Chapter Fifteen: Hope and Faith
It was nice for the Doctor to be able to step out of the TARDIS and explore parts of Storybrooke every once in a while, especially when there were those that requested his presence, such as the moment James came to him about a discovery the Dwarves made in the mines. He went there with James, Henry, and Mother Superior in the squad car, which the Doctor was thrilled about, considering it was his first time in one – at least to his recollection. Once they arrived in the mines, Happy led them to the part of the caverns where several sparkling blue diamonds were encrusted at the top.
The Doctor scanned the diamonds with the sonic screwdriver. As he had done so, Henry began to ask, "Are those…?"
"Diamonds," answered the Doctor, who glanced at the sonic screwdriver's readings with delight. "Yes, Henry. These sparkly-shimmery objects you see above you are in fact magical diamonds – the kind that makes fairy dust." He then lightly tapped the sonic screwdriver and added, "Trust the sonic."
"No offense, Doc, but I trust my eyes more than your 'magic wand.'" Grumpy jested.
"The magic brought the diamonds back." Mother Superior said. "We just need to refine them – grind them up." She then turned to James and asked, "Do you still have what remains of Jefferson's hat?" James reached into a satchel that he had been carrying the hat inside with him, handing it over to her. "Lock this up. Keep it safe, because by this time tomorrow, we'll have enough magic dust to make it work again."
"So Mary Margaret, Emma, and Jack…" Henry started to say, before James finished his thought for him.
"That's right, kid. We're bringing 'em home."
Charming shared a brief glance with the Doctor, who smiled but with a hint of disparity. There was still another matter entirely that troubled him, and it involved River Song. Though Jack, Emma, and Mary Margaret would return to Storybrooke, River was still somewhere in unknown space – somewhere that not even magic could bring her back.
A celebration was thrown at Granny's Dinner for the discovery of the diamonds, and the Doctor just could not pass on the invite from everyone to come, especially when it meant that he could see Red again. While sharing a drink of root beer with the crowd, the Doctor kept himself apart from them, seated at one of the booths. He watched James celebrate with Mother Superior, Belle, and the Dwarves, sharing one particular joke with Grumpy about the fall he took while in the mines – the fall that led to their discovery of the diamonds.
The Doctor then caught sight of Ruby as she went to another booth to pick up dishes. He was just about to get up from his booth until he suddenly spotted a man step out from the back of the diner and speak to her. The guy, from what the Doctor could gather, looked to be someone special to her from the casual way the both of them spoke to each other. It was possible this fellow was someone she once loved in the world before Storybrooke, which – in that case – made her unavailable for the Doctor to chat with that night.
Feeling as if he had no part in the festivities to begin with, the Doctor got up from his booth and left Granny's. Belle spotted him as he left, which prompted her to set down her glass of root beer and follow the Doctor outside. She caught him just as he reached archway. "You're leaving the party already?"
He turned as soon as he heard her voice, feeling sheepish for being caught. "Oh? Uh…I just didn't feel like celebrating tonight."
His response made Belle concerned. "Is everything alright?"
The Doctor hesitated in being open with her, but he knew she deserved an honest answer. "No," he managed to get out. "No, I'm not." He walked towards Belle as he continued: "We can bring Emma, Mary Margaret, and Jack back, but there's still one person I just cannot bring back."
"Who is it?" Belle inquired.
"Her name's River…River Song. She disappeared from me the moment I came to this town. She told me that I was supposed to help everyone here, but before I could ask how or why, she vanished before my very eyes. I can't even begin to guess where she might be right now…and I'm scared that I'll never see her again."
Belle felt his despair; when he was close enough for her to reach him, she took one of his hands and warmly held it with both of hers. "You helped me not to give up hope and faith that Rumplestiltskin could change. Maybe it's time now for you to follow your own advice for your love."
The Doctor's face registered surprise. "H-How did you know we are in love?"
Belle chuckled. "Trust me, Doctor. I know a person in love when I see one."
He nodded and smiled at her, placing his other hand over the two she had on his first one. The comforting moment was soon disrupted by someone who briskly walked beside them, bumping shoulders with the Doctor along the way without even uttering "Excuse me."
Belle glared at the rude stranger and angrily exclaimed, "It wouldn't hurt to show some courtesy!"
The stranger, who neared the entrance to Granny's, turned around and glared back at Belle and the Doctor; he didn't say a word to either of them before returning to his entry into the diner.
"What a very rude man!" She turned back to the Doctor and asked, "Do you know who he is?"
The Doctor shook his head. "No. Do you?"
"Certainly not."
The two looked back to the diner, both heavily curious.