Chapter 7

Tom closed his eyes shut in anticipation for the crash that would follow, but none came. Instead of the shattering sound of The Giver hitting the cold, hard, unforgiving floor, there was only the soft, barely audible plinking of tears hitting metal.

Tom opened his eyes in confusion and found that the Doctor hadn't moved from his previous position. Te only visible difference in his stance was that he appeared to be trembling Perhaps he's come to his senses, he though smugly, I knew he would, but it certainly took him long enough.

"Doctor?" He asked cautiously.

"I can't." The Doctor replied without turning.

"Yes, so you've said, Doctor."

"No." His voice cracked a bit, "I mean, I can't loose her again." Rose, who had moved back to join her family, seeking their comfort, looked up at the Doctor, her eyes filled with confusion and hope.

"Doctor?" She questioned, echoing Tom's earlier sentiment. The Doctor didn't answer her, at least, not out loud. His tears had stopped falling but their trails were still visible on his freckled cheeks when he turned around and addressed Tom instead.

"How?" He asked, knowing that Tom would understand what he meant.

"On the side, there, by your pinkie finger, there are four buttons." The Doctor nodded, indicating that he had found the buttons. "Just push them down, one by one in order, either direction will work, and hold them in place until she's safely across."

Again, the Doctor nodded before turning back to face Rose. She had moved closer again and was worrying her lower lip nervously. Mickey was starring at a laptop. Probably monitoring the voids stability. Pete was hovering nervously and his focus kept switching between the computer, Rose, The Doctor, and Jackie. Jackie looked like she couldn't decide whether to be happy, distraught, or mad as hell.

"I love you. Rose repeated, letting the Doctor know that wasn't changing no matter what he did. She didn't know that the Doctor's mind was already made up and he didn't hesitate in bringing down each of his fingers one by one, pressing each little button down in turn, exactly as Tom had said. There was a pause during which everyone waited for something to happen.

"Did it work?" Tom asked even though he had never heard of The Giver not doing its job. Maybe he had done something wrong.

"One way to find out." The Doctor said walking closer and putting his hand out, palm facing out until it had reached a position it had been in many times, both today, and up against the white wall of Canary Warf. Rose did the same, not stopping until their palms pressed against each other's, Rose's smaller fingers barely reaching the top knuckle of the Doctor's long, thin ones. Then they moved farther. The Doctor curled his fingers and laced them with Rose's.

Rose let out an involuntary gasp at the sensation of feeling a felling that she thought impossible to feel ever again. The Doctor merely broke into a grin much wider than he had grinned in quite sometime. He began slowly pulling her hand closer to him through the barrier that still seemed to be blocking the sound. Some tiny part of the Doctor wanted to whip out his sonic screwdriver and scan the invisible impossibility, but this part was pushed quickly aside at the sight of Jackie making a beeline for him and Rose. Rose's head snapped around to her mum but Jackie wasn't looking at her daughter, she was starring down the Doctor.

"You take good care of my Rose," She ordered the Doctor with a pointed finger jab, "You hurt her, and parallel universes to hell, I will hunt you down!" The Doctor gulped nervously but nodded.

"I promise." He said, reaching up with his free hand and crossing both his hearts in turn. Satisfied, Jackie turned to Rose and gave her a one armed hug. It was one armed for Jackie because she was still holding a rather well behaved Tony, and it was one armed for Rose because there was no way that the Doctor was letting her hand go until she was safe in his arms. After being let go, Rose kissed her mum and Tony on the cheek and blew goodbye kisses to Pete and Mickey. She turned back to the Doctor and smiled.

"Okay?" He asked already pulling on her arm, already knowing the answer. He took a step back and she took one forwards so that she was completely out of Pete's world and back home. It was only then, after he knew she was safe and sound, that the Doctor swept her up into a hug. She slid her arms around his neck and pressed her face into his neck.

"Doctor." She mumbled happily, "Doctor!" She squealed as he picked her up and spun her around. He held her there for a moment swinging in the air, in a similar position to the hug they'd shared after being separated on Krop Tor, before setting her down on her feet. She almost collapsed out of pure happiness (although if asked she's blame it on void travel) but she eventually found her footing and smiled up at the Doctor.

"I though I'd never see you again, Rose Tyler." He whispered returning her smile, "let alone get one of your wonderful hugs." He enveloped her in his arms, one between her shoulder blades, his fingers tangling in her hair, the other was wrapped around her waist, trying to hold her ever closer while maintaining his grasp on The Giver. Rose slid her arms down from the Doctor's neck and fisted the lapels of his suit coat in an effort to stick her nose even farther into his chest and inhale his scent. It wasn't until the Doctor tucked Rose's blonde-haired head under his chin and opened his eyes that he realized Pete, Jackie, Mickey, and even Tony were staring at them. Shouldn't they be gone now? The Doctor wondered, they are most assuredly not a part of my deepest wish, too domestic.

"Doctor," Tom said as if reading the Doctor's thoughts, "You have to finish properly." The Doctor and Rose reluctantly separated opting for a more functional handhold. Rose looked at her mum and brother; the Doctor looked at The Giver.

"How exactly do I do that?" He asked, ready to rip out the sonic screwdriver if necessary.

"Just take your fingers off the buttons. My guess is that the gap will just close up again."

"Oh right, right, okay then." The Doctor said with a nod. Rose was back facing her family and waving goodbye, when the Doctor wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"Rose, I'm gunna close it now," He told her as he rested his chin on her shoulder to look at the now crying Jackie, "Last chance to change your mind."

"Never ever leaving you again." She informed him with a resolute shake of her head.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." The Doctor warned, "What did I tell you about never ever?"

"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss!" The Doctor chuckled into her hair and pressed a light kiss to the side of her neck. Rose had to bite her lip to contain her startled gasp. The Doctor had never kissed her before, unless a quick peck on the forehead in a dire situation counts, which to Rose it did, but not in an intimate way. She smiled back at him and he winked at her a promise that made her stomach flip.

"Bye mum! I love you." Rose called out even though her mother couldn't hear her.

"You too sweetheart." She managed through her tears. She simply gave the Doctor a pointed look. He rolled his eyes but gave her a smile and a wave, a silent thank you for giving him his Rose.

"Bye Pete. Bye Mickey." They both waved.

"Bye babe." Mickey said. The Doctor frowned. He squeezed Rose closer to him and Mickey laughed. The Doctor reluctantly let her go so he could disconnect his fingers from The Giver without dropping it and she went to say goodbye to Tony.

"Ready?" The Doctor asked Rose. She nodded and the Doctor let go. The Tyler family vanished and the Doctor immediately took* a hold on Rose's hand in comfort. She gave him a shaky smile and an 'I'm okay' nod.

"Doctor?" Tom interjected ruing the moment. "The Giver?"

"Ok right, yeah. Here you go." The Doctor said handing it over into his waiting, gloved hands.

"Thanks." He said dropping it carefully into a soft, zip-up box, not unlike a large square lunchbox.

"Thank you." The Doctor said honestly, "I have never been so glad to have my mind changed. I was wrong, completely wrong."

"Does this mean you trust me?"

"Can't think of anyone else I'd trust to turn this planet back around. Don't think I won't be back to check in on you though." He turned to Rose, "Let's go home."

Fin.

Author Note: Sorry its been so long. I think this is the last chapter. But I might pick it up again and make an epilogue or even a sequel. So don't delete the story alert on this one yet. =) Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you had a good Christmas.

As for the "*" after the word "took": My cousin wanted to try his hand at Fanfiction. Here is his ending to my story starting where the * is:

The Doctor immediately took the Super Soaker out from its hiding place and drenched everyone. Everyone got super upset and pulled out their Nickelodeon slime buckets and threw it all over. The Doctor was too fast however and bolted for the shelter. While safe, he took the opportunity to catch up on his reading. The Doctor was enjoying some Green Eggs and Ham when suddenly BAM!

A bit of a cliffhanger that one. =)