I do love an AU :P I thought that the Doctor could be an actual Doctor for a change, after all, he always wears a long coat, it's not really that much of a change. Expect much fluff and romance. Allons-y!

Rose wasn't cut out to be a receptionist. At least, that was the opinion that she had formed in the 1 day, 45 minutes and 36 seconds that had elapsed since she had started this new job. As it turned out, a job as a receptionist in a hospital was not really as hard as it had first seemed, which had seemed a blessing. However, as the hours had ticked by, Rose felt the familiar boredom beginning to set in, as it had done with most of the other jobs that she had tried. The other receptionist was reasonably civil, but Rose got the feeling that she was not well liked by her, if the occasional angry stares were anything to go by.

Rose sighed, moving a stack of finished paperwork from in front of her and distributing it to the appropriate drawers, bending down behind the desk (why were desks in hospitals always so high? It almost came up to her neck) to collect some more forms. It wasn't like she really needed another friend – she had a few, but really she was fine in her own company – but getting on with work colleagues, having someone to actually talk to and pass the incredibly mind-numbing hours with was something she would've quite liked.

"Excuse me?" A voice from above her head caused Rose to look up sharply, staggering back to a standing position so fast that she nearly lost her balance. She had assumed that the voice came from a patient, but on standing up she found herself face to face with a doctor, wearing a white lab coat over a brown pinstriped suit and looking at her with brown eyes that she was sure were causing her vaguely confused state, rather than the sudden rush of blood to the head that she was experiencing.

"Err, yeah...hi. Can I help you?"

Rose was actually shocked that she had managed a complete sentence, but as soon as the man grinned at her she was glad she had spoken before he had smiled. His smile was nothing if not dazzling, lighting up his face in a way that seemed to say "this smile is just for you, you are the most important person in the world."

"Hi, sorry, I don't think we've met yet," he said, holding out his hand for her to shake. It took her a little longer than she should to respond, but shaking his hand was the best thing she had done all day – strong fingers, warm and smooth, and it seemed to fit perfectly with hers. "I'm Doctor John Smith, but you can call me John. I'm a consultant."

"Hello Doctor—err, sorry, John." Rose fumbled with her words, not helped by his good natured chuckling at her mistake. "Sorry, I'm a bit out of sorts, it's only my second day and I'm still getting the hang of things."

"Ah, well that explains why I've never seen you around before then. I just needed to borrow a pen actually; all mine to seem to inexplicably end up disappearing."

Rose grinned, handing him a biro. "I've got to say, you seem to be the first nice person I've met around here, everyone seems a bit..."

"Evil?" John supplied.

Rose laughed. "I was going to say "standoffish", but your word'll do."

"They are, especially Tracy, the other receptionist. When she's coming towards you, my suggestion is just to run as fast as you can in the opposite direction." John seemed partly joking, but partly in earnest.

Rose raised one eyebrow. "Do a lot of running around the hospital?"

John shrugged. "Not much, but you've got to keep fit somehow – why not avoid a few unpleasant people while you're at it?"

Rose took in John's skinny but not too skinny physique, wiry yet strong at the same time, and privately thought that he didn't really need to exercise, he was perfect just as he was. Perfect? She asked herself, did you really just think he was perfect? You met him about a minute ago! Rose was inclined to think she was being a bit hasty, but the shock of thick brown hair, the sideburns, the freckles, the beautiful lips and the well cut suit all seemed to combine so well, like pieces of a puzzle. Everything about him seemed a bit strange but it all fit together perfectly, and Rose found him intriguing to say the least.

"Well, I've better be off then," John sighed. Rose hoped she heard a hint of annoyance in his voice, a hint that he would rather stay and talk to her than go back to work. "What use is a consultant if he's not consulting?"

He began to walk away, and as he reached the corridor Rose caught sight of his shoes – cream converse trainers, poking out from under his striped suit trousers, squeaking a little on the polished floor as he walked. She smiled – what other shoes would he possibly wear? – but quickly smothered it as he turned back towards her.

"I forgot to ask, what was your name?"

"Rose."

"Nice to meet you Rose - run for your life!" He turned and bolted around the corner, but not before looking pointedly over her shoulder. She turned and caught sight of Tracy the receptionist approaching her.

Rose grinned and ducked down behind the desk again, hoping to avoid the moment when Tracy noticed that she had made no progress at all in the last 5 minutes. It wasn't Rose's fault, she blamed John. The mysterious doctor. She began to collect up more paperwork, hoping that the impending loss of the pen she had just given him would bring him back to her desk sooner rather than later.

Well there you have it. Hope you liked it :) I'm also posting it on my tumblr account - donna-and-her-spaceman. There will be more in the next day or so. Review if you want, or don't. You know, I'm not going to dictate your lives for you, you have free will after all. So do what you like, and I hope you carry on reading :P