Gateway—

Their nightmares woke them at the same time, and they knew it.

The TARDIS was cold and asleep, the only thing still hibernating when they both walked into the control room from opposite ends of the ship. They sat sown, the Doctor leaning on the control panel, Swift leaping up to perch on a railing.

They didn't speak—the silence spoke for them.

You had a nightmare, too? Swift's eyes questioned, for once not consumed with vile hatred.

Yeah, the Doctor looked down at his rugged shoes and let out a deep sigh.

Swift did nothing, just looking forward until she felt the silence was a bit too much. Apparently, the Doctor agreed

"What about?" He dared to ask, knowing that this might just be crossing the icy boundary a bit too far.

Swift started, turning to face him with surprise written on her face.

"My—My family," the stammered. She'd never been comfortable talking about them to the other angels in the cave, and she definitely wouldn't feel at east speaking of them now, to a practical stranger.

"They want you to come home."

Swift stared at the Doctor, long and hard. He'd said it like a statement, rather than a question. Surely he hadn't…

"How did you—"

"Oh, I didn't," the man's coffee-colored eyes flashed brightly as he grinned, "I'm just clever."

Swift shook her head wryly. There was simply no end to this stranger's surprises.

"But…" the Doctor stared back at her, and his gaze was steady and piercing. It was amazing how quickly he could change moods like that. "You do remember that there is no way we can find that cave again, right?"

Swift sighed. "Yeah. But really, if we could just find a clan of angels, I could live there. Do… do you know of any angel clans on this planet?" she looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. The Doctor almost laughed.

"Life as an angel on Earth?" he smiled drily at her, "I'm not saying it would be hard for your kind in general, but for one who can't turn to stone?"

Swift shrugged. "It shouldn't be too hard. I could hunt the other life forms easier, right?"

The Doctor said nothing, but his air changed back to that pensive expression he adopted whenever he was thinking—the wide eyes and the face light a blank slate, mouth halfway open. Finally, after several silent minutes of this, he spoke.

"Do you know how much the humans thrive on art?" he sounded fascinated, as if in awe of them and laughing at them at the same time. Swift jerked up, startled. This was not what she had expected from this man.

"It's incredible, really," he continued, "Statues all over the place. It's so easy for angels to hide amongst statues—I've seen it before. Sure, I know it sounds simple and obvious, but it's true."

"But I can't turn into a statue, genius," Swift hissed through her teeth, blushing furiously at her own ignorance.

"Exactly," the Doctor stood up abruptly and began to pace back and forth, steepling his hands and grinning largely. Swift shifted uncomfortably.

"There are tons of empty planets out there, sure, but why would there be an angel clan where there's no energy? You have to find a place where you can hunt, and a place where you can hunt easily and with other angels."

"I know that, Oh Brilliant One," Swift rolled her eyes, irritated. This conversation was getting her nowhere. "But, in case you haven't noticed, I can't get off the planet. How will you solve that?"

"Oh, easy," the brunette beamed and spread his hands out wide. "You can travel with me."

Swift rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Like you actually mean it. I'm an angel—I kill people like you. I'm sure you don't trust me as far as you could throw me."

"Nah, I think you're pretty good," the Doctor smirked cheekily. "You have heard the phrase 'there's a first time for everything', right?"

"Not… really…" the angel shuffled her wings uncertainly.

"Well, there is." He nodded once, as if satisfied. "This is your chance, Swift. Take it."

The girl sighed, staring down at her bare feet. He was right, after all. As much as she hated to admit it, he was her only gateway to get back to her people. All that was left was to follow his lead.