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River, now being held tightly by the Weeping Angel she'd been brought to see, was still doing her best to be the calm and collected one. She knew Amy just wanted to save Rory from wherever he was being held, and that the Doctor was never good at not fishing for spoilers, but if they read ahead and something bad were to happen, there was no way of stopping it. At least if they went in blind, they'd stand a chance at changing it.
"But if River's going to write that book, she'd make it useful, yeah?" Amy pointed out from the doorway, having been chastised by the Doctor for reading ahead when she wasn't supposed to.
"Well, I'll certainly try." River agreed as the Doctor flopped onto a sofa behind her, "But we can't read ahead. It's too dangerous."
"I know," Amy retorted, "but there must be something we can look at."
"What, a page of handy hints, previews, spoiler-free?" The Doctor scoffed. Amy paused for only a moment, straightening up smugly.
"Chapter titles." She replied and the Doctor snapped his fingers, pointing at her, embarrassed by his previous tone as he took out the book and read through the chapter titles. Chapter 10 – The Roman in the Cellar.
"He's in the cellar." The Doctor told them, slightly amazed. Amy reached out to him, making grabbing motions in the air.
"Gimme." She demanded. The Doctor reached into his pocket, taking out his screwdriver and chucking it to Amy, who dashed off without waiting for him. He got up after her, giving River a quick, reassuring rub on the arm before heading to the door, flicking the book open again to check the rest of the titles for clues to what was happening.
Chapter 11 – Death at Winter Quay
Chapter 12 – Amelia's Last Farewell
Chapter 13 – The Death of the Time Child.
His hearts stopped, as did he as he read the last three chapter titles over and over again. River called over to him, asking what was wrong but he couldn't speak. He reached out, holding onto the back of a nearby chair for support. Because he'd read it now, even just the chapter titles meant that it couldn't be changed. His Amelia was leaving him forever. His Amelia Pond, his Amy Williams. The girl who waited for him to come back, her 'last farewell'. His arm dropped, the book hanging limply at his side.
"Doctor. Doctor, what is it? Tell me." River asked again but he didn't reply, his mind racing as he continued to stare, barely noticing anything else. He had to save her, somehow, he couldn't let Amy leave them both behind. There might have been another chapter. He lifted the book again, seeing the last chapter title and being vaguely confused before it hit him like a train. The Time Child. His Danni. Amelia and his Danni-Girl. His hands clenched around the book, lifting it in rage as if he was going to smack himself on the head.
"It's the Angels. The Weeping Angels!" Danni explained frantically, "They're coming for me, this is it! Gwyneth, my parents! Don't let them get me, please come get me. I can't go home, I can't!"
"Okay, I know that face." River stated, panicking slightly now herself, "Calm down!"
"No!" He screamed, chucking the book as far away from him as possible. He turned and stormed towards the door, not even able to look at River. He had to find Danni, he had to find her and save her.
"Calm down!" She shouted again, "Talk to me! Doctor!" He stopped, spinning, eyes blazing in the rage he felt towards her. He always knew she would be trouble, from the moment he met her. And this was it, this was the culmination of everything. Because she had to write the stupid book, he was going to lose Danni and Amy forever. It was all her fault.
"No!" He shouted again, storming back over to her, face right up in her own, "You get your wrist out." He snarled at her, "You get your wrist out without breaking it." He turned to leave, letting her deal with the Angel on her own. They could have her, he had more important things to worry about.
"How?" She cried after him and he stopped to glare at her.
"I don't know. Just do it! Change the future!" He commanded, "Because if she dies, River, so do you." With that he followed Amy, heading towards the cellar to save Rory. River glanced at her wrist, having no idea what to do now. The Angel had such a tight grip on her, how could she get out without breaking her own wrist in the process?
The bright flash of light behind her startled her more than usual, she had been in such deep thought over how to do as the Doctor asked.
"Melody, sweetie, it's just me." Danni's voice told her and she smiled, relaxing slightly.
"I'll warn you know, your old man is in one hell of a mood." River replied and Danni nodded to herself, making her way over to River and picking up the book the Doctor had chucked away. She flicked to the chapter list.
"Yeah, he will be." She replied, "'Chapter 10 – The Roman in the Cellar. Chapter 11 – Death at Winter Quay. Chapter 12 – Amelia's Last Farewell...' Hang on,chapter 13?" There hadn't been a Chapter 13 in her copy, but there it was. She chuckled hollowly to herself, "Chapter 13 – The Death of the Time Child'. Oh, I bet the poor bugger didn't know what to do with that."
"Death of the Time Child?" River repeated, "Why would I put that there?"
"To warn him." Danni suggested, "It's happening pretty soon, by the looks of things. And there's no changing it, is there?" She stood next to River, nodding to her wrist pointedly, "You can't do it without breaking your wrist, can you?" River shook her head.
"I can't." She admitted, looking devastated, "I'm sorry, sweetie." Danni smiled softly at her, reaching up and cupping her face.
"Don't be." She promised, "It's okay. I'm okay with it. My life has been wonderful, I wouldn't change it. Not one line." She reached under the reaching arm of the Angel and took River's hand, "Now, Little Melody, you can do this. On the count of three, yeah?" River nodded, "One... two..."
~0~0~0~
River and Danni headed down the stairs as the Doctor and Amy appeared out of the basement, both looking panicked. The Doctor blinked, surprised at the sight of Danni with the woman in a trench coat, who already had her scanner out, looking for Rory. Danni had told her that they didn't get to Rory in time anyway, so instead of rushing to help, they'd been rushing to find the murse instead.
"Danni." He breathed, pushing Amy out of the way and reaching her as she was almost at the bottom of the stairs. She yelped in surprise as he picked her up around the waist, lifting her down onto the floor and kissing her desperately, holding her close even as he pulled away, stroking her hair. He couldn't bare the thought that he was about to lose her, not his Danni-Girl. He had always known he was going to outlive her, but not so soon. They should have had years together, not hours, or minutes, or whatever they had left. This wasn't right!
"Hello, sweetie." She greeted with a smile.
"I'm not going to let it happen." He promised her with everything he had, holding the side of her head in his hand as if it would keep him grounded to her, "Just stay with me, don't let go of my hand. Whatever you do, don't let go."
"You can't save me." She replied apologetically and his hearts plummeted, his chest tightened at how she seemed so resigned to it. Ready for it, "It's written in a book, my love." She explained to his horrified, questioning gaze, "But until then, I promise I won't." Not completely satisfied with her answer, even as she reached up and threaded her fingers through the hand still cupping her head and bringing it down to her side, he took what he could get for now. He could understand the hopelessness one would feel believing they were going to die. He just had to prove to her she wasn't.
"Have you been here long?" He asked her and she shook her head, "You should have come find me."
"Well, I knew Rory wasn't going to be there, so me and River started looking for him instead." She looked over her shoulder, "Didn't we, sweetie?" The Doctor tried to hide the slightly guilty feeling he felt at completely forgetting the other two women there. Amy was used to being forgotten, the jealousy she used to feel when the Doctor fell into his 'Danni-induced' lack of awareness had long since disappeared and now she just felt like it was a hindrance. River still felt jealous over the fact the she was her Danni-Girl and should be paying attention to her instead of the Doctor, but had become much better at hiding it.
"He isn't back in time." She told the pair, looking down at her scanner, which she held in the hand not attached to her broken wrist, "I'm reading a displacement, but there are no temporal markers. He's been moved in space, not in time, and it's not that far from here, by the look of it." She looked back up at the Doctor, who was shooting her a look of pure relief.
"You got out." He whispered and she shrugged, careful not to hit her damaged arm against her side.
"So where is he?" Amy muttered angrily, wondering why they weren't concentrating on finding her husband now that they knew he was still in the right time period. The Doctor began pacing backwards and forwards, in the space in front of Danni that remained in her arm's reach. After all, he was ecstatic River had changed the future, but he wasn't taking any chances. And if, by some tragic turn on events, the Angels got to Danni, well... He'd love to meet her parents, really. Thank them from the bottom of both his hearts for giving him his wife.
"Well, come on, come on, come on, where is he?!" He demanded giddily when River still hadn't declared where the Roman was.
"If it was that easy, I'd get you to do it." River snapped in reply. Danni snorted behind him and he looked back at her offended. She shot him that cheeky smile he loved so much, instantly making him forgive her.
"How did you get your wrist out without breaking it?" He asked River, who didn't look away from the scanner.
"You asked. I did. Problem?" She snapped, not really answering him because she didn't have an answer. The Doctor cheered, laughing happily.
"You just changed the future!" He exclaimed.
"And you never did give me enough credit." River retorted, "Now, hush. I'm working." The Doctor turned back to Danni.
"Oh, I think I have a lot of rethinking to do." He told her happily, looking at Amy, "Your daughter, Amy, is magnificent." Amy nodded slowly, still not sure why he was so happy about River not breaking her wrist. It went beyond being impressed. The device beeped.
"Ah, wherever it is, it's within a few blocks." She explained before grinning wickedly, "There's a car out front. Shall we steal it?" She shot a look at Danni, "Just like old times."
"Oh yes, let's do that!" Danni cried happily, looking up at the Doctor hopefully, "Can we, please?"
"Yes, let's do that!" He agreed, reaching out before anyone could stop him, "Show us!" He grabbed River's bad wrist, causing her to cry out in agony and startling both the Doctor and Amy, but not Danni. He looked down at it, seeing it bruised and swollen and he realised that she'd lied. She'd broken her wrist, and Danni and Amy were going to die.
~0~0~0~
The Doctor explained to Amy how River's manipulator and scanner were going to find Rory, all she had to do was wait for the numbers to all be 'zero'. He then walked over to River, who was sulking on the stairs. He sat next to her, Danni on the other side and he took a deep breath, trying to say calm and not shout at her.
"Why did you lie to me?" He asked her firmly.
"I was all up for telling you." She replied snidely, which was a lie, "But Danni asked me not to." He looked at Danni, surprised and she shrugged sheepishly.
"I didn't want you to lose all your hope." She explained quietly and he leant closer, placing a kiss on her head, He whispered something into her hair, something she didn't understand and she realised it was Gallifreyan. She frowned in confusion at him and he smiled softly back.
"I love you." He explained, translating for her and she beamed.
"Not as much as I love you." She replied and he shook his head.
"Two hearts." He pointed out knowingly, as if that made his claim true before turning to River, "That must hurt." He picked up her wrist gingerly with his free hand, placing it on his knee so he could see the damage done.
"It's just another future I can't change." She brushed off, "And the wrist hurts too."
"I'm sorry, sweetie." Danni told her honestly, because she didn't want River hurting and she couldn't stop it. The Doctor frowned in thought for a moment before placing his hand over River's, firmly holding it in place. If this truly was their last time together, he didn't want her sad. Not for one minute. His hand began to glow as he focused on the broken bones in River's hand, his regeneration energy healing it up, even as she protested.
"There you are." He told her gently, lifting her hand off his knee and putting it on her own, "How's that?" She flexed her hand, her face contorted in anger.
"Well, let's see, shall we?" She turned and slapped him hard, his head flying to one side in surprise as he yelled out, "That was a stupid waste of regeneration energy. Nothing is gained by you being a sentimental idiot!" She stood up, "You have more important things to use it on than my stupid wrist!" With that she stormed out of the house. Amy, who had been watching the entire scene, stormed over to the pair. She wasn't sure why she was angry, but seeing him upset her daughter brought out some maternal instinct that made her feel exactly the same.
"Tell you what," She snapped, "stick to the science part." She all but chucked the devices at him before following River out. He sighed, stamping his foot in frustration before bringing Danni's hand up to his mouth, kissing her palm. It was so much softer than the back of her hand, and felt more intimate, but acceptably so.
"Ah, the famous 'Pond' temperament." Danni commented from his side. He chuckled hollowly, shooting her a look.
"Are you not following?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No, of course not." She replied, "Why would I follow them when I have the chance to snog you on these marble stairs?" His head snapped back to look at her, surprised as she smirked smugly at him. His hearts swelled, she was wonderful. Trying to cheer him up, even in the face of her own mortality.
"Is there nothing we can do?" He asked her pleadingly.
"Only one thing." She replied, before squeezing his hand, "Don't let go until you have to."
"Cross my hearts." He promised, "What about Amy?" She frowned.
"What about Amy?" She asked in reply.
"Do you know what happens?" He asked, "Maybe we can stop it." She shook her head slowly, thinking of how to best word it.
"If I could tell you anything, I would." She decided on. It wasn't exactly a lie, she wasn't telling him she didn't know. She was just telling him that she couldn't tell him anything, which she couldn't. She wanted to, but he'd try and change it, or he'd lose the hope that he could change it and she didn't want to take that away from him. He still had all that drive inside to try and save the Ponds, to feel like he was doing something positive. She couldn't take that away from him.
"I know." He agreed, putting the devices on the stairs next to him, making her feel worse than she already did with his faith in her. He was then cupping her face, lips against hers as he coaxed her into kissing back.
"What are you doing?" She laughed, pulling her head back. He smirked, hand on her hip as he looked particularly pleased with himself.
"I'm snogging you on a marble staircase." He retorted, "And I'm very much enjoying it. So, if you don't mind..." He leant over her, covering her slightly with his own body as he went back to what was, quite frankly, one of his favourite things to do. She was smiling into the kiss, amused but gave as good as she got, tongues dancing with each other, his hands roaming her torso as she clung to him with her arms around his neck, hand in his wonderful hair.
The devices beeped as they both counted down to zero, locking on Rory and interrupting their moment. The Doctor groaned in a completely different frustration against her lips but let her go, picking up the devices and standing up, taking hold of her hand once more.
"Got it!" He cried, dragging her out to meet up with the mother and daughter outside, "He's in a place called Winter Quay. The car, yes? Let's go."
~0~0~0~
Danni looked out of the window as River drove as fast as she dared in such an early car, it was only down the road but it seemed like an age away.
"Do you remember when we Vid-Chatted with Patrick Moore?" She asked the Doctor, who was sat next to her in the back.
"Yes." He replied glumly, images of Danni being totally in awe of the old astronomer flashing through his mind.
"Do you think he ever saw a sky this clear?" She motioned out of the window, the last time they seemed so bright was back in 1914, "It was like this back when you were human. So many places to visit in one sky." She turned and smiled sadly at him. So many places to visit that she would never have the chance to.
He reached across and pulled her up against his side, letting her curl up against him, holding her tightly even as his hand shook. There had to be a way to save her. It just couldn't be the end. He would be lost without her.
~0~0~0~
Rory grew old and died in the apartment building, the Angels laughing at them all. But they got the last laugh, the Williams' as they threw a paradox back at them, jumping off the top in each others' arms and showing the universe how much stronger they were together. Nothing could ever drive them apart, and as they landed back in the graveyard just outside Manhattan, where Amy and the Doctor had first landed when they had first tried to follow Rory. Amy and Rory were on the floor in front of two graves, unconscious as the Doctor, Danni and River outside the TARDIS.
The Doctor blinked as he looked around, trying to find his bearings before laughing in pure, unadulterated relief. Amy and Rory had done it. They'd changed the course of the future. No one had to die. Danni didn't have to die! He placed a kiss on her head, controlling himself until they were more alone, because he liked to think he still had some decorum, before rushing off to find his two companions. Danni watched him go, her face falling in torment as River took her hand.
"I can't save them." Danni told her as she held tightly, "You know that, don't you?" River nodded.
"They don't need saving." She replied, "They must always be together, right?" Danni nodded, trying to feel reassured at River's words, but just feeling hollow. The Doctor chatted animatedly as he lead the Williams' towards the pair at the TARDIS.
"We're heading to the pub!" He cheered, "All together, like we should be." He grabbed Danni again, pulling her up against his side, where she was supposed to be, "Told you I'd save you."
"You didn't save me." She pointed out, looking over her shoulder apprehensively as Rory frowned, something catching his eye.
"Right, family outing, then." River declared, drawing the Doctor's attention away from Danni's ominous words and leading Amy into the TARDIS as Danni and the Doctor followed her. Danni paused by the door, letting his arm slip from around her waist, biting her lip and looking ready to cry.
"Amy! Come see this." Rory called from outside and Amy rolled her eyes, walking past Danni as the Doctor studied her, confused.
"What's wrong?" He asked her, "We're all okay, they didn't die. You're not going to die." She shook her head.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, "Please believe me, Theta. I can't..."
"DOCTOR!" Amy screamed from outside, sounding more terrified than the Doctor had ever heard her. He dashed out, River meeting up with Danni.
"Not much longer." River promised, "It'll be over soon." Danni shook her head.
"He's going to hate me." She whispered, "I'm never coming back from this, and then I'm going to die." River took her hand, "Please look after him for me. He can't be on his own." River looked conflicted, glancing behind her at the TARDIS console before squeezing Danni's hand in comfort.
"Do you trust me?" She asked and Danni nodded.
"Always." She replied instantly and River smiled, brushing her hand through Danni's red hair. Such a beautiful red colour.
"He will forgive you." She promised, "But we have to go outside." Danni nodded and let River drag her outside, where Amy was staring at the lone Weeping Angel who had survived the paradox and taken Rory as it's revenge.
"I'm sorry, Amelia. I'm so, so sorry." The Doctor was telling Amy as he stood next to her, looking at Rory's gravestone.
"No. No, we can just go and get him in the TARDIS." She replied, voice full of tears and with a confidence she didn't feel, "One more paradox..."
"Would rip New York apart and I..." He tried to explain but Amy shook her head.
"No, that's not true. I don't believe you."
"Amy, it's true." Danni called over, her voice hitching with her own tears. The Doctor looked over at Danni, why wasn't she insisted they went to go get Rory? She'd do anything for the Roman Nurse.
"Is this it?" Amy asked her and this just confused the Doctor further as Danni didn't reply, "You told me you saw to the end of us. Is this it?" Even though she couldn't see, Danni nodded slowly and the Doctor's mouth fell open slightly in disbelief, followed by a wave a betrayal.
"It is." Danni agreed, "This is it. This is how you and Rory die." Amy took a step towards the Angel, the thoughts whirling around in her mind as she considered her next move. They couldn't get Rory with the TARDIS, how else was she going to see him again?
"Danni, what are you doing?" The Doctor cried before turning to Amy, "Amy? What are you doing?" He asked, motioning her away but she shook her head.
"That gravestone, Rory's, there's room for one more name, isn't there?" She asked him.
"What are you talking about?" He cried, walking to the TARDIS and grabbing her hand, "Back away from the Angel. Come back to the TARDIS! We'll figure something out!" He promised, his hearts racing as Amy shrugged him off.
"Danni, do I go back to him?" She asked, "Do I see Rory again?" Danni swallowed, looking at the Doctor who looked like he couldn't find the words to beg her, just pleading her with his eyes and a frantic shake of her head.
"Yes." She whispered, watching him as he seemed to take it as a physical blow, "You grow old together, happy and healthy and always together. You adopt a kid, they go tell Brian. You can't ever go home, but you're with him."
"No, that's not true!" The Doctor exclaimed in tears, turning away,unable to look at Danni as he turned back to Amy, "Nobody could possibly know that."
"She can, though." Amy shot back, "She watched this, she saw the ending. She promised me that when it happened, she'd tell me. Danni, this is my best shot, isn't it?"
"I promise you'll be with Rory." Danni replied and the Doctor dove at her, chucking his hand over her mouth to try and stop her poisoning his companion's mind.
"What the hell are you doing?" He screamed, "Stop this, please." She stared up, tear-filled eyes locking as she wished she could stop, but this wasn't about him. She had to reassure Amy, let her know it'll be okay because Amy would be terrified and it was heartbreaking for all of them. The universe needed the pair together.
"Amy and Rory must always be together." She explained, heartbroken as he let go of her, staring horrified as if he was just seeing her for the first time, "You will be okay without them." Had he been right all those years ago? Had she really been trying to get rid of all his companions all along? She reached out to rest a hand on his arm, but he yanked it away as if it burnt him, panic and the heaviness of her deception hitting him like a train. He turned and rushed over to Amy.
"Amy, just back away." He beseeched her but she shook her head.
"I just have to blink, right?" She replied.
"No!" He screamed, running out of ideas. All those years, all that knowledge and he couldn't think of a way to stop her.
"It'll be fine. I know it will. I'll - I'll be with him, like I should be. Me and Rory, together." She reasoned to herself, "Melody." She called and River darted forward, taking her mother's outstreched hand.
"Stop it! Just - just stop it!" He begged them all but no one was listening.
"You look after him." Amy told her daughter as she cried, "And you be a good girl and you look after him." River nodded, unable to speak as she kissed Amy's palm, "Danni?" She called back, "Thank you. For everything."
"I love you, Amy." Danni sobbed, standing on her own, "Live well and love Rory."
"You are creating a fixed time. I will never be able to see you again." The Doctor enforced, hoping to change her mind.
"I'll be fine. I'll be with him." Amy replied, smiling slightly through her tears. Her Rory. Her Roman Rory. She hadn't expected to make the decision so soon, but it was the right one. The Doctor or Rory? It was always going to be Rory.
"Amy, please. Just - Come back into the TARDIS." He reached out to her, "Come on, Pond, please."
"Raggedy man," She sobbed, turning to look at the Doctor and breaking both of their eye lines, no one looking at the Angel, "goodbye."
~0~0~0~
Afterword, by Amelia Williams. Hello, old friend.
And here we are, you and me, on the last page. By the time you read these words, Rory and I will be long gone. So know that we lived well and were very happy. And, above all else, know that we will love you always.
Sometimes I do worry about you, though. I think, once we're gone, you won't be coming back here for a while and you'll leave Danni behind, that'll you be all alone, which you should never be. Don't be alone, Doctor. Forgive her, for she wasn't wrong. When I was scared, she gave me hope and she can do that for you as well. Let her be there for you.
And do one more thing for me. There's a little girl waiting in a garden. She's going to wait a long while, so she's going to need a lot of hope.
Go to her. Tell her a story. Tell her that, if she's patient, the Raggedy Man and his Danni-Girl will return and take her to the days that she'll never forget. Tell her she'll go to sea and fight pirates. She'll fall in love with a man who'll wait 2,000 years to keep her safe. Tell her she'll give hope to the greatest painter who ever lived and save a whale in outer space.
Tell her this is the story of Amelia Pond - and this is how it ends.
~0~0~0~
Danni had left the Doctor to talk to little Amelia on his own, knowing he would need the closure much more than she would. He hadn't spoken to her, he could barely look at her as he dropped of River before speeding off the Manhattan once more, looking for the last page he ripped out of the book. He read it fast and honoured Amy's last request. Now there was only the two of them, and Danni was becoming increasingly nervous. Why wasn't she dead, yet? The Stone Angels had taken the Girl Who Waited. Was the universe toying with her before sending her back? She rubbed her hand over her manipulator as she watched his lean over the console, hands planted firmly on the top. He hadn't shouted, he hadn't screamed at her. He just stood silently, staring into the blank screen there.
"Why didn't you say anything?" He asked her quietly, causing her to jump slightly but not turning around from the console.
"Because I couldn't. If we didn't go, that time farm would have always been there and we had to stop it." She replied, "The Angel's would've always taken people and farmed their futures. I don't think Amy would've wanted that." The Doctor spun around, the look of pure fury causing her to back up slightly on the stair.
"What Amy would've wanted?" He asked lowly, "Don't you dare speak of what Amy would've wanted when you sacrificed her and Rory to the Weeping Angels!" He screamed. He stormed over to her, leaning over her menacingly.
"I had to keep to the time line..." She whimpered and he grabbed her left arm roughly, just above the manipulator.
"I have forgiven you for a LOT of things." He snarled, "For not saving Rose, for Donna, for your sordid little affair with the Master! I forgave you again and again! The countless times you haven't warned me for things that I might have been able to stop, but I will not forgive you for this! Get up!" He yanked her off the stair and she cried out in pain, stumbling over her own feet as he marched her to the middle of the room.
"Theta, you're hurting me." She sobbed, his grip digging into her arm and he pulled her up to his face.
"Don't. Call. me. That." He snarled, "You do not get to call me that. I can't believe that I ever loved such a conniving little cow like you. You disgust me."
"You don't understand, I wanted to save her, I promise..." She begged, trying to get him to listen to her. If only he'd let her explain.
"Oh you did, did you? Little Danielle wanted to save her friends?" He mocked her, "Well you didn't, did you? And now Amy and Rory are dead, and it's all your fault." He dragged her to the doors, her fighting against him but not being able to get away, "I remember you running. I remember you appearing and telling me you were running away from this! You were so selfish, all you wanted was them out of the way, didn't you? Made me fall in love with you, just so you could destroy me."
"What are you doing?" She cried, terrified and hurting as he stopped, staring at the doors with a certainty that made her blood freeze.
"Something I should have done when you first popped up in my life." He retorted harshly. He chucked the doors open one-handed and revealed the blackness of deep space to her. Her eyes widened and she struggled harder, realising what he was referring to. All them threats that Ten used to chuck her way, her biggest fear about jumping around time and space without a destination.
"No, no. Please, don't do this. Please!" She screamed, "I'm sorry, please, Doctor, I'm so sorry!" He pulled her up against him, stroking her cheek with his finger harshly.
"What's wrong, Danielle? Are you scared?" He asked mockingly. She nodded and he smirked darkly, "As scared as Amy?"
"I... I don't know." She whimpered, not knowing what she had to say to make him stop. He leant closer to her ear, grinning almost evilly.
"Well, I guess I need to try harder." He whispered before thrusting her out into space, only her left foot and arm still in the TARDIS as she screamed, flailing wildly, "How about now?" He shouted, "Who do you think is more frightened? You or Amy?"
"Me." She sobbed, "I'm really scared. Please don't let me go, please I'm sorry!"
"Sorry isn't good enough! Sorry isn't going to stop the Angel touching Rory. Sorry isn't going to bring Amy back." He squeezed her arm tighter and she yelled in pain again, "Sorry doesn't even come close!"
"I know! I had to let her go. Amy must always be with Rory. You have to understand that." She exclaimed.
"I don't have to do anything!" He shouted, "I don't even have to keep a hold of you." He suddenly let her go, quickly grabbing her again as she began falling out, "Don't ever tell me what to do. You stupid, bloody ape!" She opened her mouth to reply when the TARDIS jolted, as if protesting to his behaviour, and tilted back the opposite way, trying to bring them both back inside. The Doctor slipped, not expecting the change in direction, and let go of Danni as he fell slightly back. She screamed again as she fell out of the TARDIS and began to, very quickly, float away. Her arms flailed in the nothingness outside, almost as if she was trying to swim back towards the TARDIS but she just seemed to be propelling herself farther away.
"Danni!" He screamed, suddenly terrified as he scrambled up, dangling as far as he could out of the doorway, trying to grab onto her.
"Theta!" She screamed, the last of her air in her lungs used to call his name as she hit the edge of the air bubble around the TARDIS. What had he done? No, this can't be happening! It can't have been him! All this time, he can't be the one who killed her!
He stretched farther, holding onto the side as behind him the hatch to the heart of the TARDIS dropped open, neither noticing until the golden light streamed out, simultaneously blinding and bathing them both. Danni tried to gasp, no air entering her lungs, as in a blinding flash she disappeared. The light disappeared and the hatch closed, the TARDIS turning the right way up once more. The Doctor fell back into the TARDIS and the doors slammed shut in front of him, everything going silent and normal. He scrambled up again and threw the doors open, but only space greeted him.
"Danni." He breathed before falling to his knees, ruined.
~0~0~0~
Danni's eyes fluttered open as she woke up the in the strange room. She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she looked around, confused and just a little bit relieved. She rubbed her arm absentmindedly as she stood up, it still hurt from the Doctor's grip and her vortex manipulator still burnt from the trip. What was happening, where was the Doctor?
She could still see the look of unrestrained terror on his face as he tried to save her, the instant regret over his actions clear on his face and the way he called her name. And she couldn't even blame him for being so angry, she would have been as well, and he hadn't meant to do this, had he?
Danni frowned as she took in the room where she landed, becoming increasingly confused. She wasn't back in her old universe, this room was half-destroyed, two walls and half the roof the only things standing. Last thing she remembered, Claire's house had been fully built and covered in Christmas decorations.
She stepped gingerly out onto the street outside, seeing the ruins of a city around her. In the background she could hear the sounds of a fight happening, people screaming and dying in the war zone around her. She began panicking, not recognising anything of where she was. Maybe she was in the Year That Never Was again. She vaguely remembered the light from the TARDIS engulfing her, maybe she had zapped her back in time before she could die. When she got back to to the machine, she would thank her properly.
One shot zoomed above her head and she ducked, looking upwards and seeing a fleet of Daleks floating ahead. She screamed and began running away, thankful that they seemed to only be destroying the city and not actively seeking her out. She reached the end of the street and froze, her head tilting slightly as her mouth fell open. The burnt-orange sky was filled with more than just Dalek's, most of the monsters fighting she didn't recognise but that's not what held her attention, or caused her heart to stop in her chest. The large spire in front of her stretched upwards, almost scraping the top of the cracked glass dome that surrounded the city. She backed up slightly, never taking her eyes off the building.
She was on Gallifrey.