Disclaimer: Haha. I wish.
Summary: What if the Doctor had finished his sentence in "School Reunion?" Short One-shot. R&R!
Someone That You Love
"I don't age, I regenerate. But humans decay. You wither and you die. Imagine watching that happening to someone that you love." The Doctor felt both his hearts stop. He hadn't meant to finish the sentence. He hadn't meant to tell Rose how he felt. He was trying to tell Rose that he would rather she be bored out of her mind in London than for him to have to watch her die. He wanted so much to be with her. He was surprised at the feeling. He had never felt that for any of his companions. To not be with her hurt him more than Rose could ever understand.
Rose was at a loss for words. What had the Doctor meant? She was thrown off by his words. She was so angry a minute before for thinking she had meant something to him. She was scared and hurt that he would leave her and she would be right where Sarah Jane was. She couldn't imagine living one day without waking up on the TARDIS. She couldn't imagine not running for her life. Most of all, she couldn't begin to think of living a single second without the Doctor and his toothy smile and wayward personality.
The Doctor took a step forward, placing his hands on either side of Rose's face. Rose felt them trembling while she watched the Doctor hold back the tears in his eyes.
"Y-you can spend the rest of your life with me, but I can't spend the rest of mine with you. I have to live on. Alone." His voice cracked when he finished and Rose found herself crying. Crying for her. Crying for the Doctor, her Doctor. She shifted her weight on her tip toes, brushing her lips against his. She didn't expect him to respond, but he did. He moved his hands to her waist, stooping slightly to meet her height. It was short and chaste but it was everything to them. For that moment, it was all they thought about.
They broke apart. The doctor leaned his forehead against hers.
"I can't, Rose. A Timelord-…I couldn't live with myself." They broke apart upon hearing the loud shriek from above. The pair ducked down, avoiding the creature as it swooped down above their heads.
Mickey and Sarah Jane rushed over, their eyes on the flying creature above. Rose and the Doctor shared one last fleeting look. The others hadn't seen them and they were both grateful for it.
"Was that a Krillitane?" Sarah Jane asked. She didn't notice the lack of response. Neither did Mickey. Both were still watching the sky for any more. The doctor silently reached over and took Rose's hand, weaving his fingers through hers.
Another time, another day, they would figure out what to do. He knew he could never leave her and she knew the same.