few odds and ends from different dimensions that are close to this one. As long as we're here, together, we might see anything. Ghosts. Aliens. Impossible things.” He pointed a stern finger at the two. “And neither of you is allowed to get scared. You're saving the whole world, the whole universe. Think of the shags you'll have if world gets out!”
“Levi.”
“Right. Yes, sorry.” Levi ran a quick hand through his hair. “So, we most likely have a few hours until hell comes to Torchwood.”
“Rose, you should explain everything to us.” Ianto suggested. “I wasn't up here during...I wasn't here.” Ianto looked away from the others for a moment.
Rose opened her mouth, but it was Levi who spoke: “I think I got it, mate.” He strolled out of the office and to the two levers, both dusty from lack of use. “We just pull, and hold onto something, right? Only, I'll be going home.” He pulled on the large yellow button around his neck. “So, I'll just pull, press, and let Rose handle the rest.” A goofy grin spread slowly across his face. “That rhymed.”
Levi turned around, to find both Rose and Ianto just behind him. “Alright, you two. I know you miss Jack and your Doctor. I know you're scared. I know that Ianto cannot hold that gun properly.” Ianto blushed lightly. “I know that Rose needs to touch up her roots.” Rose scowled. “I also know one thing, just one thing that might make this a bit easier. You both believe in the men you love. You both believe that if they were here everything would be alright. So, I'm telling you lot that it will be just fine. Because, if there's anything I've learned in my eight hundred plus years, it's this: the Universe has a way of paying back debts. And from what I can see, the Universe owes you two big time.”
Rose sighed softly and nodded. Levi had actually been serious for more than two seconds and that was surprising in and of itself. It was only made better by his words. She still didn't think he was the real Doctor of his universe, but she did know he was one of the good guys – he was trying.
“Now,” Levi clapped his hands together, “you two enjoy some nice mushy talk.” He started to stroll off, again.
“Where are you going?” Ianto questioned. Torchwood Tower was pretty much in shambles. There wasn't really any place for a person to go.
Levi stopped, whirled around on the heels of his feet, and shrugged helplessly. “If you have to ask, then you'll never know. Watch the wall.”
Ianto shook his head, adjusted the gun, and looked to Rose, “He's lovely.”
If Rose hadn't been looking at Ianto, she would have sworn he wasn't being sarcastic. “Yeah,” she grinned thoughtfully, “his mother must be so proud.”
___________________________________________________________________
The sonic screwdriver buzzed softly between Levi's long fingers. The sound was a comfort, even as everything seemed to be falling apart. He held the it tightly in his hands, pointing down at the steps he was sitting on.
“You didn't come. I waited for over sixty years and you didn't come. You always came.” Lily – new body and all – stood in front of him. She wasn't crying, she didn't look angry, she just looked...hurt. “I grew old. I...I went all domestic and human.”
Levi stood, his arms at his side and his fist s tightly together. “You wanted to stay. You went on and on about being twenty-seven and being ready for normal. I came back, didn't I? It's not like I...”
“You just left me there. It's been hundreds of years for you. You didn't come back once, you git! I waited!”
“Apparently, not for long. You were shagging Jack before the end of the first year, you whore!” He felt the sting of her new hand, before he was even aware that she had moved closer to him. Hissing in pain, Levi put a hand to his cheek. “Out of line. Out of line, sorry.” He looked through his own tears, to see that Lily was softly crying in front of him. “I was punishing you, Lily.”
“I know.” she nodded softly, wiped away some tears and sniffed. “You don't think I was trying to punish you when I left? You...I...We... but you were going away.” Levi shook his head. “I saw you going away from me. You were supposed to love me, just me. You didn't, you don't.”
With a bitter laugh, Levi pulled Lily to him. He held her in a tight hug for the briefest of moments. “I do. You still love me?”
Lily hit him away, lightly and lovingly. “Don't be daft.” She laughed in spite of herself and her anger. “Love me more than anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
He took one of her hands in his and kissed it. “If it were between you and the TARDIS or you and the world, I'd chose you.”
“Oh. I...I love you. I'm never gonna leave you. Not again. Never again.”
Without thinking, Levi leaned into Lily, kissing her gently on the lips.
“Never again.” Levi chocked back tears. Carefully, he put his sonic screwdriver away.
Fishing into his jacket pocket, he took out Lily's rings. With a sigh, he examined the rings for a moment. Looking back over his long life, Levi couldn't help but think things would have been much better if Rose and the Doctor had left their children with Jackie. Sure, somethings would have been hard but he wouldn't here. He'd be dead and in some afterlife. Maybe. Levi didn't really believe in God, and being raised on Earth didn't mean he wouldn't regenerate.
“Should have left us on Earth. Me and you, Lily. We could have...we wouldn't be apart and...I can't do this without you. You need your shots. And...I know you, you'll get nervous and try and be the hero. You'll get hurt. I need you with me. It's better with two.” He sniffed back some tears that were threatening to fall.
“Doctor? I love you. More than the stars, the moon, or the sea. It'll always be you and me.”
With an angry grunt, Levi tossed Lily's rings down the stairwell. “Damn it!”
“Everything will be okay.” Rose stated softly a little way behind him. “You told me and Ianto that. So, believe it.” Levi slowly turned his gaze to her. It was steady, solid. Levi's gaze made Rose uncomfortable. “What do you believe in, Levi?”
Levi licked his lips, sniffed, and stood to face Rose. “Lots of things. I've seen...more than you'll ever know.” He laughed under his breath. “I've met Jesus. Moses. King Henry- all of them; Eight's my favorite. Nero. Went through this ancient Rome phase at one point. Wore a lot of sandals. Wasn't me. I looked like a right idiot.”
Rose giggled softly. “Not that, Doctor. What – who - do you believe in. One thing. Just the one.”
“Happy endings? True love? Gag me...soul mates?”
“Doctor...Levi.”
“Lily. It's Lily. Always my Lily.”
“You love her.”
Levi nodded, even though it hadn't been a question. “More than you know. She's all I have. So, I'm gonna save the day. Not for the millions of idiots in the universes. Not for the chance to be a hero. For her. Just like you'll save it for the Doctor.” He paused for a moment, thinking. “Rose. Rose, you don't...” he stuffed his hands into his slack pockets, “think I'm the actual Doctor of my universe, do you?”
Chewing on her lower lip for a moment, Rose tried to decide what the best thing to say would be. No, I think you're lying and you stole the TARDIS? No, too rude. “No, I don't.”
Levi nodded slowly, as he jogged back up the stairs. “Good.” he breezed past her, almost as if he didn't have a care in the world. “ 'Cause, I'm not. My father is – was.”
“What?” Rose quickly moved to catch up with him. “What...the Doctor...with who?”
Levi rolled his eyes. “Ianto's alone. Likely to shot himself in the foot. We should get back.”
Never one to just give up, Rose grabbed hold of Levi's arm. “Alternate or not, the Doctor has kids? You're the Doctor's...he named you Levi?”
“It's a nickname!” Levi pulled away from Rose's surprisingly firm grip. Looking deeply into Rose's eyes, Levi knew it was now or never. Maybe, just maybe, he could stop any alternate versions of himself from living like he had. “The Doctor and my mother named me after my dead grandfather. They named me Peter, Peter Tyler.”
Rose could feel her mouth hanging open: “Holy...”
Author:
walkwithheroesRated: PG (for curse words)
Spoilers: Up to Doomsday
Word Count: 3804
Disclaimer: The Doctor, Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Jack Harkness, Jackie and Pete Tyler, Torchwood, etc, aren’t owned by me. any "pop culture" refs are also not mine.
Pairings: Ten/Rose, Alt!Eleven/Tess. Alt! 12/Leven. Hints at others.
Summary: Rose and Levi met up with someone from Cardiff. Secrets are shared.
Author's Note: Thanks to my beta,
nemesis_cryAll other parts can be found here: Alternates 1-12
Rose Tyler's Earth
June 4, 2010
Long ago, or just two years ago, depending on how you looked at time, Levi had picked up a beautiful red-head in Cardiff. Originally from Glasgow, the red-head had been in Cardiff on holiday. Levi knew that that tiny, stupid, human had been someone he could have been in love with. That was why he disliked Cardiff. Even if he told everyone it was because of a thousand other silly and shallow reasons.
At that moment, Levi walked alongside Rose Tyler on the busy Cardiff streets. Rose Tyler, who was and wasn't his mother. Levi was adding “Got stuck on an alternate Earth/Cardiff with an alternate version of my dead mother” to his: 'Why I hate Cardiff' list. He was sure Lily would get a kick out of it. If he ever saw her again...
Stealing a glance, Levi took Rose in. She looked calm and at peace, as they walked along the street. She, Levi knew, had done this kind of thing before. Rose wasn't scared or worried, because she knew everything would work out in her favor. The Fates owed her that much. Levi could image Rose, small in her bed, sobbing and screaming, all because of a lost love. He had done that himself, and he was sure others had done that because of him.
Briefly, he imaged Lily – the old Lily - sobbing loudly, screaming, and beating her pillow in some crabby flat in London. 'Why won't he come back for me?' But, Levi hadn't come right back for her, had he? Silently, Levi wished he had gone back for Lily sooner. It would have saved them both a lot of human heart-ache.
“I hate the early twenty-first century.”
Rose, who had been deep in her own thoughts, looked closely at Levi. “I'd ask why, but you wouldn't tell me, would you?”
“No.” Levi smiled softly, before walking ahead of her.
Rose jogged to catch up with the strange man. “Levi...could I just...you don't even know where you're going.”
That got Levi's attention. He halted to a stop and turned on his heels to look at Rose. “Oh, yeah. Thanks for reminding me, Rose.” A tiny grin began to slyly spread across his face. “But wait, I'm not an idiot. I do know where things are in Cardiff.” He rolled his eyes in annoyance.
“I always seem to end up in bloody Cardiff.” He turned on his heels and began walking while talking to himself: “And, running through endless hallways and those gravel pits...those endless gravel pits. Holding someone's hand...sweaty hand.”
Rose just stared at Levi's back as he muttered to himself. She still wasn't sure what to make of the guy. He and Lily had claimed that he was the Doctor, but he certainly didn't give off the right vibes. The Doctor - even the two alternate Doctors - gave off a certain something, something that let people know they were different, special. Levi just gave off an...indescribable vibe, like he was of the world but wasn't.
“The Millennium Centre.”
Rose was shaken from her thoughts by the sound of Levi's voice. She hadn't noticed that they had made it to the Centre, nor that Levi was standing in front of it. He stood, arms folded over his chest, staring at the large tourist attraction before them.
“Now that,” Levi went on, “is something. And, you say there's a Rift running right through it?” He nodded appreciatively to himself. “That's very nice.”
Rose stood just behind him and just stared up at the Millennium Centre. It looked the same to her, even if there was a branch of Torchwood hiding under it. She briefly wondered if Torchwood Three had been hiding there when she, the Doctor and Jack had made a visit to Cardiff. She made a mental note to ask Jack about it later.
“Should we...go in?” Rose asked, all business.
Levi shrugged. “I see no reason why not. Well, except for the fact that I don't think anyone's home. Likely to all be out, you know.”
“Why? Levi...”
“Rose.” He held up a hand. “Please, I'm trying to listen.”
“For what?” Her voice dripped with annoyance. Just who did this so-called “Doctor” think he was? They should have gone inside the Hub. They should have...
Levi was staring intently at a spot on the walkway. He was just...staring, like he expected something to happen in the empty space. “Was a TARDIS parked here at one point?”
Rose took in the surrounding area for a moment, before answering. “Yeah, I think so. What's that got to do with anything?”
“Well,” Levi stepped closer to the stop that he had been watching. “I think the TARDIS rubbed off on this spot.”
“How...?”
Levi glanced over his shoulder to give Rose a charming grin. “Didn't you know? I'm magic!” He wasn't really magic, of course. Levi just knew where the 'right spot' was. After all, there was one just like it on his Earth. But why not amuse himself and freak out the locals? “Alright, enough play. You there...move off, and let's have a word, yeah?” Rose stared at whatever Levi was looking at, but nothing happened. “Come on, we haven't got all day. Don't you know that it's important?” Rolling his eyes upward, Levi sighed heavily. “Okay, I get it now. I'm the Doctor. That,” he gestured behind him, “is Rose. Rose is an old friend of Captain Jack Harkness. The idiot known as Captain Jack would want you to talk to us...ya git.”
Rose looked from Levi to the spot he was looking at, and back to Levi. This wasn't...what was he doing? Had she really gotten stuck with some crazed Doctor, who wasn't the Doctor? “Levi...” She trailed off, when a man seemingly stepped out of nowhere. The man, dressed in a suit, was slightly older than her...though he looked completely helpless and lost. “Oh, wow.”
Glancing back to Rose, Levi grinned madly. “Fairly cool, yeah?” Just as suddenly as his mad grin had appeared, it disappeared and was replaced with a grim look. He turned back to the man. “You. Who are you, then?”
“Jones. Ianto Jones.” Ianto replied softly. He was standing tall, trying hard to appear tougher and more important than he really was. “Where's Jack?”
Rose opened her mouth to speak, but Levi beat her to the punch. “No idea, actually. Could be anywhere or any when. Could be on the moon for all we know.” He shrugged. “Doesn't matter. Anyone else at home, or did mummy and daddy leave you alone for the day?”
“Doctor,” Rose began, wanting to stick up for Ianto, “leave it. Ianto,” she moved slightly forward. “I'm Rose Tyler. Jack's told me a lot about you.” She smiled softly. “He says he has the handcuffs and he speaks very highly of you, Gwen, and the others.”
“Gwen and the others were called away.” Ianto explained to Rose. He didn't seem annoyed or insulted by Levi, but Rose could tell he was...under the surface. “Things are terribly wrong and...”
“They just left you?” Rose asked gently. “Weren't you needed?”
“Of course he wasn't.”
“I asked to stay.” Ianto cut-in. “In case Jack came back.”
Rose regarded the older man for a moment. The way he blushed just a bit when he talked of Jack...oh, it was a bit sweet, really. Ianto...
“Your shag-buddy isn't here.” Levi's eyes narrowed on Ianto, as he looked the man up and down. “But, if it makes you feel better, I'm sure he's okay.” Then, he added: “I just hope he's not with anyone he'd shag. So, it would be best if he's alone.”
“Levi!”
“We're...”
“Yes, yes. I've heard it all before.” Levi waved a dismissive hand. “There's no time for idle gossip and silly declarations of love. Ianto, be a good lad and take us to where your Jack keeps all the weapons and alien tech.”
Ianto glanced to Rose, hoping for some help, or at least more info about Jack. All he got was a polite and warm smile. She reached her hand for his, and Ianto took it gratefully. Together, they walked behind Levi, as he led them back onto the patch of walk that would bring them down to the Hub.
______________________________________________________________________
“Broken. Broken. Crap. Useless.”
Sipping on a cup of coffee, Rose intensely watched Levi dig through a box of alien weapons. They were deep in the heart of the Hub, and Ianto was off getting more coffee. Poor Ianto, he was so nervous about the whole thing. Rose wanted to take him aside and tell him that everything would be alright; she knew Ianto wouldn't listen, even if she did try and tell him those things. After all, she hadn't listened once when Mickey or Jackie had tried to comfort her in her time away from her Doctor. And, where was her Doctor anyway?
“Is this...” Levi shrugged and tossed a large, metal, rob with spikes over his shoulder. “Oh! sex toy.” He seemed to notice Rose then. “Still here, then?” He briefly glanced around him, pursed his lips, and sighed. “Where'd, uh...Ando go?”
“Ianto.” Rose corrected lightly. “He's nervous around you. So, he's gone to get you a cuppa.” She smiled, her tongue sticking out of her mouth just a bit. “He'll be back soon.”
Levi shrugged. “Let him be, I suppose. Dead weight.” He looked back down at the ever shirking pile of weapons. “Broken. Beyond shitty,”
Rose sighed heavily. “Can't I help or anything?” She was not used to sitting on the sidelines and it really was starting to get to her. “I've...”
“Done this before?” Ianto asked from the doorway. He walked over to Rose and handed her another warm cup of coffee. “Me, too.” Looking Levi over, Ianto clicked his tongue. “But,”
“It doesn't seem like Levi plays well with others.” Rose finished.
The two young people stood in a somewhat awkward silence for a while, before...
“Got it!” Both Ianto and Rose jumped ; Levi had finally found something useful. He proudly held up a large Star Wars-like gun for them to admire. “This, ladies...kills stuff.”
“What?”
“It kills stuff.” Levi stated again, this time in a more condescending tone. “Aliens. Stuff that tends to hang about in the Void. Kills 'em.” he shrugged. “Usually. Ianto, be a good lad!” Lightly, Levi tossed the gun to Ianto, who only stumbled to catch it once. “Rose,” Levi turned his full attention to his alternate-mother. “You do guns?” He didn't even wait for an answer. “No. No, I don't suppose you do. S'alright. You can make the coffee. Ianto's moving up to the big leagues, now.”
Ianto held the gun awkwardly. It was too big and he wasn't even sure where the bullets – if there were bullets – came out. “Shouldn't you hold the gun, Doctor?”
Levi scoffed. “Don't be an idiot. I don't use guns. I'm the Doctor, not...you people.” He waved a hand around the Hub. “Torchwood uses guns, not Doctors.”
“Doctors?”
Rose's question was all but ignored by Levi and Ianto. “We need to go.” Ianto told them. “I checked the readings, and the rips are getting worse.”
The Doctor nodded, apparently impressed that Ianto had taken the time to check up on things. “Right. Ianto...you got a car?”
_____________________________________________________________________
Hours later, the trio was back in London. They were back inside Torchwood, and there was a light blanket of snow falling outside. Only, it was the middle of summer.
“It's not snow.” Levi classified. Ianto and Rose were both standing in front of a large window, watching the scene in wonderment.
“It's a weather...because of the rips.” Ianto stated, more to himself than to the others. “We've been seeing things like this all over the world for the past three months.”
Rose glanced back to Levi, who was casually leaning in the doorway of the office. “Is it...it's ash, yeah?”
Ianto gave Rose a look. “Why would you think that?”
“I've seen it before. Christmas Day, few years back.”
With purpose, Levi joined the others at the window. He peered closely into the already darkening streets of London. He placed his hands on either side of his face, trying to make the odd and broken lights from inside Torchwood disappear. That wasn't ash. His face twisted and one thought entered his mind: Not now.
“Levi?” Rose had place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Her voice was even and calm, but he knew she was getting worried.
“That's not ash.” Levi stated simply. “That's from the Void.” He cleared his throat, smiled wide and insanely, and said: “It's not a problem. Not right now. Let's just focus on that.” He pointed to the wall outside the office. “I know how it worked, but there's no power now.”
“So, are you suggesting we sit around and, what, wait?” Rose questioned, just a little shocked that Levi was being so relaxed about everything. “We can't just sit and wait!”
“Rose is right.” Ianto piped up. “The world's ending. We can't - ”
“Be quiet!” With a start, Ianto and Rose both shut up and turned their full attentions to Levi. “Is this Earth in trouble? Yes. Can the problem be solved? 'Course. Do I have a plan?” His smile lit up the room. “Always. Rose, you worked the levers with your Doctor before. So, you're in charge of making sure I get how to work it. Ianto, anything and I mean anything comes out of that wall – shoot to kill.”
“Things will be happening around us. Only natural with the rips getting larger by the moment. But, unless it's threatening to us or what we're trying to do...we have to let it ride its course.”
“What kind of things...?”
Levi swallowed. Somehow this wasn't so fun anymore. “Anything and everything that's in the Void. We might also get a few odds and ends from different dimensions that are close to this one. As long as we're here, together, we might see anything. Ghosts. Aliens. Impossible things.” He pointed a stern finger at the two. “And neither of you is allowed to get scared. You're saving the whole world, the whole universe. Think of the shags you'll have if world gets out!”
“Levi.”
“Right. Yes, sorry.” Levi ran a quick hand through his hair. “So, we most likely have a few hours until hell comes to Torchwood.”
“Rose, you should explain everything to us.” Ianto suggested. “I wasn't up here during...I wasn't here.” Ianto looked away from the others for a moment.
Rose opened her mouth, but it was Levi who spoke: “I think I got it, mate.” He strolled out of the office and to the two levers, both dusty from lack of use. “We just pull, and hold onto something, right? Only, I'll be going home.” He pulled on the large yellow button around his neck. “So, I'll just pull, press, and let Rose handle the rest.” A goofy grin spread slowly across his face. “That rhymed.”
Levi turned around, to find both Rose and Ianto just behind him. “Alright, you two. I know you miss Jack and your Doctor. I know you're scared. I know that Ianto cannot hold that gun properly.” Ianto blushed lightly. “I know that Rose needs to touch up her roots.” Rose scowled. “I also know one thing, just one thing that might make this a bit easier. You both believe in the men you love. You both believe that if they were here everything would be alright. So, I'm telling you lot that it will be just fine. Because, if there's anything I've learned in my eight hundred plus years, it's this: the Universe has a way of paying back debts. And from what I can see, the Universe owes you two big time.”
Rose sighed softly and nodded. Levi had actually been serious for more than two seconds and that was surprising in and of itself. It was only made better by his words. She still didn't think he was the real Doctor of his universe, but she did know he was one of the good guys – he was trying.
“Now,” Levi clapped his hands together, “you two enjoy some nice mushy talk.” He started to stroll off, again.
“Where are you going?” Ianto questioned. Torchwood Tower was pretty much in shambles. There wasn't really any place for a person to go.
Levi stopped, whirled around on the heels of his feet, and shrugged helplessly. “If you have to ask, then you'll never know. Watch the wall.”
Ianto shook his head, adjusted the gun, and looked to Rose, “He's lovely.”
If Rose hadn't been looking at Ianto, she would have sworn he wasn't being sarcastic. “Yeah,” she grinned thoughtfully, “his mother must be so proud.”
___________________________________________________________________
The sonic screwdriver buzzed softly between Levi's long fingers. The sound was a comfort, even as everything seemed to be falling apart. He held the it tightly in his hands, pointing down at the steps he was sitting on.
“You didn't come. I waited for over sixty years and you didn't come. You always came.” Lily – new body and all – stood in front of him. She wasn't crying, she didn't look angry, she just looked...hurt. “I grew old. I...I went all domestic and human.”
Levi stood, his arms at his side and his fist s tightly together. “You wanted to stay. You went on and on about being twenty-seven and being ready for normal. I came back, didn't I? It's not like I...”
“You just left me there. It's been hundreds of years for you. You didn't come back once, you git! I waited!”
“Apparently, not for long. You were shagging Jack before the end of the first year, you whore!” He felt the sting of her new hand, before he was even aware that she had moved closer to him. Hissing in pain, Levi put a hand to his cheek. “Out of line. Out of line, sorry.” He looked through his own tears, to see that Lily was softly crying in front of him. “I was punishing you, Lily.”
“I know.” she nodded softly, wiped away some tears and sniffed. “You don't think I was trying to punish you when I left? You...I...We... but you were going away.” Levi shook his head. “I saw you going away from me. You were supposed to love me, just me. You didn't, you don't.”
With a bitter laugh, Levi pulled Lily to him. He held her in a tight hug for the briefest of moments. “I do. You still love me?”
Lily hit him away, lightly and lovingly. “Don't be daft.” She laughed in spite of herself and her anger. “Love me more than anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
He took one of her hands in his and kissed it. “If it were between you and the TARDIS or you and the world, I'd chose you.”
“Oh. I...I love you. I'm never gonna leave you. Not again. Never again.”
Without thinking, Levi leaned into Lily, kissing her gently on the lips.
“Never again.” Levi chocked back tears. Carefully, he put his sonic screwdriver away.
Fishing into his jacket pocket, he took out Lily's rings. With a sigh, he examined the rings for a moment. Looking back over his long life, Levi couldn't help but think things would have been much better if Rose and the Doctor had left their children with Jackie. Sure, somethings would have been hard but he wouldn't here. He'd be dead and in some afterlife. Maybe. Levi didn't really believe in God, and being raised on Earth didn't mean he wouldn't regenerate.
“Should have left us on Earth. Me and you, Lily. We could have...we wouldn't be apart and...I can't do this without you. You need your shots. And...I know you, you'll get nervous and try and be the hero. You'll get hurt. I need you with me. It's better with two.” He sniffed back some tears that were threatening to fall.
“Doctor? I love you. More than the stars, the moon, or the sea. It'll always be you and me.”
With an angry grunt, Levi tossed Lily's rings down the stairwell. “Damn it!”
“Everything will be okay.” Rose stated softly a little way behind him. “You told me and Ianto that. So, believe it.” Levi slowly turned his gaze to her. It was steady, solid. Levi's gaze made Rose uncomfortable. “What do you believe in, Levi?”
Levi licked his lips, sniffed, and stood to face Rose. “Lots of things. I've seen...more than you'll ever know.” He laughed under his breath. “I've met Jesus. Moses. King Henry- all of them; Eight's my favorite. Nero. Went through this ancient Rome phase at one point. Wore a lot of sandals. Wasn't me. I looked like a right idiot.”
Rose giggled softly. “Not that, Doctor. What – who - do you believe in. One thing. Just the one.”
“Happy endings? True love? Gag me...soul mates?”
“Doctor...Levi.”
“Lily. It's Lily. Always my Lily.”
“You love her.”
Levi nodded, even though it hadn't been a question. “More than you know. She's all I have. So, I'm gonna save the day. Not for the millions of idiots in the universes. Not for the chance to be a hero. For her. Just like you'll save it for the Doctor.” He paused for a moment, thinking. “Rose. Rose, you don't...” he stuffed his hands into his slack pockets, “think I'm the actual Doctor of my universe, do you?”
Chewing on her lower lip for a moment, Rose tried to decide what the best thing to say would be. No, I think you're lying and you stole the TARDIS? No, too rude. “No, I don't.”
Levi nodded slowly, as he jogged back up the stairs. “Good.” he breezed past her, almost as if he didn't have a care in the world. “ 'Cause, I'm not. My father is – was.”
“What?” Rose quickly moved to catch up with him. “What...the Doctor...with who?”
Levi rolled his eyes. “Ianto's alone. Likely to shot himself in the foot. We should get back.”
Never one to just give up, Rose grabbed hold of Levi's arm. “Alternate or not, the Doctor has kids? You're the Doctor's...he named you Levi?”
“It's a nickname!” Levi pulled away from Rose's surprisingly firm grip. Looking deeply into Rose's eyes, Levi knew it was now or never. Maybe, just maybe, he could stop any alternate versions of himself from living like he had. “The Doctor and my mother named me after my dead grandfather. They named me Peter, Peter Tyler.”
Rose could feel her mouth hanging open: “Holy...”
