River Song had come to this spot hoping to spend some time with the Winchesters. Every girl needed a good friend to go kill things with, and Dean was usually up for the best kinds of adventures if she asked. She was, after all, a self-professed psychopath, and she liked to let that part of herself out every once in a while.

This time, happily, she saw not just the Winchesters but the Doctor trudging out of the woods, and she grinned easily, waving to the three of them and the woman who was clearly flirting with Dean through a haze of blood loss.

"Looks like you boys have your hands full," she said.

Dean broke into a grin, and the Doctor let out a disbelieving laugh as she bounced over to him. "What are you doing here?" he asked in a tone full of affection—which meant he was late enough in his timeline that he knew who she was and had not only gotten used to but enjoyed her company.

She loved when she found him at that point in her timeline.

Smiling even wider than before, she leaned over to kiss the Doctor's cheek. "Hello, sweetie."

"Hello, dear," he said, and the phrase made her heart race. Oh, so he was at a point he'd play with her too. Perfect. She could already feel herself mentally switching the purpose of this trip from playing with Dean or Sam to playing with the Doctor.

"We can just leave," Dean offered, his crooked grin telling River that he knew exactly where her head was. He was a good wingman; that was why she kept him around.

"It looks like you already had all the fun without me," River said, nodding to the young woman.

"Yeah, monster running around town eating people," Sam said.

"And I missed it," River said.

The young woman frowned at River and pulled slightly away from Dean. She was still obviously leaning on him, but their open enjoyment of the hunt had visibly put her off. And River felt bad about that; what kind of a wingwoman was she being?

"I see you made a friend," River said.

Dean shrugged easily. "Actually, we're on our way to the hospital."

Well then. She didn't feel as bad about not being a good wingwoman if he wasn't taking the bait. He must have been seeing someone, then. But he looked a bit young for it to be that handsome angel.

Spoilers, she reminded herself.

"So, were you just looking for an adventure?" Sam asked, and something about his tone made River turn toward him, frowning. Where was the warmth? Where was the curiosity? He was always the more serious Winchester brother, but this was something else entirely.

The Doctor saw her look and met her gaze, and without a word spoken between them, she knew he had more to say about the situation than he was willing to say in front of the boys.

And wasn't that interesting.

"Can't a girl come out to play every once in a while?" she asked Sam, who shook his head at her.

"Betcha we can find another case for you," Dean offered. "There's always something else."

"Isn't there always," she agreed. She bit her lip as she looked between the brothers, the injured woman, and the Doctor. In a second, she made her decision and looped her arm through the Doctor's. "You have some explaining to do."

The Doctor grinned at her. "Let me catch you up," he agreed.

The boys left with the injured woman, and River pulled the Doctor aside to a quiet spot, brushing his hair out of his face. "You're older than the last time I saw you," she said.

"And you're younger."

"Something to look forward to, then," she said, smiling wider before she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "So, tell me: what's going on with those two?"

"I haven't figured that out yet," the Doctor admitted.

"You must have theories."

"Oh, a hundred and twenty-seven," he agreed, and she laughed—that was her Doctor.

"So tell me more."

The Doctor gestured toward where they had left the Winchesters. "I can't say I understand the things they fight. The universe is vast, and-"

"And the unknown is exciting, yes," River said, her eyes sparkling. The Doctor smiled wider, especially as River took the opportunity to step even closer into his space. She loved when she got to play with him; the younger versions were frustratingly shy sometimes.

Still wearing a smile at the corner of his mouth, the Doctor said, "There's something missing from Sam's mind."

River tipped her head nearly sideway. "Now, that is new. Do you know what it is?"

"Yes and no," the Doctor said. "His mind is still intact, but it's as if the memories and knowledge are unchanged but the person is gone."

"So, his soul is missing," River said, pressing her lips together. She'd seen an older version of Sam recently, and he hadn't been like this. So obviously, the problem would get solved, but how?

The Doctor turned toward her. "Maybe," he said, and she could see the question just behind his gaze.

Even if she didn't know for sure what was happening, she also knew the rules. She knew how important they were. And so, with a flirtatious smile, she simply said, "Spoilers."