THE GALLIFREY CHRONICLES, A NEW WAR

A/N Chapter 10 now up Beta read by Forestwater. Please review.

Disclaimer. I am working on owning Doctor who.


Gander was sitting in his office when a piercing scream was heard in his mind. It was Emmaline, he was sure of it. He could sense when she was in danger, as well as he could his own children. He ran from the office, knowing she was back on Gallifrey. As he reached the area where the TARDISes were kept, he spotted the President standing outside with an icy expression. "Where is Emmaline?" Gander demanded.

"Am I that creature's keeper?" he asked. Gander pushed past and rushed through the door

Emmaline lay on the ground. Her eyes were shut like she was asleep, but she had marks around her neck. He knelt down before her. "Emmaline, sweetie?" he whispered, but she didn't respond. He lifted her into his arms and carried her out to the medical bay, where Romana and the Doctor were glaring at each other.

"Safe, is she?" spat Romana as Gander entered.

"I . . ." But the Doctor had no words; he tried to make his way towards his daughter but Romana blocked him. "Why don't you go find your son? After all, he did this to her and you know it! He is nothing but an extremely powerful bully, and it's your fault. Will you admit it?" She glanced at the Doctor, whose expression was stony. "I thought not," she murmured. "Like father, like son."

"Romana."

"Save it. I don't want to hear any more." Turning away from him, she made her way towards the bed. "Is she okay?" she asked gently.

"Unconscious, but alive," Gander replied, but he was lost in thought. If the President was not trying to kill her her, he was terrifying her. He could feel her fear even through her sleep, and it made his entire body cold. Why did he have a strong psychic bond with her? These kind of bonds were only with a father and child.

"Gander, what happened?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"The President. He tried to strangle her. It would explain the marks around her neck."

Her fingers traced the line of her daughter's collarbone. It was sticking out far more than it should have. "What have I done? What kind of mother am I?" She remembered being too busy for her daughter, that she had dumped her on Gander and his family too many times to count. She had never meant to neglect her own child but it had been hard, juggling a presidency and a baby alone, especially since the high council seemed to want to throw rocks at her for every decision she made.

Gander looked at Romana "You aren't. You did your best. It's not easy having a family life when you have to deal with the whole of Gallifrey, and it leaves very little time for anything else." His words were kind but she felt she didn't deserve his kindness.

"Emmaline should have come first," said Romana. "I didn't protect her, Gander. I damaged her."

"Romana, we were like her family and even we failed her in the end."

"I wish I could have done more to protect her."

Gander put a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "It's all right, but she needs you now." Romana simply nodded.

Emmaline stirred, mumbling.

"It's okay. You are safe," Gander whispered. "I'm so sorry I didn't protect you."

"What happened?" she struggled to say.

"Don't try and talk." He spoke softly, though deep down he was furious. Emmaline, sensing the anger in him, whimpered as fear overtook her. She attempted to climb off the bed to go to Romana and tumbled, crashing to the ground. "Stay away from me," she whispered as she backed herself into the corner.

"Emmaline, it's all right," Romana said, shocked. "Gander isn't going to hurt you."

"Emmaline, sweetheart, it's me. I'm sorry if you sensed what was in my mind, but I would never hurt you. I promise." Emmaline started to cry; she didnt know what was real anymore. Was the stuff with Jack real? Did she just imagine he kissed her? And what about Gallifrey - was the Time War real? Did she kill the former President? Had he done all those things to her? She didnt know. It all felt real to her. Emmaline looked up at him, his kind eyes showing only love and concern, and allowed him to wrap his arms around her like he had when she was a little girl, when she had always felt safe. "I love you, Emmaline."

"Daddy," she whispered.

"Oh Emmaline, I'm so sorry." It hurt both his hearts to see her so broken and confused. "I love you, and nothing will change that."

"What if I had done something terrible?" she whispered.

"It wouldn't changed anything," Gander said, holding her tightly. She was still so much a child.

As the memories flooded through Emmaline's mind - of Rassilion's death, the blood on her hands, and the gun she held - it felt like she was watching someone else. Yet the images were all hers.

"What is it that's so terrible that you think I would not love you any more?" asked Gander gently.

"I don't want -" she started to say. "I, um . . ." She forced herself to remember that terrible night, and every time she wouldn't do what he told her to.

He would punish her with the rod of Rassilion, and she cried for anyone to save her. Nobody came.

Her standing there as Rassilion lay on the ground, the gun in her hand and blood on her clothes. His blood.

Deep anguish filled her, and she started to sob. "I killed him," she blubbered. "I killed Rassilion," She buried herself in Gander's arms and cried.

"It's okay, it's okay," he whispered, as though he didn't realize what she'd said. But his voice was drowned out by another:

"You are just as evil as Rassilion. You deserve death."

Her eyes widened with fear. She clutched her head, the voice sounding louder. "Stop it!" she shrieked, as she tried break free of Gander.

"Shhh," he whispered. "You are safe."

She gasped, seeing herself with the blood on her, the gun in her hands. "I killed him! I killed the Lord president!" Her voice was barely a whisper. "I've still got his blood on my hands even now."

Gander shook his head. "No, this is not you."

"I did it. I killed him."

As Romana watched Gander with her daughter, it struck her that she had destroyed her own child. But something else it was so clear to Romana, that Gander would never hurt Emmaline or let her down. He would never yell at her or be too busy for her. He would always be there for her. She couldn't say that about the Doctor, who had let Romana down so many times. And he could do that to her, but not to their daughter. She would not allow her to feel that disapointment in her life, or feel the despair Romana had felt.

Gander had always been her father, and always would be. The Doctor was nothing.


Author note Please review even if you hate it. I really want to improve and it will help me.

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