Shadow in the Silver City 5/5
Title: Shadow in the Silver City 5/5
Author: buffyaddict13
Fandoms: Doctor Who, Firefly
Rating: PG-13 just to be safe
Characters/Pairings: 11th Doctor, River Tam, Jenny (the Doctor's daughter), OCs, glimpses of Serenity's crew as well as Amy and Rory Pond / gen
Words: 35,700 total
Summary: The Eleventh Doctor and his new friend River Tam board a ship based on the 1892 Chicago World's Fair. They arrive in answer to a distress call, but it's the Doctor who needs help.
Spoilers: Doctor Who: all of New Who through 6x04, The Doctor's Wife. Firefly: all episodes plus Serenity movie.
A/N 1: Several years ago I fell in love with the book Devil in the White City. I finally came up with a weird idea where I could pay homage to the Columbian Expo and River Tam in the same fic. I've written in many fandoms, but this is my first multi-chapter Doctor Who fic...that I actually finished. I hope you're not disappointed.
A/N 2: Endless thanks to my dearest jie-jie for the constant encouragement and mad beta skillz.
The door creaks open and River pokes her head out of the TARDIS. She blinks at her surroundings, then grins. Jing zi, she did it! She laughs in delight. No, they did it. Together. River closes her eyes, listens to the ship whisper. She spins madly, arms above her head, eyes closed. She can still hear the song of the Time Vortex, see the colours of time spinning around her. She never imagined she would hear such glorious music, see such beauty, or feel this kind of peace again. She skips back to the TARDIS console and kisses her fingertips. She presses the kiss against the shining glass column in the middle of the console. Thank you, sexy, sexy Time and Relative Dimension in Space.
River pulls off her boots, kicks them beneath the jump seat. She flexes her bare toes against the transparent floor, cracks her knuckles. She flips a series of levers on the console, blows the hair out of her face. River gives the console a final affectionate pat and heads for the door.
"Okay, jie-jie," she whispers to the TARDIS, "it's time to save the Doctor."
* * *
The Doctor groans. He turns his head weakly. Pain flares through him. He feels feverish, like his limbs are too heavy for his body. He coughs and fresh agony rolls up his legs. He moves one foot gingerly, then the other, clenches his teeth against the grinding pain. His muscles protest loudly against the movement, sending a fresh paroxysm of hurt up his spine and into his shoulders. Oh, not good. Not good at all. He's sweating, his breathing comes in whistling gasps. He fights to stay conscious, tries desperately to ignore the pain.
"That...wasn't very fun," he croaks feebly. He cracks one eye, then the other. Greyssa is by his side. He blinks up at her frightened face.
"You shouldn't be awake yet," Devon complains, looming over them. He taps the Doctor's head with his boot. "And you're supposed to be paralyzed."
Greyssa moves her arms protectively over the Doctor's head. "Leave him alone."
Devon opens his eyes wide, all innocence. "What's your problem Greyssa? You wanted the Doctor to stay with you, right?" He spreads his arms, smiles broadly. "Looks like you got your wish." He chuckles. " For now."
The Doctor tries to move his legs. The result feels like an infinity of needles jammed through his muscles. He clenches his jaw, inhales sharply through his nose. He tries again and a scream rips from his throat. No wonder River thinks needles are stupid. They are so. Very. Stupid. It takes a fair amount of concentration, but he gets the words out.
"You...shouldn't be...shooting people."
"You're not really in a position to tell me what to do, Doctor." The steel toe of Sands' boot connects with the Doctor's chest. Greyssa shrieks, scrambling out of the way.
The Doctor slides across the floor and slams into the wall. A new wave of pain swallows him. There's also a troubling snapping noise from the vicinity of his ribs. His hearts stutter. He struggles to pull air into his lungs. He curls onto his side and tries not to retch.
The Doctor opens his eyes, stares blankly at the wall. He's disorientated, he has no idea where he is. Is he inside a Star Whale? Is he regenerating? Did he lose another bet to Dorium Maldovar? Because, if so, he has got to stop playing Canisian Poker.
Slowly, the Doctor becomes aware of sounds. Someone screaming. He hopes it's not him, because whoever it is sounds very cross. A woman sobs nearby. Amy. No, not Amy. Rory? Now, that was just mean. No, Rory and Amy are still on Earth. Then he thinks, stupidly: Rose. Is he back on Dårlig Ulv-Stranden? He grimaces, shakes his head. Wrong girl, wrong place, wrong him. He recognizes the sound now. It's Greyssa. She's holding his hand.
"I'm sorry, Doctor," she weeps. "I'm sorry."
The Doctor rolls onto his back, which proves to be a rather large mistake. He groans, makes some trying-hard-to-breathe noises. The world around him turns grey, wavers, shrinks. He puts a hand to his cheek and slaps himself. Hard. Colour floods back.
"Better than an alarm clock," he wheezes, and tries to give Greyssa a reassuring smile. His face, apparently put off at being slapped, refuses to cooperate. In the end, he just winks. Or blinks. He's not sure which.
"This is not my favourite day," the Doctor admits hoarsely. He listens to Devon's boots clump along the corridor while he practices breathing. Turns out breathing is quite a bit harder than he remembered. He turns his head further, spots a pair of shoes lying on the floor. He squints. The shoes are connected to legs. Bloody hell.
He looks up at Greyssa through tear-blurred eyes and points in what he hopes is the direction of the prone legs. "Who...is that?"
Greyssa bows her head and a tear falls onto the Doctor's wrist. "Neelo." Her voice breaks.
The Doctor squeezes Greyssa's hand. "But...why?"
"He got annoyingly self-righteous when I shot you," Devon says. "Thought he was going to be a hero." He looks down at the Doctor. "He thought wrong."
The Doctor wipes his face with the back of his hand. He stares up at the ceiling. "I used to give out warnings," he says quietly. "I've given loads of warnings to the Nestene Consciousness over the years. And to the Cybermen. And the Daleks." His voice is almost gentle. "But then I got old, Devon. When I met the Krillitane I was very old. I only gave them one warning. And now I'm older still. I'm the oldest." His voice turns to granite. "And I'm all out of warnings."
With extreme effort, the Doctor pushes himself into a sitting position. The corridor spins around him, but he closes his eyes against the vertigo, forces himself to keep going.
"I've seen humans do wonderful things. Amazing things." He smiles wistfully. "I've met humans who actually made me wish I was one of them." He opens his eyes and stares at the security guard, his expression full of disgust. "And then there are men like you. Weak, little, power-mad men who give the human race a bad name. Men who make me ashamed I look on Earth as my adopted home.
"But then I think about those brave souls who protect the Earth, not just from aliens, but from the likes of you. Defenders of the Earth. People like Rose Tyler and Martha Jones and Donna Noble and Amy and Rory Pond. I think about Sarah Jane Smith and Wilfred Mott and River Tam. They are at one end of the spectrum."
The Doctor stands, leaning heavily against the wall for support. He is dark conviction and incandescent rage. "You, Devon Sands, are at the other."
Greyssa pushes herself to her feet, stands at the Time Lord's side. She is shaking, but her eyes are dry, her expression resolute.
Devon returns the Doctor's glare. "My God, you talk a lot."
"And you don't listen enough." The Doctor's voice is a hammer. It echoes off the walls. "So no more warnings. Instead, you get a choice. I gave the Vashta Nerada a choice. And, against my better judgment, you get one as well." The Doctor steps away from the wall. He grinds his teeth to keep from falling. His legs tremble, but he wills himself to stay upright. Greyssa instantly slides a supportive arm around his waist.
"Stop this," the Doctor pleads. "Right now. Drop your gun and say you're sorry. I'll forgive you. Greyssa will forgive you. We'll get Neelo and Matty the help they need." The Doctor takes another unsteady step. "You don't need my ship. You don't need Torchwood." The Doctor's voice softens. "Be a better man, Devon. A better human."
Devon gives the Doctor a smug smile. "And if I don't? What then, Doctor?"
The Doctor's face goes expressionless. "You don't want to know."
Devon's lip curls. "You don't scare me, Time Lord. You think I haven't heard the stories about you? Well I have. And that's all they are, stories. Rumours. Superstitions. I don't need your bloody forgiveness and I certainly don't want it." Devon closes the gap between himself and the Doctor, presses the barrel of his gun hard against the Doctor's chest. "The only one of us begging for anything will be you, Doctor." Sands twists the barrel, digs it into the Doctor's bruised chest. "When you beg for your life."
The Doctor's ribs howl at this fresh insult and he staggers. But he never takes his eyes from Devon's face. "Wrong choice," he says through gritted teeth.
Feedback blasts through the hallway speakers. Devon flinches, spins away from the Doctor and aims his weapon toward the ceiling. "What's that?"
An ethereal female voice drifts from the speakers. "I am the TARDIS. I belong to nobody but the Doctor. He stole me and I stole him. There's only one Thief. Ain't no one else gonna take me, Mr. Sands."
There's a loud clunk and a thick steel partition slides out of the wall, sealing off one end of the hallway. A moment letter a second partition slides into place 40 feet away, effectively closing them in.
"What is this?" Devon demands, incensed. He turns in a circle, eyes darting from Greyssa and the Doctor, to Treessa quietly weeping inside the store, to the new steel walls. "You think activating a few safety protocols is going to save you?"
The Doctor pulls himself up to his full height despite the pain in his legs and chest. "Listen!" he commands.
"I sent a wave to the Judoon, Mr. Sands," the voice from the speaker continues. "And guess what, Devon? They're coming to get you."
Sands laughs scornfully. "For what?"
"For your part in covering up what happened on Miranda. For shooting an unarmed civilian on Arial. Not to mention shooting that guard and the maintenance man." The female voice turns into a loud whisper. "But your worst mistake was hurting my Thief. I might be doolally, but that don't mean I don't get angry."
Devon stares at the Doctor, his face pale, all smugness gone. A muscle in his jaw twitches. "I don't know how you're doing this, but you're lying." He gestures to a speaker with his gun. "She's lying."
"I'm not human," the TARDIS declares. "I don't lie. Can't stop the truth."
"Then let them come." Devon lifts one shoulder, trying to maintain his veneer of unconcern. "Torchwood will get here first. They'll force the safety gates open and carry you off in chains." He lifts an eyebrow, his mouth twists into a half smile. "Or a body bag."
"You think those Black Hearts'll be able to take on the Judoon?" Girlish laughter fills the hallway. "Lay hoe chun ah, you're even dumber than I thought."
"Hey old girl," the Docotor calls. "You okay? Is everyone else on board safe? How is Ms. Valnar's collection?"
"I'm fine," the TARDIS says. "Life signs are shiny. No extra shadows in the docking bay. No movement from the Reaver ship outside. Collected folks are fine." There's a pause, then: "What about you, Doctor? You don't look so good."
"I've had better days," the Doctor admits. "Much, much better days, but I'll be all right." He winks at the surveillance camera beside the speaker.
"This is some kind of trick," Devon screams, his face shining with sweat. "Your ship isn't alive."
"That's where you're wrong," the Doctor says in a soft, deadly voice. "She's very much alive. And no one steals her but me."
"Your ship might be alive," Devon says, his voice ratcheting up an octave, "but you won't be." He turns his weapon back on the Doctor and fires.
Greyssa propels her body in front of the Time Lord, and she's immersed in a brief, brilliant light. She collapses at the Doctor's feet.
The Doctor screams, his face twisting in horror. "No!"
"I am sentient, Devon. More so than you," the TARDIS booms through the speakers. "The Alliance might be on the way, but they ain't here now. I have one word for you: run."
The southern safety door slides open. The hallway stretches before him, empty. Inviting.
Devon takes a hesitant step toward it. He looks back at the Doctor, apprehensive. "Was that you? Did you open the door?"
The Doctor ignores Devon. He kneels at Greyssa's side, ignores the pain in his legs as best he can. He presses one hand to Greyssa's cheek, checks her pulse with the other. "It's going to be okay," he whispers urgently, "just hold on. Hold on, Greyssa." He lifts his head and his eyes burn.
"My ship opened the door. And if you've made her cross, you have no idea what you've made me. This isn't the first time someone's tried to steal the TARDIS. This isn't the first time someone has sacrificed their life for mine." He locks his hands together, places them over the center of Greyssa's chest.
He shouts in time with the first four compressions: "And. I. Am. Furious!" He continues chest compressions, counting down in his head. His stomach is full of lead. His mouth is very dry. Finally, he lowers his face to Greyssa's, blows into her mouth. Her chest rises, falls. He blows again. Her chest rises, falls. And then nothing. He starts over again, wishing Rory were here, or Martha. Someone who could save Greyssa, because too many people die around him, too many, and Greyssa can't be one of them, she can't.
Treessa kneels beside him. She puts her hand on his arm. "Let me," she says, tears streaming down her face. "She's my sister."
The Doctor stares at her. "You're the one with nice skin," the Doctor blurts, still pushing on Greyssa's chest.
Treessa nods. Her lips tremble. "Please, Doctor. She's my sister," she says again, as if this explains everything. As if her very presence is enough to save Greyssa's life. Maybe it is. The Doctor doesn't know.
He nods woodenly and lets Treessa take over CPR. The Doctor drags himself back to his feet. He is very tired. He regards Devon with bitter contempt.
"You left all those people in Greyssa's collection to die," he says, running his hands through his hair. "And the funny thing is, the truly hilarious thing is, if I hadn't stopped the Vashta Nerada, you'd be lying on the floor right now, nothing but bones and a bit of cloth." He slides his hands casually into his pockets, advances on Devon. "You shot Flynn, you shot Neelo, you shot Greyssa. You shot me. You threaten to hand me, my ship, and the people I love over to Torchwood." He steps closer to Sands, his face impassive.
"You can threaten me all you want, Chief Sands. Most people do. But you must never, ever threaten my family."
Devon lifts his gun, but the Doctor is faster. The sonic screwdriver glows in his outstretched hand.
Devon's weapon sparks and he drops it, cursing.
The Doctor's lips curve in the semblance of a smile. His face is devoid of warmth. Of mercy. "You heard my ship, Devon." He points down the hallway. Run."
* * *
The Doctor watches Devon run. He runs past the shop and into the open corridor. He approaches a set of decorative pillars, one on each side of the hall and looks back. The Doctor doesn't follow.
Jenny steps out from behind the left pillar and punches Devon in the face. He reels backwards, blood spraying from his nose.
"That's for knocking me out," Jenny says, punching him again.
Devon spins into the wall, stunned.
"That's for tying me up," she grunts, pulling her fist back a third time. Devon slides down the wall, slumps to the floor. She aims a spinning back heel kick at Devon's head and he drops onto his side, unconscious. "And that's for shooting my dad."
She runs to the Doctor, throws her arms around him. He presses his face into her shoulder, breathes in the citrusy scent of her hair.
The second safety door slides open to reveal a group of waiting Kroatans with stretchers and first aid equipment. Behind the medical technicians, are five security guards. Jenny clicks her fingers and points to Devon's still form.
"Take him away."
"Yes, ma'am.
The Doctor recognizes the young man in charge. He's the security guard who'd threatened suicide at the mention of Reavers. He looks considerably more competent now. He leads the guards over to Sands, pulls zip cuffs from his belt.
The Doctor's knees give way and he leans hard against Jenny, trying not to pull her down with him.
"Dad? Are you okay?" Jenny props her father against the wall, one hand on his shoulder.
"I will be," he says. He gently touches the bruise on her cheekbone. "Are you?"
Jenny smiles. "I am now."
* * *
River's sitting cross-legged on the floor playing with plastic dinosaurs when the TARDIS doors open. The Doctor stops in front of her, smiling.
"You? Were brilliant, River Tam." He bends down, kisses the top of her head. "And you were brilliant." The Doctor purses his lips, kisses the TARDIS view screen.
The Doctor offers River his hand. She takes it, moving gracefully to her feet.
"Thank you," the Doctor says simply.
River smiles broadly. "Welcome." She holds the toy dinosaurs near the Doctor's face. "They helped."
He grins at the Stegosaurus and Allosaurus in turn, taps their green plastic heads.
"Then thank you and you."
River balances the dinosaurs carefully on the typewriter keys, then moves to sit on the edge of the jump seat.
The TARDIS door opens again. Greyssa appears in a wheelchair, Jenny behind her. Both women gape in astonishment at the interior of the TARDIS.
"Oh my God," Greyssa whispers, amazed.
The Doctor beams, pleased. "A bit bigger on the inside, isn't she?"
"A bit?" Jenny asks, incredulous. "It's beautiful! Look at this place! It just keeps on going! Dad, this is the best ship ever!"
The Doctor leans against the railing. "Don't I know it."
Jenny pushes Greyssa forward and the Doctor moves to meet them. He takes Greyssa's hand, looks into her eyes. "How are you feeling?"
Greyssa looks away, her gaze focused on the Doctor's hand. "Like a fool," she says softly. "Like I've been betrayed by my closest friend. Like I put the lives of countless people in danger because I wanted to meet a Time Lord."
"Don't feel bad," the Doctor says, hooking his free hand behind one of his braces. "We're generally worth meeting." He lowers himself to her eye level. "But what I meant was, how are you feeling?" He scrunches his fingers open and close a few times. "All the squishy bits where they're still supposed to be and stuff?"
Greyssa smiles weakly. "Everything's still where it's supposed to be. Dr. Thomas says I might even be able to walk again. Flynn too." The smile slips away. "But not Neelo."
"He was very brave," the Doctor says honestly. "And so were you. I'm proud to call you my friend, Ms. Greyssa Valnar."
"Thank you very much," Greyssa says, her voice thick with emotion. She sniffs, glances back toward the TARDIS entrance nervously. "But we have to leave. The Judoon will be here any minute. They'll destroy my ship. And the Alliance will probably kill us." She grips the arms of her wheelchair tightly. "Who knows what they'll do to you, Doctor."
River gathers up her hair and pulls it in front of her face. "Judoon ain't coming," she says, squinting through her hair. "I just said that to scare Devon."
Greyssa frowns. "You did? Are you sure?"
River swings one leg back and forth. "Unless you called 'em."
The Kroatan shakes her head quickly. "No. I didn't call them."
The Doctor pulls out his sonic, taps it thoughtfully against his chin. "As for the Alliance, I'll do a bit of pokery-jiggery--which, by the way, is much more complicated than your regular old jiggery-pokery--on your vortex manipulator. We'll be gone long before they arrive."
* * *
Two security guards flank Devon Sands as he is led off the Silver City. Mattro Flynn follows directly behind them. His face pale and gaunt, he has a white-knuckled grip on his crutches. He moves slowly, but the remaining guards keep a respectful distance, matching his pace. The guards are silent. Devon is not.
"You can't do this," Devon bellows, struggling to tear free of his zip cuffs.
The Doctor watches the grim procession, arms folded. He don't say nothing, but his head is full of thoughts. River stands a few feet away, careful not to eavesdrop. She's holding the broken tin snip from the salvage yard.
Jenny and Greyssa are in the infirmary with Neelo. Greyssa didn't want to come. River don't blame her. She ain't exactly excited to be here neither, but it's important to say goodbye. The Captain hasn't said it out loud, but River can tell he's glad Jenny's not here.
"You can't do this!" Devon shrieks, as the guards drag him off the ramp and onto the dusty macadam of the planet. They are on the outskirts of a ruined city. Crumbling buildings line empty streets. Blinding sunlight bounces off dirty windows.
The Doctor gives River a penetrating look. "Do you want to go back inside the ship?"
"No." She tilts her head, listening. "I can hear them. They're at peace." She can't tell what they're saying anymore, the voices are calm. Far away. It's like listening to a conch shell. Their secret's out. That's all they wanted, to be remembered. Seems that's what most folks want when they die. These ghostly voices are all that's left of Miranda.
And the Reavers.
Cap'n steps closer to the Black Heart. "I've deactivated the satellites," the Doctor announces. He squints in the afternoon sunlight. "There is no outgoing communication left on Miranda. There are no working ships. The machines are as dead as the people. But don't worry, I'm sure there's still plenty of food. They say Twinkies last forever."
"You can't do this," Devon whispers, his eyes haunted, his voice pleading.
"I'm giving you a chance to see firsthand what your cover-up did," the Doctor replies. "The Alliance could have helped these people. But you left them here to die. You refused to confirm the existence of Reavers for how long? At least a decade. How many deaths are you responsible for, Mr. Sands? I've lost count."
"I'm sorry," Devon cries. "I was just following orders!"
"Don't use that defence on me," the Doctor says coldly.
"At least leave me a hover ship," Devon begs. "What if there are Reavers here? They'll kill me."
"Build your own," the Doctor says, his face stone.
"Then leave me a weapon." He stares desperately at Flynn's gun.
"No guns," Cap'n says. He nods once at River.
She skips forward, closes her eyes, and throws the broken tin snip like a spear. It arcs high above Devon's head and lands in the dirt a few yards away.
Flynn hobbles forward, a tanto knife in one hand. He cuts through the zip cuff and Devon stumbles backwards, eyeing the makeshift weapon stuck in the ground. Half a dozen M-285s target Sands' head.
The Doctor turns and walks back up the ramp.
"Please!" Devon calls after him. "Don't do this!"
The Doctor keeps walking, shoulders stiff, head high.
"Doctor!"
The Doctor doesn't look back.
* * *
The Doctor leans his forehead against the TARDIS door, watching the black hole swirl in the distance. The impossible planet of Krop Tor hung suspended here once, forever ago. This is where he destroyed the Beast. And the Ood. This is where he met the magnificent Ida Scott. He had been prepared to die to save Rose. It's funny how he's always prepared to die for some reason or other. But he's never prepared when others die for him.
Because of him.
His chest aches. He's not sure if the pain is from his injured rib, because he's staring into the churning void of a black hole, or because he just left Devon Sands on Miranda. The black hole is a pink and gold pinwheel. Its centre is a roiling red and orange. It looks like space itself is burning. The second Reaver ship drifts slowly toward the hole.
River's back in the jump seat, frowning at the back of his head.
He can't see her, but her thoughts buzz with worry.
The Doctor pulls back from the window, just enough to see River's reflection watching him. "I should take you home."
"You should stop looking out the window. It's not good for your head."
"I'm not human, you know. I look human, but I'm not."
"You think I got stupid all of a sudden?"
The Doctor smiles in spite of himself. "No. I don't."
"Then don't talk like I am. Just cos you don't got two heads or green skin don't mean you're human. You're alien. Trying to understand you is like waiting for a star to sing. It ain't probable, but it ain't impossible either."
The star fields of Asia/Mountain-Minor sing every 500 years. Ships come from miles around to hear their eerie melody echo through the galaxy. The Doctor doesn't share this detail.
"I'm too dangerous. Travelling with me isn't fun, River, not really. It isn't a game. Sometimes I pretend it is--I want it to be--but it's not." He shakes his head sadly. "It's not."
River folds her arms, regards the Doctor critically. "I thought you said you weren't the emo Doctor, Cap'n."
Reluctant laughter bursts from the Time Lord. He turns slowly to meet River's reproachful gaze, still chuckling. "Quite right, Tam. Quite right. Have I mentioned lately how much I like you?"
River shrugs. "I'm likable. Everybody thinks so, 'cept for Jayne. And the ticks on Jayne's behind got more sense than he does."
The Doctor claps a hand to his mouth, scandalized. "River!"
"Well it's true. Jayne's meddlesome. Everybody on Serenity is meddlesome, me included. Humans are meddlesome by nature. We broke Miranda. We made Torchwood. That's why you like us, and that's why you hate us. Cos Time Lords are meddlesome too."
The Doctor cringes slightly. "That's a bit of an understatement, really. But I'm not supposed to be meddlesome. That's kind of a Time Lord no-no." He leans against the console railing, crosses his ankles. "I just want to help. But I invariably make everything worse."
"Not yesterday. Not today."
The Doctor huffs in annoyance. "Tell that to Jimmy Donnal and Neelo Kalis and Matty Flynn and Greyssa Valnar. Tell that to Devon Sands." He glances back to the window, eyes on the drifting Vashta Nerada. Quietly: "Tell it to them."
"If you hadn't been there, everyone on Silver City would be dead. We'd all be shadow food."
The Doctor's forehead furrows, he studies the floor intently.
"I--"
River slides off the chair and walks to the Doctor. She taps a finger against his forehead. You saved us. You saved me. And just cos Greyssa can't do a cartwheel just now, don't mean she ain't grateful.
The Doctor stares at River, his eyes wide.
This is the part where I say thank you.
River takes his hand. "Thank you."
The Doctor stares at her some more.
And this is the part where you say you're welcome.
"You're welcome, Little Albatross," the Doctor whispers. The words are nearly too big for his throat. He blinks rapidly, checks to make sure his jacket is still draped across the console. Oh look, it's still there. Brilliant.
River grins, pulls something from behind her back. "And this is the part where you wear your new hat." She hands him a smart red fez, complete with the swingy tassel bit.
The Doctor promptly puts it on his head, beaming. "Ooh," he says, pulling River into a hug, "this is my favourite part so far!"
* * *
The Doctor sips his tea with just the right amount of Victorian decorum. He hadn't been knighted for nothing, after all. He's sitting at a lovely redwood table inside David and Eleanor White's kitchen. The Doctor fakes a rather elaborate stretch and cranes his neck for a better view down the narrow hallway. There's not a sign of the window room. He casts a quick look at Greyssa.
She's watching him with an amused smile. "I told you."
The Doctor, ever mature, sticks out his tongue.
"In fact," Greyssa says, "all the windows slide down into the floor. My friends can come and go whenever they like while we're travelling. Did I forget to mention that?"
The Doctor remains silent and wisely sips his tea.
Greyssa is still in her wheelchair. She sits across from the Doctor, David on her left, Eleanor on her right. River and Jenny are on the sofa, and from the way they keep giggling and looking over at the Doctor, he has a sinking feeling they're talking about him.
The Doctor sets his cup down and smiles at Eleanor, impressed. "Blimey, this is a good cuppa."
Eleanor bounces Virginia on her knee and bows her head, blushing. "Thank you."
The soft strains of music float through the room. The Doctor looks around, eyebrows raised. "What's that?"
David pulls out his pipe and nods in satisfaction. "I believe Cade is providing us with a private concert."
The Doctor settles back into his chair to listen. The music is simple, but lovely. He watches David light his pipe, grins as as the man blows an impressive smoke ring toward the ceiling. With his white beard, twinkling eyes, and buckled hat, the Doctor can almost imagine David is his old friend Wilf dressed for Panto.
The Doctor takes a contemplative sip of tea and watches David over the rim of his cup. "Are you sure you're happy here?"
David reaches across the table and touches the tip of his great-niece's nose. She breaks into a wide, chortling grin.
The Doctor leans closer to the old man so Greyssa can't hear him. "Are you sure you haven't been forced to live here against your will?"
David exhales smoke in the Doctor's direction.
The Doctor coughs theatrically, waves it away.
"Doctor," David finally says, "I believe you to be a very strange little man."
The Time Lord laughs, delighted. "I try my best." He deposits his tea cup on its saucer and turns to Greyssa. "Ms. Valnar? You are a truly special woman. Your ship is lovely and your friends lovelier."
Greyssa presses a hand to her chest, pleased. "Thank you, Doctor."
Eleanor takes Greyssa's hand and kisses the Kroatan's cheek. "I told you he'd come around."
The Doctor's eyebrows jump. "Cheeky." He winks at Eleanor. "I like it."
Greyssa fidgets with her empty tea cup. "I don't suppose there's anything I can do to convince you to extend your stay a little longer?"
The Doctor shakes his head, sniffs loudly. "Afraid not. Officially worn out my welcome, me." He leans forward. "But maybe I'll stop by for a visit sometime. Check up to make sure you're treating the contents of your cabinet like people and not your auntie's old dishes."
"She would never do such a thing!" Eleanor exclaims, shocked.
The Doctor looks relieved. "I was hoping you'd say that."
River appears at the Time Lord's side, whispers into his ear. "Oh, right, yes." He rubs the back of his neck, glances awkwardly at Greyssa. "I don't suppose there's a chance we could have a final go on the Ferris Wheel, is there?"
* * *
"What do you say?" The Doctor asks Jenny nervously. "Any chance you want to travel with me?"
Jenny beams at her father. "I thought you'd never ask."
"And you, Tam? Ready to go home I suppose?"
River crosses her eyes and makes a gagging sound.
"Is that Riverese for 'not quite yet?'"
River nods, weaving her long hair into two plats. "It is."
The three of them lean casually against the TARDIS railing.
"Look at this," the Doctor says happily. "Me and my girls." He does an awkward little soft shoe around the console. "Amy can stuff it with that 'my boys,' business." He claps his hands, suddenly all business. "Okay then. Where shall we go?" He looks at River. "Still want to see Earth-that-was?" He elbows Jenny. "Feeling peckish? Want to eat some of Marie Antoinette's cake?" He pulls at his left earlobe. "Visit the temple ruins on Arcos 5? See the glass City of Pelthor?"
Jenny bites at her lower lip, thinking. "Can we just let the TARDIS decide?"
"She usually does," the Doctor says fondly. He turns a crank, presses a large green button. "Okay old girl. Take us wherever you want to go."
River glances toward the console, then around the interior of the ship, confused. "Cap'n? Who exactly is 'the pretty one?'"
The Doctor wags a finger at the console, glaring. "I'm telling Amy."
* * *
The Doctor yanks the door open and the three of them stumble out of the TARDIS and into a small back garden. The grass is thick. Birds sing. The air smells of lilac and peonies.
River jumps up and down, clapping her hands. "Earth-that-was!" she cries triumphantly, and immediately flops onto her back in the soft grass.
The back door of a little cottage swings open. Mr. and Mrs. Pond run down the steps, hand-in-hand, faces bright with anticipation.
"Doc--" Rory stops mid-word when he spots the two strange women on his patch of lawn.
"--tor?" Amy finishes lamely, her eyebrows hovering up around her hair line. "What's this then?" She folds her arms in what the Doctor considers a very judgy manner. "Got yourself a harem, did you?"
The Doctor waves her disapproval away. "Rory and Amy Pond," he shouts in his best quiz show announcer voice, "this is my daughter, Jenny." He gestures to his daughter like they're in the middle of an advert for brilliant blonde girls.
Amy boggles. "Your what?" She advances on the Doctor, eyes narrowed. "What have you been up to?"
"No no no," the Doctor says quickly, backing away. "It's not like that."
Rory looks suspicious. "What is it like?"
The Time Lord ignores Rory and points at the girl lying on the ground. "And this is my friend River."
Amy's mouth drops open. "Another one?"
The Doctor grabs Amy's shoulders and shakes her, grinning maniacally. "That's what I thought!"
Jenny hooks her arm through the Doctor's. She nods at Rory. "He's cute."
Amy glares daggers. "Oi. That's my husband."
The Doctor whispers loudly behind his hand. "They're married. No flirting."
Jenny shrugs. "I was just saying." She gives Amy an appreciative look. "She's cute too."
Amy's jealousy is instantly forgotten. She twirls a strand of hair around her finger, grinning. "Really? Thanks!"
Rory sighs wearily.
The Doctor scratches his nose. "This isn't going the way I expected," he says to no one in particular. "I expected this to go another way. A less weirdy and awkward way."
River sits up and picks bits of grass out of her hair. "He did think that," she confirms. "Silly old Captain."
Amy grabs Rory's arm and drags him toward the TARDIS. "Come on, Rory. Are we travelling or not?"
The Doctor pulls Rory away from Amy and stands behind him. "Yes, Rory. Come stand next to me." He lowers his voice. "I think there might be too many ladies..." he spreads his hands vaguely, "in this immediate area."
Rory shakes his head and stares at the Doctor. "I can't tell if you're brave or stupid." He walks into the TARDIS. "Probably both."
The Doctor follows, still half-heartedly trying to hide behind the nurse. "Was that a compliment?"
Rory glowers. "What do you think?"
The Doctor considers. Then he grins and slaps his thigh. "It's good to have you back, Roranicus."
Rory's shoulders sag. "It wasn't a compliment."
"Oh, I know." The Doctor pats Rory's cheek affectionately. "But it's still good to have you back."
River wanders into the ship next. She turns a knob on the console. "Which 'verse next?"
Rory points at River. "She's driving?"
Amy slaps the Doctor's arm. "What? Do all Rivers know how to drive this thing?"
The Doctor grabs Amy's shoulders again, unable to contain himself. "That's what I thought!"
Amy pats the Doctor's head in a there, there, you magnificent lunatic kind of way and inserts herself between River and Jenny. She holds her hand out to the Doctor's daughter.
"Nice to meet you," Amy says cheerfully.
"Likewise."
"Your name's Jenny, yeah?" Rory asks. "Jenny what?"
Jenny and the Doctor exchange an uncertain look.
"Um," the Doctor says, somewhat flummoxed. He brightens, clicks his fingers. "Jenny Time Lordy...Person." He looks to Jenny for approval, then on to Amy and the others. "Well? What do you think?"
"I think it needs a bit of work," Amy admits, grimacing.
The Doctor's face falls.
"But only a little," Amy adds quickly.
Amy grins at Jenny and jerks a thumb toward the Doctor. "So is he your dad or was it one of his other faces? The speccy bloke with silly hair, or Mr. Grumpy in the leather jacket?"
"Oi," the Doctor says, pouting. "My hair wasn't silly. And that was a very cool jacket. You mustn't mock the jacket." He looks down at his current outfit. "I'm just feeling a bit more traditional now. Nothing wrong with tradition."
"It was Speccy," Jenny confirms. She nods toward her dad, trying to hide a smile. "But it looks to me like he's still Mr. Grumpy."
The Doctor stalks away from his fellow travelers, grumbling. "This is all your fault," he mutters furiously to the TARDIS. "You and your pretty boy."
The TARDIS ignores him.
A hand on the Doctor's shoulder distracts him from just how rude his ship has become.
"Guess what?" Amy whispers in his ear.
The Doctor turns back to Amy and the two friends embrace.
"What?" has asks the top of her head.
"Gotcha."
They grin stupidly at each other.
Rory waves at Amy and she runs back to her husband. She laughs at something he says, kisses his cheek.
The Doctor sits on a step, listening to the bustle inside his ship. He's one River away from having enough people to fly the T-40 properly again. He smiles at the thought. He cups his chin in one hand, watching Rory surreptitiously inspect River's Stegosaurus.
Amy's boys and the Doctor's girls. Together in the TARDIS.
River activates the time rotor and the ship rumbles its familiar vworp vworp as it dematerializes into the Time Vortex. She looks up, spots the Doctor, and grins mischievously.
"Hold on," she calls to her fellow passengers. "We're a leaf on the wind." And to the Doctor: Time to soar.
And they do.
Notes:
Jing zi = ingenious
Jie-jie = big sister
Lay hoe chun ah! = you're really stupid