"I don't know why that excites you," River grumbled raising her hands, "Dare I ask... do you have a plan?"

"Not yet... I'll just do a 'thing'" he began to move his hands slowly, "Let me show you my..."

"Don't move," one of the armoured, helmeted soldiers ordered.

"Ok ... ok... River...?"

"I don't know my love," she breathed.

After a lot of struggling and still coated head to toe in mud, the Doctor finally found his feet; a huge smile across his face, "How about a shower?" he asked, beside him River rolled her eyes; her head shaking in despair of this man. Same old Doctor, "Alright... no shower... take us to your leader then," he glanced to River grinning, "I've always wanted to say that"

"There's a reason you're always in trouble you know," she warned with a sigh, "I don't know why I put up with you"

"You crave the excitement..." he said smugly. She frowned and turned to him, hands firmly on her hips, "Don't deny it River... I don't blame you. Time travel and all that..." he waved his muddy hand at her dismissively.

"Excuse m..."

"Quiet," the soldier snapped.

"No you wait a minute!" River ordered before turning indignantly back to the Doctor waving her finger dangerously at him, "I 'crave' the excitement!" she cried, "I filled every inch of my life with excitement! And then you came along! You were just so... so..." The Doctor's eyebrows rose as he waited for her sentence to come to a conclusive ending. When that looked unlikely he asked,

"So... what...?"

"I could kill you sometimes," she raised her hands once more. He pulled a slight face and nodded in silent agreement with her,

"I know..."

"Doctor?" the lead soldier asked, "The Doctor?"

"You know me?" the Doctor asked suspiciously.

"Well who else would know you better...," he removed his helmet, "... than me?"

"Ohh HaHaa ... Jack Harkness!" the Doctor exclaimed, "It's been a lifetime... literally... how have you been? Keeping busy I see... got yourself a little... troop here... nice touch nice touch!" He squelched through the mud to greet the fellow time traveller with an enormous muddy hug leaving the surprised Jack covered in a thin brown coating.

"You've regenerated... looking good Doctor... very good," Jack beamed, "Men stand down... I'd like you all to meet the Doctor"

"I'd watch where you put your hands," River warned, "I've heard lots about you..."

"Ooh very feisty... so this must be she," the American winked, he leaned in close to River, "He's not really my type," he whispered, "So! ... It's about time Doctor," Jack threw his rifle down into the mud splashing it all up himself, "Where to next?"

"But we only just got here..."

"There's not a lot left here I haven't already seen," he winked grinning at River.

"You're almost as bad as he is," he nodded towards the Doctor, "I bet it was all your influence wasn't it... Sweetie... get the door" Jack took her arm and led her inside the Tardis through the door that the Doctor had clicked open in dismay.

"Sweetie..." Jack chuckled, "That's a new one" The Doctor clenched his teeth together tightly and begrudgingly followed them inside.

"So does my key still work on this thing?" Jack asked once they'd had a swift clean up.

"Wait... he has a key? Why? Why does he have a key and I don't?"

"River... It's..."

"No don't give the... oh 'it's complicated' story... it's always complicated with you" she turned moodily to the console tying her curly hair back firmly. Her hands then began working furiously around the console.

"She can fly the Tardis," Jack sounded impressed as he rubbed his hair dry with a towel, "Looks new in here..." The Doctor grabbed Jack by the shoulder and whispered quietly into his ear. They both turned to look at the determined looking River Song bustling around the console, "She didn't?" Jack exclaimed. The Doctor nodded in solemn reply; he turned and whispered once more into the Time Traveller's ear, "Oh really... she is?" Jack beamed looking River up and down with interest, "So... which..." The Doctor whispered once more putting his thumb and index finger together to form a circle, "ah... I see"

"I can hear you complaining Doctor... Rule number one Jack... The Doctor lies..."

"Just drop me in Cardiff, 20th Century will do," Jack called hastily pulling his braces up over his dark blue shirt. The last place he wanted to be was in the middle of a domestic between these two.

The Doctor strode over to River, there was a time for everything, and right now, it was time to make peace. He rested his hands on the console either side of her, "River," he said quietly into her ear.

"Doctor I need to move..." she sighed without turning to face him.

He remained in the same position, waiting patiently. She was getting angrier by the second, when she felt his head resting on the back of hers, she soon realised that he was sorry. She turned round only to be face to face with a shiny Tardis key on a silver chain.

"You'll always have the key River, even when you don't have it with you," he whispered stepping closer and resting his forehead against hers. She tangled her fingers around the chain and clenched her fist tightly around it.

"Uhm... uncomfortable passenger over here!" Jack called from the console sofa, "Heck just drop me anywhere I'll manage"

The Doctor looked up suddenly, "Oh... you're still here... yes... ahem... Cardiff" He made his way around the console leaving a breathless River leaning against the console, eyes closed and hand clenched tightly around her key. Stern faced, the Doctor glanced at her as he continued to work. This was how it was supposed to be, for once, time had been laid before him, and he was going to honour its call.