A/N: I apologize for the long absence. Work, life, and kids' activities have kept me hopping. I hope this will please those who have been reading along. Thanks for the several people who tagged this story as one of their favorites. Also, thanks for the three that reviewed. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Enjoy.

The Doctor stomped around his room, throwing his clothes on hurriedly. Dealing with Rose's death and arrival at the same time was not easily handled, and he really didn't know how to deal with it. Companions didn't come back, and they certainly didn't come back like this. Running his hands through his hair, he sighed and flopped down on his bed.

"So this is what your room looks like," Rose said quietly.

He sat up and stared at her.

"The TARDIS told me when it was safe to come in." At his blank look, she pointed to his clothes. "It told me when you were dressed."

"Rose, I…" He flew off the bed and paced around. "I… You…"

Smiling wryly, she said, "Well, for once I have you completely speechless."

"You're dead."

She frowned. "So are a lot of your companions. So are all your family, your planet, your whole race."

"Yes, but they're gone. I can't see them. I'm not …" He shut his mouth, stopping the flow of words.

"You're not what?" she asked.

"Nothing. Never mind."

"You mean they're not here to remind you of your failures?" Rose asked, her voice hard.

"Yes."

"My death was not your fault," she said, speaking slowly as if to a small child. "I died doing what I chose to do."

"Rose Tyler, Defender of the Earth," he drawled, the sarcasm making the title sound bitter.

"Yes, I was. I died making sure that aliens slipping through the Rift didn't kill innocent people. So what? How many times have you died, Doctor? How many times have you given your life for people who will never even know your name?"

"I can regenerate, you can't!"

"And that makes those sacrifices less meaningful?"

He dropped his head, sinking slowly onto the bed. "You weren't supposed to die, Rose. I sent you back to be safe."

"And when will you get it through your thick head that once we fall in with you, all of us are safer with you, not away from you."

He scoffed.

"You bloody stupid alien. You opened our eyes to life outside our little worlds. We can't leave things alone. Look at Sarah Jane. She carried on. I'd bet that others did exactly the same thing." Her voice dropped a little and took on a pleading note. "You make us better, Doctor. You can't condemn us for continuing what you started."

He shot off the bed and paced around the room frantically. "But I'm supposed to welcome you back on board the TARDIS? You're a living reminder that I've failed you again!" Stopping suddenly, he whirled to stare at her. "Scratch that. You're a dead reminder." Walking through her deliberately, he left the room.