Something In the Air

By Sonic Jules

Thanks to my wonderful friend, Catharticone, for once again rescuing my pitiful writing attempts and making them sensible with her unending support of help and encouragement.

Chapter One: Fun Flirtations, Ill Considerations

"So, I take it you enjoyed your meal?" the Doctor asked, grinning at Rose as she tried to remove the sweater she'd had the good notion to bring along for their evening walk back to the TARDIS.

"I really, really, really, really liked it," she answered, finally freeing herself of the burdensome garment, then throwing it towards - but not quite - on the Captain's chair in the Console Room. Her grip on the string of helium-filled balloons she held never loosened, much to the Doctor's surprise.

He couldn't help but smile at her actions. "I think you really, really, really liked the wine that came with it," he stated smugly as he leant down and retrieved said sweater, placing it on the chair as he stood.

"Yeah, it was pretty good too, actually." The yawn that escaped her seemed to come as a surprise to her, and when she realized the Doctor was watching, she suddenly erupted in giggles. When she saw his left eyebrow come to rise with an amused smirk, she only laughed harder.

"I think it's time for bed, Rose Tyler."

Her giggles quietly subsided at his words of advice. And the Doctor tried - really he did, to sound authoritative and parental, but his face wasn't cooperating, what with his lips twitching to turn upwards. Rose watched him for a moment, then broke out into full-blown laughter.

"Oh, come on," he finally said, laughing with her as he grabbed her left hand, effectively turning Rose around and ushering her down the corridor. When they'd reached her room she turned to face him, her back against the door.

"Thank you for takin' me to Grafrill... Graferla... Graverl ..."

"Gradrellamber." the Doctor softly said for her.

"Yeah. It was really somethin'."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I really, really did."

"Good."

"Night, Doctor."

"Good night, Rose. See you in the morning."

She gave him a mock salute then entered her room, giggling as she closed the door on the balloons, leaving them outside while she still held the string. She opened the door, pulled them in, and snickered some more as she closed the door a second time.

The Doctor smiled as he walked away, thinking back to the day they'd had as he placed his hands in his pockets and headed towards the Console Room.

It had been a wonderful outing. They'd gone to Gradrellamber and watched it's capitol city celebrate one hundred years of existence with parades and an abundance of costumes that were reminiscent of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Several little carnivals were set up and they'd both eaten their fair share of foods - his favorite being the candied fruits. They'd also visited a few exhibits, his obvious favorite the blacksmithing one. And Rose seemed to enjoy it all thoroughly.

It had been a grand day with no one chasing them and no spaceships with tyrant rulers trying to take over the world. In fact, it had been rather peaceful. They'd ended their excursion with a reservation at the city's finest and oldest restaurant, The Rathscallion, where they'd spent an enchanting evening eating dinner on a balcony and watching colorful fireworks blazing across the nights sky, indicating the finalization of the centennial celebrations. By the time they'd left the restaurant Rose was looking contentedly tired, so they returned to the TARDIS after a full day's enjoyment.

Realizing he was a bit tired himself, the Doctor took the TARDIS into the Vortex then walked back down the corridor, intent on resting for a little while.

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When the Doctor awoke he realized he'd been sleeping for at least six hours, which was very odd for him. And whilst thinking things odd, he then found it strange that he'd actually been tired enough in the first place to lie down. After all, he'd rested well a couple of days ago, and since then they hadn't had their normal run-for-your-lives scenario pop up even once. Hoping it to be a quirk of sorts, he heading off to find Rose. Just in case something was amiss.

He found her several minutes later in the kitchen, where she presented him with a cuppa and some sort of granola-looking bar that he wrinkled his nose at upon sitting down.

"Whatcha been doin'?" Rose asked, leaning casually against a counter right beside his seat at the table.

"Sleeping, actually."

"What? You?"

"Yes. Me. How about you, did you get any sleep?" he asked, taking a small lick of the organic square she'd placed in front of him only to put it down rather quickly, finding it offensive to his taste buds.

"Oh, I slept a bit, then got up and had a shower. Did a little bit more to my hair, too. D'ya like it?" she asked, turning her head from side to side.

The Doctor looked closely, trying to notice anything different. "I don't see any change," he answered, then quickly added, "I mean, it's beautiful of course. Um, what did you do to it again?"

"Oh, just a bit of extra conditioning. Smell it," she told him, then promptly leaned forward, her hair now dancing lightly across his granola bar.

The Doctor looked up for a moment, then with a slight glance of confusion towards her head, he brought his nose slowly to her hair and inhaled.

"Smells nice." he told her as he sat back, watching her closely as she stayed put, turning her head to face him.

"Feel it. It's extra soft, too."

The Doctors eyes widened slightly as he stared at her mane of hair. He then placed his left hand on her head, patting it lightly like one would do to a small puppy. "Yep. Soft all right. Pretty."

"Glad ya like it. Thanks," Rose told him just before she leant forward and brushed a chaste kiss to his left cheek.

The Doctor cleared his throat, suddenly feeling a bit awkward. When Rose moved to sit across from him at the table, he released the breath he'd involuntarily held then drank his tea, trying for a casual appearance.

They stared at one another for a moment. Rose was grinning and the Doctor appeared to be studying her.

"You're welcome," he answered after a few seconds.

Suddenly the Doctor stood. Placing his near-empty cup and the small saucer that held her offering of breakfast into the sink, he turned around quickly to face her. "You don't have a hangover?"

"Nope. Woke up feelin' great. How 'bout you?"

"Oh, never been better. Though I am a bit surprised that you aren't feeling a little under the weather."

"I feel wonderful. Where to next?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"Where are we gonna go today, hmm?"

"Oh, um, well ... I don't think we'll be going anywhere for a bit. I need to work on the old girl for a while. Probably take all day," he lied, but he felt the need to, actually. Something just didn't feel 'right' at the moment, and he knew better after all his many years than to not listen to those Time Lord instincts.

"Just as well," Rose replied, standing up then practically leaning into the Doctor as she put her cup in the sink behind him. "We can be all comfy-cozy right here at home," she told him with a sly grin, so close that he felt her breath warm his face.

He watched her as she turned slowly and walked away from him. When she'd made her way into the hallway, she gave him one last look then winked as she stepped out of view.

The Doctor stared after her for a moment, feeling heat rising in his cheeks. Finally shaking himself from his frozen stance, he, too, left the kitchen, heading towards the Console Room.

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The Doctor did a bit of routine maintenance on the TARDIS as his thoughts wandered back to the earlier hour when he'd found Rose in the kitchen. She was bright-eyed and cheery, but almost overly so. He began wondering if perhaps she was acting friendlier-than-usual in order to give him the appearance of feeling well, when in fact she did not. Maybe she didn't want him to worry about her. Perhaps she didn't want him fussing over her. But whatever the case, he was sure that something wasn't right and decided to investigate the slight worry nagging at him.

Looking around for Rose, the Doctor walked in and out of empty rooms as he searched on his own, not asking the TARDIS for assistance. It was a mild concern he had, but his thoughts had grown a bit wild with worry the more he searched and did not find her. Finally he placed his hand against the wall of the corridor he was currently in, standing in place and closing his eyes. He snapped them open suddenly then slapped his forehead.

"Of course," he said to no one, heading towards Rose's room.

Knocking lightly on her door, the Doctor opened it slowly when he received no answer. He did not like intruding, but worse than that, he didn't like her not answering his knock. His mind was quick to conjure up worst-case scenarios.

Rose lay on her side, sprawled across the bed, a tabloid in front of her as she lay on her side. She'd obviously fallen asleep whilst reading.

Sitting down beside her, the Doctor looked upon her with concerned eyes when she didn't stir. Gently he placed his palm to the side of her face, noting her temperature was just slightly above normal.

"Rose?"

"Hmmm," she stirred slightly, her eyes opening slowly. When she focused and saw him beside her, she smiled. "Hey."

"You all right?" he asked, her grin failing to detour his worry.

"Course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" she answered his question with one of her own, pushing herself up until she was sitting beside him.

"I just thought it a bit odd, you in here sleeping. And you didn't hear me when I was knocking on your door just a bit ago."

"Oh, well, when you said we wouldn't be going anywhere for a while I jus' came back here to catch up on the local gossip I'd picked up on our last trip to London. S'pose I fell asleep. But thanks for carin' so much," she said, leaning into his side. She closed her eyes as she snuggled against him, a contented grin forming on her lips.

The Doctor looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Rose? Are you feeling all right?"

"Yeah - why do ya keep askin' me that?" she answered, her eyes and position remaining the same.

"Oh, I don't know. You just seem a bit, um, 'off'. That's all."

"Just bored." She looked up at him then, slowly pulling herself the smallest bit away look into his eyes. "I bet you've got a cure for that though, dontcha?"

The Doctor straightened a little, looking at Rose as though she'd just gone cross-eyed. Was she flirting with him?

When she began running her right index finger up and down his tie, he realized his last thought had been answered.

He stood suddenly, backing up and bumping into the balloons she'd set free beside her dresser. He looked at them briefly before turning his attentions back towards Rose. "There's plenty to do on the TARDIS. Rooms and rooms of endless activities to occupy yourself with," he answered quickly.

"Alone?"

"What?"

"You want me out of your hair?" she asked, and he could swear she was pouting, her big brown eyes round as they looked up at him with a hint of sadness.

"No! Oh no - I didn't mean, I mean, I never meant to imply that you were, not that you ever have, I hadn't meant that you were, I mean no, you're not in any way bothering me or intruding or pestering or ..." His voice faded off at the look she gave him, moving to stand in front of him with a smirk.

He finally smiled at her, realizing that he'd gotten flustered just from that look of hers. Then Rose wiped that grin right off his face when she placed a kiss on his lips - the Doctor too stunned to do anything more than receive it.

He'd closed his eyes, memorizing the touch of her lips on his, her taste a bit sweet and the smell of her skin almost intoxicating. It was a memory he wanted to keep, dulling his thoughts quite wonderfully.

Slowly he opened his eyes and looked down at her, meeting her flirtatious gaze with his own stunned one.

"Uh, Rose?"

"Yes, Doctor?"

"What was that?"

"It was a kiss."

"Aside from the obvious."

"It was what it was," she said, smiling sweetly. She walked away from him then, stopping only when she reached her halfway opened bedroom door. She turned to look at him as she opened the door all the way. "More where that one came from, too." And with that, she was gone. Again.

The Doctor stood where he was, frozen to the spot for a good ten seconds. He then snapped his mouth closed, still staring at the empty open doorway.

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End of Chapter One.

Chapter Two - Yes, We Have No Bananas - Coming Soon.

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