Yowzah Oneshot Collection (3)

182(G)

                    The First Night

                       Cryswimmer

The First Night

He had hated to leave them, but he hated more the thought that something might happen to them because of him. He needed them to be safe. So he had found them the perfect house, got them the perfect car, and left them to have a perfect life that was safe and predictable. Still, he felt no desire to replace them as companions. He preferred to travel alone when faced with the prospect of getting to know someone new.

It was strange, really. Normally it was the new and different that appealed to him. But right now, he just wanted some stability. He wished fleetingly that he could drop in on an old companion – perhaps Jack or Martha – but he couldn't bring himself to do that. Different face, different life, different friends. He even wondered about dropping in on Sarah Jane – as she had seen him in so many faces – but she was a mother now. If he couldn't risk Amy and Rory, then he certainly couldn't put Sarah Jane in danger.

But he was... lonely. The TARDIS was just so damned quiet. He was used to Amy's effervescent energy, and Rory's persistent presence. He wasn't used to this silence. He didn't like it. The TARDIS lacked the sounds of life, and it made him sad. He wanted to be with someone. He wanted to travel with someone. He wanted to get his mind off himself, and onto worlds around him. Normally he would just move on to the next destination, but he just didn't want to go there alone.

He wandered around the TARDIS console time after time, but couldn't bring himself to select a destination. Finally, he turned and began to throw switches in a nearly random manner. He would let the TARDIS decide, and go where she took him.

As he landed, he glanced at the status monitors and raised his eyebrows in recognition, but not in surprise. He hadn't planned it – hadn't thought he was planning it – but he found himself outside River Song's cell at Stormcage. Well, Amy had asked him to say hello to her daughter, so he would just have to do that.

He opened the door slowly, never sure what reception he would get. Some days she was thrilled to see him, and on others she was annoyed due to something he had done, and yet hadn't lived to know about yet. Unusually, he found her reading. It was an unusual sight for him, to see her curled up on her side on the cot, one hand under her face and the other tucked up under her chin like a small child. She was quiet, and she looked so young laying there. For just a moment he wondered if he wouldn't be better off to climb right back through the door and take off.

He didn't get the chance. Her eyes opened slowly and she smiled. “Hello, Sweetie,” she said, her voice low and throaty with sleep.

Immediately, he felt guilt. “I'm sorry,” he said quickly, backing through the door and preparing to close it. “I didn't mean to wake you. Didn't really look at the time, come to that,” he admitted. “I'll go...”

“You will not,” she corrected, sitting up and rubbing both hands over her face. “Sonic me out of here and tell me what's wrong.”

He smiled a bit as he watched her stride towards him as though she had no doubt he would do just what she said. Honestly, she knew him rather well. He pointed the sonic screwdriver at her cell door and watched her push it open. Just watching her, seeing her movement and no longer feeling so alone, lifted his spirits somewhat.

He let her push past him into the TARDIS and pushed the door closed before turning. She was already at the console, preparing for flight. “When and where?” she asked.

“Your choice,” he answered, not ready to make any decisions. “Oh, and your mum says 'Hi,'.”

She gave him a full grin. “She's not with us, then?”