Title: Timeless
For: Livejournal's writers30days
Theme: Quote
Set: At the end of "End of Time part 2"
One step, two steps.
The TARDIS seemed impossibly far. Each step was a great effort. His legs continually threatened to buckle underneath him. His only remaining strength stemmed from his determination to get back to his ship and from the memory of Rose.
Three steps, four.
He had made his rounds, his wordless goodbyes, but had saved her for last. Knowing that he wouldn't have had the strength to hold himself back unless he had none left to spare. It was still a struggle. He wanted so badly to run to her, to hold her, to cry with her, but she didn't know him yet. Still, just the sight of her was enough to keep him from falling apart, to give him strength for this last timeless journey.
Step, step, step.
His mind reeled with memories of everything he had done. The things he had seen, the people he had saved, the mistakes he had made. In this moment, punctured with each determined step, it all seemed to have gone by too quickly. There was so much more he felt he could have done, should have done, but he had run out of time. He could feel the energy beginning to seep out of him, stronger than he had ever felt it before. Magnified, ready to explode. He had to make it to the TARDIS. Only five steps more and he'd be there.
Four.
He thought of Donna and Martha, of Sarah-Jane and Jack. He thought of everyone he had ever shared the TARDIS with. His companions, his friends.
Three.
He thought of everyone he wished he had had more time with. Everyone who had held his life before their own without question, without hesitation. River, Jenny, Astrid, even sweet Lynda with a 'Y", whom he had known in his previous regeneration.
Two.
And he thought of Rose. Her smile, her laugh. The way she always knew how he felt even beneath all the layers, but never made him voice it. Just gave him a hand to hold; to ground him, to keep him together, keep him sane. How even now, even through the impossible distance between them, she still gave him strength to go on.
One.
The Doctor looked at his hands as they began to glow, tears filling his eyes. There was no way to stop it this time. He had run too far. There were no more steps to take.