River had regained consciousness in stops and starts.
She had been vaguely aware of being carried through the tunnel, the sickly amber light familiar to her even in such a state.
Her eyelids had flickered all the way open at one point and she'd looked up into the Doctor's troubled blue eyes. His strong arms cradled her, his forehead creased with concern. "You're going to be just fine." he'd whispered.
After another chunk of lost time, River's eyes opened to a different kind of familiar yellow light. This light was more golden and it seemed to radiate all around her. And she could feel the light somehow. Feel it as if it was energy flowing through her.
She realized she was laying on her back in the TARDIS sick bay and that the Doctor was leaning over her, very close. Much closer than he typically felt comfortable with.
And his lips were pressed against her brow.
And the golden light surrounded both of them, swirling like smoke or mist. The golden light was coming from the Doctor. Coursing from him into her.
By the time she realized what he was doing, it was too late to stop him.
He was healing her injuries with regeneration energy. She'd opened her mouth to protest and lost consciousness one final time.
She was sitting up in her bed now, drinking tea that he'd brought for her. Quite frankly, it tasted awful but she didn't have the hearts to criticize his effort. He sat in a chair pulled up close to the bed, telling her all that had transpired.
How he'd tracked her down and been held at knifepoint. How he'd tried reasoning with Anaïs Mercer before realizing how bonkers she really was.
As he talked, River studied the shallow cut on the left side of his neck where Mercer had nicked him as a warning and felt anger rise within her. That woman had hurt the Doctor, more than just physically. The vengeful side of River wanted to hurt Mercer back. But there was apparently no need for that. Not ever.
Because Haven had killed her.
River was horrified to hear the news, only worried for Haven's well-being, not Mercer's. She was assured that Haven was significantly calmer than she'd been in the immediate aftermath of the unfortunate incident.
Turlough had taken her to get cleaned up and according to the Doctor, they were now relaxing in the library having a drink.
"He really watches out for her." the Doctor commented, almost like a proud father would.
River smiled in response. "Thankfully, it seems she was watching out for you today." she murmured.
The Doctor's smile disappeared and he looked down at his hands. "It wasn't wrong what she did." he said softly. "But I do wish she hadn't needed to."
River could only nod in agreement. Anaïs Mercer had deserved what she'd gotten. But Haven would live with what she'd done the rest of her life.
There was a tap at the door and Turlough poked his head in. He grinned when he saw River was sitting up.
"Look who's awake." he greeted.
River sighed, setting her tea aside. "Yes. Let's just hope this idiot hasn't zapped too much of his regeneration energy." She gave the Doctor some serious disapproving side-eye.
The Doctor cleared his throat. "You needed it." he explained simply.
Turlough smirked, glancing side long at the Doctor. "Oh I have a feeling he would have gladly used every bit of his regeneration energy to make sure you were alright."
River raised an eyebrow as the Doctor fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable.
Turlough crossed his arms and winked at her. "Don't let him downplay it. He was mad with worry. All he seemed to care about was you being okay."
River felt herself blush like a school girl, thoroughly annoyed to feel so pleased at his words.
Fortunately Turlough changed the subject. "Doctor... is it ready yet?"
The Doctor stood, suddenly energized and clapped his hands together. "It is." he answered, smiling widely. Turlough gave a whoop of excitement and without another word, ran out of the room.
"What's going on?" River wanted to know.
The Doctor turned toward her, a sly grin in place. "Turlough wanted to do something special for Haven. To take her mind off of... things. So I convinced the TARDIS to create a special place, just for her."
"I think that's very nice." River said, truly meaning it. "What sort of place?"
There was mischief in his eyes. "Would you like to go see?"
River smiled and held out a hand to be helped up. She was only slightly unsteady on her feet now but the Doctor supported her as they made their way down the corridor. For once, she let him.
She had no pain, no remaining injury at all. She mostly just felt sluggish. A small price to pay after nearly being murdered.
When they came to a door, the Doctor paused with one hand on the knob. "Cadence always called Haven Hotaru." he explained. "It's Japanese for firefly. Haven told Turlough she'd always been fascinated by them, but had never seen one outside of a book." He raised his eyebrows and nodded toward the door.
They stepped from the sterile and stark whiteness of the corridor out onto a homey back porch overlooking a stunning country garden. It was night time and out in the yard, and as far as the eye could see, fireflies flitted around, blinking on and blinking off. Turlough and Haven were already out there in the garden observing them with wonder.
River gasped at the spectacle. It was like they were in the back of an old country manor. There were trees and flowers and even stars in the night sky.
The Doctor helped River to sit on the step beside him.
"Doctor this is beautiful." she told him, shaking her head.
She realized he was watching her, his brow furrowed, as if he was trying to decide something.
After a moment, he seemed to make up his mind. "Turlough's right." he admitted. "I was terribly worried about you."
She looked down at her hands, strangely shy under his scrutiny. "It's good to be worried about." she murmured.
"I-I thought I would never see you again." he continued in a low, nervous voice.
"Even if I'd died in that closet, you'd still be seeing me again... some day." she pointed out flippantly.
The Doctor scoffed and shook his head. "You really are terribly exasperating, you know that?" He sighed and reached over to take hold of her hand.
She grinned and leaned against him. "It's what you admire about me." she teased.
The Doctor had her hand in his and was gently tracing her knuckles with the thumb of his other hand. "That's what you'd like to believe, isn't it?" He sounded amused.
River chuckled. "No wait... don't tell me. It's my sparkling personality?"
The Doctor seemed to study her for a moment before replying. "Actually, Professor Song, what I admire most about you are the aspects of your character you seem so eager to hide from the rest of the universe." And then he gently kissed her hand.
River's hearts stuttered and she finally looked up at him, blinking in surprise. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.
He smiled his charming smile. "It means that for all your bravado and phony nonchalance, there's a woman in there who cares very deeply for others. Who stands up for the underdog. And has a good heart."
River felt exposed at his words. And very vulnerable. And it pissed her off.
"Hearts." she grumbled in response, pulling her hand away and clasping both together in her lap.
The Doctor laughed easily. "See what I mean? Such a phony."
Before she could formulate a witty comeback, music began to play. Out of nowhere it seemed.
A cover of Can't Help Falling in Love, sung by a female artist and a bit jazzier than Elvis's classic version.
Turlough and Haven, who appeared to be chasing each other all around the garden came together suddenly under a weeping willow tree and embraced.
River raised an eyebrow and gave the Doctor an accusing look. "A bit heavy-handed." she remarked.
The Doctor gestured innocently. "This certainly isn't me." he insisted. He squinted up into the trees, from which the music seemed to be emanating. "It would appear the TARDIS is something of a romantic." He bumped his shoulder into hers and she couldn't help but laugh, still not sure she believed him.
Turlough was now twirling a giggling Haven around out in the grass, as if on an imaginary dance floor. They looked so happy, so young and very much in love.
River watched them, feeling a bittersweet melancholy wash over her as she listened to the song.
Like a river flows, surely to the sea. Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be.
River sighed. Love was such a pain in the ass.
So unpredictable. So inconvenient. So paralyzing.
She gave her hand back to the Doctor who grabbed it possessively, just as Turlough kissed Haven on the forehead beneath the weeping willow.
So beautiful.
The Doctor cleared his throat, gazing down at the stranger beside him. This stranger who knew him better than anyone. Who he now felt he'd known all his lives. Yet somehow not at all.
He turned toward her and tucked a strand of curly hair, still damp from the shower behind one ear. "Earlier." he began in a low voice. "When I didn't know what had happened to you. When that woman was threatening me."
She looked back at him, brow furrowed and nodded for him to go on.
He chuckled, nervous for what he was about to reveal. "I had one silly thought that just kept popping into my mind." He gently stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes at the contact. "I thought, I'd blown my last chance at kissing you properly."
River's eyes popped open in surprise and an appealing grin spread slowly over her face. "Properly?" she chuckled. She leaned in and brushed the front of his hair away from his forehead affectionately, her eyes locked on his. "And what exactly would that be like?"
When their lips met this time, it was very softly. There were no ulterior motives, no fury or pent up sexual frustration behind it. This was the sort of romantic kiss that happened in old black and white movies. Heartfelt but pure. And the Doctor felt her melt against him.
The kiss lasted for a bit and when it ended, the Doctor was pleased to see that River was actually blushing.
"A bit like that, I should think." he laughed softly, responding to her earlier question.
The song had ended and a new one began now. A man's voice singing this time.
River's eyes narrowed and then she groaned. "Oh now Doctor."
He blinked. "What is it?"
She fixed him with a look. "Seriously. You're going to tell me you're not doing this." She pointed upwards dramatically. "It's your favorite song." She raised her eyebrows and adjusted her skirt. "A bit hokey if you ask me."
The Doctor was puzzled. "I don't believe I've heard this song before now." He told her honestly.
Her face remained skeptical. "Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins?" she prompted.
He just shrugged. It didn't ring a bell.
Out in the garden, Haven was leaning back against the trunk of the willow tree now. It appeared Turlough was snogging her but it was difficult to be sure as they were half hidden from view by the tree's canopy.
"They seem to like it." the Doctor pointed out.
River hooked her arms around his neck then, forcing him to pay attention to only her. "That's because they clearly have terrible taste too." And then she pulled him in for another kiss.
A soft breeze blew through the trees and crickets chirped in the bushes. He found he was enjoying the hokey song quite a bit. Terrible taste be damned.
River pulled away and leaned her forehead against his. Her voice broke when she said, "You do realize that you won't remember any of this, don't you?"
He slowly sat back a bit to study her face. "Care to elaborate?"
She wouldn't meet his gaze. "This wasn't meant to happen." She replied staring down at her hands in her lap. "I was never meant to meet you at this point in your lives." She finally met his eyes. "The future you was always adamant that our first meeting came much later for you."
The certainty in her words were sobering and they brought him back to himself. He pulled away from her completely and sat up straighter, once more looking out over the simulated garden. "Right," he said at length.
She sighed, as if she were disappointed that a spell had been broken. That reality had returned to reclaim them. She returned her attention to the view before them. "It really is beautiful though." Her voice sounded sad now. "I for one will never forget any of it."
"Come on." The Doctor stood and reached a hand down to help her up. "I think it's time we found out where exactly the androids have brought us." He kept his voice light and ignored the rush he felt when she placed his hand in hers and hauled her to her feet just as the song ended. "We still have a job to do here. And we still have to find Cadence."
River's face was a war of emotions but her steely determination won out in the end. She nodded her agreement, all traces of sadness having vanished.
As they walked toward the exit that would return them to the corridor, he leaned in conspiratorially. "And don't believe for a moment that I could completely forget any of this."
She stopped walking and gave him a skeptical look.
He raised an eyebrow. "For instance, I believe I've worked out why that will be my favorite song."
River looked like she wanted to argue, but instead started to laugh. She laughed quite hard and when she'd calmed down some, she commented, "I for one can't think of any other reason."
Everything had been hazy and surreal when Haven had jumped down through the hatch. Her senses seemed to be both dulled and finely honed all at the same time. It all happened so fast, but for her, the events seemed to play out in slow motion. Later, she would mostly remember the sounds.
The oof sound Mercer made when Haven landed on top of her. The sound of Mercer's knife clattering to the cement floor. The Doctor and Turlough's panicked voices telling them to stop, telling Mercer to get off of Haven. The snarling, almost inhuman sounds the evil woman made as they struggled.
The gasp of surprise when the blade had entered her chest…
Stabbing Anaïs Mercer hadn't been a calculated, conscious decision. Haven had been operating in survival mode and had acted on her instincts once it became clear she would be overpowered if she didn't.
When the threat had passed with Mercer's dying breath, when Haven realized what she'd done, she'd dropped the knife and scrambled backwards into the wall. Her shaking hands, now covered in blood went to her face in horror.
Turlough was crouched beside her immediately, looking alarmed at the sight of blood on her. "Are you wounded? Did she hurt you?" When she didn't respond, he began to look her over for injuries.
The Doctor made his way to them, looking disorientated, stunned at the turn of events. "Is she alright?"
Haven found her voice then. "It isn't me you should be worried about." she sounded almost normal. "Check on River. She lost a lot of blood." Then she'd turned her face away and threw up everywhere.
River had indeed lost a lot of blood. By the time they'd all got back to the TARDIS, it really didn't look like River was going to make it. The Doctor took her to the sick bay and checked for vital signs while Haven stood watch with Turlough, her teeth chattering from raw nerves. The Doctor's face was pale when he turned to face them and told them to leave the room.
Turlough had taken her to her bedroom and suggested she clean herself up. She felt numb as the water beat down over her. She supposed there was only so much a person's mind could take. He'd waited patiently while she showered and even helped her get dressed and comb through her wet hair. There wasn't anything intrusive or embarrassing about it. It felt perfectly natural having him be a part of such intimate activities.
Their spirits had been lifted at the news of River's complete recovery. Haven didn't entirely understand what 'regeneration energy' was but she had been so pleased to see River alive and resting comfortably in her own bed that she hadn't asked for the details.
Haven and Turlough ended up back in the drafty old library where he'd built them a fire in an ornately tiled fireplace. They cuddled up on an ancient looking rug, her seated between his legs and leaned back against his chest. She quickly drained the glass of wine he'd given her and then exhaled loudly.
After a moment of silently contemplating her empty glass, she murmured, "I killed someone today."
Turlough's voice was gentle. "You saved the Doctor's life today. And possibly River's." He rested his chin on her shoulder. "And you stopped a terrible person who was responsible for the death of your parents and many others."
She cleared her throat and set her glass down, considering his words. "I suppose River would say I saved her the trouble."
Turlough chuckled. "You're not wrong."
He'd excused himself shortly thereafter for a few moments and returned looking somewhat mischievous.
"What's going on?" she asked suspiciously as he helped her to her feet.
"I wanted to show you something and the Doctor just informed me that the TARDIS is ready for you to see it." He sounded extremely pleased with himself and she couldn't help but smile.
"Okay then. Lead the way." she declared, following him out to the corridor.
Haven hadn't been in any way prepared for what was behind the door he opened for her.
It was like stepping outside onto someone's back porch at night. There was a beautiful garden filled with all manner of flowers, a manicured lawn and a variety of trees. The temperature was perfect despite it being night time. She stared up in awe at the starry sky, speechless.
"You're looking in the wrong place." he complained. "Out there." he instructed, pointing out into the garden.
And that was when she saw them.
Hotaru. Fireflies, blinking lazily in the dark. There must have been dozens of them, drifting over the garden. She gasped and ran from the porch with Turlough close on her heels.
Out in the yard, Haven stood in one place and turned in a circle. "Is this real?" she wondered, taking it all in.
Turlough laughed. "It is." Before she could ask, he interrupted, "And don't ask me how. I understand quite a lot about the dimensional characteristics of the TARDIS." He sighed and looked around, clearly incredulous himself. "But some mysteries do remain."
Haven reached out and managed to capture one of the insects between cupped hands. She opened her hands just enough to peek inside, delighted to see the creature's tiny light still flashing on and off.
"It's like magic." she breathed.
Turlough approached and forced her hands open, setting the insect free. "Bioluminescence." he corrected with a playful smirk.
She narrowed her eyes. "What'd you do that for?"
He tapped her on the shoulder and murmured, "Tag, you're it." before running off into the trees.
As she pursued him, she became aware that they were no longer alone. The Doctor and River sat beside each other on the steps. She payed them no mind as she chased Turlough all around, feeling like a hyperactive child but not particularly caring who saw.
Haven had just stopped to catch her breath when the music started. She looked all around her, brow furrowed. It was as if the song was emanating from the trees.
Wise men say only fools rush in…
Turlough stepped out from the cover of some low hanging branches just then and grinned at her.
...but I can't help fallin in love with you.
They both walked forward wordlessly, like the song was some supernatural force drawing them together. They met just under the tree's canopy and he wrapped his arms around her, smiling.
"Oh, are we through playing 'tag' now?" she murmured, hooking her arms around his neck and looking up into his eyes.
"Well you've definitely caught me." he assured her, his voice soft.
Haven gazed up at him for a moment before standing on her tiptoes and kissing him sweetly.
"And what did I do to deserve that?" he asked when the kiss ended, sounding pleased.
She smiled and pressed herself against him. "You remembered." she whispered. "About the fireflies."