A Wily Old Serpent And His Human Family

2

The Doctor was shell shocked.

"She's dead... And if she isn't, she can't see me!" he cried. "Why did she of all people have to be here of all places?"
He was pacing, circling Thomas, getting closer and closer with every loop, his hand was scratching frantically, subconsciously, at the lemon and lime coloured scales that covered half of his face.

Osgood's voice was calm - though strained - as she said, "He said you'd probably react like this, and said to tell you that not only is he male now, but that he's been to the place you were supposed to die with you and the Impossible Girl back when he was a woman."

The Doctor froze at that.

"Then why does he still haunt me?"

He asked the words quietly, but everyone in the room could hear it.

Silence fell, for no one was sure what to say when the question was asked.

Eventually Remus quietly asked Osgood, "What did you mean when you said you needed me because the Doctor wouldn't work with a soldier?"
Osgood seemed to consider her phrasing before she said, "The man who wants to see the Doctor-"
"River," the Doctor interjected, "Professor River Song, unless he's chosen a new name. I know my oldest nemesis, and friend before that, the Master did, upon becoming a woman. She called herself Missy, or the Mistress."
"Right. Well, before Professor Song gave us his message for the Doctor, he said that the Doctor needed a companion from UNIT, and that they had to be, and I quote, 'interesting enough for the old codger'."

The Doctor's face split into a grin as he said, "I'm going to have to remind him why I'm clearly not an old codger."

Remus mulled over Osgood's words.
He was being given the opportunity of a lifetime because Osgood had chosen to give the stranger - River - his request and had turned to the wildest UNIT team in the UK (wild because they were the team most willing to perform mad experiments on alien tech). In turn, Remy had given Remus a chance to prove himself.
Honestly, Remus was grateful to River.

The group eventually wound up travelling by TARDIS to Kate Stewart's office.
Stepping outside, the Doctor grinned.

"Hello, Pond," the Doctor said.