Hey guys! Sorry, it's been a while since I last posted. School is crazy right now! (And I also got into Supernatural and have almost finished the seasons on Netflix now) So forgive me!

"My name is River Song. This is Clara. We need your help."

He sighed. "I can see that. What has he said about his illness?"

"He said that the time energy was killing him. Said that he always knew it would, after

1000 years." The Master knew, it just hadn't occurred to him that the Doctor really was that

old, and subject to those kind of things. The guy had broken the Laws of Time more often than

anyone could count, why couldn't he get himself out of this one?

"Hate to break it to you, but there's nothing I can do." He said nonchalantly. The way he

spoke was the way he wanted to feel, but it just didn't quite add up. Still, he leaned back in his

chair, and watched as the woman before him swelled up with anger. He could sense it coming

off of her in waves, and was actually afraid of what she might do. He'd been on the receiving

end of a woman's rage before, and it ended with his death.

River looked down at her husband, and didn't want to disturb him. So, she reached

down and grabbed the collar of the Master's shirt and began to pull him out into the hallway,

leaving Clara to look after the Doctor. He tried to struggle, but it was no use. "TARDIS.

Soundproof room. Now." Knowing better than to object, the Master let himself by tugged

sharply into a room on right. River latched the thick door behind them, and let her fury fly.

"I don't care if you need to go across the universe on your belly, you will find a way to

save him. He has done more than enough for you, so the least you could do is try! He has had

opportunity after opportunity to kill you, Master, and more than enough reason to. Now you

ungrateful…" She bit her lip, restraining herself. "You're going to help him." She

clasped her hand around his shoulder as tightly as she could. The Master tried to hide his smirk.

"Who are you? No companion would act like this. Now, that girl out there, Clara, I

believe her name was, she's obviously a companion. But you're closer than that. This is no

puppy crush… you've gone and fallen in love with him, haven't you? You do understand that

you'll never get anywhere with that? He's not the type. Sure, I mean, he might fall in love, but

he knows that it'll all end. And now, he's going to d-" River slammed him against the wall, her

voice in a tone so forceful but quiet that the Master was becoming genuinely nervous.

"You know nothing about me, and you obviously know nothing about him." The Master

raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so? Well, it's easy to tell that you are going through the five stages of

grief. I don't blame you, you're human." She pushed him harder against the wall.

"Don't be so sure of yourself."

"Bringing me here in the belief I could help him, that's showing denial." He pushed away

from the wall, grabbing River from the waist and holding her close. Their faces were so close

that if the Master were to purse his lips… River's face was bright red, and if you didn't know her

better you might mistake it as blushing. No, it was, in fact, her immense anger being pent up as

long as she could possibly stand it. The Master let her go, and began to walk casually towards

the center of the room. "Denial, denial, denial." He spun around to face her, chucking at her

attempts to stifle the rage inside her. "And now, Ms. Song, I think you will find that you are

being affected by the second stage of grief: anger." River muttered something that was nearly

inaudible, clenching her fists. "What was that?" He asked lightly.

"Mrs. Song." She said, loudly and clearly. "I'm Mrs. Song, you idiot. He's Mr. Song. He

doesn't have a last name, you know." The Master's eyes widened in realization.

"He… married?" River nodded. "Well, that explains the stages… I guess I owe you an

apology then." She looked at him expectantly. "Hey, I owe lots of people apologies. Doesn't

mean I'm actually going to give them." She rolled her eyes.

"Listen, Master, can you at least try to help him?" He sighed, looking into her deep blue

eyes, and it was easy to see how the Doctor fell in love with her.

"I'll do what I can."

This answer appeared to please River. She unlatched the door and walked out, the

Master following suit. They made their way back to the library and found Clara dabbing at his

forehead with a wet cloth. The Master came closer to the two, and squat so that he was eye

level with Clara. Her hands were trembling ever so slightly, and there were dark circles under

her eyes that were apparent even in the dimly lit room. Her eyes were red and watery, and the

Master suspected that it wasn't solely from crying.

"When was the last time you slept?" He asked her, trying not to sound the least bit

concerned. He knew that the Doctor would never forgive him if he let his companions make

themselves sick. Clara didn't answer him. "Hey, I asked you a question." He nudged her

shoulder, and she looked over at him, muttering before turning back to the Doctor. "What was

that?" He asked, leaning in closer to her.

"I don't remember, alright?! Just leave me alone!" She snapped. The Master realized

that she, too, was going through the stages, just in a quieter way. Great, he thought. Just what I

needed. He knew that with the women emotionally compromised, his job would be a lot

harder.

"Fine. Have you at least eaten?" No reply. "Oh please tell me you've eaten." The Master

Groaned, standing as River walked in. "How long has he been sick?"

"A little more than a week now." Clara answered.

"And I assume that's how long it's been since you've taken care of yourself?" The

Master rubbed at his face. "Well, if I don't change that, he'll kill me. Literally. Now, what I want

you both to do - don't look at me that way Mrs. Song - I want you both to go get something to

eat, shower, and sleep. I'll look after him, I've got to do a bit of research anyhow, and I won't

need to leave the room." He said, gesturing around the library.

"I haven't been here that long-" River started.

"Then get well-rested so that you'll be capable of caring for him when it's required."

"It's not necessary-" Clara began.

"I swear, if I get one more objection from you two… Listen, ladies, you need to take care

of yourselves if you're gonna be able to take care of him. Now you." He pointed to Clara, "You

look like you're about to keel over. There's only so long a person can go without eating and

sleeping. It looks obvious that you're becoming anemic, I suppose you're dizzy, feeling shaky

and weak?" Clara wouldn't meet his eyes, and River kneeled beside her.

"Clara, have you really been with him all this time?" She said gently.

"Well, I couldn't just leave him. I was... well, I was afraid if I'd left he'd end up not being

able to breathe and he'd just die, alone, and I just couldn't leave. I couldn't." Her voice cracked

with the tears welling in her eyes. "He'd keep waking up, this crazy, terrified look in his eyes,

and I'd have to soothe him into relaxing again. If I'd been gone, I was afraid of what he might

do, or what might happen. I just couldn't leave him by himself…" She wiped her tears with the

sleeve of her blouse.

"I appreciate you taking care of him. There could not have a better person to be here for

him, and I must thank you for that. Now, come on, let's get you taken care of, alright? The

Master will watch him." River eased Clara up, and now that she was standing it was

apparent how much havoc she'd been wreaking on her own body. She could hardly walk, so the

TARDIS brought the kitchen closer, and their bedrooms.

Alone in the library now, the Master began to take in his surroundings, trying to

determine how the books were organized. It didn't seem like it was alphabetical, or by year, or

even by subject. He was getting frustrated, how could he possibly find what he needed in all

this?

"I'll never be able to find anything on Time Lord history or physiology in here!" He

muttered angrily. Just as he'd finished that sentence, some of the shelves began to shift, and a

single book fell from great heights to land at his feet. He looked down at the title, which read:

THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT TIME LORDS. Another book fell perfectly on top of it: GALLIFREYAN

ANATOMY. Then another: TIME TRAVEL AND IT'S EFFECTS ON YOU. Book after book fell from

the shelves of the TARDIS library, all of them relevant to what the Master had asked for. He just

sat and watched until he was quite sure that She was done. "Well, er-thanks." He began to pick

a few of the books up and move to the chair across from the Doctor, who was currently

struggling in his fevered state. It was easy to tell he didn't have much time.

"Why'd you have to go and get yourself exiled?" He said, very upset. "We could've had a

life, you and me." As soon as the words came out of his mouth, the Master felt guilty. It was

him, after all, who'd turned on the Doctor. Him, who'd turned on Gallifrey. Worst of all, he'd

turned on Amias, who'd tried so very hard to save him from himself. Those drums. Those

stupid, stupid drums ruined him. Those stupid Time Lords. The Master tried to push the

thoughts away by burying himself in the books surrounding him.

The Master knew he couldn't let the Doctor die, not when he'd just found himself. He

finally had a second chance, but the man had to just go and start dying. In what universe was

that okay? Certainly not this one.

He went through book after book after book after book. All of them said the same thing:

Time Lords must travel together, in groups of at the very least six people, to minimize risk of

being poisoned by the vortex. That there was no hope for someone undergoing it.

After a few hours, he threw the books in his lap onto the floor in frustration. He shook

with anger. He pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back in his chair. After a moment, he

looked up at the Doctor, whose eyes had just opened slightly. The Master sighed, moving closer

to his friend, and sitting cross-legged on the floor so that they were about eye level. "Amias."

He said, smiling gently. The Doctor looked at him, eyes sparking with realization. He

smiled back.

"Yes, those were better days, weren't they? Karion, Amias… our pre-academy names.

We were children then, Master. It was so beautifully simple. No Daleks, no Time War. Just us.

Just Gallifrey. Don't you miss it?" The Master nodded gently.

The Doctor struggled to shift onto his side, leaving him breathless. He winced at the pain

at his chest, letting out a soft breath in his pain, eyes clenched shut. The Master stood quickly

to help him adjust. "Hey, hey, easy buddy. It's alright. It's alright."

"I'm fine." He said, trying to sit up.

"You sure that's the best idea? You need to rest."

"You know as well as I, judging by your research, that it doesn't matter if I rest or not."

He had nothing to combat that. Instead, he helped him sit up, watched him fight for air. They

sat in silence for a long time, the Master staring at his old friend, and he remembered.

Young Karion carried the limp form of Amias into his father's estate. "Help! We need

help!" A maid came, face shocked and concerned, relieving the child of the burden by taking the

injured boy, who in reality was very light. His breath was rattling, and he was still unconscious.

She hurried him to the sofa, hitting the button on the wall. "Medical services required

immediately." A hologram of a woman appeared.

"Hello, what will you be needing from us today?" Other maids and workers had begun to

gather around to see what the commotion was about.

"I am at the RedGrass Estate. I'm with a little boy who had been severely injured."

"There is a medic on their way."

The help came, they took Amias to a hospital. Karion followed. Amias was still

unconscious, and young Karion waited outside the door, anxious to see him. A nurse came out.

"Is he alright?" She smiled down at him, kneeling to be eye level.

"Well, he is very weak. It's hard tell what's going to happen, he was hurt very badly. " A

couple of stern men began to come down the hallway, and by their attire, Karion could tell they

were law enforcement.

"Are you Karion?" One of them asked. The child nodded his head nervously.

"And you were with Amias here when he was hurt?"

"Yes."

"So you know who did this, then."

"I-I uhh, well, I…"

"Did you, or did you not see who hurt him?" The man's voice was raising, becoming more

forceful. The nurse gave him a disapproving glare, and the man softened his approach. "Look,

Karion, we need to know what happened. We know that someone did this, the injuries are of a

beating. Someone hurt Amias and we want to punish them for it. We only want to help."

"He said he'd come back… if I said anything. I don't…" His eyes welled with tears. "I don't

want Amias to get hurt again, please." The other man sighed, shaking his head.

"We can protect you both. But you have to tell us who to protect you from." The man

knelt down and gently gripped Karion's shoulders. "I promise, this person will never hurt you or

Amias again. You have to tell us who did this." After a moment of consideration, Karion nodded.

"It was Torvic."

"Thank you."

"Can I see him?" The nurse looked kindly at him.

"Soon. Not quite yet, he's not completely stabilized. I promise, as soon as he's ready, I'll

bring you in. Okay?" Karion nodded, biting his lip.

Every time the door would open, the little boy would get as much of a look as he could.

Amias looked bad, really bad. There was a tube down his throat to keep his lungs working.

Apparently, one of his lungs had been punctured by a broken rib. Time Lord medicine was very

advanced, but since Amias was so young they wanted to take it slow. His body wasn't past the

first aging stage, and they didn't want to do anything that could alter it, perhaps leaving him a

child forever. He had some sort of brain injury too, but Karion didn't hear much about that.

"You're remembering it, aren't you?" The Doctor asked, smiling. The Master nodded.

"Yeah, me too. Torvic wasn't very nice, was he?" His voice held a deep trace of sadness.

"No, he wasn't." Now they were both remembering a different time, one they did not

wish to remember. The Doctor held the back of his palms to his eyes, taking a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. You saved me."

"I didn't mean for him to die, really, I didn't." The Master put a comforting hand on his

shoulder.

"He would have killed me. He was angry, I sent him to prison for years!"

"If only I had been stronger in that field…"

"Don't you dare blame yourself for that. When Torvic died, Doctor, he was more a

monster than a man. You know that nothing could have been changed. I only wish you hadn't

been the one who needed to do it."

"I killed him. But I guess, in the end, I killed all of them. All but you. How can you not

hate me, Karion?" The Doctor's face revealed how he genuinely did not understand.

"I think we've both done our fair share of harm. I've nearly destroyed humanity many

times now. There is forgiveness for everyone, Doctor. Even you and I."

Please Review! All feedback is welcome! (By the way, I'm not sure how the Doctor actually killed Torvic, but I know it happened, and it was him defending the young Master. I learned that off of the TARDIS files wiki.)