Ch 110
River felt a sudden rush of wind, opening her eyes to find herself no longer standing in the mining corridor. The space around her was dark, her eyes needing time to adjust to the lack of light.
Something brushed against her arm for a brief moment before moving on and shuffling around the room. River jumped, going into a defensive stance, waiting for her eyes to adjust.
The person next to her fumbled and patted around. A moment later, a light from a humming device in their hand provided enough light to see that the person was a young blonde woman in a long coat.
River looked the woman up and down, not recognizing her. With the light, she could see that no one else had landed with her. "Who are you?" She didn't move from her defensive position.
"Who am I?" The woman echoed, in disbelief. "You're joking, right?"
River scowled, crossing her arms, "I most certainly am not! Who are you?"
"I'm your—" the woman paused. "Oh you really don't know me yet, do you! Are you still with the eyebrows? I'm not asking because I missing having the eyebrows—well, okay. I do a bit. Don't tell him though. It'll go right to my head."
"What? What are you— ...oh!" River's expression changed to mild shock as she processed the information.
"Hello sweetie," the woman beamed, then couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, I've always wanted to be the one to say that! What are you doing here?"
River slowly walked around the Doctor, looking her up and down with a new found interest, "Just...making a quick pit stop. A woman?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I was aiming for ginger. Again." The Doctor stopped for a second, something catching her eye. "River, your neck..."
She quickly tried to cover up the wound, her hands met with a slick wet feeling, "I'm fine..."
"You're coming from the Z'knoa aren't you?" She put a gentle hand on River's shoulder.
"Yes...Why?"
"I recognize that scar." She gestured to River's neck. "This is right after we found the power source, yeah? Those glowy stone things?"
River nodded, "Yes, and I need to find you. The...past version of you. Can you help me?"
The Doctor nodded. "I'm—he's here. Those time stones transported everyone to the same time, just not the same place, exactly. I guess you knew that because I told you... and I'm telling you because you told me. Oh, never mind a bootstrap paradox. We have those every other day. First thing first is your neck." She held up the sonic. "This won't heal it but it'll stop the bleeding for the time being."
River lifted her hand off the wound, "Thank you… He's alright, yeah? He isn't injured or anything?"
"This isn't where I die if that's what you're wondering." The Doctor soniced River's wound as she spoke. "I think there were a few bruises from traveling in the untempered schism, but nothing serious. There, how does that feel?"
"It feels manageable." She murmured, "Thank you."
"Least I can do for now," the Doctor offered a smile. "The other me will be getting you some proper stitches and a cast for that arm. Oh blimey, two of you and two of me all at once. That's one for the storybooks."
"Well, certainly not children's storybooks." River grinned slyly, "Any more helpful hints?"
"You're not asking for spoilers, are you dear?" The Doctor grinned and taped River's nose.
"Me? Never." She purred.
"Well, let's work on getting out of here, first." They seemed to be is some sort of basement. "You teleported in here before I got the chance to undo the lock."
"Ah, well have you tried the sonic?"
"I got a bit distracted," she hummed, "not every day that your wife suddenly appears from the past. It's every other day, really. Never mind that." The Doctor took her sonic and pointed it at the door.
"I've always been a distraction for you, haven't I?" River teased as the lock clicked open.
"You already know the answer to that, darling." She crept towards the door.
"I certainly do." She purred, looking at her wife up and down again.
"Now don't you go getting distracted, too," the Doctor teased, easing the door open a crack and peering out. "Or you won't get back in time to hear Felix's first word."
"What?" Her expression immediately changed, "First word? But he's still so young!"
"Well, first signed word," she clarified. "But it's a good one, trust me."
The hall was quiet and unremarkable. The house they'd ended up with was dull and quite old. "Don't ask me how I ended up here," the Doctor whispered. "It's a long story."
"Well, I'll be expecting to hear it in the future," River murmured, creeping through the hall.
They passed a few closed doors, through what seems to be a living room and a kitchen, until they got close to the front door. The Doctor motioned to stay quiet, hearing shuffling in the next room.
"Where are we?" River mouthed.
"Er, complicated," the Doctor answered. "I blame Ryan entirely. Told him not to touch the buttons."
"Ryan?" River raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, he's new. Good with the kids, though. I'm saying too much, aren't I?" She paused, as she said this, then shook her head. "I remember this part a little... I think. It's either Ramone trying to open the front door or the owner of this house...?"
River frowned, remembering that she needed to find the others. She rushed towards the door, listening closely to see if she could hear who it was. Grumbling from the other side of the door revealed that it was Ramone who was trying to open the front door, though it was locked.
River quickly unlocked the door, "Ramone!"
"River!" He jumped and looked between her and the blonde woman behind her. "Who's that?"
She glanced back at the Doctor, "Uh...long story. Have you seen the Doctor? Or, sorry Doctor Moon?"
"No. I just woke up here and tried to get out. How did we get here?"
"Again, long story. But we need to find Doctor Moon." River pressed, looking back the way Ramone had come, then back at her wife, "Any hints?'
"He's not in here," the blonde said. "He landed somewhere a bit... ungraceful."
"I have to go find him." River murmured, heading towards the door.
The Doctor grabbed Ramone's arm before he could follow. "Best she does this bit alone."
"Doctor?" River called as she ran from the house, trying to spot any signs of her husband. They seemed to be somewhere suburban. Lots of trees surrounded the house and from one direction came a rustling noise and a few grunts.
She stopped, turning towards the source of the noise. "Doctor?" She walked over slowly.
"Riv?" He sounded strained.
"I'm here!" She ran towards his voice, eyes widening in shock.
"Don't laugh." The Doctor was hanging by one leg from one of the trees.
She put a hand to her mouth, trying to hide her smile, "I'm not laughing."
"WIll you help me down please?"
She nodded, smirking a bit. "Do you want me to climb up there or shall I just pull you down?"
"Might as well pull," he sighed, knowing it wouldn't be graceful.
She held onto his upper body with her good arm, "Ready? On three. One, two, three!"
"Woah!" He came tumbling out of the tree, landing in a heap on the ground.
River landed beneath him, having essentially pulled him on top of her, "Oof!"
They sat up, brushing dirt and twigs off themselves. "You alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Are you? You're the one that landed in a tree." She murmured, taking a twig out of his hair.
"Bit bruised." he rubbed his shoulder. "Nothing bad."
"Are you sure?" Her hand lingered on his cheek.
"I've had worse," he promised, putting his hand over hers. "Did you find Ramone?"
"Yes, I did." She breathed, helping him up.
"Right. And the other you?"
"I haven't found her yet." She shook her head.
"Alright." He moved to hug her, taking a moment to breathe. "We'll keep looking."
She nodded, holding onto him tightly. "I love you."
"Love you, too." He kissed her cheek. "Any idea what timezone we're in?"
"Not sure, but I do know that we need to be a bit careful of crossing timelines." She murmured, squeezing his hand.
"Timelines?" he echoed but didn't question further.
She nodded, "Yes, and we need to get home quickly...I've been told that Felix...needs us."
He opened his mouth in question but closed it again quickly. "Let's start with grouping up and finding the other you."
"Right, let's go." She led him back to the house that she had left Ramone in.
Ramone stood alone looking quite confused. He held something in his hand, looking at the other two as they approached.
"What is that?" River frowned, going to take the object from him.
"That woman gave it to me." The object unfolded leather sides, revealing a vortex manipulator. "She said, 'I'm so sorry but when you find her it won't be good.'"
River glanced at her husband, "Oh, no..."
"Woman?" The Doctor frowned, thinking it was the other River.
"Spoilers." River murmured, "We need to find River."
"She said she's in the back," Ramon added.
River lead them out of the house, running to the back of it. The other River lay in the grass in the backyard not moving.
"River!" River rushed over, going to check for a pulse. Her pulse was weak and thready. She stirred ever so slightly managing to open her eyes a crack.
"Doctor!" River called for her husband, "It's okay, we're here now." She murmured.
The Doctor rushed over, kneeling beside them. "Is she injured? I don't see any blood..."
"I don't know, but her pulse is weak. Talk to her." She knew that's what she would want.
The Doctor swallowed and leaned towards the clone. He brushed a stray curl from her face. "Riv?" The other River looked up at him, leaning slightly into his touch. She didn't respond, not having the strength. "It must be the timestones," he murmured. "They weren't just a power source for the Z'knoaa. They were a life force for the clones as well."
The real River nodded, "I know. That's what I was thinking." She hesitated, knowing there was nothing they could do to help her. She was never supposed to exist in the first place, "Shall I give you a moment alone?"
The Doctor nodded slowly. River got up, giving them a chance to be alone.
The Doctor gently pulled the dying River into his arms so she was resting against his legs. "Can you hear me, my love?"
She nodded, reaching for his hand.
He wasn't sure exactly what to say to her, but he could feel his hearts clenching. "You're wonderful, River." She squeezed his hand, smiling weakly. "Really. You fought tooth and claw for me, for the kids... then and always."
"I love you." She breathed, trying to hold on to consciousness.
"I know," he whispered. It was a familiar and painful feeling to watch her die, knowing that it wasn't the end for him. She may have been a clone but this was by all means his River, give or take a few days of differed experience. Only this one would never make it back home to the children in her memory. "I-I love you, too, River. Always."
"Take care of the kids." She breathed, her grip on his hand slacking.
"River?" He squeezed her hand. She didn't respond, her hand limp in his. "River?" He said a little louder, hand moving to her cheek. "Riv, wake up my love."
There was still no response from her, her chest no longer moving. He felt his throat tighten and resisted the urge to try to resuscitate her knowing it wouldn't have any effect. He moved a shaking hand to check her pulse. He found nothing.
The other River came up beside him, putting a hand on his arm. He looked up at her, eyes wet. "Sh-she's..."
"I know, my love." She murmured, kissing his cheek, "I know."
He gently lowered the dead River back to the ground and sniffed.
River took his hand, pulling him into an embrace, "I can take care of...the ceremony."
He nodded slowly and held onto her.
"It's okay." She breathed, trying to comfort him, "I'm here."
"Just.." He took a shaking breath trying to remind himself that his time with his wife was far from over. "Just don't ever die on me, alright?"
She smiled weakly, "I'll try my hardest." They both knew that was something that couldn't be promised.
He finally got to his feet, unable to look at the body. She cleared her throat, "You go take care of Ramone. I'll handle this and I'll meet you back in the house in half an hour." He nodded slowly and went o find Ramone.
It was about 45 minutes later that a bonfire was burning behind the house. River came back inside. It was emotionally draining to complete the task, but she had been able to distance her mind enough from it to do what needed to be done, something she wasn't sure her husband would have been able to handle.
Ramone lay asleep on the couch, the Doctor on a nearby chair. The later was bouncing his knee and looked up when River came in.
She had a bit of ash and dirt on her, looking tired. "Are you ready to go?"
He nodded and gestured to Ramone. "Wiped his memory."
"I was going to ask if you had knocked him out." She teased lightly.
"It was tempting..." he answered, though his mind was on the body in the backyard.
"Come here." She murmured, holding her arms out for him. She knew what he was thinking since she was thinking the same thing.
He rose from the chair and slipped into her embrace. She pressed her forehead to his, the two just standing in the silence of the house, silent comfort.
Ramone made a grunt in his sleep. "We should go."
They lifted up Ramone together and left with the vortex manipulator.