It Is Written In The Stars, chapter 15

"Thought nothing was worse than the Doctor's wake up call. Ugh. Do you have any coffee? How have you not wanted to destroy that thing?" Mickey looked disgusted.

"Oh I still curse at it in multiple languages every morning. But when your job means being on time is paramount …" River shrugs with a grin, then pointed to the two filled coffee mugs on the counter.

Martha chuckles. "If you curse at it, it treats those curses as your name and says it back to you!"

"Yeah, I programmed it to be a bit snarky with me. The guest room was on the default adult wake up setting- mine. The snarkiness wakes me up. I'll change it to a less offensive setting if you'd prefer."

"Yes" Mickey said

"No" Martha laughed, "I think it does wake you up faster."

"Ugh, don't tell me you want something like that on the ship now."

"Would get us going quicker"

Mickey grumbled a bit but then smirked "Only if you give in on that holoplayer I wanted."

"That thing was too big; where would we put it?"

"What model?" River jumped in, betting it was something older than 52nd century.

"GNX 8420"

She nodded. "They were good, sturdy, long lasting, but energy monsters like you wouldn't believe, and yeah, kind of too big for a ship your size. I have one on my ship that is actually better, and made for ships not homes."

"Told you that was for the home, not a ship."

"Yeah, yeah heard you. So can I see the one you have River?"

"Sure, if you don't mind waiting until we get back?"

He nodded, and stepped out of way as Amelia ran pell-mell into the kitchen, giggling and clutching an old plastic toy airplane in her hand. "Got it back, nyah nyah!"

"Don't care" Jonothon followed at a more normal pace, his baby brother on his back.

Little Rory was giggling, enjoying the piggy-back ride.

"Mum, don't forget about the party tomorrow."

"I won't, everything is right here, all ready for it."

"Birthday party?"

"No. School vacation, mid year break. The youngest ones have a party in their classrooms, the middle years have an activity day outside, and the oldest have a career day, of sorts."

"I guess this normal life is good for them after.."

"Yes. I forget sometimes that most of the Doctor's companions were there, and saw…"

"Does it bother you, that your kids saw that?"

"Yes, but the Doctor has been here for most of the past year. That helped Jonothon and Amelia get past what they saw."

"Kind of weird the Doctor's a woman now though; how did they adjust to that?"

"Quite well, actually, especially Jonothon."

You don't know when he, oops she, will be back though?"

"No, one never knows with the Doctor. I'm hoping she comes back while you are visiting though; she'll be so happy to see you both again."

"Even me?" Mickey smirks.

"Sure. The Doctor felt bad about not being that kind to you."

"That's good to know."

After dropping off Jonothon at his school, River led Mickey and Martha to her classroom at the university. "You're in luck; they asked me to teach "The Earth in the First Time Rift era". We are up to the early 21st century. Do try not to snicker too much at some of the questions you'll hear." River chuckled.

"What about your kids? Don't they have day care in this century?"

"They do for parents who want it or need it, but I like to have mine with me. It's still difficult to watch Jonothon go off to school every day, even though his school is only a block away from here…"

"You want to make sure they are safe, right?" Martha looked sympathetic.

"Yes." It was a deeper feeling than even Martha likely guessed. Back to the nightmare childhood in that awful orphanage… River shuddered and pushed those fragments of terror away.

"Would you like us to watch them while you teach?"

"Rory's pretty good, as long as he can see me and hear my voice he's happy. He likes to watch the pictures too. Amelia, though, she's a bit restless, takes more after the Doctor. Don't think Archeology holds her interest." River smirked. "She's curious about new people though; she likes both of you. I think she'll behave better if she does sit with you. I brought along a couple of her toys, and a holobook she likes."

"Holobook?" Mickey looked interested.

"It's interactive, but without sound. If she sits on the floor and plays with it, it doesn't interfere with class."

River watched Mickey and Martha sit in the back next to each other with Amelia on the floor with her holobook.

"Professor Song?"

"Yes, Gordon?"

"How did they colonize Mars in the 2030's? Their technology level should have made that nearly impossible."

"Not by the 2030's. Although, the worldwide economic crash of the turn of that millennium set them back, secret government agencies like UNIT and Torchwood, in the UK, were collecting and figuring out alien tech. They were doing secret test flights by 2015, probably earlier. In 2025 an American company, later found to be a front for a secret government agency, publicly announced a test flight. The successful mission to Mars opened up the doors to exploration again."

Mickey and Martha grinned; they knew about UNIT and Torchwood, firsthand.

"Did the terraforming technology come from the same studies?"

"Yes, Harumi, and Jacob, my guess you were going to ask about the weapon technology?

The blue skinned young man nodded.

"Yes, it's certain that the great technological leap to energy weapons at the beginning of the second third of the 21st century came from the clandestine research of the later 20th and earlier 21st centuries."

"Professor Song?"

"Yes Mike?"

"I'm sorry, think I'm going to be sick"

River looked at the young man on the front row. Mike, usually an eager and attentive student, was sweating heavily, and his legs were shaking, even seated in the chair. She pressed the medical alert button on the wall, then went over to the young man.

"Are you nauseated?"

"Kind of, not bad, but I feel like I'm shaking apart and it's too hot in here."

Martha stepped up and felt his pulse. "Professor, his pulse is way too fast if he's human."

River nodded and softly explained to Martha. "His "mother" is from a planet where the people biologically switch genders every 5 years. His father is from one the few fully human families left in the universe. Neither side of the family had approved of the relationship. Some genetic tinkering had been necessary for Mike to be born healthy. His parents had made him genetically mostly human, and had suppressed the biological gender switching tendencies, out of worry that it would damage Mike's health growing up."

"Just suppressed, not made recessive? I think I know what's happening. His mother's genes are exerting themselves. He needs to get medical treatment immediately."

"I've alerted them. They should be on their way."

"Okay. I've had some experience with semi human and non human patients, I'll see if I can do something until they get here." Martha then spoke softly to Mike. "How long have you felt sick like this?"

"Yesterday."

"What symptoms?"

"Like this, but not so bad. It stopped as soon as I laid down."

"Then let's get you out of that chair and on the floor."

"Don't think I can stand up."

"And with the convulsing, sliding down would be difficult too" Martha bit her lip.

"Mike, can you move your arms to your side?" River said calmly

Mike groaned but removed his arms from the desk and brought them to his side. His torso now shook along with his legs.

Then River turned to Martha. "Stand behind him and hold him still."

"Are you doing what I think you are?" Martha gently, but firmly, held Mike in place in the chair. His torso shaking diminished slightly.

"Probably." River took hold of the desk stem and wrenched it away from the chair. It broke off cleanly. River dropped it to the ground.

Martha was briefly startled by River's strength, but then moved around to Mike's front and put her hands under his arms. River took Mike's legs and they laid him on the floor. Once River stood up and let Martha take over the children came over to her. Little Rory clung to her leg tightly and looked scared. Amelia held her hand but was more curious.

"He's sick mum, right?"

"Yes."

"Can they make him well?"

"I hope so."

Amelia nodded.

The medic team rushed into the room, River stepped out of their way.

"Do you have medical training?" One them brusque stated, looking at Martha.

Yes, I'm a Doctor, with xenobiology experience."

"Okay. Is the patient stabilized enough to move?" The medic aimed a device at Mike.

"Do you have an anticonvulsant that he can use?"

"Checking his medical records." The medic turned the device back toward herself. "Not with us".

Martha and the head medic shared a grimace.

"Got a muscle relaxer that's safe, don't know if it will work but it won't hurt even if it doesn't."

"Better than nothing."

"We hope."

Another member of the medic team bent down and touched a metal square to Mike's forehead. "Any better?" He gently asked Mike.

"Little bit, don't feel like I'm going to shake into pieces anymore."

"Convulsions have stopped, probably won't last long though. Let's get him out of here." They lifted Mike onto the anti-grav stretcher and hurried from the room.

Only then did River turn to look back at her students. Their quiet, anxious faces made her take a deep breath to calmly address them. "Mike is probably a friend to most of you. I know you are worried. Listening to my lecture isn't something you can do right now. We'll take up where we left off next class. It may take some time to get Mike well enough so he can see you. Go be with each other a while, away from the hospital, then go. Hope for the best."

River watched her students solemnly leave the room, none of the usual young adult spirit in them. Perhaps, for some, it was their first experience with seeing someone in a life threatening situation. Martha and Mickey both gave her a hug. She hugged them both back.

"You okay?" Mickey looked at her concerned.

"Just a bit in shock, like all of us. Been long enough since I dealt with anything that traumatic… Hmm used to be better at hiding my reactions, slipping in my old age, maybe." She smiled wryly.

"You don't look old." Mickey grinned.

"Half Time Lord, remember?"

"Bet you aren't a day over 50."

"Pretty close." River laughed.

"Then you'd have to be practically a baby if you are part Time Lord. I mean the Doctor, even when I first met him was over 900."

"Ah, but I'm half human."

"Still, bet you're like a teenager."

"And wouldn't that be a scandal" River grinned "So young and already married and a mother, with a spouse ever so much older than me!"

"Think that boy will be okay?"

"I don't know. They may have to take him back to his mother's people. They might be able to help. I better notify his parents. Admin is supposed to but well… If I do, they'll be notified today. Admin, maybe sometime this week. There's a place nearby where we can relax and I can send that message."

"Decent food?"

"Yes, and it's too dull for the students, so it's quiet."

"Sounds great."

That evening Mickey, Martha, River and her children waited along with Mike's friends in the hospital to hear the prognosis.

"Professor Song?" A young man in medical scrubs called out.

"Yes?"

"Mike's parents wanted to thank you for your quick response-"

"Will Mike be okay?"

"Mike will need care with the mother's family, but yes."

"Good. I'll see what I can do to get the university to let Mike continue my class, if that's what Mike wants."

"Yes. Mike was quite upset about the offworld treatments, if it meant taking incompletes in coursework."

"Will this first transition be-"

"Difficult? Perhaps. Mike's grandmother is a medical professional, she's quite firm about wanting to help."

"So they've accepted their grandchild?"

"Yes."

"Good"

"She wants to talk to you, can I give you your contact info?"

"Absolutely."

"Mike wants to see you now. I think it might be too tiring to let all his friends in tonight, but we'll let them see him briefly tomorrow before he goes offworld."

River nodded. "I'll tell them, they need their rest too, no need for them to sit around here all night."

After most of Mike's friends left, River turned to Mickey and Martha. "Mike wants to see me; could you wait with my kids just outside the door? There's a waiting area there."

"Sure."

"Professor, thanks for helping me. Sorry about the desk, my parents want to pay for the replacement."

"It's fine; it was a medical emergency. I already have your friends in my class vouching for me. The university will pay for it. The dean will just tell me to be less enthusiastic in my life saving next time." River chuckled.

"You know what? My grandmother wants not just me and my mom, but my dad too, to start coming to see them on all the holidays. She said it was 'far past time my dad and I started being a part of the family'."

"What about your grandfather?"

"He wants to see mom and me, grandmother says he'll warm up to dad, eventually, she'll make sure of it."

"Did your mother suppress her transitions when you were growing up?"

"No, she was willing to, if it meant dad's family would accept her. Dad said no, if they didn't accept her as she was, then he didn't need them."

"So they are 'human purists'?" River carefully schooled her expression neutral.

"Yeah." Mike grimaced. "I'm their least favorite grandchild. Now, they'll probably pretend I don't exist at all."

River clasped his hand. "Perhaps your father is right, if they can't accept you as you are, you don't need them."

"Yeah. Professor, you think they'll ever though?"

"I don't know. Sometimes people don't change, even if we wish they would."

"Did that happen to you?"

"Yes, my great aunt Sharon. She never accepted me as a relative."

"Why, professor?"

"Kind of for similar reasons as your father's parents. She wouldn't accept a 'weird alien' as part of her family."

"Yeah, that's what grandfather called me."

"Well, it's their loss, not ours, don't forget that."

River glanced back to the doorway when Mike grinned at something behind her. It was Amelia.

"Mum! Rory won't stop whining." She complained.

"Professor Song, your kids are missing you, I think."

"Yes. I think so too. You rest up. I'll send you the next assignment as soon as you get settled, we'll set up a link so you can attend my lectures from your grandmother's house."

"Thanks professor, tell your friend thanks too."

"I will."