JG: Okay guys… Since I'm having a bit of a writer's block on what to do with the next chapter, and since it is 'Friday the thirteenth' I've decided to give you an Intermission.

Just so you know this is one of The Doctor and Merlin's many adventures, so it will be considered AU. Obviously this is before The Dragon's Call in Fate vs. Destiny.

Read at your own risk. You have been warned. Good luck.

JelloGirl323 doesn't own anything.

Merlin looked at his father with a smile; amused at the childish enthusiasm that he was radiating. The Doctor was skipping around the consul flipping leavers and twisting knobs to his heart's content. He didn't even notice that his son was watching him until Merlin cleared his throat.

"Dad?"

"Humm?" The Doctor asked absently.

"Where are we going exactly?" Merlin asked curiously.

"We are going to the planet Vivenex." The Doctor said brightly.

"Where?" Merlin asked puzzled. "I've never heard of Vivenex."

The Doctor's smile widened in his excitement. "I know. Neither have I, until eight minutes ago actually."

Merlin looked at his father incredulously. "You mean you have never been there?"

"Nope," The Doctor said brightly.

"Then why are we going there?" Merlin asked leaning against one of the many columns on the TARDIS. "I mean what is there for us to see?"

The Doctor fixed his son with an amused stare. "Well, I don't know let's go find out shall we?" He asked dryly.

Merlin scowled good-naturedly at his father. "So you want to just go to some unknown planet, populated with unknown creatures…which could very well kill us….without any knowledge of what is there in the first place. Tell me something father, have you lost your mind?"

The Doctor ignored his son's last comment. "One, it's not unknown anymore. You know about it, I know about it therefore it is known to us. Two, I'm sure the people or creatures there are friendly enough…Once we get to know them."

"Sure, if they don't kill us first." Merlin muttered under his breath.

The Doctor frowned at Merlin. "What's wrong Merlin?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, normally you'd be all for seeing new planets and species. Now you're just being all pessimistic. So what's wrong?"

Merlin sighed. "Nothing's wrong, I just…I don't feel like we should go."

The Doctor seemed to ponder this. "Well why not?"

Merlin shrugged. "Just a…feeling I suppose. I don't know it seems like something bad will happen if we go."

The Doctor bit his lip as he thought about this. Merlin's feelings were usually spot on, even saved his life more than once. So if Merlin said something bad was going to happen, it meant something bad was going to happen.

"Alright," The Doctor said at last. "We'll go somewhere else."

Merlin smiled "Thanks dad."

Nodding to his son the Doctor turned towards the controls and begun to bring the TARDIS out of flight. Only…it wasn't working.

"Huh, that's….odd."

Merlin looked up quickly. "What?"

"The TARDIS, she isn't stopping." The Doctor said with a befuddled frown. "See to stop all I have to do is twist this knob and push this button…but when I pushed the button…nothing."

"Here let me try," Merlin said coming over. He pushed the button but again nothing happened. Merlin looked at his dad with mounting concern. "This is not good."

The Doctor nodded not even looking up from the monitor he was looking at. "And it's about to get worse."

"What? Why!?" Merlin asked in alarm.

"If we can't stop that means we can't land." The Doctor said seriously. "Merlin, we're going to crash."

Just as he said this the TARDIS gave an almighty lurch which threw both father and son in opposite directions. Once the TARDIS stopped shaking and they were able to stand without falling Merlin looked at his father.

"That could've been worse," he said smiling slightly.

The Doctor grinned and stood up quickly. He went over to the monitor and groaned. "Well, I've got bad news and worse news." He commented looking at Merlin.

"What news?" Merlin asked looking apprehensive.

"The bad news is that we're on Vivenex." Merlin groaned and the Doctor gave him a small smile.

"What's the other news?" Merlin asked

"Uh…the TARDIS has to um…recharge in a sense. So basically: we're stuck here."

Merlin was about to say something but was cut off by a shout outside the TARDIS.

"HELP ME!"

After a shared look they both bolted for the door. Flinging the door open the Doctor ran out of the TARDIS only to skid to an abrupt halt. Everywhere you looked there were miles upon miles of corn fields. Old dried up corn fields.

"What? Corn?" He asked looking bewildered.

"Dad! Is now really the time?" Merlin asked in slight exasperation.

"Ah, right. Sorry." The Doctor said sheepishly.

"HELP ME!"

They ran forward through the corn hoping that they would get there in time. Turning around a corner they stopped.

"Okay that's creepy," Merlin commented dryly.

The Doctor couldn't help but to agree. For in front of them hanging on a pole was a scarecrow, which in itself wasn't that startling except for the fact that it had actual eyes. Not beads, buttons or marbles sewn into it, but actual human-like eyes sticking right out of the rough brown material that made up its head.

"Help me."

The voice was back but they couldn't tell which pathway it was coming from. Whipping out his sonic screwdriver the Doctor started down a random pathway. "Come on Merlin!" He yelled as he ran.

Merlin started to follow but stopped when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Turning he froze, for the scarecrow had moved. It was turned towards the trembling warlock. As Merlin watched, wide-eyed with fright, the scarecrow smiled showing sharp fang-like teeth. That were black with what looked like dried blood.

"Help me." It whispered using the same voice that he and his father were chasing. "Help me. I'm so hungry."

Merlin took a step back, not taking his eyes off of the scarecrow. "DAAAD!" He yelled but his voice was choked with fright. "DAD! The scarecrow is ALIVE!"

The scarecrow started to pull itself off of the pole it was strapped on. Landing with a loud thump it started forward with startling speed. Merlin stumbled back only just escaping the hand with sharp talon like nails. "Why won't you help me? I'm so hungry. Please help me."

"Get away from me!" Merlin yelled reacting instinctively with his magic, causing the scarecrow to be blasted back. Turning he fled down the path he thought his father went.

-.-

The Doctor was lost. Utterly and hopelessly lost. And to make matters worse whoever he was supposed to be looking for was nowhere to be found. "Hello? Anyone?" He called trying to see through the massive amounts of corn. "Why did it have to be corn?" He mumbled to himself kicking at a stray stock.

Just then he heard footsteps behind him. Rolling his eyes he continued to scan his surroundings with his screwdriver. "Took you long enough," He commented with a teasing smile. "What were you picking corn Merlin?"

His playful question was met by silence. Frowning the Doctor turned only to jump back in fright. Standing in front of him was a scarecrow. "You're not Merlin."

"Help me," The Scarecrow whispered.

The Doctor felt a shiver run down his spine. He, she, whatever it was…was using Merlin's voice. "Where's Merlin? Where's my son?"

Cocking it's head to the side the scarecrow grinned a sinister grin. "Help me Dad."

The Doctor clenched his teeth and pointed his sonic screwdriver at the scarecrow. "Tell me where he is. Now!"

"Gone," The Scarecrow chuckled. "He called for you, you know. Called for his father to save him."

Dread filled the Doctor's stomach and he glared at the scarecrow in front of him. "You're lying. I know you are. Now tell me where my son is."

"I told you…he's gone." The Scarecrow said smirking at the Doctor. "And now it's time for you to join him."

With that said the scarecrow pulled out a scythe and swiped it at the Doctor's head.

-.-

Merlin was running for his life. He didn't know if he was going the right way but he didn't care. He just had to get away, else he perish.

"Merlin!" The sound of his father's voice brought him up short. "Merlin where are you?"

Relief spread through his body as he looked around. "I'm here dad! Dad I'm over here!"

"Where? Merlin I can't see you through all of this corn."

Merlin thought quickly about how to alert his father to where he was. Suddenly he face-palmed. Magic of course. "Man I'm an idiot." He whispered to himself. "Dad, I'm going to create a light. Okay? Just follow the light!"

"Okay Merlin, but hurry."

Concentrating Merlin closed his eyes and focused on the magic within him. Opening his eyes he grinned at the blue light that was softly glowing. He increased the brightness and levitated it towards the darkening sky. "Can you see it yet dad?" He called.

"Yes," His father's voice answered sounding closer. "I see it Merlin."

"Dad what are we going to do about the scarecrows?" Merlin asked while waiting for his dad to get to him.

"Which scarecrows would that be son?" His father's voice asked from behind him.

Merlin jumped and spun around quickly. "What do you—" He trailed off once he caught sight of exactly who was behind him. The Scarecrow.

"Hello again Son."

"No!" Merlin said staking a step back. "Stop it! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Fire burst forth from Merlin's hands heading straight for the scarecrow. Hissing in anger the scarecrow jumped out of the way but didn't escape the flame completely. "You will pay for that you brat." He called after the fleeing Merlin.

-.-

The Doctor ducked under the scarecrow's arm and fled quickly. One thing was for sure, the Doctor thought as he ran away from the scarecrow, he had to find Merlin and get out of there. And soon.

Left. Right. Left. Left. Right. It didn't matter, he could hear the steps of the scarecrow behind him. Glancing back the Doctor tripped over a fallen stalk. It was too late for him to try and regain his balance so down he went, face-planting into the dirt. "Ow. Bloody corn." He grumbled to himself as he sat up.

Looking up his eyes widened in horror. In the place where a scarecrow should have been was the body of a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties. Her clothes were torn and covered in dried blood, and he could see chunks missing from the flesh. But the worst part was the empty eye sockets.

"Dad where are you?" The scarecrow called out still using his son's voice. "Come on dad, you can't hide from me forever."

Getting up quickly the Doctor set off again before the scarecrow could get to him. Just as he rounded another corner the sun went down. Pointing his sonic screwdriver out in front of him the Doctor continued going along in the dark. Hoping that Merlin was safe.

-.-

Merlin came to awareness rather abruptly. He had been hiding in a small hut that he had made out of the corn stalks. Cursing himself for falling asleep he looked around to make sure he was alone and that there were no scarecrows nearby.

Quickly and as quietly as he could he picked up the stalks and tried to make it look like no one had been there. Once that was done he set off again knowing that to stay in one place for an extended amount of time meant death.

And he didn't fancy becoming one of the bodies on the wooden poles that he had seen around. So he kept moving.

Once or twice he heard his dad's voice but was unsure if it actually was the voice of his dad or one of the scarecrows, so he just kept running. He desperately hoped that his father was okay. If something had happened to him, Merlin just didn't know what to do.

Despite being surrounded by corn fields he couldn't eat any of it. It was all dead and rotting. Not in the least bit appetizing. Which was annoying since his stomach kept growling in hunger.

'So that's how they do it.' Merlin thought to himself. 'They starve the people that don't get caught right away. Well this is just brilliant. I'm stuck on a planet where the natives are carnivorous creatures, separated from my father and I can't find my way back to the TARDIS. This couldn't possibly get any worse'

Just as Merlin thought this he heard the unmistakable sound of steps behind him. "Merlin... where are you?" It was his dad's voice but it sounded different, more sadistic. "Come out, come out where ever you are."

Merlin quickly hid in the corn and held his breath. Hopefully the scarecrow wouldn't see him. Barely daring to breath Merlin watched as the scarecrow walked in front of the patch of corn he was hiding in. Once the scarecrow was out of sight Merlin breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was close," Merlin breathed out.

"You're telling me."

Merlin jumped and spun around to see another scarecrow grinning at him in amusement. Merlin's eyes widened and he took of running.

"Oh I always love it when they run." The scarecrow commented with wicked glee. "It's always so refreshing."

-.-

Running came naturally to the Doctor, always had. But right now, right this second all he really wanted to do was just lay down and take a nap. After he found his son of course.

It was the third day since he and Merlin had come to this blasted planet and he was really starting to worry if they'd ever leave. He hadn't seen Merlin since he had so foolishly ran on ahead not even pausing to see if his son had followed him.

It was driving him mad to hear Merlin's voice call for help but not knowing if it was actually his son or another of those blasted scarecrows. His worst fear was that he'd turn a corner and end up seeing his son hanging on a wooden post. Sightless eye sockets accusing his father of not helping him.

So lost in thought was he that he almost didn't see the scythe coming towards his head until it was almost too late. Cursing his inattentiveness he looked around at the four or five scarecrows surrounding him.

"Bugger," The Doctor muttered to himself at his situation. "Look guys- or girls, which ever one I'm not picky- can you not eat me? I mean look at me I'm not tasty at all, I'd be all stringy and bony. So yeah, can you let me go?"

"Hmm, let me think...No." The head scarecrow sneered in Merlin's voice. "Why don't you just give up? I mean your son is gone, you are exhausted almost to the point of collapse...it would be just better for you to give up, and accept your fate."

The Doctor slumped to the ground and bowed his head. He didn't know if he could go on. He had no clue where Merlin could possibly be, he didn't even know if he was actually alive or not. Though it was doubtful considering the fact that these creatures were using Merlin's voice and had his jacket.

The scarecrows looked at each other gleefully when they saw the Doctor kneeling in front of them. "Good choice," The lead scarecrow said raising the scythe that was held tightly in his hand.

Just as the scythe blade was about to pierce the Doctor's back the scarecrow was blasted back by a giant ball of flame.

"Get away from my father!"

The Doctor looked up in surprise, before grinning widely. "MERLIN!"

Standing in front of him was his son, looking distinctly ruffled but otherwise not hurt. Merlin grinned at his father though he never took his eyes off the other scarecrows. "Dad, now would be a good time to run."

The Doctor shook his head. "No, I am not leaving you again Merlin."

Merlin was about to say something but before he could he was attacked by the scarecrows. The Doctor watched in awe as gold consumed the blue in his son's eyes as he flung his hand out towards the incoming scarecrow. A force wave pushed the scarecrows back and then Merlin turned to his father.

"Run!"

Grabbing his son's hand the Doctor turned and bolted down a pathway. The Doctor glanced sideways at his son in concern. "You're not hurt are you Merlin?"

Merlin surprised him by grinning. "Nah, but I may have developed an irrational hatred of corn fields."

The Doctor laughed in agreement. "Yeah, I'm not fond of it either."

At hearing the voices of the scarecrows behind them they both fell silent before increasing their speed. Turning the corner they gasped when they saw the TARDIS sitting on a slight incline.

"Yes! I knew you wouldn't let me down!" The Doctor yelled excitedly.

"We can celibate after we get there." Merlin huffed out.

"Right," The Doctor said sheepishly.

Fifty feet. Thirty feet. Twenty. Ten. Grinning in victory The Doctor pushed at the door but...it was locked.

"Dad, open the door." Merlin said frantically. "They're coming closer."

"I know, I know." The Doctor muttered searching frantically through his pockets. "Where is it? Where is it?"

"They're coming..." Merlin said deflecting a thrown scythe with magic.

"Aha! Found it!" The Doctor said holding up the silver key. Swiftly unlocking the TARDIS he pulled Merlin in and locked the door behind him. They heard the solid thud of a blade lodging into the door of the TARDIS. The TARDIS started it's engines and they were off.

Merlin and the Doctor looked at each other before collapsing in breathless giggles. "We did it."

"Yes son, we did."

JG:Well I hope you have enjoyed this short intermission. And hope you have a wonderful Friday the thirteenth!