Prologue
Bad Wolf Bay
October 17, 2009
"Wait."
The Doctor has gone to leave, return to his TARDIS as always. He doesn't want to look back. Donna can, but he can't.
"Doctor, please."
He turns around. The clone is looking at him. He hates the happiness in his duplicate's eyes, knowing it doesn't mirror him.
Rose looks up at him, her eyes glowing golden for the briefest of seconds. "I need to take something out of your memory." she whispers.
He doesn't need to ask what, or how. He knows. He always knew this would have to happen.
It doesn't make it hurt any less.
He nods quietly, and she places her fingers at his temples. Something changes in the back of his mind, but he doesn't register it. Then he blinks, and Rose turns away, and all he wants to do is cry, to tell her how much he loves her, to tell her to tell-
To tell her to tell what?
He can't remember.
So, like every other time, the Doctor leaves.
August 31, 2011
Demon's Run Asteroid
"Doctor, who slept in here?" asks River. He's leaving, just like he always does. Leaving to find Melody.
"What? Oh, right, it's mine."
"Liar."
"What do you mean?"
"I can read Gallifreyan too, remember?"
"Still not getting your point, River."
He doesn't wait for a reply, just turns and shuts the TARDIS door behind him. But for a moment, though, he hesitates. Why did River call him a liar? What had he lied about this time?
Oh, who cares. Probably something I haven't done yet.
Yes, that has to be it. Always is with River Song. Always getting assaulted for stuff he has yet to do.
It's the only explanation he can think of, because he can't remember what the lie might be. And he remembers everything.
Doesn't he?