Adult Adulation

.

By Sonic Jules

.

Previously in chapter one...

"What about something to eat? Surely you're famished by now," the Doctor hollered over his shoulder toward his companion as he finished tapping in the coordinates for a charming bistro in the Quadth Quadrant.

"Nah, I'm good. Ate while you were surrounded by all those men and women wantin' to thank you for savin' the day in their own special way," Rose yelled back. He imagined he could actually hear the smirk on her face.

"Of course you did," the Doctor began, muttering to himself because he knew she couldn't hear him, now that she was well out of range. He leaned over the console as he undid the settings and began talking to himself. "I work myself silly, non-stop mind you, and she's off eating the local cuisine." He huffed indignantly for a moment, then suddenly froze.

"Oh." He looked down the empty corridor. "Oh no. Please tell me you didn't eat the blue butter-cream daisies?" he voiced with alarm. "Rose?"

Well, if she had there was nothing for it now. Only time, his dear old friend and sometime nemesis, would tell.

.

Chapter Two:

I Might Have Mentioned...

.

Rose came back an hour and sixteen minutes later, finding the Doctor lying on his back in front of the center console, working on what looked like an electrical panel with far too many wires coming out of it. He spoke an acknowledgement of her presence but didn't look up, busily detangling the nest of copper and silver in his grasp. Grinning, she continued her steps until she was standing over him, straddling his legs.

She fanned herself before speaking, her hand waving exaggeratedly toward her neck and face. "Somethin's wrong with the air conditioning," Rose stated sharply.

"Hmm," was his only reply as he placed the sonic screwdriver between his teeth, eyes remaining focused on the maze of wiring.

"Really. I'm hot."

The Time Lord removed the sonic tool with his left hand as he grasped the wiring together in his right. "Why don't you go have some ice cream? I'm quite sure there's a bit left in the back of the freezer, on the right," he told her as he placed the sonic tool between his teeth once more and began braiding the wires.

"Only if I can wear it," Rose replied.

He glanced up at her then, his jaw going slack as the tool fell from his mouth. Dressed in a short blue and green sundress, she looked like a goddess with smooth, toned legs that seemed to go on forever from his vantage point.

Quickly shoving the wiring back within the panel and slamming it closed, the Doctor backed himself away from her before standing up very quickly.

"The temperature within this ship is regulated and perfectly normal. Are you feeling ill?"

"No, just hot."

He placed the back of his hand to her forehead. "Feels about right."

"I think I just said that."

He grabbed her hand. "Come on," he said as he pulled her back down the corridor.

"Where're we goin'?"

"Infirmary," the Doctor answered.

OoO

"Well?" Rose asked, rubbing her wrist where a blood sample had been taken.

The Time Lord turned his attentions away from the computer screen to look at her. "I've only been at this two point eight minutes. The results aren't ready just yet."

"What're you lookin' for?"

"I'll know when I see it," he said mysteriously, turning his back to her again.

She huffed out a dramatic sigh just as a 'ding' chimed from the computer speaker. Rose watched with fascination as something akin to ticker tape began coming out of the side of the monitor.

The Doctor pulled his glasses on with one hand while grabbing the paper with the other. He looked at it studiously for a few moments, his head bobbing slightly as he reviewed the content.

"Aha! Just as I suspected." He grinned all-knowingly as he turned to face Rose.

"And your suspicions were...?"

"You managed to ingest one of Hedonia's better quality aphrodisiacs."

"I - what? No, I couldn't have. I didn't drink any of those drinks because you told me not to! And I'm not feelin' all weird or anythin'. The only liquid I drank was the water, nothin' else. That machine must be wrong. Either that, or you are." She raised an eyebrow toward him.

"But you did eat. Instead of going in the TARDIS for a meal like we'd done all fourteen days during our stay, you decided to have a bite there, right before we left, am I right?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So, I'd be willing to bet that you ingested the butter-cream daisies, those sweet little fluffy blue gems that melt in your mouth. How am I doing so far?"

"And again I'm askin', so?"

"They are the most potent of aphrodisiacs served there!" he answered, his tone accusing.

Suddenly Rose was hopping off the exam table and standing in front of the Doctor. "You never said I couldn't eat the food there! I thought you just wanted to come back here and eat to get away from all those folks flirtin' with you!"

"I'm sure I mentioned," he replied with much less confidence.

"No, you didn't!" she retorted angrily.

"Getting upset isn't going to resolve the situation," the Doctor spoke calmly.

"Oh yeah? Well maybe bein' upset is better than the alternative right now!"

"Rose -"

She shook her head at him, halting his words. "I shouldn't be yelling at you. 'M sorry."

"So am I," he replied. "But I'm sure I mentioned the not eating part."

Rose glared at the Doctor then stomped out of the room.

"Didn't I?" he asked himself.

OoO

To be continued...

OoO