Chapter 4 – New Earth Part 2
After manipulating the computer terminal with the sonic, a wall next to them opened up to reveal a dark corridor. Confidently, Rose strode forwards with the Doctor slowly following.
The Doctor was aggravated, to say the least. He wanted to be close to her, but also couldn't bear to be near. He wanted to carry a conversation with her, but couldn't stand the tone in her voice. He was also angry at himself that he couldn't yet figure out what was wrong with her, what was causing such changes to her personality.
They travelled down a couple flights of stairs, and upon turning a corner were greeted with a vast sight. Every inch and corner of the walls, stretching up to the high ceiling and all the way down to the lower levels were thousands of doors. The Doctor's brows furrowed. Too many doors, all of them human-sized. Stomach clenching, he shuffled around Rose and opened one of them.
"That's disgusting," Rose commented with a scowl. A man was sitting in the cell, eyes unfocused, boils raised from the skin, veins discolored, and a myriad of other health anomalies. "What's wrong with him?"
The Doctor ignored her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry." He closed the door.
He went through a few more cells, and one after the other held an incredibly sick person. The Doctor slammed a cell shut, turned on his heels and looked out over the railing.
"What diseases do they have," Rose asked.
"All of them," he spat. "Every single disease in the galaxy. They've been infected with everything."
"What about us," she asked without pause. "Are we safe?"
The Doctor ground his teeth together. If the lack of normal behavior didn't make it obvious that this wasn't Rose, then her caring about herself before others surely did. "The air is sterile, just don't touch them."
"How many patients are there?"
"They're not patients, they're lab rats. They were born sick, they exist to be sick. No wonder they've got a cure for everything. It's the ultimate research laboratory." He paused to breathe. "A human farm."
"Why don't they just die?"
With every explanation he gave, with every word that came from Rose's mouth, his knuckles were turning increasingly white as he held the safety bar in front of him.
"It's for the greater cause," a light voice tried to reason. Novice Hame walked into the low light of the corridor.
The Doctor shoved away from the railing. "When you took your vows, did you agree to this," he bit out as he advanced on her.
"As a Sisterhood," she said. "We're sworn to help."
"What? By killing?!"
"But they're not real people. They're specially grown. They have no proper existence."
The Doctor rolled his eyes, and with every word he spoke, his temper rose. "What's the turnover, hmm? A thousand a day, a thousand the next? What about the next? How many thousands, for how many years? How many?!"
Hame shook her head stubbornly. "Mankind needed us, Doctor. They came to this planet with so many illnesses. We couldn't cope, and we tried everything. We tried using clone-meat and bio-cattle, but the results were too slow. So the Sisterhood grew its own flesh." She waved at the doors. "That's all they are, flesh. Think of all those humans we've saved. They're happy and healthy because of us."
The Doctor stared at her. "If they live because of this, then life is worthless."
Hame stared back. "But who are you to decide that?"
"I'm the Doctor." He straightened to his full height. "And if you don't like it, if you want to take it to a higher authority, there isn't one. It stops with me."
Rose put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder, sending an unsettling jolt through him all the way to the confused link. "Just to confirm," she said, as if adding an afterthought to a casual conversation. "None of the humans in the city actually know about this?"
Hame didn't take her eyes off the Doctor. "We thought it best not-"
"Hold on," he interrupted sharply. "I can understand the bodies. I can understand your vows. One thing I can't understand, what have you done to Rose?"
Hame tilted her head. "I don't know what you mean."
"And I'm being very calm," the Doctor snarled. "You ought to be aware of that. Very, very calm. And the only reason I'm being so very, very calm is that the brain is a delicate thing." He nodded towards Rose, but didn't look at her. "Whatever you've done to Rose, whatever you've done to her head, I want it reversed. And I want it reversed now."
Hame shook her head, glancing rapidly between Rose and the Doctor. "We haven't done anything."
"I'm perfectly fine," Rose said from behind him.
"These people are dying and Rose would care."
"Oh, all right." Rose suddenly yanked the Doctor's arm so he spun around to face her. "Clever clogs. Smarty pants." She fondled his tie and he watched her guardedly. She shifted and it tightened fractionally around his neck. "Lady-killer," she growled between gritted teeth.
The Doctor was even more confused by this shift in behavior. "What's happened to you?"
She let go of his tie to toy with the front of her top. "I knew something was going on in this hospital, but I needed this body and your mind to find it out."
"Who are you?"
She gripped his tie once more, pulling him close so only he could hear her. "The last human."
The Doctor blinked in astonishment. "Cassandra?"
"Wake up and smell the perfume," she said. Impatiently, she revealed the vial of liquid she took from her cleavage and squirted it at the Doctor's face. He didn't get a chance to fight for consciousness, he was already on the ground.
The Doctor had woken up in one of the cells. He pushed on the door, looked for a latch, weak hinges, exposed wires, but saw no way out. He wondered how much time had passed. Letting his eyes fall shut, he concentrated on the link, reaching out to Rose. He was disturbed to find that the tension was not only still there, but much worse than before. Think, think, damn it, the Doctor groaned in frustration. What exists in the universe that could be making Rose feel such awful pressure? Because it was Rose who was being afflicted, not him. Oh, but he could certainly feel her distress, and any patience he had for anyone was quickly running out.
The Doctor wouldn't be able to help her from inside the cell. "Let me out," he said, giving shouting a try. "Let me out!"
"Aren't you lucky they had a spare," Rose's voice rang out. He could just barely make out her silhouette through the tinted door. "Standing room only."
"You've stolen Rose's body."
"Over the years, I've thought of a thousand ways to kill you, Doctor. And that's exactly what I've got. One thousand diseases. They pump the patients with a top-up every ten minutes, and you've only got about three minutes left-"
"Just let Rose go, Cassandra!"
"I will," she said flippantly. "As soon as I've found someone younger and less…common, then I'll junk her with the waste. Now hushaby, it's showtime."
Another set of voices interrupted Cassandra, and the Doctor recognized them as two of the nurses. All he could do was listen to the greedy proposal Cassandra had for them. After the nurses declined more than once, he could hear the clip in Cassandra's voice.
"I'll tell the city about all of this," Cassandra repeated again to them. "And you've no way of stopping me. You're not exactly nuns with guns. You're not armed."
"Who needs guns," one of the nurses snarled. "When we have claws?"
From inside the cell, the Doctor heard everyone pause before Cassandra spoke again. "Well, nice try. Chip, plan B!"
Hissing sounded up and down the corridor, and then Doctor's door hissed and opened. Springing out of the cell, the Doctor watched in horror as the ill humans filed out one by one. "What've you done?"
"Gave the system a shot of adrenaline, just to wake them up," Cassandra said, only glancing at him before rushing to a staircase while a man with strange markings followed her swiftly. "See you!"
The Doctor gave one last look to the nurses. "Don't touch them! Whatever you do, don't touch!" Before anymore humans could surround him, he ran after Cassandra and her servant.
They were sprinting down the halls when sparks began flying at them from the cell doors. Suddenly it wasn't just those couple doors that had opened, it was all of them, row by row, floor by floor. They stopped at the top of the stairs.
"Oh my god," Cassandra murmured, watching the humans with every disease in the galaxy be set free.
"What the hell have you done," the Doctor snapped again.
"It wasn't me," she yelled back, with a hint of a whine.
"One touch and you get every disease in the world." He looked her dead in the eyes, his own filled with fear and anger. "And I want that body safe, Cassandra. We've got to go down!"
"There's thousands of them," she exclaimed with panic.
"Now!"
Snapping out of it she fled down the staircase, the Doctor and Chip right behind her.
"This building is under quarantine," the speakers around the hospital parroted.
They dodged the sickly hands that reached out, ran as fast as their legs could carry them, until they made it to the basement. Knowing the lift no longer went up due to the broken call button and that it wouldn't have worked anyway with the quarantine, they had to veer down another hallway.
Chip wasn't able to keep up, though. The sick people had closed him off from the Doctor and Cassandra. "Leave him," Cassandra barked when the Doctor stalled. "He's just a clone thing. He's only got a half-life. Now, come on!"
The Doctor cringed at Chip. "I'm sorry. I can't let her escape." With that, he went after Cassandra, trying to ignore Chip's cries for his mistress.
They arrived in a large room, more than likely the place Cassandra had previously been staying in, judging by the metal frame that looked similar to the one that held her skin on Platform One. Upon further inspection, he found the answer he'd been looking for, in the form of a contraption sitting on the other side of the room.
Cassandra ran at the other door, only to find more of the sick humans. "We're trapped," she yelled after securing the door. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, for starters," the Doctor spoke slowly, clearly, making sure she heard him. "You're going to leave that body." He pointed to the contraption. "That psychograft is banned on every civilized planet. You're compressing Rose to death!"
"But I've got nowhere to go," Cassandra also spoke slowly, mockingly. "My original skin's dead."
The Doctor shook his head. "Not my problem. You can float as atoms in the air. Now, get out." Cassandra nervously leaned back a little when he raised the sonic screwdriver. "Give her back to me," he ground out, with a hint of desperation he didn't bother to conceal.
Her eyes narrowed. "You asked for it." Cassandra allowed a cloud of energy to burst free from her mouth, directing it at the Doctor.
It became the most dizzying body swap experience of the Doctor's lives. One minute Cassandra would be in his body, the next she would be in Rose's. Psychografts were such unnatural creations, and he could feel through the link every time Cassandra would enter Rose's body, the harsh force of being compressed. Rose's mind and body were becoming exhausted and the Doctor didn't how much more his companion could take. Any patience he had left was paper thin.
When Cassandra exited his body again, he now felt the sonic in his hand and they were all in a lift shaft. "Oh, chavtastic again," Cassandra drawled. "Open it!"
The Doctor made no move for the lift doors. "Not 'til you get out of her."
"We need the Doctor!"
"I order you to leave her," he roared.
Cassandra was in his body for a solid moment before she left again. When he looked down he saw that Cassandra hadn't take over Rose's body again, but one of the sick humans that were climbing after them.
"Oh, sweet lord," Cassandra scoffed, inspecting the hand of the body she'd taken over. "I look disgusting."
After opening the doors, the Doctor reached down for Rose. "Nice to have you back," he smiled brightly at her, relishing being able to finally hold her hand without discomfort. He tried to haul Rose up quickly so he could shut the doors before Cassandra made another move, but they weren't fast enough. The energy cloud flew up to them and invaded Rose's body yet again. Not being able to touch her when Cassandra was in her body, the Doctor had to let go, making Cassandra trip to the floor.
Frustrated, the Doctor closed the lift doors and said, "That was your last warning, Cassandra!"
"Inside that person's head," Cassandra murmured lifelessly, making the Doctor stare down at her. "They're so alone." She swallowed. "They keep reaching out, just to touch us. All their lives and they've never…been…touched."
At her sorrowful expression, the Doctor took a breath. It took Cassandra to literally be in someone else's shoes just for her to understand someone other than herself. He cleared his throat. "Come on," he said, walking passed her but making sure she followed.
The door they went through next opened up to Ward 26, right next to the Face of Boe. That was when the Duke of Manhattan's assistant appeared, armed with a metal stool and yelling a battle cry.
"No, no, no!" The Doctor held his hands up. "We're clean! We're clean! Just look!"
"Show me your skin," Clovis demanded.
The Doctor and Cassandra moved their arms and hands every which way so she could get a better view. "Look, clean," the Doctor repeated. "If we'd been touched, we'd be dead." Satisfied, Clovis nodded and set down the stool. "So how's it going up her? What's the status?"
"There's nothing but silence from the other wards," Clovis said. "I think we're the only ones left. I've been trying to override the quarantine. If I can trip a signal over to New New York, they can send a private executive squad."
"You can't do that," the Doctor said as Clovis began to pace. "If they forced entry, they'd break quarantine."
"I'm not dying in here," Clovis snapped.
"We can't let a single particle of disease get out." He pointed out the window while trying to keep eye contact with her. "There are ten million people in that city. They'd all be at risk." He pointed to the communication device in Clovis' hand. "Now, turn that off!"
"Not if it gets me out!"
The Doctor nodded stiffly. "All right, fine. So I have to stop you lot as well. Suits me." He took a long look around the ward. "Cassandra, Novice Hame, everyone! Get me the intravenous solutions for every single disease. Move it!"
Every able bodied person in Ward 26 filled their arms with every bag of fluid they could get their hands on while the Doctor tore apart some metal equipment. The Duke found some rope, and the Doctor grabbed it, tying it around his torso. Every time a bag of solution was brought to him he secured them to the ropes. Within minutes, all the bags were accounted for.
"How's that, you think," the Doctor asked Cassandra. "Will it do?"
Cassandra blinked. "I don't know. Will it do for what?" The Doctor sprinted to the lift. "They're not working."
"Not moving. Different thing," he said, opening the doors with the sonic. "Here we go!" Taking a running start, he leapt into the shaft, grabbing holding of the cable running down the middle.
"What do you think you're doing," Cassandra gasped.
"I'm going down. Come on." He attached the hunk of metal equipment to the cable, essentially creating a completely vertical zip line. The Doctor saw the incredulity written on her face. "I need another pair of hands," he said, gripping the piece of metal and winding his ankles around the cable. "And if you're so desperate to stay alive, why don't you live a little." He quirked his eyebrows at her.
Before Cassandra could decline, Clovis ordered the doors to Ward 26 be shut as more sick humans made their way towards them. With a panicked shriek, she ran to the lift, latching on to the Doctor's back when she jumped. The Doctor cried out, from the extra weight suddenly clinging to him and from the irritation stabbing at his link to Rose. He knew he wouldn't be able to breathe or relax properly until Cassandra physically let go. Unfortunately, he really did need Cassandra as he wouldn't be able to do this alone.
"You're completely mad," Cassandra muttered. "I can see why she likes you."
He couldn't help the small grin as he adjusted the pulley. "Going down!"
Sparks flew from the pulley as they descended at top speed down the shaft, both of them shouting at the top of their lungs. They slowed before reaching the bottom.
"Well," Cassandra exhaled, adjusting herself when they safely touched down. "That's one way to lose weight."
"When I say so," the Doctor explained as he rapidly laid out all the supplies. "Take hold of this lever here." When Cassandra tried to argue, he got in her face and pointed to the lever on the floor. "Hold that lever!" He turned back to the supplies. "I'm cooking up a cocktail. I know a bit about medicine myself." One after the other, he emptied the contents of each solution into the lift's disinfectant tank and with each bag he worked ever faster. He used to be able to feel Rose's tension at being compressed by Cassandra's intrusion, but her discomfort had soon turned into a throbbing ache; Cassandra needed to get out of Rose's body and soon.
"Now," the Doctor said, opening the top hatch of the lift they were standing on. "That lever's going to resist, but hold on to it with everything you've got."
"What about you?"
"I've got an appointment. The Doctor is in." With one last look at her, he dropped through the hatch.
Cassandra heard the buzz of the sonic screwdriver and slide of the lift doors opening. She was shocked to hear him calling to the sick humans, coaxing them into the lift with him. "You really are mad," she exclaimed, hoping her words would make him see sense, but he only continued to encourage them.
"Pull that lever," the Doctor suddenly hollered.
With a whine, Cassandra pulled. She tried peering down to where he was standing, but all she could see was the spray of medicine pouring into the open lift. All the while, the Doctor kept calling to them until he was telling them to 'pass it on'. Cassandra tried talking to him from her position, but she was ignored.
With a wide smile, the Doctor reached his hand up for Cassandra to take. Despite the discomfort at this contact, the Doctor was too overjoyed at what had just happened.
"What did they pass on," Cassandra asked when she jumped down to his side. "What? Did you kill them?"
The Doctor shook his head and exited the lift. "That's your way of doing things. I'm the Doctor and I cured them."
All of the humans that were soaked from the lift shower shuffled around with purpose, brushing against one another to spread the medicine. One human after the other were being cleared of their diseases, curing each other.
"It's a new sub-species, Cassandra," the Doctor said with wonder. "A brand new form of life. New humans. Look at 'em! Look!" He kneeled to inspect some of the sitting humans, making sure the medicines he combined worked properly. "Grown by cats, kept in the dark, fed by tubes, but completely, completely alive." He pointed at Cassandra. "And you can't deny them because you helped create them. The human race just keeps on going, keeps on changing." He chuckled giddily. "Life will out!"
Cassandra had to be one of the most stubborn humans he'd ever met, and that was saying something because he travelled with Rose Tyler. Cassandra refused to leave her body until she was sure she could make a getaway from the Doctor.
"Don't you think you've lived long enough," he growled, keeping his voice low enough so the New New York Police officers wouldn't hear. Cassandra needed to be brought to the justice system, but not until she left his companion's body.
Cassandra only looked him in the eye and shrugged. He buried his face in his hands. Perhaps if he went downstairs for the psychograft, he could do something to reverse or change it. However, that's when he saw some officers carrying the disassembled psychograft out of the hospital to keep as evidence. The Doctor's hands settled for tugging at his hair.
Rose was still in pain, but it hadn't increased in the last half-hour. Too focused on the link, the Doctor just barely registered an officer pushing them off to the side, out of their way. He didn't talk with law enforcement about what had happened, what individuals were responsible, or help clean up any messes. It wasn't his style to do so anyway. The day had been saved, and while that was wonderful and everything turned out best-case-scenario, for once it wasn't enough for him. The invisible connection that tied him to Rose was still stressed and confused, he still couldn't touch her, and she was still in pain.
How was he supposed to win an argument against someone who used to be a bitchy trampoline? The Doctor hadn't realized he was pacing and almost ran face-first into an apprehended Novice Hame. Hame gave him a sour look as she was taken away.
Who was going to take care of the Face of Boe now? "Come on," the Doctor nodded to Ward 26.
Cassandra scoffed. "You just saved us all. I don't have to listen to you anymore."
He rounded on her. "You've taken over someone I care very deeply for. Like hell I'm letting you out of my sight." Casually, he drew back a little. "But go ahead, try to run. The moment you do, I'll tell the nearest officer who that psychograft belonged to. And then they'll force you to exit Rose's body, and you'll pass away. That what you want?"
She sneered at him. "Then you'll have your beloved chav back. Why care about me?"
"'Cause I've yet to see if you're susceptible to some form of compromise. That's what Rose would want." He waved towards Ward 26. "After you."
"What a gentleman," she grumbled with an eye roll.
When they found the Face of Boe, he was still sitting exactly where everyone left him. But he was wide awake, eyes open and calm.
"You missed all the fun," the Doctor said. "It's good to see you well."
"There are better things to do today," Boe said. "Dying can wait."
"Oh, I hate telepathy," Cassandra mumbled. "Just what I need, a head full of big-face."
"Shh," the Doctor hissed at her. "Don't be so disrespectful. They say he's millions of years old. Isn't that right, big fella?" The Doctor looked at Boe with a light grin.
"Well, now," he said with a hint of a chuckle. "That would be impossible. I have grown tired of the universe, Doctor. But you have taught me to look at it anew."
The Doctor knelt in front of him. "Novice Hame told me you keep a great secret. One that you…might want to tell me?"
"Hmm. It can wait."
"Really? Does it have to?"
"We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third and final time. And the truth shall be told. Until that day…" As if he was never there, sitting deathly ill in a corrupt hospital, the Face of Boe teleported away, alive and well.
The Doctor hummed in appreciation. "That is enigmatic. That-that is textbook enigmatic." He pushed his hands against his knees to stand, and spun on his heels. "And now…for you."
Cassandra flexed her jaw as he approached. "You won't ever leave me alone, will you?"
"Not until you get out of her." The Doctor was stoic, too tired and out of patience to convey any other emotions. "I know you're never going to compromise with me." He exhaled. "You've lived long enough. Leave that body and end it, Cassandra."
She choked on a sob. "I don't want to die."
"No one does."
"Help me," she begged, eyes watering.
"Mistress!" The Doctor and Cassandra looked up to find Chip staggering towards them. "I kept myself safe, for you, mistress." That's when Cassandra gave a thoughtful hum, and winked at the Doctor.
"Don't you dare," the Doctor exclaimed. "He's got a life of his own."
"But I worship the mistress," Chip countered, knowing Cassandra well enough to understand what she wanted to do. "I welcome her."
The Doctor tried to argue even as Cassandra's energy floated to Chip's body, but he cut himself short when Rose collapsed. He scooped her upright. "I've got you," he told her as she leaned heavily against his chest. "Come on, look at me," he urged, trying to get her to focus on him. Rose shook her head and made eye contact with him. "All right?"
Rose nodded. "Think so, yeah." His face was full of concern and he refused to loosen his hold on her. She gave him a tired smile, hoping to reassure him. "Hello."
The Doctor smiled widely at her, eyes lighting up. "Hello! Welcome back." He hugged her to him, tucking her head under his chin. There was no more tension through the link, no more pain when he touched her, and best of all she didn't seem to be in anymore discomfort, if just a little tired.
"All's well that ends well," the Doctor murmured against her hair. "Let's head back to the TARDIS."
Rose slowly pulled back. "What about her," she said, nodding to Cassandra.
"Oh, sweet lord," Cassandra said to herself, glancing at the arms of the body she now possessed. "I'm a walking doodle."
The Doctor spoke low enough so only Rose could hear. "We'll find one of the NNY officers before we go. They can handle her."
"But we can't just let her stay in Chip's body."
"They have the psychograft. They can use that to free Chip."
Rose nodded. "What do you think they'll do with Cassandra?"
The Doctor couldn't say. He wasn't yet familiar with New New York's laws and penalties, and quite frankly he couldn't find himself to care. Through all her years of life, Cassandra had been the cause of so many deaths. And today, she'd caused Rose pain. He had no sympathy, but Rose did. That's the kind of person she was, compassionate, understanding, and thoughtful, despite having been possessed by Cassandra for most of the day.
The Doctor lightly nudged Rose's shoulder. "I don't want you near her anymore. We'll tell an officer where she's at before we leave," he reminded. "It'll be up to them."
After giving Cassandra a sympathetic glance, Rose and the Doctor made to leave. They didn't even exit the ward when they heard Cassandra fall to her knees. Rose looked frantically at the Doctor, and he nodded.
They each took one of Cassandra's arms and lifted her off the ground. "Poor little Chip," Cassandra exhaled shakily.
"What's happening," Rose asked.
Cassandra shook her head sadly. "He's only a half-life, and he's been through so much. His heart is racing so." She glanced at them. "He's failing. I think I'm dying, but…but that's fine."
"We're going to take you to an officer," the Doctor explained. "They can-"
"No," Cassandra interrupted. "No, you won't. Everything's new. There's no place for Chip and me anymore." She cast her gaze to the floor. "You're right, Doctor. It's time to die." She nodded a little. "And that's good."
The Doctor and Rose looked at each other and shared a silent conversation. Rose was projecting the sympathy she felt, and the Doctor was projecting his lessening apprehension. Finally, he nodded, and their grips tightened as they turned with Cassandra.
"Come on," he said. "There's one last thing we can do."
They took the now working lift down to the lobby, hauling Cassandra as they went. They almost made it to the front doors before Rose had to stop for a moment. The Doctor raised his eyebrows, ready to let go of Cassandra. "No, I'm fine," Rose assured him quickly. "Still a bit dizzy."
The Doctor looked down at Cassandra, struggling to hold in a sarcastic comment. Because of Cassandra, Rose was exhausted and looked like she was about to fall over. The only thing stopping her was that she was still holding onto her arm.
Mercifully, one of the officers jogged over to them. "Everyone all right," he asked.
"Yup," the Doctor responded. "Just on our way home. Been a hell of a day."
The officer eyed Cassandra and Rose. "If these two are still sick, we can't let them out of the hospital. Not until we transfer them to another clinic…Away from this place."
"No, they're just exhausted, we all are. Here, have a look." He flashed the psychic paper. "See? Discharge paper. Clean bill of health." The officer gave them and the paper another once-over before nodding. "I wonder, though," the Doctor continued, after glancing at Rose again. "Would one of you be so kind as to give us a lift?"
Rose sank down onto the jump seat with a sigh as the Doctor maneuvered them into the vortex. Cassandra's story had finally come to end. Although, dying in the arms of…herself was certainly an unorthodox 'the end', it was a way to come full circle. And Rose also remembered that Cassandra had designed Chip from her favorite pattern. Perhaps that pattern originally came from Chip. Rose's head spun a little.
"You all right," the Doctor asked, sitting down next to her. "Still wibbly?"
She nodded. "Not as bad as before, though."
The Doctor concentrated on Rose's energy. It was no longer burdened by Cassandra, but he currently couldn't get a clear gauge, as if the link had put things on pause. This happened every now and again. Sometimes he could feel her energy clear as day, other times he simply couldn't. He really needed to get to the library and do research. He exhaled.
Rose looked at him. "What about you?"
"Me? You know me, I'm always all right," he shrugged. Rose only then noticed that he'd been holding her hand, but she certainly wasn't protesting.
"So," she turned to face him more, which he responded in kind. "The Face of Boe."
"You should've seen him, Rose," he chuckled. "Enigmatic and as alive as ever."
"Guess that hospital was good for something, eh?"
The Doctor scrunched his nose. "Not at your expense." He looked her up and down. "You should go rest."
She squeezed his hand. "I told you, I'm fine."
"And I believe you, but psychografts are banned due to unregulated usage and maintenance. As a result, the victim can suffer damage and even death." He couldn't take his eyes off of hers. "I could've lost you today." The hug was initiated by both of them, but the Doctor was the one to cling the tightest. "Thank you for holding on as long as you did. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You seemed to do just fine with Cassandra today," she said, not being able to hide a little bitterness.
"Yeah, but she's not you. I had to figure out nearly everything on my own. No one to bounce ideas off of."
Rose chuckled against his shoulder. "Shame I wasn't there for you to impress. Er, sort of there."
He pulled back to look at her. "Don't think you don't ever impress me." He touched her cheek briefly and he didn't miss the way her head almost leaned into his hand. "How about we go to the sitting room and put on a movie. And if you haven't fallen asleep by then, we could listen to some music. I've yet to find out what my tastes are." Inwardly, he scolded himself. He should really get to the library…
"Well," Rose started as they stood up. "We already know you like Disney"
"You're right! You know, I think we have a copy of the 2011 Muppet Movie. We can compare it with the 1979 film."
He'd been without Rose for practically the whole day, so to speak. Once again, the library could wait.