Never let me go [2]

Chapter 4 - The Curse of the Black Spot

The hatch to the hold burst open as the Doctor shouted. “Yo ho ho! Or does nobody actually say that?”

“Idiot.” Maddie hissed to him. “They are pirates, for god sake.”

~00~

Then they were brought to the Captain's cabin as the Captain Avery told them. “We made no signal.”

“Our sensors picked you up. Ship in distress.” The Doctor told them as Maddie thought to him. ‘They don’t Understand, sweetie.’

“Sensors?” Captain Avery looked confused at him.

“Yes. Okay, problem word.” The Doctor sighed. “Seventeenth century. My ship automatically, er, noticed-ish that your ship was having some bother.”

The Captain looked at him. “That big blue crate?”

“That is more magic, Captain Avery. They're spirits. How else would they have found their way below decks?” One of the crewmembers asked.

The Doctor scratched behind his ear. “Well, er, I want to say multidimensional engineering, but since you had a problem with sensors, I won't go there. Look, I'm the Doctor. This is Maddie, Amy, Rory. We're sailors, same as you. Ooo ar. Except for the gun thing. And the beardiness.”

“You're stowaways.” Captain Avery looked at them. “Only explanation. Eight days, we've been stranded here, becalmed. You must have stowed away before we sailed.”

“Now what do we do with 'em?” One of the crewmembers asked.

“Oh, I think they deserve our hospitality.” Captain Avery replied to him as the others suddenly looked worried.

~00~

They had moved to on deck as the Doctor was being made to walk the plank. “I suppose that laughing like that is in the job description. Can you do the laugh? Check. Grab yourself a parrot. Welcome aboard.”

“Stocks are low.” Captain Avery told to the Doctor. “Only one barrel of water remains. We don't need three more empty bellies to fill.” Then he ordered his men. “Take the doxy’s below to the galley. Set girls to work. They won't need much feeding.”

“Doctor.” Maddie shouted to him as they were dragged away.

“Rory? A little help?” Amy shouted to her husband.

Rory was being held by a crewmember. “Yeah. Hey, listen, right? She's not a doxy and Maddie isn’t one either.”

“I didn't mean just tell him off. Thanks anyway.” Amy shouted, she was not being happy.

“If you're lucky you'll drown before the sharks can take a bite.” Captain Avery told to the Doctor.

“If this is just because I'm a captain too, you know, you shouldn't feel threatened.” The Doctor rambled. “Your ship is much bigger than mine. And I don't have the cool boots. Or a hat, even.”

“Time to go.” The captain was getting impatient.

“A bit more laughter, guys?” The Doctor grumbled as Maddie and Amy were gone to the hold and found a crate of cutlasses. “Where are the rest of the crew? This is a big ship. Big for five of you. I suppose the rest of them are hiding some place, and they're going to jump out and shout boo.”

“Boo!” the girls shouted as they had taken the time to don a coat and tricorn hat as then Amy continued. “Throw the gun down.”

Captain Avery obeyed, looking suddenly afraid, which confused Maddie as Amy kicked it away. “The rest of you, on your knees.” Maddie told them all, holding her sword up, Amy did as well.

“Maddie, Amy, what are you doing?” The Doctor looked at Amy and his soulmate.

“Saving your life.” Maddie replied a little rudely. ‘Rude.’ The Doctor thought to her as she thought back. ‘I’m not ginger, sweetie.’ Then he thought back to her. ‘Touché.’

“Okay with that, are you?” Amy added.

Captain Avery looked at the girls. “Put down the sword. A sword could kill us all, girls.”

“Yeah, thanks. That is actually why I'm pointing it at you.” Amy told him as then the rest of the sailors started a sword fight with Amy, using wooden staves, while Avery hold on to the Doctor. Maddie went to help Amy as well. However, the sailors were terrified of getting even the smallest cut from Amy's and Maddie’s swords. Then Amy ran up some steps then swings across on a rope, slashing at the sailor holding Rory as she went.

“You have killed me.” The pirate comment, being very afraid.

“No way. It's just a cut.” The black spot appeared on his palm. “What kind of rubbish pirates are you?” Amy asked to them.

“One drop, that's all it takes. One drop of blood and she'll rise out of the ocean.” Captain Avery replied to her.

“Come on, I barely even scratched him. What are you all in such a huff about?” As then Amy make another swing and was grabbed by a pirate. She was dropped the cutlass and Rory grabbed for it, cutting himself.

“Ow! Argh!” The black spot appeared as Rory held up his hand. “Er, Doctor, what's happening to me?”

“She can smell the blood on your skin. She's marked you for death.” Captain Avery replied instead of the Doctor.

“She?” Rory asked confused.

“A demon, out there in the ocean.” Captain Avery replied to him.

“Okay. Groovy.” The Doctor had freed himself from Captain Avery and went to Rory. “So not just pirates today. We've managed to bagsy a ship where there's a demon popping in. Very efficient. I mean, if something's going to kill you, it's nice that it drops you a note to remind you.”

Just then she started singing, the demon they would believe. Then one of the crewmembers said. “Quickly now, block out the sound.”

Rory looked very confused. “What?”

“The creature. She charms all her victims with that song.” Captain Avery replied to him.

“Oh, great.” Rory grumbled. “So put my fingers in my ears, that's your plan? Doctor, come on.” Then he stuttered. “Let's go… Let's get back to the… er, back to the er…” Then he and a crewmember started giggling.

“The music.” The crewmember said, he stood by Captain Avery. “It's working on him. Look.”

Rory leaned into a rope, looking at Amy. “You are so beautiful.”

“What?” Amy asked confused.

“I love your get up.” Rory replied, still looking at Amy. “That's great. You should dress as a pirate more often.” Then he went over to a crewmember. “Hey, hey, cuddle me, shipmate.”

Amy looked terrified. “Rory, stop.”

“Everything is totally brilliant, isn't it? Look at these brilliant pirates. Look at their brilliant beards. I'd like a beard. I'm going to grow a beard.”

“You're not.” Amy comment.

“The music turns them into fools.” Captain Avery scoffed.

“Oh, my God.” Amy was in shock as a bright light was rising up through the water. Then a female figure flow up and gently lands on the deck. The crewmember with the black spot went towards her while Amy tried to held Rory back. When the crewmember with the black spot touched her finger, he exploded in a cloud.

Rory looked at the Siren. “I have to touch her. Let me touch her.”

“Sorry, but he is spoken for.” Amy stepped forward as the Siren turned from white to angry red, and a blast of energy throws Amy backwards.

Maddie went over to her and helped her up. “Amy!” The Doctor shouted. “Everybody into the hold. Rory! Come on!” The Doctor dragged Rory away.

“Hey! Wait!” Rory protested.

~00~

They went to the hold and there is bilge water a few inches deep in here as Amy asked. “What is that thing?”

“The legend.” Captain Avery replied to her. “The siren. Many a merchant ship laden with treasure has fallen prey to her. She's been hunting us ever since we were becalmed, picking off the injured.”

“Like a shark. A shark can smell blood.” One of the crewmembers said.

“Yeah, but also a vampire can smell it.” Maddie muttered, only the Doctor heard her.

“Okay.” The Doctor looked at them. “Just like a shark, in a dress. And singing. And green? A green singing shark in an evening gown.”

“The ship is cursed!” Captain Avery comment.

“Yeah, right.” The Doctor shook with his head. “Cursed is big with humans. It means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation.”

“I grew up with them, so shut it.” Maddie looked angry as the Doctor shut his mouth about humans for now.

Rory looked at Amy. “She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.”

“Actually, I think you'll find she isn't.” Amy sighed.

“She is.” Rory disagreed.

Amy looked at the Doctor and Maddie. “We have to leave right now.”

“We can’t. We are part of the events.” Maddie told her. “Only if she let Rory go, then we can leave.”

“Well, she doesn’t do that.” Amy told her grumpily.

“Oh, she will, we make her do it.” Maddie reassured her friend as he nodded to her.

Then captain Avery looked at the Doctor. “That thing of yours really is a ship?”

“Well, it's not propelled by the wind.” The Doctor replied to him.

“Show me.” Captain Avery held up his gun. “Weigh anchor. Make it sail.”

“And the gun's back.” The Doctor groaned. “You're big on the gun thing, aren't you. Freud would say you're compensating. Ever met Freud? No? Comfy sofa.”

“Leave the cursed one, Captain.” One of the crewmember said, who stood by the captain. “The creature can have him.”

“Yes, please.” Rory agreed.

“We don't want the siren coming after us.” Captain Avery comment.

Just then a pirate yelped and held up his leg and grabbed the leech as it had to be hurt. “It's a leech!” Amy shouted.

“Everyone out of the water!” The Doctor shouted to them all as they went out of the water.

“It's bitten me. I'm bleeding.” He cried out as then he held up his hand.

“She wants blood. Why does she want blood?” The Doctor asked confused.

“Vampire.” Maddie muttered.

Amy glared at the now ‘cursed’ man. “What were you saying about leaving the cursed ones behind?”

“It's okay, we're safe down here. No curse is getting through three solid inches of timber.” The Doctor told them all as then the Siren appeared again. “Oh! Ah. Hello again.”

Maddie widened her eyes. “What the hell?”

The man was drawn towards her as all the others shouted. “No! No! No!” As then the man touched her and he exploded, just leaving his hat behind.

The Doctor grabbed the hat as then went through to another door as he was the last to get through and closed behind him, spinning around as Amy asked to him, raising an eyebrow. “Safe?”

“I have my good days and my bad days.” The Doctor replied, grumpily.

“How did she get in?” Captain Avery asked to him.

“Bilge water.” The Doctor replied to him. “She's using water like a portal, a door. She can materialize through a single drop. We need to go somewhere with no water.”

“Well, thank God we're not in the middle of the ocean.” Amy told them, sarcastically.

“Did you see her eyes? Like crystal pools.” Rory looked at Amy.

Maddie made a face. “Ieuw!”

“You are in enough trouble.” Amy narrowed her eyes at troy.

“The magazine.” Captain Avery suddenly told them all.

“What?” Amy asked confused.

“He means the armory where the powder's stored.” The Doctor replied to her.

“It's dry as a bone.” Captain Avery nodded.

“Good. Let's go there.” The Doctor told them all.

Captain Avery held up his gun again. “I give the orders.”

“Ah. Worried because I'm wearing a hat now?” The Doctor told him as then he pulled Maddie along with him followed by Amy and Rory. “Nobody touch anything sharp!”

“Come on, Rory.” Amy comment to him as one of the crewmembers shuffled through his collection of keys.

“Quickly, man.” Captain Avery told to the crewmember.

“I can't find the key.” He said to him. “Tis gone, Cap'n.”

“How can it have gone?” Captain Avery asked confused.

The door was unlocked as the Doctor had noticed it and pushed it open. “Someone else had the same idea.”

~00~

When they were inside, Captain Avery ordered his men. “Barricade the door. Careful of that lantern. Every barrel is full of powder.”

“Who's been sleeping in my gun room?” The Doctor asked as he heard someone in the room with them.

Someone coughed as Avery opened a barrel and pulled out a boy. “You fool! You fool, boy. What are you doing here?”

“Who is he? What, he's not one of the crew?” The Doctor asked confused.

“No. He's my son.” He replied to him as then he looked at the boy. “What in God's name possessed you, boy? Your mother will be searching for you. When?”

“Last winter.” The boy replied to him. “Fever. She told me all about you. How you were a Captain in the Navy. An honorable man, she said. How I'd be proud to know you. I've come to join your crew.”

“I don't want you here.” Captain Avery told him.

“You can't send me back.” The boy countered. “It's too late. We're a hundred miles from home.”

“It's dangerous here.” Captain Avery looked at him. “There is a monster aboard. She leaves a mark on men's skin.”

“The black spot?” The boy held his hand up, showing that he also had the black spot as he coughed again.

~00~

Later they boy they had learned his name is Toby as Captain Avery and the Doctor were talking. “There's nothing wrong with the boy. He has no scars.” He told him.

“Yep.” The Doctor comment. “Ignore my last theory.”

“He has his good days and his bad days.” Amy comment to Captain Avery.

“Yeah, ignore him.” Maddie rolled with her eyes.

“It's not just blood, she's coming for all the sick and wounded, like a hunter chooses the weakest animal.” The Doctor thought out loud.

“Okay, look, he's got a fever. The siren knows it.” Captain Avery told him.

“Humans.” The Doctor sighed. “Second-rate. Damage too easily. It's only a matter of time before everyone gets bruised. My ship, it can sail us all away from here. You and me, we fetch it. Let's go.”

Captain Avery pulled out his gun again. “You're not the Captain here, remember.”

Then Toby opened a fresh-water barrel and the Siren's hand reached out. The Doctor quickly went over him and forced the lid back down. “The water's dangerous.” Captain Avery told to his son. “That's how she gets through. One touch of her hand and you're a dead man.”

“We're all cursed if we stay aboard.” One of the crewmembers said to them. (Authors note: At this point I don’t know how much crewmembers are left.)

“It's not a curse.” The Doctor told them, looking at the captain. “Curse means game over. Curse means we're helpless. We are not helpless. Captain, what's our next move?”

“Wait with the boy.” Captain Avery ordered his crew as he put his medallion on his son as the Doctor looked at his companions and his soulmate.

The Doctor though to Maddie. ‘Here are you safe as well.’ As Maddie thought back. ‘Will you be safe as well?’ Then the Doctor thought back. ‘As long as you are safe, I will be safe when this is all over.’ Then Maddie thought back. ‘Not a fine thought, sweetie.’ Then the Doctor thought back. ‘I’m sorry, dear, it’s the best I can response now.’ Neither of them noticed that the others were watching them as Maddie frowned and thought back. ‘I think we are being watched by the others.’ The Doctor looked at the others. ‘I think you are right.’

Then Amy frowned. “I think you are creeping the others out.”

“Sorry.” The Doctor and Maddie said almost on the same time.

Then one of the crewmembers argued. “Captain, we're all in danger here.”

“I said wait.” The Captain ordered his crew again. “And barricade the door after we've gone.”

“Sure you want to go?” Amy asked to the Doctor.

“We have to get Rory and Toby away.” The Doctor replied to her. “She's out there now, licking her lips, boiling a saucepan, grating cheese.”

“Okay.” Amy nodded. “Well, remember, if you get an itch, don't scratch too hard.”

“We've all got to go some time.” The Doctor told her. “There are worse ways than having your face snogged off by a dodgy mermaid.”

~00~

Much later, after the Doctor and Captain Avery left, his men protested and wanted to leave, but Toby stopped them arguing as Amy joined in as Maddie and Rory watched. Eventually, Maddie joined in as well as she was getting angry and didn’t like the men at all as Toby was getting angry as well and gut on of the men. The man with the black spot grabbed keys from his cremate and went away from there. Then there now some quiet until the Doctor and Captain Avery returned, shouting to them. “Amy! Maddie! Open the door!” The Doctor shouted.

“Toby, open the door! Toby!” Captain Avery shouted to his son.

“Open the door.”

“Toby!”

Then Maddie opened the door as the Doctor and Captain Avery strode inside and the Doctor grabbed the medallion and breaths on it to cloud the reflection as the others looked confused as they went off again, doing something.

~00~

When the Doctor and Captain Avery were done, they had broken all the reflecting, the mirrors of the treasures, they had thrown it all out and broken it. Now they were back and told them everything as Rory asked confused. “Just wait?”

“Not my most dynamic plan, I realize.” The Doctor admitted.

“Tardis?” Amy asked to him.

“It's been towed.” The Doctor replied to her.

“What?” Maddie asked, looking at him. “Its our home.”

“Sorry.” The Doctor looked down. “We might be stuck here for a while.”

“So you're saying that we should all just wait here below?” Rory asked to him.

The Doctor didn’t reply, instead Captain Avery replied to him. “The sea is still calm, like a mirror. If you go out on deck she'll rise up and attack you.”

“It's okay.” The Doctor added, looked at them. “The calm won't last forever. When the wind picks up we'll all set sail.”

“Until it does, you have to hide down here.” Captain Avery told them.

~00~

Later Maddie and the Doctor sat on deck, looking at the stars as Amy and Rory were asleep. Captain Avery and Toby talked to each other as then not much later, the captain went on deck as well as the Doctor told him, noticing him. “It's not one star, it's two. The Dog star, Sirius. Binary system.”

“I use it to navigate the ocean.” Captain Avery told him.

“I've travelled far, like you. Space can be very lonely, and the greatest adventure is having someone share it with you.” The Doctor glanced at Maddie.

“If we get out of this I'll take him back to England. He can't stay with me. I'm not the father he needs.” Captain Avery told them.

The Doctor looked at him. “Who are you, Henry Avery? Respected naval officer, wife and child at home. How did you end up here, wandering the oceans with a band of rogues?”

“I've set my course now. Nothing I can do to alter it.” Captain Avery replied to him.

“People stared at it for centuries and never knew. Things can suddenly change, when you're least expecting.” The Doctor told him, wisely as Maddie looked at him, thinking. ‘He’s very old.’

~00~

Sometime later, the Doctor and Maddie were in Captain’s cabin as Amy walked inside. “Doctor?”

“Shush.” The Doctor shushed Amy.

“Rude.” Maddie sighed.

“What can you see?” Amy asked him, ignoring that he had shushed her.

The Doctor stared at the broken windows. “Feels like something's out there, staring straight at me.”

“I know the feeling.” Maddie shivered as then there was lightning! And thunder!

“Man the sails!” The Doctor shouted as he run up deck.

“Always him with his big mouth.” Maddie looked at Amy. “With that the quiet waters was not very long still.”

“Yeah.” Amy nodded as then they went up deck as well.

~00~

Sometime later, the storm went heavier as the rain was lashing down. Then Captain Avery ordered. “To the rigging, you dogs! Let go the sails. Avast ye! Put the bunt into the slack of the clews.”

Amy and Rory pulled on the sheets. “I swear he's making half this stuff up.” Amy comment.

“Well, we're going to need some kind of phrase book.” Rory comment back the Doctor was at the wheel, trying to turn her bow on to the storm. Maddie was with Toby.

“Toby!” Captain Avery shouted to his son as Maddie stood to where Toby just stood. “Find my coat. My compass is inside it, boy. Heave ho, you bilge rats.”

“Rats was all I could hear.” Rory comment.

Then Toby returned with the coat, and the crown falls out and rolled along the deck. Then the Siren came out of the crown and flied up into the rigging, then descended again to the deck. “Don't let her take you!” Captain Avery shouted to his son as Toby didn’t seem to hear him as he reached out to the Siren. “No!” Toby was gone in a puff of smoke. “No!” Then Maddie saw it as she throws the crown overboard and the Siren disappeared. The Doctor went over her as Captain Avery said to him. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry.”

“You couldn't give up the gold, could you.” The Doctor told to him. “That's why you turned pirate. Your commission, your wife, your son. Just how much is that treasure worth to you, man?”

Then a loose spar knocked Rory overboard as Amy went to the side of the ship, shouting. “Rory! Rory! I can't see him. Doctor? I'm going in.”

“You can’t, Amy.” Maddie shouted to her friend.

“He's drowning.” The Doctor added. “He's drowning! You go in after him, you'll drown too. There's only one thing that can save him now.”

“What are you talking about?” Amy asked confused.

“The Siren. The Siren, she wants him. We have to release her.” The Doctor replied.

“Doctor, no.” Amy protested.

“Amy, we have to. Rory’s drowning.” Maddie argued back as the Doctor opens a fresh water barrel and the Siren zoomed out.

“He's drowning. Go and find him!” The Doctor ordered the Siren as she dove into the sea.

Amy looked at the Doctor, angry. “What, what did you do?”

“If he stays in there he'll die.” The Doctor argued.

“But she'll destroy him.” Amy argued back.

“That thing isn't just a ravenous hunter.” Maddie joined in the argument. “It's intelligent. We can reason with it.”

“And maybe, just maybe, they're still alive somewhere.” The Doctor added. “We have to follow.”

Captain Avery looked at them. “Are you mad?”

“If we ever want to see them again, we have to let the Siren take us.” The Doctor told them. “We'll prick our fingers. All agreed? Yeah?”

“Aye.” Captain Avery agreed.

“Aye.” Amy nodded.

“Aye.” The Doctor told them as then he looked at his soulmate. “With me?”

“Always and forever, sweetie.” Maddie smiled at him. Then the Doctor draw blood from each of them as then the black spot appeared on their palms and the Siren appeared. Then there was a flash of bright light and they were unconscious.

~00~

Not much later, the Doctor woke up first and went over to Maddie, to wake her up. “Maddie, dear.”

Just then she woke up. “Doctor?”

“I’m here.” He reassured her as then Captain Avery and Amy woke up as well.

“Where are we?” Amy asked confused.

“We haven't moved.” The Doctor replied to her. “We're in exactly the same place as before.”

Then they looked through a window onto the deck of the ship as Captain Avery comment. “We're on a ghost ship.”

“No. It's real.” The Doctor told them. “Space ship trapped in a temporal rift.”

“How can two ships be in the same place?” Amy asked confused.

“Not the same.” The Doctor replied to her. “Two planes, two worlds, two cars parked in the same space.” 

“There are lots of different universes nested inside each other.” Maddie added. “Now and again they collide, and you can step from one to the other.”

Amy looked at them. “Okay, I think I understand.”

“Good, because it's not like that at all. But if that helps.” The Doctor comment.

“It’s very true, but only in movies, I think.” Maddie shrugged it off.

“Thanks.” Amy sighed.

“All the reflections have suddenly become gateways.” The Doctor told them as he throws a piece of metal at the window as it goes through and lands on the deck. “Ever look in a mirror and think you're seeing a whole other world? Well, this time it's not an illusion.”

Just then they heard a beep as Amy comment to them. “The signal.”

“Yes.” The Doctor nodded.

Amy looked at them. “The distress call.”

“Uh huh.” Maddie comment. “Yeah.”

“There was a second ship here all the time.” Amy told them.

“And the Siren is on board.” The Doctor added as he opened a door to reveal an alien skeleton. Its spacesuit says D.I.H.S. “Dead.”

Then they walked further in the ship and they saw more skeletal crew. “You were right.” Amy told them. “There was something staring at us the whole time. How long has this ship been marooned here?”

“Long enough for the Captain to have run out of grog.” Captain Avery replied to her.

“I don't understand.” Amy asked confused. “If this is the Captain, then what's the Siren?”

“Same as us.” Maddie replied.

“A stowaway.” The Doctor added.

“She killed it?” Amy asked confused.

“Human bacteria.” The Doctor replied to her.

“What?” Amy asked confused.

“A virus from our planet.” The Doctor replied to her. “Airborne, travelling through the portal. That's what killed it. Didn't get its jabs. Urgh. Look.” He had put his hand in some gunk.

“You are a child sometimes, sweetie.” Maddie smiled at him.

“What is it?” Amy asked confused, looking at the gunk in his hand.

“Sneeze! Alien bogies.” He replied to her as he wiped his hand on the sleeve of Amy's pirate coat and Maddie laughed at that.

~00~

Finally they went to the Sickbay and saw lots of people lying on beds floating in midair, and connected by a tube to the ceiling as Captain Avery exclaimed. “McGrath! He's one of my men.”

“He's still breathing.” Amy checked.

“My entire crew is here.” He told them happily as then he saw his son and rushed over him. “Toby!”

“Rory!” Amy exclaimed and went over to her husband.

“The Tardis!” The Doctor exclaimed and went over to his and Maddie’s home as Maddie smiled, seeing the Tardis for herself and over to it.

“Finally.” She comment. “Our home. Right, sweetie?” She looked at the Doctor.

He smiled at her and said. “Yes, our home, dear.”

Then Captain Avery told them. “We have to get them out of here.”

“Wait. His fever's gone.” The Doctor looked at the machine, that was keeping him alive.

“He looks so well.” Amy comment.

“She's keeping him alive.” Maddie looked also at the machine. “His brain is still active, but all its cellular activity is suspended.” 

“It's not a curse, it's a tissue sample.” The Doctor asked confused. “Why get samples of people you are about to kill?”

“Help me get him up.” Amy comment, looking at Rory as he began to wake up. There was a beep, beep and the Siren came.

“She's coming.” The Doctor told them as they hide behind a bank of monitors. The Siren floats in, singing her wordless song and went to Rory. He calmed down and was sleeping again as then the Doctor comment. “Anaesthetic.”

“What?” Captain Avery asked confused.

“The music. The song.” Maddie replied to him.

“So she anaesthetizes people and puts their body in stasis.” The Doctor added.

Then the Siren went to Toby as Captain Avery stepped out, gun ready. “Avery, no!” Then Captain Avery shot and the Siren turned red. Then she advanced on Captain Avery as then the Doctor sneezed. The Siren head for him instead. “Fire. That's new. What does fire do? Burn? Yes. Destroy? What else? Sterilize! I sneezed. I've brought germs in.” The Doctor blow his nose and throw the handkerchief on the floor. The Siren blasts the offending article. Then Amy ran to Rory.

“Amy, stop.” Maddie warned her.

“Don't interfere.” The Doctor also warned her. “Don't touch him. Anaesthetic, tissue sample, screen, sterile working conditions. Ignore all my previous theories!”

“Yeah?” Amy rolled with her eyes. “Well, we stopped paying attention a while back.”

“She's not a killer at all, she's a doctor!” The Doctor shouted to her.

Then Maddie added. “She is a doctor, like the Doctor.” Then Amy stopped fiddling with Rory's life support and the Siren returned to green.

“This is an automated sick bay.” Maddie began. “It's teleporting everyone on board.”

Then the Doctor finished. “The crew are dead, and so the sick bay has had nothing to do.” He looked at her. “It's been looking after humanity whilst it's been idle. Look at her. A virtual doctor able to sterilize a whole room.”

“Able to burn your face off.” Amy sassed.

“She's just an interface, seeped through the join between the planes, broadcast in our world.” The Doctor explained it to them. “Protean circuitry means she can change her form, and become a human doctor for humans. Oh, sister, you are good.”

“Oh boy, now he’s excited.” Maddie muttered.

“She won't let us take them.” Captain Avery said frustrated.

The Doctor looked at him. “She's keeping them alive, but she doesn't know how to heal them.”

“I'm his wife, for God's sake.” Amy looked at the Siren. “Why can't I touch him?”

“Tell her, Amy.” Maddie told her. “Show her your ring. She may be virtual but she's intelligent.”

Then the Doctor added, looking at Amy. “You can't do anything without her consent. Come on. Sophisticated girl like you. That must be somewhere in your core program.”

“Look, he's very ill, okay?” Amy was getting frustrated. “I just want to look after him. Why won't you let me near my husband?” Then the Siren held out her hand and a circle of light appeared around it.

“Consent form.” The Doctor told her. “Sign it. Put your hand in the light. Rory's sick. You have to take full responsibility.” As Amy did so and the Siren disappeared as she turned off Rory's life support. “He can't breathe. Turn it back on.”

Amy did so as she asked to him. “What do we do? I can't just leave him here.”

“He'll die if you take him out.” Captain Avery replied instead of the Doctor.

“Rory? Rory, wake up.” Amy woke Rory up.

“Where am I?” Rory asked as he had woken up.

“You're in a hospital.” The Doctor replied to him. “If you leave, you might die.”

“But if you don't, you'll have to stay forever.” Amy added.

Rory looked at her. “You're saying that if I don't get up now…”

“You can never leave.” Amy finished him.

“The Siren will keep you safe.” The Doctor added.

Rory looked at the Doctor. “And if I come with you?”

“Drowning, on the point of death.” The Doctor shook with his head.

“I'm a nurse.” He told them.

“What?” Amy asked confused.

“I can teach you how to save me.” Rory replied as he looked at her.

“Whoa. Hold on.” Amy protested.

“I was drowning.” Rory told her. “You just have to resuscitate me.”

Amy raised an eyebrow. “Just?”

“You've seen them do it loads of times in films.” Rory replied to her. “CPR. The kiss of life.”

“Rory, this isn't a film, okay? What if I do it wrong?” Amy asked worried.

“You won't.” Rory reassured her.

“Okay, what if you don't come back to life?” Amy was interrupted. “What if…”

“I trust you.” Again he reassured her.

“What about him?” Amy glanced at the Doctor. “I mean, why do I have to be the one? Why do I have to save you?”

“Because I know you'll never give up.” Rory told her.

Then the Doctor looked at Captain Avery. “We have to send this ship back into space.” He told him. “Imagine if the Siren got ashore. She would have to process every injured human.”

“What about Toby?” He asked to him, worried.

“I'm sorry.” The Doctor replied, shook his head. “Typhoid fever. Once he returns it's only a matter of time.”

“What if I stay with him, here.” Captain Avery looked at him. “The Siren will look after him. I can't go back to England.” Then he asked to him. “And what home does he have now, if not with me?”

“Do you think you can sail this thing?” The Doctor asked back.

Captain Avery nodded. “Just point me to the atom accelerator.” He replied to him.

“I know you can do this.” Rory looked at Amy. “Of course, if you muck it up I am going to be really cross. And dead.”

“I'll see you in a minute.” The Doctor told him as he ripped off Rory's restraints. They get him off the bed and carry him into the Tardis, where Amy starts CPR, doing 1 breath to 5 chest compressions. “Come on. Come on, Rory. Not here. Not this way. Not today.”

“He trusted me. He trusted me to save him.” Amy was getting frustrated.

“You still can.” The Doctor reassured her. “You can still do this. He believes in you. Come on, Amy. Come on!”

Then Amy did some more, but then she pleaded. “Please, please, please wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Come on. Come on.” But finally even she gives up. After a few moments, Rory starts coughing up water.

“Amy.” Rory looked her and pulled her into a hug. “Amy, you did it. You did it!” The Doctor and Maddie smiled at the succeed.

~00~

Later, Captain Avery has control of the spaceship, with Toby as his co-pilot, still attached to his life support mechanism. The rest of his crew come to watch as they fly between the stars. Then in the Tardis, Amy comment. “I thought I was an excellent pirate.”

“I thought you were an excellent nurse.” Rory comment back.

“Easy, tiger.” Amy smiled at him as then she looked at the Doctor and Maddie. “Goodnight, Doctor, Maddie.”

“Goodnight, Amy, Rory.” Maddie looked at them.

“Goodnight, Amelia.” The Doctor told her as he didn’t look at her, but at the screen.

“You only call me Amelia when you're worrying about me.” Amy told him, seriously.

“I always worry about you.” The Doctor told, still not looking at her.

Then Amy remembered the moment of the Doctor's death by the lake as then she pushed that thought away and comment to him. “Mutual.”

“Go to bed, Pond.” The Doctor glanced this time at her.

“You can't tell him. It's his future.” Rory muttered to her.

“I know.” Amy muttered back to him as then they went to their room and went to bed.

The body scan was still undecided as to whether Amy was pregnant or not. “Oh, Amelia.” The Doctor muttered.

Maddie also looked at the screen, she was worried for both, Amy and the Doctor. She was thinking about his death, sighing as the told him. “I’m going to bed also, sweetie.”

“I will join you soon.” The Doctor told her, not realizing what he had just said.

Then Maddie went away and went to her room as then she realized what the Doctor just said. “Oh.” Then she blushed as she was in her room, getting ready for to sleep.