The Doctor nodded his head, clearly distracted at the words of the girl. In reality he still felt it was the right decision, something that had been cold and terrible that day so long ago. He'd lost Donna too, lost so much. For a man with a family so large he'd still escaped them, labeled it as better and struggled to move on. The Time Lord tried for a grin at the words, like his old self, and sure enough some of it at least showed through part way. "Oh yes....like old times." Old times? He could barely properly look at Rose let alone think that...The man turned, trench coat whirling slightly at the talk about George. "Right! As for you three, George is really, really not the guy to target right now. He's right...now is, well, probably the last time to be pointing fingers. I mean, look at where we are. Just look. We have no idea what's happened, no idea where we could be and for all we know something's out there trying to pin us on each other, yea? So, I'm asking...really, please, let's work together before jumping to conclusions. From the looks of it and...well," he gestured toward the open door to the kitchens, "with all of these rooms open I'm guessing they plan to keep us here for a while...and honestly, cameras and all, not difficult to say they're looking for something. Could be a reaction from us or could be something else entirely, but for now? We're stuck together." Lord knew the Time Lord had gone down that path before, the memory still so vivid and disturbing against his mind. He knew all too well what fear and suspicion could drive a scared group of humans to and already he found both an intense worry for Rose as well as something of a bitterly selfish relief she was there with him at all.
It was true beyond anything else that the Doctor needed someone. He needed someone to be there, no matter the man he'd turned into and a part of him was horribly, terribly resentful at himself for this fact; a guilt weighing heavy on his conscience. The sound of a woman's name still crept up against him, a ringing gunshot to vibrate through his head. A power lust and a madness that seemed to challenge the whole of the universe when left on his own. After all, with everything that had happened, he couldn't afford to drag anyone else into this pit he'd created. Still, he had his old gestures, that same kindness even if there was something a bit more lost and darker behind those eyes. He wouldn't see George turned into a sacrifice over the situation or the fear, not if he was around and not sure as hell if the man could prevent it.