Year of the Doctor

Chapter 3

*Doctor's POV*

There was a stunned silence after Chris' words. No one really knew how to react to Christine's voluntary cooperation or her suggestion of going to the battle field, so to speak. Well, except maybe River. She was currently looking very serious, but the Doctor guessed that her silence was only out of politeness. Moments later, the Doctor was the first to speak. "No," he said, "It's too dangerous."

The Doctor wasn't expecting Chris to volunteer to help- if anything, he had expected her to demand to leave and go home- but, just because Chris volunteered did not mean the Doctor was going to allow her to go. She was a teen he barely knew, no matter how familiar she looked, and the Doctor wasn't going to allow her to potentially risk her life when he wouldn't be there to help her out of trouble.

"Doctor," River said in almost a whisper, "She can find Amy. We need as many on board with the plan as we can have; she would be a tremendous asset."

"Can you promise she'll come back as well?" the Doctor asked in the same tone, of only a little harder.

"If the plan succeeds," River replied with a nod. That answer wasn't good enough. He needed to be absolutely sure that both girls would come back unhurt before he'd allow Christine to go.

"No," the Doctor said in a soft voice, crescendoing slightly as he shook his head, "No. That's not good enough. Even if we fail, even if the plan goes horribly wrong can you promise- without a shadow of a doubt- that both Christy and Amy will come back? Safe and unharmed?"

"Yes," River said, not daring to meet the Doctor's eyes.

"Look me in the eye," the Doctor commanded, "River Song, look me in the eye and swear to me that both of them will come back unscathed."

River's eyes slowly rose to the Doctor's. "You have my word," she spoke quietly. The Doctor held River's gaze searching for any evidence that she was lying. He found no such evidence, so the Doctor turned to Chris. "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? It's alright if you just want to go home instead."

"Doctor, I'll be fine." Chris answered with a determined look.

"Fine, you can go on one condition," the Doctor said as his stomach lurched. He had a feeling something horrible was going to happen as soon as he spoke that first word.

"Which is?"

"I come too," Rory interjected, stepping forward a little

"Are you a mind-reader?" the Doctor demanded, staring at the Centurion with his hands on his hips.

"I'm sorry, what?" Rory asked with a confused look.

"A mind-reader. I was just about to say 'if one of us comes along' and you interrupt with something so similar. Did you gain mind reading abilities while erased from time?"

"No, I was just thinking that-" Rory trailed off.

"It doesn't matter! We don't have enough time to discuss mind reading. need to figure out how we'll disguise you two," River interupted.

"That's easy," the Doctor said as he dug through his pockets. "Aha!'' he cried as produced two small capsules full of a greenish clear looking gel.

"What's that?" Chris asked, looking slightly disgusted.

"Hologram disguise capsules," the Doctor answered, "You and Rory will look and sound like Zegoraths to anyone but yourselves, no one will know the difference! It's almost fool proof, but be careful. You won't have the Zegoraths powers so don't touch anything," the Doctor warned as he gave the mini-rescue team the capsules.