Chapter 3: Try Me
(Sorry for the wait for update, thanks to you who have read I have decided to continue the story. Now enjoy since I have now posted two chapters for this story today. I'm working on Chapter 4 and it should be out by June 6 if not sooner. So read, enjoy and review. Any input, positive or negative is most welcome so I can decided where to go from there. Chapter 4 might be a little strange but it will all be explained eventually!)
River and the Doctor stood facing in each other in the main console room. Tears were threatening to fall from his eyes. A small smiled came to Rivers face, like a sense of peace had washed over her.
"I guess this is my final good-bye... My love..."
The Doctor walked up to River and held her in a tight embrace. Not willing to let go of the one thing that had been a constant in his new life. Her mysteries had all but disappeared and he had fallen madly in love with her. He pulled away for only a second and kissed her with as much passion and devotion as the Time Lord could muster. It seemed like hours had passed, nothing and no one disturbed them and silent tears fell down both of their faces. Knowing that this might be the last time they saw each other. Though, they never met in the right order.
"River...I"
She put her hand over his mouth.
"Don't... Those words...I don't deserve to hear them from you..."
The doctor brought her close again and whispered in her ear so that no one would hear them.
"River, I love you and you can't stop me from saying it. This is the last time you will see me like this. There is one thing you need to know... my real name...its"
The quiet whisper was not something even a scanner could pick up but River heard it and her eyes went wide in shock. The Doctor smiled sadly and kissed her again. Another few moments passed before he began dancing around the T.A.R.D.I.S. Phoenix's T.A.R.D.I.S. The console lights flashed and the engines started up. The machine whirred as it was thrown through the time vortex back to the time River needed to be at. The Phoenix new that he needed to be the only one there to see River off. The doctor opened the door to the T.A.R.D.I.S. They both walked out.
"Oh my Doctor, I love you."
The Doctor grabbed her hand gently and placed a sonic screwdriver in her hand. She tenderly kissed him and she walked away. The Doctor stood there motionless; looking at her for what might be the last time. The Doctor walked inside the console room closing the door. The phoenix walked in from the kitchen and smiled sadly.
"I'll drop Amy and Rory off."
The Phoenix guided the Doctor to the flight chair and helped him lie down. He shut his eyes and tried to forget the rest of the world. The Phoenix quickly started up the engines while Amy and Rory raced back to where the Phoenix stood. They cast worried looks at the now "sleeping" Doctor. The Phoenix smiled at them.
"Time for you love birds to go home now."
They nodded without protesting. The Phoenix had to come up with something before they started to suspect something was wrong.
"He's only sleeping, No need to worry."
The Phoenix new better than that, he was in shock. The T.A.R.D.I.S. came to a stop at where Amy and Rory's house was. She opened the door for them and waved good-bye. The Phoenix than began to start the engine again and directed the T.A.R.D.I.S. to her flat. She quickly picked up the Doctor and laid him down on her bed inside her apartment. Worriedly she checked his vitals then placed a hand on his head. He was running a bad fever and his heartbeat was irregular even with two hearts. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a cloth to put on his head. She bit her tongue while soaking the cloth with water. She was more worried than ever. She didn't want to be alone again.
"Oh Doctor... You truly did love River."
She kept watch over him the entire night. Slowly she let her head drop on his shoulder and drifted off into a restless slumber.
Days had passed and the Doctor's condition was not getting any better. The Phoenix worried and took care of him every day, making sure he would not get worse and hoping he would get better. She had him drink tea once a day. She only wanted him to get better and not leave her alone in this world. She gritted her teeth in disapproval. Why should she depend on this Time Lord? She shook her head and tears fell. How could she not? He was all of her home she had left. He was the last remaining family she had left. That familiar buzz of the time lord's mind was fading, and that scared her. A News broadcast came to her attention as the TV was on in the background. A woman, older with brown curly hair was making a special announcement.
"Please, if you can hear us Doctor... We need your help... please..."
She stared sadly at the television and looked to the doctor slowly. If he wasn't able to help, she was next in line. It was her duty to help for right now, she was the only hope they had. She picked him up and placed him on the T.A.R.D.I.S.
"Looks like I'll have your job for awhile."
She started up the T.A.R.D.I.S. and then materialized in the office where the newscast was being held. She input the coordinates and time to get it as exact as she could. The poor T.A.R.D.I.S., he was crying for him. She slowly stroked the console in a comforting way. Smiling she looked back at the Doctor.
"You stay here, just rest, you need it."
She walked out the door as soon as the T.A.R.D.I.S. landed and automatically had guns pointed in her face. She sighed in laughter.
"Who are you?"
The woman from the newscast spoke. Smiling she answered.
"I am the Phoenix, the Doctors... fill in, I guess you can say."
The woman looked at her oddly. In apprehension she held up her hand. She sighed.
"Stand down men. If she knows of the Doctor, and travelled here just like he did, then we have no choice but to trust her."
Smiling she held her hand out and the woman shook it.
"I am Rosel Callaghan. The current Prime Minister of Britain."
Nodding the Phoenix retracted her hand.
"So Lady Callaghan, what can I do for you?"
A fearful look passed over her face and she leaned in.
"The Daleks... They're here!"
The sound of exterminate passed through the halls and she silently cussed under her breath. Quickly she got her sonic screwdriver out as they rounded the corner. There metal bodies filled with evil could strike fear into anyone's heart. The colours on the outside of their casing surprised her. She grinned.
"So... Daleks in London again. Can't you tin cans think of anything original?"
They stopped in front of her.
"Who...Are...You...You are not THE DOCTOR."
The awkward robotic sounding speech pattern unnerved her.
"I am the Phoenix, the Doctors... Replacement."
