Chapter 15.
River lent against the wall of the TARDIS corridor waiting for the Doctor to need my help. She felt a twinge in her lower abdomen but she dismissed it.
"Who the hell are you," she heard the Doctor shout.
"That's my cue," she whispered to myself.
River set off around the corner of the TARDIS and entered the console room. She saw the Doctor a few feet in front of her, and stood next to the console was a woman who she had never seen before in her life, smiling like she belonged here.
"Who the hell is..." River began to say to the Doctor. Before she could finish her sentence, there was a splash and the inside of Rivers leg was now wet.
"River..." the Doctor said, starting to panic. "What was that?"
River looked down at the floor and she saw a puddle, "I... I think my waters just broke," she said shakily.
River looked up at the Doctor and then at the woman still stood next to the console. She had stopped smiling and now she looked concerned.
"River, what do I do?" the Doctor asked,
Before River could answer, a wave of pain bought her to her knees, she moaned in pain. "Get me to the damn hospital," she managed to say in between deep breaths.
She heard feet running around the glass floor of the console room, but the Doctor was still by her side. Also, she could feel, and hear, the TARDIS flying, again, the Doctor was still by her side.
"Deep breaths River," he said, helping River to lean against the wall. "I'll get us there, just... Cross your legs," he said, flustered.
Another wave of pain hit River like a tonne of bricks, "I'm about to have a baby," she said, nearly shouting, "And you want me to bleeding cross my legs!"
The Doctor waved his arms around like he always did when he was nervous. He turned round to walk to the console, but he saw what River couldn't. "She's... She's flying the TARDIS! My TARDIS" he said, confused.
"Be with Mum, I know what I am doing Dad!" the woman shouted. Doctor or River still didn't know her name and she called River 'Mum'. River didn't know why, and at this precise point, she really didn't care.
"Take us to the Sisters of the Infinite Schism," he shouted at her. He knelt down next to me and River grabbed his hand as another wave of pain hit her.
"I said I know what I am doing, trust me for once," the woman shouted back.
"Who the hell is she?" River asked, panting.
"River, I don't care right now, all I care about is you and Dayton being safe. Okay. I'll deal with her later," he said, trying to reassure me.
"We're here," the woman shouted. She ran up the steps to where River was sat on the floor. "Need any help?" she asked holding out her arm.
"I'm fine, thank you," River said as she stood up. Another contraction came and nearly knocked her off of her feet.
The woman grabbed Rivers arm before she had the chance to fall, "I'm helping you," she said sternly.
"Come on River," the Doctor said in a small voice, "Small steps beautiful."
"What's your name?" River asked the woman as they exited the TARDIS.
"You really don't know me do you?" the woman replied.
"Do I look li..." River started, another contraction hit her and she moaned in pain once again. "Do I look like I know?"
The Doctor looked eagerly at River and the woman who was helping her.
"Ava," she said, "Ava-Leigh."
The Doctor, River and Ava entered the left wing of the hospital, passing two sets of sliding glass doors on their way. The Doctor could feel Rivers heart pounding through her jumper. Ava and the Doctor helped River to sit in a wheelchair that they found near the entrance of the hospital.
The Doctor takes charge and shuffles over to the reception desk. "Where do we go?" he asked, gesturing over towards Ava and River.
River sat in the wheelchair clutching her stomach and Ava stood next to her helping her through her contractions.
"Her waters have already broke. Please help," the Doctor said panicking once again.
"I'll ring for someone to come and get her. Everything will be fine sir," the ginger lady at the reception desk said. As the Doctor looked at her, he saw the ginger hair and it reminded him of Amy and Rory, back home on Earth with Brooklyn and Harry. "What's her name?" the receptionist asked
"Song. River Song," the Doctor replied.
"Okay, someone is on their way," the receptionist said.
"Thank you," the Doctor said before walking back over to River.
River looked up at the Doctor, "What's happening?" she asked, tears welling in her eyes. She scrunched her eyes closed as another contraction hit her.
The Doctor rushed to Rivers aid, "Riv, someones coming. It'll all be over soon," he said. He placed his hands on either side of Rivers face and kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
On the maternity ward, River lay on the hospital bed, breathing through her contractions. The Doctor sat next to her, holding her hand, wincing every time she squeezed it hard. The sister in the room checked River vitals, blood pressure and also her temperature. She also placed a monitor around Rivers large stomach to monitor the baby's heartbeat.
River moaned as yet another contraction came over her. "This baby better be damn worth the pain," she growled to the Doctor.
"How long till the baby is born?" the Doctor asked the sister before she left the room.
"Shouldn't be long. Someone is coming to check her over once more and then I think we will be ready to go," she replied with a smile before exiting the room.
The Doctor changed positions and sat in front of River on the hospital bed. "Still crossing your legs?" he joked.
River scowled at the Doctor, "I'm in pain, and you make jokes," she said angrily.
"Sorry Riv," the Doctor apologized. He let go of River hands and he pulled a pen and piece of paper out of his jacket. He wrote something on the piece of paper. "Two seconds River," he said as he got up of the bed. He headed for the door of Rivers room. "Ava," the Doctor said as he walked out the room.
"Yeah," Ava said. She was sat on a chair opposite Rivers delivery room.
"Good, you're still here," he said as he spotted her, "I need you to do me a favour."
"Whatever you need," Ava replied.
"Go to this address in the TARDIS, at this exact time and date, tell them that River needs them as soon as possible," he said handing a piece of paper to Ava, "And take this," he said handing his sonic screwdriver to her, "If they don't believe you, show them this. You know what you've gotta do?" he asked.
Ava nodded and rushed of down the hospital corridors, within seconds she was out of sight and the Doctor headed back into Rivers delivery room.
"Where did you go?" River asked.
"I just needed something from the TARDIS and I sent Ava to get it. I couldn't leave you," he replied walking back over to River. He sat back on the bed where he was minutes ago.
"I've come to check you over once more before you deliver," another sister said as she entered the room. "Can you get off the bed please Mr. Song."
The Doctor obliged and he sat back on the chair, still holding Rivers hand.
"I want Mum," River said looking at the Doctor, "Can you get her for me?" she asked.
"She'll be here soon," Doctor assured River.
Authors note: I have split this into two chapters because it got really long. The second part should be up soon. Thank you everyone who has kept up with the story. Could you comment below if you would like the Doctor and Rivers adventure to carry on i.e. Another story about life with a child. Once again, thank you to everyone.
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