Rose sank to the floor of the Tardis exhausted, tears flowing freely down her face. The last hour of kicking and screaming and generally thrashing out at anything and everything had gotten her nowhere.

She had gone through the full range of emotions denial, anger, despair and was now finally sinking into resignation. She couldn't believe he had actually done this to her. Sent her away. Now. Just when he needed her the most.

He must have had this whole thing planned for so long. She couldn't help but wonder exactly when he had decided to record that message and programme the Tardis for its final one-way journey.

"Have a good life" he had told her.

Did he really just expect her to carry on after everything she had seen, everything she had done? How could she be expected to return to the life she had before? The life she left behind to be with him? How could she go on knowing that she had left him there, alone. Left him there to die? It was all well and good that he wanted to protect her, and she would always love him for that.

But couldn't he understand, didn't he realise that she wanted to do the same for him? Rose closed her eyes and could see the Doctors smile. Her tears flowed more heavily, sick with the knowledge that she would never see it again.

---

The Doctor looked around him. Everything was set. The delta wave was almost ready, there was nothing to do now but wait.

His eyes flickered over to where the Tardis had been. Rose would be safe now. Although he was certain she had tried everything she could to stop the Tardis from taking her away the Doctor was secure in the knowledge that he had kept his promise to protect her.

He smiled briefly at the thought of her. The beautiful young woman who had come into his life and brightened up his days. He was sorry that he wouldn't get to be a part of the rest of her life; he hoped she would do as he asked and make it a good one, she deserved it.

And dear Jack. He was there, a few floors down, fighting, maybe even dying. This man who had called himself a coward had then turned and walked into the path of the Daleks, just to buy them the time they needed.

The Doctor remembered Jack's goodbyes. At any other time those kisses would have been a part of his usual flirting, his constant innuendos that made up most of Jack's conversation. But for once they meant more.

Jack had taken a moment to let his friends know just how much he loved them both. The Doctor smiled sadly. He had misjudged Jack when the first met. But this man had proved himself on more occasions than the Doctor could remember.

He was proud to be able to call this man his friend. Proud to have him here, with him, at the end of things.

---

Jack panted heavily. His life had become a blur of running and shooting and death.

A death that he expected to catch up with him at any moment. But Jack did not intend to give up without a fight. The Doctor had needed some time, and Jack wasn't about to let him down.

Despite his current situation Jack didn't regret meeting the Doctor and Rose. They had made his life worthwhile again. Shown him the truth behind love. And he did love them. Both of them. The Doctor had told him that Rose was safe, that he had sent her home, and Jack was glad for that.

But he knew that it was unlikely he would ever leave the station. The delta wave would kill them all, if the Daleks didn't get there first. Jack trusted the Doctor, he knew that this was the only way. But he would have liked the chance to see them one more time. To have the chance to say…

"EXTERMINATE!"

But sometimes there just is no more time