Back by popular demand! Do 3 reviews count as popular demand? Anyway, here's the Doctor's POV after he left Sarah Jane. Companion piece to 'Alone.' These two drabbles may become the prologue to an AU chapter story. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters because if I did Sarah Jane would have never left the show.
The Doctor stood silently at the TARDIS console. After Sarah Jane had closed the door behind herself, he had moved the ship into the vortex as quickly as he could, terrified that he would have gone after her and begged her to stay with him if he hadn't left immediately. He'd been standing in the same spot since then and that was 2 hours 43 minutes and 8 seconds ago. If he closed his eyes, he could still smell her, picture her standing behind him…but that would inevitably lead to more pain.
The TARDIS tried to comfort her pilot, but she too would miss the human. The girl had brought so much joy to the Time Lord. She had been with them for so long now, it seemed wrong for her not to be within the ship.
The Time Lord's shoulders sagged and he allowed himself to slide to the floor, his back leaning against the console and legs stretched out. He couldn't believe he had left his companion behind so he could go back to Gallifrey. But that wasn't the only reason, was it? No, he shook his head slightly, the mop of curly brown hair falling limp in his face. No, that wasn't the only reason. He had been letting himself become too attached to her. It would be better for both of them if he cut their ties now, rather than later.
The lights in the room flared bright for a moment before going almost completely black. The TARDIS wasn't happy with his reasoning. She knew he needed someone. He needed her. She was more than a companion. She was something special. And they had been slowly becoming more than just friends, that was what had scared the Time Lord.
"I'll miss her too," the Doctor murmured while gently stroking the console.
The gentle rumble of the ship took on an annoying sound, conveying her own annoyance. She then told him in no uncertain terms to go back for her, to bring Sarah Jane back onboard. There was still time, they could go back to right after he'd left her and the TARDIS was certain that the girl would gladly accept the Doctor's apology for leaving her behind.
"We have to go to Gallifrey," he morosely reminded her, though he made no move to get up from his spot on the floor.
Exactly 12 minutes passed before he was able to work up the drive to pull himself to his feet. For another 26 seconds he stood forlornly, looking around the large console room. Strange, he's never really thought of the room as large before. He probably was now because it seemed so empty without her presence and everyone knows that empty rooms seem bigger than they are. Steeling his resolve, the Doctor set the coordinates for the Citadel.
"Oh Sarah Jane, my Sarah Jane, I'm sorry," he whispered as the TARDIS began materializing on Gallifrey.
The ship added her own mournful hum to his voice.