And here's part two - The Forest of the Dead!

Next up will be Midnight, to keep up the spooky theme apparently

Enjoy!

The group, thankfully, didn't have to wait long for the next video to start. Apparently even the Tardis knew better than to try and test Amy's patience when her daughter was involved, as the next title immediately appeared on screen.

"Forest of the Dead?" Bill muttered with a raised eyebrow, "That's not reassuring." She couldn't help but glance at River. All the suggestions and hints so far weren't in favour for a happy ending for River and the picture on the Doctor's desk at St Luke's weighed heavily on her mind.

No one missed the glance River, Donna and the Doctor shared, or the way Amy and Rory tensed further (if that was possible). But no one else spoke, allowing the next video to start, everyone watching in eager anticipation for answers.

Zombie Dave approached and River uses the squareness gun on the wall ushering the group through

The room immediately breathed a bit better, glad to see the group out of the pressing danger that the last video had ended on. They doubted it would last long (knowing that both the Doctor and River were present, especially) but it lifted their heart slightly to see them escape all the same.

In the girl's home, she watches the group escape on the tv and she tells her dad the library is on the tv but he tells her it is just in her imagination

"I don't think it is the library that's in her imagination." Clara remarked.

She changes channels and gets different views of the library until the exterior of a hospital appears with an ambulance drives up, a patient is taken out of the back, and the girl asks Donna?

Like the young girl, several members of the room had exclaimed, "Donna?" as well, confused by what they were now seeing on screen. Although, they were relieved to see her unharmed and were eager to get answers as to Donna's fate.

Donna is sitting on a bed looking at herself in a large mirror in a private hospital, a knock comes on the door then Dr Moon enters greeting her by name

"That's the same Doctor as we've seen with the young girl." Rose said, I wasn't a question but the Doctor still nodded.

"Is Donna in the computer now too?" Ryan asked, half-jokingly as he wasn't confident in his previous suggestion as to what was going on. Donna, River and the Doctor shared a glance but offered no actual answers, and their expressions weren't easily read, even by those that knew them best.

Donna asks who he is, and Dr Moon introduces himself saying he's been treating her since she came there two years ago. Donna apologises asking what's wrong with her as she didn't know him for a moment, and Dr Moon adds she then remembered, asking if she wants to go for a walk

Donna frowned, an uncomfortable feeling settling heavy on her shoulders. Knowing how much of her life she'd lost and only just regained (it was less about the length of time and more the impact on her that time had had), the idea of losing her memories even for this short time in the computer left her unsettled. She hadn't really considered how reliving it would affect her, she'd focused more on the things she'd missed the first time and how everyone would react to River's fate, instead of her own experiences which may have been a mistake.

She didn't miss the concerned look the Doctor sent her, but for once she couldn't think of a loud response to try and convince everyone nothing was wrong.

They walk round the hospital grounds and Dr Moon asks if she's had more dreams of the Doctor and the blue box. Donna asks how they got out there and Moon tells her they went down the stairs, out the front door and passed Mrs Ali on the way out

"Is Doctor Moon gaslighting Donna?" Yaz asked, eyes narrowed at the screen. She wasn't sure if this 'Dr Moon' was real or a computer simulator but she wasn't liking how this was going. No one had answers for her, but they all looked more uncomfortable as Donna's situation unravelled in front of them.

A small sign on the front of the building reads CAL. Donna agrees saying she forgot, Moon adds she then remembered, asking if they should go down to the river

"And then I remembered." Donna muttered, the words feeling like lead on her tongue.

At the river, Donna points out he said river and suddenly they're feeding ducks

"You're too stubborn for this to work on you completely." Martha smiled, a mixture of proud of her friend and an attempt to comfort her. No one was quite sure what 'this' was exactly, but they knew it was no match for Donna Temple-Noble.

A man with fishing gear walks up to them, stuttering a morning. Moon introduces him as Lee McAvoy

Donna's eyes widened upon seeing her fake husband again. She couldn't deny that she'd thought about him on several occasions (before her memory was wiped by the Doctor at least) but she'd never thought she'd see him again. It wasn't like she wasn't happy with her actual husband, and it wasn't like anything they'd had was real, but she couldn't interpret the feelings swirling in her head.

Donna says hello and Lee struggles to reply, she says he has a but of a stammer and jokes to skip to a vowel in her name as they're easy. Back at the hospital grounds, Donna asks how she left it with Lee and Moon says he had the idea Lee was inviting her fishing tomorrow

"And you are the only one, seeing as the guy didn't even say a full word." Mickey muttered.

Donna enters Lee's room in a sequined dress, saying so, fishing

"Not really the right outfit for fishing, Donna." Martha shook her head fondly, her smile dipped when Donna just shrugged. To those that knew the red-head, and even those that had just met her during their time in the room, the unusual silence was worrying. It was rare Donna was this quiet, her normal method was loud in the face of everything, so this silence was incredibly concerning.

Back at the river, they are fishing and sitting under a large umbrella in the rain. Lee still struggles to say her name, as Donna comments he's gorgeous and can't say a word so what is she going to do with him? She gets carried over the threshold of a house in a white wedding dress and Lee welcomes her home as Mrs McAvoy

"How fast is this going?!" Bill exclaimed wide-eyed. The whole group was getting more unsure about the situation on screen. They were pretty sure it was some kind of computer simulation (what else could it be?) but they weren't confident in any decisions. This whole situation was eerie, and despite how happy Donna seemed on screen, the emotions weren't shared by the one in the room.

In a living room, Dr Moon looks through a family album while children run around. Donna tells them to stop it as they have a visitor, Moon comments she's done so much in seven years

"Seven years!?" Several members of the group exclaimed at once, turning to Donna in shock.

Even the Doctor blinked, Donna had never shared much of the simulation with her, only sharing brief mentions of it over their time together. Both of them had ended up haunted by their time in the Library, one way or another.

"It wasn't that long. I don't know how long it was but it wasn't anywhere close." Donna announced, the simulation hadn't been designed to be cruel, in fact it had aimed to create a happy life for everyone in its protection, but she couldn't help but feel that made it all the crueller.

River spoke up with a comforting smile aimed at Donna, "It wasn't. Maybe an hour at most." She glanced at the Doctor who only hummed, it had been a long time since then for her, River was much more likely to remember unfortunately.

Donna remarks sometimes it feels more like seventy but also feels like no time at all. Moon picks up his briefcase to leave saying it is a pleasure to see her fully integrated. He fritzes out to be replaced with the Doctor fiddling with his sonic and saying the signal is definitely coming from the moon, he's blocking it but it is trying to break through, he calls for Donna

"Doctor!" A few members of the group spoke up, happy to see the Doctor trying to get through to Donna. For once it meant that the Doctor was aware Donna was in danger and was trying to help, but it also meant that he and River were in a semi-safe situation for the moment and could try to find her.

Moon returns, apologises and claiming it was Mrs Angelo's rhubarb surprise and he never learns. Donna says she saw the Doctor; Moon agrees and adds then she forgot. Donna forgets and greets Moon asking if she should make him a cup of tea

Donna and the Doctor weren't alone in scowling at the screen. They had already had enough of this poor fake reality that Donna was forced into, they wanted her safe back with the Doctor and River (and they'd quite like to know what was going on, and to have all three safe and away from the Library, but sadly that didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon).

Back in the library, the large moon hangs high in the orange sky as River cuts a square hole in a wall with her gun and enters. She declares het have a clear spot and ushers the group right into the middle of the light, and reminds them to not let their shadows cross. River tells the Doctor there are no lights there and sunset is coming so they can't stay long, asking if he's found a live one

"Oh, great. What's worse than being chased by shadow piranhas, but being chased by shadow piranhas at night!" Rory said, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. Amy put her hand on his arm in an attempt of comfort, both sharing a long look as their worry for their daughter (and the Doctor, and Donna) only grew. They were stuck in the awful situation of wanting desperately to know what happened to River, but also not wanting to have their worst fears confirmed.

The Doctor replies it is getting harder to tell and then asks what is wrong. River declares they need a chicken leg, taking one from Dave and throwing it into the shadows where it becomes bone again before hitting the ground

"What's the use in repeating the experiment? Apparent from knowing they were around, which I'm pretty sure you already knew." Rose narrowed her eyes at the Doctor, confused about the use of repeating the experiment.

River and the Doctor shared a glance before the Doctor turned to answer Rose's question. "Know thy enemy and all that." She shrugged, avoiding the question which based on Rose's glare did not go unnoticed.

River declares they have a hot one, telling them to watch their feet. The Doctor adds they won't attack until there is enough of them but they have their scent now so they're coming

"And that's good why?!" Clara shook her head at the Doctor in exasperation. The Doctor just shrugged, nodding to the screen in answer.

Other Dave asks who he is, as they haven't told them and they're expected to just trust him? River replies he's the Doctor

"That doesn't really explain much River." The Doctor smiled fondly, if not exasperated, at her wife.

To her surprise River didn't answer with a joke, instead she shared a look with Jack, both of them surprisingly solemn. A brief glance around the room also revealed that the Master was sharing a similar expression (which if she ever said out loud, would likely lead to explosions).

"To those that know Doctor, it explains everything." River said.

"Not all species are as ignorant to your deeds as the little human pets you favour." The Master added, earning glares from the human members of the group. The Doctor likely would have joined in or protested if she wasn't focused on trying to interpret if that was a compliment or insult from the Master (knowing him, it was likely both).

Lux asks who the Doctor is, and River tells them he's the only story they'll tell if they survive him

"Not appreciating the wording, River." The Doctor muttered to her wife, who just shrugged.

Anita says she claims he's her friend but he doesn't even know who she is. River tells them to listen as they all need to know; she'd trust the man to the end of the universe and they've actually been

"More than once." River smiled fondly at her wife, who gave her a besotted smile back. If they weren't so worried, Amy and Rory would have complained about the PDA. Amy had been so eager to know the details about the Doctor's relation with River before she'd known River was her daughter, then she decided there were some things she certainly didn't want to know.

Anita replies he doesn't act like he trusts her. River admits there is a tiny problem as he hasn't met her yet

"Just a little problem." Ryan muttered quietly voice full of sarcasm, "Not anything major to worry about." His comment earned a snort from Yaz.

River goes over to the Doctor scanning the shadows and asks what is wrong with it. The Doctor explains there is a signal coming from somewhere intefering, River tells him to use the red settings, the Doctor argues it doesn't have a red setting. River then tells him to use the dampener which it also doesn't have, River tells him it will one day

"You were so young." River smiled, bittersweet and sad. The Doctor's smile matched her wife's, both lost in the memories of younger days together and the ending of those times they were about to relive.

The Doctor takes River's sonic and says sometime in the future he just gives her the sonic, she agrees, and he asks why he would do that

"Because I love you." The Doctor said, face solemn, her eyes eagerly searching River's in hopes that she'd find that her wife already knew that. It was something River struggled with, she knew, the certainty that the Doctor loved her as much as she loved the Doctor and she didn't want to leave room for doubt in that moment.

"I know, sweetie, I know." River murmured, leaning closer to her wife. The pair sharing a quiet, private moment. Or as much as they could when trapped in a room with over a dozen other people.

River declares she didn't steal if from his dead hands if he's worried about that. The Doctor asks how he knows that, and River says to listen to her, he's lost his friend and he's angry, she understands but he needs to be less emotional right now. The Doctor argues he isn't emotional

The Doctor received doubtful looks from the rest of the room, all adapt at reading several of the Doctor's emotions (no matter the regeneration). Everyone could tell they were worried about Donna, and curious/confused/concerned about River and the mystery that surrounded her.

River tells him there are five people in the room still alive and to focus on that, she also says he's hard work young

"I could say the same about you!" The Doctor protested with a pointed look at River.

"Are you going to?" River raised an eyebrow at her wife, daring her too.

River's look seemed to make the Doctor reconsider as she wisely shut her mouth and looked back to the screen. Even with her eyes facing the screen she could feel her wife's smug smirk.

The Doctor asks who she is. Lux interrupts them annoyed as they're all going to die there and the two of them are squabbling like an old married couple

"Apt description." Rory declared.

Amy snorted, "There was a good reason we had those theories about River, before we knew anyway."

RIVER: Doctor, one day I'm going to be someone that you trust completely, but I can't wait for you to find that out. So, I'm going to prove it to you. And I'm sorry. I'm really very sorry.
(River whispers in the Doctor's ear, and he looks stunned.)

"What?" Bill perked up, eyes darting between the screen, River and the Doctor, "What did she say?" It was rare for the Doctor to look that stunned without a reason, whatever River said was something important.

Unlike Bill, a few people seemed to have an idea as to what River had whispered in the Doctor's ear, both Amy, Rory, and Jack glanced at River in suspicion.

However, their reactions were eclipsed by the Master, who narrowed his eyes to slits, leaning forward tense a sharp contrast from his previously relaxed position leaning back in his armchair.

He turned sharply to the Doctor and River, "She didn't." He hissed, bristling like an angry cat. Anger mainly directed at River.

River's expression was carefully schooled, but she was tense. The Doctor tensed slightly, but seemed calmer than anyone else in the room. "She did."

The Master's expression darkened, his anger turning onto the Doctor, who remained impassive in the face of her oldest friend's fury. "You didn't."

The Doctor's pursed her lips, "I did." The pair stared each other down, a silent albeit furious argument ensuing with their eyes.

They were at a standstill. No one else in the room fully understanding what was going on. Even River who knew what the Master was furious about did not understand it fully. Ryan leaned over closer towards Yaz and tried to whisper in her ear, keyword being 'tried'. His mutter of, "Do you have any idea what's going on?" was unfortunately heard by everyone in the room. It served to distract the Master's attention from the Doctor, reminding him of the other people in the room. Unfortunately for Ryan, his words drew the Master's ire to him. He shrunk back at the dark glare the Master sent him, sneering even as Yaz shot her own glare back in defence of Ryan.

The video had already been trying Amy and Rory's patience and that was really starting to show, as Amy didn't think twice about ignoring the Master and crossing her arms at the Doctor, "What did River say Doctor?" She already had a suspicion but she wasn't sure how it would draw this much anger from the Master (then again if it was what she thought, then it had caused a lot of trouble for them in the past).

The Doctor sighed, eyes darting from the Master, to River and then finally settling on Amy. This was a question that the group weren't going to let her avoid. "My name. River said my name."

The reactions from the group were immediate, a symphony of sharp breaths and wide eyes as they processed what the Doctor had said. It had been suggested that River knew the Doctor's true name, a secret that famously few knew and yet many hunted for, but it was another to have it dangled in front of them. Amy and Rory shared a long look, their theory had been right but that still didn't explain the Master's reaction (outside of him being territorial of his friend/enemy, which he'd been shown to be already).

The Doctor's declaration drew the Master's fury, which was still bubbling away, back onto her. "You didn't." He repeated.

The Doctor glared back, repeating her words as well, "I did."

"Why?!" The Master hissed, a thousand other words hidden in that one. Why did you tell her? How could you tell anyone?

The Doctor's expression softened slightly, hearing the truth behind the words. Their relationship was endlessly complicated, and rather unexplainable at times. One of the things he'd always held close, been almost proud of, was that he knew the Doctor's real name. That he was one of such a small number of people, the first (and really only) person the Doctor had ever chosen to tell. And now here was the proof that the Doctor had taken that from him. It felt like a betrayal of whatever they had left of their relationship.

"She is my wife. I love her." The Doctor said firmly, though anyone who looked closely noticed her eyes were locked on the Master's. More word hidden within her own statement: She loved River, but it didn't mean she didn't care about, love even, the Master. Their relationship was just complicated.

The Master visibly bristled at that, but schooled himself and leaned back. He turned to the screen, finishing the argument there and then. The Doctor's shoulder's slumped, whether out of relief or disappointment no one could tell, as she turned her own eyes back to the screen. Around the pair, the rest of the group shared their own looks, but wisely decided not to poke the metaphorical bear.

River asks if they're good, the Doctor says they are, then River takes back her sonic and leaves him

The Doctor pulled her eyes away from the screen in favour of giving her wife a fond smile, "We're more than good."

River smirked, "I'd hope so, Sweetie."

Jack winked at the pair, "Can I get in on that?"

"Jack!"

The Doctor declares what is interesting about his sonic is it is very hard to interfere with, very little is strong enough, bar some hairdryers which he's working on, but there is a strong signal coming from somewhere that wasn't there before. He asks the group what's new, what's changed? Dave says he doesn't know; it's getting dark?

Even though the Doctor on screen wasn't actually asking them, the group in the room were seriously considering the question. Eager to get more answers now that some of the drama between the Doctor and River was temporarily resolved.

Martha glanced at the screen briefly, lips pursed as she considered the problem at hand for a moment before an idea came to her. "The Moon." Her eyes lit up as several dots connected, "It's getting dark so the moon is rising. And we've already seen Dr Moon Interfering with Donna. The Moon is the problem."

The Doctor smiled proudly, nodding at Martha's suggestion in confirmation.

The Doctor says it is a screwdriver; it works in the dark but the moon is rising, he asks Lux about the moon and what's there. Lux shares it isn't real and was built as part of the library, it's just Doctor Moon

"A Doctor Moon. Not 'The', he said 'A'." Clara said, head tilted like a curious puppy as she noticed the difference in phrasing. The Doctor smirked at her but only waved to the screen in answer.

The Doctor asks what's a Doctor Moon. Lux explains it is a virus checker that supports and maintains the main computer at the core of the planet. The Doctor says it is still active and signalling, someone somewhere in the library is alive and communicating with the moon. He adds the signal is coming from the moon, he's blocking it but it is trying to break through, an image of Donna appears

"Donna's communicating with the Moon." Rose said, verbally working through her thought process, "So she's definitely in the computer. You just need to get her out."

"What about the others?" Mickey asked, adding onto Rose's theory. "The node said Donna was 'saved', and that's what it said about all the missing people. Maybe she's not alone in the computer." Looking to Donna, River and the Doctor didn't earn them anymore answers, the three sharing their own look and refusing to share anymore.

The Doctor calls for her and the image disappears. River says that was her, asking if her can get her back and what it was. The Doctor is trying to find the wavelength but he's being blocked. Anita calls to River who says in a moment, but Anita declares it important as she has two shadows

"That is important." Nardole muttered. The rest of the room immediately tensed, tension in the room rising as the danger of the Vashta Nerada returned with a vengeance. The team's moment of safety was apparently over.

River tells them to get their helmets again, and she'll get Anita's. Anita argues it didn't do Proper Dave any good but River tells her to keep it together. Anita says she's only crying and about to die, it isn't an overreaction

"She has a point." Bill mumbled with a side nod at the screen.

River puts the helmet on Anita and the Doctor sonics the visor black. River worries they've gotten inside but the Doctor explains he tinted the visor and maybe they'll think they're already inside and leave her alone

"You really think that's work?" Graham asked, eyes doubtful if not hopeful.

The Doctor shrugged with a grimace, "Anything was worth a try."

River asks if he thinks they can be fooled like that, the Doctor doesn't know as it is a swarm and it isn't like they chat

"Always time for sarcasm and snarky comments with you, isn't there Doctor." Jack shook his head fondly at her.

The Doctor smiled a bit self-depreciating, "Would you like it any other way?"

Jack's expression softened, "No, no I wouldn't."

Other Dave asks if she can still see, and Anita says just about. The Doctor tells her to stay back, asking for a quick word with River, they both crouch down

"Ah, very private." Yaz rolled her eyes, voice full of sarcasm.

River asks what it is and the Doctor points out she said there were five people still alive in the room, River agrees, and the Doctor continues asking so why are there six?

The group tensed further, eyes immediately darting across the screen to count the people in the room. Upon seeing the Doctor was correct and there was in fact six people, and seeing that it was whatever remained of poor Dave, they somehow manged to tense further.

Zombie Dave has caught up to them, repeating his 'hey, who turned out the lights', the Doctor shouts to run

"Run, run, run. Just keep running." Rory muttered nervously.

At the girl's home, she watches the group run on the tv before changing channels to see Donna talking to Dr Moon

"She can watch everyone? Even those in the computer?" Ryan asked unnerved by the idea, "Wait, isn't she in the computer too?"

Donna, the Doctor and River all shared a knowing look before River answered. "Cal is a bit of a different story to everyone else. It's best to just watch." Her response earned her a few frustrated sighs and annoyed looks from the lack of actual answers, but they were all starting to get (annoyingly) used to never getting all the answers they wanted when they wanted.

Donna is in a living room as her daughter Ella shows her a plasticine figure she made of Donna to her

Donna watched the screen with mixed emotions. Despite never being truly real she couldn't help but feel some grief for her lost children. The whole experience had left her with conflicting emotions, the situation had felt so real while she was in it as had the emotions, and while the simulation had ended it had taken longer for the associated emotions to catch up.

It had taken her some time to adjust afterwards, both her and the Doctor had taken a few days of quietly drifting through space to try and work through (in their own, probably unhealthy ways) everything that had happened, but seeing it again was leading to a resurgence of those emotions. The worried look the Doctor sent her showed she hadn't apparently been hiding those emotions well, or maybe that the Doctor still knew her well.

Donna says it is nice but where is the face, Ella doesn't know

"On a library node apparently." Rose muttered with a disgusted look at the reminder of the nodes.

She asks if Ella saw Dr Moon leave, Lee enters wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. Joshua and Ella greet him as Lee greets them back giving them big hugs. Ella shows him what he made and Lee says it's mummy

"He's gotten better with words." Martha said, not unkindly, more curious at anything. After all, based on what River had said not much time had really passed in real life so it must have been part of the effects of the simulation.

Donna says it hasn't got a face and asks Lee if he sae Dr Moon, Lee didn't, asking if he was there. Donna says he was just a few seconds ago and he must have passed him. Donna looks out the window and catches a brief glimpse of a woman in a long black Victorian dress walking away

"Mysterious figure, caught out of the corner of your eye." Bill said, "They either have all the answers or are very dangerous."

Yaz tilted her head at that comment, "You know, you're right. It's always one of the two, but either way you're definitely going to have to find out and the only way to do that is to chase them."

"I hate our lives sometimes." Ryan muttered.

"No, you don't." Yaz countered.

"No, I don't." Ryan sighed in reluctant agreement.

Lee asks if she's alright, she claims she is, just, then she says it is nothing and it's been a long day so she's tired

"It was a very long day." Donna muttered, a very long emotionally draining mess that still weighed on both her and the Doctor.

They're now in a bedroom and Lee asks if she's okay. Donna is confused as she recounts what happened, she says she was tired, they put the kids to bed and then watched tv

"As good as the simulation it is, its not flawless apparently. That or you're very observant." Mickey mused with a glance at Donna. So far, she'd been the only person (not that they'd really seen many in the simulation) who'd really noticed the odd time jumps.

The letterbox rattles and Donna asks if it was a letter, Lee points out it is midnight but she sends him to go see what it is. Lee goes and she looks out the window to see the woman in black more clearly, she's wearing a veil and Lee returns declaring the world is wrong. Lee clarifies it is the letter for her, it says the world is wring, meet at the usual playpark, two o'clock tomorrow. The woman in black walks away as Donn declares her a nutter

"A nutter that apparently has answers." Clara shrugged, "As is the way with things."

"Normal people are boring." The Doctor declared with a wide grin at the group.

"That says everything about you Doctor."

"Oi! What's that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know, Sweetie."

At the girl's home, she begs Donna not to go

The group all glanced between each other and the screen. The young girl was still one of the biggest parts of the mystery left and her reaction was worrying.

Donna brings her kids to the playground and sends them off to play before sitting next to the woman on the bench. She says she got her note and asks what she means by the world is wrong. The woman says she didn't, and when Donna asks what, she explains Donna didn't get the note last night but a few seconds ago, and decided to come so suddenly found herself arriving, that's how time progresses there in a manner like dreams. But she's suspected that before hasn't she Donna Noble?

"Mystery veil woman does in fact know the answers to the mystery." Amy nodded, "Let's just hope she's a friendly mysterious woman who doesn't want to kill you." It said a lot about their lives that there was a big chance of that happening.

Donna asks how she knows her, and the woman explains they met before in the library and Donna was kind to her so she hopes to return that kindness. Donna recognises her voice. The woman says she does and she's what is left of Miss Evangelista

The group all blinked confused at that, "But she's ... she died." Rose said confused. River, the Doctor and Donna shared a knowing look but stayed silent.

Their input wasn't needed anyway, after all everyone had learnt a lot of things during their time travelling across time and space with the Doctor.

Jack was the first to speak up, "She died but the suits are high technology and the system seems determined to save everyone."

"The data ghosting!" Clara snapped her fingers as she sat up straighter in realisation, finishing Jack's train of thought.

Mickey nodded along thoughtfully, "If the data ghosting is the consciousness being temporarily held in the suit, is it possible for the computer system to back it up and save it to the main system? Add her to the simulation like that?" The group turned to the Doctor, Donna and River expectantly, waiting any sort of response to their theorising.

The Doctor smiled proudly but didn't give a verbal indicator to the group's frustrations, but before they could speak up again the video continued.

Back in the library, the group runs through a high-level walkway to another library skyscraper. The Doctor tells River to go ahead and find a safe spot, River argues it is a carnivorous swarm in a suit and he can't reason with it

"When has that ever stopped the idiot before?" The Master snorted, finally breaking his furious silence.

The Doctor shot them a mock wounded look, although she was fairly happy to see him less outright furious and back to his annoyed, grumbly self. She didn't doubt he was planning some kind of scheme that he would try to enact sooner or later but she trusted the Tardis to protect them.

River took a more aggressive approach. "Finally done pouting, are you?"

The Doctor could see the Master physically bristle in anger; teeth clenched in anger as he prepared a snarled comment to shoot back. Clapping her hands to distract him (and everyone else as she could feel the tension building around her) she mentally begged the Tardis to quickly play the video again, and thankfully her prayers were answered as the video continued before any more fights could break out.

The Doctor says five minutes. River tells Other Dave to stay with him and pull him out when he's too stupid to live, she gives him two minutes

"You frustrate the hell out of me." River announced with a frustrated glare at the Doctor.

"Love you too."

Zombie Dave barges through the doors, still repeating his last words. The Doctor asks if they hear that, those words, they are the last thoughts of a man who wore the suit before they climbed inside and killed him. It is a man's soul trapped inside a neural relay stuck going round forever. He says if they don't have the decency to let him go, then use him to talk to him, and it is easy just point and think, talk to him

Amy swallowed, glancing at the Doctor worried. This whole situation and the Doctor's suggestion was giving her horrible reminders of their time on the Byzantium with the Weeping Angels. Specifically, the Angel that used the Cleric Bob to speak and taunt them. That whole mess had featured in many of her nightmares, even after the mystery of the crack was solved, but especially after the angel sent her and Rory back to New York for the last time.

The Doctor caught her expression out of the corner of her eye and swiftly figured out what she was thinking about (the fact Amy was rubbing her eye like it still had stone dust in it helped), and she quickly sent her what she hoped was a comforting smile.

The Doctor continues that the Vashta Nerada live on all worlds in the system but hunt in forests so what ate they doing in a library?

"What is a library but a fallen forest?" Clara muttered almost absent minded, before what she said actually hit her.

Her words also resonated with other members of the group. Yaz shot up straight in her seat, "They're from forests? That must be how they got there! They were in the books." That solved one of only many mysterious, but it still felt good to feel like they were getting somewhere.

Other Dave says they should go, and the Doctor says in a minute, asking the swarm why they came to the library to hunt, why? The Vashta Nerada says they did not, the Doctor says they will get a hang of it, asking did not what? The swarm says they did not come here

"Because they were already in the paper, they were taken from their home when the trees were cut down and turned into books. They didn't choose to be here." Rose said.

"But they did choose to hunt." Jack grimaced, "They seem the kind to take advantage of an opportunity like this."

The Doctor agues of course they came, but the swarm argues they come from there, they hatched there. The Doctor argues they hatch from trees, and the swarm declares these are their forests, the Doctor says they are nowhere near a forest and to look around

"Slow Doctor. Very slow." The Master tilted his head, smirking smugly as he mocked the Doctor.

The Doctor glared at him, arms crossed, as she pursed her lips, "I had a lot of other things to think about."

"Excuses, excuses." The Doctor made the executive decision to ignore him for her own sanity.

The swarm presses that these are their forests. The Doctor continues to argue but the penny drops as he states there are no trees in a library. Other Dave shouts they should go again. The Doctor realises they came in the books, microspores in a million, million books

"Slow." The Master drawled out mockingly. She continued to ignore him.

Dave repeats his words. The Doctor continues about the forests of the Vashta Nerada being pulped, printed d bound, books hatching shadows. Dave repeats again.

"He's repeating that one thing." Bill whispered, face going ashen as it clicked. She glanced at the Doctor desperate for a negative answer but the Doctor just grimaced confirming her fears.

The Doctor apologises to Other Dave, who is now a skeleton. The Doctor declares that he's stupid and talks to much, always blabbering on, but do they want to know the only reason he's still alive? Always stay near a door. He opens a trapdoor with his sonic and drops. The girl watches him on the tv as he hangs from a support strut and inches his way along with his screwdriver clenched between his teeth

The whole group let out a breath glad to see the Doctor escape but tensions were high with Other Dave's death. That was another member of the group down, they were dropping far too quickly for anyone's liking (preferably no one would be dying quite frankly).

Back in the playground, Evangelista says she suggester to meet there as it is the easiest place to see the lie. Donna asks what lie, and Evangelista tells her to look at the children

As Evangelista mentioned it the group all turned their attention away from Donna and onto the children playing in the background. It didn't take long for them to notice exactly what was wrong with the scene.

"They're all the same." Martha announced, eyes widening as she turned to Donna and the Doctor for answers.

Instead of either of them, it was River who answered (as she knew the most about the computer system, not that any of the group was aware of that yet). "It's an amazing advanced system but even then, it can only go so far."

Donna asks why she wears a veil as if she had a face like hers, she wouldn't hide it. Evangelista asks she remembers her face? She points out the memories are still there but she's been programmed not to look

"A bit like a perception filter?" Clara asked, head tilted in consideration as she sent a questioning look at the Doctor.

The Doctor hummed in consideration. "In a way. Except instead of showing what you want to see, it makes you not notice the inconsistencies."

Donna apologises as she's dead, and Evangelista says in a way they're all dead there, the dead of the library

"Donna's not dead." Martha declared firmly, eyes daring the Doctor to correct her.

"She's not." The Doctor nodded in firm agreement, attempting to reassure the group who had tensed at Evangelista's words. "She's not."

Donna asks about the children as hers aren't dead. Evangelista argues they were never alive and Donna shouts at her to not say that. Evangelista tells her to look at them, really look, Donna does and finds all the children at the playpark are Ella and Joshua repeated over and over. Evangelista says they aren't real, all the children in the world are the same boy and girl over and over. Donna tells her to stop, asking why she's doing that, why she's wearing a veil. Donna pulls off Evangelista's veil to reveal a distorted and stretched face. Both Donna and the girl scream

Several members of the group flinched back at the unexpected sight.

"What happened to her?" Yaz asked horrified. The Doctor, Donna and River shared a knowing look but refused to answer, turning purposefully back to the screen instead of meeting anyone's questioning eyes.

In a reading room of the library, night has fallen and River and the remains of the team are in another round room as she checks the shadows with her screwdriver. River says it's funny as she keeps wishing the Doctor was there, and Anita points out he is there, and says he's coming back, right?

"That's not what you mean." Jack said, eyes sad but alight with understanding. If anyone could understand River's struggles with the younger Doctor it was him. He'd met and seen several iterations of younger Doctors in his time after Game Station when he was trying to find him and Rose, but he'd never managed to find the one he knew until the mess with Martha and the Master.

"No, it's not." River nodded back, expression tight even as she shared an understanding look with Jack. They'd been enjoying each other's company during their time here watching the videos. It was always nice to meet a fellow time traveller who'd dealt with the Doctor, it also meant they could team up on the Doctor when they were being impossible.

River says it is like seeing a photograph of someone you know but from years before you know them, like they're not quite finished yet, and yes, the Doctor is there and he came when she called as he always does but he's not her Doctor, not yet. He's not her Doctor who she's seen whole armies turn and run from, and he'd swagger back to the Tardis and open the doors with a snap of his fingers. The Doctor appears saying spoilers and nobody can open the Tardis like that, it doesn't work like that

"Yes, it does." Rory said, they'd seen their Doctor snap their fingers and open the doors countless times.

Amy glanced between the pair, mind whirling as she put together the pieces, "It's because of River that you know you can do that." It was a statement not a question, the Scottish red-head confident in her assessment.

"The joys of time travel." If the Doctor's smile was a bit strained no one commented on it.

River says it does for the Doctor, he says he is the Doctor, and River says yeah, some day

"I was the Doctor long before I met you." The Doctor said not unkindly, but unable to say nothing.

"Yes, and long after me hopefully." River nodded, "But you weren't my Doctor back then." The Doctor's expression saddened with the mention of River being long gone. She'd already thought that had happened, and had started to learn to live with it. But here was a miracle, River was alive (alongside so many of her other friends and family thought lost to her in different ways) and the thought of losing her (losing them all) again was unthinkably painful. Yet a pain she had a horrible feeling she would have to endure anyway. No one knew how long their time in the room watching videos was going to last or what was going to happen afterwards.

The Doctor asks how they're doing, and River ask where Other Dave is, the Doctor apologises as he isn't coming. Anita asks if the took him why haven't they got her yet?

"Luck?" Mickey offered with a shrug.

The Doctor says he doesn't know and maybe the tinted visor is making a difference. Anita has two shadows

"I think her luck's run out." Ryan grimaced as they all noticed the double shadow.

Anita says it is making a difference and no one I going to see her face again. The Doctor asks if he can get her anything and she says old age would be nice, asking if there is anything he can do, he replies he's all over it

There were mixed emotions in the room with that comment. They had all come to accept, hate but accept, that Anita was likely doomed (although there was some hope if Evangelista was apparently saved in the computer that the others might be too) yet here was the Doctor still attempting to reassure her everything was okay (with debatable success).

Anita says when they first met the Doctor, he didn't trust River but then she whispered a word to him and he did, she says she could do with a word like that, she asks what River said as his secrets will be safe with her

"Bit hopeful there. The Doctor's not going to share that word." Amy snorted; it was close to a miracle that she'd shared it with River who they married. No matter how close to death Anita was, there was no chance he was ever going to share his name with her, it was far too dangerous.

"He better not." The Master hissed, dark eyes locked on the Doctor daring her to disagree. The Doctor rolled her eyes at that but gave a subtle shake of her head.

The Doctor gets caught on the word safe. He says nobody says saved, you say safe, he asks Lux what the data fragment said. Lux reminds him it said four thousand and twenty-two people saved, no survivors. The Doctor works out it meant literally saved, as nobody says saved

"Finally worked it out, Doctor?" Rose teased, reaching for a lighter atmosphere to relieve them all from the heavy tension that had periodically weighed the room down as the situation on screen became worse.

"Yeah Doctor. What took you so long?" Clara joined in, "Getting slow in your age, old man?"

The Doctor huffed, rolling her eyes, but everyone could see the smile tugging at her lips. "U didn't get all the extra clues you lot did, thank you very much!"

Back at the playground, Donna asks what happened to Evangelista's face and she explains it was a transcription error which destroyed her face but did wonders for her intellect, she says she's a poor copy of herself

That comment earned the screen a series of grimaces and concerned looks.

"But Donna seems alright?" Graham asked, a bit confused (thankful but confused). From what'd he'd seen of the fiery woman the on-screen version of herself didn't seem to have been affected much by entering the simulation in terms of alteration of personality and appearances.

The Doctor gave Graham a weak smile as she tried to explain, "The computer had a lot of practice saving people so Donna was alright and 'translated' well. Evangelista, however, died. There was less material to translate over so to say, so it was a poorer copy, and the system had much less practise with dead people." Graham nodded his understanding as the video continued.

At the girls' home, the women are on the tv. Donna asks where they are and why all the children are the same, Evangelista explains the same pattern over and over saves a lot of space – cyberspace. The girl shouts she mustn't tell

"Why doesn't she want them to know the truth?" Bill asked curious.

The Doctor, Donna and River all shared one of their knowing looks before the Doctor answered. "You'll see."

In the reading room, the Doctor has gotten into a Library Archive File, he explains it is all there, a hundred years ago a massive power surge as all the teleports went at once. Just as the Vashta Nerada hit their hatching cycle, they attack, someone hits the alarm and the computer tries to teleport everyone out

"And it grabbed them mid-teleport, stored them essentially." Jack nodded in understanding, pieces of the picture finally clicking together, "And when you tried to teleport Donna to the Tardis it thought it had to do the same to save her."

The Doctor continues saying it succeeded in teleporting everyone but didn't know where to send them as there was nowhere safe in the whole library so they were all stuck in the system, waiting to be sent like emails. He asks what is a computer to do, what does one always do? River finished that it saved them

"I am not a bloody email!" Donna protested the comparison vehemently. "You take that back, Spaceman!"

The Doctor immediately held her hands up in surrender as she came under fire from her fiery companion, but she was saved any sort of argument as the Tardis decided to keep playing the video.

The Doctor draws on a large polished table as he continues, talking about the biggest hard drive in history at the core of the library, the computer saved those people the only way it could – by saving them to the hard drive

"Question is, how do you get them out?" Nardole muttered with a glance at River. He had a bad feeling he knew where this was going to go.

In the playpark, Evangelista explains Donna's physical self is stored in the library as an energy signature and it can be actualised whenever she or the library requires. Donna worries about her face ending up on one of the statues

Donna grumbled audibly at that, very annoyed that that fear had come true but unsure exactly what to do about it now, so settled for making her annoyance known to the rest of the group who winced at the reminder.

Evangelista comments on her remembering the statues as Donna is fixed on this not being her real body as she's been dieting

"Love your priorities, Donna." Martha grinned at her friend, reassured to see her time in a simulated reality hadn't changed her one bit.

Evangelista explains everything they see around them is nothing more than virtual reality. Donna asks why she looks like that then, and Evangelista explains she had no choice while Donna was teleported as a perfect reproduction, she was a data ghost caught in the Wi-Fi and automatically uploaded. She thinks a decimal point may have shifted in her IQ, but her face became the bigger advantage as she now has the two traits people require to see absolute truth – she is brilliant and unloved

"Oh Evangelista. No one's unloved." Donna sighed, expression sad as she remembered poor Evangelista who seemed to have no luck in life or death.

"Well said Donna." The Doctor smiled proudly, "Well said." She glanced around the room taking a moment to lock eyes with everyone one by one, here she was surrounded by loved ones and she wanted them to know how much she cared, despite how terrible she was at showing it most of the time. If her glances with both River and the Master lasted just that bit longer than with anyone else, well no one had to know.

Donna asks who's dream it is, and Evangelista says it is hard to see everything in the data core but there is one word – Cal. The girl is crying as she changed channels

"So, you're all in a simulation based of the dreams of a young girl?" Rory asked, "Why is she the one controlling it?"

The Doctor and River shared a long look before River answered for the pair, "Just watch dad."

At the playground, Ella has fallen from a swing and calls for Donna. Donna helps her as Evangelista reminds her, they aren't real and she's sorry but now Donna understands that she won't be able to keep a hold as they are sustained by her belief. Donna argues she doesn't know as she doesn't have children, Evangelista argues neither does she

"They may have been a simulation but that didn't make them any less real to me." Donna whispered to herself, a reply to Evangelista that the other woman would never hear. She couldn't help but glance quickly at the Doctor, if anyone would understand the grief of lost children it was her.

On the tv at the girl's home, Evangelista tells Donna to let them go for her own sake. The girl cries for Evangelista to stop it as she'll spoil everything, her father asks what is wrong and she shouts for him to shut up. She points the remote at her father, presses a button and he vanishes, she cried for him and throws the remote on the floor

"The regrets of a tantrum-ing child." Martha sighed. Being a mother, she knew exactly what kids could be like, even if hers wasn't at that age yet.

"I think with reality falling down around her, she has a right to a bit of an emotional display." Mickey commented with a grimace at the situation, things didn't seem to be getting better despite there being more answers.

In the reading room, and alarm sounds. Lux asks what is wrong and the computer declares auto destruction is enabled in twenty minutes

"Oh great!" Rory sighed, hand on his forehead and voice near hysterical, "because things can't get any worse! Just what you need, a countdown!" Amy squeezed their joint hands, offering a sad understanding smile in an unusually quiet and calm manner as she tried to calm her panicking husband down. Rory took a deep breath, eyes closed, before he squeezed her hand back. They were both just desperate to know their daughter's fate.

At the girl's home, on the tv, Ella asks what the lady meant about them not being real, Donna takes them home but the lighting is red and alarm is sounding. The kids ask what is wrong and comment on how quick the journey was

"This is just cruel." Rose argued, shaking her head at the situation on screen. It was unfair to Donna to put her through that, but life was rarely fair as they'd all discovered countless times in their travels.

In the reading room River asks what maximum erasure is and the Doctor explains in twenty minutes the planet is going to crack like an egg

"Hopefully nothing hatches out of this one." Clara muttered as she shared a glance with the Doctor. Quickly catching on to what Clara was thinking about, the Doctor shook her head. This wouldn't be like the moon. The pair's exchange drew a few curious looks but most were far to focused on the current mess they were watching to ask any questions.

Lux argues it is alright as Doctor Moon will stop it as it is programmed to protect Cal. In the girl's home, Moon arrives and tells the girl she should stop this and she's forgotten again that it was her that saved all those people and then she remembered. She shouts for him to shut up, grabs the remote and makes him vanish too

"I think there's going to be a problem with Dr Moon stopping it." Yaz announced with a grimace. The Doctor really had the worst luck.

In the reading room, the terminal screen goes blank as the Doctor protests. The computer declares all library systems are permanently offline. Lux says they need to stop this and save Cal. The Doctor asks what Cal is.

"Yeah, who is Cal, and why is she so important to the system and Lux?" Ryan agreed with the Doctor on screen.

"Besides her looking like a young Clara that is." Bill's comment drew the room's attention quickly, "What? Come on you can't say she doesn't look a bit like a young version of Clara!"

Clara seemed to consider it, as did the rest of the room based on the hums of various agreement. "I'm not sure if I like the comparison." She eventually decided upon before her attention was taken back onto the danger unfolding on screen.

Lux says he'll show them but they need to get to the main computer, the Doctor argues it is at the core of the planet and River says they better go then. River points her sonic at the library logo in the middle of the floor and it opens revealing a gravity platform. The Doctor says he bets he likes her and River says he does

"Oh, I really do." The Doctor grinned at her wife who matched her expression with her own mischievous grin.

"I do too."

"Jack!"

The four step on and go down. With Donna she tells the kids to stay where she can see them as Ella asks if it is bedtime. Then they're tucked in their bed as Donna recites what happened before Ella says they aren't real, are they

"Stop it now." Martha shook her head at the screen, "This is just cruel." She didn't even want to think about what it would be like to be in Donna's situation but she could see how much it was affecting her friend on screen even if the version in the room with them had her eyes firmly locked on the screen.

Donna argues of course they're real, why does she say that? Joshua says when she isn't there sometimes it is like they're not there, and Ella adds when she closes her eyes they stop. Donna promises to never close her eyes again but the children have vanished leaving a frantic Donna begging no

Everyone looked away at the screen, deeply uncomfortable and pained by what they'd just witnessed. They wanted to give Donna some privacy, having a feeling she wouldn't appreciate any comments or reassurances at the moment. Martha set a mental reminder to pull he aside during the next break and remind Donna she was there if she wanted to talk about anything.

Down at the data core, the computer declares auto-destruction in fifteen minutes. The Doctor looks up to see a globe with swirling energy in it and declares it the data core with all those people trapped in it. River says they won't be living much longer as they are running out of time

"High stakes, danger all around and a timer counting down." Jack grimaced, "Why does this always happen to you Doctor?" No one could give him any answers.

At the girl's home she begs for help. At the data core, the Doctor finds an access terminal and hears the girl's begging. Anita asks what it was as River asks if it was a child. The Doctor says the computer is in sleep mode and he's trying to wake it but can't. He taps at the keyboard and toys come to life in the girls' home

"That's an interesting effect." Mickey muttered, the translation of things in the library to things in Cal's world/the computer simulation was very odd at times.

River comments on the readings as the Doctor says he knows and you'd think it was dreaming. Lux says it is dreaming, of a normal life with a lovely dad and every book ever written

Clara's eyes widened as she came to a sudden realisation, "She was real, wasn't she?"

"Real? What do you mean real?" Graham asked, even though Clara's question had been directed at the Doctor. Clara just kept her focus on the Doctor who grimaced and waved to the screen in answer, there was no point explaining when (if her memory served her well) Lux was about to do so on screen.

Anita argues computers don't dream but Lux counters little girls do. He pulls a breaker and a door opens, they run in to the CAL interface. A node turns to face them with the girls' face, still begging them for help

"Great now she's on one of those creepy nodes." Ryan muttered giving a glare to the node. Those things were just plain creepy.

Anita is shocked that it is the little girls they saw in the computer. Lux says she isn't in the computer but is the computer in a way – this is Cal, the main command node. The Doctor asks why he didn't tell them Cal is a child hooked up to a mainframe as he needed to know. Lux argues it is because she's family – Charlotte Abigail Lux (Cal) – his grandfather's youngest daughter who was dying so he built her a library and put her living mind inside with a moon to watch over her and every book to rad to pass the time. He says Cal loved books more than anything and all al; his grandfather asked was she be left in peace, a secret not a freak show

"That's why he's been so cautious with the security. He was trying to protect her, protect his ... aunt, I guess." Bill realised, okay that made her dislike him a bit less, but he still could have been nicer to Evangelista and the others.

"That's incredible." Jack muttered, he'd never had a chance to visit the Library during his travels (they weren't typically his scene) but he was regretting it a bit now, although he'd skip the shadow piranhas and being saved in a computer for a century.

The Doctor realises Lux wasn't protecting a patent but Cal. Lux says it is inly half a life but it is forever, until the shadows came adds the Doctor. The girl node says the shadows, she has to save

"She's a good kid." Martha's eyes were sad, the poor girl had been through a lot and despite how panicky and stressful it was for her she was still trying to save everyone.

"Yes, she is." River smiled bittersweet. She'd been the only one that had gotten a chance to know the young girl (not that any of the group knew that yet).

The Doctor continues Cal saved them, saved everyone in the library by folding them in her dreams and keeping them safe. Anita asks why she didn't tell them. The Doctor explains it was because she forgot, as she has over four thousand living minds chatting inside her head and it must be like, well being him

The imagery of all that chaos in their minds was enough to earn grimaces from the whole group, and a few curious looks at the Doctor's almost blasé comment. They knew the Doctor's mind worked differently form theirs (they were, at the end of the day, still an alien even though they often forgot that with how they acted – though other times it was impossible to forget) but it was rare to get an insight into exactly how. Yet this really wasn't the time for questions. The end was in sight and they all had a bad feeling about the result.

River asks what they do as the computer declares autodestruct in ten minutes. The Doctor declares it easy; they beam everyone out of the data core, causing the computer to reset and stop the countdown. The difficult part is Charlotte doesn't have enough memory space left to make the transfer, but easy he'll hook himself to the computer and she can borrow his memory space

The majority of the group, those that didn't understand the consequences of the Doctor's chosen method of saving everyone, smiled happy for there to be an actual plan for once. Jack, Nardole, and the Master, however, those that knew that bit more, all turned to the Doctor with varying expressions. Some matching River's annoyed and others more concerned.

"That would kill you!" Jack's exclamation shattered the building hope most of the group was feeling.

"Yes." The Doctor answered defiantly, gaze locked on Jack and purposefully ignoring the rest of the room, "And?"

"Doctor ..." Jack started, annoyance at her lack of preservation leaking through into his voice.

"Don't start!" The Doctor snapped back interrupting him. "It was the best idea and only plan that would work." River scoffed at that and the Doctor resisted the temptation to turn to face her.

That however, also seemed to be the breaking point for Jack as he immediately snapped back, loud and anger born from concern dominating his voice, "How long is it going to take to get it into your thick skull that we care about you? How long until you understand that we don't want to watch you be a self-sacrificing idiot? That we don't want to lose you?" The anger bled out a bit, his voice going hoarser at the end.

The Doctor's stern expression wavered, a swift glance at River very telling to all those watching. "I'd rather it be me than any of you."

"You don't get to make that choice."

"Neither do you." The pair looked away from each other, concern and anger both simmering far too close to the surface as the Tardis continued the video.

RIVER: Difficult. It'll kill you stone dead.

"You'd regenerate right, Doc?" Graham asked hopefully, not seeing any other way out of this mess.

Amy and Rory, however, were sharing increasingly concerned looks at River and the screen. The sinking feeling in their stomachs had turned to an anvil and had plummeted down with great effect. They had a very good idea about how this was going to turn out, and they hated it.

River answered for the Doctor, not trusting her to tell the truth. "No." The simple answer was damming, and she purposefully avoided looking at her parents

The Doctor says it is easy to criticise. River continues that it will burn out both his hearts and he won't regenerate. The Doctor says he'll try his hardest not to die as it isn't his main thing

"We wish it wasn't." Jack said, expression unbearably sad.

The Doctor argues against River's protests saying he's right and it will work, shut up. He tells them to listen, telling Lux to head back to the main library and primes any data cells he can find for maximum download, and then tells River to shut up again. River declares she hates him sometimes

"A lot of the time, especially times like these." River muttered in agreement with her past self. She couldn't find it in herself to regret the decisions she made that day, the video only serving to reassure she'd done the right thing, no matter how painful it was going to be for everyone to watch.

The Doctor says he knows. River says Lux with her, and tells Anita if the Doctor dies, she'll kill him

"Get in line." The Master muttered darkly from his corner earning wary looks from the group. They couldn't tell how serious of a threat it was which only severed to scare them more. The Doctor just sighed, reminded yet again by how similar River and the Master could be at times (not that she'd ever mention it to either of them, that wouldn't end pretty)

River and Lux leave, Anita asks about the Vashta Nerada

A few people couldn't help but think, no matter how terrible s thought it was, how Anita was still alive. She'd survived much longer than the rest of the crew had when they'd been in her position. They were all dreading the inevitable repeating words.

The Doctor explains these are their forests and he's going to seal Charlotte inside her little world, take everybody else away and the shadows can swarm to their hearts' content

"You're going to give the Library to them?" Yaz asked.

"Not much other choice. They're a very determined and deadly pest, very hard to remove." The Doctor shrugged; expression blank as her mind was still focused on the worst that was yet to come.

Anita asks if he thinks they're just going to let them go and the Doctor says it is the best offer they're going to get, she asks about making them an offer. The Doctor says they better take it as right now he's finding it very hard to make any offer at all, as he really liked Anita as she was brave even when she was crying and she never gave in and they ate her – he clears her visor to reveal a skull

"Oh god." Rose muttered, hands moving to cover her mouth in shock. They guessed that answered the question of how Anita had survived so long – she hadn't. The Vashta Nerada had just gotten much better at stealing the voices of the people they killed. A terrifying and chilling though. They gave poor Anita a moment of silence even as they were impatient to know how this all ended.

The Doctor said he's going to let that past as long as they let them pass. Zombie Anita asks how long he's known and he says he counted the shadows and she only has one now, and she's nearly gone so be kind

"Never cruel, never cowardly. Always be kind." The Doctor muttered the broken words to herself, curling in a bit although she kept a firm grip on River's hand as a reminder her wife was safe and alive next to her.

Zombie Anita declares these are their forests an they are not kind. The Doctor argues he's giving them back their forests and the swarm is letting them go. Zombie Anita adds they are their meat

"They're not your anything!" Donna protested firmly, the mess hitting much closer to home as she had actually been there. Had actually met the people the Vashta Nerada had killed so carelessly. She knew the rest of the group cared but there was almost this weird disconnection with the people they hadn't actually met, she knew that all too well if they were feeling how she had felt in some of the other videos.

Shadows stretch from Zombie Anita towards the Doctor and he says not to play games with him as they just killed someone he liked, so they are not standing in a safe place. He declares he is the Doctor and they're in the biggest library in the world so look him up. The swarm pauses and the shadows withdraw, giving him one day

The group was silent, the weight of that one moment. That one comment hitting them hard. Realistically, they all knew the Doctor had a reputation, and a dangerous one at that. But it was another thing to see beings run (or at least retreat) in the face of their anger. It was hard sometimes to connect the person they travelled with to the alien that so many feared or revered.

The suit collapses as River returns, the Doctor apologises as Anita has been dead a while now. He then said he told her to go, and she argues Lux can managed without her but the Doctor can't. River punches the Doctor, knocking him out, a little while later she is twisting some wires together

"River." Amy started, voice dangerously low, sounding very like a mother daring a young child to defy her rules, the mother she should have been. "Don't you dare do what I think you're about to do."

River smiled sadly but didn't back down in the face of her mother's fury, "Sorry mother. Can't make that promise."

It was Rory's broken, "River ..." that almost did her in. She turned to the screen, a tight lock on the Doctor's hand as she did her best to avoid her parent's grief behind her. She's experienced the grief of losing them and now they were grieving her lost. Neither had been lost in the traditional manner, but both had been lost to the other group. The universe was often cruel like that.

The computer declares autodestruct in two minutes as the Doctor wakes up protesting as he asks what River is doing and says it is his job. River says she's not allowed a career then?

Jack looked between the pair of idiots he shared a sofa with before letting out a deep sigh, "The two of you are the worst."

"Like you can talk handsome."

"Bit hypocritical there, Jack." The pair answered in sync, only earning a deeper sigh from Jack. All three ignoring the jumble of emotions almost audible from the rest of the room for their own sanity. They'd pay the price of that latter.

The Doctor asks why he's handcuffed and why she even has some, she says spoilers

The tension was too high for anyone to make a joke with that low hanging fruit. They could all see exactly how this was going to end as much as they desperately wanted to deny it.

The Doctor argues it isn't a joke and to stop this as it will kill her. He says he'd have a chance but she doesn't have any, River argues neither of them have a chance and she's timing it for the end of the countdown where they'll be a blip in the command flow which will improve their chance of a clean download. The Doctor begs her not to

RIVER: Funny thing is, this means you've always known how I was going to die. All the time we've been together, you knew I was coming here. The last time I saw you, the real you, the future you, I mean, you turned up on my doorstep, with a new haircut and a suit. You took me to Darillium to see the Singing Towers. What a night that was. The Towers sang, and you cried.

The group watched in tense silence, feeling like they were watching a car crash in slow motion right before their eyes. They could see the disaster but could do nothing to stop the aftermath. The video of the Doctor and Eyebrow's time on Darillium held far more meaning now. Bill couldn't help but think about the picture of River on the Doctor's desk, she'd known the Doctor had lost River at some point but it was another to actually witness it. The only slight comfort the group had was River's presence with them here, but that didn't mean nearly as much as it should when you considered how many people in the room should be or were technically dead.

The computer declares one minute as River finishes that he wouldn't tell her why but she thinks he knew it was time, her time to go to the library as he even gave her his screwdriver which should have been a clue

"I would have given you one anyway." Without the knowledge of your oncoming death was left unsaid in the Doctor's hoarse whisper to River. Her hand almost crushing River's as she mentally thought with herself over whether to keep holding her hand to remind her of River's safe presence or to pull her hand away as a punishment for allowing River to die. Not that River would have given her a choice as she held the Doctor's hand back just as tightly.

The two screwdrivers and diary are just out the Doctor's reach as River says there is nothing he can do. He says she can let him of this, but River argues if he dies there, she'll never have met him. The Doctor argues time can be rewritten

"Not our time. Never our time together Doctor. Don't you dare." River mumbled to her wife stern in the face of the Doctor's grief.

River tells him not those times, not one line, he won't dare but it is okay as it isn't over for him and he'll see her again, he has all that time to come – her and him, time and space, watch them run

Through her watery eyes Amy watched her daughter's final moments, the Doctor's attitude to her when they first started traveling together gaining a sudden, horrifying, clarity. This was the horror of being a time traveller and living in opposite directions. She kept a tight grip on her own husband, both constantly switching their gaze between the nightmare unfolding on screen and River in the room as a reminder that she was alright.

The Doctor says she knows his name; the computer reaches ten seconds, he continues saying she whispered it in his ear and there is only one time he'd tell anyone his name, one time he could. River hushes him as the computer counts down, declaring spoilers on three. The countdown reaches one and she joins the power cables together creating a blinding light

"River!" Rory called out desperately. Eyes wide in horror and grief, as he quickly locked his gaze on his daughter in the room with them who tried to send her parents a comforting smile. It fell flat in the face of what they'd just witnessed.

The rest of the room was in shock, their own grief hitting string and they didn't even know River as well as her parents and the Doctor. They couldn't imagine how they were feeling and were doing their best to give them some privacy.

Donna bit her lip, the Doctor's behaviour after this making so much more sense. She'd known River had died, had sacrificed herself to save everyone, but seeing it and knowing everything else about River now put a whole new perspective on it. And it wasn't a good one. They'd both suffered so much from their time in the Library, both lost loved ones they barely knew. They'd never spoken about it properly, neither having the emotional skills available to discuss it and now they were really paying the price for it.

With Donna, Lee comes down the stairs asking what is happening. Donna doesn't know but shares that nothing is real, Lee asks if he is real as they start to wash out in bright light. Donna says of course he is and then she really hopes he's real. Lee is pulled away from Donna into the light as Donna promises to find him

Donna was hit with the sudden realisation that there was a high chance Lee had been real. She's considered it briefly in the days and weeks afterwards, after the Doctor had shared the truth of the computer, but she'd always pushed the thought away a sit was too painful to stand. But it was a hard one to ignore now.

At the reception of the library, Lux is working at the desk terminal as people start appearing and asking how they got there. Lux is happy to see them back, shouting they did it

The group couldn't really find it in themselves to celebrate everyone's return, too caught up in River's loss. Although some managed a few tight smiles at the sight, River's sacrifice had not been in vain.

Lux goes down the marble stairs to the balcony as he says the Doctor did it, four thousand and twenty-two people saved. The Doctor is still handcuffed to a copper pipe, sad and mourning

"I'm sorry Sweetie." River mumbled to her wife, own expression echoing the Doctor's.

"Not for the right reasons you're not."

"...No." River couldn't help but quietly agree, but she still couldn't find it in herself to regret it.

At the little shop, people are teleporting out as the computer tells them to be patient. The Doctor asks Donna if she has had any luck, Donna says there wsn't anyone called Lee in the library that day and she guesses he could have a different name out there but to be honest, he wasn't real, was he? The Doctor says maybe not

"I'm sorry Donna." Martha muttered quietly to her friend, her words holding a lot more meaning than just the surface ones.

"It's okay." Donna quickly answered, even though her expression and voice disagreed.

"No, it's not." Martha just shook her head, expression pained. She was sadly starting to see why the Tardis had brought them all together. The Doctor may have been the main person needing help but she wasn't the only one. They all could do with a good hug and friendly hand to hold. She'd had Mickey in the time since leaving the Doctor and she wasn't even fully okay, whereas Donna hadn't even had her memories let alone the time to properly deal with everything she'd been through, of course it was going to hit her heard now.

Donna says she made up the perfect man – gorgeous, adores her and hardly able to say a word – asking what that says about her. The Doctor says everything then quickly changed to nothing, saying he accidentally said everything

The Doctor shook her head at her on screen self, tuning determinedly to Donna and waiting until the red head met her eyes. "It does mean everything Donna, but not in the way you were thinking." Donna had been though a lot, their first meeting with Lance being a good example, it served to reason that Donna's ideal world would be with people that loved her and that was in no way a bad thing. It was just neither Donna nor herself had been in the right emotional state for that conversation that day.

People are still getting teleported in the background as Donna asks what about him, is he alright? The Doctor says he's always all right

"You're never alright." Donna countered; expression unusually solemn.

The Doctor was silent for a moment before finally speaking up, "Maybe not. But I don't think I'm the only one here who isn't."

"No, I don't think you are." It was the start of a conversation they both should have had a long time ago, but it was better late than never.

Donna asks if that is a special Time Lord code for not being all right at all, the Doctor asks why, and Donna says because she's all right too

That was Martha's snapping point as she shuffled om her sofa until she got a good angle to pull Donna into a comforting hug. For once, the normally loud redhead didn't fight or argue and just let herself sink into the comforting embrace. There would be a lot of damage control after this video.

The pair walk out just as Lee stands on the teleport pad, he spots Donna and starts to stutter her name but gets teleported away before he can get a sound out

Donna pulled away slightly from Martha's hug, eyes widened and mouth open but unable to find any words to verbalise her feelings as she finally had defining proof Lee had in fact been real. She could already tell the 'what-ifs' were going to haunt her for a while, not that she would ever give up Shaun or the family she had now, but it was still hard not to think about. Martha allowed her to pull away, recognising Donna needed a moment.

At a staircase, the Doctor puts River's diary on the balcony railing. Donna says River knew him in the future but not her so what happens to her? As the look she gave her when she found out her name

Both the Doctor and Donna shared a long, grieving look. They both knew exactly what happened to Donna and River's reaction made a lot more sense now.

The Doctor says the book is River's diary, his future, and he can look her up, asking if they should peek at the end. Donna argues it is spoilers right, and he agrees, putting River's sonic on the diary. The Doctor says to come on as the next chapter is this way

"Moving forward." Jack muttered.

The Doctor smiled bittersweet, "That's all we can do sometimes."

They walk back up the stairs as the Doctor thinks about something. We hear River talk about how running with the Doctor feels like it will never end but you can't run forever no matter how much you try. Everybody knows that everyone dies and nobody knows it better than the Doctor but she thinks the skies might turn dark is he for even one moment, accepts that

The Doctor frowned a bit at that comment, turning to her wife, "I accept it, sometimes it just takes me a bit longer. And it doesn't mean I have to like it."

"I know Sweetie." River mumbled back, expression soft and sad.

The Doctor runs back for the screwdriver asking why he would give her his sonic, why would he do that? He says the him in the future has had years to think about it, years of thinking of ways to save her and he gave her his sonic, so why?

The group all perked up in their seats at that, desperately clinging onto the thread of hope that the Doctor had just thrown out. River had died but she was with them here, so she must have survived. The question was just how.

"Please Doctor." Amy couldn't help but plead with the Doctor on screen, desperate for any chance for River to live.

The screwdriver also contains a neural relay which has two green lights on it, he says to look at that and he's very goof. Donna asks what he's done and he says saved her

"You've made sure she was uploaded to the computer." Rory realised eyes widening. It wasn't the ending he's hoped for but it was potentially better than the definite death they thought they'd witnessed moments before.

The Doctor runs through the library as one green light goes out, he shouts for her to stay with him as he can do it, her and him, one last run

"Always." River whispered more to the younger version of her husband on screen than her wife next to her. It was so Doctor like to disguised an attempt to save her as a gift, really, she should have expected something sooner.

He reaches the reading room and declares it a shortcut as he dives into the gravity well as the last light is blinking. He plugs the screwdriver into the core and her neural energy is transferred, we hear River says everybody knows that everybody dies but not every day, not today. The charlotte node smiles

"So, you're in the computer?" Bill asked, a bit curious. It wouldn't be the weirdest place the Tardis had pulled someone from after all.

River just smiled cryptically, "I was." And didn't that mean everything.

At the hospital, River is wearing a loose white robe as Charlotte and Doctor Moon walk up to her. Charlotte says she is safe and always will be there as the Doctor fixed the data core and it is a good place now. She was worried River would be lonely so she brought her some friends, and isn't she a clever girl

The Doctor couldn't help but glance at Clara at that last remark from Cal, it hit a bit too close to the words of Clara's splinters for her liking. The likeness between Cal and Clara was odd but sometimes, rarely, coincidences did occur in the universe.

Evangelista says aren't they all. Anita, the two Daves, and Evangelista with her normal face walk towards her. River says he can't just do it can he, that impossible man, he can't give in

"Never." The Doctor smiled, though it was bit strained, mind whirling with all the ways she could have done better.

River narrowed her eyes, sensing her wife's spiralling thoughts. "Stop it."

"Stop what?" The Doctor asked, false innocence splayed across her expression.

It didn't deter River, "You know exactly what I mean. Stop it, Doctor. I made my choice, one day you'll have to accept that." The Doctor's expression wavered, grief bleeding through but she couldn't find anything to counter River's words with.

River continues that some days are special, some are so blessed and nobody dies at all. The Doctor returns to the reception, stares at the Tardis and snaps his fingers casing the door to open, Donna is waiting inside

"Just had to try it." Rose muttered fondly at the sight of Pinstripes snapping his fingers, though it was dampened by the emotional stress of the videos they had watched.

River adds that every once in a while, a day in a million days when the wind stands fair, the Doctor comes to call. The Doctor snaps his fingers again and the door close. River is in a children's bedroom as she closes her diary

"A story, what is it with Ponds and stories?" The Doctor mumbled, looking at Amy who's only focus was her daughter. Some mysterious of the universe were not made to be solved.

She finishes that everybody lives, wishing Charlotte, Ella and Joshua sweet dreams and kissing them goodnight

Donna's eyes widened as she realised River was looking after her kids, or well, the kids that had been hers in the simulation. She couldn't help but give a thankful nod to River, glad to know they weren't just gone forever even if they'd never been actually real.

The screen had barely turned blank before Amy was out of her chair, leaping to her feet with Rory stumbling up behind her. The pair marched straight over to River and the Doctor, Amy grabbing River's free hand and pulling her to her feet (though River didn't really try to resist, giving in under the weight of Amy's clear determination). "We're talking now young lady." She said, giving River no illusion of escape, before she led her little family out of the room, Amy turned ack to the Doctor, "And don't think we're not talking about this later either Raggedy Man!" And with those parting words, the three were out the door of the cinema room, likely heading to Amy and Rory's room for a private conversation.

The Doctor sighed, glancing around the rest of the room who were stretching and untensing themselves after the rollercoaster of emotions they'd just gone through, "How about we all have a break?"

There was no disagreement from anyone, not that they had much of a choice with three of the members of their little watching party having disappeared out of the room. The Doctor couldn't help but look out towards the corridor after them, she desperately wanted to know if and how River had gotten out of the room (and why she hadn't come found her), but she knew better to risk Amy and Rory's patience right now.

The rest of the group started dispersing into the rest of the little domain they had, some heading for the kitchen, others in little groups to private rooms for their own conversations. There were still people she needed to talk to too, but it was always hard to take those first steps out the door and into the inevitably emotionally charged conversations. She finally pulled herself to her feet, a target locked in her mind even as she hesitated at the side of the sofa, watching the last few people disappear into the corridor.

No point putting it off anymore, once more into the breach and all that.