He was old. Too old. He'd had his time and now it was over. He had seen more than his fair share-more than Jack would ever see in his impossibly long life. He wouldn't complain, it never helped and maybe, maybe it was time to finally sleep, to rest without pain or hurt or loneliness. There was no-one here to comfort him in his final hour-he was in his 13th incarnation so when he died he would not come back and he could not possibly risk leaving one of his beloved companions stranded on a distant moon, far from their homelands. He thought of them now and could not place his emotion, they made him happy but the sadness and heartbreak he had brought himself and them was immense-they all left him in the end, whether it be by choice or force, sometimes even death.
He was slumped by the console of the TARDIS and as he stared distantly across the room, not really seeing, a hologram flashed up barely meters from him. It was Rose, looking directly at him, he gasped in shock. She opened her mouth and spoke:
"Doctor, it's me-the TARDIS helped me make this after she told me you only have 12 regenerations and that you were on your 10th so I-I guess I just wanted to offer you some comfort now. I know I won't be here as you watch this, we both knew I couldn't stay with you forever so I just wanted to let you know that you will never be alone and I don't know if you believe in life after death but I do know that as you die that you will be alone because you have been thinking of other people and won't have anyone with you for fear of leaving them behind, so just remember this, for me, please: The universe will never forget you. There will be stories told and songs sung, in your name. It will never be the same again. Your song has ended, but will never be forgotten."
The Doctor had tears leaking from the corner of his eyes that were previously defeated but now shone with hope and joy, not hope that he would live but hope that he could perhaps finally find some peace. As his hearts slowed down with every passing second he thought not of all the pain and destruction that he had caused, but of all the good he had done-all the wars stopped, planets defended and lives saved. He thought of his companions and how he had opened their eyes to the wonders around them.
He was as ever focused on a mystery and as his eyes started to close for the final time he wondered how Rose knew about the Ood's prophesy but the TARDIS pushed two words to the front of his mind. Bad Wolf. The Doctor smiled and saw the TARDIS's plans. She was also growing old and as the Doctor grew weaker so did she. He would not expect her to remain here, pining after him so he did not object. He breathed his final breath but as he did so, a golden energy was also flowing out of his mouth. It was absorbed by the TARDIS. The Doctor was dead. Out in deep space the TARDIS exploded. It caused no damage in time but bright against the deep blackness of space was the golden energy. It was the Doctor's soul intertwined with the Heart of the TARDIS, the very essence of time. It darted away so fast it was almost invisible. They were not falling, They were flying.