That the Doctor was afraid, it was not a good sign.
That was something that Rose had had in mind since she met him, and if she has learned something during all that time it was that, when the doctor was afraid, it was because things were going really wrong.
She and the Doctor were leaning on the TARDIS' railing, laughing loudly as they remembered their last adventure, both with that special shining in the eyes that only those who have come to empathize perfectly have. When the doctor started for the umpteenth time his imitation of the royal counselor in the verge of a nervous breakdown, the lights went out suddenly, and when they came back, a tremendous shaking of the TARDIS threw them down.
After a very short moment of confusion, the Doctor let out a snort of laughter and the two burst into laughter again at the unexpected reaction of the TARDIS.
It was right then when things started to turn out really bad.
The Doctor stood up, still gasping for breath between his giggling, and he headed for the panels to see what had caused that unwelcome shaking, which, anyway, was quite normal. Rose had been sitting on the floor, with a huge smile still etched on her face. She only could see the Doctor backwards, but she saw that he remained motionless, his hands firmly gripping the bars and gears of the ship.
"Doctor?"
She got up and went towards him, staggering a little after another little shake of the TARDIS.
"Anything's wrong? Doctor?"
The Doctor was staring at one of the panels, looking at it with wide eyes. The smile had vanished from his face.
"What happens?" she asked again, feeling an unpleasant sensation making its way into her stomach.
The Doctor did not seem to listen to her. He shook his head slowly, like if it were difficult for him to do a single move, staring at the lights.
"No ... please ... please, not that…"
Rose felt her heart skipped a beat, because if there was something that was clear was that things were going terribly wrong if the Doctor was scared. She tried not to fall with the rattle of the TARDIS while he began to work the controls, moving back and forth frantically, as if their lives depended on being able to escape in time to wherever they meet, away from whatever it I was watching ...
"Not the best place to land in. Oh no, of course not ... On the contrary, the world's worst place to land in ... I should've expected this ... Damn, I should've expected this!
"Doctor? What's happening?" she grabbed him firmly by the arm, fighting the worry that had begun to dominate her "Please, tell me what's happening"
He looked at her, but he quickly looked away again, as if he could not explain it, or he did not want to do it ... At that very moment, another huge shake separated them. Sparks and explosions were all around them, and Rose protected herself with her arms. The two friends managed to cling to the railing, but the expression of the Doctor made it clear that something very bad was about to happen. Suddenly, a strange, toneless buzzing, growing gradually in intensity, muffled the unsuccessful attempts of the TARDIS to take off. The already terrified expression in the Doctor's face turned into real horror as he watched, unable to do anything
"No, no, NO!!... Time's left!!"
He abruptly turned to Rose and grabbed her by the shoulders, his hazel-brown eyes locked on hers, pleading, powerful, slightly darker than her own.
"Listen to me, Rose ... Whatever happens, don't forget about me" he said frantically, gasping for breath, trying to be heard above the toneless hum and the swooshing noise of the TARDIS. "Not even for a single second. Whatever happens to you, don't forget me, your life depends on it, Rose, do you understand?"
Even before a shocked Rose could answer, a terrible shake threw them down to the floor. She screamed. The strange buzzing filled her ears completely; it entered in her head, it possessed her whole body. She felt the Doctor's hand holding hers, and she was overcome by the feeling that everything would be fine, no matter what would happen…
Then everything exploded in a blinding light ... and the darkness swallowed her.