Ties Between Freedom and Love

✦40✦

Chapter Forty
Getting Back

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Emma watched as the chain that was attached to the console snapped, Mickey's car engine cutting off. She kicked the console in anger and groaned as she leaned back down on it. Rose sighed in frustration and Mickey climbed out of his car with a huff of annoyance. It wasn't working. Nothing was working.

"It was never gonna work, sweetheart," Jackie gently told her as Emma slumped down in the captain's chair. "And the Doctor knew that. He just wanted you to be safe."

"I can't give up."

"Lock the door, walk away," Jackie advised.

"Dad, wouldn't give up," Emma rolled her head to the side to look at her. "If it were Papa stuck two hundred thousand years into the future. He wouldn't give up."

"Well, he's not here," Jackie softly replied. "And your Papa is perfectly safe. And even if your father was here, he'd tell you to do the same."

"No, he wouldn't, you know that," Emma stared at her incredulously. "He'd tell me to try anything. If I could save the Doctor's life, try anything. I'm a Winchester, we don't give up on the ones we love."

Jackie's eyes widened. "You love him?"

Emma's gaze dropped. "I do," she whispered. "I love him."

Jackie looked her over for a minute before turning and running out of the TARDIS, Emma sighed and fell back in the chair, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Why can't you just listen to me?" she asked. "Why can't you take me back? Why can't you help me save his life?" Emma closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. She never saw the TARDIS console lights flicker in reply to her.

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"Lynda!" the Doctor shouted into the comms. "What's happening on Earth?"

"The fleet's descending," she replied, her voice trembling. "They're bombing whole continents. Europa, Pacifica, the New American Alliance, Australia's just gone."

The Doctor closed his eyes and sighed.

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"There's gotta be something else we can do," Mickey told them as they leaned back against his car, staring at the TARDIS in front of them.

"Maybe Jackie was right," Emma sighed, crossing her arms. "Maybe we should just lock the door and walk away."

"I'm not having that," Rose refused, shaking her head. "I'm not having you. . . just give up now, no way."

"I'm not having it either," Mickey agreed. "We just need something stronger than my car. Something bigger," he looked to the side and pushed off of his car, straightening up. "Something like that!"

A yellow rescue and recovery truck rounded the corner and when it stopped, Jackie climbed out with a determined look plastered across her face. Emma laughed in disbelief and Rose smiled. "Right," Jackie told them. "You've only got this until 6:00 o clock, so get on with it."

"Mum, where the hell did you get that from?" Rose asked before Emma could.

"Rodrigo, he owes me a favor," Jackie waved a hand. "Nevermind why. But you were right about your dad, sweetheart," she said, turning to look at Emma. "You're a Winchester and if it's one thing you know how to do is to keep on grinding through the bad and never give up."

Emma smiled and hugged Jackie, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jackie pulled away kissing her cheek. She tossed Mickey the keys, "Now, get on with it before I change my mind."