Prologue
The Doctor took a deep breath and took the TARDIS into the Time Vortex, nowhere in particular. He wanted to just disappear and do nothing for awhile. He leaned against the console and gently caressed his ship while a few tears trailed down his face. "So much loss, how can I go on like this?" he asked her, and then blurted out bitterly, "I wish I could just die and be done with it all. I lose everyone, one way or another. Everyone." He remembered he had aspirin on board for the use of whichever companion happened to be along with him. He wasn't sure how many regenerations he had left, did the last one count? But he could just keep taking the drug until death was final. His ship groaned in sympathy and love, pointing out that she was still here. "Yes, you are," he smiled. "Just you and me then. But I miss her so." The TARDIS knew whom he meant. "Do you think she's happy?" His ship sent a gentle breeze through his hair, much like a mother tousling her son's head. "I hope you're right. I hope I did the right thing. It seemed like the best thing to do at the time. They did say they were happy when I phoned them. I hope they still are." He yawned. "I think I'm going to go to bed for awhile. To sleep, perchance to dream." He plodded wearily to his bedchamber, disrobed, and climbed in. He hadn't felt this tired in a long, long time. He immediately fell fast asleep.
His ship mulled over the situation thoughtfully. She didn't like how depressed he was getting lately, nor the direction his thoughts were taking him. She consulted with the bit of the Time Vortex she carried within her. What to do? It answered back, "Let us take care of this."
As the Time Lord slept, a golden being formed beside the bed, and sat down upon it next to him. It gently stroked his brow, then laid down beside him, then entered him. He cried out, then laughed gently in his sleep.