Two Worlds One Family
A/N:Thanks to everyone who has been reading and subscribing to this story. Again, I appreciate it very much!
Chapter 7
Morning in the TARDIS was relative. The concerned pair awake knowing it was morning only by the clock on the opposite wall. Amy and Rory were both relieved when the pale blue eyes of the child opened, abet with some confusion. Rory had taken off the various equipment attached to the boy so as not to frighten him when he woke. The child sat up on the examining bed and blinked wildly, looking at both of them as though he had no idea what has happened.
Amy's rush of relief came as she took the boy into an embrace as Rory roughly ran a hand through his hair. "You alright now, son?"
Amy glanced over to him with her mouth slightly agape, "Rory, you just called him 'son'."
Her husband shrugged, "I call little kids that when I worked at the hospital." he patted Alex on the head, but smiled at the child.
The glass Med-Bay doors slid open and the Doctor entered more cheerfully than he had the previous night.
"How's our little patient this morning?" He asked the nurse and nodded to the child laying on the bed.
"Better." Rory replied calmly, "It's almost as though-" he paused and chose his words carefully, "As though he'd never had that vision or illness last night at all."
The Doctor 'hmm'ed and went to the child's bedside, pulled out his sonic screwdriver to scan Alex, which earned another fearful whimper from him.
"Doctor, would you stop bleepin him like that, he's scared!" Amy seethed, rolling her eyes.
The Time Lord did not respond as he brought the screwdriver to his eyes and read the results. "Yep, his vitals are all stable."
"Doctor," Amy asked suddenly, "Have you-have you found anything else about the visions that he has?"
At this, the Time Lord's mouth pursed into a frown, "I'm afraid not. I'm not any closer to finding the cure for his visions." He facial expression changed into a slight smile, "but cheer up, we're going to have a little side trip to Earth."
"Earth?" Rory inquired, slight disappointment in his tone, "Why Earth?"
"Because I need Cardiff's rift energy to refuel the TARDIS," he turned slightly away from them, "and I believe you owe a certain young man a colouring book and crayons."
It was a warm summer day when the time travelers arrived at Cardiff Bay. Amy and Rory had been away from England so long, that they almost had forgotten what season it was when they left on board the TARDIS. Behind them, they could see the glare of an artificial waterfall cascading over vertical panel of glass. Having not been to a bigger city than Glouster, this place was vast, new, but not as exciting to them, nearing almost as much adventure as a new planet. River had appeared behind them, after telling her husband earlier at breakfast that she had to pop out for an errand she had to run. The Doctor didn't seemed bothered by this, and casually remarked that he had some repairs to do on the TARDIS console anyway, which did not surprise his companions.
"Bye, mum, I'll see you a little later." River remarked and turned in high heels down the plaza in the opposite direction.
The Doctor's head popped out the door , "By the way, there's a toy store about a kilometer away from here down that street," he pointed to one of the narrower, less busy thoroughfares that curved off to the left. Before they had to respond, he finished quickly, "have fun, bye!" and slammed the door shut again. Looking at one another, they shrugged, and taking either hand of Alex, and began to walk the opposite way towards the city's shops, feeling oddly at ease with having a normal day as an almost real family.
When River Song Reached the Ronald Dahl Plass, she felt a sense of trepidation at meeting the one man who was only slightly like the Doctor. She regarded the tiny vessels bobbing in the surf of Cardiff bay as she walked down the dock to the entrance of TorchWood. Opening the door, she was greeted by what looked like a tourist information business. A thin man with short brown hair and piercing blue eyes in a suit looked up curiously at her.
"I'm here to see Captain Jack Harkness. My name is River Song."
The man seemed nonplussed by her, and nodded, "This way please," was the quiet instruction, gesturing his hand for her to come behind the desk, and pushing a hidden button on the wall. The door wheeled back like a gear and a metal grate was raised, leading her into the main hub of what was once the once rival of the Doctor.
She was greeted by a tall, burly man in a long sleeved shirt and wearing bracers much like the Doctor did. He was handsome with short slightly spiky brown hair and mischievous blue eyes that were like pools. He gave off an air of intimidation at first glance, but the rather rugged good looks and smile soon dispersed that idea as he held out his hand for her to shake.
"I'm Jack Harkness," The man's smooth rich American accent seemed to put her at ease, "how can I help you? Please have a seat." he gestured for her to sit on the couch, while he took an armchair nearby. The man from the desk was next to him a moment later, "Ianto, would you please get some tea for our guest?"
The man nodded silently and shuffled away.
"So, what can I do for you, Ms. Song?" Jack asked putting his hands behind his head casually, as other members of what she assumed to be his team had been curious about their visitor and made an appearance.
"These are my team mates. Gwen, Toshiko, and Owen. Team, this is Ms. River Song."After greeting one another, Captain Harkness said, "What can I do for you, Ms. Song?"
River took out a large brown leather bracelet from her pocket and handed it to him.
The American's eyebrows rose, before glancing at her, an eyebrow risen, "A vortex manipulator?"
River Song nodded, "The Doctor and I, we travel in opposite directions, his future is my past, so I know certain events that will happen concerning him. There will be a moment when we will need you to help in a fight."
Jack Harkness' face turned serious, "I think you need to tell me everything."
River sighed and proceeded to tell him everything about her life with the Doctor.
Alex dragged his adult guardian along the street, pointing at certain things, his eyes alight with the discovery of everything new to him in this modern era. In moments such as this, Amy had stopped and signed the word in his hand which he repeated with excitement. As she was pulled along, Amy had caught the amusement on her husband's face. Finally, they had arrived at the toy shop, and the child couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by all the moving objects, and squeaks of the various toys. Rory smiled at some of the vintage toys that he had when he was a kid in their remade stages.
"What do you think we should get him?" Amy bounced her glance over to him.
Rory just shrugged, "Something that won't annoy the Doctor? Or something the Doctor will not play with?" he laughed.
Alex brushed by the wood shelves filled to the brim with the latest toys, almost at a run, his head turning to look at everything on the shelves on either side of him.
"Hello," A portly woman with dark curly hair with a black and pink jumpsuit greeted them, "how may I help you today?"
"Uh yea, our-son is deaf and mute. We were wondering...what kind of toys would be good for him." Amy explained.
"Of course, " the lady said politely, "If you'll follow me."
While the shop keeper showed Amy the proper toys for the disabled child, Rory had found a remote controlled race car, set it on the carpeted floor and powered it on so that it squealed to life and accelerated, so that it raced down the empty pathways. After loosing slight control, the car hit Alex's heels, making the boy turn and look down at it. He didn't cry, but rather picked it up in his hand and tilted his head, trying to understand how such a thing could move at such a speed, making Rory chuckle. When the child set it down again, it squeaked and turned, racing off in another direction.
Amy returned with a cloth ball, wood 2-d puzzle, and a teddy bear made with the primary colors of the rainbow that were in sections on its body. In her other hand was what looked like a kid's tool kit.
"What's that?" Rory inquired, finally looking away from the race car, causing it to crash into a bin filled with bouncy balls.
"It has a bunch of books for ASL. Thought it might be a good idea." Amy said. She smiled at Alex, who was playing with a foam airplane. "We'd better get out of here before I have to buy everything in this shop for you and Alex." she teased.
"So you're saying, to save the universe and time itself, you had to marry the Doctor." The disbelief in Jack Harkness was apparent.
"Yes." River said simply, "I love him, I would do anything to help him. That's why I gave you that vortex manipulator. He's not going to be able to fight, and he'll need someone to help fight for him."
Jack's eyebrows rose, "Why will he not be able to, Ms. Song?"
"Spoilers," she said with a smile. You just have to trust me, just like you trust the Doctor."
Jack frowned, " And just how can I know that you are trustworthy?"
"Scan my DNA, it'll show that I have human plus Time Lord genes." She affirmed without hesitation, then stood. "You must not tell the Doctor that I contacted you, he cannot get wind of what's to happen."
The Torchwood leader stood, "Understood. I owe a lot to the Doctor, I'll do what I can to help. Take care of him for me."
"I will," River responded, "Thank you Captain Harkness."