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"Where are we?" Martha asked in curious excitement.

"Well at the moment we're suspended in deep space," the Doctor explained. "But we haven't travelled in time yet - I wanted to give you the choice."

Rose smiled to herself, remembering her first trip and how they'd travelled to the end of the universe. Even though she loved that adventure and wouldn't change it for anything, it probably wasn't the best way the Doctor could have eased her into his lifestyle. At the time it had been completely petrifying, not to mention absolutely devastating, to be faced with both her own death and the destruction of her whole world.

Wanting to spare Martha from the fear and grief Rose herself had felt, she suggested, "Maybe it's best if we stick to Earth this time, yeah? Is that okay, Martha?"

"Yes please, I think I've had my fill of aliens for today!"

"Okay," the Doctor conceded as the two girls laughed together. "You'll probably want to go back in time then… let me think… AHA! Yes, I've got just the place! We just need to – "

He danced around the console, then stopped abruptly. "Ah, actually, on second thought, you must be tired Martha."

"Um, a bit, yeah?" The girl said, obviously confused by his rapid attitude change. Rose couldn't blame her.

"Why don't you go and find a room, take a nap? The TARDIS will make sure any door you find that'll open will be a bedroom you can use. Well, you might find the kitchen but the rest should be bedrooms. We'll wait until you wake up and then head off – don't want you fainting from exhaustion on your only trip back in time, now do we?" The Doctor rambled on, although without his usual cheeriness.

Rose frowned inwardly, sensing something was wrong. The Doctor was almost statue still, all of his usual exuberance drained. He was running a hand through his hair distractedly, and he seemed… forlorn. Besides, he wasn't normally so considerate of human needs.

"Um, yeah, alright…" Martha said uncertainly.

Rose smiled at her reassuringly. "Go on, then," she encouraged with a smile, "When you wake up we'll be in a whole different era!"

Martha returned her grin, and Rose was glad to see her words had brought back her new friend's enthusiasm.

"Alright, I'll see you two in the morning then. If there is a 'morning' on this thing."

Rose laughed but the Doctor remained silent.

"Not really," she answered for him. "But you get used to it."

With a grateful wave, Martha headed off down the corridor to explore. As soon as she was out of sight Rose whirled to face the Doctor.

"What is it?"

Still perfectly silent, the Doctor reached around and pulled the monitor into her view. In the top right-hand corner she could see a flashing red dot.

"What's that? What does it mean?" She pushed.

He inhaled deeply, as if he were steeling himself for something. "That dot represents a fissure in the skin between this universe and the next. It means you can say goodbye to your family."

The Doctor watched Rose carefully as his words sunk in.

"You mean – I can talk to them? Right now?"

"If that's what you want. I don't know how long the connection will last – to be honest I didn't think the TARDIS would find a way through – but there's enough time to send through a message and a visual projection, like I did for you."

Rose bit her lip. "Would we have to send through the message first?"

"Not necessarily," he answered slowly, thinking it through. "We could send it through after the visual link as long as I encode it with a residual time loop from our projection."

He could tell from her eyes that he'd lost her with the technical babble, but that she caught the gist of it.

"I can say goodbye," she repeated his earlier words, dazed. The Doctor was growing progressively more concerned. He moved to her side and put his hand over hers before leading her to the jump seat and making her take a seat.

"What am I going to say?" She whispered and he gave her hand a comforting squeeze, wishing he could do more.

"Hey," he said, voice soft with sympathy. He raised a hand to her face, lightly stroking her cheek with his thumb. "You don't have to do this now. We can wait, the connection won't go anywhere."

"I can't," she said thickly, eyes shining with unshed tears. "What if something happens on our next trip and I don't make it back?"

The Doctor felt sick at the thought.

"Don't say that," he pleaded, reaching for her hand again.

"But what if it does!" Her voice was rising now, becoming increasingly agitated. "What if I die and I never said goodbye to them? What if they have to go their whole lives not knowing where I went? What if I never get to see them again?"

He could see the exact moment when she made up her mind. Rose glanced up at him and her eyes betrayed how scared she was, but beyond that he could see her determination.

"I have to do it now," she told him firmly. "If I wait any longer I'll be a wreck and… I don't want that to be their last memory of me."

The Doctor's response was caught in his dry throat. He swallowed a few times before managing to say, "You're a hundred percent sure you don't want to do this later?"

Rose shook her head, whispering, "I can't."

He studied her for another second before rushing around the console, and the TARDIS took off again. He didn't feel too guilty about Martha, they weren't going to leave the ship after all, so it didn't really count as her first trip. Besides, with the day she'd had he wouldn't be surprised if the medical student was dead to the world already. With any luck she'd sleep right through this and, if Rose was feeling up to it, they could leave when she woke up. The Doctor avoided thinking about what would have to happen if Rose wasn't up to diving straight into somewhere new.

Rose slid off the jump seat, waiting for him to finish setting everything up. He normally would have babbled on to her about how this was possible – the gap that the TARDIS had found (which definitely had NOT been there when he searched for the means to say goodbye to Rose a year ago, a fact that worried him greatly and in under any other circumstances he would have considered top priority to figure out) was large enough that it would provide the energy necessary to sustain the connection until eventually its power was depleted and the gap collapsed in on itself, sealing the tear permanently. But he knew Rose wouldn't want to hear any of it today, so he settled for simply saying, "Because the TARDIS has had a similar experience with this, the most likely location we'll appear is Dalig Ulv-Stranden."

Rose nodded mutely, pressing her lips together.

"You just stand here, and when I point the sonic at that point there, the projection will begin."

"Let's do it," she said shakily.

He stood by her side, and she clutched his hand tightly.

"I'm right here," he assured her. "But it's not too late to do this another time…" He broke off as she shook her head vehemently.

"Alright, well if you want me to leave at any point just say the word." He hated having to say it, even just the thought of not being able to comfort her while she was upset troubling him.

"Will you stay the whole time, please?" She gazed up at him, beautiful brown eyes wide and scared, looking more vulnerable than he'd ever seen her. The Doctor would take regeneration over seeing Rose like this, any day.

"I'm not going anywhere unless you change your mind," he promised, relieved that at least she wasn't planning on sending him away.

Rose took in a shuddering breath and said, "Now, please."

He turned on the sonic and within moments Jackie Tyler flickered into view, nearly transparent.

"Mum!" Rose cried out. The Doctor widened the beam and Pete appeared next to Jackie, carrying three-year old Tony. He flicked the sonic once more and Mickey came into view on Jackie's other side. With a final point, the four of them solidified and it appeared as though they were on the same beach in Norway as last time.

"Rosie!" Her little brother squealed, reaching out to touch her.

"Sorry Tone," she smiled sadly, tears already collecting in the corners of her eyes. "I can't hug you."

The little boy withdrew his hand, crestfallen, and snuggled into his dad's side.

"Rose, what happened?" Jackie asked her daughter tearfully, "How did you get over there?"

I don't know," Rose sniffed, gripping the Doctor's hand for support. "One minute I was talking to dad and the next I was in the TARDIS."

"You were glowing, love," Pete chimed in. "Your eyes were golden and you started to glow, before I could do anything you were just… gone."

The Doctor frowned thoughtfully. "Sounds like Bad Wolf – but I took that out of you?" He said, turning to Rose.

She gave a non-committal shrug and he reminded himself there were more important things to worry about now. The two of them would figure out what happened later. He directed his attention back to the small group of people on the beach, and Mickey spoke up for the first time.

"I reckon it was the D.C, but we've got no way of knowing." The Doctor wondered briefly what the D.C was, but didn't interrupt Mickey's goodbye. "We're just glad you're safe, Rose."

She nodded, attempting a smile but not quite managing it.

"I love you all. Don't – don't forget that, please."

"Oh, sweetheart, we love you too," Jackie told her, voice cracking.

"When are you coming home Rosie?" Tony piped up. "I miss you!"

The poor boy was struggling to understand what was going on, glancing between Rose and his parents with confused hazel eyes. Rose gulped and tightened her grip on the Doctor's hand, "Not for a very long time, buddy."

"A week?!"

His sister gave a watery chuckle but it quickly faded. "I'm sorry, Tony. No matter how long it is I want you to remember that even though we can't see each other, I still love you, okay?"

"'K," the blonde toddler whispered, rubbing his eyes.

"You be careful out there," Pete instructed, face free of tears but his voice betrayed him with a slight wobble.

"And you –" Jackie rounded on the Doctor, who had to consciously stop himself from instinctively taking a step back. "Keep her safe. You hear me? She's only got you now so you – you take good care of her!"

Jackie's eyes were begging, and he swallowed past the lump in his throat to say "I will. Of course I will."

She nodded gratefully. "Don't forget to look after yourself as well," she ordered.

If the Doctor wasn't careful he'd start crying. Although he would never admit it, he truly cared for Jackie Tyler. They'd had their differences, certainly, but the one thing they always had in common was Rose. Both of them loved her unconditionally, and that had created a sort of bond between the two of them. Outwardly they just barely tolerated each other, but their insults and repartee hid an unspoken affection.

"You too, Jackie," he responded softly.

The TARDIS let out a warning beep. The Doctor had programmed it before the transmission, not wanting a repeat of his farewell to Rose when he hadn't had the chance to tell her that he loved her. Maybe if he'd said it then it would've been easier to tell her now. He pushed those thoughts aside for the moment.

"30 seconds," he warned.

Rose tensed beside him, and a chorus of noise erupted from both sides.

"I love you, Rose!" Jackie called desperately.

"I love all four of you so much!" Rose said, voice breaking. The Doctor could tell she was just barely keeping herself together.

"We'll be alright, don't worry about us," Mickey added hoarsely, trying to reassure her. "Take care, boss."

"You too, Mickey Smith – not such an idiot, after all." The Doctor inclined his head respectfully.

"Stay safe please, love," Pete implored his daughter.

"You too, dad," she gasped between sobs.

"Rosie?" Tony Tyler squirmed in his dad's arms.

"I miss you all," Rose whispered and the next moment the beach and its occupants had faded from sight.

Rose twisted into him so her forehead was pressed against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed in earnest. The Doctor rubbed calming circles on her back as the damp patch on his chest blossomed. She began to shake violently so he slowly sunk to the floor with his best friend in his arms, and they sat on the TARDIS grating together. He let her cry, ignoring the way each sob sliced straight through him, and hoped that his presence was helping her somehow, even if it was only in the tiniest of ways.

Martha couldn't sleep. It was strange – she'd had the most absurd, tiring, and literally breath-taking day she'd ever had. By all rights she should be unconscious. But sleep evaded her.

The Doctor had been acting so strange those last few minutes… it was as if someone had flicked a switch and his whole attitude had changed. At least Rose had still been herself.

When Martha had set off down the hallway to find somewhere to sleep with the faint murmuring of Rose and the Doctor issuing from behind her, she had fully intended to spend a good half hour exploring potential room choices. As soon as she'd walked into the first room with a door that would open for her, however, she decided this would be the one.

The room was spacious, with a large walk-in wardrobe, a queen sized bed, and a door which she soon discovered led to an en suite. The bedroom walls were a soft cream colour, but were kept from being boring by a beautiful blue trim and a small number of paintings that, despite never being a huge art fanatic, Martha could see complimented the room's colour scheme perfectly.

Martha had immediately memorised the route she taken to get there (down one corridor, a left turn, then down the end of another hallway) so that she could find her way back to the control room if need be.

She'd shut the door, thrown her jacket on the end of the huge bed and rummaged through the drawers for something to wear. Deciding on a soft pair of flannel pyjamas, she got changed before collapsing on the bed and letting out a long sigh of contentment. This mattress was comfortable.

And yet, despite her soft bed and warm pyjamas, she couldn't switch her brain off. So much had happened! In the last hour alone she'd been stuck in the middle of a heated family argument, discovered that time travel was real, and agreed to a ride in a spaceship with two virtual strangers! Although, Martha admitted to herself, she already saw the pair as friends. Who knew fighting alien thugs on the moon could bring people so close together?

Sighing again, she tossed and turned. When she was younger and had trouble sleeping, Martha used to wake up her dad. As soon as he saw that she was still awake he'd pick her up, carry her to the kitchen, sit her down, and make her some warm milk. She'd always fallen asleep within the hour.

After ten more restless minutes, Martha gave up and padded to the bedroom door, thinking that she might as well try to find the kitchen. Hopefully the warm milk trick worked as well for 23 year old Martha as it did for her 5 year old self.

As soon as she stepped into the corridor, however, she was greeted with the heart-wrenching sound of loud sobs.

Martha followed the noise, heart in her throat. Something was extremely wrong here. The crying sounded distinctly female, and Martha assumed it must be Rose. Was the other girl injured? Picking up the pace in case she needed urgent medical attention, Martha practically flew down the hallway. She slid to a halt as she reached the entrance to the console room, hesitating in the doorway.

She was met with the sight of her two new friends huddled together on the floor, the Doctor cradling Rose in his arms. Rose was curled into the Doctor's chest, her back to Martha, clutching at his shirt and heaving with devastated sobs.

Martha was struck with the uneasy sensation that she was intruding on a very private moment of grief.

The Doctor was rubbing Rose's back gently, completely focused on the girl in his arms. As Martha watched, debating internally as to whether she should leave them alone or see if they needed help, the Doctor closed his eyes and pressed a gentle kiss to Rose's hair. He tilted his head so that his cheek was resting lightly on the top of her head and opened his eyes, spotting Martha hovering uncertainly in the doorway. His intense brown eyes were impossibly melancholy, and Martha could almost feel herself shrinking under the weight of his tortured gaze.

They stayed suspended like that for a moment, until Martha broke the trance they were in by tottering forward a step. She wasn't sure what she intended to do, especially because she didn't actually know what was going on, but she felt compelled to help. The Doctor lifted his head slightly and she stopped moving instantly. He gave her an almost imperceptible shake of his head and she took the hint, backing out of the room and into the corridor.

Once she was out of sight Martha almost sprinted back to her room, all thoughts of warm milk before bed forgotten. What the hell had just happened?

She reached her room and pulled the door shut, causing Rose's haunting wails to instantly cease. The rooms must be soundproof, she supposed. She laid down on her bed once more, certain that there was no way she'd ever get to sleep now.

She hoped Rose was going to be okay. The blonde had clearly been in an incredible amount of pain, but whether it was physical or emotional Martha couldn't tell. She assumed it was emotional – surely the Doctor would have been treating her if she was physically wounded, right?

And why Rose? If anything, the Doctor had been the one acting oddly when she'd left for bed. Try as she might, Martha couldn't figure it out.

Approximately half an hour, and several unlikely theories, later there was a knock at her door. Martha froze. She had definitely not expected either of them to visit her tonight.

"Come in," she called hesitantly.

The Doctor popped his head into the room. "Is it alright if I, um, talk to you for a minute?"

Martha propped herself into a sitting position against the headboard and motioned for the Doctor to take a seat at the end of the bed. Maybe she would get some answers after all.

The Doctor went to shut the door – Martha didn't miss the way he left it cracked open a tiny bit – and perched himself rather awkwardly at her feet.

"How's ...?"

The Doctor cleared his throat, effectively cutting her off. "Sleeping."

"Oh." Was all Martha could think to say. That hadn't been what she meant and she got the impression the Doctor knew it.

She noticed the way his eyes flicked back to the door every thirty or so seconds and knew he was dying to go check on Rose. So what was stopping him? Why was he even in Martha's room? Well, she supposed, it was his spaceship.

She inhaled deeply, trying to decide on the best approach to get some answers. She settled on starting with small talk, hoping to relax him a tiny bit.

"So… the rooms are soundproof, huh?"

The Doctor gave her a diminutive smile that she understood was gratitude at not diving into the heavier topics straight off.

"Only when you want them to be," he answered, keeping his tone casual. "If you want them to obstruct sound from either the inside or the out, the TARDIS picks up on it and blocks the noise. Useful if you're ever in a fit of rage and decide to destroy your collection of antique glass musical instruments from the planet Zenei while not wanting to disturb the sleeping blonde across the hall."

Martha raised an eyebrow, watching him tug his ear nervously as he spoke.

"Not that I've ever… ahem – hypothetically, of course."

"Of course," she repeated, placating him.

His eyes darted to the door again and Martha remembered the events of the night.

"Are you okay?" She asked, recalling the haunted look in his eyes.

The Doctor glanced at her, seemingly taken aback. He paused before saying, "I'm fine. I'm always alright."

Very much doubting that, but not willing to push the subject, she let it go. Martha could see that he was struggling to keep himself together at the moment and she suspected he was only really trying for her benefit.

Without warning, the twenty-three year old was almost overcome with exhaustion. It had been the most emotionally charged day of her life, and she was fed up with it. She wanted a few answers, was that too much to ask?

Impatiently she said, "Look, I only want to know what's wrong with Rose. I won't be able to sleep until I know she's going to be fine."

"I can't promise that she will be," the Doctor answered grimly.

"What?! Maybe I should take a look at her." Martha made to get up but he held up his hands to stop her.

"No, really Martha, that's not necessary."

"Why not?" Martha protested. Even if the pain was emotional, Martha could still help her. Make sure Rose wasn't going into shock or anything – although shock from what Martha still had no clue. "I know I'm just a student but I'm sure I can–"

"No, seriously. You don't need to."

"Well can you at least tell me what happened?" She finally demanded.

The Doctor hesitated. "I can't."

Why not?! She wanted to shout. It was then she was struck by an appalling thought. From what she knew of the Doctor, and especially his very obvious love for Rose and vice versa, it was almost unbelievable, but you just never knew and Martha felt the need to say her piece, just in case.

"Okay, I need you to listen to what I'm about to say. You'll probably want to interrupt but it's really important I get this out. Can you wait 'til I'm finished before you speak?"

The Doctor nodded, eyebrows furrowed in faint confusion.

"Good. I'm only going to say this once, but I mean it. If I find out that you purposely did something to hurt Rose, I swear to God, I will get her out of here. I don't care who you are – alien, Time Lord, human, whatever – you won't ever see her again. Got it?"

The Doctor's eyes were wide with horror. "I wouldn't – I'd never…" he spluttered, and Martha relaxed slightly.

"I didn't think so, I was just making sure."

He nodded silently before running a hand through his already messy hair and letting out a resigned sigh.

"She's just said goodbye to the people she loves most in the world," he said quietly.

He clearly wasn't willing to say more on the subject and Martha, while still extremely curious, didn't need to know the details as long as she knew Rose was safe. But it still didn't explain what he was doing here – he clearly hadn't come to discuss what was happening with Rose.

"Was there a reason for this visit?"

"Yes, actually," the Doctor sighed, glancing at the door once more. "I came in to apologize. I think we might have to postpone your thank-you trip."

Swallowing back her disappointment, Martha shrugged it off. "Of course, whatever she needs."

He gave her a grateful smile. "Tomorrow morning I'll drop you off but we'll come back a few hours later – well, a few hours for you, might be a few weeks for us. But either way you won't even miss us. We really do want to thank you properly."

"Sounds like a plan," Martha smiled.

The Doctor got up and headed for the door to check on Rose (which Martha knew he'd been itching to do since he walked in).

"Goodnight, Martha," he said softly as he shut the door behind him.

She reached over to switch off the lamp on her bedside table, then settled back against her pillows.

What a weird day.

As always, please let me know what you think :)