AN: I'm going to pretend that Donna the bride never turned up in the TARDIS at the end of the last episode, just for this story.
The Doctor wandered round the console trying to find things to fix. He hadn't landed the TARDIS for months, not since… not since burning up the sun to say goodbye to Rose Tyler.
He sighed as his hearts ached at the thought. Opening the metal grating in the floor the Doctor decided he was going to tidy up the wires a bit. The TARDIS was finding a bit disconcerting that she was so clean and quiet, it just wasn't natural, not when the Doctor lived inside. He was usually messy with things strewn everywhere, but now, ever since Rose had been forced to leave, he was unusually tidy and the TARDIS missed the lived in feel.
It's not my fault. If Rose was here then she'd be messy and I'd have a reason to be messy too. But she's not here, so I'm not untidy. And don't start with your lectures about moving on. I've already lost my family and home to the Dalek's, I think I'm allowed to be a little upset that they've taken my best friend as well.
Yes! Alright! I know it was my fault. I started the stupid Time War, I'm the reason Rose is gone. You don't have to remind me I already feel bad enough.
The Doctor started sulking as he carefully folded the wires into their places. The TARDIS was only trying to make him see sense and he knew that, but sometimes it felt like even she was against him.
The TARDIS had been trying in vain to get the Doctor to land somewhere. But every time she landed the Doctor stalked off to his room and refused point blank to come out until she was hovering in the vortex again.
The only time he'd landed through choice was for the TARDIS to power up. He didn't land on Earth though. He didn't think he could face it just yet, so it was always a planet really far away.
The Doctor was suffering rather badly from the loss of Rose. He would think to himself that if only he hadn't tried to stop the Dalek's from being created, and the Time War had never started then maybe Rose would still be here now.
Then again if the Time War had never happened he'd probably have never met Rose. She'd been like a beacon of hope after what had happened. He'd vowed to himself never to have another human companion, he was way too dangerous and he'd end up hurting them, but when he'd seen her gorgeous face, when she'd stumbled in and almost ruined his plans, when he'd had to grab her hand and told her to run he knew that all his promises would go straight out the window.
You didn't say yes the first time I asked Rose, but I knew you would. I never got the chance to tell you, but when I disappeared after you said no I went into my own future to see if I ever found another companion, but what I found instead was you.
I saw us when we came back to save Earth from the Slitheen. I saw you and me together and I knew I had to try again. After all I'd only be fulfilling the time stream. So I went back and you saying yes was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
You taught me how to love again, something I thought I'd never be able to do, not after the Time War. You showed me how to open up and talk about how you feel rather than bottling it up.
You told me that it's ok NOT to be alright all the time. So I followed your lead. You were my equal, my everything; I don't know what to do without you. I'm sure you must be feeling the same. Maybe part of you wants me to move on, but I'm sure most of you must be hoping I'll find a way back to you.
That's what I'm feeling anyway. I must be going mad, I'm talking to you in my head, because I like to think that somehow you've still got a telepathic link to the TARDIS and can hear me. After all you heard me calling when I wanted to say goodbye.
The Doctor sighed again and finished tidying. He pulled himself out and made a decision. He was going back to Earth. If he didn't do it now, he never would.
Pulling levers and flicking switches he set the coordinates, careful that he wasn't going to run into himself or Rose before they met, and landed in London. He picked the spot he'd first landed on when he'd stopped the Autons. It was next to the park just outside the Powell Estate.
Stepping out he took a deep breath, taking in the peaceful surroundings and listening t the birds singing in the trees. It was almost too much; he bit his lip hard, determined not to cry again. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he wandered along, head down, eyes dark.
It wasn't long before he reached the city centre and found himself at a loss of what to do. He knew he'd reached a milestone just by landing here, but now he realised that he really didn't have any reason to come back.
It took him a moment to register the screams and people rushing about as he stared into space, but when he did he started running towards the source of the commotion.
People jostled him, desperate to get away and it was only as he turned the corner and found himself battling against a huge crowd that he heard a noise that made his blood run cold.
"EXTERMINATE!" The black Dalek screamed firing randomly at people. The Doctor stared unable to move for a second and then he spurred into action.
A girl of about Rose's age with dark skin and black hair had tripped and caught her jeans on something. The Dalek was slowly rolling towards her as she desperately tried to free herself and the Doctor knew he couldn't just walk away. He had to help her.
Pushing through the crowd he broke free and ran over to her. She stared at him as he pulled her free and grabbed her hand pulling her down a side alley and out of sight of the Dalek.
The pair panted leaning against the walls on either side of the alley. The girl wiped the dirt off her hands and held her hand out to the Doctor who shook it.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem," the Doctor replied.
"Do you know what that thing is?" She asked, the fear evident in her voice as she watched the Dalek roll further down the street still murdering people.
"It's a Dalek," the Doctor said darkly. "And I'm here to stop it."