"EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!" The Dalek screeched as soon as the shot hit home on the Doctor's arm. He fell to the floor, shaking as he felt the claw of death working through from the shot wound to his whole body. It hurt like agony, and he knew he wasn't the only one feeling it.

"Get back!" Rory ordered. "River, get back now!" He pushed the doubled over Amy behind the wall and opened his hand, instantly firing two shots at the Dalek that was still moving towards them. For a few endless seconds the creature kept moving towards them, menace still gleaming in its one eye, its stone arms still extended, but eventually it slowed, slightly rotated, and stopped.

"Doctor, it's me, River," River said, holding the Time Lord's head as he shook, his eyes searching, looking for Amy. "Doctor, can you hear me?" He stretched his arm to his right, where he knew Amy would be. "What is it, what do you need?" River asked.

"Amy." He whispered, trying not to cry out. He watched as Rory turned round, unobscuring the Doctor's view of her. She was doubled over in pain, a faint sheen of sweat across her brow and her jaw clenched as she tried hard not to cry out. She stumbled forward towards the Doctor and landed with a thump on the floor beside him. Their hands touched, and they clung to each other for support. The pain eased slightly, but only just.

"I'm here, Doctor." Amy whispered, moving one hand to take River's place, caressing his face as he shook beneath her.

"Amy..." He whispered with a soft smile. He knew what was coming next, he knew what had to be done, he'd seen it not so long ago. But right now, just for a few seconds, he let himself lie there and enjoy it, enjoy everything he was feeling, because right now, this was the best he would ever feel. Nothing would ever feel as good as the blistering pain coursing through his veins, because that pain meant that he had Amy. For a few more seconds he had Amy, and he would happily take this pain forever rather than be separated from her.

If only it were that simple.

He took her hand and pressed it to his lips, feebly kissing her one last time. He looked up to her as he felt her panic, her realisation of what was about to happen.

"No." She said, holding tightly to his hand, clutching to him. "We'll stop this, this isn't happening."

"I'm sorry." He told her, and she shook her head, a few tears dropping from her face and onto his.

"Don't go." She whimpered, determined, but understanding that she was defeated. The Doctor had his reasons, he always did, everything he did was for a reason, even if she couldn't understand. She shook her head again, squeezing her eyes shut, before hastily leaning down and pressing her lips to his. One last kiss.

They parted, and she reluctantly let go of his hand. He didn't wait. He hurriedly pressed buttons on the Vortex manipulator, and with seemingly no hesitation he vanished from sight, the roar of white static rushing through the room, blinding them for a second before leaving them with nothing.

Amy gasped, pressing a hand to her chest, and Rory looked down at her in worry.

"I can't," She begun. "I can't."

"Can't what?" He asked.

"He's gone!" She told him, the shock of the loss evident on her face. Rory reached down to place a hand on her shoulder, comforting her, but she didn't feel it. All she could feel was the sudden absence in her, the Doctor's presence, their comforting bond that had been residing in her now vanished, leaving her on her own.

"Where'd he go?" River demanded, standing up and looking at the empty spot where he had been. "Damn it, he could be anywhere."

"He went downstairs, twelve minutes ago." Amy told her quietly.

"SHOW ME!" The woman yelled, and Amy looked up at the woman, not wanting to explain.

"River, he died." She told her simply. River looked at her, unable to take in the information, and opened her mouth to speak.

"SYSTEMS RESTORING, YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!" She heard behind her, and they all jerked out of their stupor. Rory pointed his hand back at the creature.

"You've got to move, that things coming back to life." He instructed them.

"You go to the Doctor; I'll be right with you." River told them, stone faced, determination so fierce that both Amy and Rory found themselves moving and leaving her behind. They trusted River to be able to deal with the Dalek.

"YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!" The creature yelled at River, but she held her ground.

"Not yet." She told it. "Your systems are still restoring which means your shield density is compromised." Her voice shook, but no other sign of weakness showed as she took her gun from its holster. "One Alpha Meason burst through your eye stalk would kill you stone dead."

"REPORTS INDICATE YOU WILL SHOW MERCY!" The Dalek replied, halting its movement towards her. "YOU ARE AN ASSOCIATE OF THE DOCTOR'S!"

"I'm River Song." She replied smugly as she pointed the gun to her opponent. "Check your records again."

She saw it think.

"MERCY." It said.

"Say it again?"

"MERCY?" It repeated, this time questioning.

"One more time." She returned.

"MERCY!" It screamed.