*waves* New to the Doctor Who fandom just started watching season one. This is my first Doctor Who fic and may be my last. I'm sure there have been a million post-eps written for Father's Day but I couldn't resist adding mine. It was such a powerful episode.

Title: Raw
author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Nine/Rose
category: Post ep, tag
episode: Father's Day

The Doctor held tight to Rose's hand as they entered the Tardis and he closed the door.. He thought she'd collapse as soon as they got inside. The young blonde was physically and emotionally exhausted. He'd been with her through the ordeal and yet couldn't imagine how she was still on her feet. Anybody else would've been a sobbing puddle of tears. Not that she didn't have the right to be. Not that she hadn't shed enough already. The Doctor was just waiting for the proverbial dam to break. Six steps was all it took. Six steps when Rose's shoulders began to shake and her head drooped.

He hadn't released her hand so it was easy to turn the young woman towards him and into an embrace. The Doctor wasn't good at comforting and domestics. Which was why he tried to stay away from domestics. But this was Rose...his Rose...his insanely maddening, caring, brave, courageous Rose. He never should have agreed to take her back to see her father. However, lately the time lord had found it was hard to deny Rose anything.

The Doctor's shirt was wet and it didn't matter. He held Rose tighter As he had told Rose he understood why she had saved her father. He'd give anything to go back and save his. To have just one more minute with his family. To see his home once more. Perhaps that's why he'd been so angry with her. She'd gotten what he'd wanted. Watching Rose with her father the Doctor could see the toll it took on her. The price she'd paid for that precious added time. Finally the tears stopped and Rose took a stumbling step backwards as she broke contact and wiped her tears with the sleeve of her shirt.

"I-I'm really making a fool out of myself today."The young woman stated as she backed away

"Rose."The Doctor began.

Rose didn't seem to hear him as she backed farther inside the ship. Her arms folded across her chest. She looked so lost it broke both the Doctor's hearts. This incident had opened his eyes to how much Rose meant to him. How much she'd done for him without her probably even realizing it. It'd been a long time since somebody had put so much faith in him. It'd scared him and it'd taken him until now to get past that fear. Rose hadn't backed away from the weirdness of his life. She'd jumped in with both feet. She'd been rattled before but not like this. This was too close to home and she was crumbling. She was his family and she was crumbling right before his eyes. Slowly the time lord inched towards his companion. He gently grasped both her hands and knelt in front of her bringing her down too. Rose was still sniffling but met his gaze.

"I am truly sorry you had to go through that."The Doctor began softly.

"Was my fault."Rose replied stubbornly her voice cracking slightly.

Sometimes he forgot how young she was. Just nineteen. Nineteen small little years. Despite her faults Rose had shown more bravery and smarts than beings three thousand times her age. The Doctor was glad Peter Tyler got to see the wonderful young woman his daughter had become.

"It was both of our faults."The Doctor corrected squeezing Rose's right hand. "It was a mess that shouldn't have happened but it did and we'll get past it. It may not seem like it now but you will, Rose. You know how I know that?"

Rose shook her head.

The Doctor stood pulling Rose with him but not releasing her from the embrace. He placed a light kiss on her forehead before meeting her gaze.

"Because you are Peter Tyler's daughter."The Time Lord stated simply before turning and heading towards the console and starting the Tardis's engines. "Time to go."