Future Past

She had floated in space above planets of the future, she had died, she had been chased by all sorts of monsters, including the FBI, she had seen her precious baby disappear in her arms, but the worst day, the hardest day, was leaving the Doctor and her Daughter to go off in time and hope that she would land by Rory. She knew she'd never see the Doctor or her River, her baby Melody again, and it made her heart bleed, but to never see Rory again was to never again breathe.

So she opened her eyes to gaze at that beastly angel that would destroy all that was. Now to take that terrible leap, not knowing where she was going.

She could still feel River's kiss of love on her hand, the doctor's warm hand on her shoulder when it all disappeared.

For just a moment, she closed her eyes and vowed to search for Rory, her Rory as long as he waited for her and protected her.

It was cold and dark, and she stood there, hating everything that had stolen her life, but Amy had a husband to find so she opened her eyes. She heard the familiar cadence of traffic in the distance and knew the sense of the City called New York. She was in an alley. She turned and looked about. "RORY!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. There was no answer.

A newspaper blew by her feet, the Times, and she stomped on it long enough to know it was October 31, 1939.

She turned and saw the alley led into a hill and she walked quickly to it. She realized after a moment that it wasn't a park, but a small cemetery. And there she saw something that made her grasp hope, the only statue of an angel had been desecrated, pounded till only one wing remained. Someone had been pretty damn angry, and she could feel the satisfaction of every blow and wished she had beaten the blighter up at the same time.

She stared at it, the snow falling gently and coating her eyelashes. "Dreadful thing, that," said a voice behind her, "Man that did it went to jail, and they think he was crazy because he called it a murderer."

A trail, a trail she would follow forever.

"Could you tell me where that jail is?" she asked.

"Oh Miss, you don't want to go to that rough place,"

She turned and looked at the older rather weather-beaten man.

"I must," she begged, "Please."

Some measure of her desperation must have moved him, because he nodded rather sadly, and gestured her to follow. It grew colder and colder and she wondered what they would think of her in jeans, probably make her out to be a farm girl.

"Has it been hard for you?" she asked as she eyed the streets and the fact that everyone looked down and out – oh Yes, the Great Depression. Well, if she didn't find her Rory, there would be an even worse depression.

"Oh yes, my dear, but God has provided for my needs. I work for the church, and many a good soul has saved a bite for an old man." There was a bit of a pause.

"You aren't from the City, are you?"

"No sir," she muttered, even a nutter would notice the accent.

"Be careful, my dear," the old man said gently, "the big city can be harsh; it's not like life on the farm."

And in the midst of her pain, she smiled just a bit that her clothing made her look like a farm girl and that someone was being kind, very kind. She knew another old man who was kind as well.

The disreputable looking building that housed the jail didn't look friendly, but she would walk into a dragon's open maw for her Rory. The place was dirty and so was the copper, er, sheriff or whatever he was with the badge.

"This young lady would like to see the man that damaged the angel, Mr. Cooper," said her old man.

The man's bored eyes flicked over Amy and she immediately found herself making little angry fists. She knew his type.

"Well, well, well, what a lovely young lady to visit our little police station," said the man lazily. "Let's go see the crazy man, shall we?"

He took her into a celled area, and her instincts began to scream as he pushed the older man back with a syrupy, "Only one guest per prisoner," and locked the door, trapping her in with him.

She smiled at him. All he had was a gun and she had fought Daleks. Then she deliberately turned her back on him and began to look in the cells. Most of the occupants perked right up and looked back, probably interested in seeing something besides the troglodyte Cooper the Copper, but one cell showed no activity. She ran to it and looked in.

There, bearded, quiet, sat her Rory, his hands folded, his eyes down, uncaring of the world around him.

"Rory Williams!" she shrieked, "It's me, Rory, it's your Amy."

Rory jerked as though he had been zapped with something electrical and looked up.

Before she could even smile, he was at the bars and so was she. Their lips touched and they grasped one another.

She heard his broken voice murmuring, "Amy," and the touch of his hands was everything in the world. His cracked lips were the sweetest taste in the world.

Finally, she came up for air. "I thought I'd lost you," he said.

"I thought I'd lost you too," she replied, then turned back to Cooper, "How can I get him out of jail?" she asked, "he'll be alright now, he knows I'm okay."

Cooper gave her a look that said bad things, "So you're his girlie?" he asked.

"She's my wife," said Rory, already sounding better, more like her Centurion.

Cooper swaggered over to her, "He destroyed a sacred monument, so he has to do time, but I could shave some off his sentence if you want to work it off,"

"And just how would I do that?" she said, angry now, knowing where he was leading.

He grabbed her and pulled her to him, "How about you do some wifely duties for me. Spend the night and you'll get your crazy back tomorrow?" He was so sure of himself, of his charm and power.

Amy smiled up at him and then pointed the gun she'd already slid from his holster.

"How's about you let him loose right now or I'll make sure you never force yourself on another woman?" she said, teeth clenched.

The blighter was suddenly back against the door, his arms raised, and a much better expression of mortal terror on his face.

The other prisoners started shouting

"Amy, don't, we don't have the Doctor now, we'll be fugitives," cried Rory, fear in his voice, not for him, never for him, but fear for her.

She grinned up at old Cooper, "Mr. Tallenger," she shouted, "This policeman has threatened me."

"Good lord," she heard from the other side of the door. "How can I help you?"

She pointed the gun, "Give me the keys," she commanded and he handed them over, "Aiding and abetting a prisoner escape, you little bitch, that will get you both hard time," he hissed.

"Shut up," she said and must have looked serious, because he did.

She threw the keys to Rory, and he rushed to find the right key and get out. Then they both pushed Cooper into the cell."

She unlocked the jail door and Mr. Tallenger stood there, wringing his hands and white faced.

"Oh Dear Lord, child, what can I do?" he begged and then collapsed.

"NO," she shrieked, no sweet old men were going to die on her watch, "Rory, he helped me find you."

But Rory was already there, check the pulse, straightening the older man and checking for breathing.

"His heart!" he muttered, and proceeded with CPR.

"Do you have a number for the hospital?" she yelled back to Cooper.

One of the prisoners yelled, "I cleaned there, the number is XXX-XXX"

So she called and explained she had a man down with a heart attack. Apparently they did have ambulances during this period. When they arrived with another police officer, she laid the gun on the ground.

"Sir, we need your help. The poor excuse for a law officer offered to shave time off my husband's sentence if I would dally with him. I have him locked up in the cell back there. Mr. Tallenger here's heart went wonkey. I don't want to break the law or hurt anyone, but I won't put up with abuse. Can you help us?"

The officer eyed her and Rory on the ground, tending to the old man, whose eyes suddenly opened. "Aspirin," Rory commanded, "It will help his heart."

"That's the angel killer?" the policeman asked. "When I saw him before, he was catatonic." The older man watched Rory a moment. "Well, ain't life a wonder."

He turned and walked to Amy and bent over to pick up the pistol. Inside the little cell area, they could hear Cooper yelling threats and demands to be let go while excited criminals yelled that Amy was telling the truth and they would all bear witness. (Amy hadn't paid much attention to them, but realized the background noise during her kissing Rory was enthusiastic cheering by the prisoners – Oh La, a fan club).

Amy wondered if they'd be put in jail and then worried again about Mr. Tallenger. "Rory? Will he be all right?" she asked.

"His vitals are improving by the minute," answered Rory, and he gave her one of his sweetest smiles, and then went back to his tending.

The ambulance attendants got the demanded aspirin, Mr. Tallenger seemed to perk up and Amy finally turned to the older officer, who hadn't released Cooper the Copper yet. Rory appeared to be satisfied with his nursing and now gave strict orders to the bemused attendants. Then he came up and took Amy's hand.

"I am sorry to be such trouble," he said solemnly, "and of course, you can put me back in custody, Sir. Just please don't put my wife in jail. She did nothing but protect herself."

The older man had a piercing gaze that seemed to run X-rays into Amy's brain and Rory's.

"I've had my suspicions about Cooper, but no one would come forward. I believe we'll keep him in custody. Meanwhile, whatever troubled you is gone, and you seem in your right mind. Does this happen much?"

"Never before, Sir," said Rory, "I thought, I thought she was gone," he finally whispered and looked at Amy with eyes that glowed with that special love.

Amy squeezed his hand.

"Will you give testimony against Cooper?"

Amy nodded, hoping this meant she wouldn't be away from Rory too long.

"You owe the church for destruction of that statue, but the local hospital needs help badly and you seem a dab hand at nursing the sick back to health. Do you have medical training?"

Rory nodded, "Yes, sir. I do."

"I'm the Head of the police department, Captain Stands. I was at the hospital visiting when I heard of trouble here. Cooper works for me. I am going to put you on probation. You work at the hospital, where they are in desperate need of competent help, and pay back for the statue. You check with me once a week to let me know that you are still working, and there won't be a mark on your record."

Amy's heart filled with joy. No years of waiting for Rory to get out of a jail. She rushed forward and hugged the old man, kissing his cheek enthusiastically. "Thank you," she sobbed.

They accompanied Mr. Tallenger in the ambulance, the attendants actually hung to the outside on railings with their feet on the bumpers. There the Captain Stands introduced them to the head of the Hospital, who indeed was interested in getting anyone with good medical experience (and a man to boot, Amy suspected, but would let it go in this instance. She didn't want Rory back in jail). The Hospital Head seemed impressed with Rory and hired him on the spot on Captain Stands' word.

They were together. They were stuck in New York during the depression, with no electronic gear, and no doctor ever again, but they were together. That was all that mattered.