The doors to the old blue box swung open and the Doctor stepped out.
He was on a mission, and nothing was going to stop him.
The hospital was a ways away from where he had parked the TARDIS, but he didn't mind the walk. He had done it on purpose. It gave him time to think.
He knew this day would come, he had done it before with other companions. Just not like this.
Two children ran past the doctor, chasing a ball that had strayed too far.
He stopped for a moment, watching them as they ran down the street, laughing innocently.
From somewhere down the road, the mother called out, yelling at the children to come back.
He smiled slightly before continuing to walk.
It was Christmas time in London, and like it has been since the incident with the Titanic, the streets were empty. No one goes to London on Christmas unless you have to.
And the Doctor had to.
The Doctor approached the nearly empty hospital hesitantly, his nerve beginning to tease his stomach. He entered and went over to the receptionist. He exchanged a few words with her before she told him where to go.
Solemnly, he walked down the hall.
On the third floor he found her, the sign on her door clearly displaying her name.
D. Noble
Slowly but surely, he opened the door.
Laying on the bed was a woman.
Her grey hair had long since faded from the fiery red it once was. But her eyes were still as green as ever; they had not changed. Only aged.
She looked over at the Doctor quietly, her body slowed by time.
He smiled and walked to her side.
She simply stared at him.
"Hello, Donna." He said, talking her hand in his.
"I don't think i have ever heard you this quiet." The doctor said, tears threatening to well up in his eyes.
She stared at him confused, her eyes questioning who this strange man was.
He smiled. The nurse had told him before he had come up that she had stopped talking a few years back. She had said that was she Donna had gotten sick, when she had given up.
He pulled up a chair and sat next to her.
"You don't remember me, Donna. I have changed faces since you last saw me. But you will soon remember."
And this that, he slowly pressed his index finger to the middle of her forehead.
Her eyes opened wide as the memories flooded back to her, her body shaking slightly.
Tears began flowing from her eyes and she looked over at the doctor.
He placed his hand back over hers and smiled shyly.
She opened her mouth as if to say something but then closed it again.
"Hello, Donna Noble." The Doctor said again, biting back tears.
Donna's eyes opened wide in panic and she took a deep breath, her heart rate sputtering.
Very slowly she opened her mouth, and with her last breath, she forced herself to speak. She hadn't spoken in years, but with her last breath, she spoke his name.
"Doctor..."
Then her eyes slowly closed and Donna Noble died.
The Doctor clasped his hand over hers and stared at her peaceful face, no longer fighting the tears that began to flow down his cheeks, staining the brim on his jacket. He pressed his face to the back of her hand and sobbed, mourning his dead friend.
He cried there for a few more moments until the nurse came in.
He paused when he stepped out of the hospital. Staring up at the tall building, he frowned.
"Goodbye, Donna."
And then he left, marching off to his TARDIS to live another day.
And Amy was waiting for him there.
After seeing his tear stained face, she began questioning him.
But the Doctor never spoke of Donna Noble again.