Chapter Text
Damn it, I thought as I ran through the corridors, looking for Canton and Amy. We hadn't been here that long and already something had happened.
"Canton! Amy! Where are you?" I yelled.
"Up here!" Canton yelled back. I turned and ran up the stairs. Outside, the storm was still raging, the rain still pouring. I ignored the creepy writing on the walls, and the creaking of the stairs. You could tell this place had been abandoned. I was surprised it was still standing.
I found Canton outside a bedroom door, gun out and trying to push the door open. I noticed his palm flashing red.
"What happened? What was the gunshot?"
"I don't know. I heard Amy crying for help. And I shot one of the creatures." He replied, shoving his should against the door, before stepping back.
"Help me! Please, I can't…I can't see. Somebody help me!" Amy cried out.
"Amy! Amy, can you hear me? Amy, I'm going to try to blow the lock. I need you to stand back!" Canton yelled, readying his gun.
"Canton-!" I started, about to tell him that might not be the best idea.
"Okay, gun down, I've got it!" The Doctor cried, pushing past Canton and using the sonic screwdriver to open the door. River and Rory came running after him, dressed smartly but panting.
"Amy, we're here! Are you okay?" Rory cried, fear etched onto his face.
"I-I can't see!"
The door opened, and we all rushed inside. The room was dimly lit, with a small bed and a desk with photos on it. The spacesuit was there as well, lying on the floor. There was no sign of Amy anywhere.
"Where is she, Doctor?" Rory asked.
River crouched down to the spacesuit and lifted the visor. There was no-one inside it.
"It's empty."
Rory was still anxious. I was about to ask if he was alright when Amy's voice filled the room again.
"It's dark. So dark. I-I don't know where I am. Please, can anybody hear me?" She sobbed.
My eye was caught by something red flashing on the ground. Rory bent down and picked it up, holding it gently in his hands. It was Amy's Nano recorder.
"They took this out of her. How did they do that, Doctor? Why can I still hear her?" He asked, turning to the Doctor for answers.
"Is it a recording?" River questioned.
The Doctor looked stricken.
"Er, it defaults to live. This is current. Wherever she is right now, this is what she's saying."
A determined look came over Rory's face, and he turned around.
"Amy? Can you hear me? We're coming for you. Wherever you are, we're coming. I swear."
"She can't hear you. I'm so sorry, it's one way." The Doctor explained, a tone of resignation in his face. Rory whipped round to face him, fury in his eyes.
"She can always hear me, Doctor. Always. Wherever she is, she always knows that I am coming for her, do you understand me? Always."
The Doctor looked taken aback, but nodded slightly.
"Doctor?" Amy asked, sounding shaken, "Are you there? Can you hear me? Doctor?" She took a shaky breath, and my anger grew at her distress.
"Oh, god…please, Doctor. Please, just get me out of this."
Rory's face fell, and I frowned slightly.
"...He's coming. I'll bring him, I swear." He answered, looking crestfallen.
Surely he doesn't think that Amy prefers the Doctor? Surely not, I thought. But I wasn't sure. Just because Amy had asked for the Doctor didn't mean anything.
"Hello? Is somebody there?"
We all turned at the voice. It was Renfrew, still with that vacant look on his face, hovering in the doorway.
"I-I think someone has been shot. I think we should help. We co-" He cut off suddenly, looking confused.
"I...I can't re...I can't remember."
River and I exchanged a glance. The Doctor frowned.
"Lead the way." He said suddenly. We all followed Renfrew down the staircase, my unease growing. He went into his office, and we all halted.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I shivered slightly. It was like the day of the picnic all over again.
Had there been one there that day, too? Is that what Amy saw?
Being on the run for three months had meant I had barely given a thought to the Doctor's death. I was still a little in shock at the whole thing. And these creatures were involved somehow.
"Okay, who and what are you?" The Doctor asked, crouching down.
"Silence...Doctor. We are...the silence."
The Doctor froze, and the creature continued.
"And Silence will fall."
-X-
Being back in the warehouse was strange. No-one had been here since we fled three months ago – there were still boxes full of old Earth tech, and weird alien tissue on wires. In the corner, the roof was leaking, and there was a large puddle on the floor. River was examining the spacesuit, the Doctor was deep in contemplation, and Rory was looking anxious over by one of the boxes. I'd changed into some clean clothes – being in the same clothes for three months was awful - and Canton had gone back to the Doctor's 'cell' in Area 51, taking the Silent with him. The Doctor wanted the Silent fixed up, and I wondered what his plan was for him.
River was scanning the spacesuit with the alien's technology. The spacesuit was wrecked, a gaping hole in its chest.
"So, what's the spacesuit for?" I asked.
"It's an exoskeleton," River explained, "Basically, life support. There are about twenty different kinds of alien tech in here."
The Doctor frowned.
"Who was she? Why put her in there?"
And where is she now? I thought. I was glad she had escaped, but still...it would be more helpful if she had stayed.
"You put this on, you don't even need to eat. The suit processes sunlight directly. It's got built in weaponry, and a communications system that can hack into anything."
"Including the telephone network?" The Doctor asked.
"Easily."
"But why phone the President?"
"It defaults to the highest authority it can find. The little girl gets frightened, the most powerful man on Earth gets a phone call; the night terrors with a hotline to the white house."
The Doctor nodded, before reaching into his pocket and taking out his blue envelope. River and I watched as he peered at it, sniffed it, and then licked it. I didn't know he still had it, but it didn't surprise me in the least. I scoffed, whilst River raised an eyebrow.
"You won't find out anything from that envelope, you know." She pointed out.
"Purchased on Earth – perfectly ordinary blue stationary. Tardis blue. Summoned by a strange, who won't even show his face. That's a first for me, how about you guys?" He turned towards us expectedly.
I shrugged.
"I've seen weirder things." I pointed out. River gazed at him intently, before speaking.
"Our lives are back to front. Your future is my past, your firsts are my lasts."
"Not really what I asked."
"Ask something else then."
I resisted the urge to laugh. Most of their conversations were like this.
"What are the Silence doing, raising a child?" The Doctor asked.
"Keeping her safe, even giving her independence." River explained.
I looked over to Rory, who was still holding the nano-recorder, looking anxious. He was watching the three of us, looking like he wanted to say something. I wondered whether I should head over to him.
"The only way to save Amy is to work out what the Silence are doing." The Doctor explained, starting to pace up and down.
"I know." Rory said.
"And everything we learn about them brings us a step closer."
"Yeah, Doctor, I get it. I know." He replied sharply, and I frowned at him.
"Of course, it's possible she's not just any little girl." The Doctor pointed out.
"You mean she could be an alien?" I questioned, looking towards River.
"Well," River began, "I'd say she's human going by the life support software."
"But...?"
River looked at the both of us, before grabbing a part of the spacesuit.
"She climbed out of this suit. Like, she forced her way out. She must be incredibly strong."
The Doctor leaned over and fiddled with some of the broken machinery.
"Incredibly strong and running away; I like her." He said, grinning.
"We should be trying to find her." River pointed out.
"Yes, I know, but how? Anyway, I have the strangest feeling she's going to find us."
I was about to respond when the television suddenly came on. We all turned to it – it was showing the countdown to Apollo 11. The Doctor immediately rushed over, whilst Rory came over to us, looking at the spacesuit.
"Why does it look like a NASA spacesuit?" He asked.
"Because that's what the Silence do." The Doctor replied.
"Think about it. They don't make anything themselves, they don't have to, because they get other lifeforms to do it for them."
Rory was looking intently at the Doctor.
"So they're parasites then." River said, not looking up from her examination of the suit.
"Super parasites - standing in the shadow of human history since the very beginning. We know they can influence human behaviour anyway they want. If they've been doing this on a global scale for thousands of years…" The Doctor trailed off.
"Then what?" Rory asked.
"…Then why did the human race suddenly decide to go to the moon?" He asked.
I watched the television as the countdown began.
"Ignition sequence start, 6, 5, 4…"
"Because the Silence needed a spacesuit." The Doctor answered.
"…2, 1, 0, all engines running, liftoff, we have a liftoff, thirty two minutes past the hour. Good luck to Apollo 11."
-X-
A few minutes later, the Doctor pulled a small screen thing out of his pocket. Something beeped on it and he grinned.
"You should kill us all on sight." It was a silent! I shivered at that voice.
"What's that?" I asked. He looked up at me.
"A plan. Hopefully."
"Very reassuring." I replied. He grinned at me again, and went over to the spacesuit, where River was still examining it. He got out the envelope again, looking at it under the light. Rolling my eyes, I went over to where Rory was.
"You alright?" I asked, making him jump.
"I'm..I'm fine. I just wish the Doctor would tell us what's going on." He replied, voice surprisingly calm.
"Amy will be fine. She's strong. She's dealt with a lot. The Doctor will save her." I pointed out.
"I…I know. I just don't like sitting here while she's captured." Rory replied, looking awkward.
"Neither do I. But the Doctor has a plan. And he's right – the more we find out about the Silence and the girl, the better." I explained.
He nodded, and looked at me with concern.
"How about you?" He asked, lowering his voice, "You seemed pretty upset at the picnic, but you seem better now."
"I'm… still upset," I admitted, "But not as much. The Doctor invited us for a reason, and I want to find out what this is all about. I mean, you're not telling me that you don't think something is wrong."
Rory was about to reply when we were interrupted by the Doctor.
"Why are you here, Emilie?"
I turned around suddenly. The Doctor was still holding the small screen and the envelope, and was giving me a puzzled look, like he was trying to figure something out.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean, what connection do you have to all this? Why were you invited?" He asked, indicating the envelope.
I had expected that the Doctor would have questions about me, given that I was the only one he didn't know. But I was at a loss at how to answer.
"Well…aside from River, I don't really know the rest of you. I guess whoever sent those messages decided that I would be helpful in some way." I eventually said. It was technically true.
"I'm not saying you should be here, but it is curious that you are the only one I don't know," He frowned at me, "and you do seem relatively unfazed by all this."
"I told you, I live with Sarah Jane. I'm used to aliens, Doctor. This doesn't bother me all that much." I pointed out.
"I notice you didn't Canton these questions." River pointed out, looking up from her scanner and frowning at the Doctor.
The Doctor looked sheepish.
"Sorry. But this is a rather dangerous situation, and you're still a teenager."
"I was on the run for three months looking for creatures I couldn't remember. I could easily have gone back to Sarah Jane before all this happened. I chose to stay because I wanted to help." I explained.
The Doctor looked mildly surprised as that. Did he think I felt obligated or something?
"Okay, that's fine. Just be careful – this might not go plan, and I don't want you getting hurt."
"That statement would make more sense if any of us knew what the plan was." I said dryly. The Doctor chuckled, and the tension eased slightly.
A sound got our attention. I took a step back as I saw the spacesuits hand twitching.
"Is it meant to be moving?" I demanded. River ran her scanner over it.
"This suit…it seems to be repairing itself. How's it doing that?" She wondered out loud, peering at it. She looked to the Doctor.
"Doctor, this unit…would it ever be able to move without an occupant?"
The Doctor leaned over and frowned at it.
"Why?"
"Well…the little girl said the spaceman was coming to eat her. Maybe that's exactly what happened." River explained.
The Doctor looked extremely worried, and I went over to stand by one of the crates, mind whirling.
I saw the Doctor talking to the spacesuit that day…but if the spacesuit can move on its own that means that whoever was inside probably didn't have a choice. So whoever wanted the Doctor dead used a scapegoat…but why? And that other person I saw – what did they have to do with all this?
I was broken out of my thoughts by Amy's voice.
"I love you."
I glanced towards Rory, who was sitting a few feet away still clutching the mic. His head snapped up and he looked at in shock.
"I know you think it's him. I know you think it ought to be…him. But it's not. It's you. And when I get out of here, I'm gonna tell you properly, just to see your stupid face. My life was so boring till you just…dropped of the sky."
I winced at that. That was a poor choice of words, Amy. The Doctor had been heading towards him and hesitated at that, looking guilty. And that won't help matters either.
"So just get your stupid face over here, okay? Okay."
The Doctor crouched down beside him.
"She'll be safe for now. No point in a dead hostage."
"Very tactful, Doctor." I pointed out dryly. He looked slightly shame-faced. Rory didn't react at all, he just sat there, not looking at either of us. Clearly Amy's less than stellar choice of words had affected him. Was he that insecure?
"…Can't you save her?" He asked eventually.
The Doctor hesitated.
"I can track that signal, take us right to her."
"Then why haven't you?" Rory demanded sharply, turning towards the Doctor.
"Because then what? I find her and then what do I do? This isn't an alien invasion; they live here. This is…their empire. This is kicking the Romans out of Rome." He replied.
"…Rome fell."
I scoffed slightly.
"I know; I was there."
Rory grimaced and turned away.
"So was I." He muttered.
The Doctor frowned at Rory.
"Personal question." He finally said. Rory looked at him in disbelief.
"Seriously? You?"
The Doctor nodded. Rory shook his head slightly and turned away.
"Do you ever…remember it? Two thousand years, waiting for Amy? The Last Centurion?"
Rory didn't look at him, and I wondered whether I should say something. He swallowed, and a grim look came over his face.
"No."
Very convincing, I thought, feeling another pang of sympathy for the guy.
"You're lying."
Rory's grim look fell away briefly, and I noticed his struggle.
"Course I'm lying."
"Course you are. It's not the sort of thing anyone forgets."
"But…I don't remember it all the time." He swallowed again, "It's like there's a door in my head. I keep it shut."
Amy was sobbing again. The Doctor got up with a determined look on his face and walked over to the television. I felt rather awkward, wondering whether I ought to have listened to all that. Rory glanced towards me.
"…I'd have thought you would've had questions all through that." He said after a while.
"Why?"
"The Doctor just mentioned I lived for 2000 years. Even someone who's encountered aliens before should enquire about that."
"Not really" I lowered my voice so the Doctor wouldn't overhear "I travelled with the Doctor, remember?"
"I'm not a Time Lord."
"Rory, I know all about the Last Centurion. I know about the Pandorica, and the Doctor rebooting the Universe, and you protecting Amy."
"How?"
Because you and Amy told me about it, I thought. This whole timeline thing was complicating matters.
"I read it in the TARDIS files. And just so you know, I've met people who are centuries old before."
I left him before he could start asking more questions.
-X-
"Seriously? We're just going to land right in their lair?" I asked in disbelief.
The four of us were in the TARDIS, River having found out everything she could about the spacesuit, and the Doctor having decided to tell us his plan. He had bought the television along with him, and was leaning against it. Rory was standing next to River looking anxious yet determined.
"Exactly. We're taking the fight to them. I have a plan, and hopefully it will work."
"Hopefully?"
"I thought you said this was their planet." Rory pointed out.
"I did, but they've also influenced human history for centuries. They have to be stopped. Now, River, I want you to be ready to fire if need be. Rory, you work on helping Amy."
River smirked.
"Sure thing, sweetie."
"What about me?" I demanded.
"I thought you just said this was a ridiculous plan." Rory said.
"I never said that, I was just shocked that we are actually going into their territory." I retorted.
The Doctor seemed reluctant to answer, and he looked worried.
"Emilie, I've already said this plan could go wrong. And despite what you said earlier, you're still seventeen years old. I'm not going to put a gun in your hand and expect you to fight."
"I can help Amy without fighting." I protested. Of course I didn't want to fight, but Amy was a friend. And she was pregnant as well. That was something I kept forgetting.
"She can help me free Amy." Rory interjected, and we all looked at him. He shrugged.
"Emilie had a point earlier – she could easily have opted out, or asked to go back home, and if it all goes south I'll make sure she gets to the TARDIS. No one said anything about weapons."
The Doctor still looked uncertain, but eventually nodded, sighing.
"Alright, Emilie, but if it goes wrong, you get straight back in here, understand?"
"I will." Hopefully nothing would go wrong. Mainly because I would probably try and help.
The Doctor went over to the console and tapped a few buttons. I went over to Rory, who had a look of grim determination on his face.
"Thanks. For persuading him." I said. Rory gave me a half smile.
"It was nothing, really." He lowered his voice, "For starters, you're a companion too, which means you have a lot of courage and can deal with it – most teenagers probably would have run. I know I would've."
"Not if Amy was in danger. Don't underestimate yourself, Rory. You spent two millennia protecting her, and she'll be glad to see you."
Something like hurt flickered in his eyes, and the half-smile was gone.
"I'm not sure about that."
"You are kidding, right?"
"Why would I be kidding?"
"Aside from the fact that she's your wife?"
"You heard what she said, Emilie."
I suppressed a sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"Rory, she loves you. You honestly think Amelia Pond, one of the most forthright people I know, would let you live a lie? Seriously?" This was ridiculous. Had he always been this insecure? Did he think he was unworthy or something?
Rory blinked, and I could see that he was considering what I'd said.
"…What do you mean, you know her?"
Damn. This was one of the problems of time travel. I was tempted to say from the future…but that would lead to loads of questions and I wasn't' about to mess things up.
"…I have technically known her for three months. I just got the impression that she says what she thinks."
Rory just looked at me for a moment, and I wondered whether he believed me. Then he nodded slightly.
"She's determined, I'll give you that. But she did run off two days before our wedding to go travelling through time and space."
I could see how that might have affected things, though I'd assumed that Rory had gotten over that. Evidently not. I was about to reply when the Doctor's voice broke through the quiet.
"What are you two whispering about over there?"
I looked towards him. The Doctor was frowning at us.
"None of your business. Shouldn't you be landing about now?" I asked.
"In a few seconds. And I was only asking."
"We were discussing the plan, if you must know." I lied.
"Well…good. And we should be landing about…now!"
The TARDIS landed with a thrum, and the Doctor immediately rushed over to the door and peeked his head out.
"Ah, interesting."
We all followed him, and again the hairs on the back of my neck rose up. I hated that feeling, and I immediately resolved not to look at the creatures. We stepped out into a dark warehouse, with only a couple lights and a glowing console of some sort. Amy was alive and strapped to a board, looking very pleased to see us.
"Very Aickman road, seen one of these before. Abandoned; wonder how that happened? Oh well, I supposed I'm about to find out. Rory, River, keep one silent in eyeshot at all times"
River had her gun out and was aiming at one of the creatures. The Doctor turned around and started.
"Oh, hello. Sorry, you were in the middle of something. I just had to say, though, have you seen what's on the telly?" He picked up the TV and walked over to where Amy was.
"Oh, hello, Amy, you alright? Want to watch some television?"
I scoffed at that, and me and Rory hurried over to Amy. There was a horrible rattling sound that sent shivers up my arm – the silents. I always hated that noise.
"Ah! Now stay where you are." I looked up and saw the Doctor glaring.
"Because look at me, I'm confident. You wanna watch that, me when I'm confident. Oh, and this is my friend River." River immediately went over to him, keeping her gun aimed. " Nice hair, clever, has her own gun, and unlike me, she doesn't really mind shooting people. I shouldn't like that, kind of do, a bit."
"Thank you, sweetie."
"I know you're team players and everything, but she'll definitely kill at least the first three of you."
"Well, the first seven easily."
"Seven, really?"
"Oh, eight for you, honey."
"Stop it."
"Make me."
"Yeah? Well, maybe I will."
"Is this really important, flirting? Because I feel like I should be higher on the list right now." Amy interjected.
I turned back to her and tugged at the straps. They didn't give, and I cursed slightly.
"Yes, right, sorry, as I was saying, my naughty friend here will kill at least the first three of you, plus him behind, so maybe you want to draw lots and have a quiz."
Rory wasn't having much success either, and he grimaced.
"What's he got?" Amy whispered.
"Something, I hope." Rory replied. Amy did not look reassured.
"Or maybe you could just listen a minute. Because all I really want to do is accept your total surrender and then I'll let you go in peace" The Doctor explained, walking around the console. He went up to one of the silents.
"Yes, you've been interfering in human history for thousands of years. Yes, people have suffered and died, but what's the point in two hearts if you can't be a bit forgiving now and then?" He didn't get an answer and he smirked slightly.
"Ooh, the Silence. You guys take that seriously, don't you? Okay, you got me, I'm lying; I'm not going to let you off that easy. Nice thought, but its not Christmas. First, you tell me about the girl. Who was she? Why is she important? What is she for?"
Clearly he was stalling for time. I frowned slightly and wondered what he was up to.
A voice came through on the TV and I turned my attention to it.
"And we're getting a picture on the TV…"
"Guys…sorry, but you're way outta time. Now, come on. A bit of history for you." He went over to the TV and lengthened the antennae. "Aren't you proud? Because you helped." He gestured to the screen, and I saw Apollo 11 was about to land.
"Do you know how many people are watching this right now? Half a billion, and that's nothing because the human race will spread out among the stars. You just watch them fly. Billions and billions of them, for billions and billions of years, and every single one of them, at some point in their lives, will look back at this man, taking that very first step, and they will never, ever, forget it."
We all watched the TV as the moon landing unfolded. I had seen this loads of times over the years, but I never got bored of it.
"Oh…" The Doctor took out his phone, "but they'll forget this." He spoke into the phone. "Ready?"
"Ready." Canton's voice came through.
"That's one small step for man…"
I turned back to Amy just as I heard the TV crackle and the voice I'd heard on the Doctor's device came through.
"You should kill us all on sight."
The Silence, the one that Canton had shot…suddenly I realised what the Doctor's plan was. The voice kept looping and the Doctor was looking very determined.
"You've given the order for your own execution, and the whole planet just heard you."
The moon landing resumed.
"One giant leap for mankind."
"And one whacking great kick up the backside for the Silence! You just raised an army against yourselves. And now for a thousand generations, you're going to be ordering them to destroy you every day! " The Doctor exclaimed triumphantly, and I grinned.
That was absolutely genius.
The lights started to flicker and Rory and I look up anxiously as the wires started to spark.
"How fast can you run, because today's the day the human race thrown you off their planet!" The Doctor suddenly backed up a bit. "They won't even know they're doing it. I think, quite possibly, the word you're looking for is 'Oops' Run!"
The electricity flickered even more.
"Guys, I mean us. RUN!"
There was a horrible rattling sound and I yelped as something like lightning struck above us. I focused my attention on Amy as I saw River whirling around and firing at the creatures.
"Doctor, I can't get her out!" Rory cried in despair.
"Go, both of you, just go!" Amy insisted, looking panicked.
"No way!" I protested.
"We are not leaving without you!" Rory added.
"Oh, will you just get your stupid face out of here?"
Rory froze and his head snapped up as he looked at Amy in shock. Amy frowned at him in confusion, and I held back a grin. Rory really could be an idiot sometimes.
"Right, into the TARDIS quickly!" River yelled. More sparks fell, and the Doctor came running up. The sonic whirred and the snaps came free with a click. He grinned at us before going to back to River.
"Let's go, quick!" I said, helping Amy up. A chunk of pipe fell to my left and I winced. The three of us rushed into the TARDIS and shut the door.
"Amy, are you alright?" I asked. She seemed fine, but I still had to ask.
"Fine, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Rory was looking at her, concern etched on his face.
"Positive."
Rory nodded and turned to me.
"I thought you were meant to go straight back here." He said, crossing his arms and looking at me slightly disapprovingly.
"Only if things went badly, and I do believe we just scored a victory." Rory gave me a pointed look and I sighed.
"Alright, so I wouldn't have left you if things had gone badly, okay? I'm not going to let my friends die just to save myself."
"Well thanks," Amy said, "but…you've only known us a few months."
"So?" I'd known them for longer, but that wasn't the point. "Even if you were complete strangers, I don't leave anyone behind."
"She just helped save my life, Rory." Amy pointed out, and Rory nodded.
"I know."
The Doctor suddenly burst in, and through the door, I caught a glimpse of River still firing, sparks and bolts flying everywhere.
"She insulted my screwdriver!" He cried indignantly, before rushing up to the console. I followed him, leaving Amy and Rory to talk. He ran around, flipping switches and pushing buttons.
"That was a good plans of yours." I complimented, and he looked at me, grinning.
"Glad you think so. I had to explain how to use a phone to Canton, but he did a great job." He peered at the screen before turning his attention back to me.
"You stayed."
"Only until Amy was fre-I've had this conversation." I said in exasperation. "You just defeated the enemy, the plan worked fine, so I don't see what the problem is."
"I wasn't criticising, Emilie." I raised an eyebrow and he grinned again. "In any case, I expected you wouldn't listen."
"Thanks." I replied dryly.
"I'm well aware that teenagers can be stubborn." The Doctor explained, and he gave me a look. "I just don't want you doing anything reckless and I don't care how many aliens you've fought with Sarah Jane, I still want you to be careful."
He sounded very concerned and I wondered if he was thinking about past companions.
"I'll be careful, Doctor." I said. Recklessness was not really in my nature anyway.
River then entered, and ran up to the console, pushing the Doctor out of the way.
"You can let me drive!"
"Or we could go where we're supposed too." River retorted.
"Are we heading back to the White House?" I asked.
"Yes. We can tell Canton and Nixon the good news." The Doctor replied.
"What, him?" I heard Amy asked incredulously, and I looked over at the Ponds. Rory looked sheepish and muttered something in reply.
"It's a figure of speech, moron."
I laughed, and leaned against the banister.
"I told you so!" I said, grinning.
"Hey, that's harsh." Rory grumbled. Amy smiled, before pulling Rory into a kiss. I grimaced and turned away.
"Gross."
"That's very immature." The Doctor reprimanded.
"Yeah, cos that's not you at all."
-X-
We landed in the Oval Office soon after, and Nixon was shaking the Doctor's hand rigorously. Canton was next to them, looking amused.
"So, we're safe again."
"Safe? No, of course you're not safe. There's a billion other things out there, waiting to burn your whole world. But if you want to pretend you're safe, just so you can sleep at night, okay, you're safe. But you're not really."
I nearly burst out laughing at the expression on Nixon's face. Canton also seemed to be struggling as well, judging by the way his eyes were dancing.
"Canton. Till the next one, eh?" The Doctor said to him, shaking his hand as well.
"Looking forward to it."
"Bye, Canton." I added, also shaking his hand. He nodded.
"Take care of yourself, kid."
"You too."
"Canton here just wants to get married." The Doctor explained to Nixon, "Helluva reason to kick him out of the FBI."
"I'm sure something can be arranged."
"Good, I'm counting on you."
The rest of us made to leave, before Nixon spoke again.
"Er, Doctor…Canton here tells me you're…from the future. Hardly seems possible, but I was wondering…"
"I should warn you, I don't answer a lot of questions." The Doctor said.
"But I'm a President at the beginning of his time. Dare I ask…will I be remembered?" Nixon asked.
I did snort then and Canton gave me a puzzled look.
"Oh, Dickie. Tricky Dickie…they are never going to forget you." He turned towards the TARDIS.
"Say hi to David Frost for me."
"David Frost…?" Nixon suddenly looked very anxious, and I grinned at them before going into the TARDIS.
"Did you see the look on his face?!"
"You're very easily amused…but it was funny." Amy agreed.
"Right, where next?" The Doctor asked.
"I should be getting back to Stormcage." River replied, and the Doctor whirled towards her.
"…Yes, I supposed so." He eventually answered. He sounded weary.
"Do you have to?" I protested, going up to the both of them. "I mean, couldn't you stay a bit longer?" I asked. I didn't expect her to go so soon. The Doctor pushed a few buttons on the console.
"I'm afraid so, Em. I'm sorry."
"Why?"
She gave me an apologetic look.
"Spoilers. You'll see me again soon enough."
We landed in Stormcage, and the Doctor and I followed her out. I turned to him.
"Could you give us a moment?" I asked him. He nodded. River was already standing in front of her cell.
"It'll be alright, Emilie." She said in a low voice.
"But what about…?" The little girl, the astronaut, the Doctor's death, all of it. River seemed to understand because she suddenly embraced me. I hugged her back.
"I can't say too much, but you can get through this. Remember, it's still 200 years in his future."
"But I don't see why I was invited. I guess there must be a reason. And there was someone else there?"
"Someone else?" She pulled away and frowned.
"When we were at the Doctor's body. I looked up and saw a girl in red in the distance. Then she ran off."
Recognition dawned on River's face.
"That girl…I know her. She's trustworthy, and you can count on her."
"But who is she?"
"Spoilers, I'm afraid, sweetie." She gave me another quick hug. "Now, look after yourself, Emilie."
"I will. Bye, River." I said, before going back into the TARDIS.
Amy and Rory glanced at me as I entered. I went over to my backpack and took out the brown journal.
"Your birthday present." Amy said in surprise.
"Yeah. I guess I'll write in it soon."
The Doctor came back in, looking very sheepish. I quickly hid the journal in the backpack.
"Rory, I'm going to need thermos couplings. The green ones and the blue ones please."
"Okay, hold on." Rory went off.
"So..." The Doctor began.
"So." Amy retorted.
"You're OK?"
"I'm fine. Head's a bit weird, and there's a lot of stuff I can't quite remember." Her eyes glazed over for a second, before she shook her head.
"After effect of the Silence; natural enough. That's not what I was asking. You told me you were pregnant."
"Yes." Amy confirmed.
"Why?"
"Because I was, or thought I was. Turns out…I wasn't." She explained.
"No, why did you tell me?" The Doctor clarified.
"You're my friend. You're my best friend." Amy said, perching on the console next to him.
"Did you tell Rory?"
"No."
"Amy, why tell me and not Rory?"
"Why do you think? I travelled with you in this TARDIS for so long, all that time. If I was pregnant for some of it, wouldn't it have had an effect? I don't want to tell Rory this baby might have like three heads, or like a time head or something?"
"A time head?" I repeated incredulously.
"What's a time head?" The Doctor asked, eyes dancing and trying not to laugh.
"I don't know, but what if it had one?"
"A time head?"
"Shut up, all right?"
We all burst out laughing, before Amy schooled her face into a serious expression.
"Oi! Stupid face!"
There was a pause, and we all turned towards Rory as he crept out of the corridor, Amy's mic flashing red in his palm.
"Er, yeah…hello." He gave a little wave.
The Doctor waved back whilst Amy frowned at her husband.
"Taking that away from you if you're going to listen in all the time."
"Okay, that's a fair point, but you should've told me you were pregnant. I'm a nurse, I'm good with pregnancy." Rory protested.
"Not as it turns out that good. So, can you stop being stupid?" She pulled him into a hug.
"Er, no. Never! I'm never, ever going to stop being stupid!" He replied, picking Amy up and spinning her around.
"I guess you'll be wanting to go home now." The Doctor said, turning to me.
"Home?"
"Sarah Jane's. I'll drop you off." He explained.
"Why would I want to go home?" I asked. I had expected this question to come up.
"I assume you were invited to help out with the Silence. That's sorted out now." He seemed puzzled.
"I want to continue travelling with you, Doctor!" I protested.
The Doctor was partly right – the Silence had been sorted out. But I also had the feeling that the invitation was about more than just that. Besides, it had been ages since I had had adventures with the Doctor.
"Are you sure? Don't you have school or something?" He queried.
"No."
"Oh, let her stay, Doctor. The more the merrier." Amy interjected, coming to stand beside me.
"And she helped save Amy." Rory added.
"Will Sarah Jane mind?" The Doctor asked me.
"I don't think she expected me to come back quite yet."
"So, we're all agreed that Emilie stays." Amy and Rory nodded, and the Doctor clapped his hands together.
"Very good. So, this little girl, it's all about her. Who was she?" He rushed around to the screen and grinned at us.
"Or we could just go off and have some adventures. Anyone in the mood for adventures? I am. You only live once."
The three of us shared a look. The Doctor fiddled with the screen a bit, and I watched as his face turned grim and he glanced towards Amy. The look passed quickly, and he started running around the console again. I stifled a smile.
This would certainly be interesting.