Chapter 3: Setting Boundaries

New York City 23 May 2012

"Doctor? Doctor who … ?" The doctor had heard that same question so many times, and now Olivia had become the latest. "Nope, just the 'Doctor'." Olivia had followed them outside, where Fred was waiting anxiously. "So, I'm curious, where will you go now?" Amelia looked at the Doctor. "Well Doc, you gonna take us home now?" "Well" The Doctor stated, looking in the distance and making another of his faces, "we could try again, though I'm not sure why we couldn't the first time, it's not like I've been to New York in the late 1930's, maybe I go there later?"

Olivia was the most confused she had ever been. Yet, she was determined to see this woman get home as well as learn anything that would may sense out of any of this, if only Elliot were here to help her keep sane. "Do you have a car, or do you need a ride?" Olivia offered. "Sure, we're parked near Times Square, if you still call it that." Fred replied. "...okay, well that's no problem for me, my car is over here."

As they piled into her car, the Doctor didn't put on his seat belt and seemed annoyed by how 'slow' and 'confining' it was. Meanwhile, Amelia and Fred seemed completely amazed by every boring detail that modern driving included. Olivia needed more information, as well as to break yet another awkward silence. "You know, if you really don't want to tell me your real names that's fine. But it is a bit insulting for me. I grew up with hearing stories about Amelia Earhart, she was one of my inspirations. I mean, before she disappeared." "What? What do you mean I disappeared? It's because the Doctor isn't it?"Everyone was silent and the Doctor was pondering how to handle it. But when Amelia saw the uncertainty in his face she prodded "Well? . . . " "...yeah …. about that …. you and Fred were never seen again after that crash. Not in the 1930's anyway. I'm so sorry, but I don't know if can help you get home. At least not precisely where I found you time-wise."

Olivia slammed the brakes. "Explain that right now, and in terms everyone understands. Don't be THAT type of person to purposefully speak over our heads!" Her lack of sleep had definitely lowered her tolerance levels enough, now the Doctor seemed unable to get these people home.

Th Doctor began to explain himself"I travel. A lot. And I travel not only distance, but time as well." "Okay..." "The thing is, time isn't a straight line. It's more, wibbly-wobbly. Some things can happen in any number of different ways, but some events, places and even people are "fixed points in time" they must happen in a particular order. They must not be altered. Otherwise there will be an unsolvable paradox that could unravel the entirety of existence." This explanation was met by everyone's collective silence. "These two pilots disappeared over the Pacific Ocean and were never seen again. I can't take them home, but I couldn't leave them on that island." The group was processing this new information."Look, you don't have to do this, we can walk from here."

One by one they left the car where it was. They found themselves crossing through a cemetery. Olivia had been here not too long ago, for Sister Peg's funeral. Things had gotten a bit emotional for her, and Elliot had sensed it enough to help her away from the group. She had somehow found solace in teasing him about one of the tombstones having his name on it. She even saw it again, but had to keep pace with the rest so she kept walking.

Olivia, composing herself."You should still try. I still have no idea how this is happening, but I'm not going to let this woman be left in some strange place."

The Doctor crossed the street, and the rest followed along. Olivia was again perplexed, this time by the three of them stuffing themselves into a rather tiny looking box. Yet once inside. "... how, is this bigger . . . . on the inside? How did you get a permit for this?" "Trans-dimensional space. No permits" Olivia shot him a glare and the Doctor retreated to the console. "Alright, New York City 1937, attempt two, allonsy!

More shaking, whirring and general crashing happened than anyone really wanted. "I don't think we made it where we wanted to go …." Everyone's stunned silence was beginning to perturb him. "It looks cold out, everyone grab a coat." The doctor showed them the wardrobe and handed out coats to everyone.

The outside was frigid and covered in snow. It looked like they were in a mountain range. They wondered for a bit when they heard a scream. Olivia had heard that type of scream before and was into a full sprint before anyone could say anything. It didn't matter that she didn't know where she was or where she was running. She knew someone needed help rather desperately.

Finding a tent, Olivia ripped the fur covering off and entered, gun drawn. She saw the man, and the tormented woman on the floor. She didn't need to hear anything to know what was about to happen . . . had she not intervened. The TARDIS translator assisted. Olivia gave out a stern warning. "Step away from her, she's not consenting to you, isn't she?" "How dare you enter the tent of Genghis Khan! You shall bleed for this!" As Genghis Khan rushed after her, she fired a shot into him. He fell to the ground as the rest of the group arrived.

Olivia, justified herself. "He was going to rape her, I had to stop it." After a moment. "We just time traveled into the distant past and I shot Genghis Khan. Yes. That just happened."