The Doctor is sick.

That was the message the Doctor received while traveling with Clara. They just got back to the TARDIS after visiting the planet of Vamrelloo, where the trees sing lullabies and the mermaids were plenty. The Doctor was particularly fond of mermaids. He took Clara there because he remember her talking about her favorite movie as a kid, The Little Mermaid, and he wanted to see her face light up when she saw a planet full of mermaids.

"What does that mean? 'The Doctor is sick'? You're right here, you're fine." Clara asked as the he turned away. His mind started to race. How did she do it? How could she? He started to pace and Clara's eyes followed him as he mumbled the options. Go to her? But it could rip the fabric of time. He could potentially destroy planets, universes if he dared lead the TARDIS to her. But how could she send this message?

"It means we have to go to a parallel universe Clara." he said with a hard look. It frightened Clara, not that she was scared of the Doctor, but where they were about to go, what they were about to do.

"Doctor what's wrong, are you really sick?" Clara asked as she took a step forward to her friend. She looked worried. How could he even begin to explain it to her?

"I'll explain later Clara." as he turned away and fidgeted with the controls, he wanted to be alone. There was no way he could tell her, or even explain. He'd just have to show her. Not that he could explain if he wanted to, he didn't understand himself.

All he knew was that something was wrong.

As soon as the TARDIS landed; the Doctor rushed out forcing Clara to keep up. He emerged out the police box doors expecting to be in front of a house, but instead it was an open yard. The timelord started to look around when he realized he was in a cemetery.

He saw three people standing around a headstone as a casket was being lowered, the Doctor walked towards them, recognizing Pete and Jackie. And Rose. It was as if he saw her yesterday, familiar and lovely, but it was lifetimes ago, and she was suffering. When she looked up she didn't have the shining smile he knew to be her. No, it was grief written all over her face. Without missing a step she knew who he was despite the change of face.

"You were too late, you couldn't save him." A pregnant Rose Tyler cried in anguish, "You were too late." and she turned around and left.

Devastated, the Doctor ran towards the headstone to confirm his suspicions, Pete stayed back while Jackie helped her pregnant daughter into the car.

A Husband, A Father, A Friend

Gone Too Soon

Doctor Tyler ~ 2013

No, no no no no no, the Doctor thought. The one happiness he could guarantee Rose, was gone. Dead. No. Not after all she did, she didn't deserve this. The pain in her voice when she spoke to him, it was like a knife cutting out both his hearts.

"Doctor?" Clara leaned down next to him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"There was nothing you could have done Doctor. He got sick, a normal human sick, there was nothing any of us could have done." Pete spoke softly as he left, joining his wife and widowed daughter.

There must be something that I could have done, thought the timelord. There is always something. Always.

"There must be something you could do, why not go back in time and make sure he doesn't get sick?" Clara supportingly added.

"Because Clara, this is a fixed point, I shouldn't even be here. I can't do anything, there is nothing I can do! I can't just go around stopping people from dying! It's irresponsible! And how could I determine who lives and who dies? I am not a god I am a timelord, Clara!" every word he spoke was dripping with anger. How dare she suggest that? As if he didn't think of that? As if he never wanted to save everyone, save someone he loved, save Rose the first time he lost her and every time after that. As if he didn't already play god everyday.

Regardless of the outburst, she stayed beside him and took his hand in hers.

"Go to her Doctor, comfort her." She knew how much Rose meant to him without him even having to tell her.