"Hey, So… what do you really need me here for?" I ask, leaning over the orange railing of the metal walkway, wind blowing in my hair, as I wait for the Doctor to finish messing with the Apollo 11 cockpit.

I kick one foot out between the bars, letting it hang in empty space.

dang, we're high up.

It's one thing to see this rocket in a museum, and a completely different thing to be at its top on metal scaffolding. "We really really shouldn't be up here, ya know. We're gonna get in so much trouble." I add, my mind verbalizing what it had been pinwheeling through ever since I caught sight of the 'no authorized personnel' sign.

"Don't be such a worry-wort." The Doctor chides, much like Mels. "I already told you, we'll be fine. Worst comes to worse I use the psychic paper." This is the third time he's pacified my anxiety so far. "Or, I could just sick you on them— wait? I don't know if that's just a future you thing or not…"

"So… again, why am I here?"

"Oh, you know…" the Doctor trails off as he keeps messing with the inner workings of the rocket, "You're my lookout."

I lean back while holding onto the rails, looking up at the beautiful Florida clouds building up on the horizon, upside-down "You sure? Cause' I'm not really doing anything… besides having a minor anxiety attack at the thought of getting arrested… again."

"No, you're doing brilliantly, couldn't do this without you," the Doctor says, poking his head out the small hatch, "see? you're… you're— ah ha! You're holding those for me."

I give him an 'are you serious' look, eyes bouncing between the Doctor and the few wires He asked me to hold, and raise an eyebrow. "You know, I'm fine just watching because you wanna feel clever. I do actually like just watching you work for the pleasure of watching you work— hey, is your face getting red? You aren't getting a sunburn, are you? I mean it is Florida and the sun's pretty bright today—"

"No! Don't worry! I'm fine!"

"I mean, if you say so…"

"I do!" The Doctor accidentally zaps his hand, "ow! —okay, yes, I just wanted you here to watch me be clever. Sue me. Can you come over here and help?"

I step forward, peering inside the space, oh. Maybe it was just the light. I guess he isn't getting a sunburn after all? "I don't know if this's a good idea. I've been known to break electronics without even doing anything."

"It's fine," the Doctor waves off, shifting over, so there's a little more space where he's sitting, an open maintenance duct above him, "here, just do what I tell you."

Carefully, I squeeze into the spot next to him, self conscious at the lack of space between us. Not that he seems to notice.

"So, you take these two wires and twist them together." The Doctor says, pointing at the wires in question.

"Like this?" I ask glancing over at him,

"Yep, perfect."

And it continues on like that, I follow whatever instructions he gives me, meanwhile he works at a much faster pace to get whatever we're doing here done.

When his phone rings, he answers, though almost immediately has me hold it to his ear so he can still work while talking.

I roll my eyes in fond exasperation, knowing he could easily hold it himself, but willing to indulge his odd request regardless.

"Amy," the Doctor greets absently, still mainly concentrating on the inner workings of the shuttle. "—How do you know?" He says, apparently responding to something she said.

With a huff, I lean in so I can listen too, my forehead almost touching the Doctor's.

"There's just one guy here and I think he's lost it."

I wince, vaguely remembering the odd man from the show and wondering how much worse it was in real life, because I'm absolutely certain it's worse.

"Repeated memory wipes fry your head eventually. Find out what you can, but don't hang around." The Doctor orders.

"Don't close any doors, you don't want to get locked in anywhere. I'd also recommend not splitting up, if you can help it." I add, looking to the Doctor to make sure that was ok. This is the future him, he knows Amy better than I do.

His eyes widen ever so slightly, "Amy, be very very careful." There's the sound of footsteps on metal, and I glance up to see two official-looking workers walking purposefully towards us. "Gotta go, we've got company." And quick as a flash the Doctor finishes up whatever it was that he was doing.

"Don't worry, I've put everything back the way I found it." I subtly nudge his hand with mine, trying not to bring attention to the last of the wires he gave me to hold earlier.

Instead of, I don't know, taking them and putting them in place without the men seeing what he did, he takes my hand in his and holds it up, wire clearly visible. "Except this. There's always a bit left over, isn't there?"

I give him a deadpan stare, Not deigning to give more of a response other then a very loud sigh.

Without further ado, the men call security, who escort us away from the shuttle, though they are slightly more chivalrous to me than they are to the Doctor.

I still get handcuffed, but unlike the Doctor, they don't manhandle me.

Around the time of the handcuffing, I apologize.…More for the sake of apologizing than anything else. It sort of just slipped out?

Which, of course, makes the Doctor laugh.

But really, we just unintentionally made their jobs that much more stressful. I mean, two strangers messing with the shuttle right before launch? I think I would die from the panic attack if I was in their place.

Either way, the panicked 'I'm sorry!!' pacified them a bit.

Mostly, I think they're assuming the Doctor roped me into going with him against my will, which, although not entirely right, isn't entirely wrong either. I mean, I did drag my feet all the way up here, after all.

They even ask me a few times. "Ma'am, are you here entirely of your own free volition?" Uh. Yeah. Pretty sure I am. Yep. It was pretty funny seeing the Doctor roll his eyes and snarkily mouth the same words.

We're marched back down the red scaffolding. The Doctor chattering meaninglessly, keeping the attention off of me, but never actually answering any of the questions the men ask.

At one point, the Doctor grabs my hand with his own cuffed one and I feel myself relax in response to the soft mental touch, something I've noticed him do regardless of which incarnation I'm with, though Eleven's touch is more noticeable than Nine's, who probably doesn't want to offend 'us humans,' since Rose took the whole Tardis in her head thing so badly.

And it's only recently that I realized that Ten had used it too.

Good thing he did, a scared little child thrust into such a dangerous situation. Heck, witnessing my first death, one which still occasionally haunts me today. I probably would have completely froze, crying, and died without those little nudges.

He's not even 'getting in my head,' not really, not like the mental games Mels and Rory like to play. He's just brushing against the very edge of my consciousness and sharing a feeling that's better than what my psyche likes to spiral into if left to it's own devices.

Focus and calm, instead of a blind panic.

The panic and stress are still there, sure, he's not overriding my emotions or brainwashing me, they're just lessened and easier to push through.

The man drags us to a private security vehicle, the Doctor and I shoved into the back seats.

the Doctor takes the middle seat to see out the front window and lean in to talk with the driver, much to the man's growing vexation, when the Doctor won't answer any of his repeated questions of 'who are you people??' And 'what were you doing up there??'

Obviously the Doctor did answer the questions, but he didn't like 'I'm the Doctor and this is Faith. We're on a top secret mission from the president!' As the answer.

Next to a name like the Doctor, even Faith doesn't sound like a proper name, which, in a way, it isn't. So good for them for not taking the Doctor's lies? Even if they were actually truths?

While he keeps our captor distracted, he hands me his future-phone-thing so I can shoot off a message on the group chat set up under 'Timey-Wimey-Mission-Impossible' —which is almost certainly either the Doctor, or my future self's work. I'd recognize the bad chat name ideas a mile away— and quickly type a 'got caught. Need some help please.' Message, before giving the phone back to the Doctor.

Absently, I listen to the conversation while watching vaguely familiar landscapes run by the window.

it's odd, how little things have changed between 50 years and an alternate universe. I don't really know how to feel about it. Nostalgic in a way, I guess. The homesickness is mostly gone by this point. Only rearing it's ugly head on rare occasions.

the Doctor ropes… James— yes, he got the guy's name within a minute of knowing him— into a conversation about his security job and the men's life; James has a girlfriend who he's planning on proposing to once the moon launch is done— if it's successful— he had wanted to be a pilot, but had ended up as a security guard instead through a series of different events.

Of course he shuts up pretty fast once he realizes how much private information the Doctor is managing to wheedle out of him, and ordered the Doctor to keep silent. Which was only successful because he got distracted with me.

'You're being awfully quiet.' I flinch, not expecting the sudden voice in my head.

The Doctor winces, 'Sorry, bit young for that?'

'Um, yeah. Haven't done this with you before.' I project, blinking slightly and trying to focus on the direction his 'voice' is coming from to keep the feed smooth.

'Pretty good at telepathic communication for someone who's only really communicated with TimeTots.' He observes, easily getting his thoughts through, and meeting me halfway to make it easier for me to do the same.

'Yeah, well, I've had a bit of practice. Not much, but some.'

The Doctor doesn't so much answer that, as he sends a pleased feeling and an affectionate nuzzle.

I look over at him for the first time since we entered the car, observing his features, his clothes… he stares back, the smallest smirk on his face as his green eyes flicker around my face with a sparkle of something I can't describe in his ancient eyes stuck in his young looking face. He only looks a few years older than me, if that.

…he's so much more affectionate than the Doctor I've been with. Why is that? Is he like that with all of his companions?

Probably. It's not like I'm anything special to him. I'm probably just imagining things.

'See something you like?' he eventually asks, when I've been staring for far longer than is polite.

Flustered, I focus back out the window and the approaching building. 'It's just odd, knowing that you're the same person as the Doctor I know, but with a different face and different personality.'

There's a long pause, and I assume that he's not going to answer, but then he does, 'Is that alright? with you? Me changing faces?' and it sounds small and hesitant. So unlike the man I know, who blusters and avoids anything personal he can.

I glance back over at him, face scrunching up in confusion, 'Of course it's alright, why wouldn't it be? It's just different— not bad.'

That makes him smile, linking our handcuffed hands awkwardly again and practically vibrating in place.

Once the car stops, James drags us to the main research building— though less harshly than before— and into a room with a blackboard covered in calculations, where the heads of security meet us. James standing at attention while we are both made to sit in two chairs next to each other.

The room looks vaguely like one of the sectioned off rooms from a tour I went on a lifetime ago. Weird, the things that come back to you when you see a place.

"Now, I'll ask you two again, how the hell did you two get into the command module?"

"I've told you already!" The Doctor all but whines— I've been informed on multiple occasions that Time Lords do not whine— despite the contrary evidence— "we're on a top secret mission for the president!" As soon as he says that, he, for whatever reason, decides that trying to chew through his handcuffs is a wonderful idea.

The man without glasses scoffs, meeting his colleague's eyes before they both turn back to the Doctor, the one with glasses answering, "Well, maybe if you could just get President Nixon to assure us of that, sir, that would be swell."

Nixon??? Who? I guess I really should have kept up with the news.

I should honestly know more about American history too…it just never seemed as interesting as world history.

"Faith sent him a message." The Doctor states testily, his legs crossed, as he waves one cuffed hand. Looking the very image of high and mighty and in control. I shoot him a look. Faith did what now?

The men turn their attention on me, and for a second I curl in on myself, before I force my posture into order, mirroring the Doctor.

He doesn't miss that fact and mentally pokes me. Jerk. I'm trying to concentrate and you're not helping! I slap his mental finger away and he leaves after sending a wave of mirth and another poke.

"speaking of, what exactly was your part in all of this, ma'am? And answer truthfully— Unlike your partner. You'll only make it look worse if you keep silent like this." The glasses guy says.

Internally, I'm screaming. Externally, I give a disarming smile. "It's like the Doctor said, sir. The president sent us here. It's all very… you know, hush hush. He should have a response soon. Probably." I smile again, a little too sweet and innocent for the situation.

"Really?" the other guy says, sharing a second incredulous look with his compatriot.

"Oh yes. I'm sure if you un-cuffed the Doctor, he'd be able to show you his credentials."

"Sorry ma'am…but that's not going to happen."

I glance over to the Doctor for help, but he just raises an amused eyebrow at me and gives a pointed look. Oops. Still on internal screaming mode. Probably projecting. 'Sorry.'

'You might give a very convincing fake smile, but I rather like your real ones better. Nice not hearing the mental yelling, thanks.'

'Again, Sorry. I don't usually have to watch out about that. The others just block me out when I get going. It's therapeutic.'

'More like mentally deafening.'

'Oh Shut up!'

A few more familiar presences pop up on my mental radar, including the Tardis, and a second later the door bursts open.

The Doctor and I crane our necks to see…. A man. followed by Rory and River, both of whom are dressed for the time period, and look quite professional. the Tardis's bright glowing lights and blue paint just visible behind them. I raise my eyebrows.

"Hello." The new man says, "I believe it's Mister Gardner. Is that correct? Head of Security?"

Said man, blinks, like it's a complete surprise to have this person address him. "Uh, yes sir. Yes, Mister President."

Ahhh. So that's who it is. The president.

Quietly, I start humming the president song, the Doctor coughs to cover his laugh, as he bumps shoulders with me, and I have to bite my lip not to laugh out loud. Shushing a snickering Doctor while also trying not to join him, only to end up doing just that.

"Mister Grant, is it?" Nixon asks the other man,

"Yes, Mister President." Grant confirms breathlessly.

I lean over so I can whisper in the Doctor's ear, "and he's just going to ignore poor James?" My eyes widen as the name and where we are klicks and goofy grin spreads across my face, "He's protecting the world from devastation!" Yes! Score one for the Pokémon reference!

The Doctor snorts. "It gets better; you were spacing out, so I'll bet you didn't hear: his soon to be fiancée's name is Jessica."

My eyes widen, as I wiggle in place, my shoulder bumping the Doctor's, "no! You're kidding me! That's too perfect!"

"I kid you not," the Doctor grins, going along with my antics, our noses almost brushing with how close we are from whispering,

"—Also, are you weirded out by the whole hero worship? It's just some guy who got voted in."

"What kind of American are you?" The Doctor whispers back, sounding jokingly scandalized.

I roll my eyes, "The kind who doesn't see the point in getting starry eyed over a president."

"You like the royals." The Doctor points out.

I shrug, "that's different."

He eyes me, "How? This is your country's leader."

I wrinkle my nose, "sort of? I spent ten years of my early childhood in England. My parent's votes didn't count while we were over there, even though my dad was fighting the wars they started. The president feels like someone else's problem. Even now that I've been living here for years."

While the Doctor and I whisper like gossiping schoolchildren, the president goes on a speech about how much these men are helping the country, with all of those over the top patriotic comments you typically see from presidents in the movies.

"I understand you have a baby on the way, Mister Grant." My hair bristles. That's an invasion of privacy. The heck?? How does he know??

"Yes, Mister President," Grant says, a shocked smile spreading across his face.

"What are you hoping for, a boy or a girl?"

I click my tongue distastefully, "now that's just creepy."

The Doctor leans back again, "not if I had the Tardis look up data on all the people currently working for NASA."

I frown, shaking my head, "Yeah, no. That's still creepy. Don't do that."

Grant answers with something cheesy about just wanting a healthy American.

"A healthy American will do just nicely." Nixon praises, playfully punching Grant on the chest.

The frown stays on my face. "I always hate when people do that. My grandma would do that. Like, 'um personal space, please?'"

"You really don't like him." The Doctor observes.

I hum in mild confusion, "I don't even know why? He just rubs me the wrong way."

"Understandable." The Doctor shrugs, "you have good intuition. And I happen to know what he does during his time as president."

"Oh dear." I give him a look, "That's not reassuring you know."

"Now, fellas, listen. This man and woman here, code names the Doctor, and the Faith, are doing some work for me personally. Could you cut them a little slack?" When he points us out, I smile sugary sweet and wave, while the Doctor does much the same.

Gardner looks between us, hesitating, "Erm, Mister President, they did break into Apollo 11."

The Doctor mouths a silent 'Sorry.'

I just keep up my 'innocent' smile. Watching Rory wander over to a miniature model of the shuttle.

"Well," Nixon starts, seeming lost for words for once, and I watch Rory and River share a look. "I'm sure they had a very good reason for that." Nixon finally manages, trying to keep his feet under him, "But I need you to release them now so they can both get on with some very important work for the American people. Could you do that for me?"

"Well…" Grant starts, unsure.

Nixon's smile and amicability drop, "Son, I am your Commander and Chief." While they aren't looking at me I narrow my eyes, nose starting to wrinkle at the power play.

Gardner takes over for Grant, "uh, Then I guess that would be fine, Mister President."

The smile is back on Nixon's face. My lip curls slightly. That smile feels slimy. "Glad to hear it." The man says.

James releases the Doctor first and then me. "Thank you!" The Doctor chirps, and I repeat the sentiment with a smile plastered back on my face, as the hyperactive Time Lord spins to shake Grant and Gardner's hands.

I meanwhile scurry past them all while the Doctor has their attention so I can stand between Rory and River.

"Bye, bye." The Doctor says, shooting finger guns at Nixon.

Rory touches the satellite at the top of the shuttle display and it snaps off in his hand. In panic, he glances at me, clumsily trying to put it back. The others disappearing out the doors to where the Tardis is waiting. Quickly, I take the small part from him, deftly trying to balance it back in place.

…Only for it to fall off again. Forcing me to catch it mid-air. Cringing, I glance back at Rory, who shrugs with the same look.

Feeling eyes on us we look up to see the three remaining men staring at us.

Rory clears his throat before awkwardly saluting the wrong way, palm up like the British instead of palm down like an American, "…Americaaa salutes you." He tells the men dramatically. In his very much not American accent.

Grant half raises a hand to return the salute but catches himself. Clearly unsure how to respond.

My shoulders start shaking, having to hold my breath to stop.

"C'mon Faith." Rory murmurs, grabbing my arm

Almost hysterically, I loosely salute, "it was lovely meeting you all," my voice is a pitch higher from trying not to laugh.

I practically run out of the room with Rory, only making it to the door before I lose it entirely, uncaring that the men will hear.

"America salutes you!!" I manage through cackles as I stumble through the Tardis doors, using Rory to keep myself standing.

"Faith, it wasn't that funny." Rory says, rolling his eyes.

"Ok ok." A few more giggles, before I take a deep breath of satisfaction. "No That was amazing."

"No. It really wasn't."

I grin like an imp, "it was! Did you see how confused they were! That was amazing! 'America salutes you.'" I giggle again, bouncing up the stairs to the console, only to stop at the sight of the president.

Wiping all emotion off to cold indifference, I give the man a strained smile and quickly move to the other side of the console.

"Don't worry," the Doctor's voice says right next to my ear—making me start, "we're taking him back to the Whitehouse, then we'll go pick up Amy and Canton."

"Shouldn't you drop me off in Oregon? Pick up 'your' Faith." I ask, suddenly unsure of my place here, lowering my chin and glancing up at him before looking away. "I mean, I'm probably just getting underfoot. What we just did was just… the easy stuff, ya know? And… well, that house Amy's at is dangerous. I don't exactly remember why, but it is. So it's better to have someone useful and with more experience than me." I ramble, shutting my mouth at the end and biting my lips together so I don't say any more. I expected to get cut off, knowing the Doctor likes to talk. But he doesn't. It's something that always catches me off guard.

He listens.

Even when I expect no one to listen at all.

"No, don't do that!" The Doctor whines petulantly, "you were doing so well! Don't go losing your self confidence now! you're brilliant! Couldn't live without you— wouldn't want to either!" taking my hand and kissing the back of it, he keeps hold even after the action, holding onto me as he runs around the console in a slightly different dance than what I'm used to, buttons and leavers in different places. New odd contraptions added on in place of parts that needed repair but weren't manufactured off Gallifrey.

He even goes so far as to spin me under his arm, keeping himself in between me and Nixon without being overly obvious about it. "C'mon. Give us a smile?" he asks, spinning me again and making my blue dress flare out.

I giggle self consciously, only to accidentally lose my footing and fall into his chest when the Tardis shakes.

"Oops. Sorry." I murmur, feeling his twin hearts-beat for a second before I pull away.

"Believe me, it's no trouble." The Doctor replies, a boyish grin lighting up his face.

"I think I'm going to be sick with how sweet you two are." River drawls from the side, "it's like you're the only two people in the entire universe."

"What? That's not true." I squeak, taking another step back.

The Doctor meanwhile rolls his eyes. "Like you're one to talk, always off gallivanting with those two. Sometimes I wonder which one's actually your husband."

"Oh, that's simple. He's awfully fun to tease. Much like Faith, in that aspect. Never can resist teasing the two of them." River turns to me and gives a conspiratorial smirk and a wink, "childhood crush. Took him ages to realize." I blink, trying to work out who she could possibly mean.

The Tardis thumps down, "be just a mo." the Doctor says rushing forward and dragging the president out with him, "Faith's orders. Got to get to Amy quick as we can."

"I- I didn't order anything??" I stammer looking from where the Doctor just dashed out the door to where River is… or was.

There's a clatter, and I peek around the console to see River lifting a storage panel and shifting through various objects inside. "What are you doing?"

"Getting the Captain's Vortex Manipulator."

I crouch down next to her trying to figure out why.

She glances over at me with a knowing smile, "you know, if you're that curious, you could always just ask."

I tilt my head, "but won't you just say Spoilers or something?"

She laughs, patting my cheek, "You won't know if you don't ask, Darling."

"Ok…" I nod, feeling slightly silly now. "Then, why do you need his Vortex Manipulator?"

"I don't." She answers blithely, quickly opening it up and messing with some sparking wires, before closing it again and putting in coordinates.

Remembering what happened last time River had a Vortex Manipulator, I shift back so that I'm out of arms reach and eye her distrustfully. "You're not gonna beam me into danger again, are you?"

She eyes me speculatively, her lip twitching up, and I shift back a little more.

"Spoilers. I haven't done that yet. —And No, I'm not." She eventually says, holding out the manipulator. "But I need you to give this to 'the little girl.' You'll have to find her."

After a moment of hesitation, I take the manipulator with a nod, "do you know where y— I mean, 'she' is? Or will be?"

River shakes her head "you'll have to figure that out. I can't meet her."

I take in a deep breath, "Ok." I nod, placing the device in my jacket pocket, only to frown at the large and obvious lump it makes. "I should really learn how to make things bigger on the inside." I mutter running down the stairs to get my backpack.

"That comes after learning Block Transfer calculations." Rory calls.

"Nooo," I whine, "I was having enough trouble with the twenty seventh century maths Alex got on my phone. I'm an artist, why do I need Block Transfer codes!"

"I don't know," River shrugs, "in case you ever want to grow your own Tardis, I suppose."

The Tardis gives a disgruntled hum.

"Shes right, I'm already crew bonded with this beautiful girl. —and why are you two ganging up on me now!"

"I don't know," Rory copies River with a smirk and a shrug, "maybe because we're both much older than you now and you can't use the 'I'm in charge because I'm the oldest' excuse."

"Speaking of our shared time in the States…" River drawls, "haven't you forgotten something, Faith?"

"forgotten?" I stare owlishly at her, "like what?"

They both sigh in exasperation.

"Like," Rory starts "the sibling bonds we all have together."

"The ones that tell us if the others are safe, if we don't come home on time." River continues for him,

"The ones that you always cut out on when there are large groups around and then forget to put back in place for weeks afterwards unless we remind you." Rory pointedly states. Both of them watching as my eyes get wider and a very fake flat line of a smile drips onto my face.

"If you'll recall, you never went home, nor did you tell anyone where you went. If I remember correctly, Alex and Rory were both having an absolute fit." River informs me like she's talking about the weather and not my eminent smack-down.

"Oh no. It wasn't just us, you're not getting out of this either." Rory says, sounding like the father he shouldn't know he is yet. "You were ready to storm off with that bat of yours, a cooking pot helmet, and a gun you stole from who knows where to go chase her down."

"Now now, father dear, you were the one halfway through fixing the Vortex Manipulator to send us to Area 51 to go get her."

"Which, we now know was actually the right place. Not that either of you believed me."

I look between the two in absolute horror. "Ok! Ok! I get it! I'll go tell them—you— whatever—that I'm fine! I'm a terrible irresponsible sister slash parental figure! I'm sorry! Please stop! It's weird!!"

Rory and River both share a laugh while I march over to the stairs and open up the bonds I'd unintentionally closed off.

Jeez, put a telepathic group chat on mute and suddenly everyone thinks you're dead.

It's a really good thing I sat down first too, because the second I open the bonds up, the barrage of three very loud, very worried Time Lords yelling at me, causes a wave of vertigo to wash over what's left of the human part of my brain.

'Ok! Ok! One at a time!!' I yell back over the connection, 'yes! I'm still alive—' I quiet the connection to give the Tardis a thoroughly scandalized look, "would you stop laughing over this! It's not funny!"

Back on the other side of the connection, Alex heaves out a sigh 'please tell me you haven't been out gallivanting with princess Alphadetria again while all of us have been worried sick about you?'

'What? No. That was like only once, and Mels and Rory were with me.'

'Three times and counting, actually.' Rory comments helpfully. 'And you didn't invite me the first time.' Dirty traitor.

I wince, 'again, sorry about that. You were off learning English with Alex and he wasn't gonna let us go if—'

Alex mentally clears his throat, which is a lot harder to do than it sounds. 'Back to the point. Honestly, TimeTots the lot of you.' He sighs again when Mels and Rory start to protest that sentiment. 'Faith, where are you and should I come pick you up?'

'No, I'm fine!' I tell him a little bit too fast. I can practically hear the skepticism from here. That and the eyebrow twitch. For someone who looks so young, he really has the teacher persona down pat…. Though it's pretty funny to see Mels smash through that particular wall.

Just then, the Doctor runs in, "Right! Time to go! Faith said Canton and Amy could be in danger so the faster the better—" he pats my head as he runs by, only to pause at the controls "—Faith what are you doing down there?"

"Nothing! Just thinking!" I call to the Doctor, while also sending one last message to The other three, 'Isorta kindagotkidnapped and I'm inFloridanow. I'm fine. no worries. GottagonowBYE!' And I cut off the bonds again like hanging up a phone.

"Doctor, what do you mean by danger?? Faith what's happening to Amy??" Rory says, panic rising in his voice.

"Uhhh" I look between Rory and the Doctor, not sure what to do.

"Tell me what's going to happen. Is Amy safe??" Rory presses, striding towards me with a dark look on his face.

"I, I can't." I stutter, backing up. I did not expect anyone to question what I do and do not know, let alone Rory.

"Can't, or won't?" He growls,

"Rory." The Doctor berates, suddenly at my side and pushing in between us. "I understand why you're upset." His voice grows dark as he takes a step forward and into Rory's space. "Whatever you think you know about Faith, forget it. This isn't her. Yet. And I want to make sure this girl, this child, becomes her without you tearing her self esteem to shreds. So really, don't ask Faith questions she doesn't have the answers to."

"You, you know, I'm 64. I'm not exactly a child. And I've lived with him for 44 of those years." I mumble weakly, still shaken from Rory's words.

"No." The Doctor says twirling to me. "Teenager. Self conscious, prone to jumping in head first. Making rash decisions…"

I frown, not sure where he's going with this, and not sure if I should be offended.

He takes a step towards me and I take a step back, only to run into the railing. Finding myself almost nose to nose with the Doctor, his eyes twinkling playfully. A complete contrast to how dark his features were just a second ago when looking at Rory.

"Like stealing a Tardis for example," he continues, losing me for a second, "or running off with a mad man in a blue box. Or both. Depending on the teenager." He smiles, still inches from my face, and I start to play with the fabric of my jacket, just to give my hands something to do. "Couple more decades before you're a full adult."

Smiling unsurely up at the man— in thanks for the help with Rory?

Yeah. That.

I lean around him to look at Rory "I'm sorry." I hesitantly offer, peeking out from behind the Doctor's shoulder, "Things get jumbled in my head sometimes. I don't want to accidentally give false information and make things worse."

Rory glances at the Doctor before huffing out a breath, his shoulders slumping, "no, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped." It's said grudgingly, and he clears his throat at the end.

I bite my lip, unsure if I should say that I forgive him, or if that will just make him even angrier.

River solves that for me, looking up over at us from a phone, and calls around the Console, "alright you lot, stop arguing. we need to get going. It's Canton."

The Doctor and Rory share a silent conversation over my head, Rory's eyes flicking to me in a way that makes it obvious that I am the subject. And that Rory is not happy about it.

A second later, both Rory, River, and the Doctor are at the controls. The Tardis wheezing and rumbling before setting down only a second later. Rory runs for the doors faster than is humanly possible, River following him at a slower pace, and the Doctor grabs my hand before joining them.

"You know, It's been years, and I'm not exactly known for my precise memory, even if it has been improving. Why does Rory expect me to remember?" I ask, looking up at the Doctor.

He huffs, "the you from before and the one here are out of sync. Your timeline from before is more or less frozen, so any memories from that time are the same as the day your timeline got cut; not perfect, but you aren't going to be forgetting anything more, at least from what you've told me."

I heave out a relieved breath, "thank goodness. I keep having nightmares about forgetting my name or family. I don't particularly want future knowledge, but I don't want to forget who I am either."

"Well, you don't need to worry about that then," the Doctor hums, letting go of my hand to wrap his around my waist and pull me into a side hug, all while continuing to walk towards the dilapidated house, only reluctantly pulling away when I falter at the closeness. "C'mon. Let's go help Amy before Rory tears down the whole street looking for her." And off he runs.

I on the other hand, do not. Eyeing the building like it just might come alive and swallow me whole or something, dragging my feet as I slowly approach it.

I don't even make it to the door, a small ginger haired girl barreling straight into me, both of us falling to the ground with an 'oof'.

A vague sense of déjà vu washes over me as I recognize the feeling of this young Time Tot's mind. "Melody!" I exclaim before I can think.

The girl scrambles up looking at me with a mix of awe and horror, "you're— you're one of the ones I'm supposed to kill." She whispers, before looking back at the house in fear.

My eyebrows raise in surprise. Well, that's definitely new. I stay sitting on the sidewalk where I fell, looking up at Melody as she glances between me and the house again. "Well, it would be pretty bad to kill me or the Doctor before we actually did whatever got the… um, 'bad people' to kidnap you to kill us, right?"

Melody tilts her head in confusion, obviously struggling to understand what I'm saying. Meanwhile my skin itches with the sense of an impending paradox. The timelines wavering in flux.

"See, I'm still really young, so if you kill me now, it'll cause a paradox."

"So…. What happens with a paradox?" Melody asks slowly, itching at her own arms, and hesitatingly stepping closer.

I hum, "well, it depends on the severity? I'm still learning about it all, but from what I know, several things really. All of them are really bad though, and we really don't have the time for that, do we?" She glances behind her again before looking back at me, shaking her head with panic in her eyes.

Melody starts to cough, her skin glowing faintly.

My heart sinks, and I move to get up and help her, still on the ground so that I won't intimidate her anymore than I already do. "Oh my goodness, are you ok??"

"I'm dying." She states, her eyes far too calm for that sentence. No child should be that calm about that. "I'm sick and dying."

I open my mouth, maybe to say I'm sorry, but it never comes out. Instead, I see something in the corner of my eye, a Silence striding towards us.

Taking in a sharp breath, I turn back to Melody, staring her in the eye— she tries to look behind her and I move into a crouch— "No! Don't look. Focus on me. Melody Pond. Don't look." I fumble with my pocket, my eyes never leaving hers as I pull out the Manipulator.

Only to have Melody take a wary step back.

"I don't have time to explain, please trust me? You have to find me in the past. She'll help you. I promise. She'll help you find your parents."

"My parents?" The girl asks hopefully, stepping forward again.

The Silence is almost on top of us.

Two more on the way.

All converging on us.

Before I can second guess myself, I grab Melody's hand, yanking her forward before she can react. I strap the Manipulator to her wrist and slam my palm down on the activation control—shoving her away to vanish in a shimmer of light.

Heaving a breath, I pull myself to my feet with a grunt, absently rubbing at my sore hip.

After a moment of brushing myself off, I square my jaw and stare obstinately up at the Silence despite the height difference or their grotesque looks. "She's gone." I state in grim satisfaction. "And you won't get your hands on her for a long long time. If ever."

They stare at me, angry hissing clicks the only sound between us.

No one is going to save me.

Even if they look out the windows and see, they'll have to turn away to get to me. And then they'll forget.

"The Faith is more useful to us now." The Silence hisses, it's hands raising, "The Lost Child will foretell the end of the one she loves. Silence Will Fall."

The who and the what now???

I back up a step only to remember the other two Silence looming behind me, eyeing the gaps in between the three as I shove my hands into my jacket pockets. "I'm not lost, nor am I a child. Haven't been either of those things in years. You've got the wrong person." Emulating the Doctor is so much easier in these situations.

"The storm's bane will bring about his end."

I snort, hiding my racing heart and sweaty, shaking hands, "storm's bane? No way. More like storm bringer. You do know what happens when someone hurts a Companion, right?"

"You are not a companion." The Silence states, and my heart sinks.

"Right….. haven't traveled with him any time recently. Yeah." I murmur under my breath.

"Faith!!!" Comes a loud yell from the house. That's the Doctor.

I glance in that direction before smiling with all the brightness I can muster, which isn't much. "And that's my cue to make like a tree." I duck down and twist, just barely dodging the hands that reach for me, their fingertips brushing fabric but nothing more. "Doctor!!!" I yell, sprinting for the door, surely a house full of Silence, with the Doctor, is better than a street, alone, with three.

For half a second, I think I'm in the clear…

But then a forth Silence steps around the door and I run right into its grotesquely long, three fingered hands

It grabs me by my wrist in a weak grip, one I'm sure I can break out of, but Before I can brace myself or even scream, a violent shock runs from it's hand and through my body. Every muscle seizes up, spasming and twitching without control. I can't even scream. The only sound that leaves my locked jaw is a an inhuman keening whine.

As soon as the electricity stops, my whole body goes limp. Panting hard, I glare up at my captor, weakly struggling to get my arm out of it's grip, only for another shorter burst of electricity to shoot through me.

The others join the first. Hissing and clicking as they nod to each other.

More hands grab me. Slowly dragging me away from the house. Away from the Doctor and anyone who might help me.

Every time to open my mouth to yell, to scream, to speak, I receive a shock, shutting me up.

In one last desperate attempt, I try to mentally reach out for the Doctor. Praying that his mental shields will be down enough for my words to reach him.

But another shock puts an end to that.

I don't black out. That would have been a mercy.

I'm awake the whole time as slowly, the Silence half drag, half carry my dead weight away.

All the while I try to stop them. To slow them down. Desperate to get away, I grab onto any passing object, try to trip their long legs, bite at their disgusting hands.

Nothing works, all I get are more shocks, my whole body in pins and needles, aching and sore from the repeated muscle spasms and all the electricity running through my system.

Frustrated tears start to leak from my eyes as we move. Hating how utterly powerless I am. And hating them even more.

I hate them. I hate them. I hate them!

I glare up at the creatures through my wet lashes as they strap my limp body to a metal gurney. The tears bubbling up to streak down my cheeks. Coming even faster when I see the surgical equipment next to me… along with a rather large needle.

One of them picks up the tool. I start to hyperventilate, sobbing. "No…! Let me go! Let me go! Don't touch me!!"

I scream. Loud and long and terrible.

They plunge the sharp tip into my arm and I scream again, trailing into messy sobs, uncaring of my audience. I keep sobbing until whatever drug they just injected me with takes effect and forces me into a very unwilling sleep.

——————————

When I wake up, it feels like it's been seconds. But my internal sense says it's been longer. Much longer. A good four hours.

In a panic I try to sit up, but I'm still strapped down. Unable to move anything but my head. Heart racing, I look down, half expecting to see some gory mess of my body that I just hadn't felt yet.

Thankfully no, my body is still whole. I'm still in my own clothes.

Noticing movement I look up, eyes widening at the sight of the silence that just entered the room. It's dark beady eyes focused on me.

"You will give us all information on the Time Lord known as the Doctor."

I let out a hysterical laugh.

The Silence tilts its head, "I do not see what is so amusing." It rasps.

My laughs get even higher pitch before petering off into something hopeless and empty. "It's just, you got the wrong person."

"We did not."

"You did. I only just started traveling with him. I don't know anything."

"You are lying."

It reaches for the tools on the metal tray, and I stiffen, straining against my restraints. "Nonono. Torture isastupididea! I'll just lie andtellyou whatyouwanttohear to stop the pain." I rush out, still straining against the straps around my arms, legs, and waist.

"Tell us."

I lick my dry lips, tasting blood from a split I didn't realize I had until now. "This is your first warning: stop what you're doing right now or you'll die. It might not be too late. Stop drawing attention and just live like you have been for ages." Blunt, but maybe it'll work.

If the Silence could scoff. I think it would have right now. As it is, it settles for a sneering tone that communicates the feeling just fine. "We rule this world. Man is ours to use as we please. What would kill us? The Doctor does not have the power. Silence will fall. You will tell us, and ensure our victory."

Steeling myself for the inevitable pain, I look the creature dead in the eyes. "I've said everything I have to say on the matter."

"The way to the Faith is through others." Another Silence says and I feel dread sink in my heart even further.

"If you refuse to speak, then we will use her." The Silence tells me.

My eyes go wide in horror, "what? 'Her'? Who?? You want me! Don't involve anyone else!!"

They don't listen. Instead, two more silence prop up my gurney so that I'm on a slope as they wheel in a sobbing Amy Pond who's wearing a blind fold. "Help me. I don't know where I am! Someone help me! Rory? Faith? Doctor! Please! Help me!!" She sobs.

I slowly start to shake my head, seeing where this could and probably will, lead. "No. No no no. You can't do this. Let her go." I plead, my stomach knotting. "Second warning: if you do this, he's going to hunt down every last one of you. Just taking her— you need to get out of here."

"Faith? Faith, is that you? Where are we? What's going on? Faith, please I can't see!" Amy cries blindly tilting her head as the silence takes off her blindfold.

"So you still refuse to speak?"

"I don't have anything that could help you. The Doctor always wins." I state, clenching my jaw shut.

"Faith, what's going on? Where are we?"

The silence once again ignore Amy, waiting a moment, as if to see if I will change my mind, say anything more.

I don't.

"Then we have no choice."

Unlike Amy, I don't forget.

I flinch when she screams. Screaming just as loud for them to stop. Screaming until my voice won't leave my throat. Clenching my eyes shut through my tears. unable to watch. Wishing I could stop the sounds. Her pleading, her screams. My pleading, my screams.

They don't stop. They don't help.

They don't do anything to me.

I wish they would. I wish they would hurt me instead of her. Just make it stop.

They take breaks. Force us to eat. Even let us look use a bathroom of all things. They question me, but I don't have the answers they want.

Each time Amy forgets.

Her horrified screams from seeing the state of herself ring in my ears.

She forgets that I'm there.

Again and again and again.

Sometimes they leave us, and she calls out. All I can do is apologize over and over and over again.

The worst they do to me is force an IV into my arm because of how dehydrated I become from crying.

It feels like all I can do is cry.

But eventually it stops. They wheel her away. Into some other room. Leaving me alone with the aliens, stinking of my own sweat, my skin uncomfortably sticky, and my hair sticking to my neck and face.

A Silence stands in front of me. I glare up at him. Eyes filling once more with angry, frustrated tears.

"Will you talk?" The Silence says. Still oh so calm and scathing.

"Last chance." I spit. Tears sliding down my wet cheeks. "Run far and run fast."

"Why should we run? The Doctor does not kill. You do not kill. It is fact."

I scoff, my voice raspy and trembling with rage. "No. Because he's clever. He doesn't need to kill." I meet the Silence's eyes. Cold, coal black and hateful. My heart filled to the brim with fire. "No. You need to run because the monsters are coming. And you'd better run to the farthest ends of the universe because they will kill every single last one of you they find." I hiss through a snarl, my vision distorted from the water pooling there.

It's only now, that I hear the familiar wheeze of the Tardis, and I close my eyes in both relief and frustration.

Why couldn't she have gotten here sooner?

With a few clicks that I've learned mean frustration, the Silence, to my surprise, unties me, taking the IV drip from my arm— they drag my weak body away as I struggle fruitlessly not even bothering to restrain my hands. Shocking me when I don't stop struggling, causing my body to go limp.

Once again, I can't even call for help, only now it's my own fault for screaming when it didn't matter.

"Where are you taking me?" I rasp out, dragging my too-heavy feet as much as I can.

The Silence doesn't respond. Of course it doesn't. They never respond. It only cares about my 'predictions'.

"Faith? What's going on? Where are we?" Amy asks as she spots me, and I struggle to find a reaction that will comfort her.

I'm tired. So tired.

I've told her so many times.

It's been days since I last slept.

The Silence shoves me into some sort of high tech devise. A clear panel slides into place behind me. It then turns to fiddle with some controls.

"Amy, you're going to be ok." I yell through the glass. Unable to tell if she can hear me. "The Doctor and Rory will find you." I need her to know that she has hope. That she will get through this.

What I don't expect is her response. "But what about you?"

I don't know what to say. I open my mouth to say something, I don't even know what, but I don't get to find out.

The Doctor runs into the room. I bang on the glass door. we meet eyes for a split second. His features morph into something both relieved and desperate when he sees me. I try to smile, make that worried look go away. My lip wobbles and the look almost instantly morphs into something else entirely.

All I want to do is run to him and cry out all of my frustration.

I just want to sleep and never wake up.

"Faith!!!"

He starts to run for me, but there's a blinding light, and he's gone.

The room's gone. I fall forward. The door has disappeared and I stumble.

I'm the one that's gone.

--

A/N omg guys! I officially graduated on Friday!!! XD I'm freeeeeeee!!! Or as free as an artist entering the world can be lol.

Anyways, I'm being mean to Faith again. Something in my brain just went 'hmmm... there's too much fluff right here... better throw in some ANGST to balance it out!' I swear these parts of the story keep taking on a life of their own and I didn't plan to write this story arc at all. XD I do find 11/Faith interactions super duper cute though! I'm enjoying those a lot X3

Meanwhile my friend Fiobri has been desperately trying to stop me from killing off some characters while laughing maniacally, as a form of school-induced-stress relief and that I should 'just let them be happy!!'

lol. Like that's gonna happen any time soon. Her DW story is super cute btw so check it out if you want a story that isn't super mean to her OCs XD