The Doctor couldn't help but notice Rose was wearing her general 'what-the-hell' face. "Rose?"

She focused on him instead of la-la land. "Hm?"
Straightening his leather jacket, he said loftily, "You just look deep in thought. Couldn't resist interrupting."

She gave him a half-hearted shrug. "Oh, it's nothin'."

Offering a reassuring smile, he walked over to her and leaned against the console. "Is this about the Dalek?

"No." She shook her head, then seemed to contemplate for a moment. "Well, yeah. Sorta." She bit her lip and wouldn't meet his eyes.

"If you can't confide to me, then I'm afraid we may to start trust excercises," he joked.

The humour flew over her head. "What did it mean?"

"The Dalek? You'll have to be more specific."

"It said 'you cannot even save the woman you love.' It meant me, didn't it? Doctor d'you love me?"

Now the Doctor averted his eyes. "I love all humans. My Companions are even more dear to me. I've been travelling alone for a long time, Rose. A very long time."

"That's not what it sounded like!" Rose burst. She took a deep breath and tried again. "The way it said it was different. Like it meant me."

"A Dalek cannot even posses its own emotions, so what makes you think it can recognize a Time Lord's?" Rose took a step back when his tone became hostile. "I can't pretend to know what that creature thought, nor do I have any desire to whatsoever. It was just trying to make me angry. I hate having so much blood on my hands. I'm soaked with the blood of galaxies, Rose. And I promised Jackie I'd bring you home safe. We should head back there anyway, Mickey's probably waiting for you." He busied himself with the TARDIS' controls, making the ship lurch and make enormous noises.

Rose bit her lip again. He hadn't really answered her question, had he?