Previously In Chapter One ...

Rose sipped at her juice then set the glass down. "How long was I out?"

"Oh, about a half an hour or so, give or take a few minutes. Thing is, I don't know yet what caused it. I ran extensive tests on you while you were in the Infirmary and found nothing to explain why you collapsed like you did."

"Nothing?"

"Not a thing. But don't worry. I will figure it out." The Doctor gave her his most winning smile, his determination clear. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

He eventually lead her to her room, allowing her to rest within its comforts as opposed to the Infirmary, for which she was grateful. Whatever ailed her, she was sure it was simply due to their running back to the TARDIS, and rest was probably the only cure she needed. She as much as told him so.

The Doctor, however, wasn't quite so convinced.

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Chapter Two

Sweet Dreams

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Rose looked around the TARDIS, watching the Doctor as he continued his work on the ship. He kept a close eye on her, though, his frequent glances showing that he was still worried about her. But she felt fine. Well rested. Maybe a little ... odd. But not in an entirely bad way.

When the Doctor walked towards her and sat down beside her in the captain's chair, she realized she'd zoned a bit, thinking about her personal assessment. Obviously her reverie had unnerved him a little.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, wiping some gunk from his hand with a towel as his eyes stared into hers.

"Fine. Good." Rose looked at him, noting his skeptical glance. "I am - really."

"You look good, too," he said, his voice low and soothing.

When he leaned over and kissed her, she was totally stunned. It was out of the blue. Unprovoked. Clearly strange. And most certainly the best kiss she'd ever experienced in her entire life. She couldn't stop herself when she leaned into him, eagerly returning the kiss. He tasted of sugared cinnamon and other sweet, exotic spices and she couldn't help the satisfied moan that escaped from her.

When the Doctor's lips left hers, all Rose could feel was the loss of them. She looked at him, a mixture of amazement and complete satisfaction held within her stunned gaze. He grinned at her.

"I think your kisses get sweeter and sweeter each time. Might have to test that theory," he winked, standing up and walking back towards the console. Rose could do nothing but stare. Wait a minute ...

"Each time?" she asked quietly.

"Each and every time," he answered confidently as he began pushing a few buttons on the console.

"But that was our, our first, unless you want to count Cassandra ..."

The Doctor turned around and grinned wickedly at her. "Rose Tyler - are you trying to make me believe that I've just literally snogged you senseless? Because we've kissed many, many times before. And although I'll admit that I'm good - very good in fact, I don't think I'm quite that good." His smile was ear to ear.

OoOoO

The Doctor stood quietly in Rose's doorway, unable to stop himself from watching her. Her golden hair was splayed across the pillow, almost glowing in light that touched it from behind him. Her breathing was soft and relaxed, indicating her restful state without interruption from pain or nightmares. When she moaned slightly, it was not a distressful sound. She was more than likely dreaming, and the dream didn't seem to be disrupting her rest.

Absorbed in the peaceful sight of her, he still looked for anything that could have caused Rose to collapse as she did. He stared at her, as if focusing intensely on her form would give him the answer he was searching for.

So far, it had not.

Rose gasped and sat straight up, her breathing suddenly labored as she looked around her room. When her gaze fell upon the Doctor she stiffened a little, looking at him uneasily.

"Wha - what happened?"

"You were moaning in your sleep. I was just checking in on you when I heard you. Probably woke you up in my haste to see what was wrong. You all right?" It wasn't a lie, per se, and there really was no need to tell her he was just staring at her like he was.

"Yeah. Jus' was havin' a dream ... I suppose." Rose looked around a little, understanding she must've been asleep.

"Good or bad?"

"Hmm?"

"Was it a good dream, or a bad one?" the Doctor asked as he slowly sat down beside her.

"Good. Pretty nice, actually."

He had to have guessed that, for if she were moaning like she had in her dream, she knew it wouldn't have sounded the least bit distressed.

"That's excellent! Because when you go back to sleep with the comforts of that overly pillowed bed of yours, you can see about getting back to that nice dream."

"But I'm awake now," she told him, doing her best to stifle a yawn.

"Only for now. You've just been sleeping a bit over an hour. You're obviously tired and rightfully so. Need I remind you that rest is very recuperative? So the more sleep, the better."

"But Doctor, I'm fine, really. You worry too much. B'sides, you're the one always complainin' that us humans sleep too much anyway. Kinda contradictin' yourself, aren't ya?"

"Of course you're fine. That's why you passed out, right? Come on, a little kip and maybe I can worry a bit less about you."

Rose nodded her agreement and the Doctor tucked her comforter up around her. She was back asleep in only a few minutes. The look of concern did not leave his features.

OoOoO

The Doctor finally pushed himself away from the door frame, knowing he had things to get done if they ever hoped to come out of the Void. He'd been staring at Rose again, watching her sleep and listening for anything abnormal. But so far, nothing was wrong. Rose was perfect in his eyes, which he realized could explain why he was so agitated with himself for not figuring out her dilemma. But he would. Come hell or high water, he promised Rose silently to decipher her medical problem and have her back to right in no time.

Slowly and silently, he returned himself to the Console Room, deep in thought, hoping to fix the TARDIS and vowing to fix Rose Tyler.

OoOoO

"I take it we're still stuck in the Void?" Rose asked as she walked across the grating, stopping at the center console and looking down at a crop of adorably tousled brown hair.

"Yep. Sleep well?" the Doctor asked, grinning as he looked up and met her eyes.

"Apparently. Seems I needed it. You were right."

"And you doubted this?" His mischievous expression stayed in place for her to observe as he pulled himself up to stand in front of her.

Rose smiled. "Never."

"Good!" The Doctor leaned forward and placed his arms on her shoulders, his face a breath away from hers. "I'd like to think I know what's best for you," he practically whispered, his tone deep and endearing.

Rose simply stared at him, a nervous grin tugging at her lips. She couldn't help it when her tongue poked through her teeth, her look mischievous. "Do you now," she stated.

"Oh yes. Yes I do," and with those words completed, his lips descended on hers, giving her a rush of heat and chills all at once. As the kiss deepened, his hands began a downward journey, rubbing her arms slowly, falling to her waist, squeezing her hips. Oh God, it was so perfect - so intense she thought she might just swoon if he released her. When he gently nipped her bottom lip, she gasped, unintentionally separating them.

"I want you," he whispered in her ear, then lightly bit the lobe.

"Oh," she whispered, head tilted back and eyes closed. At the moment, she really didn't think she could form a sentence.

OoOoO

"Rose! Look at me." The Doctor's words tugged gently at her mind, and she looked at him, suddenly worried by the tone of his voice.

"Doctor?"

"Rose," he sighed in relief at seeing her eyes focusing upon him. "You had me worried there. How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine. What's wrong?"

The Doctor nervously laughed for a moment, his eyes remaining on hers. "What's wrong is that you've been in a daze for almost ten minutes. You weren't responding to any stimuli. I was just about to join your mind to find out what was happening."

"What?"

"Yes, a bit drastic, I know. But I couldn't seem to get through to you any other way," he answered a bit sheepishly. Things like that weren't normally done without consent, at least by his way of thinking.

"Ten minutes?" she asked, clearly more concerned about the fact that she'd zoned out as opposed to him linking his thoughts with her own.

He simply nodded at her, emphasizing his point with a raise of his eyebrows.

"I thought I was dreaming," she told him distractedly.

"You possibly were. Although I don't think doing so while standing in here is the ideal place."

Rose looked around, her eyes widening as she realized she was in the Console Room, even though her last memory of being awake was the Doctor tucking her in bed. "How'd I get in here?"

"You don't remember?" His increased look of concern did not go unnoticed by her.

Rose looked at him, shaking her head slightly as her eyes relayed her bewilderment.

"Perhaps you were sleepwalking," he said softly, grabbing her hand and squeezing it gently.

"Yeah," she answered, walking along in the direction the Doctor urged her to with a gentle tug. She didn't need to ask where they were going. She knew the Infirmary was in her future once again, and she was too stunned to protest.

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