Storm: Storm is Brewing

The Time of Angels 2

There was another moment's silence as they all digested what River had read, before Octavian joined them, asking: "Progress report, Dr. Song?"

"Nothing so far." She replied, making Teresa wrinkle her nose as she glanced at the statues surrounding them once more.

The Doctor had turned to Terry, examining her briefly and she jumped as his voice asked in her head: "Hint?"

She blinked rapidly, both from shock and as she thought about his request, before she tried thinking: "Two heads?"

He continued to stare at her, clearly waiting and Terry sighed before shaking her head to show she couldn't reply telepathically. The Doctor seemed to understand as his expression became brooding, but Terry nodded at a statue in the hope that he'd at least figure out her message.

He frowned, staring at the statues as the group started off again, and River walked closer to Terry as she murmured: "Angel, Sweetie."

Terry looked at her in surprise, but River just smiled as she said softly: "There's also something for you in your jeggings pocket – don't look at it now." She added as Terry reflexively touched her jacket. "It's an envelope of money."

Terry's brows furrowed in a frown but River explained: "You told me once to put it there, when we next met."

"Whatever for?" Terry asked, confused, but River just smiled and shook her head.

"Spoilers." She replied. "Trust me though, you'll know what it's for when you get there."

Terry pursed her lips but nodded in understanding. River smiled before she walked on ahead while the Doctor mused aloud to the group: "Lovely species, the Aplans. We should visit them some time."

"I thought they were all dead?" Amy asked in confusion, and the Doctor replied airily: "So is Virginia Woolf. Terry and I are on her bowling team."

"I am?" Terry asked in surprise, and the Doctor nodded as he replied: "Yep. And you're very good, too."

"Glad to know." Terry answered cheekily, and he winked at her before he went on: "Very relaxed, the Aplans, sort of cheerful. Well, that's having two heads, of course. You're never short of a snog with an extra head."

"Two heads are rather distinctive of the Aplans, aren't they?" Terry chimed in, giving the Doctor a pointed look.

The Doctor stopped walking immediately, causing River to crash into him as he stared at a statue, a look of horror dawning on his face as Octavian called: "Lowest point in the wreckage is only about fifty feet up from here. That way."

"You know, that could be interesting." Amy mused from behind. "Though breakups must have been messy."

"Oh." The Doctor breathed as he pointed his flashlight at the statue he had been staring at, and Amy asked: "What's wrong?"

River had also looked over and understanding suddenly flooded her features as well.

"Oh." She breathed in horror, and she glanced at Terry for confirmation.

The short brunette nodded, and River hissed at the Doctor: "How could we have not noticed that?"

"Low level perception filter," he retorted testily as he glanced around at the hundreds of statues around them, "or maybe we're thick."

"What's wrong, sir?" Octavian asked as he returned to them, having noted the growing tension in the group, and the Doctor ordered urgently: "Nobody move. Nobody move. Everyone stay exactly where they are."

He glanced around to make sure that everyone was doing exactly as he said before he turned to Octavian, murmuring: "Bishop, I am truly sorry. I've made a mistake and we are all in terrible danger."