The Doctor leaned against the TARDIS control panel, the reverberant noise emanating from the nearby system's sensors putting him into a near limbotic state. The Time Lord ran his hand up through his hair and over his head and rubbed the back of his neck before turning around to face the emptiness of the TARDIS as a whole.

She's not coming back.

He tried to convince himself with as much reason and logic that he could muster that Rose was safe, tucked away in a parallel world with the human version of himself to watch over her. It brought comfort to The Doctor, but he'd just about give one of his hearts just to spend another moment with her. He'd lived so many lives now, visited so many places and met so many people. He'd affected so many lives with his presence alone. Those who were fortunate enough to affect The Doctor's life almost always ended up leaving him just as quick.

No distress signals from the TARDIS. Almost like the whole of time and space itself was giving him a moment of rest.

Donna, and her bossy demeanor. Oh how he wished he could just talk to her again. Even if she was just yelling at him in her typical sassy attitude.

Martha, and her loyal devotion. She was the most fortunate out of his companions. The job at UNIT he'd set her up with provided The Doctor with at least a slight sense of comfort. She could take care of herself.

What pained The Doctor most of all was that out of all his companions, there was no way he'd ever be able to see Rose's smile again. He missed the way she spoke, the way they teased each other and how much she trusted him with her life.

The life he'd lost.

Time Lords were given the gift of regeneration, whereas human's died and that was final.

The Doctor frowned and with a sigh of exhaustion reached for his coat that lay hung over the nearby chairs. He swung his arms through the large brown pinstriped coat and checked himself in the mirror.

Is that a grey hair?

The Time Lord placed his glasses on and examined his reflection closer, baffled and stunned when he couldn't find the hair. New Teeth. New Hair. Still not a ginger.

The more and more The Doctor tried to distract himself from his thought process, the more lonely he became.

The TARDIS computer suddenly blared an alert, and the Doctor ran over to the control panel. "Cardiff?" But that was where Jack and his Torchwood team was? Why would they need his help? The Doctor locked in coordinates and flicked various switches and knobs with the skills and precision of a pilot who knew his ship. More or less the TARDIS directed him where he needed to go, which was Wales at the current moment. "Oh, Jack. Finally run into something you can't handle on your own?" He grinned some.

The Doctor grabbed onto the railing for impact, the familiar shaking of Time Vortex travel rumbling beneath his converse sneakers.

He'd go wherever he was needed and leave his imprint all throughout time as he'd always done, but nothing would ever amount to the days he'd spent with Rose. The Doctor thought about Rose again, and this time it was not out of regret or forlorn sadness but out of fondness for the days that once were.

The days he'd eventually grow to remember as the time he'd spent with the Bad Wolf.

Which now, come to think of it were among the best days of all his lives put together.