Chapter 10 – Per Nocens Lupus

He moved slowly, hesitantly to her, not giving into the chance to believe it, to hope, in case it was ripped from him to break his hearts once more, "River?" he whispered, and he reached out, cupping her warm face gently in his hand, "How-"

But he was unable to finish the question, not because of his emotions, but because the TARDIS had jolted violently and the three of them fell to the floor, the console sparked and smoke filled the room, "Daddy?" Zeta called, "What's Aunty doing?"

The Doctor and River crawled to the console as they spun, "No," the Doctor frowned,

"The vortex has gone," River gasped, "Doctor, what's happened?"

The Doctor didn't explain, just held her close, "We're crashing,"

And as suddenly as it had started the TARDIS jolted to a halt, sending them across the floor once more. They were in darkness, the lights of the ship all out, and the Doctor got to his feet slowly. "River," he said, "Go get changed."

"What's happened to her," his wife asked as she and Zeta both got to their feet,

"She's dead. Well. Sort of, but don't worry. I can fix her, but it will take time. Go get dressed, Zeta, with me."

They moved in opposite directions, River up a staircase to the left, heading towards the bedroom she shared with the Doctor, Zeta and her father down a staircase to the right, to go underneath the console floor where a small glow could be seen. "Do you see that?" he asked,

"What is it?" Zeta whispered,

"It's a power cell, Sexy is clinging onto life and with that we can bring her back." He moved quickly and pulled the glowing pod from its place and held it out to his daughter, "breathe on it," he told her,

Zeta didn't question him, just let out a breath over the pod and watched it glow brighter, "What did I do?" she whispered,

"You just saved your Aunty's life." He grinned, "Making a habit of saving the people I love, aren't you." And he kissed her forehead softly, "Thank you, Song." He murmured, "I love you so much."

"I love you too Daddy," Zeta smiled,

Above them there was a laugh, "Darlings are you done down there?" River appeared at the stairs wearing jeans, an olive tank top and a white jacket, her studded black belt over the top.

The Doctor grinned at her and pocketed the power cell, moving to River and taking her hand, "If I'm right," he smiled at his family, "We fell through the void. We shouldn't be able to do that, but it's rarely stopped me before." He beamed at them excitedly, "Now; let's see where we've landed." And they moved across the console room to the doors, he pulled them opened and stepped out, quickly followed by his wife and daughter.

The sound of a dozen guns cocking echoed around them, "Ah." The Doctor slowly raised his hands, indicating to River and Zeta to do the same,

"Oh I hate you," River hissed at him,

"No you don't," but their flirty banter was cut to a halt as the man directly in front of them pressed a button and spoke into a communicator that was sown into his black uniform.

"A man has exited ma'am," He said clearly and directly,

"Is it him?" A voice asked,

"I think so."

"Excellent." And air pressurised doors at the other end of the hanger the TARDIS had landed in, opened with a hiss.

River, Zeta and the Doctor watched as a brunette woman dressed in black work pants and a leather jacket walked directly to them, lining up with the circle of uniformed men with guns and grinned, "You've regenerated,"

The Doctor smiled childishly back at her, "Hello Rose,"

tbc