I've never written a 'Dark' Doctor before, but this came to mind a few days back. If its you know, generally well received, then I've actually planned this one out and will continue it.
It's set at some point in the Doctor and River's travelling life, I'm not going to chain it to a particular season - not that I ever do anyway... =P Enjoy!
Fear Him
Summary - Something is prowling in the shadows of the Tardis; the Doctor can contain it no longer
It had been exactly one week to the day since River had taken up residence in the Tardis. She hadn't really planned to stay this long, a few days at most. It wasn't that she didn't want to spend some quality time with the Doctor; but River Song simply craved adventure. She also craved a good book; she loved to be in the library. The Tardis' library was vast and ever changing, due to its fluidity, the Tardis generally shifted orientation a few times a day, resulting in books randomly appearing and disappearing. River had gotten used to the Time Machine's 'ways', resulting in her carrying her current read with her at all times – with bookmark.
She was currently perched in the Doctor's chair, book open in her lap; feeling thoroughly neglected – as usual. He'd been fine the first two days of her being there, he'd been completely and utterly thrilled with the adventure she'd brought to his door –again. The novelty of having her around had clearly worn off, he now spent every waking minute tending to the console and all the mechanical features of the ancient machine. The most she ever saw of the Time Lord was his bow legs poking out from under the console. If she was lucky enough to catch him face to face the conversation was far from engaging, he deigned to answer her with an array of barely audible grunts and an uninterested shrug of his shoulders.
River flicked over the next page. Her eyes darted quickly over each line, over and over. She didn't notice the Doctor making his entrance through the South side door. Neither did she notice him making his way over to her. It wasn't until she heard his voice that she realised he was stood a mere few feet away.
"You're in my chair," he said calmly.
River snapped her book shut and looked up suddenly, not even bothering to place the bookmark between the pages, "Sweetie I..."
"You're in my chair," he repeated, this time his tone had hardened.
She stared up at him for a brief moment, she knew that look. River pressed her hands down on the arms of the chair, raising herself slightly off the soft leather. She paused; weary as to whether or not he meant it in the way he usually did. His expression made River stand completely up and out of the chair. She stood up close to him, almost as if squaring up to him. He refused to look at her, instead stared firmly ahead; his mouth was clenched shut, his eyes emotionless. River glared at him, her eyebrows clenched in a frown. Her eyes emitted their anger at every inch of his stony expression before she gained some level of control and stormed out of the Library. River slammed the door as hard as she possibly could; uttering an apology to the ancient machine once she was certain that she was out of earshot of that hateful man.
The Doctor stood a moment in his silent battle. He tried; he tried so hard to open his mouth, to say something kind, to say anything. As if choking on his words he stood mouth slightly open. His eyes; the only truth, stared out helplessly. Tears brimmed; and fell, as his eyes admitted defeat and silently closed.
Features devoid once again of expression, the Doctor tilted his head to one side. His eyes fell upon the empty chair; and the book now left abandoned on the side table. Occupying the space he reached for the thick volume, crossed his legs and opened the first page. One after the other, after the other, he tore the pages out swiftly. The flames from the fireplace seemed to grow darker and dimmer; his shadows stretched and lurched against the book cases, sinister in their flickering movements
In the console room the lights flickered and the controls seemed to momentarily die. River stopped perfectly still.
"What was that…?" she breathed glancing to the console as if expecting some kind of response. The Tardis, rarely if ever experienced a power surge. She'd have to inform the Doctor – Unless he had already experienced it. Her hurried footsteps clattered against the metal floors as she found her way back to the Library.
The Doctor was gone.
All around his chair torn pieces of paper were strewn about the floor. River dipped to pick one up, she instantly recognised the words. Pages from the book she'd been reading. The time traveller froze exactly where she was – What in the universe was going on? And where had the Doctor gotten to?