"So! Canton Everett Delaware III," The Doctor launched himself back at the TARDIS console. "Who is he?"
"Ex-FBI, got kicked out for having a problem with authority." River read from the scanner screen.
"Six weeks after he left the bureau the President contacted him for a private meeting" Oswin read over her shoulder.
"1969, who's president? And what are you doing Oswin, you're throwing off my stride?"
"Nixon and I'm feeling a bit peaky so I'm going to eat an apple." Oswin replied innocently. Rory and Amy peered round at her as the Doctor continued to play with the console.
"Are you putting a face on that apple?" Amy asked. River looked over her shoulder at Oswin, who was using a small knife to carve into the apple.
"Yeah I used to hate them but someone I once knew used to put faces on them. Somehow makes them more appealing."
"Who was it?" River asked.
"I don't remember," Oswin replied sadly, looking down at the apple "I only have 3 things to remember this person by and I have no idea who it is." She bit into the apple and realised she was being watched by all four of them.
"What do you have to remember this person?" the Doctor asked.
"Faces in apples, a ring and a tattoo that makes no sense. All I know is that its all to do with the same person. What I don't know is who it is or why I'm telling you all this."
"What's the tattoo?" Rory asked.
Oswin rolled up her shirt sleeve.
"Yep you're right it makes no sense"
"it's high Gallifreyan. I know what it says I just don't know what it means."
"what does it say?" Amy asked quietly.
"The only water in the forest is the river." The TARDIS shuddered and wobbled, drawing their attention back to their course.
"Ok we'll discuss that later. For now Washington DC. I don't know what we're getting into so we're being discreet, putting the engines on silent." He flipped a switch and walked around the console. A loud metallic screeching blared out and filled the room. Oswin stomped forward, flipping a different switch and putting an end to the screeching.
Having completed a circuit of the console the Doctor stopped in front of Oswin "Did you do something?"
"No just watching." Oswin said, quickly pretending to be more concerned with removing her eye patch.
"Putting the outer shell on invisible. Haven't done this in a while, big drain on the power."
"Wait, you can turn the TARDIS invisible?" Rory said.
The Doctor grinned and pushed a lever. Interior spotlights flooded the console room with a blinding light.
"Very nearly." River said, pushing a different lever. The lights went off again.
Having completed yet another lap of the console, the Doctor stopped in front of River "did you touch something?"
"No just admiring your skills."
"Good. Well I can't check the scanner. It doesn't work when we're cloaked. But we are in the middle of the most powerful city in the most powerful country on Earth. Let's take it slow." The Doctor walked towards the door.
The Doctor emerged into the Oval office. There were two men in the office. The Doctor guessed that one was Canton Everett Delaware. The other could only be the President. Luckily for him, both men had their backs to him. There was a recorder on the desk. The President had just pressed play. A child's voice echoed around the quiet room. The Doctor pulled a small notebook out of his pocket. This was interesting. A small child calling the President. That shouldn't be possible.
"I'm scared Mr President. I'm scared of the space man." the child on the recording said.
"A little girl." Canton breathed.
"Boy." Nixon said.
"What space man? Where are you phoning from, where are you right now? Who are you?" the Nixon recording asked.
"Jefferson Adams Hamilton." came the recorded reply. The dial tone soon followed this. The Doctor was still busy scribbling when both men looked round and saw him. He realised they'd stopped talking and waved his hand for them to continue as if he weren't there. He felt their eyes on him and looked up at them.
"Oh hello," he stammered "bad moment?" he started to back away from them "Oh this is the Oval office. I was looking for the oblong room. I'll just be going then." He turned quickly and was stopped in his tracks as he walked into the TARDIS, and proceeded to bounce off of it.
