First Post of the New Decade

Here I am, sitting at the computer, waiting.

Today is the day when the Beeb in the UK airs David Tennant's last episode of Doctor Who.

There are no words to say how I feel. In the year since the announcement he was going and today, I have probably felt every emotion and thought every thought about the subject.

I could say I'm not ready; that a year or even two wouldn't have prepared me for watching the Doctor I have become attached to die and become someone else. But I've had time (we all have) so I guess we just have to cope.

I'd like you to see this little story that I wrote last year when I heard that Ten's life was going to end. Hopefully if you're watching today, it'll give you a little comfort in your grief (because it certainly helped me a little:)

"What are you doing, Doc?" asked Jack as he sidled up into the TARDIS, knapsack in hand.

"Oh, just preparing," said the Doctor as he tweaked a knob with a buzz of the sonic screwdriver.

"For what?"

The Doctor merely nodded his head towards this morning's newspaper.

"Ah," said Jack.

"Only got a year to go. So I have to be ready for the next guy."

"What, you think he might not be competent enough?"

The Doctor glared at Jack. "For your information, I am the most competent of all my incarnations."

"I'm sure they all say that," smirked Jack.

"No, it's true. You want to hear my opinion on my previous selves?"

"You're about to give it to me, aren't you?"

"Yup."

Jack sighed. He might miss the gob. "Go on then. You're dying to rant."

The Doctor didn't hesitate; he launched. "One was a grouch. Two was pushy. Three was stuck here-well, you know. That's enough to make anyone crazy. And Four was...that stupid scarf, always tripping over it and knotting it wrong and tangling it in trees."

He stopped to take a breath despite the respiratory bypass system. Jack just waved him on. "Five was always sick. Six was temperamental. Seven was just weird. Eight was frilly. Nine was a dock worker."

"And you?"

The Doctor grinned. "Oh, I'm me. So always me. You won't forget me."

Jack smiled, a little sadness in his tone. "No, I most certainly won't."

The Doctor smiled and banged the bottom of the console with his fist. The TARDIS gave a plaintive wheeze and the Doctor sat up, dusting off his hands.

"So do you know what you'll be?" asked Jack.

The Doctor shook his head. "Nope. That's half the fun. Don't know where or when, but I won't be around."

Jack sighed. "I'd just gotten used to this you."

The Doctor sighed. "I know. So had I."

Jack scooted over and sat next to the Doctor, putting an arm around his thin frame. "Don't go," he said, trying to get the Doctor to look at him.

"Can't help it. It happens, Jack. One minute I'm all grumpy and in a jumper, and the next I'm wearing a trench coat and trainers."

The Doctor felt Jack's sad sigh.

"Hey. It's not so bad. It'll be a new new new me."

Jack smiled. "Still you, though?"

The Doctor smiled at him, the tears glinting in the corners of his eyes. "Yeah. I'll still be me."

Ta,
Bec