The Doctor ran his hands lovingly across the Tardis' front doors. It was time to go. He felt it.
Sam Winchester joined him outside the bunker. "Are you leaving?" he asked.
The Doctor apologetically said, "Other adventures out there and all that."
Sam nodded and said, "You are going to say goodbye to everyone, right?"
"In a way, I have to," the Doctor said, grinning, "River's still inside."
They walked back inside. River sat with Dean and Cas while John sat near where Sherlock and Gabriel were talking quietly.
River looked at the Doctor and said, "It's that time, isn't it?"
"I'm sure we'll see everyone again, but yes," the Doctor said.
River gave Cas a smile, and asked, "Doctor, would you come with me for a moment?"
Confused and curious, the Doctor followed River through the main room to a back hallway.
"We should keep travelling with them," River said.
"What?" the Doctor asked, "Why?"
"It's a big Tardis," she said, "And you need a companion."
"I thought you were coming with me," the Doctor said, shocked.
River smiled softly and said, "Of course, I'm coming, sweetie. But we need someone. To keep us human, to share the universe with. These people are fun."
"I believe you met Clara Oswald," the Doctor said, grinning, "Are you suggesting inviting these people along because they're all male?"
River gave him a teasing smile. "Well, let's at least offer John and Sherlock a ride home," she said.
The Doctor had thought that was a given, so he didn't argue in the slightest.
"And you have to admit that Dean and Sam are attractive," River said.
The Doctor sighed and said, "I'll go get Sherlock and John."
The two men were in the middle of some heated discussion when the Doctor walked up to them.
"I think it would be best if you didn't work cases with me anymore," Sherlock said.
John said, "Oh, you really think that would fix anything? I know you want me working with you. You'd just drive yourself mad while being a stubborn git."
"Of course I want you working with me, but it's part of the problem, John, and I can't-"
"Well, I see I'm interrupting," the Doctor said, "But River and I are leaving, and if you want a ride back to London, you'll either need to come with us or ask Gabriel."
Sherlock and John both stared at the Doctor as if they hadn't known he was there. Maybe they hadn't.
Sherlock recovered first. "I need to get back to Baker street. I can't speak for John, but I'll come with you," he said.
John rolled his eyes at Sherlock and said, "Of course I'm coming with. When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible, preferably," the Doctor said.
Gabriel walked over and looked at the three of them. "You're leaving? But it won't be fun around here anymore," he said.
"Hey!" Sam protested.
Gabriel grinned and said, "Seriously, it's been fun working with you guys. If you guys need anything, just pray to me, and I'll be there lickety split."
John said, "I'll keep that in mind."
The Doctor clapped a hand on Gabriel's shoulder, but goodbyes were never his style.
River stood in front of Sam and Dean, handing them a piece of paper. "It's the number of the Tardis. If you need us for anything, give it a ring," she said.
"We'll miss you guys," Sam said. Dean looked as uncomfortable with the goodbyes as the Doctor felt.
There was something the Doctor had to do before leaving, though.
He found Castiel where he was watching the others and asked, "Might we chat for a bit? I feel I should remind you of something you already know."
Cas glanced at the others but nodded and led the Doctor into the next room. "What do you want to tell me?" he asked.
"You existed before humanity, correct?" the Doctor asked.
Cas nodded, but his eyes drifted to the floor at the mention of humanity.
"You watched them evolve?" the Doctor asked.
Cas nodded again, giving the Doctor a confused look.
"Then you know how beautiful and wonderful they are," the Doctor said.
Cas reluctantly met the Doctor's gaze and said, "Yes, I do."
"And that's the point," the Doctor said, "Enjoy being human. There's such wonder in human life. Instead of watching, you can experience. It's not an opportunity everybody gets."
The corner of Castiel's mouth twitched up into a small smile.
"I know you don't really know me, but your doppelganger was very nice, so feel free to use that number River gave the Winchesters whenever you'd like," the Doctor said.
"Thank you. I'm sorry, but what is your name?" Cas asked.
The Doctor smiled and said, "They call me the Doctor. Apparently Heaven had some rumors of a man in a blue box protecting humanity. That'd be me."
Castiel stared at the Doctor with wide eyes.
The Doctor grinned, saying, "Take care, Castiel."
Everyone followed him out to the Tardis.
"Stay out of trouble," the Doctor said to the Winchesters as he opened the doors with a snap of his fingers.
Dean said with a grin, "Not a chance."
The Doctor waited for River, Sherlock, and John to board the Tardis before walking in and closing the doors behind him. He hadn't gotten the chance to say goodbye to Benny since the man was watching over Adam still, but the Doctor hated goodbyes anyway.
"Where am I dropping you?" the Doctor asked his passengers.
Sherlock said, "John's flat," at the same time that "Baker street" came out of John's mouth.
John looked at Sherlock, perplexed. "Why would we go to my flat? Mary's still at your place," he said.
Sherlock said, "I want to tell her, which would be significantly easier if you weren't there."
"You want to destroy my marriage without me even being present?" John shouted, "You've got to be bloody joking!"
"I just want to say goodbye to Mary," Sherlock said evenly.
John stopped and gave Sherlock a worried look. "Goodbye? What? No. Why?" he asked quietly.
"Baker street it is," the Doctor said loudly. He put in the coordinates and watched the four Winchesters outside the Tardis on the monitor as they started to dematerialize from the small Kansas street.
When they landed, John rushed out of the Tardis with Sherlock close on his heels.
"Where to, my dear?" the Doctor asked River.
"We can't just leave now," River said, "Sherlock is going to want a goodbye from you."
"We'll see him again," the Doctor tried.
River sighed and said, "Sweetie, I know you don't like endings, but we might not see him for a while. It'll be good for him and good for you. Go on, I'll be right here when you get back."
The Doctor huffed in frustration. That woman could be so infuriating. But he did suppose he should make sure John and Sherlock didn't kill each other.
The Doctor gave River a frustrated look before leaving the Tardis.
Sherlock said, "Goodbye, Mary," and turned around, almost walking straight into the Doctor.
"Thank you, Doctor, for everything. I have to go," Sherlock said.
Before the Doctor could said anything, the consulting detective was gone. A bit bewildered by Sherlock's sudden exist, the Doctor walked over to where Mary was sitting and John was pacing.
"What was that all about about?" the Doctor asked.
Mary shot a look at the frazzled John, saying, "I wish I knew."
Well, if Mary didn't know...and he hadn't been in the Tardis for very long. It just seemed like a lot of theatrics for a small love triangle problem.
The Doctor asked, "This isn't about John's feelings for Sherlock, is it?"
John stopped pacing and, turning several shades paler, looked at Mary for her reaction.
Mary stared at her husband in disbelief. "For God's sake, John," she said, "That's what's going on? The way you two were acting, you'd think somebody died! Not that I should be surprised. Drama queens, the both of you."
"You're okay with this?" John sputtered.
Mary said, "Of course I am! Go get Sherlock back here."
"You're really okay with this?" John asked.
Mary smiled softly and beckoned John closer. "If I wasn't okay with it, I wouldn't have married you. Any idiot with two eyes could see how in love with him you are. It's adorable, really. Now, if you still love me, and I know you do, go get Sherlock," she said.
John had to take a moment to process but quickly headed out the door.
The Doctor slowly headed towards the Tardis. There was only so much observing he could before going crazy. Or getting involved.
"I've got to-" the Doctor said, grasping for an appropriate excuse to leave.
"I'll tell them you said bye whenever they calm down about all this," Mary said.
"Thanks," the Doctor said.
Before he could return to the Tardis, River opened the door. "Doctor, I need you," she said.
He hopped into the Tardis after her and asked, "What's going on?"
"Do you see this transmission?" she asked.
The Doctor looked at the screen she indicated. "The one being broadcast through all of time and space at once?" he asked.
"Yes, that one," River said.
The Doctor looked at it again and asked, "How is it doing that?"
"No idea," River said with an excited grin.
"We should pick up Clara, she might want to come with for this adventure."
"Doctor, it might be dangerous."
"Might be? You don't know?"
"We're on the same time stream, Sweetie. I've got no more spoilers for you."
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
The Doctor quickly flew them from Baker street to Clara's area of England. Of course, when they landed, they were on some rural stretch of road a few miles outside of Clara's place. Perfect.
"Well," River said, "We could do the easy thing and fly over to Clara's house directly, or we could be complicated and cryptic and lead her here."
The Doctor gave her a knowing smile.
"Complicated and cryptic, then," River said, stepping outside the Tardis and grabbing the phone, "What's the number for her school?"
A half hour later, Clara parked her motorbike next to the Tardis console. Apparently, they hadn't been only a few miles away. Oops.
And she left the door open.
"Draft," the Doctor said.
Clara quickly snapped her fingers and closed the Tardis doors.
"When did you teach her to do that?" River asked, emerging from her room. The Doctor grinned at Clara's stunned expression.
"But you said you were dead," Clara stammered at River.
River smiled. "I got better," she said.
"Uh huh," Clara said, staring at River.
She processed rather quickly, however and asked, "So, where are we off to?"
"Not sure yet," the Doctor said, "Have to figure out where this transmission is coming from."
He picked up a disembodied and badly damaged cyberman head from under the console.
"Where did you get that?" River and Clara asked at the same time.
Before the Doctor could explain the origin of Handles, which he had so lovingly dubbed the cyber-head, the Tardis shook violently.
"What's happening?" Clara asked.
"We're taking off," River said.
The Doctor said quickly, "But the engines aren't going."
He raced to the door and saw they were being transported by a metal claw attached to a helicopter. He knew exactly who to call about this. Without hesitation, the Doctor grabbed the phone on the Tardis door and called Kate Stewart.
It seemed the transmission was going to have to wait.
But what was one more adventure in the meantime?