Chapter Ten
Goodnight TARDIS
"Oh, man," whispered Jack. He was lying on the floor of the TARDIS.
"You okay?" Amy asked.
"Yeah. You?" said Jack.
"My heart's beating really fast," said Amy.
"Mine too," said Jack.
It had been a wild ride through the void, with the daleks on their tail the whole way through. It had taken some sharp turns and mad driving to lose the daleks and make it out. Now they were in Cardiff, back in their own universe. The Doctor had suggested that they get some sleep while the TARDIS recharged, but Jack and Amy couldn't get themselves to doze off.
"I miss Tom," said Amy.
"Me too," said Jack. "I hope he's okay."
"He saved our lives," said Amy.
"And he helped us get the Doctor back," said Jack.
The Doctor was wandering around the TARDIS, but he hadn't said anything since they'd landed. Jack and Amy hadn't talked much either, really. There was a long silence.
Amy stood up and took a deep breath. "I can't sleep," she said. "And I'm all ready to go home."
"I wonder what happened to Tom," said Jack.
"Here," said the Doctor, pressing a few buttons and tapping the computer screen. Jack and Amy went over to look. The Doctor had found text in the TARDIS data drive. It said:
Tom Baker played the Doctor for seven consecutive years,
making him the longest-serving actor ever to play the
Doctor. He often disagreed with the screenwriters, saying
his lines "just weren't in character". When he finally left
the show, he was quoted as saying that "the Doctor is the
best made I have even met and ever been in all of time
and space." Tom Baker remains one of Doctor Who's
most beloved incarnations to date.
"That's great!" said Jack.
"Brilliant!" said Amy.
"It is, isn't it?" said the Doctor. "I rather enjoyed that face."
"I like the one you've got," said Jack, reaching out to stroke it. The Doctor swatted his hand away.
"We're done recharging," announced the Doctor. "Are you ready, Amy?"
"Yes," said Amy.
"Amy!" said Rory, sweeping her up into a hug.
"I missed you, Rory," said Amy, hugging him back.
"Glad to be home, are you?" said the Doctor.
"Oh, yes," said Amy. She and Rory walked silently up the steps to the house, hand in hand. Before they went inside, Amy turned around. She knew she was lucky to have been saved from the daleks, lucky to have made it through the Void, lucky to have a home to return to.
"Good night, Doctor," she called into the night. "Good night, Jack!" She thought she heard them call back to her as the wind blew her hair against her face. Then she followed Rory into the house, where it was warm and loving and very safe.
THE END