The next few weeks became routine with him working at the last place he ever thought he would, Torchwood. Though he was given several projects to work on and to keep him busy he was becoming bored and even worse depressed. His free hours he spent away from Torchwood in the basement of the Tyler home. Pete had converted part of it into an office and living area for him and his work covered the space and the desk, while the Tardis grew happily in the corner. He had figured out the missing piece of the equation to make her safe.

Rose came down almost every night to visit with him but the only time she stayed she was drunk. True to his word he would make sure she was asleep either in his bed or on the couch, before continuing to work the night away. Whether she noticed that he rambled less or that his skinny frame was now almost skeletal, he didn't know. He barely noticed it himself, he ate when he remember and when he slept it was only to dream of what he had left behind and wake up in cold sweats.

As he sat and sipped his tea, watching Rose sleep on his couch, he regretted his hasty decision to stay here. He felt trapped and he was no closer to her then he had been two years ago. He could feel the world turning beneath his feet and slipping away from him as he desperately tried to cling to it. For the first time since she had left him, he felt tears streaming down his face. He sat the tea down on the table and pulled his knees up to his chest and buried his face as the sobs wracked his body.

"Doctor," He heard Rose say softly. He quickly straightened himself out and wiped his face. "What's wrong?" She asked him concerned.

"N-nothing," He stammered and quickly stood up and headed into the office.

"Doctor, tell me what's wrong?" She said following him.

"Don't worry about it," He replied coldly with his back turned to her, he felt her place his hand on him and surprised himself by flinching away from her touch. He heard her leave the room and he ran his hand over his desk throwing all the paperwork to the floor before he picked up the lamp and threw it against the wall, watching it shatter. He sunk to the floor and for the second time in that short period he found himself crying. He wanted his life back and at that moment he felt more lonely than ever but that was okay, because he wanted to be alone.

He didn't know how much time had passed until he heard the door opening again, he could have easily figured it out if he cared. He at one point had moved from the floor by the desk, to his bed, leaving the mess behind, since then he had barely moved and had mainly laid on his back staring at the ceiling. He had always felt restless if he stayed in one place too long and now he didn't care if he ever moved again.

"Are you all right dearie?" He heard Jackie ask him.

Surprised he lifted his head to look at her as she sat down on the corner of his bed and stroked his hair. "You're going to be needing a haircut soon," She commented not waiting for him to reply to her original question. "You also need some new suits, do you always wear the same one? Pete says he pays you,so there are no excuses. We should head down to the shops later today. You can buy me lunch as a thank you."

"I don't feel like it, Jackie." He replied.

"Course you don't, but that wasn't a request. You have been down here sulking for three days now. About time you got some sunlight. Now come on get up."

"I haven't been sulking," He told her slightly insulted.

"Course you have," She responded as she stood up to leave. "Also clean that glass up before you come up stairs."

Shaking his head but not arguing he headed into the bathroom to shower. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw that his eyes looked sunken and he had a substantial amount of facial hair. He showered and shaved before cleaning up the glass and heading upstairs. Jackie had laid out a cup of tea and a bowl of oatmeal.

"That's better," She said as he entered the room. "Now you eat and then we'll leave." She motioned to the food.

"I'm not hungry."

"I didn't ask if you were, now eat."

He stood there and stared at her and she crossed her arms and waited. He smiled softly for the first time in days as he sat down at the table and took a sip of the tea.

"This could use a banana." He commented as he started on the oatmeal.

"Don't push your luck," She laughed as she handed him one. "Now hurry up and eat so we can go."

"Thank you." He said feeling better than he had in days as they came home later that night with new suits and his hair freshly cut. He had also bought a present for Rose and a necklace for Jackie, that she had insisted she didn't need but had pointed out to him no less than ten times as they browsed the shop.

He headed down to his rooms and saw Rose there waiting for him. He sat down his bags off to the side as she walked over to him and put her arms around him pulling him tightly to her. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled in his chest and then lifted her head and pressed her lips against his. He returned the kiss as her hands drifted down his back and then around to his front. She unbuttoned his shirt and releasing the kiss, helped him take it off. She gently reached out and stroked his ribs and he snickered softly.

"What?"

"Tickles," He responded as she pressed herself back to him. He rubbed her back and she sighed against him and started to shake softly. He held her tighter. "What's wrong?"

"Can I stay with you tonight?" She asked him.

"Rose if you're not ready, you don't have to do anything, just because I am upset."

"I know, I just need you to hold me."

"Now that I can do." He replied and led her to the bed. He took off his shoes as she slipped under the covers. He started to lay on top of them but then changed his mind and laid under them with her. She turned her back to him and he snuggled up against her and wrapped his body around hers. As her breathing evened out he found his eyes closing as well and that night he slept soundless for the first time in years.