Ch 105
River was holding tightly onto the Doctor. Voices could clearly be heard beyond the door of the closet they were in. The Doctor put a finger to his lips and moved as silently as he could towards the door, dodging around a broom and cleaning supplies. There was just enough room that he could crouch by the keyhole and peer into the next room.
"[Where are we?]" River signed.
"[Looks like a shop,]" he answered.
There were two men at a counter that seemed to be arguing about something.
"[Do you think we can make it out without them noticing?]"
"[Yes... they look human. I don't think they'll cause us too much trouble.]" He started to open the door slowly, making enough room that they could exit.
The two quietly left the supply closet, now able to get a better look at the room they had been in. The shop was a bookstore no bigger than the size of the Song's living room. The small space was dusty and no wall was free of shelves. The books went all the way up to the ceiling and some lay in stacks on the floor for lack of any other place to put them.
The Doctor recognized this shop from the past, having come in here once during their year of hiding. It was on the edge of Bristol and had very little foot traffic.
The arguing men paid no notice to the couple in the back of their shop.
"[I think I've been here before.]" River signed, looking around the room.
"[It wasn't today, was it?]" He fretted, glancing between River and the exit.
She shrugged, "[I don't remember exactly when it was.]"
"[Best keep an eye out, then. Do you remember their names?]" He pointed to the arguing men who seemed to be the shop owners.
"[I think one's name is Harry.]" She glanced towards the window again, noticing someone walking in.
"River?" A familiar voice called.
The store clerks looked at their new client and then to the back of the shop where he was addressing River.
Ramone entered, coffee in hand, and the Doctor muttered, "Shit."
"Ramone..." River murmured, a bit surprised, "Hello… my love."
The Doctor squared his jaw.
This was early in the year, long before the Doctor had properly introduced himself to River as Doctor Disco.
Ramone didn't mind personal space much, coming over and giving River a kiss on the cheek. "Didn't expect to run into you here."
"I was just... stopping in for a quick look." She shrugged, "What are you doing here?"
"I suppose it might ruin the surprise, but I was looking for a Christmas gift for you."
"Oh, well aren't you sweet," she smiled, glancing at her husband. The Doctor was trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, pretending to browse books and pretending no to eavesdrop.
"If you're not doing anything later, I'd love to take you to lunch." Ramone tried to gain River's attention back, glancing in the Doctor's direction.
The Doctor tried not to glare but couldn't help but interject. "Actually, we have a meeting this afternoon."
"Sorry, and you are?" Ramone frowned.
"Doctor... Moon," he improvised. "Head of Linguistics"
"Oh, I thought Doctor Martin was head of linguistics."
"I only use that name on formal occasions. Most people call me Doctor Moon," said the Doctor as nonchalantly as possible.
"Ah, my apologizes, Doctor Moon. It's a pleasure to meet you." Ramone hesitated, "I'll leave you two to your meeting." He leaned in to kiss River's cheek again.
The Doctor relaxed, but only slightly as Ramone finally left. One of the store clerks, both of whom had been watching the encounter, approached the pair. "Sorry, we didn't see you two come in. Bit of a, er, meeting ourselves. Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it. We'll be leaving now." River and the Doctor made as quick of an exit as possible, leaving the mildly confused men behind.
"I can't believe that worked," the Doctor breathed.
"Well, now he's going to think you're Doctor Moon," River frowned.
"As far as the problems we have, I think fixing Ramone's memory will be a lot easier than finding out what those creatures are up to."
"You're right," she sighed, "Where we head first?"
He pulled out the small scanner he'd pocketed earlier. "We should start looking for artron energy. We know those things are time travelers so if they're here, there should be a trail."
"Okay. We need to watch and make sure that we don't run into us by mistake."
He nodded as numbers started running on the computer. "There's the signal from us. And there... there's a separate signal." He turned around until the signal got stronger and stated in that direction.
"Let's go." She murmured, grabbing his hand and rushing down the street. The Doctor followed behind, neither of them caring much about the strange looks they got from the people they passed. The only thing on their minds was the safety of their family, though it occurred to the Doctor that this was the direction Ramone had left in.
River was determined, continuing to barrel down the road towards where the scanner was directing them. They arrived at another shop some number of blocks down the road. This shop was bigger and more modern than the first bookstore and looked like it told toys and trinkets as well.
The two of them stopped outside, panting and peering in the window. Ramone was inside talking to the owner.
The Doctor frowned, "Not him again."
River frowned, "Ramone? What would he be doing here?"
"Looking for a different gift for you since we ruined his first surprise." The Doctor glanced at the scanner. "Oh dear... the energy readings are coming off him in waves."
"But he can't be a time traveler." River murmured, "He never did anything that would... When we were being attacked, he was so shocked, he had no idea what to make of it. He's completely human..."
"I know. I did my research in him back when you were human. Just to, er, make sure—He's completely harmless, but if he's come in contact with something anachronistic… he could be the next target."
"Just to make sure?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," he insisted, feeling his cheeks grow a little hot. "Just to make sure. Had to make sure he wasn't a threat or anything. You know. For safety reasons."
"Well, we need to protect Ramone. He's still got future left to live. It'll ruin the time lines a million times over if he dies here."
He made a noise of agreement. "We have to figure it what he saw today. Whatever he encountered put a tag on him and now he's a walking target. They'll be back for him anytime."
"Should I go talk to him?" she offered.
"He'll be more responsive to you than to me and it might be faster if one of us looks for more clues," he said slowly, though was hesitant.
"Are you sure you want to split up."
He paused, "No... but I can't be the one to question him. I'll stay close. Promise."
"Okay." She squeezed his hand, then headed inside.
Ramone didn't notice River at first, picking out a wrapping paper for the books he'd gotten her.
"Ramone?" River cleared her throat, as to not startle the man.
"Oh, River!" He quickly tried to hide his new purchases behind his back. "Em, you didn't see those did you?"
"See what?" She smiled innocently, "No, I was just hoping we could have a bit of a chat, before my meeting..."
"I didn't realize you had the time," he grinned. "I'd love to."
"Yes, well, I wanted to know how your day has been? What have you been up to?"
"Trying to think of what to get you mostly," he answered not too put off by the question. "I walked here, thought the fresh air would be nice."
"Oh, lovely. Did anything interesting happen on your walk?"
He thought for a moment. "I did see a stray cat. It was climbing on this round thing someone left out on the street."
"Oh? What thing?" She asked, quite eagerly.
"I'm not really sure," he said, starting to get confused. "Some junk—like someone gave up on making a homemade electronic... something. I don't know what it was. Why do ask?"
"Just curious, sweetie." She purred, "You know me, I love that sort of thing."
"I'm sure it's still there if you want to take a look. I doubt anyone would pick it up. It'd give me time to wrap these."
River hesitated, remembering that the Doctor said Ramone could be taken at any moment. "Oh no, I was actually hoping we could… spend more time together."
"What about your meeting? Doctor Martin—I mean, Doctor Moon seemed very insistent. Was it important?"
"I think he'll survive if I ask to reschedule."
"Well, I'd love to, then! Just... turn around while I have the cashier wraps these, please? And no peeking."
River nodded, "Of course. I'll be over here." She walked over to the window.
The Doctor was on a bench outside, somehow having gotten his hands on a newspaper and was pretending to read it as he watched the shop. River gave him a short nod of her head to indicate they were going to move again.
Ramone got the gifts safely concealed in a bag before joining River. "Anywhere particular in mind after we look at the round thing?"
"Let's play it by ear." She shot the Doctor a look as the exited the shop.
"Sounds wonderful," Ramone hummed, following River happily.
"Let me just give Doctor Moon a call first," she murmured.
The Doctor made sure he was out of earshot before he answered the phone. "River?"
"He said he saw something on his walk over here, he's going to bring me over to take a look," she murmured quietly so Ramone wouldn't hear.
"Do you think it's the same device Jack found before?"
"It sounds like it. Follow us, but stay far enough behind where he won't notice."
"Alright. Be careful, it could go off like before."
"You be careful too." She gripped the phone tightly, "I love you."
"I love you, too," he breathed.
"Be safe," she whispered before hanging up the phone and joining Ramone.
Ramone was plenty conversational as they walked, clearly eager for the holidays. River tried to keep the conversation going with him, continuing to glance back to make sure the Doctor was still following them.
The cat was still there when they arrived at the device, curled up on top of it sleeping.
"This is what you saw earlier?" River asked, approaching the device.
"Yeah," Ramone chuckled, leaning over to pet the cat. "Weird looking isn't it? I wonder what it was supposed to be."
"Oh, well I haven't the faintest idea. Perhaps we shouldn't touch it." River suggested, reaching for his hand before he could touch the animal.
"Why not?" he asked disappointedly. "I thought you wanted to take it home with you… you don't think it's unstable, do you?"
"It could be, and I wouldn't want it around my children if it is." She shook her head.
"Well, that cat's on it and he seems fine," he pointed out.
River's mobile went off with a text from the Doctor; Definitely the same device. Don't touch.
"Well, a cat is different from a human," she murmured, putting his hands on her waist, so they would at least be away from the device. "Just... don't touch it."
"Look at you going all protective," he purred. "I kind of like it."
"I don't want anything happening to that pretty face of yours." She grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck and hoping that her husband wasn't getting too jealous.
The Doctor was still a safe distance away from the other two. He took out his scanner, trying to ignore the flirting as he set up some scans. River tried to keep Ramone occupied while the Doctor ran the scans, watching him over Ramone's shoulder.
The Doctor frowned as the scan results came in, giving River a look that read nothing but danger.
"Oh, Ramone, look! It's Doctor Moon!" She pointed at the Doctor, thinking it would best if the three worked together rather than trying to communicate the way they were going.
The Doctor's look changed to one of surprise while Ramone looked slightly disappointed. "Oh. Him. Again."
"Perhaps, since I had to cancel my meeting, we could all go to lunch together?"
"Umm," both men said at the same time.
"Sure," the Doctor agreed before Ramone could back out, realizing she had a plan. "Always good to-er-get to know my peers."
"Right, well, where shall we head?" She looked mostly at the Doctor.
"There's a-"
"Let's go to Rocky's," Ramone interrupted.
"I don't think I know that place." River murmured, "Is it far?"
"Not too far." He pointed in the direction opposite the town. "Ten minutes?"
"Sounds like a nice walk then."
The Doctor agreed with a distracted nod, looking between the scanner and the device. "Best hurry... I think it's going to rain."