Fans Fiction Goodbye by Jeff Goddard

Goodbye

By 

Jeff Goddard

That's the thing with coming to the end, you take stock of all you have done and it either fills you with regret or satisfaction. Sir Alistair knew the end was near and he was happy with all he had done. All those years fighting the good fight and keeping the world safe from harm. No existential crisis for this old soldier. But just one regret. He would have liked to have seen someone just one last time. It must have been thinking of that friend that played tricks on his mind because, just for a moment, lying there in the dark of his room in the nursing home he thought he heard that ridiculous noise once more. No, just old memories playing tricks on him. He drifted off.

The sound of his door opening stirred him from his fitful sleep. The light of the hallway cast the figure in the doorway in silhouette as they entered the room. Quietly they closed the door behind them, and silently moved over to the chair at the side of his bed. He tried to sit up, but was too weak. The figure shushed him, told him to relax. Must be new staff he thought to himself, always nice to see a new face. Once again accustomed to the darkness of his room he peered at the newcomer. A woman, slight of build with shortish blonde hair. She smiled, a warm smile that lit up her face.

'you know,' she breathed quietly,' I really shouldn't be here at all. I'm not breaking the laws of time, but I am bending them a little' there was a gleam in her Green eyes that he knew immediately.

'I was just thinking about you.' he said with a smile.

'I have that effect.' she placed her hand on his, lying on the covers of the bed.

'Another new face? You'll have to be careful you don't run out!' Sir Alistair said, breaking into a laugh that descended into coughing.

The Doctor waited for the coughing to subside. 'Don't worry about that old friend, plenty more where this came from.'

'Is that.... a Yorkshire accent? Where on earth did you pick that up?'

'Not on Earth,' she laughed, 'lots of planets have a Yorkshire.'

'Do they?'

'well, no, but it's brilliant isn't it?'

They lapsed into silence again, a comfortable silence, the silence only those who truly know one another can share.

'I take it this is goodbye then Doctor?'

She stayed silent, just that warm smile playing across her face.

'Don't worry, I know when my time is up, I've seen it coming.... Didn't see you coming though.'

'How could I not. After all we've done, all we've been through. I had to be here Alistair, you don't mind, do you?'

Sir Alistair chuckled again. 'All these years Doctor, all those wonderful faces and you still don't really understand humans, do you?'

'Well, you have to give me credit for trying!' replied the Doctor.

'Oh you've been trying all right!' he chuckled again, coughing again.

'You know, I don't normally do good-byes, but I've been meaning to drop in for some time. Somehow it felt right now. This face, this body, this time...'

She trailed off. Sadness in her eyes.

'Don't be sad, old friend.... Oldest friend, my time has come and I shall face it like I faced them all, all the other threats in my life. Ogrons, The Master, Daleks, Cybermen... ' he smiled at the memories.

'I should go.' said the Doctor.

'Just.... Just wait until I've nodded off Doctor. Just sit with me a moment longer. I'll say good bye now though, in case you aren't here when I wake up.'

The Doctor stood from her chair, saluting her old friend.

'Goodbye Brigadier Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart'

He smiled....'wondered if I would ever get a salute from you... Splendid cha.... Splendid people, all of you. Always said so, always will.'

The Doctor sat again, taking Sir Alistair's old, rough hand in her own as he drifted off......

'Not as splendid as you'. She sighed under her breath.....