All Good Things Must Come to an End

All good things must come to an end, the Doctor knew that. He lived it for so long. He just didn't think this would end so soon.

The news of Rose's accident reached him as soon as it happened. He had received a very frantic phone call from Jackie. At first, he rolled his eyes, knowing Jackie to be an easily hysterical person. But, when she mentioned Rose, he became completely attentive. She said something about an accident, and the Doctor drove to the hospital at once.

"I'm here to see Rose Tyler," he said to the front desk.

"I'm sorry. Family only," the nurse told him.

"No, you don't understand. You have to let me see her!"

"I'm sorry, sir. Family only," she told him again.

The Doctor gripped the desk, his fingers turning white. "Just tell me… is she alright?"

"She's in critical condition. We can put her through surgery, but there is little chance she will survive it."

His heart turned to ice. It wasn't supposed to be like this. "Please…" Tears dripped out of his eyes and splashed onto the desk. "I love her. I love her with all my heart, and I need to see her…"

"John!" There was a voice not too far away.

"Jackie!" He exclaimed, turning around. "I'm… I'm having a bit of trouble here. Family only, she says."

"Oh, you're as good as family. Listen, I know it's a rule, but he is my girl's boyfriend. And they have been through so much to be together. Now, you let him see her… If something happens to her… can you really live with yourself?"

The nurse looked over at the Doctor, his brown eyes shining with tears and hope.

She nodded slowly.

"Thank you, thank you so much." The Doctor reached over the desk, hugging her tightly. "Come on, Jackie!"

He left a very flustered and confused nurse as he and Jackie rushed to Rose's room.

The Doctor froze in the doorway, his heart breaking into two. Rose was awake, yes, but she was hooked up to all kinds of machines, and she didn't look good. At all.

Jackie nudged him softly, and he went over to her side. He sat down at a chair, gingerly taking her hand as he did so.

"Hello," she said weakly.

"Hello," he said back, voice cracking. "Not gonna do the surgery then?"

"What's the point? There's not a big chance I'll make it."

"Don't say that."

"It's true."

He stroked her hair. "You're strong, Rose. You can get through this. You have to," he added softly.

"Kiss me, please."

How could he deny her anything? Not even caring that Jackie was in the room, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her slowly and lovingly.

She smiled softly at him when he broke the kiss, and he just had to smile back.

"I love you, Rose."

"I love you, too, Doctor."

From there on, they sat in silence, both unable to come up with anything to say. It was an hour and a half later, that the heart monitor flatlined, and the Doctor was alone once more.

All good things must come to an end. He knew that. He lived it for so long to know the cruel truth of it. He just didn't think it would end this soon.