(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

"River?"

Five minutes. He was gone from the infirmary for barely five minutes --

River's gone. And one of the cabinets is hanging open, its former contents scattered over the floor, vials and packets and syringes.

Simon whirls to stare down the hallway. She couldn't have gone far, unless --

Not in her room. Not in his room. Not in the lounge.

Milliways? oh god please let it be that simple--

His voice scales upward, uncontrollably. "River?"

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[simon_doctor]

He reaches to take her face between his hands, and turns her back towards him.

"Don't say that. Not ever."

His voice is low, and firm, and barely shakes at all.

"We'll get through this."

[river_meimei]

She meets his eyes.

"Things are going to get much, much worse."

[simon_doctor]

He takes her hands, and holds them.

"The captain will think of something. We'll --"

[river_meimei]

"He has to see," she interrupts.

"More than anyone. He has to see what he doesn't want to."

[simon_doctor]

A pause.

"River?"

He clasps her hands a little tighter, in a preemptive gesture of comfort.

"What will Miranda show us?"

[river_meimei]

There's a long silence.

Softly, "Death."

[simon_doctor]

"...Whose death?"

[river_meimei]

Silence, again. And then she starts to laugh.

Or maybe it's crying.

It's both, together, all tangled up. She's laughing harder and harder, tears pouring down her face.

"Everyone's!"

She catches her breath on a harsh gasp of a sob.

"Oh, God..."

[simon_doctor]

"Shh, River...."

He pulls her into a hug, rocking back and forth just slightly.

"Shh."