Alright, this chapter is painfully short. But I wrote it at one o'clock this morning and my brain physically wouldn't work any more. I'll write a new one tonight, should be up soon.

Note the title of this chapter, how clever am I including that line? Or does it justcome across as shameless self-promotion? Naah, I don't think it does coughreadwithalittlehelpcough. Sorry about that.

I'm loving the reviews guys, although I get the feeling you're all mad at me. I'm sorry, but don't give up! Things are moving along, just veeeery slooowly. Have faith in me, please!

Donna xxx

Chapter Twenty Five- With A Little Help

The next morning, Rose awoke feeling slightly refreshed. Last night, she had cried and cried for God knows how long, but hopefully she had got it out of her system.

Was she still hopelessly in love with the Doctor? Of course. Was there a single second when she wasn't thinking about him, missing him desperately? Of course not. But was she going to sit and mope and wish for something she couldn't have? No. She was going to do something about it, and ensure that she could have what she wanted most.

So, instead of following her instinct and laying in bed all day, crying and having imaginary conversations with the Doctor, she got up bright and early, showered and dressed before she would normally have even opened her eyes. As she came out of her bedroom, she looked around the lounge, which was a tip she had left in such a hurry. She hadn't bothered tidying up two days ago, because she had assumed she'd never see the place again. She'd assumed that she'd be back in the TARDIS by now, that the Doctor would actually want her, would care that she'd made so much effort to...

No. She couldn't start thinking like that. If she did, she knew she would break down completely, and right now that really wouldn't help. She took a deep breath, and focused entirely on what she had to do - although she didn't actually have any idea how she was going to do it.

Blinking furiously, she bent down to pull on her shoes, but as she did up the zip on her boots, she glanced carelessly around the room. Something caught her eye, and the tiniest of smiles appeared on her face. Making up her mind, she ripped off the boots, and grabbed the Converse that were still lying beside the sofa. Ignoring the fact that they didn't even remotely go with what she was wearing, were too small for her and falling to bits, she slipped them on.

Maybe, just maybe, she thought, they would give her the strength and luck she would need to do this.

"Rose!" a surprised Jake cried as she entered the Torchwood office, jumping up from his desk, "What are you doin' in today?"

"Oh, I just couldn't stay away!" she said, trying her hardest to sound cheerful. Apparently he saw right past it. He gave her a small, sad smile.

"I heard what happened." he said quietly, "Rose, I'm sor-"

"Don't." she stopped him, her eyes filling up, "Just... don't. I'm fine." Jake raised his eyebrows, clearly not convinced.

"Well... It's good to have you back, anyhow." he said, pulling her into a hug. Although it had meant to be quick, Rose found herself holding on tightly, so glad to just be held by someone who cared. When she finally pulled back, she wiped her eyes determinedly, before taking a deep breath.

"Right then!" she said in a clear voice, "Back to business!"

He smiled properly now, and nodded.

"So! How shall we start?" she asked brightly, glad that he had just accepted what she needed to do with no questions asked.

"Okay, well, we've had reports of some dodgy soundin' deaths in Guildford, if you think we should check-" he began in his broad Geordie accent.

"What?" she asked, puzzled, shaking her head, "Not that sort of business! What I meant was, how are we gonna fix that dimension cannon?"

Jake blinked, taken aback.

"Excuse me?" he said incredulously, looking at her as though she were mad, "Have you gone insane?"

"No." she said, surprised, "Why d'you say that?"

"Well... you can't be serious. After everything that's just happened? No way! That void was closed for a reason, we're not disturbing it any more. The breach stays closed."

"It bloody well does not!" she said angrily, raising her voice slightly, "You don't get to decide these things!"

"Rose, it's too dangerous, we've been there. We've done that, it caused too much trouble. I won't let you do this."

"Let me?" she demanded, "Let me? This is not your decision. I'm goin' back, and that's that."

"But Rose-"

"No!" she cut him off, "Don't you get it? I'm doin' this, Jake, with or without you."

She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"Only..." she said, a lot more gently now. "It would be so much easier with a little help."

She could see his eyes moving backwards and forwards, could almost hear the internal argument he was having with himself.

"Jake," she said softly, looking into his eyes, "Please. You know what it's like to love someone so much and then lose them. You went through it with Rickey..."

He flinched slightly here

"...I was there." Rose continued, "I helped you, I was there for you. Please, do this for me."

Jake sighed, silenced by her painful truths. He looked up, a sad look on his face, and slowly, he nodded.

"It'll take a while, mind you," He said, sighing, "It'll be hard. And your dad's not gonna like it."

It was as though Jake was trying to dissuade her, but her mind was well and truly made up.

Either Rose was going to get back to the Doctor, or she was going to die trying.

I felt I just had to include Jake, because a) he wasn't in Journey's End, b) he's really cute and c) he's from Newcastle like me. Howay the lads! Please review!