Chapter 4

Jack sat up and rubbed his eyes. Amy's head slipped off his shoulder. He caught her and propped her up against the doorway they had slept in. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was or why he was there. Then he saw Big Ben in the distance and remembered.

Jack yawned and pulled his watch out of his pocket. It was 7:30.

"Oh, man," he said to no one in particular. "They start shooting in an hour and a half." Jack knelt down and shook Amy awake.

"It's early," Amy groaned without opening her eyes. "Rory…" Then her eyelids fluttered open. She blushed. "Sorry. Not quite awake. Some coffee would be nice."

Jack helped Amy to her feet.

"I think there's a cafe about a block from here. Let's see if it's open."

"Okay," said Amy. "What time is it?"

"Seven thirty," said Jack. "They don't start filming for an hour and a half. We've got some time."

Jack and Amy slipped quietly down the street. They reached the corner of an empty intersection.

"We're on the wrong side of the river," said Jack.

"That way," said Amy pointing to a sign. The sign had an arrow and explained briefly that the arrow pointed toward a bridge.

"Good thinking," said Jack. He didn't admit that he hadn't spotted the sign at all. Jack and Amy turned the corner and walked in the direction of the arrow. Jack decided to make smalltalk to pass the time.

"So, how's Rory?" he asked. His American accent made Amy wince.

"I haven't been able to call him since we got stuck," she replied in her Scottish brogue. "I'm sure he's worried. His poor wife, stuck with a strange man and without the Doctor."

"A strange, handsome man," Jack corrected. "We've got the TARDIS. We just need to figure out what we need to find the Doctor."

"Jack, I've been thinking, and I think I know what it is."

"What? You didn't tell me before? Why not? It's important!"

"Are you going to let me tell you?" Amy interrupted his rant. She sighed sarcastically. "I think we need the sonic screwdriver."

"Wow, she's something." said Jack under his breath. "Ok, good thinking," he said to Amy. "Where do you think it is?"

"I don't know," said Amy. "The Doctor doesn't have it, he said so before he vanished, and the TARDIS would have helped him find it if it were inside."

Jack fell silent. Amy was deep in thought, so the two walked in silence until they had reached the bridge and were halfway across the Thames.

Amy broke the silence. "Where are we going, Jack?" she asked.

"Big Ben," said Jack. Amy nodded. Silence fell once more. Suddenly, Amy grinned.

"What are you smiling about?" asked Jack.

Amy put on a raspy voice. "Silence will fall."

"Doctor who?" said Jack irritably. Amy rolled her eyes, then widened them.

"Do you think that has something to do with the telly programme? That was its name. Doctor Who!"

"Maybe," said Jack excitedly, "we're in a parallel universe where our lives with the Doctor are actually a TV show!"

"Then why aren't we the companions? Why does the Doctor look nothing like the Doctor?"

"Maybe that big-haired guy is a past regeneration of the Doctor."

"A past what?"

"Regeneration. Instead of dying like you, the Doctor just changes the way he looks and keeps on going. Anyway, I think we haven't happened yet. We might not happen for 50 years, who knows?"

"Do you regenerate?" said Amy. After all, Jack had told her he was immortal.

"No. I just don't die. I'm gonna stay my same, sexy self until the end of timey-wimey."

"Come on," said Amy. "We have to see what time the tower opens." She walked a little faster. Jack lengthened his stride to keep up.

After a time, they reached the base of the clock tower. Or at least, they got as close as they could. There was a fence around it. A uniformed guard stood in front of a gate.

"We can't get in!" cried Amy.

"Yes, we can," said Jack.

"What do you mean?" asked Amy. "Can't you read the sign above the guard's head?"

"Of course I can," said Jack. "It says, 'Visitors must have a pass from their corresponding MP to tour the tower'. You're forgetting the Doctor's favorite trick: the Psychic Paper. It's right…" Jack checked his pockets. "Oh, man! I left it in the TARDIS!"