Disclaimer: Don't own Doctor Who

The Doctor flicked a switch on the control panel. A metallic clang rang throughout the TARDIS.

"Night, Doctor." Amy didn't look round as she dragged her husband towards the stairs.

"Yeah, goodnight."

The Doctor didn't look up from the console. "Rory, may I have a word with you, please?"

Rory and Amy shared a confused look. Rory shrugged. Amy let go of his hand and made for the stairs alone.

"Don't keep him too long, Doctor. We have business of our own." Amy looked back over her shoulder and winked at Rory. She chuckled at the furious blushes that spread up her boys' cheeks.

Once she was gone, Rory cleared his throat awkwardly. The Doctor still hadn't looked up from the console.

"What is it, Doctor?"

The Doctor switched the monitor screen off and turned to his companion.

"I have a favour to ask of you."

"Don't want me to watch another box, do you?" Rory chuckled. The Doctor winced, and the sound died in his throat.

"There are some things that are out of your control. And I admit there are some things that I should have more control over."

The Doctor walked up to Rory and put his hands on his shoulders. "But there's one thing that I need you to do for me."

Rory felt a flutter of nervousness. "W-what's that?"

The Doctor smiled sadly. "Stop dying."

Rory frowned, his brain momentarily short-circuiting. When he finally remembered how to speak, he could only stammer, "Stop… dying?"

"I watched you drown today, Rory. I've seen you shot, I've seen you wiped from the very fabric of existence. It's becoming an uncomfortably frequent occurrence."

The Doctor squeezed his shoulders, his expression serious.

"When people come aboard this TARDIS, I make a silent promise. I promise that I will try to protect them no matter what. But you have to try to stay safe as well. Please, Rory; will you do that for me?"

Rory desperately wanted to look away from the Doctor. He couldn't bear to see the Time Lord's eyes when he got like this.

"How many people have you lost, Doctor?" he murmured.

The Doctor made a strange movement with his jaw, his eyes clouding over. Rory desperately hoped that he wouldn't start crying. He took a deep breath.

"Too many. More than you have ever met. And I know that, one day, I will lose you too. But I will do everything in my power to postpone that day as much as possible."

Rory reached up to the Doctor's face, cupping his cheek in his palm. "So will I, Doctor. I promise."