Canton stared down at the creature on the floor as Dr. Shepard left the cell. When he was once again alone with the thing, he raised the electronic device he had been given. Time to initiate the final steps to ignite a revolution, he thought, as he pushed the sequence of buttons the Doctor had shown him.
The Silence hissed. "You tend to my wounds. You are foolish."
"Why? What would you do in my place?" Canton baited.
"We have ruled your lives since your lives began," the Silence gloated. "You should kill us all on sight. But you will never remember. We weren't even here. Your will is ours!"
"Well. Sorry to disappoint you," Canton said, ending the recording and uploading the footage. "But thanks, that's exactly what I needed to hear. This is a video phone, whatever a video phone is."
Amy was strapped to a chair, struggling against her bonds and wishing that Rory would hurry up and save her. "Where am I? Where is this?" She said pulling harder at the restraints on her wrists.
Across the room, one of the creatures turned to her. "You are Amelia Pond."
"Tyler-Pond," she corrected automatically. "Has anyone mentioned to you how ugly you are?"
"We do you honor," the Silence jeered. "You will bring the Silence. But your part will soon be over, just as the girl's part is over." If the thing could smile, Amy was sure it would have been smiling.
"Well, whatever that means, you've made a big mistake bringing me here 'cause wait 'til you see what's coming for you now. And if you hurt that little girl, so help me I will tear you limb from limb myself."
"The girl has disappeared and is no longer our concern. You have been here many days." The creature spoke again.
"No, I just got here," Amy protested.
"You have been here many days," the Silence replied.
"No. No," Amy protested.
The creature leaned in closer to her. "You will sleep now." She struggled harder, panic creeping into her mind. Then she heard one of the most beautiful sounds in the Universe, the mechanical grinding sound of the TARDIS.
"Rory, I knew you'd come," she whispered to herself, a solitary tear sliding down her cheek.
The doors to the TARDIS burst open, and the Doctor, Rose, Rory, Jack and River stepped out. The Doctor was carrying a small television set. "Sorry, are you in middle of something?" the Doctor said as he unabashedly cut through the Silence and set the telly down on the console. "Just had to say though, have you seen what's on the telly? Oh 'allo, Amy. Are you all right? Wanna watch some television?"
Rose and Rory rushed to Amy's side, making quick work of her restraints with a quick flick of Rory's sonic. He immediately wrapped his wife in his arms, and the three of them started to back away towards the TARDIS.
The Silence started to encroach on the group. Jack and River kept their blasters trained on them.
"Ah, no, stay where you are!" the Doctor shouted. "'Cause look at me, I'm confident." He pulled on the lapels of his jacket to straighten it. "You wanna watch that, me when I'm confident. Oh, and these are my friends, Jack and River." He pointed to each one in turn. "Clever, the pair of them, though a bit too flirty if you ask me."
"You're not one to talk, Doctor," Jack said with a little laugh. "Have you seen you and Rose together?"
"A discussion for another time." The Doctor gave him a cocky grin and addressed the Silence again. "See, they both have their own guns and, unlike me, neither of them mind shooting people. That should bother me but you hurt my family and that is inexcusable. So I think just this once I may give them carte blanche." His expression hardened into his 'Oncoming Storm' face. "If you don't cooperate."
"Don't worry, Doc, I can definitely take out the first seven of them before they even realize I've started shooting." Jack gave a small wink.
"Oh, you think you're so impressive, Sweetie," River said with relish in her voice. "I can take eight before you drop your first three."
"I love it when you talk dirty to me like that," Jack panted.
River purred in response. "Just wait until I get you alone, Captain. I'll show you dirty then."
"Can't wait." Jack flicked his gaze in her direction for just a moment.
"Is this really important, flirting? Because I feel like defeating the baddies should be higher on the list right now," Amy called from her position near the TARDIS door.
"Sorry," Jack and River said simultaneously.
"As I was saying," The Doctor continued. "I could just let my two friends here loose on you. Or maybe you could just listen a minute. Because all I really want to do is accept your total surrender and then I'll let you go in peace. Yes, you've been interfering in human history for thousands of years. Yes, people have suffered and died. But what's the point in two hearts if you can't be a bit forgiving now and then." Unabashedly, the Doctor stared down the nearest creature. It neither flinched nor spoke.
"Oh. The Silence. You guys take that seriously, don't you? Okay, you got me. I'm lying. I'm not really going to let you go that easily. Nice thought, but it's not Christmas. First. You tell me about the girl. Who is she, why is she important? What's she for?"
"The girl is no longer of consequence, her job is done," the Silence hissed.
"No longer of consequence!" Rose screamed with anger. "She's a child, a scared child. And if you no longer need her then give her to us now!" The slightest hint of gold shone from her eyes.
The Silence flinched. "She is gone and of no concern of yours."
The Doctor's stance hardened as he held Rose back from attacking the creature. "Then I guess we're out of options. Guys. Sorry. But you're way out of time." Gently he pulled Rose back to where Rory and Amy were standing. "They will pay for this," he said in a harsh whisper.
Turning back to the group, the Doctor clapped his hands and looked at first glance to be cheerful. But underneath you could see the searing anger. "Now, come on. A bit of history for you. Aren't you proud, 'cause you helped. Now. Do you know how many people are watching this live on the telly?" His fingers drummed on top of the box.
"Half a billion. And that's nothing, because the human race will spread out among the stars—you just watch them fly. Billions and billions of them, for billions and billions of years. And every single one of them at some point in their lives will look back at this man taking that very first step and they will never ever forget it."
Neil Armstrong's voice came from the television. "That's one small step for man…" The video changed and the injured Silence filled the screen. "You should kill us all on sight. You should kill us all on sight."
"You've given the order for your own execution. And the whole planet just heard you," the Doctor sneered.
"One giant leap for mankind." Armstrong completed his most famous words.
"And one whacking great kick up the backside for the Silence. You just raised an army against yourself. And now, for a thousand generations, you're going to be ordering them to destroy you every day. How fast can you run? 'Cause today's the day the human race throws you off their planet. They won't even know they're doing it." The Doctor moved backwards. "Normally I'd at least say sorry, but I gave you a chance and you didn't take it. Besides, no one kidnaps my daughter and gets away with it."
None of the family moved, waiting for the Doctor to finish. The creature in front of him opened his mouth in the silent scream that signaled it was about to kill.
The Doctor backed away. "Now family, let's run. Jack, River, have you got this?"
"Oh yes, and it will be ever so much fun," River said as the Doctor, Rose, Amy and Rory stepped inside the TARDIS and closed the door. "Finally a little payback, and I think it's about time. Don't you, my love?"
"Yeah, I think it's past time these uglies pay for what they've done," Jack said, pulling the trigger on his blaster, taking down the first of their combatants.
It was like a choreographed dance between River and Jack as they took aim at the creatures in the room. It was fluid and comfortable, like something they had done a thousand times before. Probably because they had. Coming to face each other, both smirked as they shot the last of their opponents over the others shoulder.
"Was that as good for you as it was for me?" River panted as she holstered her weapon.
"Oh yeah," he said, holstering his own before pulling her in for a fierce kiss. It was all lips and tongues and teeth, without the slightest bit of finesse. Just as Jack pushed River back to the console in the center of the room and was about to lift her onto it, someone cleared their voice from across the room.
"If you two are quiet finished," Rory said, blushing, "I think it's time we left." Without a backwards glance the young man turned and walked quickly back in the TARDIS.
River laughed. "You realize that he might actually kill you for that later."
Jack tucked her hand in his as they started back across the room. "It was worth it."
Hours later after saying goodbye to President Nixon and Canton, the TARDIS floated through the Vortex. The Doctor and Rose had retired to their room, leaving Rory, Amy, River and Jack in the lounge.
"I've never seen him so angry," Amy said, holding her mug with both hands. "Even when we were on the Space Ship UK with the Starwhale, he wasn't this angry." Rory wrapped a comforting arm around her. He had refused to leave her side since they had returned to the ship.
"I've seen it. Hell, I've been on the receiving end of it before. Back two regenerations ago," Jack said, sipping his own tea. "It's easy to forget sometimes what he's capable of."
"Should we…" Rory started. "Should we do anything for him now?"
"Nah," Jack said, settling back into the sofa next to River. "Rose'll sort him out. She's always been able to bring out the best in him. Able to get him to calm down."
"It must have been so hard on him," Amy said quietly. "Losing her. What was he like when you first met him?"
Jack smiled; he and Amy had had this conversation before, in his past, her future. "Rough around the edges, quick to anger, moodier. Always calling humans stupid apes but completely wrapped around her little finger, even then. The three of us were quite the team, but it was obvious the two of them were just meant to be. Beauty and the Beast, at least until he regenerated into the pretty boy." Sighing, Jack leaned into River a bit more. "I didn't meet him again until after he'd lost her to the parallel world."
"So we should try and find the little girl, yeah?" Amy asked, deciding to change the subject. "Get her home to where she belongs."
"What did they mean 'her job is done'? Do you think that she was already in Utah? Do these things have time travel, too?" Rory asked curiously.
River stiffened before speaking. "I'm sure they rushed the time line of their plan when they figured out we were onto them. And I'm fairly certain that they would be capable of time travel."
Letting out a slow breath, Rory surmised, "Nothing we can do to stop it happening then?"
Jack shook his head. "'Fraid not, the only thing you can do now is figure out the clues the future Doctor left you to stop him from actually dying."
"So where is the girl?" Amy asked curiously, reiterating her earlier train of thought.
"Somewhere safe, I'm guessing. You'll find her when the timing's right," Jack said, swigging his tea. "Not before."
"Textbook enigmatic there, Jack," Rory said with a small laugh.
"He practices that in front of a mirror," River said with a laugh.
Amy gave River a knowing smirk. "I'm pretty sure that's not all he does in front of a mirror."
"And on that note, I think it's time we took out leave." Jack placed his mug on a side table, stood and held a hand out for River. "Care to pilot me home, m' lady? I have plans for you tonight."
"Do I get to keep you for a bit this time?" River said, taking his hand.
"Yeah," Jack said, giving her a tug. "I've got some time to spare."
Rory and Amy trailed behind the other couple on their way to the console room. The newlyweds rolling their eyes at the innuendo laced conversation the other two were having.
"You two can stay a while longer if you'd like." Rory said as he watched River dial in her destination. "At least until Mum and the Doctor emerge. Maybe even travel with us a bit."
River's hand stalled for a fraction of a second. "I wish we could, but Jack needs to get back to his timeline and me to mine."
"Just don't stay away too long," Amy said sternly.
"Don't worry, Ms. Amelia. You'll be seeing me again soon, and I'll be heading back to a future version of the two of you soon." Jack pulled her into a tight hug and then kissed her cheek. He repeated the hug with Rory. "Just remember the next time you see me, none of this will have happened yet. So don't mention this," he waved a hand between himself and River, "to me."
"You'd think I'd never met someone who wasn't traveling linearly with me before." Rory looked affronted.
"Either way," River said as she landed the TARDIS and came to join the threesome. "I'm sure I'll be seeing the two of you again soon. Take care of yourselves and each other." River gave both Rory and Amy lingering hugs.
"Take care of yourself, too," Amy said, kissing her cheek.
River pulled back and grabbed Jack's hand. "Always."
"Tell the Doctor and Rose we said goodbye." Jack said, tugging on River's hand and pulling her out the door.
Amy shut the door behind them and followed Rory up to the console. "It's funny, I thought Jack and Ianto were serious."
Rory threw them back into the Vortex before collapsing into one of the chairs. "We have no way of knowing how far in his personal future that Jack is from. I mean, he's immortal and over a thousand years old as it is."
"At least they're both happy, yeah?" Amy said as she sat down in his lap.
"I can see it, though." Rory smiled. "Jack Harkness and River Song, co-captains of the Innuendo Squad."
Amy let out a deep snort of laughter. "Come on, husband." She stood and pulled on his hand. "Time for bed. Well, maybe a nice long shower and then bed."
"We could shower together and save water," Rory said as he allowed her to pull them towards their room.
"Sounds fun," Amy said, letting go of his hand. "Race you there." And the two of them took off down the corridor.
Rose sat cross-legged in the middle of their bed as she watched the Doctor pace the length of their room. Her mouth quirked into a small smile as she studied the way this incarnation stomped, shoulders sagging, head tilted to the side and feet pointed slightly out. A bit of a duck walk, not that she would ever tell him that. She, however, found his gait completely adorable.
This pacing about the room bit was nothing new. It helped him think through things, the constant movement of his body helping the constant movement of his thoughts.
"What are you thinking about?" she questioned after he had been at it for about fifteen minutes.
He stopped and turned on his heel to face her. "I manipulated them into ordering all humans to kill them." His voice was soft and full of pain. "Was there another way?" The look on his face told her that he needed to know that there wasn't another option.
She held out a hand to him; slowly he crawled into the bed and matched her position. Sitting directly in front of her, his crossed legs touching hers, hands folded in his lap.
"You gave them a chance to leave peacefully." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "They took Amy and could have hurt her, and you still gave them a chance. They chose not to take it."
He nodded almost imperceptibly, knowing that he had done what he had to but still taking the weight of it onto himself. "What about the little girl? Should we try and find her?"
"Jack said we wouldn't until we knew exactly who she was," Rose said, brushing a stray hair out of his eye. "He must have seen something or know something that we don't. But at least that means we will find her."
"True." He grabbed her hand and pulled it to his lips, pressing a kiss into her palm. "I guess we need to find out who she is then. Could be anybody, though, billions upon billions of people in this galaxy alone. It's near impossible." A small sigh escaped his lips and his whole body sagged.
"It's what we do, though, isn't it, the impossible?" Rose leaned forward until their foreheads touched. They sat there for several minutes in silence before he pulled back.
"Do you want more to have more children?" he asked suddenly.
"What?" Her brow scrunched in confusion. Sometimes following his train of thought was like trying to catch the wind.
"When Rory asked you if you were pregnant, you sounded sad when you said that you weren't. So I've been wondering if you wanted to have more children." A small blush crept up his cheeks. "With me, of course."
Sighing, Rose leaned back on her elbows, unable to say anything. Did she want more children? It wasn't a subject that she had though much about in the past decade. She had five children (if you included Trisha and Amy, and of course she always would) and two grandchildren as is. She was in her sixties, maybe. God, Rory was right; she had no idea how old she was anymore. Regardless, she was way past the age for a normal 21st century human female to give birth.
Then again, she wasn't a normal 21st century human.
She looked up, about to express her hesitancy, until she met his eyes. There was more than just simple curiosity there. More than him just wanting to know her opinion on something. He wanted her to want this. He wanted more children, biological children. More part Time Lords.
And she was suddenly certain in her answer. "Yeah, someday. Someday I want us to have children. Together."
His grin lit up the room. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She gave him a tongue in teeth smile. "After figuring out what's wrong with Amy, that is. And don't pretend that you didn't notice that something's off."
"I noticed." His grin faltered a bit. "Tomorrow, I'm going to pull the scan logs from Rory's TARDIS and see what I find."
"Great and I'm guessing we don't want Rory to know anything yet?"
The Doctor shook his head. "I'm not sure what's wrong, and I don't want to worry either of them before we're certain."
Leaning forward, Rose kissed him softly on the lips. "Alright, we won't burden them until we have to. In the meantime, I've spent far too long away from those grandbabies. Fancy a visit to London?"
"Sounds nice." He leaned over and kissed her, their lips lingering for several long moments. "Right now, though, we've spent far too much time apart, my precious Rose. I missed you and I think we should start making up for the last three months apart."
Rose giggled as his lips trailed down her neck. "Now that sounds like a lovely idea."