Chapter 9
Goodbye
The daleks rushed to surround Tom Baker. Seizing her chance, Amy ran from the circle and in through the open TARDIS door. As the last dalek moved into position, Jack pounced. He grabbed Tom by his collar as a death ray came whistling toward him. Jack was hit squarely in the chest, but it didn't matter. He'd shielded Tom, who now sat, shaking, in one of the TARDIS seats. Amy ran to the TARDIS door and dragged Jack's limp body inside. She pulled the door shut. Jack sat up.
"Not again!" he said. "I hate dying."
"You saved all of us," said Tom.
"Now we have to save all of London," said Jack. The daleks are still out there."
"Not a problem," said the Doctor. "It's me they want. We have to cross the Void to get home, and the daleks will willingly follow this little blue box right into it."
"What's the Void?" asked Tom and Amy at the same time."
"It's the area between universes," said the Doctor. "It contains nothing, not even time."
"Am I coming with you?" asked Tom.
The Doctor sucked in his breath.
"Sorry, Tom, I'm so sorry. You have a job here, and this isn't my universe. I can't stay."
"Doctor?"
"Yes, Tom?"
"You said you used to look like me. The daleks recognized me as you. But I'm a human. I'm an actor."
"Your telly programme is real life in my universe," Amy explained. "It's just like we told you when we first met. The Doctor was you, and then he died and became the next actor after you, and we're from the future and the Doctor is, I don't know, several regenerations after you. And your companion on the show- she's real too. I'm just a later companion."
Tom nodded. "I think I understand." His eyes filled with tears. "I should go back now, I guess."
"You're actually late," said the Doctor. "But the TARDIS can fix that, no problem."
Tom followed the Doctor slowly into the TARDIS. It disappeared and reappeared just around the corner from the set, giving Tom ten minutes to change.
"I can go myself from here," said Tom. "Amy, Jack, Doctor... I won't ever forget you. Any of you. Thank you so much- for everything."
"Goodbye, Tom," said the Doctor solemnly.
"Bye!" cried Amy tearfully.
"I won't forget you either," said Jack.
Tom took a deep breath. Then, he left. Just before he rounded the corner, he turned around and waved. Everyone waved back. Then he was gone.
Jack, Amy, and the Doctor watched his absence for a moment in silence. After a time, Amy closed the doors and the Doctor started fiddling around with the controls.
"I wish we could go home," said Amy.
The wind started to blow.
The TARDIS started to spin.
It spun faster and faster.
Then everything was still.
Absolutely still.