Disclaimer: I do not own any of Doctor Who.

Season Notes: In honor of the new season coming out soon.

This was originally a really long project I was never going to post until I had it all written, but oh well. There are seven "episodes". Each chapter is an episode (originally, each scene was a chapter, but that changed). Episodes 1 and 2 are two-parters, they go together, and episodes 6 and 7 are the same-two parters, for those four episodes the scene numbering goes well. So, episode 1 has scenes 1-16 (not really) while episode 2 has scenes 17 to 25 (not really) while the counting starts over in episode 2, 3, 4, and 5, and 6, but 7 has the continuation of 6

Takes place after the christmas special. In my head, the Doctor picks up the Ponds at that time (after dinner of course)

And I'm not sure if River's going to show up.

Warnings: A lot of overlap, I'm sorry. And probably plot holes. Also, a lot of continuity of classic and nuwho.

This whole thing is un-beta. Anyone who sees anything out of the ordinary, let me know and I'll fix it.

And one last word (For those who haven't seen Torchwood or some of any Doctor Who)...Spoilers!


I Can Run Forever

Mikkal

Episode 2: Nothing to Fear But... (2)


Episode Notes: Special guests: Torchwood (if you can't tell by the title for those who have seen the first episode of Torchwood's second season (John Hart, anyone?) or for those who haven't seen it and still don't know the trivia behind it.


Scene IX

'…Rory.'

Amy shot up from her dazed slouch, instantly going to the Doctor's side. Only to sag in disappointment when she saw him still out of it. His complexion was getting paler, but there was a dangerous flush to his cheeks, and sweat lined his brow. She moved his hair out of his face, frowning at the heat.

Her husband was on his other side, fast asleep while holding one of the Doctor's hand in both of his. He was holding so tightly the alien's fingers were turning white.

It had only been a few hours since the Doctor collapsed, but between trying to figure it everything out and trying to keep the Doctor's fever down to respectable Time Lord level they were all exhausted.

'Rory.' She shook his shoulder. 'Rory, wake up. His fever's getting higher.'

He woke with a start, crushing the hand he held. 'Wha? What? Amy?'

She shook her head, the corner of her mouth twitching up. 'I said the Doctor's getting hotter.'

Rory frowned and glanced at him. 'You're right. Maybe we should call Ja—.'

The Torchwood team came bursting in at that moment, Jack shoving his way through his friends/co-workers to stand in front of Rory.

'GET AWAY FROM HIM!' Jack shouted, aiming his gun straight at the man's face.

Rory shot his hands up, dropping the Doctors, at stared at the barrel of then gun worriedly.

'What are you doing?' Amy yelled. She tried to go to her husband's side but Tosh held her back.

'Don't,' the slightly older woman warned. 'That's not Rory.'

'Of course I'm Rory,' he said. 'Who else would I be?'

Jack growled, jabbing his gun threateningly. 'Shut up,' he snapped. 'You haven't been Rory for a while now. Stop hiding and show yourself.'

Rory snorted disbelievingly and then started giggling, high pitched and oh-so not Rory. 'How'd you know?' He asked, eye lashes fluttering like a flirty woman. Highly disturbing.

'It was easy,' Gwen said. 'You went to the loo. Something showed up on the scans. Jack was better, so it wasn't him, and the Doctor's in a coma. You've been acting weird since the hospital.'

Amy blinked, everything coming back to her. 'You never touch the Doctor,' she said. 'He always touches you. And ever since the hospital…you've been too close. Takin' every opportunity to touch him.' She swallowed, realizing she shouldn't be talking to him like he was actually him. 'Rory touched Danny Foster then the Doctor scanned him. You jumped to Rory and then when the Doctor touched his neck because of the argument you jumped to the Doctor.' And she wasn't affected because of her gloves and sleeves. Oh God.

Rory—no, It smirked. 'Close, but no dice,' It said in a sing song tone. 'I didn't jump to the precious Doctor. I merely… extended my connection from Rory to the little Time Lord. Granted, I had to call all the pieces of me inside all of you and everyone back. But it was worth it. You, Jack, have so much. But the Doctor here…he's got more.'

'Let him go,' Jack said firmly.

'Oh, but I did.' It waved Rory's arms. 'See, I let go. Just like you told me to.'

Ianto gripped his gun tighter. 'You know what he means. Let the Doctor go from your mind tricks.'

'But I don't want to,' It whined. 'He's got such a long life and so many nightmares!' It grinned savagely. 'Did you know one of his greatest fears is a world burning? He first saw one that was really an alternate universe with humans turned Primords. (Someone else had loads of fun with that one). But hey, a burning world is a burning world. Now imagine that fear times ten. He burned his own world! How awesome is that!'

Jack's face twisted in disgust. 'You're sick.'

'No,' It snapped. 'I'm natural. I'm a natural part of the universe. But not you, Captain Jack Harkness. You're not.'

Amy's heart was in her throat. Both her boys were in horrible danger and she couldn't think of any way to stop it. She stepped up behind Jack. 'What do we do?'

It forced Rory's feet so It was closer to the Time Lord. 'You do nothing while I make his nightmares worse. Won't that be fun? Maybe I'll free up his movements, so you can hear him.'

The Doctor began muttering, moving restlessly as his eyes flickered under his lids. His fingers twitched, bunching the bed sheet in his fists.

'No…No,' he mumbled. He said something else in a language they couldn't understand, but sounded so beautiful it could only be Gallifrayen. Then he let out an anguished scream, thrashing around frantically.

'Stop it! Leave him alone!'

'Why?' It challenged. 'What are you going to do about it? You can't shoot me or else you hurt dear Rory as well. But that won't be the first time, would it?'

'Tie him up,' Jack ordered. He waited until Ianto and Gwen were well under way with the rather compliant creature before turning to the distraught Scottish woman. 'Amy, snap out of it,' he said quietly. 'We're going to save both of them. I promise.'

She gripped the hair on the side of her head, trying to think of anything other than what was going on. 'What do we do?' The Doctor's screams still rung in her ears.

Jack gripped his gun almost preemptively and sighed.

'You don't know, do you?' She accused, her panic and concern turning into anger. Justified, but she was directing it at the wrong person.

'Amy!' he said sharply, shutting her up. 'I do know what to do, but it's dangerous. Really dangerous. There're two things we need to do. One, find a cure. This thing may be sentient, but it's still a parasite.'

'That's not so bad. What's the second?'

He glanced back at his oldest friend, feeling just a little bit helpless and dread. 'The psychic connection. We need to break it, then give him the cure. We give him the cure before and he could die.' With no hope of regeneration. 'But that means someone has to interrupt it.'

'You can't do that, Jack,' Tosh hissed, practically reading her boss's mind. 'You're just barely telepathic. Just enough to keep people from reading your mind. The strain will kill you.'

'Which is why I'm doing it,' he said grimly. 'Can't have any of you dying on me. The Doctor would kill me twice over.'

'But,' Amy protested. 'It'll cause him more guilt, more nightmares if you die for him.'

Jack winked at her. 'I'm a lot stronger than I look, trust me.'

Trust me, I'm the Doctor.

'Ianto, I want you to guard that parasite. Knock it out if you think it's getting loose.' He winced. 'Sorry, Rory. Owen, with me. You're going to keep an eye on me and the Doctor. Tosh, I want a cure, yesterday. Gwen, got check on the coma patients. They should be awake by now. And I want all the hospital's records on them.' He turned to Amy. 'Amy, I want you to relax. Take a deep breath and watch the Doctor for any signs of waking up. Make sure he doesn't freak out.'

'What about Rory?'

'Ianto's got him. He's probably not even awake in there.'

It snickered, worrying them all greatly. It had been too quiet while they were planning and now there was a disturbing manic gleam in Its eye.

'Jack,' Tosh warned again.

And Jack just ignored her. He walked up to the Doctor's side, staring down at his face. He had stopped screaming long ago, but there was still pain crinkling the corner of his eyes and mouth.

He took a deep breath, concentrating. He's never actually forced himself into a powerful mind before. Jack knew the technique, but his skills were never up to par with something or someone who lived as a telepath.

It was just hope he was riding on right now. Hope that living as long as he did and the vortex bringing him back gave him enough juice. Blocking his mind from and sending instructions to someone like a 21st century human with a pendant was much different than what he was attempting now.

Jack placed his fingers along the Doctor's temples and thought about every one of his moments with him. Every alien he's met that reminds him of him. Every attack adverted thanks to him. He thought of Rose and the Master. Of Martha Jones and Mickey Smith. TARDIS. Dalek. Satellite Five. Siltheen. The Year That Never Was. Everything he could think of, everything that made them connected.

And then he shoved himself into the Doctor's mind.


Scene X

Oh, Susan. His wonderful, lovely, beautiful Susan.

He was back in the TARDIS with his granddaughter and Ian, and Barbara, in the image of his younger self. One of his firsts if he remembered correctly.

They were planning a trip. It was a good day for him, less stuffy than he normally was. His recent companions would find that hilarious, how stuffy he use to be. Even he had to admit he was stuffy.

And he still managed to find time to snark with Ian. Those were some fun times.

He grinned when Susan and Barbara got into a debate about eating verses cooking. It was always a sore spot. Barbara was good at cooking and his granddaughter was good at eating. But Susan had a tendency to go over board and eat Ian's share. Neither human was very happy about that.

Happy.

Why was he so happy? Where were the nightmares? His worst fears coming to life?

'During all the years I've been taking care of you, you in return have been taking care of me.'

His insides froze for some unexplainable reason.

'You are still my grandchild and always will be. But now, you're a woman too. I want you to belong somewhere, to have roots of your own. With David you will be able to find those roots and live normally like any woman should do.'

No. That was a good day. A happy day. A sad, but happy day. For Susan and for him. Why would that be a nightmare? Why would he be so scared of that moment?

'Believe me my dear, your future lies with David and not with a silly old buffer like me. One day, I shall come back.'

The scene switched. He wasn't in the TARDIS anymore, it was behind him now. Ian and Barbara already inside and Susan stood in front of him, David Campbell right behind her. They both looked so happy, so in love.

'Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.'

He reached out for her even though that's not how he remembered it. He tried to speak. Tried to warn her. Something bad was going to happen. Something terrible. Something twisted, the memory all wrong.

'Goodbye Susan. Goodbye my dear.'

And then the Earth crumbled around them. She lunged for David as he begun to fall into the abyss of nothing. They stared at each other, both about to cry and both knowing this wasn't going to end well. His fingers slipped and then clung harder, but it wasn't enough. One finger and another. She cried out for him, watching him fall, fall, fall.

'You did this!' She shouted at him, refusing to look away from where the human fell. 'You lead me to believe that I could spend the rest of my life with him. He died, grandfather.' Susan started sobbing, talking about not what just happened, but would happen in the real timeline. 'He died long before I even needed to regenerate.' She flinched away from his embrace. 'This is all your fault!'

Words failed him. 'Susan…'

'No!'

And then, to his horror, a ray burst from behind him. Suddenly the TARDIS wasn't there anymore and it was just swarm after swarm of daleks. Old and new, military colors and the disturbing rainbow the daleks managed to pull from him during an alternate WWII. Every dalek in time and space converged on the two of them

'Susan! We have to ru—.'

He turned around to see Susan on the ground, eyes open wide and lifeless. There was no fast healing, there was no golden light. His last living relative was dead. Dead from a dalek.

And the scene switched again. This time is was Susan crumpled on the floor of a kitchen, a gun in one hand and a picture of an elder David in another. She was older, much older.

She refused to live her life without her husband, and thus refused to regenerate.

He fell to his knees, cradling her body closely. Tears ran down his cheeks, this was his fault. This was all his fault. He condemned her to a life of fear and loneliness thinking it was the right thing to do and look how it turned out.

His granddaughter dead.

His scream seemed to echo throughout the whole nightmare house as he rocked her body for who knows how long.

'…continue until it rips the time vortex apart!'

Susan dissolved into darkness and gray, leaving him empty handed and oh-so alone.

'That's sui…'

His head shot up. The Master? And the his shoulders sagged, he felt drained and it was only the first nightmare. How could he handle the rest knowing they were just going to get worse and more innocent people were going to die by his hand?

'We will ascend! To become creatures of consciousness alone; free of these bodies, free of time, and cause and effect, while creation itself ceases to be!'

He was holding Wilfred's gun at the wrong moment, trying to decide between the Time Lords, his poor, corrupted people, and the Master, his old and use to be dearest friend.

'Then, take me with you, Lord President. Let me ascend into glory!'

His finger faltered on the trigger. Neither Time Lords paid any attention to the gun in his hand and his trigger finger starting to move. No. No. No! No, he didn't want—he shouldn't have to—Please! No!

'You are diseased! Albeit a disease of our own making. No more…'

And now they noticed. And now they debated, but he was still frozen. Barrel now trained on one Time Lord. One shot could end the world. The Master dies the Time Lords rip reality apart. Kill the Lord President and the Master rules over Gallifrey and brings it out of the Time Lock even more.

'The final act of your life is murder. But which one of us?'

He should tell the Master to move, get out of the way. Let him shoot the last white point star. But he doesn't. He pulls the trigger and the bullet makes a small hole in the front of his head and blasts a gaping wound in the back.

His oldest friend—Koschei— falls to the ground, eyes wide. He couldn't regenerate, there was no way. Rassilon grinned and the world flared white. Wilfred just stared at him in horror as reality chewed away.

And then Martha was killed right before him, taken down by the Toclafane without even a chance. She reached out for him, reaching and reaching, but he didn't reach back. There was blame in her eyes, he did nothing to help her as the Master laughed gleefully then started snogging his wife.

This wasn't what happened. Martha got away. MARTH GOT AWAY! Martha got away. Martha got away. Martha…got away…away, didn't she?

'Doctor…'

Now Jack. No, not him. He couldn't die. He couldn't die, but he could be tortured with him powerless to stop it.

'Doctor!'

Wait…His head shot up and he found himself in the TARDIS once again, wearing his current image. And then it all came crashing down. He sobbed, burying his head in his knees. All his fault. All those deaths. They happened and they were all his fault. They weren't nightmares, they were memories. They had to be.

He choked and scrabbled at his bowtie. It was suddenly too tight, but he knew it wasn't the tie.

'Doctor, snap out of it!'

Jack was in front of him, gripping the sides of his face and peering into his eyes with so much concern it was unbelievable.

'Doctor,' he said softly. 'Doctor, can you hear me?'

'You're not real,' he croaked. 'The Master has you. You're…You're still chained.' This time he muffled the sob. 'You can't be here. You can't.'

Jack moved his hands and shook his shoulders. 'Hey, hey! Doctor, think,' he ordered firmly. 'We're in your head. These are just nightmares. Remember? The parasite?'

He squeezed his eyes shut. Just a hope spot, just a hope spot.

'Not a hope spot,' Jack told him, pressing their foreheads together. 'Doctor, use that brilliant mind of yours and think!'


Scene XI

Ianto wouldn't let her near Rory, let alone touch him. Then again, though, she guessed that he wasn't exactly her husband now. Being possessed and all. So, in the end, she decided to spend her time clutching the Doctor's hand, fetching stiff for Owen in an attempt to be useful, and generally ignoring the disconcerting way Jack stood next the Doctor, hovering over him and staring blankly with his fingers still framing the Doctor's face.

'How much longer?' She asked, voice cracking a little.

The Doctor's eyes fluttered, showing white slits, and he groaned softly. His head shifted and tilted towards Jack before he was still again.

Amy clutched him tighter, moving closer and bracing herself on the bad. 'Doctor? Can you hear me?' She got no answer. 'Is he waking up?' She asked, just for confirmation.

The Torchwood medical examiner frowned and checked his machines. 'All indications say yes.'

Just then Jack crumpled to the floor, eyes wide and uncomfortably dead looking. Amy dropped her raggedy man's hand and rushed to his side, panicking on the inside and worried on the out.

'He's dead,' Owen said simply, sitting back on his heels. He nodded at Ianto subtly, assuredly. 'Being caught between two psychics warring it out on each other was too much. His brain fried.'

'What?' How could he be so calm about this? His boss just died! The Doctor's friend just died! 'How can he be dead?'

Owen gave her an annoyed glance. 'Weren't you listening? Psychic mind war? Fried brain? His mind's dead so he's dead.'

How could he be so callous about his boss'—his friend's death? Even she managed to show emotion when the Doctor/Tessalecta died and she notorious for being a complete ginger at keeping her emotions in check.

Jack suddenly jerked up, breathing in a great gasp of air frantically. He reached out blindly for something, anything, to ground himself and Owen was more than happy to help. He smiled at the pale man thankfully, having a little moment…

…that was completely ruined by Amy shrieking and scrambling back. 'You're alive! H-How can you be alive…Owen said you were dead!'

'Can't die,' Jack said simply, still gasping a little. 'Fixed point in time. I have to be in the universe.' He grasped the side of the bed and hauled himself up. 'Is he awake?'

'Didn't get a chance to look. You died too fast.'

He rolled his eyes then shook the Doctor's shoulder. 'Doc,' he murmured. 'Wake up.'

This time it was the Doctor who shot up with a gasp of air like he had never breathed before in his life and suddenly found out he needed it to live. He doubled over the side and dry heaved violently, trembling so hard he was threatening to fall off the bed. Tears ran down his cheeks and he whimpered.

Jack braced him carefully, keeping him from falling, and talked in soothing words that held no real meaning.

It seemed like forever until he stop heaving, his cheeks dry with trails still marking where the tears fell. He leaned forward a little and rested his head on his friend's shoulder.

The died-but-still-alive man gestured to her. Comfort him, he mouthed.

Amy walked hesitantly over, not sure about this impossible man, but knowing he was right. She put a hand on her raggedy man's head, burying her fingers in his hair, and leaning close. She guided his head to her chest and practically rocked him like he was a small child.

The Doctor clung to her with all of his failing strength and sobbed silently.

'Aw, poor baby need a mummy's hug?' Rory's voice snarked.

Amy ignored It, but Jack shot up and stomped over. 'The Doc's free,' he snarked. 'Let Rory go.'

It smirked. 'But he's so handsome! Died so many times, for no reason. He's a strong one. I think I'll keep him permanently.'

She gasped. 'Don't you dare.'

'And what are ya going to do about it?'

…Amy had no idea. The Doctor had the plans and the smarts, Rory was the strength (especially since the Big Bang Two), but what was she? The snark, the sarcasm. The heart? What kind of lame power is heart, anyway?

'Thought so.' Its smirk got a bit madder. 'By the way? You lot are rubbish at tying knots.' It jabbed out and elbowed Ianto in the kidneys and grabbed his gun quickly before snaking an arm around his neck and holding the barrel to the Welshman's temple. It inched towards the door of the TARDIS, Jack and Owen following carefully. 'I'm, unfortunately, still hungry. And since Jackie took my very delicious meal, I think I'll go spread the nightmares somewhere else.'

Ianto's eyes told then to just shoot the damn thing or knock It out (so the Doctor wouldn't get pissed), but they refused on the account he was in the way. The humans and the possessed backed out pass Tosh and through the door.

'Enjoy finding the cure!' It shouted gleefully. 'That's the only way you'll free little Rory Pond and put the Doctor back together again. Also I'd be getting pretty worried right about now. I think Amelia's a little overwhelmed.'

With that It shot something at random, making them all duck, and pushed Ianto into the other two men. It shot again, just for the fun of it, and took off before any of Torchwood could do a thing. Using Rory's long, agile legs It ran for the hills and behind a building. There must have been some alien influence, no human could run that fast.

Jack swore and threw something that set off sparks when it collided with the wall. 'Tosh!' He shouted. 'Track It, now!' He jabbed a finger at Owen. 'Use her research. I want that cure, I'm tired of asking. Ianto,' he faltered. 'Coffee.'

The Welshman's eyes turned hard, but he understood. He failed. He let the parasite get free and run away with the companion's body. There was nothing more for him to do than to make coffee, rub his sore side (shouldn't an elbow to the kidney's hurt more than this?)…and do a little more research of his own.

He hated that he had to order him for just coffee, but there was nothing more he could do. Ianto screwed up and he had to know that. Jack stormed to the TARDIS, Its little comment about Amy being overwhelmed didn't help with the current situation.

And she looked fine to him. Jack sighed with relief and watched Amy help the Doctor lay down. He was still trembling, but not as bad, and looked to be falling asleep.

'Sorry, Doctor,' she said quietly, shaking him from his doze. 'You need to stay awake. Owen said he wasn't sure if It was gone completely yet.'

He stared at her like a lost puppy. 'Where's Rory?' He asked hoarsely. The first words he's spoken since he woke up judging by Amy's startled expression. The Doctor's eyes narrowed and he pushed Amy away so he could sit up. 'Jack, where's Rory?' Apparently he wasn't completely out of it when It ran away. 'How long?'

'Since Danny Foster,' she said quietly.

The Doctor squeezed his eyes shut. 'After the Silent,' he murmured, mostly talking to himself. 'I heard It, in my head,' he said louder. 'I think I know what it is now.' He slid off the bed and his knees promptly buckled.

Jack lunged for one arm while Amy grabbed the other. 'You're still technically sick. And in no position to go out saving the world,' he informed his friend sternly.

'I'm not saving the world. I'm saving Rory and that's equally, if not more, important.'


Scene XII

He tripped and his shoulder slammed into the brick wall to keep himself from falling. It didn't work. His face landed in a puddle, his now injured shoulder hitting the ground. Rory groaned and pulled himself up to lean against the wall.

Why was he running? He couldn't really remember. It was all just a blur right now. There was flashes of the Doctor…dying? He was dying? Or already died…Why was he dying? Was he even dying? And then faces, angry, sad, blue, and red. The red must be Amy. Maybe the blue was Jack or Ianto. He was near them, wasn't he?

But why was he running?

And then there was a gun. Pointing at his face, pointing at Ianto's head. Two shots, no blood, no screams…did Torchwood even get scared?

He groaned and cradled his throbbing head in his hands. This was not helping him remember and it just made him have a major head ache. He hefted himself up, maybe he should head back? Have the Doctor or Owen look at him?

Rory stood up and a crippling pain stabbed him in the stomach. He choked on a shout and slammed back against the wall, biting his lip.

Ow, ow, ow, ow.

…He was really hungry. There was a dull ache at the pit of his stomach that growled at him. He needed to eat something. He always had to eat.

It shook it head and stood up, shaking out its limbs. Well, now it was time to eat. Now that the stupid Fixed Point ruined the best mean it had in ages it had to go searching for another person equivalent to the Doctor.

Yeah, good luck with that.

Though, it did have all of Wales. And, who knows, maybe it could branch out to the rest of the European countries. This planet had so many of the emotionally weak species it was like a buffet.

Time to eat.


'It's a kellion,' the Doctor said quietly, unable to speak any louder. He sank into the seat a frowning Owen offered him and forced himself to take deep breathes. 'Don't know why I didn't see it sooner. Stupid,' he muttered.

Jack shook his head. 'You're not stupid. When would you have time to figure that out?' He reasoned. 'You were here, for what, three hours, before you got infected? It was probably messing with you after that so you wouldn't figure it out.'

He shuddered at the thought. 'Don't remind me,' he groaned. 'Anyway. A kellion is a sentient parasite from the planet Kellia Vos in the Gartinuta System. They're about a third down in the food chain. There's only two species in the whole system that's immune. And, incidentally, the whole universe too.'

'How do we get rid of it?' Amy asked. 'You can get rid of it, right?'

After a little hesitation the Doctor nodded. 'I can, but it won't be pleasant for Rory.'

She swallowed. 'It…It won't kill him, will it?'

'…no.'

'Doctor.'

'No,' he repeated more firmly. 'It won't kill him. I'll make sure of that.'

'What do we do first, Doctor?' Jack asked, slowly inching behind the alien.

He closed his eyes briefly. He was so tired, every bone weighed down, his head was fuzzy and slow, and there was an ache through his whole body that just wouldn't go away. 'First we find him, of course. Can you use that track-y thing again?'

Tosh nodded. 'Yeah, definitely.'

'Do it,' he ordered before cracking his knuckles and started typing away at computer, pain crinkled around his eyes. 'I just…need…a little som—ah ha!'

Jack leaned over him, hand on his shoulder to steady him. 'What language is that?' He squinted.

'Does it matter?' Tosh exclaimed in surprise. 'How'd he even get that on there? Everythin's Earth or whatever we've scanned. That's a database.'

'Ah, the joys of being me!' The Doctor said joyfully. 'Tosh, are you tracking Rory?'

'Of course.'

He scratched his chin. 'We need to get to him. I've figured it out, but I need to be in contact, physical contact, with him.'

Jack tore his gaze away from the horrible text on the screen and glared at him, lowering his voice. 'I'm really getting tired of this, Doctor,' he said. 'I don't want anymore people dying.'

'Pish, posh,' the Doctor said dismissively. 'No one's going to die. Don't be silly. Everyone's going to live. Rory, me, the kellion. I'm not too sure about that one, though,' he added absently. 'Okay, let's get going.' He hopped to his feet and immediately regretted it.

Jack and Amy caught him just as his knees buckled and directed his collapse down towards the chair instead of the floor.

'I doubt you're in any condition to go chasing after Rory,' Amy said sternly, her heart growing tighter. Her boys. Both hurting. Only one of them could save the other and the Doctor was no in the shape for saving.

The Doctor rubbed his eyes harshly. 'I'm fine,' he insisted. 'I need to do this. That kellion is completely controlling him. He has hours before it burns him up from the inside out. It said he was strong, anyone else with all the Its essence would be dead already.' He shoved himself up, a bit more steady that before. 'Tosh, where is he?'


Hungry. It was so hungry. There was fear all around it, but there wasn't enough. There wasn't enough time to eat it all, not enough time to even infect someone new. Ah, that was it. It wouldn't infect someone new.

'Can I help you?'

It made Rory smile gently. 'Hello, I'm with the hospital. I've come to check on Danny Foster.'

The woman at the door frowned. 'The doctors said he was fine. Released him a few hours ago, obviously. Is there something wrong?'

'No, no,' It said. 'Just a follow up, just to sure. He just woke from a coma, those are pretty nasty long term if they aren't kept in line.'

Her eyes widened. 'Of course, of course. Come in. He's in the kitchen with Scott.'

It scowled. More humans, great. All It wanted to do was have its last meal quickly and quietly. One way or another, It wasn't going to be on this forsaken, backwater planet anymore. It twitched Rory's lips into a strained smile, barely trying anymore.

'Danny, there's someone here from the hospital to check on you,' the woman said.

The boy looked tired, still sickly. Perfect. Its smile was a bit more real now as he clapped a hand on his shoulder, already feeling the nightmares clawing their way to the forefront of the human man's mind.

His eyes slid close and his head fell back, fork dropping to the plate with a loud clatter then to the floor. Its eyes fluttered shut in bliss, Rory's lips moving in what could be savor.

'What are you doing?' The brother shouted, all the sounds of him jumping to his feet dim.

It didn't even bother open its eyes to slam its open hand in Scott Foster's throat, sending him back and choking and possibly crushing it. The woman was the same, an extra hit to her chest just for laughs.

Danny groaned, shifting as his father came at him. It couldn't believe its luck, why didn't it do this before?

Of course, the Doctor had to taste too good.

Something clamped on Rory's arm. Everything was too good to notice even the outside presences.

'Get out of them both. Now!'

Its eyes shot open in surprise, its straggling essence draining quickly from the boy, and it was suddenly shoved back to the ground, grip slipping from Danny's shoulder. Amy rushed to the human's side, holding him up as he woke slowly.

Angry green eyes stared at it, one hand clamped around its wrist and the covering its mouth. 'Let him go,' the Doctor growled out loud. 'Do it, before you wish you never messed with any of these humans.'

Its laugh was muffled behind the Time Lord's hand and it shook Rory's head. Never going to give up, that was its policy. Nice policy too, got a lot of meals out of it.

The Doctor's eyes grew darker, promising something horrible. Something worthy of the name The Oncoming Storm.

'Doctor,' Amy said softly. 'Don't do…Don't do anything you'll regret.'

The good Time Lord didn't reply, just closed his eyes in resignation and pressed his head against the hand holding Rory's mouth shut. 'Please,' he whispered, 'Please, don't make me do this. You can live. I can give you place full of fear, but not those living.'

'Oh please,' It said in Rory's mind, smirking. 'Where's the fun in that?'

('Can I trust you, River Song?' laughter. 'If you like. But where's the fun in that?')

The Doctor sighed. 'I don't want to do this,' he murmured before he closed his eyes and It screamed


Scene XIII

Amy cried out when Rory screamed, muffled by the Doctor's hand. She clutched the groggy Donny close, feeling Jack nearby.

'You said you were tired of people dying,' she said frantically. 'What did you mean by that? Is Rory going to die?'

Rule one: the Doctor lies.

'No,' Jack said. He glanced at Owen and the doctor nodded before moving to Danny. 'He's not going to die. The Doctor has a better chance of dying than him.'

'What?" She exclaimed.

He grimaced. 'He's sending every single memory, dream, nightmare, fear, hope, thought, that he's ever had into Rory's mind. But he's directing it to the parasite. So that's the kellion screaming, not Rory.'

Amy let Owen take Danny and stood up, shuffling closer. 'How does that kill the Doctor?'

Jack sighed. 'Everything that makes a person who they are, are their dreams and nightmare and everything beyond and between. Without them, they're just a husk of nothing.'

'So, he's not dying dying. He's going to not…be there anymore,' she said, horrified. 'There has to be another way.'

'There's not.'

The Doctor started screaming too, the sound mixing with Rory's so tightly that is was nearly impossible to tell whose was whose. He pressed harder into his hand, pushing It against the ground until Rory couldn't move whether he was in control or not.

Rory started to glow silver, getting brighter and brighter until it was blinding.

'Is that it?' Amy shouted, shading her eyes. 'Is that the kellion?'

'No!' Jack shouted back. 'That's…That's the wrong colour!'

'No! No! Nononononono!' The Doctor yelled. 'Don't! Don't even think about it!'

Rory started laughing hysterically, fading round the edges. 'Knew it!' He crowed, not sounding like her husband. 'Tootles, Doctor!'

The Doctor released Rory and lunged for the light that was disappearing through the ceiling. He only got so far before his eyes rolled and he fell, crumpling limply like a puppet with its string cut.

Amy blinked rapidly to rid her eyes of sun-spots and rushed to Rory's side, Owen right behind her and Jack going to the Doctor's.

She pushed Owen away and brushed her husband's forehead, bringing her hand to cup his face. 'Rory? You with us?'

Rory twitched and blinked up her dazedly. He looked confused for a split second then a smile appeared. 'Hello.'

Tears slipped down her cheeks. 'Hello,' she said back shakily with a quivering smile. Then she yanked him up and kissed him soundly on the lips, hugging him tightly. 'Don't ever do that again,' she murmured sternly.

'I'll try my best.' He pulled away. 'What about Doctor?'

The alien was curled in a ball on the ground, one hand loose against his chest and the other through his hair. He groaned. 'I'm alive,' he hissed, uncurling and stretching, joints popping and cracking. 'Ow. I'm getting too old for this. How ya feeling?' He sat up to peer into Rory's eyes carefully. 'You look fine. No lasting damage from the kellion getting forcibly yanked out of you.'

Jack let his shaking friend lean against him. 'What took it?'

The Doctor smiled darkly. 'That is an excellent question, Captain. I don't know, I was a bit distracted and all.' He closed his eyes and shook his head. 'Well.' He stood up with a groan and brushed off his trousers. 'That was an adventure I'm not too keen on repeating.'

Rory sighed in sarcastic relief, also shaking a little as he stood up with Amy and Owen's help. 'Oh good. Here I was worried you would think that was fun.'

He flashed the human a bright smile, a little darkness fading away. 'I suppose that's the right way to think,' he muttered good naturally. 'Where's Danny?'

'In his room,' Owen answered. 'Where he was suppose to be before we even got here, but his brother thought otherwise.'

'Of course he did,' the Doctor said brightly. 'He thought everything was okay. Obviously he was wrong, but you can't blame him. His brother was terribly sick then got better, like magic. He probably wanted to spend time with him just in case, a little paranoia goes a long way. Humans,' he said fondly, absently.


Scene XIV

'Amy, you can't possibly need more clothes,' Rory attempted to say over the flurry of giggles that his wife, Tosh, and Gwen were busying themselves with as they shuffled through racks of clothing.
Attempted being the keyword there.

'Don't bother, mate,' Owen said from beside him, sighing. 'Once ya get Gwen and Tosh in this mood there's no turnin' back. Considering how Amy's acting, she's the same. That's three against two, we don't stand a bloody chance.'

Rory sighed as well and leaned against the all, feeling a twinge in his shoulders. He was still sore from being possessed by the kellion and still trying to wrap his head around everything he missed out on. Speaking of... 'Where are Jack and the Doctor?'

'At the Hub. Jack asked the Doctor what the kellion meant when It said that you've died so often.'

He winced. 'Oh.'

'"Oh" is a nice way of putting it,' Jack said, appearing out of nowhere with a giant smile on his face.

The Doctor bounded up next to Rory, hesitating only a second before he clapped a hand on his shoulder. 'You ready to go?'

'I am,' Rory told him. 'I dunno about Amy.'

'Don't be silly!' The Doctor said. 'If I just happen to tell her that there's an entire planet full of clothes then I'm sure she'll come with us.'

Amy materialized out of air, arms full of clothes. 'I'm ready,' she announced. 'What planet are we going to next? Does it have clothes? You know, I heard something about clothes.'

The Doctor grinned. 'Right on cue, Pond.' He turned to where Torchwood gathered, Gwen and Tosh abandoning their shopping trip. 'We best be off now.'

Jack smiled and took the alien in a hug before he could stop the larger man. 'I'll see you later,' he said, his smile turning sad. 'Come see me later, in this face. I barely know it.'

'There's nothing wrong with that,' the Doctor said. He waited until Amy and Rory were done saying goodbye to the rest of the Cardiff gang before pointing to the alley where the TARDIS sat ready with her door open.

Rory nodded and dragged his wife away despite her protests.

The Doctor shuffled back, debate visible on his face. 'Jack…I want you to know that I don't—won't—blame you. And you should forgive yourself, in the end,' he finally said. He grimaced. 'You'll know what I mean, sooner or later.'

Jack frowned. 'Doctor, wh—.' But the TARDIS already slammed shut, a second later it started fading from view with that achingly familiar vworp vworp vworp.

'What did he mean, Jack?' Gwen asked.

'I don't know,' he said slowly. And I don't really want to find out.


'Alrighty! Where are we off to?'

Amy pouted. 'You said we were going to a planet full of clothes.'

'That's right! I did.' He exchanged grinned with Rory. 'Hold on, Ponds, it going to be a bumpy ride…well, bumpier than usual. The Fire Falls is the quickest shortcut and the TARDIS doesn't like being nice whenever we go—Oh! That reminds me of the time when I needed—.'

'—Doctor!'

'Alright! Alright. I'm going.' He pulled a lever and clicked something into the typewriter. 'Don't get ginger-y on me!'

'Oi!'


'This wasn't the plan! You said I could feast on all I wanted only if I got to the Doctor as well. You never said you were going to do this. No. Stop it. Stop it! NO!'


Next Up:

Episode 3: The Hunting of Cindy Mills

'Of course she's sick! She's been hopping around with a fried vortex manipulator! It's amazing it still works!'

'She can control emotions. She's only been here for a few years, but she's manipulated this town into believing they love her unconditionally.'

'I doubt she did it on purpose, Doctor.'