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Rory and his father followed the Doctor and Danni through the corridors, away from the robots and the evil man they worked for, and hopefully towards Amy. Keeping up with the Doctor was hard work, Danni had come to realise. No wonder his companions were always running after him.
The Doctor skidded to a stop as they came upon Tricey, who was happily munching the foliage that had spread through the spaceship. He looked down at her, as if he expected her to know exactly what he was thinking. Luckily for him, she did, so she nodded back with a grin on her face.
"What're we doing?!" Brian shouted, still very confused, and the Doctor kissed Danni on the head before running wildly towards the dinosaur.
"Just do exactly as I do!"
"Doctor, no!" Rory shouted after him as the Doctor ran up some stacked crates and jumped onto the back of the triceratops with a yell of 'Geronimo'. Danni laughed loudly and set off after him.
"Danni!" Rory scolded but she ignored him, running up the same crates and grabbing hold of the Doctor's outstretched arms. He pulled her up in front of him and wrapped his arms around her from behind tightly, burying his face in her hair. He then dipped her off the other side of the dinosaur, surprising her not only with the movement but with a deep kiss that left her open-mouthed and panting slightly. He pulled her back up then turned and waved the two men to join them. Rory jumped on behind the Doctor and Brian hoisted himself up after him.
"Go, Tricey! Run like the wind!" the Doctor shouted, pointing in the direction they wanted to go. The dinosaur roared but didn't move. Suddenly laser bolts began coming at them from either side and they all ducked out of the way, the Doctor covering Danni protectively from the fire as Mitchell and Webb caught up with them.
"How do you start a triceratops?!" he yelled, frustrated before karate-chopping it, hurting himself in the process.
"There they are!" Mitchell called.
"I know! I saw them before you!" Webb replied as they moved closer.
"Brian, your ball!" Danni shouted and Brian pulled out his remaining golf ball from his pocket.
"Tricey, fetch!"
He chucked it down the hallway and the triceratops began chasing its toy. "Ha-ha! That-a-boy! Yee-hah!" the Doctor cried happily as they picked up speed.
Danni couldn't help but join in with his laughter. Every day was proving to just be absolutely ridiculous. "We so have to do this more often!" she cried and he nodded.
"Whatever you want!" he replied. "Come on, Tricey! Faster, baby!" The ball bounced off the wall in front of them and Tricey turned down the corridor after it, them losing the very slow robots following them.
"I'm riding a dinosaur! On a spaceship!" Brian exclaimed in disbelief.
"I know!" Rory replied.
"I only came round to fix your light!"
As they approached the dead end at the end of the hallway, it was becoming more and more apparent that Tricey didn't want to stop in time, despite the huge metal wall in front of them.
"Where are the brakes?!" the Doctor cried, pulling at its frill as he realised this as well.
Suddenly, a little too close for comfort, Tricey skidded to a halt as Brian's golf ball slowed down enough for it to catch it. They all yelled as they were thrown off the back and onto the dusty floor. Tricey picked up the golf ball and trotted up to Rory, who lifted his head to look at the creature. The Doctor helped Danni off the grown, brushing her down and she felt her cheeks warm up again. He'd done it without a second thought, as if he brushed her down often.
"Good, that worked! OK..." the Doctor began before spinning around in a circle. "Where are we now? Ooh." He spotted a screen embedded in the wall. "Incoming message from Earth!" He ran over, waving his arms excitedly. "Hello, Earth! How are things?"
The Indian Space Agency logo appeared, shortly followed by a woman in their uniform. "Doctor, the ship's coming through the atmosphere. I have to start the missile program," the woman told him as Danni and Rory approached the screen.
All of the excitement from riding a dinosaur fell away from him. "No. No, no, no - don't do that, everything's under control here, turning round any moment. Need a bit of wriggle room on the timings..."
"I can't do that."
"You can, of course you can. Tiny bit more time, Indira, please. This ship contains the most precious cargo..."
"My only responsibility is the Earth's safety," she cut in. "I'm launching the missiles. Goodbye, Doctor."
"No Indira!" He smacked the screen as she hung up the call. "Hey, come back! Please!" An alarm began sounding throughout the ship, indicating it picking up the missile threat.
"Doesn't this ship have any defence systems installed?" Rory asked.
Danni shook her head. "There aren't any," she told them, saving Rory from what she knew was an unscripted kiss. "The Silurians saw no need for any. Show weapons and defence systems." The screen flashed up 'No Systems
"What ship doesn't have weapons?" Rory asked.
"The ancient species, Rory - still full of hope," the Doctor replied, with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"What about the control deck?" Brian said. "You said we should go to the control deck next."
"It's too late, it won't make any difference," he replied, angry at the entire situation. A horrid man had massacred a ship for a bunch of dinosaurs, and now he couldn't even save them! How was he supposed to convince Danni when she was so young about him if he couldn't even…
"We could at least try," Rory exclaimed, storming up to him.
"It won't work, Rory. The missiles are locked on."
"So, what? We're just giving up?" Rory asked him in disbelief. The Doctor looked away, shaking his head.
"I don't know." They all stared at him, looking for an answer that he didn't have. "I. don't. know."
"Of course we're not giving up." Danni stated and they turned at her as she nodded to herself. She looked so sure of herself, even when she was so new and so young, that he couldn't help but smile at how amazing she was. "I don't care what you're going to do, Spaceman, but I'm going to save Tricey." She pointed over at the dinosaur as there was a flash of light and Solomon appeared between Mitchell and Webb.
"You were telling the truth, Doctor. Earth has launched missiles," the man stated. The Doctor turned to face him, glaring. "This vessel is too clumsy to outrun them, but I have my own ship."
"You won't get your precious cargo on board, though. It'll just be you-" He pointed at Solomon as he slowly stepped towards him, "-and your metal tantrum machines."
"We do not have tantrums!" Mitchell protested loudly, stamping its huge metal feet in a tantrum.
"Shut up!" Solomon snapped. Using two canes he moved himself closer to the Doctor. "You're right, Doctor. I can't keep the dinosaurs and live myself. But I had the IV system scan the entire ship and it found two things even more valuable. Both utterly unique. I don't know where you found them or how you got them here, but I want them."
The Doctor felt queezy just at the look of pure joy and greed on his face. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Earth Queen Nefertiti of Egypt," Solomon stated. "A face stamped across history."
"And the other?"
"The Time Child, Danielle Fielding." Danni blinked, surprised as the Doctor tensed. "The girl with the fixed point of time on her arm. Give them to me and I'll let the rest of you live."
The Doctor leant in closer. "Never," he spat.
"You think I won't punish those who get in my way? Whatever their worth?" He motioned with his head to Tricey and one of the robots stepped forward to shoot the beast.
"No!" Danni shouted, stepping forward. "I'm yours if you leave the dinosaurs alone." #
The Doctor spun to face her, alarmed and suddenly in a total panic. "No, Danni you can't
"I have faith I'll be okay," she told him with a smile, and her confidence felt a lot more concerning than it had a moment ago. "Not everyone has to die."
He gripped her arm tightly. "You're not going with him," he snarled. "He'll take you away, sell you to the highest bidder." She forcefully removed his hand from her arm.
"Then you'd better come find me, Spaceman."
She walked over, despite his protested, and was immediately restrained by one of the robots. The Doctor looked between Solomon and Danni, helpless but already planning.
"You must be very proud," the Doctor told him.
"This is only one," Solomon pointed out. "Bring her to me. Or the robots will make their way through your corpses. Bring her now."
"No," the Doctor told him, hoping that if he didn't get Nefertiti then maybe he'd let Danni go.
There was another flash of light as Amy, Neferitit and Riddell teleported by their sides. Riddell and Amy were both carrying guns, but Nefertiti was stood with her back straight and her head held high.
"What are you doing?" the Doctor whispered to Nefertiti, who had a look of determination on her face.
She began walking forward towards Solomon. "I demanded to be brought here," she replied. The Doctor grabbed her on the arm, trying to stop her. She was his last bargaining chip. She needed to stay on their side.
"No, no, no, no - no way. Not you as well."
"It isn't your choice, Doctor. Like your queen, it's mine."
They both looked at Danni, who shot them a smile and a wink, although she was actually rather scared. She knew the Doctor saved Nefertiti, but she didn't know if he'd be able to save both of them. There was no reason why he wouldn't, not by the looks he kept shooting her and the kisses he kept giving her. Plus, he was the Doctor. She knew that he would always try to save everyo.e
"Listen to me, if you go with him, I can't guarantee your safety."
"You saved my people. I am in your debt."
"No. No debts, you don't owe me anything," he half-pleaded with her.
"Then I do it of my own will." She broke free of his grasp and pushed forwards towards Solomon.
"Neffy, Neffy, Neffy..."
"No!" Riddell exclaimed, cocking his gun and pointing it at Solomon. "Take her, I shoot you." He swore. Nefertiti held out her arm behind her to keep him back.
"Put your weapon down. Let me make my choice."
"Do it, boy," Solomon taunted and one of the robots stepped forward. Riddell, realising he couldn't possibly win, lowered his gun in defeat. Solomon smiled and turned to Nefertiti.
"My bounty increases. And what an extraordinary bounty you are."
He reached out to touch her, but she pushed his hand away. "Never touch me," She spat out in disgust. He lifted his cane and pushed her against a pipe on the wall, the sharp edge of the cane pressed against her throat.
"I like my possessions to have spirit. It means I can have fun breaking them." Nefertiti pushed the cane away and he leant forward. "And I will break you in, with immense pleasure." He leered at her before turning to the Doctor. "Thank you, Doctor. Computer? Take us back to my ship."
The small group immediately appeared on Solomon's ship, in the cockpit. It was a little bit of a tight squeeze and Danni's stomach was fluttering slightly at the thought of what could happen to her if the Doctor didn't save her in time. However, knowing that she'd saved Tricey, who would then be saved by the Doctor, she didn't regret her decision at all.
"Well, don't just stand there! Prepare for launch!" Solomon snapped.
"Okay, okay," Mitchell grumbled.
"No need to shout," Webb added and they began moving around the room as Solomon made his way to the controls.
Danni moved to Nefertiti and placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Don't worry, the Doctor will save us," she whispered and the Egyptian queen looked down at the smaller woman.
"Of course he will," she replied with a surprising amount of certainty. "A king does not abandon his queen, he will not let you go."
Danni frowned. "I'm not his queen," she replied." And don't let him hear you calling him a king, he'll never let it go."
"When I asked Amy, she said that you were his queen and that I 'should never think otherwise'," she quoted.
"Well, she's wrong," she said. "The Doctor's only queen is his TARDIS."
"Then why is he fighting so hard to save you?"
~0~0~0~
Solomon smacked the console of his ship as it refused to take off from its place in the middle of the Silurian ship. He fought with the controls as he tried to fly away, but the ship just protested as it was held down.
"Come on, come on. We're not moving," Solomon bit out. The whole ship shook and Nefertiti reached out, using the back of his obnoxiously large chair to keep herself steady. Metal made clanging noises around the ship as it creaked under the strain. "He's magnetised us. We can't move away!"
"Looks like we're not going anywhere after all," Danni called from her place at the rectangle table in the middle of the room, before leaning her head on her arms. The man and his two robots had been trying to get the ship to fly for what felt like at least half an hour, and with no progress ever going to be made Danni was getting bored. She never thought she could be bored while in mortal danger; she was wrong. Solomon glared at her as the ship rocked, trying and failing to get away. There was a flash of light and the Doctor finally appeared at the back of the room.
The flash of light that filled the back of the cockpit was very welcome and the Doctor appeared, quickly looking around to get his bearings. "Hello!" Danni looked up and grinned at him. "Having trouble leaving?" He pulled two wires out of the walls of the ship and pressed them into the two robots, frying their circuits.
"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer..."
Solomon turned to face the Doctor, who patted one of the robots, his happy smile turning to an angry frown. "Ship's still magnetised, couldn't bear to lose you," he said, his voice hard, as he stepped into the room.
"Release my ship, Doctor," Solomon demanded, holding a small buzzing weapon up to Nefertiti's neck. "Or I kill this precious little object." The Doctor and Solomon stared each other down, distracting them both long enough for Nefertiti to kick Solomon's cane from underneath him. He fell to the ground with a groan and she grabbed the cane, pressing the point of it against his neck.
"I am not your possession now, nor will I ever be. Now stay there," She told him, pushing it hard to emphasis her command.
The Doctor walked over to him, bending at the waist and smirking at him. "Don't mess with Egyptian queens, Solomon. I hope you've learnt that now. Danni-Girl, with me."
Danni didn't need to be told twice, and she shot up and rushed over to the Doctor's side as he moved over to work with the ship's controls. "You took your time," she told him with a tease. "I was bored. Which was weird."
"Next time I'll try harder to entertain you," he retorted, not taking his eyes off the screen.
"How do you know how to do that?" she asked. "Have you seen a ship like this before? Did you just get bored and read every manual in existance one weekend?"
"I never read the manual," he replied, almost insulted at her words. "I'm just this clever."
"Show-off," she shot at him.
"Always," he retorted and they shared a grin.
""What're you doing?!" Solomon demanded.
"Disabling this ship's signal and replacing it with the one from the Silurian ship," the Doctor explained. "I send this craft off emitting the signal they're looking for, the missiles will follow. "Hopefully Silurian ship safe, dinosaurs safe, everybody safe." He looked at his watch. "Bit tight for time though, shouldn't really be chatting. Neffy, Danni-Girl, let's go."
He and Danni headed for the door, Nefertiti only taking the cane off Solomon's neck at the last moment before leaving the ship. The Doctor paused at the end of the table and turned back to look down on the man on the floor. "How remiss of me, almost forgot - the thing about missiles, very literal, this is what they latch on to." He pulled a green flashing crystal out of his pocket and set it down. He then pulled out his screwdriver. "Now, one press on this and the ship's demagnetised."
"Doctor, whatever you want, I can get it for you, whatever object you desire," Solomon begged.
"Did the Silurians beg you to stop?" Danni snapped. "When you slaughtered them, did they plead with you to let them live?"
The Doctor looked up at the computer screens, all indicating the threat heading swiftly towards the craft. "Look, Solomon," the Doctor whispered. "The missiles. See them shine. See how valuable they are. And they're all yours."
They both turned and walked out of the ship. "You wouldn't leave me, Doctor..." Solomon called after them. The Doctor pressed the button to close the gate behind them, using the sonic to lock them.
"You took my queen," the Doctor told him simply, Danni's head shooting up to look at him, startled.
"Enjoy your bounty."
"DOCTOR!" Solomon screamed after them, but they didn't pay him any attention, getting a safe distance away before the ship took off in an attempt to outrun the missiles, running straight into their path and exploding into shrapnel in deep space.
~0~0~0~
The Doctor and Danni lead the way, hand in hand, through the corridors and back to the TARDIS. The Doctor spun her around underneath his arm as they reached the blue box, causing her to giggle in surprise.
"So, dinosaur drop-off timem," he called back to his 'gang' as he opened the door.
"Actually," Rory started. "We think home for us." The Doctor stopped in the doorway, his face falling at his words. Danni squeezed his hand reassuringly; the Ponds really were starting to drift farther and farther away.
"Oh." He turned back around, forcing a smile onto his face. "Fine. Of course."
"Not forever," Amy quickly reassured him, and a little bit herself. "Just a couple of months."
"Right, yes, I'm pretty busy anyway. I mean…" He motioned to the TARDIS with his thumb. "I've got to drop everyone back."
Brian stepped out from behind Amy and Rory, a hopeful look on his face. "About that. Can I ask a favour? There's something I want to see."
Rory, Amy and the Doctor looked at him in confusion while Danni just smiled brightly at his request.
"Oh?"
~0~0~0~
Brian Williams, of Leadworth, stared out from the doorway of the TARDIS into the magnificentness of space and down at the planet Earth, seeing a sight that only a handful of people up until that point had seen. In one hand he held a sandwich, ham and a bit of butter, and in the other the lid of his thermos. He sipped at the tea happily as he just took in the beauty they were floating above. His son Rory, and his wife Amy moved to stand behind him, smiling down at the older man fondly before enjoying the view of their shared planet. The Doctor stood behind them, watching them for a moment as he thought upon the fact that he really didn't have long left with his two companions, his two friends, until he couldn't bear the thought any longer and walked away. He joined Danni at the console and at her concerned look he grinned.
"He's sat in your spot," he pointed out and her brows furrowed together, despite the smile on her face.
"I have a spot?" she enquired and he nodded, reaching over and stroking her hair gently.
"It's strange, me getting to tell you things. More often than not you always know what I'm going to do, or say, or end up," he replied. "But yes, you do. And it's where Brian is sat right now."
"No matter what happens," she told him. "Given the choice, if they could they would always spend their lives with you." He chuckled humourlessly.
"Always trying to cheer me up. That's my Danni-Girl."
She shrugged. "If this is my life now, then what other use do I have except to cheer you up?"
"Nothing I could mention in public."
She smacked his arm at his cheek. "Oi! Watch it, Spaceman!" She warned and he pulled her in for a hug, holding her tightly even as she tried to get away. He laughed, properly this time, as she struggled. "Let me go! You can't just give me cheek and then hug me into submission!" she shouted into his chest, but he only loosen his grip, planting a kiss on her forehead.
~0~0~0~
The Doctor opened the TARDIS door, looking around the outside to make sure that he approved of the planet he'd landed on, before flinging it open dramatically.
"This! This is it!" he cried, motioning for Danni to step out into the green wilderness outside before him. She was happy to ablige, stepping out and looking around with a wonder that she was sure she was never going to get over. The area was surrounded by rocky mountains, all leading down to the grassy area they were stood in. The brightly coloured, and very large plants that surrounded them made her feel like she was in Jurassic Park and she nodded her approval.
"I can totally see dinosaurs living here," she replied and he pulled her over to the side of the TARDIS before whistling, a finger from each hand in the corners of his mouth. There was a rumble from the TARDIS, it growing steadily louder until a mass of dinosaurs began charging out onto the planet, Pterodactyls flying out into the air as the parade continued. Danni watched them, delighted as the last ones trickled out, as well as a couple of babies that could just not quite keep up with their parents.
"What are we going to call it, though?" she asked him. "I mean, you can't have a planet without a name."
He nodded and he looked out across the land, deep in thought. "Siluria," He said, rolling the 'r' as he tried it out. "Yes, I like that. We'll leave a note to whoever comes across here next."
He stared out for a moment longer then grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the TARDIS. "I have the best idea. We should go see the dust storms of Omega Franca," he rambled. "Named after the French team who first came across it, the French always wanting to make sure their work is kept separate from everyone else."
She stopped just before he entered the TARDIS, pulling them both to a halt. "Doctor, wait."
He turned around at her quiet demand, looking worried. "Is something wrong?" he asked. "Did you not like the name?"
She shook her head. "No, I think it's fitting," she quickly reassured him, because he seemed a little wounded at the idea that she didn't like it. "You keep kissing me." She stated and he nodded. "And you keep holding my hand, and you get angry when you don't know that I'm okay."
"Yes, and?"
"I don't understand why," she told him bluntly. "The Rose-Doctor I was just with hated me! He was cruel, and he kept shouting. Even the Martha-Doctor wasn't anything like that. He just showed me the normal amount of concern that you show anyone, and now you're all over me. It's not like I don't like it, trust me I really, really do but I... it's too much, I'm too confused! What the hell happens?!"
She had begun shouting, her arms raised as she ranted, becoming increasingly worked up. The Doctor reached over as she started pacing backwards and forwards, grabbing her by the arms and forcing her to stop and look at him. "Hey, hey. It's alright," he told her gently and she stared up, wide-eyed and biting her lip. He reached across and pushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I was just having a little fun; I didn't mean to upset you."
"I'm just having a hard time correlating it all in my head. The attitude jumps, they're mind-boggling."
He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I get it now. I'm sorry," he apologised again. "I'll be more careful in the future."
"You were touchy feely with the Silurians as well," she told him. "And for you, that was hundreds of years ago. Am I just some little bit on the side whenever I appear?"
He shook his head. "Never. Don't you ever think that," je told her firmly.
"But… but that means in 300 years, you've just become more affectionate," she reasoned and he nodded, a soft smile on his face that did make her feel better. "But I bet you can't tell me why."
"Spoilers," he told her with a chuckle and she nodded.
"Will I enjoy finding out?"
"Oh, definitely." She nodded again, biting her lip. That reassured her slightly, because she had to admit she had enjoyed every little kiss he'd given her. If she had to choose between this Doctor and the Rose-Ten, this was the Doctor she would choose every time. And the kiss on Tricey? Well, she was only human.
He reached up and pulled her lip from underneath her teeth, "Please don't do that," he told her.
"Why?"
"Spoilers."
She sighed. "I already hate those words." He laughed outright at that.
"I know that feeling," he agreed, turning to once again leave. Instead of following, though, she grabbed his hand, stopping him from moving any further.
"Can... Can I try something?" she whispered
He nodded. "Sure," he quickly replied before pausing slightly. "What?"
She stood on her tiptoes and placed her lips against his, closing her eyes as she did. His grip on her tightened involuntarily and she began moving her lips cautiously, as if testing to see if he responded. He did, and at the tentative touch of her tongue he opened his mouth. Her hands buried themselves into his hair and he moved his hands to rest on her hips, almost hoisting her up so she could reach better. When she pulled away, panting lightly, he rested his forehead on hers, eyes still closed.
"That was so... sexy."
"Why?" she asked with a giggle.
"Because it was so innocent," he explained. Danni opened her eyes to see him grinning wickedly at her. He moved so he was whispering in her ear. "And the Danni I know is much more corrupt."
The whisper sent a shiver down her spine. "I'll-I'll have to remember that," she replied quietly.
He chuckled and pulled back, holding her at arm's length as he studied her. "Since I did something for you," he started teasingly, "can you do something for me?"
"Sure, but nothing naughty," she warned, then laughed at his mock pout.
"Do you know my name?" he asked her and she bit her lip, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"It's the Doctor?" she replied shakily and he shook his head.
"Not that. You once told me that you knew the name I was called at the Academy."
She nodded slowly. "It's not your real name," she explained. "But it's the closest we as a universe ever got to it."
"What is it?"
"You don't know?"
He laughed and shook his head. "Of course I know. Tell me it." She looked around, still unsure about saying it. "It's alright, there's no one else here," he coaxed gently and she turned to face him.
"Theta," she whispered. "Theta Sigma."
He placed a kiss on her forehead gently then grinned, letting go of her hips and grabbing her hand. Whatever he had been looking for, then obviously he had found it.
"So, Omega Franca!"