He managed a brief laugh at her mention of plant people. He still remembered Jade, still mourned her, though he'd known her for hardly more than a few hours, if that. She'd been brave. Braver than he'd ever been, certainly. As brave as Rose herself. "They're not plant people," he gently corrected. "It's just easier to use a cactus to describe them than to go into detail. Best not to do it when they're around, though. They don't like it. Same as you and me wouldn't like it if someone tried to describe what we look like by comparing us to apes."
The Doctor wondered if he should go on, tell her the rest. Did it matter just at the moment? She'd asked what had happened to him to cause all the cuts and bruises and whatever other damage he'd done that couldn't be seen--he wasn't really sure, actually, hadn't had time to check--and he'd told her. It was fairly straightforward. The why of what he'd done was just extraneous detail.
"I'm glad you weren't there, either," he told her, feelingly. "I don't think I could have protected you this time. Couldn't protect anyone else. Not really. That Wilf and Donna were safe was just accident. You haven't meet Wilf either, have you? You'd like him. He's a good man. Donna's grandfather. Wanted me to see her again. Thought it would do us both some good. But she's happy." Happy in a life that she hadn't wanted, that she'd begged him not to leave her with, and he'd ignored her, hadn't he? The same way as he'd ignored Rose. He'd made the decision for her, quickly, because he'd thought it had been best.
"You and the other Doctor mentioned something about a seal. That's what's doing this, then? Pulling people out of their proper places in space and time?"