Prologue:

"Priority 9, sir," the young agent reported to Director Fury rather timidly.

"Priority 9?" Fury asked with eyebrow raised. "Has Torchwood confirmed this?"

Another agent came forward to answer that question. "Torchwood confirms that the energy signature is indeed the T.A.R.D.I.S." she spoke with a hand to her earpiece, relaying information as it was received. "Only problem is sir, the T.A.R.D.I.S appears to be crashing…"

The Doctor did all he could but it wasn't enough. The TARDIS was crashing through time and space. Her heart and soul had been damaged beyond repair. There was only one thing he could do to save her. He turned to River, who had been desperately trying to slow their fall.

In one quick movement he pulled River into his arms and kissed her firmly. After the kiss he whispered, "Goodbye River." Then he finished reprogramming her vortex manipulator for its final, one way, trip to safety. She gave him a panicked wide eyed look before she vanished.

He took a moment to pause in the sadness, and then he got down to business. He opened the heart of the TARDIS and let the remainder of her soul into his mind.

"Goodbye River. Goodbye Ponds. Goodbye…" he breathed out as all the pain of regeneration took him.