A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Remember, reviews make me happy, and when I'm happy I write. EDIT: Thanks for the people who pointed out my mistake! I think I fixed everything, but if I missed a place tell me!
Rose woke up as a soft chimelike sound played next to her. She looked around, confused for a second. She was in the TARDIS, but why wasn't the ship moving, and what was with the alarm? Then it came rushing back to her. The chime sounded again, and she realized that must be the alarm. But it hadn't woken her at all last night! "Oh, no," she said softly, running her fingers through her hair. She jumped up and ran to check on the Doctor.
He was sleeping, but not peacefully. The covers were tangled around him, and he wouldn't stay still for more than a few seconds. When Rose brushed her fingers lightly across his face, she felt burning heat.
"Some doctor you are," she scolded herself, tears springing to her eyes. "He's worse now than he was before! Oh, Rose Tyler, what have you done?"
Looking for something steady and reliable, something constant to hold on to as her world crumbled, she laid both of her hands, palm down, on the Doctor's chest, over his hearts. But she only was more scared when she felt his double heartbeat twice as fast or faster than it should be. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. The Doctor was supposed to be strong, impenetrable. He was supposed to always be there. He was supposed to take care of her, not the other way around!
"This is insane," Rose snapped. "This is completely insane. I can't do this. I can't..."
"I can't," echoed the Doctor, his hand suddenly grabbing hers. "I can't choose. I can't live with either choice. No..."
Rose swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She couldn't break down. Not when he needed her. He'd always been there for her, and now it was time to repay the favor. "I'm here, Doctor," she whispered. "I'm right here."
"No," he replied softly. "Don't make me choose. Rose..." His hand tightened until her hand hurt, but she didn't pull away.
"No one's making you choose, Doctor," she said. "You don't have to choose."
"You can't ask me to trade a hundred million lives for one, or one for a hundred million! I can't make that choice..."
Her mouth suddenly went dry. "Oh, no," she whispered hoarsely. "Oh, God, don't let him think about that..."
"I've already killed them once! You can't ask me to do that again! But I can't lose you, Rose, I can't..."
"Already killed them once," Rose breathed, and the world spun around her. "Doctor, wake up! Wake up, I'm here, you won't lose me! No, oh, no, don't make him dream about that..." She understood how important it was to make the Doctor better now, because in the fever-induced nightmares he was being forced to make a choice he could never make. "Oh, please, wake up, wake up," she said, fighting a wave of dizziness that threatened to take her down. He was in pain, and she couldn't help him. "Doctor, wake up! I'm here, I'm here, you don't have to choose..."
"Rose..." he said, and something in his voice had changed. He released her hand, and she stood up, massaging her cramped fingers. "What...time is it?"
"It's—er—seven," she said. "In the morning."
He put a hand to his head, wincing in pain. "What day? How long have I been out of it?"
"Only for ten hours or so," she said, reassuring him. "It's only the next day."
"Ow..." He took off his glasses and rubbed he bride of his nose. Rose bit her lip. He was still half delirious. He didn't really know what was happening at all. She shook her head impatiently. It hurt to see him like this.
"Is there anything you need?" she asked softly, conscious of how loud her voice was. "How do you feel?"
"Like my head's about to explode," he mumbled. "And like the TARDIS need to turn up the heat, because I'm freezing."
"Do you need anything?" Rose repeated. As she talked, she began dutifully untangling the blankets, unfolding the ones at the foot of the bed, making him warmer even though she wasn't sure that helped. "Tea? Water? More covers?"
"Er, tea, thanks," the Doctor said, still rather disoriented. "Wish I could have something for my headache..."
"I'll be right back," she promised, and ran to the kitchen. She put the water on to boil, waited for the tea to be ready, and returned with it to the Doctor's side.
"Thanks," he said, after taking a gulp of tea. "I needed that." Rose could almost imagine that he looked a little better already. She remembered his regeneration. When he'd collapsed, all he'd needed was spilled tea to be back in business. She giggled a bit, thinking back. "What's so funny?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "Nothing," she said, grinning. "It's just that you have a history of being cured by...tea."
He frowned. "Hm. I suppose...you're right..." He blinked sleepily at her. "I'm tired, Rose. D'you mind leaving and letting me get some sleep?"
"Of course not," said Rose, a bit too cheerfully, and left. But she turned back to look at him a second later. He was already asleep, really asleep, not tossing and turning in a feverish delirium.
"That's better," she murmured softly. "Sweet dreams, Doctor." She closed the door and crept away. The TARDIS hummed contentedly under her feet, and Rose returned to the console room. After lying there, thinking about what was happening, worrying about the Doctor for a moment, she closed her eyes, and she was able to sleep too.
A/N (again): Aw, Rose is so sweet. :P She's so worried about her Doctor! Like it? Don't? Review and tell me!
