He'd been about to shove his key in the lock when an almighty scream made him practically beat the door down to get inside. He was in and down to Roses room in less than 60 seconds, which even on a good day was impossible. The old girl was giving him a helping hand, shifting corridors and moving rooms so he could get to Rose in double time. When he burst into her room he was met with a sight that made his hearts stop, a gut wrenching feeling of sorrow filled his chest. Rose had thrown her covers off, yet she was still slick with sweat and she was thrashing around wildly crying out in the midst of what he assumed must be a nightmare.

He sat on the side of her bed, placing his hands on her arms he gently shook her, she didn't respond just kept throwing her arms and legs around frantically, fighting off some invisible foe.

"rose"

nothing

"Rose"

Still nothing

"ROSE WAKE UP"

Her eyes flew open and she practically vaulted into his arms, breathing heavily and coughing like she'd been throttled she couldn't stop sobbing.

"Shh, Rose its all right, Im here, your safe"

"B..But you weren't, those things they had me, and they were, were..."

"Its wasn't real Rose, just a nightmare, they wont ever hurt you again, they're dead. I've Got You"

He rocked her backwards and forwards for what seemed like forever. running his fingers through her tangled, sweat drenched hair he continued to shush her. When her tears had finally subsided she felt so ashamed of herself, she was 19 not 9 and the Dr didn't do domestic, how many times had he told her that. Yet here he was having to comfort some silly frightened little girl because of a big bad nightmare .owww.

She pulled away, leaving him feeling cold, with reluctance he let her settle back on her pillows. Reaching to wipe a tear from her face, he wished he could have found the words to tell her how sorry he was. She leaned out of his embrace and tried to scoot further up the bed, with a hurt expression he let his hand drop half way to its destination.

"Could you, Im sorry Doctor but would you mind leaving me alone for a while, i just need time to get my head straight"

"O..okay Rose, just call out if you need anything"

She turned away from his retreating form, facing her wall she let silent tears fall and hoped he wouldn't notice. She didn't want him to have to pity her, didn't need his makeshift comfort, they both knew how he felt about this kind of situation and she wasn't going to force him to have to comfort her if he wasn't able to.

She lead there in quiet contemplation for a while, studying her wall, picking at the peeling pieces of paint, and then she was up and on the move. She hurriedly dressed and grabbed her bag from the wardrobe, starting to throw bits and pieces of clothing and other things in she didn't hear the door to her room open nor the footsteps approaching. The Doctor could hear her crashing around in her room and had come to see if she was okay, needed anything maybe. The sight of Rose hastily packing sent a jolt down his spine.

Whats she doing, she cant seriously be thinking...I don't think so missy.

The voice from behind her made her almost wet herself.

"what are you doing?"

"packing"

"but why, where did you plan on going exactly, we're in the middle of time and space ya know"

"I don't know, away, just away. I cant be here, not now, all I ever do is get into trouble, get you into trouble. So Im doing the only sensible thing since getting on this machine, getting back off again"

He put a hand on her arm to stop her frantic bustling, she shrugged him off and made towards the door.

"Rose please. Stop"

"Why Doctor, I mean what would you get out of me staying, all I ever do is cause you hassle, Im just a stupid ape yea!"

He flinched as if punched, he hadn't meant that. So yea she'd done something stupid, almost unmade existence and got him killed in the process, but who hadn't at one time or another. He'd been angry sure, but he couldn't let her leave. He hadn't even told her how he felt, and if she left him then he'd never get to. Never get to taste those soft lips, never get to hold her in his arms or wake her at first light and make love to her.

Moving further towards the door she said.

"Im sure you'll find someone else to travel with, someone who maybe has you know a brain, I mean Im nothing special"

He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her roughly against him, throwing her bag to the floor he cupped her face in his hands, then his lips were on hers, she tasted...fantastic. Electricity shot through him, he backed her up against the wall, her hands in his he pushed them above her head to stop her pushing him away. If he couldn't make her understand with words he make her understand this. He needed her, wanted her, he poured all his anger and frustration from the day into that one kiss, practically begging her to get what he was trying to convey.

He was kissing her, he was kissing her like she'd never been kissed before, the heat he was creating almost burned her from the inside out. She had longed for this ever since she'd first met him, but never believed that he could want her the same way she wanted him. Then she understood, he didn't, he was just trying to make her stay. She obviously hadn't hidden her feelings well enough and now he was using them against her. No, she wasn't going to fall for it, she didn't need his pity, she pushed him away with her body, panting for breath, she slapped him.

He was losing control, he could feel it deep inside, and then she was pushing him away, and his entire body screamed in protest, then she'd slapped him. Had he gone to far, had he done something she didn't want. Now she was screaming at him, with wild eyes and gesturing hands.

"Who the hell do you think you are, what so I say Im leaving and you just decide to use they way I feel about you against me, well Im tellin you now DOCTOR Im not havin it yea. Just because when you kiss me i want to die doesn't mean I want your pity or half hearted lust"

She was crazy angry, how dare he, how dare he think this was what she wanted, that all he had to do was throw her a few scraps and she'd be putty in his hands.

"No, Rose, I Love You"

"No Doctor you don't, you don't do domestic remember, and Im just your travelling companion, how many times has someone asked you if Im your mate, woman, lady, wife, and how many times has that look of utter disbelief fallen across your features. S'alright Doc, don't need your pity"

Picking up her discarded bag and throwing the door wide she stormed off down the corridor. It took him a few seconds to realize what had just happened, then he was out the door and stood in front of her. Looking down at her tiny form as if for the first time he understood, she thought this was guilt, guilt for what had happened to her, guilt for not stopping it, or taking better care of her. It wasn't, it was real, and true and he LOVED her. He had to make her understand.

Taking hold of her again he wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly until she stopped struggling against him, then he tipped her chin to look in her eyes and withbarely restrained emotion he said,

"Rose Tyler, I love you, I think I loved you from the moment you found the Auton Transmitter, something that was so obvious and I completely missed it. Or when I took your hand and told you I was the guy who could feel the earth move, maybe even when you told me I was full of it that first time. But I know that I do love you, so much so in fact that when I thought you were dieing I was ready to find the nearest, tallest building and throw myself straight off it, because without you here by my side through all the crazy stunts we pull, what would be the point?"

"But"

"And if you don't believe my words, believe my body, Rose you do something to me which I've never actually experienced before, Im a 900 year old alien, and you make my body behave like it belongs to a spotty pubescent teenager"

She could feel the evidence of his want for her, pressed up against him it was all too apparent, and it was then, that it hit her, he loved her, wanted her and needed her. She pulled him down into a passionate, wanton,almost begging kiss, tongues duelled for dominance while there hands roamed aroundnewly discovered territory. They eventually pulled apart breathless and panting.

"I love you Rose"

"I love you...okay what IS your real name, i cant keep calling you Doctor"

"Theta"

"I love you Theta"

"Rose..."

"Hmmm"

"Your bunk or mine?"

"Your so full of it"

"Yea I know"

(Next chapter soon guys and gals)