Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who.
Many thanks to Chakoteya transcripts & BBC iPlayer.
Chapter 5 – The Impossible Astronaut
The Doctor and I were both posed naked, stood in front of Matilda as she painted a scene starring him as Neptune, and I as a nereid fawning over him as he was crowned by a cherub, my long hair, braided loosely to drape over one shoulder to cover a breast as the other was covered by silk sash. I didn't ask why, it just seemed fun so I thought Why not?
Our relaxing portrait session was then rudely interrupted, as we heard a loud group of people approaching us, shouting, to sound through the door "Doctor!" The voice of whom I can only assume was the King shouted, leading the charge, before banging on the locked door, presumably his servants opening it as the door began to shake from the force.
We looked around the room quickly, searching for a place to hide before Matilda gestured to her dress, raising the hem a little. The Doctor grabbing my hand as he made a dive for her voluminous skirts, lifting them further to usher me underneath first, before ducking under himself, lowering them back down just in time, as the irate king finally burst into the room.
"Where's the Doctor?" The King demanded.
Matilda replied in faux confusion "Doctor who?"
The Doctor, of course, chose this moment to sneeze loudly, myself shooting him an unimpressed look as Matilda's skirts were slowly lifted to reveal us, both naked with me on top of him, underneath another woman's skirts. "You know, this isn't nearly as bad as it looks." Was his weak defence.
Utah, USA 2011.
"You know, with you posed like that I'm really thinking we should make a photobook." I stated looking over the Doctor as he lay over the hood of the car, running my finger down the buttons of his shirt. "For my personal use of course."
He peered up at me coyly from under the brim of his hat, lifting it slightly to reveal a raised brow. "Oh yeah? What would I get out of it?"
"I'm sure if you wanted one of your own, featuring me, perhaps," I bent further over the hood, elbows coming to rest on the bonnet as I fluttered my eyelashes at him with my head perched on top of my hands "something could be arranged."
He hummed, raking his eyes over my figure before reaching over to play with the curls that had escaped my twin braids. "Deal." He agreed, leaning in to press his lips against mine, tilting his head in question as he pulled away. "Why specifically a photobook though?"
I raised a brow as I answered "Well it's not like we have any need of a calendar, do we?" earning a snort of amused agreement, before we turned to look as a bus came to a stop at the side of the road nearby, dropping off a couple of passengers, before continuing on its journey. Recognising the redheaded woman and her male companion, I lightly smacked the Doctor with the back of my hand, nodding over towards them, as I straightened myself to stand beside the car "The ponds have arrived."
"Howdy." The Doctor called over, Amy and Rory turning to see the Doctor jumping up from his position on the hood to rush over to greet them properly as I followed after him at a slower pace.
"Doctor! Lina!" Amy called back laughing in delight as she rushed to embrace us, hugging the Doctor first as he laughed along with her "Ha, ha! It's the Ponds."
Letting go of the Doctor to grab me to her in a hug, which I returned just as tightly, Amy let go, stepping back beside Rory as she asked "So, you two have been busy then, eh?"
"When are we not?" I replied joking.
The Doctor asking "Did you see us?"
"Of course."
"Stalker." The Doctor and I shot back together, I, very maturely, sticking my tongue out at her.
"Troublemakers." Amy counteracted smugly.
Rory cut in, crossing his arms across his chest "Delinquents."
"Rory the Roman!" The Doctor announced in glee, reaching to pull him into a hug "Ooo, come here."
"Hey, nice hat." Rory commented as he was let go.
"I wear a Stetson now. Stetsons are cool." The Doctor replied straightening his jacket, shortly before said Stetson was shot off of his head, us all flinching at the sound, turning to see the origin of the bullet, which was revealed to be River who casually blew the smoke from her gun, before holstering it with a cocky smirk. "Hello, darlings."
"River!" I shouted gleefully running to meet her "I should've known!" almost bowling her over with the strength of my enthusiasm as I hit her, us coming together in a hug, her laughing in delight at my greeting, squeezing me back just as tight.
"Oi!" The Doctor shouted over towards us "How come she gets a greeting like that?"
"Because she likes me more." River shot back without hesitation, wiggling her brows at me. "Isn't that right sugar plum?"
I tilted my head faux considering "Well, to be honest I think it depends on the day."
River nodded sagely as the Doctor let out an offended huff before we began to laugh, River looping her arm with mine as I ran back towards the others, going up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to the Doctor's cheek. "You know we're only messing with you."
"I would think you'd be used to it by now." River commented from her place beside me, tightening her hold on my arm as she smiled at him challengingly "We're besties after all."
"Well," Amy cut in as the Doctor opened his mouth to retort "now that we've all been reacquainted, how about we find a nice diner to settle down in to catch up?"
"I'd love to, but it looks like I'm off." I said, looking down at my dematerializing arms before looking back up at the others with a smirk, winking. "Don't worry though, you'll be seeing me later."
I ended up staying with the Doctor and Donna a whole two weeks after the library, before I jumped again, this time landing somewhere hot and dusty. Two weeks, which I spent getting to know them both better, teasing the Doctor whenever I got the chance and bantering with Donna, whose sense of humour I found meshed with mine really well.
I stood, brushing down my pale green short sleeved skater dress that I had originally worn to go a spa with Donna before unexpectedly jumping. Noticing as I stepped forward, something crinkling underneath the heel of my boot, I bent down to pick up a clean TARDIS blue envelope marked with a number 2 on the front.
Raising an eyebrow, I considered it for a moment, before deciding that it had likely been left for me to find, and not just a coincidence that I landed practically on top of it. Flipping the envelope around to lift the back flap open, I slid out the piece of smooth card from within, reading "Go to the diner across the street. Your friends will be waiting for you."
Staring down at the card I slotted it back into the envelope, smoothing the flap back down, before turning my gaze to look across the street, spotting the diner it mentioned. Well, I thought, rolling my shoulders as I made my way across the street. Not like I have anything better to do.
Opening the door to the diner, hearing the light jingle of a bell above me, I begin recognise the voices of the people who had entered the diner just before me "You got 4, I was 3, Mister Delaware was 5."
I looked up from my feet to the source spotting Amy and Rory with…River? Blinking a little bit in shock, I shook my head slightly before remembering that though I had seen her die not so long ago, this was obviously a point in her timeline where she is still very much alive.
Rory answered River's previous statement as I quickly collected myself "So?"
"So, where's 1 and 2?" She questioned.
"Well," I called out, making my way over to them from where I had paused in front of the door, holding up my envelope "If you mean this then I suppose I'm 2."
"Lina!" Amy shouted out, reaching to grab onto my shoulders, shaking me a bit. "How long have you been gone? Did you know what was going to happen?!"
I pried Amy's hands away from my shoulders a bit taken back by the unexpected interrogation. "Know what was going to happen?"
She scoffed "Know that-" River quickly cut in laying a hand on Amy's shoulder as she peered at me intently. "Her hair is shorter than earlier. She's younger." She removed her hand, taking a step towards me as she asked "How long have you known us?" She bit her lip before adding "Have you met me yet?"
"Yeah, I've met you all once before." I nodded, answering, gesturing first towards Amy and Rory "You two in Venice," before looking over at River "and you…in your future." I tossed her a smirk trying to hide the memory of her death "So, spoilers I'm afraid."
She shot me a smile and wink in return "Not a problem sweetie." She looked between the three of us "Now then, that leaves the question if Lina's 2, then who is number 1?"
"What, you think he invited someone else?" Rory asked.
"Well, he must have." River reasoned. "He planned all of this, to the last detail, even making sure Lina would have her invitation as soon as she landed."
"Will you all shut up? It doesn't matter." Amy muttered.
"He was up to something." River argued.
"He's dead." She replied in what was almost a whisper.
"He's what?" I asked sceptically, raising my voice.
River shot me a look to say she'd explain later as she spoke again "Space, 1969. What did Delaware mean?"
"You're still talking, but it doesn't matter."
"Hey," Rory protested Amy's words gently but firmly "it mattered to him."
"So," River continued "it matters to us."
"He's dead."
"But he still needs us." River reasoned softly. "I know. Amy, I know. But right now, we have to focus."
As they talked, I continued looking around at the pretty much vacant diner, something blue catching my eye, my attention focusing on it leading me to an empty table towards the back that held a familiar blue envelope. I lightly hit Rory with the back of my hand, nodding him towards the table as he looked at me.
He gained the others' attention, gesturing to what I had shown him "Look." Before going over to the counter to ask the busboy "Excuse me, who was sitting over there?"
He looked over to the table shrugging "Some guy." Before continuing to wipe down the counter.
"The Doctor knew he was going to his death, so he sent out messages." River stated, turning to us questioning "When you know it's the end, who do you call?"
"Er, your friends." Rory answered, clarifying "People you trust."
River reached out to pick up the envelope left on the table that we had made our way over to, lifting it up to show us the number printed on it. "Number 1. Who did The Doctor trust the most?"
We pondered on this for a moment, at which the Doctor himself decided to enter back into the main diner from the back door, us looking at him dumbfounded as he peered back at us chewing a straw hanging out of the corner of his mouth.
River looked at him, jaw clenched in anger before saying "This is cold. Even by your standards, this is cold."
"Or hello, as people used to say." The Doctor replied jovially, removing the straw from his mouth.
"Doctor?" Amy asked, still looking at him as if she couldn't believe he was here.
"I just popped out to get my special straw. It adds more fizz."
Amy walked up to him peering at hi closely as she circled around him "You're okay. How can you be okay?"
"Hey, of course I'm okay. I'm always okay. I'm the King of Okay. Oh, that's a rubbish title. Forget that title. Rory the Roman! That's a good title." He replied pulling her into a hug, shooting us a concerned look before patting her back, letting go to pull Rory into a hug "Hello, Rory."
Letting go of Rory he made his way over to River "And Doctor River Song. What trouble have you got for me this time?" Which was received, quite reasonably, by what I'd managed to piece together from what they'd said so far, by River slapping the Doctor hard across the face.
"Okay. I'm assuming that's for something I haven't done yet."
"Yes," She replied tightly. "Yes, it is."
"Good. Looking forward to it." He stated blandly before turning to me, clasping one of my hands, raising it to gently press his lips against the back of it "and last but certainly not least, the lovely Lina."
I fluttered my lashes at him playing along "Enchanté."
"I don't understand." Rory cut in "How can you be here?"
"I was invited." The Doctor sounded out slowly as if he was stupid "Date, map reference. Same as you lot, I assume, otherwise it's a hell of a coincidence."
"River, what's going on?" Amy asked hurriedly still staring at the Doctor.
"Amy, ask him what age he is."
"That's a bit personal." He muttered flicking his eyes over at me to see my nod of agreement.
"Tell her." River commanded "Tell her what age you are."
"Nine hundred and nine."
"But you said you were-"River cut Amy off "So where does that leave us, huh? Jim the fish? Have we done Jim the fish yet?"
"Who's Jim the fish?" He asked back with a smile on his face.
"I don't understand." Amy stated shaking her head.
Rory answered her "Yeah, you do."
I raised my hand slightly "I don't."
"Neither do I!" The Doctor called out before looking between us all to ask "What are we all doing here?"
I gave him an unknowing shrug in response as his eyes met mine before River stepped in to answer "We've been recruited. Something to do with space 1969, and a man called Canton Everett Delaware the third."
"Recruited by who?" The Doctor asked, his hand tightening briefly on my own, that I had not even realised he was still holding.
"Someone who trusts you more than anybody else in the universe."
"And who's that?"
She gave a weary smile before simply stating "Spoilers."
We were now all congregated around the console in the TARDIS as the Doctor ran around flipping switches as he spoke "1969, that's an easy one! Funny, how some years are easy. Now, 1482, full of glitches. Now then, Canton Everett Delaware the third. That was his name, yeah? How many of those can there be? Well, three, I suppose."
The Doctor paused as everyone remained silent, River and Amy having moved to wait on the lower level "Rory, is everybody cross with me for some reason?"
"I'll find out." He replied a bit hesitantly before moving quickly to join them.
The Doctor looked away from where he had just pushed another button turning to me to ask "What about you?"
"Hmm?" I wet my lips, rubbing them together before answering "Nope. To be honest with you Doc, I only got here shortly before you did so I don't have the whole story."
"Fair enough." He shrugged flipping another switch "So where'd you come from then? Anywhere exiting?"
"The library."
"Ah." He shot me an understanding look. "Not very exciting then."
"Well, I suppose it depends on your definition, but definitely wasn't what I'd consider a good time." I smiled "The two weeks after weren't so bad though."
"That they weren't." He agreed smugly with a grin.
I smiled back at him, leaning against the console before pondering "I wonder what the others are doing down there."
"I don't know, but I don't like it. One moment." He held a finger up to me before rushing over to lie on the ground by the stairs, ducking his head under to the lower level complaining loudly "I'm being extremely clever up here, and there's only Lina here to stand around looking impressed! Which is completely fine actually, so what's the point in having you all?"
He flipped his head back up, pushing himself back up to standing before making his way back over to me with a nod "That should do it."
I snorted smiling "I'm in awe of your talent."
"As you should be." He wagged his finger at me jokingly as the others made their way back up the stairs to join us by the console. "Right, now that I have your attention! Time isn't a straight line. It's all bumpy wumpy. There's loads of boring stuff like Sundays and Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons. But now and then there are Saturdays. Big temporal tipping points when anything's possible."
The Doctor turned another dial with a flourish before making his way over to the display screen, us following along after him "The Tardis can't resist them, like a moth to a flame. She loves a party, so I give her 1969 and NASA, because that's space in the sixties, and Canton Everett Delaware the third, and this is where she's pointing."
"Washington D.C., April the eighth, 1969." Amy read out, then asking "So why haven't we landed?"
"Because that's not where we're going."
"Oh." Rory spoke "Where are we going?"
"Home." The Doctor replied, clarifying "Well, you two are. Off you pop and make babies. And you, Doctor Song, back to prison. And me? I'm late for a biplane lesson in 1911. Or it could be knitting. Knitting or biplanes. One or the other. Lina! You can come with, you'll likely enjoy either." He stated bluntly, having moved to plop himself down on the jump seat.
We followed after him, forming a standing semicircle around here he had sat, the others looking at him in disbelief until he said "What? A mysterious summons. You think I'm just going to go? Who sent those messages? I know you know. I can see it in your faces." He looked between River, Amy and Rory "Don't play games with me. Don't ever, ever think you're capable of that."
"You're going to have to trust us this time." River tried to reason.
"Trust you? Sure." The Doctor replied, walking to stand in front of River "But, first of all, Doctor Song, just one thing. Who are you? You're someone from my future. Getting that. But who? Okay. Why are you in prison? Who did you kill, hmm? Trust you? Seriously."
Amy cut in "Trust me."
The Doctor turned away from River to approach Amy letting out a quiet "Okay." He stared at her intently as she spoke "You have to do this, and you can't ask why."
"Are you being threatened? Is someone making you say that?"
"No." She denied.
"You're lying."
She shot back "I'm not lying."
"Swear to me." The Doctor demanded voice still quiet "Swear to me on something that matters."
She paused for a moment staring back into his eyes before beginning to nod with a watery smile "Fish fingers and custard."
He paused looking at her seriously before returning her smile "My life in your hands, Amelia Pond."
"Thank you." River said softly as the Doctor walked past her back to the console.
"So!" He called out loudly "Canton Everett Delaware the third. Who's he?"
"Well, that's one way to break the tension." I muttered under my breath moving over to the console to stand beside him.
"Ex FBI. Got kicked out." River answered, coming up to stand on his other side.
"Why?" The Doctor and I asked together.
"His file said he had a problem with authority. Six weeks after he left the Bureau, the President contacted him for a private meeting."
"Yeah, 1969. Who's President?"
I raised an eyebrow asking pointedly "You're a time traveller and you don't know that?"
"Oh, shush you. I can't be bothered to think." He replied shooting me a faux scolding look.
"Richard Milhous Nixon." River answered "Vietnam, Watergate. There's some good stuff, too."
"Not enough." He retorted.
"Hippie!" River accused.
The Doctor shooting back "Archaeologist."
"Children." I added.
"Okay, since I don't know what I'm getting into this time, for once I'm being discreet. I'm putting the engines on silent." He then pulled a lever, which caused the TARDIS to do the opposite and instead let out some loud feedback, River quickly moving to throw a different switch causing everything to return to being silent.
He looked over at her suspiciously "Did you do something?"
"No," She denied "just watching."
He shot her another look before running around to the other side of the console "Putting the outer shield on invisible. I haven't done this in a while. Big drain on the power."
"You can turn the Tardis invisible?" Rory asked impressed.
"Ha!" He shouted flicking another switch that caused some of the lights around the room to beam brightly.
"Very nearly." River clarifies flipping another lever, turning the lights back off.
The Doctor came back over to us asking River "Er, did you touch something?"
"Just admiring your skills."
"Good. You might learn something." He responded bluntly before moving over to check the display screen "Okay. Now I can't check the scanner. It doesn't work when we're cloaked. Just give us a mo." With that he made his way to the doors, turning back around to face us, stopping us as we started to make our way after him "Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa. You lot, wait a moment. We're in the middle of the most powerful city in the most powerful country on Earth. Let's take it slow."
With that said the Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS, the door closing behind him. I looked between the others after a few moments of us waiting in silence "So what are we going to do?"
River cocked a brow at me smirking "Wait until he inevitably needs our help." Her statement being followed by the TARDIS rocking as if it had been jolted.
"Did he just-?" I asked incredulous.
"Walk smack into the TARDIS because he couldn't see it?" River finished for me moving the scanner on the console "Yes. Every damn time."
"He said the scanner wouldn't work." Rory pointed out.
"I know." She answered gleefully, fiddling with it until it sparked "Bless."
The picture now clearing from its previous static to show the Doctor calling out as he was being manhandled to the floor "Stop that! Argh! Oh! River, have you got my scanner working yet?"
"Oh, I hate him."
"No, you don't!" He shouted back as if he could hear her.
I snorted shooting River a grin "Think you're getting a little predictable sweetheart?"
"Never." She grinned back at me as one of the agents in the office called out to remove the president from the room, the Doctor quickly shouting out from his position still on the floor "River, make her blue again!"
River fluidly flipped one switch after another, the TARDIS presumably shimmering back into view judging by the dumbfounded expressions of the Americans on the scanner and the smile spreading across the Doctor's face.
"What the hell is that?" The president asked staring at the TARSIS in astonishment, the Doctor having took this chance to slip out of the agents grasp while they were distracted to circle around behind them, taking a seat behind Nixon's desk.
"Mister President," He spoke, the agents whirling around, cocking their guns as they point them where he sat "that child just told you everything you need to know, but you weren't listening. Never mind, though, because the answer's yes. I'll take the case. Fellows, the guns, really? I just walked into the highest security office in the United States and parked a big blue box on the rug. Do you think you can just shoot me?"
"They're Americans!" River called out in answer, as we rushed out of the TARDIS quickly, the guns swivelling around to now point at us.
"Don't shoot." The Doctor shouted out in alarm raising his hands "Definitely no shooting."
"Nobody shoot us either." Rory requested quickly, putting his hands up with the rest of us "Very much not in need of getting shot. Look, we've got our hands up."
"Who the hell are you?" The president demanded.
Canton warned him "Sir, you need to stay back."
"But who are they and what is that box?"
"It's a police box. Can't you read?" The Doctor stated as if they were stupid lowering his hands "I'm your new undercover agent on loan from Scotland Yard. Code name the Doctor. These are my top operatives, the Legs," He gestured to Amy "the Nose," Rory "Snow White," I rolled my eyes, "and Mrs Robinson." And River.
I let out a light snort as River spoke bluntly "I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"Who are you?" Nixon pressed.
The Doctor brushed him off "Nah, boring question. Who's phoning you? That's interesting. Because Canton Three is right. That was definitely a girl's voice, which means there's only one place in America she can be phoning from."
"Where?" Canton asked, another agent cutting in "Do not engage with the intruder, Mister Delaware."
"You heard everything I heard. It's simple enough. Give me five minutes, I'll explain. On the other hand, lay a finger on me or my friends, and you'll never, ever know." The Doctor bargained taking a seat once again, slinging his feet casually up on the president's desk.
"How did you get it in here? I mean, you didn't carry it in." Canton asked intrigued.
"Clever, eh?"
"Love it."
I nudged River discreetly with my elbow, leaning in to whisper in mock question "Has he just pulled?"
She flicked her eyes to me biting back a smile of amusement as the other agent scolded Canton again "Do not compliment the intruder."
Canton brushed him off, not bothering to even turn away from the Doctor "Five minutes?"
"Five." He confirmed.
"Mister President, that man is a clear and present danger to-"
"Mister President," Canton began, cutting the other agent off "that man walked in here with a big blue box and four of his friends, and that's the man" He gestured to the other agent "he walked past. One of them's worth listening to. I say we give him five minutes. See if he delivers."
"Thanks, Canton."
"If he doesn't, I'll shoot him myself."
"Not so thanks." The Doctor amended.
"Sir, I cannot recommend-"
"Shut up, Peterson!" Nixon cut the agent off, pausing before agreeing with Canton "Alright, five minutes."
Canton turned back to the Doctor "Five minutes."
The Doctor swung his legs down off the desk, straightening in the chair before ordering "I'm going to need a SWAT team, ready to mobilise. Street level maps covering all of Florida. A pot of coffee, twelve Jammie Dodgers and a fez." As he grinned in glee, tapping his fingers on the desk, the guns that had been held on us now lowering.
Canton gave him an amused stare before stating "Get him his maps."
Later on, the Doctor now having been given his maps, had spread them out all over the office, covering both bits of the floor and the whole of the president's desk, agents still positioned throughout the room. I was sat by River on the floor by the TARDIS looking over some maps as Amy and Rory looked over a different map on another bit of floor, the Doctor standing by the desk as the president sat behind it, looking his own collection over as Canton questioned coming up behind him "Why Florida?"
"There's where NASA is. She mentioned a spaceman. NASA's where the spacemen live. Also, there's another lead I'm following."
Amy quickly made her way over to us, ducking down to River to quietly say so the Doctor wouldn't over hear "A spaceman, like the one we saw at the lake."
"Maybe." River answered before amending "Probably." As I shot them both a confused look, still having not been told what exactly had happened to work them up before I had joined them in the diner, apart from that the Doctor had apparently died somehow.
I followed after River, taking a seat on a sofa next to her, leaving Amy where she stood, shooting her a questioning look as I asked "Is now a good time to explain exactly what it is I'm missing?"
She scrunched her brows before opening her mouth to answer before we heard Amy say "I remember." Turning to look at her as Rory stepped in front of her to ask "Amy? What do you remember?"
"I don't know. I just-" She started before sniffing sharply, curling her body inwards a bit.
"Amy, what's wrong?" Rory asked concerned.
River calling after from her place beside me "Amy?"
"You alright?" The Doctor called over as he walked over to exchange his map for a different one.
"Do you feel sick?" I added.
"Yeah. No, I'm fine. I'm just feeling a little sick like Lina said." She answered before walking over to the agents beside the door "Excuse me, is there a toilet or something?"
"Sorry, ma'am," The same agent who had spoken before answered her "while this procedure's ongoing, you must remain within the Oval office."
Canton cut in "Shut up and take her to the restroom."
The agent looked at him before inclining his head towards the agent next to him who directed Amy "This way, ma'am."
"Thanks." Amy said quietly, the original agent who spoke stopping Rory from following after her as she was led out of the office.
My attention was drawn back to the Doctor as Canton announced to him "Your five minutes are up."
"Yeah, and where's my fez?"
I shared a smile with River at his answer as she muttered under her breath "That bloody fez."
"A recurring thing I take it then?"
"Unfortunately."
I let my smile drop slowly before asking again "You going to explain it to me now?"
She quickly checked that the Doctor was not paying us any attention before ducking her head closer to me to whisper "While it's true that Amy, Rory and I were called here with the envelopes, we were called to arrive earlier than you and him," She paused briefly before continuing "by him. The Doctor's the one who called us here to do this. Just not this Doctor, an older one." She paused again looking at me intently with an expression I couldn't quite read. "And we watched as he died. Shot by someone in a spacesuit that emerged from the lake we had decided to have a picnic by."
"A spaceman." I realised "Like the one the girl mentioned."
She gave a serious nod. "Most likely. Too much of a coincidence."
The telephone on the president's desk then let out a loud trill as it began ringing drawing the room's attention, Canton immediately questioning "The kid?"
Nixon then asking "Should I answer it?"
"Here!" The Doctor announced, pointing to a spot on the map spread out on the desk "The only place in the United States that call could be coming from. See? Obvious, when you think about it." River, Rory and I moving over to have a look at what he'd found as Amy re-entered the room with the agent that had escorted her.
Canton leaned over to have a look before declaring softly "You, sir, are a genius."
"It's a hobby."
Canton turned to Nixon "Mister President, answer the phone." Who responded by lifting the receiver from its cradle to his ear and pressing record on the attached tape recorder, greeting "Hello. This is President Nixon."
"It's here!" The girl called out over the phone in alarm "The spaceman's here! It's going to get me! It's going to eat me!"
The Doctor immediately straightened up, pulling back on his blazer he had removed previously as he spoke making his way to the TARDIS gesturing for us to enter before him "There's no time for a SWAT team. Let's go. Mister President, tell her help's on the way. Canton, on no account follow me into this box and close the door behind you."
"What the hell are you doing?" Canton shouted after us following us inside, door closing behind him, the Doctor immediately setting the TARDIS off on its new destination, pulling the lever to start dematerialising.
"Jefferson isn't a girl's name." The Doctor called out as he ran around the console "It's not her name either. Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton. River."
She answered his unspoken question "Surnames of three of America's founding fathers."
He looked to me to comment with a smile "Lovely fellows. Two of them fancied me."
"What's not to fancy?" I remarked coyly, him shooting me a grin and wink in return.
"Don't encourage him. He's got a big enough head as is." River cut in teasing.
"You see," He cut back in shooting her a faux glare as I snorted "the President asked the child two questions. Where are you and who are you? She was answering where. Now," He ran around Amy, River and I, Rory having stayed with Canton near the door, pushing buttons along the console as he questioned "where would you find three big, historical names in a row like that?"
"Where?" Amy prompted.
"Here." He flipped a final switch to land the TARDIS before running to the doors, us following after him as he said "Come on." Stopping in front of Canton who was still beside them as he started "It's er-"
The Doctor cut him off gesturing to Rory "Are you taking care of this?" Before moving around them both to exit out the doors.
"Why is it always my turn?" Rory complained as we continued after the Doctor, Amy stopping to press a kiss to his cheek as she answered "Because you're the newest." Following closely after me as we exited, stepping into what looked like a dark dingy office of some kind, filled with clutter, asking "Where are we?"
"About five miles from Cape Kennedy Space Centre." The Doctor answered from here he had taken a seat as the rest of us looked around, "It's 1969, the year of the moon. Interesting, don't you think?"
"But why would a little girl be here?" Amy asked, shining a torch around the room.
"I don't know. Lost me a bit. The President asked the girl where she was, and she did what any lost little girl would do. She looked out of the window." He opened the blinds on the window revealing the street signs in view Hamilton Av, Jefferson St and Adams St.
"Streets." Amy breathed out in realisation "Of course, street names."
"The only place in Florida, probably all of America, with those three street names on the same junction. And Lina, you've got that face on again."
I raised a brow confused "What face?"
"The he's hot when he's clever face." He replied smugly.
"Really?" I asked unimpressed, him humming in the affirmative, smug smile still spread across his face. "So, you're admitting you're only attractive when clever then?"
"Ah but my dearest Lina," He shot me a wink "I'm always clever."
I tried to bite back the smile growing on my face "Touché."
Amy cut in "Will you two ever stop flirting?"
"Not a chance." The Doctor shot back with a grin before moving to pick up the phone on the desk, pressing it to his ear as Rory finally exited the TARDIS, joining us along with Canton who took in the change of location and asked "We've moved. How, how can we have moved?"
"You haven't even got to space travel yet?" The Doctor asked Rory unimpressed.
"I was going to cover it with time travel." He defended.
Canton repeating after him in surprise "Time travel."
"Brave heart, Canton." The Doctor called loudly "Come on." As we stepped out through the office door into a larger area that was just as dark and dingy, River stating "It's a warehouse of some kind. Disused."
The Doctor replying "You realise this is almost certainly a trap, of course?"
"I noticed the phone, yes."
Amy asking confused "What about it?"
"No dial tone." I answered her, having not heard anything when the Doctor had picked it up earlier.
River nodded to me as we continued walking through the warehouse "It was cut off. So how did the child phone from here?"
"Okay," Amy accepted "but why would anyone want to trap us?"
"Let's see if anyone tries to kill us and work backwards." The Doctor offered.
I nudged him with my shoulder as I walked next to him "From what I've seen so far that's how you usually work."
He gave me a gentle nudge back, tilting his head to the side as he let out a hum of agreement. We continued walking through the warehouse, shining our torches around the room until we get to some electrical equipment, River asking "Now, why would a little girl be here?"
"I don't know. Let's find her and ask her." The Doctor stated as we came to what looked like an examination bed of some kind, River looking it over as she stated "It's non-terrestrial. Definitely alien. Probably not even from this time zone."
"Which is odd, because look at this!" The Doctor said with a hint of glee, moving over to the crates nearby, revealing the spacesuits inside.
"It's earth tech." River recognised peering at it "It's contemporary."
I took a closer look lifting out a helmet turning it over stating "From the moon landing."
"It's very contemporary." He agreed with River "Cutting edge. Lina's right this is from the space program."
"Stolen?" River asked swiftly.
"What," Amy began in disbelief "by aliens?"
"Apparently." The Doctor answered with a grin, taking the helmet as I offered it to him to look over himself.
"But why? I mean, if you can make it all the way to Earth, why steal technology that can barely make it to the moon?"
"Maybe because it's cooler?" He answered, voice muffled by the fact he had actually put the helmet on pushing the visor up as he stated gleefully "Look how cool this stuff is."
"Cool aliens?" Amy scoffed.
"Well, what would you call me?" He inquired.
"An alien."
"Oi!" He said offended, pulling the helmet off his head.
I butted in "What about me?"
She gave a shrug looking me over faux pondering "I suppose you could be a cool alien. On occasion."
"I'll take it."
Rory took that moment to join us looking at Canton beside him, stating "I, er, I think he's okay now."
"Ah! Back with us, Canton." The Doctor called in greeting.
Canton stared at the alien tech, gesturing his torch behind him to say "I like your wheels."
"That's my boy." The Doctor stated, clapping him on the shoulder as he walked past "So, come on. Little girl. Let's find her."
Amy and River continued to inspect the examination bed closer as the Doctor and I moved to look at some shelves nearby, seeing them not hold anything of particular interest, just a few dusty jars and broken tools.
"Doctor? Lina? Look at this." River called over to us, gesturing to a manhole cover she and Amy had found behind the bed, cables from around the room leading into it.
We peered over at it curiously as River pushed aside the cover with a screech, running her scanner over the opening, the Doctor asking "So where does that go?"
River still crouched over the entrance, readd her device answering "There's a network of tunnels running under here."
"Life signs?"
"No," She denied "nothing that's showing up."
"Those are the worst kind." The Doctor warned River as she prepared to climb down. "Be careful."
"Careful?" She repeated, beginning to make her way down the ladder "I tried that once. Ever so dull."
"Shout if there's any problems." I requested.
"Don't worry, I'm quite the screamer." River responded with a cheeky grin, head popping out of the manhole to shoot me a wink "Now there's a spoiler for you."
I hid my grin behind my hand at the Doctor's affronted expression as Canton came up to us demanding softly "Tell me what's going on here."
"Nothing." The Doctor shot back defensively "They're just friends!"
"I think he's talking about the possible alien incursion." Rory corrected.
The Doctor gave an awkward smile in realisation as I grinned behind him, clapping Canton on the shoulder once more as he passed him "Okay."
I did a little jog after him, clasping my hands together behind my back as I told him teasingly "Well, you played that off cool."
"Shut it you." He shot back grabbing one of my hands to unlink them, pulling me to him before throwing his arm over my shoulder, squeezing me to him in a side hug as we walked.
I laughed stating "But you're so fun to tease!"
"Hardy har." Was his reply letting his arm drop from my shoulders, stepping forward to rummage through another crate.
I skipped over to peer inside "Anything good?"
"Nope. More rubbish." He replied tossing a handful of straw back in.
"All clear." We heard River's voice call out, turning to look back at her as her upper body popped out of the manhole "Just tunnels. Nothing down there I can see. Er, give me five minutes. I want to take another look around."
"Stupidly dangerous!" The Doctor criticised.
"Yeah," She agreed "I like it too. Lina, look after him." She told me before climbing back down.
"Rory," The Doctor turned to him requesting "would you mind going with her?"
"Yeah, a bit." He answered honestly.
"Then I'd appreciate it all the more." The Doctor stated as I walked over to Rory's other side so we could both give him an appreciative pat on the back, sending him on his way with a smile.
He let out an inaudible sigh before calling out as he made his way over to the manhole "Hang on, River. I'm coming too." The Doctor and I shared a smile as we turned back around, continuing our perusal of the stuff cluttering up the room.
"Really does make me wonder what all this stuff is for." I paused thinking for a moment before correcting myself "Or was for."
"Me too." The Doctor replied before sticking his whole head into one of the crates.
I raised an amused brow. "Need a closer look?"
He popped back up with a grin. "You've got to really throw yourself into these things while investigating. Don't you know?"
"Help me!" A child's voice called from somewhere in the warehouse us all snapping our heads to face the source "Help! Help me!"
Canton pulled out his gun from inside his jacket "That's her." Running over to join us with Amy, continuing to run past us to investigate as we stop when Amy doubles over in pain suddenly.
"Amy?" The Doctor asked in concern as we ran over to her, the Doctor helping support her as I began rubbing her back. "What's wrong?"
"I need to tell you something." She managed to get out "It's important."
"Doctor!" Canton called out urgently.
"It's really, really important." She insisted.
"Doctor, quickly!" He shouted again, voice getting further away.
The Doctor cried out in frustration pulling Amy along before making sure I was still supporting her before letting go, running ahead to lead the way Canton had gone "What, now?" We ran through the warehouse, eventually coming to a stop as we found Canton lying unmoving on the floor, the Doctor quickly rushing over, crouching down to check on him "Canton! Canton, are you okay?"
"Is he alright?"
I inclined my head to Amy "What she said."
"Just unconscious. Got a proper whack." The Doctor answered from his place on the floor.
"Doctor, I need to tell you something." Amy pushed away from me, bending towards him "I have to tell you it now."
He sat up waving a finger at her as he retorted "Not a great moment Amy."
I interjected gently "Can't it wait until we get out of here?"
"No, it's important." She insisted desperately "It has to be now."
"Help! Help me! Help me!" The little girls voice called out again.
We looked around as I helped Amy kneel down on the floor in front of him "Doctor," She paused swallowing "I'm pregnant."
I spun my head to look at her, focusing in on her stomach, straining my hearing until I could make out the faint echo of a second heartbeat from within, as heavy footsteps sounded behind us.
We turned, seeing someone walk towards us wearing one of the spacesuits we had seen earlier, coming to a stop in the doorway Amy breathing out "That's it. The astronaut."
The astronaut then lifted its arm pointing at the Doctor, before raising its visor to reveal the little girl we had been searching for hidden inside as Amy had faced away diving for Canton to retrieve his gun. "Help me!" The girl called out to us, obviously scared.
"Get down!" Amy shouted, cocking the gun.
"Amy don't be stupid!" I snapped at her.
"What are you doing?!"
"Saving your life!" She shouted whirling to point the gun at the astronaut, pulling the trigger.
"No!" The Doctor and I shouted as Amy screamed.
And that's that one done!
I've recently gone back to work after being off sick, so I don't have as much free time anymore, so as said before they'll just get uploaded when they're done, but will unfortunately take a bit longer. I also recently got a puppy and he currently cannot be left alone at the moment, who is teething and his favourite place to be is on my lap so it's also hard to find a decent time to be able to type too.
However! A big thank you to everyone who has followed/fav'd & reviewed! I really appreciate the support!
Also! I was thinking of posting separate bonus short stories of the times that don't appear in this story, but are mentioned, like Lina's two weeks with the Doctor and Donna, let me know if any of you would be interested!
Next up: Day of the Moon
