A/N: new chappie! enjoy!

Chapter 10: Discoveries

Beverley stretched as she awoke and turned from her back onto her side to snuggle against…nothing. Frowning, she slowly opened her to find that she was alone, making her sit up to look around the room, leaning up with one hand and she jumped with a start when something crumpled under her palm. Her frown deepened when she picked up the note, unfolding it and smiling as she read it.

Went early with Elektra to the Source. Didn't want to wake you. Don't wander off and I'll be back before breakfast.

Love,

The Doctor XOXO

"Why does he always tell me not to wander off?" she mumbled to herself before shrugging and stuffing the note into her pants pocket.

She quickly pulled on her shoes and wrestled with the curtain around the bed to get out, grabbed her jacket from the sofa and ran toward the door, slipping her jacket on quickly. She nearly threw the door open but took a step back in shock with a gasp when she was met with an obstacle in a blue, pinstripe suit dark purple tie and black Converse.

"Oh, hello!" the Doctor grinned, strolling past her and into the room, his hands in his pockets as she frowned and shut the door behind him. "You get my note?"

"Yes," she smiled, pulling it out of her pocket and waving it at him as he spun around to stand in front of her. "Very thoughtful of you. Not to mention romantic. Love the Doctor. Ex oh, ex oh."

"Well…gotta practice for the masses, eh?" he smiled, lifting a hand to scratch at his scalp before shoving it back into his pocket as she frowned.

"Masses?" she echoed, shoving the note back into her pocket.

"Elektra has so graciously prepared a big banquet in our honor," he replied, turning again and heading toward the sofa to plop onto it. He patted the seat next to him and Beverley smiled as she skipped toward him to flop down next to him. "We're to wear pretty clothes and act accordingly."

"'Accordingly' meaning lovey-dovey?" Beverley teased, making the Doctor glare at her, comically as she gave a giggle before asking, "So, what does the Source look like? I'm a little disappointed you didn't wait for me so I could see it too. Must've been quite I view."

"Nah…not really," he shrugged, lifting his arm to rest it around her shoulders and lifting an ankle onto his knee. "Just a long tunnel with a silver glow at the end that was fading on and off."

"So what is the Source?" she asked, leaning her head on his arm.

"You remember that Senteal Stone around Elektra's neck?" he asked, gesturing to his neck and Beverley nodded. "The Source is basically a gigantic version of that. The Senteal stones are chips off the ol' block."

"So the Senteal stones are connected to the Source which is why they're all on the fritz, yes?" she guessed.

"Right you are, Beverley Gilmore," the Doctor grinned before lifting his hand around her shoulders to pull her head closer to his face and press a kiss to her hairline. "Clever one, you are."

"Why thank you, kind sir," she smiled, her heart skipping a beat, but she managed to keep her reaction hidden. "So did you fix it?"

"Not yet," he replied. "Told Elektra I'd need to see the Source directly, but she wouldn't let me down there till tomorrow. In the meantime…" He unwrapped his arm from her shoulders and grabbed her hand to pull her up with him as he headed toward the door. "Allons-y…to the Hall of Life!"

"What for?" she giggled as he dragged her toward the door by the hand.

"To find out why our faces are carved in marble," he replied, opening the door to pull her down the hall. "Now, let's see if I remember how to get there."

"It wasn't that far away," Beverley remembered, quickening her pace to match his fast walk. "Just walk in straight line."

"Well, I'm a zig-zagger, me," he shrugged.

She gave a giggle before shooting her gaze to their hands with wide-eyed astonishment. His long fingers shifted to entwine them with hers and she didn't try to hold back the smile that spread over her lips as he still led her down the hall until they reached the open room where their statues stood against the wall.

"Right," he nodded, stopping them and reaching his hand into his jacket pocket for his glasses and sonic screwdriver. He handed the screwdriver to Beverley, making her frown and examine it as he requested, "Hold onto that a minute, and follow me."

He slipped his glasses on and headed toward the statues, examining them through the frames and stopping them in front of the huge monuments. He started looking around the feet of the marble images, shifting his glasses a bit as if moving them could allow him to see better. He stepped around to the back as Beverley cautiously followed him, clutching his screwdriver. She jumped when his hand shot toward her, beckoning with his fingers.

"Scalpel," he called as he bent over to examine the base of the stone. She slapped the screwdriver into his palm and he whipped it back to aim it at the seam where marble met marble.

"Ah ha!" he cheered, his voice echoing through the room and it made her jump with a start before he stood and whipped his glasses off with one hand, staring up at the statue of Beverley they stood next to.

"Find something interesting?" she guessed, looking up at him.

"Very interesting, Beverley Gilmore," he grinned, still staring up at the statue as he pocketed his screwdriver again. "These Atlantians are being played like fiddles. And it's no surprise to me now why the Source is failing in power."

"Do tell," Beverley smiled, nudging his arm and he grinned down at her before taking her hand and pulling her toward the place he'd been before and he pointed toward a spot between the base of the statue and the wall behind it.

"See that?" he asked, and Beverley squinted before she noticed a frosted glass shaft with silver wires running through it from the statue to the wall.

"What is it?" she frowned as they both stood and she faced him.

"It's the circuitry connecting the statues to the Source," he explained. "The chamber is right below this room and it runs downward for miles. I'd wager they nearly reached the center of the Earth. The Source is fueling these images onto the statues and making everyone see what it wants them to see."

"Wait, so…the big stone has intelligence?" Beverley frowned in disbelief.

"Don't get judgmental!" the Doctor frowned back at her. "Just because it's a rock doesn't mean it doesn't have feelings and smarts."

"But that doesn't explain why these things have our faces if you and I have never been here," Beverley noticed.

"The Source has the power of illusion, apparently," the Doctor explained. "The only reason these statues would be hooked up to it like that is so that it could feed the images into the marble. It's projecting our images to us, the actual images of the gods Xenos and Quanda to the people, and making us look like them to the people."

"That must take up a lot of energy," Beverley realized.

"Oh, yes," the Doctor grinned with a huge wag of his head as he only stared at her, expectantly. His grin somehow grew when he noticed the light bulb turn on in her head and she turned to him with wide eyes.

"That's why the power's failing! Because it's using up all this energy trying to keep up the charade!" she grinned excitedly.

"Right you are, Beverley Gilmore!" the Doctor cheered, throwing his arms around her waist to lift her up and twirl her around as she laughed hysterically.

"But wait!" she called as he set her down again frowned down at her, his hands on her waist. "How is Elektra involved?"

"We'll find out at the banquet," he grinned, letting her go to take her hand in his again. You'll have to get changed."

"What about you?" Beverley frowned as he led her back down the hall. "That suit is hardly proper Atlantian fashion, eh?"

"Well…maybe not, but why mess with a good thing?" he grinned. "Besides, this is my favorite suit."

"Those shoes could do with a clean up," she snickered, glancing down at his black Converse.

"Oh, don't go knit-pickin'!" he teased, and she didn't fail to notice his hand shift again to entwine their fingers.

"Will we be able to actually eat at this banquet?" she wondered, not wanting to let on that her heart was pounding in her chest at the way he was holding her hand.

"Well…maybe," he replied as they slowed to a stroll. "Only if you don't get kidnapped while changing."

"I shall try to restrain myself from being restrained," she quipped, making him give a bark of laughter as she giggled. "But…I don't think I have anything to wear."

"Oh, I'm sure the Atlantians've picked out something nice for you," the Doctor replied through a grin as they reached their chamber and he opened the door to stroll in, still holding her hand. "Maybe something a bit more…flowy than that Egyptian number, hm?"

"Hint, hint, nudge, nudge," Beverley smiled as he finally let go of her hand and she headed toward the wardrobe on the other side of the room to open it. "Hm…some nice colors…"

She looked back at the Doctor as he stood in the middle of the room, his hands shoved in his pockets as he rocked back and forth as he looked around, distracted. She stared at him until he finally looked back to her and frowned in wonder.

"What?" he shrugged, then shifted under her evaluating gaze.

"Tryin' to coordinate the colors…" Beverley explained, trailing off as she looked back to the wardrobe, then frowned back, asking, "When did you change your suit?"

"Oh, I took a little trip to the TARDIS after Elektra showed me around," the Doctor shrugged, strolling toward her as she turned back around to examine the clothes inside.

"Ooh, here's a nice one!" she grinned, reaching in to pull out a long, flowing, light blue gown with silver trimming. She held it in front of her and twirled around as the Doctor stopped a few steps away from her. "What do you think, Doctor? Elegant enough for a 'Goddess'?"

"Well, try it on and we'll see!" he grinned, waving a hand toward the white marble changing screen in a corner.

"I'm leaving my Converse on," she called, strolling toward the screen with the dress.

"I should hope so," he grinned, strolling toward the sofa and plopping down onto it. "Good idea in case we have to run out of there for whatever reason. Now, when we get in there, let me do the questioning, got it? She's a devout worshipper so she'll be a bit quick on the defense. I'm good at breakin' down stone walls, and the one she's gonna put up will be no different, alright?"

"Yes, darling," Beverley sighed from behind the screen, as if she were a wife being scolded by her husband and he gave a blank stare at the screen.

"And there'll be none of that in front of her," he instructed. "Even in jest."

"Yes, Doctor," she corrected and he stood when he noticed her come out from behind the screen, his eyes widening and his jaw nearly hitting the floor when he saw her.

The dress was made of the same material as the canopy around the bed, colored pastel blue with silver trim around the waist and crossing up the bodice to the off the shoulder sleeves. The sleeves had long cuffs that brushed the floor as she walked, but what made his jaw drop was when she twirled to show off the lack of back on the dress and when she turned to him with a smile he finally snapped his jaw shut and swallowed.

So…much…skin… he thought, his hearts pounding in his ears as she drew closer, and he didn't even notice her frowning in wonder at him.

"Doctor?" she called, waving a hand in front of his face and he shook himself back to reality to stare down at her. "You alright?"

"Yes—!" his voice cracked before he cleared his throat and spun around to hold his arm out to her with a huge grin, hiding his nervousness very well. "You look fantastic, Beverley Gilmore."

"Why, thank you, Doctor," she grinned as he led her toward the door again. "And you look sharp yourself, as usual."

"I thank you," he still grinned, opening the door and turning her the opposite direction of the Hall of Life. "Aren't you cold in that get-up?"

"You requested something flowy," she recalled, nudging him as she still held onto his arm. "This was the best thing I could find. And yes, it is cold."

"Why are women never practical?" he sighed, unbuttoning his jacket and pulling it off to set it over her shoulders.

"Oh! The dress loses the effect if you do that!" she pouted, but pulled the jacket over her a bit more anyway.

"Goosebumps do the same thing," he retorted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they still walked down the hall. "At least you color coordinated properly."

"Well, we have to look like a proper couple, don't we?" she smiled, lulling her head onto his arm for a second before standing straight. "I still don't know what the Senteal Stones do?"

"They're a sort of constant check-up system for the Atlantians," the Doctor explained. "Little doctors tied 'round their necks. Every Atlantian has one."

"Why didn't we get any?" Beverley wondered.

"We're the gods," he grinned, leaning toward her ear at the last word before leaning back out. "We don't need them. Gods don't get sick so they don't need to be checked-up on."

"How rude," she pouted, making him chuckle before they both looked up to see Elektra stepping out of a doorway to meet them.

"Everyone is assembled for the banquet," she reported as the couple stopped in front of her. "I trust the two of you slept well?"

"Like a couple of logs," the Doctor grinned, hugging Beverley's shoulders tightly before dropping his arm and shoving his hands into his pockets. "We're both starved."

"I'm glad to hear it," Elektra nodded, gesturing a graceful hand toward the door, entreating, "This way."

The Doctor slid his hand into Beverley's to pull her after him as he followed Elektra through the door. The banquet hall was huge with statues in every corner and tales lining every wall. The white marble glistened and when they looked up they found a glass roof instead of turquoise blue marble. The Doctor turned his attention to one of the statues, dragging Beverley along with him and catching Elektra's attention, making her frown.

"He's new," the Doctor noticed, pulling out his glasses to examine the statue of a handsome man in World War II inspired clothes. "What's his name?"

"Harkness…" Elektra replied, striding up to them as Beverley inched closer to the statue. "God of…Lust."

"That sounds about right," the Doctor smirked as Beverley frowned in thought before looking up at the Doctor.

"Harkness, as in…?" she whispered and the Doctor nodded to her.

"Captain Jack Harkness certainly gets around," he smirked, pulling his glasses off with one hand and tucking them away. "He'd certainly eat this up if he were here."

"He's handsome," Beverley smirked, making the Doctor look at her with wide eyes. "I can see why you said I'd remember if I'd met him."

The Doctor took in a deep breath through his nose before spinning around, dragging Beverley with him as he headed toward one of the more extravagantly decorated tables. Elektra frowned before hurrying after them to seat them, but the Doctor had already plopped into one of the throne-like chairs, Beverley next to him.

"Have a seat, Elektra," he smiled as the two women frowned in wonder, but he only patted the table in front of the chair next to him. "We have some questions for you."

"As the Gods wish," Elektra nodded respectfully, nearly gliding toward the table to sit.

"Oh, stop that, won't you?" the Doctor pleaded, scrunching his face in disgust before he leaned forward on the table, facing her. "So, tell me, High Priestess Elektra, when did the Source start actin' up?"

"A week ago," Elektra replied as servants began bringing food to the tables. "Many of the people came to me with their Senteal Stones saying that they were waxing and waning. My own had been doing the same, but we did not realize it was coming from the Source until I went down to see it for myself."

"And what else did you see down there, Elektra?" the Doctor asked, seriously as Beverley leaned toward the two to hear them better.

Elektra's eyes grew wide for a moment before she looked away from his intense, expectant stare and toward her plate as it was placing in front of her.

"I saw nothing but the Source," she muttered, lying of course.

"Doctor," Beverley whispered, looking to her plate as he looked back at her with a frown. "It's Sclosh."

His frown deepened but he looked down at his plate and his eyes grew wide when he saw the plate of wiggling tentacle in front of him. He looked to Elektra in sudden realization as she began eating and asked, "Elektra, what planet are we on?"

Both she and Beverley frowned at him in absolute confusion, but he kept his gaze on the High Priestess.

"This is the planet Aurora, Doctor."

A/N: before you all ask, YES! Jack will make an appearence. when, i have no idea, but its in the works. Captain Jack Harkness fans...you may rejoice. reviews?