"Donna, I don't know about this...."
She pulled him close again and wrapped her arms around his shoulders to still him. "You'll enjoy it. Trust me."
"But Donna-"
"Doctor, shut up," she muttered. "Just relax, it'll be fine."
"Yes, Ma'am." He shut his eyes obediently, his mouth open and ready to protest again, when she suddenly slapped him on the cheek. "Ow! What in the name of Rassilon was that for?"
"You're lying," she chided him. "I've done this loads of times, I can tell if you're not relaxed."
He groaned in frustration and closed his eyes again, leaning into her and letting her continue.
"There, that's better," she praised teasingly. "Can we start now?" He muttered something sarcastically but she ignored him and began.
"Donna...."
"Doctor, shut up."
He pouted but let his body relax again. "Donna, stop it! That tickles!" he shouted suddenly, but Donna kept going, shushing him and nudging him with her knee. "Seriously, tickles!"
"Oi, are you going to tell me that the all powerful Last of the Time Lords is ticklish?" Donna looked down at him and frowned in thought. "You're having me on, aren't you?"
He giggled as she repeated the motion. "Blimey, Donna, stop it! Yes, I'm ticklish okay? At least there I am. Would you mind?"
She sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Fine," she conceded, "where can I touch you then?"
"Nowhere. Just about everywhere tickles as much as that," he replied stubbornly, pulling his sensitive elbows out of her grasp. "I'm fine. I told you, I don't need a massage."
"Don't lie to me, Space Boy. You've been complaining about hurting for days now, I've heard ya." She let him loose and he sprang up, turning to sit facing her. "You're my friend," she told him sincerely, "and I don't like it when you're not feeling well, okay? I just want to help."
"All right," he sighed in defeat, earning a wicked smile from his companion. "I suppose it wouldn't be too bad if you rubbed my shoulders," he admitted and turned back around. Donna scooted up to him and placed her hands on his back.
"That's more like it," she joked, jabbing him in the ribs, "though when we're done here I am so making you some lunch. I keep telling you, skinny boy, you need to eat something." He chuckled again and jerked away. "Oh, look," she feigned innocence, "another ticklish spot? What ever shall I do with you?"
She stopped poking him after a couple minutes, both of them in hysterics, and she settled down and put her fingers along his shoulder blades. "Oi, how's that?" she asked, still laughing.
"That, Donna," he replied, "that is....brilliant." She rubbed him for a few more minutes and could feel him relaxing against her as she moved up to his neck. "Donna?"
"What is it now?" she said in mock frustration.
"Thanks."
She smiled and squeezed him a little tighter. "No problem." She grinned mischievously behind his back. "But you know next time I fall on my bum I expect the same treatment, right?"
"What?! Now, Donna, I don't think- Oi!"
She slapped him on the ear and the two friends giggled, then lapsed into silence as she let him lay against her and soothed the Time Lord's aching muscles. "Dumb Martian."
