Rose drove in a daze. She knew she was on complete autopilot as she made her way back to the Tyler mansion because her thoughts were completely focused elsewhere. She was in shock, her mind so busy with thoughts and yet so devoid of them at the same time.

She couldn't believe what was really happening to her. She couldn't believe that someone had found a way through from her home world to this parallel world. The Doctor had said both their realities would collapse if that was attempted and yet sitting right beside her was someone who had done it. She had always hoped it would be possible but a big part of her had feared it never would.

She had a million questions about how this was all possible. She'd always been working towards this goal and she wanted to know how Martha had achieved it but first she concentrated on something much more important: The Doctor. Martha was here because the Doctor was in danger. She had come to find Rose because she said the Doctor was dying and she thought Rose was the only one who could help. As wonderful as Rose thought this moment of salvation would be it was bittersweet knowing the harm that had fallen on the Doctor.

"So…" she started, her own voice sounding so strange at the moment. "What happened to the Doctor? You said he was…dying."

Martha took a deep breath, heavily recalling the events that had led her there. "We were back on Earth for a couple of days so I could visit my family. While we were there the Doctor, inevitably, identified an alien threat. Some of the smartest people on Earth were dying and without explanation. They would go to bed one night fine and by the morning they would be dead and no one could determine the cause. But the Doctor figured out that it was an alien with telepathic abilities who was killing them. He figured out that this person was draining the thoughts and information from these people's minds until there was nothing left and they were dead."

Rose felt cold and nauseous at the thought. She couldn't imagine a person so sinister that they would be capable of such a thing. She couldn't believe a person existed who could go into someone else's mind and take everything there, until that person was dead. Everything she'd ever known from telepathic touch had been for good, for bringing people close in a relationship. A person would have to be truly evil to forcefully go into a person's mind where they were most vulnerable and take things without permission.

"Does that sound unbelievable?" Martha asked watching Rose's face for a reaction.

Rose shook her head and composed herself and her thoughts. "No. No, it doesn't." She felt a lump in her throat as she formed a question she knew she had to ask. "And…I suppose that this person got a hold of the Doctor?"

Martha's face was full of sympathy as she reluctantly answered. "Yes."

Tears flooded Rose's eyes. Somebody was attacking the Doctor and in the worse possible way. They were in his mind where only she should be allowed. They were hurting him, stealing his thoughts, taking with no intention of stopping until they'd stolen everything he was.

"How is he?" she asked her voice cracking.

"He was unconscious but still alive when I left. I tried to wake him but he wouldn't wake up. But he's doing much better than the others," Martha added with a bit of hope. "All of the other victims were gone by morning. But the Doctor has held on for much longer than that. I'm not sure if it's just that he has many more years of memories than a human to steal or if it's just that he's better equipped to fight this person off. But whatever the reason he is holding on, Rose."

Rose knew that Martha meant to encourage her and she did feel better. Of course, the Doctor wouldn't go down without a fight. He would do everything in his power to overcome this enemy but she wondered why Martha had even thought to seek her out. "Why did you think that I would be able to help?" she asked curiously.

Martha looked a little uncomfortable before she spoke. "The Doctor never said but I always got the impression that the two of you…" she said trailing off embarrassed. "He never told me that you could but I felt like maybe you could speak to him telepathically."

Rose paused. She'd never told anyone about what her and the Doctor shared. Most people wouldn't understand it and though she knew that Martha had an open enough mind to handle it she still had to force herself to speak of it. "I can," she finally confirmed.

Rose watched as emotion passed over Martha's face. She looked as if she might begin tearing up herself. "Then maybe you really can save him," she said hopefully.

Rose had to pause for a few moments before speaking so she wouldn't cry. "I will certainly do everything in my power to try."

She didn't know what or rather who they were dealing with but she would help the Doctor fight it. If he was truly locked inside of himself she really was the only one who could reach him. Their bond had always been so special to the both of them and now it might even have the power to save the Doctor's life.

"I told Jack if anyone could help it would be you," Martha said with a smile.

Rose whipped her head around. "Jack?" she asked with surprise.

"Yeah. A man named Captain Jack came by the TARDIS looking for the Doctor. He was the one who gave me this vortex manipulator so I could travel here. He said he was an old friend of yours."

"He is," Rose said. "I just thought he was in a different time." The last thing she'd known the Doctor had said Jack had been left at the game station to help restructure Earth. She'd thought he'd remain in the future and that she would never see him again.

But those were questions for another time as were all the questions she still had about how travel between the two universes was possible. They would have to wait till later when she had more time. Right now, all that mattered was getting back to the Doctor as soon as possible. His time was limited and she was the only one who had a hope of reaching him.

Rose pulled up in front of the Tyler estate and turned to get out of the car. Martha didn't make any move and looked uncomfortably at Rose.

"I'm just going to stay here. While you...you know," Martha said a little nervously.

"Right. Right…of course," Rose replied dully, feeling numb and in shock as it hit her. Of course; she knew what she had to do now. She had to go in there and say goodbye to her mum, quite possibly for the last time. She felt foolish that it was just now occurring to her that she would have to do this.

She had always been so intent on leaving this world. She had never once made it her home and she always knew it would be temporary. From the second she arrived in this universe, her goal had always been to get back home and to the Doctor and she spent every second hoping with all that was in her that she would reach it. There was nothing about this world she would miss. She had always been an oddity here, a person who was never supposed to exist in this reality. She did not hesitate for a second to turn and leave this place behind.

The one and only thing that gave her any pause was the family she would be leaving behind. She had always known that they wouldn't be coming with her when she left but it had never really sunk in before. It had always felt so far off and she supposed part of her thought she would never actually get to leave. She never would have dreamed that it would come to her so suddenly like it had now. She had known it would happen but now that it was a reality it made her sick to her stomach to think of it.

Rose knew without a doubt that she was doing the right thing. This world was not her home. She had to return to the Doctor now more than ever; his life hung in the balance and he needed her. And there was nothing more that she wanted. Her and the Doctor were meant for each other; they always had to be together. But being completely certain of what she was doing did not erase the grief she already felt. She had underestimated how hard it was going to be to leave her mum.

Rose still stared in shock at the door of what had been her home for the past eight months. Martha fidgeted nervously watching her, since Rose hadn't moved an inch. "Unless you would like for me to come with you?" she offered uneasily.

Martha's words jolted Rose out of her thoughts and moved her into action. "No. No, it's fine. I'll…be back as soon as I can."

She got out of the car and walked to the door. She stared at it for a few seconds taking a few deep breaths and composing herself before she opened it and walked in for the very last time.

The house was quiet except for the sound of the telly playing in the living room. She walked in slowly, nerves gathering in her stomach with every step. She found her mum stretched out on the couch her feet propped up and her hands resting on her stomach.

Rose lingered in the doorway for a few precious seconds watching her mum, dread rising inside of her. She wasn't ready for this. She knew that every moment counted with the Doctor in danger and she had to get back as quickly as possible. But she didn't know how she was going to do this. She hadn't prepared for this and it seemed cruel to have to part so quickly from the person who was, after the Doctor, the most important person to her. She felt nauseous and tears were already threatening to overcome her.

She slowly walked into the room and her footfalls made enough sound that Jackie heard her approaching and turned around. "Rose," she said in surprise, quickly reaching for the remote and turning off the TV.

"Hi, Mum," she said with a forced smile as she came to sit beside her mum on the couch. Jackie pushed herself up in a sitting position next to her and Rose took her hands in her own, her eyes already flooded.

"Rose, I'm so sorry about what happened earlier," Jackie said sincerely.

She thought Rose was still upset about their argument earlier. That seemed like such a long time ago to Rose that she could barely remember what she'd been angry about. It certainly wasn't important now. Her whole life had changed since then. Her mum had no idea what had happened or what was coming.

"I'm not upset about that," Rose said running her thumbs affectionately over her mum's hands as she stared down at them.

"You're crying sweetheart; you are still upset."

"It's not that. It's something else," she said, making herself smile as she looked up at her mum. "I have some good news."

"It doesn't look like good news."

"It is," Rose insisted. "Is Pete here?"

"Yeah. He's here," Jackie said her brow knitting in concern.

"Can you call for him please?" Rose asked her own voice breaking and she raised a hand to cover her mouth.

"Pete, dear!" Jackie called out. "Can you come into the living room please?" She turned back to Rose. "Honey, what is going on?" she asked quietly squeezing Rose's hands in her own.

Rose didn't even fight the tears now. She didn't have the time or energy to spend to overcome them and she let them run down her face. "I don't know how to tell you this, Mum."

Jackie looked worried at Rose and scared about what might have happened. But in a moment she paused, realization covering her face. "He's here, isn't he? He got back," Jackie said.

"No," Rose said, glancing at Pete for a second as he entered the room and came to stand next to her and Jackie. "He's still in the other universe. A friend of his came through and she said I should be able to get through and back to him. He's dying," she cried, her heart crushing at the sentence. "He's dying and I'm the only one who might be able to save him. And I'm sorry but he's running out of time fast and I have to go now."

Rose covered her mouth as she started to sob. It was all so much to bear. She was getting the thing she'd most desired, that she had worked for almost constantly since she'd arrived in this universe. Against all the odds she was returning to the Doctor. It should be all happiness but it was marred by sadness. The Doctor was in grave danger; he was dying. Someone was attacking him at this very moment. She might not arrive in time to help him. She might arrive in time but still not be able to do anything to save him. There were so many variables to consider, so many things that could go horribly wrong. She wondered: was she returning home just in time to watch the Doctor die?

Jackie stared at Rose, shock and surprise on her face and tears already in her eyes. Even Pete was clearly surprised by this news. Neither one knew what to say for a moment; Rose's announcement was so unexpected. Jackie opened her mouth to speak but her face was twisted in pain. Rose knew that this was not the outcome that she had hoped for. She was torn as a mother between wanting the best for Rose and her happiness and wanting her daughter to always be with her. "That's who that girl was," Jackie commented quietly. "She came here earlier looking for you when you had gone to the coffee shop. She said she was a friend..."

"I'm sorry," Rose said again. "I'm sorry I have to leave. I'm sorry that it's so unexpected like this. I'm just so sorry."

Finally, seeing the sorrow in Rose, Jackie snapped out of her shock and found her voice. "Rose, sweetheart," she said affectionately, tears threatening to fall from her own eyes. "You don't have to be sorry."

"But I don't want to leave you."

"I know," Jackie said, reaching out a hand and placing it on Rose's face. "And I really don't want you to go. But this isn't a surprise to me."

"It isn't?"

"No," she said shaking her head and making herself smile even though a few tears made their way out of her eyes at the same time. "I knew this day would come. Ever since we've arrived here I knew you wanted to go back. I know you want to be with the Doctor."

Rose was so surprised at her mum's answer. "But...you're alright with this?" she asked.

"Well, I wouldn't say I'm alright with it. Rose… I love you; I don't want you to leave. But I've prepared myself all along, knowing it would probably happen someday."

"Mum," Rose started out nervously. She had to say the words she dreaded the most, fearing what they would do her mum. "I might never be able to see you again. It's really only by a fluke that I'm able to return now. I probably won't ever be able to come back."

Jackie smiled, sadly, a few more tears falling from her eyes. She brushed Rose's cheek with her hand. "I know darling," she said quietly. "And I'm going to miss you every day."

"Mum," Rose said shaking her head. "How can you accept this?" Rose couldn't believe her mum was taking this news so well. She knew her mum was upset but she was being incredibly strong. She was handling this parting better than Rose was at the moment.

"Rose, you have been miserable here. I know you've tried to hide it but I know you've been sad every moment you've been here."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to be."

"It's alright. You belong back home. I know you need to be with the Doctor. I don't claim to understand that man or the kind of life that the two of you lead but I do understand love. I know you love him. I want you to be happy and I know you won't be until you can get back to him. So, even though it's hard for me, knowing you'll be happy again makes it possible for me to let you go."

Rose realized then how much her mum had changed. In the past, Rose had always been the more emotionally stable of the two and she always proved to be the more selfless one. But now it was her mum who was. Jackie was getting nothing from this deal; Rose was going back to the Doctor and gaining so much but Jackie was losing her only daughter and gaining nothing. Her mum had grown and changed so much since they had arrived in this world. Pete was really good for her and she was happy. Rose had been blind to all of that, so consumed in her own grief. She knew now that her mum was going to be alright. She loved Pete and Tony was almost here; she was so glad her mum wasn't going to be alone. Rose may have hated this world but it had given her mum something she'd not had in their old universe. Here her mum had a new family, one that didn't leave her to go traveling in the stars. Her mum would be happier here than she would have been back home and that gave Rose the courage she needed to follow through with this.

Jackie pulled her hand back away from Rose's face and it gave Rose a thought. "Mum...can I try something?" she asked shyly.

She had never told her mum anything about the telepathy she was capable of or the bond she'd formed with the Doctor. Now she slightly regretted her choice not to share that with her mum. She wished she had time to explain it all but she was out of time. She couldn't explain it but maybe there was something of her mum she could take with her and maybe there was something of herself she could leave behind.

"Of course, sweetheart," Jackie said.

Rose reached out a hand towards her mum's head. She hesitated for a moment, nervous about what she was considering. She'd never tried anything telepathic with someone other than the Doctor and even with him she hadn't attempted this. Her mum looked back at her confused but she kept silent and was patient. Rose touched her hand against the side of her mum's head and closed her eyes.

Rose made sure that there was a strong barrier around her mind. She didn't want to touch her mum's mind with her own; the last thing she needed to do was form any sort of bond with her mum right before she left this universe. She knew she couldn't accidentally bond with her mum and she knew that she could even touch her without making that irreversible connection. But she would not take even the slightest chance of that happening and the barrier was to insure it didn't.

But it was difficult. Her mind was so starved for this kind of touch and after the Doctor her mum was the person she loved most. Her mind wanted this. She felt her mind strain against the barrier she had put up and she was glad she'd taken strong precautions. It so desired to reach out and touch another's mind and right there under her hand was her mum's. Her mind wanted to be touched, to be held, and she was almost too overwhelmed with the need to be able to proceed.

She could feel her mind respond to the love that was flowing from her mum towards her. It was so potent and her mind soaked it up. She'd never felt someone else other than the Doctor this strongly and she hadn't even known if it would be possible. But this had been effortless. This was what the bonding was for. It was meant to connect people and make them close. It was to fully give yourself to another person. Her mind had been changed and now she could seek people out in that way.

It would be so easy to touch her mum's mind. It was so open, so unaware of the touch it could have and so oblivious of all of the things that she was putting off. Her mum had no idea the things she was capable of or the things she could receive. She didn't know of everything she was projecting that drew Rose to her. It was so strange to see it this way, as an outsider in a way. Rose was human but her mind no longer looked like one. It was strange to look at a human mind and see it the way the Doctor must have seen hers when they had first started. Her mind must have been such a temptation to him then; a human mind was so open and unprotected. She could see now how emotional it was and how it drew you in. And though it was inexperienced it was able to accomplish quite a lot after some training.

Rose now could fully understand the struggle that the Doctor had been going through before he had ever bonded with her. She now knew why he had waited to so long to reach out to her and she had so much more sympathy for the struggle he'd faced prior to their bonding. She could be kinder now remembering some of his actions in the weeks leading up to their bonding than she had been before. At the time, she hadn't understood but now she knew how painful and difficult it must have been for him to hold himself back when he really desired to connect with her.

While the bond was amazing and it had so many benefits, it was a serious thing with very real responsibilities. It was never to be taken lightly and was only to be attempted with someone who you planned on spending the rest of your life with. The Doctor had always needed that mental connection with others but it was only now that she could fully understand why he'd tried to keep himself from doing that with her. It was such a big responsibility and she could understand why he had felt it was heavy burden to place on someone else, especially when you were considering placing it on someone who had never known that need before. Her heart was pricked with sympathy for him as she finally fully felt the weight he must have carried and of the guilt he felt when he though of passing it on to her. She longed all the more to be with him.

As much as Rose wanted to reach out to her mum, even just once, she would not. It hadn't been until this moment she even realized that she wanted to. She'd never known she'd wanted this but it made sense to her now. After all, the Doctor had explained that his people had bonded with those they were closest to, not just romantic partners. Of course, parents would bond with their children. She'd just never really thought about the other forms of bonding there could be. But Rose knew it was something she couldn't possibly do to her mum, or to herself for that matter, when she knew that they were going to be separated

She focused back on the task at hand. The barrier held and she moved about skimming over her mum's mind. She wanted to hear her mum's song but she wasn't sure if this would work or not. She had never been able to hear anyone's song before but she had never really attempted it either. She hadn't been able to hear the Doctor's the first time they had touched and he'd had to play it for her from his memory. But she was much stronger now than she had been that first time. Already, she had done numerous things that she had once thought she would be unable to do. She wanted her mum's song and she hoped she was capable of hearing it for herself now that her mind had grown stronger. She wanted to take it and keep it special inside of her when they were separated by a universe.

Rose let her mind hover over her mum's just barely going inside her head. Even without touching her mum's mind, her mum's emotions were hitting hard up against her. Her mum was upset so her emotions were especially strong at this moment. And because Rose was focusing so hard on her she could feel them. Rose was grateful now for the barrier that kept her from feeling them entirely, unhindered. She could feel them but they couldn't get in and really affect her. She knew how strong that could be and it would make the decision to leave even harder. Her mum was being so strong on outside for her but it would be hard if she could fully feel how sad she was on the inside. She felt her mum's love for her, she felt her pain at losing her. She felt her sadness and her loss. It was strong but it would probably be unbearable if her own mind was open and able to receive it all completely.

Rose focused deeply inside of her mind. She concentrated as hard as she could on listening and making herself aware of what was going on around her. She didn't know how long this would take. New abilities often took practice and sometimes several attempts before she could succeed. She knew she might not be able to do it because she could only spare a few minutes attempting this and it might take much longer than that. She knew that she wouldn't be able to force this into happening but she pushed everything she could into her reaching and searching. She gave it all her energy and determination and desire in the hopes that it would happen quickly.

Finally, she heard it. The notes were quiet and she barely just caught it at first. But as she realized it was there and she concentrated on it, it became louder and clearer to her. Tears filled her eyes as the notes filled her mind. Everything her mum was, her heart and her mind, made a song that Rose now heard. It was just as Rose always imagined it would be. It was spunky and full attitude but there was a gentle undercurrent to it as well; there a vulnerable and soft part among the liveliness. It was fun and full of energy and it was kind. It was perfect; it fit her mum completely.

The love, the protection and security that Rose had always felt from her mum, she now felt from this song. It was everything her mum was, wrapped in a new form for Rose to keep in her mind. She cherished each and every note; she looked at them and studied them. She memorized it all, solidifying it deep in her memory where it would stay forever. She would always remember it and play it to think of her mum by.

As she listened, a lifetime of memories flooded into her mind. It all happened so quickly, as if her mind made it that way because Rose was pressed for time. Even though they passed by quickly she was still able allow herself to relive them all slowly in her mind; time seemed to match her pace giving her this moment. Her life flashed before her eyes showing her all of the memories she'd had with her mum. There were so many and they went back so far that Rose saw things she didn't even know she remembered. She saw her mum holding her as a baby. She was crying and her mum was rocking her to soothe her from her tears. There was no way Rose should be able to recall that. She was so young she wouldn't be able to remember it. And yet, looking at it now, somehow she did remember it. She remembered the way her mum had made her feel, how she had felt safe and loved and comforted.

She saw herself growing up, alongside of her mum. Some of the memories she'd remembered; some of them had been forgotten but she got them back now. They weren't all good ones; some of them were bad. As she got older and things had gotten more complicated there were more of the difficult ones. These hard memories were a part of their story too and so Rose did not shy away from them. There were so many heated rows. She remembered thinking at times that she hated her mum. Only now could she see how much that wasn't true. Together all these past events made up the relationship she shared with her mum. There were ups and there were downs but there were more good ones than bad ones. Though the story hadn't always been a happy one it did have a good ending and she loved her mum without a doubt.

Finally, Rose pulled back from her mum and opened her eyes to look at her. She missed the song and memories already but she smiled because she knew that she would be taking them along with her.

Her mum looked back at her surprised. She seemed at a loss for words. Though Rose hadn't done anything to her she seemed to understand that something important had happened. She seemed to know now that Rose was capable of something, far more than she'd known. Maybe her mum had seen far more of the changes in Rose all along than she had given her credit for.

"I love you so much," Jackie said, leaning in and hugging Rose.

Rose hugged her mum back tightly. "I love you too."

Rose evoked all of the feelings she had for her mum and brought them to the surface. She called them out and made them as strong as she could and then pressed them against her mum so she would feel them powerfully. She wanted to give her mum this, to leave her with this part of herself. As she hugged her mum she let all of her love go to her.

She knew her mum felt it because her arms noticeably tightened around her and she held her even closer in affection before she pulled back and let Rose go. Rose was glad that she could give her mum a proper a goodbye. It was the least she could do and though it felt as if it weren't enough, she knew that it was something significant.

Rose pulled back and glanced at her mum's large belly. She reached out a hand realizing she had another goodbye to make. It was actually both a goodbye and a hello all in one. She placed a hand on her mother's stomach and focused on the life within. She could feel the warm, sleepy, new consciousness of her baby brother inside. It was a tiny light but so pure, perfect, unharmed and untouched in any way. It was life brand new. He felt safe from his place inside of her mum and felt the love and protection from those around him.

Even more tears flowed out of her eyes as she could feel him, her one and only sibling, but knew she would never meet him. She pressed a hand to her mouth as a small cry escaped her mouth. She didn't have any doubt, not one ounce of it, that she was doing the right thing. She knew she belonged with the Doctor and she knew she was to return to her own universe. But she had not expected it to feel this hard to leave this world in order to get there. Somehow, in her grief of losing the most important person in her life, she had somehow missed seeing all she'd had here.

She swallowed back her tears and smiled. "Hi, little one. I'm not going to be able to meet you. I have to go away...but I love you. And I want you to take care of your mum and dad. Sorry, to leave you here on your own; I know they can be quite a handful," she said with a small laugh and she looked up at her mum's face when she felt her do the same. There were tears running down her face now too. Rose glanced back down. "Anyway...you'll be fine. They love you so much and they've got each other now. You will all be fantastic," she said with a smile.

She hugged her mum again, one last time. As she pulled away she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Pete next to her. She felt bad because she'd nearly forgotten he was there and had yet to say a word directly to him. She faced him and was surprised to see that he appeared to be greatly affected by what was going on. Though he had been a quiet observer until this point there was obvious emotion displayed on his face. She gave him a smile and waited for him to speak. She had never really known how to talk to him and she certainly had no idea what to say to him now.

"Rose...ahh," he said glancing down before looking back up at her, struggling to know what to say. "I never cared much about having kids. I just never...really thought I wanted my own."

Rose realized she was holding her breath only when he spoke his next words and she let it out. "Thank you for showing me how wrong I was. You showed me everything I was missing. I know I didn't do a good job of showing you...but I wanted you to know that. And I want you to know that it's been a privilege being your dad."

Rose felt herself breaking into another fresh set of tears. She had never really felt close to Pete. She'd wanted them to have a relationship but the whole time she'd been here it felt like he didn't want it. It was a surprise to her now to realize how much she had come to mean to him. When Pete reached out and took her in his arms she knew everything had turned out alright between them. "I love you, Dad," she said finally.

"I love you too, Rose. Now," he said pulling back and looking at her. "You go and save that Doctor of yours. There are two universes that need him and when we get that dimension cannon working I expect to find him waiting on the other side to give me a hard time about it."

Rose laughed as she reached up and brushed the tears off her cheeks. "Alright," she said taking a deep breath. She looked at her mum and dad one last time. "Bye."

She turned for the door. With her goodbyes now said and behind her she had nothing to left to cause her to hesitate. She had a universe and a Doctor to return to and she couldn't get there fast enough.