"So where we going?" Amy asked as he landed the TARDIS.
He put on his best smile, not sure he wanted to break to her that they were, in fact, not going to a planet. "Somewhere that holds interest." He said as the TARDIS landed.
She ran down the ramp, opened the doors, and stopped in the door step.
"Are we in a church?" She asked as he came up and stepped around her.
"No, museum." He said, moving briskly through the exhibits. "A museum on an asteroid. The Delerium Archive, final resting place of the headless monks, biggest museum ever." He tried to sell it, peeking into a few cases. "Wrong, wrong, bit right, mostly wrong." He turned mid stepped, nearly tripping over himself in the process but recovering before it looked too foolish. "I love museums," He said, turning back around a little more slowly.
"You've got a time machine, what do you need museums for?" She asked him as he noted a couple dioramas of events he helped with.
He left Amy's question unanswered as he found the very, very old looking home box in a glass display case. He marched right over to it, peering down at the Gallifreyan etched into the top. He stared at the words staring back at him, his hearts clenching while he was flopping between fury and deep pride.
"Oh great, an old box." Amy said as she leaned on the glass opposite of him.
"It's from one of the old starlines. A home box." He said, looking back down at the writing.
"What's a home box?" Amy asked, getting his attention again.
"Like a black box on a plane, except it homes. Anything happens to the ship, the Home Box flies home with all the flight data." He explained.
"So?" Amy asked, clearly bored.
"The writing," He said, tapping the top of the glass. "It's Gallifreyan, the language of the Time Lords. Words in this language could burn stars and raise empires. Time itself caters to it."
"So what does it say?" Amy asked, arching a brow.
"Hello, Dad." He said, and as he felt his the corner of his mouth twitch up, he conceded that pride had won out this round. "Now, just need to get this back to the TARDIS, find out what happened twelve thousand years ago."
~DWDWDW~
They walked together in perfect sync, high heels clicking on the metal, evening gowns fluttering around their ankles. River Song withdrew the small hand gun, changed the setting, and waited as Jenny Tyler set a timer before going to the door and expertly picking the lock.
"Ten seconds, new record." River said to her with a sly grin.
"Round you, maybe." Jenny said as she backed up and took in her handy work. "You're doing the writing, then?" She asked River, glancing over her shoulder to see if she could spot anyone coming.
"I do have the steadier hand." River teased as she walked up to the home box, tilting it for a better angle.
"You've just had more practice with that particular method of destruction." Jenny scoffed, glancing back, thinking she heard voices. She opened her clutch, taking her gun out as she put her lock pick tools back in. "Best hurry, think we have company coming."
Jenny turned toward the hallway, shifting to stand beside River as she did her work.
After a couple moments, River reset the home box, closed the door, and turned to Jenny. "We're done."
"Party's over Doctor Song, Miss Tyler" Jenny tried to resist the urge to point her weapon at the rich bloke River was charming on the dance floor, distracting him while Jenny had gotten a proper look at the layout of the starship. And, of course, to verify what was downstairs in case the rumors they heard were so very wrong.
She really wished they were.
"Yet you're both still on board." The bloke added in a way that made Jenny want to sneer, especially when his two armed guards pointed their weapons at she and River.
"Sorry, Alistair." River said with a simple shrug. "We needed to see what was in your vault. Do you know what's down there? Any of you?"
Jenny snickered. "They do, they just don't think they have to worry about it."
"Didn't …?"
"Oh yes, they did."
"Who with?"
Jenny had to think about it. "Martha?"
"Oh, so before your boyfriend then?" River teased.
Jenny felt her cheeks flush. "Shut up, he's not my boyfriend."
"When they actually get around to running, shoot them. Do it now, it'll look like an execution."
River looked at her watch. "Triple-seven, five slash three, four, nine by ten. Zero, twelve, slash, acorn."
"You sure?" Jenny asked.
"You're the one rubbish with directions, not me."
"Air corridor would be nice, just in case." Jenny added with a shrug.
"What are you two on about?" Alistair asked, his armed guards looking a bit shifty.
"Like I said on the dance floor, you might want to find something to hang on to." River smirked, the airlock timer going off.
Jenny and River linked hands, and as the door opened behind them she gave the boys a little wave while River blew them a kiss. She heard the TARDIS behind them, and looked over her shoulder to see her Dad, the new faced one, reaching out to grab her, pulling her and River in.
He toppled backward, all of them landing in a huge heap that the girls quickly untangled themselves from. Once her dress was straightened she looked up to find her Mum but found Aunt Amy instead.
Except, she could tell, this woman didn't know she was Aunt Amy yet. She stared at the two of them with wide eyed surprise. Jenny chanced a glance at River, and saw the emotions playing on her face. She'd run into the Doctor and Rose a few times in her life, but Jenny knew by the way the light of the TARDIS danced in River's eyes this was the first time she'd run into her mother this young.
And it instantly made Jenny wonder if maybe they should have asked an older Tim to make the call.
"River, Jenny?" Her Dad said, his voice stern as if he was about to give a lecture.
"We need to follow that ship."
~DWDWDW~
"Right, let's get to work, shall we, girls?" He said with a hand clap, running to take the lead controls while River and Jenny moved to specific spots on the controls like a habit. He caught Jenny looking to the place where her mother would normally be, glanced to Amy, but said nothing. He wasn't sure when this was for his daughter, but he gathered she either already knew where Rose was, or knew not to ask.
"They've gone into warp drive, we're losing them." River protested.
"TARDIS has only been recovered the last couple days, she's doing the best she can." He countered.
"Recovering from what?" Jenny asked, hands moving about the console with such expertise it made him proud.
"An issue." He said, glancing at River to see if she knew anything. If she did, she didn't let on.
"How do they know how to fly the TARDIS?" Amy asked as she came up beside him.
"Right, yes, introductions would be useful at this point, wouldn't they? Amelia Pond, River Song, a woman from my future whom is very dear to me, and Jenny Tyler, my daughter." He smiled at Amy but it fell with the way her eyes widened. "What?"
"When you said you had a daughter I expected, well," Amy gestured to about her waist.
He furrowed his brow, trying to understand, then it clicked. "I'm over a thousand years old. Is it so hard to believe I have a grown daughter?"
"I've done a fold-back on the temporal isometry," River said, pulling the Doctor's attention.
"And I just did a scan of the home box and found the exact coordinates of where the ship crashed on Alfava Metraxis."
"Can you land us?" River asked, gesturing to the materialization switch.
"Absolutely," The Doctor said, flipping the switch. "So, tell me, which one of you left the message?"
Jenny pointed to River who smiled smugly.
"Good, now I know which one of you two will end up being the biggest trouble maker." He winked, and River chuckled while Jenny shook her head. After the ship shuddered to a stop, he crossed his arms and squared his shoulder. "In all seriousness, why are you two chasing after this ship? What's on it?"
He watched as the two women exchanged a nervous glance, like children being caught doing something they probably shouldn't be doing.
"According to the home box, the engines had a phase-shift when they reached warp." Jenny said.
"Which isn't surprising since they were sabotaged." River nodded. "But that was the least of their problems."
"And what was worse than sabotage?" The Doctor asked.
"There's a thing in the belly of that ship that can't ever die." River said, nearly mimicking his stance perfectly. "Something ancient and powerful. And, well …."
"You're investigating it." He nodded, then looked to Jenny. "But you were not into archaeology last we spoke."
"Maybe for you, Dad." She said with a cheekiness that reminded him of her mother.
"Right, and you're how old now?"
"Me?" Jenny asked, hand on her chest as she glanced at River before answering. "Forty-three I think."
"And last we spoke for me, you were only twenty-nine. So I'm going to guess, River, you're …."
"Spoilers." She said before he could guess, nearly snapping out the word before dropping her gaze to the floor and turning away, heading out the doors.
The Doctor looked to Jenny, but she just shook her head and followed River.
"Your daughter is forty-three?" Amy asked the second they were alone, gripping his arm tight to get his attention.
"Yes, apparently." The Doctor replied, trying not to let the curiosity as to why this River was less open about her age. "You said you wanted a planet, outside those doors is a planet. But I warn you, there is likely danger there. Deadly danger, are you in?"
Amy smiled, eyes lidded, and the Doctor swallowed back the knot in his throat. "In." She said, then bolted out the door to where his daughter and the daughter-like lady had gone.
Straightening his bow tie, clearing his throat, he stepped out to join them. They were on a beach at the outskirts of a heavily forested area. River was on a communication device, Jenny was watching the crashed ship with distrust. Amy hadn't moved far from the TARDIS, choosing to watch instead of interact, and Doctor put a hand gently on her back to ease her a bit closer to the other two women.
"Should be here any minute." Jenny said to her Dad as he got closer.
"Who or what should be here?" He asked, crossing his arms and realizing he was coming across much more scolding Dad than he meant to.
Jenny smirked. "Back-up."
The Doctor was confused for a moment before four columns of wind and sand cropped up not far from River. Four soldiers appeared, and the Doctor looked over at Jenny sternly. "Jenny Jacqueline Tyler," He started saying, low and dangerous.
"Not what you think, Dad." She jumped in quickly, those wide eyes like she had when she was first created and wanting her father's approval.
"You promised me an army, Doctor Song." Said the oldest and largest looking soldier as he walked up to her with squared shoulders.
River hardly seemed bothered. "No, I promised the equivalent of an army. Mind, it's only half of what I was expecting." She turned to Jenny, "Should have gotten an older version to call."
"Had the same thought." Jenny nodded.
The old Solider looked between the two of them with annoyance, like this sort of banter was far too common and not enjoyed at all. He then stepped up to the Doctor, offering him his hand which the Time Lord shook. "Father Octavian, sir. Bishop, second class." He introduced himself, trying to sound important. "Twenty clerics at my command. The troops are already in the drop ship and landing shortly. Doctor Song and Miss Tyler have been helping us with a covert investigation. Have they explained what we're dealing with?"
He shook his head, looking to Jenny first, then to River.
"What can you tell us about the Weeping Angels?" River asked, looking apologetic.
"That you shouldn't be anywhere near them." He replied sharply. "Why are the two of you even involved in this?"
"Research," River said at the same time Jenny said, "Religious interest."
He only believed one of them.
"We'll get to work once the clerics arrive. Song, Tyler, change. We should be set to go by sun down." Octavian said, chucking a set of fatigues at each of them.
"Sun down. Excellent idea." The Doctor said with an eye roll.
Jenny came up to him, flashing a smile at Amy before taking the Doctor gently by the arm and leading him back into the TARDIS. She looked out at Amy, making sure she wasn't listening, he'd guess, then whispered. "Can I see her?"
The Doctor's tension eased only to change. "Are you sure you want to see her like that?"
"I've heard the stories," Jenny said with a slight shrug. "I knew the second we came aboard and didn't see her when this was for you. And to see Amy so young."
"Oh, Amy sticks around, does she?" The Doctor smirked, watching Jenny blush. "It's okay, Love." He reassured. "Not much of a spoiler."
"Suppose not." She agreed.
He smiled, but it didn't stick. "The TARDIS will show you which room she's in. Don't stay long, Amy doesn't know she's there and I don't want her to find out just yet."
She left, heading up the stairs and to the correct corridor.
"May I as well?" River asked from behind him. He nodded once, and River ran up to join Jenny.
~DWDWDW~
Jenny stood over her Mum, looking at the peaceful expression on Rose's face. Hesitantly, she reached out, touching her Mum's cheek and feeling the spark of their minds brushing together.
"Can you talk to her?" Melody asked as she walked into the room, changed into her fatigues as well, face scrubbed of make-up.
Jenny shook her head. "Just know she's waiting to wake up."
"Tim said it will be an interesting when she does." Melody said, stepping up and resting her hands over Rose's.
"He's there?" Jenny asked, feeling a twinge of jealousy at the prospect.
Melody shook her head. "He just saw it." She sighed. "Only an eleven hour day here, best be out. Sun will set soon, and Dad will want answers."
Jenny chuckled, feeling her Mum's mind spike in shock for a very short second. "Just don't call him that to his face." Jenny winked at Melody who smirked.
"Might just for kicks." She teased, and the two turned and headed out the room, both with one last glance at Rose.
~DWDWDW~
"So, Father, what is happening that you are dragging my daughter and her friend into this mess with a Weeping Angel?" The Doctor asked, arms crossed and staring down the head solider as they stood around a make-shift base set up outside and around a trailer. Amy found it odd, perhaps a little sexy, how someone who looked no older than her had such a commanding presence.
"Well, Doctor Tyler…."
"Doctor." He cut off Octavian.
"Sorry?"
"Just the Doctor, or Doctor, but not Tyler. Tyler is not part of my name, Jenny got that from her mother."
"Oh," Octavian said, seeming a little confused before he took a breath. "Well then, Doctor, sir, the Angel is still trapped in the ship, as far as we know. Song and Tyler are part of a mission to get inside and neutralize it." He turned and gestured to the crashed ship. "We can't get through up top, we'd be too close to the drives. According to this, behind the cliff face, there's a network of catacombs." Octavian showed the Doctor something on a hand held device, and the Doctor tilted and twisted to get a good look at it. "Leads right up to the temple. We can blow through the base of the cliffs, get into the entrance chamber, then make our way up." Octavian said, seeming proud of his foul proof plan.
"Catacombs," The Doctor grumbled. "Probably dark ones. Dark catacombs, great." He said with such sarcasm, Amy had a hard time not smirking at it.
Octavian smirked as well. "Technically, I think it's called a maze of the dead."
"You can stop any time you like." The Doctor said firmly to Octavian. Before the soldier could say anything, one of his men caught his attention, and he excused himself to see what was happening.
The second Octavian was gone, the Doctor pulled out his screwdriver and scanned some of the equipment on the table.
Amy crept over, hopping up on to an already cleared space next to the equipment, and leaned toward the Doctor. "You're letting people call you 'sir'. You don't seem to like when people do that, so whatever a Weeping Angel is, it's really bad, yeah?"
"A Weeping Angel, Amy, is the deadliest, most powerful, most malevolent life form evolution has ever produced. There's one trapped inside that wreckage, and Jenny and River had volunteered to help neutralize it. Now, since I very well can not let them do something so outrageously foolish, and because they already spoke so highly of my skills to Father Octavian, I'm likely going to have to climb in the wreckage with a screwdriver and torch. And assuming I don't die of radiation for a second time in a week, or the whole ship doesn't blow up in my face, I'm going to do something clever. Which I haven't thought of yet. Any questions?"
"A few," Amy admitted. "Die twice in a week?"
"Not the time to explain that one, pretend I didn't say anything." He waved it off with the hand holding his screwdriver.
So Amy went on to her next personal question. "Is River gonna be your wife? In the future, I mean? Do you marry her?"
The Doctor looked much more pale, and he glared at Amy like she just suggested the most unimaginable thing possible. "No!" He spat. "No, she's not going to be my wife. Never going to marry anyone else again, thank Rassilon. I've only called one woman my wife for the last century, and will only call one woman my wife for the rest of my existence."
"Then who is she?" Amy asked.
"My daughter's best mate, and someone who will be important in my life in somewhat the same capacity as Jenny. Now, do you have any questions about the situation we're in?" He asked, his voice getting more stern and commanding.
It kind of made Amy shiver; she liked a man who took charge.
"Why do they call Octavian 'Father'?" She asked as the woman she'd previously mention poked her head out of the trailer and called for him.
"He's their Bishop," The Doctor said as he replaced his screwdriver inside his tweed jacket. "They're his clerics. It's the 51st Century, the church has moved on." He said, gesturing with his head for her to follow him as he headed toward the trailer.
When they stepped inside, they found Octavian, River, and Jenny standing in a semi-circle in front of a black and white screen. The picture was of a stone angel, hands covering its eyes, and the only thing that made Amy understand that it was an ongoing video was the changing time on the bottom of the screen.
"What do you think?" River asked, raising a remote and adjusting the image. It hardly changed but for the time stamp.
"Ripped it from security while we were on board, but I didn't have a lot of time." Jenny said over her shoulder.
"It's only four seconds," River shrugged. "I've put it on a loop."
The Doctor stepped closer, his arm instinctively moving around Jenny's shoulders.
"Yeah, it's an Angel." He said bitterly. "Hands covering its face."
"You've encountered the Angels before?" Octavian asked, a bit surprised and maybe a bit impressed.
"Once, on Earth, a long time ago." The Doctor said, giving Jenny's shoulder a squeeze before putting his hands behind his back. "But those were scavengers, barely surviving, easy enough to handle in the end."
"It's just a statue." Amy said, really not understanding why there was so much fuss over this.
"It's a statue when you see it." River said gently, looking at Amy like … something. She didn't know, but she'd caught it the moment the two women were pulled into the TARDIS. It made Amy avert her eyes because as much as she sorta liked this woman's spunk, as natural as it seemed to be around her, it left her a bit unsettled.
"It was pulled from the ruins of Razbahan at the end of the 50th century." Jenny said to her Dad. "I'd been tracking its movements."
"Movements?" The Doctor said skeptically, and Jenny blushed.
She cleared her throat. "Moved around. Sold in auctions, always to private hands, never museums. Supposedly dormant, though."
"There's a difference between dormant and patient." The Doctor said slowly.
"Meaning?" Octavian asked, and the Doctor turned his head toward him.
"Meaning you can't trust that this will be simple." The Doctor said, looking as though he was about to add more.
But there was something going unaddressed that everyone else in the room seemed to know and Amy didn't. "Whattya mean 'it's a statue when you see it'?" She asked.
"The Weeping Angels can only move it they're unseen." River explained, though not really.
"It's a quantum lock," The Doctor added, not really clearing anything up. "In the sight of any living creature, the Angels literally cease to exist. They're just stone. The Ultimate defense mechanism."
"What, being stone?" Amy snorted.
"Being stone until you turn your back." He said.
"Or worse," Jenny said, catching her attention. "You blink."
The Doctor moved instantly, starting to say something as he headed out the door, River and Octavian close behind, leaving Amy and Jenny alone with each other.
Amy shifted about, not sure why she felt like she was being scrutinized and picked apart under the Doctor's daughter's gaze.
"Where's Rory?" Jenny asked, and a cold bolt of guilt hit Amy before confusion came over.
"How do you know about Rory?" She asked, folding her arms and glaring down the blonde.
"Sorry," Jenny said in answer, moving to the door. "Didn't mean to, sorry." She stuttered, stepping out into the night and leaving Amy alone with just the screen.
She glanced at it, seeing it unchanged, wondering if maybe the whole lot of them were being a bit too paranoid.
A/N: I know it's a little on the short side, but I wanted to keep this one in two parts.
Thanks to all the readers, followers, favoriters, and reviewers.
CupcakeFlake, Nyx MG, Guest, micbb, Darkelvorplorellion Tyler, PanaoramaGirl, pyro-pixiechick, Silver Feathers, Eagle Hawke, annabethfan15, DuShuZhi, Loca8892, Nayru Von Karma, and Antisocial me (hi you, been a while) As always, thank you for leaving word.
As for companions, because there were a lot of guesses and mentions in the reviews. I'm sorry Clara fans but that brief bit in What the Future Holds is likely all the Clara I will write. Tim will make spotty appearances but nothing like he did in Hold My Hand. Rory, on the other hand, will be much more present than he was in canon.
Now, patience when it comes to Rose. I promise she'll be awake before you know it. And even better, she won't be so left out of things starting next chapter. You'll have to wait to see what I mean ;)