A Shoulder To Cry On
10thDoctor/Rose
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who
Rose leaned against the wall of the TARDIS. After giving Mickey a tour and leaving him in the game room, she wondered about the Doctor. He had been even more distant and insisting he was "alright" since leaving the spaceship. He hadn't mentioned what happened when he went back for Reinette and she suspected something had gone wrong, but what?
She went back to the Consol room and found him in his usual place, leaning against the railing of the TARDIS. His shoulders sagged, his face held a saddened look, he kept sighing to himself and his eyes were closed.
He didn't notice her as she came up behind him and an arm around him. "What's wrong?" she asked. He looked startled for a moment before realizing Rose was there. He didn't reply and just stood there for a moment, allowing her to be there.
"I know something's wrong. Just tell me, I'm not going anywhere," she told him.
"I'm fine, Rose," he insisted. "I'm always alright."
"No, you're not. Come on, Doctor, tell me what happened."
He sighed. "When I got back, I thought it had only been for a moment. But it had been a few years. She died before I could get there. She died waiting for me and I failed her."
Tears came to his eyes and Rose tightened her hug around him. He cried into her shoulder and Rose just stood there, comforting him as best she could.
"Even a Time Lord needs a shoulder to cry on," she said. "It's okay. You didn't fail her. I knew her briefly, but she said you were worth the monsters and I agree with her."
The Doctor stopped crying and wiped his eyes. "Thanks Rose. I needed that."
"No problem. Doctor…did you love her?"
"What?"
"Did you love her?"
"No. I liked her and I know she loved me. But I didn't fall in love with her. I couldn't. I already love someone else."
"Oh." Rose hadn't expected that. "Who?"
He smiled. "I love you, Rose."
Rose was crying now. "You mean it?"
"Yeah, I do. Rose Tyler, I love you."
"I love you, too."
"And I'm sorry for leaving you behind," he told her.
"It's alright. I forgive you," she said.
They shared a passionate kiss.