Disclaimer: Tell them I said something clever here. Because I'm too sad to come up with my own.

A/N: WARNING!!! CONTAINS SPOILERS! For End of Time Part II. On an interesting side note, I wrote this before I actually watched the episode, so if it's off on certain minor details (which it is, as I've now seen it) just ignore that and appreciate the underlying message. I didn't want to post it until I was sure most everyone had already seen it...to decrease spoilage. On a sadder note, I can't believe he's gone. Literally. I refuse.

Last Chances

Where had he left the TARDIS? Where had he left the TARDIS? Where had he left the TARDIS? Where? Where? Where? Where had he left her? He had to find her before it was too late. He could feel the change coming. Oh, but it was more than change, wasn't it? It was more than a whole new beginning. Because there had to be an end first. He had to die before he could be reborn. The pain. The pain. The pain. He fell to one knee with a loud groan, clutching at his chest. Not that it hurt there because it hurt everywhere. Taking deep, suffering breaths, he finally managed to take in his surroundings. He was kneeling on a deserted London street. Alone.

He laughed humorlessly and then doubled over in agony. The pain. The pain. The pain. He stumbled to his feet. He had to find her, had to find the TARDIS, had to get away. He hobbled towards the sidewalk. A fast approaching car swerved to avoid him, honking. A rude shout came from inside it as it departed. Clutching at his clothing, taking ragged breaths, the Time Lord stumbled towards the crumbling building wall to lean against it.

Oh the times when he'd had others to lean on. No more. He was alone now. Alone. Alone. Alone. Fire shot through him, and he almost yelled out from the burn. His bloodshot eyes opened suddenly. No. Not here. He wanted to be home. He took one painful, unbalanced step forward, then another. He'd been traveling for over nine hundred years, but there was one place he had always been able to call home, and he wanted to be there when the last tendrils of this life faded away.

He turned the corner, able to walk stably enough without clutching the walls. He stumbled across the street. Alongside him, a mother with her stroller hurried away, throwing bewildered glares his way. He took another ragged breath. Almost there. Almost there. He could feel his trusty time machine calling out to him. His shoe hit the pavement and an onslaught of images hit his head like a hammer.

Memories. Memories in this body. Pain. Misery. Loneliness. Happiness too, but all the sadder for the loss. Constant loss. He clutched his head, willing them to go away. Faces flashed past and he fell against the nearest wall, breathing hard. No. That wasn't his stop. He had to keep going. He struggled on. Another onslaught of images and pain forced him to stumble. He would have fallen when an arm shot out and caught him, pulled him back, steadied him. He blinked. His vision cleared. And suddenly, a painful image became blessed reality.

"You alright there, mate?" Angelic. Her voice was so incredibly angelic. Maybe not on its own. But she made it so. Wait. He managed to ignore the searing pain coursing through him long enough to realize something was off. She didn't know him. The irony. A laugh wound its way to his throat, but he forced it back not wanting to scare her.

His palm found her elbow. He used her to steady himself. She still had one arm around his waist. She was looking at him with worry. Genuine worry. She bit her lip, her eyes searching his face for a sign.

"What year is it?" He gasped.

Her eyebrows furrowed. Whatever she'd been expecting, it hadn't been that. "New Year's Day. 2005." She smiled suddenly in understanding and nudged his hip with hers. Just like in the old days. "Bit late to be celebrating isn't it?"

"2005?" He smiled suddenly. "You're going to have a very good year."

She smiled back. "What makes you say so?"

"Trust me."

"A stranger?" Her arm began withdrawing from around him.

"We're all strangers in the beginning. And I'm not drunk."

"Sure, mate." Her tongue peeked out from between her teeth teasingly.

"I'm not-." He stopped arguing. Pain blasted through his head, and he clutched at it suddenly, startling her. Her hold on him tightened once again when he suddenly leaned away, groaning. "Go. I've got to go." He murmured through clenched teeth.

As he stumbled away, a hand caught his, and he looked back at her beautifully worried brow. "You gonna be alright?"

His breath caught, and his eyes traveled down to their clasped hands. His eyes met hers again. "Yes, I think so. But you, you're going to be brilliant." And he gave her one last dazzling smile. Her sweet smile in return as she let go of his hand was heartbreaking.

He made it at least five feet away before pausing. He closed his eyes in frustration and then turned back around with a groan of annoyance. He'd managed to ignore the pain for a minute; he could do it for a minute more. Besides, if anything could kill the pain, it was her. She was standing there still, looking after him, unsure, hands buried in her jacket. Her head tilted in question as he took the few steps back towards her.

His hands moved slowly towards her face. "I know what this looks like, and I'm not crazy. I promise. Not drunk either." His voice came down in tone. As his hands came up to cup her face, she looked curious but not frightened. She didn't move away. "I just…believe in last chances."

And he brought his face down to hers until their lips were hovering inches apart. He gave her a chance to pull back, to move away, but she didn't. She held perfectly still, her eyes half closed. So he kissed her.

He'd been right after all. Rose was his painkiller. More than that, she was like ecstasy. She took the pain far, far away and replaced it with something eternally sweeter. Her lips were unresponsive at first, but as he poured into the kiss everything she'd made him feel over the last and next few years, her lips began to move with his, tenuously at first until she seemed to feel what he did, what she would be feeling soon enough. She broke the kiss off, but she didn't move away. Eyes closed, their lips were still barely touching. He felt it when she smiled.

"I'm sorry." He whispered against her lips.

She let out a breathy sigh. "Don't be. I believe in last chances now too."

He smiled, ignoring the fast approaching pain. "Happy New Years."

"Happy New Years." She whispered back. She didn't open her eyes again as he turned and continued on his way.

As he hurried towards the next street corner, he heard a familiar shrilly voice. "What was that about then?" Jackie Tyler scolded her daughter.

The responding laugh gave him the strength to continue until the blessed blue doors were in sight. His hands shook as he fit the key into the lock, but he didn't fall again, didn't cry out. So, he would be alone when he died. The pain wouldn't stop until it was over. But he would be home, and his memories would keep him company. The door squeaked as it closed behind him.

A/N: Also, this chapter is dedicated to NewDrWhoFan for her lovely and numerous reviews. Thankles so muchles! This chapter is also dedicated to David! *sob* We will miss you! Hope y'all enjoyed reading this through your tears.