Her heart broke every time she saw him. And, really, did Rose Tyler need more heartbreak? It was part of the reason she'd attached herself so readily in John. He knew, more than anyone, what she was dealing with. He simply dealt differently was all. Everyone seemed just fine with forcing him to heal, but that wasn't how it worked. She knew it would take time, and it wasn't his fault he kept getting setbacks. And she knew about setbacks, too. So close to getting her life back together and then there was an exact replica of her fiance, dropping into her life. And then all but disappearing from it. Her father appearing, wanting all the details of the last twenty-three years of her life and her nearly breaking down with every detail. It wasn't quite the same, but she could still understand where he as coming from.
Particularly given she knew who it was imprisoned in the salt circle in the corner of her flat. Bastard. Knowing he knew she couldn't see him but feeling better for it just the same, she occasionally shot an evil glare in the direction of the Irish bastard who'd reduced her friend to this. And yet in some ways, she owed him. Tearing John apart this way was what had caused her to latch on to him so desperately. Oh, they'd been good enough friends before it all. But now, now she really understood him.
And it was so much easier focusing on his hurt than her own.
She'd mastered the fine art of balancing a mug filled with steaming liquid and a wiggling dog who did not understand the desperate need and comfort of tea. Her knees curled up and the puppy plopped himself in her lap before lying down so his head could go in John's. Smart dog, no matter what his 'dad' said about him.
"Maybe," she admitted, forcing down her own emotions to focus on his. Because the fear that it would never end gripped her far too often for her to be the voice of reason. "Or maybe this place is just testing you. And right now it's winning. And after all this is said and done--" another well-placed look in Moriarty's corner of the room--"you have to pick yourself back up. It's the only way."