They were escorted out of the facility after being quickly questioned about what had happened. It was decided that the event would be only lightly documented and that the Ponds and the Doctor were in no way to blame or liable for any of the damage. They arrived back at the hotel and all sat in the small garden just outside the Doctor and River's room.

"So, that's completely it now, yeah?" Amy asked as she looked up at the darkening sky. "That's the end of the Trancitluzion, so all the rides and parks and everything should go back to normal now."

The Doctor nodded. "Yes. Well, I mean relatively normal. Strange things are always happening everywhere, and I don't think that the Trancitluzion was responsible for all of the things that happened here..."

"What, you mean that something else could be messing with rides and trying to hurt people?" Rory asked.

"Well, I mean that rides will always malfunction, and there are probably lots of other things in the parks that no one knows about... but I'm virtually certain none as hostile as the Trancitluzion was. So, yes, there are other things, but no, they won't be trying to kill us or hurt us."

"Alright."

The four sat in silence for another few minutes, staring into space. Then Amy looked over at River, who still had a completely blank look on her face. Amy realized she hadn't said anything since shooting down the pipe and power cords.

Amy leaned over and gently grasped River's arm. "River, are you all right?"

There was no response. The Doctor and Rory were now also looking at River, both with great concern.

Amy looked over at the Doctor with a confused and slightly frightened look. Rory walked over to River, put his hand on her shoulder and leaned down so his face was level with hers and he was looking right in her eyes. "River... can you hear us?"

Not even her eyes showed any sign of recognition or change.

Rory looked over at the Doctor. "What happened to her?" he asked levelly, while his eyes showed a bit of anger at the fact that his daughter was obviously hurt.

The Doctor gently turned River's face so she was looking towards him and peered into her eyes. He studied her for a moment. "I think she's closed herself off..." he looked up at Amy and Rory and addressed them. "Did the Trancitluzion show you things in the dark? It was messing with all of our heads..."

"It was showing me my fears... like when we were at that prison-ship/hotel with the minotaur." Amy whispered.

The Doctor looked at Rory who also nodded in agreement. "I told you that creature was related to the minotaur... I didn't actually realize that it could project the fears though..." The Doctor shook his head as if to rid himself of the fears he had been shown. He put his head in his hands for a moment, trying to figure out something to do.

"It must have really hurt her... River is so strong, and for her to have just... what could it have shown her?" Amy mused softly as she put her arms around her daughter.

Rory turned to the Doctor. "Help her. Do whatever you have to do, but help her. She's been hurt enough times, many of them by you..."

The Doctor winced, but Rory continued.

"...But I know you always help her when she needs it, catch her when she jumps or falls... you're still always there. So help her."

The Doctor stood and gently pried Amy off of River, who he guided to stand up. The Doctor looked over at Amy and Rory, who were standing together. "I'm taking her to the TARDIS. She'll be able to help me help her."

Rory and Amy nodded, and the Doctor began to guide River to the TARDIS.

When they reached the Old Girl and were inside the consol room, the Doctor sat River down in the chair and knelt before her. He thought of what Rory had said. It had stung, but it was true. Rory had a way of always seeing the painful truth about traveling with the Doctor, but sometimes, the Doctor really needed that dose of reality. This was one of those times.

He read the scanner screen, which confirmed that River had locked herself into her mind after what the Trancitluzion had shown her. The Doctor knew he would have to enter her mind to bring her out of it. He constructed the walls in his own mind to hide spoilers from her, and placed his hands gently on either side of her face. He could feel the TARDIS humming comfortingly around him; she wanted River to be well again, and she would help in any way she could.

Walking among River's thoughts, the Doctor saw what the Trancitluzion had shown her, and he finally fully understood River's childhood and the fear that was left over from it. He finally found her, curled tightly inside herself for protection. He placed his arms around her and gently began to draw her back to herself, and the TARDIS seemed to surround both of them for safety.

The Doctor opened his eyes and saw River looking back at him. He was about to remove his hands from her face, but she placed both of hers on top of his, holding them in place. She smiled at him, warm, forgiving, thankful, and loving. She was crying.

The Doctor leaned up and pulled her into an embrace. She slid gently off the chair so she was sitting on the floor next to him, completely surrounded by him.

The Doctor whispered into her hair, "I knew you were a child. We found you when we were in America... but... I just never realized how hard that must have all been for you..."

River softly said through her tears, "I had a childhood..." she looked up at the Doctor and smiled with just the smallest hint of its usual mischievousness. "...It just sucked."

They both laughed a little.

After a moment, River spoke again. "I know why you brought us here. "

The Doctor looked down at her as she looked up at him. "You brought us here for me. You wanted me to have the chance to be a child, a proper child, if that's even a thing..."

The Doctor blushed and sputtered, "How... why...?"

River chuckled. "I heard you say something about it to my parents." She turned in his arms so she was facing him. "It's hard for me, you know. It's very hard for me to let everything go and just try to enjoy myself. So much of who I am is just pure reflex. Protective action: the flirting, the smugness, the hard, calm exterior... all of those I've either been trained to do or I've carefully built them up to protect myself. Innocence, wonder... fear... those things were dangerous to me, so I destroyed them in myself, and if I couldn't destroy them, I walled them up in a fortress in my mind. All to survive."

The Doctor was studying River's face. He'd never seen it like this before... so open. Really, quite... well, childlike. He smiled at her. "River, I don't think I've ever seen you so beautiful. Right now, with those barriers down... I don't think I've ever seen you stronger." He pulled her close, and she burrowed as close to him as she could in his arms. "Do you want to leave?" he whispered. "Was I wrong to think this could work?"

River was still for a moment, then she shook her head and replied softly, "No. I want to stay. I want to actually see this place and enjoy it as much as I can." She looked up at him. "Is that okay with you? And of course it will have to be okay with Amy and Rory too..."

The Doctor leaned down and kissed River softly. "We'll stay as long as you want."

River smiled and put her arms around his neck before standing up and taking his hand.

"Let's go back to the room."

What they do at the room is up to all of your imaginations. ;) Anyway, the real fluff starts next chapter.

Review please? :)