"Well we have to go back then", said Amy. "Surely they'll have doctors. Someone can help you. We'll find a cure." Desperation filled her voice. The Doctor just stood, leaning against the railing, looking sullen with his head hung. He reached out and stroked the TARDIS as if looking for some sort of comfort.
"There isn't a cure. Go back there and they'll only put me in their Kindness Facility. And then it won't be long before they attempt to give me Apalapucian medicine, which will only kill me faster, with me being a Time Lord and all."
The Doctor grimaced. He was in pain. Both the Ponds could see this. Yet, there was nothing they could do. They felt not only helplessness inside them, but pity and also confusion. The Doctor had been dying before, with no chance of regeneration. River had saved him using the last of her regenerative energy. At the lakeside in Utah, a future version of himself had been shot dead. This couldn't be happening now though. Was it not then that he'd claimed he was eleven hundred and three? The phrase "Time can be rewritten" swam through both their heads, but also the words "The Doctor lies". The companions did not know what to think anymore. Anyway, The Doctor was supposed to be the one with all the answers. Right now however, it seemed that he had none.
"I'm taking you both home," announced The Doctor, immediately setting in co-ordinates for Leadworth, back to The Ponds' present day.
Rory was holding his wife in his arms now. Hot, salty tears streamed down her face, soaking Rory's jacket, while he just pursed his lips to her hair, held them there and squeezed her tighter. He thought about how many times The Doctor had saved them, saved the universe. If anyone deserved death, it is not The Doctor. When the TARDIS landed again Rory decided to make an offer to the man.
"You have a day", stated Rory.
"I think we're all clear on that Rory", The Doctor snapped. Rory was taken a back at this sudden outburst, but reminded himself of what kind of emotional toll this news would be taking on The Doctor and let it slide.
"I am just wondering. What are you going to do? Come home with us. We can make you comfortable."
"Yes, we'll look after you," added Amy. She placed her arms around The Doctor in a tender and loving hug. Her eyes remained teary. The Doctor closed his eyes and hung his head again, deep in thought. His gaze soon moved up again and fixed upon Rory, who had his arms crossed and quickly looked down, not being able to keep eye contact with the dying man, when such sadness welled within his eyes.
It seemed The Doctor had made up his mind, when he let himself be led through the TARDIS door by his companions and into their warm confines of their little home.
The Doctor immediately sat on the sofa and switched on the television set. Such a mundane activity, yet it seemed to ground the three of them in this dire situation. He wrapped his own arms protectively around himself, biting his lip and sitting in silence. A commercial selling a brand of tea flashed up on the screen and The Doctor proceeded to get up and go to the kitchen to make some. He was just filling the kettle, when he clutched at his chest and staggered slightly. Rory rushed over and steadied the Time Lord.
"Here, I'll take care of that", offered Rory, taking the kettle from him. "You just go sit down."
"Oh, alright", replied The Doctor and followed Rory's orders. He sat next to Amy on the sofa, but let Amy pull him over towards her, so that he was lying down, his head resting on her lap. This seemed to comfort The Doctor. Amy felt his body relax and The Time Lord's eyes closed in a peaceful manner.
The smell of tea soon wafted through the Ponds' home. The Doctor had fallen asleep though, obviously exhausted. They drank it without him, half listening to a daytime soap on telly. It was then that Rory completely broke down. He leaned forward, holding his head in his hands and burst into fitful sobbing. After several minutes he raised his head, revealing red, puffy eyes. Amy had sat in silence, stroking The Doctor's hair, feeling numb and that everything had spiralled out of any of their control.
It was in fact a breaking news broadcast that finally snapped the two of them out of it.
"Just in, a space craft has been reported over Leadworth. Experts are saying that this is not a hoax and that Britain could in fact be in danger. A statement from the government is urging the public to stay indoors and let the correct authorities handle the situation."
The Ponds took in this information and looked at each other in shock, then at the dying figure on their couch. The Earth needed The Doctor and The Doctor was dying.