It was a merciless sun. It beat down on the already parched landscape, further drying everything out. It was a cloudless day, nothing shrouded the sun's rays as it continued to warm the earth beneath it. Ever so faintly there is a wind that gently stirs the sand dunes, kicking up small granules of sand and depositing them miles away. The calls of scavengers are the only sound that permeates the otherwise quiet world of this dry tundra.

Another humid day to the world, and to the little town that the desert world surrounded, it encased. None of the inhabitants dared to venture out, preferring the heat than what lurks outside. Some of the sturdier buildings had their window shutters open, preferring to remain welcoming, not wanting turn away potential business. Whoever wandered in.

The homes of the inhabitants of this small town amongst a desert world kept their shutters closed, not wanting to invite the evil that skulked the perimeters of their once ordinary and peaceful town.

They hadn't understood why their town had been chosen to be the home of a battlefield. Why sometimes, in the nights, the horizon would light up with a somewhat futuristic blue glow, and then would travel to them a scream of pain. It floated down to them, waking them in the night to tell them that another target had been eliminated. Soon, they hoped, soon he would leave them.

Of course that was a pipedream. They knew that as long as they had what that killer was searching for…he would wait. Wait until they grew desperate enough. And they surely were. Supplies were already being stretched thin hoping to ration their needs so that they wouldn't have turn an innocent man into the hands of God.

However…they wondered if that man out there was merely biding his time until the threat of hunger set so far into them that they would resort to a mob like mentality and throw the man out into the zone that none of them dared trespass.

The man's pursuer was, in a sense, an odd killer. He didn't put the lives of the inhabitants at risk, at least not yet. And he had refused to pass the 'line,' which perplexed them, and relieved them at the same time.

Now…the sound of something taking flight had roused the town's inhabitants from their homes, and the gathered in the centre of the of the square. Their gazes are fixated into the sandy mountains as they cover their mouths, knowing what will be coming next. They all pray that his suffering will not endure of any length of time.

The sound of a door shutting briefly breaks their gazes with the distance to turn to the figure that has just emerged. He bows his head and they can feel the regret that emanates off of him. The townspeople turn their attention back to the desert just as a round, metal, futuristic looking droid is blasted out of the air. They wait for his end and some hold hands, praying for him.

What the townspeople don't see is the man that is kneeling behind it. Desperate that he had been found out and what it now means for him. He is sure that he is being targeted as well. And he wonders where this Gunslinger is. The man hears the heavy footsteps as they fall, only briefly muffled by the soft sand.

The man is internally quivering, not wanting to have his life cut short like it will be, for he had so much that he had wanted to accomplish. And yet…he knows that this is revenge, cold and calculated revenge. Because he deserved everything that was coming his way for what he did to those of his own kind. He attempts to calm his nerves as the Gunslinger draws ever closer, eventually stopping mere feet away from him. The man doesn't look at him right away and instead chooses to keep his gaze locked firmly with the ground.

'I knew you would find me.' He states softly, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He deserved it.

'Make peace with your gods.' The Gunslinger's voice is cold and robotic; he never takes his targeting system off this man.

'Once, they were your gods too.' The man attempts to invoke memories that the Gunslinger no longer has, that he no longer wants to associate with. He wishes he could do away with them permanently but it is not the case.

'Not anymore.' The Gunslinger replies coldly and he watches as the man attempts to crawl away from him, having the sudden desire to live and fight his way to victory. The Gunslinger watches as he attempts to reach for his gun, lying mere feet away.

Finding this display for life laughable, he aims his arm, attached to it is a gun and he fires it. It strikes the man and he feels the pain rip through his body as he falls backwards. The man clutches his injury and the Gunslinger walks over to the man. It's only then that the man realises that one eye is human still, the other is mechanical and instantaneously he feels the guilt wash over him. Now he is truly ready. He exhales as the Gunslinger raises his gun again.

'Am I the last one?' The man wonders and the Gunslinger eyes him.

'There's one more,' The Gunslinger replies, his voice is embittered. 'The Doctor.'

The man doesn't have time to process that thought before the Gunslinger fires and the man is instantly eliminated. He stands by the body for a few moments to ensure that the man is truly deceased.

When enough time has passed, and the Gunslinger is satisfied that he is dead, he turns to leave and then abruptly, he stops. Something is happening. The wind has increased. There is a disturbance in the air. He surveys the surrounding area but finds nothing out of the ordinary until his internal scanner directs him to turn around.

There is a hard crack heard in the air followed by a bright flash of light. He watches intensely as something heavy drops to the ground, tumbling out of the light. Intrigued he moves closer, noticing that the figure has been injured and appears to be out cold. The sand quickly begins to colour red as he observes the wide injury the figure has suffered to their left side. It appears to be from some type of weapon.

The figure snaps their eyes open and attempts to jump to their feet and they cry out from pain, falling down. The Gunslinger watches as they attempt to search for something in the sand, no doubt a weapon. Their motions become frantic the longer they appear to go without finding it.

'Damn Sontarans. Great…' The figure manages to get out between gritted teeth and with much struggle; they eventually pull themselves to their feet. They turn to face the Gunslinger and he watches as the figure widens their eyes.

Instinctively they reach for a weapon that is not there and he notices that the figure has paled considerably since they tumbled from the light. He assumes that they are quickly going into shock from the rapid rate in which they are losing blood.

The figure must realise that as well because they press their hand to the wound and again cry out from the pain. He watches the figure's legs buckle and they fall to their knees. Their skin is turning ashen now and they begin to sweat profusely.

This person is not a threat to him, he decides and takes a step closer. Noticing that this person is dirty, cuts, minor ones, litter their face, hands, arms. Clearly this is a warrior and they have recently engaged in some kind of battle. He respects that.

'Stay…stay away…I don't…I…don't want trouble…' The figure attempts to get out weakly and they quickly lose consciousness, falling back into the sand. Again it colours rapidly.

Unsure of why he doing this, he bends down and picks up the fallen warrior, ensuring that he doesn't contribute to making their wound worse and begins to walk towards their salvation. His systems are telling him that the estimated percentile of survival is minimal.

Even though he feels immense hatred and betrayal, this warrior needs his help. Let this man do one good deed before he wipes him off the face of this planet. It will change nothing between them, but this person in his arms is not from around here, judging by the technology strapped to their wrist.

A rather large mystery surrounds this figure and maybe once they are well, they can be sent onto the right path and the correct time period, because they are clearly not from this era.

The Gunslinger reaches the makeshift boarder, surrounding the town and shouts for the man in charge to step forward. He's scared some of the locals and yet intrigued others, because he so rarely gets this close to them. A small crowd begins to form.

A young boy shouts to the Marshall's office and an older gentleman steps out. He's confused until he sees the young boy pointing to the Gunslinger. Intrigued, he cautiously approaches the Gunslinger, wondering why he is carrying another person in his arms. Has he injured or killed this one too? But he's never brought the bodies of the others he's killed, merely left them in the desert in order for the scavengers to take care of them.

'What do you want, Gunslinger? We ain't here to bury your dead.' The man states coldly, but that does nothing to stop the Gunslinger from speaking.

'This person is not deceased. I brought them because like the fugitive you harbour, this person is not from this time. As an innocent party, I brought them here to receive treatment. Before an innocent perishes.'

'Why have you grown a heart now? Those other people you killed were innocent as well.' The man recalls and he reaches his arms out to receive the figure that falls limply into his arms. They are barely breathing and his hands instantly become red, noticing that the white shirt they wear is drenched around the midsection. Such odd attire they are wearing.

'They were not innocent. Do not presume to know what they have or have not done. They are guilty and will be punished. Their punishment is death. However before death befalls the one who spearheaded this whole initiative, the doctor can attempt to erase some of his guilt by helping them.' The Gunslinger states and watches as the man he has just spoken of emerges from the safety of the Marshall's office. He approaches the man holding the injured person and inspects them. He turns to the Gunslinger.

'Why are you doing this?' He wonders and the Gunslinger turns away, heading back into the bluffs of the desert to keep his ever-watchful eye on this town. Pondering the man's question, he turns back and provides an honest answer.

'I don't know.'

He disappears into a teleport like glow, and they watch as he reappears miles away, heading for the quiet solace of the desert world.

Both men turn back to the figure still limp in his arms. He turns to the doctor and then back to the figure.

'They gonna make it?' He wonders and the doctor lifts up the figure's shirt, revealing a terrible wound, and he quickly lowers it.

'Not if we keep wasting time. Put them in a room in the hotel, I will collect my things and meet you there momentarily.'

The man nods and begins to walk towards the saloon's hotel. The townspeople clear a path, watching with burning curiosity at the figure that their leader holds in his arms. He walks carefully towards the saloon and tries to ensure that he doesn't exacerbate their injuries.

When he strides through the doors, the barkeep is stunned and points up the stairs, knowing exactly what he's after.

'Third door on the left. It's open.' The barkeep instructs and the man nods.

'Thank you.'

'They gonna live?' He questions as the man begins to ascend the stairs.

'I'm hoping so. I've got many questions for them.' The man's voice floats down to the barkeep as he disappears out of sight.

Balancing the figure he fumbles to reach the doorknob and after a few attempts manages to get the door open.

The room is plain and he wonders if the doctor will have sufficient room to work in. Gingerly he sets the person onto the bed and pulls the table that has the basin placed on it, knowing that it'd been needed. He exits quickly and fills the porcelain jug with warm water.

Not seconds later, after he's returned to the room, the doctor appears and glances at the figure lying on the bed. He needs to move quickly or they won't make it. Their skin has turned pearl grey and is still covered in a thick layer of sweat and grime. No doubt more from the shock than from the heat. He sets his tools down and reaches for a pair of scissors. He begins to carefully cut away the shirt and the other man in the room averts his gaze, not wanting to be caught glimpsing at their body. It was uncouth behaviour.

'It's quite all right if you'd like to leave. I will call you when I am finished.' He states and the man nods quickly, relieved.

'Thank you.' The man replies and heads for the door, quietly shutting it behind him. The doctor turns to his patient as sighs a bit as he peels back the tee shirt and reveals a secondary shirt. He shakes his head and pushes it out of the way.

The wound is angry and deep, and it appears to have been a laser that hit them, no doubt it belonged to a Sontaran, judging by the clean hit, it leaves no trace.

He's amazed that they were able to make it this far, but where did they come from? He then notices the wrist strap. Well that certainly explains everything. But where is their proper year? And what exactly happened that they all of a sudden appear in this time, in a desert?

He digs into his bag, retrieving his tools and begins to thoroughly clean the infected area. He does his best to assure that he is gentle, but when he receives no sounds of discomfort or pain from his movements, he knows that this person is too far in the thralls of unconsciousness to feel anything. He'll need to work quickly.

The heat has clung to the air even as the sun begins its descend down. It does nothing to relieve the heat as the man and the barkeep sit at one of the round, wooden tables, waiting for word on their injured guest.

Without warning the barkeep gets up and walks towards the entrance, flicking a switch and the lights illuminate the small bar area. This ability to light up rooms without relying on fires or oil lamps has made life quite comfortable. Again they have the doctor to thank for that. He has been good to them, and as a small return of their gratitude, they would keep him safe from this Gunslinger for as long as they can.

The man watches as the barkeep slides down into his seat once more and the silence grows between these two men. Unable to stand it, the man leans forward and keeps his voice low.

'You know…I think we could both use a shot of whiskey.'

The barkeep smiles a bit, relieved and grateful for the conversation, and once more rises from his chair. 'I thought you'd never ask.'

He goes behind the bar and takes out two small shot glasses, and then turns around to a small shelf that runs across the wall. He lifts a small grey jug off the shelf and pours a small amount into each glass. He rests the jug on the counter and then picks up the two glasses, he strides to the small table and glances up out the window. The last of the sunlight streams through and he stops, wondering what exactly was happening in this town.

He resumes walking, his boots hitting the floorboards heavily and he stops at the table, setting the whiskey down. He slides into his chair and watches as the other man stares into the whiskey soulfully.

'What's happening to our town, Clint?' The man wonders and the barkeep looks up to him.

'We've certainly gotten ourselves into a heap of trouble.' Clint agrees and the man smiles a bit.

'I mean, first the good doctor, now don't get me wrong, he's certainly enriched our lives, but he's also brought with him a heap of trouble. Then the Gunslinger. What with his vendetta and now this stranger. What's happening to the world?'

'Wish I knew, sir,' Clint admitted. 'Thing I don't understand is, why did the Gunslinger decide to save them? A lot of this don't add up, I mean who are these people…really?'

'I'm afraid you're correct, Clint.' A new voice floats down to them as they turn their attention to the staircase and watch as the doctor descends carrying with him a small pouch in his hand. He reaches the bottom of the stairs and joins the others at the table.

'Can I get you a drink, doctor?' Clint questions, already standing, and the doctor shakes his head.

'No, thank you.' He states and Clint nods, sitting again.

'What have ya got there?' The man wonders and the doctor sets the pouch on the table.

It's been through years of use, clearly. The black leather has begun to wear in spots, the sheen gone from it. Some of the stitching along the seams has begun to fray and come loose. It appears as if this pouch would be strapped to one's thigh, making it easily accessible for whatever may lay inside.

'It belongs to our injured party,' The doctor explains and then opens it. The other men gather round and frown as they peer inside. The doctor sticks his hand in and pulls out an array of photographs. 'These look to be precious memories. Of a life well enjoyed.'

'Why are they full of colour like that? I don't understand.' Clint responds and the doctor turns to him. Clint keeps his attention on the photos.

'That's because, like me, our guest is not from this time. Rather the future. Around, I'd say…the 21st Century.' The doctor informs them and they look at each other. What he doesn't say is that the technology still attached on their wrist is not of the 21st Century…that's very, very futuristic.

'Is more trouble gonna be coming our way?' The man wonders. For a while, the doctor doesn't answer him, carefully pondering his words as he tries to wonder what exactly they can expect.

'I wish I had a concrete answer to give you, but in truth, I don't know where they came from other than they are human. And their arrival here was completely by accident.' The doctor admits and an uncomfortable silence passes between the men.

'Well, we'll keep them safe, just as we have for you.' The man replies, but internally he's worrying. Their supplies will not last much longer. And now there is another mouth that will need to be fed. He truly doesn't know what to do anymore. This cannot keep going on. They will have to do something or risk being stuck in this precarious situation for a long time. And it will only get worse.

'They are not tied to the Gunslinger, like I am. Once they have awoken, I will see what I can find out about them. Who they are and where they've come from.'

'They didn't seem dangerous…' Clint replies and again the men that sit around the table agree with that sentiment silently.

'No, you're right. Just someone who had unfortunately been at the wrong end of a weapon,' The doctor admits and he stands up, the chair is pushed out behind him and the others at the table look up to him in silent wonder. 'If you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I noticed signs of a fever setting in as a sign of an infection that will need to be monitored.'

With those words uttered, the doctor heads back up the stairs. The other men watch him until he's disappeared out of view and they hear the audible sound of the door creaking open and it being shut.

'Sounds like that door's in need of a bit of greasing up.' The man smiles. Clint nods his head soulfully.

'Didn't seem like there'd be much point seeing as how there ain't been no travellers here as of late. Except wayward ones,' Clint replies and the man chuckles softly. 'You've done good here, Marshal. Ensuring that the good doctor is safe from that Gunslinger, but also us. I'm sure there's a few in town who'd throw him out the first chance they'd get.'

'We can't assume the worst about our neighbours, Clint,' The Sherriff states firmly. 'We get to thinking like that, that's when suspicion sets in, I'll not have a witch hunt starting over nothing. Mass panic'll set in. That's hard to put out.'

'Be fair, Isaac,' Clint replies. 'Can you blame them?'

Isaac inhales deeply, holding the breath in his chest before exhaling. 'No, reckon you're right about that.'

The men are silent, listening to the footsteps of the doctor on the floor above them. Each of the men become lost in their own thoughts, wondering about what the future is going to have in store for them. It's an unsettling thought, making them each uncomfortable as they begin to fear the worst. The hours drift by, and still no words are spoken. The moonlight streams into the humble bar, shrouding their faces in obscurity.

The doctor wrings the cloth dry and carefully daps the person's forehead that is covered in a shine of sweat as they attempt to battle this fever that appears to have taken such a grip over their body. He knew that the fever may be difficult to battle but he never imagined that it would give way to delirium.

He watches sadly as the figure tosses and turns as they continue to mutter silently in their sleep. They have recently lost someone close to them, he's managed to gather that much. He reaches over and wipes the tears that have fallen once more. So much heartache.

He hopes for their sake that this will break soon and they can be on their way to recovery. He attempts to settle them again as they have begun to thrash a bit. He smoothes the hair that has fallen into their eyes and shakes his head. What more can he do for them?

They awaken with a jolt and then cry out from the pain that rips through their side, fanning out to cover every inch of their already sore body. Where exactly are they? Where have they been taken?

Even as they attempt to push the covers of the small, itchy bed, they can't. Their arms feel like dead weights against the sides. It hurts even to think. And when the sound of the door opening, creaking on old hinges, all they can do is look over, wondering who it could possibly be.

A man steps into the room, wearing a very posh looking suit, tailored and apparently of this time period. He is wearing a round monocle and then the figure notices something else about this man. The tattoo on his face. They start to smile.

'I've heard of you,' The figure's voice cracks from disuse and parchment. They lick their lips hoping to moisten them. 'The Kahler. The most ingenious people in the galaxy.'

The doctor is taken back by that knowledge, even though he is thoroughly shocked to his core, he reaches for the porcelain jug on the table and reaches for a tin mug place right by it. He pours the water into the mug and hands it over to the figure who gives him a small smile and hungrily drinks it down.

'How did you know about me?' The doctor wonders and the figure lowers the mug so that only their eyes are visible.

'I worked with a Kahler one time. Me and my partner. She was a wealth of knowledge, I couldn't learn enough. I was sad when she left.' Is his the reply he receives and the figure lowers the mug as they continue to stare into it.

'What was her name?' He wonders, and hopes that this may point out to who this person could be.

'Mm, I believe her name was…' The person pauses, trying to recall the name. 'Iola.'

'I'm sorry, I don't believe I've heard of them.'

'It was a pretty secret project,' The figure responds with a hint of mischief in their eyes. 'What's your name?'

'It's Kahler-Jex, I'm a surgeon. A doctor if you will.'

'It's wonderful to meet you.' The figure replies and inwardly smiles at the man's profession. How ironic.

'And your name is…?' Jex wonders and the figure turns their stare to the window next, staring into the bright sunlight that fills the room.

'Have you been treating me?' They wonder and Jex nods.

'Yes, and, might I say, that was quite the nasty gunshot wound. How did you manage to run into a Sontaran and live.' Jex questions and notices that the figure's facial expression does not change, making it impossible for Jex to read them.

'Accident. I'm not one for violence. Unfortunately for me, my smart mouth got me into a bit of trouble. I tried to teleport out of there using this,' They motion to the wrist strap. 'But I didn't have time to put in coordinates. Looks like it chose a destination on its own. Anyway, the Sontaran still fired a shot and it hit me. I didn't have time to get out of the way.'

'You're very lucky to have survived. Although you developed a fever from the infection. You've been in a state of delirium for two days, looks like today it finally broke.' Jex smiles and the figure turns to him nodding their head.

'Hope I didn't say anything too embarrassing.' Is their reply and Jex smiles wistfully.

'It seems like there has been a traumatic death that has occurred. They were close to you?'

Silence.

'Not at first. But eventually, yes.' That is a very cryptic response and Jex frowns a bit.

'Was it…recent?'

'Feels recent. But I suppose death always feels like that…doesn't it?' The reply comes and Jex feels a bit of a smile on his face. Instantly liking their personality and insight into life.

'It does, you're right.' Jex agrees and there is another quiet moment that passes between the two of them.

'How long am I going to be stuck here?' The figure questions and tilts their head, wanting an answer.

Jex inhales and then remains quiet for some time. 'Well, that depends. Where are you from?'

'Not here, as I'm sure you've gathered,' The person replies with a bit of a smirk on their face. 'I'm kind of between places at the moment. Landing here was completely by accident.'

'Between places?' Jex echoes, unsure of what that really means. He studies the person, looking for hints in their facial expression that may reveal more than what was just said. But there is nothing. Just an unreadable expression.

'Yes. It's complicated. I'd rather not explain. I'm sorry.'

Jex nods a bit and they both turn when a slight rap on the door is heard. Jex stands strides towards to the door opening it to reveal a kind looking man. A bit older, soft eyes and a nice smile, he looks past Jex to the figure that is now sitting up in the bed. He tips his had to them, a kind gesture.

Clearly their instincts had been right. It has to be some time in the 19th Century, problem is…the electricity. That doesn't seem right. The figure studies the room, picking up subtle hints and barely registers the conversation that Jex and the man are having.

When they turn their attention back to Jex and the man, they have noticed that the man has gotten much closer to them now, no longer lingering in the doorway. He offers another kind smile and pulls up another chair. They notice that his cheeks have redden a bit and the figure assumes that's because the cotton chemise that has been put on them reveal more than that man is comfortable seeing.

'It's good to see you're on the road to recovery.' The man states sincerely and tries to remain focused on their eyes, and not at the attire that has been placed on them out of need.

'Yes, I am. Thank you. Your doctor is quite wonderful.'

'He's done a world of good for you and us,' The man agrees and places his hand on Jex's shoulder. 'Helped us with the cholera outbreak a few years back.'

The figure's features soften at that and a sincere smile breaks out on their face. 'I'm sure that means more to you than anything.'

'It does,' The man replies and then widens his eyes, like he's forgotten something. 'Sorry, don't mean no disrespect, my name's Isaac. I'm the Marshal round here.'

The figure sticks their hand out and Isaac shakes it tightly. 'It's wonderful to meet you. Thank you for taking me into your town.'

'What's your name?' Isaac wonders and Jex leans forward in anticipation. The figure turns their attention to the window once more. Clearly avoiding answering that question.

'Where is here? What's the town called.'

'Mercy. What's your name?' Isaac repeats, not liking the constant avoidance at the question. Jex hadn't been able to get a name out of this person; he was sure going to find out.

'Mercy. That's an interesting name for a town. Are you on the giving end or the receiving end?' The figure wonders with a bit of a smile on their features.

'Both ends. What's your name?'

Seeing how this could go on for some time the figure inwardly sighs and shifts in the small, itchy bed. That movement sends jolts of pain through their body and they wince, doing their best to mask the pain they feel. Knowing that they'd want an answer, the figure begins to go through their extensive alias list and finally the figure turns their attention back to the two men, hoping to move the conversation away from them.

'I don't see why it matters.' The figure stated softly, but there isn't any indignation in their voice.

'I'd like to know how to address you. And I figure you owe me that much seeing as how we have graciously taken you into our town.' Isaac replies simply and the figure just leans back into the soft pillow, still mentally trying to decide on an alias.

'Fair enough. It's Rhoswen Wolfe,' She replies and sticks her hand out again to Isaac who once again shakes it. 'Nice to formally meet you, Isaac.'

'And you, Miss Wolfe.' Isaac nods

'Why couldn't you have told us that earlier?' Jex wonders and Rhoswen shrugs her shoulders.

'I don't like giving out my name. Sorry. Personal preference. You just never know. What with my job and all.'

'What sort of job is it you do, Miss Wolfe? A lady shouldn't be working.' Isaac replies and Rhoswen smiles a bit at how antiquated his values are. But she's seen worse. This is merely the time, that's all. He means no harm. And so she chuckles a bit.

'Maybe, in this time. Not mine, though. I like working,' Rhoswen states simply and has a bit of a sly smile on her face. 'Any other questions?'

There is silence in the room as Jex and Isaac study Rhoswen, wondering who exactly she is and where's come from. Rhoswen finds it amusing, it allows her to focus on something other than the pain she feels all over her body.

Jex sees the growing discomfort that has begun to show on Rhoswen's face, clearly conversing with them is causing her great strain, and with her fever just breaking, she's most likely exhausted and still needs adequate rest in order to recuperate.

'You know, Isaac, I think Rhoswen will need some more rest. We should excuse ourselves so she can do so.'

'Of course, right. Thank you for your time, Miss Wolfe.' Isaac tips his hat to her once more and she just grins up at him. He exits and leaves the door propped open slightly.

Jex turns to her and begins another examination of her injury and once he is satisfied that things seem to be progressing at a normal rate he states and Rhoswen looks up to him and her bright eyes await his verdict.

'I'm satisfied for now, it will need to be monitored, I will check on you later. Until then, I think it'd be best if you rest.' Jex decides and Rhoswen nods. Jex gives her a small smile and heads out of the room, shutting the door quietly.

She looks around and attempts to settle herself back in the bed. Finding herself unable to fall asleep right away, she studies the room. It's on the small side, plain and serves merely one purpose. It is just for rest. There is a wardrobe placed on the back wall in front of the bed. A small night table has been moved from its original spot by the bed to just in front of wardrobe. On it is a porcelain jug and bowl. Figuring she knows what it was used for she turns her attention to the small chair that Jex had just been occupying. Draped over the back of it are her dirty cargo pants and tattered tank top. Feeling a moment of panic when she doesn't spot her bag, she attempts to get herself out of bed to find it.

The pain is unbearable and she can't even manage to swing her legs around the bed before she collapses back on the bed, utterly exhausted. She groans and closes her eyes, worried that she's lost it in the desert somewhere when she landed. She'd have to ask Jex when he returned if he had seen it. Everything she is and was is concealed within that bag. She needs it. She feels the worry begin to mount within her and presses her hand to her head in frustration. If Jex hadn't seen it then she'd have to get up and find it.

Instinctively she lifts the chemise to expose the injury so she can see what exactly the damage is. Gingerly she peels away the gauze and it reveals a long incision that runs from the base of her hip to the bottom portion of her ribs. It is red, the skin is tender and she winces just staring at it. However thanks to Jex's skilled hands, the incision looks like it will heal with minimal scarring. She's grateful for that.

In truth she's upset that she had been led into a trap, and she really should have known better. All the signs were there now that she looks back on the incident.

Maybe she was losing her touch. Maybe he was right, she had stopped giving everything and everyone the benefit of the doubt, and she had promised him that she would start again. He had wanted her to. And yet she knew he would have been the first person to try and deter her from going. It wasn't safe, and she played it cool anyway. Too bad he hadn't been there to stop the rest of her team from agreeing with her. They had grown too accustomed to each other and their habits, how to speak to each other to stop the other one from doing foolish things. She needed him. The worst part was, how is she going to get back home now? She hopes she won't be stuck here now. It feels…odd to be back here. Uneasy. Angry sometimes.

Now there really isn't anything she can do about it. She's stuck in this bed until she has enough strength to get herself mobile again. It really isn't too bad. Those she's met have been really kind to her. Although she has a sneaking suspicion that Jex is trapped here as well. There's something more going on with him, something that she'd have to get him to explain to her.

It has been a very long three days, with only minimal trips around the small room and the landing and hallway of the upper level of this saloon. Cabin fever is starting to set in and she's itching to get outside and feel the sunlight and heat on her skin once more. The injury is still immensely painful but she's managing the pain well, it seems to be healing well as well.

She was able to meet more people of this town called Mercy. Usually when she came down to stretch her legs there were people in the bar, doing minimal business. She met the preacher of the town, a wonderful man, and Clint, the barkeep of the saloon. He was a bit older but polite and was always willing to bend over backwards to help her when he would see her coming down the stairs. She was grateful for his company when she was walking around and indeed the politeness of all the regular patrons. She still has yet to make it outside, but she's slowly working there. Instead she'd play the piano that was poised in one corner of the saloon, letting her memories engulf her as she remembered her life that has passed before her. Remembering how he taught her to play. How long and frustrating it had been for her to learn. It's when she's playing does she really begin to miss him then.

Clint always compliments her playing, but finds the songs she plays depressing. So she's usually forced to play something more cheery to keep him happy. Maybe today she could finally make her way outside. Jex just has to clear her and she's been building the strength. Hopefully today will be the day. She needs to get out and breathe in the air. It's becoming stuffy in the saloon. She needs to have more patience. She's been rather bad at that, the waiting. Of course…Jex is late today. She wonders what could be keeping him. She begins to feel tired and slips into a deep sleep, still recovering from her injury.

It had been a long, hot walk from the TARDIS to wherever it was they were now. The heat waves could be seen in the distance and the constant call of vultures overhead didn't really instil the greatest amount of confidence in them as they continued their walk along the desert world.

Now they had come to a small town, hoping to find relief from the heat. Problem was that this very small town didn't really exude a modern look. Another hint that they had travelled into the past where there likely wouldn't be any relief and that was disheartening.

Amy watches as the Doctor stands, with his arms folded across his chest, reading the little wooden sign on the road, indicating where they are and how many people are in this town. It has a cattle skull on the top of the sign. It appears that this town has had a recent addition. The population number is struck out and added to. Amy frowns when her gaze is lowered to the warning sign nailed just below it. Keep out. An odd warning. There is a small border of some kind that is laid out before them. Merely consisting of sticks and stones. Amy exchanges looks with Rory. They continue to study the ring that seems to line the town.

'Mercy, 81 residents.' The Doctor reads, noticing that the previous number, eighty had a strike through it, and Amy glances up to him.

'Look at this. It's a load of stones and lumps of wood,' Amy directs his attention to the ring and the Doctor frowns. He reaches into his pocket and takes out his sonic, running it along the ring and then frowns once more. 'What is it?' She wonders.

'A load of stones and lumps of wood.' The Doctor replies and smiles as he steps over the line and into the town.

Unbeknownst to them, they are being monitored from the bluffs of the desert.

Amy and Rory look at one another before Rory decides to speak up, questioning the Doctor's blatant disregard for the warning.

'Er, the sign does say 'keep out.'' Rory reminds him and the Doctor stops, turning to both of them.

'I see keep out signs as suggestions more than actual orders. Like dry clean only.' The Doctor responds and rubs his hands together before turning back around and heading into the town. Amy follows him and reluctantly, Rory does as well. He just knows that sign was put up for a reason, but why? The town is quiet. Are they hiding something?

Together, the three of them head down the dusty street that leads them further into the heart of the little town. Amy glances around and notices that people are warily watching them from their windows, which some residents shut. Some linger in their doorways, studying them with narrowed eyes and unimpressed expressions on their face. Amy watches a one woman that stands in her door clutches her child tighter to her. Clearly these people do not like strangers in their town. There is a lot of tension in the air.

The Doctor notices the hostile nature, but pays no mind to it when he stumbles across something a bit more troublesome. Street lamps line the road and one abruptly sparks as the Doctor begins to approach it. He frowns and pulls out the sonic, scanning the lamp quickly.

'That's not right…' The Doctor states as he stares at the sonic before slipping it back into his pocket.

'It's a street lamp.' Rory replies confused and the Doctor turns back to them, eyeing the town suspiciously.

'An electric street lamp about ten years too early.' The Doctor states and looks up to where they have stopped in front of. The town's saloon. Maybe they can get answers there.

'It's only a few years out.' Rory replies innocently and the Doctor gives him a funny look.

'That's what you said when you left your phone recharger in Henry VIII's ensuite.' The Doctor reminds him and Rory nods his head in understanding. Already mentally going through that day. He really had been on the end of the King's wrath for that. Rumours were true about him. He had quite the nasty temper.

'Doctor, um…' Amy attempts to break in, but is abruptly cut off as the Doctor begins to speak again. His tone is jovial.

'Anachronistic electricity, keep out signs, aggressive stares…has someone been peaking at my Christmas list?' The Doctor muses and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a toothpick, putting it into his mouth, he begins to walk into the saloon.

'Doctor!' Amy calls to him but he's already heading inside, so she and Rory quickly head in after him.

The saloon seems to be doing a brisk business as the Doctor pushes open the doors and steps inside. A man is playing the piano, an upbeat tune while other patrons drink at the table or engage in playing poker. He watches as a man gets up and strolls over to man playing the piano.

'Play the one that Miss Wolfe always plays.' The man states and instantly the pianist switches to something a bit more sedate and the men in the saloon grumble their approval and the chatter resumes. The Doctor smiles ruefully at the woman's last name.

When the patrons have noticed that someone new has entered the bar the music and the friendly chatter immediately dies, plunging the whole saloon into silence. Paying no mind to the sudden and abrupt silence the Doctor strolls over to the bar and puts his hand down on the counter, signalling the barkeep. Clint eyes the group but nonetheless approaches them.

'Tea. But the strong stuff. Leave the bag in.' The man states in an obvious phoney accent. He is trying to emulate theirs. He attempts to flip the toothpick but it gets stuck. Clint frowns.

'What you doing here, son?' Clint wonders and watches the man laugh a bit.

'Son?' He echoes, still laughing. 'You can stay.' Clint notices the two others that still linger in the doorway. They are wearing the same type of clothing like Rhoswen had been. Where do these people keep coming from?

Clint watches as the preacher stands up, warily eyeing the group. The preacher grips the lapels of his outfit. 'Sir, might I enquire who you is?'

The man turns to the preacher and smiles. 'Of course. I'm the Doctor, this is…' The man attempts to motion to the two others but halts when everyone in the saloon stands up. But this Doctor appears to be unaffected. 'No need to stand,' He states and turns to the others. 'You see that? Manners,' The Doctor states and notices that a man has come forward and has begun to take measurements with a candid fascination. The Doctor attempts to turn to follow the man's movements. 'Oh, thank you, but I don't need a new suit.'

The man, still taking measurements, merely glances up to the Doctor before resuming his work. 'I'm the undertaker, sir.'

The Doctor nods and then stares at the man as his words are fully digested. Wondering why an undertaker would be taking measurements, is he going to be needing a new suit…? What's the purpose? Hopefully not dying. That thought is unpleasant and he watches as a young man steps forward, eyeing the group of strangers carefully. He's wearing a brown suit and bowler hat.

'I got a question,' The young man states firmly. 'Is you an alien?'

The Doctor frowns and mulls over his answer, wondering how they would immediately make the connection from his name to him being an alien? Why is that? What's this town really harbouring?

Amy and Rory watch nervously from their spot next to the door, they quickly begin to see where this line of questioning could lead them.

'Well, um…' The Doctor pauses and attempts to figure out how to word his next sentence carefully. 'Bit personal,' He admits. 'It's all relative, isn't it? I mean, I think you're the aliens. But in this context, yes. Yes, I suppose I am.'

That seemed to be all the admission they need because all the men in the saloon suddenly rush the Doctor, lifting him up and they carry him back out into the hot sun.

'Guys!' The Doctor shouts to Amy and Rory, who have also been pushed out into the dusty road.

They walk down the street with him while others from the saloon ensure that both Amy and Rory are restrained. Amy struggles against those who have restrained her.

'Doctor!' She calls to him and then shouts to the men. 'Put him down!'

'Don't think we won't kill you.' One of the men stated darkly.

'Leave him alone!' Rory shouts as the crowd continues to stride towards the border of the town. Rory attempts to shake the man that's holding him off but to no avail. Amy is even having problems shaking herself free from the man that continues to march her towards the edge of the town.

'Rory, everything is completely under control.' The Doctor twists to try and let them know he's okay.

'Get off me!' Amy struggles against the men holding her.

The group of me that still have the Doctor hoisted into the air suddenly toss him out of town. He lands on the other side of the ring, heavily and he groans.

'Ow…' He pulls himself to his feet and he turns around to face the townspeople. Shockingly all the men pull out their revolvers and aim them at the Doctor who immediately puts his hands up. He's baffled as to why this is happening. Why are they so terrified of him, he doesn't think he's met these people before. Or maybe he has. His life isn't always the right order. And then the crowd begins to look past him, to something in the distance. He notices that some of their hands begin to shake.

'He's coming. Oh, god. He's coming!' The preacher states nervously and points to something in the distance.

The young man in the brown suit and bowler hat whips his stare to the preacher, his face pale. 'Preacher…say something.'

The preacher clears his throat. 'Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,' As he is saying the prayer, the Doctor turns around to see something drawing closer to the town by teleport shifts. He becomes unnerved. 'Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.'

The Doctor attempts to get back into the town, but the men refuse to lower their weapons and the Doctor knows that the panic has begun to set in and that they might fire because they're scared. That's the last thing he needs.

A shot does ring out, but it doesn't come from the crowd that is guarding the town. It comes from the side, by a man with a moustache. The crowd of men immediately turn their gaze to the newcomer. There is a silence that falls between them all.

'You. Bow tie,' The man calls to him and the Doctor points to himself. 'Get back across that line,' The man pulls back a flap of his jacket to reveal a badge that says 'Marshal' on it. 'Now,' His tone is firm and demanding. As he strides closer to the crowd he notices Amy and tips his hat to her. 'Ma'am.'

The Doctor does as he's told and steps across the line. When he turns around to see what had been after them, the figure stops and then disappears completely.

'Isaac, he said he was a doctor…an alien doctor.' The man in the brown suit states firmly.

'That a reason to hand him to his death?' Isaac wonders and the man nods his head enthusiastically.

'But, Isaac, it could be him!' He replies, willing Isaac to understand.

'You know it ain't,' Isaac states and he holsters his gun, turning around and walking away. 'Besides he did save a life a week ago. Who's to say that things aren't changing with him,' Isaac replies but doesn't turn around. Instead he heads back to the Marshal's office. Once more as he passes Amy he offers another gesture of kindness and tips his hat. 'Ma'am.'

The Doctor, intrigued, brushes himself off and straightens his jacket before following after Isaac. Amy and Rory shrug off their captors and jog in order to keep up with them. The townspeople do not appear to be too happy at the decision their Marshal has made.

'Just let him go like that?' One man wonders bitterly and another man watches the Doctor pass by him.

'Be seeing you, boy.' The second man warns and the Doctor strides past him, walking to the building that Isaac just disappeared into.

Amy and Rory don't like the man's menacing nature and keep their attention focused ahead of them, following the Doctor right into the Marshal's building.

When they enter they see that Isaac has just taken a seat on the corner of a desk. The building is hot, the air is thick and the building itself is rather plain, wooden with an array of desks staggered around the main office. At the back and to the right, there is a small area dedicated to holding cells. A ring of keys sits on a nail not far from that area.

'What was that outside?' The Doctor wonders and Isaac sighs a bit.

'The Gunslinger. Showed up three weeks back. We've been prisoners ever since,' Isaac states and readjusts his hat. 'You see that borderline, stretching round the town? Woke up one morning, there it was. Nothing gets past it, in or out. No supply wagons, no reinforcements. Pretty soon, the whole town's going to starve to death.'

'But…he let us in.' Rory states and the Doctor frowns.

'You ain't carrying any food,' Isaac replies, a hint of indignation in his voice. 'That's another three mouths to feed. What with you coming here now and…well, it don't matter. We'll all die even sooner now.'

The Doctor doesn't miss the hint of hesitation in Isaac's voice and takes a step forward. 'You mentioned that this…Gunslinger, saved someone? Seems a bit contradictory if you ask me.'

'Yeah. It does,' Isaac agrees and wonders if he should be telling these strangers anything at all. 'Showed up a week ago. Badly injured. The Gunslinger brought her to the town so we could take care of her.'

'Her?' Amy wonders and leans forward to her the explanation.

'Yeah. Would've bled out in that desert if he hadn't have brought her here.' Isaac states and cross his arms over his chest.

'Why do that?' The Doctor wonders.

'Most I can tell is, she'd been in a fight. He's a warrior, maybe he felt sorry for her.'

'That doesn't make any sense.' Rory replies but Isaac only shrugs his response.

'What happens if someone crosses the line?' The Doctor wonders, hoping to change the subject but doesn't put that small conversation out of his mind. He'd have to meet this woman; maybe she can give him some more answers about this Gunslinger and why he chose to rescue her.

Isaac leans back and pulls out something, tossing it quickly to the Doctor who leans forward to catch it. It's a Stetson and the Doctor smiles a bit, putting his finger through the obvious bullet hole.

'Ah, well…' The Doctor retracts his finger and looks up to Isaac. 'He wasn't a very good shot then.'

'He was aiming for the hat.' Isaac responds and the Doctor widens his eyes.

'He shoots people's hats?!'

'I think it was a warning shot.' Amy states and Isaac nods at her assumption.

The Doctor passes the hat to Rory for an inspection. 'Ah. No. Yes. I see. Hmm.'

Amy takes the hat out of Rory's hands and examines it carefully. 'What does he want? Has he issued some kind of demand?' She wonders as she passes the hat back to Rory, who hands it off to the Doctor. The Doctor tosses it back to Isaac.

'He says he wants us to give him the 'alien doctor.'' Isaac informs them and tosses the hat onto the chair poised behind the desk.

'But that's you,' Amy points to the Doctor who shrugs. 'Why would he want to kill you? Unless he's met you.' Amy surmises but Rory leans in to her.

'And how could he know we'd be here?' Rory wonders and then drops his voice to a whisper. 'We didn't even know we'd be here.'

Amy frowns and then turns to Isaac. 'We were aiming for Mexico. The Doctor was taking us to see the Day of the Dead Festival.'

'Mexico's two hundred miles due south.' Isaac replies and Amy nods her head defeated.

A light above them flickers and the Doctor turns his gaze up to it, smiling slightly. 'Well, that's what happens when people get toast crumbs on the console,' He informs Amy. 'Anyway, I think it's about time I met him, don't you?' The Doctor stares at Isaac as he sits on the railing behind him.

'Who?' Isaac echoes.

'The chap outside said I could be the alien doctor, but you said I wasn't. So you already know who it is,' The Doctor eyes Isaac and smiles as he turns to Amy and Rory. 'Two alien doctors! We're like buses. Resident eighty-one, I presume. So beloved by the townsfolk, he wanted an alteration to the sign. Probably because he rigged up these electrics. And I'm guessing he's in here because if half the town suddenly wanted to throw me to my death…well, I'd want to be here…just in case.' The Doctor states and hops off the rail, directing himself towards the wall of cells.

'I don't know what you…' Isaac attempts to get out and gets off the desk he'd been sitting on as he tries to stop the Doctor from advancing further.

A voice suddenly floats towards the little group. 'It's all right, Isaac. I think the time for subterfuge has passed,' The Doctor watches a man get up from a bunk in one of the cells and turns to him. 'Good afternoon. My name is Kahler-Jex. I'm the doctor.'

Amy and Rory notice that the man's outfit is very professional and of the time. Then they notice the tattoo that is on the man's face. They exchange looks but the Doctor looks simply thrilled as the man steps out of the cell. The Doctor begins to shake the man's hand enthusiastically, a big smile on his face.

'The Kahler. I love the Kahler. One of the most ingenious races in the galaxy, seriously. They could build a spaceship out of Tupperware and moss.'

Amy strides towards the Doctor and pushes him down into a chair, and it's only then that he releases Jex's hand. Jex smiles at the Doctor, eyeing him a bit and going over his words in his head.

As he sits behind Isaac's desk he mulls over the words carefully. 'That's odd. You said the exact same thing she did.'

'Who did?' The Doctor questions.

'Miss Wolfe. Said the exact same thing. She knew about me, my people.' Jex replies and again thinks it's a rather odd coincidence.

'Who is this Miss Wolfe?' The Doctor wonders.

'She came here a week ago. Severely injured.' Jex replies and the Doctor frown, trying to think of who this person could possibly be. Especially to know about aliens.

'The Gunslinger brought her here?' Amy recalls and Isaac nods his head.

'That's right. Don't know why.' Isaac replies.

'Where is she? I'd like to talk to her.' The Doctor declares but Jex shakes his head.

'I'm afraid I can't allow it. She was struck by a Sontaran weapon, she is still recovering.'

'A Sontaran weapon?' The Doctor echoes in disbelief and he begins to wonder how she could still possibly be alive after being struck by a weapon like that.

Amy can see that the Doctor is busy trying to figure out what Jex has just said so she attempts to change the subject, wanting to know about how everything has come to be.

'All right. How did you get here?' Amy questions Jex and he inhales deeply, leaning forward as he answers her question.

'My craft crashed about a mile or so out of town. I would have died if Isaac and the others hadn't pulled me from the wreckage.' Jex states and Isaac places his hand on Jex's shoulder. He's smiling.

'Listen to him. Talking like it was nothing. Tell them about the cholera!' Isaac replies and slaps Jex on the back.

'Now, Isaac, I'm sure out guests aren't…' Jex stammers a bit, trying to be modest but Isaac won't have any of it. He immediately interrupts Jex.

'Two years after he arrived, there was an outbreak of cholera. Thanks to the doc here not a single person died.' Isaac stated proudly.

'A minor infection we'd found a treatment for centuries ago.' Jex explains simply but Isaac is again too excited about bragging Jex's talents to their guests.

'No, no, no. What do you call them? The lectricks?'

'Using my ship as a generator, I was able to rig up some rudimentary heating and lighting for the town.' Jex explains and the Doctor leans forward, curiosity still burning within him and smiles a bit.

'So, why does the Gunslinger want you?' The Doctor questions but Isaac stops that conversation before it has a chance to grow.

'It don't matter.' Isaac states firmly.

'I'm just saying, if we knew…' The Doctor attempts to get them to understand.

'America's a land of second chances. We called this town Mercy for a reason. Others…some round here don't feel that way.' Isaac admits and Jex sighs a bit.

'Now, Isaac, we've discussed this.' Jex replies and Isaac shakes his head.

'People whose lives you saved are suddenly saying we should hand you over.' Isaac states bitterly. Not understanding how his fellow townspeople could hate someone who saved their lives.

'They're scared, that's all,' Jex replies simply, understanding their fear and resentments. 'You can hardly blame them.'

'Them being scared, scares me,' Isaac admits and his thoughts become dark. 'War only ended five years back. That old violence is still under the surface. We give up Doc Jex, then we're handing the keys of the town over to chaos.'

The Doctor nods his head, understanding the reasoning that Isaac has. They can't give in to these fears that the people have. There is always a choice. They just have to find it. Make these people understand that their futures are not as bleak as they would believe.

The Doctor ponders a bit longer before thinking of the obvious. 'Did you try to repair your craft? Surely someone with your skills…'

Jex merely shakes his head in sadness, but also he doesn't want to reveal the real reason he never attempted to go back to it is because he's a marked man. Anywhere he'd go, the Gunslinger would find him. There isn't a point.

'It really was very badly damaged.' Jex admits and the Doctor nods in understanding, he abruptly gets to his feet. He's already devised a plan, fearing that that would have been Jex's answer.

'We'll evacuate the town. Our ship's just over the hills. Room for everyone,' The Doctor sits on the desk and smiles. 'I'll pop out, bring it here. Robert's your uncle.' He states with a bit of a smile.

Amy folds her arms across her chest, not believing his attitude to this whole situation. She doesn't believe that it'll be this easy, it never is. So why does he think it will be? When he approaches her, she raises her eyebrows at him in disbelief.

'Really? Simple as that? No crazy schemes? No negotiations?' Amy states with a bit of a mocking tone in her voice.

'I've matures. I'm twelve hundred years old now,' The Doctor states proudly but doesn't admit the gnawing curiosity he feels about another mysterious guest that still is being hidden away from him. 'Plus, I don't want to miss The Archers.' The Doctor stands and spots a Stetson hanging on the wall. He picks it up and heads for the door.

'Oh, so you're not even a tiny bit curious?' Amy repeats and watches the Doctor stop just by the door.

'Why would I be curious? It's a mysterious space cowboy assassin. Curious? Of course I'm not curious.' The Doctor replies simply but Amy can see the hint of smile on his face as he disappears through the door.

'Son?' Isaac calls and the Doctor comes back into the Marshal's office, a confused look on his face. 'You've still got to get past the Gunslinger. How you gonna do that?'

The Doctor looks at the Stetson still in his hands and puts it on his head, a grin appears on his face. 'With a little sleight of hand.' Again he disappears outside and Amy and Rory merely exchange looks with one another.

The Doctor surveys the town, its residents still eyeing their little group with malicious glares and he attempts to figure out where this enigmatic Miss Wolfe may be hiding. He wonders if the person is actually River. However she's never used an alias before, so why start now? Of course…if it isn't River, who else could it possibly be? Just someone who may work for UNIT…maybe Torchwood? It just doesn't make sense to him.

Of course…when he heard her name, he almost wished it were her. He knows that it isn't possible, but he couldn't help but hope. He's dying to meet her, just to see what she knows about everything.

His gaze stops at the saloon when he notices a shadow move in the window on the upper level. It might be her. Then again…it might not be. He sighs a bit. One thing at a time. After all, he'd meet her when they evacuated the town. He has a feeling that he's going to like her.

When Amy and Rory come out he draws them closer and explains his plan. Rory pales a bit and sighs, while Amy goes in and retrieves Isaac and Jex.

'What if I get shot at?' Rory wonders and the Doctor shakes his head.

'I promise that won't happen.'

'How can you be sure?' Rory questions and Isaac crosses his arms as the Doctor goes over the plan again. Jex takes off his coat and hat, handing them over to the Doctor who places the hat on Isaac's head. The Doctor doesn't answer his question.

'Well then, we best be getting out there.' Isaac states and Rory nods. Amy embraces him tightly. And together she and Jex watch as Isaac and Rory head towards the edge of town and then into the desert.

'Doctor…how do you know the Gunslinger won't shoot them?' Amy watches Rory cross over the ring and together she watches as Rory and Isaac begin to run. Soon after they disappear from sight.

'Because the Gunslinger won't involve innocent people,' The Doctor replies and Amy still can't stop the worrying feeling she has inside. 'Amy, you stay in the Marshal's office with Jex, just in case the townspeople get some ideas.'

The Doctor states as he begins to walk towards the preacher they had met earlier. Amy doesn't argue and lingers in the middle of the town with Jex.

'Come on, Amy, let's get inside.' Jex says and he heads inside, while Amy stays where she is, watching the desert that is stretched before her and then to the Doctor as he approaches the preacher.

After a few more moments pass, she heads inside when she notices that more of the townspeople have gathered outside to watch her. She's unsure if they'll try anything now that Isaac is gone. She will have to keep Jex safe just in case.

Isaac finds the coat and hat he's been forced to wear very stifling as he and Rory continue to zigzag through the desert in hopes of attracting the attention of the Gunslinger, and they hope that he buys into the illusion. Isaac grips Rory's arm and drags him behind a bluff of rocks. They pant, trying to catch their breaths and Isaac turns to Rory.

'You okay?'

'Yeah, fine. Yeah. Keep moving.' Rory takes a look behind the rocks and doesn't notice anything he pulls Isaac by the arm and they run to the next collection of bluffs.

'Next time…you get to wear Jex's clothes.' Isaac calls to Rory and he gives Isaac a thumbs up as they continue to run. The heat is unbearable.

When they duck behind the next collection, they don't notice that from an opposite ridge, the Gunslinger has been watching this display with great interest. He remains stone faced as he targets who he believes to be Jex. He is about to shoot his gun when someone else steps in the way. The other man doesn't move and the Gunslinger's internal computer registers an eight-seven percent chance of injury to the innocent man. It recommends that he disengage. And so he agrees, lowering his weapon. It seems like this will come down to patience. Well he has all the time in the world. What he doesn't understand is why now? What is he up to?

The Doctor turns his attention from the saloon window as he approaches the preacher, who has just dismounted from his horse and has begun to tie the reigns to a hitching post.

'Excuse me, sir?' The Doctor calls and the preacher stops turning to look at him.

'Yes?'

'Can I ask you something? Have you had a chance to meet this Miss Wolfe?' The Doctor wonders and notices the man's features soften at the mention of her.

'Oh yes, she's a real nice lady.' The preacher tells the Doctor and he nods his head.

'Did she say anything about where she might have come from?' The Doctor questions but the preacher merely shakes his head.

'No sir,' The preacher turns his attention to the saloon. 'Seems like a solitary lady. Though she did say she lost someone. Someone close to her. Didn't mention a name, though. Real nice smile on her. Sometimes she'd come down and play on the piano. She plays real good.'

'What's her first name?' The Doctor asks. He doesn't know anyone who could be identified through the meagre traits that the preacher had just described.

'Don't know, sir. Everyone round here just calls her Miss Wolfe. Heard that Jex and Isaac know, though.'

'I see, thanks,' The Doctor briefly turns to the saloon, getting ever more intrigued by this mystery that surrounds that woman. He turns back to the preacher and his horse. 'Can I borrow your horse, please? It's official Marshal business.'

The Doctor doesn't wait for an answer and mounts the horse anyway. The preacher hands the reigns to the Doctor and pats the horse affectionately.

'He's called Joshua. It's from the Bible. It means the Deliverer.' The preacher informs the Doctor and the horse neighs in response.

'No, he isn't.' The Doctor states and the preacher frowns at him.

'I speak horse. He's called Susan. And he wants you to respect his life choices.' The Doctor informs him and he drives his heels into the horse's ribs. Susan springs to life carrying the ride out of town.

The preachers just pushes his hat up out of his eyes and watches with confusion as the horse and rider soon disappear behind the bluffs of the desert.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the townspeople, another figure watches the horse and rider leave town. Rhoswen squints her eyes as she attempts to focus on them in the distance. Sadly she isn't able to make out the rider of the horse clearly. She crosses her arms over her chest and sighs. She feels the pain begin to creep into her side and she has to sit on the bed, scrunching her nose against the pain.

Needing to take her mind off of it, she reaches over to her clothing and picks up the bag she'd come with. She opens it and pulls out her photos, needing their strength to aid her in her recovery. She fingers the chain around her neck as she smiles when she flips to some of her favourite ones of her and her partner. Again she misses him. What she wouldn't give to have him with her now.

Isaac and Rory are carefully making their way along the base of a ridge when the ground between the abruptly explodes from a gunshot. They jump back and recoil, throwing their arms in front of their faces. They have been spotted by the Gunslinger. That was a warning shot. Next time, if they were spotted, they are sure that he wouldn't miss.

'I, uh…think he's seen us.' Rory attempts to spot where the shot had come from but is unable to do so. There is just so much openness to the desert that it's impossible to properly see where the Gunslinger could be. All Rory can see is the heat waves that come from the ground and the bright sunlight that shrouds everything. Rory attempts to shield his eyes from the sun but it doesn't do anything to help. Isaac firmly grips Rory's arm and pulls him in another direction.

'This way.'

Isaac leads them around the back of the ridge and they each attempt to see if they can spot the Gunslinger. It's silent. It isn't comforting and together they creep along the ridge.

Amy re-crosses her legs and shifts on the desk she's sitting on and watches Jex as he continues to stare out of the window in the Marshal's office. The townspeople have kept their distance, and Amy is relieved for that. She turns her worry back to Rory and hopes that he and Isaac are making out all right. She wants them to return safely. She inwardly sighs and notices that Jex has been staring at the saloon. She frowns and wonders what he could be staring at. She clears her throat and Jex briefly turns to her, wondering what she's thinking. He's thinking about Rhoswen, and how he should be up there checking on her to ensure she's all right and not in too much pain.

'Jex?' Amy questions and he turns back to her. She has a look of concern on her face and it's then he realises that she had been speaking to him. He hadn't heard anything she said. That's rather embarrassing.

'I'm sorry, Amy, I was lost in my thoughts.' Jex admits and she smiles slightly.

'That's fine. I just wondered that when this is all done, do you want us to take you home?'

Jex shakes his head. This is his home now. Here he can do good and attempt to erase the blood in his ledger. Even though he is a marked man, maybe this Doctor would be able to talk some sense into this Gunslinger if they ever met face to face. After all, he's realised his mistake. How wrong he was and what he had done was evil. Hopefully they can go about their plan without discovering his past. He will keep it buried for as long as possible.

'Thank you, but I have already given everything I have to the Kahler. My skills, my energy…all that was good in me. But here…I could start afresh. I could remember myself and help people. That's all I ever wanted to do. End suffering.' Jex admits and Amy smiles warmly at him.

She gets off the desk and stands, picking up Isaac's jacket that he had taken off to don Jex's instead. 'Here.' She states and puts his jacket over his shoulders.

Jex smiles and studies Amy closely. 'You're a mother, aren't you?'

Amy blinks at that statement and wonders how he could possibly know that. 'How did you know?'

'There's a kindness in your eyes. And sadness. But a ferocity too,' Jex pauses and remembers where else he had seen that same kind of ferocity. 'Just like Miss Wolfe.'

'It wasn't exactly straightforward.' Amy admits and wonders how he could tell everything like that by staring at her for mere moments.

'It seldom is.' Jex smiles ruefully and Amy crosses her arms.

'Who exactly is this Miss Wolfe?' Amy questions and Jex continues to stare off.

'I wish I knew. She keeps her life secret. She doesn't talk about it. But she has great suffering buried within her. I think she is a warrior. She is on the run…so she doesn't have to look back.'

'Look back at what?' Amy wonders and Jex just smiles at her.

'That's the mystery, isn't it?' Jex replies enigmatically. 'I don't understand her need to want to run. From what I saw, she appears to have a wonderful life.'

'Something must have changed it,' Amy decides and wants to meet this Miss Wolfe. Where are they keeping her tucked away? Deciding to change the subject when Jex looks back out to the window she tilts her head and wonders something else. 'And what about you? Are you a father?'

Jex briefly turns back to her and then puts his gaze back out the window and to the desert bluffs. 'Yes. In a way, I suppose I am.'

Silence falls over the two as each become lost in their own thoughts. Wondering about everything that had been happening to the inhabitants of this little American town and why everything had decided to change.

Isaac and Rory slide in the sand to conceal themselves against the base of a very rocky ledge. This is the spot and now they have to wait. Isaac can't help but wonder what exactly they are waiting for. And if they will get caught by the Gunslinger. Wanting to confirm their plan, once more with Rory, Isaac leans in and keeps his voice low, just in case the Gunslinger is near by.

'So, we wait here till the Doctor comes to pick us up in your ship?' Isaac wonders and Rory nods.

'Yes, I know. I was there when we agreed to it.' He replies and Isaac leans against the rough rocks.

'Yeah, I said that more for my benefit than yours.' Isaac admits and Rory stares at him.

The Doctor continues his trek out of town, kicking up the dust from the trail as he and Susan carry on their pace. Still no sign of the Gunslinger. The plan must be working. He glances back over his shoulder at the town. He can't shake his feeling he's getting about Miss Wolfe. Something tells him that they've met before. And his mind keeps telling him it's River. Who else could it could it be? Although it could really be someone he's never met before. Someone who is just as well travelled as he is. He's quite anxious to meet this Miss Wolfe, and is becoming impatient the longer their inevitable meeting is put off.

He continues riding along the dirt road when something that attracts his attention. He immediately pulls Susan's reigns and attempts to get the horse to halt.

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,' The Doctor says and Susan neighs in response. 'Yeah, I know we're in a hurry. I just want to check something out,' The Doctor dismounts and turns to Susan. 'Two ticks. There's something niggling me,' Susan snorts in response. 'Yes,' The Doctor replies as he gets down on his knees as he begins to examine the sand. 'Yes, it could be important,' Susan whinnies and the Doctor snaps his head up and glances back at him. 'Oi, don't swear.' The Doctor warns.

Frowning, he unearths a hose that runs along the ground and he holds it up in his hands and sniffs it. Not getting anything from it, he beings to tug it loose.

On his way up to the saloon room, Jex notices that the lights begin to flicker. He immediately gets on edge, a look of concern appears on his features and he stops halfway up the stairs. Deciding that he should get back to the Marshal's office, Jex turns around and heads for the door, ignoring Clint's calls to him ensuring if everything is okay with him. If the lights are flickering…it can only mean one thing…

The Doctor climbs back up on Susan and together they take off down the dusty trail once more, following the odd cable. He follows it to its end where it appears to be sparking abruptly. He tugs on Susan's reigns and he begins to slow down.

'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,' Susan snorts and the Doctor dismounts again. He rolls his eyes and gives the horse a funny look. 'Yes, I wear a Stetson now.'

Something is being concealed there. A mound of something as the Doctor notices the cable is connected and so he reaches up and yanks a tarp off of it to reveal an avoid. He studies the craft carefully and it's only when Susan snorts does the Doctor frown a bit, not taking his eyes off the craft at all.

'Yes, good point, Susan,' He leans in closer to examine the capsule. 'Where is the damage?'

The Gunslinger walks along the edge of the ridge that Isaac and Rory are concealing themselves by. Hearing the rocks being kicked out of the way and the vibrations in the ridge itself as they make their way to the two men, Isaac reaches out his hand and presses Rory against the ridge, hoping to keep them hidden, just as the Gunslinger reaches the edge and looks down.

However, the Gunslinger uses his internal scanners to pick up on their heat signatures through the ridge and smirks. He raises his gun and aims it, readying to fire it.

The Doctor climbs on top of the capsule and in a fluid motion, he begins to knock and tap the device's surface, hoping to reveal clues. It proves that it's hollow inside as he jumps on it and even strikes it a few times, making sure. Eventually he pulls out his sonic and aims it at the top of the device. Doing so sets off alarms. The noise is so shrill that the Doctor covers his ears as a door slides open.

That strident sound carries its noise all through the desert, eventually making its way to the ears of the Gunslinger. When he hears it, he lowers his weapon and turns away. Disappearing.

Isaac and Rory lean out to ensure that the Gunslinger is go before they both take off in the opposite direction. Wondering what exactly could be making that sound, and why it caused the Gunslinger to abruptly.

That thunderous sound has carried itself all the way back to Mercy. It alerts Amy, who opens the main doors and steps out into the relentless sun. Jex follows her immensely concerned. Amy and Jex stand on the porch of the Marshal's office as they continue to listen to that alarm and they direct their gaze to the desert.

'That's the alarm on my ship!' Jex cries out in uneasiness. Amy turns to him.

'Maybe the Doctor wants to get it working again.' She attempts to explain but Jex isn't soothed by that remark. In fact it makes him more anxious.

'But that wasn't the plan. He's not following the plan!'

Amy snorts and folds her arms across her chest, rolling her eyes. 'Welcome to my world.'

Jex immediately heads back into the Marshal's office while Amy remains on the porch, wondering what exactly the Doctor is doing out there.

The alarm's sound has come blaring into Rhoswen's room and she frowns, slowly pulling herself up from the bed as she heads towards the window and stares out into the desert. But nothing reveals itself. It sounds like it's an alarm that belongs on a ship, but whose? She turns her attention to her tattered clothing. Maybe it's time she gets dressed and head outside, they might need her assistance.

Groaning the Doctor makes a face as the capsule finally opens and he drops into the seat. His ears are ringing and the computer announces his presence with a less than comforting message as the hatch closes.

'Security breach. You have ten seconds to enter the pass code or this vehicle will self-destruct,' The Doctor aims the sonic at the panel. 'Thank you for choosing Abaraxas Security Software. Incinerating intruders for three centuries. Nine, eight, seven,' The sonic finally works. 'Self destruct over ridden.'

The Doctor lets out a sigh of relief and then frowns. 'That's an awful lot of security for a titchy spacecraft…'

'Awaiting command.' The computer announces and the Doctor leans forward a bit.

'Tell me everything you can about the Gunslinger.' The Doctor states.

'File not found,' The computer responds and the Doctor groans at his terrible luck. 'Please choose from Technical Specifications, Flight Recorder, Personal Files, Maps and Charts.'

'Personal files of Doctor Kahler-Jex.'

Experimental Cyborg Program Military Science Unit is sprawled across the screen before it flashes to Jex's face, as it appears on the screen of the computer along with a quickly scrolling text. The Doctor begins to read it before Jex's voice is heard.

'Names of deceased subjects can be found on the drop down menu.'

The Doctor widens his eyes as the screams of the test subjects fill the tiny craft and the Doctor watches horrified. The text reflects off his face. He becomes enraged and then shocked, understanding everything. He stares at the information, absorbing all he can before the screen eventually cuts to black. He closes his eyes and puts his hands over his face, wondering how someone could do that.

Amy notices that the alarm has become quiet and she frowns. Still seeing nothing that appears in the distance, she turns and heads back inside the Marshal's office where she is immediately met with a gun being shoved into her face.

She frowns when Jex cocks the weapon and he closes his eyes, saddened that it has had to come to this.

'I'm sorry, Amy,' Jex apologises and Amy remains motionless. 'He really should have followed the plan.'

Amy slowly raises her hands; unsure of what Jex would do and not really comprehending why he's shoving a gun in her face. What's he trying to protect?

The Doctor stands in the entrance to the capsule and slowly stands to full height and the Gunslinger appears, aiming his weapon at the back of the Doctor's head. As the weapon begins to power up the Doctor hears it and widens his eyes, ducking inside the craft.

'Don't shoot, don't shoot!' The Doctor cries and comes out again, facing the Gunslinger, eye to eye. 'I know who you are! And who Jex is too!' Intrigued, the Gunslinger lowers his weapon, keeping his eyes on the Doctor. He takes a deep breath. 'Now what I don't understand is why you haven't just walked into the town and killed him?' The Doctor wonders and the Gunslinger briefly looks over his shoulder to the direct of the town.

'People will get in the way.'

'Why did you save the young woman? The Doctor wonders.

'She is a warrior. She deserved to live. I felt…compassion…for her.' The Gunslinger admits and the Doctor blinks, not expecting that answer. Has he begun to remember who exactly he is? Is he beginning to remember human emotions?

'Okay, that's good. You see…because I know you want justice, you deserve justice, but this isn't the way. We can put him on trial, we can…'

Having heard enough of that man's ramblings, the Gunslinger immediately raises his weapon annoyed. 'When he starts killing your people, you can use your justice.'

The Doctor warily eyes the gun, unsure how he will be able to calm him down this time.

While Jex ensures that he keeps the gun poised on Amy, he goes to his little makeshift bedroom in one of the cells. Isaac had insisted, in case the townspeople got a bit too rowdy. Jex quickly scans the shelves that he had placed in there and choosing only the most valuable items, Jex hastily shoves the trinkets into his pockets.

'Isaac says he doesn't care about my past. But things may have been uncovered that even he might struggle to forgive,' Jex states softly and then turns back to Amy, indicating that she move closer to the door, which she does. 'So it's best we make a hasty retreat.'

'We?' Amy echoes and stares at him. 'I'm coming with you?'

'It's unlikely the Gunslinger will shoot if I'm with you. As far as I can tell, he's programmed to take innocent lives only if absolutely necessary.' Jex states and Amy rolls her eyes at that.

'Well, colour me reassured!' She replies sarcastically and watches as Jex backs up to the door.

However he abruptly halts when he hears a gun being cocked and shoved into the back of his head. He sees the smile on Amy's face and can only assume that Isaac and Rory have returned.

'Doc, what are you doin'?' Isaac questions and he forces Jex back into the building. Jex begins to grow nervous and wonders how he will explain himself out of this mess.

The Gunslinger lowers his gun and then glances towards the town, as if he is pondering something. Having made his decision, he will no longer tolerate these attempts made to fool him into believing that Jex is in the desert when clearly, he hadn't been. He turns back to the Doctor and narrows his eyes in anger.

'No more warning shots,' The Gunslinger declares. 'I'll kill the next person to step over the line. Make sure it's Jex.' And with that uttered the Gunslinger walks away, disappearing into the teleport glow.

The Doctor inhales deeply and runs back to where Susan is waiting. He quickly climbs on and drives his heels into the horse's ribs. He responds and they hastily make their way back to the town. He's going to confront Jex. He won't let him get away with this. He will have to pay for the injustice he had unleashed upon his own people. The Gunslinger will have his vengeance.

Jex has been reduced to standing in front of the wall in the Marshal's office, with Isaac, Rory and Amy facing him. Awaiting his explanation. He quickly tries to think of something that will be believable to them.

'It was stupid of me, I realise that now,' Jex begins and Amy tilts her head at him, narrowing her eyes. 'I just thought I'd put you all in enough danger, perhaps if I left…'

Jex doesn't have a chance to finish his thoughts as the door is thrown open and the Doctor strides in, with an obvious look of anger. Amy and Rory exchange looks. What's wrong with him? He stands right in front of Jex with a look of determination on his face.

'He's lying. Every word. Everything he says, it's…all…lies. This man is a murderer.' The Doctor informs them angrily and Isaac frowns, looking at Jex with a confused look in his eyes.

'I'm a scientist.' Jex corrects but the Doctor shakes his head.

'Sit down,' The Doctor orders, but Jex doesn't move. An act of defiance. 'Sit down!' He shouts and Jex reluctantly does so. 'Tell them what you are.' The Doctor motions behind him to the little group who are watching on with perplexed expression.

Jex crosses his arms and matches the Doctor's glaring look. 'What am I?' He repeats. 'A war hero.'

'Okay, somebody want to tell me what's going on?' Isaac wonders and his eyes dart between the Doctor and Jex.

The Doctor turns back to Isaac. 'The Gunslinger is a cyborg.'

Isaac has a blank look on his face as he attempts to figure out what that word really means. He's never heard it before.

'A what?'

'Half man, half machine. A weapon,' The Doctor states and his tone is embittered, angry and full of disgust. 'Jex built it. He and his team took volunteers, told them they'd been selected for special training, then experimented on them, fused their bodies with weaponry and programmed to kill!'

Amy watches Jex with a horrified look and Isaac inhales deeply, trying to figure out why that this good man standing before him would do such atrocious actions.

'We'd been at war for nine years. A war that had already decimated half of our planet. Our task was to bring peace, and we did,' Jex states proudly and the Doctor narrows his eyes. 'We built an army that routed the enemy and ended the war in less than a week. Do you want me to repent?' Jex questions and the Doctor's gaze becomes steely. 'To be for forgiveness for saving millions of lives?!'

'And how man died screaming on the operating table before you had found your advantage?!' The Doctor shouts angrily but Jex remains unaffected.

'War is another world. You cannot apply the politics of peace to what I did, to what any of us did.'

The Doctor inhales sharply. It's another excuse, and he walks to the other side of the room before he regrets what he might do next. He crosses his arms and leans against the wall. He feels that old anger bubbling to the surface and he struggles to contain it, Jex watches him with narrowed eyes.

Rory attempts to defuse the situation and turns to Jex. 'But what happened then? How come you're here?'

'When the war ended, we had the cyborgs decommissioned. But one of them must have got its circuitry damaged in battle. It went offline and began hunting down the team that created it, until just two of us were left. We fled and our ships crashed here.' Jex explains and Rory nods, turning back to the Doctor. He reaches out his hand in an attempt to get the Doctor to listen and to help Jex.

But the Doctor ignores them and Rory inwardly sighs, turning back to the rest of the group. The Doctor grapples with the decision inwardly but finds that he simply can't forgive Jex for his past. What he did to those innocent people, those people he tricked and the experimented on…it simply can't be done.

'So, what do we do with Jex?' Rory wonders and Isaac frowns, unable to comprehend the question.

'What do we do with him?!' Isaac echoes and Rory nods.

'Yeah, I mean…he's a war criminal.' Rory states the obvious and the Doctor inwardly agrees with Rory but remains silent.

'No, he's the guy that saved the town from cholera, the guy that gave us heat and light.' Isaac reminds them and Amy ponders that a bit before she decides to weigh in with her thoughts.

'Look, Jex may be a criminal and yeah, kinda creepy…' Amy motions to Jex who frowns and interrupts her.

'And still in the room!' He insists.

'But I think we should put aside what he did and find another solution.' Amy decides and Rory gapes at her.

'Another solution? It's him or us!' Rory reminds them and Amy crosses her arms defiantly.

'When did we start letting people get executed. Did I miss a memo? Doctor, tell him.' Amy pleads and all eyes turn on the Doctor, who remains silent, still leaning against the wall.

She's right. They can't do that. They have to find another way. They don't hand people over to their deaths. The will think of another way out of this mess. No one has to die. The Doctor looks over to them, realising that he hadn't provided an answer.

'Hm? Yes. I don't know. Whatever Amy said.' The Doctor looks out the window and stares at the saloon as he sees the figure moving around in the one window. He frowns a bit. He's almost certain that Miss Wolfe is in there. He really, really wants to meet her.

Jex glances at the Doctor as he begins to polish the monocle. He eyes the Doctor up and shakes his head a bit. 'Looking at you, Doctor, is like looking into a mirror. Almost. There's rage there, like me. Guilt, like me. Solitute. Everything but the nerve to do what needs to be done. Thank the gods my people were relying on you to save them…' Jex doesn't get a chance to finish his thought as the Doctor rushes Jex in anger, unable to accept the statement that Jex just made. At the comparisons he drew between them. He will never be him.

'No. No!' The Doctor shouts and grabs Jex, hauling him to his feet. Jex is completely shocked and stares at him. 'But these people are!' The Doctor begins to shove Jex towards the door. 'Out! Out! Out!'

Amy and Rory begin to follow the Doctor, completely staggered as to what they are witnessing, they begin to follow him, but Isaac points at them in an attempt to warn them. Rory puts his hands up and they follow Isaac out first. When they reach the door, Rory stops Amy and she gives him a confused look. Until the answer dawns on her and it angers her.

'Oh, you're really letting him do this?' Amy questions.

'Save us all? Yeah, I really am.' Rory replies and he steps outside, Amy bitterly follows him. She begins to form a plan of her own.

The Doctor begins to shove Jex down the street towards the edge of town. He's completely letting his anger direct his movements and doesn't care about the stares he's getting from the rest of the townspeople who have now spilled out onto the street, staring in disbelief.

'Move!' The Doctor shoves Jex but he attempts to dig his heels in and stop himself.

'No.'

'Move!' The Doctor shouts again.

All the commotion has alerted Rhoswen back to the window as she sees Jex being corralled to the edge of town by a man. She widens her eyes at who exactly it is. Well, this will certainly make for an interesting day. She attempts to shove all her feelings into a ball somewhere where they won't resurface. Once the initial shock has worn off she looks around the room for an appropriate change of clothes. She sighs as she doesn't see anything but her own. Seeing who it is has caused an emotional battle in her heart. Because in the beginning the pain caused by what she went through was unrelenting.

She had been surprised by the grief, how constant it was, its immediacy and the unrelenting physical pain that went with it. All of that is coming back to the surface.

She makes a bit of a face as she picks them up and feels them in her hands. They are full of grime and she sighs. She pulls them on, gasping from the exertion and the pain that rips up her side. When she studies herself in the mirror she smiles. How gross she feels in these clothes but there isn't anything she can do. She straps her bag to her thigh and smiles. This meeting was certainly going to be interesting.

Rhoswen tosses open the door and gingerly walks down the hall, holding her head high despite the pain and carefully makes her way down the stairs. She surprised when she makes the landing that there isn't anyone in the saloon. Of course they're all outside, watching with astonished looks on their faces. Rhoswen notices that someone has left their Stetson and gun on a table, she grins and picks them up. She tilts the Stetson so her face is obscured and checks how many rounds are left in the gun.

One. But one is all she'll need. Just in case she'll need to get their attention. Which she'll likely need to do. She steadies her nerves as she pushes open the doors and makes her way outside into the assaulting heat.

The crowd is thick and she has to push her way through the crowd and once she separates herself from them she stands just on the outside of it, and smirks as she watches the events unfold.

The Doctor continues to shove Jex towards the boundary until they reach it and with a final shove the Doctor knocks Jex backward. He falls over the ring and into the dirt. The Doctor begins to walk back into the town but another idea befalls him and he stops. He approaches a nearby man and snatches his gun right out of his holster and turns back to Jex, aiming the gun at Jex's head just as he attempts to cross the line and get back into the town.

Slowly, Jex raises his hands and matches the Doctor's steely gaze. 'You wouldn't.' Jex taunts but he swallows nervously when he notices that the Doctor has cocked the gun.

'I genuinely don't know…' He admits and exhales slowly.

'Doctor. Doctor!' Isaac attempts to get his attention and the Doctor turns around, still aiming his gun at Jex but he widens his eyes as it's Amy who fires a gun into the air.

She gives the Doctor a defiant look as she lowers the gun and aims it at the Doctor, who in turns lowers his own.

'Let him come back, Doctor!' Amy shouts to him.

Further back in the town, Rhoswen grins as she starts moving forward, ignoring the pain in her side. This seems familiar.

'Or what? You won't shoot me, Amy!' The Doctor states obviously and she simply shrugs.

'How do you know?!' Amy cries. 'Maybe I've changed,' She narrows her eyes and cocks the gun. 'You've clearly been taking stupid lessons since I saw you last!' She waves the gun around and accidently fires a shot in the ground. It startles her and she widens her eyes. 'I didn't mean to do that!' But the gun goes off again. Isaac rolls his eyes.

'Okay, everyone who isn't an American, drop your gun.' Isaac orders and Amy and the Doctor do as they're told. But another random shot fired causes everyone to turn to a petite looking figure wearing a black Stetson, and they are absolutely filthy.

The black cargo pants and ripped and torn in random places, exposing various cuts on their legs. The white tank stop is torn in middle; blood is all around the shirt, covering it. It's filthy and the figure drops the weapon on the ground, apparently having no use for it anymore.

Isaac turns and stares at her. 'Miss Wolfe? What are you doing?'

The Doctor whips around and positions himself in front of Amy as he studies the small woman that stands before them, her gaze is locked with the ground, so he is unable to see her face. This is her?!

Even Jex has stood up, taking a careful step forward, mesmerised by Rhoswen's appearance. 'Rhoswen? What are you doing? You're not fully recovered. You should be resting.' Jex insists and the Doctor can't take his eyes off the gaping hole in her tank top, revealing the gauze that is stained a pinkish hue.

Her name. He nearly laughs out loud. It's so near her name. Gaelic for white rose. What are the chances of that? Of course he knows it's impossible. And so he refuses to believe that it's her. It has to be someone else. River? It has to be.

'What? And miss this fun? Seems like someone needs some sense knocked into them. And maybe Miss Pond could use some help.' Rhoswen states and Amy stares at her confused.

'I'm sorry…but have we met?' Amy wonders and watches as the Doctor takes a few more steps forward.

'Oh once, before…very briefly.' Rhoswen admits and Amy struggles to place that name.

'Who are you?' The Doctor demands and folds his arms. 'Is it you, River?'

'River? No, sorry, I'm not her. She won't know me by this name,' Rhoswen grins and shrugs her shoulders. 'I believe we've danced this dance before Doctor.'

'Rhoswen, what are you talking about? I don't understand.' Isaac states and she turns her gaze to him, smiling slightly, but he wouldn't see it.

'I'm sorry, Isaac. But I lied to you. Rhoswen Wolfe is one of my many aliases.' She admits and watches as the Doctor takes a few more ginger steps towards her. Again she pushes down her feelings.

'So…then what is it? Who are you? What do you mean we've had this dance before?' The Doctor wonders and watches as the woman reaches for something around her neck. She pulls off a chain but her fist is clutched around whatever is on the chain and she stares at it.

'Once, a long time ago, this scene reminds me of a time on a planet. Oh, what was the name? I was one of three companions of the time. Oh, that's right. It was called Messaline. And the only thing missing is, well, I'm sure you can guess. Catch,' She whips the chain at the Doctor who easily catches it. But he doesn't look at it right away. Instead he keeps his gaze locked on hers. 'Maybe this will help you remember me and that moment. Because I've had many names over the course of my life.'

'Like what?' The Doctor wonders and is unsure if he can look at the chain still clutched tightly in his hand. His mind is reeling at what this Rhoswen has just said. Could it be? Really? He doesn't want to look at it. What if it isn't what he hoped?

'Look at it,' Rhoswen insists and the Doctor does as he's instructed. She smiles when he simply stares dumbfounded at the items on the chain. 'Remember me now?'

His breath hitches in his chest as he stares at the two very simple items on the chain. A simply Yale looking key and a white gold, sapphire ring framed with diamonds. A ring that had once belonged to a Russian Dowager Empress.

Breathing heavily he strides towards her, only stopping when he's in front of her. He refuses to believe what he's seeing. Thinking it to be a trick he pulls out the sonic and runs it over her several times.

'It's impossible. You can't be here. You're a ganger, or, or, or something. A replica. You can't be real!'

'Why can't I be?' Rhoswen wonders and Amy and Rory stare staggered at what's unfolding before them, utterly lost.

'Because I let you go!' He shouts in desperation and stares at the chain still clutched tightly in his fist. He reaches for her right hand and notices that on the middle finger is a very slight tan line. He drops her hand from the shock and shakes his head. 'No! No! Why is this happening?! I let you go! You're locked away! I can never see you again!'

'Doctor! What's going on?! Who is she?' Amy calls over to him desperately but he doesn't hear her. Instead, unable to stand the suspense any longer, the Doctor's hand hovers over the Stetson still on Rhoswen's head.

Unsure if he's ready for what lies under it, he carefully grips it in his hand and pushes it up and then off of Rhoswen's head. He recoils from the shock, dropping the hat on the ground and stares at the woman standing before him.

Stillness grips the townspeople while Amy covers her mouth from the shock she's currently experiencing and grips Rory's arm tightly.

Not understanding what's going on, Rory just simply looks between Rhoswen and the Doctor, as time seems to stand still. He watches the Doctor's expression change from shock to an unreadable one as he places his hand on Rhoswen's cheek.

'How can this be real?' The Doctor whispers to her and Rory turns to Amy.

'I don't understand. Who is she?'

Amy turns to Rory with shiny eyes as she smiles a bit and points to the woman who is staring at the Doctor with a bemused expression. 'That…that right there, Rory, is Rose Tyler. Ohh, oh my god…he found her…'

Rory widens his eyes as the realisation hits him and he stares at the two of them.

'Look at you…' Rose smiles a bit and places her hand on his cheek before her moves to brush a small piece of hair that had fallen into his eyes. 'You just keep getting younger. Except those eyes. They never change.'

The Doctor stares at her, unable to believe that she is standing before him, looking the exact same as when he had left her on a beach in Norway all those years ago. She hasn't changed at all, hasn't gotten any older but like him, he can see the changes in her eyes. They've gotten older, seen so much, hidden so much…

'How…? He whispers, unable to stop the emotion from creeping into his voice.

'We can save that for later, yeah?' She smiles a bit and his caught off guard as he embraces her fiercely. Rose smiles a bit and wraps her arms around him

He runs his hands down her back, and he moves one up, placing it on the back of her head like he used to. Unable to stop himself, he presses her tighter to him. She suddenly gasps and cries out, squirming out of his embrace and instinctively pushes him back. She begins to breathe heavily and bends over slightly, a groan escapes her and she kneels down, panting, doing anything to stop the pain that has exploded from her side.

Rory's instincts kick in and he immediately rushes to Rose's side, bending down and helping her back to her feet while the Doctor stares at her shocked. Rory lifts the tank top to reveal the gauze and gently begins to peel it away. He stumbles upon the nasty incision and she smiles up at him, a layer of sweat has already broken out on her forehead. The Doctor can't tear his eyes away as Rory carefully puts the gauze back into place.

'Sorry. I know it's bad. It was an accident.' Rose admits and Rory nods.

'That's deep, I'm sorry. It'll need to be looked after. You shouldn't be on your feet.' Rory states and she smiles.

'I've been off my feet for far too long as it is,' Rose states and watches the Doctor cautiously approach her. 'It's fine. I'm fine.' She insists and watches as Rory backs off, giving them space.

'You…you were hit with the Sontaran weapon…' The Doctor recalls and Rose shrugs a bit.

'Another story for a later time.' Rose inhales deeply willing the pain to stop. She exhales shakily.

'I'm so sorry…I should've known! I mean look at you! Why didn't I see it?! What if I made it worse?'

'Oh, that's enough. You didn't know. I know you looked past everything. You were only seeing me.' Rose states between deep breaths and feels the old emotions creeping back into her. Bitterness and anger, confusion, abandonment claw at her the longer she stares at him. However…the old ones are there too. The good ones. Happier ones.

'Yeah…' He admits and doesn't know why he suddenly feels so nervous. He takes in all he can of her, wanting nothing more then to whisk her away to the TARDIS where she be safe and recover. He has so much to tell her, so much to ask her. He wants to learn everything about her again. He wants to beg for her forgiveness because he can see the underlying anger and betrayal in her eyes. Caused by him. Guilt eats away at him.

He watches as she strides past him, yanking the chain that still hangs in his hand and puts it back on her neck on her way towards the ring where Jex is currently standing amid the confusion and Rose smiles at him, holding her out to him. He takes it and Rose helps him back into town.

'Rose, what are you doing? We can end this right now. The Gunslinger only wants him. Him only! We could save everyone, right now!' The Doctor insists, but Rose merely flings him an unimpressed look.

'What's become of you? How long have I been away in this time? The Doctor sends people to their death, now? I didn't know that that had become an option for you.' Rose states firmly and Amy chimes in, wanting to add to Rose's already strong argument.

'You know that isn't how we roll, Doctor. Killing someone should never become an option.' Amy states but the Doctor shakes his head, he wants this to end and he walks towards Rose, brushing right by Amy and Rory. He only has eyes for her now.

'Jex has to answer for his crimes!' The Doctor replies but Rose shakes her head.

'Then you'd better get started and find everyone else that has committed crimes,' Rose retorts and folds her arms, looking him up and down. 'Look at you…you've fundamentally changed. Because the Doctor that I met, all those years ago, would never have thought like you do. You have to have changed to even entertain that thought. If you refuse to help this man, then you'd better stay out of my way. Because I'll do it by myself.' Rose warns and she watches as he locks his gaze with the ground, feeling immensely guilty for disappointing her.

'Rose is right,' Amy adds and places her hands on her hips and the Doctor turns to her. 'What's the point of punishing one person? You'd have to hunt down everyone who's made a gun, a bullet or a bomb.'

'They keep coming back, don't you see? Every time I negotiate, I try to understand…' The Doctor stops and Rose tilts her chin away from him as she awaits his justification for this. 'Well, not today! No! Today I honour the victims first! His, the Master's, the Daleks', all the people who died because of my mercy!' He shouts and Rose closes her eyes, walking towards him. She stops and shakes his head when she opens her mouth to refute his claims.

'Listen to me,' Rose says quietly and when he opens his mouth, she presses her finger there. 'No. Listen. Do you know what I see? I see a man who has been on his own for far too long. A man who has forgotten who he is. A man hurt, damaged and tired of losing everything around him. Oh, I can see the inner turmoil in you. But it ends now. Remember what you stand for. Because we never stoop to their level. We rise above it. Because we're better.'

The Doctor stares at her silently amazed at how well she's read him in the short time since they've been reunited. He places his hand on her cheek and struggles to form words, to refute her statement. Nothing comes to mind and so he just stares at her.

'Rose…Rose Tyler,' He sighs and nods. 'You're right. Fine. Fine…' He turns to Jex who is still standing just inside the town, his back facing the desert and the Doctor looks behind Jex, noticing the Gunslinger drawing closer with the teleport jumps. 'But frankly, I'm betting on the Gunslinger.'

The Gunslinger is moving closer and closer until he stops just behind Jex and raises his gun to the back of his creator's head. Jex turns to face him, fear draining from him as he attempts to show the man that now he has turned his life around.

The Gunslinger's internal computer system identifies Jex by the tattoo on his face, and so he readies his weapon.

'Make peace with your gods.' The Gunslinger states.

The Doctor attempts to move forward, closer to Jex, just in case he'll need to jump in, but Rose grabs his wrist and shakes her head. Telling him to wait.

'Kahler-Tex, isn't it? I remember all your names, even now. Please. I'd never hurt anyone again. I'm even helping people here.'

Jex's words fall on deaf ears as the weapon is finished powering up. 'Last chance. Make peace with your gods.' The Gunslinger warns and prepares to fire his weapon. Isaac, unwilling to have a good man die for something that is in the past firmly pushes Jex out of the way.

'No!' He shouts and is shot instead of Jex. Rose widens her eyes and attempts to catch him, forgetting about the pain until she cries out, falling as her legs buckle. They both drop to the ground. She lands with Isaac's head in her lap and the Doctor rushes over, kneeling down and checking on Isaac's wound. He attempts to get over his shock.

'Isaac? Isaac?' Rose calls softly and can't help but notice that he's quickly turning grey. She keeps her hand pressed firmly on his wound, even though she knows it will do nothing in the end.

'It's okay, it's okay! We can get you to Jex's surgery, he can save you.' The Doctor adds but Isaac only smiles regretfully.

Isaac reaches up and grips the Doctor's hand. 'Listen to me, you've got to stay, you've got to look after everyone.'

'Oh Isaac, don't worry because it won't come to that. You heard the Doctor, we'll get you to Jex's surgery.' Rose repeats but he ignores her, knowing that he only has seconds left.

'You two have to protect Jex. Protect my town,' Isaac gasps as the pain intensifies and a small trail of blood begins to escape from the corner of his mouth. 'You're both good men…you…you just forget…it sometimes.' Isaac exhales slowly and doesn't take another breath. His head lolls to the right on Rose's lap.

Rose looks up to the Doctor in shock and he lets go of Isaac's hand. Rose removes her own hand from the wound and opens up the Doctor's hand and the both stare at the object placed in it, staggered.

The Marshal's badge is in there and Rose smiles wistfully. 'Not how I planned to make an entrance. I'm so tired of seeing people I like die.' Rose whispers and watches the Doctor pin the badge on his jacket and she smiles a bit.

'That's why this will be the only one. There will be no more. There shouldn't have even been one to begin with.'

'I'm glad to see you've remembered.' Rose replies relieved and he reaches his hand to her, helping her to her feet and she very nearly presses her hand to her side but recoils at the last second, knowing it'd do more harm than good.

Together they watch the townspeople stare at the body in shock and then they turn their gaze to the Doctor.

'Take Jex to his cell. If anything happens to him, you'll have me to answer to.' The Doctor orders and the townspeople spring into action, and some men begin to lead Jex back to the Marshal's office.

Rose marches towards the Gunslinger with the Doctor not far behind her.

'You have killed an innocent person.' Rose stated and the Gunslinger doesn't offer an apology. Merely staring at the woman he saved.

'This has gone on long enough.' The Doctor informs him and the Gunslinger turns to him, forgetting the emotions he had just felt when he looked at the woman.

'You are right,' The Gunslinger raises his weapon to the Doctor. 'You've got until noon tomorrow. Give him to me, or I'll kill you all.' And with that warning, the Gunslinger teleports away.

The Doctor turns to face the rest of the remaining townspeople and Amy approaches the two of them and points to the badge.

'Oh, my god, you're the Marshal.' Amy states and the Doctor turns to Rose briefly before turning back to Amy.

'Yeah? And guess who the deputy is?' The Doctor replies and Rose raises her eyebrows.

'Hope you're not referring to me.' Rose states bitterly and the Doctor frowns.

'Why?'

'Listen,' Rose sighs, unable to keep the bitter tone out of her voice as the old emotions begin to surface. 'It's great to see you and all, it is, but I didn't plan this, all right? Me being here is a complete accident. I haven't exactly forgiven you for what you did to me. Now that I understand what you meant the first time…' Rose stops and sighs again, willing herself to let it go. But she can't. She's still hurt and feels immensely betrayed. 'Things aren't just going to fall back into place between you and me. You hurt me. Badly. And I'm not going to just get over it now that you're here. And besides. I had a partner. He's dead. And I'm still mourning him. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll take the first shift watching Jex.'

And with that Rose heads towards the Marshal's office, leaving the Doctor, Rory and Amy stunned. Amy doesn't remember Rose being like this from their first meeting, from the stories that the Doctor told her. What has happened to her?

'Well…she seems…lovely…' Rory attempts to lighten the mood and the Doctor watches Rose walk into the Marshal's office. All of the old feelings she must have been hiding when she first saw him have resurfaced.

She's right. Things won't be the same between them anymore. Maybe that's gone now. After all, how can you continue to love someone when they've hurt you as bad as he hurt her? But she must…somewhere, maybe deep down. Because he loves her still and he always would.

'What's happened to her?' Amy whispers and the Doctor walks to stands beside her. Staring at the empty street together. 'From what you've told me…this seems like the exact opposite of what she is…'

'The old Rose is still in there, I can see it,' The Doctor replies and he starts towards the Marshal's office, Amy and Rory jog to keep up with him. 'But remember the reason she wasn't with me when we met is because I made sure she couldn't be.'

'Well, come on!' Amy nudges him in an attempt to get a smile on his face. 'There has to be old feelings that just have to be ignited again… right?'

But the Doctor doesn't look hopeful. 'I'm not sure. Maybe it's gone. Maybe it won't come back.'

They remain silent as the three of them enter the Marshal's office just as the sun slips beneath the bluffs in the desert, sending a chill into the air. The streets empty quickly after that and the some of the streetlamps begin to spark.

When they enter the building, they see Rose standing by the cell, sideways, an unimpressed look on her face as Jex examines the wound, hoping to see that it is healing well. They linger at the door until Rose takes a seat, sitting close to Jex and watching the three of them carefully. The Doctor begins to walk towards her and as Amy begins to follow him, Rory grips her arm and she turns back to him, with a confused look on her face. Silently he motions to the Doctor and Rose and she widens her eyes, nodding. Figuring that maybe they could use this time to get reacquainted with one another. Because they desperately need it.

Amy doesn't know where Rose has been, clearly somewhere the Doctor hadn't be able to follow her, but something is different. And they need all the time they can to figure out how they are going to get to know one another again. What he shared with her…surely she can't have forgotten that. Those feelings have to be there in her somewhere…She believed that the amount of pictures of her that he would look at in her room would offer him solace. That he never really lost her because she was in so many photographs. Maybe those pictures just reminded him of how much he had truly lost. The one thing he believed in.

The Doctor drags a chair out from behind one of the desks and pulls it until he's beside Rose. She eyes him warily and Jex turns around figuring that they would need some quiet time. And so he does his best not to eavesdrop on their conversation, as do Amy and Rory as they sit on one of the desks.

'Hey.' Rose looks up as the Doctor sits down beside her and he glances over to Jex who has busied himself with reading.

'Hey,' The Doctor replies quietly. 'How're you feeling?'

'I'll live,' Rose states and he smiles a bit at her. 'This isn't the first injury I've gotten, don't forget.'

'I know, you can be careless,' The Doctor recalls and he finally sees a smile break out on her face. Oh, how dearly he's missed it. Pictures don't do it enough justice. 'Explosions, hitting walls, blimps…I could go on…'

'I'd rather you not,' Rose replies, but she can't seem to stop smiling. 'I'm glad you weren't there for the others.'

'Others?' He echoes and frowns. 'What others?'

'Like the time I broke my ankle, my collar bone, broke two ribs…um…I'm sure there's more…'

'All in one go?!' The Doctor states shocked and Amy and Rory look over to them, surprised by his outburst and unsure what caused it.

'Of course not!' Rose whispers to him, her cheeks reddening. 'Different points…I much prefer this over the breaks any day.'

'What? Why?' The Doctor stares at her confused and wonders why she's saying these things.

'Think about it. It's a flesh wound; it will heal with minimal complications. Breaks are trickier. It's what happens after the bone heals. The time I broke my ankle…god, I wasn't used to sitting on the sidelines that J…' Rose abruptly stops and stares off, getting angry again. 'Never mind.' She finishes bitterly.

'You became a soldier too,' The Doctor replies sadly. 'I turn those I care about most into the weapons. Davros was right…'

'No. It comes with what we do. We have to fight, to keep what we hold dear to us safe. That's the Earth. That's people we meet. Those we help. When we meet you, you show us that we can do so much more, that we aren't helpless. It goes hand in hand,' Rose turns to him and sees the appreciative smile on his face. 'So, you have to stop blaming yourself. We know what we're getting into when we choose to work for UNIT, or Torchwood or anything else.'

'You still have that talent of, well, of making me feel a whole lot better…' The Doctor admits and Rose just gives him a sideways glance.

'I can tell that there's something different about you this time.' Rose admits and the Doctor watches her.

'What do you mean?' He wonders and is staggered at how she can tell like that. Rose is so different from when he left her and yet she is still the same. He wants to bring out the similarities in her again, because he misses her.

'It's not just the regeneration, now that I understand more clearly about the circumstances under how we met the first time, I can see. Oh, there's a reluctance about you. You're not like him. There's no wearing of every emotion on your sleeve. You bury everything. Hide it all. If you're not careful, it'll start to poison you.' Rose warns and he just stares at her, unable to form a sentence. He watches her shift in her seat and wince at the pain.

'How…how could you possibly know all that? We've only just been formally introduced.' The Doctor whispers to her and Rose glances up to him, flashing a mischievous grin.

'But we've spent a lifetime together, haven't we? Two regenerations, now a third. Don't forget who you're talking to. The woman who knows you better than you know yourself. Whatever you look like. Your former lover.' Rose states softly and hurts when she says the last part. Feeling the tears spring to her eyes she blinks them away.

The Doctor caught the last part and feels immensely stung by what she's said. But really, could he blame her? She was right. How could things realistically fall into place again? He's put her through so much. How can he show her that he still loves her when she clearly feels awkward around him? But the way she embraced him, the ferocity behind it…the love is still in her. Maybe Amy was right…it just needs to be ignited again. But there has to be a lot of forgiving done on her part. And he can only be patient. Because it won't happen overnight. And then he worries about something else. What if she doesn't want to go with him? In fact…how did she even get here? When this is done…he'll take her to her home and they'll talk about it. Whatever she feels comfortable telling him.

'Former…?' The Doctor wonders and turns to her. Rose can hear the enormous hurt in his voice. It hurts her too, but she hasn't absolved him yet. And so she doesn't turn to him when she explains why.

'Face it, Doctor,' Rose says softly and fingers the chain on her neck as she stares into nothingness. 'I'm not the same girl you dropped on that beach in Norway eight years ago. Who knows how long it's been here, but it's been eight years for me. They way in which you left me there. Do you know how long I grieved for you and hoped that you would be working on finding a way back to me? To take me home? But you never came back.

'And so the days rolled on into years. And I grew more and more bitter, wondering what exactly I had done wrong for you to hurt me like that,' Reliving those memories has caused the tears to spring into her eyes again. Rose doesn't stop them. 'The road got tough and I carried on. Like you seem to do. Sometimes love isn't enough. And I don't know why,' Rose's voice cracks and the tears tumble down her face. Her emotions are so conflicted. The Doctor reaches over to wipe them away but she holds her arm up. 'Don't.' She warns, trying to keep him at a distance but he ignores her and brushes them away with his thumb. She bites her lip so her bottom lip will stop trembling.

'I…I don't know what to say…Rose,' The Doctor admits and Rose merely gives him a sarcastic smile. 'My…my feelings for you haven't changed just because my face has.'

Rose looks over to him and searches his eyes for a hint that may reveal he's lying to her. But she doesn't find anything. 'Tell me you're sorry.' She decides.

'You know I am. The biggest regret I have in my life is that I forced you to do something that I knew you wouldn't like. Because I thought I knew what was best for you.'

'Say it to me.' Rose repeats, again feeling the hurt creep into her voice and the Doctor doesn't miss the change in her tone. And so he turns to her, taking her hands in his.

'I'm sorry, Rose, I am so, so sorry for leaving you there. For the way in which I left you there. For hurting you. For betraying you. And for thinking I knew what was best for you.'

Rose pulls her hands away and crosses her arms across her chest. 'Well, that's a start, I suppose,' And the Doctor watches her face drains of emotion. 'But I'm still not there yet. It's your choice if you want to wait for me or not, I'm not going to force you. I just want you to know. It's not an overnight thing.'

'I don't expect it will be. And I think you know that I'm willing to wait for you, forever.'

Rose just gives him a bitter smile. 'That's what you promised me before. So excuse me if I don't believe that.'

The Doctor merely nodded, wondering how in the world he was going to get things back to how they were a regeneration ago. What if he couldn't?

'Do you still care for me?'

'You know the answer to that.' Rose replies and he shakes his head.

'No, I don't. Not anymore.'

'Then you really don't know me at all.'

'I…I'd just be surprised if you still did…' The Doctor admits and he sees Rose's features soften at that.

'Oh you daft alien,' Rose places her hand on his cheek again. 'Love is a long, tough road, yeah? I could never just stop loving you. It's going to take time…I don't know you…and you don't know me. Time. That's what we need.'

'I suffered so much when I lost you…what joys you brought me when you were here with me. I'll fight this time. I'll fight to keep it.' The Doctor insists and is relieved when Rose smiles through the tears again.

'I hate you…' Rose whispers and the Doctor blinks taken back, until he sees her smile through it. He brushes her tears away again, and this time she doesn't push him away. And so he knew she didn't mean what she just said. 'You're going to be the ruin of me.'

'Oh, Rose. Don't you see? You were the ruin of me a very long time ago.'

Amy and Rory watch the two of them as they begin to build on the ruins of their relationship and she nudges Rory when she watches Rose smile. How beautiful it was. Although they haven't been able to hear what they had been talking about it seems to have taken a good turn. Amy worried when Rose rebuked him at first, but she seemed to have opened up a bit, just a bit. And that's a start.

Still unsure of how much physical contact Rose is comfortable with, he doesn't move when she withdraws her hand from his cheek and just gives him a wistful smile. Rose can see that he wants to talk to her, but in a more private manner. Well that might have to wait for some time.

'Can…can I ask…?' The Doctor begins and Rose merely cuts him off.

'You want to know how I got here? What's happened with me? How my life was after the fact?' Rose finishes and he nods.

'All of it.'

Just as Rose is about to tell him that he'd have to wait there is a frantic knock on the door.

'That's weird…' She replies. Rose and the Doctor exchange looks before he shouts across the room.

'Come in!'

The preacher enters the office; a wild look in his eyes and Rose is already on her feet, concerned by what he's come across.

'Marshal…ma'am. Fella. Miss Wolfe. You all need to come outside.' The preacher pleads and Rose frowns.

'Why? What's going on?'

'Just come outside. And you should put that on.' The preacher motions to a holster that is hanging on a hook. The Doctor and Rose look back at it as do Amy and Rory. Rose waits for the Doctor to get up. He glances back at the holstered gun while Amy and Rory wait for them by the door.

'Don't get any ideas.' Rose warns.

'Just let me do this,' The Doctor states and he reaches for it. Rose merely shakes his head. 'I'm not going to shoot anyone.'

'Then why have it in the first place?' She wonders as she crosses floor and waits seconds before she pushes the door open and walks out, Amy and Rory following her.

The Preacher is waiting for them on the porch and when Rose steps out, she widens her eyes. A group of the townspeople have gathered in the street, ignoring the cold. Rose can make of Clint standing there as well and she doesn't like where this is going.

The Doctor stands beside her and surveys the amount of people that have assembled. 'What's going on?'

The man in the brown suit steps forward and clears his throat against the nervousness he's currently feeling. 'He in there? Leave the keys and take a walk. Time you get back, this'll be all done.'

Rose shoots him a dirty look and folds her arms defiantly. 'You know that won't be happening. We made a promise to Isaac to keep him safe.'

'Protecting him got Isaac dead. Tomorrow it's going to get us all dead.' The man retorts and another man nods his head, speaking up next.

'We thought Isaac was right to fight. But it's different now. We've got to say all right, we lost, and give that thing what it wants.'

The Doctor eyes the man up and walks to the edge of the porch.

'What it wants is to kill our friend.' Clint states and Rose nods her head.

The man in the suit rubs the back of his head. 'Look, we don't got ill feelin' toward the doc, we just thinkin' bout our families,' The man states and then motions with his head to the Marshal's office. 'Hand him over and we're all safe again.'

Rose shakes her head. 'You know that we won't be doing that.'

'Then we got us a problem, Miss Wolfe.' The man pushes back his coat to expose his gun in his holster. Rose just makes an unimpressed face.

The Doctor steps in front of Rose, not liking the fact that he was subtly threatening her with a gun, and so he starts to lift the corner of his own jacket, exposing his own gun. 'Please don't do this.' He responds.

The man raises his eyebrow. 'Why? Reckon you quicker than me?' He taunts and Rose studies the man.

'Almost certainly not,' The Doctor admits and the man gives him a quicker grin. 'But this, lynch mobs, the town turning against itself, this is everything Isaac didn't want.'

The young man draws his weapon and Rose places her hand on the weapon, startling the young man. 'Can I ask, how old are you, sir?'

'Nearly nineteen.' He responds and Rose shakes her head.

'Code for 'I'm only eighteen,'' Rose feels the Doctor grip her wrist, a subtle warning. 'Looking at you, I know you haven't fought in the war. Do you know what that means to me? That means that you've never shot anyone before. That you're never taken a life before, have you?' Rose smiles a bit and the man moves his gun from the Doctor to Rose, cocking it.

'I don't want to do this to you, Miss Wolfe,' The man admits and Rose can see his hand trembles a bit. 'You're right. Too young for the war, never killed a man. But there's a first time for everything. And I don't want my first time to be an innocent lady.'

The Doctor pushes Rose behind him a bit, feeling the need to keep her safe burn within him and he attempts to calm himself. 'But that's how this all started. Jex turned someone into a weapon. Now that same story is going to make you a killer too. Don't you see? Violence doesn't end violence, it extends it. I don't think you want to do this. I don't think you want to become that man.'

'There's kids here.' The young man retorts and Rose moves her hand from the gun, to the man's arm, gripping it and offers him a firm smile.

'And we can save them, but you have to let us do it our way. Without violence.' Rose responds and the young man frowns at her.

'He really worth the risk?' He wonders and the Doctor shrugs his shoulders.

'I don't know. But you are.'

The young man relents and lowers his revolver, defeated but not upset, he walks away. The other men in the crowd follow suit, lowering their weapons and they begin to drift into different corners of the town. They're conflicted but grateful that they didn't become what Isaac was fearful they would become.

Rose exhales and the Doctor turns to her and Amy and Rory, shuddering. 'Frightened people. Give me a Dalek any day,' The Doctor grins and walks past Amy and Rory, not realising that he still had Rose's wrist in his hand, taking her with him. 'Thanks for your help…' He whispers to her.

'It's hard to stop the fear once its set in,' Rose agrees but smiles nonetheless. 'And you're welcome. We make a pretty good team.'

'The best. I've forgotten.'

'I haven't.' Rose replies and the Doctor leads her back into the office, together they stop and glance at Jex's cell.

Rose motions to the holster and the Doctor nods; he puts his foot on the rail and begins to untie the holster. Rose watches as the undertaker suddenly appears with a tray of cups, all steaming vigorously.

'Miss Wolfe, black, just as you like it,' The undertaker smiles and Rose takes a cup from the tray, inhaling the aromas. 'Fresh coffee, Marshal,' The Doctor takes one before he moves on to Amy and Rory. When he's finished, he tucks the tray under his arm, moving back to the Doctor and Rose. He stops and looks them up and down. 'For what it's worth, I know you're going to save us. Isaac made you Marshal for a reason, and if you're good enough for him, you're good enough for me,' The undertaker states and turns to leave before he stops and smiles. 'Reckon you should know that.'

Rose and the Doctor each hold up their cups up to him. 'Thank you,' The Doctor smiles and takes a drink of the coffee before setting the cup down and leans against the rail with Rose. Swiftly, the undertaker takes out his measuring tape and holds it to the Doctor's shoulder. Rose leans back and frowns, the Doctor turns his head and blinks. 'Oi! Get out of it!'

The undertaker nods quickly and exits as the Doctor lets out a sigh and takes off the Stetson, placing it on Rose's head. He rubs his forehead and turns when Jex calls out from his cell. Rose follows his gaze.

'Let me guess. The good folk of Mercy wanted me to take a little stroll into the desert. You could turn a blind eye. No one would blame you. You'd be a hero.' Jex states innocently and Rose strides towards him, with the Doctor not far behind her.

Rose goes to say something, but the Doctor beats her to it, feeling the old anger well up inside him.

'But I can't, can I?!' The Doctor shouts and Rose turns her gaze to him 'Because then Isaac's death would mean nothing! Just another casualty in your endless, bloody war!' Jex lies down in the bed. 'Do you want me to hand you over?! Is that what you want?! Do you even know?!' Rose places her hand on his arm and the Doctor turns away from Jex in frustration. Walking a few steps away from the cell.

Jex stares into nothing as he responds to the Doctor's allegations. 'You think I'm unaffected by what I did? That I don't hear them screaming every time I close my eyes?' Jex wonders and he props himself up on one arm. Rose tilts her head, listening intensely. 'It would be so much simpler if I was just one thing, wouldn't it? The mad scientist who made that killing machine, or the physician who has dedicated his life to serving this town. To saving your lady? The fact that I'm both bewilders you.'

That last comment angers the Doctor and he strides back, Rose holds her breath. 'Oh, I know exactly what you are. And I see this reformation for what it really is. You committed an atrocity and chose this as your punishment,' The Doctor stops and he begins to pace. 'Don't get me wrong, good choice. Civilised hours, lots of adulation, nice weather. But. But! Justice doesn't work like that. You don't get to decide when and how your debt is paid!' The Doctor yells and then sighs. He leans against the wall, his back to the cell as Rose walks in front of him. Her eyes are sad and full of concern. He places his hand on her cheek, running his thumb over her cheek. Craving her closeness, but knowing she'd just rebuke it until she was comfortable again, he just leaves his hand there for some time. Rose can feel what he wants from her, but she can't yet. Something is holding her back.

Jex watches them and then sits up in the bed. 'In my culture, we believe that when you die your spirit has to climb a mountain, carrying the souls of everyone you wronged in your lifetime. Imagine the weight I will have to lift,' Jex muses and it causes Rose to stand in front of the cell again, while the Doctor turns around. 'The monsters I created, the people they killed,' The Doctor cautiously approaches and he blinks when Rose sticks her hand out. Shocked to silence, both by Rose's gesture and Jex's beliefs, he takes a hold of Rose's hand, listening to Jex. 'Isaac. He was my friend,' Jex states firmly and walks towards the cell bars. 'Now his soul will be in my arms, too. Can you see now why I fear death? You want to hand me over. There's no shame in that. But you won't. We all carry our prisons with us. Mine is my past, yours is your morality.' Jex finishes and walks back to the bed, lying down in it once more.

The Doctor turns to Rose who stares at him with her eyes wide. 'No better description…' She breathes and he grasps her hand tighter.

'Yeah, we all carry our prisons with us. Ha…'

'Seems like we are in need of one of your desperate last ditch effort plans…' Rose replies softly and he smiles at her.

'Well, we've got the coffee…that's a good start.' The Doctor beckons Rory and Amy closer, needing their input as well.

'Are you ready?' Rose wonders and the Doctor turns back to her, just as he's about to head out. She tilts her head as the Doctor studies her closely.

She's still exhausted; he can see it in her eyes. How underneath the gauze had become stained again, turning it a muddled red. She had cried out when Jex had addressed it again, cleaning it, but she hadn't allowed him to go to her. She wouldn't let him see it. It hurts him that she keeps him at a distance, that she doesn't want his help, but understands why she does it. He doesn't like waiting, though.

She's pushing herself way too hard, he decides, and can't wait for this to be over.

'Ready as I'll ever be.' He replies.

'Good. Then let's get started.' Rose signals to the church and the preacher begins his service.

The Doctor walks towards the centre of town and stands alone. He glances to the clock on the tower and watches the minuet hand draw ever closer to the hour. Noon is very quickly approaching. He stretches, cracks his neck and turns to the church, hearing the preacher begin the service with his congregation.

Rose watches the Doctor, still alone and Amy comes to stand beside her, placing her hand on Rose's shoulder. Together they glance to the clock on the wall as Amy nods and Rose crosses the floor to Jex's cell. He is still sitting on the bunk.

Everyone freezes as they hear the audible displacement of air announcing the arrival of the Gunslinger. When Rose arrives, Jex stands, walking towards the bars as he grips them, staring over to Amy and then looking at Rose who nods. Amy turns to the doors.

The Gunslinger arrives at the ring around the town and glances down at it before looking up to the Doctor. Without any hesitation, the Gunslinger steps over the border the moment the bells begin to toll, indicating noon has arrived. The Doctor waits for the Gunslinger who stands at the opposite sides of the town. The Doctor's hand twitch by the holster of his gun.

When the bells finish tolling, the Gunslinger raises his arm with a grunt and the Doctor smirks, raising the sonic high above his head. The Gunslinger groans in pain as the windows are blown out. The sonic has disrupted is aiming and to compensate for that, the Gunslinger begins to shoot widely. The Doctor rushes to find cover.

In the Marshal's office, Amy walks to Jex's cell with the keys in her hands and unlocks it. He inhales deeply and Rose places her hands on her hips.

'Are you ready?' She questions and Jex nods.

Rory and the young man are hiding behind one of the buildings as they wait for their turn in this little game. They hear the Gunslinger firing randomly and Rory turns to the man, who looks a bit apprehensive.

'Ready?' Rory nudges him and the man nods. 'Good. Here we go.' The young man runs off in another direction while Rory arbitrarily chooses another one.

The Gunslinger strides through the town and stops when he sees a figure running through the shadows. He intensifies his scanner and picks up the facial tattoo. He readies his gun.

In another part of the town, Jex sneaks down the street, avoiding the scanner of the Gunslinger.

Catching sight of another shadow standing on a balcony, the Gunslinger turns his scanner to the tattoo, raising his weapon but the readings come back in an error. There is no visual match on that. He lowers the gun and frowns.

'Disengage. It's a trick.'

He's begun to figure out this ploy. It will not stop him. He will hunt Jex down or destroy this town.

The congregation has fallen silent as the Gunslinger's shadow is seen walking past the window. Startling a little girl, she gets up and begins to back away.

'Save us, oh Lord.' The preacher says softly.

Not paying attention to where she's going, the little girl backs into a table and the force sends the books on it tumbling to the ground with an audible thud. The sound echoes outside and the Gunslinger halts.

The preacher rushes forward and hugs the little girl protectively to him as the doors of the church are blasted into oblivion. It causes the parishioners to scream, terrified.

The Doctor rushes back to the Marshal's office where Rose is waiting for him when he bursts through doors and Rose motions him to sit quickly. She hastily begins to paint Jex's tattoo on his face. He hastily gets up but Rose stops him. She licks her thumb and cleans up the line work on the false tattoo she'd drawn on him. The sound of an explosion draws their attention to the window.

Rose and the Doctor rush outside immensely concerned as they spot Jex, standing, fixated on the town.

The explosion has effectively stopped Jex in his tracks as he turns back to the town and stares at it. He hesitates and turns to the Doctor who shouts at him.

'Go! Just go! I can't save them while you're here!' The Doctor calls and notices that Rose has already begun to rush to the church. 'Rose! Wait! Hang on! You can't! You're not well enough!' The Doctor chases after her. He steals a quick glance of his shoulder as he catches sight of Jex heading into the desert.

Jex continues to run down the trail until he spots his craft still hidden in the desert. He hastily runs up to his craft, yanking the tarp off of it and he punches in the keys, glancing back to the town. Maybe there is still time to redeem himself.

'Nine, eight, seven, self destruct overridden.'

Tired of this trick, the Gunslinger scans the town once more before he announces his next attempt at finding Jex.

'Deactivate automatic targeting. Switch to manual.'

The Gunslinger intensifies his scanner and picks up the heat signature of both Rose and the Doctor. Smirking, he slowly walks over to where they are hiding and aims his gun at them just as the Doctor peers around the corner. He widens his eyes and disappears around the corner before he reappears with the woman. They both put their hands in the air.

'Where is he?' The Gunslinger questions and the Doctor shrugs.

'He's gone.'

'Where?!' But he doesn't receive a reply for either of them. 'Answer me!' The Gunslinger shouts desperately. The Doctor begins to back into the street with Rose. Ensuring that she is behind him.

'Away from here. Look up. Any second now you'll see the vapour trail of his ship. This is their home, not the backdrop for your revenge! Look up. Go after him, take this battle away from…'

There is a loud sound that resembles radio feedback as Jex's voice comes over the speakers of his ship.

'Kahler-Tex. Kahler-Tex.' Jex's voice shouts but he is nowhere to be seen. Rose and the Doctor look around, confused.

'Jex…? Coward! Where are you?!' The Gunslinger shouts into the air desperately. He attempts to scan the surrounding areas but nothing comes up.

'I'm in my ship.'

'Jex, what are you doing?! Just go!' The Doctor shouts into the sky but Jex ignores him and focuses on the Gunslinger, trying make these last moments matter.

'Where are you from? Where on Kahler?' Jex questions and the Gunslinger is taken back.

The Doctor gapes at nothing in the sky but can't believe what he's hearing. 'Now? You're asking him this now?!'

'Gabrean.' The Gunslinger responds and in the ship, Jex smiles, having fond memories of that place before his life took a drastic turn.

'I know it. It's beautiful there. When this is over, will you go back?' Jex wonders and the Gunslinger smiles bitterly.

'How can I? I am a monster now.' The Gunslinger's tone is embittered.

'So am I.' Jex responds and the Doctor takes a few steps forward.

'Just go! Finish this!'

Rose tugs his arm back and he turns to her, confused. 'Don't you see? He is finishing this!' She turns back to the sky, moving her arm in front of her face to shield her face from the sun.

'I will find you. If I have to tear this universe apart, I will find you.' The Gunslinger threats and Jex understands.

'I don't doubt that. You'll chase me to another planet…and another race will be caught in the crossfire.'

'Then face me!' The Gunslinger shouts angrily and impatiently waits to see what Jex will decide to do.

'No. You've killed enough. I'm ending the war for you, too.' Jex declares and the Doctor widens his eyes. Rose was right.

'Countdown to self destruct resumed.' The computerised voice drones out and the Doctor can't believe what he's hearing.

'Jex! What's going on? You can't, Jex!' The Doctor yells and Rose stands in front of him, pressing her finger to his lips.

'He's made his choice. Enough.'

'Thank you, Doctor. But I have to face the souls of those I wronged. Perhaps they will be kind.' Jex muses and prepares himself.

The sound of an explosion draws everyone's attention to the desert as the smoke begins to billow over top of the buildings. There is silence before the Doctor turns to look back at the Gunslinger, who sighs and hangs his head in defeat. Angry that his chance to exact his full revenge has been robbed of him.

'He behaved with honour at the end,' The Gunslinger admits and Rose heads towards him. 'Maybe more than me.'

'We could take you back to your world. You could help with the reconstruction.' The Doctor offers but the Gunslinger begins to walk away before Rose can reach him and the Doctor starts to follow them.

'I will walk into the desert and self-destruct. I am a creature of war. I have no role to play during peace.' The Gunslinger declares and Rose jogs to get in front of him.

Rory and Amy begin to run towards the Doctor as the townsfolk come out of hiding as well. Noticing that the fighting has stopped.

'Wait,' Rose says and he does. 'I think I have a role for you. This town is going to need someone to protect it.'

The Gunslinger ponders her words and Rose smiles up to him. Perhaps he has a greater purpose after all.

Rose finishes up saying her goodbyes to those she met over the course of her week staying here and walks out of the saloon with the Doctor. They continue into the street where Amy, Rory and the TARDIS are waiting patiently. They Doctor walks by them and Rory and Amy exchange looks, silently agreeing that it's time to head home again. They are going to need time. It'll be easier if they're alone together. Rose lingers just behind the Doctor and he bounds by them, unlocking the TARDIS.

'Okay, so our next trip. Rose, you're gonna love this. You know all the monkeys and dogs they sent into space in the 50s and 60s? You'll never guess what really happened to them!'

'Uh…could we leave it a while?' Amy wonders and the Doctor stops, staring at her confused. 'Our friends will start noticing that we're aging faster than them.'

'Another time! No worries!' The Doctor announces and Amy smiles apologetically as she and Rory head inside, the Doctor follows them.

'Thanks!' Amy replies.

Rose stares frozen, staring at the open TARDIS door, unsure of what to do. All of her emotions come back full force as she stares petrified.

The Doctor steps out of the TARDIS confused until he sees the terrified look on Rose's face. He walks towards her but she doesn't acknowledge him.

'Rose?'

'I…I don't think…' She begins to fumble with her bag attached to her thigh, wanting to get out the wrist strap. 'I can't…it's all coming back…'

'What…?' He doesn't understand until he fully dissects her words. She's remembering her last moments that she was face to face with the TARDIS and how devastated she was.

He places his hand on her cheek and she finally breaks eye contact with the TARDIS. 'No…I can't. Doctor…' She shakes her head backing away. 'It's not home to me anymore.'

Upset by her words, the Doctor moves closer to her and holds his hand out to her, hoping that this would help her. 'Then…then take my hand. And I'll walk with you.'

Rose hesitates and eventually nods. She bites her lip and takes his hand as he leads her back to the TARDIS. She looks up to him and smiles ruefully.

'Thank you…'

'Told you…I'm fighting this time. You're the only reason I'm going to be selfish,' The Doctor stops at the door and Rose gingerly steps inside, turning back to him with a relieved look on her face. He smiles a bit, following her inside. 'Rose Tyler, the Doctor and the TARDIS. Just as it should be.'

Well here it is. I am starting the uncharted territory of having Rose in series 7.

What do you think, do you like it? Did you guys know it was Rose? Did I do a good job hiding her?

I'm glad you guys responded so well to the last 2 chapters of my other story. I know, I know I can be so evil, huh? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this story. And if you think it's a good idea to continue or not.