"What now?" River asked taking control of the console.

The Doctor stepped up to join her. He held out his hand to her. Between his finger and thumb he held six or seven small pieces of torn paper. His expression was surprisingly stern as she reached out to receive them. She flicked through them quickly, her intrigued features were suddenly saddened by what she saw.

"Oh Doctor..." she sighed shuffling the pages together into one stack and looking up to him. He turned away unable to look her in the eye, "... Why...?" she asked quietly.

"We aren't meant to be... Together... Not like that..." he whispered lowering himself slowly onto the sofa. He rested his hands firmly on his knees and stared blankly at the space between his boots, "I'm not supposed to... Love... I'm far too dangerous to have anyone that close" He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger, "I can't let anyone become a target because of me"

River watched him, she couldn't move, she could hardly breathe. She felt a rush of emotions hurtling to the surface, building up in her like an unstoppable volcano.

"Those times were meant to happen Doctor! You can't just tear pages from a book and expect it to disappear! You and I. Time and space! We were destined to run in it! We're meant to be together, to love each other. You read those pages Doctor... We've shared more than just the Tardis"

He sat in silence. They had indeed shared more than just the living space. As he'd read those pages, the paragraphs, the sentences, the words... It was undeniable. He and River were lovers. Maybe more, who knew... He'd never got to the end of her diary. Whatever had taken place between those pages hadn't happened yet. Now he knew what River was to become to him he felt himself distancing himself from everything. He was retreating back into his detached manner, a manner he thought he'd left behind in his previous faces.

Did he really need a companion? Did he really crave the company?

Maybe.

Had he ever needed or wanted a lover?

No one had really held his attention long enough to become anything more than just someone to travel with for the company. River was definitely different. She'd not only caught but held his attention for as long as he'd known her. She was mysterious and incredibly clever, she knew all the things that he knew and maybe more.

There were times when a barrier should be raised not only for the others persons protection for your own. Right now, despite all his doubts and rational reasons for them not being together, the Doctor's barrier crumbled.

Without another word or thought he'd lifted River into his arms, and sat on her on an empty area of console. He stood between her parted legs, his arms loosely enveloping her waist. With his forehead pressed gently against hers he closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry River..." he breathed.

She pulled back slightly and sighed with exasperation. She had nothing to say to him. He'd broken the rules... He'd read the book. He'd betrayed her in a way... And she couldn't forgive him. Pressing her hands against his chest she gently pushed him away before sliding gracefully from the console.

The Doctor lent against the console, his head hung low. He bit his lip and closed his eyes. He could see her disappointed expression, the sadness in her eyes. She'd travelled as far as he had, had to endure years in the same place until means of time travel had come along. She'd had to switch between an extraordinary existence and an ordinary uneventful life.

Unlike him.

"Doctor..."

He didn't want to face her. How could he?

"Doctor..."

He reluctantly turned around trying his best to fight off the tears that now welled in his eyes. A sharp slap cracked across his cheek followed instantly by the forcing of lips against his. Hands grabbed his jacket lapels pulling his body closer against sensuous curves. Half of him tried to resist, his arms flailed out to the sides not quite knowing where to settle.

Yet his mouth, his lips, his tongue... Wanted her... Desperately.