The Doctor was about to do something he'd wanted to do for a while. Well, ever since he had to make her forget.
Donna Noble was one of The Doctor's best friends. The most stubborn, and sassy, companion of them all, and she held that title with a blazing passion.
She had just appeared in his TARDIS, in a wedding gown, after the loss of his Rose. The Doctor chuckled at his recall of what she had said to him on that day of the new beginnings.
They had great times. Like when they helped the Ood, and when they went to Rome, and they discovered his daughter. Oh, great times.
But there was that day when all hell broke loose.
The day, the poor Doctor had to save Donna. He had to make her forget. Or she would be dead. Her brain would burn to ashes. He could hear her pleading in his head.
"Please Doctor. Don't send me back. Please!"
He never wanted to. But he had to.
Now he was going to see Donna for the last time. He wouldn't have to worry about her dying too soon because he was going to the her last day alive.
The TARDIS landed next to a huge brick building, holding hundreds of people dying, coming into life, and those who were suffering from it. Like The Doctor himself. He didn't have too much time, he had other people to see before his time was also up.
The Doctor tried to casually speed walk to the reception desk, but it hurt too much. It was kicking in, the regeneration cycle.
"How can I help you today?" the receptionist said with a deafening monotone that had been used a million times earlier.
"Directions to Donna Noble's room."
"She is in room 221B. There are maps on the walls if you get confused."
"Thank you." He said as pain coursed through him.
He stumbled down the hallway until he came upon room 221B. A name tag had "Donna Noble" on the door. It was locked. He looked around to make sure nobody was there and pulled his sonic out and used it effectively, as the door swung open.
The Doctor tiptoed through noticing that the room was very dark, probably indicating that whoever inhabited this room was trying to sleep. As he inched closer he saw that same face, wrinkled, but still firm and determined. Slow, but not dangerously slow, beeps were coming from the machine measuring her heart rate on her right. The Doctor quietly pulled a chair up next to her hospital bed. Hesitantly, he grabbed her frail, old hand.
"Donna," he whispered.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Who are you? What are you doing? I can still yell!"
"Shh. It's okay. It's me. The Doctor."
"Doctor O'Grady?"
"Uh. No. Donna. The Doctor."
"Doctor Who?" She turned her head toward him. Her eyes got really wide. "Oh. My. God. Its… its… you!"
The Doctor grinned his famous grin. "Hello."
"You've still got the same face. How do you manage to stay young and I… I look like this."
"I am actually 906 years old."
"But… But… Oh my head…" She rubbed her head in pain.
"Yeah, it's probably going to burn."
"Doctor. I'm…. I'm…"
"Dying."
The Doctor nodded.
"But why are you here?"
The Doctor only stared at her longingly.
"No. Doctor, not you too."
The Doctor's cheek twitched. He wasn't going to cry. Not now. "I'm here still. I've still got time."
"Doctor."
"Yes, Donna?"
"You remember when," She paused for a moment rubbing her head. "When you made me forget to save me?"
"Yeah," The Doctor said exhaling.
"Don't do it again. I'm old. I'm almost done. Just put me out of my misery."
"Donna-" He was cut off.
"Now. Please."
"But-"
"Doctor! Please."
The Doctor paused. He knew this was exactly what he came down for. To see his friend for the last time. But he didn't want to be responsible for another death.
"Okay." He bent down and hugged her. "Donna, you be careful up there."
"And you be careful down here. Kick some Dalek ass for me, will ya?"
The Doctor smiled. "Sure I will."
He pulled away and Donna's eyes were closed. He noticed the beeping had gotten dangerously slow.
"Donna, your head is burning up."
"I know that, thank you!"
The Doctor was squeezing Donna's hand.
Donna was smiling weakly.
The beeping stopped. Donna's hand went limp in the Doctor's.
Donna Noble was gone.