Jumping on the Angels Take Manhattan train

[comeonthensexy]

Don't look at me like that.

Of course I'm sad. But I knew that would happen. The moment Rory was sent back again, I knew, no matter how much I...

[ Begged. ]

It was always Rory, for Amy. Even when she didn't really understand it herself, it was always Rory. She'll always choose Rory.

I'll be all right. It's me, after all.

Comments

[jailed]

[She, for once, doesn't say anything.

She simply takes his hand.]

[timesnewroman]

[ If you put it like that...it hurts a lot more. ]

I'm sorry I didn't get to give you a proper goodbye.

[comeonthensexy]

[ Like it's a lifeline, he squeezes it as if he's never, ever going to let go. Not hard, exactly, but so very firmly. ]

[jailed]

It never gets any easier, my love.

[It's soft, because there really isn't much to say. It was destined to happen, just as it always is -- and she knows, one day, her time will come. But for now, all she can do is be brisk and comforting all in one go, because coddling the Doctor is something that shouldn't be done under any circumstances.]

[comeonthensexy]

[ Oh, it hurts. A insistent burn in his chest that just will. Not. Go. Away. It's selfish to wish Rory would have been left alone back there, after everything he's been through for Amy. It's so selfish.

But he can't stop. ]

So am I.

so rusty I can hear the creaking

[crossways]

[You might not be her Doctor, but that doesn't mean she can't hug you.]

You'll "be all right"? Don't be daft. Now's not the time for spaceman code.

/oils you up

[comeonthensexy]

[ Oh.

Well, he appreciates that very much, and he happily returns it. As happily as he can in this state, anyway. Maybe it's more appropriate to say it's almost desperate. ]

It's always time for spaceman code. If you people who matter can just read straight through it.

[comeonthensexy]

You don't think I know that?

[ It might come out a bit snappier than he really intends. Because as much as he understands, there's still a nagging thought at the back of his mind that River was there and she didn't do anything to stop it.

But it's not her fault, is it? It's his, if anyone's. Always, always his. Because he kept coming back, because he couldn't stop himself from taking them with him again.

And now he's lost them forever. ]

[timesnewroman]

[ Rory knows he feels that way, because when they both leapt off of that building...the Doctor only ever called out for Amy. That isn't what hurts, because his own relationship with Amy is very much the same way. He's grown close to the Doctor and loves him just as much as Amy does, but Amy is always his first concern and his only choice.

What hurts is the fact that they've left the Doctor, essentially, alone, and there isn't a way for him to fix it. ]

I'm sorry.

[ And because it's all he can do, he actually reaches out and pulls the Doctor into an embrace, complete with the trademark Rory brand of stiff and awkward. Payback for all those unexpected hugs, don't you know. ]

[jailed]

Of course not. No one knows the risks of traveling through time better than you do.

[It's said neutrally. River is keeping her emotions very close to her vest. She, like the Doctor, won't see Amy and Rory again. And she deals with it with a hardened reality -- an understanding that Amy would rather die with the one she loved than be trapped without. River can relate.]

But they understood, just as any of us do, that they may never come home. And they were willing to do it anyway, just as you do, because it's worth the risk.

[She pauses before her tone becomes slightly more gentle.]

You still have me.

[For some time longer.]

oh my

[crossways]

Never gets easier, does it? Even for you.

[Don't mind her, she'll just be stepping back to get a good look at you. And straighten up your bowtie (terribly old-fashioned though it is) for you.]

Look at you. [She gives a sad, wistful sort of sigh.] I can give you hugs without gettin' papercuts now.

[By that, she means: things have changed. The Doctor's companions know very well that their time with him is only temporary, no matter how much they wish it could go on forever.]

[comeonthensexy]

[ Because Rory would die either way. Was dead. Amy wasn't, they didn't know anything about that. But she was always the first. She was.

Rory doesn't really ever initiate a hug between them and the Doctor is surprised. But of course he returns it, after a moment to gather himself together, holds Rory tight and they've never really hugged that way but what does that matter? Nothing whatsoever. ]

Me too.

[ For so many things. ]

[comeonthensexy]

[ Something in him crumbles at that, whatever anger and resentment left just rolls straight off him. It's only temporary, it'll come back, he's sure, but for now it leaves nothing but sorrow and the ever-present ache in his chest multiplied tenfold.

He turns, takes her into his arms and leans on her like he's not sure he ever has. ]

/waggles eyebrows

[comeonthensexy]

[ For that, she even gets the very slightest smile. But that's very difficult at this point, even if he always wears them for the sake of...

Well, many things.

But now it seems like so much work to smile that it only lasts so long. ]

I thought I'd spare everyone of those.

[ofdrumsthesound]

This is why I tended not to take companions. All good things coming to an end and whatnot.

[jailed]

[It always astonishes her, how such a great and powerful man can be so sensitive and vulnerable -- and as he sinks against her, River rests her head against his chest, to listen to his hearts beat, quiet.

There's absolutely nothing to be done, to make this better, save for be there. But for how much longer? When will she be unable to keep running? And who will look after him once she's gone?

The thought makes her heart ache and an uncomfortable lump rise in her throat, which she ignores, of course. It's a bit past the crying stage -- she can do that on her own. For now, she straightens slightly to kiss his cheek, eyes bright with tears that she refuses to shed.]

Wrinkling my shirt is something I can forgive, but ruining my mascara, absolutely not. Where is your chivalry?

[Keep calm and carry on, Doctor.]

[comeonthensexy]

I take them because they are good things.

[ Otherwise he doesn't have many of them, not really. ]

[ofdrumsthesound]

But they come to an end, or at least your time with them does.

Mind you, my luck with them sucked as well. Remember poor dear Lucy?

[comeonthensexy]

[ He exhales a puff of air, almost sharp, almost a laugh but yet so far from it. Seems they're in the same state. ]

Have I ever had it?

[ If only his tone could match the tease this is meant to be.

Since when was it easier to be angry? ]

/waggles back

[crossways]

There you go again, makin' things up to sound good.

[She gives him a bit of a nudge.]

Is that spaceman code for "I really had no hand in pickin' what I look like now"? Don't think I haven't heard how the whole wormy regeneration thing is supposed t' work.

[timesnewroman]

[ Rory has hardly even accepted a hug from the Doctor, but it's been ten years (give or take two thousand). A lot of things have happened and lot of opinions have changed, so a hug is the least he can offer. ]

Hey. Hey, do us a favor. Don't do anything you wouldn't do if we were there.

[ He pulls away with a terribly forced smile, doing his best to mask the fact that, yeah, he's feeling really emotional and almost at the point of tears right now. He would never have followed the Doctor by choice, but when someone has ingrained themselves so much into your life and the way you've shaped yourself over the years, it's really hard not to admit that you grow attached. ]

No fezzes, yeah?

[lonelyassassin]

[ You do have another choice, you know. ]

c:

[comeonthensexy]

You're right, I had no thought about it at all.

[ He just fought it. ]

[comeonthensexy]

[ Uh.

No. He'll just give you this very hateful stare. ]

<3

[crossways]

[Stop deflecting, Doctor. She was there when Rose explained the whole thing, remember?]

Now there's a surprise. You usually think too much.