"All clear, people!" Brooke said, waking Amy up with a start, "It's safe!"

Amy's eyes wandered around the room. She was still in the infirmary. Rory was right next to her, leaning against the wall and still asleep.

"Did we seriously just fall asleep while a killer was on the loose?" she said to herself. A part of her forgot that they were hiding, but she never forgot about the Doctor's fate. She knew that Jake will pay.

She heard a knock, loud enough to wake Rory up.

"Ponds, you in there?" a familiar voice said. She only knew one person that refered to them as "Ponds." Amy immediately opened the door and saw the Doctor, alive and well. No blood in sight. She tackled him with a hug and nearly knocked him off of his feet. Tears of joy poured from her eyes, soaking his jacket.

"Doctor!" she said through her tears, "You're okay!"

"Of course I'm okay," he said with a chuckle, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"We heard a gunshot," Rory said drowsily, "And we thought you were dead."

"Oh."

Amy seperated herself from the hug and wiped her eyes. "If you weren't shot, who was?"

"I dunno," Brooke said, "I'd better find Jake. You can tag along if you want."

As they started to search the building, Rory asked, "Why are we going with her?"

"We almost lost the Doctor," Amy said, "I won't lose him, even if it kills me."

The four stopped when they saw a man sprawled out onto the floor. Blood droplets surrounded him and a revolver rested in his hand. His expresion was blank, his skin pale. A puncture wound was on his throat. Brooke said, "Found 'im. Poor guy must've shot himself."

"Is that part of the disease?" the Doctor asked.

"Sadly, yes."

"But why?"

Brooke sighed. "I'm guessing he couldn't find someone 'worthy' to kill, so he drove a bullet through his throat."

"That's actually sad." Amy said.

"It is," Brooke said, "Especially when it's someone you work with every day."

The Doctor remained silent. He understood how it felt to lose someone close, such as Rose at Bad Wolf Bay and his entire race during the Time War. He found himself wiping his warm forehead as a reflex when he felt droplets of sweat on it and the need to leave the premises immediately. He didn't understand why, though, or why he felt guilty.

It was possibly because he brought Amy and Rory with him, and since they weren't vaccinated, they're in danger of getting infected by Inferno. He might lose them.

Brooke looked up at him. "Doctor? Are you. . ."

"I'm fine," he said, "I was just thinking."

"About?"

The Doctor faced the Ponds. "Getting you two home."

"What?" Amy said, "You can't be serious."

"Look," he said in a low, grim tone, "If the disease takes over you, you're history. I'm taking you home while you're still unaffected."

The Doctor turned and headed to the main door. Realizing that they weren't following, he looked over his shoulder and said, "Come on, you two!"

With an exchanged look to each other, Amy and Rory followed. The trio exited the building, heading straight for the TARDIS. He took out his key and unlocked the doors. Pushing them open, he entered, with the Ponds close behind.

Closing the door behind them, Amy and Rory watched as the Doctor moved around the console like a dancer and put in the coordinates to Leadworth, 2012.

"Any other reason why you're taking us home?" Amy asked as the Doctor had his hand on the wibbly lever.

"It's so I won't lose you two," he said.

As he pulled the lever downward, he didn't hear the TARDIS take off. Not a sound. Nothing changed.

"Uh. . .Doctor?" Rory asked after a full minute of silence, "Isn't it supposed to be shaky and noisy?"

"Yes," the Doctor said, trying again and again to pull the lever, "There's supposed to be a noise after I pull the lever. So far. It. Isn't. Working!"

After another attempt at pulling the lever, the TARDIS hummed in disapproval. The Doctor looked up at the ceiling and said, "What'd you mean you won't go anywhere? I have to get the Ponds home!"

The TARDIS's humming continued in a more arguementative tone. He sighed.

"I know I have to stop Inferno from spreading, I know, I know! But can you at least let me get them home before. . ."

With that, the TARDIS powered herself down, inveloping the whole place in darkness. The Doctor slapped his forehead with his palm.

"Guess that's one way of saying 'no,'" Amy said, "So we're heading back inside, right?"

"No, nuh-uh, not happening," he said, "I've gotta try to get the old girl powered back up and get you two home. . ."

"Doctor."

He stopped talking and looked at her face, which had fierce determination all over it.

"We'll be fine," she said, "Rory and I hid in the infirmary, with the door locked, of course. If we hide there during the red moon, we'll be okay."

He looked down and bit his lip, expecting the translucent console floor to turn into quicksand and consume him. She was right; They could hide in the room and be safe. They'll still catch the disease, however. Brooke claimed that the outbreak happened when the hole was dug, so if they stay away from the hole, they should be fine. He sighed.

"Alright," he said, "You can stay. But! You can't go near the hole."

"What?" Amy asked.

"We don't even know where it is," Rory said.

"Perfect," the Doctor said, "That's great that you don't, but if you do find it, don't go near it."

"Okay. . ?"

"Great. Now, you two go ahead and go. Talk with Brooke for a bit. Have a chat. I'll catch up with you right after I boot the TARDIS back up."

With a confused look, the Ponds opened the doors and exited.

The second the doors closed, the lights flashed back to life. Arms holded, the Doctor said, "Sure. Now you start working."

The TARDIS's hum sounded like a chuckle. He rolled his eyes and raced to the console screen to make sure the Ponds reach the building safely. As they enter the building, he sighed in relief and turned to the doors to follow. He found himself peering at his reflection on the screen. Hair's fine. Bowtie's straight.

Ready to go, he prepared to walk off.

Something strange was in the corner of his eyes.

He looked at the screen again. His eyes appeared to be bloodshot.

It was odd, for his eyes were fine an hour ago. Maybe he was just tired. Maybe it was another side effect to the vaccine.

Whatever it was, the redness in his eyes would go away soon.