It seemed inadvisable to the Doctor to sit in the glowing light for as many hours as he did, yet he couldn't seem to tear himself away. The light was a comfort… and a burden. He stood up and pulled his tweed jacket from the back of his chair, slipping it over his shoulders.
The Doctor reached forward, towards that glowing light. It's funny the things you think about when it's all about to come to an end...
He had changed into his very best, black coat with tails, pristine white bowtie, and top hat. He straightened his bowtie one more time, not being quite satisfied with it. She deserved his best.
The Doctor looked down at the device he had been avoiding. The sonic screwdriver was different than any he had ever used himself. The tip was blue and the majority of the device was silver with some gold accents. The finger loop was definitely something new. It could be keyed specifically for her. It was different but it was River.
The TARDIS had presented him with the device this morning. The Doctor had cringed at the sight. He double checked the neural relay imbedded within. It was all there and if his ship was correct, and he knew better than to doubt her, it was time to give River this screwdriver.
He held the device up in his hands reverently and laid his forehead upon it. "Oh, River…" he whispered. He was not ready to say goodbye, but he could only run so long. The Doctor pulled a lever on the console and slipped the sonic screwdriver into his jacket next to his own.
River took a deep breath as she headed back to her office. It was officially the last day of term. She had finished up teaching all of her classes a few days ago and got all the grades sent in. Even for the professors, last days were a breath of fresh air.
Stepping through the doorway, River was surprised to see a familiar man sitting in her chair. "Hello, Sweetie," she said with a broad smile.
"Professor River song." How that man always managed to sound flirty when he greeted her, she would never know, but always love.
The Doctor was dressed in his best. Sharp black suit, pressed white shirt. She moved forward to straighten his already perfect bowtie. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Just a date. I thought you wouldn't mind a date." He seemed happy to see her, but a little distracted, too. "Are you cleaning out?" the Doctor looked around and noticed her sparse office.
"End of term. And, I have an expedition to lead later this summer." she told him.
"But it's Christmas…"
"No, Sweetie, it's June," she corrected. "But we can celebrate Christmas if you'd like."
The Doctor shook his head as if to clear it. "June, right, I knew that." He held out a hand to her. "Care for a date, River?"
She took his hand and he led them to the TARDIS standing proud in the corner of her office. River ran a hand down the side of the blue box relishing the feel of the sentient ship so close. She missed the TARDIS when it had been too long since she'd seen her.
River stepped into the bigger on the inside box and headed to the console where the Doctor was already standing. "Where are we then, Doctor?"
"I've done Lake Silencio. Twice. Pandorica?"
"Ages ago," she told him. River put a hand on his cheek. "Hello, husband."
He smiled. "I have something for you. A gift. It's really from the TARDIS, I suppose. But, I do think you'll like it. I mean, you don't have to like it, if you don't want to, but I hope you will."
"Doctor," River stopped him, laughing. He could go on for ages if she let him, but she was curious what he was talking about. It was out of the ordinary for him to give her anything. Though, ordinary as it pertained to their relationship was a rather relative term.
He slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled something out. The Doctor held it for a moment before handing it to her. River took the metal object and looked it over. "Is this… Is this a sonic screwdriver?"
He nodded and happiness flooded through River. She had never heard of the Doctor sharing such a device with anyone.
That did not mean she couldn't tease him, however. "Is this for when you aren't around?" she grinned.
"Yes."
"You might have given it a smoother design then." He saw her grin broaden and finally caught her meaning.
"Smoother… No, wait. River!" She laughed at how flustered he got.
"Oh, I love making you blush."
"Time Lords don't blush," he informed her.
"You're right; we don't. So, what's your excuse?"
The Doctor shook his head. "River."A million emotions and memories were wrapped up in the subtlety of how he said her name. It sent a thrill down her spine but she rarely let it show.
"So, this date. Should I dress up then?" She indicated his outfit.
He raced around the console, setting a course for them. River moved to head to the adjoining hallway. "We're heading to the Singing-" He was cut off when the TARDIS suddenly lurched to the side.
"What'd you do?!"
"I didn't do anything! It's the TARDIS!" the Doctor said indignantly as she lurched again nearly throwing them both to the glass floor.
"You set the course!" River ran back over the console and began helping him fly her.
"We're being pulled off course. Grab that. I'm going to see if I can…" he moved two adjoining levers and the TARDIS shifted dangerously to the other side.
"Have I mentioned the stabilizers yet?" she yelled to him.
"Yes! And, we still don't have any!" he yelled back.
"They're the blue ones!" River pushed the blue buttons but they had no effect.
"You can't stabilize this," he told her. "We're being pulled out of normal time and space."
"What?!" Suddenly they were in freefall and her stomach dropped out. River hung on for dear life and the Doctor was doing the same on the opposite side of the console. It took sixty seconds and they hit the ground, hard. Every light went out around them. The TARDIS was dark and cold, all systems down.
"No, no, no, no!" The Doctor was scanning the center console.
"What is it?" River had never seen the TARDIS act this way. It was like her very soul had vacated the mechanical aspects of the ship.
"The TARDIS… she's dying." Agony shone in his eyes.
"We can figure this out. We can save her. Come on, let's figure out where we are." River ran and grabbed a jacket, her boots, and gun belt before joining the Doctor at the door.
He opened it and looked out. The TARDIS had landed on a rocky beach, large waves rolling in, ominous gray sky above. She watched as the Doctor headed back into the ship and pulled a small cube from a nearby hidden cabinet. He whispered something into it; her ears perked at the Gallifreyan. "Where are we?" River repeated, slipping the sonic screwdriver into her belt, next to her gun.
"Somewhere I promised I'd never return," he whispered, and set the cube loose.