Thank you for all those reviews! They make my day ;)

Also, it has come to my attention that Madame Vastra's name is in fact spelled incorrectly. I apologize for this mistake and will correct any future mistakes of spelling her name.

Disclaimer was in the first chapter, go read it if you really care.


It's our time to make a move

It's our time to make amends

It's our time to break the rules

Let's begin


Darkness.

Trapped in darkness, nowhere. Nobody, nothing, darkness.

Hello, darkness, my old friend...

A blue tendril, dark as it was, snaked into the never ending darkness and lit it up, just enough for him to actually see the thing. Emanating off of it was a song, and it was maybe the most irritating song he'd heard.

I've come to talk with you again...

He was confused as the tendril brought in more, all different colors... purple, red, orange, green... a screen started and one snaked over to it.

Because a vision softly creeping left its seeds while I was sleeping

The screen showed River Song, being taken away while the Doctor stood to watch, helpless and bound by his chains. Her hands flew out from Borusa's grip, and she was screaming for the Doctor to help, but he couldn't. Borusa grabbed her in a tighter grip and they both disappeared behind the doorway of the Room, the Room where every bad slave was sent.

And oh, he heard the screams, the strained grunts of Borusa as he hit her, over and over again... The crack of the whip as it hit her back, and River Song's nails as she clawed at the door to get out... and her last scream, the last breath she'd ever take.

"No," the Doctor said, suddenly finding himself kneeling in front of the screen. "No, please, no, not again..."

And the vision planted in my brain still remains... within the sound of silence.

The screen showed Borusa slamming the door open and the young Doctor watched, horrified, as he dragged River's body out and he saw her back, bloodied by the mistakes they had made, and he saw her eyes, glazed over with terror. He tried to cover his eyes with his hands, but they were shackled, and he realized that those shackles would never hold him again after his own beating.

In restless dreams I walked alone, empty streets of cobblestone, 'neath the halo of a street lamp.

And suddenly the screen disappeared and the Doctor felt those chains around his wrists and feet again. And he realized, with horror, that he was reliving his own punishment. He flinched back as Borusa knelt down to take them from the wall and attach them to the wall inside the Room, to ensure his captive wouldn't escape.

He could smell the blood now, River's blood, and knew that she had died for nothing. River Song really was gone, and now he was going to meet her up where the older slaves said every slave went- to the second hell. This was just the first one, they always said. The second one is worse.

How is it worse? The younger ones would always ask.

You'll find out soon enough, they always said.

And he was helplessly dragged the same way as River Song was into the room, where he would die.

The first blow landed on him, and he prepared to die soon, he welcomed Death. Except for the young Doctor, Death did not visit him that night. The Doctor lived, and he knew that death would come some other day.

But first, his mission was to free every slave, every single one who had been treated the same way he had, and let them live.

The blows continued into his unconsciousness.

In the sound of silence.


Colors.

Swirling, whirling, everywhere colors. He reached out to grab one- dark blue and red and yellow and green, just to make sure the darkness wouldn't return, and his master could never do that again.

Then he was falling, falling down, down, down, down...

And he hit the floor with a thump.

The colors faded as the Doctor realized he had fallen off his bed and onto the floor. His head hurt more than a whip had, and he wondered what had happened.

Then there was a voice, somewhere just out of his head, and it spoke in a loud, very loud, voice. He whimpered and covered his ears, curling into a ball. He felt something stroke his hair, and the motions made him feel better, enough to try and sit up. The thing stroking his hair provided assistance, and soon he was dazedly sitting back on the bed.

Then the voice came back and it spoke in much lower tones, and he could understand them this time.

"Someone had a terrible nightmare," and the Doctor focused on who was even saying it. It was Martha Jones, his resident doctor and psychiatrist. Behind her he could make out Vastra, Jack, and Jenny.

He groaned.

"Yeah, and you've got a giant hang over, mate."

He muttered some inaudible words.

"Don't be like that. You almost took out one of your own staff. This headache is probably what you deserve."

A sudden voice, only in his head, but it sounded real as Martha right now. You DESERVE all this pain, you arrogant slave!

Borusa.

Mentally he whimpered in front of his cruel Master, but was brought back quickly by Martha.

Clearing his throat of mucus and spit, he asked in a gravelly voice, "Who?"

"Clara," Martha said offhandedly as she checked his head with some device he didn't remember the name of.

"And you made me knock myself out," Jack added.

"Oh, Rassilon," the Doctor groaned. "How is Clara?"

"Gee, I'm fine, by the way," Jack grumbled.

Vastra elbowed him to shut him up. "Clara is fine. She claims to just be a little shaken. You did not physically harm her. However, you did knock out Mickey, and it took Jenny, Strax, and I to stop you."

"I'm sorry," he immediately apologized. "Really, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He put his face in his hands, guilt eating at him for attacking his friends and trusted servants.

"Hey," Martha said, taking his chin in her hand gently and forcing him to look her in the eyes, "It's okay. No-one was hurt. It's okay."

"Can I talk to Clara? Is she okay?"

"I have a feeling Clara would not like to talk to you right now," Vastra said. "She did not desire to help put you here, and she expressly asked to be away from you for a while."

The Doctor said some rather colorful things in Gallifreyan.

"Watch your language," Jenny chastised, but she had a smile on her face.

Martha handed the Doctor a piece of paper when she finished her check-up. "Whenever you're ready, come see me. Doctor's orders." She left, as did Vastra and Jenny, leaving Jack alone with him. He read the paper. In Martha's thick handwriting, it said, Nightmares. Session with psychiatrist to be scheduled.

"Dammit," the Doctor said.

"What?" Jack asked sitting next to him.

"It's just the prescription," he said. "It's nothing."

"You know," Jack said after a few moments of silence, "Clara's been sleeping for almost two days."

The Doctor looked up at this.

"Martha said she's probably emotionally and physically drained, and to leave her alone. Although that pet of hers, it keeps coming down to the kitchens for food."

The Doctor laughed softly at this. "Doesn't surprise me."

"So what's really bothering you?"

The Doctor tore his eyes away from Jack. "Nothing," he lied.

"Bullshit."

The Doctor gave him a Look.

"Sorry," Jack apologized. "But I know that's not the case."

His companion sighed. "Okay, there is something, I guess."

"You can tell me, Doc," Jack said. "A man-to-man talk. Well, no, a man-to-Time-Lord."

"It's Clara," the Doctor finally admitted. Jack was silent, knowing, he'd say more. "I think... I think she's..."

"What?"

"Amazing," the Doctor finally said in a shy whisper. "I think she's beautiful."

"Ahh," Jack said. "A crush. It is possible for you!" He grinned impertinently.

"Jack," the Doctor whined.

"What? It's only the second crush you've ever had. In any of your lives. Don't blame me for being surprised."

"Anyway," The Doctor said, "I don't know what to do about it."

"Well," Jack thought, "Figure out a way to see if she feels the same way. If she doesn't, then... I'm real sorry, but if she does, tell her how you feel."

"I could ask Vash," the Doctor said thoughtfully. "I think she's talked to Clara, her little one-word answer thing."

"Good idea. I'd either do that or go talk to Clara myself. And you could order her, if she doesn't want to come voluntarily."

"I wouldn't do that. If she wants to come, then I'll wait until she does."

"Didn't think you would. Is there anything else bothering you?"

The Doctor debated on telling him about his nightmares, but he decided against it. "No," he said. "Just lovestruck."

Jack grinned at him. "I'll get back to my job, then. Hope I got some worries off your chest." He left, and the Doctor did realize he felt a bit better now that he'd talked to someone. Jack and Martha had always been there to talk to him, to make him feel better, and he hadn't been disappointed. He got up to go to his study, and had Rose deliver a pot of tea.


Clara yawned as she stretched out on the most comfortable thing she'd ever slept on. She wondered how long she'd been sleeping, or why she had something comfortable. Usually slaves slept on mats or a floor. Slowly, everything came back to her.

She gasped and sat straight up. Throwing off the covers, she did her morning wee and changed her outfit she had slept in for a new one. They were all exactly the same, but she couldn't wear the same one she'd slept in. She brushed her hair with a brush she found on her bathroom sink and made sure she looked decent. Dimly she noticed that Gandosafroliwinataradru was gone. Probably in the kitchens. Clara would pick her up later. She threw open the door, slid down the banister (she'd always wanted to do that) and entered the Kitchen, where she found Jack recently returning.

He had a funny look on his face. Clara didn't ask, but she did ask what was for breakfast. Jackie and Donna gave her chocolate chip pancakes and a banana with fresh apple juice. She made small talk with Jack as she ate, then delivered her utensils back to Donna and Jackie. Rose delivered a pot of tea to the Doctor in his study, and Clara accompanied Jack to the door when the doorbell rang.

He opened it.

To both their surprises, Lord President Rassilon was standing there, regal in every way. He was wearing crimson and orange robes with the infamous Time Gauntlet. Jack, quickly getting over his surprise, bowed, and Clara did the same.

"Please, sir, some in," Jack said, and he closed the door behind Rassilon.

"Where is your master?" He inquired. "I wish to speak with him."

"Yes, sir," Jack said. "Our master is in his study. Clar- er, 947 will take you there, sir, unless you require our master out here."

"I will go to his study," Rassilon said. "It is private business. And what is your number?" He voiced the last part to Jack.

"My number is 375, sir," Jack replied.

"Very well. Take me to your master's study, 947."

"Yes, sir, right away, sir." Clara bowed and led him to the Doctor's study. She was a bit nervous about seeing him so soon after the Incident (as she had taken to calling it) but it was the Lord President so she'd have to deal with it. They arrived at the door, and she knocked.

"Come in," a voice said, and Clara turned the knob and opened it.

"Master?" She said, deliberately calling him that just to put on that he really was a slave master and not a kind man.

"What? I told you you don-" he stopped in his tracks.

"May I introduce the Lord President Rassilon of Gallifrey," she said bowing. Rassilon entered the Doctor's study. The Doctor was on his feet in a second, crossing over to Rassilon and bowing at his feet.

"My Lord," the Doctor said, kissing both feet, "I welcome you to my humble home, in hopes it as well as I and all my serv- slaves serve you well." He stayed kneeling until Rassilon replied, "I thank you, most noble Doctor, for offering entrance into your home. Arise." The Doctor got up and Clara took her cue to leave.

The Doctor waited until Rassilon sat to sit down himself.

"I have come," Rassilon said, "to invite you to the ball. It is my daughter's wedding, and I would like the noble house of Lungbarrow to attend. I have already asked the Cousins of Lungbarrow, and they have all accepted. Will you?"

"My Lord," the Doctor gasped, "it is an honor to be invited to your noble daughter's wedding. The house of Lungbarrow will attend."

Rassilon nodded His head. "As custom, you are required to bring two slaves to help serve at the party. Will you deliver them previously or arrive with them?"

"If I am allowed, my Lord, I will attend with them, unless they are needed earlier than the day of."

"They are not," Rassilon said. "We need two females, if you would bring them."

"Of course, my Lord. I will bring two females."

"The ball will be held two days from now," Rassilon said. "It is at the house of Omega."

"Yes, my Lord. Is there anything else?"

"That is all," He said, and He got up from His chair.

"947," the Doctor said over the intercom. "Come and show Lord Rassilon out." Clara was there within a minute. She opened the door for Him, and Jack did the same thing at the front for Him. Once He was out the door and had teleported back to the Citadel, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well," the Doctor grinned to Clara and Jack, "looks like I'm going to the ball."