10
She stood breathing deeply as she stared at India.
The bitch stood calmly looking back, the business suit and hair style severe, like her look as she stared her down.
"You didn't even try to save him did you" she finally charged forward a few steps and India sighed softly.
"He knew to score little chickie, don't you get it?" India said as she stepped back, maintaining the distance between them as the team watched with undisguised grief.
"The score!" she spat, "The score. Yeah, we know the score. He's dead. Gone! You fucking bitch, standing there so calm when the best man in the entire 'verse … Goddess, any 'Verse is gone and you talk of scores. This is not a game!"
"That's just it sweetie" India canted her head as she studied the broken young woman, "It is a game. This is Chess not tic-tac bloody toe! Ianto knew he would have to be sacrificed to protect the king, like a good knight. For the King, he fell on the sword without fear. He was triumphant in his final moments, the Master left unsatisfied."
"The King" she sneered at India, "Right! The Doctor. He is just a mad man in a box ya know, he's not a god. He would tell you that himself and if you think …."
She couldn't speak anymore, turning towards her team as the tears rolled down her cheeks and it was Piney who spoke, "He was our Taddy. The only one we had left and he was a good man. We all would rather die than sacrifice him."
"Exactly" India pointed out as she kept her eyes on the prize and she was rewarded with a snarl of rage as she was rushed, banshee style screaming with wild hair flying and she easily caught her, struggling against the assault.
"Let her go" Blaine said softly to Piney, "Let her get it out of her system. We can't get this done with her still mourning for him."
"Don't speak for all of us" Piney said ominously as he slid past, "He was the last piece of my Taddy too."
"Sorry Piney" Blaine grimaced, "I didn't mean to sound flippant. I loved him too. I forgot about your Tad."
The screaming had stopped along with her struggling and she finally pushed herself away from India, glaring as her as she wiped tears and mascara away from her face.
"What do you want from me" India demanded, "Say it. I can't help you unless you say it."
"My Tad!" she finally said so softly it was more of a whisper, "I want my Taddy."
India's shoulders slumped and her face changed, softened and a smile started to form. "Why didn't you say so you silly wee chickie!"
Blaine looked over and grabbed Piney's arm with alarm, causing the team to turn in time to see India stepping forward, closing the space created. As she did so her features softened more, her hair seemed to have blonde roots that grew, spilling out across her scalp like liquid running down in the rain as the hair sprang free of its clips and flew about her face.
The air crackled with electricity as she raised her arms and her head to look their leader in the eye, her green eyes softening to blue and then a softer grey, as if a storm was contained within.
"My little Baban" she whispered and with a wail she was seized in a hug, responding by crushing the poor girl's face to her bosom.
Finally comforted, finally in the safely of her Taddy's embrace she cried.
"Hush now" Yan whispered softly, plucking the necklace from the folds of the bodice, pulling it out from between the breasts that kept it warm
"Where did this come from?"
"Daddy gave it to you"
"What is this?" she demanded.
"A piece of your heart" Byrd sobbed.
"And what is my heart?" Yan asked.
"A piece of the Tardis?" Byrd straightened to look her Taddy in the eye.
"And who am I?"
"You are the Time Traveller …The Archivist" she sniffed now.
"And?"
"You are my Taddy."
"And has your Taddy ever told a lie?"
"No."
"And if I promise that we are still on track and the end game grows near?" Yan whispered softly into her daughter's ear, "If I tell you that your Daddy is still safe and his time is almost here."
"Then I will prepare"
"I promise my little Byrdie" Yan said softly, holding her face in her hands, "It is almost time. Martha is due back on this soil any day and we will start the countdown. You will have your revenge, Daddy will have his freedom and this file can be closed."
"Promise?"
"Yes. I will tear the page from my book and give it to you to keep inside your heart" Yan promised as she slid the purple heart shaped pendant back into her daughter's corset, "As I keep you in mine."
"And you never break a promise."
As Byrd released Yan and walked back towards the team it was Blaine to speak first.
"Aunty Yan?"
"Hello Blaine love. Hero, Harper. Yes it is me" she smiled, "Sorry for the games but now you understand that there is a plan."
"Wait" Piney grabbed Blaine's arm as he went to hug her, "You know this woman?"
"Gods, you have no idea!" Blaine laughed as he grabbed his Brother-husband's shoulders. "No idea."