Everything that had been discovered and talked about still hung around in the thoughts of Peter and Neal. However, it was time to get back to their work. Peter pulled up to June's on Tuesday. "Hey," he greeted, sliding in carefully with a thermos of coffee.
"Hey," Peter threw back, "Long night?"
"Talking to Bryce. He, Chuck and Sarah have decided to try entering a poly relationship."
"That's why Chuck kissed Bryce," he nodded, before handing him a file. "I thought a refresh on where we're going would be a good idea."
"The Exploding Box," he said, "Blaiddrwg Gallery." He took a closer picture of the photograph and thought the box looked like the TARDIS. They did say they met Van Gogh before. But I thought the painting ended up in the Royal Gallery. He then rolled his eyes at what the Doctor might have said about his leap. Time's not set; maybe it hasn't happen yet.
They pulled up to the gallery just around nine. The director met them outside and walked them into the office. Another man was waiting within the room, and in front of them was the Exploding Box. “This is Mister Williams; he explained he would like to loan out the painting for our collection,” the director told them.
“Anthony Williams, pleasure,” he expanded, shaking each of their hands, “My parents got the painting from an old family friend. She had it over several years in her family. My mother said the story was Van Gogh saw something, a vision, and that it was about this box being destroyed by a Wrong of the universe.”
Neal turned to Peter. That sounded like one of the stories Amy and the Doctor had described to them. “His last name is Williams, like Rory,” Peter muttered.
“Relative?” Neal whispered back, “Amy can’t have any more kids.”
“Let’s find out,” he suggested, “Neal, check out the painting.” He nodded and grabbed a couple of gloves that the director held out before carefully picking up the painting. Peter walked over to Anthony. “The story you were telling is like one we just heard from someone else. Do you mind telling me all that you remember about it?” he inquired.
“Of course,” he granted. He started the story with the crack in the wall, and the Doctor crashing in the garden of Amy's house. He followed the time line all the way to the Pandorica and stopped, since that was the end of the story for the painting. It matched the other group's story, except he kept saying Mom and Dad in place of Amy and Rory. Could they have had another child? I thought they couldn't. And when did they?
Neal listened, but his focus was on the painting. The canvas was right, not artificially aged. The oils were cracked; it wasn't caused from fast oven drying but actual age. He analyzed the signature and didn't see any obvious trace patterns, hesitation marks or abnormalities that showed in normal forgeries. As far as he could see, there wasn't a second signature hidden in the painting either. It didn't rule out ultraviolet inks, but he doubted it. “Well, I can't find anything that immediately declares it a forgery,” he reported, “But there were forgers before me. It could be an early attempt; the Exploding Box was rarely seen and would have been a good practice run for someone starting out.”
The director nodded her head, still pleased with the results, “Thank you. This will be a wondrous addition to the gallery. A Van Gogh will help highlight and bring attention to the other artists we've selected.”
“Van Gogh,” both Anthony and Neal corrected.
She dipped her head. “Sorry,” she apologized.
Peter separated from Anthony. “If you're satisfied, we need to get to the office,” he tried finishing.
Neal looked over to her. “Do you have anything else you need authenticated?” he asked, smile lighting up in hopes of keeping paperwork at bay. Peter just tugged him outside and over to the car. He looked up at the gallery name before getting in the passenger seat. “Blaiddrwg.”
“Yes, Neal,” he said.
“No, it's just...” he paused, trying to figure it out.
Separate them.
Okay, that wasn't his thought. Freaked out a little, he took the advice and separated the word. Blaidd rwg? Blaid drwg? Blaidd Drwg? The small link to the TARDIS translated the last word into Bad Wolf. “Peter, promise me you won't freak out,” he motioned.
“About what?”
“The name of the gallery translates to Bad Wolf.”
He didn't turn, but became curious. “Like Malum Lupus when Phil came to visit? Do you think it's something?”
“Maybe we should ask the Doctor.”
He nodded, “You're the one with his number.” Neal pulled out his cell phone but didn't call just yet. He wasn't sure whether it was something to be afraid of, and he didn't want to alert the Doctor to something that wasn't really worrying. Instead, he sent off a text to Bryce to ask him if he ever saw Bad Wolf in any reports or other places.
0=0
Bryce watched Chuck and Sarah argue over something. He was staying with them while he got back to a well enough fighting condition. He was trying to watch Star Trek, catching up on the new movie when Chuck sat down beside him, Sarah on his other side. “Have you two made up?” he quipped.
“We had nothing to make up about,” Sarah defended.
“We were wondering,” Chuck flailed, trying to come up with the correct word. “How to approach you with an idea.”
He looked over at Sarah. “You've been in love with Chuck since college,” she stated, “And you fell in with me during our time together.”
“And Sarah and I love each other,” he added, “We don't want to see you alone.”
Sarah smirked, “And we don't want to share you.”
He blinked, really thinking about what they were offering. “The three of us together?” he inquired.
“If you agree,” Chuck said.
He smiled, “Why wouldn't I? It's perfect.”
0=0
They had all been separate.
Then Neal and Bryce met. And were happy as two grown brothers could be, until she realized Bryce wasn't really there. So she visited River in her dreams, guiding her to meet their children. She brought along the Doctor.
Her and the TARDIS talked, and she stopped for Amy and Rory before retrieving their grandson. Now they were all together as they could be, knowing that each other existed. And Neal was surely going to pass on the information that he and Bryce had an uncle of sorts. Hopefully, they found out about Amy's parents and aunt along with Rory's father. If they didn't, she would just have to arrange it.
She is the Bad Wolf, and if she couldn't have him, then she could help her Doctor have someone.
Previous | Masterpost | Art