Forgiven

More weeks passed and the Doctor recovered the only tell tell sign he had been involved in the hit and run was his leg would cramp up easily if he stood around for too long, but doctor's promised him that that would pass in time, much to the delight of Clara and his friends. Both he and Clara would visit the Pond's grave together, put more flowers down to brighten and make it look decent, but overall he seemed to be in the best place he had been since he had met Clara. The Doctor hadn't even had one of those dreams where Clara would fall from the roof for 4 months either, and so he pushed that all back from his mind as well.

Everything was going fine until it was nearing early springtime, Kate was still doing the undercover work and investigating as best she could into Amy's report of someone following her and keeping an eye on her, but nothing so far, though the Doctor kept it secret from Clara, letting her think that it was all behind him now, and truth be told the Doctor couldn't be happier, even his job was working out well and it even came to the point where he was going to think about asking Clara to marry him…Well obviously after he sorted out the whole River fiasco, but he couldn't even track her down to ask for a divorce, but as Clara seemed happy right now than perhaps it could wait.

Then the unexpected happened, it was like any other day and Kate rang the Doctor, but her voice was urgent and slightly panicky, now the Doctor had known Kate a long time and those two things and Kate never went together at all.

''Kate….what's wrong…calm down''

''Doctor…we've found something…I'm sorry…but it's him…it's definitely him…Harold Saxon….new evidence turned up a couple of days ago, we managed to find some old CCTV on a shop round the corner, showing Amy and Rory walking home together, seconds behind them was 'The Master'….then again the next day...and again''

She went silent for a couple of seconds as the Doctor let the news sink in, he had seen the Master hovering around but….even though the two of them had had their rivalry they had never really hated each other to the point where he would stalk the Doctor's friends let alone…

''Was he responsible for their crash…?''

''We don't have any evidence on that part no….but we have a witness stating that a man dressed to his description was seen near the Pond's home a couple of days before their death…and yours too''

The Doctor felt his breathing increase but he made himself calm before carrying on, if the Master knew where he lived then not only could he be in danger now but Clara.

''Kate I'm at home now…but Clara's at work, is there any way you can get down there make sure she's safe…..Look I know she's probably safe there with all the teachers and stuff, but please…just make sure shes safe''

''And what about you…Doctor if he knows where you live he'll be straight round to confront you''

''It's been nearly a whole year, he hasn't tried anything since'He failed to mention when he and Clara had gone chasing off after the Master 'Look I'll lock myself in and won't answer the door until you get here….just go to Clara''

He hung up frowning as he paced through the living room, he knew the Master liked playing games with him, and if he was waiting a whole year before he made another move than it had to be for a reason, probably until he dropped his guard or something.

Amy's letter ran through his mind and he wished he hadn't given it to Kate anything to keep her last words by his side, instead he kept pacing a nervous feeling raging through him. Why did the Master want him and his friends dead, he hadn't even seen him for years not since school, and they hadn't left on such bad terms had they….

The doorbell rang making him jump , arms coming up defensive as if to block an oncoming attack, before he just stared at the door, he looked down to the phone hesitating between ringing Kate again or answering the door. The Doctor laughed lightly shaking his head, he was thinking too much about it, he didn't know for certain the Master was coming for him, he was just being silly and it was probably just the postman or a friend at the door. Still shaking his head amused he walked over to the door unlatching it slowly and opened it, a dark figure standing on the landing, the Doctor frowned moving back to open the door wider , as the figure stepped forward into the light, his eyes widened and he took another involuntary step backwards, heart feeling like it was going to explode.

''You….''

A curly haired woman with bright dazzling eyes and a smirk on her face stepped forward.

''Hello Sweetie''

The words echoed through his mind and he had half and mind to shake it ….RIVER at this time….his wife or not his wife anymore….the details were scratchy and things hadn't worked out, he still hated her for leaving him when he needed her the most.

''Get out…just go back to wherever you came from '' He tried to put venom into the words but they ended up sounding sad and upset

River took another step forward this time her expression changed to sadness closing her hands tightly around his wrists ignoring him as he stared at her with anger in his eyes.

''River please…I don't want to talk to you….I know its going to hurt''

She smiled sadly shaking her head lightly ''You've said that before and like the last time….I wouldn't let it hurt me''

The Doctor looked up confused he knew they'd never had a conversation like this before, their conversations went in terms of flirting or fighting or well partner stuff ….Never touchy feely conversations.

''What…?...No…shush…I wasn't talking about you...I was talking about me…it's going to hurt me…and I was right''

River let go of his wrists sighing lightly before reaching back with her right hand, the Doctor narrowed his brow ready to grab it and stop her hitting him, what he didn't expect was for her to change hands and instead hit him in the face with her left hand.

''Doctor…shut up….You need to wake up …..start seeing things how they are otherwise its going to kill you''

''Wake up..? River you've never ever made sense in your life….I /am/ awake….and I'm with someone else now so if you came here to cause trouble or get back together than too bad…please go''

River looked down sadly shaking her head again ''They really did a good job….on you both…you and Clara need to ….''

The Doctor snapped his head up eyes staring into River's..''I never mentioned Clara's name…how do you know about her…. ''

River winced realising she'd said something she hadn't meant to 'We've met before, you were there at the time,….look I can't tell you exactly whats going on…otherwise you're both dead''

''Was that a threat…because I've had it up to here of people threatening my friends and family….remember Amy and Rory….remember how they died…were you in on it too?''

''No that wasn't a threat dear…..yes I remember what happened to Amy and Rory but differently to how you obviously remember it..and no…I am not in on it…I'm trying to save your life….''

''Then tell me what's going on''

''Sweetie I can't...Spoilers and this time I hate doing it to you ...but...''

The Doctor paused breathing heavily as he looked to the woman he once and still deep inside loved, he didn't know why he loved her still after all the hurt and betrayal she had caused him..but he did

''Its why I left…I had too, I was trying to get you out but you'd started to be involved too deeply you were already affected so strongly that you lost everything you were ….I made for Clara but then you meant and things got worse….I've only just got back here to reach you…but if you're both together than it could be a sign that things are nearly ending…which means I should be going '' River sighed holding her hands in front of her, her long beige dress shimmered down to the floor and for a brief second his mind tried to place where he'd seen it before.

''If I can't help than its up to you and Clara to work it out….I'm truly sorry my love' She reached forward kissing the Doctor's cheek moving backwards towards the door.

He felt the tingle where she had kissed him placing his fingers over the exact spot and something inside him told him he had to say what he did

''River…I forgive you ''

''I know..but sweetie you never needed to give me your forgiveness….just…don't let this be the last time I see you…you have to make it out …for Clara if not for me..Goodbye…my love '' And with that she went to close the door behind her eyes pooling with tears.

Just before she finally clicked the door the Doctor said something, the first thing that came to his mind like it wanted him to say it

''See you around Professor River Song''

The door paused for a mini second before finally shutting, but if the Doctor had been on the other side of the door he would have seen River smiling a hand moving to her eyes where she wiped a tear, before she was gone like she hadn't even existed.

The Doctor lay stressed on the sofa hand held over his chin as he thought about what his ….what River had told him….she had acted weird but than she'd always been that way…hadn't she…When he tried to think of River and all their old memories back at school they were getting blurrier and blurrier, like….he couldn't quite remember what happened, he couldn't even recall what he had been like at school and it started to freak him out….

He'd always been a little outgoing …fun ….wanted an easy life…but…no something wasn't right about that at all, it was like ever since meeting Clara a tiny bit of him had changed and he hadn't realised, oh for the better, he was quite clearly a darker troubled man after the Ponds deaths but….something else…and he couldn't quite place his finger on it.

And what she'd said about waking up….he felt was more than a saying it had to mean something else but….what.. He was human ….he had a normal job…nearly a normal family or the beginnings of one, he had friends he ….well….that was it…but …was it the point….

He cleared his thoughts when he heard footsteps coming up the stairs, smiling as he knew it would be Clara and Kate, and all he wanted right now was to know his Clara was safe and sound, he sat upright before standing ready to open the door, but the door opened before he got around to it.

Clara came through the door, and immediately the Doctor saw something was terribly wrong, her eyeliner was running down her cheeks and her lip trembled, whilst her eyes just looked to the Doctor with so much fear and…..

''Clara….?! …Kate what happen…' The Doctor looked up as Clara buried herself in the Doctor's chest hugging him tightly for support and reassurance, he expected to find himself looking into the eyes of Kate Stewart as he did so, instead he was met with the cold black stare of the Master….and that of the barrel of a gun.

Author's note:SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO UPLOAD…I know its nearly been 6 months I had work and bleurgh…..but to my story ….So the Master is finally in the story…wahooooo and ok he doesn't actually get a speaking part till the next chapter and this is all about River…though she only gets a short part…because this chapter is meant to air all that mystery of whats going on …and River is probably the only one that knows what's happened but Spoilers….I'm writing the next chapter..probably called The Master Tape or something after one of the songs…but chapter 13...the PENULTIMATE CHAPTER…Hopefully…is a tear jerker..no reveals on the name but you will cry…I bet you will….and well I'm sorry…it's going to hurt