Title: Bring Danger
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG
Table: slash_me_twice
Prompt: 8, Danger
Author's Note: The human version of the Doctor is being referred to as John Smith in this fic, since it's the Doctor's human alias and his clone needed a name.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Journey's End, somewhat. This is an completely alternate take on the ending of Season Four.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor, or his human clone. Please do not sue.

***

"What do you mean, I can't go with you?" John's voice was raised as he followed the Doctor through the corridor of the Tardis to the control room, his words bouncing off the walls around them. "You can't go out there by yourself!"

The Doctor reached the control room, turning to face John as his lover exited the corridor only a few feet behind him. "John, it's safer for you if I go alone. The last thing I want to do is put you in any danger. I'm not going to risk losing you."

John scowled, shrugging his shoulders and placing both hand on his slender hips. "Just because John Hart managed to get lucky enough to grab me once doesn't mean that he's waiting around every corner! You're being silly."

"Am I?" The Doctor didn't look angry; he merely raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the console. "Is it silly to want to keep the man I love out of harm's way and protect him from danger? I don't think so."

John sighed, shaking his head and mirroring the Doctor's movement by crossing his own arms. "If that's how you're going to be, then we can stand here and argue all day. I'm not going to let you go out there by yourself. You could be walking into a trap."

"All the more reason for me to go by myself!" the Doctor shot back at him, before sighing and looking down. "John -- please understand. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you. I'd rather risk myself than take the chance of you being hurt."

Now it was John's turn to sigh. "Doctor -- you forget that I have all of your memories. It's not like I've never been in the sort of danger that you may be exposing yourself to. I remember everything that you've done. It's all in my head."

"I know, but ...." The Doctor swallowed hard, his voice softening when he spoke again. "Just because you remember the experiences doesn't mean that you'll know how to get out of a bad situation. You were hesitant about what to do when you dealt with the Daleks."

John looked down at the floor, scuffling one foot across the metal. "I probably didn't do the right thing then," he admitted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "But I did what I thought was best. I did the only thing I felt that I could do. I didn't have much choice."

"No, you didn't." The Doctor's voice was still soft, his tone gentle. He crossed the few feet of space between to stand in front of John, taking the other man's hands in his own. "I don't blame you for that. None of it was your fault."

"Talking about that doesn't solve our immediate problem," John murmured, finally looking up, his gaze meeting the Doctor's squarely. "I'm not going to let you leave me behind just because you're afraid for me, Doctor. You need someone with you."

"But I don't want to risk you," the Doctor whispered, the words coming out around a lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. "It was terrifying enough to know that I could have lost you when John Hart took you from me. I won't risk that happening again."

"What do you want me to do, Doctor? Sit here in the Tardis while I know you're out there, possibly in danger, and do nothing to help you? I can't do that." John shook his head, a stubborn look settling onto his features. "If you walk out of this ship, I'll follow you."

The Doctor looked startled at those words, then rueful. He shook his head, holding up both hands in a gesture of surrender. "I believe you would, at that. It's exactly what I would do if someone told me that I couldn't do something I wanted to do."

"I'm more like you than you might think," John said softly, sliding his arms around the Doctor's waist. "I'm part of you, Doctor. I not only have all your memories -- but I have your traits. I am you, in so many ways. There's no denying that."

The Doctor sighed again, his own arms wrapping around John's waist to pull the other man close to him. "I suppose there's no stopping you if you're going to insist on coming with me," he finally said, his arms tightening around John. "But I don't want you to, you know."

"What's that old Rolling Stones song? 'You Can't Always Get What You Want.' I'd say that applies to this situation," John told him, raising one hand to place it against the Doctor's cheek. "I understand that you want to keep me out of danger. But you can't protect me all the time."

"And what do I tell myself if something happens to you?" the Doctor whispered, his voice trembling. "You aren't just any companion, John. You're the man I love. I'm not willing to risk your life. I might be overly cautious, but I have a right to be."

"Doctor, you can't wrap me in cotton wool and expect to keep me safe," John sighed, wishing that he could put what he wanted to say into words. "Would you have told any of your other companions that it was too dangerous to go with you?"

The Doctor nodded, a frown crossing his features. "I've told several of my companions that, on more different occasions than I can remember. But as I've said, you're not just a companion. You're my life, John. My lover. So much more than anyone else has ever been."

"I know you see me as being different from them," John said softly, taking the Doctor's face between his hands and looking into his eyes. "But you have to give me that choice, Doctor. You can't make it for me."

The Doctor's hands were over John's, his eyes closing as he swallowed, struggling to hold back tears. After what seemed like a very long time, he nodded, but he didn't let go of John's hands, as though he was afraid to relinquish that touch.

"I don't want to lead you into danger, love," he whispered, the words coming out on a sob. "Or bring danger to you. But you're right. I can't keep you protected, not if I expect you to spend your life with me. I have to give you the choice of what you want to do."

"My choice is to come with you," John told him, keeping his voice soft and gentle. "I know you're afraid of losing me, Doctor -- but I'm just as afraid of losing you, you know. You're my whole life. Without you, I wouldn't even exist. I don't want to lose you."

"You aren't going to lose me." The Doctor looked startled at his words, as if he couldn't comprehend that anything could possibly happen to him. "I can take care of myself, John. You don't have to worry about me. I'm used to being on my own."

"But it's better for you to have someone watching your back," John said, his voice matter-of-fact. "And I'm not going to let you go out there alone. This is my choice to make. I'm not just your love, I'm your companion -- and we're a team."

The Doctor nodded reluctantly, looking towards the door of the Tardis. "Stay close to me, John. And if it starts to look dangerous -- I want you to get back to the Tardis. Even if you have to leave me behind. That isn't up for discussion."

"Do you really think I'd leave you behind, even with you telling me to?" John asked softly, his dark eyes meeting the Doctor's gaze again. "I never would. And you forget, I have your memories. I just might know what to do in certain situations."

The Time Lord looked startled, as though he hadn't thought of that before. After a few moments, he moved towards the door of the ship, taking John's hand in his own and twining their fingers together, making sure that his lover was right behind him.

Hand in hand, they made their way down the few steps leading to the door, opening it and stepping out into whatever might await them -- facing whatever danger there might be together.

***