Memories and the Master

A/N: Hey thanks for the reviews! Nothing much to say except DOCTOR WHO'S BACK ON 31ST MARCH!!!!! Only problem is I'm in New York at the time! Why that weekend? 'Sigh'. Hope you enjoy this part anyway. Next update next Friday probably. I'm drowning in coursework.

Disclaimer: Nothing you might recognise belongs to m

Part four: Sleepless in Se-TARDIS

Previously in Sweet Dreams...

He was true to his word and shortly afterwards, Rose was drinking a mug of warm milk and enjoying it immensely. She yawned deeply when she'd finished.

"Now that's more like it!" the Doctor grinned, taking the mug from her as she settled down again,

"Throw me my teddy?" Rose requested sleepily.

He walked over to a chair and picked up a soft stuffed toy that he'd bought her on some moon millions of light years away. "Here you are," he said,

"Thanks," she whispered, "You go and do something with Jack. You don't need to stay with me all day,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I might not be able to get to sleep 'cause you're a distraction." She grinned slightly.

He grinned back. "Alright, my angel. Yell if you need anything otherwise have a good sleep." He bent over and softly kissed her cheek before backing out of the room, picking up his everyday clothes on the way. It was eleven o'clock and he still wasn't dressed.

Rose rolled over slightly, letting out another yawn and closing her eyes. She was ready for sleep.

Outside, the Doctor walked down the corridor towards Jack, after making a quick detour to a bathroom to put on his clothes. He sighed slightly. He really hoped she'd sleep this time. He was starting to get worried that something was wrong.

To everyone's disappointment, Rose stumbled into the control room about half an hour later.

"Didn't it work?" Jack asked, sympathetically.

Rose shook her head, her bottom lip wobbling slightly. "I was so close but it wouldn't happen and then I woke up again completely when I threw the milk up."

The Doctor climbed out of his pit and walked over to her. "Hey, hey, it's OK," he soothed quietly, taking her into his arms as she looked on the brink of tears, "We'll sort it, Rose, OK?"

"OK," she whispered,

"Do you still feel nauseous?" he questioned, leading her over to the captain's chair and sitting her down.

She shook her head. "Maybe that's one thing the milk did; I don't feel sick anymore,"

"Good, good," the Doctor nodded, "Right then, unless you desperately want to go back to bed…"

Rose shook her head vigorously.

"…Then you may as well stay up. I'm going to get you a drink of water and a blanket while you think of a film you want to watch."

Rose nodded happily. She knew the perfect movie.

Five minutes later, the Doctor returned to find Rose had got Jack to start The Princess Diaries film on the console screen. He was sitting down next to her, avidly watching the screen as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"You started without me," he pouted,

"Shh!" both his companions hissed.

He grinned and wrapped a blanket around Rose without disturbing her field of vision and handed her a glass of water.

"Thanks," she said, taking it without paying much attention to him.

He shook his head and climbed back into the pit with a grin. If she was happy, then so was he.

"Doctor, is Genovia a real place?" Rose piped up nearly two hours later,

"Not on Earth, no. But there is the planet Genovia," he replied, through his sonic screwdriver which he held in his mouth,

"Is there any connection?"

"Yeah, it's a true story but happened on Genovia rather than Earth," he said, grinning at her expression before standing up, "Right, I'm hungry. Who's up for some lunch?"

Rose grimaced. "I dunno. I'm hungry but I don't wanna throw up again,"

"I'll do you some chicken soup then," Jack offered, "Isn't that what ill people generally eat?

She nodded. "Thanks Jack."

The ex-Time Agent grinned and left the room for the kitchen where he began to busily make up some fresh soup. He wasn't going to give his best friend any of that rubbish canned stuff from Earth. There was absolutely no goodness in it at all.

Fifteen minutes later, he was back in the control room handing Rose a bowl of steaming soup and a spoon. "Here you go, babe. Sup up!"

"Cheers," she replied, stirring it and blowing it on, "Smells good,"

"Wait 'til you taste it," Jack grinned, as he disappeared back to the kitchen to get the Doctor's lunch.

"Here let me help you with that," the Time Lord in question said, taking the spoon,

"It's OK, I can manage…"

"No, it's fine," he said, dipping the spoon into the soup, "Open wide,"

"I can do it myself, Doctor," Rose said,

"Rose, you're ill. It's best if you let me help you…"

"DOCTOR!" Rose yelled, shoving him away and accidentally sending the bowl flying, "I might be ill but I'm not a baby! I can feed myself, alright?" She stood up and flounced out of the room as fast as she could, her head held high, leaving the Doctor staring at her, stunned. It had been a long time since she'd shouted at him.

Rose flushed the toilet and washed her hands in the sink, sniffing as she did so. She didn't mean to yell at him but she didn't want him to baby her and trying to feed her was just that. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath before slowly walking back to the control room, where she found the Doctor still sitting on the captain's chair, dolefully stirring his own soup. Jack was on his hands and knees picking up the broken china off the floor. The spilt soup had disappeared. Rose assumed the TARDIS had cleaned it up.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, entering the room and collapsing onto her lover's lap and burying her head in his chest. She just wanted a cuddle.

He appeared to pick up on her thoughts and immediately put his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest and kissing her head. "No, I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to baby you."

Rose sighed. She was glad that that could make up so quickly. "It's just annoying. I know you don't mean anything by it but I can take of myself- you know I can,"

"I know," he replied quietly,

"Jack, I'm sorry I wasted your soup," Rose said,

"Its fine, honey. I've got more," Jack replied, leaving the lovers to it,

"Thank God, I'm really hungry!" Rose said.

The Doctor laughed. "Here, have mine,"

"Thanks," she said, looking up at his face and seeing his love for her shining out of his eyes. She smiled at him and tucked in, enjoying it immensely. It was delicious.

When she had finished, she cuddled back into the Doctor and sighed contentedly, listening to his hearts beat.

The Doctor resettled his arms around her and began to gently rock her, feeling her relax against him and her head settle on his shoulder.

Rose closed her eyes; breathing in and out slowly and feeling all the tension leave her body. She listened to the double thump in his chest and the comforting silence of the control room and it was almost a shock when the Doctor began to quietly sing to her.

His voice wasn't the strongest but neither was hers but it was enough for the strangely musical and relaxing element to his song. He wasn't singing in English and as it wasn't being translated, Rose could only assume it was in Gallifreyan- a language which she had rarely heard him speak. She felt her body getting more and more relaxed in his arms and she suddenly felt drowsier than she had all day. She forced herself to not fight the oncoming sleep which was ever drawing nearer… she was nearly there…nearly there…

Suddenly his song stopped and she immediately felt less sleepy.

"What was that?" she asked, not willing to move from her comfortable position,

"A Gallifreyan lullaby," he answered quietly, "I haven't sung it for centuries,"

"It was beautiful," she said truthfully, "I was closer to falling asleep then than I have all day,"

"Then let's get you back to bed and I'll sing it you again," the Doctor said. He made sure she was clinging onto him tightly before standing up and carrying her out of the room and along the corridor.

"Doctor?" Rose questioned, "Will you teach me to speak Gallifreyan?"

He stopped and looked at her, a strange expression on his face,

"If you don't want to then it's fine," she said, hurriedly, "I mean, if it hurts too much but I'd just like to speak it. It might be nice to be able to speak to you in your native tongue,"

"I'm the only one who still speaks it. It's a dead language," the Doctor said, studying her intently,

"So is Latin but people still learn that," Rose countered, "Forget it. It was just a silly idea for those times when we have nothing else to do,"

"Nah, it's a nice idea. Gallifreyan is incredibly complex though so don't be surprised if you find it too difficult,"

"So you'll teach me?" Rose asked, excitedly,

"If you want me too," he replied,

"You're the best, thanks," she grinned, kissing him lightly, as they continued down the corridor.

It wasn't long before she was tucked up back in bed and watching the Doctor worriedly as he paced around their bedroom, chewing on his bottom lip.

"Do you think there's something seriously wrong with me?" she questioned, in a small voice. They had tried the singing trick but it hadn't worked. The Doctor had begun to look worried which in turn was scaring Rose. Her heart was thudding furiously; afraid of what could happen.

The Doctor stopped pacing and sat down on the bed, taking her warm hand in his. "I don't know," he replied, honestly, "I don't think it can just be food poisoning or a twenty four hour bug that humans get anymore. From what I've studied in humans, the body automatically helps you fall asleep when you're sick to help combat the problem. But you can't sleep. It's almost like there's something blocking it,"

"Something alien?" she suggested,

"Maybe," he replied. He frowned, his forehead creasing. "I'm gonna take a blood sample from you, if that's alright?"

Rose shifted around in bed. "Do you have to?"

"I think it's best," the Doctor replied, "Don't worry, it'll just be like a regular blood test that you've probably had before. I'll be right back." He moved out of the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Suddenly, Jack popped his head around the door. "You feeling any better, Rose?" he asked, cheerily, "Guessed you'd come back here when you weren't in the control room anymore,"

"Yeah," she nodded, but didn't smile like normal.

Jack looked concerned. "Hey, what's up?" He came and sat cross legged on the bed next to her.

"The Doctor wants to do a blood test on me," Rose explained, studying her fingernails intently,

"So?" Jack said, "What's the problem with that?"

"I… I don't like needles," Rose revealed quietly, her cheeks revealing her embarrassment. She hated being scared of them; it seemed such a pathetic thing to be frightened about compared to what she faced almost on a daily basis. "I've always had a problem with them, I dunno why,"

"Does the Doctor know?" asked Jack, quietly, taking Rose's hand in his comforting one.

She shook her head, swallowing nervously as she thought of what was going to happen.

"Tell him then, when he comes back. He won't laugh,"

"I know," Rose replied, "I'm just…ashamed, I suppose,"

"Of what?" the Doctor asked, re-entering the room. He stopped and raised an eyebrow at the silence of his two companions. "Am I missing something?"

Jack nudged Rose gently in the ribs.

"Doctor… I don't like needles," she confessed, after an encouraging look from Jack.

The Doctor put down the syringe he was carrying and sat next to her. "That's OK," he said, drawing her into a hug, "We don't have to do anything you don't want to but like I said before, it would be best to take a sample."

Rose sighed heavily, an internal conflict raging in her mind.

"We'll look after you," the Doctor continued, "Jack'll hold your hand, if you want him to while I'm doing it, won't you, Jack?"

"Course I will," the ex-Time Agent said immediately, "I'll be your hand to hold." He grinned.

"It's up to you, sweetheart," the Doctor added,

"Alright," she sighed, "Just… do it and get it over and done with."

Her lover nodded and got straight to work, sorting out the apparatus and rolling her shirt sleeve up to above the elbow before kissing the back of Rose's right hand. Jack, meanwhile, firmly took her left hand in both of his and chatted to her, trying to take her mind off it and making sure she kept her eyes fixed on his.

"There, done," said the Doctor after a minute, "Put pressure on this; it'll stop bleeding in a moment,"

"I didn't feel a thing," Rose marvelled, pressing down on the cotton wool bud on her inner elbow,

"Must be my talent at keeping a beautiful woman occupied," Jack teased, "Well done, honey,"

"Thanks, Jack," said Rose, "and, y'know, thanks,"

"My pleasure," he replied, standing up, "Right, I've still gotta tidy up from last night. I'll come and see you again later, OK?"

"I'd like that," she replied, kissing him on the cheek as he did the same to her. He winked and disappeared out of the room.

"Let's have a look," the Doctor said, kneeling on the bed next to her and inspecting the cotton wool bud, "That's alright now. You alright?"

She nodded happily and smiled, before noticing a small tube on the bedside table. "Is that my blood?" she asked, morbidly fascinated with the viscous scarlet liquid,

"Yeah, as red as your name. Shame it's not purple, you're not royalty in disguise!"

Rose laughed, as he picked it up and took a step towards the open bedroom door.

"Don't I get a sticker or a lollipop for being a brave girl?" Rose pouted.

The Doctor turned back and grinned. "Sorry, I'm fresh out. Anything else you want as a reward?"

Rose pretended to think. "You got any kisses?" she asked, innocently,

The Doctor rummaged through his pockets. "Yup, it appears I have plenty," he concluded, before carefully putting the blood sample back down on the table and crawling up the bed until he was lying on top of Rose; his weight being supported by his arms, which were lying either side of Rose's head. He bent his head down and began to swiftly press kisses against her lips, one after another in rapid succession.

Rose giggled and looped her arms around his neck, playing with his nape hair.

"My…brave…beautiful…girl," he told her, in between kisses before ending with a deep kiss, feeding on her lips hungrily. Rose sighed happily, unconsciously stroking the back of his neck.

"Can we have sex?" she suddenly asked, "We haven't had it for ages,"

"Yeah, a whole twelve hours," the Doctor replied, rolling his eyes playfully,

"Please," Rose begged, fluttering her eyelashes at the Doctor and sticking out her bottom lip,

"Why? Are you feeling horny?" he asked, running his tongue over her exposed lip, making her shiver, and then nipping at her neck teasingly,

"Always am when you're around," Rose said, with a suggestive wink,

"Are you implying I don't satisfy you enough, Miss. Tyler?" the Doctor asked, continuing his oral exploration of her face and neck,

"You do…" she concluded, "It's just you're so good at it that I always want more,"

"Good save," the Doctor commented, with a wink,

"So can we?" Rose asked, looking pleadingly at him.

He shook his head. "You're not well enough, but," he stressed when her face fell and she began to protest, "as soon as you're better, we will and I'll make you scream twice as loud as normal."

Rose looked thrilled. "You promise?"

"I promise," he said, sealing his oath with another kiss, "Right, I'm gonna go test this sample. You have another go at getting some sleep, alright princess?"

"OK," Rose replied, yawning slightly,

The Doctor carefully climbed off her and perched on the edge of the bed. Rose immediately felt cold, despite being wrapped up in the duvet. She shivered, which he noticed immediately. With a grin, he pulled the covers around her neck, effectively tucking her in.

Rose giggled. "No-one's tucked me in since my Mum did when I was younger!" She broke off, covering a deep yawn behind her hand. "Will you come back after you're done and tell me what you've found? I'll probably still be awake,"

"Of course," the Doctor replied, bending down and kissing her lightly on the lips, "Sweet dreams, my angel. Love you to bits,"

"Love you too, Doctor," Rose replied, sleepily. She watched as he smiled at her and left the room, before closing her eyes and finding herself finally drifting away.

The Doctor tapped the screen in the medical room, feeling sure that something was wrong. It was telling him something that couldn't be true. He turned and re-examined the droplet of Rose's blood underneath his microscope before looking at the screen again. Suddenly, it all horribly made sense.

"Rose!" he whispered, urgently dashing out of the room, not caring when his sleeve caught on a rack of test tubes, sending them crashing to the floor. "ROSE!"

"What's up?" Jack asked, peering out of the kitchen door, "Doctor?"

He stared after his best male friend, who had gone skidding past him without answering. He had looked awfully pale and almost frightened. Jack immediately decided to run after him. Something had to be terribly wrong with Rose to make the Doctor panic that much.

"Rose! Don't go to sleep!" the Doctor yelled, turning the final corner and sliding to a halt in front of the bed,

"Hmm, what?" she asked, sleepily, before opening her eyes,

"No…" the Doctor whispered painfully, "Oh God, no."

Jack arrived just in time to see Rose staring at the Doctor, her eyes puzzled and fearful. She opened her mouth, her eyes widening all the time.

"Who…who are you?"

Review please. Constructive criticism is gladly received