Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
A/N: For this chapter, spoilers are for the Doctor Who episode 4.13 – Journey's End. Events are slightly AU. Sorry for the late update… my great aunt died. It's been a kind of hard time, but I'm hoping to be back on a slightly-more regular posting schedule. Remember to review please. It is in no way an obligation, but you can if you want. xx
An Ending, a Beginning
There's a hammering on the door. Wilfred hurries to open it.
"Oh, that must be her! Donna?"
He laughs in relief until he opens the door. The TARDIS is on the other side of the road and the Doctor is sitting on the doorstep with Donna asleep in his arms.
"Help me." Whispers the Doctor urgently.
Wilfred bends down anxiously. "Donna? Donna?"
They go inside. Donna is laid down on her bed. The Doctor watches her, his hands in his pockets. A thunderstorm rumbles outside, golden lightning flashing.
"She took my mind into her own head. But that's a Time Lord consciousness." The Doctor is sitting on the sofa, explaining to Sylvia and Wilfred what has happened. "All that knowledge - it was killing her."
"But she'll get better, now?" Wilfred asks in a panic.
The Doctor avoids the question.
"I just want you to know that there are worlds out there, safe in the sky, because of her. That there are people living in the light, singing songs of Donna Noble, a thousand million light-years away... they will never forget her."
Wilfred's eyes are shining with tears.
The Doctor continues, his voice slightly hollow. "And for one moment... one shining moment... she was the most important woman in the whole wide universe."
"She still is. She's my daughter." Sylvia says shortly.
He stands abruptly. "Then maybe you should tell her that once in a while."
Footsteps coming down the stairs - Donna bursts in, breaking the moment.
"I'm home." She announces.
Wilfred and Sylvia rush to her, and pull her close.
It's dark and tipping with rain, the thunder still rumbling depressingly in background. The Doctor goes to the door, accompanied by Wilfred and Donna.
"Ah... you'll have quite a bit of this." The Doctor says, observing the weather. "Atmospheric disturbance. Still, it'll pass." He continues, speaking almost to himself. "Everything does."
Wilfred watches him a little anxiously. The Doctor turns and shakes his hand.
"Bye then, Wilfred. And Donna… Remember, you had a Time Lord consciousness in your head. That's not something that you can just get over. I'm sorry to leave you but, for now, you need to rest."
Donna nods. "I love travelling with you, but you're right. I do need a rest, and most importantly, I need to some time with my family."
The Doctor steps out into to the rain. "Be back soon." He says to her.
"You better be." She says.
Just as they turn away, she calls his name once more. "Doctor..." He turns back around. "What about you for now? Before you come back." Donna continues.
"It's fine. I'm fine." He says. A smile creeps his way onto his face, spreading until he's grinning as only the Doctor can. "I have Rose."
"I'll watch out for you, sir." Wilfred pipes in. "Every night, Doctor... when it gets dark... and the stars come out... I'll look up. I'll look up at the sky and think of you."
"Me too." Donna adds.
The Doctor and Donna stand there, in the rain.
"Thank you." The Doctor says.
He goes back to the TARDIS. Wilfred salutes it as it dematerializes. Donna smiles sadly. When the TARDIS is gone, she closes the door. For now, her part of the story is over.
The engine rises and falls gently. Besides this, the TARDIS is silent - the Doctor stands there, soaked, and so, so tired, but not alone. Never alone. Rose, Donna, all his friends and family are there, even though many are with him in spirit only.
Rose comes up behind him. She takes off his sodden jacket and looks up at the console for a moment, her hands in her pockets. The Doctor walks slowly around it, adjusting a few controls. He stops, leans on the console, and smiles. An ending, but a beginning.
The Bad Wolf smiles too. History has been changed once more, and this time it is for the better. But there are still troubling times ahead.
A cloud falls over Earth as another ending approaches.
