[A/N: I've wanted to write a fic like this for a long time, but needed an idea to be exactly right. If you have any critique, please do provide it. Cheers!]

Rose Tyler was caught up in her moment of passion with this new blue-suited half-Doctor. She almost dismissed the creak of the wooden door behind her, but was abruptly snapped out of it when it slammed shut.
Faltering only at the distressing gong of the cloister bell, she hastily began to run back to the ship, but the engines had already begun their take-off cycle and Rose Tyler was left standing, in disbelief and forced to watch as her Doctor left her one last time.

A familiar hand sought out hers and was soon clasped firmly in a mutual act of comfort. Only then did Rose's fixed gaze finally shift. Looking into this Doctor's eyes and noting how he just stared at her with utter despair, she immediately knew something was wrong.

"What is it?" Rose spluttered.

"It's Donna", he confirmed. "There's never been a human-Time Lord meta-crisis before."

"And, so what?" she prodded.

"Rose, there can't be –Aargh!" The Meta-Crisis Doctor's hand suddenly slipped from Rose's as he fell awkwardly to the sand.

"Oh my god!" cried Jackie, rushing up beside them. "What's happening?"

"I don't know Mum. He just collapsed", stated Rose, as she kneeled down beside the crumpled man.

"Doctor, Doctor Can you hear me?" she tried desperately.
The Doctor gave no response, but seemed to slump more heavily.

"He must need medical attention Rose. Oh dear, what's the number for 999, in Norway?" panicked Jackie.

"Mum, we can't ring an ambulance. They'll just do experiments on him." Rose explained, as she searched for a pulse.

"But he said himself, that he's only got the one heart now. You heard him." Jackie interjected.

"He might be part human now, but who knows how much? We can't risk him becoming some kind of vivisection project', justified Rose. "His heart beat is erratic. I think he's in a lot of pain." Steadily she moved him, so that he was lying on his back, in a more comfortable position, then leant down to check his breathing and pulse again.

"I'll phone your father. It's something at least", said Jackie, pulling out her phone.

Rose knelt over the seemingly unconscious man. The would-be-could-be Doctor, her last life-line and begged him to open his eyes.

She couldn't help but think how closely he resembled the Time Lord that had just left her, once more –left them. It was a hard enough blow to her, let alone a new born, who'd already committed genocide and been cast out into another universe. Oh, he was so new. There would be so much he'd have to get used to -for them to get used to. Assuming he pulled through this, that is.
It had happened before. Her Doctor with the big ears and the leather had suddenly changed, and with him, her entire world. A whole new body and a different personality, they both had to get used to and yet, he was the same man. Of course, first he'd been unconscious for a good while, struck sick in bed, while his body adjusted.
Is that like what was happening now, regeneration? It was her closest bet. Yet, still a shot in the dark. It was just like he'd said, before so abruptly passing out. There's never been something like this happen before. She just had to hope he'd somehow be okay, because he was her last hope.

"Pete's got someone coming to get us." Jackie informed her daughter. "Bless his contacts."

"Fantastic", spoke Rose, kissing her mother. "How long will that take? We can't stay here with him for too long, or the tide will come in."

"Hopefully not long. How about we move him further up for now though, Just in case?"

"Yeah", agreed Rose, nodding.

So mother and daughter worked together to heave The Doctor up near the rocks and leant him down to rest. After studying him closely, Rose noted he looked paler. Worry twisted in her stomach.
She wanted so much for him to be alright, but at the same time she didn't want to be with him. It still felt wrong. Her Doctor was still on the TARDIS somewhere, dealing with Donna and whatever might be happening to her also.
She wondered what he might do for the red-head. The TARDIS had medical equipment aboard. No doubt he'd be acting fast, doing anything and everything in his power to help his friend. However, Rose was left here, on a beach with next to no resources. Yes, Torchwood had some alien medical care, but that all that was way back in London. Could they make it there in time? And would it even be enough?
Surely The Doctor hadn't known this would happen? It just wasn't in his nature to be so cruel. This Meta-Crisis Doctor claimed he was the same man, after he had committed genocide. That was what The Doctor had accused him of, saying he was "Born in battle, full of blood and anger and revenge. Remind you of someone?" He told Rose to make him better. Could she do that? Did she even have it in her? After all the time she'd spent trying to find The Doctor and now been merely fobbed off with only half the man she fell in love with.

When an official looking vehicle finally pulled up by them and a smartly dressed man stepped out, Rose forced herself to come to a decision. Pete's contact's English was rusty, but he didn't seem to be surprised by The Doctor's condition. Clearly he'd already been briefed by Pete Tyler over the phone. They helped get The Doctor into the back, so that he was lying across the seat, his head resting in Rose's lap.

'How long did you wait?'

'Five and half hours.'

'Good. Always wait five and a half hours.'

Rose remembered how the first time she'd been left in this universe by The Doctor. How she waited next to that cursed white wall at Torchwood, because of that one remark he'd made, back on that spaceship with Madame de Pompadour. Unlike before, it had all been for nothing. She hadn't given up on herself though. With Torchwood, she'd built the dimension cannon just to get back to him.
Now however, she didn't have five and a half hours to wait. The Doctor in her lap wasn't doing well and needed help soon. She didn't have the same faith in the other Doctor any more, the man who couldn't even say those three simple words.

It seemed to be that the life that had started, so young, at only nineteen with the word 'Run', was now becoming a whole new chapter, many years later, which began with 'I love you'.