Work Text:
Time was running out for The Doctor. He had called upon his kind, and was about to be sentenced for his actions. That wasn’t the worst part though. He could handle whatever punishment the time lords dished out for him. Even if it meant the end of him, he was fine with that.
It was saying the goodbye to his best friends that was the worst part. All those adventures over, all the time they’d spent together gone in an instant. Because he knew what the time lord were like. They’d erase him from their memories. Zoe’s curiosity for adventure which led to stow away, and Jamie….
Oh god.
He’d have to say goodbye to the man he’d fallen in love with.
And this time he couldn’t go back.
The Doctor was hopeless. Not even the two of them mentioning they’d let the shield down helped. He knew they did that intentionally. They’d give them a slight glimmer of hope, when really it was to get them where they needed without much pushback. But he played along.
Because maybe, just maybe, it would work.
The three of them ran as fast as they could, trying to stay as close together as possible. The actual layout of the building was still a mystery, and it was gigantic too. So then, inevitably they got lost. And Zoe was separated in another corridor. Leaving just the two of them alone.
So The Doctor stopped. This was his last chance to say goodbye. His last chance to say ‘I love you’. Jamie turned back around, trying to catch a breath.
“Doctor?”
The Doctor looked at him with a face full of regret. Jamie’s face was desperate. He was dead set on being able to run away with The Doctor again. He still had hope. The Doctor took a deep breath.
“You know I love you very much Jamie.” He said.
“Aye..? I love you too. What are you on about?” Jamie replied.
“Good. Good. Glad we agree.” He said in a hushed tone. It was rare for the Doctor to sound like this. The slower, more gentle Doctor. The voice he’d used to comfort his companions, new and old.
Jamie now looked a little annoyed. “Now don’t go givin’ up on me yet. The TARDIS can’t be far.” He tried to hurry on, jogging in place as he watched The Doctor stay still.
“Well yes but.” He didn’t have the heart to break Jamie’s spirit. “Say we didn’t make it out of this one. What would you do?” He asked.
Jamie thought to himself. “I don’t know. I dinnae think I’ve ever thought about it. Figured I’d stay with ye till I dropped.” He replied. The Doctor smiled. “Or till ye decided I was too much for ye.”
The Doctor granted himself a little smile. Would he have though? He could certainly see a future for them. At least, until Jamie’s mortality reared its ugly head. He wished he could have that future, or at least a few more years.
“Now quit standing there. We’ve lost Zoe.” Jamie then asserted. The Doctor shook his head. He took Jamie’s hand and pulled him closer. One chance, one moment. He had to take it now.
“I know how this will end, Jamie. And you’re not going to like it.”
“Don’t be daft. We’ll make it out.” Jamie replied. The Doctor stared into Jamie’s bright brown eyes. All sparky with hope and youth. But they had started to dim. Like he was starting to believe him. “I think we will.”
The Doctor touched his cheek. Then he shook his head. “Even if it isn’t. Let me have this.” He said. Then he leaned forward, and kissed his lover on the lips. Most likely his last ever kiss in this body. Jamie’s arms wrapped around his body as he let him. His hope was starting to falter. When did The Doctor ever act like this? So he just let him, like he always would.
Consider this me letting you go.
The Doctor pulled back and smiled. A sad smile.
“Doctor? Jamie!”
The pair looked ahead. That was Zoe’s voice. Jamie took hold of The Doctor's hand and started to run. “This isn’t goodbye. We still have a chance.” He said, Zoe joining up with them in the process.
The TARDIS was in their sights. Maybe, just maybe they could get away. It was right there.
And so were the time lords.