More Doctor Who Fic.
Proceed at your own risk.
"Doctor, will you look at this? I think it's from at least the third... Doctor?" River looked up, but the Doctor was nowhere in sight. "Breaking your own rules as usual. Don't wander off indeed!" she huffed before directing her attention back to the artifact. She turned it over in her hands before carefully returning it to its resting place. Standing, she brushed off her trousers and looked off into the distance. No one was in sight.
"Well, if that's going to be the way it is..." Nodding decisively she headed back towards the TARDIS. A shower and a cup of tea later found her scribbling notes in one of her research journals. Other than the scratch of her pen the only sound was the gentle humming of the TARDIS. Despite her calm expression, she was feeling more and more annoyed. "Focus, now. You have all the pieces here... Where the hell can he be? No. No. Definitely third century... Not like there are lots of places he could get to... Maybe he managed to find a little shop? That would be just like him..." She glanced at her watch. "Sod this. Sitting here waiting... Probably got himself into a world of trouble..."
Shoving her things back into her satchel, River got up and walked over to the TARDIS doors. They showed the same scene she'd left earlier, which didn't really amount to all that much. The ground consisted of sheets of rock that didn't leave any sort of path for her to follow. "Knew I should've fixed a homing tag to him when I had the chance," she muttered.
She'd just decided to set off to the east when she caught a sparkle out of the corner of her eye. Torn, she glanced in the direction she'd last seen the Doctor, then back towards where she'd seen the sparkle. "Well," she justified, "won't take but a minute to see what that is, and he does keep insisting that he can take care of himself..."
Mind made up, River set off to find the cause of the sparkle. It was closer than she'd reckoned and somehow had managed to be half buried in the bedrock. It was metallic with what looked to be symbols on the worn metal. Gingerly she touched it to see if it could be worked loose. A sharp sting ran up her arm and she involuntarily yelped. Jerking her head up, she was shocked to see a tiny blonde woman looking at her with a quizzical expression.
"Well," River managed, "Hello. Where'd you come from?"
The blonde woman smiled. "What you're seeing is a holographic projection. You managed to activate a..." she paused, considering, "transceiver of sorts. Might I ask who you are?"
"I'm River Song, archaeologist. And you?"
"Archaeologist?" The woman laughed softly. "I am... Rather, I was... Oh, bother. Romana. Just call me Romana. It's easier."
"I see. Well, at least you didn't point when you laughed the way my friend did."
"Your friend?"
"Yes. The Doctor. Doesn't much hold with my profession, sadly. Why study the past when you can live it, he says." River noticed that Romana's expression had changed slightly.
"He survived, then. This... this is good. Very good. Is he here with you?"
"He managed to wander off somewhere. I was going to go look for him, but your... transceiver caught my eye. Are you going to tell me how you know him?"
"Well, first I should ask how much you know."
"Quite a bit to tell the truth. However, I take it you're referencing something more specific?"
A look of irritation flickered across Romana's face. "I'm talking about the Time War. Has he mentioned that to you? Or anything about his home world?"
"Not really. We've not been friends for long and he's not very..." River paused, searching, "revealing about his past. You knew him, then? Back on... Gallifrey, isn't it?"
"Yes. And yes, I did." Romana said, drawing herself up and raising her chin.
River cocked her head. "But wouldn't that make you another Time Lord? Or is it Time Lady? He seems to be operating under the assumption that he's the last."
Romana's mouth twisted into a humourless grin. "In a way, he is."
"Right. So is your race genetically incapable of being direct or is it just my luck to run into ones who like avoiding questions?"
"I can see why he likes you," Romana said with a laugh.
"Well, I'm glad one of us can. Sometimes I think he sees me as more of an obligation than anything else."
"I've been there. He can be a bit rude about it at times as well- or at least he used to."
"Oh, he still is. And he's trying so hard to show a happy face to the world, but sometimes..."
"Yes?" Romana prompted.
"What happened? He seems so sad. Especially when he thinks no one is watching. I know that his- your- home world was destroyed, but... it's like he blames himself for it. Do you know why?"
"It... it was war. The Time War. I... We didn't have any other options. I didn't want to ask him, but I didn't have any choice. There wasn't anyone else that I could trust."
"Trust to do what?" River waited, but Romana didn't answer. "You made him pull the trigger, didn't you? Made him kill his own people."
"It was the only-"
River shook her head. "I don't think I want to hear more."
Romana frowned. "I'm not going to justify my actions to you. Just understand that they were necessary. And understand that the Doctor also thought it necessary- if he hadn't he wouldn't have done it."
"He's hurting."
"I don't think he expected to survive. I know that I didn't. Look... when you see him... Will you tell him something for me?"
"Why not tell him yourself?"
Romana looked down at something and frowned. "There isn't enough power."
"So why waste all this time talking to me?"
"I'll explain in a minute. Will you tell him?"
River nodded.
"Tell him that Fred says hello. He'll know what it means. And as to why I've spent this time talking, well, let's just say I was tired of being alone. Try to keep him out of trouble."
"Fat chance of that! Man makes his own rules and then promptly breaks them."
"So he hasn't changed all that much. Good. And don't forget-"
"Fred says hello. I'll tell him... though, wait! I think I see him... Just, just sit tight. I'll be right back." River took off running towards the figure that has just crested the horizon. "Doctor! Doctor, come quick!"
"What is it? More third century whatsitbobs?" he called back.
"No. There's someone who needs to talk to you. Quickly!" River grabbed his arm and started dragging him back towards the transceiver.
"What's the rush? And what do you mean 'someone'? I don't see anyone."
River came to a halt, looking down at the metal object in the stone. "She was just here. Doctor, I swear to you, she was just here. Maybe... I had to touch it." She looked up at him, but he was staring at the transmitter. River poked at it, but nothing happened. "Maybe if you use your sonic screwdriver on it?"
"No. I don't think that would work."
"But you know what this is, don't you?"
"Yep." A single word as he turned and headed back towards the TARDIS.
"Then don't you at least want to try? Doctor? Someone was here. Someone like you... Doctor?"
He kept walking without giving a response.
"Doctor!" River stood up and screamed the last few words, "Doctor, Fred says hello!"
He froze, then dipped his head slightly. River jerked the transceiver from the rock and quickly closed the distance between them. "Doctor? I'm so very sorry."
The Doctor looked at her then and reached out to give her hand a small squeeze. "I should get you home," he said, but didn't move.
"She meant a lot to you, didn't she?"
He did start moving then. Walking into the TARDIS he tossed his coat carelessly in the direction of the coat rack. River followed. "Doctor? Talk to me. I've been worried about you, you know. Wandering off the way you did. Anything could have happened. In fact, maybe you should teach me to fly this thing just in case..."
"Just in case what? After all, I'm not going anywhere. Well, except the 51st century. And possibly to your lecture. And-"
"Doctor, how long are we going to keep playing games?"
He looked at her then. "Someday I will trust you so completely that I will tell you everything. I know this. But... River, today isn't that day. I'm sorry."
"Well, so long as someday isn't too far off." River sat down on the console chair. "I think she still fancies you."
"Really? I mean... How long were you two talking?"
River offered a wicked smile. "Long enough."
"Tell me."
Her smile softened. "Someday, Doctor. When you're ready. But I don't think today is that day."
He laughed. "Fair enough. Though... her name wasn't really Fred, you know."
"I think you mean 'isn't', Doctor."
He did smile then, a real smile. "Quite. Isn't." And he pulled the lever, sending them into the time vortex.
"Doctor, will you look at this? I think it's from at least the third... Doctor?" River looked up, but the Doctor was nowhere in sight. "Breaking your own rules as usual. Don't wander off indeed!" she huffed before directing her attention back to the artifact. She turned it over in her hands before carefully returning it to its resting place. Standing, she brushed off her trousers and looked off into the distance. No one was in sight.
"Well, if that's going to be the way it is..." Nodding decisively she headed back towards the TARDIS. A shower and a cup of tea later found her scribbling notes in one of her research journals. Other than the scratch of her pen the only sound was the gentle humming of the TARDIS. Despite her calm expression, she was feeling more and more annoyed. "Focus, now. You have all the pieces here... Where the hell can he be? No. No. Definitely third century... Not like there are lots of places he could get to... Maybe he managed to find a little shop? That would be just like him..." She glanced at her watch. "Sod this. Sitting here waiting... Probably got himself into a world of trouble..."
Shoving her things back into her satchel, River got up and walked over to the TARDIS doors. They showed the same scene she'd left earlier, which didn't really amount to all that much. The ground consisted of sheets of rock that didn't leave any sort of path for her to follow. "Knew I should've fixed a homing tag to him when I had the chance," she muttered.
She'd just decided to set off to the east when she caught a sparkle out of the corner of her eye. Torn, she glanced in the direction she'd last seen the Doctor, then back towards where she'd seen the sparkle. "Well," she justified, "won't take but a minute to see what that is, and he does keep insisting that he can take care of himself..."
Mind made up, River set off to find the cause of the sparkle. It was closer than she'd reckoned and somehow had managed to be half buried in the bedrock. It was metallic with what looked to be symbols on the worn metal. Gingerly she touched it to see if it could be worked loose. A sharp sting ran up her arm and she involuntarily yelped. Jerking her head up, she was shocked to see a tiny blonde woman looking at her with a quizzical expression.
"Well," River managed, "Hello. Where'd you come from?"
The blonde woman smiled. "What you're seeing is a holographic projection. You managed to activate a..." she paused, considering, "transceiver of sorts. Might I ask who you are?"
"I'm River Song, archaeologist. And you?"
"Archaeologist?" The woman laughed softly. "I am... Rather, I was... Oh, bother. Romana. Just call me Romana. It's easier."
"I see. Well, at least you didn't point when you laughed the way my friend did."
"Your friend?"
"Yes. The Doctor. Doesn't much hold with my profession, sadly. Why study the past when you can live it, he says." River noticed that Romana's expression had changed slightly.
"He survived, then. This... this is good. Very good. Is he here with you?"
"He managed to wander off somewhere. I was going to go look for him, but your... transceiver caught my eye. Are you going to tell me how you know him?"
"Well, first I should ask how much you know."
"Quite a bit to tell the truth. However, I take it you're referencing something more specific?"
A look of irritation flickered across Romana's face. "I'm talking about the Time War. Has he mentioned that to you? Or anything about his home world?"
"Not really. We've not been friends for long and he's not very..." River paused, searching, "revealing about his past. You knew him, then? Back on... Gallifrey, isn't it?"
"Yes. And yes, I did." Romana said, drawing herself up and raising her chin.
River cocked her head. "But wouldn't that make you another Time Lord? Or is it Time Lady? He seems to be operating under the assumption that he's the last."
Romana's mouth twisted into a humourless grin. "In a way, he is."
"Right. So is your race genetically incapable of being direct or is it just my luck to run into ones who like avoiding questions?"
"I can see why he likes you," Romana said with a laugh.
"Well, I'm glad one of us can. Sometimes I think he sees me as more of an obligation than anything else."
"I've been there. He can be a bit rude about it at times as well- or at least he used to."
"Oh, he still is. And he's trying so hard to show a happy face to the world, but sometimes..."
"Yes?" Romana prompted.
"What happened? He seems so sad. Especially when he thinks no one is watching. I know that his- your- home world was destroyed, but... it's like he blames himself for it. Do you know why?"
"It... it was war. The Time War. I... We didn't have any other options. I didn't want to ask him, but I didn't have any choice. There wasn't anyone else that I could trust."
"Trust to do what?" River waited, but Romana didn't answer. "You made him pull the trigger, didn't you? Made him kill his own people."
"It was the only-"
River shook her head. "I don't think I want to hear more."
Romana frowned. "I'm not going to justify my actions to you. Just understand that they were necessary. And understand that the Doctor also thought it necessary- if he hadn't he wouldn't have done it."
"He's hurting."
"I don't think he expected to survive. I know that I didn't. Look... when you see him... Will you tell him something for me?"
"Why not tell him yourself?"
Romana looked down at something and frowned. "There isn't enough power."
"So why waste all this time talking to me?"
"I'll explain in a minute. Will you tell him?"
River nodded.
"Tell him that Fred says hello. He'll know what it means. And as to why I've spent this time talking, well, let's just say I was tired of being alone. Try to keep him out of trouble."
"Fat chance of that! Man makes his own rules and then promptly breaks them."
"So he hasn't changed all that much. Good. And don't forget-"
"Fred says hello. I'll tell him... though, wait! I think I see him... Just, just sit tight. I'll be right back." River took off running towards the figure that has just crested the horizon. "Doctor! Doctor, come quick!"
"What is it? More third century whatsitbobs?" he called back.
"No. There's someone who needs to talk to you. Quickly!" River grabbed his arm and started dragging him back towards the transceiver.
"What's the rush? And what do you mean 'someone'? I don't see anyone."
River came to a halt, looking down at the metal object in the stone. "She was just here. Doctor, I swear to you, she was just here. Maybe... I had to touch it." She looked up at him, but he was staring at the transmitter. River poked at it, but nothing happened. "Maybe if you use your sonic screwdriver on it?"
"No. I don't think that would work."
"But you know what this is, don't you?"
"Yep." A single word as he turned and headed back towards the TARDIS.
"Then don't you at least want to try? Doctor? Someone was here. Someone like you... Doctor?"
He kept walking without giving a response.
"Doctor!" River stood up and screamed the last few words, "Doctor, Fred says hello!"
He froze, then dipped his head slightly. River jerked the transceiver from the rock and quickly closed the distance between them. "Doctor? I'm so very sorry."
The Doctor looked at her then and reached out to give her hand a small squeeze. "I should get you home," he said, but didn't move.
"She meant a lot to you, didn't she?"
He did start moving then. Walking into the TARDIS he tossed his coat carelessly in the direction of the coat rack. River followed. "Doctor? Talk to me. I've been worried about you, you know. Wandering off the way you did. Anything could have happened. In fact, maybe you should teach me to fly this thing just in case..."
"Just in case what? After all, I'm not going anywhere. Well, except the 51st century. And possibly to your lecture. And-"
"Doctor, how long are we going to keep playing games?"
He looked at her then. "Someday I will trust you so completely that I will tell you everything. I know this. But... River, today isn't that day. I'm sorry."
"Well, so long as someday isn't too far off." River sat down on the console chair. "I think she still fancies you."
"Really? I mean... How long were you two talking?"
River offered a wicked smile. "Long enough."
"Tell me."
Her smile softened. "Someday, Doctor. When you're ready. But I don't think today is that day."
He laughed. "Fair enough. Though... her name wasn't really Fred, you know."
"I think you mean 'isn't', Doctor."
He did smile then, a real smile. "Quite. Isn't." And he pulled the lever, sending them into the time vortex.