The Doctor peeked out from behind the crate labeled "Sleeping Gas". The contents of the crate had proved quite effective in knocking out the pair of guards in front of the exit. Though, as an evolutionary superior species the Doctor had not been affected, the humans had fallen asleep almost instantly.
He walking out into the room and began to check the unconscious men for a key to the door. While he could have used his screwdriver, this military fort was sure to have equipment for detecting sonic waves. And he would prefer not to be noticed just yet, especially considering the nature of this particular visit...
As if cued by his thoughts, a little redheaded girl crawled out after him. Though the Doctor had only been looking for Melody Pond for two months, for her nearly a year had passed. She was now far more mobile than the last time he had met her, in her timeline anyway. The medical record the Doctor had found in her room indicated that she already ate solid food and was expected to begin talking within the next few weeks. Still, right now all of his attention was focused on making it out of the fort before someone noticed that the lump of blankets he had left in Melody's cradle was not a baby.
"How can humans stand to use these stupid keys?" the Doctor muttered to himself after failing to locate the desired key on the first guard. "They're far too easy to misplace..." Behind him Melody happily gurgled. She had found a gun lying on the floor and was busy examining her new toy.
"Don't sound so superior, Miss Pond," he said, mistaking her gurgle for agreement. "You are only part Time Lord. You still have to share some DNA with these primitive apes." Insulting humans was one of the ways the Doctor coped with stress. However, his foul mood ended when he located the key in the second guard's uniform.
He picked up Melody up off the stone floor and disdainfully threw the gun back to its sleeping owner. "Some things never change, do they River Song? Always too hasty with the firearms. Guns are bad. Understand?" Melody just shook her head and giggled. His attempt to imprint morals into the child wasn't having much effect. "Oh well, at least I tried." Then he inserted the key into the lock that had kept them inside. At that moment a shrill alarm sounded throughout the fort. Footsteps thundered down a nearby hallway. A whole army was alert, looking for the intruder.
"I think we've been noticed," the Doctor commented rather unnecessarily and tucked Melody under his arm before opening the door and running outside. The pair just made it through the door into the waiting TARDIS before guns began to fire from all directions. Hastily closing the door to keep out the bullets, he glanced down at his companion. She was busy staring at the inside of the control room, completely mesmerized. The Doctor set her on the floor and knelt down beside her.
"It's the bigger on the inside moment. Happens to everyone. This is the TARDIS. Time And Relative Dimensions In Space." He gave her a moment to absorb the information and then continued. "I'm the Doctor, by the way. I don't think we were ever introduced. Do you mind if I call you Melody? I knew met you when we were called something else, but that's a long time in your future. " She moved her dumbfounded gaze from the TARDIS to the man in the bow tie. It was quite plain that she hadn't understood a word he had just said. The Doctor laughed quietly.
"You know, that is exactly how I felt the first time I met you. But I guess that's the biggest spoiler of all."
Melody continued to stare at the Doctor before opening her tiny mouth. "Spoi-yer," she said solemnly. Then she crawled off to explore the rest TARDIS, leaving a very surprised Time Lord behind.
"Your first word, River Song. You never cease to amaze me," he whispered to himself. Then more loudly, he called out after Melody. "Come on now. I'm sure Mommy and Daddy can't wait to see you."