Shadows of the Mind

Rating: K

Warnings: Spoilers for "Doomsday" and "The Runaway Bride." Also a very angsty Doctor.

Summary: The hole the pain had opened was filled with darkness.

"Remember, it's always darkest before the dawn."

"What dawn? We're in the arctic, remember?"

- Holly Short and Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident

The only sound that the Doctor could her was the thrum of the TARDIS's engines. He was alone again. For a little while, the room had been filled with Donna Noble. Loud, argumentative, brave Donna Noble. But also smart and intelligent Donna Noble who knew better than to run off with some strange man in a Police Box that was bigger on the inside. Pity that a certain blonde hadn't been so smart. Assoon as he had the thought, he regretted it. Much as that loss hurt, it was better to have had her for a little while than to not have had her at all.

The Doctor tried in vain to shake off the fog of loneliness and grief that was collecting around his mind. His efforts weren't aided by the fact that Rose's shirt was still hanging over the railing where Donna had left it (after she had accused him of kidnapping. He supposed that that was more accurate than he was willing to admit. They might come with him willingly, but the end was never pleasant, much like a kidnapping.) He picked it up and held it, memorizing its texture and it's scent before he turned around and headed down the hallway.

He stopped before a plain door and then stood still for a moment with his hand on the door knob, bracing himself. When he pushed it open, he found it just as she had left it. The bed was unmade, some of her clothes were scattered on the floor. It still smelled like her. He stepped into the room, his face carefully blank, and forced himself to begin picking up after her. Every piece of clothing was gently put away, the bed was made up neatly. He stood in the center of the room and looked around. Soon, he knew, the scent would fade and be replaced with the regular boring old TARDIS smell, but the memories would stick around longer. His memory was good, sometimes he thought far too good, for them to fade.

But he could run. He was very good at that. He turned and strode from the room, shutting the door behind him. Lock it, please. He asked his TARDIS, and she obeyed, although he could feel her anxiety for him leaking into his mind. What are you so worried about? He asked her and then added bitterly, I'm a survivor, remember?

She didn't answer his question, instead choosing to ask him a question of her own. Why don't you find another companion? She was trying to communicate the idea that they might be a distraction, but that had nothing to do with it. Really, she just wanted her Time Lord not to be so desperately alone.

He leaned against the console in the main room, not even really remembering how he got there. They won't be Rose.

I know. She replied. But it will make the night a little less dark.

He scoffed out loud. No.

He felt her thoughts beginning to form his name, to argue, to try to convince him.

This darkness never goes away.

A/N: Hello fellow Whovians. I have now officially stepped into the world of Doctor Who fanfiction. I don't expect to be leaving it anytime soon.

This is the first story in a collection of drabbles. My plan (unless something drastic and unexpected happens) is to publish a drabble a week. They won't really have any common theme (although most of them involve the Doctor) some of them will be shorter than others. Really though, these are just too fun to write. :)

Now we come to a fairly important note: I am in dire need of a beta for these stories. I have a few other ones written and I desperately need someone to read over them, not so much for the actual story, but to make sure that I'm being true to the characters. Please PM if you're interested. I suppose this is also part advertisement, because I'm also willing to beta anything anyone wants me to from any fandom that I know something about (as long as there is no slash or lemons. Sorry, I just don't do those.)

Thank you all, especially those who read through my obnoxiously long A/N.

- The slightly sleep deprived Amagake