"Okay, so this Dick 2.0 is some kind of amalgamation of Moriarty and a leviathan. They've gotta have conflicting motives, right?" Sam interrupted the nonsense that was the Doctor and Sherlock, hoping to get them back on track. They kept going off tangent; it was like watching a fascinating but weird quiz show where the contestant glares and tries to contradict the happy, deluded presenter.
"Moriarty wants to burn the heart out of Sherlock." The Doctor chimed in, taking a selfie with Sams camera phone.
Sherlock batted it away, his frown etching further into his skin. "And the leviathan doesn't want us thwarting his plans." He was now wearing clothes, at Sams demand.
Sam sighed at his place from the computer, his task wasn't going well. As soon as he thought he found something, he realized it was just another decoy.
"Sounds like he wants us dead."
"He wants to play first." The Doctor and Sherlock spoke in unison, casting surprised glances at each other.
"Right?" Sam raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.
"If he just wanted us dead, he could have easily done it already. He's playing with us, making us dodge him and keeping us distracted from the end-game." Sherlock paced; his agitation obvious.
"That sounds like John is a way to distract us from what he's really doing."
Sherlock nodded. The Doctor stared into the distance, looking absent while his thoughts were furious with activity. What could Moriarty really be planning?
A shrill ringing made them jump, Sherlock stared as the Doctor dropped Sams phone and ran. He followed swiftly after, Sam on his heels.
The Doctor was just putting the phone down, the girls voice still in his ears.
"Who was it?"
"Was it Moriarty?"
The Doctor shook his head, his eyes landed on Sam. "I told you I found a way to your brother. This is it. It won't hold for much longer. I have to go now."
Sam stared, relief and excitement filling him. If they had Dean and Castiel…
"I'm coming with you."
"No." The Doctor shook his head.
"What? Why?" Sam demanded, his eyes clouding with confusion and mistrust.
"You have to stay here with Sherlock, you have to try and save John, and," His gaze flicked to Sherlock, "not do anything misguided. Purgatory is a pocket dimension and won't function as we know; I may not be back for days. You have to be prepared."
Sam backed down, his shoulders falling as he resigned himself to the Doctors words. "Of course, you're right."
The Doctor smiled, "you'd be surprised how often I am!"
He ran forward, engulfing Sherlock in a hug before he could protest. Sherlock flailed, objecting loudly, finally pushing the Doctor off.
"I'll miss you, Sherlock and I know deep down you'll miss me too." Sherlock rolled his eyes, ready to leave the room already.
The Doctor couldn't really force himself on Sam, he was a lot bigger but Sam hugged him tight anyway.
"Thanks, Doc, you have no idea what this means to me." The Doctor was struggling to breathe but he gasped out "I'll try my best."
Sam released him, "before you go, Dean's not the trusting type so show him this when you see him."
Sam pulled out a necklace from within his jacket. He held it like it was made out of the most fragile glass, instead of a leather cord holding some brass Egyptian symbol.
"Keep it safe… its important." Sam reluctantly handed it over, and the Doctor carefully bundled it into his pocket.
"Okay, guys. Remember; nothing stupid while I'm gone."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"This is Hell," Dean grumbled, holding his nose. The stink was overwhelming, he tried not to think of what it smelled like because he was wading through it but he couldn't help it. At the least, it was tonnes of warmed up diarrhoea.
"No, it's not." Cas' voice objected behind him, Dean turned round to raise an eyebrow at him.
"Crowley reorganised." Cas shrugged. "Much more orderly now." Cas talked like they were discussing the local grocery store.
"That's great, I guess." Dean mumbled, trying not to breathe too much. He tried not to show it but he was relieved Cas was speaking again, he'd been practically silent since he'd heard the Angels screaming. Dean still didn't completely understand but he was sure he would, when they arrived at the City.
He pushed away the low hanging branches in front of him, if nothing else; the vegetation was doing well here. Ahead the line paused, Dean slowed, tapping Madison on the shoulder. "What's the hold-up?"
Madison turned her head towards him, looking concerned. "This used to be the home of the leviathans. Though most are gone, we still have to be careful."
Dean let that sink in, the corners of his mouth turning down. "No wonder they wanted out."
"This was their greatest food source. Everyone flocks to the City." Madison explained patiently.
"Still." Dean grimaced. He was dreaming of the hottest, steamiest shower right now.
"I'm guessing they had no sense of smell." Madison choked.
They started moving again, eventually passing three large clumps of material that from here looked similar to when a crocodile is part submerged but if that crocodile was Godzilla-sized. Dean shivered, leviathans were bad enough in human form; he did not need to see one on home turf.
The sticky mass of liquid was starting to drag on him, it was humid, and they'd been walking for hours in this stench. His nose hurt from being clenched for so long.
"Seriously, how-"
"Dean." Dean spun, catching Cas' tone of alarm. Cas was staring ahead and upwards, his eyes looked like blazing sapphires. Dean followed his gaze and saw the blue luminescence of the mists towering ahead.
"And he has kept the Angels of Rebellion in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day." Cas spoke heavily, his eyes turned to Dean and he looked so vulnerable, Dean couldn't help but reach out.
"Cas, it's going to be fine." Cas was quiet and Dean could almost read his thoughts by now.
"You're not like them." Dean shook him, "you're the good guy, how many times have you been brought back? If you were like them, He'd have cast you in Hell or in this stinking pit."
Cas raised an eyebrow.
"We are getting out of this stinking pit. No eternal chains here. Now come on, the City has to be close." Dean growled, his expression set.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Black seeped into the room, discolouring the air and thickening it. The Doctor held his sleeve against his mouth, peering through the gloom; he saw the whole back wall was black. The jagged borders now looked like the gaping mouth of a monster.
"Amelia?" The Doctor scanned the room, his heart fluttered as the room remained unresponsive.
"Are you alright? I got your message." He touched the warm wood of his TARDIS, feeling exposed standing in front of the gaping hole. He had expected to be able to see something when it was widened but it might as well have been a shadow.
He heard a whispering crackle behind him and he backed up, turning when he felt her presence, not wanting to leave his back exposed for too long.
Amelia looked smaller than before, she held herself like she was waiting for the world to collapse in on her.
"I opened the door." She held the Doctors eyes, "I-" She glanced at the TARDIS. Her eyes were wet with unshed tears and she stroked the TARDIS door like she knew of the sentient being inside.
"May I see inside before you go?" The Doctor nodded, knowing she did not have to ask but was doing so out of courtesy. Anyway he couldn't deny he was dying to know what would happen. If perhaps his TARDIS really was…
"It would be my honour to have you on board my ship." The Doctor clicked his fingers, relishing the solid clack as the door leaned open.
Amelia however didn't acknowledge his skill; she seemed too enraptured in everything else. Her eyes were open but she did not comment on how large his ships interior was or its fabulous design. Her eyes shined with embers, her skin was tinged with light and the Doctor felt as if he were home, basking in the dying warmth of the Claggistine rocks that his wife was so fond of.
Firmly but slowly, she closed the door. Her eyes dimmed but she looked fiercely strong.
"I know you will do right, Doctor. You have my trust." She backed off, signalling for him to leave.
"What happened? Did you talk? Is my TARDIS-"
"She is one of a kind. Take care, Doctor. Now hurry!"
The Doctor clamped down on his questions and peered back at the gaping hole into oblivion.
"So I just guide her in?"
"Yes, and just in case something goes wrong, take this." Amelia pulled out a small cylinder that shined with a golden luminescence. "If something should happen to me, use this in your ship and you should still manage to come back. Now get going."
Amelia pulled the Doctors face down, planting a kiss on his cheek and placing the cylinder in his breast pocket.
"But-"
"Go!" Amelia's eyes burned brightly, sparking with power.
And the Doctor went.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There were buildings. With lights. Something that looked vaguely like order stamped on chaos.
"This is the grand, old City of the swamp." Dirty shouted from ahead.
"As grand as my arsehole!" Someone shouted, Dean thought it sounded like Alice.
"As dirty too!" That was definitely Lily.
"Most of us will be catching a boat from here to the harbour but Madison will guide Castiel and Dean another way. If anyone gets lost, we will meet at Plenilunium. Try to wash any of their scent from you now." Dirty commanded, and Dean watched as they all began to bathe themselves in the disgusting liquid. None of them objected, though they were all visibly revolted.
Madison turned to them, Dean was standing close to Cas who had permanent waves of agitation etched into his forehead. Even Dean could hear a faint high-pitched buzz in his ear like the phantom buzz everybody hears from time to time.
"Where are we going then? Please don't say we're swimming."
Madison shook her head, looking concernedly at Cas.
"There's another boat that can take more…forbidden cargo into the City." Dean raised an eyebrow.
"What, are there laws in this City?"
"Not as such, but theres plenty of cargo that others monsters would ravage before it ever got to the other side."
"Like what?"
"Like Castiel and you; and trade." She shrugged, peering back over her shoulder as the others left. Her eyes followed them for a while and Dean sensed her longing to be with them.
"So where's this boat?" Cas grumbled from next to him.
"It will find us, we just need to get lost first."
"Well, that shouldn't be hard." Dean said under his breath. He had no clue where they were.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx