Chapter 22: Age of Steel
Previously:
"Freya, whatever you do, don't let go of my hand," James told her as he ripped his earpieces off, throwing them at the ground. Freya hadn't even noticed him wearing them. He was then moving again, racing towards a group of people. His hand was back in his pocket as he ran, keeping his other hand that held Freya's hand behind him as he did.
Freya's eyes widened when she realized the Doctor was in the group. The Doctor, Mickey, Rose, and….Alternate her. Along with Pete Tyler. And another Mickey.
James yanked a hand-held device from his pocket and held it in front of him as he charged forward.
His movement drew all of the metal men's attention away from the group. James stopped suddenly and pulled Freya behind him, his hand gripping hers tight enough to very near break the bones in her hand.
"Trust me?" he asked her as the metal men took a few steps towards them.
"Oh yeah," Freya breathed automatically.
"Good," he said.
Just as three of the metal men shot him.
Freya let out a sharp gasp as James crumpled to the ground. She fell as well, immediately scrambling to his side to see if he was still breathing.
He had on that dopey grin she was so accustomed to seeing on the Doctor's face.
"Offered up a good distraction, dinnit I?" he asked her with a grin. She glared at him but he coughed and held up the device.
"Help me up. Had time to create a device at UNIT when we heard rumors. Others tried working on weapon. I worked on defense. I was right," he said as Freya helped him to his feet.
"Freya!" the Doctor shouted. He was at her side instantly, nearly stopping when he really saw James.
"Doctor, this is James McCrimmon, Alternate Freya's fiancé. We need to get out of here," Freya said, glancing around. The metal men were all on the ground, but she doubted they'd stay that way for long.
The Doctor released her and moved to James's other side, helping the man as well. A van honked at them and they made their way to the van. Rose was still standing there, glancing back at the house. As was Pete.
"Everybody, in!" a woman's voice from the van ordered.
"I've got to go back. My wife's in there," Pete told them.
"Anyone inside that house is dead. If you want to help, then don't let her die for nothing. You've got to come with us right now," the Doctor told him solemnly.
"Come on! Get a move on it!" the woman called again.
"Rose, she's not your mother," the Doctor called out to Rose, who had yet to move as well.
"I know," Rose said.
"Come on," the Doctor urged her as they lifted James into the van. He then helped Freya in before climbing in himself. As soon as he climbed in, he sat down and pulled Freya down onto his lap, roping his arms loosely around her waist.
Staking his claim.
"What was that thing?" Mickey asked. Or the Mickey lookalike. Alternate Mickey.
"Little bit of technology from my home," the Doctor said, holding up the cell from the TARDIS. Freya reached for it – it wasn't glowing. The Doctor held it away from her.
"No. I don't trust you to not try speeding it up," the Doctor told her sternly. Freya let her hands fall to her side.
"It's stopped glowing. Has it run out?" Mickey asked.
"It's on a revitalizing loop. It'll charge back up in about four hours," the Doctor told them.
"Right. So we don't have a weapon anymore," Alternate Mickey said.
"Yeah, we've got weapons. Might not be one of those metal things, but they're good enough for men like him. And women like her," the blonde man said, gesturing towards Pete.
And both Freyas.
"Leave them alone. What've they done wrong?" Rose asked defensively.
"Oh, you know, just laid a trap that's wiped out the government and left Lumic in charge. Don't know what the Heiress has done, but I'm sure she was in on her father's plans," the blonde said darkly.
"If I was part of all that, do you think I'd leave my wife inside?" Pete asked angrily.
"And why would I bother showing up if I was involved? I was forbidden from leaving my house," Alternate Freya said, flicking her hair behind her.
"So was I," Freya added. Alternate Freya turned and eyed her.
"Horrible haircut," Alternate Freya said as she eyed Freya.
"Oi! Don't diss the haircut! I did it," James said indignantly. Alternate Freya shook her head.
"Figures it'd be your work. And you wonder why I never let you cut my hair?" Alternate Freya scoffed at James. James glared right back at her.
"Maybe your plan went wrong. Still gives us the right to execute you though. Both of you. All three of you?" Alternate Mickey finished, glancing between them.
"Talk about executions, especially in regards to my wife, and you'll make me your enemy, And take some really good advice. You don't want to do that," the Doctor told them, his voice low.
"All the same, we have evidence that says Pete Tyler's been working for Lumic since twenty point five. And the Heiress's father is Lumic's right hand man," Alternate Mickey said.
"Is that true?" Rose asked in horror, staring at Pete.
"We've got two government moles who feed us information. Lumic's private files, his south American operations, the lot. Secret broadcasts twice a week," the woman said from the driver's seat.
"Broadcasts from Gemini?" Pete asked, rolling his eyes.
"And how do you know that?" Alternate Mickey asked.
"I'm Gemini. That's me," Pete explained.
"And your second mole was me. James McCrimmon, UNIT soldier, at your service," James said, rolling his eyes.
"You work for UNIT?" Alternate Freya asked her fiancé. James stared at her.
"Of course I do. Why do you think your parents thought I was such a good match?" he asked her, eyes penetrating her. Alternate Freya shrugged.
"I just thought you were rich," Alternate Freya said.
Freya ignored them as they talked about some technical stuff. She was instead glancing around the area.
"Who are you?" Freya finally asked. Her words were met with silence.
"Are we really going to do introductions now, in the middle of a life or death car escape?" the woman driving asked sarcastically.
"No better time. I'm the Doctor, this is my wife, Freya. My companion, Rose. My other companion, Mickey," the Doctor introduced.
"I'm James McCrimmon, and this is my fiancée, Freya," James introduced. Alternate Mickey sighed.
"I'm Ricky. This is Jake and Mrs. Moore," Alternate Mickey said.
"Not Mickey?" Freya asked in disbelief. Ricky just gave her a glare.
"Right. We need names for you. Since there are two Freyas," the Doctor said, glancing between the two. Freya stared at Alternate Freya, who shook her head.
"I'm not changing my name," she declared.
"Stubborn brat," James told her, earning a glare from Alternate Freya.
"Old git," Alternate Freya shot right back.
"Lovely relationship," the Doctor murmured, examining the two. Which caught Alternate Freya's attention.
"I've got an idea. Let's trade. I'll take skinny suit Doctor, and you can take Big-Eared James," Alternate Freya told Freya. Freya stared at her counterpart in disbelief.
"I don't know how we could ever even start out as the same person," Freya said honestly, staring at her.
"How about we call our Freya the wife? That's what you call her half the time anyway?" Mickey asked. The Doctor glared at him.
"I'm not letting everyone call my wife Wife! Why would I do that? She's mine," the Doctor said, his grip on Freya tightening.
"Possessive much?" Rose muttered.
"Speaking of possessive, I'm afraid you get a free kiss," Freya told the Doctor. The Doctor's tight grip on her stiffened. She glanced over her shoulder to see him giving a death glare at James. James was shooting one right back at him.
"Boys," Alternate Freya said with a sigh.
"It's not his fault. He thought I was her," Freya tried defending him.
"Actually, since he's not going to speak up, he doesn't get a free kiss. I snogged him when I saw him," Alternate Freya spoke up.
"Looks like you really are going for keeping a brag sheet of who you've kissed," Mickey said with a grin.
"You're keeping a sheet?" James asked.
"Madame de Pompadour," the Doctor threw out, obviously feeling threatened.
"And I got King Louis the Fifteenth," Freya added.
"Can we stop talking about snogging and talk about the life or death situation we're in?" Mrs. Moore asked from the front seat.
"Right," both James and Doctor said at once. The two men glared at each other.
"I'm the one who knows what's going on," the Doctor said.
"Really? I've known about these things for months. I'm the one that has a defense against them," James said.
"Boys! You're both pretty. Now shut up and figure something out!" Alternate Freya shouted. Both men looked sheepish at her outburst.
"They took my wife," Pete spoke up when it was obvious no one was going to say something,
"She might be alive," Rose tried reassuring the man.
"That's even worse. Because that's what Lumic does. He takes the living and he turns them into those machines," James explained grimly.
"Cybermen. They're called Cybermen. And I'd take those earpods off, if I were you. You never know. Lumic could be listening," the Doctor warned Pete. Pete ripped them from his ears immediately. The Doctor grabbed them and zapped them with the sonic screwdriver.
"But he's overreached himself. He's still just a businessman. He's assassinated the President, hasn't he? All we need to do is get to the city and inform the authorities. This will end tonight," James said.
"How did you know he'd assassinated the President?" Alternate Freya asked.
"Everyone knew the President would be at your Aunt Jackie's party. He always is. Why else would that be the starting point for this?" James asked critically.
"I like him. Reminds me of you," Rose said with a smirk, elbowing the Doctor. The Doctor only scowled.
The van pulled over and everyone bailed out. As soon as they were on the streets, everybody walking by just froze and started walking away, resembling zombies.
"What the hell?" Jake asked in disbelief.
"What's going on?" Freya asked in horror, staring at them.
"It's the earpods. Lumic's taken control," the Doctor said grimly.
"That's why I don't wear earpods. That's why I kept telling you not to wear yours," James told Alternate Freya. Alternate Freya just shrugged and wrapped her arms around her. It was cold out. Freya quickly took off James's jacket and handed it to Alternate Freya. Alternate Freya eyed it dubiously before shrugging it on. The Doctor had his own jacket over Freya's shoulders before Freya could even feel the chill of the air.
"Can't we just, I don't know, take them off?" Rose asked. Alternate Freya nodded.
"I agree with her," she said, moving towards one man that was walking by. The Doctor lunged to her, pulling her back.
"Don't! You'll cause a brainstorm. Human race. For such an intelligent lot, you aren't half susceptible," the Doctor scowled, "Give anyone a chance to take control and you submit. Sometimes I think you like it. Easy life," the Doctor said angrily.
"Not all of us," James scowled right back at him.
"You're still human," the Doctor spat.
"Calm down," Freya told him, not liking the arguing. The Doctor shot her puppy eyes and pouted, as if he were a little kid.
"You can get along with him. I'm still your wife. I'm not going to run off with him. He's got Alternate Me, remember? I'm yours. Just get along. You don't need to stake a claim," Freya told him quietly. The Doctor sighed and nodded, looking quite put out. Freya then spun on James, but Alternate Freya beat her to it.
"And you! Don't think we didn't notice you ogling her! Just because she looks like me doesn't mean you can look! Eyes forward, soldier!" Alternate Freya said before slapping his shoulder. James jumped slightly and looked a bit sheepish but didn't say anything to defend himself.
"Hey! Come and see," Jake called from the corner. They made their way over to him to see a squad of Cybermen leading more people away.
"Where are they all going?" Rose wondered.
"I don't know. Lumic must have a base of operations," the Doctor said.
"Battersea. That's where he was building his prototypes," Pete offered.
"Why's he doing it?" Freya asked curiously.
"He's dying. This all started out as a way of prolonging life, of keeping the brain alive at any cost," James said darkly.
"But…Doctor, I've seen them before. At Van Statten's museum," Freya realized.
"Ah, there are Cybermen in our universe. They started on an ordinary world just like this, then swarmed across the galaxy. This lot are a parallel version, and they're starting from scratch right here on Earth," the Doctor said.
"What the hell are you two on about?" Pete asked.
"Aliens invading the Earth," James said harshly. Pete's mouth dropped open but closed again real quick.
"Never mind that. Come on, we need to get out of the city. Okay, split up. UNIT, take your girls and get out. Mrs. Moore, go with him and get the other bloke and girl out. Jake, distract them. Go right, I'll go 'll meet back at Bridge Street. Move," Ricky ordered.
"I'm going with him," Mickey said, taking off after him.
"Come on," Mrs. Moore urged as more Cybermen patrolled by them.
"There," James said, pointing at a side street. They took off running for it. Halfway down the alley, the Doctor pulled them behind some rubbish bins.
"Doctor, I don't feel very good," Freya admitted quietly.
"I don't either," Alternate Freya admitted as well.
"What's wrong? What feels off?" James asked both women as the Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver. Cybermen started marching down the alleyway, but the Doctor hit the sonic and they turned around, going another way.
"Sick to my stomach," Alternate Freya said.
"Cramps," Freya supplied. The Doctor turned to her, quickly pressing one hand to her stomach and the other to her temple.
"Too much running. Unsettling the baby. You're going to be on bed-rest for a week after this," the Doctor told her.
"Can you check my Freya?" James asked. The Doctor hesitated.
"It involves going in her mind and checking on the baby's wellbeing," the Doctor warned. James shrugged, as did Alternate Freya.
"Rather be safe for the baby," Alternate Freya said.
"After all, if the Wife is at the threat of a miscarriage, I'd like to know if Freya is as well," James said.
"We never agreed on calling her the Wife!" the Doctor said indignantly.
"We agreed on nothing. Check before we have to run again," Alternate Freya ordered. The Doctor hesitantly placed his own hand on Alternate Freya's stomach and then her mind. A few seconds later he pulled back.
"Same threat. As soon as we get out of this, you need bedrest too," the Doctor told her. Alternate Freya's hand slid over her stomach and nodded.
The group slowly made their way to the meeting point, where Jake was already there.
"I ran past the river. You should have seen it. The whole city's on the march. Hundreds of Cybermen all down the Thames," Jake explained as one figure ran up to the group.
Not two.
Freya's heart stuttered.
"Here he is! Which one are you?" Jake asked almost cheerfully.
"I'm sorry. The Cybermen. He couldn't," the Mickey/Ricky stuttered.
"Are you Ricky? Are you Ricky?" Jake asked frantically.
"Mickey, that's you, isn't it?" Rose asked tentatively.
"Yeah," Mickey said quietly. Rose hugged him tightly.
"He tried he was running. There was too many of them," Mickey rambled.
"Shut it," Jake said immediately.
"Oi, you shut it. It's not Mickey's fault Ricky couldn't make it," Alternate Freya said, glaring at Jake.
"There was nothing I could do," Mickey agreed.
"I said just shut it. Don't even talk about him. You're nothing, you are. Nothing," Jake spat.
And Alternate Freya slapped him
"We can mourn him when London is safe. But now, we move on," the Doctor said quickly.
The group slowly made their way towards the Battersea Power station. They stopped across from it, staring at the place while they planned.
"The whole of London's been sealed off, and the entire population's been taken inside that place. To be converted," the Doctor.
"My brother! Is my little brother there?" Alternate Freya demanded.
"Did he wear the earpods?" the Doctor asked. Freya shook her head.
"He didn't have them in when I saw him today. And your mother told me not to wear earpods," Freya told Alternate Freya.
"So he's probably hiding. He's good at that," Alternate Freya said in relief.
"We've got to get in there and shut it down," Rose interrupted, still staring at the plant.
"How do we do that?" Mickey asked in disbelief.
"Oh, I'll think of something," the Doctor said. Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
"You're just making this up as you go along," Mickey said, horrified.
"Yep. But I do it brilliantly," the Doctor admitted.
"Well I have a plan," James said, drawing their attention.
"Do we have a techie?" James asked. Mrs. Moore nodded.
"Pull up a map of the old factory. I don't remember all of the details well enough to make a plan without it. We need to take out whatever is transmitting. I'd assume that's on the zeppelin. There are two entrances we can take. The first is the front doors, and the second underground. I just don't remember where they are," James explained.
"Right! Jake, you and Mickey can take out the signal. Think the two of you can manage it?" the Doctor asked.
"I don't need his help," Jake scoffed.
"No one's going alone," Freya said immediately, Alternate Freya nodding along with her.
Freya noticed that the longer the two of them spent together, the more alike they started acting. It was almost discerning.
"Now, the front door," the Doctor began.
"I never got around to making the fake earpods. Those would be ideal in this situation," James grumbled.
"You mean like these?" Mrs. Moore asked, holding out a pair of earpods. James nodded excitedly.
"Fantastic! Whoever wore those would be mistaken for a member of the crowd," James said.
"Then that's my job," Pete said.
"You'd have to show no emotion. None at all. Any sign of emotion would give you away," the Doctor warned him.
"How many of those you got?" Rose asked, a determined look on her face.
"Just two sets," Mrs. Moore explained.
"Okay. If that's the best way of finding Jackie, then I'm coming with you," Rose decided.
"Why does she matter to you?" Pete asked automatically.
"We haven't got time. Doctor, I'm going with him, and that's that," Rose said. The Doctor nodded.
"No stopping you, is there?" he asked.
"No," Rose said firmly.
Pete and Rose put the earpods in and made their way away from the group. Jake and Mickey stood and took off as well.
"Here's the map. You're right. Cooling tunnels," Mrs. Moore said, showing them the computer screen.
"Mrs. Moore, would you care to accompany me into the cooling tunnels?" the Doctor asked her.
"How could I refuse an offer of cooling tunnels?" she joked.
"So we're attacking on three sides. Above, between, below. What about me? And the Freyas?" James asked. The Doctor turned and stared at him.
"You have the most important job. You protect them. Protect them with your life. They're unsettled. The babies. There is no way for them to help without further risking a miscarriage, and I'm sure you want to avoid that about as much as I do," the Doctor said. James furrowed his eyebrows but nodded.
"Where should we go?" Freya asked. The Doctor stared at her for a moment.
"If you can make it to the TARDIS, that is ideal. Otherwise, wherever you can that's safe," the Doctor told her before pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
"Be safe," he told her.
"You too. If you get yourself killed, I'll kill you," Freya warned him. The Doctor winked at her.
"Only with me would that be an actual possibility," he told her with a grin. He gave her another kiss before taking off with Mrs. Moore.
James stared at the two girls before clearing his throat.
"Right. We need to get out of here. To safety. My flat's in the heart of London. Not a good idea. So…" he drifted off when Alternate Freya shook her head.
"My brother's out there. We're going to go rescue him. Now," Alternate Freya said.
"I know you care about your brother, but we can't just try to get back into the city like that," James tried reasoning with her, but Alternate Freya shook her head.
"No. You really don't understand. Because I never told anyone," Alternate Freya said. Freya's eyes widened for a moment as she tried thinking carefully.
"He's not your brother, is he?" Freya asked, remembering Nancy from 1941.
James's eyes widened.
"No," he said in disbelief.
"Yes. Mom couldn't have any other kids. Tony's mine. And we're not abandoning him," Alternate Freya said sharply.
"No. We're not. Let's go," Freya said, her hands slipping into both Alternate Freya and James's hands, pulling them along behind her.
"You never said anything. You have a son? But he's five!" James protested.
"I was raped when I was fourteen at a party. Didn't want it getting out but I couldn't just abort him," Alternate Freya explained.
"So you lied and said he was your brother?" James asked.
"Lots of people do it. At least he got to be raised with his mother," Freya defended her counterpart. James shook his head.
"Blimey. Just…no wonder you didn't worry about being pregnant. You've done this all before," James accused.
"Yes. I have. And if things don't work out, it'll happen again," Alternate Freya told him sharply.
"If things don't work out? What does that mean?" James accused her.
"Are we really having this conversation now?" Alternate Freya asked in disbelief.
"I do believe we are," James said, stopping in his tracks.
"No. You can keep talking and walking at the same time," Freya ordered the two of them. They slowly kept walking.
"You like me. I get that. But I don't like you that much. I like you, yes, but not as much as you like me. Especially now that I know there's someone out there like him," Alternate Freya said.
"Like the Doctor?" Freya asked quietly. Alternate Freya nodded.
"Yes. Like him. You said James is like his past self? So why can't there be someone here like his current self? Because that's who I see myself with," Alternate Freya said.
"So what? You'd call off our engagement and everything, on the whim that there's another one like the Doctor? Because you're not getting him. That much is quite obvious," James snarled at her.
"Discuss this later. Isn't that your house?" Freya asked, pointing at a house on a hill close to them.
"Yes," Alternate Freya breathed.
The lights were all on, but there was no sounds inside when they made it to the house. Freya felt uncomfortable but followed Alternate Freya as she went straight for the stairs.
"We should check to make sure there's no one here before we go traipsing around," James warned them.
"We don't have to," Alternate Freya said as she pulled the stairs …up.
Cowering there was little Tony. When he saw Alternate Freya, he launched himself at her.
"Come on. Let's get out of here now," Alternate Freya said.
"How did you know exactly where he would be?" James asked.
"It's the hidden protocol. We've taught him what to do in case of stranger danger," Alternate Freya pointed out as she tried placing Tony on her hip. James took him from her and placed him on his own hip.
"You don't need to be lifting anything. Now let's get out of here. Where's the thing the Doctor was talking about?" James asked Freya.
"Not too far from here. I was taken from the TARDIS to here, so I should be able to get us back. Is that thing you have still working?" Freya asked him.
"What thing?" James responded, puzzled.
"The defense against the Cybermen?" Freya asked him. He nodded, shifting Tony so he could pull it from his pocket.
"Good. We got a little box for protection," Alternate Freya quipped, but Freya could see she was just scared.
They all were.
They snuck out of the house, Freya and Alternate Freya gripping each other's hands tightly as they followed closely behind James, who every so often asked Freya for directions.
They'd almost made it to the TARDIS when they ran into trouble.
Quite literally.
Because that was when they were spotted.
"Identified. Humans without earpods," a mechanic voice droned from behind them. James pushed his way in front of Freya and Alternate Freya, holding the device in front of him.
"Can we leg it to the TARDIS?" James murmured. Freya shook her head.
"It's not too far away but they'd shoot us the moment we turned our backs to run," Freya admitted. The Cybermen moved closer.
There were three of them, all focusing in on the group. And they were all in front of them. The TARDIS was a ways behind them.
"Slowly inch backwards. We can hold them off," James murmured.
"You will be upgraded," one of the Cybermen said.
"Oh! Is that what's going on? Earpods broke last week. Sorry. Haven't had the chance to replace them," James said jovially as they took the tiniest step back.
"You will be upgraded," the Cybermen repeated.
"Wait!" Alternate Freya said, pushing her way to James's side.
The Cybermen stared blankly.
"You can't upgrade us yet. We're pregnant! We have tiny minds growing in our bodies," Alternate Freya said, pulling Freya in front alongside her. Freya's eyes widened at the implication.
"It would be difficult to harvest the baby's brains right now. You have to wait a few months. Then you can upgrade all of us. But you'd be killing a human brain. Wasn't the whole point of this to keep the human brain alive?" Alternate Freya bluffed.
"Statement is correct," one of the Cybermen said.
"Of course it's correct. I'm clever. Now, you can't convert us today. Come back in a few months," Alternate Freya said.
"You will come with us," the Cybermen said.
"Actually we can't. Bad for the baby, all this walking. We'll come to you in a few months," Freya piped up.
"You will come with us. All exceptions come to the Cybercontroller. The man and boy will be upgraded," the Cybermen said.
"The boy and man stay with us," Alternate Freya said coldly.
"They will be upgraded," the Cybermen repeated.
"No. They will not. We need them. We cannot walk without holding his hand," Freya lied.
"Information appears to be false," a Cyberman said.
"Take us all to your leader then," Freya said, hoping, no, praying, the Doctor was almost done and had almost fixed this.
"What are you doing?" James hissed.
"Buying us time. Hopefully," Freya murmured. She slid her hand into Alternate Freya's and Alternate Freya slid her hand into James's free hand.
They were marched towards the headquarters they'd left. However, just as they got to the door, the Cybermen froze.
And started to scream.
"Run!" James said, pulling both Freya's along with him as they took off running away from the factory.
They didn't get but across the road when it exploded. The impact threw the four of them. As soon as they hit the ground, James was up, helping both girls to sit up before moving Tony to the middle of them.
"How are you feeling? Any more cramps? Sharp pains? Sick feelings?" he asked, glancing between the two. Freya glanced down to see four charms dissolving from her bracelet into her skin.
"Almost miscarriage," Freya whispered, only for her eyes to widen.
"No! Almost miscarriage! I almost lost the baby! How do you feel?" Freya asked, immediately turning to Alternate Freya. Alternate Freya winced and Freya tore the bracelet from her wrist, wrapping it around Alternate Freya's wrist.
"Come on now, work for her too. Keep the baby safe," Freya pleaded, staring at the bracelet.
Alternate Freya winced.
"Cramps," she said, eyes widening. Freya locked the bracelet on Alternate Freya's wrist and placed her hand on her stomach.
"Come on. You can do it. Protect the baby. The baby's so like mine. Protect it," Freya begged, just as two charms slowly began dissolving. They tried moving towards Freya but she waved them towards Alternate Freya.
Slowly, they seeped into her stomach area. Alternate Freya relaxed as Freya pulled the bracelet off and tucked it on her own wrist. Another three charms dissolved into Freya's skin.
"What was that? And why did more go to you then her?" James asked, eyes narrowing on the bracelet.
"The Doctor's ship, it's sentient. She made me this bracelet to help me carry the baby full term. My baby's alien, and it adjusted my system to better carry the baby. It's protected me from miscarriage numerous times. And because my pregnancy's more high risk, it takes more to keep me safe," Freya admitted, wincing as she tried standing. Alternate Freya didn't seem to have a problem standing.
James scooped Freya up carefully.
"Tony, can you walk?" James asked the boy. Tony nodded solemnly, slipping his hand into his sister – no, his mother's – hand.
"I should be fine," Freya protested, but James shook his head.
"Do you feel fine, Freya?" James asked Alternate Freya. She nodded effortlessly.
"Feel good as new. He's right. You just said you're a high risk pregnancy. He should carry you. All the running and such couldn't have been good on you," Alternate Freya said.
So she let him carry her. They made their way back to the TARDIS, arriving about the same time as the Doctor and his current entourage. Minus Mrs. Moore.
His eyes widened when he saw her and realized they weren't in the TARDIS. He was instantly at her side, pulling her from James's arms and into his own.
"I thought I told you guys to head back to the TARDIS!" he exclaimed, staring at her.
"We had to save Freya's son," Freya said, gesturing towards the boy and Alternate Freya.
"Son?" the Doctor asked, eyebrows shooting up. Freya nodded.
"And he was carrying you because you got tired?" the Doctor asked critically.
"No. We were being escorted to the factory by Cybermen when it blew up. Threw both of us. The bracelet saved both of us," Freya explained. The Doctor's grip on her tightened.
"We still have some time before we have to leave. Do you want a tour?" the Doctor offered the group. No one protested, so he unlocked the door and led them inside. He sat Freya down on the seat before popping his head out.
"Well, come on, you lot!" he called.
"It's a box," Alternate Freya said.
"Just get in here," he ordered. Slowly, the entire group entered.
"It's bigger on the inside," Alternate Freya breathed as both Pete and Jake ran outside before coming back inside.
"Another dimension in here, isn't there?" James asked critically. The Doctor looked put out.
"What does it take to impress you?" he muttered.
"And what did you call this box?" Alternate Freya asked, stroking the coral struts subconsciously.
"The TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space," the Doctor said cheerfully, clearly in his element.
"Come on. I'll show you the pool," Rose said, tugging Pete and Jake along. Mickey tagged along after them.
"And this is how you swept her off her feet," James mused, examining the interior. Alternate Freya nodded.
"I'd be swept off my feet for sure," she said.
"She never stood a chance," the Doctor boasted, winking at Freya. Freya glanced down at her bracelet. There were only four charms left. She hoped nothing happened before the TARDIS was able to power up.
They stood there in silence, Alternate Freya and Tony examining the ship curiously while James just looked…sad.
"Freya…maybe Tony'd like to see the pool? Just go down that hallway. You'll find the others," Freya promised. Alternate Freya nodded immediately, grabbing the chance Freya had just offered her. The moment she was out of the room, Freya turned to James.
"Things'll be okay," she told him. James sighed and leaned against a coral strut, staring at her.
"Easy for you to say," he muttered.
"She thinks there's someone out there better suited for her. You know what I think? There's someone out there better suited for you," Freya reassured him.
"And that someone isn't you?" James asked hopefully, but Freya shook her head.
"No. I've found my perfect someone. And one day, you'll find yours," Freya reassured him.
"Your friend. Rose. She's not…she's single, yes?" James asked awkwardly, keeping his eyes anywhere but on them. The Doctor laughed.
"She is single," Freya said, shooting the Doctor a glare.
"But she's also coming back to our dimension with us," the Doctor reminded Freya. James's shoulders sank.
"Right. Maybe there's a Rose here," James said.
"Nope. Just a dog. Her name's Rose Tyler," the Doctor said. Freya shot him a glare.
"There might be. You never know. After all, you weren't an exact parallel of him, and the other him, if there is one, isn't like him either. So maybe there is a Rose Tyler out there for you. I didn't realize you were looking at Rose," Freya said slyly. Jame's ears turned red at her words.
"I wasn't looking!" he protested indignantly.
"Right. You'd like her though. I hope you manage to find someone," Freya told him earnestly. James sighed and nodded.
"You're leaving. How soon?" James asked. Freya glanced at the Doctor, who shrugged.
"A few hours or so. The cell takes 24 hours to charge," the Doctor explained. James shook his head in disbelief.
"My entire life has changed in less than 24 hours. That's a crazy thought. But thank you. You both opened my eyes. Is there anything I can do here, since you won't be around?" James offered. The Doctor nodded, tossing him a cell phone.
Rose's cell phone.
"That has the code on it to destroy the Cybermen. The code to override the emotion inhibitor. There are other Cybermen plants. You, along with Jake, can destroy them," the Doctor told him solemnly.
"Just call me the Defender of the Earth," James joked.
"Hey, Defender of the Earth, think you could give us a ride back home?" Alternate Freya teased from the doorway. James jumped slightly before nodding.
"I guess this is goodbye then," he said, glancing at Freya. Freya smiled and nodded.
"It was wonderful, meeting you. Don't worry about anything. Your life? It's going to be fantastic," Freya promised him, remembering her Doctor in that body's last words to her. James gave her that grin that made her ache and pulled her into a tight hug.
"And so will yours. If you ever get tired of the alien, have him drop you off in my world," James teased.
"I'll keep that in mind," Freya said solemnly before her grin broke out. Alternate Freya also gave her a hug before she left.
Pete and Jake ended up leaving next. Freya was coming back from the kitchen when she heard Mickey's confession.
"I'm staying here," Mickey said.
The mug in Freya's hands fell, shattering on the console grate.
"You can't!" Freya protested immediately. Mickey gave her a sad smile.
"I have nothing left there. Here I can be helpful. Useful," he said.
"What about Masen?" Freya asked him.
And Martha, she thought to herself.
"He'll be fine. He has Marie. But here? My gran's still alive. I can be useful," Mickey explained.
"You'd just leave us?" Rose asked, her voice quiet. Mickey turned and stared at her for a moment.
"Can you give me a reason to stay?" he asked her. Rose swallowed and said nothing. Mickey sighed.
"I didn't think so," he said. He nodded to the Doctor.
"It was nice travelling with you," he said. The Doctor stared at him.
"We can't ever come back," the Doctor warned him. Mickey gave him a bittersweet smile and nodded.
"I figured," he said before walking out of the TARDIS.
"Right. We need a good sleep. When you wake up, you'll be in your world," the Doctor said, moving quickly to scoop Freya out of the chair.
"Can we go back to my mum?" Rose asked quietly. The Doctor glanced over at her and nodded.
"That'll be our first stop," he promised her.
The Doctor carried her to their room and laid her down carefully, examining her before crawling into bed next to her.
"Bed rest. We're dropping Rose off and spending a week of your time relaxing. I don't want to risk anything," the Doctor warned her. Freya smiled and nodded.
"Can't argue with my Doctor," she said. Only to sober up.
"But what about Martha? We met her and Mickey in the future. How did that happen?" Freya asked nervously. The Doctor shook his head.
"It's too…timey wimey…to really figure out. Everything will be fine. Don't think about. Just sleep."
I was going to post this yesterday but I had to drive home yesterday from college. Nice long drive that was. But here it is! I hope you liked it! I really do! I enjoyed writing this chapter a lot! Just a heads up, the next chapter is an original chapter. :D That's my teaser for you.