Chapter 1

"We've got to go back for Jack Doctor!" Rose exclaimed, her bright blue eyes wide, cheeks flushed rosy pink against her pale skin, porcelain and perfect. She was still trying to take in this new version of the Doctor, her Doctor; his unkempt mop of messy brown hair, his gaunt appearance, substantially taller than the man she'd known, only adding to his slender appearance. His own eyes were wide with a manic, exited energy she'd not yet grown to associate with the Doctor, not her Doctor… he'd been far more reserved, deep, dark, and brooding, running on shorter, sudden bursts of nervous energy only when the time had called for it… but there could be no doubt that this was her Doctor… the man she'd always known… the man she'd thought she'd grown to know, until now… the man she'd thought she'd loved.

He looked at her, his eyes two rich dripping pools, like dark chocolate, and it frightened her how detached she could feel. It was as though she was seeing him for the first time… she was going to have to get to know him all over again. Although no matter how cold she now felt, how empty, and confused… and abandoned, she still felt drawn to him, bound by all they'd been through together, all he'd shown her, the nightmares, and adventures they'd shared. It was a warmth, an affinity which told her there was still something there… something which could be rekindled… perhaps, in time, she could learn to love him again…

Although in the meantime there were more pressing issues on her mind, and the fate of one person in particular.

But her heart sank as her gaze met with the Doctor's across the TARDIS controls.

"Jack's busy… rebuilding the earth now Rose," he explained, "He's got a job to do, he doesn't need us interfering!"

"We can't just leave him!" She cried, and with this the Doctor fixed her with a watery stare… expression full of suppressed pain, and fear, and regret… and, her heart suddenly missing several beats, the young girl realised that this Doctor perhaps wasn't so different after all… he was trying to protect her… he was keeping something from her.

"The truth is Rose," He sighed, expression grave, tone gravely with emotion, "I was trying to spare you… I didn't want to have to tell you… I hoped I never would…" He held her gaze pleadingly, almost apologetic for a moment, before turning away, tears burning in his eyes.

"What?" She demanded.

"Jack's dead!"

Rose immediately froze with this, unable to immediately comprehend what he was telling her, allowing the news to sink in for a few sickening seconds… not Jack! No, not Jack! He couldn't be! The Doctor must have made a mistake!

… but the Doctor didn't make mistakes…

She suddenly had so many different, and conflicting emotions flowing through her… confusion, and grief, and anger… and she didn't know what to do about any of them… suddenly not knowing what to believe anymore.

"No… no he can't be…" She cried.

"I'm sorry Rose…" The Doctor sighed. "I'm so sorry… he fought to the end… fought so bravely… last man standing… but the Dalek's got him in the end…"

"Well, did you see his body?" Rose demanded angrily.

"No, but I heard it…" He explained, "The Dalek's killed him, stone dead! No one could survive that!" And Rose now noticed that there were fresh tears trickling down his cheeks, dripping from his chin, and staining his jacket onto where they splashed, with dark droplets, leaving faint watermarks.

"Then there's still hope!" She exclaimed.

"Rose, you're not listening to me!" He cried, frustration now beginning to creep into his tone. "You've seen yourself what the Dalek's can do, and there's no coming back from that!"

Rose fixed him with a hard and icy stare with this however, her own eyes glistening with crystal like tears, her expression carved like granite in her anger. There was a fire burning fiercely behind those glimmering eyes.

Her tears were deceptive… sometimes the Doctor forgot just how strong and wilful Rose had become… there was a fire burning deep in her sole, a zest and a passion for life which her life with the Doctor had taught her… and as she spoke, he suddenly realised that every word she uttered was true… knew that he could not turn his back on Jack… would not abandon him… one way or another, dead or alive, they were going to bring him home… give him the burial he deserved.

"The Doctor I knew wouldn't give up whilst there was still a chance!"