Hiya, everyone!
Had some spare time on my hands, so I thought I'd surprise you all with a new chapter! Enjoy!
XxXxXxXx
Chapter 22: Killer of Angels
"Fall back!" shouted the Doctor as gunfire rang out within the small corridor of the ship. The bullets clanged and banged against the metal of the corridor, and of the stone statues that had followed them into the ship. As soon as the hatch opened for them, everyone rushed through, and the Doctor slammed the door closed behind them, leaving the Angels in there for the time being.
With all said and done, he had been very grateful that his plan had worked in the first place. Smashing the gravity globe had created the perfect booster for them all to end up on the Byzantium above them, allowing them to be caught by the still working gravity field. Getting inside had been a problem as the emergency haft for the Secondary Flight Deck had closed on them. But luckily, that had been easy enough to open. For the most part, at least. He did have to turn the lights off for a few seconds as he worked on getting the haft open again. And having fully formed Angels in the corridor with them all did not help matters any. In the end, all worked out nicely enough, if he did say so himself.
Rushing down after everyone else in the corridor, he saw Wanda sonicking the second flight deck door open, allowing everyone to get inside. He patted her back, letting her know that the group had made it and now it was their turn to get inside to safety. She edged away carefully, keeping her sonic screwdriver on the panel as long as she could before finally letting go and following him into the room. Making it safely in just before the round, the metal door slammed shut right behind them.
"That was not fun," Wanda grumbled as she walked around the room's large control desk, coming up beside River to look over the console. "Did I ever mention I hate Angels? I bloody hate, hate them! They are the worst! Gah! And they have absolutely no respect whatsoever! I mean, really! Flippin' Yindaks has more respect than them. No wait—I think maybe—."
"Sweetie, you're rambling again," River spoke up, breaking Wanda out of her rant.
"Right, sorry. Just a little frustrated and irritated at the moment," Wanda mumbled, gazing down at the console in front of her.
The Doctor came beside her, rapidly typing away at the controls and computer systems. Glancing up, she saw Father Octavian magnetizing the door when the Angels began turning the wheel to let themselves in. He proudly announced nothing could possibly ever open the door now. But the Angels proved him wrong as the wheel began to turn once more. More slowly this time, but still turning.
"Sorry, Bishop, but the Angels are a lot stronger than you think," Wanda said gravely, shaking her head.
"You've brought us time, though, that's good, I am good with time," said the Doctor rapidly as he moved around the control desk. He yanked around different wires that had meshed together from the broken desk. Many that had fried from the impact of the crash. But he could work around that and get things running again easily.
Other doors around the room were sealed by the other soldiers of Father Octavian, keeping the Angels from breaking into the room immediately. But eventually, the Weeping Angels would succeed in breaking in. There was no doubt about that.
"Doctor, how long have we got?" Octavian questioned the Time Lord.
"Five minutes, max," stated the Doctor as he working with Wanda in getting some wiring together.
"Five minutes, thirty-six seconds to be exact," Wanda added in the statement.
"Nine," Amy suddenly blurted out. Wanda and the Doctor both looked at her.
"No, five," Wanda corrected in a steady voice, watching the girl's reaction. Amy jerked her head up to meet their gaze, blinking in confusion.
"Five, right, yeah," she agreed, blinking again as if wondering why they had repeated that. The Doctor looked away, concentrating on the controls in front of him. Wanda remained staring carefully at the ginger girl, seeing how Amy repeatedly kept blinking and rubbing her eyes. It was only a matter of time now.
"We need another way out of here," River said, bringing attention to their current situation of being trapped in the small room.
"There isn't one," Octavian said gruffly.
"Yeah, there is, 'course there is," the Doctor countered, typing up hurriedly on the module in front of him. He spun around, staring at the room around them. "This is a galaxy class ship, goes for years between planet-falls." Snapping his fingers, he turned back around. "So what do they need?"
"An oxygen factory," Wanda answered brightly. "Do love a good oxygen factory. They're always just so brilliant." The Doctor smiled and pointed at her.
"So do I," he agreed merrily, turning around to go up to the large wall behind the desk.
After releasing the clamps that held the wall closed, the Doctor managed to get it open, revealing to them a massive forest on the other side. All trees showing lights above from the cables connecting into them as they were treeborgs. Technologically advanced trees that sucked in starlight and breathed out air, even creating its own ecosystem with weather and all. Amy stared at the sight in disbelief as everyone else seemed to collectively feel relieved in seeing somewhere safe to be. They saw a blanket of fog lightly coat the ground of the forest as they stepped into the area, listening to the crickets echoing around and a few frogs joining in tune. Amy let out a small laugh.
"Eight," she said happily. River and the Doctor both halted and stared back at the girl in concern.
"What did you say?" River asked her.
"Nothing," responded Amy, blinking as she was not sure why exactly they kept giving her strange looks. Wanda sighed, going over to the girl and linking their arms together.
"I did warn you, Amy," Wanda mumbled, shaking her head exasperation. Blinking again, Amy's brows furrowed in bewilderment.
"Warn me about what?" she questioned the Time Lady. Wanda merely patted the companion's arm, steering her forward.
"We'll worry about that when you've reached 'six,'" Wanda told her, dragging the confused girl onwards as the group moved through the forest.
"Seven," Amy suddenly spoke, blinking as she rubbed her eye and did not even register what she had said. Wanda swallowed, knowing it was getting closer now. The Angel.
The Doctor instructed some of the soldiers to begin searching for other exits, needing to know where exactly they needed to go. Father Octavian logged into one of the panels in the treeborgs. He found them a safe path towards the Primary Flight Deck far up ahead. He pointed them in the direction, but everyone paused as Angel Bob's voice crackled over the Doctor's radio again.
"Doctor? Excuse me. Hello, Doctor?" Angel Bob called over the radio. "Angel Bob here, sir." The Doctor pulled out the radio from his inside tweed pocket, clicking it on to speak.
"Ah! There you are, Angel Bob," responded the Doctor in a light tone, but in his green eyes spoke of a much darker mood. "How's life? Sorry, bad subject."
"The Angels are wondering what you hope to achieve," addressed Angel Bob evenly. The Doctor raised a brow at this statement.
"Achieve? We're not achieving anything. We're just hanging. It's nice in here, consoles, comfy chairs, a forest," the Doctor responded easily as if discussing the weather with an acquaintance. "How's things with you?"
"The Angels are feasting, sir," Angel Bob explained. "Soon we'll be able to absorb enough power to consume this vessel, this world, and all the stars, and worlds beyond." A very unsettled feeling went through everyone at this statement, and the Doctor's eyes began to grow worried.
"Well, we've got comfy chairs, did I mention?" the Doctor said casually. Standing close by him, Wanda scoffed and rolled her eyes. The Doctor held up a finger to his lips as if to tell her to hush.
"We have no need of comfy chairs," came the reply of Angel Bob.
The Doctor grinned cheekily. "I made him say 'comfy chairs'!" Wanda snorted and shook her head while Amy chuckled.
"Six," slipped the word from the companion's mouth. The Doctor and Wanda tensed as their expressions hardened.
"Okay, Bob, enough chat," spoke the Doctor, getting down to business. "Here's what I want to know. What have you done to Amy?"
"There's something in her eye," both Angel Bob and Wanda said together. Amy appeared startled by this timed response. River gazed at the ginger and blonde girls evenly and carefully. While the Doctor looked back in question.
"What's in her eye?" he asked into the radio.
"We are," Angel Bob told them darkly. With brows furrowed, Amy blinked in puzzlement.
"What's he talking about?" Amy quickly asked. "Look, I'm five." She blinked, seeing the observed looks everyone was giving her. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I mean, five. Fine! I'm fine." She breathed in alarm, just now realizing the numbers she had been saying all this time, counting down from ten.
"No, you're not," Wanda told the girl, keeping her eyes trained steadily on the companion. "'The eyes are not the windows of the soul. They are the doors. Beware what may enter there.'"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Amy scoffed in frustration, trying to make sense of all the riddles Wanda constantly wished to throw at them.
"It means when I say don't look into their bloody eyes, then don't look!" Wanda exclaimed in exasperation, throwing up her hands into the air. "You never do listen to me."
"Why's she counting?" the Doctor turned to question Wanda. Wanda sighed, lowering her hands.
"Because Angels like to play mind games," Wanda told him quietly.
"We shall take her. We shall take all of you," Angel Bob's voice said over the radio. "We shall have dominion over all time and space." Wanda walked swiftly up to the Doctor, grabbing the radio from him.
"Do us a favor Angel Bob, and shut the hell up!" she barked, feeling her temper flaring up. "Go back to your cave and just stay there!" The Angels were really starting to piss her off. The Doctor gently took the radio from her, patting her shoulder to let her know everything would be all right. He knew how temperamental she got when stressed.
"Get a life, Bob," retorted the Doctor sarcastically to Angel Bob. "Oops, sorry again!" He smirked at his humour. Though dark, it did help ease his inner turmoil. "There's power on this ship, but nowhere near that much."
"With respect, sir, there's more power on this ship than you yet understand," Angel Bob countered knowingly, sounding almost smug. They all jumped as loud, terrible, ear-piercing shrieking sounded around them. Wanda swallowed as she felt a cold chill wash over her. Everyone else felt similar.
"What is that? Dear God, what is it?" River questioned in alarm, startled and horrified in hearing such an awful sound.
"It's laughter," Wanda replied weakly. "They're laughing at us." She gripped her hands together tightly, holding them close to her chest as her hearts sped up in fear. A small habit she had not done since her first incarnation.
"Laughing?" wondered the Doctor, trying to understand both the noise, how the Angels were managing to laugh, and why exactly they were doing such in the first place.
"We're laughing because you haven't noticed yet, sir," Angel Bob said to the Time Lord, his voice mocking. "The Doctor in the TARDIS hasn't noticed."
"Doctor!" Wanda cried, pointing at the large crack that had formed back in the control room where they had walked from. Everyone spun to look back, seeing the crack, filled with white light, and feeling the ship around them quaking in fear. The ginger companion gasped in alarm.
"That's—that's—that's like the crack from my bedroom wall when I was a little girl," Amy said, distressed by the sight.
"It's exactly like that crack," Wanda remarked, trying not to let the sight of the very large crack unnerve her.
It had not really bothered her before in seeing the cracks in time. But the more often she saw them, the more she felt nervous and anxious about the time of Pandorica opening. That would be approaching very soon now. Not just for the others, but for her as well. And she did not know why exactly she felt so terrified by the thought of being there for that day. Besides the universe exploding, of course. That really was something to be scared of. But . . . it was more than that. There was something else. Something she was not thinking properly on. But what was it?
She blinked out of her thoughts when seeing the Doctor beginning to rush back to check over the crack as everyone else made a quick getaway from the scene, wishing to place as much distance away from that crack in time. Huffing, Wanda hurriedly stormed after the Doctor, reaching him before he went back inside the room and yanked him back by his tweed blazer.
"Don't bother scanning it. I'll just tell you what it is," she told him strictly, pulling him back. "Now move it! We need to go!"
The Doctor sighed in disappointment, wishing he could have investigated the crack further. But he knew she was right as Angels had managed to make their way into the room up ahead. Grabbing her hand, the Doctor ran with the Time Lady as they made weaved through the trees, trying to make it back with everyone else. They spotted the group up ahead, with Amy lying down in pain on a mossy stone, gripping at her head. River seemed to be scanning the girl carefully with a med scanner. The Time Lords also heard River speaking harshly to Octavian.
"Father Octavian, when the Doctor and Wanda in the room, your one and only mission is to keep them alive long enough to get everyone else home," the woman spoke in a firm and curt voice. "And trust me, it's not easy. Now, if they're dead back there, I'll never forgive myself, especially about Wanda. And if they're alive—."
"You'll never let us live it down," Wanda finished the woman's statement, bouncing down to sit beside the woman. She grinned cheekily at River as she crossed her leg and began to bounce it merrily. "Yes, I know, you hate us. But really, you know you don't." She stuck out her tongue lightly as River rolled her eyes.
"Bishop, the Angels are in the forest," the Doctor told Octavian as he bounced down to Amy and River as well. He sat down crossed from the lying companion staring at her in concern as Octavian ordered his men into action of the approaching Angels.
"How did you get past them?" River asked the two Time Lords.
"Wanda stopped me from examining the crack," the Doctor muttered, pouting. "She wouldn't let me near it."
"Because the Angels would have gotten you, idiot," Wanda sighed, shaking her head. "Besides, it's just a crack showing the end of the universe. Nothing really special." She shrugged as River and the Doctor stared at her in disbelief and astonishment.
"Oh, nothing major, then," the Doctor joked lightly. He shook his head and looked down at Amy once more. "Let's have a look, then." Grabbing the med scanner from River, he examined the results closely. Panting out in pain, Amy slowly shifted her eyes to stare at the Doctor, her irises swirling with fear.
"So what's wrong with me?" she asked the Doctor, hesitant for the answer. She knew it would be nothing good.
"Nothing," River told the girl calmly.
"You'll be fine," Wanda said gently, smiling and patting Amy's shoulder.
"Everything, you're dying," stated the Doctor, eyes widening in alarm at the sight of Amy's scans. Wanda huffed in irritation, reaching over and slapping the Doctor in the back of the head. He winced from the hit, rubbing sourly at his head. "Yes, fine, let's lie to her, she'll get all better."
"You could have at least have broken it to her gently. Not just blurt it out like that," Wanda scolded him. He rolled his eyes, crouching down closer to the shivering Amy.
"What's the matter with Amelia? Something's in her eye. What does that mean? Does it mean anything?" he muttered rapidly, rambling on as he tried thinking of what could be wrong with the companion.
"Doctor . . .," Amy whimpered.
"Busy," stated the Doctor as he stood up and away from her.
"Scared," Amy breathed out shakily. Crouching down next to the girl, Wanda kissed her forehead and soothingly stroked the girl's head.
"You're going to be fine," she told Amy over the Doctor's rapid ramblings. The soldiers guarding the area around them alerted them to the presence of incoming Angels, advancing closer by seconds. Sighing, Wanda looked up at the pacing Doctor. "Doctor, the image of an Angel is an Angel, remember? The eyes are doors to our soul? Ring any bells?" The Doctor snapped his fingers as his eyes lit up with realization.
"A living mental image in a living human mind," he announced. "We stare at them to stop them getting closer, we don't even blink, and that is exactly what they want, 'cause as long as our eyes are open, they can climb inside. There's an Angel in her mind!"
"Three," Amy blurted out, her voice quivering from fear. "It's coming, I can feel it. I'm going to die!" Wanda reached forward, slapping a hand over the girl's eyes.
"Amy, just keep your eyes closed. It'll stop the mental image of the Angel," the Time Lady instructed the girl. The Doctor snapped his fingers, pointing at Wanda.
"Yes, perfect. Like pulling the plug, cutting the power," he agreed, crouching back down next to Amy. "Do as she says. Close your eyes, Amy."
"No, no, I don't want to," Amy whispered, shaking her head rapidly and trying to move Wanda's hand away.
"Good, 'cause that's not you, that's the Angel inside you, it's afraid," the Doctor told her. "Do it! Close your eyes."
"You'll be fine, Amy. I promise. We'll be right here and nothing will harm you," Wanda included, still using her other hand to keep up the gentle strokes on the companion's head. "Just close your eyes, please." Taking in a shaking breath, Amy did as instructed, closing her eyes tightly together. Wanda removed her hand from the girl's eyes as the medical scanner beeped loudly, showing that Amy's vital signs were normalizing. Together, they all let out a sigh of relief.
Wanda sat down next to Amy as the companion sat up, holding onto the girl's hand for comfort. She did promise the companion she would not leave her side, and Wanda intended to keep it. Plus, she wanted to protect Amy at all costs. She always had been protective over all companions of hers and the Doctors. But when it came to Amy, there was just something that made Wanda even more protective and guarded of the ginger. Like something Wanda knew she needed to return the favor. The same went for Rory, too. She never understood why she felt like this, this strange feeling of deep underlining affection for the two companions. Really, though, she did not question it as Wanda knew she was simply glad to be there with Amy and Rory, experiencing the joy of their adventures together. For Amy and Rory (as well as the Doctor) had always been that one big role model in Wanda's past life. And she felt the needed to return the favor of Amy and Rory (and the Doctor) giving her so much joy in the past.
River concluded that Amy was still too weak to move, needing to rest in the small clearing for a while. The soldiers did not agree as many more Angels were arriving, surrounding them all. The Doctor made sure to instruct Amy to keep her eyes tightly closed as even a second of them being open would allow the Angel to come out and kill her. This seemed to shake Amy to the core as she shivered, thinking that maybe she would never be able to open her eyes ever again. She would be blind for the rest of her life. Wanda placed a comforting arm around the girl, gently rubbing a hand on Amy's arm as the Time Lady watched the Doctor and River step aside, muttering away a plan of what to do.
"Doctor, we're too exposed here, we have to move on," Father Octavian told the Time Lord, holding up his gun edgily as he stared at the Angels. The Doctor directed a stern glare at the man.
"We're too exposed everywhere, and Amy can't move on, and anyway that's not the plan," retorted the Time Lord.
"There's a plan?" River asked sarcastically with some skepticism.
"I don't know yet. I haven't finished talking," the Doctor replied in irritation, walking around to pace and think. He then clapped his hands together. "Right! Father, you and your clerics, you're gonna stay here, look after Amy. If anything happens to her, I'll hold every single one of you personally responsible twice. River, Wanda, you both are with me, we're going to go and find the Primary Flight Deck, which is . . .," licking his finger, he stuck it up in the air and turned it towards the right direction, "quarter of a mile, straight ahead, and from there we're gonna stabilize the wreckage, stop the Angels and cure Amy."
"How?" River questioned, frowning as if not believing the Doctor could ever pull off such a thing.
"I'll do a thing," the Doctor waved his hand at the woman, dismissing her skepticism.
River raised a brow. "What thing?"
"He doesn't know. It's still a thing in progress that he's trying to figure out, which really means he has no bloody clue," Wanda stated, giggling at the pout the Doctor sent her. She stuck out her tongue slightly. "You'll figure it out, sweetie. Don't worry. And sorry, but it's just going to be you and River going. I'm going to stay here with Amy." She patted the companion's shoulder as if to emphasize her determination to protect the companion. The Doctor and River both narrowed their eyes and stared hard at the Time Lady.
"No," they both said sternly together.
"You're staying with me, no matter what," the Doctor said as if the decision were final.
"And I'm not leaving your side for even a second," River confirmed. It was Wanda's turn to gaze sternly at the two, keeping her eyes level with theirs.
"I am not leaving Amy. Understand?" she told them, her stance firm on the matter. "She needs someone here to protect her, someone who knows things, all right? You two have to do this on your own. And I promise that Amy and I will be fine if that makes you two feel any better about it."
"You know you can't promise your own safety," River countered, shaking her head.
"It doesn't matter. I'll just be fine, okay?" Wanda said, crossing her legs and giving a curt nod. The Doctor reached forward, grabbing Wanda's arm and trying to pull her up.
"You're coming with us and that's final," he bit back.
"No, I'm not," Wanda stated calmly, pulling her arm away. She grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze and staring steadily into his worried eyes. "Really, Doctor, I'll be fine. You have to go save everyone from the Angels. And River," she looked at her sister, "you gotta keep the idiot safe." She then looked back at her Time Lord, emerald eyes remaining as steady as ever. "Do this for me, okay? Please?"
There was a tense moment as the Doctor gritted his teeth angrily, looking ready to argue over this. But he finally threw his hands into the air in exasperation. "Fine! Fine. But after this is over, no more dangerous missions. From now on, when I say stay in the TARDIS, you stay in the TARDIS. Got it?"
"I make no promises." Wanda smirked and snickered as the Doctor huffed in frustration and began marching off. River leaned over, giving the Time Lady a kiss on the forehead and quickly followed after the Time Lord. Father Octavian swiftly tagged along behind them, making certain the Doctor knew that he would not leave River's side either. The Time Lord merely shrugged this off and continued to march off.
"Wanda, I don't want to sound selfish, but I would have rather you convinced them to let me tag along," Amy suddenly said, gaining Wanda's attention. The Time Lady sat back down next to the companion, holding the ginger's hand once more.
"You're safer here, Amy. Trust me," Wanda replied, patting the girl's hand as she held it. "And I'm here to keep you safer. I'll deck any Angel that even thinks about touching a single ginger hair on your head." Amy chuckled in amusement, shaking her head, her eyes still held tightly closed. Wanda smiled for a moment, glad to have made the girl laugh at least. Humour was always the best medicine for moments like these.
Something snapped. Perhaps a small twig. The sound made Wanda tense and jerk her head up, fearing that the soldiers at the edge of the clearing had allowed an Angel to pass them. But seeing who stood before her and Amy sitting on the mossy rock, made Wanda's hearts clench and freeze. It was the Doctor. But not the Doctor who had been with them only moments ago. The Doctor, standing before them, seemed so much wearier. His eyes spoke of deep sorrow and turmoil as he stared at Wanda. The green irises even wavered somewhat as he held such sadness in his gaze. Wanda held her breath as he stepped closer to both her and Amy, crouching down in front of them. He continued to stare at the Time Lady for a moment longer, eyes spelling a message that said 'I'm so sorry.' Then he looked to Amy, placing his hands on top of hers.
"Amy, you need to start trusting me, it's never been more important," he whispered, barely a breath above the sound of the crickets in the forest. Wanda glanced at the girl, seeing Amy frowning heavily in confusion.
"But you don't always tell me the truth," Amy replied, wondering why exactly the Doctor had come back to tell her this. Why was Wanda not speaking up about this? She should be scolding the Time Lord for wasting time in stopping the Angels. Right?
"If I always told you the truth, I wouldn't need you to trust me," the Doctor countered with a sad smile.
"Doctor, the crack in my wall, how can it be here?" Amy questioned, needing to know the truth. It had been something on her mind that frightened her more than even the Angels themselves.
"I don't know yet, but I'm working it out," he lied, knowing he could not let Amy know the horrifying truth just yet. "Now, listen. Remember what I told you when you were seven?"
Brows furrowing, Amy felt even more confused now. "What did you tell me?"
"No . . . No, that's not the point." He rested his forehead against Amy's as he thought carefully over his words, knowing it was crucial on her remembering. "You have to remember." He gave the girl a goodbye kiss on her forehead, standing up again. He reached down and grabbed Wanda's free hand, pulling her up with him. Her other hand let go of Amy's as he steered her a good ways from the girl, giving them both some privacy.
I'm sorry. the Doctor spoke into Wanda's mind to make certain that Amy would not hear their conversation. He leaned his forehead against Wanda's, eyes wavering in sadness and sorrow. I am so, so sorry.
Theta . . . you're fine. Really. Wanda assured him gently, cupping the side of his face and thumbing his cheek to soothe his woes. Everything will be fine. You'll see.
You know where I've come from . . . right? he asked her. She simply nodded in response, unable to bring herself to say it. He brought up a hand, holding it to her soft cheek, thumbing over her light freckles on her face. Freckles which he so dearly loved. He closed his eyes, pressing their heads closer together. I love you . . . Of all of time and space, I love you so much, Wanderer. And you will always be the one I have ever loved so completely. I just wish I could have given us a more proper goodbye.
Hey, now, don't talk like that. Wanda cupped his other cheek, thumbing it as well as she smiled, forlorn in her gaze. We'll see each other again. I promise.
The Doctor shook his head in sorrow. You'll see me, but I won't see you.
Theta, nothing will keep us apart. Nothing. I promise. She leaned forward, giving him a loving kiss. A small gasp escaped her as the Doctor suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him while his hand buried itself into her hair, pressing her deeper into the searing and breathtaking kiss. It was a desperate kiss as Wanda threaded her fingers through his soft hair. A kiss that spoke of nothing but love and the deep need to hold onto each other and never let go. Their lips smacked together quietly as they fell into the embrace. Their woes, worries, and heartache left them for that moment as they simply allowed their love to blanket over them and comfort them. Eventually, though, their troubles swept over them once more as they slowly pulled away from their close hold, lips pulling apart with a small smack.
I'll never forget you. You can count on that. Wanda assured the Doctor in determination. I love you too much to ever let the memory of you go. Not ever.
He smiled sadly, thumbing her cheek. I know you won't. It's the reason why you can see me in the first place. His eyes suddenly welled up as he stared at his Wanderer, feeling a deep well of sorrow pierce his hearts. Wanderer . . . there's something I need to tell you.
Wanda swallowed heavily, feeling her own eyes tearing up. Seeing the Doctor cry or close to crying always hurt her greatly. What?
I don't know if it's too soon in your timeline. It might be . . . but I need you to know. I want you to know so you can plan ahead for when I'm not there for you.
She shook her head in despair. You're going to be there, Theta. I promised, remember?
He tightened his hand on her cheek, ignoring this and pressed on to tell her. He needed her to know. Wanderer, you need to know. It's about our future.
She blinked in surprise. What about our future? Feeling his other hand travel down and press into her stomach, Wanda tensed in fear, her anxiety building up. Her eyes began to waver in seeing the miserable look in the Doctor's eyes. Theta?
"Wanda?! Where are you?!" came the cry of a panicking Amy. Wanda jumped and looked over at the companion, seeing how the girl turning her head around to search for the Time Lady, still with her eyes tightly closed.
"Just a second, Amy. I'll right over," Wanda replied, assuring the girl that she had not left her alone. When she turned her head back to continue speaking with the Doctor, her hearts sank as she saw only the forest in front of her. He was gone . . . just like that. Though she still felt the warmth of his hands on both her face and stomach, and she closed her eyes, pretending that he was still there with her. Sucking in a shaking breath, she opened her eyes once more and walked back over to Amy.
"Wanda, something's happening," Amy breathed in fright, gripping her hands tightly on her knees as she bounced her legs. Wanda gently placed a hand on the girl's, gazing around as the lights of the trees began flickering and powering off. The soldiers guarding them began shifting in unease, aiming their guns out towards the forest.
"It's the Angels," Wanda explained lowly. "They're ripping wires out from the treeborgs, making the lights go out." Amy gasped, beginning to tremble. Scooting closer to her, Wanda wrapped a comforting arm around her, holding the companion close to her side. "I won't let them get you. As long as I'm here, you're safe." Gazing up with determination, Wanda stared at the four soldiers guarding them. "Marco, Pedro, Phillip, Crispin" the men all felt stunned when Wanda addressed them all directly, not even realizing that she had known their names to begin with, "I want you all to back away from the edge of the clearing and form a perimeter around us. Keeping a distance of five feet in stance and eyes locked on the Angels."
"That's not protocol, ma'am," Marco argued. "Our protocol states that in an emergency we need to—."
"Get your arses over here, now. And that's an order," Wanda commanded. The men reluctantly backed away, getting closer to the Time Lady and Amy. They formed a circle around the girls, keeping their eyes trained and weapons armed. In a blink, the Angels appeared around the edge of the clearing, holding out their clawed hands and baring their snarling teeth.
"Now what, ma'am?" Marco retorted, believing Wanda's idea to be completely idiotic.
"Just wait for it," Wanda muttered, tightening her hand around Amy's. Suddenly, a bright light appeared from the forest, off in the direction they had originally come from. A strange feeling shifted through the air, blanketing over them in a thick fog of sorts. It made Wanda's head spin and her stomach turn. A barrier inside her mind creaked uneasily. The crack was growing larger, ready to consume them all.
"Marco, the Angels have gone," said the one soldier, Phillip. The other two soldiers and Wanda gazed up, seeing that he was correct. The Angels had vanished.
"Where'd they go?" asked Pedro.
"What, the Angels?" Amy questioned, turning her head around as if looking for where the Angels had gone as well. But, of course, she still could not see. "The Angels have gone?"
"They're moving away from us, running from that light," Wanda told everyone, pointing to the brilliant white light on the other side of the forest. Marco looked at his scanner that showed the surrounding area, seeing that the Time Lady was correct.
"Phillip, Crispin, need to get a closer look at that," Marco instructed his men, pointing for two of them to go towards the light up ahead. Wanda shot up from her seat, going over to Marco.
"You can't do that. It's too dangerous," she told him quickly with urgency. "Why do you think I had you lot move back in the first place? You can't go near that light."
"No offense, ma'am, but you don't have the authority to be in charge," Marco retorted crossly, pointing for his men to advance. The two soldiers as instructed moved forward, going through the trees to get to the light. Wanda's eyes widened.
"No, please, call them back! They'll die if they go near that light," she pleaded with the man. "Please, they don't have to die. None of you do." Marco ignored her walking towards the edge of the clearing. Wanda followed after him. "I'm trying to keep you all alive, don't you see? This doesn't have to happen!"
"What, like the way you kept Bob alive?" Marco bit back edgily. Wanda snapped her mouth shut, wincing at that retort. The man stared harshly at her. "I think I'd rather not trust you, ma'am. I will be the one to keep my men alive. Not you."
Wanda kept her gaze even with his. "I'm sorry about Bob. I am truly sorry. But there was nothing I could have done for him. However, I can change things with you and Pedro. For now, it's really too late for Phillip and Crispin."
"Who are you talking about? Crispin and who?"
Wanda let out a sad sigh. "Exactly."
Amy, who had been trying to listen to their conversation, caught a little bit of the end of their words, realizing what Marco had said. She spoke up herself, "Those other two you sent out. I heard you order them to take a look."
"I didn't order anyone. There's only Pedro and me here," Marco replied. He turned to his other soldier, nodding towards the light. "Pedro, go check it out. We need to get a closer look and see what exactly has the Angels scared." Pedro nodded, briskly walking away to do as he was told.
"No, come back!" Wanda called out to him, starting to race after him and bring him back. But Marco suddenly gripped her arm, roughly shoving her back towards Amy.
"You will let us handle this," Marco barked at her. "You have done more than enough today, Wanderer."
"Please, he's going to die!" Wanda exclaimed desperately. Amy stood up from her seat, walking carefully closer to Wanda and holding onto her arm.
"Listen. You need to listen to her. She's only trying to help and she knows what she's talking about," Amy retorted angrily, frustrated by how Marco was talking to the Time Lady. "Just call Pedro back."
Marco blinked, frowned in frustration at the two girls and said, "Who's Pedro?" Amy stiffened and Wanda let out a small breath of sadness.
"He . . . he was the one you just sent to go check on the light," Amy said carefully. "Just like Phillip and Crispin. You sent them all out."
"I didn't send anyone," Marco spoke sternly. "It's only ever been the three of us here."
Shaking her head rapidly, Amy felt at a loss. "Something's happening. Pedro was here a second go, and now you can't even remember him!"
"Because it's the crack. The crack from your wall, Amy," replied Wanda, keeping her voice as steady and even as she could. "It's the crack in time, swallowing everyone and everything it touches. Erasing them from existence. Pedro, Phillip, Crispin, they were never even born now." Breathing in shakily, Amy gripped Wanda's arm tighter as Marco furrowed his brows in confusion.
"How? How can the crack from my wall be following me? How can it do something like that?" Amy asked hurriedly, needing to know the answers.
"Twenty-six, six, 2010," Wanda breathed in a hushed tone. "Remember that date Amy. It's important."
"But that's when . . .," Amy trailed off, unable to say it.
Wanda nodded slowly. "I know."
"Look, I need to get a closer look at that light, whatever it is," Marco spoke up, earning the two girl's attention. "Don't worry, I won't get too close. Here, spare communicator. I'll stay in touch the whole time." He handed over a radio to Amy and started forward, heading off towards the light's direction.
"No! Come back!" the two girls called together. But it was useless. The man had already went through the trees and was now gone. Wanda took the radio from Amy, pressing the button to speak.
"Marco, get your arse back here!" she ordered angrily, irritated on how thick he was acting.
"I'm fine," came the gruff reply from the radio. "I'm quite close to it now."
"Then come back," Amy spoke up, voicing her own concerns over the radio. "Come back now, please. You have to listen to Wanda."
"It's weird look at it," Marco replied, sounding very uncertain now. Maybe even worried and unnerved. "It feels really—." The transmission cut off abruptly, only sounding static now.
"Gah! That complete . . . just, ugh, humans!" Wanda exclaimed angrily, feeling hurt that she had allowed others to die that day. Why could she have not stopped it? Should she have tried harder? Really, it did not matter now. What was done is done and there is nothing she can change about it. She just had to worry about keeping Amy safe and sound.
"Wanda? Wanda, is that you?" the Doctor's voice suddenly spoke up over the radio. Wanda brought up the radio closer to her mouth.
"Yeah, I'm here. Amy's still fine and safe," Wand said quietly. She paused for a second, swallowing with a sour taste in her mouth. "I'm sorry, but the clerics . . . they didn't make it. I tried stopping them. I really tried. I'm sorry."
"Stop them? Stop them from what?" questioned the Doctor urgently. "Was it the Angels? Are the Angels near you?"
"No, the clerics ran off and they got caught by the light. They were erased. It's the crack in time, the end of the universe," Wanda told him gravely, gripping the radio in a tight hand. "Twenty-six, six, 2010. That's the date you're looking for. The moment it happens."
"What moment?"
Wanda felt her body trembling as she stared at the white light, a wave of nausea washing over her. The one barrier shifted even more, growing tense and ready for action. "When everything goes bang." There was a long pause from the Doctor's end as the foreboding message sank in.
"Wanda, Amy, I'm sorry, I made a mistake, I should never have left you there," the Doctor said quickly, sounding extremely worried now.
"Doctor, you didn't do anything wrong," Wanda said firmly, trying to let him know that it was not his fault. "I chose to stay behind and Amy had to. There was nothing that you could have done." She gripped onto Amy's arm in a vice grip, staring around for where they could go. She felt Amy gently pat her hand, trying to comfort her quaking going through her body. Sucking in a breath, Wanda counted. One. Two. Three. Calming her mind and focusing her thoughts into action. "Okay, Doctor, you're going to have to guide us with the sonic out of here. I'll lead Amy on the right path and we'll make it back to you."
"Got it," the Doctor replied. The two girls heard the communicator in Wanda's hand changing in pitch, sounding like the sonic that pointed them in the correct location of where the Primary Flight Deck was. "You have to start moving now. There's time energy spilling out of that crack and you both have to stay ahead of it."
"But the Angels, they're everywhere," Amy breathed fearfully.
"It's fine. I got my eye on them. I won't let them get you," Wanda assured her, beginning to guide the companion forward with careful steps. She trained her eyes on the Angels that now surrounded them, keeping her eyes wide open and not blinking. "Amy, walk forward the best you can. We might be able to make them think you can still see."
Amy let out a shaking breath, nodding. They both shuffled their feet forward, keeping themselves moving as quickly as they could. But still being careful not to trip on any rocks or roots. Wanda glanced back behind them, seeing the tendrils of the time energy creeping along the ground towards them. Suddenly, she was yanked down to the ground as Amy fell, bringing the Time Lady down with her. The barrier let a ping of warning go through her mind. Wanda scrabbled up, in a hurry to stare at the Angels again. She gasped; freezing as one Angel bared its teeth, clawed hand inches away from her face.
"Okay. Okay, this is really not good," Wanda breathed out shakily, backing up from the Angel. Reaching around behind her, she tried to feel for Amy. "Amy, we need to get up again . . . Amy? Amy?" Her hearts sped up in panic as she felt only empty ground at her reaching hand. "Amelia!"
"Wanda, Amy's here. River has her," the Doctor's voice said quickly over the radio. Wanda, with trembling hand, held up the communicator.
"That's good. Thought the ground swallowed Amy for a second there," she joked, trying to keep her voice light. "Has River got the teleporter ready for another trip?"
"Just give her a second. She had to calibrate it again," the Doctor explained, sounding extremely anxious now. "Where are the Angels? Are they close to you?" Wanda stood up slowly, keeping her eye on the group of Angels in front of her as she backed up. A tree hit her back, making her freeze on the spot. She shook even more, her terror spiking up. A small whimper escaped her without her meaning to. The barrier in her mind growled darkly.
"Yeah . . . Yeah, they're all around me now." Lights flickered on and off. Wanda watched as each time they grew closer and closer, their hands stretched out, ready to touch her. She gulped, steading her shaking and let her expression grow stoic so that Angels would not see her fear. "Doctor . . . do you think they'll just send me through time, or will they snap my neck like that did to everyone else?"
"Don't talk like that, Wanda. You'll be fine. Just keep your eye on them."
Wanda smiled crookedly. "I hope it's just displacing me through time. Don't think I wouldn't mind that much. Might find somewhere interesting to live."
"Wanderer, just stop it. Don't you dare talk like that. You're not leaving me. Not now. Not ever."
She heard how fearful the Doctor sounded now, as well as angry from the very idea of the Angels taking her. Wanda smiled sadly. "Hey, it's okay. I can manage in another time." She gripped the communicator tighter as the Angels were only a hair in front of her now. Two of them closest with their hands merely a brush away. One more flicker from the lights and they would have her. She jumped as the barrier in her mind was slammed upon. She felt a strange sensation beginning to build up within her. What it was, she did not know. But all she wanted now was for the Angels to be gone. She wished they would just leave.
"River, get that damn teleport working!" the Doctor screamed from the other end of the radio. Wanda could hear panic in his voice, as well as the others speaking anxiously in the background. "Wanderer, just hold on. Keep looking at them. Keep them locked."
"I'll find you, Doctor," Wanda whispered, resolving herself as she knew even if she ran around the Angels and tried to make it to the Primary Flight Deck that they would still get her. There was no escape for her now. "Whenever they send me, wherever I might end up, I will find you again, Doctor. I swear. And who knows? Maybe I'll just wander back to you. You know how good I am at doing that."
"Wanderer! NO!"
Wanda dropped the communicator as the lights began to flicker again. A few stray tears fell down her face as she took a deep breath. With one last look at the Angels, she closed her eyes. The fluttering of wings was heard, and she felt two hands touch her roughly. Then . . . the loudest snarl erupted in her mind. It sent a quake of fright through her as suddenly a bright white light could be seen through her closed lids. Searing warmth spread through her and felt almost as though it shot out from her body. Then, the most horrible screeching screams of agony were heard. All of this happening within a single breath.
Wanda snapped her eyes open in alarm, stunned to see the group of Angels had backed away from her with their arms over their faces. She blinked, seeing them now furtherer away from her, staring at her in looks of absolute and pure horror. Their faces were contorted in screams of terror. Their eyes wide in fright with their hands up in surrender or to plead for their lives. Some even covered their faces to not look at her. Wanda let out a trembling breath, completely bewildered by what had happened and why the Angels seemed so frightened. It became clear, however, when her eyes travelled downwards and she saw what now lay at her feet.
It was the two Angels who had been closest to her. The ones that most likely had touched her. They . . . they had been . . . killed. Their bodies had been turned completely to dust, in great piles that simply lay around Wanda's feet. One Angel did not have its complete body turned to dust just yet. It still had a head and arm left lying in the pile of its body's remains. But it only horrified her in seeing the complete and utter scream of frozen agony on the Angel's face. Even as she stared at its face, she saw how the stone face slowly crumbled before her very eyes, turning to dust like the rest of its body. The face split in half as it hissed away, dying and turning into nothing.
"Wanda! Wanderer, please, answer me!" Wanda heard the pleading voice of the Doctor coming from the communicator. She slowly crouched down, gripping the radio in her hand. She shook off the gray dust, her hand trembling as she pressed the button on the side.
"I'm h-here," she answered. She heard a sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank the universe," the Doctor breathed. "Where are you? Did you manage to escape the Angels?" A sniffled escaped her as tears fell down her face. Her lip quivered as she felt overwhelming emotions running through her. She was not sure what exactly she felt at the moment. Fear, anxiety, terror, sorrow, sadness, desolation. All she knew was that, at that very second, she wanted to let herself break down into nothing.
"I-I don't know wh-what happened," she began to cry. "They touched m-me and . . . and I think . . . I don't know. I think I k-killed them." A sob broke through. "I didn't mean to. I don't know what happened. I don't want to kill anyone. Doctor, what have I done? Oh god! I'm a monster! I killed them!" Her knees gave out as she fell to the ground.
"What do you mean? Wanda? Wanda?" she heard the call from the Doctor.
The communicator fell out of her hand as she dropped it again. Her hands went to her head as a piercing headache stabbed at her mind. Her hearts sped up greatly, bounding away in her chest. The ringing in her ears would not stop, making her feel sick. The universe tilted around her as she felt darkness consume her. She cried out in agony, trying to hold herself together as she felt everything just fall apart. Barriers in her mind broke, bursting with horrors. She could not take it. The noise! The universe! They would not shut up! Make them shut up! Please! She just wanted silence! They were all cruel! They were all wicked! They needed to be stopped! Die! EVERYTHING MUST DIE!
"Wanderer!"
Wanda gasped and the barriers slammed shut. She blinked as her mind wiped blank. What happened? Was she screaming? Had she been screaming? She felt like she had from the soreness in her throat. And the way River and the Doctor hovered over her in alarm and fear . . .
"I remember," Wanda blurted out. She blinked, wondering what exactly she said that. "Sorry . . . no. I—I don't know why I said that."
"It's fine, sweetie," River told her, gently setting the Time Lady up. She wrapped her arms around the blonde girl, holding onto her tightly as she felt her heart finally ease in its fright. "You're fine now. I got you out of there." The Doctor abruptly pulled the Time Lady away from River, holding his Wanderer in a death grip.
"You're safe. It's all over," the Doctor breathed into Wanda's ear, gently rubbing her back to soothe her. "No more remembering." Wanda was not sure what he meant by this, her mind too muddled to think properly. But she nodded all the same, burying her head into the crook of his shoulder as she hugged him tightly.
"I killed them. The two Angels who touched me," she whimpered. "I didn't mean to, I swear. I—I don't want to kill anybody." She let out a sob, trying to pull herself together. Some might think of her as being silly for being so upset over what had happened. Some might even say the Angels deserved it, or that how could she even possibly know that she had been the one to kill them in the first place. But she knew. She did not know how she knew, she simply did. It was like some sort of instinct that told her she had been the one to turn them into dust. Just like the time she had turned the stone walls to dust back in Pompeii. And the very idea of ever killing anyone, even an enemy of the Doctor, unnerved her to the core.
"I know," whispered the Doctor, tightening his hold around her. "You didn't mean it at all. It wasn't your fault. It was an accident." He glanced up at River, seeing the wary expression on the woman's face. He wondered if she had ever seen Wanda become unstable like this before. It might even be a first for the woman of his future.
"What's wrong, Wanda?" Amy spoke up, frowning as she tried figuring out what was going on from her lack of sight. She had heard the Time Lady screaming when River brought her back to them. Then crying and talking about killing Angels. But that was impossible, right? The Doctor himself said nothing could ever kill an Angel.
"She's fine, Amy," the Doctor replied, pulling Wanda up as he stood. He moved her head away from his shoulder, wiping the trail of tears from her face as he cupped it softly. "You're fine now, Wanderer. I promise." Wanda nodded slightly, sniffling as she knew she needed to pull herself together. She was being stupid in crying and breaking down like this. She was such an overemotional idiot. They all looked around as alarms began to blare loudly within the room they were in.
"What's that?" River asked the Doctor. The Time Lord stared back at her alarm.
"The Angels are draining the last of the ship's power," he explained. "Which means, the shield's going to release." They all stared at the wall across from them as it began to hiss and clank loudly, the clamps letting go and letting the steel wall slide up. On the other side, a whole wall of Angels stood there, holding dark glares as they faced the group. The Doctor swiftly moved Wanda behind him, growing his own glare as he stared the Angels down. He felt Wanda press close to his back, hiding herself from the Angels.
"Angel Bob, I presume," he addressed the one Angel standing the closest to them.
"The time field is coming. It will destroy our reality," Angel Bob announced. The Doctor smirked darkly.
"And look at you all, running away," he retorted at the Angel. "What can I do for you?"
"There is a rupture in time," Angel Bob explained. "The Angels calculate if you throw a complicated space-time event into it, it will close, and they will be saved."
The Doctor arched a high brow. "So, you want me to throw myself in there, is that it?"
"No. They want the Wanderer to be sacrificed."
The Doctor stiffened greatly as Wanda shivered behind him. River and Amy both gasped in alarm. Gritting his teeth with the Oncoming Storm appearing in his eyes, the Doctor growled in the back of his throat as he glowered at Angel Bob.
"I'd rather the universe burn," he snarled at the Angels. "How dare you even suggest that!"
"She killed our own kind. She must be punished," Angel Bob replied easily. "Only one such being can do that. A creature, heard of on the whispers through time. The Universe's Weapon. The one thing that may destroy all in existence. Even we Angels. She is too dangerous to let live. Even for you and your friends, Doctor."
"Yeah? Well, maybe you Angels deserve to be destroyed!" the Doctor yelled in rage. He felt livid. How could they ever suggest he would let Wanda, his Wanderer, be erased through time? To be killed off and forgotten. He would never allow that to happen. Not ever!
"I couldn't agree more," River added in, giving the Angels her own scowl. Wanda glanced at the woman, feeling touched that both she and the Doctor felt so passionate about protecting her. But . . . she had still killed.
"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt your kind, I swear," Wanda spoke up to the Angels, peeking around the Doctor. "I truly am."
"Don't listen to them, Wanda. You didn't kill anyone," scoffed Amy, even laughing at the very idea. "You could never be a killer." It was silly. Why was everyone acting like Wanda was some kind of killer? The Time Lady was the kindest person Amy had ever met. Well, besides the Doctor, of course. As if Wanda would ever hurt anyone. Being unable to see the other three's faces, Amy missed the collective wincing and flinching.
"River, Amy, Wanda, get a grip," the Doctor ordered suddenly, tired of this talking about Wanda. She did not need to hear all of this. It might just cause her to remember sooner if this all continued.
"What?" River asked in bewilderment. Wanda moved away from the Doctor, gripping onto a nearby railing as tightly as she could.
"Get a grip, River," Wanda instructed the woman. "You too, Amy." The woman's face lit up in realization and she hurriedly gripped onto a railing on the console as well. Wanda and River made sure Amy did as well, and they all held on for dear life as the alarm blared even louder.
"Sir, if you will not sacrifice the Wanderer, then you must throw yourself into the time field instead," Angel Bob said curtly. The Doctor turned, walking over to hold onto a piece of railing as well.
"You know what? I don't think so," he retorted back to the Angels. "In fact, I think you Angels have forgotten the gravity of the situation. In other words, night-night, Angels."
Just then, the whole ship sounded as though it powered down. The whole placed tilted and they all hung onto their railings as tightly as they could as they were now hung for their lives, their feet dangling in the open air as the gravity of the ship failed. They heard this crashing and slamming throughout the ship, falling apart as everything fell with the gravity change. Looking down, they saw all the Angels falling as well, going straight into the crack in time. The Doctor grinned in triumph, overjoyed in knowing they had won.
Soon, the blinding white light vanished, and everything had settled down. They continued to hang there for a moment, blinking as they heard the ship creaking loudly around them.
"Okay . . . Now what?" Wanda spoke up. They all sort of looked at each other, still hanging for their lives as they dangled in the air. The Doctor blinked.
"Ah . . . haven't really thought that one through just yet," he replied, giving a boyish grin. "Guess I didn't really think that far ahead." River and Amy both scoffed as Wanda rolled her eyes, but gave the Doctor a fond smile all the same.
XxXxXxXx
The TARDIS hummed, so quiet and calm in her lullaby. It brought peace to Wanda's mind, helping her ease from the headache and giving her the warming feeling of love. She smiled up at the ceiling, always appreciative when the old girl would comfort her after a rough day.
"Thanks, Sexy," she whispered gratefully. The TARDIS flashed her lights and beeped merrily, glad to be of help. Wanda gazed away from the ceiling as the Doctor and Amy waltzed into the ship as well. The Doctor took off his tweed jacket and threw it somewhere into the room. Both he and the companion were getting settled after a long day of terror and adventuring.
The Time Lady had already said her goodbyes to River, giving the woman a loving hug and telling her they would meet again soon. But really, Wanda did not stay for long farewells. After today . . . she only wanted to be far away from everyone and everything in the universe. River understood right away, not even remotely bothered by Wanda not sticking around to talk more when the other soldiers arrived to pick the woman up to take her back to prison. Instead, River had kissed Wanda's head and smiled brightly, telling the Time Lady to take care and to keep the Doctor on his toes as usual. This made Wanda laugh, making her spirits raise up. River always did know how to make her feel better after a hard day.
"You know, I think I'm going to miss River. She was really . . . something," Amy said as she sat down on the captain's chair.
"Don't worry, you'll be seeing her again," Wanda told the girl, absently fiddling with the TARDIS controls. She paused when the Doctor's hand fell onto her outreached one, gripping onto it in a gentle grasp. "What is it, sweetie?"
Do you want to talk? he asked her softly in her mind. Swallowing, she looked at him, seeing the troubled expression of his.
Yeah . . . I'd like to. But I know you can't answer any of the questions I have. she replied quietly.
He smiled sadly, shaking his head. No. But at least talking can help you feel better.
Slowly, she nodded. He gripped her hand, pulling it away from the controls as he steered her off towards the corridor.
"We'll be only a minute, Amy," he said over his shoulder, only briefly looking at the companion.
"Yeah, sure," Amy huffed, crossing her arms as she stared up at the ceiling.
Walking down a ways from the control room, the Doctor suddenly halted Wanda in the middle of the corridor. She was about to ask why he wished to stop right there when he quickly had her pressed up against the metal wall and was snogging the life out of her. She groaned, gripping his shoulders as he pressed himself flush against her. His hands held her face closely and carefully, thumbing her cheeks as he invaded her mouth happily. One of his hands left her face, travelling down to grab one of her legs and lift it up so it rested against his hip, allowing him to press even closer still. Wanda pulled away for the searing kiss, leaning her head back against the metal wall behind her as the Doctor began placing light kisses on her exposed neck.
"You know, this isn't talking," she mumbled.
"It's making you feel better," he countered, mouthing his words against her skin.
"Maybe a little," she giggled, humming in a pleased note. But she shook her head all the same. "Still, we need to discuss what happened."
"Later," he dismissed, shaking his head. "Please, just . . . later. I don't want to think about anything right now. Especially not that."
She sighed, shaking her head. "Theta." She watched as he lifted his eyes, giving her his best puppy eyes. Damn. She could never say 'no' to that face. She smiled and chuckled, giving him a peck on the lips, wrapping her arms loosely around his neck. "Fine. But I'm not just gonna sit here and snog while Amy's waiting for us."
"Hmm." The Doctor stared upwards thoughtfully for a moment, before beaming at Wanda. "I know. How about I take Amy home? We drop her off, take some time to ourselves, some much-needed quality bonding. Maybe even a date? We haven't done that in a long time. A date really sounds fantastic right now. And then, as soon as we're done, we can pick up Amy again and go off on another adventure. What do you say? Sound like a plan?" He gave her a hopeful expression, another big puppy-eyed look.
Wanda smiled, pecking him on the lips again. "Sounds like a great plan." Moving away from him, she started to go down the corridor. "I'll just get changed into something nicer. Go ahead and let Amy know what we're doing. She might be a little disappointed in not going straight into the next adventure, but I'm sure she'll understand."
The Doctor nodded brightly, practically bouncing down the corridor as he went back to the TARDIS control room. Arriving back, he saw Amy staring thoughtfully at him as he beamed at her, clapping his hands together.
"So! Wanda and I have decided to take you back home," he announced, beginning to pilot the TARDIS through the Time Vortex. "Just briefly. Not permanently. Only until both she and I have some, ah, things settled. Then we'll pick you right back up in no time. And I promise to let Wanda drive this time around. She'll make sure to get us back in time."
"That's good, 'cause I wanted to show you something anyway," Amy replied edgily, staring intensely at him. She felt her old feelings stirring up again, becoming increasingly annoying and harder to brush off. She glanced nervously down the corridor, wondering if Wanda had already left and wandered off to another time. The Time Lady had made a habit of that. Always leaving right after an adventure. Amy wondered . . . if she could get away with it. Just . . . to get it out of her system of course. Yeah, that was it. Get it all out and over with so she could finally move on with . . . She needed to confront this . . . whatever this was that she was feeling and then finally face what she has been running away from. Or, maybe, there was something more to her feelings? She would never know unless she finally sat down and tried figuring it all out.
As soon as they had arrived back into Amy's room, the Doctor found it surprising how the girl wished for him to sit down next to her on the bed. He frowned, wondering why the girl was suddenly acting all edgy and nervous around him. Had something happened? Well, of course, the Angels had happened. She must still be in shock from the terrifying scared she had received. Maybe he should wait here with her until Wanda came out to say goodbye as well. The Time Lady might be able to calm the girl's nerves better than he could.
"Well," he said, looking around the small room as he wondered what was taking Wanda so long to get changed. He hoped that she chose a dress. He loved seeing dresses on her. Maybe he could wear a Stetson for her during their date as well? She always did love him in a Stetson.
"Yeah," Amy squeaked, clearing her throat in embarrassment from her voice cracking. She glanced at him, feeling more and more determined to get her old feelings out in the open. She needed to do this. She might never know if she did not. Marrying Rory . . . it might just be a big mistake, right? Or it might not and everything would be perfect with the man she felt . . . love for. If she just . . . tired it with the Doctor, he might even change his mind as well. Maybe they were both meant for each other? Maybe. God, what was she thinking? There were Wanda and Rory. She had to think about them. But still, the feelings bubbled away and persisted in her, making her feel irrational.
"This is the same night we left, right?" she asked suddenly, trying to ease their conversation into what she wanted to get to.
"We've been gone five minutes," the Doctor assured the girl that they were indeed in the right time.
Nodding, Amy reached over and pulled up a red, velvet box, opening it to reveal an engagement ring inside. Both she and the Doctor stared at the ring in hesitancy. "I'm getting married in the morning."
Frowning, the Doctor took the box from the girl, examining it curiously. "Why did you leave it here?" He would have thought that a ring from someone special would be something a person would carry around with them at all times. Always keeping the bond close to them. That is what he did. He grew a small smile, patting at the necklace hidden under his shirt. Someday soon.
"Why did I leave my engagement ring off when I ran away with a strange man on the night before my wedding?" she countered, giving him a pointed look.
"Yeah," he replied, nodding to let her know of his bewilderment.
"Hmm, you really are an alien, aren't you?" she responded in humour, grabbing the small box from him and setting it aside.
"Who's the lucky fella?" he asked brightly, wondering if he should bring up his own engagement with the companion. Maybe they could plan the weddings together? That would be nice. It had been so long since he had a wedding he had forgotten the proper rules for them. He was sure Amy could set him straight on any faults he would make.
"You met him."
"The good-looking one, or the other one?"
"The other one." Amy slapped his arm, looking irritated now.
The Doctor snickered and shook his head. "Well, he was good, too. I'm happy for you both."
"Thanks." Amy shifted on the spot, giving him that pointed look again. She began her approach to what she wanted. "So, do you comfort a lot of people on the night before their wedding?"
This time, the Doctor stared at her in confusion. Baffled by why exactly she said this. "Why would you need comforting?"
"I nearly died. I was alone in the dark, and I nearly died."
The Time Lord scoffed, shaking his head. "You weren't alone. You had Wanda with you."
"Well . . . there is that." She shifted on the spot again, beginning to feel her nervous thoughts kicking in. Could she do this? Should she do this? She just . . . did not know. "But it all made me think . . ."
"Well, yes, natural. I think sometimes . . . Well, lots of times . . ."
". . . about what I want. About who I want. You know what I mean?"
There goes that pointed look again. Holding a puzzled expression, the Doctor was really starting to wonder where exactly the girl was going with this. "Yeah." He paused after that slow response, then shook his head. "No."
Amy stared at him in annoyance. "About who I want."
"Oh, right, yeah." The Doctor blinked again, then shook his head, clearly baffled. "No, still not getting it."
Amy closed her eyes briefly in aggravation, wondering how someone could be this dense. Especially when they clearly liked kissing other girls around, like Wanda for instance. "Doctor, in a word, in one very simple word even you can understand . . ." She reached for his bracer, pulling him up as she leaned forward with her lips puckered.
The Doctor's eyes widened in alarm and shock, completely in disbelief at what Amy was doing. He pushed her away with his hand over her face immediately, shooting up from the bed. "You're getting married in morning!" He backed away from her as she followed closely after him.
"Well, the morning's a long time away," she dismissed easily, practically slamming him now against the TARDIS doors. "What are we going to do about that?" She smiled coyly beginning to take off his bracers and even unbuttoning a few buttons on his dress shirt.
"Amy, listen to me," the Doctor spoke rapidly, trying desperately to stop her as he smacked her hands away repeatedly. His mind going into a panic as her hands simply kept reappearing and trying to take his shirt off. What was she doing?! "You're making a mistake. I'm not someone you want, for starters. And secondly, more importantly, I'm already taken. I have Wanda, and we are both happily together. You're a sweet girl, Amy, but really, you're not my type."
"I'm not suggesting anything long-term," Amy countered slyly, now having his shirt fully open and pressing her hands to his bare chest. The Doctor gasped in shock, pressing his back against the TARDIS doors behind him as he felt his hearts sped up in alarm.
"I'm with Wanda! Stop! I mean it!" he yelled angrily, trying to push her away more severely. "You're making a mistake! Think about Wanda!" But she was persistent.
"Yeah, well, she's not around now is she? And besides, one fling isn't going to hurt either of us," Amy disputed. She slammed her lips onto his abruptly, making the Doctor push up hard against the doors behind him.
"Doctor, Amy, is everything all right? I heard yelling," came the voice of Wanda. The Doctor quickly fell back onto the TARDIS floor when the doors were opened by the Time Lady. He laid there staring up at the stunned expression of Wanda. He saw that she had changed into a light-green evening dress that flowed around her knees. Just like he had been hoping for. But what he had not been hoping for was the devastated look that slowly appeared on her face.
Amy, who still stood on the other side of the TARDIS doorway, prepared herself for the yelling, for the screaming of anger and disgust from the Time Lady. She was ready to face whatever hate that Wanda would throw at her. But what she had not been prepared for, was the looked of uttered betrayal and dismay that the Time Lady gave her. Amy felt her heart drop like a stone into her stomach as she saw the tears welling up in those emerald eyes.
Then, in a flash of white light, Wanda was gone.
Amy blinked, completely stunned by the Time Lady's reaction. Amy had expected many things, but never that. And now . . . she felt completely awful about her actions as guilt crash over her. The Doctor stood up gruffly, sending the girl a harsh stare.
"Amelia, you have no idea what you've just done," he spoke roughly.
"I'm sorry, I . . . I didn't think . . .," Amy began to stutter in apology.
"Clearly," the Doctor retorted angrily. "And I'm not the one you should apologize to." He banged the TARDIS wide open as he stormed inside. Amy gulped and ran after him.
XxXxXxXx
Welp . . . does anyone have any guesses as to what will happen next? Something good? Bad? Poor Wanda needs a break after all of that I think. Leave your ideas in a review. I always love to hear from you guys and read your thoughts! :D
Reviewers:
singingKatelyn: Woo! Glad that you are! :D Hope it continues to be good throughout the rest of the story. Also hope you enjoy the new chapter! :) Take care!
All The Stories Are True 24601: Aww thank you! 3 Your words mean the world to me. Yeah, lol, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? Now it's just more of a wait for when Wanda finally figures it out. ;) Have a wonderful and merry Christmas as well! I'm certain we'll see each other long before the end of the holidays. And who knows? Maybe I'll have a surprise for everyone on Christmas as well. ;) Until next time! Take care!
Jerry Skeleton: Yay! I'm just so happy that you're enjoying everything! :D No worries in reviewing! I'm just so happy to hear from you again. :) I hope everything has been going good for you. Definitely know how life is, trust me. Yep, doing a sequel. Ooh, I'd love to hear your theories! If you're ever willing to share that is. :) I don't know, is she? ;) lol Nah, she definitely is. Now it's just more of a wait for her to figure it out. Which is always fun with a build like that. ;) As for little old 'Jane' well . . . Let's just as spoilers for now. Aww, it means so much to me that the story brings you such joy. I know I say it a million times, but I truly hope that it will always continue to make you happy. :) Have a fantastic day as well! Take care!
Justus80: I think they are, yeah. At least for televisions shows. Well . . . I hope you're not too mad at Amy after this episode. Sometimes people just do crazy things when they're afraid. At least we know everything will work out in the end. :) I'll see what I can do for a movie night with the Doctor and Wanda. ;) It might be a while until then, unfortunately, as there's a line up for episodes for them at the moment. Hope you don't mind the wait. Until next time!
QuirkyKim: Hello! :D Hope that means you enjoyed the chapter. lol :)
Nanski33: Woot! Glad it was good! :) lol He's just so fun to watch grumpy. Hope you like where the story is heading. ;) I know I'm excited, too.
Momochan77: Unfortunately, some people just won't see it that way. No matter how much it gets explained to them. But I completely agree with you. Those two are awesome together, aren't they? I couldn't help but add that part in lol ;) Glad you liked it! See you in the future!
bored411: Yay! Glad you enjoyed it. :) The Doctor is just so fun to watch when he's grumpy. You just never know what he's going to do. Hope you liked the newest chapter!
grapejuice101: Oh yes, definitely rule number one. Well, besides that the Doctor lies, of course. Also, agreed. Definitely in big trouble. Hope you enjoyed. :) Until next time! Hope to see you again in the future!
heroherondaletotherescue: Woo! Glad it was good. :) They are great enemies to work with. The suspense of unable to look away from something that is just so terrifying is just brilliant. Hope you enjoyed how it all played out in the end. Third Wanda is most certainly the most bubbly and hyper out of all other Wandas. As well as Eleven being the most protective out of all Doctors. Though for reasons yet to be seen as to why that is. ;)
alwaystherereading: They are great together, aren't they? I'm certain there'll be more adventures with River in the future. ;) Hope the ending was good and didn't make you too anxious. Oh, the Pandorica. Well . . . let's just say spoilers for now. ;) Until next time!
Rhiannon: Oh yes, they're also on my top five list of scary villains from the show. Hate to ever have to deal with them in real life. Hope you enjoyed the ending to the adventure. Things are just going to get more interesting from here I think. ;) Hmm, fun facts you say? Well, the name Magpie pops up more often than you think throughout the series. Sometimes on signs, or through characters saying the term. For example, the Twelfth Doctor used a Magpie Electrical amplifier to play his guitar when he was playing on the tank back in medieval times. :) There's a whole website that I use all the time for this series called TARDIS Wiki. It's an awesome site and definitely worth the visit if you enjoy fun facts like I do. ;)
JustPassingThru: Yay! I'm just so overjoyed that you like the story so much! :D Happy Two Year Anniversary! XD So glad you're still enjoying the story through all this time. Wow! What are the odds of getting the chapter posted on that day? That's so awesome! Aww, thank you. 3 Trust me when I say you're much more amazing and brilliant than I could ever me. :) Hope to see you again in the future! Take care!
I know I can't say it enough, but thank you everyone for being amazing! May all your long scarves keep you nice and warm through the holiday season. 3 And don't forget your fezes. ;)
~Tinker~