Author's Note: Another completely random plot bunny-continuing in the vein of the last chapter, this one has Ten running into River Song-much earlier than he met her in "Silence in the Library." Whyyyyy? I don't know.

Also, River Song is an intriguing character-but I feel like her backstory could be handled just a little bit better, maybe? Um. This is super confusing, sorry. I'm never very coherent after 9 p.m. but that's also when I get my best ideas.

You can't trust her, though-well, you can trust her to be with you through thick and thin, but not necessarily to do as you ask her. ;-P


Mess

"What happened to you?" Rose asked as the Doctor re-entered the TARDIS, looking even more disheveled than usual and with streaks of dirt across his face.

"Let me go clean up. Back in a tick!" the Doctor promised as he made for the bathroom. Rose waited, practically vibrating with curiosity. The Doctor reappeared shortly afterward, toweling his hair. Rose raised her eyebrows.

"So?"

"River Song kneed me in the back and scrubbed my face in the mud," the Doctor explained. "She's out of control."

"Okay," Rose said at last. "I suppose that makes sense. Sort of."

"Yup," the Doctor said, popping the "p."