Sorry that it has taken me so long to update, but I've had loads of exams to contend with. Have finished now though so hopefully can make some progress here...

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who in any way shape or form.

Eight

"Rose..." he breathed, unable to stop the tears that ran down his face. Hmm...this one was new to him, what was this emotion? Fear? Grief? Pain? Sadness? Anger? He couldn't decide. There were so many thought running through his head that it hurt.

Pain... Even now the memory remained. He could still feel that endless aching that gripped his body whilst he lay in the cell, cradling his Rose.

Rose...how could he do this to her? He'd promised her that he would get them out, that they would be okay...all he'd managed was to get them separated. That and somehow get himself trapped in the body of a seventeen year old human, for whom things weren't looking too rosy...he wasn't the only one with problems then... He couldn't suppress the sobs any longer. He placed his head in his hands, pressing his fingers against his eyes, trying to block out the memories and the pain that was rushing over him...

He gazed down into her gorgeous eyes. Eyes that seemed to hold the world...or at least they held his world...she was his world, she was the one that made everything worth while. Getting sentimental in my old age. He smiled slightly, regretting it instantly as pain shot through his jaw. He wouldn't let her go...no,make that he couldn't let her go. He needed her, like he'd never needed anyone before...she was good for him,she just felt right and when she wasn't by his side,all he could do was think about her. He missed her so much when she wasn't there...

He didn't know how long they were there,in the cell, and quite frankly he didn't care. They were safe,at least for the moment. They were being given time to recover. Or at least he was recovering. He now looked almost normal, the swelling on his face was gone, granted there was a vast purple bruise stretching across the left of his face,but he could life with that. The sickening pounding in his head had stopped and he could finally think clearly. Granted he still ached in places he didn't realise could ache,but that wasn't the point. It was bearable now, he was back in control...sort of.

Rose though...it pained him to see her like this. Her face was still a blackened mass of bruising,that ranged from a yellowy colour, right through to a deep,dark purple. Her lips were still swollen,making speech nigh on impossible for her. The rest of her wasn't much better...even breathing caused her pain, she was so battered. Her eyes though...that's what scared him the most. He knew that humans were a fragile species and took on heck of a long time to recuperate,especially after the sort of battering she had endured...but they endured,survived and came through it, somewhat unchanged. Not Rose though,he could see that. There was none of that sparkle in her eyes now,that fiery spirit, that love of life...she had been battered,beaten and now,thanks to him,finally broken...he was losing her...and all because of his own stubbornness...maybe it was time to accept their terms...

Steven sighed as he sat in the sterile waiting room of the hospital. He hated this place, with its crisp white décor and rooms totally devoid of character. It was unnatural. He wasn't sure why he'd even bothered coming today...no make that he knew why he had come...because he had no other choice, his parents were threatening to throw him out if he didn't go back. What were his dads words? Oh yeah "You can forget about staying here, you need help Steven, we can't risk having you here...you are too dangerous."Him dangerous! He'd been called many things over the last few years, 'freak,' 'psycho,' you know,the usual stuff. But never dangerous...and certainly not by his own parents.

That hurt,much to his surprise. He'd long given up caring about what others thought of him, but even then he still trusted and believed in his parents...believed that they would stand by him...but no...that final,childish delusion had been taken from him. He sighed, staring at the blank wall before him. They were all he stayed for, he believed his leaving would be unfair on them,cause them unnecessary pain...but now...

Steven got to his feet and strode from the room,head held high. He glanced quickly over his shoulder but kept on walking. The receptionist looked up as he passed,but didn't try to stop him...after all, it wasn't her job. He walked out into the sunlight,pausing for a brief moment to enjoy the feel of the sun on his skin. He felt in his pocket for his wallet and began to make his way to the town centre. He knew where he was going. He had to find her...