He awoke to the sunlight caressing his skin, the rain of last night a mere memory. He knew that it had to be early morning, but the air was warm around him, and felt thick with the heat. It took a moment, his mind ahead of his body, but he managed to get into a sitting position. He was missing something, but he couldn't think of what it was…Rose. He got to his feet, a little quicker than his body was ready for but while he swayed he remained standing.

He moved forward, not really sure where he was heading, but he found her moments later. Her clothes were covered in blood, dry and brown now, but he couldn't find a wound on her. He let her lie for a moment, knowing that she was okay, just sleeping. He looked himself over as best as he could. He had a long tear on his shirt and his jacket had bite marks on both sleeves, but when he removed it he found no evidence on his skin. This wasn't good.

He was thankful the pain of the venom was gone, but he was certain that if they were alive then they had been changed. He needed to get them back to the TARDIS, he knew there were cures, if he could get it figured out soon enough. He woke her, her big brown eyes looking up at him with worry.

"What happened?" she asked her voice still thick with sleep.

"You don't remember?" he asked, mostly because he didn't want to explain it to her. He thought she might not be too happy to find out that they had been injected with werewolf venom, and now would change anytime they stepped out into moonlight.

She sat up, and he helped her stand, and then he felt her fingers tighten on his arm. "I do, oh, Doctor. Are we- Are we werewolfs now?"

"Yes," he admitted softly, taking her hand into his, and moving them in the direction of the TARDIS, at least he hoped it was the direction of the TARDIS. "I can fix this; I just need to get to the TARDIS. I have to give us the remedy before the next moon or it is permanent.

"Great," he heard her murmur, but she hadn't slapped him, so he figured he wasn't doing too badly.

"Rose, please, trust me," he asked of her, as they moved on.

"I do," she sighed, "I do, Doctor."

It felt good to hear her say it, and it gave him the strength to trust himself. He knew that he would do whatever it took to keep his words from accidently becoming a lie, now.

He took the time of the journey to explain to her about the species, how they were like werewolf but different. They were known as the Dark, just the Dark.

She listened to him talk, perhaps sensing that he needed this. He needed the chance to sound knowledgeable to reassure them both that he was smart enough to make this right.

With the aid of daylight he was finally able to locate where the TARDIS was supposed to be, but it wasn't there. He wished he could have been surprised. He had hoped, but his life was rarely that simple or that kind.

He looked over at Rose; he could tell she was sore as they were walking, as was he. It came from the venom rushing through veins, changing the body like it did. He pulled her into a hug, and she laid her head against her chest.

"I'm sorry," he spoke into her hair.

"It's okay," she told him, pulling back a little. "I'm thirsty."

He was too, especially now that she mentioned it. Time Lords could go without water and food for a long time if necessary, but he felt a sudden desire for water. It felt as though his tongue was suddenly dry as a bone and thick inside his mouth.

"We'll find some water," he agreed, taking her hand again. He followed a path that he wished he had used Time Lord senses to decide. He knew it wasn't that part of him, he was following the wolf instinct, but almost didn't care when he saw the river.

He saw a small furry animal drinking out of it a ways down, farther than his eyes should have been able to see, and with a shrug he approached the banks. Squatting down he dipped his hands, encouraging Rose to do the same. He was almost too thirsty to care, but some part of him wondered if the water was safe to drink.

He felt himself tipping the water to his lips before he could think too much farther on it, and it flooded his mouth with coolness. He was still a little worried even as he refilled his hand cup, but he felt a quiet reassurance in the back of his mind. His wolf was encouraging him, letting him know that that side of him would keep him safe.

He paused long enough to glance at Rose who was drinking with enthusiasm, and he wondered if she was hearing her own words of encouragement. Her own prompt to do what it took to keep the host and the wolf alive, and his own voice assured him that she was.

They both drank, more than their bellies probably wanted, but it was only when he felt satisfied did he finally stopped. Rose stopping only seconds before him. He turned, watching her walk up the river bank, standing on more solid ground. Her hair was messy, but she still looked beautiful.

He was overcome with a need to pull her to him, to kiss those lips, and he had to actually fight the urge to lunge at her and do just that. He had wanted to kiss her several times, but this was different than any of those times. All those times he was fully in control of his desire, it may have been annoying but it was possible to be ignored. This was his desire with the desire of the wolf inside him.

He was in trouble, and he couldn't let the animal part win. He was stronger than that, and if wolfs laughed he heard one in his mind. Oh, yes. He was in trouble.

"To town," he instructed ignoring her hand as she had his last night. He didn't want to hurt her, but suspected he wouldn't be able to stop his actions if he didn't get himself under control before touching her again.

She was following him, but not right beside her. He felt the instruction, and maybe a little growl to take her hand. He ignored the nagging sense that Rose's wolf was this wolf's mate. That wasn't going to happen. He did however pull her hand into his, but kept his eyes straight ahead.

He had to get the TARDIS, and he needed to do it soon.