Rose screamed as Toby's body came towards her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and the demon in front of her eyes vanished. She slid down the door, breathing heavily. Rose glanced around the room to see the Doctor kneeling down beside her. He smiled, and wrapped his arms around her. Rose hugged him back, breathing out a sigh of relief.

"You okay?" he asked, pulling back.

"Yeah" She paused for a second, taking everything in. Rose ran her hand down the side of his face, she could feel his soft skin under her fingertips.

"Hello" his voice was as warm as his skin but that didn't stop Rose from slapping around the face. The Doctor stumbled back, holding his face.

"What was that for?" he yelled half-heartedly.

"You left" Rose yelled back "You left me to deal with this myself, how could you do that?"

The Doctor rubbed his face. "I never left, I've been here the whole time".

Rose stood up and gaped at the carpet. There was no black ink, no sign that Toby was there. She rested her head against the door and groaned.

"Can you please explain?" Rose asked "My head hurts"

"Your head?" Rose glared at him and he titled his head, agreeing with her. "Alright, fair enough"

Rose trudged to the bed, and collapsed, feeling the familiar covers beneath her. She knew she was home. She knew she was safe.

"Rose, what have you been feeling every time Toby shows up?" the Doctor said, sitting next to her.

"Fear" Rose said "Why?"

He turned to her, his expression soften. "And?"

"Guilt. Doctor, I told you I feel guilty for killing a man"

"And I told you the mind plays tricks on us"

Rose wrinkled her nose, confused. The Doctor pulled the photo from his pocket and showed it to her.

"Guilt and fear are a lethal combination together. Does all sorts of things to a person. Did Toby appear every time you got scared or angry?"

Rose nodded, taking the photo from him. "Yeah, he was taunting me"

"Toby was never on the Tardis, he died the minute he was sucked into the black hole" the Doctor held her hand tight. "The images of Toby in your mind are because you feel you should be punished for his death. You're blaming yourself and your guilt was going to destroy and consume you because, that's who you are".

"So, I am going mad?"

"No, course not" the Doctor said placing a kiss on the top of her head. "Your mind needed to work through everything that has happened in the last few hours. You needed to face your demons on your own".

"Alright, sorry. It's just it doesn't make any sense. If something was to get aboard the Tardis, then would be an alarm. Alarm with big flashing lights letting me know what's happening but" The Doctor turned his back on Rose, placing the photo frame in his pocket

"Doctor?!"

"But everything will be fine if we put our heads together. Shouldn't be a problem"

"You know I'm getting sick of the sound of your voice" she snarled.

"Oi, that's a bit harsh!" The Doctor twirled around "Rose?"

Rose was looking at the end of the bed. The Doctor looked around the room, but again there was nothing. Rose was seeing things. The Doctor kept his distance but watched her movements carefully.

"Don't I know it" she said, half smiling to herself.

"Rose, what's happening?" The Doctor could hear the sound of panic in his own voice. "Is Toby here again? Can you hear me?"

"He would never do that" Rose said "He's going to find a way to beat you. Send you back to wherever it is you came from."

"I hope you can hear me, Rose, but listen I'm right here. I'm not going to leave you, I never would"

"The mind is complex thing" the Doctor stated. He looked at Rose again. His beautiful human was tired, she yawned and he knew the last thing she needed now was him rambling on.

Rose was going through something and she needed sometime to herself to get through it. And due to his confession earlier, he thought it was best to let her make her decision about staying by herself. She shouldn't have to feel like she owes him something.

"You should get some rest" he said, standing up.

Before he could step away, Rose grabbed him by his jacket and yanked back down on the bed. "Please stay" she whispered. There was still a helplessness in her voice. "I don't want to go, I don't want you to go"

The Doctor propped himself against the backboard, while Rose snuggled against his chest, pulling his arms around her. She could feel his heartbeats again. It was comforting sound that made the last few hours seem surreal.

"Doctor, what did you mean earlier?" Rose asked.

"Doesn't matter".

She lifted her head to face him properly. The question lingered into the air, but Rose's intense gaze made him break under pressure. How could he deny her anything?

"Rose, I care about everyone that travels with me and I protect them, whatever the cost. I won't apologise for that. They travel with me and they put their lives in my hands. I can show them the wonders of the universe but it comes at price. And not everyone comes back. But you… He trailed off for second, trying to think of the words. "I've been running for so long now. Nine hundred years of time and space and it hardens you. But the day I met you that all changed."

Rose looked dumbstruck, thinking she must have misheard him. It wasn't those three little words, but it was closer than anything else he had ever said. The Doctor didn't like to be vulnerable and admitting that out loud, terrified him. He gently moved his arm away from her again, fearing rejection but not before she tugged it back, so his hand rested on her waist. Rose's heart fluttered at his touch.

"Thanks for being here" she mumbled, her sleepiness getting the better of her.

The Doctor never needed any sleep, but at the moment the thought of him and Rose on her bed, falling asleep in each other's arms was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He stroked her hair and could hear her drifting off to sleep. Before long he could feel himself go to the land of nod. And within a few minutes both travellers were fast asleep, dreaming of their next journey. Happy and safe.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has followed and reviewed this story, it's really appreciated. Hope you like the ending. xx