The Doctor gazed at his feet propped up on the consul of the Tardis. He'd known Martha Jones had loved him. He'd also known that she would leave him. Good for her too. Brilliant girl. She would probably become a great doctor. A brilliant doctor even. Good for her for 'getting out.' There was no way he could love her back. Well, he liked her, of course. But the Doctor doubted he could ever love her. And definitely not so soon either. Not when his head was still so full of thoughts of Rose. Damn if he didn't miss her. Rose had been everything that he had wanted. Only now, she was the one thing he couldn't have, if he had ever wanted anything. She had been one of the shining moments in his life, and probably would always be one.
So now Martha had left him. Jack too. That was a shocker. The Face of Boe? Well, at least he knew what one looked like at a million plus years old. The Doctor shuddered, his thoughts again turning sober.
Damn Master and his pride…. Why didn't he just regener—The Doctor sighed. He knew why. He knew Master. He knew it would hurt him when he didn't regenerate leaving him, once again, alone. The Doctor folded his arms across his chest. So here he was, just himself and the Tardis. And for some reason, this time, it really bothered him. As he closed his eyes a wry grin crossed his lips, leaning his head against the back of the seat. Maybe he had been right earlier. Maybe he was losing becoming to attached to these humans, and perhaps he really needed to settle down.
"Naaah…" he breathed quietly. It wouldn't work… He would get restless and return to being the wander that he seemed destined to be.
"Ah, Rose Tyler… Where are you when I need you? You'd know just what to say." He opened his eyes. "You always did," he murmured. And it was true. He could count how many times he'd be in the thick of a situation and Martha would stand by, flustered and fishing for something to day. Every once in a while, she'd say something brilliant and he would see Rose's excited face overlaying Martha's. It was wrong, he knew, and awfully unfair to Martha. But. But he couldn't get Rose out of his head! That silly silly—brave, courageous, loving, magnificent, silly girl. "The only one who wouldn't have left was forced to leave. Leave me." His smile was again wistful. "The ladies fall in love, and the blokes suddenly become responsible… Ah well. Time to get going, I guess." He stood reluctantly, but having no more time to pass on self-pity, move to the controls of the Tardis.
"What?!" He exclaimed when the debris came crashing over him. Looking up from his sudden position on the ground, he repeated himself, gazing at the hull of a ship. In the Tardis. Turning over the lifesaver, he repeated himself yet again. The Titanic?!