Ties Between Freedom and Love

✦10✦ - The Past Haunts

Chapter Ten
The Past Haunts

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The Doctor walked down the hallways of the TARDIS, he just set the next destination course for London. He decided the girls should go back home, Emma should go back. Even if it was only for a day.

But he came to a stop and stood still when he heard a whimper coming from the closest room. Emma's room. It got louder, cries and murmured pleas. He debated whether he should knock or just leave her alone but then a scream ripped through the air and he almost kicked down the door as he ran into the room.

Emma was gripping at the bedsheets, her hands clenched in fists. Her soft brown hair a tangled and wet mess that clung to her face with sweat. She slashed from side to side and carried on screaming in her sleep.

The Doctor crouched down beside her his hands gently pushing at her shoulders to try and keep her still, "Emma? Emma, it's alright. Wake up."

Emma shot up in panic her breathing labored as her eyes snapped open a bright blue shining out of them, instead of their usual golden yellow.

"Emma," he said softly.

She looked down at him and immediately the color faded back to her beautiful blue eyes. She pulled away from him and all but stumbled out of bed. He moved to follow and try and calm her down but then he decided against it and sat down on the edge of her bed.

Emma walked to the door taking in deep breathes and exhaling shaky ones with every step she took.

"Emma?"

"I'm fine," she choked out and he winced slightly. "I'm fine," she tried again, maybe more to convince herself than him.

He looked at her in silence and watched as she turned back around to face him before sliding down the door and sitting with her knees tucked into her chest.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

"It was just a nightmare," she said not even looking up at him.

"Nightmares don't usually leave you screaming yourself awake, angel," he lightly joked trying to ease the internal panic and fear he saw clouding her eyes.

"Mine do."

"They shouldn't."

Finally, she looked up at him. Emma debated whether to tell him or not, she knew she could, she knew she trusted him enough, and she knew he would understand. It wasn't just a feeling, it was something she just knew to be true.

He was her. . . it didn't matter, she silently shook her head.

Give to get. She told herself.

"My dad and uncle aren't just normal humans," she all of a sudden said and the Doctor kept quiet. He looked at her intently but didn't interrupt. "They're hunters."

"Hunters?" he mouthed when she dropped her gaze again.

"They have been since they were kids. My grandparents, Mary and John are the reason... were the reason," she corrected herself. "My uncle was fed demon blood when he was only a baby... to my world," Emma said looking back up at him. "To those who know about the supernatural he's known as the boy king of hell. The prodigy son. The human vessel for the devil himself... Lucifer," she explained and took in a breath. "My dad..." she started then stopped, biting her lip and closing her eyes.

"Emma, you don't-"

She opened her eyes and looked at him, "I want to," she said and he silently nodded. "My dad is the complete opposite. The righteous man, they call him. He used to always listen to my grandfather, never ever disobeyed him or for a second thought of himself. My uncle was the only thing he cared about in the world until my papa and I came along... my dad's the vessel for the archangel, Michael. And me..." Emma smiled humorlessly. "I'm the daughter of an angel and a hunter. I can be used as a vessel for any angel."

"Have you been-"

"Possessed?" Emma asked looking at him, "no."

He seemed to relax at that, but then she started talking again and the sadness in her eyes was enough to break both his hearts.

"But I've watched my dad get possessed, my papa, my uncle. Do you know what it's like?" she asked her voice breaking, "to look at your own father. Someone you've known your entire life, to look into his eyes and not recognize him."

"No," the Doctor replied honestly. He slowly stood from the bed and walked over to her, he slid down the door the same way she had.

Emma didn't say anything, she just laid her head down on his shoulder and he wrapped his free arm around her in a hug.

"I'm sorry."

She pulled away and looked into his eyes, her forehead frowning in confusion. "Why are you sorry?"

"I shouldn't have done what I did," he admitted, "I shouldn't have pushed her... I should have listened to you."

Emma softly smiled at him before resting her head back down against his shoulder, "It's not your fault," she told him. "She would have done it anyway. Maybe not now, maybe in a year or two's time when she understood and figured out how... but she believed they were angels. She believed they were good and that her parents sent them down for her to help them... and no matter what happened or how we could have tried to change it, it wouldn't have made a difference."

The Doctor smiled a little as he leaned his cheek down against the top of her head, "I wish we could go back so I could show her what a real angel looks like, a truly good one."

They sat like that comforting each other until Emma fell back asleep and the Doctor gently took her in his arms, picking her up and setting her back down in bed. He moved a piece of hair from her face and kissed her forehead.

"Sleep well, Emma."