'Just one question. Do you happen to know how to fly this thing?' Everything had gone. There was a blank slate. He had been left with nothing. He watched as the brown haired girl's eyes pierced his own.

'Me? Why me?'

'I don't know. I might have taught you at some point or other. I might have been helpful once upon a lifetime. CAN YOU FLY HER?' The Doctor shouted over the wheezing engines as he tried to keep his balance. There was nothing that could help them out of the situation as the swaying only added to his confusion. This was not the time to feel like he had jumped into a blender. Surely, his past-self had the foresight to train anyone who travelled with him to at least keep the TARDIS under control should something like this occur. Well, that's what he would have done.

'No, I can't. Aren't you supposed to be able to do all that?' Clara was stuck in a crashing TARDIS without her Doctor. The man who was supposed to be the new Doctor was asking for help that she could not give.

'I would if there was any information.'

'Information?'

'There is no information' He said smacking his forehead, trying to knock any kind of data from it, but all to no avail. He surveyed what was supposedly his. 'All of these lights and buttons and levers mean nothing to me. And this crashing and banging and stumbling DOES…NOT…HELP!' the Doctor shouted over the roar of the TARDIS engines. As if she were an obedient child who could see their parent in pain, the TARDIS stopped shaking and hung silently in space. The Doctor and Clara hesitantly looked around the room, waiting for the ship to begin its jolting journey through the universe, but they remained still. The TARDIS had heard them. 'Oh. Well…thank you, dear. Wish you'd do that more often.' The Doctor said patting the control panel and watching as the central gallopiter rose steadily up and down. The TARDIS thrummed a reassuring sigh, but both occupants knew that this was a one off. The new Doctor would not be allowed such peace again.

'You said you'd remember. You're the same man on the inside with the same memories, right?'

'I don't think this change has been kind enough to allow me my memories.' The Doctor said undoing the top button of his collar. He needed to breathe some new air into the lungs, the colour of which he did approve, and ventilate the new body. He paced around the room before the painful shoes that bound his feet became unbearable. He bent down and untied them. Pulling at each lace with a new found ferocity before throwing each shoe over his shoulder and onto the lower level of the console room. He sat flexing his toes and running a hand through his new hair. It didn't feel as full as the last few times, but it was there nonetheless. It felt untidy, but that's what regeneration did. Everything was tinged with the after-glow of the energy that prompted the change. The sparkle would keep the world at bay for the new Doctor for a time, but soon it would flicker away and he would have to embrace the full force of what the universe had to throw at him.

He had caught a slight glimpse of a reflection as he had peered into Clara's eyes. His face had looked thinner. He drew his hands down his face, measuring the cheek bones until he reached the chin. It was a lot smaller. Thank goodness. He drew his hands out in front of him and examined the fingers. The skin was more wrinkled and worn, the nails would need cutting, but there was nothing major that he didn't approve of. The body was older. Something he felt relieved about. His last two selves had been unbelievably spry and had expounded immeasurable amounts of energy at every turn only to appear to fit their faces. He had been exhausted and now he could at least take some liberties in his actions. With a simple examination of his new form complete, he pushed himself off the floor and hovered over one of the TARDIS panels, trying to lure a memory out of hibernation. He knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to get them into the time vortex. If they stayed there for a while, just until the new him was settled, then he would be able to work towards rebuilding his life.

'You can't remember anything?' Clara had followed his movements, unable to move herself, with trepidation. She didn't want to get in the way because he needed the chance to remember himself, but she wanted to go up and shake him into remembering. The Doctor tried not to look at her. He didn't need reminding of what he was not allowed to know.

'A few things. Here and there. Faint whispers of what could have been. I don't know.' He glanced at the TARDIS. He felt like he was pleading for her to let him have something. Anything. Any scrap of information to help him.

'Who am I? What's my name?' The Doctor's new eyes snapped towards Clara. Slowly, he turned to face the young woman who he had found in his TARDIS. He walked slowly towards her, taking in every piece of information he could. He took her hands in his. To the touch, his skin was cold but as they grasped her hands tighter, warmth from beneath the skin broke through. He looked deep into her eyes. His blazed away as if filled with star-fire. She could have fallen into them so easily. He observed every facet and looked deep into her soul. He had never seen a companion quite like this. Maybe that was one of the perks of his new body; he was much more perceptive with the smallest of gestures communicating the unimaginable. He looked at her for a long time, unblinking. Soon however, his eyebrows dropped and he had to admit defeat. He had indeed been left with nothing.

'I'm sorry.' He dropped her hands and watched as they fell to her side. She looked at him in disbelief. How could he have forgotten her? He walked away from her and leant over the TARDIS console, staring at the central column almost begging her to give him some answers, but she would do no more. She had helped him out already and allowed him to drag what was left of his mind back to one place in peace. He would have to find out the rest for himself or go forward without being able to look back. A man is the sum of his memories, a Time Lord even more so, but when those precious gems are gone, a man is left with one choice. To go forward and discover the new self. He must become what he thinks best with no comprehension of what had been before. He could be a new man.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and as he turned to see the girl, he saw her smiling. 'It's ok.' She held her hand out for him to shake. 'Hello…my name's Clara.' She whispered, trying not to burst into tears. He glanced from her hand to her face. Tears hung in her eyes, ready to fall, but her smile only invited him in. He could understand why the past him had brought her along.

'Hello, Clara. I'm the Doctor.'

-x-x-x-

Thank you for reading. I hope that you enjoyed it. xxx