#these past few months at least martha jones has been eating away at my heart. i go batshit insane when i think about her | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

let-it-raines · 3 years

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I Hope We Never See October (5/?)

When his personal life and football career go up in flames, Killian Jones escapes England for America, finding seclusion in Martha’s Vineyard in order to hide from his demons. It’s a fresh start, or at the very least a paused moment in his life, and all he needs is a few months alone to allow his heart to heal. He doesn’t count on meeting Emma Swan.

Emma’s life depends on tourists who come to the island every summer. It’s how she makes her money working in restaurants and clubs across the vineyard, but every year, she cannot wait until autumn comes and her life returns to normal. She especially cannot wait for Killian Jones to leave.

Rating: Mature

ao3 : beginning | current

tumblr: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

-/-

Emma likes seafood.

She likes seafood, but she mostly eats like a ten-year-old boy. Apparently, there’s a little place near her house called Granny’s where she devours grilled cheese and onion rings like arteries aren’t a thing. It makes him laugh when she tells him because she eats how he’s always dreamed of eating. The only time he ever gets the chance is when he’s with his nieces and they convince him to get them food Elsa and Liam never let them get.

She also likes 80’s music, has been working at the Blue Dog for over half a decade, prefers her kickboxing classes to cycling ones, and her favorite color is blue.

That last one was a bit of a throwaway question, but he asked it anyway. Then, of course, he made sure to let her know that his eyes were blue. He got an eye roll and a ‘shut up’ for that before she started rolling her hips again. It was damn distracting, but he didn’t stop laughing at how frustrated she was that he wasted his one personal question a day on that.

One personal question a day.

It’s childish, but he thinks it works. It keeps the line between them defined. He knows what this is, has done it enough times before to not be blind to it. They’re both visitors in each other’s lives. They have expiration dates, and when there’s an expiration date, there’s no harm in spending time together.

There’s no commitment, so there’s no hurt.

He’s not an expert on Emma Swan, no matter how much she fascinates him, but he gets the feeling she’s avoiding relationships just as much as he is. There is a past hurt there, a damned painful one, and if anyone gets that, it’s him.

But he doesn’t ask about that in his one question a day. He asks for her favorite color and food and if she’d rather hike uphill for 10 miles or swim for 20.

For the record, she’d rather hike because she could sit down and eat along the way.

“Would you look at that?” Emma says as she runs her hands under the water of the sink at the bar. “You, sitting at this bar, again.”

He slices his salmon with his knife and grins. “I tried that Granny’s place, but the food had too much grease. Met a rather charming waitress, though.”

“Let me guess. Red streak in her hair, boobs on full display, argued with the owner the entire time?”

“How’d you know?”

“Because that’s Ruby, my best friend.”

“Is she now?” he asks, already knowing the answer.

“Is that your personal question of the day?”

“Nope,” he says, taking a bite of his food. “I’m saving that for a later time.”

“A later time,” Emma repeats, like she’s considering the words. She crosses her arms over her chest and leans back against the bar. “What makes you think you’re going to be seeing me at a later time? This isn’t enough for you?”

He looks around them and leans closer to her. “Too many clothes.”

Emma laughs, legitimately, and that feels surprisingly good. “I’m literally in a tank top and shorts. That’s about as dressed down as you can get.”

“I was talking about myself, actually. There are too many clothes on me, but it’s nice to know you think so highly of yourself.”

That gets him another laugh and a shake of her head, and he likes that too. He may have no real inclination to become overly attached to her, but he can at least admit to himself that he enjoys her company.

“Shut up.” Someone calls Emma’s name from across the restaurant, and she holds her arm up, putting up one finger. “I get off at The Oaks at eleven. I’ll drop by your place if I’m not too tired.”

“Why the hell are you working there so much?”

“I like the money. And, Jones, that counts as your personal question of the day. I’ll see you later...maybe.”

She grins and winks before walking away, and he swears she puts a little extra sway in her hips. Killian shakes his head as he feels his own smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“What a bloody woman,” he whispers to himself before spearing another piece of his salmon.

-/-

“Right there,” she moans. “Like, seriously, right there. Don’t fucking change anything.”

Kilian smiles against her, but he’s quick to return to what he was doing. Emma’s legs tighten over his shoulders, her hands yank at the sheets, and as much as he is throbbing right now, it’s bloody glorious to have her like this. The filter is gone, so too are the reservations, and he gets a bit of satisfaction knowing this is him doing this to her.

His only skills aren’t on the football pitch after all.

He is definitely a bastard for thinking that right now, but he’s never claimed to be otherwise.

“Fuck,” Emma huffs after she comes down from her high. Her legs shiver over his shoulder, thighs tightening so all the sounds fade for a moment, but then her legs fall and all sounds come back in screaming color. “What did I do to deserve that so early in the morning?”

“It’s ten, love.”

“Yeah, that’s early on my day off.”

Killian laughs and kisses the inside of Emma’s thigh before making his way up her body, planting a final one underneath her collarbone before he collapses on his side of the bed and pulls the sheets above his waist.

“It’s not early for the rest of the world.” He smiles, which she doesn’t appreciate, and she sinks further into the bed, yanking the covers over her. He can still see her flushed cheeks and the slightest content smile on her face. “You should try it sometime. See the sunrise, dodge early morning joggers, eat breakfast at a normal time.”

“Trust me, I’m usually up early enough to want to drive into the early morning joggers while I have a Pop Tart hanging out of my mouth. My summer schedule is just...it’s different than usual.”

He has questions about that. It’s something she’s alluded to before, but he doesn’t know if she’ll count that as his question of a day.

He’s thirty-five years old, and he doesn’t know if he can ask the woman he’s sleeping with more than one question about her life. He knows he’s fucked up a lot, but this seems to be the culmination of several screw ups in his own life.

He doesn’t have time to dwell on that. Well, no, he has all the time in the world, but lately, the boredom has dissipated, the loneliness too.

Lately, he’s got a damn good distraction, and he’s not about to fuck that up.

Emma flips over on her side, her hair a wild, curly mess. She used his pool last night and didn’t wash her hair after. It’s made it even crazier than usual. He thinks he likes it. Makes her seem less reserved.

His phone rings on his bedside table, and he leans over to pick it up.

“Hello, darling.” Emma’s brow raises, but he ignores her. “How are you?”

“Good,” Elsa says. “We’re all good. The girls are in the garden right now, running around and getting all their energy out. I haven’t heard from you in a few days.”

“I’ve been...busy.”

Emma’s hand finds his thigh, and his leg jumps before steadying. She is not about to do what he thinks she’s about to do. Bloody hell.

“Busy?” Elsa asks, as Emma’s hand walks a little closer to his groin. “Doing what? Have you made friends?”

“Why do you always ask me that like I’m a child?”

“Because you’re basically my baby brother.” Killian laughs and then hisses as Emma’s hand wraps around him. She smirks, obviously satisfied with herself, and he knows she’s doing it for the reaction above anything else.

Tease.

He doesn’t mind.

Except this is a poor idea.

“I believe I’m actually older than you.”

“Semantics.”

He laughs again, and Emma’s hand starts working a little more. Fuck. He needs her to stop, and even though she’s doing delicious things to him, she is looking away, acting as bored as can be. And maybe she is, but then he sees one corner of her mouth tick up.

“Mum, is that Killian?” he hears Ally ask, echoed by a squeal from Sophia, who is obviously having the time of her life. There’s a bit of a shuffle, some muted voices, and then his niece’s voice comes through. “When are you coming home?”

“Hello, Ally,” he says, his voice going high when Emma moves her thumb. “How is one of my favorite nieces doing?”

Emma immediately stops and yanks her hand away, practically falling off the bed. She catches herself and kicks up, moving the comforter up and nearly pulling it off him.

“What the actual fuck?” she whispers hisses, slapping him.

He ignores her as Ally asks again when he’s coming home.

“At the end of September, sweetheart,” he promises. “I’ll come home, and then I am going to kiss you right on the cheek.”

“Ew,” she complains, and he can imagine her nose scrunching.

“I also might give you a present.”

“I like that better.”

“Good. I thought you would.” he watches Emma get up and pull a t-shirt out of a drawer. It’s an old Man. United shirt, and he pretends that doesn’t do a damn thing to him, especially since she was just working him up a minute ago. “Listen, Ally, darling, will you hand the phone to your mum? I - ”

“Sophia, that is my hat! Do not wear it!”

And then the line goes dead, and he wonders how long it’ll be before Elsa gets back to her phone and calls him back.

“You let me do that to you while you were on the phone with your niece?” Emma mumbles, pulling the shirt down then pulling her hair into a mess of a knot on the top of her head. He’s not sure if she’s annoyed or amused. “I hate you.”

“Technically, at first it was my sister-in-law,” he corrects, tapping his head.

“That doesn’t make it any better.” Emma gets back in the bed, pulling the comforter all the way up to her chin, and then she shuffles a little further into the bed before sitting up against the headboard and groaning into her hands. “I am mortified.”

“I did stop you when Ally took the phone,” he points out before pulling at the arm of her shirt. “Nice shirt.”

Killian stands from the bed and walks toward his bathroom, grabbing his briefs along the way. “It’s comfortable,” Emma says. “Is this the team you played for?”

Killian stops, the tile cool against his feet, and then keeps moving, leaving the door cracked as he gets half dressed and starts brushing his teeth. As good as it was a few minutes ago, the mood is gone.

Especially now.

How the hell does she know he used to play football? And how long has she known that? Is that why...no, that couldn’t be why, but he knows that’s why a lot of women have.

“A long time ago,” he says, spitting out toothpaste. “I was with Chelsea when I retired.”

“Is that another team?”

“Uh, yeah,” he laughs, continuing to brush his teeth but sticking his head out of his bathroom door. “You didn’t know that?”

Emma shrugs as she types on her phone. “I don’t know anything about soccer. I only know you played because Ruby internet stalked you a few weeks ago and showed me your Instagram. I literally thought you were just one of those adults who is really into his hobbies.”

Killian nearly lets out a sigh, but he stops himself and turns back around to the sink to spit again before rinsing his brush. He looks up at the mirror. His hair is disheveled, there are lines around his eyes and on his forehead, and his stubble is growing to the point where a beard is beginning to form. He’ll shave later.

So Emma doesn’t know anything about football then. Or him, for that matter. He’s not sure he entirely believes her, that she didn’t look up any more about him, and he doesn’t like that uncertainty. Usually, when he meets someone, they have the upper hand and know the surface layer of all the dirty details of his life.

They usually don’t care to find out the real stories. Not that most of them redeem him in any way.

“Not a hobby,” he says, taming his hair with his hands. “It was a damn good job.” He leaves the bathroom and leans against the doorframe. “You ever play?”

She laughs and puts her phone down. “No.”

“Not even as a kid? Come on. I hear every lass in America plays as a kid.”

“Is that your question of the day?”

Damn. “No.” Killian walks toward the bed and puts his hands on either side of Emma’s head on the headboard, leaning in close. He sees her chest rise, and he smirks. “My question is to ask you to stay in bed with me all day. What do you say, Swan?”

She sits up, and her lips lightly brush against his mouth when she talks. “You should have asked me about the soccer because I was already planning on staying here the entire day.”

“Really now?”

“If we can get crepes delivered from this place that’s, like, ten minutes from here.”

Killian kisses her, long and slow until there’s heat simmering low in his belly. “As you wish.”

-/-

Emma doesn’t come over every night. Nor does he go to her place. But it seems that way as July rolls by, full of hot days that seem to linger forever. Killian finds himself busy during the days. Emma usually has work early in the mornings, so if she’s staying over, she leaves before eight. He doesn’t know how she has time to breathe working at both the Tavern and The Oaks, but she makes it work. When she leaves, he gets up and uses the gym in the basement of the house, going through his tried and true routines before he laces up his trainers and either runs on the beach or on the sidewalks through his little area of the vineyard. He finds the sidewalks are better for his knees, so he tends to stick with that and leaves walking on the beach for his afternoon phone calls with Elsa and the girls or Ariel and Eric.

It’s a routine, one that changes during the day, but for the first time since he got here, he doesn’t hate every damn day. He doesn’t spend his time actively having to try not drink or thinking about Liam or football. He practically buys out a local bookstore and goes through the novels faster than he has in years. He visits different restaurants, museums, goes along with some tourist activities he finds online, and he explores any shop that strikes his fancy.

And while his routine changes, there is one constant: he eats a meal at the Blue Dog Tavern.

At first, he thought Emma would kick him out for it, but now, she often comes and sits with him for a few minutes or sends him a drink from her office. He always sits in Ashley’s section and lets her talk about her growing belly even if he knows little about pregnancy, and he spends at least an hour eating and watching all the people around him.

It’s a hell of a lot better than the twenty-four-hour diners with sticky floors and bad coffee.

Killian shoves his keys in his pocket and pushes open the door to the Blue Dog. Marina greets him, telling him to seat himself anywhere in Ashely’s section, so he goes to his favorite booth and settles down. He can’t see the television from it, so it’s the perfect spot to completely escape from the world with no risk of his past showing up right before his eyes.

He may be feeling better, may be able to have a drink or too at night without wanting to have five more, but he knows he’s possibly only one bad day from it all coming undone, the thread unraveling faster than he can wind it back up.

“Tea or coffee today, Killian?” Ashley asks, notepad in hand.

“Tea, I think, but not the blasted stuff you gave me last time.”

She laughs and writes down his drink order. “Do you know what you want to eat already or should I come back?”

He hands her the menu. “The daily special and a side salad.”

“Perfect. I’ll be back with that as soon as possible.”

“No need to rush,” he says, smiling. “Is - ”

“She’s filling out orders for next week, but I’ll let her know you’re here.”

Ashley winks before walking away, and Killian wonders what the hell everyone in this restaurant thinks of him and Emma. It must be peculiar, but if he’s picked up anything from Emma, it’s that she likely doesn’t share much about her personal life with her employees. She surely won’t tell him that he’s the man she’s sleeping with for the summer, but they might pick up on that on their own.

The food here is good, but it’s not every day good.

He’s finished his salad and half of his sandwich when she comes out from the back. Today, she’s already in the black dress she wears to The Oaks, and her hair is pushed back into a ponytail. She looks exhausted, and unfortunately, the reason has nothing to do with him.

“I only have a second to say hi,” she says, sliding into the booth and grabbing a roll from the basket, breaking off a piece and popping it into her mouth. “We are having an issue with our fish orders, and it’s an absolute nightmare.”

“That sounds like I won’t be ordering any fish this week.”

Emma takes another bite of her bread. “I wouldn’t if I were you. Do you want to come to my place tonight? I’m off at ten.”

“Sure.” He picks at the bread on his sandwich. “Though, the last time I was at your place, that damn crab pillow ended up in the bed, and I didn’t appreciate that.”

Her nose scrunches with her laugh. “I hate that thing too, but Ariel loves it.”

“You live in that house the entire year. Why don’t you redecorate it for your taste?”

Her shoulders tense, and she stops chewing before slowly starting again. He already knows this is going to be his personal question of the day. Sometimes she forgets about it and lets the conversation flow freely, but when he hits a nerve, she’s more on her guard.

He gets it. He can be the same way.

“Personal question,” she says, and he knows her better than he should. “And I’ve redone my bedroom and little bits in the kitchen and living room, but I don’t know. I guess I keep it how the Fishers have it because it’s their home. There are memories there, and I don’t want to take any of those away for when I do eventually get another place. It’s....it’s good to have a family home with memories.”

Killian arches his brow, but Emma looks away, picking at the roll again. He never really had a family home, not after his mum died and his dad became obsessed with using Killian’s football skills for his own fortune, but he likes that sentiment.

A family home with memories. Good ones. That would be the dream.

“What about you?” she asks, changing the subject before he can press further. “Aren’t you excited to get back to your place where all the stuff is yours? You’re living in a place that’s not your own, so I’m sure you’re ready to get back to your family.”

She doesn’t mean anything by it, but her words cut. He’s here because he lost the one person in his family who he was closest to, but he doesn’t want to talk about that, not now. This is supposed to be a good time. It isn’t supposed to be about dark histories.

“I’m enjoying my time here,” he answers honestly. “There’s this woman who is an absolute spitfire, and she’s been occupying most of my time. I’ve been, well, metaphorically tied up in bed too much to think of returning home.”

“Ha, ha,” she monotones with a roll of her eyes. “That’s not what I - ”

“Hi!”

They both turn, and Emma’s friend Mary Margaret is standing there, bouncing back and forth on her toes. “Hi, Marg,” Emma says. “You’re early.”

“I know. I got finished tutoring early, so I thought I’d drop by. I didn’t know you’d have...other company.”

“Nice to see you again,” Killian says, nodding at Mary Margaret.

“Yeah, nice to see you.” Mary Margaret seems hesitant, like she didn’t meet him weeks ago at dinner, and he wonders just how much she knows about his arrangement with Emma. From what he’s learned, they seem close, but he also knows Ruby is Emma’s more...accepting friend. “How are you?”

“I’m good, love. Just badgering Emma at work. I’m surprised she hasn’t kicked me out yet.”

“Annoy me a little too much, and I will.” Her ankle hooks with his under the table, and Killian bites his lip to keep from smiling too much. “So, what’s up, Marg? Why’d you want to drop by? Have you heard of this thing called phones?”

Mary Margaret chuckles before sliding into the booth next to Emma. Emma’s ankle unhooks from his, and he tucks his feet under the booth. “So, you know how David wants to have that big barbecue for all of our friends and neighbors?”

“Yeah, you guys do it every year because you’re insane.”

“Anyway,” she says, playfully rolling her eyes, “we were wondering if we could get the Blue Dog to cater some of the sides. I know you guys don’t cater, but we could pay extra. Please.”

“You do know there are restaurants who do cater who could handle this?”

“Yes, but we love the food here. Killian gets it, right?”

“Uh, yes,” he mumbles, not sure what he’s supposed to say. From Emma’s death glare, he knows he’s chosen incorrectly. Bloody hell. “I love it.”

“Exactly,” Mary Margaret says. “We’ll pay extra. Promise. In tips so the staff can get it instead of the owners.”

Emma sighs and sinks into the booth, crossing her arms over her chest. “I need to know the order at least two weeks ahead of time, and it’s going to take me some time to figure out how much you guys need to pay.”

“Ahhhh, perfect!” Mary Margaret hugs Emma before sliding out of the booth. “You’re the best! I can’t wait to call David! Oh, and Killian, you should come too. It’s on August 14th. We’d love to have you there.”

Killian scratches his ear and nods, flashing her a tight smile. He doesn’t think Emma would welcome him at a party full of her friends, so he doesn’t want to make her uncomfortable no matter how nice it might be to be in a large group of people.

“He’ll be there,” Emma says, surprising him, and he feels her toe tap his shin. “If he can make it, of course. You know, he has a very busy social calendar.”

“I wonder why that is, darling.” He winks, making Emma smile, and he taps his toes into hers right back. “I’ve heard you keep pretty busy as well.”

Emma’s mouth gapes before closing, and her green eyes widen, lashes nearly hitting against her brows. “Ass.”

“Well, I know you like - ”

“Okay.” Mary Margaret claps her hands together. “I’ve got to go. Emma, I’ll send you the menu after I talk to David tonight. And Killian, we really would love to have you there.”

“I’ll see,” he says as he fights to keep from smiling too widely. “May I recommend the cheddar bites for the menu. They’ll kill you, but you’ll enjoy it.”

“I have never once seen you get the cheddar bites,” Emma scoffs.

He leans over the table, pressing his chin in his hand and smirking the way he knows she likes. She tells him he’s obnoxious when he does it, but sometimes he can see past that hard shell exterior. “I’m full of surprises, darling.”

“That you are, Jones. That you are.”

-/-

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#I hope we never see october #cs fic #cs ff #cs fanfic #captain swan fic #captain swan ff #captain swan

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singledarkshade · 3 years

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Lingering Effects

Summary: Despite the fact Cayodan has been exorcised, Rory is having trouble dealing what happened. When an old friend calls the Doctor for help, Rory's recovery is put in jeopardy. Sequel to The Doctor And The Nurse, A Fishy Tail, Getting To Know You, Kernel Of Stubborness, Home Sweet Home, Party Time, Sewers, Bookshops And Slime. Making Old Friends, And Donna Makes…, One Unanswerable Question and The Last Warrior.

The beach was mostly deserted.

Rory could see a few people wandering about in the distance, but it was still quite early, so he didn’t expect the place to be busy. The Doctor was by the TARDIS fiddling with one of the devices he’d made, while Donna had found an open café so had wandered over to it to see what they sold.

He still felt…

Off was the only word he had to describe it because there were no words to adequately say how disconnected his body sometimes felt from him. It was now three weeks since his possession, since the mind of the warrior had taken over his body, and Rory wanted to be fine again.

He told everyone that he was, but he still felt wrong.

The Doctor had brought them to this planet to find some specific fruit he was having a craving for, apparently they made the best smoothies, plus there was a meteor shower tonight they should see. Rory knew that the reason they’d landed early was to give them a day of peace after the past few weeks running around.

Donna had loudly demanded it while Rory was in the room, but he knew it was an act as he’d overheard them worrying about him.

Part of him was pleased that they both cared so much, it was nice but the other part of him hated being treated with kid gloves because he didn’t want to be seen as fragile.

But the peace of the planet they were on was welcome.

A few feet from the TARDIS, Rory found a large flat rock and sat on it pulling his knees to his chest trying to remember how to feel normal. In all honesty nothing in his life had been normal since that day in the park so many months ago when the Doctor had stolen his bag and Rory had chased after it.

He was glad he’d taken the offer to join the Doctor on a trip, his life would have been boring without it, but he sometimes missed the naivety that he had.

The ocean stretched out before him, a strange orange that the Doctor had advised was due to the algae that lived within it, apparently the sunset was spectacular, and Rory thought of Amy.

He wanted to tell her everything that had happened to him, wanted her to tell him that he was still her Rory and hadn’t changed but that would mean telling her the truth about the Doctor and Rory didn’t want to.

At least not yet.

“Okay,” Donna appeared at his side, “I had to try these. They seem to be like sausages. So, I got you one too.”

“Thanks,” he replied softly taking the small package she handed him.

Donna slid onto the rock, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” Donna replied, concern in her voice, “You keep trying to pretend you are but then you stare into the distance and disappear into yourself.”

Rory looked at her confessing, “I want to be fine.”

Donna took his hand in hers, “You will be but right now, it’s not that long since that thing invaded you. You’re allowed to be angry about it, to feel annoyed and you’re allowed to be that with us.”

“The Doctor…”

“The Doctor,” Donna cut him off, “Is worried about you. He has been watching you like a hawk since you woke up after it all. He’s been trying to make you feel yourself by taking us places where we can get in trouble and it’s also why we’re here today.”

Rory sighed, “What do I do?”

Donna shrugged, “You just go at your own pace.”

Staring at the way she was holding his hand, Rory looked up into her eyes and confessed, “I can’t sleep.”

He expected her to say something, but Donna was quiet as she simply held his hand and let him continue.

“Every time I close my eyes,” he continued after a moment, “I think he’s going to take over my body again. That I’ll be trapped like that and I…”

Donna wrapped him in a hug when he trailed off, Rory rested his head against her shoulder realising for the first time that he’d avoided any real physical contact for the past few weeks. He had come to love Donna as the big sister he’d never had and never really wanted. She was brash and didn’t back down from an argument, but she also had a huge heart.

When she let him go, Rory whispered, “Thank you.”

“Eat your lunch,” Donna said, nudging him with her shoulder.

With a tiny smile, Rory opened the local equivalent of a roll and sausage, taking a bite he grinned, “That is amazing.”

Donna laughed round the mouthful of food, “Told you.”

From his spot sitting in front of the TARDIS the Doctor watched his two companions, relieved to see Donna had broken through Rory’s carefully constructed walls. Rory was trying to pretend he was fine after Cayodan’s invasion, but the Doctor knew he wasn’t.

He knew Rory wasn’t sleeping, the Doctor had found him many times over the past few weeks in the library curled up in a chair with a book open in his lap. Sometimes awake and reading, claiming to have woken early. Other times he was asleep having finally succumbed to exhaustion. The TARDIS was watching over Rory, there was always a blanket across him when he fell asleep or sitting close by when he managed to remain awake.

The Doctor understood Rory’s feelings, Cayodan had taken away Rory’s control of his own body trapping him in a limbo that forced Rory to see his actions. Thankfully, they’d released Rory before Cayodan managed to reach those deemed to be his enemies because the Doctor knew that Rory would never be able to come to terms with his body being used to kill.

They were lucky that Rory had such a deep connection with his childhood best friend, that Amy’s voice alone had been enough to give him the strength to fight Cayodan and the Doctor had thought suggesting they visit the vivacious red head but explaining their presence, wherever Amy was, wouldn’t be easy and Rory didn’t want her to know what he was doing.

The Doctor was pulled away from his contemplation as a phone began to ring inside the TARDIS. Bouncing up and sliding inside he was expecting it to be one of his companions’ mobiles, surprised to realise which phone was ringing.

“Hello?”

“Doctor,” the voice of Martha Jones came, “I need your help.”

A smile touched his lips, “Of course. We’ll be there soon.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing you,” Martha told him before hanging up.

Returning the mobile to its small cubbyhole the Doctor headed back outside to where Rory and Donna were still sitting talking.

He walked over to them and smiled as they turned to him, “A friend has asked for some help, let’s go. We can come back for the sunset and meteor shower after.”

Donna and Rory slid off the rock, brushed the sand and dirt off their clothes and they all walked back to the TARDIS.

“Where are we going?” Donna asked.

The TARDIS materialised on Earth and the Doctor instantly headed out, smiling to see Martha standing waiting for him.

“Martha Jones,” he said with a smile before closing the gap between them and hugging her tightly.

“Doctor,” she murmured as she hugged him back before he rested her back down, “You’re looking well.”

The Doctor shrugged, “You know me.”

“I do actually,” she laughed, whatever she was going to say next was cut off as the two people appeared behind the Doctor.

“Oh,” the Doctor said, realising he was being followed, “This is Donna and Rory, guys this is…”

“Dr Jones?” Rory spoke up making the Doctor stare at him stunned.

“Nurse Williams,” Martha smiled, “I never would have guessed you would end up travelling with the Doctor.”

Rory shrugged, “Me neither, although you travelling with him makes sense.”

Donna coughed and Rory turned, “This is Donna.”

“So, you two know one another?” Donna asked giving Martha a nod hello.

“We worked together,” Rory replied.

Martha laughed, “Well I was a medical student while he made sure my mistakes weren’t so bad.”

Donna chuckled, “Well that doesn’t surprise me.”

The Doctor coughed making them all turn to where he stood, “You said you needed our help?”

Martha chuckled, “Of course. Follow me,” she started them out of the alley where the TARDIS was sitting, “I was contacted by UNIT not long after I stopped travelling with the Doctor and offered a job. We’re at a construction site for a new school which found something odd beneath the building.”

“Odd sounds ominous,” Donna murmured.

Rory nodded.

“What is being described as odd?” the Doctor asked, ignoring his current companions.

Martha pulled her phone out and opened the gallery to show him several pictures that had been taken of the item. The Doctor frowned as he tried to make out anything specific.

“There is some writing on the sides of the object, but it only appears to be part of whatever that is,” the Doctor mused, he turned to Martha, “Who’s in charge of the UNIT team?”

“Colonel Terri Sheridan,” Martha replied, “She’s good.”

The Doctor sniffed, “We’ll see about that.”

The construction site had been cordoned off and a UNIT mobile lab sat in the middle of the street which was blocked off by several trucks while soldiers ran around training as others stood guard.

“Dr Jones for Colonel Sheridan,” Martha said to the guard at the entrance they arrived at, “Tell her the Doctor is with me.”

The guard’s eyes widened just ever so slightly at that before he turned and called over his radio. Turning back a moment later he nodded.

“Dr Jones, you and your guests are expected in the mobile lab,” he said, stepping back to allow them through.

Donna’s head swung from side to side taking everything in, while Rory kept his eyes straight ahead falling into an almost military march. The Doctor glanced at him for a moment with a frown before turning back to Martha just as they reached the lab.

“Dr Jones,” the woman who appeared at the door smiled, “And this must be the Doctor.”

“Colonel Sheridan by any chance?” the Doctor asked.

She nodded, “I believe you knew my uncle.”

“And your uncle is?” the Doctor was intrigued.

“Mike Yates,” Sheridan smiled.

The Doctor stared at her dumbfounded, “No!!!! Mike Yates. How is he?”

“Currently driving my aunt crazy,” Sheridan laughed, “He broke his leg a few weeks ago climbing Ben Nevis with the group of kids he’s been working with.”

The Doctor chuckled, “Well that’s typical. Now, what do you have for me Colonel?”

“Follow me,” she started out of the lab and motioned him towards the site, “And please just call me Terri.”

The Doctor nodded, “This is Donna and Rory.”

“Ah, Mr Williams,” Terri grinned as she turned to him, “I heard about your adventure in the sewers.”

Rory shuddered slightly in the memory, automatically rubbing his arm in case the eggs had begun to grow.

“Alright,” the Doctor said, “Let’s see thi…” he trailed off as they reached the half-buried object, “Well, that is interesting.”

Rory found a spot to sit as he watched the Doctor study what he could see of the object, while Martha and Donna got to know one another. There was something about it that felt familiar to him, but Rory had no idea why.

His phone buzzed and Rory smiled to see Amy had sent him a picture. Opening it he chuckled softly to see her and Julia standing in front of what the sign at the side proclaimed to be the world’s largest ball of twine. It was great to see her even in picture form and Rory wished he could spend some time with her.

He quickly typed back, ‘I’d hate to see the cat that plays with that’ before sending it. Amy’s reply back was a few laughing emojis and Rory thought about calling her but before he could the Doctor let out a cry.

“What?” they all asked.

“I need to see more of the object,” the Doctor told them, “But excavating it will not be easy. UNIT are trying to get scans of it, but we could be here for a few days.”

Donna shrugged, “I should check in with my family.”

Rory gave her a quick smile but remained silent he had no one to call. Besides he was interested in seeing what had been discovered.

“Rory,” the Doctor’s voice made him jump, surprised to find his friend standing there, “Are you with me?”

Looking up at him, Rory nodded.

The Doctor grinned, clapping Rory on the shoulder, “Come on, I want to see what you think.”

“Me?”

“You’ve read several books on things like this,” the Doctor reminded him, “And I know how well you retain information so let’s put that to some good use.”

Night fell on the construction site and the UNIT excavation team left with the night shift guards taking over. Martha and Terri arranged for dinner at the restaurant close to the site. Rory sat and listened to the chatter around the table. Terri was telling stories her uncle had told her about working with the Doctor, who was simply smiling amused and refusing to admit if they were true or false.

After dinner the Doctor decided to head back to the lab to go over some of the pictures that had been taken off the additional layers revealed.

“You know what, I am not sitting around staring at the walls,” Donna said, “Who wants a drink?”

“That sounds great,” Martha grinned.

Terri sighed, “Unfortunately I have to be in charge but another time.”

“Rory?” Donna asked.

He hesitated before shrugging, “Actually I’m tired so I’m going to head back to the TARDIS and get some sleep.”

Donna caught his hand, “Are you sure?”

“It’s been a long day,” Rory told her, “And I’ve not slept much in the last few weeks, so I think it’s a good idea to sleep when I need to.”

Donna nodded, she gave him a quick hug, “If you can’t sleep, call me and we’ll tell you were we are so you can join us.”

Rory gave her a smile before he left them to enjoy their night. Reaching the TARDIS Rory smiled feeling the comforting hum as he walked into the console room. Heading along to his bedroom, Rory stepped inside it for the first time in a few weeks. Changing into his pyjamas, Rory slid under the covers and closed his eyes falling asleep almost instantly.

Fast asleep Rory’s mind floated through the world outside the TARDIS, he could see the object but as he stood at the side the final layers of dirt disappeared and revealed the large octahedron sitting on its tip. Each side was covered in writing he recognised but couldn’t remember how he knew it.

Reaching out Rory touched different symbols on the side, watching the object begin to glow and pulsate before it suddenly exploded in a mix of fire and molten metal.

Gasping awake Rory looked around finding himself somewhere other than the TARDIS. It was a cavern, with solid looking walls made of some kind of black crystal. Slowly getting to his feet Rory discovered he was dressed and had somehow also put his shoes on. Fear gripped him as he looked around trying to work out where he was and if there was a way out of here signalled somewhere. Checking his pockets, he was disappointed to find his phone wasn’t there.

“That would have been helpful,” Rory sighed to the emptiness surrounding him.

He knew he couldn’t just stay here, as much as he kind of wanted to because there was no way anyone would find him. Taking a slow deep breath to stop himself from panicking, Rory turned and checked the two ways before deciding which way to head.

“Doctor!!!”

Donna’s startled voice made the Doctor look up from the screen he was staring at to find his friend running in, panic in her eyes,

“What’s wrong?”

Donna stopped and told him, “Rory is missing.”

The Doctor frowned, “Missing? Are you sure? He went to bed, but you know he hasn’t been sleeping. He’s probably in the library.”

“I checked,” Donna told him, “I wanted to make sure he was actually sleeping. His bed has been slept in, but it looks as though he’s got up and dressed. I checked the library, the observation deck and everywhere he goes to hide. He’s not in the TARDIS.”

“Have you called him?”

Donna pulled out Rory’s phone, “He left it.”

The Doctor stood taking the phone from her hand, “He never goes anywhere without this in case Amy calls.”

“I know,” she grimaced, “We have to find him.”

The Doctor nodded, “We do this methodically. We’re basically in a UNIT base so almost every square inch will be covered in cameras. Colonel,” he called making Terri turn to him, “I need access to every camera and security feed you have.”

“Something wrong, Doctor?” Terri asked.

“Rory may have walked somewhere he shouldn’t,” the Doctor said, “He’s missing, and I want to see if we can find him here.”

“Well,” she motioned them over to the security control section, “Rory was given full access to the site as one of your people. So, the guards would allow him in wherever he went. Lieutenant Grant will assist you with whatever you need.”

Donna wanted to scream in frustration as she sat scanning footage of the base over the three hours since she’d last seen Rory. They had him heading to the TARDIS but since the alleyway they left it in wasn’t part of the base couldn’t tell if he entered it. With the multiple cameras everywhere, they were trying to catch where, if he had, re-entered the base.

“Doctor,” Grant spoke up, “I think I may have something. It’s not much but from the clothes it’s not a member of the UNIT team.”

They gathered around the screen and Grant showed them the footage of an arm going past the cameras.

“Well, the checked shirt screams Rory,” the Doctor mused, “But he’s avoiding the cameras.”

“Why would he?” Donna asked, she noted, “It’s almost like he’s…”

She trailed off and turned to the Doctor who was staring her with a similar horror covering his face.

“Grant,” the Doctor said, “From where that camera is, can you bring up a schematic of where he might be going?”

Grant frowned in thought for a moment, “I can try. The way he’s moving suggests a specific pathway. That means there are limited possibilities for his destination.”

“We work through them methodically,” the Doctor told him, “But when you find Rory, be careful.”

Grant looked confused, “Why?”

“Just be careful.”

*********************************************

As Rory walked he could feel something tickle against his mind, like a whisper he could hear on the edge of his consciousness. Each step he took made it slightly louder and although Rory knew he shouldn’t move towards the creepy whispering, his legs wouldn’t stop.

The smooth black crystal structure was becoming darker and more sinister with each step. Every moment he moved forward Rory knew that this was wrong, but he couldn’t stop. The whispers became louder and more threatening.

He wanted to run, he wanted to get back to the TARDIS but he was being pulled closer to whatever was there.

Rory felt sick deep in the pit of his stomach as the memories he held of the man who had taken control of him were bubbling to the surface. He didn’t want to see them, didn’t want to remember any of the horrors the warrior had inflicted on others, and they were getting stronger with each step he took but it was impossible to stop.

“Doctor,” Terri called before he ran out the door, “You need to look at this.”

Annoyed he spun back to the screen she was standing at, “What?”

“We managed to get a different type of scanner to check the artefact,” she explained, “It’s given some more details on the writing. I’m hoping this will help you.”

The Doctor scanned the writing, fear filling him as he began to realise what the thing was and if it was then he also knew why Rory was missing.

“Donna,” he yelled as he ran out, she jumped but followed him as he began to run towards the opening of the underground site.

“What the bloody hell?” Donna demanded as the walls around them became a black crystal, “Doctor?”

Shaking his head, the Doctor began to run faster, “The device is from a civilisation which decided they had the right to judge the universe. It hones in on guilt that the people it judges feel and considering everything that has recently happened to Rory, then the guilt he feels is enormous.”

Fear covered Donna’s face, “Oh no. He is barely holding on at the moment as it is.”

They continued through the tunnel and suddenly heard a cry of anguish. Glancing at one another, they began to run. Donna winced as they ran into a cave made of black crystal finding Rory on the ground tears rolling down his cheeks as a man she didn’t recognise sat on a throne.

“Do you speak for the accused,” the man intoned.

The Doctor pulled out the sonic screwdriver and scanned him as Donna dropped down to Rory’s side. She could see the agony in his eyes and wanted to take away all the pain he was feeling right now.

“Who accuses him?” the Doctor demanded.

“I am Halig of the Theiums,” the man replied, “We judge those who are not worthy.”

Anger filled Donna, “He hasn’t done anything.”

Halig let out a laugh, “His memories say different.”

“They’re not his,” Donna snapped.

“It won’t work,” the Doctor told her, “Halig isn’t real, he’s a program set up to judge people who feel guilty. We must have activated it when we got here. Otherwise, there would have been a queue.”

Halig stood and intoned, “Present your arguments.”

“No,” the Doctor replied, “I don’t recognise your authority.”

The man tilted his head before he seemed to flicker and repeated, “Present your arguments.”

Rory cried out, gripping his head.

“Stop,” the Doctor snapped, “You have no authority here. If you don’t stop, I will destroy you.”

Again, the man tilted his head before he flickered and repeated, “Present your arguments.”

“Doctor,” Donna yelled, “You have to stop it,”

Annoyed the Doctor scanned what could be seen of the artefact and frowned, “Give me your phone.”

Donna instantly obeyed before she turned back to Rory, managing to pull him into her arms and hugging him close. The Doctor could hear her whispering comfort to the younger man before he quickly called Martha.

“I need some explosives,” he told her, “I’ve set the sonic to direct you to where we are, but you need to hurry.”

Donna looked up at the Doctor when he crouched down beside them, they were now completely ignoring Halig who seemed to be stuck in a loop, confused by the Doctor refusal to accept it’s authority.

“Why do we need the explosives?” Donna asked.

The Doctor frowned, “I can’t access the system. It’s dead-lock sealed which means the sonic can’t open it.”

“Will it hurt Rory?” Donna stroked his hair as Rory curled into her lost in the memories he was being forced to relive.

Grimacing the Doctor shook his head, “I don’t know but if I leave it then that thing will continue to torture him.”

Only a few moments later Martha, Terri and several guards arrived carrying the explosives the Doctor had asked for.

“Donna, Martha,” he ordered as he took the explosives, “Get Rory out of here. Best to get him into the TARDIS.”

Martha nodded and ordered two of the guards to help them carry Rory out of the cave. Assured his friend was being moved to safety, the Doctor turned back to the artefact and began to place the explosives at strategic places.

“Is this a good idea?” Terri asked.

The Doctor nodded, “If I’m right, which I usually am, this will implode after the initial explosion, and you won’t need to excavate the site.”

Terri sighed, “Well, my report will basically blame you for this. So, whenever you’re ready.”

The Doctor set the timer and they started to run. Reaching the edge of the safe zone just as the timer hit zero and the ground shook at the explosion. Watching the large object suddenly crumple in on itself, the Doctor nodded in satisfaction before he ducked into the TARDIS.

Donna hugged Rory tightly as they sat on the floor of the TARDIS as they waited for the Doctor to destroy the thing that was hurting him. Martha was standing worriedly but it was clear she felt uncomfortable.

Suddenly the room shook and Rory gasped.

“Hey,” Donna whispered, “Rory, talk to me.”

Her friend’s green eyes focussed on her, “It’s stopped,” he whispered.

The door opened and the Doctor walked in, instantly moving to Rory’s side and dropping down beside him.

“Doctor,” Rory breathed, “Why won’t he leave me alone?”

Tears filled Donna’s eyes at Rory’s question, as the Doctor grimaced.

“I’m sorry, Rory,” the Doctor told him, “I should have recognised the artefact faster and never should have let you near it.”

“You need to sleep,” Donna spoke up.

Rory shook his head, “I can’t.”

“Do you trust me?” the Doctor asked softly.

Donna squeezed Rory’s hand as he nodded.

Placing his fingers on Rory’s temples, the Doctor breathed, “Then trust me now and I’ll help you rest.”

Rory leaned into the Doctor and Donna sighed in relief that the younger man did trust the Time Lord as the Doctor gently helped Rory into unconsciousness.

The Doctor took Terri’s offered hand.

“It was a pleasure to finally meet you, Doctor,” Terri said, “Uncle Mike will be annoyed he didn’t get a chance to see you, but I know you have to leave.”

He nodded, “Give Mike my best.”

“How is Rory?” she asked quietly.

“Recovering,” was all the Doctor said, “Look after yourself, Colonel. You’ve given me hope for the future of UNIT.”

She chuckled as he gave her another quick smile before he headed into the TARDIS. Donna and Martha were standing talking waiting for him.

“Thanks for coming,” Martha hugged him.

The Doctor smiled as he hugged her back, “You’re welcome. I’m glad you and your family are doing well.”

Martha let him go before asking, “Will Rory be okay?”

The Doctor nodded, “He will. He is tougher than people think.”

“I remember,” Martha smiled, she turned to Donna and hugged her quickly, “Look after them.”

Donna nodded, “Someone has to.”

As Martha left the Doctor threw his coat over the railing and moved to the console.

“Where are we going?” Donna asked.

“Rory needs someone to help him through this,” the Doctor told her, “And there is only one person I know who will do that.”

Donna frowned confused for a moment before realisation hit her, “Amy.”

“Amy,” the Doctor nodded, “He needs her in person this time and I don’t care if he doesn’t want her to know he’s travelling with us. She’s who he needs right now.”

“Then let’s go get her,” Donna stated, gripping the console as the Doctor hit the lever.

#fic #alternate universe #doctor who #Rory Williams #Tenth Doctor #Donna Noble #Martha Jones

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