"Jack, help me," Rose commanded.

Pushing the lever again to close the TARDIS, Jack rushes to her side. "Where are we taking him?"

"Somewhere soft. He's gonna hurt himself if we leave him here," she yelled over his screams.

Jack grabbed the Doctor's torso as Rose grabbed his feet . It was like trying to carry a shark, he didn't stop thrashing.

"Mickey, Pete, wanna help us here?!" Jack yelled.

"Where are we heading?" Mickey asked, pinning the Doctor's legs together.

"Rose?"

"The garden. TARDIS always makes sure it's the calmest place. She'll make it the most comfy place for him to wake up in."

"What's happening? What's wrong with him?" Jackie yelled.

"It has to be to do with destroying the Valeyard," Martha stated grimly as she followed behind Jackie.

When they reached the garden, they laid him on the lush red grass.

"What is this place meant to be?" Pete asked, looking around at the silver topped trees and purple mountains in the distance.

"This," Rose panted, " is Gallifrey. Sort of. It's not real. It's like a virtual reality. The TARDIS can make it look like anywhere you want. We just call it the garden because usually she makes you feel like you're outside. Quite handy when you're on a spaceship."

The Doctor had stopped screaming but was still whimpering and his body trembled. Jack wiped the blood that trickled from the Doctor's ears and nose as Martha checked his heart rates. "A little fast, not surprising, but not scarily," she surmised. "What do you think happened?"

"Do you think he's even still him?!" Mickey asked.

"He has to be," Rose said, wishing she felt as sure as she sounded. "He looks like he's in so much pain." She sat beside him and stroked his hair.

"Shouldn't we all back off in case he wakes up and he's the other one?" Pete asked.

"He doesn't look like the other one," Jack said, studying his features. "It's hard to explain but the other one looks different but you're probably right. Distance is probably a good idea."

"I'm not leaving him," Rose told them defiantly.

"Rose! For once in your life do the sensible thing!" Jackie pleaded.

"He won't hurt me. I won't let him."

"Oh? And how are you going to stop him?"

"Remember when I glowed gold when Unit came for me? I wasn't ready for them but I'm ready for him."

"Glowed gold?!" Pete asked.

"Trust us, Rose can take care of herself," Martha agreed.

"Bad Wolf on duty huh?" Jack smiled.

"Someone's gotta protect the Oncoming Storm," she smirked.

"Someone is going to have to fill me in on what everyone's talking about," Pete moaned as they all trudged out of the garden.

"I'm gonna lock the door, stop him escaping if he is wrong. Call me if you need me?" Jack told her tapping his temple.

Rose nodded and smiled gently. "Thanks Jack."

XxXxX

She felt like she'd been there for hours, walking through the fields. Never too far from the unconscious Time Lord but she had to move because her bum was going numb and her back was getting stiff. What she wouldn't give for an arm chair and a tv right now.

She looked back at her Doctor and noticed he'd moved, only a little but it was something. Then he began to frown and arch his neck as if trying to ease tired muscles.

She didn't call out to him, she didn't dare, just in case he was the wrong one.

His eyelids fluttered and he took a deep breath, letting it out in a groan.

"Well that wasn't fun," he rasped, finally opening his eyes. "What the?" He looked around gingerly, his head still throbbing. "God it's worse than having a hangover… I think. Now I know that I wasn't in here." As he gingerly sat up his eyes finally landed on Rose. Their chocolate brown warmth increased as he took her in. "Hello," he smiled tentatively.

"Hello," a brilliant smile lit up Rose's face as she stepped towards him. "You're you."

"I'm me," he sighed, relief coursing through him. "I'm me. I'm just… me."

Rose knelt before him, unable to look away. She'd missed those eyes.

With a shaking hand he reached up to cup her cheek, his fingers brushing against her temple.

"Please," she whispered, unable to stop the tears that formed in her eyes as she opened her mind to him. As he followed the link, they both cried out with relief. It was like a hole had been filled, a missing piece found.

He surged to his knees and kissed her, pouring his heart into it, trying to convey everything in one moment. As emotions overwhelmed him, he pulled away and buried his face in her shoulder, unable to hold back to sobs of relief. It only lasted a few moments but it was enough.

"I'm sorry," he half laughed and half gulped. "Don't know what's wrong with me."

"I do," she told him. "But it's over now right? They're both gone?"

He nodded. "They're both gone. I'm so sorry, for everything."

"Told you, I'm gonna ban you from using that phrase."

He smiled at her. "I've missed you. I can't tell you how much I've missed you."

"Show me," she whispered, stroking his temple.

Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes and let his feelings fly as she gently nipped at his bottom lip. She gasped as the full force of his want and regret hit her. She thought if she ever doubted his love for her, she could just think back in this moment and know the doubt was a lie. Rose couldn't help herself, she had to kiss him.

She leant into him, lips seeking his, arms winding round his neck and he responded in kind, his desperation palpable.

He sat back, pulling her into his lap, enjoying having her so close. After what seemed like both eons and no time at all he pulled back. "The others are still around," he panted.

"Yeah. They're with Jack."

"We should um," he swallowed heavily. "We should probably find them before they come looking for us."

Rose sighed. "S'pose. As long get to have you to myself later."

"Rose I don't know if I'll be able to…."

"Feels like you will," she smirked wiggling against him again.

He groaned at the sensation. "That's not what I mean."

She looked him square in the eye. "I know. And that's not really what I meant," she said honestly. "I've missed having you next to me, holding me while I fall asleep, reading to me. The rest," she shrugged. "Sure I miss it, but it'll come in time, when you're ready. Besides, a girl can always help herself when it gets too much." She grinned, biting the end of her tongue as the Doctor shifted under her.

"That's not fair," he grumbled.

"What isn't? This?" She ground herself into his lap.

He rested his head on her shoulder. "It's not that I don't want to…"

"I know," she whispered. "Believe me I know."

XxXxX

Stopping at the TARDIS doors the Doctor hesitated.

"I hate this bit," he sighed.

"I'm right here with you. They're just worried about you, they'll be so happy you're back."

He looked at her doubtfully.

"Don't overthink this. You're just going out to explain science. That's all. You don't need to tell them anything else. Just what happened and that you're ok. Exhausted but ok." Rose placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Don't go anywhere," he pleaded.

"Never."

Taking a deep breath the Doctor opened the door and came face to face with 5 expectant faces.

'Everything ok?' Jack asked Rose silently.

"You need to guard your thoughts better, Captain," the Time Lord warned. "Could get you into trouble."

Jack grinned. "I like trouble."

"Just as well you're a magnet for it."

"Takes one to know one."

The Doctor gave a sardonic chuckle and nodded.

"Well it's good to have you back. You look…. well, like hell but still. It's good to see you," Jack said pointedly.

"You look dead on your feet," Martha sympathised.

"Thanks," the Doctor sighed, flopping on to an empty chair. "I owe you all an explanation." He scrubbed his hands through his hair before pressing his fingers to his eyes.

"You don't have to do this now," Rose told him.

"Yes I do. Because once I go back into the TARDIS I'm sleeping for a month." Taking a deep breath he found the courage to look each of his friends in the eye. "I don't really know how much you've understood about me and the Valeyard so let me start with that. Most of you have probably gathered by now that my lot weren't the nicest of races towards the end. They were ruled by corrupt degenerates who were intent on dominating the universe, forcing their ideology on everyone else. As Time Lords we were meant to uphold fixed points in time, make sure other planets did as they were told basically. I was never very good at that because I don't like their rules. As long as you weren't trying to kill off a native species I was ok. Unfortunately it didn't always work out that way and I had to protect the innocent parties at the expense of the others, sometimes that meant wiping out an entire race. It was never a decision I took lightly or something I was proud of. It causes a lot of conflict for me, other Time Lords would just shrug it off. They all mastered the emotional detachment training brilliantly, it became their whole personality. I… wasn't so good at it. So I had to find another way to live with my decisions."

"Susan said it was like a filing cabinet, you could lock things away," Rose told him.

"Susan explained things? Oh thank god!" he breathed, grateful he didn't have to continue with that train of thought. "Ok so I opened a file that meant there were three of me; two in this body and the Valeyard. Problem was, once I had the Valeyard dealt with I had to make sure the other one living in here" he tapped the side of his head, "got dealt with too. When I was programming the TARDIS to deal with Valeyard I also programmed her to rewrite my brain using the vortex." He looked at Rose. "That's why I needed you to stay clear, I didn't want her rewriting you by accident."

"Wait, rewriting?" Pete asked.

"I needed to make sure he was locked away, like before, if not better. Unfortunately the only way to do that was to create a brainstorm, which is as painful as it sounds. Upside is; I can't hear him or feel him anymore. It's just me," he shrugged.

"So there were three and now there's just you?" Jackie asked.

"Yup."

"And you're all better now?"

"Pretty much. I mean, you know there are….things but none are dangerous to anyone. Rose is safe, you're all safe."

"So it's really over. Thank god for that!" Mickey declared.

"Thank you. Every one of you. You have no idea how…." he cleared his throat. "I can't explain…."

"We get it, Doc," Jack grinned.

"We're just glad to have you back," Martha told him. "Properly back, not sharing space with the other one. Glad I never got to meet him if I'm honest."

The Doctor's eyes drifted shut as he gave a small smile. It was nice to have no tension in his head. To not be able to hear the nagging of his dark side.

"You need to rest," Martha continued. "And you need to eat, let your body heal."

The Time Lord opened his eyes and nodded. "Quite right Martha Jones." He stood up a little too quickly and his head spun. Rose steadied as a collective gasp filled the room. "Yes, definitely need to rest."

"Come on Rose, let's get the old man to bed." Jack strode across the room and grasped the Doctor, helping him to stay upright as his strength started to fail him. "And we'll get that dermal regenerator on the way for that shoulder."

XxXxX

Once they got him to his room, Jack and Rose helped him strip down to his pants, before he collapsed onto his mattress.

"You gonna be ok?" Rose asked as Jack set about fixing his cuts and bruises.

"Yeah," he said sleepily. "Just the first time there hasn't been a fight in my brain for a long while so I've not…." his voice trailed off as unconsciousness claimed him.

"As always; shout if you need me," Jack whispered, once he was sure everything was healed, leaving Rose with her Time Lord.

She sat watching him for a while, hoping he was having good dreams or even no dreams, before laying beside him and closing her own eyes.

XxXxX

The Doctor didn't know how long he'd been asleep, what he did know is that it was a heavy sleep. He wasn't quite ready to get up yet, enjoying the quiet in his mind. There was just the quiet, comforting static of his two companions, both apparently fast asleep.

He rolled over to face Rose. She had her back to him so he scooted over and spooned behind her, sighing a little at the pleasure it gave him being so close to her.

She shuffled back a little, trying to get even closer, holding the hand that hugged round her.

"Morning," she mumbled. "Wondered how long you'd sleep for."

"How long has it been?"

"'Bout three days."

He blinked. "You haven't been here the whole time?"

"No. Me and Jack have been entertaining ourselves between sleeps. How are you feeling?"

"Much better," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her neck.

Rose sighed with happiness. "This is nice," she said before turning in his arms to look at him. "You look better," she grinned. "More like you're old self."

"Mmm," he gave her a lazy smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine now you're back." She sent out a wave of love to him and heard him gasp. "You ok?"

He nodded. "Just been a while so it's a bit…. overwhelming."

"Sorry," Rose's smile dropped.

"No, it's not a bad thing. I'm just not used to it so it feels brand new again and it's…." He shifted slightly, cheeks flushing.

"Oh." She bit her lip as she felt him brush against her, a slight tremor in his body. "How do you feel about that?"

The Doctor shrugged.

"Well, do you want to try and….fix it? You know I won't judge you, I'll …. help where I can." She shrugged, leaning forward and pressing a gentle kiss to his jaw, feeling him shudder. "I might even join in," she whispered causing him to groan.

The Doctor's eyes slipped shut as he rubbed himself through his underwear, letting out another sigh.

Rose felt herself twitch seeing movement under the duvet. Running a hand down her side, her fingers ghosted over her knickers and it was her turn to sigh.

The Doctor heard her and his eyes snapped open again to watch her.

With her eyes closed and her mouth open slightly as she moaned, he thought she looked beautiful. He could feel his hearts pounding as he became even harder, his whole body pulsing. Shoving down his underwear he grabbed at himself as he watched her. "Oh god," he groaned.

Rose's eyes fluttered open and she looked him in the eye. She pushed the duvet down to uncover the pair of them and slid her hand inside her knickers, fingers pressing down on her clit causing her to bite her lip. "Jesus Doctor." Her body began to move against her fingers as she felt his arousal in her head.

He wanted to feel her. He needed to feel her. "Rose," his voice was so hoarse he barely recognised himself. Reaching out with his free hand he traced his fingers along the elastic at her hip.

"Yes," she breathed, removing her knickers and guiding his hand into place.

The Doctor moaned at how wet she was, his fingers gliding across her clit and through her folds over and over.

"Oh god!" she called out as her back arched. "Want a hand with yours?"

The Doctor faltered. "I do but…" panic bubbled up in his chest and Rose felt it through their link.

She reached up and stroked his face. "It's just us. Keep your eyes on me," she told him, gently taking hold of him.

He let out a shuddering breath and nodded.

"Eyes open and on me," Rose repeated as she began moving her fist up and down. "I've got you." Her breath hitched as he resumed stroking her, occasionally pressing down on that little bundle of nerves that caused her hips to buck.

"Fuuuck," he groaned as her hand tightened.

"Alright?"

The Time Lord nodded, his breath hitching. "I….ngh, love you," he grunted out.

Rose managed to smile at him as his fingers increased their pace, so she matched him.

The colours inside their minds swirled and flared the closer they got to completion.

She could feel him beginning to crack, his fingers became more insistent in their rubbing and finally entered her. She cried out at the intrusion, revelling in the feeling, it had been so long since his clever fingers had been inside her. He knew just how to crook them in the right way that brought her right to the edge. Suddenly she was crying out as she came, lights exploding behind her eyes. shuddering against him she pressed her lips to his. On shaky arms and legs, she managed to manoeuvre herself round so that she was level with him.

"What are you…?" His eyes were wide, panic bubbling again.

"Eyes on me, remember? It's just me," she panted as she lowered her lips to cover him, her eyes never leaving his.

He gulped in a breath and forced himself to watch as her head bobbed up and down over him, licking and sucking, edging him ever closer to the edge. She reached up and took his hand with one of hers, linking their fingers. With the other she took hold of his balls, squeezing gently.

The Doctor's hips snapped into the mattress and he gave a guttural "Fuck!" spilling himself into Rose's mouth. He felt such happiness surge through him he knew some of it was coming from her along with his own relief. They'd kept his panic at bay and all he'd seen and felt was Rose. He couldn't help the tears that gathered in his eyes.

"Ok?" Rose asked, moving back to lay beside him.

He gulped and nodded.

"It'll get easier," she assured him.

"Yeah," he panted.

"Was good though right?" Rose smiled tentatively.

"It was bloody brilliant!" he grinned, gathering her for a hug. "Thank you," he yawned, eyes slipping closed again as he fell into another peaceful sleep.

XxXxX