"Here we are then, Christmas eve," said the Doctor, swiveling a screen toward him, "1947, Miami... Florida."
He frowned a second, then grinned. "Fancy getting a tan on Christmas day, then, Rose? Beach-combing? I hear the clubs are absolutely fantastic!"
"Didn't you tell me you were going to Venice this time?" said Rose testily.
"It was Naples, and yes I did," said the Doctor. "Saying's one thing, doing's another."
He knocked on her head.
"Unexpected, that's what presents are supposed to be."
He grinned. "Now come on!" He grabbed her hand and took off toward the door.
"Hang on," said Rose, struggling to take off her jacket with one hand. "Isn't it supposed to be hot out there?"
"Winters can be chilly, so it'd be best to leave it on," said the Doctor, dragging her outside.
"Just to be on the safe... What?"
Rose staggered out of the TARDIS, her foot crunching down in an inch of snow.
"Miami, Doctor?"
The Doctor reached over and shushed her.
He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and played it about.
He shut it off. "This is Miami, 1947. So what is this-"
Phutt.
He heard Rose gasp and start to fall.
"Rose, what- NO!"
He dove forward, pulling her hand away from her chest. A deep red stain was beginning to gather on her shirt.
"D- d- aagh-"
"Don't talk. Don't talk!" The Doctor started to fumble for his sonic, then found his hands shaking. He couldn't stop the shaking.
He could feel a hole in time, cracks starring out. He tried to focus.
"Rose, st- stay with-"
The cracks starred across his vision, his hearing.
"No, I can't fail her- can't fail-"
The last thing he felt was his face thudding into the snow.