The Doctor
"Ah." he pulled away from Rose and Jack, and grinned. "Happen we should scoot."
The tower was falling down around them, the web disintegrating and the floors crumbling. They linked hands and fled from the room, the door loosely flying from it's hinges as they kicked it open and fled down the stairs, through corridors which made total sense, no trickery, no monster waiting to get them around each corner. Pouring into the dining hall one after the other, the Doctor hurriedly jammed the key into the lock of the Tardis and fell through the threshold, followed closely by the others. Jack shut the door moments before the castle - nay spaceship - gave way altogether, partly crumbling to dust, whilst the core parts vanished into the stratosphere and deeper into the universe.
He watched it go on the scanner, frowning a little. The nuclear engines would be fried right enough, and prone to meltdown at any time. But before that, it would be redeveloped into a space hotel...and when the engines did finally give, why, a young Time Lady would be on hand to save the day, at the cost of her own life.
Or one of her lives, at any rate.
The circle closed, and allowing Rose to cling onto his shoulder, the Doctor permitted himself a smile.
"I'm sorry," he said shortly. "I wasn't meself."
"We know." Jack laughed.
"Yeah, but...I wasn't meself from the moment we arrived in Callows Reach, not from the moment we first set foot in that place. It had me, and I should of felt it. I didn't, coz...well, I..."
"You hoped she was your daughter."
He nodded, his bright blue eyes watery. "I hoped." he admitted. "What was she, after all? I never learnt?"
"I can't remember." Rose said. "I saw it - I know that much. For a brief moment back there, I knew exactly what it was, knew everything about it...but it's gone now."
"And probably for the best," the Doctor said sternly. "Don't go straining to remember Rose, I'll tell ya that much. What the human mind can't comprehend, it has to discard. Has to, for rememberin' would be a death sentence. It'd tear your brain apart."
Rose nodded. "But I saw..." despite the warning, she tried to think back, the images vaguely visible somewhere just below (or beyond) her subconscious. Curly hair...blistered skin, and eyes reddened with tears.
"Rose!" he exclaimed, and she stopped immediately. She never would remember again.
"Onwards?" he shrugged.
Jack laughed. "Is that it, man? We've just spent months living as lords! Let's have a break before you go tearing off anywhere!"
"A break?" he frowned. "Any suggestions?"
Rose shrugged. "Tudor England?"
As one, the trio burst into laughter, and it was a long time before they stopped.
Note: Thanks for reading!