Responsible (Doctor Who ficlet)

[jadesfire]

This story is part of my multi-fandom Halloween costume for karaokegirl's Come as you aren't party, being held all this week. The index of stories can be found here

Title: Responsible
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters or Pairing: Tenth Doctor
Rating/warnings/spoilers: G/none/Last of the Time Lords
Word Count: ~180

Summary: This is his responsibility.



Responsible

But your love alone won't save the world
You knew the secret of the universe
Despite it all you made it worse
It left you lonely it left you cursed

The Doctor wouldn't let Jack and Martha come with him, not for this. This is his responsibility. It's always been his responsibility. He's carried it all, always, because there was no one else willing to. Do not interfere is all well and good as long as everyone else in the galaxy agrees to do the same.. If not, then someone has to be willing to act, and interfere right back at them. It's been his burden, his duty and his constant concern. It's also, at times, been fun.

Now, the responsibility has never been heavier, as he watches the flames rise into the night sky. He'd said he'd take the burden, that he'd help any way that he could. And somehow, it just wasn't enough.

He stands there as the flames rise then fade, burning steadily and surely. All things come to ashes in the end, no one knows that better than him. But he'd hoped not to be here, hoped that this would never be his decision to make, because being here is watching Gallifrey burn, all over again.

Comments

[gallifaerie.livejournal.com]

Very good hallowe'en fic. I really like the last line especially the last part.

Basically, just great as always!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

It's been his burden, his duty and his constant concern. It's also, at times, been fun.

Yes. Very much yes. And oh, that last sentence. Just perfect.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

It's been his burden, his duty and his constant concern. It's also, at times, been fun.

yep, that Ten!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* Thanks!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Those were definitely my favourite lines - sometimes these things just jump out at you :)

Thanks!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* Definitely!

Thanks :)

[unfeathered]

Very nice bit of angst! *g*

I like the way you brought in the way he keeps going on about things being his responsibility. And this all feels very much like it could be what he's thinking in that scene by the bonfire. Love the last line.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*g* While trying to plough through this lot, I remembered why I don't write angst...

The whole 'he's my responsibility' thing came up so much in SoD/LoTL that it just seemed to work.

Glad you liked - thanks!

[eumenidis.livejournal.com]

Concise portrayal of the brutal realities of the role the Doctor has chosen to play, his reasons for assuming it, & its cost to him. Quite haunting.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thank you!

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Gah! You're making me want to hug all these characters, which just goes to show how well you've done these ficlets. That last line is just gorgeous.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Thanks - it wasn't a particularly pleasant experience, writing this far out of the comfort zone, but it's been kind of satisfying.

Glad you liked :)

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

*cries over the Master* and oh that is so the Doctor, the burden all the time. Lovely

[eumenidis.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, but perhaps I should be thanking you. When I said it was haunting, I meant it: I kept thinking about it the rest of the evening. "Responsible" perfectly captures the Doctor & his dilemma, ie, the necessity of performing brutal acts & his realistic fear of becoming what he loathes by doing so. Those glimpses we've seen in the series of just how cruel & vicious he *has* become have scared me more than any of his enemies ever could.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Do not interfere is all well and good as long as everyone else in the galaxy agrees to do the same.. If not, then someone has to be willing to act, and interfere right back at them. It's been his burden, his duty and his constant concern. It's also, at times, been fun.

I really love this description of the Doctor. When I started going back and watching classic and trying to reconcile all the different Doctors, that was what I saw.

Also reminds me (oww) how much Ten is still carrying, maybe more than ever, now.

Those lyrics from the song are incredibly apt!

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

I can see the Doctor thinking this - you've really caught his voice. Lovely.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

This one had me sniffing a bit too!

Thanks :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

This was definitely one where I read the lyrics and knew instantly what I was going to write. It hurt to get it down, but it just seemed to work, somehow.

Thanks.

[sunnyrea.livejournal.com]

Isn't it great when your own story makes you sniffle? :-)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I sometimes struggle for the Doctor's voice, but this came through so clearly. Glad it worked :)

[szm.livejournal.com]

Poor Doctor! Now I have to kick myself because I never thought of it like that.

[nightrider101.livejournal.com]

Wow. I loved this. :) Painful and beautifully written. You captured so much about what being the Doctor means. Sometimes I think he gets the short end of the stick, if you know what I mean... ;)

[fandom-me.livejournal.com]

Wow. Awesome, awesome, job on the Doctor there. Just fantastic (and painful) insight.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The last line only came to me when I got there, but it wouldn't go away when I did!

Thanks :)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

He definitely has a rough time. Thank you so much!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The Doctor worries me to write, so yay! Thank you :)

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Waaaaaaahhhhh. Poor Doctor. So sad. (Pssst-I bet Jack would be more than happy to offer some comfort.)
Come share chocolate with me.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*Offers tissues*

Thanks! And yes, I'm sure Jack would...

*munches chocolate* ta :)

[laurab1.livejournal.com]

Oh, Ten :(

Sad, but perfect.