Sarah Jane's death came as a shock to everyone, the most to Luke. He wasn't used to these feelings, but they pierced his heart like cold steel.
Maria had her arm around him, whispering attempted comforts into his ear. The young Bane-made human had waited for two hours for his mother to get on the computer after his daily University classes. He assumed she was out with Rani and Clyde on alien business, or perhaps on her own on a journalist appointment.
He had been about to shut down when he received an urgent call from Mr Smith, and hurried as carefully as he could for 13 Bannerman road.
Turns out, from the scans Mr Smith ran during the incident of Ruby White, one of the many races of aliens - and one that feeds on souls - called a Qetesh, Sarah Jane WAS very ill, as Mr Smith had said.
It had never been made clear what was wrong with her, but further analysis showed the human disease known as 'cancer', the super-computer explained to a very confused and distraught Luke.
The words ran through his head over and over again.
"I'm sorry, Luke. I'm afraid Sarah Jane is dead."
K9 had lowered his head, ears swiveling back and forth as always.
Her adopted son, now without a mother, and only two machines yet three human friends for company.
Make that four friends, the forth being the Time Lord that watched the funeral from afar.
Luke glanced to him, scanning the young-looking man's face from his distance. Pain was all he could see.
What was it like to have felt pain like this repeatedly, for all races of humans and aliens, when you're nine-hundred-and-something years old?
Luke wondered before taking a shuddering breath and looking back to the coffin ready to be lowered down into the earth.
The huge vulture like creature stopped speaking, what he had been saying was lost to the wind for Luke, as he turned to the boy.
Clyde gently nudged him with his elbow.
"Luke, d'you wanna say something?"
He blinked himself back to reality, barely taking in his best friend's words, and nodded a little, numbly standing up and walking over to the podium.
The 'vulture' - a Shansheeth - stepped away and bowed his head respectfully.
Luke took in another shaky breath.
"My mum... She was the best lady in the whole world. I'm glad I knew her, and I'm glad of her supporting and teaching... but she had a great life, all those stories about traveling with... her good friend the Doctor..."
At this he stopped and looked over in the Doctor's direction, and was rewarded with a sad smile and a nod.
"She lived for adventure and keeping the world safe. There'll never be another alien investigator or journalist like her..."
His mind ran dry and he struggled to think how to end it, and swallowed as he looked down to the photograph in front of him.
"I love and miss you, mum...G-Goodbye..."
He glanced around as he stepped off the podium and sat back down between Maria and Clyde. The rest of the ceremony went in a blur as his mind wandered back through the past years. He continuously blinked back tears.
From afar, K9's voice could be heard next to the group of teens as they watched the coffin being lowered.
"Farewell, Mistress."
The two girls and Clyde stood, Rani dropping a rose onto the coffin. All three spoke simultaneously.
"Goodbye, Sarah Jane."
A/N - I've never actually attended a funeral, so apologies if what Luke said is 'off'.
Also, I'm thinking of carrying this on, so watch this space.
