He sat and watched Donna get on the bus for the umpteenth time. Same as it was yesterday, a week ago, a month ago...same old thing. She doesn't even know I'm here.

Gloom quickly settled over him. He could feel his body start to shut down. Here we go...Shut-Down Mode. It did this sometimes. When he couldn't face things anymore. The last time was so long ago. A lifetime ago. When he and Donna followed the Tandoca Trail to the Medusa Cascade only to find nothing. No planets. No companions. No Earth. All that energy expended to get there and they're rewarded with nothing. No payoff. Not a damn thing! That's when his mind told his body, I'm done! Shut-Down mode. AKA "I no longer care"-mode. "I can't do this anymore"-mode. And once in it, it's extremely hard to get out. A phone call brought him out of it then. All his companions reaching out to him at the exact same moment. What will it be this time?

A hand rested on his shoulder. "Why are you still here?" Asked Sylvia.

He jumped!

Sylvia stood behind him. "It's freezing out."

"M fine."

"Right. Sure you are. Put these on." She handed him a hat and coat. "Can't have you getting frostbite, now can we?" He put them on reluctantly.

Next she handed him a steaming cup. "Now, drink this tea. And don't argue with me."

He did as he was told.

"You've been sitting in the exact same spot for days now."

He was about to argue with her when she cut him off "Don't try and deny it. I've seen you."

He remained silent for a moment as he thought of a response.

"And your point is?" He asked as he sipped his tea.

"You look like death warmed over."

"And that's bad because...?" He took another sip.

"How are you supposed to help fix Donna when it's clear you can't even take care of yourself?"

He answered her with another sip of his tea.

She patted his shoulder "Think about it." and then left him to his own thoughts while she walked away.

She's right. Hit the nail on the head! There's no hope for Donna if I get like this. I can't allow myself to enter Shut-Down Mode. It isn't fair to Donna. I've got to try harder.

That's when he felt it. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up indicating that someone was watching him. He looked up and noticed that the bus was still there. It hadn't left. And standing inside it looking right at him was Donna.

What?!