Starry-Eyed

The Time of Angels

The guards put another case of water bottles down in the cave, and River surveyed the set. "I think this will be enough. I'm not sure how long it will be before he comes."

My heart lifted yet again at the thought of being reunited with The Doctor, something I had only been able to dream of for so long. "If I run out, I'll make do. I'm sure there's got to be a clean source around here."

She smiled and placed a hand on my cheek. "I wish I didn't have to leave you, but that's the way it is."

I placed my own hand over hers. "You've done so much for me. Thank you."

"Of course." Her face grew more serious. "Come on, let's sit down. There are a few things I have to explain before I leave."

We settled into the folding chairs, and she took a deep breath.

"What planet is this, anyway?" I asked.

"Alfava Metraxis," she replied. "And the next time I'm here, I'm not going to know who you are."

"Why not?"

"Last time we met, did I explain that The Doctor's timelines and mine are messed up?"

"Your future is his past, or something like that, right?"

"Exactly." She seemed happy I got it. "I'm not going to recognise you next time because that me hasn't met this regeneration of you yet. You don't tell this me to be here until a meeting between us that's far away into your future. Speaking of which, take this." She handed me a piece of paper with different numbers on it. "It's the coordinates and date I had us land the ship at. Hold onto it, you have to give it to me at a time you believe is right. If you don't, this whole thing will never have happened and I can assume you know how big of trouble everyone will be in then."

I nodded, folding it into the pocket of my jeans, which I had been given upon boarding their ship.

"Also, The Doctor isn't going to know you, but I assume you already had a plan to go with that."

I nodded. "So I really never tell him, then?"

She smiled at me sadly, the fourth time since she got me. "How does the name Julia sound?"

Julia. My new identity. "I like it."

She stood. "I should be going, then." She winked. "See you then."

"Hey River?" I called. She turned to me and waited. "Where are you going next?"

She held up what looked like a sonic screwdriver and buzzed it, the light turning green. "I have to give this to a friend."

I swallowed hard. She was going to the library. I ran forward and hugged her tightly. I didn't really know her, but I would, and we would be close. She was going off to die. "You're a remarkable woman, River Song."

"I do try." She pulled away and winked at me. "See you around."

I watched as everyone retreated into their ship, leaving me behind, alone and isolated on this dusty planet.

***

Months passed. I healed. I waited. Everyone was always waiting for The Doctor.

One day, I stopped waiting.

"Doctor, can you sonic me?" someone from a bit aways yelled. I had been walking along the shoreline, scouring for some kind of food. My supply had run out about a week ago. "I need to boost the signal so we can use it as a beacon."

My breath caught. Doctor.

Don't get your hopes up, Izzy, I heard The Doctor's logical voice say inside my head. Whoever that is may be talking to an actual doctor. Like, with a medical degree.