Title: To the last man (1/4)
Author: me
Charictors: Doctor Number Nine and Romana
Pairing: None, it's Gen
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Nothing past 'The End of the World. Mostly Old School spoilers.
Summary: The Doctor gets a message from someone he thought was dead long ago.
Author's Note: Concerns an 'Old Series' assistant Romana knowledge of said assistant might be usefull in understanding this story properly. I'm new at all this, so if my Canon is off, please be nice.
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who, nor the charictors. They are the proprty of the BBC.
Word Count: 528

He'd forgotten how pretty Romana was. The exact colour of her hair, the way her eyes sparkled, the sound of her voice.

"If you get this, Doctor, I'm back from E-Space." A pause as she considers something "And you've survived the Time War so far."

A darkness enters her eyes.

"If anyone will, it's you. I don't see many of us surviving, certainly not on the front lines."

A prediction that was eerily close to the truth. He'd fought the front lines; he knew. Everyone was gone.

Everyone but him. He'd done what he had to do, and because of that he'd lived. If you could call this living.

"I'm so, so sorry."

He mutters to the hologram of a woman long dead. She moves her head as if to acknowledge his apology, as if it could fix anything.

"We must stop the Daleks, whatever it takes. To the last man, Doctor."

A sad smile from the hologram.

"I honestly thought I’d never have to say those words. If only we could have been reunited under better circumstances. So many good times, even if you were a bit slow."

A smile from the Doctor. Romana would never let him forget she'd gotten better grades at the academy than he did.

"You've probably gone through two regenerations already, the way you burn through them- so careless."

"Four, actually," he tells the hologram.

"Look after yourself. If we both survive this, come and find me, okay?"

He couldn’t help but obsess over the word if, it said so much. If we both survive this, like she thought they wouldn't. She'd been right. Romana was always right.

"Goodbye, Doctor."

"Goodbye, Romana."

And the hologram dissipated into specks of light.

He couldn't help but think he'd disliked Romana at first. Her first regeneration had been cold and aloof, appearing uninterested in humans and the universe. You could learn all you needed to know from books and watching - typical time lords. His fourth incarnation had been infectious in his enthusiasm and a bit of that had rubbed off. Her second incarnation had been better, more human; she'd learnt, and the Doctor adored her for that.

He'd been devastated when she'd left, but he'd grown used to people leaving - they always did. He'd thought about Romana lot since she'd gone to E-Space. It'd been the right thing to do - final proof that she’d learnt her lesson - and he was so proud of her.

He couldn't stop staring at the spot where the hologram had been.

He'd thought about Romana before he'd pushed the button - destroying the Daleks but ripping Gallifrey to shreds. It had been the right thing to do - he hadn't any other choice.

To the last man, Doctor.

How weirdly prophetic those words where. He'd refused to allow himself the hope that anyone else had survived. Surely he'd know? He'd sense them. He'd not considered he could be wrong. Now his mind wouldn't let him drop it. What if she was alive? What if he wasn't the last one left? The idea was too gorgeous to comprehend.

If she was alive, he would find her.