The next time the psychic echo program kicked in, Clara and the Doctor were in the library, reading contentedly.
It wasn't until a voice said, "Hey there Doc! We heard you were down in the dumps!"
The Doctor's head snapped up from the book he was reading, and he slowly stood, "Captain Jack Harkness and Mickey Smith."
Clara stood as well, "Wow, Doctor! You seem to tend to pick up hot companions," she said while eying Jack.
The hologram gave her one of his signature smiles, "Captain Jack Harkness, m'am, and you are?"
It was like someone had knocked his kneecap just the right way, when the Doctor let out his reflexive, "Stop it."
Jack laughed.
Mickey then spoke up, "What's up with you these days, boss? You never come see any of us on Earth, and I've heard stories about how your heart has gone cold."
The Doctor stared up at nowhere in particular, "Its my fault."
"What's you fault?" Mickey asked curiously, incredulous that the Doctor would ever admit to being flawed.
"I took her from you, Mickey. If I hadn't interfered in her life, you two would be m-" he stopped, unable to say that word, "together, back on Earth."
Mickey smiled, "'s all right boss! I found Martha, and we're happy together. We have a wonderful life together. Been talking about having kids for a while now!"
The Doctor smiled at that, but his face then returned to a frown as he looked at Jack.
He opened his mouth to speak, when Jack interrupted him, "Don't you dare blame yourself, Doctor. If anyone is really to blame, it would be her. And we both know she didn't mean it. Besides, its nice, the way I am. Sometimes. Plus, if I hadn't met you, I'd still be the con man I was, and that's just not where I want to be. I like this life. Sure it's full of heartache and pain, but it's full of beauty and life as well. So don't you dare, Doctor. Don't you dare blame yourself."
The Doctor nodded to the two men, and suddenly felt a lot better.
The two came up at attention, and saluted him at the same time. With that, they faded away, just like the previous four.
It while before the Time Lord resumed his seat in his high backed comfy reading chair. And the silence hung in the air between him and his companion.
She finally decided to break the silence, "Doctor, you three kept mentioning a 'she', who was it? Martha?"
His mouth twisted into a wry smile, that didn't reflect any happiness, "No, not Martha. There's one more visit I'm expecting, from a hologram that is. I'd just like this visit to be in private though." He said that last bit to the ceiling, which Clara assumed was to the TARDIS. Which she was proved right when the time ship made a funny noise which meant yes.
A/N: The next chapter is going to have some serious angst. And some smut. I have a feeling you might know who's coming next. I hope you all really like this story, because I'm enjoying writing this. I'm actually considering making this the prequel to "Coming Home", my super long and super effort filled fic (which I hope you'll read because I can feel great things are going to come from that fic) I just really enjoyed writing this fic. I've had "All We Are" by OneRepublic on repeat this whole time while writing. Anywho I really hope you'll like the next chapter, and thank you for your readership. Feel free to tell me what you think in the reviews
