IT WAS 20,000 YEARS AGO TODAY

Chapter Fifty One

Alternate Paul nearly had a heart attack when he entered the TARDIS with Martha and looked around. Martha began to sniff the floor while Alternate Paul stood and stared with his mouth hanging open. The others stood nearby and watched him for a moment and then the Doctor walked up to him.

"This ship is in another dimension, well…most of it anyway, the door back there is in your dimension which is why it can be bigger on the inside. It may look huge but it's got all the comforts of home and then some. I can make you comfortable. The TARDIS can give you your own room to use if you want to relax and sleep. But first, do you want to go get your dad and Jane?"

Alternate Paul nodded. He watched while the Doctor dashed up the steps and set the coordinates for London. He walked over to the steps and gazed up at him while he started up the TARDIS. Paul walked up to his duplicate and alternate Paul looked at him.

"You travel with this man?" he said to Paul.

"I do and I enjoy it," Paul replied. "He's a top bloke, I'd trust him with my life and everyone else in here does as well."

"Can you give me your Jane and Dad's addresses, Paul?" the Doctor said to alternate Paul. "I need to enter it in my computer so we can go straight to their houses."

Alternate Paul climbed the steps and gave him the addresses. John looked at Ringo and George and they climbed the steps. While alternate Paul talked to the Doctor, they surrounded him. They waited till they finished talking and then they embraced alternate Paul. Alternate Paul hesitated for a moment and then hugged them back. Everyone smiled when they stood there in a group hug, eyes closed while they hugged and silently cried. The Doctor smiled, knowing that this was another moment when he managed to make a major difference in people's lives and bring them healing and happiness. It was those moments that he truly lived for. He was glad he was able to bring the Beatles together again and heal another version of the band.

It took a lot of explaining on alternate Paul's part to convince his Jane and father that he hadn't snapped from losing his friends and was rambling on about time traveling space aliens. But in the end when he showed them the TARDIS, the Doctor and the other Beatles and Jane and told them that he was making the decision to go to another universe, they finally decided to come with him. Paul and Jane tried to be gracious to the alternate versions of Jim and Jane but they could tell they were freaked out and they ended up spending time in the kitchen, sipping tea and chatting while they went back to Pepa's ship so they could go back to the other universe. The other Beatles, Jim and alternate Jane went back to a spare bedroom with the Doctor and alternate Paul so they could rest with him. The TARDIS made four beds for them and they watched while the Doctor sat with alternate Paul for a moment.

"I can't thank you enough," alternate Paul said to him. "I know I was rude to you at first and I regret now trying to tell you to fuck off because I could have missed out on this."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, you had a perfectly normal reaction," the Doctor said. "But I am glad that you decided to give us a chance to explain. For the moment though, why don't you let me put you to sleep so you can get some rest and I'll take out the memory of your friends being burned alive."

Alternate Paul smiled and hugged him. The Doctor hugged him tightly while everyone smiled.

"Thank you, mysterious alien man," alternate Paul said.

The Doctor chuckled.

"My pleasure, hairy McCartney who needs a shave."

"Yeah, I do, don't I?" he said, stroking his beard while everyone laughed. "I will definitely take care of that before I leave here."

"My TARDIS will supply you with anything you need. For now though, just rest and don't worry about anything."

Alternate Paul nodded. He lay back in bed and the Doctor put his fingertips against his temples. He put alternate Paul to sleep and then he went into his memories. He found the horrifying memory of the Beatles being burned alive and he winced when he witnessed John, George and Ringo writhing in agony as the flames consumed their bodies. He took that memory out and a few others, allowing Paul to know what happened but having no ability to recall the memories. He hoped that and the presence of the other Beatles would help to heal his shattered spirit and mind. He stood up and was going to pull the covers up when alternate Jane walked over.

"Wait, I want to lay with him," she said.

To her surprise, the bed instantly widened to a double bed. She marveled at that for a moment before she lay down. The Doctor helped her pull the covers up over both their bodies while the other Beatles got into their beds. The Doctor looked at Jim.

"Would you like to lie down? My ship can provide another bed for you."

"No, I'd like to stay awake if you don't mind. I had a nap earlier."

The Doctor nodded. He wished everyone goodnight and the Doctor pointed out the adjoining bathroom to the Beatles and alternate Jane before he turned off the light. He and Jim left and shut the door behind them. They walked to the kitchen where the others had joined Paul and Jane. Paul smiled at Jim and pointed to Martha who was sitting by his feet.

"I think your son's dog is confused," he said.

"She's not the only one who's feeling confused," Jim said as he accepted a cup of tea from Sarah Jane. "I'm still finding this hard to believe. You say we're going to a completely different universe?"

"Yes, I'm going to check but I believe this Paul's original universe is free of Diablon which means your son can resume being a Beatle without fear of being kidnapped and killed. This Paul's father and Jane and her family are all in the future with his Beatles, so you can have his house and Jane can move into her parent's home."

"Her parents aren't coming with her?" Jim asked.

"They're not alive. They died in a car crash when she was nineteen and she's been on her own, living in a flat and making ends meet. His Jane had a brother called Peter but your Jane didn't. Sometimes universes have differences between them. Like I said, his Jane's parents are in the future now, so she's actually inheriting a house."

"And you're going back to the future with your band?" Jim asked Paul.

"Eventually. Bill, my Jane, Bill's girlfriend Michelle and I are traveling with the Doctor, Amy, Rory, Jeremy and Rose. I'll go back eventually but at the moment I enjoy doing this."

Jim looked at the others.

"And you also enjoy traveling with the Doctor?" he asked them.

"Are you kidding? It's ace!" Clyde said.

"Yeah, I'd love to travel full time," Rani said.

"Except they have school and I'm a journalist in addition to being a protector of Earth," Sarah Jane said.

"And I have a team I need to get back to," Jack said. "And Mickey and Martha have a team they need to get back to also."

He gave them a meaningful look.

"Forget that freelance nonsense; come work for Torchwood, we have some openings since…some of our team members died."

"What'd ya think?" Martha asked her husband.

"Sounds good to me, I'd rather work with a team anyway," Mickey replied.

"And what about you, Donna? Going back or staying with me?" the Doctor said to her.

"First off, if I stay with you, you will get rid of the tweed," Donna said, poking his chest.

"I'm sorry?" he said as everyone laughed.

"And the bow tie, you look naff. I want you to dress elegantly if I'm going to be traveling with you."

"Bye, Donna," the Doctor said, waving.

"I won't have you embarrassing me."

"Bye, Donna," the Doctor said, waving while everyone laughed.

"I mean, bow tie? What were you thinking?"

"Bye…Donna!" the Doctor said, trying to turn her around so she would face the others.

Donna chuckled and punched his shoulder playfully.

"I'm only having you on, ya big space git," she said to him.

Everyone chuckled when the Doctor blushed at that.

"See, he takes everything way too seriously," Donna said. "Good thing I'm back so I can keep him from being too melodramatic."

They laughed when the Doctor stared at her in shock. Donna winked at him and kissed his cheek.

After they had tea, the Doctor took the next step and chose Media as the ideal prison planet. It was in a distant part of the universe, far from any planets. It was basically a barren meteorite and the most dangerous criminals were sent there. They were housed far below the surface, living like moles and being forced to dig tunnels and rooms so they could keep expanding the prison for more prisoners. The prison had never lost a prisoner and they took pride in that. The Doctor took the TARDIS back on to Pepa's ship and he flew back to the Doctor's original universe. Once he was there, the Doctor and the others bid him goodbye since they had no more need of him and his ship.

"Take care of yourself and the new humans, let them be fruitful and multiply," the Doctor said to Pepa.

"I will. I will definitely take care of them. And thank you for stopping the invasion, Doctor. You saved the human race."

"Hopefully. I hope by the time we get back to the present day, the Diablon will be gone," the Doctor said.

Everyone hugged him goodbye before they got back inside the TARDIS. Pepa watched them dematerialize before he headed back to his ship. The Doctor took the TARDIS into the vortex. Once he was there, he checked the time line. As he was doing that, he called John Smith over to him.

"Change of plans, I s'pose, since the Beatles are going to our universe so what would you like to do?" he asked him.

"I've been thinking it over and I'd like to stay in London in their time for a bit just in case the Diablon do rear their ugly heads. Lila and me can stay there while the TARDIS coral grows and then I can help defend the Earth."

The Doctor nodded.

"Splendid idea. Although…according to this, the Diablon never got a foothold on Earth and they're gone by the time it gets to the 1960's. But that doesn't mean you can't safeguard Earth against other threats. You know there's always something that's threatening Earth."

"Tell me about it," John Smith said, rolling his eyes.

"I'm setting a course for 1960's London then. Earth is about to get a brand new set of Beatles," the Doctor said, inputting the coordinates into the computer.

He went and told the others and all of them went and woke up the Beatles and Jane. When the Doctor told them they could settle in 1967 London, they were all thrilled.

"I better get ready then," alternate Paul said, heading for the bathroom.

While he was shaving, John, George and Ringo came up to Paul and embraced him.

"It's been great traveling with you through time and space, mate," John said to him. "Please be careful though since we've seen just how dangerous this can get."

"I will, don't worry," Paul said. "You lot be careful and take care of Paul. Don't give the man a hard time."

"Are you implying something, McCartney?" John asked innocently.

Paul chuckled and hugged him and the other Beatles.

Everyone stepped outside when the Doctor landed in front of Paul's house in 1967 London. Paul, who had shaved and washed his hair, walked up and looked at it with alternate Jane at his side.

"This is mine?" alternate Paul said to his counterpart.

"Yup, you have it, I'll get one of my own in the future," Paul said. "Just take it easy and be careful."

"Don't worry, I've been given a second chance, I'm gonna make the most of it. I'm just glad you lot tried me first. I only hope these other Pauls in the other universes make it through because most days I didn't feel like taking another step or another breath. And as for you, my friend," he said to John Smith, "you and Lila can stay with me until you can find your own place."

"Thank you," John Smith said.

The Doctor walked up and gave him a small piece of coral.

"Remember what supergenius said in order to make it grow faster?" the Doctor said, hooking his thumb back at Donna.

"Oh yeah, thanks Donna, I'm glad you were able to think of a way to grow this coral faster."

"You're welcome. I don't quite understand what I said now but I'm glad I was able to help," Donna replied.

Everyone hugged the Beatles, John Smith, Lila, alternate Jane and Jim and they said goodbye to Martha. Then they stepped back and watched while the Doctor and his companions got back into the TARDIS and left them behind.

The next step after that was to take everyone home. He stopped off at Sarah Jane's house first. The teens hugged him and everyone else and left the TARDIS first but Sarah Jane held back and stood with the Doctor at the front door.

"I understand now why you said don't forget me," she said. "And I meant what I said when I told you that no one would ever forget you. I wish you would have told me about this prophecy but I'm glad you made it through and regenerated."

"Thanks, Sarah," the Doctor replied.

"And since you're in this universe, feel free to drop by whenever you like. I know the children will look forward to your next visit and so will I."

The Doctor smiled at that and gave her a hug. Sarah Jane felt her eyes mist over as she hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.

"Take care, Doctor," she whispered in his ear.

"You too, Sarah," he whispered back.

She touched his cheek one more time, waved to the others and stepped back as the Doctor went inside and closed the door behind him.

He then flew the TARDIS to Torchwood in Cardiff. He landed inside The Hub much to Gwen and Rhys's surprise. Gwen flew into Jack's arms when he stepped out with Mickey and Martha.

"Don't ever do that again!" Gwen said when she stepped back. "We were worried sick about you."

"I know but I had to get away for awhile to think things over. And I've decided to come back to the team and I've brought Mickey and Martha with me."

The Doctor and the others watched while Gwen embraced Martha and Mickey and Rhys told Jack how nice it was to have him back. Jack nodded at that and then looked at the Doctor.

"I also don't want you to be a stranger, you're welcome here anytime," Jack said.

"Yeah, please come and visit us," Martha said.

"Maybe we can even work together again," Mickey added.

"I'd love that," the Doctor said.

Everyone hugged one another and as before, the Torchwood team stepped back and watched while the TARDIS dematerialized and vanished.

"Right!" the Doctor said to his companions as he took the TARDIS into the vortex. No Diablon to chase for once so…what should we do?"

"Find something else to do?" Rose asked.

"Take a holiday," Jeremy replied.

"Ugh! A holiday?" the Doctor said, making a face.

"Yes, the Caribbean would be nice," Amy said.

"The Bahamas are nice. We went there to film Help, you know," Paul added.

"You people are wimps! A beach?" the Doctor said, feigning exasperation. "I thought we'd go slay a dragon or find buried treasure or save a town from a fiery volcano, that sort of thing. You wanna quit on me now?"

"Actually, the beach sounds nice," Bill said. "I bet Michelle's never seen one."

"Yeah! Michelle needs to see the beach," Amy said.

"So take us to the beach so we can show Michelle the beach," Rory added.

The Doctor burst out laughing.

"Alright, we'll go to the beach…for half a day and then it's off for more adventure. So everyone go change into your cozzies, Bahamas, here we come."

Everyone cheered and the Doctor smiled as his companions hurried out of the room. Once they were gone, he looked up at the ceiling.

"Actually, the beach does sound nice," he said. "So, Old Girl, take us to the most magnificent one you can find…but make sure you find a bit of danger too so it doesn't get too boring."

The TARDIS rumbled out laughter, nudged his mind and the rotor oscillated faster as she flew them to the destination she picked out.

THE END.

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