BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Let me through!" Rose shouted at the Doctor, who was blocking the small dark hole in the red wall with his body.

They were currently on a spaceship about to explode, and the only way to stop the explosion and to save all the tourists on board was to enter the hole and disable a bomb. Just an average day when you're traveling with the Doctor.

"Rose, you are not going through, get back to the TARDIS now," The Doctor said, his voice cold and his eyes more serious than Rose had ever seen them.

"Doctor, you can't fit and we need to save these people! Now get out of the way!" Rose tried to shove the Doctor out of the way but he was far too strong. The beeping of the alarm seemed to get louder with every tick of the bomb.

"I said. TARDIS. Now." The Doctor stared daggers at her until she reluctantly turned around and headed towards the police box.

She waited in the console room for an hour, practicing in her mind over and over again how her next conversation with the stupid Time-Lord would go. The TARDIS hummed, trying to calm Rose down, but it only made her more angry. How dare he stop her from saving lives? What was that all about back there?

Suddenly, she saw familiar spiky hair and a pinstripe suit walk through the doors and over to the console. "Don't worry, they're safe," He said quickly to Rose, before returning his attention to the machine.

"You could have died."

"YOU COULD HAVE TOO!" He screamed out suddenly, seeming shocked at the words coming out of his mouth. The Doctor turned and faced Rose, and was absolutely horrified when he saw her fear. That fear was for him. Of him. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to..." He began, resting his hand on her shoulder only to have her back away from him quickly.

"Rose..." He muttered as she shook her head and ran to her bedroom, desperate to hide the tears that were falling from her eyes.

"Come in," Rose said from inside her bedroom. The door creaked open and the Time-Lord stepped in nervously and sat next to her on her pink bed. Mascara was running down her face but it was obvious she had done her best to hide the tears. The Doctor's face was solemn and they sat together in silence for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry," He blurted out, turning his face to her.

"Why'd you stop me?" She asked seriously, taking his hand in hers and absent-mindedly stroking it. Rose had a feeling this was going to be harder on him than on her.

"Rose, listen... I... I don't..." He stuttered, feeling the tears about to command holding them back with all the strength he had left.

"It's okay, just say it," His companion said gently, squeezing his hand and giving him a soft smile.

"I can't lose you," The Doctor said suddenly, letting the tears fall and bringing in Rose for a tight hug he desperately needed.

Sobs shook his body and as much as he didnt want the sadness to take over, he let it. He let himself clutch Rose tightly, let her comfort him as best as she could. "It's okay, Doctor. You won't lose me," She assured, stroking his hair and wiping a tear from his cheek. "You can cry sometimes, I won't think any less of you."

"I'm not supposed to cry, I'm..." He murmured, holding her even tighter and shaking.

"You're always allowed to cry. Always," Rose stated.

"There are so many close calls and some day it'll be too close... And it will all be my fault, Rose. I'm so so sorry. So sorry," More sobs overtook him and he kept chanting 'sorry' over and over again like a prayer.

"Don't be sorry, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. You won't lose me. You're stuck with me, remember?" Rose smiled gently and he released her, staring deep into her eyes.

"Please... Just don't... Don't..." His voice broke and he viciously started wiping his tears with his sleeve. "Don't go."

"I'll stay right here as long as you need me."

"Forever?" He stared at her hopefully, taking her hands in his.

"Forever."