Ties Between Freedom and Love

✦23✦

Chapter Twenty-Three
Know Who To Trust

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"We're just gonna go," the Doctor told Cathica as they made it back to Floor 136, Rose immediately crushing Emma in a hug. "I hate tidying up, too many questions," he added, looking at the two girls and smiling.

"But you'll have to stay and explain it," Cathica said, "no one's gonna believe me."

"They might start believing in a lot of things now," he reassured. "The human race should accelerate all back to normal."

"What about your friend?" she asked, nodding toward Adam waiting by the TARDIS door.

"He's not my friend," the Doctor plainly stated, a dark look glinting his eyes as he walked over to him.

"Don't kill him!" Emma called out as Rose quickly ran after the Doctor. She turned back to Cathica, "Thank you, you saved our lives," Emma smiled. "Now, remember questions. Better than anything in the world."

Cathica laughed, "You got that right."

Emma gave her a quick hug before waving goodbye and jogging up to the Doctor, Rose, and Adam.

"I'm alright now," Adam nervously rambled. "Much better, and I've got the key. Look, it's... it all worked out for the best, didn't it?" The Doctor pushed Adam aside but kept his grip on him as he unlocked the TARDIS door. "You know, it's actually not my fault because you were in charge!" he got pushed inside before he could utter another word.

"Rose, keep him quiet, will you?" the Doctor asked angrily as he stalked off toward the console.

"Really, you can't just-"

"Shut up!" Rose snapped at him.

"Rose, I-"

Emma cut him off with a twist of her fingers, his voice was gone, he kept talking but no sound came out.

Rose stared at her in disbelief before she broke out into laughter and the Doctor looked up in surprise. Adam flailed about panicking and yelling, but nothing but beautiful silence was heard.

"Fantastic!" the Doctor grinned and Emma smirked.

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When the TARDIS arrived at its destination, Emma flicked her wrist, and Adam's voice came back as the Doctor grabbed him by the collar and happily threw him out the door.

"This is my house!" Adam exclaimed. "I'm home. Oh my God," he laughed in relief, "I'm home," he looked at the Doctor and jumped back a step. "Blimey! I thought you were gonna chuck me out of an airlock."

"Well, it was my general preference," Emma mumbled.

"Is there something else you want to tell me?" the Doctor questioned, staring Adam down.

"No," he hesitantly replied. "What do you mean?"

The Doctor walked over to the answering machine and picked it up, "The archive of Satellite Five. One second of that message could've changed the world." Rose smirked when he aimed his sonic at the telephone and it blew up. "That's it then," the Doctor said turning back to him, "see ya."

"How do you mean see ya?" Adam spluttered out as the Doctor walked past him back toward the TARDIS.

"As in goodbye," he clarified.

"But what about me?" Adam whined and Emma rolled her eyes, yeah she definitely liked it better when he had no voice. "You can't just go. I've got my head... I've got a chip-type two. My head opens!"

"What?" the Doctor asked, "like this?" he snapped his fingers and the portal door in Adam's head clicked open.

"Don't!" Adam snapped his fingers, closing it.

"Don't do what?" the Doctor asked innocently.

"This?" Emma asked, taking over and snapping her fingers a smirk gracing her face as Adam's head opened again.

"Stop it!"

"Alright, Doctor," Rose looked at him, "that's enough, stop it, both of you," she eyed Emma too, who merely shrugged.

"Thank you," Adam sighed.

The Doctor stood glaring at him as Rose lifted her hand and snapped her own fingers.

"Oi!" Adam exclaimed.

"Sorry," she laughed, "I couldn't resist." Emma smiled, proud of her best friend.

"The whole of history could have changed because of you," the Doctor lowly told him.

"I just wanted to help," Adam protested.

"You were helping yourself and you know it," Emma folded her arms, staring at him.

"And I'm sorry, and I've said I'm sorry, and I am sorry. But you can't just leave me like this."

"Watch us," Emma threatened.

"Yes, we can," the Doctor added. "Because if you show that head to anyone, they'll dissect you in seconds. You'll have to live a very quiet life. Keep out of trouble. Be average. Unseen. Good luck." He pushed the TARDIS door open and Emma followed, Rose right behind her.

"But I want to come with you!" Adam shouted.

"I only take the best," the Doctor replied. "I've got Rose and I've got Emma." Rose smiled, glad to know she was wanted and more than just wanted by Emma. They turned to leave but Adam continued to beg.

"Rose, please. Emma?"

He froze when the front door clicked open and his mother's voice called out. "Who's that? Geoff, is that you?"

"It's me, Mum," Adam answered. "Don't come in. Wait there a minute!"

"Oh my Lord! You never told me you were coming home!"

Rose grinned, gleefully and a bit evilly as she waved at him and stepped into the TARDIS.

"Emma," Adam whispered walking up to her, "take me with you."

The Doctor reappeared in the doorway of the TARDIS just as Adam fell to the ground from Emma's punch, his nose broken and bleeding. She didn't say anything as she stared down at him and then turned to leave, the Doctor grinning at her like mad.

"Atta girl."