Title: A Different Feeling
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 6, 50ficlets
Prompt: 39, Feel
Author's Note: Continuation of Unexpected Miracle.
Author's Note: The inspiration for this story arc was provided by the lovely fortisgreen. The muses and I all thank her for suggesting a storyline and letting us run with it!
Warnings: Character death.
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 looked down at Jamie anxiously as the other man stirred slightly; he was glad that he had decided to carry his lover into the bedroom, as he didn't want Jamie waking up on a cold floor, even with the Doctor's loving arms supporting him.

It would be enough of a shock for him to wake up feeling differently than he had when he had last been in a conscious state -- at least, the Doctor thought that he would feel different. How could he not? He was no longer human, but a full-fledged Time Lord.

What would it feel like for him to wake up in a Time Lord body that finally matched his mind? Would he feel more invigorated, more powerful? Or would he feel the same as he had when he was a human, the different body that he'd been given not affecting him all at once?

The Doctor had no answers to those questions; he could only hope that the transition from human to Time Lord wouldn't be too much for his lover to deal with. As much as Jamie had wanted this change, he couldn't help feeling that it would come with its own share of problems.

It could be difficult to face any changes in one's life; the Doctor was all too aware of that. Hadn't his own body changed enough times for him to know just how hard it could be to settle into a new one? He didn't want Jamie to have problems adjusting to those differences.

He probably wouldn't, the Doctor told himself, trying to assuage his worries. Jamie wanted this change; he wanted to be a Time Lord. If there were any difficulties in adjusting to his new state of being, he would probably consider them a small price to pay.

This was what Jamie had wanted for so long, more than anything in the world. The only thing that the Doctor was sure his lover wanted more than being a Time Lord was to be here with him -- and that part of his heart's desire had already been achieved.

Would this change their relationship at all? The Doctor couldn't help but wonder about that; he didn't want to think that he would treat Jamie any differently, but maybe he would. Maybe there would be some small differences that he himself would barely notice.

His feelings for Jamie wouldn't change at all; he was sure of that. If anything, he would love this man even more because of how close they had come to losing each other; it was only through the intervention of his ship that Jamie was still here, alive in his arms.

"Thank you," he whispered, looking around their bedroom at the softly glowing walls of the Tardis. "Thank you for giving him back to me." His words were barely audible, but he knew that the Tardis could feel them through the bond they shared; they came from the depths of his hearts.

There wasn't an answer, of course, but the Doctor could swear that he felt a surging in the ship, a feeling of warmth that seemed to wrap around him and hold him close. He was sure that feeling was meant to include Jamie, as well; after all, Jamie was a part of him.

And even more so now, wasn't he? The Doctor wasn't absolutely positive of how his lover had undergone such a miraculous transformation, but he surmised that part of his own Time Lord essence had somehow transferred to Jamie, melding with the other man's Time Lord brain.

Jamie stirred slightly in his arms, returning his full attention to his lover. He watched anxiously for any sign of pain on the other man's face, but there was none; only those incredibly long lashes fluttering, then those dark eyes opening to stare up at him.

"How are you feeling, love?" he asked softly, smoothing Jamie's hair back from his face as his own dark eyes searched his lover's face. "You've been through a very rough time in the past little while. But you might think that it was all worthwhile in the end."

"What are you talking about?" Jamie asked, looking puzzled as he struggled to sit up. The Doctor gently but firmly pushed him back down against the pillows, smiling as he placed his hand on Jamie's chest and felt the two heartbeats there -- the proof that he was indeed now a Time Lord.

"You may want to lay back and just listen to me, sweetheart," he said softly, wondering how he was going to launch into telling Jamie what had taken place. "It's going to seem a bit unbelievable at first, but I swear it's true. Just -- bear with me, and keep an open mind."

***

Next story in series - Back From Beyond.