Chapter Four
Gravel crackled and crunched beneath the wheels of the frost blue Lotus Evora once it had exited the garage. Steadily it was driven along the driveway and came to a stop at the end of the path leading up towards the mansion. The driver's side door opened and Seto stepped out holding the small remote attached to his keys which he aimed back at the garage to close the huge metal shutter and concealed the rest of his luxury automobile collection from view.
He pocketed his keys as he made his way back towards his home's open front door and noticed yet another black cube littering his path despite the fact that he had cleared them all away earlier that morning. Where the fuck are these things coming from? Swinging his leg he kicked it as far into the air as possible. Looks like I still got it. He commented on his soccer skills as he watched it soar high into the sky until it was out of view.
"Ow!" Kisara's voice sounded from the doorway where she clutched at her bulging abdomen whilst struggling to carry the holdall in her grasp.
"Here, let me take that for you Honey." Seto said as he raced back to her, taking hold of the bag with one hand and helped guide her towards the car with the other.
"Once this baby's born, I'm not letting you anywhere near me ever again Seto Kaiba! We'll have separate beds from now on. Separate rooms even; we've got more than enough to spare."
A smirk tugged at the CEO's lips from hearing his wife's jest. "I seem to remember you saying a similar thing last time and you never followed through with it." He placed the holdall in the trunk and held the passenger door open for her.
"What's that?" Kisara asked curiously as she stared up into the sky to see something red hurtling closer and closer.
He followed her gaze and instantly started moving her back towards the mansion as what looked like a London double decker bus was almost upon them. "Get behind me!"
Like an aeroplane coming in for a landing, the bus hit the driveway and sent a wave of gravel in the direction of the couple as it ploughed into the Lotus, sending it spinning to one side. Still maintaining momentum it continued on towards the garage where it come to a stop after crashing into and crumpling the shutter that tore free from it's fixed position, bringing with it some of the brickwork and roof.
"Are you okay?" Seto asked his wife with concern, after having successfully shielded her from the tiny pebbles that had rained over them like a shower if bullets. He received a speechless nod in response and then turned his attention towards the wrecked car that had once been the pride and joy of his collection. Somebody is going to pay dearly for this! "Stay here, I'll be back shortly."
Beeeep! Beeeep! Beeeep!
Support beams and tiles belonging to the garage roof caved in as the bus reversed. Apart from the previously damaged top of the vehicle, it bore no signs from the wreckage itself. It stopped and the doors opened for a blond haired man to speedily alight.
"I think I'm going to be sick!" He staggered away before falling onto all fours, battling to keep hold of the contents of his stomach.
"Rory!" A red headed woman followed and after receiving a hand gesture from him that he'd be okay she turned back round to the man sporting a bow-tie. "Your friend, Is, Crazy!"
"No she's not." He protested. "She's just a little bit free spirited."
"Tomato, tomato!" She scoffed the same word differently each time and returned to her kneeling husband.
A dark haired woman with bangs appeared in the bus' doorway. "Thanks for the forcefield. That landing could have been a million times worse if you hadn't acted back there."
"Yes well, we wouldn't have crashed if you had made sure that you weren't low on fuel." The timelord shot back. "Luckily no-one was injured."
"Amy, is that a Bugatti?" The blond asked as he peered into garage.
"You mean was; it's completely totalled now." She replied. "There's a Ferrari too, and what I think is,- was,- a Lamborghini. Plus maybe a couple more that I can't identify." Her brow furrowed at the thought of the cost of the destroyed luxury motors and their owner's reaction. "Somebody's not going to be a happy bunny when they see this that's for sure."
"WHAT in the world is going on here?!" Seto demanded angrily as he stormed onto the scene. His narrowed vision dangerously panned across the four strangers before he caught a glimpse of his now-destroyed garage and collection. It's not enough to ruin just one car, you had to destroy all of them?!
The dark hair woman grinned unsympathetically. "Sorry to cause such a mess. We'll be out of your hair shortly." She returned back inside the bus with the doors folding shut behind her.
"Christina!" A fist banged against the closed door demanding it be reopened. It wasn't which left the bow-tied man no choice but to turn and face the peeved CEO. "Yes … well … erm ..." He stammered, trying to come up with an explanation.
With a hefty sigh at seeing him helpless falter, the red head came to her friend's defence."Londinium Flight Experimentation Division. Don't worry, we're fully insured and can compensate all damages." She reached inside his suit pocket to retrieve the psychic paper she knew would help to certify her made-up cover story.
"No, no, no! Amy wait!" The timelord's cries came too late as the battered looking wallet was held open for the other man to see.
You have got to be kidding me? One of Seto's brows was raised questioningly as he viewed the blank document. Only two people he knew had ownership to such a thing that manipulated simpler minds, and since this clearly wasn't his flirtatious friend... "The Doctor I presume?"
"You presume right." He gave a nervous laugh, slightly relieved that he wouldn't have to re-introduce himself like he had done with Lady de Souza. "There's no fooling you is there? Even with the new face."
The CEO continued to gaze at the man he knew to be centuries older than him, yet here he was looking far younger. How is it possible for him to appear more youthful than he is? Surely his next stage of regeneration would have still aged him accordingly? If he continues like this then he's going to end up as a child in that big blue box of his. I wonder where that is right now?
"Is there anyone you don't know?" Amy jeered as she shoved the psychic paper back at its original owner.
"There's plenty. Time and space is an extremely vast place."
"Seto!" Kisara's voice called out as she informed him about her contractions. "They're getting more frequent!"
"What's more frequent?" The Doctor seemed concerned, almost panicky. "What's wrong with her?"
"She's having a baby." Seto gave a sigh of frustration as he wiped a hand across his face, unsure of just what he was going to do next.
"Then what are you wasting your time standing around here for? You'd better get her to the hospital. And quick!"
No shit Sherlock! Seto held himself back from screaming at the timelord whom he was now glaring at dubiously. "What do you think I was trying to do before you showed up and destroyed every car that I own?"
"Ah!" The Doctor glanced at the concertinaed Lotus and then the ruins of the garage where the bus had come to rest. "This is awkward." He thought fast. "Rory!"
At being summoned, he got back up on to his feet and came swiftly over to join them. "Yes."
"This is Seto; though I expect that'll be Kaiba to you. Seto this is nurse Pond..."
"Williams." He corrected, sick and tired of the timelord referring to him by his wife's maiden name.
"... I suggest he caters to Kisara's needs whilst we work out some other form of transportation for you." The bus was given a scanning over with the timelord's eyes as he spoke.
More concerned about his wife's welfare than arguing back with the man he disliked, Seto lead Rory,- with Amy also in tow,- back over to Kisara.
"What's going on over there?" She asked her husband upon his return with the two strangers.
"Nothing for you to be concerned about." He assured, taking her hand in his. "Apparently this guy is a nurse..."
"I am a nurse!"
"... he's going to look after you for a little while whilst I sort out a few things."
"Don't leave me!" She now gripped his hand with both of hers.
"It won't be for long." With his free hand Seto gently brushed aside his wife's hair and rest his palm against the side of her face. His thumb stroked back and forth along her cheek to provide additional reassurance through the affectionate gesture.
"I'll stay with her too." Amy spoke up to catch the CEO's attention. "I'm not a nurse but I've been through the whole scary childbirth thing myself, so I may be of some use in providing additional comfort with having had a vaguely similar experience."
He nodded his gratitude for the woman's willingness to assist before he turned his attention back to his wife who slowly let go of his hand. Cupping her face and leaning in closer he kissed her. "I'll be back soon."
The gravel crunched once more as Seto strode forcefully back towards the red double decker where he caught the tail end of a disagreement between the woman and timelord inside the vehicle.
"I'm commandeering this bus and that's final!"
"But it won't run without more fuel!"
"Well we'll just have to get some then." The Doctor alighted and was glad to see the man he was after stood right before him. "Seto! I've got you some wheels but she needs refuelling."
"What type do you need?"
"Gold."
"Gold?" He repeated skeptically. "Is that some gas brand I'm not aware of?"
"No no, actual gold."
"The purer the better." Christina added with a grin as she came into view over the timelord's shoulder.
Do they honestly expect me to believe that? Seto stared at them both whilst still trying to process the ridiculousness of what he'd be told. Why the hell would anyone create a vehicle that's fuelled by gold? Surely that quack's just trying to see how much he can fleece out of me! He glanced back to see his wife being comforted by the couple who stood one at either side of her. There was no way he was going to just stand back and let her suffer a second terrible birthing experience, which she most likely would at this rate, so gave a reluctant sigh to signal his cooperation with the timelord's request. "Okay, follow me."
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Kisara now lay on the ground with her back propped up on the woman's lap, legs spread wide and skirt hitched up as the male nurse examined her below. She scrunched her eyes tight as she fought back another painful contraction and silently prayed that this birth would be more dignified than the first.
"From what I can see you have plenty of time before the baby starts showing." He announced pulling the skirt back down to conceal her modesty once more. "But then again, I'm not a midwife so I could be totally off..."
"Rory, that's not helpful!" Amy barked at her husband.
"Sorry." He apologised sheepishly and helped his patient back on to her feet. "We should get you somewhere more comfortable. Are you sure that you don't want to go back inside your home?"
"I'm sure as I don't think I'd be able to make it back out again when it comes to nearer the time for leaving."
"We should just head for the bus." Amy suggested as she placed an arm around the pregnant woman to help her walk. "Knowing Raggedy Man, we're going to be traveling to the hospital on it anyway."
"But it crashed!" Kisara exclaimed still not quite sure if she had actually seen or just purely imagined the double decker fall from out of the sky, though there was no other explanation to where it could have come from. "It won't be in any fit state to use now."
"We had a forcefield in place; there isn't a scratch on it."
"It's a shame that the same couldn't be said for those cars." Rory mumbled as he mourned the loss of the bright red Ferrari that he'd always wanted, even though it wasn't actually his to grieve for.
Silence fell upon them as they slowly walked down the gravelly drive.
"Are you having a boy or a girl?" Amy attempted to make small talk to banish the stillness and keep the other woman distracted from any worries she may have had.
"A girl."
"Do you have any names picked out?"
"A few." Kisara smiled fondly at the small list of choices both she and Seto agreed on, though she was actually quite keen to just go ahead and use a name he'd suggested. Keiko Nikita Kaiba; it had a certain ring to it.
"Melody is a nice name..."
"Rory!"
He gave a sigh at being scolded by his wife yet again. "Wish we had the chance to call her that. You know, whilst she was still small. Whilst she was ours."
"She still is ours!" Amy's voice sounded almost tearful.
"I know, and you knew what I meant..."
"Sorry to interrupt, but I think my waters just broke."
The three of them stopped and looked down to see the damp patch on the gravel beneath Kisara's feet as the amniotic fluid trickled down the inside of her legs. A sign that the baby was one step further to starting her arrival.
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After entering the mansion via one of the back doors, walking down several hallways, up a staircase and along yet another hallway, they finally arrived at Seto's office. The heavy mahogany doors were pushed open and he grudgingly invited them both to follow and enter his personal retreat.
"You never told me that you were friends with people of such wealth!" Christina exclaimed at the timelord as she gazed in amazement around the traditionally decorated office. A huge two toned pedestal desk with a tall back leather chair was the instant focal point upon entering the room. To one side various bookshelves and cabinets lined along an entire wall, and on the other hung several paintings of dragons above smaller filing cabinets, house plants and a couch. "This guy's loaded!"
"It's something he's worked hard for over his lifetime; don't go touching anything unless otherwise told." The Doctor shot back to his companion whom he knew had once been a thief but had since turned over a new leaf, though he felt the warning necessary to help fend off any temptation she may have.
"Roger." She grinned back.
The CEO lead them over to the display cabinet. Inside it there were numerous trophies, plaques and awards he acquired over the years. Some were gold, some platinum. Others were made out of carved crystal, marble or onyx and engraved with various precious metals. I can't believe I'm allowing this! He pulled the doors open and gestured for the woman to take what she needed.
"Where'd you get this?"
Seto turned to see that the timelord had wandered and now stood beside his desk holding a frosty looking,- almost transparent,- cube with his company's logo on it. Hypocrite! You tell her not to touch... "It was a gift."
"From whom?" There was a look of awe in the Doctor's eyes as he turned over the Gallefreyan artefact in his hands. You have no idea what this is! And you're using it ... as a paperweight. He glanced up to see an annoyed stare fixated on him and gave a frustrated sigh. "That look clearly says you're not going to tell me."
Resisting the temptation to pocket it himself and knowing that further questioning about the psychic container wasn't going to get him anywhere, the timelord placed it back on the desk where he'd first found it and stepped back. "How's your brother?" He casually inquired whilst slowly making his retreat back to the other man.
"I wouldn't know." Seto muttered as he broke visual contact and returned to watching the darkly clad woman rummage through his display cabinet. Why did he have to mention Mokuba? His stomach tied in knots and heart ached at the thought of his brother who had renounced him a couple of months previously.
"Of course you would! You two are the closest brothers … I know ..." The Doctor fell silent. Oh, it's 'that' time. He came to a stop beside the saddened man and purposely positioned himself so that he'd be in view to grab his attention for when he next spoke, his voice low and sombre as he did so. "You know as well as I do that that boy speaks with his heart and it overrides him at times. Whatever he's done, whatever he's said..."
"He doesn't mean it?" Seto cut him off with an icy glare that melted far too quickly. "He means it alright; he deserves to mean it." Swiftly he turned away again to try and hide his vulnerability as his lip begin to quiver.
"Just give him time." The timeloard assured. He may not have got along well with the elder of the two brothers but it still pained him to see the face of the usually strong willed man look like it would burst into tears without warning at any moment. "It won't always be this way Seto. You'll make amends. Hand on hearts, I guarantee it."
Is he pitying me, or is he actually being sincere? Blue eyes glanced back and sideways until they were in the corner of their sockets and saw the earnest look on the seemingly younger man's face. That quack knows; he's seen it. His spirit lifted a little and a weak smirk formed on his lips. "Whatever happened to spoilers?"
"There are times when I consider some spoilers deserving of being leaked. This just happens to be one of them." The Doctor grinned at seeing a hint of light return to the stare focused on him. He knew it wouldn't stay there permanently, which was what had allowed him to break his own code of rules in order to provide the brief comfort and hopefully ease the emotional decay that was still to come.
For once Seto felt no bitter feelings towards the other man but still he remained inquisitive. What could you possibly have to gain by letting me know such information?
The timelord broke eye contact. This is getting awkward. Creepy even. Who'd have thought we'd ever be civil to each other? Time to change the subject! "Right, let's have a look a what you've got here." He bounded over to the display cabinet and scanned over row upon row of accumulated awards, reading aloud the ones that caught his eye the most. "Interactive Achievement, Deming Prize, World Business, Codie, Japan Prize, oh and a People's Honour Award! That's a pretty impressive collection!"
Damn right it is! Seto thought to himself smugly, more than a little overly pleased with himself as his usual feelings for the timelord returned. Still think you're better than me Doctor?
"Hmm, I don't see a Turing Award thought." The Doctor frowned almost mockingly at the lack of the highest distinction award for computer science. "Shame, I thought you'd have at least one by now." He turned to the man behind him, a haughty expression on his face as he declared, "I've got two. Okay they're both under pseudonyms and one of them's a joint effort, but that's still two more than you."
Seto bit down on his tongue determined not to give the enraged reaction expected of him after being taunted like he had. He'd been nominated for the award in question several times now, but unfortunately his contribution to holographic technology was seen more in the field of entertainment instead of science which had lead to his dismissal each time. "Some of us have corporate empires to watch over and command. We can't all go gallivanting through time and space living the life of Riley, and poking our noses into affairs when and where it's not wanted."
The snide retort was ignored as the Doctor continued his scanning of awards. "Didn't you used to be a Duel Monsters champion; where are those trophies?"
Now it was the CEO's chance to do the ignoring as he turned to the woman stood holding a trophy for recognition of his corporate philanthropy. "Are any of these sufficient for your needs?"
Christina shook her head. "They're too small."
"We could weld some together."
"No." She scoffed at the timelord's proposal. "I'm surprised that the botch job you did last time lasted this long. We can't risk the joints rupturing and my bus crashing again."
"How big would it have to be?" Seto was eager to get the bus operational once more so that they could get Kisara to the hospital in time for her to give birth. He watched the woman gesture with her hands as she estimated the size of the vehicle's steering wheel and became a little disheartened when he realised he had just the thing she needed. Give it up, it's for a worthy cause.
He strode away from the other two and came to rest in front of a painting showing two dragons locked in air combat. A hand rose to sweep down the side of the frame that then slowly lifted upwards to reveal a safe door beneath it. His irises were scanned and the door opened to reveal a large circular item wrapped in purple silk. Once it had been removed from it's resting place, the safe was closed and concealed by the painting once more.
"Here, take it!" He forcefully thrust the still wrapped item in his hands towards the dark haired woman. "Take it now, before I change my mind."
Christina took hold of the item and carefully peeled the folds of silk back to reveal a huge shiny and solid gold award plate. Her eyes gleamed at the sight and her mind raced as she tried to calculate its monetary worth. Seems such a waste to have it sacrificed like this. No wonder he didn't want to let it go.
The Doctor's eyes widened at what he saw but displayed the complete opposite feeling of the woman next to him. "We can't take this Seto."
"Yes Doctor, you can." He stated in response to the use of the Duel Monsters Championship trophy that Pegasus had once awarded to him all those years ago. Engraved upon the plate were the details of over a dozen consecutive tournament wins recording his time as the number one duelist before … Why did it still hurt for him to think of that first duel against Yugi? "There's no questioning about it. This is my past, my wife and children are my future." He smirked. "You're supposed to be smart so you do the math."
The timelord nodded his understanding of the man's reasoning of giving up something treasured for something he longed for and would treasure more. "Okay, let's get back to the bus."
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The doors of the bus swooshed open and the Doctor was the first to leap on. "Ah Ponds, you're on board already!" He exclaimed joyfully at the sight of his two companions and the pregnant woman.
"Well you know what they say, great minds think alike." Amy shot back as she came closer towards him.
"That they do." He laughed nervously and made sure to keep his distance from Kisara as he watched her laid propped up on the refurbished interior,- that now no longer resembled the public transport it had been originally designed as,- whilst she rummaged through the holdall that had been retrieved from the wreckage of the once beautiful frost coloured car. "Right, let's get this thing back in the air where she belongs!"
Turning on his heels he doubled back to the driver's compartment where Christina was hammering away at the shiny gold plate in order to get it to cover and bend around the steering wheel. "Is something wrong?" He asked the horrified and baffled face of the CEO stood watching the destruction of his once prized possession.
"Is this heap of junk seriously going to fly?" He still couldn't believe that he'd excepted the concept so easily despite have witnessed it crash earlier, not to mention that he'd seen equally as crazy concepts since having met the timelord. "I don't see how it's possible just by fixing the trophy in place like that."
"Of course it is. There's crystals and hover pads in place too. But try not to think about the science behind it all. If you do then you'll likely to just give yourself a hernia as we both know that I can out science you any day."
Seto opened his mouth ready to argue back with the Doctor only to hear his name called by his wife. He abandoned the would-be confrontation in order to return to the woman he loved and be by her side. "Hey, how are you doing so far?" A kiss was planted on her slightly clammy forehead.
"Fine thanks to these two." Kisara smiled as she indicated the Ponds standing close by. The bus began to shake whilst she spoke as it took to the sky to begin its journey.
"She's been the perfect patient." Rory stated.
"Not to mention perfect company too." Amy added. "Makes a change to know someone who's so nice and down to earth, unlike having to put up with Lady de Snooty-pants over there."
"Oh not this again!"
The CEO watched the nurse roll his eyes in response to his wife's seemingly jealous statement and smirked to himself. Good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't like her. How that quack hasn't seen through her yet I'll never know...
"Sorry to interrupt your conversation." It was as though the timelord had somehow sensed he was being thought about. "Seto, you're needed up front for navigational purposes."
There was an inward groan at being made to part from his wife again. "It won't be long now." He assured her and gave another kiss before hurrying off to the drivers cab, passing by a retreating Doctor along the way.
Amy watched him go and noticed her friend slowly easing himself further away from them. She left her husband and the pregnant woman's side to go and talk with him. "Oi Raggedy Man, you okay?"
"Of course I am." He replied with a forced cheery smile. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I dunno." She frowned mocking. "You seem a little out of it. Uneasy even."
"Yes, well there's a perfectly good explanation for it." The timelord stared at Kisara,- who winced as she conversed with Rory,- glad that his face was different to the ones she had seen.
"Which is?"
There was a brief pause of silence before the Doctor's attention was drawn back to his concerned friend who had pressed him for further information. "Do you remember the Dalek invasion from several years back?"
"That does sound vaguely familiar."
"Kisara is one of the two women who saved you all. Without her, the Earth wouldn't be here today. In fact the whole universe as we know it would cease to exist."
"Then I must go thank her..."
"Amy no!" The Doctor grabbed her arm tightly as she had began to move away to express her gratitude. "You can't mention anything, I repeat anything, about it to her. That woman has literally been inside my head and I had to erase all of what she saw, and then some, for her own safety. She can't know, she must never know."
"What will happen if she does?"
A fearful chill went through him as he thought about the disastrous outcome of the woman's fate and the undoubtedly guaranteed reaction of her husband. He was unsure which terrified him most and swallowed the lump forming at the back of his throat. "Then all hell would break loose."
There was a tone to his voice and look in his eyes that told Amy he was being more than metaphorical. As inquisitive as she was, she didn't fancy not heeding to his plea. For this instance at least she decided that perhaps somethings would be best left unknown.
"Doctor!" Rory's urgent voice sounded out as he came rushing over. "How much longer until we reach the hospital?"
"Not long I should imagine, we are travelling by air after all."
"Good, because she's dilating fast and I fear that the baby may make an appearance sooner rather than later."
"Can't you just poke it back in?"
"It's a baby, not a jack in the box!"
The angry and annoyed response he'd received from the blond in relation the the joke he had made caused the timelord to physically jump. It was uncanny how much alike both Ponds could be; no doubt they were a perfect match for each other and would share that bond for an eternity to come. He turned his head and yelled, "Seto! Christina! How much longer?"
"Almost there!" The woman replied. "I'll be landing any moment now."
"Is something going on?" The CEO asked as he raced to them.
"Your wife's having a baby."
Seto stared at the Doctor with a dumbfound expression on his face. "I hope you're not expecting a medal for your observation skills. You've already been given a trophy by me today; you're not getting another." He then continued on by towards Kisara.
"I like him." Amy smirked as she watched him go.
"Oh well you would!" The timelord exclaimed in response. He'd never felt more ganged up on in his life.
"Brace yourselves, we're coming in for landing!" The driver called out and a moment later there was a soft bump as the double decker came to rest on the ground once more.
Outside on the hospital grounds several people stared in astonishment at what they had just seen. It was a feeling to be short lived. Once their eyes had seen the CEO of Kaiba Corp through the windows, it was merely accepted as another eccentric publicity stunt of his. He'd been known for many over the years,- including that one time he'd sent Duel Monster cards into the Earth's orbit,- that nothing seemed to take them by surprise anymore. Curiosity cured, they went about their business as usual.
"She's going to need some assistance getting from here to the building." Rory informed Seto stood rubbing Kisara's back in an attempt to provide comfort and help ease her pain. "I'll go inform them of the situation and bring back a wheelchair."
"I'll come too." Amy leapt into stride with her husband as he made his way down to the front of the bus. "You know, for back-up since I know how uncooperative they can be and how much of a push-over you are at times."
"No I'm not!" He argued back, offended by her words though he knew they weren't completely void of truth.
"Oh for crying out loud!" Seto grumbled under his breath. He and his wife hadn't suffered and come this far only to have some incompetent hospital staff refuse to deliver the care expected of them. Yet another kiss was given before he made his parting. "I'll ..."
"Be right back." Kisara tearfully finished his sentence.
He smiled at her sadly knowing that he was beginning to sound like a broken record and felt guilty at continually abandoning her before turning to leave. "YOU, keep an eye on her!" A finger had been raised as he spoke sternly to the timelord.
The Doctor nodded and watched the man on a mission step down off the bus, closely followed by Christina as she intended to gave her vehicle a check over on the outside. He glanced over to the pregnant woman but still he kept his distance as he loitered halfway down the bus' gangway.
"Oww." She cried in pain at the contraction that felt like it was ripping her abdomen in two.
I can't just stand here; she needs me… No, you have to stay back … The timelord battled his inter-self as he resisted the urge to help Kisara.
"Oww."
… But I promised … A nod is hardly a promise … It is to me!...
"Owww."
… I can do it, she hasn't seen this face, she won't know who I am!...
"Owww!"
… Do you really want to risk it?...
"Oowwwwww!"
"Yes I do!" The Doctor suddenly darted to be beside the silvery haired woman as he could no longer bare to see her suffer alone any longer."It's okay Kisara, I'm here."
"Who are you?" She shot back at the stranger now holding her hand.
"It's not important, what is is that I promised Seto I would watch over you until he returns."
More pain surged below and her face crumpled up tightly. "What's taking them so long!"
"They barely just left!" His hand was being squeezed so firmly that it almost brought tears to his eyes.
"It hurts! It hurts so much!"
"I know!" The timelord whimpered as he bit down on his lip and feared that his hand would be forever deformed throughout the rest of his regenerations to come. He attempted to keep her spirits up, "Just think, soon you'll have a wonderful bundle of joy as your reward, and all your discomforts will be over."
There was a scoff. "Sleepless nights, dirty diapers, barf everywhere, sore breasts, vaginal stitches..."
"Oh-kay, that doesn't sound very joyful at all. Whoever thought up that phrase was extremely stupid and quite clearly male."
Kisara laughed.
The Doctor smiled at seeing her amused though failed to understand what had been so funny to invoke such a reaction. Still he was glad to see her cheerful again and felt his consciousness niggle inside him. Ask her. His voice was serious as he spoke,"Are you happy Kisara?"
"Of course." She replied. "Childbirth doesn't last forever..."
"No." He smirked at her misunderstanding and nervously repeated his question. "Are 'you' happy? With Seto?"
"What?" Shocked by what she had been asked she let go,- much to the timelord's relief,- of his hand. This guy seemed to be in the same mindset as her best friend. What was so difficult for them both to believe that she had found the man she loved and was destined to be with? "W-why wouldn't I be? Why ask me such a thing?"
Idiot! You said too much.
Blue eyes narrowed on the timelord. "I know you."
"No Kisara, you don't!" His voice was now harsh as he tried to maintain a calm composure over the mistake he had made. You only have yourself to blame for this fiasco, don't take it out on her!
"Oww!" Another contraction erupted and made the expectant mother curl every part of her body that she possibly could in an attempt to try and ease the pain. All thoughts of the man standing next to her left her mind as she called out for the person she sought comfort from the most. "Seto!"
"I'm here!" His breathless voice sounded as he re-entered the vehicle as though having been magically summoned out of nowhere. He skidded to a halt by her side and greedily gulped back air into his burning lungs from having ran on ahead of the couple pushing the wheelchair. "I'm here Honey … I'm here for you … You're going to have to stand … I know it'll be hard but … lean on me for support."
Doing as she'd been told, Kisara gradually got to her feet. With the help of her husband and Rory who'd also appeared to assist in escorting her from inside the bus, she was soon at the doorway and guided to the chair with wheels waiting for her.
"And we're ready to roll!" Amy stated as she and Rory raced off back towards the hospital with the silvery haired woman.
Seto entered the bus one last time to retrieve the holdall containing his wife's things.
"You take care of her now." The Doctor told him. His face bore a shaken expression from the near disaster he had almost foolishly caused. He received a nod of acknowledgment in response. "And yourself too."
"Thank you." The CEO turned to leave. As he came to descend the vehicle's steps his path crossed with Christina as she was about to ascend them too. He carried straight on, raising his free hand to grab the woman's upper arm and forced her backward with his hold.
"Hey! Let go of me!"
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'd like it back."
"Pardon?" She gasped as the look tore into her yet remained unfazed. The grip increased. "Let go, you're hurting me."
The timelord had heard his companion's first alarmed cry and was now on the scene. "What's going on? Seto release her!"
Reluctantly he did as instructed. "Your little friend here thought she could steal from me. Assumed my 'preoccupied' mind hadn't seen her and that she wouldn't be caught."
"What? Is this true?" The Doctor stared disbelievingly at the woman and awaited her response.
"I don't know what he's talking about. I never took his precious Sapphire."
"Just goes to show that you're a liar as well as a thief." Seto scoffed as a pernicious grin grew on his face. "I never stated what you had taken."
The timelord watched the battle of two strong and stubborn wills, unsure of which of them to believe. Knowing about both their pasts he was convinced that Christina was the exception to the phrase 'once a thief, always a thief' yet knew that Seto wasn't the kind of man to throw accusations around lightly either. "Enough games, Christina did you take anything of his that you weren't supposed to?"
Now finding herself under the strain of two sets of eyes, she began to flounder. Unlike the cold harsh glare she received from the blue pair,- a look she'd encountered many times and had learnt to grow undaunted to,- it was the questioning and pleading of truth from the hazel pair that actually broke her. Very few people had ever regarded her capable of showing integrity like he had, and it almost wounded her to admit she had let him down. "I'm sorry."
The Doctor watched in stunned silence as she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the gemstone that was so big it was impossible for her to conceal it completely in her single handed grasp. How could you deceive me? Why? I trusted you.
Now that his property was held before him to take, Seto wasted no time in reclaiming it from the woman's now trembling hand. He had chosen to delay the confrontation until she had transported him and Kisara to the hospital thus making sure he had gotten what he wanted from the situation that would have otherwise left them stranded back at his mansion. There was a smug triumphant glint in his eye and curve to his mouth. His scorn for her was successfully held back as he felt she had wasted enough of his time already, and he speedily set off to follow after his wife.
"Oi, your missis is waiting for you!" Amy jeered as she and Rory were about to pass by the CEO as they travelled in opposite directions and receive a salute of thanks for the help they had provided. She then looked on to see her friend staring coldly at the woman she disliked only for him to turn sharply and enter the bus. "Uh-oh, something's going on."
The two of them picked up the pace and arrived back at the vehicle as the Doctor exited the vehicle once more. Underneath his arm he clutched the huge battered looking gold plate. "Come along Ponds."
"Isn't that needed for the bus?" Rory queried as he approached the timelord.
"To enable it to fly, yes. But I intend to have the trophy straightened back into shape and returned to were it rightfully belongs."
"Y-you can't do this." Christina said with a trace of hysteria in her voice knowing that he was angry with her for the deceitful act she had committed. Still, at least she held a trump over him to stop the abandonment she feared. "You can't get back to your blue box without me!"
"Oh, I have my ways." The Doctor replied calmly. He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a vortex manipulator.
"Is that River's?" Amy asked.
"I confiscated it; she was being a very naughty girl." He raised his eyebrows towards Rory. If only the blond had been aware of the mischief that had been caused by her continuously yo-yoing back in time to hide the keys to his precious Mini.
"Need I remind you that I'm her father? I know she's a grown woman, but what you two get up to in your own time is none of my business. Believe it or not, there are some things that me and Amy just don't need to know about the two of ..."
"You can't LEAVE ME here!"
The Doctor's attention was diverted and he stared almost pityingly at the woman now crying before him. "I'm afraid this will be the last that you see of me."
"Please, give me another chance."
"I already did." His voice was strident and portrayed exactly how he felt. "You had my uttermost trust, and you abused it. That I don't take kindly to." Buttons were pressed as the coordinates of his time machine were entered into the inferior device and he bid his finally farewell. "Goodbye, Lady Christina de Souza."
Taking hold of the two companions beside him a white light then surrounded them and transported all three to onboard his TARDIS, leaving the double decker and its 'owner' alone on the hospital grounds.
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A/N: It's been such a long time now that I can't remember who it was, but it was suggested to me by one of my readers to feature a Doctor Who character that I didn't like. And so here's Christina de Souza; does anybody like her? (she'll always be Zoe'you ain't my mother!'Slater to me :P)
I cut a lot of amusing banter between Seto and 11 from this. It just didn't seem to serve any real purpose to the story so unfortunately it had to go :(
KG