So...I couldn't resist. That's the warning I leave you with.
Chapter 6: Gridlock
The Doctor bounced around the TARDIS, looking as though he were trying to make a tough decision.
"Just one trip. That's what I said. One trip in the TARDIS, and then home. Although I suppose we could stretch the definition for you, Martha. One trip trip into the past, one trip into the future. How do you fancy that?" the Doctor asked Martha.
"You can't leave James out. That's not fair," Freya pointed out, crossing her arms.
"I can too. My TARDIS," the Doctor pointed out.
"If you're going to be a jerk about it, you may have to leave me behind too. Again," Freya threatened. It was the last thing she wanted to threaten, but she couldn't help it. Ever since Martha had met the Doctor, she seemed to be shooting Freya more dirty looks and seemed to like Freya less. Freya really didn't want to be stuck with the Doctor and Martha alone.
Especially when Martha kept pointing out all the things Freya couldn't do anymore.
The Doctor's jaw stiffened but he didn't say another word, just turned to Martha, waiting for her answer.
"No complaints from me," Martha said.
"How about a different planet?" the Doctor suggested.
"Can we go to yours?" Martha asked eagerly.
Freya's heart dropped at her words. The Doctor stopped his movements.
"Ah, there's plenty of other places," the Doctor tried, but Martha shook her head.
"Come on, though. I mean, planet of the Time Lords. That's got to be worth a look. What's it like?" Martha wanted to know. Freya took a step towards the Doctor.
"Well, it's beautiful, yeah," the Doctor said slowly.
"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?" Martha asked, soaking up his words like a sponge.
"I suppose it is," the Doctor said with a nod, gripping the TARDIS so tight his hand turned bone white.
"Great big temples and cathedrals!" Martha guessed.
"Yeah," the Doctor murmured.
"Lots of planets in the sky?" Martha wanted to know.
"Martha!" Freya said, trying to cut her off. The Doctor shook his head at Freya, glancing back at Martha.
"The sky's a burnt orange, with the Citadel enclosed in a mighty glass dome, shining under the twin suns. Beyond that, the mountains go on forever. Slopes of deep red grass, capped with snow," the Doctor said quietly, lost in the memory.
"Can we go there?" Martha pleaded. The Doctor shook his head, snapping out of his daze.
"Nah. Where's the fun for me? I don't want to go home. Instead, this is much better. Year five billion and fifty-three, planet New Earth. Second hope of mankind. Fifty thousand light years from your old world, and we're slap bang in the middle of New New York. Although technicaly, it's the fifteenth New York from the original, so it's New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York. One of the most dazzling cities ever built," the Doctor said.
The Doctor dashed away from everyone and threw open the TARDIS doors, Martha following him closely.
"I thought you said his planet doesn't exist anymore," James whispered quietly.
"I did. It doesn't," Freya whispered back, following him outside right into the rain.
"Get over here!" the Doctor shouted at them from underneath a cover. Freya pulled the TARDIS door shut and ran over to him, James following her closely.
"Well, it looks like the same old Earth to me, on a Wednesday afternoon," Martha complained.
"Hold on, hold on. Let's have a look," the Doctor said, turning to a monitor on the wall. He aimed his sonic screwdriver at it, causing a woman's face to pop up.
"And the driving should be clear and easy, with fifteen extra lanes open for New New Jersey expressway," the voice said as it showed a picture of flying cars.
"Just like last time," Freya nodded.
"Exactly like that last time. This must be the lower levels, down in the base of the tower. Some sort of under-city," the Doctor said.
"You've brought me to the slums?" Martha asked in disgust.
"Much more interesting. It's all cocktails and glitter up there. This is the real city," the Doctor said happily.
"You'd enjoy anything," Martha teased.
"That's me! Ah, the rain's stopped. Better and better," the Doctor said with a grin, stepping out from under the covering.
"When you say last time, do you mean you two?" Martha asked, gesturing in between the Doctor and Freya.
"Er, yeah. It was," the Doctor said. He sounded slightly uncomfortable at her words.
"You're taking me to the same planets you two have already been to?" Martha asked, sounding frustrated.
"What's wrong with that?" Freya wanted to know. Martha sounded genuinely upset. Freya wasn't sure what was going on with Martha, but she was getting worried.
"It sounds like a lot of inside jokes to leave Martha and I out of the loop," James supplied. The glare Martha shot him told Freya that that was not her reasoning. The Doctor opened his mouth but the moment he did, the stall they'd been standing in front of opened up.
"Oh! You should have said. How long have you been there? Happy! You want Happy!" the man said. Another few hatches opened at his words, revealing women all looking to sell something.
"Customers. Customers! We've got customers," the one shouted gleefully.
"We're in business. Mother, open up the Mellow, and the Read," another one shouted.
"Happy happy, lovely happy," the man urged.
"Anger. Buy some anger!" another shouted. Freya took a step back, feeling anxiety rise in her.
"Get some Mellow. Makes you feel all bendy and soft all day long," another one said.
"Don't go to them. They'll rip you off. Do you want some Happy?" the man urged.
"No thanks," the Doctor said coldly, stepping away from them and closer to Freya. He wrapped his arm protectively around her, eyes darting up and down the streets suspiciously.
"Are they selling drugs?" Martha wanted to know.
"I think they're selling moods," James said, shooting a worried look at Freya.
"Same thing, isn't it?" Martha asked jokingly.
"I didn't know New New York sold moods," Freya said shakily. The Doctor shook his head.
"They won't by the time I'm through with them. Don't worry. Everything's going to be okay," the Doctor swore.
"Why is it so upsetting?" Martha wanted to know. The Doctor didn't answer, merely kept his eyes on all the people who started entering the marketplace. His grip on Freya tightened to the point where Freya could hardly breathe.
"You don't need to know," the Doctor said brusquely.
"Doctor," Freya said, pulling away from him slightly. His grip only let up slightly. Freya turned to Martha and James.
"Last time we encountered these drugs, I was kidnapped and drugged and almost forced into prostitution. I don't know how these version are, but the version I was drugged with…it was deadly," Freya admitted.
"It couldn't have been that deadly if you're still here," Martha pointed out.
"That's because the only way to cure it was for someone to rape her," the Doctor said angrily, shooting a glare at Martha. Freya happened to glance at James to see his eyes fill with understanding.
"Oh. I'm so sorry," James breathed.
"What? Am I missing something?" Martha wanted to know.
"Martha, before this incident the Doctor and I were not together. We were not a couple, outside of being slightly engaged. We were forced into the next stage of our relationship much too soon," Freya tried explaining.
"And that's where the baby came from, before you two had made it very far in your relationship, or marriage. Because with all the running, the two of you wouldn't have tried for a baby so soon," James realized. Freya's eyes widened.
"Speaking of babies, Lil' Red's still asleep in the TARDIS. I haven't heard from her since I laid her down. What sort of rubbish mother am I?" Freya asked in horror.
"One that hasn't had a baby yet," the Doctor reminded her.
"Nevertheless. I have to go find her. I'll be right back," Freya told the Doctor.
"Wait! We'll come with you," the Doctor said.
"I'm just going into the TARDIS. Safe place, remember? It's okay. Go yell at the shop owners, intimidate them. I'm sure you'll be good at that," Freya teased, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading back into the TARDIS.
It took her much longer than she expected to find Lil' Red's room. It was as if the TARDIS was purposefully taking her through twists and turns. When she finally came to the room, Lil' Red was on her way out of it.
"Oh! Mum. I didn't realize I was on this TARDIS," Lil' Red said.
"Yeah. We were on our way to a new adventure. Would you like to come, or do you need to be getting back?" Freya asked. Lil' Red's eyes widened.
"Oh, can I come along? I won't be in the way!" she begged.
"But you were just on an adventure with us," Freya said slowly before really looking at Lil' Red.
It wasn't the same Lil' Red.
This Lil' Red was younger, maybe two years younger? She looked to be about five. She spoke like she was much older though. Freya hadn't even noticed.
"Darling, how old are you?" Freya asked her.
"Four and half!" Lil' Red said proudly. Freya nodded.
"Right. Come along then," Freya said. Lil' Red giggled at her words and held up her arms expectantly. Freya hesitated before hoisting her onto her hip. She probably shouldn't be lifting things as heavy as Lil' Red, but Freya couldn't stand the thought of seeing disappointment on the four year old's face.
"How did you get on the TARDIS?" Freya wanted to know.
"I don't know. I woke up," Lil' Red said, rubbing her eyes. Freya and Lil' Red exited the TARDIS, only to be greeted by an empty street.
The Doctor'd wandered off. He couldn't have been that far off though. Freya doubted they'd been gone five minutes.
"Let's go find your Daddy," Freya said with a sigh.
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The Doctor's lungs burned as he coughed. Someone passed him a cup of something and he drained it instantly. Beside him, James's coughing seemed to die down as well.
"What were you two thinking, standing out there?" a voice asked him. The Doctor glanced up to see a cat man there. Ah.
"We were looking for our friend. She was taken," the Doctor said, his voice rasping slightly.
"Carjacked, most likely. Was she taken by two people?" the cat man asked.
"Yeah," the Doctor nodded.
"Doctor," James said quietly. The Doctor turned to him.
"Freya's still at the TARDIS. We need to get back to her," James said.
"We'd be happy to drop you off when we make it to the next stop," the cat man said.
"How long will that take?" the Doctor asked anxiously.
"Nine months?" the cat man guessed. The Doctor's eyes widened at that.
"We can't wait that long. She's pregnant. She'll have given birth by then. She needs us," James said vehemently.
"She NEEDS me," the Doctor growled at him.
"She needs someone to care for her and take care of her," James shot back.
"Which is me!" the Doctor retorted.
"Which is sometimes you. You're not reliable," James informed him.
"Still, we need to get back. Can't we just get back off at this exit?" the Doctor asked.
"We already passed it. We're stuck," the cat man said, although he looked apologetic upon hearing of Freya.
"We can call her. Tell her to stay in the TARDIS, maybe pilot it to come get us?" James asked.
"Freya doesn't know how to pilot the TARDIS," the Doctor pointed out.
"That sounds stupid. You've had her there for how many years, and you still haven't taught her to pilot it?" James asked scathingly.
"I don't need you telling me how to treat my wife!" the Doctor hissed at him.
"Someone ought to, or she may not be your wife for much longer," James threatened. James wilted after the words left his mouth. He pulled out his mobile from his pocket and sighed.
"No battery. Doesn't exactly help," James said, sinking to the ground.
"I can fix that," the Doctor said, his voice equally quiet. He took the phone and soniced it before handing it back to James.
"There. Now we can call her," the Doctor said. James handed the phone back to the Doctor.
"You call her. She is your wife," James said. The Doctor dialed her number quickly.
"Hello?" Freya's voice filled the car. The Doctor let out a sigh of relief.
"Freya! Good. Look, we're in a bit of a pickle. We're stuck in a car on the motorway and it looks like we'll be stuck for nine months," the Doctor said quickly.
"All three of you?" Freya asked in disbelief.
"No. Martha was kidnapped. That's why we're here. We were trying to save her. Listen, just stay in the TARDIS, okay? I can maybe give you instructions on how to fly her," the Doctor said.
"Is that my daddy?" a voice asked Freya. A voice sounding like Lil' Red.
But younger.
"Yes sweetheart. I'm trying to figure a way to get him out of trouble." Freya said. Her words were followed by a giggle.
"We have a bit of a problem. We're no longer in the TARDIS. I'm a bit lost. We figured you'd wandered off, so we wandered after you. Not sure where we are at the moment. It's looking slightly less sketchy and more sophisticated though," Freya said.
"Is it just me or does Lil' Red sound younger?" James asked the Doctor.
"She is. A younger version of her woke up in the TARDIS." Freya told them.
"So you're wandering around the streets where they have drugs with a five year old?" the Doctor asked in disbelief.
"Four and a half!" Lil' Red's voice retorted.
"Freya, get back to the TARDIS," the Doctor ordered.
"We will. We're going to grab some food first. I don't know the last time you got groceries was, but last time I checked the cabinets they were looking rather bare. And Lil' Red needs food," Freya said.
"No, Freya!" the Doctor protested.
"We'll be fine. We can take care of ourselves. We'll eat and find our way back to wherever we were. And I'll call you then so you can give me instructions as to how to come rescue you. If you're stuck there for nine months, what's an hour?" Freya asked him before hanging up.
"She hung up on me," the Doctor said in disbelief, staring at the phone.
"That would be Donna's influence on her," James agreed.
"I'm not sure I like it," the Doctor admitted.
"Neither am I, but Donna's a force to be reckoned with."
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Freya wandered into a tiny restaurant with bar, hoping it was too early for people to actually be drinking. She couldn't tell the time, not at the moment. The rainy day interfered with whatever method there was to tell sunlight from moonlight.
Still, Freya wandered inside and sat at a small table. When the waiter asked her what she wanted, she asked if they accepted credit cards, holding up the psychic paper. The waiter smiled and nodded, allowing Freya to order food for both her and Lil' Red.
The food, thankfully, seemed to be similar if not identical to food on Earth. For that Freya was grateful. She wasn't sure how she'd find something Lil' Red would like if she had to choose between alien foods she'd never even heard of.
"So. You said you weren't expecting to wake up in our TARDIS," Freya said, smiling at Lil' Red.
"Nah. I wake up in Bad Wolf's TARDIS," Lil' Red said as the waiter placed the food in front of them. Freya filed that bit of knowledge away as she started in on her own food. They had nearly finished eating when someone pulled up an empty chair from their table and seated themselves in it.
"Hello, and who might you be….Freya?" Jack stopped, eyes wide.
"Jack?" Freya asked, feeling equally shocked.
"Were you trying to hit on me?" Freya asked immediately. Jack's eyes went wide and he shook his head, only causing Lil' Red to giggle.
"You were too!" Lil' Red accused with a grin.
"I don't believe we've been introduced. Captain Jack Harkness," Jack said, offering his hand to Lil' Red. Lil' Red giggled at him.
"Uncle Jack. I know who you are," she said with a giggle. She took his hand and kissed it, just as Freya had seen him do to so many women before.
"Uncle Jack I am," Jack said, staring at her.
"Jack, this is my daughter, Lil' Red," Freya said.
"Ah. You and the Doctor got busy," Jack said, eyebrows waggling. Freya stared at him for a moment, confused.
"Jack…where are we, in your timeline? When's the last time you saw us?" Freya had to know.
"You two left me behind on Satellite Five. I was able to make my vortex manipulator make one last trip, and I landed here, about five years ago. What about you?" Jack asked.
"It's been about a year since I saw that you. I've seen future you quite a bit. Something about you becoming best friends with my son," Freya teased him.
"Oh, that sounds like an adventure. Is he like his father?" Jack wanted to know.
"Bad Wolf, your friend, is a bit like the Doctor when you knew him. I get that Lil' Red's like the new version of him," Freya pointed out.
"Ah. Yeah. I heard legends of the Time Lords and their tricks. Now tell me, what are you doing here?" Jack asked.
"Bit of trouble. Why else?" Freya retorted.
"Of course. The Doctor couldn't stay out of trouble to save his life. What danger is lurking this time?" Jack asked.
"Not sure. He said he's trapped on the motorway for nine months unless I can get back to the TARDIS and get it to him. Aparently our newest companion was kidnapped," Freya said with a sigh.
"You two have a companion?" Jack asked.
"Two, actually. Martha Jones and James McCrimmon. The Doctor doesn't like James much though, but he doesn't have a choice," Freya said with a grin.
"I'm glad to see you sticking up for yourself. It's a welcoming change," Jack said earnestly.
"Jack, are you happy here?" Freya asked, the words leaving her mouth before she'd even registered what she was saying.
"I guess so," Jack said with a shrug.
"We could take you somewhere, somewhere you'd be happier," Freya said earnestly.
"Not with you guys?" Jack asked cheekily.
"I'm not sure that'd be a good idea. The Doctor's already so upset about having James aboard. I can't imagine how he'd act if both you and James were there," Freya said apologetically.
"What if James and I had something?" Jack asked, eyebrows waggling at Freya. Freya couldn't resist giggling at his words.
"Jack, James is from an alternate reality. He is the Doctor's double, the last Doctor, the one you knew," Freya said.
"Oh. Then I most certainly wouldn't mind having something with him," Jack said with an appreciative grin.
"Mommy, what does Uncle Jack mean?" Lil' Red asked, eyes wide.
"He means something he'll explain to you in full detail when you're older," Freya said, shooting Jack a warning look. Jack looked slightly stricken at her words.
"I don't want to give her that talk! Isn't that your job?" Jack asked, his voice coming out slightly higher than normal.
"It would have been my job, had you not opened your mouth," Freya said with a grin. Freya glanced outside to see it had started raining again.
"Nice. We're going to have to walk through the rain back to the TARDIS. I'm not even sure where the TARDIS is," Freya mumbled to herself.
"I do!" Lil' Red said excitedly.
"You remember how to get back to the TARDIS?" Freya asked Lil' Red. She nodded vehemently before pointing to Jack's wrist, where the Vortex Manipulator rested.
"Sorry kid. It doesn't work anymore," Jack said, but Lil' Red kept her hand out. Jack sighed and handed it to her. Lil' Red hit a few buttons and poked at an area of it before giving it back to Jack.
"It'll take us back to the TARDIS now," Lil' Red said happily. Jack shot Freya a look.
"I'm not sure," Freya answered his unspoken question. And she wasn't. She had no idea exactly how smart Lil' Red was. Obviously, the girl was smarter than a normal human, but that was what she was. Human. Freya wasn't sure.
"I'm right. Daddy says I'm brilliant," Lil' Red said.
"We can test it then," Jack said, taking Freya's hand. He held it over the device as Lil' Red placed her own hand under Freya's, in between Jack's hand and Freya's.
"Here goes nothing," Jack said before hitting the button.
It felt like every atom in Freya's being was ripped apart. And then a sudden collision with the ground. Freya groaned as she opened her eyes.
They weren't in the TARDIS. In fact, they were in a dusty room, and she was certain she spotted a skeleton over in the room adjacent to them. She needed to make sure Lil' Red did not see that.
"No offense, kid, but I don't think this is the TARDIS," Jack said. Lil' Red looked positively chagrinned as she sniffled.
"But you are where you ought to be."
Freya spun around to see the Face of Boe staring at her, an almost grin on his head. Jack and Lil' Red turned around as well.
"Who are you?" Lil' Red wanted to know.
"Lil' Red, this is the Face of Boe. Jack, meet the Face of Boe," Freya said.
"Funny. That's what they used to call me," Jack said, puffing up his chest slightly as he regarded the Face of Boe. Boe chuckled a bit at him.
"Indeed they did, Captain," the Face of Boe said.
"Is there a reason we were brought here, Boe?" Freya asked kindly.
"I wanted to see you. The lot of you, one last time. The Doctor and your friends should be on their way here any minute," the Face of Boe explained.
"How do they know to come here? I didn't know you were here," Freya said with a frown.
"Do you remember Novice Hame? My nurse at the hospital?" the Face of Boe asked.
"Of course. She was part of the cat nuns trying to kill thousands of people," Freya said, her mind flitting back to Lady Cassandra and the suppression she'd went through. She shuddered at the thought, and she was certain she felt baby Bad Wolf shudder as well.
"Novice Hame has stayed with me many years, assisting me as I grow older. She has gone after them," the Face of Boe explained. Freya nodded tersely. Lil' Red skipped over and sat herself down next to the Face of Boe.
"I like you. You're pretty, and familiar," Lil' Red said, tilting her head as she placed her hand on the glass. They could all hear his chuckling.
"Not to be disrespectful, but you're just a head. How exactly did you become just a head?" Jack asked, staring at him curiously.
"I had an encounter with Headless Monks. Nasty fellows, they are," the Face of Boe said.
"Well, I have to say, looking pretty good. For being just a head," Jack said with a wink. Again, their heads were filled with the chuckles of the Face of Boe.
"Not long now before they get here. Why don't you two sit?" the Face of Boe asked. Freya immediately sank down next to Lil' Red, wrapping an arm around her.
"Uncle Jack, you said they used to call you the Face of Boe?" Lil' Red asked, her brown eyes wide as she regarded the man she viewed as her uncle.
"Yeah. I was the first person to sign up under the Time Agency. I was even a poster boy," Jack said with a wink. Lil' Red turned her head up to Freya, a wide grin forming on her face.
"Mommy," Lil' Red began, tugging on her ear in a manner Freya had seen the Doctor do far too many times. Lil' Red leaned up and cupped her hands around Freya's ear.
"I think Jack becomes the Face of Boe," Lil' Red whispered before giggling.
"No….that couldn't….maybe?" Freya stopped, thinking about it. Her eyes widened at the conclusion.
"Nah," she said in disbelief.
"What?" Jack asked, staring suspiciously at them.
"Nothing," Freya said quickly. She glanced at the Face of Boe, who nodded slowly and joined in with her laughter.
"I still don't get it," Jack said, staring at them.
"And you wouldn't," Freya said with a grin as a crash was heard from the next room.
"Oh! Rough teleport! Ow. You can go straight back down there and teleport people out, starting with Martha," the Doctor's voice echoed into the room.
I only had the power for one trip," a voice responded.
"Then get some more! Where are we?" the Doctor demanded.
"High above, in the over-city," the voice said once more. Novice Hame, Freya realized.
"Good, because you can tell the Senate of New New York I'd like a word. They have got thousands of people trapped on the motorway. Millions!" the Doctor shouted angrily.
"But you're inside the Senate, right now. May the Goddess Santori bless them," Novice Hame said sadly. Freya's eyes widened at the words. The skeletons she'd seen…that was the Senate? Who was running the city?
"They died, Doctor. The city died," Novice Hame said. Freya glanced over at Lil' Red in alarm, but she wasn't paying a bit of attention. She seemed to be conversing with the Face of Boe. Boe caught her eyes and nodded slightly.
Jack gripped her arm, moving a bit closer.
"How long's it been like this?" the Doctor asked, his voice more subdued now.
"Twenty four years," Novice Hame responded.
"All of them? Everyone? What happened?" the Doctor asked.
"A new chemical, a new mood. They called it Bliss. Everyone tried it. They couldn't stop. A virus mutated inside the compound and became airborne. Everything perished. Even the virus, in the end. It killed the world in seven minutes flat. There was just enough time to close down the walkways and the flyovers, sealing off the undercity. Those people on the motorway aren't lost, Doctor. They were saved," Novice Hame said. Freya felt sick at the words and barely managed to make it to what appeared to be a trashcan before vomiting into it. Jack held back her hair as she did.
"So the whole thing down there is running on automatic. Is someone else here?" the Doctor asked.
"There's not enough power to get them out down there. We did all we could to stop the system from choking," Novice Hame said.
"Who's we?" the Doctor asked, his voice coming closer.
"He protected me. And he has waited for you, these long years," she said as they came closer.
"Doctor," Boe called out. The Doctor ran intot he room.
"The Face of Boe! And Freya? And Jack? And Lil' Red?" the Doctor said, looking quite lost at the group of them. James walked in slowly behind him, silent.
"I knew you would come," the Face of Boe murmured.
"Back in the old days, I was made his nurse as penance for my sin," Novice Hame said. James moved towards Freya as she managed to straighten up. Jack pulled out a few breath mints, handing them to her with a wink.
He was given a scowl by James.
"Old friend, what happened to you?" the Doctor asked Boe as he moved towards Freya.
"Failing," Boe said weakly.
"He protected me from the virus by shrouding me in his smoke. But with no one to maintain it, the City's power died. The under-city would have fallen into the sea," Novice Hame said.
"Captain Jack Harkness. And WHO might you be?" Jack asked James with a smile that left Lil' Red giggling.
"Jack! Not the time!" the Doctor barked, not even turning around.
"That the new Doctor? He hasn't changed," Jack said with a grumble. The Doctor faced Boe once more.
"So he saved them," the Doctor said, connecting right back into his other conversation with ease.
"The Face of Boe wired himself into the mainframe. He's giving his life force just to keep things running," Novice Hame said.
"Who's he?' James asked, staring at the Face of Boe.
"James, meet the Face of Boe. He's one of my oldest friends," Freya said earnestly, staring at the Face of Boe. He caught her eye and gave her a wink, one that elicited a watery laugh from Freya.
"No winking at my girl," Jack said, slinging his arm around Freya.
"Your girl?" James scoffed at him.
"Boys," Freya said.
"But there are planets out there. You could have called for help," the Doctor stated to Novice Hame.
"The last act of the Senate was to declare New Earth unsafe. The automatic quarantine lasts for one hundred years," Novice Hame said regretfully.
"And Boe can't last that long," Freya finished mournfully. She stepped away from both boys and knelt alongside Lil' Red, placing her own hand alongside her daughters on the glass.
"So the two of you stayed here, on your own for all these years," the Doctor said in awe.
"We had no choice," Novice Hame said.
"Yes, you did," the Doctor corrected her.
"Save them, Doctor. Save them," the Face of Boe begged. The Doctor dashed over to the computer, sonicking it and such as he dashed about. The Face of Boe closed his eyes, still breathing but slower.
"Car four six five diamond six! It still registers! That's Martha! I knew she was good. Novice Hame, hold that in place. Think, think, think, think, think! Take the residual energy, invert it, feed it through the electricity grid!" the Doctor spoke aloud.
"There isn't enough power," Novice Hame told him.
"Jack, go help him," Freya suggested, never taking her eyes off of Boe. Lil' Red's eyes widened as she stared at Boe, still having her own silent conversation with him.
"No," she breathed sadly.
"Oh, you've got power. You've got me. I'm brilliant with computers, just you watch. Hame, every switch on that bank up to maximum. I can't power up the city, but all the city needs is people," the Doctor said manically.
"So what are you going to do?" Novice Hame asked. The Doctor threw a big switch only for the power to go out.
"No, No, no, no, no, no, no!" the Doctor shouted angrily.
"The transformers are blocked. The signal can't get through," the Doctor said, running his hands anxiously though his hair.
"Doctor," Boe said.
"Yeah, hold on, not now," the Doctor said, not turning around.
"I give you my last," Boe said as he breathed out. The power to computer came back on and Freya gasped in horror.
"No. Don't. You can't," Freya whispered, pressing her other hand against the glass as well.
"Freya, look after him. Don't let him die. Don't you go dying on me, you big old face. You've got to see this. The open road. Ha!" the Doctor said excitedly.
He started talking on the monitor to someone else, but Freya stopped paying attention. All she could see was the minute cracks that were starting to appear in the glass of Boe's tank.
"Move back, Freya. I don't want to hurt you and Lil' Red," Boe's words echoed only in her mind.
"No. I won't leave," Freya said, her voice choking up with her tears. She had saved Jack. She had brought him back to life. She'd kept him alive. And somehow, despite all odds, here he was, still alive after all these years. This was her doing. She did, however, pry Lil' Red away and move the girl behind her.
"Doctor," Freya called as the crack grew. A second later, the glass shattered and the Face of Boe fell forward onto the ground. Freya scooted through the grass, wrapping her arms around Boe the best she could, cradling him.
"It's going to be okay," Freya murmured to him, stroking the side of his head. He was still breathing, his breaths labored.
"That feels….so good," the Face of Boe said slowly. Lil' Red moved closer, only for Jack to stop her. He shrugged off his jacket and then tugged off his shirt, handing her the shirt.
"Sit on that. So you don't cut yourself up," Jack told her with a small smile before shrugging his jacket back on. Lil' Red nodded and dropped the shirt next to Freya before sitting down, resting her own hands against his face.
"You don't have to die. Stay alive," Freya begged.
"Everyone dies," Boe told her gently.
"But not you," Lil' Red said, her own voice cracking. Tears obscured Freya's vision.
"Doctor?" a voice called out. Martha. Martha was there.
"Over here," the Doctor said, his voice oddly emotionless. Freya didn't even dare glance up. The Face of Boe was shaking slightly in her arms.
"I saved you once. I can do it again," Freya said, more to herself than anyone else.
"No. It is my time," the Face of Boe told her.
"Doctor! What happened out there?" Martha asked.
"What's that?" she asked. Freya glanced up to see her pointing at Boe.
"This is my friend, the Face of Boe. Not a thing," Freya bit out before pulling Boe to her once more.
"And this is Hame. She's a cat. Don't worry. He's the one that saved you, not me," the Doctor told her.
"My lord gave his life to save the city, and now he's dying," Novice Hame said mournfully.
"No, don't say that. Not old Boe. Plenty of life left," the Doctor said.
"You like that, don't you? Someone calling you a lord?" Freya managed to joke before another sob ripped itself from her throat.
"It's good to breathe the air once again," Boe said slowly.
"Who is he?" Martha asked.
"I don't even know. Legend says the Face of Boe has lived for billions of years. Isn't that right? And you're not about to give up now," the Doctor said.
"He has lived that long. So long," Freya murmured sadly.
"Everything has its time. You know that, old friend, better than most," Boe told the Docotr.
"The legend says more," Novice Hame implied.
"Don't. There's no need for that," the Doctor interrupted her.
"It says that the Face of Boe will speak his final secret to a traveler," Novice Hame said.
"Yeah, but not yet. Who needs secrets, eh?" the Doctor asked.
"I have seen so much. Perhaps too much. All thanks to you, Freya. I am the last of my kind, as you are the last of yours, Doctor," the Face of Boe said.
"That's why we have to survive. Both of us. Don't go," the Doctor begged, kneeling alongside Freya and Lil' Red.
"You can't go. Who's going to sing me silly songs?" Lil' Red asked as tears leaked from her eyes.
"I still will, Little One," the Face of boe told her gently.
"I must go though. But know this, Time Lord. You are not alone."
Boe breathed in and exhaled before his eyes sank shut.
Tears sprang into Freya's eyes as she let go of Boe, choosing instead to grip Lil' Red to her.
"Had you met him other than the times with me?" the Doctor asked Freya curiously. Freya couldn't even form words.
"You don't even know who he was," Freya managed to say before her throat closed with the sobs.
Freya wasn't sure how long she sobbed on the ground before arms pulled her to her feet. The Doctor. He sat her down in a chair, Lil' Red still clinging to her with her own tears, as the Doctor patched up Freya's bloody knees. Freya hadn't even felt the glass.
Once Freya was fixed up, the Doctor was lifting her once more. Lil' Red was passed to James, who carried the girl carefully. Martha and Jack followed closely behind.
As they left the room, Freya glanced over her shoulder just in time to see a woman appear, walking out of a closet and lay a small lily in front of the Face of Boe before giving him a kiss on the forehead and closing his eyes.
By the time they reached the area where the TARDIS was parked, Freya had managed to stop crying.
"We need to get Lil' Red back to her whoever is watching her," Freya said.
"I can take her," Jack said, reaching to take her from James.
"Are you sure? The Vortex Manipulator didn't work too well last time," Freya pointed out.
"But she got us where we needed to go. How about it, Lil' Bit? Wanna take a trip with Uncle Jack?" Jack asked her with a wink. Lil' Red sniffled, staring up at him.
"Can you sing to me?" she implored, staring up at him with wide brown eyes.
"I can do my best," Jack said, shooting Freya an uncomfortable look.
"He can sing for you," Freya promised before kissing her forehead. Lil' Red gripped Jack's Vortex Manipulator before reaching for the Doctor.
"Daddy," she murmured. The Doctor was at her side instantly.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" the Doctor asked her.
"Am I going to die too?" Lil' Red asked, tearstains on her cheeks. Freya's heart broke at her words. She moved to the Doctor's side, staring down at the heartbroken little girl.
"We all die in the end. It's how we are," the Doctor said.
"But Bad Wolf won't die. Why do I have to?" Lil' Red asked fearfully. The Doctor leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, sweetheart," the Doctor murmured as Jack hit the Vortex Manipulator and disappeared.
"All closed down," the Doctor said, eyes moist as he glanced about the area.
"Happy?" Martha joked.
"Happy Happy. New New York can start again. And they've got Novice Hame. Just what they city needs. Cats in charge. Come on, time we were off," the Doctor said.
"But what did he mean, the Face of Boe? You're not alone," Martha said.
"Nothing," Freya said quickly.
"I don't know," the Doctor corrected her.
"You've got me. And Freya and James. Is that what he meant?" Martha asked.
"I don't think so. Sorry," the Doctor said apologetically.
"Then what?" Martha asked.
"Doesn't matter. Back to the TARDIS, off we go," the Doctor said. Martha glared at him and pulled a rusty chair out, sitting herself down in it.
"All right, are you staying?" the Doctor asked her.
"Til you talk to me properly, yes. He said last of your kind. What does that mean?" Martha asked.
"Please, Martha, just drop it," Freya begged, but Martha ignored her.
"You don't really talk. You never say. Why not?" Martha persisted.
"I lied to you," the Doctor said softly. Martha stared at him. Freya moved closer, slipping her hand into his. He squeezed it tightly.
"I lied to you, because I liked it. I could pretend. Just for a bit, I could imagine they were still alive, underneath a burnt orange sky. I'm not just a Time Lord. I'm the last of the Time Lords. The Face of Boe was wrong. There's no one else," the Doctor said miserably.
"Yes. There is. Bad Wolf is here," Freya pointed out.
"But he's not always around. And he's my son. There's a difference," the Doctor said bitterly.
"What happened?" James asked this time, his voice quiet. He knew that the Doctor's people were gone, but Freya had not gone into detail with him.
"There was a war. A Time War. The last Great Time War. My people fought a race called the Daleks, for the sake of all creation. And they lost. They lost. Everyone lost. They're all gone now. My family, my friends, even that sky," the Doctor said mournfully. Freya roped her arm around his waist, pulling him closer before wrapping her other arm around him.
"Oh, you should have seen it, that old planet. The second sun would rise in the south, and the mountains would shine. The leaves on the trees were silver, and when they caught the light every morning, it looked like a forest on fire. When the autumn came, the breeze would blow through the branches like a song," the Doctor said, lost in his memories.
What did you think? Different, huh? I didn't want it to be like the original, and Freya is not able to run much at the moment. I will tell you, Bad Wolf's birth is coming! Get excited! But the sad part of that is Freya is not able to run, so it is harder for her to keep up until the birth happens.
Leave me a review! I got this out extra early for you guys, so I'd love some reviews and feedback. And to those of you who want sexy time with Freya and the Doctor, I'm sorry, but not at the moment. They aren't just gonna immediately get along here in that way at the moment. Yes, they obviously have another kid eventually, but that doesn't mean there are not ups and downs along the way. Just sit tight and hold on for the ride that is their relationship. Any guesses where the birth will happen? ;)
Andi