XXV
Infatuation

UNIT base roof

The Doctor joins Aaron who stands on the roof of the UNIT base, smoking a cigarette as he looks out at the empty city of London. It is only moments after they have arrived from Russia and everyone is expectantly waiting to see what the verdict is of Harry's health.

The Doctor digs his hands deep into his coat pockets as he walks across the roof. Despite the invisible protective shell around the UNIT base to hide it from view to the rest of the city, it isn't strong enough to hold back the winds and freezing cold air. He stands beside Aaron and looks out at the silent city. Every so often a siren or a few voices are heard in the far distance, but London is mainly silent. All cars on the road have been abandoned.

Both men are silent for a long moment.

"I'm sorry." The Doctor speaks softly as he shuffles on the spot.

Aaron nods. "I'm sorrier for Ireen," He turns to look at the Doctor. "You don't suppose there's any way we might be able to give Harry any last minute treatment? Just to save him?"

"I wish there was, I really do," The Doctor looks at Aaron. "I'd like to say that it's down to pneumonia but what with everything going on with the Nobody's, I don't think it's down to the cold weather any more," the Doctor sighs. "April told Terry that he was vomiting black bile."

"We can only guess they're playing with the weather to make it this bad."

The Doctor sighs as he looks back out at the city. "To be honest I don't I know what to think about this any more."

Aaron looks at the Doctor a while longer before frowning. "We're saving you as much as you're helping us save the world. It's as much as we can do."

The Doctor pulls out his sonic screwdriver and twists it around in his hands nervously before putting it back into his pocket. It is something he has started to do whenever he feels anxious, almost as if playing with his sonic screwdriver will ease his mind for a moment.

"Aaron, what do you think about your son being with April?" The Doctor asks after a long while.

Aaron is quite taken aback by the Doctor's sudden and abrupt words. "Of all things to talk about right now?" He then exhales deeply. "I think that love is love. I know that it's wrong that they're, in doubt, in love with someone who's supposed to be dead in their own universe, but they seem happy together. We should leave them to it."

"But you know it's wrong," The Doctor repeats. "Have you thought about what will happen once this is all over and the Tardis has the ability to fly through doorway 0055 again? What will we do then? April can't stay here."

"And have you told her that, Doctor? Does she know that you want to take her away from here?"

"No," The Doctor breathes. "I may have given her a little hope that it's her own choice where she wants to go and that you want to hire her into UNIT because I know you do."

Aaron snorts. "I don't even have the authority to do that any more," He then looks up at the Doctor with his eyes. "April is a valuable member of the company. No one wants to see you or her leave."

"We're going to have to leave at some stage, Aaron. We weren't even supposed to get here in the first place," the Doctor shakes his head. "It's all so wrong and I don't know if I can keep up with this any longer. I'm getting tangled up in a war that's not mine."

Aaron laughs darkly. "Every war seems to be yours, Doctor. The worlds are colliding all because of the Cytracik."

There is a long pause between them.

"What do you suppose we do then?" Aaron finally asks.

"He's your son. It's up to you."

It is as if by coincidence that Will climbs over the low wall onto the roof. When he spots his father and the Doctor standing at the other end of the roof looking in his direction, he pauses for a moment, staring back at them. Just from the tension in the air, he knows that they have been talking about him. With a gentle rub at his blond hair that is starting to get a little too long to what he is used to, Will starts to walk towards them.

The Doctor turns his attention back to Aaron before saluting. Aaron salutes back hesitantly before nodding. The Doctor turns and starts walking across the roof. He meets Will's glare as they pass one another silently. Aaron only rolls his eyes at their attitude, as he stubs out his cigarette, thinking to himself that the relationship between the Doctor and Will is just as bad as Rose and April.

Aaron then stares at his son as he approaches him. "You need a haircut," He comments, somewhat harsher than he intended. "Colonel Meath wouldn't tolerate it. Nor do I to be frank."

Will smirks as he perches on the edge of the wall. "What were you and the Doctor talking about?"

"Just plans about what to do with the prisoners." Aaron lies as he avoids his son's eye.

"What did they tell the Doctor?"

Aaron glances over the edge of the roof and suddenly feels a chill run down his spine, not from the cold air, but from fear of being so high up. He still hates heights.

"Just that we're running out of time. The prisoners are switching personalities from being who they were before to the thing they're turning into," Aaron pauses. "I heard Rose saying that she sometimes hears them talking aloud overnight," Aaron cocks his head to the side, noticing his son's stern face and clenched jaw, almost as if he is trying to stop himself from crying. "Are you okay?"

Will shakes his head. "I'm concerned for Alic. He hasn't taken the news about Harry well at all, and I haven't seen Ireen since we started packing up."

"Alic will be fine."

"He's lost both his best friends in the space of a month, dad. I don't think he will be fine," Will shakes his head again as he chews his bottom lip. "The image of Jefferson running into that trip wire still haunts me."

"Alic is not the only one struggling to come to terms with Harry," Aaron frowns. "Harry hasn't even died yet and I still believe there is a chance we can save him."

Will scowls. "You know nothing."

Aaron grunts just as Will stands up to leave. "Son," Aaron mutters as he stands up and holds onto Will's wrist, turning him around to face him. "There is something I do wish to speak to you about."

Will stays silent as Aaron releases his wrist.

"I hope you realise that very soon April is going to have to go back to her own universe where she belongs."

Will narrows his eyes. "What's changed your mind all of a sudden? I thought you wanted to employ her. That's what you've been telling me and everyone else. That is what you have been telling yourself."

"Son, it's far too dangerous. She wasn't even supposed to come here in the first place and you know that," Aaron only repeats the Doctor's words. "I suppose that a lot of what has happened in the past year is down to the fact that there are four people standing in this universe when they're not supposed to."

"How is it their fault?" Will snaps.

"Think about the last battle and what's happening right now, son. It's down to the Doctor and everything that wants to get to the Doctor will get through to April first. And in this case, if it's not her, then it's us, Rose or Terry."

"But why specifically her? What did she do for the to have to get her to get to the Doctor?"

"I wish I had the answer to that, son, but I don't. I assume it has something to do with her prophecy the Doctor briefly mentioned. But there's a hell of a lot I don't understand and I don't think even the Doctor knows all himself," Aaron lets out an exasperated sigh. "What I'm trying to say here is that this infatuation between you and April has to end."

"It's not an infatuation, dad, I love her!" Will snaps, completely taken aback.

"I'm trying to help you out here, William!" Aaron yells. "If you just end it with April now it'll be a lot easier for her to go back to her own world. She doesn't belong here and it would be dangerous if she stayed. Just let her go!"

Will steps backwards, shaking his head as he bites back his anger. His eyes starts to fill up with hot tears. "Don't you dare do this to me." His voice is low with disappointment and anger.

Aaron sighs as he rubs at his temples. "It's for the best."

"What do you know about what's for the best? You spent my entire career pretending that I wasn't your son. I had to lie to all my best friends about this," Will lets out a surprised laugh. "I thought our strong bond in UNIT was down to trust and loyalty, but I spent the whole of my life living a lie because you couldn't stand to call me your son in front of everyone else. I was that unexpected child that neither you nor mum loves enough of."

"Don't you dare say that." Aaron says calmly.

"But it is the truth though, isn't it? I could've been a better son. You said the same thing about your mother and now I'm no different. Just another soldier you made a deal to bring up," Will ignores the pinched look on his father's face as he backs away. "You know, for someone who has been a Colonel for the past five years is very easily led. I do know what you and the Doctor were talking about before I came."

Aaron takes a step closer to his son and points a finger in his face. "I've kept the secret about the Myriad Circle away from the police to save your backside. I don't think you realise that the search for the murder of Peter Bursnell is still on. And once they find out, there is nothing I can do to help. I've done everything I can to help you keep a low profile."

Will narrows his eyes before turning away from Aaron. He storms across the roof back towards the iron stairs to go down to the base, but then he stops halfway. "Oh and to break the news," He says as he turns to look back at his father. "Harry is already dead. He died seconds after Ireen reached him."

Aaron and Will stare at each other across the roof of the base for a long while before Will falls to his knees and sobs into his hands loudly.

Will's sobs echo in the wind as Aaron remains speechless.