Please note: This takes place after the Christmas special, however Twelve does NOT regenerate (I am incredibly excited for Jodie Whittaker to take on the role, this is just where I feel this story fits best!)

Polite constructive criticism only please!

Chapter 1

Silence.

Silence was all The Doctor could hear. He hated it.

He ran his hand over the controls of the TARDIS. Last time he had lost a companion he had vowed to never travel again, that obviously didn't happen, so this time, he thought, he would do the opposite and travel to where ever he wanted. No restrictions, no nagging aliens or curious humans…

The Doctor felt a pang in his chest at the thought of Bill. She was gone. He could picture her face for a moment but then all he could see was a Cyberman.

He forced his eyes shut, stopping the tears that were brimming. He hadn't got to her in time.

'I waited'

Her words echoed in his head. She had spoken many words since then but those would be the ones that stayed burned in his mind forever, regeneration after regeneration. He would never allow this to happen to another living soul. But he had said that many times before in many different circumstances and he had always led someone he cared about in to danger. He couldn't let it happen again.

Opening the TARDIS doors The Doctor stepped out in to the basement of the university, the dark dreary space certainly matched his mood. He noticed the door to the vault was still open… Missy… she was gone too, his old nemesis… he really was alone…

The Doctor stepped outside, locking the basement with his screwdriver behind him, and started making his way back to his office. Rain was falling heavily turning his light grey curls in to a darkened mess that fell in to his eyes, but that didn't stop him seeing her.

She looked as miserable as The Doctor felt, though he of coursed hoped it wasn't for the same reason. Her blonde hair was dripping down on to her dark blue denim jacket, her white converse now turning a slight grey from the rain as well as her white t-shirt being so wet it was almost see through. The Doctor cringed for her, rather embarrassing.

The girl turned to see The Doctor looking at her "Excuse me sir?"

The Doctor noted her accent, ever so slightly northern, Yorkshire perhaps, it was very soft though. "Yes Miss?"

The girl walked over to him, jumping over the puddles to avoid her converse becoming anymore off white "I suppose this is a long a shot but I don't suppose you know Bill Potts? And maybe where I could find her? She was supposed to meet me here about half an hour ago, I've tried calling but I can't get through to her!"

Guilt washed over The Doctor, Bill had said her childhood best friend was coming down to see her this week. His actions had stopped her from her seeing her best friend for the very last time.

"Ah, erm, well yes I do know Miss Potts, but I believe that she has erm…" The Doctor didn't know what to say, which almost never happened.

"That she's what?" The girls voice was filled with panic

"…she's had to move on."

The girls nose wrinkled up "What on earth does that mean?"

The Doctor looked up at the sky, the clouds were looking darker and darker. This was Bill's best friend, she was the only person who had cared for Bill for years. He had no choice…

"It doesn't look like this rain is going to stop anytime soon. Perhaps we should go to my office?"

….

The girl was drying herself off in the bathroom across the corridor. The Doctor paced up and down his office, what was he do? Could he really just tell this girl everything? She may be Bill's best friend but to him she really was just a stranger. What if she couldn't be trusted?

Or what if she wanted to travel just like Bill?

He sat down in his antique style leather chair and spun it around as he ran his fingers through his almost dried hair, his eyes landing on his photograph of Susan on his desk. "Don't look at me like that, you always look at me like that." He paused, knowing he was slightly mad for talking to a photograph but he continued "I know what I've said, that now I won't have another and travel alone, but where's the fun in that…?" He stopped again, he heard the drier in the bathroom stop.

"No, I can't, I shan't. It's too dangerous…"

"Oh come on Doctor, can't we take the TARDIS for a spin?"

The Doctor looked up from the photograph… she already knew… The blonde girl laughed "You should know that when a girl promises not to tell anyone that doesn't include her best friend!"

"How much do you know?"

"Everything!"

The Doctor gestured to the seat in front of his desk "I think its best you hear of what has happened to Bill before you decide if you want to go running off around the stars."

Worry returned to the girls face as she sank in to the plush chair "Is she dead?"

"Not exactly…"

"Well where is she then?"

"Exploring time and space…" The Doctor paused "…with a girl called Heather."

The girl gasped with excitement "Heather?! Oh she was all she talked about for ages! I'm so happy for her!" She stopped "How can she be doing that without you? Without the TARDIS?"

"Bill isn't human anymore…"

"Then what is she?" The girl interrupted

"I'm not entirely sure."

The girl looked at him. He had seen that look before. Passion. She cared. They always cared and that was the problem.

"Can we go find her?"