ELEVEN


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BEEN HERE A LONG
TIME
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"WE FOUND DOCTOR SONG AND MISS ARIA." Canton announced casually as he strolled up to the Doctor sitting on a chair in a straight jacket and the handcuffed triplets.

"These bricks," the Doctor began, his eyes showing the smallest hint of worry that only the three chained up would possibly spot before it disappeared when he continued to speak, "what are they made of?" When Canton gave him no reply he frowned. "Where are they?"

"Doctor Song ran." Canton began before shortly adding: "Off the fiftieth floor."

"I'd say zero balance dwarf star alloy." The Doctor replied, watching the bricks be placed, the seam between them disappearing moments after being set down, as if it was one solid wall. "What about Hollie?"

"She dove off."

"Why am I not surprised." He muttered. Cassiopeia snickered making the Doctor raise a curious brow at her before he continued speaking to Canton. "The densest material in the universe. Nothing gets through that. You're building me the perfect prison. And it still won't be enough."

Orion hummed in agreement. "Not even the Pandorica could hold him."

The Doctor shot the man a warning look at the mention of that damned box and Cassiopeia coughed slightly causing the Doctor to relax and sigh. "So what is it then Canton?" He asked. "You're rounding us up and killing us and then what?" He raised a curious brow.

Canton opened his mouth to speak before turning around at the sound of footsteps, an armed soldier whispered into Cantons ear. Canton glanced at the Doctor briefly before nodding silently at the man and following.

Nova sighed and the Doctor grumbled. "Now I have to be entertained by you three."

"Oi!" Cassiopeia huffed.

The Doctor smirked slightly.

×××

Four days later, the dwarf star prison was completed. It's four occupants sat in silence and watched as the perfect wall, smooth without a single blemish shifted, a door sliding open. Cassiopeia blinked slightly as light filled the dark prison and Canton walked in, two men in uniform following behind him, each dragging an occupied body bag.

"Is there a reason you're doing this?" The Doctor asked as the men who dragged in the bodies turned and left.

"I want you to know where you stand." Canton answered.

Orion raised an eyebrow. "In a cell."

"In the perfect cell." Canton corrected. "Nothing can penetrate these walls. Not a sound, not a radio wave, not the tiniest particle of anything."

"That's impressive." Nova hummed.

"It worries me that I was able to guess exactly what you were going to say, Nov." Cassiopeia remarked.

Nova smirked at her sister as Canton closed the cell, the door sliding across before the lines disappeared making the black cell walls smooth. "I wouldn't be that worried if I were you."

"In here, you're literally cut off from the rest of the universe," Canton explained to them. "So I guess they can't hear us, right?"

"That would be a correct assumption." Nova nodded.

"Good work, Canton." The Doctor replied. "Door sealed?"

"You bet."

The Doctor stood up, shaking off his strait jacket and shackles as the two body bags suddenly sat up and gasped for breath, the Doctor moved over to one bag while Canton moved over to the other.

"Cass?" Orion looked at his sister who grinned, shifting her arm slightly and her screwdriver slipped into her hand.

"Got it." She activated the device, her handcuffs clicked off as the body bags were unzipped, Amy and Rory panting for breath inside.

"Are you okay?" The Doctor asked the two.

"Finally," Amy grumbled as Cassiopeia removed Orion and Nova's handcuffs.

"These things could really do with air holes," Rory complained.

"Never had a complaint before."

"Oh, I wonder why." Cassiopeia rolled her eyes at Canton.

"Isn't it going to look odd that you're staying in here with us?" Amy asked.

"Odd, but not alarming. They know there's no way out of this place."

"Exactly. Whatever they might think we're doing in here, they know we're not going anywhere." The Doctor stretched his arms before pulling his suspenders, snapping them back a second later and slumping to the side, he leant right against the TARDIS that had been cloaked.

The Trio smiled and Amy laughed as the Time Lord clicked his fingers, the TARDIS doors opened as the ships cloak disappeared and the Doctor raised a brow. "Shall we?"

Amy and Rory ran inside the TARDIS. "What about Doctor Song? and Miss Aria? They both dove off a rooftop."

"Don't worry." The Doctor waved a hand as he ran over to the console, the Trio following him as he ran around it, pulling levers and twisting dials as the console wheezed. "They do that, they'll be fine. Amy, Rory, open all the doors to the swimming pool." He ordered before turning to the triplets stood beside the console. "Can I trust you three with the TARDIS for a second?"

"Of course." Orion nodded. The Doctor ran to the TARDIS main doors and opened them as the Trio ran around the console, keeping the TARDIS steady. The Doctor watched as River fell through the doors. He poked his head out of the TARDIS before he held a hand out and grabbed onto a nearby railing.

He grabbed her hand just as she was about to fall past him. "Thanks." She smiled as the Doctor helped her to stand.

"You okay?" He questioned as a loud splash echoed into the console room.

There went River, straight into the swimming pool.

Hollie nodded. "Yeah, you?"

He hesitated for a moment longer than Hollie was expecting before giving a faint shrug. "Well, I'm not in a straight jacket anymore and the Ponds aren't in body bags so that's an improvement."

She let out a short laugh, half in amusement and half tension. The Doctor frowned, confused before blinking as Hollie gestured vaguely towards his chin.

"Nice beard."

He rolled his eyes rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up." He huffed slightly. "Straight jacket, remember? It wasn't exactly a style choice Hollie."

She shook her head, eyes saddening slightly before she tilted her head slightly, eyeing his hair. "You know.." She began, reaching out to move a bit away from his face, trying not to grimace. It was greasy and clearly hadn't seen soup in a while.

The Doctor closed his eyes for just a moment at the contact, involuntary, automatic. Like her fingers against his scalp was something he'd forgotten he missed.

She didn't comment on that, just gave a small, faint smile.

"If you cleaned up the beard and got a proper haircut, you might almost look like someone who's had sleep in the last year."

He snorted under his breath at the comment. "I miss the days when you were too polite to insult me first thing."

Her smile faded slightly but she still bumped her shoulder into his. "Shut up. I still have daggers you know."

His own smile fell slightly and he looked away, running a hand over the lapels of his jacket as Orion, Cassiopeia and Nova all shared a look behind him. He turned back glancing at Hollie for a second longer before turning to the others and he clapped his hands. "So, we know they're everywhere. Not just a landing party, an occupying force, and they 'have been here a very, very long time." He ran around the TARDIS and pulled a lever as River walked into the console room in a dry change of clothes while she towel dried her damp hair. "But nobody knows that, because no one can remember them."

"So what are they up to?" Canton asked.

"No idea. But the good news is, we've got a secret weapon." He pressed a button and the TARDIS shook, wheezing a second later when he pushed a lever up before the TARDIS landed. The Doctor lead the way out of the TARDIS, stopping just outside the box as everyone else piled out to look up at a large rock on a launch pad at the John F Kennedy Space Center.

River frowned. "Apollo 11's your secret weapon?"

"No, no." He chuckled slightly while Hollie raised a curious brow at him. "It's not Apollo 11. That would be silly. It's Neil Armstrong's foot."

"Because that makes sense." Hollie shook her head as the Doctor grinned and went back into the TARDIS.

She frowned when he walked past the console and into the corridor. She looked at Amy who shrugged back at her and she raised her eyebrows at the Trio who all gestured her to follow him. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

It was like chasing him around like a lovesick puppy wanting attention except she was no puppy or lovesick.

"Doctor!" She called, running to catch up with him, he didn't look back but kept walking. "Where are you going?"

"To change." He shrugged making a face when he felt his hair. "Gross."

"You could have at least said something." She shook her head. "Also three months?" She frowned. "I think at least, feels like forever."

He blinked, she was right. It had been three months and in those three months his feelings about her hadn't even changed in the slightest, come to think of it he hadn't even been that worried about her unless the trio mentioned her. "Sorry." He apologised. "Been up to much?"

"Running away from the FBI and those creatures." She replied and bit her lip slightly as she shuffled slightly uncomfortably. "I thought you died at one point."

He smirked slightly and bumped her shoulder in a desperate attempt to try and cheer her up a little. "Can't get rid of me that easily."

She shook her head and couldn't help but smile at him briefly before she frowned. "But it's odd though."

"Odd?" He turned to look at her and suddenly he noticed the worry in her eyes and his smirk fell. "What's wrong?"

"I've seen them before." She frowned. "I know them and it's like they know me."

He frowned deeply. "What do you mean 'they know you'?"

"The way they react towards me. It's like they recognise me. At least I think, it's hard to remember what is real and what is fiction with them things."

He nodded slightly and she watched as he looked back ahead of him before he kept walking, his frown morphing into somewhat anger. It was like the oncoming storm but more determined, almost more scared, he didn't know what was going on with her or who she was.

He hated not knowing.

She stopped in the middle of the corridor, her shoulders slumped and he barely heard her whisper. "Doctor, I'm scared."

He froze mid-step, foot hovering in the air for a second as silence echoed around them. She watched him closely, barely breathing, before he turned around so quick she might've missed it if she blinked.

He was suddenly standing in front of her, almost towering with how close they were, their chests nearly touching. Hollie held in her breath worried for whatever he was thinking.

She could see it in his eyes as they scanned her face, desprate, searching. He wasn't even trying to hide his wonder as his gaze finally locked with hers.

She wondered what he was thinking, but none of it mattered.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight. One hand cradled the back of her head, the other wrapped around her back, holding her like he was afraid she might just disappear if he let go.

It made him sick. Because now, holding her like this, he was smiling and worse, he felt almost thankful.

Her fear made him... happy.

But he wasn't happy because of her fear. Of course not. It wasn't that simple. It could never be with him.

It was the way she needed him.

That was why he was smiling, because he was a selfish old man, and it was wrong for him to say how much he missed the way she relied on him. She hadn't since she changed.

She looked more scared in thirty seconds than she had since the Pandorica and she looked at him, only him for answers. For help. For rescue.

And for once, since she regenerated she needed him to save her.

And while she was terrified and scared for what those creatures might do or have already done.

He was smiling.

He closed his eyes and held her tighter as nausea rolled in. It was rare for him to feel sick, properly sick but he wasn't exactly surprised, this was Hollie Aria.

She wasn't typical.

So why would his feelings around her be?

She pulled back first and rubbed her neck, his beard had scratch and tickled her giving an odd sensation and she studied it for a moment before shaking her head. "Can we get that shaved off you now."

"I thought you liked it?" He raised a brow at her, smiling.

"Don't look so smug." She shook her head at him. "I will pin you down and cut it off with my daggers myself if I have to."

His smirk grew slightly, involuntary even when every fiber of his being fought against it and she swore she saw a challenging look enter his eye before he chuckled as he stopped in front of a door while she kept walking. "Alright, I'll go get rid of the beard."

"And the moustache." She pointed at him, walking backwards while giving him raised eyebrows. "I want you exactly how you looked three months ago."

He mocked a salute before opening the door and sighing before leaning back against it when it had closed. He closed his eyes and let his head lightly hit the door.

He couldn't even find words to describe what he felt for her anymore, he felt numb, confused, hell he even felt angry but not at her.

Never was it meant to be at her.

×××

Hollie found herself back in the console room roughly an hour later, frowning slightly when the Doctor injected something into Cantons palm. The man jerked back crying out in pain while the Doctor laughed.

"Ha! So, three months. What have we found out?" He spun around to face the others and Rory began to speak:

"Well, they are everywhere." He began as the Doctor made his way over with the handheld device he injected Canton with. "Every state in America." He winced when the Time Lord used his handheld device on him. "Ahh."

"Not just America," the Doctor corrected, "the entire world."

"There's a greater concentration here, though." River reminded.

"Ow!" Amy complained when the Doctor injected her.

"Are you okay?" The Doctor asked quietly, Hollie watched them both carefully, frowning.

The last she heard from Amy the ginger was supposedly pregnant and yet she didn't currently look pregnant now...

"All better." Amy nodded.

"Better?" The Doctor questioned.

"Turns out I was wrong." She replied then lowered her voice. "I'm not pregnant."

"What's up?" Rory asked as he walked towards them, having not heard much.

"Nothing." Amy replied. "Really, nothing. Seriously."

Hollie frowned, watching her friend closely as Canton replied: "So you've seen them, but you don't remember them."

"You've seen them, too." River cut in. "That night at the warehouse, remember?" She questioned. "While you were pretending to hunt us down, we saw hundreds of those things. We still don't know what they look like."

"It's like they edit themselves out of your memory as soon as you look away." Rory explained. "The exact second you're not looking at them, you can't remember anything."

Hollie remained quiet as she listened to her friends and frowned slightly. Amy nodded in agreement with Rory while she added:

'Sometimes you feel a bit sick, though, but not always."

"So that's why you marked your skin." Canton nodded.

"Only way we'd know if we'd had an encounter."

"How long have they been here?"

Hollie sighed shaking her head. "That's what we've been trying to figure out but it's not been easy."

Rory nodded. "Especially if you can't remember anything you discover."

"How long do you think?"

"As long as there's been something in the corner of your eye, or creaking in your house, or breathing under your bed, or voices through a wall." The Doctor explained. "They've been running your lives for a very long time now, so keep this straight in your head. We are not fighting an alien invasion, we're leading a revolution. And today, the battle begins."

Canton frowned. "How?"

"Like this." The Doctor quickly injected something into Rivers hand, causing her to yelp loudly and jump, her eyes narrowed at him while he chuckled.

Orion shook his head while Cassiopeia smirked.

"Nano recorder." He explained, holding the device up, Nova raised her eyebrows looking impressed. "Fuses with the cartilage in your hand." He injected himself next, waving his hand slightly afterwords while wincing. "And it tunes itself directly to the speech centres in your brain. It'll pick up your voice, no matter what. Telepathic connection." He quickly winked at Hollie who rolled her eyes at him. "So, the moment you see one of the creatures, you activate it, and describe aloud exactly what you're seeing." He pressed his fingers into his palm to demonstrate and heard himself repeating what he had just said aloud: "And describe aloud exactly what you're seeing."

"Because the moment you break contact, you're going to forget it happened." A horrible feeling hit Hollies stomach at his words because the truth was she didn't completely forget what happened. "The light will flash if you've left yourself a message. You keep checking your hand if you've had an encounter. That's the first you'll know about it."

"Why didn't you tell me this before we started?" Canton questioned.

"I did, but even information about these creatures erases itself over time." He shrugged slightly. "I couldn't refresh it because I couldn't talk to you."

Hollie frowned, her eyes flickering behind Canton who too frowned and suddenly turned around. "Oh my god, how did it get in here?" He stepped back away from the creature in the room he was staring at. Hollie shook her head. "No, it's not real, it can't be."

"Keep eye contact with the creature." The Doctor instructed Canon, "and, when I say, turn back, and when you do straighten my bowtie."

"What?" Canton asked.

"Now." The Doctor ordered.

Canton frowned and did so anyways, turning around and immediately straightening the Doctors bowtie.

"What?' He asked. "What are you staring at.

"Look at your hand." River nodded at it.

"What?" Canton asked, staring at them all. "What are you staring at?"

"Canton." Cassiopeia nodded at his hand, his palm glowing slightly where the nano recorder sat under the skin. "Your hand is glowing."

"Why is it doing that?" He asked.

"What did the Doctor say it meant?" Orion asked.

Canton shook his head. "I haven't—"

"Play it." The Doctor said.

Canton swallowed hard and pressed the button and the recording played.

"My God, how did it get in here?"

"No, it's not real, it can't be." Hollie heard herself reply and swallowed hard.

"Keep eye contact with the creature, and, when I say, turn back, and when you do straighten my bowtie"

"What. What are you staring at?"

"Canton. Your hand is glowing."

Hollie slowly looked up from Canton at the creature again and swallowed hard as her blood ran cold yet again. This had to have been such a bizarre coincidence, there was absolutely no way this was the creature from her dreams.

"It's a hologram extrapolated from a photo on Amy's phone." The Doctor explained, his eyes landing on the bald pale creature. "Take a good long look." The image started to fizz before it disappeared completely. "You just saw an image of the creatures we're fighting." He clicked his fingers. "Describe it to me."

Canton shook his head. Hollies stomach churned horribly at the Doctors reply to Canton: "No. Neither can I."

It was fuzzy and blurry, like she was looking through prescription glasses of someone with the worlds worst eyesight, all while having perfect vision herself. She could just about describe it, while he wouldn't even know where to begin.

River looked over at Hollie, she noticed the fearful look straight away but she couldn't say anything there and then, it would rouse suspicion, suspicion no one currently had time for. She wished she could hug the other blonde and tell her everything was okay and she was fine, that she was worrying for no reason but she couldn't because none of it would be true.

Hollie Aria had every damn reason to be worried but right now they did not have the luxury, it was quite possible they never would.

"You straightened my bow tie because I planted the idea in your head while you were looking at the creature." The Doctor explained to Canton.

"So they could do that to people." Amy added. "You could be doing stuff and not really knowing why you're doing it."

"Like posthypnotic suggestion." Rory added.

"Ruling the world with posthypnotic suggestion?" Amy repeated.

Orion shrugged. "There's worst ways to rule the world."

Cassiopeia and Nova hummed and the Doctor moved around the console, pulling the scanner along with him.

"Now then, a little girl in a spacesuit." He continued. "They got the suit from NASA, but where did they get the girl?"

"It could be anywhere." Canton argued.

"Except they'd probably stay close to that warehouse, because why bother doing anything else?" He questioned. "And they'd take her from somewhere that would cause the least amount of attention. But you'll have to find her. Hollie, Nova and I are off somewhere."

Hollie frowned. "We are?"

"Yes." He nodded, smirking slightly as he stepped towards her, hands in his pockets as he raised an eyebrow. "Hollie Aria, how would you like to go to NASA?"

Hollie blinked and before she even had time to open her mouth she felt the head of something pressed into her palm before a horrible stinging pain replaced it and she yelped before sharply narrowing her eyes at the Doctor making him wince this time.

"Find her?" Canton repeated the Doctors previous comment as the Time Lord wearily stepped away from the angry blonde. "Where do we look?"

The Doctor glanced looked at Canton before briefly looking back at Hollie for a second. "Children's homes."

Hollie frowned and the Doctor pulled a lever, the TARDIS wheezed and groaned and River sighed. "Must you always leave the brakes on?"

"It's a good sound!" He argued.

Orion shook his head and Cassiopeia and Nova sighed before focusing again. "So where are the rest of us going?"

"Rory's going to do some digging at the White House with Orion, and River. Cass—you're going to the children's home with Amy and Canton. We need to gather as much as we can on where this little girl might be."

"But she could be in any children's home?" Orion asked.

"So we'd better start quickly," the Doctor nodded. "You lot should get changed, best not to rouse any suspicion. We have no idea what we're dealing with."

Amy nodded, already heading down the corridor with Rory. Orion and Cassiopeia followed, Nova lingering to check something with River.

Hollie stayed behind, chewing on her lip. She stepped a little closer to the Doctor as the others disappeared into the depths of the TARDIS.

"Doctor..."

He turned to her, brow raised. "Yes?"

"You said you couldn't remember the creatures, right?"

He frowned slightly, then nodded. "Not a thing. Not even a shadow of a thought."

Hollie's fingers curled into her sleeve. She hesitated—something clear on her face, something trying to surface. Her voice lowered.

"I think I—"

River's voice rang out across the room, crisp and precise. "Doctor, do you still have the blueprints for the first children's home? I want to make sure we aren't walking into a trap here."

He blinked and turned toward her, already rummaging for a data chip. "Yes, good point, hang on..."

Hollie sighed slightly and ducked her head for a moment biting her lip, when she raised it she swallowed hard at the saddened look on Rivers face, like the other blonde wanted to tell her something but couldn't, something that would result in an answer of 'spoilers' if asked.

The sound of their voices in the console room faded with each step she took. Hollie didn't know why she left the console room but standing still and thinking with everyone around her made her skin crawl and her fingers curled inside she sleeve as she bit her lip.

"Holliekins." She stopped at that name and voice.

River was behind her, calm as ever and Hollie turned just enough to look over her shoulder, frowning at the softened features she was not used to on the other blondes face. "You alright?"

Hollie scoffed slightly and leaned against the corridor wall, sighing. "You are really good at showing up right when I don't want company."

River gave her a small knowing smile. "That's usually when people need it most."

Hollie closed her eyes, sighing slowly and River watched her, remaining silent before Hollie opened her mouth. "You stopped me.

River didn't deny it and continued to let the younger blonde speak. "I was going to tell him." She explained. "Because it isn't right and it doesn't add up."

"Mm." River's gaze didn't waver as she stepped closer to her.

Hollie opened her eyes, meeting Rivers as she frowned. "So why stop me?" She stepped away from the corridor and walked towards her, tilting her head slightly. "What aren't you saying?"

River chuckled slightly. "You're very like him." She noted.

"That's not an answer."

"I know." She admitted.

"Tell me what you know." Hollie asked softly. "Please." She stopped, closing her eyes and sighing deeply when River didn't look at all phased. "You know something, I know you know something."

"Holliekins I can't tell you." She shook her head. "You and I both know that I know yours and the Doctors future and one day you will know mine. Like the trio our timelines are not in sync."

"Then why stop me?" She asked. "That isn't your call to make River."

"No." She admitted with a nod making Hollie blink. "But some questions aren't ready for their answers right now."

Hollie shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. "I am confused and terrified right now because I can remember them when I shouldn't and the one person I want to talk to about it got pulled away with looking for blueprints for an orphanage."

River stayed silent for a moment before opening her mouth. "Have you thought of how you know them instead of how they know you?"

Hollie blinked "I've never met them before in my life?"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"How can you be positive?" She countered. "They make people forget."

Hollie frowned, huffing in frustration.

"What are you not telling me?" she snapped. "Have they secretly abducted me before?" she questioned. "Have they somehow got into the TARDIS and put stupid dreams in my head from the day I first stepped in here?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Made me dream of being in New York as a child when I was never even there."

Hollie began to pace, running a hand through her hair while River watched her carefully, shifting ever so slightly. She stayed silent.

Hollie shook her head, her thoughts running at a million miles a second.

She paused and turned.

River was just standing there, staring at her, expression unreadable, like she was remembering something.

Hollie frowned. "Did I say something?"

The other blonde suddenly smiled, and Hollie's frown deepened at how off it looked.

"No," River said quickly. "I'd better go get changed. So should you, Holliekins." She nodded at the dress River had given her when she found her in America.

She turned and walked away before Hollie could even open her mouth to say anything else.

Hollie stayed still for a moment longer, her frown a fixed, before exhaling sharply and turning on her heel.

×××

Half an hour later, Hollie perched on the edge of the open Apollo 11 spacecraft, high in the sky, dressed in a fresh pair of black jeans, a black top and dark green over shirt. Inside the ship, wires wrapped around the Doctor and Nova as they sat side by side, working.

"So what are you exactly doing?" she questioned, eyes flickering between them.

"Stuff," the Doctor replied, waving his screwdriver at a stubborn wire.

She raised a brow. "Because that's very specific."

Nova didn't look up. "We're to divert the signal."

"Why?"

The Doctor sighed, lowering his screwdriver. "Hollie, you're asking a lot of questions."

"I'm curious," she shrugged. "And a little confused why I'm here, to be honest. I'm just sitting here."

That made him pause. He set his screwdriver down and turned to her fully, brows drawn. "You said you recognised them. Those creatures, the ones we can't remember. Shouldn't be able to. But you did. You look different after turning away." He frowned, tilting his head slightly at her. "But you do..."

Hollie swallowed hard, her gaze flickering down at footsteps far below them. "I tried to tell you earlier."

"I worked it out a while ago." His voice was softer now. "I'd rather you somewhere I can see you than out there, out with something I don't understand."

She nodded slowly. "You're trying to protect me."

The Doctor didn't answer. Just picked his screwdriver back up and returned to the wires.

Hollie exhaled, the sound barely audible. Nova glanced at her briefly, then returned to work.

The Doctor and Nova continued to work in silence after that, the only sound being the quiet hum of the screwdriver and footsteps way below them.

Hollie swallowed hard as the footsteps slowly began to get louder before she looked up and at the walkway leading from the main stairwell connecting to the top part of the spaceship, two men in white labcoats and hard hats walked towards them, causing Hollie to swallow hard

"Doctor..." She began quietly before stopping when her phone buzzed in the Doctors pocket and the Time Lord bought it out, answering immediately.

"Amy."

"I think we've found the place she was taken from." Hollie could barely hear.

The Doctor frowned. "How do you know?"

"Because those things have been here. But the whole place is deserted. There's just one guy here and I think he's lost it."

"Repeated memory wipes fry your head eventually." He responded and frowned, eyes flickering to Hollie for a moment. "Find out what you can, but don't hang around."

"Where are you guys?"

"Doctor—" Hollie warned, eyes snapping to meet his as he quickly closed a panel he and Nova were working on, the blonde beside him holding up a small wire.

"Oops..." She chuckled nervously.

"Got to go." The Doctor replied to Amy and hung up the call as the two men finally reached the trio.

"Don't worry, We've put everything back the way we found it."

"Mostly..." Nova added, wincing as she held up the wire.

"Except that." The Doctor nodded. "There's always a bit left over, isn't there?"

"Please tell me you have a plan." Hollie whispered to him under her breath as armed guards walked across the walkway towards them.

He nodded. "I have a plan."

She sighed. "No you don't."

"No I don't." He confirmed.

Hollie groaned and Nova shook her head, slipping her phone back into her pocket as one of the armed guards grabbed her.

The guards didn't speak, only handcuffed them and led them back across the walkway and down the long set of stairs, leading them into a building before stopping at a lecture hall. A two men wearing shirts and ties walked in.

The Doctor, Hollie and Nova were all forced to sit in three chairs laid out for them and one of the men who just joined the room sat down in one opposite the three. "Who are you."

"That's classified I'm afraid."

The man frowned at the Doctors reply. "I'll make it simple. I'm Mr Gardener, head of the security team that you somehow got past all three levels. Lets just make it easy, who are you?"

The Doctor sighed. "My code name is the Doctor, this is the Rescuer and thing three."

Nova sighed. "Still hate that name."

"How did you get past three levels of security?"

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you." Nova answered.

Hollie sighed when the man frowned. "Look, we're working for the President."

Mr Gardener stared at Hollie for a moment before he burst out laughing. Hollie looked at the Doctor and sighed. "I tell the truth and get laughed at."

Mr Gardener stopped laughing and looked at then seriously. "Now, one more time. How the hell did you get into the command module?"

"We told you." The Doctor spoke this time. "We're on a top secret mission for the President."

Mr Gardener glanced at the three while chuckling. The Doctor held his cuffed hands up and bit into them, Nova closed her eyes shaking her head and Hollie sighed slowly as the man beside Mr Gardener started to chuckle too. "Well, maybe if you just get President Nixon to assure us of that, sir, that would be swell."

Nova smiled brightly. "I sent him a message."

Mr Gardener opened his mouth for a second before the doors behind him opened and President Nixon walked in with River, Rory and Orion. The two men wore suits, River sharp in a blue skirt and matching jacket.

Mr Gardener quickly stood and the other man straightened, saluting him while the Doctor raised his cuffed hands, waving slightly while smiling. Nova chuckled under her breath at how ridiculous her brother looked in his suit and neatened hair, the twin narrowing his eyes at her in response.

"Hello." Nixon greeted, shaking his hand. "I believe it's Mr Gardner. Is that correct? Head of Security?"

"Er, yes sir." He nodded. "Yes, Mr President."

"Mr Grant, is it?" Nixon shook his next the Doctor leaning past Mr Grant to watch, smiling smugly.

"Yes, Mr President."

"The hopes and dreams of millions of Americans stand here today at Cape Kennedy, and you're the men who guard those dreams. On behalf of the American people, I thank you."

Hollie raised eye eyebrows remaining silent while sharing a glance with the Doctor.

"You're welcome, Mr President." Mr Gardener responded.

Nixon looked at Mr Grant. "I understand you have a baby on the way, Mister Grant."

"Yes, Mister President."

"What are you hoping for, a boy or a girl?"

"Just a healthy American, sir."

Nixon chuckled. "A healthy American will do just nicely." He nodded then gestured to the three. " Now, fellows, listen. This man, here, code name the Doctor," the Time Lord grinned, holding his hand up and waving slightly, his other hand involuntarily following with the handcuffs, "He and his colleagues are doing some work for me personally. Could you cut them a little slack?"

Mr Gardener frowned slightly. "Er, Mr President, they did break in to Apollo 11."

Hollie winced slightly while Nixon eyed the Doctor who mouthed a sorry to him while Nova bit her lip.

"Well, I'm sure he had a very good reason for that." Nixon answered, River shared a glance with Orion and then raised her eyebrows at Nova who sighed slightly. "But I need you to release them now so they can get on with some very important work for the American people. Could you do that for me?"

"Well..." Mr Grant hesitated.

"Son, I am your Commander in Chief." Nixon reminded.

"Then I guess that would be fine, Mr President." Mr Gardener cut in.

"Glad to hear it." Nixon nodded, gesturing to the guards behind the three. One by one they were uncuffed and the Doctor flexed his wrists before standing up, clapping with a smile.

"Thank you." He shook both Mr Grant and then Mr Gardener's hands. Hollie sighed when the Doctor clicked his fingers then thumbed up Nixon before heading into the TARDIS. "Bye, bye."

"Carry on, gentlemen." Nixon nodded. Orion shook his head at his sister as she walked past and then winced when Rory who had been examining a model of Eagle accidentally broke part of it.

He slowly placed it down and suddenly saluted the man. "America salutes you."

─── 。゚☆・*.☽ .* ☆゚. ───

I've missed these two idiots so much and I've been writing this damn chapter for SO long you do not understand. Thank you so much for reading, I love you all <3

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