There was tea on the floor, unnoticed in all that had happened over night. It'd been 4 weeks since the attack. Four weeks of absolute terror and heartbreak. Four weeks of searching, of hoping, of defeat. Rose had almost nothing to go on, nothing to help the Doctor find her rapist. She was beginning to think that the man would get away with it. She refused to go to the police, and the Doctor was running out of ideas. Rose knew that she was reaching a new breaking point. She hadn't left the TARDIS since the night she'd been brought back unconscious in the Doctor's arms. She was plagued by nightmares, and her waking hours were filled with jumping at every little crash and unfamiliar sound.

The Doctor has an idea: one that would probably be shot down, but she had to try. Jackie was back at the Esatate, and he needed to help Rose. He walked into her room, preparing himself for some more Tyler fury, and watched Rose brush her hair.

"Alright, Rose?"

"I guess. Alright, Doctor?"

"Well, I've been having a think. I know you don't want to go to the police about what happened, and I also know you haven't left the TARDIS in weeks. I think we should go out for a walk and maybe some chips? My treat."

"Oh I don't know, Doctor. There's a good book just waiting for me in the library. Thought I'd have a swim as well."

"Swimming's always good for ya, but I think going outside is more important. I'll be with you the whole time."

"Well, maybe after a cuppa? I could do with a bit of breakfast."

The Doctor jumped slightly at her wanting food. She'd lost so much weight, and had to be goaded into every meal. He strode to the door and smiled."

"Tea and toast it is. Marmalade?"

"Yeah, that'd be lovely."

"Coming right up!"

The Doctor practically fled on wings to the kitchen, throwing together their breakfast as though she'd walk in with her mind changed at any moment. As he prepared tea and toast, he wondered how he would broach the subject of going out there and getting some more answers. The way she had languished in the last 4 weeks was something he had allowed to get out of hand. All the tea and timid hugs in the world would not help her with her nightmares and nonexistent confidence. Rose entered the kitchen and he froze.

"Smells good. Where's the marmalade?"

"Well, thank you. My toast-making skills are lauded throughout this galaxy at least. Top shelf, right side cupboard."

He looked over his shoulder as he pulled toast from the toaster and saw she was dressed in clothes, and had shoes on her feet. He nearly sighed audibly. This might happen.

"So, Doctor, where are we off to?"

"Dunno as of this second. Thought we'd walk out the door and let our feet carry us."

"Um, ok, let's try it."

After breakfast had been consumed, they donned (well, Rose donned) a jacket and they left the TARDIS. Standing against the weathered blue wood, Rose seemed to shrink back, and so the Doctor took her hand and pulled.

"Let's go, Miss Tyler. It's time to see what's changed!"

"What could possibly have changed in only 4 weeks. Oh wait, never mind."

The Doctor ignored her comment and they strolled through the estate car park, making for the nearest city bus. After traveling for about 15 minutes without much talk, the Doctor said,

"Ah, your old stomping grounds! We can find chips here."

Rose looked up to see the newly refurbished building where Henrik's had once stood. Now a new department store, the bustling crowds meandered in and out of it and the surrounding stores.

"I don't know if I can do it, Doctor."

"I know, Rose. I know it's scary. I know it must be very hard to think of opening yourself up again, but I can't allow you to run from your life. We run toward the danger, remember?"

"OK, but…. would you hold my hand?"

"Oh, Rose." He could barely contain a tear as he grasped and linked her fingers with his. She nodded and they disembarked.

Immediately a pedestrian jostled her, and Rose nearly screamed. Then she pulled herself together and continued to walk at the Doctor's pace, mostly trying to keep her hand intact. She noticed different things: a new album out she might want to listen to, a pair of jeans that looked ridiculous (she might even come back for them later). The Doctor grinned at her face as she saw No.7 had a new palette of eye makeup out.

"See, Rose? Things have changed in leaps and bounds!"

"Shut up! I only….. ah, I see what you've done there, sir. Trying to tempt me out with accessories and shopping?"

"Is it working?"

"Might be. But let's find some chips soon. Tea and toast is fine if we're staying on the TARDIS, but not out in the rest of the world!"

"Yes, ma'am."

They continued to wander. About a half hour later, they came to another section of town that emanated some fantastically chip-like smells. After buying a heaping portion for each of them, the Doctor led Rose to a nearby bench. Rose dropped her chips and began to hyperventilate.

"Rose, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Get away from me! Don't touch me, please, just take my money. You can have my phone, whatever. Just stop!"

The Doctor dumped his food as well and whipped out his screwdriver. She was having a panic attack, but she couldn't seem to see him. Scanning her face, her eyes were in perfectly working order. Finally, he mentally gave himself a head slap as he realized that she was in the midst of a flashback.

"Rose, listen to the sound of my voice. I'm right here, it's the Doctor, and you are safe. Your feet are on the ground, you are safe. Your hands are in the Doctor's, and you are safe."

He continued on with the mantra that he had read about for flashbacks when Rose was first attacked. As he continued further, her breathing slowed and she stopped crying. People walking by were looking at them curiously, but didn't stop. For once, human disinterest allowed him to talk Rose down without causing a fuss. Finally, she looked up at him and spoke:

"It happened again, didn't it?"

"Yes, but that was a really short one! They're diminishing, Rose. I promise."

"They may diminish for you, Doctor, but they're still just the same as that night for me."

"Of course, I'm sorry. Is there something else I can do for you?"

Yes, she thought, You could hold me until the end of time. You could take my hands in yours and promise these things will never happen again. You could kiss me, and tell me that your love will erase every memory of the horrible day my joy died. She needed comfort so badly, but she needed to be strong. She almost had the impression she needed to be strong for the Doctor more than anyone.

"No, Doctor, but can we go home? I'm not feeling so much like shopping anymore."

"Alright. Shall I get us chips for the road?"

She nodded, and he ran over to the store, leaving her to clear up her tears and straighten her ponytail. They hopped the bus back to the estate, and as she entered the TARDIS again, Rose sighed in relief.

"Let's have some food, and maybe we can talk a little bit, Rose?"

"Yeah, ok, sure."

The Doctor cursed the timing of the horrible flashback that plagued her. He really was hoping to get her out of the TARDIS for a whole day, and now he'd spend it trying to calm her. That part he didn't mind, he never minded. He loved that yellow-haired girl with both his hearts, but now was absolutely NOT the time to bring any kind of romantic anything into the picture. She needed his strength and forthright attitude to bring her back. Or at least as far back to before as was possible. All he knew is he'd give the world to see her smile. Her real smile.

They made their way to the kitchen for their second attempt at lunch. Rose "mmm"d quietly at the chips, and the Doctor pulled down the malt vinegar from the shelf. They tucked in.

Minutes later, Rose sat back in her chair.

"That's it, I admit defeat! I couldn't eat another one."

"We picked a good shop. These were pretty good."

"Yeah. We'll have to remember it for next time."

The Doctor beamed at her mention of a next time, but then became serious when he remembered what he wanted to talk to her about.

"Rose, I've been meaning to talk to you 'bout somethin."

Rose froze. Here it came. She was getting thrown out. He was sick of not going anywhere. She was done. She didn't know what she would do. How would she live without him?

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. So you know I've been staying here at night so that you're never alone?"

"Yeah? Thank you for that."

"Well I was wonderin if it was alright with you if I went out at night to do a few things. I'll always make sure I'm here in the morning before you wake up. What do you think?"

Rose took in a large breath and slowly let it out. She was terrified, but knew that the Doctor had been far too long without any planets to save, any intergalactic action in his life. She had to let him do this, even though it killed her, it numbed her to her core.

"Yeah, Doctor, that would be fine. I can certainly manage my sleep on my own! I have a new podcast to listen to to fall asleep, and that should really help. I can absolutely manage." She swung her ponytail a bit in feigned indignance and hoped he would buy it.

"OK, we can try it tonight, and I'll have my cell phone on the whole night. You can reach me anyway, courtesy of jiggery-pokery and universal satellites. OK?"

"Yeah, I said it's fine. It's fine!" Rose was angry now, and she couldn't even see why.

"OK, well, then, yeah." The Doctor got up and left the room, anxious to get moving on his attempts to reinvestigate Rose's attack and get somewhere with it. She would be furious if she knew, so he made sure she thought he needed to go galavanting across the stars. But he would stay here, on Earth, and find the person who did this to his precious flower. Even as the thought crossed his mind he jolted a bit. He hadn't felt this way in many many centuries. He blew out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and made his way toward the door.