I'm back! And tagging along with me is this lovely chapter which took me a couple of hours to plan and write – after managing to allocate a slot between story writing and schoolwork.

Anyhow, enjoy!

~*DW*~

The sound of hectic footsteps and agitated yells echoed across the hallway. The Doctor and Amy rounded behind a hidden corner and held their breaths as a group of Stormcage guards thundered past their hiding spot. When the heavy footfalls died away, Amy slowly peered out.

"The coast is clear," she whispered, prodding the Doctor on the arm.

Her companion held up a finger, his eyes clenched shut. "Stay put, Amelia."

"What's the matter, Doctor?" Amy asked, alarmed at the sight of him rubbing his temples vigorously.

"Hush," he snapped, holding up his finger again. The redhead watched him impatiently as he pressed his long fingers to his temples once more.

He can feel her presence, but to be precise, he can hear her speaking to him softly in his head.

Turn left on the next corner…

"Left."

Amy's head snapped up – she wasn't sure she heard him speak. "I'm sorry, what?"

The Doctor slowly opened his eyes. "Left," he repeated, jumping up and helping his companion up by the waist. He slowly peered out of their hiding spot and, seeing no guards patrolling the corridor, he sprinted towards the corner and turned left.

Where to now?

Quietly open the third door to your right. There will be a guard patrolling that hall. Turn right and go left on the next corner.

Silently, the Doctor followed the familiar voice's instructions; glancing back once in a while to check Amy was still following him.

Turn right…

Go left and enter the fourth door to your right…

Quietly sneak left – there is a guard in that corridor…

Veer right on the next corner…

You're almost there; creep silently towards the third hallway to your left…

Already panting from all that sneaking and running around, he listened with relief when he heard her murmur;

My cell is the tenth one to your right. Be careful, someone will be doing night patrol in this hallway.

He slowly edged around the corner with Amy right behind him, her ragged breaths echoing in the corridor. The Doctor glared at her in frustration. "Can you breathe a little quietly, please?"

"No," she hissed.

Unluckily, the guard patrolling the very same corridor they were hiding in heard Amy's loud breaths and noticed the pair crouching silently against the wall.

"Oi!" he yelled, flashing his torch in their direction. "You there – what are you doing?"

Amy stood up; ignoring the Doctor's panicked glances and glided confidently towards the guard. "Hi there! My name's Amelia Pond, the new Chief Inspector of Stormcage Containment Facility. This here," she said, motioning the Doctor to join her. "… Is my apprentice Doctor Fred Fredrickson."

"Hang on," the guard interrupted. "I didn't know there was an Inspector in Stormcage. I've never even heard of you two!"

The Doctor glared at Amy as she rolled her eyes impatiently. "You're not meant to – it's supposed to be a secret agency organised by Stormcage…"

With irritation, the Doctor tapped his foot as he listened to the small voice in his head.

Where are you?

He rolled his eyes, keeping up with Amy's charade.

There's been a bit of a hold-up getting to your cell. Amy's trying to distract the guard.

The Doctor could hear her chuckle in his head.

All right. Be careful, that guard is quite intolerant of trespassers.

He grinned.

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks anyway.

During the Doctor's silent conversation, Amy is slowly losing her patience with the guard, and the guard himself is becoming impatient with the persistent redhead glaring right at him.

"Move out of the way, sir." she hissed. "Or you'll quite regret having to stand in my way."

The guard laughed humourlessly, judging by her small frame, she looked quite comical compared to his gym-junkie size. "And what will you do about it if I don't?"

Amy scowled as the guard smirked triumphantly, but then began to see stars as the girl literally thumped him on the head. Before long, he literally blacked out from the second impact between his forehead and her well-manicured hand.

The Doctor snapped out of his trance and looked between the guard – who was lying unconscious on the ground – and a gleeful Amy, perplexed. "What did you do?"

His companion glared at him. "I cuffed him on the head, and he blacked out – simple! And what exactly were you doing, standing there during the scene?"

"I was…" he paused. Hearing voices in my head? Hmm, I might have to rephrase that. "…meditating."

Amy rolled her eyes. "And where did you say River's cell was?"

The Doctor grinned confidently. "The tenth one to your right."

~*DW*~

River Song looked up as she heard hurried footsteps, which were getting louder as they approached her cell. She gasped when she caught sight of a familiar shade of red hair.

"Amy!" she cried. "Over here!"

The redhead spun around at the source of the voice. "River!" she squealed. "Doctor, she's right here!"

River couldn't really help beaming as she saw him – first that recognizable floppy brown hair, then his face, which hasn't changed much since she saw him after their encounter with the Weeping Angels. "Hello sweetie."

The Doctor grinned cheekily.

Hi honey, I'm home.

She rolled her eyes.

Late as always, aren't we, Doctor?

"What's going on?"

The Doctor and River were pulled back from their brief mental conversation by Amy's confused tone.

"Before I can explain," The Doctor said, pulling out his sonic screwdriver as he turned to face River's cell. "Let's get you out of here, shall we?"

Both River and Amy laughed. "Sweetie, that would be lovely, thank you."

~*DW*~

As the trio entered the TARDIS, River smiled, pondering on fond memories. The Doctor was explaining as well as he can about the psychic link he – apparently – shared with River when they sense each other's presence to a bewildered Amy.

Hello River.

She jumped as the TARDIS herself spoke to her. She missed that familiar voice in her head – feminine, yet comforting.

I missed you.

Yes, I know. Still thinking about him, are you? Have you told him already?

River shook her head.

He doesn't know me yet. Have you mentioned anything to him about me at all?

Why should I? You're the one involved with him, pretty much. I believe you should be the one to tell him.

She sighed in disdain.

I'm not sure he'll take it well, to be honest. I abandoned him.

No you didn't. What has to be done has to be done, River. He'll understand, I'm sure of it.

River pondered on the TARDIS' wise words. It seems reasonable enough to tell the Doctor who she really is right now, but she decided against that thought.

I won't tell him, not yet, anyway. He isn't ready yet.

Yes River, but please hurry. It's been a pain listening to his theories about who you really are and to pretend to not know you at all.

What has he been saying?

Gibberish, to be honest. He's not even close!

River nodded, relieved, as the Doctor and Amy entered the console, hand in hand. She was glad he found happiness with this lovely girl who was his exact match.

"Hey River!" Amy cried, waving. "What's up?"

She smiled. "Nothing much. Just thinking."

"You know," the Doctor said. "I've got no clue really as to how I've got a psychic link with you. Do you have any ideas?"

River almost laughed – he was totally clueless. "Not at all," she lied smoothly. "Not a single idea."

He's not ready yet.

~*DW*~

And that's it! It's a pretty long chap – I'm actually surprised it's this long.

I'm working on the next one right this moment. Reviews are always welcome, whether it is good or bad.

TTFN!

LilyHale21 xx