AN: Happy anniversary Doctor Who!

Chapter Fourteen: Last

When Jenny woke again, she felt relief that she had woken again. She even felt slightly better now she'd slept a while. She opened her eyes, and for a moment she thought she was alone, but then something moved and she realised the Doctor was there, half around the corner.

"Dad?"

He jumped, and looked up. Joy and relief spread over his face, the same relief that she had felt after waking. "Jenny!"

"Yep, I survived the night." Jenny gave a tiny laugh, but it turned into a choke.

The Doctor hurried over and picked up the mask, but the coughing passed and Jenny pulled her surprised father into a hug. She didn't say anything, and neither did he, just clutched her close. The hug lasted a long time.

When they moved apart, Jenny appraised the Doctor. "You look terrible."

He raised an eyebrow. "I look terrible?"

Jenny took that to mean she probably didn't look too good either, but was undeterred. "I mean it. Did you sleep?"

"No. But I don't need to, remember." He ran a hand through his hair, which was sticking up in all directions. There were shadows under his eyes, he hadn't shaved, and was still wearing the same, now very crumpled, clothes. "Anyway, I've been …" he trailed off.

Jenny glanced over to where he'd been standing. A machine was running a stream of data down its screen. "You've been trying to come up with a cure, haven't you?" When he didn't speak, she said, "It's okay. You won't get my hopes up. I'm not naïve, I realise the chances are zero."

He gave a tiny nod, and changed the subject. "The other kids are back from school; they're downstairs if you want to … do you feel up to seeing them?"

Jenny hesitated. "Not all of them." The thought of the room crowded with people was too much. "But I'd like to see Rani, please."

He kissed her forehead, and she smiled. "I'll go and get her. Back in a mo."

After a few minutes, Rani came in. "Hey."

"Hi," Jenny replied. The Doctor re-entered, smiled at them and moved out of earshot, back to looking for a cure.

"I … um …" Rani seemed to be searching for words. "I'm sorry, I really don't know what to say …"

"I don't blame you, I wouldn't either if it were the other way round," Jenny said, trying to smile. "Just … can we pretend for a moment that I'm not dying, or any of this stuff happened and we're just … you know … friends?"

"Sure." Rani hesitated. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Hmm … didn't think that far." Jenny shrugged. "School, boys, what was on telly last night, I dunno. Anything."

"School?" Rani raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, maybe not school." They both giggled nervously. Jenny gestured for Rani to sit down, and she did on the Doctor's vacated chair. "We could talk about … boys."

"Boys?" Rani said unsurely, looking surprised at Jenny's sudden grin.

"Yep. Boys. I think Clyde likes you," Jenny said. "As in, likes you likes you."

"We're just friends! … You think so?"

"Yep."

"I dunno, he was trying to flirt with you when you arrived."

"Don't think he's my type," Jenny said. "And I'm probably not his. Trust me, he likes you."

Rani smiled. "Anyone you like?" she said, steering the conversation away from her.

"There was a guy I knew ages ago but … I dunno, I don't even know if he was real." Jenny paused. "Luke's cute, I suppose."

"Luke? You're serious?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"I dunno," Rani said slowly. "He's not my type."

"Brainbox doesn't do it for you?"

They both giggled again. The conversation steered away from their friends and onto other subjects, and after a while Jenny decided to ask.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, anything."

"Do you really like my poetry, or did you just say that to, I dunno, get involved in my life?"

"I really do," Rani said. "Honestly, I think it's amazing."

Jenny flushed. "Thanks."

"Have you written anything since … you know, recently?" Rani spoke delicately, but Jenny knew what she meant.

"No, I haven't." She thought hard. "Rani, could you do me a favour? Could you get me something to write with?"

"Of course."

The Doctor kept trying, but every test he tried failed. He knew they would, he wasn't daring to hope … but he felt like tearing his hair out nonetheless. Every now and then he glanced over at his daughter and Rani; they looked relaxed and happy, despite the situation. He was glad—if he couldn't stop this virus, then he wanted Jenny to be able to—he couldn't say the word—peacefully.

He looked over again, and saw Rani had left. He considered going over to see Jenny, but she was writing in a notebook and looked deeply absorbed, so he decided to let her be for the moment.

When she finished writing, he saw her tear out the page and fold it up, before she called him. "Dad."

"Yes?" he said, dropping what he was doing and instantly by her side.

She handed him the piece of paper. On one side was written, For Dad—to be read after.

"Jenny … what is it?"

"It's my—my last poem," she said shakily. "Please take it." He solemnly pocketed it.

"I just realised, I never asked … you're a poet?"

She nodded. "Yeah. It's weird … I never thought … I used to write about, about aliens and other planets and stuff. I've always had dreams with it in."

"I had that too. I used to keep a journal of the 'dreams'," the Doctor said, sitting down. "The memories are still in the subconscious; that's how they come out."

"I painted too."

"Really?" he grinned. "I paint. Sometimes. Usually I draw."

"Guess the chameleon whatsit didn't get rid of the creative gene," Jenny said with a laugh, and abruptly began coughing again.

"Careful, sweetheart; gently does it."

"Dad," she said after she'd finished.

"Yes?"

"When you told me about Gallifrey … it's just … there's a dream I've had, recurring, which I made into a poem and a painting. It's like how you described it."

The Doctor frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I dreamed of a planet burning. A red planet with silver trees. But … I didn't see that, according to you, so how could it be in my subconscious?"

He froze for a full minute, before saying slowly, "You must have accessed my own memories telepathically at some point before the chameleon arch. An experience like that … it wouldn't be easily forgotten even for one who hadn't personally been there." He paused. "May I … see the works in question?"

"Just ask Rani, she knows where all my stuff is."

Jenny closed her eyes, and his hearts missed two beats as she seemed to struggle to open them again. "Dad, I'm tired."

The lump in his throat doubled. "Jenny …"

Her eyes flickered open, focusing on him. "Yeah?"

"There's something I—" he swallowed. "I need to say … I love you."

There. He'd said it. For once in his pathetic life, he hadn't said it too late.

A tear slipped out of the corner of Jenny's eye. "Dad, I …"

"You rest, sweetheart," he said gently, stroking her hair and trying to convey calm while inside he was in turmoil.

"I love you too."

He blinked, having honestly not expected that response. He could see she meant it, too. Forgoing speech for once, he kissed her gently on the forehead and squeezed her hand.

"Dad?" she asked after a moment.

"Yes?"

"Can you sing something to me?" she whispered.

"Sing?" the Doctor said, surprised.

"Yes, something from your home world."

"They didn't have the most … soothing lullabies."

"Something else then, another kind of song. Just something."

The Doctor sang in Gallifreyan, a song of mountains and valleys and the Time Lords of old. Jenny's eyes closed, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

TBC …