After checking that they were still eating, not lingering like he wanted, he ran back to the TARDIS. They would need his help- had already had his help- would have his help- in a minute. He could remember, down to the second, what time he had rescued them. Now that those memories were back in place he remembered those moments with Emily with great detail.
He had liked her, she had made him smile. She was strong, radiating a warmth that he now knew came from her mother.
And when she was yelling at him when they were in that alley with the Angels he thought she was one of the bravest little apes he had ever met. He thought that if he could somehow get them out of there he might ask her along.
He hadn't even looked in a mirror yet, and he was already thinking of breaking a new set of rules. The new set included things like stick to yourself, and defiantly don't take on new companions. Then she smiled at him, and he forgot those rules.
They suddenly didn't matter; all that mattered was the chance to show her the universe. Of course, he thought of asking her only until he realized that she wasn't his to ask. She was his. This him's anyway.
He thought Emily might protest to the idea of ownership, and even then he was smart enough not to suggest such a thing, but he did claim them. If they made it into his hearts, if he would die for them beyond the normal die for another kind of scene. If he would willingly step up in their place because the thought of his life without them wasn't just something he could learn to live with- well, then they were his.
Emily had been his since she opened her eyes, and even back then since she screamed him back from exit. The first person to touch his hearts since the Time War.
They were in the alley now, he was trying to focus on the Angels but having a hard time. Time Line's were flashing before his eyes. So bright and dangerous that he was struggling to even breathe. This girl, the one who was watching the other Angels wasn't meant to go here. She had a purpose, and it was to save the universe.
"Doctor," River was shouting as the TARDIS shook around them.
He wasn't here for this part, but he suspected it was acting up because of the energy around the Angels. This him knew that they were drawn to her because she was pushing out energy in waves, energy that they could feed off of.
She was the center of the storm, not the cause, but the solution.
She wasn't meant to die in this alley because there was something far worse for her. Something he would be willing to defy the laws of the universe to stop from happening to her if he could.
Then they landed, around Emily and the other Doctor.
He recognized it only a second before Emily did.
"Doctor?" She wasn't talking to him, but to well, nine- that would be the best thing to call him.
Nine was looking at the TARDIS. "Nice enough," he grumbled. "Not as nice as mine, of course."
The Doctor nodded, he remembered that reaction. "Well, it was time for an update."
"Doctor!" Emily said more loudly, not liking to be ignored it seemed.
Both of them turned to look at her, she was able to capture the attention of two Time Lords as simple as that. Even if those two Time Lords did happen to be the same Time Lord….
He hurried to answer before the other did, "Emily. Good to see you, my dear."
Emily frowned. "What were those? What happened? And good to see you too."
Nine walked over to her, fighting for her affection by blocking him out of sight. Oh well. It was all history. Oh, and the present, and the future. He loved time.
"Those were called Weeping Angels, and they would have killed us. He saved us."
Nine gave a head jerk to him. He had perfect memories and it was hard to remember why Emily looked at him like he was something amazing even in that form. He was rough all around the edges. Of course Rose had taken to him as well.
He had to erase Emily from his mind before he met Rose, but he was still fairly certain that Emily was the reason he even asked Rose along. Even without his memories of her he was a better man.
Emily peeked around the younger him, and smiled. "Thanks Doctor."
"You're welcome, now first things first. Or second things second, whichever order suits you."
Emily shook her head fondly and looked at Mine. She leaned in so close he couldn't hear, but the memory was there. "Nicer, but weirder too."
Nine grinned. He too looked over at the Doctor. "That happens."
River stepped up, "So, what is the plan?"
The Doctor looked at River. "Nine, this is River."
Nine looked bothered, but of course he was. Not about River, for her he was pretty indifferent, but about being called Nine.
"I'm the Doctor."
The Doctor sighed, "Well, we can't all be called the Doctor or that will get confusing. And since I'm the present one, I think it is only fair I get the title."
It was only fair!
Nine grumped, "We could argue 'present' forever, you know?"
He had him there. Time was relative and to Nine he was the present, and this him was the future. Still, he would win. Emily was about to intervene.
"I like Nine," she told Nine.
"You would." Nine told her, but even though it was gruff he took it. "Fine, I'll be Nine. For the girl though, not for you."
"Emily," Emily chastised.
Nine turned and nodded, "Right, Emily."
"Listen, Nine," the Doctor continued, glad he won even if it hadn't been because of him. He knew that he shouldn't take victory in a battle against himself, but he did. Let's face it; he didn't get to argue with someone of his own intelligence often. "We could really use your help here. Its going to take more than me to fix this."
He asked because he had gone with him. That was where the memories stopped though.. The attention to detail in the Time Lock really could be commended. He couldn't know anything too soon.
So, Nine came, that much he knew. He only sounded humble because he thought that it would help.
"I don't think that is a good idea," Nine protested, but it was half hearted. He wanted to spend time with Emily. He had a strong desire to see this out until she was safe again.
"Doctor," she moved closer to him. "Please, I don't want you to go."
He sighed, "Fine, I'll stay."
Of course it was going to happen, because it did happen, but the Doctor still sighed in relief. That was done.
"Oh, what now?"
"Bed," Emily said with a yawn.
"Bed?" The Doctor asked, confused.
"She's tired, Doctor," River explained. "Let the poor girl get some rest."
"Oh right." The Doctor nodded, for a genius sometimes…"Bed then, young lady."
Emily nodded, scooting closer to Nine. She threw her arms around his torso quickly before he could ask what she was doing. It took him a minute to realize that he was supposed to hug her back. He gave her one tight squeeze and rubbed a gentle couple of circles before he released her.
He looked embarrassed but the Doctor knew how good that moment had felt for him. The Doctor opened his arms, and waited, not one to be left out.
She smiled and moved to him, and he wrapped her in a tight hug. She smelled so familiar, and when she was close he could feel that energy. She wasn't normal, if there was such a thing, she was special. Just like her Mum.
He kissed her forehead.
DW
Emily felt his lips touch her forehead, and for a moment she thought that this must be what having a father felt like.
And then the pain hit her. Only it wasn't pain…exactly. It was somehow worse than that. It was bright and loud, and confusing. There were swirls of colors that faded into other colors and then back out. There was a long green and red line, straight and close until they merged about half way down. She couldn't understand but that was something that was meant to happen.
And then she felt normal, lights in the TARDIS dimmed, and she knew enough to thank the TARDIS for the gift. Her head was aching, fiercely, but it was better than it had been a moment ago.
The Doctors- both of them- were at her side. Nine was rubbing her back gently, speaking in a softer voice than she would have imagined him capable of.
"Emily," the Doctor looked her over, "are you okay?"
His eyes were worried, and possibly a little guilty. Her brain felt like someone had taken a hammer to it, and she couldn't imagine why he could possibly feel guilty. She didn't want to imagine. She wanted to lie down before she vomited on the console room floor.
" 'M okay." Emily agreed. Her own words hurt her head, or perhaps it was the effort. And then strong arms were lifting her, she suspected it was Nine, but when she opened her eyes she almost lost the chips.
She was laid on a bed, and she could hear movement. They were just going to leave her? She wanted to cry, but fought it. Her head hurt so badly, and they just left her here.
Then she felt a cool cloth on her forehead, and gentle words. They might have left, but River was there.
"Shh, sweetheart. You are safe, just sleep."
So she did.
DW
"So where to?" Nine asked him, walking around the console. At least he didn't touch.
"To see her Mum, I think."He swallowed. He didn't know how that was going to work out, but he knew that it was time. He needed to do it, and he owed Donna that.
She deserved to see her child, and he would spend every breath from now until this ended, fighting to make sure that it wasn't the last time.