Rose ran her brush through her wet hair as she watched the Doctor from the captain's chair. His eyes never left the console as he pulled at levers and pushed at buttons. She sat quietly with her pj-ed clad legs pulled close to her chest, watching him as he walked around the console - several times passing her without even a glance up at her. Several times she would adjust herself on the captain's chair hoping it would catch his attention but he seemed deep in thought. The old machine came alive with a grinding noise and the Doctor finally moved away from the console to stand next to the captain's chair.
Rose moved her gaze to follow him. Her hazel eyes caught his intense brown orbs that seemed darker in their depths. His tie was astray and gel product glistened in his hair from the way he done it for the time period. He looked like he been through hell and back; though to think about he probably had. They had almost lost each other again. It was beginning to become a tradition on the adventures and trips they took recently. The most recent come to mind was when they were back in Rome and they had both been turned to stone. The words he had spoken to her that trip still echoed in her mind. He didn't know he had told her those things and he never would. The kiss when she was unpetrified was enough to send her head spinning. She could still feel his cool lips against hers.
Rose bit her bottom lip as she inched closer to the Doctor. She looked up at him, never once taking her eyes from him as she came to end of the captain's chair. She took his hand within her free hand and intertwined their fingers. He moved his gaze from the time rotor to her as he felt her skin brush against his. As his eyes met hers, she could see the unshed tears glistening in his eyes. The sadness and anger that radiated from his eyes made her shiver.
"I almost lost you again," he mumbled softly as his fidgeted from her and the captain's chair.
She had never seen the Doctor this vulnerable with his emotions in front of her before. It took something like the Wire to break a nine hundred and something year old Time Lord. She had seen the vulnerability in his voice and face when he thought he wasn't going to get her back in Rome. The words, Rose is prettier than you, still rung in her head as she looked at him. Even after what happen with Sarah Jane and Reinette, she still felt like he meant what he said.
Rose stood weakly to her feet; her strength somewhere forgotten in the depths of the TARDIS. His slimmer and taller frame stood over her as she moved to stand in front of him.
"I'm still here, Doctor." She said as she tightened the grip on his hand and continued to look at him. Her voice broke with uncertainty and fear that someday she would lose him for good with no way back.
Rose stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was stiff against her arms but she didn't care. She softly brought her lips to his. She didn't expect him to return the kiss but was surprised when he felt his tongue brush up against her lips. A low groan deep within his throat made his mouth vibrate against hers. His arms wrapped around her waist and Rose shivered as his cold hand went under her shirt, and rested against the small of her back. As he pulled her closer to him, she could feel him becoming hard against her. Deepening the kiss, her own tongue found its way into his mouth. He tasted of mint and jelly babies; sweet against her tongue. A soft moan in protest left her mouth as the Doctor begin to pull back. Rose smiled up at him with a sweet smile. Slowly his thin lips formed into the million watt smile that could melt anything, especially her.