Author's Note: Here's chapter 3! I see there are a few of you who are interested in this story, so I'll post the last few chapters soon. For now, here is chapter 3. Any reviews are much appreciated!

Upon awakening, I realize I'm still wearing the clothes I was in the night before. I am safely tucked into bed, the covers securely tucked in around my body. Apparently I had slept so well, I didn't even move. Not knowing what time it is, I step out of bed and make my way toward my personal bathroom. I spend a load of time in the shower, sudsing up my hair and washing with a lovely scented body wash the Doctor had picked up from me on a different planet. In a haze, my mind wanders through a fog of thoughts that usually go through my head whenever I'm in the shower.

The Doctor. Suddenly, I remember how I fell asleep; it all comes flooding back to me. The conversation had been left in a rather awkward state; we didn't even get a chance to finish talking. I wondered how much work it must have taken him to get me into the safety of my bed, to pull the covers up over me... then again, he was the one who ended up putting me to sleep before I had a chance to get into bed, so it wasn't exactly my fault. I quickly finish my shower and dress, and out of curiosity, I take a closer look around my bed. After looking for that box, I couldn't find it anywhere. Perhaps he had kept it, or decided to take it away from me after the previous night. For some reason, I found this troubling, but couldn't decide whether to ignore it, or ask him about it. For now, though, it was probably best to just act natural.

I went down to breakfast after dressing and found him sitting at the table like normal, eating toast and reading one of his many books. It was the normal time of morning for both of us to be up, so I didn't oversleep like I thought I might have. He passes me the marmalade as I sit down at the table, without me having to ask. "Morning, then!"

"Good morning," I reply rather carefully, pouring the coffee into my mug before beginning to spread the marmalade across the perfectly toasted bread he made just moments before for me. I knew he had just pulled them out of the toasting machine; they were almost too hot to touch.

"Have a good rest then?" he asked me, looking over his reading glasses to get a look at me. He was chipper; almost too chipper. I didn't know how to respond to his question. If I answered it honestly, we would be having another conversation. Then again, he would probably bring it up over and over until I finally acknowledged the situation. Yes, it was best to get it over with. "Well, Doctor, you were the one who caused me to fall so suddenly to sleep - so you must know that I slept well."

"I guessed as much - but it's always polite to ask." He smiled brilliantly, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. He knew how much I had needed his help and comfort last night. Hopefully he didn't think it was weak - I somehow let my emotions really get the best of me, in a very personal way.

"And are you upset because of what I did?" he asks. I can't distinguish whether he's playing around or being serious - perhaps that meant he was being a mix of both those emotions. "No, not exactly," I manage to reply. "I just..."

"Yes?"

"Well, I just think it was a bit... unnecessary. That's all."

"Unnecessary? You were tired and upset. There wasn't a chance you were going to get a single wink of sleep any time soon," he states so matter-of-factly you would think he was refuting someone who attempted to argue that the sun revolves about the earth. "And even if you had fallen asleep, I doubt it would have been as deep and peaceful as that was, would it now?"

"You're probably right, like usual," I finally reply, feeling glum. In reality, though, I felt weak. It wasn't just unnecessary to my eyes, but it also had the potential for looking weak in his eyes. And then, I realized something else. Once I was asleep, and in such a deep sleep, did he read my memories and thoughts? After all, he had the ability to read minds... I could feel my throat seizing up. If he ever did that to me... the things he might see, the secrets he might learn...

"What's wrong?" he suddenly asks, looking a bit alarmed; I am probably more pale than normal, with the thoughts running through my head. I had to ask him, or it was going to make me crazy - but now, the words were refusing to come out, and he starts to jump out of his seat towards me. "Rose? Rose, what is it? Did you choke? Are you choking?"

"No!" I finally manage to gasp out, although I felt breathless - however, it was my own thoughts that had stolen my breath from me, not a bit of bread lodged in my throat. He grabs me by the shoulder, looking to me with concern. "What is it?"

"Did you read my mind last night after you put me asleep?" The way the words rushed out of my mouth so quickly made me wonder if he thought I was going crazy. He cocked his head, watching me carefully for a moment before quickly shaking his head. "No, Rose, I didn't. Why would I do that? I wouldn't do that to you, not unless it was absolutely essential - I thought you knew I would never violate your trust like that, not ever. At least, not unless you wanted me to." The way he said this, the way his eyebrows betrayed his calm voice and made me wonder if he was feeling a bit sad - it made me sad, and upset at myself for having mistrusted and upset him. I rush in and hug him, my eyes beginning to water up. "I'm so sorry, so so sorry, Doctor. I don't know why - I just got so worried - I fell asleep without meaning to, and you have that ability, and - I didn't know -"

"Shhh - s'all right," he tells me. He seems to be comforting me the same way he did last night, but without the hands on my temples this time. He feels the tension in my shoulders and gives me a quick rub on the back. "No, don't worry - it's all right, trust me."

"No it's not!" I choke out. The tears were beginning to roll down my cheeks at last. He would officially think I was over-emotional and weak now. There was nothing more I could do. I wanted to be strong, but the embarrassment I now felt every time I was around him was making it rather difficult to even be in his presence. Somehow, through my tears, I voice this exact thought to him. "I'm so sorry, Doctor, I'm so so sorry," I finish, burying my head in his chest. I rest there a moment, enjoying the peaceful feeling of his embrace again. His hearts beat steadily in his chest, calming me.

"Don't be sorry," he murmurs. We sit quietly for a moment, and I know he's thinking hard about something. "Rose?"

"Yes?" I sniff, wiping tears out of my eyes, still clinging to his chest and listening to his hearts.

"Perhaps the best solution to all of this is for me to just read these thoughts. Just let me see it all, and then there will be nothing between us," he says. "This sort of mistrust and embarrassment could be lethal for one or both of us if we're outside the TARDIS. Does that make sense to you?" I feel my stomach do flips - but eventually, I nod in consent. He embraces me in a hug, saying, "Tonight, then. We'll wait until we're stable in the outer depths of some nice calm galaxy, where there's the littlest chance of any disturbance. It should only take a few moments. All right?" I just nod again. Now I only had to wait until the evening for him to see everything – and watch his reaction to it all.

And it was going to kill me.