Prompt: Night Terrors

"Rose." She woke with a start, the tone of the Doctor's voice sent a shiver down her spine. It sounded so real, it was times like these that she hated her imagination. Far too many times she'd dreamt that the Doctor was in danger and screaming for her. She hated it, truly hated it, even more so when she woke with no memory of the dream. "Rose!"

She leapt out of bed, suddenly all too aware that it hadn't been a dream, he was really calling her and he sounded terrified, there was so much pain in his voice. She padded across the hall to the Doctor's room to find him curled up in bed, face screwed up in pain and her name still on his lips. She was sure she'd never seen him so vulnerable. "Doctor." She grasped his hand tightly in her own, the other hand cupping his cheek. "Wake up, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, yeah?"

He woke more gently than she expected him to, but his expression didn't relax. "Rose." He looked up at her, blue eyes full of fear. "I was so scared." The tears in his eyes broke her heart; for once she had no idea what to say to help. He tugged her into his arms, clinging to her like she'd disappear if he let go.

"It's just a nightmare, Doctor. You're safe." Maybe it wasn't just a nightmare; it was the Time War haunting him, but it was more important for him to know he was safe. "Night terrors, just like I get sometimes. But I'm here for you Doctor, you're not alone."

He tightened his arms around her. "Please don't leave me. I can't go back to being lonely."

"I'm not going anywhere, Doctor. I'm never leaving you."