Rose was sitting in the living room watching the telly while snacking on some potato crisps when Jackie came in with a blue and white striped pile.
"Well, c'mon then," she began, motioning for Rose to get up. "Get up."
"What are we doing, Mum?" Rose asked skeptically, munching on a crisp.
"The Doctor's not going to be comfortable sleepin' in bed in that suit," Jackie explained. "So we're going to get him into some jim jams."
Rose nearly choked on her crisp. "What?"
"You heard me," Jackie repeated. "We're changing him into some jim jams! Up and about with you!"
Rose put down her bowl of crisps and went with her mother to the Doctor's room, where he was still sleeping quietly. He hadn't moved an inch since he was brought there by Rose hours ago. He still looked peaceful, even handsome with his eyes closed.
Jackie ruined the sight by pulling back the blankets, pulling off his socks, and immediately undid his pants, pulling them off.
"Mum!" Rose screeched, feeling her face go hot. "What are you doing?"
"Changing him," Jackie replied as if it were nothing. "It's not like I haven't seen anybody naked before. Besides, I used to change your nappies, missy."
Rose's eyes widened in embarrassment. She didn't know if the Doctor could hear but she hoped he didn't.
Like a ninja, Jackie managed to get the Doctor's jacket, shirt and tie off and the pajama shirt on without waking him. She instructed Rose to button up the shirt while she worked on the pants. Rose felt a little embarrassed since she had not seen this version of the Doctor without his shirt. She blushed as she carefully worked her way up, trying not to wake the Doctor. He coughed, making Rose jump a little.
"All done!" Jackie said triumphantly. "Rose, you done yet? For God's sake, he's not fragile china! Here, let me do it!"
She pushed Rose aside and buttoned up the Doctor all the way up to his neck.
"Not so bad!" she said, picking up the Doctor's clothes. "I'm going to toss these in the wash. Rose, do you think you could get dinner started for us? I bought some beef from the market. We're going to have pasties!"
Rose breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad changing the Doctor was over with. She didn't feel right having to change an unconscious person and she hoped she would never have to do it again.
The Doctor woke up hours later to a dark room. Night had fallen during his slumber, causing the Doctor to wonder what time it was. Was it past bedtime? Was Rose already in bed?
His question was answered when Rose walked by the room, still in her regular clothes of jeans, a t-shirt, and a pink zip-up sweatshirt. She saw the Doctor awake and smiled, walking in.
"Hey, how're you feeling?" she asked gently.
"I feel-" The Doctor said until sharp pains struck his throat. He rubbed at his throat. "-Hurts to talk,"
"Do you want some water?" Rose offered. "Let me go grab you so some water."
She left the room while the Doctor lied in bed, tired. He felt too hot now, kicking off the blanket. He expected his brown pinstripe suit to restrain his leg movement only to realize he was able to fully move his legs. He noticed he was in blue and white striped pajamas and barefoot.
Who changed me? He thought to himself. He hoped it was Rose who changed him and not Jackie. He didn't want Jackie to see him in his undergarments. He saw his suit folded neatly on the dresser drawer next to where his Converse was placed.
"Here you are," Rose said as she walked in with not only a glass of water, but a steaming cup of tea. "The kettle was already on, so I made you a cuppa."
The Doctor smiled in appreciation as Rose set the tea and water down. He tried to sit up but was too weak. Rose helped prop him up against the pillows and brought the water to his lips, the Doctor sipping on it. The water made his throat ache some more but his mouth begged for more, continuing to drink until it was all gone.
Rose praised the Doctor for being able to drink all the water. The Doctor wanted a little more water, being dehydrated, but Rose helped him drink his tea. The hot liquid immediately soothed his throat. Once he finished the tea, the Doctor handed Rose the empty water glass with a pleading look. Rose smiled and took the glass.
"More water?" she asked.
The Doctor nodded, smiling weakly. He remembered his pajamas, in which he gestured his hand over his clothes in a puzzled look.
"Oh! Your pajamas!" Rose exclaimed, a light pink blush on her cheeks. "I changed you so you would be more comfortable. I don't think you'd be able to rest in your suit. You were really out cold, there!" She didn't mention how she felt dressing him. She felt very sheepish but she couldn't have him sleeping in his suit.
The Doctor laughed, only for him to clutch at his throat. It absolutely hurt for him to laugh! But the worst part was that it also caused him to start coughing painfully. Rose sat on the bed next to him and began to rub his back until the Doctor bent over and spat something out into the rubbish bin. Rose noticed it was some kind of phlegm.
"Are you alright, Doctor?" Rose asked alarmingly.
The Doctor rubbed at his chest and nodded. He was beginning to feel some congestion and now he was beginning to cough up mucous. He did not like how he was getting a new symptom.
"Rose?" asked a voice.
"In here, Mum!" Rose shouted.
Jackie poked her head into the room. "I see the Doctor's awake," she said. "How are you feeling?"
"He's still sick," answered Rose. "He can't talk without being in pain."
The Doctor breathed a sigh and rolled underneath the covers. He didn't like looking so weak in front of anyone. Rose was enough.
Rose handed her mother the empty cups. "Mum, could you get some more water for the Doctor please?" she asked. She turned to the Doctor. "Are you hungry, Doctor? My mum could probably cook something up for you."
The Doctor poked his head out from underneath the duvet and shook his head. "Not hungry."
"But Doctor, you didn't even eat breakfast this morning," Rose pleaded. "You must eat something."
Rose had cooked an English breakfast on the TARDIS that morning. Usually, the Doctor loved Rose's cooking, especially when she made English cuisine, such as a Sunday roast, bubble and squeak, or a Victorian sponge cake, which was one of his favourites. He would eat it all day if he could. However, today was not one of those days where he wanted to eat at all.
"Rose, don't force him," Jackie said, walking back in and handing Rose the water. "Let him rest and he will want to eat later."
The Doctor was taken aback at how calm Jackie was. Usually it would have been her trying to force something down the Doctor's throat. He realized it must have been her motherly instinct. He didn't know how many times she had taken care of Rose whenever she was sick, but Jackie knew what was best.
Rose listened to her mother and handed the Doctor the glass of water. "Here, drink." she instructed.
The Doctor managed to sit up and take a few sips of water before setting it down on the nightstand, lying back down, and closing his eyes. He felt so very tired. He was so tired that once he was settled into bed, he immediately fell asleep.
Rose smiled as she pulled the covers over the Doctor's sleeping form and tucked him in, watching the Doctor sleep for a brief minute while stroking his tousled hair. He seemed to smile a small smile as she did this, making Rose smile.
"Sweet dreams," she whispered before leaving the room.
