Run

By Kimmzie

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who

Author's Note: Trigger warning: loss death, angst. This was written for a friend that suffered a loss. It's painful but this was all I could give.

Rose and Tentoo suffer a loss. Not fully discussed. (Supposed to be more symbolic etc).

Inspiration: It's always darkest before the dawn.

The grass was cold with pre-dawn dew and she felt numb with the chill; however, the stabbing pain did not cease. She kept walking through the grass her feet sinking a little deeper into the mud. It was quiet. The night birds and crickets had stopped their songs. It was like the world was waiting with bated breath. What was it waiting for?

Certainly not her. Not anymore.

The grass was thigh high now, bits and pieces were sticking to her thin cotton night gown. Rose neither noticed nor cared. She just trudged on trying to escape. The Doctor would be looking for her soon. He rarely left her out of his sight, which was both a curse and a blessing. Her heart was broken and she was leaving a trail of breadcrumbs wherever she went: through the fake smiles in the shops, briefings at Torchwood, and forced small talk at family gatherings. She had her whole life spread out in front of her. And it was killing her.

He would always hold her hand, hug her, and embrace her. He would whisper, "It'll be alright," in her ear. But the words felt hollow. She felt hollow.

Her knees sunk into the ground and she clutched at some strands of grass with her fingertips. She was clinging, grasping- just trying not to fall off. Maybe it was a little too late.

She forced her eyes shut and watched her vision burst into a myriad of white patterns. Still no respite. She steeled her resolve and pounded her fist against the ground and screamed until her voice was raw.

"Why?" it wasn't even a whisper.

Gentle hands steadied her shoulders and her eyes met his concerned brown eyes that were bright as it got closer to dawn. "There is no why for once, love. There is no fault or bad guy," the Doctor said his voice calm and even.

"But…"

"Rose…" he sighed. "I would rewrite all of time and space if I could. But I can't. Some moments are fixed in time. They happen."

She looked at him silently with glassy eyes. "What now?"

"Now? Now, there is everything." He brushed some of the grass off her shoulder. "We get on with living brilliant lives. I only have one life to live, Rose Tyler. I'd like to live it with you. With life there is loss." He caressed her cheek. "With life there is also so much more. Sometimes we get second chances at things even if they're thrust upon us." He put her hand over his one heart. "Come on love, let's try living a little again." He held her hand and raised her to her feet. "It may always hurt. Please take the loss and go on. Celebrate the life you have... you taught me that. Show an old part-Time Lord the Universe." His hand pulled hers forward.

"Where are we going to go?"

"Oh, I don't know." He pointed with his free hand over the horizon that was a light pink. "Anywhere over the horizon. Allons-y Rose Tyler, the world has been waiting long enough for you. Now run for your life."