crazycatt71-He didn't want to see-10th Doctor/Jack-G

[crazycatt71.livejournal.com]

Title: He didn't want to see

Author: crazycatt71

Challenge: 2011 Doctor/Jack Bingo Fest

Prompt: He has to let it happen

Rating: G

Pairing: 10th Doctor, Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper

Spoilers: mentions things that happen in COE

Summary: why the Doctor didn't stop the 456
 Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm just having a little fun

"There's one thing I always meant to ask Jack, back in the old days. I wanted to know about that Doctor of his, the man who appears out of nowhere and saves the world. Except sometimes he doesn't. All those times in history, when there was no sign of him. I wanted to know why not. But I don't need to ask anymore, I know the answer now. Somtimes the Doctor must look at this planet and turn away in shame." Gwen Cooper's voice came from the speakers.
The last of the Time Lords stood silently watching the video, listening to the words of a woman who had given up all hope. Part of him wished he could go and find her and explain why he couldn't have stepped in and changed what had happened with the 456. The Tardis had brought him to Earth just before the 456 had made contact. He had intended to find Jack and his team and offer all the help he could, but the curse of the Time Lords was seeing all of time, what was, what would be, what could happen, and what would happen if things were to change in the here and now. As he watched all the possibilities, all the scenarios that played out in his mind, each ending was worse than the last. Death, enslavement, destruction, the planet destroyed, the chaos never ended. The Doctor wanted to tell Gwen Cooper he hadn't turned away in shame, he had turned away because he didn't want to watch a young man take his last breath in the arms of his lover, he didn't want to see a man make an impossible choice to sacrifice his grandson to save the world, he didn't want to see Jack Harkness shatter under the weight of his grief. He'd turned away because there was nothing he could do, for the greater good, he had to let it happen. The video ended. The Doctor turned the player off. He wiped a hand acrossed his eyes, then reached out and pulled a lever on the console. As the Tardis began to whine and flash in and out of sight, "I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry." floated over the air.

Comments

[scifiangel.livejournal.com]

Heartbreaking and the only reason that makes any sense.

[crazycatt71.livejournal.com]

I have aways thought there had to be a reason why the Dotor didn't help.

[rrr-nightingale.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like this explanation very much. I have thought the Doctor didn't come because it was a fixed point in time, and his interference would make some damage to the time and maybe the universe on the whole, but the idea that he could have made the real situation and its consequences even worse hasn't come to my mind... I will certainly think it over now!
Thank you!)

[crazycatt71.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I just thought it might be the reason he couldn't help.

[silvermoon07.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow! This is so very heartbreaking and sad, but so very poignant, and I have to agree, this really makes more sense as to why the Doctor didn't help them.

You really did a magnificent job with this prompt, and this brought tears to my eyes it was so beautiful. Thank you so much.

[crazycatt71.livejournal.com]

I had tears in my eyes when I wrote it.
It is quite a compliment when somthing you write causes an emotional responce, thank-you.

[beachy-geek.livejournal.com]

Loved this, very clever! Of course we all knew it wasn't due to "shame" but like most I assumed it was a fixed point. I like this reasoning--it really fits in beautifully with Ten's eventual break into the Time Lord Victorious as it would have broken his hearts to abandon not only his beloved Earth, but Jack to such a horrific scenario.

[crazycatt71.livejournal.com]

Thank-you.

[develish1]

So sad *sniff*

If I'd really thought about, which if I;m honest I hadn't I think I would have assumed "fixed point" was the reason he wasn't there

[crazycatt71.livejournal.com]

Everybody says fixed point is the reason. It never entered my mind.