CHARACTERS: Rose/Ten
SETTING: Takes place during "The Christmas Invasion" (2x1) and after chapter 3 ("Pass or Fail") of this story, in the early morning before they depart from London.
CHAPTER SUMMARY: Rose grieves for Jack.
The Doctor felt much better when he awoke. He was alone, and though it was early he at first assumed that Rose had returned to her mum's flat. But when he rolled out of bed he stepped on one of the shoes she'd kicked off the night before.
After a trip to the console room, he found her in Jack's room, buried in his covers, not sleeping, not crying.
She spoke when she finally noticed him in the doorway. "If he was okay, he would be here." It wasn't worded as a question, though she still hoped he'd set the record straight.
The Doctor said nothing.
"He was a hero," she said, through tears now. "He held them off, he sacrificed himself to give you the time you needed."
He blinked, looked down to the floor.
"And he loved us."
"Yes," the Doctor finally contributed. "And we loved him."
She began to sob then, and the Doctor sat beside her on the bed, rubbing her back to comfort her.
And he tried to convince himself it was better this way.