The Death of the Doctor

Romana sat in her office glancing at the amount of paper work on her desk. It was clearly not going to get done by staring at it; she needed a distraction from it and yet if she did not clear the work nobody else would.

She got up and stood before the large windows in her office and looked out amongst the snow-capped mountains flanking the edges of the Capital. She watched the twin suns lower slightly in the marmalade sky. It was Gallifrey at its most beautiful, but right now she wished she could be somewhere else. Paris was always nice this time of year. She smiled softly thinking of when the Doctor had taken her to Paris. It had not been the way the Doctor had described it, but then again it never was. He had told her it was nice, but she had found it marvellous, even delightful.

What she would give for the Doctor to come back now and whisk her away to some beautiful planet, but he had come and she had turned him down so until the next time she was stuck on Gallifrey. She longed for those days, those moments with her Doctor, but she had Gallifrey to consider, something the Doctor failed to understand. He told her countless times she was wasted here, she was far too good for Gallifrey, she did not think so but maybe one day she would allow him to whisk her away.

She drifted away into the memories of the Doctor and her, she let her mind wonder to such extent that she failed to hear the door creak open and notice Chancellor Braxiatel enter.

"Romana," he said softly causing her to turn around and face him immediately. She studied his face. Something was amiss in his whole expression and the way he walked in the office. She could sense it within him, see the sorrow and tiredness in his eyes, but then this was a difficult time for Gallifrey. The threats of war had shaken even her, making her wonder when Gallifrey would be brought crashing to its knees, knowing that when it did there would be little anyone could do.

Gallifrey was still weakened from the dogma virus, they may have gotten the cure but it came at a very high price. No more regenerations; that was the price. It was a high cost, becoming little more than human as their enemies rubbed their hands in glee. Within as little as a hundred years their race would be extinct. No more Time Lords just people without any second chances and the worse thing was that Romana had chosen it. It was a temporary solution at best.

"Madam President," Braxiatel said distracting her train of thought in a more emotive tone than she was used to. No, Braxiatel was never one for showing his emotions in public; even in private he was quiet and reserved, never once taking advantage of her.

"What is it Braxiatel?" She asked looking askance at him.

"My Lady, I have terrible news". He continued, "The Doctor-"

"Oh what has he done this time?" Romana sighed as a slight frown appeared on her face. What disaster or mess has he created this time? She thought silently to herself.

Braxiatel took a deep, unsteady breath placing his hands on her shoulder. "Romana, The Doctor is dead", he said in an unemotional tone as if he was doing his best to control his own emotions over the loss of his brother.

He had spent years being irritated by his younger brother's antics as he ran and leaped from place to place, even leaving behind the one person he claimed to love: Romana. Braxiatel didn't doubt he had his reasons, but he never understood how anyone could be away from her. Braxiatel certainly could not be away from her as he himself had always devoted himself to her. She was on his mind night and day and he knew it was his job to make sure his president got what she wanted and it was his duty to protect her from any harm. He had grown fond of Romana over the years of knowing her.

In a way he would no longer have to compete for Romana's affections with his brother, now that he was gone, Romana was his for the taking, but that thought disgusted him. How could he think such a thing when his little brother was dead? No, he would not take advantage of the situation. He would not cross that line.