River Song: Hello Sweetie

Watch Over Me

Watch Over Me

You've just been upgraded to guard Stormcage. There are many soldiers who wouldn't envy you. After all, Stormcage is cold, damp, and it's constantly raining. It is also a high security prison for the most dangerous and notorious criminals in all of the universe. But you are proud to be there. You know it is a job, not for the faint of heart, but for the best and strongest men. And you've been chosen to do it.

When your ship docks at Stormcage, you're a bit surprised. This is definitely not what you were expecting. The facility is clean, well-lit, and heated. You're even more surprised when you're told who you are assigned to guard. "A woman?!?" You say incredulously. Your commander, an older, weathered soldier, answers tersely. Dead serious. "Not A Woman. THE Woman. THE River Song. Don't worry Newbie," you immediately dislike the nickname, "I've assigned you with some of the older soldiers. They've guarded River for quite a while. They'll guide you straight and true." You're a bit suspicious, given the way he speaks so familiarly of the prisoner, but you're not one to talk back to a superior. He points to a group of soldiers, and you subconsciously gulp. They are big, burly, and sure to give you hard time being a "newbie".

You are, again, surprised. The other soldiers are good men. Of course there is always a joke or two at your expense, and they all call you Newbie, but other than that they respect you and are always glad to welcome you into their group. They have many a good war story, and there is an abundance of humorous River-watching tales. Oh, the infamous prisoner. You have yet to take your turn to guard, but the stories they weave make you itch with anticipation. The stories seem almost too fantastical and strange to actually be true. After regaining your breath from a side-splitting joke that River had told another guard, you finally ask the question you've been dying to ask since you got here. "So, River Song." You say slowly. "Why is she in prison? The way you speak of her, it sounds as if she's your friend." "She is a friend." One of them says carefully. "Of sorts." "But why is she in prison?" You persist. "You all talk of her as if she is the greatest person you've ever met. So why is she here? What could she have possibly done to earn a place here?" The mood becomes somber. "She killed a man." The guards watch you closely, taking in your reaction. Inwardly, you scoff. That's it? You've heard worse. You've killed several men yourself, in battle, and you're sure they have as well. "Who is it she killed?" You say, suddenly extremely curious. They all look at each other, as if deciding whether or not to tell you. You feel as though you could explode with all this secrecy, and you ask the question again. "Who did River Song kill?" They look at you, and finally answer the question. "The Doctor. River Song killed the Doctor."

You've heard of him, of course. Who hasn't? And while he holds no sentimental value to you, you know how much he means to others. And how powerful and wonderful he had been. And you can't believe she killed him. Suddenly, River Song is no longer a friend, or a story, or even a person. She is an enemy. And you can't believe these men who seemed so good and true could be so deceived. So you decide to no longer listen to their stories. You are still polite and congenial, but you no longer wish to hear about the prisoner, the mad stories she's told, or the stories she's been in. The others might have been sucked into her charms and deception, but you will remain steady. The others shake their heads at you and say you'll change your mind, that she will escape and soon you won't even mind, but you'll prove them wrong. And suddenly, it's your shift, and you know you'll be strong. You'll show them. She won't escape.

She escaped. You are literally cringing with the shame and embarrassment, but it's still true. River Song has escaped. And it's your fault. You had been so sure of yourself when your shift started, but then you reached her cell and everything fell apart.

She had been writing in a blue book when you approached the bars of her cell. She was attractive, and looked nothing like the killer you imagined her to be. Without even looking up, she recognizes you are there and starts talking. "Hello Craig, nice to see you-" She looks up, and sees you aren't Craig. Without missing a beat she smiles and begins her sentence again. "Well hello there, dear. You must be new. Doctor River Song. And you are?" She sticks out her hand in between the bars for you to shake. You just look at her hard and she retracts her hand, still smiling. "Oh, I see. Well hello anyways. Won't you at least tell me your name?" "I don't see the point ma'am. All due respect, but I don't think you and I will share many conversations." It seems as if her grin grows wider. "Oh, you are definitely new here. First of all, I am NEVER a ma'am, and secondly, staying hostile won't help anything at all. But whatever works for you, dear. After all, I am very accommodating." She says this flirtatiously, and you blush. You had heard from the others that she was a notorious flirt, but you hadn't expected her to flirt so readily with you. Nevertheless, you stand straighter and try to look professional. She smirks and returns her attentions to her book. She hums as she writes and you try not to fall asleep. You hadn't been tired at all before your shift, but the atmosphere near her cell is very comfortable and relaxing. The phone rings and she looks up as you jump to attention. She is gracious enough to not chuckle at your momentary flailing in alarm. You pick up the phone as she saunters closer to the bars. You hear someone shout, "RIVER!!!" on the other end and then hear the click of a severed connection. She chuckles and gestures for you to hang up. You comply and turn back, only to find her dancing around her cell. Everything seems to be a rush of hair and heels, and suddenly it dawns on you that she seems to think she's leaving. "What do you think you're doing?" You ask hotly. She turns to you curiously, and then smiles at your expression. You are almost insulted at her patronizing look, when you realize she is genuinely amused. Now you are definitely insulted. "Oh, darling, you really are new." You almost growl, when all of a sudden she has grabbed you around the collar and she kisses you. You are momentarily stunned. Then the world is floating and she is smiling kindly at you. "Don't worry dear, the effects should wear off in a little while and you'll be good as new. See you in a bit." You see stars and birds and it's so incredibly real, you forget that you didn't pull the alarm, and then all you see is black.