A/N I'm a monster.

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who

Rose ran back into the room where she had left her two Doctors, out of breath, still clutching her mobile phone in her hand.

"We've got Leanaí on the way up." She said, though she was sure they were both aware of the fact already.
It was pretty hard to miss the wailing alarm blasting throughout the building.

She stopped in her tracks as she noticed the expressions on the two mens faces. They weren't looking at her, but at eachother. Pond looked tired and slightly ill, his face one of pure hopelessness. Her Doctor's face was filled with shock, disbelief, and also (or was she imagining it?) fear. He was breathing heavily, his dark eyes wide, staring at Pond.

"What did I miss?" Rose said, smiling uncertainly.
She was suddenly aware of a cold sense of foreboding starting at the pit of her stomach, beginning to work itself up.

She had spoken quietly, but it seemed that they both heard her despite the loud ringing alarm. Pond glanced in her direction but then turned away, as though he couldn't bear to face her. Instead he turned his gaze to the floor. An aura of complete and total hopelessness emitted from him.
The Doctor looked at her, his expression unchanged. His mouth was agape and he looked more confused than she had ever seen him before. He looked from her to Pond and back to Rose again, his mouth moving as though he was trying to say something, but no words came out.

And then his expression changed. It changed into an expression that she had seen only once and wished she never had to see again. It was one of pain and resignation- as though he was resigned to accept what was to come. It was the face he had worn before he had sent her to the parallel world for the first time by placing the dimension hopper around her neck. She had jumped right back to him after that, but she had the horrible feeling that there was no going back this time.
He smiled, and she could see the hurt behind that smile.
"Oh, Rose Tyler." He breathed.

She felt her heart break.

...

He could feel them in his mind again. They were faint, but they were there, moving around roughly, gloating at him.

The end is upon you, Doctor, a childish voice giggled in Pond's ear, making him flinch.

They weren't close enough to completely take him over just yet, but it wouldn't be long. Torchwood were well enough prepared for alien invasions that it would be tricky for the Leanaí to reach him, but they would do it. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block them out, but if anything, the voice became louder, more persistent.

Poor, lonely Doctor, the voice continued menacingly. You would destroy yourself without hesitation to save the world, but could you sacrifice another?

He shook his head, trying to keep his breathing level.

So much blood on your hands. The voice continued, sounding almost pitying in tone, although Pond knew they were still only teasing him. Would it not be so much easier to allow us to take you? It would be painless. And you would be free. Free of all the guilt.

He would never admit it to anyone, but at that moment he almost considered it.

...

The Doctor never wanted to hurt her. Not again, not after having to say goodbye to her on Bad Wolf Bay while orbiting a Supernova. Seeing her so broken had almost destroyed him. And now he was doing it to her again. For one, brilliant, selfish moment, he considered just taking her hand and running away, leaving "Pond" to deal with his own dilemma. Running away with Rose, forever. This was supposed to have been their forever.
His throat constricted at the unfairness of it all.
She was looking at him pleadingly, her large brown eyes confused.

"We found a way to stop the Leanaí." He said, trying to keep his voice level.

She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yes."

"Then why do you look so...?"

She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to.

"The box is a shield." The Doctor said calmly. "If we deactivate the box, the Leanaí lose their protection. They die."

He didn't say anything else. He didn't want to say it. But he knew not to underestimate Rose Tyler, and he knew the second she figured it out. Her pupils dilated, and her breath hitched in her throat.

"But you used the box. That's how you got home, the box shielded you from the explosion."

He nodded.

"But you're.. you'll lose the protection, too?"

He didn't say anything, didn't trust his voice.

"You're going to die." Rose breathed, as if she couldn't believe what she was saying.

The Doctor nodded. "Yes."

Rose shook her head, all the colour draining from her face. "No." She said in a determined voice. "You can't. There has to be another way. Tell me there's another way!"

Pond stepped into their conversation, his voice low, resigned. "There is no other way. There's only this. I'm so sorry."

Rose spun around, looking at him with anger etched on her face.

"You did this." She hissed. "You brought them here. You did this!"

It was true. He knew it was true. The whole damn world knew it was true. The Leanaí were only in this Universe because they were chasing him. If he hadn't come here, Rose and her Doctor would still be safe, living a life day after day. The one adventure he could never have, and apparently, an adventure he couldn't let anyone else have either. So yes, it was true- but hearing her say it hurt him more than any torture from the Leanaí ever could.

A mind tortured and weakened by grief. The voice in his head was whispering again, and he didn't try to shut them out. You are going to be marvellous.

"No."

Pond was surprised to hear the word coming from the Doctor's mouth, and so was Rose. They both turned to him, seeing him wearing an expression of pure determination.

"It isn't his fault Rose. Do you think he'd ever do anything to hurt you?" He paused, gauging Rose's reaction. She shook her head grudgingly, tears pricking her eyes. "I love you." He went on in a shaky voice. "And we're the same."

Rose didn't look at Pond. She couldn't.

The Doctor took a deep breath.

And then he slammed his hand down on a bright blue button on the console. The button that would reverse the technology of the silver box.

The button that would doom him.

Pond felt the Leanaí let out shrieks of anger in his mind, and he flinched in pain, taking a step back subconsciously.

Rose let out a similar cry of anguish as the Doctor gasped, feeling himself slip away from reality.

"Don't.." Rose sobbed, her tears flowing freely now. "Please, please don't."

The Doctor shook his head, smiling painfully. "It's done. The shield is slipping."

She shook her head, wanting to scream at the unfairness of it all. Instead she took a shaky breath, begging herself not to break down.

"How long have you got?" She whispered, her tears clouding her vision.

The Doctor paused, as if he was thinking.

"Less than a minute." He said.

He tried to keep a straight face, but cracks were beginning to show. He was scared, Rose could see. Scared of what was going to happen. And so was she. God, it was Bad Wolf Bay all over again.

Pond stood back from the two, feeling so utterly helpless. He didn't want this. He never wanted this so happen. He hung his head in shame.

"But what am I going to do when you're gone, Doctor?" She said, making no effort to wipe the tears from her face.

He took a step forward, wiping the tears away for her. His eyes were dark, heavy with felt his hand on her face. Solid. He was still there, he was so real. She didn't want him to go.

"What are you going to do?" He repeated her words. "Anything you want. Rose Tyler, you are amazing. And you can do anything."

She nodded, cherishing the feel of his hand on her face. Tendrils of gold began emitting from the air around the Doctor, floating upwards before disappearing. He looked around him in vague interest. "The shield's disintegrating." He muttered.

She grabbed the lapels of his shirt tightly, as though she could hold him together by sheer force.

"I love you." She sobbed. It just wasn't fair.

This time, he didn't waste any time in answering. "I love you too." He said, leaning down and kissing her lips lightly.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to quell her sobbing. It seemed like an impossible task. She was losing everything.

He pulled away, and his breathing became more rapid. He could feel himself beginning to fade away, the gold aura around him becoming stronger as he became weaker.

"Don't forget me, okay?" He said, and for the first time, his voice cracked. He didn't want to leave her. He didn't want to go. "Promise?"

Rose nodded, taking big gulps of air. "Promise."

How could he think, even for a moment, that she could ever forget him?

He smiled, the first sign of tears appearing in his brown eyes. "And never stop being brilliant."

He leaned down to her again, and she wrapped her arms around him, never wanting to let him go. His hands lay tenderly on her hips, his eyes closed.

Pond watched them both, the stuff of legends, together as they should be, surrounded by gold for their last goodbye.

There was a flash of light, and Pond felt the Earth shaking with the strain of breaking down the shield. He felt the Leanaí's presence leaving his mind for good.

The golden light enveloped The Doctor, and then he was gone.

Rose was alone.