Title: Crash Into Me
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG
Table: 50ficlets
Prompt: 45, Crash
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.

***

The Doctor curled up on the couch in the library of the Tardis, tucking his long legs up under him and reaching for the book he'd been reading. There was a small smile hovering on his lips, and contentment in his hearts.

John was still sleeping; he knew that his lover would be able to find him when he awakened, though. The longer they were together, the more they seemed to be connected, especially when they were here on the ship.

Maybe some would find it strange that they'd bonded in the way they had, but he didn't. To him, it seemed natural -- even inevitable.

It made perfect sense to him that he and John should have become one in the way they had. After all, this man was literally a part of him -- even with the differences, John still had his mind, his memories, and so many of his own emotions.

The book lay open on his lap, but he didn't look down at it; instead, he idly leafed through the pages, smiling as he thought of his lover. So much had happened in the time that they'd been together, so much that had changed his life forever.

Since John had crashed into his life, everything had been turned upside-down. He'd never thought of the possibly of recreating himself, especially not in the way that John had come into being; it was still something that he didn't quite fathom.

But he wasn't going to question it. Obviously, this man was meant to be -- and in his eyes, John was also meant to be with him.

After all, who better for the two of them to be with than the one other being in the universe who knew them intimately, right down to their shared memories? There couldn't be a more perfect match for him, in terms of someone who could understand what his life was like.

Others could argue with that reasoning all they wanted to. He would always firmly believe that John was meant to be here, and that he'd done the right thing in bringing his clone with him. Neither of them would have been happy with anything else.

He'd always have wondered if John was happy, if he was getting along all right and learning how to be human. He might not be able to show him how to live as a human, but he could give the other man so much more than that.

John had the memories of a Time Lord -- for all intents and purposes, he was a Time Lord, trapped in a human body. He didn't need to learn how to be a human, to make himself less than what he was. He needed to be comfortable and happy.

The Doctor was absolutely positive that this was the best place for him to be. If John was unhappy, he'd say something. He wouldn't keep quiet about it.

Or he would sense it, the Doctor mused, the thought striking him with a force he hadn't expected. He had grown so used to being telepathic that he hadn't realized his bond with John was more of an empathic one.

That was a gift he'd never had before, not with anyone, and he couldn't help feeling somewhat excited about it. There had never been another person in his life who he could reach out to in that, whose emotional state he could literally feel.

But of course, that was because there had never been anyone in his life as close to him as John was. There had never been anyone else who was literally a part of him who had been so close to him in the way that John was.

That in itself was exciting for him, just having someone by his side who he bonded with. It was so different from his companions, from merely having friends.

Though everything about his relationship with John was different from anything he'd ever had before, he told himself, smiling again. There had never been anyone so close to him, never anyone who knew him as intimately as John did, in every way.

He'd like to say that theirs was the perfect relationship, though that might not always be true. They hadn't had any little skirmishes yet, but he was sure that they were on their way. No couple could be together indefinitely and not have a few battles here and there.

They'd work them out, he promised himself, clasping his hands in his lap. Ever since John had come crashing into his life, he'd been more aware of the fact that he had to make compromises. And he was determined to make John happy.

After all, this man made him happier than he'd ever been. And he felt that he owed it to his lover to return that, in any way he could.

John would never regret crashing into him, the Doctor thought fondly, conjuring an image of his lover to his mind. And he himself could never regret having this man in his life. Their start might have been a bit rocky, but they were already far past that.

They would continue to grow closer, he was sure. Even though they didn't have the forever that he craved, they had now, the present that they were living in. And he meant to make the most of every moment of that time.

***