Alone and Friendless and a Long Way From Home

By: The Bubbles

Summary: Doctor angst. The Doctor ponders the Time War. Set right before "Rose."

Disclaimer: It's not mine. Seriously.

A/N- I was sitting in History class being bored with my worksheet so I started writing. My pen kind of just took off without me knowing what I was writing.

XooXXXooX

All those times he'd run away from Gallifrey. All those times he'd never wanted to go back; all those times he'd been forced to.

If he'd known…

If someone had told him back then that he'd never be able to return, he'd probably have just laughed and said that it was a boring place anyway.

But he didn't know…

He wondered sometimes, what his earlier forms would have done had they been told. If his first self had known, would he have taken better care of Susan? Told her how much he loved her, that he would have done anything for her?

And Romana, he'd have spent more time with her. Listened to her more instead of always insisting on being right.

What if someone'd told him?

He'd been told one by a man in a scarf to take care of Susan. He'd figured out later that it was him. It was just a warning to cherish her because she wouldn't always be with him. But even the nutter in the scarf didn't understand fully. (Susan had had a great laugh over him- in hindsight he had been a bit funny looking)

What if he told him?

It would be nothing at all for him to go back to his first trip on earth and leave some sort of message for himself. He wouldn't even have to talk to anyone, just slip in, leave the message, and go. Easy as that.

He couldn't risk seeing her.

He couldn't stand the thought of what he'd say, what he'd do, if he saw Susan. There was no telling what he'd say if he saw his granddaughter again. It had hurt to lose her the first time. Oh, he'd known she wouldn't stay with him forever, but he hadn't really been emotionally prepared for it.

And now he was alone.

He patted the TARDIS affectionately.

"Well, Old Girl, looks like its you and me," he sighed. "How 'bout a trip to Earth. Early twenty-first century, whaddya say? Maybe there'll be something interesting happening."

He sighed and set in the coordinates for early 21st century earth.

Somehow, he'd manage alone.

XooXXXooX

A/n- This takes place right before he meets Rose. I mean, he lands, finds the Nestene, and meets Rose.

A/N- My mom thinks Ten is hard to look at. Blasphemy, I say!