"Josie, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." The Doctor was slumped against the control panel of the TARDIS, face streaked with blood and ash. His leather jacket torn to shreds, just as his hearts in that second. Because each second, each heartbeat, each breath taken in, was that much closer to her last. Josie let out a shaky torrent of air. Her eyelids were fluttering rather than her usual rapid fire blinks. She would be terrible with the weeping angels. "God, Josie. I'm so sorry."
"Shh," she grinned at him. "S'not your fault, Doctor. I wanted this. Chose it, in fact. It doesn't even hurt. Can't feel a thing." With that, he knew just how grave her situation was.
"You've given your life, and I have nothing to give in return."
"You gave me the universe. And not just one. I've lived my entire life with people calling me daft, thick even. No one ever saw me for anything other than my wit. Even though I don't have much of one."
"You, Josie Langdon, are brilliant. Don't you ever say otherwise. Brighter than the twin suns of Gallifrey in fact." She hummed in appreciation, her eyelids slowly closing. "Stay awake. D'you hear me? Keep your eyes open!"
"Relax, just resting 'em. Don't get your knickers in a twist, Doctor." Her eyes reluctantly opened. There wasn't anything he could do for the gaping wound in her chest. He let out a half-hearted chuckle.
"Dammit Josie, on your deathbed you are, and you're trying to make me feel better."
"Well someones gotta keep you from goin' off the deep end." Her eyes started to close.
"Josie, sweetheart, you've gotta stay awake for me, Rose is on her way back right now with the antidote," her eyes half-opened themselves. "That's my girl. That's my brilliant, brilliant girl."
"Tell me more," she croaked. "'Bout Gallifrey."
"You'd have loved it. Golden red mountains with snow peaked caps."
"Twin suns that burn brighter than anything in the galaxies." she finished for him.
"That's right, clever girl." her eyes shut again, and did not reopen. "Josie, no. You're gonna be alright. Do you hear me? HANG ON, D'YOU HEAR ME?" her mouth opened.
"Doc-" And she stopped. The rest trailed off in a ghostly, shuddering breath. It was her last. Head cradled softly in the Doctor's lap, face brushed with ash, tears streaking clean lines, her eyes stared straight into him, mouth still traced with the ghost of a smile. He shuddered with tears of fury, and hatred for the girl who had left. But at the same time, nothing but admiration for the woman who'd saved his life.
"So, as I watched the TARDIS burn, the ceiling crumbled to ash right on top of me, I held the bravest, most remarkable person I've ever met, and Josie, thank you. You taught me so much, and I am forever in your debt." The Doctor was speaking to the brand new headstone that stood at the top of a quiet paddock, underneath a massive apple tree.
"If you get me killed, don't put me under a willow tree. Never a willow tree. Willow trees are the worst."
"Why?"
"They're so sad, like, I don't even understand."
She'd been completely serious. But, she had ended up being absolutely right, about him getting her killed, and willow trees being the worst. They always gave him a rash. He gently laid out the almost offensively yellow dandelions at her grave, and turned. Never once looking back.