Thanks again for the lovely reviews. Just got to write two and bit more chapters now and the story's done! Yay!

As we entered the flat the next day, I could see Jackie notice Rose's wrecked appearance immediately. It wasn't exactly difficult to notice; the shadows under her eyes were so dark that not even her industrial strength concealer could cover it up.

"What's happened to you?" Jackie demanded, looking from her daughter's face to me. Well, glaring at me to be precise. "You look awful! What's he done to you?"

"Cheers Mum." Even Rose's voice had lost its usual sparkle. "I just haven't been sleeping too well, that's all."

"And are you limping?" Jackie asked now. "Where have you been taking her?"

"Mum! Please!" Rose said irritably. "I just trod on some glass, it's nothing serious. Just a cut that needs resting. The Doctor brought me home to do that."

Jackie still eyed me dangerously, but let Rose pass into the sitting room. "I'll put the kettle on."

"I'm just going to check on the TARDIS," I announced. Rose's head moved round so fast I thought she'd get whiplash. I could see the question in her eyes. Are you coming back? "I'll be back in about an hour. If I'm not, send out the search party. Actually, don't." I thought better of it. "Just… I'll be back."

I closed the door to the flat and let out the sigh I'd been holding back all day. It had been an uneasy morning, filled with those pauses and hesitations that I hated. I especially hated them when they involved Rose. I just couldn't work out what was causing them, what had driven this wedge between us. Or you don't want to…

I'd heard her screaming last night in her sleep. She'd talked too. About a monster, about running. I'd been drawn to her room by the sounds of pain and fear. It wasn't like I could sleep anyway. I'd hoped those pain killers would have knocked her out properly, made it impossible for that dream to get to her. But it had managed somehow, and she sounded more scared than ever. She was tossing and turning, her face contorted into agonising expressions.

"Leave me alone!" she kept saying. "Please! Go away!" Then suddenly she screamed. "Doctor!" And the dream ended. From the look on her face the next morning, I could guess it hadn't ended well. She hadn't said anything, but I could tell.

This time away from the TARDIS would be good for her. She needed a break. All this dream was, was a manifestation of her exhaustion and her inner demons. And if you believe that…

Walking through the Powell Estate, my hands in my pockets, I tried to turn my mind away from Rose and her dream but I couldn't. This was dangerous; I'd felt it creeping up on me over the last few months. The last year or so in fact. These thoughts, these feelings. Oh, they'd always been there, I couldn't have denied that. But now they'd surfaced and it was getting harder and harder for me to avoid them. Every thought was concerning Rose, her safety, her happiness, her life… Now, as I wandered through the estate, I couldn't stop my mind returning to her, lying on her sofa in that flat.

The TARDIS knew how I felt. She was always on the same wavelength at me. That was why she'd forced me out into Magaluf looking for her; she knew I wanted to deep down but never would. She knew I couldn't, that for me to admit what I felt for Rose would be breaking thousands of laws, most of them unwritten. I just couldn't. It was better like this. And yet she couldn't stop pushing me, willing me to tell Rose everything. That was how the dream had started.

I'd had that dream first months ago. Just after I'd regenerated. It had been interesting at first. But it had baffled me. What was making me dream like that? I never had recurring dreams usually, that just wasn't me. And then it had stopped almost as abruptly and I'd gone back to my dreamless sleep. But now it was back. And I knew what was causing it this time. And now it had started on Rose. Not it. She. My own TARDIS, torturing the girl I… She meant well, I knew that. She just wanted to see me happy, just wanted to look after me. Just like Rose. I should have known better by now than to take another female on board, they'd only ever gang up on me. The TARDIS knew how I felt about Rose and knew I'd never tell her. And so she was trying to force us to come together. Only it couldn't be, there was no way it could happen. And she was destroying Rose, bit by bit.

It was time she and I had a talk.

Entering the TARDIS, I guessed she could sense my mood. I stopped in the middle of the control room and looked into the vortex.

"You're doing this all wrong, old girl," I said as gently as I could. She only meant well, she only wanted to help. It was a shame the help she was giving was so wrong, so impossible. I sighed. "I know you're only trying to help but… this isn't the way."

I walked round the console, as she thought it over. "I know you're sorry, I know you didn't want to hurt anyone. But you are. You're hurting Rose. You know you are, you've seen how she is. This isn't right." I ran a hand through my hair as she responded. "You know how I feel about her! You know I just want to look after her and protect her and keep her safe! That's why this is wrong, it can never happen. Me and Rose… it just isn't an option. And you're making her think it is. Stop. This can't happen."

The vortex suddenly erupted into life. I frowned. "What are you doing now? Where are going? Stop! I promised Rose I'd be back soon, if she…" But it was too late. Nothing I said or did would stop her. We were off.