Ch 10

"Wha-? River you screamed! You didn't come back and I was calling your name and I heard you scream just a second ago!" He was babbling so fast he didn't even notice the tally marks on his arm.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, "Doctor, what have I told you about teasing me? I didn't scream, I don't remember screaming."
"I saw you, Riv! With my very own eyes! You were right here, backed against the wall looking over there..." He trailed off, realizing what he had just said. He didn't dare turn his head just yet, though.
"Right wh..." She trailed off mid-word as she looked back over at the spot. She gripped onto his arm, the panicked look in her eyes returning.
"River.." His voice was quiet now in best attempts to be calm. "Please tell me you have your gun on on you."
She shook her head slowly, "I took them off when we came back into the TARDIS."
"It's okay. We're going to be okay." He gripped his sonic tightly. "When I say so, run." He whipped around and pointed the sonic at the Silent, holding back the electricity coming from it's fingers. "RUN!" She didn't register right away that he had said it, frozen in place. He glanced back at her for half a second, expecting her to be half way across the TARDIs already. "River! RUN!" He yelled again. She finally registered what he was saying, running as fast as she could.
She normally would have refused to leave without him, but she had the twins to think about and protect. There was electrical sound that could be heard from where the Doctor was and a yelp. Foot steps followed behind River as the Doctor soon caught up with her. He was holding his arm tightly to his side. She stopped for a moment, her eyes falling to his arm. "Are you alright?" She asked, her voice full of concern.
"Yes. Fine, keep going!" He put his arm behind her, pushing her forwards. Though the TARDIS would make it harder for the Silence to find them, they still had to move forwards.
She struggled to keep up with him, finding it rather difficult to run. Another few feet and she had to stop, gasping for breath. He stopped, too, looking back behind them to make sure the coast was clear. "I think we lost them. How did they even get in here?"
"I thought..." Her breathing was heavy, "I thought they couldn't get in the TARDIS."
"So did I..." He trailed off on his thought, turning his attention to her. He came over, gently placing a hand on her back. "You alright? Babies are okay?"
She closed her eyes, trying to calm down, knowing she had to try not to get stressed. "I-I don't know." She whispered, covering her face with her hands. He looked at her sympathetically. He didn't know which one of them was more terrified at the moment.
"Here, why don't you sit down."
She shook her head, breathing deeply. "I'm alright." She lied, not wanting him to worry about her.
"River, you're exhausted. It's okay, we're safe now. The TARDIS won't let them find us. Please. Sit."
She shook her head, beginning to pace nervously, "I don't need to sit." She was tense, on guard.
"Yes you do. Would it make you feel better it we went somewhere more sucure?" He asked. She nodded, still pacing. Her heart was pounding, her head spinning. He supported the small of her back and they continued down the hall, praying the Silence wouldn't be around the corner. She was trembling as he lead her down the hall, leaning towards his body for some form of comfort. "River... you're shaking." He couldn't help but point it out, concerned for her well being. They made a left into a room. Of course the TARDIS had decided to put the sickbay here.
"I'm just cold." She whispered, wrapping her arms around herself in a feeble attempt to make her statement look true. He grabbed a near by blanket and wrapped it as well as his arm around her body.
"Is that any better?" She nodded, though she was still shaking. She rest her head against him, closing her eyes for a moment. "We're safe now" he repeated. "The old girl knows what she's doing. Look." He pointed a finger to were the door used to be, but was now a wall. "They can't get in here. We're safe." She opened her eyes, looking at the wall. She relaxed a bit when she saw that they would not be able to get in. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, her legs growing weak.
"Will you sit now?" He asked, seeing that she felt safer. She nodded, taking a few shaky steps to a cot before laying down. "How's your arm?" She asked softly, wanting something to distract her.
"Nothing some antibiotics and burn cream can't fix." He smiled at her, hoping it would make her feel better. He sat down on the cot next her her and placed his hands on either side of her belly.
She forced a weak smile, then looked down at her belly, "Do you think they heard any of that?"
"Maybe. You'll have to ask." He poked back at Amelia when she kicked him. "Amelia is still active. They've shifted their positions, but they're fine."
"At least she didn't shield herself off." She murmured, relieved when she felt Amelia kick. She looked at him for a moment before closing her eyes, Amelia? Are you alright, sweetie?
I'm just fine, mum. Came a response. I was going to ask you that. You sounded scared. Are you okay?
I'm fine. She responded, though she didn't exactly feel fine Get some rest, love.
Mum. She insisted. I can't feel your hearts beating really fast.
It's alright, I'm alright. I promise. She didn't want to scare the poor baby and risk losing contact with her just like she lost contact with Freya.
If you say so. Amelia adjusted herself more comfortably, leaving the subject alone. River swallowed, looking up at the Doctor.
"What are we going to do?" She asked quietly.
"Well, we can't leave here. At least not for a while. Thought the TARDIS will lead them to the main accelerator -they'll be incinerated immediately- that could take a while, up to a full day." He explained. She nodded, reaching forward and hugging him tightly, trying not to make it too obvious that she was seeking his comfort in doing so.
"But they know I'm pregnant..." She whispered, "What if this happens again." He held her tight, scared that if he let go she'd slip away.
"I'm not going to let that happen. I swear on my life, I'll will keep you safe." He pulled back so he could stroke the side of her face. "As for you, I think I might need to get you a few more guns." He tried to lighten the mood. She leaned into his touch, trying to suppress the memories she had of their past encounters with the Silence. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't find the words, simply shifting her gaze to the floor.
He wished he could be better at lifting her spirits. Why wasn't he allowed a life free of the fear that someone would take away River? Of course he blamed him self, people he loved always got hurt because of him. The only thing he could do at the moment was hold River and tell her everything would be okay, even if neither of them believed it.
She moved over so he could lay down beside her, wanting nothing more than to cuddle into him. Her heart still pounded in her chest and her head still hurt, but she tried to push all those feelings aside. He lied down beside her, his chest pressed against her back and arm wrapped around her waist. He placed his head in the crook of her neck, loving how they fit together perfectly. She smiled weakly, her arm draping over his.
"Do you want to tell Amelia a story?" She asked, secretly wanting to hear his soothing voice.
"Sure" He thought a moment. "I know a funny one. Once upon a time" He began "Before people were even around, there were dogs. Big ones and small ones. Brown ones and black ones. Tall ones and short ones. And one day. they all gathered around in the big meeting place that dog gathered around in."
"A big meeting place that dog's gathered around in?" She laughed, cozying into him a bit more.
"Yes! It was their secret meeting place away from all the other animals! Anyway, so all the dogs from all over the world to meet there. They were all there and getting a little inpatient. Dogs left and right were asking each other" And in a very silly 'dog' voice he said "'Do you know why we're here?' 'No, do you?' 'I have no idea"'
She couldn't help but giggle at the voice he was making. "Amelia, you're daddy's silly isn't he." She smiled, feeling a rather strong kick in response.
He chuckled too. " Finally, a bulldog came up in front of everybody and announced: 'Some of you have wondered why we have gathered here. We are here to chose a dog president!' The dogs all looked at each other and all started talking at once. 'Chose the grey hound! He's fast!' 'He's fast alright, but he can't fight!' 'How about the bull dog! He can fight' 'He can fight but he's got stubby legs, he can't run!' And all the dogs began arguing about who should be their president."
She closed her eyes, her heart beating a bit less rapidly by now, her headache slowly disappearing as well, "So who did they pick?" She asked.
"I'm getting there" He grinned glad she was enjoying the story too. "So they were all squabbling and such when the smallest stinkiest dog in the way back of the crowd popped up. 'Why not the dog who smells best under their tail?' Everyone thought this was a good idea so that all started sniffing each others tails. 'Pew! Not you!' They sniffed and sniffed, but no one smelled nice under there tails. That is why, to this day, dog sniff beneath each others tail when they meet." He concluded.
"That was absolutely ridiculous." She giggled, smiling up at him.
"Hey! I thought it was quite brilliant!"
"Well Amelia certainly seems to have enjoyed it." She noted, looking down at her belly.
"I thought she might. I told you that story when you were a baby. You loved it."
She raised an eyebrow, "Did I really? I don't remember it."
"Well, you were only a child."
Her smiled faltered, "Yes, you're right. I don't remember much of being a child anyway..."
"That's good I suppose. I don't think you'd want to remember."
She moved a bit away from him, not saying anything for a moment, "Yes...but I wish I could forget the parts I do remember."
"River... " He didn't know what to say. He would've just blocked those off too, but memories are part of what makes a person themselves. The memories of Kovarian, no matter how horrifying, were part of River. Taking them away would change her. If he had asked if she wanted him to block the memories, she would have declined the offer anyway. She understood that she was the person who she was today because of all the things that had happened to her, and she wouldn't change that. However, at times like these, her past frustrated her, and she wished that she didn't live in constant, hidden fear that something would happen again.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing..." He shook his head, not realizing that he had been staring. "You just look quite adorable when you're thinking."
She closed her eyes, trying to rid her thoughts of the painful memories, "Thank you." She whispered, wrapping the blanket a bit tighter around herself. They curled into each other once again.
"You should sleep. They'll be gone by the time you wake up"
"I don't think I can." She murmured, too paranoid to let her guard down. Everything that had happened had made the wall he created around her nightmares come crumbling down.
"I'll be right here. The whole time. You have nothing to be afraid of." He said, not quite understanding.
She shook her head, "I don't want to go to sleep."
"Why not?' He asked gently moving a curl away from her forehead.
"I just...I'd rather be awake." She whispered, looking away from him. He knew that that was a lie. After all the things that happened today, the ... shenanigans... and the running and lifting things, he knew she'd probably want nothing more than to sleep. He thought a long moment before putting two and two together.
"They're back, aren't they." She thought about answering truthfully, but decided against it.
"No, they're fine. I just don't want to go to sleep right now."
"River, don't lie to me."
She moved so her back was to him, "I'm not lying."
"You just ran half way across an infinite ship and you're a month away from your due date. I am fairly sure that you'd love a nap right now." He pause moving her put an arm around her. "So maybe it's not nightmares. But there's something you're not telling me."
She tensed as he touched her, "I'm fine." She insisted, not wanting to worry him.
He hugged her closer. "If you insist, but I wish you'd go to sleep."
She flinched as he hugged her closer, "I really don't want to."
"Okay" He sighed. "Be we still have to wait out here a few hours. What would you like to do?"
She shrugged, "What do normal human couples do together?"
"I've never been in a normal human relationship. You might have to refresh my memory."
"I haven't been in a normal relationship in hundreds of years. All I can remember is watching movies, playing games, making food...I was much younger then..."
"There was someone before me? Do tell." He said excitedly. River hardly ever talked about her time as Mels.
She scoffed, "I'm not really in the mood to tell you about my ex-boyfriend. I don't really want to re-live that part of my life right now."
"Some other day then." He got off the bed and went over to the back of the room. "I don't know what I can do about movies, but there is a very convenient mini-fringe. Probably the TARDIS's idea." He reached inside and pulled out some cold cuts, fish fingers, and custard. "Oh look! It's got fish fingers and custard!"
She tried to hide her smile, "Really, sweetie?" She stood up and walked over to him, "Is there anything else in there?"
He looked back in the fridge. "Um.. wow, she really packed a lot in here. Pickles, deviled eggs, mashed potatoes, milk..." He started listing.
Her eyes grew wide, "Deviled eggs? Oh, I want those." She said eagerly. He pulled out a tupperware full of deviled eggs and handed it to her while taking the fish fingers and custard for himself. She hummed happily as she munched on the food, walking around the room trying to find something to do.
"I doubt there's much to do." He said through a mouthful of food. "It's only a sickbay."
She tried to hide her yawn, "Well it doesn't hurt to look." She made a face as he spoke with a mouthful of food.
He set down his food coming up behind her. He rested his head head on her shoulder. "Find anything?"
"No." She mumbled, leaning back against him. "Nothing really."
He kissed the side of her head. "Then what are we to do then?"
"We could talk..." She murmured, her body leaning heavily on him with exhaustion.
"Sure. Why don't you sit down." He could feel her putting her wait on him more and more.
She nodded, sitting down on the edge of a cot, looking up at him through eyes heavily lidded with sleep, "What do you want to talk about."
"How beautiful our children are going to be." He smiled, sitting next to her. She laughed, resting her head against his shoulder.
She winced, placing a hand on the top of her belly. "She's kicking me in the ribs."
He leaned down to her belly. "Amelia, no kicking your mother. She's had a long day."
She sucked in a sharp breath as Amelia kicked her again, "It's alright, she doesn't know any better. "
He rubbed the spot he saw the small foot appear. "That's why we have to teach her. No kicking."
She watched him rub the spot, "She'll shift positions in about an hour, that seems to be what she likes to do." Amelia kicked hard against his hand, making River wince.
He bent his head down to kiss the spot. "You should really tell her to stop."
She shook her head, "It's fine, really. She just gets excited when you're around."
"It's no reason to hurt you." He insisted. "Amelia, I see you, you can stop kicking your mother now."
There was nothing for a few moments, "I can feel her shifting now." River murmured.
"That's good." He smiled kissing her cheek. "She'll stop kicking you now."
She nodded, "Doctor, I know you said you wanted to deliver the babies, but do you even know how to do it?" She had been thinking about it since they had talked.
"Yes... mostly. I, mean, I've never actually done it..." He scratched the back of his head. "But I've been doing a ton of reading in the last few months."
She raised her eyebrows, "Are you sure you're going to be able to handle it?" She was a bit anxious about the whole process, and him not being sure of himself would only make it worse. "I don't want you reading a book while I'm pushing."
"I won't!" He defended. "I was even going to take a class with the Sisters of the Infinite Schism."
"And when exactly where you going to do that?" She asked, "I'm due in a month, that really isn't much time."
He fiddled his hands together not really having an answer to that. "I should call Martha..."
She took his hands in hers, "You don't have to do that if you don't want to, I just want to make sure you're going to know what you're doing. I'm...worried, I don't want anything to go wrong."
"Nothing is going to go wrong, I promise." He looked up at her, still hopeful. "Tell you what. Once we get this at sorted out, there's this parenting class we could go to. It's in two weeks and actually right before the class I was going to take." He looked down at his hands. "I mean.. If you want to. You might not."
She smiled weakly, "I'd love to go." She kissed him softly, "And I promise to wear the filter of you want me to."
"Well, it is a class for expectant parents. You don't really have to..." He thought a moment. "Though you probably actually should, now that I think about it."
She nodded, "It's better to be safe than sorry, especially after what happened today..." He nodded, agreeing with her.
He looked over as the door reappeared. "I think they're gone now."
She looked in the direction he was looking, seeing the door reappear, "Are you sure?" She asked, still a bit tense.
"I doubt she'd put the door back unless they were gone." He looked back at her. "Positive."
She pushed herself off the cot, moving towards the door. "Could we go back to the nursery?"
"Sure." He smiled putting an arm around her waist. She was near exhaustion at this point, instantly melting against him. "You sure do don't want to go to bed?"
"Actually, bed sounds very nice." She mumbled, her eyes fluttering shut. He guided her to their bedroom, happy that she was finally agreeing to sleep. She stumbled along beside him, forcing herself to stay awake for just a little while longer. He helped her get situated in the bed, with really didn't take much since she was hardly awake to begin with. She flopped down on the mattress and he just had to tuck her in. She snuggled into the blankets falling asleep almost instantly. He snuggled in to bed next to her, scooting so he was right up against her. He didn't actually realize how tired he was until now. She subconsciously curled into him, her whole body relaxed. Sleep came easily for both of them.