He had to survive, she had seen it. She also saw she was the one to have made sure he did in this universe. Now she just needed to go back and do it.

-0-

She left her former sanctuary with a much lighter heart. As much as she would miss it, she should not go back. Not now that she knew he saw her. Her presence could cause a disruption to the path ways she strove so hard to keep safe. Yet, she was not sad, not now. Instead she had been given the gift of peace, a bit of closure that she sorely needed. It wouldn't stop the pain, but it would let her put it in perspective. Also she would now be able to remember the good things, without them being overshadowed by what had happened to her. So while she was headed into chaos and destruction, it was with joy in her heart.

This time she slid down the pathway, headed to where she knew she was needed. She could see in her mind the form she needed to take, and what she would find when she got there. This time she was going as her default, and he would see her face. This would be her third interaction with that universe's Doctor, even though it would be his first. It was an unheard of amount of times for her to intervene in anyone person's path. Yet, she was required to be there. She already had been there, so she would go there. Time Loops, it was enough to give anyone a headache. Well except for her, she just grinned.

Her transition into this time and place was smooth and calm, even if her surroundings were the opposite. The Tardis was screaming, rocked with explosions and damage. The Time Lord was bleeding and battered, lying on the floor. Darting over to the center console she gripped it, letting her energy feed into the Tardis, and ease them into the Time Vortex. The Tardis calmed, the violent movements subsided even as some parts still smoked and sparked. Concentrating she dampened down any remaining fires, getting a whimpered thank you from the telepathic ship.

Still the ship was wracked in pain; her Time Lord was dying and refusing regeneration. This was going to be very tricky, but very necessary. He needed to live; so much was a stake here. More than he could possibly imagine. Perhaps even more then she could, but for now she needed to focus on saving his life. Moving over to his prone form with a sad smile she kneeled, placing a hand on either side of his temple.

She closed her eyes and brushed her mind against his, seeking entry. His mind rolled with pain, grief, shame, and self-blame. Persisting she brushed again, letting her compassion and concern slide over his mental wounds, trying to sooth them. Finally her persistence was rewarded, there was the smallest bit of relenting, and she was allowed in.

Gallifrey was burning, and that is where he stood. This gentle incarnation was a poet, a gentleman, a compassionate man. He had been forced into war, to becoming the man that decided who lived and who died. He was forced in the position of choosing the universe over his own people. He stood in the middle of the maelstrom of destruction, and wanted to die just like all his people had. Her soul keened in grief with him, but it would not allow him to go.

She solidified in his mind-scape, a golden goddess, untouched by the destruction all around him. Battered and wounded he turned towards her, his grief evident. He lashed out, "Go away. Go before I destroy you too. Just let me die here, it is what I deserve, killer of my own kind."

Calmly she regarded him, letting him vent before speaking. "No, son of Gallifrey, Champion of Time, it is not your time to die. The Universe needs you. I need you. You must choose to live." Her voice echoed, rolling through the destruction surrounding them freezing it in place.

Shocked, his eyes widened taking one hesitant step towards her. "I don't deserve to live. Not after what I have done. Why would I want to live, all I have left is pain and death. You don't know me; you don't know what I'm capable of."

She spread her hands, sending soothing energy to smother the fires and swath rough edges. It worked to protect him from the damage that ravaged his body and mind. "I know you better than anyone ever could. I know you Doctor, I even know Theta Sigma. I know you for all you ever have been and ever will be."

To his utter shock his name, is true name and the essence of his utter self, came from her lips. It brushed through his mind, resonating in her voice. It was enough to weaken his resolve. He cried out and she rapidly faded from his mind as regeneration took over.

His eyes snapped open, the icy blue staring up into the glittering gold of the woman that cradled his head in her hands. He was in the tattered remains of the clothes his prior incarnation wore. Pain filled eyes stared at her accusingly, even as his questions demanded answers from her. "Why, why did you do that? Why couldn't you let me die? What is there that is left for me?"

Even as he questioned, his hands reached up to grip her softened metallic hands. He desperately reached for that connection to someone, to fill the aching emptiness that was in his mind. "For one, if you die your Tardis will die as well, the last of her kind. Did you want to condemn her to death?" He swallowed and shook his head. Of course he didn't want to kill her; he just didn't want to live. "For second, you are needed Time's Champion. The Time War wreaked havoc on the universe and you are the only one left to repair the damage. It echoes across time and you will be needed." Studying her face anxiously she could see the spark of life start to burn within. She had given him purpose, now it was time to give him what he needed most, hope.

"I cannot promise the pain will go away, I cannot guarantee what is to come. I can tell you there is a love out there waiting for you, one that will burn brighter than all the stars in the sky. You just need to find it. It will get better, that I can promise you. " She smiled down at him as he stared up.

He slowly rolled to his feet. She reached to steady him. "Let's get you something to wear, and then you can work on your Tardis. She needs you." Shell-shocked he nodded, staggering towards the Wardrobe.

She followed behind him, a silent golden shadow as he sought out his new armor against the world. Bewildered he paused, was he really thinking of his clothes as armor? Steadying himself, he started to move again, yes armor was the right word. With jerky movements he roughly grabbed clothes, bypassing silks and velvets; there were no fancy fripperies for him. What he needed was durable, simple and rough. Black work boots, dark jeans, a scratchy wool jumper, those were what he needed. When he turned around he saw her with a leather jacket in her arms offering it up to him. He pulled it on, and finally started to feel settled. This would do.

Standing there, he stared at her, and then roughly moved to make his way back to the console room. Each step became surer, and she could practically see the prickly walls of his psyche go up. She remained silent, the golden light following in the storm's wake.

When he got closer there was a small sound of dismay in his throat and he moved to gently stroke the console. He muttered soft sounds of apology and comfort to his battered ship. Her reply was soft and struggling, seeking to comfort him as well.

Behind him Void Walker started to work, stripping away what was unusable debris. She took away the blacked wood and charred fabrics. While he communed with his ship she got rid of all the broken soft touches. They all had been ruined beyond repair and recognition. She left only the usable bits, which could be repaired, or used in repairs. Soon the room was stripped down to the underlying coral structure.

He wasn't sure how long he had stood there comforting his ship, but when he turned back he saw her. She was standing by the door, and had taken the worst of the damage away, leaving the bare structure that needed to be rebuilt. "You're leaving?" His voice was rough and incredulous as he took a step towards her.

What she needed to do here was a great risk. One that was necessary, but still must be done carefully. He would not have survived without her interference. Now she needed to make sure he kept himself alive, until he was healed enough that it wasn't a questionable matter. So she stepped towards him, ready to give him a small gift. "I have to go, but I have something for you. You will never be truly alone again."

Her hand reached out to him, and he grabbed it as she lightly stretched up to place a kiss on his forehead. There, she planted a small spark inside his mind, a tiny bit of herself to shine in the darkness. It wouldn't interfere with what was to come with Rose Tyler. In fact it might actually help. When he was ready, it would simply fade away. For now he needed it, so that he would not succumb to the darkness.

She also shrouded his memories of these moments. He would know someone helped him, but he would not be able to clearly remember it. It was just enough to keep him going without holding him back. It would only come back to him if he ever saw her face again.

While he was still dazed, she moved away. In a moment he would shake himself out of it and start fixing the Tardis. It wouldn't occur to him to look for her there, which was how it should be. Besides, it was time for her to go pick up Jack. She idly wondered if he was going to actually have clothes on or not when she arrived.