When Bert woke to the same day over again, he found himself laying in bed crying. It had been to much to see Rose die twice already. Surely he could not survive a third time, watching the woman that he was sure he loved die. He decided to track her down earlier than the dance. He scarfed down an quick breakfast of toast, and then started the long drive over to her county.

When he arrived in town, he went to the first business he saw, a dinner, and got out of his car. The dinner was metal sided and square. He entered and looked around to see if he could spot her. When he could not, he went up to the first local he saw, an large man with a full beard, and asked "Sir, do you know where Rose Tyler lives. Within minutes, he knew her address and that her father was the mayor, He did not know how he was supposed to get past her father, but he had to try.

A few minutes later, he pulled up in front of a white Victorian house, with a wide front porch. He got out of his car and walked up to the porch. He was nervous and unsure of what he would say, but he needed to save her this time. Bert reached out and rang the door bell.

Thomas Tyler opened the door, displeased to see a non-local on his porch. "What do you want boy? If you want to see my daughter, she's at the barn helping with getting the place ready for the dance. I don't have time for idol chit chat, so if that's not what you want, what do you need?" Thomas asked, crossing his a arms across his chest and leaned against the frame of the door. He waited for the boy to talk, tapping his finger tips against his arms as he was starting to get quite annoyed. "Come on, out with it! What do you want?!" Thomas asked, the bags under his eyes showing he had not gotten any sleep for quite a while.

Bert thought it best not to tell the truth. If the man knew he wanted to see his daughter, he was likely to ask to many questions. That was the last thing that he needed. He quickly and sNmoothly lied. "I think I have the wrong house sir. Do forgive the intrusion."

He turned and headed back to his car. Soon he was across town, at the barn. He hopped just outside the barn and ran inside. The barn was not yet decorated, as it had been when he first saw it. There were kids working on the decorations, up on ladders. He cast his eyes around, looking for Rose.

"Can I'm help you sir? The party doesn't start for quite a while, so I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" Rose said to Bert as she walked over to him, feeling like for some reason she knew him....... But how?! He was an outsider, a non-local, so how in gods name could she know this guy at all? She sighed, taking him by the arm and starting to drag him out. "Come on sir, you have to leave! It's not ready yet, and everything is supposed to be a surprise! So come on! And don't make me use Layla's frying pan on you!" Rose said, straining although she wasn't getting anywhere with him. He was too heavy to pull, and definitely weighed more than her. She cursed her female body and continued to try and drag him out, bringing him 2 centimeters towards the door before collapsing on her but, her breathin heavy as she wondered how he was doing this to her.

Bert looked down at her seriously, and offered his hand to help her up. "i am not going anywhere until you talk to me Rose Tyler. I am Bert MacDonald and I drove all the way from two counties over to see you." He was pained to see her alive again, knowing how easily she had died the last two times. "Now are you going to talk with me, or do I need to get physical and drag you out of here?"

The other people in the barn were staring over at them now. Thomas Kent, a solid looking farm boy, walked over. "This guy giving you problems Rose? Should I remove him for you?"

"No, no, he's fine Thomas! Probably just sent by my father or something! I'll be back in time for the dance to start!" Rose said to Thomas with a smile, walking out of the barn and waiting for the guy named Bert to catch up. "What do you want, Bert? I got a lot of things to do, and not much time! And why are you here from two counties over?! Are you stalking me or something!? Because if I scream, Thomas will be over here in no time, and it won't be pretty!" Rose said angrily, staring up at Bert because he was at least two whole inches taller than her if not three or four. She wondered if she was going to get kidnapped, starting to worry about that now. What would happen if she did? Would he rape her? Would he kill her? What the hell was he going to do to her?!

Bert realized in his haste to save her, he had frightened the poor girl. She was looking at him as if he were an axe murderer. Obviously he remembered her, but she did not have a clue who he was. Bert sighed, and back up, looking to take another tack. "Look, I am sorry about what I said. I'm, I'm just here to help you. The fact is that someone told me you were dating Bobby Lee and I know something of his history. He's violent and stupid. I wouldn't put it past him to start something with me, just for talking to you. I just wanted to warn you and offer you a ride away from here if your scared of him. But now I've gone and acted just like him. I am so sorry Rose. Just please trust me. I can't explain, but I know something about the situation."

He was feeling desperate and did not know how to explain himself. He was starting to figure if he screwed up, that the damned day would repeat itself again. At least he would be able to do better the next time, assuming there was a next time.

"Y-You know? You know what Bobby did?" Rose asked, wondering how word had gotten out about the incident to two counties away. Rose started to wonder about things, unsure about what to do. She knew she couldn't stay here, Bobby would most likely kill her if she did. And this man seemed trust worthy, didn't seem like a creep or a stalker to her. She she decided to take his offer. "Alright, I'll go with you. Just we have to get out of here quickly, before anyone sees! Bobby had his goons all around the place, but right now their all down at the bar drinking and gambling like they usually do. So now is the perfect time to go! I don't care about my dad, he's just so stuck up and is way too overprotective of me, so I'm sure this will be a much needed dose of medicine! So let's go! Where's your car?" Rose asked, looking at all the cars and wondering which one was his.

Bert pointed at an old black car, with more rust than metal left. "I know it does not look like much, but its reliable and will get us out of here." He was unsure where they were headed; only that he needed to put as much space between Bobby Lee and Rose Tyler as possible.

"Come on then." He took her hand and pulled her toward his car. Half of his wished, if he was going to go on a long trip with her, that he had borrowed his father's truck. It was tougher, faster and looked a Hell of a lot better. Still, he would take this chance while he had it.

As she climbed into the car, he stared over at her for a moment, amazed again at her beauty. She was always so beautiful and then she would die. It was heartbreaking to see her die again and again. He did not think he could survive another death, so he decided then and there that today she would survive.

Rose hopped into the car, catching him staring at her. "What? Do I have a piece of straw stuck in my hair?" She asked, starting to comb her hair with her fingers, her hair just gliding through her fingers like a waterfall through a rocky outcrop. "Did I get it out? Or is it still in there?" Rose asked, her cheeks red as she looked into Bert's eyes, realizing he was staring at her because she was beautiful and not because there was something wrong with her. "Bert?" She asked, since he wasn't saying anything at all. "We should get going, before Bobby gets out of his gambling and drinking games." Rose reminded him, touching his hand and smiling. "Thanks for caring about a stranger like me. It's nice to know someone's looking out for me." Rose said, leaning closer, till they were about two inches apart. "So thank you." Rose murmured, leaning in, her eyes closing as she waited for their lips to touch.

Bert could hardly believe that she was leaning in to kiss him, so quickly, especially after the way he had treated her. He did not question it though, put simply kissed her soft lips with his. He reached up to put his hands on her shoulders for a moment. The kiss lasted a good twenty seconds and he could feel an electricity spark between them as it did. He felt hot in the collar. Eventually, they parted and he put his hands back on the steering wheel.

"O.K. then. Well, that was... Just wow." If he had not already loved her, that would have done it. He aimed the car toward the outskirts of town and put the peddle to the metal. They were really moving by the time the car passed the local high school. Bert still did not know where they were headed. He could hardly bring her home to meet his parents. They would never approve of some strange girl he just showed up with. As it was, he decided to head for the state line.

There were many flowers blooming alongside of the road, as they headed out of the town. Roger hardly saw them. His mind was on the companion by his sit. He was aware of her like the flowers were aware of the morning sun.

Rose smiled as he was struck speechless, and she couldn't help but laugh. "It was good for me too. And I'm glad it was with you. You seem kind, and it's like I already know you somehow. But that's impossible, right? But then again, whose to say that impossible truly is impossible?" She asked, sitting back against the seat and watching the town go quickly by, unsure of where exactly they were going. "So, where are we going Bert? Or do you have no clue like me?" She asked, looking at the sign that said 'state line - 1 mile'. "We're going out of state? But how are we supposed to live? Do you have money? Or any place to live? Or even food? What are we going to do?" Rose asked, starting to get rather nervous about this plan.

"Calm down. I'm not a complete fool. I've got my savings with me and I can work as a farm hand or as a mechanic. I promise you won't starve Rose. As to where we will live, I don't know yet. We can..." He was about to say get a hotel, but that would hardly work. They were not married and it was still 1955, not some distant future where such things would not matter. "We'll work something out. I can sleep in the car and we will get you a room for the night."

Soon they were across the state line, headed into Ohio. The long, flat farming country started up on either side of his car.

Back in town, Bobby Lee came out of the local bar, smelling like cheap whiskey and cigarettes. He had been drinking and playing poker all morning and now it was time to check on his girl. He jumped into his black car and started off toward the barn where the dance was to be held.

"I trust you Bert, I do. As long as I have you, I'll be happy forever." Rose said happily, resting her head on his shoulder and looking at the road ahead. When Bobby Lee came out and went to the barn no nobody had any idea where Rose had gone, and Thomas wouldn't say a word, and ended up in the hospital after getting the beating of a lifetime. Bobby had no idea where Rose had gone, and neither did her father, so ultimately Rose was just missing with no leads to where she was. Bobby decided to give up, since he had been cheating on her with a blonde named Serifina all along. So Rose and Bert were safe, at least for now anyways.

Bert could not understand why she trusted him so much, or was so satisfied in his merely being there. After all, she hardly knew him. He knew her more than she knew him, after seeing her die twice now. Still, he did not say anything, but merely nodded. He liked having her cuddled up against his shoulder and did not wish to do anything to disrupt her.

They continued driving for most of the morning, until it was time to stop for lunch. They were already a third of the way into Ohio now, and Bert looked over at Rose, where she lay sleeping. "Wake up Rose. It is time for lunch." He pulled over at a silver sided dinner and stopped the car. Surely they were far enough away that they could take the time to eat a meal. He just hoped that Bobby had not figured out where they were yet.

"Nooooo! But then the red velvet bunny will get away!" Rose said in her sleep, but soon enough her mind jolted her awake as she realized what's going on. "We're at a dinner? Is it lunch time already?" Rose asked, getting out and rubbing her eyes, although she still looked absolutely perfect even after the way age had slept. She stretched, looking at Bert and realizing something. "Wait, you're Sally's cousin, aren't you? She always talks about you, and how good and kind you are to women! She said you were meeting her at the dance to be her date! But....... You ditched her....... To save me...... A girl you don't even know...... Why?" She asked, unsure of what to say. He had done something so outrageous with a girl he didn't even know. And how did he know that she'd be at the barn for the dance? She just stood there, waiting for an answer to her first question.

Bert almost slumped against the wheel. How was he supposed to explain. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I heard how he was treating you, and Sally has told me a lot about you. She was the one who suggested that I get you out of that town and away from Bobby Lee. She said that she did not know who to trust, locally, since Bobby knew enough to blackmail a lot of people in town." It was not quite the truth, but the truth she would never believe. He figured that if she did not believe him, and ran back to Bobby, and was killed, then he would have another chance to try again tomorrow. Maybe then he could tell her the truth, but as it was, he would do anything to protect her, including lie to her.

"I knew Sally was a nice girl, even a sister to me! But...... I had no idea anyone noticed how I always had bruises......." Rose murmured, looking at Bert and sighing. "He used to beat me when I did something wrong, and no one tried to stop it, because they knew if they did that they'd be dead. It's already happened to three people, and I really hope it doesn't happen to you Bert." Rose said, looking at Bert and touching her shoulder, which was covered by her long sleeved dress. She slowly pulled it up as she closed her own eyes, showing him the giant bruises in the shape of fits that littered her arm like the side of the highway. "Now that you know Bert....... You can't tell anyone. You must promise me that you won't! Alright?" Rose asked, hoping that he would agree and not be upset that this had happened to her.

Bert was angry. He wanted to tell the world. He wanted to take a baseball bat to Bobby Lee's head. Still, he knew that he would not do either of those things. First of all, who would he tell? They were in another state. Everyone here was a stranger. Secondly, he dare not risk Roses's life by returning to her little town. Still, he swore some day that Bobby Lee would pay.

"Well, I swear to God, no one is ever going to be hitting you again." He exited the car, and went around to her side and opened the door. "Now come on. Let's get a quick bite to eat and then we can start driving again.

The interior of the dinner was busy with the lunch crowd. The waitress, who was dressed in power pink, showed them to a small booth. "What can I get for you two to drink?"

Bobby ordered first. "A Coke please."

"Alright Bert. I am a little hungry anyways!" Rose said with a smile, getting out of the car and heading inside with him. She sat down across from him, looking at the waitress and smiling. "I'll just have some water, no lemon please!" Rose said kindly, looking at Bert and deciding to ask him something. "Bert...... Why do you care about me so much?" Rose asked, thanking the nurse when she came back with their drinks. Rose sipped her water, staring into his eyes as she set down her glass. "I mean, we barely just met, but I can see you care for me deeply. Please, tell me the truth. I promise that I won't run away." Rose told him, taking one of his hands in her own, his hands being much bigger than her own.