Chapter 14
A/N: Sorry it took so long to post this chapter! I had writer's block, then my keyboard starting loosing keys making it hard to write, so I had to write it on another computer.
Melody: Thank you so much! I am glad you are enjoying this story!
10blue10: Thank you! Vworp!
The Doctor was wheeled through the corridors by Rory, who remained quiet through the whole sojourn to the TARDIS. His sonic screwdriver buzzed as he tried to locate the blue box.
When they closed in to its proximity, the Doctor let out a cry of triumph, "Aha!" as it came into view. He withdrew the key and both entered the TARDIS who greeted them warmly. Luckily, the med-bay was on the "main floor" of the ship, so it was easy to reach. It hadn't taken long before they were surrounded by the white walls of the medical ward. He pointed to a cabinet, which he rummaged through until he found a vial filled with burgundy liquid. He half turned around in the chair and handed it to him.
"Rory, this is for Alex. You'll need to inject this at about 10 cc's worth of the medication."
His companion glanced from the medicine to him, "Will-will it cure him?"
The Doctor shook his head, "It will keep him from having the visions temporarily until I can figure out who's causing them."
Rory's eyebrows rose, " 'Who?' not 'what'?"
The Doctor didn't look at him, but rather concentrated on looking for another vial without answering the question.
"Doctor!" Rory sighed, "You've kept a lot of information from us. Please, this is Alex's life on the line." He paused, "You've known for a while, haven't you?"
The Timelord grimaced, his hand falling to his side from the drawer he was looking through.
"What if Samor gave Alex his visions so as to...cast dispersions on him? If he had a mental connection with the visions and told them that it was Alex..."
"But to what end? I mean just because he saw them loose a battle or something, it just doesn't make any sense."
"Not if said warrior was also a prince." The Doctor returned, returning to his search.
"Samor...is a prince?"
The Timelord nodded grimly, "If Samor was giving him the premonitions he also laced it with seizures designed as a safeguard if he-that is Alex, didn't die in 1692." The Doctor continued, "What I gave you will block them out temporarily. If I give Samor the same dose, he'll never harm Alex again." The Doctor winced as he started to half double over, his face pale.
Rory was side within three steps, putting his hands on the alien's shoulders. "Doctor, you need to ease your breathing. Take a few deep breaths."
The Doctor did so, enough to gasp out, "R-rory, third-cabinet on t-the right. There's a large hypo in the cabinet to your left."
His companion quickly looked through the drawers before finding it, retrieving alcohol swabs from a side cart that had appeared from the wall. Rory swiftly rolled up the sleeve, swabbed the skin and pushed in the plunger. It took a moment, but when Rory looked up, the Doctor's breathing had eased and his eyes were shut. He thought the Timelord had finally fallen unconscious, but then the Doctor's eyes slowly opened and he took a few lungfuls of air.
"Doctor, you alright?" Rory asked, cautiously keeping his eye on his patient's vitals before covering the puncture mark.
The Timelord nodded, slowly rose from the wheelchair, heading through the corridors and out of the TARDIS, while Rory trotted to keep up.
"Doctor," Rory shouted as he shut the doors behind him, "where are you going?"
"I need to get down to River and Jack. " He stopped suddenly, rounded on him, pointing a finger at the vial, "and you need to give that to Alex."
"How are you going to get out of here? And are you sure you should be walking around?" His companion asked genuinely concerned.
"I have my methods." The Doctor chuckled, then his expression turned serious, "I'll be fine. Go, Rory. The sooner you administer that, the sooner we can stop Samor. Don't give him the medication until after the transmission. "
Rory nodded, "Right. Um-good luck, Doctor."
Morning was just arriving out in the fields past the Sisters of the Infinite Schism's hospital. They sky was a deep cyan as sunlight from one of the rising suns began to rise over the horizon. River and Jack were waiting anxiously for the Doctor to appear, keeping a close eye on the spaceship.
"I wonder if he's even strong enough to get down here." Jack sighed looking back at the force-field behind them. "So..." he began slowly, trying to make conversation to break the doldrums, "tell me about your folks. How'd they meet?"
She gave him an incredulous look, "You want to do this now?"
He gave a half-hearted shrug, "Nothing better to do till the Doctor arrives, unless you've got a plan."
"I sort of...got my parents together." River said simply, seemingly not interested in the details.
"What? Like The Parent Trap?" Jack wondered aloud.
"Yes, except I knew who my parents were and I was growing up with them."
Jack looked over to her a little gobsmacked, "You grew up with them? Isn't that against the whole time-stream thing?"
She looked nonchalant by his surprise, "I really don't do rules, Jack. As I said before, my past is his-and their future. I was born in the 52nd century, but lived in 1969 until I went to school with Amy and Rory. It was when I was still under the control of Madam Kovarian. I knew that if Amy and Rory were together, they'd meet the Doctor. But it wasn't until they were both near 23 before that happened. I was trained to kill the Doctor. Mind you, it's not as though I didn't try but..."
"But instead you fell in love with him," Jack finished with a laugh, "Yeah, I know the feeling. He seems to have that effect on a lot off people. You look good for your age considering you were born 3100 years in the future. "
"And you're not bad looking for someone who's only a hundred years younger than me." She replied with a wink.
A warmth from her coat pocket drew River away from the conversation. She pulled out the Doctor's physic paper and read it.
Hi Honey, I'm home.
River chuckled quietly and replaced the wallet back into her pocket as she heard a brief high pitched buzz, the barrier crackle and ceased out of exist for a moment before it re-appeared. Warm breath on her neck made her turn.
"Hello sweetie!"
Jack turned and opened his mouth to answer her but heard a low voice in a southern British accent.
"Miss me?" A skinny man with floppy brown hair asked as he shifted a small diamond pendant over his head and placed it in his pocket.
Jack looked over to him with some dismay, noting the young looking man wearing a tweed jacket and a bow tie.
"Doctor?" Jack inquired, looking him up and down with a grin. "New regeneration, huh? I swear you get cuter every time. Love the bow-tie, by the way."
The Time Lord adjusted the bowtie, and smiled at his wife. "See? bow ties are cool."
"Of course they are, sweetie," agreed River, kissing him on the cheek.
"I'd hate to break this up," Jack interrupted, but it looks like we're done waiting." He pointed to the space craft who's hatch had opened.
Captain Samor watched the read-outs on this Captain Jack Harkness with some interest. So Harkness was a former Time Agent from the 51st century now living in the 21st? Why would anyone from such a distant planet in the future live somewhere as primitive as Sol 3 in that era?
His attention turned to the outbound camera that captured a shield sizzling away for a nanosecond before re-appearing. He could see the two humans talking to someone, though not to each other. After a moment, there was a further ripple, then the Doctor's figure materialized. It lead Samor to realize with some anger that the Time Lord had been there for some moments before he noticed.
Pounding the console in anger, he turned. "Kontens and Fodec, with me!" He rose from the captain's chair and went swiftly to the transporter room.
The two inferior officers glanced at one another uneasily, before following their captain.
The Doctor straightened up and tensed ever so slightly as he watched the three Sky Djinn walk down the ramp of their ship and made a beeline right for them. When the two groups were two feet from one another, Captain Samor looked over the Doctor.
"I would have half expected for you to be laying in one of the hospital beds." Samor offered, in neither a considerate or remorseful tone of voice.
The Doctor shrugged, "I was," he paused, but then grinned, "but decided that I would be more use here."
"To plead for the life of that little...savage?" Sneered Captain Samor.
"That 'savage'" The Doctor returned angrily, "is the son of my best friends and is a precious child." After a moment, he paused and his face becoming more soft, gesturing to Jack. "Oh, I've been rude. This is my friend Jack Harkness, citizen of Sol 3, leader of Torchwood."
The expressions of Kotens and Fodec at that name were ones of unease. The Doctor noticed this and his eyebrows rose. So the history of Torchwood had proceeded itself, it seemed. Perhaps they had heard about the Sycorax having been blown out of the sky several years before?
"I think you should know," River broke in, "that my mum and dad are-were very adamant about adopting the boy. But now he's dying."
She pressed a button on a large wristband and a hologram of both Amy and Rory came into view, making them nearly as tall and life-like as though they were there, even displaying the entire room.
"Amy? Rory?" The Doctor called out to them.
The couple turned as though facing them, both looking worn and sad. Clearly, Amy had been crying at some point as her mascara was clumped and running. Their expressions changed to one of slight surprise.
"Doctor? You alright?"
"I'm fine Amy." The Doctor reassured her.
"Who's the guy next to you?" She asked, as her face got closer to the camera lens.
"Captain Jack Harkness, m'am." Jack saluted then winked, "nice to meet you."
"Jack," The Doctor reprimanded the man next to him rolling his eyes.
"What?! I'm just being polite. " Jack said in a mock defensive tone.
Someone behind the group cleared his throat, "If you're done, I believe we have something to discuss?" Captain Samor snapped.
The Doctor's expression turned serious, "Yes. I was getting to that. Amy, Rory, let them see the child."
The couple glanced at one another before turning the camera on their son so that the Sky Djinn could see the little boy.
The faces of the two inferior officers behind Captain Samor took on a look that was filled with regret and guilt.
"I know what caused him to be in this condition...but what I want to know is why?" The Doctor rounded on Samor, his hazel eyes narrowed at the opposing alien.
Samor however, did not step back as he had done. The captain's startled visage was soon replaced by a stoney expression. "And you are accusing me?"
"No, but I'm warning you to be very careful. That child is under my protection and I won't let you harm him."The Doctor stated.
"Captain Samor," It was Amy who spoke next, "Rory and I don't care about his challenges, but if you caused the seizures that will take his life, then it's unforgivable."
"Amy!" Rory admonished nervously.
"Shut up, Rory." She snapped back, "My own child was abducted and brainwashed in order to hurt my best friend." She nodded to the Doctor, "I won't let another kid be hurt for someone's ulterior motive. Me and Rory will protect him with our lives. If you want our son, you're gonna have to get through my husband and I."
"Hell hath no fury, Samor." The Doctor taunted with a cocky smile. "Let's see, that's what..five against three?"
"Except you forget I have a whole crew in my ship." Commented Samor.
"And I have a hospital full of scary feline nurses," The Doctor returned, jerking his thumb back towards the hospital, "and my two friends." His expression turned serious, "Captain Samor, is your pride so great that you'd be willing to take the life of a child to keep the secret of your failure?"
All eyes now went to the Sky Djinn captain who stood stock still for a moment. " Who says I have failed?"
The Doctor shrugged, "Well, you didn't kill me, for a start."
"Small oversight, I'm tired of playing games." Captain Samor sneered and raised his weapon to The Doctor's chest and fired, but Jack stepped in front of the Time Lord. With a cry of pain, Jack collapsed to the ground.
"Take her!" Samor ordered back to his inferiors, who hesitated and then grabbed both her wrists, but not before she had pulled out her own weapon, only to have plucked out of her hands by Samor. The Doctor had his hands in the air trying to show that he was not hostile while pleading to let her go. When Captain Samor turned with a un-nerving snarl on his face.
"All's fair. You have a hostage, and now so do I." He turned to his subordinates, "Take her to my ship!"
River struggled, but was not able to break free, or perhaps she did not want to do so. Her weapon was drawn to his chest by Samor, who also retreated into the waiting spacecraft. It had taken off, but not before pulled out his sonic and took readings of it's direction. When it had disappeared, the Doctor raced to Jack and shook his shoulder.
"Jack! C'mon, get up!"
The Captain's eyes popped open and he thrashed for a moment until he recognized the Doctor.
"You're okay, you're okay." The Doctor re-assured him.
When he'd recovered from his shock, the Doctor took him by the arm and pulled him up. "We need to follow that ship. Are you alright?"
Jack nodded, running his hand through his hair, "Yeah. You?"
The Doctor winced, but nodded, "Fine. I need to get to the TARDIS." He looked up at the sky for a moment. "Amy and Rory are going to be angry with me for having gotten River kidnapped again." He said the last part quietly.
"I don't think so." Jack replied, "From what I've seen, she could have easily broken free from them. I think she had a plan all along."
The pair slowly made their way up to the hospital, there steps slow before they reached the hospital doors, The Doctor hopping on one foot and sweat beaded his forehead by the end of their sojourn. Luckily, Rory was waiting and, throwing his arm around the Doctor's shoulder, lifted most of the wait off his injured foot.
Rory spoke first as he helped plop the Doctor in a wheelchair (much to the Doctor's protest). "Amy-Amy saw the whole thing. She thinks-River went willingly." He said, taking the Doctor's vitals, "We need to get you back to bed."
"No!" The Doctor asserted, "I'm not going to leave her in their hands. "I need to get to the TARDIS."
Jack and Rory looked at each other, "Fine, Doctor, but I'm coming with you." Jack announced. He turned to Rory, "Rory, right? Are you coming with us?"
Rory hesitated, "I think the Doctor will need someone to look after his wounds. I forgot, I saw you shot, are you injured?"
"I heal easy, don't worry." Jack replied.
The Doctor just waved it off, putting his head in his hand for a moment before raising his head. "I just need another booster. "
"Alright, Doctor." Rory agreed finally.
"Thanks, Rory." The Doctor grinned, "Don't worry, I'll bring River back safe and sound, you have my promise on that."
"A-and Captain Samor?"
The Doctor's smile soon deepened into a frown, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Keep an eye on Alex. That medication should be working, but for now, you need to keep an eye on him. "
The Doctor couldn't help but grin when Jack entered the TARDIS with his mouth agape. The sentient machine hummed a warm greeting to the Captain. Jack watched with amusement as The Doctor leaped around the console, while he looked around the new settings. The old Steampunk style control panel was replaced with a more playful and somewhat modern style, and the metal grid floor had been replaced by a clear glass one.
His delight in the new look of the TARDIS was cut short when he heard the Doctor groan and slump over the console.
"Doctor!" Jack shouted, helping him to the jump seat nearby, then breathlessly looked up to the sentient machine.
"Where's the med-bay, Old Girl?"
The TARDIS thrummed, pleading with Jack to help her Time Lord. Jack was about to turn when he felt a tug at his sleeve. "I'm-fine Jack."
"You're obviously not," countered Jack. "Look I'm gonna go find the med-bay, and maybe start some tea."
He turned quickly, letting the TARDIS guide him to the med-bay. The Captain swept up the needed supplies that he was directed to, and quietly thanked the time machine as he rushed back to the console room. When he'd injected the dose into his arm. Jack was relieved to see the Doctor's features relax as he checked his pulse as the Doctor slipped into an exhausted sleep.
Jack grinned to himself. No matter how much he changes, he always looks cute when he sleeps I wonder how long he can keep going like this. He shrugged off his coat and draped it over the Doctor's shoulders, marveling at the Doctor's young looking face before he headed off to look for the kitchen to make some tea.
TO BE CONTINUED...