Out of the corner of her eye, Jenny saw General Cobb taking aim.
Not my dad, she thought. And without a moment's hesitation, she stepped in front of him – the Doctor, her dad – spreading her arms wide to provide a much-needed shield.
As though in slow motion, Jenny watched the bullet make its way towards her, entering through the space between her two hearts. She collapsed on impact, expecting to feel the cold, hard ground beneath her. Instead, she fell into two strong, steady arms – those of her father.
"Jenny," he was yelling. "Jenny, stay with me."
"I'm alright, Dad," she whispered feebly, though both knew that was a lie – she was dying, and there was nothing anyone could do.
"Oh, Jen, there were so many things I had planned for us to do – so many places I wanted to take you, to show you . . . Barcelona, for one. And you would have been wonderful – amazing, even. No, you would have been positively brilliant."
Jenny wanted to cry. The anguish, the desperation in his voice was almost palpable, and Jenny would do anything to take that from him.
Hear me, Dad, she thought. I don't regret stopping that bullet. I'm not afraid of dying. And even if I were, it would be worth it. As long as you are alive, my sacrifice will not have been in vain.
"Dad . . ." she almost started bawling.
"What is it?" he asked.
"The gas," she whispered.
The Doctor followed her gaze. "It's a new world, Jenny, and what a beautiful world it will be."
Jenny smiled. She'd found her new world – she was at peace – now she could die.
As her eyes closed, she heard her father yelling once more:
"No! Jenny, stay with me! I can't lose you, not now, not again. I'm not strong enough."
Oh, how wrong you are, Dad, she thought. You are so much stronger than I could ever be. All I knew was how to fight and how to die. But you . . . you may have a soldier's brain, but your hearts are those of a poet's. You'll survive, and you'll move on. Donna will see to that!
Her soul took flight as her final breath left her. Floating above the occupants of the room, Jenny watched as her dad cradled her body close to his chest before planting a light kiss on her forehead and carefully releasing her. Then, Jenny saw as the General moved – just slightly – enough to catch his attention.
In one fluid motion, he was across the room and had a gun pointed at the General's head.
No, Dad! Jenny silently made her way to hover behind the General. She wasn't sure if he could see her, but she wanted to think that if not, he could at least sense her presence. I made a choice, remember? Now you have to make yours.
"While you might kill without thought, I never would," the Doctor declared venomously as he glared at the General, hate distorting the features of his face. "Remember that as you begin rebuilding this world. I. NEVER. WOULD!"
Jenny could tell that her dad had been running on adrenaline, and she could also tell the moment he broke, for the grimace on his face dropped to reveal a pain that was centuries old.
Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Jenny thought.
In the next moment, though, the his masks were back in place and he soon left, accompanied by Martha and Donna.
And that was the last time Jenny ever saw her dad, otherwise known as the Doctor.