The sound of footsteps echoed through the cold, sterile corridors of Babel's abandoned ruins. It had been years since W had set foot in these halls, but the memories—they lingered, haunting her every step. The sharp scent of metal and dust filled the air, the silence broken only by the soft hum of the distant machinery. She moved with purpose, her gaze unwavering, her mind clouded with thoughts of vengeance and loss.
Ahead, she spotted him.
The Doctor, the one who had once been her ally, the one who had betrayed her. He was waiting for her, standing in the center of the chamber, the dim light casting long shadows across his worn features. He wore his usual calm expression, but there was a glint in his eyes—a glimmer of hope that she would finally listen.
W stopped at a distance, crossing her arms over her chest, her stance defensive. She had no intention of getting any closer to him. Not after everything that had happened. Not after she had died because of his decisions.
The Doctor's voice broke the silence, smooth and steady, as if nothing had ever changed between them. "W, I know it's been a long time. I'm not asking you to forget everything, but... I want us to move past the past."
W's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Move past it?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "You really think it's that simple? You expect me to just forget?"
He stepped forward, his tone softening, desperate. "I know what happened to Theresa—what we all went through. But I—"
"You!" W's anger flared. "Don't talk about her! Don't you dare mention her name!"
The Doctor flinched, but he held his ground. "I know I failed her. I've never stopped thinking about it. I've been trying—"
"Stop!" W snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "You're still pretending like you did nothing wrong. You're still hiding behind your excuses! You think I don't know what happened? You think I don't remember every damn thing that led to Theresa's death?"
Her words hit him like a blow to the chest, but he couldn't back down now. He had come this far, and he wasn't going to leave without trying to fix things between them. He stepped closer, his eyes filled with an earnest, almost pleading intensity. "I'm not asking for forgiveness, W. I just want a chance to make it right. Please, let me show you... let me prove to you that I can be the man you once trusted."
W's eyes narrowed, her fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to believe him. She truly did. But how could she? After everything, how could she ever trust him again?
The Doctor reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he extended it toward her. "Please," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Don't let the past control us anymore. Let me... let me make amends."
For a moment, W hesitated. Her breath hitched in her throat as his fingers brushed against hers. Her heart raced, a mixture of emotions flooding her all at once—anger, frustration, confusion. She had spent so long hating him, resenting him for what he had done. She had sworn she would never let him get close again. Yet here he was, reaching out to her, desperate for redemption.
But before she could even think about it, her hand shot up, swatting his away with a sharp motion. Her face flushed with a combination of rage and embarrassment, her glare burning with intensity. "Touch me again, and I swear I'll break your hand," she growled, her voice low and dangerous.
The Doctor froze, his expression faltering for just a moment, but then he steadied himself. He didn't back down, not this time. "W... I know it's hard. I know you're angry. But don't you see? You're not the only one who's been suffering."
Her lips curled into a snarl. "Suffering? Don't talk to me about suffering. You have no idea what it's like to lose everything, to watch your world crumble, all because of your own mistakes."
His eyes darkened, and he took another step forward, his voice barely a whisper now. "I never wanted any of this. I never wanted any of us to lose Theresa... or anyone. But I've learned from my mistakes. I'm not the man I was back then."
"Good," W spat, her voice cold as ice. "Because that man is dead, and the man you are now... doesn't deserve a second chance."
The words stung, but the Doctor refused to back away. "I know I can't undo the past. I know I can't bring Theresa back. But I can try to make it right. For you. For me. For everyone we lost."
W shook her head, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She didn't know what hurt more—his words or the way they made her feel. She was so damn angry, so damn hurt, and yet she couldn't ignore the small part of her that still wanted to believe him.
But she couldn't. Not now. Not after everything.
"I'll never forgive you," she hissed, her voice low and filled with venom. "And I'll never forget what you did. You ruined everything, Doctor. You ruined her."
The Doctor's face tightened, but he didn't give up. He reached out once more, this time with both hands, his voice pleading. "W... please. Let me help you. Let me make up for the pain I caused."
This time, W didn't swat his hands away immediately. Her breath caught in her throat as her heart skipped a beat. She didn't want this. She didn't want him near her. And yet... a part of her did.
But with a fierce shake of her head, she shoved his hands away. "I don't need your help, Doctor. I don't need anything from you."
Her words were like a knife, sharp and unforgiving, but they were the only defense she had left. The Doctor stood there for a moment, his expression unreadable, before he slowly lowered his hands, the weight of her rejection pressing down on him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I just... I wanted to make it right."
W turned her back to him, her heart heavy as she walked away. The pain of the past still lingered, and no matter how much he begged or pleaded, she couldn't erase it.
The Doctor watched her go, a pang of regret piercing his chest. But he knew this wasn't over. He would never give up on her—not now, not ever.
And maybe, someday, she'd understand.