NOTE: I had a lot of fun with this chapter! I hope you enjoy. ;)
Chapter Twenty-seven
"So..." Rory said awkwardly "how long are we going to pretend to get River a sweater?"
"As long as it takes for her to talk the Doctor out of this war path he's on."
Rory nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed in their room, expecting a long wait. Amy wandered over to the dresser and started going through the top drawer looking for a sweater. She figured that she might as well bring one along when they decided to go back. After pulling out a gold and white cardigan that she thought River would like Amy paced around anxiously. Rory got back off the bed and wrapped his arms around her to stop her useless pacing.
"It's going to be okay." Rory said without much conviction.
"How? How is this ever going to be okay?" Amy asked miserably. "River is here with us, but at the same time she's not. Even the Doctor admits that there is nothing he can do for her, what are we supposed to do, just let her die or disappear or whatever is going to happen and just accept it?"
Sharply reminded of the ill fated trip to Apalapucia and the Two Steams Facility Rory fell silent. He had never spoken to Amy of her other life alone in the facility or the fact that the Doctor had forced him to leave a paradox inducing version of her behind in order to save her. The guilt still haunted him despite the years that had passed and a piece of him had still not forgiving the Doctor for the events. Rory had spent countless sleepless nights thinking about what it must have been like for Amy to be abandoned for so many years, even though technically it never happened.
"Rory?" Amy asked when she noticed how quiet he had become.
"River is being brave for us," Rory said softly "we need to do the same for her."
"You don't think anything can be done for River's paradox self either...do you?"
"I don't even understand it well enough to know where to begin. All I really know is that the River that never made it to Eylsiandia still needs us."
Amy nodded in agreement and hugged Rory closer. Resting his head on the top of Amy's Rory wondered for the millionth time what their life together could have been like without the Doctor. He also thought about what River's life would have been if she had been allowed to grow up as just 'Melody Williams', who she would be if she had been conceived and born on Earth. Bringing his mind back to the current situation he released his hold on Amy and took her hand.
"Come on, we should get back. If River hasn't talked some sense into the Doctor by now she's not going to."
"There is no talking sense into that man." Amy teased as she managed a smile. "The best anyone can do with him is distract him away from one self destructive act until he finds another one."
"It's no surprise he eventually goes insane."
"I still don't believe in the Valeyard being the Doctor's future, I don't know what the Valeyard is but he's not the future."
"How do you know?"
"Because I won't allow it."
Rory wasn't about to argue Amy on the point considering her serious tone. He couldn't help but notice that Amy always acted as if they were always going to be there for the Doctor when he couldn't help but think about the fact that the Doctor had the potential to live thousands of years longer then them. Knowing that here and now was not the time for that discussion Rory just nodded and took Amy's hand.
With the sweater over her shoulder Amy walked with Rory through the long corridors of the TARDIS back to the main control room. When they got there River was alone sitting on the stairs with her hand pressed against her shoulder. She looked up at Amy and Rory with a sorrowful expression. Amy's heart tightened in her chest once again upon seeing the gold marks that were continuing to spread across River's throat and face. Amy stepped up and gently put the jacket like sweater over her daughter's shoulders before sitting on the step next to her.
"Thank you." River managed a smile.
"Where's the Doctor?" Amy asked.
"He went after the Valeyard." River sighed.
"What? Alone?"
"He was never going to let you go into that particular fight with him." River explained.
"He had not right to go alone." Rory growled. "This isn't just about him, this is about you as well."
"I told him you'd be angry." River said. "If I could have stopped him I would have."
"I'm going after him." Rory turned to head towards the doors.
"I'm coming too." Amy got to her feet.
"Absolutely not." Rory said firmly. "Stay with River, please."
"Neither one of you can help him." River said sadly. "The Doctor landed the TARDIS in one of the warehouse areas and he's put the entire area on lock down behind himself. This is a prison after all."
"And what if he never comes back?!" Rory demanded. "He just expects us to live here in the TARDIS forever?"
"That is exactly what he expects." River nodded. "I'm not sure how long the TARDIS will keep me here, and she won't let me fly her, but she will take care of you both for the rest of your lives."
A look of pure horror fell over Rory's face at the prospect of being trapped in the TARDIS for the rest of his life. It was bad enough when he thought they might not make it home, but to know it for a fact would be more than he could take. Even standing guard outside the Pandorica for two thousand years wouldn't compare to the madness he knew would over take him locked in the grounded TARDIS. At least when he was standing guard his existence had purpose.
"Rory, the Doctor is coming back." Amy assured. "He always comes back."
Not convinced Rory turned back towards the doors and marched over to them. Amy went to stop him, but River got up and put her hand on Amy's shoulder to stop her. River knew there was no harm in letting Rory go search for a way out of the warehouse since she was confident that there wasn't one. Amy silently agreed to stay behind, it would make Rory feel better to try.
Rory got to the doors and yanked them open to leave. He froze in mid-stride when he discovered the Doctor standing directly outside dressed in a loose fitting pair of matching white shirt and pants accented with a blue and gold vest. The Doctor looked up at Rory and broke into a bright smile. Rory yelped in surprise as the Doctor flung his arms around him in a tight embrace and kissed his cheek with a loud smacking sound.
"Rory!" He cried happily. "I've missed you! In fact I was a little surprised how much I missed you."
"Uh...Doctor?"
"That's not the Doctor," River announced as she stepped protectively in front of Amy "he is the Valeyard."
"River?" The Valeyard asked in disbelief.
The Valeyard instantly lost interest in Rory. He walked slowly over to River and Amy, staring at the golden marks that had crept across River's face. River kept Amy behind herself and pulled her shoulders back in a posture that suggested she was ready for a physical fight. However the Valeyard didn't seem to notice that he wasn't a welcome visitor. He stopped in front of her and continued to inspect the markings. Amy wasn't fully prepared for the Valeyard to look like the mirror image of the Doctor, even his expression of worry as he looked at River was identical.
"What's happening to you?" The Valeyard asked with genuine concern as he reached out to touch the golden spirals. "You're breathing like it hurts, are you in pain?"
"Stay away from us." River ordered as she leaned away from his touch.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
"Where's the Doctor?" Amy demanded as she moved to River's side.
"He's busy." The Valeyard replied casually. "I'm here to take his place, or rather take my rightful place."
"You could never take the Doctor's place." Amy snarled.
"I am the Doctor, at least I was. Amy, it's still me. I promise."
"No, never."
"You'll adjust, the same way Rose adjusted when I regenerated, the same way you did to my ganger version." The Valeyard said confidently and then looked over his shoulder where Rory had been trying to sneak up on him. "Rory, what are you doing? You're not going to try to 'jump' me are you?"
"Uh...no?" Rory replied as he stopped a few feet away.
"Good man, because that would not be very polite, and awkward for us both." The Valeyard smiled and turned his attention back to River. "Now then, how are you here? Oh, wait...you're a paradox aren't you? That's incredible! I knew the TARDIS could stabilize you if you were here when I took you from Stormcage, but I never dreamed that she actually would!"
"Where is the Do..." River started.
"I can save you." The Valeyard interrupted.
"What are you talking about?"
"The TARDIS can't keep you stable forever, and you'd never be happy cooped up in here even if she could. However, I've got something in the works right now, when I'm done the Universe is going to accept paradoxes, just like you. You'll be able to leave the TARDIS!" The Valeyard explained in an excited tone. "Although honestly you may want to stay away from yourself, I don't think you two would get along."
"You're trying to change the way time works?" River asked surprised. "Why?"
"To save you."
"But you didn't even know she was here." Amy pointed out.
"He means to save the original me," River corrected "with the way our timelines clash he already knows how I die, a fixed point that his life probably depends on in his past."
"You're so clever." The Valeyard smiled and moved in closer. "That is exactly what I'm doing."
"You would rewrite time...just for me?" River asked in a suddenly friendly tone as she also closed the space between them.
"It is my obsession." The Valeyard admitted. "I would do anything for you."
"Anything?"
"Ask for the stars and they will be yours."
This time when the Valeyard reached out to brush her cheek with the back of his hand River allowed it. With his eyes locked on River he didn't notice the worried glance that Amy and Rory shared as River allowed him to further invade her space. River tilted her head back to encourage him to lean in for a kiss and he didn't not hesitate to accept the offer. Amy and Rory were both rendered speechless as their daughter engaged the Valeyard in an amours kiss.
Amy was just about to reach out to pull them apart when River reached up herself and shoved the Valeyard back. Momentarily thrown off balance the Valeyard stumbled back a step but was jerked forward again as he suddenly found his wrist handcuffed to the metal railing at the foot of the stairs. River had pulled the set from her back pocket and snapped them in place with blinding speed while everyone was distracted by her inappropriate display. Fear flashed over the Valeyard's face, but he quickly replaced it with a bright smile.
"Do you always have handcuffs in your pocket?" The Valeyard teased. "I bet you do. Bad girl."
"Where is the Doctor?" River demanded.
"I'm right here." The Valeyard insisted. "If you really need me to take that ridiculous title back in order to accept me I will do that for you."
"No, our Doctor, the one that belongs in *this* time."
"I belong here. Release me and I'll explain." The Valeyard bargained as he tugged at the cuff. "Please, I don't like having my wrists bound, not after everything I've been through lately."
"You're not going anywhere."
"I don't have to ask." The Valeyard said as his demeanor turned dark. "I've learned some new tricks, I can be out of this in a flash. However, I would feel much better if you would release me and promise not to do something this foolish again."
"No." River hissed.
"Fine." The Valeyard spat.
River, Rory and Amy watched in confusion as the Valeyard closed his eyes and seemed to be concentrating. They all expected something to happen, but nothing did. The Valeyard snapped his eyes open and looked around in confusion. He closed his eyes once more and yanked frantically on the locked cuff. Amy noticed for the first time the torn piece of silk that was wrapped around his captured wrist that looked like it was stained with blood. When the Valeyard failed to free himself he looked to River with a heart breaking expression of fear.
"I...I can't transition into the Vortex while I'm in the TARDIS." He stuttered as he began to pant for breath and continued to yank against the restraint with rapidly increasing desperation. "River, let me go, please, please...I can't...I can't be bound...it's going to happen again! Please don't do this to me!"
"Calm down," River said, taken aback by his violent reaction "we're not going to hurt you, but we need to know what you did wi..."
"Let me go!" The Valeyard cried desperately. "River, help me!"
River automatically took a step towards the Valeyard when he dropped to his knees with a cry of sheer panic. Amy and Rory had similar instincts to help but they weren't sure what to do. Hyperventilating the Valeyard struggled to break the metal cuff at the expense of his own flesh as it cut into his wrist. Giving up on fighting against the chain that held him to the rail the Valeyard suddenly sunk his teeth into his own arm looking for all the world like he was going to chew through it in order to free himself.
"Doctor!" The trio of horrified onlookers cried at once.
River reached down to stop the Valeyard from mutilating himself but was pulled back by Rory when he noticed the all too familiar golden glow that had started to light up his chest. The Valeyard stopped his fruitless attempt at freedom and arched back with an agonized cry as the glow intensified. Still secured to the rail he fell back in an unnatural pose as the pattern in his chest blazed through his white shirt over his hearts.
"What do we do?!" Amy asked desperatly.
"I don't kno..."
River was cut off as the TARDIS lights sudden turned blood red. The same deep warning bell that had gone off when River touched the console rang out again. River looked at the Valeyard in horror. Whatever was happening to him the TARDIS didn't like it happening here. Digging the key out of her pocket River quickly released the Valeyard. Unable to stop the reaction that was cascading through him he just dropped to the floor and thrashed. River put her hand on his chest and cried out in pain as her own golden markings flashed.
"River!" Amy dropped to her knees next to River.
"Rory, get him off this ship!" River ordered. "I don't think the TARDIS can handle all this energy."
"Right." Rory replied simply.
Rory bent down and gathered the Valeyard up in his arms. Lifting him up off the floor Rory could feel him trembling and radiating heat. He rushed to the doors as the TARDIS continued to ring out her warning. Once he stepped outside the TARDIS seemed to calm, but the Valeyard did not. He convulsed in Rory's arms and screamed piercingly. Unsure of what else to do Rory knelt down and set him down on the concert floor of the large store room that the TARDIS was sitting in.
"Rory!" Amy cried from the TARDIS entrance. "Get back!"
Rory hesitated for a moment to leave. The golden glow reminded him sharply of the painful episodes that the Doctor used to have while still on the Minyan ship. The Valeyard gasped as the golden glow took on a bluish cast. When Rory went to get back to his feet the Valeyard lashed out and grabbed a fist full of Rory's shirt to stop him.
"Rory," the Valeyard whimpered "help me..."
"H..how?"
Unwilling to leave the side of his struggling patient Rory put his hand over the Valeyard's forehead to try and calm him as he pressed his other hand on his throat to check his racing pulse. Amy realized that Rory wasn't going to leave and rushed out to help him. River was forced to stay at the threshold as the TARDIS protested once more at the idea of her leaving. Just before Amy reached them the pair suddenly became consumed in the blue glow and vanished together. Amy stared at the empty space where her husband and the man who claimed to be her friend used to be.
"Rory?! Rory!"