Jack walked next to Grace slowly, and in the silence, and he knew that he wouldn't be the one to break it. When she offered him her hand, he took it gladly, wishing that it meant more, wishing that he could pretend that it meant more, but he knew that she wasn't there yet. She held his hand because it was comfortable for her, because her father held hands like it was going out of style. But he loved it, loved her, and had since the first night she laid on his chest, broken and hiding. It had been twenty five years from that moment to this one and he was still waiting. But waiting he could do: Time he had, patience could be found, it was only moments like this, when she looked at him, eyes kind but shallow that it broke his heart.

Holding her hand was an interesting experience, especially since the Doctor had been working on her psychic abilities, as her finger tips pulsed with gently energy.

"Why have you been so weird lately?" She asked of him, her voice could almost pass for American even next to his, if you weren't really listening. It was a melody- like gentle rain on a roof.

"Weird?"

She stopped and looked at him and he couldn't breathe for a second. "Like you're holding back?"

"I don't understand," but he did.

"You used to joke around. You told inappropriate jokes at horrible times. I would laugh, Mom smiled, Dad pretended he was mad. But this last year you just haven't." Her gaze was intent, her words sure.

"You're a young lady; I don't want to offend you."

Her laugh echoed in the emptiness. "Please, you have been like that since I can remember. Dad used to tell me that you like to dance although I stopped listening when I realized he meant sex."

It was Jacks turn to laugh, "I don't know…maybe I have changed."

She shook her head. "Don't. It's not you. Weird"

She started to walk again, the pace so slow they could have just been enjoying a stroll in town. She didn't seem to be looking around either, focusing only on the road ahead of them.

"Shouldn't we be investigating…at the very least getting into trouble."

She smiled but didn't look at him, "Do you trust me, Jack?"

Those five words were as scary as five seconds, maybe more. He knew that this couldn't be leading to anything good. His mouth answered ignoring his mind that was screaming at him not to. "Yes."

"Good," she rolled her eyes to him, but didn't turn her head. She tightened her grip and he could feel a change in the pulse. "See you soon."

He didn't have a chance to ask her what she meant. A strong arm wrapped around his chest holding him tight and another hand pushed a wet cloth to his nose and mouth. He saw Grace slipping but caught by arms that he couldn't see, and he faded into the dark.

The Doctor and Donna had been walking down the middle of the road trying to piece together the mystery of this situation when they saw a figure walk in front of them and stop. The Doctor stopped too, with an unpleasant feeling in his chest. Donna stopped next to him, and frowned at his worried face.

It's okay

He pushed the thought into her mind. "Hello," He forced the words to come out brightly.

"Oh, I'm so very glad that you're here, Doctor."

"You know me, then?"

"New face doesn't make you impossible to find. Don't you recognize me, though?"

The man stepped closer so that the Doctor wasn't looking into the sun and found that he did know him. "Slin Ravern, I brought down your empire September 13, 2159 on the planet Onyx"

"That wasn't a good day for me, Doctor."

"I won't apologize for stopping you," the Doctor replied.

"We aren't here for apologizes," Slin gave a hard smile, his face humanoid but eyes black as ink. "No, we are here to even the score a bit."

The Doctor looked at Donna, "TARDIS, go"

She nodded but two large men had moved behind them and pushed her forward again. "I don't think so, Doctor. You brought her into this world; I want you to see the damage you cause those you meet."

The Doctor looked to the man behind him, his voice low, "Don't you touch her." He looked back to Slin. "You brought the Angels then?"

Donna's hand slipped back into his, He's just trying to hurt you. I love you, I love our life.

He nodded his tense acknowledgment to her, feeling his hearts break.

"Yes, that is my doing. I made a call to your friend, Jack, I think. I knew that you would be the one he brought in."

The Doctor ignored the statement. "How did you get them to come here?"

"I promised them the town…A town for my empire; I think that will do nicely."

"These are innocent people," Donna argued.

"I think you will find I don't care," Slin smiled, his teeth as black as his eyes.

"How did you get them to work for you? That's not what they do."

"Well, I have to say Doctor you are very calm right now. Did finding love tame you so much you won't fight for this town? As far as control, I have to keep some things a secret."

"I will stop you," the Doctors voice was a growl.

"Oh, that's more like the man I knew. Tell you what, you hurting is all I'm really after, so I will make you a deal. I'll take the Angels far away and the rest of the town lives…if…"

"If?"

"If you sacrifice your wife or your daughter. Just one or the other and everyone else lives. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me."

"You will never touch the people I love," the Doctor warned.

"The Oncoming Storm still lives. Good, that ought to make this more fun. Just one life for hundreds Doctor. One little loss to save so many. It should be an easy choice."

Donna's hand was overly warm in his, and he almost cried when she told him. Save Her.