A/N: I'm sorry I've taken so long to update this. What with the wedding, honeymoon and then getting bitten by plot bunnies for other stories, I've been a bit rubbish with it. I'm also sorry for the fact that this chapter is so short and a bit crappy. We're moving at the weekend and I'm really busy packing, but I had to give you guys something, if only so you know how Rose is doing! The next chapter will definitely be longer, and I promise I'll try not to leave it so long before I update again, but it might be a couple of weeks before I can update any of my stories as I have to set up the internet at our new place and I don't know how long that will take, especially as we're switching to wireless.

Anyway, enough rambling! On with the story...

xxxx

The Doctor sat with his chin in his hands, staring straight ahead. The steady beep of machinery was the only noise to break through the silent devastation in the room, and he let out a long sigh as his eyes never left the figure on the bed in front of him. The figure which had tubes and wires poking out of its skin.

The figure which was his Rose.

The Doctor absently wiped at a tear that had escaped down his pale cheek. In the space of a few hours he looked as if he had aged about twenty years, his eyes sunken and skin sallow. A knock at the door disturbed him from his reverie, and he looked up to see Judith gently opening the door, Cara fast asleep in her arms.

"How did it go?" she asked, quietly closing the door behind her.

The Doctor focused his watery eyes away from her and back to Rose. "They managed to stop the internal bleeding, but we'll have to wait until she wakes up to see just how bad the head injury is. She's got some swelling on the brain and because it took so long to resuscitate her, she..." he choked then, trying desperately to swallow back a sob. Judith pulled up a chair next to him, cradling Cara in one arm and placing a hand on his.

"She'll be okay. She's strong; a fighter."

"Yeah," he whispered, rubbing his hands over his face.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, until the sound of the door opening made them both look up. The Doctor stood and strode over to the door, trying to push out the two men who were coming through it. However, in his weakened state he failed miserably and in the end all he could do was glare at them.

"I thought I told you to go away," he said, his voice low and threatening.

"Doctor..." the younger man started, but was silenced by the dangerous look the Doctor was giving him.

"Get out."

"But -"

"Get out!"

There was a cry from where Judith was sitting, and the Doctor turned to see Cara stirring from her sleep.

"Look," said the older man. "You need our help. This could all be over a lot quicker if you just let us treat her back at the Ta -"

"Don't."

"John," Judith said as she stood, calming the baby in her arms by jiggling her gently up and down. "What's going on?"

"I don't know how you found me, but you can't be here. Now, I won't tell you again. Get. Out."

The older man shook his head and sighed. "If you change your mind, we're on the corner of Belmont Street."

"I won't."

"Don't be a fool. Why put Rose through all of this when the TARDIS can -"

"Out, now," the Doctor demanded, cutting the younger man off. He took Cara from Judith's arms and practically shoved them all towards the door. "All Rose needs right now is her family. All of you, just go."

"But, John..." Judith started to protest as she was backed out of the door.

"I'm sorry, Judith," the Doctor croaked, tears lining his face again.

"Doctor -"

"Fine! You want to help? Find the bastard that did this and kill him for me," he replied angrily, shutting the door in the older man's face. Cara protested at the loud band as it slammed shut, crying out in distress.

"Oh, I'm sorry little one, I'm so sorry. Shhh, daddy didn't mean to scare you," he soothed as he sat back in the chair at the head of Rose's bed. However, Cara didn't stop and soon her father was joining her, letting out sobs of despair as he hugged Cara tightly and stroked Rose's hair.

"Fight, Rose. You have to get better. I need... we need you. You can't die. Please, don't die. I can't live without you, not now. Not after everything we've... Please, Rose."