Winter Advent 2011 - Day 23
adventchallenge Day: 23
Title: The Last Christmas Stowaway
Fandom: Doctor Who (Russell T Davies era)
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/River Song
Rated: PG-13 Words: 441
Warning: missing scene from The End of Time - Part 2
Summary: this incarnation of The Doctor is dying, he’s said his goodbyes, a surprise visitor drops by to say hers
Prompt supplied by mmahmficMurray Gold theme “Once I found a stowaway upon my ship on Christmas Day”
“Hello Sweetie.”
The smooth, warm voice of River Song, pleasant as it may be, was not a sound these ears expected to hear again. The Doctor turned and saw her, there, in his TARDIS, as beautiful and proud as the day they met and the day she died, with sadness in her brown eyes that equalled his.
“I’m dying,” he said plainly, meaning ‘Get out!’ Radiation coursed through him as he said his goodbyes to Jack, Donna, Martha and Mickey (that had been a surprise), Sarah Jane and her boy, Rose - so many to leave behind. He lacked the physical strength to fight off the regeneration any longer.
“I know, but it’s a shame to see such a pretty face only once. Don’t you agree?”
“I think we can agree that you’re far beyond pretty, Doctor Song.”
“I meant yours.” As always, her smile hinted at seduction that surpassed the physical plane.
“Don’t come any closer!” he warned, fingertips tingling as he began to become someone else. They could both see the light energy sparking through his skin.
“But I have to. That’s why I’m here.”
“The ambient energy will kill you.”
“Yes-and no,” River rounded the control panel as though walking down the aisle, “and by doing so it will both save, and kill you.”
“Pardon?” his voice went high then low at each syllable.
“Spoilers,” she purred.
Despite his torment, the Doctor laughed. “You say that word like it’s foreplay.”
“Oh, it is.” There’s that smile again.
River moved in for the kiss and pulled back the instant their lips brushed. “Sorry pretty boy, it’s time to go.”
“River…” The agony of cellular reconstruction twisted him at the waist, constricted his throat, and burned his eyes which were in the process of becoming another man’s eyes. “Tell me who you are.”
“You’ll find out. But not until you wear the face that tells me your name.”
“Riddles!” he decried. “I hate riddles.”
“No you don’t.” Her subtle smile was amused.
“You’re right,” he grunted as he fought to stand straight. “I love them.” The Doctor flashed River his greatest smile and saw it reflected in her eyes, amplified by a love that defied time. “I don’t want to go,” he declared woefully.
His reluctance to surrender this life was already breaking the TARDIS. If it reached her heart…
“Always running.” River’s fading voice was a combination of joy and lament. “Goodbye my love. See me soon.” She blew him a kiss as the regeneration overwhelmed him.
When the Doctor opened his new eyes, River was gone. By the time the regeneration was complete, he’d forgotten she’d dropped by.
Title: The Last Christmas Stowaway
Fandom: Doctor Who (Russell T Davies era)
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/River Song
Rated: PG-13 Words: 441
Warning: missing scene from The End of Time - Part 2
Summary: this incarnation of The Doctor is dying, he’s said his goodbyes, a surprise visitor drops by to say hers
Prompt supplied by mmahmficMurray Gold theme “Once I found a stowaway upon my ship on Christmas Day”
“Hello Sweetie.”
The smooth, warm voice of River Song, pleasant as it may be, was not a sound these ears expected to hear again. The Doctor turned and saw her, there, in his TARDIS, as beautiful and proud as the day they met and the day she died, with sadness in her brown eyes that equalled his.
“I’m dying,” he said plainly, meaning ‘Get out!’ Radiation coursed through him as he said his goodbyes to Jack, Donna, Martha and Mickey (that had been a surprise), Sarah Jane and her boy, Rose - so many to leave behind. He lacked the physical strength to fight off the regeneration any longer.
“I know, but it’s a shame to see such a pretty face only once. Don’t you agree?”
“I think we can agree that you’re far beyond pretty, Doctor Song.”
“I meant yours.” As always, her smile hinted at seduction that surpassed the physical plane.
“Don’t come any closer!” he warned, fingertips tingling as he began to become someone else. They could both see the light energy sparking through his skin.
“But I have to. That’s why I’m here.”
“The ambient energy will kill you.”
“Yes-and no,” River rounded the control panel as though walking down the aisle, “and by doing so it will both save, and kill you.”
“Pardon?” his voice went high then low at each syllable.
“Spoilers,” she purred.
Despite his torment, the Doctor laughed. “You say that word like it’s foreplay.”
“Oh, it is.” There’s that smile again.
River moved in for the kiss and pulled back the instant their lips brushed. “Sorry pretty boy, it’s time to go.”
“River…” The agony of cellular reconstruction twisted him at the waist, constricted his throat, and burned his eyes which were in the process of becoming another man’s eyes. “Tell me who you are.”
“You’ll find out. But not until you wear the face that tells me your name.”
“Riddles!” he decried. “I hate riddles.”
“No you don’t.” Her subtle smile was amused.
“You’re right,” he grunted as he fought to stand straight. “I love them.” The Doctor flashed River his greatest smile and saw it reflected in her eyes, amplified by a love that defied time. “I don’t want to go,” he declared woefully.
His reluctance to surrender this life was already breaking the TARDIS. If it reached her heart…
“Always running.” River’s fading voice was a combination of joy and lament. “Goodbye my love. See me soon.” She blew him a kiss as the regeneration overwhelmed him.
When the Doctor opened his new eyes, River was gone. By the time the regeneration was complete, he’d forgotten she’d dropped by.